Crestron, Vitrea, Orvibo or Moorgen: which is the best smart home system?

The short answer

There is no single best smart home system – there is the best one for your home, your stage and your budget.

Crestron is for new homes where lighting, climate, blinds, audio, video and security all need to work together. Moorgen is for homes where the design of the panels matters as much as the technology. Vitrea is an elegant smart home for both new builds and renovations without new wiring. Orvibo is for existing homes, when you want a smart home quickly at a more accessible price.

Smart devices or a smart home system?

Today almost any appliance can be called "smart" – sockets, bulbs, cameras and more. These devices are part of the so-called Internet of Things (IoT): they connect to the network, are controlled from an app and can run simple automations. The difference is that each one usually works on its own, with a separate app.

But no smart device on its own makes a home smart. A smart home begins where devices stop being separate. A smart home system brings lighting, climate, blinds, access control, cameras, music and TV together under one control. With a single tap on the "Good night" scene, the lights turn off, the curtains close, the heating goes down and the door locks.

Why we work with four systems, not one

Every home is different, which is why at iNovativa we offer four home automation systems – Crestron, Vitrea, Moorgen and Orvibo. A new house before the shell is built and a fully furnished apartment have different needs, timelines and budgets.

We have 10 years of experience in complete turnkey solutions – from design to installation, programming and support. iNovativa is the exclusive distributor of Vitrea and Moorgen in Bulgaria and has been building Crestron systems for 5 years. For the past 2 years, Orvibo has completed our portfolio as a wireless system that needs no complex wiring and makes the smart home accessible to more people.

Together, the four systems cover every stage your home might be at – from an empty plot to a furnished apartment. The difference is how much wiring they need and how easily they can be expanded later.

What the four systems have in common

In 10 years in the business, we have learned that technology changes fast – apps, standards and devices come and go. That is why, with a smart home, it matters more that the system is stable, can grow and has someone to support it. If you want your home to be truly automated, the investment is in a system, not in individual devices.

Each of the four systems brings control of your automations into one place. In each of them you can create scenes such as "Good morning", "Movie" or "Leaving home", as well as automations by time, by sunrise and sunset, or triggered by a sensor.

You control your home from wherever suits you – wall panels and switches, the mobile app and, with most systems, your voice. You can check on and control your home while you are away. And last but not least – every system is designed for the specific home and does not leave you on your own after installation, because support is part of the solution.

The differences between the systems lie in the technology (wired or wireless), the design of the panels, the scale and the price. These are exactly the differences that decide which system is right for you.

Crestron: a complete premium smart home

Crestron is an American system for homes where everything has to work flawlessly and as one. Its operating system, Crestron Home OS, brings lighting, climate, blinds, music, TVs, cameras, locks, garage doors and gates under one control.

Best for: new houses and villas, luxury apartments, homes with a home cinema and multi-room audio.

Crestron has the widest scope of the four systems – DALI lighting with tunable white light, blinds with Quiet Motor Technology (QMT), Horizon smart thermostats, and whole-home audio and video. The experience is the same on every screen: 5 to 10-inch touchscreens, Horizon and Cameo designer keypads, a remote and the Crestron Home app. The system works with Sonos, Lutron, Philips Hue and with TVs, projectors, cameras and smart locks from leading brands, and Crestron Home OS updates add new features without replacing the system.

Vitrea: elegant control and fast installation

Vitrea is an Israeli smart home system created to remove expensive infrastructure and complex wiring from home automation. The brand is known for its elegant glass touch switches and panels, which replace ordinary switches and take over control of lighting, blinds, climate and security.

Best for: new builds, renovations without new wiring, and homes with an existing system you want to upgrade.

With Vitrea you can choose between the wireless VTouch Pro – easy to expand – and the wired VMax for new builds. Installation is quick and simple, so Vitrea also suits homes that are already furnished. The VTouch Cresnet version bring Vitrea's design into Crestron systems, and with the ControlPro app for iOS and Android you can control your home from anywhere.

‍

Moorgen: when design matters as much as technology

Moorgen is a German smart home system founded in 2016. In a short time it has built a portfolio of more than 1,200 products and over 300 patents, and its panels have won some of the most prestigious design awards – Red Dot "Best of the Best", iF, IDEA and Good Design.

Best for: new houses and apartments, interiors designed by an architect or interior designer, and clients looking for premium-looking switches and panels.

Moorgen panels come in a range of materials and colours and fit many interior styles. A single panel controls lighting, curtains, air conditioning and the TV, while the built-in light sensor dims the display at night. The system supports wired (bus) and wireless control, both locally and remotely. The range includes smart panels, an AI touchscreen, remotes and smart locks, and MIA technology learns your habits and adapts to them.

Orvibo: a smart home without renovation

Orvibo is a wireless smart home system that needs no complex wiring and no major renovation. Its devices communicate via Zigbee 3.0 – a wireless standard designed specifically for smart homes. Each device passes the signal on to the next, so the network becomes more stable with every new device and does not load your home Wi-Fi.

Best for: furnished apartments and houses, light renovations, rental properties, and a first step into the smart home on a smaller budget.

MixPad smart panels combine buttons, a touchscreen and voice control in one place, and battery sensors last for months, even years. Some devices support Matter, and selected products work with Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa. Orvibo is also the most affordable of the four systems and can be expanded step by step.

How to choose the right system for you

In most cases, two questions are enough to help you find the right system: what stage your home is in and what matters most to you.

Real-world projects are rarely that simple. Often, the best solution is a combination, for example, Crestron with Vitrea switches. That’s why the final step is always a conversation with an integrator.

Request a free consultation

‍

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I make my home smart without renovating?

Yes. The wireless Orvibo and Vitrea VTouch Pro systems fit into the existing switch boxes, with no breaking walls and no new wiring.

2. Which system is best for a new house?

For new builds we recommend a wired system – Crestron, Moorgen or Vitrea VMax. The cables are laid during construction, and the system is the most stable and offers the most possibilities.

3. Can I upgrade the system later?

Yes. All four systems let you start with a few rooms or functions and add new devices step by step.

4. Do the systems work with voice assistants?

Yes. The systems support voice control, and Orvibo also works with Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

5. How does working with iNovativa start?

The first of our four steps is a free consultation at our office: we get to know your project, discuss what you want to automate and propose the most suitable system.