Audio

Through an upcoming automatic software update, Victrola is expanding the wireless compatibility of its Works With Sonos turntables to include Bluetooth, Roon, and UPnP, allowing them to connect to other speakers and audio gear.

The Beogram 4000 series turntable is an iconic piece of ‘70s hardware that’s available once again through another collaboration between Bang & Olufsen and Saint Laurent. But while the B&O Beogram 4000C comes in a fancy case made from ziricote wood, your $35,000 isn’t getting you entirely new hardware.

British AirPods Pro 2 owners can now enable the Hearing Aid feature, available today in a free software update. The update was made possible after the UK government stripped out “pointless regulation” in January.

Gadhouse has updated its Cosmo portable turntable that debuted last year with three new color options reminiscent of Apple’s colorful iMac G3 lineup. The $199 record player is now available in venus red, jupiter green, and neptune blue as part of a new Solar Edition collection, as well as the original lucid white option.

In his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman writes that the PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds are preparing to launch on February 11th, with heart-rate monitoring as previously rumored, and also about a new iCloud feature.

Before, it only took one step to eliminate audio processing and extend battery life on newer AirPods.

The company is expanding its Music City Bluetooth speaker lineup with three new party models that introduce RGB lighting that syncs to the music playing.

The 200W wireless speaker also puts on a beat-synced light show and includes two wireless mics with vocal enhancement and reverb effects to improve your next karaoke performance.

The next version of JBL’s Bluetooth alarm clock features a larger design with two 1.5-inch speakers paired with dual passive radiators for improved sound. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to drift off or wake up, it can play relaxing nature sounds like ocean waves, or slowly illuminate a room with a built-in light to “help regulate circadian rhythms.”

The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro is an all-in-one party pod that combines 210 independently controlled LEDs with JBL’s audio technology. The lamp is portable and rechargeable, with customizable lighting that can change between vibrant colors and warm or cool white lights to suit your personal vibe.

The LG Radio+ streaming service is available on LG smart TVs running webOS 6.0 and above. It’s offered through a partnership with Radioline, and available in the US and South Korea, “giving users an all-in-one audio platform allowing effortless access to news, sports, music, and more,” including live stations and podcasts such as NPR, CNN Radio, Fox Radio, and The Joe Rogan Experience.

Though I like the idea of wirelessly connecting to a record player, I rarely use that function. If you do, let me know why!

The $15 SoundSlide solves a problem that few would consider an actual problem. It replaces a computer’s volume buttons with a customizable touch-sensitive slider that can be operated using finger swipes. For those who miss volume wheels, it might be worth the upgrade. For everyone else, sacrificing a USB-C port for the SoundSlide might be too big an of an ask.

Borrowing the design of Bose’s open-style earbuds, the JVC Nearphones attach to the side of your ear and position a 10mm driver inside so you can hear your music plus everything else around you. They’re smaller and lighter than the $299 Bose Ultra Open, and at $99.95 they’re a more affordable solution if you find regular earbuds uncomfortable.

DJI will potentially reveal its Mic Mini during a “Carry Less, Capture More” event teased on its website for November 26th. But leaker @Quadro_News has shared unboxing and hands on videos comparing the new DJI Mic Mini hardware to the DJI Mic 2 so you can see how much smaller the microphone transmitters, wireless receiver, and charging case really are.

The company recently partnered with Kith for its Ultra Open Earbuds, but this time Ronnie Fieg is helping to redesign Bose’s 901 speakers which originally debuted in 1968, but were discontinued in 2016.

Reliable leaker @JasperEllens has shared more images and details of DJI’s next compact wireless mic system. The DJI Mic Mini on its own, which connects directly to devices over Bluetooth, will start at €59 (around $63) but will also be available with a wireless receiver for €89 (around $94). A bundle featuring two mics, the receiver, and a charging case will be €169 (around $178).

The images shared by @Quadro_News and @JasperEllens seem to indicate DJI could soon be announcing a follow-up to its wireless Mic 2 system that debuted earlier this year. Details on functionality and pricing aren’t known yet, but the clip-on DJI Mic Mini will potentially be smaller, lighter, and more discreet than its predecessor, and available in black or white.

After expanding from smartphone cases to wireless earbuds, Speck has introduced its Gemtones Infinity Speaker featuring Bluetooth 5.3, RGB LED lighting enhanced with an infinite mirror effect, and the ability to sync and pair up to 50 of them.