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Tech News
Sonos has released the Beam Ultra, a wider version of its compact soundbar that now supports genuine Dolby Atmos rather than simulated surround sound. The device packs five tweeters, four woofers and nine amplifiers, compared to the simpler single-tweeter setup in the previous Beam generation, and is best suited for TVs 55 inches or larger.
Apple has launched a dedicated live-music venue called Apple Music Hall at its London headquarters in Battersea Power Station, built to host and broadcast Apple Music Live concerts. The space seats up to 600 people, features 48 speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, 16 camera positions, two recording studios and a broadcast control room supporting iPhone video capture. Its stage can switch between a traditional front-facing layout and an in-the-round setup.
Amazon has discounted Samsung's 2025 flagship HW-Q990F soundbar system by 33%, cutting $600 off the package price. The bundle includes an 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar along with a subwoofer and rear surround speakers.
Yamaha announced the B200A, a compact soundbar replacing the C20A, adding Dolby Atmos support and a built-in subwoofer with Bass Extension mode. It keeps the same small dimensions as its predecessor but costs $50 more at $250, and will ship in November with inputs including HDMI eARC/ARC, optical, 3.5mm and Bluetooth.
Yamaha has unveiled the B200A, a compact soundbar measuring just 23.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, designed to fit under monitors or mount on walls. Despite having only two drivers and a built-in subwoofer, Yamaha claims it delivers 3D immersive Dolby Atmos sound, complete with a Bass Extender mode and Clear Voice dialogue enhancement. It ships in November with a single HDMI port, a 3.5mm jack, and Bluetooth streaming, priced at $250.
WIRED's latest soundbar roundup highlights the Focal Mu-So Hekla as a standout premium option, praising its 15-speaker array, powerful bass, upfiring Dolby Atmos drivers and intuitive companion app. The guide also names honorable mentions including the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sony Bravia Theatre Trio, noting each device's tradeoffs in sound quality, price and expandability.
Anker's Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds, praised for strong call quality and IP55-rated durability, have dropped to $149.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Anker's own store, down from their usual $169.99. The earbuds had held that price steadily since their May debut, even skipping discounts during Prime Day in June.
JBL's Bar 700 Mark 2 soundbar system is discounted to $549.99, down from its $899.99 list price, at Amazon. The bundle includes a 7.1-channel soundbar with detachable, battery-powered rear speakers that dock on the bar to recharge and can run up to ten hours untethered, plus a wireless subwoofer and mounting hardware.
A review roundup names four top Alexa-enabled smart speakers for 2026: the Echo Dot Max, Echo Dot (5th Gen), Echo Show 11 and Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen). The Echo Studio (2nd Gen) and Echo Spot (2nd Gen) also earn honorable mentions for their audio quality and compact design respectively, with the Studio singled out for its powerful, clear sound from three 1.5-inch drivers and a 3.75-inch woofer.
Sennheiser's fifth-generation Momentum True Wireless earbuds bring a smaller, more ergonomic design, five extra hours of ANC battery life (up to 12 hours per charge, 40 with the case), and user-replaceable batteries priced around $30-$40. The buds also gain an 8-band EQ, refined Sound Personalization, native Dolby Atmos with optional head tracking, enhanced adaptive ANC, and improved call quality via extra microphones, a bone conduction sensor and AI noise separation.
Proper Dolby Atmos soundbar placement requires clearing obstructions like ceiling fans and light fixtures so upward-firing drivers can bounce sound cleanly off a flat ceiling. The soundbar should sit roughly halfway up the wall, parallel to seating and near ear level, while side-firing models need unobstructed wall reflections toward the couch. Smaller soundbars without up-firing drivers, such as the Sonos Beam, offer more flexible placement for compact spaces using virtual Atmos processing instead.
Sonos showcased its new $699 Beam Ultra soundbar and $449 Ace Ultra headphones at an open house event, alongside upcoming app updates. A private demo revealed the Beam Ultra's improved bass, vocal clarity, and Dolby Atmos performance using side- and top-firing drivers, plus the ability to wirelessly pair Play portable speakers as rear channels.