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iPodNN: iHome has introduced what is the first fully functional iPad dock with the iHome iA100ZE. It can also accommodate iPhones and iPods, and gets a Bluetooth connection in addition to an FM radio. The dock includes a free download of the iHome+Sleep app (currently not iPad-optimized, App Store) that offers custom alarms, sleep stats, social media alerts, weather, and overnight news.

The alarm settings from the dock are automatically synced to the iPad. Another button syncs the proper time from an iPhone to the dock. The dock has Bongiovi Digital Power Station circuitry that purportedly optimizes the sound for digital audio formats as well as iHome’s newer Reson8 speaker chambers.

iHome has not revealed prices or a release date for the iA100ZE dock.

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iPodNN: Home theater manufacturer Onkyo on Tuesday detailed the upcoming release of two new high-end receivers, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008. New features include 3D-compatible HDMI 1.4a inputs, DLNA 1.5 media sharing with Windows 7 support, and media streaming. The receivers otherwise share three-zone support, HQV Reon VX video processing, two HDMI outputs and a maximum of 9.2 channels.

Both Sidy-By-Side and Top-and-Bottom 3D broadcasting standards are supported by either receiver. An Ethernet port lets users connect them to the Internet through a computer and stream Internet radio or music from all the big name sites, as well as digital audio files, with nearly all common file types supported.

Audyssey’s room-correction and equalization feature is included for helping account for a room’s unique acoustics.

The TX-NR3008′s front-side USB port and the TX-NR5008′s front and rear USB ports can play back audio from thumb drives or play music and display album art from connected iPhones or iPods.

Either receiver has separate transformers for audio and video processing, and the TX-NR5008 adds a toroidal transformer and 22,000 uF capacitors. Other shared features bring a VGA input for connecting to computers, HDMI throughput and a backlit and customizable remote.

The TX-NR3008 will cost $2,100 and the TX-NR5008 $2,700 when they ship in August.

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Gizmodo: Panasonic isn’t taking no for an answer on this 3DTV business. To make the prospect of switching over a little more appealing, they’re rolling out the SC-ZT2: a fully wireless home theater audio system designed specifically for Full HD 3D.

The SC-ZT2 promises 7.1-channel sound from just two speakers, each of which houses four tweeters and a long-stroke woofer. More important, though: 3DTV owners have a wireless sound system of their very own now. That is, if you’re willing to cough up an extra $1000 after you already sprang for that fancy television and glasses.

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Electronista: Sonos today refreshed the ZonePlayer S5 to add a black color. The new model adds to the existing white and mostly helps for those whose home theater systems or living rooms wouldn’t match the original. Functionally, the system is the same as before and includes both an Ethernet connection and an internal Sonos wireless receiver with a high-powered 2.1-channel speaker system.

The system still costs $399 and should be available today. To use it wirelessly needs a $99 ZoneBridge to share the connection from a home router. Most input requires a computer, iPhone, iPod touch or Sonos Controller, though the desktop and iPhone apps are free.
 

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iPodnn: Onkyo has introduced three new receivers, each featuring support for 3D video and iPhone/iPod connection. The TX-NR1008, TX-NR808, and TX-NR708 offer an Ethernet port for integration with home networks, enabling DLNA streaming and access to additional content such as Pandora. (more…)

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Klipsch: While Earth Day, which takes place on April 22, is the perfect time to reflect on what you are doing to help protect the environment, Klipsch continuously looks at new, earth-friendly ways to build its products.

All Klipsch products are RoHS (reduction of hazardous substances) compliant, meaning they do NOT contain substances that are harmful to humans or the environment.

The company has also made energy improvements to its RoHS-compliant production plants, using more efficient heat sources and insulation.

At its Hope, Arkansas, US manufacturing facility, Klipsch is researching solar power as a way to service a variety of electrical needs, as well as investigating new finishing processes that have lower volatile organic compounds, or VOC, emissions and/or waste by-products.

Klipsch also secured funding from the state of Arkansas to conduct an energy study of the facility. As a result, the company implemented several recommended changes, including the installation of a new air make-up unit as well as re-routing heated air back into the factory, rather than allowing it to escape outside.

Additionally, Klipsch has re-configured how it powers up and shuts down the factory each day, re-evaluated its nighttime security lights, and changed its lighting to lower consumption alternatives. These updates have resulted in a 30 percent reduction in electrical costs and a 52 percent reduction in gas consumption over the past two years.

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Stereophile: Bentley Motors, the 89-year-old, Volkswagen-owned manufacturer of bespoke luxury automobiles has decided that a high-end audio system would complete its definition of automotive excellence, choosing Salisbury-based audio manufacturer Naim to develop a “Naim For Bentley” system.Putting the money quote up front, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Bentley Motors’ Chairman and CEO said, “Our customers expect the ultimate in every experience when they commission a Bentley. The ‘Naim For Bentley’ sound system delivers the world’s ultimate in-car audio experience—allowing for ‘as live’ audio entertainment that is as pure as the Bentley driving experience itself.”

The resulting system employs “next-generation:” DSP, combined with what it billed as “the world’s most powerful in-car production amplifier and a state-of-the-art speaker system.”

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ABC News: Those who believe that audio plays no role in the enjoyment of home cinema are absolutely right, that is, provided their filmed fare originated before the 1920s. However, from the earliest “talkies” to the latest surround-sound blockbusters, audio is an integral part of the theater experience.

With sophisticated home theater systems, we are now closer to replicating that experience at home than ever before. Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies can use technologies such as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, which can offer sound quality that is identical to the studio master. However, most consumers skimp on the audio part of their home theater, buying inexpensive speaker systems or just relying on those built into their flat-panel TV.

But what good is watching a planet explode on a big flat-panel TV if it sounds like a cap gun being fired? With falling prices for flat-panel TVs, major electronics companies are devoting more attention to audio as a way to differentiate their TVs and sell matching components. According to NPD’s retail tracking service, for example, Home Theater in a Box system sales declined slightly in 2007, but that’s still an improvement over the 11 percent drop such products saw in 2006. And receivers, which are the basis for higher-end audio systems, saw a 5 percent gain in units after being slightly down in 2006.

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ZDNet: US researchers have created a radio using carbon nanotubes so tiny it can fit on a grain of sand, showing how nanotubes could soon be used to make more efficient electronic devices. This follows a similar announcement from physicists at the University of California at Berkeley, who demonstrated a nanotube whisker receiving music by the Beach Boys and Eric Clapton in October last year.
Professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, Tim Rodgers, who led the researchers, said: “Our radio is unique in that it uses nanotube-based transistors for all of the active components of the device, from the resonant antenna to the RF amplifiers, RF mixers and even the audio amplifier.” Headphones can then be connected directly to the output of a nanotube transistor, he added.

Rodgers noted, however, that the device is merely a demonstration potential of carbon nanotubes in circuitry.

“We sought to demonstrate realistic, reproducible means for using nanotubes for RF electronics,” he told ZDNet.com.au. “The radio is just a tangible demonstration that we can create all of the key building blocks for this type of electronics… radios are not the primary goal, general wireless communications devices are.”

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Audio Junkies: B&W has launched their new wireless 5.1 Liberty speaker system that is based on the XT line. The Liberty consists of four different speaker models powered by integrated class-D amplifiers. The most interesting feature of the Liberty though is the dynamic channel selection. Instead of using the typical 2-channels for wireless audio, B&W is utilizing a system that changes frequency on the fly and always chooses the least trafficked frequency band for the best sound quality.

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Bose comes up with a new version of their QuietComfort headset. They come in two different sets, the on-ear and around-ear version with the same quality and features as the previous QC2 headset:

• exclusive noise reduction technology
• full-detailed audio performance
• comfortable leightweight fit

They are for sale for about $350 in the Bose Online Shop.

(source: Bose Newsletter)

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