Loxone and AV Control: What’s Missing—and How to Complete the Experience

Loxone Does It All—Except AV Control?

When it comes to building automation, Loxone is in a class of its own. From lighting and HVAC to shading, access, energy management, and security—Loxone is designed to create spaces that operate automatically, intelligently, and without daily user input.

But there’s one question that often comes up:

“Can Loxone control my TV, speakers, or AV receiver like Control4 or Crestron?”

The answer: Yes—but differently.

Unlike traditional AV-focused platforms, Loxone doesn’t prioritize HDMI switching or theater-style automation. It doesn’t try to be an entertainment hub. Instead, it focuses on the backbone of your home or building—the systems that matter every day, all day.

That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy music, movies, or AV convenience with Loxone. In fact, you can—and in many cases, more intuitively than with legacy AV systems.

Let’s explore why Loxone made this choice—and how you can still create an effortless, entertainment-friendly environment with smart AV integration.

Why Loxone Doesn’t Prioritize AV Control

Loxone wasn’t built to compete with Crestron or Control4 in the home theater market. Instead, it was designed for something broader—and arguably more impactful: total building intelligence.

Here’s why AV control isn’t at the core of the Loxone platform:

Automation Comes First

Loxone focuses on what most systems overlook: lighting that adapts to the time of day, HVAC that adjusts automatically, shades that respond to the sun, and energy that’s always optimized.

These are the systems that define how a space feels and functions—not just what it plays on screen.

Less Complexity, More Reliability

AV control platforms often require:

• Custom programming

• Firmware updates across devices

• Constant end-user tweaking

Loxone avoids these pitfalls. By keeping AV functionality lean, it ensures the entire system stays stable, fast, and future-ready—without relying on third-party compatibility that may break after a device update.

3. Lower Installation & Support Costs

With no need for AV matrix switches or complex drivers, Loxone systems are faster to install, easier to maintain, and more cost-effective—especially in commercial environments like offices, restaurants, or hotels where AV is secondary to lighting, climate, and access.

4. One Brain, Not a Patchwork

Loxone’s Miniserver acts as the central brain for your entire building—no AV controller required. That means fewer points of failure, easier expansion, and complete control from a single app or wall switch.

In short: AV control wasn’t overlooked—it was intentionally de-prioritized in favor of automation that delivers real, lasting value.

What Loxone Can Do for AV system

Just because Loxone isn’t an AV-first platform doesn’t mean it ignores entertainment. In fact, Loxone includes built-in features that handle everyday audio needs beautifully—and even supports basic control of AV equipment.

Here’s how Loxone handles AV the smart way:

Multiroom Audio with the Loxone Audioserver

Loxone’s native Audioserver provides high-quality multiroom audio without needing third-party integrations.

• Stream music in different zones with perfect sync

• Play from your phone, NAS, or streaming services

• Automate audio with presence detection, schedules, or scenes

• Use for announcements, alarms, or doorbell sounds

No additional licensing, no complicated routing. Just smart sound where—and when—you want it.

Control AV System Devices via IR, IP, or Relay

Want to control a TV, projector, or AV receiver with Loxone?

You can:

• Send IR signals using Loxone’s Infrared Air module

• Use IP commands for smart devices (like some LG, Sony, or Denon models)

• Trigger relays to power devices on/off

Example: Press a Loxone Touch switch, and lights dim, shades close, and the TV powers on—all at once.

Audio for More Than Just Music

Loxone takes AV beyond entertainment:

• Play custom announcements (e.g., “Meeting in 5 minutes”)

• Trigger alarms or voice messages during emergencies

• Broadcast doorbell chimes across zones

• Use speakers for intercom or zone-based paging

So while it won’t replace a video matrix switch, Loxone offers practical, user-friendly AV features that work beautifully for most modern smart spaces.

How to Integrate AV system into a Loxone Ecosystem

If you’re dreaming of a home theater or commercial AV setup, you don’t have to leave Loxone behind. Instead, you can integrate third-party AV components while keeping the intelligence and automation Loxone is known for.

Here’s how to complete the AV experience inside your Loxone-powered environment:

Use Third-Party AV Gear—Strategically

Loxone plays well with:

• TVs, projectors, AV receivers (with IR or IP control)

• HDMI switchers or splitters

• Soundbars or media streamers like Apple TV, Sonos, or Roku

You choose the best AV hardware for your space, and Loxone takes care of when and how it operates.

Trigger AV Scenes from Loxone

Set up AV experiences just like any other scene:

• Touch a wall switch: lights dim, projector powers on, music fades

• Walk into a conference room: screen lowers, lights adjust, AV system powers up

• Schedule AV content during store hours or restaurant ambiance changes

Automation triggers can include presence detection, schedules, app buttons, or manual switches.

Connect via IR, IP, or Control Bridges

For more advanced AV systems, you can:

• Send IR commands to TVs or receivers using Loxone's IR Air module

• Use IP control if the device supports API or webhooks

• Add drivers or protocol bridges for HDMI switching, media control, or display toggling

With this approach, Loxone becomes the logic engine that orchestrates the experience—even if another brand handles the AV switching.

Control It All From One App

No jumping between apps. No guesswork. Loxone lets you launch, automate, and adjust AV scenes from the same interface you use for lighting, shades, HVAC, and security.

Bottom line? You can have a beautiful AV experience—and still keep Loxone’s intelligence at the core.

Loxone vs. Crestron, Savant, and Control4 for AV system

To understand where Loxone fits into the AV conversation, it helps to compare it to platforms built with entertainment in mind—Crestron, Savant, and Control4. These systems shine in custom AV installations, but they also come with complexity and cost.

Crestron

• Strength: Enterprise-grade AV switching, conferencing, and high-end control.

• Ideal for: Boardrooms, video walls, auditoriums.

• Limitation: Requires deep programming and AV specialists; building automation is possible but secondary.

Savant

• Strength: Beautiful interfaces, strong media control, premium AV environments.

• Ideal for: Luxury homes with strong AV expectations.

• Limitation: High cost, limited flexibility outside media and lighting.

Control4

• Strength: Versatile media control and user-friendly experience.

• Ideal for: Home theaters and integrated AV systems with voice, touch, and app control.

• Limitation: AV-first system; building automation depends on third-party devices.

Loxone: A Different Approach

• Strength: Complete automation platform for lighting, HVAC, access, shading, and energy—with built-in audio and basic AV triggers.

• Ideal for: Projects that prioritize automation logic and smart building behavior.

• Limitation: Doesn’t natively route HDMI or manage video matrices.

Key Takeaway: If AV is the main course, choose Crestron, Control4, or Savant. If automation is the foundation—and AV is just one part of the story—Loxone is the smarter, more scalable choice.

When AV Control Should Be Native—and When It Shouldn’t

Smart buildings come in many shapes—offices, hotels, homes, retail, restaurants—and not all of them need full-blown AV switching systems. In many cases, native AV control is overkill.

Let’s break down when it matters—and when it doesn’t.

When Native AV Control Makes Sense

• Dedicated home theaters with multiple media sources and projectors

• Corporate AV rooms with video conferencing, source switching, and multi-display setups

• Entertainment venues like sports bars, performance halls, or digital signage-rich environments

In these spaces, platforms like Crestron, Control4, or Savant can deliver advanced media routing and matrix control with precision.

When AV Is Better as a Supporting Role

• Modern homes that rely on streaming devices, soundbars, or smart TVs

• Offices or restaurants that need background music, announcements, or digital menu control

• Hotels and hospitality where ambiance and automation matter more than source switching

• Retail spaces that want music, lighting, and access integrated into one system

In these cases, Loxone is often the better fit—offering simplified control, lower cost, and seamless integration without the overhead of complex AV programming.

AV control should never become a burden. If your building needs to work smarter, not just sound smarter, Loxone delivers the better balance.

Loxone + AV System = The Smartest of Both Worlds

Loxone wasn’t built to replace high-end AV systems—it was built to automate your entire space with intelligence, reliability, and ease. And that’s exactly what it does best.

But when it comes to enjoying music, streaming, or controlling AV devices, Loxone still delivers—just without the unnecessary complexity.

By focusing on whole-building logic and offering flexible AV integration options, Loxone gives you:

• A centralized, intuitive platform

• Smart environments that react automatically

• The ability to incorporate AV where it enhances—not overwhelms—your design

You don’t have to choose between a smart building and an entertaining one. With Loxone, you can have both—and Heyo Smart can help you get there.

Ready to Elevate Your Space?

Whether you're designing a home, hotel, restaurant, or office, Heyo Smart can help you create a fully automated environment with just the right level of AV integration. From smart speakers and scene-based audio to advanced automation across lighting, climate, access, and more—we’ll make sure every part of your building works together beautifully.

Contact Heyo Smart to get started on a smarter, more seamless experience.