The most common question we field from clients who have decided on Lutron is which system. Homeworks QSX or RadioRA 3? They are both professional Lutron lighting control systems, both installed exclusively by certified Lutron dealers, and both dramatically better than anything in the consumer market. But they are designed for different projects, and choosing the wrong one is an expensive mistake — either overspending significantly on capability you will never use, or installing a system that cannot do everything your project requires.

This guide is our honest answer to that question, based on 25 years of Lutron installation experience across London, Cheshire and internationally. We install both systems. We have no commercial incentive to recommend one over the other. What follows is the clearest distinction we can draw between them.

The Short Version

If you are building a new house or undertaking a major renovation, and you want the best lighting control system available, the answer is almost certainly Lutron Homeworks QSX.

If you have an existing property and want professional lighting control without rewiring, the answer is almost certainly Lutron RadioRA 3.

Everything below explains why, and covers the situations where the short version does not apply.

What They Have in Common

Both systems use Lutron’s proprietary Clear Connect RF technology for wireless communication — the most reliable dedicated lighting control radio protocol available, operating on its own frequency independent of your home Wi-Fi. Both offer scene-based control: a single keypad button press that sets multiple lights to pre-programmed levels simultaneously. Both integrate with Crestron home automation, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Both support Lutron’s Sivoia motorised blinds and curtains. Both are programmed and installed exclusively by certified Lutron dealers. Both will outlast the property they are installed in.

Lutron Homeworks QSX — The Flagship Wired System

How It Works

Homeworks QSX is a centralised, wired lighting control system. All lighting circuits run back to a central processor and dimmer rack — typically installed in a plant room, utility room or dedicated AV rack. The processor is the intelligence of the system; every keypad, every lighting circuit and every motorised blind is connected to it. There is no dependency on Wi-Fi or the internet for local operation — the system runs entirely on its own dedicated infrastructure.

What QSX Can Do That RadioRA 3 Cannot

Unlimited zones. Homeworks QSX scales to any size of property without architectural limits. A 20-room Mayfair townhouse, a 40-room country estate, a property with multiple outbuildings — QSX handles all of it as a single unified system. RadioRA 3 has practical zone limits that make it unsuitable for very large or complex installations.

The full designer keypad range. QSX supports Lutron’s entire keypad portfolio, including the Palladiom, Alisse and Avienna ranges — the best-looking lighting control keypads available anywhere, in a range of metal finishes and configurations that RadioRA 3 does not support.

Ketra full-spectrum lighting. Ketra is Lutron’s tunable white and full-colour lighting technology — fixtures that shift colour temperature throughout the day to follow natural daylight patterns, or that can be set to any white point from warm candlelight to daylight. Ketra integration is native to QSX and not available on RadioRA 3. For projects with a serious lighting designer involved, Ketra is frequently part of the specification.

Full third-party integration. QSX integrates with DALI lighting protocols, KNX, Crestron, and a wide range of specialist equipment. For complex projects with multiple specialist systems, QSX is the only option.

Complex programming. QSX supports sophisticated conditional logic — time-of-day triggers, occupancy sensor integration, astronomical clock events, multi-zone macros, and conditional behaviours that respond to inputs from other systems.

QSX Costs — What to Expect

A Homeworks QSX installation for a substantial London property — 15–20 lighting zones, motorised blinds in key rooms, Palladiom keypads throughout — typically starts from £25,000–£40,000 for the lighting system alone, before any associated smart home work. Large country house and estate installations with 40+ zones, Ketra integration and multiple outbuildings typically run from £80,000 to £200,000 or more.

QSX Is Right For You If:

• You are building a new house or undertaking a major renovation with first-fix electrical infrastructure available
• Your property has more than 15–20 lighting zones
• You want the full Lutron designer keypad range — Palladiom, Alisse or Avienna
• You want Ketra tunable white lighting
• You are pairing the lighting system with Crestron automation and want the most complete integration
• The property has outbuildings, guest wings or extensive grounds that need to be on the same system

Lutron RadioRA 3 — The Professional Wireless System

How It Works

RadioRA 3 is a wireless lighting control system. Instead of running all circuits back to a central processor, RadioRA 3 uses intelligent devices — dimmers, switches, keypads — that communicate wirelessly using Clear Connect RF technology. There is no rack of dimmer modules, no dedicated cabling infrastructure. The system is installed primarily by replacing existing light switches and dimmers with Lutron devices, and configuring the system wirelessly.

Launched in the UK in January 2025, RadioRA 3 is a significant evolution from its predecessor RadioRA 2. It supports a wider range of devices, improved communication reliability, the new Vierti keypad range, Lutron’s Lumaris tunable white lighting, and enhanced integration with third-party systems.

What Makes RadioRA 3 Right for Retrofits

No rewiring. This is the defining advantage. In a finished property — whether a London period conversion, a Cheshire farmhouse, a completed new build or an occupied family home — RadioRA 3 installs without opening walls or ceilings. Engineers replace existing switch plates with Lutron devices. The disruption is minimal; a typical retrofit installation for a four-bedroom home typically completes within a week without the family needing to vacate.

No rack infrastructure. Because RadioRA 3 is distributed rather than centralised, there is no requirement for a plant room or rack space to house the dimmer modules. In London apartments or properties with limited utility space, this is often a deciding factor.

Lower entry cost. For most retrofit projects, RadioRA 3 is significantly less expensive than QSX — primarily because the installation labour is substantially less complex.

Listed buildings and period properties. For listed buildings where any structural work requires listed building consent, RadioRA 3’s wireless installation is often the only practical option for a professional lighting control system.

RadioRA 3 Costs — What to Expect

A RadioRA 3 installation for a typical four-bedroom London or Cheshire home — 10–15 lighting zones, motorised blinds in living room and master bedroom, Vierti keypads throughout — typically starts from £8,000–£15,000. Larger properties with 20+ zones typically run from £20,000–£35,000. These are installed and commissioned costs, including programming.

RadioRA 3 Is Right For You If:

• Your property is already built and fully finished — rewiring is impractical or undesirable
• You are in a listed building or period property where structural work requires consent
• Your project has fewer than 20–25 lighting zones
• You do not need Ketra tunable white lighting
• You want professional lighting control at a more accessible price point than QSX
• The installation needs to complete with minimal disruption to an occupied household

Where It Gets More Complex

Can You Mix QSX and RadioRA 3?

No. They are separate systems and cannot share a processor. A property must run one or the other. If you start with RadioRA 3 and later want QSX features — Ketra integration, larger zone counts, Palladiom keypads — you are typically looking at a full system replacement rather than an upgrade. The choice made at installation stage is consequential.

What About Upgrading an Existing Lutron System?

Many properties have older Lutron systems — Grafik Eye, Homeworks QS (the predecessor to QSX), or RadioRA 2. We regularly handle these upgrades. Homeworks QS installations can typically be migrated to QSX with a processor upgrade and reprogramming, retaining the existing wired infrastructure. RadioRA 2 installations can be migrated to RadioRA 3, retaining the dimmer infrastructure in most cases.

RadioRA 3 with Crestron — How Well Does It Integrate?

RadioRA 3 integrates with Crestron via the LEAP API — the same integration method used by Homeworks QSX. The integration is robust: Crestron can call RadioRA 3 scenes, control individual zones and receive status feedback. For most residential Crestron projects where a full QSX specification is not warranted, RadioRA 3 and Crestron work well together.

Our Recommendation

The honest answer is that for most retrofit projects RadioRA 3 is the right answer, and for most new builds QSX is the right answer. The cases where this is reversed are rare but real: a new build with a tight budget where QSX infrastructure costs are prohibitive, or a retrofit where the client specifically wants Ketra integration and is willing to invest in the infrastructure to make it happen.

We are certified installers for both systems. When we recommend one over the other, it is based on the specific project — not on margin, product preference or what we happen to have in stock. If you would like an honest assessment of which system is right for your property, contact us for a free consultation.

Read more about Lutron Homeworks QSX → · Read more about Lutron RadioRA 3 →