Audio

Netflix Premium subscribers are getting an enhancement to their service starting today. The streaming company has increased the number of devices that can download content for offline viewing from four to six. It’s also expanding the spatial audio feature it launched in 2022, making spatial audio available on its top 700 titles. The new features are included in the current price of a Premium plan. Spatial audio on Netflix is similar to Dolby Atmos — it creates a much more immersive, 3D-like audio experience where sounds feel like they’re moving independently of the rest of the soundtrack. However, unlike Dolby Atmos, Netflix’s spatial audio can be experienced on any device that has stereo speakers whether they are Dolby Atmos-capable or not. Netflix says that while the effect should be noticeable on any stereo device, especially when using headphones, the feature has been primarily optimized for laptops and tablets. Some examples of titles that now use Netflix spatial audio … [Read more...] about Netflix Premium adds more spatial audio, more device downloads | Digital Trends

U-Turn Orbit Theory review: nothing theoretical about this stellar turntable MSRP $999.00 Score Details DT Editors' Choice “U-Turn has launched into the premium market with their best turntable yet, the Orbit Theory.” Pros Ortofon 2M Blue or Bronze cartridge New antiresonant tonearm design Easy to set up Electronic speed switch dial Built-in preamp option Fantastic sound for price Cons Only two finish options No auto stop If you’re at the stage in your record-collecting odyssey where you’re considering upgrading your entry-level turntable , you’re probably well aware of big names like Rega and Pro-Ject. But if you’re the type that likes to veer just off the beaten path for gear that can go toe-to-toe with those big shots while adding something a little different to your setup, Woburn, Massachusetts-based U-Turn Audio has recently ventured into premium territory with the Orbit Theory, its best turntable yet. … [Read more...] about U-Turn Orbit Theory review: one stellar premium turntable | Digital Trends

British audio gear maker KEF today announced the next generation of its midrange R Series loudspeakers, dubbed R Series Meta. Upgraded with the same sound-absorbing metamaterial tech found in several of its high-end speakers, the R Series Meta aims to bring this premium sound to a broader audience with its more affordable price point. If you’ve ever perused the KEF website and drooled over the company’s unique-looking $35,000 Blade One Meta speakers, its $22,000 Reference 5 Meta towers , or even its $7,000 LS60 Wireless powered speakers, KEF’s R Series Meta could be a much more affordable way to get in on the same Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) found in those speakers. The new R Series Meta lineup is powered by KEF’s 12th-generation Uni-Q driver array, which is the company’s proprietary driver technology found on all of the high-end speakers in KEF’s lineup and is recognizable by the unique star shape in the center. And while this 12th-gen of drivers could be … [Read more...] about KEF’s R Series Meta speakers absorb noise like a black hole | Digital Trends

Whether you just bought a new Android phone or are looking for ways to jazz up your old one, apps are the name of the game. They’re how we communicate with friends, watch movies, stay productive, and so much more. You can have the best Android phone on the market, but if you don’t also pair it with the best Android apps, you’re missing out. Contents Android essentials Movies and videos Music and audio News Sports Social media Messaging Dating Reading Gaming Nutrition, cooking, and food Fitness and health Finances and money Shopping Travel and events Going out Photo editing and management Documents, web, and email Productivity Show 14 more items There are millions of Android apps on the Play Store. Many of them are great, some are fine, and others are bogus. To help you sift through everything and focus on the apps you should actually care about, we’ve rounded up 50 of our favorite ones right … [Read more...] about The best Android apps in 2023: the 50 apps you need to download | Digital Trends

The streaming world continues to consolidate, but that’s not necessarily lessening the confusion over where to watch what. The latest move is with Showtime becoming a part of Paramount+ . While parent company Paramount didn’t directly announce the change, it long had been in the running before Variety reported the news via an internal memo from Paramount CEO Bob Backish. The end result? “Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.” That’s the official name, clunky and capitalized as it is. The change itself isn’t immediately — “later this year” was all Backish had to say in the memo about the timing — but it’s part of a larger sea change that actually started a few years ago. CBS All Access was the first iteration of the Paramount-owed streaming service (back then it was all a part of ViacomCBS). But the broadcast company we know as CBS doesn’t have a presence outside of the U.S., and so the Paramount name took over in 2021. Further consolidation was in the cards, and that brings us to this … [Read more...] about Showtime is being merged into Paramount Plus | Digital Trends