Latest news with #AirPodsPro2
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Forget the AirPods Pro 2, these are the best audiophile earbuds under $200
I like AirPods. They might not be my favorite earbuds on the planet, but I still like them. I have, however, set myself a mission — if I can find earbuds that provide an AirPods Pro 2-like experience at a lower price, I'll highlight them over the alternatives. I've recently been testing the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100, and I think I've just found the ultimate AirPods Pro 2 alternative. The best bit? They're $100 less than Apple's premium pair of best noise canceling earbuds, despite getting close in feature set, beating them out in battery life, and stomping their sound. It helps that Matt Berry of What We Do In The Shadows fame has voiced the alerts. Here are the key areas where the new Melomania A100 beat out the AirPods Pro 2 — and the one area they struggle with. Cambridge Audio's latest buds look more like the AirPods Pro 2 than the brand's previous models, but that only serves to make them more comfortable. 6.5 hours of battery isn't quite as good as the M100, and AirPods fans might miss Spatial Audio, but they're perhaps the best-sounding pair of earbuds you can buy for $149. You'd have thought that after decades of development, we'd have nailed down excellent fits for in-ear buds. Yet, somehow, companies still struggle — however, the Melomania are a comfortable fit for hours on end. They share a shape with the AirPods Pro 2 in some ways, although their stems are slightly longer. You'll want to try the different earbud tips in the box, because those that come pre-attached are a little on the small side. But once they're dialed in, you get that 'barely there' feel which makes the AirPods Pro 2 so eminently wearable. I've been able to wear the Melomania over the course of a full day as a result, only taking them out for lunch. They don't press in any of the key discomfort points of my ears and, unlike some options, they don't have some mad-cap shape that only fits a certain type of ear. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. AirPods Pro 2 comfort for $100 less? Not bad, Melomania A100, not bad at all. Cambridge Audio is a hi-fi company, so I'd expect good sound and a well-judged frequency curve — but I'll get to that later. What I wasn't expecting was ANC that got very, very close to the AirPods Pro 2, managing to block out some of the most annoying noises in my office, even without music playing. I say 'even without music playing', because ANC headphones have to use some of the inaudible frequencies in your music to cancel out the sounds of the world around you. As you might imagine, getting some music playing drowns out everything the inaudible white noise misses. My fan disappears, for example, and the noise of engines and tires is a distant memory. The AirPods Pro 2, with their $100 price premium, do a slightly better job of music-less noise canceling, but the Melomania get so close you'd be hard pressed to complain. The Melomania A100 don't rock the boat, but that's almost the point. They've opted for a similar look to the AirPods Pro 2 this time around, with the familiar stems and teardrop earbud section. They're not an unhandsome pair of buds, albeit one that might blend in more easily amongst the crop of similar-looking earbud options. But that's not a bad thing. No one is going to see you and think, 'there's an AirPods case in that person's pocket, time to make a quick buck.' The black and beigey-gray colorways don't do much to stand out either, and while to some that may be a drawback, I think there's something to be said about a device that puts its internals over the way it looks. The case is nice and small, and it's slim enough to fit in most jeans pockets fairly easily. Cambridge Audio's new logo adorns the top, and the front is dominated by the battery and pairing status lights. It's much better than some of the alternatives, like the Sony Linkbuds Fit, which feature a much larger, fatter cases. The A100 continue the audio legacy, while improving the rest of the feature set to match. I'd be disappointed with Cambridge Audio if it made something that didn't sound good, given the brand's excellent track record and sonic heritage. After all, previous buds might not have wowed across the board for features, but they've always set themselves apart with some of the best sound around. The A100 continue the audio legacy, while improving the rest of the feature set to match. Cambridge Audio has brought the full might of its house sound to bear with the A100. That means a slightly warmer, more welcoming sound, which retains very solid detail levels. As with the over-ear Melomania P100, the A100 in-ears outperform their price point with some of the best sound you'll get before you reach at least $300. They sound better than the AirPods Pro 2, with more purpose to their sound. The technical guitars and exacting cymbal line of Obscura's Silver Linings show just what kind of detail the A100 can extract from tracks, while still letting the fretless bass dance in the background. The kick-drum is loaded with impact, and instrument separation enables you to pick everything apart. As a result, they're a more holistic and interesting listen than the relatively flat and un-noteworthy sound of the AirPods Pro 2. The A100 are packed full of little details that show Cambridge Audio has thought about how you're going to use the buds, as well as why you're going to keep using them. The Melomania app is easy to use, and gives you a whole load of features you won't find in the AirPods Pro 2. For example, sound is more customizable than the Apple buds, with a strong 7-band EQ. That really lets you dial things in to your musical tastes, and it's something that Apple won't let you do beyond its own pre-judged sound profiles. There's more in there as well: Mono mode enables a stereo mix to play out of one earbud for those moments you can only have a bud socketed in one ear. Customizable controls, and a mode called 'DynamEQ' which keeps trebles and the bass at consistent levels despite low volume. There's even a Gaming mode, Sleep mode, and even a simpler version of Find My so that you can find your buds when they're nearby. My favorite thing? The 'Southwark' alert voice. That's Matt Berry, who you might recognize from the Fallout TV show, or Vampire comedy What We Do In The Shadows. That's attention to detail, and lends a whole lot more personality to the buds. Now, if only he'd lend his talents to an entire voice assistant… For $100 less than the AirPods, you can't expect to get everything that Apple offers. With the A100 you won't get Spatial Audio, or the magic AirPods pairing. You won't get the new hearing aid features either, although the AirPods Pro 2 are about the only thing out there that offers that currently. But again, you're paying $149 for a sonic experience that beats out the AirPods Pro 2, and battery life that takes them to school (43 hours in the case, as opposed to Apple's 24). I know what I'll be recommending to people if they ask me what earbuds they should be buying from now on, that's for sure. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
If You're Switching Earbuds, AirPods Pro 2 With ANC and Spatial Audio Are Selling for Peanuts on Amazon
Amazon just launched its Back to School deals this year, and Apple products are some of the most popular offerings to be had right now. If you're shopping to upgrade your sound with the best of the best in-ear earbuds, there's a deal on the AirPods Pro 2 that's nigh impossible to resist. For a limited time, you can pick up Apple's latest AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds for only $169: That's a whopping 32% off the regular $249 price. See at Amazon These are Apple's most advanced in-ear headphones yet, built on the supercharged H2 chip that powers even smarter noise cancellation, greater audio quality and seamless connectivity across Apple devices. The H2 chip plays back music, calls and sound from your favorite apps in clear detail with accurate highs and deeply resonant bass. Adaptive Audio smartly adjusts to your surroundings by blending Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes so you experience optimal sound wherever you may be. When you're on those demanding commutes, noisy offices, or any time you need to tune everything out and focus, the enhanced Active Noise Cancellation cancels up to twice as much background noise as the previous generation. Spatial Audio is personalized to your unique ear shape and provides an immersive experience with dynamic head tracking that places you in the center of the activity. And if you use your earbuds to make calls or voice chats, Voice Isolation drastically improves call quality even in busy environments, with Conversation Awareness able to automatically lower your media volume when it detects that you're speaking with the people around you. The AirPods Pro 2 are also made to fit your daily life with a personal fit: Apple includes four sets of silicone tips in the box, ranging from extra small to large so you can pick the one that keeps the earbuds secure and comfortable for long hours of listening. This secure fit enhances the passive noise isolation properties and holds the earbuds in place in your ears while you exercise or when moving around. Both the earbuds themselves and their MagSafe charging case have an IP54 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance. Controls are natural and responsive: swipe, press and hold to manage volume or playback, answer calls or summon Siri without even touching your phone. And if you like hands-free functionality, the new Siri Interactions even allow you to respond with a nod or head shake to manage messages and calls. Battery life lasts through multiple listening sessions (roughly 30 hours with the charging case) and USB-C charging is quick and easy. Right now, this is a rare chance to access Apple's flagship earbuds at a price that feels almost too good to be true. See at Amazon
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
If You Missed Prime Day, Amazon Is Still Working to Clear Out AirPods Pro 2 at a Low Price
Prime Day may be over but Amazon is still keeping prices incredibly low across most of the Apple range. The AirPods Pro 2 are probably the best in-ear earbuds with active noise cancellation out there and Amazon is currently selling them for $169 (practically the same as Prime Day), down from $249. These earbuds are one of the top-selling products in Electronics at Amazon, and they will run out of stock very soon. See at Amazon AirPods Pro 2 are designed to deliver a great listening experience, starting with next-generation active noise cancellation. The technology can cancel up to twice as much ambient noise as the previous generation and let you fully be able to immerse yourself in music even in the most noisy environments. For when you need to be aware of what's happening around you, Transparency mode flips your ears open to the world around you and Adaptive Audio switches between noise cancellation and ambient audio with a seamless stream wherever you go. Conversation Awareness is pure genius: if you're having a chat with someone nearby, the AirPods Pro 2 will quieten the music automatically so you never miss the crucial word. Personalized Spatial Audio is another cool feature: With a scan of the shape of your ears and using dynamic head tracking, the AirPods Pro 2 produce a 360-degree sound environment that's tailored to you. Music and film sound through with depth and richness and Dolby Atmos support adds even more dimension to some tunes and streaming material. Apple has also focused on ease and a tailored fit: There are four sizes of soft silicone tips (XS to L) included so you can pick the ones that fit your ears best. The tips provide a firm acoustic seal that keeps out noise and keeps the earbuds in place all day. The AirPods Pro 2 are also IP54 rated which means both the buds and the MagSafe case are dust-resistant, sweat-resistant, and waterproof. Battery life is robust, with 6 hours of active noise cancellation listening time per charge and up to 30 hours of total listening with the charging case. The case protects your AirPods Pro 2 and charges them quickly and easily using Apple Watch, MagSafe, USB-C, and Qi wireless chargers. It's all incredibly easy. The current price makes them more accessible than ever, and you shouldn't miss this opportunity. See at Amazon
Engadget
6 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
Apple's AirPods 4 are up to 33 percent off right now
If you're on the market for a new pair of AirPods, you're in luck. The latest AirPods 4 are down to some of the best prices we've seen. You can pick up the standard AirPods 4 for $90, a 30-percent discount, or the AirPods 4 with ANC for $120, a 33 percent discount. While neither deal is quite as good as the ones we saw during the Prime day sale that just passed, you're only going to be an extra dollar down regardless of which model you go for. The non-ANC AirPods 4 were $89 for Prime Day (a record low), while the noise-cancelling buds could be snagged for $119. If you missed out then, these deals are virtually the same. 30 percent off is a near record low price. $90 at Amazon You really can't go wrong with the AirPods 4. While the AirPods Pro 2 remain our number one pick for the entire product category, we think the former are the best choice if you're on a budget. Apple's 'regular' earbuds were given a long overdue spruce-up in 2024, offering the option of ANC on the non-Pro AirPods for the first time, as well as an improved design and better sound quality. Whether you go for the ANC or entry level model, you'll benefit from the various features afforded by the H2 audio chip. These include Voice Isolation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Personalized Volume and Adaptive EQ. The AirPods 4 with ANC add Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and a Transparency mode to the spec sheet. Downsides? You still can't change the volume using onboard controls, and the cheaper AirPods 4 don't come with a case that supports wireless charging via MagSage or Qi, which is a disappointment. The AirPods Pro 4 with ANC do a pretty good job of banishing low-frequency background noise, but the noise-canceling capabilities aren't quite as strong as what you get with the AirPods Pro 2. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
7 days ago
- Business
17 deals on headphones up to 50% off: Beats, AirPods and more
Deals on headphones? Add to cart. Whether you're shopping for yourself or for someone else, we're rounding up all of the best deals on headphones to help you find a pair on a budget. Shop deals on Beats headphones at Amazon like the Beats Studio Pro noise-canceling headphones for under $300. They make a great back-to-school gift or a gift for a recent grad with a new work commute. Shopping for someone who loves working out? The Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds, with a "reinforced design for sweat and water resistance during tough workouts," are also on sale. The 4.4-star PocBuds headphones, with more than 16,900 ratings, are now 48% off. Apple fans may be excited to learn that the AirPods Pro 2 and Apple AirPods 4 wireless earbuds are also both marked down. Don't miss additional headphones deals at retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Samsung and Bose. Continue below to shop. By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Prices may change from the date of publication. SOME PRICES ARE DYNAMIC AND MAY CHANGE FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. Have questions about ordering or a purchase? Click here. 34% off Amazon 48% off Amazon 21% off Amazon BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones $21.98 $27.99 Amazon Shop Now 50% off Amazon Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds $19.99 $39.99 Amazon Shop Now
