#dotterpod-mini

#dotterpod-mini

The Soundboks Mix is indeed loud, folks. It didn't quake the Earth upon which we walk or anything like that, but it's got juice.

Streaming hasn't killed physical media. It's made us crave it more. CDs are back in rotation, showing up in record stores, apartments, and design studios with a renewed sense of purpose.

The Maxell Wireless Cassette Player, known as the MXCP-P100, is a compact device that allows users to play their old mixtapes while streaming audio to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

The Kallsup is about as simple as a Bluetooth speaker can get. It's a 2.75-inch plastic cube enclosure with four short feet on the bottom and a single speaker inside, and it's available in pink, white, and yellow green.

Music has become the backdrop to almost everything, cooking, working, reading, but the hardware that plays it often looks like a leftover from a tech store, plastic boxes that clash with furniture. There is a tension between wanting good sound in every room and not wanting your living space to feel like a gadget shelf. A speaker that behaves like hi-fi but looks like it belongs on a sideboard can quietly solve that.

The Mix speaker features a built-in carrying handle and a place for a strap, allowing for easy transport. The top-hat mounts enable use with traditional PA pole stands, enhancing versatility for events.

The ring-like portable speaker has a lanyard that lets users hook it onto a backpack or simply carry it around the wrist. Another option is to wear it around the neck, turning the device into a personal stereo system that surrounds the user with sound while remaining lightweight and portable.

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 forward from Philips' original '80s Moving Sound devices, but both speakers have color LCD screens displaying a stylized animation of spinning cassette reels, and other playback details.

The Bromley 450 carries over its larger sibling's 360-degree audio trickery. Like equivalents from other companies, Marshall's "True Stereophonic 360-degree sound" fools your brain into perceiving more directionality than its form factor allows. Lighting effects ("inspired by '70s stage shows") also carry over from the larger model.

Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Phone 4a series on March 5th, with compatibility with the Phone 4a Series via ChatGPT to hear Nothing News or Essential Space, its information hub app. Nothing nailed the audio quality in its previous headphones, as I've written while testing its open-ear Nothing Open and the Nothing Ear (a). It's no different here, with neutral and clear sound fit for all-day listening.

What's wild about this jump in stamina is that it's disproportionate to the battery's capacity. The Kilburn II ships with a 5,200 mAh cell, while the new model is only about 5% bigger: 5,500 mAh. Clearly, some big efficiencies have been gained.

Our favorite wireless earbuds for most people, the Nothing Ear (a), are marked down to just $79 in all three colors - black, white, and yellow - a healthy discount from the already affordable $109 price point. They have an excellent, open audio profile, top tier touch controls, and impressive noise canceling for such a small pair of earbuds. Beyond the excellent price point, the Nothing Ear (a) offer a surprisingly complete package.

They're called open earbuds (or open-ear buds, depending on the brand), and just about every audio brand has a pair (or three). They come in a slew of styles, but most either loop around your ears like older Beats buds, or clip on like funky-futuristic earrings. Whatever the style, they're designed to deliver satisfying sound while keeping your ear canals open to the sounds of the world around you.

There's something oddly comforting about watching the vinyl resurgence happen in real time. We've collectively decided that convenience isn't everything, that sometimes the ritual matters as much as the result. But while turntables have been getting their moment in the spotlight, another piece of audio history has been quietly staging its own comeback: the dedicated digital audio player. Enter the DAP-1, a concept device from Frankfurt-based 3D artist

Good music can instantly lift your mood and the overall vibe of any space. Those shopping for a portable Bluetooth speaker today should consider grabbing the 2nd-generation Bose SoundLink Micro speaker, while it's going for less than $100 at Amazon. The retailer is currently offering this mini yet mighty device at a 23% discount, which drops its $129 price to just $99. Delivery is free, and the offer applies to all color options.

Bose SoundTouch was first launched in 2013, with prices ranging from $399-$1,500. During the initial launch, it was announced that support for the devices would last for 13 years. That time has come. Bose SoundTouch announced in October 2025 (via an email) that all SoundTouch speakers would become "dumb" speakers on Feb. 18, 2026. Once that date hits, the speakers will stop receiving updates (including those for security), and the only way they will work will be via HDMI, Aux, or Bluetooth connections.

Chances are this does exactly what you need. It will play your old CDs, your new CDs, your homemade mixtapes, the whole nine yards. You can even listen wirelessly thanks to onboard Bluetooth. It's got a decent battery life that can last you up to six hours, and it uses a USB-C to recharge. We usually have one of those on hand.

I've tested a variety of portable Bluetooth speaker brands over the past two decades. Most of the time, I connected these speakers to my smartphone and streamed music for backyard gatherings, beach outings, drive-in movies, and other events with family and friends. The most common issue I had with these speakers was finding out the hard way that they're dead -- all because I forgot to charge them in advance.