Audio | The Verge

Insta360 is putting screens on its next wireless mics to show logos or images

2026-04-20T13:18:12-04:00

The Mic Pro transmitters feature E Ink color screens on the front to customize their appearance. | Image: Insta360

Insta360's first wireless microphone kit debuted in June with small, lightweight AirTag-sized mics that were easier to wear hidden away. The new Insta360 Mic Pro, which the company is teasing during the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, is instead designed to be prominently displayed. On the front of each transmitter is a round E Ink color screen that can be customized with photos, logos, branding, or custom artwork.

The company didn't share specifics about when the Mic Pro will launch, aside from a global release planned later this year, but it did reveal some of its functionality. The wireless transmitters each feature a three-microphone array …

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La-Z-Boy’s recliners and sofas are getting built-in Klipsch speakers

2026-04-20T14:25:59-04:00

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La-Z-Boy announced a new AudioLuxe furniture line with recliners and sofas upgraded with built-in sound systems that deliver "crystal clear tones and deep bass vibrations." The company is partnering with Klipsch for the speakers integrated into each piece's headrest and the subwoofer hidden in the base. The furniture can be used as part of a larger surround sound setup or wirelessly connected to smartphones and tablets to enhance your evening doomscrolling.

Specifics like pricing or configuration options haven't been announced yet, but after introducing its AudioLuxe line at a trade show this week, La-Z-Boy says the furniture will be availa …

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The BB-777 is the ultimate in boombox nostalgia

2026-03-25T05:31:01-04:00

Scooby Doo. | Image: Bumpboxx

Bumpboxx is fully embracing nostalgia with its latest boombox, the BB-777, which is modeled very closely on the legendary Sharp GF-777. A real deal GF-777 will set you back over $2,000 for one in working order. Plus, that vintage unit lacks modern amenities like Bluetooth or a rechargeable battery. Heck, it doesn't even have a CD player.

The BB-777 takes the core of the GF, right down to the dual-cassette decks, control layout, and speaker specs printed above the subwoofers. It's undeniably a gorgeous piece of gear with its vintage silver finish and extensive physical controls. But then it adds a replaceable battery pack, Bluetooth, and an …

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Philips’ new audio gear brings back the bright, bold colors of the ’80s

2026-03-18T11:42:07-04:00

What’s old is new again. | Image: Philips

Not even electronics were able to escape the dominant '80s aesthetic of garishly bright colors. Both Sony and Philips offered devices wrapped in yellow plastic during that era, but Philips has decided to bring its hardware back as part of a new Moving Sound collection celebrating 100 years of the company making audio gear, as spotted by What Hi-Fi?.

The collection includes two wireless speakers that both feature Bluetooth 5.5 with Auracast support, an IP67 rating so they can survive the occasional short dunking, 24 hours of battery life, neon-colored buttons, and multicolored LED lighting. Cassette tape functionality hasn't been carried for …

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JBL’s new party speaker comes with a karaoke mic that helps you hit those high notes

2026-04-08T12:09:12-04:00

JBL’s new wireless mics can improve your pitch. | Image: JBL

Karaoke is more fun for everyone when the person holding the mic sounds as good as a song's original performer. So the latest addition to JBL's PartyBox Bluetooth speaker line, the On-the-Go 2 Plus, comes with one of the company's new EasySing wireless microphones, which use an algorithm to silence a song's vocals while also helping a karaoke singer stay on pitch and hit more challenging high notes.

The On-The-Go 2 Plus is now available for preorder from Amazon and the company's website for $419.95, with availability expected to start on April 5th. It's an update to JBL's original PartyBox On-The-Go speaker, and while it still delivers up t …

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Yamaha launches Creator Pass for music makers and podcasters

2026-03-10T12:51:07-04:00

Yamaha is taking a big leap into subscription services with its new Creator Pass, which bundles a bunch of different services and apps focused on music and podcast production under a single umbrella. Yamaha doesn't actually make much software of its own, so it's partnered with several other companies to help flesh out the bundle. The primary partners are Landr, Output, and Riverside, which offer virtual instruments, sample libraries, and podcast recording tools.

The bundles start at $14.99 a month (or $155.88 when billed annually) for the Beginner package, and go all the way up to $468 per-year for the Podcaster Complete plan. In total, the …

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Apple smart home display rumors now point to a fall launch with iOS 27

2026-03-11T07:50:52-04:00

The rumored "HomePod with a screen" we've heard so much about was reportedly lined up for launch in 2025, and then this spring, and now, according to the latest updates, it's on the shelf until this fall. Leaker Kosutami posted as much on X last week, and today, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman followed up with similar information, saying its robot arm-equipped cousin is now planned for launch in 2027.

According to Gurman, the J490 smart home display / HomePad is waiting for Apple to finish work on its chatbot-style AI update for Siri.

That was supposed to be ready by now, but it is now predicted to arrive later this year, along with the iP …

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You can now fill your home with Ikea’s cheap and tiny new Bluetooth speaker

2026-03-06T15:29:12-05:00

Alongside smart Lego bricks and lots of robots, one of the most anticipated gadgets announced at CES 2026 was a cheap Bluetooth speaker from the company best known for flat-packed furniture. Ikea is no stranger to electronics, but after ending its partnership with Sonos last year, its approach to Bluetooth speakers has been a focus on design and affordability. Its new Kallsup wireless speaker, now available in the US, is its cheapest to date at just $9.99.

Cheap compact speakers are plentiful on sites like Amazon, but their performance and functionality is frequently lacking. Despite the Kallsup being a tiny 2.75-inch cube, The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy was “impressed by the powerful sound from the pint-size product” during a hands-on with the speakers at CES.

Ikea Kallsup Bluetooth speaker

Where to Buy:

$9.99 at Ikea (green)

The Kallsup’s replaceable battery is good for up to nine hours of playtime at 50 percent volume, and it’s rechargeable using a USB-C port. It won’t be nearly as loud as a towering party speaker, but up to 100 Kallsup speakers can be wirelessly connected and synced to fill a larger space with music. However, while Ikea announced white, pink, and lime green color options at CES, on its US online store the Kallsup is currently only available in the white and green options.

Soundcore’s Space 2 are an evolution of its budget headphones

2026-02-28T13:01:40-05:00

We finally have an update to the Soundcore Space One that launched two and a half years ago. At MWC 2026, Soundcore has announced the Space 2, which will be available in the US on April 21st in three colors - linen white, jet black, and seafoam green - for $129.99. That's $30 more than the Space One's original price.

According to Soundcore, the Space 2 have had a full-band noise cancellation upgrade with the focus of those improvements on the low-frequency sounds we all generally use ANC headphones to block - things like airplane, train, and bus engine sounds while traveling. The Space 2 use the same number of microphones as the Space One f …

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Diesel’s wired earbuds look exactly like wired earbuds from Diesel

2026-02-27T08:59:03-05:00

Despite evidence to the contrary, not only are wired earbuds alive and well, they're enjoying a resurgence. Brands like Belkin and even respected headphone maker Master & Dynamic now offer tethered earbuds again. Even the Italian fashion brand Diesel has decided wired headphones are still cool and has launched a pair of earbuds it describes as being "designed for fearless daily use." We're not entirely sure what that means, but these earbuds definitely look distinctly Diesel.

The headphones aren't yet listed on the US version of Diesel's website, but you can find them on the company's UK site where they're priced at £89.95, or around $123. …

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