Smart Home Applications Enabled by New XMOS Voice Capture Technology

XMOS announced the launch of its xCORE Array Microphone aggregation solution for voice user interfaces (VUI) in smart home applications. With the ability to aggregate up to 32 MEMS microphones, and offering USB and I2S backhaul, XMOS enables a new class of array microphones to be created. Applications include smart TVs, soundbars, virtual digital assistants (VDAs) and smart home automation.

Bob Stuart’s MQA initiative is undoubtedly one of the most important audio technologies under the spotlight at CES 2016. Just prior to the opening of the show (Jan 6-9, Las Vegas, NV), MQA has confirmed major new partnerships with both content and hardware companies, as well as new development platforms for manufacturers wishing to support the format.

Following the intriguing teaser web campaign “Reshaping Excellence”, launched September 1st during an event in London to celebrate its 70th anniversary year, Sennheiser finally revealed the successor to the legendary Orpheus, originally introduced in 1990. The 2015 Orpheus reintroduces the concept of the world’s best headphones.

The DAC2 series are the latest digital-to-analog converters from Benchmark Media Systems, the American audio manufacturer based in Syracuse, NY. The model reviewed here is the DAC2 DX, which has been tailored for users who don’t have analog sources or who use a separate analog preamp. Read the full review.

The AVnu Alliance announced the first Certified audio endpoint reference platform from XMOS for Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network solutions. The newly AVnu-certified XMOS AVB hardware and software reference platform is a production-ready solution for multiple applications, from single speakers and microphones to complex multichannel mixing desks and multi-port conferencing systems.