Tom Bedford

Tom Bedford

Contributor

Tom Bedford joined TechRadar in early 2019 as a staff writer, and left the team as deputy phones editor in late 2022 to work for entertainment site What To Watch. He continues to contribute on a freelance basis for several sections including phones, audio and fitness, as well as many other websites.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.

He grew up in Bristol, UK, and has also lived in Norwich, UK, Salt Lake City, UT, and currently resides in London, UK.

Articles by: Tom Bedford

The TCL CrystalClip case, next to a Swarovski plaque.

TCL's Swarovski crystal open earbuds are the kitschiest thing I've seen in ages — but they might just end up being very good

By Tom Bedford Published

TCL CrystalClip: the Swarovski open earbuds reminiscent of a Billy Idol music video

The Anker Soundcore Space 2 on a woman's head.

Soundcore's popular budget headphones have finally received a follow-up — with a price hike

By Tom Bedford Published

Anker expands its headphone line-up

The OneOdio Focus A1 Pro on a wooden table.

I've been using these super-cheap headphones for a month — I'm surprised to report they sound great

By Tom Bedford Published

Recommended

The OneOdio Focus A1 Pro are bargain headphones, with a great sound and long-lasting battery. They aren't without flaws though, so check this review before you buy.

The A&K PD20 next to a keyboard and headphones.

I've never considered buying a hi-res MP3 player, but this new A&K DAP has a feature so handy, I'm changing my mind

By Tom Bedford Published

The first hi-res audio player with built-in hearing tests just landed and if I could afford it, I’d be first in line

The iFi Go Link 2 connected to a smartphone on a table next to a coffee.

Want a better-sounding phone, not a new phone? It'll only cost you $60 with this little dongle

By Tom Bedford Published

Only want to spend a little to get seriously improved audio from your phone? This could be the bijou beauty you need

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in their carry case.

Hands on: 'I'm loving the audio and design upgrades, but one huge problem remains' — after using Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for one week, there's still an issue

By Tom Bedford Published

Not yet rated

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro enjoy a slight redesign, a makeover and a spec upgrade, and best of all, no price hike to match.

The Sonos Era 300

Sonos apparently has yet another app overhaul in the works, hopes you've forgotten 2024

By Tom Bedford Published

Should we make the point about the definition of insanity being doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome?

A ceiling-mounted loudspeaker in a walk-in shower.

Spotlight on affordable in-ceiling speakers: the solution you hear, but rarely see

By Tom Bedford Published

Q Acoustics' trio of in-ceiling speakers can make your music come from above

The Mitchell uStream Groove combo, consisting of a turntable and two speakers, on a table.

I spent a day at an elite hi-fi show to pick out 6 affordable speakers and hi-res players even I'd buy, so maybe you can too

By Tom Bedford Published

You don't need to spend a packet to get great audio at home, and I went to a famous hi-fi show to prove it

Era Acoustics XTL on woodland background, with TR's 'Money no Object' banner

I spent a day listening to 'money no object' audio systems at an elite hi-fi show to find 11 products I'd buy, if I won the lottery

By Tom Bedford Published

It's a hard life, but someone's got to attend a world-class hi-fi show to tell you the best of the best… 

Qobuz on an iPad with My Weekly Q playlist

How to switch your music from Spotify to Qobuz with minimal fuss and without losing your playlists

By Tom Bedford Published

If you want to ditch Spotify, here's how to transfer your music from the streaming service over to Qobuz with minimal fuss (including to your playlists)

Analog Relax EX700 on a tonearm, above a vinyl record, with TR's 'Money no object' badge

Money no object? This turntable cartridge is made from the same wood as million-dollar violins, as well as diamonds (of course)

By Tom Bedford Published

Crafted in Japan, with a body carved from the Tyrolean tonewood with which Stradivari made violins

The iFi Neo iDSD 3 on a white table with a pink background.

iFi’s new trio of high-end DACs includes a powerful amp combo – and I'm going to need to try it

By Tom Bedford Published

iFi just unveiled three new DACs, including a new workhorse and a stream-friendly model

The Skullcandy Method 540 earbuds and carry case on a brown table.

AI just made my favorite Skullcandy earbuds worse — and I’m not sure anyone asked for it

By Tom Bedford Published

Great earbuds, meet price hike and AI

Oakcastle BK100 active bookshelf speakers on pink TR background

Majority's budget audio sub-brand just unveiled blindingly cheap speakers, MP3 players and soundbars — and I'm gonna need to hear them

By Tom Bedford Published

Active bookshelf speakers for just £70 (which is around $95 or AU$134)? They've got to be worth a test drive… 

The Deezer Flow menu showing French Rap and Cloud Rap.

Deezer is finally granting the one wish Spotify users have been crying out for — put the algo in its place and ban AI slop

By Tom Bedford Published

Deezer's Flow algorithm-playlist-maker now gets Tuner, a way to limit or change which genres are included in the mix.

Nothing Ear (a) held in a hand, on brown background

My job is testing budget earbuds and I'd buy these 4 options right now in the Presidents' Day sales — including a lowest price deal on my top pick

By Tom Bedford Published

It seems like every pair of earbuds I've enjoyed is discounted right now; here are five you should check out, all at reduced prices.

A woman in bed on an iPad and listening to music over headphones, next to a shelf with a coffee drip and TN-400BT-X/TB turntable.

A turquoise turntable designed for Bluetooth? If anyone can do it, TEAC can

By Tom Bedford Published

Don't want to bother with turntable cables? TEAC's TN 400BT X/TB wants you to listen to your vinyl wirelessly

Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds on a table, outside of their case

Sony's new WF-1000XM6 elite earbuds seem to be imminent — here are 3 upgrades I hope to see, as a headphones reviewer

By Tom Bedford Published

It’s been nearly three years since the Sony WF-1000XM5; there are some open goals for Sony to improving on in the new version, which it's teasing heavily for a launch this week.

The main menu of Headphone Dust.

Someone has just invented the dream lossless Dolby Atmos music service for audiophiles — but it needs some changes before it's likely to really take off

By Tom Bedford Published

Grammy-nominated musician and producer Steven Wilson has launched his own high-tech audio platform, for the audiophiles out there.

The RePod Ultra next to an AirPods case and an iPhone.

The 'RePod Ultra' turns your 'forgotten' Apple Watch Ultra into an iPod, complete with scroll wheel — but the description makes some pretty outlandish points

By Tom Bedford Published

I'm not sure we all an Ultra sitting unloved in a drawer, as seems to be the implication here with this otherwise interesting idea…

The Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z Monoblock Amplifier on a stone surface

This legendary hi-fi maker's new ultra-powerful amp has a network port so you can study voltages and bias in realtime — oh, and it costs £123k for a stereo pair

By Tom Bedford Published

You'll need a pretty amazing pair of speaker to justify this amp, but it's made for the truly hardcore hi-fi nerds

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro against a leafy background.

The Samsung Buds 4 Pro design leaks yet again in all its glory — but I tested the Buds 3 Pro, and I hope Samsung fixes one invisible flaw

By Tom Bedford Published

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have leaked, and the renders don't answer my biggest worry, which caused some Buds 4 Pro backlash.

A still from Highguard, showing Atticus shooting at Kai across a broken bridge.

I’ve spent 15 hours in Highguard, but I'm not desperate to play any more

By Tom Bedford Published

Highguard feels fantastic to play, but it's a few major updates away from being the online shooter it wants to be.

The Primare Allt-i-Ett on a white surface, with a pink background

This powerful wireless hi-fi speaker has all the modern connections you could want — and a touchscreen to control things easily

By Tom Bedford Published

The Primare Allt-i-Ett is a jack of all trades, and perhaps a master of them too, with basically every spec you'd ever want.

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