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

Apple continually teased the idea of a 'personal hub' at its recent event, but then didn't launch a HomePod mini 2, and I'm mad about it

By Becky Scarrott Published 9 September 26

A 'hub' but no HomePod mini 2, Apple? That just doesn't seem right…

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones on purple background

The best wireless headphones, chosen by our experts for all budgets

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 9 September 26

These are the best Bluetooth headphones we've tested, whatever your budget or your priority.

Audio-Technica headphones in muted lighting, worn by a man while gaming and also on a briefcase

Audio-Technica just launched its first wireless open-back headphones with an affordable price-tag and 'noise reduction', and I must try them

By Becky Scarrott Published 9 September 26

Meet the refreshingly affordable, good looking, portable Audio-Technica ATH-AL5NC open-back headphones

Sony WH-1000XM4C headphones in lavender, black and 'platinum silver', with backgrounds in the same color

Sony updates its generation-defining headphones for the replaceable-battery era: meet the WH-1000XM4C — same, but different

By Becky Scarrott Published 7 September 26

Still hankering after a set of WH-1000XM4s (or even XM3s)? Sony's done the decent thing and refreshed them for the era of replaceable batteries

3 Comments

A selection of headphones and earbuds on a black desk, with a shoulder bag

9 of the best earbuds and headphones in Amazon's Labor Day sale — AirPods Pro 3, Sony over-ears and more

By Becky Scarrott Published 5 September 26

If they're not listed here, don't buy them on Labor Day Weekend!

Q Acoustics M40 HD on blue TR buying guide background

The best stereo speakers: top speaker systems for all budgets, tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 4 September 26

Buying Guide The best stereo speakers to deck out your home audio system.

Noise Master Buds Open with Sound by Bose, held in a hand

The 9 best new headphones and earbuds we saw at IFA 2026: tiny keychain AirTag buds, big Beyerdynamic cans, 'Noise' with sound by Bose, and much more

By Becky Scarrott Published 4 September 26

Our 9 favorite headphone innovations from the huge annual IFA tech exhibition

The Sonos Roam headphones for TV, on a colorful background

Best headphones for TV: home theater without the speakers, all tested by our experts

By Matt Bolton Last updated 3 September 26

Buying guide Meet the best headphones for movies or TV viewing, with specialized features such as Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Y headphones worn by a dancer in movement

Beyerdynamic is back with affordable Aventho Y wireless headphones — and the 90-hour stamina alone can be my 'why'

By Becky Scarrott Published 3 September 26

Beyerdynamic's new Aventho Y headphones look far pricier than they are, and the stamina is top-tier — catch them now at IFA

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

By Matt Bolton Last updated 1 September 26

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

A selection of wireless earbuds, in their cases, held in a woman's hands on a sunny day

The best earbuds we recommend for every budget, all TechRadar tried and tested

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 1 September 26

TechRadar's carefully considered pick of the best earbuds in the business – including one or two new models you might not be familiar with.

A split screen showing phone screens of AI characters for dating, from EVA AI on the left, and real people meeting up in a busy park using the dating app MeetMeetNow on the right

When AI dating goes wrong: as EVA AI hires the world's first ‘AI Companionship Therapist’, its resident relationship expert talks chatbot dependency — and the 28-year-old CEO of a human-only meet-up app tells me why he thinks AI infatuation is over

By Becky Scarrott Published 23 August 26

Shame, jealousy, anger, addiction: are AI relationships causing more harm than good? and what’s the alternative to dating inside a screen in 2026?

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 21 August 26

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

Sony WH-1000XM6 folded inside magnetic case

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

By Matt Bolton Last updated 20 August 26

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

A selection of headphones on a fabric tablecloth

Best headphones in 2026: all real-world tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 19 August 26

Updated Here’s our pick of the best headphones you can buy today with top cans to suit your style and your budget.

A selection of earbuds (Nothing, Bose, JBL, Technics, Bowers & wilkins and Cambridge) in a wicker basket

Best wireless earbuds in 2026: the 9 pairs of buds that stand out, all thoroughly tested and reviewed by our expert team

By Matt Bolton Last updated 18 August 26

Our reviewers spent over 600 hours testing these earbuds, so here’s my verdict on the best wireless earbuds for iPhone, Android or anything else.

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 17 August 26

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

Mur Mur speaker and AI ecosystem in green, with moss in the background, showing the eyepiece in the top

What if Sims and a smart speaker had a baby? Meet the bijou speaker with a ‘tiny world inside’ — just don’t expect it to play your Spotify playlists

By Becky Scarrott Published 14 August 26

Part Sims-style society, part AI-generated muzak?

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 13 August 26

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

What are the best Bluetooth speakers money can buy? I’ve tested more than 30 models, and these are my top picks for every budget

By Harry Padoan Last updated 12 August 26

Updated Looking for the best Bluetooth speaker money can buy? Here are the top portable speakers on the market right now, all TechRadar tested.

A selection of excellent over-ear headphones, on a red-brick background

The best over-ear headphones for any budget, all tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated 11 August 26

Updated Looking for the best-sounding headphones? These are the cans you need to get more from your music.

A triple split-image, showing Nothing pink earbuds (a screengrab from the Nothing X app), Meta Ray-Ban 2nd Gen glasses on blue background, and a woman with short hair, wearing glasses and smiling

The great privacy revolt: people are pushing back against the glasses that record, the earbuds that eavesdrop and the TVs watching our lives — here’s what we can do about it, according to an AI research CEO and a digital rights advocate

By Becky Scarrott Published 8 August 26

'The chicification of surveillance is deeply concerning'

2 Comments

ICYMI split image of Bose headphones, the GTA VI box art and Kojima holding a CD-player

ICYMI: here's the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from our Z Fold 8 Ultra review to GTA 6's Netflix partnership

By Hamish Hector Published 8 August 26

The week's biggest tech news stories from Samsung, Google, GTA, Netflix and more for August 7, 2026.

CMF's first clip-style open earbuds are here with a tempting price tag and, thankfully, none of Nothing's flagship surveillance tech

By Becky Scarrott Published 4 August 26

If the Nothing sub-brand's inaugural clip-style open earbuds can ace the ‘three point fit’ idea, I predict a class-leading set of LDAC-toting buds — especially for this crazy low price

A split-screen image with Qobuz's managing director Dan Mackta and the Qobuz app on a smartphone, with TR's 'On the Record' franchise badge in the foreground

‘You'll notice I do not call it AI music, because I don't think it's music’: Qobuz’s Managing Director Dan Mackta on music streaming’s biggest problem, and how he hopes to tackle it

By Becky Scarrott Published 30 July 26

‘The whole thing is just a really, really big bummer’ — Qobuz’s Managing Director on the scourge of AI-generated audio in streaming, and why he still refuses to call it music

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