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.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A practical comparison of a traditional Class AB power amplifier and a compact Class D amplifier, covering power ratings, features, sound character, and speaker pairing.
Subwoofers
A practical look at the Monolith by Monoprice 13-inch THX Ultra subwoofer, covering measured low-frequency output, driver excursion, port tuning options, weight, and room placement.
Turntables
Monolith's first turntable pairs a carbon tonearm and a removable headshell with Bluetooth output and USB recording, aimed at listeners buying their first deck.
Home Theater Speakers
A practical look at the Monoprice Monolith Encore tower, bookshelf, and center channel, covering pricing, measured behavior, EQ friendliness, and who each model suits.
Power Amplifiers
A five-channel power amplifier with a large toroidal transformer, convenient XLR inputs, and a $549.99 price. Here is what to weigh before buying.
Home Theater Speakers
A three-way sealed center channel with strong measured linearity, low distortion, and wide midrange dispersion for the money. Here is what to know before buying.
Home Theater Speakers
A THX-rated three-way mini tower with strong output and low distortion, but a response that only reaches its potential once room correction is applied.
Home Audio Amplifiers
A practical look at Monoprice budget multi-channel power amplifiers, with measured power, noise figures and advice on which channel count fits your system.
Subwoofers
A compact, THX-rated 8-inch subwoofer with switchable sealed and ported modes, measured output limits, and honest guidance on which rooms it suits.
Home Theater Speakers
A measured look at the Monoprice THX Compact Satellite Speaker, including its coaxial driver design, neutral tuning, and the volume limits you should know before buying.
Hi-Fi Loudspeakers
Seven floorstanding loudspeakers that stood out at Montreal Audio Fest 2024, from crossover-free designs and open baffles to value-focused floorstanders.
Bookshelf Speakers
A compact passive bookshelf speaker with a genuine three-way crossover, impressive vocal clarity, and clear limits on volume and bass.
Integrated Amplifiers
A hand-built Swedish integrated amplifier with a warm, authoritative sound, a generous power supply and optional phono and DAC modules.
In-Ear Monitors
The Moondrop Kato is a single dynamic driver in-ear monitor with swappable nozzles, a comfortable seal, and a cohesive sound that holds up across genres.
Speakers
The Moondrop M4P is a compact two-way monitor speaker with a wide horizontal stage, useful in-room bass reach, and clearly defined output limits worth understanding before you buy.
Headphones
A close look at the Moondrop Para, a $299.99 planar magnetic headphone with magnetic earpads, a light suspension headband, and a detail-first sound that competes near $300.
Headphones
A four-way comparison of the Moondrop Venus, HiFiMan Edition XS, HiFiMan Sundara, and Meze 109 Pro, covering build quality, comfort, tonality, soundstage, and amplifier needs.
High-End Audio
A detailed comparison of two high-end streaming preamplifiers: the purist Morance Link 10N and the DSP-equipped NAD M66. We break down build, sound, features, and value.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A close look at the Morance Model 10, a $14,500 flagship integrated amplifier with 250 W per channel, a Purifi co-developed Class D output stage, and an MM/MC phono input.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A British pre and power amplifier combination built around low negative feedback, unity gain control and an unusually clean, uncoloured presentation.
Bookshelf Speakers
A practical comparison of three 6.5-inch two-way bookshelf speakers at around $1,000, $700 and $450, covering dynamics, tonality, specifications and system matching.
Bookshelf Speakers
A two-way bookshelf speaker from a company with deep audio heritage, priced at $1,200 per pair. Here is what the Avyra 622 does well and what to weigh up first.
Music Collectibles
Ten cassette releases that recently sold for hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars, with the context that explains why collectors pay these prices.
High-End Audio
Eight ultra-high-end loudspeakers, from 18-karat gold cabinets to diamond diaphragms, with the practical details worth knowing before considering one.
Cycling Accessories
Eight bike locks, from wearable straps to grinder-resistant models, ranked by how long each one survived a timed angle-grinder attack.
Bookshelf Speakers
A compact passive bookshelf speaker selling for around $65 to $70 that delivers surprising imaging and neutral bass, alongside a treble that needs managing.
Indoor Cycling
A close look at the Move Bike, a carbon indoor training bike with a moving frame, adjustable crank length, 2,500W of resistance, and a £5,000 price.
Music Production Software
Muse is a remote collaboration tool for musicians and audio engineers, built around high-resolution audio, a DAW plugin, and shared screen control.
Hi-Fi and Music Gifts
A curated gift guide for record collectors and hi-fi listeners, from a $34 stylus gauge and a podcast subscription to amplifiers, active speakers and bespoke furniture.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
The 2023 Musical Fidelity A1 revives a 1985 Tim de Paravicini Class A design with modern parts. Here is what it offers, where it asks for care, and how it compares with the Vincent SV-237 MKII, Exposure 2510, and Willsenton R8.