All Products Filed in Audio

Friday, March 16, 2012

It's no big secret that the speakers that television manufacturers incorporate into their products are just an afterthought. Homeowners interested in upgrading the sound of their TVs without taking up too much space within their homes have an increasingly growing choice of options to solve their audio dilemmas.

Episode Speakers' new 300 Series of soundbars are engineered to address the medium size flat-panel TV market without breaking the bank. The line offers a choice of 30-inch and 40-inch wide products that incorporate a three-channel driver array to produce a wide multichannel soundstage that saves space within a room. Episode says that each channel employs a .75-inch Ferro-fluid cooled silk-dome tweeter, along with 3-inch polypropylene woofers and 3-inch passive radiators to augment the low-end extension of each woofer.

Episode finishes the speakers in a piano-black gloss exterior with black mesh grilles, and it builds in installer friendly knock-outs behind the speaker grilles that hide IR receiver brackets to enable the speakers to coexist with flat-panel TVs in a wall-mount scenario. In addition, the speaker also includes a kickstand for shelf placement, and the speakers can be used with other Episode products to complete a full 5.1 or 7.1 home theater system.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Today there are a number of ways to communicate with someone that is in a different location. There are traditional telephones and cell phones; there's Apple's FaceTime technology, as well as Skype and advanced video conferencing solutions.

The Texas-based company Biscotti is adding to the communication choices that consumers have through the introduction of its Biscotti TV product. This new device is engineered to be a simple solution for video calling that includes a 720p video camera, microphone and six-button remote control. Biscotti says the unit hooks up in minutes via a Wi-Fi connection and HDMI connection to a television, and once it's connected the company says homeowners can receive calls while they are watching TV.

According to Biscotti, the product is affordale, and that it works with Google technologies such as Google Talk to enable users to call all over the world for free.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Not too long ago 3D was the hot consumer electronics technology, and now it appears that cloud computing has taken over as the new hot technology in 2012. Driven by Apple, as well as other computer and IT companies, consumers are quickly learning about the benefits of cloud computing and how these technologies can help them with their work and playtime activities.

The California-based manufacturer Akitio recently introduced its MyCloud Mini personal cloud server into the market and the product is designed to provide homeowners with an UPnP compatible solution that enables them to remotely access their digital music, video and photos. Akitio says the product incorporates a web-based browser to allow users to manage their digital content at home or on the road, and it can be controlled via its iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app. The company also says that data can be uploaded to the unit and shared from multiple workstations via SMB or FTP connections.

In addition, the unit includes HDD storage expansion capabilities via ESATA, and it sets up in less than a minute.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

In the world of turntables, the European manufacturer Pro-Ject is one of the most recognizable brand names in the entire category. The brand which is imported into the U.S. by the San Francisco-based A/V distribution firm Sumiko has just announced a refresh of arguably its most popular turntable.

The newly announced Debut Carbon replaces the company's long-standing Debut III as an affordable turntable solution in its vast analog audio product line and the company says the most significant upgrade to the unit is the addition of a 8.6-inch carbon fiber tonearm that is said to offer increased stiffness while reducing resonances that may be transmitted through the arm. Pro-ject outfits the tonearm with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, and the company says the combination of the tonearm and cartridge track more accurately to reproduce a higher amount of detail.

In addition, the turntable includes a resonance-reducing plinth, a heavy 300mm diameter meter platter that is said to spin smoother with less flutter and wow. Pro-Ject also includes a felt record mat for improved record coupling, and the plinth and platter sit atop a four-point "O"-ring design that absorbs energy. The table is available in a choice of seven colors, and its RCA connections are chassis-mounted for improved connectivity and stability.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

At one time during the late 1980s and early 1990s there was a segment of the audio enthusiast community that believed the best way to extract the best performance from the CD format was to use a "transport" with a separate, outboard digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

That trend had faded away for the most part by the end of the 1990s, but DAC components were still available and as the download market began to develop manufacturers such as SimAudio began to adapt to the changes in the market by outfitting their latest generation products with technologies that facilitated the playback of today's digital audio formats. The Quebec, Canada-based company's latest DAC product incorporates a full array of upgrade options, as well as an impressive set of standard amenities. The new Moon 380D DAC from SimAudio employs the company's M-AJiC32 asynchronous jitter elimination circuitry to ensure digital signal integrity, as well as a full array of ESS SABRE32 Ultra digital-to-analog conversion chips set up with eight chips per channel to run in a true 32-bit mode.

SimAudio says the unit offers AES/EBU XLR, S/PDIF RCA, S/PDIF BNC, optical and USB digital inputs that accept bitstreams up to 24-bit/192kHz, and options such a full digital monitor loop to accommodate room EQ devices, and a S/PDIF output. Additionally, the 380D offers balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) outputs, and upgrade options like its Moon MiND music streaming module that acts as a ninth digital input for Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

With the wireless connectivity market gaining popularity and maturing all at the same time products like the newly announced Gefen Wireless for HD 1080p Extender are quickly becoming problem solving devices for electronics professionals.

The California-based company's latest wireless signal transmission product is engineered to transmit 1080p video and audio from HDMI-based sources like Blu-ray players, cable and satellite boxes and gaming systems distances as far as 75 feet. Gefen says the solution installs easily through the use of a dongle at the source end and a receiver that's connected to the display. The unit is capable of transmitting A/V signals through walls and with its RCA analog audio outputs it provides additional audio connectivity support.

Gefen says the Wireless for HD 1080p Extender can be used in residential environments and in commercial environments for digital signage, bar and restaurant applications.

Monday, March 05, 2012

Induction Dynamics is part of the MSE Audio family of companies and recently the Overland Park, Kansas-based manufacturer updated its product line by adding a floorstanding version of its S1.8 bookshelf speaker to its S1 series of products.

The newly announced S1.8T floorstanding loudspeaker builds upon the company's existing S1.8 bookshelf speaker through the implementation of addition of components such as another 8-inch Kevlar woofer and a larger, ported enclosure. The speaker incorporates a four-driver array that includes a 1.125-inch soft-dome tweeter, a 3-inch soft-dome midrange driver and a pair of 8-inch Kevlar woofers. One of the company's proprietary S4X fourth-order crossover networks controls the driver array, and according to Induction Dynamics, the speaker with its wide soundstage can be used for home theater and two-channel audio installations.

Induction Dynamics says the 4-ohm, 90dB efficient speaker produces a 36Hz to 20kHz frequency response and it can be ordered with the company's active Dynamic Digital Audio Reference Theater System (dARTS) technologies. Standard finish choices include black satin, gloss black and rosewood, and installers can order custom finishes and grille colors to accommodate a variety of room environments.

Thursday, March 01, 2012

The British loudspeaker manufacturer Tannoy has an extensive history of developing products for the professional audio market and the high-performance consumer market, and recently the company announced that it has taken its engineering power and designed a compact speaker solution for the home theater market.

Tannoy's new Technical FXcellence (TFX) line of compact speaker products are designed to resolve the detail of today's lossless surround sound formats, as well as high-resolution digital audio files. To accomplish the task of reproducing the detail of today's consumer audio formats the company employs its WideBand technology that allows the speakers' tweeters to extend beyond 70kHz. The TFX subwoofer augments the line's low end capabilities through the use of an 8-inch woofer and 100-watt Class A/B amplifier.

Aesthetically, the TFX line utilizes new streamlined enclosures that are designed to complement the industrial designs of today's sleek flat-panel televisions, and Tannoy also offers optional speaker stands to enable electronics professionals the ability to use the speakers for a variety of system installations.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) is one of the most famous consumer audio companies in the entire world and throughout its history its been associated with high-performance audio.

The company's new Mini Theater packages combines B&W's latest audio technologies with its innovative industrial designs to build upon its reputation as a top audio manufacturer. At the heart of the speaker bundles is the company's newly redesigned M-1 speaker. The M-1 incorporates redesigned woofers and tweeters, as well as stand connections and speaker terminals that are engineered to stand up to years of use. B&W completes the home theater speaker packages with a choice of either a ASW608 or a PV1D subwoofers. Installers can build upon these 5.1 packages through the addition of more M-1s and/or another subwoofer to provide their clients with complete 5.2, 7.1 or 7.2 speaker system solutions.

Highlighting the stylish and powerful PV1D-based system option, B&W says it has also updated this product through the addition of the digital audio technologies that are in the DB1 subwoofer, which includes its digital EQ circuit. The sub also incorporates a new driver unit, amp and OLED user interface.

Monday, February 27, 2012

There are many cases that installers run into that require more than just a simple "hang and bang" flat-panel TV mounting job.

Sanus' newly released VMA401on-wall component shelf is a simple solution that provides homeowners an elegant way to save space by housing their A/V components, which include Blu-ray players, cable and satellite boxes, gaming systems and Apple TVs without creating an eye sore. Sanus says it engineered the product to mount directly below a mounted flat-panel television to create a seamless aesthetic that is versatile and ergonomically friendly in a variety of home environments.

The company says the shelf holds up to 15 pounds and the VMA401 features a thick-tempered glass that adds style, while providing functionality. In addition, it incorporates a cable management system the enables electronics professionals to hide cabling runs to provide their clients with a totally self-contained A/V system that resides independently within a room. Installers can also use multiple shelves in the event that a client has multiple components within their system and once it's installed, its height can be adjusted to the exact specifications of a homeowner.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Monitor Audio USA is one of the most frequently used brands in the custom installation market and back in the company's native Britain, the company's engineers are working hard to make sure Monitor Audio remains a go-to brand for installers.

The company's latest product release is its new Trimless Series of loudspeakers and this architectural line of speakers is engineered to provide the highest levels of sound quality without having their aesthetics disrupting the interior design of a modern home. The line of products features three products: the CWT140S, the CWT160S and the CWT180R, and these speakers utilize 4-inch, 6-inch 8-inch versions of Monitor Audio's MMP II woofers, along with its C-CAM gold-dome tweeter. The trimless speakers' tweeters pivot 15 degrees in all directions and the products' paintable grilles are magnetic.

Monitor Audio has also built the speaker to withstand the effects of water and humidity and the line of product employs fire retardant materials that meet UL specifications.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Current Audio is a loudspeaker company that understands the needs of custom installers because it was started by custom installers that thought the market lacked speaker products that truly served a custom dealer's needs.

Just prior to Valentine's Day the Southern California-based company gave its dealers a present that's much better than a bouquet of roses; it gave dealers a new architectural speaker line. The newly released LCR Theater line of in-wall speakers provides installers with a choice of two products that address home theater and whole-house audio system installations at reasonable prices. The WSLCR654FL features two 6.5-inch woven carbon fiber woofers with butyl rubber surrounds and a patented 1-inch "diffractionless" pivoting, ferrofluid cooled, ceramic coated dome tweeter. Current says the speaker also includes a three-position bass and treble adjustment option to enable installers to tailor the speaker's sound to its surrounding environment.

The WSLCR650FL speaker employs dual 6.5-inch MetaPlex composite woofers with butyl surrounds and a 1-inch, ferrofluid cooled silk dome tweeter that also features the company's diffractionless pivoting technologies. Both speakers install easily through the implementation of Current Audio's installer-friendly technologies, which include its FastLoc grill.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Meridian has traditionally set the performance bar in the world of residential audio/video and a good example of its ability to benchmark the market is its HD621 HDMI Audio Processor. When this product was originally released a couple of years ago it was one of the few products that was specifically engineered to upgrade the sound quality of the HDMI format without diluting the quality of a digital video signal.

The HD621 HDMI Audio Processor can handle signals from as many as six HDMI source components and it performs up and down sampling of HDMI audio signals after they've been separated from video. Meridan says the product employs the company's proprietary buffering technologies that remove jitter and other distortions from the audio signal that negatively affect the sound quality of the HDMI format.

Recently the company announced that it has augmented the capabilities of the HD621 through the release of a firmware update that supports the product's ability to work with 3D video content. The U.K.-based manufacturer says the new firmware update helps the unit maintain its state-of-the-art A/V signal processing capabilities, and that the firmware update can be executed by authorized Meridian dealers in the field to ensure that existing HD621 owners keep up with the market's continuing advancements.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

In a pretty short amount of time Control4 has grown quickly within the professional electronics community because of its advanced technologies, affordable prices and growing array of products.

Adding to its product family, the Salt Lake City-based manufacturer recently rolled out two new automation controllers: the single room HC-250 and the flagship HC-800 whole-house solution. Control4 says the HC-800 provides electronics professionals with a powerful control device that can serve as the cornerstone for any multiroom control system and it's powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core processor that drives the product's ability to instantly react to onscreen control and media browsing commands. The unit is 1U high and it offers installations features such as two RS-232 ports, six IR ports, four contact relays, analog audio/video provisions and HDMI connectivity.

The single-room HC-250 is designed as a step-up solution from typical remote control devices. Control4 says the HC-250 supports HDMI and it includes 802.11n Wi-Fi and Power over Ethernet (PoE) for single Cat-5 runs that facilitate simple connectivity.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Since the advent of HDMI and the electronic industry's growing adoption of the format baluns have become an important part of many A/V installations.

The New York-based manufacturer Key Digital is one of the industry's leading providers of connectivity and A/V processing products and its new KD-CATHDX Cat-5e/6 balun is engineered to enable electronics professionals to send and receive control signals, as well as audio and video signals long distances. Key says the balun supports the HDMI and DVI formats, which includes video resolutions as high as 4,096x2160/24Hz, and 3D video content. The product also includes bi-directional IR and the ability to support uni-directional RS-232. In addition, it supports the lossless audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and 12-bit Deep Color at resolutions of 1080i, 720p and 480p.

Key says the KD-CATHDX is capable of transmitting 1080p/60Hz signals as far as 150 feet and 1080p/24Hz signals more than 300 feet. The product is HDCP compliant and it is powered by a 5-volt power supply.