Audio

As Sony's lineup of portable audio devices has evolved over the years, it's veered towards more discerning listeners. It's just dropped its most expensive Walkman yet: the $5,900 NW-WM1ZM3. What on Earth is inside that could make it cost this much?

Fairphone's just released its Fairbuds 2 wireless earbuds, which can not only be fixed easily, but also improve on the original pair that came out in 2024. Expect better sound and noise cancelation, longer battery life, and a slick new design.

These newly launched headphones feature a novel hybrid design that I can't say I've seen before. You can use them on your noggin as normal for private listening, or twist the headband so the cups combine to form a speaker for others to hear.

AudioPrism's AI stem separation is impressive. Unfortunately, the software wrapped around it occasionally made me want to throw something.

Desktop accessories brand Cololight is working on an interesting addition to gamer setups: a pair of speakers that appear to float around your head to create a more immersive experience while you get destroyed in your favorite competitive shooter.

If you're someone who likes to fall asleep listening to sound, be it a podcast, music or a rainy soundscape, your options have been limited if you want to avoid next-day ear pain or disturbing anyone you share a bed with. This company has a solution.

Skullcandy says it's pulled out all the stops in developing its latest pair of over-ear headphones, and it even asked Bose for a helping hand. The Crusher 1080 ANC features Bose's audio engine and noise canceling tech, alongside immense bass.

The Magcubic X7 home smart projector is a surprising package. At first glance, it looks more like a portable unit limited in function. But from sound to connectivity and picture quality, this easy-to-use projector is serious value for money.

Audible’s Story House pop-up in New York reimagines the bookstore as a listening-first space, combining audiobooks, immersive audio, and live events into a communal real-world experience. The bookless bookstore runs for a month.

In the running for best budget headphones of 2026, OneOdio's Focus A1 Pro outperform what you'd expect from a pair that'll set you back US$34.99. While they won't outshine premium audio tech, they leave the competition in their price bracket for dead.

Apple has refreshed its AirPods Max headphones with new internals for better performance, as well as a handful of features that bring it in line with current-gen over-ear models – for the same price as the original.

I can't find a single pair of wireless over-ear headphones from a legit brand that boasts as much battery life as the new Headphone (a) from Nothing. This pair claims a whopping 135 hours – that's a whole five days uninterrupted, and then some.