Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Cycling Gear
Five cycling items that solve real problems, from modular bikepacking luggage and a solar-assisted bike computer to sub-zero winter shoes, a heavy-duty glove and a fixed-gear commuter.
Cycling Gear
A practical roundup covering a budget carbon wheelset, two light-equipped helmets, reflective bags, a visibility aid and photochromic sunglasses.
Cycling Gear
A practical starter kit for new cyclists, from patch kits and multi-tools to helmets, locks, pedals and saddles, with the trade-offs that matter before you buy.
Cycling Gear
Nine cycling upgrades worth a closer look, from a wide-range gravel groupset to cockpit comfort parts and pedals that keep you visible after dark.
Hi-Fi Audio
Four digital-to-analog converters compared on sound, features, and price, from a $120 budget starter to an $800-plus reference unit, with the Geshelli Labs J2 taking the top spot.
High-End Audio
A vinyl-only reference system built around D'Agostino Relentless electronics, Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX speakers, and the TechDAS Air Force III turntable.
Hi-Fi Speakers
A detailed look at the Dali Epicon 2, a £4,999 standmount with exceptional detail retrieval, a natural mid-range and imaging precision, plus the dynamics and bass limits to weigh first.
Hi-Fi Speakers
The Dali Minuet SE pairs a high gloss walnut cabinet with exceptional midrange clarity and natural tonality, but its 59 Hz bass roll-off means careful system matching matters.
Floorstanding Speakers
A floorstanding speaker with a ribbon and dome tweeter pairing, punchy bass, and a clear character of its own. Here is what to know before you buy.
Floorstanding Speakers
The DALI Rubicon 6 brings flagship-derived driver technology to a £4,499 floorstanding speaker with excellent resolution, a large sweet spot, and a notably polite tonal balance.
Floorstanding Speakers
A close look at the Dali Rubicon 8, a $12,000-per-pair floorstander engineered for wide dispersion, easy placement, and punchy dynamics in large rooms.
Hi-Fi Audio
A close look at the Pendulum Integrated: 120 W per channel, a re-engineered JFET input stage, optional streaming and HDMI, and where everyday usability falls short.
Budget Hi-Fi
A pair of budget bookshelf speakers and a compact integrated amplifier make a surprisingly capable starter system. Here is what each piece does well and where it holds back.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A well-built two-channel amplifier with an internal power supply and a defeatable high-pass filter, plus clear limits when it meets hard-to-drive speakers.
Audio
A hybrid integrated amplifier that pairs a tube preamp stage with a Class AB power stage, wide connectivity and a five-year warranty for $230.
Bookshelf Speakers
A close look at the Dayton Audio MK602X bookshelf speakers: clear midrange, a natural top end, restrained bass, and the trade-offs to weigh before buying.
Audio Amplifiers
A $350 hybrid integrated amplifier with a tube preamp stage, a full set of inputs, and a low-end lift you can hear as clearly as you can measure.
Bookshelf Speakers
The Dayton Opal 1 pairs surprising bass weight and a tightly focused centre image with low sensitivity and a mid-range scoop that reward careful setup.
Road Bikes
A close look at the Decathlon Triban RC 120, an entry-level road bike with an aluminium frame, carbon fork and eight-speed drivetrain, plus the compromises worth knowing about.
Loudspeakers
An open baffle loudspeaker built around 15-inch full-range drivers, with no crossover, very high sensitivity, and a level of neutrality that is hard to argue with.
Integrated Amplifiers
A close look at Decware's first 300B integrated amplifier: nine tubes, point-to-point wiring, self-biasing operation, and the high-sensitivity speakers it demands.
Tube Amplifiers
A detailed look at the handmade Decware ZMA tube amplifier, from its no-compromise parts list to its vintage-leaning sound, plus how it compares with the collectible Marantz 8B.
Tower Speakers
A slim tower speaker that hides a powered 8-inch subwoofer inside the cabinet, delivering deep bass and a wide stage alongside some clearly defined trade-offs.
Home Audio
A close look at the Definitive Technology Dimension DM80, a bipolar floorstanding tower with built-in powered subwoofers, covering its strengths, placement demands and buying advice.
Vinyl Care
An ultrasonic record cleaner with a 120 kHz cleaning module, one-click operation and a premium price. Here is what it does well and what it will not fix.
Power Amplifiers
The Denafrips Apollo pairs a 2,000 VA transformer and 32 bipolar output devices with a warm, silky character and firm bass grip, at a price well below the flagships it invites comparison with.
Hi-Fi DACs
A two-DAC comparison of the Denafrips Ares 12th-1 and the Geshelli Labs J2, covering build, inputs, sound character, and which listener each converter suits.
Hi-Fi Audio
A discrete resistor ladder converter with an added I2S input, a revised power supply, and a sound built around engagement. Here is what to know before buying.
Hi-Fi DACs
A compact, fully balanced R-2R converter with a new I2S input, free anniversary firmware and a clear upgrade path at around £1,000.
Hi-Fi Audio
A clear look at Denafrips converters and amplifiers, from the Ares II to the Hestia and Hades preamplifiers, and how to choose between them.