Audio Equipment Reviews

Monitor Audio has deployed as much of its hard-earned elite knowledge as possible in a more affordable standmount speaker pair with a resonant model name.

The A&K HC4 can turn your smartphone into an open, detailed listen – but in a saturated market, it isn't always the perfect solution.

The screen still isn't a must-have for these noise-cancelling earbuds, but the case is smaller, cheaper and more useful – and this time, the JBL sound quality is good too.

The Edifier QR65 are ostensibly desktop speakers, but with limited PC support, they work better as general media speakers.

The SoundMagic E80D offer up excellent sound quality for the price you pay, making them a very good wired option.

The first earbuds to use the much-hyped xMEMS drivers sound great, but have a fair few issues beyond the audio, including screaming noise cancellation and tough-to-use controls.

The SoundMagic E11D earbuds serve up solid audio at a great price, and are only held back by a couple of design choices.

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000T is another seismic step forward to create the perfect portable music player

Moto Buds+ feature Dolby Head Tracking for under $130, but only if you have a compatible Motorola smartphone.

The Bose SoundLink Max is a robust Bluetooth speaker that creates punchy, assertive sound with a sturdy design to ensure your party goes off with a bang. It can attract marks, though.