Audio

Creative has launched the first true wireless earphones featuring solid state MEMS-based drivers, the Aurvana Ace and Aurvana Ace 2, after partnering with xMEMS earlier this year. The hybrid setup has a MEMS driver and a 10 mm dynamic driver for a 5 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range. The Ace 2 also features Adaptive ANC, Bluetooth 5.3 LE and support for AptX Lossless and LC3 audio codecs.

Universal Audio has just made its audio recording and production software LUNA free to all Mac users. The DAW, which was previously only available to owners of UAD’s high-end Apollo audio interfaces, incorporates the company’s high-quality emulations of analogue recording gear with a straightforward, easy-to-use interface.

Porsche Design has launched the PDS20 portable speaker in the US, the UK and the EU. The compact gadget comes with an interchangeable strap to make it easier to transport. Other features include a ten-hour runtime, Bluetooth connectivity and a voice assistant to control the speaker.

Samsung has just announced that it has developed a new 3D spatial audio technology, IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats), in collaboration with Google. IAMF is open source and has features like vertical sound channels, AI-based scene analysis and the flexibility to customise content audio based on listening preferences.

With Black Friday around the corner, Amazon has just slashed the price of Sony LinkBuds S by 36%. Thanks to this fantastic deal, the comfort-forward Sony earbuds are now only US$128, which is very close to the all-time low price for the pair.

The MW09 earbuds are Master & Dynamic's brand new flagship earphones that are designed to compete with the Apple AirPods Pro. The innovative design uses aluminum and sapphire glass, has improved sound and a range of new features.

CT scans have revealed the differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and fake alternatives. Not only does Apple include more complex hardware inside its earbuds, but counterfeit manufacturers even place small weights inside their charging cases to fool unaware buyers.

The powerful flagship soundbar's most recognizable feature are the truly wireless satellite speakers with 10 hours of battery life. Thanks to a massive sale discount at the manufacturer's official online store, the JBL Bar 9.1 can now be ordered for less than half its official list price.

Xiaomi has made more progress toward the mass production of its long-awaited first-gen car, according to the latest leaks. The vehicle itself has also allegedly surfaced in a new in-the-wild leak - or, to be more accurate, part of it has. The major component's new photos purport to confirm which Tesla the first-gen Xiaomi car will most resemble.

Unveiled in September of last year, the new Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) feature a brand new H2 chip, and offers up to twice the Active Noise Cancellation than before. These earbuds also come with features such as Lossless Audio playback, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume. Thanks to Amazon, you can now get your hands on one for an ultra-low price of US$189.

Anker has launched its first open-ear headphones onto the market. The two new products, Soundcore AeroFit and AeroFit Pro, keep your ears free without having to give up your favorite music, audio books and more.

FiiO has launched its first planar magnetic headphone, the FT5, with 90 mm drivers and an open-back design. It has a high sensitivity and 36Ω impedance, allowing it to be driven easily by portable devices. The magnesium aluminium alloy construction, included leather case, 2 pairs of earpads and 4 types of audio plugs make it a premium proposition, but at a relatively reasonable US$449 price.

Sony's wireless pair of flagship headphones features one of the most effective active noise cancellation functions in the industry, and thanks to an 18% discount at multiple retailers, the WH-1000XM5 have finally dropped to a more reasonable price point.

Google's Pixel Buds Pro can now be had for US$119 on Amazon, a massive 40% drop from their list price. The flagship truly wireless earbuds support Active Noise Cancellation and transparency mode, and they have a total listening time of up to 31 hours with the charging case.

Sony has announced that its latest audio-video (AV) receiver has a new Tilt & Swivel design that allows its screen to be turned either towards or away from the driver. It also supports USB type-C and micro-HDMI as well as the gold-plated 3-preout terminals needed to build a car stereo system.

GPT has found its way into the smart home with the Camera Genie S, a gadget backed by its maker Psync Labs, Inc to keep watch over domestic life in the smartest way possible. The Genie S is rated to leverage its "innovative generative AI technology" to identify and "preserve" social media-worthy moments as well as surveil a residence around the clock.

OneOdio is lauding the fact that its A10 over-ear headphones have been declared best of their class in 2023 by CNET. The announcement coincides with a sizeable discount on the same audio peripherals on Amazon. Are the award-winning cans really first and foremost in terms of their specs and features, though?

Samsung's 5.0-channel soundbar from the 2022 model year has returned to its lowest price yet as Amazon has put the Dolby Atmos-capable HW-S60B on sale with a discount of US$150 relative to the official list price.

Google has recently shared details of its research in audioplethysmography (APG) technology, which can enable heart rate monitoring in ANC earbuds with just a software update. The feature requires no extra sensors, is accurate and impervious to variations in skin tones, seal conditions and ear canal size. It can even be used while playing music and running.

Sennheiser Europe has announced a "Halloween" sale with up to 20% off popular consumer audio products such as Ambeo soundbars and Momentum True Wireless earbuds. Meanwhile, the OEM is also building up to its Early Black Friday event for US customers, promising "exclusive" savings to those who sign up to its wait-list.

Anticipated for late 2024, Apple's flagship AirPods Max update seems to be rather underwhelming according to leaked information from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The changes appear to be limited to the introduction of USB-C charging and the addition of new colorways, leaving enthusiasts with little to get excited about.

Vinyl continues to grow in popularity year after year. The Rewind Cassette Player promises retro sound on the go in a compact Sony Walkman-sized metal case with several modern convenience features.

Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Sound technology will allow wireless earbuds and headphones to play dropout-free lossless audio with low latency using a WiFi network. The new S7 and S7 Pro chips, expected to start appearing in devices soon, also offer vastly improved DSP and AI processing, which will enhance ANC and make awareness mode more intelligent.

Anker has unveiled the soundcore Motion X500 speaker, with pre-orders now open. The three-channel model has an intelligent spatial audio engine, producing a Wireless Hi-Res sound. Other features include a 12-hour battery life, an upward-firing driver and a built-in handle.

According to new information from a reliable source, Apple is planning brand-new AirPods with a fresh design and interesting new features as well as new AirPods Max as soon as next year, while the AirPods Pro are set to receive a significant upgrade in 2025.

Images of a HomePod 3 prototype have turned up online. According to various sources, the third-generation smart speaker will have a touchscreen display element, for which Apple is already optimising various tvOS apps.

The new Vankyo Vista T4 laser projector has been unleashed on the US market with "advanced" ALPD 4.0 technology for a "cinematic experience". It is rated to throw a 150-inch image in "native 4K" from less than 20 inches away from the wall in question, and also packs 2-channel 60W speakers with Dolby Audio and DTS for a potentially all-in-one home theater package.

Edifier asserts that its second-gen NeoBuds Pro pack a patented form of active noise cancellation (ANC) that should block a greater and broader range of unwanted sounds than the average pair of TWS earbuds. The Pro 2s are also rated for spatial audio, a low-latency gaming mode and the LHDC 5.0 codec as well as LDAC and SBC. The NeoBuds Pro 2 also offer over 20 hours of estimated battery life for under US$150.

Huawei has unleashed its latest flagship TWS earbuds on markets such as Germany today (October 18, 2023). The "Intelligent ANC 3.0" accessories are touted as even more stylish and comfortable than ever before, and to have up to 31 hours of battery life. They have launched at a price of US$212 and are bundled with the chance to get the OEM's latest fitness tracker as well at a potentially significant discount.

German semiconductor and IoT systems giant Infineon, in collaboration with adidas, has made the Lighting Shoe prototype to showcase its sensor and power systems technology. The shoe, based on the adidas originals NMD S1, uses MEMS microphones and a microcontroller to ‘listen’ to music and create striking lighting effects in sync with the beats. Unfortunately, there are no plans to bring it into production.

In a Reddit AMA, Android’s VP of Engineering has just confirmed that the new Pixel 8 phones will soon support lossless audio output over USB. OS-level support was already added to Android 14, but a future software update will unlock the ability in the latest Pixel phones. In addition, app developers will have to enable the use of the API on their end.

Austrian Audio, known for its studio mics and headphones, has entered the USB microphone game with its new MiCreator set of classic-looking yet functional microphones. The MiCreator Studio is a USB condenser mic with an additional input to connect either the Satellite, an analog condenser mic, or the Y-Lav lavalier mic. The mics feature integral shock mounts and tilting heads to allow better positioning and headphone outputs for monitoring.

Volkswagen has refreshed the ID.4 and ID.5 with a range of upgrades, the option of an enlarged cockpit display included. The electric cars' Pro models are also touted to come with improved range, torque and power, while their GTX versions are backed to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under six seconds.

Update: Sony releases INZONE Buds for US$199.99. Sony is preparing to release the Inzone Buds, which will also be known as the WF-G700. Allegedly, Sony will sell the earbuds for considerably less than the WF-1000XM5, despite including ANC, Inzone 360 Spatial Sound and a low latency connectivity option through a USB Type-C dongle.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live price has dropped by a considerable 39% on Amazon. The ANC-capable earbuds rock a unique design with a bean-like shape and a glossy outer surface. Samsung claims the design results in an all-day comfortable fit. Additionally, the earbuds feature touch-controls and a battery life of up to 21 hours with the case.

Google has re-released its flagship TWS earbuds in new colorways to mark its latest major product event. The Pixel Buds Pro will also soon upgrade to the Redmond giant's Clear Calling feature, and will also start optimizing latency in gaming soon. Then again, these new features are compatible with the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro smartphones.

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Buds FE, a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. While Samsung's first Fan Edition earbuds start at under US$100, they retain ANC, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and 30 hours of battery life with their charging case factored in.

Vizio's budget soundbar will not produce the most impressive soundstage while watching blockbuster movies, but for shoppers with around US$100 to spend, the current 2023 iteration of the affordable V-Series can be worth consideration.

CheckMag Music lockers have always been curious creatures. Amazon, Google and Apple promised they would bring legacy music collections forward into the cloud age – but all three pivoted to streaming services as they saw the way the wind was blowing, leaving only a few of these rare beasts still surviving today.

The Poly Voyager Surround 85 UC are new Bluetooth headphones that the user can charge simply by placing them on their custom stand. It is powered by NuCurrent NuSync technology to power up via a "unique" near-field communication (NFC) system. The Surround 85 UC headset also supports adaptive ANC and is rated for up to 21 hours of use.

Beyerdynamic is extending its foray into gaming audio with the launch of the MMX 200 wireless, its first wireless gaming headphone, featuring a closed-back design, a transparency mode, low-latency with USB-C dongle, and a detachable boom mic. Its 35 hour battery life and foam-filled faux leather earcups are ideal for long gaming sessions. The MMX 200 is on sale now for US$249.

True wireless stereo (or TWS) earbuds are a prominent personal audio category by now. According to the latest market analysis, they still have a lot of growth left in them - as much as ~US$121 billion of it over the next four years, in fact. More affordable earbuds are thought to drive the segment to these heights.

The standalone JBL soundbar is an affordable speaker system for small rooms or secondary televisions. Although the Bar 2.0 does not support Dolby Atmos or comes with a dedicated subwoofer, it should provide a considerably better audio experience compared to most integrated TV speakers.

Shure has just launched the SM7dB XLR microphone, an updated version of the iconic SM7B that improves upon its gain-hungry predecessor with a built-in preamp for up to +28 dB boost in the output signal. The SM7dB remains unchanged in terms of its design, signature sound and EQ controls, and at US$499, costs US$100 more.

Sony has announced three new wireless microphones aimed at content creators. The ECM-W3 and ECM-W3S are designed for vlogging and interviews, with discreet, clippable transmitters, and cost US$470 and US$350 respectively. The ECM-S1 is a wireless desktop mic costing US$420. All three feature digital noise reduction, and start shipping in late October.

It appears that Samsung is finally ready to showcase its next generation of Fan Edition devices. While the company has remained quiet about new FE devices on the whole, it briefly revealed what it has up its sleeve in an unusual disclosure.

LAVA Music has launched its new LAVA ME 4 lineup of 'smart' acoustic-electric guitars, featuring a powerful new DSP system running onboard effects. The new OS has new apps for online jamming, interactive learning, 24-bit recording and new effects presets. Also new is a truss rod for adjusting string height, longer battery life and a pair of wireless foot pedals. The guitars come in carbon fiber, spruce-top and laminate body versions and a range of colors, and are priced from US$399 to US$999.

Nothing’s new sub-brand CMF has just launched the Buds Pro TWS earbuds (alongside a smartwatch and a GaN charger) for INR3,499 (~US$42). The budget earbuds feature ANC, transparency mode, Bluetooth 5.3 with fast pair, IP54 rating and 11 hours (or 6.5 hours with ANC) of battery life with Fast Charge support. The CMF Buds Pro are available for pre-order in India.

Huawei has formally unveiled its latest FreeBuds Pro-series TWS earbuds as part of its major Autumn 2023 product event in China. The in-house Kirin A2 chip is touted to confer industry-first "super-CD-level lossless transmission" on the accessories. The Pro 3s are also rated to support LDAC as well as Huawei's own L2HC codec for around US$200.