Tag Archives: aptx

Lifestyle, News

Bowers & Wilkins Unveils New True Wireless Earbuds Line Up with the Pi6 & Pi8

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Bowers & Wilkins is expanding its earbuds lineup with two new entries. The new True Wireless earbuds – the Pi6 and Pi8 – are designed by the same team behind the category-leading Px7 S2e and Px8 headphones and represent a new leap forward from the previous Pi7 S2.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6: Taking a Swing with Affordable, Premium Sound and Superlative Comfort

The Pi6 is the more affordable option of the two, designed to deliver excellent sound, features, and performance at a competitive price point. The company touts that the buds will be on par with the previous Pi7 S2.

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The new wireless earbuds come with an unnamed advanced Qualcomm Chipset for improved wireless stability and reliable connectivity. The same chipset enables Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity with Multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously. It also allows the Pi6 to stream high-quality audio at 24-bit and 96KHz with aptX Adaptive Wireless Transmission.

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The Pi6 isn’t just about chipset and transmission technologies either, it also leverages 12mm Bio-cellulose Drive Units that allow for crisper high frequencies and fuller sound. The drive units also allow for brighter sounds and better audio clarity. The earbuds come with up to 8 hours of usage on a single charge with ANC on. You’ll be able to top this up twice with the case. The buds can get 2 hours of playback on 15 minutes of charge thanks to fast charge support and it’s even got IP54 water and dust resistance.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: The New Flagship B&W Sound

Together with the Pi6, Bowers & Wilkins are reimagining its flagship sound when it comes to wireless earbuds with the Pi8. The new flagship one-up the Pi6 will be taking the spotlight from the Pi7 S2 with updated performance and features compared to the Pi6.

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The Pi8 is gunning for higher quality and fuller sound with 12mm Carbon Cone Drive Units. These units allow the earbuds to reproduce sound with exceptional accuracy and depth. The earbuds support aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless Support over Bluetooth 5.4.

In addition to this, they come with a dedicated DSP, DAC, and Amplification that allow for high-resolution audio with support for up to 32-bit audio. You’ll also be able to personalise your sound with a User-Adjustable 5-Band EQ that will be accessible from the Bower & Wilkins app.

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The Pi8 comes with a smart charging case that supports wireless charging. However, the high-quality sound does take a little bit of a toll on the battery life. The Pi8 has up to 6.5 hours of playback time on a single charge with ANC on. You’ll be able to get another 13.5 hours with the casing.

Improved Design and User Experience

Both Pi6 and Pi8 benefit from a comprehensive design overhaul, focusing on comfort, usability, and aesthetics. The new design is created ergonomically for a wider range of ear shapes and sizes. However, it also maintains its stemless design that is now iconic of B&W.

The wider earbuds also come with improved touch controls that provide more responsive and reliable interactions. They also come with IR Proximity sensors that allow for more accurate wear detection. The earbuds also have enhanced antenna placement to prevent accidental blockages and disconnects.

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Both models also prioritize call quality with strategically placed microphones for clear voice calls. Additionally, they boast advanced noise cancellation technology. The Pi6 utilizes the same noise-rejection platform as the Pi7 S2, offering effective noise cancellation. However, the Pi8 adopts the noise cancellation technology found in the flagship Px8 headphones for industry-leading performance.

The new Pi6 and Pi8 are also Google Fast Pair and Made for iPhone certified for platform agnosticism and better compatibility across both Android and Apple devices.

Pricing & Availability

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 and Pi8 will be available in Malaysia from October onwards.

The Pi6 will be available in Storm Grey, Cloud Grey, Forest Green, and Glacier Blue. It will be priced at RM1,399. Internationally, it’s priced at USD$249.

The Pi8 will be available in Anthracite Black, Dove White, and Midnight Blue. The Jade Green colourway will be available at a later date. It will be priced at RM2,399. Internationally, it is priced at USD$399.

Both models will be available for purchase through the TC Acoustic web store and the physical TC store – Sonos Concept Store by TC Acoustic – in Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.

Lifestyle, News

Ruark Takes A Step into High-Resolution Digital Audio with the Ruark R410

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Ruark is one of the biggest names when it comes to premium audio experiences. The England-based audio company has built a name for itself with its classically inspired and timeless audio products. They’ve delivered everything from bookshelf speakers with the MR1 to the aesthetic R3 to full audio speakers within a table with the R7. Now, the company is introducing a whole new lineup of speakers that build upon its successful foundations. The new Ruark R410, the first in the 100 series, brings Ruark’s offerings into the realm of high-resolution digital audio with support for Qualcomm’s aptX HD and HDMI eARC.

Updated Aesthetics with Classic Touches & Modern Finishes

The hero of the 100 series is the new R410 speaker. Still keeping with Ruark‘s signature classical wooden design, the R410 brings Ruark’s design a decade into the future with inspiration taken from the late 1970s. The speaker is uniquely designed with horizontal wooden grilles accented by the soft brown tones of the mesh and the metallic silver of the legs.

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The whole body is made of sustainably sourced wood. This wood mimics the appearance of hardwood and delivers the qualities that allow for Ruark’s signature sound. To achieve the deep wooden texture and finish, the wood is treated and dyed to the intended colour. The R410 is also designed to blend seamlessly into any space.

Nestled in the face of the Ruark R410 is a small touch screen which shows you what’s playing and enables you limited controls. The R410 is also built to produce the best audio quality you can get. Ruark proudly boasts that its new audio products come after 3 years of research and refinement.

The R410 comes with a brand new “RotoDial” control system. The RotoDial has been a signature feature of Ruark’s audio offerings since its conception. The new RotoDial features an updated design which retains the signature Ruark touches and tactility. In addition to the one embedded in the top of the speaker itself, the R410 comes with a remote RotoDial which connects to the speaker via Bluetooth.

Still Built for Sound

Ruark has spent time optimising the design and build of the R410 for the best audio quality. The R410 comes with optimised reflex enclosures that allow it to throw crisp sounds with warm tones and full body over large distances. It comes with Ruark’s NS+ drivers which empower deep bases and natural mids. The custom 20mm tweeters bring added detail to the already full sound.

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The Ruark R410 also comes with new-generation digital amplifiers. This allows it better efficiency and output with ultralow distortion. A two-channel amplifier assembly is mounted directly onto the rear of each bass mid-unit for shorter signal paths and to prevent signal degradation.

The new R410 system supports all new-generation streaming connections including Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect.

Pricing & Availability

The Ruark R410 will be available at the end of Q4 2023 at specialised stores. It will be priced at MYR8,899.

R410 Features at a Glance (provided by Ruark Audio)

Streaming Support(High resolution music file support up to 24-bit 192kH)
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Apple AirPlay 2
Chromecast built-in
Broadcast SupportDAB/DAB+/FM & Internet radio 
ConnectivityaptX HD Bluetooth connectivity
HDMI with eARC 
TOSLINK digital input (24-bit 192kHz)
UPnP™ media server compatible 
RIAA phono input 
DimensionsH133 x W560 x D290mm 
9.5kg
NavigationHigh-resolution 4in colour TFT 
AmplifiersFully Active 120W RMS Digital Class D amplifier 
2 x 20mm silk dome tweeters
2 x 100mm long throw NS+ bass mid units 
Dual bass reflex enclosures 
PeripheralsRechargeable RotoDial Bluetooth remote included. 
Accessories, Lifestyle

Jabra Elite 5 Available in Malaysia Hot Off IFA 2022

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Jabra has officially brought its Elite 5 true wireless earbuds to Malaysia. The earbuds make its debut barely a week after the initial announcement in IFA 2022 on 5th September. The new earbuds create a new middleground in Jabra’s true wireless earbuds for everyday users who are looking for versatile, ambient noise cancelling earbuds.

Jabra Elite 5 Launch

The Jabra Elite 5 brings all the essentials that users are looking for in earbuds – lightweight ergonomics, quality sound and effective noise cancelling. The earbuds fit snugly between the Elite 3 and the Elite 7 series which are already available in the market. The Elite 5 one ups the Elite 3 by bringing a scaled back version of most of the features on the Elite 7.

The Elite 5 comes with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (Hybrid ANC) which uses feedback and feedforward microphones on the earbuds to eliminate any ambient noise. The feedback and feedforward mics work together for better ANC performance that is simpler to use and more reliable across a wider range of frequencies. This feature is powered by the Qualcomm QCC3050 Bluetooth System on a Chip (SoC).

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The same SoC also enables AptX audio which allows for high fidelity audio over Bluetooth. The Jabra Elite 5 also supports AAC and SBC codecs for high quality audio playback. In addition to this, the Elite 5 comes with 6mm drivers. Users are able to customise their sound profiles throught the Jabra Sound+ application which is available on the Apple AppStore and Google Play Stores.

Support for Bluetooth 5.2 also enables multipoint Bluetooth connectivity between two devices. This allows users to seamlessly transition between two devices seamlessly when using the Elite 5. The Elite 5 also comes with built-in support for Google Assistant and Alexa. It also supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair making connecting to an Android smartphone or Windows PC a breeze. It also has support for Spotify Tap Playback.

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Design wise, the Jabra Elite 5 shares the same design cues we’ve seen in other Jabra earbuds. They’re lightweight and compact making them easy to transport and wear for long durations. You can even wear them when you’re working out as they come with IP55 water and dust resistance. Jabra claims that the Elite 5 has 7 hours battery life with ANC on and 28 hours with the case. Did we mention? It supports wireless charging too.

Pricing & Availability

The Jabra Elite 5 is currently available in stores for MYR699 or USD$149.99 internationally. It’s available in Gold Beige and Titanium Black.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Brings aptX Lossless

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Audio has gone through a mobile renaissance in the past few years. The number of companies developing technology to enable lossless, audiophile-quality sound has drastically increased. Just this year, services like Apple Music, Spotify and TIDAL have started offering spatial and lossless music on their services. Now, Qualcomm is looking to complete the experience with high fidelity, lossless sound over Bluetooth with their new aptX Lossless. This new Lossless standard will come built-in to the aptX Adaptive standard.

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Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless come as part of their Snapdragon Sound Technology which looks to up the ante when it comes to sound on mobile devices. The new standard will allow users to experience lossless CD-quality sound. Qualcomm claims that the new technology in the aptX Adaptive standard will produce high quality, lossless audio which will be mathematically bit-for-bit exact.

Qualcomm isn’t just revealing another standard with aptX Lossless, the technology behind it will also be ensuring better connectivity while streaming lossless audio. AptX Adaptive will work in tandem with Qualcomm Bluetooth High Speed Link technology to deliver sustainable bitrates to support lossless audio. Using these technologies simultaneously, Qualcomm is able to deliver data rates beyond 1Mbps yet seamlessly scale down to 140kbps in more congested RF environments. This helps minimize any dropouts or glitches for a more reliable listening experience.

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Photo by Sound On from Pexels

While the technology sounds promising, we will only be seeing aptX Lossless capable devices become commercially available in 2022. It may still be a little bit before we see the aptX Lossless standard become ubiquitous. That said, we’re looking at a growing demand for lossless audio among consumers with technologies like Spatial sound and 360 Audio becoming more mainstream.