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Belkin's SoundForm Mini 2 wireless on-ear headphones, designed for children ages 3 and up, are currently discounted 25 percent using the code VERGE25OFF. The base model drops from $29.99 to $22.49, while the version with a zip-up carrying case falls from $39.99 to $29.99 after the code is applied.
Sonos let journalists test its new Beam Ultra soundbar and Ace Ultra headphones in several setups, including standalone, paired with wireless Play speakers as surrounds, and streaming soundbar audio directly to the headphones. During a movie clip demo, the Beam Ultra delivered clear, well-balanced sound with surprising bass despite no subwoofer, while adding the Play speakers as rear surrounds noticeably improved immersion through Sonos's new Fabric technology, which lets devices sense their placement and surroundings.
Dolby Atmos for Headphones is a paid app for Windows and Xbox that virtually recreates spatial audio effects on ordinary stereo headphones, without requiring dedicated Atmos-enabled hardware. Users can try the surround simulation through a free trial before deciding whether to purchase the full software.
Sonos introduced two new Ultra-branded products: the Ace Ultra headphones priced at $449 and the Beam Ultra soundbar priced at $699, both available for pre-order now and shipping September 29. The company also rebranded its software platform as 'Sonos 27,' rolling out alongside the hardware launch.
Sonos has released the Ace Ultra, a successor to its original Ace headphones, adding the ability to pull audio from any Sonos speaker or soundbar rather than just a limited set of compatible soundbars. The feature, powered by a new Headphone Engine 2 platform with redesigned Wi-Fi hardware, lets users move sound from TVs, turntables or streaming apps to the headphones with a single button press, though it remains an opt-in Early Access feature.
Sonos has introduced the Ace Ultra, a premium successor to its Ace noise-canceling headphones priced at $449. The new model features Sonos-designed 40mm drivers, upgraded adaptive noise cancellation, a 10-microphone array, and Headphone Engine 2, which enables direct one-button linking to a user's Sonos system. Preorders open now, with shipping starting September 29 in black, soft white, agave and sand colorways.
Sonos hosted an Open House event on September, unveiling its next wave of hardware after CEO Thomas Conrad hinted in July that the company had spent two decades building what he called an operating environment for AI in the home. The event, not livestreamed, was covered by Engadget staff on-site through a live text blog, with speculation swirling around potential new speakers, headphones, or app fixes.
Sennheiser's new Momentum 5 Wireless headphones claim up to 57 hours of battery life with ANC on, nearly double rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. The headphones also feature a battery that users can swap themselves by removing four screws under the ear pad, though the replacement battery isn't yet sold separately. They support a wide range of audio codecs including aptX Lossless and offer both wired and USB-C lossless playback.
Sonos held an event in New York to launch the Beam Ultra soundbar and Ace Ultra headphones alongside a major software update called Sonos 27, marking its largest product reveal since the troubled 2024 app relaunch. The update introduces an in-house voice assistant, Sonos 27voice, plus Sonos 27mcp, which lets users link outside AI models like ChatGPT or Gemini to control their systems, though Google Assistant remains unsupported. A future feature will let users build up to 10 custom AI agents with distinct voices and personalities to handle tasks like news updates or motivational prompts.
Amazon has cut the price of Sony's WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones by half, marking the steepest discount seen for the model to date. The deal covers the flagship over-ear headphones known for their active noise cancellation and long battery life.
Sony has cut the price of its WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones to $198 at both Amazon and Best Buy as part of week-long Labor Day discounts. That price matches the lowest they hit during Prime Day in late June, but this time shoppers don't need a Prime membership to access it. The headphones normally retail near $250 and launched in 2022 at $399.99.
After the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an FCC order that extended discounted 'lowest unit charge' TV ad rates to political parties and joint fundraising committees, the National Republican Congressional and Senatorial Committees said they will petition the Supreme Court. The 4th Circuit denied their request for an emergency stay but issued the mandate immediately, clearing the way for a Supreme Court appeal.