Earlier this year, we were fortunate enough to visit Shirakawa Audio Works, where Denon and Marantz assemble components tuned to be masterfully musical. We also spent time at the brands’ shared Tokyo headquarters, where we previewed various audio gear, much of which has already been revealed. However, one item in particular caught our attention, and it was still under wraps … until now. The Marantz MCR 60n network audio player (shown above) stood out by being able to fit in.
In a room full of full-size receivers, this streaming amplifier’s 11W x 11.9D x 4.4H footprint drew our attention because it’s tailor-made for those of us with a listening station that doubles as a living space. Even more impressive is how much connectivity it offers in place of a crowded stack of components.
For starters, there’s a front-loading CD player. Because physical media is making a comeback, or so I’m told. With that in mind, there’s also an integrated MM phono stage for vinyl fans. Got another source? There’s one analog and one digital optical in. You can play MP3 / WMA / AAC / DSD / WAV / FLAC / AIFF / ALAC off a rear-facing USB-A. There’s also an HDMI eARC port with Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital Plus decoding if a TV is in the mix.
For those streaming, there’s even more potential. Once on your WiFi (or Ethernet), the 60n acts as an endpoint for the native Denon/Marantz HEOS multiroom streaming system, naturally, supporting PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit, DSD up to 11.2MHz. And it supports Spotify Connect/TIDAL Connect/Qobuz Connect, as well as Deezer, Amazon Prime Music, and Pandora. For anything else with an iPhone, there’s AirPlay 2. Plus, it’s Roon Ready for those digital audio file obsessives. An FM/AM tuner … the original streaming … is also included. There’s even Bluetooth receiver/transmit modes, if you’re buying a First Growth to drink out of a Styrofoam cup.
So that’s the inputs. As for the output, the MCR 60n produces 2 x 65W / 4 x 33W @ 4 ohms (up to 16 ohms supported), and can be run as Speaker A/B stereo pairs (independent volumes), bi-amped, or parallel BTL. This supports various loudspeaker setups, including dual listening zones. There’s also a subwoofer pre-out with adjustable crossover settings for precise low-frequency integration. It includes bass, treble, and balance tone controls, and it’s upgradable to Dirac Live Room Correction with a separately purchased license. It’s all backed by a refined power supply and topped by the same wavy metal mesh as the Marantz Model M1: design language that also acts as ventilation.
The Marantz MCR 60n and some compact cabinets offer an alternative to desktop powered speakers with even more flexibility. Perfect for modern urban living, this is low-profile hi-fi.
The Marantz MCR 60n is available in Matte Black for $1,000 starting September 15.
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The 2026 IFA consumer electronics expo has wrapped up at the Messe Berlin grounds. Every year, humanoid robots and autonomous helpers share space with smart home appliances, computing technology, personal AI, and increasingly intelligent audio and video products. Sadly, we couldn’t be there in person (unlike last year). I mean, who doesn’t like decoding a cipher in real time to point you in the right direction so that you go against the flow of thousands of people to make it to your next appointment only 10 minutes late. Which is five minutes early in trade show time. So, yeah, we’ll miss the adrenaline rush. But that doesn’t mean we’ve missed the steady stream of future tech being announced, and we’ve captured a snapshot below of the best gear for smart living now and in the future.
The XGIMI Aura 3 Max is the first UST (ultra-short throw) “laser TV,” aka lifestyle projector, to offer 4K at 120Hz. And this triple-laser dual IRIS setup does it with 5,700 ISO lumens, 8,000:1 native contrast, 110% BT.2020, 0.163:1 throw (120″ from 8″), 80W Harman Kardon sound, Dolby Vision + IMAX Enhanced format support, and 3 x HDMI 2.1 inputs. That’s good enough for movie night and console gaming, and it’s starting Kickstarter crowdfunding in October. If your installation options are tighter and budget bigger, the new AWOL LuxVision UST and its RGB triple laser + Dynamic IRIS setup also offers native 4K/120Hz, 6,000 ISO lumens, 10,000:1 native contrast, enhanced black levels and all the formats, plus, for its signature trick, optical lens shift. But all that costs $5,999, compared to the expected $2,399-$4,999 range of the Aura 3 Max (depending on early bird investment vs. retail, etc.).
Showcased adjacent to IFA, the Sonos Beam Ultra, which was announced alongside the Ace Ultra headphones and Sonos OS 27, packs 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos (and the ability to use a proprietary mesh network to assign Sonos portable speakers as rear channels) into the brand’s most compact soundbar. That opens up the wireless surround system world for folks with less open space.
We love earbuds, and we love sleep, so we’ll be interested to try the low-profile, side-sleeper-friendly Anker soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro, which can come with active noise cancellation, including adaptive snore masking, but also feature built-in PPG optical sensors for heart rate + HRV tracking while you sleep, which means insights when you wake. Plus, an app includes a soundscapes library.
Speaking of ANC, our pals at Bose know enough about noise reduction to crush it in other brands, and EarFun is now one of those partners. Bose did some acoustic engineering on EarFun’s upcoming Air Pro 5, which looks packed with features and value, including ANC, three-device multipoint Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, LE Audio, LC3, and Auracast, and more. And EarFun’s Wave Pro X, a dual-coaxial driver headphone teased at IFA 2025, is now available for sale at the shockingly affordable price of $129 for a set featuring Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC, and Hi-Res Audio certification, wired USB Audio/AUX modes, 8-mic hybrid ANC, and 90 hours of battery life.
Speaking of headphones, Edifier is getting in on a similar value-driven wireless flagship game with the WH950NB Pro. They have a dual-driver (40mm woofer + 10mm tweeter) design, 8-mic adaptive ANC, 6-mic AI call system, spatial audio with head tracking, Bluetooth 6.1 with SBC, AAC, and LDAC, audio via USB-C, and more.
Speaking of affordable audio firsts, the JLab JBuds Mini ANC is the smallest TWS earbuds ever produced with ANC, spatial audio, and native Apple Find My compatibility, and the first non-Apple and non-Beats earbuds to offer the feature under $100.
Speaking of speaking of, the $149.99 beyerdynamic AVENTHO Y headphones speak to a longevity trend set by the much more expensive Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 series and feature a replaceable 90-hour battery (60 w/ ANC), interchangeable ear cushions, and optional accessories. Plus multipoint Bluetooth 6.0 and some snazzy colors.
Want to use earbuds for more than listening? The Plaud One (up for preorder) exists at the intersection of personal audio and wearable AI, as it can capture conversations (saved to the case’s eSIM) for transcription, lets you interact with an AI agent for planning and workflow execution, and more. You can set up connected apps, cloud services, and routines. And you can just listen to music with Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC/LDAC) and ANC. It is worth noting, however, that there is a subscription involved. Similarly, the viaim Rise has a case with three microphones that can work as a standalone meeting recorder, plus its IP55 earbuds have an 11mm + 6mm dual-driver array, with Bluetooth 6.1 support for LDAC/LHDC, spatial audio, ANC, and 3 mics + bone conduction for voice capture. There’s transcription software, as well as the ability to hand off work to AI agent(s) of choice. It’s live on Indiegogo with a super early-bird price of $259 against a $399 MSRP, and every backer gets a year of a viaim Pro subscription for free.
As for smart glasses, and there are always smart glasses, the RayNeo iO AI glasses have been talked up for their camera-free design, as well as being only 33g but equipped with a 33″ invisible display that sits within your view. And you can do recording and AI notes, get live captions/a teleprompter in 55 languages, plus more, plus have all-day access to an AI assistant linked with the models of your choosing.
We’ve previously tested the Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton, with positive impressions, so the $2,299 carbon fiber-and-titanium Hypershell Halo immediately caught our attention. It expands the concept, and frame, to a full-leg, four-joint form factor. This wearable, with its peak 1,490 W output, takes the fatigue-reduction concept that was pitched to folks who might have lost a beat when it comes to their outdoor activities and offers support for the entire lower-limb kinetic chain. So it’s got active support and impact damping to support stamina for extended multi-terrain challenges, but it can also benefit those who might simply need sit-to-stand support.
The future promised us jetpacks, but having to sweep and mop less is kinda better. And there’s never a shortage of robovacs at IFA. The ECOVACS Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, for instance, introduces 53 air watts of deep suction, which is 60 percent more than the last generation. And the OZMO Roller 3.0 + improved FocusJet technology reduces residual water substantially. This all means a better clean, powered by an upgraded AI voice assistant. Most notable, however, might be the physical, mechanical Privacy Shield that can slide over the camera when docked. Because Hackers.
The Roborock Saros 20 Flow also launched, bringing physical adaptability, with an ultra-low 3.14-inch chassis and the ability to deal with 300+ obstacles and cross multi-level thresholds. Up to 3.46 inches under specified conditions. And it’s got an aggressive 212-degree hot-water mop. The eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E35, meanwhile, stressed a hygienic filtration system with the kind of dust handling that makes it a top pick for allergy- and asthma-prone homes. And iRobot showed a Roomba Duo concept: a robot stacked atop a robot, with the smaller one deploying when there are spaces the larger one can’t reach.
If it’s your lawn that needs tidying up, the Mammotion LUBA 4 AWD all-terrain mower features a quad-camera + 360-degree LiDAR + NetRTK positioning system to guide the bidirectional driving system with independent front-wheel steering, no wire barriers needed. No damaging U-turns either, with complete coverage helped by edge-trimming modules. And the all-wheel-drive system with dual 165W high-torque motors can handle up to 80 percent (38.6-degree) slopes.
There are days when you want to bring an outdoors vibe indoors. Instead of cutting a costly hole in the roof, just install the 21-inch 125W WiFi-enabled Govee Sky Ceiling Light, engineered with 7000 lumens and a 478nm sky-blue wavelength matching human melanopsin sensitivity and able to automatically adjust lighting guided by local time and weather to support natural circadian rhythms. Or it can just replicate a lightscape preset. Fall sunsets in summer, breakfast for dinner. The only rule is there are no rules.
For something more accent lighting, the Nanoleaf Smart LED Monitor Stand features a natural wood platform with 550 lumens of individually addressable light zones underneath. This lets you display multiple colors at once with ultra-smooth gradients, or use it as a forward-facing anti-glare task light (UGR<10) with dedicated CRI97 white LEDs. Set an ergonomic height and heighten the mood simultaneously.
The HOVERAir Versa is the vlogging camera taken to its logical conclusion. On land, it’s a 3-axis gimbal camera with 4K 60fps, 10-bit HDR, and 17.5 stops of dynamic range. Snap it into its wings with the patent-pending MagLatch system, and it becomes an AI-guided, self-tracking, self-framing drone. One charge gets up to 14 minutes of flight or 3 hours of handheld shooting.
Most people might file this under health or grooming, but we’re putting the Dyson CameraJet electric toothbrush with variable sonic oscillation here because the camera guiding its integrated conical jet water flosser is the main feature. A 100k-pixel macro lens camera analyzes 28 images per second for “Gap Optical Targeting.” You can also watch live cleaning footage on your phone as you brush, or use the intraoral camera to inspect teeth. If you’re a sadist.
Finally, there’s the purely conceptual. Over at Lenovo, there’s Project AeroBlade. This Active Flow thermal solution replaces traditional fan-based cooling with a solid-state AirJet active cooling architecture of ultrasonic membranes moving air, which Lenovo envisions as a way to make laptops thinner without sacrificing sustained performance. This was shown off in a 14-inch concept that measures under 10 mm thick and weighs under 830g. Meanwhile, Project Swan is an expandable screen concept that transforms a 14″ laptop into a 17” 16:9 display when the flexible screen is unrolled, while remaining 17.9mm thin and 1.6kg. Perfect for more efficient work within the cramped confines of travel.
And Acer showcased Project DualPlay Mini, a prototype 2-in-1 with an 8-inch screen that wants to be a Predator gaming handheld … until you flip it open, spin its screen around, and access the built-in keyboard for laptop-style productivity in Windows 11 mode.
The post The best gadgets and gear that debuted at IFA 2026 appeared first on Popular Science.
Following the Sept. 1 announcement of new DJ-friendly party speakers, Sony has revealed three value-packed updates to its Bluetooth headphones lineup.
It’s been a big year on the premium end of Sony’s flagship wireless platform, which celebrated a decade of active noise cancellation excellence with the debut of the 1000X The ColleXion luxury headphones—a limited-edition pair Sony pitches on emotional value. But not everyone wants to spend $459 to $649, which is where the new WH-1000XM4C, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530 come in.
In a sunny suite at New York’s Kimpton Eventi Hotel, we learn why Sony chose sequels over new concepts: young buyers and TikTok unboxing buzz drove the 1000XM4 to the highest customer ratings in the personal, portable audio line thanks to its comfortable, foldable form factor. This organic appreciation has been rewarded with affordable upgrades alongside other popular over- and on-ear models.
[Disclosure: Sony provided travel accommodations during the creation of this story.]
For this launch, Sony is widening the base instead of summiting the peak, though not without a step or two backward. Built on the established silhouette of 2020’s beloved WH-1000XM4, the second-generation 1000XM4C (shown above and below, left) launches at $299.99. That’s $50 less than the original, yet it features the same proven QN1 ANC processor while updating the house sound profile/software engine with input from Grammy-nominated mastering engineers. The headphones are now Bluetooth 6.0 (SBC/AAC/LDAC) for a more stable wireless connection, backed by a 10-band EQ/Gaming EQ instead of the original 5-band sliders. The battery life is now up to 27 hours with noise cancellation, down from 30, but that’s still more than enough for most students, commuters, days at the office, etc. And the 1000XM4C also inherits Background Music Mode, which adds a sense of spatial depth to your music, giving it an ambient effect (think a low-key café soundtrack) that still helps mask your surroundings without competing for your brain’s focus. It’s the same cozy earcups, now in lighter and brighter colors, including Lavender (shown), Black, and Platinum Silver with polished yellow gold logos in place of the previous rose gold hue.
The price remains $179.99 for the entry-level over-ear WH-CH730N (shown above and below, middle), but the specs all increase. A revised, rounded, lightweight frame that now folds instead of swivels for better portability, and inside it, the Dual Noise Sensor’s optimized ANC algorithm is 10 percent more effective. And battery life increases from up to 35 hours with ANC/50 hours without to 50 hours with ANC/75 hours without, so it won’t run out during hybrid work or study halls. That extra charge powers improved beamforming microphones plus AI noise reduction for clearer voice pickup on calls, plus a more natural sound profile with the same 10-band EQ/Gaming EQ as the 1000XM4C. It now supports the LC3 Bluetooth codec alongside SBC/AAC, plus that Background Music mode. Colors for the WH-C730N include White, Pink (shown), Blue, Black, and Oat.
The final, most compact headphone is the on-ear WH-CH530 (shown above, right). At only $69.99 (same as the previous generation), it’s positioned as a headphone for first-time buyers and casual all-day users. It swivels to store flat, rather than folds. And there’s no ANC. But that means battery life beats the rest at up to 55 hours. And the sound engine shares the 10-band EQ/Gaming EQ and SBC/AAC/LC3 with the CH730N, plus DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) for smoothing out compression artifacts. Based on a brief listen, the soundstage was pleasingly clear, and the bass output was surprisingly strong for a smaller driver. Plus, Safe Mode monitors sound pressure and playtime and lets you adjust maximum volume limiting to keep usage within standards suggested by the World Health Organization for hearing protection. It’s an app feature also available on the other models, so extended wear doesn’t mean eardrum wear and tear. Colors include Pink, White, and Black, as well as on-trend Cobalt, Coral (shown), and Mint.
For those who value function, there will always be the WH-1000XM6. But for those who put a bit more emphasis on the fun, these models offer Sony’s core features and best value in a year of price pressure. We’ll have more to say once we’ve spent more time with them, so check back in.
The 1000XM4C, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530 are available now. The slideshow below shows all colorways of the three new models. But keep scrolling for something even cuter.
Sony and Sanrio are partnering for Hello Kitty limited-edition headphone bundles (shown below). Each bundle includes an exclusive stylized carrying case—with a carabiner, so it can double as a fashion accessory—and a similarly kawaii tote bag. They will be available for pre-order exclusively online at the Sony store this holiday season. Available in limited quantities in the US and select regions, the collaboration will feature selected Sony headphone models, including WH-1000XM6, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530. Readers can be notified through this link when units are available.
The post Social media loves Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones. Now you can love the sequel for less. appeared first on Popular Science.
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