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Sonos Sub Mini review: The practical sub we’ve been waiting for
Finally, Sonos has a subwoofer that's more affordable and practical for smaller spaces, the Sub Mini.
The Sub Mini is a much smaller and cheaper way to add bass to your Sonos system
Sonos has long offered a wireless subwoofer as part of its home theater, a large and powerful product that also costs a whopping $749. For anyone with a smaller room, or a smaller budget, it was a bit of a stretch. Sonos is giving bass-lovers a new option today: the rumored Sub Mini is real — and at $429, it costs a lot less than its bigger sibling.
Sennheiser unveils its latest, less expensive Ambeo soundbar
The company claims the Ambeo Soundbar Plus is the first standalone 7.1.4-channel model.
Polk Audio reveals its first Dolby Atmos soundbar
The $399 Signa S4 uses Polk's VoiceAdjust tech to make dialogue clearer.
Sonos' updated Play:5 is now just called 'Five'
Most relevant to anyone considering the Arc is probably the 3rd-generation Sonos Sub. In fact, the new Sub looks identical to its predecessor, but it got a major internal update. The Sonos Play:5 is receiving a nearly identical update.
Roku's first soundbar doubles as a streaming box
Generally, when I think of Roku, I think of those handy HDMI streaming boxes that turn dumb TVs into smart ones. And sometimes my mind will wander to Roku TVs, smart television sets built by companies like TCL and Sharp that run the company's Roku OS. The thing is, Roku wants to be more than just an outfit that throws Netflix onto your TV screen. As evidenced by the wireless speakers it released last year and its growing team of audio researchers and engineers, Roku also wants to be the company that makes your streaming media sound great. And that's where its new Smart Soundbar enters the picture.
The best budget subwoofer
By Brent Butterworth This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to budget subwoofers. Adding extra bass with a subwoofer is the surest way to make a sound system more satisfying. Our new pick for the best budget subwoofer is the Dayton Audio SUB-1200. It kicks out enough deep bass to shake your couch, it's easy to hook up, and it's a little more attractive (or a little less unattractive, depending on your perspective) than most budget subs. The Dayton Audio SUB-1200 12-inch subwoofer is a step up from the other budget subs we tested in a few ways. It has a more powerful bass than similarly sized models we tried, which means it can deliver a little more of that satisfying couch-shaking that makes action movies more realistic. Its rounded corners and flush-fit round grille make it more attractive than most budget subs, and its large rear panel and multiple connection options make it easy to connect to any system. The Dayton Audio SUB-1000L 10-inch subwoofer is built for people who want more bass in their audio system but don't have space for a conventional subwoofer. At only 6 inches thick, it's slim enough to slip behind many couches and chairs and even under some couches. You can also attach it to a wall using the included mounting system. Its output doesn't match that of the Dayton SUB-1200, but it has enough power to work well in a modest home-theater system or in a stereo system with bookshelf speakers.
Samsung's new soundbars detect what's on screen to optimize output
Samsung has announced its new soundbar lineup: the Q series, optimized for -- you guessed it -- the company's QLED TVs. The HW-Q70R and HW-Q60R are the latest offerings from Samsung's ongoing collaboration with Harman Kardon, with the premium HW-Q70R supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Amazon's Echo Sub adds some much-needed bass to its smart speakers
The Echo is a fine enough smart speaker, but what it's lacking is any sort of oomph in terms of sound quality. That's why Amazon will release the Echo Sub this October. The diminutive bass-maker features 100W of power, a 6-inch downward firing woofer and will work when paired with either a lone Echo or a pair, for a true 2.1 stereo setup. The stereo pairing feature is brand new, as well. Prior, you could only group separate Echo devices together for multi-room listening. More than that, Amazon is opening up its multi-room API to third parties.
Amazon might launch eight Alexa devices this fall
Amazon is ready to drop a whole slew of new Alexa devices, CNBC reports. At least eight new devices including a microwave oven, an amplifier, a subwoofer and some sort of in-car gadget are reportedly set to be released before the end of the year. All of the devices will be Alexa-enabled while some will have the virtual assistant built in, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sonos bundles offer audio options for home theater, vinyl and more
As we head towards Sonos' home theater event on June 6th, the company has just revealed new speaker bundles that will help you save on a Sonos-based home sound system.
Engadget giveaway - Win a Basslet wearable subwoofer courtesy of Lofelt!
Good headphones can usually deliver a bass-rich sound to your ears, but if you're interested in bumping up the visceral enjoyment of your beats, the Basslet can help. This haptic wearable delivers a low-end rumble -- spanning frequencies from 10 to 250 Hz -- to your wrist to enhance your listening experience. A single dongle interfaces with your headphone cable to connect with the Basslet, while two simple controls let you adjust the intensity of the bass. This wearable doesn't deliver audible low end, rather, the LoSound engine inside translates your current jam's bass into a haptic rumble to complement the listening experience. The Basslet provides six or more hours of bass-heavy listening before needing a charge, leaving plenty of time to immerse yourself in a groove. This week, Lofelt has provided us with a trio of Basslets for three lucky readers. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning! Winners: Congratulations to Jose A. of New Lenox, IL; Gideon M. of Harrisonburg, VA and Evan K of Lake Hill, NY!
The 'Basslet' puts a haptic subwoofer on your wrist
Bass: It's music's final frontier. By that, I mean it's the part of music that needs to be done right. Too much, and songs sound like a mess. Too little, and there's no guts. Enter Basslet, from a company called Lofelt. In a nutshell, Basslet looks like a watch, but it actually houses a transponder that converts the low frequencies of your music into vibrations that "feel" like bass. It doesn't vibrate like a phone, though; it matches the music, so if bass rises from low to high pitch, you feel that sweep. It's a very unusual idea to grasp, but once you try it, you instantly get it. It's a little bonkers and also a lot of fun.
Razer has a $200 soundbar and subwoofer combo called 'Leviathan'
Let's face it: not everyone wants to go through the hassle of setting up a surround sound system piece by piece. As for other alternatives, even the best headphones are only viable for the person wearing them. In an effort to hit a sweet spot between the two (the price of headphones and room-filling audio of multiple speakers) the folks at Razer are launching the Leviathan soundbar and subwoofer kit. For $200 you get an adjustable speaker bar packing four drivers and a separate 5.25-inch subwoofer, which marry to handle your 5.1 surround needs for movies and games. The unit uses Dolby Virtual Speakers to fill in the audio gaps left by its 4-speaker system, while Dolby Digital processing will convert any incoming signal, be it analog stereo or multichannel from an optical cable, to surround sound.
Sony's soundbar combo offers another high-definition audio option
Headphones and music players aren't all Sony had on tap in the audio department for IFA, as the company has also announced a new soundbar/wireless subwoofer combo. Having already outed two of the devices earlier this year, the HT-ST5 offers the option of 380 watts of 7.1 surround sound across seven digital amps and nine total speakers with support for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HS formats. There's a Bluetooth option that touts one-touch NFC connectivity and handles aptX and AAC audio codecs. For hooking up all of those living room gadgets, a trio of HDMI jacks with 4K passthrough connects to your TV with a single cable. And a mobile app for both Android and iOS streams music from places like Pandora and Spotify while providing remote control for the system as well. Ready to upgrade your flat's theater setup? Well, the pair will hit your wallet for $1,000 when it arrives later this month.
Orb Audio celebrates 10 year anniversary with Mod1X speaker, subOne and subMini subwoofers
Orb Audio clearly subscribes to the "do it right the first time" school of thought: Since 2003 it has released exactly one product, the Mod1 speaker. That changes today, because the funky modular audio system is getting both a refresh, and pair of subwoofers to celebrate the firm's 10-year anniversary. The Mod1X satellites sport a new aluminum driver the company says can handle higher power and has improved midrange and high frequency performance. For aesthetics, they're available in black, white, "hammered Earth," polished steel and antiqued copper and bronze finishes. If you like your bass down low, Orb has you covered here too. The subONE is a 200-watt subwoofer squeezed into a cabinet measuring less than 12 inches on each side, and it features anti-clipping and thermal overload circuits as well as auto voltage-sensing tech -- just in case you use it abroad. A small room doesn't mean you don't need big sound, so it's nice to see Orb address that with the 100-watt subMINI that's tucked into a dual ported 9-inch cabinet. Sure, an $889 starting price for surround sound is a little pricey, but, unlike other aspects of your home theater, good speakers can last a lifetime.
Panasonic thinks you'll pay $1,200 for a home stereo with neon subwoofers
Of note, that thing you see above cannot be copped for $20 at your local Thrift Shop.
Sonos offers up same bass, less shine with limited edition matte black Sub
Love floor-shaking bass, but can't stand the idea of accidentally catching your own reflection whilst seated on the couch? Good news -- well, limited good news, that is. Sonos has opted to make available a limited quantity of matte black Subs, in spite of its plans to focus on the gloss. Those deemed "loyal Sonos owners" can pick one up for $599 for the next fortnight by clicking the source link below. It's all first come, first serve. Once they're gone, you're matte out of luck.
Panasonic reveals pricing for 2013 home theater systems, March availability
Spring is right around the corner, which means it's time for a new home theater system, or at least that's what Panasonic would have you believe. The electronics giant just unveiled pricing of four of its 2013 home theater systems, some of which were announced at CES 2013. They are the SC-HTB770, the SC-HTB370, the SC-HTB70 and the SC-HTB65, and are priced at $399.99, $299.99, $199.99 and $179.99 respectively. Both the SC-HTB70 and SC-HTB65 are standalone bar models while the decidedly more complicated SC-HTB770 and SC-HTB370 systems come complete with luxe stainless mesh speakers. All are equipped with wireless or built-in subwoofers and Bluetooth, are compatible with televisions 42 to 65 inches wide and can be wall-mounted or used with TV stands. Strangely, while we were able to find listings for the first three systems on Panasonic's US online store, we could only find the SC-HTB65 over on the UK side. They're all available for pre-order now with a promise of shipping in March, which happens to be, well, this month. Feel free to take a peek at the source links for more details or check out the press release below.
Creative's D5XM self-calibrating modular wireless speaker gets previewed at IFA (video)
If you've been following our IFA coverage this morning (and shame on you if you haven't), the Creative D5XM's name ought to ring a bell or two. After all, it wasn't so long ago that we were telling you all about the Creative D5 Air. The D5XM, however, while similar in name, is a decidedly more serious deal than the AirPlay speaker bar. Creative is hyping the product as "the world's first self-calibrating modular wireless speaker" -- it's a mouthful, but its certainly a cool prospect. The rectangular speaker can be used alone or as part of a larger speaker system, communicating with other D5XM devices and the DSXM -- coincidentally, "the subwoofer for the world's first self-calibrating modular wireless speaker." What are the odds? You can string up to three D5XMs together and two of the subwoofers, if you're really, really into low-end. No word on pricing for these guys yet, but we imagine that such a set up would get fairly costly, fairly fast. Creative's referring to the three-at-a-time deal as "party mode," in which all three devices are playing the same thing simultaneously -- you can also split them up into discrete channels, using a mobile device (iOS or Android). That communication (which occurs via Bluetooth) happens thanks to the chip in the speaker -- the same as the one we saw on the Sound BlasterAxx. Click on through for more info and a video.%Gallery-163972%
