speakers – The News Desk

22 Best Bluetooth Speakers (2023): Portable, Waterproof, and More

17Dec

By adminNo Comments

Technology

22 Best Bluetooth Speakers (2023): Portable, Waterproof, and More

The best Bluetooth speakers still have a place near and dear to our hearts, even as we've seen better (and more portable) smart speakers creeping into the universe. It's fun and easy to ask an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker to play your favorite track or tell you the weather, but smart speakers require stable Wi-Fi and updates to work. By (mostly) forgoing voice assistants and Wi-Fi radios, Bluetooth speakers are more portable, with the ability to venture outside of your house and withstand rugged conditions like the sandy beach or the steamy Airbnb jacuzzi. They'll also work with any smartphone, and they sound as good as their smart-speaker equivalents.We've tested hundreds of Bluetooth speakers since 2017 (and many before that), and we can happily say they are still some of the best...

28 Delightful Gift Ideas for Music Lovers and Audiophiles

11Dec

By adminNo Comments

Technology

28 Delightful Gift Ideas for Music Lovers and Audiophiles

Whether you're trying to find a turntable so Mom and Dad can bust out their vintage vinyl collection, or you want to give the gift of great sound to a young music lover or a middle-aged audiophile, it can be tough to find great-sounding gear that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. That's where we come in. Each year, we spend hundreds of hours listening to the latest and greatest gear around, looking for the elusive products that bring the best possible sound for the money.These are our favorite gifts for music lovers, from affordable accessories to insane, tube-driven wonders. Looking for other cool audio gear or gift ideas? Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including the Best Cheap Headphones and Gifts for Beer and Wine Lovers.Updated December 2023: We've overhauled this guide wi...

Technics SU-GX70 Network Amplifier Review: Classic Looks, Modern Sound

21Nov

By adminNo Comments

Technology

Technics SU-GX70 Network Amplifier Review: Classic Looks, Modern Sound

Within the app, you’ll find a relatively intuitive interface that lets you futz with tons of settings, choose inputs, and stream audio via services like Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and others. You can add Favorites for quick access to a wide array of local and global radio stations or play directly from Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, or Bluetooth. You can also stream hi-res audio files from a local server at up to 384 kHz/32-bit resolution or DSD up to 11.2 MHz.The GX70’s spread of connection options is impressive and includes three digital inputs (two optical and one Coax), USB-B and USB-A, and good ol’ FM radio. Outputs include a front-facing headphone output, stereo speaker outs, and a preamp output for connecting a second amp or a powered sub. So yeah, you won’t run out of ways t...

Focal Theva No. 1 Speakers Review: Smooth and Creamy

6Nov

By adminNo Comments

Technology

Focal Theva No. 1 Speakers Review: Smooth and Creamy

I spent a couple of weeks with the speakers, swapping them in after the B&W 606 S3. While they didn’t immediately wow me as I focused on evaluating TVs and other gear, they stepped in pretty seamlessly for my usual KEF LSX 2.1 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) reference system that includes SVS’s 3000 Micro subwoofer, which in itself says a lot about the Thevas’ sonic skills. They don’t offer the same thunderous bass, but the 6.5-inch drivers held their own down low across content.I spent most of my listening powering the speakers with a Naim Uniti Atom (8/10, WIRED Recommends) amplifier, which as it happens is owned by the same company as Focal. As you may guess, it makes for a fabulous pairing, though few would call it an affordable one. The Theva still sounded quite good with the cheaper Te...

9 Best Smart Speakers (2023): Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri

31Jul

By adminNo Comments

Technology

9 Best Smart Speakers (2023): Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri

Connects to Google AssistantWith a wireless subwoofer, room-filling virtual surround sound, and Amazon's Alexa onboard, the Yamaha YAS-209 is the best smart soundbar you can buy right now. It's compatible with Spotify Connect and has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, which makes it a great speaker for all-around listening in your living room.Connects to Alexa★ Alternative: The Sonos Beam soundbar ($499) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is another good option. It isn't our absolute favorite soundbar for the money, but it has Alexa, Google Assistant, and Airplay support (with some Siri) out of the box.Best Google Assistant Smart DisplaySmart displays are great in the kitchen, but they often have speakers too weak to help you dance your way through meal prep. That's why we like the Google Nest H...

12 Best Amazon Echo and Alexa Speakers (2023): Earbuds, Soundbars, Displays

2Jul

By adminNo Comments

Technology

12 Best Amazon Echo and Alexa Speakers (2023): Earbuds, Soundbars, Displays

Amazon’s family of Alexa-enabled devices is vast. From the spherical Echo to the swiveling Echo Show 10, you can get Alexa into your home in many ways. These devices can answer your questions, help you order essentials, set timers, play all sorts of audio content, and even function as the control hub for your growing smart home. These are our favorite Echo- and Alexa-compatible speakers for every home and budget.The best time to buy any Amazon speaker is during a major sale event like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, as there usually are steep discounts. If you’re trying to decide which smart devices might be best for you, be sure to check out WIRED’s picks in our roundups: Best Smart Speakers, Best Smart Displays, and Best Bluetooth Speakers. We also have guides on setting up your Echo ...