February 2018 New Gear Part 2

Bowers & Wilkins PX Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones
The PX headphones, Bowers & Wilkins’s first adaptive noise-canceling model, are designed to optimize background noise isolation without distorting the music. They use aptX HD technology, which enables 24-bit resolution over Bluetooth, and provide three noise-canceling modes, each of which can be customized using a free app: “City” mixes in traffic noise so you don’t get run over, “Office” removes background noise without obliterating speech so you can hear your boss yelling at you, and “Flight” cancels jet engine noise.
Smart Phones: The PX’s 1.6-inch drivers are angled to produce a “more convincing soundstage,” but what’s really cool is how embedded sensors power up the ’phones when you put them on and turn them off when you remove them. Battery life is rated for 22 hours in wireless mode with noise cancelation engaged. Available with gray or gold aluminum accents. Price: $399

Bowers & Wilkins • (978) 664-2870 • bowers-wilkins.com


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Ultimate Ears MegaBlast Smart Speaker
Amazon might dominate the market for smart speakers, but it’s not the only game in town. MegaBlast, the latest addition to Ultimate Ears’ line of portable wireless speakers, is an app-controlled/voice-enabled speaker that incorporates Amazon’s popular Alexa virtual assistant. In addition to being dustproof and waterproof—its IP67 rating means it can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water—the speaker supports Bluetooth streaming and voice control of music over Wi-Fi from Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn, with Pandora and Deezer coming in the future.
Hello Alexa: Voice commands can also be used to control a variety of smart-home-enabled devices once the skills are enabled. Battery life is rated for up to 16 hours, and UE offers a charging dock for $40. Color options include black, white, blue, red, green, and yellow. Price: $300

Ultimate Ears • (646) 454-3200 • ultimateears.com


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Hisense HU100LN60 Ultra HD ‘Laser’ TV
Chinese TV maker Hisense is being a little crafty with its new 100-inch “Laser TV.” As you can see from the photo, the HU100LN60 is actually a video projection system with a wall-hugging, ultra-short-throw projector that beams 4K images onto a lightweight 100-inch screen. Designed for simple tabletop setup, the two-piece system combines a proprietary 20,000-hour laser light source rated at 3,000 lumens with a Texas Instruments 4K DLP chip and an ambient-light-rejecting screen to produce a bright picture in any environment.
Cord-Cutter Approved: Hisense’s customizable smart TV interface—which provides instant access to Netflix, Amazon Video, Pandora, and other apps—is complemented by a TV tuner that receives local over-the-air broadcasts (antenna required). A 110-watt Harman Kardon speaker system with a wireless subwoofer rounds out the package. Price: $10,000

Hisense • (888) 935-8880 • hisense-usa.com


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Parasound Halo A 52+ Amplifier
Parasound asked legendary audio designer John Curl to revisit the highly successful Halo A 52 five-channel power amplifier he designed in 2003. The result is the A 52+, featuring a significant increase in 8-ohm power output—from 125 to 180 watts per channel (255 watts into 4 ohms)—a larger custom-made toroid power transformer to support the higher power output, refined Class A/B circuitry, automatic turn-on, and DC servos and relays to protect the amp and speakers.
Balancing Act: Each channel has its own separate module with a balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA input. The amp has a rack mount option and sports a black anodized front panel and solid aluminum end caps. Price: $2,995

Parasound • (415) 397-7100 • parasound.com


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Tivoli Audio Model Sub On-Wall Subwoofer
Tivoli has the perfect solution for system builders who want decent bass without having to resort to a décor- destroying boom box. Think of the Model Sub as a subwoofer in disguise with its stylish fabric and wood presentation and super-slim form factor. It uses one active driver and two passive radiators to produce bass and pairs with any of the Wi-Fi-based speakers in Tivoli’s Art Line, or it can be connected to any speaker system through its 3.5mm line input.
Goes Anywhere: At 12.6 x 3.5 x 9 inches, the Model Sub weighs only 10 pounds and is slender enough to be mounted on the wall (or slid under the couch if you must hide it) yet stylish enough to stand (or lay flat) out in the open. Three fabric/wood finish options are available: gray/walnut, gray/white, or black/black. Price: $400

Tivoli Audio • (877) 297-9479 • tivoliaudio.com

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