Audio

Similar to Twelve South’s recently launched Airfly View dongle that can connect wireless headphones to non-Bluetooth devices, iFi is introducing a new version of its UP Travel dongle that can wirelessly receive audio, too. The $129 UP Travel Max adds Bluetooth 5.4 and support for the aptX Lossless codec, plus Auracast for broadcasting to an unlimited number of listeners with compatible headphones.

The company’s new Heritage Collection is targeted at classic car collectors wanting modern stereo features like Bluetooth and support for HD Radio and SiriusXM while also preserving the vintage look of their vehicles. The $499 SXT-C10PS head unit and matching $299 TS-X40SXT speakers are both available for preorder now.

I said in my hands-on that you can swap the batteries in each bud without any tools in less than a minute, and now iFixit’s teardown proves my point: the battery removal starts at the 27-second mark, and is done before the minute is up. Unsurprisingly, Fairbuds 2 get a 10/10 repairability score.

With features like 32-bit float recording, 64GB of redundant storage on each transmitter, threaded connectors for wired lavalier mics, a 500 meter range, and a receiver that interfaces through the Multi Interface Shoe atop Alpha cameras, Sony’s new $399.99 ECM-W5 wireless mic kit could be a tempting alternative to DJI’s offerings for videographers with more professional workflows.

Premium subscribers already get 12 hours of (primarily English) audiobook streaming every month, and that perk is now expanding from 22 to over 180 countries be the end of 2026. The offering includes 350,000 titles, “including new catalogs in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, and more, spanning over 120 languages.”

Apple TV subscribers in the US can experience Formula 1 in the enhanced audio format for the first time starting October 23rd with the US Grand Prix in Austin.

Seen in leaks last month, the Buds On are Samsung’s first foray into open earbuds, joining the likes of Sony and Bose. They’re powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 chip, and have 9.5 hours of battery per charge. South Korea gets them first, on October 27th for ₩299,000 (about $220), with more markets to follow.

The Gen 2 version of Shure’s MV6 USB Gaming Microphone carries forward the original’s Auto Level Mode and Real-Time Denoiser but makes both features adjustable so you can dial in how loud your voice is in the mix and how much background din is heard. For $169, the MV6 Gen 2 also includes a longer 2-meter USB-C cable and introduces a new all-white color option.

Following the 52-pound Bromley 750 that launched last year and the 27-pound Bromley 450 announced in March, the new 14-pound Bromley 150 is now the lightest and cheapest Bluetooth party speaker that Marshall makes, and it still features the array of white LED stage lights hidden behind its front speaker grill. You can preorder it from Marshall’s online store for $499.99 with shipping starting next month.

After a recent software update, the custom EQ option is now available on a handful of supported AirPods, 9to5Mac reports. You can find it in the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — on my MacBook Air the new Equalizer feature was under Audio & Routing in my AirPods Pro 3 settings.

People have been asking for 4K, and Rode is giving it to them. The Rodecaster Video, Video S, and Video Core now have a 4K capture mode. They’re also getting expanded syncing capabilities with the Rodecaster Pro II and Duo for fully integrated audio/video production setups.

First announced during the Fairphone 6 Plus launch last month we finally have more pics of the Fairbuds 2 that will launch later this year thanks to leaks shared by NieuweMobiel. Pricing and the level of repairability still isn’t known, but the redesigned Fairbuds 2 appear to have a stubby stem and a larger charging case.

Supposedly galled the Galaxy Buds On, SammyGuru found an image of the earbuds in the Samsung Buds Manager app. Other images hint at features including automatic volume adjustment, voice memo recording, and head shaking and nodding gesture controls. Clip-ons are the new industry trend, with Bose, Sony, and Nothing already on board.

While the Sony D-88 is the first player smaller than a CD, the $100 Fosi Disc Nano I saw at CanJam SoCal is super cool, even if playing a disc while carrying it seems dangerous. It has both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, Bluetooth connectivity, and comes out later this month.

Following a teaser earlier this week, Nothing’s CMF sub-brand has revealed the Buds Neo wireless earbuds with 12.4mm drivers, active noise canceling, Bluetooth 6.0 support, and up to 11 hours of battery life on buds alone, 52 hours with their charging case, or up to 30 hours with ANC. They’re priced at 1,999 Indian rupees, or around $21.

Buds Neo, that is, which are being teased by Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF sub-brand, just two weeks after it launched the CMF Clip Pro open earbuds. It posted the below image on X yesterday as a “hint of what’s next.” A new video posted today also shows colorful Smart Dial charging case configurations, and a short message: “Buds Neo. 20 August.”