Soundbars may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Klipsch, but the company has a lot of experience with the living room devices. The company already has two models in its Flexus Core lineup and now it's adding a third, flagship-level option to its stable. The Flexus Core 300 is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar that will offer more immersive sound than the 3.1.2-channel Flexus Core 200 and 2.1-channel Flexus Core 100. It will also be the company's most expensive soundbar in the current group at $999.
Klipsch says the Flexus Core 300 will be the first soundbar that's equipped with Dirac Live room calibration tech. Dirac is an audio company based in Sweden with years of experience in room correction and headphone calibration. It even teamed up with Dolby for more immersive in-car audio systems. In the case of this soundbar, Dirac Live uses an included microphone to adjust "the magnitude and phase" of the speaker to any room in order to to provide "more transparent, balanced sound" with "tighter bass, improved staging and enhanced clarity." Klipsch also provides the Dirac Live license at no extra cost, which isn't always the case with compatible products, according to the the company.
“Our collaboration with Klipsch on their all-new Flexus Core 300 sound bar proves that cutting-edge room correction technology is no longer just for the high-end AVR market — it’s now also for the mainstream consumer audio market,” Dirac’s Vice President of Home and Pro Audio Fredric Tapper said in a press release.
Klipsch
Inside, 12 speakers power Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio, including four 2.25-inch front-firing drivers alongside two 2.25-inch up-firing and two 2.25-inch side-firing units. There are also four 4-inch subwoofers for the low-end tone and a dedicated center channel with Klipsch's horn-loaded tweeter tech for clear dialogue across different volumes. Like the Flexus Core 100 and 200, the 300 is powered by Onkyo electronics as both it and Klipsch (among other brands) are owned by VOXX International.
Around back, there's an HDMI 2.1 output with 8K passthrough as well as an HDMI eARC input. An RCA jack can be used to connect a subwoofer, and both Blueooth 5.3 and WiFi connectivity are here. Standard soundbar audio features like Dialog Boost and Night Mode are on the spec sheet as well, as is compatibility with the Klipsch Connect Plus app for customization and various settings.
The Flexus Core 300 will be available this winter for $999. Klipsch will also offer a new set of surround speakers for $399 and a new 12-inch subwoofer for $499, but nothing extra comes with the soundbar unless you add them on.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/klipschs-latest-soundbar-is-the-first-to-come-with-dirac-live-room-calibration-130010808.html?src=rss
Luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen is know for its high-end design and equally exorbitant prices. Typically the company's earbuds and headphones are more expensive than most competitors, but not astronomically so. That's changed with the company's flagship noise-cancelling headphones though. Following the $999 Beoplay H95, B&O has announced the Beoplay H100 that will cost you $1,549. The company says the H95 have been its "most successful headphones to date," and the H100 has a number of improvements over that model.
Like most B&O headphones, the Beoplay H100 is crafted with premium materials, from the lambskin leather ear pads to the use of aluminum and knitted cloth. There's even a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the ear cups. The company says it was inspired by fine jewelry for the black, sand and apricot color options, all of which combine the "solid sheen of aluminum, softness of leather, and cold-to-the-touch glass" for what B&O describes as "design excellence." The inner headband and ear pad are both detachable, so you can replace them if they become overly worn or dirty.
Inspired by the company's Beolab 90 speaker, the Beoplay H100 packs in 40mm drivers with "sound clarity and dynamic performance that you normally only hear on high-end loudspeakers." High-resolution audio is in the mix, with support for 96 kHz/24-bits tunes. Dolby Atmos is also in play, with head tracking available if you're into that. B&O says its adaptive audio tech, which it calls EarSense, monitors the fit of the headphones and adjusts the sound profile in real time.
Bang & Olufsen
B&O says it doubled the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the H95 for this set, employing 10 microphones that also provide what the company describes as its best transparency mode yet. What's more, a dial on the outside of the ear cups rotates to find your preferred level of so-called TrueTransparency. There's also a Quick Listen mode when you need to pay attention to your surroundings at second's notice, but don't necessarily want to leave transparency enabled. Of course, there are also lofty claims of crystal clear calls "even in very demanding situations," but that's the expected refrain from any headphone company.
The company has been designing its speakers and other audio gear for longevity for a while now. B&O says its building products to they can be updated for years before becoming obsolete. It's also making them easier for technicians to service, and all of this applies to the H100. That's definitely something you need to harp on when you're asking over $1,000 for a set of cans. Aside from the aesthetic upgrades users can complete themselves, the company says the design of the headphones enables quick access for service to batteries, glass surfaces, drivers and circuit boards. Software "won't be surpassed by new technology," the company explains, with key features like wireless high-resolution audio and three-device multipoint Bluetooth among the future updates.
Similar to AirPods Max, the Beoplay H100 enters a low-power mode when it's outside of the carrying case but not being worn. The company says the headphones can remain in this state for up to 90 days, ready to be used as soon as you put them on. If you store them in the case though, the headphones will fully power off. The H100 will last up to 34 hours on a charge with ANC on, which is four hours less than the more affordable H95.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bang-and-olufsen-debuts-beoplay-h100-headphones-that-cost-1549-070041891.html?src=rss
The latest round in the Spotify vs. Apple battle concerns volume controls. The streaming service says Apple "discontinued the technology" that allowed it to employ the volume buttons on iOS devices to make level adjustments when using Spotify Connect. Spotify says it's working on a solution, but for now, you'll have to use the volume slider in the iOS app. The company explains that this issue doesn't affect Bluetooth or AirPlay connections, nor does it impact Android users.
"Apple has discontinued the technology that enables Spotify to control volume for connected devices using the volume buttons on the device," the company says in a support article. "While we work with them on a solution, you can use the Spotify app to easily adjust the volume on your connected device."
Spotify Connect allows you to sync with speakers, TVs, and other devices from inside the streaming app. It works with either Bluetooth or WiFi, showing a list of compatible options when you click the display/speaker icon on the app's media player. Once connected, you have full control over the device from inside the Spotify app. It's a lot faster than swiping through the settings menu on your phone.
Until recently, that included the ability to use an iPhone's volume buttons to make adjustments. This functionality works on Apple TV and HomePod, but TechCrunch reports that Apple told Spotify it would need to integrate with HomePod in order to restore the controls. Direct Spotify integration has been absent on HomePod since the first device launched in 2018. Pandora support was added in 2020 and YouTube Music followed in 2023. Deezer, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio are also on the list.
For now, Spotify will prompt users to make volume changes inside the app with a notification when they try to use the buttons. If you're already inside the app, the volume slider will pop up directly. This is certainly less convenient than before, but it sounds like it's only temporary. What's more, the issue seems to also impact Google Cast on iOS, as users reported a similar issue on Spotify's forums back in February.
According to TechCrunch, Spotify is once again blaming Apple for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to stop "gatekeepers" from using "unfair practices" with their products and services. This includes interoperability with operating systems and software features. Spotify was only able to display pricing in its app in the EU this month, following a €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) fine back in March for restrictions it placed on other music streaming apps on the App Store.
Engadget has asked Apple for comment.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/spotify-says-apple-broke-some-of-its-volume-controls-on-ios-204746045.html?src=rss
Sony refreshed its affordable earbud offering in 2021 when it debuted the $100 WF-C500. While that model delivered a refreshed design with 10 hours of battery life, support for 360 Reality Audio and more, budget-friendly sets have dropped well below the initial price of the C500. Now Sony is back with an even cheaper option, the WF-C510, that will be available for $60.
The company tweaked the design once more for this budget-friendly pair, engineering earbuds that are 20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the C500. In fact, Sony says this new model is its smallest design ever for closed-type buds. The C510 maintains its predecessor's IPX4 rating, so they should still be okay to use during workouts, and the earbud housing and case are made with recycled plastic. Thankfully, Sony added ambient sound (transparency) mode even though the earbuds don't have active noise cancellation (ANC). Ambient sound typically only comes on ANC sets, so the added convenience is notable here. The company also tacked on multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, which will bring another handy feature to the C510.
Sony extended the battery life by an hour up to 11 on the earbuds themselves. Just like the previous model, the charging case provides enough juice for one additional full charge. What's more, a quick-charge feature will give you up to one hour of use in just five minutes. The C510 will work with Sony's headphones app to allow you to tweak settings, and both 360 Reality Audio and DSEE upscaling, a tool that recovers detail lost to compression, are on the spec sheet.
The WF-C510 are available for pre-order now in black, blue, white and yellow colors for $60, and are scheduled to ship in early September.
Update, August 26 2024, 2:57PM ET: After this story was published, Sony clarified that the price of the WF-C510 is $60. We have updated the story where appropriate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-new-budget-friendly-earbuds-have-a-transparency-mode-and-longer-battery-life-160018370.html?src=rss
Apple has just given podcasts listeners an improved way to stream shows from its library on any device. Starting today, the version of Apple Podcasts on the web has a look and feature set that more akin to the company's standalone app. Not only is the platform accessible on any device via the web, but you'll get more tools beyond simply playing episodes — even if you don't have desktop or mobile app installed.
Through the web interface that looks similar to what you'd see inside the full app, you'll be able to browse shows, access your library, view top charts, purchase subscriptions and more. Apple Podcasts on the web syncs everything with your Apple account, so play progress, favorite shows and subscriptions remain up to date across devices. If you don't have an Apple log-in, the company says you'll be able to browse and listen, but that's it. Before this, you could listen to podcasts on the web, but you didn't have access to your library or any advanced tools most users want from a service.
Apple says the expanded Podcasts on the web is available in more than 170 countries on "all major web browsers," including Safari, Chrome, Edge and FireFox.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/apple-podcasts-now-has-a-useful-web-interface-for-browsing-and-listening-to-shows-170014285.html?src=rss
When you hear the words "Dyson headphones," the first thing that comes to mind is likely the Bane-like Zone. The company debuted its air-purifying wearable in 2022, but woefully short battery life kept the product from being useful on a daily basis. Now Dyson is back with another version, and its sole purpose is to provide audio and active noise cancellation (ANC) for “normal” use. The OnTrac headphones ($500) have a classic Dyson color scheme and build with long battery life, but the lack of advanced features keep this premium set of cans from competing with the best.
Design
I’d wager if you fed an AI image generator the prompt “Dyson headphones” you’d get something similar to the OnTrac. There’s no doubt what company made these cans, with clear nods to things like vacuums, air purifiers and hair care devices. That’s especially true of the copper, navy and silver color combo on my review unit, a trio of hues that has appeared on previous products from Dyson.
To maintain the premium look for these very high-end headphones, the company used a combination of metals and ceramics for the outer shells of the ear cups. Depending on your color preference, the options include copper, aluminum, black nickel, blue, green, gray or red. Then there are the micro-suede, cloth-wrapped ear pads in another seven hues. Dyson says it will sell additional sets of the outer caps and cushions with over 2,000 possible combinations across all of the components. That is a high degree of customization, if you’re willing to pay even more than the initial $500.
Those interchangeable materials accompany a segmented headband and rotating, gimbal-esque construction that once again recalls previous Dyson gear. The company says it put the two battery cells in the headband for better weight distribution, which is why the two side sections of that component are rigid and only the center one is plush and cushiony. Along the back edges of the ear cups are controls for power/pairing on the left with a playback “joystick” on the right. That latter option allows you to play/pause, skip tracks and adjust volume, in addition to activating a voice assistant.
Billy Steele for Engadget
While I praise Dyson for using mostly physical controls here, the joystick does take some getting used to. You have to be very precise, so you don’t press down whatsoever when you’re actually trying to move up, down or to the side. I still regularly pause the music when I’m trying to change the volume, even after a few weeks of use. The outside of both ear cups are touch-enabled, allowing you to cycle through ANC and transparency mode with a double tap. This works well, reliably accepting inputs even when I only get the edge of the panel.
Dyson’s decision to stick the battery in the headband does help with overall comfort. The OnTrac headphones remained plenty cozy for hours at a time and never felt heavy despite their size. My only gripe here is that the ear cups are round instead of oval. I don’t mind them from an aesthetic standpoint, but when I go to put them on my oval-shaped ears, I have to adjust the headphones with a few wiggles for a good fit. It’s not like most sets where I just put them on and my ears are in the sweet spot. Plus, the OnTrac is big and bulky. So even if they are comfortable, you’ll want to take that into account if you plan to use these for travel.
Features and software
The OnTrac headphones work with the MyDyson app, but there aren’t a lot of features there. You get the usual battery percentage, noise controls, EQ options and on-board control tutorial right up front. The EQ menu is limited to three presets – Enhanced, Bass Boost and Neutral – with the first being the default (and the best). Diving into the settings menu via the gear icon lets you disable automatic head detection and keep listening volume under 80dB.
One unique thing that Dyson puts in the main app interface for OnTrac is a real-time sound exposure graph. This displays both in-ear sound level and external noise over the last 30 seconds. Staying below 85dB for in-ear measurements will keep you out of the red here. That corresponds with about 75 percent volume, which is almost painfully loud on these headphones.
The OnTrac doesn’t have any advanced features like automatic speech detection or adaptive ANC, both of which you’ll find on Sony’s 1000XM5. There’s also no spatial audio option, which has become a core element of most flagship headphones and earbuds in recent years. Not only does Dyson lag behind the competition in this area, but it’s also significantly pricier than most alternatives. The basics are well-covered in terms of features, but that’s about it.
Sound quality
Billy Steele for Engadget
The real measure of headphones, after all, is sound quality. Dyson packs in 40mm drivers capable of a frequency range of 6Hz to 21kHz. And while this provides great clarity, the OnTrac headphones lack the immersiveness most high-end models offer these days.
The OnTrac headphones are pleasant to listen to in terms of overall detail, but the stock tuning is void of the depth that a lot of flagship models offer. The likes of Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins all provide a deeper, richer sound that tends to envelope you, even if you aren’t listening to spatial audio.
Killer Mike’s Songs For Sinners & Saints lack the low-end thump that the album provides on other headphones like the 1000XM5. There is nice detail for some genres though, like you’ll hear with Koe Wetzel’s 9 Lives. With the OnTrac, I could pick up clear texture in the song’s drums and guitars, while the country singer’s vocals cut through the mix. Billy Strings’ recent bluegrass live album also sounds nice on the OnTrac, but when you venture to something like Jack White’s No Name, there’s an airy-ness that’s missing from the overall sound profile. Things that would soar on other sets, like White’s guitar riffs, are a bit muted, and the overall sonic effect is subdued, when it would blanket you with sound on a competing device.
ANC performance
Dyson says the OnTrac’s ANC setup uses eight mics to detect unwanted sounds 384,000 times per second. Combined with the passive noise isolation from the ear pads, the headphones can block up to 40dB of distracting sounds. That looks pretty good on paper, but in the end, the OnTrac does only an average job with constant rumbles from fans and white noise machines. It struggles mightily with human voices and TV sounds. These headphones will be OK in certain situations, but the one-size-fits-all approach to noise-blocking doesn’t silence the world the way Sony, Bose and others can.
Call quality
The OnTrac headphones do a solid job of blocking background noise on calls, but the overall voice quality falls behind comparable flagship headphones. My voice sounded compressed and lacked any energy you’d want on a call. Dyson may have dedicated eight microphones to ANC, but only one is afforded to calls. And, well, you can certainly tell.
Battery life
Billy Steele for Engadget
Dyson promises up to 55 hours of listening with ANC on, a figure that’s only surpassed by Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 (60 hours) among headphones I’ve reviewed. What’s more, that’s 25 hours longer than Sony’s WH-1000XM5, which is our current top pick for best wireless headphones. I managed 48 hours of use with noise cancellation on at a comfortable 50 percent volume. If you need it, a quick-charge option gives you two and a half hours of ANC-enabled playback in 10 minutes or nine and a half hours in 30 minutes .
The competition
At $500, Dyson is competing with the likes of Apple and Master & Dynamic, which both sell premium over-ear headphones for more than the OnTrac. However, only M&D’s MW75 made our best wireless headphones list, mostly due to the company’s premium design and natural sound profile. Unlike Dyson, Master & Dynamic combines metal and leather finishes in a way that looks like headphones and less like a piece of machinery.
If you’re looking for a better value, my advice is to save yourself a lot of money and go for Sony’s WH-1000XM5. For significantly less, you’ll get excellent sound quality, powerful ANC and a host of advanced features that will make your life easier. Those include automatic speech detection that will pause your music when you need to have a quick chat and the ability to switch sound settings based on activity or location without having to futz with an app. They’re more comfortable and are a better travel companion, plus you’ll get 360 Reality Audio where supported and DSEE Extreme upscaling to reclaim detail in songs that’s otherwise lost to compression.
Wrap-up
If you’re a fan of Dyson’s design, you might be inclined to spend big on the OnTrac headphones. With a less-than-stellar audio profile and average ANC performance, the lack of advanced features means you’re settling for a decent set of headphones when better options are available for much less. The customizable design is a plus, as is the impressive battery life and hearing health feature, but you can get the long runtime elsewhere. At the end of the day, I’m not sure the design is enough to make these headphones stand out from the crowd.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/dyson-ontrac-headphones-review-when-the-basics-arent-enough-151518312.html?src=rss
Wireless food probes are some of the best grill tools you can buy. The devices allow you to keep tabs on temperatures without having to maneuver around cables when you need to flip meats or move things around. Meater is one of the popular choices when it comes to wireless probes, and the company's Meater 2 Plus introduced better accuracy and longer range in a more durable probe construction that fully waterproof. Now the company returns with the four-probe Pro XL that uses those updated components in a WiFi-enabled cooking hub.
Meater has gone the four-probe route before with its Meater Block. The Pro XL is the same idea with the improved probes from the Meater 2 Plus. The probes' waterproof construction means they're suitable for sous vide and deep frying, and when you're done you can toss them in the dishwasher. What's more, these probes can also withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside, five sensors monitor the internal temperatures of foods while an ambient temp sensor on the end helps keep tabs on your grill or smoker. Using the data from all of those components, the Meater app can provide estimated completion times once you select your food and cooking method.
Like the Meater Block, the Pro XL can work as a standalone grill monitor on its own. It can also send readings to your phone over Bluetooth so you can stay informed from your favorite chair. Lastly, the WiFi connectivity syncs with Meater Cloud so you can watch the progress on your phone from anywhere. That's handy if you run out of wood pellets during a brisket cook and need to make a supply run, for example. The appeal of four probes is the ability to monitor four things at once. Let's say you have friends over and everyone likes their steaks cooked to a different doneness. Two probes are also helpful for things like smoked brisket, with one in the point and one in the flat, and currently Meater doesn't offer a double-probe option.
Unlike the Meater 2 Plus, the Pro XL is rechargeable via USB-C instead of running on batteries. The company says fully-charged probes will last for over 24 hours, which is more than enough to get you through a long smoke session. In terms of accuracy, Meater promises your readings will be within half a degree and the system shows temps to the tenth of a degree on the Pro XL display on inside the app.
The Meater Pro XL is available for pre-order now for $349.95. That's $50 more than the Meater Block was at full price (currently $239.95). The Pro XL is scheduled to ship on September 12.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/meaters-pro-xl-uses-four-of-its-updated-wireless-probes-to-monitor-your-grill-with-wifi-120045916.html?src=rss
Following a major update back in the spring, the Sonos app was very broken and missing key functionality. The company admitted it made a huge mistake in pushing the redesign too soon and explained that it has since uncovered more “issues” that have prohibited it from adding those missing features. Users were quickly frustrated, and now the company is so mired in fixing its app problem that it delayed two products that are ready to launch ahead of the holiday season. Let’s discuss how we got here, what happened with the app, the consequences Sonos is facing and what likely happens next.
The backstory
Sonos released a completely rebuilt version of its app for Android, iOS and desktop in May. The total redesign was focused on making it easier to play different kinds of content while also creating a hub that’s better suited for finding what you need. Of course, it also has to work with the company’s various speakers and soundbars, and the overhaul took place ahead of the release of the first Sonos headphones. Those cans, the Ace, brought new functionality that had to be supported in the app, so the company thought it was time to wipe the slate clean.
“We viewed re-architecting the app as essential to the growth of Sonos as we expand into new categories and move ambitiously outside of the home,” CEO Patrick Spence said on the company’s Q3 earnings call. “In addition to its more modern user interface, the new app has a modular developer platform based on modern programming languages that will allow us to drive more innovation faster, and thus let Sonos deliver all kinds of new features over time that the old app simply could not accommodate.” He also noted that “performance and reliability issues had crept in” over the company’s history, so the user experience had already suffered as a result of the aging platform.
Billy Steele for Engadget
Some customers will always be resistant to change. The new customizable interface took some getting used to, but that wasn’t the problem. The app was missing basic features like sleep timers and alarms. Users also reported the inability to rearrange speakers in different rooms, speakers working intermittently and trouble completing other basic tasks. Some say they can’t reliably load the app on the first try.
“We developed the new app to create a better experience, with the ability to drive more innovation in the future, and with the knowledge that it would get better over time. However, since launch we have found a number of issues,” Spence explained in July. “Fixing these issues has delayed our prior plan to quickly incorporate missing features and functionality."
Spence laid out a roadmap for fixing the problems in the same blog post, which initially included restoring the ability to add new products to your home setup. Even I had trouble adding the Ace headphones to the app at first, but after a few tries I eventually got it. Spence also said that the company had released updates to the app every two weeks since the redesign launched on May 7, and that it would continue that schedule alongside detailed release notes. The most recent version, which included TV Audio Swap with the Ace headphones and older Sonos soundbars, delivered a handful of very basic things — like the ability to clear the queue on the iOS version.
“Since I took over as CEO, one of my particular points of emphasis has been the imperative for Sonos to move faster,” Spence said on the earnings call. “That is what led to my promise to deliver at least two new products every year — a promise we have successfully delivered on. With the app, however, my push for speed backfired.”
The fallout
Sonos
Customers have been understandably upset since early May, which is well-documented in the r/sonos subreddit. But, user satisfaction isn’t the only issue that the company is facing. With the new version of the app so busted it had to be fixed before missing items could be added, Sonos has delayed the launch of two new products that were ready to go on sale in Q4. Spence said that the company enlisted “the original software architect of the Sonos experience,” Nick Millington, to do “whatever it takes” to remedy the issues.
And it’s not just a headache for customers. Sonos dealers and installers, which make up a significant part of the company’s business, are allegedly so frustrated with what they encounter trying to do their jobs that some of them have paused sales. “As an installer when you try and talk this up to somebody to buy, it is extremely embarrassing at this point when you have to just say ‘well, the parent company is having issues,’ it makes you look like the jackass,” one Reddit post explained.
Spence explained on the company’s Q3 earnings call that the app debacle would cost between $20 and $30 million. CFO Saori Casey said that sum is due to the loss of sales stemming from the software problem and having to delay two new products that would’ve generated more revenue. As such, Sonos had to revise its Q4 financial guidance to lower expectations until this “chapter,” as Spence describes the current fiasco, is resolved.
While the company hasn’t revealed any details on what either of those two now-delayed products might be, there have been rumors that offer some clues. Bloomberg reported in November that the company was working on a soundbar that would surpass the capabilities of its current flagship, the Arc, in addition to a set-top TV streaming box. Both of those products would be hot-ticket items for the holidays, especially for the Sonos faithful.
Sonos Arc
Kyle Maack/Engadget
Bloomberg explained that the new soundbar would likely be $1,200, or $300 more than the Arc. Additionally, the new model would include “new technology” following the company’s acquisition of Mayht Holding BV. In Sonos’ announcement of that move, it said that Mayht “invented a new, revolutionary approach to audio transducers.” More specifically, the company’s engineering methods allow it to build transducers, a basic component of speakers, that are smaller and lighter without sacrificing quality.
According to that same Bloomberg report, the Sonos TV streaming box will be powered by an Android-based OS with various apps for different services. The device is also said to act as a hub for Sonos gear in the home. Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision should be on the spec sheet, and voice control will reportedly play a significant role in the gadget’s operation.
Bloomberg further explained that Sonos was working on a new high-end amplifier that could cost at least $3,000 and new eight-inch ceiling speakers. Frustrated dealers and installers would likely be hesitant to sell such expensive items with the app in the current state, if Sonos could even add the functionality to make them work. Any of these could be the two products the company was forced to delay, and any of them would’ve likely padded the bottom line before the end of the year. And that would be on top of the early sales of the Ace, a device that should be popular this holiday season.
What happens next?
Sonos has a clear plan for how it intends to fix its buggy app, but there’s no timeline for exactly how long that will take. The company has yet to deliver a TrueCinema feature for its Ace headphones that will map a room (with the aid of a soundbar) to virtually recreate the acoustics for a more realistic experience. And as we learned recently, new products have been delayed for the time being.
“Building a new software foundation was the right investment for the future of Sonos, but our rollout in May has fallen dramatically short of the mark,” Spence said on the earnings call. “We will not rest until we’ve addressed the issues with our app, and have delivered new versions that materially improve our customers’ experiences.”
The company is at a standstill until its app is fixed, with a full product pipeline plugged up for the foreseeable future – if the reports are to be believed. From the looks of it, Sonos planned to release an app that wasn’t completely done, but one that it thought was stable enough to use, with the goal of adding features over time to improve the overall experience. However, the complete rebuild was essential to the new technology and devices Sonos has in the works, since the company has been clear the old app wouldn’t have supported them. And since one of those items was the Ace, Sonos had to decide if it could wait longer to release its first headphones, a highly-anticipated product, or just go ahead with what it had.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/why-is-the-sonos-app-so-broken-140028060.html?src=rss
Google's Pixel Buds Pro immediately became the company's best earbuds to date when they arrived in 2022. However, they were also the most expensive thus far and key features like spatial audio weren't available at launch. Just over two years later, Google is back with a second-generation version of its noise-canceling Pro model that was rebuilt from the inside out. Plus, the Pixel Buds 2 Pro are the first Google earbuds to feature a Tensor chip inside.
When they're in your ears, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 look similar to their predecessor. The outside where the touch panel resides is still a circular shape, emblazoned with Google's trademark "G." The rest of the earbud housing has been revised though, using "45 million data points from ear scans" to devise the best shape for both comfort and a secure fit. They're 27 percent smaller than the Pixel Buds Pro and Google shaved 1.5 grams off the weight. There's also a "twist-to-adjust stabilizer" that the company says will keep the earbuds in place when you need it.
Inside, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 pack in a Tensor A1 chip for audio processing and a dash of Google AI. The company says the component processes audio at "90 times faster than the speed of sound" (whatever that means), allowing the earbuds to adapt changes to both how they fit in your ears and to your environment. What's more, the chip gives the buds the ability to block twice as much noise as the previous version and helps keep you sounding clear on calls. The active noise cancellation (ANC) on the Pixels Buds Pro 2 is equipped with so-called Silent Seal 2.0. Google says the system, with the aid of that Tensor chip, adapts to changes three million times per second. The ANC here is also capable of blocking more sounds, according to the company, including those at higher frequencies.
There's also a bit of Google's Gemini AI available on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Gemini Live allows you to have a conversation with the company's artificial intelligence technology while you're using the new earbuds. While it sounds like what we're used to doing with Google Assistant, which Gemini has officially replaced on the Pixel 9, this should be more natural and free flowing. Google says you'll be able to do things like practice for a job interview or kick around ideas while you're on the go. Simply say "Hey Google, let's talk live" to summon Gemini on the Pixel Buds 2 Pro without reaching for your phone.
In terms of sound quality, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have 11mm drivers for "powerful bass" and "smooth treble." Google says it has employed multi-path signals on the earbuds so that the audio processing and music don't have to compete for the same real estate. Spatial audio with head tracking will be available too, so long as you're paired with a Pixel Tablet or a Pixel 6 and newer phone.
The company is making big claims about call quality as well, once again employing Clear Calling to reduce environmental noise of the person on the other end no matter what phone or earbuds they may be using. Conversation Detection returns to automatically pause music and switch to transparency mode when the earbuds detect that you're speaking. Other conveniences include compatibility with the Find My Devices network, automatic device switching with other Pixel gadgets, Bluetooth LE audio, automatic pausing and a wireless charging case. Speaking of battery life, Google says you can expect up to eight hours with ANC on (12 hours with it off), which is one hour longer than the Pixel Buds Pro.
The Pixel Buds 2 Pro will be available in Porcelain (tan), Hazel (grey), Wintergreen (green) and Peony (pink) for $229. That's $29 more than the Pixel Buds Pro were at launch, making this new model Google's most expensive earbuds yet again. You can pre-order the new earbuds today and they'll be available on September 26.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-are-its-first-earbuds-that-work-with-gemini-ai-170048042.html?src=rss
Last quarter should've been a triumphant one for Sonos with the launch of its first headphones, but the company is facing the realities of its botched app redesign. CEO Patrick Spence explained in the company's Q3 earnings press release that Sonos has reduced its 2024 fiscal guidance as a result of "problems" both customers and partners encountered with the software update. But, the issues don't stop with revenue. The company also said on its earnings call it will delay two new product launches planned for Q4 until the app is fixed.
“Thanks to Ace, our long-awaited entry into headphones, we reported year over year revenue growth and delivered results that slightly exceeded our expectations in our third quarter,” Spence said. “This was overshadowed by the problems that our customers and partners experienced as a result of the rollout of our new app, which in turn has required us to reduce our Fiscal 2024 guidance. We have a clear action plan to address the issues caused by our app as quickly as possible."
Spence said the new products were ready to ship in Q4, but that right now "our number one priority is to make this right and ensure that the next chapter is even better than the previous ones." Of course, the company hasn't officially discussed exactly what those two products are just yet. Bloomberg reported late last year that Sonos was working on a set-top TV streaming box and a successor to its premium Arc soundbar. The CEO also admitted during the call that the total cost of fixing the issues with the app will cost the company $20-$30 million. However, Spence is confident Sonos will bounce back, describing this as only one "chapter" in the company's history.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sonos-is-delaying-two-product-launches-until-it-fixes-its-buggy-app-213743460.html?src=rss