“Kensei” is an honorary Japanese title bestowed upon swordsmen of legendary skill. The word translates to “Sword Saint,” and it is the relentless commitment to being the best that iFi channeled into the masterfully crafted product that is the iFi Kensei. 

This is truly a tool for the audiophile, so without getting too deep into the weeds, we’re going to get a bit more technical in this review than normal, with an eye on keeping it accessible.

iFi GO bar Kensei: Price and availability

The iFi GO bar Kensei is available from ifi-audio.com, Amazon and other online retailers like Sweetwater, for $449. Unlike the iFi Gold bar, this is not a limited run and will be around for a while according to an iFi rep’s comments on a HiFi user forum sponsored by iFi.

iFi GO bar Kensei: Build and fit

Unboxing the Kensei is an experience. It’s set in a beautiful, environmentally friendly, carved wooden box. You get two premium braided cables (USB-C, USB-C to Lightning with USB-A adapter) and a leather pouch. No bigger than a USB flash drive, the GO bar Kensei is made with Japanese stainless steel and is deceptively heavy for its size. Its body has chamfered edges and feels premium all the way around, though it does attract fingerprints like a magnet. It has branding beautifully etched into the underside of the bar, but the face is where it gets exciting.

On the face, you’ll find a panel with LEDs that indicate volume level, audio format, frequency, and sound effects. The right side is where you’ll find the volume and settings push buttons, as well as the IEMatch switch. The top of the device is where the 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs are found, and the bottom is where you’ll find the USB-C input, which supports up to 32-bit/384kHz audio.

The Go bar Kensei gets a bit warm during use, but not uncomfortably. Though it is dense and has good heft, the stainless steel is a bit soft when it comes to external wear and will show scratches and scuffs.

iFi GO bar Kensei: Features

The GO bar Kensei uses a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset with Hi-Res True Native® playback of music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384, and DXD384. You also get full MQA decoding. The Kensei is chock full of high-end capacitors, which give you a clean signal, reduce potential distortion, and have premium noise-reduction capabilities. You can read about those in detail here.

The stars of the show are the four digital filters and two analog modes. The modes and their corresponding LEDs are:

Bit-Perfect (cyan) I ran this with the Sennheiser IE900 IEMs, and it was bright without sibilance and transparent. This one gives you your Hi-Res or lossless audio just as it was intended.

Standard (red) came across as “smooth,” with warmth in the vocals instead of brightness.

Minimum phase (yellow) is warmer but with tight bass. If you’re a basshead, this is the filter for you. Use it with the XBass filter turned on and the K2HD filter activated, and you’ll get kick-you-in-the-face bass with no loss of mids and vocal clarity.

Gibbs Transient-Optimised (white) upsamples your audio to 352/384kHz. I’d just describe this one as “energetic” overall. You’ll feel it across the frequency range.

The Kensei goes a long way to make sure every headphone or IEM you plug up is treated well with their IEMatch switch, which reduces output for high-sensitivity IEMs like the Campfire Audio Mammoths I played with, and their Turbo Mode, which does the opposite and increases gain by 6dB to drive power hungry headphones like the HiFiMan Planar magnetics I used. It isn’t like the Kensei lacks the power to drive what you throw at it, with 477mW or 7.2V out of the 4.4mm output and 300mW or 8V  out of the 3.5 S-Balanced output. 

Regarding volume level output, you can control source audio from the Kensei in sync with the source device or bypass the source device’s audio controls altogether. 

The downside to all of the amazing power unleashed upon your ears is that you’ll experience a decent amount of battery drain from your phones and tablets since that’s what powers the Kensei via that USB-C port. Your laptops won’t be as noticeable since they have larger batteries, and you can easily charge while listening, but that drain is there. There is no internal battery here like the iFi GO blu. 

iFi GO bar Kensei: Sound quality

The “Sword Saint” produces audio that is, in a word, “ethereal” but full-bodied. It’s all there. The sound quality out of both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports is effortless, with beautiful musicality.

This transparent DAC/Amp allows you to enjoy every nuance of a stereo image. Pair the Kensei with analytical headphones or IEMs, and it’s like turning on a floodlight in a large space previously lit by a small 40-watt bulb. That’s exactly what I experienced when I plugged Sennheieser’s IE900 IEMs into the 4.4mm balanced output with the bit-perfect digital filter. 

Listening to “Violin Duel” from the Chevalier OST was illuminating. You could hear artifacts and nuances I’d previously missed. The tension of the bow against the violin strings. The attack on the chord changes, whereas before, I really only heard the attack in different movements. Same with Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” where the plucking of the banjo and guitars, still layered toward the back, was richly detailed.

When it comes to bass and sub-bass, the transparency really shows how a track was engineered. The IE900 isn’t a bass-heavy IEM, but its 7mm dynamic drivers can energetically play back deep, dark bass via PEQ or digital filter tuning, as was the case with iFi’s XBass filter activated. Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power” and “Start A Riot” from the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack both growled and rumbled with enough authority and aggression that they had me making the “stank face” while bobbing my head to that nasty bass and sub-bass. That led me down the rabbit hole of sampling a dozen or so hip-hop tracks with this IEM/DAC filter combo.

What’s important here is that the digital filters I mentioned in the features section may make your music sound even better depending on which IEMs or headphones you’ve paired to the Kensei. For example, I ran the $120 1MORE Penta Driver IEMs, which don’t have nearly the level of transparency of the IE900, but with the K2HD, XBass, and XSpace filters activated, they open up and give the listening experience quite a bit more than what their default tuning offers.

iFi GO bar Kensei: Competition

The GO bar Kensei is unique in that it is more like a collector’s edition DAC, with its ornate box, accessories, and fit and finish. In this price point, there are however competitors with various feature offerings. Fiio makes excellent products and the Q15 may be a better fit for some folks’ listening habits as it has a built-in IPS display and a Bluetooth SoC, giving you access to wireless hi-res audio connectivity.

Then there’s the iBasso DC-Elite, which I tried unsuccessfully to get my hands on for a separate review. It has a feature set that matches closely the Kensei, and a design that is eye-catching. On paper, it appears to be a worthy competitor and is generally regarded as a solid piece of kit.

iFi GO bar Kensei: Should you buy it?

You should buy the iFi GO bar Kensei if...

• You don’t need Bluetooth
• You like DACs with transparent sound
• You don’t want PEQ

You shouldn't buy the iFi GO bar Kensei if...

• Price is a concern
• You need Bluetooth 
• You want PEQ

The GO bar Kensie is transparent without being harsh or overly smooth. It pairs perfectly with musical IEMs, it's digital filters give you greater options as you pair it with different headphones or IEMs and the analog processing modes XBass Plus and XSpace breathe new bass and sub-bass life into open-back over-ears. All of this while efficiently driving everything I’ve thrown at it, even though that comes at the cost of your mobile audio source’s battery life.

This DAC/Amp will be pricey for casual music consumers. For audio hobbyists, it is feature-rich and built like a tank, so it should give you years of listening pleasure on the go.

It is said that we “eat with our eyes.” Do we also listen with them? People seem to place a lot of stock in how an audio product looks, which makes Fiio’s KA11 a delicious auditory dish that will satiate your Hi-Res audio hunger. 

Sure, you can buy Apple’s 3.5mm to Lighting/USB-C dongle for around $9 but as your tastes and headphone or IEM collection grow, it may not be enough to drive your new toys and that’s where the $29 KA11 comes in.

Fiio KA11: Price and availability

The KA11 is available for $29 through their site and Amazon.com. You can get it in two colors, black and a fun silver and teal combo, with your choice of either a USB-C or Lightning connector for those with phones older than an iPhone 15.

Other than the Apple Lightning or USB-C dongle, which will cost you $9, this is one of the most inexpensive DACs on the market and also the most powerful at this price point.

Fiio KA11: Build and fit

Fiio’s KA11 weighs in at only 8.5 grams and is built with high quality components for its $29 price point. The body of the DAC is composed of an aluminum-magnesium alloy, so you won’t have to baby it when you’re headed out the door and tossing your EDC items into your favorite bag.

The cable carrying your sound is equally well-appointed and durable. Wrapped in a layer of silicone with braided cloth on the outside, it consists of high-purity, oxygen-free palladium-plated copper wires that go between your connector of choice and the DAC. 

The cable features rubber or silicone connector caps, adding to the overall feeling of durability and the connectors themselves don’t feel loose when plugging and unplugging. Connections on both ends are tight, and 3.5mm headphone connectors have that satisfying click when plugging in.

Fiio KA11: Features

The most powerful feature (pun intended) of the KA11 is the power delivery which drove even the most sensitive pair of planar magnetic headphones I own. The single-ended 3.5mm port delivers up to 245mW of power per channel at 16ohms, and 200mW at 32ohms. The Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip decodes DSD256, and up to 384kHz/32-bit files over PCM. The SG-Micro SGM8262 amp is what’s inside, driving thirsty IEMs. 

An LED on the 3.5mm port end of the dongle body tells you the sampling rate. DSD decoding gets a green light, and tracks above or below 48kHz get a yellow or blue light, respectively.

The good news is that you can control those LEDs and digital filters through the FIIO Control app. The bad news is that it’s only on Android.

Fiio KA11: Sound quality

Now we’ll talk about the most important aspect of the KA11, the sound. I listened to the KA11 using several over-ear headphones and IEMs, and for $29, its ability to drive my HiFiMan HE4XX planar magnetic headphones was impressive. My iPhone 15 Pro Max only needed to be turned up to 75% of their max for a comfortable listening experience. My Campfire Audio Mammoth IEMs are quite sensitive, and the KA11, with its best-in-class power output, handled them expertly. The power output of the KA11s meant that the comfortable listening level was around 15% of the max. Sennheiser’s $1500 IE900 IEMs were a delight to experience through the KA11, only needing to be turned up to 33% of the max volume of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Okay, technically, those notes weren’t about sound but power. The KA11 is well-balanced in its sound profile. You’ll get a bit of warmth through the mids, but vocals shine through, and bass and sub-bass are an enjoyable element of the sonic feast without overpowering the other “flavor notes.” The soundstage isn’t the most expansive I’ve experienced from a DAC, but it is still large enough that your airy tracks shouldn’t feel constricted. 

Fiio KA11: Competition

Some DACs on Amazon compete on price with the KA11, but nothing at $30 competes on power output or performance. This DAC's output rivals products that can cost hundreds of dollars more.

So, does the Fiio KA11 have competition? The short answer is, no.

Fiio KA11: Should you buy it?

You should buy the Fiio KA11 if...

• Cost is your primary purchasing consideration
• You have power-hungry headphones or IEMs
• You want an EDC DAC you can just throw in a bag and go
• You’re new to Hi-Res or Lossless mobile audio

You shouldn't buy the Fiio KA11 if...

• You have the budget to spend $100-$300

Look no further if you want a powerful DAC that won’t overpower your bank account balance. This is it, full stop. Fiio’s KA11 is a USB-C or Lightning-connected DAC capable of driving most of the headphones or IEMs in your stable, featuring a sound profile balanced enough not to add significant unnecessary color to your listening experience.

When you enter audiophile land, there are many areas where you’ll spend your discretionary income, but this need not be one at the outset. Focus on headphone or IEM costs first, then sit back and enjoy them with the KA11.

Great googa mooga, this DAC/Amp is impressive! It’s beautiful on the outside, feature-packed on the inside, and has some EQ presets that liven up the party when you want. iFi Audio makes great audio kit, but they’ve outdone themselves with this one, and it will grow with you. It can be updated over the air with new Bluetooth codecs as they become available. This one’s a no-brainer—almost.

iFi GO blu: Price and availability

You can pick up the iFi GO blu for $200 direct from ifi-audio.com, or Amazon. I’d also consider picking up the $29 GO blue case with a clip from ifi-audio.com. The case makes it easier to use with your headphones by clipping them to your shirt so the microphone is closer to your mouth when you take calls.

iFi GO blu: Build and fit

Next to the Qudelix-5K, this is one of the smallest DAC/Amps on the market to pack this level of sophistication and features. It’s the size of a 9V battery. The unit’s exterior is wrapped in a soft-touch polymer with copper-colored trim. On the right side of the GO Blu is where you’ll find a luxurious infinitely scrolling ChronoDial, which gives you fine analog volume control and handles playback and phone functions with various clicks. Below that is the button that controls EQ preset modes, Bluetooth pairing, voice alert functions, digital filter mode, and factory reset.

On the top, you’ll find an LED that tells you which EQ preset you’re using, Bluetooth connection, and digital filter status. Next to that are the balanced 4.4mm and S-Balanced 3.5mm headphone outputs. On the bottom, there’s an LED for battery status, a microphone, a factory reset pinhole, and USB input, which supports charging and audio playback up to 24bit/96kHz.

The power button is on the left side. Press it twice to hear which Bluetooth format you’re currently receiving. You’ll also use this button in conjunction with the button under the dial to turn on/off voice announcements.

This powerful device is incredibly small and light but has a delightful in-hand feel thanks to the soft-touch plastic. The buttons all give satisfying clicks, and the USB-C port has no play as you plug in and pull cables out. A refined touch is the labels on the rear etched next to all of the buttons, telling you what they do so you don’t have to remember all the things. They do a lot!

iFi GO blu: Features

We touched on hardware features as we talked about build quality and fit, so let’s discuss what some of those features do in a bit more detail. The GO Blu comes with three presets: XBass, XSpace, and XBass + XSpace. The first two boost bass and expand the soundstage, respectively. The third is a combo of both. As a bass lover, I’d like to have more control over how much the bass is boosted, but for most, it will give an appreciable bump that doesn’t overpower the rest of the mix

The 3.5mm output features balanced circuits instead of the single-ended circuit approach traditionally used in most products around this price point. This reduces noise, giving you clearer sound.

The GO Blu uses Qualcomm’s QCC5100 chip, in conjunction with the Cirrus Logic 43131, supporting aptX Adaptive/HD/LL, LDAC, LHDC, AAC, and SBC with the ability to be updated over the air to add newer codecs. Because the GO blu is calling enabled and uses that QCC chip, you also get active noise canceling with those mics so that you can use traditional IEMs or headphones during your commute or in the office and have the ability to take and make calls with minimal interruption to your listening flow. Pick up the GO blu case with a clip so you can clip it to your shirt and make hands-free calling even easier.

I haven’t worn the battery down yet, but it gets me through an entire workday and is rated for ten hours. A high-powered charger (6.3v) can recharge the GO blu in 40 minutes.

iFi GO blu: Sound quality

So, with all of this technology packed in such a small space, how does it sound? I’ve listened through both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports, utilizing both Bluetooth and wired USB-C audio sources, and I’ll tell you that the output from this DAC/Amp is an elevated experience. I tested audio quality with sensitive and hard-to-drive IEMs from 1MORE, Campfire Audio, and Sennheiser’s IE900. For headphones, I did the same, using Sennheiser and HiFiMan planar magnetic over-ear headphones.

Knowing that the iPhone only supports AAC, I wanted to hear what the GO blu could do with one of the Hi-Res codecs. In this case, LDAC connected to a Pixel 7 Pro, and both codecs were a delight. The LDAC stream offers more dynamics, but iPhone owners won’t feel left out, as the sonic imaging is still quite nice via AAC.

The wired connection, giving you access to Apple Music lossless audio, is transcendent. Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes,” and the main title track from the “Get Out” film’s soundtrack, Michael Abels’ haunting “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” were both ethereal experiences for their large, open soundstage. With the right pairing, the imaging with the iFi GO blu is highly analytical, allowing you to lose yourself in the nuances of the music you’re listening to. Paired to headphones or IEMs which aren’t very analytical themselves, you still get impressive clarity and nuance.

The overall sound signature is very balanced and neutral, which is why I’m thankful for the XBass feature. Getting that bump in the low end made hip-hop tracks that much more enjoyable when I connected the 4.4mm cables of Sennheiser’s IE900, which itself has a very neutral sound. The Go blu really gives you bright, sparkly upper mid, and high-frequency reproduction without being sibilant or harsh. The entire listening experience is smooth without compromising instrument attack or nuance, and I never had to crank my phone’s volume past 75%. Most of the time, I listened at highly satisfying levels with the slider up to around 50%.

iFi GO blu: Competiton

Interestingly, iFi’s own Zen DAC 3 is at the same price point, but that DAC is larger and more tailored toward a desktop experience with its available 5V Dc input. Then, you’ll want to look at the FiiO BTR7. It has similar features, but no mics for calling, and a bit less battery life. It does, however have a companion app with parametric EQ, which the GO blu doesn’t. 

Quedelix 5k is $100 cheaper and while it doesn’t quite have as expansive a soundstage, it is definitely a very capable Bluetooth/USB-C DAC/Amp and has microphones for calling. Add to that it’s insanely impressive companion app with robust parametric EQ settings and it becomes a very tempting competitor. I’ve purchased the Quedelix 5k for my personal use, but I will be buying the GO blu at some point as well.

iFi GO blu: Should you buy it?

You should buy the iFi GO blu if...

• You want a great multi-source DAC/Amp
• You want superb sound at a fair price
• You want enough battery life to get through a workday

You shouldn't buy the iFi GO blu if...

• You want PEQ
• Money is tight

I’ve been on a tear lately reviewing DACs, and I have to say that my time with the Zen DAC 3 has been fun. It’s a beautiful machine that looks great on a desk, with the audio chops to match. 

You get a lot for $229, and my only gripe is that I’d like to see the XSpace analog mode included for IEMs and headphones whose soundstage is a bit lacking.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Price and availability

The iFi Zen DAC 3 is currently available direct from ifi-audio.com or Amazon for $229. It hasn’t gone on sale since it’s been on Amazon, so if you’re in the market and looking at this, there is no better time to buy it.

For what you’re getting, the price is pretty solid as competing devices don’t have the same number of features at this price. Want more, you’ll have to pay more, generally speaking.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Build and fit

Constructed of aluminum, the Zen DAC 3 has a solid heft when you pick it up. All of the buttons give reassuring clicky feedback, the volume knob is smooth and beautifully machined, and the ports are tight and feel well manufactured. There are a lot of little details to appreciate on the Zen DAC 3, from the various textures of the brushed or dimpled metal surfaces to the Sunlit Bronze accents, buttons, and knobs to the dust covers on the RCA inputs on the back of the device.

A lot of design elements were well considered and it shows.

There are rubber feet on the bottom of the device, another nice detail that will save the finish on the bottom. It’s smart because those feet provide extra grip on the bottom as you plug/unplug cables. Additionally, the unit is so light that those rubber feet will keep the DAC from moving around on your desk due to cable movement if you’re fidgety while listening to your tunes.

Lastly, when we talk “build,” the input/outputs are intuitively placed. There is I/O on the back of the Zen DAC 3, but it makes sense to have outputs there because they connect to larger external devices than a pair of headphones.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Features

The Zen DAC 3 has two headphone jacks in the front. One balanced 4.4mm input pushing 390mW at 64ohms, and one 6.3mm input pushing 210mW@32ohms. Inside the box, you’ll get a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter since there’s no input for one of the most common types of audio interfaces. Also on the front are the Power Match and XBass Plus buttons. Power Match provides a gain boost for power-hungry headphones, while XBass is iFi’s signature analog bass enhancer.

That beautiful analog volume nob on the front also doubles as an audio format LED that glows in seven different colors indicating the audio format and sampling frequency being received from the audio source.

The rear of the unit is where you’ll find the USB-C input with overvoltage protection, a DC 5V input, another balanced 4.4mm out (2V-6.2V max variable, 4.2 fixed), and RCA outputs (1V-3.3V max variable, 2.1V fixed). The output impedance on those is 200ohm and 100ohms, respectively. The 4.4mm and RCA outputs allow you to connect this DAC/Amp as a preamp to another amp or active speakers. Since you have these I/O options, it was also smart for iFi to add a fixed or variable output gain switch to the back of the unit.

All of these outputs and their features are powered by a bit-perfect DSD and DXD Burr Brown DAC, which supports PCM up to 768kHz, DSD up to DSD 512, and full MQA decoding.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Sound quality

Sound quality places the iFi GO blu and GO bar Kensei among my favorite DACs, both of which use Cirrus Logic chipsets, but the Zen DAC 3 utilizes a Burr Brown DAC whose sound quality differs from the former two. The word that best describes the Burr Brown chip is “smooth.” Its tuning isn’t as “transparent” as the Kensei, but it makes the listening experience with the Zen DAC 3 fun and engaging.

One of my regular test tracks, “Moanin’,” has some horn sections that can be quite harsh, but the Zen DAC 3 makes those sections easy to listen to as its smooth top end mitigates the shrill blasts from the brass. 

If you want a break from the smoother curve in your lower frequencies, the XBass Plus analog mode restores the growl back to bass and sub-bass. But this isn’t some muddy, compressed digital filter. The low end boost is tight and controlled. Activating this makes listening to bass-heavy tracks quite enjoyable, especially if you’re using flatter headphones like a pair of Planar Magnetics. Without XBass Plus active, and using more balanced or flat headphones or IEMs, tracks like Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power,” with its deep bass and sub-bass, lose a bit of their bite. 

Despite being smooth, you still get great stereo imaging, with a wonderful feel for the instruments and where they’re layered in the sonic image. And those images will always feel nice and full thanks to the Power Match feature, which boosts gain and provided enough output for my Sennheiser HD660S2 and HiFiMan HE-4XX that, depending on the track, I never needed to push that analog volume higher than 50% to 75% of its max. For my IEMs, with Power Match off, I only need to turn the volume nob to 25% of its max output for nice, full audio.

The Zen DAC 3 is an all-around great DAC to connect to your laptop or desktop for warm, smooth sound that doesn’t compromise mid-range vocals or allow harsher sounds in the higher frequencies to become grating. I’d definitely categorize this as “fun and entertaining” as far as DACs and active listening go. It's great for listening to music at a desk or watching movies.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Competition

There are a few alternatives to the Zen DAC 3, but there are trade-offs. Many use different USB standards, making mobile phone connectivity a pain. For example, the Fiio K7 and Topping DX3 Pro Plus are both great options but utilize USB-B connections. On the upside, you’ll get coax and optical connectivity. The DX3 Pro Plus even has a built-in screen.

Then there’s the Schiit Magni, which does offer a USB-C connection. Look at the internal DAC option, which will run you $189 and give you many of the features of the Zen DAC 3. The downside to this one is the headphone cable connectivity options. On the front, you get only one ¼”, aka 6.35mm, single-ended jack. No balanced 3.5mm is available, so you’ll have to use an adapter. It is worth checking out.

iFi Zen DAC 3: Should you buy it?

You should buy the Zen DAC 3 if...

• You want a capable laptop/mobile phone/desktop DAC
• You want a DAC that can power headphones or active speakers
• You want quality without breaking the bank

You shouldn't buy the Zen DAC 3 if...

• You want Bluetooth connectivity
• You want coaxial/optical audio connectivity

For a semi-mobile DAC that produces smooth sound and has some great connectivity options, the Zen DAC 3 is well worth its price tag! You get a beautiful piece of hardware, a smart feature set, and plenty of power to drive just about any pair of headphones or IEMs you plug into it. XBass Plus makes the DAC something that even bass heads can get into!

The beauty of the Zen line is that iFi just released a couple of new versions, which, between the three, should cover the needs of just about anyone looking for a semi-mobile desktop DAC. 

You regularly hear tales of audiophile life being exorbitantly expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. For $60, you can get a well-manufactured, well-equipped DAC/Amp in the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 and have plenty of money to spend on a quality headphone or IEM purchase.

Fosi Audio DS2: Price and availability

You can buy the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 directly from Fosiaudio.com or Amazon for $59.99. At that price point, you won’t find many portable DACs/Amps with both a 3.5mm and 4.4mm port. The nearest competition is around $80.

Fosi Audio DS2: Build and fit

Coming in at 3.2 ounces, the DS2 2024 feels effortlessly light. But don’t let that fool ya, oh no! It’s CNC machined from solid metal, and Fosi claims it’s shock-resistant. I’m guessing they’re pretty confident because unlike most of the DACs I’ve tested recently, this one comes with a two-year warranty, as opposed to one year.

Externally, you’ll get a sample rate LED indicator on one side. The 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports are on the bottom, and opposite those on the top is the USB-C port. Left side, you get independent 60-step volume controls, which give a satisfyingly clicky feedback when pressed.

Internally dual Cirrus Log CS43131 DAC chips are powering those 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs.

Fosi Audio DS2: Features

The DS2 2024 isn’t a powerhouse of features, but most of what it does, it does well. It supports up to DSD256 and PCM 32-BIT/385kHz decoding, pushing 510mw at 32ohms out of the 4.4mm, and a somewhat anemic 130mw at 32ohms out of the 3.5mm connection.

The top face of the DS2 2024 has an LED next to the Fosi Audio branding that tells you what you’re decoding. For PCM, anything less than 48kHz = Red, 48-96kHz = Green, 96-384kHz = Yellow. For DSD, all sample rates get the blue light.

My only quibble is that the 3.5mm port is a bit underpowered. My Campfire Audio Mammoths had to be cranked up higher than with any other DAC I’ve used to date. Usually, I have to keep my volume slider around 10% of max to avoid damaging my hearing with the Mammoths, which are quite sensitive. With the DS2 2024, I really pushed the volume, and that doesn’t bode well for power-hungry IEMs.

Fosi Audio DS2: Sound quality

This $60 DAC/Amp has impressive sound for its price point! I’d characterize the DS2 2024 as a warm DAC/Amp that doesn’t sacrifice clarity or detail for that bump in the lows and mids.

I listened to several different playlists through Sennheiser’s HD660S2s and their sublime IE900 IEMs. I also connected Campfire Audio’s Mammoth IEMs and HiFiMan HE-4XX planar magnetic headphones. Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’” is an intricately detailed and mixed big band jazz romp that shines a light on the DS2's detail and musicality. It reproduces that track with almost analytic precision, allowing you to bask in the separation of the instruments and how they’re layered in the stereo image.

The bass and mids aren’t earth-shattering, but they are entertaining. On that same Mingus track, the upright bass is present and assertive without stepping on the horns or hi-hat. Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power” and Big K.R.I.T.’s “My Sub” growl and rumble with aplomb.

In listening to Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes” and the Get Out OST track “Shikilinga Kwa XXXX,” you’ll discover the closed-back headphone-like soundstage. To be clear, the vocals are bright. On good headphones and with DACs that don’t smooth out the mids and highs, Paul Simon’s vocals are just a hair shy of sibilant, as was the case with the DS2. The shrill horns I regularly reference in Art Blakey’s “Moanin’” are expectedly shrill with the DS2.

Overall, this is a great listening experience for $60, and it will grow with you thanks to its inclusion of the 4.4mm balanced connection that should have sufficient power to drive all but the most extremely demanding headphones and IEMs.

Fosi Audio DS2: Competition

The competition at $60 is almost non-existent. There is competition in hardware from the HiBy FC4, Fiio KA13, and Fiio Ka3. All three share similar features and have both single-ended and balanced outputs, but you’re going to pay $20 more for them with no significant difference in sound quality.

Then there’s the iFi GO link, which will run you the same $60 but won’t get you the same features. You’ll get the 3.5mm single-ended port but no 4.4mm, or 2.5mm balanced output and no on-device volume controls.

Fosi Audio DS2: Should you buy it?

You should buy the Fosi Audio DS2 if...

• You’re on a budget
• You have good headphones/IEMs with 4.4mm cables
• You’re just getting into Apple Lossless

You shouldn't buy the Fosi Audio DS2 if...

• You have power hungry 3.5mm cabled IEMs

At this price point, you won’t find many options with a 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced audio jack. For $59.99, the clarity and detail of the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 make this an excellent choice for those just diving into audiophile territory. It even provides enough bass and sub-bass to satisfy the bass heads among us. 

With a solid build quality and a 24-month warranty, the DS2 is a solid investment in enjoying hi-resolution audio.

The Quedelix-5K DAC/Amp is a marvel of engineering on several levels. The most impressive of which is the true 10 and 20-band PEQ found in its companion app. Throw in Hi-Res Bluetooth audio, MEMs microphones for phone calls, and both single-ended and Balanced outputs (2.5mm), and you have one of the most versatile mobile DACs on the market.

Qudelix-5K: Price and availability

The Quedelix-5K is available direct from Quedelix for $109, or from Amazon for $110. You likely won’t find it on sale but for everything you get with the Quedelix-5K, and when compared to its competition, $110 is a fair price point. 

Some folks may have an issue with the plastic body at this price, but it doesn't feel cheap, and there’s a reason for that build decision. We’ll get into that in a moment.

Qudelix-5K: Build and fit

The Qudelix-5K feels very light in hand, although it is heavy in hardware and software features. It has a plastic body, which ensures you get a solid Bluetooth connection to your music source. Metal bodies tend to attenuate radio frequency signals. Look at the build of your home router, for example. Metal or plastic? Internally, you get a lot for $110. The 5k is packed with a Qualcomm BT 5.0 chipset and dual ES9219 SABRE HiFi DAC, which supports single-ended and balanced outputs and high-sensitivity MEMs mics for phone calls. 

Externally, you’ll find the lone microphone port on the top of the unit next to the 3.5mm and 2.5mm ports. There’s a handy spring-loaded aluminum clip on the underside of the unit and two confusing buttons on the sides. Neither is labeled, and that’s the only pain point I have with the external setup. One button is the volume rocker, and on the other side of the unit, you have the power button, which also controls Bluetooth functions: pairing, playback, track skipping, and phone calls. Once powered on, the buttons glow red and blue when pressed, making them easier to use. The blue-lit button controls the Bluetooth functions.

Besides the button labeling, my only other issue is the choice of a 2.5mm port instead of a 4.4mm port. I’m sure this decision was based on unit size but I’d take a larger 5k for the 4.4mm port. Reading online forums, a common complaint is that quite a few people have snapped those tiny 2.5mm pins. Your mileage may vary.

Qudelix-5K: Features

The Qudelix-5K offers great codec support for Bluetooth streaming, which iPhones won’t be able to take advantage of. In addition to the standard SBC and AAC, you also get support for aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and aptX HD. This is an important note because app support for the device extends to your computers through a Chrome browser plug-in. Even with iOS’ lack of Hi-Res Bluetooth codec support, you should still download the app because iOS and iPad OS don’t have EQ support that works across all your apps. Quedelix app’s settings, though, are ubiquitous and saved directly to the 5k’s internal storage. This is to say, once you have it configured to your liking, that sound profile will be persistent across every device you connect to it: car, phone, tablet, computer, etc. That also means it is persistent no matter which music apps you use on your mobile devices.

The app's most important feature is the 20-band PEQ, which can also be set to a 10-band left/right independent PEQ. This is where the 5k shines. As you dive into the world of “coloring” your audio to your liking, this is a great way to hear how fine changes in the EQ curve affect your audio in real time. This is a welcomed feature for audiophiles and a brilliant teaching tool for audiophile neophytes. Best of all, you can save up to 20 of your EQ settings, and there’s an exhaustive database of automatic EQ presets that you can access in the DSP tab of the app.

Sure, other manufacturers offer EQ support, but often, it isn’t true PEQ. You generally get EQ presets or simple 3 or 5-band EQ support with no option for things like pre-gain, headroom, peak filters, high or low-shelf filters, and Q factor (frequency bandwidth) adjustment.

The app will also show you the state and stats for your current input (BT or USB-C), show you important battery/power consumption stats, give you control over gain, and both coarse and fine control over volume with separate sliders for the phone’s volume and the 5k’s. Note that you can also control volume directly from the 5k itself.

Quedelix 5k: Sound quality

On its own, the Qudelix-5K reproduces audio beautifully. It doesn’t have as large a soundstage or that sparkle that my current fave iFi GO blu has, but that one doesn’t have the PEQ. But, again, that is the 5k’s strength. I hooked Sennheiser’s $1500 IEMs, the IE900, up to the Quedelix 5k, and the first listen through the 3.5mm cable was wonderful. The sound is well-balanced and nuanced, a delight. 

Next, I connected the 2.5mm cable to get the balanced output power, turned on the PEQ, and added some bottom to the sub-bass and bass in the 31 and 63Hz frequencies and Sweet Christmas, I grinned ear-to-ear like the Cheshire cat when I played “Start a Riot” from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack! It’s a delicious Dolby Atmos mix that shows what can be achieved when a producer knows how to use those tools effectively. The IE900s aren’t a bass head’s IEM at all. With the 5k’s PEQ, they become just that, but the mid and high-end clarity is not diminished. The bass on that track becomes downright dark and nasty and makes me want to get in the ring and bang leather with one of my Muay Thai buddies. 

The right PEQ settings can take enjoyable music and make it transcendent. They can take you from having a listening session to having a listening experience. With the right headphones or IEMs, of course.

This is a last note on the Qudelix-5K. I threw a few headphones and sensitive, low, and high-impedance IEMs at it, and it drove everything with aplomb.

Quedelix 5k: Competiton

There are a few other options at $100, but none of them offer true PEQ like the Qudelix-5K. For example, options from FiiO will give you EQ customization through their app, but the level and variety of customizations are greater with the 5k. 

The closest device is FiiO’s BTR15, which has MQA support and native DSD support for the same $110. It also includes an OLED display, which the 5K doesn’t have and it uses 4.4mm instead of 2.5mm balanced output. Shanling has their UP4 2022, which is larger, has a larger battery, and includes codec support for LHDC. They all feature single-ended and balanced outputs, but the app makes all the difference, so I’d choose the Quedelix 5k over its competition.

Qudelix-5K: Should you buy it?

You should buy the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if...

• You’re interested in fine-tuning audio
• Cost is a primary factor in your DAC purchase
• You want a DAC for almost any source

You shouldn't buy the Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC/Amp if...

• You don’t need Bluetooth connectivity
• You prefer 4.4mm outputs

The Quedelix-5K is well worth the cost for the parametric EQ alone! When you consider all of the unit’s other features, I think this device is a no-brainer for those who want to learn about crafting their ideal sound curve or those who already know how to but want a device they can take anywhere and connect to almost any audio source. You can even use the 5K as a preamp.

If true PEQ piques your interest, look no further. This is the one.

While there are more streaming services than ever, Netflix is likely to be one of the first ones you think of. From Stranger Things to Squid Game, the streaming giant has consistently pulled in millions of subscribers, but if you're watching it on an older iPhone or iPad you may need to trade up to get your next binge-watch fix.

Netflix's app will soon no longer support iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, as per MacRumors. That means you'll need to update to iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 to continue using the app, but older devices won't be able to make that jump.

Notably, 2017's iPhone X and iPhone 8 models will be stuck with iOS 16, as well as anyone using the original iPad Pro.

Netflix won't work on these devices soon

The full list of affected devices is as follows:

• ‌iPhone‌ 8 and 8 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ X
• ‌iPad‌ (5th gen)
• ‌iPad Pro‌ (1st gen)

While you, the discerning iMore reader, has likely upgraded since those devices were launched, it might be worth letting family members know their options to stop them from being marooned without Wednesday, Money Heist, or Bridgerton.

Netflix recently stopped letting users pay for their subscriptions via the App Store in order to get around Apple's cut of payments.

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The most hotly-anticipated return on Apple TV Plus is here, with Slow Horses season four landing on the small screen this week. 

Apple's immensely popular spy thriller with a twist of dark humor has wowed audiences in its first three seasons, and if season four reviews are anything to go by, Apple has another smash hit on its hands. 

Episode one landed on Wednesday and picked up right where the last season left off, both literally in terms of the plot, but also in terms of the broad strokes of genius that have made the show a success so far. It was an absolutely gripping first hour that I loved, but don't just take my word for it. Slow Horses season four already has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to a glowing sweep of reviews from critics who've seen the season in full. 

Slow Horses off to a fast start

"If anything, each series improves slightly on the last. Watching it is pure pleasure. There isn’t a wasted scene or a duff piece of dialogue. Every performance is perfectly calibrated..." the Daily Telegraph's Anita Singh said, scoring the show a perfect 5/5. Epoch Times' Michael Clark hailed director Adam Randall for not messing with the formula: "Randall’s biggest achievement here is in not messing about with what came before. As with the directors of the previous seasons, Randall strictly adheres to Smith’s vision of what the latter has described as the 'anti-Bond.'"

Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall described the new series as "enormously entertaining." As expected, there's plenty of praise for the show's undisputed star Gary Oldman, who plays beleaguered head of the Slough House division Jackson Lamb. Oldman returns to season four with all of his trademarks, immense wit, a disdain for personal hygiene, and flatulence. 

 Slow Horses season four is another six-episode number, with episodes debuting every Wednesday through October 9 on Apple TV Plus. Undoubtedly, it's the best show on Apple TV Plus. 

Fans of Napoleon, the Ridley Scott movie available to stream on Apple TV Plus, now have more content to enjoy. Apple has announced Napoleon: The Director's Cut, a new version of the movie that includes an extra 48 minutes of footage.

The never-before-seen footage is only available to Apple TV Plus subscribers and includes a new, unreleased Battle of Marengo scene. Viewers will also learn more details about Napoleon's demise including his failed attempt to invade Russia and an attempted assassination attempt.

The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and received BAFTA Award nominations for Outstanding British Film, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up & Hair, and Best Special Visual Effects.

Ridley Scott doing Ridley Scott things

Ridley Scott of course has a reputation for turning long movies into even longer ones via directors cut releases and it's no surprise that Napoleon has its own directors cut. But its release will no doubt be big news for fans of a movie that Apple describes as "a fresh and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby."

Alongside the additional content already mentioned, viewers will also enjoy a deeper dive into Josephine's origin story as well as "more extravagant costumes" and "new larger-than-life sets."

Viewers can now take in Napoleon: The Director's Cut via the Apple TV app on just about anything with an internet connection including iPhones, iPads, the Apple Vision Pro, and more.

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Apple Music subscribers can now transfer their playlists to Google's YouTube Music service free of charge.

According to a new support document, users can log in with their Apple Account to a Data and Privacy page, where a new 'Transfer a copy of my Data' option allows users to move playlists from Apple Music to YouTube Music. However, Apple has made it clear that only playlists will be transferred, not the actual music tracks. This limitation is likely due to rights agreements that Apple and Google have with record companies. In addition, Google is also offering a tool to transfer playlists on YouTube Music back to Apple Music if you feel like you've made a mistake.

At present, there are no options to transfer playlists from Apple Music to other music services, such as Spotify and TIDAL. For now, YouTube Music is the only choice. Nevertheless, it's a handy feature for those who have been using YouTube's music service instead of Apple Music and want to save time by transferring a bunch of playlists over.

How to switch

Transferring your Apple Music playlists to YouTube is a simple affair. All you need to do is the following:

• Go to Apple's Data and Privacy page, then sign in to your Apple ID account.
• Select 'Transfer a copy of your data'.
• Follow the onscreen instructions to complete your transfer request. To start the transfer, you’ll need to sign in to your YouTube Music account.
• If done correctly, you'll receive a confirmation email from Apple, and your playlists will appear in YouTube Music in the Library tab.

And voila! All of your playlists will now appear on YouTube Music. You'll have to re-download the songs for offline play, remember. YouTube Music will try to match up any songs that are on its service, but if there's a track in a playlist that's not there but is available on Apple Music, it won't be included.

Once the transfer is complete, you'll be able to browse and edit your playlists in no time.

However, it's important to mention again that, if you want to go back to Apple Music with your playlists (mostly) intact, Google offers its own tool to do just that.

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In case you hadn't heard, Ted Lasso looks to be coming back for season four. But if you've been missing the AFC Richmond Greyhounds, there could be a major change in the upcoming season: less Ted.

According to Matt Belloni on The Town podcast, the much-anticipated return of the beloved Apple TV+ series is indeed happening, but with a twist. Jason Sudeikis, who played titular character Ted, might not be as front and centre as in the previous seasons. In fact, Belloni hints that the upcoming season could feature a lot less Ted and a lot more of the supporting characters we’ve grown to love.

Sudeikis, who also serves as the show’s co-creator, apparently always envisioned the show with a three-season arc. With that arc now neatly wrapped up in a bundle of life lessons and emotional growth, it seems he’s a bit hesitant to dive back into the character full-time. If Belloni’s sources are to be believed, Sudeikis has given a “reluctant green light” to the new season, which means Ted will still be around, just not as much.

So, what does this mean for the show? Well, it’s likely that the focus will shift to the ensemble cast – the rest of the AFC Richmond team. Belloni even suggests that the writers' room is slowly gathering steam, with options being picked up for other stars. Some other cast members are negotiating to return, such as Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Walton), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent) and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins), but with another major exception. Phil Dunster might be dealing with scheduling conflicts, so his presence is still up in the air. 

Is Ted Lasso coming back for season 4?

While we've had previous hints that Season 4 could be on the cards for the ragtag group of Premier League players and staff, the Apple TV Plus show could be set for a return following a more concrete report from Deadline. And Matt Belloni has this insider info from sources close to the show. While it would appear things aren't quite concrete yet, it looks like the new season is going full steam ahead.

Spin-offs have been hinted at, too, continuing the story without Sudeikis, but Deadline suggests he is "on board for a new instalment as the studio would not have proceeded without his consent." Quite what Ted Lasso will look like with less of its titular character remains to be seen.

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If you've been missing the AFC Richmond Greyhounds since Season 3 of Ted Lasso wrapped up last year, then you may be in line for some positive news.

While we've had previous hints that Season 4 could be on the cards for the ragtag group of Premier League players and staff, the Apple TV Plus show could be set for a return following a more concrete report from Deadline.

The outlet reports that cast negotiations are underway for a return to Nelson Road, and that Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Walton), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent) and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins) are already signed on.

The big question

Collider previously discussed the potential for a fourth season of Ted Lasso with co-creator Bill Lawrence, and he suggested it would be down to Jason Sudeikis, who stars as Ted himself.

Spin-offs have been hinted at, too, continuing the story without Sudeikis, but Deadline suggests he is "on board for a new instalment as the studio would not have proceeded without his consent."

The show was a huge success in the early days of Apple TV Plus, earning 13 Emmy Awards across its three-season run, as well as individual awards for Sudeikis, Goldstein, and Waddingham.

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Right now, you can get three months of Apple Music for free. It's all thanks to an extended trial offer that new subscribers can take advantage of.

Apple Music is the largest paid music streaming service in the United States and second only to Spotify worldwide. Besides your favorite albums and music, Apple Music is also a showcase for music videos, 24/7 radio stations, and much more.

With more than 100 million songs and streaming being completely ad-free, Apple Music is a great way to both listen to the music that you love and find new music that you aren't already familiar with. The service is available across multiple platforms, including the best iPhones and best iPads, Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K (2021) and older versions, HomePod, Mac, CarPlay, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Amazon Echo, and through the web.

How to get three months of Apple Music for free

To qualify for this extended trial period, you must be a new subscriber to Apple Music. If you have previously subscribed to Apple Music (including through an Apple One plan) or had access to the service through a Family plan, you will not be eligible for this trial.

For those who qualify, getting started is as simple as opening the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, signing in with your Apple ID, and accepting the offer. If it doesn’t pop up straight away, just head over to the Home tab and you’ll find it waiting there. After your trial has ended, you'll begin paying the regular monthly price for the music subscription. You can, of course, cancel.

The service is regularly priced at $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Students pay $4.99 per month. A family membership is $14.99 per month. When you sign up for an Apple Music Family plan, which supports simultaneous listening for up to six devices or accounts

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Redbox, the DVD rental kiosks you may have seen in your local Walmart also has a streaming service — and it's equally suffering from the company's bankruptcy.

If you own a Roku, a competitor to the Apple TV 4K, you may have noticed that you can no longer access the Redbox streaming app. Redbox has been removed from Roku's app store leaving customers who have purchased movies or TV shows without access to their libraries. First reported by Cord Cutters News, If you try to open the app on your Roku, you'll even be met with a "Redbox is currently not supporting this app." message.

Redbox's bankruptcy has just been converted into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Lowpass reports. This means the company is in the process of selling off its assets and closing for good.

As it stands, Redbox's streaming service customers are in the dark about whether they'll be able to access their libraries elsewhere, but for now, those using Roku will need to look elsewhere to access the service. 

locked out of your library

If you've lost access to your Redbox library on Roku, you'll need to look at other streaming services to get your entertainment fix. One of the best, in our opinion, is Apple TV Plus with a wide range of movies and TV shows to choose from. Whether it's Napoleon, one of the best movies on Apple TV Plus, or Ted Lasso, the best TV show on the service, there's plenty to choose from all for just a $9.99/month fee.

Obviously, that won't make up for a cultivated library on Redbox, which raises concerns over digital purchases, especially in an age where physical media is dying out. If you've been affected by Redbox's bankruptcy all hope isn't lost just yet as we await official information on the streaming service's future. Until then, you'll need to look elsewhere for your streaming kick.

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Apple’s sci-fi thriller Dark Matter is one of Apple’s most popular and highly-praised new Apple TV Plus shows, and it just got the green light for season two. 

Set in Chicago, Dark Matter is the story of a physicist who is abducted into an alternate version of his life, and his desperate battle to return to his original reality. The first season recently dropped its hotly-anticipated finale, and now Apple has confirmed the show is back for season two. 

The show is based on the acclaimed Blake Crouch novel of the same name and has garnered rave reviews since its release. The show boasts an audience and critic score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Dark Matter season two 

There are no hard details as to when season two will land on Apple TV Plus or what turn the story might take. As Apple notes in its press release, the show has been hailed as “top-notch science fiction,” “a thrilling ride” and “one of the best shows of the year.” Crouch serves as creator, executive producer, showrunner, and writer, and the show’s cast includes Joel Edgerton and Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly. 

With the success of Dark Matter and the return of the show for season two, Apple is continuing to cement its streaming platform as the home of some of the best sci-fi and thriller TV anywhere in the world. Apple also has the incredibly ambitious Foundation, post-apocalyptic thriller Silo, and of course, the mind-bending Severance, season two of which is hopefully close at hand. 

Other sci-fi hits include For All Mankind, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Invasion. Aside from the Oscar it picked up for CODA, Apple hasn’t enjoyed as much success on the big screen, but its TV shows continue to deliver. 

If you’re looking for another show to binge on Apple TV Plus right now, you could do a lot worse than the first season of Dark Matter, available in full on the platform. 

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The new Sonos app is awful, and that's not a controversial opinion. The rushed redesign has been met with tons of bad ratings on the App Store since launching in May.

Last month Sonos CEO Patrick Spence apologized for the rocky launch. Now, The Verge reports that the company could be about to bring back the old version of the app.

The Verge writes, "There have been discussions high up within Sonos about bringing back the prior version of the app, known as S2, as the company continues toiling away at improving the performance and addressing bugs."

Currently, there's no way to use the older version of the app with customers in the Sonos ecosystem locked to the new and confusing UI of the newer iteration. While Sonos is working hard to update the new design and continuously improve the app, it's still not as functional as the previous version the company left in the past.

Back from the past 

As a Sonos user myself, I've become increasingly frustrated with the new app over the last few months. It looks nice (depending on who you ask) but it's just confusing. and hard to navigate. The Sonos Beam in my living room has been having issues recently pairing with the two Sonos Era 100 I use for my record player and doing simple things in the app like unpairing speakers is just far more cumbersome than ever before.

I'm not against using the new Sonos app; the updates have helped, but I would welcome a return to the old version. Sonos has had to learn the hard way: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Are you fed up with poor VAR offside decisions in the English Premier League taking forever? Well, it looks like the world's most popular soccer division will introduce a fleet of the best iPhones to take charge of offside calls.

According to WIRED, the League is set to introduce a "new semiautomated offside tech later in the 2024–25 season," using a new "smartphone-based system known internally as 'Dragon.'"

The system is made by Genius Sports and its subsidiary Second Spectrum who provide lots of tracking data in the NBA. 'Dragon' will use "dozens of iPhones" capturing "high-frame-rate video from multiple angles." This will completely replace the current Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology which is often slow and sometimes even incorrect.

WIRED claims this is just the beginning and could introduce "new motion-capture and artificial-intelligence models across many other sports."

28 iPhones on the pitch

Genius Sports claims 'Dragon' will use at least 28 iPhone cameras in every Premier League stadium, with some stadiums getting more iPhones depending on the size. The exact model of iPhones expected to be used is unclear but they will be iPhone 14 and newer, so expect to see some iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cameras on the sidelines this season.

WIRED's exclusive report states, "Once the iPhones are positioned around the pitch, together they capture a constant stream of video from multiple angles. Camera mounts can be moved to change coverage zones in certain facilities, per Genius, but will typically be stationary during actual play to ensure proper coverage and avoid recalibration needs on the fly. This wealth of visuals apparently gives Dragon the ability to track between 7,000 and 10,000 points on each player at all times."

'Dragon' captures video at 200 frames per second (fps)with the initial Premier League system capped at 100 fps. That's an insane amount of data points that will hopefully drastically improve offside calls in the Premier League that kicks off its new season on Friday evening with Manchester United vs Fulham at Old Trafford.

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Apple's first three seasons of Slow Horses are some of the highest-rated programs on Rotten Tomatoes, with one even scoring a coveted 100% score. The show has won two BAFTAs from nine nominations. The spy thriller is coming back for a fourth season later this year.

Apple has confirmed that Slow Horses season 4 will premier on Apple TV Plus on September 4. The BAFTA-winning drama, which stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden alongside Kristen Scott Thomas, and more will drop its first two episodes on the premiere date, with weekly releases thereafter through October 2. That means we can expect another six-episode season, in line with the previous three.

While Apple previously shared a first look at Slow Horses season 4, we've now had a much better look at what to expect. There's finally an official trailer for the new season, which you can watch here:

What will happen in Slow Horses season 4?

Apple's official synopsis for the new season of Slow Horses doesn't give much away. It reads: "Threat levels are critical, no time for a shower. This quick-witted spy drama follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces." Apple previously said season four "opens with a bombing that detonates personal secrets, rocking Slough House's already unstable foundations."

But the trailer gives is a better look. In the trailer, Gary Oldman reprises his role as Jackson Lamb, the leader of the MI5 agents known as 'The Rejects.' MI5 Deputy Director Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) once again ropes him in to tackle a case, this time involving a potential terrorist attack on a shopping mall. Meanwhile, the rest of the team grapples with personal dramas, family troubles, and street riots. And if that wasn't enough, the season's new addition, Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving), is hot on The Rejects' trail.

For anyone that hasn't seen the show before, Slow Horses is an espionage drama that tells the story of misfit British Intelligence agents dumped in an exile office by the name of Slough House. The team is headed up by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), a weathered and scruffy veteran with a penchant for flatulence and deprecating his team of castoffs.

You'll need an Apple TV Plus subscription to watch Slow Horses. Apple TV Plus is available on all of Apple's best iPhones, iPads, Macs, and the best TVs for Apple TV, as well as the web. 

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Apple TV Plus is the one streaming service my kids skip over on movie night. It’s straight to Netflix or Disney Plus for them. Apple TV Plus might be winning awards for its solid library of original programming, but the service seems to be falling short when it comes to children’s content.

This is rather strange because Apple TV Plus has some real bangers when it comes to adult programming. The Morning Show, Ted Lasso and Severance are some of the best shows out there, and Apple has won hundreds of awards for its original programming in only four short years. Yet, it relies on old Peanuts episodes and a reboot of Fraggle Rock for the kids.

I wanted to find out why. So I set out on a fact-finding mission to understand why Apple struggles with kids’ programming, how the competition excels, and what Apple has planned for the future in this area.

Where are the kids programs?

Apple TV Plus hit the ground running when it first launched in late 2019. Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven Spielberg all took the stage at Apple’s special event to announce the new service. Several shows had been in production since 2017, so a handful of quality programs were ready to go when Apple TV Plus became available in time for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Morning Show, See, Oprah Winfrey, and For All Mankind were instant hits with the adults. More shows and movies dropped on the service every month, all of them amazing originals.

Today, there are 243 titles on Apple TV Plus, including 33 movies. These have won 499 awards and earned more than 2,200 nominations. Yet of the 210 series on the service, only 59 of them are rated for children. That’s 25% of the total, which seems like a lot, but 16 of these are various iterations of The Peanuts, and two are Fraggle Rock. The actual number of original kids programs is just 40 titles. Only Ghostwriter and Jane have earned a positive reception from audiences. My kids will only watch the new WondLa series, and occasionally Jane.

It gets worse when you look at feature-length movies. Apple has released 33 movies, including box office hits such as Napoleon and Argyle. Yet, there are only three children’s movies, none of which went to cinemas. Wolfwalkers is the only one to earn an award. Anecdotally, my kids only enjoyed Luck.

Apple creates amazing original programs for adults, but relies on a lot of recycled older titles for the kids. There’s a serious scarcity here.

Comparing Apples to oranges

When you look at the competition and you get a different picture. Netflix has a mind- blowing number of titles, 55% of which are originals. That comes out to more than 6,000 Netflix-branded series and movies. 160 are dedicated to kids. That might only be 5% or so of their content, but when you factor in the 500+ non-Netflix kids titles on the platform, there’s enough there to appeal to practically every kid. It’s the go-to platform for families.

Amazon Prime Video is another heavy hitter, with more than 200 kids titles, including 30 original series and movies aimed at children. Hulu may not have a mass of original titles, but their gigantic library from hundreds of studios ensures there’s always something there for the kiddos.

But Disney Plus is the undisputed boss in the family streaming market. 60% of Disney’s 8,000 titles are rated for kids. An enormous chunk of that is original programming. Of course, Disney has a head start over everyone else here, having been in the business of making family movies since the 1930s.

It’s no wonder that my kids go right to Netflix or Disney Plus when they get screen time. Apple TV Plus doesn’t factor into their entertainment choices at all. I’m sure most other kids feel the same.

The future of family programming on Apple TV Plus

Apple TV Plus is facing a pivotal moment. It started with the layoff of eight people involved in making kids content for Apple TV Plus back in January. Then Bloomberg recently dropped the bombshell news that Apple TV Plus was reigning in its spending. Eddy Cue, Apple's services boss, held several high-stakes meetings with studio chiefs and creative partners to cut budgets.

To be fair, Apple TV Plus does have a few children’s titles in the pipeline. Yo Gabba Gabbaland! is set to premier on August 9. My own kids are too old for this popular Nick Jr show, but I’m kind of excited for Apple’s adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. There’s no release date for this one, but I loved this book as a kid. Apple is also releasing yet another Snoopy title.

The newest release was Time Bandits, starring Lisa Kudrow. It’s made for older kids, which is great. My son can only watch so much Harry Potter. But that’s it.

“The award-winning slate of original series and films for kids and families on Apple TV Plus includes the celebrated live-action animated hybrid special, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” Apple said in a press release. “The Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; star- studded animated adventure film “Luck” from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation; and BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated animated film “Wolfwalkers.”

I’m not convinced my kids will be interested in any of these shows. 

There’s a gap in Apple’s programming

It’s undeniable that Apple TV Plus excels in producing high-quality content. So where are all the amazing children’s shows? The service has a limited selection of great kids’ content and seems to rely on older franchises like Peanuts and Fraggle Rock to fill the gap. That doesn’t work when the Netflix and Disney Plus apps are there on my Apple TV box.

Apple needs to invest in creating engaging children’s content. It knows how to make good programs. Of course, with layoffs and talk of budget cuts, I’m not holding my breath. I think my kids will continue bypassing Apple TV Plus and going right to Netflix for the foreseeable future.

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The cinema will always hold a special place in the hearts of movie lovers. It’s the place you go to zone out from the world around you, the place you had your first date, the place you watch the biggest film releases with other fans, and it’s the place you visit to see the best Apple Original movies on offer.

Well, that could all be about to change. A new report from movie journalist Jeff Sneider, says Apple could be done with movie releases for good, opting for straight-to-streaming like its biggest competitors. A source reached out to Sneider stating, “Apple is done with wide theatrical releases for all of its movies.” And if accurate, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Wolfs, one of Apple TV Plus’ biggest releases of the year starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney was set to release in theaters on September 20 but will now have a smaller limited release before arriving on the streaming service the week later. Why would Apple want fewer people watching its major release on the silver screen?

No more Apple at the cinema?

The source says there’s one exception to this rule, F1 starring Brad Pitt. This huge release about the world of Formula One racing releases next summer and will be distributed by Warner Bros — after that, Apple will be done for good with the cinema.

The source added, “Apple’s all about good PR, and they don’t need the bad PR from all these movies not doing well, is how the individual explained it to me, though they noted that the decision wasn’t a reflection on Wolfs, which was “actually pretty good, [and] would’ve done fine.”

So it looks like the best movies on Apple TV Plus could release directly on the streaming platform after summer 2025. While that’s a very exciting prospect for subscribers, it’s not good news for the cinema. Equally, it’s worth noting that Apple’s decision to stop releasing films at the pictures is because ticket sales have been far from a success — so are cinemas really missing out?

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Are you impatiently waiting for the return of AFC Richmond? Unfortunately, you won’t be seeing everyone’s favorite London-based soccer team in the Premier League this season but there’s still hope for a Ted Lasso season 4 appearance on Apple TV Plus.

Speaking to the entertainment outlet Collider, the show’s co-creator Bill Lawrence said all future projects related to the Ted Lasso character are on hold until Jason Sudeikis wants to get involved again.

Lawrence said, “Whatever Jason feels like doing and whatever his decision is, we’re all down with it…Not only is he the star, he’s the head writer, and he’s also the dude whose life just has to be completely overhauled and moved to a foreign country with young children. It’s a big deal. So, as a fan, if someone’s like, ‘Oh, it’s gonna happen again,’ I’ll go nuts. As a partner, I’m down for whatever he wants to do.”

So it sounds like Ted Lasso’s co-creator is on board, now fans just need to wait for the man himself to give the green light and get back on the field.

Ted Lasso season 4?

Ted Lasso is one of the best shows on Apple TV Plus. It ended in 2023 after an emotionally charged season 3 finale. The show follows Lasso as he makes the jump from College football in the U.S. to soccer in England, navigating a new sport, new teammates, and his personal life all at the same time.

The show received huge accolades including 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and a record-breaking 61 nominations. Ted Lasso is one of, if not the, biggest success of Apple’s streaming endeavors so far — another season could be the best trick up Apple’s metaphorical sleeve. 

Apple TV Plus continues to push its excellent sporting content including the return of Friday Night Baseball next month, but for all the Ted Lasso fans nothing will quite scratch the itch until Ted and Coach Beard reunite once more.

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Wolfs starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney is already gearing up for a sequel as Apple gambles on the movie’s success before it even hits the silver screen.

The action comedy directed by Jon Watts, known for his work on Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, is set to release in theaters on September 20 and hit Apple TV Plus the following week. The film, which gets its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, tells the story of a “professional fixer (Clooney) hired to cover up a high-profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two ‘lone wolves’ are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.”

According to a new report from Patently Apple, Apple has already reached out to Jon Watts to write a sequel. While there are no reviews of the upcoming Apple Original Film yet, the star-studded cast hints at another huge success for Apple’s streaming service.

Wolfs looks to follow in the same footsteps as some of the best movies on Apple TV Plus like Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated epic, and Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix.

The best deal in streaming

Apple TV Plus is available for $9.99/month and has a whole host of content outside of the world of cinema. Some of the best Apple TV Plus shows include Ted Lasso and Severance, and sports fans can also access Friday Night Baseball throughout the MLB regular season for free.

Apple’s track record with major motion pictures is incredibly strong with Apple TV Plus becoming the first streaming service to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards thanks to CODA, the 2021 drama about a young girl following her passion for music as the only hearing member of her family. With Wolfs and a potential sequel adding to its ranks, Apple TV Plus continues to be the best value option in the world of streaming services.

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Do you share your Disney Plus password with your friends or family? Tough luck, Disney CEO Bob Iger is about to clamp down on U.S. subscribers who hand out their account details to others.

Earlier this year, Disney announced paid sharing and began the rollout to a select few countries in June. Now, the additional fee (price TBD) to add a person outside your home to your account is set to arrive in the U.S.

Disney’s CEO Bob Iger told shareholders on an earnings call on Wednesday (August 7) that paid sharing will arrive on U.S. soil starting in September. He said, “We’ve had no backlash at all to the [paid sharing] notifications that have gone out and to the work that we’ve already been doing,”

On top of the paid sharing costs to crack down on password sharing, The Verge reports that Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus will raise their subscription costs starting in October.

No more password sharing

Fans of Disney’s streaming service will need to reassess whether the cost increase and additional pricing for extra users is worth it. Netflix took a similar route last year, charging $7.99/month to add a user from outside your home.

While Apple TV Plus still allows family sharing and is yet to introduce an ad-supported cheaper tier like some of its streaming competitors, discussions with a UK advertising body earlier this month hint at a similar future. With all streaming services following a similar path, it might not be too long before we have to accept extra fees for password sharing and an increase of subscription services across the board to introduce ad-supported tiers at a lower cost.

The world of streaming is getting very expensive, but for now, you can still share your Disney Plus password with friends and family until the additional fee is introduced next month.

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Baseball fans, are you ready? Friday Night Baseball returns to Apple TV Plus next month and September’s schedule has been announced.

Fans in over 60 countries can watch two regular season Major League Baseball (MLB) matchups every Friday starting with the Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals on September 6, followed by the San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres later that same evening.

The broadcasts will include fantastic announcers and analysts including Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), Heidi Watney (sideline reporter), Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter).

If you own a good home entertainment system like an Apple TV 4K and HomePods for Spatial Audio, you can take advantage of the coverage’s immersive 5.1 sound during the streams, too. Alongside the incredible sound offering, MLB coverage on Apple TV Plus will feature “state-of-the-art cameras to present vivid live-action shots.”

Apple TV Plus is available for $9.99/month and includes some of the best TV shows and movies on any streaming platform. Whether you want to watch Killers of the Flower Moon, Severance, or chill with some buddies to watch baseball on a Friday night, Apple TV Plus has you covered.

Looking for the full schedule? You can find all of the Friday Night Baseball matches broadcast on Apple TV Plus this September below:

MLB September Schedule on Apple TV Plus

Friday, September 6

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals 

8 p.m. ET 

San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres

9:30 p.m. ET

Friday, September 13

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

7 p.m. ET

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

7 p.m. ET

Friday, September 20

Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles

7 p.m. ET 

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets 

7 p.m. ET

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Finding a unique selling point in a pair of headphones at the moment is like searching for a needle in a very big haystack made out of audio gear. What are you looking for? Good sound? Comfort? Noise-canceling? A good price? There are differences between everything out there, but by and large, they are much of a muchness. So how do you make your headphones stand out?

Well, if you’re Cambridge Audio, then you mix your HiFi equipment expertise with some epic hardware, and add in a dash of the most recognizable over-the-top British accent around for a package that stands out — and then you undercut the competition with a very slick price point that makes them the best deals in audio right now. These are the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, and if you’re looking at some new overhead headphones for the bus, the commute, when you’re out for a walk, or for just chilling on the couch and watching Apple TV Plus, then you might have just found something that ticks all the boxes.

Price and availability

In a market that sees top-of-the-range noise-canceling headphones priced at over $300, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 buck the trend. They’ll cost you $279 at full price, and you’ll occasionally see that price drop to $229 on sale. When the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5 cost you $399 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 cost $299, that makes the very shiny and very new P100 a very tempting proposition.

As for where you can get hold of one, you’ll likely be looking at Amazon to grab yourself a pair.

Build and fit

Cambridge Audio is well known for making home HiFi equipment that is built to last — and it's got years and years of experience and catalogs of equipment that shows just how good it is at it. Its headphones have never been an exception to the rule, and despite a lack of metal of any kind in their construction, the Melomania P100 are no different. The headband, while slightly lacking in padding, is solid-feeling, and the earcups themselves are wrapped in some premium plastic. Color options are fine: There’s a black option or a gray option, and I can already see the light gray color that we’ve got here attracting all the grime from the surrounding area with the clinical precision of a well-trained robot butler.

The case is excellent as well. It’s stiff, very solid, and has a space sized perfectly for the cables inside, nestled between the headphone slots. The color matches the headphones, and just like the cans themselves, while I’m confident that they’re protected when I stick them in a rucksack, I’m not so confident that the case will stay nice and gray. I can foresee a mucky future for the case, one that’s managed to accumulate all the bits and bobs from the bottom of your backpack.

Fit-wise, you’re looking at a pair of extremely comfy headphones. The padding all around is soft and accommodating, although it's a bit thin on the headband. If you can situate them on top of your head properly it never becomes an issue, but it is something that’s worth bearing in mind. They aren’t fatiguing when you wear them for long periods of time, and I had no problems wearing them throughout the day while listening to my tunes while working.

Features

For a pair of headphones that in their native UK only cost £229, they are packed to the brim with some top-tier features that easily put them either on par or above against the more expensive competition. The title feature is one that only the audio nerds amongst us are going to care about, and that’s the amplification hardware that’s been packed inside each earcup. They use the same AB classification amplification that you’ll find in Cambridge Audio’s dedicated HiFi amplifiers, lending them some serious audiophile credibility. As with all Bluetooth headphones, you won’t get the full effect of a lossless audio track, but Hi-Res is going to sound fab. 

The battery life is also well worth highlighting, with the number on the box promising 100 hours. I’ve been testing them for the last week, using them through a work day, and I’m yet to need to charge them (I’m still, in fact, on around 20% or so), so the battery life claim seems to match up with the actual life you’ll get on a charge. Manage to use up that titanic battery life and need to juice up quick? Stick them on charge for just five minutes and you get a full four hours of use — very nice. The battery life will change depending on how you use them, of course, so max volume, every single ounce of noise canceling people are going to end up with batteries as dead as their ears (seriously, stop using your headphones at max volume if you want to hear past the age of 50).

There’s the aforementioned noise canceling as well, and its pretty good. It’s not quite as impressive as the noise canceling on the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the AirPods Max, but it does a decent enough job of making sure that the noise outside the headphones won’t bother you while you listen to your music. Offices silenced, bus journeys more comfortable, and, if you’re a terrible parent, cries of small children quietened. There’s, as usual, a focus on the bottom-end sounds, so higher-pitched noises can make their way through. What’s nice is the three different noise-canceling modes — on, off, and transparency. Off is just like wearing any normal pair of wireless headphones, allowing some of the noise in, while transparency mode feeds the noises from the outside into your earholes so that you can have a chat with the person at the Costco counter. Or the bus driver.

It’s the environmental features that I really appreciate, however. I have loads of headphones from a couple of years ago that now have dead batteries, that no longer hold a charge. They are, ostensibly, completely dead, with non-user-replaceable batteries. There are headphones I don’t want to use because the earpads are toast, leaving horrible bits of faux leather coating all over the place. The P100, on the other hand, have both user-replaceable earpads and batteries, so in theory, they could last for an extremely long time, particularly thanks to the replaceable batteries. I say in theory because that relies on the batteries continuing to be available, and that 3rd party companies make replacement earpads beyond Cambridge Audio. I do really like the feature however, and I hope that more companies embrace the idea of user-replaceable batteries.

Finally, there’s the Melomania connect app, which lets you activate gaming mode and choose a vocal assistant who talks you through your experience with the headphones. There’s the standard voice, or the voice which you should use — the ‘Southwark’ option. That uses the actual recorded voice of actor Matt Berry, himself from London, Southwark, just like Cambridge Audio itself. You may have heard of him from the likes of Toast of London, The IT Crowd, or, more recently, TV’s What We Do in the Shadows. It’s loads of fun to hear his over-the-top lilt shout ‘noise canceling’ or ‘gaming mode’, and adds some more personality to a headset that’s already set well apart from its contemporaries. The app lets you activate gaming mode, which reduces lag on the Bluetooth so that you can hear all the sounds you need closer to when you need them in game.

Sound Quality

Ok, so Cambridge Audio has brought every ounce of its significant HiFi chops to bear on the Melomania P100. There’s the aforementioned class AB amplifier at play in addition to aptX and other assorted Bluetooth goodies to make sure that they sound as good as possible. Has it worked? In a word — yes.

In a few more words, the Melomania P100s are a well-judged and excellently well-balanced pair of headphones, with a decent amount of beef to keep things from feeling too analytical. There’s plenty of detail up high, and then some stellar low-end grunt that goes all the way down. The soundstage is top-notch, wider than you might expect from some closed-back headphones, and stereo imaging is pretty good as well. For the price, there’s not much that can take the fight to the Melomania P100, and you’d find it tricky to find much better that are $100-$200 more expensive.

The chunky distorted bass of Psycroptic’s Rend Asunder lays the foundation for a crisp interpretation of tech death, equally detailed and weighty in all the right places. The hi-hats are piercing and bright, while layered guitar parts weave their syncopated rhythm. Instrument separation is uncommonly good for a death metal performance, each part of the ensemble separable from the rest. The vocals are clear and thick, although there are some occasional hiccups when the rest of the ensemble gets busier.

Michael Giachinno’s Kronos Unveiled from The Incredibles soundtrack shows some impressive dynamic range. When the music is supposed to be quiet and subtle, it is, not boosted by the headphones. It builds and it builds to the mighty crescendo, which is punchy, powerful, and revealing. The orchestra is wide, and surrounding, making for an involving, engaging listen.

Finally, the pulsating synth and slick retro style of Carpenter Brut’s Day Stalker brings a threatening undertone thanks to the driving sub-bass line that the Melomania are more than happy to provide. It’s not a complicated track, but the headphones do a quality job of building throughout with the addition of each new additional instrument line.

Competition

There is loads of competition out there for the Melomania, but all the stuff that offers the same features, sound quality, and carrying case will cost you a whole bunch more money than you’d spend on Cambridge Audio’s offering. There are the aging Sony WH-1000XM5, and while their noise canceling might be better, you’ll get better sound quality at a much lower price from the Melomania. They might not be as well made as the AirPods Max, but they rival the Apple option in sound and cost less than half as much. When you look at the competition in the same price bracket you’ll soon find that battery life won’t be as good, they’ll lack noise canceling… The Melomania are an excellent option, and outweigh the competition in a whole range of ways.

That and no other pair of headphones has a Matt Berry voice option.

Should you buy them?

You should buy them if…

• You want a unique pair of headphones in a world of cut-and-paste options
• You want spectacular sound quality
• You’re after something comfortable

You shouldn’t buy them if…

• You don’t have much space for the large carrying case
• You hate Matt Berry (you weirdo. And you can turn him off. Weirdo.)

Verdict

The package that the Melomania present is more than you could imagine possible for the otherwise fairly low price. If nothing else, they’ll make Sony and other manufacturers look up from their desks and realize that they need to step the game up — turns out you can make premium, fully-featured headphones for less than $300. If you now want to cost more than the Melomania you’re going to have to really put in a whole lot of work to make sure that buyers get their money's worth.

As for the headphones themselves, they’re a real treat. They sound excellent, fit comfortably, and while they take a little more space in your bag, they’re a great example of some great-sounding headphones. If you don’t mind not having a Sony or Apple logo on your head, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 should be at the top of your list.

When you're shopping in the world of streaming devices the Apple TV 4K is very much at the top of the pile. It's the best Apple TV device that Apple has ever made, with a fast Apple-designed A15 Bionic chip as well as support for 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content. There's Dolby Atmos support for high-spec audio fans, while you'll also get the upgraded Siri Remote with actual buttons rather than the terrible touch-sensitive panel of older versions. But it might have some new competition from Google.

The device is sleek, coming in porcelain and hazel colours – quite the upgrade. The reason for ditching the dongle design? There's a Thread border router and support for Matter smart home gadgets crammed inside. Under the hood, there's a chipset with 22% more processing power and twice the RAM compared to the Chromecast with Google TV, promising a smoother experience when navigating the Google TV UI. Despite this boost, Apple TV 4K still holds the crown for gaming performance.

Around the back, you'll find HDMI 2.1a, gigabit Ethernet for those who despise buffering, and USB-C power delivery. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 may seem a tad outdated, but they’ll handle Chromecast streaming.

The Streamer also comes with Google's new Gemini AI, which provides show summaries and user reviews to save you from the agony of binge-watching a terrible series. The generative ambient mode screensavers give you an extra option, when the screen fades off. Google's remote has had a revamp, too. Volume buttons have moved to the front – no more fumbling around the sides – and there's a customisable button that defaults to launching the Google Home panel. For those prone to losing the remote, a button on the back of the streamer makes it beep until found.

The Google TV Streamer will hit the shelves in the US on 24 September for $100. No word on global availability just yet. But how does it compare to the Apple TV 4K?

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K

Google’s offering is a cool $100, while Apple TV 4K comes in at $179. If your wallet’s feeling a bit light, Google has the upper hand here. Both devices support 4K HDR content, both with Dolby Vision support.

In terms of design, both devices are sleek, but Google’s porcelain and hazel colours might have the edge if you’re looking for something that blends seamlessly with your decor. When it comes to processing power, Google’s new chipset boasts 22% more power than the old Chromecast with Google TV, but Apple TV 4K’s A12 Bionic chip is still the champ, especially for gaming.

Connectivity-wise, Google TV Streamer includes HDMI 2.1a and gigabit Ethernet, while Apple TV 4K also sports HDMI 2.1 but goes one better with Wi-Fi 6. Bluetooth 5.1 on Google’s box might feel a bit archaic compared to Apple’s Bluetooth 5.0, but it gets the job done.

Smart home integration is where Google TV Streamer shines, with a Thread border router and Matter support. Apple TV 4K has HomeKit and can act as a Matter hub, but Google’s integration feels more robust, especially with the Gemini AI for show recommendations and smart home control right on your screen.

Google’s revamped remote is a hit with its customisable button and front-facing volume controls. Apple’s remote, though, is no slouch with its Siri integration and touchpad. However, the Google remote’s ability to beep when lost is a simple but genius feature that we've been asking Apple to add for years.

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Who knew the best AirPods for many people wouldn’t be AirPods? Despite the extensive ear physiology research conducted by the engineers in Cupertino, AirPods don’t stay in my ears. And AirPods Pro don’t work for me unless I add Comply foam ear tips. Then they’re AH-MAZING! 

On the other hand, the new Beats Solo Buds work well for my ears' shape, and their sound quality is very good. Because they work natively with iOS—excluding some features—they’re likely the best AirPods for most people.

Beats Solo Buds: Price and availability

Beats Solo Buds became available to order in Transparent Red, Storm Gray, and Matte Black from Apple.com and authorized resellers for $79.99 on June 18th. Two days later, they became available in Apple Store locations and other brick-and-mortars on June 20th. 

The Arctic Purple version I have for review will be available exclusively online or in-store from Apple or Target.

Beats Solo Buds: Build and fit

The Beats Studio Buds Plus are lauded for their relatively balanced sound, with an emphasis on mid-range frequencies and vocal clarity. The Beats Solo Buds use the same 8.2mm dual-element diaphragm transducer found in the Buds Plus, while the rest of the acoustic architecture is unique to the Solo Buds.

They’re larger than the Buds Plus because they have larger batteries in the earbuds themselves. That’s because the case is built without a third battery to recharge the buds when you place them inside. Charging goes directly into the buds themselves from the USB-C port on the rear of the case. Because of this, the Solo Buds are some of the smallest TWS earbuds I have ever slipped into the coin pocket in my pants. So small in fact, after a time, I forget that they’re there.

Concerning fit, though they’re larger than the Studio Buds Plus, they feel great for long periods of wear. The larger “bulbs” feel just right in my ears without fatiguing them. Speaking of sitting right, if you’re listening to music on your iPad and then slip them in your ears, the music will automatically switch to your Solo Buds if you have the Automatic Ear Detection feature turned on.

Like other Beats earbuds, the Solo Buds use mechanical push buttons on the “b” logo area instead of the touch-sensitive buttons you’ll find on many others. I prefer the mechanical over the touch-based buttons because they’re generally more accurate and less prone to accidental touches. Controls on the Solo Buds are enjoyably “clicky” and responsive.

Beats Solo Buds: Features

18 hours of battery life! In this case, that’s a “feature.” And since the case has no battery for recharging, nothing short of that would’ve made sense. I tested that battery life, and with the volume on my phone at 50%, I did indeed see a bit over 18 hours. They support Fast Fuel, so a 5-minute charge gets you an hour of playback time.

They have Beats’ proprietary chip in them, so they work with both iOS and Android, supporting some native features. You do get Spatial Audio, but there's no head tracking. And there’s no official IP rating, so keep that in mind if you get caught in a thunderstorm or are a particularly heavy sweater.

The native features they support on iOS are one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, Find My, and Audio sharing. Though the feature works on my Beats Fit Pro (Beats Solo 4), Audible Notifications doesn’t work on the Solo Buds, and I have to admit that it’s a bit of a letdown. I love that feature, and it comes in quite handy during workouts when I receive text messages from family and loved ones. I take my gym time seriously; it’s how I keep Type 2 diabetes in check, so it’s great to hear a message read aloud to me so I can determine if it requires me to interrupt my workout or respond when I’m finished.

To make the case as small as possible, Beats omitted more than just the battery. There’s also no LED for charging and connection statuses and no pairing button. Instead, you’ll hear audio tones from the earbuds themselves, signaling they’re ready to pair, and that process is easy. Just hold the “b” button for a few seconds while in the case, and you’re paired. You’ll also hear audio tones for charging confirmations and low-battery warnings. 

Beats Solo Buds: Sound quality

Like the Studio Buds Plus, the Solo Buds' audio is delightfully clear and bright without being harsh or sibilant. While the bass is not as pronounced as in earlier versions of Beats products, these earbuds are like fenced Clydesdales. Let ‘em out, and their horsepower impresses.

The Solo buds gave a rousing performance with all of my regular test songs, which show how large a product’s soundstage is, how they handle vocals, and the quality of the stereo imaging. Seemingly, the only downside to all of that clarity found in the Solos would be the lighter low end.

When listening to bass and sub-bass heavy songs like Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power,” I go into the Settings app, scroll down to Apple Music’s settings, and turn on the Increase Bass EQ preset. For music on my phone’s local storage or Tidal, I use my favorite EQ app for iOS, Boom. Utilizing those tips uncages the Clydesdale and imbues some rumbly, distortion-free bass and sub-bass back to your favorite basshead tracks. It’s seriously, aggressively satisfying. Best part? The Solo Buds transducer can give you those dark lows without compromising clarity or mid-frequency sonics. The sound quality is impressive for $80.

Beats Solo Buds: Competition

I’m writing this review from the lens of native iOS support, so the only competition is other Beats products and AirPods. In that regard, there are only two: Beats Flex, and AirPods (2nd generation). The Flex have the Apple W1 chip for native iOS support, and with the AirPods, you’re going to get features like Audible Notifications, “Hey Siri” voice invocation, and a battery in the case. Flex is $10 cheaper than the Solo Buds, but for the AirPods, you’re going to pay a bit less than twice the cost at $129. 

There are some very competitive options outside Apple iOS support when you look at products like the Nothing Ear (a), and Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC. Both of those will cost you $20 more unless you catch them on sale, which is highly likely with Soundcore products.

Beats Solo Buds: Should you buy it?

You should buy Beats Solo Buds if...

• Cost is a primary purchasing consideration
• You don’t need ANC
• AirPods don’t fit your ears well

You shouldn't buy Beats Solo Buds if...

• You want full AirPods iOS integration
• You need ANC

The clarity, balanced sound, and ability to take EQ and drop that bass like an EDM DJ make for a highly satisfying listening experience with the Beats Solo Buds. I haven’t missed having a battery for charging in the case because, with 18 hours of battery life, topping off regularly hasn’t been necessary with my listening habits.

Yes, for $80, you’ll have to give up some features, but at $80 you also won’t find a better set of “AirPods” with native iOS support.

The latest beta version of tvOS, released on August 5, introduces a new feature to wirelessly send web links from an Apple TV to an iPhone.

In a post on Threads, Sigmund Judge explains how some immersive videos, designed for Apple Vision Pro, can be sent as a web link via AirDrop to the best iPhones or iPads. In tvOS 18 beta 5, Judge demonstrates a new button that enables users to wirelessly send a link to a video to their iPhone, which will open in Apple’s Safari web browser. For those unaware, AirDrop is a feature that allows users to wirelessly send types of media or a link to another device, such as a photo, contact information, and more. This new feature may suggest that Apple wants to make it easier to send links from Apple TV to other devices thanks to AirDrop, but the company could be laying the groundwork for more.

Judge notes that the latest beta of tvOS 18 has code that hints at the “ability to distribute related media like books, soundtracks and AR experiences to iPhone and iPad.”

With new features like Distraction Control in Safari now available in the latest betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, it’s good to see a new feature come to tvOS as well. 

However, time will tell if the ability to send web links via AirDrop will expand to other media types, as Judge mentioned, by the time the update is released.

Apple says that tvOS 18 will be available for compatible Apple TV devices later this year.

What else is new in tvOS 18?

tvOS 18 didn’t receive as many new features compared to iOS 18, but there are still some updates worth mentioning. First, Insight allows users to check the actors in a show they’re watching, similar to Amazon Prime Video’s X-Ray feature. Apple’s version goes further by recognizing the music being played in certain scenes, allowing users to play the track in Apple Music.

Enhanced Dialogue, a feature that can raise the volume of characters speaking in a scene, has seen a big improvement. Previously, this feature was only available when Apple TV was connected to a HomePod. In tvOS 18, Enhanced Dialogue can be used with TV speakers, a soundbar, and more. In addition, Screensavers have been redesigned to feature scenes from the best Apple TV Plus shows. 

Overall, tvOS 18 looks to be a collection of small improvements to make a big impression in the upcoming update. If you use Apple TV daily, you’re likely to benefit from what tvOS 18 will offer when it becomes available later this year.

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Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video have come under fire by hiking prices and introducing ad-supported subscription tiers to soften the blow and it looks like Apple could soon be doing the same.

According to a new report from The Telegraph, Apple executives have met with the UK ratings body Barb to “discuss options for tracking advertising.” This would imply that Apple is looking to introduce an ad-supported tier similar to its competitors in the near future.

Netflix, Disney, and Amazon already work with Barb and have introduced cheaper subscription tiers with ads before content and sometimes during content to make up for the cheaper price. Apple, however, has increased the cost of Apple TV Plus over the years from $4.99 to $9.99 without a lower-end ad tier as of yet. 

Introducing ads to Apple TV Plus could allow for a cheaper subscription closer to the original $4.99 a month cost which would allow those who don’t mind watching an ad or two to save on the subscription fee.

With Severance season 2 on the horizon, introducing a cheaper option for those who want to watch one of the best shows on Apple TV Plus at a lower price could prove incredibly lucrative for the company.

It’s an ad-supported world and we’re just living in it

It’s looking all but confirmed that Apple TV Plus will introduce an ad-supported subscription tier and while there was uproar when other streaming platforms adopted the strategy it's becoming the industry norm. 

Ad-supported tiers allow streaming services to increase the monthly cost of ad-free tiers without alienating customers. It’s a shoddy tactic in my opinion but if this is the route we’re going down then more options with cheaper prices at least give the consumer the choice. 

However, introducing lower price tiers opens the door for other differences between subscriptions, not just a cheaper price because of the inclusion of ads. For example, Netflix’s lower-priced ad-supported streaming option limits the amount of devices you can watch on and the quality of the stream compared to the most expensive option. Apple could do something similar, removing the fantastic perk of Family Sharing that makes Apple TV Plus the best streaming deal on the market. While there is no indication that this would be the case, it feels like the inevitable destination considering the overall landscape of the streaming service world.

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One of Apple TV Plus' best shows, Silo, just got a big update for anyone hooked after the conclusion of season 1 - and it's good news all around.

Revealed at Comic-Con 2024 yesterday, Silo Season 2 will debut on November 15 on Apple TV Plus, with new episodes streaming weekly through January. The season will be comprised of ten episodes.

Viewers can also expect Steve Zahn, previously of The White Lotus and The Righteous Gemstones to make an appearance in the next season, adding to an existing cast that already includes the likes of executive producer Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, and Rashida Jones.

Apple TV's big 2024

Apple's upcoming TV and movie slate is starting to look much more full, with Matt Damon's movie The Instigators arriving next month, and the likes of Slow Horses kicking off its fourth season in September.

Where's Wander arrives in October, and now Silo has slotted in nicely for November alongside Blitz, before Severance starts 2025 off by seemingly becoming the most expensive TV show ever when its second season kicks off.

How are you feeling about Apple TV Plus' offerings? If you've not checked it out, we covered a new deal to net you a three-month subscription in conjunction with Twitch.

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If you've spent so much time watching Twitch that you're behind on some of Apple TV Plus' best shows, then this new deal from the Amazon-owned streaming platform might be just what you need.

Twitch is offering three months of Apple TV Plus for anyone subscribing to or gifting a subscription to a streamer.

That means that whoever you enjoy watching on Twitch, your subscription to them can net you free access to a service that would otherwise set you back $9.99 per month.

How to get Apple TV Plus for free with Twitch

As per Twitch's blog, you'll need to subscribe or gift a sub to a streamer from July 30 at 12PM PT until August 19 at 12PM PT.

Once you've subscribed or gifted, you'll receive a code to your Drops & Rewards Inventory page, but it's worth noting that Prime Subs (subs included with Amazon's own Prime suite of benefits) are not eligible.

The code is also only usable for anyone not currently subscribed, but that does mean you'll have a chance to catch up on the likes of Silo, Palm Royale, Slow Horses, and Ted Lasso.

And hey, if you like it, you might want to subscribe for yourself in time for Severance Season 2, now dated for January 2025. In fact, it'll be one of the most expensive TV shows of all time.

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Two months ago, Sonos completely refreshed its app, with a new look, and… fewer features? The update introduced more bugs than it did excitement, and users were less than pleased when their Sonos systems struggled to function like they once had. 

For a company that relies so much on an interconnected system of devices where the app acts as the central guiding force, getting the redesign right was critical. When it wasn't, users took to the internet to voice their displeasure. Interestingly, (and perhaps anecdotally) while many times these issues can seem overblown by a vocal minority on the internet, in this case, it feels like a unanimous issue — one shared by thousands of Sonos users.

An apology

Now, to put users' minds at ease, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, has apologized for the redesign and its issues. In a blog update on the Sonos site, Spence says “We know that too many of you have experienced significant problems with our new app which rolled out on May 7, and I want to begin by personally apologizing for disappointing you.” A far cry from previous statements that saw him stand by the app redesign, and that users just couldn’t see what the firm had planned.

Here’s the thing now — Sonos has to actually do something. There have been updates to the app since its woeful rollout, but there are still significant issues with devices dropping out, not appearing at all, and some missing features. Spence has given us a release schedule to put our minds at ease, and it looks like this:

July and August:

• Improving the stability when adding new products
• Implementing Music Library configuration, browse, search, and play

August and September:

• Improving Volume responsiveness
• User interface improvements based on customer feedback
• Improving overall system stability and error handling

September:

• Improving Alarm consistency and reliability

September and October:

• Restoring edit mode for Playlists and the Queue
• Improving functionality in settings

He closes his apology with a ‘deep appreciation’ of users' patience and admits that Sonos now has to work hard to regain users’ trust. Is it too little too late? If the updates come when he says they will, likely not. No one is going to go out and rebuy their entire system again — but new customers might still be put off by other users talking about a rough app.

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In 2021, Spotify announced that there would be a new option coming to its streaming platform — Spotify HiFi. The idea? To bring hi-res streaming to Spotify and its users, rather than the lower quality streaming that we’d been lumping it with for years prior.

Cut now to three years into the future, and three whole other streaming services introducing hi-res streaming (and actually following through), and Spotify still won’t give us a proper date for the release of its higher-quality streaming service. The firm’s CEO has spoken about the release, and apparently it's still coming — although, as always, there’s no news about when.

Vaporware

Vaporware

Noun

Software or hardware that has been advertised but is not yet available to buy, either because it is only a concept or because it is still being written or designed.

That’s the definition of vaporware that Google gives, and Spotify HiFi is starting to feel like it fits the bill pretty well. It was announced, it’s sat around as a kind of vague idea for a while, and other companies have since beaten it to the punch. Like Apple’s AirPower, id Software’s Commander Keen: The Universe Is Toast!, and Half-Life 2: Episode 3, Spotify HiFi feels more and more like something that’s never going to arrive. You’ll even find it on Wikipedia’s list of vaporware, to really hammer it all home.

Whether it will see the light of day like some Vaporware remains to be seen, but for now, it remains in app purgatory, probably being rung through on a rack in a hieronymus bosch painting. But there’s more to it than that — and why it remains vaporware, and not just a feature that could have been.

Spotify keeps talking about it as if it's something that we can still expect. Most recently, the CEO has stated on the company's earnings call that it’s on the way, and given us more of an idea of what it’s going to look like. He says that it’s going to come with more control, whatever that means, and it’s going to cost you “something like $5 above the premium tier.” That puts the new tier at around $18, and potentially even more than that if ‘something like’ ends up being greater than $5. That would make it the single most expensive music streaming service around — more than Apple Music’s $9.99 per month, more than Tidals $9.99 per month, more even than Qobuz.

So.

At what point should Spotify simply… not?

There are so many more options out there

We’ve established that Spotify will be more expensive than every other service out there, but why should you move to them instead? Beyond, you know. The savings. And the fulfilled promise of hi-res streaming. Better apps, more control over offline music, comprehensive online FLAC stores… 

Honestly, though, Apple Music is all that most people are ever going to need. Top-quality streaming, a massive library, Apple Music classical, and human-curated playlists all add together for a great experience. It’s going to cost you less, and if you’re an iPhone user, it comes preinstalled on your device.

Spotify’s HiFi tier might never be coming — but there are loads of options out there that won’t cost the world. And, you know. Actually exist.

Despite the rough state that Resident Evil 4 Remake appears on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s still a fantastic time. The same feeling applies when I switch to my Mac or iPad to continue my progress. Yet there’s one Apple device that’s starting to stick out like a sore thumb.

Yes, it’s the Apple TV 4K, the company’s set-top box that’s meant to sit aside your television so you can watch the best Apple TV Plus shows, play the best Apple Arcade games, and more. I do exactly this, as well as using the great feature that lets me FaceTime my wife on the TV using my iPhone’s camera when she’s away.

It is a great device, yet the more I play games like Resident Evil and Death Stranding on my iPhone, the more puzzled I become as to why I can’t carry on my progress on my Apple TV. You might think, “Why not just use AirPlay mirroring to send your iPhone or Mac’s display to your Apple TV?” This is something I’ve done, and it doesn’t work well. The Apple TV gets confused with my Mac’s resolution, especially when a game launches and forcibly changes the resolution, making everything dim and pixelated. Essentially, it’s a hassle.

It’s clear to me that it’s high time for Apple to release a new Apple TV that focuses on games being offered by developers like Capcom and Kojima Productions. This way, I can play these AAA games in my living room, just like millions of gamers do with their Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox consoles.

The Ghost of Pippin

If you’ve been an Apple fan in the last few decades, you may remember the company’s efforts in the early 90s when it tried to enter the gaming market with its own console, called the Pippin.

This gaming console looked like the result of a special hug between the Sony PlayStation and SEGA Saturn consoles. A white box with many buttons on the top, its controller was wireless — innovative for its time but was awkward to hold, due to it resembling a boomerang. This design wasn’t too dissimilar from Sony’s prototype controller for its PlayStation 3 console almost ten years later, which was quickly scrapped.

Apple partnered with Bandai, a Japanese toy manufacturer, to help build the console. It was eventually made available in Japan in March 1996, followed by a release in the U.S. market in October 1996, priced at $599.

The games made available for the Pippin were, unremarkable. The library mostly consisted of titles from Bandai that focused more on educational subjects like Math and English. Safe to say, the console failed in 1996.

Why am I mentioning this, you say? Because Apple has never taken games as seriously as it does now. The company’s efforts with Game Porting Kit, which allows developers to easily port games to Apple devices, has opened up how modern games can run on Macs. In addition, features like ray-tracing debuting on the A17 and M4 Apple silicon chips have highlighted Apple’s new commitment to gaming. After so long, the pieces seem to be in place for a new Apple TV to make a huge impact on the company’s gaming efforts.

What can a new Apple TV offer?

The current Apple TV has been out for two years now, which is enough time for an upgrade. Not only could a new model include a powerful M4 chip but also offer exclusive features, to take advantage of the fact that it’s always plugged into a wall socket instead of running on a battery.

This constant power source could allow for an M4 chip with a faster clock speed, without worrying about a battery being drained. Additionally, there’s also the factor of games needing to run at higher resolutions than they do on the best iPhones, iPads, Macs. Most televisions display in a 4K resolution (3840x2160). If we take the display resolution of a MacBook Pro 16-inch at 3456x2234, that’s almost 4K. Yet most games render at a far lower 1920x1080 resolution. Metal, Apple’s gaming framework, upscales and renders the game with MetalFX, resulting in a clearer image on Mac displays.

In order to fully take advantage of 4K televisions, Apple may need to introduce a new version of MetalFX that can upscale games to a 4K resolution. In my opinion, this is crucial, because users could easily switch on their PlayStation 5 console and play Resident Evil 4 at 4K with a 120FPS framerate.

Because of this, Apple must ensure that they’re offering the best gaming experience on a new Apple TV model by rendering games at a native 4K resolution as standard.

Apple TV can right the wrongs of Pippin

When I look at the Apple Siri Remote and what tvOS offers, I’m happy. There are no glaring omissions that need fixing or adding to Apple TV. For me, the next step is games. It’s time for Apple to take gaming seriously, more than it ever has before.

Apple failed with the Pippin in the 90s, but now there’s a great opportunity. The Apple TV can sit beside other gaming consoles in the living room and let you play Death Stranding, and soon, Resident Evil 2 in the best quality. Make it happen Apple.

Google is working on a sequel to its popular Chromecast with Google TV dongle, and its brand new ‘Google TV Streamer’ just leaked with a design that will have Apple fans mourning for AirPower all over again. 

It’s been revealed this week that Google is dropping the discrete dongle in favor of a front-and-center streaming box. But rather than adopt the small black box form factor of the Apple TV 4K or rivals like Roku, Google appears to have opted for a much lower-profile white number that looks more like a charging pad or wireless router. 

Images shared by 9to5Google reveal “a set-top/table-top design that has a slanted, pill-shaped surface.”

Google’s Apple TV challenge 

The leaked images reveal a rounded remote with a similar makeup to Apple’s own Apple TV remote, replete with a D-Pad and buttons for back, home, microphone, and volume. The remote is a bit more comprehensive than Apple’s offering, however, with dedicated shortcut buttons for YouTube and Netflix. 

The design of the streamer itself is interesting, its reduced height would make it ideal for position underneath a TV where headroom might be more limited. Conversely, it looks like it will take up a lot more real estate because of how wide it is. Apple fans of recent years will note the striking similarity to Apple’s canceled AirPower project, the company’s unreleased charging mat first unveiled in 2018. 

This is purely a design leak at this stage, so gleaning any kind of specs or functionality is pretty much impossible at this stage. Given the current Chromecast with Google TV only costs 29 bucks, it’s likely this more comprehensive offering is going to be a bit more expensive. However, it seems unlikely it will challenge the premium price tag of Apple’s $130 Apple TV 4K. 

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Severance season two, Apple TV Plus’ most anticipated project to date, seems set to be the most expensive too, and Apple needs the Ben Stiller-directed thriller to cut costs for future seasons. 

As reported by Bloomberg, the second season of the show has “ballooned to more than $20 million an episode, making it one of the most expensive projects on TV.” As well as the second season being delayed by writing strikes in Hollywood, Apple paid Beau Willimon, the showrunner of the first four seasons of House of Cards, millions of dollars to contribute towards the show. 

For context on that $20 million figure, Breaking Bad cost around $3 million per episode when it aired, and the final season of Game of Thrones was projected to cost $15 million an episode. Competitor Netflix’s biggest upcoming project, Stranger Things, reportedly costs a whopping $30 million per episode, but Netflix has a significantly larger subscriber base.

What does this mean for Severance season three? 

Also reported by Bloomberg, “The company is now in the middle of discussions about future seasons of Severance. Apple can’t wait to make more of the show, but management has a request for Stiller and the show’s studio, Fifth Season. They need to bring down the cost.” With Apple demanding the show’s operating costs come down by the third season, we may not see it if spending isn’t reined in. 

Severance is a psychological thriller about workers who have part of their brain “severed” to be able to do highly secretive work during the day and live their lives without that knowledge outside of it. Set mostly in office cubicles, it has plenty of strange effects and dramatic setpieces to cut the tension from the relative normalcy of a day job. 

Severance season two is set to begin airing on January 17, 2025, with episodes dropping weekly until its conclusion on March 21, 2025. Airing three years since the release of season one, season two is set to be one of Apple TV Plus’ biggest releases of next year. Fans of the show, however, hopefully won't have as long to wait for the third season, if it goes ahead, considering Apple’s mega spend.

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Apple Music Classical has been out for a while now and has been a bit hit for anyone with an Apple Music subscription and a passion for classical music. The standalone music app organizes classical music and offers a more targeted search much better than the regular Apple Music app.

While you can find your music much easier with the Apple Music Classical app, what if you want to follow the most popular classical music out right now? That's where a top charts playlist comes into play and, up until today, the world didn't really have such a thing. Apple is looking to change that.

In a press release, the company announced the Classical Top 100, the world's first global Top 100 weekly chart for classical music. Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, said “Apple Music Classical has been a huge hit with classical fans around the world. With the launch of Apple Classical Top 100 and the recently announced new partnerships, the app is transforming the world of classical.”

Get ready for some hot tracks

The first number-one album on the Apple Classical Top 100 album is Bach: Keyboard Concertos with Chinese pianist Tianqi Du and the Academy of St Martins in the Fields conducted by Jonathan Bloxham. In a statement, Du said “I’m deeply honored for my latest album to be top of the first Apple Classical 100 chart. These concertos are a vibrant showcase of Bach’s energy and spirit, bursting with emotional richness and expressive depth. I am sincerely grateful for the fantastic platform Apple Music Classical provides, helping us musicians connect with classical music lovers globally.”

You can check out the Classical Top 100 chart playlist on Apple Music Classical here. If you haven't downloaded the Apple Music Classical app yet, you can grab it from the App Store. 

You will need a subscription to Apple Music to get access to the music in the app. Apple Music currently costs $10.99 per month for an individual, $5.99 per month for a student, and $16.99 per month for a family. It's also part of every tier of Apple One, the company's subscription bundle service.

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There are DACs at the heart of almost every single piece of technology that you own around the house, apart from perhaps your fridge or your toaster. Even then, you might have one of those smart fridges or toasters that makes different, snazzy noises at you while your morning croissant bakes, or the lettuce is about to go out of date — in which case, a DAC really is in every piece of technology around you.

They’re relatively simple devices in concept, but they become extremely complicated when you start looking into how they work. Ostensibly, a DAC lives and dies by its ability to convert a digital sound signal (the kind that Spotify or Apple Music pumps out — they’re coming from a circuit board rather than a tape, after all) into an analog one that your headphones can run through some speakers in your ears. Music.

Not all DACs are created equal, of course — and according to Headphonesty, Apple has just revolutionized DAC technology to improve the musical sound quality of its best iPhones and more.

What does it all mean?

The Headphonesty report goes deep into the technical details of the new DAC technology, and if you’re even remotely interested in how your sound equipment works and why this new Apple development is so revolutionary and cool, you should give the whole thing a read multiple times. There’s a lot of technical information in there, so I’ll do my best to put it in simple terms here.

In essence, it’s about the process inside the DAC which converts the audio from digital to analog. Currently, a DAC will use a series of different cells to process the audio, with some doing more work to adapt the signal than others. That can result in more distortion to the final conversion, something that those who are interested in super high-quality audio aren’t the biggest fans of.

Apple’s new DAC patent uses what's called a ‘fractal layout’, which will distribute the conversion over different cells, with each one doing an equal job. That will iron out distortion and leave you with a better-converted track in the long run.

What does it mean for your music and your ear holes? Your music is going to sound clearer, your iPhone is going to be capable of much higher audio quality, and Apple devices are potentially going to be some of the best-sounding devices around. This is a hardware change and will live inside your Apple devices from your iPhone, your MacBook, your iPad, or even your Apple-made USB-C cables that you’ll buy at some point in the future. As for when we’ll actually see it in our devices? As with all patents, they are more a statement of potential rather than a guaranteed appearance, although we’re hopeful we’ll see the technology in our iPhones at some point down the line, but don't expect it in iPhone 16. 

If you’re interested in getting really into the weeds about the new technology then you should take a read of the patent itself — it’s a monster, however, so get comfy.

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After spending billions of dollars on original programming, Apple TV Plus is finally looking to cut back on production costs — and Netflix might be its biggest inspiration. 

A new Bloomberg report has revealed that Apple has spent more than $20 billion on its original Apple TV content, but a lack of cut-through with viewers is making the company rethink its strategy. In regards to its TV lineup, Apple spent more than $500 million on “movies from directors Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Matthew Vaughn” alone. Then, even its biggest shows like Severance and Foundation went over budget thanks to unforeseen circumstances. Despite this, and getting 72 Emmy nominations recently, “Few Apple shows have broken through to the wider public.”

A very Netflix problem

Netflix has a much bigger list of titles than Apple TV Plus, and tends to commission more expensive shows and movies. However, I find it much harder to commit to a Netflix TV show than the best shows on Apple TV Plus. This is because Netflix has picked up a reputation for canceling any show that isn’t a smash hit. In the last few years alone, Netflix has canceled popular shows like The OA, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Midnight Club, Glow, Mindhunter, Tuca & Bertie, and so much more. 

The Bloomberg report continues, noting that Apple “is trying to pay less upfront for shows and is quicker to cancel ones that aren’t working.” Data shows that 100% of Apple TV shows got a third season in 2019, with that number plummeting to 22% by 2021. Futhermore, the average length for a show on Apple TV Plus in 2019 was 3.67 seasons, and this dropped to just 2 in 2021. 

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about Apple TV Plus shows is how adventurous they can get. I recently started watching Sunny, a black comedy about a wife who is sent a very helpful robot after the mysterious disappearance of her husband and child, and I’ve been enjoying its tone and atmosphere quite a lot. I have some issues with pacing so far but I’m invested in watching it every week. Though the first episode is charming, I would never have continued watching if it was a Netflix show, as I’m too used to knowing that it could be canceled at any moment. Netflix shows often aren’t allowed to mature into the shows they could be and I hope Apple doesn’t learn the wrong things from Netflix’s business model. 

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• Apple TV Plus: The ultimate guide
• Slow Horses is so good that it alone justifies paying for Apple TV Plus

Headphones are a tricky thing to get right, particularly when they’re wireless. There are a bunch of different things to perfect, like sound quality, comfort, weight, features, and more — a balancing act that not every manufacturer is particularly good at. If you’re Sonos, then, entering a crowded space with your first pair of headphones, what do you focus on?

Where other headphone brands have emphasized the music ability of their headphones, Sonos has done something different — it’s a unit that feels designed more for at-home use than anything else. That’s not to say there’s no effort put into their out-and-about qualities, far from it, but there’s a sense that these are headphones that want to squeeze into an existing Sonos system rather than working completely on their own.

But has Sonos managed it? Are they the best headphones you can buy, or are there still elements that the brand needs to work on before they really take the headphones world by storm? We’ve been spending the last couple of weeks getting into the nitty gritty with the Sonos Ace headphones, and now we have a clear picture of the kind of product that Sonos has produced — and whether they’re a must-buy, a solid choice, or one to avoid.

Price and availability

The Sonos Ace are available now, for $449/£449, at most places where you can buy headphones. That means Best Buy, Amazon, and more — where you can buy headphones, you’ll likely find a pair of Sonos Ace. Remember, however, that to get the most out of the Ace you’ll need to add in a Sonos Arc sound bar. If you’ve already got one, then you’ll be completely fine, the Ace will just seamlessly slip into your use case.

If you haven’t got one, however, then you’re going to need to factor in picking up one of those — and that’s another $899 on top of what is already a fairly expensive pair of headphones. Of course, you don’t need the Arc to have a good time with the Sonos Ace, but if you want to use the headline feature then it’s a must-have — for now.

Broadly, the Sonos Ace are priced fairly competitively to their rivals. They’re more than the equivalent Sonys, the WH-1000XM5, but around $100 less than the AirPods Max. Again, this is not a cheap pair of headphones, but a higher price was to be expected by something that wants to go up against the very best. Whether they’re worth that price, however, remains to be seen.

Build and fit

From a typical Sonos cardboard box, formed of multiple layers and environmentally friendly paper tape-sealed sections, comes a remarkably solid hard case. It feels good in the hand — sturdy, and hardwearing. It’s made out of environmentally friendly material, which does come with its own strengths and weaknesses. For one, it lends the case a kind of felt covering, more fibrous than the fabric you’ll normally find adorning headphone cases. It’s more akin to the case that comes with the extremely premium Master & Dynamic MH75, for better or for worse.

See, the black color that my headphones have come in has, initially, a premium feeling and look, but the moment it gets a chance to go near dust, or other assorted household muck, it loses its slick noir luster, taking on a mottled grey hue instead. Given that this case will not exist in a vacuum, and presumably be tossed into many a backpack (of which the contents can not be guaranteed to be immaculate), it’s a disappointment to what could otherwise be one of the best cases in the business.

The case is compact, around the same size as the case that my older WH-1000XM4 came in (the XM5’s case grew significantly), and crucially, it’s very slim. Packing it into a bag, despite its ability to take on a layer of grime, is a great deal easier than other cases in my collection, and it’s stiff enough that it feels like it could take some punishment on the road. It’s set out nicely on the inside as well. The headphones fit perfectly in place, the earcups swiveled down, and then a small, removable, purse-like oval holds the charging and headphone jack cable. It squeezes open, which lends a kind of ‘those edges are going to squeeze their way open around the whole thing at some point’, but until then it's a compact and convenient way to store the cables you need.

As for the quality of the headphones themselves, Sonos has done a great job at making a confidence-inspiring pair of headphones. The materials used to build the headphones are top-notch, from the stainless steel of the expanding headband to the leatherette that covers the earcups and plush headband. The plastic of the earcups is top-notch, although the black color is susceptible to greasy fingerprints — easily wiped off, but ugly when you’re using the headphones out of the house. There’s a white option if you’d rather something less inky, and potentially less likely to show off greasy fingerprints.

Overall, the Sonos Ace feel like a well-put-together, solid-feeling pair of wireless headphones. The sliding earcup adjustments are smooth and stiff, so they’re not going to start sagging on you over time. There are no significant wobbles that make you question their longevity, and all of the buttons have positive and quiet action. As a headset, the Ace are up there with the very best — as you’d hope, given the lofty price tag.

As for the fit, they are close to being pitch-perfect. The light weight makes you forget them once they’re on, and the plush headband and earcups feel fantastic — for most people. Clamping force is good too, not pushing on your head too much while retaining a secure fit. They pass the headbang test with flying colors, that’s for sure. But what do I mean when I say ‘for most people’?

Now, this is going to sound like a very niche complaint (mostly because it is) but if you’re like me and you’ve got a cartilage piercing on your upper ear on either side, there’s a likelihood that they’ll start to cause discomfort after a while. It’s not something I’ve experienced with other headphones either, which is why it’s worth bringing up here — and I’m not entirely sure why it happens. It could be because the opening in the earcups isn’t quite big enough for my ears, and the thinnest part of the cups are pressing my ears into the harder plastic surface below — on the side where there’s no piercing, no problem. On the side where there is, however, owch. For most people? Not a problem. For people like me? Something to consider before dropping $449 on a pair.

Features

As with most wireless headphones that you can pick up from a big manufacturer in 2024, they are packed to the gunnel with features. From noise canceling to a dedicated home cinema mode, Sonos is hoping to pull you in with not only features you’ll find elsewhere but completely unique ones as well — making for an interesting set of headphones indeed.

Let’s start with the simple features, the ones that don’t take much explanation. First up — physical controls! And in this case, some of the best buttons I’ve ever seen on a pair of headphones. Where the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5 rely on inaccurate, irritating touch controls, the Ace opt for simpler physical controls. They’re better even than the dial button combo on the AirPods Max, and feel well thought-through and ergonomic. 

There are two buttons — one on the bottom of the left earcup which turns the headphones on and off and activates pairing mode. On the right earcup, you’ll find the second button which controls the noise control modes, and conjures your voice assistant. Then there’s what Sonos calls the ‘Content Key’ — a sliding switch thing that presses in. Up and down on the toggle change the volume, pressing once pauses the music, and pressing twice or three times skips forwards and backward respectively. All work well, and are placed in helpful, natural spots.

The noise canceling triggered by the button is fine. It’s not as good as Sony’s or Apple’s that’s for sure — but it’s going to do ok at blocking out the sound of the commute, or your busy office space. Louder sounds make their way through though, and there aren’t any hybrid modes to keep things interesting. Instead, you get ‘noise canceling on’, ‘noise canceling off’, and ‘aware mode’. The latter isn’t going to read your surroundings and decide how much canceling you need, rather it uses the microphones to pump the sound into your ears so that you can hear what’s going on around you. It’s all the same modes as the AirPods Max, but given that Sony and other brands have more noise adjustable noise canceling you would have thought Sonos would have done the same.

The Sonos also have wear detection, so they’ll pause your tunes when you pop them on and off. It works really well, and doesn’t get confused when I do my ‘someone's talking to me’ one earcup on one earcup off thing. That doesn’t turn them off mind you — you’re going to need to press and hold the power button, rather than just popping them back in the case as you might with the AirPods Max.

So far, the Sonos Max seem like a fairly run-of-the-mill pair of headphones. Battery life is similarly as expected — 30 hours of listening while noise canceling is on. That’s more than the AirPods Max, by the way, although there is a four-year difference between the two. There are headphones out there now that exceed that 30-hour promise with gusto, however, so if you’re after the best battery life possible there are other options that might fit your wants and needs better than the Sonos offering. Charging comes through a USB-C port on the bottom of the left earcup, and you can hook that port up to a headphone jack with an included (hear that Apple?) USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack. That will also up the bit rate of tunes (if it's available in your app of choice) so that you can listen to hi-res lossless audio.

There’s Spatial Audio on board as well, and it’s really, really good. It works with Apple Music, and Amazon Music Unlimted. My experience with the former has been nothing short of transformative — it’s generally a feature I leave off for headphones listening, but the Sonos Ace have me searching out tracks so that I can hear their Spatial Dolby Atmos mix and get the full ‘I’m in the recording studio with James Hetfield’ effect. Perhaps it's down to Sonos’ experience making surround systems for the home, but the Ace are far and away the best Spatial Audio I’ve ever experienced. You can place every instrument with pinpoint accuracy, and get immersed in the audio more than you might have thought possible. It’s epic.

Dynamic head-tracking is here as well, and while part of me says it feels like a gimmick, it is fun. It also works better than most examples I’ve used before, however, with a smooth transition around your head that’s much better than the jerky experience that tends to come with head-tracked Spatial Audio.

Now, I’d like to say that experience extends over to the home cinema portion of the headphones — but until I get to try it, I can’t say for sure. The idea is to hook the Ace up to a Sonos Arc soundbar, and then listen to all the audio from your TV through your headphones. It’s how Sonos wants’ the headphones to fit into a Sonos system, given that they aren’t able to strap a WiFi antenna and gubbins into a pair of headphones yet. Now, it seems easy to use, but again, once I’ve tried it out I’ll be able to report back properly.

It would be remiss of me not to mention Sonos’ app here as well — it’s never been perfect, but after a recent update many users complain about some features not working, and some being outright missing. Since the initial update, there have been a plethora of fixes, and I’ve been lucky enough to not suffer from the same issues as others. It’s worth noting going in, however, and reports are so widespread that it’s a ‘when I suffer from the issues’ rather than ‘will I suffer from the issues’. I should also say that you shouldn’t let the app put you off the headphones — the issues at hand have affected the speaker lines rather than the Ace so far.

Sound Quality

Now, you can have the most impressively featured headphones around, but if they don’t sound any good then they’re not going to be worth picking up. Thankfully, you needn’t worry about the Sonos Ace — they sound great. There’s a breadth to the sound that manages to dwarf the bassy WH-1000XM5, and a solid soundstage even when not using spatial audio. The mids are well-rounded and placed perfectly, and the highs are pin-sharp. It must be said that they’re a very bass-forward presenting headphone, but in the long run, you’re not going to mind as some deceptively rumbly sub-bass shakes your skull to your favorite tracks. It’s not particularly dynamic, with a fairly consistent noise ceiling that has a habit of flattening out sections of music, but that’s something you can say about most of their rivals. Overall, it’s a stellar performance that shows Sonos has put a great deal of work into how they sound.

Aespa’s Supernova hits in all right ways, that slick bass synth plowing through the mix like a freight train with grease on the tracks. It sounds huge, emphasized by the solid Spatial Audio mix. The girls are perfectly placed with the soundstage, and the synth stabs throughout are threatening and powerful. The Sonos Ace excel when given the chance to flex their bass drivers like this, giving you buckets and buckets of sub and mid-bass to really hit their point home.

Devin Townsend’s Addicted goes all the way to eleven, and the Ace are more than happy to oblige. Hevvy Devvy’s guitar tone is already known for being monstrous, but the Sonos Ace kick it up a notch and make it indomitable. The kick drum hits hard and fast, while the more delicate parts of the track don’t get lost in the cacophony. It’s 5 minutes of heavy, and the Sonos are some of the best around for the sound. 

Finally, Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra play the main theme of Howl’s Moving Castle with a Merry-go-round of life. The piano in the beginning is delicate and well-placed, and the orchestral build-up to the triumphant mid-way point is engaging and exciting. It’s fun, and while perhaps not as dynamic as some classical listeners might like, it’s a great way to listen to one of the best pieces of movie music around.

Competition

If you’re looking for a pair of headphones like the Sonos Ace, then you’ll very quickly notice that you’re spoilt for choice. For one, there are the AirPods Max, which while old, bring the sound quality, noise canceling, and top-quality build (bar the case) for $549. If you absolutely must have everything Apple, then you’re probably already popping a pair of these in your basket, the four-year date on their release schedule not bothering you and your Apple-filled house. If, however, you’re looking for something that gives you something different and even does some things better (like sound quality, case quality, and controls) for less money, then the Sonos Ace are a great alternative.

Then there’s the likes of the less expensive Sony WH1000XM5. They’re bassy headphones that won’t sound as good as the Sonos Ace, but they will block out more noise on the train or while you’re walking to work. They’re comfortable too, and they won’t hurt the ears of those with cartilage piercings. What they, lack, however, is something that only the Sonos Ace can provide.

If you own a Sonos Arc, then the Sonos Ace should almost be a no-brainer. They connect up to your sound bar, and let you listen to your movies with surround sound without the need to bother the neighbors when you want to watch Dune 2 at max volume at 3 in the morning. It’s really the killer feature of the headphones, and, by the looks of things, it’ll be coming to Sonos’ smaller soundbars later this year. Where the Sonos Ace make a compelling case musically as to why you should grab a pair over their competition, it’s really the surround sound movies and TV that really hammer home the kind of people that should be considering grabbing a pair.

You should buy the Sonos Ace if…

You own a Sonos Arc soundbar

If you buy the Sonos Ace and don’t have access to the Arc soundbar, then you’re almost getting half a product. They’re still good without the soundbar, but you’ll always feel like you’re missing out

You want the best Spatial Audio

The head-tracked Spatial Audio is some of the best around, with plenty of depth, and crucially lacking in over-processed sound as some are.

You want something different

Sonos is a newcomer to the headphone market, and with that comes a certain degree of exclusivity. They look cool, sound good, and connect effortlessly — and look different to most of the competition.

You should not buy the Sonos Ace if…

You have a piercing in your upper ear

Take it from me — it can get sore.

You want the best noise canceling around

The noise canceling isn’t rubbish, but there are better options out there if you want something that will block out every single outside noise.

Verdict

Judging the Sonos Ace completely on their own, they are an excellent pair of headphones with a great feature set that more than justifies their slightly higher price than some of their closest rivals. They’re comfortable, good-looking, and present some great sound thanks, most likely, to Sonos’ audio wizards who continue to know exactly how to dial in a piece of sound equipment.

Things become trickier when you stack them up against the competition, but even then there’s a compelling reason to pick them up — albeit one that's exclusive to current Sonos Arc users. Overall, the Ace should be on your list if you’re looking for some solid over-ear headphones, but you should consider what you find most important before taking the plunge.

A new report says that Apple is in talks with major Hollywood studios over the prospect of licensing existing movies to Apple TV Plus in order to boost the company's big-screen offerings. 

Apple has enjoyed riotous success with TV shows like Ted Lasso, Severance, Slow Horses, Silo, The Morning Show, and more, and recently scored 72 Emmy nominations. However, Apple's movie offering doesn't boast the same popular sway. While it has scooped an Oscar with CODA and vast acclaim with Killers of the Flower Moon, there have been a few misses too, notably Napoleon and the beleaguered Argylle. 

To that end, a new report says that Apple could be about to bring existing titles to the services, building on a successful experiment from earlier this year. 

More movies coming to Apple TV Plus

Bloomberg reports that Apple "is having discussions about licensing more films from major Hollywood studios as it looks to bolster its Apple TV+ streaming service." Apple has reportedly spoken to "several of the largest studios about acquiring more programming from their libraries to offer customers both in the US and abroad." 

Apple has clung onto an almost exclusively original offering since it launched Apple TV Plus, but has dabbled with movies from other Hollywood studios. It licensed titles including The Godfather, Dunkirk, and more for a limited time earlier this year. 

According to Bloomberg, "That experiment went well enough that Apple has gone back to many studios for more, either to license those titles internationally or to add more." 

It could mean more popular movie titles on Apple TV Plus, including offerings for subscribers outside the U.S. According to the report, it's a move "Hollywood studios have been waiting for," with studios seeking licensing agreements in order to boost revenue in the face of subscriber slowdowns. 

If it plays out, we could see more popular big-screen titles make their way to Apple TV Plus, although there's no word on a time frame, or any further specifics of the deal at this stage. 

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We're getting into Emmy season, so it is time to find out how Apple TV+ is doing. The answer is...pretty darn well.

In a press release, Apple announced that Apple TV+ has landed a record-breaking 72 Emmy nominations for this year's awards show across 16 of the company's TV shows and movies.

“It has been an immensely rewarding morning to witness so many talented artists recognized with Emmy nominations across such an extraordinary number of categories,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “Everyone at Apple is profoundly appreciative to the Television Academy, and we send our congratulations to all of the nominees.”

“We are so thankful to the Television Academy for honoring our storytellers with a record number of Emmy nominations today,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “The artistry of these creative teams and casts has deeply resonated with global audiences, and we couldn’t be happier for all of the nominees.”

Here's the full list of Emmy nominations for Apple TV+

To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have now earned 2,262 award nominations and won those awards 499 times. So, what's contained in the latest 72 nominations for this year's Emmy awards? Here's the full list:

• Outstanding Drama Series 
  • The Morning Show 
  • Slow Horses 
• Outstanding Comedy Series 
  • Palm Royale
• Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
  •  Lessons in Chemistry
• Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 
  • STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces 
  • Girls State
• Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special 
  • The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy
• Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series 
  • Carpool Karaoke: The Series
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 
  • Jennifer Aniston - The Morning Show 
  • Reese Witherspoon - The Morning Show 
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 
  • Gary Oldman - Slow Horses 
  • Idris Elba - Hijack 
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 
  • Kristen Wiig - Palm Royale 
  • Maya Rudolph - Loot 
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Brie Larson - Lessons in Chemistry
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 
  • Billy Crudup - The Morning Show 
  • Jon Hamm - The Morning Show 
  • Mark Duplass - The Morning Show 
  • Jack Lowden - Slow Horses 
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 
  • Greta Lee - The Morning Show 
  • Holland Taylor - The Morning Show 
  • Karen Pittman - The Morning Show 
  • Nicole Beharie - The Morning Show 
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 
  • Carol Burnett - Palm Royale
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Aja Naomi King - Lessons in Chemistry 
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Lewis Pullman - Lessons in Chemistry 
• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series 
  • Marcia Gay Harden - The Morning Show 
• Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series 
  • Jonathan Pryce - Slow Horses 
• Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series 
  • Mimi Leder for The Morning Show - The Overview Effect 
  • Saul Metzstein for Slow Horses - Strange Games 
• Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Millicent Shelton for Lessons In Chemistry - Poirot
• Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program 
  • Morgan Neville for STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces 
  • Amanda McBain and Jesse Moss for Girls State 
• Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series 
  • Will Smith for Slow Horses - Negotiating With Tigers 
• Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program 
  • Alan Connor, David Reilly and Christine Rose for The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy - Scotland: My Mother’s Country 
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Zachary Galler for Lessons in Chemistry - Little Miss Hastings 
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program 
  • Laura Hudock, Laela Kilbourn, Daniel Carter, Erynn Patrick Lamont, Keri Oberly, Thorsten Thielow and Martina Radwan for Girls State
• Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) 
  • Jimmy Lindsey for Physical - Like A Rocket 
  • Richard Rutkowski for Sugar - Starry Eyed 
• Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More) 
  • Nelson Coates, Thomas Wilkins and Lauree Martell for The Morning Show - The Kármán Line
• Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) 
  • Jon Carlos, Mark Taylor, Amelia Brooke and Ellen Reede for Palm Royale - Maxine’s Like A Dellacorte 
• Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special 
  • Misty Buckley, Laura Woodroffe and Richard Olivieri for Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas
• Outstanding Main Title Design 
  • Hazel Baird, Rob Cawdery, Ben Jones and Phil Davies for Lessons in Chemistry 
  • Ronnie Koff, Rob Slychuk, Nader Husseini and Lexi Gunvaldson for Palm Royale 
  • Patrick Clair, Raoul Marks and Lance Slaton for Silo 
• Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series 
  • Karen Muller Serreau, Catherine Boisgontier and Emmanuelle Pertus for The New Look - What A Day This Has Been 
  • Alix Friedberg, Carolyn Dessert, Leigh Bell, Lindsay Newton and Valerie Keiser for Palm Royale - Maxine Throws A Party 
• Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Mirren Gordon-Crozier, Jen Kennedy and Kelli Hagen for Lessons in Chemistry - Little Miss Hastings
• Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling 
  • Nicole Venables, Jennifer Petrovich, Janine Thompson and Lona Vigi for The Morning Show - The Kármán Line 
• Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling 
  • Karen Bartek, Brittany Madrigal, Cyndra Dunn, Tiffany Bloom, Frida Aradottir and Jill Crosby for Palm Royale - Maxine Rolls The Dice 
• Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) 
  • Cindy Williams, Liz Villamarin, Angela Levin, Tracey Levy, Keiko Wedding and Amy Schmiederer for The Morning Show - Strict Scrutiny 
• Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) 
  • Tricia Sawyer, Marissa Lafayette, Kenny Niederbaumer, Marie DelPrete, Simone Siegl and Marja Webster for Palm Royale - Pilot
• Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming 
  • Brooke Lipton for Palm Royale - Routines: The Rhumba / Maxine's Entrance 
  • Jennifer Hamilton for Physical - Routines: Jean Franc’s Advanced Aerobics Class / Figure 8’s Commercial / Xanadu & Dreams 
• Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Original Dramatic Score) 
  • Carlos Rafael Rivera for Lessons in Chemistry - Book Of Calvin 
• Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) 
  • Jeff Toyne for Palm Royale - Maxine Saves A Cat 
  • Atli Örvarsson for Silo - Freedom Day 
  • Daniel Pemberton and Toydrum for Slow Horses - Strange Games 
• Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music 
  • Carlos Rafael Rivera for Lessons in Chemistry 
  • Blake Neely for Masters of the Air 
  • Jeff Toyne for Palm Royale
• Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series 
  • Zsófia Tálas for Slow Horses - Footprints 
• Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program 
  • Alan Lowe for STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces - Then 
• Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Jack Whittaker, Michael Minkler, Jeff Sawyer, Luke Gibleon, Dave McMoyler, Michael Hertlein, Michele Perrone, Jim Brookshire, Bryan Parker, Zach Goheen, Paul B. Knox, Adam Kopald, Angela Claverie, Dylan Wilhoit and Jeff Wilhoit for Masters of the Air - Part Five 
• Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program 
  • Bob Edwards, Kim B. Christensen and Joel Raabe for STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces 
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 
  • Michael Minkler, Duncan McRae, Tim Fraser, and Thor Fienberg for Masters of the Air - Part Five
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program 
  • Pete Horner, Dennis Hamlin, Barry London and Emily Strong for STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces 
• Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series 
  • Victoria Thomas for The Morning Show 
  • Nina Gold for Slow Horses
• Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special 
  • Chuck Crampton, Lincoln Abraham, Charlie Bryan, Mark Cruickshank, Paul Davis, Alex Dodd, Curtis Dunne, Guiseppe Ingrao, Lewis Mutongwizo, Andre Seraille, Jeremy Mackie, Joseph Hallgate, Jon Kassell and Simon Wood for Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas
• Outstanding Commercial 
  • Album Cover - Apple iPhone 15 
  • Fuzzy Feelings - Apple - iPhone + Mac
    
    

There's really only one way to make your music loud when you're out and about, whether you want to play some tunes at a picnic or start an impromptu rave at the park, a Bluetooth speaker is your best bet. There are some great options out there as well, which will make your music sound great no matter where you are. I've tested all the speakers on the list so I can personally vouch for their quality — and thanks to Prime Day, they are all a whole lot more affordable.

Where to find the best Bluetooth speaker deals this Prime Day

• Amazon — Save hundreds of dollars on Audio gear

Incredible Bluetooth speaker savings

Headphones are always the bread and butter when you're looking to listen to music on the go. Sure, you can buy yourself a Bluetooth speaker and annoy everyone around, or, heaven forbid, you could use the speaker on your phone if you want all your fellow bus passengers to glance briefly at your phone and then the open window next to you, but a pair of headphones is the only way that you're going to get your own little audio world to yourself.

What's even better than that? A luxury world of your own, courtesy of Bang & Olufsen. Made of super premium materials and pumping out some stellar audio, they're easily some of the fanciest headphones you can get beyond dipping your AirPods in molten 24crt gold. You'll also find two of the company's top models in the Prime Day sales, so you can get some very, very nice headphones for a whole lot less.

While I spend most of my audio listening time wrapped up in leather padded open backs or in front of calibrated stereo pairs, I have an immense soft spot for the kind of Bluetooth speaker that doesn't cost the earth and that pumps out about as much bass as is humanly possible. One of my favorite speakers in this vein is the Soundcore Boom 2 — and you can currently get one for $40 off in the Amazon Prime Day sale.

The speaker wasn't expensive to begin with — after all, I called it "big budget bass" in my review — but now it's even more affordable, coming in at just $89. That's an excellent price for a great little speaker, and makes for a super slick deal this Prime Day.

Party Hard

• Smart speaker deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon

If you're looking for a small speaker that won't break the bank but packs in loads of cool features, then the Boom 2 could be just what you're looking for. It's covered with LED lights that flash to whatever you play through it, and it goes much louder than you'd expect from just looking at. At this price, well under $100, you're getting a very solid speaker for an epic price. If you're about to head off to university for the next term, this is the speaker you're after.

I make no secret about my love of headphones. I like ones that sit on your head and let all the noise out (deliberately), so that the soundstage is wider and so that everyone around me can hear what horrifically unsuitable piece of grim death metal I'm pumping into my earholes. I like the kind that jam directly into my lugs, their little silicon ear tips sealing even more unsuitable crushingly heavy tunes. I even like the ones that sit in between, not letting too much noise out, but not restricting how much of the outside noise I can hear. Look, I just really like headphones, ok?

To that end, I've tested a lot of headphones. I own a lot of headphones — and I know what you should be looking out for when you're looking to spend some money on a pair. Over Prime Day, there are some great opportunities to pick up some new headphones — whether you want in-ear ones, open-back ones (although, sadly, there are none on this list), or wireless over-ears.

Prime Day headphone deals

• Headphone deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell

In 2024 one of the best and easiest ways to enjoy Apple TV is with a great smart TV. Whether you want a great panel to watch the latest and greatest on Apple TV Plus, or you want the perfect companion to an Apple TV 4K, the right TV can make all the difference when it comes to your viewing experience. 

Our top pick for the best TV for Apple TV is the Samsung S90C, but lurking in our guide is an even greater pick, the S95C, our "best premium" pick. This is the all-singing, all-dancing model with no holds barred, for whom money is no object and those who want the optimum viewing experience. 

At its list price of $3,297, it's a tough sell. But right now the Amazon Prime Day sale could see you score one from just $1,797. 

• Deals: Walmart | Samsung | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg  

The best TV for Apple TV - a premium pick

The Samsung S95C boasts 8.3 million self-illuminating pixels in its OLED panel. It has Samsung's Infinity One Design, so it's incredibly thin and slender, a real eye-catcher with a unique cable management system. Samsung's Quantum HDR OLED+ tech means shows like Foundation and Severance will really pop during viewing, and there's a Neural Quantum Processor to power upscaling when you're not watching 4K. It also features built-in Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+. It also features 120Hz refresh rates for use with a current-gen console. 

Naturally, there's plenty of HDMI and USB ports to connect your Apple TV. If you want to save even more, you can also bag the 55-inch version for just $1,497, but the discount is much less significant, making the 65-inch the best value by far. 

They might not have the ubiquitous white shells of their Apple stablemates, but the Beats line of headphones is just as instantly memorable thanks to their eye catching colors and slick designs. They all present as solid alternatives to the AirPods line as well, with loads of different options depending on what you're looking for out of a pair of headphones.

Now, over Prime Day, it's just become a whole lot easier to get your hands on a pair as a large portion of the range is reduced in price dramatically. In one case, there's a price that takes them under half price, and makes for the most solid purchase case we've ever seen. From the Studio Pro to the Studio Buds, there are plenty of reasons to buy a pair of Beats — and they just became a whole lot easier to recommend.

• Headphone deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell

The Beats

• Tammy's top pick: Beats Studio Pro | $349 $169 at Amazon

The AirPods

While all the Beats have been reduced, so too have the entire line of Apple's AirPods line. They offer a different look and feel to the Beats headphones, going for a more subdued look and with less emphasis on the lower end of the sound spectrum. 

• Tammy's top pick: AirPods Pro 2 | $249 $169 at Amazon

Apple has announced that it has added four new Apple Music Classical partners to its growing collection, bringing more music from famous venues, opera companies, and orchestras to the service.

In a press release provided to iMore, Apple confirmed that the four new partners will join the existing 35 with Aspen Music Festival, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Verbier Festival now part of the mix.

The move means that Apple Music Classical fans can look forward to exclusive playlists related to the new partners' programming within a dedicated space within Apple Music.

(More) music to your ears

Existing Apple Music Classical’s partners include Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Opéra national de Paris, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Seoul Arts Center, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Suntory Hall, and the Vienna Philharmonic.

As for the new content that classical music fans can expect, Apple says that "the Aspen Music Festival, celebrating its 75th anniversary season this year, will present curated playlists of its artists alongside exclusive recordings from the Festival." The Hong Kong Philharmonic also provides "three exclusive spatial audio remasters of Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony conducted by Vasily Petrenko, and Respighi’s Pines of Rome and Sibelius’s Seventh Symphony both conducted by Lio Kuokman."

The partnership with Verbier Festival also brings new and exclusive commentary from Mischa Maisky about his latest release on VF Gold and more.

Apple Music Classical is available to all Apple Music subscribers at no extra cost and is available via its own dedicated app, available from the App Store.

More from iMore

• I've been using Apple Music Classical as a dedicated soundtrack app but it has its problems
• Surprise hit Apple Music Classical takes top spot in App Store charts
• Android users get Apple Music Classical before iPad and Mac users

Iconic survival crafting game Minecraft turned 15 years old this year and Apple is celebrating with a special edition of its newly released Beat Solo 4 line. Though the headphones aren’t made of bricks, they look pretty great and pay homage to the game’s classic block style. 

In our Beats Solo 4 review, we said “The 2024 Beats Solo 4 is an excellent upgrade over the Solo 3 and finishes what began with the Solo Pro, minus ANC”. This new edition has no hardware upgrades, but it sure does look nice. 

How do they look?

The headphones themselves are black with green blocks all over the frame and the recognizable “creeper” face plastered just above the “b” logo Beats fans know and love. Having spent much of the last fifteen years seeing quite a lot of gauche knockoff Minecraft merch walking down streets, it’s refreshing to see a pair of headphones that are almost sleek in design. They have just enough Minecraft to be recognizable and not so much to be overpowering. 

There’s even more to this collaboration than the headphones. Incredibly popular pop band Imagine Dragons has lent their song “Wake Up” to a short animated film intended to celebrate the crossover. This takes viewers through a Minecraft world that erupts in sound from the headphones, only for a city to form and a dragon to come crashing through. It’s a cool visualization of the power of sound and YouTuber TinaKitten will even be curating a Spatial audio playlist, which will be available exclusively on Apple Music. 

You can buy your own pair of Minecraft Beats Solo 4 headphones as of July 18 for $199 and it will come with a unique code for a skin you can redeem and play in Minecraft itself. Minecraft is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac right now so make sure to connect the Solo 4 next time you play. 

If you're looking for a new way to listen to music and don't necessarily want to commit to Beats, there are some great Prime Day AirPods deals this year.

More from iMore

• Beats Solo 4: Made for Apple Lossless
• How to clean Beats Solo3 headphones
• Beats Solo Pro review: Five-star sound with a few flaws