audioXpress January 2022 Looks Ahead at Speaker Technology Developments
Great articles, practical projects, reviews, and audio technology previews start the year in full force! That's what our readers will find in audioXpress January 2022, starting with an update on new materials and engineering approaches for loudspeakers, and articles by Charlie Hughes, Scott Dorsey, Frans de Wit, Ken Bird and Mike Harkins. Brent Butterworth reviews the Olive Pro earbuds, while Raj Senguttuvan from Knowles discusses differentiation for True Wireless Stereo (TWS) design and development.
Softube Updates Console 1 Hybrid Mixing System Concept
Swedish audio innovator Softube announced the biggest software update so far to its groundbreaking plug-in controller, Softube Console 1 Mixing System. With this latest release, the company adds even more responsiveness and control to the hybrid mixing system that launched its own approach and controller ecosystem by targeting direct support from other renowned audio manufacturers, instead of just worrying about DAW compatibility.
CEVA Partners with Mimi Hearing Technologies to Offer Assistive Hearing on True Wireless Earbuds
CEVA and Mimi Hearing Technologies have announced a partnership to enable new assistive hearing capabilities in consumer true wireless earbuds. The collaboration combines Mimi Sound Personalization technology and advanced hearing IP with CEVA's Bluebud wireless audio platform to enhance the hearing experience of every individual. With its flexible architecture, the Bluebud platform allows a high level of software customization and add-ons, supporting such advanced implementations.
Genelec Promotes Circular Economy with Certified Pre-Owned Loudspeakers
Owners of Genelec loudspeakers, some going back to the early days of the company founded in 1978, recognize how robust and great sounding these active speakers remain through the years. Genelec also kept servicing all its discontinued models, something that contributed highly to creating renewed confidence in the company and the brand. Starting in 2022, Genelec will start offering factory serviced, Genelec Certified Pre-Owned loudspeakers.
McIntosh Announces New Direct Streaming RS150 and RS250 Wireless Speakers
McIntosh is expanding the streaming options for modern listening with its iconic designs, now in the form of the new RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker, a more compact, vertical speaker, and the RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker System, a larger tabletop integrated system. The RS150 is intended to be a user-friendly and versatile wireless speaker, while the RS250 is introduced as McIntosh's most advanced and powerful home audio wireless speaker system to date. Both models offer the most recent technologies for wireless streaming.
Sound Devices Announces +4 Plugin for 833 Mixer-Recorder
Showing the power of FPGA-based designs, Sound Devices announced the release of the +4 Plugin, which adds four fully-featured ISO channels/record tracks to its 833 Portable Compact Mixer-Recorder. The design, originally introduced in 2019, features 6 ultra low-noise mic/line preamplifiers, and 6 buses, for 12 mixing tracks, making it a versatile field production solution. With the +4 plugin installed, the 833 becomes a 12 channel, 16 track mixer-recorder that is even able to run processing plug-ins on all channels.
Cleer Audio Receives Two CES 2022 Innovation Awards for New Alpha ANC Wireless Headphones and Goal II Active True Wireless Earbuds
Cleer Audio is an innovative manufacturer which always manages to surprises positively with well-designed, and innovative products. This year, Cleer returns to CES with two refined products, both CES 2022 Innovation Awards honorees: the Alpha, Intelligent Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (A-ANC) Bluetooth Headphones, and the GOAL II, Active True Wireless Earbuds. Both models leverage the latest available technologies for personal audio.
Covestro and TactoTek Integrate Controls, Electronics, and Displays Into Injection Molded 3D Structures
Covestro returns to CES in 2022 to showcase the endless possibilities of sustainable materials and smart surfaces, including a new demonstration device jointly developed with TactoTek. The polymer materials experts at Covestro have been working with the pioneer of in-mold structural electronics (IMSE) solutions, to create the Nighthawk demonstrator with integrated display, which utilizes Makrolon resin and Makrofol films from Covestro.
iSEMcon Introduces Li.LAC Microphone Disinfector
Disinfecting microphones is increasingly important and the new Li.LAC Microphone Disinfector from iSEMcon makes microphone disinfecting fast, simple and effective. Houses of worship, conference centers, corporate and government meeting rooms, schools and universities, production studios, live entertainment venues and touring sound companies all face the same question, “How can we effectively disinfect our microphones after an event?”
You Can DIY! The DH-220C MOSFET Power Amplifier - Part 1 The Circuit
This article offers the first serving of an amazing DIY project from amplifier experts Bob Cordell and Rick Savas with an upgrade for the legendary Hafler DH-220 lateral MOSFET power amplifier. The design is implemented on two PCBs, one as a drop-in replacement for the original Hafler circuit board and the other as a new board that consolidates all of the output stage wiring and components within the heatsink and under the main PCB. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2021