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The best audio gifts, from headphones to DJ gear
We're sure there's at least a few audiophiles, music lovers and musicians on your shopping list. It's hard (and sometimes a bit pricey) to get them gifts you know they'll love. But over the course of the year we've tested and reviewed countless speakers, headphones and even synthesizers and we're confident in saying these gifts will make almost anyone happy. Whether they like making music or just listening to it, we've got some solid holiday shopping suggestions. On the music-making side, 2019 has all about going small, portable and affordable. There's a dirt-cheap synth, portable MIDI controllers and a powerful music computer for the artist on your list. We've also got an amazing-sounding smart speaker to recommend, not to mention some top-notch true wireless earbuds and a stellar pair of time-tested wired headphones. Because, let's be clear: New isn't always better. And what you really want to get your friends and family is the best, not necessarily the latest.
Sennheiser’s $200 gaming headset promises 100 hours of battery life
Today, Sennheiser released its latest wireless gaming headset, the GSP 370. The headset's boldest claim is that it offers 100 hours of battery life, thanks to low power consumption and a long-lasting battery. For gamers who play six hours per week, Sennheiser says the GSP 370 can last four months on a single charge, and it can be used while recharging, so there's no need to interrupt gameplay.
How to buy a soundbar
It's no secret that the built-in speakers in most TVs are trash. Soundbars are a must-have if you care about your home audio setup. Here's what you need to consider when picking a soundbar, plus our best picks.
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.
Sennheiser will use its audio expertise to create an in-car Ambeo system
Good news for automotive audiophiles: popular audio brand Sennheiser is working with luxury automaker Karma Automotive to create an in-car audio system.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review: A full bag of tricks
Sennheiser has spread the gospel of its Ambeo tech for years. The broad pitch is incredibly immersive audio for AR, VR and your living room. As far as consumers are concerned, though, Ambeo is just a headset that records 3D audio and headphones for Magic Leap. At CES 2018, Sennheiser revealed it was cramming the technology inside a soundbar, so we could all use it for a more common activity: watching TV. It took the company another year and a half to release the $2,500 Ambeo Soundbar, and the wait was mostly worth it.
The best wireless TV headphones
By Daniel Varghese and Lauren Dragan 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 wireless tv headphones guide here. Wireless TV headphones allow you to enjoy TV shows, movies, and video games without disturbing people around you. After spending dozens of hours researching the available options and testing 20 systems, we're confident that the Sennheiser RS 165 is the best one available today. It's easy to set up, sounds much better than the competition, and produces almost no latency between the audio and video (a major problem with many systems). The Sennheiser RS 165 is the best-sounding wireless TV headphone system we tested, and unlike with most of the competition, we didn't detect any noticeable delay between audio and the video we watched, making for the best experience. The lightweight headphones are comfortable to wear, easy to charge, and easy to add to most existing TVs or home theater setups. The rechargeable batteries last long enough to make it through several movies. This system's price has come down a fair amount since we first tested it, which makes it easier to recommend as our top pick. If you plan to use your wireless TV headphones only occasionally and/or you want to be able to use multiple pairs at once, consider the Power Acoustik HP-902RFT. Once you've set up this headphone system, it's as easy to use as the Sennheiser RS 165. However, you have to purchase a separate AC power adapter and at least four AAA batteries first because the system doesn't include those. And the plastic headphones feel cheaply made and aren't as comfortable as the Sennheisers. They also sound a little compressed—you'll still be able to understand all of the dialogue in a movie but the score might sound muffled.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless review
Not every audio company was quick to jump on the true wireless bandwagon. Some of the big names in headphones took their time crafting a set of earbuds before making a debut. Sennheiser was one of those, and its Momentum True Wireless model didn't arrive until late 2018. Thankfully, the wait was mostly worth it. They have some of the best audio quality I've heard on a set of earbuds like these. But there are a few complaints, and given the nearly $300 price tag, those caveats become major issues.
Everywhere we found AirPlay 2 at CES 2019
As is tradition, Apple was once again infamously absent at the biggest technology show of the year, CES. The company hasn't actually stayed out of the headlines over the past week, however. Apple didn't do any announcing of its own, but it was name-checked in practically all press conferences held by the biggest consumer tech brands at CES. The reason? AirPlay 2.
Sennheiser's Ambeo 3D audio soundbar goes on sale in May for $2,499
Last year at CES, Sennheiser revealed a soundbar prototype with its impressive Ambeo 3D audio technology inside that offered an immersive 5.1.4 experience. At this year's show, the company is showing off the final version of the living room speaker and giving us an on-sale window: May. Sennheiser is also talking pricing -- you know, so you'll have a few months to get your affairs in order. That's mostly because the Ambeo Soundbar will cost $2,499 when it arrives this spring.
Sennheiser's headphone software could allow attackers to intercept data
Sennheiser's HeadSetup and HeadSetup Pro software poses a cybersecurity risk, according to a vulnerability disclosure from Germany's Secorvo Security Consulting. The headphone-maker is now urging users to update to new versions of the software after researchers revealed it was installing a root certificate, along with an encrypted private key, into the Trusted Root CA Certificate store, which could enable man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
Sennheiser's Ambeo AR One are the first Magic Leap-certified headphones
Sennheiser has released the first pair of earphones that's certified for Magic Leap's mixed reality headset. The Ambeo AR One looks just like any other pair of in-ear headphones, but the company says it has the features developers need to be able to create spatial computing experiences that can expertly blend real-world with virtual sounds. It's the first device (possibly out of many) to come out of Magic Leap's partnership with the audio giant first announced in September. At that time, the startup said the partnership would help it expand its "spatial audio accessory solutions."
Sennheiser is making spatial audio accessories for Magic Leap
Magic Leap has teamed up with audio giant Sennheiser to help it "explore and enhance [its] spatial audio accessory solutions." The secretive mixed reality-maker's first headset, the One Creator Edition, is equipped with onboard speakers for audio. However, it can also accommodate headphones through its 3.5 mm jack. Sennheiser will be creating accessories specifically for Magic Leap devices, and you might be able to plug some of them into that port. We've said it before and we'll say it again: for virtual and mixed realities to be truly immersive, they need convincing sound to match.
Sennheiser's first true wireless earbuds will cost you $300
Today, Sennheiser introduced the Momentum True Wireless earbuds, which provide stereo sound thanks to 7mm dynamic drivers. These earbuds have a four-hour battery life; the charging case holds an additional eight hours of capacity. They will be available starting in mid-November for $299.95.
Sennheiser's Memory Mic can record audio from afar
Sennheiser has released a Bluetooth mic that gives you a way to make sure your video comes with crisp sounds -- even if you're recording from afar. It says its new device called Memory Mic can record "broadcast quality" audio even if you're shooting the video from a distance with a phone. Say, when you're recording your kid on her first bike ride, when you want to shoot a video of a musician that captures the whole stage or if you're shooting a cooking show for YouTube. The device initially connects to your phone via Bluetooth, but it can apparently continue recording even if you go out of range.
The best Bluetooth headset
By Marianne Schultz and Daniel Varghese 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 bluetooth headset guide here. After 80-plus hours of researching headsets and testing more than 18 models over the past few years, including testing three new models over 20 hours for the latest update, we've determined that the Plantronics Voyager 5200 is the best mono Bluetooth headset for making and taking calls, whether you're in a quiet office or a noisy coffee shop. The Voyager 5200 offers the most comfortable and secure fit and the best dedicated call-management controls of the headsets we tested. It also has better mic quality than stock earbuds or most Bluetooth earbuds, plus battery life that can last most of a workday. In our tests, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 provided the most consistently clear incoming and outgoing audio in a variety of settings. Its earhook design sometimes requires two hands to put on, but it's easily adjustable and comfortable enough to wear all day; its earpiece also provides a secure seal for optimal sound quality, and its battery gives you about 5 hours, 40 minutes of talk time. It's the complete package, unlike any other model we tested. The Voyager 5200 also has all of the software features that have made Plantronics headsets some of our favorites throughout the years, such as the capability to accept and reject calls with your voice. We recommend the Plantronics Voyager 3200 only if the Voyager 5200 is not available, or if the idea of possibly having to use two hands to put the 5200 on is a dealbreaker for you. The Voyager 3200 has a more conventional in-ear design that doesn't fit as securely as our top pick. Its audio—both incoming and outgoing—isn't as consistently good as that of our top pick, but the sound is clear enough in quieter environments. And although this model has longer battery life, it's only by 20 minutes or so. The Jabra Talk 2 isn't nearly as comfortable as our top picks, and its incoming audio quality isn't as good, but it's acceptable on both counts if you're on a budget. It also gives you much better mic quality for calls than you'd get from stereo Bluetooth earbuds that cost roughly $100. In our battery test, it offered almost 7 hours of talk time, lasting over an hour longer than our top pick.
Sennheiser’s latest wireless earbuds are built for the gym
Sennheiser has released its latest set of tethered, wireless headphones. The CX Sport is a splash- and sweat-resistant model with a number of comfort features. The headphones can be worn with the cable positioned behind the neck or in front and ergonomic fins, which come in three sizes, can be attached to the earbuds to make sure they stay in place. The ear adapters also come in four sizes. For added comfort control, the headphones also come with a cable organizer that lets you adjust the cable length and a clip that allows you to affix them to your clothing.
The best wireless headphones
Music is a necessity while I'm working. If it's not tunes from Spotify, there's at least a podcast chattering on in my ear. Of course, if you don't want to bother those around you with what you're listening to, you need a good set of headphones. The best options will also do a good job of blocking out the outside world. We've already offered some suggestions on the best wireless earbuds, so now it's time to examine the best over-ear wireless headphones. Each was selected for its mix of comfort, sound quality and effective noise cancellation. Because let's be honest: Audio is just one part of the equation when it comes to long listening sessions.
Sennheiser packed its Ambeo 3D audio tech in a soundbar
Sennheiser has been touting the merits of its Ambeo 3D audio for a few years now at CES, but in 2018, the company plans to make that spacial soundscape more accessible. The first speaker product to feature the tech will be the Ambeo 3D Soundbar and the company is showing it off here in Vegas. Sennheiser has been working on 3D audio since 2010, when it was recording classical performances in 9.1 surround sound. Until now, you needed a 9.1 speaker setup to really appreciate that level of detail, but later this year, all you'll need is a soundbar.
