Audio

The FreeBuds Pro 4 are now official as the world's first wireless earbuds with Huawei Sound - and also the first to be Hi-Res Wireless Audio-certified for the transmission of 2.3 megabit per second (Mb/s) lossless audio (with caveats). The Pro 4 buds are also rated for noise cancellation improved by up to 30% compared to their predecessors, and for up to 33 hours of battery life.

Sennheiser has refreshed its current flagship true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds with a new color option to mark the end of 2024. Never fear, though - the brand has released the Momentum True Wireless 4 Gold with a seasonal discount, although their siblings in the standard pre-existing colors are also available for even less.

Huawei has just launched a new pair of wireless headphones. Equipped with a single driver, these earbuds aim to win over consumers with their affordability and, quite possibly, their unique design. For many users, the FreeBuds SE 3 likely offers enough battery life to last more than a week.

The Liddle Speaker Pro can attach to Apple iPhones with MagSafe and act as a phone stand and speaker. A metal ring can be attached to other phones and objects to enable similar use.

Despite being launched in 2020, the Sony WH-1000XM4 premium headphones with ANC are still an easy-to-recommend pair of headphones in 2024 — if found at the right price. Amazon currently has the XM4s available for their lowest-ever price, making them the ideal choice for many people.

The Jabra Elite 4 true wireless earbuds offer compelling value, especially at their current discounted price at Best Buy. With pleasing audio performance, great noise isolation, and acceptable battery life, the Jabra Elite 4 earbuds hardly leave any room for complaint given their price.

Sharge might be best known for its innovative cyberpunk charging gadgets - although the brand has announced that it will also offer "Everyday AI" for all with what might be the first in a series of smart wearables. The loomos glasses are framed as a rival for Meta's Ray-Bans thus far, with support for audio as well as integrated cameras that may or may not connect to an on-board assistant. They are also touted to be more efficient and responsive compared to similar devices from other brands.

Xiaomi has designed its latest version of Android to act as much of a hub for with the rest of its smart devices as possible. Now, the OEM is reportedly trying to find a way to make that "interconnectivity" compatible with hardware from other brands, specifically Apple. The putative upgrade might let smartphones like the Xiaomi 15 gain improved control over accessories such as AirPods.

Ham radio operators have a nightly opportunity to connect with Santa over the Santa Net until December 24th. Operators have the 3916 Nets team to thank for this rare opportunity.

Final has unveiled the ZE3000 SV TWS earbuds for high-resolution music enjoyment, with active noise cancellation designed not to create abnormal ear pressure. A larger driver and optimized acoustic chamber enhance low-frequency reproduction.

Sony's ULT Wear over-ear headphones boast a decently comfortable design, great battery life, excellent ANC performance, and an overwhelmingly bass-heavy sound profile. Thanks to Amazon's ongoing sale, the ULT Wear headphones can now be purchased for their record-low price on the platform.

Jabra's affordable Elite 10 wireless earbuds have received a massive 50% discount on Best Buy, and are now available for a record-low price on the platform. The product has received mostly positive reviews from critics, making them quite easy to recommend.

Anker has issued a recall for two Bluetooth speakers with lithium-ion batteries that are a fire hazard. About 80,000 units of the Soundcore and PowerConf Speakerphone Bluetooth speakers, which were sold on Amazon in the US and Canada in 2023, have to be returned for a replacement.

Audiophiles looking for a new pair of open-back dynamic headphones can now acquire the Meze Audio 105 AER, which can be acquired for $399. With a tough yet light design, the 105 AER can deliver a comfortable listening experience across all musical genres. The numbers include 50 mm transducers, 42 Ω impedance, 112 dB SPL, and a 5 Hz to 30 kHz frequency range.

Xiaomi is releasing the Sound Outdoor speaker in India, having recently launched the device in the UK. The award-winning product has been rolling out to global markets since earlier this year. Features include a carry handle, a stereo sound mode, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and the ability to take Bluetooth calls.

The JBL Tour 3 Pro wireless, noise-cancelling earbuds were launched a few weeks ago with a premium price and a unique set of features. Boasting impressive sound quality and support for wired playback, the Tour 3 Pros are even easier to recommend now thanks to an ongoing Amazon deal.

This is some serious discount on one of the best budget wireless earphones. The deal ends at midnight on December 2 meaning those interested should act fast.

Over the past few weeks, the companion Android app for the popular open-source ham radio transceiver project has received many notable updates. The features list keeps growing as more flexible programming options and an official 1.0 version release join the mix.

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Buds 6 Pro alongside the K80 series. These new wireless earbuds support multiple HiFi codecs, sport dual drivers, and have a dedicated gaming edition with a 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle.

The M2s Ultra are new wireless headphones that come with a special charging case and are advertised as having particularly strong ambient noise cancellation. The touchscreen-equipped charging case allows for direct control, negating the need for external control via an app.

Noble Audio has just introduced new wireless earbuds into its range. These are intended to set a new standard among earbuds and come with not just two, but five drivers. Unsurprisingly, ANC is also supported.

RedMagic has announced a Black Friday 2024 sale on its distinctive, RGB-enhanced line of transparent-design accessories. They include the brand's most powerful GaN charger with up to 140W of power delivery via USB-C. The appropriately-named Cyberbuds DAO, RedMagic's latest active noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, are also $20 off.

The Xiaomi TV Speaker 2.0 and the Xiaomi TV Speaker 2.1 are now available in China. The new soundbars are relatively cheap and come with accessories like a remote and cable. Features of the speakers include Bluetooth connectivity, NFC pairing and a range of sound modes.

Bang & Olufsen's latest premium pair of earbuds are the Beoplay Eleven, which it claims surpasses the Beoplay Ex in terms of noise cancellation and transparency. The earbuds also have replaceable batteries to align with EU regulations.

The Baofeng UV-5R, a darling of amateur radio enthusiasts, has hit its lowest price ever on Amazon. As a bonus, these kits include a wireless Bluetooth programmer and a bunch of extras.

Boya touts its new mini microphone as the lightest kind that can be clipped to clothing. Nevertheless, it is backed to pack "studio-quality" sound with 3 levels of noise cancellation and 3 "AI Voice-Changers" for versatility in content creation. The mini is also rated to last up to 30 hours per charge and to start at an affordable price.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds with the MagSafe charging case have dropped down to a new historic-low price just a few days ahead of Black Friday 2024. The new price is a whopping 38% less than the $249 list price.

TCL touts the Projector A1 as the best new way to bring Netflix- and Google TV-powered entertainment anywhere thanks to "intelligent" keystoning and auto-focus. The FHD projector has an innovative Versagrip handle that also doubles as a stand. The A1 also packs on-board Dolby Digital Audio-enhanced speakers.

The JBL Authentics 200 smart home speaker has dropped to its lowest price ever on Amazon after a $150 discount. The speaker supports audio streaming as well as simultaneous Google and Amazon smart assistant control of the music and smart homes.

Huawei has announced in advance that the FreeBuds Pro 4 will be the first of its wireless earbuds to launch with HarmonyOS Next out of the box. The operating system (OS), hyped as a fully in-house suite of software (like iOS), might make it easier for the new flagship peripherals to connect with other devices such as the new Mate X6 and MatePad Pro 13.2.

FiiO has unveiled a pair of Bluetooth devices for Hi-Res audio fans – the portable BTR11 Bluetooth audio receiver with headphone amp and BT11 Bluetooth audio transmitter. The BT11 adds BT LE, Snapdragon Sound, LDAC, and aptX Lossless to older devices, while the BTR11 adds BT LDAC playback to wired headphones.

The two latest Sony Walkmans were originally delivered with Android 12. Now, the music players are getting an update to Android 14, which comes are a surprise since major operating system updates are the exception rather than the rule for hi-fi music players.

Sony's WH-1000XM5 is an excellent pair of wireless, noise-cancelling headphones with more than decent sound quality. Although quite pricey, the pair can now be purchased for an all-time low price thanks to an ongoing sale on Amazon.

Sennheiser's current flagship active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones got potentially attractive ~40% discounts during its recent Early Black Friday flash sale. Now, the main event is here, and those deals are still in place. However, Amazon has undercut the brand - so long as the buyer wants the premium wireless cans in a certain color.

Oneodio has launched a new pair of headphones, the Focus A5 Pro. The over-ear headphones feature AI-based adaptive active noise cancellation tech, a low-latency gaming mode, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and up to 75 hours of battery life. They are now available on Oneodio’s official website.

NTT Sonority has unveiled the nwm Dots and nwm Wired open-ear earphones with active noise leakage suppression. The open design allows wearers to hear emergency warnings and critical sounds. Active phase cancellation technology reduces sound leakage to prevent annoying others nearby.

JVC has unveiled the fashionable Nearphones clip-on earbuds. The open-ear earbuds allow users to hear all external alerts for safety and others can speak to the wearer anytime.

Razer announced a new RGB version of its Barracuda X headset earlier in 2024, although it had heretofore only been available in black. Now, the HyperSpeed Wireless accessory has been released in a different color. It can still connect to and switch between 2 devices at once, and comes with a matching detachable boom mics.

The small yet powerful JBL Flip 6 has received a 38% discount on Amazon, bringing its price to just $80 for all nine colourways. The Flip 6 offers 12 hours of battery life and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, while weighing just 550 g (1.2 lb), making it an ideal travel speaker.

DJI’s “Carry Less, Capture More” event on November 26, 2024 hints at the possible launch of the highly awaited Mic Mini. Expected features include a 10g design, up to 48-hour battery life, and budget-friendly bundles.

Oppo has confirmed that its upcoming crop of mid-range Android smartphones will come with a choice of four "trendy" new colorways as well as up-to-date flat displays and metallic mid-frames on their debut later in November 2024. The Reno13 series is to be joined by new peripherals as well as the Pad 3 on its launch.

Anker Soundcore’s upcoming Q11i headphones have been leaked to feature 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3, 60 hours of battery life, and multipoint connection. They lack noise cancellation but support wired use via a 3.5mm port.

Rithwik Jayasimha and friends at Lagrange Point succeeded in circumventing Apple's geo-restricted Hearing Health features on the AirPods Pro 2. After several frustrating attempts in trying to skirt around Apple's persistent location triangulation, the team finally managed to activate Hearing Health features in India by spoofing Wi-Fi SSIDs and using a Faraday cage. They've even set up camp to help others as well.

The new Copenhagen 2 are half-in-ear earbuds that are colorful and affordable. They also have better battery life and cost less than the predecessor model.

Unlike closed-ear headphones with earcups that block sound leakage, open-ear headphones do not have earcups to block sound leakage. The NTT ANC technology reduces this leakage.

Amazon's new Fire TV Soundbar Plus promises better sound with its integrated sub-woofer. Its audio performance can also be scaled up with an optional external subwoofer and surround speakers.

Amazon has dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE to the lowest price ever of $59.17 after a 41% discount. The earbuds provide active noise cancellation and real-time AI speech translation.

Rode has just launched the Wireless Micro, its smallest wireless mic yet, designed for vlogging and other smartphone-based content creation. The system includes two clippable mic transmitters and a receiver that plugs directly into the phone. It also features Rode’s GainAssist technology to maintain a steady audio level, and the charging case is only slightly bigger than a pair of wireless earbuds.

The brand new FiiO BTR17 is designed to improve the sound quality of headphones, regardless of whether they are connected via a conventional 3.5 mm jack plug, a balanced 4.4 mm plug or via Bluetooth.