Pioneer gave a preview of its CE Week product showcase Tuesday ahead of the opening of the event in New York Wednesday. The company will highlight the new SC-LX501 Elite 7.1-channel network AV receiver and the 7.2-channel VSX-1131, the SE-Master1 Hi-Res and SE-MHR5 headphones, the MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)-enabled XDP-100R portable media player and three home theater speaker sets: the SP-EBS73-LR Dolby Atmos-enabled Elite Concentric speakers, the SP-T22A-LR Atmos-enabled add-ons and the SP-BS22-LRs, the company said. In its stereo line, Pioneer will show the PL-30-K turntable and the Hi-Res SX-N30 receiver. The company said it will launch two products at its booth that haven’t been previously announced.
Autonomic announced modules enabling integration of Autonomic’s Mirage Media Server and amplifiers into Elan’s home control platform. Elan customers will be able to control Autonomic’s multiroom music systems via iOS and Android devices to browse music by album, artist, title and favorites and select playlists, Autonomic said. The Mirage serves streaming and high-res music to up to 16 zones. Autonomic also has drivers for compatibility with control platforms from AMX, Crestron, Control4, HAI, RTI and Universal Remote, a spokesman said.
Vizio began shipping its latest SmartCast line of soundbars with Google Cast. The nine-model lineup ranges from $179 for the leader 38-inch model to $499 for 44- and 45-inch 5.1-channel surround-sound units with subwoofers. Users can stream millions of songs from the Google Cast-enabled audio app to the soundbar over Wi-Fi, said the company. With Vizio’s app, consumers can search and discover content across apps and control play, pause and volume functions, said the company.
KEF had the formal coming out party for its Muo Bluetooth speaker at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan Wednesday. The portable speaker began shipping through Amazon three months ago, Dipin Sehdev, brand relations, told us. The event was a study in contrasts as KEF Brand Ambassador Johan Coorg was as intent on demoing KEF’s flagship $225,000-per-pair aluminum-cased Muon speaker as he was displaying the colorful lineup of $349 Muos. But the company brought only one of the towering 253-pound Muons, which Coorg played in mono, and 23 of the 1.8-pound monaural Muos, boosted up on chairs, a dozen of which were hooked together to play in sync. Coorg said two Muos can be linked to play in stereo. The smaller speaker has a grille design reminiscent of the flagship speakers’ curved, feminine shape, and uses a miniaturized version of KEF’s signature Uni-Q driver. Both speakers were designed by industrial designer Ross Lovegrove. The Bluetooth model is available in orange, pink, green, blue, silver, gray and gold. In addition to Amazon, KEF is selling the Bluetooth speaker through Kohl’s and Target stores, said Sehdev, saying Kohl’s and Target customers like style and want to feel “like they have a luxury product in their hand.” KEF plans to build on the Muo line, but Sehdev wouldn't elaborate.
AudioControl joined the Azione buying group as a vendor member, the company and the group said in a joint announcement Tuesday. For AudioControl, joining Azione was a natural fit because AudioControl’s customer focus “has always been to make the living room pulse like a concert hall and the home theater rumble like a Hollywood studio,” said CEO Alex Camara in a statement.
Harman and Google announced an audio partnership at Google I/O 2016 for Google’s new modular mobile device called Ara, Harman said Friday. The module gives customers “complete choice” over features they want, and Harman’s 80-year-old audio heritage and “deep expertise” in the Android OS will be “critical elements” in the development process, Harman said. Ara will give consumers “premium audio and the functionalities they want on the go,” Harman Lifestyle Audio President Michael Mauser said. In addition, Harman and Google's Advanced Technology and Projects Group (ATAP) said they’re working together on Project Soli, which uses radar to enable new types of touchless interactions. One project involves using the human hand as a natural, intuitive interface for devices, they said. The Soli sensor can track “sub-millimeter motions at high speed and accuracy to enable precise and effortless hand gestures,” the companies said.
Yamaha unveiled six models in the flagship Aventage RX-A 60 line of network AV receivers Tuesday. The six receivers support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based audio and pack HDMI ports capable of high-dynamic range pass-through, said Yamaha. All six are Hi-Res Audio-capable, playing back ALAC files at 96 kHz/24-bit, WAV, AIFF, FLAC up to 192 kHz/24-bit and DSD to 5.6 MHz, said Yamaha. The top five MusicCast models have a phono input with preamp support for turntables with cartridges and can send the music wirelessly to other MusicCast products in the home, said the company. The six receivers include Yamaha’s YPAO sound optimization system. The Yamaha Compressed Music Enhancer has been optimized for Bluetooth audio transmission, Yamaha said. Pricing and availability: RX-A660 ($649, June), RX-A760 ($749, May), RX-A860 ($999, June); RX-A1060 ($1,299, June), RX-A2060 ($1,699, July), RX-A3060 ($2,199, July).
Sony released pricing and availability for its latest audio gear, including a $599 reference-grade turntable positioned in its Hi-Res Audio lineup. Hi-Res Audio speakers available now, online and in stores May 15 are the (1) HT-NT5 soundbar with wireless subwoofer ($799) with HDMI HDCP 2.2, Google Cast and Sony’s SongPal app, (2) the SRS-ZR7 Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker ($299) with SongPal, Google Cast, S-Master HX noise-reduction technology and built-in HDMI with ARC (audio return channel) for connection to a TV with Dolby Digital/ DTS decoding, and (3) the SRS-ZR5 wireless speaker ($199) with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, HDMI with ARC, Google Cast, SongPal and Sony’s LDAC audio coding technology. New to Sony’s AV receiver line: (1) the Hi-Res STR-DN1070 ($599) with a new DAC (digital-to-analog converter) supporting DSD native playback, 7.1 channel surround sound, Sony’s S-Force Pro front surround, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Google Cast and Spotify Connect and (2) the STR-DH770 ($349) with Bluetooth, HDMI with HDCP 2.2, S-Force Pro surround. On the source side, Sony announced the (1) BDP-S6700 4K upscaling streaming Blu-ray player ($129, presale) with Bluetooth, LDAC support and SongPal and (2) UHP-H1 Hi-Res certified Blu-ray player ($349, presale) that plays SACD and DVD-Audio discs. The CAS-1 Hi-Res Audio system ($999, May 22) has dual amplifiers, SongPal, Bluetooth with LDAC and near-field communications support for connection to a phone, tablet or PC, Sony said.
Harman shed more light Monday on its contract with Lufthansa for AKG noise-canceling headphones to replace Bose models in the airline’s business-class cabin, an award highlighted by CEO Dinesh Paliwal on the company’s earning webcast last week (see 1604280035). Under the contract, the AKG N60 noise-canceling headphones will be available to Lufthansa business-class customers beginning in January for an initial term of five years, said Harman. The AKG N60 NC headphones meet the aviation standards, including RTCA-DO160G, plane manufacturer specific tests, and are certified equipment for all current and new planes, including Airbus A350 and Boeing 777, said the company. It didn’t say which headphones will be used for Lufthansa’s first-class cabins. Harman will support the repair, service and replacement of headphones as needed, it said. Retail price of the N60s is $249.
Pioneer announced availability of the VSX-1131 ($599) and VSX-831 ($449) AV receivers Wednesday, which support 4K/60p/4:4:4 24-bit video signal transmission with HDCP 2.2 technology. The 7.2-channel VSX-1131 delivers 170 watts per channel, supports Dolby Atmos and is DTS:X-ready, with a firmware update due this fall, the company said. The Hi-Res audio receiver, with an AKM 384kHz/32-bit DAC (digital analog converter), supports 24-bit/192kHz files in FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD and Apple lossless file formats, Pioneer said. The 5.1-channel VSX-831 includes the AKM DAC and wireless connectivity via AirPlay, Bluetooth, FireConnect and Google Cast.