Zeppelin – Wireless smart speaker
You may remember him: the Zeppelin from British Bowers & Wilkins. Formerly an iPod speaker, now it is also ready for all your streaming needs. The speaker with the iconic design is a stereo system in one housing, with left and right speakers around a central, large subwoofer, powered by a 240W amplifier. These are all mounted in an FEA-optimized housing, which according to B&W is designed for the best possible acoustic performance.
You will hardly find a more stylish speaker anywhere else, and neither will the compatibility with all kinds of different modern formats. For example, it is possible to stream with Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX Adaptive and Spotify Connect – and the Bowers & Wilkins Music App in which streaming services such as Deezer, SoundCloud, Tidal, TuneIn, Spotify and much more are present. The beautiful speaker is available in dark midnight gray and light pearl gray and must be for someone special, because you will have to pay 799 euros for the Zeppelin.
Wide Short Electric Bike
Looking for a futuristic yet unobtrusive e-bike? The Curt from the Estonian Ampler is a very nice option. The electric bicycle is suitable for just about every cyclist, does not actually resemble an e-bike, is lightweight and is made to be easily portable. The bike has enough modern gadgets, such as integrated rear lighting under the saddle, special anti-puncture tires and a very handy app to check the status of your bike, but also to plan routes and change cycling mode (normal or fast).
When buying, you can choose between two versions: the ten-speed model or the belt drive model (belt drive system). Models with drive belts are becoming more common and are much easier to maintain (last about four times longer than bicycle chains) and quieter than a regular bicycle chain. The bicycle’s battery provides a range of 40 to 100 kilometers and is seamlessly incorporated into the design. The bike costs 2890 euros and can be personalized on the Ampler site.
Sony WF-1000XM4
We’ve tested many wireless earbuds over the past year, and these from Sony are definitely one of the best around. Sony’s earplugs have been significantly updated and weigh just 7.3 grams together – so they don’t feel heavy – and have been given an IPX4 rating, which makes them water and sweat resistant.
The active noise cancellation is very good thanks to the new V1 processor, which also extends the battery life (8 hours with noise cancellation on and 12 hours with noise cancellation off) and significantly boosts the Bluetooth signal. Precise Voice Pickup Technology makes phone calls clearer than ever, the Ambient Sound Mode lets you hear your surroundings with the earplugs in your ear and the app offers many equalizer settings to personalize the sound. The earbuds are available in black or silver for 280 euros on Sony’s website.
Dyson V15 Detect
The outside of Dyson’s vacuum cleaners always look modern, but the inside is also getting smarter. Dyson’s new V15 Detect is the first vacuum cleaner with laser detection technology that can detect, remove, size and count microscopic dust anywhere in your home to have everything in spotless condition as soon as guests come over. You almost feel like a Jedi!
The green laser reveals dust particles normally invisible to the naked eye, and an LCD screen on top of the cordless vacuum cleaner, thanks to the acoustic piezo sensor that converts vibrations into electrical signals, shows the precise size and amount of dust particles while controlling the suction power in real time. adapted to different floor types and dust volumes. So if you’re looking for a real gadget from the future, the Dyson V15 Detect, for sale for 699 euros on the Dyson site, is certainly not a bad idea.
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3
When it comes to top-of-the-line audio technology, Sennheiser is considered by many to be the boss. Sennheiser is also not lagging behind in the wireless category these days. The foldable headphones weigh 312 grams and of course have options such as active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode, both of which work fine and are not uncomfortable. The headphones last about 16 hours with noise cancellation on, 18 hours without noise cancellation, and the gadget is fully charged in three hours.
If you’re looking for all-round headphones with good sound in just about all genres and modern features, this is definitely a solid option. When you buy it, you also get a very nice cover and a jack cable to connect it to a non-wireless device. The headphones are for sale on the Sennheiser website in black and white for 399 euros.
PULSE 3D Wireless Headset
We all know that the PlayStation 5 has a radical design if you compare it with the PlayStation 4, but also with the new Xbox Series X. But of course the main accessories with the new console – the DualSense controller and Pulse 3D headset – have that. also. The Pulse 3D headset has been specially designed by Sony to perfectly convey the 3D audio generated by next-gen PlayStation games. The headset certainly does, but the headset sounds surprisingly good for a standard device and it is also comfortable. If you want to surprise someone with a PS5 with a real 3D sound experience, buying the Pulse 3D – which costs just 99 euros and is available in two colors – is certainly not a bad idea.
The DualSense controller is a real next-gen showpiece from Sony and is now not only available in the Stormtrooper color scheme, but also in red, light blue and black. If you know someone who is one of the few who has a PlayStation 5, buying such a colored controller is also very nice.
Apple AirPods 3
This year, Apple finally released the new generation of standard AirPods, which were a real upgrade over the AirPods 2. The most noticeable change to the new model is the new shape, which is now reminiscent of the more expensive Apple AirPods Pro by the other. angle and the shorter stem, but without a rubber pad. Fortunately, not only is the design different, but the sound has also been greatly improved. The earplugs sound much better than its predecessors. You could almost say that there is little difference with the more expensive AirPods Pro, except for the lack of active noise cancellation, which is not a relevant function for everyone.
The AirPods 3 would last about six hours, according to Apple, which is an hour longer than the AirPods 2 and up to an hour and a half more than the AirPods Pro – a nice improvement. Another nice feature that has been added is an IPX4 certification, making them sweat resistant, and the addition of Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support. If you want to make someone happy with an old pair of AirPods, I would definitely recommend the new AirPods 3 as a Christmas present! The AirPods 3 cost 199 euros on Apple’s website, but if you search the internet you will soon come across lower amounts.
Cowboy 4 – Electric Bike
The fairly young Belgian company Cowboy is rapidly becoming a major player in the European market for electric bicycles, which is why you should not miss this e-bike. The Cowboy 4 has won a Red Dot Award for its design, and it certainly shows. The streamlined design is mouth-watering, with low handlebars, integrated lighting, removable battery, drive belt, and thin but sturdy tires.
This e-bike has, among other things, the unique concept of the ‘cockpit’, a compartment in the handlebars where you insert your phone with the Cowboy app switched on to view an overview of everything related to your ride: the possibility for cycling navigation, the home screen with the weather situation and air quality on your route and live fitness data including your average speed and how many calories you burn. As soon as your phone is in the cockpit, it is also charged wirelessly, which is handy! The e-bike can be ordered and personalized on the Cowboy website for a price starting at EUR 2590.
JBL Flip 6
As a party speaker, JBL has been a welcome guest for years and with the JBL Flip 6, the manufacturer is once again doing its bit in the bag. Two passive radiators, a racetrack woofer and a separate tweeter provide solid sounds at parties. You can now choose from Fiesta Red, Gray Stone and Ocean Blue and the promising Dusty Pink, River Teal, Midnight Black, Steel White, Forest Green and Squad are coming soon if we are to believe JBL. The box can last for 12 hours before you have to charge it. Price tag is 139 euros.
Philips Fidelio L3
Philips may be known to most consumers for its televisions with Ambilight, but this year they released very nice headphones. The appearance is not only luxurious, the comfort is high. The Hi-Res certified Fidelio 3, with support for the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, also produces accurate, balanced and energetic sound. Voices are clearly audible and it is clear where in the mix the instruments are present. In short: it is a pleasure to have these headphones on.
Without ANC turned on, the device lasts about 38 hours, with ANC turned on about 30 to 32 hours, which is quite a lot. Full charging is arranged within one hour and 45 minutes via USB-C.
The suggested retail price of Philips’ Fidelio L3 is currently around 299 euros, but if you look around, you will also find it cheaper here and there
