| Cult of Mac

This high-res Bluetooth speaker puts on a light show and charges devices

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The new speaker sets the mood with lighting framed in a white or black cabinet.
The new speaker sets the mood with lighting framed in a white or black cabinet.
Photo: Edifier

Edifier’s new QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker boasts an unusual combination of features: high-resolution audio playback, pulsating lights and a digital clock.

Oh, and it also offers full-time gallium nitride-powered charging for other devices. So it appears to be a curious but useful — not to mention cool-looking — beast.

Dual-display outfit splits the keyboard and goes mouse-free [Setups]

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How do you navigate without a mouse?
How do you navigate without a mouse?
Photo: gdeLopata@Reddit.com

Do you dream of ditching your mouse? Maybe you have the wrong one. Or maybe you’re onto something, like the software developer who works sans rodent with today’s featured M2 MacBook Pro setup featuring dual external displays in different orientations.

Instead of a mouse for input, she relies on a radically split keyboard with a trackball, plus a macropad. See those and all of the other gear in the cool setup below.

3 loaded iMacs and a PC pump up 8-display workstation [Setups]

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Three of the displays are iMacs and five are Dell 4K monitors.
Three of the displays are iMacs and five are Dell 4K monitors.
Photo: Hoa Mai

In Monday’s featured computer setup we showcased four tall displays and mentioned we sometimes see six-display setups. But how about eight displays in one setup? That’s today’s outfit.

Hoa Mai, who works in post production on documentary films in Los Angeles, sent Cult of Mac his massive setup. It features three iMacs, a PC and five Dell 4K monitors. Talk about Mission Control.

Edifier’s new high-end headphones bring top quality at low price [Review] ★★★★

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The headphones' folding design helps them fit nicely in the high-quality carrying case.★★★★
The headphones' folding design helps them fit nicely in the high-quality carrying case.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Edifier has produced quality speakers, headphones and earbuds at affordable prices for more than 25 years. And once again I’m impressed with the value it offers, this time regarding the recently released, high-end Edifier WH950NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones.

You can find fancier, better-sounding cans for considerably more money. But at $180, this set punches well above its weight, competing with $250 to $350 contenders.

Edifier sent me a pair to try out. I’ll get into the pluses and minuses below.

These new hi-res noise-canceling headphones go for just $180

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Edifier's new premium cans use the LDAC codec, which should make them sound especially good with devices made for it.
Edifier's new premium cans use the LDAC codec, which should make them sound especially good with Android devices made for it.
Photo: Edifier

Edifier rolled out a new wireless over-ear set of headphones Tuesday — the WH950NB headset — providing another affordable alternative to high-end cans like Apple’s AirPods Max and products from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser.

Featuring active noise cancellation (ANC) and hi-res audio, Edifier’s premium headphones go for $180, a pretty low price for the feature set.

‘Budget’ MacBook Air workstation doesn’t look cheap [Setups]

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Christian Panea setup
It's a "budget" setup, but it really doesn't look it.
Photo: Christian Panea@Workspace Setups Addict

Some budget computer setups look the part — cheap, utilitarian, uninspired, incomplete — and others don’t. Today’s featured setup falls in the latter category. You look at the well-equipped workstation and the word “cheap” doesn’t occur to you.

Against a DIY desk and pegboard, the setup features an M1 MacBook Air, dual Dell displays, some nice AV gear and plenty of nice touches.

Top 5 affordable ANC earbuds of 2022

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Soundcore A40 wireless ANC earbuds sound great, but their noise cancellation is epic.
Soundcore A40 wireless ANC earbuds sound great, but their noise cancellation is epic.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I’ve reviewed quite a few active noise-canceling wireless earbuds for Cult of Mac, including the magnificent new second-gen AirPods Pro. And while the high quality and excellent features of Apple’s updated ANC buds make them a favorite as well as a benchmark, there are great alternative earbuds that do a nice job for a much lower cost.

What follows isn’t a “top 5 in the world” list, which would be an assortment of mostly super-pricey earbuds. It’s my favorite earbuds among those I’ve reviewed in the past year or so, mostly focused on high-value products, considering the quality you get for the cost.

Are your laptop speakers just so-so? Edifier has you covered. [Review] ★★★★☆

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Edifier's MF200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker fits on your monitor stand -- or pretty much anywhere.★★★★☆
Edifier's MF200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker fits on your monitor stand -- or pretty much anywhere.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you ever work on the road, you know relying on your laptop for sound can be as disappointing as relying on it instead of an external display for visuals. Not every laptop has great — or even good — speakers.

Enter Edifier and its MF200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. The company sent me one for review. The elegant little wedge-shaped soundbar can add plenty of power and clarity to “meh” laptop speakers.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the MF200 blows away all laptop speakers, as I’ll explain below.

Affordable Edifier wireless ANC headphones get the basics right [Review] ★★★★☆

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Want solid headphones without breaking the bank? Consider Edifier's W820NB.★★★★☆
Want solid headphones without breaking the bank? Consider Edifier's W820NB.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The Chinese company Edifier has been putting out affordable high-quality audio equipment for more than 25 years. I often find it hits the “high-value” button with many of its products, offering great sound and solid features at relatively low prices. The company seems to stake out that same territory with its W820NB ANC Bluetooth Stereo Headphones.

Edifier sent me a pair of the cans to try out. While they’re not likely to blow anybody away, they get the job done well, with quality sound, strong active noise cancellation and long battery life.

If you want good sound at a good price, they could be for you. But if you’re an exacting audiophile or on the hunt for luxury appointments, look elsewhere.

M1 MacBook Pro and custom PC split dual gaming displays [Setups]

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The owner tried to set this whole thing up to roll into another room.
The owner tried to set this whole thing up to roll into another room.
Photo: cjeffe10

Some computer setups will make you green with envy, considering their gear’s quantity as well as quality. Take today’s featured setup, a delight for both gamers and podcasters.

It sports not just a new M1 MacBook, but also a powerful custom gaming PC. It boasts not just a solid 27-inch full HD display, but a monster 49-inch super-ultra-wide screen. And it relies on not just a good webcam, but a premium mirrorless digital camera.

And the list goes on, extending to audio and even a new mechanical keyboard. Read on.