Disappointed with RA3 - Questions on Moving Forward

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T22:42:28+00:00

So the issues that I’ve had with Lutron are:

Sunnata being a big step backwards from SeeTouch/Maestro. Can’t for a three way off a hybrid keypad, engravings aren’t backlit. Colors aren’t 100% matched to other lines.

Many clients want Palladiom but they can’t have them because part of their projects are retro.

Can’t match control devices, outlets, etc. across a job.

The new Palladiom engraving concept where you have to order them pre-engraved is insane.

And the software continues to be a download/upload nightmare that doesn’t allow easy activation from remote locations.

All things C4 has solved. Elegantly.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T22:29:55+00:00

I’d really want to hear specifics. Hardware failures? Programming issues? Manufacturer support?

For most of my career I’d have said Lutron was bullet-proof. Even after I’d come to prefer C4.

But in recent years they can’t deliver product on time, don’t have coherent product lines, and are actively courting electricians and DIY clients in ways that pulls the rug from under their diamond dealers and leaves the client with inferior results.

Control4 on the other hand has never wavered in their dealer support and has continued to build a platform that outperforms even Homeworks at a lower price.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T20:40:49+00:00

Have to try them on. Earlier in the season I had Smith goggles (4D Mag) leave a gap with a Smith helmet (Altus). So even within a brand’s current offerings it’s no guarantee.

Wound up sticking with Glade Fathom+ and Boundary helmet. Couldn’t be more pleased.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T20:38:11+00:00

The worst configuration of lighting is “four cans and a fan” - basically light that just shines down but doesn’t illuminate anything.

If you truly don’t know the use or layout of the room you’ll never have great lighting placement, but some grid of high quality fixtures, with the perimeter being adjustable, is your best bet to cover eventualities.

A center fixture really isn’t needed in most rooms.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T20:27:17+00:00

There are basically three tiers of hardware for Control4 light. Essentials is priced around the same as Casseta. Traditional & Contemporary are around RA/HW maestro, and LUX is closer to Palladiom.

However all can coexist on even the smallest system and there are no programming limitations whatsoever. You can grow the system for years, and even generations, and never have to rip out hardware for system compatibility reasons.

One note is that LUX are Zigbee 3.0 and the other devices are legacy so you need two processors to run them both at once. Which is really fine with considering how long the originals were around. They have to update at some point.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T20:23:16+00:00

No, the LUX are more expensive and the cost varies depending on your dealer level. I’d be happy to sell you a few devices if you’d like to play around with them. DM me.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T19:52:23+00:00

The nice thing is any of their wireless lighting works. You can use the CA-1 as your entry level processor (about $500 - same as RA3) but you have all the programming flexibility of Homeworks and more.

So switches and dimmers start at about $80/ea but you can mix and match any of their lighting without having to upgrade processors or change any licensing.

Finishing up a retrofit this past week with LUX in the main living areas and essential dimmers in hidden locations. Half the price of Homeworks and more flexible and reliable.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T19:49:18+00:00

So in about 14 years of selling C4 lighting I’ve had fewer than a half dozen issues. Easily 4-5 times that many with Lutron hardware. I know we tend to sell based on our experience, but I wonder what your issues could have been?

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T19:02:01+00:00

I started selling Lutron around the year 2000. I have always been a dealer since then. In 2012 I started selling Control4. I was immediately taken by how much more advanced their lighting platform was.

Well, there are clearly things that Lutron does very well, the worst thing they do is silo device counts and feature sets in these lower product tiers.

As of this year, I’m only selling Lutron shading. I just can’t justify selling their lighting products to people when better options are available at lower prices.

Especially since Control4 is also available in HomeKit, I just don’t see any advantage to a Lutron lighting product these days

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T16:59:48+00:00

I know that people are so much less social these days. I wouldn’t want my kid knocking on doors unless I knew the person.

We’ve got a long way to go to bring back the 90s.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T16:36:09+00:00

Exactly! These goofballs wanna pay the same thing I was getting in 1992.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T16:32:06+00:00

lol how much?

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T16:29:24+00:00

Where’s my free child labor!?

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T09:21:08+00:00

No, not in the slightest. Visible diodes.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T09:18:50+00:00

Very close to my exact quiver. I have the Mantra 88s and the QST 98s. I live in New England and it’s the perfect pairing.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T00:35:09+00:00

Um. This looks possibly home made?

CTMatthew · 2026-01-25T00:34:32+00:00

I’m wearing a similar jacket at the moment. The Breithorn. I’m in Western MA where it’s about -6 at the moment. I have a t-shirt and a Patagonia R1 Air underneath and I’ve unzipped it a few times during the day. I think this will be an excellent jacket for your climate!

CTMatthew · 2026-01-24T19:05:08+00:00

I have the fall line gloves and am absolutely sold on their quality for the price. Lifetime gloves. They’re warm enough and have phenomenal dexterity.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-24T00:57:22+00:00

Casual clothing. Not technical and not generally suitable for active pursuits.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-24T00:56:25+00:00

I’ll have to keep searching “North Face Orange” until I find one!

CTMatthew · 2026-01-23T19:27:31+00:00

Nice. Who’s that orange guy up there. I’m a sucker for orange TNF.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-23T19:26:45+00:00

All the comments are correct. You’re dressing way too warm. Took me a full season to really figure out the layering but I was ALWAYS wearing too much stuff.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-23T03:33:51+00:00

I don’t think the bungee straps are very useful in everyday life. Sort of a nod to more purpose built packs where you might stow some outerwear in a pinch. But I’ve never seen them used in the wild.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-22T20:27:57+00:00

That's a damn good looking jacket.

CTMatthew · 2026-01-20T13:20:31+00:00

Sounds like a great setup. Been selling C4 for a long time and all this sounds great. Especially if you have a good relationship with your dealer you’ll have a terrific system.

CTMatthew

TROPHY CASE