Is the Bose SoundLink Air their first AirPlay speaker?

Scouting FCC filings can often be an early source of information about things to come, such is the case for what could be Bose first AirPlay speaker in the Bose SoundLink Air.

Whilst there is very little information in the findings about what exactly the speaker is, based on the 'Air' extension to the name and it featuring WiFi support built-in, there is a good reason to believe that this could be an AirPlay extension of their recent Bose SoundLink bluetooth speaker.

I will be back with more information about the possible Bose AirPlay speaker as and when it is revealed fully.

[source: Engadget]

Pioneer with three new AirPlay speakers

Pioneer already have a few AirPlay systems in the market, including AV receivers and all-in-one sound systems, and now they are adding a series of compact AirPlay speakers to their portfolio as well.

The three new AirPlay speakers from Pioneer includes the top model XW-SMA4 (£350), the splash proof XW-SMA3 (£300) with rechargeable battery, and the compact XW-SMA1. All of them have dual 3-inch woofers, a 1-inch tweeter and a central bass reflex port. The top model also have an additional tweeter and a 4-inch subwoofer. All are powered by class D amp and supports streaming over both AirPlay and DLNA.

Pioneer has also added Wireless Direct technology so there is no need to be connected to a wireless router to stream your music to the speakers.

All of them will become available around August/September this year.

[source: ipodrepublic via WhatHifi]

ITV Player iOS App adds live streaming and AirPlay

ITV has updated their ITV Player iOS app to support live streaming of ITV1 and ITV2 for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as adding AirPlay mirroring functionality.

Strategically this latest update to their app comes just in time for the EURO 2012 which they share the broadcasting rights to together with the BBC.

I have yet to test out the AirPlay mirroring from the app, which allows you to share the screen to your Apple TV or AirPort Express adapter, but that as far as i'm aware is only available for iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPhone 4S. I will be testing it out with an iPhone 4 later and report back on whether or not it worked.

[source: WhatHifi]

Pure Contour 200i Air goes on sale and AQ Smart goes on pre-order

The wait is finally over when it comes to the Pure Contour 200i Air speaker dock as it goes into wider retail here in the UK, including with John Lewis, Currys and PC World, retailing at just under £200.

Pure's first AirPlay follows in the footsteps of already successful iPod speaker docks in the Contour range, and at this price tag could well turn out to be the budget Airplay speaker of choice for many out there.

AQ Audio is also hoping to carve themselves a niche in the budget AirPlay speaker market as their first Airplay speaker in the AQ Smart finally goes on pre-order through their website. It has taken them a while since it was first announced, but hopefully it will be worth the wait. The price tag is set at £199.95.

playGo AP1 AirPlay receiver seeks funding on Kickstarter

So far in the world of Apple AirPlay we got all-in-one AirPlay speakers, AirPlay enabled AV receivers, and AirPort Express adapters, but we might get a stand alone AirPlay receiver soon as well if the playGo AP1 is successful in securing funding on Kickstarter.

The playGo AP1 is a stand alone AirPlay receiver that can be used to AirPlay enable an amplifier or powered speakers. Inside it features high-end 32-bit Burr-Brown PCM102 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and support for 24bit/96kHz audio files for high definition sound. All is packed into a small design, reminiscent of the Apple Time Capsule.

playGo AP1 is also said to support DLNA streaming, and Microsofts new Play To wireless solution. At the moment the project still needs to secure more funding, but there is still plenty of time to get this to the market. You can find out more about the playGo AP1 on their Kickstarter page.

Libratone releases firmware upgrade for Live and Lounge speakers

Libratone today announced the release of firmware 2.0 for their AirPlay enabled Live and Lounge speakers.

This new firmware upgrade is said to improve AirPlay connectivity and reduce speaker start up/boot time. You can see a full overview of upgrade features here.

Bang & Olufsen announces BeoPlay A8 AirPlay speaker dock

When Bang & Olufsen first announced their BeoSound 8 speaker dock well over a year ago, the only thing i really missed was the ability to stream music. Now it looks like the guys in Denmark has listened as they have announced their B&O BeoPlay A8; an AirPlay version of the BeoSound 8.

The new BeoPlay A8 features the same iconic design and speaker set up as the BeoSound 8, including dual 5-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters, powered by Class D amplifiers (70W woofer and 35W tweeters). There is still the ability to dock your device, but this upgrade is all about the addition of AirPlay streaming, allowing you to enjoy the music from your iOS device without docking with the speakers. Based on the information on their website it also looks like the BeoPlay A8 supports bluetooth streaming, possibly through a line-in adapter.

This is the second AirPlay speaker announced from the Danish audio manufacturer, as earlier this year they announced their portable BeoLit 12 AirPlay speaker. It looks like Denmark will be the source of high-end AirPlay speakers as it is also the home of the Libratone Live and Lounge.

Release date for the BeoPlay A8 is yet to be announced, but expected retail price is likely going to be up towards the £900-1000 mark as US retail price is expected to be at $1149. I will be back with more exact details when available.

[source: BeoPlay via iPodRepublic]

Native AirPlay streaming comes to AirFoil Speakers Touch 3

Rogue Amoeba’s AirFoil has taken the step into the big league by now adding native AirPlay streaming to their AirFoil Speakers Touch 3 app through an in-app purchase, providing you with the ability to stream to pretty much any iOS device.

AirFoil started off being a way to stream non-iTunes audio to Airport Express mini-router before the first app was released allowing you to stream audio from your Mac to your iOS device. Now you can stream audio not only from your Mac but also from your iPad with native AirPlay, allowing you to have one of your iOS devices connected to your non-Airplay enabled sound system and stream audio to it from your other devices.


Always nice to see options for making existing systems AirPlay friendly. The AirFoil Speaker Touch app is available from the iTunes App Store for free, but the in-app purchase for native AirPlay costs £1.99.


[source: CultofMac]

Loewe Air Speaker arrives at John Lewis

At last years IFA event the announcement of the Loewe Air Speaker was amongst my favourites. Since then months have passed with little information, but finally we are starting to see the iconic AirPlay speaker available for sale here in the UK, including from John Lewis.

The Loewe Air Speaker is small and square, but i find the design refreshing and different compared to so many other speaker docks and sound systems out there. Its compact size aside, it is packed with dual woofers, mid-range speakers, and tweeters, delivering a combined power output of 80W.

It does not come cheap though as you would have to shell out £649 to get your hands on one at John Lewis.

CeraAIR Two AirPlay speaker with style and power

I have to admit this is the first I hear about Ceratec, but with the CeraAIR Two AirPlay speaker they have definitely made a good first impression.

The soundbar style design is quite versatile as the system can stand horizontally on a shelf, or you can mount it either vertically or horizontally on a wall. The color options should also help ensure a good fit for most tastes as the CeraAIR Two is available in black, silver, white, gold, or any RAL color upon request.

Although the CeraAIR Two speaker has AirPlay as a leading feature, targeting iOS market, it is packed with other great features as well. You can access Internet radio, YouTube, and other audio files wirelessly or through a RJ45 cable. You can also input tv audio or connect a cd player, in case you want to go old school. The system also supports connection to external subwoofer, as well as the ability to adjust bass output. With a total power output of max 200W (2 x 64 watts bass mid-range, 2 x 32 watts) from a Class D amp the CeraAIR Two should be powerful enough for most home set ups. The speaker set up consists of two bass-midrange speakers and two high end tweeters.



[source: Ceratec]

NOCS NS2 Air Monitor speakers with AirPlay

First of all, Scandinavian countries have brought us some great sound systems over the years, including recent AirPlay contributions from B&O and Libratone (both Danish). The latest AirPlay contribution however comes from neighbour Sweden and new audio system provider NOCS. Meet the NOCS NS2 Air Monitors.

Instead of providing the now standard all-in-one solution the NOCS NS2 Air Monitors consist of two speaker monitors with AirPlay technology. NOCS have also gone different with materials, as the cabinets are hand-built rubber coated, the woofers are Kevlar reinforced, and they are using silk dome tweeters.

The active speakers are powered by a Class D amp with 70W peak power output, which is decent for the price range of this AirPlay speaker. The woofers are 3-inch with dual magnets, and tweeters are 3/4-inch silk dome.

NOCS NS2 Air Monitors are available in a variety of colors, including red, orange, black, white, yellow, and industrial grey. In the UK they are available from Amazon listed at just over £300.

[source: NOCS]

Audyssey Audio Dock Air set for April European launch

It has been a while since Audyssey first announced their first AirPlay speaker dock in the Lower East Side Audio Dock Air, and finally it is ready for the market.

US consumers can get their hands on the new AirPlay speaker pretty much straight away, while us here in the UK and Europe will have to wait another month, with European models reported to be shipping towards end of April.

Read more from the press release here or check out earlier coverage of the Audyssey Audio Dock Air.

Apple releases iOS 5.1 with AirPlay improvements

Although yesterday was mostly about the new iPad with Retina display, Apple also released iOS 5.1 with bug fixes and improvements, including for AirPlay streaming.

There has been several reports following the launch of the iPhone 4S about AirPlay streaming issues, including reports from AirPlay speaker providers such as Libratone and B&W.

Following the iOS 5.1 announcement Libratone has posted on their facebook page that especially iPhone 4S users should update to iOS 5.1 for improved AirPlay performance.

Have you updated to iOS 5.1? If so we are interested to hear from you about AirPlay performance following the upgrade. Please leave comments below to share your experience with the rest of the AirPlay community.

GUNN Audio ready to bring some Aussie AirPlay action

I have never heard of GUNN Audio before, but today i came across the brand as this Aussie entrepreneur is getting ready to tackle the wireless speaker market, including AirPlay speakers towards the second half of the year.

Brady Gunn is the master mind behind these new speakers, as this Sydney entrepreneur is focusing on the  future of audio products, which he (and i agree with him) is all about getting rid of wires and delivering high quality wireless audio. That means that we might not be talking about small size speaker docks, but rather high-spec tower speakers that provide plenty of audio gusto.

To start with the brand is set to deliver a few solutions that include docking station and bluetooth, but AirPlay home theater systems are on the cards for later this year. And it looks like this Aussie has got his eyes set on the UK market as well.

[source: NewsMaker]

Systemline Airway in-ceiling speakers are AirPlay enabled with Airport Express

Sonos has had a pretty decent hold on the multi-room speaker market for a while now, so it is always nice to see some tough competition, as it tends to improve the overall market. With their Airway in-ceiling speakers, Systemline is making a valid effort, if only they had gone fully Airplay integration.

The Systemline Airway solution looks simple enough for DIY implementation, and it does not take up much space since you can integrate it in ceiling etc. But since the system does not have an integrated AirPlay chip at this stage, you have to rely on using it combined with an Airport Express adapter.

The set up includes two speakers (stereo set up) that can be integrated into wall or ceiling, connected by Cat5 cables running to a wall plate, which again connects with the Airport Express using a optical digital cable, and the power supply.

Wouldn't it be great if a system that can be integrated into wall/ceiling came with the necessary set up to avoid having to have too many additional adapters to open up for wireless audio streaming? Perhaps Systemline, or someone else, will bring fully integrated Airplay next.

If you are interested in the Systemline Airway in-ceiling solution you can find out more on their website. Price and availability to be confirmed.

[source: Slashgear]

Wooden limited edition Philips Fidelio Soundsphere - for a stylish home

I have to admit that i'm a bit of a fan of the Philips Fidelio Soundsphere design, so when i saw the new limited edition wooden Philips DS9860W, made using seventy pieces of natural wood, it definitely made me add them to my home decor and must have gadget wall on Pinterest.

The original Philips Fidelio DS9800W Soundsphere was amongst the first AirPlay speakers to be announced, and since then Philips have extended the Soundsphere AirPlay range with a smaller, and more affordable model, in the Soundsphere DS6800W, and now of course the top model DS9860W limited edition.

Back to the DS9860W Soundsphere. From what i have been able to find, this one has got pretty much the same specifications as the DS9800W, including Philips SoundCurve and FullSound Technology, providing 100W of total power output through some beautifully designed speakers with free floating tweeters.

Getting your hands on a pair of the Philips DS9860W Soundsphere Airplay speakers might prove tricky however, as there are only 500 of them worldwide, and they will cost you about $1,100 (likely around £900).

I place these in the same category as some of the other beautiful AirPlay speakers, like the Libratone Live and Lounge, and they would go very well with my dream living room.

[source: Slashgear]

Russound DMS3.1 brings multiple AirPlay streams for advanced multiroomaudio

With their latest streamer Russound has worked closely with Apple on the implementation of not just one, but three independent airplay streams in the same player.

The Russound DMS3.1 streamer is the first of its kind, delivering up to three separate AirPlay streams at the same time to AirPlay enabled devices, including their own outdoor Russound AirGo AirPlay speaker.

With the three independent AirPlay streams you can mix and match sources and where to send them. The streamer is also DLNA compatible and can play back supported content from any connected home network device. You can also plug in an external hard drive through USB connection, and use the built in AM/FM tuner.

[source: CEPro]

Numark iDJ Pro gets AirPlay support

For those not familiar with Numark (most DJ's will be familiar with the brand), they are amongst the premier manufacturers of DJ equipment, and now they have announced the Numark iDJ Pro with AirPlay support as well as fully integrated iPad docking.

DJ technogeeks are likely to love the new iDJ Pro, as it is the first of the devices that comes with fully integrated iPad docking with the device, as you can see from the above photo. There is also support for wireless streaming to a wide range of compatible speakers through the built in AirPlay streaming technology, allowing you full control over which speakers to stream to direct from the control unit.

No official price or release date has been announced yet for the Numark iDJ Pro, but you can check out the Numark product page for more details.

[source: Numark via Airplayspeakers.com]

Teac NS-X1 AirPlay speaker dock arrives on UK market

Quite a few months have passed since i first heard word about the Teac NS-X1 slimline Airplay speaker dock, but it has taken until now for the system to make a proper entry into the UK market, getting presence with well known electronics retail chain Dixons.

The Teac NS-X1 features 2 x 10W speakers, has a slimline shape, with a physical docking station sitting at the top of the unit as an alternative for those that does not have an Apple device with AirPlay capabilities. The system can also be mounted on the wall as it has support for that at the back of the unit.

Overall the Teac NS-X1 is targeting the lower end of the Airplay speaker market, with a price point at £199.99, making it amongst the more affordable AirPlay solutions on the UK market at the moment. Based on reports through other review sites and tech blogs the strength of the system is AirPlay at that price point, but at the same time they report that audio and build quality does not quite live up to the price point. As soon as i have had a chance to review one myself i will let you know what my verdict is.

[source: TrustedReviews]

iTeufel Air - a bookshelf AirPlay speaker from Teufel

Teufel is a leading audio solution manufacturer out of Germany selling direct to market, including their latest solution; the iTeufel Air AirPlay speaker.

iTeufel Air is a bookshelf style wireless speaker that allows streaming over Apple AirPlay technology. It does not feature a physical docking station, but for those wanting to connect other devices, there is the Aux-in connection.

Design wise the iTeufel Air looks quite stylish with the black finished housing sitting on a metal stand. Inside Teufel has packed two independent 20w two-way speakers and a 30cm 40w subwoofer, creating what should be a fairly powerful bookshelf AirPlay speaker with Panorama DSP for a more room-filling audio experience.

The iTeufel Air is available direct from Teufel online at £429.99.