Articles by James Barber
Campfire Audio Orbit review: Earbuds that take music to the max
There's no active noise cancellation or strong microphones for great phone calls, but these earbuds deliver mind-blowing musical experiences at a great price.
iFi xDSD Gryphon review: One DAC to rule all the hi-res formats
This exquisitely musical mobile DAC/headphone-amp combo renders high-fidelity audio with remarkable detail and is worth every penny of its asking price.
Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen) review: Alexa, try harder
Good design and tight Alexa integration don’t make up mediocre audio reproduction and ineffective noise cancellation.
House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth speaker series review
With this trio of exceptional speakers, the heirs of reggae legend Bob Marley prove eco-conscious manufacturing can produce great listening experiences.
JBL Bar 1300X review: Wireless surround sound—with a catch
This soundbar's rear surround speakers operate on battery power, rendering them truly wireless. The tradeoff? You must remember to charge them.
Platin Audio Monaco 5.1.2 review: Surround sound without wires
We put another WiSA-based wireless speaker system to the test and once again come away impressed.
iFi Go Link review: A value-priced, audiophile USB DAC and amp
It’s a wonder that iFi Audio can make a portable DAC and headphone this good, this small, and this affordable.
Monoprice Monolith Audition review: The magic of wired speakers
In an increasingly wireless world, the Monolith Audition series of home theater loudspeakers makes a strong case for old-school speaker wires.
Sennheiser HD 660S2 review: New approach yields stellar results
Sennheiser's new open-back, audiophile-quality over-ear headphones deliver an awesomely open sound stage and are decided not neutral tuning.
Backgroove BGCS-41 review: A stellar, yet affordable CD player
Turntables are all the rage, but CDs are an underrated format, and this outstanding player delivers pro-audio features at a stunningly low price.
Final says its new wireless earphones offer no-compromises ANC
The Final ZE8000 true wireless earphones with active noise cancellation feature a bold design that makes them stand out in a crowded earbud market.
Best turntables and record players for listening to your vinyl
The analog listening experience you'll get from records is very different than playing CDs or streaming music. We'll help you find the right one for your budget.
Fluance RT81 review: This is a stellar entry-level turntable
The Fluance RT81 is a great turntable for beginners, one that can be upgraded as vinyl listeners moves up to higher-end amplifiers, speakers, and other audio components.
Philips TAA6606 sports headphone review: For runners only
The science behind bone conduction headphones is fascinating, but this one doesn’t deliver great audio quality.
Tronsmart Halo 100 review: A bangin’ Bluetooth party speaker
This versatile little boombox is great for everyday use at moderate volume, but it really shines when you crank it up at a party.
Sennheiser retools a classic headphone to deliver the HD 660S2
A replacement for Sennheiser’s highly respected open-back HD 600, the all-new HD 660S2 promises improved bass and more detail than its predecessor.
OnePlus Buds Pro review: A good fit for OnePlus users
OnePlus aims to give its users the same excellent experience Apple and Google offer with their in-house earbuds.
KEF updates its R-series speaker lineup with noise-reducing tech
KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) promises to create an “acoustic black hole” that eliminates distortion.