When it first launched more than 40 years ago, Korg’s miniKORG 700S was an overnight sensation—bringing studio-quality synth sounds to home players & touring acts alike. Today, the iconic analog monosynth returns as the miniKORG 700FS, featuring modern function and key classic features like a secondary detunable oscillator for thick bass plus an arpeggiator, spring reverb and aftertouch. Korg has not yet announced a release date.
Fender’s Mustang Micro is a compact, portable headphone amp that plugs directly into an electric guitar, giving players a wide range of 12 different amp emulators and 13 pedal-like effects, making it a versatile practice and recording gadget. Powered by a USB-C rechargeable battery.
Four years back when Jeep’s all-new Wagoneer was still just a concept car, the plan was hatched to develop a McIntosh sound system for the luxurious new lineup. Offered in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the McIntosh MX950 Entertainment System brings high-end audio & handmade craftsmanship to the in-motion sound experience. A 17-channel amplifier delivers up to 950 watts of power & the system boasts a LD/HP speaker design to lower distortion while Power Guard ensures exceptional clarity even at very high-volume.
Utilizing the same runner-friendly audio tech as the Bose Frames glasses, the brand’s new Sport Open Earbuds won’t block-out ambient noise, providing safety & improved situational awareness. The bud design features no tip, rather the earbud sits above your ear canal—providing a customizable mix of your audio & noise from the outside world. They feature 16mm drivers and are IPX4 splash-resistant, offering battery life up to 8 hours at 50% volume.
Los Angeles-based audio hardware startup Syng—creators of Apple’s HomePod speaker—are rolling out a Spatial Audio speaker of their own. The orb-shaped Cell Alpha delivers immersive, room-filling sound with 7.1 channel surround. The 360º speaker array consists of a pair of chunky woofers, a 6-pack of tweeters & mid-range drivers, plus three microphones which function to continuously “tune” the audio to the space.
With voice detection and ANC powered by machine learning, the Olive Pro wireless earbuds combine the best of mobile audio with an FDA-registered hearing aid, allowing users to hear clearly by reducing ambient sounds while focusing enhancement on a specific sound source—like the other person’s voice. 18-hour battery life & rich hi-fi audio make “affordable hearing for all” sound really good. A funded Kickstarter.
Just when you thought Apple might exit 2020 with a fizzle, they unveiled AirPods Max, their new flagship over-ear & noise-cancelling headphones. Boasting 40mm drivers and “custom acoustic design” for rich, full-spectrum audio, they offer adaptive EQ and transparency mode as well as spatial audio and audio sharing. They feature aluminum construction with a soft & breathable knit mesh in the headband & ear cups. Battery life is 20 hours. Available in 5 colors December 15.
For the latest update to their Hammerhead earbuds, Razer bumped up performance, adding Active Noise Cancelling & THX Audio. With Hi-Fi sound and noise isolation, the Hammerhead True Wireless Pro also features a low-latency mode for improved sound/video sync while gaming.
Disguised within a design resembling a vintage lantern, Sony’s LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker merges room-filling 360º sound with mood lighting that offers 32 levels of light from flickering candlelight mode to bright LED—reflected in the speaker’s “organic glass” body. Multi-speaker connectivity lets you link up to 10 speakers.
Black Airpods? Not really. The Oddict Twig true wireless headphones def borrow the form factor but are constructed of lightweight aluminum—a first for wireless buds. They deliver exceptional sound via 12mm & include a range of silicone tips for adaptive fit. The Twig app allows users to set personal listening preferences plus equalizer, presets & auto play.
The Beolit 20 is a portable bluetooth speaker from Bang & Olufsen that uses the brand’s signature True360 omnidirectional technology to deliver crisp, room-filling audio. The compact, re-designed exterior encases a 5.5” wideband woofer, a trio of 1.5” full range cones, and a pair of 4” passive bass radiators. The result is full, punchy sound in any space. Battery-life ranges from 8-37 hours & a Qi charging pad on top lets you charge phones & other devices while it plays.
They insist they’re not overdoing it. Okay. But as the most powerful amp to ever thunder out of of the McIntosh lab, the MA12000 pumps out an incredible 350-watts per channel; a two-channel hybrid integrated amp with tremendous power. Merging the analog warmth of a vacuum tube pre-amp with an overbuilt & advanced solid-state amp, you get 350-watts of perfectly balanced audio delivered to your 2, 4, or 8-Ohm speakers. The back offers 10 analog inputs & 7 digital inputs to connect and network all your components.
Known for their cool & clever synthesizers, Swedish audio innovators Teenage Engineering have added something different to the lineup: a unique sound system/media instrument called the OB-4. It features a rewindable radio, allowing you to instantly scroll back to anything you’ve listened to in the past 2 hours. You can also capture, stretch & loop virtually any audio content, whether from streaming services or your personal collection, on any device.
Roku’s compact Streambar home theater speaker is a 14” wireless speaker compatible with all Roku devices, apps, & services, offering 4K HDR streaming via HDMI ARC or optical audio connection. There is also a Bluetooth receiver and support for Spotify Connect for music as well as Alexa & Google voice assistant plus HomeKit & AirPlay2 support.
Your hands are full and you get a call. Drop everything & take it or miss the call? With Mobvoi’s Gesture earbuds, you can just nod your head & the call connects. These premium wireless earbuds offer intuitive, AI-assisted TicMotion gesture control: shake your head for no, nod, for yes. They also offer dual-mic ANC, Siri/Google Voice Assistant support, and 50-hour battery life. A funded Indiegogo.
Encased in brushed aluminum with a louvered front grill, the updated Ottava F all-in-one music system from Technics’ delivers audiophile sound from any playback source: streaming via Chromecast or AirPlay2, bluetooth, wi-fi, and even the built-in CD player. Equipped with an improved 8cm woofer, it uses Technics’ digital amps with JENO (Jitter Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimization) engines to create crisp, full-spectrum sound in a single unit. Available in black & dark silver.
Designed to be the ultimate travel headphone, the all-new H95 is, as the brand claims, the “most advanced active noise cancellation of any Bang & Olufsen headphones.” Created & named to celebrate the Danish audio company’s 95th anniversary, these flagship cans feature luxe materials, a mix of touch control & mechanical dials, adjustable noise-cancelling, & 38-hours of playback.
Designed for analog-obsessed audiophiles, the 150-watt 2-channel MC1502 tube amplifier from McIntosh delivers unrivaled warmth and impressive punch with its arsenal of vacuum tubes: eight KT88 output vacuum tubes—four assigned to each stereo channel. It also has eight small signal tubes: four 12AX7A and four 12AT7 vacuum tubes; two of each dedicated to each audio channel. Patented transformer technology allows playback through 2, 4, or 8 ohm speakers.
Sony’s flagship NC headphones just got a sweet upgrade. A standout among the “best noise-cancelling” headphones on the market, the new WH-1000XM4 can be paired with 2 devices simultaneously & features new & improved microphones for clearer calls. There’s also a Speak To Chat function that automatically pauses audio when you speak. Carryover features from the last model include 30-hour battery life, premium materials, and precision customization using the Headphones Connect app. Shipping late August.
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Following up on its original Airpod-alternative, Scottish audio brand RHA packed quite an impressive update into its TrueConnect 2 earbuds. Now with IP55 weather-resistance rating, they are more sweat-proof, they also boast 9 hours of playback & with the flip-top charging case, battery life ranges between 25-40 hours total. They’ve got upgraded drivers, too, ensuring cleaner, more powerful sound & clearer calls.
