Another week down, and, per usual, a bunch of new tech and gadgets have been announced.
This past week, Google introduced four new Pixel smartphones, Kanto Audio revealed the second-generation of its Obi3 turntable, and Fiio announced its first vacuum tube amplifier. But that’s just scratching the surface.
Below, we’ve rounded up all the most interesting new releases and announcements you might have missed from the past week.
FiioFiio EA13 Vacuum Tube Power Amplifier
The Fiio EA13 is a two-channel vacuum tube amplifier that’s designed to drive a set of passive bookshelf or floorstanding loudspeakers. It’s a Class A amplifier that features six tubes in total: two Sylvania NOS PCF80 tubes (for voltage amplification) that drive four JJ Electronic EL34 tubes. Working together, Fiio claims that the tubes give the EA13 a “smooth, full-bodied tube character while maintaining an open and natural presentation.” The amp is capable of delivering 28 watts per channel into either 8 or 4 ohms (there are dedicated connections for each), which doesn’t seem like a lot on paper, but it really means it’s designed to drive efficient loudspeakers with high sensitivities.
Kanto AudioKanto Audio Obi3 (Gen 2)
The Obi3 (Gen 2) is an upgraded version of the Obi3 turntable that was released less than a year before. Like its predecessor, the Gen 2 model is a manual belt-drive turntable with a switchable phono stage and built-in Bluetooth. It also comes with the same Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge and an aluminum J-shaped tonearm. However, the new turntable has a more premium build (and four pounds heavier) and features a built-in speed sensor for accurate playback. At $250, it’s $50 more expensive than the first-gen Obi3.
Ruka StudioRuka Studio TD-1 Vertical Turntable
The TD-1 is a high-end vertical turntable and the first product from Ruka Studio, a design firm started by a “collective of former Apple engineers and designers.” It’s a belt-drive turntable with a premium build. It has an aluminum-milled body and features mechanical knobs and switches for playback and electronic speed controls. Interestingly, the TD-1 comes with a specialized wall mount that is rubber-coated and has a built-in level. Once secured to the wall, the TD-1 magnetically clicks into place. For playback, it has wired inputs and built-in Bluetooth, so it can be integrated into a traditional or modern wireless system.
GoogleGoogle Pixel 11 Series
Google’s Pixel 11 series consists of four new smartphones: the Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro XL and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Each of these next-generation smartphones has slimmer and more powerful cameras, significantly more advanced AI capabilities (as has become expected), and double the storage of their predecessors. The catch? Each model also costs $100 extra. They’re available for preorder now and will start shipping next week (on August 20th).







