Latest news with #DolbyAudio
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Redmi Pad 2: Know these Things Before Buying!
/ Jun 25, 2025, 05:51PM IST Redmi is back with a brand-new addition to its tablet lineup — the Redmi Pad 2! In this video, we're breaking down the top 5 things you must know before buying this tablet. From its vibrant 11-inch display, quad speakers with Dolby Audio, to AI features like Circle to Search, there's a lot packed into this budget-friendly beast!
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I test earbuds for a living — and these are some of the best on a budget
We've all been there. You've misplaced your earbuds. I've done this more times than I would care to admit. I am always leaving them in a random bag after a day out, or at the office on my desk, or just forgetting when I put them all together. In such cases I usually reach for my wired earbuds in a pinch, but since testing some of the best cheap wireless earbuds on the market, I think I have a better solution. Having a spare pair of budget buds on hands to get you through the day while you look for your favorite pair. Enter the Soundcore Liberty 5. The Souncore Liberty 5 earbuds may be budget but they know how to pack a punch. They look sleek and have a companion app that enhances the sound and ANC capabilities even further. While it doesn't compete with class-leaders like Bose or Sony, tweaking the EQ in app will solve most sound issues. Despite being only $129 at Amazon U.S. and £99 at Amazon U.K., the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds have an impressive sound profile that only improves when using the custom EQ settings in the Soundcore app. It also helps that the app is awesome. In the same way I have tested a whole host of headphones and earbuds, I have also become well acquainted with their companion apps — and I have to admit, the Soundcore app is my favorite. Incredibly user friendly and totally effective, the app makes the listening experience so much better. It allowed me to achieve the best results from the ANC of the buds (which is epic by the way) so I could stay in the zone with my music. You can save $20 by picking up two pairs of the Soundcore Liberty 5 wireless earbuds. Ideal for gifting a fellow music lover, or just having two pairs for yourself and picking a color based on your outfit that day. With budget buds, I have come to expect basic design. It's just part of the trade off for a good deal. But with the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds, the design is sleek and has the interesting addition of squeeze controls. The squeeze controls stumped me at first but essentially there are two small buttons that squeeze together rather than touch controls. The case is also kind of fun to use as it slides open unlike the flip up design I am used to with earbuds. The buds themselves also feel premium despite the price point and are a similar shape to the best Airpods. Sound quality in the mids and bass of the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds is pretty great and with the Dolby Audio and you are able to get the most out of complex songs. For budget buds they pack one heck of a punch, and you can find out more about what they are capable of by reading my full Soundcore Liberty 5 review.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Forget JBL, Amazon Fire TV 3.1-channel Soundbar With Subwoofer Drops to Its Lowest Price for a Limited Time
Whether your main TV is in your living room, bedroom, basement, or dedicated home theater, you should seriously consider hooking up a soundbar. Don't underestimate just how important audio is when it comes to immersive viewing. A really good sound system can make all the difference, and the good news is you don't need to break the bank to install one. Right now, Amazon has its Fire TV soundbar with a subwoofer on sale for 23% off. Normally going for $375, that discount is enough to bring this television audio accessory down to $290—its lowest price ever. The movie-watching experience is built on two part, picture and sound—and people drastically undervalue the importance of the latter. You can have the best picture in the world available, but it won't leave its full impact if the audio is coming out of the TV's built-in speakers. The best way to improve your home audio for watching movies, football games, and big budget TV shows without breaking your own budget is with a soundbar. See at Amazon The soundbar connects to your TV easily using HDMI ARC and then fills your room with spectacular sound thanks to the DTS Virtual:X surround sound. This emulates full, 3D cinema quality sound and makes it so you have a great listening experience no matter where you are sitting in relation to the soundbar. Take the sound even further with Dolby Audio-supported entertainment. The soundbar has a center channel dedicated to dialogue. You ever complain about how hard it can be to hear characters talk in TV shows or movies? Well you can put the power in your own hands without needing to put on those distracting subtitles. Control the center channel directly to boost to sound of dialogue without making everything else uncomfortably loud. The Fire TV soundbar works seamlessly with Fire TV smart TVs and streaming media players, so you will only need one remote to control your TV and your audio. Just use the remote that came with you Fire TV. So if you're ready to turn your back on the low-quality audio you TV's built-in speakers are providing you, you can upgrade to the Fire TV soundbar with a subwoofer for the low price of $290 over at Amazon. That's a 23% discount from its standard price of $375. See at Amazon
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I've reviewed dozens of headphones and these are my 7 go-to tracks for finding the perfect pair
It's always a good day in the office when a new audio gear lands on my desk. Especially when they have a great sound profile and awesome noise cancellation. I know what I'm listening out for when I press play for the first time. My years with a guitar fixed across my lap, listening out for new chord progressions in the layers of my new favorite song that week have molded me perfectly for this job. I've also been told I have a somewhat eclectic taste. Just a glance at my Spotify and Qobuz accounts will tell you that I listen to everything from country to metal, pop to punk, so I have a pretty good gauge of the sound profiles I like for certain tunes… and the ones I don't. After testing some earbuds that I wouldn't use again (like the EarFun OpenJump) and headphones that I now use on a daily basis (the AKG N9 Hybrid headphones), I have become quite picky. Some headphones come with a customizable app, and as a self-proclaimed audio nerd, I love this feature. Other headphones will get you to do hearing tests and give you a personalized sound profile. But whatever you choose as the best headphones for you, you're going to need some great songs to test them with: enter this playlist. These are all songs I know very well and I use them to pick up on certain sounds in the songs. This is the song I always start with. Released only a year ago, this track has a feature in a fair few of my playlists and is incredibly catchy. It has a consistent riff that you can pick up throughout the hooks of the song, so this naturally became my main test. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. How clear can the riff be? Does it get lost behind the vocals? Does it drown out the rhythm guitar? Or does the sound profile completely balance the tune? This song particularly stood out when I tested the Edifier WH950NB headphones, but it took some fiddling with the in-app EQ settings. Such is the case with many headphones and ear buds, you need to figure out the right EQ for your hearing, but once you do the sound can be awesome. The Edifier WH950NB headphones aren't going to break the bank but still deliver awesome sound. They may not be able to support booming bass but the killer ANC capabilities make up for it. This is a primarily acoustic song with electric tones layered on top. It begins softly before building into an epic explosion of emotion and open D-tuning power chords (my favorite sounds a guitar can make). This song is chalk full of personality, so when earbuds can replicate each layer and harmony with ease I am super impressed. So while the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds aren't my favorite earbuds I have tested, they enhanced Lizzie's voice and made it even more delicate, especially when using the Dolby Audio settings, making me feel like I was right there in the studio. The Custom EQ and Dolby Audio settings on the SOundcore Liberty 5 earbuds make you feel like you are in the studio with your favorite artist. And they are actually $20 cheaper than the Liberty 4. This is a song I will never skip — It's a banger. So if a pair of headphones ever make me want to skip it I'll know they are a firm no from me. The song is totally upbeat and is a great one to test the fit of headphones (do they fall off when I dance around). Thankfully I haven't encountered a harsh skip on these yet, but I have come pretty close. The EarFun OpenJump earbuds. I didn't get on with these at all but the fact they couldn't let me enjoy what is one of my favorite songs spoke volumes. I recently went to see Twenty One Pilots live, and anyone who has seen them in the flesh can attest to this: the bass shakes your bones. This is my favorite bass test as I think it's quite a harsh one. But it was actually a set of open ears that shocked me here. The Soundcore Aeroclip earbuds, while not built for bass, coped really well. I use these when I work out so I need some bass to keep me motivated and these carry brilliantly. Incredibly comfortable with impressive sound quality, the Soundcore Aeroclip open ear earbuds are secure for working out and let in ambient sound so you stay aware of your surroundings. This is the heaviest song I test with regularly because some headphones just aren't built to deal with metal. This fact was clearly pointed out by the LG xboom Buds which made the song sound muddy and actually managed to lose the drums completely. This is another of my favorites for bass testing. Charli XCX has been taking everything by storm since the Brat Summer of 2024. Not a pair of headphones but certainly an honourable mention is the Tribit Stormbox Lava speaker which has a bassX button on the top to or course, enhance the booming bass. The Tribit Stormbox Lava Bluetooth speaker packs a bassy punch and won't break the bank either. You can use the app to customize sound profiles, but the built-in BassX setting is enough to get the ground shaking. This song exposed my favourite headphones I have tested: The AKG N9 Hybrid headphones. I will be yapping about these cans until the cows come home and for good reason; they elevate absolutely anything. These headphones complement this track extremely well creating a crisp and clear vocal profile. But I would love everything I listen to on these headphones. The AKG N9 Hybrids are my favorite headphones for every situation. The have 100 hours of battery and support and a sound profile to make your favorite tunes sound better than you've heard before. There are so many other songs I could talk about and this playlist is ever changing, but these are the best starting point for getting audio that suits me… and maybe you too.
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Sky Glass Air available from £6 a month, but is it worth it?
Sky Glass Air provides a cheaper way to get access to Sky channels with a low monthly payment. But how does it compare to Sky Glass? Sky Glass provides an easy route to getting the latest telly in your home, with an all-in-one package that includes the television and the channels from Sky. It's ideal for anyone who can't afford to pay the upfront costs for a new TV, or someone who just wants a simple solution. Sky Glass was updated in 2025 with a second-gen version, which boosted the picture quality, while the built-in soundbar provides really good audio to boost your movies. But it starts at £14 a month. To reduce the barrier to accessibility, Sky has announced Sky Glass Air, a more affordable variant, with a starting price of £6 a month. Note that in both cases that's just the price for the television, the Sky subscription then costs £15 a month at its lowest, but this gets you access to 100 channels, including Netflix and Discovery+. It's the same basic package you'd get if you opted for a Sky Stream box instead. While £6 a month sounds like good value for money, let's dig into whether this is actually worth it, what the differences are compared to the more expensive Sky Glass and what other options you have. Sky Glass Air: What do you get? Sky Glass Air is a 4K television that supports HDR, including Dolby Vision, offering Dolby Audio, with the connection to Sky's channels built in. It runs Sky OS, the same experience that you get on Sky Stream and the normal Sky Glass, as well as supporting voice control through the remote. The TV comes in three sizes, and that £6 a month price is for the smallest model. Even the largest 65-inch Sky Glass Air model is cheaper than the regular Sky Glass. Here's how the prices line up, and there's a £20 upfront cost for all: Sky Glass Air 43in – £6 a month Sky Glass Air 55in – £10 a month Sky Glass Air 65in - £13 a month Note that these are all on a 48-month contract. If you want to shorten that contract to 24 months the price is doubled. You can also buy the TV outright, costing £309 for the 43in, £509 for the 55in and £649 for the 65in. If you've done the maths, you'll realise that's more expensive if you buy the TV outright, so monthly payments are better value. Sky Glass Air comes in black, white and green colours. Sky Glass vs Sky Glass Air: How do they compare? While the content you get access to remains the same, there's quite a bit of difference between these two models. They come in the same sizes, both are 4K and both are HDR compatible – supporting Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG – but the tech behind the screen is different. Picture quality Sky describes the screen on Sky Glass as offering 'advanced HDR', making reference to 'segment-based adjustment' for dimming. This is where the panel has a number of dimming zones support better control of the picture. Sky Glass Air, by comparison, has 'uniform brightness adjustment', suggesting that it lacks the dimming zones. That means that the picture won't be as good as the Sky Glass, because the panel isn't as sophisticated. It is, after all, half the price, so there has to be a difference somewhere. While the resolution (that's the 4K bit) and the HDR (that's the Dolby Vision bit) remain the same, the picture will look different. For those wondering about gaming, both are 60Hz, while both feature Quantum Dots, to provide vibrant colour. Sound The highlight of Sky Glass is the built-in soundbar. This has a 7-speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos for immersive audio, with a total output of 250W. On Sky Glass Air, there's a 2-speaker system with an output of 30W. That's a big difference, as Sky Glass Air doesn't have the woofers to boost the bass, or the speakers to support Dolby Atmos, so it won't sound as good. Design and build Sky Glass is hefty, with a thick and uniform profile through the whole TV, because it's surrounding the soundbar too. That makes the TV pretty heavy and you couldn't exactly call it slim. But it does look smart and uniform – it's a nice design. Sky Glass Air is more conventional, with a plastic back that's a little blocky. It's much more like any other TV. That means it's much lighter than Sky Glass, but it's less pretty if you're looking at the back of it. Why, might I ask, would be looking at the back of your TV? See the latest Sky deals So, considering that you're paying half the price, you're getting a different design, a screen that's not as sophisticated and sound that's not going to be as good – so there's plenty to think about. What about other TVs? This is the real challenge for Sky, because there are some really good value TVs available – and that headline price of £6 a month is for a 43in TV, which is pretty small by modern standards – many people are now buying 55in TVs - like this Hisense model, which is currently the 'lowest price' at Argos. The TCL P7K - currently £360 on Amazon (55in) – is a great TV, offering all the same specs with a direct lit LED panel offering 4K HDR support, including Dolby Vision. It adds HDR10+ to the list (which you'll find streaming on Prime Video for example). But this TV is £149 cheaper than a Sky Glass Air TV of the same size. Sure, Sky Glass Air has more powerful speakers, but on this TCL set, shoppers can just connect a Sky Stream box and save money, potentially getting a better TV in the process. Is Sky Glass Air worth it? There are clear differences between Sky Glass Air and Sky Glass, but there's a big difference in price too. In that sense, Sky Glass Air is a cheaper way to get access to Sky content, with the benefit of low monthly payments, saving you from having to pay over a couple of hundred pounds for a new TV. On the flip side, if you're looking at buying outright, Sky Glass Air and Sky Glass look expensive compared to regular TVs. While Sky Glass has the advantage of the built-in soundbar and that nice design, Sky Glass Air lacks that benefit.
