Credit: SRH 840 via Pinterest
You can never have too much fidelity.
Ah, the bygone days of listening to CDs on a knock-off Walkman through cheap, plastic headphones. Wait, why am I reminiscing that, the quality on those was terrible. No sir, cheap plastic headphones don’t cut it in today’s plugged-in world; if you’re not getting every last iota of music through your speakers, then congratulations, you’re behind the times. Music, movies, and whatever else deserve to be experienced in the highest quality, and you need the best gear to get the best sound. With that in mind, here are a few nifty gadgets to get the most out of your high-fidelity lifestyle.
Sony WH1000XM3 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Credit: Sony/Amazon
The first weapon in any good sound-head’s arsenal is a proper pair of over-ear headphones. Earbuds may be small and convenient, but they’ll never deliver the kind of fidelity that a pair of full-on ‘phones can deliver. To that end, Sony’s latest offering is quite attractive, featuring wireless Bluetooth connectivity, digital noise cancelling, and Alexa compatibility. Additionally, these headphones feature smart listening that passively adjusts the sound and noise cancelling based on what’s going on around you, as well as touch conversation controls.
UE Megaboom 3 Bluetooth Speaker
Credit: UltimateEars/Amazon
You might not think one itty-bitty speaker can deliver enough sound power to fill your whole backyard, but the Megaboom 3 delivers and then some. This little speaker delivers 360-degree sound with Earth-shaking bass that’ll really get any party pumping. Best of all, it’s built tough; the Megaboom 3 is certified dust-proof, waterproof, and even impact-proof. It’d take a sledgehammer to break this thing, and even then the person holding it would have to be pretty beefy.
Credit: Bose/Amazon
The idea of glasses with speakers has been around for about as long as science-fiction has, but it was always assumed they’d be a bizarre Frankenstein of eyewear and speakers. This is not the case; Bose’s Frames line provides rich sound quality with stealth speakers in the arms. Their open design allows you to clearly hear both your music and the world around you, and despite the clarity of your music, those around will barely hear anything. Plus, y’know, they’re sunglasses. They do what sunglasses are supposed to do.
Credit: GPO/Amazon
Nothing says late 80s/early 90s like a dude walking around with a big ol’ boombox on his shoulder. If you’re interested in reliving those days, GPO has a retro-styled boombox with all the modern comforts you look for. In addition to a tape deck and FM radio, the Brooklyn features RCA and USB inputs, a top-loading CD player, and Bluetooth connectivity. If it holds music, the Brooklyn can play it. The tape deck even features a recording function if you wanna make mix tapes.
SteelSeries Arctis 1 Gaming Headset
Credit: SteelSeries/Amazon
Not all headsets are made equal. Some are for listening to music, others are for talking back to games. If you’re into online gaming, you’ll need one of the latter, and you might want to consider the Arctis 1. The Arctis 1 is compatible with Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC. Just plug in the USB-C dongle and go to town. It features a detachable noise-cancelling microphone and a steel-enforced headband for durability. Best of all, it’s got volume and mic controls right on the cups, so if someone’s screaming in your ear, you can silence them with one quick flick.
