Crestrons' Prodigy system vs. Control4

Prodigy is a response to Control4 but the two companies approach control very differently.  We are a dealer for both lines, although we do substantially more work with Crestron.

Control4 is, at the core, a fixed configuration system with a fixed user experience that modules plug into.  Crestron has clear separation of hardware and software with many different software tools. Control4 has a strong bias towards Zigbee communication protocol, Crestron has a multi-protocol environment.  This eases Control4 integration of 3rd party products while enabling Crestron to have a massively larger group of tightly integrated 3rd party products.

SOFTWARE TOOLS

For users, the difference is substantial.  In Control4, audio/video devices, lights, audio zones can be added and modified very quickly.  The program for the control system isn't changing - just the configuration (for geeks - think stored procedures in SQL vs. a compiled + linked program.)  The user model is fixed, however.  How many clicks to turn on TV in Control4? 5 or 6 usually. Prodigy has 3 levels of programming available.  Composer provides the same quick configuration model as Control4. There are plus and minuses to the user experience - Control4 is TV focused, Crestron is remote control focused. Composer produces files editable in another tool called System Builder.  System Builder is a rich point/click authoring tool that produces full programs. Any arbitrary logic can be built and the user experience can be changed completely.  It produces SIMPL programs - the most powerful and flexible programming tool around.  Or one can program the Prodigy system in SIMPL.  Using SIMPL, one can make Prodigy part of any larger Crestron system or program the hardware in any way you want. (I took an advanced environmental control program I wrote that does air monitoring and controls fans + ducts and brought it over to the Prodigy environment - there were no limitations at all.)

WHOLE HOUSE AUDIO

The iPod dock on the Prodigy side is much stronger.  Everyone complains about the Control4 iPod dock.  The Control4 system can directly play back media files on a PC without any added cost.  The per zone costs are similar expect for the smallest systems.  Prodigy has programming support to manage a receiver zone 2 output out of the box.  It's also fairly straightforward to merge distributed audio zones into a system with a surround zone.  Control4 is a bit clumsy in managing this - usually the zones are out of sync without a bunch of button presses.  Personally, I really like the way Crestron has enabled use of the reciever functions in a really rich way. Control4 just uses the reciever as a switcher, moving two-way AM/FM/XM control to their own tuners.  Crestron has a really nice interface for the reciever itself.

AUTOMATION

Most "cool" automation functions are easier to implement in Control4 because of the richness of the partner network.  I think CardAccess, a 3rd party developer very close to Control4, fills a very cool space that doesn't have a comparable partner in the Crestron developer community.  Crestron needs to enable Sequel Technologies or ELK inside of Prodigy Composer to have some of the same features. Although Card Access being Zigbee based is still a huge advantage.

EXPANSION

Control4 is easier and lower cost, Crestron is substantially richer.  Control4's treatment of legacy products worries me - I have not been able to bring the older customers hardware into the new set of features (1.6/1.7 and I presume 2.0 doesn't run on the 1st gen hardware.) This is quite a bit different than dealing with old Crestron gear.

COST

System cost will not be substantially driven by a Prodigy vs. Control4 choice or even a Crestron vs. Control4 choice.  Does your integrator use ultra cheap flat panel mounts or something like this. Those two mounts have a 30X cost difference.  

MAKING THE DECISION

I think Prodigy is incredible.  But for an experienced Crestron system designer, it's sort of like a Porsche 911 that only can drive in a 20 mile radius.  Would you like the 911 experience for 30% of the cost of a full one? Especially if you could upgrade it? Or would you rather own a Corolla that can go on vacation? I remain envious of the Zigbee 3rd party integrations on the Control4 side but I don't think Crestron is going to be left out of the game.   I'm not that fond of either the Control4 nor the Prodigy hand-held remote currently shipping.  If I had any whole house audio, even just reciever based with 2nd zone speakers, Prodigy would be the choice.  If I had extensive automation desires in a low-end system, Control4 wins out (did I mention I wish CardAccess made products for Crestron?) .  For a simple, press a button, turn on the TV and control the Tivo, I just might keep putting in Universal Remote MX-980's for a few more months. When the PLX3 ships, Universal Remote will be toast around here....

Update on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 10:27AM by Aaron Rosenbaum

This post is very popular - people find it from google searches almost 100 times per day.

I think it's outdated.  The question today isn't so much C4 vs. Crestron but centralized vs. De-centralized.  I'm still pro Crestron but today.  I think Crestrons iPad solution is superior as are their envirormental controls.  However, decrentralized solutions, with Crestron or C4 still involved, are the real solution for distributed control.  If it's multi-system automation - like AV system integration - you still need an integration platform but many stand-alone products work just fine without a central controller now.