Luxury brands and consumer electronics don't tend to be a good mix, largely due to the luxury brands either not caring or not being knowledgeable enough about the product they're making. Montblanc has taken a very different route with its new MTB 03 ANC earbuds, as the company has cooperated with Axel Grell, who used to work for Sennheiser before setting up his own brand of audio products. In all fairness, Montblanc did a similar team-up for its MTB 01 headphones where they worked with the founder of Audeze. The MTB 03's feature 7 mm beryllium drivers and are built around a Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.2 chipset which Montblanc is leveraging by adding aptX Adaptive support.

Furthermore, Montblanc has added support for Mimi Hearing Technologies sound personalisation software, on top of the tuning provided by Axel Grell. Sadly these luxury buds aren't without shortcomings, as the battery life is said to be good for only six hours of listening time, with another two full charges in the charging case. That's far less than most competing products on the market today. The charging case can be charged wirelessly or via USB-C and a 15 minute charge of the earbuds is said to be good enough for 100 minutes of playback time, while a full charge takes 90 minutes. For those still interested, a pair of the MTB 03's will set you back £345 or around US$439, although that price includes 20 percent VAT.

soundcore, Anker Innovations' premium audio brand, today began shipping the soundcore Liberty 4 NC Earbuds through Amazon and soundcore.com. The Liberty 4 NC features a new Adaptive ANC 2.0 algorithm and enhanced ANC system to improve blocking noise in all of life's noisy environments. The Liberty 4 NC ensures optimal noise cancelling capabilities and quality entertainment experiences for travelers as well as daily commuters.

"Over the past few years, soundcore has strived to bring a powerful audio experience to our earbuds in our Liberty line, however, want to continue to make improvements in the noise cancelling system," said William Wei, GM of soundcore's Headphone division. "We want to provide consumers with the quietest experience to block out noisy environments while listening to music, podcasts or even watching content on phones or computers. Our brand new Adaptive ANC 2.0 allows the Liberty 4 NC to analyze and compensate for both noise around the user as well as noise that enters the ear canal."

HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the release of HyperX Cloud Earbuds II gaming earbuds with mic. Offering signature HyperX comfort, the Cloud Earbuds II are designed to offer optimized audio for mobile gaming and feature enhanced ear tip designs in four different sizes to ensure the perfect fit and optimal comfort.

The Cloud Earbuds II feature 14 mm drivers for impressive, high-quality in-game audio and are available in two colorways to match your gaming style: black and red. The earbuds also come with a hard-shell carrying case to safely stow away the earbuds when not in use and keep them handy for quick gaming sessions. Designed for mobile gaming, the Cloud Earbuds II are equipped with a low-profile angled plug to prevent twists and tangles and offer lag-free in-game audio and voice chat. The Cloud Earbuds II also feature a built-in microphone for clear, in-game voice chat and a multi-function button giving gamers the convenient ability to answer calls or pause music easily and quickly.

Denon was a latecomer to the TWS earbud market and its initial offerings didn't exactly take the market with storm, largely due to lacking any headline features. The new PerL and PerL Pro TWS earbuds have plenty of headline features, but are in fact updated and rebranded versions of Nura's NuraTrue Pro TWS earbuds that originated on Kickstarter back in 2022. The reason for this is that Masimo, the company that owns Denon and Bowers & Wilkins, acquired Nura back in April this year. As such, Denon could leverage the work of Nura at the expense of Nura having stopped selling the NuraTrue Pro. That said, this should lead to a broader availability for consumers, which could be seen as a net positive.

The US$349 PerL Pro are more or less the NuraTrue Pro with added support for Masimo's Adaptive Acoustic Technology or AAT for short, as well as the use of the Denon app. We couldn't spot anything else that had changed hardware or feature wise, which means there's still support for adaptive active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. The PerL Pro's are said to last up to 8 hours on a single charge and the case is good for another 32 hours. The non pro version of the PerL gets feature trimmed—but also carries a much lower price point of US$199—and get a more basic ANC, a shorter 6 hour battery life with only 24 hours in the charging case, Bluetooth 5.0, no multipoint support, basic aptX support and no spatial audio support. The only advantage of the non pro version is that each of the rather large earbuds weigh 1.5 g less than the pro version.

HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the HyperX Cirro Buds Pro True Wireless earbuds are now available. The HyperX Cirro Buds Pro are designed to provide an enhanced listening experience with the utmost comfort for gamers and casual listeners. Key features include up to 35 hours of battery life, 8 mm dynamic drivers and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. The new earbuds offer precision noise cancelling with hybrid active noise cancellation technology to ensure clear sound without external interferences.

"The new Cirro Buds Pro are designed with gamers and casual listeners in mind to provide a flexible, immersive and comfortable listening experience for a range of audio needs," said Marcus Hermann, director of PC gaming, HyperX. "As we head into the summer season, the Cirro Buds Pro are now available for gamers to use for a range of gaming and listening needs at home or on the go."

Leaked information suggests that Sony will be announcing its brand new WF-1000XM5 later this week - but an imminent official unveiling has been preempted by renders of these next-generation TWS earbuds appearing online, as well as basic specification details scraped from retail sources. WinFuture.de has published preview product images showing a standard black model as well as a silver set - both units seem to sport a nice mixture of gloss and matte finishes. The Walkman Blog has acquired a very low quality shot of the black variant's buds floating outside of their charging cradle.

The Walkman Blog's Ascariss has managed to glean some WF-1000XM5 info: "The specifications are rather general and nothing specific, pretty much identical to the current model (XM4). The battery life seems to be the same - (if accurate) this would be unfortunate. The table does provide the weight of the earbuds and case, which is 5.9 grams per earbud and 39 grams for the case. This makes the WF-1000XM5 case 2 grams lighter, and each earbud 1.4 grams lighter compared to the WF-1000X4. Apart from that, the table confirms multi-point support." He also proposes that the upcoming earbuds are smaller than the preceding model - with dimensions closer to Sony's recently launched WF-C700N. Ascariss finds this cheaper set much more comfortable for long listening sessions, and easier to fit when compared to the flagship WF-1000X4.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today raised the bar in wireless audio with the ferocious Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed. These cutting-edge earbuds offer unparalleled ultra-low latency audio freedom and versatility across multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation, smartphones, and handhelds like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. With game-changing features such as adjustable active noise cancellation, a fast wireless charging case, and customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting, the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed takes audio freedom to new heights.

"Razer is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in gaming. With the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed, we're not just offering gamers another pair of wireless earbuds, we're answering a call for precision, performance, and cross-platform versatility that's been long echoed in the gaming community," said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer's Hardware Business Unit. "Razer's industry-leading technology and deep understanding of gamers' needs are the driving force behind this innovative solution. It's about enabling gamers to experience their favorite games in a whole new light, with audio quality so immersive and real-time it turns every play session into a truly epic encounter."

Sony has showed off some new accessories for the Playstation 5 during the PlayStation Showcase event and the most interesting one goes under the internal development name of Project Q. The device is pretty much a dual sense wireless controller that has been split in half and each half has been strapped to either side of an 8-inch HD display. Sony didn't go into much in terms of technical details, beyond that Project Q will have built in WiFi for streaming games from the PS5. The display will support 1920 x 1080 resolution at 60 Hz, which is most likely not what most potential buyers were hoping for.

Sony also showed off a pair of new PS5 branded earbuds, which the company says will be compatible not only with the PS5, but also PCs and other mobile devices, courtesy of Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint support. Sony is also promising some new type of wireless technology here which the company claims will deliver lossless audio that is said to deliver outstanding sound quality and low latency audio. Sony didn't reveal when either device will be available, but promised to release more details "soon".

[Editor's note: Updated with a snippet from the official press release below]

Cleer Audio, an industry-leading headphone and smart speaker manufacturer, is pleased to announce its new Arc II Sport Smart Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds with a flexible earhook hinge design. Arc II Sport open-ear earbuds fit passively, without blocking out the sounds around you. They feature a unique earhook and hinge design with an improved shape and added flexibility to improve its fit and comfort.

With today's fast-paced society, it is beneficial to hear your surroundings. This is particularly true when it comes to activities such as running, cycling, long walks, or an intense gym session. The team at Cleer realized the benefits of hearing your surroundings during these activities, as it not only keeps you connected to the world around you, but also is safer.

Beats today announces Beats Studio Buds +, an incredible addition to the Studio Buds lineup delivering balanced sound and enhanced features for both iOS and Android users. Now available in a gorgeous transparent look, Studio Buds + boast major improvements to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency, call performance and battery life to deliver an exceptional true wireless experience. Beats Studio Buds + are available to order starting today in three stunning colors, Black/Gold, Ivory and Transparent, for $169.99 (US).

"As our fastest-selling product ever since its launch, Beats Studio Buds are beloved earphones for so many people around the world and we're thrilled to be taking them to the next level," said Oliver Schusser, Vice President of Beats and Apple Music. "With beautiful new colors to choose from and vast improvements to Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, call performance and battery life, Beats Studio Buds + deliver an unmatched combination of fashion and function for both iOS and Android consumers."

Amazon today introduced a new lineup of Echo products—the all-new Echo Pop, Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 5 Kids, and all-new Echo Buds—offering customers even more choice in how they access Alexa. In addition, Echo Auto is now available to customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

"Customers around the world love Alexa as their trusted, personal AI—they've now purchased well over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices, and use of Alexa increased 35 percent last year," said Rohit Prasad, senior vice president and head scientist for Alexa. "These new devices give customers more options and more utility at incredible value. And as with every Echo device we've shipped, they will only continue to get better as we add even more generative AI powered experiences for Alexa throughout the year."

Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the addition of the WF-C700N truly wireless earbuds, WF-C700N, which are small and lightweight for all day comfort, perfect for those looking for their first pair of truly wireless noise canceling earbuds. In addition, Sony is also announcing the WH-1000XM5 in Midnight Blue, with all of the great noise canceling features of the critically acclaimed WH-1000XM5 in a stylish blue color.

A comfortable fit for on the go
The WF-C700N have been designed with comfort and stability in mind, for an inclusive fit. Sony has designed the WF-C700N by looking at extensive ear shape data collated since it introduced world's first in-ear headphones in 1982, as well as evaluation of the sensitivity of various types of ears. The WF-C700N earbuds combine a shape to perfectly match the human ear with an ergonomic surface design for a more stable fit, so users can wear them longer without needing a break.

Majority, the consumer electronics brand known for its innovative products, is today proud to announce the launch of its latest offering, the Tru 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds, a hands-free solution to audio on the go. Sustainably made, with an additional promise of a tree planted for every pair purchased, the Tru 2 Earbuds are an affordable and environmentally-conscious audio option. The Majority Tru 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds are available for £39.95 on Amazon and the Majority website.

The Tru 2 earbuds feature active noise cancellation that uses advanced technology to eliminate up to 90% of noise from the outside environment and allow users to fully immerse themselves into their music. They detect and analyse the sound pattern of incoming noise and innovatively generate a mirror "anti-noise" signal to cancel it out. Whether used on a bus, aeroplane or even at the office, users may rest assured that their listening sessions will go uninterrupted.

London-based consumer tech brand Nothing has launched Ear (2), a set of true wireless earbuds that celebrates Nothing's iconic transparent design with elite engineering and next-level personalization for the ultimate audio experience.

Ear (2) delivers an authentic sound experience, boasting Hi-Res Audio certification and LHDC 5.0 technology. Users can also create their own Personal Sound Profile by completing a hearing test through the Nothing X app. Ear (2) will then adjust the equaliser settings accordingly in real-time for optimal sound quality. The earbuds feature an 11.6 mm custom driver for deep, powerful bass and crystal-clear highs, and a new dual-chamber design enhances the overall sound quality with smoother airflow. Moreover, Ear (2) features Dual Connection for easy device switching, improved wind-proof and crowd-proof Clear Voice Technology, and Personalised Active Noise Cancellation that adapts to the unique shape of a user's ear canal.

Philips brand licensee TP Vision, has launched updated versions of several of its earphones and headphones, with two new, high-end Fidelio products. The Fidelio L4 is an updated version of last year's L3, that adds a slimmer headband with leather trim, as well as an overall sleeker look. However, maybe more importantly, The L4 appears to have a non Qualcomm Bluetooth chipset, so gone is aptX support, in favour of LC3 and LDAC support. The Bluetooth 5.3 chipset also supports Auracast and Philips seems to be the first company to announce support for the standard. The speaker drivers remain at 40 mm and Philips have further improved the noise cancelling by relocating the microphones. The battery life has also seen an increase, by a whole 12 hours with ANC off and eight hours with it on, for a total of 50 hours with ANC off and 40 hours with it on. Thankfully Philips also dumped the 2.5 mm audio jack in favour of a standard 3.5 mm jack and charging is of course done via USB-C.

Last year's Fidelio T1 wireless IEMs were a bit of a bust, at least based on the fairly negative reviews the earphones, got and this year's T2 model has been given a big design overhaul. The new design is 20 percent smaller than the T1, but it still screams Philips and has an odd retro Bluetooth headset kind of look to it. As with the L4, the T2 is based on a Bluetooth 5.3 capable chipset and supports LC3, LDAC and Auracast. Like the T1, the T2 sports a dynamic driver, as well as a balanced armature driver, although the dynamic driver has shrunk somewhat from 10 to 9.2 mm in size. The T2 sports nine hours of battery life with ANC enabled or 10 hours with it disabled. The charging case adds a further 27 to 30 hours battery life. A full charge taxes two hours, but a five minute top up adds an hour worth of playback time. The T2 are also IPX4 rated, so they should have no issues with a bit of sweat or a light rain shower. No pricing was announced for either model.

Philips brand licensee TP Vision has announced a set of earphones specifically designed to be used while sleeping. The N7808 sleep headphones with Kokoon have been designed specifically to be worn during sleep and the in-ear monitors (IEMs) have been designed to be as unobtrusive and comfortable as possible during sleep. Part of the reason for this, is a very compact body that is only 6 mm thick, which Philips claims is thanks to the use of balanced armature drivers and should be compared to regular earphones that often have a body with a thickness of 20 mm or or more. However, what makes the N7808's really special, is that it also features sensors that monitor your sleep pattern, that will fade out the audio as the wearer falls asleep.

The downside is that many of the sensors are placed in a compartment that rests behind your neck and this is also where the battery and Bluetooth connectivity is located. It doesn't appear to be any kind of ANC built in, as the company only mentions noise isolation. However, the heaphones are said to be inducing "intelligent" white noise that is said to masking sounds that make you wake up. The battery is said to be good for 10 hours of usage, which should be sufficient for most people. The partner app designed together with Kokoon allows the user to monitor their sleep duration, as well as the kind of sleeping state the user has attained and for how long during the night. The SN7808 is currently offered at an introductory price of US$174, with an MSRP of US$249.

An entirely new TWS earbud flagship that combines an industry-first LE Audio technology, the latest Qualcomm chip, Bluetooth 5.3, and low-latency aptX certification in an all-new elegant metallic texture body. Award-winning wireless audio company EarFun will launch their upcoming TWS earbud flagship, the Air Pro 3, making it the world's first ANC wireless earbuds to debut highly-efficient LE-Audio Bluetooth architecture. The Air Pro 3's combination of features, design, and specs puts premium audio and the latest advances in Bluetooth technology into the hands of everyday people who want to focus on their work and elevate their daily soundtrack.

Incredible Sound, Quietly
Adopting next-generation Bluetooth technology, the Air Pro 3 features LE Audio with the new audio codec LC3. This delivers an impressively-low power consumption, but with a significant improvement in sound quality over the common SBC codec during low-battery states. In fact, the bass response becomes guttural, powerful. The sound overall is simply superior. Paired with the QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation system, the Air Pro 3 silences the outside world up to 43dB. In addition, the sound of wind shear is subdued with an Anti-Wind Noise algorithm that works every millisecond.

At the 2023 International CES, Cleer Audio unveiled its the latest version of its pioneering open-ear design headphones, the Arc II. These true-wireless (TWS) earphones are characterized by their open-ear design with flexible hinges. The design allows for a more secure grip around your hear, and enables the use of larger drivers. The Arc II gets 16.2 mm graphene diaphragm drivers for deeper lows. The hinge is utilized to add larger batteries, and on a full charge, the Arc II offers up to 8 hours of playback on their own, and up to 27 hours added by the charge-case. The IPX4 water- and sweat-resistant earphones come with touch-based controls for playback and volume; and can be configured via an iOS or Android app. Body colo options include light gray and black.

Altec Lansing adds a new series to their growing line of true wireless (TWS) earphones with the addition of three brand new models announced today at CES 2023. The HydraBuds, HydraBuds Sport, and HydraBuds ANC will make up the new Altec Lansing HydraBud series, a new line of TWS earphones. The all-new HydraBuds are compact, waterproof and affordable earphones that come in a range of colors. Each model in the HydraBud Series comes with Altec Lansing Helix Wings to keep the earbuds securely in your ears. Each model comes with a charging case that provides 3 extra charges.

"True wireless earphones have become a staple today as we see the market moving away from wired headphones and earphones for something more compact and convenient," said Joe Campos, VP Sales and Marketing at Altec Lansing. "We strive to create products that anticipate demand by our consumers. By providing options, they can pick an earphone that best fits not only their needs, but also their price point."

Today at CES 2023, HP Inc is announcing new products and solutions designed to recharge hybrid experiences so people can thrive in today's digital world. "Hybrid provides us with greater flexibility and freedom in our personal lives, but brings its own set of challenges for people to stay productive and connected to others," said Alex Cho, President, Personal Systems, HP Inc. "HP is taking the headache out of hybrid by delivering powerful and best-in-class ecosystem experiences and industry-leading innovations - including the new HP Dragonfly Pro portfolio for freelancers, the Poly Voyager Free 60 Series Wireless Earbuds for exceptional audio experiences, and the HP E-Series monitors to help take productivity to the next level - while ensuring we continue to advance our world's most sustainable PC portfolio."4

Powering Freelancers with HP Dragonfly Pro
The freelancer community continues to grow exponentially, and by 2027 freelancers will make up more than 50% of the total U.S. workforce. That's why HP is bringing the power of its award-winning Dragonfly brand to freelancers wanting elevated experiences in their hybrid lives. This group of consumers wants technology with the power they need for multitasking and heavy workloads, coupled with built-in support and services for peace of mind.

The JBL TUNE and JBL VIBE Series expands to now include three new true wireless style options - buds, open sticks and closed sticks for consumers looking to get more out of their audio experience with high quality sound and convenient features. For the ultimate listening experience, choose from the variety of ear tip options included in each package and access the JBL Headphone app to learn how to achieve the best seal and fit for all ear types.

"JBL lives at the center of innovation and style, and our new true wireless headphones deliver on both," said Dave Rogers, President, HARMAN Lifestyle Division. "JBL is committed to pushing boundaries in the audio industry with design concepts and products that elevate the user experience through superior audio at an affordable price point."

Jabra, leader in personal sound and office solutions, is showcasing its extensive true wireless range at CES with the latest additions to its Elite, Evolve and Enhance series. Jabra Elite 5 is the newest product to Jabra's flagship Elite line-up, featuring Hybrid ANC and 6-mic call technology for powerful calls and music from anywhere. Jabra Evolve2 Buds, the newest product in Jabra's Evolve series, are earbuds designed for flexible, hybrid and remote working. Jabra Enhance Plus, offered in the new over-the-counter hearing aid category, enables hearing enhancement, music and calls in a miniaturized true wireless form factor.

All three products have been named honorees in the 2023 CES Innovation Awards, with Jabra Elite 5 and Evolve2 Buds as honorees in the personal audio and headphones category and Jabra Enhance Plus as an honoree in the digital health category.

Global technology brand OnePlus is on a mission to provide high-quality audio through its flagship wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Equipped with exciting new features, the upcoming OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are set to deliver a rich and natural sound that is tailor-fit for its users, thanks to its unique partnerships with Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. "Dynaudio has years of experience producing exceptional sound quality," said Kinder Liu, President of OnePlus. "It's a pleasure for us to co-create the Dynaudio, this partnership helps fulfil our goal of bringing an immersive audio experience to our users."

In collaboration with Dynaudio, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 holds the key to unlocking pure harmony. Built into the buds is the MelodyBoost Dual Drivers co-created with Dynaudio, a sophisticated technology derived from premium speakers. This powerful technology is installed and compacted into the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 to produce the same deep thumping bass, sans the rumbling and crisp vocals.

Creative Technology today launched Creative Sensemore Air, its latest high-performance true wireless earbuds which allow users to hear more of their surroundings than ever before, without compromising on audio quality. The new Sensemore technology helps to address the oft-annoying inconvenience associated with earbuds - because they are in-ear and block out much of the aural environment, users tend to remove their earbuds in various everyday situations, for example when starting a conversation. This changes with the Creative Sensemore Air, as users are given full control on the level of environmental sounds they want to hear. With Sensemore Mode, which is 5 times more sensitive than Ambient Mode, users can hear much more of speech, and other environmental elements, which are amplified with higher clarity. As a bonus, when set to a higher intensity, it could even benefit folks with mild hearing deficiencies.

The Ambient Mode can be used when users would like to hear their music well while still being aware of the environment, for example while jogging along a busy street. Conversely, to shut the world out so as to fully immerse in the music, users can rely on the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Mode. The intensity of all 3 modes is fully adjustable through the handy Creative app.

Today Nothing introduced its most advanced audio experience to date, Ear (stick). Featuring up to 29 hours playtime, a 12.6 mm custom driver, and a comfortable half-in ear design, Nothing Ear (stick) delivers powerfully authentic sound with a featherlight feel, for just $99 USD / $149 CAD. "As we're about to cross one million products sold worldwide, I can't wait for people to get their hands on our third product, Ear (stick). It balances comfort while delivering our most advanced sound experience to date. The case is inspired by lipstick silhouettes and features a unique, yet functional, twist opening," said Carl Pei, CEO and Co-founder of Nothing.

A supremely comfortable half in-ear design, Ear (stick) offers users a new choice in the Nothing audio ecosystem, delivered in a unique, compact cylindrical case inspired by cosmetic silhouettes. The earbuds sit less intrusively in the ear canal for a naturally comfortable fit. Ergonomically shaped and tested on over 100 people, Nothing Ear (stick) feels weightless at just 4.4 g per earbud, for effortless all-day wear.