The Road to USB4 ...and a New USB Audio Device Class!

This year, I was really looking forward to meeting with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, and discuss their projects for the USB4 Specification, the really big, gigantic update story on that front (at least in consumer electronics) since CES last year. The USB-IF announced the publication of the latest and greatest USB4 specification in September 2019, offering a major update to the USB architecture that complements and builds upon the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. This article was published originally in The Audio Voice 264 newsletter, February 6.

Lenbrook International, the Canadian owner and maker of award-winning high fidelity audio brands and technologies, and the Neil Young Archives (NYA), the high-resolution streaming online archive of famed Canadian-born rock icon, Neil Young, have announced an agreement to integrate NYA into Lenbrook’s BluOS high-resolution multiroom streaming platform. The unique fan-focused service comes to BluOS enabled products via OraStream’s adaptive streaming protocol, as previously announced.

NAD Electronics is previewing another exciting Masters Series release at CES 2020! The M33 is a BluOS enabled DAC/amplifier that will also be the brand's first product to feature Purifi Audio's new amplification technology. In its simplest form, the NAD M33 is an ultra-high-performance 200W amplifier that can serve as the heart of a reference whole-home system. For the brand, this will be its new flagship model, featuring BluOS multiroom streaming, Gorilla Glass touchscreen controls, 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC, full MQA decoding, and Dirac Room Correction.

Expanding on its collaboration with Meridian Audio, LG Electronics will introduce at CES 2020 an impressive lineup of soundbars featuring premium quality audio, easy connectivity, smart functionality and sleek designs that integrate perfectly with LG's latest OLED and NanoCell TVs. The new 2020 soundbar lineup supports high-resolution audio (HRA) sources and immersive sound formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, while some models also offer advanced self-calibration.