The Hear app makes trippy sounds, but it probably won’t help you concentrate

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Hear App
$0 (with in-app purchases)
The Good

A fun • unique listening experience • Filters can be adjusted for maximum customization

The Bad

Didn’t really help cut out distractions • Several audio filters were very unpleasant

The Bottom Line

The Hear app is perfect for a lighthearted and entertaining listening experience. But if your goal is to relax or seriously focus, look elsewhere for help.

👑 Mashable Score
3.75
✨Aesthetic
4.5
💅Easy to use
5.0
🎯Delivers on promise
3.0
💵 Bang for the Buck
4.0

Anyone who’s ever attempted to write for a living (or for fun) knows there’s essentially no such thing as a distraction-free environment. Coffee shops are busy and bustling, offices are full of noisy co-workers, and personal living spaces are packed with potential procrastination options. Read more…

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Roku’s voice-powered wireless speakers and tabletop remote start shipping

In July, Roku unveiled its entry into the voice-powered speaker market, with a pair of Roku TV Wireless Speakers designed to work with the company’s lineup of partner-built smart TVs. Those speakers will now begin to ship to customers starting on Friday, November 16. They’ll also go on sale in advance of Black Friday at […]

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Sony’s new noise-canceling headphones are great traveling companions

I’ll admit that I’ve been caught up in the Bose hype. I’ve worn qBoseSony WH-1000XM3, a pair of wireless/wired cans that truly give everything else I’ve tried a bad name. These $349 headphones come with a USB cable, audio cable, international audio adapter, and a compact case that holds the whole thing in a tight […]

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Soul Electronics Emotion review: Affordable wireless earbuds that sound good

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Soul Electronics Emotion
$39.99
The Good

Well-balanced sound • Bass isn’t overmixed • Easy Bluetooth pairing • Comfortable to wear for long periods of time

The Bad

Slippery case with small indent can make it hard to open • Shorter than expected battery life • Microphone is basically unusable for phone calls

The Bottom Line

The Soul Electronics Emotion wireless earbuds aren’t perfect. But when the price is just $50, it’s easier to look past the negative and enjoy the well-balanced sound.

Mashable Score3.5
Cool Factor3.0
Learning Curve4.0
Performance3.0
Bang for the Buck4.0

Read more…More about Music, Reviews, Review, Sound, and Headphones

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The JBL Eon One Pro is a powered sound system for speakers and performers

As a speaker I often find myself mumbling into a microphone with little thought about the sound system powering it. While most PAs are massive affairs requiring a soundboard operator and lots of wiring, I’ve also had to hoot into portable PAs, a practice I rarely relish. But who was I to judge the quality […]

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Review: The V-Moda Crossfade II Wireless headphones look and sound beautiful

Damn. These are good looking headphones. The V-Moda Crossfade II Wireless could be the best looking headphones available. Better yet, they sound good, too. As the name suggests, this is the second generation of this series of headphones from V-Moda. The drivers are different and the company improved on the build quality. The originals were already […]

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The Sonos Beam is the soundbar evolved

Sonos has always gone its own way. The speaker manufacturer dedicated itself to network-connected speakers before there were home networks and they sold a tablet-like remote control before there were tablets. Their surround sound systems install quickly and run seamlessly. You can buy a few speakers, tap a few buttons, and have 5.1 sound in […]

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Anker’s Spirit earbuds are wireless and waterproof

Anker, a battery maker turned accessory house, recently releases the $39 Spirit X earbuds under their Soundcore brand. Aimed at runners and other heavy sweaters, the earbuds are completely waterproof under the IPX7 rating, a classification that means it can stand up to 1 meter of submersion. What this means is that you get a […]

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Conserve the Sound is an archive of noises from old tape players, projectors, and other dying tech

All of us grew up around tech different from what we have today, and many of us look back on those devices with fondness. But can you recall the exact sound your first Casio keyboard made, or the cadence of a rotary phone’s clicks? Conserve the Sound aims to, well, conserve the sound of gadgets like these so that future generations will know what it sounded like to put a cartridge in the NES.

View More Conserve the Sound is an archive of noises from old tape players, projectors, and other dying tech

Marshall unveils first set of noise cancelling headphones

Marshall makes some of the best sounding and yet affordable headphones on the market and the company today is announcing its first set with active noise cancellation. Called the Marshall Mid ANC, the $269 wireless headphones feature the classic Marshall look but sports Bluetooth aptX wireless tech. Four microphones measure ambient noise and block out […]

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