Speakers

High-end Brit audio gear maker Bowers & Wilkins has given its iconic Zeppelin portable speaker a Pro upgrade. The blimp-shaped unit is home to improved drivers, better support for hi-res streaming, plus a few eyeball pleasers for good measure.

Pioneer has been one of the top makers of DJ gear for decades, releasing the world's first top-loading CD deck for pro use way back in 1994. The DJ brand broke away in 2014, and has now launched the first products under the AlphaTheta name.

LG's experimental marketing platform is teasing a retro-modern reworking of the jukebox ahead of CES 2024. Dubbed the DukeBox, the concept fronts a stylish speaker unit driven by valve amp technology with a thoroughly modern transparent OLED panel.

Earlier this year, we introduced solid-state micro-speaker technology from California's xMEMS Labs that's designed to replace coil-based drivers in wearable audio products. Now the company is aiming for satisfying low end with the Cypress speaker.

Alto Professional out of Rhode Island has announced the appropriately named Busker battery powered portable amp/speaker for street musicians, DJs, party performers, and "anyone and everyone who wants to be heard."

Presonus has overhauled some of the world's best-selling studio monitors. The new Eris speakers deliver reference-grade audio at surprisingly affordable prices, with more low end, wider sweet spots for mixing, and the nifty inclusion of Bluetooth.

"Quintessentially British" audio gear company Ruark has launched the first in a new series of integrated music systems. The R410 offers modern streaming, internet radio and connection to hi-fi gear – all enclosed in gorgeous 1970s-inspired wrapping.

Back in April, xMEMS Labs revealed solid-state technology aimed at replacing coil-based speakers in audio wearables like in-ear monitors. Now the company has partnered with Creative Technology for an upcoming pair of true-wireless earphones.

Back in 2021, BenQ released a portable Bluetooth speaker with a 720p DLP projector built in. Now that GV30 model has been joined by a larger Full HD sibling that can be tilted up to throw a movie on the ceiling.

How many speaker drivers do earphones need to deliver great stereo sound? One in each earpiece? Two? Six? The Knowles Corp has partnered with Ultimate Ears Pro for the release of the UE Premier in-ear monitors, which rock 21 drivers per earphone.

xMEMS Labs is aiming to replace century-old coil-based speaker technology with silicon-based microspeakers, and has launched three Solid-State Fidelity solutions for use in upcoming true-wireless earphones, in-ear monitors and digital hearing aids.

Hong Kong-based hearing/acoustic tech company Audfly has been working on a nifty glass-panel directional-audio speaker since 2019, and has now launched on Kickstarter to bring the Focusound unit into production.