Which are the best digital picture frames with audio for families?
Pix-Star’s frames are arguably the best digital picture frames with audio playback and support. They’re one of the few premium digital frames that cater to the needs of families without excluding elderly users or being prohibitively expensive. You get great audio support with music & radio/web music can be played over slideshows, you can play videos in slideshows with their accompanying audio, and you can send voice messages to any connected Pix-Star frame from anywhere in the world.
Pix-Star’s frames shine when you look at all they can do. You get free-for-life cloud storage, smooth interfaces, access to the Pix-Star Snap mobile app & Pix-Star web interface, the ability to send/receive photos from anywhere in the world, versatile slideshows, and much more. Pix-Star’s frames are crafted to keep families connected and sharing effortlessly.
Extensive offline functionality lets you use the frames whenever – and wherever – you’d like. You can save tons of photos and videos to the frame’s 8GB internal storage. Receiving photos, videos, and audio can be done in just a couple of seconds via email, mobile app, web albums (photo albums imported from social media & photo-sharing platforms), or USB/SD card.
What to look for in the best digital picture frames with audio?
The most important feature to look for in the best digital picture frames with audio is inbuilt speakers. The most common complaint about digital frames that support speakers is their sub-par audio output quality – though this is an expected issue. Digital frames aren’t designed to replace TVs or laptops. As such, features like audio playback and inbuilt speakers aren’t at the forefront of the frame’s functionality.
There’s also the issue of cost. Digital frames fall into a very price-sensitive position. If they’re too expensive, they’ll end up competing with smart TVs, laptops, and tablets. If they’re too cheap, they won’t have the features & functionality to offer anything of value to modern homes & families. There’s a unique balance to be struck here. If too much of the frame’s cost is focused on secondary features like speaker quality and audio support, there won’t be enough room left to provide essential features like cloud storage, a great display, versatile slideshows, etc.
With that said, high-end frames like the Pix-Star still offer great audio support. You can connect to external speakers, headphones, or earphones for a more immersive audio experience. Music can be played over slideshows, videos can be included in slideshows (and set to play muted depending on your preferences), and more.
If you’re on the market for a digital picture frame with audio support, don’t put too much focus on the audio features. While digital frames don’t have the most comprehensive audio functionality, there’s usually more than enough to get by with – especially with top digital frames like the Pix-Star. The price is still affordable for a digital frame and you still get all the essential features & functions you’d expect from a premium digital photo frame for the modern home & family.
How to send music to the best digital picture frames with audio?
For many of the best digital picture frames with audio, music, and other audio files can be sent to the frame in a couple of different ways. It’s worth noting that only a handful of the best top-end frames support audio and video playback. The first and most foolproof way to send audio to your digital frames is by USB/SD card. This method is the most commonly used and faces the least restrictions. You can send music files like songs, voice recordings, and videos with audio.
Another – albeit less common – method for sending audio is by mobile app. Top frames like the Pix-Star let you send audio messages that are recorded through your phone. While you can’t usually send songs through a supported mobile app or web interface, it’s still a great way to send quick messages to your loved ones.
Make sure that the audio files are saved on the USB/SD card – and are left inserted in the frame. You can’t copy audio files to the Pix-Star frame’s internal storage. Pix-Star’s plug & play feature will let you play these audio files without needing to copy them to the frame’s local storage. It’s more convenient, especially for elderly users – and helps to save space for photos and videos.
Can the best digital picture frames with audio make voice calls?
Even the best digital picture frames with audio aren’t designed to replace your smartphone. These frames are primarily meant to be a place to showcase your favorite memories and moments within versatile and highly customizable slideshows. Features like audio and video playback are simply bonus features – the proverbial cherry on the cake.
That being said, top digital frames like the Pix-Star offer relatively versatile audio support. You can send audio messages directly to any of your Pix-Star frames via the Pix-Star Snap mobile app from anywhere in the world. These audio messages are great for families and add a more personalized touch to how you share and connect with your loved ones.
Can the best digital picture frames with audio include music in slideshows?
This is a feature that you won’t find often outside of the premium digital photo frame range. It’s something that only a handful of the best digital picture frames with audio do well. Even then, many of the top frames at the moment can’t play audio over slideshows (e.g., Aura frames).
Popular premium frames like the Pix-Star can play audio over slideshows. This is either be in the form of audio files such as songs (loaded to the Pix-Star frame by USB/SD card), or web music/radio stations. The web music & radio stations available to you depends on your region, though most of the US has access to hundreds of channels.
Pix-Star’s frames can play songs over slideshows, as long as the audio files are in a supported format and that the USB/SD card they’re saved on stays inserted into the frame. Simply load the songs to the frame via USB/SD card, and the frame’s plug & play feature will let you play them without having to copy them across to local storage. It’s a great way to personalize slideshows and build a more immersive viewing experience.
