The Next Generation of Wireless Earbuds Is Here

In the fall of 2016, Apple released its original AirPods. And while they weren’t the first, they were a breakout hit. Since then, the true wireless earbud market has turned into a feeding frenzy. And now, there’s a new class of competitors.

Five years on, Apple is still the apex predator with a leading share of the market, but that hasn’t deterred competitors from churning out new wireless earbuds. And for good reason: The number of true wireless earbuds sold is expected to more than triple from 2019 to 2022.

While Apple is reportedly on the cusp of third-generation AirPods, pretty much every major player (including Sony, Bose, Jabra, Beats, Google and Amazon) has also released second-, third- and even fourth-generation versions of their own wireless earbuds. And they’ve gotten very good.

Now, this past month, the latest generation of heavy-hitters has landed in the form of Sony’s WF-1000XM4, successor to the buds that tackled noise-canceling before Apple got around to it, and the new Jaybird Vista 2, the best headphones for running, full stop.

Tucker Bowe

There are more types of wireless earbuds than ever

There’s more variety than ever before. You can buy wireless earbuds for less than $30, like the JLab Go Air, or for as much as $400, like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7. If you need rugged wireless earbuds for working out, buy a pair with a high IP rating like the Jaybird Vista 2 or Jabra Elite Active 75t. Or if you want the noise-cancellation, get the Sony WF-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort Buds. Or if can’t find wireless earbuds that fit your ears, get the UE Fits which literally custom-mold to give you that perfect fit.

Most of the newest wireless earbuds are also decked out with modern features like wireless charging and the ability to pair to multiple devices at once. Even active noise-cancellation has become a pretty common feature in true wireless earbuds — and you don’t have to spend over the odds to get it. You can buy wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation for less than $100, like the Wyze Buds Pro or the Nothing Ear (1), which would have been unheard of just a few years ago.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series

$99

The Pixel Buds A-Series look, fit, feel and sound like Google’s $179 Pixel Buds. The reason the they’re almost half as expensive is that Google cut out some of their more premium features.

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Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+

$99

Cambridge Audio’s 2021-released Melomania 1+ lack premium features (like ANC), but they are the best sounding wireless earbuds you can buy for under $100.

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Nothing Ear (1)

$99

The Nothing Ear (1) combine a translucent design with premium features like active noise-cancellation and wireless charging. All for less than $100.

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The next big step for wireless earbuds? Audio quality.

Up to this point wireless earbuds have been hamstrung by the fact that they require a Bluetooth connection to work, which unfortunately can’t play lossless-quality audio — you need to stream over Wi-Fi or have a wired connection to be able to stream the large amount of data high-quality audio requires. But manufacturers of wireless earbuds are finding ways around this little hurdle.

The latest Sony wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4, are one such example. They are one of the first wireless earbuds to be able to stream LDAC audio files, which is Sony’s proprietary audio codec (available on most Android smartphones, but not on iPhones unfortunately). This enables them to stream higher-quality audio (with bitrates of between 600 kbps and 900 kbps, rather than the 256 kbps of MP3 and AAC audio files) than most other wireless earbuds. It’s still nowhere near true lossless or CD-quality audio, which has bit rate of 1,411 kbps, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Bowers and Wilkins is doing something novel, too. Its newest wireless earbuds, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, support Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio technology, an audio codec that lets you stream high bitrate and low latency audio files over Bluetooth (with bitrates up to 420 kbps). But again, you’re out of luck if you’re an iPhone user because no iPhone supports aptX Adaptive. In fact, most popular Android smartphones don’t support it either.

Sony WF-1000XM4

$278

The Sony WF-1000XM4 have been redesigned them so they sound more vibrant and have better noise-cancellation than the WH-1000XM3.

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Bowers & Wilkins PI7

$399

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have active noise-cancellation and support for wireless charging. They also are capable of playing high-resolution audio files up to 24-bit/48 kHz.

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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

$279

The QuietComfort Earbuds are the best wireless earbuds that Bose makes and deliver superb sound and active noise-cancellation.

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Apple is blazing its own path, as ever.

Other wireless earbud manufacturers are leaning into audio quality in a different way — Apple being the biggest example. Instead of trying to stream higher bitrate streams over Bluetooth, Apple is leveraging immersive sound technologies, like Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. It figures that many people are using their wireless earbuds and smartphones to stream movies and shows, and this these immersive technologies improve the audio quality of AirPods and AirPods Pro for that specific experience.

Of course, improved audio quality still feels like a luxury in wireless earbuds. The vast majority of people can’t really hear the difference between a low-bitrate and higher-bitrate stream; for example, if you change the audio quality of your default tracks on Spotify from 160 kbps (Normal) to 320 kbps (High) in settings, you’re probably not going to be able to tell the difference if you’re listening on AirPods.

For most people. the fact that they can buy a pair of wireless earbuds from a reputable manufacturer — not a knockoff pair of AirPods from Amazon) — and know it will work and sound pretty great, that’s a testament to how far wireless earbuds have come.

Apple AirPods (2nd-Gen)

$159 $119

Apple’s AirPods have its new H1 processing chip, so they a longer battery life and better mics than the first-gen AirPods. They also support “Hey Siri” voice commands.

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Beats Studio Buds

$150

The Studio Buds are the Beats’s first noise-canceling wireless earbuds. They lack Apple’s special H1 chip, but can still fast pair to iPhones and Android smartphones.

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Apple AirPods Pro

$249 $189

The AirPods Pro are Apple’s premium pair of wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation. They also support immersive sound technologies, like spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.

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But for quality, wired is still king.

It’s a little ironic that Apple has finally introduced lossless audio tracks to Apple Music, but very few of its audio products can actually play it. AirPods, AirPods Pro and all of Beats wireless earbuds can’t play them. Neither can AirPods Max, even when using its wired connection. The HomePod and the HomePod mini the only exceptions.

So for as far as wireless buds have come, the old school approach still reigns supreme. If you wan’t to play lossless tracks at 16-bit/44.1 kHz or more, a solid pair of wired cans, and even an external DAC/amp are still essential equipment. Will it always be this way? Maybe not. But even as the definition of hi-fi evolves, some things stay the same.

3 Great Phono Cartridges to Upgrade Your Turntable

Music lovers purchased more than 17 million new records in 2018, making vinyl the only physical music format to experience growth in the era of digital streaming; CD sales fell another 40-percent in 2018 and it is not impossible that record and CD sales will pass one another like ships in the night by 2020. There are more companies manufacturing turntables in 2019 than CD players, a reality that is not lost on companies who manufacture phono cartridges.

Denon DL-103

$299

The DL-103 is still one of the best and most popular popular phono cartridges every produced. It requires a moving coil phono stage with 60dB or more of gain, but when set up properly it reproduces music with a level of fidelity that few can touch.

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Hana SL

$750

The Hana SL is one of those rare, affordable high-end moving coil cartridges that works well on a wide range of turntable arms. If you have the deep pockets, this cartridge will show you just how good vinyl can really sound.

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Nagaoka MP-110

$149

The Nagaoka MP-110 is our best budget pick. It tracks pristine and worn out grooves with authority, and is compatible with a wide range of moving magnet phono stages.

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Japan, Denmark, and New York produce the vast majority of phono cartridges mounted to the millions of headshells in operation around the globe, with companies like Ortofon, Audio-Technica, Grado Labs, and Denon operating at full capacity just to keep up with demand.

Phono cartridges are not all the same. The construction of a moving magnet cartridge differs from that of a moving coil, as does the material used in the cantilever, and the quality of the diamond used in the stylus. High-end cartridges are hand-assembled and often sold in much smaller quantities which figures into the final price.

The cost to re-tip a really high-end phono cartridge can be prohibitive considering the number of hours that you may get if you listen to a lot of records on a regular basis. A $500 cartridge, however, is likely to last a long time if you properly clean it and the re-tip cost is likely to be less than $70. But is there a real perceptible difference between a $99 moving magnet cartridge from Ortofon and a $750 high-output moving coil from Dynavector? We think so.

What To Know Before Buying

Here are a few important guidelines to maximize your purchase.

• Rule #1: Do not spend more on the cartridge than the table.

• Rule #2: A better turntable with the right arm will maximize sound quality with even an inexpensive moving magnet cartridge like a Grado Labs Blue V2 — versus a $750 Dynavector on an entry-level turntable.

• Rule #3: Proper set-up of your cartridge is more important than what you spend.

• Rule #4: Clean your records and your stylus. Nothing ruins a stylus faster than dirty records.

• Rule #5: A high-output moving magnet or moving coil cartridge (anything above 2.5mV) requires between 35-45dB of gain from your phono pre-amplifier as opposed to 55-65dB of gain from your phono pre-amplifier for a low-output moving coil cartridge.

• Rule #6: Moving magnet cartridges tend to sound warmer or more lush than their moving coil counterparts, but the tradeoff is a reduction in overall resolution and detail retrieval.

Denon DL-103

Denon

Denon DL-103

musicdirect.com

$349.00

Best All-Around

Originally designed by Denon in 1962 for professional broadcast use, the venerable DL-103 survives as one of the most popular phono cartridges every produced. A long-standing audiophile favorite, the DL-103 has been copied and modified by more than a few third-party manufacturers including Zu Audio who offer their own version of the cartridge. The DL-103 is a low-output moving coil (0.3mV) design that sounds better in a higher mass tonearm; opening the door to used Denon, Fidelity Research, and Jelco tonearms or much more expensive tonearms from Shindo Labs, or Schick Audio. If you love jazz, there may not be a better affordable cartridge than the DL-103; provided that you are using a moving coil phono stage with 60dB or more of gain and adjustable load settings. The DL-103 is not a simple plug-and-play cartridge but when properly set-up, reproduces music with a level of vitality that few can touch.

An alternate choice: Ortofon 2M Bronze High Output Moving Magnet ($440)

Nagaoka MP-110

Nagaoka

Nagaoka MP-110

lpgear.com

$169.78

Best Budget

Nagaoka may not be a Japanese brand that’s as well known as Denon, or Audio-Technica, but they have made some of the best tracking, and musical sounding cartridges to come out of Asia for almost 70 years. Visit any hi-fi shop in Tokyo, Singapore, or Hong Kong and their MP-series of high-output MM cartridges will be well represented. Vinyl lovers in North America have to look a lot harder which is a pity because they offer a genuine alternative to the entry-level products from Ortofon and Grado Labs; the MP-110 tracks pristine and worn out grooves with authority, sounds open and detailed across the frequency spectrum, and sounds great on a U-Turn Orbit, restored Thorens, or Rega Planar-series turntable. The MP-110 outputs a healthy 5mV making it compatible with a wide range of moving magnet phono stages.

An alternate choice: Grado Labs Prestige Blue V2 ($125)

Hana SL

Hana

Hana SL

musicdirect.com

$750.00

Best Upgrade

Audiophiles with deep pockets have had a love affair with expensive Japanese phono cartridges for many decades; entry-level models from brands such as Koetsu, Miyajima, and Ikeda, start well above $2,000. Having listened to a number of these cartridges on very high-end turntables, there is no question that some of them offer something unique; but they are also not something one who listens to vinyl on a daily basis would sensibly consider. Hana is a relatively new brand, but its parent company has been an original equipment manufacturer for a number of Japanese cartridge brands for many years. Their decision to enter the marketplace with their own cartridges was a welcome one and the results so far have been exemplary. The low-output SL (0.5mV) utilizes a Shibata stylus and it is one of those rare affordable high-end moving coil cartridges that works well on many arms and one that brings its “Mifune” to every record you play. It requires a few records before it loses some hardness on top, but once it settles in, you’ll discover just how good vinyl can really sound.

An alternate choice: Dynavector 10×5 MK II ($750)

The Best and Biggest Gadgets of August 2021

The summer is drawing to a close. Here are all the most important releases from August that you should know about as we head into the fall.

JBL L52 Classic

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The JBL L52 Classic are the company’s newest vintage-inspired bookshelf speakers. They’re effectively a smaller and cheaper version of the company’s $2,500 L82 Classic, which were released last year. They have the same walnut wood veneer enclosure and striking foam grille (available in black, blue or orange), only the L52 Classic will be small enough to actually fit on your bookshelf. They’ll go on sale sometime this fall.

Price: $1,000

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Google’s Nest Cameras + Video Doorbell

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Google announced an entirely new line of Nest smart home cameras this week. There are four new models to choose from — a Nest Cam ($99) for indoors use, a battery-powered Nest Cam ($180) that can be used inside or outside, and the Nest Cam with floodlight ($280) — that are replacing the company’s older Nest IQ cameras. Each of these new cameras has a similar-yet-slightly-softer design and is more feature-packed than their predecessors. They’re slightly more affordable, too.

Additionally, Google announced a new battery-powered video doorbell to replace the Nest Hello. It’s called the Nest Doorbell ($180). Like the new speakers, the new video doorbell has been upgraded with improved features like better face, animal and object recognition.

Everything is available for preorder right now.

Price: $99 — $280

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Klipsch T5 II ANC

Klipsch

The Klipsch T5 II ANC are the company’s newest wireless earbuds and they share a similar look, feel and name to their 2019-released predecessors, the T5 II. The new models add active noise-cancellation (as the name gives away), but Klispch also gave these new buds a couple other improvements, including wireless charging, hands-free gesture controls, better overall sound quality (thanks to a redesigned driver) and the ability to tweak the EQ settings via a companion app. They are available to purchase right now.

Price: $299

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8BitDo Remote for Xbox

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If your Xbox (Series X, Series S and One) is your family’s primary streaming device, you might want to invest in a remote other than a gaming controller — it’s definitely easier for non-gamers to use. That’s where 8BitDo’s newest remotes come in. They’re officially license to work with Xbox as each remote has a dedicated Home button to wake your Xbox. 8BitDo offers a “short” and “long” models, the latter of which costs $5 more and comes with an additional number pad. Both remotes are available for preorder now.

Price: $20 —$25

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JBL L75ms Music System

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The JBL L75ms has similar retro vibes to the company’s also-just-announced L52 Classic, but it’s a much more modern system. It’s actually a five-channel powered speaker system — two tweeters, two woofers and a midrange driver — that’s capable of streaming high-resolution audio (up to 32-bit/192kHz). It’s also extremely versatile. You can connect to your TV (via HDMI ARC) or your turntable (thanks to its built-in phono preamp). It also supports a range of streaming options, including AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth. It’ll go on sale sometime this fall.

Price: $1,500

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HP 2021 X-Series of Gaming Monitors

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HP revealed its 2021 lineup of X-Series gaming monitors this week — and there are seven of them. They range in includes 27-inch and 34-inch gaming monitors that have flat and curved screens, screen resolutions that are either 1080p or 1440p, and come in prices ranging from $260 to $460. Each monitor has the same number of ports, support for the VESA mounts (which can be lowered or raised) and a panel with the same peak brightness.

Price: $260 — $260

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Logitech Zone True Wireless Earbuds

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The interesting thing about Logitech’s newest wireless earbuds, the Zone True Wireless, is that they were designed with a specific type of people in mind: somebody who spends a lot of time on video conferences. They are the first wireless earbuds that certified to be used with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which basically means that have certain features that work well with all three platforms. For instance, there’s a dedicated button for muting yourself. The earbuds also come with a USB receiver (just like most of the company’s wireless mice), which promises better connectivity. And each earbud has three-mic array for tip-top sound quality.

The Zone True Wireless are available for preorder now and will ship sometime this fall.

Price: $299

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3

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The Galaxy Z Fold3 is the third-generation of its Samsung’s smaller foldable smartphone, and despite looking very similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold2, it’s better in a couple key ways. It’s more durable with an IPX8 water-resistant rating). It works with the S Pen2, making it the first foldable smartphone that works with a stylus. It’s more powerful and has an improved camera system. Also, Samsung made it a little more affordable than previous models. The Galaxy Z Fold3 starts at $1,800 and is available for preorder now.

Price: $1,800+

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3

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The other foldable smartphone that Samsung announced, the Galaxy Z Flip3, is the one you’re more likely to buy. This is because it starts at under $1,000, putting it in line with other flagship smartphones. In addition to making it more affordable, Samsung has give the Galaxy Z Flip a larger cover screen (the screen you see when it’s folded), a better camera and a more durable design; it now has an IPX8 rating, like the Z Fold3. It starts at $1,000 and is available for preorder now.

Price: $1,000+

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Satechi USB-C Clamp Hub

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Satechi’s newest USB-C accessory adds ports to your M1 Mac in a pretty clever way: a clamp. It attaches to the base of the display, right near its rear-port array, and adds six ports — USB-A (3x), USB-C (1x) and SD and Micro SD card readers — while also elevating off of your desk. The other neat thing is that Satechi is making the Clamp Hub in silver and blue so that it will match the colorful M1 Mac. (If you have an M1 Mac with one of the other five colors, you’re out of luck for now.)

Price: $55

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Twelve South PlugBug Slim

Twelve South

The PlugBug Slim is a 20-watt USB-C wall adapter that’s capable of fast-charging any iPhone. The neat thing about is that is thin and vertical design, so that it can fit in tighter spaces (like outlets right next to furniture). It’s the ideal companion to the Apple’s MagSafe Charger, which requires a USB-C adapter, and it also can work with the HomePod mini.

Price: $25

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Kodak Luma 400

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Kodak makes a variety of different portable projectors, the latest one being the Luma 400. The new model has a variety of connections (including HDMI, USB and Bluetooth) so you can easily use it with your smartphone, laptop or video game console. It has a built-in Android operating system so you can also stream shows and movies from the likes of Netflix or Amazon Video straight from the projector (so long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection or you’ve downloaded the shows ahead of time). And it can produce up to a 150-inch screen.

Price: $450

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Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (and Watch4 Classic)

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Samsung announced two new smartwatches this week, both of which are redesigned to look small, slim and sleek — similar to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. There’s the Galaxy Watch4 and the Galaxy Watch4 Classic, and they are the first smartwatches to run the new Wear OS that’s designed by both Samsung and Google. The big difference between the two smartwatch is that the “Classic” model is slightly larger and more premium, plus it has a wonderful rotating bezel. The Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic are available for pre-order right now.

Price: $250+ (Watch4); $350+ (Watch4 Classic)

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Samsung Galaxy Buds2

Samsung

The Galaxy Buds2 are Samsung’s newest wireless earbuds, joining the Galaxy Buds Pro and the Galaxy Buds Live (the bean-shaped ones) in the company’s lineup, and they deliver active-noise-canceling and wireless charging at a pretty affordable price: $150. Samsung also redesigned the Buds2 so that they are smaller, lighter and (potentially) more comfortable to wear. You can expect these new earbuds to fall short of the Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, noise-canceling and water-resistance, but the Buds2 might be go-to wireless earbuds for people with a Samsung smartphone who are shopping on a little bit of a budget. They’re available for preorder now.

Price: $150

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Q Acoustics M20

Q Acoustics

Q Acoustics announced a wireless music system consisting of two bookshelf-sized powered speakers. The all-new M20 isn’t as big or as expensive as the company’s recent Q Active 200 speakers, but it does carry over some similar features, such as Point to Point (P2P) cabinet bracing technology and support for high-resolution audio (up to 24bit/192kHz). Maybe most importantly, it houses both wireless (via Bluetooth 5.0)and analog connections (via optical and minijack) so you can easily stream music or connect it directly to your TV or turntable. There’s no built-in Wi-Fi or HDMI connection.

Price: $599

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Jabra Enhance Plus

Jabra

Jabra announced a different kind of wireless earbuds. The Enhance Plus look like traditional wireless earbuds, but they are designed to help people with hearing loss; there’s a companion app that allows you to tweak settings like noise reduction and ambient sounds. The Enhance Plus are not as permanent, powerful or expensive as traditional hearing aids, so they are more of an entry-level option. The other cool thing is that, if you want, use can use them as traditional wireless earbuds to stream music or answer calls. They will be available later this year

Price: TBD

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Devialet Phantom II Sage Green

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Devialet didn’t announce a new speaker. Rather, it announced a new finish for one of its existing speakers. The Phantom II (previously named the Phantom Reactor), which is essentially a smaller and more affordable version of the company’s flagship Phantom I (previously named the Phantom Premier), is now be available in a sage green finish; it was previously only available in either white or black. Devialet is only making 1,000 of these sage green speakers and they cost $1,600 a pop, which is $200 more than the same speaker in either white or black. It’s also worth noting that Devialet makes the Phantom II in two models, 95dB and 98dB, and the sage green model will only available in the more powerful 98dB model.

Price: $1,600

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Dell 14 Portable Monitor (C1422H)

Dell

Dell announced its first portable monitor designed to work with your USB-C laptop. The 14-inch monitor (C1422H) has a 1080p display, slim bezels and weighs less than two pounds. It also just looks like the perfect companion to your laptop. There are two USB-C ports, both of which can transmit power and video, and the monitor supports passthrough power so you can change your laptop through the monitor when connected to power. When not connected to a power source, the monitor will draw power from your laptop. (The Verge has more on the story, below.)

Price: $350

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Xbox Stereo Headset

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Microsoft announced a wired version of the Xbox Wireless Headset headset that it released several months ago. The Xbox Stereo Headset looks basically identically its wired counterpart, but it requires you to connect it directly to your Xbox controller (old school style). The good news is that it costs $60, which is $40 bucks cheaper than its wireless brethren.

Price: $60

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Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2

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Audio-Technica’s just announced ATH-M50xBT2 wireless headphones are a new and improved version of its 3-year-old ATH-M50x. The new cans have faster USB-C charging and add support for Alexa voice commands. Most importantly, they now support multi-point pairing over Bluetooth, so you can connect them to your smartphone and computer and it’ll automatically switch between sources depending on which device you’re listening to. Other than that, they look and sound just like their predecessor.

Price: $199

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Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit

Fitbit finally announced its newest and much-leaked fitness tracker, the Charge 5, and (as anticipated) it has a much-changed design from previous “Charge” wearables. It has a larger, brighter and more colorful display; it’s actually the first Charge that can actually show colors. It has a thinner and a more rounded look. It also has an always-on display, but if turned on it will cut the Charge 5’s “up to seven day” battery life to just two days. The other potential downside is that it’s $30 more expensive than the Charge 4 at launch. That said, it’s still about half as expensive as the latest Apple Watch. It’s available for preorder now.

Price: $180

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Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series D4

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins has updated its flagship 800 Series Diamond range of loudspeakers. The fourth generation series — aka “D4” — have a new cabinet design, a new suspension system, and a redesigned housing for the tweeter, all of which are meant to further eliminate distortions and deliver a lifelike and unrivaled sound. Like with the previous D3 line, the D4 line consists of seven speakers (two standmounted, three floorstanding and two center channels) that range from $5,500 to $35,000. These are serious audiophile speakers.

Price: $5,500 — $35,000

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Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT

Audio-Technica

The ATH-S220BT is Audio-Technica’s newest pair of budget wireless headphones — they cost just $59. Yet despite their affordable price, the ATH-S220BT have a bunch of convenient features (including multipoint pointing and USB-C charging), a long 60-hour battery life and a design that, well, feels distinctly Audio-Technica. They’re available in several different colorways.

Price: $59

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OnePlus Buds Pro

One Plus

OnePlus’s latest wireless earbuds, the Buds Pro, deliver a lot of premium features —including active noise-cancellation and super-fast charging (thanks to the company’s proprietary Warp Charge technology) — at the relatively affordable price of $150. You’ll probably want to have a OnePlus to pair them with, however, as these earbuds will pair quickly and have some other exclusive features, like a low-latency mode for gaming.

Price: $150

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V-Moda BoomPro X

V-Moda

V-Moda announced a new boom microphone for its headphones (but it can be used with any pair of wireless headphones that have a 3.5mm jack). The BoomPro X is essentially an upgraded version of its previous BoomPro. It has improved internals, but the real reason why you’d want to get it: a colorful mic cover. That’s right, you can finally get a colorful mic cover to match the colorful “shields” on V-Moda’s headphones. Just like you wanted.

Price: $45

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