The wireless loudspeaker category has made enormous strides over the past 5 years and there is no question that there are high-end options that offer better sonic performance, superior connectivity options, and greater value for your money than traditional passive loudspeakers.

Don't listen to members of the Hi-Fi press who try to tell you that you must continue down the traditional path to achieve better sound quality at home. We have listened to more than two dozen of the best wireless and Bluetooth loudspeakers currently available below $5,000 and have some thoughts on what you should consider and how one can build out a system that is great for both music and movies around them. 

Thank you so much to our sponsor SVS!  

Read our review of the SVS Prime Wireless Pro Speakers here:
https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/svs-prime-wireless-pro-speaker-pair/

In this episode, our Editor in-Chief, Ian White discusses his picks for best wireless speakers of 2024 (so far) listed below in the order mentioned on the podcast (lowest to highest price).

Triangle BOREA BR03 BT – $699 at Amazon (light oak, black, oak green, light oak blue, cream)
Q Acoustics M40 – $999/pair at Amazon (black, white, walnut)
PSB Alpha iQ – $1,299/pair at Amazon (black, white, blue, yellow)
KEF LSX II – $1,299/pair at Amazon (black, white, red, blue, olive green, beige)
KEF LSX II LT – $999/pair at Amazon (graphite grey, sage green, stone white)
Sonus faber Duetto – $3,999/pair at Crutchfield (graphite, walnut)


Episode webpage: https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/best-wireless-speakers-2024/

On the Panel:

Brian Mitchell, Host & Founder
Ian White, Editor in-Chief 

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #wirelessspeakers #ecoustics #bestwirelessspeaker #bestbluetoothspeaker #bluetooth #speakers #loudspeakers #musicstreaming

Today (April 17, 2024) Sony introduced its new 2024 line of BRAVIA 4K TVs, Soundbars and Theater speakers. Take a deep dive into the product launch with eCoustics Founder, Brian Mitchell and Editor at Large, Chris Boylan who got a hands-on tour of all the new products last month at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles.

Sony says, "Cinema is Coming Home" but is that true or just marketing hype? Join us and find out.

Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Q Acoustics! https://www.qacoustics.com 


Learn more:
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/sony-bravia-tvs-soundbars-2024/

Pricing:

BRAVIA 9 Mini LED TVs:
85″ $5,499.99
75″ $3,999.99
65″ $3,299.99

BRAVIA 8 OLED TVs
77″ $3,899.99
65″ $2,799.99
55″ $1,999.99

BRAVIA 7 Mini LED TVs
85″ $3,499.99
75″ $2,799.99
65″ $2,299.99
55″ $1,899.99

BRAVIA 3 LED/LCD TVs
85″ $1,799.99
75″ $1,299.99
65″ $999.99
55″ $849.99
50″ $699.99
43″ $599.99

Soundbars & Speakers:
BRAVIA Theater Quad – $2,499.99
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 – $1,399.99
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 – $999.99
BRAVIA Theater U – $299.99

On the panel:
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor at Large

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#sony #bravia #4ktv #hometheater #homevideo #hometheater #soundbar #theaterbar #televisions #ecoustics #productlaunch #bringingthecinemahome #oledtv #miniledtv #braviatheater

Are you considering a turntable upgrade in 2024? Before you empty your wallet on a deck that might seem like the right path for you — we have a few suggestions that might make more sense long-term if your budget is between $600 and $2,000. 

Does it make sense to spend more? We think the market has shifted and there are some outstanding options from Pro-Ject, Rega, Andover, U-Turn, and others worth exploring. 

Further Reading:

https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/pro-ject-x2-b/

https://www.ecoustics.com/products/u-turn-audio-orbit-turntable-2023/

https://www.ecoustics.com/products/rega-system-one-analog-solution/

https://www.ecoustics.com/products/andover-audio-spindeck-2-turntable/



Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, SVS!

For more information on SVS and their line of stellar products, please visit: https://www.svsound.com

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.instagram.com/the_arc_of_all
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com


#streaming #hifi #highendaudio #musicindustry #vinylcommunity #budgetaudio #turntables #newtovinyl  #audiophile #homelistening #recordplayers #nowspinning 

The gear fetishism that has stunted the mainstream growth of high-end audio for almost four decades is about to run out of runway and that might be the most positive development in years. How we consume music has completely shifted and whilst there will always be room on the credenza for a turntable, or even a CD player, the reality is that real estate at home is a hot commodity, and most consumers want fewer boxes for their music listening journey.

Just what is a network amplifier and why should you consider one as your last Hi-Fi system? We explain this week on the podcast with some help from our friends at NAD, WiiM, Bluesound, Naim, Cambridge Audio, and more…


Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, SVS!

For more information on SVS and their line of stellar products, please visit: https://www.svsound.com

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.instagram.com/the_arc_of_all
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com


#streaming #hifi #highendaudio #music #networkamplifiers #futurefi #naim #technology #cambridgeaudio #wiim #arylic #audiophile #hiresstreaming #digitalmusictrends

Audeze’s Co-Founder & CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram, joins eCoustics Senior Headphone & Portables Editor William Jennings and Producer (and Audeze Artist) Mitch Anderson to discuss its 16 year journey as an innovator in the global Head-Fi revolution.

Founded in 2008 as a boutique audiophile brand, Audeze's first concept was a loudspeaker which never came to market. However, early innovations with planar magnetic technology led to the release of their first headphone, the LCD-1 for $600 — making it one of the most expensive headphones available in 2008. All 25 models sold, which led to the release of the LCD-2 in 2009 and LCD-3 in 2011. Both models became award-winning benchmarks for headphone design and turned what was a cottage industry aimed exclusively at high-end headphone listeners into a billion dollar segment.

Audeze's success also created opportunities for its competitors to expand into the planar magnetic category, forcing the brand to push the envelope with state-of-the-art professional monitoring headphones, electrostatic headphones for the medical industry, and innovative gaming headphones that attracted the attention of Sony Interactive Entertainment which purchased the company last year -- exposing the brand to a much larger mainstream global audience and giving it a growing customer base for the future.

Nearly all of Audeze’s products are hand-made in Costa Mesa, CA, including all LCD and MM series headphones and the Playstation headset drivers.

Sankar takes us on a journey through Audeze’s history and reveals interesting insights about the company’s history, headphone manufacturing, and their path ahead.

For more information on Audeze please visit https://www.audeze.com

For details and related links, visit: https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/audeze-sankar/

This episode is brought to you in part by Audeze Artists, The Source of Light & Power. Hear the sounds from their recently completed one record a month for all of 2023 sonic adventure here:
sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com

On the Panel:

• Sankar Thiagasamudram, Audeze Founder & CEO
• William Jennings, eCoustics Sr. Headphone & Portables Editor
• Mitch Anderson, eCoustics Podcast Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.instagram.com/the_arc_of_all
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#audeze #headphones #lcdx #canjam #maxwellheadphones #playstation #gamingheadset #planarheadphones #audiophile #headfi #audezeartists #vinylcommunity #audioforgaming #studioheadphones #masteringheadphones

Can we finally stop pretending that wireless loudspeakers offer an inferior listening experience. The desire to sell high-end audio systems consisting of expensive boxes made of ticky tacky has become an impediment to the growth of the next generation of audiophiles and brands like Q Acoustics are working very hard to offer the best possible passive and wireless loudspeakers for less. And they are succeeding.

Jamie McKay, Sales & Marketing Director, and Nick Renshaw, PR Manager, of Q Acoustics join us on this edition of the eCoustics podcast to discuss their award-winning 5000 series loudspeakers and the new M40 wireless micro-towers that are going to turn a lot of heads. High-end audio is evolving and it's time to cut the cord.


Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#qacoustics #audiophile #hifi #vintageaudio #wirelessspeaker #awardwinningsound #towerspeakers #newproductalert #podcast #ecoustics #vinylcommunity

With consumers spending tens of billions of dollars on headphones and earbuds, the product has become a commodity and one that is rather disposable. But does that need to be the case? Have you thrown away a perfectly good pair of earbuds or headphones because the ear pads or ear tips are worn down or busted up?

Dekoni Audio have not only cornered the market on replacement pads for some of the most popular consumer and audiophile models on the market, but they have altered the way they sound. If you think you have heard "everything" from your existing pair of headphones or earbuds? Think again. Tal Kocen and Dylan Scarzafava of Dekoni have a great story to tell and a lot to teach you.

Thank you to this episode's sponsors:

SVS: https://www.svsound.com
Q Acoustics: https://www.qacoustics.com

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#dekoni #headphones #hifi #headfi #canjam #diyaudio #headphonecommunity #audioupgrades #audiophile #livesound #audioengineer #recordinggear

In our second podcast with Jim Garrett, head of product strategy and planning at Harman Luxury Audio we discuss Arcam’s new product refresh. The British Hi-Fi brand has just introduced the sleek new Radia series of audio components, which consists of five new models:

• Arcam A5 Integrated Amp – $699
• Arcam A15 Integrated Amp – $1,099
• Arcam A25 Integrated Amp – $1,499
• Arcam CD5 CD Player – $699
• Arcam ST5 Streamer – $799

All are available at Crutchfield:
https://bit.ly/arcam-radia-at-crutchfield

Jim reveals key details about each product, how they work together, and what’s different between each model. In addition, Jim shares updates about JBL’s “vintage looking” Classic hi-fi components which are now shipping along with MKII (2nd generation) versions of the JBL Classic L100, L82 and L52 Loudspeakers.

Finally, we talk about Harman’s surprise acquisition of Roon and what to expect going forward.

Previous podcast with Jim Garrett:
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/harman-luxury-audio-2023/

Related links:

https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/arcam-radia-st5-a25/
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/arcam-radia-series/
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/jbl-classic-loudspeakers-black/
https://www.ecoustics.com/news/harman-acquires-roon/

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#arcam #radia #hifi #audiophile #harman #harmanluxury #ecoustics #jbl #loudspeakers #roon

In September 2023, vintage columnist Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) spent three weeks in Japan pursuing audio perfection in all forms. In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, he and podcast producer Mitch Anderson (@black_circle_radio) discuss shopping in Japan for modern and vintage HiFi, and new and used music on vinyl and other mediums.

Conversation meanders to Japanese audiophilia and the obsession with quality, Japanese jazz artists (including Ryo Fukui, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto and Isao Suzuki), and why classical music is still so popular when interest has fallen off in many other countries.

Links:
Iconic Sansui Amplifiers: Exit to Vintage Street
Japanese Jazz Wikipedia Page
Audio Union Website
Disk Union Website
HMV Japan Website

Thank you to our sponsor Marantz for supporting this episode!

www.marantz.com

In the Episode:

• Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #jazzkissa #japanesejazz #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast

In September 2023, vintage columnist Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) spent three weeks in Japan pursuing audio perfection in all forms. In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, he and podcast producer Mitch Anderson (@black_circle_radio) discuss the history and current state of Jazz Kissa culture, how visiting a Jazz Kissa is such a special experience, and why that experience can’t really be recreated elsewhere. Going off topic they also discuss Japanese vinyl pressings and why those are so desirable.

Links for further information:
Japanese Jazz Kissa and the Art of the Piano Trio: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz Kissa Culture Goes Global: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz City online store: Purchase Jazz Kissa magazines and books
Tokyo Jazz Joints website
@jazz_kissa on Instagram


Thank you to our sponsor Marantz for supporting this episode!

www.marantz.com

In the Episode:

• Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #jazzkissa #japanesejazz #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast

With consumers moving away from expensive multi-component systems and looking for more economical and space-spacing alternatives, the question has to be asked -- who is actually offering solutions that are affordable?

Bob Hazelwood, Director of Engineering and Product Development, Andover Audio, joins us on the eCoustics podcast to discuss their rather extensive lineup of award-winning wireless speakers, turntables, streamers, and lifestyle systems that tick off every box for the next generation of music listeners. And don't believe the naysayers -- their Isogroove isolation technology makes it possible to have your turntable on top of your speakers.

Ace of Space? You will be very surprised what you can do.

Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Q Acoustics for supporting our sonic messaging!

https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com

In the Episode:

• Bob Hazelwood, Director of Engineering and Product Development - Andover Audio
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #andoveraudio #spinbase #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast