The best boardroom technology is the technology you never notice. The Arthur Holm DB3 is built on that idea, and it now has the industry recognition to match. The DB3 is a finalist for Product of the Year at the 2026 Mix Awards, with winners announced on 25 June 2026. The Mix Awards is a leading programme for commercial interior design, recognising standout projects, products, and people across the UK and Europe. Audio Visual Distributors (AVD) is Arthur Holm’s authorised distributor for Australia and New Zealand, bringing the DB3 and the wider Arthur Holm range to executive spaces across both countries.
The Challenge: A Premium Display That Disappears, and Still Behaves
Premium meeting and conference spaces face two problems at once. The first is visual. Fixed monitors break sightlines and clutter the table. They make a considered room feel like a technical one. The second problem is harder to see, but it causes more grief after handover. A motorised retractable monitor that rises and lowers on command is not the same as a screen you lift by hand. Once it joins a control system, it has to do more. It must rise when a meeting starts. It must retract when the meeting ends. It must respond to room scenes and report its status back to the integrator.
Getting both right, the look and the control, is where many boardroom projects struggle. The Arthur Holm DB3 is designed to do both. The retractable monitor matches the furniture and vanishes when idle. It also speaks fluently to the AV control processor running the room.
The Solution: The Arthur Holm DB3
A Retractable 4K Monitor That Preserves the Furniture
The Arthur Holm DB3 is an advanced motorised retractable monitor. It integrates into premium meeting and conference spaces while preserving the aesthetics of the furniture. The retractable monitor is available in 17 inch, 22 inch, and 24 inch versions, with 4K and touch screen options. Its innovative automated hatch system gives the table a refined, streamlined finish when the monitor is retracted. The monitor position is adjustable, so each seat gets the right viewing angle for comfort and focus.
Built for Control System Integration
Every Arthur Holm motorised monitor communicates over AHnet, a control protocol based on the RS-422/RS-485 Full Duplex serial standard. AHnet is built for reliable data over long cable runs in electrically noisy environments, which is exactly what you find under a boardroom table. Monitors connect in a daisy-chain topology, so a single line runs from the interface through every monitor on the bus. That keeps cabling simple compared to point-to-point wiring.
The ERT interface is the hub of the system. It bridges the room’s AV control system to the monitor bus and provides IP based access for commissioning, diagnostics, and remote management. Two models cover most projects. The ERT-30 supports up to 30 monitors on a single bus. The ERT-60 supports up to 60 across two buses. Both include Ethernet, a USB service port for firmware updates, and wireless control through the AHlink app.
AHnet is an open protocol. Arthur Holm publishes the command set. Control system programmers can write native drivers for Crestron, Q-Sys, Extron, AMX, Kramer, and other platforms. They do not need a proprietary SDK or a licensing agreement. For IP based control systems, the ERT opens TCP port 2002 and accepts AHnet commands directly, which removes the dedicated serial cable run from the AV rack to the table.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screen sizes | 17 inch, 22 inch, 24 inch |
| Display options | 4K resolution, touch screen available |
| Finish | Automated hatch system, furniture integrated |
| Ergonomics | Adjustable monitor position |
| Control protocol | AHnet (RS-422/RS-485 Full Duplex) |
| Interface | ERT-30 (up to 30 monitors) or ERT-60 (up to 60 monitors) |
| IP control | TCP port 2002 via the ERT |
| Supported control platforms | Crestron, Q-Sys, Extron, AMX, Kramer |
| Cabling | Shielded CAT6 FTP, up to 500m per bus |
| Remote management | RDM diagnostics and the AHlink app |
Key Outcomes and Results
- Award-recognised design: The DB3 is a 2026 Mix Awards finalist for Product of the Year, a credible signal of design quality for clients who care about how a room looks and feels.
- Clean rooms at rest: The automated hatch system hides the monitor flush in the table, so the furniture stays the focus until the screen is needed.
- Simpler cabling: The daisy-chain AHnet bus replaces point-to-point wiring, and a single network cable to the ERT can replace a dedicated serial run from the AV rack.
- Faster commissioning: The ERT’s OTAS feature assigns monitor addresses automatically, removing one of the most time consuming steps on multi monitor installations.
- Fewer site visits: RDM remote diagnostics give the integrator visibility of movement logs, firmware versions, and sensor status over IP, so many issues are resolved without physical access to the table.
- Open integration: Native driver support for Crestron, Q-Sys, Extron, AMX, and Kramer means the DB3 fits the control platform the project already uses.
Why the Arthur Holm DB3 for Premium Boardrooms
- It protects the architecture. Furniture integration keeps the design intent intact, rather than bolting technology onto a finished room.
- It is built for daily executive use. Precision motorised mechanisms are engineered for the rigour of constant boardroom use.
- It is specified for high-end environments. Arthur Holm solutions are specified in corporate headquarters, government institutions, and high-end architectural projects worldwide.
- It is easy to control and maintain. The ERT, AHnet, and the AHlink app give integrators a clear path from cabling to commissioning to ongoing diagnostics.
Download the technical white paper: How to control motorized retractable and foldable monitors in AV systems (Arthur Holm, May 2026). It covers the AHnet control architecture, the ERT interface, the four control methods, the commissioning workflow, and the common integration mistakes to avoid.
Partner With AVD
As Arthur Holm’s authorised distributor for Australia and New Zealand, AVD supports integrators, architects, and designers from first concept to final handover. The team helps coordinate dimensions, power routing, cable management, and control system integration early, so the DB3 is designed into the space rather than added at the end.
Contact AVD’s solutions team for a product demonstration, dealer pricing, or a project consultation by phone on +61 7 5561 7530 or email [email protected].
