Parasound bowed a 12-channel power amplifier for commercial and residential audio systems installers. Flexible power options allow stereo audio in six zones and up to 24 speakers, said the company. The ZoneMaster ZM 12 drives two channels at 120 watts each, 8 ohms, with the remaining 10 channels at 60 watts each. "Nearly all installations have a zone which can sing nicely with higher power,” said Parasound President Richard Schram, citing large rec rooms, outdoor speakers or a room for serious stereo listening.

Sonos is luring customers to its newest products (see 2005060032) with an offer to “be the first to listen” and “experience the latest additions to the Sonos system before anyone else when you preorder.” In a Friday email with a link to the website, the company pitched the Arc subwoofer ($799), Five speaker ($499) and latest generation Sub ($699). Shipping begins June 10, it said.

Atlantic Technology is shipping the FS series wireless powered subwoofers that use SKAA wireless audio technology. The Atlantic subs -- $399 for the 100-watt, $549 for the 150-watt version -- are designed to receive low-latency long-range SKAA wireless audio signals from Atlantic’s compatible bookshelf speakers, STA-200 integrated amp and upcoming Gatecrasher3 active soundbar, said the company. The subs’ 12dB-per-octave low-pass crossover, adjustable from 50Hz to 300Hz, enables blending with satellite speakers or a sound bar, it said.

LG announced pricing and availability of its 2020 sound bar lineup Monday. The speaker systems are designed to work with LG’s OLED and LG NanoCell 4K and 8K TVs. The lineup's eight models have power ratings of 380-770 watts. The five premium models -- SN11RG ($1,699), SN10YG ($1,299) SN9YG ($999), SN8YG ($799) & SN7Y ($499) -- have Meridian sound technology, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Hi-Res audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz, said the company. Upfiring speakers are said to create a 360-degree sound experience. The flagship model comes with separate rear surround speakers with upfiring drivers. Meridian sound uses signal processing to expand the soundstage, LG said. Hi-Res audio and immersive sound formats are enabled by an Enhanced Audio Return Channel input. Premium models also have 4K HDR pass-through via HDMI. Artificial intelligence-based room calibration measures a room’s acoustic characteristics and balances the sound bar’s audio settings to the environment, said the company. Google Assistant is built in.

Sonarworks, a recording studio software company, announced SoundID Listen, a desktop computer application that allows users to personalize headphone sound using a personal sound profile. Over 2020, users will be able to take their SoundIDs to mobile devices and across streaming, social or music database platforms and devices to ensure a “consistent personalized sound experience,” said the company Tuesday. The SoundID profile is a user’s “personal asset” that’s stored in the cloud and can be used to connect to different SoundID-enabled devices, it said. SoundIDs are created based on calibrating headphones to deliver sound the way an artist intended in the studio, a user’s unique hearing ability and her listening preferences. Sonarworks is offering 60 days free of “personalized listening”; the monthly fee is $4.99. A Sonarworks survey of more than 39,000 participants showed no more than 17% preferred the sound of one headphone model, it said. In early testing of SoundID technology, over 80% of blind test participants preferred their personalized sound over the sound of their headphones without SoundID technology, it said.

Harman Kardon Fly ($149) and Google Pixel Buds ($179) will be the first true wireless earbuds to offer Google’s Fast Pair feature with Android 6.0 Plus and later phones, blogged Bo Liu, Android product manager. Fast Pair facilitates Bluetooth pairing by automatically detecting and pairing with an Android phone in one tap, said Liu Monday. Users can locate misplaced earbuds by ringing them. In coming months, users can see the buds’ last known location.

Consumer purchase intentions for loudspeakers and headphones were flat before COVID-19, and demand will likely spike due to work-at-home and entertainment-in-place practices, Parks Associates reported Tuesday. Parks before the pandemic found U.S. broadband household penetration rates of 44% for speakers, 37% for headphones not bundled with a phone or music player and 33% for earbuds. Recent demand won’t diminish consumer expectations for advanced functionality, "so device manufacturers still need to prioritize app development and software enhancements,” said analyst Steve Nason. “Everyone in the household now needs their own headphones and earbuds for privacy.” Users at home want to integrate stand-alone headphones with smart speakers and other connected devices, he said.

Sony introduced two wireless headphones due for preorder this month. The $129 WF-XB700 earbuds, with Sony’s Extra Bass, offer up to 18 hours’ listening per charge; 10 minutes of quick charging gives 60 minutes of music playback, said the company. The WH-CH710N ($199) headphones have artificial intelligence noise cancellation that analyzes ambient sounds and automatically selects the most effective noise-canceling mode. Playback is up to 35 hours on a charge, it said.

Among U.S. broadband households, 36% listen to podcasts weekly, with popularity stronger among younger consumers, Parks Associates said Tuesday. Nearly half of podcast consumes are heavy users, listening to five or more hours a week. U.S. broadband households that listen to podcasts listen to, on average, five weekly. IHeartMedia said listenership for its podcast network is up 6% month over month, higher in markets under shelter-in-place orders. It said California listenership jumped 13% and New York listenership 8% in one week: "Americans are consuming a vast array of podcasts as they stay home and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic."

EarFun introduced second-generation true wireless earbuds due to hit Amazon and its e-commerce site next month. The $69 Bluetooth headphones have single-earbud mode, 30-hour battery life, a wireless charging case, activate voice assistant and fast charging that gives two hours’ play time from a 10-minute charge, it said.