Hardware Archives

Sony introduces 360 Reality Audio wireless speakers

25/03/2021

Sony introduces 360 Reality Audio wireless speakers with new Amazon Music HD streaming capabilities. From the 6th April 2021 in North America, Sony’s SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 speakers can now stream Amazon Music HD using Alexa Cast. This subscription plan offers 70 million songs available in High Definition (CD Quality 16-bit lossless FLAC), over five million songs in Ultra HD (HiRes 24-bit lossless FLAC), and a growing catalogue of 3D Audio, which includes 360 Reality Audio content. Introduced in […]

Sonos introduces Arc smart soundbar

07/05/2020

Sonos introduces Arc smart soundbar, the Sonos Sub, the Sonos Five and announces the date when the new S2 Sonos app will be available. The Sonos Arc has support for Dolby Atmos, and multiple voice assistants and can be used to stream music, podcasts and radio when the TV is off. The Arc will be available from 10th June and cost £799. It can be pre-ordered from Sonos on their website. Sonos Arc contains eleven […]

87.7 million US adults have a Smart Speaker

29/04/2020

87.7 million US adults have a Smart Speaker, up 32% on the previous year which represents 34.4% of the population according to a new consumer survey by Voicebot. The Smart Speaker Consumer Adoption Report 2020 shows that the Smart Speaker user base growth rate slowed in 2019 despite adding more than 20 million users. The installed base of US smart speaker users is up 32% over January 2019 and is 85% higher than January 2018. […]

Qobuz playing through StreamMagic on Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

Cambridge Audio adds Qobuz HiRes streaming to its network players

29/12/2019

Cambridge Audio adds Qobuz HiRes streaming to its network players offering support for 320 kbps, CD Quality and HiRes streams. The high end audio equipment manufacturer has added full support for HiRes audio music streaming and download service Qobuz to three of its network audio streamers – the EDGE NQ, Azur 851N and the CXN (V2). Qobuz is integrated into its popular iOS and Android app, StreamMagic, that works with the company’s range of network players, […]

Yamaha rolls out MusicCast and Amazon Music update

Yamaha adds Alexa to MusicCast products

08/11/2019

Yamaha adds Alexa to MusicCast products and integrates Amazon Music and Deezer streaming services according to a recent announcement by its home audio division. From the 31st October over 15 current home audio products, including wireless speakers, AV receivers, sound bars and a wireless turntable, will receive a free firmware update to enable deeper integration with Amazon services and devices. Amazon Music joins the existing lineup of built-in options offered through Yamaha devices, which includes […]

Amazon Devices Event - September 2019 launch products

Amazon launches new Echo smart speakers

04/10/2019

Amazon launches new Echo smart speakers ranging from an upgraded Echo through to the Echo Studio which is capable of lossless streaming with its 24-bit DAC and 330W amp. In addition, Amazon announced a range of new Alexa enabled devices at its Amazon Devices Event such the Echo Dot with clock, the Echo Show 8 and Echo Buds to add to the Alexa ecosystem. The new Echo devices are available for pre-order now and will […]

Sony NW-ZX500 and NW-A100 series HiRes Walkmans

Sony unveils streaming and MQA compatible Walkmans

20/09/2019

Sony unveils streaming and MQA compatible Walkmans at the IFA 2019 consumer electronics show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the very first Sony Walkman. The latest Walkmans feature support for a range of HiRes formats including DSD and MQA encoded files, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to store music on both internal and SD card storage. The NW-A100 series and its upmarket sibling the NW-ZX500 are available in 40th anniversary editions which […]