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Majority Moto 2.0 review: an astoundingly cheap Bluetooth record player with USB – but that comes with compromises
12:30 pm | August 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Majority Moto 2.0: two-minute review

The Majority Moto 2.0 is the first record player from the budget audio company: the number isn't a version number but a reference to the built-in 2.0-speaker setup. It is an entire music system in a single box: thanks to its built-in speakers and Bluetooth 5.3, you can stream audio from your phone or computer as well as play records, and even rip them to digital via your PC, thanks to its USB port. 

The Majority Moto 2.0 is clearly aimed at someone who doesn't have an existing sound system of any kind and it offers a lot of features for relatively little money. There are, of course, many compromises at its £79 price compared to the best turntables, but the Moto 2.0 is better than you might expect, due in part to the inclusion of a good-quality Audio-Technica cartridge. However, we did experience some quality issues with our review unit that suggest this is a record player that'll need careful handling.

The Moto 2.0 is clearly designed to be your first turntable that covers all the bases: Bluetooth streaming to headphones or speakers and from other devices, USB output for recording, even the ability to play ancient 78s as well as the much more common 45 and 33 and 1/3 speeds. 

But you shouldn't expect room-shaking volume from those integrated speakers: they don't go loud because if they did, their vibration would do a Taylor Swift to your tonearm and shake it off. The sub chassis is separate to isolate it from their vibrations and copes fine with the volume levels available, but if you've got a big space or like to listen loud you'll want to connect an amp, or wirelessly connect it to one of the best Bluetooth speakers that you place on a different surface, or to some of the best wireless headphones.

I would encourage people to step up to the similar-but-just-overall-better Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT if you can, which also offers Bluetooth and USB, and is fully automatic, but offers no built-in speakers… however, it's around twice the price of the Majority, so if you want to keep it under £100, this is still a solid choice.

Majority Moto 2.0 speaker close-up

The integrated speakers are very small and fire upwards, so don't expect room-filling audio or earth-shaking bass. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Price and release date

  • Released in February 2024
  • Available in UK and Europe
  • £79.95 / €99.95

Despite a very low price, the Moto 2.0 is packed with features including one very significant one: it comes with an Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, which is definitely unusual at this end of the market. That cartridge alone typically retails for around £20, or one-quarter of this entire turntable's price. 

For comparison, consider than Pro-Ject's super-cheap (for Pro-Ject) entry-level turntable, the E1, is around £200, and doesn't have speakers, USB, a phono stage or Bluetooth (though more expensive versions do have those things). However, it does sound a lot better as a result, as our Pro-Ject E1 review will attest.

Majority Moto 2.0 USB port close-up

In addition to playing records you can rip them to computer or play from USB. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Features

  • Bluetooth and USB
  • Three turntable speeds
  • Integrated speakers and phono stage

You can't fault the feature list here: it does basically everything a turntable can do.

It has three playing speeds, and while it's not fully automatic, it does have auto-stop. There's an integrated phono stage if you want to connect it to an amp – though as mentioned before, it has its own speakers, so you don't technically need to.

It also has Bluetooth, and this goes in both directions: you can beam your records out to Bluetooth speakers, or you can send music over to the Moto 2.0 and listen over its built-in speakers. There's no aptX or anything else higher-res, though. It also has an aux-out if you prefer the best wired headphones to wireless ones.

And with a USB port on board, you can connect it to a computer and record your vinyl to a digital file – either because you want to preserve rare tracks that aren't available elsewhere, or just to capture the song complete with crackles.

Features score: 5 / 5

Majority Moto 2.0 phono out close-up

You don't have to use the integrated speakers: there are phono outs to connect an amp or powered speakers. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Sound quality

  • Better than you might expect
  • Built-in speakers aren't great
  • Speakers aren't built for bass

There's a limit to how much air two small speakers can push, but while the Moto isn't very loud the sound is pleasant enough on well-recorded records at reasonable levels; it's bass-light but does the job provided you don't turn the volume up too much. Do that and the sound starts to get harsh, the middle frequencies taking over as the speakers struggle.

One key thing the integrated speakers don't do is deliver a sweet spot, that perfect place where the soundstage is at its most immersive. To do that you need the sound waves to be coming towards you and the speakers some distance apart; these speakers are just an album's width apart and send their soundwaves towards the ceiling. 

Things improve considerably when you team up the turntable with external, forward facing speakers or a decent set of headphones, but the flaws are more apparent too: there's noticeable mechanical noise in the quieter bits. If you're listening to songs with a lot of sustained notes, such as U2's With Or Without You, you might also notice some slight speed variation. It's not apparent on faster, choppier songs, and vocal vibrato tends to hide it for singing. But it's audible on very clear, sustained tones such as Edge's trademark infinite guitar. 

No matter what you listen on, the sound is slightly boxy and cluttered in the way so many budget audio products are: everything's doing its best but the overall result lacks the spaciousness, separation and sparkle that you get with better-quality gear. 

A lot depends on what you're listening to: give it some yacht rock with some expensive-studio smoothness and it's really rather nice, although the lush arrangements of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours lose some of their sparkle here with an emphasis on the cookie-tin snare drums and rubber-band bass. 

More electronic pop such as Sigrid's second album is fun when it's well separated but feels claustrophobic in the busier tracks: there's a lack of air and low-end separation, with harshness creeping in as you turn the volume up. That harshness is particularly apparent with heavier genres of music, especially modern rock featuring brick-wall compression designed to make everything louder than everything else.

This isn't an audiophile product. But it's a fun one, especially if you skip the built-in speakers and hook up something more substantial either by Bluetooth or via an amp: connecting the turntable to an Ultimate Ears Wonderboom added some of the bass the built-in speakers lacked, and connecting the Moto to my Onkyo amp and Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers was better still. Is it up there with turntables that cost four times the price or more? Absolutely not. But with decent speakers it doesn't sound like it cost £80 either.

Sound quality score: 3 / 5

Majority Moto 2.0 close-up of the Audio-Technica cartridge

Unusually for a turntable this affordable, you get a pretty decent Audio-Technica cartridge. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Design

  • Unusual platter placement
  • Integrated speakers and lots of connectivity
  • Feels a bit fragile

The Moto 2.0 comes in a dark wood effect with black hardware, with the wooden section overhanging the front and sides of the chassis. The two built-in speakers are behind circular black grilles facing directly upwards from the top front of the turntable and the controls are on the front and sides. On top of the dampened sprung platter there's a slipmat to keep your records in place.

The Moto 2.0 is smaller than many turntables, at just 38cm wide compared to the much more common 43cm. And the platter is smaller than usual too, at 20cm/8 inches. The speaker placement means the platter is oddly positioned: instead of sitting centrally it's off-centre, nearer the back than the front. That means if you're playing 12-inch records they will extend beyond the rear border of the turntable and through a space in the back of the dust cover. 

There are some issues, however. The plastics here are cheap-looking, especially at the speed switch, and the tonearm is very thin and feels eminently breakable. Between these and the upfiring speaker design that doesn't lend itself to ideal audio quality, there are definitely flaws to how this is put together.

Design score: 3 / 5

Majority Moto 2.0

The tonearm is very thin and doesn't have tracking force adjustment or anti-skid. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Usability and setup

  • All you need to do is plug it in
  • Switches and controls are around the edge
  • Doesn't get much easier

This turntable is all about simplicity, and because everything's in one unit all you need to do is remove the protective cover from the stylus and the plastic wire from the tonearm, plug the power supply into the wall and turn it on. So for a user-friendly beginner turntable, you can't get much better than that.

The two most important controls – the on/volume and the audio source – are both on the front along with the 3.5mm headphone socket. Other connection options are easily accessed along the edges, so no usability struggles there.

Frankly, it doesn't get any easier for your first turntable than this.

Usability and setup score: 5 / 5 

Majority Moto 2.0

The Moto 2.0 is really plug and play: select the source and turn the Moto on via the volume dial. (Image credit: Future)

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Value

  • You get a lot for your money...
  • ...but you're paying for features you might not use
  • Quality is limited, though

The sub-£100 turntable market should probably be labelled "here be monsters", but the Majority is not one of them: you'd be hard pushed to get a better value turntable at this price. It's less than half of the price we'd typically expect to pay for a decent budget turntable. 

However, the trade-off for that low price is audio quality, especially if you're going to be listening via the integrated speakers: they're okay but they're not great. If you're serious about sound quality you might want to save a little longer for something like the Pro-Ject E1 if you want to go the hi-fi route, or the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT if you want to stick with something with Bluetooth and USB. Or scour the second-hand market for a bargain.

Value score: 4 / 5 

Should you buy the Majority Moto 2.0?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Majority Moto 2.0 review: Also consider

How I tested the Majority Moto 2.0

  • Tested at home for two weeks with more than a dozen new and used records 
  • Tested solo, on headphones and through an external amp and speakers
  • Streamed Apple Music from iPhone 

I tested the Majority Moto 2.0 at home, focusing on its vinyl performance and listening intensely to records I know inside-out across a range of genres from the most polished productions to ragged punk rock. I also streamed Apple Music from my iPhone to test its streaming prowess.

When I connected the Moto 2.0 to other equipment I used Beyedynamic wired headphones, which are known for their relatively flat performance (so reveal the sound of the underlying player well), and an Onkyo amp with the direct setting engaged to bypass the bass and treble circuits. The amp was connected to a set of Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers, giving the Moto access to some pretty sweet-sounding hardware in order to show what it's capable of.

JBL Go 4 review: a fun-size budget Bluetooth speaker, just don’t expect big things
7:30 pm | August 22, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

The compact and durable JBL Go 4 makes for a good poolside companion. It’s the latest, May 2024-issue model in the Go range, and is one of the first JBL speakers to feature Auracast, along with the Clip 5 and the Xtreme 4 – both of which are happy members of our best Bluetooth speakers buying guide. It's reasonably priced at $49.95 / £39.99 / $59.95 and is available to purchase in the US, UK, and Australia from the official JBL website, and from Amazon for $49.95 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 at the time of writing. 

The JBL Go 4 comes in Black, White, Red, Blue, Purple, Pink, or Squad (i.e. camo) in the US, UK, and Australia. Additional color variations are available in the US and Australia, including Sand, and Black and Orange – which also has a lot of light blue on it, as it happens. I was given a sample of the Red Go 4 to test out and one thing’s for certain: though it may be little, if you go for this or one of the other bolder colors you won’t lose sight of it easily. 

The front and back of the eye-catching little speaker are covered in woven fabric, with silicone panels on the top and sides in which the various buttons and the USB-C charging port are housed, and textured silicone areas on the back and bottom that provide stability whether the speaker is placed upright or on its back. The buttons in the top and left-hand panels include a play/pause button and volume controls, and the power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons. I have to give JBL some bonus points for taking a sustainable approach by using recycled fabric and plastic in parts of the speaker, and for using packaging that’s largely paper-based and printed using soy ink.

The corner loop of a red JBL Go 4 pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a small fabric and silicone loop fixed around the top-right corner of the speaker that did come in handy, although I needed to use a hook or separate carabiner to hang it from, which was not as helpful as the integrated carabiner on the JBL Clip 5 or the multiway strap on the Sony XB100.

At a dinky size of 3.7 x 3.0 x 1.7 inches / 94 x 78 x 42 mm and weighing just 11oz / 190g, this speaker would make a useful little music companion. Due to its IP67 rating, it’s safe to use at a pool party or at the beach – we can confirm that it continues to work after it’s submerged in water, as we gave it a good dunking in the TechRadar testing tank.

The JBL Portable app is intuitive, and its attractive design makes it satisfying to use and simple to navigate. The app can connect to any compatible JBL speaker, with each speaker displayed on the My Products page (provided they’re powered on). From this page, you can also skip over to the PartyTogether area to add other JBL speakers into the mix for amplified sound.

The side panel and control buttons of a red JBL Go 4 pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

Once I selected the Go 4 from the product page, I could see the battery level and enable PlaytimeBoost, which is designed to boost the volume of the music while consuming less battery by disabling the EQ. There’s also a Product Information section, Stereo Group mode for connecting two speakers together in stereo, and the four preset equalizer profiles: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, plus the Custom EQ profile.

The stated battery life of the Go 4 is seven hours. Now, I’m used to some speakers not quite going the distance, which is often covered by caveats on the brand's website; however, this speaker went above and beyond, lasting for nearly 10 hours of continuous music playing at 50% volume on the default JBL signature EQ preset.

At one point I experienced a small issue when the Go 4 wouldn’t play music from our FiiO M11S music player or a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. Both devices could connect to the Go 4 and were shown as playing music, but no sound was coming out of the speaker. Taking a leaf out of the operations manual of IT help desks everywhere, I turned the speaker off and on again, and fortunately that fixed the issue straight away.

The back face of a red JBL Go 4 pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall listening experience was fine; nothing groundbreaking, but perfectly adequate for the price. When music is played using the default JBL Signature EQ profile the depth and clarity are lacking somewhat, but I was able to make improvements by implementing the other EQ presets or by employing a custom EQ. If you’re used to higher-end speakers, you may find this lower-quality sound a chore to listen to, but for those who just want something compact that they can throw in a bag when they want to enjoy tunes on the go, it’s great.

This tiny speaker can reach a good level of volume for its size. At 50% it’s loud enough to dance around your kitchen to, but if you’re doing any noisy cooking you may need to bump it up a bit. The speaker’s orientation makes a noticeable difference to the sound quality, particularly for tracks with high levels of treble or bass. Most users would naturally want to stand it on its base as advertised, but I found that the best sound was achieved with the speaker lying on its back. This is also the best position if you’re listening with others, as the sound is firing upward rather than in one direction.

The play, pause, and volume buttons on the top of a red JBL Go 4 ,pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I found the bass wasn’t dynamic enough, and the beat fell flat so the track lost the powerful rhythm that’s usually present when listening through more bass-heavy alternatives such as the Tribit XSound Plus 2 speaker. The vocals also got a little lost amid the different elements as they all seemed to fight for center stage.

I tried the Vocal EQ to see if it would make an improvement, but I found it instead distorted all elements of the track, so it appears this setting wouldn’t be a great one to use when listening to music. There was a slightly noticeable increase in vocal clarity and prominence when enabled for podcasts and other vocal-focused content, however. Going back to Black Eye, the best EQ profile by far was Energetic – the vocal clarity was much improved, and the other elements sounded like they’d been pushed back in line.

The same was true when listening to St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, and I Want You by Moloko. On the default JBL Signature EQ, everything felt flat, but the Energetic preset does exactly what it says on the label, giving everything a little boost where needed.

The USB C charging port on a red JBL Go 4 pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

The JBL Signature EQ was adequate for listening to slower and more relaxing tracks, and the output was softened further after switching to the Chill EQ preset, which pulls the highs down so you aren’t hit with any harsh notes when you’re trying to unwind. This EQ delivered a pleasant listening experience when playing Where’s My Love (Alternative Version) by SYML.

Overall, if you aren’t particularly fussed about sound quality and you’re just looking for a cheap and cheerful little speaker that’s durable enough to handle a rainy day or a beach party, the JBL Go 4 is a solid choice. There are a lot of good alternatives available though, so I’d recommend checking out our selection of the best waterproof speakers and best cheap Bluetooth speaker deals to see if anything else catches your eye.

A red JBL Go 4 is being held in the air from the corner loop in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Go 4 review: Price and availability

  • $49.95 / £39.99 / $59.95
  • Available now in the US, UK, and Australia

Released in May 2024, the JBL Go 4 is the latest model in the JBL Go range, following on from the Go 3. It’s available for purchase from the official JBL website for $49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95, and from Amazon for $49.95 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 at the time of writing.

As mentioned, it has plenty of competition in this price range – in particular, there’s the five-star rated Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 that massively impressed our reviewer considering the $59.99 / £59.99 price tag. However, if your budget maxes out at $50 / £40 and you just want something small, durable, and a bit jazzy, then the JBL Go 4 is a good choice.

JBL Go 4 review: Specs

Should I buy the JBL Go 4?

A red JBL Go 4 pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a dark stone surface with puddles of water around it.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

JBL Go 4 review: Also consider

How I tested the JBL Go 4

  • I tested the speaker over several months
  • I listened to a variety of music genres and podcasts
  • I played music continuously to test the battery life

I tested the JBL Go 4 over a few months. I listened to a variety of music genres, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks that feature a range of musical styles and textures, including complex and layered instrumentals, deep bass, and delicate vocals, to enable me to determine the speaker's ability to handle different frequencies.

I played our TechRadar playlist on Tidal continuously at 50% volume using the default JBL signature EQ preset to test whether the battery could last up to the claimed seven hours.

I also used it to listen to music and podcasts in the TechRadar office, our music testing room, and at home, using Spotify and Tidal from an iPhone 12 Pro and a OnePlus Pad Go.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review
1:00 pm | August 18, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3: Two-minute review

Time flies, doesn’t it? This is now the eighth generation of Bowers & Wilkins’ entry-level 600 Series of loudspeakers, and the 607 S3 is the smallest and most affordable member of the range. It’s also the most expensive cheap loudspeaker the company has ever made.

A glance at the specification (25mm double-dome tweeter, 130mm Continuum mid/bass driver, and a whole stack of upgrades both where crossover and cabinet construction are concerned) and at the standard of build and finish lets you know where that money has gone, though – and goes some of the way to explaining why they'll enter our best stereo speakers roundup very soon. 

It’s always been possible to buy less expensive loudspeakers than Bowers & Wilkins, but if you bite the bullet and spend the money, it won’t take long for your investment to seem very wise indeed.

By the standards of a compact standmounter, the 607 S3 produce a remarkably open and assertive sound. They have scale and rigorous soundstaging on their side, frankly unlikely dynamic headroom and an excellent facility for detail retrieval. They seem to like every single genre of music, too - and not just in an analytical, “here’s every shred of information” kind of way. They’re an energetic and entertaining listen that seem fully aware that the business of listening to music is meant to be as enjoyable and emotionally rewarding as possible.

So yes, you can spend your money on a bigger, louder loudspeaker than this - of course you can. But if you’re not trying to fill a great big space with sound, and if you want to put your foot on the ownership ladder of one of the biggest names in the business, the 607 S3 absolutely demand your attention.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Price & release date

  • Released September 3, 2023
  • Priced $899 / £549 / AU$1,149 (approx)

The Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 standmount speakers were unveiled in September 2023 alongside three other S3-suffixed 600-series models, and in the United Kingdom they’re routinely available at £549 per pair. In the United States they go for $899 tops, while in Australia they sell for AU$1149 or something very like it.

So while this is the most affordable way to acquire a new pair of Bowers & Wilkins passive stereo loudspeakers, you’ll never mistake the 607 S3 for being especially cheap – profoundly credible alternatives from profoundly credible brands like Dali (see the five-strong Dali Rubikore range), Monitor Audio (check out our Monitor Audio Studio 89 review) and Q Acoustics (see the M40 HD for starters) many of which can be had for less money than this. So what makes the 607 S3 so special?  

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Features

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wlkins)
  • 25mm titanium double-dome tweeter
  • 130mm Continuum mid/bass driver
  • Rear-firing bass reflex port

Yes, the 607 S3 is the junior member of the most affordable Bowers & Wilkins passive loudspeaker line-up. But don’t imagine that status means that it’s had less attention paid to its features than all of its other, more expensive, siblings.

The tweeter arrangement, for example, is now built mostly from titanium (rather than of aluminium as it has been in previous 600-series models). It’s a 25mm decoupled double-dome design, using a thin (25µm) dome reinforced by a 30µm ring, and the switch to titanium allows (according to Bowers & Wilkins) for greater refinement and detail at the top of the frequency range. 

The tube-loading assembly in which the tweeter sits is longer than previously (in an effort to minimise the rearward standing waves that result from the twitter’s activity), and the tweeter itself is protected by a grille the design of which is derived from the company’s flagship 800 Signature series of speakers. This, too, is deployed in an effort to create greater space and refinement in the tweeter’s output.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

The tweeter sits closer to the mid/bass driver beneath it than previous – the 130mm Continuum assembly is mostly carried over from the previous 600 Signature series, but now it features a beefed up motor assembly derived from the 700 S3 range. And the eagle-eyed will notice it’s a little higher up in the cabinet and a little closer to the tweeter as a result - Bowers & Wilkins reckons it improves integration between the drivers and allows the mid/bass unit to generate a little more energy.

At the rear of the cabinet there’s a bass reflex port positioned above some newly upgraded speaker cable terminals (they’re intended to offer a cleaner signal path). And on the inside, the cabinet bracing is upgraded – so rigidity is improved. The crossover components have been upgraded too, in an effort to bring even greater transparency to the sound.  

  • Features score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Sound quality

  • Refinement and entertainment in fairly equal measure
  • Dynamic and detailed in every circumstance
  • Careless system-matching will be exposed

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wlkins)

‘Zest’ is an underused word in hi-fi, I think, so let’s start there. No matter the sort of music you like to listen to, the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 deliver it with zest. Oh, they can do the ‘insight’ and ‘analysis’ things with the best of their price-comparable rivals, but what sets them apart from those alternative designs is the zest and enthusiasm of their delivery. There’s nothing feral about these loudspeakers, but there’s an energy and a desire to entertain that is a fair bit more difficult to come by.

So it doesn’t matter if you try out a nice big hi-res file of David Bowie’s Hallo Spaceboy or a CD-standard file of Anastasia Coope’s Woke Up and No Feet, the results are – broadly speaking – the same. Low-frequency activity is given decent depth and notable speed, along with plenty of variation; the 607 S3 have no difficulty expressing rhythms in a convincing manner. The midrange is open and eloquent, so these two profoundly idiosyncratic vocalists have their character and attitude made apparent. Midrange projection is good too, so there’s always a pocket of space for a singer to operate in – even though they’re always nicely integrated into the overall presentation, rather than sounding remote or removed.

There’s plenty of dynamic headroom available, so the Bowie tune gets its changes in attack and intensity described faithfully. Detail levels are very high in every respect, so the smaller harmonic variations and changes in emphasis in the recording are paid attention to as well. And thanks to a soundstage that’s bigger than the physical size of the speakers might seem capable of creating, it’s easy to follow these fluctuations no matter where they occur. 

They’re an upfront and fairly assertive listen, the 607 S3. And in almost every way, these are welcome and actually quite valuable traits – it generally translates into a vivacious, spirited and engaging presentation. But it also means that a moment’s care with system-matching is in order, because the Bowers & Wilkins have high-frequency characteristics that are not beyond provocation. 

The treble sound the 607 S3 produce is just as detailed, just as convincing and just as nicely tonally balanced as all of the information below it. But in a system with treble-forward amplification, being fed by a source player with similar characteristics, the result can easily become rather too much of a good thing. The Bowers & Wilkins are quite assertive enough at the top of the frequency range without being goaded.

But in every other respect, feel free to throw caution to the wind. The 607 S3 are musical and entertaining, poised and attentive, dynamic and detailed in equal measure, and seem to enjoy every single one of your favourite styles of music. They may not have the out-and-out scale of the bigger speakers this sort of money can buy – how could they? – but when it comes to musicality, energy and, yes, zest, it’s hard to know how your money could be any more wisely spent.        

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Design

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
  • 300 x 165 x 207mm (HxWxD)
  • Choice of three finishes
  • 4.65kg

You can’t really expect much by way of ‘design’ to happen where (relatively) affordable standmounting speakers are concerned – and, sure enough, not much has happened here. That’s not to say the 607 S3 aren’t harmonious lookers, or aren’t built and finished to a very high standard – they are. It’s just that they look exactly as you’d expect.

At 300 x 165 x 207mm (HxWxD) they’re the smallest stereo speakers in all of Bowers & Wilkins-land, and at 4.65kg they aren’t going to put any kind of pressure on your shelves or wall-brackets if that’s how you decide to position them.

Equally, a choice of black, white or light(ish) oak vinyl-wrap finishes isn’t going to startle anyone. The oak finish comes with a contrasting white front baffle, which is about as close to a design flourish as the 607 S3 get. 

  • Design score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Value

You can buy bigger, more imposing loudspeakers for this sort of money – and I mean both physically and sonically. But if you’re in the market for a compact, high-achieving standmounter at this kind of price, it’s hard to know how to better spend your cash. Add in the excellent standard of build and finish, along with the ‘if you know, you know’ brand logo, and the 607 S3 represent very good value indeed.

Should I buy the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3?

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

Buy them if...

Space is at a premium
These speakers prove that small can sound beautiful

You enjoy an energetic and entertaining sound
There’s plenty of refinement here, but there’s even more brio

Space is at a premium
These speakers prove that small can sound beautiful.

Don't buy them if...

Your system is very treble-happy
It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

You’re expecting tactility
These speakers are very well made and very well finished - but ‘luxurious’ is not a word that applies.

You want to fill a big room with sound
There are plenty of speakers at this sort of money that can shout louder than the 607 S3.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Also consider

If the size of these cabinets is a big attraction, then the only-slightly-larger and similarly priced Dali Oberon 3 are well worth a listen – they don’t have quite the vim of the 607 S3. That said, the splendid Monitor Audio Studio 89 do – although they're quite a bit more expensive. 

Want something smaller, wireless, and slightly cheaper? The Ruark MR1 MkII Bluetooth stereo speakers are worth a look. 

But if you’re after a physical representation of the money you’ve spent (and you have an appropriately sized space in which to put them) the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 have plenty to recommend them beyond how very large they are. 

Rekkord Audio F300 turntable review: a classy, fully automatic budget deck let down by a lack of punch and drive
3:11 pm | August 15, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Comments: Off

Rekkord Audio F300: Two-minute review

The idea that the man who operates turntable hero Pro-Ject might require another brand building and selling record players might seem an odd one – but Heinz Lichtenegger (for it is he) sees Rekkord Audio as the perfect method of filling in gaps in the Pro-Ject line-up. Specifically those gaps marked ‘automatic operation’.

So the Rekkord Audio F300 (hand-made, like the rest of the Rekkord Audio range, in the Black Forest) is a fully automatic turntable, arrives with its cartridge and even its belt pre-fitted, and is about as close to ‘plug and play’ as a product of this type ever gets. It’s properly built and finished, too – so the asking price seems absolutely fair enough.

Or. at least, it does until you get down to the business of actually ‘playing a record’. The F300 is a fine-sounding device in many ways – it’s detailed and forgiving, able to flow through rhythms and tempos with complete assurance, and creates a convincing soundstage on which the action can unfold.

But it’s ‘action’ that exposes the Rekkord Audio’s few shortcomings and marrs its bid to enter our best turntables buying guide. It’s not an especially dynamic listen when it comes to tracking shifts in volume or intensity, and it’s overtly short of outright ‘punch’ when it comes to describing bass sounds.

So ultimately it comes down to your own personal scenario. That there are more complete-sounding turntables available at this sort of money is undeniable. But if the fully automatic convenience of the F300 excites you (and that's understandable – nobody likes harming vinyl), it’s currently about as good as you’re going to get at the price. 

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Price and release date

Rekkord Audio turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

The Rekkord Audio F300 automatic turntable is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it sells for £549. It’s available to American customers for $599, but currently no price is quoted for the Australian market – if exchange rates are anything to go by, you’re looking at AU$1,049 or something quite like it.

There's no shortage of well-regarded turntables from well-regarded brands available at this sort of money, chief of which might be the excellent ProJect Debut Carbon Evo. But Rekkord Audio reckons it has a worthwhile point of difference…  

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Features

  • Fully automatic operation
  • Audio Technica AT91 moving magnet cartridge
  • Captive RCA connections and grounding lead

The obvious feature, and the feature Rekkord Audio is understandably most pleased about, is its fully automatic operation. Hands not as steady as they used to be? Hand/eye coordination not all it might be? The F300 is here to help.

Better still, the F300 is not only fully automatic but it’s quiet and reliable with it. Set the controls to the desired rpm, and press the ‘start’ control – the Rekkord Audio takes care of the rest. About my only gripe concerns the F300’s insistence that 12in discs spin at 33.3rpm and 7in discs at 45rpm. So, anyone who wants to listen to a 45rpm 12in single will have to cue it up manually and take it off manually at the end of the side. Which takes a bit of the shine off the ownership experience, no two ways about it. 

Rekkord Audio F300 turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

The F300 is hard-wired for stereo RCA and grounding wire connections, which adds to its ‘plug-and-play’ credentials but does mean you’ve no possibility of upgrading. The Audio Technica AT91 cartridge that arrives pre-adjusted and attached to the headshell that is, in turn, pre-attached to the 211mm low-mass aluminium tonearm is a very capable item – but again, it seems optimised for the role and upgrading doesn’t seem to have been factored in. Still, all you need to do is adjust tracking weight and dial in the appropriate anti-skate setting, and the F300 is good to go. Added to the automatic operation, it makes the whole ownership experience about as painless as it realistically can be. Even the belt that moves the aluminium platter is pre-fitted when you take the player out of its packaging.

  • Features: 4.5/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Sound quality

The Rekkord Audio F300 turntables.

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)
  • Nicely tranquil and fluent sound
  • Good detail retrieval and pleasant rhythmic expression
  • Not especially dynamic or at all punchy

There’s a Paul Simon song that opens with the line, “Well, I’m accustomed to a smooth ride”. It seems unlikely to me that he is referencing the Rekkord Audio F300 (especially as the song in question is getting on for 35 years old), but nevertheless it sprang to mind when I first heard the F300 in action, and I haven’t been able to shift it. 

Because if there’s one thing the F300 offers, it’s a smooth ride. In fact, you could do a lot worse than listen to something like The Rhythm of the Saints (the Paul Simon album from which that line is taken) if you want to hear the Rekkord Audio at its most comfortable and consequently at its best. It fairly glides along in the most natural and unforced manner, handling rhythms and tempos with a deft certainty, digging out plenty of detail at every stage and offering plenty of midrange insight. It has a fair amount of bite at the top of the frequency range, creates a large and plausible soundstage, and has a slightly-warmer-than-neutral tonality that suits the material well.

There’s a pleasing unity to its presentation, and it gives every aspect of the frequency range equal billing. It’s alert to even very minor details, and is able to contextualise them both in terms of their weighting and their position on the stage.   

Rekkord Audio F300 turntables

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

Unfortunately, it’s not even remotely difficult to take the F300 out of its comfort zone where it is, obviously, far less comfortable. A heavyweight reissue of Aphex Twin’s timeless Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 makes the point in unequivocal fashion – the F300 may be alert to small dynamic variations in instruments or voices, but it’s not all that adept at dealing with the big dynamic shifts associated with changes in attack or intensity. The distance between the quietest and loudest moment of this record is no distance at all when described by the Rekkord Audio.

Equally problematic is the relative lack of low-end punch the F300 is able to summon. It has no problem expressing the rhythms of this recording with positivity, but the best it can summon is a sort of mild ‘shove’ where you just know the music wants to hit with greater determination. This lack of rigour, allied to the easy-going overall nature of the F300’s delivery, conspires to serve up a presentation that’s probably most politely described as ‘tepid’. Which is no one’s idea of what Aphex Twin should sound like, let’s face it.

  • Sound: 3/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Design

  • Perspex dust-cover
  • Single-piece MDF plinth
  • Decoupled sub-chassis

A closeup of the Rekkord Audio F300 turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

It’s not easy to make a mainstream record player look anything other than ‘a rectangle with a circle on it’ – and Rekkord Audio hasn’t tried. The F300 looks exactly as you might expect, in a good way.

It’s very nicely built and finished, though, and feels the part just as much as it looks it. The three available finishes (satin black or silver are available as well as the ‘stirling oak’ wood veneer of my review sample) look good, and in the case of the wood veneer model there’s a degree of tactility in the fairly deep grain, too. The plinth is of a single, relative chunky, piece of MDF – a material valued for its rejection of resonances – and the clear Perspex dust-cover on top of it is mildly angled and consequently mildly interesting in visual terms. 

The F300 is distinct from the less expensive models in the Rekkord Audio line-up thanks to the floating sub-chassis that’s visible beneath the aluminium platter. The platter itself, the tonearm assembly and the components that control the automatic operation are all decoupled from the main body of the chassis – and so the theoretical benefits where isolation from internal and external vibrations are obvious.

  • Design: 4.5/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Usability and setup

A close-up of the Rekkord Audio F300 turntable arm.

(Image credit: Future/Simon Lucas)
  • Minimal user input into set-up
  • Even more minimal input needed when playing a record
  • ...Sit back and listen

It’s hard to know how setting up or operating the F300 could be any simpler or more straightforward. If you can’t get a sound out of this record player within minutes of taking it from its box, you should probably have a word with yourself.

There’s a wall-wart mains adapter in the packaging that needs to be plugged in. The captive RCA leads and grounding lead need to be attached to your amplifier, wireless speaker or what-have-you. The aluminium platter needs positioning, the counterweight needs adjusting – as does the anti-skate control. And then you just need to take the plastic guard off the cartridge. You are now set up.

And, of course, the whole point of the F300 relative to most of its rivals is its ease of usability. Select the speed at which you’d like the platter to turn. And then, having put a record on the platter, push ‘start’. The job is very much done.

  • Usability and setup: 5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Value

As a painless-to-own, easy-to-use turntable that’s properly built and finished, it’s difficult in the extreme to fault the value that Rekkord Audio is offering with the F300. Whether or not it sounds like the money’s-worth is, admittedly, a slightly different question - the answer will depend quite strongly on whether you consider the words “laid back” to be especially positive or not… 

Should I buy the Rekkord Audio F300?

Buy it if...

You value convenience
The F300 is as convenient as they currently come.

You admire good engineering
There’s no arguing with the quality of construction here, nor the standard of the engineering involved.

You like an easy-going sound
To be honest, ‘easy-going’ is to understate it somewhat.

Don't buy it if...

You own a lot of 12in singles
Rekkord Audio is adamant: 12in records turn at 33.3rpm, 7in records at 45rpm.

You enjoy upgrading your equipment
The captive leads and the cosy nature of the relationship between tonearm and cartridge don’t lend themselves to upgrades.

You admire a punchy sound
You have a stack of choice if you want a more assertive-sounding turntable. None of the alternatives are automatic, though.

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Also consider

If it’s the automatic operation that’s brought you this deep into the Rekkord Audio F300 review, you won’t find too many alternatives that perform to this sort of standard. If, however, you’re simply in the market for the best-sounding turntable this sort of money can buy, you most definitely have options – Pro-Ject and Rega (see in particular the Rega Planar PL1) are probably the most high-profile turntable brands with very capable machines at this sort of price.

How I tested the Rekkord Audio F300

I plugged its captive RCA connections into my Naim Uniti Star amplifier via a Cambridge Audio phono stage, from where it played through a pair of Audiovector QR-1 SE loudspeakers, and also into the ‘aux’ input of a KEF LS60 wireless speaker system. I played 12in and 7in records of all types, all vintages and various conditions (although I steered clear of those LPs it appears someone has been eating off). And I didn’t stop for the thick end of a week.  

JBL Clip 5 review: an affordable portable speaker with fantastic sound
4:54 pm | August 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

The JBL Clip 5 is reasonably priced at $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95 and is available in the US, the UK, and Australia. Considering that the JBL Go 4 costs $49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95, if your budget can stretch to the JBL Clip 5 the extra investment will return big gains in sound quality and volume levels.

From minute one I was impressed with what this compact Bluetooth speaker had to offer. The Clip 5 is a satisfying mix of durability, practicality, and enjoyable sound in a small package. Is it one of the best Bluetooth speakers around? All in good time. 

The JBL Clip 5 is covered in woven fabric on the front and back, with a silicone mid-section. It has a large plastic carabiner on the top that's easy to open and clip onto things. I’ve had it hanging from door handles, the bathroom mirror, and shelving units amongst other places, and could easily change up its position to allow for the best listening experience. 

There are silicone strips on the back of the speaker body for added stability when the speaker is placed face-up on a surface, and the JBL logo on the front of the speaker is also made from silicone. Above the logo are the play/pause button and the volume up and volume down buttons. These have icons that represent the respective functions – so, a triangular 'play' icon, and plus and minus signs – and I found them satisfying to press. Within the silicone area on the left-hand side of the speaker sit the power, Bluetooth and Auracast buttons.

A close up of the carabiner on the top of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

This pint-sized speaker measures just 3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches / 86 x 134.5 x 46mm, but at 10 ounces / 285g, it feels a little heavy for its size. It’s a shame that it's only possible to hang the Clip 5 or lie it on its back; there was many an occasion when it would have been more convenient to stand it on its base, but its pebble-like shape makes it unstable.

The speaker has IP67 water and dust protection, meaning I wasn’t limited to where I could listen to tunes. It quickly became my favorite bath-time companion, and the steam was no issue for it. We also did a dunk test in the TechRadar testing tank, after which the Clip 5 continued to function quite happily, so whether you want to listen to tunes on the beach or do karaoke in the shower, it looks like this speaker can handle it. JBL has adopted a sustainable approach with the Clip 5 by incorporating some post-consumer recycled materials in the design. Great stuff.

A close up of the back of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve read my JBL Go 4 versus feature, you’ll already know I’m a fan of the JBL Portable app's user-friendly interface. It has an attractive, easy-to-use design that makes it a snap to view the battery level, use Stereo Group mode to play in stereo from two speakers, or use the PartyTogether mode to add other JBL speakers into the mix for amped-up sound.

Further features on the app include PlaytimeBoost, which is designed to boost the volume of the music without consuming more battery power, a Product Information section, and an EQ settings section. There are four equalizer profile presets: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, as well as a customizable EQ profile.

I tested out the Clip 5’s Auracast capabilities by connecting it with a JBL Xtreme 4 and Go 4 speaker. The connection process was easy thanks to PartyTogether mode, and the resulting surround sound effect was impressive. I must admit that my colleague, audio expert Harry Padoan, and I couldn’t help but bop along to the tunes in our music testing room.

A closeup of the control buttons on the side of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The battery is said to last up to 12 hours on the JBL website. When I tested it by playing our TechRadar testing playlist non-stop at 50% volume, it lasted just under eleven-and-a-half hours, which isn’t bad considering how obnoxiously loud the Clip 5 is when playing at this volume level.

The sound quality of the JBL Clip 5 is pretty impressive considering its size and price. It’s capable of some surprisingly deep bass and delivers this without losing the detail, even when just using the default JBL Signature EQ setting.

When I laid the speaker down, I could feel the bass pounding through the surface it was on. Not only was the bass impactful and dynamic in tracks like Black Eye by Allie X, but it also delivered low-frequency bass impressively well when I listened to Angel by Massive Attack.

A close up of the USB C charging port on the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, there was a shortcoming that became apparent when listening to Black Eye. The vocals came across slightly strained and overpowering when listening to the track at 75% volume. They were brought more into proportion when the volume was reduced to 50%; the bass continued to bounce dynamically across the track, and I could still hear the detail in the vocals. I changed to the Energetic EQ preset to see if this made any improvements. While it did what it said on the tin and added some energy to the instrumental element of the track, the vocals continued to have a sharp edge to them. As was also the case with the JBL Go 4, changing over to the Vocal EQ preset just results in all the elements sounding distorted, as if they were recorded underwater.

When listening to Hit the Road Jack by 2WEI and Bri Bryant, the delivery was satisfyingly atmospheric and immersive considering the size of the Clip 5. The different elements layered together well. The bass was dramatic and impactful, and I could hear the finer details in the background of the track as the beat was building up.

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured being held by the carabiner against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Cheaper speakers can struggle with the treble and intensity of some vocal sections on this track, making them sound tinny and strained. The Clip 5 handled it well, but the tinniness did appear at around 75% volume, which seemed to be a running theme when I listened to various tracks. The song Boom Boom by the same artists sounded good at 75%, with plenty of detail and drama, but the highs again began to feel a little harsh; at 50% volume, everything blended together a bit better. So this definitely wouldn’t make a replacement for a party speaker if you wanted to blast out the tunes at a get-together.

Adagio Per Archi E Organo In Sol Minore by the London Philharmonic Orchestra was a satisfying listen with this speaker; there was a clear distinction between the different notes and instruments, but a slightly tinny edge to the sounds of the organ. This will likely only be noticed by audiophiles who are scrutinizing the sound quality, however. I don’t imagine anyone expects perfection at this price point but, actually, outside of the treble troubles, the Clip 5 is certainly reaching for it.

Another enjoyable listen was I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. The guitar and vocals sounded great, and everything was well-proportioned. I could easily hear the detail and depth in Justin’s voice, and the instruments layered together well, with nothing stepping out of line or trying to steal the limelight when it shouldn’t have been.

A close up of the play, pause and volume buttons on the front of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The difference between the sound quality of the Clip 5 and the cheaper JBL Go 4 is certainly noticeable. While there is of course a $30 price difference to consider, I'd say it’s worth it if you want deeper bass and the ability to blast out some tunes without lugging about a bigger speaker – though there's naturally some sacrifice when it comes to sound quality at the higher end of the volume scale. 

If you're still undecided whether the JBL Clip 5 covers all your bases, we’ve curated a list of the best Bluetooth speakers with alternatives suitable for varied budgets and requirements. We also keep track of the best cheap Bluetooth speaker deals, so it's worth checking back now and then to see if there’s money to be saved.

JBL Clip 5 review: Price & release date

  • List price: $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95
  • Available now in the US, UK, and Australia

The JBL Clip 5 was released in June 2024 and is one of JBL’s first speakers to include Auracast capabilities, along with the Xtreme 4 and Go 4. It’s available directly from the JBL website in the US, UK, and Australia for $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95. 

JBL Clip 5 review: Specs

Should I buy the JBL Clip 5?

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

JBL Clip 5 review: Also consider

How I tested the JBL Clip 5

  • I tested the speaker over several months
  • I listened to a variety of music genres and podcasts
  • I played music continuously to determine battery usage

I tested the JBL Clip 5 over a few months. I listened to a variety of music genres, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist that includes tracks ranging from complex and layered instrumentals to deep bass and delicate vocals. This enabled me to determine the speaker's ability to handle different frequencies.

I played our TechRadar playlist on Tidal continuously at 50% volume using the default JBL signature EQ preset to test whether the battery could last up to 12 hours.

I used it to listen to music and podcasts in the TechRadar office, our music testing room, and at home, using Spotify and Tidal from an iPhone 12 Pro and a OnePlus Pad Go.

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: good-value cheap earbuds with just a few too many features
2:40 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: | Comments: Off

Earfun Air Pro 4: Two-minute review

I never thought I’d be knocking a set of good budget earbuds having too many features, or excluding a set of earbuds from our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide for offering too many ANC profiles. But this Earfun Air Pro 4 review changes that.

If you’ve ever heard of Earfun before, you’ll know it as a brand well versed in putting out low-cost but competitive earbuds. You'll also know that its naming conventions can be quite baffling. 

The Air Pro 4 are the successors to 2023’s Air Pro 3 (which we gave a near-perfect review to), and their main difference from the same-priced Free Pro 3 from late 2023 is that they have stems, rather than being purely in-ear beans. They’re also more premium alternatives to the Earfun Air 2, released earlier in 2024, which (like all those other Earfun options) offered some great features at really low prices. But that's a lot of Frees, Airs and graces Pros to get your head around. 

Suffice to say that Earfun has a bustling product suite, perhaps an overwhelming number for people who don’t know which to opt for, and ‘too much’ is the theme of this review too.

In its quest to offer buyers on a budget a wide range of options, Earfun has gone a bit too far, and I found some elements of the experience a little too overwhelming. There are five different ANC modes (not counting ‘off’ and ‘ambient’) and I couldn’t get my head around the differences; there are a whopping 30 equalizer presets and scrolling through the list to find the right option for certain songs or genres was more work than it was worth.

So testing the Earfun Air Pro 4 was initially a bit exhausting – until I gave up, and just stuck to the same modes. I think that's what you'll do too. Do that, and you'll reveal great low-budget earbuds that offer loads of options and fairly respectable, robust audio quality for the price. It's just that wading through the extraneous options becomes a little wearying. 

They feel premium enough too, with a lightweight minimalist design that remains comfortably in the ear, and the case is lovely and small enough to slip into little pockets even though it packs a few premium features like wireless charging.

The sound quality is perfectly acceptable for the price (though if your budget breaches the $/£100 barrier, you’ll have a few more tempting options) and definitely matches the ‘cheap’ with the ‘cheerful’ for most songs.

I also appreciated how the Earfun Air Pro 4’s battery life outstrips most competitors, with 7.5 hours per bud with ANC on and 11 hours with it off. That’s a fair few songs more than you’ll get on most earbuds in this price bracket. 

So if you’re happy to ignore a few too many superfluous and potentially confusing features, or are willing to try and get your head around them, then the Earfun Air Pro 4 are good picks for people on a budget. But if not, then the company has loads more options for you – as do its competitors (more on that later).

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Price and release date

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Unveiled in July 2024
  • Cost $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$140) 

The Earfun Air Pro 4 were announced right at the end of July 2024, and became available to purchase shortly afterwards. The company sells them in certain regions but also has a global option on its website, listed in USD, which is why we don’t have an AUD price.

The buds cost $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$140) which is notably a lower price than the $99.99 / £99.99 (roughly AU$160) Air Pro 3 – those earbuds got price cuts almost immediately after launch, so it's possible that the Air Pro 4 could too.

Earfun has a busy line-up of earbuds and the Air Pro 4 slot in just ahead of most of the others in terms of price; the Air Pro 3, Free Pro 3 and Air Pro SV all cost just a small amount less. The company specializes in low-cost earbuds and these new models are no different.

So yes, the Earfun Air Pro 4 definitely count as cheap earbuds; they won’t break the bank and that fact helps set expectations with the sound quality and features.

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Specs

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Features

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Many (many) equalizer presets
  • ANC is good but too many modes
  • Good battery life compared to rivals

One of my favorite things about Earfun’s other earbuds is that they often trump the competition in terms of battery life, and that’s certainly the case with the Air Pro 4.

With ANC turned on, the buds last for roughly seven and a half hours before you need to return them to the case to power back up; turn ANC off and that figure is even longer at 11 hours. Most same-price rivals go for about 6 and 9 hours respectively, so the Pro 4 is, ahem, Pro-4-ming well here.

Earfun has said that the case can provide up the 52 hours of music playback between all its charges; the website doesn’t state whether that’s with ANC on or off, but I’d imagine it’s with it off. At an estimate, I’d give you 35 and a half hours of listening time from the case if you only listen with ANC on.

On the topic of ANC: it has potential on the Air Pro 4, but an annoying abundance of choice makes it hard for you to make the most of it.

The standard ANC is pretty heavy-duty, cutting out annoying background noises to help you enjoy your music without the chattering of keyboards or whine of noisy trains that you’re working on (at least, those are my favorite uses of it!).

The thing is, in the app there’s no one noise cancellation mode. Instead, there are seven.

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)

These include ambient mode and no ANC (pretty self-explanatory) but five different versions of ANC: strong, balance, AI environment adaptive, AI ear adaptive, and wind noise cancellation. These five all have descriptions about how they’re different but it’s all very vague and I couldn’t hear much of a difference between them, especially the adaptive one. After a few listening sessions of confused testing, I decided just to stick to ‘strong’ and hope for the best.

Beyond this confusing ANC situation, the Earfun app offers the basic features that most companion apps do: a few toggle-able features such as wear detection and low-latency mode for gaming, the ability to customize the controls and a ‘find my headphones’ feature.

There’s an equalizer too and I really took to it: you can customize your sound yourself, or rely on a sound profile mode that tests your hearing (I didn’t find this mode quite as accurate or useful as other companies’ equivalents though, like Nothing’s in the Nothing Ear (a) and Nothing Ear). But the best part is the presets: there are 30 in all, and lots of them make marked differences on the sound profile, so it’s useful if you want to tailor your mix to what you’re listening to.

Frankly, 30 is far too many, and I didn’t want to scroll through a whole list of ‘Bass Reducer 1, 2 and 3’s in order to find specific ones. Instead I stick to a core 15 based on genres of music, and that seemed enough – in situations like this, less is definitely more. I’m just surprised that there can be 30 without any for spoken word or podcasts!

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Design

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • AirPods-style stem earbuds
  • Fairly small charging case
  • IPX5 rating against limited showers

The Air Pro 4 aren’t the smallest earbuds I’ve ever seen, even within Earfun's lineup, but they’re still pretty slender. The buds weigh roughly 5g each (according to my kitchen scales; no official weight is listed) and consist of an eartip, a small body and an AirPods-style stem.

The default tip fit in my ear comfortably and stayed nice and secure through the entire testing process, but Earfun has packed four extra sizes into the box, which is at least one more than you normally see in earbuds – and two more at this budget level. These range from extra-small to extra-large and I commend Earfun on it.

Each bud has a small button, which is the round indentation at the top of the stem that you can see in the images. This only required a gentle touch and so I found them easy to use, although there was a noticeable delay between the press and the desired action being triggered.

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)

The buds have an IPX5 rating, making them protected from streams of water but not immersion in liquid, so you can wear them in the rain or even in the shower, but not in the bath (or pool).

Keeping the Air Pro 4 cozy and safe when you’re not using them is their charging case; from product listing images and the size of the box, you’d imagine this would be quite big, but it was a lot smaller than I expected. It weighs 56g (when the buds are in) and measures 62.4 x 46.6 x 29.2mm.

Said case, which opens in a clamshell style, has a USB-C port for charging but also supports wireless powering. Despite being a small plastic pebble that’s smaller than the average size of a field mouse, it felt sturdy enough to protect the buds well.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Sound quality

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Good sound, rather than great
  • Equalizer gives you customization over sound
  • Several upgrades over predecessor

It’s good that the Earfun equalizer is so in depth in letting you customize your music, because in default mode the buds are good, but not great. For the price, they are better than lots of rivals, but you’d definitely get better audio by paying more.

Unless you boost the treble in the app, it’s a little lacking by default, falling in the mix behind the relatively meaty bass. Mid is also hiding in the back, but I found it susceptible to peaking and distortion at times, with instruments like hi-hats and acoustic guitars getting mushy.

However once you turn to the equalizer, and push the music to its limits, you can get a lot more legroom for enjoying your music. Bass, which is already pretty meaty by default, can gain even more prominence, though it’ll never turn as forceful as on something like the Nothing Buds. 

I enjoyed rescuing the treble, with certain presets pulling it further forward, and the mid to a certain extent – though this put both at higher risk of peaking in songs. And while the presets let you play around with how the different sounds interact, I rarely felt that sounds found energetic.

A few additions to the Air Pro 4 over the Pro 3 is support for a new audio codic, LDAC, allowing for 24-bit/96kbps streaming from supported files or apps, as well as Bluetooth 5.4 for a more reliable connection. This offsets what might, on paper, look like a downgrade in the driver size to 10mm from 11mm.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Value

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Good feature set for price
  • More cash will get you better audio

If you know low-cost earbuds, you’ll know that Earfun always gives you good value for money, and that’s no different here.

The Air Pro 4 give you decent music quality, a long-lasting battery and admirable noise cancellation, and the only thing more slender than the easily-pocketable charging case is the price.

Sure, the Earfun Air Pro 4 isn’t quite as feature-packed as some of the biggest names on the market, but it also costs a third of its big Bose, Apple and Samsung alternatives. 

  • Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Earfun Air Pro 4?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Also consider

How I tested the Earfun Air Pro 4

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for two weeks
  • Tested at home, in the office and on trips

I tested the Earfun Air Pro 4 for two weeks to write this review, which is the standard testing time for earbuds like this. I mainly used them connected to my Android phone, but also paired them to my Windows laptop and iPad during testing.

The listening for this review was done at home, in the office, at the gym, on walks around my neighborhood and also on a couple of long train journeys, so their ANC was really put to the test. I listened to music, podcasts and audio books on Spotify and also watched YouTube videos, streamed Netflix movies, caught lots of the Olympics on Discovery Plus and partook in phone and video calls, all using the buds.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for over five years now, and in that time have used plenty of budget earbuds including previous Earfun options.

  • First reviewed in August 2024
I tried the new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the fit is way less clunky than before
8:10 pm | August 13, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Google first introduced the inaugural Pixel Buds Pro back in 2022, so it’s about time we had a new model, and the technology giant has unveiled just that, alongside the third-generation Pixel Watch and four phones under the Pixel 9 umbrella. 

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 might look a bit similar to their older siblings, but the portion that rests in your ear is slimmer and delivers a more comfortable fit, at least from my first impressions. Under the hood, these are the first earbuds with a Google Tensor chip to power some Pixel Buds-only features like ‘Clear Calling’ and promise improvements to both noise cancellation and battery life.

Now, ahead of a full-fat review, I’m sharing my very early first impressions. How early are we talking? I got to wear them in my ears with a medium-sized ear tip, but I didn’t get to listen to music or test out the new features. So I’ll share my opinions on fit and also run through the latest promised enhancements. And of course, I'll go hands-on as soon as possible and fully test them for a review as well.

Pricing and availability

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 in pink, on a desk

(Image credit: Future)

Regardless of which color you choose, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 will cost $229.99 / £219 / around AU$379. You can pick between Hazel, Porcelain, Wintergreen, or Peony – and having seen 'em all, those last two are my favorite and the most fun.

If you’re already sold, preorders are open. However, Google isn’t shipping the Pixel Buds Pro 2 until September 26, 2024, so you’ll have to wait a bit – in fact, that’s after the Pixel 9 family, including Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 3. 

The wait to jam might very well be worth it, though.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

Much lighter and way more cozy

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 in Wintergreen

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

The earbuds still have a friendly circle that sticks out of your ear to the world with a “G” Google logo and capacitive touch controls, but it’s no longer attached to a longer, ovular piece that goes in the ear and attached to the ear tip. 

It’s now a molded, black, circular piece of plastic with an ear tip attached to the end. You’ll still get several sizes in the box, but the real significance is that each Pixel Bud Pro 2 weighs in at just 4.7 grams, which is 27% lighter than the original.

In my short first impressions, I slid the Pixel Buds Pro 2 into my ears and immediately noticed a more nestled, cozy fit that didn’t weigh down my ears as much. They also protrude far less and have a new twist-to-adjust stabilizer, which is not a wing tip but, like Studio Buds Plus from Beats, kind of like a corkscrew that you can turn to the left or right to stabilize these in your ear.

It aims to ensure the Pixel Buds Pro 2 won’t fall out, but the added bonus is a better seal in your ear. This way, whatever you’re listening to sounds better, and you can passively block out environmental sounds around you. This refreshed design and the onboard Google-made Tensor A1 chip also promises up to two times more effective active noise cancellation. Google is calling this Silent Seal 2.0, and I’m really keen to try it out, especially considering how good of a passive seal these provide. 

Google Pixel Bud Pro 2 in Wintergreen

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Much like AirPods Pro 2, Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a conversation detection feature that allows you to have a conversation with someone without removing the earbuds. The device switches into a listening mode that lets environmental sound in.

Powering the audio in each Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be a new 11-millimeter driver with a high-frequency chamber that works with the Tensor A1 chip for audio processing. These also still offer support for ‘Spatial Audio with Head Tracking’ with the right tracks.

Aside from music playback and noise cancellation, like other listening modes, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will also pair and connect seamlessly between other Pixel devices –be it a Pixel phone, Tablet, or Watch. Similar to how Google Gemini is unashamedly front-and-center within its latest phones, you will be able to use Gemini on Pixel Buds Pro 2, and it will effectively be the smart assistant here. I hope it yields some improvements with the live translation features of the past.

Regarding battery life, Google says that Pixel Buds Pro 2 can last for up to 12 hours with active noise cancellation off or 8 hours with that listening mode enabled. That’s pretty much in line with other similarly priced earbuds, and I’m eager to see how this claim runs in our testing. When you factor in recharges in the case, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 should last for up to 30 hours. Here's the rub: the older set will serve up to 11 hours from the buds, or up to 31 hours total listening time with the wireless charging case… so a minor downgrade there. 

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, bottom of case

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

As I was hoping to see, just like the AirPods Pro 2, Google added a speaker to the Pixel Buds case. This means that when you misplace the Pro 2, you can still see the location but can also ping the case, and make it emit a sound so you can hear it. 

Considering the improved design – and the lovely shades of Peony and Wintergreen – plus the more comfortable design, I have high hopes for the audio playback and noise cancellation chops here. 

Most importantly, though they stick out less and aren’t as cumbersome. So, let’s just hope the other aspects live up to the hype.

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Sonos Roam 2 review: a great sounding Bluetooth speaker gets even better
8:00 pm | August 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Sonos Roam 2: two-minute review

The Sonos Roam 2 is the brand's latest speaker, and while much of the attention on Sonos lately has been on its app and new Ace headphones, speakers are at the heart of its lineup. These all seamlessly connect with each other for a great listening experience with easy access to plenty of services either in the home or outside. 

The Sonos Roam 2 replaces one of the best Bluetooth speakers, and launched alongside the Sonos Ace headphones with little fanfare and only a handful of changes that were mostly under the hood. The main changes here are an extra button to make setup easier and a slight redesign in terms of colors. 

At $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 is certainly not a cheap or an ultra-affordable speaker, but it does get you a Sonos product for that price, and that's what really adds up to a winning device here. Adding a dedicated button on the back lets you more effortlessly switch between using this lightweight speaker on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Furthermore, with either, you'll get a stable, drop-free experience – at least I did during my over two months of testing.

The Roam 2 also fits right in with other Sonos products, offering a rich, clear, and balanced experience that doesn't come across as flat, especially the soundstage. Whether it was Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, The Rolling Stones, or Taylor Swift, the Roam 2 sounded great. Thanks to the Automatic Trueplay feature, it also adjusts the mix on its own to make sure it sounds at the same level wherever you are.

It's also very lightweight and easily movable, with a pretty minimalist design that puts the focus on the music versus some fancy party tricks. The let-down, though, is the battery life and that limits how travel-ready the Roam 2 truly is. At 10 hours it falls behind both more expensive and more affordable speakers, which means you'll want to bring a power bank with you.

I’ve spent about three months with the Roam 2, using it at home, on trips to the Jersey Shore, and even on weekend trips, and it's a great speaker. While it isn't an immediate upgrade if you already have a Roam, unless the single button on the back is driving you crazy, the Roam 2 is an excellent option for someone who wants a terrific-sounding Bluetooth speaker that offers a premium build and a higher-end feature list.

Sonos Roam 2 in 'Wave'

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 Review: Price and release date

  • $179 / £179 / AU$299
  • Available in Black, White, Olive, Sunset, or Wave
  • Released in May 2024

If you're already sold, the good news is that the Sonos Roam 2 is readily available. Regardless of color, the Roam 2 is priced at $179 / £179 / AU$299 and comes in either Black, White, Olive, Sunset, or Wave. 

This isn't cheap by small portable speaker standards – you can get the likes of the JBL Flip 6 for a lot less, which still sound great. However, you won't get Wi-Fi connectivity too there, so the Sonos brings its own value.

In the box, you'll get some documentation and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging. You can, of course, bring your own cable or use another, but the Roam 2 can also recharge wirelessly. You're not required to invest in the one that Sonos makes, but it does offer a wireless charger that matches perfectly with the design of the Roam 2 for $49.99.

Sonos Roam 2 review: Specs

The top controls on the Sonos Roam 2.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Features

  • The Roam 2 is both a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker
  • Automatic Trueplay ensures great playback in any environment
  • 10 hours of battery life will leave you wanting more

While Sonos is declaring this the Roam 2, it could probably pass for a Roam 1.5, given the minute changes here. Then again, considering how stellar a wireless speaker the original Roam was – with excellent playback and connectivity – it allowed the brand to fix its shortcomings. 

The biggest advantage over the sea of other Bluetooth speakers available at, above, or below the price is that Roam 2 is a full-throttle Sonos speaker in every sense. For one, it boasts Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and thanks to the latter, it fully integrates with the Sonos ecosystem. 

Bluetooth makes the Roam 2 easy to use while on a trip, whether it be to another state, country, or simply to a park. As I’ll discuss in the Design section later, Sonos fixed the biggest gripe with the original by adding a dedicated Bluetooth button – above the one for power – on the back. You can easily connect by just holding the Bluetooth button on the back, seeing the light on the front switch to a glowing blue, and connecting from your phone to play easily from your service or library of choice. 

It also eliminates the requirement of using the Sonos app to use the Roam, and even in Bluetooth, it delivers a rich playback experience. Furthermore, both indoors and outdoors, I had zero Bluetooth connectivity issues or dropouts. 

Wi-Fi connectivity is the key to the integration of the Roam 2 with other Sonos products you may already have in your home. I’ve used the ultra-portable speaker with a Beam 2nd Gen, Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2, and it fits right in. I can easily add it to the mix or first start playing on the Roam 2 and then add the other speakers. It’s also a great speaker to carry around in the home to bring music elsewhere… for me, that was to the bathroom, and it serves excellently as a shower speaker. 

While the Sonos app has had its ups and downs, I still like it because it makes it easy to group speakers together succinctly and places most streaming services – be it the big-hitters like Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal, or hundreds of others – under one roof, and lets you get to streaming pretty easily. It’s still a main selling point here and is different from competing Bluetooth speakers. I also really appreciate the integration of "Automatic Trueplay," which lets the Roam 2 automatically adjust the EQ on the fly through onboard microphones for the best playback possible.

It's a major disappointment that Sonos didn’t expand the battery size or the overall runtime. just like the first-generation, the Roam 2 is rated for 10 hours of playback, and that’s exactly what I’ve been hitting with either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth streaming. 

In two tests, I streamed a long playlist of songs and found that Roam 2 streamed playback with the volume at 60% for 10 hours. I was able to use it for most of the day on the beach and several hours at a time during a BBQ function. For both of these, it was on Bluetooth connectivity, but at home, I tend to move the Roam 2 around, but I generally find myself plugging it in; it’s not perfect, but it is a pretty seamless way to solve the maximum 10 hours of playback. Sonos does include a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, but you won’t find a power brick or a wireless charger.

Simply, that’s a bit low for a Bluetooth speaker that costs this much, but it’s not a dealbreaker when you consider the other features here, especially if you want something to play within the broader Sonos ecosystem. 

In a similar vein to battery life here, the microphone situation on the Roam 2 is an interesting one. When on Wi-Fi, you can use the built-in voice microphone with Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. Through this, it acts like an Echo with the former, and with the latter, you can ask Giancarlo Esposito to play your favorite songs. But when on Bluetooth, you can’t use the Roam 2 as a speakerphone or for conference calls. A little strange, but in line with the first-generation.

Even with battery shortcomings and microphone oddities on the Roam 2, these features largely support excellent audio quality and minimalist design quite well. This makes Roam 2 an excellent choice for someone who’s already in or brand-new to the Sonos ecosystem. 

While this is more expensive than smaller Bluetooth speakers and even similarly sized ones like the Beats Pill, the Roam 2 feels higher-end, with excellent sound in a simple build. 

  • Features score: 4/5

Sonos Roam 2 in 'Wave'

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Sound Quality

  • Delivers excellent sound that punches far above its size
  • Produces a wide soundstage that doesn't over emphasize bass
  • Great sound quality over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

And simply, that’s an excellent sound that punches far above the sheer size. The Roam 2, like the original Sonos Roam, is powered by a tweeter, mid-woofer, and two class-H digital amplifiers that are all controlled by Sonos’ sound engineering. That’s a lot of tech jargon, but the Roam 2 produces an excellent sound that works for a broad range of artists, and presents low, mid, and high frequencies quite well.

When just paired over Bluetooth, skipping the Sonos app experience, I think most will be happy with the balanced sound. It’s not necessarily heavy on bass, especially with pop tracks, but it does let that element of a song be heard. 

While playing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, the speaker mimics the wall of sound effects quite nicely, letting you hear the various elements of the mix, including guitars, drums, piano, and saxophone. A live cut of Racing In The Street by the same boss lets the piano opening riff and closing interlude flow across various frequency ranges with zero distortion. That’s powerful on its own, but it sounds great when paired with Springtseen’s vocals and the rest of the band kicking in – saxophone, bass, backing guitars, and drums – all at once. 

For most tracks at moderate volumes reaching, say, 80%, the audio experience is both rich and crisp with a wide soundstage that doesn’t feel like it’s compressing any element. You also have the ability to hop into the Sonos app for Android or iOS to adjust the EQ to your liking. Remember, another benefit here is Automatic Trueplay. Like on other Sonos speakers, it will tap the onboard microphones to help tune the mix in real time – for instance, if it needs to lower or up the bass, depending on where you are using it.

I also really enjoyed pop tracks on the Roam 2, like Apple by Charli XCX, which delivered thumping bass with smooth vocals and EDM sounds layered on top, to bad idea right? by Olivia Rodrigo, which showed how the speaker could handle vocals at varying frequencies. 

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sonos Roam 2 features a dedicated button for Bluetooth connectivity.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Design

  • The Roam 2 doesn't call much attention to itself with a minimalistic build
  • The addition of a Bluetooth button on the back fixes a major issue with the original
  • It's ready for a trip to the beach or a tumble in a park with a IP67 resistance rating

The Roam 2 largely looks like the original Roam. It’s still super portable, either held in hand or tossed into a backpack at just 0.95 lbs and it stands at about the size of a water bottle. It comes in a few shades, and I’m particularly fond of the “Wave” shade, which is essentially a light blue. It’s easy to spot and a bit more fun without popping too much. 

Compared to the original Roam, the second generation is hard to tell apart. One way is that the Sonos logo on the front is now color-matched to the rest of the speaker. It still sits on top of the front grille, which is where the sound gets pushed out. Unlike competing options from, say, Ultimate Ears, the Roam 2 simply pushes sound out the front. That’s something to keep in mind when placing it.

The Roam 2's top and bottom, or end caps, are rubberized, which makes it easy to stand vertically. However, you can also place it horizontally, and four pegs let it rest easily and not shake too much when you’re playing a rock-roll classic or a pop hit at full blast. 

On the top of the Roam 2, you’ll find four physical buttons – microphone on or off, volume down, play or pause, and volume up. They're all easy to find, and unlike on the Sonos Era 100, they aren’t capacitive. Considering you can take this speaker to the beach and toss it in the sand or use it in the rain, this is probably a good design call. I also successfully used it in those two environments and dunked the Roam 2 a few times. It held up just fine, and that’s thanks to its IP67 resistance rating. 

Sonos’ best design decision with the Roam 2 can be witnessed on the back, though. You might recall that the original only had one physical button on the rear that had to be used to turn the Roam on or off, as well as for connectivity. It was a bit of a pain to use, and as someone who’s had an original Roam since launch, I never really forgot the oddity of it. That is rectified here as there are two buttons on the back – a power button and a Bluetooth pairing one. Rejoice! 

This not only makes it easy to turn the Roam on or off, but you can also power it on and immediately use it without having to connect or pair it with the Sonos app on your Android or iOS device. You can immediately start streaming music from an iPhone or any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Lastly, the Roam 2 has a USB-C port on the back that can be used to charge the speaker. Unlike other options, there is no reverse charging here. Thanks to a Qi unit on the bottom, you can also wirelessly charge the Roam 2. 

On the whole, I was already pretty fond of the Roam 2's design. As we said in our first generation review, it is a “really attractive” Bluetooth speaker that sticks with Sonos’ minimalist focus. It might not be as vibrant or LED light-filled as competing options, but that also lets the focus be on the sound it produces.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Sonos Roam 2

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Value

  • Sonos fixed most of the issues with the original here
  • For the price, you get an excellent piece of hardware with rich sound that's on par with other speakers
  • You can spend less for a great sounding longer-lasting speaker

Whether you have a home-filled with Sonos speakers or are brand new to the connected audio brand, the Roam 2 should be on your sort list for an ultra-portable speaker. It fixes one of the biggest pain points with the original, while still delivering excellent sound in a strong build that comes in some fun shades.

Thanks to the Bluetooth button on the back, you can easily unbox it and get right to playing music if you're away from home. You'll just power the Roam 2 on, hold it in, and connect from your Bluetooth-enabled device to start streaming. The onboard tweeter and woofer deliver a rich, balanced audio experience that can get surprisingly loud for the sheer size, and it outpaces competing Bluetooth speakers.

The Roam 2 also has an edge when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity, letting it integrate with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio and, in fact, works with the Sonos app for easy music streaming from a plethora of sources. You can also use the onboard microphone with Amazon Alexa for other smart controls. 

It's not all perfect, though; at $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 should last longer than just 10 hours, and you can get more mileage for a lot less. You might also be looking for a more fun design or integration with other platforms that Roam 2 doesn't offer. 

Still, even with a battery life shortcoming, the Roam 2 offers improvements to an already excellent Bluetooth (and Wi-Fi) speaker. While it's not an immediate upgrade for folks with the original – unless you're frustrated by the lack of a Bluetooth button – the Roam 2 is an excellent option for someone who wants excellent sound in an ultra-portable build with simple aesthetics. 

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Sonos Roam 2 in Wave.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Should you buy the Sonos Roam 2?

Buy it if...

You're already in the Sonos ecosystem
I love how the Roam 2 fits right at home with an existing Sonos ecosystem and I can easily carry this around my home, or continue the experience outside. If you already have a Sonos setup, the Roam 2 gives you the best of both worlds. 

You want a simple, ultra-portable speaker
The Roam 2 not only looks great and has plenty of buttons, but it's really easy to take it on the go with you... both near and far.

Don't buy it if...

You need a long-lasting speaker
At just 10 hours of battery life, the Roam 2 is the opposite of a road warrior, so if you want a speaker that can last for days you'll want to look elsewhere.

You don't want to spend a ton
At $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 is in the higher-end sector of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers, and while the feature list mostly matches the price tag, there are plenty of cheaper options out there.

Sonos Roam 2 review: Also consider

Beats Pill
Yes, the iconic Beats Pill is back and asides from a strange button situation that reminds me of the first-gen Roam, it's a very well-feature Bluetooth speaker that checks off nearly all of the boxes. It offers rich, booming sound, nearly ultra-long battery life at 24-hours, and pairs seamlessly with an iOS or Android device. Here's our full Beats Pill review for more information.

JBL Flip 6
The JBL Flip 6 is a little older, as it launched in late 2021, but like the Roam 2 is beach-ready with an IP67 resistance rating. It's nearly the same size and offers excellent sound, but it also has a party mode which the Roam doesn't offer while on Bluetooth. You can connect the Flip 6 with up to 100 other JBL speakers with the PartyBoost functionality. IT remains a great buy today, so here's our full JBL Flip 6 review.

Sonos Roam 2 Bluetooth Pairing

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

How I tested the Sonos Roam 2

  • Tested over two months on its own and in conjunction with other Sonos speakers
  • Listened to a range of music over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections
  • Tested in a variety of spaces, both inside and outside

I tested the Sonos Roam 2 for over two months with a long list of my favorite tracks across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and jazz, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist, which has a wide range of songs. I tried to throw a broad range of tracks at the Roam 2, from Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles to Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Charli XCX. 

Since it works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, I tried the former with several devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Mini, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel Fold, Google Pixel 8, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6. On Wi-Fi, I used it on my pre-existing Sonos system that consists of an Era 100, Roam 1st Gen, Sonos Beam 2nd Gen, Sonos Sub Mini, Sonos Move 2nd Gen, and a Sonos Era 300.

I tested the battery qualitatively in a broad range of places and a formal test to see what it netted out at. I ran it through a long playlist twice with the volume set to 60%.

Beats Solo Buds review: budget earbuds with an epic battery… but where’s the bass?
2:34 pm | August 9, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Beats Solo Buds: two-minute review

The Beats Solo Buds are the cheapest earbuds the brand has ever made. Arriving in a compact package, they’re easy to sling in a bag or back pocket, lacking the bulk of many  more premium true wireless options. They also come with possibly the best in-bud battery life I’ve ever seen, stretching easily to several days of intense listening. Nevertheless, they make several compromises that mean they're harder to recommend for serious music fans.

The Beats Solo Buds offer a good range of features – although, inevitably, not anywhere close to the number that come with pricier models. Multi-point pairing is rock solid, while one-touch pairing makes connecting them a dream for Apple users. Literally all I had to do was tap them to my devices and I was good to go.

Once you’re connected, you can settle in for a lengthy listening session: Beats states that the earbuds’ internal battery will last for an epic 18 hours – which rivals that of almost any of the best wireless earbuds. And while there’s no additional charge in the case, the Solo Buds’ fast-charging means you’ll gain a full hour of listening from plugging them in for just five minutes. No more worrying about your buds dying when you’re only part of the way home from work.

There are definitely a few features absent here, though. The lack of active noise cancellation means these aren’t the best buds for keeping background noise at bay. Often I also found myself missing the in-ear detection that many rivals offer, so they auto-pause when you remove them. There are no fancy smart features here such as spatial audio with head tracking or adaptive EQ, either.

In addition, when it comes to sound quality, the Solo Buds are a bit of a mixed bag. For a lot of people, Beats means bass; but the brand has changed its priorities in recent times, refocusing on feature-set over whomping bass. This is fully evident in the Solo Buds, which lack impact and definition in the low end; without the bass to provide a firm footing, busier mixes can end up sounding a little ill-defined.

It’s not all disappointing, though: the Beats Solo Buds deliver crisp and clear mids, showcasing vocals and many acoustic instruments at their best. Admittedly, the highest trebles do pull a few punches – but for me, that remains preferable than an overly bright and brittle edge to hats and guitars. Plus, they still manage a good sense of separation between different instruments when you’re listening to less crowded recordings.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a brand such as Beats, design is where the Solo Buds really shine. They’re some of the smallest buds I’ve ever seen: they sit relatively discreetly in your ears unlike many of the gargantuan earbuds on the market. And thanks to the lack of a separate battery, their case is slight enough that I could carry the buds around in my pocket everywhere I went, and only really think of them when I needed them.

Moreover, they’re some of the most comfortable buds I’ve ever worn. Being secure enough to stay in your ears while not being so unyielding that they start to ache during long listening sessions is a tightrope many earbuds struggle to walk; the Beats Solo Buds cartwheel along it. The only discomfort I ever experienced was due to the placement of their button – given it sits opposite your ear canal, I felt like I might  puncture my brain or had to grasp the bud awkwardly every time I went to press it.

Not everyone is looking for the same things from earbuds. So if your priority is cool-looking, super-comfortable buds with a life that would make Methuselah envious, then they’re a solid choice. However, those looking for superior sound quality or features such as ANC would ultimately be better off with the Sony WF-C700N for a very similar price, or opting for another pair from our list of the best budget wireless earbuds instead.

Beats Solo Buds review: price & release date

The Beats Solo Buds come with a price tag of $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95. This makes them the cheapest wireless earbuds the brand has ever produced, something that I’m certain makes them a super-tempting proposition for cash-strapped fans of the best Beats headphones.

They come in four different colorways. Matte Black and Storm Grey probably speak for themselves, given they’re basically the same hues that the majority of earbuds arrive in, but the Beats Solo Buds are also available in the more vibrant options of Arctic Purple (our review model), which is a pleasingly subtle lavender hue, and Transparent Red, a bold crimson with a translucent case.

Beats Solo Buds review: specs

The Beats Solo Buds

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Solo Buds review: features

  • Epic in-bud battery life…
  • … but no in-case charging
  • Fewer features than more expensive buds

For a pair of affordable earbuds, the Beats Solo Buds have a very solid feature set – even if they can’t eclipse many of their more high-end rivals.

Apple’s one-touch pairing is excellent, as always. Holding up the Solo Buds’ case to my iPhone 13 Pro, they paired in a trice. Pairing with my MacBook required a few more steps, but it was still trivially simple. In addition, the improvements in recent versions of Bluetooth have made chopping and changing between devices so much easier – I never once struggled to switch between my phone and laptop, with the buds switching as soon as I tapped their icon in Bluetooth settings.

Perhaps the biggest selling point of the Solo Buds is their battery life, which Beats maintains is an absurd 18 hours. This is a hell of a claim – and naturally, I wasn’t going to just take it as granted, so I set them to play continuous 256kbps audio at half volume for six hours. My skepticism was entirely unfounded. During that time, the battery drained just 34%, meaning that a rough life of 17.5 hours is entirely realistic. That’s an unreal amount of listening to get from a single charge, and I’ve never seen another pair of earbuds come close.

However, this does come with a heavy caveat. The Solo Buds’ super-slim case comes at the cost of an internal battery, which means that 18 hours is the total: you won’t get any more juice while the buds are stowed in the case.

Nevertheless, their fast-charging feature – or Fast Fuel, as it’s inexplicably dubbed – is a huge help when that battery does finally run flat. Keen to test Beats’ claims that it would deliver a full hour of juice after just five minutes of charging, I plugged them in for five minutes via USB-C and then listened at half volume until the battery died. They lasted 75 minutes, smashing the figure the brand promised.

The ability to charge the buds from your phone is also a seriously helpful feature when you’re caught short and don’t have access to a socket. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll only be able to access this feature if you have an iPhone 15 or a compatible Android device; sadly, anyone without a USB-C-powered device is out of luck. Still, you’ll likely be topping up far less than you’d expect, making these buds a good choice for someone who loves marathon listening sessions.

As mentioned, there are a fair few features missing from the Beats Solo Buds compared to more premium buds. If you’re hoping for active noise cancelling, you should look elsewhere – for example, the Nothing Ear (a) and Sony WF-C700N for only slightly more, or the Earfun Air Pro 3 for slightly less (though these are much bulkier).

Some of the features of Apple’s AirPods haven’t trickled down here, either: there’s no adaptive EQ that uses clever algorithms to optimize audio to the shape of your ears. Additionally, despite still having settings on the iPhone referring to Automatic Ear Detection, so they pause when removed or play when replaced automatically, the Solo Buds don’t actually offer it. It isn’t an essential feature; but once you’ve been relying on it, it’s hard to go back to buds that aren’t capable of it.

Finally, while the box advertises that the Beats Solo Buds have Spatial Audio, don’t get too excited – it doesn’t offer the fancy head-tracking that the AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Fit Pro do. Instead, this simply means you’ll get the same audio processing algorithms that allow other bog-standard buds to add extra separation to Dolby Atmos music with Apple devices.

  • Features score: 3.5 / 5

The Beats Solo Buds

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Solo Buds review: sound quality

  • Weak bass
  • Bit on the quiet side
  • Call quality is decent

I’ll be 100% honest: when I first listened to the Beats Solo Buds, my response was… not good. The sound struck me as anemic, with a weak low end and a muffled treble; it gave me the uncomfortable sensation of my ears being stuffed with cotton wool. Worse, the volume was deeply underwhelming. I worked out that I was listening in Dolby Atmos mostly, and this was the culprit – it's much quieter, and mixed differently. I wouldn’t recommend dabbling in this for music with these buds, since it involves a few too many compromises.

So how do the Beats Solo Buds perform when they’re not attempting to simulate 3D soundtracks? The answer is probably “better… but not the best”. 

For a brand that was once synonymous with bountiful bass, Beats has really struggled to get much oomph out of the Solo Buds’ low end. Listening to Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, I found the toms and snares cut through well, giving the song a decent pace, while those crisp guitar strings displayed plenty of bite. Unfortunately, though, the bass guitar was almost entirely lost in the mix, which is a bit of a shame and makes the result feel a bit lacking in guts.

It’s not all bad news: these earbuds can definitely make certain frequencies in the mix shine. When I listened to St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins and Max Roach, Rollins’ sax line clearly sat in that acoustic sweet spot, soaring over the mix with all the expected harmonic richness, while the click of Roach’s drumsticks and the taut skins of the toms were easily appreciable. Unfortunately, the piano was mostly lost in the mix – it felt like a word that was on the tip of my tongue, so nearly in grasp and yet just out of reach.

And this becomes more noticeable depending on the quality of the material you feed these buds. While listening to Black Eye by Allie X on Apple Music’s higher-quality 256kbps AAC setting, I was impressed with the punch of the snare and the trebly kick, while those poppy synth lines really felt clear and immediate. However, swapping to Spotify’s more lossy, 160kbps free tier showed up more of the Solo Buds’ flaws – the mix sounded a little more cohesive but also quite insubstantial, with the sound much more concentrated around the mid-highs and coming out quite a bit quieter to boot.

On the plus side, when you’re listening to sparser recordings, the Beats Solo Buds do a pretty respectable job of positioning things in the mix, with each element able to enjoy much more space and clarity. Listening to Timeless by Poppy Ackroyd, I could hear the timbre of instruments much better than in more crowded recordings – the pizzicato strings and the creak of the piano mechanism were so wonderfully crisp in comparison to the more muted tone of the keys and the sweet ebb and flow of the bowed violin.

Sadly, the Beats Solo Buds aren’t especially loud. Often when I was using them in the office, it felt like the sounds of typing, chatter and gadget wrangling were more audible than the music to which I was listening. This wouldn’t be a massive issue in and of itself, but the earbuds also don’t present the best noise isolation. Playing podcasts in a quiet room, you can hear all the facts and banter with crystal clarity; when you’re walking along a busy street, they have stiff competition from the world around you. This means the Beats Solo Buds are almost certainly safe for listening to while cycling during rush hour, but less good if you’re looking to shut the world out on your commute.

While I was out and about, I also tested the Solo Buds’ leading-edge microphones to see how they handled voice quality for phone calls. While I didn’t get quite the crystal clarity you sometimes get from premium, over-ear cans, the people on the other end of the line said they could always hear me just fine, even when cars were tearing past. And this was borne out when I recorded some voice notes: traffic caused a slight whoosh as it went by, but not the roar you’d expect, showing how hard the algorithm is working to keep your voice clear.

  • Sound quality: 3 / 5

Female reviewer with blonde and pink hair modeling the Beats Solo Buds

TechRadar’s reviewer Cesci Angell kindly modeling the Beats Solo Buds for me – my nails are definitely not that well manicured. (Image credit: Future)

Beats Solo Buds review: design

  • Super comfortable fit
  • Attractive design and slim case
  • Button placement isn’t particularly ergonomic

While the Beats Solo Buds might not be an unqualified sonic success, their design definitely still feels like it has plenty of the old Beats magic. Visually, they’re deeply pleasing, featuring gentle rounded curves, rather than the unsightly tacked-on discs, stems and other protuberances you often see in earbuds these days. And while the buds themselves are slight and lightweight, it’s the case that really impresses: it’s far more slimline than many others out there, which makes losing out on extra battery charges for your buds an almost worthwhile sacrifice.

The various colors available look great as well. Personally, I feel that the Arctic Purple I received for review is the best of the bunch; but Transparent Red also looks great and is the obvious choice for anyone wanting to shout about their new pair of Beats from the rooftops. Matte Black and Storm Grey are more restrained but nevertheless exude class. No matter which color you choose, you can be sure of one thing: these look far better than your average pair of budget earbuds.

Both the buds and the case are made from a gloriously smooth matte plastic that feels great under your fingertips. The buds themselves feel particularly tactile; often I found myself reaching for them over other earbuds just because I enjoyed the way they felt in my hands. And they pop in and out of the case with a satisfying click as the magnets lock them into place – a nice bit of near-haptic feedback, so you know immediately that your buds have found their way home.

The Beats Solo Buds come with silicone ear tips in four different sizes, from small to extra large. After experimenting with every size, I found that the medium provided me with the best seal; but, naturally, you’ll want to try them all to find what works best for your ears.

Having tested no end of earphones and earbuds over the years, I can honestly say that the Beats Solo Buds are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever tried. They sat snugly in my ears, with the ear tips forming a close seal in my ear canal. Their contours closely mirrored the shape of my ear, meaning they never once felt loose or even needed adjusting, and they didn’t get uncomfortable, even after long listening sessions.

Keen to really put this fit to the test, I even tried doing a couple of workouts with the buds in my ears. Now, the Beats Solo Buds aren’t really designed for exercise, and their lack of IP rating means that they won’t be able to withstand sweat as well as actual dedicated workout buds – so you might not want to try this at home. Still, the buds stayed firmly in place, even during my most high-intensity workout, which means you can definitely count on them to stay put while you dash for a train.

That’s not to say the Beats Solo Buds are completely free of missteps where their design is concerned. First of all, their lack of stems and relatively uniform design means that, on occasion, I’d absent-mindedly find myself trying to put them in the wrong way up. This can be solved fairly simply by looking closely at the bud before you insert it, but it’s easy to forget this when you’re in the middle of other things.

Personally, though, I find this less of an issue than the controls. Like many earbuds, the Solo Buds feature a multi-purpose button on each bud that you press a certain number of times for various actions: once, for play/pause; twice, for skip forward; and three times, for skip backward. Unfortunately, the positioning of the button means pressing it drives the whole bud deep into your ear canal, making me feel like I was going to perforate an eardrum every time I paused my music. Eventually I realized that gripping the bud at the top and bottom with my fingers stabilized it enough to allow me to press the button without discomfort; but I feel like lowering the pressure required to push the button or repositioning the button would have been much more ergonomic.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

Beats Solo Buds review: value

  • Cheapest earbuds Beats have ever sold…
  • But they don’t offer as good value as other affordable buds
  • You can get better sound for your spend

How sweet a deal you’re getting with the Beats Solo Buds will almost certainly depend on your perspective. As I’ve already mentioned, these are the cheapest wireless earbuds the brand has ever offered, and if you’ve been clamoring for a pair of Beats but have only a modest budget, then these will definitely scratch that itch for you.

However, in comparison to other products on the market, I’m not convinced that they offer the absolute best return on investment. Both the Sony WF-C700N and Nothing Ear (a) offer more well-rounded, energetic sound, not to mention ANC to boot – and while they both retail for $20 / £20 or less more, they’re often on sale for a similar price or even cheaper than the Solo Buds.

If you’re not so bothered about sound quality and just want a stylish, super-comfortable set of buds with epic battery life, this is still a very reasonable price. But if you want the best sound quality for your buck, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

  • Value score: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Beats Solo Buds?

Buy them if…

You want super-comfortable buds you can slip in a pocket
These tiny buds not only feel comfortable for long listening sessions but their super-slimline case is easy to slip into a pocket and forget it’s even there. That makes them perfect for carrying wherever you go.

You want hours of listening without having top them up
With their 18-hour battery life, the Beats Solo Buds will go on and on without you ever having to take them out of your ears. If you have a long trip or a marathon coming up, these buds will last you – and then some.

Don’t buy them if…

You want the best audio quality for your buck
Frankly, well-rounded audio is not the Solo Buds’ strong suit. And while no budget earbuds will offer truly audiophile-grade sound, many similarly priced buds offer more confident, satisfying sound.

You want to hear your tunes and nothing else
Given their relative quietness and their lack of noise isolation, these aren’t buds for shutting out the world. Instead, they’ll leave you very aware of your surroundings – whether you want to be or not.

Beats Solo Buds review: also consider

Nothing Ear (a)
Costing only $20 / £20 (roughly AU$52) more than the Solo Buds – and often less than that – the Nothing Ear (a) are an enticing all-round package. They offer emphatic, detailed sound, effective noise-canceling, and in-ear detection. And that zesty yellow colorway makes them even more eye-catching than a pair of Beats. Here's our full Nothing Ear (a) review.

Sony WF-C700N
Not only do the Sony WF-C700N offer wonderfully clear, well-rounded sound, but they also rock Sony’s spatial-audio equivalent 360 Reality Audio. On top of this, their Adaptive Sound Control learns your routine, automatically tailoring their noise canceling based on whether you’re sat at your desk or out for a run. Here's our full Sony WF-C700N review.

Beats Solo Buds review: How I tested

  • I used them for over two weeks
  • Listened to a wide array of music, podcasts and movie soundtracks
  • Compared them against other affordable earbuds

To test the Beats Solo Buds, I used them for over two weeks. I connected them to multiple different devices, including my iPhone 13 Pro and MacBook Pro. 

I listened to a wide range of content, from compressed Spotify streams to higher-quality audio on Apple Music. Not only did I listen to tracks from TechRadar’s testing playlist, but a wide variety of genres outside of this, as well as listening to a range of podcasts and watching several TV shows and movies.

I tested their fit doing both cardio and weight-training workouts. And I tested their microphones by recording multiple voice notes and making several phone calls.

I also compared the Beats Solo Buds directly against similarly priced earbuds, as well as utilizing years of experience testing other headphones and audio gear.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: an excellent record player with great built-in amp that’s ideal for beginner audiophiles
1:08 pm | July 30, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Tags: | Comments: Off

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: two-minute review

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is here to change the reputation of all-in-one record players. These have a poor reputation, largely because they're usually built to a very low price, with all the sacrifices that entails. The Juke Box E1 is not like this, because Pro-Ject hasn't built this for budget, it's built it for convenience. This isn't a cheap-o system, and it doesn't look, feel or sound like one either.

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 takes the familiar and good-looking Pro-Ject Primary E1 turntable and adds a built-in phono stage, amplification and Bluetooth receiver to deliver an all-in one sound system – just add speakers. Or grab the bundle that Pro-Ject offers with matching speakers.

If you already have a decent amp, then you'd be better off with one of the stand-alone Pro-Ject E1s, but as a one-box option among the best turntables for beginners who are starting from nothing, this is exceptionally simple to set up and use, and it delivers an impressive performance across all kinds of music. 

At £599 / $799 / AU$999, this is not a super-cheap purchase, but you'd need to spend the same or even more to get a good-quality turntable and separate amplifier of the same level of quality, so it's fair value and compact, in that regard. 

However, if you think you'll become more ambitious in the future, a standard Pro-Ject E1 and separate amp might be more future-proof, since you could replace one without swapping the other.

Juke Box E1 from above

Despite its additional features the Juke Box E1 looks very similar to the E1, E1 Phono and E1 BT turntables. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: price and availability

  • Released in February 2024
  • £599 / $799 / AU$999
  • £799 / $1,199 / AU$1,566

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is available as a stand-alone unit without speakers for £599 / $799 / AU$999, or you can buy it in a bundle with the matching Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 set of stereo speakers for £799 / $1,199 / AU$1,566. 

The price here is more expensive than most other all-in-ones, but it's targeted at a different kind of buyer – one who's got more interest in audio and component quality, but is perhaps short on space or would prefer to avoid the hassle of separates.

The Juke Box E1 is the successor to 2018's Juke Box E, and it was released in early 2024.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 rear

All the key connections are round back where you'll find line and phono outs as well as the speaker outs. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Features

  • Includes its own amp
  • Can be used with external amps
  • You can stream to it over Bluetooth

The Juke Box E1 comes with an Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, which is also used to excellent effect in the standard E1: it's a good all-rounder and easily upgradeable. But the most significant features are inside, where you'll find both an integrated phono stage and 2x50W of Class D amplification. That makes this a full hi-fi system: just bring or buy speakers, no separates required. 

The platter here is belt-driven to reduce mechanical noise and in addition to the outputs there's a line in so that you can connect another sound source. You can also stream from your phone via Bluetooth.

As with the E1 there's no start/stop automation: you set and lift the tonearm manually.

  • Features score: 4/5

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: Audio performance

  • Musical, involving and entertaining
  • Decent bass and airy highs
  • Can go fairly loud

Having previously tested the Pro-Ject E1 we had a good idea of what to expect here when we connected it to the same speakers as before: Pro-Ject's turntables are very musical, and the E1 with the Ortofon OM 5E performs very well with a wide range of genres including classic rock and electronic pop. 

As with the E1, the sound stage was clear and detailed, offering excellent separation of instruments with a largely neutral performance and a bit of warmth. It's the sort of turntable that makes you smile involuntarily as you listen. Bass guitars are tight rather than rubber band-y, layered vocals and synth pads are well positioned and you'll often hear details that other turntables can't deliver quite so well. Lushly recorded music is a particular pleasure, but we had fun annoying the neighbors with noisy guitar rock too. It's a very enjoyable listen.

What's different this time, of course, is that the Juke Box has its own phono stage and amplification – and if you buy the bundle, its own speakers. The amp is rated 2x50W at 4 ohms, and I was impressed by its performance compared to an affordable standalone option.

Whether you're using Pro-Ject's speakers or bringing your own there's a noticeable difference in spaciousness if you're streaming a song over Bluetooth rather than listening to it on vinyl. That's Bluetooth's fault rather than the amp and speakers' fault, but it does feel like you're not making the most of what the Juke Box can do. 

Pro-Ject's own speakers have a frequency range of 55Hz to 20kHz, which is decent for relatively small bookshelf-sized speakers like these and only marginally narrower than the 52Hz to 28kHz of the Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers I normally test with.

Like the B&Ws, they're two-way speakers with bass reflex ports and benefit from careful placement: too far from a wall and they can lack bass; too close and there can be too much of it. I preferred the sound of my B&Ws using the same built-in amp, finding them to be slightly wider and more airy, but the Pro-Ject speakers are still very lively and entertaining.

  • Audio score: 4/5

Juke Box E1 display

There's a status display in the lower right corner of the plinth, but because it's on top you can't see it from across the room. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1 review: Design

  • It's a Pro-Ject E1, but chunkier
  • Still good-looking despite the added bulk
  • Retains the zen design of its siblings

As the name suggests, the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 has a lot in common with its sibling, the Pro-Ject E1 – but while they look very similar, the Juke Box is a little more chunky because it's not just a turntable. It also has a significantly larger power supply.

This is the latest generation of the firm's award-winning all-in one, and as before it provides everything you need to enjoy vinyl apart from the speakers (unless you opt for the bundle that includes stereo speakers). What's different from the previous version is that there's a new tonearm, a new drive system for the sub-platter, and a switch to toggle between 33 and 45rpm. 

The Juke Box has the same belt-driven ABS anti-resonant platter as the regular E1, but it's in a slightly different place, presumably because the interior needed to be repositioned to make room for the amplification circuitry. As with the previous Juke Box, there's a small LCD display in one corner of the plinth to show the selected input and its volume, and as before it's on top so it's only visible if you're looking down on the turntable. 

In order to achieve something close to the zen-like simplicity of the normal E1, the Juke Box has hidden some of its controls. The speed switch has been relocated to underneath the front of the plinth, and the on-off switch is on the underside too. Speaker, line in and out and power connectors are round the back. There's a single volume control on the front and the inputs are switched by pressing it or via the included remote control. 

There are four finishes: glossy white, red or black, and a walnut wood grain effect. All come with a clear acrylic dust cover. The cover is in a normal place but opening it will knock the Bluetooth aerial out of position.

  • Design score: 4/5

Juke Box E1 remote

The included remote is straightforward and slim, with a tendency to slide down the side of your chair. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Usability and setup

  • Extremely user-friendly
  • A small display shows input source
  • Included remote control

The Pro-Ject E1 on which the Juke Box E1 is based is an extremely user-friendly turntable, and the same applies here but even more so: where the E1 still needed to be connected to an amp, the Juke Box has one inside it. As with the E1, the tonearm tracking force is factory pre-set, so it's just a matter of assembling the Juke Box, putting the belt on the pulley, adding the platter and slip mat and connecting your speakers. 

The other main difference here is the display, which standard E1 doesn't have. It's simple and effective, showing the volume level and input source. You can control the volume with the control dial or press it to change inputs. 

Really, the only usability thing missing here is automatic operation, which would certainly be a nice pairing with how generally great this is for beginners – but not everyone wants it, so it's not a real issue that it's missing.

  • Usability score: 4.5/5

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Value

  • A decent price for a turntable/amp combination
  • Hard to find a good rival at this price

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is roughly twice the street price of the regular Pro-Ject E1, but for that extra cash you're also getting a powerful amplifier. You'll really struggle to get a decent, separate amp for that amount of money, and of course an all-in-one is more convenient as it takes up less space. In that regard, this thing is excellent value – and having it be a Bluetooth receiver is the icing on the cake.

However, there's a question of the long-term value that it delivers because you obviously don't get any flexibility for future upgrades, if you think you'll want them. You can't swap the amp out for a more powerful one to pair with more capable speakers. You can't swap the turntable out for something with different options while keeping the amp.

If you don't think you'll need to make these changes in the future, or you just don't think you'll mind the cost, then no problem. But it does mean that the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is a double-edged sword when it comes to value – fantastic in the first instance, but with an issue as you get more ambitious.

  • Value score: 4/5

Buy it if...

You don't want separates
The Juke Box contains everything you need to play records apart from speakers, and Pro-Ject will happily sell you a set of those too.

You have eclectic tastes
The supplied Ortofon cartridge is a good option for all kinds of genres.

You appreciate style
Pro-Ject's turntables are beautiful things, even in this slightly more chunky size.

Don't buy it if...

You have a decent amp
The regular E1 model will be a better fit from this specific range.

You'll probably upgrade
If you think you might go down the audiophile road in future, separates offer better upgrading options.

You tend to lose things
The remote here is slim and easy to lose down the side of your chair.

Also consider

Pro-Ject E1
If want an affordable Pro-Ject option and have an amp already, then the amp-less sibling here, the E1, is an ideal option. It's super simple, it's warm and rich sounding, it's very well priced – and it comes in a version with a phono stage, or with Bluetooth, if you prefer. Here's our full Pro-Ject E1 review.

Lenco LS-410
We didn't exactly rave about this record player in our Lenco LS-410 review, but it one-ups the Pro-Ject by including speakers as well, so if you really want to save space and money, take a look.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: How I tested

  • Used over several weeks across a ton of records and with streamed Apple Music
  • Tested alongside the Pro-Ject E1
  • Tested with Pro-Ject's optional speakers as well as the reviewer's own; tested with and without integrated amp

I tested the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 at home over several weeks alongside its sibling, the Pro-Ject E1, connected through its own amplifier to both Pro-Ject's own bundled speakers and to my own Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers. 

I also connected the Juke Box to my Onkyo amp, bypassing the Juke Box's own integrated amplifier; as expected it sounded identical to the E1. For both turntables I listened intensely to albums I already know inside out across a wide range of genres from the most luscious yacht rock to rowdy punk and slinky electronic pop.

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