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

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'.

5 of the best speakers I heard at High End Munich: Burmester, Vivid Audio and more

By Becky Scarrott last updated 11 May 24

I was on the ground at Munich's High End Show and these are just some of the most stunning driver-filled designs I heard.

Dali Rubikore 8 speakers in a hi-fi listening room

Dali's five-strong Rubikore speaker series is here to bring high-end sound to your home

By Becky Scarrott published 9 May 24

Meet Rubikore 2, Rubikore 6, Rubikore 8, Rubikore On-Wall and Rubikore Cinema – for all your home theater or hi-fi needs.

Q Acosutics 3000c series on white background

Q Acoustics 3000c: probably the most affordable speakers at High End Munich

By Becky Scarrott published 9 May 24

High End Munich Q Acoustics' new 3000c series just launched at the elite hi-fi trade show – and for not a lot of money, there's an awful lot to like.

Final Audio D7000 in its black lockable case, on black background

Final's new planar magnetic headphones are dark, moody, wired… and oh-so expensive

By Becky Scarrott published 8 May 24

The elite new D7000 headphones use 'Air Film Damping' to solve the issue of bass registers in planar magnetic cans.

JBL Live Beam 3 held in a ahnd with red fingernails

I thought screens on earbuds cases were a bit meh – but JBL just proved me wrong

By Becky Scarrott published 7 May 24

JBL Live Beam 3 arrived with two other screen-enhanced options in January – and it's a nice upgrade on the Tour Pro 2 case.

Magico M7 in a blue room, with TR's Money No Object franchise badge

I heard Magico’s big new M7 speakers and now I cannot save $560k quick enough

By Becky Scarrott published 4 May 24

Magico has taken most of its incredible M9 and finessed it to form the slightly smaller 'baby reference' M7 – and I need them.

A2D2 Stream beside a black turntable, on a wooden table

Love records, hate wires? This little black box lets you stream vinyl to your smart speakers

By Becky Scarrott published 30 April 24

A2D2 Stream bridges the gap between your analogue turntable, CD player or tape deck and any smart speaker you own.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 on TR's teal versus background

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: which earbuds are the best for you?

By Becky Scarrott published 29 April 24

Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 4 are a seriously good set of buds, but how do Apple's slightly older AirPods Pro 2 stack up against them?

You can’t call yourself an audiophile until you’ve seriously considered Luxman’s elite network transport

By Becky Scarrott published 26 April 24

So you're a hi-fi buff? You may need to level up, although Luxman's first Network Transport NT-07 won't come cheap.

Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 9000c in a hi-fi listening room

Bang & Olufsen's limited-run vertical 6-disc CD player makes physical music fun again

By Becky Scarrott published 25 April 24

Money no object: B&O's sustainably minded Beosystem 9000c 5-disc CD player and speakers harks back to 1996, in the best way.

A Boston Dynamics robot, the Nothing Ear (a), and Humane AI pin on a green background.

ICYMI: the 8 biggest tech news stories from Boston Dynamic's new robot to Sony's OLED-beating Micro-LED TV tech

By Hamish Hector published 20 April 24

Here's your tech news round up for April 20, 2024, with the 8 biggest stories from Boston Dynamics, Humane AI, and Sony.

Apple HomePod leak suggests a full touchscreen display model is coming, but all I want is next-gen Siri

By Becky Scarrott published 19 April 24

An Apple HomePod with full touchscreen is one thing, but if the current version of Siri stays at the helm, it can't compete as a smart speaker.

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