Audio, Sound & Speakers News - Page 14

The latest and most important Audio, Sound & Speakers news - Page 14.

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AirPods might not see the light of day until January

Lana Jelic | Nov 2, 2016 11:26 AM CDT

Apple's AirPods, which were scheduled to go on sale late October (that ship has sailed), were first postponed because according to Apple's spokesperson "they need a little more time before the AirPods are ready for customers."

Although a new date hasn't been given, users expected the delay wouldn't be a longer than a month, or at least the wireless ear buds that are somewhat of a replacement for the lack of headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would be ready before Christmas.

However, according to MacRumors, that might not happen. They report is that Apple is aiming towards January 2017 for the AirPods launch.

Continue reading: AirPods might not see the light of day until January (full post)

Apple delays AirPods, says they 'aren't ready'

Lana Jelic | Oct 27, 2016 9:33 AM CDT

Apple's AirPods, wireless ear buds that are somewhat of a replacement for the lack of headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, were supposed to go on sale late October, which is this week. However, that's not happening.

The company says they aren't ready for the customers and won't go on sale just yet.

A spokesperson confirmed this to iMore.

Continue reading: Apple delays AirPods, says they 'aren't ready' (full post)

Apple's iPod changed the world of music 15 years ago

Lana Jelic | Oct 23, 2016 8:28 AM CDT

Smartphones, including the iPhone, almost entirely replaced the MP3 players, but Apple's iPod earned its place in history because it forever changed the world of music.

Steve Jobs introduced the iPod at a very humble presentation on this day, October 23rd, 15 years ago. The iPod, which had 5GB of storage and allowed you to carry a thousand songs in your pocket, along with iTunes, started a revolution in the way we buy music and movies.

The first iPod was the size of a deck of cards, with an aluminum back and plastic front end. It had a rather modest screen compared to today's standards, and its price was $399 for a 5GB model, FireWire port included.

Continue reading: Apple's iPod changed the world of music 15 years ago (full post)

Amazon's second-gen Echo Dot is nearly half the price

Sean Ridgeley | Sep 14, 2016 4:06 PM CDT

Amazon's second-generation version of the Echo Dot is out now and features a much lower $49.99 price point (versus the previous $89.99), despite the product selling out recently.

A puck-like device, it adds the Alexa voice assistance to any speakers you have around the home, allowing you to control your media with just the sound of your voice.

The new version features a redesigned voice processor, and spatial perception tech that detects multiple uses of the Dot, so that if you like, you can have different Dots for different devices, and control them all independently, with no extra effort on your part. The technology is also being rolled out for first generation devices.

Continue reading: Amazon's second-gen Echo Dot is nearly half the price (full post)

Sony's new high-end 7.1 gaming headset will cost $159

Anthony Garreffa | Sep 8, 2016 12:38 AM CDT

All of the attention at the PlayStation Meeting today was for the new and improved PS4 Pro console from Sony, which rocks 4K capabilities, faster internals, but it lacks a 4K Blu-ray player which has Microsoft trolling Sony on Twitter.

Sony also announced a new Platinum Wireless Headset for the PS4, with Sony teasing it as a "high-end gaming headset" which is made from a "premium construction and materials for extra comfort". The new Platinum Wireless Headset has positional 7.1 virtual surround sound which is powered by SIE's proprietary 3D audio technology.

There will be certain PS4 games that support 3D audio that will work on the Platinum Wireless Headset, throwing surround sound at your ears from all directions. The new headset also features multi-position, hidden noise-cancelling microphones for super-clear voice communications, and it's also compatible with the PlayStation VR headset, and mobile devices with its included 3.5mm cable.

Continue reading: Sony's new high-end 7.1 gaming headset will cost $159 (full post)

Apple to announce its own branded audio products

Anthony Garreffa | Sep 6, 2016 11:23 PM CDT

Apple is expected to have its new iPhone 7 smartphone with a single Lightning connector on it, with the 3.5mm audio jack being removed, and now it's beginning to make much more sense, thanks to the rumors from KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo.

Kuo is reporting that the new iPhone 7 will not only see the headphone jack missing, but it'll include EarPods that will use the Lightning connector. But the goss gets better, with Apple reportedly working on its own wireless technology that will work on a higher-end set of headphones. Kuo said: "We believe Apple will position Beats in the midrange market once it launches Apple's own-brand Bluetooth headphones, in order to maximize profit with a dual-brand strategy".

The report from Kuo continues: "We also believe Apple will have its own-designed Bluetooth-like communication chip, given its higher requirements for power-saving, communication specs, and potential rapid growth of Bluetooth headphone shipments". The wireless headphones might be called AirPods, meaning that the EarPods could be the new Lightning-powered wireless earphones, while an actual pair of over-the-ear headphones could be unveiled by Apple.

Continue reading: Apple to announce its own branded audio products (full post)

Ears-on: Astro's new A50 headphones kick ass, rock meaningful features

Jason Evangelho | Jun 20, 2016 11:39 AM CDT

I'll be honest. With a flurry of meetings to attend during E3 and free time nonexistent, I wasn't initially excited about seeing Astro's updated A50 wireless headphones. Don't misunderstand me, I'm a fan. I've used the crap out of my 1st generation pair for gaming, Rock Band, and VR sessions. But when I hear "updated," I envision a few new bullet points to put on the retail box for marketing purposes, just barely justifying a new version. This is thankfully not the case with the new Astro A50s.

I went hands-on and ears-on with an Astro engineer during E3, and walked away super impressed. My only criticism? Astro probably should have stamped these with a brand new model number because they're a substantial improvement over not just the originals, but even the most recent iterations.

The staples are still here: Dolby 7.1, superior sound, 5GHz wireless, and compatibility with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. And they're still one of the most comfortable gaming headsets I've ever put on my head.

Continue reading: Ears-on: Astro's new A50 headphones kick ass, rock meaningful features (full post)

Bose's noise-cancelling headphones go wireless

Sean Ridgeley | Jun 6, 2016 10:54 AM CDT

Bose's celebrated QuietComfort headphones are going wireless. Like its predecessor, the new QuietComfort 35s feature patented noise-canceling technology.

Bose's noise-cancelling headphones go wireless

Also included: custom Bluetooth said to offer a strong and consistent connection wherever you are, mics inside and outside the cups that respond to unwanted noise and filter it out practically immediately, a new EQ said to "balance sound at every volume, for any genre", and handy buttons for power, volume, play/pause, and answer/end calls on the right cup.

As for battery life, you get up to 20 hours from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Continue reading: Bose's noise-cancelling headphones go wireless (full post)

Corsair unleashes wired Dolby 7.1 VOID surround-sound headset

Chris Smith | Feb 24, 2016 7:31 AM CST

Suitable for those wanting to game on a Microsoft Windows PC, Sony PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, Corsair has today announced its VOID Surround headset - adding a wired version to the previously all-wireless product range.

Corsair unleashes wired Dolby 7.1 VOID surround-sound headset

"Most gamers don't play on just one platform, so we wanted to build a headset that can be used anywhere" said Corsair's headset product manager, Joshua LaTendresse, with this headset adding the same sound quality and comfort enjoyed in our VOID 7.1 RGB wireless review. Made with a cast aluminum construction and microfiber ear cups, lovers of leather should look elsewhere.

This headset functions with Dolby 7.1 functions only when plugged in through USB, as we're not being offered a 'true surround-sound' experience here - but as my reviews go to show, that's not really a bad thing. Being released with an MSRP of $79.99 compared to the newly-announced wireless RGB white model at $129.99, this product is available for purchase immediately.

Continue reading: Corsair unleashes wired Dolby 7.1 VOID surround-sound headset (full post)

Home Bluetooth audio gets fancy with the birch wood Get Up Stand Up

Chris Smith | Feb 19, 2016 9:33 AM CST

With a minimalistic design and body constructed of birch wood, the 'Get Up Stand Up' home Bluetooth speaker system by House of Marley is a fancy new addition to this saturated market.

When a market is saturated you have to do something different in order to stand out from the crowd, with Hosue of Marley opting for this great wooden design and frame, while including what seems to be a decent audio setup. Available for $329.99 from Amazon or the company directly, this unit offers two 4.5-inch woofers, two 1-inch tweeters and an internal amplifier for maximum sound output.

Connection options include Bluetooth, 3.5mm AUX and RCA, while the speaker can be completely controlled via the supplied remote. As for extra features, this speaker has an included USB port in order to charge your smartphone while in use.

Continue reading: Home Bluetooth audio gets fancy with the birch wood Get Up Stand Up (full post)