noise cancelling
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iOS 13.2 beta may shed light on Apple's new AirPods design
Besides a look at the company's upcoming Deep Fusion photography mode, the latest iOS 13 beta includes another preview Apple might not have intended people to see just yet. Digging into the 13.2 developer beta, 9to5Mac discovered an icon that may depict the company's next-generation AirPods.
Skullcandy's Crusher ANC block noise while you feel the bass
Skullcandy's Crusher headphones have offered thumping bass tones that rumble your dome (literally) since 2013. In 2016, the company introduced a wireless version and followed up with "an ultra-realistic sensory bass experience" on the Crusher 360 last year. Now the company is introducing a new model in the Crusher series, and it comes with a major addition: active noise cancellation.
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless review
Sennheiser's Momentum line has been a popular headphone choice for years now. It first debuted in 2012, then went wireless in 2015. Despite stumbling out of the gate with some connectivity issues, the Momentum Wireless is still a solid choice. At IFA 2019, the company debuted the third generation of the headphones. And while this new $399.95 over-ear model is improved, there are still some headaches that could've been avoided.
Sennheiser's new Momentum headphones are improved, but still pricey
Sennheiser has been fine-tuning its Momentum Wireless headphones for a few years now, and at IFA 2019, the company is unveiling a third-generation model. While the overall design is mostly the same, the company added a host of new features to bring these over-ear headphones in line with the likes of Sony's WH-1000XM3 and the top options from Bose. At $399.95 (€399), they're pricier than a lot of the flagship headphone competition, even if Sennheiser did stack the spec sheet.
Best Buy’s weekend sale takes up to $200 off the pricey iPad Pro (updated)
Best Buy is running another massive 3-day weekend sale. If that sounds familiar, it's because the retailer slashed prices just a few weeks ago. This time around, Best Buy is cutting prices on the latest entry-level MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It's offering steep discounts on iPads, Surface notebooks and some of our favorite headphones. The sale runs through Sunday.
Bose 700 headphones review: The pursuit of perfection
Bose once dominated the world of noise-canceling headphones. For years, the company's QuietComfort line was the industry standard, mostly due to it's best-in-class ANC (active noise cancellation). At the time, it was a game-changer for frequent fliers and people trying to block out noisy work environments. Enter Sony's WH-1000X line. Now in its third iteration, the WH-1000XM3 has taken over the top spot with a stellar blend of sound, features and the ability to block out the world. Bose is playing second fiddle, but its 700 headphones pack in a lot of features for $399 in a bid to retake the crown.
Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds
Sony is no stranger to the true wireless-earbud craze. The company introduced the WF-1000X almost two years ago and followed with the WF-SP700N in 2018. However, even with that experience, Sony hasn't really seemed to hit its stride. There are always issues holding the products back from making the leap. Sony has perfected its over-ear noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM3, and now it's leveraging some of that technology to improve its true wireless buds. Enter the $230 WF-1000XM3, Sony's best true-wireless product and a new contender for the top spot overall.
Sony XB900N review: Solid noise cancellation for under $300
Since the debut of its 1000X line, Sony has given Bose a run for its money when it comes to noise-canceling headphones. In fact, the 1000XM2 and 1000XM3 are arguably better than the QuietComfort 35 II Bose introduced in 2017. Now Sony wants to offer a worthy alternative to Bose in its more affordable Extra Bass line with the WH-XB900N. While this new model doesn't have the same level of noise-canceling power as the 1000XM3, there's a lot to like for $250.
A closer look at the Bose 700 noise-cancelling headphones
As great as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones sound, let's be real: they look like they were designed for dads on a business trip. And listen, as someone who's into the whole chunky, dad-shoe trend, I'm not here to judge if you're into their design. I'm just saying that I need something with a more modern style. Thankfully, Bose has introduced its latest flagship model, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, which features a newly designed stainless steel headband that gives them a more stylish and thinner look than the QuietComfort line. Bose says that the wireless 700s were designed from the ground up and, compared to the QC35 IIs, they also have all-new drivers, ear cushions and USB-C support.
Master & Dynamic MW65 review: Almost the perfect headphones
Master & Dynamic has been making some of the world's best-looking headphones since 2014. The company uses premium materials like leather and anodized aluminum for its high-end products, while the competition settles for cheaper plastic even on flagship models. Despite a lineup that boasts on-ear, over-ear, in-ear, wired, wireless and true-wireless options, M&D still hadn't entered a key category: active noise-cancellation. With the $499 MW65 introduced earlier this month, the company is making a belated debut, all while maintaining its premium style -- and premium price.
Sony's noise-cancelling XB900N offer more bass for less money
Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones are the gold standard for wireless, noise-canceling headphones. Not only are they comfortable, but they sound amazing. And while their biggest downside is the $350 price tag, Sony has a solution for that too. The company's new WH-XB900N Extra Bass headphones offer noise-canceling for $100 less than the flagship model.
Master & Dynamic's MW65 are its first noise-cancelling headphones
Last year, Master & Dynamic filled a gap in its headphone lineup with the MW07 true wireless earbuds, but the company was still missing one key feature: noise cancellation. That changes today as M&D has announced the MW65, a set of over-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). The company's attention to detail is on display once more, with its trademark aesthetic that mixes leather and metal. The additions of ANC and a dedicated Google Assistant button do come at a cost, pushing the price tag on the MW65 to $499.
Lenovo's Yoga headphones are built for music, chat and voice control
Microsoft debuted its take on active noise-canceling headphones last year with a Surface-branded model. At MWC 2019, Lenovo is introducing an audio device of its own with headphones that carry its Yoga label. The on-ear Yoga headphones employ hybrid active and electronic noise-canceling microphones to help block out the world around you. Onboard controls offer easy access to voice control, as well as basic functions like volume adjustments.
Turtle Beach EarForce i30 Wireless iOS Media Headset raises the bar for mobile audio
Over the past two years, we've witnessed some amazing advances in the way that Bluetooth headphones are designed and built. They've become much more efficient with power, pairing is a cinch and sound quality just keeps getting better. Today's review of the Turtle Beach EarForce i30 Wireless iOS Media Headset (US$299.95) shows just how far one company has taken audio technology -- this time, with a companion app that provides owners with a way to tweak their audio to their personal preference. Specifications Bluetooth 3.0+ Battery life: > 15 hours Weight: 10.95 oz (310 grams) Included in package: micro-USB headset charging cable, airline adapter plug, 3.5 mm male-to-male four-pole device cable for connected listening or non-Bluetooth noise cancellation, carrying pouch. Design Highlights The i30 headset is designed for comfort, with deep padded over-ear cuffs and a padded headband that make it possible to wear the headset during long flights without pain. The light weight of the headset is also a plus, and it's almost possible to forget that you're wearing them. Unlike some flashier designs that seem to call attention to the headset (not always a good thing!), the i30 has white exterior shells with aluminum highlights and black padding. The only nod to flash is a red metal piece with the Turtle Beach logo on either earpiece that's used as part of a slider mechanism for adjusting the headset. (note: some packing materials were left on the headset for photographic purposes as it will be returned to the manufacturer) All of the controls are on the back side of the headset. On the left earpiece is the power button (with accompanying red LED to denote power on and green LED for charging), an audio preset toggle and another small button that's used for microphone adjustments. Yes, the i30 has two built-in microphones, although you can't see them. The right earpiece has a Bluetooth button (with a blue LED to denote link status), a volume toggle and a microphone mute button. The earpieces both rotate to the back for flat packing. Functionality Highlights The first thing you'll notice when powering up the i30s is that you get pleasant voice prompts telling you what's going on. I really like this touch, as you don't need to look at the LEDs on the back of the earpieces to know what is happening. The app provides a way to make the same adjustments -- audio presets and mic settings -- that can be done with the small buttons on the headset. Rather than taking the headset off to make those adjustments, or fumbling blindly with the buttons to hopefully get the right setting, you can just tap the appropriate setting in the app and get the verbal prompt verifying your selection. The four audio preset settings are flat, bass boost, treble boost or bass and treble boost. I tend to like a bit more push on the treble end, so I found that setting to be wonderful when listening to a variety of music genres. Of course, bass and treble boost combined was a little bit of heaven on some tunes... The mic settings are a bit odd. There are four: flat, high morph, low morph and voice reverb. Honestly, the only time I could see using the last three settings would be if you were pranking a friend or making obscene phone calls. High morph gives your voice a chipmunk-like voice, while low morph provides a monster-like voice. Reverb? Yep, it sounds like you're in an echo chamber. I found these to be of limited usability. I'm not a real fan of Bluetooth mics anyway -- they don't seem to ever do a good job of providing really good sound quality for the person on the other end of your phone conversation. I'd rank the microphone quality on the i30s as just average, very middle-of-the-road and about the same as what I've experienced with other Bluetooth headsets, headphones and speakerphones. The noise-cancellation capability of the EarForce i30s is just amazing. During the winter months when our furnace is running in the house, there's the sound of flowing air in the background that's accentuated with another noise when the furnace actually kicks in. Those sounds disappeared when noise cancellation was turned on. Sure, you can still hear voices, although they're muffled greatly. The biggest use for noise cancellation is going to be on airplanes, where the background "roar" will be reduced to a great extent. While the official name of this product includes the words "Wireless iOS Media Headset," it also works well with the Mac. In fact, it's designed to be able to pair with two devices -- say, an iPhone and Mac -- at the same time. Of course, it can only be used with one device at a time. Pairing is extremely fast regardless of platform. The instruction manual for the i30s shows an older version of the OS X Bluetooth menu; note that there's no longer a Set Up Bluetooth Device command menu item; it's all done through the Bluetooth Preferences menu item now. Conclusion I found the Turtle Beach EarForce i30 Wireless iOS Media Headset to be very satisfactory in most respects. For people who enjoy listening to music and want a little bit more control over their sound settings, this headset is excellent. My only beef is with the microphone quality, but that's more with any Bluetooth device than this particular headset. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 possible
Street by 50 headphones gets over-ear active noise cancellation
SMS Audio is rolling out the latest addition of its Street by 50 line of headphones (you know, by this guy). The news here is the addition of active noise cancellation, to help you block out unwanted ambient sound -- the bad airplane / crowded restaurant kind, not the good Brian Eno kind. Street by 50 Over-Ear Active Noise Control sport 40mm drivers and leather ear cushions, and should get you upwards of 70 hours of play time on a set of batteries, according to SMS's numbers. The foldable headphones come in black and silver and will run you $280. For what it's worth, that price will also get you a removable cable with a mic and a hard shell carrying case. Press release-type details can be found below.
Logitech unveils lineup of UE headphones for in, on and around your ears (hands-on)
Logitech acquired Ultimate Ears awhile back to take advantage of its experience with professional audio, and now it's leveraged some of that institutional knowledge to create a UE line of headphones aimed at consumers. First up, there's the $100 UE 4000 on-ear model that comes in three colors: black, blue and magenta, plus a detachable cord with an in-line mic and audio controls compatible with iOS devices. The UE 6000 model takes things up a notch with an over-ear design that folds up for easy storage on the go, has an in-line remote, plus it adds active noise cancellation technology for $200. Then there's the UE 9000 Bluetooth wireless cans that also have ANC and a full suite of on-ear controls for iPhone or iPad, which can be had for $400. Lastly, there's the $400 UE 900 in-ear headphones sporting a quad-armature design and two sets braided cables -- one with in-line controls, and one without. All of the UE models start shipping in the US today, and will be available in Europe next month. We got to try on and try out all of Logitech's new gear for a brief listening session awhile back, so join us after the break for our impressions.%Gallery-163679%
Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200
If Cisco's ill-fated Umi video conferencing system had been more like this, would it have survived? Logitech is about to find out, one way or the other, once its TV Cam HD -- recently spotted at the FCC -- arrives in the US this month. The $199.99 device hooks up to your TV and contains all the processing power needed to run Skype and transmit wide-angle, 720p footage of your couch over WiFi or Ethernet. Unlike the previous TV Cam, there's no need for a Viera Connect HDTV -- anything with HDMI-in will do. The company is banking on the notion that families will forgo the use of their existing mobile devices and laptops in favour of an always-on dedicated system with incoming call alerts, four noise-cancelling mics and a Carl Zeiss lens that "gets the whole family in the video call, so everyone from grandparents to grandchildren can move around naturally." If you're tempted, the publicity video after the break gives a decent overview of the product in action.
Etymotic Music•Pro 9-15 earplugs bring high-end hush to audiences, lets us enjoy speed metal safely
Premium electronic earplugs usually find their homes with musicians eager to preserve their hearing at all costs; anyone within the crowd has more often been left to either use cruder plugs or cover their ears. Etymotic wants to bridge that difference with the Music•Pro 9-15. The combination of ER-9 and ER-15 earplugs matches its namesake not just through the choice of components, but through active noise cancellation that removes 9 to 15 decibels from the sound only when the rock gets too raucous: listeners can hear fellow concert-goers and even boost their volume without skewing the sound of the band. Pricing plays its own part in reaching out to the crowd, too. As high as the new Music•Pro set's $399 price might be compared to a typical pair of ear blockers, it's low enough that a dedicated fan of virtual Tupac can afford to go to the concert protected rather than voluntarily take on some hearing damage.
Blue Microphones Tiki USB mic now available at Best Buy, coming to Apple stores July 15th
Remember that miniature USB mic we saw back at CES from Blue? Well, the outfit just announced that the Tiki is hitting store shelves with the same $59.99 price tag we expected. The mobile recording peripheral is now available at Best Buy and is slated to hit Apple stores and other retailers at the month's half-way point. In case you're in need of a refresher, the diminutive unit features Intelligent Speech mode for recording interviews or meetings and Natural Recording mode for capturing your best Jack White guitar riffs. You can also expect proprietary noise cancelling technology, voice isolation and intelligent mute with the kit that is sized similar to a USB flash drive and connects via said ports. If you're itchin' for a closer look before adding one to your mobile recording setup, take a peek back at our hands-on for a few detail shots.
Noctua's noise-canceling PC fan gets tested, drops twenty decibels
Having trouble tuning out the hum of your PC fans? Maybe it's time you took another look at Noctua's NF-F12 integrated noise cancellation fan. According to the firm, the Computex prototype kept things about 20dB quieter by utilizing a patented RotoSub ANC technology to emit anti-noise directly from the fan's own blades. Noctua hopes to dampen the cooler's 2,500 RPM hum to the overall noise level of a slower 1,500 RPM fan. Builders looking to piece together a quieter machine can look for the noise reducing cooler an the latter half of 2013. Your old fan? Well, you could always use as a makeshift turntable. Hit the break for a peek at a more silent tomorrow.
