CES 2021

Once upon a time, CES was a huge show for audio but those days are long gone and showed no signs of returning in the virtual world that was CES 2021, with one possible exception: Wireless headphones, a category that has made incredible strides in just the past year or so. A number of companies — some familiar, many not-so-familiar — used the world-class venue as a showcase for new headphones you can buy now and models you can expect to see online and in stores in the coming months. Prominent among the new entries were earbuds and full-size headphones with active noise canceling and features designed to improve wireless performance and the sound quality of music and phone calls. Wired models, as you might expect, were few and far between. Here’s a look at what a few of the more familiar brands are bringing to market.

As the first virtual CES comes to a close, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has already proclaimed the event the largest digital tech show in history with close to 2,000 companies congregating online to introduce a staggering variety of new products and technologies. Here’s a look at some of the A/V related news we came across.

Previously announced in September 2020 at the European mega-electronics tradeshow IFA, LG Electronics said its new HU810P CineBeam 4K UHD laser projector will now launch the week of January 18. The latest addition to the company’s DLP projector lineup is notable for its HDMI 2.1 connections (with Auto Low Latency Mode and Enhanced Audio Return Channel), built-in webOS 5.0 platform, and WiSA support for a high-res wireless audio link with WiSA-compatible speakers.

Chinese manufacturer Konka is mostly focused on launching its new smart home products at CES, but the company did also provided some specs for its forthcoming TV 2021 lineup. There are four series of LCD models in all, including 4K sets featuring LG’s webOS smart TV interface and bigscreen models with quantum dot tech for extended color reproduction. Konka is also thinking big for 2021, with an 82-inch Android TV-powered model on the way.

LG today announced its new OLED TVs for 2021 at the company’s virtual CES press conference. The lineup includes a 4K-resolution 83-inch TV—a new screen size option from the company—high-end “evo” models with a new panel designed to deliver higher brightness than prior OLEDs, and a new AI processor for improved performance. LG is also planning to attract more OLED buyers via a series of affordable entry-level models.

JBL is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the launch of the SA750 integrated amplifier and L100 Classic 75 loudspeaker, two retro modern products that reference hi-fi’s golden age—specifically, the 1970s part.

Sony today dropped news of its new 2021 Bravia XR TV lineup, with the announcements arriving days in advance of the company’s scheduled January 11 all-digital CES press conference. The new TVs comprise two series of 4K OLED models, along with 8K and 4K LCD sets.