If the software sets the tone – Computer Week

Digital music from the net displaces not only the CD but also rolls up the business of hi-fi industry has to offer. The classical music system will be replaced by compact speakers with an Internet connection, which can also be connected together over several rooms. At IFA in Berlin, the trend was obvious. All build networked speakers, also the classic hi-fi brands have jumped on the train and back networked multi-room systems to the fore. The competition is shifted increasingly to the software field.

Miss IFA with Raumfeld by Teufel soundbar
Photo: Messe Berlin

There are many signs. Industry heavyweight brands like JBL Harman with harman / kardon Infinity or relies on an in-house algorithm to improve the quality of MP3 music again, which was flattened by zuuvor high data compression. In the car, the road noise can be actively fought with sound waves – that helps to save insulation material. When multi-room pioneer Sonos can be without an additional amplifier or a control unit set whether one and the same happens even stereo speakers or only one channel, when two boxes are in use.

When small Bluetooth Model “A2″ of Bang & amp; Olufsen subsidiary B & amp; O Play software analyzes your music and handle not just the required parts from the speaker. The sound quality is not compromised – but the device can run in normal operation for 24 hours with a single battery charge. Amazon speakers “Echo”, which is not yet for sale in Germany, plays music to voice commands – and can incidentally also order with a set of products at the world’s largest online retailer

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The current product family of multi-room pioneer Sonos
Photo: Sonos

In the future, the Fantasies go even further, play the Internet of Things with its networking of everything and everyone and wearables technology that is worn directly on the body, a key role. What if the speakers automatically losspielten, Report if fitness band or SmartWatch that the residents woke up? Or give health sensors information about his mood or health condition and allow it to adapt music selection and sound settings it?

The industry feels its way gradually into this direction. When Harman called Hackathon organized in which software developers can try out ideas for some speakers. Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal speaks of a trend towards “Smart Audio”, no longer serve in the speaker for listening to music, but also to an interface for the networked home are. “Providers that do not invest in the networked future and in software, will find it difficult,” he is convinced.

CD-stereo radio with DAB + by Sonoro
Photo: Messe Berlin

B & amp; O Play’ll also thinking increasingly about how speakers can be integrated into a smart home with many networked devices, says CEO Henrik brands Taudorf Lorensen. “There are a lot of excitement about the industry – but so far a lack of meaningful link ideas,” he restricts. Meanwhile is the current struggle of the formats of various companies in multi-room systems for consumer frustrating, he criticized.

Sonos CEO John MacFarlane simultaneously refers to greater demands on data security when first a speaker in anticipation listening to voice commands, what’s happening in the room. “Should it ever come, that the NSA could eavesdrop on any cloud services, the provider can wrap up,” he warns. Despite such risks nevertheless he thought that voice control will prevail over time in the budget – provided that the speech recognition flap better than today. (dpa / rs / tc)

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