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]

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]

SOUL Party in a Box AirPlay speaker dock

SOUL Electronics is at CES to promote their Soul by Ludacris range of headphones, but this year they have also thrown a speaker dock into the midst, and not just any speaker dock. Meet the SOUL Party in a Box AirPlay speaker.

In fact, the SOUL Party in a Box does not only support streaming over AirPlay. There is also built in Bluetooth as well as a 5.8GHz two-way transceiver that offers CD quality lossless streaming and multi-speaker set up.

Inside the SOUL AirPlay speaker there is a party going on for sure, as this omni-directional hybrid system features dual 6.5-inch subwoofers, 3-inch midrange drivers, and four 1-inch tweeters. The central docking station is reported to support all iOS devices, including the iPad.

There is no word on pricing and availability of the SOUL Party in a Box speaker dock as of yet, but I will keep you posted.

[source: slashgear]

Sharp joins the Airplay family with Sharp DK-KP95P speaker dock

Sharp is bringing a range of new speaker docks to CES this year, including their first AirPlay enabled speaker dock in the Sharp DK-KP95P.

The Sharp DK-KP95P with Airplay technology also features a physical docking station located at the top of the speaker dock that supports docking of all iOS devices, including the iPad, and for those old schoolers out there, a cd player that supports MP3 and WMA playback. This is a true multipurpose speaker dock / home audio that combines a classic design with the latest technology.

In addition to AirPlay streaming this system also supports audio streaming over DLNA. In terms of audio, it features 2 midrange speaker drivers delivering 25W of power output. The system is listed as available in the U.S with a retail price at $329.99. I'm trying to find a UK release date / price, and will update as soon as i find it.

[source: theverge]

Pure goes AirPlay with Contour 200i Air

Fans of Pure Contour speaker docks will be happy to hear that the company is ready with their first ever AirPlay speaker dock; the Pure Contour 200i Air.

The Contour 200i Air is however not all about AirPlay streaming as it also comes with docking station that supports docking and charging of all iOS devices, including the iPad.

With DSP audio amplifiers, dual 3.5-inch full range drivers, 35w power output (RMS), dedicated app, and a suggested retail price around £199 this could become a popular option in a growing AirPlay speaker market.

Hoping to be back with more information on the Pure Contour 200i Air, including UK release date soon.

[source: Pocket-lint]