Listen Releases SoundCheck 19 With New Features for Multichannel Audio Measurements
SoundCheck 19, the new release of Listen's flagship audio test and measurement system, offers powerful advancements for users making multichannel measurements, including a new Multi-channel RTA and WASAPI-exclusive mode. The inclusion of room acoustics measurements offers increased capability for those looking to evaluate devices in real-world situations. The SoundCheck 19 announcement also coincides with the availability of Listen's new high resolution multichannel interface, AmpConnect 621.
Vesper Raises $8 Million to Expand Production and Enter New Markets
Vesper, the pioneer in piezoelectric MEMS microphones and sensors, closed an $8M financing led by Applied Ventures, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, the world’s largest semiconductor equipment company. Vesper also received investments from Accomplice, Amazon Alexa Fund, Bose Ventures, Sands Capital, and other undisclosed investors. The round brings Vesper's total funding to date to $65M. The funding will enable the Boston-based startup to scale the mass production of its microphones and support expanded research and development.
Meters Headphones By Ashdown Engineering Now Available in The US
The synergy between musical instrument brands and consumer electronics is able to generate extremely powerful lifestyle marketing strategies. The Meters range of headphones by Ashdown Engineering, combines the legacy of design and engineering of the bass amplifier brand in a unique range of consumer audio products, launched originally at CES 2017, in Las Vegas. Following the introduction of new updated models, the Meters headphone range is now being launched in the US market.
True Wireless Stereo and Watches Became Key Smartphone Companion Devices in 2020
Smart personal audio and wearable band devices were two consumer IoT segments which stood the test of 2020 to reach new heights, according to Canalys’ latest estimates. Smart personal audio devices grew 20% in 2020 to reach 432 million units, while wearable bands grew 10% to reach 185 million units. Both segments continued to be strategic winners as countries emerged from the extended battle against COVID-19, where people grew more health-conscious and became active outdoors.
Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Announce Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA), in partnership with Shure Incorporated, announced the establishment of the Mark Brunner Professional Audio Scholarship, which will be offered annually to students worldwide who are pursuing an education in professional audio. The annual scholarship celebrates the life and accomplishments of industry leader, long-time Shure executive, and founding PAMA member Mark Brunner.
Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International to Promote Automotive Audio Conference in Munich
Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International (ALTI - former ALMA) has confirmed that it will not only attend the High End Munich show, exhibiting as part of the new International Parts+Supply (IPS) expansion, but will also promote a conference focused on Automotive Audio. The ALTI Automotive Audio Conference (AAAC) will take place September 9 and 10, 2021 in dedicated conference rooms of the MOC complex in Munich, Germany.
BluOS 3.14 Expands Music Streaming Services, Integration Features, and Adds Radio Paradise in MQA
With the release of version 3.14, Lenbrook's premium multi-room music management platform BluOS introduced a number of important enhancements for both the user and integrators across the whole BluOS ecosystem of products. BluOS expands access to three new natively-integrated music streaming services, exclusive access to Radio Paradise MQA-encoded audio streams and various performance improvements.
CEDIA Expo 2021 Will Take Place in Indianapolis, September 1-3
Now fully owned and promoted by Emerald Expositions, CEDIA Expo is scheduled to run September 1-3, 2021 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. In what promises to be one of the very first major trade-shows to return post-COVID-19, CEDIA Expo 2021 will signal a return to networking, CEDIA training, brand exposure, product launches, with safety front and center. The slogan for CEDIA Expo 2021 was also well chosen: Live Life Connected.
Bowers & Wilkins Launches 16-Channel Distribution Amplifier
Having joined the Sound United family of brands in 2020, Bowers & Wilkins announced an addition to its Custom Installation product portfolio for whole-home audio. Available now ($1,999.99 USD), the new Bowers & Wilkins CDA-16 has been engineered to work with any existing Bowers & Wilkins custom installation speakers. In a very slim 1U design, the CDA-16 distribution power amplifier can power up to eight individual rooms with high-quality stereo sound, all from one elegant, compact component that can be rack-mounted.
Worldwide Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) Market Grows 24.9% in 2020
According to International Data Corporation (IDC, the worldwide Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) market grew 29.2% year over year and 7.1% quarter over quarter to $13.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2020 (4Q20). Revenue growth was also up an impressive 24.9% for the full year 2020 to $47.2 billion, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Unified Communications & Collaboration report. IDC also reported that the global PC monitor market hit new record highs in 2020, with 55 million units sold.