KEF announces the addition of Spotify Connect and Roon streaming support to LSX, the two-player all-wireless music system promising high-end sound through a proprietary between-speaker wireless connection.

Built-in Spotify Connect allows users to stream music from the service without interruption. Users of handheld devices can even continue watching videos, play games and answer phone calls, without pauses or interruptions to the music. Meanwhile Roon streaming integration allows one to both take advantage of high-resolution audio and enjoy the flexibility of networked audio. Roon allows one to combine LSX with a number of streaming platform devices, namely Chromecast, AirPlay, Sonos and anything marked as Roon-Ready.

Budget turntable maker Crosley turns attention to another supposedly dead audio format-- cassette tape, as the company launches the CT100 and CT200, the first of two such players from the company.

“Just as our portable record players helped bring vinyl mainstream years ago, we know our new cassette players will lead the charge on the revival of the cassette tape,” Crosley says. “These new cassette players bring together the retro design and nostalgia of the 80s with modern technology, making them a must-have for all generations of music lovers.”

McIntosh announces an “equally impressive but more accessibly sized” version of the flagship XRT2.1K loudspeaker-- the XRT1.1K, a speaker standing 35cm shorter and 75kg lighter than the XRT2.1K.

The XRT1.1K features nano-carbon drivers and a four-way ported arrangement. In total it carries 70 drive units in a line-array configuration, with 4 bass drivers, 2 low-frequency mid-range drivers, 24 upper-frequency mid-range drivers and 40 tweeters. The bass and low-frequency drivers come directly from the XRT2.1K, and are housed in an own dedicated cabinet beneath the line array. The design handles up to 1200W of power, 800W less than the XRT2.1K.

Global smart speaker shipments total 19.7 million units in Q3 2018, Canalys reports-- a 137% Y-o-Y increase over Q3 2017 shipments of 8.3m, and well in line with the Canalys forecast of 75m for the whole of 2018.

Following the initial wave of smart speaker adoption, vendors are rapidly changing marketing strategies to target different user groups. For instance, college and university students are key music streaming service consumers, making easy targets for Amazon and Google through back-to-school deals. Vendors are also building on the theme of home automation and IoT by positioning smart speakers as central hubs, but they still face a key issue in lowering the technical barriers to adoption.

Norwegian audio brand Hegel Music Systems launches a first amplifier aimed at the home theatre and distributed audio markets-- the C5 series, with 3 models configured as 3-, 4- and 5-channel amplifiers, namely the C53, C54 and C55.

Within each C5 series model are Class AB mono-block analog amplifiers rated at 150W per channel. The amplifiers maintain peak reserve capability the company claims doubles down to 2 ohms, closing in at 600W per channel. Thus, a solo C55 can drive a 5.1 surround theatre, with a few required to drive Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D and DTS:X theatres. They can also bi-amplifier speakers or mate with active cross-overs.

Focal announces two models in the 100 Series (Integration Collection) outdoor speaker range-- the 100 OD6 and OD8, both waterproof and dust-proof speakers designed for use on a terrace or garden.

The two speakers have a high density, UV-treated polyproylene damping cabinet, and are the first enclosures from the company to obtain IP66 certification. Inside the duo are aluminium inverted dome tweeters and a bass/mid-range speaker driver with a waterproof polypropylene cone and polyglass treatment for perfect definition.