The BBC has a pretty hefty archive these days, which is to be expected after nearly 100 years of operation. Among its archives are sound effects that have been used throughout the decades, and the Beeb just made 16,016 samples available to everyone - absolutely free. Read More >>

Since news of the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, Facebook has been running damage control: public apologies, a hasty advertising campaign, and reportedly delaying the launch of its voice assistant-enabled home speaker. Now we know what that device might have looked like. Read More >>

It’s unclear when the Sony Sports boombox became my must-have gadget, but I think it was around 1992. With its bright yellow case, the portable music machine could be spotted from across the pool like a big bright sign that screamed, “I am rugged and cool!” I wanted one for all the wrong reasons, and now, it’s strange to feel similar rumblings about Sony’s new, waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Read More >>

Bloody people talking to us and telling us things and pointing out what we should've done are driving a huge increase in the sales of audiobooks, as the nation turns to the sounds of people reading books to drown out everything else. Read More >>

Loving your new Google Home Mini? Hating its tinny sound and lack of auxiliary output options? Well Google appears to have heard your lo-fi cries of anguish, and responded by adding a way to control your third-party Bluetooth speakers using your Google Home device. Nice work! It only took a whole year. Read More >>

3D audio in headphones that envelops you like a surround sound home cinema is an elusive thing. The market is dominated by products for gamers, who play content that’s mixed for surround sound, and who want to hear the crunch of opponents in the bushes behind them as it’s a matter of life and death (in a game at least). Also they don’t want to wake the neighbors at 3AM. Read More >>

How many times have you seen this: a guy or gal walking down the street with one earbud in, while the other hangs loose around their shoulders and neck like some ridiculous techie bolo tie. If you’re like me, it’s a daily occurrence, and a sad symptom caused by design that doesn’t quite work. Read More >>

Google's Pixel Buds have been available over in the US and Canada for months now, but they're only just making their way to the UK Play Store - which is weird because I've had a review set lying around since at least November. So if you want a pair of earbuds that come with Google Assistant built in, you've got another option. Read More >>

Apple's HomePod is a little late to the smart speaker party, particularly compared to Amazon and Google, but it sounds like that's the least of the devices issues. Not only is it rather expensive, Apple's come out and revealed that the speaker won't be supporting any third-party audio services. Read More >>

One of the recent trends in Bluetooth speakers is the addition of colourful LEDs that blink and flash along with whatever music’s playing. But a company called Victrola has done something way out of left field by putting an animated Pin Art display on top of its new wireless speaker. Read More >>

The new, modular Technics SP-10R turntable plays records just like any other turntable. But, according to Technics, it plays records really, really, really well. It better since it’s priced at $10,000 (£7,389; UK pricing TBA) and up depending on just how you configure it. But the introduction of yet another Technics tribute model—or collector’s item if you’re being honest with yourself—makes you wonder. What exactly is this legendary audio company trying to do? Read More >>

If you’re like me, you know Sennheiser as that sleek German company that makes dependably terrific headphones and microphones. That’s about to change. Read More >>

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your refrigerator were also a goshdang boombox? I haven’t. That’s why it was so exciting when I saw a new Samsung refrigerator at CES that contained a stocky AKG speaker in the front door. It bumps tunes, and it keeps your milk cold. Read More >>

For years Will.i.am has been peddling crap gadgets, in his attempt to become the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Some people might have hoped he'd give it a rest and stick with the music, but that isn't happening. Particularly not since his tech company i.am+ just bought out a headphone makers Earin. Read More >>

There are currently two major annoyances with wireless headphones: the Bluetooth can cut out in areas with a lot of signal noise, and battery life is mostly terrible. Qualcomm thinks it’s packed a better solution to both of those issues into a new chip. Read More >>