AQ Audio announces AQ Smart AirPlay speaker November release

UK based AQ Audio has through their website announced their first ever Apple AirPlay speaker in the sub £200 AQ Smart AirPlay speaker, a truly wireless speaker.

With the AQ Smart AirPlay speaker they have delivered one of the most affordable AirPlay speakers announced in the market to date, and it is a portable speaker as well, running off a rechargeable battery supporting up to 10-hours of playback when connected through Apple AirPlay, and 30-hours when in 'holiday' mode (connected using AUX input).

AQ Smart AirPlay speakers feature two built in drivers that are supported by patented ultra efficient digital amplifier, providing a total output power of up to 25W (2 x 13W) RMS. When you have two of the speakers in the same room you also automatically get the option of left/right mode for a better stereo sound experience. There is also multi room support, and ALL ROOM technology that enables sound wave dispersion for a true full room sound.

The AQ Smart AirPlay speaker from AQ Audio will be available in November priced at £199.

[source: AQ Audio]

iHome iW1 arrives at Amazon UK + end of august release date

Just days after the last update on the progress of the iHome iW1 AirPlay speaker, information has come out that iHome plans to release the much awaited (nearly a year) AirPlay speaker on the 31st August.

A quick scan of Amazon UK website shows that the iHome iW1 has arrived, but currently listed as 'out of stock'. I expect that to change in the coming days.




With a price point at around £300 it is amongst the cheaper AirPlay speakers announced to date, but time will tell if it also provides value for money as there are some strong alternatives around the same price class (read Sonos).

Altec Lansing wireless AirPlay speaker announced

Altec Lansing is the latest audio manufacturer to join the AirPlay team as they have announced through their website that an Altec AirPlay speaker is in the pipeline.

According to iPodRepublic.com they have confirmed through their Facebook page as well that the Altec AirPlay speaker will be launched in time for the all important holiday season/Christmas. This means that we could definitely be looking forward to some heavy AirPlay speaker promotions soon as there are already several new AirPlay speakers announced to be released in the coming months. Hopefully we will never see delays like with the iHome iW1 again!

As for the Altec Lansing wireless AirPlay speaker, little information is available on it yet, but their site confirms that it will feature a tri-amp system with two tweeters, two mid-range speakers and a subwoofer, so no run of the mill system.

iHome iW1 video and possible September release date

Nearly a year has passed since iHome first announced their coming iHome iW1 AirPlay speaker as one of the first audio manufacturers to embrace the Apple streaming technology. Finally there are signs that the iW1 might be launched soon, although a release date has not been confirmed yet.

iHome seems to have updated their product page for the iW1 AirPlay speaker and on their Facebook page they are reporting that the email opt-in is coming to an end and an announcement is imminent.

While we wait for the announcement, check out this video of the iHome iW1.

Denon rolls out black Ceol Noir AirPlay mini hifi

One of the first AirPlay enabled audio systems on the market was the Denon CEOL RCD-N7, an all white mini hifi system. Now they are giving the system a facelift through a second color option in the all black Denon Ceol Noir.

With the exception of the color change, which in my personal opinion makes the system look more upscale, it is largely the same system. The Denon Ceol Noir features a CD receiver with 2x65W (RMS) total power output, AirPlay streaming through the built in wifi or ethernet connection, network streaming (DLNA, FLAC, Napster and Last.fm), AM/FM radio, internet radio, and a USB connection for connecting other external audio sources. For those that still like to have the option to dock your iPod or iPhone for charging while listening there is a good old fashioned docking station at the top of the unit as well. A truly versatile system.

You can also choose to match the system with the all black Denon SC-N7 speakers or just use your own favourite speakers.

The Denon Ceol Noir will be available in the UK/Europe in September with an expected retail price of £500. I will be back with more information as soon as it becomes available.

Sounds like September will be a busy month for AirPlay speakers as it is also the time that Libratone Live and Lounge will be released, as well as more of the Philips AirPlay speakers.

[source: iPodRepublic]

Libratone launches two AirPlay speakers: Libratone Live & Lounge

Danish audio manufacturer Libratone has today announced the September release of two new Apple AirPlay enabled speakers in the Libratone Live and Libratone Lounge.

Whilst the Libratone Live is a tower speaker similar the Libratone Beat that was launched last year, the Libratone Lounge is a soundbar that is designed to go with your television set, whether on a stand or mounted on the wall.

The Libratone Live will retail at £599 when it is released in September. As far as i know the inital launch will be with Apple Stores and Apple Online. Besides being AirPlay enabled it has also been upgraded to 150W through a set up that includes five dedicated amps powering a 5-inch woofer, dual 3-inch drivers and 1-inch ribbon tweeters.

The Libratone Lounge soundbar will be amongst the more expensive AirPlay enabled systems in the market with a retail price of £1,099, expected to be available through Apple flagship stores and online to start with. While not reproducing a surround sound experience like some other soundbars in the market, it comes packed with high quality components that combined results in 150W of power from a set up that includes an 8-inch inverted woofer, dual 4-inch midrange drivers, and dual 1-inch ribbon tweeters.

The prices above is for the slate grey model of the speakers, but you can also pay a bit extra and get the cashmere cladded version in blood orange, vanilla beige, blueberry black and lime green.

A dedicated app is also expected to be released in September that will assist you in getting the optimal sound from the Libratone speakers based on room setting and placement of the speakers.

Got to hand it to the Danes, they know how to design speakers that makes an Apple fan drool slightly!

I will be back with more information about the Libratone Live & Lounge.

[source: Libratone]

Sony enters AirPlay market with Sony CMT-G2BNiP Micro HiFi system

Sony has become the latest audio manufacturer to join the growing Apple AirPlay family with the announcement of their latest Sony CMT-G2BNiP Micro HiFi system with network streaming and Apple AirPlay.

Joining the ranks of similar Apple AirPlay speaker systems such as the Denon CEOL N7 and the Marantz Melody CR603, the Sony CMT-G2BNiP has an aluminum finish and a front LCD panel that displays artist, song, album information etc. and can connect to your home network either through Ethernet or WiFi, both built into the system. Sony has also been kind enough to add other features, such as DAB digital radio and a USB connection at the front of the system, allowing you to play music from non-AirPlay enabled iPod devices as well. It is yet to be confirmed if the USB connection also charges the connected Apple iPod/iPhone/iPad like we find in similar systems.

Price and availability for the UK market is yet to be confirmed but expected retail price is around £500 mark.

[source: iPodRepublic]

The Philips Fidelio AirPlay family becomes 5 strong

We already knew that Philips had new AirPlay speakers in the pipeline as i earlier reported on the Fidelio DS8800 which comes in addition to the Fidelio Soundsphere DS9800W which we have known about for a while now. Philips however had more planned as there are now a total of 5 AirPlay enabled systems in the Fidelio range.

These are the new Philips Fidelio AirPlay speakers:


Philips Fidelio Soundsphere DS6800
Is almost the same system as the DS9800W baring a physical docking station and it does not have quite the same punch as its big brother. There are also some slight changes to the enclosure, with this model featuring brushed aluminum. Expected US retail price is $499, so UK price is likely going to be around the £400 mark.

Philips Fidelio DS8800
With the more traditional Fidelio speaker dock design, with the exception of a physical docking station, the DS8800 tabletop designed speakers feature 2 x 15W RMS with neodymium drivers and back firing bass pipes. Retail price is expected at $399 with a possible UK price around £300.

Philips Fidelio DS3881W
A brand new circular design with four front firing drivers and bass port, the DS3881W is a portable AirPlay system with built in rechargeable lithium ion battery. The speakers connect to their base/charging station using magnets. This is definitely an interesting new design that is likely to become popular amongst those of us looking at alternative designs and uniqueness. Retail price is expected at $329 in the US and likely somewhere between £250-300 for the UK market.

Philips Fidelio AD700W
A one piece system with two speakers and 10W RMS, it is the lowest priced unit in the Philips AirPlay family with an expected retail price at $229 (around £200 for the UK).

I will be back with pictures and more information once it is available.

All of the new Philips AirPlay systems are likely to be in the market by the end of the year, with most of them scheduled for September release.

[source: iPodRepublic]

Teac announces AirPlay systems to include new NS-X1 speaker dock

Teac has given us some outstanding speaker docks over the years, including the iconic Teac Aurb SR-100i, and now they have announced that they too are embracing the future of audio streaming; Apple Airplay.

According to information available they are releasing their first AirPlay product in the very near future, the CR-H700 CD receiver which will support streaming through both AirPlay as well as DLNA + USB support for additional audio sources. Power output from this system is two-channels of 40W each.

As for AirPlay speaker docks, they have announced a September arrival for the new Teac NS-X1 speaker dock, a slimline speaker dock that can also be wall mounted and supports a multi-room set up if you want to build further on the system. The NS-X1 is reported to be retailing at £279 when it arrives on the UK market later this year, and it will also support DLNA in addition to AirPlay streaming.

The third Teac AirPlay product announced will form part of a family of products to come in the same design format, and is a DAC system called UD H01 DAC.

I will be back with more information on all of these systems when available.

[WhatHiFi via iPodRepublic]

Philips reveals second AirPlay speaker in Fidelio DS8800

According to a wall post on the Philips Sound Facebook page the company is ready to launch their second Airplay speaker towards the end of this year in the Philips Fidelio DS8800.

After posting a note talking about their Airplay speaker range questions where raised if there is more than one, to which they replied that the second Airplay speaker in the Fidelio DS8800 will arrive by the end of the year, and to "watch this space".

Hopefully the coming Fidelio DS8800 will continue along the lines of the rest of the Fidelio range, perhaps delivering a system that can compete with the B&W Zeppelin Air when it comes to value for money.

I will be back with more information on the Philips Fidelio DS8800 when available.

[source: iPodRepublic]