The egg chair, an iconic retro-futuristic furniture design that was conceived in the 1960s, is getting an upgrade. Solodome, a manufacturer based in Southern California, has taken the classic ovoid chair, upholstered it with a plush, memory foam-based faux-fur interior, and added a 2.1-channel, 400-watt sound system. The result is “an ideal spatial audio experience without the inconvenience of installing discreet speakers or sacrificing quality by relying on headphones,” according to the company.
The Solodome chairs come three sizes: regular, XL, and a mini version for kids. The full-size chairs can be ordered in a variety of interior/exterior black and white color combinations, while the mini adds pink to the available options. The prices keep the Solodome from being an impulse purchase for all but the wealthiest buyers — the regular Solodome starts at $4,500, the XL will set you back $6,500, and even the mini is only small in size as it costs $2,500. Vr Cockpit Chair
Solodome says the chairs are designed for a more immersive experience for gaming and movies, but spatial audio for music listening is also part of the company’s vision. Inside the Solodome are two full-range drivers, positioned roughly at ear height, plus two subwoofers — one in each armrest. The chair can receive audio wirelessly over Bluetooth, with support for hi-res audio via the aptX HD codecor through a 3.5mm analog input jack.
Because both of these connections are only capable of sending two-channel stereo, the Solodome uses digital signal processing (DSP) to create a virtual spatial audio experience — unless you’re already using a source of spatial audio like Dolby Atmos Music from Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Tidal, in which case the audio has already been converted to a binaural spatial audio presentation.
Solodome also touts the benefits of using its chairs for therapy: “The unobstructed visceral impact of Solodome’s full-frequency audio makes it an unparalleled tool for audio therapies and wellness treatments in the home or office.”
Mercedes has announced that it's the first car maker to give drivers a way to hear Apple Music's spatial audio content as it was meant to be experienced. Starting with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, and EQS SUV, spatial audio tracks in Dolby Atmos Music from Apple Music can be played without the use of an iPhone when buyers select the Burmester 4D or 3D sound system option for their vehicles.
Dolby Atmos support in cars isn't new. The Lucid Air became the first car to support the 3D audio format in 2021, and Mercedes itself added support for it on its Burmester systems that same year. But having a sound system that is Dolby Atmos capable, and being able to actually stream Dolby Atmos content to that system, are different things. Prior to Mercedes' announcement, getting a true Dolby Atmos Music experience from Apple Music meant using an iPhone with headphones or earbuds, or using an Apple TV connected to a Dolby Atmos-capable TV, soundbar, or home theater system.
Along with all of the new devices and services that Amazon announced at its September 28 event, the company said that its Echo Studio smart speaker will be getting an update with new spatial audio processing technology and frequency range extension. The update will initially hit the Echo Studio and Echo Show 15, but it will roll out to other compatible Echo devices in the future.
If you're scratching your head because the Echo Studio already supports Dolby Atmos and Sony's 360 Reality Audio (360RA) formats -- which are both technically under the spatial audio umbrella term -- here's what Amazon says is new with the update: Our custom-built spatial audio processing technology is designed to enhance stereo sound, making music and movie soundtracks feel closer to the listener with greater width, clarity, and presence. It mirrors the performance of a hi-fi stereo system, so vocal performances are more present in the center, while the stereo-panned instruments are better defined on the side, creating a more immersive sound experience that reproduces the artist's intent. Additionally, frequency range extension technology delivers better performance, improved midrange clarity, and deeper bass. Amazon has a full explainer for the new technology on its dedicated Amazon Science site, which provides more insight into what's going on, but be warned, it's very scientific and heavy on jargon. Not exactly light reading.
You have to imagine that Sonos CEO Patrick Spence is getting a little tired of leaks originating from within the company's walls. For the second time in 2022, The Verge's Chris Welch has published details of an unreleased and unconfirmed Sonos product that Welch claims is code-named Optimo 2. According to this information, which he claims was gleaned from work-in-progress images of the Optimo 2, it's a speaker that will likely take over from the current Sonos Five, a product that hasn't been meaningfully updated since it debuted as the Play:5 in 2009.
If the report is accurate -- and it's worth noting that Welch's prior reporting on the Sonos Ray ahead of that product's debut was very close to what was eventually announced -- the Optimo 2 could represent the beginning of a new era for Sonos. It reportedly contains the mics needed for Sonos Voice Control, as well as plenty of RAM for future updates. A wireframe render of the speaker created by The Verge (which is what you do when you need to protect the source material) illustrates an unusual mirror-image shape -- it looks vaguely like a VR headset -- which appears to be designed to direct sound outward in at least two directions -- forward and backward -- though Welch says that some of the Optimo 2's drivers will aim sound upward, too.
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