Headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones are great for blocking out the loud talkers and chaotic coffee shops of the world, but what if there are certain sounds that you want to hear? That's where the experimental new "semantic hearing" system could soon come in.

Smartwatches that can monitor a wearer's heart rate use light pulses to detect changes in blood volume. But research from Google proposes using ultrasound from an earphone's speaker driver to look for tiny deviations in the surface of the ear canal.

Sony gave us a sneak peek of PlayStation’s first dedicated Remote Play device, then called Project Q, back in May. It's now provided more details and announced that the device, renamed Portal, will launch later this year.

Gaming accessory brand Turtle Beach has announced a new pair of flagship wireless gaming headphones called the Stealth Pro, which are claimed to deliver "the most effective noise-cancellation in a gaming headset."

Back in 2017, Sennheiser launched a successor to its open-back mid-range audiophile champions, the mighty HD 650 headphones. The company has now responded to user feedback and injected more low-end goodness into the updated HD 660S2 cans.

Astell&Kern has launched a combined a digital audio player and desktop headphone amplifier that's built around a dual-tube Triple Amp System and is the first product to feature the latest flagship DAC from ESS.

When Grado Labs finally joined the wireless headphones party back in 2018, it opted to run with an open-backed design for a more spacious sound. Now the next generation has been released, with more than triple the battery life.

"Hey," says Sonic Lamb's voiceover guy, "we're here to give you an eargasm." Sorry, I've just been rowing and I'm worn out from an Earth-shattering oargasm. But these hybrid-drive headphones do certainly take sub-bass frequencies to another level.

Following collaborations on the extraordinary Muon loudspeakers and the tasty Mu3 true wireless buds, audio brand KEF has once again called on the creative talents of award-winning designer Ross Lovegrove for the gorgeous Mu7 wireless ANC headphones.

Focal has unveiled its first pair of wireless ANC headphones in the shape of the oddly-named Bathys. The eye-catching cans come with proprietary drivers, boast two optimized ANC modes, support aptX Adaptive and promise long battery life.

Grado Labs is not a company to blindly follow the latest trends, focusing instead on consistently delivering top-notch sound. For its new Statement X Series, the headphone veterans embrace the beauty of exotic woods while also going big on drivers.

Sporting brand adidas has become the latest company to employ Powerfoyle solar-charging technology to keep the wireless music playing. The RPT-02 SOL wireless headphones have also been made using post-consumer recycled plastic.