The First Smart Speaker from Apple: A Strong Design and How It Is Perceived
For this edition of The Audio Voice, I intended to focus a bit more on the latest developments in the fascinating world of sensors and how it impacts product development and design in all applications areas, particularly in consumer electronics, automotive, and health applications. After writing previously about Apple - the sensors on the Apple Watch and the surprising firmware updates for the AirPod Pro earbuds - I really didn't want to go back to Apple. But as always, Apple has a way of surprising us exactly when we least expected, and the company made another important audio announcement.
B&C Speakers Introduces Its Largest Horn to Extract Maximum Potential From New DCX Coaxial HF Driver Family
In the wake of innovation breakthroughs made possible by wide-bandwidth ring radiator drivers, B&C Speakers has now released the ME464 1.4-inch horn built especially to extract the full potential of the DCX family of coaxial drivers. The largest horn so far introduced by the Italian company and commercially available, the ME464 horn offers 70° x 55° nominal coverage with constant directivity and excellent loading down to 300 Hz. The development follows the introduction of the B&C DCM414 midrange compression driver, building on the DNA of the DCX464 HF coaxial design.
PSB Speakers Announces Alpha AM3 and Alpha AM5 Affordable Active Monitors with Bluetooth
Canadian manufacturer PSB Speakers, long renowned in loudspeaker design, announced the immediate availability of two new affordable compact, powered speakers, the Alpha AM3 and Alpha AM5. The new models are founded on PSB’s almost 50 years of speaker design expertise and the Alpha P3 and P5 models, introduced last year. The Alpha AM3 ($399/pr U.S. MSRP) and Alpha AM5 ($599/pr) feature phono and optical inputs, built-in Bluetooth, USB DAC, and much more.
McIntosh Unveils Most Powerful All-You-Need MA12000 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier
70 years since the company's foundation, and McIntosh continues to expand its portfolio of ultimate-quality audio solutions for today's luxury home. The company introduced the MA12000 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier, which is also McIntosh's most powerful integrated amplifier ever, delivering 350 Watts per channel of clean, high performance power that produces a breathtaking home audio experience. This fully loaded, hybrid MA12000 Integrated Amplifier is a product of uncompromising audio engineering and expert craftsmanship.
High-Quality Horn Loudspeaker Systems Book Now Available From Parts Express
The book High-Quality Horn Loudspeaker Systems — History, Theory and Design by Bjørn Kolbrek and Thomas Dunker is now available at Parts Express. This extremely detailed volume of more than 1,000 pages - reviewed here by audioXpress' Mike Klasco - is the first ever to address the history, theory, and design of horn loudspeakers in a complete, accurate, and scholarly fashion. The limited edition of this massive and very high-quality hardcover book is sponsored by Celestion.
Dirac and ASUS Team Up to Update All New ROG Phone 3-Compatible Headsets With Immersive Audio Optimized for Mobile Gaming
On the heels of the company's recent ROG (Republic of Gamers) Phone 3 collaboration, Swedish digital audio pioneer Dirac and ASUS, a global manufacturer of smartphones, computers and electronics, announced that all ROG Phone 3-compatible gaming headsets have now been upgraded with Dirac’s headphone optimization solution through a recent “over-the-air” software update.
Apple Unveils HomePod mini Smart Speaker to Expand Its Smart Home Ecosystem
Opening what was broadly expected to be an event focused on the iPhone 12 unveiling, Apple introduced the new HomePod mini. Unlike the original HomePod, primarily focused on the music listening experience, the HomePod mini is touted as an actual Smart Speaker. In fact, betting on leading on four fronts: to combine a great music listening experience, an intelligent assistant, and smart home capabilities, with built-in privacy and security, in a beautiful compact design. Also much more affordable, at just $99.
Phononic Vibes Startup Reinvents the Silence with Patented Metamaterials
Italian startup Phononic Vibes, focused on developing innovative metamaterial solutions for noise and vibration reduction, and the company's efforts have been recently rewarded with the closing of a 2.3 Million Euros capital investment round. The startup had first raised capital in January 2019 with a first seed round led by Poli360 – a dedicated technology fund managed by 360 Capital – and with the participation of Pantecnica Spa, an Italian company focused on products and systems for vibration insulation and mitigation.
Audient EVO 8 USB-C Audio Interface Starts Shipping
Following the announcement at NAMM 2020 of a brand new range of audio interfaces from Audient, signaled with a new brand for the renowned British audio manufacturer, the larger EVO 8 USB-C class compliant model is now available. After the launch of the 2in / 2out EVO 4, Audient delivered on its promise to make recording easy, while expanding the possibilities required by a whole new range of applications. The EVO USB-C audio interfaces are exactly the formula required by today's home users, podcast producers, and musicians.
Sound United Finalizes Acquisition of Bowers and Wilkins
Sound United, the parent company to Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Definitive Technology, Classé, and Boston Acoustics, announced that it has finalized the acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins, the famous British brand and manufacturer of luxury home audio speakers, headphones, custom installation products, wireless speakers, and branded audio systems in the automotive and television markets. Following an intricate corporate dispute within former owner EVA Automation, the company initiated negotiations with Sound United in May 2020, with Geoff Edwards leading the operations as CEO.