Tag Archives: Audio

Beyerdynamic Elevates Consumer Audio: Hands-On with the Aventho 300 and Amiron 300 Launch at IFA 2024

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Beyerdynamic, the German audio brand synonymous with professional-grade equipment, is making a bold leap from the recording studio to the consumer market. As the company celebrates its 100th anniversary (coincidental with IFA’s 100-year anniversary), it’s fascinating to reflect on its legacy, one that’s intertwined with some of the greatest names in music. From the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix to contemporary superstars like Ariana Grande, Justin Beiber, and Taylor Swift, beyerdynamic headphones have become a silent partner in the creation of iconic sounds. And now, the company is taking all that studio expertise and packaging it into products for everyday listeners, offering premium audio experiences for anyone willing to invest.

At IFA 2024, beyerdynamic marked its centennial year by unveiling two new consumer products: the Aventho 300 over-ear headphones and the Amiron 300 true wireless earbuds. Both products are packed with cutting-edge technology, promising a seamless audio experience that brings the beyerdynamic studio sound to everyday life.

beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Studio-Grade Sound Goes Mobile

The Aventho 300 is beyerdynamic’s latest flagship over-ear headphone, and it brings the precision of the studio into a portable, wireless format. Featuring beyerdynamic’s legendary STELLAR.45 drivers (from their flagship DT 770 PRO X headphones), these wireless headphones deliver the kind of detail and clarity typically reserved for professional-grade equipment. Whether you’re listening to music on the go or mixing tracks on your laptop, the Aventho 300 ensures you hear every note as the artist intended.

beyerdynamic Aventho 300

One of the standout features is the Dolby Atmos head-tracking technology, which offers immersive spatial audio that adjusts to your movements, making it perfect for watching movies or playing games on the go. And for those who need quiet, the hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) powered by dual Sony chipsets will keep distractions at bay. But if you’re navigating a busy airport or commuting, the transparency mode ensures you stay aware of your surroundings without having to take off your headphones.

The Aventho 300 boasts up to 50 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge. With a two-hour charge giving you full battery life and a quick 10-minute charge providing five additional hours of use, these headphones are designed to keep up with even the busiest lifestyles. The Aventho 300 also supports Bluetooth 5.4, multi-device pairing, and high-resolution audio codecs like AAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless, ensuring top-tier sound quality no matter what device you’re using.

Priced at $399.99, the Aventho 300 will be available on the beyerdynamic e-shop and Amazon in Q4 2024.

beyerdynamic Amiron 300: True Wireless with a Studio Edge

For those who prefer earbuds but don’t want to sacrifice sound quality, beyerdynamic has the Amiron 300. These true wireless earbuds pack the company’s signature 10mm dynamic drivers into a compact design, delivering deep bass, crystal-clear highs, and precise mids that rival much larger headphones. Whether you’re working out, traveling, or just enjoying some downtime, the Amiron 300 provides pristine audio for every occasion.

beyerdynamic Amiron 300

Like the Aventho 300, the Amiron 300 features customizable ANC and a transparency mode, ensuring you can tune out the world or stay aware when needed. These earbuds also offer up to 38 hours of total battery life, with 10 hours of continuous playtime per charge and a Qi-compatible charging case that provides an additional 28 hours of battery life. A 10-minute charge gives you 2 more hours of listening time, making it easy to keep the music going.

The Amiron 300 is also equipped with six microphones, enhanced with advanced algorithms to filter out ambient noise during calls. Whether you’re in a busy office or on a noisy street, your voice will come through clearly. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 allows for seamless switching between devices, and automatic play/pause functionality means you won’t miss a beat if you take out an earbud.

The Amiron 300 will be available in Q4 2024 for $279.99.

Accompanying the two new launches is the Verio 200, beyerdynamic’s open-ear earphones launched earlier this year. The Verio 200, beyerdynamic’s first foray into open-ear sports headphones, offers an entirely new experience for active listeners. Launched in June 2024, the Verio 200 is designed with athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in mind, combining an ergonomic, lightweight frame with a durable build. Its open-ear design with a secure ear stem ensures that users stay aware of their surroundings while enjoying high-quality sound, making it ideal for running, cycling, or other outdoor activities. The Verio 200 was a significant first step for beyerdynamic as it moved beyond its professional roots and enters the broader consumer audio market. With its water-resistant construction and long battery life, it’s clear that beyerdynamic is applying the same rigorous attention to detail that has made its studio products legendary.

beyerdynamic Verio 200

Beyerdynamic’s transition into the consumer space feels like a natural evolution. For a century, the company has been at the forefront of professional audio, helping artists craft timeless music in studios around the world. Now, with the Aventho 300, Amiron 300, and Verio 200, they’re giving consumers access to that same world-class sound in everyday settings, with a consumer-friendly price-point to match.

The post Beyerdynamic Elevates Consumer Audio: Hands-On with the Aventho 300 and Amiron 300 Launch at IFA 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bang & Olufsen’s $1549 Beoplay H100 Headphones make the AirPods Max and Dyson OnTrac look ’mid’

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You thought a $500 pair of wireless headphones was expensive, think again. Bang & Olufsen just introduced the Beoplay H100, their flagship headphones with a design that gives legacy tech brands a run for their money. The Beoplay H100 comes with a gorgeously premium design, with lambskin leather and hardened glass parts, along with a rotating crown surrounding the earpiece that feels a lot like something Apple should have done with the AirPods Max. The only catch, is that the Beoplay H100 has a $1549 price tag – something which might deter most people, but will attract the kind of moneyed audiophiles who trust B&O with building their audio gear – not some vacuum-cleaner brand.

Designer: Bang & Olufsen

The Beoplay H100’s design evokes the same sense of iconic minimalism as its other high-end speakers. With a focus on using premium materials, including an aluminum outer shell, lambskin leather accents, and hardened glass, these headphones prioritize both comfort and durability. The glass touch interface is not only functional but visually striking, offering a tactile experience that complements the device’s overall aesthetic. Bang & Olufsen has maintained their signature Scandinavian design sensibility by offering the H100 in three distinct colorways—Infinite Black, Hourglass Sand, and Sunset Apricot—each of which adds its own twist to the luxury audio market. Infinite Black, for instance, pays homage to Bang & Olufsen’s classic design aesthetic, while Hourglass Sand and Sunset Apricot bring in lighter tones that feel sophisticated yet understated.

For that price, you’d expect audio mastery… something that B&O takes pretty seriously. Inside the sleek aluminum grills are 40mm custom-made titanium drivers, tuned by Bang & Olufsen’s own tonmeisters, offering a Hi-Res sound experience that reaches up to 96 kHz / 24 bits.. This technical backbone ensures that whether you’re listening to complex musical compositions or handling a phone call in a crowded environment, the sound remains crisp, clear, and dynamic. The integration of Bang & Olufsen’s EarSense™ technology adds a layer of personalization, dynamically adapting the sound output to the wearer’s unique fit. This real-time adjustment is coupled with advanced noise cancellation, supported by 10 studio-grade microphones. This level of precision allows users to switch seamlessly between an immersive audio experience and the surrounding world through a simple gesture.

The H100 also supports Dolby Atmos for a state-of-the-art spatial audio experience, further enhanced by head-tracking technology. Whether you’re immersing yourself in a cinematic soundtrack or a live concert recording, the H100 promises to deliver sound as it was meant to be heard.

“Beoplay H100 elevates what we have accomplished over the past ten decades and defines our future: an era where beautiful sound is built to last. It represents the true potential of what a Bang & Olufsen audio wearable can be, and we cannot wait to bring the headphones to our customers,” says Bang & Olufsen CEO Kristian Teär. “Drawing inspiration from the unparalleled performance of our Beolab speakers, our iconic designs from the past and the modular construction that embraces material excellence and circularity, Beoplay H100 truly embodies our design and innovation capabilities.”

When the headphones are stored in their sleek leather case, they enter a low-power mode, extending their standby time to an impressive 90 days. If placed within the case, the H100 can remain powered off for over a year. This attention to detail, combined with a five-hour playtime after just five minutes of charging, makes the Beoplay H100 a practical choice for users who are always on the move. The headphones are also designed with user-replaceable parts, allowing for easy maintenance of components like the inner headband and earpad cushions. This ensures that the H100 will last well beyond most other wearables, which you’d obviously want from a pair of premium headphones.

The H100 is built on Bang & Olufsen’s new software platform for wearables, ensuring that it remains future-proof with the ability to receive upgrades over time. This means that as new technologies emerge, your Beoplay H100 headphones can evolve with them, making this an investment not just in a product, but in the future of audio.

The Beoplay H100 is available starting September 3, 2024, with a recommended retail price of £1,299 / €1,499 / $1,549 / CAD 2,199 / ¥11,598 CN. These headphones are available in Bang & Olufsen stores and online.

The post Bang & Olufsen’s $1549 Beoplay H100 Headphones make the AirPods Max and Dyson OnTrac look ’mid’ first appeared on Yanko Design.

Shell-shaped smart speaker brings cool minimalist feel to a home staple

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Smart speakers in our homes aren’t luxury items or just for early adapters anymore. It’s become a common gadget for the digitally savvy to have as it performs a lot of functions aside from just something to play music or podcasts or audio books from. While there are a lot of devices already available in the market, there’s always room for concepts or designs that want to take a different look at these smart devices.

Designer: AICO Designs

The Shell Intelligent Speaker is one such concept that wants to play around on the shape of the smart speaker. Taking its design inspiration from shells from the ocean, they wanted to combine the round and square shapes instead of the usual concave and convex shapes of shells and then use a dot matrix outline. Supposedly, the adductive character and the hole shape of the device will add to how the acoustic sound of the speaker will be better.

What you get is a round speaker that evokes not just a seashell but also an egg timer, albeit bigger. The round screen gives you enough space to view things like your music and videos, the weather and date information, etc. Of course since it’s a smart speaker, you can also just not look at the screen and listen to the shell for the information you’re asking from it.

Of course since this is a concept, they didn’t really delve into the functions of the smart speaker, which is actually a big part of why someone would buy a particular device. But from a design standpoint, this one looks pretty solid with its minimalist concept and its light, pastel colors.

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Sony WF-C510 earbuds impress with Ambient mode, longer battery life and comfortable design

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The Sony WF-C500 earbuds have been the company’s budget true wireless option that may not rival the premium WF-1000XM5 but punch above their weight with a balanced sonic sound at a very reasonable price. The TWS earbuds were launched in September 2021 and have been a huge success all these years.

Now Sony has launched the successor to the WF-C500 earbuds with design tweaks, new features, and a price that’s hard to deny. In fact, the buds offer some advanced features that are rare for reputed budget options on the market. For example, including Ambient Sound Mode and multipoint connectivity for a price of $60 ($30 less than the outgoing model) is a deal-making prospect.

Designer: Sony

According to the Japanese consumer electronics giant, the WF-C510 earbuds are 20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the outgoing model. These buds are the smallest ever closed-type designs by the company. The IPX4-rated buds can handle the odd splash or sweaty workouts, and they stay snug in place with a refreshed design that results from the analysis of users’ detailed ear shape data. So, one can be rest assured of a stable fit that’ll be comfortable for most people.

This time, Sony has gone for a more contoured shape on the outside, a flatter button surface and a matte finish for better grip and comfort. The cylindrical charging case made partially from recycled plastic is also thinner and smaller for convenience. Looks like they’ve taken a cue from the book of Jabra Elite 8 Active.

The battery also gets a bump up with a total time of 11 hours on the buds themselves and another 11 hours in the charging case. A quick charge of five minutes will give up to 60 minutes of listening time. Another lucrative feature users will cherish is the two-device Bluetooth multipoint connectivity compatible with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. Supported audio formats on the C510 are SBC and ACC, making them ideal for music and gaming.

The sound signature from these earbuds will be balanced with not too much focus on any frequency range. That’s attributed to the 6 mm driver unit and a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. Combine that with the in-app features including the 360 Reality audio, equalizer settings and DSEE upscaling, and you’ve got a very satisfying sound if you know how to tweak them right. Although ANC is missing, the buds make up with a far better passive voice isolation.

WF-C510 earbuds are now available in four color options – blue, yellow, black, and white – from Amazon. The eco-friendly initiative trickles down to the packaging too as it is 100 percent plastic-free. Being feature-packed and well-designed, the TWS earbuds are going to continue the success of the predecessor for sure.

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nwm ONE open-ear headphones boast unique sound tech and lightweight design to be your daily driver

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Open-ear headphones have garnered a lot of interest lately because of their better-sounding acoustics, lesser pressure on the ears and the ability to listen to the outside world. All these features are very handy when traveling or commuting when you need to be aware of the ambient noises around you. That way you never miss out on any transit announcements or vehicles passing by on the road.

More commonly known as open-back headphones, the options are plenty but finding the one that keeps your music in focus without any sound leaks is important. NTT sonority wants your search to end with its nwm ONE open-ear headphones that employ a deeply researched noise suppression tech dubbed Personalized Sound Zone (PSZ) for next-gen sound.

Designer: NTT sonority

The headphones have 2-way drivers – a 35mm main driver for pristine audio in your ears and a smaller 12mm driver to cancel out unwanted ambient sounds to minimize sound leakage. Together they work to amplify the high and low frequency sounds to create a perfect balance between a high-quality audio listening cocoon and audible peripheral sounds that are important. In conjunction with the PSZ, there’s the Magic Focus Voice technology with advanced beamforming tech to accurately focus on anyone talking to you, and the Spectral Filtering to diffuse other noises that are not important.

All these technologies are developed in-house by the NTT Computer & Data Science Laboratories resulting in a next level three-sixty degree sound that’s comparable to surround sound speakers. It goes without saying that no matter how much technology is stuffed into headphones if they are not comfortable, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, the whole purpose is defied. Thankfully nwm ONE open-ear headphones don’t disappoint with their sleek form that sits on any ears without being uncomfortable after long sessions of listening.

They weigh just 6.5 ounces and clamp onto your head and ears without any uncomfortable pressure. The promise of these open-ear headphones seems good on paper but how they’ll perform in real life and justify their price of $299 remains to be seen. However, we are confident the pair of cans will live up to their claims and become a daily driver for many audio lovers!

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Experience Transformative 360° Sound with GADOL’s Revolutionary Vibration Speaker Technology

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Audio can determine how you enjoy your gaming, movies, or music playlists. While 360-directional audio can elevate our listening experience, there is yet another layer of realism that can take it to another level and help you feel the sound to your core. Meet GADOL, the world’s first omnidirectional vibration speaker that opens up a new world of audio to your ears. The sleek gadget has 360-degree omnidirectional sound and the ability to vibrate for a new sense of realism that will transform and make your experience even more immersive, whether it’s watching movies, playing games, meditating and more.

Designer: iTEC Technologies

Click Here to Buy Now: $349 $699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.

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Transform your space with Gadol

The Bluetooth 5.0 speaker comes with Vibration Sound Transfer (VST) technology to create a vibration effect, so the audio in your ears matches the vibration created by the full-range speaker. This results in a sound profile that’s balanced and immersive. The GADOL speaker produces sound through the surface it is placed on, and the sound adapts to the room’s setup for consistent sound regardless of your position in the room. Sound waves from the speaker spread evenly in every direction so you can enjoy meditation sessions, movie sprees, grooving to favorite playlists, or playing horror games in the dark hours.

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Those resonance vibrations created by the speaker have therapeutic and relaxation benefits for a holistic healing solution when it’s time to rejuvenate. The benefits of such a listening session go beyond just the auditory experience, as it eases you into a state of focus no matter what the task. In particular, the VST technology produces different resonance vibrations on different surfaces it is placed on. For example, on a glass surface, the speaker delivers a fuller sound, while on a wooden surface, the acoustics are deep.

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GADOL offers a solid 18 hours of playback at high volumes, and you can achieve even more backup if played at lower volumes. Made from a durable iron alloy chassis with an aluminum top cover, the compact listening machine is designed to fit any space or cater to any occasion. Other products offer such features, but auditory fatigue is one problem with them. This speaker doesn’t have any such issues as it’s been tested extensively before creating a consumer-ready version.

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Currently up on Kickstarter for crowdfunding, the GADOL omnidirectional speaker has well surpassed its funding goal for good reason. The prospect of something different from conventional listening methods has piqued the interest of music lovers who backed the project. Early bird pledges come with the prospect of getting the $700 speaker at half the price if you resonate with the idea.

Click Here to Buy Now: $349 $699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.

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JBL Tour PRO 3’s futuristic charging case can perform feats no other case can

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True Wireless Stereo or TWS earbuds continue to evolve every year, but their charging cases have mostly been nothing more than portable battery packs. In 2022, JBL showed that there’s so much potential in those pebble-shaped devices when it slapped a touch screen on them. That may look fancy and cool, but some might think it’s also just a gimmicky feature. It is, however, just the tip of the iceberg, because the second-gen screen-toting Smart Charging Case that comes with the new JBL Tour PRO 3 definitely offers more, proving that there’s plenty of room for improvement and creativity if you’re willing to also pay the literal price.

Designer: JBL

A touch screen on an earbuds charging case is admittedly more of a nice convenience than a killer feature. It allows you to control playback, screen calls, and view media information without having to pull out your phone. It’s definitely an eye-catching design that made JBL’s earbuds look like they’re from the future, but the capabilities of the next-gen charging case can be qualified as a necessity, especially for globetrotters and frequent flyers.

The JBL Tour PRO 3’s second-gen Smart Charging Case can function as a wireless audio transmitter, practically replacing the role of a Bluetooth dongle. Simply plug the case into a USB or analog socket and have the audio stream to the earbuds instantly and with lower latency than Bluetooth. This feature was made with in-flight entertainment systems in mind, giving travelers more flexibility and peace of mind, knowing they don’t have to rely on fickle and unstable Bluetooth dongles ever again.

The Tour PRO 3 charging case is also one of the first few to support the new Auracast technology. The case becomes the source of an audio broadcast, allowing other Auracast-compatible earbuds, earphones, and speakers to share and enjoy the same tunes. You can also join other Auracast broadcasts by tapping on the case. Of course, there’s also a measure of privacy with a password to keep random people from joining your party.

The JBL Tour PRO 3 earbuds themselves won’t be overshadowed by its charging case, boasting a new head tracking technology that makes audio sound like they’re coming from outside your head and stays fixed in place no matter how much you swing or turn your head. For all these advanced features, however, the buds will set you back around $334, which isn’t exactly a small amount. The JBL Tour PRO 3 will arrive in mid-September bearing Black and “Latte” colorways, though availability in the US has not been announced yet.

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Top 10 Retro-Themed Music Players To Enhance Your Audio Experience With Vintage Flair

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If you’re a hardcore audiophile or have a few hardcore music lovers in your life, then you know a true blue audiophile just needs a bunch of amazing audio devices to set his/her mood. All an audiophile needs is a collection of impressive audio designs to blast out their favorite tunes. Whatever your musical need may be, it is integral to own clear, distortion-free, nifty, and interactive audio devices. And if you manage to get retro-themed music players, then it’s a whole new experience for you! Retro-style music players take you to an era gone by while maintaining some modern functionality. And, we’ve curated a collection of our favorite retro music players for you. These gadgets are wonderfully retro-esque, they have been imbibed with modern functionality. Their aesthetics may be from their past, but their utility is embedded in the future.

1. Black Wheel

Named Black Wheel, this one-of-a-kind innovation is the latest iteration of the stunning Wheel design by Miniot. The turntable cleverly conceals the electronic and mechanical components beneath the record, which stores all the varied parts within a thin circular yet sturdy body, which vanishes once you put a record on.

Why is it noteworthy?

When placed upright, the Black Wheel creates a pretty apparent illusion. It features a minimal and classy charm that attracts you instantly, even when placed horizontally. It includes a unique control system that can be felt but not seen.

What we like

  • Equipped with a thin and compact body that doesn’t alter audio quality
  • Features a space-saving design

What we dislike

  • It has an old-fashioned charm which may not appeal to users of modern products

2. SP3000T

Say hello to Astell&Kern’s latest portable music player, which attempts to bring a modern device that looks retro on the outside but partially retro on the inside, creating a device that merges the past and present. Called the SP3000T, this device features a retro twist, since it incorporates dual vacuum tube amplifiers on the back.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tube amps aren’t just for sure, they function the way tube amps did in the past. They provide the device with an analog appearance and sound, offering a unique audio quality that is warm and pretty soothing, something that cannot be achieved by only digital sound.

What we like

  • You can switch between analog tube amplifiers and the digital op-amp mode
  • Equipped with 8GB of memory

What we dislike

  • Too large and heavy for a portable player
  • Expensive price tag

3. FUTURAHEAD Headset

Say hello to the FUTURAHEAD headset, which provides a whole new music-listening experience. These conceptual headphones feature a digital screen that has been integrated into the outer shell to display playlists, videos, the user’s mood, as well as the rhythm of the music, genre, or images. The square shape of the cans is inspired by the retro design of headphones of the past.

Why is it noteworthy?

With the FUTURAHEAD headset, Olga wanted to create a product that merges retro looks and modern tech, while ensuring the functionality is top-notch. According to the designer, “Future Nostalgia as a visual style became a source of inspiration for this project.”

What we like

  • Amped with peppy details, and charming aesthetics

What we dislike

  • If you’re a private person, you may not like the fact that the music you’re listening to is being displayed on the digital screen

4. LEGO Radio

This LEGO Radio is the perfect retro-themed music player! It cannot play your local radio station, but you can play the pre-recorded tunes that come along with it. You can turn on the dial, and Spotify and Apple Music too. It is equipped with an extendable antenna and tuner window to offer some old-school feelings.

Why is it noteworthy?

The adorable LEGO Radio is functional and it is amped with Apple Music/Spotify support. It has a lovely color palette which elevates the whole nostalgic aesthetic. It is 13 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 2.5 inches deep.

What we like

  • Features a stunning vintage-inspired green and beige palette
  • You can connect your smartphone in the hidden compartment on the back, and play your fav tunes

What we dislike

  • It doesn’t have an actual transmitter to play live radio stations

5. Portable CD Cover Player

Say hello to the Portable CD Cover Player – a minimal CD player with a lovely retro design that provides an excellent listening experience, with the pleasure of pretty visual art. You can put in the CD jacket or sleeve within the specially-designed pocket, and showcase your favorite CD with pride.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199

Why is it noteworthy?

The Portable CD Cover Player is essentially the physical equivalent of showcasing digital album art, with the extra benefit of being able to showcase your physical original CD.

What we like

  • Portable and easy-to-carry product with a 40mm full-range speaker and woofer unit
  • Equipped with a powerful battery which offers 7-8 hours of top-notch audio

What we dislike

  • You cannot sync it with any digital medium, it only supports analog music listening

6. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers

These are the Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers, and they’re portable and battery-free. This iPhone speaker is a novel and exciting version of the conventional no-power smartphone speaker. It is made from metal, making it pretty functional and valuable, unlike typical speaker designs you see nowadays.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179

Why is it noteworthy?

The speakers are built from Duralumin – an aluminum alloy that is used in aviation and aerospace industries since it has vibration-resistant properties. You can place the smartphone into the speaker, and the sound surrounds the room and you.

What we like

  • Does not require any power, and is electricity-free
  • Minimal, sleek, and unique aesthetics

What we dislike

  • Incompatible with bulky smartphone covers and cases

7. Retio

This stunning retro speaker is called Retio, and it is made using vintage Nixie tubes, creating a gadget that beautifully blends past aesthetics with modern utility. The Retio serves as a Bluetooth speaker and a clock. It features Nixie tubes that were made during the 70s to 90s, adding a hint of retro-ness to the product.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Retio is a portable product amped with 6 hours of playback time. It is powered by a 6800mAh battery, and the Nixie tubes have an impression lifespan of 22 years. The speaker is equipped with a powerful 10W Class-D amplifier and has been created with meticulous care and attention to detail.

What we like

  • Perfectly merges the past with modern functionality
  • Hand-crafted and amped with steampunk flavor

What we dislike

  • The numbers for the clock are difficult to read from a distance

8. Floating Record

Called the Floating Record, this high-performance turntable plays your record vertically, with the help of built-in full-range stereo speakers. It features a walnut wood base and a Carbon Fiber tonearm. It is made using high-quality materials, which add a whole new level of class to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Floating Record is essentially turntable tech reimagined to create a visually and mechanically interesting way to experience vinyl music. It is a must-have for all the vinyl lovers out there – ranging from the first-time record listener to the seasonal vinyl enthusiast.

What we like

  • No external gear is needed, it’s all integrated into the design
  • Perfectly blends with different interiors and environments

What we dislike

  • The turntable is pretty fragile and can skip if you don’t position the record properly

9. VIBESPIN

Meet the VIBESPIN – a super cool portable record player. This compact record player is designed by vinyl lovers for all the vinyl lovers out there. It features an elegant and timeless design, amped with modern features and high-quality elements. It is the perfect turntable for camping trips, outdoor adventures, or even parties in your home!

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes VIBESPIN unique, is that it works well for the indoors and the outdoors. You can use it on a road trip, or if you’re simply chilling at home. It features a retro vintage design, and its style will bring to mind the image of a big 1950s car, despite this, the turntable is pretty lightweight and ergonomic.

What we like

  • Occupies half the area of a 12″ record
  • Among the smallest record players available today

What we dislike

  • The stylus is pretty basic and doesn’t have a true aux out

10. iBoy Retro Toy

Designed by Classicbot, and called the iBoy Retro Toy, this adorable little product is a tribute to the iconic MP3 player. It features arms, legs, and earbuds for ears. He looks like a friendly little MP3 player! The Retro Toy can be used at home or in your office, adding a hint of nostalgia to both these settings.

Why is it noteworthy?

The iBoy features magnetic joints that support his arms and legs. He can be posed in any way you like. You can play around with the little toy, and get a whole bunch of poses, around a thousand! It serves as a helpful fiddling toy for when you’re stressed out, and need to distract and give yourself a little break,

What we like

  • Functions as a toy for grownups with detachable and lifelike headphones

What we dislike

  • The chrome gets easily scratched or scruffed

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Cute earbuds concept look like tiny perched birds ready to sing a tune

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With Apple leading the way, the design of wireless earbuds has almost become monotonous as many manufacturers try to flatter the brand through imitation. There are, of course, a few outliers and there is definitely plenty of room for creativity, especially now that earbuds and earphones have almost become a necessity for anyone who uses a smartphone. Of course, ergonomics and acoustics still play the most important role in designing such audio accessories, but if there was more leeway in those areas, you might be able to come up with something a bit more imaginative, like these buds that resemble a pair of birds tweeting a sweet melody into your years.

Designers: Jinho Choi, Seunghun Jeong

The standard design for earbuds these days, whether they’re wired or wireless, consists of a bulging mass on the end of a short stick. The larger shape is designed to go into the ear canals, tapering at the tip while almost rotund at its base. With some imagination, it almost looks like a pudgy bird, which is what this design concept has made out of the silhouette of the buds. And not just any bird, mind you, but a bird with an astronaut helmet on!

That’s the almost comical picture that AI drew for this design, which works perfectly in this scenario. The tips of the buds can’t be sharp and small like bird heads, so imagining these two birds wearing translucent space helmets gives the design a playful character. These birds sit on top of the branch, represented by the stalk of the earphones, at least when you place them down in a certain way.

What makes this design concept extra fun is that everything revolves around this avian idea, including both the packaging and associated accessories. Rather than just have the buds lying on a desk or dangling from some hook, a special stand mimics a small tree trunk where you can insert the earbuds’s stem, creating the semblance of birds perched on a tree. It would probably be nice if you could also hear audio coming out of the buds while in this arrangement to complete the image, but that would require a more complex audio solution.

The TweetTunes buds concept also includes a specially designed box that’s more circular than boxy. Opening up the packaging reveals two birds sitting inside a nest, or at least the representation of a nest. It’s definitely a subtle but nice touch, with the attention to detail you’d expect from larger companies. There’s still the question of whether such a bird-like shape actually provides both comfort and sufficient sealing, but having adorable earbuds like that on your desk is probably worth just the decorative value, even if you barely use it.

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Humanoid toy robot concept makes music more engaging for kids and the young at heart

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Wireless speakers have become the standard for home audio equipment these days, and they come in a wide variety of designs. Some are rugged and geometrical, meant to be ready to brave the outside world if needed, while others are like art objects you’d dare not knock down accidentally. These designs are clearly targeted at adults as if they are the only user group who can appreciate music. Kids in their formative years need to be exposed to music as well, and not just from the tablets or smartphones that parents hand over to them for playtime. This robot concept not only gives these children an advanced toy to play with but also lets them have a more personal friend to enjoy listening to music with.

Designer: Jesus Gonzalez Torres

With a widespread interest in robotics, toy robots are no longer the exclusive domain of young boys, or kids for that matter. Kids of all ages will find a humanoid robot interesting, especially if it can express human-like behavior even through simple emoticons. Even better if it can actually perform seemingly magical feats, like singing to them while they’re engaged in play.

The musicBOT concept design is pretty much a Bluetooth speaker in the guise of a small human-like robot. It combines two already existing features into one, but this is a case where the sum is greater than its parts. More than just the collection of functions, it creates a totally different experience for the child whose mind is still open to so many imaginative concepts.

musicBOT is not just a music player but also a companion for the child. It plays tunes while you play with other things or play with the robot itself. The concept doesn’t go into the details, but the robot can display different facial expressions on its dot matrix face. It can even connect with a nearby musicBOT via Bluetooth, making them look like they’re friends and perhaps encouraging their owners to do the same.

Technologically speaking, the concept isn’t ground-breaking and could actually be an actual product. The novelty it offers is more on the experience and the psychology, putting the child at the center rather than becoming a passive listener. It makes listening to music a more active engagement, allowing them to develop a stronger mental association with music than simply hearing it from the background.

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