Strategy in TECH...
Earlier this summer, executives from Russound visited me to offer me (and Strata-gee readers) a pre-CEDIA Expo sneak peek at some newly redesigned models that are in many ways smarter. I say smarter because these new designs reflect input from integrators (as well as some industry trends) and have launched new sleeker (such as 1U models) and smaller footprint products (such as its popular mini-AVR models). The company is also previewing a new industrial design that I like a lot.
Two big announcements this month from the folks over at AVPro Global, one of the most kinetic entities in integration right now, show how important AV-over-IP is at the company. One announcement is the appointment of a new VP for the company, and the other is about the launch of a new AudioControl product that is really new – as in nothing like it ever existed in any form before now.
While big in commercial, AV-over-IP and Dante is still relatively new to many residential integrators. However, most think this category will grow in popularity on the residential side as more companies begin pushing their solutions.
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), a premium U.K.-based maker of high-performance loudspeakers, earbuds, headphones, and more, announced today a significant update of its premium earbuds line with the launch of the all-new Pi6 and Pi8 models. The company notes that these new models were crafted by the same design and engineering teams who were responsible for creating the well-received Px7 S2e and Px8 headphone models.
Cambridge Audio, the British specialty audio manufacturer and merchant of musically-inspired audio gear announced today the launch of the Evo One wireless streaming speaker that looks like it will be a formidable force in just about any home. Like Sonos on steroids, with 700 watts of power and no fewer than 14 speakers arrayed to provide room-filling sound – no matter what type of music you like…crank it up!
Cambridge Audio, the U.K.-based audio specialty maker and merchant of affordable premium-grade audio gear, introduced today its first-ever over-ear headphones in its award-winning Melomania wireless headphone series. The new Melomania P100 balances elegant design with spectacular sound quality…blending in mind-blowing battery life and a healthy dose of best-in-class technology.
Interesting news out of Japan as we learn that Ricoh, a large Japanese imaging company that owns the Pentax camera brand, is launching its first film camera under the Pentax brand in over 20 years. This new model, the Pentax 17, will launch first in overseas markets in June, and then in the domestic (Japan) market in July.
Many readers of Strata-gee have some kind of role in the consumer electronics/custom integration world. But how do you define that role? You might, for example, think you are a manufacturer of speakers. Or perhaps you help design and install A/V systems in residential environments. But actually, what we all really do is elevate the enjoyment and the elegance of the end user’s lifestyle.
That point was driven home to me when I had the opportunity to experience Crestron battery powered motorized shades – and its Crestron Home control solution – in my very own home.
Tidal Music AS (Tidal) has announced that users “will no longer be able to access music in the MQA or 360 Reality Audio formats via any TIDAL application or integration.” So that’s that…MQA is done and gone…as of July 24, 2024. The company says it will replace all MQA tracks with “the highest quality FLAC version” available.
AudioControl, the versatile specialty electronics manufacturer of high-performance products for both the residential and commercial integration channels, has announced it will show three CM Series amplifiers offering dual mode operation and Dante connectivity at the InfoComm 2024 show taking place this week from June 12 – June 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.
Sonance, a leading manufacturer of custom integration A/V gear for both residential and commercial channels, has announced it will be showing several new products and tools at InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, NV, running this week from June 12-June14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company is a leading supplier of higher-fidelity architectural audio solutions, including an extensive line of superior client-pleasing speakers and electronics.
In addition to all of that, it has also created incredibly useful process solutions for the integrators themselves that will dramatically help to simplify and facilitate the design, selection, and ordering of just the right solution for any project.
