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Samsung's 2020 soundbars include models with Alexa and object tracking
Samsung is releasing 2020 soundbars that are as much about looks as they are audio performance.
Apple's HomePod falls to $200 again at Best Buy
Apple's HomePod has dropped to $200 once again as part of a Best Buy sale.
Sony debuts three new Extra Bass speakers for portable dance parties
Today, Sony revealed a trio of redesigned options in its Extra Bass line with updates to sound quality and design. The three models — SRS-XB23, SRS-XB33 and SRS-XB43 — are priced at $100, $150 and $250 respectively, so there should be something that fits your budget.
GameStop's PC gaming sale discounts ASUS monitors, Razer mice and more
GameStop is running a sale on PC gaming periperhals that includes an ASUS display, a Razer mouse and audio.
Google's original Home smart speaker is on sale for $30
Google's Home smart speaker is on sale for $30, or lower than you'd usually pay for the less capable Nest Mini.
Sonos is reportedly giving the Playbar a long-awaited redesign
Sonos appears to be giving the Playbar an overdue makeover, including a slicker design and likely connectivity improvements.
Apple's HomePod is on sale for $205
Apple's HomePod smart speaker has been discounted to $205 at OWC, making it a considerably better bargain.
Get a Play:1 speaker for $99 in Sonos’ certified refurbished sale
Sonos has restocked its certified refurbished sale. While supplies last, you can get a Sonos Play:1 speaker for $99. And you can snag the Sonos Playbar for $499. That's $200 less than the recommended retail price.
Teenage Engineering wants you to 'hack' its IKEA line with 3D printing
Teenage Engineering's IKEA collection, the FREKVENS line, arrives in stores this month, and Teenage Engineering is already helping customers hack the products. The company has released free, downloadable CAD files for a handful of DIY accessories that you can 3D print at home and attach to your FREKVENS speakers and lights.
Teenage Engineering’s IKEA collection lands in stores next month
If IKEA's Sonos speakers are a little bland for your taste, you might be happy to know that the FREKVENS line, a collaboration between IKEA and Teenage Engineering, arrives in February. The collection is meant to get funky house parties started, and it includes everything from speakers to spotlights, spill-resistant furniture and a raincoat -- all with Teenage Engineering's signature colorful quirkiness.
Google quietly removed 'Guest Mode' casting from Home speakers
Google first introduced Guest Mode on Chromecast to let your friends easily cast from their phone to your TV just by entering a four-digit PIN code. Later on, it carried the feature over to Google Home speakers so that guests could easily play music too. However, while the feature remains on Chromecast, Google appears to have killed it on Google Home, according to Android Police. That means if your friend has Spotify and you don't, it could be a bit trickier for them to play music on your speaker.
Sony is still trying to make 360 Reality Audio a thing
At CES last year, Sony impressed me with its carefully planned headphone and speaker demos for 360 Reality Audio. The 2019 installment of the show was the debut for the company's immersive audio standard -- technology that we would repeatedly hear about until Amazon debuted the first device that could handle it: the Echo Studio. I wrote that Sony had created what I hoped would be the future of music, and I still feel that way. However, thus far, Sony has made the technology available on headphones through its audio companion app, via a camera-based ear calibration tool. But it still hasn't announced a speaker of its own, or added the capability to existing devices.
Sonos sues Google for allegedly copying its speaker technology
Sonos may have to cozy up to partners like Amazon and Google to compete in the smart speaker world, but that doesn't mean it's happy with how it's being treated. The company has sued Google in federal court over allegations the search giant is violating five of its speaker patents, including technology that lets wireless speakers sync with each other. Google has been "blatantly and knowingly" duping tech Sonos chief Patrick Spence said in a statement, and supposedly refused to cooperate on a "mutually beneficial solution" despite years of discussions.
JBL's first Dolby Atmos soundbar has detachable speakers
Ahead of CES this week, JBL has unveiled its first Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar. The JBL Bar 9.1 features four Dolby Atmos drivers that point upwards to bounce audio around the room.
Klipsch's flagship soundbar supports Alexa, AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos
Klipsch is joining the growing ranks of audio giants with connected soundbars. It's refreshing its TV-friendly audio lineup at CES, and the headliner is the tech-savvy Bar 54 (above). It includes WiFi that supports Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay 2 -- it's not a smart speaker in the conventional sense (there's no mention of a mic), but you can send streaming media directly to the soundbar. It's also a 5.1.4 unit (7.1.4 if you tack on a Surround 3) with a 12-inch wireless subwoofer and support for Dolby Atmos, including through eARC for built-in apps. Unfortunately, it's both expensive and a long ways off -- it'll cost $1,499 when it ships in the fall.
Sonos hikes prices on the Amp and Port as it moves production out of China
Sonos is moving production of some of its products from China to Malaysia, and at the same time the company is increasing the price of the Sonos Amp and Sonos Port by $50. Sonos told The Verge that its decision to move production is less of a response to tariffs, which it reportedly called a "one-time hit," and more about diversifying production for the future.
Save $100 on the Sonos Play:5 on Cyber Monday
In addition to Black Friday discounts on home theater speakers, Sonos is offering Cyber Monday deals that music lovers will appreciate.
Save $300 on a highly-recommended Sony Dolby Atmos soundbar this week
Look, I get it. You'd love to have Sennheiser's Ambeo soundbar, but you can't bring yourself to drop $2,500 on one. That's one of the main reasons we recommended several other options in our soundbar buyer's guide in September. More specifically, there was an alternative that would save you some money while still offering the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos: Sony's HT-ST500. The soundbar typically costs $1,500, but this week at Amazon, you can snag one for $1,198.
Sonos buys an AI startup to improve voice control for its speakers
Sonos might just be less reliant on third-party assistants for voice control. The company has bought Snips, a Paris startup that helps create "tailored voice experiences" through its AI voice platform and tools. No, Sonos isn't planning to take on Alexa or Google Assistant -- rather, the company said in a letter that this is to "add to [Sonos] customers' ease of use and control" for music. Snips' speedy, private on-device voice processing is designed to sit alongside general assistants, suggesting that Sonos may reserve the custom voice control for basic functions like playback.
Spotify’s free streaming will work with Alexa and Bose speakers
You no longer need a Spotify Premium subscription to listen to your Spotify playlists on Alexa, Bose or Sonos speakers. Last week, Spotify announced that Free users could finally listen on Sonos speakers. Today, it's extending that capability to Alexa and Bose speakers, too.
