Articles by 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

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 14 July 26

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

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and JLab JBuds Mini on a violet gradient background.

The best earbuds for small ears, all tested by a petite-eared audio expert

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 10 July 26

My pick of the best earbuds for those with a smaller ear canal, tragus or concha, however much you're able to spend.

A selection of earbuds held in two hands, above a Persian carpet

The best budget earbuds, all real-world tested by our expert audio team

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 9 July 26

The best budget wireless and wired earbuds you can buy today, with options from Sony, Nothing, EarFun, JLab and more.

Best MP3 player: top portable hi-res music players for any budget, all tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 7 July 26

Updated Looking for the best portable hi-res music player? Here's our pick of digital audio players from Astell & Kern, Sony and more.

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 7 July 26

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 best wireless speakers, all tested by us — from JBL, Sonos, Bose, and more

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 6 July 26

Updated Looking for the best wireless speaker? These are the top TechRadar-reviewed and approved buys to hear music throughout your home.

A man holding eight pairs of headphones in his hands, with models from Bose, Sony, Amazon, Soundcore, and Sonos, among others

I've picked the best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets, based on real-world testing of nearly 20 models

By Matt Bolton Last updated 6 July 26

We've tested and selected the best noise cancelling headphones to keep the world out and your music in.

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 4 July 26

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.

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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 4 July 26

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 3 July 26

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 3 July 26

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'

A selection of wireless earbuds, in their cases, held in a woman's hands on a sunny day

The best earbuds I recommend for every budget, all TechRadar tested

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 3 July 26

My carefully considered pick of the best earbuds in the business – including one or two new models you might not be familiar with.

JBL Xtreme 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 on a blue gradient background

The best waterproof speakers for all budgets: top outdoor speakers, all tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 1 July 26

Updated We've tested the best waterproof speakers you can buy right now, so you can enjoy the great outdoors without a care.

The Chord Mojo 2 against a yellow background

The best headphone DACs: top desktop and portable DACS to make your music sing, all tested by TechRadar

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 1 July 26

Updated The best headphone DACs (or digital-to-analogue converters) are a must-buy accessory for audio-lovers.

A promo shot of Tidal on an Android device.

Tidal just drew a line in the sand on AI music — 100% AI-generated tracks won’t earn royalties on the music streaming platform

By Becky Scarrott Published 29 June 26

Tidal wants to stem the tide of AI-generated music, and is "currently working with an external partner to manage detection"

A selection of Bluetooth speakers, on a picnic table

8 of the best portable Bluetooth speakers we've tested: top portable, punchy, outdoorsy, and affordable picks from JBL, Bose, and more

By Becky Scarrott Published 26 June 26

Get outdoors with my pick of the easy-breezy Bluetooth speaker deals live now, featuring savings on Bose, JBL, B&O and more

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones on purple background

The best wireless headphones, chosen by our experts for all budgets

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 26 June 26

These are the best Bluetooth headphones we've tested, whatever your budget or your priority.

A selection of earbuds (JBL, Bose, Beats, Bowers & Wilkins, Technics and Apple AirPods) held in two hands, in front of a flower bed

The best noise-cancelling earbuds for all budgets, chosen by a TechRadar expert based on real-world testing

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 26 June 26

Updated The best noise-cancelling earbuds block out the world without the bulk of over-ear headphones – here are our top recommendations based on in-house testing

AirPods Pro 3, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins headphones, held in a hand, in a split screen

Quick! Every Prime Day earbuds and headphones deal still live now, as recommended by an audio editor

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 26 June 26

But if they're not on this list, please don't hit 'buy' then complain here, OK?

AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3 side by side, with TR's 'Prime Day deals' badge

Looking for the best AirPods Prime Day deal? I've got every top deal live now — including AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 at lowest-ever prices!

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 25 June 26

AirPods Pro 3 is one of the most requested products on Prime Day, so here are the best deals live now, wherever you live.

A selection of Nothing earbuds and headphones on pastel backgrounds

I've found the sleeper headphones deal of Prime Day and it's Nothing: Pro cans for just $61 and buds just $19!

By Becky Scarrott Published 24 June 26

When is a deal so good we might start calling it (ahem) basically Nothing? Well, right now earbuds from the brand are just $19 so… now!

Back to school: my pick of the 4 best ANC headphones for studying — affordable, durable noise-cancelling cans this Prime Day

By Becky Scarrott Published 23 June 26

Because Prime Day is here, and even if you're not into 'back to school' headlines, you will be into the headphones — and the deals.

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 23 June 26

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

A trio of headphones taken by TechRadar's Becky Scarrott

I test ANC headphones for a living, and these are the only 3 pairs I'd recommend on Prime Day — irrespective of the deals on offer

By Becky Scarrott Published 23 June 26

I've tested more pairs of headphones than I've had hot dinners since 2019: these are the only 3 pairs to look for this Prime Day

Apple AirPods Max 2 in orange with AirPods Max just visible in purple, outside in a garden on a bench, held in a hand

AirPods Max 2 just dropped to a lowest-ever $399 at Amazon, proving the best deals don't always wait for Prime Day — run!

By Becky Scarrott Published 22 June 26

I tested them and for this money, the best headphones deal of Prime Day's already live

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