myOurReview

Sony WF-C710N: Two-minute review Sony's WF-C710N earbuds find themselves in a similar spot to The White Album in 1968: you want to better the absolute barn-stormer that was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band a mere year later? Good luck. But of course, the Beatles managed it (was it transcendental meditation, or was it simply a clean mind?). So, has Sony done the same with its update on the WF-C700N? Yes and no, Dear Prudence. And given that Sony actually had two years to work on its follow-up, that may not feel enough initially. The model the C710N are based on topped our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds in the budget space for over a year following their release, until Nothing's (a)-suffixed set of buds came in and did almost everything the Sony buds did just that little bit better – and looked slightly classier doing it. And although there are improvements here, a few in-app foibles and initial pairing issues left me struggling to find a reason to pick ...

Victrola Eastwood II: Two-minute review The Victrola Eastwood II is, in many ways, the ideal first turntable. It is an eminently attractive, well-featured all-in-one hi-fi solution that beats plenty of its competitors on a number of metrics. But is it one of the best turntables for the money? Well, bi-directional Bluetooth connectivity, a mini-but-mighty built-in amp and a truly plug-and-play setup routine together make the Eastwood II a formidable entrant to the entry level sector, at least…  That Bluetooth connectivity is the main draw here, as the Eastwood II is capable of both receiving and sending audio via its respective Bluetooth and Vinyl Stream modes – as well as acting as a conventional player with RCA and headphone aux outputs on the rear. Using each mode is easy to the point foolproof-i-ness, and switching between them as simple as clicking the Eastwood’s single rotary encoder/button. An Audio-Technica cartridge furnishes this starter turntable with surprising fide...

The Pill is back! Beats' 2012 capsule creation was long overdue an update, wasn't it? Yes, Apple's Beats-branded Bluetooth speaker has been through several iterations in the 12 years since its debut, but even the most recent of those was back in 2015 (and was discontinued by Apple in January 2022). This left a gaping hole in the Bluetooth speaker space. Cut to June 25, 2024, and, following a few careful and thoroughly on-brand celeb leaks, a 2024 Beats Pill finally dropped. And it's cheaper than it was in 2012! But let's not get ahead of ourselves – pricing comes later. Is the new Beats Pill worthy of a spot in our best Bluetooth speakers buying guide ? In so many ways, yes. Right off the bat: the glow-up has worked – it looks great. It's rounder and more tactile: there's a sense of pride in carrying it around. It feels as if it should have a Bang & Olufsen plate on its metal grille and be far more expensive than it is.  It sounds really good for its...

JBL Live Beam 3: Two-minute review There are lots of great options on our guide to the  best noise-cancelling earbuds , but there's one feature that none of those excellent buds offer: a screen on the case. And the screen on the JBL Live Beam 3 is so much more fun than the display of its predecessor, because now you can select a lock-screen wallpaper from any of the photos stored on your paired smartphone, and the image will even flip so it stays the right way up (so all your friends can see it) when you snap open the case.  I still wouldn't describe it as a must-have – it still feels as if JBL could deliver greater more through this touchscreen, since it still doesn't present functionality that your smartwatch can, for example –  but given the fact that to tweak the volume by tapping the buds results in the loss of either playback control or ANC profile-scrolling (you don't have to sacrifice anything using the box), it's certainly useful. In addition, the lock-s...

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100: Two-minute review The Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 are what the fans were waiting for. Prior to their release, Cambridge Audio's excellent earbuds couldn't join the ranks of the  best noise-cancelling earbuds  for one simple reason: the UK audio specialist's true wireless buds sounded fantastic, but they didn't have the necessary antiphase noise-nixing tech onboard to offer active noise cancellation. And that is because Cambridge Audio prefers to focus on excellent audio quality (and long may that last by the way).  But times have changed. While Melomania will never cease to mean 'crazy about music', the British company has conceded that the people are also crazy about active noise cancellation. And if Cambridge is going to offer ANC, it's going to do it right. Although you can't tweak its splendid noise cancelling profile any further than 'On', 'Off' or 'Transparency', when it's on, the AN...