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Sonos is selling a limited-edition Beastie Boys speaker for charity
Prior to today, the easiest way to get the Beastie Boys on your Sonos Play:5 was to queue up your favorite songs from the trio. A new limited edition version of the speaker will always have the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers on it, even when you're listening to something else, thanks to a Beastie Boys-themed skin. Proceeds from the short run of speakers will go to charities that expand access to music and education.
Teenage Engineering reluctantly adds Bluetooth audio to OD-11 speaker
For years, Teenage Engineering has chosen not to allow its users to stream music via Bluetooth to its flagship OD-11 speakers. And that's despite it actually having a Bluetooth radio inside. The Swedish engineers have finally, reluctantly, given in and users can simply download a software update for their speaker to enable it.
Bang & Olufsen unveils David Lynch speaker collaboration
Long-time Bang & Olufsen fan David Lynch is lending his creative eye to a special edition speaker collection. The series includes the Beoplay A9, M5 and P2, featuring selected images and details from Lynch's War Between the Shapes series and Paris Suite lithographs.
Vizio's Dolby Atmos home theater speakers arrive starting at $500
You have to pay if you want room-shaking Dolby Atmos vertical surround sound, even if you're looking at value brands. Vizio has revealed pricing and availability for its upward-firing home theater systems, and the cheapest is the $500, 36-inch 5.1.2 home theater system. The 46-inch 3.1.2 and 5.1.4 models, meanwhile, will cost you $800 and $1,000 respectively.
Netgear and Harman Kardon’s smart speaker doubles as a WiFi repeater
An unlikely partnership between router maker Netgear and audio company Harman Kardon has resulted in a smart speaker that does just a little bit more than its competitors. The Orbi Voice isn't just another Alexa speaker, it's got serious sound pedigree and it acts as a WiFi repeater too, spreading internet while it's pumping tunes.
Marshall taps Alexa for its first smart speakers
In a move that Spinal Tap probably never saw coming, Marshall has launched its first ever smart speakers with Amazon Alexa control. The Acton II and larger, more powerful Stanmore II, part of Marshall's "Voice" lineup, are successors to the previous models of the same names. The big update is Alexa voice control, making it easier to find and change the name of the current artist or song, crank up the volume, and any other Alexa-related functions.
Ultimate Ears' Boom and Megaboom 3 are a pool party's best friend
You can always trust an Ultimate Ears speaker to sound pretty slick, be simple to use and not blast a hole in your wallet, and the newest launches from the Logitech-owned brand are a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 -- there never was a Megaboom 2, but for the sake of consistency, Ultimate Ears has jumped a number -- look a lot like their predecessors, but a few design tweaks, added features and attractive price tags define this next generation.
The nine speakers we recommend in our back-to-school guide
Though our back-to-school guide includes plenty of headphones, we threw in just as many speakers. Whether you intend to host a few parties or just want the convenience of a smart speaker, we found a number of models that we feel earn their space in your dorm. As you might expect, our list of nine picks include plenty of smart speakers, including usual suspects like the Apple HomePod, Google Home and Sonos One. Our feeling is, if you're going to invest in bookshelf or desktop speakers, you may as well have the option of using voice commands. That said, nearly half of our recommendations are portable, with highlights from JBL, Bang & Olufsen and the category leader, UE. As a warning, not everything on this list is cheap (we're looking at you, Klipsch), but some, like the UE Wonderboom are much cheaper, with a street price of around $70. Find all that and more (plus those headphone picks we mentioned) in our complete guide.
Sonos expects to release products faster now that it’s gone public
It's been a busy year or so for Sonos. Since last April, the company has launched three hardware products (the Playbase, Sonos One and Beam), added AirPlay 2 and Alexa support and became a publicly-traded company just yesterday. It's a milestone for any company, but Sonos says its fans shouldn't worry that the pressure of answering to investors will change its music-focused mission. The company's chief product officer Nick Millington told Engadget that Sonos is staying focused on delivering music throughout your home. In fact, the company points to the busy year it had as what we should expect going forward.
What you need to know before building a HiFi system
The process of building a stereo can be overwhelming. Should you buy new gear or trawl the local stereo shop for vintage equipment? Do you need a subwoofer for music? Are high-end speaker cables really going to make a difference in sound? It's no wonder, then, that smart speakers have become so popular: They're available in a variety of sizes and, when paired with a music streaming subscription, are a simple way to access a world of music. But the trade-off for that convenience is sound quality. While an Echo or HomePod is perfect for listening to podcasts, it can't stack up to the power and fidelity you get with a traditional stereo. If you're looking to upgrade, rather than ponying up $500 for a single Google Home Max, consider an alternative solution: building your own stereo HiFi system. While the initial setup and research are more intensive than simply telling Alexa to order more Echo Dots, after it's done you'll have a much more versatile -- not to mention better-sounding -- way to listen to music at home.
Sonos will sell red, yellow and green One speakers for a limited time
Sonos speakers, for the most part, have been limited to two shades, black and white, which is a result of the brand's desire for its devices to blend in with the home rather than stand out. Well those looking for a little bit of color now have their opportunity as Sonos has just announced a partnership with Danish brand Hay, resulting in a speaker line with red, yellow and green options.
Vizio adds Dolby Atmos to its latest home theater speakers
Vizio didn't just unveil bright HDR TVs as part of its spring announcements. The electronics giant has launched a trio of home theater systems that bring Dolby Atmos audio to the lineup. The 36-inch 5.1.2, 46-inch 3.1.2 and 46-inch 5.1.4 systems all pack the requisite upward-firing speakers to add a vertical dimension to your movies. Of course, Chromecast support and Bluetooth remain built-in. Vizio hasn't outlined pricing yet, but expects all three Atmos systems to arrive in the summer.
IKEA's first Bluetooth speakers don't need assembly
IKEA's team-up with Sonos might not bear fruit until 2019, but that doesn't mean you'll have to go without distinctly Swedish speakers in the meantime -- in the wake of launches in Sweden and mainland Europe, the furniture giant has brought its inaugural ENEBY speakers to the US and UK. To no one's surprise, they're built to blend into IKEA's minimalist decor. The two sizes (8 x 8 inches and 12 x 12 inches) conveniently fit into the company's latest shelving, while the black or gray polyester fabric on the front makes them a tad friendlier than usual. Naturally, there are stands and wall brackets to help them fit. And in case you're wondering: no, you won't need to spend half an hour assembling the speakers with an Allen wrench.
Google Home’s multi-room audio now works with Bluetooth speakers
Google Home is getting a long-awaited feature: Bluetooth. Previously, only Google Cast-enabled speakers could be looped in to a network of Home-commanded devices. Now users can pair their speaker of choice with the dedicated Home app and voice command it to play your tunes or podcasts.
Logitech adds what gaming speakers were missing: synchronized lights
Logitech G's latest PC speakers aren't just focused on sounding good -- they can also create a light show around your desk. The company's new G560 speakers come equipped with four RGB LED lighting zones, which can display around 16.8 million colors. And with Logitech's LIGHTSYNC technology, they can also synchronize with what you're seeing on screen, or the music you're listening to. While extensive lighting might seem like an odd feature for a set of desktop speakers, they fit right into the latest PC gaming trend: the more LEDs, the better.
IKEA and Teenage Engineering preview their collaboration on Instagram
Teenage Engineering is known for its wonky-looking yet functional synths and speakers, while IKEA furniture fills college (and folks who still live like it's college) apartments. Their powers combined has produced...some neat, boldly-colored speakers, actually. On its Instagram, Ikea just posted a sneak peek at their upcoming line of collaborated products built "so that you can host your party, wherever you may be."
B&O’s upgrade for old speakers requires some heavy tinkering
In 2018, most new speakers come with WiFi and/or Bluetooth as standard options. Let's face it: Almost everyone is using their phone to access music these days, so wireless connectivity is a must. However, if you invested in a set of non-connected speakers before the wireless craze hit, you may not want to shell out more money to replace them just yet. For older passive speaker setups, Bang & Olufsen has an option for getting that connectivity thanks to a collaboration with HiFiBerry. You'll have to get your hands dirty, though.
Razer's Nommo line of PC gaming speakers feature Chroma lighting
Gaming peripheral maker Razer announced three new speakers for gaming PCs at CES today. Just like other Razer gaming devices, the Nommo speakers are equipped with the company's fancy lighting system, Chroma, to let you visually customize your gaming space with light.
B&O will add Google Assistant to its connected speakers this year (updated)
Earlier today at CES, Google detailed how its Assistant would be available in more cars, headphones, speakers and other devices in 2018. Bang & Olufsen connected speakers are on that list. The Danish audio company already allows voice control through a Google Home speaker, but later this year, the feature will be available directly on some of the company's gear.
Klipsch speakers are getting Alexa and Google Assistant voice control
Voice control was all the rage at CES 2017, and this year's show appears to continue the trend. This time, another big name in audio is getting into the game: Klipsch. The company will have options for both Alexa and Google Assistant, so you'll have some choice when it comes to the new feature and new audio gear.
