Sennheiser Expands Wired Earphones Range With More Affordable IE 200 Model
Sennheiser continues to expand its IE range of wired earphones, or IEMs, and now introduced the all-new IE 200. This new model shares considerable DNA with the more expensive models in the family, keeping a similar design and seeking to expand the "pure listening pleasure" to a broader audience. As Sennheiser Sonova describes it, the new IE 200 is "an ideal choice for audiophiles looking for clarity, detail, and impact at home or on the go."
Latest Spatial Audio Workflows Demonstrated by Merging Technologies and FLUX:: Immersive at ISE 2023
While Merging Technologies is now under the umbrella of the Sennheiser group and part of Neumann, the Swiss company continues to pursue its activities in the multiple markets that its products address. The high resolution audio pioneer will be present at ISE 2023 focusing on immersive audio and workflow, including its collaboration with FLUX:: Immersive, and introducing the latest updates to its Ovation media server and multimedia control system.
Loudspeakers, Patents, and Trends. Voice Coil February 2023 Now Available!
The February 2023 issue of Voice Coil is now available and packed full or great content. Read the CES 2023 report, James Croft's review of the Quadrupole Transducer patent, and check out the latest Loudspeaker Cone/Diaphragm Industry Suppliers Directory. In this month's Test Bench, Vance Dickason spent time with the Wavecor SW259WA01 High Xmax Subwoofer and the 475BEPB-8 1” Beryllium Compression Driver from Radian Audio, covering the two frequency range extremes.
Alcons Extends Evolutionary Pro-Ribbon Range With New QRP40 Pro-Ribbon Point-Source Column
The new QRP40/90 from Dutch Pro-Ribbon pioneers Alcons Audio is a 2-way point-source column system with high-Q directivity for increased projection control. The new slim design is to be used as a vertical sound system, for both permanent and portable applications, and packs a 1:1 non-compressed linear sound reproduction, with up to 90% less distortion. Just one of several products that Alcons will demonstrate at the ISE 2023 show in Barcelona.
Bowers & Wilkins Announces Second Generation Pi7 and Pi5 True Wireless Earbuds
The original Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 & Pi5 noise cancelling earbuds, launched in April 2021, marked the British audio brand’s first entry into the true wireless category. Trying to redefine audio quality in the form-factor, apparently the company decided the brand's goals could be improved and introduced two new upgraded models, the Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2. Replacing the first-generation models, the two new designs reaffirm their ambition to be "the best-sounding True Wireless earbuds".
Yamaha Launches AG08 Second Generation Live Streaming Mixer
By integrating more inputs and USB routing options, additional DSP effects, expanded functionality and improved internal circuitry, the new Yamaha AG08 mixer supports an impressive depth of streaming applications, including speech, instrument, playback, gaming and more, as well as offline audio content creation, all with class-leading sound quality. A flexible combination of mixer and audio interface with all the right features.
LG Introduces 2023 Home Entertainment Wireless Soundbars With Immersive Audio and MQA Support
At CES 2023, LG product unveilings included two new Wi-Fi-enabled soundbars, both of which support MQA. Designed to work in harmony with LG’s latest OLED TVs, the SC9 and SE6 models support MQA and Tidal Connect, meaning Tidal members can stream Tidal Masters – at the highest quality – over Wi-Fi to the new LG soundbars. Selected existing soundbars are also MQA-capable via a software upgrade, these include high-end models such as the S95, S90 and S80 series released last year.
Genelec Expands Smart IP Loudspeaker Range with Ceiling and Pendant Models
With its history founded in studio monitors for broadcast and home listening, Genelec evolved to become a leading reference in professional loudspeakers for installation. And its Smart IP family of networked loudspeaker systems paved the way for further expansion, pioneering a concept that is a natural progression for an active speaker company. This single cable installation convenience is now expanded with the new 4435A and 4436A networked ceiling and pendant designs.
Test Bench-Purifi Audio’s PTT5.25X04-NFA-01 Midbass Woofer
For this Test Bench, Vance Dickason focused his full attention on another innovative driver from Purifi Audio, this time the PTT5.25X04-NFA-01 5.25” Midbass Woofer. At the core, this Purifi midbass woofer is pretty much identical to the PTT6.5X and PTT4.0X, and includes the same constant Sd surround and low magnetic hysteresis motor design. The Test Bench explores all the design aspects and measures all the relevant and unique features of this very original design. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2022.
Speaker Measurements: Replacing IEC 60268-5 (Part 1) - What Comes Next and Why
Geoff Hill, the inventor of the Tetrahedral Test Chamber (TTC), a member of the international Electrotechnical Commission’s standards 60268-21-2018 and 60268-22-2020, and part of the IEC Working Group TC 100/TA 20/PT 60268-22 on electrical and mechanical measurements on transducers, summarizes the progress happening on loudspeaker measurement standards. This is the first of two articles, appealing directly to all loudspeaker designers and manufacturers. This article was originally published in audioXpress, September 2022.