Best audio gear at CES 2024: Headphones, turntables, speakers and… a picture frame?
The world’s biggest tech convention is bringing the goods in the audio department – here’s what’s new.
CES 2024: Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
It’s back – the tech convention that promises eccentric products, bleeding-edge concepts, and a ton of ‘WTF?’ moments. This year at CES 2024, Las Vegas, we’ve spotted slick turntables, powerful speakers and headphones, lighting systems for your studio, a quirky contemporary jukebox and, yes, even a picture frame that doubles as a sound system.
We’ll be updating this article with our favourite audio gear releases from the Consumer Electronics Show as they are announced and unveiled. Be sure to keep checking back to learn more about products that you may never need or may never knew you wanted.
JBL unveils new range of true wireless earphones
JBL has unveiled a multitude of new products at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including the JBL Live TWS 3 Series of true wireless earphones with “game changing” Smart Charging Cases. Each one comes fitted with an LED touch display.
And that’s not all, as refreshed models of its award-winning range of portable speakers – the Xtreme 4, Clip 5 and Go 4 – have also been unmasked, plus new PartyBox speakers.
Read more about JBL’s new range of true wireless earphones.
FiiO is bringing back the ’80s with this Walkman-inspired cassette player
It’s 2024, but the appetite for more retro music listening mediums is still strong – as reflected in FiiO’s new Sony Walkman-inspired cassette player, the CP13.
Featuring large playback buttons, an oversized knob, and a 3.5mm headphone port, users are sure to receive a blast from the past every time they take the player for a spin.
And while FiiO has added several modern elements such as a USB-C port for charging and a status LED, the rest of the player stays true to the retro theme: Bluetooth connectivity isn’t included, nor is there the ability to convert tapes to MP3 files.
Read more about the FiiO CP13.
LG DukeBox – A vacuum tube smart speaker for the audiophile that has it all
LG’s new DukeBox smart speaker concept combines old-school-cool vacuum tubes with 360-degree speakers to create “an immersive audio experience that surrounds the listener,” according to the brand. It also boasts a modern OLED display with adjustable transparency that, yes, can show you the vacuum tubes and current song information but will also let you play movies and other visuals. You know, like creating “a cosy fireplace ambience where the vacuum tube is visible amidst the flickering flames” – just like you always wanted…right?
Alas, the DukeBox is not likely to appear in your home anytime soon. It’s just a concept that LG is showing off at CES 2024 but that doesn’t mean we can’t expect it to come to life at some point in the future.
Read more about the LG DukeBox.
Nanoleaf’s light-up panels now sync to your music output
Nanoleaf, the maker of home lighting panels, has announced Orchestrator, a new feature to sync up your lights to your audio. Your music studio and listening space probably looks pretty cool anyway, we’re sure, but it’s hard to say no to customisable lighting. And when the lights pump along to your favourite beats? Come on!
Learn more about Nanoleaf Orchestrator.
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 wireless earbuds boast lossless audio
Thanks to Qualcomm’s AptX Lossless technology, Sennheiser’s earbuds have finally gone lossless. The Momentum 4 earbuds will let you listen to your music at CD quality with compatible devices – this probably doesn’t mean from the latest MacBook Pro or iPhone, as it’ll also need an AptX Lossless codec, sadly.
The Momentum True Wireless 4 will be released on 29 February at $299.95 (€299.99 / £259.99).
Learn more about Sennheiser Momentum 4.
Samsung’s Music Frame is real and it’s actually kinda cool
Speakers are getting quirkier by the year. Remember Bang & Olufson’s Beoplay A9s with Joy Division and New Order designs? Samsung’s got a new idea.
The Music Frame doesn’t have a screen – which feels like it defeats the whole point of the product, honestly – but you will insert your physical photos into the frame to disguise your speaker setup behind your favourite art. It could be a vinyl cover art, a family photo or, sure, a picture of a turntable.
As Engadget says in the video above, you can use it as a home smart speaker with six drivers that might be more impressive than you think. You can also set up multiple Music Frames for a stereo pair or multiroom setup. It also has Dolby Atmos capabilities for home theatre and listening applications.
Where is CES 2024?
The Consumer Electronics Show is held at 12 different venues around Las Vegas, Nevada. This includes the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo, the Aria Resort & Casino and Park MGM. These are categorised into Tech East, Tech West and Tech South.
CES 2024 runs from Tuesday 9 January 2024 to Friday 12 January 2024.
Learn more at ces.tech
