Smart speakers remain the fastest-growing CE segment in the world, Canalys reports-- global shipments total 9 million in Q1 2018, an impressive 210% Y-o-Y increase with, in a first, Google taking the top spot.

Google Home and Home Mini shipments reach 3.2m in the quarter. In comparison, 2nd placing Amazon Echo device shipments clock at 2.5m. The behind such growth for the search giant comes through new markets, such as India, where the companies looks into new go-to-market strategies by teaming up with service providers.

Onkyo announces around 30 devices under the Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer brands have the Works with Sonos badge-- allowing customers to connect the devices with Sonos speakers and stream music from the Sonos app.

Products receiving the official designation include network AVRs and stereo receivers. The Works with Sonos certification program certifies the integration meets the Sonos bar for experience, and that products connect seamlessly with the Sonos home audio system.

Interestingly, some Onkyo systems also have Google Assistant support via Google Home-- and Sonos support adds limited Alexa control through pairing with Echo devices.

MSE debuts the OS-440 at InfoComm 2018-- a smart amplifier designed for outdoor use, with IP55 certification ensuring construction is weather- and waterproof.

The OS-440 includes on-board Bluetooth functionality and a wifi direct mode, meaning it can wirelessly connects to an existing network and function as a Google Chromecast device, interface with DLNA servers and provide multi-zone control. In addition, customers can hard-wire a source for analog and digital outputs, allowing it to interface with any existing source or system.

Focal adds the Grande Utopia EM Evo and Stella Utopia EM Evo floorstanding loudspeakers to the flagship Utopia III Evo range, both featuring the same technology as current models in the range.

First announced at the Munic High End Show 2018, the two speakers feature TMD (Tune Mass Damping) suspension and the NIC (Neutral Inductance Circuit), together with a structure strengthened by the MRR (Machined Reinforcement Rings) system around the speaker drivers. The TMD suspension provides a linear frequency response curve between 1 and 4kHz, whild reducing distortion in the range.