Victor aka JVC will release soon in Japan a couple of new headphones, the HP-RX900 and HP-RX700. Both are equipped by the proprietary "Sound Stabilizer" technology to ensure minimal resonance which results in high pitched sound along with deeper bass. This series adopts a large headband with outstanding wearing comfort for long listening sessions and leather ear pads. In addition the HP-RX900 features a bigger driver (50mm).

Specifications (HP-RX900):
► Frequency response: 7Hz ~ 26kHz
► Sensitivity: 106dB/mW
► Power handling: 1.5W

Specifications (HP-RX700):
► Frequency response: 10Hz ~ 22kHz
► Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
► Power handling: 1.5W

Each model is packaged with a 1.5m extension cord and a gold-plated adapter. Prices are $60 and 40$ for the HP-RX900 and the HP-RX700 respectively.

Denon released its new headphones AH-D501K (pictured) & AH-D301K, both are pretty much similars in design but made use of different drivers. Available in black or grey finish they feature a double headband for easy wearing and sewn synthetic leather ear pads with a reversal mechanism for one-ear monitoring.

Specifications (AH-D501K):
► Frequency response: 10Hz ~ 24kHz
► Nominal impedance: 28Ω
► Sensitivity: 103dB/mW
► Power handling: 1W

Specifications (AH-D301K):
► Frequency response: 10Hz ~ 22kHz
► Nominal impedance: 28Ω
► Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
► Power handling: 1W

Both come with a 6.3mm stereo plug adapter and a 1.7m extension cable. Prices are $69.99 for the AH-D501K and 49.99 for the AH-D301K.

Audio-Technica is celebrating the first ONTO ATH-ON3 headphones anniversary by offering a limited edition in six new fancy colors; beige, dark grey, green, red, blue and yellow. These minimalist headphones will be priced at $20 will be available in February in Japan. The ONTO ATH-ON3 features an adjutable headband for a perfect comfort fit, a swivel housing and it weighs only 38g.

The 30mm drivers deliver a sound pressure level of 102 dB/mW from 12Hz to 23kHz into 32Ω. Replacement ear pads are also available (part # HP-ON3).

Announced a while back the Buffalo LT-H90WN and LT-H90LAN just got a new firmware which adds the compatibility with the Sony BDZ-X90 and BDZ-L70 Blu-Ray players/recorders. Now Buffalo's LinkTheater series is able to stream MPEG4-AVC and DR contents over your network.

Unfortunately, it seems that you can stream video only from recorded Blu-ray discs and not from purchased discs.

After Sony, Yamaha, Samsung and many others, Denon finally anounced its own sound bar, the DHT-FS5 boasts a surround sound with the X-Space Surround Sound system to achieve a 5.1-ch. A load of six 8cm full-range speakers delivers 4x 25W + 50W with a SNR of 100dB. It includes optical/coaxial digital inputs and RCA analog input. Equipped by a built-in decoder it fully supports Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital, DTS, AAC.

The 750x 118x 138 mm unit comes with everything needed to wall mount it and it's exepected to come this month at about $600.

Heco, a German speaker company is launching a new high-end floorstanding speaker, called The Statement these speakers cost £3000 a pair.

These 3-way bass reflex speakers combine a hexagonal cabinet profile with advanced driver design and layout, stand 1.23m tall and weigh 43kg each, and claim bass extension all the way down to 18Hz from their twin 20cm bass drivers. The cabinet is made up of MDF with high quality real wood veneer or glossy varnish finish. The Statement employs a pair of newly developed 8" woofer with hardened papercone along with a midrange speaker and a 1" soft-dome tweeter with nano-particle coated, aluminum frontplate with short horn attempt, double magnet system and damped resonance chamber.

The three-way speakers have triwirable terminals allowing adjustment of the midrange and treble levels. The Statement speaker handles 300/500 W RMS/max. power into 4/8-ohm.

Yamaha announced its new product made for iPod, the TSX-100 is a "all-in-one" desktop stereo system. It features an FM/AM tuner, a CD player compatible CDs, MP3-CDs and WMA-CDs, an iPod dock with the ability to listen charge your iPod, and view song titles on the front panel display which also double as a timer and clock functions. In addition, the TSX-100 system is able to play other MP3 players than iPod by a 3.5mm mini jack input. The Yamaha TSX-100 delivers 2x 10W of output power and both speakers has the Yamaha's SR-Bass technology that enhances the sound.

The TSX-100 will be available in black or silver color, it will cost about $500 and will hit the Japanese stores in late February.

The new JVC TH-F3 home theater system offers simple set-up, high performance and connectivity options that allow it to accommodate the full range of digital home entertainment devices, all wrapped in an elegant, hi-fi component-style design.

This home theater system is a 4.1-channel system featuring a DVD receiver with HDMI output with 1080p up-conversion, USB Host, an included iPod docking station and MP3, WMA, JPEG, MPEG-4 ASF and DivX Ultra playback. To deliver on its simplicity promise, the TH-F3 features JVC’s front surround technology combined with a new speaker design, eliminating the need for rear speakers.

The JVC TH-F3 home theater system will be available in May at $500.00.

JVC announced two new mini systems which incorporate a built-in iPod dock. JVC’s new mini system line-up includes the MX-KC38, a powerful 220W system, and the MX-KC68, a 400W system featuring a separate subwoofer. In addition to an iPod dock, both models include JVC’s Sound Turbo for wall-shaking low frequency performance, CD player and AM/FM tuner.

The systems’ iPod "Stage Dock" is a recessed compartment on the front panel with blue illumination from above. The included remote features dedicated iPod control keys that simulate the iPod control wheel layout and users are able to easily shuffle, repeat, scroll, and select songs from the iPod menu.

Both systems feature a new, aggressive design wrapped in black, they will be available in April priced respectively at $180.00 for the MX-KC38 and $200.00 for the MX-KC68.

Linn's Akurate DS delivers authentic audiophile performance from digital music over a standard home network. It features open interfaces for digital streaming and control of music over the network and play almost all audio files because the Akurate DS is format independent.

Akurate DS also integrates seamlessly with other Akurate components for complete control of the entire system through a wireless touch panel, PC, laptop or IR handset. It supports the highest quality open audio formats (including FLAC and WAV) and can be controllable through the UPnP AV 2.0 open standard. Users can access and control their music through a wireless, ultra mobile PC or similar device, quickly and easily, no matter what shape their music collection, downloads or CDs are stored separately on a standard secure, reliable and upgradeable networked hard drive array (NAS).

Akurate DS will be available from LINN Specialist retailers from January at the suggested retail price of £3,450.