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LG's latest Bluetooth speakers have passive radiators for extra bass
LG has released the XBoom Go PL lineup that may give you pause for your next Bluetooth speaker buying decision.
Amazon's $200 Echo Link is ready with streaming music for your hi-fi
If you've bought into Amazon's ecosystem of smart home features and you have a high-end audio system, then the Echo Link is intended to bring those worlds together. Announced earlier this year alongside devices like the Echo Sub and Fire TV Recast, it doesn't contain a microphone or speaker like the Echo Dot. Instead it simply delivers quality audio to your existing amplifier and/or speakers at the command of Alexa-connected apps and devices. Better yet, it doesn't only work with Amazon Music -- Spotify, Pandora and Tidal work out of the box with Apple Music listed as "coming soon." As far as the hardware, it's a simple box made to fit in on your shelf of equipment, with just a volume dial and headphone jack on the front, plus various ins and outs on the back. If you need to have an amplifier integrated into the box, you'll want to wait for the appropriately-named Echo Link Amp that's coming out next year. It adds a 60W two-channel amplifier to the mix and another $100 to the price. Right now, however, the Echo Link is your only option at $199.99.
Technics has a hi-fi music download service, too
In order to give its high-end audio wares the proper content to offer pristine listening, Panasonic's Technics brand is building its own hi-fi music store. Launching in the UK and Germany next year, Technics Tracks will serve up a library of 24-bit FLAC audio files, a number of which will boast a 92kHz sampling rate. In addition to the high-resolution selections, a collection of 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality tracks will be available as well via the service being tooled by 7Digital -- an outfit that operates a high-quality download repository of its own. Of course, Neil Young's Pono service and player are on the way as well, and with Tidal's recent launch, your high-resolution listening habit can now afford to be a bit more selective. When it arrives in Janurary, Android, iOS and desktop apps will be available for shopping and organizing cloud-stored music until you're ready to download.
Onkyo mid-range networking home theatres flaunt 4K image, multi-source PIP
We've seen the high and low ends, and now Onkyo has thrown its alphabet soup of networking and A/V tech into its mid-range HT-S6500 5.1 surround ($799) and HT-S7500 7.1 ($899) home theater systems. For starters, the systems will support 4K displays, and use a Marvell Qdeo to automatically upscale HD to the higher resolution. Audio-wise, they'll pump out 80 watts of WRAT sound with 192Khz 24-bit TI DACs and a 32-bit DSP processing chip, and 120 watts of thump through the subs. There's a plethora of connectivity options with up to seven HDMI inputs -- and PIP to see them all at once -- along with direct iDevice connections, optional WiFi adapter and other digital and analog I/O. On top of full DNLA support and most internet radio options, Onkyo will also allow iPhone or Android handsets to control either receiver with its remote control app. So if you've been jonesing on TrueHD 5.1 Audio or those new 4K displays, now you'll have two more options to play them through.
NuForce CEO teases Air DAC for high quality wireless audio streaming at CES (video)
Nestled deep within the iLounge hall of CES, surrounded by numerous vendors of cheap phone cases and yesterday's news, we stumbled upon a company that didn't quite belong. Known as NuForce, the firm is recognizable amongst audiophiles both for its high-end gear and consumer lineup that often shames overpriced competitors. As it happened, we stumbled upon a mysterious product known as the Air DAC, and happily, NuForce CEO, Jason Lim was on hand to give us a tour. Withholding technical specs (for now), the product is built for high quality wireless audio streaming and will ship as two distinct products -- one that operates over USB and another built for Apple's dock connector. We're also told that each transmitter can be paired with four Air DAC receivers and vice versa. Also, the product can be daisy-chained together to cover larger distances.The DAC unit itself is rather spartan, which features only a power connector and two RCA analog outs. Yeah, digital ports would've been more alluring, but the Air DAC seems to be targeted at the average consumer and we're told it'll have a price to match. The sound quality was absolutely fantastic when played through the Icon system, which includes a separate amplifier and the Icon S-X speakers. Then again, we wouldn't have expected anything less, given the quality of the Icon setup to begin with. For an introductory look at the system in action, be sure to check the video after the break.
Sony's CMT-CX5BiP HiFi system takes a style cue from the S2
Leave it to Sony to deliver odd-ball futuristic designs. The company's latest CMT-CX5 "HiFi" system sure is a looker, and could easily be mistaken as the lovechild of its S2 tablet and B&W's Zeppelin. This made for iPhone rig packs 40 watts of RMS power in its modular design with removable speakers, and can also be wall-mounted if you've cluttered your bookshelves. To get the jams flowing, you'll find an iDevice dock, CD player, USB and aux-in ports, as well as FM and DAB / DAB+ radio tuners; Sony's also added in its Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra processing if you want to give your music a slap of vibrance. You'll be able to pick up the CX5 in either black or white from the UK beginning in August, although pricing remains to be seen. For now, feel free to skim the PR past the break while you decide.
Sony intros G-Series micro HiFi iPhone / iPod systems, blends retro looks with modern features
Sony's got a reputation for pumping out forwardly-designed wares, but its new G-Series micro HiFi systems are a blast from the past -- at a glance, anyway. Both rigs are MP3 and iPhone / iPod-compatible via USB and will be available in two different configurations. To start, the CMT-G1BiP / G1iP feature 60 watts of RMS power with DAB packed into the former for those who find only having AM/FM is passé. Next up, the CMT-G2BNiP / G2NiP add WiFi for getting your stream on from the Web or a PC and can be remote-controlled with a free iOS app. The "HiFi" moniker mixed with iPod connectivity might have audiophiles raising a brow to sound quality, but the brushed metal console and its piano-gloss satellites are lookers none-the-less. A single variant is currently listed on the Sony UK site, although there's not a squeak regarding cost or release dates. For now, we'll refer you to the PR after the break.
Ask Engadget: best mini stereo for use with AirPort Express
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Gaurav, who can't seem to contain his excitement for cord-free audio. And we can't blame him. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Pretty simple: I am looking to purchase a small stereo system which can fit on a side table, and can connect to AirPort Express. Something stylish, but more importantly, reliable. Thanks!" Any of you kitchen thrashers care to spill the beans on your preferred system? If so, comments are welcoming one and all down below.
Onkyo's latest HiFi stereo separates go retro
The brand we know and love for staying on the cutting edge can go dedicated high end HiFi the old fashioned way too -- Onkyo announced a new lineup of elite HiFi separate components is for those who know that you only need two speakers for great sound. The trio is made up of the $1,499 C-7000R CD player, the $1,699 P-3000R pre-amplifier, and the $2,499 M-5000R power amplifier -- which only leaves the speakers for you to source elsewhere. You have to be a true audiophile to appreciate the specs in the attached press release, but it'll be very easy to fall in love with the retro styling when these show up at select dealers later this month.
La Boite Concept LD120 is the hi-fi desk your laptop's been crying out for (video)
Why more people aren't doing this kind of thing, we don't know. La Boite Concept, a French design studio with a focus on electronic acoustics, has put together the above piece of laptop-loving music furniture, dubbed the LD120. It features a total of seven drivers, including a down-firing subwoofer and a stereo pair at the rear, the latter of which is intended to bounce sound off a wall and neatly into your ear canal. You'll still only be getting 2.1 audio output at the end of it, but when it emanates from a leather-trimmed desk equipped with its own USB sound card and a cable-tidying channel in one of its legs, we're kind of willing to overlook that little detail. We only wish we could be as blasé about the price, which at €980 ($1,300) places the LD120 strictly on our "hope someone buys us one" list. [Thanks, Samiksha]%Gallery-108325%
Philips breathes new life into home stereos with SoundSphere
Philips has been on somewhat of a roll with new releases overseas, and the outfit's new SoundSphere might just be the most intriguing yet. Generally speaking, home stereos don't do much for us, but the minty fresh MCi900 and MCD900 definitely add a fresh touch on an age-old concept. Both systems are equipped with a pair of speakers, 100 watts of amplification and "free floating" tweeters that are outside of the enclosure. The shells themselves are molded from a single piece of aluminum, and there's also an integrated CD player and USB socket on the both of 'em. The former gets a Streamium logo and a 160GB hard drive, support for internet radio and wireless streaming with networked PCs or Macs. There's no mention of a price just yet, and potentially more disheartening, no indication that we unimportant Americans will ever see it on our soil. %Gallery-86405%
Altec Lansing inMotion Classic iMT620 iPhone stereo review
We've been playing with the Altec Lansing inMotion Classic iMT620 for a few days now, and before you think "man, not another iPhone stereo dock," look again. It was (mostly) love at first sight when we spotted this mini boombox -- sharp corners and minimalism are what Altec Lansing does best these days, and the hint of retro isn't hurting anyone, either. Like the iMT620's predecessors, the inMotion series still bears the portability hallmark in the form of a built-in battery (up to five hours for this model), and now with the addition of a multifunctional handle as well. But is it really worth the $149 tag? Read on to find out.
Olive blesses Opus No. 4 music server with 2TB of space, charges $1,799 for it
We haven't heard from Olive in a white hot minute, but hey, given the price of its wares, maybe it just decided to take the whole recession off. At any rate, the boutique outfit is sashaying back onto the scene with the Opus No. 4, the newest member of its long-standing Opus Hi-Fi Digital Stereo family. As with the models that have come before, this ultra high-end music server packs loads of internal storage (2TB if you're counting), giving you enough room for around 6,000 CDs stored in the lossless FLAC format. There's also a handy, full-color display on the front that probably won't get much use, and 'round back, you'll find a WiFi adapter (for wireless music streaming, you dig?), optical / coaxial digital audio outputs, a left / right analog output, a USB socket and an Ethernet port (for more of that streaming stuff). Look good? You bet. Does it look $1,799 good? That's debatable.
Archos Vision PMPs get UK pricing, August release
Few details were available when Archos announced its new lineup of PMPs last month, but today we can provide you with fuller specs and news of imminent UK availability. The new flagship model, 3 Vision, comes with a 3-inch touchscreen, 8GB of storage, microSDHC card slot, video playback, and a few extras like a voice recorder, calendar, stopwatch and an FM transmitter for streaming music to your Hi-Fi. Positioned as a direct competitor to the iPod Touch, the new Archos will cost nearly half as much at £90 ($148). Other models detailed today include the 2 Vision -- a 1.8-inch "credit card sized" player that loses video playback but gains a 16GB option, with prices likely to start at £50 ($82) -- and the Archos Clipper, a 2GB no-frills player priced at £20 ($32). [Via Pocket-lint]
Sony's GIGA Juke gets storage upgrade, Walkman dock, and hits stores in Europe this month
Sony's certainly not letting up with its GIGA Juke line of home audio equipment. It's been nary a month since we heard from the company and now it's back with two more devices destined for Europe. Not much to get excited about here, but for an overall spec bump -- the NAS-SC500PK now pushes 100W and sports 160GB storage, support for up to five client players, a redesigned woofer (Terminator X & The Valley of Jeep Beets never sounded so raw, at least not in a basement rec room). The GIGA Juke NAS-E300HD holds steady at 60W with a more modest 80GB of storage. In addition, both feature a WM-PORT dock for that OLED Sony Walkman you've been lusting after. Look for the Juke in stores across Europe starting mid-June.
Sony confirms Giga Juke SC55PKE and E35HD for the UK
Sorry Sony, but we saw these coming back in January. Sony just got around to confirming its new line of Giga Juke home audio players -- at least in the UK -- after letting them float around on the internet for a good couple of months. The networked SC55PKE has 80GB of storage, 16x CD ripping, a 4.3-inch LCD and iPod / Walkman support, along with a wireless hookup for beaming to a wireless control unit and five wireless speakers. The E35HD (pictured after the break) keeps it wired and boring, with a less sexy screen, slower CD ripping and the odd replacement of the SC55PKE's ATRAC support for AAC. Yeah, we're not following that one, Sony.[Via Wired]
JB Hi-Fi adds HD DVD to their previous Blu-ray only lineup
High-def owners living down-under now have the freedom of choice at JB Hi-Fi stores. The Australian electronics shop was previous Blu-ray / Sony exclusive, but according to their marketing director, it was the landmark Paramount deal that opened the door for HD DVD. No word on their sales format over format, but the addition of the HD DVD seems to suggest that Blu-ray wasn't selling 'nough and they need to something to spur high-def media sales. Most fanboys can agree that in the end, folks just want high-def movies on their HDTV, and this pesky format war is just getting in the way.
Macworld Editors' and Readers' Choice awards voting begins
Macworld has announced that they're looking for nominations and votes for their fourth annual Reader's Choice awards-- they're asking interested parties to drop a note over on this forum thread in the categories of Apple Product of the Year, Third Party Hardware and Software of the Year, and Mac Gem of the Year (an under-$50 software out there that deserves more recognition than it usually gets).As I suspected, there's no question about Apple Product of the Year: it's definitely the Hi-Fi. Wait, no, I mean it's definitely the iPhone. Duh. And the rest of the votes are literally all over the place, from Parallels, Adobe's suites, and even Leopard (despite not actually being from a third party, but maybe it's just that good) to smaller stuff like Panic's Coda and Gus Mueller's Acorn. I gotta say good luck to Macworld's editors-- they're going to need it to come up with some good award winners from that mess.But they've got time-- the awards probably won't drop until mid-December. And by then, we'll all have used Leopard enough to know that it is the software product of the year, third-party or otherwise.
Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff
Blue Raven has introduced the Maestro 1070, an iPhone and iPod hi-fi docking station, with 70 watts powering a 5" center sub and two 3" satellites. Looking suspiciously like the official iPod Hi-Fi -- but with handles on the side, not the top!! -- the universal dock accepts and charges Apple's hardware, and also has an auxiliary port for those rocking other players. The Maestro includes a video-out jack for connecting to a television, a 12-key remote control, comes in black or white, and retails for $199.
Logitech AudioStation iPod speaker systems announced
If you're looking for something a bit beefier-looking than Apple's own much-maligned iPod Hi-Fi, Logitech may have just the speaker system for you. At $299, their just announced AudioStation (pictured above) isn't all that much cheaper than the Hi-Fi, but it does look to stack up pretty well against it, with two 1-inch dome tweeters, a pair of 4-inch woofers, and a total power output of 80W. For the audiophiles out there, it also promises a maximum sound pressure level of 110dB, and a frequency response of 36Hz to 23kHz plus/minus 3dB. Specs the rest of us can understand include an AM/FM radio, built-in LCD that displays a clock or radio info, a standard 3.5mm input, and an S-Video output for iPods with video, as well as a 16-button remote. Look for it to drop this October, along with a portable version, the AudioStation Express (pictured after the break), which is much more Hi-Fi-inspired design-wise, although quite a bit less capable in the audio department -- it's set to retail for $129.99.Read - Logitech AudioStationRead - Logitech AudioStation Express[Via PC Mag]
