#beosound-2

#beosound-2

The Soundboks Mix is indeed loud, folks. It didn't quake the Earth upon which we walk or anything like that, but it's got juice.

The DuoBell works by emitting two sounds the headphone can't cancel. One sound is designed to be within a frequency in ANC's narrow blind spot that it can't invert, and another is too fast and confusing for ANC to process.

Placing your subwoofer in the front quadrant of a room allows the walls to guide low-pitched sounds effectively, enhancing overall audio quality. Avoiding corners is crucial, as this can lead to muddy and overpowering bass that detracts from the listening experience.

The TTT-W magnetic modular wall rack is flushed against the wall, featuring four circular magnetic pads that create a vertical design piece, unifying the audio devices.

The ring-like portable speaker has a lanyard that lets users hook it onto a backpack or simply carry it around the wrist. Another option is to wear it around the neck, turning the device into a personal stereo system that surrounds the user with sound while remaining lightweight and portable.

The Mix speaker features a built-in carrying handle and a place for a strap, allowing for easy transport. The top-hat mounts enable use with traditional PA pole stands, enhancing versatility for events.

Music has become the backdrop to almost everything, cooking, working, reading, but the hardware that plays it often looks like a leftover from a tech store, plastic boxes that clash with furniture. There is a tension between wanting good sound in every room and not wanting your living space to feel like a gadget shelf. A speaker that behaves like hi-fi but looks like it belongs on a sideboard can quietly solve that.

The power of sound is somewhat understated in our image-heavy culture, color and texture a huge part of how we understand design. Yet the tactile and audial are just as important, offering a depth of feeling - a responsiveness that is more than visual, it is somatic. A felt reverberation of sound, and the tactile qualities of it, are central to understanding Rhapsody, a new speaker from Canadian brand Sonoforma. Doubling as a guitar cabinet, founder Mike Nopper makes furniture for musicians, tuning in to the specific wants and needs of some of our most particular hobbyists and professionals. For audiophiles, speaker systems are a serious and complex issue. Rhapsody understands this importance: it's built to work like gear, and live like furniture.

The collection includes two wireless speakers that both feature Bluetooth 5.5 with Auracast support, an IP67 rating so they can survive the occasional short dunking, 24 hours of battery life, neon colored buttons, and multicolored LED lighting. Cassette tape functionality hasn't been carried forward from Philips' original '80s Moving Sound devices, but both speakers have color LCD screens displaying a stylized animation of spinning cassette reels, and other playback details.

The original KEF Muo launched back in 2015 and felt like a turning point in portable hi-fi. Serious, designer Bluetooth speakers from a respected hi-fi brand were rare back then-with only a few brands like Bang & Olufsen and Loewe interested in combining pretty and portable. These early designs were still given the side-eye by most traditional audio.

What's wild about this jump in stamina is that it's disproportionate to the battery's capacity. The Kilburn II ships with a 5,200 mAh cell, while the new model is only about 5% bigger: 5,500 mAh. Clearly, some big efficiencies have been gained.

Sonos' soundbars are incredibly easy to use; as long as your TV has an eARC port and your home has Wi-Fi, you can maximize their performance and features. All of Sonos' home theater products -- soundbars, rear speakers, and subwoofers -- offer exceptional performance with a plug-and-play setup.

When I sit at my desk to work, I play music in the background to avoid getting distracted. For an immersive listening experience that encourages productivity, I typically throw on a pair of headphones, with my current rotation consisting of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony Ult Wear, and Sennheiser HD 660S2. Also: Spotify vs. Apple Music: I've tried both streaming services, and prefer this one

Bose SoundTouch was first launched in 2013, with prices ranging from $399-$1,500. During the initial launch, it was announced that support for the devices would last for 13 years. That time has come. Bose SoundTouch announced in October 2025 (via an email) that all SoundTouch speakers would become "dumb" speakers on Feb. 18, 2026. Once that date hits, the speakers will stop receiving updates (including those for security), and the only way they will work will be via HDMI, Aux, or Bluetooth connections.

I've tested a variety of portable Bluetooth speaker brands over the past two decades. Most of the time, I connected these speakers to my smartphone and streamed music for backyard gatherings, beach outings, drive-in movies, and other events with family and friends. The most common issue I had with these speakers was finding out the hard way that they're dead -- all because I forgot to charge them in advance.

There's something beautifully nostalgic about the radiogram. You know, those elegant wooden cabinets from the mid-century that housed radio, turntable, and speakers all in one piece of furniture that looked good enough to anchor your living room. Ruark Audio clearly remembers, and they're marking their 40th anniversary by bringing that concept into 2026 with the R810 MiE (Made in England edition), a stunning collaboration with Storm Furniture that proves technology can be just as much art as function.