Walmart-exclusive Roku soundbar and sub put price before performance
The new Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer are great ways to add streaming smarts and better audio quality to any TV setup, but at $180 each, they're still not affordable for everyone. Walmart's exclusive versions of these products fix that, but the performance and features have taken a hit.
Polk Audio Legend Series L100 speakers review: Pure clarity
Polk's ambitious new Legend speakers come in hot in the approachable L100 bookshelf speakers, offering audiophile sound from a brand that has long embraced the budget buy. The latest from Polk goes back to the company's roots with clear, dimensional sound that's refreshingly dynamic.
LG SL9YG soundbar review: Atmos delivers a punch
LG’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar is loaded with power, features, and quirks, including the lack of a center channel. That said, this distinctive soundbar offers powerful Atmos immersion for a two-piece system, making it worth consideration for those seeking cinematic sound without multiple speakers.
You can finally make Duo calls with Google Home smart speakers
You can now make Google Duo calls with Google Home speakers. Duo works with display devices like Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max in all countries and languages where Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are sold, and on smart speakers like Google Home, Home Max, Home Mini. You can call speakers in your home, too.
With Cortana in a coma, Microsoft’s smart home ambitions look bleak
Microsoft’s Surface event on Wednesday showed all of us yet again that there’s always one more thing to get excited about. But there was no mention of Cortana, Microsoft's oft-forgotten voice assistant.
Vizio SB36514-G6 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar review
Vizio’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar packs serious punch for a price so low it’ll make your head spin. While this soundbar isn’t perfect, it’s loaded with features and packs a full 5.1.4-channel setup at well under $1,000. With the SB36514-G6, just about anyone can afford Atmos.
Best Buy slashes prices on LG and Sony soundbar systems and subwoofers
Best Buy has just knocked prices down on a couple soundbars from LG and Sony, so now’s your chance to score one on the cheap and take your home entertainment setup to the next level. Better still, both of these 2.1-channel soundbars come with wireless subwoofers and ring in at around $200 or less.
Bose Soundbar 500 review: Clean sound
Bose's sleek, slim, and smart Soundbar 500 offers clear sound and modern features in one of the smallest profiles in its class, making for an enticing option for those who love musicality but hate clutter. That said, it lacks some key features, including a wireless subwoofer.
Samsung HW-Q90R 7.1.4-channel soundbar review: Mighty Atmos
Samsung’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Q90R, is an incremental upgrade from the company’s popular HW-N950. But for those with the latest TV tech, this pricey Atmos beast is well worth considering. We’ll break down the latest upgrades and updates in detail so you can make the best choice for your home theater.
5 ways that future A.I. assistants will take voice tech to the next level
Since Siri debuted on the iPhone 4s, voice assistants have gone from sci-fi gimmick to the basis for smart speaker technology found in one in six American homes. But what will it take to drive these A.I. assistants to the next level? Here are 5 challenges just waiting to be solved.
JBL Link Bar soundbar review: The sin of ambition
The JBL link bar is a full media hub in soundbar form, offering viewers and listeners easy access to any of their favorite media with a simple "OK Google." But, at a price of $400, is it worth the premium over other subwoofer-less soundbars to get some streaming apps thrown in?
The HomePod launch was a letdown. Can Apple deliver a smaller, cheaper version?
The Apple HomePod smart speaker was not only late to come to market, but the device is expensive, complicated, and dying on the vine in the smart home market. A mini version, though -- one that's cheaper, easy to use, and versatile -- could be just what the company and its fans need.
JBL’s colorful new wireless speakers brighten up any party or situation
JBL came out with a slew of new audio products for IFA 2019, including the colorful Pulse 4, the Link Music and Link Portable smart speaker duo, and three new soundbar packages that can add immersive sound to any size of home theater. They all arrive this fall and we've got the low-down on prices and features.
TCL shows off an incredible new Dolby Atmos soundbar at IFA 2019
There's a new soundbar in town that vows to breathe cinema-like sound into your home entertainment setup. It's called the TCL TS9030, it was showcased at IFA 2019, and it comes with all the features you could ever need from a soundbar, including Bluetooth, Dolby Atmos, and HDMI ARC.
LG might be going head-to-head against Amazon with its next smart speaker
Covering digital technology is sometimes a Sherlock Holmes game, since we just discovered that a Dutch venue managed to dig up some new patents filed by LG just ahead of the IFA 2019 technology show in Berlin that indicates the company might launch a bunch of new smart speakers this week.
The next-gen TiVo Edge DVR will provide 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos … eventually
Images have leaked of what purportedly is TiVo's next DVR, called TiVo Edge. With a design guaranteed to be less controversial than the current Bolt series, the new model will also support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. However, streaming app providers will have to update their apps to make them work.
Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer reinvent the home-theater-in-a-box
Bringing its world-class simplicity to home theater sound, Roku has debuted two new speakers: The $180 Roku Smart Soundbar, which does double duty as a speaker and a Roku media streamer, and the $180 Wireless Subwoofer, which adds extra low-end to the soundbar, or a compatible Roku TV.
Bang & Olufsen’s first soundbar looks stunning and has a price tag to match
There's a first for everything, and when we're talking Bang & Olufsen, that first is often fancy very expensive. Such is the case with the Beosound Stage, the company's first soundbar. It's a Dolby Atmos-capable, 11-speaker work of art that will set you back $1,750 -- if you go with the base model.
Yamaha YAS-109 soundbar review: Alexa makes a good bar better
Yamaha’s subwoofer-less YAS-109 soundbar brings a noticeable sonic upgrade to smaller rooms, and with great features and Amazon Alexa built-in, it’s one of the most convenient entry-level options on the market. You’ll have a hard time finding a soundbar at this price with more goodies baked in, and its sound is great, too.
Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar review: Killer Atmos sound
We expected amazing things from Sennheiser’s first soundbar, and with incredible detail, brilliant musicality, and mind-bending Dolby Atmos virtualization, it absolutely delivers. Packing glorious detail and realistic virtual surround, Sennheiser’s $2,500 Ambeo soundbar is a holistic sound solution.
Denon’s new premium soundbars target both film buffs and music lovers
Denon's two latest soundbars are aimed at those who want equally great music and video listening experiences, with excellent Dolby decoding, and the ability to use the company's HEOS speakers as surrounds, in case you might want something other than digital surround sound.
Chinese search engine Baidu surpasses Google as 2nd-largest smart speaker vendor
Chinese company Baidu has jumped ahead of Google in terms of the number of smart speakers sold, according to a recent report from the research firm Canalys. Baidu has seen a year-on-year growth of 3,700% and continues to dominate the domestic smart speaker market in China.
Amazon drops prices on Bose, Sony, Samsung, and Yamaha sound bars for Labor Day
Soundbars make the difference between watching awesome high-definition 4K video from your TV with only-OK sound from your TV speakers or crystal-clear, immersive audio along with your TV's amazing images. Amazon dropped prices on a compelling selection of soundbars from Bose, Sony, Samsung, and Yamaha for Labor Day.
Bose’s $349 portable smart speaker with Bluetooth aims to steal Sonos’ thunder
In advance of Sonos' much-leaked launch of its first Bluetooth speaker, Bose has dropped its own portable smart speaker -- the $349 Bose Portable Home Speaker -- which looks like a virtual carbon copy of the expected Sonos product. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant and goes on sale in September.
Yamaha YAS-209 soundbar review
Yamaha’s winning formula for the YAS-207 (our favorite value-packed soundbar for years now) scores another success with the YAS-209, which keeps the major features of its predecessor, while adding extras like Alexa voice control and (eventually) multi-room audio support, all at a still-affordable price point.
Klipsch Bar 40 soundbar review
Klipsch’s Bar 40 does its namesake proud when it comes to both style and sound, with a great look and impressively clear performance. But those seeking loads of features may want to look elsewhere. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know so you can make the best decision for your budget.
Is it still coming? The Samsung Galaxy Home has an uphill battle
The absence of the Samsung Galaxy Home during Samsung's Unpacked event for the Note 10 makes you wonder more about the future of this Bixby powered smart speaker. There's stiff competition around, but Samsung says they're continuing to refine and enhance the Galaxy Home prior to launch.
The Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Bluetooth speaker is a steal at 69% off
Harman Kardon embodies luxury and sophistication, a company known to put forth minimalist and classy audio tech with superior sound to boot. The third iteration of the Onyx Studio speaker line is no exception. It boasts premium looks combined with exquisite acoustics, making it a great value for your money. Get it for $140 on Amazon.
Why Dolby Cinema will make The Matrix’s return to theaters worth every penny
Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, and the rest of the Matrix gang are headed back to theaters, but not just any theaters. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and premium Dolby Cinema theaters will ensure that the Wachowski's groundbreaking virtual reality thriller will look and sound better than ever for its 20th birthday.
Amazon cuts up to 33% off of JBL Charge 4 so you can keep the summer music going
JBL's latest addition to the Charge series does not disappoint. Competitively priced at $180, this JBL Charge 4 may be sporting a camouflage design but it doesn't shy away from Amazon's 33% price cut. Get the ultimate starter now for only $120.
Huawei planned a Google-powered smart speaker for IFA. Then U.S. trade sanctions hit
According to a report from The Information, the Chinese tech giant Huawei worked with Google to create a smart assistant. The plans were scrapped after the United States imposed cybersecurity-based trade sanctions against Huawei, which prevented the company from purchasing from tech suppliers.
Google Nest gives 100,000 Home Minis to people living with paralysis
Google Nest is giving away 100,000 free Home Minis to people who are living with paralysis. The company announced a partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Friday to provide the devices to paralyzed individuals to help them gain some additional independence.
Get a Yamaha, Bose, or Samsung soundbar at an amazing discounted price on Amazon
So you already have a 4K TV? Now you need a soundbar to perfect your home theater experience. Right now, Amazon is offering three soundbars at amazing discounted prices: The Yamaha YAS-207, the Bose Solo 5, and the Samsung HW-R450. You can get one of these for as much 26% off.
Kenzie wants to hide smart assistants inside its cute, crocheted animals
Kenzie is a company that just launched on Kickstarter with the intention of hiding smart speakers beneath adorable, crocheted stuffed animals. Their intention is to disrupt the tech industry with cuteness. Buyers can pick from six different hand-crafted designs, but more are on the way.