9 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the next-gen versions of the company’s popular wireless workout earbuds from 2019. Compared to their predecessors, the earbuds have a smaller body, a snugger fit, improved sound, and, thanks to Apple’s latest H2 chip, a host of new features similar to AirPods Pro, including active noise cancellation and transparency modes. Additionally, they are the first Beats (or Apple) headphones that have built-in sensors for heart-rate monitoring.

The Teac AP-507 is a stereo power amplifier designed to drive high-end bookshelf or desktop speaker systems. It’s essentially a new and improved version of the brand’s 2019-released AP-505, as it boasts next-gen amp technology and more power. It’s capable of delivering 70 watts per channel (at 4 ohms), compared to the AP-505’s 130 watts per channel (at 4 ohms), when used in a traditional stereo setup. Like its predecessor, its compact design allows it to be stacked with Teac’s other Reference 500 series components.

Bang & Olufsen created a limited-edition version of its Beosound 2 wireless speaker, each with a new “gradient” finish where the colors appear to blend (or transition) flawlessly into one another. Only 100 total speakers in the Gradient Collection will be released. Aside from the new look, it’s the same Beosound 2 wireless speaker. It boasts Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming capabilities and can deliver true 360-degree sound.

Leica teamed up with the iconic snowboard brand Burton on a special edition version of its Sofort 2. It features a black-and-blue tiger-striped pattern but otherwise is the same as its 2023-released hybrid instant film camera. It features a 4.9-megapixel sensor and a 2.4mm f/2 lens, and can store 45 photos (with an SD card, it can store up to 850). Users can add different film effects and then print selected photos on Fujifilm Instax Mini film. It costs significantly more than the regular $399 Sofort 2, but comes with a specially designed Burton camera bag.

The Turtlebox Ranger is the outdoor audio brand’s smallest portable Bluetooth speaker. Like its other speakers, the Ranger is designed to be the most rugged speaker you’ll ever own. It has a stainless steel and silicone body, making it waterproof and drop-proof while protecting it against potential corrosion. Its built-in magnets allow you to mount it on metal objects, like the side of a golf cart or boat. And it has an “all day” battery life.

The McIntosh DS200 is a high-end streaming DAC (or network player) designed to add wireless streaming capabilities to somebody’s existing hi-fi or home theater system. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, including support for Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. It features a quad-balanced audiophile-grade DAC that can play high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz via coax and optical inputs or up to 32-bit/384kHz (including DSD512 and DXD) via USB. It also has an HDMI ARC input for connecting to compatible TVs.

iBasso’s Nunchaku is a portable DAC/amp for your smartphone, laptop or desktop. It features dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips and, uniquely, two selectable amps: solid state or tube. This gives you the option of listening to a tube amp’s warm sound or the solid-state amp’s clean reference-grade sound. It features 3.5mm and 4.4mm (balanced) headphone jacks. And it comes with USB-C, USB-C and Lighting adapters for connecting to a variety of sources.

The Sennheiser HD 505 is the most premium open-back headphones in the brand’s entry-level HD 500 series. They pack custom 120-ohm transducers capable of delivering sound with a wide frequency response (12 to 38,500 Hz) and a total harmonic distortion measurement of less than 0.2 percent. They are lightweight, weighing 237 grams, designed for long listening sessions. And at $280, they won’t make you break the bank.

The Gadhouse Cosmo Solar is a special-edition version of the Bangkok-based audio brand’s Cosmo. Like before, it’s a portable turntable that has its own built-in speaker and supports Bluetooth for easy streaming (when not listening to vinyl). It also has RCA connections for integrating into a larger system. The difference with the “Solar” is that it comes in three transparent colors — red, green and blue — reminiscent of Apple’s colorful iMac G3 for the early 2000s.