There have been times when I’ve accused audio brands, particularly at the higher end of the market, of prioritising features over sound. I’m not saying that features aren’t important or unwelcome – it’s something that the modern consumer demands in their 21st-century world of ANC, and . I’m just pointing out the fact that occasionally the line can be blurred between innovation and gimmickry.
I’m also going to go out on a limb and say that I’m not the world’s biggest fan of . The concept has exploded in recent years, with brands either incorporating their own take on the format or enlisting third-party aid from the likes of to keep up with what they perceive to be one of the market’s major trends. I’ve never been convinced by the idea of an algorithm pulling my music apart for the sake of duping me into thinking that Dave Grohl’s drum kit is actually playing behind me, and whenever anyone has touted the tech to me in glowing terms as part of marketing spiel or a press bumph, I can feel my brain begin to glaze over in the way it tends to do whenever someone starts talking about interest rates, inflation or Imagine my feelings, then, when the good people at Jabra ( ) announced that their second generation of earbuds would be furnished with a groundbreaking smart case that, by virtue of a simple USB-C connection, could 'spatialise' practically any audio source, regardless of original format – all while boosting the quality and reducing latency rates.
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