Page description
About Joao Martins
Since 2013, Joao Martins leads audioXpress as editor-in-chief of the US-based magazine and website, the leading audio electronics, audio product development and design publication, working also as international editor for Voice Coil, the leading periodical for the loudspeaker industry. Covering Audio and Video technology for more than 30 years - Broadcast, Film, Computer Graphics, and Music - as founder and editor of several leading publications in Portuguese and Spanish languages, (he's also fluent in French!), he benefits from a broad and rich perspective of those sectors and its multiple verticals. Marketing and Communication Specialist working at the intersection of media and technology for over three decades, Joao Martins started as a musician and studied visual arts and cinema before founding its own (short-lived) advertising agency. After a career in marketing and sales in film, television, radio and pro audio systems, transitioned full time to magazine publishing, founding new

All items written by Joao Martins
Soundking Group Announces Strategic Relocation of Cadac Production to UK
August 7, 2024 by Joao Martins

Soundking Group Announces Strategic Relocation of Cadac Production to UK

Cadac, the famous British brand acquired by the Soundking Group in 2009, confirmed the strategic decision to relocate manufacturing of its new CM-System digital mixing consoles back to the United Kingdom. The move marks a significant transition from its previous China production base under the Soundking Group. The reenergized company says the return to UK manufacturing addresses evolving cost structures of global distribution, supply timelines and customer support agility.
Read more...
Phonak Unveils AI-Powered Real-Time Speech Separation in Noisy Environments
August 6, 2024 by Joao Martins

Phonak Unveils AI-Powered Real-Time Speech Separation in Noisy Environments

Phonak, a Sonova brand, launched a new family of hearing aids based on its latest Infinio platform. Part of the Infinio family with several Bluetooth-enabled models that still don't support LE Audio, is the Audéo Sphere Infinio, said to be the world's first hearing aid with a dedicated real-time AI chip for speech-from-noise separation. Powered by a new Phonak ERA processor, and a dedicated NPU, the new Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing-aids are able to enhance speech understanding from any direction.
Read more...
DALI RUBIKORE Loudspeaker Series Now Shipping in North America
August 6, 2024 by Joao Martins

DALI RUBIKORE Loudspeaker Series Now Shipping in North America

Following the successful, consecutive launches of the flagship DALI KORE and the EPIKORE-11 speakers, DALI continues to celebrate the company's 40-year in business with the new RUBIKORE Series. The 5-model loudspeaker series is the epitome of DALI's recent loudspeaker research and development efforts, condensing all KORE innovations in trickled-down premium hifi models. Now available and shipping across North America.
Read more...
EarFun Introduces Air Pro 4 Adaptive ANC Wireless Earbuds with LE Audio and Auracast
August 5, 2024 by Joao Martins

EarFun Introduces Air Pro 4 Adaptive ANC Wireless Earbuds with LE Audio and Auracast

Factories in China are starting to bring out the new generation of Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast-enabled true wireless earbuds, now that the chips are becoming available. Some more aggressive brands are using this opportunity to jump ahead of the crowd. EarFun managed a number of firsts in the new Air Pro 4 earbuds, the first Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Bluetooth 5.4 model with support for both LDAC and aptX Adaptive codecs, ready for LE Audio and Auracast.
Read more...
New Fractal Class-D Audio Amplifier Technology Maximizes Battery Life in TWS Earbuds
August 5, 2024 by Joao Martins

New Fractal Class-D Audio Amplifier Technology Maximizes Battery Life in TWS Earbuds

Typical Class-D amplifiers are generally tuned to give the highest efficiency when outputting large power levels but have a rather low efficiency at lower power levels. Using a new type of bridge configuration, the patented Fractal Class-D audio amplifier improves the efficiency at lower power levels while maximizing efficiency over a wide range of power levels. Available from SiliconIntervention, this technology was developed by Martin Mallinson, the company's founder and chief scientific officer.
Read more...
Sun Audio Unveils Purified 4 Desktop Modular Speakers and Plug & Play System
August 5, 2024 by Joao Martins

Sun Audio Unveils Purified 4 Desktop Modular Speakers and Plug & Play System

Sun Audio has released a version of the Purified 4 modular speakers with a smaller tri-pod stand for desktop applications. The Purified 4 Desktop speakers are also available with a choice of Purifi Audio 4-inch woofers and BlieSMa 25mm tweeters. Every variant includes a crossover profile tuned for optimal tonal balance. Sun Audio is also now proposing an Hypex NCore integrated amplifier and DSP solution, designed in cooperation with Nord Acoustics, and which can also power a pair of Atohm 9 compact subwoofers.
Read more...
SoundHound AI Rolls Out Voice Assistant with Generative AI to Stellantis Vehicles Across Europe
August 1, 2024 by Joao Martins

SoundHound AI Rolls Out Voice Assistant with Generative AI to Stellantis Vehicles Across Europe

SoundHound AI, one of the pioneers on speech-to-meaning voice interfaces continues to double down on its use of Generative AI to expand the possibilities of its voice assistants in automotive environments. The Silicon Valley company just confirmed that its SoundHound Chat AI voice assistant with integrated ChatGPT will be live in Alfa Romeo and Citroën vehicles across multiple European markets, adding to previous announcements with other Stellantis' brands.
Read more...
Radial Launches Nuance Select Studio Monitor Controller
July 31, 2024 by Joao Martins

Radial Launches Nuance Select Studio Monitor Controller

Radial Engineering continues to create products that are unique problem solvers for musicians and studio owners. The company is now shipping its new Nuance Select Studio Monitor Controller featuring a patent pending Clarity Circuit low distortion design. This new monitor controller has a simple but professional-looking surface with a central volume knob and an intuitive layout, offering two monitor and two headphone outputs from only two sources. The big differentiator is the complete transparency of the audio line-level pass-through.
Read more...
Particle Unveils Tachyon, a Qualcomm Snapdragon-Powered, 5G, AI-Enabled Single-Board Computer
July 31, 2024 by Joao Martins

Particle Unveils Tachyon, a Qualcomm Snapdragon-Powered, 5G, AI-Enabled Single-Board Computer

Particle, a company from San Francisco focused on edge-to-cloud connectivity and platforms, has launched Tachyon, its first Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered single-board computer (SBC), comprising a powerful NPU for AI/ML workloads, built-in high-bandwidth cellular 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and a Linux-powered Ubuntu operating system. The board is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter starting at $149.
Read more...
Rotel A8 Integrated Amplifier Meets Simple Needs for Japanese Hifi Quality
July 31, 2024 by Joao Martins

Rotel A8 Integrated Amplifier Meets Simple Needs for Japanese Hifi Quality

Rotel announced the new A8 Integrated Amplifier, the latest entry-level model in its growing 14 Series family of hifi components. The A8 leverages Rotel's 60+ year heritage and experience in engineering and manufacturing high-performance, high-value hifi audio components, delivering a very basic, 2x 40 Watts @4 Ohms, Class AB amplifier, with a Moving Magnet phono preamp plus three more line level inputs.
Read more...