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Alexa Home Theater: Everything you need to know about Amazon's newest Echo feature

Engadget

Alexa Home Theater: Everything you need to know about Amazon's newest Echo feature Testing the spatial surround sound feature with the company's latest smart speakers. Amazon's new Echo Studio is one of two speakers that allow you to use Alexa Home Theater to its full potential. When Amazon's latest Echo speakers arrived in October, a feature the company spent time hyping during its fall devices event was missing. Alexa Home Theater arrived in late November, allowing owners of a recent Fire TV device and either of the new Echo speakers the ability to use up to five units and an Echo Sub as a surround sound setup. The main selling point is that the underlying tech allows you to put the speakers wherever you want and Alexa Home Theater will handle the rest.


The Best Black Friday Soundbar Deals

WIRED

Tired of watching your favorite movies through the tinny built-in speakers on your TV? Cyber Monday is the perfect time to upgrade your TV room with a new soundbar, a simple addition that can revolutionize everything you watch. We found a variety of discounts on everything from budget-friendly standalone bars to expansive home theater systems with premium bars at the center. Our favorite soundbar for most people, the Yamaha SR-C30A, hits its lowest price in the last 30 days for Black Friday and Cyber Monday at just under $220 from Amazon . What it lacks in high-end features, it more than makes up for with its super simple and compact setup, and the sound quality is more than good enough for your weekly movie night. It even has a wireless subwoofer, so you get all the benefits of dedicated bass without having to run wires across your living room.


The best soundbar and Atmos system deals we've found so far for Black Friday: Sonos, Samsung, Sony, and more

Popular Science

Gear Audio Speakers The best soundbar and Atmos system deals we've found so far for Black Friday: Sonos, Samsung, Sony, and more You can save hundreds, sometimes taking almost half off, with price drops on soundbars that bring immersive cinema sound to any room. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. A soundbar is the most convenient way to add better sound to your TV. And a full Dolby Atmos wireless surround sound system can fill your space with speakers and sound that turn your living room into a home theater without bulky components and messy wires. They're easy to set up, and there are models with the size, features, and performance to please, no matter what kind of content you consume.


These are the 67 best audio deals we've found for Black Friday, with editor-approved picks for every budget (updated)

Popular Science

Gear Audio These are the 67 best audio deals we've found for Black Friday, with editor-approved picks for every budget (updated) Hear me now: I review audio products all year and these are what I'd buy during Amazon's Black Friday sale, with dozens of headphones, earbuds, speakers, and more at their lowest prices of the year. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. If you've been thinking about upgrading your audio setup--whether that's for New Release Fridays, movie night, outdoor runs, late-night gaming, or dialing in studio-grade sound--this batch of deals covers just about every scenario. From pocketable gaming buds to open-ear runners and serious audiophile cans, we've collected the standout picks on sale now. There have already been some great deals on JBL, Sony, Bose, and Beats products, among others, in Amazon's lead-up to Black Friday.


The best powered bookshelf speakers for 2025, tested and reviewed

Popular Science

Spin records, stream playlists, or score your next session--these all-in-one systems keep up wherever you set up, from your desktop to a bookshelf. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Powered bookshelf speakers are having a moment. Once considered a middle ground between bulky component systems and wimpy desktop speakers, today's powered models pack serious performance into compact cabinets. They don't need a receiver, they cut cable clutter, and many double as all-in-one multimedia hubs for music, movies, and gaming. Whether you want a sleek hi-fi upgrade, a small-space solution, or something that straddles studio projects and casual listening, we've tested the best powered bookshelf speakers released in 2025--like our best overall, the Fluance Ri71 --to help you find the best fit. We chose the best powered bookshelf speakers by combining hands-on testing with research from trusted peers.


The best wireless surround sound systems in 2025, tested and reviewed

Popular Science

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. A wireless soundbar can change the entire feel of your home theater. No matter what kind of content you consume, sound quality makes a world of difference, and these wireless systems allow for impeccable quality without pro installation. Most systems include a soundbar as well as satellite speakers and a subwoofer, all of which communicate wirelessly with no delay. We've tested some of the most popular and powerful wireless soundbars and systems on the market and came up with these recommendations for any type of viewer. Still, the Samsung HW-990F reigns as the best overall wireless soundbar, but the competition gets closer all the time. I [Markkus Rovito] have previewed and reviewed products--both in the pro audio and home audio realms--on and off throughout most of the 21st century for outlets including Mix, Maximum Tech, DJ Tech Tools, Bob Vila, and some defunct publications printed on paper called magazines. Between the PopSci staff [Stan Horaczek, Tony Ware, Brandt Ranj], we've tested variations of these wireless surround sound systems firsthand. Beyond our own favorable experiences, these wireless surround sound systems have all proved popular with expert reviewers. Each of these systems offers something a little different from the others, but they all include rear satellite speakers because we wanted to limit this list to systems that actually surround you with speakers.


The best soundbars for any room and budget

Popular Science

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. It's more affordable than ever before to take your home media viewing experience to new heights thanks to streaming services, smart TVs, and soundbars. With this increased content availability enriched by new surround sound audio formats, a whole new world of entertainment possibilities comes to light. One of the easiest, most space-efficient ways to drastically improve the quality of your TV (or 4K projector) audio is by upgrading to a soundbar to give you sound as vivid as the 4K video you're probably enjoying. The top soundbars are compact, quick to install, and an unbeatable way to present your movies, music, and video games with elevated volume, clarity, and immersion. And many of them--like our best overall, the Sennheiser AMBEO Plus--sound great on their own but can be expanded with matching subs and satellites if you decide you want a bigger home theater experience down the road. If you're looking for a quick and cost-effective way to upgrade your home theater system, we'll help you find the best soundbars to do the job.


Samsung debuts the QS700F soundbar and updates the Q990 at CES 2025

Engadget

Samsung has new soundbars and updates to an existing model to show off at CES 2025. First, the HW-QS700F is an all-new speaker that's designed to sit on a shelf or TV stand, but it can also be mounted at 90 degrees flat on a wall under a TV. The QS700F can optimize the sound based on how you've situated it for the best performance. This adjustment happens automatically thanks to a built-in gyro sensor. The QS700F will come with Samsungs redesigned subwoofer, the same one that is packaged with the new Q990F.


11 Best Computer Speakers (2024): Affordable, Soundbar, Surround Sound, Gaming

WIRED

With a compact design, sci-fi styling that includes RGB lighting, and no separate subwoofer, I was unsure what to expect from this soundbar, especially since OXS is an unfamiliar brand. The Thunder Pro is 24 inches long and just 3 inches tall, and it slotted into place perfectly under my monitor. It comes with a wired control dial, a remote control, and extra feet in the box to angle it toward you. I was immediately impressed when the bass of Dead Prez's "Hip Hop" kicked in, bouncing the passive radiators up and down. The sound is expansive, the bass is far better than it has any right to be without a large subwoofer, and the highs are surprisingly crisp.


These Cyber Monday Sonos Deals Will Make Your House Sing

WIRED

Sonos makes some of our favorite speakers and soundbars--we've tested all of them and have yet to find one we dislike. These devices are expensive, but the good news is that Black Friday Sonos deals launched earlier this week and they're still going strong through Cyber Monday. You can snag sales on the company's Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, subwoofers, and more (Roam speakers are on sale until January 6). We've included the best deals below. Updated November 27, 2023: We've updated links and pricing for Cyber Monday.