Audio

As the launch of the Sony WF-1000XM5 is drawing near, the brand's LinkBuds S gets a generous discount of 26% on Amazon. Thanks to it, the US$199.99 list price of the white and black versions go down to US$148, but the Earth Blue finish can be acquired for a not-so-wallet-friendly US$198.

Apple has introduced the Beats Studio Pro as its latest headphones. They are rated for "Class 1" Bluetooth - yet are also rated to support "lossless" audio thanks to its DAC for wired connections - which are done via USB type-C rather than Lightning. Beats has also thrown active noise cancellation (ANC) with a Transparency mode along with new 40mm drivers into these new cans.

Although not mentioned explicitly in Sony's teaser, it is almost certain that the WF-1000XM5 will launch next week. These earbuds should arrive with 8.4 mm drivers, three microphones, and improved real-time noise cancellation. Bluetooth 5.3, wireless charging, and multipoint connectivity are also expected.

The 5.1 soundbar from JBL comes with a wireless 10-inch subwoofer and MultiBeam technology, which is supposed to create an immersive Dolby Atmos surround stage despite the fact that the Bar 500 does not sport dedicated rear speakers.

Baseus claims that its latest Bowie-series wireless earphones come recommended by "Oscar-winning film composers" for their rich sound. They are also rated for powerful hybrid ("ANC + ENC") noise-cancellation specs and low-latency audio over their Bluetooth 5.3 connection. Despite these bragging rights, they have been priced at ~US$30 on their launch.

In addition to the high-end Dolby Atmos system from Bose, the much more affordable Bose Soundbar 300 has also dropped to its lowest price ever as Amazon has shaved 33 percent off the official list price as part of its ongoing Prime Day.

The high-end pair of noise-cancelling headphones has received its largest price cut to date as a reputable online shop is currently selling the popular Sony WH-1000XM4 for one third off the official MSRP, which results in an all-time low price that hasn't been seen since last year's Black Friday.

Sony touts the HT-AX7 as a revolution in the portable wireless home audio space. It is technically a modular kit, with 2 'satellite' sub-speakers that can detach from the main unit to create a "bubble" of "three-dimensional surround sound" around the user or users with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. The HT-AX7 set is rated to last for up to 30 hours per charge, and is available to order from now.

Nothing has announced that its latest flagship TWS earbuds are now available in a second colorway (black). Carl Pei's tech OEM is selling these new SKUs already, albeit through its own webstore only at present. The product refresh has debuted alongside the latest software for Nothing audio products, which include an Advanced Equalizer for the Ear (2)s and noise reduction for the Ear (stick).

OnePlus has unleashed a more affordable alternative to the new Nord 3 mid-range smartphone - albeit in India only, making the CE 3 the only device in its class to launch with a "flagship-grade" Sony IMX890 main camera. It also boasts NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and Dolby Atmos - however, a selling point of its affordable forebears has gone missing in this generation.

The official list price of Samsung's flagship soundbar for the 2023 model year has almost been cut in half as an online retailer is currently selling the Dolby Atmos system with a huge 11.1.4-channel setup for one of the lowest prices we've seen so far.

Apple is set to refresh its over-ear Beats headphone lineup, with the Beats Studio Pro allegedly due later this month. Rumoured to be priced at €399.99, the Beats Studio Pro will close the gap between the Beats Studio 3 and Apple AirPods Max with new 40 mm drivers, improved battery life and Apple Find My support, among other features.

Next-gen AirPods have been predicted to launch as anything from inaugural USB type-C accessories to in-ear thermometers. Now, a new leak has thrown another possible future feature into the mix. Apple's upcoming flagship wearables might also help detect hearing impairments as well as correct for them.

Soundcore has announced an upgrade to Adaptive ANC 2.0 in its latest Liberty-series wireless earbuds. The 4 NCs are thus rated to actively cancel up to 98.5% of all ambient noise, while delivering "crisp sound" with enhanced detail thanks to specs such as LDAC codec support. They are available in a range of colors for just under US$100 for a limited time.

RedMagic's latest teasers for its upcoming major product event indicate that it will indeed launch its first ever tablet along with the more traditional 8S Pro flagship Android smartphone. The slate is said to have a large battery to go with its large, slim-bezel display, although it may not ship with the latest SoC possible. Both mobile devices will debut alongside new audio accessories that may appeal to fans of transparent-look tech.

Skullcandy has announced the release of a whole line-up of portable speakers of various sizes, each with up-to-date Bluetooth technology. The Ounce, Kilo, Terrain Mini, Terrain and Terrain XL also have IPX7 ingress protection and USB type-C charging in common. They are available in the same colorways, albeit at different prices based on size, from now.

Razer backs its new Moray audio accessory as the ideal solution for streaming or gaming marathons, as they are in-ear monitors (IEMs) as opposed to earbuds, headphones or a headset. As such, they are touted to have ergonomics as "elevated" as their THX-certified audio quality, thanks to components such as a braided Y-cable and "hybrid" drivers.

The Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones are now crowdfunding on Kickstarter. The gadget is designed to help you to fall and stay asleep, with AI technology to track your sleep and optimize your experience. Built-in sensors detect when you fall asleep, and you can use the accompanying app to queue your choice of soothing sounds.

More details about the forthcoming Beats Studio Pro have emerged online. Reportedly, Apple will price the high-end headphones for considerably less than the AirPods Max, despite the inclusion of Spatial Audio, ANC and a transparency mode.

Samsung has previewed new themed versions of its current flagship TWS earbuds. These Galaxy Buds2 and Buds2 Pro are presented as second-generation Pokémon Special Editions, and are, like their predecessors, mainly aimed at a South Korean audience. However, they are based on individual pocket monsters rather than on a generic Pokéball this time.

Toshiba has announced that its latest TV is an OLED model. The X9900L also boasts in-house REGZA 3.1.2 surround sound and Tru Color mapping technology. The OEM asserts that it will package its in-demand panel type with its hallmark "hardcore craftsmanship and aesthetic design" on its release.

Designer Olga Orel has unveiled her latest creation, a visually arresting pair of headphones with a futuristic twist. Looking like they could have come straight out of Cyberpunk 2077, the new headphones add a pair of customizable displays to the outer side of each can.

Nubert has launched its new nuPro AS-2500 subwoofer. The mid-range gadget has a maximum output of 200W and can be wirelessly connected to an independent subwoofer. Other features include Voice+ speech enhancing technology, Bluetooth aptX HD, and Dolby Audio and DTS support.

A reliable source has shared European pricing for the WF-1000XM5, Sony's next-generation flagship earbuds. Reportedly, the earbuds will retail for almost 15% more than the WF-1000XM4 and will cost about 8% than the new Denon PerL Pro.

The 3.1.3-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar also comes with support for DTS:X and 4K HDR passthrough via HDMI. Thanks to a big discount of more than 60 percent off its MSRP, the LG S80QY has further hit one of its lowest prices ever.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound is a suite of audio tech solutions for mobile devices, slated to support next-gen features such as Bluetooth 5.4 and Hybrid Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation even in its upcoming mid-tier S3 Gen 2 Sound Platform. Now, the OEM has announced that it will have variants specifically optimized for devices such as gaming dongles with "ultra-low latency" and chat-boosting features.

Dangbei has announced a new addition to its Mars line of laser projector. Not only will this variant be cheaper than its flagship Pro sibling thanks to a 1080p resolution, the OEM asserts that it can connect to Netflix out of the box. The vanilla Mars also offers onboard 10W audio and Dolby Digital Plus support.

A major UK retailer has listed the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds on its support website. Arriving before any official announcements about the earbuds' release, the listing confirms earlier leaks that detailed design changes from the current WF-1000XM4.

Denon has presented the PerL and PerL Pro, a pair of TWS earbuds that feature adaptive audio via Masimo AAT. The Denon PerL Pro also adds Qualcomm aptX Lossless for CD-quality audio streaming, among other features.

New leaked Samsung Galaxy Unpacked promotional images have been shared online that show all the devices that are likely to be unveiled at the launch event expected to be held in July. One of the promo images alone confirms at least four devices that are shown together, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series, Galaxy Buds3, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series.

TCL asserts that its new Q Class soundbar series flagship is "home theater, made better" thanks to a generous total output, wireless connectivity options and DTS Virtual: X-enhanced surround sound. It has come to the US market alongside a new sub-premium sibling, as well as new S Class cousins backed to deliver "cinematic audio with just a single HDMI cable".

Sony is now once again tipped to launch new flagship TWS earbuds soon. The alleged WF-1000XM4 successors have popped up as a recent addition to an independent testing database. The new leak mostly purports to offer an insight into the buds' case, its properties and potential changes compared to the previous generation (or lack thereof, as it may be) ahead of their launch.

Sony has reduced the price of its SA-CS9 Active Subwoofer with Bass Reflex in the US, with discounts now available at the brand’s online store, Amazon and Best Buy. The compact 10-inch MRC cone-type active subwoofer supports High-Resolution Audio and has a 115W maximum output.

Apple's inaugural Vision Pro will be put together in the facilities of a Chinese manufacturing company, according to a new report. The assembly partner will apparently build the XR headset from parts sourced from a number of other firms, Some of them also supply parts for other products such as the iPhone, whereas others specialize in the virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) market.

Volkswagen has announced that its third-gen Tiguan will be available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for the first time. The SUV will also make the switch to an automatic gearbox and options such as massaging seats and new headlights to also feature in the next Tuareg. The new Tiguan will also have a revamped interior, a new infotainment system with a ~15-inch display included.

New details about the Sony WF-1000XM5 have leaked, courtesy of a renowned leaker. Reputedly, the WF-1000XM5 will contain 40% larger drivers than its predecessor, despite being 20% lighter and smaller too.

Microsoft has unveiled a new version of its Xbox Series S. The console is still "all-digital" - however, this variant comes in black, to denote internal storage specs that have doubled in size compared to the original model. For Series X fans, the Redmond giant has partnered with Bethesda to hype Starfield with limited editions and themed versions of its first-party peripherals.

Sony is rumoured to be lining up a WF-1000XM5 release soon, possibly as early as later this week. In the meantime, a renowned leaker has shared high-resolution official images of the forthcoming earbuds in its two launch colours.

Fnatic has secured a long-term development partnership with Sony to provide input on next-gen INZONE products. The new collaboration is slated to result in new content from the brand as well as follow-ups to PlayStation-themed monitors such as the M9. Sony asserts that the e-sports team members' experience and feedback will lead to a revolution in its own-brand gaming gear in the near future.

Reputedly, Sony is days away from revealing the WF-1000XM5. In the meantime, a retailer has shared numerous Sony WF-1000XM5 specifications, along with a sneak peek at the earbuds' design.

The LG Eclair QP5 may not look like a regular soundbar, but in addition to the steeply discounted and therefore quite attractive sale price, this rather unique speaker system packs upfiring Dolby Atmos speakers into a tiny package and also comes with a dedicated subwoofer.

The compact soundbar from Bose is just 23 inches wide and is mostly designed for regular TV owners who are looking for clearer voices and do not exactly need a powerful and immersive home theater experience.

Although Sonos sued Google over six patent infringements, the US$32.5 million penalty comes as the result of a single infringement. The judge has ruled that the other five patents were not infringed. However, Sonos has made a statement saying that "Google infringes more than 200 Sonos patents" and made it clear that the war is not over.

Samsung has unveiled its HW-Q900C soundbar, launching in the US on May 29. The new model is a 7.1.2 channel soundbar with built-in Wireless Dolby Atmos and Game Mode Pro. You can control the device with Bixby or Alexa voice commands and wirelessly connect Apple devices using AirPlay.

The 5.1 soundbar from JBL features truly wireless satellite speakers with an integrated battery that lasts for 10 hours and saves busy home theater enthusiasts the time-consuming installation of traditional wired surround speakers for the rear channels.

Ulefone has previewed the second smartphone to rock the brand's "loudest ever" rear-facing speaker - with "Infinite Halo" RGB lighting this time. The Armor 21 also upgrades to a 120Hz display, a night-vision rear camera and an IR blaster. It is currently hyped with an upcoming early-bird offer that might help it undercut its predecessor for a limited time.

The new iQOO Pad draws an unavoidable comparison between other Android slates such as the OnePlus Pad on its launch. However, it has debuted with the slightly newer and faster Dimensity 9000+ processor. The Pad has been unleashed alongside new TWS earbuds with ANC and a matching colorway.

Amazon's 13 percent sale discount brings the JBL Bar 300 down to a more reasonable US$349, which is the lowest price thus far for the just recently recently released 5.0 soundbar with Virtual Dolby Atmos support and a maximum output of 260 watts.