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.
Rather than something built into a pool, it is something you bring to one. A jet head mounts to the pool's edge with a clamp-and-bracket assembly, no drilling required, while a separate power box sits on the deck nearby. Attach it, switch it on, and the pool becomes considerably more useful than it was ten minutes ago.
Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Phone 4a series on March 5th, with compatibility with the Phone 4a Series via ChatGPT to hear Nothing News or Essential Space, its information hub app. Nothing nailed the audio quality in its previous headphones, as I've written while testing its open-ear Nothing Open and the Nothing Ear (a). It's no different here, with neutral and clear sound fit for all-day listening.
Samsung polled its users and found that 58% of them use buds on a daily basis - and that sound quality is a top priority. That said, most people tend to use only one pair of headphones for everything, so the buds also had to be comfortable and easy to carry.
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.
Enter THEMAGIC5, makers of the world's first custom-fitted swim goggles. Born out of necessity by Danish triathletes Bo Habber and Rasmus Barfred, its newly launched model-Vector with Formfit-uses proprietary technology to create one-of-a-kind goggles based on a facial scan via their smartphone app with stabilization points specific to your face.
I tend to find them underwhelming because overall sound quality is subpar compared to the more "traditional" in-ear models. Any promise of noise reduction, or a far-fetched claim of noise cancellation, usually doesn't hold true. The first time I used the Shokz OpenFit Pro ($249.95) I was immediately met with better audio performance than I'd just experienced on Sony's new LinkBuds Clip and noise reduction technology that actually lessened some distractions.
Wireless audio has become the industry standard, but there are still options out there for people who prefer a wired connection. Two new choices joining the market come from Sennheiser, which has released the CX 80U wired earbuds and HD 400U wired over-ear headphones. These new takes on the company's previous models for wired listening have replaced the 3.5mm audio jack connector with a USB-C cable.
They do sound good in open mode. When they're not covering your ear canals, the Aerofit 2 Pro rank among the best open earbuds in their price class, with an airy sound signature that naturally focuses on the upper registers. While no open earbuds I've tried accentuate bass as well as regular buds, the Aerofit 2 Pro have more resonance down low than most, accompanied by splashes of keen instrumental detail and clear stereo separation.