Virtual Assistants Establish Strategic Role in Multiple Categories
Virtual Assistants (VAs) are poised to become the next-generation go-to interface, according to new market data and reporting from Futuresource Consulting. The company’s recent home audio quarterly tracker shows that products with integrated VAs grew to 41.8% of all home audio shipments in Q4 2018, an increase of nearly 50% on Q4 2017, with smart speakers increasing by 79%.
Dayton Audio WFA400 4-Zone Wi-Fi Audio Receiver and Streamer Gains Mobile App Integration
Dayton Audio announced its WFA400 4-Zone Wi-Fi Audio Receiver is now able to support wireless, whole-home, multi-room and multi-user streaming thanks to its integration with the new Hi-Fly app for iOS and Android. With the new mobile app integration, the WFA400 provides total control over a whole home audio system right from the user's phone or tablet. And the new Dayton Audio Hi-Fly App turns any mobile device into a fully-featured remote control for all Dayton Audio Hi-Fly enabled devices.
Amphion FlexBase25 Stereo Base Extension Launched at Musikmesse and Prolight+Sound 2019
Following the unveiling at NAMM 2019 in January, Finnish studio monitor manufacturer Amphion Loudspeakers will launch FlexBase25, for the first time in Europe, during the Musikmesse and Prolight+Sound exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, April 2-5, 2019 (Hall 8.0 booth J50). FlexBase25 is a tunable bass extension system for Amphion's range of nearfield studio monitors, allowing an exact definition of the complete frequency response as required for recording, mixing and mastering tasks. VC
L-Acoustics Debuts L-ISA Training Program
Noting growing demand for immersive sound productions, L-Acoustics is now offering a dedicated training program worldwide for L-ISA, its object-based mixing technology. At the Prolight+Sound 2019 trade show in Frankfurt, L-Acoustics will be promoting availability of training programs for systems and mixing engineers seeking to implement L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology on live events and installations. VC
Morel Hi-Fi Introduces Högtalare Wireless Home Speaker Modular Concept
Högtalare is the Swedish word for speaker and that was a deliberate choice since Sweden is the home-base for IKEA, the multinational company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture. Yes, this new speaker concept comes from Tel-Aviv-based Morel Hi-Fi and, like IKEA's furniture is intended to offer the benefits of high-quality wireless sound for everyone, in a modular, affordable and creative way. The Högtalare is designed and manufactured by Morel and is now being promoted on Indiegogo.
Lavoce Introduces New Midrange Drivers, Served Three Ways
Lavoce Italiana will be distributing its latest 2019 Product Catalog and introducing several exciting new drivers for professional audio applications during Prolight+Sound 2019. The company will introduce three new high performance 6.5”, 8” and 10” ferrite magnet midrange units at the Frankfurt show, designed for three-way products, including cost-effective line arrays. VC
WiSA Association Nearly Doubles Its Members in One Year
WiSA LLC, the Wireless Speaker and Audio Association comprised of leading consumer electronics brands founded by Summit Wireless Technologies, announced unprecedented first quarter and year-over-year membership growth. Association membership now includes more than 60 of the industry’s leading consumer electronics, audio and original design manufacturer (ODM) brands, encouraged by the interoperability possibilities of the wireless multichannel audio technology.
Genelec to Redefine Headphone Monitoring with Aural ID Software Technology
Genelec, a global reference in active monitors for studio applications, announced what the Finish company describes as "a significant first step in improving the trustworthiness of headphone listening," through the introduction of its new Aural ID software. The technology is the result of a development effort initiated in 2017, in joint-venture between Finnish HRTF modeling specialists IDA Audio and headphone calibration experts Hefio Oy to develop personal optimization for headphones.
Murata Announces Lowest Power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 Combo Module for Portable Audio Applications
Murata has collaborated with Cypress Semiconductor to develop the Type 1LV (CYW43012) solution that the company states is the lowest power, small form factor Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module currently available. This product improves battery life in wearables, smart home products, and portable audio applications. When comparing Type 1LV (CYW43012) to the previous Type 1DX (CYW4343W) solution, power usage is approximately 54 percent lower in DTIM 1, 60 percent in DTIM 3, up to 50 percent for 2.4 GHz RX, and 28 percent for 2.4 GHz TX.
MakeProAudio Propels Makers Forward With DIY Pro Audio Kit for Raspberry Pi
MakeProAudio, the German company that promotes "you make your audio gear" concept now announced the "you make audio gear system" for tinkerers, DIYers, hobbyists, and musicians. The build your own audio gear platform empowers anybody to build professional quality audio gear with never seen before control capabilities using a building block system, which can include networked Control, Mixer and Synth Blocks, connected by GLUE, a multi-protocol, multi-user, Control Software.