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This Week The Trend (Issue 46)

This week's picks include a karaoke mic, open-back headphones, and a wireless page turner.

Tyler H

• 4 min read
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This Week The Trend (Issue 46)
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This Week The Trend newsletter consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used.

How I’d spend $500: JBL EasySing Mic Mini

If you've only been using your JBL Bluetooth speaker to listen to music, then you're missing out on using it for singing too. The JBL EasySing Mic Mini allows most of the company's speakers to be used retroactively as a karaoke machine. The adapter can even be plugged into non-JBL speakers with an aux-in. The Mic Mini comes with a handle it can clip into so it's easier to hold while singing.

Price: $180 (link)
Value Score: Fair

The $180 price is steep for just a karaoke mic, but the EasySing can also be used to record podcasts or social videos. You can unhook it from its handle and clip it onto your shirt.

How I’d spend $150: JLab Open Wireless headphones

The JLab Open Wireless are catering to a forgotten market in the modern space. There just aren't many open-back wireless headphones. So, if your ears get hot and sweaty, these are a great way to listen with more airflow. The open backs don't leak audio as much as you would think, and the sound still has plenty of thump to it. They might look strange, but the results are fantastic.

Price: $99 (link)
Value Score: Good

Even if you're not interested in the open-ear aspect, these headphones still sound great for their price point. All around, there's not much to dislike about what these wireless headphones offer.

How I’d spend $50: Boox Tappy

The Boox Tappy is a Bluetooth page turner. It might look like a mini mechanical keyboard, but it only has two keys—forward and back. Boox mostly makes e-readers and E Ink notetakers, so Tappy is meant to be an accessory for those devices. When a book isn't on screen, Tappy will raise and lower the device's volume. You can also set it to scroll vertically on a website.

Price: $30 (link)
Value Score: Poor

A $30 page turner is overkill. You can find all kinds of Bluetooth fidgets with buttons for under $10. Tappy is all about the upscale, refined aesthetic. I'm not sure why the buttons show a coffee, a heart, an X, and an O, but those can be mixed and matched, and only adds to the appeal.

The winning pick: JLab Open Wireless headphones

For $99, the JLab Open Wireless headphones are a big winner. I like that they come with removable metal grates. If you don't like the open-look, you can still enjoy all of the benefits without showing off your ears.

Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.

An expensive pick: Marshall Heston 60 Soundbar and Heston Sub 200

Right now, Marshall is bundling its Heston 60 soundbar with its Heston Sub 200 for $1,000. That's $300 off the two products sold separately. I've tried lots of Marshall's recent speakers and headphones, and each outperformed my expectations. I have no doubt the company's home theater soundbar and 200W wireless subwoofer can deliver lots of power, in addition to the Dolby Atmos surround sound support.

Price: $1,000 (link)

Media pick: The End of Oak Street

A dinosaur movie that isn't Jurassic Park? Apparently it is possible. The End of Oak Street comes from JJ Abrams and features a solid cast. Maybe no other good dino movies can be made, but we should at least find out.

A new trailer for season three of Silo on Apple TV just dropped. And Taylor Swift has a new original song for Toy Story 5 called "I Knew It, I Knew You."

This week's other interesting deals and product news

This week's published stories

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