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It sure sucks that Apple changed their dock connector on the iPhone 5, but don’t worry, because plenty of companies are updating their accessories to service your technological needs. Bowers & Wilkins just released their new AirPlay-enabled speakers, which will work will with all iPhones (and recent iPods and iPads too.)

Bowers & Wilkins makes some very nice devices, and the new A5 and A7 are no exceptions. Both will have Wi-Fi, Ethernet LAN ports, and no dock connectors, giving them a sleek finish. They also have a 3.5mm audio jack to connect with other players. The A5 has two 20W Nautilus tweeters and two 20W mid-range drivers.

The A7 comes with two 1-inch 25W Nautilus tube aluminum tweeters, two 3-inch 25W mid-range drivers and a 6-inch 50W subwoofer. The A7 is sure to be loud, while the slightly smaller A5 still has ample power for its size.The A7 has also got a USB port to stream music and download firmware updates.

Both speakers will be available in October. They will sell for $499.99(USD) for the A5 and $799.99 for the A7.

[via Ubergizmo]

Embracing AirPlay has usually involved a wholesale switch in hardware: years of speaker investment go out the window for the sake of skipping a wire. Onkyo doesn’t have a problem if you bring your own equipment to the fray. Its new DS-A5 docking station brings Apple’s WiFi media streaming to many home stereos, including those of rivals, as long as there’s a wired or 802.11g-capable wireless router to feed the connection. Naturally, there’s perks if you do live in an Onkyo universe — any link using its Remote Interactive cable can both wake the stereo through AirPlay as well as control the dock from a traditional remote. About the only oddities are the vintage composite video output and a 30-pin dock for charging iPads, iPhones and iPods, neither of which will be much help if you live on the cutting edge. Onkyo brings the DS-A5 to American shores in October for $199; that’s a lot to pay for playing songs from the couch, but it’s a sight more affordable than replacing home audio equipment costing multiple times that amount.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment

Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onkyo has introduced the DS-A5 iPod/iPhone/iPad Docking station, which adds AirPlay wireless streaming capabilities to Onkyo A/V receivers and many other audio products.
The Onkyo DS-A5 allows owners of recent Onkyo A/V receivers – as well as older models lacking a USB port or an Ethernet connection – to enjoy all the benefits of AirPlay wireless streaming for iOS devices, including the new iPhone 5. The DS-A5 includes a secure digital-to-digital docking and charging connection …

Denon hasn’t released all that many speaker docks over the years, but their latest offering looks quite good. The Cocoon wireless speaker has an interesting shape and is packed with tech to make you consider this as a good option.

The Cocoon comes in two varieties, one for your home, and a smaller portable version with rechargeable batteries that will last 5 hours. DLNA and AirPlay Wi-Fi streaming takes care of all mobile devices on your home network and you can hook it up with the press of a single button.

The docking mechanism looks swanky and the connector retracts when iOS devices aren’t docked. Unfortunately, it’s only got a 30-pin dock connector, so iPhone 5 users will have to connect wirelessly and cannot take advantage of the charging capabilities.

A white-on-black OLED display on the face of the docking tray can display track information, and also functions as a clock. In terms of sound, it has two-way speakers, double-layer woofers, two bass ports, and four 25-watt amplifiers coupled to a nine-band digital equalizer.

The dock also includes a wireless remote control, which tucks neatly into the back of the dock when not in use. The Denon Cocoon Home sells for $599.99 and Cocoon Portable for $499.99, and they’re both available for order over at Amazon now, though they are currently out of stock.

[via designboom]

Just in time for Halloween, Jarre’s new Aeroskull dock embodies 70 watts of total power in a human-like cranium, complete with a pair of speaker-packing shades. Jarre is showing off the colorful chrome tune machine in black, white, blue, green, orange, pink, purple and yellow finishes, with a matching IR bone remote to boot. With a tinted lens appearance, the permanently affixed sunglasses actually contain two 15-watt speakers, with a 40-watt subwoofer occupying the skull’s rear. The lofty £349 (about $565) sticker price will net you some of the latest technologies, including Bluetooth audio support and a standard 3.5mm audio input, but Apple’s new Lightning port is notably absent, with a good-as-dead Dock Connector mounted up top, instead. With 70 watts of power and Jarre’s backing, this seemingly bizarre rig may actually offer decent performance. You’ll need to wait until its October ship date to see for yourself, but if a skeletal sound system is on your list of must-haves, you can rest in peace knowing that you have but weeks to live (with your current spirited setup).

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Jarre Aeroskull speaker dock packs dual 15-watt woofers, recently departed Apple Dock Connector originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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