Looking for an eloquent gift? A top soundbar, high-end headphones or a musical lamp? Then be sure to read on!
Sonos Beam 2
Ever since televisions became flatter, the market in soundbars has been booming. Not because flat TVs necessarily produce such abominable sound, but because the average consumer now knows that things can always be prettier and better. So there are countless brands offering those sound bars. The TV manufacturers themselves, but also brands that specialise purely in hi-fi. The most interesting of these, as far as we are concerned, is Sonos. Why? Because Sonos combines excellent sound with smart technology, making such a soundbar much more than 'just' a TV speaker: it is part of a complete sound system throughout your entire house, controllable from a handy app and with integration of streaming services, but if desired also connectable to, for instance, an old, analogue record player.
The latest soundbar in Sonos' portfolio is the second generation of the Beam. A compact soundbar that you can place in front of a standing TV or hang on the wall with a wall bracket. You control Beam with the Sonos app, your TV remote, one of its voice assistants, Apple AirPlay 2 or directly via music apps like Spotify. You can use Beam on its own, but if you wish, you can expand it wirelessly with a subwoofer and rear speakers for an even more spacious sound.
Not that that's really necessary. After all, the new Beam offers 3D sound with Dolby Atmos, sound technology that truly immerses you in the action, whether it's aeroplanes that seem to fly above your head, footsteps that seem to move through the room or film music you hear and feel all around you. Especially since you can now also fine-tune the sound with Trueplay. This analyses the sound of the soundbar and sound reflections through walls and furniture, which Beam uses to adjust its playback for the best listening experience. Also nice: Beam is now compatible with HDMI eARC on your TV, so you can enjoy sound with even higher definition and support for new audio formats.
Costs €499 More info HERE.
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3.0
High-quality materials, metal and genuine leather and retro-like design make the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3.0 a covetable wireless over-ear headphone that also features built-in Active Noise Cancellation. Whether you're listening wired (the headphones can also be powered via the included mini-jack cable or USB-C input) or using a Bluetooth 5.0 connection; you're literally in the middle of the music no sound or sigh is lost.
But what do you want, this German manufacturer has a name to uphold when it comes to perfect sound reproduction. And this handsome device proves once again that top sound quality and high wearing comfort go hand in hand. Listening for hours on end is no problem at all, as it lets you enjoy 17 hours of continuous play before needing to be recharged. And it doesn't matter where you listen either, thanks to Active Noise Cancellation. It has three modes to optimally tune it to the environment, while an equaliser app on your smartphone lets you fine-tune the sound to your own taste.
The headphones don't have touch controls, but still have real, easy-to-track and recognisable buttons, which you use for all functions, whether it's switching between songs, controlling volume, activating your voice assistant or taking a call. And switching on and off? That's automatic, by opening or closing the headphones. Costs € 399 More info HERE
Ikea Symfonisk table lamp 2.0
Is it a lamp? Or is it a smart speaker? This Symfonisk is both, of course, and that's quite a logical integration of talents. After all, lighting and music are largely determining factors for the atmosphere in your home. Now by combining light and sound in one product, you not only save space, but you can also set the mood of your room at the touch of a button. Even better: that built-in Wi-Fi speaker is a Sonos product. Not only does that guarantee great sound quality, it can also be easily connected to other Sonos products, including other smarts from Ikea's Symfonisk range.
The new Symfonisk table lamp -one launched in 2019- offers more personalisation options than that first variant. For instance, the speaker's base and shade are now available separately, allowing you to create different combinations. The base is available in white and black and the shade in textile and glass, also in white and black. The lampshades spread warm and diffused light. The new table lamp also has a large fitting (E27) so you can vary the strength and colours of the light even more than before.
Cost: lamp base with wifi speaker €129, glass shade €30 and textile shade €20. Find more info HERE.
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