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

Press material for Apple's Spatial Audio options.

What is spatial audio? 3D audio effects explained – and why you want them

By Tom Bedford published 3 August 24

Spatial audio, or virtual surround sound, lets you get an immersive and all-encompassing audio experience without an involved audio setup.

Step-by-step of how to remove an artist from your Spotify

Missing Spotify's lyrics? They're coming back for free users again, with no restrictions

By Becky Scarrott published 31 July 24

The general gist was that Spotify pulled free lyrics so it could add them to its additional $5 HiFi tier, so maybe that plan's scrapped…

Beats Pill review: a Bluetooth speaker with style, great sound and… too few buttons

By Becky Scarrott published 28 July 24

Recommended

It's been a while coming, but for sound, style, speakerphone capabilities and stamina, the Beats Pill is worth the wait.

Cambridge Audi Melomania M100 with TR Prime Day badge

I test earbuds for a living; these are the 4 Prime Day headphones deals to look out for now

By Becky Scarrott last updated 12 July 24

We've seen incredible discounts on 2024's best new noise cancelling earbuds ahead of Prime Day – so why wait?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: official price, release date and features of the new buds

By Becky Scarrott last updated 10 July 24

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 are official. Here's everything you need to know.

Apple HomePod original in a listening room

If Apple's 2018 HomePod is 'vintage', I'm done – and we should all go back to wired hi-fi systems

By Becky Scarrott last updated 8 July 24

Apple's inaugural Siri speaker is 'vintage', the 2022 Spotify Car Thing is defunct, Sonos' system is only as good as the latest app update – and I'm over it…

The OnePlus Watch 2, Fujifilm X100VI and Motorola Razr 2024

The best tech of 2024 so far – the 11 finest gadgets we've tested and what's coming next

By Mark Wilson published 6 July 24

We're halfway through 2024 – so we've picked the best tech that we've tested this year so far, and looked ahead to the next six months.

Your HomePod will likely get left out of the Apple Intelligence party – here's why

By Becky Scarrott published 1 July 24

A fresh MacRumors report (based on Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter) says Apple has 'no plans' to bring Apple Intelligence to HomePods.

JBL Live Beam 3 review: a strong case for stellar earbuds that easily outlast the rest

By Becky Scarrott published 29 June 24

Recommended

The screen still isn't a must-have for these noise-cancelling earbuds, but the case is smaller, cheaper and more useful – and this time, the JBL sound quality is good too.

A screen-grab of a teaser posted by Beats by Dre on X, showing a hand pushing the top button of a Beats speaker

Beats Pill: everything you need to know about Beats' just-launched Bluetooth speaker

By Rowan Davies, Becky Scarrott last updated 25 June 24

The Beats Pill has made a 2024 comeback – here's everything you need to know ahead of a full TechRadar review.

Beats Pill in Champagne, on a table with cologne

Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker lands, with twice the stamina of the old Pill (and it's cheaper too)

By Becky Scarrott published 25 June 24

The Beats Pill is back, boasting IP67, louder sound, USB-C audio passthrough and wireless stereo pairing.

Lenco’s transparent portable CD player will have you swapping CDs like it’s the 90s

By Becky Scarrott published 17 June 24

What do I bring to the function? Why, this see-through CD player and a bunch of lossless albums from the mid 90s…

Why you'll still pay Spotify $5 extra for 'HiFi' even when lossless costs nothing on Apple Music

By Becky Scarrott published 15 June 24

The music streaming giant may have ditched its 'Supremium' tier, but fans will still pay over the odds to stick with Spotify.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest stories from Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, to a Galaxy Watch FE reveal

By Hamish Hector published 15 June 24

Here's the biggest tech news stories from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Insta360.

A long curtain in a hospital ward, beside a bed

Vibrating curtains with noise-cancelling effects may be the future of your hi-fi room or home theater

By Becky Scarrott published 11 June 24

The newly-developed fabric contains a special fiber that vibrates when a voltage is applied to it, to cancel noise in your home.

Sony WF-C700N and Nothing Ear (a) on yellow background, with TR branding

Sony WF-C700N vs Nothing Ear (a): which cheap earbuds are the best buy for you?

By Becky Scarrott published 9 June 24

Sony's WF-C700N are a great set of entry-level noise cancelling earbuds, but how do Nothing's newer Ear (a) marry up against 'em?

ICYMI: the week's 8 biggest tech stories from ChatGPT's meltdown to the biggest Computex announcements

By Hamish Hector published 8 June 24

Here's the biggest tech news stories from Meta, Samsung, OpenAI, and more in our ICYMI round-up for June 8, 2024.

An Apple patent filing showing an AirPods case with screen

Screens on AirPods cases seem a step closer – but is a direct line to Siri useful?

By Becky Scarrott published 5 June 24

The screen might let you swipe to skip songs, press to record voice messages or alter volume by making a swirling gesture with your finger on the case.

Shokz OpenFit Air, held in a hand wearing pink nail varnish

Shokz' OpenFit Air earbuds are my favorite sports-focused open-ear buds yet

By Becky Scarrott published 4 June 24

Shokz has also launched OpenSwim Pro, now with Bluetooth 5.4 as well as MP3 storage and playback.

Apple wants to make iPhones that ‘never fail’ rather than ‘super-easy to repair’ devices – but it’s not that simple

By Becky Scarrott last updated 3 June 24

Apple exec John Ternus says iPhones with top IP ratings are a better solution than ‘super-easy to repair’ handsets – and I'm torn.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest news stories from Sonos Ace headphones to Copilot+ AI privacy fears

By Hamish Hector published 25 May 24

Sonos announced a new speaker and headphones, Microsoft brought new scary features to Copilot, and Sky lost her voice.

Sonos email in beige saying 'Coming Soon'

Leaked Sonos headphones just got a likely launch date – and it's soon

By Becky Scarrott published 20 May 24

Sonos messaged fans with the email title 'Heads up', providing a countdown for the launch of its 'most requested product'.

Denon Home 150 top-plate detail on grey background

Denon just casually added Siri to its Home smart speakers and we're not sure why

By Becky Scarrott published 14 May 24

Siri has come in for a lot of criticism lately and nobody knows for sure if iOS 18 can fix it – but Denon clearly thinks it will.

Nothing Earbuds with ChatGPT banner, on black background

Nothing wins the ChatGPT earbuds race: the AI bot is coming to all Nothing buds soon

By Becky Scarrott published 14 May 24

Nothing Ear, Ear (a), Ear (1), Ear (stick), Ear (2), CMF Buds, CMF Neckband Pro and CMF Buds Pro are all getting ChatGPT in just seven days.

Fyne Audio SuperTrax on white background

Fyne’s SuperTrax ‘super tweeter’ wants to make your speakers go above and beyond

By Rowan Davies, Becky Scarrott published 13 May 24

High End Munich was the ideal stage for one of UK's most revered speaker specialists to unveil its latest 'Fynery'.

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