Roku, long known for their streaming devices, has decided to up the ante in the audio market by introducing the new Roku Smart Soundbar and Roku Wireless Subwoofer. The Smart Soundbar is said to produce excellent sound on its own, but the new Wireless Subwoofer should a punch of bass. Preorders are open now on Roku.com for October 2019 shipping.
Sonos has become a leader in home audio for those who want great sound throughout their home. Sonos systems are not only easy to set up, but they are also intelligent, connected, and beautifully designed. The one thing missing from their line-up was a portable Bluetooth speaker; today that gets rectified with the Sonos Move.
JBL has a solid reputation for making some of the best audio products you can buy. For IFA 2019, they’ve unleashed a Pulse update, three new soundbars, and two new LINK Google-Assistant speakers.
A few months ago we wrote about Austere, a new A/V accessory company. Austere Describes their products as delivering “more than what’s expected, from design to performance.” Their products are pricey but look great. After that post, Judie and I had a chance to check out their offerings; we were impressed.
As a personal fan of Creative’s products, I was pretty stoked to hear that they would be releasing three products that would be sure to bring the noise. I had a chance to check out all three, so let’s dive in.
The last time I flew to Israel, I had a choice. I could enjoy the quiet provided by my wireless noise-canceling headphones, or I could use United’s crappy wired earphones and watch the onboard entertainment. The new RHA Wireless Flight Adapter makes that choice a thing of the past by letting you cut the cord to your airline entertainment system.
My living room home theater has gotten a bit too complex. There are remotes for the cable box, for the TV, for the Apple TV, and the Amazon Fire TV Cube. I’ve tried universal remotes but came back to using the individual devices. With the new Harmony Express, I’ve finally found a universal remote that works for me.
Some time ago, Tejas was sent a pair of $20 Bluetooth wireless over-the-ear headphones. During a conversation with the Gear Diary team, he raised the question of how they might stand up to far more expensive headphones. It was a good question. So… we got the New Jersey members of the team together to find out.
I’ve reviewed plenty of oversized connected speakers, but the JBL Partybox 300 takes that concept to the next level. It’s cordless when you need it to be, it has microphone and guitar inputs, it can put on a light show, it’s loud enough to fill your backyard, and man — it sounds amazing!
It’s always fun when a new company comes on the mobile technology scene. Austere is just such a company. The recently launched brand describes itself as delivering “more than what’s expected, from design to performance.” Their products are pricey, but they look great.
MAS Audio Science brings us the X5h on-ear headphones designed to deliver audiophile-class sound quality. With a 5Hz to 50Hz frequency response, the Japan Audio Society awarded a Hi-Res Audio Headphone Certification to the X5h. The X5h is also compatible with MAS’s XX Bluetooth Cable, which takes the X5h from wired to wireless with a switch of a cable.
Arguably the best webcam I’ve personally ever used, the Logitech Brio 4K Pro Webcam puts my MacBook’s eyesight camera to shame, although it comes with a hefty price.
Being a podcaster, I’ve learned that a good microphone is hard to find. You can search any group, any forum, and someone will suggest the Blue Yeti Mic as a starter microphone. But what if I told you that while USB microphones are great, Blue Microphones offers better microphones that are more versatile, that will grow with you over time?
We are huge fans of Master & Dynamic here, and how could we not be? Their headphones are extremely well made, and they produce excellent sound. If you’ve been looking for a great pair of wired cans, now is the time to check out their MH40 Over-Ear Headphones, as they are on sale for $199 from $249 for Memorial Day.
Alright, let just get this out of the way now: If you’ve ever attempted to podcast using a USB Microphone, it’s not the greatest experience you will have. Sure, a USB microphone may be most convenient, but with the Blue Ember XLR Microphone, you can have complete control as you record your audio.
Let me just begin by saying this: Without the Zoom H6, my podcast experience has been less than mediocre. I’ve recorded using a USB Mic for the better part of year to record my show, but Zoom’s H6 has been a delight to use, and going forward it’s the only way I’ll record my show.
A few weeks ago, Tejas wrote about the Stealth Labs Speaker Backpack that’s currently on Indiegogo. At the time, I thought a backpack with a built-in speaker could be an interesting idea, but only if it were executed properly. After being sent a pre-release model to try out, I’ve decided that this backpack, for what it is, is nearly perfect.
The first hardware I ever reviewed was a set of Audioengine A2 speakers; they were small, powerful and sounded amazing. In fact, the only knock I had was their lack of wireless capabilities that required me to get a Bluetooth adapter. Now Audioengine has released the Audioengine A2+ Wireless Desktop Speakers, and all I can say is “wow!”
My first website was an iPhone app review site. When we expanded into covering hardware, I was fortunate enough to get a pair of Audioengine A2 speakers as my first review item. Now Audioengine has refreshed the line and added Bluetooth. The new Audioengine A2+ has a classic look, but they are an entirely new offering from a fantastic company.
We had the chance to check out Samsung’s new QLED televisions at CES, and they were stunning. Samsung sells literal work of art TVs called “The Frame”, but even their QLED televisions are jaw-dropping in both looks and price!
With the ever-growing vinyl boom gaining more ground among young music fans, there’s been no shortage of interest in vintage audio gear. Hipsters have been trolling through thrift stores in search of discarded stereo receivers, turntables, and even tape decks. Countless guides have been written about setting up a premium hi-fi setup—I even wrote one myself.
