ANALYSIS: CONNECTED AUDIO Home Entertainment


To be connected or to not be connected, that is the question!


Google and Amazon’s voice assistants have dominated the smart speaker segment for many years, but with increased integration into connected audio devices is the market becoming a little saturated? Will McGill investigates.


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ith Britain listening to audio devices more than ever, now is the time to educate your consumers about the products available and how


they can fit into their lifestyles. Data from the Internet Advertising Bureau UK highlights that the total time spent listening to online audio sits at 13 hours a week, and this has significantly risen among 15-34-year-olds. Whilst mobiles remain the most used devices (accounting for 61 per cent), voice activated speakers represents 37 per cent of reach. And what are people doing while they’re listening? Well, 41 per cent are relaxing, 34 per cent listen for work or study, 34 per cent are doing household chores, and 31 per cent are travelling while they are listening to their favourite tunes or podcast.


Smart and connected


Alan O’Rourke, Owner and Managing Director of Ruark Audio, gives his insight: “Smart and connected technology is here to stay, but the challenge we have is making the technology easy to use and reliable. “Unfortunately, how well-connected technology works is down to how good a customer’s home Wi-Fi network is and most consumers do not understand this, often blaming the product rather than their network when things don’t work properly.” Ruark Audio has recently launched its 100


Series, which includes its R410 Integrated Music System and R810 High Fidelity Radiogram. They are both Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect compatible, with the Apple AirPlay, Chromecast and Bluetooth aptX HD also included – users can stream from a whole range of platforms.


The perfect audio companion Denon has expanded its Personalised Hearables range with new Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds.


The Denon PerL and PerL Pro True Wireless Earbuds featuring Masimo AAT allow users to create a personal audio profile to optimise the sound quality. The PerL buds include active noise cancelling, weather and sweat resistance, immersion mode and social mode. The PerL Pro also includes these features but


also comes with; Lossless and spatial audio, Best-in-class voice calls and Customisable touch controls. Elsewhere in the earbud category is Sony’s WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless Earbuds with noise cancelling; the brand says it offers the best noise-cancelling on the market.


Sony’s WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless Earbuds.


An exciting development is taking place in the smart speaker category; for the first time Google and Amazon’s voice assistants will be available in one place, on Harman’s new JBL Authentics 200, Authentics 500 and the portable Authentics 300.


Consumers will be able to use both assistants at any time, for example they can ask Alexa to play Starship’s We Built This City and then ask Google to turn it up! The JBL speaker also features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with sound delivered by Dolby Atmos, creating an immersive sound. The Authentics range also has access to JBL’s One App, so your consumers can create a personalised experience by adjusting its EQ (Equalisation) settings.


AirPlay and Chromecast also provides the ability to connect with other compatible products to make an easy-to-manage multi- room system as well as add voice control. Mr O’Rourke points out that exciting things


are in the pipeline at Ruark Audio. He says: “I can’t currently reveal any details, but later this year we will be releasing another model in our 100 Series, that in many ways will take us back to our roots. We’re very excited.”


Denon’s PerL Pro True Wireless Earbuds.


They feature an AI-based noise reduction algorithm based on Deep Neutral Network processing and bone conduction sensors; this means your consumer’s voice will come through clearly and naturally, even when they are in a noisy environment.


The earbuds also include: Adaptive Sound


Control and Speak-to-Chat as well as Multipoint Connect that lets users pair two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.


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