Articles
A year-end look at the biggest consumer A/V and media stories of 2025, from streaming wars and AI to vinyl, TV tech, and high-end...
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New Products
Samsung unveils the Freestyle+ ahead of CES 2026, adding AI features and higher brightness to its lifestyle projector—still best suited for dark rooms.
New Products
Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive?Fender Audio makes a bold statement with ELIE E6 and E12 portable Bluetooth speakers and modular MIX wireless headphones.
New Products
LG’s new Gallery TV takes aim at Samsung Frame, TCL NXTFRAME, and Hisense CanvasTV with MiniLED tech, Gallery+ art, and design-first appeal. Pricing TBD.
New Products
LG expands its xboom by will.i.am lineup with the Rock, Mini, Blast, and Stage 501—bringing AI sound, rugged designs, and party-ready power to CES...
Articles
Written from my hospital bed, our final 2025 Editor’s Round-Up covers hi-res Bluetooth, loss, and why performance and value still define great hi-fi.
Articles
Editors’ Choice 2025: The best in-wall and in-ceiling speakers for home theater and whole-home audio—reference-level performance, properly installed.
Gift Guides
Last-minute shopper? These 12 hi-fi, headphone, and home theater gifts still ship in time for Christmas and Chanukah. Fast delivery, great picks.
Bookshelf Speakers
Are the DALI KUPID just flash and color for $600—or something more?
CD Players
Pro-Ject’s CD Box RS2 Tube doubles down on Red Book CDs with a balanced tube stage—no SACD, no digital inputs, and a $2,300 price...
New Products
Backert Labs’ $11,500 Optik Phono 1.1 targets DS Audio optical cartridges and five-figure turntables—impressive at shows, uncompromising in design, and firmly not for casual...
New Products
Samsung will preview its 2026 audio lineup at CES, highlighting new Q Series soundbars, Music Studio Wi-Fi speakers, Q Symphony integration, and Sound Towers...
New Products
HumminGuru’s EZ Vinyl Record Washer targets Spin-Clean with a more refined manual cleaner—effective, easy to use, and price will determine its appeal.
New Products
Hisense previews the PX4-PRO UST projector ahead of CES 2026, promising 200-inch images, higher brightness and contrast, built-in Atmos audio, and a flexible alternative...
Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers
The Quad 3 integrated amplifier blends classic British design with modern versatility, delivering tonal weight, balance, and real-world power without hype—an easy Editors’ Choice...
Over-Ear Headphones
Audio-Technica's ATH-ADX7000 deliver stunning dynamics, vast staging and refined tuning at $3,499 with some drawbacks.
Reviews
Can $129 wireless earbuds really deliver xMEMS clarity, LDAC, aptX Lossless support, and strong ANC? The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro Plus makes a compelling case.
Reviews
The Edifier MR5 delivers impressive near neutral accuracy, deeper bass, LDAC support and true three-way power for $350, making it a top budget studio...
Headphone Amps
Cayin RU9 delivers tube warmth, solid-state detail, strong power, and rare versatility in a pocketable DAC/amp with one drawback.
Reviews
At $320, the Noble FoKus Amadeus true wireless earbuds offer neutral sound, great battery life, and real tuning control for audiophiles.
DACs
At $225, the Apos x Geshelli Merlin AKM Desktop DAC offers 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512 support, dual USB and coax inputs, and fully balanced...
Home Theater
The eCoustics team shares what impressed us most across the hi-fi, head-fi, and home theater industries in 2025.
Music Streamers
A/V Receivers & Preamp/Processors
Best Right Now
New Products
With 6,000 ANSI lumens, a TriChroma laser engine, all-glass optics, and liquid cooling, the Hisense XR10 targets the top tier of high-end lifestyle projectors.
New Products
Pro Audio Technology rolls out V2 speaker upgrades with improved drivers, DSP tuning, and lower noise for elite home theater performance.
New Products
Need to mount a TV to the wall without drilling, screws or wires? Displace TV offers two ways to do it, with an added...
New Products
LG's Sound Suite promises flexible setup, automatic calibration and room optimization with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect.
Floorstanding Speakers
DALI unveils SONIK, a seven-model loudspeaker series delivering trickle-down tech from KORE and EPICON, refined design, and accessible hi-fi performance for music and home...
New Products
Cleer’s ARC 4 and ARC 4+ debut as the first THX-certified open-ear wireless earbuds, refining fit, sound quality, and spatial audio ahead of CES...
New Products
Hisense’s S5 DécoTV proves not every TV needs to be enormous, blindingly bright, or pretending to be a gaming rig—just a smart, good-looking 32-inch...
Loudspeakers
Bang & Olufsen bets big on Union Square’s comeback, opening its largest store in a San Francisco still digging out from years of crime...
Articles
Discover if vintage turntables still beat modern models under $2,000. Pros, cons, sound quality, and where to buy for the best vinyl experience.
Amplifiers
At $3,200 for the combo, Quad revives a 57-year old design for audiophiles seeking modern conveniences with retro nostalgia.
Amplifiers
Is it worthwhile to combine the Aragon 4004 MKII and Audible Illusions Modulus 3A or is this one vintage audio system too far?
Articles
How a tiny turntable restoration company called Vinyl Nirvana turned a new generation of vinyl listeners into the cult of Thorens.
Articles
The COVID pandemic took a lot from us including thousands of restaurants. But a small vintage audio and record store in thriving in Brooklyn.
Articles
In 2025, DACs under $1,000 deliver performance once reserved for flagship gear, making it easier than ever to build a truly high-value digital front...
DACs
TOPPING’s new E50 II DAC packs AK4497S decoding, LDAC Bluetooth, ADAT support, PEQ, and strong I/O for $199, making it a flexible hub for...
IEMs
AZLA expands its lineup with TRINITY wired earphones and new MAX and XELASTEC 2 eartips, offering better fit, comfort, and value for Galaxy Buds...
Articles
Our favorite wireless noise cancelling earbuds of 2025 include Bose, Sony, Technics and Bowers & Wilkins.
Articles
Shanling’s M3 Plus, iBasso’s DX340, and Astell&Kern’s SP4000 show why DAPs still matter: better power, better sound, and a distraction-free experience no smartphone with...
Music
Red Garland’s Soul Junction returns in a superb OJC reissue—clean, balanced sound, authoritative piano, and essential listening for anyone who loves the piano.
Articles
An honest accounting of the actors and directors we lost in 2025—from legends to character actors—and why their work still holds up.
A/V Receivers & Preamp/Processors
The Case for Audio/Video Receivers (AVRs) While soundbars have evolved over the years and can provide a convenient solution to better TV sound, nothing beats a...
Articles
Whether from disc or digital downloads, our Editors' Choice picks for best media players and Blu-ray Disc players will help your favorite movies and...
Articles
I stream, you stream, here are our choices for the best video streaming devices of 2025.
New Products
LG previews its Micro RGB evo MRGB95B 4K TV ahead of CES 2026, marking a rare LCD shift with bold color claims, AI processing,...
New Products
Samsung expands its Micro RGB LED TV lineup for 2026, adding 55-100″ models alongside the 115″ flagship as competition in RGB-based TVs heats up.
Articles
Upgrade the sound of your turntable with our favorite MM and MC phono cartridges you can buy in 2024 without breaking the bank.
Articles
With over 20,000 attendees, CEDIA Expo is back and better than ever. Here are our picks for "Best in Show."
Articles
A clean record sounds better and prolongs the life of your phono cartridge. My best record cleaning solutions to achieve both and maintain your...
Articles
What are the best audiophile phono preamps for under $1,000? See which models we picked from Croft, iFi, and Pro-Ject.
Articles
With so many different types of smart phones, DAPs, and portable headphone amplifiers, we think these headphone accessories make a lot of sense.
Reviews
Can the $2,150 Muarah MU-2 compete with phono preamps from EAR, Pro-Ject, and MOON? Rich and filling like our favorite cabbage rolls and nobody...
Articles
Looking to build a hi-fi audio system around a WiiM Ultra Music Streamer in a small space? The Cabin Audiophiler shows you how.
Articles
Can a French Canadian integrated amplifier and pair of British speakers prove that making love is better than war? The MOON 250i v2 is...
Articles
Starting at $22,499 per pair, the ATC SCM50ASL Active Speakers take your music listening experience to a whole new level.
Music
A "holy grail" for many jazz music collectors, Surf Ride has been re-issued by Craft Recordings as part of its Original Jazz Classics series.
IEMs
Campfire Audio’s new Iris hybrid IEM brings warm, clear sound, a transparent shell, and a shockingly loaded accessory kit for $349—full specs still MIA,...
New Products
SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro+ adds xMEMS drivers, AI Adaptive ANC, LDAC, and aptX Lossless, delivering a true 2-way design and hi-res performance at a budget-friendly...
A/V Receivers & Preamp/Processors
The Anthem MRX SLM delivers high-end performance in an ultra-slim AVR built for CI installs and small rooms, though limited power and inputs may...
A/V Furniture & Accessories
Amp Genie simplifies home theater control by automatically detecting audio sources and switching inputs, DSP, and volume on supported AVRs. A practical alternative to...
Ask an Expert
In a world of algorithmic noise, indie record stores are sanctuaries for the stubborn and obsessed—where music is earned, not streamed, and flipping vinyl...
Floorstanding Speakers
Focal quietly drops the $699–$2,299 Omada speakers between Vestia and Theva, packing TAM tweeters and Slatefiber cones in a non-typical rollout but with good...
New Products
Bowers & Wilkins brings its McLaren partnership back for 2025 with the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition, pairing the updated S2 acoustic platform with clean...
Blu-ray, DVD & 4K Media Players
Roku's budget-friendly 4K streaming stick may not have Dolby Vision or an ethernet port, but for the price, it's hard to beat.
IEMs
SIVGA’s Nightingale PRO is a $269 planar magnetic IEM with a multi-magnet driver, CNC-machined housing, low 16 ohms impedance, and wide 20Hz-40kHz response for...
