Latest news with #ImagineDragons'
India Today
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- India Today
Sennheiser HD 505 review: The new superstar in the wired headphones market?
I have a habit to focus more on the beats and rhythm of the music, rather than the lyrics. So, whenever I pick up any headphones, I make sure every thud of the song reaches me. For instance, when I'm looking to boost my energy, I go straight for an upbeat track—regardless of what the lyrics are saying. And in this mission, the Sennheiser HD 505 became my HD 505 Copper edition is Sennheiser's brand-new premium wired headphones – yes, they still exist – in India. Priced at Rs 27,990, these headphones feature an open-back design, which is complemented by a synthetic leather headband for added comfort. They build on the legacy of the HD 500 series and pack a specially engineered 120-ohm transducer that is billed to deliver enhanced audio performance. Sennheiser says the HD 505 are truly special and are particularly geared at audiophiles and gamers. We've put them through the paces and here's what we HD 505: Design and fit Headphones that work perfectly with spectacles are difficult to find. Most of the time, you end up struggling to find the right fit, or worse, get a headache with all the stress. The HD 505 headphones are different. They are very comfortable. The headband is wrapped in soft synthetic leather and has a generous amount of padding. It is built in a way that it doesn't suffocate or feel like an excess burden on extended use. They are surprisingly lightweight too, as long as you don't go comparing with wireless options. Any such comparisons are futile and frankly, unnecessary because these headphones are for a different set of people altogether. advertisement The open-back pads are also very soft and breathable, which is a lifesaver in India's soaking heat. They also compress just enough to keep things comfy even for us glasses-wearers—no awkward pressure on the cushion is not the only detail that gives the Sennheiser HD 505 headphones a premium look, the open back ear cups and the copper detailing contribute greatly. The external design gives the impression that actual speakers have been mounted directly on the outside of the earcups. And the copper detailing is just a cherry on the HD 505: Sound qualityThe headphones are built around Sennheiser's in-house 120-Ohm angled transducers. These drivers are designed to deliver a frequency range from 12Hz to 38.5kHz. The result? A beautifully balanced, rich listening experience with heaps of detail and depth. During the review period, I listened to all songs from mostly all genres, catering to different pitches. Unlike your basic headphones, the Sennheiser HD 505 catch every beat and thud of the song, no matter how mellow the tune is. On the other hand, the loud and deep bass songs echoed in my ear as if I was at a concert. From Ed Sheeran's Sapphire to Imagine Dragons' Believer and Diljit Dosanjh's Ikk Kudi, with HD 505, every song made me tap my feet. Of course, with no noise isolation, you'll want to enjoy them somewhere relatively quiet. But hey, a good pair of wired headphones deserves a good listening if you're planning to pop on the new Sennheiser HD 505 and head to a library, or a caf, think twice. These are open-back headphones, which means two things. First, the music will leak out, audible to anyone within earshot. And second, every bit of outside noise is going to stroll right in. That said, indoors is exactly where the HD 505 shines, which is the point of these headphones anyway. Sennheiser HD 505: VerdictPriced at Rs 27,990 in India, the HD 505 headphones are not exactly what you can call budget-friendly, especially if you're a casual listener just looking for something to pair with your phone on the daily commute. But for audiophiles and studio professionals, they're a solid, reliable pick with all the hallmarks of Sennheiser's engineering finesse. For those who value high-end sound, they offer crisp, detailed, and beautifully balanced acoustics. Their design is both smart and a market for this type of stuff. It doesn't matter how big or small it is. And in that market, these headphones are nothing short of being, a superstar.
India Today
11-06-2025
- India Today
Noise Buds F1 review: Priced at Rs 1,099, these budget-friendly earphones are light and long-lasting
India's budget smart audio market is booming. While previously, you would have to spend a good amount of money to get a decent pair of wireless earphones, now you can get them for as low as Rs 1,000. Case in point: the new Noise Buds F1, a pair of affordable earphones with compact design and powerful 11mm drivers – all for Rs 1,099. advertisementThere is a lot to like about Noise's entry-level showing which, given its low pricing, would seem unbelievable to some. But these earphones are indeed real. So, the question is, as good as they appear on paper, do the Noise Buds F1 also deliver in the real world? We will try and find the answer to this question in this India Today Tech review. Noise F1 Buds: Beautiful and light-weight designBefore we step into the audio performance, it is worth mentioning that the Noise F1 Buds have an eye-catching design. The buds and case combo is light and compact and so, the buds remain mostly comfortable in the ears even on extended use while the charging case they come in slips easily in your pocket. Noise also offers a good selection of colours that should attract many people, particularly the youth. We have the mint green variant, it looks cool and fresh (no pun intended). advertisement The case has other conveniences apart from pocketability. It has a USB Type-C port and an LED pairing indicator, the latter isn't very common even among some of the pricier options so it's nice that Noise thought of that. This LED serves several purposes, indicating low battery, pairing status, charging and lid of the case is quite sturdy for the price and stays put in day-to-day use without much trouble. The buds remain securely in place unless you drop them hard. Having said that, it is prone to smudging easily. Inside, you have the buds and a reset earbuds are also lightweight, so much so that I often forgot I was even wearing them. They come with three sizes of ear tips: small, medium, and large, with the medium tips fitted by default. I found the Noise F1 Buds to be exceptionally comfortable. I was able to wear them for hours without any significant discomfort. The buds also sport touch sensors on the stem area. They work as follows:Single tap on right to increase the volume and same on left to decreaseDouble tap to play and pause the song or videoTriple tap to change the songLong press to switch on the gaming mode (we will come to this in a while)Noise F1 Buds: Decent acoustics, but no ANCadvertisementThe sound quality of the Noise F1 Buds is decent, especially considering their budget-friendly price of Rs 1,099. Equipped with 11mm drivers, the earbuds manage to capture most of the beats and rhythm, but the bass performance leaves you asking for more. Tracks ranging from Imagine Dragons' 'Believer' to Ali Zafar's 'Vo Dekhnay Mein' tend to sound a bit flat, lacking the depth and richness that strong bass usually brings. Hence, if you are looking for a decent TWS and do not care much about immaculate sound – which is what you won't find at this price anyway - the Noise F1 Buds are worth a look. The lack of active noise cancellation is a missed opportunity, but again, it is understandable at this on, the Noise F1 Buds feature a quad-mic system with ENC. Phone calls made through them are good, not life and connectivityNow, the best part about the Noise F1 Buds is their battery life. The company claims that the TWS can run 50 hours on a single charge. At first it seems to be a little far-fetched, but after using the buds I can say that it is close. I used the buds for a week, and I have only charged it once. Specifically, I use the earbuds for at least 6 hours every day, and even longer, say 7 hours, on the weekends. These earbuds are fast and easy to connect to any device. Noise says it uses proprietary technology called HyperSync to pull this off. I tried connecting them to an iPhone and a laptop, and switching was quick and F1 Buds: Should you buy?Priced at Rs 1,099, the Noise F1 Buds offer decent sound quality, impressive battery life, and a comfortable fit. While the audio may feel somewhat flat and the absence of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is sorely missed, compared to other TWS options, they still manage to stand out as a fine choice for everyday use.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds kisses Palestinian flag on stage, sparks firestorm
Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds sparks firestorm after kissing Palestinian flag on stage Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds has ignited a fierce online backlash after kissing a Palestinian flag on stage during the band's May 27 performance in Milan, part of their Loom World Tour. Reynolds, shirtless and visibly emotional, draped himself in the flag during the show's closing moments, waving it before tens of thousands of cheering fans and planting a kiss on it. The act, captured in multiple fan videos, immediately sparked mixed reactions across social media, with some hailing it as a bold statement of solidarity and others condemning it as a political provocation. Outrage and accusations Critics slammed Reynolds' move, accusing the band of aligning with extremism. Brigitte Gabriel, chairman of ACT for America, posted on X, "It looks like the band Imagine Dragons supports terrorism." Other users voiced similar sentiments, interpreting the flag display as a betrayal. "I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, but now it seems they genuinely hate my people. It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth," one pro-Israel fan wrote. One particularly heated post accused the band of hypocrisy for advocating LGBTQ+ rights while allegedly supporting a territory where such rights are not protected, "Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They just called for the deaths of all gay people — and their music career." Support from pro-Palestinian fans Despite the backlash, many fans applauded the gesture. "Very nice to see more people showing support,' one Palestinian X-user wrote. Another viral post described the moment as a 'powerful gesture.' Comedian Matt Lieb chimed in with a tongue-in-cheek comment, 'Omg Radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?' — referencing Thom Yorke's decision to walk off stage after a confrontation with an anti-Israel protestor last year. A complicated history This isn't the first time Imagine Dragons has found itself in the middle of the Israel-Palestine debate. The band previously faced criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for performing in Tel Aviv on August 29, 2023, just weeks before the October 7th Hamas attacks that escalated regional tensions. That same Milan concert also featured Reynolds waving a Ukrainian flag earlier in the evening, adding to the politically symbolic performance.
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Imagine Dragons frontman kisses Palestinian flag at Milan concert sparking social media frenzy
Lead singer of pop-rock band 'Imagine Dragons' kissed the Palestinian flag on stage during a concert in Milan sparking social media controversy amongst fans across the world. A shirtless Dan Reynolds draped himself in the politically-charged pennant while taking his final bows with bandmates on May 27 during the band's Milan stop on their Loom World Tour. The frontman held up the flag to cheering fans — waving it for the tens of thousands of Italian attendees — then kissing the flag in a gesture that drew ire from many on social media. 3 Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds displaying the Palestinian flag. @JimmyJ4thewin/X Advertisement 'It looks like the band 'Imagine Dragons' supports terrorism,' ACT for America Chairman Brigitte Gabriel wrote on X. 'I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, but now it seems they genuinely hate my people. It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth,' one user wrote on X. 3 Reynolds and Imagine Dragons guitarist Dwayne Sermon taking their bows on May 27 equipped with the Palestinian flag. @JimmyJ4thewin/X Advertisement 'Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They're calling for 'gay rights' and 'free Palestine.' Essentially, they just called for the deaths of all gay people — and their music career,' another angry pro-Israel user wrote. Bassist Ben McKee also used the stage to promote a pet cause — displaying a guitar painted like the transgender pride flag which had a heart painted in the style of a gay pride flag on its back, video showed. 3 Reynolds prior to taking his shirt off at the May 27 concert in Milan, Italy. However, many pro-Palestinian fans applauded the band's political stance Advertisement One viral pro-Palestinian post applauded the 'powerful gesture.' A Palestinian X-user wrote, 'Very nice to see more people showing support.' 'Omg Radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?,' Stand-up comedian Matt Lieb wrote in another viral X post, in reference to Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke walking off stage last year when confronted by an anti-Israel protestor. Advertisement Imagine Dragons previously drew the ire of anti-Israel factions by performing in the country. On August 29, 2023, roughly one month before the October 7th Massacre, the American band performed a concert at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv despite calls for them to cancel the show. Earlier in the performance, Reynolds, still without a shirt, paraded around the stage with a Ukrainian flag, video showed.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Suniel and Athiya Shetty applaud KL Rahul's landmark IPL achievement: 'A storm in disguise'
KL Rahul gets praise from Suniel and Athiya Shetty after remarkable IPL hundred. New Delhi: Suniel and Athiya Shetty celebrated KL Rahul's historic IPL achievement. Rahul became the first player to score centuries for three different IPL teams, a feat the Shettys marked with social media posts expressing their pride. Suniel Shetty posted a touching tribute to Rahul on his Instagram Stories, including a photo and a message expressing his feelings, 'A storm in disguise'. Athiya, meanwhile, reposted a tribute shared by Delhi Capitals that read, 'Fifth IPL hundred from the bat of the beast.' She underscored the significance of the moment by including a red heart emoji and using Imagine Dragons' 'Believer' as background music. Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul's relationship, speculated about since 2019, became public in 2021, culminating in a private wedding ceremony in January 2023. A recent display of affection further highlights their strong bond. Athiya and Rahul welcomed a baby girl, Evaarah, in March, sharing the happy news and a photo on Instagram. The couple had announced their pregnancy the previous November. The caption read, 'Our baby girl, our everything. Evaarah Gift of God.' Suniel Shetty expressed his pride and joy at becoming a grandfather, highlighting Athiya Shetty's graceful and strong approach to motherhood. He shared these feelings in an interview with News18 Showsha, while also acknowledging KL Rahul's cricketing successes. 'Athiya has embraced motherhood like a fish to water. She's absolutely fantastic. Every father thinks of their daughters as little babies. I also thought so and wondered if she'll be able to handle motherhood, but she's unbelievable! I keep telling Mana every single day about how proud I'm of Athiya. The way she has adapted to this new life, is going about things and went about her delivery makes me feel so proud. She took everything to her stride,' Suniel shared.
