Becky Scarrott

Becky Scarrott

Audio Editor

Becky became Audio Editor in 2024, but joined TechRadar in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things audio and hi-fi. Before joining the team, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing, reviewing and generally enjoying everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge, multi-product high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance is of course tethered to a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. 

When not writing, she is usually throwing shapes in a dance studio, spinning in the air to improve the tolerance of her inner ear to dizziness, drinking coffee, watching football or trying to surf in Cornwall with her other half; an irritatingly good surfer and an even better football writer. 

Articles by: Becky Scarrott

A split-screen image with Deezer's screen depicting AI content on one side, Manuel Moussallam (Deezer's head of research) on the other, and TR's 'AV Insider' badge in the bottom left corner
‘What we're really fighting is people scripting computers to generate thousands of songs and uploading them in batches to overwhelm, flood and replace’: Deezer's Head of Research on that industry-leading AI-filter — and why we need it now more than ever

By Becky Scarrott Published

‘Just by relying on some plain signal processing and mathematical tools, we were able to actually detect these artifacts for most models out there’

A car's CD player and burned CDs, on a hot day
How the odd after-market CD player in my mom’s old car helped me deal with the grief of losing her — and why I can’t sell it now (even though I should)

By Becky Scarrott Published

A shock loss, an old car stuffed with CDs and the Sharpie I used to write the track names on: how recorded music always brings you closer

Nothing Ear (3a) on a floral background, with pink, red and yellow flowers
'Not the USP I wanted': Nothing’s new Ear (3a) earbuds sound good and the ANC is effective, but they hide a troublesome secret I found it hard to get past during testing

By Becky Scarrott Published

Is everything coming up roses for Nothing's new $99 / £99 noise-cancelling earbuds? Depends on whether the USP sits well with you, I think… 

Status Audio Pro X GoldenSound, next to AirPods or held in a hand, with gold accents showing
‘We’ve actually been using the Harman Curve incorrectly’: GoldenSound's new Status earbuds aim to rewrite an industry standard and, having tried them against AirPods Pro, I like it… to a point

By Becky Scarrott Published

Status Audio and GoldenSound think we’ve been using the Harman Curve all wrong when it comes to earbuds, and their new collab will prove it

A split screen image showing CDs in their cases on one side and in sleeves in a book on the other
You can't deny it any more: physical music is back in a big way with new sales figures proving it... and no, this time it's not vinyl

By Tom Bedford Published

Stats prove that nostalgic CD-buying is even bigger than nostalgic vinyl-buying, which could prompt a sea change for some music lovers.

The earbuds for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 held next to each other
The dream of AirPods with removable batteries is still seemingly out of reach, and it's all because of a new EU ruling

By Tom Bedford Published

Apple fans have been clamoring for AirPods with removable batteries to make them repairable, but it's likely not coming any time soon thanks to a new EU ruling.

Spotify managed accounts screengrabs on blue background
Spotify parents rejoice! KPop Demon Hunters need never cloud your Wrapped results again, thanks to Managed accounts launching on Spotify Free

By Becky Scarrott Published

Spotify just brought its Managed accounts service to its free tier, meaning your kids’ top track need never bag the top spot again

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong seated in front of a light blue amp, with his famous guitar, Blue
The American Dream is killing me — until I see Billie Joe Armstrong's new Marshall guitar amp (and then I'm as consumerist as they come)

By Becky Scarrott Published

It would be hard to walk the Boulevard of Broken Dreams carrying Marshall’s new signature amp, but Billie Joe Armstrong still thinks you should try

Nothing Ear (3a) on a table with Nothing Headphone (a) below, both in pink to show the difference in colorways
'You could've given me 10 guesses, I wouldn't have gone for this': my favorite cheap Nothing earbuds finally have a successor, but the USP isn't my idea of 'joyful'

By Becky Scarrott Published

Nothing's new Ear (3a) don't just deal in the odd use of parentheses and new colorways; there's also on-ear chat recording and a host of new features

The top of a Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan next to a hand holding the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, next to two hands holding a Sony A7R VI
The best tech of 2026 so far — the 21 finest gadgets we've tested this year

By Mark Wilson Published

TechRadar has spent days testing 639 products across phones, TVs, laptops, cameras, smartwatches and more in 2026. These are the best ones we've reviewed so far this year.

2 Comments
The Steam Machine, a PS5, and a Garmin Forerunner 70 watch.
ICYMI: The week's 7 biggest tech news stories from PlayStation killing physical games to Anthropic finally re-releasing Fable 5

By Hamish Hector Published

As the USA turns 250, here's the week's biggest tech news stories from PlayStation, Valve, Garmin, WhatsApp and more.

Audio Pro's A15 W speaker on a wooden table, with a house-plant in the background
Audio Pro takes aim at Sonos, Denon, WiiM and Bose with an all-new Wi-Fi speaker — and this one's got a portable battery and IP2 water resistance

By Becky Scarrott Published

A15 W: Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and up to 11 hours of battery life? OK I'm interested

A three-screen split showing Apple AirPods Max 2, Shokz Openfit Pro and Huawei Freebuds Pro 5
I test headphones and earbuds for a living — these are the 8 standout releases of 2026 so far, from Apple, Marshall, Shokz, Sennheiser and more

By Becky Scarrott Published

Four sets of headphones; four pairs of earbuds: I look back at the best I've tested so far this year, and select my own antithesis to the 'hateful eight'

AirPods Max 2 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 in a split-screen configuration
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: two noise-cancelling flagship headphones, one winner for design, sound, ANC and value

By Becky Scarrott Published

I find the ultimate winner — just in time for those Prime Day deals

Light blue headphones on a lilac TR background
Worried about your child's ears this festival season? These award-winning cans are the first noise-cancelling kids' headphones to receive TÜV Hearing Care Protection Certification and given recent stats on child hearing health, I think we need them

By Becky Scarrott Published

Tribit's sister company iClever just released a set of child-specific cans that are scooping up awards — and given recent stats on child hearing health, I think we need them

Justin Bieber holding two speakers and wearing pink headphones, from his SKYLRK brand
Justin Bieber just teased new Bluetooth speakers under his SKYLRK brand and actually, they look like something I wish B&O would do

By Becky Scarrott Published

Like baby, baby, baby no — these really are Justin Bieber speakers and headphones.

A man holding a Polaroid camera, next to an image of Wolverine, next to a hand holding an Nvidia RTX Spark chip
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Sony's State of Play to Nvidia's game-changing chip

By Hamish Hector Published

The week's biggest tech news stories from Nvidia, Lego, Android, WiiM and more for June 6, 2026.

A split screen showing one big desktop DAC, and a pocketable iFi option side by side
Two DACs for wildly different budgets unveiled at High End, from iFi's pocketable pal to AMR's 'price on request' hunk of hi-res conversion

By Becky Scarrott Published

Could you get any further apart yet stay within the hi-res DAC realm? AMR and iFi prove there's something for every music lover at High End, despite the show's name.

Ruark R710 Music Console and Talisman-R speakers, in a hi-fi listening room
Ruark's new music console and slimline speakers are the CD playing, vinyl spinning, hi-res music streaming system your small apartment craves

By Becky Scarrott Published

Ruark is back and celebrating its 40th anniversary with a heritage-look system that's anything but heritage when it comes to connectivity and hi-res music

The Clearaudio Rammstein turntable, in a hi-fi listening room
Clearaudio just unveiled a stunning Rammstein turntable and truly, ich will!

By Becky Scarrott Published

Clearaudio has unveiled a whopping seven new products at High End Vienna, but top of the pile has got to be this limited edition Rammstein turntable

KLH Model Four speakers in a hi-fi listening room
'Finally, heritage-look speakers without the elite asking fee': KLH's Model Four floorstanders come with a decidedly retro 1970s price — and I want them

By Becky Scarrott Published

KLH's Model Four speaker is here, bridging the gap between the Model Three and Model Five — but more importantly, making it onto my most-wanted list.

Apple AirPods Max 2 in orange with AirPods Max just visible in purple, outside in a garden on a bench, held in a hand
'Doubtless the best noise-cancelling iPhone headphones on the planet': I tested AirPods Max 2 and they really are that good — here's why

By Becky Scarrott Published

Recommended

AirPods Max 2's strong resemblance to the originals might have some fans disappointed given the wait, but sonically, and in terms of features, I have to hand it to Apple — man, they're good… 

Bose headphones and earbuds on purple TechRadar background
The best Bose headphones and earbuds, all tested and rated by our experts

By Becky Scarrott last updated

Updated In this guide, we test and recommend the best Bose headphones, from wireless over-ear headphones to noise cancelling earbuds.

Sonos Era 100 speaker sitting against a colorful background with the TechRadar logo
Best Sonos speakers and soundbars, as rated by our expert reviewers

By Matt Bolton last updated

Updated We've tested the best Sonos speakers to bring you a definitive list of the top speakers and soundbars available.

Roberts Revival Petite 2 radio on TR purple background
The best DAB radio: the top digital radios to buy, all tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott last updated

The best DAB radios combine old-school 'wireless' radio concepts with new digital tech – here are our top picks.

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