From streaming music and audiobooks to live audio rooms and podcasts, every major player in tech is trying to own a chunk of the listening experience. Spotify is expanding beyond music streaming, YouTube is becoming an audio-only destination, and Apple Music is hoping to stand out with spatial audio while Tidal, Pandora, SoundCloud, and so many more scramble to set themselves apart.
The next generation of Sony’s noise canceling headphones is almost here. Sony has a placeholder YouTube stream counting down to the WH-1000XM6 launch on Thursday at noon ET, which will finally flesh out the real information after some recent leaks.
Instead of just including a library of pre-recorded samples captured from percussion instruments like marimbas and xylophones, Korg Berlin’s Phase8 features eight “replaceable and tunable metal resonators” that are played using electromechanical triggers.
Originally developed as a collection of prototypes, Korg Berlin says the finalized version of the Phase8, demonstrated in a recent video, will go on sale some time in the first quarter of 2026.
Following the release of its $2,299 OP-XY sequencer, synthesizer, and sampler, Teenage Engineering has announced matching versions of three other devices in its Field System lineup.
The $1,499 TP-7 audio recorder, the $1,199 TX-6 compact mixer, and the $1,199 CM-15 studio microphone will all be available in a new black finish starting on June 10th, 2025. However, the OP-1 Field, which is part of the same lineup, will remain in its original color.
The third-generation of the Beosound A1, B&O’s compact Bluetooth speaker, is now available with a honey tone, eucalyptus green, or natural aluminum housing for $349. The upgraded model features up to 24 hours of battery life, an IP67 rating so you can submerge it to depths of up to one meter, and an improved woofer delivering an extra 2dB of bass over its predecessor. B&O has also added support for the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec.
If you’re headed to Star Wars Celebration in Japan later this month, Audio-Technica has announced a pricey souvenir for you, as spotted by Notebookcheck. Unlike its Star Wars-themed wireless earbuds, only 10 of these ATH-AWSW DV headphones, featuring wooden ear cups adorned with images of Darth Vader made using traditional Japanese crafting techniques, will be available.
Each pair is priced at 990,000 yen, or around $6,817.
The smart speaker was already available with an optional marble base that boosted its price tag from $3,300 (for a solid oak base) to $3,900, but Bang & Olufsen has now partnered with Italian marble company Antolini for an even fancier version, as spotted by Engadget.
The Beosound Balance Natura speaker sits atop a tall pedestal made of materials like marble, quartz, or petrified wood. There’s no pricing details, which probably means it’s jaw-dropping expensive.
That’s how Nothing describes its April Fools’ launch this year, the Ear 3.5mm. They’re earbuds that look a lot like last year’s Nothing Ear Open, but come with a handy 50m (164 ft) cable so you can enjoy wired audio quality without giving up the range of Bluetooth.
Nothing hasn’t announced a price, so it seems a safe bet this is the sort of April Fools’ joke you can’t actually buy.
If you’re on the hunt for a Bluetooth speaker not made of bright plastic or filled with flashing lights, JVC Kenwood’s WDS-01 is made of oak, cedar, pine, spruce, or walnut wood — including its 60-millimeter driver cone.
Battery life is claimed to be up to eight hours, but availability is going to be a challenge. Only 100 custom-made units were released in Japan today, ranging in price from around $257 to $550.
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.
This functionality was already introduced in 2024 with the premium Victrola Stream Sapphire, but is now being added to its Stream Carbon, Stream Pearl, and Stream Onyx turntables, as spotted by Engadget.
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.
These are original ‘70s units that have been hand-picked, restored, and updated by B&O with new cartridges and preamps. Only 10 of them will be available.
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.
It’s a little bit of good news for UK Apple users after the company withdrew its encrypted iCloud storage on Friday following reports of a government demand for a security backdoor.
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.
The Cosmo has its own built-in speakers but also includes Bluetooth connectivity, a radio tuner, and can play music from an SD card.
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.
Apparently called Confetti internally, it’s an invite service for events like parties and meetings, which could be tied to a “broader” reworking of Apple’s calendar app. It certainly sounds easier than working out the issues with launching AR glasses.
