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

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

By Becky Scarrott last updated 26 January 26

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

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 January 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

FiiO EH11 worn by a woman wearing a gray beanie hat

FiiO's retro headphones will make me look like Julia Roberts singing in a bathtub bigger than the Blue Banana — and I must have them

By Becky Scarrott published 23 January 26

Forget your AirPods, FiiO's mixing retro style with LDAC wireless audio and knobs on the earpieces – music to my ears.

Sony turntables in a split-screen configuration, one with a hand pressing one of the turntable's three buttons for automatic operation

Sony updates a cult-favorite cheap Bluetooth turntable with not one but two new models – but there's a catch

By Becky Scarrott published 22 January 26

Sony's finally updated its fan-favorite PS-LX310BT deck – but the budget-friendly pricing hasn't carried over

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 22 January 26

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

A phone with the Qobuz app on it, with a sign showing Qobuz is a Digital100 winner from Similarweb

This hi-res music streaming app is rocketing up the charts – and Spotify’s AI ‘Slopify’ outrage could be supplying the fuel

By Becky Scarrott published 21 January 26

AI slop is the scourge of music streaming sites, but French platform Qobuz does things differently – and it's being rewarded with huge growth.

Pro-Ject's Scorpions themed turntable on black background

Pro-Ject's Scorpions themed turntable is ready to rock you like a hurricane

By Becky Scarrott published 20 January 26

Pro-Ject's new Scoprions turntable is out na-na-na-na-na-na-now

The formidable iFi iDSD Phantom in Tower Bridge, London, used with headphones and illuminating the front panel

I heard the new Rolls-Royce of DACs and let me tell you, iFi isn’t calling it Phantom for nothing

By Becky Scarrott published 20 January 26

After listening to iFi’s elite new iDSD Phantom DAC, regular hi-res audio is nothing to me.

'Any use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles is strictly prohibited': Bandcamp just showed Spotify how easy it is to ban AI slop

By Becky Scarrott published 15 January 26

Bandcamp just showed Spotify how it's done, banning 'any use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles'

FiiO's CP13 with Campfire Audio Clara IEMs, on top of several cassette tapes, all on a colorful carpet

Now that's what I call a digital detox 2026! Why finding my fiancé's stash of 90s cassettes is my key to analog happiness this year

By Becky Scarrott published 14 January 26

Barely two weeks in, 2026 is already a bit much, so I'm taking one of the things I love most offline this year – my music

Pro-ject's debut carbon evo on a yellow background

The best turntables for all budgets, tested and selected by TechRadar's audio experts

By Becky Scarrott last updated 9 January 26

The best record player is just a few clicks away, whether you're a vinyl veteran or a turntable newbie – and every one is TechRadar tested and approved.

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

By Becky Scarrott last updated 9 January 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.

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 8 January 26

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

Two turntables separated by a divider, with TechRadar's CES 2026 badge

The best hi-fi kit we saw at CES 2026: an iconic turntable updated, Edifier's first eARC active speakers, and much more

By Becky Scarrott published 7 January 26

CES 2026 Cambridge's first ever bookshelf stereo speakers, portable Fender Bluetooth options and Victrola's, er, soundbase (yes really).

JBL Soundgear Clips in purple, on TechRadar's CES 2026 poster background, with blue, purple and yellow splashes of color

The 7 best earbuds and headphones at CES 2026 — from shape-shifting open earbuds to cans that twist into a speaker (yes, really)

By Becky Scarrott published 7 January 26

Open earbuds that cut noise and offer spatial audio profiles, cans that can read your mind, open earbuds than morph into, er, closed earbuds and on-ears that can become… on-tables?

Cambridge's L/R Series in various colors, at Cambridge Audio's Melomania HQ in London, UK

Cambridge has unveiled three active bookshelf speakers at CES and it’s not hard to see the KEF resemblance

By Becky Scarrott published 6 January 26

CES 2025 I’ll take a set in orange: Cambridge’s new active bookshelf speakers are so thoroughly un-Cambridge – in the best way

Shokz Openfit Pro outside, outside held in a woman's hand, with green grass in the background

I’ve worn the all-new Shokz open earbuds for 4 days and the ‘noise reduction’ is so good, I forget they’re open-ear

By Becky Scarrott published 6 January 26

Head-tracked spatial audio and ANC in open earbuds? Yes, you can, with the latest flagship offering from Shokz

CES 2025 live: all the latest news from the world's biggest tech show

By Mark Wilson last updated 5 January 26

CES 2025 is now well underway and we're live at the show – here's all of the latest tech news.

JBL Trio of images featuring open-earbuds, worn by two women

JBL is going all-in on open earbuds at CES 2026: meet the firm’s 3 new open-fit options

By Becky Scarrott published 5 January 26

JBL really wants to keep your ear canals free of intrusion in 2026 – and the Soundgear Clips, Sense Pro and Sense Lite prove it.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 held in a hand, with beige woollen background

The year in wireless hi-fi and headphones: 2025's top winners and losers — and what I want to see in 2026

By Becky Scarrott published 30 December 25

A whole year of wireless headphones and we’re still using Li-ion batteries, but buds can take our heart-rate? 2025’s audio wins, losses and could-do-betters.

Person holding Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra

The best travel headphones for all budgets, chosen by our jet-setting reviewers based on real-world testing

By Matt Bolton last updated 24 December 25

Mute planes, trains and automobiles with our top travel headphones and earbuds, from Sony, Bose and more

A split-screen image featuring posters for Drwoned in Sound and Qobuz

Qobuz teams up with indie music mag Drowned in Sound to produce 6 months of artist-first podcasts — and I can’t wait to tune in

By Becky Scarrott published 9 December 25

Qobuz's Drowned in Sound collab will bring 6 months of artist-first podcasts to discerning music-lovers

These quintuple-driver wired earbuds just landed for only $80 – and I want to know how

By Becky Scarrott published 8 December 25

Who says audiophile-grade listening gear is too expensive? Astell & Kern’s affordable Activo arm just launched five-driver IEMs for $80

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 8 December 25

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

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 on a blue background

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

By Becky Scarrott last updated 5 December 25

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

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