Strategy in TECH...
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.
High-performance, affordable speaker manufacturer ELAC announced this week that it is launching its Debut 3.0 line of loudspeakers. The Debut 3.0, the company says, is the perfect blend of legendary ELAC sound performance in a style that is upgraded over some of its previous designs.
Cambridge Audio announced today that it is adding the ability to bring VU meters and a clock display to another company model, the CXN100 Network Player, via an over-the-air (OTA) software update. And why are they doing this? The company says that the decision to expand the number of models to gain this feature was made “due to popular demand.”
Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) announced today the long-awaited launch of its secretive new product targeted for a “multi-billion dollar category,” as Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is wont to remind us of frequently. One of the worst-kept, leakiest of launch secrets (probably intentionally so) in the industry, the company announced a new over-the-ear wireless headphone model featuring Dolby Atmos immersive sound and active noise cancellation called Sonos Ace.
But did the company Ace the test for turning around its deteriorating financial performance?
Austin AudioWorks (AAW), a startup audio brand that was to have its launch at this week’s AXPONA show in Chicago, has announced that due to illness striking one [or more] “family member[s]” it is forced to cancel its participation in the event. Expressing regret for this unforeseen development, the company will announce a revised rollout plan as soon as is practicable.
