AudioControl launches the Director Model D4400 multi-zone amplifier-- offering 16 amplification channels at 100W per channel as well as on-board DSP, graphic and parametric equalisation by zone, network monitoring, and programming and control.

Users can select individual channels and zones via standard TCIP, bridge channels up to 200W per channel, remote 12-volt zone trigger via ethernet, and operate stable into low impedances while delivering power and performance.

Being networkable, the D4400 allows installers to control and monitor operation and performance both on-site and remotely via browser-based UI.

A sizeable DSP feature set includes graphic and parametric equalisation for each channel (with 128 filters), programmable electronic crossover, subsonic filters and high frequence tweeter protection circuits, dual bus inputs, channel status monitoring, email alerts and selectable user listening preferences.

The Director Model D440 comes in a compact 3U chassis with removable rack mounts as standard feature, and is available in either black or brushed stainless steel.

Go AudioControl Director Model D4400

Guitar players everywhere know the feeling: you play the same song over and over and it gets boring. You need a change of chords…

Maybe guitar makers are no different: Gibson Guitar offers $52 million to buy 54.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of TEAC. The tender offer period began April 1, 2013 and will remain open for 21 Japanese business days.

Upon completion of the acquisition, TEAC will expand the size and reach of Gibson’s Pro Audio business, with products that complement the KRK, Cerwin-Vega!, and Stanton portfolio of studio monitors, sound reinforcement equipment, and DJ gear respectively.

In future product development, TEAC has the potential to add value to the Gibson MI (musical instrument) segments, and even with the fretted instrument category.

Triad Speakers announces the new InWall Bronze/4 SlimSub-- a slimmer version of the earlier InWall Bronze/4 Sub designed to fit into standard 4-inch (10.2cm) wall cutouts.

The new model is around 10cm deep and features a flat-grille, flush-mount design allowing it to fit room decor better than its predecessor.

It delivers maximum output of 109dB from 40-80Hz with bass extention of -6dB at 25Hz, performance Triad says rivals the company's larger 6-inch deep InWall Bronze/6 model.

According to the company the sealed enclosure is fine-tuned to match the excursion of the proprietary long-throw 10-inch aluminium driver. The integrated round steel back-plate replacing the thick MDF behind the driver captures more air volume to accommodate the lengthy throw of the driver.

It appears Jeremy Burkhardt will not compete against Nortek after all-- the former SpeakerCraft president fails to complete his acquisition of outdoor audio maker SoundCast within the 90-day deal-or-no-deal deadline.

The SoundCast leadership had the option to extend the deadline, but instead elected to infuse the capital the company requires for expansion themselves.

"Things like this happen and I respect the management team’s decision to not extend the deadline" Burkhardt comments. "The past few months have been amazing working with people and products that I love and my passion for the industry has never been so strong.

Reportedly Burkhardt had the cash to close the deal, but the SoundCast owners got nervous at the prospect of losing their independence. Further bolstering the decision to remain solo was the positive reception received by the company's first Bluetooth products, the Melody AC/DC Bluetooth weatherproof Bluetooth speakers and a Bluetooth dongle for existing Outcast speakers.

Audience launches the ClairAudient The ONE-- a compact single-driver loudspeaker ideal for desktop music, compact high-end stereo and home theatre applications.

The smallest member of the ClairAudient family, the ONE measures 18cm x 14cm x 18cm and carries a A3-S full-range crossover-less driver together with a purpose-designed passive radiator.

The A3-S is 12mm excursion ultra-low distortion transducer Audience claims eliminates the need for a separate woofer, midrange driver, tweeter and crossover network-- and sonic compromises of the sonically dissimilar drivers, phase distortions, resolution loss and transient response degradation variety.

Being a benign load to amplifiers, The ONE is compatible with a wide range of tube and solid-state amplifiers, with flat 50Hz-20kHz in-room response when placed on a desk or near a wall (subwoofer is required for full-frequency response when not situated near a wall).

The ONE ships now as a pair in either black or blue finishes, with white and red finishes to be available soon.

Go Audience Shipping The ONE Single-Driver Loudspeaker

Bowers & Wilkins expands its AirPlay-equipped speaker lineup with 2 models-- the blimp-shaped Zeppelin Air LCM and the Z2, the first from the company featuring the 8-pin Lightning connector.

The speakers dock with the iPhone 5, 5th generation iPod Touch and 7th generation iPod Nano, but not with the Lightning-equipped iPad Mini. AirPlay functionality allows streaming from all wifi-enabled iDevices and the iTunes application.

The Zeppelin Air LCM is mostly identical to the Zeppelin Air, being a DSP-equipped 2.1 channel 3-way speaker with five drivers. Powering each driver is an individual 4x25W (plus 1x50W) amplifier delivering a frequency response of 51Hz to 35kHz (+/-3dB).

It also features 24-bit/96kHz DACs, USB port and composite video input.

Meanwhile the Z2 is the more compact option, featuring a subtly curved metal grille, two 3.5-inch full-range drivers, DSP and 2x20W Class D amplifier.

Both speakers should start shipping by Q2 2013.

Go Z2 and Zeppelin Air Launch with Lightning Connector