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Rated Five Stars by 5,000 Reviews, These Anker Noise Cancelling Earbuds Are Now Just $28

There are occasions when it just isn’t worth it to invest $200 or $300 in premium earbuds like AirPods Pro. Anker is a brand that specializes in making affordable and reliable electronic accessories, from chargers to earbuds, and their Soundcore brand is one that delivers quality audio products with consistently high reviews. The Soundcore P30i noise-cancelling earbuds are one example with features and performance on a level with far more expensive models. Even at their standard price, the earb

Walmart is discounting one of my favorite Sony Bluetooth speakers

ZDNET's key takeaways The Sony Ult Field 3 speaker is a midrange powerhouse with great sound and ample bass, and it's $50 off right now at Walmart. With a 24-hour battery life and features that encourage speaker syncing, the Ult Field 3 would be perfect for regular hosts and music lovers. I can't think of anything wrong with this incredible speaker, and its price competes with other speakers of this size and spec. View now at Amazon View now at Walmart more buying choices The off-white Sony U

I recommend this Bose Bluetooth speaker for upcoming summer trips - here's why

ZDNET's key takeaways The Bose SoundLink Max retails for $399 in the colors Black and Blue Dusk This unassuming Bluetooth speaker delivers the high-quality sound that Bose is known for, with the battery life to keep the party going all night. The regular price might be a turn-off, given you can get perfectly capable speakers for less. View now at Bose View now at Amazon more buying choices Decades ago, when I was working for an audio installation company, we used to have a saying: "No highs,

3D-printed device splits white noise into an acoustic rainbow without power

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The morphogenetical topology optimization method shapes the scattering inclusions, shown as gray material. When the ARE is excited by monopolar source emitting broad-band white noise, the radiated sound creates an acoustic rainbow. The source is positioned at the center of the emitter (illustrated using white light)

Finally, a soundbar that completes my home TV setup and is well worth the price

ZDNET's key takeaways The Platin Monaco 5.2.1 speaker system is available on Amazon for $1,000. With a simple setup and well-defined sound, the Monaco is ideal for entertainment streaming and small spaces. The Monaco's subwoofer lacks power, and the system requires a phone app as the remote. $999 at Amazon Last year, the JBL Bar 1000 set a high standard for soundbars. Since then, nothing has come close to the rich, multi-dimensional sound produced by that system, and I cannot imagine any soun

Microsoft Accidentally Replaces Windows 11 Startup Sound With Vista Chime

Microsoft has temporarily transported users back to 2007 this week when the company mistakenly swapped Windows 11's familiar startup chime with the iconic Windows Vista boot sound. The mix-up appeared in a recent Windows 11 Insider Preview build in the Dev Channel. Users who rebooted their systems noticed that instead of the modern Windows 11 tone, they were greeted by Vista's distinct (and now nostalgic) startup sound. Microsoft has since acknowledged the issue, calling it an unintentional ch

I'm taking my favorite portable vinyl player on all my summer trips, and it's $25 off at Amazon

ZDNET's key takeaways The Audio-Technica Sound Burger retails for $199 and comes in yellow, black, or white. The Sound Burger has unparalleled portability, a long battery life, and provides a novel listening experience. It doesn't have a counterweight, and also doesn't have an auto-return feature. $174.95 at Amazon The Audio-Technica Sound Burger is $25 off on Amazon, making it cost $175. Note: This discount only applies to the black color. Technology is all about embracing the now. So, even

Microsoft Accidentally Replaces Windows 11 Startup Sound with Vista Chime

Microsoft briefly transported users back to 2007 this week when the company mistakenly swapped Windows 11's familiar startup chime with the iconic Windows Vista boot sound. The mix-up appeared in a recent Windows 11 Insider Preview build in the Dev Channel. Users who rebooted their systems noticed that instead of the modern Windows 11 tone, they were greeted by Vista's distinct (and now nostalgic) startup sound. Microsoft has since acknowledged the issue, calling it an unintentional change and

These sleep earbuds have not one but three secret weapons to help you get more rest

Soundcore / ZDNET Soundcore's newest sleep earbuds come with features that could get you to sleep faster. The mobile accessories brand announced today its third-generation sleep earbuds, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds, that at long last come with active noise cancellation. Smart ANC and AI binaural beats The new Sleep A30 minimizes up to 30 decibels of noise with its Smart ANC technology. Its case also features adaptive snore-masking technology, which detects snoring and generates noise-mask

Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar is just for audiophiles, and it's on sale

Allison Murray/ZDNET You can buy the Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar for $300 ($100 off) on Amazon. ZDNET's key takeaways The Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar retails for $400. This soundbar comes with plenty of customizable EQ options to fully optimize your sound for whatever you're listening to. It's large in size, and the setup can be a little complicated. Good sound is easily detectable -- you know it when you hear it. While the Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbarproduces dynamic sound, it lacks th

5 easy ways to instantly improve your soundbar's audio (without spending a dime)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Soundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality. Also: Your car's USB port is more useful than you think. 5 features you're missing out on Whether you're new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings

Microsoft accidentally swapped Windows 11’s startup sound with Vista’s

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. If you’ve been having flashbacks to 2007 while using your PC over the past few days, you’re not alone. Microsoft has mistakenly replaced Windows 11’s boot sound — in test versions of the OS — with the startup chime from Windows Vista. Windows testers started noticing the issue shortly after Microsoft released its latest Dev Channel build of Windows 11 on Friday afternoon. The

Anker’s Soundcore Sleep earbuds finally feature active noise canceling

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Anker has announced a new version of its wireless sleep buds that could be even more effective at delivering a peaceful slumber by blocking out disturbing noises using active noise cancellation. Previous versions of the Soundcore Sleep earbuds blocked external sounds passively using just a snug fit inside the ear, but the new Sleep A30 finally ad

At last, wireless earbuds that sound great, feel comfortable, and won't break the bank

ZDNET's key takeaways The Baseus MC1 earbuds are availble now on Amazon for $69 Although the sound of the MC1 earbuds won't blow you away, the comfort and ease of control make up for it You really need to use the Baseus app to get the most out of these earbuds. $69.99 at Amazon The Baseus Bowie MC1 earbuds are now on sale at Amazon for $49, down 29% from the usual price of $69. I've been wooed to the dark side of clip-on earbuds. I resisted the urge for a long time, but eventually could figh

Sony’s Waterproof Speaker Is Nearly Free before Prime Day, Perfect Chance to Prep for Summer Travel

Whether you’re heading out on a weekend hike, setting up camp by the lake, or just need a reliable speaker to bring tunes to your backyard, having a compact yet capable Bluetooth speaker on hand can really elevate the moment. But with so many options out there, finding something that’s both affordable and actually sounds good is easier said than done. You can get the Sony SRS-XB100 wireless Bluetooth portable speaker for just $38 at Amazon right now, down from its usual price of $60. That’s $22

Forget JBL, This LG 5.1.1 Soundbar Bundle Hits Its Best Price Yet Only at Best Buy

One thing a lot of us forget when looking at a good home theater setup is the audio side of things. It’s all good and well going out and buying the shiniest and most powerful television you can find, not to mention the dopamine hit from doing so, but you should always put some time and budget into treating your ears as well. See at Best Buy One of the simplest ways to do this without too much hassle is to get a soundbar, but even better than that is to get a soundbar that works with rear speak

This Marshall Bluetooth speaker I tested sounds better than audio systems twice the price

ZDNET's key takeaways The Marshall Killburn III Bluetooth speaker is available on Amazon for $379. With rich, dynamic bass and a wide soundstage, you'll enjoy music of all genres with this speaker You might run into trouble pairing the speaker with the Marshall app (as I had). $379.99 at B&H Photo-Video $379.99 at Crutchfield more buying choices I'm quite familiar with the Marshall brand and its lineup of audio products. I have a Marshall amp that sounds brilliant (much better than I sound wi

Bose's second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have AI-enhanced adaptive ANC

On Thursday, Bose unveiled its next-gen premium wireless earbuds. The latest QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have enhanced adaptive noise cancellation, thanks to AI. Among their other upgrades over the originals are boosted call quality and wireless charging. Since AI is the tech world's obsession, it's no surprise that Bose is jumping on that bandwagon. Here, the company uses it to improve adaptive noise cancellation. AI algorithms in the new model can smooth out sudden spikes in background noise w

Bose’s New Bluetooth Speaker Looks Like a Solid Way to Annoy Everybody at the Beach

The only thing I love more than foisting my music on other people at the park is doing it with a speaker that delivers solid or above-average sound quality. While I haven’t had a chance to use Bose’s new portable Bluetooth speaker, it seems like it could be a great option for doing just that. Bose’s SoundLink Plus is a midrange Bluetooth speaker that is very clearly designed for outdoor excursions since it can float and has an IP67 rating that makes it damn near waterproof and dustproof. Per Bo

The latest Android 16 QPR1 beta finally organizes Android’s messy sound settings

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is cleaning up Android’s “Sound & vibration” settings page in the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 update. Instead of one long list, the new layout groups settings into distinct categories like “sound patterns” and “Audio.” The volume sliders also get a modern design, while other options are relocated to make the page feel less cluttered. After more than 16 years of development, the Android OS is packed with features. If they weren’t organized, navigat

Shokz OpenRun Pro Hit an All-Time Low, the Best Bone Conduction Sport Headphones With 4.5-Star Reviews

Did you know that there are just an unfathomable number of headphone and earbud options out there? Seriously, we’d defy anyone who wanted to actually count them all; it’d take way too long. This wealth of options is good for all of us, but can make it really hard to find the right pair for what you need. We recommend figuring out what you actually want them for, and then going from there. So, if you’re someone who loves going for a run, then something like the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are a

Best Workout Headphones We Tested and Sweated In (2025)

Honorable Mentions Photograph: Adrienne So We try almost every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we also like that didn't quite earn a space above. Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for $180: In 2024, Jabra announced that this generation of the Elite Active series would be its last, which I hate, because these are the best. They're comfortable, secure, sound amazing, have a pleasingly matte texture and a smart case. These will be obsolete in two years. I weep. JLab Epic Sp

Best Earbuds and Headphones for Working Out in 2025

Soundcore by Anker Sport X10: The Soundcore Sport X10 have an interesting design with rotating swiveling ear hooks that flip up when you're using them and flip down when you want to set them in their charging case, which has a smaller footprint than a lot of buds with ear hooks. As long as you get a tight seal, they sound good, with powerful, punchy bass and good detail. They also have active noise canceling, which is effective though not as good as Sony's or Bose's noise canceling. They're also

Sony Soundbar Price Crashes to Just $98, Cinematic Sound Without the Price Tag

Picture is one thing, but really what brings a viewing experience from good to great is audio. To do that, what you want is a really good sound system, and the good news is you don’t need to break the bank to install one. Right now, Sony has a 2.0 channel soundbar on sale for 25% off. Normally going for $130, that discount is enough to bring this television audio accessory down under $100 at just $98. See at Amazon A Soundbar’s True Value The movie-watching experience is 50% sound. You can ha

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for 2025

Google Pixel Buds Pro: The Pixel Buds Pro are Google's first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. While it's nice that they finally have a feature that a lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering -- particularly for Android users -- is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling,

Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2025

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: A lot of us liked Shure's original Aonic 50 headphones, but they had pretty middling noise cancellation. Well, the 2nd-gen version addresses that issue -- the noise canceling is much improved -- and Shure has more than doubled the the battery life to around 45 hours (they now have a quick-charge feature) and also shrunk the headphone's carry case a bit, although it's still not that compact. Those upgrades make the Aonic 50 Gen 2 a top noise-canceling headphone. The Aonic 50

Best Bluetooth Speaker for 2025

Sonos Roam: Available in white or black for $179, the Roam is currently the smallest and most affordable Sonos speaker (if you don't count those $99 Sonos-compatible Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi bookshelf speakers), although it's fairly expensive for a mini wireless speaker. This Sonos Roam model, like the bigger Sonos Move 2 portable speaker, is equipped with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can tap into an existing Sonos multiroom audio system and link with other Series 2-compatible Sonos speakers. Learn

Best Buy Slashed JBL 5.1 Soundbar With Subwoofer to Nearly 60% Off, Cheaper Than Amazon

Sound is 50% of the movie-watching experience. You can have the best picture in the world available, but it won’t leave its full impact if the audio is just coming out of the TV. The best way to improve your home audio for watching movies, football games, and big budget TV shows without breaking your own budget is with a soundbar. You’ll find a soundbar to be a significant enhancement to what the built-in speakers you TV is working with which usually sound tinny and weak in comparison. You deser

Get The Best Night's Sleep With These 4 Noise Colors

If you dislike loud noises that interrupt your sleep, you may want to consider a noise machine. It sounds counterintuitive, but a noise machine can generate a steady color noise that helps block out these unwanted sounds. White noise is the best known, and machines that make it have been on the market for decades. But that's not the only noise that can help you sleep. Let's dig into the types of noise, what they sound like and how to figure out which is best for your needs. Read more: Best Whi

Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025

Master & Dynamic MW09: Master & Dynamic headphones and earbuds have always featured unique, eye-catching designs that include premium materials like aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its latest MW09 flagship true wireless earbuds ($349) look pretty similar to its earlier MW08 buds but have some upgrades on the inside that deliver better performance, particularly when it comes to noise cancellation. The earbuds sound great but are mysteriously out of stock everywhere, so we dropped them from t