When setting up a TV or similar devices, you may have noticed an HDMI port called ARC (Audio Return Channel).

The ARC standard was designed to reduce cable clutter, streamline your setup and make your audio and video devices play nicely together.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is an audio and video equipment cable standard.

This popular and well-supported standard introduced the ARC protocol in HDMI version 1.4 in 2009. 

While ARC is not necessary, it makes setting up and using your equipment more convenient. It can also take advantage of newer audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS HD.

So, do you want to improve your home theater’s audio and video quality without adding extra cables or complexity?

HDMI ARC might be the answer. If this sounds good to you, we’ll explain what HDMI ARC is and how it can benefit you. Keep reading to learn more.

HDMI ARC: A quick overview

What should HDMI ARC be used for?

ARC and eARC (enhanced audio return channel) take advantage of the extra bandwidth available in HDMI cables to transfer audio signals from one device to another.

Previous to ARC, HDMI cables could only transfer audio in a singular direction.

Until the ARC standard was created, transferring sound from your TV to your audio equipment took multiple cables.

With HDMI ARC, you now only need one cable to achieve this. The HDMI cable is capable of sending and receiving audio from both directions.

ARC can transfer stereo and compressed 5.1 audio formats to and from your devices. It has a maximum bandwidth of about 1 Mbps per second.

The enhanced version is more capable but not nearly as common.

EARC supports the ARC audio formats and uncompressed 5.1, uncompressed 7.1, Dolby Atmos, and the DTS: X audio formats.

Furthermore, it can transfer significantly more data simultaneously with its 37 Mbps per second transfer rate.

Do I need HDMI ARC for a soundbar?

You don’t need HDMI ARC to connect to a soundbar. While ARC is useful and reduces the cables you need, there are various ways to connect to a soundbar.

If your soundbar supports it, you can connect external devices directly to it via HDMI cables and bypass the need for ARC altogether.

If your TV and soundbar both support Bluetooth audio, you can connect the two wirelessly and achieve similar results to ARC while keeping your cable usage down.

You can also connect your TV to the soundbar using an optical cable. This method isn’t as convenient but does a good job of getting sound from your TV to your audio equipment.

Do I need a special HDMI cable for ARC?

Fortunately, just about any HDMI cable you have lying around will work with ARC and eARC.

While ARC may have been introduced in HDMI version 1.4 and eARC was introduced in HDMI version 2.1, those refer to the ports themselves.

The cables haven’t changed all that much over the years, so you shouldn’t have any issues getting your old cables to work with ARC. 

Is HDMI ARC better than optical?

While optical is capable of getting sound from your TV to your audio equipment, it is not as good as HDMI ARC.

First, it has a maximum bandwidth of 384Kbps, less than half of the HDMI ARCs bandwidth.

Additionally, it does support the same stereo sound and compressed 5.1 audio formats as the standard ARC but doesn’t come close to matching eARC. 

Optical can’t handle various audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos, TrueHD, DTS HD, and Dolby Digital Plus. However, you lose out on potential other benefits of the ARC standard by using an optical cable.

HDMI ARC has an optional feature (which is required on eARC) to sync your audio and video for you. This auto-syncing feature is not available on the optical standard.

Optical is fine for use with older equipment or setups. If you choose between these two, there is almost no reason not to choose ARC.

HDMI ARC is the way to go

Hopefully, you now understand HDMI ARC and how it can benefit you.

Whether you’re looking to simplify your home theater setup or improve your devices’ audio and video quality, HDMI ARC can be a great solution.

Just be sure to check that your TV, receiver, and other devices are HDMI ARC-compatible before you start using them.

With HDMI ARC, you’ll enjoy a seamless and hassle-free home entertainment experience like never before.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Vizio sound bar HDMI ARC not working? Here’s how to fix it
• How to connect a Vizio sound bar to a Samsung TV
• Vizio Sound Bar turning on or off by itself? Here’s how to fix it
• How to connect Harman Kardon speakers to TV?

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The best wireless earbuds have a trifecta of qualities – audio quality, solid connectivity, and comfort.

Once those are satisfied, you can add other features, like active noise canceling, stylish exteriors, and charging cases for times you’re away from a charger.

And thanks to advances in Bluetooth protocols, you can get great sound out of wireless earbuds. Sure, there are other options, but nobody likes jogging in bulky over-ear headphones.

But with so many options out there, what are the best earbuds? Well, that’s where we come in, and we’ll give you plenty of options to sift through.

We’ve included both true wireless (TWS) earbuds and some with wires. Which type suits you is a matter of preference.

While some prefer the size of TWS, others like that the wire will catch the earbud if it falls out of their ear. Regardless of your preference, we have a solid list lined up.

We’ll keep revising this list as the year progresses, but here are the best wireless earbuds.

PaMu Z1 ($69)

For a really nice price, you get a lot of sonic performance from the PaMu Z1 wireless earbuds.

They’ve got hybrid Active Noise Canceling, Bluetooth 5.2 for solid wireless connection, 6.5 hours of playback from a single charge, and a total of 24hrs due to the charging case.

That case charges via USB-C or Qi wireless, and the 10mm titanium drivers give a powerful sound.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 ($249)

Apple upgraded the internals of its AirPods Pro for the second time around. The new H2 chipset improved active noise cancelation and transparency modes, and the stems now have swipe gestures for volume control.

The charging case works with Find My and has a small speaker for battery notifications and to play sound if you lose them.

You also get a more balanced sound signature, punchy low end, clear mids, and treble. Battery life is improved to six hours on a charge, with a total of 30 hours with the battery in the charging case.

Oddict Twig Pro ($149)

These aptX Adaptive capable TWS earbuds from Oddict sound as good as they look.

Powered by 12mm dual layered carbon drivers, you get active noise canceling, 5.5 hours of playback in the buds, and another 1.5 charges in the case.

That’s less than many TWS sets, but the Twig Pro’s charging case is much easier to pocket.

Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport ($249)

We’re big fans of anything Master & Dynamic puts out, and for good reason.

Every pair we’ve used has stellar sound quality, intuitive physical controls, and a style that just won’t quit.

The MW08 Sport comes with a Kevlar charging case for a little less weight to carry around, and it recharges via Qi-compatible charging pads.

The active noise canceling is decent, and they have a transparency mode, so you don’t feel cut off from your surroundings.

Gravastar Sirius Pro ($130)

Sometimes you want your earbuds to look different. The Gravastar Sirius Pro comes in an alloy charging case that’s literally out of this world.

They come IPX5 rated for sweat and rain protection and give you 4hrs of listening, with another three charges in the case.

The neat thing is its Gaming/Music/Movie modes, which tweak sound and latency to suit the content. Oh, and that metal case is handy as a bottle opener for those warm, lazy summer nights.

Read our review of Gravastar’s Sirius Pro here.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($279)

Bose has been shutting out the world for decades with some of the best active noise canceling around. The QuietComfort Earbuds continue in that proud tradition, with rich sound and a comfortable fit.

The six-hour battery life is bolstered by two more full charges in the case, which also has fast charging to top you back up in no time.

Sony WF-1000XM4 ($278)

If the main thing you want from your wireless earbuds is active noise canceling, the Sony WF-1000XM4 should be the first thing on your list.

They are better than anything else on the market, with ANC that doesn’t affect the full-bodied sound signature when on.

If satisfied Amazon customers are anything to go by, they’re also comfortable to wear and have great on-call quality.

Audeze LCDi3 ($899)

What’s as good as over-ear headphones but fits inside your ear?

Audeze’s LCDi3 wireless earbuds are one of the best-sounding IEMs that also comes with a wireless option.

You have to deal with a cable running behind your neck to use them wirelessly, but that’s worth it when you hear the expansive sound.

They’re also tweakable with the Audeze app so that you can turn the reference sound into something closer to your preferences.

1MORE EVO ($169.99)

1MORE has long been a favorite of KnowTechie, and EVO is no exception.

Two drivers give you solid performance across the frequency band with clean, deep bass. LDAC support means high-quality source material.

Bluetooth 5.2 means rock-solid connectivity.

That’s just for starters. You also get four ANC modes, two transparency modes, and sensitive touch controls.

With ANC off, get 8 hours of playback (based on playback at 50% volume), with 2.5 more charges in the case. Oh, and IPX4 rating, so they’re great to use when getting your sweat on.

Nura NuraTrue ($200)

Nura’s true wireless IEMs, the NuraTrue, customize their sound signature to your ears, just like on the larger NuraPhone. They sound excellent even before tweaking, and that’s the beginning.

You also get active noise cancelation, IPX4 waterproofing, fast charging, and Hi-Res audio support.

Google Pixel Buds Pro ($200)

Google Pixel owners are going to want to pick up a pair of Pixel Buds Pro. They come with Pixel-specific bonuses like easier settings, and Spatial Audio is planned for early 2023.

Multipoint Bluetooth support is a big feature, as is active noise cancellation. They also have quality sound, long battery life, and are comfortable to wear for long periods.

Beyerdynamic Free Byrd ($249)

Beyerdynamic’s first pair of TWS earbuds is a heavy hitter.

Quality sound, ANC that removes background noise without fatiguing, and up to 11 hours of playback combined in a tidy little package.

The carrying case has another 19 hours’ worth of charge in it. You get aptX Adaptive and AAC, IPX4 waterproofing, and a ton of ear tips to find your best fit.

The best part? Mimi Sound Personalization, which tweaks the EQ from a two-minute listening test, so the sound quality is personal to you.

The best wireless earbuds don’t have to break the bank

As you can see from the list above, there are plenty of great options for in-ear headphones that don’t break the bank.

For example, the PaMu Z1 in-ear headphones cost about the same price as a new video game.

But, if you have the ability to splurge, there are also great options that provide amazing sound clarity and features.

At the end of the day, any of these options will treat you right, so look through the guide to find the perfect fit (both literally and figuratively) for you.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Spotify alternatives for streaming music
• Review: EarFun Free Pro 2 – true wireless earbuds with ANC that won’t break the bank
• The Audeze Euclid in-ear headphones are expensive, but nearly perfect
• Review: Tribit XSound Mega – a hefty Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post The best wireless earbuds (2022) appeared first on KnowTechie.

The tech industry has an identity problem. When a company hits on a product that becomes so successful, every other tech company rushes to mimic it.

While slight tweaks are made to the various styles, they usually follow a similar pattern. This phenomenon has been in full swing within the earbuds market for some time.

That was the case until HHOGene entered the market with the GPods.

Review

Learn More

Quick Verdict

The $139 HHOGene GPod earbuds set themselves apart from the pack with a unique design, great sound quality, and decent battery life. They are a bit bulky and can’t be easily transported in their case, but the featured light-up design is what truly shines here.

HHOGene is a new company, and after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, the GPods were born.

The HHOGene GPods take traditional earbuds’ design and add something unique to the space: customization. They come in black or white, with a unique light-up design.

So, do GPods live up to the hype, or are they just a gimmick? I spent the past few weeks figuring that out. Let’s dive in and see what they’re all about.

Specifications

Light-up design

The GPods stem, or ‘shell’ as HHOGene refers to it, has fully adjustable LED lights.

HHOGene says these earbuds display over 300,000 color combinations in addition to four lighting modes: ripple, pulse, bright, and breath.

Each lighting mode causes the lights to display in a different pattern or static color.

The lights are fully adjustable within the app. You even have the ability to create a custom color profile from a photo.

Customizable

To make the earbuds even more customizable, the company offers snap-on shells

GPod shells are little plastic caps that cover the LED lights to create various designs. The shells included are: Tiger Stripes, Dare to Shine, The Ripples, and The Skull.

You can buy these and FIFA World Cup shells separately for $20 each. HHOGene includes four shells in the GPods Premium Set.

Sound quality and features

GPods are solidly built and sound fantastic. They include four different gel tips for the perfect fit. Even after extended play sessions, they never felt uncomfortable.

The 10mm high-definition drivers do a great job of delivering punchy bass while producing crisp and clear sound. These earbuds support SBC and AAC audio codecs.

Listening modes

You get a few different listening modes with the HHOGene GPods.

For instance, there is active noise cancellation (ANC), capable of reducing background sound levels up to 25 decibels. ANC on these earbuds is good but not great.

I could make out some noise around me, but the earbuds were able to suppress it a bit. Don’t expect the GPods to drown out the sound around you completely, however.

You can also enable transparency mode if you want to hear the world around you. This allows ambient noise to come in, keeping you in tune with your surroundings.

Transparency mode worked well enough for my use. I did have trouble understanding others around me if the volume was too high, though.

If I set the volume mid-way or lower, I could have a full conversation with someone without pausing my content.

Touch controls and IPX4 rated

GPods feature touch controls to answer and reject calls, skip tracks, pause and play content, or change ANC settings.

In addition, they are IPX4 rated, which means they can withstand a splash of water in any direction.

I wish they were IPX5 for better protection, but IPX4 should be enough to take them out in the rain without worrying about ruining them.

Battery life

HHOGene rates the GPods battery life at five hours (four with ANC active) with another 15 hours from the charging case.

During my testing, these numbers proved accurate. With a combination of ANC on and off, I got about four hours and 15 minutes before I had to charge them.

If your GPods battery is running low, a 10-minute charge is good enough for an additional two hours of listening.

Pocketability

The charging case is pretty large and hurts the overall pocketability of these earbuds. At 65mm x 39mm, the case doesn’t easily fit into your pocket.

Large, loose pockets can fit them, but it won’t be comfortable. You can forget about putting this case into tighter pockets. GPods are best carried by hand or tossing it into a bag.

HHOGene GPods app

The HHOGene app is where all the customization lives. It’s laid out well and offers an intuitive way to change your settings quickly.

The top of the app features a live view of your current selection, letting you see what your GPods look like without having to take them out of your ears.

The default page is where you adjust GPods lighting colors. You get a selection of preset colors at the bottom of the page, or you can follow a link to see additional color profiles.

Selecting the Light tab lets you change the brightness level, turn the lights on or off, and adjust its lighting modes.

The Hear tab lets you turn on ANC, transparency mode, or turn off noise control altogether. The Shell tab lets you preview various shells and see what they would look like on the GPods.

Hitting the menu at the top left brings you to the HHOGene Shop, where you can leave feedback or get any product help. You can also disconnect GPods from this menu.

Alternative options worth checking out

Imageㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ	Product	Price
	Oddict Twig ProBest Traditional Design Premium sound Traditional design Good battery life	Learn MoreRead the Reviews
	Bose QuietComfort EarbudsBest Premium Earbuds Great sound quality Great battery life Good ANC	Learn MoreRead the Reviews
	Shockz OpenRun ProBest Bone Conduction Headphones Surprisingly good sound quality Great for running Excellent battery life	Learn MoreRead the Reviews

Final verdict

The HHOGene GPods aren’t cheap, with a base price of $139 and the premium set costing $200.

Initially, I was skeptical that the price was inflated due to its unique light-up design. Those worries melted away the moment I began to use them.

These earbuds sound great, fit in my ear well, and last a decent amount of time without having to charge them. I had no issues taking them out on a run or wearing them around the house.

My preferred setting is to enable transparency mode and to keep the lighting at a steady glow.

The GPods truly stand out from the crowd, so don’t be surprised if people stop to ask you about them once in a while.

Where to find GPods

As of now, the only place you can find GPods is directly from HHOGene’s website. They cost $139.99 and come in black or white.

Review

HHOGene GPods

GPods are the world’s first true wireless earbuds with light, featuring a unique shell design, active noise cancellation, and powerful 10mm drivers. The combination of these features separates GPods from the rest of the pack.

See at HHOGene

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Lockly Vision Elite smart lock
• Review: AGM H5 Pro smartphone
• Review: INNOCN 27 4K mini LED monitor
• Review: Nuphy Air60 wireless mechanical keyboard

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. KnowTechie was provided with a unit for this review.

The post Review: HHOGene GPods light earbuds appeared first on KnowTechie.

No, you didn’t misread that. This piece of functional modern art costs $12,000. Porsche Design only made 500 of them for the entire world, but we imagine the target market is small.

The 911 Soundbar 2.0 Pro has enough oomph to go 0-60 in a really short time. The 2.1.2 virtual surround system has 300 watts of system power, 4K-compatible HDMI ports for input, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.0.

And don’t forget — the original Porsche 992 GTS exhaust system. That’s the internal name for the 911 GTS before it gets to the consumer market, and you can now have a piece of it on your wall.

Well, assuming you have $12,000 to spare, in a looming recession, with inflation out of control. Oh, and a wall able to hold 65kg (143.3 lbs).

You’ll have to be a purveyor of purloined Porsche parts to really enjoy this soundbar in your home. Even Dolby Atmos DTS-HD, Apple AirPlay 2, and Google Chromecast support won’t be enough of a draw for most.

Maybe this soundbar will appeal to true gearheads. It’ll certainly turn heads, just as much as the car that also uses that exhaust system.

Porsche Design isn’t the only company making oddball speaker systems. These options are a great way to decorate while hiding functionality so you can listen to music wherever you are.

It’s also not the only time Porsche Design has put an exhaust system on a speaker. The last version was $3,500, and featured 2.1 virtual surround and 200 watts of power.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Razer launches new $99 Leviathan V2 X soundbar for PCs
• Vizio is going all-out on smart TVs and soundbars in 2023
• Review: Monoprice Soundstage 3 portable Bluetooth speaker
• Volvo will stop selling gas guzzlers by 2030

The post Porsche’s $12K soundbar features a 992 GTS exhaust system appeared first on KnowTechie.

The VR P10 are the first pair of earbuds from the Made for Meta program, so they’re certified to work with Meta’s VR headsets. They come with a USB-C dongle that provides low-latency audio streaming over 2.4GHz wireless.

While many VR headsets have Bluetooth connectivity for earbuds, the latency reduces your immersion in the virtual worlds. That could mean the difference between success and failure in some types of games.

By using low-latency 2.4GHz, that lag is gone. There’s also support for LC3 Bluetooth, which reduces Bluetooth latency by reducing audio quality slightly.

Anker made a dongle we actually like

The dongle has a couple of other tricks. A USB-C passthrough port means you can use it while charging your Quest 2 or while using it tethered to your PC.

There’s even a place to store the dongle inside the charging case for the earbuds.

Genius, right? No more having to worry about losing your dongle. Anker’s Soundcore VR P10 stows it inside the case above the earbuds.

You can even connect up to four dongles to one VR P10 headset. You can change which dongle you’re connected to via the Soundcore app on Android or iOS.

The earbuds have six hours of battery life, with another three total charges in the charging case. That’s the industry standard for TWS earbuds and will easily outlast the battery life of the Meta Quest 2.

You can get Anker’s $99.99 Soundcore VR P10 from Amazon, Soundcore, or Meta. Best Buy will have it later this year, both online and in-store.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds can monitor your heart rate
• New Nothing earbuds lose the silicon tips and possibly ANC
• Are AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) worth buying? Here’s what reviews say
• Review: Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction headphones

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post New Soundcore earbuds are built with the Quest 2 in mind appeared first on KnowTechie.

The $1,000 CRE-C10 and $1,300 CRE-E10 were designed in partnership with WS Audiology and will be released before the end of the year.

This release follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision earlier this summer to finally allow OTC hearing aids to be sold.

That decision significantly reduced the process, which previously required multiple visits to specialist doctors and thousands of dollars.

Sony is one of the biggest names in audio, so it’s no surprise to see their name on new OTC hearing aids. Let’s go over the two new models.

Sony has two new OTC hearing aid models

Sony’s CRE-E10 (above) looks like slimmed-down earbuds and has a 26-hour battery life between charges. They can also stream audio or music from an iOS device.

The CRE-C10 (below and featured imaged) is one of the smallest OTC hearing aids on the market, “virtually invisible” when inserted. They feature 70 hours of continuous use from traditional Size 10 hearing aid batteries.

Both models use Sony’s Hearing control app to personalize their sound, enabling the user to “self-fit” to the hearing aids.

This process uses pre-defined hearing profiles created from “thousands of actual, real-life audiogram results,” according to Sony.

The app also allows for tweaks to volume level and other settings to further personalize the sound. Both OTC hearing aids self-adjust to your surroundings and have noise-reduction features.

Sony’s $999.99 CRE-C10 OTC hearing aid is available to pre-order from Sony.com and will be available later this month from other outlets, including Amazon, Best Buy, and select hearing-aid professionals.

Sony’s $1,299.99 CRE-E10 OTC hearing aids will be available later this winter from Sony.com.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Amazon Fire TV Cube can now stream directly to hearing aids
• Sony raises PS5 prices in most markets over inflation fears
• Whisper’s AI-powered hearing aid system is making its way to Android
• New Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds can monitor your heart rate

The post Sony releases $1,000 hearing aids that anyone can buy appeared first on KnowTechie.

The stick design might not be to everyone’s tastes, but the tech inside seems promising. Soundcore put dual dynamic drivers into the Liberty 4, which they say offers “clarity across all frequencies.”

For the relatively cheap price, you get a lot of features. One of the big ones is spatial audio, which keeps sounds pinned in 3D space while you move your head around.

Bluetooth 5.3, Anker’s own HearID active noise cancellation (ANC), multipoint connectivity, and six microphones (three in each bud) are also featured in these new buds.

Meet the Soundcore Liberty 4

You also get one feature we’ve rarely seen — in-ear heart rate monitoring, thanks to a tiny sensor on the side of the ear tip.

That sensor feeds into a Wellness app to track daily trends, workout data, or anything else. These sound perfect if you’re a fan of earbuds in the gym.

Anker says that the Liberty 4 has some impressive battery stats. They claim nine hours with normal use, seven hours with ANC on, and six hours in LDAC mode without ANC.

You can also fast charge them from the charging case, getting three hours of playback from 15 minutes of charging. The case has wireless charging or the usual USB-C connector. The case has roughly two full charges in it.

The release schedule is a little convoluted if you’re interested in Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4.

Only the black colorway is available right now, for $149.99, from Soundcore.com. Amazon will start selling the black Liberty 4 on Oct 10, and Best Buy will have it by the end of October.

The Soundcore website has preorders for the white colorway, with a promise to ship all orders before October 20. Amazon will sell the white version on Oct 17.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New Nothing earbuds lose the silicon tips and possibly ANC
• JBL’s newest earbuds have a touchscreen on the charging case
• AirPods Max connectivity issues? Try cleaning them
• Review: Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction headphones

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post New Soundcore Liberty 4 earbuds can monitor your heart rate appeared first on KnowTechie.

The Nothing Ear (stick) was showcased with rising star designer Chet Lo. His signature spiky knitwear was the perfect backdrop for the cyber-inspired, transparent Nothing Ear (stick).

The collection also had limited edition bags for the Nothing phone that shows off the LED notifications system on the back of the phone.

The thing is, in typical Nothing style, the teaser reveal is something of, well, nothing. The upstart company didn’t release any details about the hardware, price, or even when the release date will be.

Unfortunately for the tight-lipped Nothing, Amazon did leak some information on the upcoming earbuds earlier this year.

The lipstick-style charging case is transparent, like the existing earbuds. The design of the earbuds is different, however, so this isn’t simply a reissue of the existing buds with a new case.

The earlier leaked images show earbuds that don’t have silicone ear tips. That makes us think of AirPods, which don’t have ear tips.

If so, Nothing uses Apple’s product stack differentiation as the model for their earbuds. The Nothing Ear (1) will be the premium device at $99, and the Nothing ear (stick) will be a lower-priced alternative.

With that in mind, we don’t expect that the Nothing ear (stick) will feature active noise canceling (ANC). They’ll likely use Bluetooth 5.2 and might support Bluetooth LE Audio.

We’ll have to wait until later this year before Nothing releases more details about the Nothing ear (stick). Until then, we’re going to empty our minds in calm contemplation.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• JBL’s newest earbuds have a touchscreen on the charging case
• Review: Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction headphones
• AirPods Max connectivity issues? Try cleaning them
• Fitbit users will be required to have a Google account by 2025

The post New Nothing earbuds lose the silicon tips and possibly ANC appeared first on KnowTechie.

The new Leviathan V2 X PC loses some of the audio quality that the bigger, more expensive cousin has. For instance, you don’t get a subwoofer or THX Spatial Audio.

What you do get are two full-range racetrack drivers and two passive bass radiators. The baby Leviathan also connects to your PC using USB-C with Power Delivery.

The soundbar also has Bluetooth 5.0, so you can connect your smartphone and other devices.

Razer says that the sound output of the new soundbar will be dependent on what device is plugged into the USB-C port. The max output is 90 dB at one meter away from the soundbar.

The nice thing is that you can power it from a wall socket, but you’ll have to provide your own USB-C charger. It’s only 400mm long, giving even the smallest desks a chance at full-sized speakers.

It wouldn’t be a Razer device without a mention of Chroma RGB, the company’s signature lighting system. Sadly, you get fewer lighting zones here, at 14 (vs. 16 on the larger Leviathan).

The soundbar is 4/5ths the size, though, so you end up with smaller lighting sections which might suit some color patterns better.

For under a hundred bucks, this looks to be good value. It brings stereo sound to your PC, and you can always use Window’s inbuilt spatial sound to give it some more presence.

You can preorder the $99 Razer Leviathan V2 X PC now, with Razer starting shipping on September 28.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Razer resurrects the DeathStalker name with three new keyboards
• Razer’s new Stream Controller lets you easily control your PC
• The Razer Kishi V2 might be the best new way to game on the go
• Razer now makes a Linux laptop, but not for gamers

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Spotify is now selling audiobooks from inside its app. Users in the US can go to a dedicated section, purchase their chosen books, and listen along.

Launched today, there are over 300,000 titles to purchase. While browsing, the play button will look like a lock icon. Tapping on that opens a separate webpage where users can pay for their audiobook.

Once paid, the audiobook will be available from the user’s library and can be played anytime. Spotify also allows downloads for offline listening and has automatic bookmarking, so you never lose your place.

You can adjust the playback speed with various slower-than- and faster-than-normal options. And yes, there’s a rating system, so you can rave about how much you liked the title (or didn’t).

READ MORE: How to listen to audiobooks on Spotify

Spotify has been positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for all things audio for some time now. Last year, the company bought Findaway, a “leading audiobook platform.”

That purchase gave Spotify an audiobook publisher and distributor and one that distributes to other audiobook retailers.

Spotify now has another revenue stream, one that’s not dependent on subscribers

The deal also came with a self-publishing arm. Will Spotify enable self-published audiobooks to join its platform? Is it already using this for its podcasting features?

Spotify is betting big on audiobooks being an income driver in the future. Earlier this year, at Spotify’s Investor Day, CEO Daniel Ek said, “we believe that audiobooks, in their many different forms, will be a massive opportunity.”

That could well be true. The global book market is around $140 billion annually, with audiobooks still under 10% of that total. The potential is there to expand to 50% of the market.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Spotify is giving new subscribers three months of Premium for free
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• Spotify finally adds new ‘play’ and ‘shuffle’ buttons, but there’s a catch

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That means you can leave your phone in your pocket more. The touchscreen has multiple screens to flick through, from managing your music to adjusting the earbuds’ settings and calls, messages, and social media notifications.

It’s essentially putting a smartwatch onto your earbuds case, which sounds like a smart idea. Not everyone wants to wear something on their wrist or keep their phone easily accessible. It also replicates the JBL app functionality.

The Tour Pro 2 looks like capable earbuds too. They use the latest Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio, have adaptive noise cancellation, and JBL tweaked 10mm drivers.

Battery life is rated at 10 hours before needing a charge, with a total of 40 hours with the charging case. Six microphones are built-in for calls and noise canceling.

JBL is also launching a pair of over-ears, the Tour One M2. They use 40mm, dynamic drivers, have adaptive noise cancelation, and supposedly “outperforms the competition and JBL’s own previous headphones,” according to JBL.

The sad news for American consumers is that JBL has no plans to launch in the US market. Anyone who wants them will need to import from Europe, or maybe the UK. This goes for both the headphones and earbuds.

The JBL Tour Pro 2 will be on sale in Europe and the UK in January 2023 for €249 / £220. They will come in champagne and black.

The JBL Tour One M2 will cost €299/ £279.99, in the same two colors, and the same Europe/UK-only availability.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Urbanista’s latest earbuds get power from any light source
• Apple VR headset: Release date, features, and price
• Apple’s AirPods could get USB-C charging by 2023, but nothing is official
• Spotify finally adds new ‘play’ and ‘shuffle’ buttons, but there’s a catch

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Urbanista wants to change that with its $149 Phoenix wireless earbuds, which feature a solar-powered charging case.

The case uses the same Powerfoyle solar tech from Swedish company Exeger that powers Urbanista’s Los Angeles over-ears, and Adidas’ RPT-02 SOL.

It differs from traditional solar panels because it can charge from any light source. That could be office overhead fluorescents, LEDs, or the sun.

The Phoenix earbuds have a claimed eight-hour battery life before needing to charge. The battery in the case can supply another 24 hours of playback. That’s already a long time before needing to plug into a wall charger.

READ MORE: JBL’s newest earbuds have a touchscreen on the charging case

The Exeger panel can extend that substantially. Urbanista says that every hour the case stays in the sun it will get another hour of stored charge.

Of course, you can always plug them into a USB-C charger if you are in a situation where bright light isn’t available consistently.

The rest of the Phoenix buds seems fairly standard. You’ll get active noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, IPX4 water resistance, and a choice of pink or black colorways.

What struck me is just how far wireless earbuds have come recently. We reviewed another Urbanista pair in 2020, the London.

They cost the same as the Phoenix, but without the cool solar power charging, multipoint connectivity, or the total available battery life.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New LG earbuds kill bacteria and feature active noise canceling
• Sennheiser’s new headphones boast impressive 60-hour battery life
• Review: Oladance Wearable Stereo open earbuds
• Apple’s AirPods could get USB-C charging by 2023

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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That would mean the AirPods Pro that is expected later this year will still use the Lightning port. We’re not expecting AirPods 4 until next year at least.

But, if supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, the AirPods 4 will include a USB-C charging case when they eventually do release.

“I predict Apple will launch USB-C-capable charging cases for all AirPods models in 2023. However, the charging case of the new AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2H22 may still support Lightning,” says Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple is also expected to move to USB-C on the iPhone 15 next year. That’s ahead of the European Union’s 2024 deadline for mobile phone manufacturers to use USB-C as the common charging port.

Kuo doesn’t think that Apple will stop there. Back in May, he predicted that every other Lightning port-equipped device will switch to USB-C.

That list includes the Magic Mouse/Keyboard/Trackpad, MagSafe Battery, and all AirPods models.

We can’t wait. Seriously. Having to carry a Lightning cable as well as USB-C and USB-A and micro-USB cables around is a hassle. Even our power tools recharge via USB-C now. Apple needs to do this or get left behind.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Apple reportedly gearing up for new HomePods and smart devices
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• Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 features a better camera and battery
• Google Pixel 7: News, rumors, leaks, pricing, and release date

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This time around Samsung opted for a smaller, more portable design for its Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. They’re about 15 percent smaller than the original Buds Pro and come in black, white, or purple.

BONUS OFFER: Preorder the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro now and get $30 in Samsung credit, plus a free charging pad. Additionally, you can get a $75 trade-in credit — guaranteed with any Galaxy Buds, in any condition. Plus, a $50 trade-in credit is guaranteed with any wireless audio.

The company has also increased the size of the venting grille on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro to allow more airflow to your ears when wearing. This should, hopefully, make the buds more comfortable for long-time usage.

As for features, the Buds 2 Pro can still automatically switch between Samsung devices for added convenience. But there’s still no support for multipoint connect, which allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously.

Samsung improved audio playback with this model, adding support for 24-bit hi-fi audio playback. But the company notes that 24-bit audio depends on support from your music app, which Spotify has yet to add.

Samsung has also improved 360 audio in the Buds Pro 2. Additionally, the Buds Pro 2 are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, making them ready for LE (low-energy) Bluetooth playback.

With up to 8 hours of battery life (or five when using ANC) Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro 2 have impressive battery life. And you can add an additional 30 hours (20 hours with ANC active) of battery life from the Buds 2 Pro case.

Preorders start today, with availability starting on August 26. The $229.99 Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can be bought directly from Samsung or retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

BONUS OFFER: Preorder the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro now and get $30 in Samsung credit, plus a free charging pad. Additionally, you can get a $75 trade-in credit — guaranteed with any Galaxy Buds, in any condition. Plus, a $50 trade-in credit is guaranteed with any wireless audio.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Preorder Samsung’s new AI washer and dryer and save up to $945
• Amazon Luna game streaming comes to Samsung smart TVs
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• Apple reportedly gearing up for new HomePods and smart devices

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Sennheiser just announced its latest wireless headphones, the $349.95 Momentum 4. The biggest change? The completely revamped look does away with the retro-chic design of the previous three models.

Gone is any visible metal on the headband. Also gone is the ability to fold the headband so they fit in a smaller volume for easy transport.

You do get a better hardshell case to protect the Momentum 4, and the earcups can now swivel to sit flat on surfaces or your neck, however.

The real leather earcups are gone too, in favor of replaceable pads with faux leather. Sennheiser has also opted for touch-sensitive surfaces for controls, instead of the physical buttons of the previous models.

The most important parts of Sennheiser’s Momentum range are still here though. The sound signature is mostly unchanged, and the same 42mm drivers are used.

You get a claimed 60-hour battery life, which is double (or more!) that the competition from Sony, Bose, and Apple can lay claim to.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 still features multipoint connectivity and wired USB-C audio. They support AAC, SBC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs, and have Adaptive Noise Cancellation, sound personalization, and EQ capabilities.

For $349.95, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is every part the contender in a market that has Apple AirPods Max, Bose QuietComfort 45, Bower & Wilkins’ PX7, and the Sony WH-1000XM5. I just wish they hadn’t removed the Momentum’s soul in the process.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are available for preorder today and will be available starting August 23.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• New LG earbuds kill bacteria and feature active noise canceling
• Apple will launch AirPods Pro 2 later this year, but still no USB-C
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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The $449 UE Drops are traditional-shaped in-ear monitors (IEMs), made wireless and molded to the exact shape of your ears. To quote UE, the UE Drops are “For your ears only.”

When you buy the UE Drops, you don’t immediately get your earbuds. Instead, you get a FitKit, with everything you need to make a custom mold of your ear.

Use that, ship the completed molds back to UE, and wait a few weeks.

READ MORE: JBL’s newest earbuds have a touchscreen on the charging case

READ MORE: Review: Oladance Wearable Stereo open earbuds

The result is two IEMs sent to your home and customized to your unique ears. The earbuds feature 9.2mm, dynamic drivers. Plus, you also get dual beamforming microphones for voice calls; they’re water- and sweat-resistant.

Ultimate Ears says the battery life is about eight hours, with another 14 hours in the charging case. That case also features wireless charging, and five minutes of wired charging gives an hour of playback. The Drops also have onboard controls and in-ear detection.

Unlike traditional IEMs, the UE Drops have a companion app for iOS and Android. That lets you switch sound presets, manage connected devices, set up voice control, and more.

Unfortunately, the app won’t see active noise cancellation options, as the UE Drops only feature passive noise isolation.

You can get the UE Drops right now, direct from Ultimate Ears, for $449. It’ll take anywhere between two and four weeks to get your custom-molded TWS buds back once you send in your FitKit impressions.

Android and iOS apps are available for the UE FitKit and UE Drops. And while you’re at it, check out the new Wonderboom 3.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best wireless earbuds of 2022
• Anker’s new Sport X10 earbuds are built to stay in your ears
• Skullcandy’s new Mod earbuds let you connect to 2 devices at once
• Review: EarFun Free Pro 2 – true wireless earbuds with ANC

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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The vibrations from each speaker interact with walls, surfaces around the room, and each other. Therefore, having poorly positioned speakers can be pivotal to the sound.

It is especially true for surround sound systems. A surround sound system creates an immersive audio experience from a specific listening point.

When the speakers point in all directions, they must be aligned to avoid canceling some frequencies or enhancing others.

Proper alignment also helps create an accurate audio image or helps your brain correctly place sounds in your environment. Gamers know precisely how important this is.

Tips for placing your speakers

Selby, a speaker dealer in Australia, shared with us these expert tips to optimize the placement of your speakers; follow these steps:

• Identify the optimal listening position: Before placing any speakers, you should know where in the room you intend to be when listening. For example, if the listening area is relatively large, identify the central point or where you like to sit most often.
• Equilateral triangle: To determine the general placement of the front stereo speakers, they should form an equilateral triangle with the listening point. In other words, they should be the same distance apart from each other as the distance from the listener to each speaker.
• Distance between speakers: For smaller bookshelf speakers, there should be roughly 4 feet of separation; for more prominent speakers like floor-standing speakers, there can be about 8 feet. Putting your speakers too close together will cause the sound to be muddy, and too far apart can create a gap between them in the audio image.
• Height of speakers: As for height, you should try to position the speakers so that the height of the tweeters is the same elevation as your ears. On a side note, having speaker stands is an excellent idea for bookshelf speakers. Proper isolation stands can significantly improve performance compared to placing them on a shelf or TV stand.
• Proximity to walls: You shouldn’t place any speakers closer than 2-3 feet away from a wall. This helps to reduce excessive vibration reflections.
• Toe-in: Once your speakers are in place, you can adjust the angle of the speakers or toe-in. Angle each speaker inward so that they point to a spot directly behind the listening area. Decreasing toe-in can help you achieve good sound quality across a wider area.
• Furnishings and obstacles: There shouldn’t be any objects between the speakers and the listening point. If needed, adjust your furniture to minimize sound reflections. Ideally, it would be best if you strive for symmetry.
• Testing: Throughout the entire process, pick a song you’re familiar with and listen from the listening point. Make minor adjustments and see if you can hear a difference. This will help you get a feel for the changes in the sound caused by speaker placement, and you can fine-tune the positioning to your liking.

Follow the same guidelines for each additional pair of speakers, such as rear speakers. For subwoofers, exact positioning is not as important. However, you should avoid placing subwoofers in a corner.

Wrapping it up

If you have a keen ear, you may notice the sound of your system change over time or in the first 100 hours of listening as the woofers loosen up.

But, of course, if you want to strive for perfection, you can always try adjusting the positioning after a while.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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That premium price tag also means you get premium materials. Anodized aluminum is everywhere, clad in the softest lambskin leather. The earcup surface is tempered glass, for a nice shine to complement the leather.

You also get a premium sound, as you’d possibly expect. Two 40mm beryllium drivers create that rich Master & Dynamic sound signature.

The tweak this time is that the adaptive ANC doesn’t affect the sound, which is awesome to hear. That ANC is handled by four microphones, and there are another four microphones for noise canceling while you make voice calls.

The MW75 has 28 hours of battery life with ANC on, and a staggering 32 hours when ANC is off. The downside of that larger battery is a substantially longer charging time, but that’s a trade-off I’d make any day.

Another premium feature is ear-detection sensors, which pause playback if you take the headphones off. M&D kept controls simple, so no finicky touch controls here.

Bluetooth 5.1 now handles wireless connectivity, and they support AAC, SBC, and Qualcomm aptX Bluetooth codecs.

You can get the MW75 straight from Master & Dynamic, with other retailers to follow. M&D has made them in black metal on black, silver metal on black, silver metal on gray, and the signature silver metal on brown.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Monoprice Monolith M1000ANC Bluetooth Headphones
• The best wireless earbuds of 2022
• Apple will launch AirPods Pro 2 later this year, but still no USB-C
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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That secret weapon? Alongside Bluetooth 5.2, which you’d expect from a high-end pair of true wireless earbuds, you get a dedicated 2.4GHz WiFi channel.

The 2.4GHz WiFi channel pairs with a USB-C dongle, so you can get low-latency audio to any device that can use USB-C. This includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, portable game consoles, or anything else with support for USB audio.

The dongle even has a button to switch between the two wireless connectivity options. That enables you to use the dongle for your PC, but switch to your phone immediately if you get a call. The carrying case even has a well-thought-out place to stash the dongle when not in use.

The only place the earbuds won’t work? Your Xbox, because Microsoft uses a proprietary wireless audio protocol.

The rest of the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds are what you’d expect from a gaming pair of earbuds. HyperX says they get 10 hours of playback on a charge, with another 23 hours in the carry case. The 12mm drivers should give some deep bass to hear every explosion while you game.

On PC, the NGENUITY app brings personalized sound options, EQ profiles, and virtual 7.1 surround sound to the Cloud MIX Buds.

The HyperX Cloud Mix Buds are available now from HyperX. You can snag them directly from HyperX or from Amazon, both for $149.99.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• HP is acquiring video game accessories manufacturer HyperX for $425 million
• Skullcandy’s new Mod earbuds let you connect to 2 devices at once
• Sony’s new LinkBuds can predict what you should listen to next
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The post HyperX’s Cloud Mix Buds are great for people with a lot of devices appeared first on KnowTechie.

The biggest feature is multipoint pairing, which lets you have the earbuds paired to two devices at once. That’s clutch in today’s multitasking world, and will let you still take phone calls even if you’re watching a movie on your laptop.

Skullcandy hasn’t stopped there. Worried about losing your earbuds? Well, the Mod earbuds have Tile Finding tech built-in, so you can use the Tile app to ring the buds or see their last known location.

READ MORE: Ultimate Ears’ new UE Drops are custom-fit IEM wireless earbuds

READ MORE: Anker’s new Sport X10 earbuds are built to stay in your ears

You also get an IP55 water rating, so they should survive your workouts. They’re compact, as is the case, and you get seven hours of listening from a charge.

The case adds another 27 hours of juice, and ten minutes stowed in the case replenishes two hours of playback in the buds.

You don’t get any active noise cancellation here, but then again, they’re under $60, so you shouldn’t expect that feature.

Clear Voice Smart Mic filters out background noise when you’re on calls, and Stay-Aware Mode is available to better hear your surroundings.

READ MORE: Review: Oladance Wearable Stereo open earbuds

Oh, and each bud has its own microphone and can be used solo, in case you prefer using only one bud for calls.

As You can also tweak the sound profile via the companion app and personalize the on-bud controls if you don’t like the defaults.

That’s a whole lot of features for a low price. You can get the new Skullcandy Mod earbuds direct from Skullcandy, for $59.99.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best wireless earbuds of 2022
• Sony’s new LinkBuds can predict what you should listen to next
• When will the AirPods Pro 2 come out?
• Review: EarFun Free Pro 2 – true wireless earbuds with ANC that won’t break the bank

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