Latest news with #speaker
UAE Moments
3 days ago
- UAE Moments
My Honest Take on the Sonos Era 300 (White): Why It's a Must for Every Home
If you're anything like me, sound matters. Not just music, but how it fills your space, how it makes you feel, how it turns an ordinary evening into something a little more alive. That's exactly what the Sonos Era 300 in white has done for me—and I'm here to tell you, without exaggeration, that it's one of the best additions I've made to my home in years. Let me say this upfront: I've tried a lot of speakers. Some boomed, others crackled, and most just… sounded fine. The Sonos Era 300? It doesn't just play music—it transforms how music is experienced. And there's something about the white finish that feels clean, elegant, and timeless. It blends beautifully with my interior—like it belongs, not like it's trying too hard. Unboxing and First Impressions When the box arrived, even the packaging felt premium. Sonos clearly puts care into the first impression, and rightly so. The white Era 300 is a statement piece—it looks modern and sculptural without being over-designed. It has this subtly futuristic design that doesn't scream 'tech,' which I love. Minimal, curved, with smooth lines and a seamless build. The matte white gives it a kind of Scandinavian design vibe—neutral, fresh, and fitting whether you're in a sleek apartment or a cozy family home. I placed it in my living room on a shelf and immediately felt like it elevated the space. That was even before I turned it on. Setting It Up Setup was a breeze. If you're already in the Sonos ecosystem, you'll appreciate how intuitive the app is. But even if you're new to Sonos, the onboarding is smooth and well-guided. Within minutes, the Era 300 was connected to my Wi-Fi, synced with my services, and ready to go. I use Apple Music and Spotify, both of which integrate beautifully. One tap on the app, and it was go time. Spatial Audio = Game Changer Let's talk about what makes the Era 300 truly unique —its support for spatial audio. I didn't really understand the hype until I experienced it. Sonos built this speaker to project sound in every direction, left, right, forward, and up. You literally feel like you're sitting inside the music. It's not a gimmick—it's a different level of listening. When I played 'As It Was' by Harry Styles in Dolby Atmos, I felt like I was in the studio with him. The vocals hovered mid-room, the guitar strummed off to the side, and somehow the drums sounded like they were coming from above. It wasn't just louder or clearer. It was immersive. This is what separates the Era 300 from almost any other wireless speaker in its class. It's not just about volume or bass (though it nails both). It's about depth and dimensionality. I've had friends over who literally stopped mid-conversation to ask what speaker I was using. Room-Filling Sound That Adapts What also impressed me is how the Era 300 automatically adjusts its sound depending on where you place it. I tested this. I moved it closer to a corner—less than ideal placement—and it compensated brilliantly using Sonos's Trueplay technology. The sound remained balanced, natural, and full. No harsh reflections. No muffled tones. Just crystal-clear audio. Whether you're watching a movie, playing classical piano, or blasting electronic beats—the Era 300 handles it all. Voice Control and Connectivity I use Alexa at home, and the Era 300 has built-in voice assistants —Alexa and Sonos Voice Control. This means I can change songs, adjust volume, or play a playlist just by saying a few words. It responds quickly and accurately. For someone like me, who's usually cooking, working, or chasing after kids, that hands-free convenience is a game changer. You can also stream directly via Bluetooth, which wasn't available in older Sonos models. That's huge for guests who want to share music quickly. The inclusion of USB-C line-in also means you can connect a turntable or CD player if you're feeling nostalgic. Why Every Home Needs It Now, why do I believe every home should have the Sonos Era 300? 1. It replaces the need for multiple devices. Before this, I had a Bluetooth speaker in one room, a soundbar in another, and a smart speaker in the kitchen. The Era 300 can hold its own in any of those roles—music, movies, podcasts, background noise, you name it. 2. It brings people together. Music is social. It's emotional. It's about moments. Whether it's background music for a dinner party or a Friday night dance session with my kids, the Era 300 becomes part of the moment. 3. It grows with you. Already thinking about getting another one for stereo pairing. And when paired with a Sonos Arc or Beam and subwoofer, it becomes part of a true home theater setup. This thing is future-proof. 4. It's elegant, inside and out. Let's not ignore the aesthetics. The white color is understated luxury. It complements neutral tones, wooden furniture, minimal or maximalist styles. It's a piece of decor as much as a speaker. 5. It's eco-conscious. Sonos has started to take sustainability seriously. The Era 300 uses recycled materials and is designed to be more energy efficient. That matters to me, and probably to most people trying to be more conscious about their purchases. Final Thoughts & My Recommendation After a few weeks of living with the Sonos Era 300, I don't see myself going back. It's one of those rare devices that quietly upgrades your life in the background. You don't realize how much you need it until you have it. And once you do, you start finding excuses to use it more. Music sounds better. Mornings feel smoother. Dinners are warmer. Even movie nights have an extra layer of magic. If you've been on the fence about upgrading your home audio, stop hesitating. Go for the white Sonos Era 300. It looks stunning, sounds even better, and brings soul back to your space. Trust me—you won't regret it. You can purchase the SONOS Era 300 speakers in White or Black directly from the SONOS website or through various e-commerce platforms. The ERA 300 speaker is priced at AED 2,099.
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Why leaders who collaborate and form communities grow faster
I used to believe that growth was a solo sprint. If I worked hard enough, fast enough, and long enough, I'd get there. However, what I've learned as a speaker, writer, and entrepreneur is that growth is actually shaped and strengthened by the people you work alongside. We often talk about scaling through capital or technology, but sometimes the most powerful accelerator is connection. When I started actively seeking out peer networks—rooms filled with smart, driven people outside my own lane—my strategy changed. My ideas got sharper. My knowledge gaps became visible. My work, especially as a storyteller, felt less like shouting into the void and more like a conversation with people who saw things I didn't. In this article, I'll share what I've learned about peer networks and why every founder, creator, or changemaker should build one with intention. When you're surrounded by people who approach problems from completely different angles, it forces you to reconsider your assumptions and sharpen your ideas. Some of my most significant turning points came from small moments, like a friend in retail helping me rethink user onboarding or a healthcare founder offering a new take on accessibility in digital content. That's the value of range. It doesn't matter if someone is in logistics or live entertainment; when they think differently, they help you do better work. Research backs this up. An MIT study introduced the concept of x-teams, which are agile groups that regularly engage with people who don't share their core function. By engaging with peers outside their domain, these teams became more innovative and adaptable. This drives creativity and outcomes that are more practical and ready for implementation. COLLABORATION BREEDS ACCOUNTABILITY Ideas are one thing; action is another. The biggest hurdle I've seen, especially for solo founders or consultants, isn't a lack of ideas. It's a lack of follow-through. That's why peer accountability can be a powerful motivator. When you share your goals with a group of driven people, you don't just make promises to yourself. You make them to a room full of people watching, cheering, and pushing you to move. Having an accountability partner comes with powerful psychological benefits. It helps individuals stay consistent, motivated, and committed to their goals. This mutual support system creates a sense of responsibility not just to oneself but to someone else, increasing the likelihood of follow-through even during challenging periods. I've seen this play out in mastermind groups where someone will say, 'Did you ever launch that landing page?' or 'You said you were going to pitch that publication. Did you?' These aren't just nudges; they're catalysts. When your peers believe in your potential, it gets harder to hide from it. FEEDBACK LOOPS DRIVE INNOVATION We love to glorify the gut instinct, but even the sharpest instinct benefits from feedback. One of the most overlooked parts of peer networks is the role they play in real-time iteration. I've tested pitches, headlines, and even business models in small rooms before putting them out publicly. Each time, I walked away with sharper, more innovative work. That's because feedback in a safe, intelligent environment helps you fail faster and grow quicker. According to Harvard Business Review, consistent feedback is strongly linked to higher job satisfaction. Constructive feedback, in particular, plays a crucial role by offering clear direction for growth and helping identify areas for improvement. The same principle applies to peer communities, mastermind groups, or even casual founder circles. The best ideas are rarely born in isolation. They're pressure-tested by people who ask, 'Have you thought about it this way?' or 'What if you did less, but better?' Those are the questions that move a good strategy toward greatness. COLLABORATION OUTLIVES THE PROGRAM Some of the most valuable connections I've made didn't come from networking events. They came from programs where people built something together. That's why structured peer groups, like accelerators or leadership collectives, are so powerful. I recently met with Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross, a leadership strategist and founder of SP Grace. When she joined the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, her goal was to strengthen her company's growth strategy. What she left with was far more than a new business plan. In working alongside 29 other founders from vastly different industries, she found a network that became a sounding board, a challenge circle, and, in many ways, a co-pilot team. Their feedback helped her refine her service offering, The College Smarter Method, before launch. It wasn't just the curriculum that shaped her next move. It was the people. She's not alone. A Babson College impact study on the Goldman Sachs program found that 66% of alumni increased revenues within six months of completing the program, and 46% created new jobs. This tells us something important. Business success doesn't live in a vacuum. It's shaped in a community. A FINAL THOUGHT: BUILD YOUR TABLE If there's one lesson I keep returning to, it's this: Build your table before you need it. The peer network that accelerates your next move won't materialize overnight. It takes intentionality—one conversation, one collaboration, and one shared Google Doc at a time. Reach out to people in different sectors. Offer value before you ask for it. Show up consistently, and when you find your people—the ones who challenge you, support you, and help you refine your thinking—invest in those relationships. While tools and tactics change, the human connections that drive business remain.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Andover Audio SpinBase MAX 2: Who Says Sequels Are Boring?
Andover Audio's SpinBase MAX 2 premium turntable speaker system Sequels often get a bad rap. In movies, they are frequently cited as being 'lazy' releases in an attempt to milk the cash cow of the original. However, there are exceptions where the sequel not only equals, but is truly better than the original movie. All of this is a lead up to the SpinBase MAX 2 from Andover Audio. This premium, under-turntable audio system is not just a sequel, but a sequel to a sequel (of sorts). And the SpinBase MAX 2 is one of those sequels that proves improving on the best features of the original can deliver impressive results. A Little SpinBase History Andover Audio made turntable owners very happy with the release of the SpinBase, which I reviewed in 2020. This unique audio system housed multiple drivers (two tweeters and two woofers) in an MDF enclosure just slightly larger than a turntable. The dimensions were no accident since the SpinBase was designed to sit beneath the turntable, saving space while still offering 270-degree sound. It also had a built-in PHONO stage, as well as Bluetooth wireless streaming. And to prevent speaker vibration from reaching the turntable perched above and causing feedback, the SpinBase employed Andover Audio's patented IsoGroove technology. Three years later, I reviewed the SpinBase MAX. This sequel grew an inch taller but featured improvements such as larger woofers (3.5-inches), a power boost to 60W and the ability to also stream to a Bluetooth device, not just from. SpinBase MAX 2 A slightly different top panel, but the SpinBase MAX 2 is instantly recognizable Now we have the SpinBase MAX 2, which I have had connected to a turntable in my test system for the past several months. This latest version looks almost identical to the original SpinBase MAX, but now packs six drivers in that enclosure, gaining an additional pair of 3.5-inch woofers. You'll see big differences compared to the original when you check the back panels. It also gets a significant power boost, with 100W now on tap. Low end frequency response has dropped down to 50Hz. The brick is gone with the power supply now built in to the enclosure. But despite the new capabilities, the SpinBase MAX 2 retains the core of what made the original(s) so popular: a minimalist white or black cloth-covered enclosure with a single knob on front, the perfect size to perch a turntable on, IsoGroove to prevent feedback, a PHONO input, a range of inputs and outputs, adjustable bass and treble and 270-degree audio. SpinBase MAX 2 Specs: Hands On With the SpinBase MAX 2 The SpinBase MAX was already a very good audio system for the price and as you might expect, adding another pair of woofers and more power only improves that situation. In addition, the new optical input makes this system an option for plugging in your TV. Losing the power brick for a built-in power supply is a welcome upgrade that makes this system even more convenient to set up. In terms of how well that 270-degree audio performs–a key factor in choosing a system like this instead of a pair of speakers–here's an anecdote from my experience with the SpinBase MAX 2. Typically, I would start with the basics on a new audio system. However, since I was already quite familiar with the product (having tested both the SpinBase and SpinBase MAX), I decided to kick things off with an advanced configuration utilizing a pair of powered bookshelf speakers connected to the system to extend the sound depth and leverage their larger woofers for a little more bass oomph. The results were what I was hoping for: a wide soundstage with convincing stereo separation and plenty of low end. I listened through three full records until I noticed that I had forgotten to power up the bookshelf speakers. I had been listening to the SpinBase MAX 2 solo the entire time. And that tells you everything you need to know about how well this system performs. SpinBase MAX 2 is designed to make the most of your turntable without requiring additional space Vinyl Fan Who is Short of Space And/Or Funds? Here's a Solution Records continue to be the hottest-selling physical media for music. However, making the most of a record's sound is an investment and also requires physical space. Sure, you can just plug a record player into the AUX of a portable speaker, but the result is going to be disappointing. However, buying the components needed for a stellar setup–an amplifier, a pair of speakers and possibly a PHONO preamp as well–can be a budgetary stretch as well as taking up a lot of space. And that's on top of the turntable, which is neither inexpensive nor compact. Andover Audio's SpinBase MAX2 is designed to address both of those issues. In terms of space savings, you get a multi-speaker system with 270-degree audio and an assortment of inputs and outputs in a single box that fits beneath the turntable. It takes up almost no additional space on a shelf, and Andover Audio's designers have made sure its minimalist design and white or black cloth cover will complement any decor. While the SpinBase MAX2 costs more than most portable Bluetooth speakers, its price is likely to save you money compared to a full component stereo setup as well. The Andover Audio SpinBase MAX2 is available now, with an MSRP of $549. Disclosure: Andover Audio provided a SpinBase MAX 2 for evaluation purposes but had no input into this article.
Phone Arena
18-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Well-liked JBL Flip 6 drops below $80 in a new limited-time deal
JBL Flip 6: Save 38% at Woot! $79 95 $129 95 $50 off (38%) Act fast and get the JBL Flip 6 for just under $80, scoring $50 in savings in the process. The speaker may be compact, but it offers loud sound backed by high durability. It's among the best on the market, so don't miss out! Buy at Woot Granted, the speaker doesn't come with the standard 1-year manufacturer's warranty, which may be a drawback for some. On the flip side, you'll get Woot's 90-day Limited Warranty, so your speaker will still be covered for a few months. Plus, the JBL Flip 6 packs so much value that it's unmissable at its current price on Woot, even without the standard warranty. Receive the latest mobile news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy The JBL Flip 6 may not be a huge speaker, but it delivers impressively powerful sound for its size. And for the times when it's not quite loud enough—like during a big gathering—you can easily fix that by pairing it with another JBL speaker using its PartyBoost feature. It's quite durable, too. With an IP67 rating, it's both dustproof and water-resistant, able to withstand full submersion in up to three feet of water for as long as 30 minutes. On top of that, it offers up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is respectable given its smaller size. Overall, the JBL Flip 6 packs a lot of bang for the buck, especially at just under $80. So, don't wait—take advantage of Woot's limited-time deal now! Granted, the speaker doesn't come with the standard 1-year manufacturer's warranty, which may be a drawback for some. On the flip side, you'll get Woot's 90-day Limited Warranty, so your speaker will still be covered for a few months. Plus, the JBL Flip 6 packs so much value that it's unmissable at its current price on Woot, even without the standard JBL Flip 6 may not be a huge speaker, but it delivers impressively powerful sound for its size. And for the times when it's not quite loud enough—like during a big gathering—you can easily fix that by pairing it with another JBL speaker using its PartyBoost quite durable, too. With an IP67 rating, it's both dustproof and water-resistant, able to withstand full submersion in up to three feet of water for as long as 30 minutes. On top of that, it offers up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is respectable given its smaller the JBL Flip 6 packs a lot of bang for the buck, especially at just under $80. So, don't wait—take advantage of Woot's limited-time deal now! How does snagging one of the best Bluetooth speakers out there for just under $80 sound to you? Probably like a deal you don't want to miss. That's why we strongly encourage you to act fast and grab a brand-new JBL Flip 6 with Woot's latest offer, as you'll likely regret not taking advantage of it if it now, the Amazon-owned retailer is offering a massive 38% discount on this bad boy, slashing $50 off its price. That means you can treat yourself to a unit for just $79.95, down from the speaker's usual price of about $130. Of course, in true Woot fashion, this is a limited-time deal, so acting fast and taking advantage of it now is definitely crucial.
Phone Arena
17-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Loud Marshall Middleton becomes even more irresistible after generous 30% discount on Amazon
Want a great-sounding speaker with an iconic look, compact dimensions, and a price that won't empty your wallet? Well, the Marshall Middleton might be just what you need! Amazon is currently selling it at a sweet 30% discount, cutting $96 off its price. This lets you treat yourself to a unit for south of $224 instead of paying the full cost of about $320. That said, the deal applies only to the model in black, as the one in Cream is available at its regular price. $96 off (30%) Grab the Marshall Middleton on Amazon and save $96. This speaker delivers amazing sound and rugged durability. Plus, it offers up to 20 hours of listening time and can even charge your phone. Save while the offer lasts! Buy at Amazon The Marshall Middleton may be on the smaller side, but that doesn't mean it doesn't pack a punch. As a true Marshall speaker, it delivers loud sound with strong bass and crisp highs. And if you need more power, you can easily pair it to other Middleton speakers via its Stack mode feature. Moreover, it boasts a high IP67 dust and water resistance rating, offering complete protection against dust and allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Battery life is impressive too, with the speaker delivering up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge. The best part? It doubles as a power bank, so you can charge your phone while it plays a melancholic tune during your next walk on the beach. Overall, the Marshall Middleton packs a ton of value and is even more irresistible at $96 off, offering great sound, solid durability, and the ability to charge your phone when needed. So, if it checks all the right boxes for you, don't miss out! Hit the deal button in the article and grab this speaker at a great price before the offer expires! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
