Headphones were the original piece of wearable technology and they remain as essential today as ever. But they are starting to change rapidly now, as things like noise cancelling and Bluetooth wireless technology enable the dream of completely cable-free living. What will the best headphones of the future look like?
Since launching its first pair of noise-canceling earbuds a year ago, Google has added useful new features to the Pixel Buds Pro like customizable EQ and immersive spatial audio with head tracking.
I’m biased because these are some of my favorite review photos, but if you’ve got a Pixel phone and somehow haven’t tried the Buds Pro, now’s a great opportunity: they’re only $133.
With the release of a sleek, new all-black variant, the Nothing Ear 2 now has two color options to match its Ear 1 predecessor.
Unlike the white option, the black version blends in with the components exposed by the transparent casing on the buds’ stems, making for a more uniform look.
While in-ear monitors (IEMs) are typically for musicians, Razer has created a pair geared toward gamers and streamers. Called the Razer Moray, these ergonomic IEMs feature a dual-driver design and can block up to -36dB of noise.
At a price of $130, this product is far cheaper than some of the higher-end IEMs from audio giants like Sennheiser and Shure. Oh, and if the name “Moray” sounds familiar, it’s because Razer used it on pair of its now-discontinued in-ear headphones.
We’ve rounded up a number of inexpensive gifts that dad will love, from portable speakers to camping stoves.
As of today, Zound Industries is officially called the Marshall Group following its acquisition of Marshall Amplification. Zound had used the British amp manufacturer’s branding for its headphones and speakers for over a decade.
Check out my March interview with Marshall Group CEO Jeremy de Maillard for more details on the merger.
Gifts for tinkerers, makers, and outdoorsy types that are far cooler than your basic mug or necktie.
I have a simple rule for news vetting — if it says “graphene,” you can probably ignore it because it never shows up as a real product. New Logitech G Pro X 2 gaming headphones with graphene drivers may force me to revisit that, even if they’re not the absolute first ones on the market and are arriving ten years after researchers explained how these could work.
This interview and this video below lay out why the carbon supermaterial has so much promise — and the production hurdles holding it back. But maybe that’s finally changing.
We found a wide range of gifts that’ll help graduates as they embark upon their next adventure, whether that’s college or a career.
Because Chris Welch can break down everything you actually need to know about the Beats Studio Buds Plus and how good they are or are not.
I’d give them a 10/10 rating based on translucency alone, which is allegedly “not a valid way to score a review according to our scale.” All I know is that I’ve never bought an iPhone, but if Apple made a clear one I’d have blue bubbles the next day.
If you want that case, it costs $930. That’s the same price as nearly four sets of the second-generation AirPods Pro. Bargain!
There’s a Hermés AirPods Pro lanyard, too. Just $335!
It’s fascinating to me how independent Beats still is. Nearly nine years after Apple announced its acquisition of the brand co-founded by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, today Beats released a design video for the Studio Buds Plus. In it, you hear this:
“Our proprietary chipset makes them super simple to use. It offers a host of native features to both Apple and Android users. In fact, we’re the only company to offer this.”
This is an Apple-owned business highlighting that it’s not using the same silicon as AirPods. (I love how Beats illustrates the point with a vinyl record.)
Nothing CEO Carl Pei has done another of his product review videos on YouTube — this time for Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro.
The most interesting part starts at the 1:35 mark, when Pei mentions that the Nothing Ear 2 assembly line is “like a rainforest” and filled with humidifiers to prevent dust from finding its way into the transparent earbuds or the carrying case. (Humidity makes the dust settle, which is why some people apply screen protectors in a bathroom with the shower running.)
Even after going to such lengths, 20 to 30 percent of units are rejected and have to be remade.
