Articles about Speakers

The summer is officially here! Yes, it is time to go outside and enjoy the nice warm weather. Whether you go to the park, the beach, or just stay in your own backyard, it is a good idea to have some music playing. After all, some funky tunes can make everything better.

While you can play music from your smartphone's built in speakers, that is hardly a great experience -- especially if you are having a party with friends and/or family. To truly have a great music experience, a Bluetooth speaker is an absolute must-have accessory -- it can really get your booty bouncing. Today, Sony launches three new water-resistant wireless speakers under its X-Series branding -- SRS-XG300 (up to 25 hours playing time), SRS-XE300 (up to 24 hours), and SRS-XE200 (up to 16 hours).

Continue reading →

Most people who buy a keyboard for their tablet will opt for something slim and portable that can be used wherever they go. KnewKey’s Rocksete is the total opposite of that. It’s big, solid and heavy, and designed to pretty much stay in the one place.

It’s also an amazing piece of kit, blending a quality mechanical keyboard (with LED dynamic backlighting), and JBL speakers. You can use it with a tablet, phone, and even a laptop thanks to the add-on holder. While you can take it out in public should you choose to, I wouldn't advise it if you want to get any work done. As an experiment, I set it up in my local coffee shop and it quickly drew an inquisitive crowd, and that was without any music playing.

Continue reading →

Creative's Pebble speakers are very popular with budget-focused shoppers. Over on Amazon, it has 4.5 stars with over 500 reviews. It's not hard to see why that is -- for a mere $25, you get a respectable 2.0 audio experience from a well-known brand. No, they aren't audiophile quality, but at this price, you should know that. They should be better than your laptop's built in speakers, however. One of the coolest aspects of the Pebble speakers is they are USB-powered -- you don't need an AC adapter when connecting them to your computer. You do need to simultaneously connect a 3.5mm audio cable, however, as audio is not transmitted over USB -- only power.

One of the big drawbacks to Pebble is a lack of bass. This really shouldn't be surprising, as they are small 2-inch speakers, and they don't have a subwoofer. Well, Creative heard the user feedback loud and clear and decided to bring a little boom to its budget offering. Called "Pebble Plus," it is the same stereo speakers, but now with a small subwoofer added. Amazingly, the price is barely higher than the non-plus variant. Seriously, folks, the price will shock you.

Continue reading →

When shopping for a Bluetooth speaker, there are many options nowadays. Quite frankly, trying to pick one can be an overwhelming experience. My advice? If you stick to two brands -- JBL or Ultimate Ears -- you will be absolutely fine. Bluetooth speakers from those companies are consistently excellent. Are there good speakers from other companies? Sure, but they can be hit or miss.

Ultimate Ears in particular has never let me down. Its lower-end offerings and its top models all offer both great build and sound quality. Seriously, folks, not only do they sound really good, but they are extremely durable too. The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is probably the best "bang for your buck" speaker, as it gets plenty loud and costs less than $200.

Continue reading →

It used to be if you wanted quality audio, you had to pay and arm and a leg to achieve it. Hell, stereo equipment used to take up a lot of space too -- it could be a burden. Nowadays, however, you can score solid speakers for a very affordable price. Best of all, the packages are much smaller too -- you don't need dedicated cabinets to hold massive receivers and other components. With that said, there are some audiophiles out there that still buy massive (and expensive) equipment. If they can afford it and it makes them happy, God bless them.

Today, Logitech announces a 5.1 surround sound speaker system that is surprisingly affordable. While certainly not for audiophiles, it looks like a great option for the everyday "common" person. Called "Z606", it offers a total peak wattage of 160 for all 6 speakers -- five satellites (one of which serves as center channel) and a powered subwoofer. Although it is mostly a wired affair, it also offers Bluetooth support for convenience. While there are controls for things such as volume on the subwoofer, the package also comes with a mini remote control so you don't have to get up from your couch, bed, or chair.

Continue reading →

Fans of music have many ways to listen to their favorite songs these days. Thanks to services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora, long gone is the need to depend on physical media. With that said, many audiophiles still prefer vinyl and CD to streaming or playing files. Of course, lossless digital media files -- such as FLAC -- are also a great way to enjoy tunes without compromise.

Regardless of how you choose to play your music, it is always wise to invest in quality speakers and headphones. Speakers in particular are very important to get right, as not only is quality important, but volume too. Someone in a tiny studio apartment will have different needs than someone with a big house that throws parties. Today, Fluance launches a pair of powered 6.5-inch bookshelf speakers that should meet the needs of many. Called "Ai60," they are extremely versatile -- there are a few different hardwired options for connecting to, say, computers and stereo receivers, but also, Bluetooth for convenience.

Continue reading →

Amazon Echo devices are very convenient for listening to music. Not only can you use your voice to play, say, Spotify or Pandora, but SiriusXM too. Unfortunately, the Echo devices aren't exactly audiophile products. While the normal Echo is passable, the Dot is downright terrible for audio quality -- this is probably why Amazon suggests connecting it to an external speaker.

But what if convenience isn't enough? What if you want to use Alexa and also have superior audio quality? Today, a company named Cavalier Audio launches a premium portable Bluetooth/Wi-Fi speaker with Amazon Alexa support that aims to solve that dilemma. The "Maverick," as it is called, promises better audio quality compared to Echo, but also, it is comprised of premium build materials, such as leather.

Continue reading →

For people who have invested in a large screen TV with a view to enjoying a home cinema experience, one of the most common complaints is the quality of the built-in speakers.

The latest flat-screen TVs lack the big wooden cabinets of old for sound to resonate around in and so the audio quality from their on-board speakers tends to be a bit weedy. Most therefore look to add a soundbar or external speaker system to improve the experience.

Continue reading →

Samson is a company that is known for making affordable audio equipment for both amateurs and professionals. For many podcasters, for instance, its microphones are a wonderful value and quite popular. The company has a very diverse portfolio of such products.

Today, Samson launches a new set of powered studio monitors. These pro-grade speakers should offer solid sound reproduction. While they are 2.0, meaning just left and right speakers, there is an output to add a dedicated subwoofer. If you do need added bass, but don't want to buy a sub, there is a bass-boost button too.

Continue reading →

Back in the day, when people wanted portable music, it usually meant using a giant boombox loaded with C or D batteries. These devices offered the ability to play AM/FM radio, cassette, and later on, CD too. The included carry handle allowed the owner to easily take it to places like the park or the beach. Heck, some people walked around with it on their shoulder blasting music on the go.

Nowadays, boomboxes have largely been replaced by small Bluetooth speakers and smartphones. JBL seems keen on resurrecting this product type, however, with its all-new "Boombox." This is a very large Bluetooth speaker with integrated carry handle, that promises exceptional bass. There are no C or D batteries here, however, as it has a massive rechargeable 20,000mAh battery which can provide up to 24 hours of music playback! That large battery can be used to charge other devices too, such as smartphones and tablets. You can even pair two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

Continue reading →

Earlier today, Logitech announced a unique new keyboard called "Craft." It is designed to work in harmony with the company's excellent Logitech MX Master 2S mouse, but, of course, you can use it with any pointing device that you choose. Logitech is hoping to dominate your desk with these products not only because they work exceptionally well, but also because they will share an elegance and design style that will transform your work space into something beautiful.

Of course, a mouse and keyboard alone do not complete an elegant desktop experience, so the company is also introducing a new 2.0 desktop speaker system. Called MX Sound, the speakers don't only connect with a 3.5mm audio port, but they feature Bluetooth too. Actually, you can pair two Bluetooth devices at once. There is even a headphone jack on the rear. To lend to the overall beautiful design, there is no branding on the front of the speakers, allowing them to blend into your desk. The controls on the front even have proximity detection, so they will only light up when your hand gets close.

Continue reading →

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, there is definitely a correlation between cost and sound quality. That's not to say that you have to spend an arm and a leg for a satisfying experience, but it helps. From my experience, a $20 model will certainly sound like crap, while models costing $100 and more from companies like JBL and Ultimate Ears will reward you with superior wireless sound.

But what about the midrange? Not everyone can spend $100 or more on a Bluetooth speaker. If you have less than a hundred to spend, you aren't out of luck. In fact, I have discovered a solid performer for under $70 on Amazon. Called the "ARCHEER A320," the 25W speaker is currently priced at $69.99. Even better, the company has a secret Amazon discount code for BetaNews readers that will drop the price to $44!

Continue reading →

There are so many Bluetooth speakers nowadays, that it is hard for any to stand out. That's not to say they are all equal from a sound quality perspective. Actually, many of them are downright terrible. It is hard to find a model that produces acceptable-sounding music. This is why it is wise to stick with reputable brands, such as JBL, Bose, and Ultimate Ears. Don't misunderstand me, there are solid offerings from some less-known brands, but they are few and far between.

One reputable company that has been involved in sound technology for many years is Creative -- maker of the iconic Sound Blaster series of PC sound cards. Today, Creative unveils an absolutely beautiful Bluetooth speaker called "Halo." What makes it stand out from other such speakers is the cool-looking "halo" effect on the face. This is done with LED lights which feature an impressive 16.8 million color options. The lighting can be customized using a mobile app, allowing the user to find the best color combination for them. How cool is that?

Continue reading →

Continuing what has already been a newsworthy week for the world of smart speakers, rumors are beginning to circulate that Samsung plans to get in the game with its own news-reading, weather-watching, talking tabletop device.

It seems a logical progression for the smart device giant, after it launched its own voice assistant platform, Bixby, with the Galaxy S8 line of smartphones. That would presumably be the same platform that Samsung would use in a proprietary smart speaker.

Continue reading →

Is it a lamp? Is it a speaker? Is it a media player? Is it a radio? Actually the DL1101 is all of these things rolled into one. It can connect to a sound source via Bluetooth or play music from a Micro SD card, there's a built-in FM receiver and it lights up, all of this for around $20.

The on-board battery needs to be charged through its USB connection. It can deliver up to eight hours of life on a full charge but this obviously depends on volume levels and how bright you have the light.

Continue reading →