Tag: #audio

Boom Launch Videobar Audio Expansion Combo Kit

Fast-growing video conferencing manufacturer, Boom Collaboration, has launched a new version of its innovative HALO videobar that features expandable audio.

The Boom HALO Business Edition includes a high performance videobar plus an additional microphone/speaker to dramatically increase the audio range in larger rooms.

Launched earlier this year, the standard HALO delivers crystal-clear audio and 4K video with enhanced AI facial framing and speaker tracking. Multiple additional microphones/speakers can be daisy-chained too.

Now to accelerate further demand the company has created a dedicated dual combo package, for added value and convenience.

Co-Founder Fredrik Hörnkvist says the Business Edition overcomes traditional acoustic limitations of standard videobars. It is ideally suited to a wide range of use cases where extra audio reach is required, such as flexible rooms, dedicated tasks and growing teams.

Game-Changer

“Our flagship Boom HALO videobar already features a 4K UHD camera, six beamforming mics and high fidelity speakers for a seamless collaboration experience,” he emphasised. “But as videobars are generally installed at the front of room there’s often limited flexibility for additional audio pick-up especially on a large scale. 

“With the additional speaker/microphone, audio can easily be extended by a further three metres for each device. This is useful in many ways such as for legal depositions which are already proving very popular, or a quietly-spoken CEO who often sits at the far end of a boardroom and struggles to be heard. It’s a bit of a game-changer in terms of total audio capacity.”

Available in white and black colours from UK distributor Westcoast, the HALO boasts many advanced features such as intelligent noise reduction. 

Fellow founder Holli Hulett explained: “There’s little doubt the popularity of videobars will continue to grow this year and the Boom HALO Business Edition will add more fuel to the fire.

“With 120° wide angle field of view, 10x zoom and smart mic array, the HALO detects both participants and speakers in real time locking in on attendees. Six array MEMS microphones and a superior 4K lens with an eight megapixel CMOS sensor combine to create a superior solution for a variety of spaces. The additional speaker enables much greater audio pick-up for a truly exceptional and optimised meeting experience across a wider range of meeting spaces.”

Lossless Audio

She highlighted the videobar’s in-built audio quality. “High-fidelity audio with a 48kHz sampling rate and dual 10W speakers provide lossless audio and full spectrum sound for meeting participants. Acoustic Echo Cancellation and Automatic Gain Control further enhance the meeting experience and work to ensure full duplex quality at a distance of six metres.”

Bluetooth 5.0 allows for easy pairing with mobile phones and other devices. A user-friendly remote control is included too whilst an automatic privacy shutter is combined with the ability to disengage wireless connectivity for added security.

Hörnkvist concluded: “Our whole ethos is to create better meetings. Simply. The Boom HALO Business Edition is another example of this continual vision.” 

Creative Zen Air SXFI earbuds & Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI headphones launched

Creative Technology today proudly unveils its latest True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds and headphones, the Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI, designed to transport users into the immersive world of Super X-Fi. With a simple tap, users can expand their soundstage and be engulfed in every detail of their preferred content across platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube, all powered by the built-in SXFI technology. Boasting additional features such as Adaptive Hybrid ANC and Ambient mode, Bluetooth 5.3, low-latency of up to ~100 ms, the Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI are poised to redefine how users engage with their favourite content.

Renowned for its ability to recreate the expansive soundstage of a high-end multi-speaker surround system, Super X-Fi now shines in the latest Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI, enriching users’ listening experience with spatial audio. With Super X-Fi activated, users can transcend the boundaries of traditional stereo sound, immersing themselves in a three-dimensional audio world teeming with heightened realism and depth. Whether it’s the thunderous roar of a cinematic explosion, the subtle rustle of leaves in a forest, or the precise positioning of footsteps in a game, Super X-Fi delivers unparalleled spatial accuracy and depth, allowing users to truly feel like they’re part of the action.

Coupled with the SXFI APP, available on iOS and Android phones, the full potential of Super X-Fi can be further unlocked by personalising Super X-Fi to users’ exact head and ear shape for an even more precise rendition.

Beyond the Super X-Fi integration, the Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI are packed with nifty features to cater to today’s diverse users. With Hybrid ANC, Adaptive ANC, and Ambient mode, users can seamlessly switch between the three modes, adapting to different environments and choosing to immerse themselves in music or stay aware of their surroundings. Moreover, the low-latency mode ensures audio stays perfectly synced up, whether users are gaming or watching movies. And with Multipoint connectivity, users can easily switch between two Bluetooth devices without missing a beat.

Zooming in on their primary features, the Creative Zen Air SXFI boasts custom-tuned 10mm Neodymium drivers, ensuring crystal-clear highs and well-balanced mids for an exceptional audio playback experience. With a total playtime of up to 39 hours (with ANC OFF), along with IPX5 water resistance and wireless charging capabilities, it’s perfect for those on the move.

The Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI features custom-tuned 40mm Neodymium drivers, delivering precise highs and deep lows for an elevated audio experience. With an impressive total playtime of up to 70 hours (with ANC OFF), users can enjoy extended listening sessions without any interruptions. Its foldable headband design adds to its portability, and support for analog line-in offers versatile connectivity options. Additionally, the built-in mics with ENC (Environment Noise Cancellation) ensure clearer communication during calls and voice commands, enhancing the overall user experience.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Zen Air SXFI is priced at £69.99 and is available for pre-order at Creative.com.

Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI is priced at £89.99 and is available for pre-order at Creative.com.

For more information, visit here

Remora Unveil Groundbreaking Wireless Audio Solution, Remora PRO

Remora, a leading audio startup at the forefront of eliminating cables from professional and high-end consumer audio applications, is proud to announce the launch of their inaugural product: Remora PRO. This cutting-edge innovation, based on the acclaimed Headphone 3.0 platform from Sonical Inc, introduces a game-changing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connection, delivering an unparalleled loss-less audio experience with imperceptible latency.


Designed to cater to the millions of professional users and premium audio listeners who refuse to compromise on quality or latency, Remora PRO is set to empower audiophiles, music producers, live performers and DJs with a cable-free audio experience. The product’s groundbreaking design connects seamlessly with all existing audio sources via analogue and USB interfaces, and is adaptable to all headphone models. Moreover, the Remora PRO offers full Bluetooth support, ensuring backward compatibility with billions of existing wireless audio devices.

The Remora PRO fulfills the unmet performance needs of audio professionals and music enthusiasts that Bluetooth has been unable to support.  Mark Wade, Head of Products at Remora explains “By using CosmOS, the operating system for the ear from Sonical, running on their high performance ear computer platform, Remora PRO provides a complete solution for a personalized experience through downloadable plugins.”

Grammy award-winning mix engineer Wez Clarke expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I love the fact that I can use the professional headphones I already own, which I’ve had for years and understand the sound profile of.” Clarke further emphasized, “This level of audio performance goes beyond regular Bluetooth wireless headphones and is truly a cable replacement.  More than that, it means I don’t have to throw away my headphones just to get access to the latest technology”

The Remora will include THX AAA, the patented THX linear amplifier technology for headphones. THX AAA on the Remora will ensure the ultimate no-compromise headphone audio experience by delivering the world’s highest fidelity audio with infinitesimally low levels of noise, distortion, and power consumption for a quality and fatigue-free listening experience.
Anticipating a high demand for this revolutionary product, Remora PRO are scheduled for shipping by the end of September with a suggested retail pricing of GBP £759 USD $949 EUR €890. Pre-orders are now open on the company’s website: www.remora.pro

Key Features of Remora PRO:

  • Ultra Wide Band (UWB) wireless connection for an uncompressed lossless audio experience with imperceptible latency at 24bit / 96kHz
  • End to End latency of sub 5ms in UWB mode
  • Compatibility with all existing audio sources via analogue and USB interfaces.
  • User configurable through Sonical’s CosmOS with downloadable plugins for a personalised audio experience
  • Full Bluetooth support for backward compatibility with existing wireless audio devices
  • XMOS USB input and an ESS Powered DAC output
  • THX AAA certified headphone amplifier for an unparalleled headphone audio experience

Remora will be at the Sonical booth in Hall 1, C12 at HIGH END Munich 2024.

 

 

First Look – Majority MP3 Pro

I can’t even remember the last time I had an MP3 player which was many years ago and I went through quite a few since mobile phones came along and now we get the chance to turn the clock back and listen to music the old way with this device.

For me this is great and will keep me off my phone and listen to music for many hours a day, you do get earphones with the product and this also gives me a chance to test out my endless supply of headphones earbuds and speakers.

First impressions of the Majority MP3 Pro are good so far and this has an excellent build quality and not made with plastic it has a simple to use menu and UI and now it is time for me to get the device loaded and get away from my laptop and phone for a few hours, so if you have any questions feel free to ask while we test this out and watch out for the full review in a week or two and do check out the unboxing and first look below.

 

The Majority MP3 Pro is available on Amazon for £34.95/€39.95/$39.95.

Key Features of the Majority MP3 Pro:

  • 5.0 Bluetooth Connectivity
  • 4hr Charging Time
  • 65GB Internal Storage
  • Compatible with SD cards up to 128GB
  • Earphones included
  • Integrated Speaker
  • Dimensions: 4.2cm x 6.6cm x 1.8cm
  • Weight: 33g

BUY

Unboxing and walkthrough

 

Majority Audio launches the Majority MP3 Pro

Majority, the consumer electronics brand known for its innovative products, provides the audio solution for music lovers on the go, the Majority MP3 Pro.

The Majority MP3 Pro is available in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain from Amazon for £34.95/€39.95/$39.95.

Never again does running errands or housekeeping have to be boring- The MP3 Pro opens a world of opportunity to take 12,000 songs wherever you go. With expandable storage of up to 128GB, listeners can further enjoy up to 36,000 songs to put a music kick into your next workout, commute, or holiday. Working together with the extensive playtime and 4-hour fast charge means with the MP3 Pro your favourite songs do not need to be interrupted.

Designed for the on-the-go music enthusiast, the MP3 Pro features 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity coupled with 67 hours of playtime means listeners can surround themselves with wireless audio for hours whatever the occasion.

Keeping to Majority’s tradition to deliver high quality home audio products at an affordable price, the MP3 Pro’s integrated speakers prove crystal-clear audio doesn’t have to be sacrificed! Simple connect with the included headphones for a private party or pair with external speakers to fill the room with your customised playlist- either way the MP3 Pro has been meticulously engineered for listeners to immerse themselves in every intricate musical note.

Showing that style and function can work effectively side by side, the MP3 Pro’s zinc alloy chassis encasing delivers a premium touch and sleek design, while the 2.4” colour display guarantees that music navigation could not be easier!

Designed in the UK and with a 3-year warranty, Majority produce products that will last and stand the test of time.

The MP3 Pro is available on Amazon for £34.95/€39.95/$39.95.

Key Features of the Majority MP3 Pro:

  • 5.0 Bluetooth Connectivity
  • 4hr Charging Time
  • 65GB Internal Storage
  • Compatible with SD cards up to 128GB
  • Earphones included
  • Integrated Speaker
  • Dimensions: 4.2cm x 6.6cm x 1.8cm
  • Weight: 33g

 

About Majority:

From a living room in Cambridge to over a million homes across the globe, Majority was born from the idea that there could be a product that is suitable for everyone and enjoyed by all. A consumer electronics company offering a range of radios and home audio products that never compromised on great features and sound quality, Majority is now in over a million homes and has high ambitions to be one of the greenest tech companies on the planet by the year 2023.

www.majority.co.uk

Sony announces all-new TV & home audio line up – Cinema Is Coming Home

Sony has announced the all-new BRAVIA TVs line-up, along with perfectly matching new BRAVIA Theatre home audio products – making it easier for consumers to choose and combine a complete home entertainment package for an outstanding cinematic experience.

BRAVIA

  • The flagship BRAVIA 9 is capable of high peak luminance, deep blacks, supreme contrast and beautifully natural colours.
  • BRAVIA 9 will feature Acoustic Multi-Audio+ and are the world’s first with Beam Tweeter at the top and Frame Tweeter at the sides to deliver cinematic surround sound.
  • Sony’s new Voice Zoom 3 recognises human dialogue through AI algorithms and amplifies or reduces its volume so even small dialogue sounds loud and clear.
  • Prime Video Calibrated Mode – a new mode designed to provide customers with even more ways to experience premium entertainment through the lens of the creator. Customers can enjoy optimum picture quality that is automatically calibrated across movies, series, and for the first time, live sports.

BRAVIA Theatre

  • With BRAVIA Theatre Bar 9 and BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8 you can enjoy 360 Spatial Sound Mapping using just a single soundbar. BRAVIA Theatre Quad can realise wider surround sound with 4 slim speakers.
    • 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology, multiple phantom speakers are generated in locations where there are no actual physical speakers, such as above or to the side

 

  • BRAVIA Theatre Products are compatible with the Sound Field Optimization, which automatically adjusts and tunes each speaker
  • Introducing BRAVIA Theatre U – When you combine BRAVIA TVs and BRAVIA Theatre products, the Acoustic Center Sync function fuses the sound of the TV’s speakers and the soundbar seamlessly, creating a cinema-like experience where the sound appears to come directly from the TV screen.

 

Line up information

BRAVIA

  • BRAVIA 9 QLED (mini LED) available in 85”, 75”
  • BRAVIA 8 OLED available in 77”, 65”, 55”
  • BRAVIA 7 QLED (mini LED) available in 85”, 75”, 65”, 55”
  • See more –  here 

BRAVIA Theatre home audio

  • BRAVIA Theatre Bar 9
  • BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8
  • BRAVIA Theatre Quad
  • BRAVIA Theatre 
  • See more here

Majority launches the Majority MP3 Go

With its compact design, 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity and sports clip, the Majority MP3 Go is the perfect addition to any workout, walk, hike or commute, delivering wireless audio for up to 34 hours.

Say hello to the active audiophile’s ultimate companion. With an impressive 34 hours of playtime, a handy sports clip and weighing only 33g, the Majority MP3 Go is the ideal device to put a musical kick into your workouts and adventures. Simply clip on to your clothes or bag and feel the music.

With the busy lifestyle of the modern audio fan in mind, the MP3 Go offers a fast-charging time of only 3 hours. Combined with the cutting edge 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity, listeners can enjoy wireless freedom to run errands or simply pair to Bluetooth speakers for room-raising sound.

Designed for the ultimate music journey, the Majority MP3 Go has been meticulously engineered to amplify the richness and depth of your music via the integrated speaker. No longer does your listening experience have to suffer, simply connect the included earphones or external speakers and surround yourself with your favourite sounds.

For music fanatics who can’t stand being too far from their favourite songs the MP3 Go’s 16GB of internal storage, equating to 4000 songs will be a lifesaver for those long commutes and days running errands. Equipped to offer further entertainment, the MP3 Go is compatible with SD cards of up to 128GB to deliver a further 36,000 songs.

Designed in the UK and with a 3-year warranty, Majority produce products that will last and stand the test of time.

The Majority MP3 Go is available in the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain from Amazon for £29.95/€34.95/$34.95.

Key Features of the Majority MP3 Go:

 

  • 5.0 Bluetooth Connectivity
  • 3hr Charging Time
  • 16GB Internal Storage
  • Compatible with SD cards up to 128GB
  • Earphones included
  • Integrated Speaker
  • 1.54 inch IPS screen
  • Dimensions: 14.1cm x 14cm x 2.6cm
  • Weight: 33g

Innit Audio, A New Audio Solution to Enhance your PC Gameplay

Innit Audio is proud to have officially launched its groundbreaking experience, currently for PC users. Launched on Wednesday 14th February, following a successful open beta in Q4 2023, Innit Audio promises to redefine how gamers and media enthusiasts hear, feel, and experience sound through headphones and earphones.


Innit launch video

Built on years of experience and innovation from state-of-the-art digital audio specialists Böhmer Audio, the Innit algorithm generates a virtual 3-dimensional 360×360 spatial sound field that can locate sound anywhere in 3D space around the listener. For the very first time, it’s possible to game wearing headphones without feeling that sounds are stuck inside your head, being able instead to feel that you are actually inside the game.

Mark Nichols, CEO of Innit Audio, explains “Soundwaves surround us, arriving from all directions in an infinite variety of patterns. Many are altered by their journey, bouncing off surfaces and acquiring unique distortions between the sound source and our ears. With their hyper-sensitive drums, our ears hear and translate sounds for our brains to interpret into what they understand and know to be real life. This is what we call Aural Reality.”

Nichols continues: “When using headphones, or earphones, we are pulled out of aural reality by the unnatural feeling of having these sound sources coming from right next to our ears, giving the effect of a much-reduced soundscape being heard inside your head, or maybe just a tiny bit outside. Innit solves this completely.”

All sounds played through Innit – be they from a competitive or immersive game such as Counter Strike 2 or Star Citizen, or a streamed music video – go through sophisticated audio processing by the Innit algorithm creating time domain coded sound vectors, adding missing time domain information not present in the sound stream which allows the sounds to be positioned anywhere in the 360×360 3D spatial sound field.

This achieves world-leading directional sound placement, your mind using the added information making the sound appear to be originating from a genuine, real-life environment rather than confined to two small locations on the sides of your head. In this groundbreaking move, Innit achieves for gaming audio what virtual reality headsets do for visuals — it enables you to lose yourself in the experience, seamlessly blurring the line between virtual and reality, making it feel entirely natural and fully immersive.

Bernt Böhmer, the visionary inventor behind Böhmer Audio and Innit Audio, recalls: “I first realized how important this development would be for gamers when I added Innit to my sim racing setup. Before that, my chair vibrates, the steering wheel does its thing and so on, but the audio experience didn’t pull my senses into the game in the same way, it felt artificial. But with Innit enabled, it’s on a different level – you feel the masses moving in a real car, you get the G force, and you lose any awareness that what you’re hearing, what you’re experiencing, isn’t real. You’re really there, in the car, and the first time I felt that I knew we had something special. Innit completes the experience.”

Upon launch there will be two subscription options, priced at $9.99 / €8.99 / £8.49 per quarter or $29.99 / €26.99 / £24.99 for twelve months, with the annual option being a 25% discount.

They are also offering the option to instead purchase a one-time license, which as a special launch offer costs only $69.99 / €64.99 / £59.99, providing years of audio excellence for less than the price of three years subscribing.

Innit Audio invites gamers and audio enthusiasts to embark on a new era of sound immersion. Join us on this beautiful-sounding journey, where each moment is a revelation in aural reality.

Gamers, and film, tv, and music lovers, can sign-up and download Innit directly from https://innit.audio

Sound Advice: Why The Allure Of Audio Conferencing Is Gaining A Louder Voice

Manufacturer Boom Collaboration is on a mission to amplify the allure and importance of audio conferencing, fuelled by a rapid rise in demand. In an age of 4K picture performance and AI face and zone tracking, the fast-growing hardware specialist says the power of sound shouldn’t be under estimated – or become the poor relation of meeting room collaboration.

Without being heard clearly effective communication becomes virtually impossible, it argues. Founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett are stressing that in a world of intelligent video equipment, high quality audio matters more than ever.

“Camera technology has advanced dramatically in recent years and it’s important audio performance is of a similar quality to deliver an optimum user experience. Don’t neglect audio is our message,” Hulett emphasised.

Sexy

She added: “It’s true audio conferencing has been seen as ‘less sexy’ in recent years compared to hi-tech cameras, but its value shouldn’t be overlooked. Some of our latest innovations are definitely accelerating audio allure and raising its game. There needs to be a perfect marriage between the two mediums.” 

Beamforming microphones that deliver a more defined and direct sound, intelligent noise reduction and high fidelity speakers are just some of the ways audio technology is developing, she stated.

To help further elevate audio conferencing attraction, Boom has developed a new HALO videobar with expansion for up to eight individual speaker units.  It is also witnessing strong demand for wireless communication where a dual speaker GEMINI system smashed its sales targets by 37% last year. All products are available in the UK from distributor Westcoast.

Eighties

Boom says it has broken down the barriers of traditional videobar deployments to dramatically increase the sound stage and audio pick-up especially in larger rooms.

Hörnkvist highlighted: “Traditional videobars were initially only really suited for smaller or medium rooms where everyone faced the same wall. But with some rooms now being used in more flexible ways and especially for larger spaces, expandable audio is the answer to overcome the traditional challenges of limited fidelity range.”

He added: “Audio conferencing has been around since the late eighties and we both used to work for the original inventors. Covid lockdowns triggered an explosion in video calls and in many ways audio was rapidly overtaken. But it’s definitely on the rise again in terms of advanced features, flexibility and overall performance.

“Technologies such as Acoustic Echo Cancellation and Automatic Gain Control enhance the meeting experience and work to ensure Full Duplex quality at distances of six metres.

“Active intelligent microphones with high sensitivity can automatically adapt to the size of meeting rooms and different numbers of participants. They work in tandem to focus on individual people and also eliminate background noise to help create a more natural experience. 

“It used to be the softly spoken CEO would sit at the end of the room and would struggle to be heard because they were too far away. The loudest voice was heard but that’s not the case anymore. There’s no one size that fits all.”

Hulett concluded: “Boom is based on delivering ‘better meetings simply’ and there’s definitely been a renewed focus on audio in recent times. Users are demanding more robust high quality audio options that are wire-free, platform agnostic, easy to connect and expandable. Ceiling mount kits are becoming more common too.

“People are beginning to realise that audio quality needs to match picture performance. One without the other is a false economy. If people can’t be heard clearly it will ruin any remote meeting. Audio is definitely gaining a louder market voice as sales continue to rise.”