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

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 selection of open earbuds on pink background, taken by TechRadar

The best open earbuds, all real-world tested by TechRadar: open-fit buds to stay aware of your surroundings

By Becky Scarrott last updated 22 December 25

Stay aware with the best open-ear headphones and air-conduction buds for running outdoors, sports, yoga 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.

FiiO DM15 with Fiio FT13 headphones plugged in, on a wooden table

Forget Spotify Wrapped, get back into CDs with FiiO’s gorgeous new portable player

By Becky Scarrott published 4 December 25

CDs are so back, baby! FiiO’s new portable player is also a hi-res DAC, Bluetooth transmitter and wireless bridge for your music

A jewel-encrusted Walkman with a cassette tape on silver metallic table, with dark background

I’m hungry like the wolf for this Duran Duran-themed jewel-encrusted Walkman

By Becky Scarrott published 3 December 25

Wild boys (wild boys!) never lose it – and by 'it', I do mean this super-sparkly Duran Duran Walkman

The best earbuds for small ears, all tested by a petite-eared audio expert

By Becky Scarrott last updated 21 November 25

My pick of the best earbuds for those with a smaller ear canal, tragus or concha, however much you're able to spend.

The best wired earbuds, from cheap USB-C to audiophile-grade IEMs – all tested by TechRadar

By Matt Bolton last updated 20 November 25

Still craving a reliable connection, high-end audio, and no battery life anxiety? Here are the best wired earbuds you can buy today.

CMF Headphone Pro in pistachio green held in a hand or hung on a barbell, being pushed up by a carved frog

CMF Headphone Pro could easily cost twice as much – and even if the sound is fun and fierce (rather than fully fledged fantastic) they're still a great buy

By Becky Scarrott published 12 November 25

Recommended

The detailed listening tests, circumaural sound and on-ear extras make for an ideal set of cans for this level – a resounding win for CMF

Moto Buds Bass in all three colorways, on a white table with different levels

Moto just revealed super-cheap wireless earbuds with surprisingly beefy driver and Hi-Res Audio certification

By Becky Scarrott published 7 November 25

Grime music fan? You might want to check out Moto Buds Bass

HEDD D1 headphones in black, on a dark and backlit background

The world’s first Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm headphones are here from an audio icon – and I need to try them

By Becky Scarrott published 6 November 25

Meet HEDDphone D1: A HEDD-y mix of futuristic technology in open-back cans

Two Fyne stereo speakers, one with grilles facing the camera, the other spun around to see the connections, in a lounge with a couch visible in the background

These slimline tower speakers would fit just Fyne in my tiny apartment – and for this money, I'm tempted

By Becky Scarrott published 5 November 25

When I think of Fyne speakers, the last thing I think of is space-saving – but this Scottish firm understands the current state of living, and I like that.

Person holding Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sony WH-1000XM5

The best Sony headphones for all budgets, as tested and recommended by our audio experts

By Becky Scarrott last updated 4 November 25

Updated Our pick of the best Sony wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones, however much you're able to spend.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 on a photo split in two, to compare the two headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: in the battle of the 5-star headphones, which is best?

By Becky Scarrott published 29 October 25

It's Bowers & Wilkins' Px8 S2 versus Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) in real-world testing of two of the hottest noise cancelling headphones of late 2025

Snapshot of the Paris Audio show, showing new hi-fi equipment at the Palais des Congres, Paris, from October 25 - 27

4 high-end hi-fi and home cinema setups I saw (and heard) at the Paris Audio Show 2025

By Becky Scarrott published 27 October 25

A home cinema room with 200-inch screen? Don't mind if I do…

The OneOdio Focus A5 against a wooden background.

The best cheap headphones, all tested by our reviewers

By Becky Scarrott last updated 27 October 25

Updated Want a decent pair of budget earbuds or headphones without breaking the bank? Here are the best cheap headphones available today.

A selection of headphones, including the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 worn by a man in Paris

The 4 best all-new headphones I listened to at the Paris Audio Show 2025

By Becky Scarrott published 26 October 25

Know this: when elite over-ear headphones and the 'city of love' come together, I will always want to be in the room(s)

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