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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
SEAS Announces New W19 Excel Graphene Woofer Series
May 3, 2019 by Joao Martins

SEAS Announces New W19 Excel Graphene Woofer Series

Following the announcement in early March 2019 of a completely new Excel Graphene Woofer Series and the commercial introduction of the new W16NX003 E0073-08 driver, the first in the new Excel Graphene series, SEAS Fabrikker now announced a completely new product-size series as part of the new Excel Graphene product line. Named the 19-series, the new woofers are classical 176 mm in diameter, but with a new basket design and larger roll surround, with focus on improved linear excursion capability and dynamic headroom in the bass.
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Eighteen Sound Expands Tetracoil Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer Series
May 2, 2019 by Joao Martins

Eighteen Sound Expands Tetracoil Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer Series

Prolight+Sound 2019 was a reassuring show for all companies working with Eighteen Sound drivers. The company is now, together with Ciare, part of the B&C Speakers SpA Group of companies. At the Frankfurt show, Eighteen Sound and Ciare had their own separate booth (side by side with B&C), showing lots of new products in all areas of the portfolio. Of course, Eighteen Sound is renowned for its low frequency drivers, and during Prolight+Sound the company impressed with the new 18NTLW500 next generation high performance subwoofer using Tetracoil technology.
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BMS Speakers Introduces New Coaxial Drivers and Next Generation 1" Compression Drivers
May 1, 2019 by Joao Martins

BMS Speakers Introduces New Coaxial Drivers and Next Generation 1" Compression Drivers

BMS Speakers introduced several new drivers at the Prolight+Sound 2019 show in Frankfurt, some still in prototype stage, others ready to enter production. Among the drivers now confirmed to be released are two new patented coaxial designs, including BMS' first 10" coaxial driver, the 10C262, and a new 12" coaxial transducer, the 12C382. Also new are the company's next generation 1" compression drivers, the BMS 5530 and 5531, taking BMS' ultra-low intermodulation distortion ring diaphragm to a new standard in size to output ratio, and providing the lowest crossover available at that size.
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Massdrop Announces Name Change to Drop
April 29, 2019 by Joao Martins

Massdrop Announces Name Change to Drop

Community-driven commerce platform announced a name change from Massdrop to just Drop. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and founded by Steve El-Hage and Nelson Wu in 2012, is getting ready for a major expansion. More than just a name change, the company is getting ready to start serving new markets, such as Europe and Asia, which have been demanding availability of the same model in local currencies and with the convenience of fast shipping.
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Creative Technology Establishes New Benchmarks in True Wireless In-Ears with New Creative Outlier Air
April 26, 2019 by Joao Martins

Creative Technology Establishes New Benchmarks in True Wireless In-Ears with New Creative Outlier Air

Creative Technology has been investing considerably in new classes of personal audio products and now they announced the launch of its first true wireless in-ear headphones, the Creative Outlier Air. These combine long-lasting battery life, boasting a playtime of up to 30 hours with the charging case, a 5.6 mm graphene driver diaphragm and a Bluetooth 5.0 implementation with aptX and AAC audio support. The Outlier Air is also certified IPX5 water-resistant with a comfortable fit for all-day wear. All at an irresistible price of $119.
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New Phonitor Xe Headphone Amplifier from SPL at High End 2019
April 25, 2019 by Joao Martins

New Phonitor Xe Headphone Amplifier from SPL at High End 2019

Sound Performance Lab (SPL) is one of those companies always ready to surprise. The German company apparently introduced a new version in its Phonitor range of headphone amplifiers, which already included the Phonitor x, the Phonitor e, and the Phonitor 2 (which followed the original Phonitor). The important thing is that the Phoniter xe is the Headphone Amplifier that many where hoping the company would launch and it will be presented at the High End 2019 show in Munich.
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Yes, But Only in German... Thoughts on Attending Trade Shows
April 18, 2019 by Joao Martins

Yes, But Only in German... Thoughts on Attending Trade Shows

I learned to attend trade shows in the era when it was crucial to bring back a large bag weighing 80 pounds filled with catalogs, price lists, and product manuals. In fact, I quickly learned to look at the global trade show calendar and sometimes attended regional trade shows just to find new products ahead of the major international events and establish an early relationship with a new company. Those local shows were mainly targeted at meeting final clients and end users for the region, but they were an effective way to meet key people with more time available, and learn how they defined their sales pitch in their own - sometimes more mature - markets.
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Purifi Audio Promises to Reduce Distortion in Speakers and Amplifiers
April 18, 2019 by Joao Martins

Purifi Audio Promises to Reduce Distortion in Speakers and Amplifiers

A new Danish company, founded by Bruno Putzeys, Lars Risbo, and Peter Lyngdorf will be making its first public presentation to the industry in Munich 9-12 May, concurrently with High End 2019. The name is Purifi Audio, and as you can guess from the founders involved, the venture promises Class D amplifiers with record-breaking performance "unmatched by amplifiers of any operating class." But the new company will be doing more than amplifiers, since it will also reveal a new 6.5" woofer with "magnitudes lower intermodulation distortion across frequency and SPL."
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RCF Expands Digital Mixer and Recording Program with New M 20 Series
April 11, 2019 by Joao Martins

RCF Expands Digital Mixer and Recording Program with New M 20 Series

With Prolight+Sound 2019 becoming a single-hall trade show, it was hard not to notice a large area of the exhibits where RCF Group combined for the first time all its companies, including RCF, dB Technologies, EAW, DPA Microphones and its ANT brand, created in 2017 for the musician and performance markets. On the RCF section of the booth, visitors could find an extended range of mixing and recording solutions, including new studio monitors and four M series digital mixers: the M 20X, M 20R, M 20XD, M 20 RD.
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Sonos New Speaker Range Inspired by IKEA Reimagines Light and Sound at Home
April 10, 2019 by Joao Martins

Sonos New Speaker Range Inspired by IKEA Reimagines Light and Sound at Home

The story was already confirmed for some time, but Sonos and IKEA have finally revealed the results of its joint project, designed to reimagine the smart home, Scandinavian style. As Sonos describes it, "Sound is a powerful mood booster, as important to the atmosphere at home as any rug, or art piece, or sofa. Setting out to make great sound available for everyone, IKEA and Sonos now present the first products in the SYMFONISK range – one being our loudest table lamp ever."
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