Audio

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 UE Wonderboom 2 is the all-around best portable Bluetooth speaker because it sounds good and looks cool, and it’s the most rugged model we’ve ever tested.

The Vizio SB46514-F6 sounds great and is full featured, making it the best soundbar for less than $1,000.

The Sony STR-DH190 stereo receiver is a great way to start an affordable traditional stereo system, especially if you’re into vinyl.

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

Sonos offers the best selection of hardware and software integration for wirelessly playing music in any room in your home.

Through six years and testing of more than 25 mics, the Blue Yeti is still the best USB microphone that’s an easy and noticeable upgrade over built-in mics.

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.

The Spin Clean Record Washer is an American-made product based in Pittsburgh that really works.

Start your vinyl music journey here with our picks for turntable, receiver, speakers, and more.

The Sonos One is an Amazon Echo in a great Sonos speaker, but still a work in progress for Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay, and everything else.

Stylish design and great sound make the Polk Signature Series S15, S10, and S35 combo our new pick for the best surround-sound system.

The Dayton Audio SUB-1200 is the best way we’ve found to add awesome (and affordable) bass to a stereo or home-theater system.

Apple’s HomePod sounds excellent, but its Apple-centric design can feel limited next to other smart speakers.

The Mackie CR4BT computer speakers sound great, are simple to set up and use, and include Bluetooth to easily connect mobile devices.

The Google Home wireless speaker (powered by Google Assistant, a cousin to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa) offers decent sound and promising smart-home control for Google users.

The Denon DP-400’s combination of great sound quality, intuitive usability, and convenient features makes it simple to enjoy your record collection.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is our favorite USB audio interface because it offers the best combination of features, portability, and ease of use.

We tested 10 headphone amps with USB DACs and found that the AudioQuest DragonFly Red is the best value—but you probably don’t need it.

Getting your music from the cloud has never been easier. These are the speakers to do it.

The Q Acoustics 3020i is the best bookshelf speaker because it sounds better and offers better build quality than anything else in its price range.

The JBL Playlist’s elegant design, appealing price, and clear, full sound make it our pick for the best Chromecast speaker.

TVs are made for great pictures, so we recommend the best ways to get great sound too.

Good sound doesn't have to cost a lot. We found the best audio gear for around $100 or less.

Roku’s new Wireless TV Speakers are impressively easy to set up, and they sound pretty good—but they’re not right for everyone.

The free, cross-platform Audacity provides everything you need to get started creating great-sounding podcasts.

If you want a simple, fun wireless speaker that can fill a room with clean, full sound, the Marshall Stanmore is an ideal choice.

After multiple blind listening tests, we picked the Edifier S1000DB as the best wireless active speaker pair to easily build a simple stereo system.

Everyone loves music, so we researched and tested the best headphones, speakers, and audio gear to give as gifts.