Audio Hardware
Ongoing coverage on Audio Hardware.
Latest coverage
Cambridge Audio L/R S review
The Cambridge Audio L/R S are stylish and entertaining desktop speakers offering a powerful sound with healthy bass extension, making them a good companion for gaming and music. They feature solid physical connectivity options including USB-C and RCA, and a pleasant aesthetic with a floating stand design. While not a reference-like sound, they provide an engaging listening experience that fills a room.
This Switch headset costs less than $30 and still got four stars in my review, now it's on sale for even less
The Turtle Beach Airlite Fit headset for Nintendo Switch is available for $19.74 during Amazon's Spring Sale, down from its $27.99 MSRP. Despite its budget price, the headset received a four-star review for its surprisingly good sound quality and functional microphone, making it a solid accessory for Switch gamers.
You definitely don't need ROG's new audiophile-grade headset, but here's why you want one anyway
The ASUS ROG Kithara is an audiophile-grade gaming headset developed in partnership with Hifiman, featuring 100mm planar magnetic drivers for exceptional sound quality. While it offers a rich listening experience for music and games like Counter-Strike 2 and Crimson Desert, it lacks some standard gaming headset features such as wireless connectivity and easy mic muting, making it more of a branding exercise than a practical consumer product.
Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless review
The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds offer an open-back design and strong battery life, making them suitable for fitness enthusiasts and gamers who prefer a less isolating audio experience. While they provide precise directional audio and a good soundstage for games like Counter-Strike 2, their $230 price point is high compared to more conventional noise-cancelling options.
Denon's DP-500BT turntable combines premium design with Bluetooth streaming for $899
Denon has released the DP-500BT, a new turntable that combines premium design with Bluetooth streaming capabilities for $899. The semi-automatic turntable features a belt drive system, an S-shaped tonearm, and supports aptX, aptX HD, and apt Adaptive codecs for wireless audio transmission. It also integrates with Denon's HEOS multi-room audio system.
This new RIG headset is aimed at PC gaming audiophiles and comes with its own wired DAC dongle — it's even…
Nacon's RIG brand has launched the R5 Max HD, a wired gaming headset targeting PC and console audiophiles. It features 40mm GrapheneQ drivers, a USB-C DAC dongle for high-resolution audio and Dolby Atmos, and a customizable 'Snap+Lock' system. Priced at $149.99, it aims to offer premium features at a competitive price point.
My favourite mid-range earbuds have had a big sound upgrade
The EarFun Air Pro 4+ earbuds significantly improve sound quality over their predecessor with the addition of armature drivers, offering crisp audio and a highly customizable EQ. While they excel in general use and casual gaming with a well-functioning low-latency mode, the lack of 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity introduces some audio lag, making them less ideal for competitive gaming.
