Sonos Introduces Arc Premium Smart Soundbar and Updated Sonos Sub and Sonos Five
Sonos introduced Sonos Arc, a premium smart soundbar for home theater with full integration in the Sonos wireless home audio eco-system and support for personal voice assistants. The new large size soundbar builds on Sonos’ experience in designing systems for home theater, with a solution featuring support for Dolby Atmos that is able to process audio according to content type, generating immersive sound and improving dialogue. The Californian company also announced some surprise updates to existing home speakers.
miniDSP Introduces SHD Power Integrated DSP-Powered Amplifier and New ambiMIK-1 Ambisonic Microphone
The creative minds at miniDSP are not stopping, and now that the COVID-19 situation has calmed down in China and production is back, the company is resuming its hectic release schedule and announced two new products available for pre-order on the company's webshop. The first will please anyone involved in spatial audio and content production and is a fully integrated First Order Ambisonic (FOA) microphone. The second will please those still forced to stay at home, and is the SHD Power, a 120W per channel low-distortion power amplifier with Dirac Live room correction.
Radial Engineering Introduces HDI Studio-Grade Direct Box and Preamplifier
Described as Radial's biggest product announcement in years (certainly since the company's acquisition in January 2018,) the HDI, Radial's new flagship DI Box is now shipping. Shown in prototype form at AES 2019 in NY, and officially announced at NAMM 2020 in January, the HDI is the answer to a question Radial put to in-house engineer "Hutch" Hutchinson: "If you could design any type of DI box you wanted, what would it look and sound like?"
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AMS Neve Introduces 1073OPX 8-Channel Microphone Preamplifier and Recording Interface
To mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Neve 1073 classic microphone preamp, AMS Neve announced the 1073OPX, a brand new Octal Microphone/Line/Instrument Preamplifier that is designed to meet the needs of the modern studio environment. Originally the preamp was used in all channels of the Neve A88 console at Wessex Sound Studios in London. Installed in 1970, the Neve 1073 is one the most admired microphone preamplifier circuits, and also one of the most emulated. Now, AMS Neve created an 8-channel version with optional integration features.
Genelec RAW Loudspeakers to Help AES Fundraising Initiative
Following the introduction of the special RAW aluminum color finish, Genelec is set to donate a percentage of every sale of its new RAW loudspeaker range to the Audio Engineering Society (AES), for the remainder of this year. Additionally, Genelec will be funding ten one-year AES memberships for those individuals whose lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Studio Six Digital Discounts AudioTools App, Test Microphones and Interfaces
Studio Six Digital, designers of the popular AudioTools test and measurement system for the Apple iOS operating system, has discounted the AudioTools app by 50%, and the full suite of in-app upgrades by 30%. Now, they are also offering reduced pricing on all of their iOS and USB test & measurement microphones and audio interfaces to accommodate work-from-home technicians who have been displaced from their labs during the COVID-19 lockdown.
BlueParrott Introduces Next Generation Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headset for High-Noise Environments
BlueParrott, a GN Audio brand specializing in professional wireless headset technology, introduced the next generation B450-XT noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset, engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments. Designed to keep pace with the demands of life on the go, the upgraded headset features IP54-rated durability, improved comfort and convenient USB-C charging, and now offers Bluetooth 5 with longer wireless range, supporting also firmware update options.
Global Headphones Market on Track for 27% Value Growth
The Consumer Electronics team at Futuresource Consulting shared the latest key trends from the company's Worldwide Headphone Market Report. Despite the impact of COVID-19, the worldwide headphones aftermarket will enjoy another year of strong growth in 2020. According to new figures released by Futuresource, the category is on track to end the year with a 10% year-on-year increase in volume and 27% in value.
AAC Technologies Opens New MEMS Microphone Design Center in Scotland
Expanding its commitment to invest in the build-out of a worldwide network of R&D centers that advance the technologies critical to the performance of smartphones and other mobile devices, AAC Technologies Holdings Inc., announced the opening of a MEMS microphone center in Edinburgh, Scotland. The new facility, focused on the design of next generation microphone system-level solutions, joins a growing worldwide network of R&D centers located in China, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
QSC Now Shipping Two New AcousticDesign and AcousticCoverage Installation Loudspeakers
QSC announced it is now shipping the AD-P.HALO, an integrated SUB/SAT pendant loudspeaker system, and the AC-C2T-LP, a low-profile ceiling-mount full range loudspeaker. Both models are designed to simplify installation for background music and voice-reinforced environments. Meanwhile, the Costa Mesa, CA company also launched its QSC@Home initiative, a comprehensive online resource dedicated to online training, certification and entertainment.