Hi friends, Akarsh here from Dio - it's been a while since I've written!
Wow, the last few months have gone by like a blur. We had our first-ever stockout of Dio Node (but we're armed with fresh inventory now), had a chance to showcase our speakers across the country, and received even more press and PR attention than ever before, including some big names! Here's what we've been up to...
Dio at Emmys Week in LA!
This year, Dio was invited to the exclusive Harvest Emmys Gift Suite in LA, where we got to demo our speakers to hundreds of celebs and other Hollywood tastemakers. It was amazing to meet people that I've only seen on TV before, only to be reminded how personal, friendly, and human everyone really is. Here are a few fun moments from the event:
When Pol' Atteu and Patrik Simpson tried to jump onto our table
At one point during the event, our speakers were so popular that a line started to form to try our demos. In peak Gown and Out fashion (pun absolutely intended), Pol' Atteu and Patrik Simpson decided the line was optional. As soon as they got close enough, they made a playful move toward hopping onto our demo table: "Hello! We'd like to try the speakers, please!"
When Gilles Marini devised a plan to prank his friends at his cabin
While most people reacted to our speakers with some form of "I'm so excited to start listening to my audio around the house!", Gilles Marini (Sex and the City) had something else come to mind entirely. "Oh, I gotta buy 10 right now," he told us. "These are going to connect all around, and I have a little forest cabin where I want to make some 'jokes' that work perfect for this!"
To whoever Gilles ended up pranking, I want to deeply apologize. I guess you'll just have to buy 10 of our speakers to get him back...
When Kathy Garver decided to stop using the A-word
We always say Dio is built around two simple ideas: keep things minimal, and keep things private. So when Kathy Garver (Family Affair) tried the speakers, she immediately said, “I need to replace the Alexas in my home with this.”
And apparently that struck a nerve. Throughout the day, the “A-word” kept coming up. Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3), Tamara Clatterbuck (The Young and the Restless), Kym Karath (The Sound of Music)...everyone had a story about a smart speaker doing something weird, unexpected, or overly chatty at the wrong moment. It was one of those rare moments where you realize people aren’t just looking for new gadgets - they’re looking for a little more peace, a little more control, and a little less “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
Dio at CEDIA 2025
Just a week before heading to LA for the Emmys, we were in Denver showcasing Dio at the startup launchpad at CEDIA: the biggest trade show in the world for audio and video products, and a major hub for custom home equipment installers. To be honest, this was my first time at CEDIA - and I felt like a kid in a candy store. Walking into the exhibit hall the night before the show, seeing the big audio giants like Sonos, Sony, Harman, and others set up their massive booths with open bars, baristas, and couches...it was surreal.
It also gave me a moment to step back and think about what Dio could grow into. Compared to the big players, our product is tiny and simple - but that’s exactly why it matters. Much of the show focused on ultra-premium systems that are incredible to demo, but impossible for most people to justify buying for their own homes. It reminded me just how niche multi-room technology has been - and why we built Dio: to bring this experience to everyday homes, not just dream houses.
As we demoed Dio in our little 10x10 booth, I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions. Many visitors approached us not as installers thinking about clients, but from a personal angle: “I usually install [insert premium system name] for my clients, but I’d love this for my own home!” We even caught some attention from CEPro magazine, which covered our booth and our mission to make multi-room audio accessible to more people.
Secret Holiday Deals
If you've read this far, I wanted to give you a heads up on a secret deal we have coming up for the holidays! Dio Node is now 3 years old, and we've had our biggest year yet, with more homes than ever before using Dio Node, more places to buy it from, and over 1,000 new friends following our journey on my newsletter.
To celebrate, we're doing a massive Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal this year while supplies last - and we've decided to open it up early just to members of our email list so that you can get first dibs.
Be on the lookout for an email this Sunday, November 23, announcing the deal with a special link to buy early. This is our best deal of the year, so if you're looking to expand your home audio setup or finally try Dio Node for the first time, Sunday's the day!
And if you haven't signed up on email, you can do so here:
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🪩 What We're Binging: Hazbin Hotel Season 2
While not for everyone, my wife introduced me to this irreverent comedy when it first came out in 2024. Since then, we've been eagerly waiting for Season 2, and so far it has not disappointed! More songs, more swears, and more things to blast out through the 7 Dio Nodes in our home (just not while the toddler is around!). Can't wait for the season finale this week!
-Akarsh