All articles tagged with #audio
Rigorous measurements by Audio Science Review compared a $4,100 Kimber Kable KS1036 with a $7 Amazon Basics RCA cable, finding virtually identical performance across frequency response, THD+N, and SINAD, and even slightly more interference in the expensive cable; the result supports the view that you don’t need to shell out for pricey cables—the biggest gains come from speakers, amps, DACs, and room treatment rather than cables.
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup highlights the latest in audio and home‑theater gear, including Sony’s flagship 1000X The ColleXion headphones, Bang & Olufsen’s Fragment Edition Beosystem 9000c, Dali Vega all‑in‑one wireless speaker, Schiit Vestri portable DAC/amp, Campfire Audio Chimera IEMs, and Denon AV receivers, plus a lineup of portable audio goodies from Fosi, Noble, Marshall and more.
A rolling, comprehensive roundup of 2026 gadget and hi‑fi releases across audio, video, and imaging—from premium speakers, headphones, and turntables to cameras, TVs, and streaming gear—featuring numerous brands, special editions, and price points, with ongoing updates throughout the year.
Anker’s Liberty Pro lineup gets AI-powered upgrades: the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max use the Thus AI audio chip to boost noise reduction and voice clarity in noisy environments, with the Pro version at $169.99 and the Pro Max at $229.99; both offer up to 6.5 hours of listening (28 hours with the charging case), the Max adds AI-powered note-taking and the ability to record meetings without a phone via its larger 1.78-inch AMOLED display on the case, and the outside touchscreen lets you adjust ANC or invoke voice commands to control playback.
Microsoft appears to have removed the legacy Xbox One audio port from the latest Xbox Series X|S controllers, starting with the Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition pad; if this change extends to standard Series X|S controllers, a long-running accessory port used by some headsets and audio adapters could be discontinued, while the 3.5mm jack remains for general headset use.
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup surveys the latest gadget announcements across hi‑fi, photography, and wearables, led by Wrensilva’s compact Studio record console, Sony’s A7R VI, Wharfedale Denton 1S speakers, and Garmin’s new Forerunner 70/170, along with updates to Panasonic Lumix L10, Canon EOS R6 V, Yamaha RX receivers, Audio‑Technica VM95EBK, Shanling EC Play, and Twelve South PowerClip.
Disney+'s The Punisher: One Last Kill drew online ridicule for an unfinished-looking VFX moment—Frank Castle's fall resembled a PS3-era cutscene—while fans complained of low dialogue in the audio mix. Disney+ acknowledged the audio issue and said a fix is in progress. A production source says the stunt was performed in-camera with Jon Bernthal and a stuntman handling the impact, with some VFX including swapping the stuntman's face for Bernthal's. Despite the hiccup, the special has been well-received overall (86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91% audience) and continues The Punisher storyline in upcoming projects like Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Linux 7.1-rc2 brings an upstream AMD ASoC/ACP fix paired with a Steam Deck OLED-specific DMI quirk, restoring audio that has been broken on the OLED model for about two years; Valve’s SteamOS patch was carried downstream, and the fixes are now landing upstream with potential backports to stable.
The original ZSNES creators return with Super ZSNES, a ground-up rewrite of the SNES emulator focused on audio-visual enhancements rather than retro pixel filters, featuring a 'super enhancement engine' that adds widescreen support, texture mapping, uncompressed audio, and even 3D effects for Mode 7. Initially, enhancements target seven popular games, with per-game customization and tools for user-made enhancements; the project runs on Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux, and Android, with iOS coming soon and future plans for DSP-1, SuperFX, netplay, and more.
Gear Patrol previews eight notable new releases across hi-fi and consumer tech, including NAD’s compact C 589 CD player, Kerr Acoustic K400 standmounts, Sennheiser HD 480 Pro headphones, Musical Fidelity M6xi amplifier, Klipsch kO-R2 speaker, Beats’ 10‑ft USB‑C cable, Victrola’s Third Man-ed Wave turntable with Tempo speakers, and LG’s Micro RGB evo TV, with price hints and key features for each.
Sennheiser expands its professional headphone lineup by introducing the closed-back HD 480 Pro—a $479 follow-up to the HD 490 Pro designed for accurate bass, comfort, and reliable translation across listening environments. It uses 38mm drivers, a Vibration Attenuation System to reduce unwanted vibration and distortion, and a Special Axes Geometry for even pressure; features eyeglass-friendly pads, a detachable cable that can swap between left and right ears, and 3.5mm/6.3mm compatibility. Available now in black with recording earpads, a nine-foot coiled cable, and a carrying bag.
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup highlights a wave of new releases across home audio, hi‑fi and cameras, including Denon’s AVR-S980H, Leak Sandwich 100, Wharfedale Heritage Centre, DJI Osmo Pocket 4, Advance Paris Nova A‑i130/A‑i190, CableStay, We Are Rewind WE‑001 Discogs Edition, Audio‑Technica AT‑LP60X‑PL, Kanto Tuk Grand, GoPro Mission 1 Series, and Dyson HushJet Mini Cool.
A Gizmodo article documents an X user uploading an 8-second fart sound clip and asking ChatGPT for critique. ChatGPT provides a straight, honest assessment, praising the vibe and identity while offering concrete production tips (boost the bass, improve midrange clarity, add dynamics, and light vocal processing). The piece also notes comparisons with Claude and Grok, which offer their own perspectives. Overall, the story shows AI can give supportive yet actionable feedback on unconventional audio work.
Škoda's DuoBell is a passive bicycle bell tuned to 750 Hz with a sharp transient attack to break through active noise cancellation, plus a high-frequency component to preserve the bell's sound; in tests, ANC headphones reduced detection distance for normal bells, but the 750 Hz tone improved it by about 9.2 meters and lowered the detection threshold by 2.3 dB in noisy settings, and the device has no electronics—an analogue fix to a digital problem that raises questions about future liability as ANC tech evolves.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale is wrapping up with 35+ headphone and speaker deals from brands like Apple, Sony, Bose and Sennheiser. Highlights include Apple AirPods 4 with ANC for $156, Sony WH-CH520 for $48, Sennheiser Momentum 4 for $200, Beats Studio Pro for $180 and JBL Xtreme 3 for $200, among others. The sale runs March 25–31 and ends tomorrow; Prime membership isn’t required to shop, though Prime perks may apply and prices will continue to update as discounts roll in.