Soundbar attaches magnetically to dozens of displays.
Dell just launched a lineup of audio devices built for people who spend a lot of time on video calls or in meetings. The new gear includes a plug-and-play wired headset, two speakerphones (one wired and one wireless), and a magnetic conferencing soundbar designed to blend into your setup without taking over your desk. Each product is made to improve clarity, reduce background noise, and play nicely with the software you already use, like Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
If your home office gets noisy or your calls need a quality boost, these are worth a look. The wired headset looks basic but includes passive noise cancellation and a mic that rotates for left or right side use. The speakerphones use AI-based noise cancellation to pick up voices clearly, even a few feet away. And the soundbar, which magnetically attaches to most Dell monitors, offers custom EQ settings and app controls.
The Bottom Line
Dell just launched new audio devices: a wired headset, AI-powered speakerphones, and a magnetically attached soundbar. These are designed to make meetings clearer and calls less distracting.
Keeping drinks and food cold while camping can be a challenge, especially in the summer. Though a portable power station hooked up to a minifridge can help, it’s not the most power-efficient option compared with either an electric cooler or a traditional icebox. I set out to test a “regular” icebox-style cooler — specifically, RTIC’s icebox — against Anker’s new Solix EverFrost 2 to see how it would fare in real-world use against the best coolers on the market. To begin testing, I picked up two coolers, a shameful number of cans of soda, a thermometer, and several large bags of ice and took my family on a camping trip.
Here’s what I discovered during my testing, about cooler performance, longevity, cooling capability and portability.
Electric vs. traditional ice cooler compared
Product Name
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 (40L)
RTIC 45 QT Ultra-Tough Cooler
Internal size
42 quarts
45 quarts
Empty weight
50.71 pounds
29.5 pounds
Battery
288Wh battery
N/A
Runtime
52 hours (one battery), 4.3 days (dual battery)
5 days (following cooling tips)
Recharge
Solar, car, wall outlet, USB-C
N/A
Temperature range
-4 degrees to 68 degrees Fahrenheit
Variable
Price (MSRP)
$900
$300
Electric coolers:
Electric coolers are basically small, battery-powered refrigerators. They use a cooling element to lower the temperature in their compartments, as opposed to traditional ice. They can hold ice but the main attraction is you don’t need it to keep your food and drinks cool.
Pros
No ice needed
No mess/melted ice
Built-in additional features like battery charging
Cons
They only last as long as the battery
Very heavy
Extremely expensive
Who should use it: People who are going on longer trips and want to keep food and drinks cold and fresh will prefer an electric cooler. Electric coolers can be temperature-controlled. They don’t rely solely on ice so if you want food kept at a certain temperature, that’s possible as long as you have a battery or input source.
The RTIC and Solix 2 coolers loaded up in the back of an SUV.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Regular coolers:
A traditional cooler, or ice chest, is an insulated container whose sole function is to hold food, drinks and ice to keep everything cold. Most of the space inside a cooler can be used for food/drink/ice storage. Unlike an electric cooler, no electricity is required.
Pros
Lighter than electric counterparts
Less expensive than electric
Cools down food faster
Cons
Relies on ice for cooling
Water from melted ice can be messy
Open food containers can contaminate cooler ice/water
Who should use it: People who will be off-grid will prefer an ice chest because ice is generally available in most places. You should be able to pick it up in just about any supermarket or gas station and as long as the cooler is well-insulated, it should last for hours, if not days. Electricity can be a bigger ask when camping and may require a hefty portable power station or multiple backup batteries.
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 electric cooler vs. RTIC Ultra Tough QT-45
The RTIC cooler (left) and Solix EverFrost 2 (right) next to each other. The size is about the same, but the EverFrost 2 weighs more.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Design and features
The 40-liter EverFrost 2 cooler Anker sent me to test is pretty chunky, although it’s quite a bit smaller than the 58L model that comes with two compartments. With the size in mind, I wanted to test it against a cooler with a similar capacity. I landed on the RTIC Ultra-Tough QT-45 cooler because its capacity so closely resembles the Anker. In terms of 12-ounce cans of soda, the RTIC cooler can hold around 50 cans with ice, while the Anker can hold up to 60 cans. The RTIC cooler has more length but slightly less width and depth than the Anker, likely because of its 2.8 inches of closed-cell foam insulation.
In addition to … you know … being a cooler, the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 has a few extra features you won’t find in ice coolers. Notably, the battery on the cooler can be used to charge other devices if you need to, such as phones, tablets and handheld gaming consoles. Also, the Everfrost has a pop-up handle/table you can use for extra table space when you’re at your picnic or campout. The Anker cooler also has an interior light for finding what you’re looking for in the dark.
The EverFrost 2 has a pull out handle that can double as tray table.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
If I’m being completely honest, the pop-up handle seems super flimsy. I was nervous about using it to roll the cooler around fully loaded but the picture on the website shows it being used that way, so I figured it would be fine. I figured correctly, much to my surprise.
I used the single-battery version of the cooler. You can buy extra batteries for $220 and you can insert a second one to make the cooler last longer. According to Anker, it can run for 52 hours with one battery and up to 4.3 days with two batteries. That said, I wanted to evaluate the cooler in its most common configuration, so I stuck with the default battery.
The EverFrost 2 comes with a single battery with 52 hours of runtime on paper but you can pick up a second one to have it last for 4.3 days.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Testing the weight
To test the weight, I used 12 oz cans of soda and put 50 cans in each cooler. Then I added all the ice the RTIC cooler would handle. The EverFrost 2 has a dry weight of about 50 pounds, while the RTIC cooler checks in at about half of that. Add in the ice, and the coolers checked in at 96.6 pounds for RTIC versus 78.8 pounds for the EverFrost 2. In retrospect, I could have guessed that. Because I added the same number of cans to both coolers, the only variable was the ice itself.
The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 loaded up with 60 cans of soda.
Adam Doud/CNET
To fit 50 cans into the RTC, I had to stuff them in a bit, and they just barely made it. On its site, RTIC claims the cooler can handle 60 cans, so it was a little disappointing to see it not live up to this. Because of that, I was only able to manage around 10-12 pounds of ice into the cooler. Take a 25-pound weight differential and subtract the ice weight and there you go.
In this particular case, the weight at capacity — how much the cooler weighs when full — is the more important figure. EverFrost 2 with its cooling hardware outweighs (by almost double) the RTIC cooler, even with ice. When they’re full, a 15 to 20 pound difference isn’t that significant, but the EverFrost 2 is still almost 20% heavier. In this case, the ice cooler wins the fight, although the built-in wheels on the EverFrost 2 cooler make it easier to move around (but not to lift into or out of a vehicle).
The EverFrost 2 has wheels that make it more portable than the RTIC.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Fast cooling test
We’ve all been there. You’ve got a party starting later that day and you forgot to throw the drinks into a cooler, so now you have to hustle. Which will cool down your drinks faster? In order to test this, I set both coolers out and open to warm to room temperature, or about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Similarly, I had several cases of soda sitting out, also warming to room temperature. Once both the cooler interiors and soda warmed up, I loaded up both coolers with those 50 soda cans and tossed 10 to 12 pounds of ice into the RTIC cooler.
Additionally, I opened a can of soda in the middle of the top layer and bottom layer of cans. From there, I used a temperature gun to take readings. The EverFrost 2 cooler has a digital readout of the temperature on the inside of the cooler. To measure the RTIC cooler, I measured the temperature of the inside wall. I also measured the temperature of each can of soda. I did this every 15 minutes for five hours and the results are recorded in the chart below:
Adam Doud/CNET
As you can see, although the EverFrost 2 got colder faster, the cans themselves did not follow suit. In fact, the RTIC ice cooler cooled both the cooler and the cans faster than the electric cooler.
The one issue I had with the RTIC was after about two and a half hours, the water collected at the bottom of the cooler overflowed into the bottom can, which spoiled the readings a bit. You’ll notice a sudden downward slope when that happened at 9 a.m. We’ll address that more in a bit.
The EverFrost 2 can carry 60 cans of soda compared to 50 in the RTIC.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Longevity
Another situation you might deal with is camping, and in that case, you’re not going to be worried about cooling down your food and drinks quickly, but how long they will stay that way. To test this, I loaded up both coolers with just 40 cans of soda. I wanted to pack in more ice into the RTIC cooler, and leave room for an internal thermometer to see how long it stayed cold. I tested this for two and a half days, essentially a long weekend trip.
The EverFrost 2 has added bulk from the fan and cooling hardware installed.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
For this test, I put the Anker cooler into Eco mode and filled up the RTIC cooler with even more ice. This time, I did not open and check the coolers every 15 minutes. I left several hours between checks because when you’re camping, you’re not constantly going into the cooler for everything. Also, this was a multi-day test, and I like to sleep.
However, even when opening the ice cooler several times per day, the ice lasted the entire two and a half days, although it was mostly water by the end of the test. Despite that, the ice cooler stayed below 40 degrees Fahrenheit the entire time. The EverFrost 2 cooler in the meantime, also kept below 43 degrees Fahrenheit the entire time (although the cooler was set for 40 degrees). The EverFrost 2 cooler sat at 13% battery by the end of the test period. So, both coolers performed their required duties for the long term, which was good to see.
The EverFrost 2 can be manually set to a certain temperature, unlike the RTIC, which depends on the ice and insulation.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Price
The 40-liter Anker Solix EverFrost 2 cooler retails for $899, though as of this writing, it’s onsale for $629. There’s also a smaller, 23-liter version available for $799 full price ($599 on sale) and a much larger, 58-liter version for $1,099 ($759 on sale). By comparison, the 45-quart RTIC cooler I tested costs around one-third that price, at $300 (currently discounted to $239). Yes, you get a lot of bells and whistles in the EverFrost 2 cooler: the bottle opener, the extra table space, the wheels, the cleaner setup and storage. However, one has to wonder if that’s worth the price. Anker isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel here. It’s just a different type of wheel.
There are plenty of input and output options on the EverFrost 2.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Electric cooler vs. normal cooler: Which should you buy?
The key argument in favor of the electric cooler is the lack of mess — there’s no ice or ice water to deal with for example. Everything you need to keep cool fits inside the cooler and there’s no need to leave room for ice. Plus, despite a slightly smaller footprint, it actually has more capacity for soda cans — 60 as opposed to the RTIC’s 50, despite the company claiming otherwise. Everything you need to get the EverFrost 2 cooler to do its job is self-contained (you don’t have to run to the store to get ice). There’s also the mobility offered by the wheels.
The adjustability of the EverFrost 2 cooler is also nice. I remember a few times when I would head out camping and find that some of the food was ruined because the ice was too cold, or something leaked into the water, and you had to wholesale replace the ice. That won’t happen here. If anything leaks, it’s just a matter of cleaning it out and putting everything back. Plus, you can adjust the temperature to be slightly above freezing if you don’t want everything to be literally ice cold.
You can recharge the EverFrost 2 with solar panels, a car charger and power outlet.
Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
On the other hand, the EverFrost 2 is expensive and none of those things really justify the extra money in my mind. Of course, your mileage may vary. But if you’re wondering which cooler I’ll recommend for your next camping trip, it’s the RTIC cooler. Electrification is pretty cool and you can’t deny the fact that the EverFrost 2 cooler is handy. But for cooling things down fast and keeping them cool, the old school RTIC cooler works just as well as new school, and for a third of the price and 20% less weight.
What are the disadvantages of thermoelectric coolers?
The biggest disadvantage of a thermoelectric cooler is its weight. In this scenario, the electric cooler has a dry weight twice that of the ice cooler. Even factoring in the weight of the ice, they’re still about 20 pounds apart, favoring the ice cooler.
The other main disadvantage is the electricity required. Once an electric cooler runs out of battery, you can add ice to it to make it last longer. However, then you’re missing the point of having an electric cooler.
How long will ice last in a regular cooler?
The duration that ice can last in a normal cooler depends greatly on how often it is opened. Every time you open a cooler, you’re releasing cool air and letting in warmer air, which will melt more ice. During testing, a cooler opened every 15 minutes lost most of its ice within hours. On the other hand, when the cooler was only opened a few times per day, ice lasted for over 2.5 days (although much of it had melted by then)
Can electric coolers run on batteries?
The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 cooler runs on built-in batteries. You can have a single battery or a double battery configuration, which costs more. How long the battery lasts depends on several factors, such as the cooler’s mode, how often it is opened and how much it is holding. On paper, you can expect 52 hours with a single battery on the 40L EverFrost 2 and 4.3 days with a dual battery.
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If you have deep pockets, or you can find a good deal, you could make the bump to the RTX 5080 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), starting at around $1,500. It’s capable of high-refresh 1440p gameplay in the sort of titles people play regularly, like Fortnite and Helldivers 2, while being able to leverage frame generation and DLSS 4 to make 4K gaming a possibility in some titles.
Unfortunately, unless someone finds one behind a shelf in a warehouse, the Founders Edition we reviewed is likely already sold out.
With that in mind, I’d recommend the Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5080 OC. I got to spend time with the RTX 5070 Ti (8/10, WIRED Recommends) version of the card, and I was impressed with its performance, build quality, and efficient cooling despite the relatively compact size. Best of all, you get Asus’ top-notch overclocking expertise, tuning your card to get the most out of it.
I’ve spotted it in stock fairly consistently, and although it’s over MSRP, so are basically all of the other RTX 5080s at the moment. This one is sitting near the bottom of the group in terms of price, while still offering important upgrades.
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Sonus Faber Concertino G4: Two-minute review
The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a very posh set of passive bookshelf speakers. That poshness isn’t just imbued by the colour palette and material choices that define their physical form, even though they do help a bit. Nor is that poshness fully explained by the not-inconsiderable $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 price point, though, again, that cost does its own fair share of heavy lifting on that front.
The poshness of these posh speakers comes, in my opinion, from Sonus Faber’s dedication to detail. So much attention has been paid to the design, construction, and resulting sound of these speakers, creating an experience arguably greater than the sum of its parts.
On the sound front, these speakers sound unsurprisingly excellent. The two-way design provides for both rich, detailed bass and generous, airy high-end – balanced to the point of tasteful sweetness. There’s a real tactility to the sound produced by the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, as if you could reach behind each instrument or sound source and cup it in your hands. This incredible, three-dimensional resolution is caveated by some serious directionality, but having to sit before your speakers for optimal results is neither a problem, nor anything new.
Visually, it’s hard to beat those walnut sides – but the vegan Ohoskin leather cladding gives it a good old college try. The brass accents consummate the executive nature of these speakers’ design, and the high attention to detail paid in their execution. If you’ve the figurative brass to spare, and are willing to buy more than a great pair of speakers, here’s where to start looking. Among the best stereo speakers money can buy? Absolutely.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Price & release date
Released September, 2024
Priced $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495
The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are something of a celebration for the Italian brand – specifically, an anniversary. It’s been 30 years since the first Concertinos made it to listening rooms around the world, and Sonus Faber has deigned to mark the occasion with this special revisit to its classic design.
The first 300 pairs of the Concertino G4 are numbered via a unique brass plate on the left cheek, and sold as the Concertino G4 Maestro Edition; the pair reviewed here is number 29. The occasion, the numbering of the first out of the gate, and the brand from which they hail are all overt clues as to the lofty space these audiophile bookshelfs aim to occupy on the market. The other is the price – $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 per pair, with purpose-designed iron stands coming in at an extra $1,500 / £1,375/ AU$2,875 (approx.).
These are by no means the most expensive speakers you’ll see from Sonus Faber – indeed, they actually sit quite comfortably at the cheaper end of the brand’s (dauntingly broad) price bracket – but they are nonetheless considerably pricy objects d’art. How do you think they hold up?
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Type
Bookshelf
Active or passive?
Passive
Bi-wirable?
Yes
Woofer
5-inch paper pulp
Tweeter
1-inch silk dome
Impedance
4 ohms
Dimensions
314mm x 214mm x 297 mm
Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Features
Passive, bi-wirable two-way speakers
Unique cork damping
Look at ‘em!
The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers, but also probably the most beautiful pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers I did ever see. I’ll be breaking down the impeccable aesthetic design of these bookshelfs a little later, but for now – quelle finesse!
Being a passive set of hi-fi speakers, the Concertino G4 are fundamentally uncomplicated and untroubled by the shoehorning-in of needless techy fripperies. However, there are some very nifty goings-on within, that make for a sound as phenomenal as the look. More specifically, the Concertino G4 utilize some precision-modeled cork damping material inside, which does a remarkable job of reducing internal resonances (and, I like to think, contributes a certain ‘springiness’ to the resulting sound of these excellent speakers).
This cork damping is paired, for the first time in Sonus Faber’s history, with a mid-woofer – a 5-inch paper-pulp, long-throw mid-woofer that goes some way to defining the brand’s sonic signature. Couple this with a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter, and you have a stunningly broad, stunningly rich set of living room listeners.
The speakers are, of course, bi-wirable; what else would you expect from a two-way speaker at this price? This writer doesn’t subscribe to the idea that running a bi-wired speaker system results in any tangible sonic improvements whatsoever, but bi-amping is a very different thing entirely – and something the Concertino G4 promise to benefit from all the more.
In the box, you’ll find the speakers, some optional magnetically attachable grille cloth covers, and, if you’re lucky enough to get a double-digit Maestro Edition, one of 100 hand-printed artworks – a copy of an etching, illustrating the Concertino G4’s unique internal damping, delivered in an embossed manila envelope. As far as ‘box candy’ is concerned, this is an excellent little gift, especially for the monumental shame that such downright cool designs are permanently, necessarily hidden from view.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Sound quality
Exceptional dimensionality
Sonorous low-end
Generous, airy high-end
Holy hell.
Being a writer of variable income (that is, varying somewhere between ‘ramen noodles every night’ and ‘slightly posher ramen noodles every night’), I tend to champion the cheaper stuff over anything. Particularly so when returns diminish starkly after a certain price cut-off, and especially where it’s obvious that a premium brand is cashing in on its perceived pedigree as opposed to offering anything of serious value.
As such, it’s rare for me to recognize anything asking upwards of $2000 as ‘worth it’. But the Concertino G4 are exceedingly hard to turn down, simply for the rapturous quality of sound they dare to bring into my humble living room.
I use ‘three-dimensional’ a lot as a term when describing the structure and texture of a given device’s auditory performance, and am forced to again here – but in full acknowledgement that this is about as three-dimensional as any bookshelfs can be. The platonic ideal. The dragon I’ll be chasing for decades to come.
Rich(ard) Dawson’s End of the Middle is a record rich (geddit?) in raw percussive instrumentation, blooming low-tuned guitars and alternately plain-spoken/high-falsetto’d art-folk tales of the unexpected. Through the Concertino G4s, Dawson’s heartbreaking windows into the banal (played from a 12-inch on my Victrola Stream Sapphire) are rendered with stunning richness and clarity.
Aptly for the Sonus Faber name, these are sonorous speakers. The low-end is unbelievably rich and structured; it’s rare to feel like you can reach behind the bass strings and grasp the thick air in their wake. Dawson’s voice is rich [that’s enough now – Ed.], complex, and fully present – his fricatives feel as if formed in the room.
High-end information is rendered generously. There’s a sense that all higher elements sit plushly within a cushion of air, presenting themselves forth for scrutiny without force or strain – the same force and strain that, in my self-invented mythos of sound, causes tinniness, cloy or otherwise intolerable screech from lesser sources.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
The balance of sound is hugely directional. If you, like me, place these facing across a room as opposed to down it, you’re likely to find patches of especial untamed bass-i-ness. Unsurprisingly enough, if you situate yourself where Sonus Faber’s manual actually instructs you to – that is, dead in front, with the speakers facing you, as one point of an audiophile equilateral triangle – the fruits of the Concertinos’ labor make the sense they’re supposed to make.
Dirty Projectors’ Swing Lo Magellan, also listened to on vinyl, is every bit as immediate as your mind’s ear interprets it. It might be a bit dross to fall on the word ‘musical’ to describe the Concertino G4 here, but here we go nonetheless – the subby kicks of opener Offspring Are Blank are discrete, weighted and musical, a far cry from the placeless wub lesser speakers would offer up as alternative.
As Offspring…’s pre-chorus opens out with twanging guitars, there’s a spring in the step – a delightful bounce emphasized by the rubbery drums and densely sponged short-scale bass of ensuing track About To Die. Percussion throughout the album is supple and giving despite its forefront presence, and David Longstreth’s dry, dead-center vocals are a floaty, reedy delight. My album favourite, The Socialites, has a weight and focus I’ve not heard elsewhere. It’s a unique joy.
Speaking of which, the Concertino G4 has no issue bringing that same weight and focus to famously less-focused records, like My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. Kevin Shields’ stacked soundscapes throb and thrum with excitable energy throughout, while the dead, motorik drums at the center of When You Sleep punch out from behind as if pummeled by a hammer. Side B loud-lullaby Sometimes is a glorious bath of multi-tracked guitars and rabbit-heartbeat kicks, distinct in its indistinctness and clear in its complete lack of conventional clarity. A beautiful paradox delivered through these speakers.
The word I keep returning to with these speakers is ‘generous’. There’s space in and around everything tackled, from distant roomy drums to attention-begging upfront vocals – space enough you genuinely feel as if you could cup each element in your hands, or awkwardly reach around them to grab something. Aside from their clear preference for head-on listening (which is, assuredly, of necessity and by design), these speakers are functionally faultless.
Design-wise, it’s hard to know where to start with the Concertino G4s because of Sonus Faber’s trademark meticulousness. Each speaker is a work of art, exuding craftsmanship from every angle. They benefit from beautifully shaped walnut cheeks, with an outward crease that runs from bottom to top, front to rear, and bisect the trapezoidal shape of the whole thing in a very pleasing manner.
New here is the involvement of Ohoskin, an Italian manufacturer of high-quality leather alternatives. This bio-based leather material (made from orange and cactus byproducts) is eco-conscious, sure, but also a stunning ‘pleather’ that clads the top and front of the chassis. It certainly could’ve fooled me.
Between this sleek black not-actually-leather and the solid walnut cheeks, these are a distinctly executive set of audiophile speakers, enhanced further by the mirror-polished brass that forms its front logo panels, rear terminal plates and side-mounted issue number placards. Even the studs holding those walnut cheeks in place are highly reflective, monogrammed indications of attention to detail.
That same attention to detail gifts us sleekness elsewhere. Sonus Faber supplies you with a pair of lightweight cloth grille covers, which you may optionally attach to the front of the Concertino G4 by way of some concealed magnets beneath the pleather.
Now, I think these speakers look far better in their uncovered glory, both for generally preferring uncovered hi-fi speakers and for having my own aesthetic misgivings around the covers’ design. Still, the option is a nice one to have, and well-executed besides – from the completely invisible magnets to the soft felt material covering the ‘feet’ on the covers themselves.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Value
Commands a considerable price
But represents more than just ‘good sound’
Clearly made with skill, reverence and love
When buying the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, you’re actually buying at least two things, not one. Yes, one of them is an excellent-sounding pair of bookshelf speakers, but you’re also buying an immaculately designed, reverently constructed pair of artworks for your living space. On top of that, if you buy the Maestro Edition, you’re also buying a secret third thing – a limited-edition set, made all the more valuable for its combination of rarity and pedigree. It is with this in mind that I suggest, humbly, that value is difficult to ascribe to this set of speakers.
I’ve heard dozens upon dozens of bookshelf speakers below £1,000 – and even owned a fair few second-hand speakers bought for below £100 – that display similarly remarkable attention to detail in the audio realm, even if their chassis leave a little to be desired. Yet all fall short, however marginally, of the dimensionality on display here. Buying the Concertino G4 for performance alone could be justifiable, yes, but only if you’re willing to throw an extra £3,500 at the extra 5-10% that elevates these speakers above their upper mid-range contemporaries.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Concertino G4s. It’s a rare pair of speakers that can so convincingly render voices and instruments in discrete three-dimensional space, and nothing short of magic to hear the care with which such sound sources are treated. But you can find this for less. What you can’t is the Italian-made, executive-saloon suavity of the Concertino’s form, or the combination of this hand-built reverence with such deferent approaches to audiophilia.
So, while I might not be currently tempted to sell my belongings in favor of owning the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, I do know that, with the right capital and in the right atmospheric conditions, I’d snap them up in a heartbeat. Not just for their impeccable sound, but for the space they command, and for what that command represents.
Massive depth, clarity and three-dimensionality; careful handling of high-end, weighty low-end.
5/5
Design
A masterclass in executive chic. Cloth grille covers aren’t to everyone’s taste.
5/5
Value
Pricy, but it buys you a work of practical art, made with reverence.
4.5/5
Should you buy the Sonus Faber Concertino G4?
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Also consider
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 – Cell 0
Sonus Faber Concertino G4
Monitor Audio Studio 89
Sonus Faber Lumina II
Type
Bookshelf
Bookshelf
Bookshelf
Active or passive?
Passive
Passive
Passive
Bi-wirable?
Yes
No
Yes
Woofer
5-inch paper pulp
x2 4.5-inch RDT III
150mm paper pulp
Tweeter
1-inch silk dome
x1 MPD III
29mm silk diaphragm
Impedance
4 ohms
6 ohms
4ohms
Dimensions
314 x 214 x 297 mm
340 x 157 x 361 mm
304 x 180 x 263mm
How I tested the Sonus Faber Concertino G4
Tested for four weeks
Used in my living room, as my primary listening speakers
Tested using a Victrola Stream Sapphire and Cambridge Audio receiver
As someone with considerable personal and professional investment both in the enjoyment of music and in its production, I have unique experience on both sides of the equation. I engage with speakers of various types as a matter of course each day, from flat-response studio monitor speakers to gorgeous, flattering hi-fi numbers like these.
For four glorious weeks, the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 speakers were my primary listening speakers in my living room. I wired them into my Cambridge Audio Azur 540r receiver, which received the sound of my vinyl record collection via a Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable (outfitted with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge).
One of the most budget-friendly electric SUVs on the market is about to become a little less enticing. Thanks to upcoming changes in federal EV tax credit eligibility, this standout model may soon lose one of its biggest advantages, a $7,500 incentive that’s helped make it a top choice for value-conscious buyers.
With a competitive price, solid range, and a well-equipped interior, this electric SUV has been a gateway into EV ownership for many Americans. Its approachable pricing combined with the federal tax credit made it one of the most cost-effective ways to go electric in 2025, but that window is closing fast.
If you’ve been considering the switch to an EV, now may be the best time to act. Once the credit disappears, this model will still offer great value, but not quite the same unbeatable deal. Here’s why it’s worth a closer look before the incentive runs out.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA.
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The Chevrolet Equinox EV is Exceptionally Affordable With the Tax Credit
With the $7,500 tax credit set to go away at the end of September this year, there couldn’t be a better time to buy a new EV. If you’re looking for something affordable, then there is no better option than the Equinox EV, especially if you want the addde practicality and versatility of a crossover.
2025 Trims and Pricing
Model
Starting MSRP
LT1
$33,600
LT2
$41,900
RS
$43,400
The Equinox EV is currently the most affordable electric SUV that you can buy, with most other competitors starting above the $40,000 mark. This alone makes it an exceptionally attractive choice. If you take into account the $7,500 tax credit, though, the total cost of a new Equinox EV can be as low as $26,100. For a compact SUV, that is a fantastic deal. There aren’t even any gas-only compact SUVs with MSRPs that low.
With a cost so low, you can deck out your 2025 Chevrolet Equinox without feeling too guilty. Even the most expensive RS would only cost you $35,900 after factoring in the credit. This is the way we would go, as you get a ton of features for a price that is impossible to argue with. We’d also select the all-wheel drive powertrain, which costs an additional $3,300.
Changes For 2025
Chevrolet has left the Equinox mostly unchanged for its second year on the market. They have, however, slightly improved the electric motors, resulting in some additional power. Front-wheel drive models have seen a seven-horsepower jump from 213 horsepower to 220, and all-wheel drive models have gone up by 12 horses for a total of 300 horsepower.
Warranties and Maintenance
Limited Warranty – Three Years or 36,000 Miles
Powertrain Warranty – Five Years or 60,000 Miles
Electric Component Warranty – Eight Years or 100,000 Miles
The coverage offered on the Equinox is pretty standard. Both the bumper-to-bumper coverage and powertrain warranty are around average for this segment. The coverage of the electrical components, including the battery, offers pretty good peace of mind for those hesitant about making the switch to electric. Hyundai, however, offers a much more comprehensive package on the Ioniq 5. Chevrolet does, however, throw in your first maintenance visit on the house.
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Chevrolet’s Equinox Can Deliver Over 300 Miles On a Single Charge
Chevrolet
One of the biggest barriers preventing most people from making the switch to electric cars is range. Not only is the Equinox a fairly perky EV, delivering the acceleration that you’d expect from a crossover running on electricity, but Chevrolet makes some pretty impressive promises when it comes to how far you can go on a single charge.
Performance Specifications
Powertrain
1x Electric Motor
2x Electric Motor
Horsepower
220 HP
300 HP
Torque
243 LB-FT
355 LB-FT
Driveline
FWD
AWD
0-60 MPH
7.7 Seconds
5.8 Seconds
Top Speed
113 MPH
112 MPH
Front-wheel drive versions of the Equinox come with a single electric motor that powers the front axle, delivering 220 horsepower. In this form, the Equinox is perkier than the average gas-powered compact SUV, but not exceptionally quick. The dual-motor all-wheel drive model, however, is fast.
The Equinox may not be the most engaging SUV that you could buy, but if you’re someone who is just looking for a comfortable crossover to get you around, it will definitely satisfy. Its ride is smooth and compliant, eating up most bumps in the road with no problem. You can also choose between three levels of regenerative braking, with one-pedal driving available on the highest setting.
Efficiency, Battery, and Range
Model
City
Highway
Combined
Range
FWD
117 MPGe
100 MPGe
109 MPGe
319 Miles
AWD
112 MPGe
95 MPG
103 MPGe
307 Miles
Every Equinox comes with the same 85-kWh battery pack, which is pretty generous for a crossover at this price point. The difference between the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models is pretty small when it comes to efficiency, which is relatively impressive. These two factors together mean that no matter what Equinox you opt for, you’ll get more than 300 miles on a single charge.
Every model comes equipped with DC fast charging capability, meaning it doesn’t take long to recharge your battery once depleted. Chevrolet claims that you can add up to 70 miles of range in as little as ten minutes.
Key Safety and Driver Assist Features
Automatic Emergency Braking
Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Automatic Emergency Steering
IntelliBeam Automatic High Beams
Adaptive Cruise Control
Chevrolet has equipped the Equinox EV with a plethora of standard safety features and driver assists. Alongside things like collision detection and avoidance systems, adaptive cruise control is also available. The Equinox EV is also offered with GM’s SuperCruise hands-free driving mode, which is usable on over 400,000 miles of road now.
The NHTSA has also put the Equinox EV through its paces and scored it five stars out of five for its exceptional crash test results.
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Comfortable, Practical, and Loaded With Modern Technology
Chevrolet
For its price point, even excluding the $7,500 tax credit, the Equinox EV has a pretty impressive cabin. As well as a ton of technology, as one would expect in an electric vehicle, Chevrolet has imbued the crossover with some upscale materials and plenty of storage solutions.
Interior Dimensions and Comfort
Front Row Headroom
39.15 Inches
Front Row Legroom
41.65 Inches
Second Row Headroom
38.49 Inches
Second Row Legroom
38 Inches
Cargo Capacity
26.4 Cubic Feet
While not the outright largest in its segment, the Equinox EV is not small by any means. Even the tallest of passengers will feel more than comfortable in the backseats, even on longer journeys. Those in the front are treated even better. Cargo capacity is impressive, and you can easily fold the rear seats away and increase capacity up to 57.2 cubic feet.
The Equinox is an exceptionally contemporary crossover, with a dashboard that definitely accentuates the massive screens. While the base model misses some desirable features, lacking even power-adjustable seats, top trims come well-equipped. Things like dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and power-operated, heated seats.
Infotainment and Technology
As mentioned above, the Chevrolet Equinox EV features a digital dashboard, similar to what is offered in the Silverado EV. This consists of an 11-inch digital gauge display and a pretty large 17.7-inch infotainment system. This setup is standard no matter what model you opt for. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are no longer on offer. Instead, the system includes built-in apps, like Google Maps and Spotify.
There are a number of USB-C ports throughout the cabin and Bluetooth is standard. A wireless smartphone charging pad is available as an optional extra. A six-speaker sound system is standard on every model. The lack of a premium sound system is something that is likely to disappoint audiophiles.
The iPhone 17 Air battery could be under 3,000 mAh
This fits in with previous leaks about the handset
iOS 26 could extend battery life to last an entire day
When Apple gets around to launching the new iPhone 17 series in September, it looks very likely that there’s going to be a brand new model: the super-slim iPhone 17 Air. As per a new rumor, that slimness could come at the expense of battery capacity.
Well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors) says the iPhone 17 Air is going to come with a battery that’s under 3,000 mAh in terms of its capacity. The iPhone 16, in comparison, is fitted with a 3,651 mAh battery.
Of course we don’t know how that’s going to translate into actual battery life, but it seems the new handset might struggle to match the time between charges that the current models offer. According to Apple, the iPhone 16 gives you 22 hours of video playback on a single charge, though more demanding tasks use up more battery life.
As per the same tipster, the power saving mode on the iPhone – which is being enhanced with a new adaptive mode in iOS 26, also due in September – will mean you can get through a day’s moderate use with the iPhone 17 Air.
Battery size and battery life
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is another ultra-thin phone (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
It’s perhaps no surprise that the iPhone 17 Air is going to come with a smaller-than-normal battery. It makes sense that if the thickness of the chassis is shrinking, then there’s going to be less room for a battery to power the handset.
Previous leaks have put the iPhone 17 Air battery size at 2,800 mAh, which fits in with the new information. However, there have also been rumors around upgraded battery tech that could enable more battery life to be provided by smaller batteries.
It’s also worth mentioning that battery capacity isn’t the whole story when it comes to battery life, though it does of course have a major role. iPhones typically have smaller batteries than the best Android phones, but can maximize battery life through design efficiencies and software optimizations.
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Bear in mind that none of this is certain until Apple makes it official. If you’re wondering what a high-end, ultra-thin phone might actually be like to use in 2025, check out our Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review.
AM8 with the honor of red dot design award 2023 winner product, the podcast microphone dynamic with XLR and USB connector pulls dual duty for play and work, coming with RGB, mute button, gain knob, headphones jack and monitoring vol. knob. Start using USB podcast microphone with USB connection, and ready to XLR setup by XLR streaming mic. Studio recording microphone rejects unwanted noise to make your audio sounds stable and clear. Soothing RGB lights bring vitality to your live broadcast.
AM8 RGB Light Display
Streaming Gaming Desktop Mic with RGB Lights
AM8, podcasting microphone, featured with 3 kinds of RGB modes, including dynamic RGB flowing, breathing gradient and single color choice, presents more than 10 colors. Dynamic microphone USB built with soothing RGB matches your PC making amazing synergy and brings vitality to live streaming. Worked with RGB control, RGB on USB podcast microphone can be chosen and turned on/off. Configured memory function, dynamic USB mic eliminates repeated selections to bring itself alive when power on again.
Upgraded XLR Connection
Tend toward a stably balanced voice
Studio XLR Connection
Capture voice clarity away from ambient noise
Recording Setup Elevation
Enable to grow alongside your equipment
Simply Easy USB Connection
Give a direct recording right out of the box
Plug and Play USB Connection
Skip setting hassle to get start quickly
Wide Compatibility Microphone
XLR/USB microphone is a one stop shop for multi-purposed work.
Built-in 3/8’’ and 5/8’’ threads
Built in two-sizes threads, no need for additional adapters, the gaming microphone XLR is compatible with the most mic stands. Two sizes of threads built in the USB podcast microphone is more convenient for you going out recording or working at home.
Fit the most microphone stands
Adjust the thumbscrew to change the XLR streaming microphone angle. More angle and height adjustments enable you to obtain the most suitable recording distance when use the gaming dynamic USB mic, to output more desired audio.
XLR/USB Streaming Mic-AM8
Gaming Streaming Mic
XLR or USB
Connector
USB
Dynamic
Acoustic Principle
Condenser
On/Off/Color Choice
RGB Control
On/Off/Color Choice
Mute Button
Gain Knob
Headphones Jack
Vol. Monitor Control
XLR or USB
Connector
XLR or USB
Dynamic
Acoustic Principle
Dynamic
On/Off/Color Choice
RGB Control
/
Mute Button
Gain Knob
Headphones Jack
Vol. Monitor Control
XLR or USB
Connector
XLR or USB
Dynamic
Acoustic Principle
Dynamic
On/Off/Color Choice
RGB Control
On/Off/Color Choice
Mute Button
Gain Knob
Headphones Jack
Vol. Monitor Control
XLR or USB
Connector
XLR
Dynamic
Acoustic Principle
Dynamic
On/Off/Color Choice
RGB Control
/
Mute Button
Gain Knob
Headphones Jack
Vol. Monitor Control
Steamer PC Mic-A8 XLR/USB Studio Mic-K688 XLR/USB Mic Kit-AM8T XLR Dynamic Mic-K669D
Are the funtional keys available via XLR connection?
No. All the function keys, RGB and headphones monitoring are only available for USB connection, but invaild for XLR connection. (You can operate the mic on your mixer or audio interface when using XLR connection.)
What devices can the AM8 mic use with via USB connection?
This gaming microphone works well with PC,laptop,Mac via USB connection, but it is NOT compatible with Xbox.
What function keys does the AM8 mic have?
This computer gaming microphone comes with RGB button,mute button,mic gain knob, headphones jack and headphones volume knob which it is convenient to control the mic in podcasting,recording,gaming and streaming.
How can I get loud and clear sound quality while recording?
You should keep speaking to the top of this computer gaming microphone within 2-6 inches to capture loud and clear sound quality, you have to turn the gain knob to a proper level before you use it.
Is the AM8 mic good for gaming and streaming?
This dynamic microphone with RGB light picks up the sound from the top of the mic and reduces unwanted background noises effectively.It provides clear and smooth sound quality when you are gaming and streaming.
[Natural Audio Clarity] Operated with frequency response of 50Hz-16KHz, the podcasting XLR mic delivers balanced audio range, likely to resonate with your audience. Directional cardioid dynamic microphone corded will not exaggerate your voice, while rejects unwanted off-axis noise for vocal originality and intelligibility during your gaming streaming video recording. (Tips: Keep the top of end-addressing XLR dynamic microphone AM8 facing audio source, and suggested recording range is 2 to 6 in.) [XLR Connection Upgrade-Ability] Well-connected and smooth operation, the podcasting microphone, studio recording microphone grows alongside your studio setup equipment, like sound cards and mixers, which improves vocal speaking audio flexibility to make you explore various types of music recording singing. The black XLR streaming microphone isolates the pristine and accurate sound from ambient noise via balanced transmission with greater no interference and fidelity. [USB Connection with Handy Mute] Skip the hassle of setting something up and plug the cable to play the dynamic USB microphone directly, which suits for beginner creators or daily podcast or conference work. You can quickly control USB podcast microphone dynamic with tap-to-mute that is independent of computer/Macbook programs to keep privacy when live streaming. LED mute reminder helps you get rid of forgetting to cancel the mute. (Only available for USB connection) [Soothing Controllable RGB] RGB ring on the desktop gaming microphone for PC, with 3 modes and more than 10 light colors collection, matches your PC gears accessories for gaming synergy even in dim room. You can control the RGB key button of the dynamic microphone USB for game color scheme gaming or live streaming. Configured memory function, the streaming microphone RGB no need to repeated selections and brings itself alive when power on. (Only available for USB connection) [More Function Keys] Computer microphone with headphones jack upgrades your rhythm game experience and get feedback whether the real-time voice your audience hear as expected. Get the desired level via monitoring volume control when gaming recording. Smooth mic gain knob on the PC microphone gaming has some resistance to the point, easily for audio attenuation or boost presence to less post-production audio. (Only available for USB connection) [Multiple Scene Use] The XLR/USB PC gaming microphone is a one stop shop to pull duties for both play and work. Use the standing desktop microphone for gaming at home studio or take it on the go. Built-in 3/8’’ and 5/8’’ metal threads, the dynamic XLR microphone fits the most mic stands without external adapter. Noise-canceling windscreen cover defeats hum from nearby electrical appliances for cleaner audio. (It is suggested to connect the mic to the USB-A port of the back of PS5 console.)
Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.
There are countless so-called wellness tips permeating platforms like TikTok on any given day. And while many are little better than pseudoscience, some treatments like acupuncture are based on legitimate medicinal practices dating back millennia. This mix of both good and bad health remedies is nothing new, but according to researchers compiling a growing database of centuries’ old medical manuscripts, some of today’s social media suggestions aren’t that far off from prescriptions documented in the Dark Ages. But whether that’s a positive or a negative sort of depends on how you view things.
“People were engaging with medicine on a much broader scale than had previously been thought,” Meg Leja, a Binghamton University medieval historian, said in a recent profile. “They were concerned about cures, they wanted to observe the natural world and jot down bits of information wherever they could in this period known as the ‘Dark Ages.’”
Leja is also a contributor to the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine (CEMLM), an international collaboration between universities to expand the known catalog of pre-11th century Latin medical manuscripts. Many of these old texts haven’t been included in other digital collections. So far, their work has almost doubled the number of known Dark Age medical manuscripts.
After reviewing the still-expanding library, researchers now believe that the era’s remedies weren’t always quite as dubious as you might think. Many books recommend topical ointments and detox cleanses made from ingredients like dried herbs and distilled alcohols. One book’s headache cure, for example, suggests mixing crushed peach pit with rose oil before rubbing it onto your forehead. As strange as it sounds, one study from 2017 indicates rose oil may help with migraine pains.
As expected, others don’t hold up to present-day scrutiny. Contrary to one famous 9th century CE codex, vulture eyes wrapped in a fox pelt will not reduce your own eye pains. Neither will a pregnant woman’s labor progress more quickly if you tie the bird’s feathers to her left leg.
Meanwhile, other treatments seem to straddle the line between valid and absurd. Another 9th century manuscript’s suggestion for improving hair health starts sensibly enough— covering the head with herbal-infused salt and vinegar will help to disinfect the scalp of parasites. But to really make those locks extra luscious, it then recommends applying a salve of oils with the “ashes of a burnt green lizard.”
The main takeaway Leja’s team stresses is that while the Dark Ages were “dark” in the sense that a large number of sources have not survived the centuries, many of the era’s experts were truly interested in researching real medical treatments. Leja even goes so far as to push back on the notion that people then were “anti-science.”
“People in the early Middle Ages were quite into science, into observation, into figuring out the utility of different natural substances, and trying to identify patterns and make predictions,” she explained.
Of course, rigorous research standards must be maintained to ensure ingredients like “lizard ash” stay out of today’s prescription shampoos. Meanwhile, a medieval doctor would be forgiven for thinking social media’s ability to amplify bad science amounts to demonology. In any case, hearsay, like in the Dark Ages, shouldn’t be taken at its word—be it in an ancient codex, or the latest hashtag.
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If you ever forget what you’re driving, just look at the hood.
Andrew Krok/CNET
There’s no missing a Range Rover. Whether it’s the prominent letters emblazoned fore and aft, or the unmistakable silhouette, this large luxury utility vehicle has capital-P presence everywhere it goes, and its latest generation is no different. The 2023 Range Rover holds true to the tenets that have kept this ute at the top of the luxo-barge pile, and its latest batch of changes will certainly keep it there for years to come.
Like
Serene ride
Impeccable style inside and out
Oodles of capability
Don’t like
Not electric… yet
Noisy motorized doohickeys
Typical JLR infotainment quirks
At first, I thought the 2023 Range Rover’s aesthetic was a bit too close to that of its predecessor but getting up close and personal has changed my tune. The new model looks stunning in person. There isn’t a single overwrought design element on the exterior; the body panels are as smooth as glass and devoid of shouty features. The way the Range’s signature vertical taillights now integrate seamlessly into the tailgate’s horizontal black elements makes the new rear end look like a freakin’ spaceship. I’m especially a fan of my tester’s $7,450 satin-finish gold paint, which plays well against the blacked-out trim ($1,000), black roof ($1,000) and 23-inch black alloy wheels ($900).
The Range Rover’s cabin prioritizes simplicity over the last generation, and it works well. The busiest parts of the interior have all been smoothed over, starting with the vents that now comprise a single unbroken element between the dark and light parts of the dashboard. The window switches have been moved down near the door handles. The center console offers way more accessible storage, no longer shoving the cup holders off to the side while also making room for a cubby and a wireless device charger under the climate controls. The 13.1-inch touchscreen and 13.7-inch digital gauge cluster don’t look like tacked-on afterthoughts. The heated, cooled, massaging front seats are supremely comfortable on longer trips, keeping road fatigue at bay.
My tester is the short-wheelbase variant, so there are only two rows of seats, but those in the back may have it even better than the folks up front. The rear seats offer an impressive amount of recline, and the front passenger seat can be shoved forward so a chauffeured individual can make use of the foldable footrest. The middle seat is actually a mechanized center console, slowly descending and extending to reveal an additional control panel and, with a little extra motor motion, two cup holders. The short-wheelbase Range Rover still offers a meaty 43 cubic feet of cargo space, and the motorized tonneau cover means whatever is stashed back there will remain out of view.
All that serenity stays at the forefront, even when the 2023 Range Rover is in motion. My tester packs a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, making 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. It’s enough to shove off from every stoplight with an alarming amount of authority, but the engine note never really rises to a clamor — it stays off in the distance, offering just enough rumble to remind you it’s there. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission does a good job on the upshifts, but it can feel a little janky on the way back down, mostly within the last few feet of stopping. It’s not really a major source of annoyance; if anything, it has me excited for how smooth the upcoming electric variant will be.
Enlarge Image
The Range Rover’s V8 is quite good, but it’ll be tough to top the outright serenity an electric powertrain will eventually provide.
Andrew Krok/CNET
It’s impressive how every driving input is tailored for outright smoothness. The Range Rover’s gas pedal offers plenty of room for smooth, gradual starts, while the brake pedal’s long, squishy throw makes head-bob-free limo stops easy to execute. The steering is overboosted to high heaven, with a lightweight feel that makes it easy to make small adjustments without jostling the occupants.
The Range Rover’s ride quality is palatial, right up there with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The standard air suspension soaks up nearly every road imperfection and returns nothing but softness. Save for a bit of wind noise around the mirror and A-pillar at Michigan’s 80-mph average highway pace, the cabin is free of any clamor that isn’t coming from the standard Meridian surround-sound system. In fact, the noisiest part of the whole Range Rover experience comes at the beginning and end, when the flush door handles retract or extend from the body, which is a surprisingly loud affair. I’m kind of surprised they aren’t quieter.
Enlarge Image
Not only are the motorized door handles a little loud, the interior handles are surprisingly well hidden. First-time occupants may take a few seconds to figure out how to leave.
Andrew Krok/CNET
The motorized door handles are cool, and while they undoubtedly contribute to better fuel economy, the numbers still aren’t great with a V8 under the hood. The EPA estimates this Range Rover is good for 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, numbers I had no problem matching over a few hundred miles of urban and interstate cruising. Then again, considering CNET’s long-term Hyundai Santa Cruz only offers 3 mpg more at freeway speeds, perhaps these numbers aren’t too shabby, given how much luxury the Range Rover drags along with it.
Cabin tech has long been a hit-or-miss affair with Jaguar Land Rover, but the 2023 Range Rover’s infotainment system is firmly in the former category. The 13.1-inch touchscreen runs JLR’s Pivi Pro telematics software. The aesthetics are good, the menus are easy to navigate and the responsiveness is better than it’s ever been. But it’s still not free of random frustrations. Over my week with the Range Rover, wireless Apple CarPlay stopped working mid-drive about a half-dozen times and wouldn’t work again until I turned the SUV off and back on. If you’d rather skip the phone-based software, the Range Rover’s embedded navigation works great.
Enlarge Image
Pivi Pro looks great, but it can still be a little frustrating at times.
Andrew Krok/CNET
The 2023 Range Rover is also loaded with all the standard safety systems its parent company can whip up. The adaptive cruise control is nice and smooth, and the hands-on lane-keep-assist system dramatically reduces the tedium on longer road trips. The surround-view camera and parking sensors make any parallel parking job a breeze, but you can always ask the car to handle that legwork, too, with available hands-free parking assist. My favorite part comes when reversing; the system will let me know when I’m parked too close to an object for the trunk to open fully.
While the 2023 Range Rover starts just a hair over $100,000, my V8-powered First Edition tester is loaded up with all the bells and whistles as standard, sending that starting price to an eye-watering $159,550, including $1,350 in destination. Throw in the aesthetic packages I mentioned earlier, and you’re staring down a bill of $169,900. The SV trim is still more expensive, nearly cresting the $200,000 mark in short-wheelbase form, but the First Edition isn’t far behind.
But you get what you pay for, and your money is not going to waste on the 2023 Range Rover. This car is, simply put, one of the best luxury-vehicle experiences money can buy right now. Its on-road demeanor is next to none, and it has a style and presence that many other luxury cars can’t match.
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Upgraded XLR Connection 
Studio XLR Connection 
Recording Setup Elevation 
Simply Easy USB Connection 
Plug and Play USB Connection 
Wide Compatibility Microphone 
XLR/USB Studio Mic-K688 
XLR/USB Mic Kit-AM8T 
XLR Dynamic Mic-K669D 
