Audio

After months of research and straining our vocal cords, we think the Tonor K20 Wireless Karaoke Machine is the best karaoke machine for most people.

Subwoofers are a powerful addition to an audio system, but they vary greatly in cost. Here’s what you can get when you pay more.

A balky clock radio was killing our morning wake-up mojo. An Echo Dot with a clock was the replacement that solved our woes.

Sonos is the best speaker system you can get to stream any music anywhere in your home with almost no fuss.

A speaker that attaches to your showerhead and powers itself off the water’s flow? It sounds like a gimmick, but the Ampere Shower Power is actually good.

The Sony MDR-7506 headphones sound like they should cost a lot more.

Tabletop radios are as much about style as they are about performance. We have five radio recommendations that appeal to different tastes and budgets.

For powerful, precise bass in stereo and home theater systems, the best subwoofer is the compact, affordable Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S MKII.

Stylish design and great sound make the Polk Signature Elite ES15, ES10, and ES30 combo our pick for the best surround-sound system.

Apple’s newest phones won’t ship with a charger or headphones. If you don’t already have something that’ll work, here’s what we recommend.

The iFi Audio Zen Air Blue Bluetooth receiver offers excellent signal range and surprisingly good audio performance for the price.

We love the Andover Audio SpinBase because it makes setting up a vinyl-record playback system easy, and it sounds shockingly good.

Great sound doesn’t have to come in a boring, boxy speaker design. We tested an array of lifestyle speakers that score high in both looks and performance.

The ancient art of spinning records is alive and well at Lindsay Zoladz’s Brooklyn apartment. Here’s all the gear the music critic uses to get her grooves on.

The suburbs are surprisingly loud. Here’s how to calm the chaos.

Apple’s second-gen HomePod sounds good and works well, but its high price and Apple-exclusive constraints give it more-limited appeal than other smart speakers.

Can earbuds provide adequate hearing protection for loud concerts? We tested several popular earbuds, including the AirPods Pro, to find out.

If you’re unhappy with the sound quality of your new headphones, don’t return them right away. You might be able to improve the sound through EQ.

Here are the procedures Wirecutter uses to test audio devices, plus a few tips on how you can evaluate them yourself.

Our tests showed that a Bluetooth speakerphone won’t necessarily produce better results than a smartphone. But we found a few models worth checking out.

We’re excited for the new iPhones and Apple Watches, which come packed with features at surprisingly good prices. Not so much the new AirPods.

Traditional hearing aids can be expensive and inconvenient. But lower-priced, over-the-counter hearing aids are coming soon.

This is the first in a two-part series in which we discuss how we evaluate good sound in our speaker and headphone reviews.

Bluetooth headphones should work reliably with most newer computers and laptops. If yours don’t, here are some possible reasons why.

The Spotify Car Thing didn’t solve the major problems I had with listening to music in my car. Here’s the device to get instead.

Many headphones sold directly to schools are not volume-limited. This is probably not a concern in most cases, but it’s worth looking into for your kids.

Get the best for less. Here are six deals on Wirecutter-approved top picks.

Many soundbars offer voice-enhancement modes to improve dialogue clarity, but do they really work? We asked six hard of hearing people to give them a try.

Audio sunglasses let you hear music without blocking out your surroundings. Are they worth the price? Here’s what we think of these sound-producing spectacles.

After giving a pair of wireless earbuds a spin, you might regret cutting the cord. Here are the wired headphones we recommend if you’re committed to the wire.

Cassette tapes are audio’s hippest trend. Here’s why music lovers are going back to them, the reasons you might not want to, and how to find the right gear.

If your top priority is finding audio and video equipment designed to last a long time, check out these shopping tips from our AV writers.

Apple Music now offers Dolby Atmos spatial audio music at no extra charge. Here’s how you can access it and what you can expect to hear.

Apple Music and Amazon now offer lossless music streaming at no extra cost, but listeners need to have the right equipment to hear a difference.

The soon-to-be-released Sonos Roam may be the most versatile speaker available. But is it worth the hefty price tag?

Despite what the internet says, sucking on your AirPods is not a safe way to clean them. Follow our advice instead.

As soundbars get more advanced, they also get more complex and sensitive to setup errors. Here are some tips for getting yours to work correctly.

Cheap record players are the easiest, most affordable way to get (back) into spinning vinyl. We tried a couple to see if they’re worth buying—or gifting.

From workouts to listening sessions, these are the headphones a Wirecutter audio expert uses every day.

Fit is crucial to earbud performance. If you’re struggling to get a good fit with the provided tips, replacement earbud tips might be the solution.

A pair of speakers can cost anywhere from two to seven figures. Brent Butterworth explains what improvements you might get when you spend more.

Alexa and Google Assistant are ubiquitous, which isn’t a good thing when it comes to home decor. Here are our favorite add-ons to enhance them.

Before you invest in noise-cancelling headphones, it’s important to understand what kinds of sounds they will and won’t block.

AV receivers’ built-in room-correction systems automatically adjust audio to suit your room, but the results aren’t always pleasing.

Here’s what you need to know before shopping for audio deals—because nothing sounds better than saving money.

As soundbar performance continues to improve, does anyone need to invest in an AV receiver and speakers to get great sound? We did blind tests to find out.

What are the different Bluetooth audio codecs and how much do they affect a device’s sound quality? (Hint: Not as much as you might think.)

The choice between a smart speaker and a Bluetooth speaker depends on your lifestyle and your listening habits.

The Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX is the best car stereo for people who want to add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto so they can use their smartphones in their vehicles.