Audio

Recording artist Tom Vek has designed a digital music player that's big enough and square enough to adequately display album art, and is looking for Indiegogo backers to help put a limited number into the hands of similarly minded music lovers.

UK audio gear maker iFi has launched a new mains-powered hi-res digital-to-analog converter/headphone amp that's promised to deliver "scintillating sonics with every audio format in a home environment."

Last month we brought news of a couple of new ultra-short-throw 4K laser projectors from Samsung both sporting the Premiere moniker. Now full specs have dropped, along with pricing and a shipping date.

At its hardware launch event today – where we also saw new iPhone 12 handsets – Apple introduced the HomePod mini, a smaller and more affordable follow-up to the first HomePod that launched back in 2017.

True wireless earphones are a great way to listen to music on the move without the blight of cable spaghetti. But getting a good fit is vital and the supplied tips might not be up to the job. Ultimate Ears aims to fix that with the UE Fits.

Like most tech launches at the moment, Google's October event was an online-only, livestreamed affair, but there was still plenty of new hardware on show: two new Pixel phones, a new Chromecast with Google TV on board, and a new Nest Audio speaker.

Watching streamed content on a big TV can involve a good many cables running between your media streamer, soundbar and TV. Roku aims to cut some of the clutter with the Streambar, which combines a streaming player and a compact soundbar.

Back in late 2017, Bose launched an Indiegogo for a new pair of earbuds designed to help folks get a good night's sleep. The Sleepbuds went on general sale in mid-2018 and now the second generation is being readied for direct release.

Bose launched a new audio product in late 2018, in the shape of two pairs of sunglasses equipped with tiny speakers and a microphone. And clearly the company has had some success with them as three more flavors have now joined the Frames lineup.

Facebook's Reality Labs Research wing is currently working on a number of projects designed to help us cut through noisy environments and zero in on folks we're trying to hold a conversation with, or enhance our daily lives when used with AR glasses.

Some living room hi-fi amplifiers no longer have their own dedicated phono stage, meaning that the output from a turntable will need a boost from a little box called a preamp. The latest to come from the UK's iFi Audio is the Zen Phono.

Pro-Ject has announced the next generation of its affordable Debut line of turntables. The Debut Carbon Evo retains the company's minimalist design but brings improved damping, better motor noise elimination and built-in speed control.