audio - CybAI news

06 Oct

Bose Reinvented Itself Just in Time. Now Comes the Tricky Part

stp2y0 CommentsRAG modelsaudio, audiophile, bluetooth, bose, headphones, portable audio, soundbars

The company has always had premium prices, but in certain categories the products haven't always matched the brand's prestige: 2010s attempts at noise-canceling earbuds were bulky, sounded middling, and had poor battery life; and it also sold a line of too-expensive Bluetooth speakers with screens that nobody needed.Then, after its physical storefronts were not having the billboard-like effect Bose wanted, the brand, just prior to Snyder joining, decided to dramatically pivot—a word that can so often be replaced with “panic”—to a strategy that focused on online sales and bolstering exhibits in existing storefronts such as Best Buy in the United…

03 Oct

The best wireless earbuds for 2024

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, best tech, Commerce, evergreen, feature, gear, headphones, shopping, streamshopping, thebuyersguide

While you could say the Bluetooth earbuds space is thriving, you could also say the amount of variety in the market can make it confusing to decide which pair will be the best Bluetooth earbuds for you. There are plenty of high-quality options out there, with solid active noise cancellation (ANC), sound quality and designs, so for many, the decision will come down to unique features that big companies like Sony, Bose, Apple and Samsung put in their products.I've tested and reviewed dozens of sets of earbuds a year for Engadget, constantly pitting new models against the previous best across…

01 Oct

Here’s how Sonos hopes to win back your trust after its app debacle

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, gear, news, Sonos

It’s been a disastrous few months for after the company. In an effort to win back users’ trust, the company has laid out a plan that includes several new commitments.“Our priority since its release has been — and continues to be — fixing the app. There were missteps, and we first went deep to understand how we got here, and then moved to convert those learnings into action,” Sonos CEO Patrick Spence . “We are committed to making changes to get us back to being the brand people love by offering the best audio system for the home and beyond.”There…

30 Sep

The best soundbars to boost your TV audio in 2024

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, best entertainment, best tech, Commerce, entertainment, evergreen, feature, gear, shopping, soundbars, speakers, streamshopping, thebuyersguide

The built-in speakers in most TVs aren’t enough to fill your living room with immersive sound that adequately showcases the finer details of movies and TV shows. Thankfully, you don't have to splurge for a five-speaker (or more) surround-sound system to improve your audio experience. In most cases, a single soundbar and maybe a subwoofer can often drastically improve the quality of Dolby Atmos content. To assist with your home theater shopping, I’ve compiled a list of the best soundbars in premium, mid-range and budget price ranges, along with a summary of what sets them apart from the competition. Just…

27 Sep

Chat Podcasts Rule the Market—and Always Will

stp2y0 CommentsAIartificial intelligence, audio, dial up, podcasts, youtube

Nearly every survey of the podcast industry in 2024 agrees on one point: Chat podcasts are king. As video rises in popularity (33 percent of US podcast listeners prefer to consume this way), ad spending increases (estimated to top $4 billion worldwide), and listenership steadily grows (8 percent year-over-year), it is the chat format—in its combative, enlightening, and sometimes quite unserious splendor—that continually draws people in.The ecosystem is profuse and unpredictable. There are the mainstays that have become fixtures of culture: The Joe Rogan Experience, Armchair Expert, and The Read. Newer fare like I’ve Had It and ShxtsnGigs (more on…

18 Sep

Bose’s new noise-canceling QuietComfort Earbuds are more affordable at $179

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, bose, gear, headphones, news, quietcomfort earbuds

So far, Bose has delivered two versions of its "regular" QuietComfort Earbuds: one in 2020 and another in 2022. The company followed up last year with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, debuting its take on spatial audio that doesn't rely on carefully recorded content. Now, Bose is jumping back to that "regular" model with a new version of the QuietComfort Earbuds. While it's actually the company's fourth set noise-canceling wireless buds, the new QC Earbuds will offer an entry-level option that's much more affordable than the premium Ultra.For the new QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose says the design is meant for "everyday use."…

17 Sep

Apple AirPods 4 review: Pro features for everyone

stp2y0 CommentsNewsairpods 4, apple, audio, gear, headphones, review

With a big redesign to the “regular” AirPods, Apple delivers two new models. Sure, they have a similar look, and share a few features, but the biggest change from the third-gen version is the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC) for an added cost. The AirPods 4 with ANC ($179) option has more to offer in terms of conveniences, but the overhaul has greatly benefitted the AirPods 4 ($129) too. Apple has given its entry-level AirPods extra power, while also offering an option between those and the most expensive earbuds in its arsenal. However, your AirPods choice may still come…

17 Sep

AirPods Pro 2’s new features have arrived. Here’s what to expect

stp2y0 CommentsNewsAirPods Pro 2, apple, audio, feature, gear, headphones

Prior to iOS 18's arrival, Apple released a firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2 that will deliver new features the company announced at WWDC in June. Now that the latest version of the mobile OS is available, your iPhone can fully employ the new tools, which include Siri Interactions, Voice Isolation and more. Your AirPods Pro 2 should have already installed the update and be ready to go when you upgrade to iOS 18, so here's what to expect when you use the new features.Siri InteractionsSiri Interactions allow you to interact with your phone at times when you can't…

11 Sep

The ‘audio earrings’ Kamala Harris didn’t wear during the debate barely even exist

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, gear, news, politics, wearables

With even Fox News and senior Republican figures admitting that Vice President Kamala Harris won Tuesday night’s presidential debate, some supporters of former president Donald Trump are desperately seeking crumbs of comfort. Cue the predictable conspiracy theories.A frequent refrain that has emerged from conservatives (but curiously, not Democrats) over the last decade or so is that their guy's opponent was wearing an earpiece during debates. These baseless accusations were slung at President Joe Biden in 2020, at Hillary Clinton in 2016 and at Barack Obama in 2012. The theory was debunked on each occasion.In Harris’ case, conspiracy theorists have claimed…

11 Sep

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: A floatable outdoor speaker that packs a punch

stp2y0 CommentsNewsaudio, everboom, gear, review, speakers, ultimate ears

Ultimate Ears has a history of building loud and rugged portable Bluetooth speakers with features to simplify the listening experience. Whether it's a party mode that supports over 100 speakers at once, or the ability to remotely power off the unit with your phone, the company’s devices have consistently been among the best. Enter the Everboom ($250), a new option from UE that sits in the middle of its lineup in terms of size and power. Those handy Ultimate Ears features return, but so does the company’s lack of clarity and fidelity.Ultimate EarsSmall enough to haul easily, yet loud enough…