Latest news with #DavidCarnoy
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
The Best-Sounding Sony Bluetooth Speaker I've Tested Is Still $80 Off
If you were to ask me what my favorite new portable Bluetooth speaker of 2025 is so far, I'd have to say Sony's ULT Field 5 speaker. When it launched back in April, I called it one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers I've tested in its size class. However, it cost $330, which is pretty pricey, though I suspected we'd see it discounted in due time. Well, that time is now, as the speaker is currently on sale for $250 or $80 off its list price (it was initially discounted ahead of Memorial Day, but it remains on sale post holiday). Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2025 In fact, a few other Sony Bluetooth speakers are on sale for good prices, including the new ULT Field 3 ($150 or $50 off) and the compact ULT Field 1 ($88 or $42 off). They're all good portable speakers, but the ULT Field 5 has the best sound of the bunch and is arguably the best overall. ULT is short for ultimate or, as Sony says, "The ultimate step into the evolution of its portable audio products." Power represents "dynamic sound pressure and deep bass." Sound translates to "as if you were in the front row at a concert." Enlarge Image The Sony ULT Field 5 (left) compared to the ULT Field 3 (right). Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET In the past, I thought Sony's Bluetooth speakers were decent enough but not great. However, with the ULT series, Sony's significantly improved the sound quality of its Bluetooth speakers. I also like the new designs of the ULT Field 3 and ULT Field 5, which can stand vertically or lay horizontally. Both speakers are fully waterproof, dust-proof, and rust-proof, with an IP67 certification. Both include a new removable shoulder strap, which I ended up using more with the heftier ULT Field 5 than the lighter ULT Field 3. The ULT Field 5 weights 7.27 pounds while the ULT Field 3 weighs 2.65 pounds -- a big difference. (Read my hands-on first take review of both speakers). Enlarge Image The ULT Field 5 with its removable shoulder strap attached. David Carnoy/CNET The ULT Field 3 delivers more bass and volume than you'd expect, given its relatively compact size (and it offers better clarity and bass performance than its predecessor, the SRS-XE300). But the ULT Field 5's soundstage is noticeably wider and the speaker plays louder with noticeably fuller, richer sound. It also has built-in party lighting with a USB-C charge in-out port so the speaker can be used as a power bank to charge your devices. Battery life is rated at up to 25 hours at moderate volume levels or 10 hours with the party lighting activated. Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2025 Don't expect real stereo separation from either the ULT Field 5 or ULT Field 3. To get true stereo separation, you'll need to link two of them together, creating a stereo pair (Sony has made it easier to link its ULT speakers in both Party Connect mode and stereo mode). Of course, not everybody can afford one of these speakers, let alone two, but it helps that they're now on sale. ULT Field 5 key specs
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
These Noise-Canceling Earbuds Do Everything I Need, and They're a Fraction of the Cost of Apple's AirPods 4
I enjoy reading books on my Kindle, and my favorite place to do so is stretched out on a couch in my living room. But like most busy households, my living room can get pretty loud. And since I don't really want to yell at everyone to keep it down so Daddy can enjoy his stories, the best solution I've found is to wear noise-canceling earbuds while reading. I'll wear them in combination with playing white noise or nature sounds -- my current favorite playlist is 10 hours of Thunderstorm Sounds on shuffle -- to maximize the effect. I like using my over-ear Sony headphones for work, but they're bulky, so I started looking for an affordable pair of earbuds that offer decent noise cancellation. That's how I ended up buying the Earfun Air Pro 4s, CNET's 2024 Editors' Choice for affordable in-ear headphones. In short, they're great, and the black ones cost just $63 on Amazon right now a 21% discount. (The white ones are also on sale at $72, a 20% discount. While the glossy white, royal blue and violet headphones are not on sale.) Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. How these earbuds silence the noise around you I prefer in-ear headphones because they offer active, electronic and passive noise canceling. Passive noise cancellation basically consists of plugging your ears with the rubbery tips included with the earbuds. The Earfuns fit well for me when I use the second-largest of the five swappable ear tip sizes, and they stay sealed and comfortable for hours. Sometimes I have to reseal one after I yawn or something, but that's the case with other in-ear headphones too. David Carnoy/CNET For reading, I prefer Earfun's "Strong ANC" noise-canceling mode, which makes a big difference when blocking out the noise around you, but there are a bunch of other noise-cancellation options. The Ambient Sound function is good for when I want to pay attention to my surroundings. Overall I found the app easier to use than Sony's and just as capable. The main difference is that Sony's app has a variable slider for ambient sound. The Earfun app also includes a white noise section in the app. Normally I prefer Spotify for white noise (and I download my favorite playlists for offline listening) but this feature is useful for people who don't have another music service. It includes birdsong, waves and rainfall, all of which are short clips that repeat automatically. Why I chose these earbuds over AirPods These headphones have every other feature I'd expect, including the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously and programmable touch-sensitive controls on the buds. Plus, battery life has been more than ample for me even after a marathon reading session. Here's how the noise-canceling options for the headphones appear on an iPhone. Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET There's also a finder function if you misplace either earbud (unlike Apple FindMy, however, they have to be connected and in Bluetooth range). For actual music and voice calling quality, they sound fine, albeit not as good as my big Sonys. I have an iPhone and briefly thought about buying Apple AirPods, but I didn't want to spend the money. The AirPods 4 with noise cancellation cost $115 more than these Earfuns and have an open-ear design, so they rely entirely on the electronic (not passive) method. The AirPods Pro 2 are in-ear and superb, but I didn't want to spend $250 on a pair of secondary headphones. Yes, I could probably save some money on an even less expensive pair of in-ear noise-canceling headphones, but I'm not sure I'd be as happy with their fit, long-term comfort, battery life and noise-cancellation performance. The Earfun Pro 4 buds help me relax and concentrate on my book, and for me that's priceless. For more savings, we've rounded up all the the best deals on headphones we've found. And if you're getting a head-start on gift shopping for a new grad or Mother's Day, check out our list of the best graduation gifts and best gifts for Mom.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Last-Minute Memorial Day Deal: AirPods 4 Are Back to Their Lowest Price of 2025
Time is running out to take advantage of last-minute Memorial Day deals, and you definitely won't want to miss this one. Amazon has dropped the price of the AirPods 4 (ANC) wireless earbuds back to the 2025's best price of just $149. This saves you $30, and you don't even have to enter any codes or clip any coupons. The catch? We can't promise that this deal will stick around for much longer. This is the latest generation of Apple's earbuds. The Apple AirPods 4 have the same H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2, so you can expect great sound quality. They also rock a more compact design with this new generation and offer excellent voice-calling performance. Spatial audio support also adds a touch of personalization. This is the ANC (active noise cancellation) model of these earbuds. It comes with a wireless charging case and a speaker that can help you find them using Apple's Find My tracking service. "With a slightly smaller design, improved sound and Apple's powerful H2 chip features, the Apple AirPods 4 are a worthy upgrade," said CNET audio expert David Carnoy in his AirPods 4 review. "But what really makes them special is the noise canceling in the step-up ANC model." Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. What's the competition like? You can find out by reading through the best Memorial day deals on headphones and speakers, where we've rounded up all the latest and greatest prices from the likes of Apple, Sony, Beats and many more big names -- but lingering deals are disappearing quickly, so act soon. Watch this: AirPods 4 Review: Noise Canceling Changes the Game 10:41 Why this deal matters Apple deals are generally rare, and stock tends to run out before the deal window closes. Combine that with AirPods 4 being Apple's latest AirPods and this discount being the year's all-time low price -- you have a nice offer in your hands.
CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This Memorial Day Deal Brings AirPods 4 With ANC Back Down to Its Lowest Price of the Year
It's Memorial Day and that means some of the best products are on sale right now with massive discounts. As part of its Memorial Day sale, Amazon has dropped the price of the AirPods 4 (ANC) wireless earbuds back to the 2025-best price of just $149. This saves you $30 on the latest AirPods model and you don't have to redeem any discount codes or clip any coupons. However, keep in mind that the prices keep fluctuating, so act fast and grab it before the deal runs out. This is the latest generation of Apple's earbuds. The Apple AirPods 4 get the same H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro 2, so you can expect great sound quality. They also rock a more compact design with this new generation and offer excellent voice-calling performance. Spatial audio support also adds a touch of personalization. This is the ANC (active noise cancellation) model of these earbuds, which comes with a wireless charging case and a speaker that can help you find them using Apple's Find My tracking service. "With a slightly smaller design, improved sound and Apple's powerful H2 chip features, the Apple AirPods 4 are a worthy upgrade," said CNET audio expert David Carnoy in his AirPods 4 review. "But what really makes them special is the noise canceling in the step-up ANC model." Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. What's the competition like? You can find out by reading through the best Memorial day deals on headphones and speakers, where we've rounded up all the latest and greatest prices from the likes of Apple, Sony, Beats and many more big names. Watch this: AirPods 4 Review: Noise Canceling Changes the Game 10:41 Why this deal matters Apple deals are generally rare, and stock tends to run out faster than the deal window. Combine that with AirPods 4 being Apple's latest AirPods and this discount being 2025's all-time low price -- you have quite a nice deal in your hands.
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
My Favorite New Sony Bluetooth Speaker Is $80 Off For Memorial Day
If you were to ask me what my favorite new portable Bluetooth speaker of 2025 is so far, I'd have to say Sony's ULT Field 5 speaker. When it launched back in April, I called it one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers I've tested in its size class. However, it cost $330, which is pretty pricey, though I suspected we'd see it discounted in due time. Well, that time is now, as the speaker is on sale for $250 or $80 off its list price for Memorial Day. Read more: Best Memorial Day 2025 Deals In fact, a few other Sony Bluetooth speakers are on sale for good prices, including the new ULT Field 3 ($150 or $50 off) and the very compact ULT Field 1 ($88 or $42 off). They're all very good portable speakers, but the ULT Field 5 has the best sound of the bunch and is arguably the best overall. As a reminder, ULT is short for ultimate or, as Sony says, "The ultimate step into the evolution of its portable audio products." Power represents "dynamic sound pressure and deep bass." Sound translates to "as if you were in the front row at a concert." Enlarge Image The Sony ULT Field 5 (left) compared to the ULT Field 3 (right). Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET In the past, I thought Sony's Bluetooth speakers were decent enough but not great. However, with the ULT series, Sony's significantly improved the sound quality of its Bluetooth speakers. I also like the new designs of the ULT Field 3 and ULT Field 5, which can stand vertically or lay horizontally. Both speakers are fully waterproof, dust-proof, and rust-proof, with an IP67 certification. Both include a new removable shoulder strap, which I ended up using more with the heftier ULT Field 5 than the lighter ULT Field 3. The ULT Field 5 weights 7.27 pounds while the ULT Field 3 weighs 2.65 pounds -- a big difference. (Read my hands-on first take review of both speakers). Enlarge Image The ULT Field 5 with its removable shoulder strap installed. David Carnoy/CNET The ULT Field 3 delivers more bass and volume than you'd expect, given its relatively compact size (and it offers better clarity and bass performance than its predecessor, the SRS-XE300). But the ULT Field 5's soundstage is noticeably wider and the speaker plays louder with noticeably fuller, richer sound. It also has built-in party lighting with a USB-C charge in/out port so the speaker can be used as a power bank to charge your devices (battery life is rated at up to 25 hours at moderate volume levels or 10 hours with the party lighting activated). Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2025 Don't expect real stereo separation from either the ULT Field 5 or ULT Field 3. To get true stereo separation, you'll need to link two of them together, creating a stereo pair (Sony has made it easier to link its ULT speakers in both Party Connect mode and stereo mode). Of course, not everybody can afford one of these speakers, let alone two, but it helps that they're now on sale. ULT Field 5 key specs
