ALL NEWS ITEMS
Focal Presents New Celestee Affordable Luxury Headphones
by audioXpress Staff

Focal Presents New Celestee Affordable Luxury Headphones

Those who think $549 is too expensive for a pair of headphones, should think again. French high-end audio market specialist Focal has been present on the headphones market since 2012, gradually developing a successful collection. Following the launch of Stellia in 2019 (price starting at $3000), Focal now presents Celestee. Obviously targeting uncompromising audio quality, these new closed-back headphones take the 2018 Elegia design further, and feature a brand new blue finish, which Focal says showcases the brand’s "savoir-faire".
Read more...
Dirac and Sudio Work on New Cutting-Edge True Wireless Stereo Earbuds with Spatial Audio
by audioXpress Staff

Dirac and Sudio Work on New Cutting-Edge True Wireless Stereo Earbuds with Spatial Audio

Swedish digital audio processing pioneer Dirac and Sudio, a designer and manufacturer of premium headphones and speakers, also from Sweden, announced that the two companies are collaborating to integrate Dirac’s patented sound optimization and spatial audio technology into next-generation Sudio true wireless earbuds. The project will be Sudio's first Dirac-enabled product, scheduled for release in Summer 2021.
Read more...
Sound Device 8-Series Mixer-Recorders Run CEDAR Noise Suppression Plugin
by audioXpress Staff

Sound Device 8-Series Mixer-Recorders Run CEDAR Noise Suppression Plugin

Sound Devices announced a collaboration with CEDAR Audio that allows renowned CEDAR noise suppression technology to run directly on Sound Device's 8-Series mixer-recorders. The CEDAR sdnx plugin for 8-Series is available for purchase at the company's online store in versions with 2, 4, and 8 instances of suppression that can be inserted on any combination of channels and buses selected by the user. The plugin functions at sample rates up to and including 96kHz and has near-zero latency.
Read more...
New 12BA and 12BB Microphone Power Modules From GRAS
by audioXpress Staff

New 12BA and 12BB Microphone Power Modules From GRAS

GRAS Sound and Vibration introduced two new microphone power modules: GRAS 12BA and 12BB. These power modules are designed for users who need to power CCP measurement microphones and would like seamless integration of microphone sensitivity data via TEDS. The single-channel (12BA) and four-channel (12BB) USB-powered modules provide integrated TEDS support and are competitively priced for production test applications, saving time during setup and configuration.
Read more...
Voice Coil February 2021 Focus on Cone Industry
by audioXpress Staff

Voice Coil February 2021 Focus on Cone Industry

The February 2021 edition of Voice Coil offers an overview of the Cone Industry in 2021, with an updated directory of loudspeaker cone, diaphragms and suppliers of relevant materials and components. Next up, James Croft reviews an interesting patent for a "Directional Loudspeaker," claimed by Dutch & Dutch BV, and Vance Dickason focuses his measurements on two small-sized drivers, typical of today's most popular consumer products. The first in Test Bench is the Wavecor FR070WA05, a 2.75" aluminum cone full-range driver, and the second is the AUGWL0006-JN01, a new 2.25" woofer from Eastech’s Punktkilde lineup.
Read more...
TOP-electronics Named Global Distributor for ArkX Laboratories Far-Field Voice Capture Technology
by audioXpress Staff

TOP-electronics Named Global Distributor for ArkX Laboratories Far-Field Voice Capture Technology

Leading provider of advanced voice technology ArkX Laboratories announced an agreement with TOP-electronics for the global distribution of its EveryWord portfolio of ultra-far-field voice capture solutions. TOP-electronics is an international technology-driven distributor and representative of electronic components and modules. The ArkX high-performance EveryWord product line consists of an Audio Front End (AFE) Module, Integrated Voice Module (SOM + Audio Board w/AFE), and an AVS Development Kit qualified by Amazon Voice Service (AVS).
Read more...
Qualcomm and Amazon Deepen Strategic Engagement with the Pre-Integration of Alexa Custom Assistant with Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform
by Joao Martins

Qualcomm and Amazon Deepen Strategic Engagement with the Pre-Integration of Alexa Custom Assistant with Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform

Qualcomm Technologies and Amazon announced new joint efforts to pre-integrate the Alexa Custom Assistant with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platforms - the new-generation of automotive-optimized SoCs from Qualcomm. This new system is designed to support automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to build customizable, in-vehicle intelligent assistants and is offered as an extension module to the Alexa Automotive Software Development Kit (SDK).
Read more...
Antelope Audio Announces Zen Go Synergy Core Bus-Powered Audio Interface with DSP
by audioXpress Staff

Antelope Audio Announces Zen Go Synergy Core Bus-Powered Audio Interface with DSP

During NAMM Believe in Music week, Antelope Audio announced Zen Go Synergy Core, its first USB-C bus-powered, truly portable (4x8) audio interface, available as a powerful DSP-based desktop design powered by the same Synergy Core onboard effects processing platform found in the manufacturer’s top-tier audio interfaces with which it shares its technology, and yet attractively priced in the sub-$500 USD/€500 EUR market segment.
Read more...
True Wireless Stereo Earbuds Sales Grow 90% in 2020 as Chinese Vendors Surge
by audioXpress Staff

True Wireless Stereo Earbuds Sales Grow 90% in 2020 as Chinese Vendors Surge

According to a newly published series of reports from the Device Technologies (EDT) team at market research firm Strategy Analytics, total global Bluetooth headset sales have reached volumes over 300 million units in 2020. As a category, True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Bluetooth headset sales witnessed growth of nearly 90% in 2020. This level of growth originates from a large number of Chinese vendors challenging Apple's significant lead.
Read more...
Precision Devices Confidently Introduces Eight New Products
by audioXpress Staff

Precision Devices Confidently Introduces Eight New Products

Precision Devices, the highly regarded "Made in England" manufacturer of high-quality loudspeaker transducers, just announced a brand new series of products. The company is using the forced interruption of normal support activities to intensify its work on refinements, new product development and improving production methods to its extensive portfolio. The results are now visible in new improved subwoofers, bass/midrange, and midrange drivers.
Read more...