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System Integration for the Connected Home

Audio

A Sonos Playbar Update for 2020?

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According to both Zatz Not Funny! and 9to5Mac Sonos plans to launch an update of the Playbar, with the first website claiming to not only have news, but also renders of the upcoming home theatre product from the audio maker.

Sonos Playbar 2020

First released back in 2013, the Playbar is a Sonos product still to receive an update or refresh. Since then, the company launched the Play in 2017 and, a year later, the Beam. The two news websites say the 2020 Playbar will include Dolby Atmos support, with Zatz adding it will even feature Apple AirPlay 2 support.

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Monitor Audio Launches 6th Gen Bronze Loudspeakers

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Monitor Audio presents the 6th generation of Bronze Series loudspeakers, with eight models promising a complete upgrade in sound and build quality, together with the first Dolby Atmos-enabled module from the company.

Bronze series

First launched 20 years ago, the Bronze Series is the winner of multiple awards. The eight models making the 6th generation are the AMS Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker, 50 bookshelf, 100 bookshelf, FX rear speaker, W10 subwoofer, C150 centre speaker, 200 floorstander and 500 floorstander. They feature a uniform combined waveguide combined with the signature C-CAM gold tome tweeter for even sound dispersion, improved time alignment and wider directivity for a more lifelike listening experience.

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Dirac Intros Dirac Live Bass Control

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Dirac Live Bass ControlDirac announces Dirac Live Bass Control-- a feature for home theatres using machine learning and AI to intelligently co-optimise subwoofers and speakers to deliver consistent and accurate bass throughout an entire room.

Dirac Live Bass Control is the second feature available through the Direac Live room acoustics product. The feature is available in three tiers, namely enabled (for single subwoofer management), limited (for automatic single subwoofer management) and complete (for AI multi-subwoofer management).

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Astell & Kern Intros A&norma SR25 Music Player

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Portable music players are something of a rarity, with S. Korea's Astell & Kern being one of the few companies making such devices-- with the latest being the A&norma SR25, an upgrade on the SR15 launched back in 2018.

Astell Kern player

The SR25 promises a number of improvements in terms of both hardware and software. Described by the company as a "mass premium" product, it carries two Cirrus Logic 43198 MasterClass DAC in dual-mono configuration like the SR15, and includes 64GB of internal storage (expandable to 1TB via microSD card) with support for DSD256 and 32-bit/384kHz PCM high-resolution audio. Control comes through a 3.6-inch touchscreen, while battery life clocks up to 21 hours on a single charge. Construction is in aluminium, and Astell & Kern says the volume wheel was made using the same machines used for luxury Swiss watches.

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Yamaha Presents NS-3000 Speakers

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Yamaha announces a smaller version of the flagship NS-5000 bookshelf speakers-- the NS3000, a more affordable pair sharing some technology with the bigger sibling, such as the 3cm Zylon dome tweeter.

Yamaha NS3000

The NS-3000 also includes a 16cm mid/bass driver with a Zylon cone to enhance integration. A Resonance Suppression (RS) chamber behind the tweeter cancels unwanted tube resonance, while an acoustic absorber limits the impact of internal vibrations while reducing the need for sound absorbing material. Yamaha adds the crossover circuit features the "highest-quality" components, including a Mundorf MCapSUPREME EVO audio capacitor.

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Genelec Speakers Go RAW

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Genelec offers customers the option of a RAW aluminium colour finish on a selection of studio, AV and home audio speaker ranges, all featuring the Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) design.

Genelec RAW

Developed by Genelec in collaboration with industrial designer Harri Koskinen, the RAW versions are built out of recycled aluminium and require no painting and less finishing material compared to standard painted models. The models available are all two-way designs, and include the 8020, 8030 and 8040 nearfield studio monitors, the 4020, 4030 and 4040 installation loudspeakers, the 4420 and 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers and the G Two, G Three and G Four home audio models.

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Dan D'Agostino Intros Progression Integrated Amplifier

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Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems announces the Progression Integrated Amplifier, an addition to the Progression series promising the detail retrieval of the Progression Preamplifier and the power of the Progression Stereo Amplifier.

Progression Amplifier

Built on a modular platform, the Progression Integrated features an analogue base unit providing two single-ended inputs and three balanced inputs, including a home theatre passthrough. Balanced preamplifier outputs allow for the inclusion of one or more subwoofers into a system. The bass package includes Bluetooth connectivity, as first seen in the Progression and Momentum HD preamplifier, with a remote eliminating the sight issues of IR remote controls.

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