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 Audio
Nine recent hi-fi products, from a compact CD player with a balanced headphone output to an eight-channel crossover DAC, a budget hi-fi rack, and a streaming amplifier that can drive wireless surrounds.
Hi-Fi
A round-up of recent hi-fi launches, from Q Acoustics' expanded Concept range and Griffin Audio's flagship amplifiers to the reborn Mission 770 and Acoustic Energy's Mark II entry series.
Hi-Fi Audio
A practical look at compact streamers that reroute digital audio, a CD and SACD player with a tube output stage, and a wide spread of planar headphones and headphone amplifiers.
Hi-Fi Audio
Nine new hi-fi releases reviewed on their merits, from a $99 tube buffer and three GanFET class D amplifiers to a touchscreen power amp, a USB bridge, and an active desktop speaker.
Hi-Fi Audio
A practical look at five new hi-fi products: three Exposure 3510 separates, Elac's Debut ConneX DCB41 powered speakers, and PSB's Alpha iQ active speakers.
Hi-Fi Speakers
Nine new speakers launched at Axpona 2026, from an approachable $550 pair to a limited-run $100,000 active monitor, with the strengths and trade-offs that matter before you buy.
Headphone Amplifiers
The Niche Piety is a compact, US-built desktop headphone amplifier voiced for a warm, tube-like sound rather than measurement-first neutrality.
Hi-Fi Audio
Nine hi-fi components that stay in a system for reasons beyond sound alone, from illuminated looks and outright value to the family workshops behind them.
Hi-Fi Audio
Nine speakers and DACs that stood out at a recent high-end audio show, with the strengths, trade-offs, and buying context behind each one.
Road Bikes
A bike fitter's perspective on nine popular road bikes that prioritize race geometry or proprietary designs over real-world fit and usability.
Hi-Fi Speakers
A practical roundup of nine speakers that stood out over a year of listening, covering the strengths, trade-offs, and placement notes that matter before you buy.
Gravel Bikes
A carbon gravel bike tuned for comfort and stability over 100 mile courses, with a full Shimano GRX build and geometry that asks to be guided rather than driven.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A compact Class D amplifier with a built-in phono stage, two analog inputs, and defeatable tone controls, sized for a minimalist turntable setup.
Headphones
How active noise cancellation actually works, where it falls short for critical listening, and why a passive isolation headphone can be the better tool for tracking music.
Audio Cables
A practical look at NRG's handcrafted Canadian power and speaker cables, covering 4N copper conductors, high-copper custom connectors, real-world handling, listening notes and buying advice.
Powered Speakers
A $220 powered bookshelf speaker with HDMI ARC, a built-in DAC and a subwoofer output, plus the trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.
Bookshelf Speakers
A compact passive bookshelf speaker with a 4-inch midwoofer and 1-inch dome tweeter. Strong value at around $150, with a mid-range lift to manage and clear limits on bass and room size.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A hand built British preamp and power amplifier pair with outstanding midrange clarity, plus the bass control and speaker matching trade offs to weigh before buying.
Hi-Fi Amplifiers
A detailed look at NVA's top passive preamplifier and its matching monoblocks, covering sound character, setup demands, comparisons, and who should buy the pair.
Floorstanding Speakers
A three-way Norwegian floorstander with SEAS drivers, a rear-vented midrange, and a warm, dynamic sound that rewards careful amplifier matching.
Hi-Fi Speakers
A Norwegian-built horn loudspeaker with a warm, refined balance, full bass, and a relaxed top end. Here is what to know about the O Audio Icon 12 before buying.
Bluetooth Speakers
The OC Acoustics Newport plugs straight into a wall outlet and streams music over Bluetooth. A practical look at what it does well, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Audio Plugins
A practical look at two Oeksound plugins, the adaptive tone shaper Bloom and the dynamic resonance suppressor Soothe 2, and where each one fits in a modern mix.
Floorstanding Speakers
A close look at the Ohm Walsh 1000 Tall, an omnidirectional floorstanding speaker built in Brooklyn that fills a room in a way conventional box speakers rarely match.
Loudspeakers
A detailed look at the Ojas x Klipsch KO-R2, a limited-run horn loudspeaker with a new multisectoral horn, a 15-inch woofer, and a $1,195 per pair US price.
Cargo Bikes
A practical look at an Omnium Mini-Max WiFi cargo bike built up as an electric commuter, covering the Bafang motor, the custom battery case, the Magura brakes, the Schwalbe tyres, and the dog harness setup.
Hi-Fi Audio
A speaker and amplifier switcher with twin VU meters, paired with a punchy Klipsch bookshelf speaker. What each piece does well, and the trade-offs to weigh first.
Electric Rideables
A practical comparison of the Onewheel Pint and Onewheel XR covering range, stability, learning curve, and the accessories you will actually need.
CD Players
The Onkyo C-30 is a $399 single-disc CD player from the new Icon series, with noise-reduction circuitry, a proprietary clock, and a clean, balanced sound.
CD Players
With no apps, no Wi-Fi, and no updates, the Onkyo DXC390 is a deliberately old-school six-disc CD carousel that makes a surprisingly strong case for itself.