Wi-Fi Alliance Celebrates 25 Years of Wi-Fi Innovation and Impact
One of technology's greatest success stories celebrates a quarter century. 2024 marks a significant milestone in the history of technological innovation as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Wi-Fi. The technology that enabled wireless networking and still leads in comparison with any other wireless topology and technology, Wi-Fi is today an essential component of home entertainment, ready to evolve to new heights.
SKAA Takes Jamstack 2 Wireless Smart Amp to the Next Level
Eleven Engineering, the company that created SKAA wireless audio technology and a manufacturer of semiconductor products for wireless audio applications, announced that the new Jamstack 2 guitar-attachable smart amp has joined the SKAA ecosystem with both transmit and receive capabilities. With the general availability of the Jamstack 2 amplifier, guitar players now have a SKAA-enabled amplifier that is ideal for practice and performance, providing a robust wireless system.
FCC Approves Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems in the United States
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved a change in its regulation that now permits operation of Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems (WMAS) in the United States. WMAS is an advanced wireless microphone technology designed to meet the challenges of highly demanding live performance and studio applications. Sennheiser started development work on WMAS over ten years ago and, in August 2018, the company filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC requesting a modification in the bandwidth limit specified for wireless microphones.
Inspire the Possibilities with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast
An Interview with Chuck Sabin, Senior Director, Market Development, Bluetooth SIG. The Auracast Experience at CES 2024 enabled much more awareness about the possibilities of the technology and certainly caused a lot of press coverage. But it also generated several questions from many manufacturers who are eager to get to market. Anticipating that scenario, I scheduled an interview with Chuck Sabin to discuss the Bluetooth SIG's perspective of the roadmap for LE Audio and Auracast.
Bose Redefines Air Conduction with Ultra Open Earbuds
The result of an intense research effort to achieve the most effective approach for an open ear design, Bose just introduced the all-new Ultra Open Earbuds, a completely new form-factor. Described as "a breakthrough audio wearable" the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are designed to let users hear the world while still enjoying music. The approach is to use air conduction to feed audio to the inside of the ear, while resting on the lower ear. OpenAudio delivers the air conduction, while signal processing adds Bose Immersive Audio to enhance the experience.
M&K Sound Unveils THX Certified Dominus IW500 Reference In-wall Loudspeaker for Large Rooms
With a strong tradition in both the studio, movies, and high-end home theater world, Miller & Kreisel, now M&K Sound, has now revealed its first THX Certified Dominus in-wall loudspeaker, the IW500. Designed for the largest and most exclusive home cinema installations, the front left/center/right identical model is the most powerful reference loudspeaker produced to date by the Danish audio manufacturer. This technological milestone coincides with M&K Sound's proud 50th Anniversary celebrations of 2024.
Earthworks Audio Launches the DM6 SeisMic Kick Drum and Bass Amp Microphone
Experienced audio engineers, particularly in live sound situations, know how valuable and how much of a time-saver a specialized microphone can be. That is why manufacturers offer microphone kits that combine the best options for specific applications. And no area is more explored than drum sound. Earthworks is a recognized name in microphones for studio and stage but never offered a model specifically targeted for the critical kick drum sound. Now, it launched the DM6 SeisMic.
Q Acoustics Introduces M40 Connected Micro-Tower Speakers
Q Acoustics introduced the M40 powered micro-tower wireless audio system, another attempt from the British audio specialist to offer a convenient and cost-effective way to fill any home with powerful, high-quality sound. Following the success of its M20 HD wireless audio system, Q Acoustics brings its expertise and latest acoustic technologies to a more compact, fully integrated audio system.
Renesas to Acquire PCB Design Software Leader Altium
Renesas Electronics announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of the global leader in electronics design systems, Altium. The announcement, with important repercussions for product developers globally, enables Renesas to create a system-level integrated and open electronics system design and lifecycle management platform, leveraging Altium’s popular design software and cloud platform capabilities to increase innovation and overall productivity.
R&D Stories: The Role of Resonance in Audio Clarity
Years of research conducted by ClarityCap, the audio capacitor manufacturer, and the UK-based Institute of Acoustics at the University of Salford, explored how the resonance from the body of a capacitor in a loudspeaker crossover circuit has an audible impact on sound quality. The article details the extensive testing, measurements, and conclusions, which allowed ClarityCap to perfect its manufacturing process, minimizing resonances in capacitors. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2024.