If you’re looking for some of the best computer speakers to upgrade your desk setup, then look no further than the Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers. Though compact they may be, quiet they are not, with a room-filling sound that excellently replicates mids and treble.

The controls are simple to get to grips with, and the diverse range of connectivity options means you can use them for everything. From wirelessly streaming from your phone to connecting to a turntable, these speakers are incredibly versatile.

On their own, the speakers struggle to replicate bass and have a narrow soundstage, but these issues can be fixed with additional purchases of a sub and speaker stands. To find out more, you can keep reading this full Kanto UKI review.

Kanto UKI review: Specs

Kanto UKI review: Price & availability

The Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers are available for $269 from Amazon U.S. and £262 from Amazon U.K. The speakers come in five different colors, including Onyx, Chalk, Cornflower, Pumice and Sage, which I tested.

Kanto also offers the Kanto Ora bookshelf speakers for the higher price of $349. These speakers only come in black, but they offer a wider soundstage and studio sound for music production or mixing. There are also the Kanto Ora4 for $399, which are the same as the Ora but powered.

A cheaper way to upgrade your desk setup is the JBL 104-BT speakers for $199. They have a wide sound but struggle in the low end. I personally don’t think they look as good as the Kanto speakers, but they do the job just fine.

If you’re short on space and need to save some space (and money), the Creative Pebble Pro speakers cost just $69. The speakers have powerful bass, but I prefer the soundstage of the Kanto UKI speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Design

The Kanto UKI speakers are an undeniably stylish duo that has brightened up my desk. I tested the Sage colorway of the speakers, and since my room is decorated with a lot of green furniture, they fit right in.

Each of the speakers measures 6.5 x 4.4 x 4.3 inches, so they’re very compact. They’re smaller than the Edifier R1280T speakers ($149), which measure 9.2 x 7.7 x 5.7 inches. If you’re short on space, the Kanto speakers are a no-brainer.

They are made from partially recycled hard plastic and feel very sturdy. The front of each speaker has an exposed tweeter and woofer.

At the back of each speaker, there’s a thread for mounting it to the Kanto SU2 speaker stands, which are available for $29. This addition will lift the speakers off the desk, giving you more space and reducing surface reflections, enhancing the quality of your playback. Adding these stands made the listening experience ten times better, and I recommend this addition to anyone who buys these speakers.

Controls

The controls on the speakers are very minimal and simplistic, but that makes the experience straightforward. They remind me of the ones I had with my family PC in the 2000s. There's one knob on the front of the main speaker that you press to switch connectivity options and turn to adjust volume.

At the back of the main speaker, you’ll find the Bluetooth button and a small left/right switch. By toggling this switch, you can switch between the left and right output speakers, meaning you can arrange them however you like on your desk. This made it easy for me to arrange my setup according to where the power outlets in the room are.

Connectivity

At the back of the main speaker, you’ll see all of the ports for the different connectivity options. You can listen to music using Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C or RCA inputs, giving you versatility to use them with computers, phone streaming, or hooked up to a record player. There is also a 3.5mm headphone output port at the front of the speaker.

The speakers need to be connected to power when in use. There’s a six-foot four-pin speaker connector included in the box to connect the left and right speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Sound quality

I listened using the Kanto UKI speakers connected to my computer via USB-C. I’ve enjoyed listening to my music with the bookshelf speakers every day. Overall, the sound from these speakers is very warm, and the reproduction feels very natural. On their own, they’re perfect for casual listening but lack a wide soundstage; however, when I added the Kanto SU2 Desktop Stands to the setup, the sound was transformed.

When speakers are placed directly onto a surface like your desk, the sound can be subject to reflection. This means that they begin to sound muffled. But with the addition of speaker stands that can direct the sound upwards, this muffled sound is reduced, and sound reflection diminishes. These stands are a saving grace for these speakers.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Nightmare Tripping by Don Broco. This song relies heavily on the deep bassline, but that wasn’t replicated very well here. Some of the depth was lost, with more focus being put on the vocals. But this is to be expected with these speakers as they bottom out at 80Hz and are primarily designed for detailed listening, prioritizing the mids performance. But a deep bass performance is still achievable if that’s what you’re looking for, as you can pair the speakers with a small sub offered by Kanto, such as the Sub6 for $299.

The mid-performance was impressive. I listened to Wheels by the Foo Fighters. This song is country-esque (for the Foos) and features powerful drums and a bright electric guitar. The drums were well defined throughout the song, and the electric guitar also sounded very clean.

Finally, I listened to Next To Me by Kingfishr to test the treble and vocal performance. This song is soft and acoustic, lending itself to showcasing the more delicate performance of the speakers.

The vocals and harmonies throughout the song were clear with good separation. The guitar and harmonica also showed off the bright sound of the speakers and the warmth they can replicate.

I also used the speakers while watching Invincible, an action TV show, and was impressed by the level of detail and how the sound effects moved between the speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Verdict

The Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers have been a great addition to my desk setup. I can listen to them all day and know I’ll get an enjoyable, consistent sound. The simple controls make it easy to make quick volume adjustments or switch over connectivity.

The diverse selection of connectivity options is ideal if you want to use the speakers connected to a PC, wirelessly to your phone, or with a more bespoke setup with a turntable. The small size means they’re easy to store, and the cute design and color options are the cherry on top.

Unfortunately, these speakers struggle with deep bass tracks, but you could spend a little extra on the Kanto Ora instead if that bothers you. The narrow soundstage also won’t be ideal for anyone looking for desktop speakers to support music production or mixing. With that said, these speakers are ideal for casual, everyday listening while working.

Today, on 1 September 2026, Sony introduced three new party speakers: Sony ULT Tower 5, Sony ULT Tower 7, and Sony ULT Tower Max. They build on the success of the previous generation of ULT Tower speakers, like the Tower 10, while introducing new, fun features that bring parties, DJ sets, and karaoke sessions to life.

The second generation features a new design philosophy and more sophisticated reactive lighting, a new ULT button on the front of each speaker (for changing EQ presets), 360° sound, and better, more powerful drivers. Battery life has been improved across all three speakers, too, as has durability and portability.

I love testing party speakers because I love headbanging to my favorite tunes. Could the ULT Towers make me love them more than I adore the Marshall Bromley 750 and the Marshall Bromley 450? While I haven't had time to do full reviews of the new speakers, I've spent just under an hour listening to them at a pre-launch event. In fact, I listened to 10 of them together. My first impressions? Quite positive, so allow me to share with you what I think of the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max.

Meet the ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5

The Sony ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 are bass-first party speakers that, according to Sony, deliver the most powerful bass yet in the brand's ULT Power Sound series. All three speakers are designed for music lovers, and they combine deep bass, high sound pressure, and party features for an unforgettable experience.

Regardless of the speaker you buy, you'll be getting XLR, RCA, USB-C and USB-A connectivity for hooking up mics for karaoke, DJ mixers, as well as instruments — making the ULT Towers perfect for nearly every occasion. Each speaker is also fitted with four handles and wheels for easy transport... though you may still need another pair of hands to help with the gargantuan Max.

The Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 are IPX4-rated so they're splash-proof. I'm surprised that they aren't more water-resistant, like the IP54-rated Marshall Bromley 750. That will limit the speakers' use outdoors — but really, you shouldn't be using electronic devices in the pouring rain anyway.

Sony has worked with four acclaimed (and Grammy-nominated) hip-hop sound creators — Dot Da Genius, Daru Jones, DJ Dready, and Dennis "ROC.am" Jones — to fine-tune the ULT Towers' driver setup and sound profile. As a result, the speakers deliver distortion-free sound across the volume scale.

The Tower Max packs three 280mm woofers, two mid-range drivers, and four tweeters, so you're getting a lot of power. The Tower 7 is fitted with a single 280mm woofer, two mid-range drivers, and four tweeters, too. Lastly, the Tower 5 features a 230mm woofer, two mid-range drivers, and two tweeters. That's a lot for the lineup's smallest speaker!

You also get a customizable 10-band equalizer with all three speakers, and the new ULT button on the front grille now lets you swap between EQ presets. These include ULT1 (deep bass, low frequency sound), ULT2 (rumbling bass), Flat (true-to-source), and Live (spacious).

There's really no dearth of features, which is excellent. And the ULT Towers sound like great value for money, too, as they aren't that expensive. I was personally quite surprised when the Sony representatives shared the retail prices with me. The Tower Max is the most expensive of the lot, at $1,499 / ~ £1,300; the Tower 7 is the mid-range option, at $649 / ~ £600; and the Tower 5 is the cheapest option, at $449 / ~ £400.

So, what do they sound like?

Driver sizes and specifications are all for naught if the speakers don't sound great — and in my short time with the Sony ULT Towers, I thought they sounded fantastic. At the pre-launch event, the Sony representatives played songs from different genres to show what the Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 were capable of.

Regardless of the song they played, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. All three speakers sounded beautiful. The bass sounded rich and meaty with plenty of low-end impact, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ULT2 EQ preset which made me feel the bass in my chest, temples and deep within my soul.

The Sony representatives played a song by Dua Lipa, too, and though I'm personally not a huge fan of hers, I couldn't help but tap my feet and bob my head along to the tune. I believe that's a true sign of a competent party speaker. If it can make you dance to artists you don't care for, it's done its job.

I also listened to two Tower 7s together in stereo mode with left and right channels. When 'Money' by Pink Floyd started playing and the sound of cash registers and coins traveled between the speakers, I was left extremely impressed. The high-pitched coins didn't sound like they were piercing through the soundstage. The treble sounded shiny and vibrant but not overzealous or fatiguing.

Finally, I listened to an electronic track on 10 ULT Towers all at once. It's not everyday you get to do something like that — how many of us have such extravagant setups in our basements, eh? The wall of speakers sounded phenomenal. The room-shaking bass made me feel like I was at a gig or a music festival.

Looking ahead...

So, Sony's latest generation of party speakers sounds excellent — on paper and in real-world use. The Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 offer something for everyone, and given how affordable they are (especially the Tower 5), they offer bang for your buck. That's based on my first impressions, of course, and it's subject to change when I do my in-depth testing.

Speaking of, I'm really looking forward to putting the Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 through their paces. Do these party speakers sound like they'd be up your street? Let me know in the comments below!

The Sony ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 will be available to buy from Amazon U.S. and U.K., Best Buy, or directly from Sony.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Marshall Bromley 750 party speakers — and the winner surprised me
• There's no better party speaker on the planet than the brand-new Marshall Bromley 450
• As a guitarist and an audiophile, this is the all-in-one speaker I’ve been waiting for

Sonos is no stranger to the world of soundbars. The Sonos Arc Ultra is widely regarded as one of the best soundbars on the market — but its $1,100 sticker price makes it a tough sell when wallets are stretched thin.

That’s where the new Sonos Beam Ultra coms in. Announced early at an event in New York City on September 1, the new mid-range soundbar sports two dedicated up-firing drivers and a redesigned center channel that deliver clearer dialogue.

From everything I've seen on it, the Beam Ultra is a compact 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar that fits everything I love about its more-expensive sibling into a $700 price point. Here’s what makes it the soundbar to watch when it becomes available on September 29.

Big sound, small package

The current-generation Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) does a great job with its 5.0-channel configuration — but the Beam Ultra uses nine speakers, including the two additional up-firing drivers, that are going to make a world of difference for surround sound movie soundtracks.

While the new Beam Ultra won’t ship with any satellite speakers or subwoofers, the Beam Ultra is compatible with the whole Sonos ecosystem including, of course, the Sonos Sub and Sonos Sub Mini that can be used for a meatier low-end.

Sonos says the newly designed center channel driver enables clearer dialogue and can tap into four levels of AI Speech Enhancement for even more pronounced mids, as well as a Night Sound mode when you want to cut back on any wall-rattling frequencies.

Last but not least, Sonos says the new Beam Ultra will support the brand’s Trueplay technology that takes an aural image of the room and adjusts the output of the sound accordingly. It’s a handy feature, though one that never quite matches the effects of proper sound dampening in my experience.

The Beam Ultra offers both brains and brawn

In addition to its revamped internals, the Sonos Beam Ultra will leverage the company’s new Sonos 27 smart platform. Those words might scare you considering that the last time the company launched a new smart platform, it went so poorly that it cost the CEO his job — but Sonos 27 feels like it could actually make the platform better overall.

Key features in the latest platform are Sonos 27voice and Sonos 27mcp. The former is Sonos’ new voice assistant that will live (I assume) alongside Alexa, while the latter allows you to connect your Sonos ecosystem to any outside AI assistant or agent.

Eventually, Sonos will allow users to design their own custom agents — with a matching persona and voice — but details on that are relatively slim at the moment.

Finally, anyone who uses Sonos portable speakers like the Move 2 or Sonos Play will be able to use them in a future update as surround sound speakers for the Beam Ultra. This feature, dubbed Sonos Fabric, uses high-frequency sound that enables Sonos products to “sense each other” and “adapt to the moment.”

We'll certainly test that ourselves when the feature becomes available at some point in the future.

Sony, eat your heart out

Sonos isn't the only one going after the more modest soundbar market — this is Sony, Samsung and LG's bread and butter.

Each year, the trio of TV-makers deliver a half dozen of sub-$1,000 soundbars into the market, and every year they get gobbled up during sales events like Black Friday and, to a lesser extent, Super Bowl Sunday.

On paper, the Sonos Beam Ultra delivers a lot of value — potentially a whole lot more than what the competition offers — but $700 is still a pretty hefty chunk of change.

Is it worth the scratch? We'll know more after we hear it for ourselves at the New York event and bring it into our own homes for comparison testing sometime around its September 29 launch date.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested Noble's high-end IEMs and they boast an unbelievably wide soundstage — but are the Iris worth $699?
• I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + subwoofer — and recommending it is a no-brainer
• Before you buy your next pair of speakers, make sure you know this one essential difference

Sonos is giving its audio operating system a huge update that adds several AI tools and a speaker sensing tool that could change how you use your speakers: Dubbed Sonos 27 and announced at an event in NYC, this is the latest version of the company's control app and promises to be open and adaptable.

"We built our system around a shared love of music and the belief that nothing sets the mood like great sound," CEO Tom Conrad said in a press release. "Sonos 27 takes that further, bringing acoustic engineering, adaptable software, intelligence and design together in a way only Sonos can."

The last time Sonos attempted an overhaul, the controversial redesign cost CEO Patrick Spence his job. After public outcry, it took nearly a year for Sonos to bring the app back to an acceptable state. Here's hoping history isn't about to repeat itself with Sonos 27.

What's new with Sonos 27?

Sonos 27 comes with two AI features, Sonos 27voice and Sonos 27mcp, both of which utilize AI to change how controlling Sonos systems works.

Voice is a Sonos-built assistant for music and mood curation. The company is also introducing Sonos Custom Agents, which would allow users to create their own AI agents through the system, "each with its own model, persona and voice." Mcp lets you connect an outside AI chatbot to your Sonos system, including OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Sonos claims you could ask ChatGPT to play music anywhere in your home without leaving your AI chat.

Sonos didn't provide many details in its press release on how Custom Agents or AI assistant integration will actually work or how you'll connect them to your system, but these details are likely to be discussed during the event in New York City.

Other more interesting features

One of the more interesting features Sonos announced is called Sonos Fabric, a system capability that is supposed to enable Sonos devices to "sense each other" and then adapt to positioning.

According to Sonos, the positioning technology uses high-frequency sound to sense a speaker's location and then adapt its role in the system based on that.

Why is this necessary? It specifically enables portable surround sound features that let the Move 2 or Sonos Play become rear surrounds when they're moved into position. (It's unclear whether this will be added to non-portable speakers.)

Another new feature launching in Sonos 27 will allow linking the Sonos Ace Ultra (also unveiled today) directly to your speaker system, letting you push or pull sound to and from speakers and your headphones. This is launching in early access to start, so you'll need to sign up for that.

Finally, Sonos is adding new features that are supposed to make the app "more intuitive to navigate." Sonos claims these new features were shaped and tested by the Sonos community; hopefully it doesn't break the app like the last update.

So when will it be available?

Sonos 27 will be available for all Sonos S2 products, though some features are only available on certain devices. (More details to come soon.)

The new app navigation features rolls out on September 8, and Sonos 27mcp launches in early access at the same time.

This will all roughly align with the launch of two new Sonos products — the Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Ace Ultra headphones — that launch on September 29. The Beam Ultra is an updated version of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 mid-sized soundbar that will come in at $699, while the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones are a sequel to the original Sonos Ace that will cost $449 at launch.

Both are available for pre-order now.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested Noble's high-end IEMs and they boast an unbelievably wide soundstage — but are the Iris worth $699?
• I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + subwoofer — and recommending it is a no-brainer
• Before you buy your next pair of speakers, make sure you know this one essential difference

The Labor Day weekend is almost upon us and the sales have already started. Best Buy is running a wide-range of offers at the moment including one focused on Sonos speakers and soundbars. If you've been planning to upgrade your home entertainment setup, now is a great time to do so.

Amid the items on offer are Sonos Era 300 Smart Speaker, which we rated 4.5 stars out of 5, as well as the Sonos Sub Mini Wireless Subwoofer, which we gave the full 5 stars. These are great devices that will bring high quality audio to your TV and movie-viewing experience, as well as making music really pop. Check out all nine of the available Sonos deals below.

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is Sony’s mid-range soundbar with true Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. If you’ve got a compatible Bravia TV, you even get access to IMAX Enhanced sound. Of course, it’s also a stellar “smart”(ish) home product, with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth streaming from various music streaming services.

As typical with the Theater Bar line, you can get the 7 with or without the subwoofer. I tested the model with the subwoofer. If you want a Sony Bravia experience for less than $1,099, you could check out the $349 Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5, but this isn’t compatible with Sony’s wireless subs.

With crystal-clear dialogue, powerful bass, and impressive surround sound, could the Bravia Theater Bar 7 be one of the best soundbars of 2026? You bet. For the full story, keep reading this Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Specs

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Price & availability

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + Sub is $1,099 from Amazon U.S. Without the sub, you’re looking at $869 from Amazon U.S. I tested the subwoofer version, so that’s the model I’ll be discussing today.

In the U.K, the soundbar alone is £699 from Amazon U.K. You can’t buy the soundbar and subwoofer in one bundle in the U.K., but the overall price would be £948 — the sub is £249.

If you change your mind post-purchase and decide you want the subwoofer, you can buy it for $329/£249 at Amazon. This subwoofer is compatible with: Bravia Theater 7, 8, and 9, as well as the Bravia Theater Trio and Quad, and the HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000, and STR-AN1000 amps. Theoretically, you could get the Bravia Bar 7 and use the Subwoofer 9 ($898). Sony also offers the Theater Bar 5, 6, 8, and 9, which range from $349 to $1,498.

In comparison, this is a pretty average soundbar price. It’s not particularly good value or poor value. You can get the Samsung QS90H, an all-in-one soundbar (yes, including a built-in sub that’s actually powerful), for $999, or the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar for $1,099.

If you want something a little cheaper but still good, I’d recommend the $449 Polk Audio Signa S4 or the $699 Samsung Q600F.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Design

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is relatively compact, making it ideal for TVs 55 inches and under. I tested it with a 55-inch LG G6, and it looked divine. Like most high-end soundbars, the Theater Bar 7 is effectively a long rectangle covered in a fine dark gray mesh. There’s no logo on the front, only a soft white light on the bottom right. No, you can’t tell it’s an expensive Sony soundbar from one glance, but you don’t buy a soundbar for the branding. You buy it for the sound.

Thankfully, as you’ll soon discover, it sounds great.

Controls

In terms of controls, there’s a physical remote with a few basic commands. You can increase or decrease volume, turn it on and off, and toggle night, sound field, and voice modes. Of course, you can also control inputs.

This is effectively the same as the phone app, but the phone app, of course, has more advanced settings, which I’ll get into soon.

Features

Like Samsung soundbars, most of the Theater Bar 7’s USPs reside within compatible Bravia TVs. Unfortunately, I had to test with an LG G6 (boo-hoo me, I got to use one of the best TVs of 2026, right?)

As any soundbar worth its salt should have, the Theater Bar 7 has a night mode and voice mode. Night mode reduces bass so you can watch blockbusters at 3am without receiving a noise complaint from your neighbors, while voice mode accentuates dialogue without making it sound unnatural.

There’s also a sound field mode. This effectively widens and raises the sound, which majorly improved my overall experience while watching movies.

The Bravia Connect app has a litany of advanced features, which I’ll dive into now.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: App

The Theater Bar 7 uses Sony’s Bravia Connect app. While the app looks incredibly basic, almost bordering on careless, it boasts a range of advanced features.

As you can see, there’s a room calibration setting, much like on the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 and the Samsung QS90H. This sends out a pulse of sound and calibrates the audio based on your watching space.

You can also adjust the sound field height. I set mine to the max, which benefited the flying scenes in “Top Gun: Maverick” massively.

Of course, you can also play music directly through Spotify or Qobuz Connect. You can also turn on DSEE Ultimate, an AI-assisted upscaler. If you’re an audio nerd, there’s no shortage of fun things to play with in Bravia Connect.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar in the same room, with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-ray, various other Blu-rays, TV on basic Netflix, and music.

Movies

As always, I started with “Top Gun: Maverick”. I customized the sound field height to max, upped the bass to 10, and turned on sound field and voice mode. The soundbar balanced in-scene sounds like jet engines with the soundtrack well.

However, some, but not all, high-frequency sounds were lost in the bass-heavy “Danger Zone” soundtrack. Despite this, louder details like whooshing steam and engine takeoff sounds were clear. Only the softer whipping of ropes melted into the background.

Even so, the bass on “Danger Zone” was excellent, and the vocals sauntered across the soundstage with unbelievable clarity.

In the first dog-fighting scene, I could feel the planes flying overhead and around me. The screeching jet engines rumbled through the soundbar without overpowering the soundtrack, which flitted underneath the fighter jets with grace. Even the radioed dialogue was perfectly audible.

Throughout the movie, I never struggled to hear dialogue, even in flying scenes. Every word was perfectly clear. Every note in the piano-led soundtrack twinkled across the soundscape like a beacon. Ocean waves and whistling wind sound effects were woven underneath dialogue beautifully. This was a fantastic viewing experience — just like the movie theater.

Next, I watched “Michael”. I needed to evaluate how the soundbar handled both dialogue and in-movie music beyond the soundtrack. Again, dialogue was crystal clear; perhaps this is TMI for some, but I could even make out the sound of saliva in the actors’ mouths.

The soundbar handled this movie excellently. Every performance was rich and immersive, with powerful yet controlled bass and exceptional clarity across the guitars, percussion, and vocals. Switching back to quiet, introspective scenes felt natural.

Finally, I watched “Oppenheimer”. The sound effects during the space dust clips (I’m not sure how else to describe them) glimmered and glitched in a way that made me feel like I was floating in the aether. The string-heavy soundtrack took control of the scenes and held tight, making me feel like I was also a physicist spinning out of control.

The softer detail sound effects like chirping birds and quacking ducks, as well as the crinkling of fabrics brushing together, also came through strongly.

TV

To test TV performance, I watched “Interview with the Vampire” on basic Netflix, as you’re not always going to be watching 4K Blu-rays.

Even on basic Netflix, I could still hear soft in-scene sounds like the fluttering of wings or the subtle intake of breath. Dialogue, again, was clear and never overpowered the soundtrack. Action scenes, such as when Lestat transfixes his human prey in the speakeasy, were clear.

Diegetic (in-scene) sound effects like chirping crickets and crackling fires were audible over dialogue, no matter how softly spoken.

Overall, this performance was excellent. I really have no issues with this soundbar at all, except the slight muffling of high-frequency details in “Top Gun: Maverick”.

Music

Music performance is okay. It’s neither the worst soundbar I’ve ever heard or the best — the best is still the Bose Smart Soundbar (2024). Vocals had a tendency to feel quite pinchy, and bass was strangely lackluster. But, I digress — soundbars aren’t made to play music. They’re designed to be the center of your home cinema.

I listened to “Knocking at the Sky” by The Last Dinner Party. While the soft “la la” notes right at the end sounded great, the bombastic chorus was muddled and the vocals pinched in my ears. There was a disappointing amount of tinniness in the percussion, too.

Electronic music fared a little better. “If you wanna party, come over to my house (Eli Escobar remix)” by Fcukers was clearer and didn’t hurt my ears. The pulsing synth and warbling synth details were both full-bodied and confident, but the bass synth fell flat for me. There just wasn’t any intensity, likely due to the lack of bass.

Lastly, I switched to something heavier: “Red40” by Die Spitz. This guitar-led metal-punk-indie track is usually propulsive and insistent, but the vocals were squashed into the guitars and the kick drum didn’t carry any weight.

I was disappointed by this music performance because of how utterly excellent the movie and TV experience was, but you can’t win them all, and this is a soundbar — not a speaker.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Verdict

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is a fantastic soundbar. With the subwoofer, you get powerful, controlled, and immersive bass, and the soundbar itself has a knack for delivering crystal-clear dialogue balanced perfectly over top of a dramatic OST. In terms of movie and TV performance, I really have nothing bad to say. Other than the tiny suppression of some high-frequency sounds in “Top Gun: Maverick”, the Bar 7 gets applause all round from me.

Sure, the app could look a little nicer — it’s nothing compared to the aesthetic of SmartThings — but are you going to be spending that much time simply looking at it? It works well and is reliable, with zero connectivity issues, and for me, that’s enough.

Whether you buy the subwoofer or not, I’m sure you’ll be incredibly pleased with the Theater Bar 7. It’s reliable, powerful, and immersive. For me, that’s all I want from a soundbar.

I wish I had bought myself better speakers growing up. For the better part of my late teens, I used a hand-me-down portable boombox that I used to play burned CDs from friends. It's not like these days where you can just pick up one of the best Bluetooth speakers and be done with it.

Still, had I known about better audio products — and the differences between active and passive speakers — I would’ve traded out that boombox in a heartbeat.

So let’s break down the differences between speakers, starting with the most obvious distinction: How do speakers get power and information to play your favorite music?

Passive vs Active Speakers: Major differences

If you’re just encountering these terms for the first time, the words “passive” and “active” might bring to mind two very different-sounding pairs of speakers — one pair that’s loud and aggressive, and another that’s quieter and muffled.

Thankfully, 'passive' and 'active' doesn’t refer to how the speakers sound, but rather how their internal components work and whether or not they require external amplification. That, in a nutshell, is the biggest difference between the two: Passive speakers require external amplification whereas active speakers come with an amplifier built in.

When it’s framed like this, you might immediately be drawn to active speakers — they sure sound like a lot less work — and you wouldn’t be wrong.

Since a manufacturer has done all the hard work of pairing the drivers to an amplifier, you don’t have to spend the time looking at specs sheets to make sure you’re not overdriving or under-driving them. However, by choosing to go with active speakers, you’re missing out on the secret advantage of passive speakers. (Hint: Changing out amplifiers at the drop of a hat is actually a benefit, not a curse.)

The other major difference is how these speakers actually get the sonic information passed over to them. On active speakers, information is obtained wirelessly, over optical audio or via a set of phono cables. Passive speakers use traditional speaker wire. We’ll get into the pros and cons of each in just a minute.

Active speakers: Pros, cons and sound quality

The main advantage of active speakers is that they work right out of the box without any additional hardware. These days, most active speakers come with a number of wireless connectivity options built in like AirPlay, Chromecast Built-in, Spotify and Tidal Connect, alongside many more.

On the backside of the main speaker (we call this the lead speaker or, in some cases, the master speaker) are a plethora of ports. Here you’ll find your standard phono inputs, usually a sub-out if you want to connect a separate subwoofer, optical in and, if you’re lucky, an HDMI port that allows you to connect the speakers to your TV without an AV receiver.

Active speakers are connectivity rich and easy to set up, so what’s the downside? The downside is that the speakers will always sound the same — which isn’t bad if you’re the kind of person who likes to set it and forget it. Tinkerers, however, won’t love this.

Sound quality will vary from speaker to speaker, obviously, and it's hard to give a broad sweeping generalization about the technology. However, if I had to give one, I'd say the majority of active speakers I've heard follow a v-shaped curve with big, bold bass response and sparkling highs. It's not that the mid-band frequencies are lost entirely; I just feel like they're less prominent in the active speakers I've owned.

Passive speakers: Pros, cons and sound quality

This is going to sound like some wine-swilling non-sense, but different components impart different sonic signatures — and that includes speakers themselves. This comes down to a number of factors including the amplification technology, the digital-to-analog conversion and the DSP (digital signal processing), all of which vary from device to device.

When talking about speakers and their sound signatures, we sometimes shorthand this chain as tuning, and herein lies the true joy of buying passive speakers: You’re able to tinker the tuning to your exact specifications. In the audio world we have plenty of default tunings, but not everyone’s ears are shaped the same, nor are our music preferences the same. Being able to tailor the sound to your liking is a huge benefit for folks with specific preferences.

The bad news is that not all music components aren’t interchangeable — and it is possible to cause damage to your audio equipment by mismatching it. This is a lot of fun for some folks, and a very stressful situation for others.

As far as sound quality is concerned, it will again vary between speakers and the components used to drive them. The difference between one system and another can be extreme. Still, I've found properly crafted passive systems to be more nuanced than their active counterparts.

When I listen to my passive speaker setup, I find new aural details I hadn't heard before in my favorite songs. (Billie Eilish's "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?" is filled with small details that are totally lost on some speaker systems.)

Passive vs Active Speakers: Recommended models

If you just want easy, plug-and-play speakers with lots of features built right in, you should go for a pair of active speakers. There are plenty to choose from, but some of my recent favorites are the affordable Edifier S880DB MKII and the pricier — but much more powerful — Klipsch The Nines II. You can also go for floorstanding models like the Fluance Ai81 Elite.

If you want to build out a modular system piecemeal to allow for upgrading down the road, then you want some good passive speakers. As mentioned earlier, picking out a pair is a lot harder because it will depend entirely on the receiver or amplifier you decide to pair them with.

If the idea sounds daunting, you can always buy a system in a box that pairs passive speakers with a receiver for you, like the Yamaha YHT-4970U 5.1-Channel Home Theater System. This is an affordable way to get started with home theater audio.

For music aficionados wanting a good starter package, pick up the Bluesound Powernode and a pair of KEF LS50 Meta speakers. This way you’re getting both the modularity to upgrade down the line and the convenience of a streaming setup in one package.

Recommending systems can be difficult as tastes vary so much from person to person, but building the reference system of your dreams is a lifelong pursuit that many folks — myself included — wholeheartedly enjoy.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple's iOS 27 beta 3 update finally introduces a brilliantly clever and streamlined control interface for AirPods Adaptive mode, empowering users to instantly fine-tune ambient noise blending intensity with just a simple tap
• The Marshall Acton IV won me over with its charming retro design and incredible sound — and it’s earned a permanent spot on my coffee table
• ‘Easy on the eyes and ridiculously stunning sound’ — I tested the Marshall Stanmore IV home speaker and it’s coming for Sonos’ crown

Over the weekend, Amazon quietly raised prices for nearly all of the devices the company makes, including the Echo Dot, Kindle Paperwhite and Fire TV Stick HD. It's the latest in a series of price increases that have hit nearly every company. You can guess what's to blame.

Amazon's new prices vary in amount, with at least one device seeing a 60% increase; the company cited the ongoing RAM crisis and component inflation. First spotted by Fortune, some of the company's cheaper devices appear to be the most affected.

Here's what the new prices look like:

The Echo Dot saw the largest increase up 60% and $30, from $49 to $79, while the higher-tier Echo Show 11 is also getting a $30 hike from $219 to $249.

Additionally, the 16GB Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite saw hikes, going from $109 to $149 and $159 to $199, respectively. The Fire TV Stick HD only saw a $5 hike from $34 to $39 and the 4K Max rose from $59 to $84.

Surprisingly, the Amazon-owned Ring lineup of doorbells and security cameras didn't get more expensive.

An Amazon spokesperson told Tom's Guide, "After absorbing these increases for as long as we could, we recently adjusted pricing across our product lines." She noted that "significant" increases in memory and component costs led to the decision.

Still a cheaper option

In some cases, despite the price hikes, Amazon's devices might still be the cheaper option. Unfortunately, that's because everything else also got more expensive this year.

In July, Roku bumped prices on its streaming devices, with the Roku hitting $150 and the entry-level Roku Streaming Stick now at $40, up from $30.

Kindles might be more expensive than similar rival options like the Nook GlowLight 4, which comes with 32GB of memory for $149.

The Echo Dot, though, remains cheaper than the Google Home Speaker, which starts at $99, though the gap is only $20 now.

Amazon Devices: Outlook

At the moment, only the Fire tablets seem to be unaffected — in fact, they’re the only devices currently on sale, but this could be due largely to the fact that it’s back to school season.

For years, Amazon’s Echo smart home speakers have been the company’s trojan horse to get its voice assistant in homes across the world. Given that Alexa+ is available on virtually every Amazon Echo device, the company may have calculated that it’s saturated the market enough so that adoption of Alexa+ wouldn’t be affected by any potential loss in sales.

Still, the timing is curious, as the company also announced last week that Alexa+ would be available, free of charge, to its newest Fire TV devices. That means if you have a current-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Fire TV Cube, or Amazon Ember smart TV, you can get the full version of Amazon’s AI-enabled assistant without needing a Prime account, or paying $19.99 per month.

Regardless of whether you want Alexa+, more than ever it’s worth waiting until Black Friday or Prime Day to purchase one of Amazon’s devices (sadly, the new sale price may be the old regular price). If you don’t want to wait that long, some third-party retailers are still offering the original price. For example, you can still find the Amazon Echo Dot for $49 at Target and Home Depot.

More from Tom's Guide

• My 12-year-old noticed a missing Amazon shopping feature — so I tried to build it with AI
• 9 best Amazon Prime perks you're paying for but probably not using
• Amazon has a hidden button that connects you with a real customer service agent — here's where to find it

Marshall has been on a roll in 2026, adding to its lineups of headphones, home speakers, and now, portable Bluetooth speakers. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been testing the Marshall Stockwell III which succeeds the seven-year-old Stockwell II — and it has quickly become my go-to speaker for almost everything.

The Stockwell III improves on its predecessor by doubling the battery life (over 40 hours now), being more waterproof thanks to its IP55 rating, and delivering punchier bass, brighter treble, and incredible 360° sound. Though a little expensive and slightly heavy for a portable speaker, those feel like minor issues in an otherwise compelling (and beautiful) package.

So, is this the best portable Bluetooth speaker for you? Read my full Marshall Stockwell III review to find out.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Specs

Marshall Stockwell III review: Price & availability

The Marshall Stockwell III was first announced on 9 June, 2026, over seven years after its predecessor, the Marshall Stockwell II. Available to buy from 18 August, the Stockwell III has a retail price of $249 / £199 — same as the second-gen model at launch in 2019. The Stockwell III comes in Black or Cream, and both have brass accents.

This is a premium portable Bluetooth speaker, and it finds itself competing with the likes of the Ultimate Ears Everboom ($249) and the Sonos Play ($299). Though a little expensive, it’s still cheaper than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen which costs a whopping $399. The Stockwell III is worth the investment if you want 40+ hours of battery and beautiful sound stuffed into a compact (and stunning) package.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Design

The Marshall Stockwell III is, in a nutshell, a ridiculously sexy speaker, and the portable speaker to get if you care about aesthetics above all else. Not much has changed between the Stockwell III and its predecessor when it comes to portability. The third-gen model measures 7.1 x 6.4 x 2.9 inches and weighs 2.9lbs. To make it easier to carry around, Marshall has included a guitar-esque, velvet carry strap in the box, which can be attached to the Stockwell III’s sides.

Given its hefty weight, the Stockwell III isn’t the most portable speaker around. The Ultimate Ears Everboom is lighter at 2.1lbs, as is the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen which weighs 1.27lbs. The Stockwell III’s strap makes it slightly easier to carry around, but if you want an even lighter speaker but with Marshall’s looks, the Emberton III ($149, 1.5lbs) is a standout choice.

The Stockwell III looks more premium compared to its predecessor, too. While the Stockwell II featured white accents, the Stockwell III now features brass branding (on either black or cream), keeping in line with the brand’s other current-gen speakers — and headphones, too, like the Milton ANC ($229) and the Monitor III ($349). I much prefer this look as the black/cream and gold combo makes the speaker stand out in a crowded market.

Build quality is solid, thanks to metal mesh grilles and the textured silicone outer sleeve. You’re getting bang for your buck with the Stockwell III.

But why should you buy the Stockwell III instead of Marshall’s other more portable (ergo, lightweight) speakers? The Stockwell III is a mid-sized, premium Bluetooth speaker that’s clearly designed for both home (given the Placement Compensation feature within the app) and light outdoor use (given its IP55 rating).

It’s got a more luxurious feel to it than the ultra-portable Emberton III, for instance, but it’s smaller than a massive party speaker, like the Bromley 450 ($799). If you want a small speaker to travel with, and one that can withstand the elements, get the IP67-rated Emberton III. But if you want a mid-sized speaker that isn’t as expensive or bulky as the Kilburn III ($379), get the Stockwell III.

Weatherproofing

Marshall has made significant improvements to the Stockwell III’s durability as the third-gen model is now IP55-rated — the Stockwell II was only IPX4-rated. IP55 means the Stockwell III is protected from dust and is fairly water resistant, though you can’t submerge it underwater like you can the IP67-rated Ultimate Ears Everboom.

IP55 should suffice for most scenarios, but be mindful of using it in wet conditions repeatedly as any gadget’s waterproofing wears down over time.

Controls

All the buttons and dials are located on the Stockwell III’s top plate, and you’ll be familiar with them if you’ve used any of Marshall’s other speakers, like the Acton IV ($299). Even if you aren’t, getting to grips with the controls is quick and easy. All the buttons and dials give great tactile feedback when pressed or turned.

There’s a Source button for swapping between Bluetooth and AUX, and a customizable ‘M’ button that, by default, activates Spotify Tap so you can start playing music without opening the app on your phone; playback joystick; and three amp-like knobs for adjusting volume, treble and bass. Alongside these, Marshall has also added a handy battery indicator.

Connectivity

The Stockwell III features a 3.5mm jack and a USB-C port for wired playback, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Over Bluetooth, you get support for SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs — the latter delivers high efficiency and better sound quality at low bitrates. This also gives it a leg-up over the Ultimate Ears Everboom which supports SBC and AAC only.

While the Stockwell II featured traditional multi-speaker pairing with other Stockwell IIs, the Stockwell III is Auracast-enabled — and that’s better as it enables multiple devices to connect to a single audio source without pairing. The third-gen model utilizes Bluetooth LE to essentially connect to an unlimited number of other Auracast-enabled Marshall speakers, such as the Emberton III or other Stockwell IIIs.

You also get multipoint connectivity, which means that you can connect two different Bluetooth devices to the Stockwell III simultaneously. I did this with my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and it worked seamlessly.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Sound quality

The Marshall Stockwell III is very loud for its size — it’s one of the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers around. Under the hood, the Stockwell III is fitted with a 65W Class D amplifier to power its 3-inch woofer, and two 31W Class D amplifiers for its dual 1.75-inch wide-band drivers (versus two 5W tweeters and a single 10W woofer on the Stockwell II). The speaker covers a frequency response range of 54Hz to 20KHz.

Marshall has clearly spared no expense when it comes to stuffing the Stockwell III to the brim — and the result is simply outstanding sound. To test the speaker, I listened to a range of songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles. ‘2515’ by Wasia Project, which has a strong, pulsating bassline acting as the track’s backbone throughout, sounded sublime. The song’s dark electronic pulse came through with real weight, while the bass remained tight and controlled, and never became muddy — even at high volumes.

This is where Marshall’s ‘Dynamic Loudness’ comes into play. The Stockwell III borrows this from the Stanmore IV ($399) and the Acton IV, and it basically ensures that sound remains balanced and distortion-free regardless of the volume. Playing ‘2515’ at 80% volume didn’t overwhelm the speaker, as the lows maintained their warmth and richness.

I then listened to ‘Mariners Apartment Complex’ by Lana Del Rey to test the soundstage — and sure enough, the Stockwell III didn’t falter. Lana’s vocals sat front and center, with her words remaining clear and never bleeding into one another. There was a great balance between her remarkable vocals and the acoustic guitar and piano, and the strings sounded textured and defined. Also, the True Stereophonic 360° — found on the Bromley 750 ($1,299) and Bromley 450 party speakers — filled the room and the song sounded consistent when I moved around, giving the track an effortless sense of space and depth.

Lastly, I played ‘Papua New Guinea’ by The Future Sound of London, an electronic, ambient techno track. The driving basslines, swirling synths, breakbeat-style percussion and oscillating keyboard loops all came together to create a layered production, and the Stockwell III reproduced the dreamy nature extremely well. The treble felt vibrant and nuanced without becoming fatiguing. My partner and I couldn’t help but move along to the song, like we were at a rave.

Listen along to my review with the Marshall Stockwell III testing playlist:

Marshall Stockwell III review: App

The Marshall Stockwell III is accompanied by the Marshall Bluetooth app, available for free on iOS and Android. It’s the same app used by the British brand’s headphones and earbuds, and it’s your one-stop shop for adjusting the EQ or choosing a preset, updating the firmware, enabling Auracast, and customizing the ‘M’ button. The app sports a clean interface and is extremely easy to use.

You also get Placement Compensation, where you can select whether the speaker is close to an edge or corner, or flush against a wall. Once you’ve chosen your desired settings, the Stockwell III then corrects itself for any nearby reflective surfaces that may affect the sound quality. This feature has been borrowed from the Stanmore IV and Acton IV, which are plug-in home speakers. It’s handy to have if you’re keeping the Stanmore III in one place but given that it’s a portable Bluetooth speaker, I highly doubt you’ll be keeping it stationary.

There’s a Source Mix option, too, which is new. It basically enables you to play music over Bluetooth and via USB-C at the same time. I can’t really think of a use case for this, but I suppose if you want to feel like a DJ, you can.

One thing I find surprising, though, is that the Stockwell III uses the Marshall Bluetooth app and not the new Marshall app (came out in 2026 before the Stockwell III) which its fourth-gen home speakers utilize. Wouldn’t it make sense to have all of its speakers in one app? I’m personally not a fan of having two separate apps for different devices. Maybe it’s because the Stockwell III was actually created before the Stanmore IV and Acton IV were. Perhaps this is something Marshall will fix later. This isn’t a complaint, anyway, just an observation.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Battery life

Marshall has fitted a bigger battery into the Stockwell III, and the speaker can now run for over 40 hours on a single charge. That’s double the Stockwell II’s battery life. The Stockwell III trumps its competition too, as the Sonos Play is rated for 24 hours, and the Ultimate Ears Everboom is rated for 20. Even the pricier Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen is rated for just 24 hours.

In my testing, I played at 50% volume over multiple listening sessions. The total time it took for the Stockwell III to run out of battery was just over 40 hours, keeping in line with Marshall’s claims.

Similar to the Sonos Play, the Stockwell III doubles as a power bank and you can use a USB-C cable to charge your smartphone, laptop and other devices. This is a great feature to have in a portable speaker as you don’t need to worry about finding a socket to charge your phone if you’re, say, out on a hike.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Verdict

Just when I thought Marshall speakers couldn’t get any better, the iconic amp manufacturer comes out with something like the Stockwell III. This is an excellent portable speaker that delivers far more sound than its compact design suggests. Though it isn’t cheap — just shy of $250 — its combination of rich bass, vibrant treble and clear mids make a strong case for the price.

The Stockwell III also packs 40 hours of battery life, IP55 durability, and immersive 360° sound into a slim profile. While it’s still not the lightest portable speaker around, the included velvet strap makes it easier to carry around.

I can’t help but describe the speaker’s sound as genuinely astounding. If I had to take one speaker with me on my travels or to picnics outdoors, it would be the Stockwell III. At the time of writing, it’s Marshall’s best portable Bluetooth speaker right now.

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema is an incredibly interesting soundbar. It’s $1,499, which puts it firmly in the “premium” category, and it’s all-in-one, which means it has two subwoofer channels in the soundbar itself. So, is all of this enough to make it one of the best soundbars available in 2026?

Unfortunately, not quite. While the overall sound performance is great, a few dialogue issues (and no dialogue mode) prevented it from achieving full marks. Even so, I didn’t have to strain to understand 99% of dialogue — but those rare instances marred my experience. It’s pretty pricey for just a soundbar, and there’s not as much height as I would expect for $1,500.

It’s still a worthy contender, though, especially if you want a soundbar as part of a wider multi-speaker sound system. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Bluesound Pulse Cinema review.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: Specs

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: Price & availability

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema is a pretty pricey soundbar, at $1,499 from Amazon U.S. and £1,249 from Richer Sounds in the U.K.

For a 3.2.2-channel soundbar, this is quite expensive. I’ve tested the 23-driver, 7.1.4-channel JBL Bar 1300X MKII, which is only $300 pricier, at $1,699. I’ve also reviewed the Samsung QS90H ($899), which is fantastic if you want excellent bass without needing a separate subwoofer.

If money is no object, I’d recommend checking out the $2,999 Yamaha True X Surround 90A, which is the most immersive Dolby Atmos soundbar I’ve ever used. There’s also the fantastic KEF XIO, $1,699, which has incredible sound quality and 360° audio.

At the cheaper end of the spectrum, I’d recommend the $399 Samsung Q600F/H or the $699 Denon Home 550 for soundbars with clarity and depth.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: Design

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema looks like any other soundbar. It’s pretty plain, but in a purposeful way that means it won’t steal attention away from the rest of your living room. Of course, there’s a mesh exterior and an on-bar button control pad. This illuminates red, green, and blue.

It’s quite long, at 47 inches, so I’d recommend it only for 55-inch TVs and up. Any smaller would look strange. If you’ve a smaller TV, you might be better suited to the 27-inch Bose Smart Soundbar (2024), or the 26-inch Denon Home 550.

The soundbar was much lighter than I thought it would be: 14.8 pounds. Compared to the Yamaha True X Surround 90A’s 24-pound heft and the KEF XIO’s 23-pound bulk, this was noticeably easier to move around. You might not even need a friend to help you set it up.

Controls

There’s no remote, so all your controlling is done via the BlueOS app. I found setting this up relatively straightforward. I had to restart it a couple of times, but it worked without any headache from me. I didn’t even have to set up my Wi-Fi network: the app took the information from AirPlay, which was great. No scrabbling around trying to find that pesky piece of paper taped to the back of my router.

Ideally, there would be a remote, too. What if your phone breaks and then you’re stuck without a soundbar remote? While this likely won’t be an issue 99% of the time, there’s always that 1%.

As I connected the soundbar via HDMI eARC, I was able to control it via my TV and Blu-ray player remotes, so I didn’t have any issues here. Specific adjustments like treble and bass volume controls were easy to make in the app.

Features

I was disappointed to see no dialogue mode or dialogue enhancer. I personally wouldn’t buy a soundbar without this, purely because I like the reassurance of being able to enhance my dialogue if required.

The Pulse Cinema does have “night”, “movie”, and “music” modes. There’s also a “surround upmixer”, “virtualizer”, and “volume leveler”, alongside treble and bass EQ adjustment. The surround upmixer does what it says on the tin — creates a virtual surround sound environment. “Virtualizer” does pretty much the same thing. I didn’t notice “volume leveler” making much of a change, but it’s supposed to make all the soundbar output the same volume. This would be good if you listen to poorly mastered media or if you’re struggling to hear dialogue.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: App

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema uses the BlueOS app, which works almost identically to the Denon HEOS app. This is more of a multi-room smart speaker app than the soundbar-specific JBL One app. There’s no room calibration or individual channel adjustment, which is a shame for a $1,499 soundbar.

As you can see, the app has TuneIn and integrates music streaming services like TIDAL and Qobuz, making it ideal for building a general multi-speaker home setup. It’s easy to use and easy to set up, so I have no criticisms here. I just wish it had some more soundbar/home cinema-specific modes.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar in the same room, with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-ray, various other Blu-rays, TV streaming, and music on Qobuz via AirPlay.

Movies

As always, I started with “Top Gun: Maverick”. The opening scene is a goldmine for soundbar testing: high-frequency in-scene sound effects like whirring engines and whooshing ropes, bass-heavy “Danger Zone”, the roaring of jet engines flying overhead.

I could feel the planes flying around me, but I couldn’t hear them tracking over me. This is a similar issue on Samsung soundbars, namely the QS90H and the Q600F/H. I want height and width! I tested the Yamaha True Sound 90A in the same room, and it offered much more height, which is why it’s the best Dolby Atmos soundbar I’ve ever used — but it is $3,000. I’d also recommend the JBL Bar 1300X MKII as one of the best surround sound experiences — it had plenty of height in the same test, and is only $300 more than the Bluesound.

Whooshing ropes were clear, and the grinding of Tom Cruise’s wrench was audible in the following scene. The string-heavy soundtrack radiated through the scene like sunlight streaming through cloud cover — but I didn’t get as much width or depth as I wanted.

I also noticed some roughness around dialogue, as if the soundbar was struggling to differentiate the bass in Tom Cruise’s voice from the bass in the OST. This was also an issue in “How to Train Your Dragon (2025)”, but I’ll discuss that in detail below.

However, during action scenes, the bass performance was good. In the first flying scene — Maverick attempting Mach 10 — I could feel the cabin rattling around, the rumbling of the engine right before the explosion. I did want a little more during the explosion, though.

In the first dogfighting scene, the radioed dialogue was clear, despite the lack of dialogue enhancement mode. The rumbling bass of the jet engines didn’t overpower dialogue. I never struggled to make out speech in this scene.

I also watched “How to Train Your Dragon (2025)”. Hiccup’s voice-over and the OST were both clear in the opening action scene, but the dragon sound effects were the true standouts here, especially in the grove scene halfway through the movie. When Toothless flew away, the sound swarmed from around me.

However, there were unpleasant crackling sounds when the characters were talking and moving. While this might be a “How to Train Your Dragon (2025)” mixing issue, I also experienced some crackling during Tom Cruise’s dialogue in “Top Gun: Maverick”. Amazon reviews mention “bass popping”, but I didn’t experience anything like this.

I also watched the original Disney “Alice in Wonderland”. This movie is encoded with Dolby Digital rather than true Atmos.

“Alice in Wonderland” sounded fantastic. The soundbar had no issues switching from music to dialogue to ‘action’ scenes (Alice falling down the rabbit hole). When Alice fell, my stomach actually dropped thanks to the sound effects. The flutes sounded particularly excellent, and I never struggled to hear dialogue — but this isn’t exactly a blockbuster action movie.

As a final blockbuster test, I watched “The Batman (2022)”. The eerie, tense, string-heavy OST didn’t overpower the dialogue or in-scene TV sounds whilst screeching in the background of the scene. The falling rain was exceptionally wide; I could hear it as if it were actually pouring in the testing room.

The iconic “Something in the Way” scene was my favorite scene of the movie. I could hear Pattinson’s brooding voiceover clearly, despite the music and motorcycle sound effects. I could also make out the newsreader speech and the rewinding sound effects over the music. This performance was really great — much better than “How to Train Your Dragon (2025)”.

TV

To test TV playback, I watched “Interview with the Vampire” on basic Netflix. I didn’t notice any crackling or dialogue hissing here. The saloon-inspired soundtrack danced across the soundstage, but never overpowered the dialogue. In-scene sound effects like crickets and crackling fires were clear and pronounced, but layered perfectly beneath dialogue.

I noticed some compression issues when the scenes switched between voiceover and retrospective scenes. “Interview with the Vampire” is that — an interview, taking place in modern day. The protagonist’s dialogue weaves from “present day” interview answers into the retrospective scenes of which he speaks. During each scene, I didn’t notice any processing issues, but during transitional scenes, some dialogue was compressed.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this experience. I never struggled to hear dialogue or make out high-frequency sound effects.

Music

To test music playback, I listened to a range of genres via Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles. ‘Von dutch (A.G. Cook remix ft. Addison Rae)’ by Charli xcx is an electronic track with processed synths and rolling bass. Right at the end of the track, there’s a spoken section. This section sounded fantastic. I felt like the words were bouncing around the room.

After, I played ‘I Was Neon’, an indie track with rounded female vocals and slightly crispy guitars. The percussion was a little muted, but not overly so, and the licks of electric guitar after the chorus were particularly melodic. While I wanted a little more control and complexity to the bass performance, at the end of the day, this is a soundbar, not a speaker. This music performance is impressive.

Lastly, I switched to heavier rock with ‘My God Is The Sun’ by Queens of the Stone Age. As with the Julia Jacklin track, the overall performance was good for a soundbar. Homme’s vocals were clear and propulsive, and the percussion wasn’t tinny. However, I wanted more. More bass, more complexity, more passion. At the end of the day, though, this is a soundbar. And soundbars will never be as impressive as genuine music-focused speakers.

Overall, for music, this is one of the best soundbars I’ve ever used. It matches the Bose Smart Soundbar (2024) and exceeds the Samsung Q600H and QS90H.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: Verdict

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema is a great soundbar, with impressive width and perhaps the best music on a soundbar I’ve ever experienced. The app is easy to use and straightforward, with no connectivity or setup issues.

Even so, for it to achieve our coveted 4-star rating, it would need a few changes: no dialogue/bass rumbling issues (as experienced during “Top Gun: Maverick” and “How to Train Your Dragon (2025)”, and more premium soundbar-specific features — or a lower price. When you can spend $300 extra for the near-perfect JBL Bar 1300X MK2, or save $600 and get the all-in-one Samsung QS90H, why wouldn’t you just do that?

I think I would buy the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 over this model due to the more expansive sound and room calibration tools, but the Bluesound Pulse Cinema is still a great option if you want to build a multi-room smart sound system.

If you want one of the best soundbars in your home, you could be spending thousands and thousands of your hard-earned cash. But what if I told you you could upgrade your TV’s sound for less than £350? I know — shocking. The Samsung Q600H has a good balance between voice, SFX, and OST. It’s a sleek, easy-to-use, budget-friendly soundbar and can be customized to suit you using the SmartThings app.

But be aware that, since it’s so cheap, the sound lacks the width and height you’d usually get from more expensive soundbars. This model is also only available in the U.K. and E.U. markets, but if you’re in the U.S., you can pick up last year’s model, the Samsung Q600F, instead. We gave this soundbar 4.5 stars, and it’s our top choice mid-range option to spruce up your home sound system.

To find out more about the new soundbar, you can keep reading this full Samsung Q600H review.

Samsung Q600H review: Specs

Samsung Q600H review: Price & availability

The Samsung Q600H retails at full price for £549 on the Samsung website, but you can find it cheaper on Amazon U.K. for £349 or at Currys for £499. This soundbar is only available in the U.K. and E.U., which is a shame for those of you who are stateside, as this is a really great soundbar for the price.

If you’re in the U.S., the closest soundbar would be the Samsung Q600F. The F is the 2025 iteration of the Q600H and costs just $379 at Amazon U.S. If you’re in the U.K. and are happy to buy a model from the previous year, the Q600F will cost you £221 at Amazon U.K. We gave this soundbar 4.5 stars when we reviewed it last year, and it remains one of our top picks, so I’d recommend it if you’re trying to save money without sacrificing performance.

For a soundbar with more room-filling sound and better width and height distinction, check out the Samsung QS750F for $899/£699. This all-in-one soundbar performs well beyond its price tag and is suited for anyone who wants a more expansive sound or needs separate rear speakers.

And if you don’t want to spend too much money because this is your first venture into the world of soundbars, the Klipsch Flexus Core 100 could be a great option. It’s very affordable at $349/£299 and gives you the option to add on a subwoofer, but lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, which I found very beneficial from the Q600H for AirPlay and Google Cast.

Samsung Q600H review: Design

The Samsung Q600H doesn’t exactly stand out from the crowd. It looks like every other soundbar I’ve seen. But that’s a good thing. I appreciated that when I was watching TV, it was barely noticeable when set up underneath. The Titan Black Colour looks great and isn’t distracting.

The unit weighs 29.1 pounds, and I found it easy to lift and set up by myself. It measures 46.5 x 18.4 x 10.7 inches, so it doesn’t take up too much room either. I set the subwoofer up off to the side of my TV stand, and it looked good, without drawing too much attention.

Controls

You can adjust the sound using the on-board buttons at the top of the soundbar, or you can use the included remote control. I get a little overwhelmed when I have multiple remote controls on the go. One for the TV, Blu-ray player and soundbar can all get a bit much. Luckily, the remote of the Q600H is very thin so doesn’t feel cumbersome — it feels more like a genuinely useful addition. I also controlled settings such as sound mode and EQ through the SmartThings app on my phone, which was straightforward, which I’ll get into in more detail later on.

Features

The Q600H soundbar has customisable sound modes, EQ adjustment for bass and treble, night mode, and voice enhancement. Most of this can be controlled via the SmartThings app, which I’ll discuss more below.

Samsung Q600H review: App

This was my first time using the SmartThings app, and I was blown away by how easy it was. In my job, I have used a whole host of smart home apps, but this has to be one of the most straightforward to navigate.

In the app, you can switch between different sound modes. I found Standard mode the best for balanced audio and natural sound when watching sitcoms. Surround mode gave me more expansive sound for action sound effects. AI Adaptive sound was the best for detail, prioritizing ambient sounds over the soundtrack. The soundbar also has Game Pro mode, but unfortunately no dedicated music mode.

You can control EQ settings in the app, as well as the level on the subwoofer. I enjoyed the level of customization I got with the soundbar, but you get more freedom by paying a premium price for something like the Samsung QS90H ($999/£899). The QS90H is an all-in-one system with a 7.1.2 channel configuration — a lot more powerful than the 3.1.2 of the Q600H.

Samsung Q600H review: Sound quality

I tested the Samsung Q600H soundbar with our standard watch of “Top Gun: Maverick”, as well as a few other films I know and love, TV streaming, and music streaming via AirPlay.

Movies

I watched “Top Gun: Maverick”, “La La Land”, and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” on 4K Blu-ray. The opening scene of “Top Gun: Maverick” allowed me to evaluate the width, height, high-frequency sound and bass. I enabled AI Adaptive Sound and increased the bass. I also increased the subwoofer to the max to get the full effect of the rumble of the plane engines. In this scene, the high-frequency sounds such as ropes swishing and clanging chains were very clear — I could hear everything distinctly, but not as crisp as when using the Samsung QS90H. The bass of the jet engines stirring to life was well-balanced without rumbling, and the song “Danger Zone” wasn’t overpowered by the planes.

Using AI Adaptive Sound prioritizes diegetic sounds (things like sound effects, foley, vocals etc), as I was able to hear high-frequency details such as the light ticking of a clock, and the dialogue remains incredibly clear. In the scene where we see the Darkstar hypersonic plane take off for its Mach 10 flight, I didn’t get the impact I was anticipating with the sonic boom. While the radio dialogue in the dogfight scene was clear over the OST, it’s also worth noting that there wasn’t a great deal of width or height, and while this soundbar has SpaceFit Sound Pro, I was unable to test it as I didn’t have a compatible Samsung TV to hand — despite testing in a room with 10 TVs.

In the movie’s beach scene, the track “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic playing over the scene demonstrated impeccable bass performance and great balance between dialogue and overture tracks.

Next, I watched “La La Land”, a film that I think has one of the best original soundtracks of all time (yes, they should have won that Oscar). After watching this, I would wholeheartedly recommend the soundbar for musical lovers, despite the lack of music mode. During “Another Day of Sun”, I could clearly hear the footsteps of the actors and dancers as they jumped across cars and slammed doors. Hearing these sounds so distinctly added a lot of detail to the scenes.

Throughout the movie, the dialogue was clear when the characters spoke at the same time as the OST. When the four roommates were getting ready, I could hear the echo in the bathroom set and, later, the clacking of their heels on the street.

Speaking of click-clacking, I was actually disappointed when listening to the “Lovely Night” dance scene. I could hardly hear Mia and Sebastian’s tap shoes, but other sounds such as the kicking up of dust were clear as day.

Finally, I watched “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. Sound effects from the movements of the Silver Surfer felt very expansive; however, other SFX sounds weren’t very clear. I switched to Surround mode, which heightened the SFX and resulted in a more immersive experience. For example, when Herbie “speaks”. However, conversation from the human characters wasn’t as clear. But in general, I enjoyed watching this movie with the soundbar and think it elevated my viewing experience.

TV

To test TV performance, I watched ‘Invincible’ on Prime Video. I watched using the AI Adaptive Sound setting in the SmartThings app, and increased the bass and treble, with the subwoofer set to the highest setting.

The first episode of the TV show had a whole lot of action sound effects of a battle, with a lot of dialogue included. Indistinct chatter in the background of scenes, such as when Mark is walking through the school halls, was audible without taking over the soundstage, suggesting that the soundbar handled the layers of sound well.

The subwoofer kicked in for sound effects such as punching and more gruesome sounds like blood splatters, which were emphasised well, without taking over from the dialogue or soundtrack. I could also hear effects like the splatter of blood and guts moving across the room in accordance with the on-screen movements (gross!).

Music

To test the music playback performance, I listened to a couple of different songs using AirPlay. There’s no dedicated music listening mode on the soundbar. Firstly, I listened to “High and Low” by Empire of the Sun. This soundbar demonstrated excellent bass performance during synth sounds; however, the treble sounded harsh. I turned down the treble in the SmartThings app, which helped to improve the vocals, but it still wasn’t great.

Next, I listened to “Famous Last Words” by My Chemical Romance. This didn’t sound as forceful as I’m used to, and the layers of the song sounded disjointed. There was nowhere near enough depth to do the song justice. The stripped-back bridge resulted in a better performance because there were fewer components to confuse the soundbar, but when it built up again, it struggled to keep up.

Finally, I listened to an acoustic track, “Cariad” by The Royston Club. The stripped-back vocals sound amazing and actually made me exclaim “Oh! That’s good!” in shock. But then when the drums kicked in, they overpowered the acoustic guitar. Bass performance is seemingly the priority with this soundbar.

Samsung Q600H review: Verdict

The Samsung Q600H is an ideal option for a cheap, entry-level soundbar for anyone who wants to enhance their at-home movie watching on a budget. I’ve found it incredibly easy to use with the included remote control or the SmartThings app, and the smart features make it feel highly customisable to fit your desired sound. I appreciated the great balance between dialogue, SFX, and OST sound, and the sleek, unobtrusive design is the cherry on top.

My only real qualm with the soundbar is the lack of width and height in the soundstage, but for less than £350, it’s something I’m willing to overlook. Unfortunately, this soundbar is only available to purchase in the U.K. or E.U., with no plan for a U.S. release. However, you can purchase last year's model, the Samsung Q600F, in the U.S.

Overall, the Samsung Q600H is a solid option to upgrade your home theatre, and one I’ll be making use of to watch the best new movie releases.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3, and it probably won’t be the last. It’s the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker I’ve tried, and it delivers amazingly big sound considering its small size. I didn’t think I was that big of a music fan, but this Bluetooth speaker has me totally converted.

Right now you can pick up the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 for $64 at Amazon. Every now and then it goes on sale for $49 or less, so keep an eye out for deals!

The Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 is so small that it easily fits into my palm. But it gets amazingly loud. Cranked up to full volume, I can hear it through my whole house, and potentially bother my neighbors. The sound is detailed, too. Every track I listened to felt like it had more layers and dimension through this speaker. My phone’s built-in speakers sound tinny and thin in comparison; I just can’t go back to listening to music the old way.

This mini speaker is also incredibly convenient to take around. There’s a flexible built-in strap that’ll wrap around a range of objects. It’s ideal for attaching to a bike handle or backpack. Alternatively, it has a built-in magnet, so when I’m in the house, I take it with me everywhere, because I can stick it on any magnetic surface with ease. Cooking in the kitchen? Stick it on the fridge door. My desk is extremely messy, but I can save space on the desktop by sticking it to my desk’s metal leg.

The battery life is excellent and outperforms rivals like the JBL Go 5 (10 hours.) It’s rated for 24 hours of playtime at medium volume, so you can keep the party going all day and into the night. Personally, I’ve only charged it once since I got it and it’s still going strong. That’s pretty impressive. And not only does it last for a long time, it can also be used as a power bank to charge your phone or other devices in a pinch.

The speaker has a cool, modern look and comes in three color options — black, blue and gray. Can we get pink as an option next, please? The good design extends to the controls, which are easy to use. You can control volume and playback with the large face buttons, while other features like Bluetooth pairing and Bass Boost have dedicated buttons on the side.

Don’t stick with bad sound quality — grab yourself a Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 ASAP.

There are lots of brands vying for your attention in the Bluetooth speaker space right now — so many, in fact, that it can be easy to ignore the lesser known ones in favor of the names you already know. But venturing beyond those obvious brands can reap some rewards, like discovering a range of great value speakers that offer dynamic, punchy audio and deep bass on a budget.

Such is the case with Tribit, which has become known for producing tough, compact Bluetooth speakers that often clock in at well under $50. These feature-packed speakers don't compromise on sound, despite their generally small size.

I've picked out six of my favorite Tribit speakers below, models that demonstrate what this great brand is capable of. What's more, four of these models are currently on sale, meaning you can get a great quality new speaker whatever your budget.

The Samsung QS09F is a beast of a soundbar. With a 7.1.2 channel configuration for under $999, this could be one of the best soundbars if you need something compact yet powerful. There’s a built-in subwoofer and two side-firing surrounds for truly wide sound and immersive Dolby Atmos.

As per Samsung’s naming conventions, the QS90H is a part of 2026’s new soundbar lineup. Last year’s models had an “F” suffix. Unsure why Samsung skipped “G”, but if you see a soundbar with an “H” in the name, it’s new in 2026 (and old thereafter).

So what separates the Samsung QS90H from the rest of the new lineup? The QS90H can do it all. It’s one soundbar with a four-woofer built-in sub, surrounds, and thirteen speakers in the soundbar itself. This is an incredible performance for a one-bar device. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Samsung QS90H review.

Samsung QS90H review: Specs

Samsung QS90H review: Price & availability

The Samsung QS90H is $999 from Best Buy and £899 from Amazon U.K. Although an objectively huge amount of money, you get a soundbar, a subwoofer, and surrounds for that $999 — and you don’t have to make extra space in your living room.

I’ve also tested the fantastic-value Samsung QS750F ($899) and the gorgeous mid-range Samsung Q600F ($599). I’d recommend the Q600F if you’re not concerned with Wi-Fi music playback and the QS750F if you want separate sub and rears. However, these are 2025’s models now. I would be more than happy to use a 2025 models — the sound is still industry-leading as I write this in 2026 — but it’s just something to note if you’re the kind of person who always wants the newest tech.

I’ve also reviewed the fantastic JBL Bar 1300XMK2. I would recommend this wholeheartedly if you want the best home cinema setup without needing to fork out on AVRs, floor standers, and the like.

Samsung QS90H review: Design

The QS90H looks like any other soundbar. It won’t win any design awards, but it won’t steer attention away from your TV, either. It’s a pretty long 49 inches, so anything smaller than a 55” TV will look strange. I tested with the LG G6 OLED 55” and I’d say even that looked a bit weird.

The only frustrating design aspect is the HDMI port. Both the power port and HDMI port are angled, so you need a side-oriented cable. Of course, the soundbar comes with an angled power cable and HDMI, but if you want an aftermarket HDMI, you’ll need to find one that fits under the soundbar.

Controls

There are a few controls on the soundbar itself: volume up/down and power. There’s the classic Samsung remote with all the usual controls: input, Bluetooth, volume, woofer volume, sound mode, channel volume, and settings. I honestly did most of the controlling via the SmartThings virtual remote on my phone.

Features

I’ll go into app features in more detail below, but you’ve got all the expected features: sound modes, a few AI features, EQ adjustment, channel level adjustment, night mode, virtual mode, bass enhancement, and dialogue enhancement.

Samsung QS90H review: App

SmartThings is by far my favorite smart home app. It just makes sense. It’s easy to navigate, straightforward for newcomers, and has zero connectivity hiccups.

As you can see, there’s a huge array of smart features: “SpaceFit Sound Pro”, “Active Voice Amplifier Pro”, “Sound Elevation”, and “Auto Volume”. Last year, “SpaceFit Sound Pro” only worked with an AI-powered Samsung TV, but I was able to turn it on with my LG G6 OLED. However, SpaceFit Sound Pro isn’t a traditional room calibration tool that sends out sound waves and analyzes them with built-in microphones, à la Klipsch or JBL. Honestly, I didn’t notice a huge difference between SpaceFit on and off, which is a shame.

You can also adjust each channel individually.

You can control the woofer volume, “side”, “center”, “wide”, and “front top”. I got the best sound with “side” and “wide” up to the max. I got a touch more height with “front top” set to max, but I still didn’t reach the huge highs I did with the JBL Bar 1300XMK2.

Finally, there’s wireless Dolby Atmos — but this is locked behind recent AI-enabled Samsung TVs. You can also sync up your Roon, Spotify, Tidal, and Alexa.

Samsung QS90HS review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-Ray, TV streaming, and music on Qobuz via AirPlay.

Movies

I watched “Top Gun: Maverick”, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”, and “Fight Club” on 4K Blu-ray.

The opening scene in “Top Gun: Maverick” is ideal for testing width, height, high-frequency sound, and bass simultaneously. I activated “Voice enhancement” and “Bass enhancement” in the SmartThings app, which brought all the high-frequency sounds to the center of the soundstage. Whooshing planes, whirring engines, flicking ropes, and tinkling metal diegetic sounds were focal and loud without pinching or overpowering the bass-heavy “Danger Zone”. I didn’t struggle to hear anything — this was a perfect performance.

Dialogue was clear, even in flight scenes with distortion from the radio. Engines were loud and clear, layered under the dialogue with zero overpowering. There was a touch of over-processing in some of Maverick’s radioed dialogue, but this was seriously negligible. It didn’t impact my viewing experience in the slightest.

There wasn’t as much height as I would like, which is a consistent issue with Samsung soundbars. The QS750F sounded expansive, but not massively high. If you want serious, room-filling height, you might want something like the JBL Bar 1300XMK2.

In the first dogfighting scene, the planes whooshed around the side of the soundscape, while the radioed dialogue and soundtrack were clear in the foreground. When the planes spiralled, I could feel it around me. However, I couldn’t hear the planes that were supposed ot be above me, which means the soundbar struggles with height. I think some more sophisticated room calibration might mitigate this in the future.

Next, I watched “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”. The soundtrack in this movie was super expansive. Each violin motif sounded like it was coming from around me. The twinkling sound effects were particularly powerful.

It’s unlikely your kids would notice this, but the treble crackled when the spaceship took off in the opening scene. I didn’t notice any treble issues during the rest of the movie, though, or elsewhere in testing.

Lastly, I watched “Fight Club”. The sped-up sound effects squelched through the soundbar with fantastic width. Dialogue was clear and audible and the soundtrack sounded textured and controlled. Again — this was a perfect experience. No notes.

TV

To test TV performance, I watched “Heated Rivalry” on NOWTV, a British streaming service. I watched using “AI Adaptive Sound” in the SmartThings app, and upped the width and side channel volume to the max.

The soundbar heightened surround sound: in a locker room celebration scene, I could hear the spraying champagne and excited chatter in the background clearly, even over the exuberant soundtrack. There’s an aquarium scene later in the episode and the underwater-style diegetic sound effects married perfectly with the ethereal ambient OST.

Music

To test music playback, I listened to a number of songs on Qobuz. “Beatback” by Fcukers is an electronic track with a powerful bassline and groovy synth modulations in the verses and a breathy female vocal. The bass sounded particularly excellent, clear, rich, and propulsive, but the percussion sounded a touch underwater. Even so, the vocals were textured and sonorous.

Next, I played a psych-rock track, “Apocalypse Dreams” by Tame Impala. I switched off “Voice enhancement”, which massively improved the sound quality. It’s a shame there’s no dedicated music mode, but I recommend turning off both “Active Voice Amplifier Pro” and “Voice enhancement” to get the best from your music. The bass, again, was powerful and rich, but the treble was a touch pinchy.

Lastly, I played a guitar-led bluesy track: “Pigeon” by Faye Webster. This song has smooth guitars, nostalgic keys, and a soft female vocal. The vocals sounded particularly beautiful; super complex and warm. There’s some really nice stereo imaging after the first chorus that sounds immersive and all-consuming. The softer percussion didn’t pinch — the guitars were smooth throughout. This song sounded the best out of all the tracks I listened to, likely due to the sparser, warmer, smoother soundscape.

Samsung QS90H review: Verdict

The Samsung QS90H is the best all-in-one soundbar I’ve tested, and I’d go so far as to say it’s the best all-in-one on the market right now. I knocked off half a star for the sound height issues, but this isn’t to say the soundbar is lackluster, because that’s completely untrue. This is a powerful, controlled, and adept soundbar with a monumental soundstage.

If you want the “best” home cinema experience possible, you should probably look to spend a little more on something like the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 or the Samsung Q990H. However, if you’re short on space or don’t want to spend more than $1,000, then you will not be disappointed by the QS90H.

I loved testing the Samsung QS90H and would have zero reservations about buying this soundbar for myself. If you want a multi-channel experience without needing rears and a sub, there’s very little else I’d recommend.

The Denon Home 600 has all the makings of one of the best smart speakers. Sound is the most important thing, right? You’ll be pleased to know that the Home 600 sounds fantastic. There’s enviable balance across the entire frequency range, rich bass, and energetic mids.

So why only a 3.5-star rating? Why not 5? Two reasons: one, the price. $799 is a lot to spend on a home speaker that doesn’t even have its own built-in smart assistant. Two, the companion app: HEOS works, but it has major issues. While not as speaker-breaking as Sonos’ headline-making app problems last year, HEOS just feels like it was designed to be frustrating. And when you’re spending $800 on a speaker, there’s simply no room for these rookie errors.

But if you want a seriously good home speaker that will have your guests going “Ooh” and “Aah”, then you’ll definitely want to learn more. To find out, keep reading this Denon Home 600 review.

Denon Home 600 review: Specs

Denon Home 600 review: Price & availability

There’s no way around it: the Denon Home 600 is very, very, very expensive. It’s a whopping $799 from Amazon U.S. and £599 from Amazon U.K. This is considerably pricier than any competition — the Bose Lifestyle Ultra ($299, although more comparable to Denon’s $399 Home 200 in size), the Apple HomePod 2 ($299), Google Audio Home Speaker ($119), and even its smaller sibling, the Denon Home 400 ($599). Even Sonos’s Era 300 is $499 — yes, $300 cheaper than the Denon Home 600.

There’s not really anything in the Home 600’s ballpark. It’s bigger, heavier, and more expensive than any other home speaker I’ve come across. This is a speaker. No, this is a Speaker. Capital letters required here.

Denon Home 600 review: Design

Just like the Denon Home 400, the Home 600 is beautiful. It’s huge, at almost 18 inches wide and 9 inches deep. Obviously, I don’t know the layout of your home, but this speaker didn’t fit anywhere in my apartment. The Home 400 looks beautiful on my mantlepiece, but the 600 was too deep to fit here. I had to put it on the coffee table. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend it for small homes.

If you’ve got the space, though, it’ll look gorgeous in your place. The speaker comes in charcoal or stone — obviously, I tested stone. The mesh cover is pleasing to the eye, and the buttons are tactile and accessible. I especially like the brushed metal casing and the tactile plastic on the front speaker; features like this just make it feel more elevated and elegant than Bose, Sonos, and Apple’s equivalents.

Another thing that makes the Home 600 feel elevated? The 5.1 speaker configuration. Yes, the Home 600 has five speakers and a built-in subwoofer, all with individual pre-amps. In real terms, this means the speakers aren’t fighting for power, and the speaker itself has an impressive 170W of audio power.

Connectivity

Apart from the gargantuan size, what sets the Denon Home 600 apart from other smart speakers is the range of connectivity options. Rather than just being a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speaker — which it can do — it also has hi-res USB-C playback and a 3.5mm input.

As this is a home speaker, I listened via the HEOS app and Spotify Connect.

Smart home features

As with the Denon Home 400, the Home 600 isn’t actually a “smart speaker” in the traditional sense… in that it can’t actually function as a smart speaker. If you have a HomePod, you can add the Denon Home collection to your Apple Home, but the speakers don’t have a native smart assistant. Consequently, you cannot use them as you might expect — no “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes” or “Hey Google, put a note in my calendar”. The speakers simply do not function like this.

As I don’t have a HomePod, the Denon Home 600 was effectively just a home speaker with AirPlay and Bluetooth (and USB-C playback). Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great speaker, but this is a pretty major con if you’re looking specifically for a smart speaker. You’d be better off with the Google Nest, Bose, a Sonos, or Apple HomePod 2.

Denon Home 600 review: Sound quality

As with the Denon Home 400, the 600 sounds great. It has a range of connectivity options, as discussed above, which will impress audiophiles more than, say, the Bose Lifestyle Speaker. Due to its positioning as a smart/wireless speaker, I tested via Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles, built into HEOS.

Before listening, the HEOS app will prompt you to calibrate your sound based on the room. You don’t have to do anything other than tell the app how close the speaker is to a wall.

First, I played Call Me by Blondie. The ravenous guitars were powerful and rich through the Home 600, and the vocals were clear and expansive. Every layer of the track was nicely balanced, and I could even hear the synths skating across the guitars. Blondie sounded great here.

Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day is a little heavier, with louder guitars, more overwhelming bass, and more raucous percussion. The Home 600 did struggle a little separating the vocals here — Billy Joe Armstrong’s own guitar drowned him out, so I had to turn down the bass. This helped poor Billy Joe to be heard over the instrumental, but the vocals were still a little quiet.

I listened to a few more rock songs from a similar era — Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and Muse — and it was just the Green Day track that suffered from suppressed vocals.

Last, I played Tambourine by The Dare, an electronic track with wobbly synth notes and processed vocals. This song sounded fantastic, with powerful, punchy bass and trickling synth notes clear in the top end of the track. It was super wide, clean, and overall just a fantastic performance.

The Denon Home 600 sounds fantastic. It has a wide, high soundscape with delicate handling of soft, high-frequency sounds. The low-end is controlled, but can be insistent and powerful with the bass upped to max. Although I wish the treble was a little less sharp in some genres — rock particularly — this didn’t upset me that much.

Oh, and when I grouped the Home 400 and 600? Magic. I just wish the speaker wasn’t held back by HEOS usability issues… which I’ll get into now.

Denon Home 600 review: App

If you’re familiar with Denon/Marantz products, you’ll likely also be familiar with HEOS. I’m in a love/hate relationship with HEOS. On the one hand, its new design is visually appealing.

On the other hand, it can be just ever-so-slightly frustrating. As I now have the Denon Home 400 and Denon Home 600, I can group my speakers to play the same music or ungroup them to play different songs. Well, kind of. You can group the speakers easily, but if you want to switch the master speaker, you can’t. You have to manually play the same playlist from the secondary speaker and manually turn off the master speaker, and then regroup. Yep, annoying.

However, if you want to stream through both speakers via Spotify, you have to do this from Spotify itself rather than HEOS. Confused? Yeah, me too. Here’s a screenshot so you can see what I mean.

HEOS is a quirky app. For example, you need to go into the ‘Rooms’ tab and activate your desired speaker before searching for music; otherwise, it will play using the last active speaker. You can’t click on the name at the bottom and select from your connected speakers. Again — confused? Me, too.

You also can’t use the built-in streaming services as normal in HEOS. For example, you can’t click on an artist name to view the artist page. You can either choose from Qobuz’s playlists or search for your own. If you want to peruse your own playlists, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the Qobuz widget. On top of this, after a song finishes, HEOS doesn’t play the rest of the playlist. It autoplays from previously played tracks. You have to click ‘Play all’ or ‘Shuffle’. It’s just little things like this that make HEOS a touch non-user-friendly.

So while HEOS is quirky, it just depends on whether you have the will and patience to learn. At $800, though, a companion app shouldn’t be quirky. It should just work. But this unfortunately seems par for the course. Remember the Sonos app drama last year? What is it with audio brands releasing fantastic speakers with unfortunate app issues?

Denon Home 600 review: Verdict

The Denon Home 600 is an incredible speaker. Sorry, Speaker (if you remember the lame joke I made at the start of this review). It sounds gorgeous, with lively bass and subtle detail in the high-end. With two Denon Homes, the grouped room playback is awesome.

However, this speaker has a 3.5-star rating for a reason, and that reason is HEOS-shaped. I want to give this speaker 4 stars, because its sound and design deserve it. But HEOS is a relentless beast intent on making me want to pull my hair out. There are quality-of-life issues that require fixing before I can wholeheartedly recommend the Denon Home 600. The Home 400 was cheaper, so these issues were easier to overlook. But $800? Nah. It’s gotta be perfect if you’re asking for almost a grand.

If you can look past app issues, then you won’t be disappointed by the Home 600. It sounds beautiful, looks beautiful, and comes so close. Just ignore HEOS, play direct from your streaming app, and it could be a 4.5-star product.

The Edifier MR5 are some of the best budget-friendly studio monitors I’ve ever tested, and certainly some of the best speakers you can buy these days. Although they’re not quite as precise as pricier alternatives — think the Cambridge L/R S ($459) or Dali Kupid ($600), they’re excellent for well under $400.

With a veritable feast of connectivity types — we’re talking Aux, RCA, TRS, XLR, and Bluetooth — and a litany of customization options in the Edifier ConneX app, these monitors will be great for any content creator, music producer, or even casual listener. Heavier music fans might be better with the much cheaper Edifier R1280T or the Edifier S880DB MKII, but acoustic, pop, and electronic fans need look no further.

So, are the Edifier MR5 worth their salt, or can you find better seasoning elsewhere? Short answer: worth it. But to find out the full story, keep reading this Edifier MR5 review.

Edifier MR5 review: Specs

Edifier MR5 review: Price & availability

The Edifier MR5 are $349 from Amazon U.S. and £279 from Amazon U.K. This makes them considerably more expensive than the Edifier R1280T ($149), my personal turntable speakers, and the Edifier M60 ($199). If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend getting one of those speakers instead — they’re cheaper, but still sound awesome. That’s not to say the MR5 aren’t worth it — they are — but every penny helps, right?

I’ve also tested the mid-range Cambridge L/R S ($549) and the premium-on-a-budget Edifier S880DB MKII ($449), both of which are your more punchy, louder speakers rather than the accurate studio-monitor-sound-profile of the MR5.

Edifier MR5 review: Design

The Edifier MR5 look like your standard Edifier speakers. They’re quite large, at 10 inches high, 6 inches wide, and 11 inches deep. I wouldn’t recommend them for small setups or for people who value a pretty speaker.

They don’t look as striking as the Edifier S880DB MKII, so I’d recommend those if you want an eye-catching speaker. Alternatively, I’d recommend the DALI Kupid ($600) (but you need an AVR), or the Kanto UKI ($269).

Controls

The MR5 have just one on-speaker control. You’ve got the volume dial on the front of the speaker and a headphone output. Of course, you can also control the speakers via Edifier’s ConneX app, which I’ll discuss in more detail below.

You’ve got a treble and bass (lovingly named “high” and “low”) on the back of the speaker, but I’d like to see these knobs on the front in future. It’s quite annoying to turn the speakers around just to increase bass.

Connectivity

If you need studio monitors that can do it all, the MR5 might just be it. On top of the standard RCA and aux connectivity ports, the MR5 also have Bluetooth, RCA, and even XLR. This is ideal for studio musicians or home producers who need the highest possible quality. If you’re using broadcast mics, then you’ll need an XLR connection for the best quality. Unfortunately, the MR5 don’t have USB-C listening.

I found connecting to Bluetooth and Aux easy. There’s really nothing else for me to say! These speakers work as advertised.

The array of connectivity types might be a little too much for casual home listeners — in that case, I’d recommend the aforementioned R1280T.

Edifier MR5 review: App

As with other Edifier products like the M60 and the S880DB MKII, the MR5 are compatible with the ConneX app. You have to connect via Bluetooth to be able to control the speakers, but the speakers should remember your settings for analog listening sessions. When I first unboxed the speakers, I had to update the firmware. This took 10 minutes, so bear in mind if you wanted to get listening straight away.

In terms of the app functions, there are actually some unique features. You can customize a 9-band EQ, choose between ‘Music’ or ‘Monitor’ EQs, and calibrate the room with the “Acoustic Space” configuration (decrease decibel level to compensate for wall placement). You can also configure desktop placement and cut-off frequencies from 20Hz to 100Hz. I didn’t notice a huge difference when I activated “Desktop control”, but “Acoustic Space” did make a difference to the bass. I kept it on 0dB.

As you can see, these functions are less gimmicky than those on the S880DB MKII, so I would actually recommend downloading this app and having a play around.

Edifier MR5 review: Sound quality

To test sound quality, I listened to a variety of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles. I listened via Aux and Bluetooth. Of course, Aux provided the most “accurate” sound, but Bluetooth sounded good, too.

I played “Atomic” by Blondie via Bluetooth. The soundscape was incredibly wide. The opening guitars and synths sounded expansive and detailed, and the flitting keyboard notes darted around the guitar melody with verve. Debbie Harry’s voice sounded fantastic; clear, detailed, and sonorous. There was no pinching at the top of the treble or in the cymbals.

After, I played “The Nightlife” by Honey Dijon. This house track is built over a swallowed synth motif, which rolls across the soundscape in what sounds like a full circle. The stereo imaging on these speakers is fantastic. I could feel the synth moving from left to right, up, down, and back again without moving my head. The treble did sound a little too bright so I reduced the “high” knob, which helped.

Lastly, I played “Citizen Erased” by Muse. This episodic rock track has a duplicate guitar + bass riff, so is great for testing heavy instrument separation. The percussion sounded great, with a bright snare drum and twinkling cymbals. The sludgy guitars weren’t as separated as I’d like, but the synth alarm sounds flickered across the soundscape like fireflies. I’d get these speakers if you

Although everything sounded good, and I’d gladly use these speakers as my main speakers at home. I’d recommend these speakers more for electronic, pop, or acoustic fans than for messy guitar music.

Edifier MR5 review: Verdict

Although somewhat ugly, the Edifier MR5 are great midrange speakers with good spaciousness and clarity. On top of having fantastic sound, they also boast a veritable feast of connectivity options — XLR, RCA, TRS, Aux, and Bluetooth. Hello? Did someone say spoiled? We’re eating tonight, guys.

There’s also basic room calibration in the form of “Acoustic Space” and “Desktop Control”. Obviously, if you want true room calibration, you’ll want to check out the Dirac-powered Klipsch The Sevens II ($2,000), but this is great for $300.

Would I buy these speakers? If I had a large desk space, 100%. The sound is rich and clear, and although some heavier tracks weren’t as detailed as I’d like, for electronic, pop, and acoustic, these studio monitors are fantastic. The MR5 are another home run from Edifier. When will it end?

Summer is here — and with it comes plenty of beach days and pool parties! If you need a bluetooth speaker that can keep up with all the fun vibes, you've come to the right place.

I've been scouring Amazon for affordable speakers and to my surprise, I found a bunch that are under $100. Even better? They come from top brands like Bose, JBL and Anker. Plus, several hold top spots on Tom's Guide's list of best waterproof bluetooth speakers we've tested.

If you're ready to upgrade your bluetooth speaker without depleting your wallet, keep scrolling to check out my favorite Amazon speaker deals starting at just $22.

Quick Links

• shop all speaker deals on Amazon
• Tribit PocketGo: was $29 now $22
• Anker Soundcore 2: was $45 now $33
• JBL Go 5: was $54 now $44
• Ultimate Ears WonderBoom 4: was $99 now $51
• Bose SoundLink Micro: was $129 now $79
• JBL Flip 6: was $129 now $83
• Soundcore Boom 2: was $129 now $90
• Bose SoundLink Flex (Gen 2): was $149 now $99

Best Bluetooth Speaker Deals

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I've tested $3,000 soundbars. I've tested $67 soundbars. And I've tested pretty much every level in between. At some point, the price-vs-performance ratio must plateau, right? Yes, kind of. Once you're looking at more than around $2,000, I'd forget a soundbar and get either floor-standers, built-ins, or buy each piece individually. You'd probably get a better overall sound.

But if you want an all-in-one, JBL's finally got the answer for you: the JBL Bar 1300XMK2. I tested the original last year and loved it, so I was incredibly relieved when the upgraded version blew me away, too.

The Bar 1300XMK2 has a ton of features that make it one of the best all-in-one soundbars, but the painless calibration, fantastic width and height, and ease of use make it unbeatable. Here's why the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 is now my favorite soundbar for a true movie theater experience.

Home movie theater in 3, 2, 1...

The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 has 23 drivers. Yep. 23 drivers. There are 19 drivers in the soundbar itself, one in each rear, and two 8-inch woofers in the sub. This is an incredible amount of speaker power. You're looking at an 11.1.4 channel configuration. In real terms, this means you've got upfiring sound, side-firing sound, and front-firing sound. And in real, real terms, this means you get truly immersive Dolby Atmos, powerful bass, and crystal-clear dialogue.

In my 4.5-star review, I wrote, "Every flying scene [in "Top Gun: Maverick"] was particularly outstanding." When Maverick flies in hypersonic, the bass "rumbled through the subwoofer with immense energy and depth." But it wasn't just the low-end: "Each siren blare and alarm was clear over the pounding bass. Equally, the Bar 1300XMK2 balanced high-frequency diegetic sounds like rustling papers and ticking clocks with similarly diegetic dialogue perfectly."

In short, this is a soundbar to end all soundbars. If I could take one soundbar home forever, it'd be the Bar 1300XMK2.

Power-per-penny math

Alright, let's do some soundbar math. Just a forewarning: this is just for fun. This is not supposed to be the pinnacle of what makes a good soundbar. Obviously, your personal experience and personal watching/listening style means more than power-per-price. My intention here is to shine a light on just how powerful the JBL is.

The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 has a max output of 1570 watts. If we take the MSRP of $1,699 and divide it by the 1570W power, this works out to $1.08 per watt.

Another of my favorites, the Samsung QS750F, costs $899 with 345W, which works out to $2.60 per watt.

One of the most high-end soundbars I've tested is the Yamaha True X Surround 90A, which will set you back $3,499 for 630W of power. This works out to $55.53 per watt.

In essence, the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is a darn powerful soundbar, subwoofer, and rears combo. When I was testing the soundbar, the walls and floorboards were shaking. One of my colleagues came upstairs and asked me what I was doing!

Would you try the JBL Bar 1300XMK2, or would you rather something smaller (and cheaper)? If I had $1,200 to spend on a home theater setup, it would 100% be the 1300XMK2.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple's iOS 27 beta 3 update finally introduces a brilliantly clever and streamlined control interface for AirPods Adaptive mode, empowering users to instantly fine-tune ambient noise blending intensity with just a simple tap
• The Marshall Acton IV won me over with its charming retro design and incredible sound — and it’s earned a permanent spot on my coffee table
• ‘Easy on the eyes and ridiculously stunning sound’ — I tested the Marshall Stanmore IV home speaker and it’s coming for Sonos’ crown

I test a lot of audio gear, including speakers. Not just Bluetooth speakers, of course: smart speakers, home speakers, you name it. Sometimes, when I test a speaker and notice that it costs the same as another speaker, my mind can't help but pit them against one another. I'm a tech reviewer, after all, that's my job! But what happens when one's a Bluetooth speaker and the other is a mains-powered home speaker?

That's what happened this week when I reviewed the beautiful Marshall Stanmore IV. It's a mains-powered speaker and the latest addition to the fourth iteration of Homeline, Marshall's series of indoors home speakers. I awarded it 4.5-stars and the coveted Editor's Choice Award in my review. And you know what else received the same score?

The JBL Xtreme 5. Though I didn't review it — my colleague Erin did — I've listened to it and I agree with everything she said in her review. The Xtreme 5 costs the same as the Stanmore IV: $399 in the U.S. Of course, the Xtreme 5 is a rugged speaker that can be used outdoors, which is quite the opposite of the Stanmore IV. So, if you had to choose one, which is right for you? I know which is right for me, so let's get into it.

Outdoors or at-home listening?

The biggest question to ask yourself when deciding between the JBL Xtreme 5 and the Marshall Stanmore IV is this: "Am I taking it outdoors, or leaving it at home?" If the answer is outdoors, then the Xtreme 5 is the natural choice.

This speaker is extremely rugged, capable of surviving drops and falls. It's IP68-rated, making it waterproof and the most durable speaker on the market right now.

In terms of portability, the Xtreme 5 weighs 6.4lbs and features a carry strap, so you can lug it around on your shoulder. And just because it's designed for the outdoors doesn't mean you can't use it indoors either. Bluetooth 6.0 wireless and lossless USB-C wired playback make it the speaker that can do everything, really.

But I wouldn't be so quick to write off the Stanmore IV either. Sure, you can't really use it away from a plug but if it's pure power and rock 'n' roll sound you're after, this is the speaker to get. The main advantage of a mains-powered speaker is that it delivers consistently high volume, as the mains power drives the internal amplifiers at full capacity, delivering a great dynamic range. Battery-powered Bluetooth speakers, on the other hand, often try to conserve energy so they can't always play at consistently high volumes.

The Xtreme 5 can get loud, but the Stanmore IV can get very loud. I've soundtracked dinners on my balcony with the Stanmore IV. Even when it's been playing indoors, it's been loud enough to hear outside. Dynamic Loudness, which is Marshall-speak for fine-tuned frequencies that sound the same regardless of the volume, plays a key role here too, as you can listen at the highest volume without any noticeable distortion. Marshall's 'Made of Loud' motto makes a lot of sense now.

There is another...

To quote the great philosopher Yoda, "There is another." The Marshall Stanmore IV isn't the only new kid on the block, or addition to the Marshall Homeline IV, if you will. There's also the Marshall Acton IV, which is basically a smaller (and cheaper) version of the Stanmore IV. It looks near-identical and its internal hardware is almost the same too — except that it has a smaller, 4-inch woofer compared to the Stanmore IV's 5-inch woofer.

In a similar vein, the JBL Xtreme 5 isn't the only speaker that dropped in March 2026. I reviewed the JBL Go 5 when it came out and I absolutely loved it. It quickly became my go-to for taking outdoors, as I loved its pocketable form factor.

Just like the Xtreme 5, the Go 5 is also IP68-rated and drop-proof. If the Xtreme 5 is out of your budget, the Go 5 is a fantastic sub-$60 speaker. And this is a nice segue into why we're all here: the speaker I'd choose...

We have a winner

This is a personal take, but I'm not a fan of carrying around big speakers when I go on a picnic with my partner or friends. Thing is, I'm never going to be blasting my tunes outdoors — I don't like disturbing the local wildlife. All I want is a portable speaker that's loud enough to soundtrack a small gathering without disturbing anyone else.

The JBL Go 5 does just that — and truth be told, many other small speakers do, too, like the Tribit StormBox Mini+ (which, since reviewing, I still use today). If push came to shove and you asked me to choose between the JBL Xtreme 5 and the Marshall Stanmore IV, I'm going with the Stanmore IV. I love having a speaker that's plugged in all the time, and playing tunes on it when my partner and I are cooking, or she's making art and I'm playing a video game.

If I had to spend $399 on one speaker, the Stanmore IV would be an easy decision for me. It's got the retro looks, the loud and ridiculously stunning sound, and connectivity in spades, and it feels like the perfect home speaker. The Xtreme 5 is no doubt awesome in its own right, but it's just not for me. My ideal combination is a powerful home speaker and a tiny pocketable speaker — so I'm sticking with the Stanmore IV and the Go 5 for as long as I can.

More from Tom's Guide

• The JBL Go 5 is one of the best budget speakers I’ve tested, and it offers stellar sound for just $54
• ‘Easy on the eyes and ridiculously stunning sound’ — I tested the Marshall Stanmore IV home speaker and it’s coming for Sonos’ crown
• JBL Xtreme 5 review: The most rugged, bassiest, and gnarliest Xtreme yet

We're now into July, which means we've done six full months of testing here at Tom's Guide in 2026. From coffee machines, through to vacuums, gaming handhelds, laptops and phones — not only is it our job to put tech through its paces, it's what our journalists, editors and contributors love to do.

I'm Pete, Senior Reviews Editor here at Tom's Guide, and I head up our reviews coverage on site. My team of dedicated reviews writers alone have lab tested and reviewed hundreds of products already this year, with the wider Tom's Guide editorial team having testing dozens more. If you've not had your finger precisely on the pulse of the latest tech this year, well, I don't blame you — it's hard to keep tabs on everything. That's why we exist.

To help, I've gathered the Tom's Guide team's favorite products from 2026 so far. Obviously, I can't fit everything into a single article, so I asked our subject experts across the site to give me their top picks, too. I've also curated the top five highest scorers, which stand above the rest. Every product on here has been tested by us, hands-on, as part of a full, extensive review.

Read on to see the tech Tom's Guide loved in the first half of 2026.

Tom's Guide's Top 5

Every product on this list has scored at least four stars, earning our TG Recommended or Editor's Choice badges. But there are five products on this list that scored our full five stars after testing. These are the best of the best so far this year. To save you some time, here are the links to our reviews.

• DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review ★★★★★
• 007 First Light review ★★★★★
• KitchenAid Artisan Plus review ★★★★★
• Gozney Dome XL Gen 2 review ★★★★★
• Samsung S95H OLED review ★★★★★

Keep reading to see the rest of our top tested picks for 2026.

AI

Rokid Glasses

After 5,000 miles in the Rokids, we were seriously impressed
Score: ★★★★☆

The best smart glasses without a display are cool and all, but their features are usually rather limited to just asking questions about what you see. The Rokid Glasses proved to me that adding a screen turns that superpower into an ambient computing platform — offering features only when you need them and disappearing into the background in some stylish specs.

With that display, you get real-time conversation translation with text subtitles so you’re not having to try to listen to your smart glasses talk over the person in front of you. And the multi-modality unlocked by asking a question and just getting answers you can see makes them much more subtle. Not to say they’re perfect — the camera quality for snapping pictures suffers in low light and some features are very China-specific (like Alipay). But arm these with Google Gemini in setup, and they’re a genuinely helpful companion on your face for a decent price.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Rokid Glasses review

Cameras & drones

GoPro Mission 1 Pro

GoPro's return to form in the action camera game
Score: ★★★★½

After years essentially re-releasing the same Hero cameras with minor tweaks, GoPro has finally pushed itself. The Mission 1 Pro is pricey, but it’s the first GoPro I’ve been excited about in a while. It seriously impressed me with its powerful and versatile video credentials in testing, namely open gate 8K and a wealth of shooting features that make it ideal for its target market: professionals. Thanks to revised processor architecture and a shiny new battery, I managed to extract unparalleled battery life and thermals versus other action cameras in my standardized battery tests. GoPro is back!

Pete Wolinski, Senior Reviews & Cameras Editor
Read Pete’s full GoPro Mission 1 Pro review

DJI Osmo Pocket 4

The best all-around tool for content creation
Score: ★★★★★

I awarded the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 our full five stars in my review, and that’s because I literally couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Aside from the fact that it’s not available in America (yet?) due to tariffs and DJI’s ongoing feud with the U.S. government. The Osmo Pocket 4 improved on its predecessor in every single way that mattered: video, stabilization, storage, thermals, battery life, and more. If you’re after a single tool for professional-looking content creation, I really can’t think of anything better to recommend.

Pete Wolinski, Senior Reviews & Cameras Editor
Read Pete’s full DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review

DJI Avata 360

Although a little late to the 360 party, DJI absolutely smashed it
Score: ★★★★½

The DJI Avata 360 does exactly what you want a drone to do: make flying fun. It stakes its claim as the best 360° drone around (granted, there are only two at the time of writing, but still!) and its twin lenses capture every single angle in 8K at 60fps. 120MP hi-res stills, user-friendly editing software, and exceptional build quality make it the drone to buy today. It also undercuts its main competitor, the Antigravity A1, and with dual ways to fly (FPV and with a standard controller), the Avata 360 is versatile and oh-so-powerful. Every day I still think about it — and as someone who’s tested many, many quadcopters, that’s saying a lot.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full DJI Avata 360 review

Computing & gaming

MacBook Neo

Our favorite budget laptop, literally ever
Score: ★★★★½

Value for money in laptops has become a bit of a running joke this year (thanks, RAMageddon). But of all the companies building notebooks, I didn’t anticipate it would be Apple to deliver the goods and give you an honest-to-god well-priced system. Yes, there’s been a $100 increase recently, but even with that, the premium aluminum build quality, great display, tactile keyboard and zippy performance of that A18 Pro makes for a great system for the day-to-day essentials.

I must admit, to see Apple actually having fun with colors in its MacBooks is a refreshing change from the blacks and silvers of its more expensive lineage. All of this comes together into a laptop that has terrified the budget Windows laptop market, and the best ultra portable we’ve tested this year.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read our full MacBook Neo review

Asus Zenbook Duo (2026)

Dual OLED panels = chef's kiss
Score: ★★★★½

Yes, this is a dual-screen OLED beauty of a premium laptop; Asus has really paid attention to the design and ergonomics of a system like this. But the real superpower is what lies inside that shell. Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (codenamed Panther Lake) has been a truly generational moment for Team Blue in its Windows laptops, and it comes down to huge updates to both the performance and power efficiency.

Those new CPU cores and efficiency architecture they’re built onto gives this a gargantuan battery life that would make a MacBook blush, while the superpowered GPU (alongside XeSS 3) gives this some serious gaming laptop chops too. Usually, you had to be considerate of just what you wanted to do with your Windows laptop and decide on the strengths and compromises around that. With anything that sports an X9 chip like this, though, that’s no longer a compromise you have to make.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) review

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

A true next-gen gaming handheld
Score: ★★★★☆

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers the performance jump I’ve been waiting years for. With Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme chip, games are pulling a 20 to 30+ FPS advantage over AMD Z2 Extreme handhelds. Battery life gets a big boost too. I could hit the same performance as the Z2 Extreme at half the power consumption. Combine that with its major redesign bringing more Xbox-like controls, better haptics, and its large 8-inch 16:10 display, and you’re getting, in my opinion, one of the best handheld gaming consoles of 2026.

Paul Antill, Video Producer
Read our full MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ review

007 First Light

Forget GoldenEye: this is the best Bond game ever
Score: ★★★★★

Gamers are being treated to a licensed games renaissance right now. The days of cheap cash-ins launched to coincide with a new blockbuster movie are over. But even in this golden era for video games based on popular media franchises, 007 First Light surpasses expectations.

Forget GoldenEye, First Light is the best James Bond game ever. With its ludicrously cinematic gameplay, compelling narrative that focuses on a younger Bond (played by Patrick Gibson), and deep commitment to authenticity, 007 First Light is easily the best thing to come out of this long-running spy series in 20 years, movies included. There’s a reason it was only the second video game I’ve given the full five stars. Whether you’re a longtime Bond fan or a newcomer, 007 First Light is quite simply unmissable.

Rory Mellon, Senior Entertainment Editor
Read Rory's full 007 First Light review

Epomaker Glyph

Nikita's dream keyboard
Score: ★★★★½

I’ve tested close to 100 keyboards in my time as a reviews writer, and it isn’t often that I get to proclaim, “I’ve found my dream keyboard.” Ever since I tested the Epomaker Glyph, it hasn’t left my desk, and it’s my daily driver when I’m at the office. Typewriter-like aesthetics, a return lever that acts as an Enter or Backspace key, beautiful RGB lighting, a creamy sound profile, and a typing experience that’s nothing short of stunning — all of these characteristics come together to deliver what’s probably the best mechanical keyboard I’ve used for typing. I’m a speed demon when I’m bashing out 109 words per minute of this thing.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full Epomaker Glyph review

(A note from Nikita's editor, Pete: "I can confirm, the Glyph genuinely hasn't left her desk!")

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

Pro performance for under $1,000
Score: ★★★★½

It’s no secret that MSI knows how to make a great gaming monitor, and its MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is one of the most beautiful displays I’ve ever tested. Blistering 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time for buttery smooth gameplay? Check. Ridiculously accurate colors and wide color coverage? Yep. AI sleep and wake features that are actually useful and not just a gimmick? Oh yeah. And all of this is packed into a sleek design with plenty of ports. Not much to complain about here, really.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 review

Viture Beast AR glasses

Beast by name, beast by nature
Score: ★★★★½

I’ve traveled the world testing all of this year’s biggest AR glasses releases, and Viture Beast stands head and shoulders above the pack as the best I’ve used this year (so far). There’s three reasons why: picture quality, comfort and features. Viture’s color science and fidelity really shines in those micro-OLED displays with a massive 58-degree field of view. There’s a little edge fringing on the sides, but given the massive vision field, it’s unlikely you’ll notice it. And this is packed into a nice-feeling pair of glasses with a soft-touch coating that sits gently on your ears with optimal weight balance. Cap it all off with plenty of customization built in, plus the SpaceWalker app for multi-monitor home office setups, and the Beast are…well…pretty beastly for work and play.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Viture Beast review

Fitness

Fitbit Air

The best Whoop alternative, and subscription-free
Score: ★★★★☆

The Fitbit Air is my fitness tracker of the year so far. Discreet and distraction-free (no screen), this is a fitness tracker that's easy to use, lightweight, and oh-so-comfortable. Just $99 and subscription-free for core features, it offers a week of battery life and covers all the holistic metrics you'd expect from a modern device, like heart health, sleep quality, daily movement, and workouts. For most people, this is the best screen-free fitness tracker you can buy, and the new Google Health companion app makes viewing all your health data a dream.

Jane McGuire, Managing Editor, Fitness
Read our full Fitbit Air review

Salomon XT-6

Hike, shop or relax in comfort and style
Score: ★★★★½

The Salomon XT-6 shoes have become a staple in my closet. Whether I’m heading to the store or hitting up a challenging trail on the weekend, I know I’ll be supported. I wore these hiking sneakers on a city break, where I clocked over 93,000 steps and didn’t have a single complaint. Not only that, the multidirectional lugs kept me stable on even the trickiest terrain, as I hiked in mud, over rocks, and through water.

On top of their technical ability, the XT-6s are a fashion statement, worn all over New York by fashion-forward celebs; these shoes have earned a coveted spot in my daily rotation — although you’ll find me cleaning the mud off them after each adventure.

Ashley Thieme, Staff Writer
Read Ashley’s full Salomon XT-6 review

Homes

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless

A powerful cordless Dyson that's perfect for pet owners
Score: ★★★★☆

I’ve tested my fair share of Dyson vacuum cleaners in my time, but I must say that the V16 combines all of my favorite features in one cleaner. First, its upgraded ‘Fluffy Cones’ head is designed to be used on both carpets and hard flooring without the need to swap over attachments. This is a great time-saver, and lets me quickly zip around my home without pausing. Perhaps my favorite feature is the dust-detecting green light which reveals those hidden dustballs lurking underneath furniture and in corners. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to store, which is why it’s now my go-to for daily maintenance, and why I awarded our Editor’s Choice badge.

Cynthia Lawrence, Homes Editor
Read Cynthia’s full Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review

KitchenAid Artisan Plus

The latest version of KitchenAid's legendary mixer, and the best one yet
Score: ★★★★★

I got to test KitchenAid’s newest stand mixer, the Artisan Plus, and it’s even better than I imagined. I’d been happily using KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer as my go-to appliance for a good few years, and I really didn’t see how it could be improved, but it has. It may only seem like a few tweaks, but they have made a big difference. From the sliding speed control that just glides, to the in-bowl light, which illuminates the mix — and let's not forget the double-edge flex beater that cleans the bowl as it sweeps past— I loved it so much during testing that I gave it a 5-star rating.

Camilla Sharman, Staff Writer
Read Camilla’s full KitchenAid Artisan Plus review

Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2)

The undisputed king of pizza ovens
Score: ★★★★★

If you’re a dedicated — and I mean dedicated — at-home pizza maker, the Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) is the closest you’ll come to actually building a pizza oven from scratch. It can run on either gas, wood, or charcoal, has dual temperature probes, and is big enough to fit a 16-inch pie with room to spare. I loved its easy-to-ready displays, and the design of the oven is just gorgeous, too. Yes, it’s huge and it’s expensive (I’ve made equally good pizzas in much cheaper ovens), but this is the oven that’ll signal you’re the real pizzaiolo in your neighborhood.

Mike Prospero, U.S. Editor-in-chief
Read Mike’s full Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) review

Fellow Espresso Series 1

Beginners or pros, coffee snobs or otherwise — this one is for everyone
Score: ★★★★½

When Fellow designed the Espresso Series 1, it looked at the other espresso machines out there and thought, “I’m going to do something different.” And different the Espresso Series 1 is. When I tested this machine, I loved that it provided coffee-snob-approved features while still being usable for complete beginners. On top of having a litany of customization options on the machine itself, I loved having the app, which walked me through how to make every type of coffee ever invented. You may think this is too ambitious, but for me, the Espresso Series 1 hits all its marks and comes out victorious.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full Fellow Espresso Series 1 review

Phones

Apple iPhone 17

A surprisingly solid update over the previous generation
Score: ★★★★½

Apple launched more new phones than in any previous year, but the iPhone 17 remains my favorite for several reasons. One thing that makes it stand out is that it finally got a long-overdue upgrade to a 120Hz refresh rate, making its screen look even more fluid than before in testing. On top of that, I really love how it didn’t get a price hike and still managed to get double the starting storage.

John Velasco, Senior Phones Editor
Read John's full iPhone 17 review

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The phone that'll get better over time
Score: ★★★★½

When it comes to Android phones, nothing caught my eye more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung’s flagship received all the iterative updates it deserved, but one particular new feature stood out most: the Privacy Display. It works like magic, making the screen look dark when someone tries to peek at it from the side. You can even customize it to block out specific parts of the display — like when you’re messaging someone. This exclusive feature is what sets it apart from everything else.

John Velasco, Senior Phones Editor
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review

Sleep

Saatva Zenhaven Mattress

What you should be sleeping on in 2026
Score: ★★★★½

The Saatva Zenhaven latex mattress blew our socks off during testing, thanks to its naturally cooling and supportive sleep feel for eco-conscious shoppers. Handcrafted in the US from (mostly) organic materials, the Zenhaven boasts a flippable design with a different tension on each side: Luxury Plush and Gentle Firm. We appreciated how one side boasted more cushioning for side sleepers, while the unyielding feel of the firmer side best-suited back and stomach sleepers. At $3,549 at full MSRP it’s a splurge, but cheaper during Saatva mattress sales. However, it’s worth noting that latex mattresses can last up to 20 years, so we think it’s worth the investment.

Nicola Appleton, Sleep Editor
Read our full Saatva Zenhaven Mattress review

Fitnexa SomniPods 3

If you struggle sleeping, these earbuds are for you
Score: ★★★★☆

The Fitnexa SomniPods 3 are compact sleep earbuds that helped me sleep better in even the most disruptive environments (like my neighbor's son playing basketball at unsociable hours). Fitted with built-in white noise, excellent active noise cancelation, plus sleep tracking features, they’re an easy recommendation for any troubled sleepers. But the real stand-out feature for me is the Fitnexa app. Here, your own AI coach waits for you, ready to provide personalized advice based on your sleep tracking data, activity logs and food diaries. The info isn’t quite on par with a qualified sleep professional but thanks to the wealth of data to draw from, it was pretty spot on in testing, helping take the SomniPods from sleep earbud to all-round sleep enhancer.

Ruth Jones, Senior Sleep Writer
Read Ruth's full Fitnexa SomniPods 3 review

Smart home & security

Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+

A fantastic way to improve security on a budget
Score: ★★★★☆

Blink has long been one of our favorite budget smart home brands, and its newest battery-powered video doorbell furthers its reputation as a value leader. The Battery Doorbell 2K+ delivered very good 2K video in our testing — not the tops, but for a sub-$100 device it was more than acceptable. And, while it runs on AA batteries, they’ll last up to two years on a charge. You can also use this video doorbell without a subscription (you’ll need to purchase a separate adapter), but Blink’s subscription price is relatively affordable.

Mike Prospero, U.S. Editor-in-chief
Read our full Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ review

TV & Audio

Samsung S95H OLED

Supreme picture quality, even in bright rooms
Score: ★★★★★

I’ve tested countless TVs, but the Samsung S95H is the first unit in several years that truly surpassed all my expectations. It completely shatters the familiar rules of OLED, obliterating ambient glare and delivering an unprecedented, jaw-dropping brightness in the self-emissive category. Even the floating metal bezel (a design choice I fully assumed I'd hate) adds a striking, premium presence I grew to love. Between its breathtaking performance and how seamlessly it transitions into a decor piece via Samsung Art Store support, this is a flagship that stands as a definitive standard-bearer.

Kate Kozuch, Managing Editor
Read Kate's full Samsung S95H OLED review

AirPods Max 2

Everything is dialed up to 11
Score: ★★★★½

It’s impossible to be a tech lover and not have strong opinions about Apple’s new AirPods Max 2. Some people love them, some people hate them, but I’m firmly in the first camp. The AirPods Max 2 are headphones that know what they’re about, and they’re not apologizing for it. With gorgeous anodized aluminum ear cups and an all-metal headband, they’re not the lightest cans in the world, but the sound more than makes up for it.

Every detail is clear, mids are melodic and vivacious, and the bass is balanced, rich, and warm. Of course, you’ve also got industry-leading smart tech features like Live Translation and integrated Siri, but Apple users looking for the best headphones need look no further than Apple’s own.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full Apple AirPods Max 2 review

Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO

Open earbuds that make no sacrifices
Score: ★★★★½

The Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO have completely changed the way I think about open-earbuds (and I’ve tested a lot). Up until testing the ZEROs, I’d accepted that if I wanted ambient awareness, comfort and stability while working out, I’d need to sacrifice sound quality — but they prove that’s not the case. They provided me with the detailed listening experience I love from Beyerdynamic’s other headphones, without compromising bass performance, delivering perfectly balanced sound. I wear them when I’m working, running, or hiking in the rain (thanks to IP54 durability). They’re the only open earbuds I’ve tested with no compromises.

Ashley Thieme, Staff Writer
Read Ashley’s full Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO review

JBL Xtreme 5

The party speaker for summer 2026
Score: ★★★★½

The JBL Xtreme 5 came, it saw, and it conquered. JBL really understood the assignment with the surprise follow-up to 2024’s Xtreme 4. Everything about the Xtreme 5 oozes confidence: the deft, controlled bass that’ll have your floorboards shaking and your bones quaking; the literally unbeatable IP68 rating that protects it against rain, sand, and drops; the gorpcore, utilitarian design; and of course the rugged 24-hour battery life. This is the party speaker of 2026. I’ve tested hundreds of audio products and Bluetooth speakers, but the Xtreme 5 is a special one.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full JBL Xtreme 5 review

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The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 has a lot to live up to. Its predecessor completely blew me away with its movie-theater-accurate sound and unbeatable ease of use. So is the MK2 enough to be one of the best soundbars?

If you couldn’t tell from the 4.5-star rating, yes. Yes it is. This is the easiest (and, arguably, the most affordable) way to achieve cinematic Dolby Atmos at home. Dialogue is crystal-clear, even in bombastic action scenes, and high-frequency detail sounds aren’t swallowed by bass. The sound is just unbeatable at this price.

At $1,699, this isn’t a cheap product by any means. But if you know anything about home theater, you’ll know that this actually isn’t too expensive for an 11.1.4 channel configuration — with 25 individual drivers. Want to find out more? Keep reading this JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Specs

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Price & availability

The JBL Bar 13000XMK2 is $1,699 from Amazon U.S. In the U.K., you’re looking at an MSRP of £1,299, but it’s currently “Coming Soon” on JBL’s site. Strangely, though, you can grab it from Amazon U.K. for around £1,160.

Although this four-digit MSRP looks expensive, I promise you, it’s worth every penny and is actually cheaper than similarly spec’d soundbars. The power in this speaker is almost unparalleled. Of all the soundbars I’ve tested, only the $900 Samsung QS750F has a better performance-per-penny ratio.

I’ve also tested the KEF XIO and the Yamaha True X Surround 90A ($3,499), both incredible soundbars in their own right, but both will set you back considerably more than the JBL — without a sub and rears, too.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Design

In a word, the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is powerful. This soundbar was rattling my floorboards, vibrating my skeleton, shaking my walls. With a whopping 2470W of power, this is a killer sound system. Thankfully, the soundbar also knows where to put that power.

There are a whopping 23 drivers in this 11.1.4 channel setup. The subwoofer itself has two 8-inch drivers, on top of the 19 drivers in the soundbar itself. In real terms, this means the 1300XMK2 is a behemoth, with sound worthy of a movie theater.

In terms of looks, the 1300XMK2 is your average soundbar. It’s not particularly gorgeous or particularly revolting. The bar itself is 40 inches long, so I’d recommend using it only if you have a 65” TV and up, otherwise it might look strange.

The subwoofer is huge and a frankly massive 26 pounds, so, again, only get this if you have space.

Controls

You can control the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 via either the remote or your phone. The remote is long and lightweight, with pleasantly tactile buttons. It’s much bigger than Bose’s soundbar remote, but feels more plasticky than Samsung’s.

Unlike the KEF XIO, you can control the soundbar settings while watching TV. You can adjust subwoofer volume and surround volume directly from your phone. I found this responded instantly with zero stuttering.

The on-bar buttons are minimal: just volume up and down. I don’t miss the buttons on the bar — I only really ever use my phone and remote anyway.

Features

I’ll discuss the app features in detail just below, but the Bar 1300XMK2 has a huge range of features. There’s automatic room calibration, broadcast mode, EQ adjustment, night mode, PureVoice mode, and smart mode.

One feature is missing, though: 4K / 120Hz pass-through for gaming. The Bar 1300XMK2's pass-through HDMI port is limited to 60Hz, so if you wanted to run your console through the soundbar (if you’re short on HDMI ports), unfortunately, you won’t be able to play at a 120fps frame rate in 4K. Not great news for FPS or other fast-paced games.

In fairness, this feature isn't ubiquitous with soundbars, and it'll only be an issue if you have no HDMI 2.1 port free on your TV. But this was a complaint we had about the previous model, so it's disappointing to see no improvement here on the new one.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: App

I’ll go through all the main features one by one: room calibration is exactly as it sounds. The soundbar sends out sonic pulses to the rears, which helps position the sound waves for 360° audio. This was the first thing I did when I unboxed the soundbar and it made my movies sound super immersive.

As you can see, the JBL One app is well-designed and visually appealing, and I experienced no connectivity issues.

Next: broadcast mode. This enables you to keep the surround speakers connected to the soundbar even when you’re in different rooms. So, in theory, you could listen to a movie playing in the living room while you’re in the bathtub. Not sure why you’d want to, but you can.

You can also connect your phone to the surrounds and use them as individual speakers, and they have Auracast. In theory, you can link them up to JBL speakers like the Xtreme 5.

Of course, night mode and EQ adjustments are exactly what you might think — night mode reduces bass for fewer subwoofer-related sleep interruptions, and EQ allows you to completely customize the soundbar’s output.

Smart mode is interesting — it’s effectively a “standard” “Music” and “Movie” mode you can toggle to come on automatically or manually. Smart mode adjusts the sound mode based on the input. For example, if it detects a DVD player, it will activate movie mode, and if you play via a music streaming service, it will activate music.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-Ray, TV shows on Netflix, and music on Qobuz via AirPlay.

Movies

As always, I watched “Top Gun: Maverick”. The opening scene was bassy and powerful; the male vocals in “Danger Zone” led the soundscape, with the delicate metallic clinking and whooshing ropes present in the high-end.

Every flying scene was particularly outstanding. The first scene, with Maverick flying in hypersonic, rumbled through the subwoofer with immense energy and depth. Each siren blare and alarm was clear over the pounding bass. Equally, the Bar 1300XMK2 balanced high-frequency diegetic sounds like rustling papers and ticking clocks with similarly-diegetic dialogue perfectly.

Dolby Atmos performance was also phenomenal. In the first dogfighting scene, the planes raced overhead as if I were truly outside. The soundtrack was bombastic without overpowering the screeching jet engine sounds, and the radio dialogue was surprisingly clear. I wanted a touch more width in the rears, even when I increased the surrounds’ volume to max — but this is me being pedantic. The overall performance was astounding.

Next, I watched “The Wild Robot”, which has exemplary Dolby Atmos performance. During the swimming scenes, I could hear the main character goose splashing in the water as if the water was all around me.

After, I watched “No Time To Die”. The opening scene with the wind whistling over the snowy lake was fantastic; the crunching snow underfoot was delicately balanced over the tense, string-heavy OST. The shattering lake sounded piercing and, of course, the famous car chase scene sounded powerful and dramatic. I actually physically jumped when the grenade exploded. The subwoofer was putting in overtime; every bullet, engine rev, and collision made the entire room shake.

TV

To test the JBL Bar 1300XMK2, I watched several TV shows on Netflix, NOWTV (a U.K. streaming platform), and Disney+. NOWTV has full Dolby Atmos, so really brought the best out of the Bar 1300XMK2.

When I watched “Heated Rivalry”, the skating sound effects were clear over the synth-heavy electronic soundtrack. Softer diegetic sounds like clothes ruffling and clinking of cutlery in restaurant scenes were audible and separated from dialogue and soundtrack. This is one of the best surround-sound soundbars I’ve ever tested. dialogue felt like it was coming from around me, and scene texture effects were balanced and natural. No notes — this was a perfect experience.

I also watched “Euphoria”. The dialogue, soundtrack, and bullet sound effects were all clear. I never needed to rewind for missed dialogue even in loud scenes, nightclub scenes, or action scenes.

Music

This is kind of cheating, because it’s the theme song of “No Time To Die” (one of the movies I used to test the 1300XMK2), but it sounded utterly marvelous through this soundbar. Billie Eilish’s voice was melodic, textured, and I could hear her every breath, every layer of her vocal cords. The bass and percussion in the second verse were balanced and emotive.

On Qobuz, I played “Hexagons” by Muse, a track built over arpeggiated guitar notes and rolling synths. The vocals were clear and emotive, just like the previous track, and the percussion was clear. The bass wasn’t as well-rounded as you’d expect from some of the best speakers, but, of course, this is a soundbar.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Verdict

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about the JBL Bar 1300XMK2. Sure, the 4K pass-through is limited to 60Hz, but if you’re not a gamer, this might not be an issue. For me, and most other movie lovers, you’ll be oh so pleased with the Bar 13000XMK2.

I loved the previous version, and one of its two flaws has been fixed: audio doesn’t stutter after long pauses. While the second “flaw”, its lack of 4K pass-through at 120Hz, remains, I’m not overly concerned with this for movie lovers. Gamers might need to check out something like the Samsung Q990H ($1,1997).

If you value movie-theater-accurate sound, a wide soundstage, immersive Dolby Atmos, and great smart features (AirPlay, calibration), then the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is the one for you. This is one of the easiest ways to get a full home theater experience at home.

Marshall’s done it once again. The Marshall Acton IV is the latest addition to the fourth iteration of Homeline, the brand’s lineup of home speakers. Now featuring RCA ports for connecting turntables as well as Auracast for pairing it with other Homeline speakers, the Acton IV is one of the best smart speakers around. Energetic but controlled bass combined with refined mids and clean treble results in a truly enjoyable listening experience.

The Acton IV sports Marshall’s retro and classy aesthetics and is a sight to behold. Amp-like controls, a user-friendly companion app, and room-filling sound make it a winner. But there’s still no voice assistant support and no Wi-Fi streaming — both of which are offered by the likes of Sonos and Denon.

Should you still buy it? Read my full Marshall Acton IV review to find out.

Marshall Acton IV review: Specs

Marshall Acton IV review: Price & availability

Launched in July 2026, the Marshall Acton IV succeeds the four-year-old Acton III. It joins the Marshall Stanmore IV ($399) to form the fourth iteration of the British brand’s Homeline series — its lineup of mains-powered home speakers. The Acton IV has a retail price of $299 / £259, the same as the Acton III at launch.

The Acton IV’s sub-$300 price puts it firmly in the mid-range category — and it’s a great Sonos alternative. It’s a lot cheaper than both the Sonos Era 300 ($449) and the Denon Home 350 ($749) but you also sacrifice voice assistant and Wi-Fi support by saving on the Acton IV. The Acton IV is a little pricier compared to the Audio Pro Addon C5 MKII ($219) and the Klipsch The One Plus ($274) but in my opinion, Marshall’s offering is worth the extra dough for its looks alone.

Marshall Acton IV review: Design

It’s hard to argue against the Marshall Acton IV’s styling. Similar to other Marshall speakers, the Acton IV sports a retro, stylish design that’s sure to draw eyeballs to it — in the best way possible. The speaker is available in Black or Cream primary colors, each with brass and gray accents.The gray mesh grille that covers the front, along with the brass Marshall logo, adds a vintage feel to the Acton IV.

Similar to many of Marshall’s other speakers, the Acton IV doesn’t sport any garish RGB lighting so it looks classy. The only lighting you get is the red LED indicators located on the top plate, which indicate the different active settings.

The Acton IV is designed to stay put in one place. It’s a mains-powered home speaker, after all. It measures roughly 10 x 5.9 x 5.6 inches and weighs 5.84lbs, so it isn’t exactly portable. It isn’t too heavy, though, as I’ve carried it to and from the office in my backpack. Compared to the Sonos Era 300 which sports a more rounded shape, the Acton IV is a rectangle, and it’s nearly the same size as the Audio Pro Addon C5 MKII, but smaller than the Klipsch The One Plus. It didn’t take up much space on my bookshelf or my coffee table.

Weatherproofing

The Acton IV is a home speaker designed for indoors, and as such, it doesn’t have an official IP waterproof rating. Also, because it needs to be plugged into mains, I wouldn’t recommend using it in the shower or even in your garden when it’s raining. If you want a weatherproof speaker, you may want to consider one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, like the IP68-rated JBL Xtreme 5 ($399) or the Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($39) if you’re on a tight budget. If you want a rugged speaker in Marshall’s style, the Marshall Middleton II ($329) is IP67-rated while the Marshall Kilburn III ($379) is IP54-rated.

Controls

Keeping in line with Marshall’s design philosophy, the Acton IV features amp-like physical controls located on the top plate. They’re all fairly straightforward to understand. You get a Source button to swap between AUX, RCA and Bluetooth inputs; three dials to adjust the volume, bass and treble; and a joystick to go to the next or previous song as well as play/pause playback.

I appreciate having onboard bass and treble controls, both of which can be adjusted on a scale of one to 10. These negate the need for the companion app (more on that shortly), as you don’t need to fire it up every time you want to adjust the equalizer. All the buttons and knobs give great tactile feedback when pressed or turned.

There’s a customizable M button, too, which is also found on the Marshall Bromley 750 party speaker ($1,299) and the Marshall Milton ANC headphones ($229). Via the app, you can customize it to change the EQ or activate Spotify Tap to instantly start playing music without toggling it on your phone.

Connectivity

I’ll start this off by saying that no, the Acton IV does not feature Wi-Fi connectivity or voice assistant support, like the Sonos Era 300 and the Denon Home 350 do. This isn’t rare in this price range, as the Klipsch The One Plus doesn’t feature Wi-Fi streaming either. You may want to consider either the Denon or the Sonos if you want superior wireless streaming with lossless hi-res playback.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about what the Acton IV does have. The Acton IV utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to your smartphone, laptop or other Bluetooth-enabled device. There’s support for SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC codecs, which gives it a leg-up over the Klipsch The One Plus and the Audio Pro Addon C5 MKII, both of which feature SBC and AAC support only. Compared to AAC and SBC, LC3 offers better efficiency and stability, while LDAC operates at a higher maximum bitrate, thereby minimizing detail loss. In lieu of Wi-Fi streaming, you can use LDAC for hi-res streaming instead.

Connecting via Bluetooth is extremely easy as, when you power on the Acton IV for the first time, it immediately puts itself into pairing mode. For connecting new devices, all you need to do is hold down the Source button.

Wired connectivity is in spades, too. Located next to the controls is a 3.5mm AUX port, and on the Acton IV’s underside, you’ll find RCA ports (which you won’t on the Acton III) for plugging in the best turntables, CD players, or even a TV. Thanks to the Source button, you can keep all your devices connected and swap between inputs as and when needed.

The Acton IV is Auracast-enabled, like its predecessor. But a new feature is that you can now connect the Acton IV to other Homeline speakers, like the Stanmore IV. I tested this as I had both speakers at hand, and it worked like a charm. I placed the Acton IV in my living room and the Stanmore IV in my bedroom, and I was able to play the same tunes through both. Setting this up took just under five minutes, too.

If you want to connect old Homeline speakers with it, like the Acton III and the Stanmore III, you’ll need to purchase the Marshall Heddon physical hub ($299) which uses Wi-Fi to transmit to other Marshall speakers via Auracast. If you buy two or more Homeline speakers together, Marshall happily throws in the Heddon for free.

Marshall Acton IV review: Sound quality

Though it be but little, it is fierce… or whatever it was that William Shakespeare said. The Marshall Acton IV is fitted with two 25W Class D amplifiers which power its dual 0.75-inch tweeters, as well as one 60W Class D amplifier to power its 4-inch woofer. The speaker covers a frequency response range of 37Hz to 38KHz. Marshall says that it has improved the tweeters and waveguides to create “a better, wider soundstage” — and that it does.

To test the Acton IV, I listened to my usual array of testing songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for hi-res audio. I kicked things off with Lana Del Rey’s ‘Taco Truck x VB’ with the bass and treble set to five each. The song’s first half landed with a warm, almost analog character that suits the Acton IV’s tuning. Lana’s vocals sat front and centre without sounding too clinical, and every breath felt textured and layered. When the song pivoted into the second section, the beat dropped with rounded, confident low-end impact, and the kick drum had plenty of oomph to it. The track’s dynamism was replicated beautifully and it sounded highly immersive.

To test the balance between treble and bass, I listened to ‘Elephant’ by 070 Shake. The treble remained smooth throughout, as the shimmering synth and ambient effects lit up the soundstage without becoming fatiguing. The bass sounded powerful but controlled, and even though the track doesn’t feature overwhelming sub-bass, the Acton IV gave each note satisfying weight. The song felt alive, and having listened to the entirety of Shake’s album ‘Petrichor’ on it, it felt like the speaker was built for her sound.

The Acton IV looks and feels like a rock and roll speaker, so I had to give ‘Fear of a Blank Planet’ by Porcupine Tree a couple of spins. The opening electric guitars entered with real substance, with the distorted riffs carrying a distinctive crunch. As the drums kicked in, the Acton IV made the dense recording with layered guitars, intricate drumming, and understated vocals sound extremely energetic.

Marshall has also made tweaks to what it calls Dynamic Loudness. It says that subtle adjustments have been made to the high and low frequencies and by doing so, music sounds free of distortion and remains consistent at all volume levels. Having tested the speaker by listening at the lowest and highest volume, I can confirm that this is almost true.

The aforementioned songs sounded just as detailed even at low volumes. I found volume between two and four ideal for listening to lo-fi tracks when concentrating on writing this review. But at the highest volume, the tracks sounded a little distorted and muddy, and not particularly enjoyable. Also, bear in mind that the Acton IV can get very loud. When I was listening to it on the highest volume, I was certain my neighbors were going to knock on my door and tell me to turn it down!

Listen along to my review with the Marshall Acton IV testing playlist:

Marshall Acton IV review: App

The Marshall Acton IV is accompanied by the Marshall app on iOS and Android. The app sports a clean interface with plenty of signposting, and it gives you plenty of control over the Acton IV’s settings. You can customize the five band equalizer or choose one of five EQ presets, assign a function to the ‘M’ button, adjust the brightness of the LED indicators, and update the Acton IV’s firmware.

In addition to all this, you also get access to Placement Compensation where you can tailor the sound based on whether the speaker is close to an edge or flush against a wall or corner. The speaker then corrects for any nearby reflective surfaces that may affect the sound. It’s worth spending a few minutes fiddling with Placement Compensation to get the best sound depending on the speaker’s placement.

Marshall Acton IV review: Verdict

The Marshall Acton IV is designed for music lovers needing a good-looking home speaker that can get very loud. Sporting a beautiful design, the Acton IV is sure to add a retro charm to your living space. But that’s not even its biggest selling point — it’s the room-filling detailed sound. The bass is powerful but controlled, while the treble is vibrant without ever becoming fatiguing.

In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, you get RCA input too for plugging in your record player. While there’s no Wi-Fi streaming, which both Denon and Sonos offer, the Acton IV is Auracast-enabled and can be connected with other Homeline speakers to create a multi-speaker setup. There’s no voice assistant, though, which may also have you considering alternatives.

But if you want a speaker that sounds stupendous and you don’t care about smart features, then the Acton IV should be your port of call. For its looks alone, it has earned a permanent spot on my coffee table.

If, like me, you love listening to music when you’re chilling, cooking or doing basically anything else indoors, you need one of the best smart speakers — and few are better than the Marshall Stanmore IV. The fourth iteration of Stanmore improves on its predecessor by introducing enhanced bass response, plus a wide soundstage to deliver an immersive listening experience.

The Stanmore IV is well-designed and extremely well-built, and it features Bluetooth, RCA and AUX inputs for most, if not all, devices you own. The bass is powerful while the treble is smooth and defined, and the speaker can get very loud without distortion. While it’s missing Wi-Fi streaming and voice assistant support — something its closest rival, Sonos, offers — this is the home speaker to get if you want full-bodied sound above all else.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Marshall Stanmore IV review.

Marshall Stanmore IV review: Specs

Marshall Stanmore IV review: Price & availability

The Marshall Stanmore IV was announced on 7 July 2026 along with the Marshall Acton IV, both of which form the brand’s lineup of home speakers, known as Homeline IV. It’s the fourth iteration of and the successor to the Marshall Stanmore III which came out four years ago. The Stanmore IV has a retail price of $399 / £349 — so it’s $20 pricier than the Stanmore III’s launch price.

The Stanmore IV is also pricier than the Acton IV ($299), but that’s the extra you pay for a bigger speaker and no distortion when playing music at the highest volume. Price- and features-wise, the Stanmore IV competes with the Sonos Era 300 ($449) and the Klipsch The Three Plus ($399). The Era 300 could be worth the extra spend if you want Wi-Fi streaming and voice assistant support, though, neither of which the Stanmore IV can manage.

Denon’s Home lineup is another rival, but with the Denon Home 350 ($749) and the Denon Home 600 ($799) costing nearly double, they may be out of your budget. The Stanmore IV is, then, an excellent speaker for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on full-bodied sound.

Marshall Stanmore IV review: Design

The Marshall Stanmore IV is a chonky boi, and as a mains-powered speaker, it’s meant to be kept plugged in and in one spot. Measuring 13.78 x 7.99 x 7.28 inches and weighing a whopping 8.81lbs, I highly doubt you’ll be lugging it around unless you’re moving houses. The Stanmore IV is a little bigger than the Klipsch The Three Plus and significantly bigger than the rounded Sonos Era 300. It fits nicely on my bookshelf and window sill.

There's no doubt that Marshall knows how to make a good-looking speaker. We’ve seen it with the Bromley 450 ($799), the Kilburn III ($379), and the Middleton II ($329), to name a few. The Stanmore IV is no different. It shares similar design philosophies to its stablemate, the Acton IV. It’s available in black or cream, with brass and gray accents to deliver one of the most stunning speakers I’ve had the pleasure of testing.

Adding to the speaker’s minimalist charm is its lack of any garish RGB lighting, and any form of illumination is limited to the red LED settings indicators on the top plate. Build quality is top-notch so you’re getting bang for your buck here. From the faux-leather vinyl finish to the quality of the knobs and buttons, Marshall has spared no expense to deliver what feels like a long-lasting speaker.

Weatherproofing

Just like the Acton IV, the Stanmore IV is a mains-powered home speaker designed for indoor use. It doesn’t have an official IP waterproof rating so I wouldn’t recommend using it in the bathroom or outside in the rain. You may want to consider one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers for outdoor use, such as the IP67-rated Marshall Middleton II, the IP68-rated JBL Xtreme 5 ($399), or the Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($39) if you’re on a really tight budget.

Controls

Controls on the Stanmore IV are identical to the Acton IV’s. The dials and buttons are located on the top plate. These include the Source button to swap between Bluetooth, AUX and RCA inputs; three dials for adjusting the bass, treble and volume on a scale of one to 10 each; a joystick for changing tracks and pausing playback; and a customizable ‘M’ button that, by default, plays Spotify, thereby negating the need to launch the app via your phone.

All the controls are easy to understand and don’t take long to get a hang of. Having onboard bass and treble dials is especially handy as you don’t need to fire up the companion app every time to adjust these. The ‘M’ button can also be customized to swap between EQ presets. The controls also give great tactile feedback when pressed — and the amp-like power button makes me feel like a rockstar every time I turn on the Stanmore IV.

Connectivity

Similar to the Acton IV, the Stanmore IV doesn’t feature Wi-Fi streaming or voice assistant support. These are home speakers and while they look very smart, they aren’t smart speakers, so you may want to consider the Sonos Era 300 if you want superior, lossless hi-res playback. The Klipsch The Three Plus doesn’t feature Wi-Fi connectivity either, so you’re limited to Bluetooth playback on both speakers.

The Stanmore IV utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC codecs — the Klipsch The Three Plus supports only SBC and AAC. LC3 offers better stability and efficiency compared to SBC and AAC, and LDAC can be used for hi-res streaming in the absence of Wi-Fi… although Wi-Fi streaming is still more hi-res than Bluetooth LDAC because it doesn’t compress the music files. Again, you’ll need to spend the extra $50 on the Sonos Era 300 for that.

Alongside wireless connectivity, you also get a 3.5mm AUX port located next to the controls, and RCA ports for connecting your record player on the speaker’s underside. You can keep all your devices plugged in and simply use the Source button to swap between them as and when needed. The ports are now located on the speaker’s underside, as opposed to on the back of its predecessor. This means that you can now place the Stanmore IV (and the Acton IV) flush against walls without compromising on space or sound quality.

The Stanmore IV is Auracast-enabled and can now be connected to its Homeline IV sibling — its predecessor could pair with another Stanmore III only, so this is a new feature. I was testing both the Acton IV and the Stanmore IV at the same time so I connected them together which took mere seconds, and it worked like a charm.

If you already own Homeline III speakers, you can grab the Marshall Heddon hub for $299 to connect all your speakers together. The Heddon uses Wi-Fi to transmit to other Marshall speakers, making it worth the investment for multi-room setups. If you buy two or more Homeline speakers, Marshall will throw in the Heddon for free, too.

Marshall Stanmore IV review: Sound quality

The Marshall Stanmore IV is fitted with two 25W Class D amplifiers to power its dual 0.75-inch tweeters, and one 60W Class D amplifier for its 5-inch woofer, and it covers a frequency response range of 36Hz to 38KHz. I tested the speaker by listening to a few songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for hi-res audio — and I’ve been thoroughly impressed.

Though it’s a single-box speaker, the Stanmore IV boasts a very wide soundstage, and I immediately noticed this when listening to Tame Impala’s ‘Apocalypse Dreams.’ The swirling synths, shimmering guitars and reverb-soaked vocals extended beyond the cabinet, delivering an almost three-dimensional quality. The speaker’s instrument separation is commendable as it allowed every effect and melody to remain distinct but without losing cohesion.

I then listened to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Dire Straits, and it was perhaps the best the song has ever sounded to me. The opening resonator guitar sounded beautifully textured with crisp, shimmering detail, and the treble never once turned harsh. The Stanmore IV’s warm, rich tuning complements the song perfectly, lending it an analog feel while preserving subtle nuances, such as Mark Knopfler’s breath work. As the arrangement swelled, the Stanmore IV handled the dynamics effortlessly, allowing the percussion instruments to occupy their own space without overpowering the acoustic guitar.

Bass on the Stanmore IV is deep and controlled, as was made apparent to me when listening to ‘Intro’ by The xx. The iconic bassline held real weight and filled the room without becoming bloated or overpowering. Each note plucked on the bass started and stopped cleanly which helped the song maintain its hypnotic rhythm. It made me feel like that scene of Jon Hamm dancing at the club in ‘Your Friends & Neighbors.’

The Stanmore IV can get very loud too — louder than you’ll realistically need when listening to music indoors. But what I appreciate about the Stanmore IV’s loudness is that even at the highest volume, music doesn’t sound distorted or muddy — an issue I had with the Acton IV. Marshall’s fine-tuned Dynamic Loudness comes into play here, where the brand has made subtle adjustments to the high and low frequencies, thereby ensuring that music sounds free of distortion regardless of the volume.

If you want a pure rock ‘n’ roll sound that’s consistent across the volume spectrum, few speakers are better than the Stanmore IV.

Listen along to my review with the Marshall Stanmore IV testing playlist:

Marshall Stanmore IV review: App

To customize the Marshall Stanmore IV, you’ll need to download the Marshall app on either iOS or Android. Sporting a clean interface with plenty of signposting, the Marshall app is easy to navigate and enables you to adjust nearly every Marshall device’s settings. You can use it to customize the Stanmore IV’s five-band equalizer, assign a custom function to the ‘M’ button, adjust the brightness of the LED indicators, and of course, update the firmware.

Marshall has also added a Placement Compensation function to the app. You can select whether the speaker is close to an edge or corner, or flush against a wall, and the Stanmore IV will then correct for any nearby reflective surfaces that may affect the sound quality. It’s quick to do and changes are instantaneous, so it’s worth taking a couple of minutes and playing around with it to get the best possible sound.

Marshall Stanmore IV review: Verdict

Home speakers are perfect for, well, at-home listening, and the Marshall Stanmore IV delivers beautiful, immersive sound quality that doesn’t give you much to complain about. It’s an easy speaker to recommend if your priorities are premium design and superb sound quality over smart features, like voice assistant support. The wide, room-filling soundstage, powerful yet controlled bass, and vibrant treble make the Stanmore IV a joy to listen to.

Adding to the Stanmore IV’s charm are its amp-like tactile controls and drool-worthy design. Unlike its smaller sibling, the Acton IV, the Stanmore IV maintains distortion-free sound even at high volumes, making it a great choice for soundtracking dinner parties. Throw in versatile wired inputs and Auracast for connecting other Homeline IV speakers and you’ve got yourself a winner.

If you aren’t fussed about the lack of Wi-Fi streaming and voice assistant support, and can’t swing the extra dough on Sonos or Denon, the Stanmore IV is an exceptional speaker. Sometimes, sounding brilliant is all a home speaker really needs to do.

The Cambridge Audio L/R S are some of the best speakers I’ve tested. At just 7 inches tall and 9 inches deep, these are relatively compact — but boy, do they sound larger than their measurements might suggest.

And just look at them. Aren’t they gorgeous? Not only do they look a treat, with the copper-colored tweeter and the smooth, almost tactile exterior, but they feel incredibly well-made too. Although quite pricey at $549/£399, here you’re investing in sound, functionality, and appearance.

Sound is by far the most important thing when it comes to speakers, so you’ll be pleased to know that the L/R S sound divine. For me, they were missing a smidge of vivaciousness, but I still had a ball listening to them, and I’m sure 99.999% of you would, too. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Cambridge Audio L/R S review.

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Specs

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Price & availability

The Cambridge L/R S are premium home speakers with a premium price. A pair will set you back $549 from Amazon U.S. and £399 from Amazon U.K. Obviously, this is a much better deal in the U.K. — hi-fi just is inherently more expensive in the U.S., even without tariffs.

Cambridge Audio also makes the L/R M (£1,199), which work with Cambridge’s StreamMagic app and have built-in streaming capabilities. If you’ve got even more to spend, you could check out the L/R X (£1,799, releasing in July 2026), which are the L/R S on steroids. These are the aspirational older siblings of the L/R S, with dual woofers and proprietary tweeters.

If you want a similar performance for a little less, I’d recommend checking out the Edifier S880DB MKII ($449). Alternatively, you could look at the Edifier R1280T (my personal turntable speakers, $149), which don’t have Bluetooth but more than make up for it in affordability. Edifier does make a Bluetooth version — R1280DB ($199), who’d have thought — for all those wireless lovers.

For those short on space, I’d go for the Kanto UKI ($269) or the Edifier M60 ($199), both of which are compact speakers and sound great for their size.

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Design

The Cambridge Audio L/R S are beautiful, beautiful speakers. They look uber modern, with no mesh grille covering and two visible drivers. The 21-mm aluminium tweeter is a gorgeous, rich copper color, and the 3-inch woofer meshes well with the speaker body. Whatever color you choose — white, black, navy, or wood — I bet it will look great in your home.

The speakers not only look great, but they feel well-made, too. The exterior is smooth, almost tactile, and the switches on the master speaker are high-quality. I have no issues with the design at all: everything is sleek and feels intentional.

Connectivity

As active speakers, you don’t need an amp or a phono if you’re using the speakers with a laptop or TV or phone. However, if you want to listen on your turntable, if it doesn’t have a phono pre-amp, you’ll need a separate one.

The L/R S have a huge array of connectivity types: Bluetooth aptX HD, RCA aux, optical, and USB-C playback. I mostly used USB-C and Bluetooth, both of which sounded excellent.

The speakers don’t come with a USB-C cable, an RCA cable, or an optical cable, so if you want to utilize these connectivity methods, you’ll have to supply them independently.

Controls

There are controls on the back of the master speaker and a high-quality remote. Rather than taking inspiration from Edifier’s slightly gimmicky circular touch remote, Cambridge Audio has (thankfully) gone back to basics with the L/R S’s remote. It’s a standard long remote with an equally standard layout. You’ve got play/pause, volume controls, EQ controls, and playback controls.

All very simple — but that’s what the L/R S are all about. They’re designed to let their quality speak for itself.

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Audio quality

To test the Cambridge Audio L/R S, I listened to a range of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles. I tested over both USB-C and Bluetooth.

I listened to “Getaway” by Fcukers, an electronic trip-hop-inspired track built over a cello riff, twinkling piano notes, and breathy female vocals. The tambourine shimmered gently at the back of the soundscape, allowing the string motifs to take centre stage without overpowering them. The bassline was controlled, tight, and balanced, and the space-gun sound effects tied everything together nicely. This song sounded great.

Next, I played “The Sickness in You and I” by Muse. This heavier rock track boasts crunchy nostalgic riffs and some fantastic stereo imaging. This song was an immersive marvel; when the percussion comes in on the left speaker with the guitars teeming across the soundscape, I wanted to replay it over and over. Despite being compact speakers, the stereo imaging of the L/R S is utterly excellent. If you listen to a lot of music mastered for stereo, these speakers will definitely get the best from your tunes.

Last, I played “Never Get Enough” by Lianne La Havas, a track with acoustic verses and intense choruses. The speakers handled the change in bass well; the clarity of the acoustic guitar and La Havas’s voice was a standout in the verse, while the insistent bass came through well in the chorus.

Although most genres sounded excellent, I did wish for something more. The treble is clear, and there’s a surprising amount of bass for such small speakers. However, the mids aren’t as energetic as I personally like in speakers. Tracks sound balanced and clean, but they’re missing some vivaciousness and propulsiveness in the lower midrange. Don’t get me wrong — they still sound good, and you should still seriously consider them if you want immersive speakers with fantastic spatial imaging. But they didn’t pull at my heartstrings like other speakers have done in the past.

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Verdict

The Cambridge Audio L/R S are fantastic speakers. If you want a pair of home speakers that’ll make your music sound delectable, clear, and balanced, look no further. Even better if you value immersive spatial imaging above all else — these speakers will seriously impress you in that area.

The only thing holding the speakers back is a lack of oomph in the lower mids. For compact speakers, you can’t really expect perfection, though, and the L/R S still sound charming. If you need reliable, balanced speakers for your desk, turntable, TV, or anything in between, they’ll do you proud.

At $549/£399, they’re not exactly the cheapest speakers on the market, so I’d recommend only getting them if you’re serious about leveling up your home listening experience. But what a listening experience it would be.

The deals just keep coming! Yes, Amazon's Prime Day sales may be over, but Best Buy is already running a huge 4th of July sale that's offering lots of great bargains. We covered the Best Buy TV sale earlier and now we're rounding up the best Bluetooth speakers, which you can get right now with some pretty deep discounts.

Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of price points to match. We've started our selection with some good value Soundcore and Marshall offerings that are ideal for taking to the beach or lounging by the pool. We've then turned our attention to some feature-packed offerings from the likes of JBL before rounding out with some seriously high-end speakers from the likes of Sony and Klipsch.

For more amazing deals, make sure to check out our guide to the best 4th of July sales.