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

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 27 July 26

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 25 July 26

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 18 July 26

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 17 July 26

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

The best wired headphones, all tested by TechRadar's audio experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 17 July 26

We pick out the best wired headphones for big audio upgrades, no matter how much you want to spend.

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 16 July 26

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 15 July 26

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 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.

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'

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 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 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

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 22 June 26

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 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 12 June 26

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 6 June 26

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 5 June 26

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.

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