AcousticResearch
Latest
Acoustic Research's $120 ARS60 Bluetooth speakers seem oddly familiar
This is Acoustic Research's ARS60, a portable Bluetooth speaker that's weirdly pint-shaped, pumps out 16 watts of RMS power and has a battery rated for ten hours of play at medium volume. Of course, we're fairly sure that this is a re-badged SuperTooth Disco 2, albeit slapped with a $120 price-tag. If you're interested in picking one up, it'll be available in the Spring, but if you don't want to wait that long, you could always just buy one of the originals at a cheaper price. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Acoustic Research unleashes pair of audio docks in AirPlay and Bluetooth flavors
Voxx International (formerly known as Audiovox) has a habit of making a splash at CES, and this year has been no different. Today, the company's Acoustic Research subsidiary announced a pair of audio docks: the AirPlay Audio System (ARAP50) and the Bluetooth Wireless Audio System (ARS70). With the former, users will be able to wirelessly stream playlists from their iDevices simply by plugging the system into any old 12-volt outlet and linking it up to a wireless network. The Bluetooth variety, meanwhile, offers essentially the same capabilities for the rest of the smartphone universe, including owners of Bluetooth-equipped Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices. Details on specs remain frustratingly vague, but we'll probably find out more this Spring, when both systems are slated to hit the market. The AirPlay Audio System will retail for $200, while the Bluetooth Wireless Audio System will cost you $130. Head past the break to get the full PR treatment.
Audiovox goes wild at CES: digiframes, camcorders, remotes, iPod sound systems
Are you ready for this? No, we mean are you ready for this? We sure hope so, 'cause Audiovox is about to drop eight new products on you here in the desert. Kicking things off is the Acoustic Research brand with two new iPod / iPhone-friendly sound systems: the ARS1i (36-watts) and ARS2i (50-watts). Both of these guys arrive with twin 2.5-inch carbon fiber woofers, two dome tweeters, AM / FM radio functionality, a bundled remote, backlit LCD, soft touch front keys and an auxiliary input jack. The latter also touts a built-in rechargeable battery and portable handle, and while it will list for $199.99 this Spring, the lesser-specced sibling will sell for $50 less. Moving on, there's the RC60i and RC66i iPod clock radios from RCA, with the latter running on standard alkaline batteries and designed for the on-the-go crowd. That one will sell for a penny under $100, while the AC-powered RC60i will be offered at $79.99 when they hit this Spring. Staying on the RCA beat, there's the new line of Small Wonder pocket camcorders. The EZ4000 is a rugged, waterproof version that can capture 1080p clips onto a microSD card for $169.99 (available this Spring), while the palm-sized EZ5000 ($169.99) and EZ5100 ($199.99) look entirely more like a conventional camcorder and offer up 720p / 1080p video recording, 8 megapixel still shots, a 2.4-inch flip-out LCD and a rechargeable battery. The smaller EZ1000, EZ2000 and EZ3000 models round things out on the low end, with full specifications of these in the press release after the break. The outfit is also introducing the DPF8100 ($129.99) and DPF8300 ($129.99) digiframes, both of which are a part of the newly created Décor series; if those are just too classy for you, there's also a 7-inch DPF7407 ($129.99), which fits squarely in the cutely named Celebration series. Closing things out are the $39.99 RCA Voice Control Remote (which gladly listens to commands that you bark at it), a gaggle of new AR outdoor wireless speakers, a few new Jensen in-car head units and Zentral Home Command smartphone remotes. Feel free to dig in for more information on those just past the break. %Gallery-81170%
Acoustic Research Infinite Radio now on sale for $129.99
Remember that ARIR200 WiFi radio from back at CES? If not, you can take comfort in the fact that we're the forgiving type, but Acoustic Research has rung in to inform the world that the so-called Infinite Radio is now on sale. For those with short memories, this radio brings along Slacker support, on-demand weather forecasts from WeatherBug, MP3tunes music locker streaming, an AM / FM radio tuner, USB and Ethernet connections and enough internal memory to hold ten hours of audio. The device is available now at regional chain stores and nationally online for $129.99, and if it's the iPod-friendly ARIR600i you're after, that'll hit the market later in the year for $199.99. Full release is after the break.
Acoustic Research ARIR200 / ARIR600i WiFi radios bring weather alerts, iPod support
Nothing too groundbreaking here, but Acoustic Research has a new pair of WiFi radios on tap at CES. The first one is the ARIR200 Infinite Radio, which pulls double duty as an internet / AM / FM radio and a traditional alarm clock. It provides direct access to Slacker content and comes bundled with a prepaid subscription to WeatherBug. Moving onto greener pastures, we've got the ARIR600i, which adds in a "subwoofer" and includes an iPod dock for charging your PMP and playing back tunes while docked. They'll be available in February / mid-May, respectively for $129.99 / $199.99.
Audiovox HDP100 HDMI-over-powerline kit tested, on sale
Generally speaking, anything over powerline has received tepid reviews at best, and sure enough, Audiovox's promising HDP100 is just more of the same. The kit seeks to shuttle HDMI signals over your existing power lines within the home, but in CNET's review lair, critics found that the signal was "slightly degraded over what it expected from a true HDMI cable (i.e. perfection), showing lower resolution and some subtle choppiness, as if it was dropping frames." Still, those with smaller TVs or less demanding eyes may find this desirable over running all sorts of cabling across your floors; if we just rang your bell, you can snap the package up now for around $399 (or less on the street).
Acoustic Research ARW51 takes any 5.1 system and makes it wireless
While even audio amateurs have been struggling for years to figure out an efficient way to ditch / conceal the wires in their 5.1-channel audio systems, solutions from manufacturers have been limited. Sure, there's the Rocketfish amplifier, which essentially makes the rear speakers in a 5.1 rig cordless, but there's still tons of room for growth in the sector. Enter Acoustic Research, which is introducing its 5.1 modular wireless speaker conversion system. The ARW51's claim to fame is this: its point-to-multipoint technology can take "any 5.1 speaker system and make it wireless." Better still, AR promises six full bandwidth, 16-bit audio channels, and the "code-hopping circuitry" enables it to deliver CD-quality sound while "avoiding any potential interference from cordless phones, 802.11 computer networks and microwave ovens." No word on release just yet, but the MSRP has been set at $699.99. Full release is after the break.%Gallery-36394%
Acoustic Research intros iPod-friendly AR5100 audio docking station
Acoustic Research is on a roll today at CES Unveiled in New York, and if you've somehow managed to avoid the overload of other iPod docking systems up until now, we've got yet another you can have a look at. The AR5100 audio docking system doubles as a tabletop music center or an iPod video source for a display. Of note, AR designed the unit so that it could actually be hung (you know, beneath a flat-panel HDTV), and gussied it up with backlit white graphics, touch-sensitive buttons, horn-loaded tweeters, a ported enclosure, a component-video output and a bundled IR remote. Check it this December for $199.99, and catch the release in its entirety after the break.%Gallery-36397%
Audiovox HDP100 sends HDMI over powerline
If you're tired of waiting to beam your HD signals across the room over thin air but still crave that tidy install devoid of snaking wires, you might want to give HDMI over powerline a try. For $400, Audiovox will hook you up with its HDP100 HD Powerlink system (apparently under the Acoustic Research brand) -- a single transmitter, receiver and accessories that will transmit HDMI and IR remote signals over the Romex already in your walls. Of course, as with all things with names ending in "over powerline," performance can vary based on things like your home's wiring, what other devices are placed on the circuit, how the HDP100 units are plugged in and maybe even the phase of the moon; but that same $400 will disappear pretty quickly if you have a pro pull some wires through the walls.
Acoustic Research doles out ARNC01 noise-canceling earbuds
Audiovox's extravaganza is closing up with the introduction of the Acoustic Research ARNC01 ($59.99) earbuds, which promise to use whiz-bang active processing to reduce noise for airline addicts and those with a crib full of rambunctious youngsters. The circuitry is housed in an in-line module with an On / Off button and a compartment for a single AAAA (yes, AAAA) battery, which should last you around 50 hours. You know, plenty of time to head off to Akihabara and back for a few new Japanese exclusives.
Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset looks familiar for being a world's first
Oh, Qualcomm, how soon you forget. Just a few months after the Lubix UBHS-PH2 Bluetooth headset became the world's first device announced to ship with Qualcomm's MEMS display tech, the big Q is at CTIA touting the Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset as the first device with such a display to hit the market -- even though it's just a rebrand of the exact same Lubix headset. Sneaky! Expect to see the AR version in stores this November for $99.
Acoustic Research intros new WiFi universal remote
Acoustic Research announced a universal remote at CEDIA today, dubbed the "Acoustic Research Wi-Fi Universal Remote." Of course, it has a WiFi radio built in, which the ARRU449 uses to gather data for the electronic program guide, news, weather, and sports info displayed on the unit's color LCD display. Acoustic Research has partnered with tvCompass and its click365 technology to tailor and target the data to you specifically. The activity-centric remote also uses WiFi for configuration assistance -- tell the remote what component you have, and it can download the correct codes and activities. Sorry, kids, no mention of a browser on this piece of kit. But if your remote is feeling a little content-light compared to your TV, this may help even things out.
Acoustic Research launches AR4131 blackVault 2.1 vacuum tube speaker system with iPod dock
Acoustic Research is putting out the AR4131 blackVault speaker system with the goal of uniting high-performance components for audiophiles with the portability of the iPod. The 2.1 speaker system features standalone speakers and a stereo vacuum tube amplifier for that good ol' warm sound. As with most other such devices, the blackVault will charge your iPod whilst docked. You'll be able to snag one in February for $199, which includes an aux in cable, remote, and a spare vacuum tube.
