09 Nov
Blog

Sony HT-A5000 Review: A Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Hi-Res Fans

Sony HT-A5000.

Sony HT-A5000 in the test: The Dolby Atmos soundbar for hi-res audio fans

RRP $ 1,000.00

"The Sony HT-A5000 rocks with every sound format and every connection option we could wish for."

advantages

  • 8K capable HDMI input

  • Excellent film and music sound

  • Easy on-screen setup

  • Tons of connectivity options

  • High definition, Sony 360RA and DTS: X

disadvantage

  • No EQ settings

  • Some attitudes are buried

  • Bad integration of music services

At the high end of the soundbar market, you can find great Dolby Atmos compatible models like the Sonos Arc for $ 899, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 for $ 899, and LG's SP9YA for $ 1,000. And now you can add Sony's $ 1,000 HT-A5000 to that list. Wondering how it compares to the rest of the world – and to Sony's flagship HT-A7000 for $ 1,300? Let's check it out.

Big and easy

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In terms of design, the HT-A5000 (which we will simply call the A5000) is not very visible. The HT-A7000 lacks the glass cover and the cloth-wrapped speaker grilles, instead they have been replaced by a simple, textured black plastic housing and gray speaker grilles made of metal. It won't win beauty pageants, but that's a good thing. Personally, I think soundbars shouldn't draw attention to themselves visually as it could detract from their main purpose – to enhance the sound of your TV that your eyes should be focused on.

However, the size is more important. At 47.75 inches wide by 2.75 inches high, the A5000 should have no problem finding a home in front of everyone but the smallest TV. Sony even claims that their Bravia TVs can accommodate the A5000 between their movable legs, but I don't recommend that – any soundbar with speakers facing up should be placed as close to the front as possible to give those drivers every opportunity to hear the sound align with your ceiling, unimpeded.

The HDMI input can process 8K, Dolby Vision and 4K at 120 Hz, making it as future-proof as possible.

Sony also has everything you could need right in the box: soundbar, wall mounting hardware, HDMI and optical cables, a remote control and an analog patch cable to connect a compatible Bravia TV. Yes – if you are the lucky owner of one of Sony's 2020 or 2021 Bravia TVs, you can use this cable to hijack the TV's built-in speakers and let them enhance the soundbar's center channel audio. Unfortunately, I haven't tested this feature without one of these TVs.

HDMI in, HDMI out and 8K

Sony HT-A5000 input ports.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Some soundbar companies (ahem, Sonos, Bose) believe that a single HDMI ARC / eARC port should be enough for everyone. I disagree – and luckily neither does Sony. The A5000 has both a dedicated HDMI input and an HDMI ARC / eARC input / output. Better still, the HDMI input can pass 8K, Dolby Vision and 4K signals to your TV at 120 Hz, making it as future-proof as possible. There's also an optical port if your TV doesn't support HDMI ARC, but the A5000 drops the A7000's analog input.

When it comes to the ability to wirelessly connect to a speaker, the A5000 has it all.

Why is an HDMI input important? Aside from replacing the HDMI input on your TV that you had to sacrifice to connect the soundbar, with older TVs we can connect Blu-ray players or streaming media devices directly to the soundbar. This bypasses the inherent sound quality limitations of HDMI ARC connections that are imposed by televisions that do not have HDMI eARC. There is a lot to unpack. Instead of filling the space in this review with the full explanation, please read our guides on HDMI ARC / eARC and Dolby Atmos. If you care about the best possible audio quality, you'll thank me.

These ports are packed very tightly into a small recess on the back of the A5000, making them difficult to use, but as long as you don't have to access them often, you shouldn't be too hurt by it.

Setup on the screen

Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos Soundbar system message on the screen.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Speaking of HDMI, the A5000 repeats one of my favorite functions of the HT-A7000 – the setup process and on-screen menus. Using a smartphone app to set up a speaker isn't difficult, but being able to use your TV's screen while sitting back on your sofa with the remote in hand is much better.

From the initial connection, to adding the A5000 to your Wi-Fi network, to quick automatic room calibration, Sony makes it easy and – dare I say it – fun. And you can always press the home button on the remote and navigate the soundbar's on-screen menus, which is much more convenient than reading on the small scrolling digital display behind the speaker grille or pulling out your phone.

Connections galore

Sony HT-A5000 screen display.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I have to give it to Sony. When it comes to the ability to wirelessly connect to a speaker, the A5000 has it all. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast – choose your favorite. The Bluetooth connection, which is hardly a minor matter with many soundbars, is also convincing with the support of the Sony LDAC codec, so that you can stream in the highest quality from an Android mobile phone. You can also use LDAC for a high quality wireless connection to a compatible Bravia TV if you want to be completely wireless.

Thanks to the exceptional support for high quality wireless streaming, music generally sounds great.

These options mean that regardless of which phone you have or which music streaming service you subscribe to, you can get the most out of the A5000's features. And given the growing support for lossless, high-resolution audio from Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and others, these benefits are no longer theoretical marginal cases.

Sony cleverly offers you the option of switching the Bluetooth function from receiving to sending (again with LDAC support) so that you can use any set of wireless headphones or earphones for private listening.

Great for music, even better for movies

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

OK, to the point: how does that thing sound? Damn good. If you stick to the basic mode of the A5000 (with the Sound Field function switched off), you will get perfectly clear and balanced stereo sound. It's great for sitcoms, news shows, and comedy specials – basically anytime you want to focus on dialogue. In this mode, the bass remains mellow even with the subwoofer set to the maximum and offers just enough bass to give the voices more depth and some weight to the background soundtrack.

It's also the preferred mode for listening to two-channel stereo music, especially if you're a purist looking to keep additional digital processing to a minimum. And thanks to the soundbar's exceptional support for high quality wireless streaming, music generally sounds great.

The only downside is there's not much you can do if you don't like the way Sony tuned the A5000. I have sued Sony for missing EQ adjustments on their expensive A7000 and will do it again for the A5000. It's an odd choice for a company that offers extensive EQ options for their wireless headphones and earbuds.

Dolby Atmos movies have all been rendered with this key ingredient – sounds that seem to be coming from everywhere.

If you have a Tidal HiFi or Amazon Music subscription, you owe it to yourself to try tracks mastered using the Sony 360 Reality Audio (360RA) format that the A5000 supports. Simply put, 360RA tries to mimic the sound of a live performance indoors by using surround sound technology to give the music an open, airy feel. As with Dolby Atmos Music, some tracks benefit more from this than others. Pink Floyd's Learning To Fly, for example, felt like it was made for 360RA, while John Mayer's I Guess I Just Feel Like seemed to lose something in the move.

But even if songs don't necessarily benefit from 360RA, sometimes the format itself is preferable when you want an ambient sound – for example, when entertaining a group of guests. I find it easier to have a conversation when the music is not directed at you, as is the case with traditional stereo. Currently, the 360RA only works over a WiFi Chromecast connection from a phone or tablet, so you cannot control it through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

The only downside to the A5000's musical capabilities is the lack of integration of music services into the Sony Music Center app. The app lists many of the most popular services (Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, etc.) but tapping on it will only redirect you to the service's app on your phone (assuming you have it installed). Unlike Sonos, there is no way to access Search, manage favorites or playlists, or other music service features. However, you can use the app to control multiroom audio if you have other compatible Sony speakers.

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

You're not buying a $ 1,000 Dolby Atmos soundbar for stereo audio. You want to be blown away by fully immersive 3D soundtracks that convey power, excitement and emotion and for that you need to enable Sound Field mode. This instantly changes the soundstage from a fairly narrow and forward-facing affair to one that spreads out across the room.

The A5000's built-in subwoofer is surprisingly powerful. For smaller spaces, that's probably all you need.

The Sound Field mode is not a 3D variant, but three – Sony's own Vertical Surround Engine, Dolby's virtualized speaker mode and DTS Virtual: X – and each has its own sound signature. Sony's version pulls back at low frequencies to create a high, wide, and deep presentation that emphasizes clarity. Dolby, on the other hand, pushes the built-in subwoofer to its limits for a thundering sound, but can introduce undesirable distortion and often cloud the mids and high frequencies. DTS Virtual: X is somewhere in between, but not Goldilocks way. It's more of a compromise.

Since each of these 3D flavors sounds so different, they can all be great choices depending on what you're playing. I found the Sony version to be ideal for native Dolby Atmos movies and music. Avengers: Infinity War, Mad Max: Fury Road and Ford v. Ferrari have all been rendered with this important Dolby Atmos ingredient – sounds that seem to come from everywhere and move in sync with the action on the screen. Wondering if you need one of Sony's wireless subwoofers? You would definitely get better low frequency effects, but the A5000's built-in subwoofer is surprisingly powerful. For smaller spaces, that's probably all you need.

I plugged a Shield TV into the HDMI input and enjoyed Dolby Atmos songs from Tidal like Save Your Tears from The Weeknd and Riders On The Storm from The Doors. Dolby Atmos Music can feel lackluster at times, especially if you're using headphones, but the A5000 lets you enjoy the emerging format to its fullest.

Sony HT-A5000 built-in display.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

But here's a tip: as with most Dolby Atmos sound bars, if you feel like something is missing – like you're not listening to an immersive mix – dive into the advanced audio settings and turn up the levels for the treble and treble Surround channels. Sony's calibration software tends to take a conservative approach that doesn't always produce the best results.

Definitely worth trying out Dolby and DTS Virtual: X's virtualized speaker mode for all content, whether it's Atmos or not, but switching between these 3D versions isn't much fun. There is no way to do this in the Sony Music Center app, including by pressing a preset button on the remote control.

Instead, you need to pause your movie or music, press the home button on the remote, then navigate to Setup> Advanced Settings> Audio Settings> Sound Field Settings from the on-screen menu. You can then choose a different 3D variant and return to your content.

This may not be too bad if it is just a question of finding the one you like the most, but since there is no way to tweak the EQ, switching between them is your only option if you want the performance of either dislike them.

Beyond the bar

Sony HT-A5000 remote control.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As with most mid- to high-end soundbars, you can expand the sound capabilities of the A5000 by adding two Sony wireless subwoofers of your choice (SA-SW5 or SA-SW3) and a number of wireless surround satellites (SA-RS3S). This does not improve the performance of the altitude channel of the system, but it can make a huge difference to the overall level of immersion. If you have the room in your home and on your budget, I highly recommend these additions.

Our opinion

The Sony HT-A5000 offers a premium price, but offers both music and movie lovers a first-class sound experience.

Is there a better alternative?

At this price point, the HT-A5000 has several direct competitors, and all of them are excellent in their own way. The choice among them really depends on the features that are important to you. Here's what you should know:

  • If you are an audiophile, LG SP9YA is a strong competitor because, like the A5000, it supports Hi-Res audio over Wi-Fi and USB. It also comes with its own wireless subwoofer, which makes it satisfactory for movies right out of the box. It doesn't support Bluetooth LDAC or Sony 360RA, however, and its hard-wired power cord could be a nuisance for some installations.
  • If you want easy, powerful control over your music sources and multiroom audio, and want some smart home perks, drag the Sonos Arc or the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. Both don't have HDMI inputs, which limits their flexibility, but that's only a problem if you have an older TV. Both can serve as smart speakers with your choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
  • If you're looking for a real replacement for a home theater system for movies and TV shows but multiroom audio isn't that important, this is it Vizio Elevate comes with a wireless subwoofer and surround satellite speakers that usually cost extra.
  • Would you like even better sound, but don't want to clutter your room with more speakers? For $ 300 more that Sony HT-A7000 is a larger, more powerful speaker (with two HDMI inputs plus one analog input) that is well worth the extra investment.

How long it will take?

Sony products are very well made and the HT-A5000 is no exception. If you are considering 8K compatibility, it could be 10 years or more before you even have to think about upgrading. And even then, it will be a choice, not a condition.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. the Sony HT-A5000 will be a huge movie and music upgrade for any TV room in the house.

Editor's recommendations



05 Nov
Blog

Mario Party Superstars Review: The Do-Over Fans Deserve

The entire cast of characters in Mario Party Superstars stands together.

Mario party superstars

RRP $ 60.00

"Mario Party Superstars is the best game of the series and has a better selection of mini-games and fewer gameplay gimmicks."

advantages

  • Effectively nostalgic

  • Back to the basics of mechanics

  • High quality mini-games

  • Addicting bonus modes

  • Playing online is a plus

disadvantage

  • Still slow

  • Not enough boards

  • No essential unlockable elements

Mario Party Superstars is a much-needed makeover to the multiplayer series. It learns so effectively from the successes and failures of previous Mario Party games that it almost feels like it should be the final entry. We have reached the upper limit of Mario Party.

At its core, it's a nostalgia trip back to basics that revives the spirit of the original Nintendo 64 classics. But beyond that, it saves moments of brilliance hidden in the weakest parts of the series. It treats Nintendo 3DS 'Mario Party: The Top 100 (a game that had old mini-games but jettisoned the actual board game) as a clumsy mulligan and gets its "best of" build idea right. Most importantly, it's a second chance for the series on Nintendo Switch after Super Mario Party's potential has been wasted due to a lack of post-launch support.

Mario Party Superstars is the best Mario Party game ever, even if it is by default. The curated nature means players will get the best – and most – mini-games the series has to offer, although that doesn't apply to board selection. The commitment to play online at launch puts it ahead of Super Mario Party and makes Superstars the best version of what a Mario Party game can be.

If it's not broken

If you haven't played a Mario Party game since the Nintendo 64, you will feel right at home in Superstars. There are no gimmicks or formula shake-ups here. Nintendo has reduced Mario Party to the essentials: it is a board game in which players roll dice, compete against each other in mini-games and try to win the most stars. That creates a more focused and reliable party game that doesn't distract with mechanical gambling. Not an ambitious start, but after 15 years of mixed bags exactly what the series needs.

Curation is the keyword here. Previous Mario Party games invented over 50 brand new mini-games apiece, which could result in lots of duds if the series ran out of all its best ideas. This time around, each mini-game was chosen from previous entries, roughly half of which are from the original Nintendo 64 trilogy. Players get 100 of the best mini-games in the series with far fewer stinkers in the pile.

Mario and friends compete against each other in a mushroom mini-game in Mario Party Superstars.

It's nice to see how classic mini-games have been modernized here. Basically, seeing old favorites is just an effective nostalgia game – I screeched when Pushy Penguins showed up, a Mario Party 5 mini-game I played to death on a GameCube demo disc as a kid. But it also has a functional aspect. A game like Mario Party's Crazy Cutters, in which players trace a shape with a jackhammer, simply controls the Switch's Joy-Cons much better than the Nintendo 64's clunky analog stick (unless you're drifting). If you only kept your N64 warm to play Mario Party with friends, you can safely put it away.

Some games have also been tweaked to be better than their old school counterparts. In Mario Party 2, the goal of Dizzy Dancing was to snap a green note hovering over a spinning turntable while trying to navigate inverted motion controls. This time around, the game became a timed game, with players struggling to snap as many notes as possible (a change that first happened in The Top 100). The original could end in seconds, but this is a more competitive iteration that's just better at ruining friendships.

For those who gave up on Mario Party, this is a reminder that with the right mini-games, the formula can still work.

It's also nice that the package includes some real standouts from later (and weaker) Mario Party entries. As someone who quit after the fifth game, I was shocked at how brilliant some of the newer mini-games are. Mario Party 8’s Paint Misbehavin ’, for example, is an adorable, Splatoon-like turf war in which players try to paint as many Goombas as possible with colored ink. As I went through the stack and "favored" my standout games, I found that most of them were from the late GameCube and Wii era.

Wario and Yoshi compete against Mario and Donkey Kong in the mini-game Handcar Havoc from Mario Party Superstars.

This is the real success of Mario Party Superstars. It's not just aimed at die-hard N64s who want a quick nostalgic hit; It takes one long hard look at the entire franchise and celebrates the moments when it shone. For those who gave up on Mario Party, this is a reminder that with the right mini-games, the formula can still work.

Leaner is better

In terms of the overall package, Nintendo took a less-is-more approach here. Instead of filling the game with tons of semi-realized ideas, it focuses more on the core board game Mario Party. There are no special gimmicks like Super Mario Party's character-specific dice or buddy system. Instead, we get the tightest version of the N64 game with slight but smart tweaks to the general coin and item economy.

Outside of the main multiplayer game, however, there is still quite a bit of work to be done. Mt. Minigames acts as a hub where players can compete against each other in a few additional modes. Some of these are simple, like the free mini-game or a 1v3 challenge mode. Some mini-games even have their own point hunt outside of the main game, which is a fun thing. Mario & # 39; s Puzzle Party, a match-two puzzler from Mario Party 3, has its own three-minute point attack mode that has become a surprising addiction to me.

Mario wins a round of survival mode in Mario Party Superstars.

The most important feature here is the online component. Unlike Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars supports full online play at launch (the former didn't get this feature until years after its release). The ability to play Mario Party online with friends is crucial. Nowadays it is just not likely that people would regularly bring four people together in person to play a few rounds. Multiplayer titles are played over Discord and Twitch streams. Choosing to play online is a necessity for the series to stay relevant. It's a relief to see it included, even if it should have been taken for granted.

It's also nice that online gaming goes beyond the simple board game. Superstars offers two online specific modes: Survival and Daily Challenge. The former has the longest-term single-player potential among the extras. Players go online and try to beat as many mini-games in a row as possible. It's a high-stakes endurance test that adds smart high score tracking to a series that previously had no compelling reason to play alone.

Choosing to play online is a necessity for the series to stay relevant.

The most effective thing about the different modes in the game is that they all revolve around the same pool of mini-games. Super Mario Party included Sound Stage, a rhythm game mode that was excellent on paper. Unfortunately, it required mini-games designed specifically for this mode. It just wasn't included in the game enough to make a lasting impression, and it made the overall list of the game's mini-games feel thin. Everything you play in the side mode will ultimately be available in the board game, and vice versa.

The best it can be

When I say this is the best version of Mario Party, I have to acknowledge that the series has a certain cap. No matter how good the mini-games are, the central board game can still be excruciatingly slow. Players can increase text and CPU speeds, or fast-forward some board events, but there's no way to directly skip the slower parts of the game. The pace seems a bit faster than previous entries, but it still feels like I can take a toilet break while Toadette moves a star.

Nintendo's awe of Mario Party's past should end with his mini-games. Other parts of the series need to be modernized if the series is to continue.

The collection is also no longer the Mario Party equivalent to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It only contains five boards, all of which are from the first three games in the series. That's a smaller number than any Nintendo 64 game that had at least six. While the list includes standout cards like Space Land and Peach's Birthday Cake, it also includes something of a dud in Yoshi's Tropical Island – a frustrating beginner's card that leaves a lot to the luck.

The space land map in Mario Party Superstars.

It's strange to see the game show such a great awe for the mini-games in the series but not show the same love for its boards. Those who really want to make this a party staple will end up playing the same cards over and over again. Realistically, Switch owners will likely want Super Mario Party ready to liven up the pool.

Likewise, there are only 10 playable characters here (the list excludes characters like Bowser, who appears as an NPC in certain maps and games). This isn't a big deal breaker, especially since characters don't have specific skills this time around, but it's a shame there aren't any unlockable characters or boards to hunt down. That was a staple of old Nintendo party games that have fallen by the wayside in recent years. Instead, the game includes an easy "level-up" system that unlocks collectibles like music and stickers in a shop. Collecting enough coins to buy everything is an efficient catch for completers, but I wish there was something more substantial that could keep me playing.

The sleek character and board pickings would be fine if I felt like the game was saving some content for post launch support. Unfortunately, Nintendo has lost my trust here. I said the same thing after Super Mario Party, a game that felt like DLC but didn't get one. In fact, one could argue that Superstars should have been just a paid add-on and not a full retail game. Any Nintendo franchise could really benefit Mario Party from adopting a DLC model that will keep new games, characters, and boards going for years to come. Hopefully this will be the case here, but I've been burned before – and you'll only get burned once on the Hot Rope Jump before you're out.

Boos steal stars from multiple players in Mario Party Superstars.

Nintendo's awe of Mario Party's past should end with his mini-games. Other parts of the series need to be modernized if the series is to continue. Otherwise, superstars could be a big goodbye for fans looking to close a nostalgic chapter of their gaming childhood.

Our opinion

Mario Party Superstars is a delightful celebration of the multiplayer juggernaut's colorful past. By curating the best mini-games from the series, Nintendo has created a more consistent multiplayer game with fewer duds. The back-to-basics approach ensures a more focused experience that isn't blocked by gimmicks and experimentation. It's still as slow as ever and the selection of boards is disappointingly sparse, but that's as good as it gets when it comes to Mario Party.

Is there a better alternative?

Super Mario Party isn't such a tight package, but it does have some fun ideas that haven't been carried over here.

How long it will take?

Games can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, so it depends on how often you play. The additional modes extend it. You can also track achievements in the game and buy a shop full of collectibles. I still don't have everything after 20 hours.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Mario Party Superstars is hands down the best Mario Party game even if the package is missing in some areas. It could be the last Mario Party game you ever need to buy.

Editor's recommendations



13 May
Blog

Amazon Echo Buds 2 Review: Better Buds For Alexa Fans

Amazon Echo Buds 2

"They are the perfect companion for those who love Amazon Alexa."

  • Speakerphone Alexa

  • Good sound quality

  • First class call quality

  • Excellent transparency

  • Bad battery life

  • Mediocre ANC

When Amazon launched the original Echo Buds in 2019, they set a new standard for what we can expect from a $ 130 investment in a set of true wireless earbuds. They sounded great, had effective active noise cancellation (ANC), and let you talk to Alexa without tapping any buttons.

They weren't perfect: battery life was just mediocre, they were a bit bulky, there was no wireless charging option, and you couldn't customize the controls very much. But Amazon still managed to set the bar very high, and for a while they were our top pick for the best true wireless earbuds.

But since 2019 there has been an explosion of new options and new brands. ANC, which used to be an exotic and expensive extra, is now showing up on earbuds that cost $ 100 or less. Battery life has improved by leaps and bounds, and decent sound quality is easier and cheaper than ever.

This means that the latest version of Amazon, which I will call " Echo buds 2 ($ 120 or $ 140 depending on whether you want wireless charging or not) must be a real step up from its predecessors to keep up with the market.

Has Amazon succeeded? Let's take a look at the Echo Buds 2.

What's in the box?

Amazon Echo Buds 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Amazon is a leader in sustainable, recyclable packaging. The Echo Buds 2 are delivered in a small cardboard box in which only a small amount of plastic wrap is used to protect the charging case. There is no foam and no zip ties. Inside, you'll find the earbuds in their pocket, a USB-C charging cable, four sizes of silicone earbuds (including the ones pre-installed on the buds), two sizes of wing tips (with a spare set of the smaller size), and a quick start guide.

design

Amazon Echo Buds 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The first thing you will notice about the Echo Buds 2, especially if you are familiar with the first generation, is its size. Not only are the earbuds smaller, but the charging case is too. They are not quite as compact as the Apple AirPods Pro, but they compare well with many other models, such as the Jabra Elite 75t or the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

The earphones are available either in matt black or in an eggshell color, which Amazon calls "glacier white". They are smooth and seamless and have no defined area for the touch-sensitive controls. A discreet Amazon Smile logo is the only decoration.

The charging case is also unadorned. Its rounded corners make it convenient to hold and pocket, but its bottom is still flat enough to stand upright on a desk (or a wireless charging mat if you opt for the $ 20 upgrade ).

Gone is the micro-USB port, which appeared to be out of date as early as 2019. It has been replaced by the current industry standard USB-C. A small LED indicator on the front shows the charging status or battery level of the case, while a series of similar LEDs in the case provide the same information about each earbud.

Conclusion: these are very comfortable buds.

The earbuds are easy to install and remove from the charging jacks, and balanced magnets keep them there when you are not using them. A big improvement over the previous model: Even with the largest wing tips installed, the earbuds make a good connection to their charging contacts – something that didn't always work on the first-generation Echo Buds.

My only criticism is the charging case lid: it's easy to open and close, but the hinge doesn't have a notch to prevent it from accidentally flipping over, which it often does.

Amazon has retained the Echo Buds' IPX4 water resistance, which means they can easily withstand rain and heavy sweat without being damaged. Just don't immerse them in water.

Set up

Amazon Echo Buds 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

When it comes to true wireless earbuds, there isn't usually much to say when you want to pair them with your phone or tablet. Opening the case or removing the earbuds is enough to put them into pairing mode. At that point select it from the available devices in your bluetooth menu and there you go.

It's a little different with the Echo Buds 2. You'll need to download and install the Amazon Alexa app first, if you don't already have it, and then open the lid of the charging case.

The app will automatically find the earbuds and guide you through the rest of the process. It's quick and hassle-free unless you're using an iPhone with a lot of previously connected devices in your bluetooth menu. In this case, it may take a long time for the Echo Buds 2 to be recognized. It eventually worked for me, but I had to do a factory reset on the earbuds by holding the pairing button on the charging case for 10 seconds.

Convenience, control and connections

Amazon Echo Buds and Echo Buds 2Original Amazon Echo Buds (left) and Echo Buds 2 Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With a smaller overall shape than the original Echo Buds, the Echo Buds 2 are indeed a little more comfortable, and I imagine people with smaller ears will definitely find them easier to wear. But it's the Echo Buds 2's ventilated design that makes the biggest difference in the "feel" of wearing them.

To explain, many people find it uncomfortable to put earbuds in their ears when their ears are completely blocked by an object. There may also be suction or pressure in your ear canal under certain circumstances. Some people are particularly sensitive.

To mitigate this, some earbuds, like the Jabra Elite 85t, are built with tiny air vents that allow a little air to flow through the earbuds. Venting the Echo Buds 2 really makes a difference, but it also comes with some tradeoffs that I'll get into below.

Conclusion: these are very comfortable buds. You can use the optional wingtips to secure their fit for vigorous activities, but I found they were fine without them.

The Alexa app, which helps you get the most out of the Echo Buds 2, has a fit test tool that can help you determine if you've chosen the right earbuds. It's very convenient. Too often people choose the earbuds they see fit based on their belief in ear size ("I am a medium") rather than the tips that offer the best seal. Given the importance of a good seal to sound quality and the ANC – especially with ventilated earbuds – it's a good idea to do a fit test.

Pro Tip: If you ever find earbuds sounding weak or not having as much bass as you hoped, you are almost certainly using the wrong earbuds. Try a larger size and don't be afraid to use different sizes in each ear – we (and most of us) are not highly symmetrical beings.

The Bluetooth connectivity is absolutely solid and I didn't experience any dropouts.

I still prefer physical buttons for earbud controls, but the Echo Buds 2's touch controls are as good as they come. You get four touch gestures: single tap, double tap, triple tap, and tap and hold. They are the same for every earbud and allow you to control play / pause, answer / end, track jump forward / backward and ANC / transparency modes. By using the same controls for each earbud, you can only use one without losing options. However, there are also very few customization options.

In the Alexa app, you can change the tap and hold feature from ANC / transparency to voice assistant access (Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant), but the other gestures cannot be changed.

As with the first generation Echo Buds, you cannot control volume without using the buttons on your phone. The lack of customization and volume control is a little annoying, especially since the Alexa app has so many other options, but at least Amazon added the single and triple tap options – the original Echo Buds only had two gestures.

The Echo Buds 2 have wear sensors that automatically pause and resume the music when you pull the buds out or put them back in. This works like a charm and reacts instantly to changes.

The Bluetooth connectivity is absolutely solid and I didn't see any dropouts or weirdness between the two earbuds, but their range is limited. I was only able to move about 25 feet from my phone indoors – a much shorter distance than most of the real wireless earbuds I've tested.

Sound quality

Amazon Echo Buds 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Clear, balanced sound is what you can expect from the Echo buds 2.

Their soundstage isn't particularly wide or deep, but they have a really generous frequency response that can be extensively changed using the EQ settings in the Alexa app.

The sound is ready to use right out of the box – perfect for workouts or listening to a variety of genres, from hip-hop to EDM. However, move the three-band equalizer's sliders and you can adjust it from big and boomy to light and airy.

Unfortunately, with no EQ presets in the app or the ability to create your own presets, you can move these sliders every time you switch the content type from music to podcasts for the best balance.

Like many true wireless earbuds, the Echo Buds 2 have a sweet spot for sound quality when it comes to volume. At around 60%, they deliver a complete, rich performance. However, this balance can drop dramatically as you turn down the volume.

I feel that this is partly due to the ventilated design. They naturally block less external sound than non-ventilated earbuds. So you'll need to turn up the volume to compensate for this – even if you're using ANC.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Amazon Echo Buds app

Amazon Echo Buds app

The first Echo Buds used Bose's Active Noise Reduction (ANR) technology, but the Echo Buds 2 swapped that out for Amazon's ANC technology. Amazon claims this change will result in a significant improvement in performance. "It effectively suppresses twice as much noise," says the expert guide that accompanied our Echo Buds 2 rental devices.

ANC on the Echo Buds 2 is a mixed bag.

I spent about an hour switching back and forth between the two versions to see if I could verify this claim, but I couldn't. Here's the dilemma: While it's true that the Echo Buds 2 suppress more audible sound when using ANC than the ANR on the Echo Buds, the ventilated design of the Echo Buds 2 initially allows for more sound.

The Echo Buds 2's ANC also creates audible background noise when activated. This could be the result of an excessive ANC setting, but unlike the transparency mode which can be adjusted, ANC is either on or off.

The original Echo Buds don't produce as much sound shift when you turn on ANR, but they passively isolate the sound so well that they don't really have to be that aggressive. Also, when turning on ANR, no new noise is introduced.

In short, ANC on the Echo Buds 2 is a mixed bag. You'll likely get the most out of it listening to music while you commute or in a busy space like a Starbucks, but if you're hoping to create a cone of silence for enhanced focus – the kind of magical sound that the AirPods make Extinguishes Pro and Jabra Elite 85t can perform – you may be disappointed.

The most important function of the Echo Buds 2 is hands-free access to Amazon's voice assistant.

The transparency mode, on the other hand, is excellent. You can fine-tune how much external sounds are amplified, and at the very end of that spectrum, the earbuds even offer some hearing enhancement.

What I'm less excited about is the time it takes to switch between ANC and transparency. Up to six seconds have passed from the time you started the tap and hold gesture to the time these modes changed. This may be acceptable if you switch modes when entering or exiting a building. However, if someone tries to talk to you, you'll want to switch as soon as possible – preferably right away.

All about Alexa

Amazon Echo Buds 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It goes without saying that the most important function of the Echo Buds 2 is hands-free access to Amazon's voice assistant. If you own Echo smart speakers, or an Amazon Fire TV device, or one of the many third-party speakers that you can interact with with Alexa, it's fantastic to have them on hand and calling no matter where you are or what you are to do.

I'm not going to go into all of the things Alexa can do – this list is far too long – but it's worth highlighting a few commands that are especially useful when you're on the go:

Music, volume, modes: You can have Alexa control virtually all aspects of your media experience, including changing the volume (which you can't with gestures), answering calls, switching between ANC and transparency, and choosing music from a variety of services like Amazon Music. Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and more. It even reads out the remaining battery life of Echo Buds.

The new Echo Buds deliver crystal clear voice quality.

Alexa Transit: I couldn't test this feature as it isn't yet available outside of the US, but it looks very handy. Alexa can now respond to a series of questions and commands related to getting around, whether you're walking (“Alexa, how do I get to the Empire State Building?”) Or using public transport (“Alexa, what's that Status of? ") The Q-Zug? ”). The answers are context sensitive. So if there is more than one Q move, the one that is closest to you will be chosen. Setting places like home and work in the Alexa app makes these interactions even more useful.

I found that the Echo Buds 2 responded very well to the Alexa wake-up word and that Alexa's response time to various commands was quick and I had to repeat myself far less than with the Echo Buds. If you are dependent on Alexa at home, you will probably quickly wonder how you ever survived without her when you are not home.

Battery life

On the one hand, the Echo Buds 2 gives you the ability to extend your normal playtime from five hours to 6.5 hours by turning off ANC and using Alexa with a wake-up word. On the other hand, her charging case only contains two full charges (the previous version contained three).

When ANC and Alexa are engaged, you will see a maximum of 15 hours of stamina. That's significantly less than any other true wireless earbud for the same price. For example, the $ 130 Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro gets seven hours per charge and 26 hours when you include the charging case.

Get up to two hours of music playback on a 15-minute quick charge.

I haven't had enough opportunity to fully review Amazon's battery claims, but from what I could see they appear to be correct.

Call quality

For most true wireless earbuds, call quality is an afterthought. Many claim to have done a good job, but in my experience few do. The Echo Buds 2 are the exception. They deliver crystal clear voice quality.

I was walking through some very busy intersections with lots of traffic and other competing noises, and somehow it always sounded like I was standing in the middle of an empty room.

You may be able to get slightly better call quality with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. However, since these cost more than twice as much as the Echo Buds 2, I doubt you'll get more than twice as good results.

Extras

If you enable location services in the Alexa app, you can use them to find your missing Echo Buds 2. The app shows the earbud's last known location and can force the buds to send out a chime as long as they aren't insider their charging case.

If you don't have a Fitbit or Apple Watch, the Echo Buds 2 have a built-in accelerometer that you can use to count basic steps. You can track your walks or runs and the app saves a history of your achievements.

Our opinion

With the Echo Buds 2, Amazon fixed some of the weaknesses of the original Echo Buds while cutting the price by $ 10 if you don't need wireless charging. And while they don't throw it out of the park at every feature (ANC and battery life come to mind), they're still an excellent option for those who want to take Alexa with them everywhere.

Is there a better alternative?

You can find several models of true wireless earbuds that you can use to access Amazon Alexa, but only the Echo Buds 2 (and the original Echo Buds) allow you to speak hands-free with Alexa.

Because of this, they are in a class of their own.

But if you don't mind pressing a button before speaking, I can think of two excellent alternatives, including:

  • $ 130 Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: Better sound, better ANC, and better battery life.
  • $ 150 Jabra Elite 75t: Better sound, better ANC, better battery life, customizable controls.

What is the guarantee?

Amazon grants a one-year warranty on the Echo Buds 2.

How long will they last?

The Echo Buds 2 seem very well built, as is their charging case. You can replace the earbuds when they are worn out. The biggest concern will be battery life. If this drops significantly under normal use at five hours per charge, you may need to replace these faster than earbuds with a longer starting point.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you love the idea of ​​taking Alexa with you wherever you go, the Echo Buds 2 are an affordable, comfortable, and great-sounding set of true wireless earbuds.

Editor's recommendations




29 Oct
Blog

Apple TV 4K Review: Stunning, But Strictly For Apple Fans

Apple TV 4K test: breathtaking, but exclusively for Apple fans

"The Apple TV 4K is a boon for Apple power users (but anyone else is better off with a Roku Ultra)."

  • Extremely intuitive user interface

  • Siri's search / control has been vastly improved

  • Powerful graphics and processing

  • Nice 4K HDR picture

  • In some cases the SDR content is dimmed slightly

  • No longer the only way to do AirPlay

  • Expensive compared to the competition

Apple introduced the Apple TV 4K in 2017. Despite ongoing software updates that can be expected as a streaming force, the hardware and price have stayed the same.

For the first year after its launch, Apple was able to justify the starting price of $ 179 for the 32GB model (the 64GB model costs $ 199). After all, it was one of the few streaming devices on the market that supported 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

But it's 2020 now and Apple's competitors haven't stood still. Roku updated its flagship $ 100 Ultra, Amazon launched and continues to update its $ 120 Fire TV Cube, Nvidia is updating its game on the $ 150 Shield TV, and Google officially moved to the remote media category with the incredibly affordable $ 50 Chromecast with Google TV Streamer.

Apple's little black box does a few things better than these other products, but that list is dwindling, making it increasingly difficult to make an argument that you should be spending that much. Let's take an updated look at the Apple TV 4K and see if it's still the king of Streaming Device Hill.

Out of the box

Apple wrote the rulebook for the out-of-box experience, and the Apple TV 4K packaging proves that the company is still the master at this point. From the heavy cardboard box to the neat cable management to the first-class appearance of the box and the remote control, everything on the Apple 4K TV screams “premium”, which you should expect given the price of 180 US dollars.

For that sum, you'll get a streaming device that feels like loving care and attention has been put into its design. Most streamers are made of plastic, but Apple's is visibly superior. The remote control feels good too – it's just right in your hand and makes you want to swipe up on the touchpad.

Apple TV ReviewBill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

In addition to the Apple TV 4K, its power cord and its remote control, you also receive a lightning cable for charging the remote control and a quick start guide with all three sentences. That's all you need as setting up couldn't be easier.

configuration

If you own a relatively new iOS device (sorry, iPad 2 owners, you're excluded here), you can already experience the fastest set-up process we've seen from a set-top box so far. After selecting the language and country, simply hold your iPhone or iPad near the Apple TV 4K and a few clicks later your WiFi information and Apple ID have been copied. All of your iTunes purchases – music, TV shows, movies – are instantly available on your new Apple TV 4K.

Bonus, if you're a third or fourth generation Apple TV owner who saves device settings in iCloud, your tvOS layout will automatically sync so your new streamer looks almost exactly like your old one – only better.

If you don't own an iPhone or iPad, you'll quickly find that you're not getting the best that Apple TV 4K has to offer. As you would expect, the more you invest in the Apple universe, the more bonuses and amenities you will enjoy.

However, once you've manually connected to your WiFi router (or, better yet, plug in an ethernet cable for a better overall experience), you'll find that plenty of goodies are in stock. Either way, your Apple TV 4K will be set up in no time.

If this is your first Apple TV, or if you don't store your tvOS setting in the cloud, then Netflix, Hulu, and many of the other common suspects aren't pre-installed. So you have to go get them. Apple makes it a little easier for pay TV subscribers by collecting provider information and then automatically downloading the streaming apps that users can enjoy with their pay TV subscription.

You must also sign in to all of your apps. This is the most tedious process of setting up a streaming box or smart TV. Apple makes it easier by automatically offering text entry through iOS on the iPhone or iPad to enter usernames and passwords, or by using Siri to say the letters and numbers out loud and have them transcribed. Both methods are infinitely less of a chore than chasing and pecking through a virtual keyboard, although this option is also available.

User experience

Apple has always had a focus on user experience (known technically as "UX" because of acronyms), which has led to buzzwords like "it just works" and products that have a reputation for being easy for everyone to use . The Apple TV 4K is rich in UX, and the convenience and well-conceived features are deep. There is also a plethora of apps for Apple's set-top device. We cannot discuss all of them here, but we will address those who we consider to be the most notable.

Siri

Most people are already familiar with Apple's digital assistant, but Siri on Apple TV 4K is especially helpful.

Remote Tips and Key Features for Apple Digital Trends:

  • Ask Siri, "What should I see tonight?" A menu of suggested movies and shows is displayed in the lower third of the screen. All recommendations are selected daily by the editors to show what is particularly important.
  • Double tapping the Home button on the remote will bring up recently used apps. This allows you to seamlessly switch between apps without having to go back to the home screen.
  • Move your most used apps to the top line of the home screen for quicker access. For example, add Netflix to your mix. When the icon is selected, shortcuts to Netflix titles will appear at the top. Just click on a title to view it.
  • Easily organize apps on Apple TV with folders.
  • When you highlight a track in Next, hold the button and you'll get quick shortcuts like marking an episode as viewed.
  • You can add any iTunes movie to your Up Next queue using Siri by saying "Add Up to Up Next" on the movie page.
  • Press the play button on any song in Watch Now to start playing immediately.
  • Ask Siri to “Play TVShowX” from your Next list to continue watching.

One of Siri's most helpful uses is finding content that you want to watch – specifically, finding 4K and HDR content that you can watch.

Siri search results are no longer as exclusive as they used to be. Apple might have limited search results to iTunes listings, but Apple TV 4K now shows whether the TV show or movie you want to watch is available outside of iTunes. The quest for orange is the new black, and you have options to buy or rent through iTunes, or watch it for free on Netflix (assuming you have a Netflix subscription, of course). A search will give you similar results for The Handmaid & # 39; s Tale, which you can watch on iTunes but which is free with a Hulu subscription.

Additionally, a narrow search for a specific movie title or a more focused search for movies with specific actors will produce a long list of results from numerous streaming sources. We tried searching for “Movies With Charlize Theron,” and there were certainly many that we could only get through iTunes, but there were several available from other streaming services to which we subscribed. We even searched for “4K Movies on Netflix” and loved it when Apple TV 4K showed us a long list of titles we could watch in 4K.

Other search tricks include asking to see movies in 4K HDR from multiple sources and refining your search by saying, "Just show me the sci-fi movies."

If you miss a dialogue, ask Siri, "What did you say?" and it will backup the video for 15 seconds and enable subtitles for that period. You can also ask Siri to skip forward or forward for a specified amount of time instead of using the backward or fast forward buttons.

Layout: TV app or symbol grid

The layout of the Apple TV 4K is intuitive, especially for previous Apple TV users, with a big and bold grid of colored icons for each app. However, starting with tvOS 13, Apple TV users have a different way of using the Apple TV app as their home screen.

The TV app acts as a single point of contact for all of your streaming needs and has an interface that mimics what you watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. The difference is that the TV app pulls content from all major services, not just one, and makes recommendations based on your viewing patterns and subscriptions.

Supported services include Apple TV +, Disney +, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and Pluto TV. For some services, such as Netflix, the TV app shows the programs that are recommended. However, to actually watch them, you will be directed to the Netflix app instead of watching them in the TV app.

It can keep track of which movies or episodes you've watched, thus providing "Watch Next" and "Watch Next" lists.

If you're a Spectrum or AT&T cable customer, you can watch your subscribed channels in the TV app instead of having to switch inputs on your TV.

With sections dedicated to sports and kids, plus the ability to access the same content on the go with the Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it's a very robust experience.

Gaming, fitness and more

Apple Fitness PlusApple

You have to hand it over to Apple: Although the Apple TV 4K is quickly approaching its fourth birthday, it keeps getting new features.

In 2019, Apple added Apple Arcade, a subscription service for casual gamers. To enhance the experience, support for gaming controllers has been expanded from the very restrictive list of devices designed for iOS to include both the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox controllers. Unfortunately, developers and gamers haven't exactly made Apple Arcade a runaway success.

More recently, Apple announced its Fitness + subscription service, a virtual series of workouts guided by professionally hosted videos (via Apple TV, of course) and tied to the sensors built into the Apple Watch. We can't tell just how good Fitness + is (it will be rolled out later this year), but here's how it compares to Peloton on paper.

The latest version of Apple TV software, tvOS 14, has some cool extras like picture-in-picture, the ability to monitor HomeKit-compatible security cameras from your TV, and support for audio sharing if you have two Apple or two Pairing Apple Devices Suggests wireless headphones to Apple TV 4K.

The information

The Apple TV 4K makes it clear if 4K with HDR is available for the content you're watching, which is more than can be said for some of its competitors. There are also numerous reviews for TV shows and movies that are sourced from multiple outlets such as Rotten Tomatoes. You can also learn more about the cast and crew of your favorite movies and TV shows by clicking on the actors' profile picture. This is similar to Amazon's X-ray functionality, but is better implemented.

The speed

The Apple TV 4K is fast thanks to the A10X Fusion processor under the hood. If your internet connection can keep up, load times are lightning fast, info screens appear instantly when you click them, and even scrolling through long title tapes is remarkably smooth and fast.

The image quality

In HDR mode, the picture quality of the Apple TV 4K is excellent. The 4K content in Dolby Vision and HDR10 looks beautiful, especially with movies on iTunes. Most of the standard dynamic range (SDR) content also looks very good.

Pro Tip: Apple TV 4K converted 24fps movies to 60fps before they were delivered to the TV and there was no way to turn them off. Now there is an option to "match content" for audio and video in the settings we recommend.

Dolby Atmos

A key addition to Apple TV 4K, which was introduced with tvOS 12 in 2018, was support for Dolby Atmos, the leading surround sound format for home users. While not fully compatible with all apps (Plex can handle Dolby Atmos, for example, but only if the source is Dolby Digital Plus and not Dolby TrueHD), this was a huge win for home theater owners with Dolby Atmos sound systems. Here's how to find out if you're actually getting Dolby Atmos on your Apple TV 4K.

If you subscribe to Tidal's HiFi tier, you can use the Tidal app to listen to Dolby Atmos songs if you have a compatible home theater system or soundbar.

Dwindling benefits

There was a time when owning an Apple TV was the only way you could AirPlay screen mirroring or transfer content from an iOS device to your TV. It was also the only way to access iTunes movies and TV shows. Times have changed, however, and these once-exclusive features are increasingly being built into the latest generation of smart TVs and third-party streaming devices.

The iTunes Movies and TV app and the Apple Music app are available from 2018 and newer Samsung Smart TVs.

AirPlay 2 has been added to the latest smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. There will also be 4K-capable Roku in the coming months. Along with AirPlay 2, most of these devices also get Apple's smart home platform, HomeKit, which Siri can use to control them.

The Apple TV app, arguably the nerve center for the overall Apple TV 4K user experience, also appears on the same devices as well as Amazon's Fire TV platform. The TV app isn't the entire Apple TV experience, but it's a significant part.

When you consider how much functionality is included in lower-cost streaming devices like Chromecast with Google TV, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Roku Ultra, how much value do you put in the exclusive features of Apple TV 4K like Apple Arcade? or Apple Fitness +.

warranty

The Apple TV 4K warranty provided by Apple protects against product defects for one year before purchase. Apple also offers an extended warranty for the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Our opinion

The Apple TV 4K is a fast device with Apple's unique design stamp. Those deeply immersed in the Apple universe will be delighted by the way the streaming set-top box integrates with other Apple devices, as well as the Siri integration which offers convenient search and voice control , be thrilled.

Is there a better alternative?

For Apple power users, the Apple 4K TV is just the thing. For everyone else, devices like the Streaming Stick + from Roku, the Roku Ultra, the Fire TV Stick 4K from Amazon or Chromecast with Google TV offer a much better price-performance ratio.

How long it will take?

With the A10X Fusion processor inside, the Apple TV 4K still has a lot of untapped potential. And even if Apple announces new hardware this year, you can bet the company will continue to support the current generation for many years to come.

Should you buy it?

Buy the Apple TV 4K if you are heavily invested in the Apple universe and / or have a large library of movies, TV shows, and music in the iTunes Store – and you don't intend to buy a new smart TV anytime soon. Don't buy the Apple TV 4K if you just want to get 4K HDR content through an easy-to-use device that's priced well below $ 100.

Editor's recommendations




06 Oct
Blog

Best Dyson Deals and Sales for October 2020: Vacuums and Fans

Digital Trends can earn a commission when you buy from links on our website.

This year the need for healthy air is greater than ever. Dyson vacuums and fans have extensive air filtration, including standard HEPA filtration. However, due to Dyson's high prices, many customers are waiting for the corded or cordless vacuum cleaner, fanless fan, or hair care device that they are looking forward to getting on sale. Fortunately, Dyson frequently cuts its products and changes prices frequently every week. The best place to start? Right here, with our collection of the best Dyson deals and best Dyson sales.

Today's Best Dyson Deals

  • Dyson V7 Allergy HEPA Cord-Free Stick Vacuum Cleaner, White – – $ 280was $ 330
  • Dyson V7 Motorhead Origin Wireless Vacuum – – 300 dollarswas $ 400
  • Dyson Hot + Cool Jet Focus AM09 fan heater – – $ 444was $ 470
  • Dyson V10 Motorhead cordless vacuum cleaner – – $ 470was $ 500
  • Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean Upright Vacuum Cleaner – – $ 518was $ 599

Today's Best Dyson Vacuum Deals

  • Dyson V7 Allergy HEPA Cord-Free Stick Vacuum Cleaner, White – – $ 280was $ 330
  • Dyson V7 Motorhead Origin Wireless Vacuum – – 300 dollarswas $ 400
  • Dyson V8 Tier cordless vacuum cleaner – – $ 399was $ 411
  • Dyson V10 Motorhead cordless vacuum cleaner – – $ 470was $ 500
  • Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Blue – – $ 518was $ 599

Today's Best Dyson Fan Deals

  • Dyson Pure Hot + Cool, HP01 HEPA air purifier, space heater and fan – – 400 dollarswas $ 500
  • Dyson Hot + Cool Jet Focus AM09 fan heater – – $ 444was $ 470

How to choose a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner

Ever wondered the difference between Motorhead, Animal and Absolute versions of the Dyson lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner of the same generation? Dyson typically sells two or three models of each new generation of its versatile cordless vacuum cleaners.

Subsequent generations will often have more powerful motors, longer battery life and sometimes larger dust containers. Each model of a generation usually has the same engine and main features. These variants generally represent different functions and accessories of a new generation. List prices for the latest generation models typically differ by $ 50 to $ 100.

Dyson typically sells two or three models of each new generation of its versatile cordless vacuum cleaners. Subsequent generations will often have more powerful motors, longer battery life and sometimes larger dust containers. Each model of a generation usually has the same engine and different key features.

Dyson uses the engine head designation for the most basic model, usually with a single cleaning type and a basic range of accessories.

A Dyson Animal V-Series stick vacuum cleaner comes with a mid-range assortment that often includes two cleaning heads and most of the accessories, or in some cases just one cleaning head with all of the accessories for that model.

The Dyson Absolute Cordless V-Series models usually include everything available for that model, so you can expect two cleaning heads (regular size and mini) and the full range of accessories.

When buying a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner, look out for the features and accessories that you are sure to actually use. Many homeowners buy vacuum cleaners with lots of accessories and supplies, but only use two or three accessories like a splitting tool and an upholstery brush during their years of operation.

If you are sure that you are using all of the accessories available for a Dyson model, it is cheaper to buy all of them at once than to fill it up with individual pieces at higher prices later. However, don't let the bundle price argument sway you if you usually vacuum as quickly as possible and only occasionally get on the edges, ceilings and under furniture.

An Expert's Guide to Dyson Deals and Dyson Sales

If Dyson's list prices are above your budget, there are several ways you can save on the brand's equipment.

  • sales – Dyson has frequent “Official Dyson Sales” throughout the year, often at 20% to 40% off.
  • Reconditioned models – Dyson also has an active business selling reconditioned models at even bigger discounts. Dyson runs its factory refurbished models through full function tests and each model comes with a Dyson warranty.
  • Model adjustments – You can also find fabulous deals on Dyson products where the company carries on older models even after new generations have started. So, if you're considering the latest Dyson cordless stick vacuum, but it is a few hundred dollars more than you want to spend, look back on a generation or two. New Dyson models often have more powerful engines and other special features, but any of the last two or maybe even three generations may be perfect for your needs.
  • Mystery deals – This savings factor is likely due to the inventory adjustment, but we don't know for sure. However, there are times when Dyson dives into models of the previous generation and defies the price differences of the original model. For example, we've seen previous Dyson Absolute V-series models sold at major retailers and even on the Dyson website for the same or less than the same-generation V-series Animal or Motorhead models. You can sometimes get a better-equipped model for the same or a lower price.
  • When the stars align in your favor – Even if all four of the money-saving factors apply, which is rare, the best deal on a Dyson is still more than you need to spend on a simple vacuum cleaner. However, if you want the quality and brand name from Dyson, buying a higher-level, factory-refurbished Dyson V-series stick vacuum cleaner for less than a lower-level version of the same generation is a perfect deal.

Looking for more must-haves? Visit our curated Deals Hub for Roomba deals, vacuum deals, and other great smart home deals.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we carefully and independently choose what we cover. The prices, details and availability of the products and offers in this post are subject to change at any time. Make sure they are still valid before making a purchase.

Digital Trends can earn commissions on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Editor's recommendations




31 Jul
Blog

Canon EOS R6 Review: Enough to Sway Even Stubborn DSLR Fans

canon eos r6 review 0651

"With the ergonomics of a DSLR but the advantages of a mirrorless one, the EOS R6 is a convincing hybrid."

  • Sharp photos and videos

  • Smooth auto focus

  • Fast recording speed

  • Excellent stabilization

  • Good performance in low light conditions

  • Comfortable grip

  • A bit bulky

  • Puffer struggles with long outbreaks

  • Animal Eye AF under-fulfilled

  • Short 4K recording due to overheating

Canon had a certain identity crisis, which made it possible to switch to a mirrorless full screen with the throttled budget RP and the good but not very competitive EOS R. However, the company's second set of mirrorless full-frame cameras seems to promise more of what Canon DSLRs were known for, and a few more, with image stabilization in the body, 12 fps bursts, and the next generation of dual-pixel autofocus in the Canon EOS R6 and R5.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The R6 is the cheaper of the two newly announced cameras. It costs about $ 2,500 for the body only, and features a lower-resolution 20.1-megapixel sensor, a plastic body instead of a magnesium alloy, and some of the biggest features of the R5 8K video. Although the feature list is shorter, the R6 still manages to offer the same stabilization in the body, the same burst speed and a similar autofocus system.

Recording with the R6 feels like recording with a DSLR – with the exception of the electronic viewfinder – down to the handle, control scheme and uniform size. This could be enough for the DSLR holdouts to make the switch without sacrificing ergonomics, image quality, or performance. But is the R6 enough for Canon to survive in an increasingly crowded mirrorless full-screen market?

A mirrorless camera in a DSLR-like housing

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Recording with the EOS R6 feels like working with a DSLR – until you hold the camera to your eye and the electronic viewfinder eliminates the lack of a mirror. The case is closer to an APS-C DSLR than a mirrorless full-frame camera. Nevertheless, the width of the camera, including the handle, is almost an inch larger than that of the Sony A7 III and more than half an inch larger than that of the Nikon Z 5. The R6 is even slightly deeper than the Canon EOS 7D Mark II (one such APS-C DSLR), albeit a little shorter and narrower.

It is important that the R6 is comfortable to hold.

That means the R6 won't give you a big size advantage if that was your main reason for switching to mirrorless. Canon may be aimed at photographers who prefer the ergonomics of a DSLR over a mirrorless camera. It is important that the R6 is comfortable to hold. And while you're about the size of a DSLR, using the R6 saves you having to carry an additional 5 ounces over a DSLR similar to the 7D Mark II.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The control scheme also channels Canon DSLRs through to the auto focus joystick, which is annoyingly disabled until you browse the menus to find the option to turn it on (a startling decision). Despite the additional real estate and non-entry title, Canon was unable to install a second LCD screen at the top. The switch to change the LCD screen from still images to video is also missing, although the record button continues to start a movie from any mode. To switch focus mode or change the burst speed, you need to dig in the quick menu or reassign part of the area of ​​the camera using the custom button options. However, the rest of the controls should be familiar to Canon DSLR users right down to the depth of field preview button.

The familiar controls – and the menu system – create a mirrorless camera to which Canon DSLR holdouts can be easily adapted. Users who switch from another system have to get used to some special features, e.g. B. Navigating the menus with the three steering wheels instead of an arrow keyboard. In fairness, you can always use the touchscreen.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The R6 is equipped with an EVF with 3.69 million points – it's not the highest quality we've seen and not as detailed as the EOS R5, but it is sufficient and comparable to other cameras for a similar price. The viewfinder turns black while recording, but the burst speed is fast enough so it is not particularly difficult to track what is happening in the viewfinder once a burst begins. The rear touchscreen with a resolution of 1.62 million points can be folded to the side for viewing from any angle, also for selfies and vlogs, while the camera is on a tripod.

The R6, which is missing from several mirrorless models, gratefully offers two SD card slots. The battery life is 510 pictures with the monitor and 380 with the viewfinder. But like most cameras, the CIPA rating is a gross underestimation – I took 2,500 photos with a mixture of LCD screen and viewfinder, including many long series, before the battery warning started to flash.

Stabilization in the body

Composed in Photoshop from a series of RAW bursts recorded on the Canon EOS R6 in 1/10 second, 1: 1.8, ISO 2000. Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Canon disappointed many when it released the original EOS R with no body stabilization, and the EOS R6 offsets it with a 5-axis stabilization system designed on paper for up to 8 stops in combination with a specific lens set . The sensor stabilization is a reason for Canon shooters with a DSLR medium level to switch to the medium level R6.

The stabilization system is ideal for wide-angle shots in poor lighting conditions and to reduce the shutter speed for longer lenses. I shot fireflies with the 35mm f / 1.8 lens on a tenth of a second handheld at dusk, and most of my shots were still sharp.

The stabilization system is ideal for wide-angle shots in poor lighting conditions and to reduce the shutter speed for longer lenses.

The R6 has a stabilization system that is great for a full-frame camera, but it doesn't necessarily outperform the competition. While the Nikon and Sony systems are only designed for five f-stops, the Z 6 handheld allowed me to shoot at a similar shutter speed – 1/8 second that supports my elbows on a table and 1/20 second without support. The R6 was only slightly better at 1/10 of a second without support.

Although Olympus listed a maximum of 7.5 stabilization stops and Canon claimed 8 stops, it was still more stable than the R6 to compare apples to oranges by contrasting a full-frame Micro Four Thirds camera. After I pushed the R6 under a tenth of a second and reached the exposure times of seconds, the pictures were no longer sharp. With the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, which still came out sharply, I took hand exposures longer than six seconds. Canon's stabilization is excellent, but it doesn't offer the great advantage over other stabilized cases that it seems to offer if you just look at the specs.

Fast autofocus and bursts

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The autofocus of the R6 was able to focus impressively even at dusk, provided the autofocus point was placed in an area with a slight contrast. The autofocus system even managed to tie itself to a glass – albeit slowly – at dusk, a subject and lighting conditions that have traditionally been a challenge for most cameras.

The continuous autofocus kept up well at maximum speed and only occasionally dropped the focus. The autofocus seemed to keep up well with the subjects that were moving in one direction parallel to the camera, as well as the subjects that were approaching me.

Eye AF is included and keeps up quickly. The R6 has managed to keep its eyes sharp for almost every shot of an energetic 7-year-old running towards the camera. While the Eye AF does an excellent job, it is not quite as clever on some systems where I have tried to focus on partially obscured eyes – the R6 has had a tougher time with faces turned to the side and some systems will impressively focus on eyelashes and closed eyes, the R6 does not.

Although the eye AF is good here (though not quite the best), we cannot say the same for the animal face and eye tracking. Unlike our experience with the EOS R5, Eye AF didn't work at all on the R6 in my chocolate lab and instead wanted to focus on her nose. I only had animal eye AF work once on my cat, which has more contrast on the face than a brown dog with brown eyes. Note that the animal tracking feature is impressed on the R5, which offers more pixels for the dual-pixel autofocus system. This may have something to do with the significantly different results that we have achieved between the two systems.

The auto focus system struggled the most with black and shadow. The R6 struggled when the AF point was placed on a darker part of the picture, although the camera snapped into place with identical lighting seconds later, as soon as the exposure correction lifted these shadows out of the black tones. This is not a problem for most images with a properly illuminated subject, but the camera has problems with scenarios such as silhouettes and focusing on black objects.

Excellent stabilization and mostly great autofocus are combined with a fast burst mode with 12 frames per second and a burst mode with 20 frames per second using the electronic shutter. The buffer is sufficient for a mid-level camera with 63 pictures that take RAW + JPEG, regardless of the set burst speed before the speed is slowed down. Once some of these images are deleted, you can continue recording. Annoyingly, the quick menu is locked while processing these images, making it difficult to adjust settings quickly (a problem that has been a problem with other Sony mirrorless cameras in the past, for example). It takes a good 30 seconds for a full burst to be completely cleared before you can access the menu. Only set to JPEG, the buffer is cleared almost immediately.

picture quality

The EOS R6 contains the same sensor as Canon's flagship DSLR, the 1DX Mark III: a 20.1 megapixel full-frame sensor. This is not as detailed or robust as the R5's 45 megapixels or competitor models like the 24 megapixel Nikon Z 6 or the Sony A7 III, but the compromise for fewer megapixels is often less noise when shooting in low light conditions.

The blend of ISO performance and stabilization makes the R6 an excellent option for shooting in low light.

This theory holds water with the R6, with its excellent handling of noise at high ISO. The noise starts to reach more noticeable values ​​at ISO 3,200 together with some color noise, but only becomes disturbing when cropping or printing at full size at ISO 8,000. If I reduced the noise of the RAW files until just before the start of sharpness, I would even call ISO 12,800, which is still good enough to share on Instagram or make small prints, and even up to ISO 32,000 if necessary push. Some streaking will occur if the ISO value is increased further, but the noise will still result in poor image quality. Of course, this is possible under ideal conditions, including shooting with a tripod and without exposure corrections in the post. Nevertheless, these results are particularly impressive.

The blend of ISO performance and stabilization makes the R6 an excellent option for shooting in low light. With high contrast lighting, the R6's RAW files were able to restore a considerable amount of detail from the shadows and even an easy recovery of lights and whites. On the other hand, the RAW files can also be easily edited for additional contrast. Check out how backlit golden hour images look in raw JPEG from the R6 compared to a RAW file that was edited to restore shadows and the same RAW file that was edited for drama and contrast:

canon eos r6 review 1i6a1636 original "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1i6a1636_original-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Original JPEG Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

edit canon eos r6 review contrast 1636 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-r6-review-contrast- edit -1636-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABARAW edited for contrast Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

canon eos r6 review shadow recovery 1636 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-r6-review-shadow- recovery -1636-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAEdited RAW for shadow restoration Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The R6 was also impressively sharp across the entire ISO range. While the lens plays a bigger role in image sharpness, the images from both 35mm and 24-105mm HF lenses were excellent. The sharpness around the eyes in portraits was particularly impressive when shooting with both eye AF and single point AF.

The colors of the R6 were exactly what I expected from a Canon. I think the Canon colors are a bit cool – but that's both completely subjective and easy to adjust afterwards.

While the R6 isn't as detailed as a sensor with more megapixels, it does offer excellent image quality for a mirrorless mid-frame full-screen mode. The sharpness is solid, the noise reduction is excellent, and the colors were the level I expected from Canon DSLRs.

Video quality

The R6 took up less space in the headlines than the R5's 8K, but the video is still impressive as it comes from the R5's cheaper sibling. The R5 with its 8K, oversampled 4K, slow motion 4K and RAW videos is ideal for serious videographers than the R6. However, the R6 offers several solid video functions.

Videos can be recorded at 60 fps in 4K in 10-bit. While the R6 is not the 8K value of the R5, the R6 oversamples the video, which means that data from across the width of the 5K sensor is used to create the 4K video. The result is that videos are wonderfully detailed, and stabilization provides a big boost for shooting handhelds. The autofocus has a smooth transition, but the camera often searches for the focus, a remnant of the previously mentioned problems with the autofocus.

The video length of the R6 is limited to approx. 30 seconds, but the recording in 4K 30p can immediately continue for another 10 minutes. 4K 60p requires a cool-down period after recording a 30-minute video, and recording at temperatures above 73 degrees leads to shorter recording times. This is due to the lack of a fan. According to Canon, this is a decision to keep the camera body smaller.

Our opinion

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The Canon EOS R6 is the mirrorless camera that owners of the company's medium-sized DSLRs have chosen. The camera feels like working with a DSLR, but it provides body stabilization and the electronic viewfinder of a mirrorless camera without sacrificing performance or image quality. And of course it works with Canon lenses (with adapter). It's a little bulky, the buffer locks the quick menu a little too long, the eye AF isn't quite as good as the competition, and the animal AF didn't work at all, and videos have to be short to prevent overheating – but it there is still much to love.

The R6 is an excellent camera – and the best option for using Canon lenses on a mirrorless camera without damaging the R5 – and eventually competes with other brands. Although the R6 is now competing well, Canon is more equal than other mirrorless competitors. Sony and Nikon's options are significantly smaller and offer more megapixels. While Canon has more physical properties, it lacks some controls that we really wanted. The image stabilization of the R6 only looks much better on paper and in real tests did not offer a great advantage over 5-stop systems.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want to keep your Canon lenses, the Canon EOS R5 is the only better alternative with similar features, but a higher resolution and a tier AF that is actually quite impressive. For photographers who have not yet invested in a lens system, the R6 may not offer enough incentives to switch. The Sony A7 III is a few megapixels cheaper, but the ergonomics and menu can be frustrating for photographers who are used to DSLRs. The now replaced A7R III has 42.2 megapixels for an identical price and offers larger images, but has the same problems as the A7 III. The Nikon Z 6 costs $ 500 less, has a slightly higher resolution, a smaller housing and a secondary LCD screen, but does not have two card slots and the autofocus in poor light conditions is inferior to that of the R6.

How long it will take?

In contrast to the R5, the R6 has a polycarbonate housing – the type of plastic that is usually used when getting into mid-range DSLRs. While not as sturdy, it feels firm in your hands and is weatherproof. Aside from catastrophic slumps, the R6 should last a few years. Since Canon is a newbie to mirrorless full-screen mode, we wouldn't be surprised if new features in two more years will cause you to upgrade before you have to.

Should you buy it

If you are a Canon DSLR shooter ready to flip the mirrorless switch and can't afford to opt for the high-end R5, then buy the R6. Pictures and performance are excellent, and the R6 feels like a Canon DSLR. If you want a mirrorless camera that is significantly smaller than a DSLR, or looking for features like exceptional animal AF, or if you need a fast buffer to shoot, the best thing to do is look elsewhere.

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