Apple’s Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds are a good alternative to AirPods, as they offer the same features like ANC and spatial audio, but offer a better fit. If the $200 price has given you pause, you can now pick up a pair at Woot for $145 (28 percent…
Audio-Technica resurrects its Sound Burger portable turntable from the ’80s
Audio-Technica is bringing back its iconic Sound Burger portable turntable. After nearly 40 years and countless clones, the updated model adds a few new features to make it more appealing to modern listeners. To start, the 2022 Sound Burger includes Bl…
The best home theater gear worth gifting in 2022 (even if the giftee is you)
So you’ve got all the gifts you need for the kids, your family and the friends who really matter. But it’s been a tough year, surely you deserve some joy as well. Maybe it’s time to upgrade that HDTV to a 4K OLED, or replace a not so great early-gen 4K…
Sony’s WH-XB910N ANC headphones are 51 percent off right now
Update 12:48pm ET: This Sony deal on Amazon has expired.Now’s your chance to get a pair of solid noise-cancelling headphones without the usual high price. Amazon is selling the WH-XB910N with active noise cancellation (ANC) for $123, or a hefty 51 perc…
Rode’s gaming sub-brand debuts with ‘Unify’ streaming software and two familiar mics
Gaming creators and streamers will already be familiar with Rode. The company’s microphones and podcastingproducts make good options for those plugging into OBS, YouTube, Twitch and anywhere else you might “go live.” But as of today, there’s a whole ne…
The best portable Bluetooth speakers for 2022
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about today’s Bluetooth speakers, it’s that for general consumers, the options are pretty good. However, that doesn’t make the process of sifting through the dozens of choices any easier. So I set out to test out some …
Mercedes-Benz is the first to roll out Apple Music’s Spatial Audio in cars
After announcing it nearly a year ago, Mercedes-Benz is finally rolling out Apple Music’s Spatial Audio in select electric and luxury vehicles. The Dolby Atmos-powered surround sound audio already works on multiple Apple devices including the HomePod speaker, Apple TV and AirPods headphones, but it’s the first implementation in vehicles.
“Mercedes-Benz drivers who are already subscribed to Apple Music gain immediate access to an ever-growing selection of songs and albums available in Spatial Audio,” the companies said in a press release. And if you’re not an Apple Music subscriber, select Dolby Atmos content will be available from Universal Music as well.
The feature will be available in the select EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs (including the new EQE SUV), along with Mayback and S-Class vehicles. To use it, you’ll need to own a vehicle with the MBUX interface and optional 31-speaker Burmester 3D or 4D sound systems, an option that starts at $4,550 on top of the price of the vehicle (the 2023 EQE 350 sedan is expected to start at $70,000 or so). The technology will come to other models “soon,” according to Mercedes.
Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos implementation creates a 3D soundstage by spreading sounds across different channels, though the level of the effect depends on a song’s mix. In the Mercedes implementation, the spatial audio effect will come from six of the 31 speakers located above the driver. Other speakers include four near-ear speakers in the front seats, eight sound transducers (two per seat) and two amplifiers that pump out 1,750 watts of power.
Microsoft’s Audio Dock is a hybrid speaker and laptop hub
Those rumors of a Microsoft speaker were true. Microsoft has unveiled an Audio Dock that, as the name implies, combines a speaker with a laptop hub. The design centers on a relatively powerful, omni-directional speakerphone (complete with dual mics, a 15W woofer and 5W tweeters), but also includes a 60W USB-C connection for charging your computer, two regular USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 jack and a lone USB-A offering. In practice, that means you can attach two monitors while still leaving room for an external drive or mouse.
As you’d imagine, the company is leaning heavily on the Audio Dock’s usefulness for meetings. You’ll find large dedicated buttons for the microphone toggle (handy for working from home) and launching Teams. Don’t worry if you aren’t a fan of Microsoft’s ecosystem — the hardware supports Macs as well as calling services like Google Meet and Zoom.
Microsoft
The Audio Dock will be available for $250 in some markets on October 25th. It doesn’t fill precisely the same niche as a smart speaker, but the allure is obvious. This is an easy way to streamline your desk setup, whether you’re playing music in crunch mode or participating in a brainstorming session. While the 60W charging will rule out many high-performance laptops, this might save you money versus buying separate accessories.
The best October Prime Day deals on headphones, earbuds and audio gadgets
With the holiday season right around the corner, you probably have someone on your gift list who could use a new pair of headphones or earbuds. You can pick up their gifts for less right now thanks to Amazon Prime Day Early Access, which has discounted…
The best wireless headphones for 2022
Over-ear noise-canceling headphones typically offer the most comprehensive set of features we want for our listening pleasure. The best of these wireless options combine stellar audio with powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) and other handy tools …