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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.
Sony's baffling wearable speaker heads to the US
Want the convenience of portable tunes but hate headphones and earbuds? Sony has a solution for you in its "Immersive Wearable Speaker" (SRS-WS1), which is perhaps the company's most aptly named piece of audio kit. You wear it around your neck, it emits sound, you get it. The speaker launched in Japan back in 2017 (we caught a glimpse of an earlier version during SXSW 2016), but now it's finally making its way to the US in December. It'll be available for an introductory price of $250 if you pre-order by December 1st, and $300 afterwards. The real question, though, is who would actually want it.
Sonos is launching a speaker rental service
Sonos has a reputation for producing high quality speakers, although they aren't the cheapest. Recently, the company has been offering more affordable versions of its products including two speakers it made in collaboration with IKEA. Now, there's yet another way for people to get Sonos sound in their homes for less cash: a speaker rental service called Flex, currently only available in the Netherlands.
Apple Music for Android finally works with Chromecast
Apple's been busy adding new elements to Music, including a dark mode and real-time lyrics. Now, one of the most frequently-requested features finally has support: the music streaming service on Android now works with Chromecast. After becoming available with the beta version last month, the feature has now rolled out to the stable app, and users can start listening to music through Chromecast devices soon.
IKEA's remote for its Sonos-powered speakers ships October 1st
When IKEA launched a line of Sonos-powered SYMFONISK speakers last month, the Swedish furniture giant promised an accompanying remote. Spotted by Tweakers, the product page for the puck-shaped controller is now live. The SYMFONISK remote will launch at €14.99 in black and white color options. It will hit the UK and Europe on October 1st, with a North American release likely to follow shortly after.
The first Braun speakers in 28 years are unexpectedly modern
When the news broke in July that Braun Audio's speaker line was making a comeback, pretty much everyone at Engadget was immediately hooked. Thanks to a deal with Proctor & Gamble, Pure Audio now has the rights to the iconic speaker name. While many of us expected a similar aesthetic to the Dieter Rams-designed devices from 1959, Pure is taking a decidedly modern approach with the revival of the LE line. They still have a minimalist look, but have been entirely redesigned both inside and out. This means that all the modern features are along for the ride. And it means the company is taking direct aim at Sonos.
OnePlus TV may come with eight speakers and Dolby Atmos support
OnePlus has been slowly releasing details about its upcoming smart TV. Today, we learned that OnePlus TV will have eight built-in speakers with a combined 50 watts of power. According to an Amazon listing spotted by 9to5Google, they'll pack "punchy bass to fill your living room," and they'll be powered by Dolby Atmos.
Bose's new portable speaker has Alexa, Google Assistant and 360 audio
Bose is expanding its smart speaker offerings with the aptly named Bose Portable Home Speaker, which includes Bluetooth connectivity, voice control and virtual assistant integration into a 7.5-inch by 4-inch package. The 2.3-pound speaker is made for on-the-go activities, with 12 hours of battery life, an IPX4 water-resistance rating and -- of course -- a handle.
Canvas is a big-ass speaker stand for LG OLED TVs
If you've picked up an OLED TV, you're left with two choices for high quality sound: A soundbar, or large speakers for a home theater setup. Canvas, a new project from a group of audio veterans, is something in between. It's a huge speaker that serves as a stand for LG's OLED TVs, giving you sound quality comparable to bigger Hi-Fi offerings, in a form factor that's still relatively compact. And based on a brief demo, it sounds incredible.
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.
IKEA's Sonos-powered speakers are available now
After a months-long wait, IKEA's Sonos-powered SYMFONISK speakers are finally available. They're sitting in the furniture giant's stores as of today (August 1st) and should be available online "soon." As before, what you choose depends both on the audio quality you expect and how you'll use them to furnish your home. The $99 bookshelf speaker is both the most affordable option and can double as a shelf of its own if you buy the $20 wall bracket. The $179 table lamp, meanwhile, is both a handy light source and a more powerful speaker comparable to Sonos' Play:1.
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.
Braun's Dieter Rams-designed speaker line is making a comeback
It's been 28 years since German consumer product maker Braun got out of the audio business, but any audiophile will still be able to recognize the company's classic LE range of speakers. Today, Braun announced that Pure Audio will launch new speakers that will reinvent its classic design. Pure will license the Braun name from Procter and Gamble. The new LE speakers will make their debut at IFA in Berlin, Germany this September.
Bose adds Google Assistant to its smart speakers and soundbars
When Bose debuted its smart speakers and voice-controlled soundbars last year, the company promised support for other voice assistants besides Alexa was on the way. Today, it makes good on that promise. Bose says starting tomorrow in the US, an automatic software update will bring Google Assistant to all existing smart speakers and soundbars. That list of devices includes the Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700. The company also announced a new, smaller smart speaker today: the Home Speaker 300.
Bowers & Wilkins is betting big on high-end, multi-room streaming
For Andy Kerr, product communication director at Bowers & Wilkins, Formation has been a long time coming. "We're following a path that we've wanted to be on for... probably since the start. Since the inception of the company."
Harman patented flying robotic speakers
Imagine you're using a VR headset and as a car races past, you hear it whip from left to right. Only the sound literally moves from left to right because it's coming from a robotic speaker that zips across the room. From the looks of a new patent, audio company Harman is dreaming up speakers that would do just that.
Ultimate Ears' custom-designed Boom 3 speakers match your style
Ultimate Ears' Boom speakers have usually been colorful, but there's been a catch: you've always had to pick from whatever designs UE offered, which didn't help if you thought the company's choices were too gauche. Thankfully, UE has a simple solution. It's launching a MyBoom Studio feature that lets you customize the Boom 3 with a choice of eight colors and 12 fabrics across the body, caps and volume buttons. It's not infinite customization, but you have plenty of room to be flamboyant, safe, or something in between.
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.
JBL targets spring arrival for its Android TV-powered Link Bar
JBL made a splash with it's Android TV-powered Google Assistant soundbar back at Google I/O, but the company wasn't able to ship the speaker before the end of 2018. Despite opening up pre-orders and rumblings of anticipated ship dates in the fall, the Link Bar has yet to make it's official debut. JBL is chatting up the device this week at CES, and part of the details include an updated timeline for when you might be able to grab one: spring 2019. The $399.95 soundbar and an optional $299.95 subwoofer are both expected to ship then.
Those colorful Sonos One speakers go on sale November 5th
Sonos is finally breaking away from the bland black and white color schemes that typically accompany speakers and is spicing things new with new, vibrant options. In collaboration with Danish design brand HAY, Sonos is releasing a run of the Sonos One speaker that will be available in yellow, green, red, pink and gray. Despite originally being slated for a September release, the limited edition speakers will be available starting on November 5th.
