Since their release in 2016, AirPods have surpassed all other headphone brands in terms of popularity by a wide margin. And with the percentage of iOS users in the US at 58%, their influence is only expected to keep growing. So much so that the buzz around these devices has penetrated even segments comprising dedicated Android users. Here’s the catch, though: since Apple AirPods are made for iOS devices, there are a lot of questions about their compatibility with Android devices, making many Android users hesitant to splurge on a pair of AirPods, despite the undeniable curiosity....

Imagine this: you got a new pair of headphones with a built-in microphone. So, you excitedly plug them into your PC to start your day full of online classes, calls, or game chat. But no matter what you do, no one can hear you! No one likes having their communications interrupted, especially when you really need to be heard. There’s no denying how frustrating it is when instructions aren’t getting through to the other side....

It seems like every new IEM that I sit down to review has something new to offer, some kind of industry-first, or some unique combination of drivers. And I can understand why: in a crowded market, it’s usually necessary to do something to differentiate your product from the field. The Astrotec Volans seems to provide an interesting take – although it’s hard to tell, from their marketing material, exactly what’s being done here....

In recent time, MD’s Custom Products department has gone one step further by collaborating with the best companies from the audio industry to produce MD exclusive products that promise a great bang for your buck. I have previously worked on a couple of MD tuned pieces from many companies, such as the Massdrop x Noble X, the Massdrop Plus and most relevant to this review, the Massdrop x NuForce EDC (EDC)....

Meze Audio is known for its exquisite build and unique design language. The brand’s tuning focuses more on “fun listening” than absolute neutrality, which is rare these days as more companies are veering towards hitting a specific tuning target. I think there is room for all kinds of sound signatures, and Meze’s insistence on doing their own thing is something I appreciate. Enter the Meze Advar, their latest pair of flagship IEMs....

Planar IEMs are all the rage nowadays. Even bigger brands have a FOMO (fear of missing out) on the planar pie, and Moondrop has entered the fray with the Stellaris, hoping to capture a piece of this rocketing success. The quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars” by Norman Vincent Peale captures the essence of the Stellaris. The term stēllāris can be defined as “pertaining to a star....

In the budget IEM arena, new hype trains get released every week. Unfortunately, most of these turn out to be overrated or side-grades at best – many are not talked about a mere week after launch and end up as a footnote in audio forums. Manufacturers have wised up and caught on to the preferences of consumers. Tunings now routinely incorporate the relatively safe Harman curve. Like pizzas that are generally palatable (even if not the finest), companies push out multiple releases, which consumers gobble up....

Wearables are all the rage these days. Both smartwatches and true wireless earbuds can be found on people’s wrists and ears wherever you go. But what if you could combine the two into one seamless device? That’s what Wristbuds aims to accomplish with its Kickstarter campaign. Wristbuds was created in Shenzhen, China because of a need to make “active life on the go easier than ever.” By making the smartwatch house the wireless earbuds, you’ll not only have tighter integration between the two, but also ensure that your buds are always within reach....

Since its creation in 2017, Fortnite somehow still reigns supreme. The game is, at the moment of this writing, sitting at the #4 spot on Twitch – doing much better than the disastrously released Battlefield2042 (#20) or the once-popular PUBG (#64). And as Fortnite stays on top, so are the success and continued support of the streamer’s community. But, aside from the entertainment, most of us watch these streamers to learn the trendy gameplay and gather some tips for our own games....

How to Pick the Best Earplugs for Concert Getting earplugs for concerts might seem counterintuitive. You’re at the concert to hear music, after all. The reality is that concerts are often too loud, with the average being between 110dB to 120 dB. Almost double a normal conversation which is at 60dB. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that is enough to cause immediate damage to the ears when endured for a long period of time....

Whether it’s for self-reflection or comparing with friends, it’s natural to get curious about your Spotify listening habits. The issue is that doing so isn’t always simple, especially if you want to have a thorough understanding of your listening behavior. Given the varying ways to access Spotify stats across multiple devices and the existence of third-party apps promising a more comprehensive review, it can be challenging to find a solution that actually works for you....

AirPods and Macs are designed to work well together without any hassle, so it can be baffling when your Mac simply won’t recognize your AirPods. There’s nothing worse than being unable to get through a phone call or meeting just because you’re stuck with using your Mac’s speakers because you can’t connect your AirPods. Don’t give up on these devices just yet! We’ve compiled all the best possible fixes to help you quickly connect your AirPods to your Mac so you can go about your day....

A new patent released this April shows us a rare glimpse into the future of Apple’s wireless headphones. The newly invented tech will allow users to transition between the different power modes, including turning the headphones off or switching to sleep mode, by folding the headphones’ arms. Apple’s Foldable Headphones Patent Many of today’s headphones have headband arms that fold, as demonstrated in the patent’s figure 2C below. So far, this design has been about saving space and protecting the headphones from damage during storage or transport....

Whether you are looking at wireless headphones for workouts, gaming, TV watching, or even to protect your ears from the noise, you must not overlook this important feature: Bluetooth audio codec. In this article, we will attempt to break down the mystery and jargons of Bluetooth audio codecs in a beginner-friendly way. We will also discuss: How does wireless audio transmission work How does the Bluetooth audio codec affect audio quality and latency The different types of codecs and their characteristics And more!...

We all know how sweet it looks when two people share one pair of earbuds. It seems like they’re in their own world! Yet if you’re thinking of doing that with your loved one, think again. Even if you think you know everything about someone, you can’t really say the same about their overall hygiene and health. And, sometimes, you share more than moments and tunes when sharing headphones, especially earbuds!...

In Part 1 of “Introduction to DACs: Headphones Enthusiast’s Guide”, we discussed digital files made from analog audio. These files come in a variety of formats, sizes, and quality. They range from the lowly lossy mp3 to newly certified hi-res file types. We also looked at how a DAC is connected, both digitally to the source and analog connections to the output. Now it’s time to peer inside the DAC and examine how the digital file becomes analog sound....

Where to Buy The ComfoBuds Z are available at: Introduction 1MORE is known for producing great-sounding headphones at reasonable prices. They’ve got their very own in-house Grammy award-winning audio engineer Luca Bignardi lovingly tuning each sound profile. And it shows. I’ve been consistently impressed with their products. Recently, they’ve jumped into the TWS market and while their ComfoBuds Pro sport a fairly average design, they are a good sounding and affordable alternative to the Apple Airpod Pro....

It’s not quite appropriate to label these simply as headphones, earphones, stereophones, or in-ear monitors (IEMs). Released in 2020, the Creative SXFI TRIO are an innovative and affordable all-in-one, high-tech, personal sound system. Specifically, the TRIO combines a DAC, amplifier, and earphones into one integrated product. These are specifically designed for audio, video, and gaming enthusiasts, and there is nothing quite like them on the market. The question is: will the SXFI TRIO’s ‘not really for everyone’ approach be for you?...

Back in the 1990s, one brand was synonymous with consistently producing a broad range of consumer electronics and software solutions at the bleeding edge of technology. Yes, Microsoft. But not too far behind and closer to home, Creative weaved some magic of its own. Both of them had the pleasure of getting usurped by Apple’s irresistible ascent at the turn of the millennium, but that’s another story for another day....

Magic. Sorcery. Bluetooth. Man always feared what they cannot comprehend, and delivering invisible rays of music to my ears is as foreign as it gets. So what’s stopping an evil genius from misusing these invisible rays to deliver death? Wait, a microwave you say? For cooking, no one thought about killing? Just me then? Hmm! While my faith in humanity is restored, I like the idea of a wired audio signal delivered via good conductors, like expensive silver wires, because then I know the sound ain’t going anywhere else....