Latest articles by Erin Bashford
‘It sounds so good, I forgot I was supposed to be reviewing it’: Samsung QS750F review
Editor's ChoiceSamsung QS750F goes where few soundbars have gone before. Immensely affordable for a soundbar, sub, and rears, this is one for home theater nerds on a budget.
My super-cheap fitness tracker has a hidden feature that can go head-to-head with Garmin and Apple
My Amazfit Helio Strap is a treasure trove of features. I can't believe this $99 fitness tracker beats the Apple Watch 11.
‘Few soundbars can go head-to-head with a movie theater like this one’: Yamaha True X Surround 90A review
RecommendedThe Yamaha True X Surround 90A is a premium sound system with near-perfect Dolby Atmos, but the dialogue performance isn’t quite up to scratch.
JLab JBuds Party review: A meatier portable speaker, but at what cost?
The JLab JBuds Party is a mid-sized budget speaker with LED lights and party mode, but the sound quality doesn’t do enough to justify the increased price.
Edifier isn’t a budget brand anymore — and the new hi-fi, feature-packed S880DB MKII speakers prove it
Editor's ChoiceThe Edifier S880DB MKII are bookshelf speakers that pack a major punch. With unbeatable sound and compact size, they’re majorly impressive for the price.
Bye-bye, Bluetooth: 2026 is the year of wired earbuds, headphones, and retro audio tech
2026 is the year of retro audio tech, with CD players, IEMs, wired headphones, vinyls, and wired earbuds taking center stage.
I reviewed 9 headphones in 2025 — but I only recommend one pair
I tested nine pairs of headphones in 2025, but only one pair is worth your money.
I got this $50 coffee accessory — and it's completely transformed my espresso
I'm an ex-barista, and now I spend hours every week testing espresso machines. This accessory is the barista's secret recipe for perfect espresso every time.
I tested lots of wireless earbuds in 2025, but I only recommend these 3 under $40, $70, and $100
I reviewed 10 pairs of earbuds in 2025, but only 3 are worth your money, all under $100.
I tested 16 soundbars in 2025 — here are my top picks under $200, $500, and $700
You don't have to spend a fortune to get great sound at home, so I've rounded up my highest-rated soundbars of 2025.
3 things every new record player owner needs to know — from another vinyl newbie
I got my first turntable — the U-Turn Audio Orbit Special — and learned 3 major lessons.
Nothing's new $69 earbuds sound better than $200 rivals — so I asked a product exec how
CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 sound like $200 buds for $69, so I asked Nilo Casimiro Ericsson, product executive at Dirac, how the tech works.
I would never buy earbuds without this one key feature
I test countless earbuds, and I always look for one key feature. If the buds don't have it, I don't want them.
How to grind your coffee correctly — 3 easy tips from an ex-barista
I'm an ex-barista, and here are 3 easy ways to tell if you're using the correct grind size for your coffee.
No more pinched toes — I tried these hiking shoes and now I won't wear anything else
I reviewed the Keen Jasper Zionic, and now every pair of shoes has been ruined for me thanks to this one game-changing design feature.
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Which budget espresso machine should you buy?
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth an extra $200, or is the Breville Bambino a better option? I evaluated espresso, milk steaming, and more to find out.
Should you get a bean-to-cup or compact espresso machine? I'm an ex-barista, and here's my verdict
Should you get a bean-to-cup or a small manual espresso machine? Don't buy one until you read this.
Just got your first soundbar? You need to check out these 3 features first
I review soundbars for a living, and these are the three features you need to check out when using your first soundbar.
Just got an espresso machine for Christmas? Don’t make the one fatal mistake beginner baristas fall for
I'm an ex-barista and now an espresso machine reviewer, so I've made thousands of coffees. Don't make this one major mistake with your new espresso machine!
This cheap Sony soundbar is an Amazon bestseller — and it's ten times better than the budget competition
The Sony HT-S100F is widely regarded as the best cheap soundbar, and for good reason. It has crystal-clear dialogue and surprisingly punchy bass.
I’m an ex-barista, and I would never buy an espresso machine without this one key feature
I'm an ex-barista, and now I've tested loads of espresso machines. Some good, some bad. But I'd never buy one without this one key feature.
I just awarded my first 5-star rating to an espresso machine — here's what makes the Breville Bambino a perfect product
I test a lot of espresso machines, but none are as high-value and impressive as the small-but-mighty Breville Bambino.
I just tested Breville’s cheapest espresso machine, and there’s no denying it — this is a 5-star product
Editor's ChoiceThe Breville Bambino is my favorite cheap espresso machine I’ve ever tested. At just $299, it’s a budget machine in a league of its own. There’s no competition.
