Top 15 Home Automation Brands for Your Smart Home
A truly smart home is only as good as the technology inside it. At Golden, we've spent years designing and installing automation systems across Minnesota, and we've learned that the difference between a home that simply has gadgets and a home that genuinely works comes down to the brands we build with. The right components integrate seamlessly, hold up to our Minnesota winters, and stay reliable for years to come, all controlled through one simple interface instead of a dozen competing apps.
Below are 15 of the brands we trust most, organised by what they do best. Together, they cover everything from whole-home control and audio to video, lighting, and security, the building blocks of a home that anticipates your needs.
Home Automation & Control Systems
These platforms are the brains of a smart home, the layer that ties every device together under one intuitive interface.
- Savant: Elegant, whole-home control with beautiful, intuitive interfaces that make managing lighting, climate, audio, and entertainment feel effortless.
- Control4: Industry-leading automation known for seamless device integration, connecting thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers into a single, unified system.
Audio Systems
Great sound is at the heart of every home we design, whether it's a dedicated theater, a whole-home music system, or speakers out on the patio.
- Sonos: Wireless, whole-home audio with famously easy setup and app-based control for streaming in any room.
- James Loudspeaker: High-performance architectural speakers built with patented technologies for audiophile sound that disappears into the room.
- Sonance: Architectural audio designed to blend invisibly into walls and ceilings without sacrificing performance.
- Paradigm: Canadian craftsmanship and proprietary technology delivering immersive, room-filling sound.
- Bluesound: High-resolution, multi-room streaming with full support for lossless audio formats.
- Origin Acoustics: Premium speakers paired with innovative installation systems for cleaner, faster, better-sounding results.
- Coastal Source: Rugged, fully weatherproof outdoor audio engineered to perform through Minnesota's toughest seasons, with that same durable engineering carrying into their outdoor and landscape lighting.
Video Systems
From reference-quality movie nights to displays that stand up to a Minnesota summer, these brands anchor the visual side of your home.
- Kaleidescape: A premium movie server delivering reference-quality playback and a true cinematic experience at home.
- Sony TVs: Premium televisions with stunning picture quality and smart features built in.
- Samsung Outdoor TVs: Weather-resistant displays engineered for bright, vibrant viewing on the deck, patio, or by the pool.
Lighting Control
Lighting sets the mood while adding real convenience and efficiency, especially through our long Minnesota winters.
- Lutron: World-class lighting control and automated shading that adjusts your home's light throughout the day, from a single keypad or your phone.
For outdoor and landscape lighting, we also turn to Coastal Source (featured above), whose weatherproof systems illuminate walkways, architecture, and gardens beautifully in any climate.
Security Systems
Peace of mind is the foundation of a smart home, and these brands help protect what matters most.
- Ubiquiti: Enterprise-grade networking and security built around the UniFi ecosystem, delivering reliable coverage and professional-grade surveillance.
- Lockly: Advanced smart locks featuring PIN Genie technology and biometric access for secure, keyless entry.
Building Your Smart Home with Golden
The brands above are only as powerful as the way they're brought together. As a fully licensed and insured Class A contractor serving Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and communities across Minnesota, we design and install systems that make these technologies work as one, reliably, simply, and beautifully. Whether you're starting with a single room or wiring an entire new build, our team will help you choose the right brands for your home and lifestyle. Reach out to schedule a private consultation, and let's bring your smart home to life.
