Bluetooth

Last month, Panasonic marked the 55th anniversary of its Technics brand with the launch of a special edition turntable. Now the brand has entered new territory with the first Technics true wireless earphones, featuring active noise cancellation.

While rowing machines provide a good workout, they do require users to keep their hands on the handle at all times – this makes it hard to control a smartphone's music playback function. The ergRemote, however, puts a Bluetooth remote on the handle.

Iconic Brit amp maker Orange Amplification jumped into the headphone space at the 2016 NAMM show with the wired O Edition on-ears. Last month, the company released the Crest Edition wireless cans, and we got a pair to try.

Orange Amps has been in the audio business for over 50 years, helping to throw out sounds from likes of Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons and Orianthi along the way. The brand makes ear candy too, and has now launched the Crest Edition wireless headphones.

Sena has further extended the capabilities of its popular motorcycle Bluetooth headsets with a pair of new 50-series helmet comms devices offering mesh networking, fast charging, automatic updates and louder, bassier speakers than the 30K.

Google and Apple are working together to develop a smartphone-based system that can notify those who have been in proximity to someone with COVID-19. The Bluetooth-based technology will begin rolling out on both iOS and Android devices from mid-May.

Sony has announced some new wireless over-ear noise cancellation cans with dual noise sensors, all day playback and a mode that lets in the sounds of the outside world when needed. Bass lovers have also been treated to some true wireless earphones.

Sennheiser joined the ever-growing wireless earphones space in 2018 with the Momentum True Wireless in-ear headphones, and now the company has announced the second generation – this time with active noise cancellation.

Lighting a candle is not that difficult to do, although if you have to light a bunch of the things on a daily basis, it could be a bit of a hassle. That's where Candle Touch comes in, as it's an actual flame-and-wax candle that's lit by Bluetooth.

Three young designers have hit Kickstarter with a stylish turntable that can be cabled to your living room hi-fi setup or be wirelessly connected to Bluetooth speakers for "those who like it slow but sometimes prefer the fast and easy way."

Last year, music gear maker Boss cut the instrument cable for its impressive portable guitar amp: the Katana Air. Now the company has put premium amplifier technology and guitar effects into a pair of wireless headphones.

Twelve South has released a Bluetooth adapter called the AirFly Pro that can be plugged into old school audio sources with a 3.5 mm headphone jack to stream audio to wireless headphones and earphones.