Zvox is turning to crowdfunding for its AccuVoice TV speaker (see 1605120014), which is designed to mimic the function of a hearing aid and improve dialogue for those who have trouble discerning speech from TV speakers. The 17-inch wide speaker uses a compression/equalization algorithm that “lifts voices out of background sounds” to deliver clear dialogue using patent-pending technology that’s activated only when voices are detected in a soundtrack, said the company. The Kickstarter campaign had 110 backers Tuesday and had raised $16,565 toward a $30,000 goal. Delivery is slated for September. The speaker will be available at Zvoxaudio.com and online from Amazon, Best Buy and Crutchfield, said Zvox.

Beyerdynamic will bow in-ear wired and wireless headphones at IFA, it said Tuesday. Three models comprise the line: the wired in-ear Byron headset ($49), Byron BT wireless ($99) and Byron BTA wireless ($199). The wireless models transmit music and phone calls via Bluetooth using the Qualcomm aptX codec, and the BTA adds an AAC codec for Apple devices, said the company. The Byron BTA includes a fast-charging cradle said to fully charge the earphones in 90 minutes.

Denon’s Heos wireless multiroom music system is now available nationwide from custom channel distributor Capitol. The distributor also added Denon’s S-Series AV receivers to its national portfolio, it said. The products were previously available only to Capitol’s Midwest clients.

Como Audio ended its tabletop radio Kickstarter campaign through Amazon's Launchpad program July 15 (see 1606070055), saying in an email Thursday it raised $268,142 from 973 backers. Radios will ship in October, the company said, at $299 for the Solo and $399 for the stereo Duetto. Como is the latest venture of audio industry veteran Tom DeVesto, who founded Tivoli Audio and Cambridge SoundWorks. DeVesto began work on the Como radios early this year at the end of his noncompete agreement with Serruya Private Equity, which bought Tivoli in May 2015 (see 1505140045). The rectangular tabletop radios bear a similar look to the distinctive Tivoli radio, which DeVesto attributed to “not really being a designer. I make things look like they need to look,” he told us at launch, saying he added a graphics display and tweeter to the Como products. The Wi-Fi radios will stream content from Spotify and internet radio stations, and the units will include FM tuners and Bluetooth aptX, said the company. Features include six presets for favorite music sources, a 2.8-inch color display (3.2-inch for the Duetto) for metadata, a 60-watt amplifier, dual alarms, four high-res audio inputs and an optical input for TV audio. The radios are Google Cast and Amazon Dot-ready, Como said. A Como Control app will be available for Android and iOS devices, and radios will be available in wood finishes and a high-gloss white lacquer. Presale discounted prices ($239, Solo; $319, Duetto) will be available through August, the company said.

Ultimate Ears announced a portable Bluetooth speaker designed by American artist Jen Stark. The Drippy UE Roll 2 was inspired by prismatic colors and nature, said the company in a news release. The speakers’ fabric skin has enabled more than 50 artist and custom-edition speakers, said the Logitech brand. The limited edition speakers are due in North America, Australia and select countries in Europe this month for $99, it said.

Samsung began taking preorders Thursday for its Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar package announced at CES (see 1601050063). Yamaha was the first manufacturer to ship a Dolby Atmos soundbar, while the HW-K950 is the first soundbar package to include wireless rear speakers, said Samsung. Availability was given as later this summer for the HW-K950 ($1,499) and the HW-K850 ($999), which packs Atmos but no rear speakers. The 5.1.4-channel HW-K950 and 3.1.2-channel HW-K850 were developed at Samsung’s audio lab in Valencia, California.

Atari bought an unspecified stake in Roam in return for an agreement with the headphone supplier to market co-branded personal audio products, the companies said in a Thursday announcement. The co-branded products “will be targeted to anyone who loves music and appreciates superior sound quality and stand-out style,” Roam CEO Steven Lamar emailed us Friday. “There will also be products targeted specifically to the gaming community, which of course spans a wide demographic as well,” said Lamar, who describes himself as a co-creator of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones before that business was acquired by Apple in 2014 as Beats Electronics (see 1405120070). “This partnership is about introducing the timeless Atari brand to all people, regardless of age, who have been unknowingly drowning in inferior audio. It’s for people who love music, love gaming and ideally, people who love both. It’s time to make the music matter again!” Lamar founded the Roam brand three years ago based on “superior audio quality and the power to personalize it and hear it your way,” he said. “Everyone hears sound differently and it’s time we are free from a one sound fits all listening experience.” In gaming, for example, it’s “all about a fully immersive experience,” he said. “Audio is an integral part of that experience.” There will be headphone products in the co-branded line that will be “created for gamers,” Lamar said. “But this is bigger than gaming.”

Marantz introduced the SR5011 network receiver with wireless capability, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The 7 x 100-watt receiver has Audyssey MultEQ XT room calibration, a setup assistant and an energy-saving mode. Remote apps are available for Android, iOS and Kindle Fire, said the company. The eight HDMI inputs, including one on the front, have full HDCP 2.2 support, and the receiver has two HDMI outputs. Shipping is slated for this month at $899.

Shure explained its opposition to an FCC order extending the Section 15.2031 prohibition on standard antenna jacks and connectors to wireless mics. “Wireless microphones are not practical candidates for aftermarket power amplifiers and as such do not create concerns regarding human safety or interference due to designs utilizing standard connectors,” Shure said. “Application of the Part 15 antenna connector rule to unlicensed wireless microphones would significantly inhibit manufacturing, raise consumer costs, and cause user confusion, thus complicating the transition of wireless microphones to the new 600 MHz band plan as a result of the broadcast Incentive Auction.” Body-worn wireless mics are often affixed “on or under the performer’s clothing or costume, mounted on an instrument, or, in theatrical productions frequently hidden in the performer’s hair,” the company said. “The microphone is then connected by a cable to a compact, body-worn transmitter that is also often concealed. The microphone and transmitter system must maintain an extremely small form factor to avoid restricting the performer’s freedom of motion.” There is little possibility anyone would affix a high-gain antenna to a Part 15 wireless mic, Shure said in docket 14-165.

IHeartRadio is available in the Mirage audio system after a firmware update, said Autonomic. Mirage firmware version 5.3 also includes additional album art for browsing with the Mirage Media Controller app for iOS and Android, enhanced KP-6 keypad functionality, auto-discovery for Lutron HomeWorks QS controllers and support for Lutron RadioRA 2. Version 5.3 is compatible with the latest Control4 4.8x driver, adding single-button access to stored favorites from the listen menu, two-pane browsing, easier switching between streaming service accounts and configurability to output various bit rates when pairing the music server with a third-party amplifier, said Autonomic.