11 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

The Pro-Ject E1.2 is the Austrian hi-fi maker’s new entry-level turntable. It’s a new and improved version of its 2022-released E1 turntable, featuring a heavier main platter and borrowing the sub-platter from the brand’s higher-end Debut turntable range. It also comes with Pro-Ject’s own Pick it MM E cartridge, which the brand claims “offers precise tracking, smooth tonal balance, and reduced distortion.” The turntable is fully manual and lacks a lot of the frills (no Bluetooth) and integrated components (no built-in phono stage) of today’s modern options. It is therefore designed to deliver a more traditional vinyl experience. Available in three different finishes: high-gloss black, satin white or walnut.

The McIntosh CR106 is a preamplifier and audio matrix that basically functions as the command center for your home’s high-end multi-room audio system. It’s a component that allows you to play different audio in up to six different zones throughout your house, and then control the volume and EQ settings of each individual zone. According to the brand, it “delivers the flexibility to enjoy different music in different rooms, all while maintaining high-performance audio for immersive listening.”

The Lego Game Boy looks unbelievably accurate to the 1989-released classic. It’s at a near 1:1 scale and thus promises to feel quite similar in your hand, too. The build set is made of 421 pieces and comes with memorable features such as the iconic D-pad, large circular A and B buttons, thin buttons for “Select” and “Start, as well as the contrast adjustment and volume dial. It comes with two classic games, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Super Mario Land. There are also different screen choices, including the classic Nintendo start screen or a scene from the Zelda or Mario games. This way, the console appears to be actually playing the game.

Quad, the legendary British hi-fi manufacturer, has released six-generation versions of its iconic ESL electrostatic loudspeakers, which date back to the late 1950s. Compared to the fifth-gen predecessors, which were last updated in 2012, the ESL 2812X and ESL 2912X feature updated electrostatic panels, redesigned audio transformers, and a new “stealthy” aesthetic. Quad claims that these are the best ESL loudspeakers it has ever made.

Twelve South’s PowerBug is a portable MagSafe charger that plugs right into the wall outlet. It doesn’t take up any space on a desk or tabletop. It doesn’t require any charging cables. It’s small enough not to block the usage of any other wall outlets. And it supports StandBy mode. Additionally, it features a USB-C charging port capable of delivering up to 35 watts of power, allowing you to charge a second device. If charging two devices simultaneously, it splits the power 20 watts (USB-C) and 15 watts (wireless). It’s available in two colors: white or black.

The Avid Relveo is the first new turntable that the British hi-fi manufacturer has released in 12 years. It has a similarly unique design as the brand’s $30,000 flagship Acutus turntable, which mechanically grounds the record to the center spindle, so platter and vinyl are bound “as one” together. According to the brand, this ensures that vibrations are almost instantly eliminated, “lowering the noise floor and allowing a more realistic, utterly satisfying musical experience with a stunning eye for detail.” The Relveo turntable can be purchased with or without its award-winning Altus V2 tonearm, which Avid sells for $2,295. The latter option affords you the flexibility to use your own.

Nothing’s budget-friendly gadget company’s latest smartwatch, the CMF Watch 3 Pro, has some welcome improvements over last year’s Watch 2 Pro. It boasts a new heart rate sensor, improved GPS tracking and a variety of new fitness features (including AI coaching) for casual runners. It has a 10-percent bigger AMOLED screen with thinner bezels. It also features an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, a feature its predecessor lacked. Available in three colors: dark grey, light grey and orange.

The Asus ProArt Display PA32QCV is a 32-inch 6K monitor compatible with Macs, and at $1,299, it is positioned as an affordable alternative to Apple’s $4,999 Pro Display XDR. The monitor is equipped with advanced features, such as support for HDR10 and VESA DisplayHDR 600, the latter ensuring it delivers an extremely detailed picture with bright colors and deep contrast that creative professionals require.

Monitor Audio’s Bronze Series has been its most affordable loudspeaker range since its initial introduction in 1999. Over the years, the company has released numerous upgraded models, and it has now just introduced the 7th-generation models. The Bronze Series 7G is a versatile loudspeaker range that can be configured for both home theater and stereo setups. They have a number of upgrades over their predecessors, including new drivers and an updated aesthetic. According to the brand, the new range aims to set “a new benchmark for entry-level performance.”

The StackPack is a trio of acoustic panels (called Sound Blocks), two designed for high-frequency diffusion and one for low-frequency absorption, stacked on top of each other and configured in a tower formation. Like other foam panels, the StackPack is meant to help absorb unwanted acoustic reflections, ensuring your room and hi-fi or home theater system sound their best. What’s unique is that the top two Sound Blocks have wooden accent plates — available in three styles, Beech Noir, White Hot and Dusky Fawn — so that they look nice and better blend into your room’s decor. The StackPack can be free-standing or wall-mounted, and, as part of a modular system, it affords you the flexibility to configure or expand the system as needed.

A boon for digital comic book lovers everywhere, Amazon’s full-color Kindle got an update that brings the price down by $30. It still boasts the same high-contrast Colorsoft display, adjustable lighting, quick page turns and weeks of battery life. So what’s the trade-off? Well, the onboard storage drops to 16 GB from 32. On the flipside, that’s still enough space to hold literally thousands of full-color comics, books and more. And you can always delete what you’re not using, so it shouldn’t really be noticeable unless you’re a digital hoarder.