DVB Approves Specification For Future UHDTV Services including MPEG-H Audio
In the world of broadcast standards, a few countries depend upon their own specific set of terrestrial broadcast technologies, such as the United States, Japan, Brazil, and China. The rest of the world uses DVB standards. Now that everyone is preparing the next generation of standards to support 4K UHDTV, the news that the new DVB UHD-1 Phase 2 was approved is a big deal. More important for the audio community is the news that MPEG-H is part of that standard.
Cambridge Consultants Announces Completion of Pizzicato Software-Defined Radio Development
Following its reveal of Pizzicato, the world’s first all-digital radio transmitter, product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants has now added a digital receiver to create a complete Pizzicato radio system, built purely from computing power. Pizzicato promises to vastly increase the range of wireless applications and to be a powerful enabler for both the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) and 5G technology.
Sennheiser Announces New Digital 6000 Series Advanced Wireless Microphone System
Sennheiser announced the new Digital 6000 wireless Series, designed for demanding live productions, using the same long-range mode and proprietary Sennheiser Digital Audio Codec as the Digital 9000, Sennheiser’s top-of-the-range wireless series. Comprising a two-channel receiver in two different versions, a bodypack and a handheld transmitter as well as a rack-mount 19” charging unit, the Digital 6000 Series will be available from March 2017.
Mass Fidelity is Back on Indiegogo with the Rad Portable Wireless Speaker With Radial Dispersion Technology
Mass Fidelity launched the Core wireless speaker on Indiegogo two years ago. The Core set a Canadian record for the most successful crowdfunding campaign ever. The company has been shipping the Core for almost a year and decided to return to Indiegogo with its next product, the raD, a rugged, portable wireless networked speaker leveraging the company’s original radial soundfield design. The raD was designed to be compatible with the Core but also to taken outside and defy rain, dust, and dirt.
New Honeycomb Bluetooth Portable Speaker Uses Cell Structure
Honeycomb Sound is a New Jersey based high-tech consumer electronics company striving to create innovative products centered on quality, design, and value. The company announced the launch of their new wireless Bluetooth portable speaker, the model HC-1, available in silver with white trim, and black with red trim for $149. Derived from nature’s own honeycomb cell design, the speaker gains structural advantages, efficiency and quality; resulting in high power, low distortion fidelity, the company says.
Spotify Now Available on OPPO Sonica Wi-Fi Speakers
OPPO Digital announced that Spotify Premium subscribers can now listen to their music on Sonica Wi-Fi speakers. The first speaker from the Silicon Valley brand, Sonica is an elegant and powerful Wi-Fi speaker designed with state of the art technology, including hi-res audio support from USB drives or network computers and DIRAC room optimization. Spotify Connect for direct streaming support is now available, proving OPPO’s determination to continue to expand the product’s features.
AudioQuest Announces New NightHawk Carbon and NightOwl Carbon Headphones
Highly praised for its innovative approach to headphone design and combination of materials, AudioQuest’s first headphone, the NightHawk, offers a unique combination of comfort and sound quality. The Californian company says the NightHawk’s success was evidence of the intensifying convergence between the high-fidelity and high-technology worlds. But different users demand options, and now AudioQuest decided to expand the range with two new around-the-ear models: NightHawk Carbon and NightOwl Carbon.
Attero Tech Ships Professional Bluetooth Audio Networked Solutions
Attero Tech is shipping two new Bluetooth audio interfaces. Not to be confused with consumer Bluetooth interfaces, the Attero Tech unBT2A and unD6IO-BT are Bluetooth-enabled audio devices designed specifically for use with commercially installed AV systems. Attero Tech also released its new unDNEMO-BT, the world’s first Bluetooth-enabled, Dante network audio monitor, which the company previewed with great success at InfoComm 2016. The interfaces are compatible with most smartphones and tablets, iOS and Android.
Audinate Introduces Dante Analog Output Adapter Module
Audinate introduced a new compact Dante Analog Output Module, allowing manufacturers an easy option for quickly developing Dante endpoints. The new module is a simple Dante audio to analog audio adapter module, supporting one RJ45 Dante input, and one or two balanced analog outputs. It is designed for use in products assembled using an overmold process, where a single part is created using two or more different materials in combination. This allows rapid product development for simple audio networked systems, such as powered speakers.
More than One Billion Wireless Headphones to Ship from 2016 to 2020
According to the latest report from SAR Insight & Consulting (Global Consumer Wired and Wireless Headphones), the overall consumer headphone market has risen steadily over recent years to reach almost $15.5 billion in 2016, and is forecast to see continued strong growth to be more than $20 billion in 2020. Sales will be driven by the increasing popularity of wireless headphone technology, SAR Insight forecasts.