Music Streaming

Sony offered a glimpse of its first 360-degree audio speakers back at the online-only CES 2021 expo in January, with two units based around the company's 360 Reality Audio tech. Now the SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 are up for pre-order.

Looking to offer a little something extra for the audiophiles in the crowd, Spotify has announced a new streaming tier for high-quality lossless audio called Spotify HiFi, which will be available to Premium subscribers as an optional extra later this year.

Back in 2014, French audio house Devialet launched a $2,000, 750-W wireless speaker called the Phantom that looked like nothing else out there. Now the company has upgraded its flagship compact all-in-one speaker for 2021.

A mid-year report has revealed vinyl sales in 2020 have surpassed CD sales for the first time since the mid-1980s. The report also reveals the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the physical media music market hard but streaming music subscriptions are up.

Bose launched a new audio product in late 2018, in the shape of two pairs of sunglasses equipped with tiny speakers and a microphone. And clearly the company has had some success with them as three more flavors have now joined the Frames lineup.

If you've got cash to burn and you like your digital audio players to be chunky, angular and capable, Astell&Kern is probably already on your radar. The new Kann Alpha ticks all of those boxes and more.

After three years in development, Marantz has dipped into its history for inspiration for a new line of high-end audio gear that starts with an integrated amplifier and a network audio streamer/SA-CD player.

Unveiled at CES back in January, NAD Electronics has now made its Master M33 system available for sale, an audiophile-grade streaming hi-fi amplifier that can serve as a multi-room hub for compatible devices all around the home.

Due to launch on Kickstarter next month, the Duolink true wireless earphones come with a charging case with built-in speakers for the option of keeping the music to yourself or sharing with others.

Sony has announced some new wireless over-ear noise cancellation cans with dual noise sensors, all day playback and a mode that lets in the sounds of the outside world when needed. Bass lovers have also been treated to some true wireless earphones.

Sweden's Zound Industries, the company that manufactures headphones and speakers under license from Marshall Amps, has announced the release of a new Bluetooth speaker called the Uxbridge Voice, which has Alexa built in and supports AirPlay 2.

There are a good many options available if you want to talk to your streaming speaker, as well as listen to audio. And now there's another, for the well-heeled living room courtesy of Bang & Olufsen's stylish and powerful Beosound Balance.