The best headphones, earbuds, and hi-fi gear from CES 2022

(Image credit: Shure)

Anyone hoping for a relatively normal CES experience in 2022 was disappointed when Covid-19 forced many exhibitors to pull out of the Las Vegas tech expo at the terminal minute. Happily, though, we haven't been disappointed by the audio products and technologies on display this year.

CES is the place to find the weirdest and wackiest developments in the globe of tech, non to mention the most important innovations. This yr was no exception. It was the smaller audio brands that really stole the spotlight this twelvemonth, however, with many of the larger audio companies having a more subdued presence than normal.

We've seen everything from invisible headphones to Bluetooth speakers with never-ending battery lives, alongside the usual gamut of true wireless earbuds, soundbars, and record players – giving u.s.a. a existent taste of what nosotros can expect from the coming year in sound.

Then, while CES 2022 may non have been the return to normal we were hoping for (and really, what does normal ever hateful where CES is concerned?), it'southward still been a bumper bear witness for all things audio. Hither are a few of our favorite products and technologies to come out of Vegas this year.

Headphones should be heard and not seen

a woman wearing a pair of mark levinson headphones — The Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphones. (Image credit: Marker Levinson)

There are e'er lots of headphones to meet at CES. This year'southward offering included some truly wacky technologies alongside conventional audiophile over-ears that'll entreatment to discerning listeners.

Mark Levinson, the company best known for its loftier-terminate hullo-fi gear, launched its first pair of headphones at the show. The Mark Levinson No. 5909 are among the nearly high-spec cans nosotros've seen, coming with 40mm beryllium drivers, hullo-res sound support, active noise cancellation, and 34-hour battery life.

They're as well the nigh expensive headphones we've seen at CES this twelvemonth; they'll set up you dorsum a cool $999 (nearly £750 / AU$i,400). Ouch.

If that cost is out of the question, we as well saw some excellent Sony WH-1000XM4 rivals from Shure. The Shure AONIC xl cost $249 / £215 (about AU$345). For that you get a fashionable foldable design, ANC, 40mm neodymium dynamic drivers, and adjustable EQ settings – and at $100 / £134 less than Sony's flagship cans.

However, our favorite pair of headphones from CES was a very different beast to the Mark Levinsons and Shures of the world. In fact, it'south not a pair of headphones at all.

The Noveto N1 is a genuinely innovative device that's effectively a pair of 'invisible headphones.' Looking a fleck similar a soundbar, this clever gadget beams ultrasound to 'pockets' of air just outside your ears. You'll hear your music as if you were wearing actual headphones, while people around you are none the wiser.

That's right – nobody else will exist able to hear your music. And, clever head-tracking tech means the audio should ever hit the right spot, even if you motility around. That'southward the kind of tech CES is all about. We can't wait to endeavor it for ourselves.

True wireless earbuds are getting cheaper

The Jabra Elite 4 Active in mint green. (Paradigm credit: Jabra )

There were lots of new true wireless earbuds to run across at CES this yr. While none of them tin be said to be truly innovative, the latest models show just how far the form cistron has come up – and how affordable information technology can be these days.

JBL released 3 true wireless earbuds models at CES. All retail for $149.95 (about £115 / AU$210) and none of them skimp on the specs. The Alive Pro two, for case, comes with adaptive noise cancellation, up to 40 hours of battery life, and vi microphones equipped with noise and wind isolation.

Jabra too launched a more than affordable pair of wireless earbuds. The Jabra Elite 4 Active are amongst the most comprehensively specced buds we've seen at their price. They'll price you simply $119 / £119 / AU$179, and requite you proficient audio performance, decent dissonance cancellation, adjustable EQ settings, and competitive 28-hour battery life.

Perhaps the most interesting buds to come from the show are the Belkin Soundform Immerse, which could make a great cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro. Retailing at $179.99 (about £130 / AU$250), these sleek-looking buds pack in lots of the aforementioned features as Apple tree'southward noise-canceling earbuds, also as how-do-you-do-res audio support.

None of these models represent huge advances in true wireless technology. Yet, they do demonstrate how manufacturers are beginning to offering previously premium features at lower prices. Nosotros predict CES 2023 will exist a chip more heady in this regard, as brands begin to comprise Qualcomm'due south aptX Lossless codec, which will allow for lossless audio streaming over a wireless network.

So far, this hasn't been possible due to bit rate limitations. All the same, Qualcomm says the audio afforded by this codec – which is expected to come up to the side by side generation of wireless earbuds and headphones – will be "mathematically scrap-for-bit verbal," so you lot won't lose any information over a wireless connection or whatsoever precious detail in your music.

Tape players that do information technology all

someone placing a record on the cambridge audio alva tt v2 turntable — The Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2. (Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

It'south been a smashing CES for record players. The best turntables to come from this year's expo showcased a fantastic mix of modern conveniences, like wireless streaming and portability, with all the nostalgia of spinning vinyl on a great deck.

Cambridge Audio unleashed two new record players: the Alva TT V2 and the Alva ST, with the former acting as the successor to the globe's first aptX HD Bluetooth turntable.

Also as offer hi-res wireless streaming, the Alva TT V2 comes with a detachable headshell and switchable phono stage, and so you can upgrade the record player over time.

At $i,999 / £1,700 (near AU$2,770), it's the most high-spec tape histrion to come from CES 2022. The about exciting turntable was the bargain Victrola Re-Spin.

This $99.99 / £99 (about AU$140) suitcase turntable comes in a range of brilliant colors and boasts a built-in Bluetooth speaker and cute, portable design. While it doesn't have a built-in battery, ane of Victrola's other CES offerings does – and it's the first record player to do so.

The Victrola Revolution GO comes with a rechargeable battery, lightweight build, and built-in Bluetooth speaker. Information technology even has a detachable guitar strap, so yous can carry it around like a bag.

While it's non the all-time-sounding turntable we've ever tested, we were impressed by how well it works, and how easy information technology is to use. For $199.99 / £199 (around AU$280), it works well, plays at a loud volume, and lets you take your vinyl on the move. That's a truthful innovation worthy of CES.

Speakers that keep the party going… forever

a mayht driver held between two hands — The commuter within Mayht / Exeger'due south prototy (Image credit: Mayht)

There weren't many speakers that really caught our eye at CES 2022. In fact, the one model that did is a prototype that won't actually hitting the market.

The portable speaker was created past tech companies Exeger and Mayht, and its innovative design could actually shake up the Bluetooth speaker market. Designed with Exegers Powerfoyle cloth, it can convert any light source into free energy, giving the speaker virtually infinite battery life.

Not only that, but the image device also contains a new kind of dual-membrane driver created by Mayht, which the visitor claims tin lucifer the power of a speaker x times its size.

Information technology's a shame that the public volition never get their easily on this particular device, but this prototype speaker does give united states a great insight into what wireless speakers of the future might look (and sound) similar.

Check out all of TechRadar'due south CES 2022 coveragewith reviews, reaction, and analysis of the best new tech we've seen, from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops and smart dwelling house gadgets.

Olivia is TechRadar's Audio & Music Editor, covering everything from headphones to music streaming services. Based in TechRadar'south London offices, she'south a pop music graduate who worked in the music manufacture before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio five Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, Height Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. In her spare fourth dimension Olivia likes gardening, painting, and hanging with her cat Ethel and golden retriever Dora.