Latest news with #BluetoothLEAudio
Stuff.tv
5 days ago
- Stuff.tv
These earbuds have a 65-hour battery life, but that's not the best thing about them
Some of the most popular wireless earbuds have exceptional battery life these days. Audio Technica's latest buds have some of the best I've seen, clocking in at 65 hours in total. But that's not the best thing about them. I'm seriously impressed by the ability for the earbuds to magnetically snap to each other and switch off to save juice. Even better, you don't need to fiddle around with an app or any fiddly buttons. It means the earbuds don't just become paperweights if you forget to pack the charging case. In fact, it's the first time I've ever seen a feature like this. Read more: Best cheap headphones in 2025 rated and reviewed Now, about that ridiculous battery life. You get 25 hours from the earbuds themselves, and another 40 from the charging case. Even with noise cancelling turned on, they'll still go for 15 hours in-ear and 25 hours from the case. There's also a 5-minute quick charge that gets you 90 minutes of playback. Sound-wise, Audio-Technica is going for a fully fledged experience. The ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds pack in custom-designed 9mm drivers that should excel in low-end grunt, while also keeping things crisp up top. They're also waterproof and dustproof, so will survive just about anything you throw at them. You've got your usual suite of features too: hybrid noise cancelling, adjustable transparency modes, beamforming mic for clear calls, and compatibility with Bluetooth LE Audio and the LC3 codec. You can even go low-latency if you're the sort who games on their phone. Available from 17 June 2025, the Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds will set you back $149/£125/€149. They come in green or black, and you can order them directly.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Denon's Latest AH-C840NCW Wireless Earbuds Are Now Shipping
The new wireless earbuds announced by Denon last month are now shipping so I thought I would tell you a little more about these mid-priced earbuds that go up against Apple's AirPods. Since the announcement, Denon has been sold by its owner Masimo to Harman International, along with its stablemates Marantz and B&W. But it's business as usual at one of Japan's oldest and most venerable audio brands. The new Denon AH-C840NCW are true wireless earbuds with silicone ear tips and adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation for a more immersive listening experience. The noise cancelation is Hybrid ANC which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation using two microphones in each earpiece to monitor sound. The ANC also has a transparency mode that enables users to stay aware of ambient noise if needed. Adaptive hybrid ANC differs from regular Adaptive ANC. With normal Adaptive ANC, the amount of noise cancellation applied is purely based on surrounding sounds. Hybrid ANC combines both feedforward and feed-backward circuitry to capture and cancel noise across a wider range of frequencies. A full charge of the battery inside the storage case can provide up to 35 hours of playtime before a top-up is necessary. A full charge of the earbuds can yield up to 10 hours of listening time before they need to go back in the case. The earbuds also support wireless charging as well as the usual USB-C. That figure depends on volume levels, the audio codec being used and whether ANC is turned on. With ANC turned on, the earbuds deliver up to seven hours of listening time from a single charge, with up to 24 hours of listening on the go using the charging case. A five-minute burst charge can provide about an hour of listening time. These days, most people rely on their earbuds for making phone calls. It's important to have microphones that can pick up the user's voice. To handle this, Denon uses two mics and noise canceling to filter out some of the ambient sound that the mics would normally pick up. This can enhance call clarity in noisy spaces. Currently, Bluetooth technology is going through a transition with many manufacturers of earbuds and other devices moving to the new Bluetooth LE standard. Bluetooth LE Audio is a power-efficient version of Bluetooth that's designed for low-bandwidth, intermittent data transmission, making it suitable for battery-powered devices, wearables and smart home products. Bluetooth LE consumes less energy than Classic Bluetooth by quickly establishing and terminating connections as well as optimizing small data transfers. What's more, Bluetooth LE Audio supports high-quality, low-power audio streaming with audio codecs like LDAC and LC3. The AH-C840NCW earbuds also support Auracast. This is a new Bluetooth technology that can broadcast to multiple earbuds or speakers. For example, a sports bar might have a TV showing a football game but with the sound off. If the TV supports Auracast, anyone with a pair of Auracast-compatible earbuds or headphones can pick up the audio signal from the TV wirelessly and listen to the ball game commentary without disturbing anyone around them. It's a little like the inductive loops used for hearing aid wearers. As well as supporting Auracast, the Denon AH-C840NCW also have multipoint connectivity which means the earbuds can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. One device could be a phone for business calls, while the other could be a tablet showing a movie or a digital audio player streaming Tidal. With multipoint, a user can switch seamlessly between two devices. For example, they might be watching a movie on their iPad when an important business call comes in on their smartphone. One press and the user can seamlessly switch to take the call, automatically pausing the movie until the call is ended. To get the most from these new earbuds, Denon has updated its smartphone app which offers customization of the AH-C840NCW. The Denon Headphones app lets the user adjust sound settings, touch controls, manage ANC levels and apply any future firmware updates for optimal performance. Finally, the earbuds support voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant when connected to a compatible device. They include protection against sweat and water thanks to a waterproof rating of IPX4 which means they are resistant to sweat and water splashes, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities. The Denon AH-C840NCW true wireless earbuds are shipping now from Denon's website and through authorized retailers priced at $159 / £159 / €159.
Android Authority
16-05-2025
- Android Authority
Here's an early look at how One UI 8 is revamping Auracast for easier broadcasts
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is updating the Auracast settings page on Galaxy devices in One UI 8. The redesigned settings page, spotted in a leaked firmware build, features visual and usability improvements. This design update could help familiarize users with the feature and make sharing audio easier with a QR code. Samsung Galaxy devices with Bluetooth LE Audio support have a handy feature called Auracast, which lets you broadcast audio to multiple devices with ease. However, not many Galaxy users are familiar with this feature, as it's buried deep within Bluetooth settings. To address this, Samsung is updating the Auracast settings page in One UI 8 with some visual and usability improvements. SammyGuru has spotted the updated Auracast settings page in a leaked build of One UI 8 and shared the following screenshots. It features a new banner highlighting what the feature does with an illustration and has a more prominent 'Start broadcast' button that follows the new One UI 8 design language. One UI 7 Auracast settings One UI 8 Auracast settings One UI 8's Aurcast settings page also has a more obvious visual indicator for when you're actively broadcasting, a slick new animation, and a large button to stop the broadcast. In addition, Samsung is adding an easier way to help others connect to your broadcast by scanning a QR code. One UI 8 Auracast settings One UI 8 Auracast QR Code The QR code button appears on top of the 'Stop broadcast' button, and opens a new page with a QR code that other users can scan to join a broadcast without entering the password. These changes should familiarize more Galaxy users with the Auracast feature and make it easier to start and join broadcasts. Note that the updated design may not be final since this new Auracast settings page was discovered in a leaked One UI 8 build. Samsung might make further changes before One UI 8 hits the stable channel. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
15-05-2025
- Android Authority
Sony's new flagship headphones automatically use your Pixel's Bluetooth LE Audio
TL;DR Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones will use Bluetooth LE Audio by default on Pixel phones with Android 16, no manual activation needed. This is because Google added them to an LE Audio 'allowlist' after testing, unlike most devices where the feature is experimental. Other devices like Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro & Sony's WF-1000XM5 are also on this list, ensuring automatic LE Audio use. Sony makes some of the best headphones you can buy right now, regardless of whether you're an Android or an Apple user. This week, Sony unveiled the WH-1000XM6, its latest flagship headphones with a significantly faster QN3 processor, improved ANC, superior voice call quality, and other upgrades over its predecessor. Similar to last year's model, the WH-1000XM6 supports LE Audio. However, a small difference is that Pixel phone users will find LE Audio enabled by default, eliminating the need for manual activation. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. With the release of Android 13 in 2022, Google introduced support for Bluetooth LE Audio, a new standard enabling audio streaming over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection. Despite a growing number of LE Audio-compatible products on the market, Android still doesn't utilize this standard by default. Instead, users must manually enable LE Audio for each device by navigating to its Bluetooth details page and toggling the 'LE Audio' option. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The reason LE Audio requires manual activation lies in its 'experimental' status in Android, as indicated in the toggle's description. This means Google cannot assure users that enabling the feature will be entirely bug-free or stable. Additionally, feature parity with traditional Bluetooth Classic isn't guaranteed; for example, Android only introduced support for spatial audio over Bluetooth LE Audio in its 2024 release. However, Android does enable LE Audio by default for a select list of audio products. For these devices, Google has personally tested and verified full LE Audio compatibility, meaning the feature is not considered 'experimental.' Consequently, the 'experimental' tag is absent from their Bluetooth device details page. Initially, this list featured only the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. It later expanded to include the Sony WF-1000XM5 in late June 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in late November 2024. With the latest Android 16 beta, Sony's new WH-1000XM6 headphones also join this list. This means that when connected to a Pixel phone running Android 16, the WH-1000XM6 will automatically use Bluetooth LE Audio by default. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The Bluetooth device details page on a Pixel 9 when the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is connected. Android 16 Beta 4 was released nearly a month ago, meaning the WH-1000XM6 was technically part of Android's LE Audio allowlist even before its official unveiling this week. This isn't particularly surprising, as Sony likely provided Google with pre-release hardware to test the headphones' compatibility with Android features such as LE Audio and Fast Pair. With the WH-1000XM6 now joining this curated list, Pixel phones will automatically use LE Audio by default with the following audio products: SM-R510 (Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro) SM-R630 (Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro) WF-1000XM5 WH-1000XM6 G2 (unknown) AG2 (unknown) For other LE Audio-compatible products not on the official allowlist, users must still manually activate the feature via the Bluetooth device details page. However, a developer option provides a workaround to use LE Audio by default, even if a specific device isn't on Google's pre-approved list. To do this, navigate to Settings > System > Developer options and toggle 'Bypass Bluetooth LE Audio Allowlist.' Once enabled, Android will attempt to use LE Audio with any connected audio product that supports the standard. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
09-05-2025
- Android Authority
How to enable Android 16's Audio Sharing feature on your Pixel
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 will introduce Auracast support for Pixel devices, but it's hidden in the current beta and requires a developer options toggle to enable. This Bluetooth LE Audio feature allows broadcasting or listening to nearby audio streams, benefiting hearing aid users and other compatible devices. Interestingly, this Auracast toggle is also present in the latest Android 15 stable release for capable Pixels, meaning a beta isn't strictly necessary. The upcoming Android 16 update for Pixel devices may not bring any major UI changes, but it will finally introduce a long-awaited feature: Auracast support. Auracast, the marketing name for broadcast audio, is a feature of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard that allows devices to start or listen to nearby audio streams. Although Google announced that Android 16 will bring Auracast support to its latest Pixel devices, the feature is currently missing if you install the beta. Here's how to enable Auracast on your Pixel device running the Android 16 beta. To provide some context, Google announced back in March that Pixel 9 owners could stream Auracast broadcasts directly to their hearing aids. This capability requires the Pixel 9 to be running the Android 16 beta and paired with LE Audio compatible hearing aids. Although Google highlighted Auracast's accessibility benefits, the feature extends beyond hearing aids, supporting any audio device compatible with LE Audio broadcasts. Despite Google's earlier announcement that Auracast would be supported on Pixel 9 devices running the Android 16 beta, the feature isn't actually enabled in the current Android 16 Beta 4 release. After factory resetting and updating my own Pixel 9 to this beta, the 'Audio Sharing' page was nowhere to be found in Settings. While it's unclear why this settings page is hidden by default, I do know how to make it visible. To activate Audio Sharing on your Pixel device, you need to first enable Developer Options. Then, navigate to Settings > System > Developer options and scroll down until you find 'Enable Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast UI preview.' Toggle this setting on, and then reboot your phone. Once your phone boots back up, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences, where you'll find the 'Audio sharing' page. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Left: The "Enable Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast UI preview" in Developer Options. Middle: Android 16's connection preferences once "Enable Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast UI preview" is enabled. Right: The audio sharing page in Android 16. Now, you can start an audio broadcast by connecting an Auracast-compatible headset and toggling the 'share audio' option from this page or the Bluetooth panel. To prevent unwanted listeners from joining your broadcast, you can set a password for it. If you'd rather listen in on a broadcast, tap the 'find an audio stream' button to scan for nearby streams. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Left: When an Auracast-enabled headset is connected, the Bluetooth panel shows a "share audio" button. Middle: The audio sharing settings page when "share audio" is enabled. Right: The dialog that appears when you start an audio stream. If Android doesn't allow you to start or listen to nearby broadcasts even with an Auracast-capable audio product connected, ensure that Bluetooth LE Audio is enabled for that specific device. For many audio products, you might need to manually enable LE Audio through the Bluetooth device details page. Alternatively, you can toggle 'bypass Bluetooth LE Audio Allowlist' in Developer Options to force Android to automatically enable Bluetooth LE Audio for any audio product that supports it. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The Bluetooth device details page on a Pixel 9 when an Auracast-capable headset is connected. Lastly, if you don't see the 'Enable Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast UI preview' toggle in Developer Options, it means your Pixel device doesn't support Auracast. Currently, Auracast is supported on the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. While devices such as the Pixel 7 series, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8a, and Pixel 9a do technically support Bluetooth LE Audio, they don't support Auracast, so this toggle won't appear for them. The Pixel 6 series doesn't support LE Audio at all, meaning it doesn't meet the prerequisites to use Auracast and therefore won't show the toggle either. Interestingly, the 'Enable Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast UI preview' toggle is actually present in the latest Android 15 stable release for Auracast-capable Pixel devices. This means you technically don't need to install the Android 16 beta to use the Audio Sharing feature. Given Google's announcement, you might expect Audio Sharing to be enabled out of the box in the Android 16 beta, but perhaps that will be the case with the upcoming Android 16 stable release. We'll have to wait and see, as Google is expected to roll out the stable Android 16 update next month. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
