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Audio

Bose (Also) Takes on Wireless Audio

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After Samsung Bose is the next to take on wireless audio space-- the company launches SoundTouch, a custom-wireless audio system range able to automatically network SoundTouch speakers.

Bose SoundTouchIn other words, it all sounds quite similar to what Sonos does with its signature wireless systems.

SoundTouch systems are available in 3 sizes-- SoundTouch 30 for big rooms, 20 for medium-sized rooms and Portable for small rooms or portable applications-- and play/stream music from either local sources or Pandora, but lack access to other online streaming sources such as Spotify, iTunes, Radio or iHeartRadio.

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The Headphones With Built-in DAC

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ATH-900BAudio Technica combines high-end headphones with digital-to-analog technology with the ATH-D900USB, a set of cans with a 24-bit DAC built into the left ear cup.

Component-wise the headphones are identical to the ATH-D900 audiophile-grade headphones, with 53mm drivers and Burr-Brown amplifiers-- except for the DAC, and a mini USB input (with detachable USB cable) for use with PCs.

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The Smallest Sonos

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Play:1Sonos launches its smallest wireless speaker yet-- the Play:1, an all-in-one speaker packing the company's own midrange/woofer and tweeter inside an entry-level pint-sized package.

Like other Sonos products the Play:1 connects to wireless networks either independently or via other Sonos devices (such as the included Bridge) to play audio from PCs and iOS/Android devices or streaming services such as Pandora, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Sirius XM.

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Auralic Adds DAC to Headphone Docks

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Auralic launches the Gemini 1000 and 2000 headphone docks at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest-- two tabletop devices combining Class A headphone amps, multi-format USB DAC, music file decoding and music storage.

GeminiStanding 30cm tall with a design complete with metal knobs for secure cable winding, the Gemini docks are controllable via onscreen PC interface and decode high-resolution DXD, DSD and double-rate DSD audio at sampling rates from 44.1kHz to 384kHz.

Users can listen to music from USB-connected PC, Android devices or SDXC cards as well as other music sources connected via optical digital input.

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The Samsung Shape for Wireless Audio

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Samsung takes on multiroom wireless audio with the Shape (WAM750), a system consisting of a wireless hub (WAM250) and an oddly wedge-shaped speaker (M7), all controllable via Android or iOS mobile devices.

Samsung ShapeBoth speaker and Hub connect to routers via ethernet, Sonos-style, with the Hub handling multiple M7 speakers spread across multiple rooms around the house.

The speaker also handles one-to-one pairing with smartphones via either Bluetooth or NFC.

Samsung claims the triangular shape of the M7 "offers visual harmony within any room environment." Inside it are a foam core woofer, CNT pulp cone mid-range speakers and silk dome tweeters.

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