Audio

US subscribers should prepare for a Spotify price hike, as reports indicate the streaming giant plans to raise fees in the first quarter of 2026. Pressure from major record labels and a push for sustained profitability appear to be driving this expected increase following similar moves in other markets.

The FreeBuds Pro 5 is a new pair of high-end wireless earbuds available in four colours. Equipped with NearLink support, the FreeBuds Pro 5 should deliver higher quality when paired with Huawei devices than rivals. L2HC and LDAC codecs are supported too with superior ANC than past FreeBuds Pro earbuds as well.

Alongside the Honor 500 series, the company has introduced the Earbuds S. It's a new pair of affordable wireless earbuds with up to 42.5 hours of rated battery life and a strong 49 dB ANC feature.

Ollo Audio has unveiled the R1 closed‑back studio headphones, featuring heavy sound isolation, American walnut earcups, and user-replaceable parts. They come with a U-shaped audio tuning to give singers a lively backing track to perform to.

Amazon has applied its largest discounts yet to the 2025 JBL Bar 500MK2 5.1, 700MK2 7.1, and 1300XMK2 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbars. They use MultiBeam 3.0 and PureVoice 2.0 technologies to deliver immersive 3D audio and crisp dialogue.

Final has launched the UX1000 wireless over-ear headphones in Japan, featuring stain-resistant finishes, hybrid active noise cancellation, and special audio tuning to compensate for lower quality Bluetooth audio transmissions.

Xiaomi has started selling its budget-friendly and ultra-compact speaker in Europe. Available for ~$17 in the UK too, the Xiaomi Sound Pocket boasts up to 10 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and hands-free calling support in a choice of three colours.

Amazon USA has price cuts right now on several top-rated Razer BlackShark and SteelSeries models, covering everything from serious budget performance to high-end wireless luxury.

The latest flagship headphones from British hi-fi specialist Bowers & Wilkins are now available in a stylish McLaren Edition. Featuring a dark-grey body with orange accents, McLaren branding and premium sound quality – including aptX Lossless support – this special edition doesn’t come cheap.

Panasonic Japan has announced the SC-GNW10S-FF SoundSlayer x Final Fantasy XIV wireless neck speaker. The wearable provides gamers with low-latency surround sound, along with unique FF sound and lighting effects.

The Xiaomi Soundbar Pro 2.0 ch has arrived in Europe, currently available in one country and on the way to more. This model can deliver 84W peak power, supporting Dolby Audio, and offers NFC fast pairing. It is a cheaper alternative to the brand’s recently released Soundbar Pro 2.1 ch.

The launch of Samsung's Galaxy Buds4 earbuds is likely still a few months off. Nonetheless, a reliable source has shared extensive details about the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro ahead of schedule. Contained within numerous leaked videos, the information suggests that the Galaxy Buds4 series will depart from Samsung's current Galaxy Buds3 earbuds.

The JBL Flip 7 portable speaker is now available at its best price ever on Amazon. Featuring AI Sound Boost and rugged IP68 protection, it delivers the JBL Sound for up to 16 hours.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve Plus 2 Bluetooth speaker delivers 360-degree sound, allowing podcast enthusiasts to wander their rooms without missing a word of their favorite shows. The speaker is roughly the size of a Stanley tumbler and has a carry strap.

JVC Kenwood has introduced the 100-watt TH-WD05 3.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar. It can emphasize dialogue for better intelligibility through the use of a flat center driver and Clear Voice mode. The soundbar can also play high-resolution music from a USB drive and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker for smartphones.

Amazon has cut the price of Bose QuietComfort Ultra wireless headphones by 30%, dropping the price to its lowest ever once again. Although the newer Ultra (2nd gen) model provides even better audio quality, the original Ultra remains a highly regarded model for its noise cancelling capability.

JVC Kenwood has introduced the SP‑WS10BT portable wireless TV speaker, designed to support the hard of hearing. Compact yet powerful, it emphasizes dialogue clarity, offers 15‑hour battery life, and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker.

The Danish audio specialist Bang & Olufsen is refreshing one of its best-known speakers by giving the Beolab 90 Titanium Edition a striking metal enclosure that showcases the total of 18 drivers.

Anker has released the soundcore P31i Wireless Earbuds in various markets worldwide. These wireless earbuds are powered by LDAC and offer adaptive noise cancelling (ANC) for immersive audio. Other features include a live AI translation tool and support for Multipoint Connection and Google Fast Pair.

Xiaomi has released the Soundbar Pro 2.1 ch in Europe. Currently available in one country and expected to arrive in more shortly, this model has three drivers, including an external wireless subwoofer. It supports Dolby Audio and DTS:Virtual X, with a range of listening modes and NFC pairing.

With an impressive battery life of up to 130 hours, adaptive ANC and a compact as well as foldable design, the new House of Marley Vibration Rebel ANC could be decent allround headphones.

WiiM is launching its first smart speaker that's simply named the WiiM Sound. This new gadget offers an extensive feature set including multi-room audio, voice controls and a circular touchscreen on the front.

JVC Kenwood has introduced the premium Wood Master wireless earphones in Japan, blending African rosewood drivers with AI noise cancellation and self‑healing finishes. Launching November 20, 2025, the IP55‑rated earbuds deliver Hi‑Res Audio, multipoint Bluetooth 6.0, and up to 21 hours of runtime.

The lightweight JVC Kenwood HA-S60W on-ear wireless headphones debut in Japan with a 50-hour battery life, multipoint Bluetooth connections, and comfort-focused design. Available in four matte colors, they feature heat-activated, shape-conforming foam earpads for a personalized fit.

For years, users of the Apple AirPods Max have complained about a problem called the "three amber lights of death". The LED on the expensive over-ear headphones flashes amber three times, but the headphones no longer work. As it turns out, the AirPods Max can sometimes be repaired by placing them in the freezer for about 60 minutes.

Japanese hi-fi audio brand Final Audio has introduced its new Tonalite wireless earbuds promising to push audio personalisation to the next level by combining a full three-dimensional scan of both your head and ears with a detailed acoustic measurement of your ear-canal response.

Xiaomi has released two new versions of the Sound Outdoor speaker in one European country, with a wider rollout expected in the near future. The original model was released in this market in 2024, having won a Red Dot Design Award. Features of the device include support for True Wireless Stereo and a woofer boosting mode.

Grell is launching open high-end headphones, the OAE2, that use innovative FSFM technology to deliver particularly authentic and precise sound quality.

Apple's AirPods 4 are back down to their lowest-ever price over at Amazon. Currently on sale for 31% off, the wireless buds that originally debuted in 2024 can be had for only $89.

The open-back design of the Fiio JadeAudio JT3 wired headphones delivers a wide soundstage without the heat, moisture, or pressure buildup of closed-back models. The JT3 uses large 50mm drivers to reproduce music across 10Hz to 40kHz, the company claims.

The HiBy RS8 II flagship portable DAP is powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8550 SoC with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, an upgraded Darwin III R2R DAC, and an AI tonal simulator that models playback from classic audio equipment.

The BW-FYE17 are new wireless headphones that come with two displays, large drivers and an affordable price tag. These TWS earbuds supposedly also offer long battery life and a charging case with a pretty unusual design.

Black Shark’s new Fengming S1 is an over-ear headset that closely resembles the AirPods Max. It promises to deliver impressive battery life and excellent active noise cancellation.

Zoom’s Instamic Pro Plus C is a petite 32‑bit float audio recorder using MEMS microphone arrays that delivers clip‑free high‑resolution recordings for creators and sound designers. With IP67 durability, Bluetooth transmission, and up to 4.5 hours of runtime, it can be used standalone or with action cams.

The Heddphone D1 are open‑back reference headphones handcrafted in Berlin, featuring thin‑ply carbon diaphragms for a wide frequency response and precise transient reproduction. Designed for professional monitoring, it (supposedly) delivers spacious sound, comfort with velour earpads, and comes with a five‑year warranty.

The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 5 wireless Bluetooth speaker features a unique design to project audio 360 degrees with 160 watts of power and customizable ambient lighting themes. Two Auras can be paired for stereo music reproduction, and the lighting and sound can be customized using its mobile app.

The new flagship soundbar from French hi-fi specialist Focal combines an unusual design with 15 speakers to produce deep bass down to 27 Hz, spatial sound as well as an impressive volume of up to 108dB.

Huawei has lifted the lid on its next pair of wireless earbuds. Looking to surpass the Apple AirPods Pro 3, the FreeBuds Pro 5 should deliver extended battery life and improved audio quality thanks to Huawei's NearLink Audio technology.

JBL Japan has introduced the Tune 730BT wireless over-ear headphones, featuring Bluetooth 6.0 with LE Audio and up to 76 hours of battery life. Positioned as an entry-level model without ANC, the 730BT offers the signature JBL Pure Bass sound.

The Moto Buds Bass has received a global release with ANC and up to 9 hours of battery life. Offered in three colours, the Moto Buds Bass is also Hi-Res Audio certified despite costing under £50 in the UK and under €60 in the Eurozone.

The latest soundbar from Danish hi-fi specialists Bang & Olufsen promises particularly authentic sound with a huge soundstage. But it's not just the sound that's all about 3D; the futuristic design also incorporates the surroundings into the music via 90 LEDs.

JBL introduces the Junior Free, open‑ear Bluetooth headphones designed to grow with children while giving parents control over their usage and volume levels. They provide parents with an affordable safe hearing option at a €69.99 price.

Steven Slate Audio has unveiled the VSX Immersion One planar magnetic open-back headphones. When coupled with the company's virtual speaker modeling software, the headphones can simulate a variety of environments for accurate music mastering.

The Xiaomi Redmi Bluetooth Speaker 2 can now be picked up globally following its debut last month. Available for around $35 at launch, the Redmi Bluetooth Speaker 2 is waterproof, is rated for around 5 hours of battery life and supports Bluetooth 5.3, a microSD card or USB Type-C connectivity.

The Final UX5000 wireless over-ear headphones deliver high-resolution music playback over Bluetooth 5.4 thanks to their support for the LDAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. Final has tuned them to reveal musical details with a rich, soulful sound.

Anker has launched the Soundcore C50i open-ear earbuds in the US. They bring notable upgrades over the previous model, including LDAC support, live translation, and an IP55 rating, all in a lighter design with longer battery life.