Around this time of year, I usually like to look over some of the products I’ve written about over the past year that you might have missed if you aren’t a daily visitor to my page. This year I thought I would look back on some of the products that have shifted the dial a little.
Whether it’s a pair of wireless speakers or a vinyl turntable or a portable high-res audio player for the digital native who streams their music, this is year has seen some interesting new audio products as well as some new gadgets.
Audio Pro A38 W stereo wireless speakers
The first product from the past year on my list are these wireless stereo speakers from award-winning Swedish brand Audio Pro. The new W-Generation of wireless stereo speakers combine Scandi design and multi-room connectivity with a wide stereo soundstage that works with music and movies.
The A38 W have an output of 75W per channel and can be controlled with the brand-new Audio Pro app. The speaker has an HDMI-ARC input for connecting a smart TV, while the overall look is a modern minimalist finish.
Audio Pro says its new W speakers leave soundbars in the dust, but you’ll have to be the judge of that. These speakers have a simple plug-and-play setup and can be used with smartphones, TVs, turntables and gaming consoles. The A38 W speakers also work with all of Audio Pro’s other W series products if you want to build a multiroom audio system.
Pricing and Availability:
The Audio Pro A38 W speakers are available now and priced at £700.
JBL Junior FREE – Safer Earphones For Kids To Wear
Open-style earphones are popular for sports types and are great for people want to remain aware of their surroundings when jogging or cycling. However, open-style earphones have another important advantage that’s rarely spoken about… hearing safety.
Audio brand JBL has announced the JBL Junior FREE, open-style earphones for kids that can protect their hearing. These new earphones combine JBL OpenSound with JBL Safe Sound so that children can be safe when listening with headphones.
With an open-ear design made especially for smaller ears, these new earphones offer advanced parental noise and playtime controls, plus there’s a volume limit so the level doesn’t exceed 85dB. The JBL Junior FREE are available in three vibrant colors that children will love.
Pricing and Availability:
JBL’s Junior FREE earphones cost £69.99 / €79,99 and are available in the U.K. and E.U. in choice of Purple, Teal and Peach colors.
FiiO JM21 Portable Music Player
This portable high-resolution audio player comes from popular audio brand FiiO. If you or your loved ones are pining for that old iPod, then this digital audio player could make a good substitute.
The FiiO JM21 can deliver hi-fi quality sound and is a way of cutting out the noise of the outside world and getting up close to some classic tracks, favorite albums or even a podcast or audiobook.
The JM21 will stream Hi-Res music from services like Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL and Amazon Music. Users can listen to music through wired headphones, which many smartphones can’t do. The player also offers listening via Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
Pricing and Availability:
The FiiO JM21 Portable Music Player is available now from Amazon and costs £179 / $199.
DALI KUPID Stereo Speakers
The award-winning KUPID from Danish speaker brand DALI have been designed to deliver hi-fi performance at an approachable price. With their compact and stylish design, the KUPID have been tuned with plenty of sonic ambition and just need a budget amplifier to drive them.
The DALI KUPID are the kind of speakers that could launch someone into a lifelong interest in hi-fi and would be a suitable choice for a first compact audio system. The KUPID speakers are available in a range of color options: Golden Yellow, Caramel White, Black Ash, Chilly Blue or Walnut.
Pricing and Availability:
The DALI KUPID speakers are available now and priced at £299 / $600.
Wanbo Vali 1
The Wanbo Vali 1 is a budget video projector that can switch the mood from audio to audio-visual in a moemt. This portable home-cinema projector is compact but has powerful features and is driven by Android TV for all streaming apps.
With 600+ ANSI lumens brightness, this projector can handle up to a 100-inch screen, featuring a gimbal-style adjustable stand for positioning flexibility so you can show movies anywhere in the home.
Pricing and Availability:
The Wanbo Vali 1 projector is available now and priced at $441 / £269.
We Are Rewind Elvis Presley Limited Edition
This collectible gift consists of a limited-edition cassette player that celebrates The King of Rock’n’Roll with the retro format. In the box is the WE-001 EDITH portable cassette player which also includes Bluetooth feature.
Along with the cassette player, the bundle includes an exclusive cassette re-issue of the landmark Elvis’ Christmas Album. Only 1,957 units will be sold worldwide so if there’s an Elvis fan in your life who hankers for the old days of mix tapes and rewinding cassettes, this could be the gift for them.
Pricing and Availability:
The Rewind x Elvis Presley Limited Edition Cassette Player is available now and priced at / $199 / £159 / €179.
Kanto Audio UKI
Kanto Audio UKI are ultra-compact and powered wireless speakers that include Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C and RCA analog line-in connectivity. The speakers are housed in a stylish clamshell design.
The UKI speakers are a suitable choice for desks, small spaces or even starter hi-fi systems. There’s also a headphone socket for private listening when studying or enjoying music late at night.
Pricing and Availability:
The Kanto Audio UKI speakers are available now, priced at $269 / £229.
TOZO HT3 Wireless Headphones
Premium sound doesn’t have to come at a premium price tag. The new TOZO HT3 Bluetooth 6.0 headphones are designed for commuting and leisure use. The HT3 also pffer Hi-Res Audio certification, 360-degree spatial audio and they can run for up to 90 hours on a single battery charge.
These headphones also feature advanced ANC for cutting down on unwanted noise when commuting or flying.
Pricing and Availability:
The TOZO HT3 headphones are available now and priced at $59.99 / £49.
Kodak Charmera
The Kodak Charmera is an ultra-compact digital camera that weighs just 30g and captures the pleasure of spontaneous clicks and beautifully imperfect results in a pocket-sized format.
Available in seven colours and presented in a surprise box, the Charmera is suitable for collectors and anyone who enjoys a touch of randomness. There’s even a limited edition of the Charmera that’s completely transparent.
The Charmera takes retro-style photos and videos at a resolution of 1,440 × 1,080 pixels and has seven vintage filters, an automatic date stamp. It recharges via USB-C and has a slot for a microSD card.
Pricing and Availability:
The Kodak Charmera is available now and priced at just £30.
Dekoni MagDAC Holder
Dekoni Audio has launched the MagDAC Holder. This handy little accessory is designed to solve one of the most frustrating problems for portable hi-fi listening, and that’s the problem of managing a separate DAC/AMP and a smartphone.
The MagDAC Holder has an elastic holder that keeps the DAC safe and the holder can attach magnetically to MagSafe phones or cases. There’s also a circular magnet in the box that can make any smartphone or case MagSafe-compatible. Once in place, the MagDAC keeps the DACs safe and secure.
Pricing and Availability:
The Dekoni MagDAC Holder is available now and priced at $39.99.
