RHA Announces Lightning Compatible Refresh to its Popular MA650i In-ears
Always offering excellent design and the best price-to-quality ratio in every segment, RHA has been expanding its catalog of personal audio products with reassuring consistency. Sometimes with announcements of really cutting-edge or high-end products. Other times, a simple, but welcome refresh. This time, RHA introduced a new version to its popular MA650 lineup - a wired, in-ear headphone with a Lightning connection for Apple devices: the MA650i with Lightning. No more dongles needed!
Sonitus Technologies Extends Molar Mic Two-Way Comms Platform and Bone-Conduction Speaker to New Commercial Applications
While the audio industry has focused on hearables, some companies are exploring embedded wearables. Sonitus Technologies has been focusing on military communication NFMI applications, trying to embed the same features of a two-way wireless communications system that can be used undetected, even under the most harsh environments. The company's “Molar Mic” fits a miniaturized headset into a device that clips to a user’s back teeth, and is now available as a Bluetooth-compatible solution for high-noise commercial markets.
Arcam Launches SA30 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Featuring AirPlay 2, MQA, and Dirac Live
The Cambridgeshire manufacturer that is now part of Harman, announced the SA30, a new flagship integrated stereo amplifier from its HDA product range. Designed around Class G amplification, the new Arcam models its maker’s latest casework and fascia, housing an extensive features list, including AirPlay 2 wireless and MQA support and custom install-friendly technologies. The inclusion of Dirac Live, the state-of-the-art room correction technology, helps ensure the SA30 will always offer the very best performance, individually optimized to its acoustic surroundings.
Roswell Ships Delphos II Studio Condenser Microphone
After a successful debut at the 2019 NAMM show in January, Roswell Pro Audio, the Californian maker of premium boutique microphones, is now shipping their new Delphos II all-purpose studio condenser microphone, which retains the characteristics of the original Delphos, adding a third polar pattern (figure 8) and refined electronics designed to reduce ultrasonic noise. The updated microphone also features a new, larger body adorned in custom metallic blue paint.
High End 2019 Final Report: Linking Technology and Music Up-Close
The 2019 High End show at the MOC München event complex (May 9 - 12, 2019), promoted by the High End Society, was once again a huge success, with a continuously increasing number of exhibitors (+ 3.8%), more visitors in total (+ 6.5%), more trade visitors from 72 countries (+ 8.6%), and most important, a high level of satisfaction among all participants. For trade visitors, it was one of the world's most significant events in the audio industry, for the public it was a unique world of experiences.
DTS Play-Fi Now Supports AirPlay 2 and “Works with HomePod”
DTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xperi Corporation, announced the availability of AirPlay 2 wireless streaming in select DTS Play-Fi products. AirPlay 2 support is now available on the McIntosh RS200 and Arcam rPlay, with additional products to be announced this year. The integration allows AirPlay 2 to work in conjunction with Amazon Alexa and DTS Play-Fi for an integrated multi-assistant control experience, and creating new possibilities for multi-room streaming.
Chord Electronics Ultima Amplifier Technology Expands with Ultima 2 and Ultima 3 Mono Power Amplifiers
Three decades in development, John Franks’ next-generation Ultima amplifier technology filters down into two new mono power amplifiers, the Ultima 2 and Ultima 3, part of Chord Electronics’ ongoing 30th-anniversary celebrations. First unveiled in October 2018, the new Ultima amplifier topology, to date exclusive to the range-topping £30,000 Ultima power amp, is now more affordable than ever, with the two new mono power amps sharing the same Chord Electronics DNA.
Futuresource Market Report Highlights New Exciting Opportunities for Hearables
Futuresource Consulting has recently published its Hearables Market Report, reviewing the market size, competitive landscape, technology drivers and future trends in this new product category. Simon Forrest, Principal Technology Analyst at Futuresource discusses new monetization opportunities in the untethered hearable segment and those resulting from the new “over the counter” hearing aid category, opening up the sector to many new entrants not least the mainstream headphones companies.
New Mark Levinson 5000 Series Integrated Amplifiers and Integrated Streaming SACD Player and DAC
Harman introduced the latest products from its Luxury Audio Group at the High End 2019 show in Munich. Following a repositioning of the division, announced at the end of 2018, Harman is now focusing on launching new products. In the Mark Levinson brand, Harman introduced two integrated amplifiers from the Mark Levinson 5000 series, the Nº5805 and Nº5802. And in a world premiere, Mark Levinson revealed the Nº5101 integrated player, streamer and DAC.
Harman's Luxury Audio Division Introduces Flagship Lexicon SL-1 High-End Adaptive Speaker
During the 2019 High End Show in Munich, Germany, Harman unveiled the new controllable Lexicon SoundSteer SL-1 loudspeaker system, using 66 drivers arranged in a 360-degree configuration, and 46 discrete amplifier channels with a music output of 1,300 watts. Truly, a smart speaker on steroids, the SL-1 combines all the latest innovations in advanced beam steering technology.