Portable Audio

The brand Astell&Kern will likely be very familiar to audiophiles, particularly those who like to groove on the move. The company's latest high-end digital audio player comes with a docking cradle that allows it to serve as a home music streamer.

Be it wrestling with headphones or earbuds, or sharing a bed with someone that prefers silence, drifting off to sleep with an audio soundtrack is not always practical. But this handy, inexpensive speaker is here to keep the peace in the bedroom.

There are some gadgets we don't realize we need until we see them, and this mini magnetic Bluetooth speaker – which is also a charger, phone stand and personal light show – is one of them. At just three ounces, it's built for portability and convenience.

Generally speaking, the audio output of your mobile device or laptop probably isn't particularly good, which means that many music lovers will look to external gear to improve the groove. Periodic Audio has launched a tiny DAC designed to do just that.

Those crazy soundsmiths over at Soundboks in Denmark have launched the fourth generation of the company's stupid loud Bluetooth speaker, which promises improved sonics and a longer battery life at full whack.

Teenage Engineering has added another member to its field portable audio range. The retro-futuristic TP-7 field recorder puts the power to capture quality audio in the hands of journalists, lawyers, medical professionals, and of course musicians.

Astell&Kern has announced an upgrade to 2021's "mass premium" A&norma SR25 MkII digital audio player. The SR35 comes with new amplifier technology, four DACs, a 20-hour battery life and a fresh new user interface.

There's often quite a price premium for folks who opt for hi-res portable audio. Indeed, the company who kicked off personal groove machines has been known to charge a small fortune – which makes the latest Walkman something of a pleasant surprise.

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.

Last year, Audio Technica released an updated version of a quirky 1980s-era portable turntable to celebrate its 60th anniversary. That limited edition Sound Burger sold out in days, prompting the company to announce another batch for 2023.

Many mobile devices either rock a poor quality audio jack or don't have one at all, so if you want to plug in your favorite legacy ear candy you'll need a USB DAC. Luxury audio brand Astell&Kern's cable DAC has just entered its third generation.

For the last 4 years, high-end audio brand Devialet has been working to make the kind of impressive sound delivery found in its extraordinary Phantom speakers portable. The fruit of that labor is now available as the room-adapting 360-degree Mania.