This Week The Trend (Issue 53)

How I’d spend $500: Marshall Stanmore IV

The Marshall Stanmore III was one of my favorite home speakers. Its RCA ports made it perfect for connecting to a record player. The new Stanmore IV makes a few small tweaks to make the speaker even better. Primarily, the new speaker gets more power and better sound. The audio quality is less boomy and clearer throughout the mid-range.

The ports move to the bottom so it can be pushed up against a wall. If you have more than one, they can be grouped wirelessly using Auracast.

Value Score: Poor

While this is a great wireless speaker, probably worth every penny if you do connect it to a record player and stream wirelessly from your phone regularly, it's also pricey. Since the III is on sale for $250, that one might be worth considering too.

How I’d spend $150: Dyson HushJet Fan

It's hot, and the Dyson HushJet is one way to stay cool. The portable fan can be used as a handheld, attached to a neck cable, or sitting on a desk. There's a quiet mode for use in public, but if noise is no concern, then it's capable of airflow up to 25 m/s (55 MPH), with five speeds.

Value Score: Poor

While the Shark Chillpill has mist, a fan, and a chill plate, its fan is less powerful. If you're looking for portable airflow, then it's hard to beat the HushJet.

How I’d spend $50: Smallrig Mini EDC Flashlight

If you're a sucker, like me, for a multi-use tool that's compact and budget-friendly, then you're going to love the Smallrig Mini EDC Flashlight. Despite fitting in the palm of your hand, it still includes a magnetic base, thread mount, and clip for attaching it anywhere.

The head rotates 180 degrees, the battery should last 50 minutes on high (and 60 hours on low), it has a second color light LED, recharges via USB-C, and is IP65 water/dust resistant.

Value Score: Fair

I've used several pieces of Smallrig gear, and it's all mostly been terrific. Besides the actual light, the value for this Mini EDC Flashlight is that it's so versatile for camping, sports, or just around the house.

The winning pick: Smallrig Mini EDC Flashlight

The pocketable nature of this flashlight makes it easy to carry and use anywhere. Plus its multiple attachment points mean you can actually use it for anything.

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

An expensive pick: Fluance RT87

The Fluance RT87 is an exquisite turntable for several reasons, but primarily because of its dual-plinth design. It has two layers. The bottom part holds the motor, and the top one has the tonearm. This helps better alleviate vibrations. The four-pound platter and carbon-fiber tonearm also contribute to near-silent operation. After a few days of use, this is one of the best turntables I've ever used, and I've tried quite a few.

If there's a downside, it's that the glossy finish is a dust magnet.

This week's other interesting deals and product news

• Garmin debuted a new fitness band called Cirqa. It's $199 and a Whoop competitor, but with no subscription required.
• The Marshall Major V headphones are on sale for $89, down from $159 retail.
• Apple raised the price of its music subscription and bundled services.
• Xteink released its X4 Pro 4.3-inch e-reader with a touchscreen and light for $99. (It would have been a pick, but it's sold out until Aug. 6th.)
• Samsung released its new Z Fold 8 folding phone. Unlike other foldables, it's shorter and opens to be a wide, 7.6-inch tablet.

This week's published stories

• Amazon Ember Artline TV review [Business Insider]
• Xteink X4 Pro review [Yahoo]
• Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC review [Yahoo]
• Two hidden show gems on Apple TV [Yahoo]
• 6 songs from Gracie Abrams' latest album that might make you a fan [Yahoo]

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