Items tagged with earbuds
When it comes to wireless earbuds, you might say we're fairly particular and almost snooty about them. It's not easy to reproduce decent acoustics with such tiny drivers, never mind with quality active noise cancellation (ANC) that doesn't make it sound like you're listening to music in some kind of weird anechoic chamber. Regardless, at under $100, that's what the TCL MoveAudio S600 True Wireless Earbuds try to achieve. We recently looked at OnePlus' $149 ANC wireless buds offering with the Buds Pro, and found them to be a quality set of wireless buds with a few caveats, most of which could be remedied in software or firmware. TCL's MoveAudio S600 buds were recommended to us as a follow-up...
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For years, Bose has been known for its audio devices' quality, be it speakers, headphones, or earbuds. Now, Bose has announced a new type of wireless earbuds, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, which sit above the ear canal, allowing users to hear their surroundings and audio with ease. You can pre-order today on Bose’s website or at BestBuy for $199.99. Mehul Trivedia, category director for Bose Wearable Audio, states that “Runners and cyclists have been asking us for headphones that let them stay focused on their performance without wires, neckbands, or having to pop out a bud to hear traffic, a training partner, nature, or anything else they don’t want to miss.” To solve...
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If you are trying to get some work done, relax, or just block the world out for a moment, some decent headphones or earbuds could be just the trick. Right now, Amazon has some excellent deals on audio gear that you do not want to miss this Cyber Monday. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Bose is one of the brands to beat when it comes to headphones, and these are sure to please. The most significant feature is the three levels of noise cancellation that this headset offers, so you can tailor your level of silence to your situation. Another nifty trick is that the QuietComfort 35 II is Alexa-enabled, so you can go from jamming out to getting questions answered in an instant...
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Earlier this year, LG took Apple's AirPods to the cleaners with a set of 'Tone Free' earbuds (HBS-FN6) that shipped with a slim and sanitizing "UVnano" case, which uses UV light to zap away germs and bacteria. But unlike the latest AirPods Pro, noise cancellation was not part of the deal. Until now—LG's newest Tone Free earbuds (HBS-FN7) offer the same features as it predecessors, with the addition of active noise cancelling (ANC) technology. For a long time, I never cared much about active noise cancellation, perhaps because until recently, I only experienced it through headphones (not earbuds), and it would always make my head feel funny. That was even true of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay...
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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are getting the wireless treatment in a bid to compete with Apple's AirPods Pro. Available for preorder now, and shipping on October 15th, these noise-canceling wireless earbuds will be set to stun upon arrival. Last week, redditors discovered a now-defunct Vimeo link showcasing the new earbuds. The leaked video was taken down, but not before some curious internet sleuths were able to re-uploaded it for our viewing pleasure. Since this leak happened, either Bose’s hand was forced, or they planned the release, and official data about the QuietComfort Wireless Earbuds is now out. Looking at the preorder Amazon page, there are strikingly similar features to the AirPods...
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When one wants to block out the sounds of the world, active noise cancelling is the feature to look for. Now, Qualcomm is one-upping active noise cancelling with adaptive active noise cancellation. Their first product to support this adaptive ANC will be the Qualcomm QCC514x Bluetooth SoC. According to Qualcomm, the new adaptive ANC (AANC for short?) aims “to deliver an improved user experience for earbuds with integrated ANC.” When Qualcomm polled customers, ANC was a highly requested feature among users. As such, Qualcomm stepped in to help deliver a consistent baseline for ANC so customers could have a solid experience. As far as user experience goes, the goal is to make it “as...
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Wireless earbuds have been particularly trendy over the last couple of years, but high quality buds can cost a pretty penny. If you have been looking for a pair of wireless earbuds, now is your chance to strike on what could be a fantastic deal. The Donerton Wireless Waterproof Earbuds are currently 74% off. The Donerton Wireless Waterproof Earbuds would usually ring in at $139.99 USD. However, they are currently on sale for a mere $36.99 on Amazon and even include Prime shipping. They are available in black and "new model," whatever that means, and they come with a capable 3500mAh charging case. The earbuds feature passive noise canceling and various audio modes. For example, the "stereo mode"...
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True wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, and with many phones lacking a headphone jack, it’s really no surprise. You can mostly blame Apple for the missing port, but you can also thank them for giving the entire industry a reason to copy the AirPods. And Google is finally in the game. See, the first Pixel Buds, which were neckbuds, were a bust back in 2017. So, we were pretty excited when Google announced these new, true wireless earbuds last October. And in terms of first impressions, the $180 Pixel Buds 2 deliver. Google Pixel Buds 2 Design Picture an egg. Now imagine you can somehow flatten this egg a little without cracking it. That’s what the charging case for...
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Qualcomm may be well-known for its powerful Snapdragon SoCs and 4G LTE/5G modems that power modern Android smartphones, but the company has a vast portfolio of other communications/audio/computing products as well. Qualcomm is a relatively big name in the audio market where it produces Bluetooth SoCs that power your wireless headsets. The company this week announced new entry- and premium tier QCC304x and QCC514x chips that promise to boost runtimes for wireless earbuds while bringing Active Noise Cancelling to lower price points. The primary difference between the two is that the QCC514x supports “always-on” voice recognition. In other words, you would be able to yell out...
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Do not fret about that voice you are hearing in your head, it is just Alexa, the helpful digital assistant that dutifully works for Amazon. Oh, what's that, there aren't any voices in your head? Well then, give it time and perhaps there soon will be—Amazon is apparently working on a set of wireless earbuds with Alexa built into them. Wireless earbuds with smart functionality built into them are growing in popularity thanks in large part to efforts by Apple (AirPods) and Samsung (Galaxy Buds). Not to be outdone, Amazon will throw its hat into the ring, despite not offering its own brand smartphone. According to CNBC, the wireless earbuds are codenamed Puget. They will come with an integrated...
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Sony made waves in the consumer audio market with its WH-1000XM3 headphones, and now the same (presumably) noise-cancelling technology that helped the headset garner so many accolades is offered in a new set of wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM3. If that is indeed the case, these earbuds could give Apple's AirPods a run for their money. The WF-1000XM3 is available to preorder on Amazon for $229.99, and will be released on August 5, 2019. A charging case is included, so the pricing has the earbuds sitting just above the current generation AirPods, which Amazon sells for $179.99 (the MSRP is $179.99). However, Apple is rumored to be refreshing its AirPods, and pricing could conceivably be higher....
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Samsung has a bunch of new products that will be announced next week, and the most anticipated is likely the Galaxy S10 family of flagship smartphones. Samsung recently updated its Galaxy Wearable app for Android devices, and it lists several new items on its home page. The leaked items include a new smartwatch, fitness wearable, and earbuds. The new smartwatch is the Galaxy Watch Active, which appears to be the Galaxy Watch Sport that leaked earlier this month. The device sports a 40mm case and is said to come in at least two colors. Previous leaks tipped Tizen as the operating system and a move away from the rotating-bezel controls previous Galaxy smartwatches have used. No other tidbits...
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With some smartphone vendors deciding for the rest of us that we don't need a headphone jack, the time for fast progression on the wireless audio front is needed now. Wireless audio isn't anything new, of course, but it's a technology that's extremely hard to get right. A good wireless solution needs to have decent battery-life, a stable connection, and of course, good audio quality. Again, wireless audio isn't anything new, but when Apple released its wireless AirPods earbuds (and removed the headphone jack from its iPhone at the same time), it seemed to spur every other vendor to begin taking wireless earbuds seriously. Apple has done well, based on the number of AirPods you'll see in use in...
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If you live in an area with lots of barking dogs, aircraft flying over, noisy neighbors, or have a spouse who is anything but quiet, Bose has something for you. The audio company has launched a new set of earbuds that are designed specifically for sleep called the Sleepbuds. These wearable gadgets are "tiny" according to Bose and have an "ultra-comfortable" design with the ability to generate soothing sounds to block outside noise. Bose claims that Sleepbuds are the smallest product it has ever made and have ten pre-loaded "sleeptracks" that mirror the frequencies of snoring, neighbors, dogs, traffic, and other sounds allowing the Sleepbuds to hide any annoying sounds. The ear tips are patented...
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Audio headphone manufacturer Bragi today announced The Headphone, a new set of wireless earbuds that are less expensive than the company's first gen Dash product at just $119 on a pre-order program. Offering up to 6 hours of untethered playing time, they're also being positioned as a great solution for next generation smartphones that don't have traditional 3.5mm wired headphone jacks, such as Apple's forthcoming iPhone 7 that is expected to launch this week. However, Bragi may be competing directly against Apple as it has also been rumored that Cupertino's external audio solution may come in the form of wireless "AirPods." Whether or not they'll come with the next gen iPhone as a bundled...
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Now you can work out and fit right into Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 prediction because sci-fi has, as is often the case, become reality. Samsung just unveiled the Gear Fit2 Fitness Tracker and Gear IconX Premium Smart Earbuds. The Gear IconX is a cordless fitness earbud that can still track fitness information and provide users with running feedback on their exercise performance. Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics stated, “Living a healthy lifestyle is a top priority for consumers to enjoy fulfilling lives. Our wearable technology can enhance existing routines and blend fitness and fun. The Gear Fit2 and Gear IconX...
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CES ushers in plenty of new gadgets every year and 2016 is no different. One of the more interesting products making a splash is the BoomStick, which is a small device that sits between your music player and your earbuds. Push a single button, and you’ll hear richer audio than your player alone can provide, according to BoomStick maker BoomCloud 360. “While TV has made huge strides in terms of quality, from black and white to 4k, audio has been going backward,” said George Appling, co-founder of BoomCloud 360 in a statement. “In fact, our research shows that only 4 percent of consumers believe they are achieving (a) great audio experience with their headphones.”...
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We steer clear of most Apple rumors, but this one caught our eye, thanks to the pictures and video of some unusually-designed earbuds. According to Tinhte.vn, a Vietnamese site, the iPhone 5 may be getting new earbuds that have ports in the fronts and sides. Of course, most rumors are nothing more than that, and there are a couple strikes against these particular earbuds being genuine iPhone 5 accessories – not the least of which is the absence of an in-line remote, as PC Magazine’s David Murphy points out. But if you’re starving for news on the next iPhone, forget the naysayers and check out the minute-and-a-half video....
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Turns out, people don't really buy smartphones based on the kind of headphones included. But hey, it was a valiant effort. The HTC Rezound featured a set of Beats earbuds right in the box, but it seems that the phone sales weren't really up to snuff. Or, at least, they weren't enough to justify the massive cost involved in bundling the two. HTC and Beats Audio are financially involved at this point, so we wouldn't be surprised to see some level of integration in the future, but it'll be some time yet before Beats earbuds are thrown in with a phone gratis. An HTC product executive was quoted by CNET as saying: "An accessory like the headphone doesn't factor in when someone is buying a smartphone....
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Typically, Bluetooth earpieces aren't all that exciting. If you've seen one, you've seen them all, as the saying goes. JayBird has a habit of producing some pretty unique looking headphones, and that tradition has now been passed off to the world of Bluetooth headphones. The company originally announced the JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Headphones at CES, but now, they're ready to start shipping 'em to those in need of new ones. They're specifically designed with secure-fit ear cushions, perfect for fitness freaks who can't stand their current 'buds falling out of their ears. The company is relying on a custom-made honeycomb design to keep them in place, and they're also sweat-proof and carry a lifetime...
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NAMM 2011 is getting starting this week in Southern California, and Shure is one of the first out of the gate with new gear. The SE215 sound-isolating earphone has been introduced, featuring a new Dynamic MicroDriver and a detachable cable. These are pro earbuds that join the SE315, SE425 and SE535 at the top of the company's tanks, and they'll be available in clear or translucent black. Shure has designed these for use in live performances, and for audiophiles who aren't interested in missing a beat (or a note). There's even a Kevlar-reinforced cable that can be replaced or customized, and it ships with three pairs of disposable black foam sleeves, three pairs of soft flex sleeves and a carrying...
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The question just has to be asked: "Why didn't I think of that?!" Magnetic connectors have been around for years. They solve a common problem, in that they'll break apart if too much tension is applied. Apple has a patented version on their notebooks, a technology dubbed MagSafe, that is easily our favorite AC adapter technologies amongst all notebooks today. So what if a similar technology were applied to earbuds and headphones? That's what you get with Skunk Juice. These are a very oddly named line of earbuds, catering mostly to teenagers, that will go on sale for the first time later this month. Basically, these earbuds are designed to pass music along through magnetic connectors, so if you...
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