For most LA homes, the choice comes down to scale. Caséta fits a few rooms or a smaller home, RadioRA 3 fits most whole-home projects and remodels, and HomeWorks QSX is the right call for large custom homes where design, keypads and lighting quality really matter. LA Techs is an authorized Lutron dealer, and we install all three depending on the house.
They're all Lutron, so they're all reliable. The differences are about size, flexibility and finish.
Caséta: the smart starting point
Caséta is Lutron's entry system, sold at retail and designed for easy installs. It's wireless, it swaps in for standard switches, and it's genuinely good at what it does.
Where it runs out is size and polish. It's built for a handful of rooms, the keypad options are limited, and it isn't meant for big custom designs. For a condo, a guest house or a few key rooms, it's a solid pick.
RadioRA 3: the whole-home sweet spot
RadioRA 3 is Lutron's dealer-installed whole-home system, and it's where a lot of LA projects land. It's wireless, which makes it great for remodels where opening walls isn't an option.
It covers lighting and shades across a full house, with nicer keypads (Sunnata) and engraved buttons that say what they do. It also integrates cleanly with Control4 and Savant, so lights and shades live in the same app as audio, video and security.
HomeWorks QSX: the custom home standard
HomeWorks QSX is Lutron's flagship. It can be wired, wireless or both, it scales to very large homes and estates, and it opens up Lutron's designer keypads like Palladiom and Alisse.
It's also the platform for the most serious lighting work, including Ketra tunable fixtures and centralized panels that keep walls clean (fewer dimmers, more single keypads). For new construction where an architect and lighting designer are involved, this is usually the right answer.
Which fits your LA home?
Think about three questions: how big is the house, is it new construction or a remodel, and how much do the keypads and lighting quality matter to the design?
| | Caséta | RadioRA 3 | HomeWorks QSX | |---|---|---|---| | Best for | A few rooms, smaller homes | Most whole-home projects and remodels | Large custom homes and estates | | Wiring | Wireless | Wireless | Wired, wireless or both | | Keypads | Basic | Sunnata, engraved | Palladiom, Alisse and more | | Installed by | DIY or pro | Lutron dealer | Lutron dealer |
New construction vs. remodel
On a new build, wiring is cheap and HomeWorks QSX gives you the most room to grow (and the cleanest walls). Centralized panels in the equipment room mean fewer dimmers in the wall, which architects love.
On a remodel, wireless shines. RadioRA 3 lets us upgrade a house to whole-home control without tearing out plaster, which matters a lot in older LA homes.
Don't forget shades
All three systems control Lutron shades, but the shade lineup grows as you move up. On larger glass-heavy homes (most of the Westside), planning shades and lighting together in one system pays off every afternoon when the sun swings around.
What it looks like day to day
The best lighting control is the one nobody has to think about. A "Goodnight" button that turns off the house, closes the shades and arms the alarm is the moment owners fall in love with it.
That's programming more than hardware, and it's where an experienced integrator earns their keep. See more on our Lutron and lighting control pages.
Quick answers
Q: What's the difference between Lutron Caséta, RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks QSX? A: Caséta is a retail system for a few rooms, RadioRA 3 is a dealer-installed wireless whole-home system, and HomeWorks QSX is Lutron's flagship for large custom homes with wired or wireless options and designer keypads.
Q: Which Lutron system is best for a new custom home in Los Angeles? A: Usually HomeWorks QSX, especially when an architect or lighting designer is involved. RadioRA 3 can be a great fit for smaller builds.
Q: Is RadioRA 3 good for a remodel? A: Yes. It's wireless, so it can bring whole-home lighting and shade control into an existing house without opening most walls.
Q: Who installs Lutron HomeWorks in Los Angeles? A: LA Techs is an authorized Lutron dealer that designs and installs Caséta, RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks QSX systems across LA, and has been in business since 2006.
Not sure which one fits? Send us the plans or call 213.354.8324 and we'll tell you straight.
