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Latest by Kris Wouk

skullcandy venue crusher 360

Kill the noise and crank the bass with Skullcandy’s new Venue and Crusher 360

Skullcandy is mainly known for its more affordable, but with its latest outings the company is eyeing the higher end, with the new noise-canceling Venue wireless headphones and the Crusher 360, wireless headphones with a haptic engine that makes sure not only do you hear the bass, you feel it.
rha cl2 planar wireless magnetic in ears 1

RHA’s CL2 Planar are the world’s first wireless planar magnetic in-ears

We’ve seen planar magnetic in-ear headphones before, such as the Audeze iSine series. But while they might technically be in-ears, they’re anything but compact. RHA’s new CL2 Planar use a different form factor, making for the most compact planar magnetic design ever released. Even better, they’re wireless.
soul electronics run free pro bio

Soul Electronics’ new earbuds act as your personal running coach

Soul Electronics is no stranger to fitness-focused earbuds, but its new Run Free Pro Bio use a new gait-analysis technology to measure exactly how you run and what you need to change, effectively packing your own personal running coach into the form factor of a set of earbuds.
amazon fire tv review 3rd generation 2017 062

Amazon’s next piece of hardware could turn your Fire TV into a DVR

Amazon continues to push its business in different directions, so it shouldn’t really come as too much of a surprise that the company is reportedly working on a new piece of hardware that would take on Tivo by adding DVR-style functionality to its Fire TV streaming devices.
samsung hw n950 n850 dolby atmos soundbars

Samsung’s Harman buyout could prove its worth in new Dolby Atmos soundbars

In 2017, Samsung bought out audio powerhouse brand Harman, which itself owns a ton of major audio brands. Now it seems that purchase may be paying off, as Samsung is launching two new Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbars that can make for maximum immersion without taking over your room with speakers.
beem united beactiv s100 wireless earbuds

Beem United’s latest wireless earbuds track your heart rate during workouts

Beem United is launching the second product in its BeActiv line of fitness-focused earbuds, the BeActiv S100, which builds on the foundation laid by the previous earbuds but adds an integrated continuous heart rate monitor to make them a perfect companion for your daily workout or run.
sony dmp z1 digital music player sonydmpz1

Do you need an $8,000 gold-plated digital music player? Sony made one anyway

If you're looking for the ultimate in luxury when it comes to your digital music player, Sony's new DMP-Z1 may be just the thing for you, with "audiophile-grade" sound quality and a gold-plated volume knob to let everyone around you know you take your music extremely seriously.
Bose QC 35 II

Firmware update brings Alexa to Bose’s QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones

Last year, Bose released the QuietComfort 35 II, an iteration of its popular headphones that integrated Google Assistant, the first headphones to do so. Now another voice-powered virtual assistant is available on the headphones in the form of Amazon Alexa, thanks to a recent software update.
directv now channel list pricing release date watching tv remote

I only watched free streaming services for a month, and I didn’t miss much

For one month, I decided the only movies and TV shows I would watch would be those found on 100 percent free streaming services like Crackle, Tubi, and Pluto TV. As it turns out, you can find a whole lot of entertainment online only without spending so much as a dollar.
hadoro paris custom carbon fiber airpods

Wish your AirPods were as tricked out as your car? Hadoro can make that happen

Do you love Apple’s AirPods so much you wish you could spend even more on them? Hadoro Paris can help, with its redesigned take on the iconic earbuds that replaces the cheap plastic casing with an incredibly light, incredibly strong carbon fiber shell and matching case. Insanely high price included.
roku channel for the web featured free home

Roku makes free movies and TV shows even easier to find

Roku’s streaming devices offer up a ton of free movies and TV shows, but they’re scattered across different streaming services and can be hard to find. The new “Featured Free” section ties together shows and movies across various services, making it easier than ever to find something to watch for free.
yamaha musiccast bar 400

Yamaha’s new MusicCast soundbar lets you add speakers for more immersive sound

Yamaha’s new MusicCast BAR 400 soundbar doesn’t just let you easily trade up from your TV’s built-in speakers, it also lets you add optional MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 rear surround speakers to make for a more immersive experience, whether you're watching a movie or listening to music.
denon avr x3500h

Denon debuts new A/V receiver with Airplay 2 and support for Amazon Alexa

If you’re looking for a new A/V receiver for your home theater and want to make sure it’s not immediately out of date, Denon’s new 7.2-channel AVR-X3500H might be just the thing for you with all the standard features plus support for Apple Airplay 2 as well as control via Amazon Alexa.
AT&T

AT&T’s ultra-affordable new WatchTV streaming service is now available

Earlier this month, AT&T unveiled its new WatchTV streaming service, which it is making available for free to customers of select wireless plans. Today, the service launched on Android, iOS and a few other devices, and if you don’t need a ton of channels, the service looks like a great deal.
klipsch reference speakers 2018 redesign

Klipsch gave its flagship Reference speakers a complete redesign for 2018

Klipsch unveiled a redesigned version of its popular Reference model speakers for 2018, but its more than a modern cosmetic upgrade, with updated components, new audio enhancements, and even a few new features that make them worth a look, even if you weren’t planning on upgrading your speakers.
Samsung-146-inch-MicroLED-detail

Will Samsung’s massive MicroLED TVs make their way into homes next year?

Samsung showed off its massive 146-inch “The Wall” MicroLED display at CES 2018, and now it the company will reportedly bring thinner, likely somewhat smaller MicroLED TVs to the luxury home market starting next year, at a price it says won’t be as high as people might assume.
Amazon Echo Spot Review

Crank up the bass with Amazon Alexa’s new hands-free EQ adjustments

Your music listening on Amazon’s Echo and other Alexa-powered devices just got easier, as a new feature lets you use Alexa to cut or boost the equalization by up to 6 decibels, simply by using voice commands like “Alexa, turn up the treble” or “Alexa, reset the equalizer."
vizio 2018 4k tvs features specs price availability lineup feat

Looking for a new TV? Vizio’s 2018 lineup is sure to have something for you

Earlier this year, Vizio unveiled it's 2018 TV lineup, which included a surprise in the form of the P-Series Quantum. Here's a rundown of what those TVs have to offer and which one might be the best for you based on your needs and the size of your living room -- as well as your budget.
Walmart Green Monday

Walmart’s planned Netflix competitor will reportedly be part of Vudu

It seems that everyone wants to launch a streaming service these days, and Walmart may be next, as the company is reportedly considering a lower priced, Vudu-branded alternative to services like Netflix, though the company has yet to confirm any official plans to launch such a service.
xfyro aria true wireless earbuds

Crowdfunded xFyro Aria true wireless earbuds claim eight hours of playback time

True wireless earbuds have a lot of advantages, but battery life generally isn't one of them. The xFyro Aria true wireless earbuds, now on Indiegogo, claim up to eight hours of play time, which would be the most playback time on a single charge we've seen in this type of headphone yet.
yamaha rx s602 slimline av receiver

Yamaha’s RX-S602 packs MusicCast Surround wireless tech into a slim package

Earlier this year, Yamaha debuted MusicCast Surround, a technology that let you wireless connect your surround speakers, meaning no complicated cable runs. Now the company is packing that technology into a smaller package with the introduction of the RX-S602 Slimline A/V receiver.
Dish

Your TV just got even more hands-free: Google Assistant comes to Dish

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re still using a remote to control your TV instead of just thinking about what you want to watch, we just got one step closer as Dish is rolling out Google Assistant to its hardware, letting you control your entire TV experience with just your voice.
roku tv wireless speakers pricing availability

Roku TV Wireless Speakers make Roku TVs an even smarter choice

If you’re looking for simplicity, a Roku TV is great, as you get a TV with all the functionality of Roku’s streaming boxes built right into it. The company wants to make things even easier for you with its Roku TV Wireless Speakers, which pair wirelessly and make setup a snap.
audeze debuts lcd2 closed back headphones

Audeze’s LCD2 Closed-Back bring isolation and privacy to its popular headphones

Audeze’s LCD2, released in 2009, quickly gained popularity and recognition as one of the best sets of headphones you could buy. Now the company has released another twist on that format in the LCD2 Closed-Back, which keep the sound of the LCD2 while adding a new level of isolation and privacy.

Deezer’s lossless audio for Google Home has finally arrived in the U.S.

A little less than a year ago, music streaming service Deezer brought lossless audio streaming to the Google Home and other Google Assistant-powered devices, but only now has the service brought this feature to music lovers in the United States, as well as Canada, Italy, and Australia.
how to watch the nba finals online playstation vue lifestyle

Your PlayStation Vue subscription is about to go up by $5 per month

If you’re a PlayStation Vue subscriber and felt smug when Sling TV and DirecTV Now recently announced price increases, the other shoe is about to drop, as like those streaming services, Vue’s monthly subscription fees are going up by $5, no matter which package you subscribe to.
samsung frame 2018 tv 1

Samsung’s updated Frame TV brings an artist’s touch to your living room

First introduced last year, Samsung’s Frame TV functions as a standard TV when your using it and transforms into a literal work of art when you’re not. Now the company has released a new model, and the library of available art to display has grown to more than 800 pieces.
best streaming TV service

DirecTV Now is the latest live TV streaming service to jack up its monthly fees

In 2018, both Sling TV and YouTube TV have raised prices by $5 per month, and now it seems DirecTV Now is following suit, upping the monthly subscription fee on all of its plans by $5 just days after parent company AT&T unveiled its low-priced WatchTV live TV streaming service.
oculus tv now on go

Oculus TV arrives, letting you watch a big screen TV without taking up any space

If you’re the proud new owner of an Oculus Go and want to see everything you can do with it, you’ve now got another thing you can use it for with the arrival of Oculus TV, which will let you watch Netflix, Hulu, MLB Live games and a whole lot more on a virtual big screen TV.
A person using Sling TV on a tablet.

Sling TV gets pricier, adds completely free content to lure back quitters

For years, Sling TV has been one of the most affordable options for cord cutters, even while competitors like Philo have been introduced with slightly lower prices. That just changed, as the company announced its Sling Orange plan will increase in price from $20 to $25 per month.
brainwavz b200 3d printed in ears

Brainwavz B200 are a more affordable take on the company’s 3D-printed earbuds

Earlier this year, Brainwavz introduced its B400, a set of earbuds that made use of 3D printing technology to bring great sound quality and a solid feature set in a package that cost just $200. The company’s B200 provide many of the same features at an even lower price point.
catalyst case apple airpods airpod headphone feat

Catalyst Case protects your AirPods from anything you can throw at them

If you absolutely love your Apple AirPods and are looking for a way to make sure they last as long as possible, the Catalyst case may be just the thing for you, with a rugged construction that is both drop-proof from a height up to 4 feet and waterproof to a depth of 3 feet.
Samsung 2018 Q9F

HDR10+ is coming to more TVs, could be serious competition for Dolby Vision

HDR10+, the high dynamic range standard backed by Samsung, Panasonic, 20th Century Fox, and Amazon, will be available to other TV manufacturers starting this month, meaning serious competition for Dolby Vision, which is currently the reigning king of high dynamic range technology.
jvc ha et90bt fully wireless headphones launch earbuds

JVC says its new true wireless earbuds will stay put, even during a workout

Finding earbuds that will stay in your ears during a run or a vigorous workout isn’t an easy task, and it gets even tougher with true wireless models, but JVC says its new HA-ET90BT fully wireless headphones can stand up to all the motion you can throw at them without falling out.