Product Design | Audio Electronics | Acoustics | DIY | Audio Innovations
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audioXpress.com - The Most Popular Stories of 2021
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As the website that supports both audioXpress and Voice Coil magazine communities, audioXpress.com continues to be the reference destination for anyone interested in audio product development and design, audio technology in general, and the people, companies, and facts behind the audio industry. As we do every year, we reviewed the most-read articles of 2021, and created a Top 11 list of news stories and online articles. The past 12 months expanded slightly on the record-breaking year that was 2020 for audioXpress.com, in terms of number of visits and regular users of the website. Visitors from all over the world returned more often to read the more than 7,700 stories available. Which of the topics and stories published online in 2021 were the most popular? Here are the results! Read More
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TASCAM Celebrates Analog Audio with Limited Release Master 424 Studio C-60 High Bias Type II Cobalt Cassette
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In celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary, TASCAM launched the TASCAM Studio 424 Master cassette, a limited release genuine high bias cobalt oxide cassette specifically engineered for use with TASCAM Portastudio cassette recorders. The tape formulation was tested specifically in recalibrated and restored vintage TASCAM Portastudio workstations - the multitrack recorders that opened the door to home recording more than 40 years ago. Read More
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Cleer Audio Introduces Adaptive Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones with Immersive Sound Powered by Dirac
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Cleer Audio announced the introduction of its Cleer Alpha Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, which is one of the brand's two products already confirmed as CES 2022 Innovation Awards honorees. Cleer's next-generation wireless headphones offer Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, paired with immersive theater-like sound reproduction, powered by Dirac Virtuo spatial audio technology. Read More
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AIAIAI TMA-2 Wireless+ Headphones Feature Proprietary Low-Latency Wireless Audio Transmitter
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AIAIAI once again surprised the audio industry. Following a period of intense beta-testing with key profile users and influencers, the Danish headphone innovator "dropped" the latest TMA-2 Wireless+ headphones, designed to free music creators from cables with ultra-low latency and uncompressed, 16-bit digital audio. And following the company's responsible design philosophy, with products designed to last, the new model is based on the existing TMA-2 modular headphone platform. Read More
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SK Broadband AI Sound Max Powered by DSP Concepts and Tuned by Bang & Olufsen
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Is it a Soundbar? Is it a Smart Speaker? Is it a TV Set-Top Box? Korean telecom operator SK Broadband has introduced its new AI Sound Max set-top box and TV sound speaker featuring three-dimensional audio perfectly tuned by Bang & Olufsen and implemented using the power of the Audio Weaver framework by DSP Concepts. The innovative AI Sound Max is a great example of an immersive home entertainment speaker design with sophisticated features built with Audio Weaver. Read More
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LG Electronics Unveils Premium S95QR Wireless Soundbar System for 2022
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In time for CES 2022, LG Electronics USA has introduced a new lineup of audio products for home theater, including new soundbar models that improve on performance with separate satellite speakers and subwoofers, providing exciting sound experiences all the while ensuring accurate, immersive sound for home cinema, music, and gaming. With the new 2022 S95QR premium soundbar, LG elevated the listening experience with more and larger speaker drivers. Read More
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Fulcrum Acoustic Releases DF4 Dual High-Frequency Horn Loudspeaker
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Fulcrum Acoustic continues to create new innovative loudspeakers at an impressive pace. Now, the Massachusetts-based manufacturer has released the DF4 Dual High-Frequency Horn, a spot fill loudspeaker aimed at supplemental high-frequency coverage for areas shaded by obstructions. Dual 4-inch diaphragm high-frequency compression drivers provide substantial output suitable for mid to long throw applications. And the new DF443 is particularly effective in applications where supplemental high-frequency coverage may be required due to occlusion from the primary loudspeakers by venue obstructions. Read More
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USound Raises $30M to Ramp Up Manufacturing of Second-Generation MEMS Technology
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USound, the Austria-based developer and manufacturer of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers for personal devices and wearable technology, announced that it has raised $30 million USD (€25 million EUR) to move into mass production of its second generation MEMS devices, with commitments from several global companies. The investment ensures that USound will be in a position to build a stable supply chain to meet growing demand for its second-generation MEMS technology . Read More
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Infineon Expands Support to Matter Smart Home Designs with New AIROC Bluetooth LE and 802.15.4 Low-Power SoC Solution
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Infineon Technologies announced the launch of the new AIROC Bluetooth LE and 802.15.4 family to help companies quickly bring low-power, high-performing Matter products to market. Infineon’s new AIROC CYW30739 Bluetooth LE and 802.15.4 system-on-chip (SoC) is offered as a reliable, secure, and scalable solution to connect low-power devices in the smart home. To further demonstrate the company’s commitment to Matter, Infineon expanded its role with the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) by joining the Alliance’s Board of Directors as a Promoter Member . Read More
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Editor's Desk
J. Martins
(Editor-In-Chief)
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First Things First
Who's Going to #CES2022?
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Who's going to #CES2022?
Omicron. Omicron is going.
Who else is going? Someone will be at CES next week in Las Vegas, NV, but most of us will be watching and chatting online, safely from home.
I know, it's now too late for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) to cancel the event, and some things will take place in-person from January 3 to 8. Unfortunately, very few will attend, as I started to realize in the days before Christmas when we received the first news of major technology companies cancelling their presence at the show due to concerns over surging cases of COVID and the rapid spreading of the Omicron variant. That was shortly followed by news that many countries around the world were raising restrictions to international travel and that many airlines were being forced to cancel thousands of flights due to staffing shortages (and this is not going to improve in time for CES 2022).
Meanwhile, I received notice after notice of meeting cancellations until my agenda was basically an unpredictable aspiration plan. This culminated today with the first notices of cancellations of press events and attendance from PR companies - normally, the last ones to withdraw. And also today, we received confirmation that Harman had decided to suspend all on-site activity in Las Vegas during CES next week. At this time, the only invitations still standing are mainly from Health Tech companies - which I don't know if it's reassuring or not. Anyway, that's not our primary focus.
So, that's it for us. If you have my name on your agenda for CES 2022, you can use that time for someone else. Unfortunately, there won't be any audioXpress staff attending the show. With a heavy heart, we cancelled all our travel plans pre- and for CES, because of the unpredictability of the pandemic and the very poor return on the overall risk of attending.
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A word of praise and appreciation needs to be said about the work of the CTA and everyone who has been working tirelessly to try to make CES 2022 an in-person event under these difficult and unpredictable circumstances. You did everything right, and you were a big part of the reason why we were determined to attend, before the news of Omicron spreading. And we understand you now have an even more difficult challenge ahead, which is to manage whatever is left of the show — and making sure everyone makes it back safely.
The Health and Safety Protocols in place were by far the best we have ever seen. The message that everyone needs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and the testing and mask use recommendations were the most clear health protocols we've seen being put in place so far. Also, when dealing with practicalities, I noticed how everything was being considered, from daily rapid tests made available to all media participants, to free RT-PCR tests being provided for attendees who are traveling back to international destinations and who require a 24-hour notice test to travel. Everything was reassuring. Good luck next week!
At this stage, the most interesting realization is that the experience from previous trade shows and the virtual CES 2021 event is now being leveraged. We previously reported on the fact that the CTA had selected a new digital platform for CES 2022 - Web Summit’s event operating system, Summit Engine, and cloud-based event platform. Throughout the last few days I could already see how effective and valuable this tool can be. So, here is my recommendation for everyone not able to attend the show, all the companies who have planned to exhibit, and everyone who will still be conducting demos from the show floor: Use the official CES app and all the available online tools.
Next week - and probably two weeks after that one - is going to be a crazy busy time for everyone, because conducting business remotely is harder. So, as the CTA recommends, explore the resources to help you make the most of your CES experience. The CES website is a great and valuable resource to help reach out to those we intended to meet, those who are in Las Vegas, and those we missed from the show.
From my side, the appeal is for PR companies and manufacturers to please manage your announcement schedules and embargoes wisely and help us do our job to inform the audio industry. Send those press releases and photos ASAP (no press releases, no photos, and you will be dropped to the bottom of priorities). Also, allow some time for more conference calls to follow. It will be impossible to do everything in just the days of the show - and there's no reason not to extend the announcement schedule. And stream everything. This will be the first time where many showcases will actually take place in Las Vegas, with a global audience being able to watch remotely. At least for a show that is the size and importance of CES.
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Walking the show at the last CES, two years ago. We will miss the experience of CES 2022. Click for all CES 2022 announcements so far.
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Here's to the Brave Ones
Last week we paused The Audio Voice for the holidays. During these days, as we all struggled with the perspectives of festivities once again restricted to family and the very closest ones - and still with a very high risk for the elderly - I started to think about the challenges for 2022. In particular, I started thinking about all the young companies and startups in the audio industry that have been struggling for the past two years to stand out in a very competitive environment. Keeping their development efforts and growth strategy investments in place, without really having much of chance to "test the waters" given the pandemic circumstances and everything that this global health crisis generated. And finally culminating in heavy cost increases and constrains in the supply chain that are not easily manageable by companies without strong institutional and financial backing. Extremely hard circumstances for companies without credentials for suppliers.
For this week’s newsletter, I intended to highlight a letter I received from Brian Youngil Cho, the CEO and founder of Resonado - one of many PR efforts I received in the preparation for CES 2022. I was touched by the tone of the message - from a company we followed closely since its foundation. We need to recognize also that many companies such as Resonado and countless other innovators have been working much harder to pursue their vision, and stay on course with their business plan. And they have certainly done well despite a worldwide pandemic and a resulting supply chain crisis.
My thoughts are obviously now toward all the promising startups and ventures we don't yet know, and that normally we would discover at CES. The hundreds of companies that will still man a cubicle booth at Eureka Park and knock on the doors of all the meeting suites looking for a chance to pitch their concepts, inventions, and plans. For those serving the audio industry directly or indirectly, and that we will not see in-person this year or anytime soon, I just want to say, please reach out. Yes, we will read your emails and we will pay attention to your message.
Here's Hoping We Can All Make the Most Out of 2022!
To close on a positive note. Welcome to the Year of the Tiger. I know it only starts February 1, but it seems that the Chinese Zodiac is increasingly relevant globally. And according to the predictions, the year of the Tiger 2022 is under the influence of the water element, which means that it will be a year of changes, wealth, abundance, and prosperity.
Here’s to 2022! And Let’s Return in Full Force for #CES2023!
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The Tetrahedral Test Chamber Story (Part 1)
Recognizing the Need for Consistent Measurements
By Geoff Hill
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This article revisits the story of the development of the Tetrahedral Test Chamber (TTC), by Geoff Hill, loudspeaker engineer, author, and inventor, in an effort to solve the longstanding problem of making consistent loudspeaker measurements. The author explains how the concept was born out of necessity, simple wavelength theory and Beranek's wedges, tetrahedral structure, measurement theory, and building upon experience gained in designing chambers in Europe, US, and Asia. This innovative loudspeaker test chamber is now defined in international standards and in use throughout the world, scalable to any size of loudspeaker driver. This article was originally published in audioXpress, September 2021. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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Acoustical Window Assembly for Vehicle and Home Theater Solution
By James Croft
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James Croft reviews two related patents for a new type of subwoofer architecture. The first is intended for use in an automobile and the second, for use in a domestic listening room. The first patent in review relates to an “Acoustical Window Assembly for Vehicle,” awarded to Darin J. Snider (Holland, MI), Greg Rizzo (Bruce, MI), and Mats Olle Gustavsson (Helsingborg, Sweden) from assignee Magna International, Inc. (Aurora, CA), granted June 2013. The second patent describes a home-theater solution using essentially the same concept, adapted to one or more windows of a domestic listening room, instead of the rear automobile window. This second patent was awarded to Darin J. Snider (Holland, MI) and Gregory D. Rizzo (Bruce, MI) also from Magna International, Inc. and granted in December 2012. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2015. Read the Full Article Now Available Here
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