Harman Kardon  Release Three Bluetooth Speakers 

Aura Studio 4, Go + Play 3 and Luna for 70th anniversary

During the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Harman Kardon presented three Bluetooth speakers at once, which will be released on the occasion of the company's 75th anniversary. The first is Aura Studio 4, which can please not only with sound, but also with light. The Aura Studio 4 is powered by a downward-facing 5.2-inch woofer, complemented by a circular array of six drivers. The color show is created by 324 LEDs with crystals at the base of the transparent top of the case.

All together, according to Christian Schluender, Harman's senior vice president of global design, "lets the speaker's charming ambient light dance to the beat of Harman Kardon's beautiful sound." Moreover, the backlight works according to several algorithms, or rather, the topics that their names speak of: “Polar light”, “Galaxy”, “Rainy night”, “Cloud” and “Fireplace”.

Already known in previous iterations, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 Bluetooth speaker is now improved externally and internally. Its tempered glass top features built-in touch controls. The fabric grill, plastic speaker frames, and even the aluminum handle are all recycled. It is essentially a three-way stereo system with a common downward facing woofer.

Go + Play 3 is able to adjust the sound to the acoustics of the room, work as a hands free and powerbank, and it is completely autonomous for approximately eight hours.

Another novelty, Harman Kardon Luna, received a soft-touch case under a fabric lining. The top panel is made of anodized aluminium. Inside, these are two-way acoustics, and a pair of Luna will be able to work in full stereo mode. The body is IP67 dust and waterproof, and has a battery life of up to 12 hours. All three new Harman Kardon products will be on sale by mid-September.

In Europe, the price of the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 speaker is 330 euros, the Go + Play 3 is 350 euros and the Luna is 180 euros.

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Goldmund Tethys - double-shell aluminum Speakers

Swiss company Goldmund said its new floorstanding speaker, Tethys, "represents the culmination of craftsmanship, innovation and an unwavering commitment to delivering the most realistic and immersive sound imaginable." If Tethys is compared with the well-known Goldmund floorstanders, then these speakers can be considered quite compact: their height is less than 110 cm and weighs 67 kg, and these are two gray aluminum cases with a proprietary “mechanical grounding” system.

The Tethys bottom cabinet is essentially a passive subwoofer with a 9-inch ventilated woofer. The top cabinet houses a 7-inch midrange driver and a soft dome tweeter. All this is united by an improved (according to the manufacturer) crossover. The result is a frequency response of 43 Hz to 25 kHz with -6 dB flatness.

To connect a branded speaker cable, LEMO connectors are used, which can be considered the company's corporate standard (the same connectors are present on most Goldmund monoblocks). The company claims that each piece of Tethys is "carefully handcrafted by experienced craftsmen to ensure the utmost precision and attention to detail."

In the UK, a Goldmund Tethys order will cost £62,500.

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Yamaha's True X Dolby Atmos Family: From Bluetooth Speaker to 4.1.2 System

Yamaha's True X Dolby Atmos Wireless Surround Sound System builds on the firm's successful soundbars such as the YAS-209 and YAS-207 , but now the possibilities are greatly expanded. Its main components, the True X Bar 50A and True X Bar 40A soundbars, received upward-firing Atmos speakers.

In total, these soundbars have six emitters: in addition to Atmos speakers, there are also a couple of forward-facing full-range speakers and two woofers. For their free placement, it was necessary, according to Yamaha engineers, to sacrifice the center channel speaker.

Both new products are compatible with the voice assistant Amazon Alexa, provide streaming Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect and, of course, work via Bluetooth. For control, in addition to the remote control, you can use the proprietary Sound Bar Controller application. It, in particular, will allow you to switch sound modes - "Film", "Stereo", "Standard" and "Game", in addition to which you can still apply two sound options - Clear Voice (Clear voice) and Bass Extension (Bass Extension). The older model, True X Bar 50A, is additionally equipped with a subwoofer. The SW-X100A subwoofer can be purchased separately for the soundbar with the 40A index.

Another highlight of the new line is the True X Speaker X1A wireless surround speakers, equipped with a 55mm full-range driver. They work with True X Bar 50A and True X Bar 40A soundbars as rear satellites. In addition, these are portable Bluetooth speakers with IP67 water and dust resistance rating, providing 12 hours of listening time before the next full charge via USB-C. And True X Speaker X1A is easy to mount on the wall.

Thus, Yamaha True X Dolby Atmos components can be used to assemble a variety of surround sound systems, from a Dolby Atmos stereo soundbar to a 4.1.2 home theater set. Three finishes are available, from black to light grey. New items will be on sale by September 2023.

European prices for new Yamaha products look like this: True X Bar 50A - 900, True X Bar 40A - 600, True X Sub 100A - 350, True X Speaker 1A - 170 euros.

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Open 45 Credenza by Geology Studio - Display Vinyl Rack

 

Open 45 Credenza by Geology Studio - Display Vinyl Rack

Los Angeles-based Geology Studio has created the Open 45 Credenza, a facility that brings everything about vinyl together in a way to use and contemplate. The first word in the name means the openness of the contents of this rack for storing and displaying records, a turntable and everything vinyl in its owner's house.

Open 45 Credenza is a modular, flexible design in which sections and partitions can move to form compartments and compartments of the required capacity. A separate cable channel runs along the entire length of the product, and it can be about 5 m or 2 m 10 cm long - to choose from. The legs, in brass or black finish, are available in two heights, so that the structure will be about 70 cm high or just over 50 cm high.

The body of this piece of furniture, which includes the entire vinyl collection, turntable and necessary accessories, is made of wood, the species of which, for example, white oak or walnut, can be ordered. In the same way, you can choose the finish - varnished surface, oiled, etc.

It is clear that the abundance of options for sizes and finishes of the Open 45 Credenza did not allow Geology Studio to talk about any exact price for the new product. It all depends on the preferences of the customer, who is invited to find out all the details by e-mail.

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Sharp launches CP-LS100 SumoBox Bluetooth speaker in collaboration with Devialet

The Sharp CP-LS100 portable Bluetooth speaker is made in the design of a professional device, and special stands allow you to use the novelty even as a floor monitor. The manufacturer promised "a bass line that will blow you away like a sumo wrestler."

To do this, SumoBox (that's a separate name) is equipped with two 20 cm (8-inch) woofers, complemented by a pair of two 5 cm (2-inch) tweeters. The result was a stereo speaker with a total power of 120 watts. The French company Devialet took part in the creation of the Sharp CP-LS100, providing proprietary Speaker Active Matching (SAM) technology. The technology allows you to enhance the bass in a closed case.

At the same time, the speaker itself is capable of mixing signals received at 2 combined TRS / XLR inputs, one additional input and Bluetooth 5.0 - it is quite possible to broadcast a “minus”, supplementing it with your own vocals and accompaniment. In Duo mode, two SumoBoxes will provide True Wireless Stereo playback, and a daisy chain connection will allow you to assemble a battery of speakers.

The battery will provide SumoBox up to 10 hours of playback, and in order not to waste time charging it, a quick replacement is provided. And the portability of the novelty is provided immediately by three carrying handles - one on top and two on the sides.

In Europe, the Sharp CP-LS100 Bluetooth speaker (SumoBox) costs 400 euros.

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Sonus Faber Aster: the first step out

The Aster is Sonus Faber's first loudspeaker that the brand says brings the signature "natural sound" to the street. The plastic housing with a black or white finish is IP65 compliant, meaning the Aster is dust and water-resistant enough to be hosed down without fear of consequences.

Aster takes its name from the Latin word for "star". "Per aspera ad astra" - "through adversity (thorns) to the stars" (Latin). The manufacturer believes that the "crystal sound of Aster will cheer you up outdoors." 

They tried to make the column simple and easy to install. The stand is easily attached to the surface with a set screw, and the bayonet mechanism allows you to tilt the case up and down in 15-degree increments. With a weight of 4.16 kg and an impedance of 8 (minimum - 6) ohms, Aster is ready to accept up to 100 watts of power in nominal mode.

Its sensitivity is 88 dB, here two passive radiators located oppositely located at the ends of the case played their role. They help the 5.81" woofer. At high frequencies, an inch dome tweeter comes into play. Both speakers are protected by a perforated grille. The novelty is already available for pre-order.

The Sonus Faber Aster outdoor speaker costs $450.

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 Creative Zen Air

Creative has listed its Zen Air ANC headphones as entry-level models. At the same time, the equipment of the novelty is quite on the level: active noise reduction is combined with Ambient mode, onboard Bluetooth 5 was supplemented with Super X-Fi proprietary technology (for a preliminary acquaintance with it, users can download the corresponding application).

Zen Air delivers full-range sound with 10mm neodymium drivers, while the recognizable headphone housings are IPX4 rated. A total of 4 microphones are responsible for telephony and ANC operation.

The Creative Zen Air Battery Case is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. The headphones themselves can provide up to 6 hours of playback on a single charge, and in the case, they can be charged three more times.

In the US, the Creative Zen Air TWS headphones were priced at $45.

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 Fast and Furious 10 movie poster revealed

it will be the first part of the finale of the story

Vin Diesel has revealed when to expect the trailer.

Vin Diesel has published the first poster of the upcoming action movie Fast and Furious 10. The film will be the first part of the big finale of the story of Dominic Toretto, played by Diesel.

Vin Diesel shared the photo on his Instagram. Diesel himself appeared in the photo, who returned to the role of Dominic. The hero holds a cross in his hands and seems to be praying. On the poster you can see the film's slogan: "The beginning of the end of the road . "

In a comment to the post, Diesel confirmed that the first Fast and Furious 10 trailer will be released on February 10th. The video will be shown just before the Super Bowl 2023, which will be held on the night of February 12-13. Promos and other high-profile novelties are expected at the Super Bowl.

The plot of Fast & Furious 10 has yet to be announced. However, it is known that the film will have a time jump. Brian Markos , played by Leo Abelo Perry, will appear in the film . It turns out that several years will pass after the events of Fast and the Furious 9. Brian is the son of Dominic and Elena Nieves (Elsa Pataky), who died in part 8 of the series. Dominic is raising the boy with his wife, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez).

Recall that Cypher (Charlize Theron), Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), Han Liu (Song Kang), Ramsay (Natalie Emmanuel), Tej Parker (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges), Roman Pierce (Tyrese Gibson) will return in Fast and Furious 10 ) and Magdalene Shaw (Helen Mirren). New additions to the cast include Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, Daniela Melshior and Alan Ritchson. At the same time, Momoa played the main villain who will cooperate with Cypher.

Fast & Furious 10 is directed by Louis Leterrier (The Transporter). Fast & Furious 11 will be the final installment in the series.

Fast & Furious 10 is slated for release May 19th.

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Sony Unveils Portable Players Walkman NW-A306 and NW-ZX707 Based on Android

Continuing the development of the Walkman brand, Sony introduced two audio players at once - the larger NW-ZX707 and the more compact NW-A306 . Both are running Android 12.

Model NW-ZX707 Walkman received a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720. The user has access to 47 GB of memory from the built-in 64, the rest is occupied by the system - and for music, you can use MicroSD cards, for which a slot is provided. There are no pre-installed applications for streaming - the user decides how to equip his device.

But it is equipped with an S-Master HX digital amplifier and support for native DSD. The operating time of the NW-ZX707 Walkman on a single charge exceeds 25 hours around the clock.

The Sony NW-A306 is even better with the battery - 36 hours without recharging. The display, although smaller, has the same resolution, and the memory is half as much, with only 18 GB available to the user, so a memory card becomes a necessity. Walkman NW-A306 will be available in two colors - black and blue, it will go on sale at the end of January.

Estimated price of the Sony NW-A306 Walkman in the US will be about $350. The NW-ZX707 Walkman model will cost around $790, but for now, at least outside of Japan, this player is not available and there is no information about its sales.

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UHD Blu-ray player brand Magnetar enters the European market

Empty after the departure of LG, Oppo, Sony, Pioneer, and Samsung, the niche of Blu-ray players continues to be gradually occupied by small firms. We already wrote about Reason in detail, and now another player under the Magnetar brand has appeared in the old world. She has only one model - Magnetar UDP800, which is made in China, and in Europe, it is distributed by the creator of Zappiti and Reason, Group Archisoft. This time, the French did not waste time on trifles and immediately brought in a player with flagship parameters: a heavy case, SACD support, improved power supply, and an improved analog part with balanced outputs for stereo sound. Which DAC is used in this case is not reported.

There are few published characteristics: there is not even a list of supported file formats, only support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X is mentioned. We managed to find out that the player also plays content over the network - SMB support comes from the very beginning.

However, its device speaks more eloquently than any characteristics about the capabilities of the player: it is built on the famous MediaTek MT8581 chipset, which at one time became the basis for Oppo, Pioneer and Reavon and others.

But whether it will match them in terms of playback quality is a big question, because the insides of the Magnetar UDP800 look more modest than those of the same Oppo UDP-205 or Pannde PD-6. At the same time, the price of the UDP800 is clearly not modest - 1,600 euros.

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'True wireless' TV to be shown at CES in Las Vegas

The idea of ​​wireless data transfer captured the minds of users and manufacturers so much that the newly formed startup Diplace decided to create a completely wireless TV. This is not about a TV that connects via Wi-Fi, but about a battery-powered device that can be taken out into the yard - more precisely, about four devices at once, from which you can make a video wall if you wish.

At the same time, the wall can turn out to be quite large, with a diagonal of 110 inches, because the wireless TVs themselves have a diagonal of 55 inches - these are OLED panels with 4K resolution, completely devoid of any connectors, interfaces, including ports for charging batteries. At the same time, they do not work on the principle of an ordinary tablet - the creators' idea is that the video signal will come to them from an external unit, which in turn is connected to an outlet, the Internet and, probably, to broadcast antennas, but this specification has not yet been fully determined.

This block processes all incoming video signals, for which it is equipped with an AMD processor, an Nvidia video card and is compatible with Wi-Fi 6. By the way, nothing is said about the filling of “TVs” - except that they will also support Wi-Fi 6. For them, Diplace has patented its own system of replaceable batteries, they will be charged in a separate unit, and the capacity of each, according to the creators, will be enough for about a month of daily use for 6 hours a day.

It is noteworthy that even these TVs will be controlled non-standard - a remote control is not provided for them. All control is carried out either by touch, through the screen, or by voice, or by gestures that are recognized through the camera (you can turn it off). In the latter case, the movements are very reminiscent of the classic swipe and swipe, as on smartphones and tablets. For example, a running video can simply be "flicked" from one "TV" to another.

There is not a word about the installation requirements and its type in the description. And about how far you can take TVs from the base unit - too. But they obviously won't be wearable. Each 55-inch rectangular-faced device will weigh around 8kg and be just under 3cm thick. No pricing or timeline is known for this creation, but sales are slated to begin in the US.

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Audio-Technica AT-LP2022 Anniversary Turntable

Round date - 60 years since its foundation - Audio-Technica celebrates on a grand scale. In addition to the fun portable Sound Burger turntable, the brand also introduced the top model for home systems - AT-LP2022.

According to the developers, this player will allow you to “plunge into the abyss of sound” and fit perfectly into modern interiors: it has a table made of 30 mm transparent acrylic, through which you can see all the stuffing. Acrylic not only looks interesting, but also absorbs parasitic vibrations well. The disc is also acrylic, but thinner - 16 mm. And the dust cover is acrylic.

The player has a passive drive, with electronic speed stabilization - 33.3 and 45 revolutions are supported. Straight 9" carbon tonearm with VTA adjustment and anti-skating. The AT-LP2022 comes with two cartridges: the AT-VM95E BK with an elliptical stylus and the limited edition AT-VMN95SH CL with a Shibata stylus and clear body.

On the back of the turntable is a plate with an engraved serial number: Audio-Technica will release 3,000 copies of the AT-LP2022 in total. And no built-in phono stages and Bluetooth.

The model will go on sale in December, in Japan it will cost 176,000 yen (about $1195.00).

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Audio Pro announces Link2 streamer hub

 The Swedish company Audio Pro calls its Link2 hub (before it was still available Link1 ) a “wireless multi-room WiFi player”. This compact (36 mm x 180 mm x 126 mm) device connects to an Ethernet network (wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also included) and interacts with sources over the network. But you can also connect hard drives via USB.

Adding to this AirPlay2 and Google Cast (but not Roon) on the one hand, and on the other - analog inputs and outputs and digital outputs, Audio Pro engineers created a universal network audio device that acts as a digital hub in the system. Moreover, if you wish, you can even connect a forgotten cassette recorder to Link2. At the same time, the device understands all the current lossless audio options and provides Spotify and Tidal streaming.

The top panel contains touch buttons for controlling the Link2 system. Dedicated buttons are provided for individual signal sources. But there is no information about the filling.

Checkout our : Harley Benton Mighty-15TH Test

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 iFi Uno desktop DAC amplifier

The Well Known audio brand iFi introduced the Uno headphone DAC amplifier as a pure entry-level computer model. This is truly a pure desktop device (without battery and remote control) - Uno with dimensions of 9x2.6x8 cm takes up minimal space, and 5V power from the USB-C connector on the rear panel eliminates worries about were “exactly the same power supply disappeared ".

The Uno receives both power and input signal simultaneously from a PC, Mac or smartphone. The heart of the novelty is the ES9219MQ / Q chip from ESS Lab and a specialized (according to iFi) crystal clock oscillator. Together with Quad DAC+ and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technologies, it is able to "deliver ultra-low distortion, superb clarity, and impressive dynamic range."

Dac Audio

The Uno recognizes PCM at 32bit/384kHz, DSD up to 11.2MHz (DSD256), and MQA. All this can be enjoyed by connecting to the Uno via RCA on the rear panel, which is designed for an amplifier or active speakers, or via a 3.5mm headphone jack on the front panel.

At the same time, Uno, equipped with adjustable analog gain with DRE (dynamic range expansion), according to the manufacturer, will work with almost any headphones. But just in case, the device also has a Power Match button that increases the volume by 6 dB.

The device received three fixed equalizer settings - "Cinema", "Game" and "Music". The latter, apparently, simply does not interfere with the original signal. The device is assembled in a mineral-filled polymer case with an aluminum front panel. The volume encoder is surrounded by a glowing ring that changes color depending on the type of incoming digital signal.

The iFi Uno will arrive by the start of December, with a suggested price of £80.

Official Website: iFi Uno 

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Nothing Ear (Stick) Headphones - Another $100 Alternative to AirPods

The relatively young brand of mobile gadgets Nothing has already released the second model of wireless headphones. Their name, Nothing Ear (Stick), will distinguish the novelty from last year's model, logically named Nothing Ear (1). In addition to the names, continuity is also felt in the constancy of prices - Nothing Ear (Stick) costs the same as Nothing Ear (1) at the start. True, the novelty does not have a noise reduction function, so the recent rise in the price of Nothing Ear (1) can be considered quite justified.

But Ear (Stick) is equipped with freshly created (according to Nothing), large speakers with a diameter of 12.6 mm. As a result, in the description of the sound of the novelty from the representatives of the company, you can see a lot of epithets like “rich depth”, “clear high frequencies”, “bold details”, “powerful authentic sound”, “minimal distortion”, etc.

The headphones have a proprietary system Nothing's Bass Lock. It corrects the bass level of the headphones and the entire headphone-to-ear system, constantly "tuning the equalizer curve to the optimum level." The connectivity and design make it clear that Nothing Ear could be a cheaper, more capable alternative to Apple's AirPods. They will have enough batteries for seven hours of continuous listening to music (and 29 hours - taking into account the complete case), and after ten minutes of recharging, they can last a couple more hours.

Sales of Nothing Ear (Stick) headphones will start on the manufacturer's website (and not only) on November 4th. The headphones will be $100.

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image credit: Audio Technica

Audio-Technica Reissues Anniversary Portable Sound Burger Turntable

 In honor of its 60th anniversary, Audio-Technica has decided to re-release one of its funniest yet recognizable products, the Sound Burger portable turntable (AT-SB2022). The original device came out in the early 1980s as a response to cassette players that allowed you to listen to music outside the home - but the vinyl format itself imposed restrictions. So, on the go, the Sound Burger, unlike the increasingly popular Walkman, could not work - it needed a flat surface. But the device, despite its controversial nature, has remained in the memory of the collective audiophile unconscious.

image credit: Audio Technica

Modern Sound Burger visually practically does not differ from the original one - red, black and transparent plastic, silver buttons, large inscription with the model name. There is also a spring-loaded mechanism that regulates the pressure of the needle on the plate. The fact that the model was released in 2022 provides a USB-C port for recharging the built-in battery, which will last for a maximum of 12 hours of operation. Also, Bluetooth 5.2 was added to this version, plus a 3.5 mm headphone jack or active acoustics. 

image credit: Audio Technica

The device is ready to work with records at speeds of 33.3 and 45 revolutions - it has a belt drive and an aluminum alloy disc. The needle can later be replaced with an ATN3600L.

The Audio-Technica AT-SB2022 player will be released in a limited edition. The 2022 Sound Burger is available to buy starting today for $199/£200/€229.

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Bill Evans & Robben Ford "Common Ground" - the album of the week

 

70-year-old Californian Robben Ford has played with colleagues such as Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell and Kiss over the years. And now a formidable jazz/rock album with Bill Evans: "Common Ground"

Bill Evans & Robben Ford's "Common Ground" - the album of the week

Is that jazz or rock? Both - and in fact a formidable fusion of two stars of the scene: guitarist Robben Ford and saxophonist Bill Evans recorded an enthrallingly fluid work with celebrity colleagues such as Keith Carlock and Darryl Jones. Bill Evans & Robben Ford "Common Ground" is our rhythmically valuable album, which also scores with class sound.

Jazz is a wide field with many facets. Very many, we know that. And even more protagonists who have been promoting, expanding, changing or revolutionizing this wonderful musical language for well over a century. From New Orleans and Chicago to Latin or hard bop areas, to free or acid jazz. Or has been listening to for a long time: Jazz-Rock - in addition to other genre departments, also the ideal playground for the Grammy-nominated US musicians Bill Evans and Robben Ford, saxophone players and guitarists with high performance sovereignty plus a creative vita, who sit up and take notice and lists colleagues like Mick Jagger, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joni Mitchell - or Miles Davis.

Bill Evans: "Every once in a while, like-minded musicians manage to get together in the studio or on the same stage and create interesting music together. It is the blending of each other's influences and styles and the will to create something new and fresh that can make this 'creative meeting' special. I think Robben and I share the same ideology. We both love all kinds of music, be it classic blues, soul, rock 'n' roll, you name it. This open-mindedness to combine different styles of music and to create something musical and at the same time special is what brought me and Robben together in the first place. He composed some of the most inspirational pieces I've played in a long time. Our compositional styles flow seamlessly into each other. “There doesn’t seem to be a strict set of rules. "It's unknown territory without any guarantees."

Robben Ford: “Bill and I have worked together quite a bit over the last few years. We also had the rare pleasure... to record with Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones, who has a history of his own with Bill and I playing with Miles Davis as well as many others. It is always a great and long-awaited pleasure to work with some of the best musicians on today's scene...".

The right musicians with the same vision. "Darryl Jones and Keith Carlock are just that kinds of musicians... They have that certain something that sets them apart from many others. Their histories read like a who's who of music - they've played with Miles Davis, Sting, Madonna, Herbie Hancock, The Rolling Stones to name a few." I would also like to mention Steely Dan, whose drummer Keith Carlock is touring with.

Oh yes. One was there too. Max Mutzke, the German hope at the "Eurovision Song Contest" took eighth place in the cross-country effect show in 2004. The soul/pop singer was at least one musical ray of light among a few at the time. And today, the native of Baden-Württemberg maintains first-class international contacts. For example with Bill Evans. “When I was a little boy, I went to Bill Evans concerts with my father. I've listened to his music over and over. Bill has always been a musical inspiration for me.” But the story goes even further: “Now he's my boyfriend and that's an incredible joy for me. What a great person. Now, at his request, I'm singing a song on his album with Robben Ford. It's a dream come true," exults Max.

The music of Bill Evans & Robben Ford's "Common Ground"

The audio engineering did a great job in the Southern Ground and Compass Studios in Nashville, as well as in the mixing and mastering: The sound image radiates with true colors in a three-dimensional room ambiance, and fine resolution, pressure, and drive are just as right. Produced by Bill Evans and Clifford Carter (Bruce Springsteen, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt), who also played piano and organ on the title track.

Max Mutzke embellishes "Common Ground" with his sonorous, relaxed soul voice in a beautifully velvety way. The groove is relaxed, and saxophone and piano dabs accompany casually. Cool. "Dennis The Menace" spices things up with a jagged, bitchy saxophone in dialogue with Ford's electric guitar. upsetting thing. "Stanley", on the other hand, sneaks up cautiously, purrs, and gets lost in cleverly staged sax and string gimmicks, while "Crabshaw Don't Care" discreetly gets down to the funk and "Hearts Of Havana" keeps the mood going for eight minutes sunny flow, including dazzling saxophone passages and loose, fluffy percussion, creates an entertaining pleasure.

Robben Ford: “I feel that the music we present here is 'fresh' both in composition and performance. All musicians are versatile, have real talent for improvisation and also have a strong sense of groove. These are qualities that really make you want to play!” The man is undoubtedly right.

Bill Evans & Robben Ford featuring Darryl Jones, and Keith Carlock with "Common Ground" will be released by MPS - Edel / Kontor New Media as CD, double LP, or as stream and MP3 download, e.g. at qobuz.com

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Bluesound's new Pulse M wireless multi-room speaker

image credit: Bluesound

Many know Bluesound as an intuitive multi-room streaming system. With the new Bluesound Pulse M, the manufacturer is introducing a new streaming loudspeaker that can be used flexibly and offers interesting technical solutions.

Bluesound Pulse M: Omni with options

Compact and round, that's what the new Bluesound Pulse M looks like. Inside the cabinet, there is an angled and upward-pointing 133 mm woofer flanked by two 19 mm tweeters, which in turn are offset by 45 degrees mounted. An acoustic reflector, which is attached above the mid-woofer, is intended to distribute the sound to a 360-degree soundstage - Bluesound speaks of an Omni-hybrid loudspeaker design. The three drivers are powered by a DSP-controlled amplifier with a total output of 80 watts.

image credit: Bluesound

If you like, you can use the Pulse M mono, but two copies can also be connected to form a stereo system or used as rear speakers in surround setups.

The Bluesound Pulse M can be controlled either via a touch panel on the top (play/pause, title forward/backward, volume, DSP presets) or the BluOS app, which enables more than 20 music streaming services and internet radio. Also on board are Apple AirPlay 2 and a WLAN and Bluetooth receiver. And USB storage drives can be attached via the rear connections, but also a high-level or digital source (Toslink/mini jack combo socket). That's not all: the icing on the cake is a headphone jack.

The Bluesound Pulse M will be available from November 2022, in white or black, at a price of 549 euros.

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Bang & Olufsen launches its first NFT drop: The DNA Collection

Bang & Olufsen is releasing an exclusive NFT collection: ‘The DNA Collection’ as the company takes its first step into the Metaverse.

To make the leap from the physical world into the digital, Bang & Olufsen has reimagined how its products can look, feel, and work by collaborating with pioneering Web3 artists, including Hackatao, Thomas Lin, and Shavonne Wong to fuse art and music into a first-of-its-kind collection.

The DNA Collection of 1925 digital collectibles is built around three of Bang & Olufsen’s iconic products - the Beogram 4000 turntable, the Beoplay A9, and the Beolab 90 speakers. It also features a brand-new digital product design, The Beoverse Alpha, a conceptual boombox that has been designed for use in the Metaverse.

Apart from the digital collectible, holders of the DNA NFT will receive a 3D model of their NFT to be used in the Metaverse, token-gated access to exclusive Bang & Olufsen products and experiences. Members of the community will also have the option to exclusively purchase a physical, limited-edition Beoplay A9 speaker with artwork from the collaborating artists.

“We’re excited about meeting design and music lovers in the Metaverse and supporting the amazing creator culture that has emerged in Web3”, says Christoffer Poulsen, Bang & Olufsen’s SVP and Head of Business Development & Brand Collaboration. “We’re new to Web3, but time and time again, we’ve built products in the physical world that no one else dared imagine, many of which have gone on to become design classics and collector’s items. Now we’re building our first NFT collection on that very same foundation that made us one of a kind in the first place”.

The DNA collection contains 1925 NFTs – a nod to the year 1925 when Bang & Olufsen was founded. Each NFT is made from a unique combination of materials, art, and music, honoring the founders’ legacy of going against the grain and innovating, and pays homage to the vibrant creative culture in Web3.

The DNA Collection NFTs will be randomly generated based on a pre-defined distribution of products and product traits. After this process, each NFT holder will receive an Art Vial and Music Vial containing an artwork and music track that will be revealed upon merging the Vials with the DNA Collection NFT on Bang & Olufsen’s minting site: www.dna.nft.bang-olufsen.com.

After the two Vials have been merged, NFT owners will receive a metaverse-ready 3D version of their NFT.

Availability
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The DNA Collection will be available for purchase on 17th November at Bang & Olufsen’s minting site www.dna.nft.bang-olufsen.com using an Ethereum-compatible cryptocurrency wallet such as MetaMask and Coinbase.

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