The global market (excluding N. America) for audio devices sees sales worth €7.9 billion in H1 2019, GfK reports-- a 15% Y-o-Y increase, with headphones and headsets as key growth drivers together with portable Bluetooth speakers and loudspeakers for the home.

The analyst also points out the growth potential of smart devices with embedded voice assistants and loudspeakers aimed at enhancing the entertainment sound at home. As such, global audio markets have the opportunity to prolong the growth trajectory with positive results almost uniformly around the globe.

The sales value of in-ear headphones is up by 55% in H1 2019, and accounts for sales worth nearly €3bn for 70% of total headphone turnover. W. Europe is the 2nd biggest market, following China. Almost 50% of wireless in-ear devices sold in 2019 are true wireless (with two separate earpieces). The global market for such headphones is up by 300% in 2019, and high consumer demand has attracted the attention of more and more brands, leading to APs dropping to €85.

Invisible loudspeaker specialist Stealth Acoustics partners with HARMAN Luxury Audio to co-develop the JBL Conceal loudspeakers-- a concealed loudspeaker series aimed at residential custom install applications.

The JBL Conceal series utilise the Stealth patented transducer implementation into a rigid compression moulded baffle skinned with 7th generation Fidelity Glass acoustic panels. Also featuring are JBL acoustic crossover networks and spring-loaded connections, as well as an integrated back box enclosure. The result is a loudspeaker one can install like a drywall patch. Customers can paint the surface to match the wall, or custom finish it for blending into any creative decor.

Bowers & Wilkins announces the next member of the Formation line of wireless speakers-- the Flex, a cylindrical speaker reminiscent of the Apple HomePod customers can use either independently or as part of a wider Formation wireless system.

According to B&W the Flex pushes "the highest quality sound ever" from a standalone wireless speaker of the same size. It carries the same tweeter technology as the company's 600 series speakers, and leverages a wireless audio platform developed by Eva Automation, an obscure 2016 B&W acquisition. The technology allows it to support 24-bit/96kHz audio together with speaker synchronisation of around 1 microsecond, regardless of other products in use.

Origin Acoustics launches expansions to the Landscape Bollard Loudspeaker lineup at CEDIA 2019-- specifically the Big Bollard and the Bollard Light, a version of the Standard Bollard with a light on top.

The Big Bollard features a 10-inch burial subwoofer porting out of the sleeve, just before the acoustic lens. Above the lens is a 6.5-inch two-way loudspeaker. Director Collection technology allows the company to keep the width of the sleeve at around 20cm, making it larger than the original model.