Sony’s gold-plated music player comes to the U.S., along with new in-ears
Sony’s Signature Series is the line it reserves for some of its best of the best when it comes to audio gear, and at the 2018 Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest, the company announced new products coming to the U.S. in the DMP-Z1 digital music player and IER-Z1R in-ear headphones.
Focal’s Elegia headphones quietly make a loud impression
Until now, all of Focal’s higher-end models like the Utopia, Clear, and Clear have used open-back designs, but the company’s new Elegia headphones are its first high-end model to opt to use a closed-back design instead, which makes for better isolation from outside sound.
RHA goes full golf tee with the AirPod-like TrueConnect earbuds
Earlier this year, RHA debuted the CL2, the company's first planar magnetic in-ear headphones. Now it’s following up with another first, which comes in the form of the new TrueConnect, which is RHA’s first set of true wireless earbuds, keeping the brand’s signature style.
Plex’s new web series feature helps take the sting out of its plug-in removal
In September, Plex removed features it said users weren’t using, including plug-ins, which could be used to watch web content. Now Plex is adding built-in support for web series, and the good news is you don’t need a Plex Pass subscription to make use of the new feature.
Amazon packs UHD and HDR in a tiny form factor with the new Fire TV Stick 4K
If you’ve been waiting for a Fire TV in a small form factor that supports 4K Ultra HD content and high dynamic range, that day has finally come, as the company has unveiled the Fire TV 4K. It ships with an all-new Alexa Voice remote at a price that puts it within impulse purchase range.
Netflix is planning more interactive storytelling, starting with ‘Black Mirror’
British science fiction anthology TV series 'Black Mirror' is known for its dark tone and less-than-happy endings, but in the upcoming fifth season, fans will be able to choose just how the show ends, at least in one episode, as Netflix is experimenting with interactive programming.
Caavo’s Control Center puts itself at the center of your TV viewing experience
In early 2017, Caavo unveiled its eponymous new device that promised to seamlessly tie together your home theater, but it was pricey and complicated to set up. The company’s new Caavo Control Center slashes the price and cuts some features the original device offered, but it may be better for it.
With growing competition, Spotify’s family plan crackdown could backfire
Spotify is cracking down on users who share their family plans with friends to help everyone save a little money. The service has begun using a controversial tactic to put a stop to this, which could end up being worse for the company than it might be for users over-sharing their plans.
PlayStation Vue adds more than 500 local affiliate stations across the U.S.
While most of the focus of live TV streaming services remains on national networks, local channels are also important, especially if you still like to catch up on local news on your TV, and now PlayStation Vue has upped the number of local affiliate stations it offers to more than 540.
Onkyo’s A-9110 is a no-nonsense follow-up to an acclaimed integrated amplifier
Whether you’re looking to put together a stellar vinyl setup or just want more flexibility than an A/V receiver provides, an integrated amplifier can be a great choice, and Onkyo’s new two-channel A-9110 aims to deliver great audio performance in a relatively affordable package.
A new adapter for Dish’s AirTV Player lets it record two shows at once
Following the launch of Amazon’s Fire TV Recast, Dish is looking to catch up by offering a new adapter for its AirTV Player that lets it record shows on two over-the-air channels at the same time, though unlike the Recast, you’re still limited when it comes to where you watch your recordings.
Plex removes some rarely used features, simplifies using subtitles
Much more than a simple media server and client, Plex has been constantly adding different features over the course of its existence, and not all of them are perfect, which is why alongside making subtitles easier to use, the service is also removing some features that users don’t use very often.
Jaybird’s new Tarah wireless headphones are meant to be as tough as you are
Wireless headphones are great, but they aren’t always as tough as we wish they were. That’s not the case with Jaybird’s new Tarah wireless sport headphones, which are meant to be tough enough to withstand everything athletes can throw at them while they’re in the middle of training.
Hulu to be the first live TV streamer on the Echo Show smart home hub
Amazon’s Echo Show is a handy gadget that users often end up using the most in their kitchens, so it makes perfect sense that it is about to become the equivalent of a kitchen TV when Hulu becomes the first live TV streaming service to be available on the Alexa-powered smart home hub.
Roku adds features, subtracts cost with its cheapest 4K streamer to date
It wasn’t that long ago that watching TV shows or movies in 4K resolution meant paying big bucks, but that has changed in recent years, and it now it has gotten even cheaper with the debut of the new Roku Premiere, the cheapest 4K streaming media player the company has ever produced.
SiriusXM’s $3.5 billion purchase of Pandora just might be music to our ears
If you’re a SiriusXM listener, chances are fairly good that the vast majority of that listening happens in a car. The company is aware of this and aims to expand its customer base through a $3.5 billion deal that will see it acquire streaming service Pandora, in which it already owns a 16-percent stake.
Thanks to Dish Network, you can now watch live TV on American Airlines flights
Are you headed on a cross-country flight but don’t want to miss any of the fall TV premieres? Dish Network and American Airlines have you covered, as the two have partnered up to bring 12 live TV channels to 100 aircraft, with the number planned to rise to more than 700 in 2019.
Sol Republic delivers a long-awaited true wireless sequel with its Amps Air 2.0
Sol Republic was an early player in the true wireless earbuds game with its Amps Air, and now the company is delivering a long-awaited sequel in the Amps Air 2.0, which feature Bluetooth 5.0 and an IPX4 rating alongside the awesome charging case that fans of the original model loved.
Vizio is bringing Dolby Atmos to your living room without any setup headaches
Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound is great, adding a new dimension — height — to your home theater experience, but it can be tricky to set up. Vizio’s new home theater sound systems offer all of the good parts of Atmos without the troublesome setup challenges of some other systems.
Pandora takes aim at Spotify’s Release Radar with smart playlist The Drop
Music discovery is one of the features listeners care about most in music streaming services, and now Pandora is debuting its own answer to Spotify’s Release Radar in the form of The Drop, a weekly personalized playlist for Premium subscribers full of new music based on what they already love.
Samsung has partnered with AKG to bring new wireless headphones to the U.S.
Samsung is partnering with audio legends to bring new wireless headphones to its customers in the U.S. with the new N700NC, Y500, and Y100, which range from the over-ear noise canceling N700NC model to the lightweight Y100 in-ear model, which weighs in at just 24 grams.
No cell signal? No problem: Spotify now lets you download up to 10,000 songs
If you’re a Spotify user who frequently uses the service in areas with spotty signal, you probably download songs for offline playback, but until now you were limited to 3,333 songs. Now that limit has been raised to 10,000 songs, and you can download on up to five devices now, up from three.
Plagued by technical issues, Plex Cloud will shut down on November 30
Roughly two years after Plex announced its cloud-based media streaming solution Plex Cloud, which has been plagued by technical issues for months now, the company has sent an email to some users alerting them that it will be shutting down the service for good on November 30.
Sonos speakers are getting a whole lot smarter thanks to IFTTT integration
Sonos speakers might have a lot to offer, but when it comes to smarts, they’re not quite in the same league as smart speakers from Amazon or Google. Now that is changing slightly as the company has announced integration with If This Then That to work with your smart home.
KEF revamps its R series of loudspeakers with six brand-new models
KEF’s R series of loudspeakers has gained a reputation for quality, but the brand hasn’t done that by standing still. The R series has been completely revamped for 2018 with no less than 1,043 changes, resulting in a complete overhaul of the speaker line, making it the best it’s ever been.
Hit the gym with Plantronics’ new suite of fitness-focused headphones
If you’re the type of person that needs their own personal soundtrack when it comes time to work out, Plantronics has you covered with the newest models in its BackBeat Go and BackBeat Fit lines, from lightweight true wireless models to on-ear models with active noise canceling.
New true wireless earbuds on Indiegogo claim an insane 15-hour battery life
Most true wireless earbuds top out at six hours of playback time before they need to go back into their charging case. But a new pair on Indiegogo, the Sonabuds 2 Pro, claim to stretch way beyond that with up to 15 hours of playtime on a single charge. Crazy, or crazy good deal?
Optoma’s new smart projector can be controlled via Google Home, Amazon Alexa
Once only affordable for the very well-to-do, 4K projectors are quickly becoming more affordable, which Optoma is proving at CEDIA 2018 with the launch of several new models, including a voice-powered projector compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa that sells for what you’d expect to spend on a decent 4K TV.
Cut the cord wherever you live with Mohu’s 75-mile HD Striker antenna
If you’re looking to cut the cord but find that streaming services don’t carry all of your locals or you just don’t want to spend the money on them, Mohu’s new Striker HD outdoor antenna might be just what you’re looking for, with the ability to pull in channels from as far as 75 miles away.
Sony goes big on IMAX Enhanced with new projectors and certified flagship TVs
IMAX Enhanced is a program that means certified devices can bring the best 4K HDR video and fantastic audio to your home, and Sony is embracing the program, announcing certified TVs including the new Master Series, as well as debuting three new 4K projectors, all of which are certified.
Take a load off with Soul Electronics’ lightweight Emotion true wireless earbuds
If you’re looking for a set of true wireless earbuds that won’t leave your ears or your wallet hurting, Soul Electronics’ new Emotion earbuds could be for you, as they’re the company’s lightest true wireless earbuds to date, and they won’t have you busting open the piggy bank to buy them.
Denon and Marantz bring the sound of IMAX Enhanced to your home theater
IMAX Enhanced promises to take the brand’s signature stellar video and audio quality to home theaters, and Denon and Marantz will bring it into your home with Denon’s new AVR-X4500H and AVR-X6500H receivers and Marantz’s AV7705 pre-processor, both of which will get support via a firmware update in 2019.
Hisense’s Laser TV lineup gets even bigger with the debut of new models
Hisense’s Laser TV line blurs the line between TV and projector, offering the large picture of a projector with the easy setup and features of a TV, and now there are even more models available thanks to the new L8E and L10E lines the company unveiled for the CEDIA 2018 expo.
Pioneer’s new Elite UDP-LX500 is a UHD Blu-ray player for the audiophile set
If you’re looking to buy a new Ultra HD Blu-ray player but want to make sure it offers the highest-quality audio available, Pioneer’s new Elite UDP-LX500 universal disc player may be for you, as it offers the highest standard of UHD playback available, and can play your SACD and DVD audio discs too.