What a week. New iPhone 17 series and AirPods Pro 3 dropped, CEDIA Expo just wrapped, CanJam SoCal 2025 is about to fire up, and Spotify finally flipped the switch on lossless for Premium users. Big stories, big noise. But let’s not kid ourselves—the biggest story was the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Watching people actually celebrate it online? That’s beyond disgusting. If this is where we’re headed—cheering the murder of someone just because you hate their politics—then this country’s cooked. Kirk gave people every chance to prove him wrong with facts, not bullets. Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise. Maybe put the tech down, step outside, take a walk, and think about what kind of world you’re really rooting for—because right now, civility and tolerance are circling the drain.
Alright, now let’s get into the actual toys and noise. Three stories worth your attention this week:
- Cambridge Audio + Spotify Lossless – Cambridge has been banging the drum for streaming quality for years, and now Spotify finally decided to stop being the last kid on the block with an MP3 player. Lossless is here for Premium users, and Cambridge is more than happy to ride that wave.
- JLab JBuds Open + Epic Pods – JLab, the company that usually owns the budget endcap at Target, decided to shake things up with open-ear headphones and a new flagship set of buds. Cheaper than the big brands, but just slick enough to make you think twice before defaulting to Apple or Sony.
- Nothing Ear (3) – Carl Pei’s crew couldn’t resist stealing some headlines, officially unveiling the Ear (3). It’s their flashiest, most refined set of earbuds yet—transparent swagger intact, naturally. Whether it’s more than just hype and design flexing, well, we’ll find out soon enough.
Spotify Finally Discovers Lossless—Cambridge Audio Says “Welcome to 2025”
Spotify finally did it. Lossless is here for Premium subscribers, years after dangling the carrot back in 2021. Hell hath frozen over. We’re talking bit-for-bit CD quality—24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, to be exact—rolling out in select markets with notifications going out once it hits your account. Not quite the 24/192 kHz territory Apple Music, Amazon, Qobuz, and TIDAL like to brag about, but still a huge step up from the lossy slop Spotify has been feeding its 300+ million users.
Here’s the kicker: I was with one of the largest legacy hi-fi brands in NYC this week—one that also happens to be a serious player in the high-end wireless headphone and earbud game—and they were blindsided by the announcement. This, after years of back-and-forth with Spotify about compatibility and launch timing. Translation? Don’t be shocked if Lossless doesn’t play nice with every device on day one.
Cambridge Audio, however, came prepared. Every product running their StreamMagic platform—Gen 2, 3, or 4—is already good to go. That covers the MXN10, AXN10, CXN100, EXN100, the slick new Evo 150 SE, and the Evo One wireless streaming speaker. Cambridge even had a press release ready to fire, like they knew Spotify’s Lossless ship was finally leaving port.
Spotify may be late to the party, but at least Cambridge made sure you won’t be standing at the door wondering why the music won’t play.
JLab Unveils JBuds Open and Epic Pods at IFA 2025: Premium ANC Earbuds with Hi-Res Audio
JLab decided to crank things up a notch at IFA 2025, and they’re not messing around. Two new products, two bold moves, and a green-friendly wink to the planet.
Consumer-Friendly Battery Replacement System – Let’s get this out of the way first: JLab is making it stupidly easy to keep your earbuds and headphones alive. Universal coin cell rechargeable batteries for earbuds, soft-pack rechargeable batteries for headphones and charging cases, no special tools required—just a standard precision screwdriver or an intuitive twist-lock. Available directly through JLab.com or their customer service team, these replacements put power back in your hands. Win Cramer, JLab’s CEO, frames it like this: doing right by people and the planet doesn’t have to wait for EU regulations. Preach.
JLab JBuds Open Wireless Headphones – At $99, the JBuds Open headphones deliver a bold open-ear, open-back design that balances immersive audio with environmental awareness. Perfect for those who like to hear traffic while blasting music or want to collaborate without tossing their headphones across the room. Dual coaxial drivers (35mm + 12mm) handle highs, mids, and bass with aplomb. LabFocus tech keeps your jams from leaking to the world, and LabBoost enhances bass across all EQ settings. Spatial audio? Check. Battery life? 18+ hours with dual-device Bluetooth connectivity. Comfort is key, and the Cloud Foam™ earcups plus padded headband make long listening sessions bearable—finally, headphones that don’t feel like a medieval torture device.
JLab Epic Pods: Premium ANC Earbuds – JLab’s Epic Pods, also $99.99, are their first earbuds with adaptive noise cancellation. Dual hybrid drivers (10mm dynamic + Knowles® balanced armature) deliver hi-res sound, while ANC adjusts automatically to environmental noise, letting you hear your tunes, not the guy screaming into a conference call nearby. Lab spatial audio adds immersion, and three mics per earbud handle environmental noise cancellation for calls. Battery life? 40+ hours with ANC off, 30+ with it on. USB-C fast charging gives five hours with just ten minutes plugged in. IP55 sweat- and splash-proof means they survive workouts and puddles alike. Stem-style design keeps them in place, while touch controls let you fiddle without looking like a tech novice.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Initiative – Both products ship in 100% recyclable, completely plastic-free packaging. Stickers included, guilt-free.
Universal Compatibility and Smart Features – iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Google Fast Pair, firmware updates via the JLab app, four EQ settings, auto play/pause, programmable workout timer, and customizable ANC/button controls. Basically, they play nice with whatever you’re rocking.
JLab isn’t just releasing products—they’re checking boxes on performance, usability, and sustainability, all without charging a fortune. If nothing else, it’s proof that decent audio and environmental sense aren’t mutually exclusive.
Nothing Unveils Ear (3): Sleek, Swanky, and Their Most Refined Earbuds Yet
Nothing has officially pulled back the curtain on the Ear (3), its next-generation earbuds. True to form, they look swanky, but this isn’t just about aesthetics—there’s more going on beneath that clear lid.
The case is 100% anodized recycled aluminum, featuring a transparent top that puts the buds on display. The earbuds themselves sport white tips with a mostly black body and grey/silver accents, while the metal antenna has been re-engineered to a flat 0.35mm thickness for a sleeker profile.
Nothing’s notoriously tight-lipped, so any peek at the design is a big deal. Full specs won’t drop until September 18, meaning we’ll have to wait to see exactly what internal wizardry has been upgraded.
The case includes a dedicated “talk” button and a new Super Mic, though how it will actually function is unclear. Unless there are hidden speakers allowing the case to act as a third earbud while the others charge, the practical use-case remains a mystery. Still, Nothing promises this is “an elevated product that looks and feels different, and functions in ways that are completely new to the industry.”
It’s worth noting Nothing’s recent track record: the CMF Buds 2 brought Dirac Opteo technology for clearer sound, deeper bass, and hybrid ANC, all while remaining durable and affordable for budget-conscious listeners.
On the over-ear front, Nothing teamed up with British audio legend KEF to launch the Headphone 1, marrying Nothing’s futuristic design with KEF’s decades of acoustic expertise—another step in redefining premium wireless audio.
With the Ear (3), it looks like Nothing is doubling down on design, sustainability, and clever engineering, keeping the hype alive while teasing just enough to make fans impatient for the full specs.
Related Reading:
- Nothing And KEF Launch The Headphone 1: A High-End Audio Collaboration
- Nothing Taps Dirac To Boost CMF Buds 2 Sound With Real-Time Audio Optimization
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 Bring Improved ANC, Workout Tracking, And Hands-Free Live Translation
- Spotify Premium Finally Goes Lossless, Unlocking Higher Quality Music Streaming To Millions
- Apple IPhone 17 Lineup Explained: IPhone 17, Air, Pro, And Pro Max — Which New IPhone Is Best For You In 2025?
Anton
September 12, 2025 at 7:25 pm
May not agree with all of your hi-fi recommendations, but your opening needed to be said. Even in a tech magazine.
An embarrassment that we’ve gotten to this point. It’s fine to disagree with people. Doesn’t give you the right to murder them. Takes a lot of “courage” to put a bullet in the chamber and shoot someone for having an open and public conversation with people about topics that you might find offensive.
Spotify Lossless is going to pulverize Tidal and Qobuz.
I am assuming that companies will need to change how Spotify Connect works with their products in order to stream lossless?
Ian White
September 13, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Anton,
Appreciate the vote of confidence. His assassination rattled me to my core. I think the jury is out on whether Spotify Lossless will kill TIDAL and Qobuz. It might, but I think one of them will survive.
IW
Asa
September 15, 2025 at 3:12 am
Amen to both your comments. What a world, what a world.
Thanks for all you do in this space, Ian, and to all the other editors.
Ian White
September 15, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Asa,
Scary times. It’s unsettling to say the least. Greatly appreciate the kind words.
IW