Latest news with #smartSpeaker
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
A Nice $90 Savings Brings the Sonos Era 300 Down to $359, Returning to Its Black Friday Low
Smart speakers can change the game around your home. They add ease and convenience, and the premium models can enhance the sound of your favorite music (and more). But they can be pricey. That's why finding a discount is ideal. Sonos is a brand we love here at CNET, and right now you can save on one of its high-quality wares. The Sonos Era 300 landed a spot on our best smart speakers list because of its outstanding sound quality. It has an incredible 6-driver sound and Dolby Atmos support -- and right now Amazon has slashed the price by $90, bringing it down to $359. That's back to the all-time low price we saw during last year's holiday sales. It has several connections options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB-C. Plus, you can pair it with other Sonos speakers if you choose. The Dolby Atmos accounts for its best-in-class sound and you'll also appreciate the Alexa and AirPlay 2 support. You can also adjust the audio within the Sonos app for a more customized sound. Our main gripe with this speaker was the expense, but this deal helps bring it down to a more affordable price point. If you've been considering a premium smart speaker, this is a pretty stellar deal on this model. Why this deal matters This is the lowest price we've seen in 2025, matching the pricing we saw during holiday sales last year. It's a solid 20% savings and we don't expect it to drop lower any time soon, so now's the time to snag one if you've been considering upgrading to a smart speaker and this Sonos deal falls within your budget.
CNET
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Memorial Day Deal: Get an Amazon Echo Speaker From $25, Plus a Free Smart Bulb
Whether you're looking to get started setting up your new smart home or you just want to add a new smart speaker to your setup, this Memorial Day deal is for you. Act fast and you'll get a new Amazon Echo smart speaker from as little as $25 and get a free smart bulb included for good measure. The Amazon Echo Dot and Echo Pop are included in this offer, and you'll get a free Wiz multicolor bulb included, no matter which you pick. This deal is available to everyone, and all you have to do is add your chosen speaker and the bulb to your cart and check out. The discount will be automatically applied as you work your way through the checkout process. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Echo Dot ($35) and Echo Pop ($25) are small speakers that can be used just about anywhere and come in multiple colors to fit your home's decor. They can both play music and more, and of course, they support Amazon Alexa as well. You can use your new smart speaker to control your new light bulb using nothing more than your voice. The freebie Wiz bulb is a 60-watt A19 model that supports 16 million colors and the option to choose different shades or warm to cool light, so you can get the perfect ambience. Why this deal matters Smart bulbs are a great way to set up a new smart home or expand an existing one, and these discounted smart speakers are a brilliant way to control them. The Echot Dot and Pop don't take up an awful lot of space and are perfect for placing in a kitchen, dining room and just about anywhere else. This deal also helps you avoid potential tariff-related price spikes.
The Verge
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
WiiM's first smart speaker looks like a HomePod for audiophiles
WiiM has announced three new wireless audiophile devices including the brand's first smart speaker called the Sound with a design that looks inspired by the Apple HomePod. The speaker is joined by the company's first sub-woofer called the Sub Pro that pumps out 250W of bass, and the WiiM Amp Ultra, a new amplifier that can stream directly from services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and Pandora. The WiiM Sound features playback controls on the top as well as a 1.8-inch high-res touchscreen on the side that can also be used for navigating playlists and menus, selecting presets, or just displaying album art for whatever's currently playing. Using a four-inch woofer and 'dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters' the Sound delivers 100W of power or more with two of them configured as a left and right stereo pair. Image: WiiM The speaker uses a built-in microphone to measure the acoustics in a room and optimize its sound output for the space, but it can also be customized using a 10-band EQ or one of 24 different preset sound profiles. With Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and an ethernet port, the WiiM Sound can stream from over 20 different music services or from apps on other devices using Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, or Alexa Cast. Hands-free operation is made possible through Alexa, Google Assistant, or an included wireless remote that supports voice commands. WiiM expects the Sound to be available sometime in the third quarter of 2025 through Amazon and 'select retailers,' but says it won't reveal pricing for any of the products it announced today until they launch. If WiiM's smart speaker doesn't deliver enough low-end performance for your ears, it can be paired with the new Sub Pro which features an eight-inch driver and a Class-D amplifier that works in the 25-200Hz frequency range. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, ethernet, and an RCA input for connecting to home theater gear, while the Sub Pro offers the same customizability as the Sound smart speaker with automatic room correction and a 10-band EQ available through WiiM's mobile app. Image: WiiM Wiim calls its new WiiM Amp Ultra its 'most refined streaming amplifier yet.' Featuring a unibody aluminum chassis with a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the front, the amp uses audiophile-grade components including an ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC and can deliver 100W of power per channel to drive up to four passive speakers simultaneously. Dual antennas help ensure fast and stable streaming over a Wi-Fi 6E or Bluetooth 5.3 connection, even while listening to high-res music at 24-bit/192kHz quality. Through the WiiM Home app the WiiM Amp Ultra can stream from several popular services including Spotify and Amazon Music while support for Google Cast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, and Roon facilitates streaming from other apps. The amp also supports voice controls through Alexa, Google Assistant, and its bundled wireless remote, includes an HDMI ARC port with support for Dolby Digital decoding, and has a dedicated subwoofer output so it can be paired with WiiM's new Sub Pro.
The Verge
13-05-2025
- The Verge
Samsung's Music Frame speaker is more of a bargain at 69 percent off
Samsung may not be the first (or perhaps not even the fifth) company that springs to mind when you consider the major players in smart speakers, but it's tough to argue with the appeal of a speaker that's also a mountable frame. Similar to the discontinued Ikea x Sonos Symfonisk, Samsung's Music Frame can play tunes from one of many audio sources, though it's more customizable, letting you slot in up to a 8 x 10-inch physical image (8 x 8 is also an option). It's elegant and capable, like the company's own very popular The Frame TV lineup, and it's 69 percent off right now at Woot. The Music Frame is $124.99 (originally $399.99), and comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty through Woot. This handily beats the previous low price of $195 at Amazon back in March. This multitalented smart speaker can rest upon its included stand or be mounted to your wall. It supports Spotify Connect, Chromecast, Tidal Hi-Fi content, and Apple AirPlay. If you have select Samsung entertainment products, it supports Q-Symphony to serve as an extra channel in your surround sound setup. As an alternative to slotting in a photo, you can customize your own Art Panel via Shutterfly to fit over the Music Frame's 12.9 x 12.9-inch face. Woot limits purchases to three per user, and it's kind of wild to think that buying that many through Woot would still have you saving $25 off the current cost of a single Music Frame via Samsung or Amazon.
CNET
12-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Act Fast to Get an Incredible $275 Off the Samsung Music Frame Smart Speaker
The world of smart speakers keeps getting bigger and better. It also keeps getting more affordable, which is excellent news, and we're all trying to save as much money as we can. In fact, with that in mind, if you can save yourself money on one and it can do more than just play music, then that's even better. Well, the Samsung Smart Speaker is a music frame that can also show off one of your lovely pictures, and you can get it with 69% off at Woot right now. That means it's down to just $125 at the moment, and given that it's normally $400, that's a huge $275 saving. Act fast though, as this deal only lasts until stock is gone. Samsung is behind some of the best smartphones and smartwatches on the market, so it makes sense that they'd excel at devices on other categories as well. The Samsung LS60D Music Frame measures 2.1 by 13.8 by 13.8 inches and weighs approximately 9 pounds. It's meant to be mounted onto a wall, with the image itself measuring 8 by 8 inches. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Samsung LS60D Music Frame supports wireless music streaming via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It provides Dolby Atmos sound for an excellent audio experience. Samsung even quipped the Music Frame with a three-way speaker that lets you enjoy high-quality sound no matter where you are in the room. If you're looking for a new audio gear and aren't sure if this deal is quite for you, check out our list of the best speaker deals. Why this deal matters The Samsung Music Frame offers Dolby Atmos sound and typically costs $400. This Woot deal saves you a massive $275. Amazon Prime members can maximize savings by taking advantage of Woot's free shipping, as Amazon is their parent company.
