The 'HD audio' marketing push is built on a fundamental misunderstanding of how digital audio works. Here's what the numbers actually mean — and why 16 bit/44.1 kHz is all you'll ever need.
Build a surprisingly good HiFi system on a shoestring, courtesy of the cheap Chinese class-D amplifier revolution — with practical advice on speakers, amps, and sources.
A cheap, simple trick — sticking a light behind your TV — reduces eyestrain and boosts perceived picture quality. Here's the science behind it, and how to choose the right bulb.
A comprehensive ranked roundup of 13 sound bars, with full specs and editorial recommendations from best to least recommendable, covering every price point from $599 to $1999.
You already own several DACs without knowing it. Here's what a dedicated external one can actually do for your sound — and when it isn't worth the money.
Plex can stream all of your movies and music across the house — and to your mobile. Here's a comprehensive guide to setting it up and getting the most from it.
A no-nonsense consumer guide to audio and HDMI cables: what actually matters, what's pure marketing hyperbole, and why you should never feel pressured to overspend.
Nine apps that have transformed mobile music production — from a professional 48-track DAW to a Korg-licensed synth, a dead-simple drum machine, and an app that composes music for an actual music box.
How to calibrate your TV for a more cinematic picture — from professional setup services and calibration discs to navigating contrast, colour temperature, and motion interpolation settings.
How to set up and calibrate a surround sound system — covering optimal speaker placement angles for 5.1 and 7.1 systems, the subwoofer crawl method, and SPL-based manual calibration.
What 4K actually means, where to find genuine 4K content today, and why HDR — not just extra pixels — is the real reason to get excited about the format's future.
Nine apps to help you run your life with a little more grace — voice-activated assistants, task delegation, password management, and one very expensive app exclusively for millionaires.
How smartphones and tablets are replacing the once-sprawling ecosystem of dedicated in-car gadgets, such as carputers, GPS units, OBD-II readers, and reversing-camera monitors.
Break out of your musical comfort zone: a personal guide to discovering new music through independent radio, streaming services, podcasts, record labels, apps, newsletters, and live gigs.
Headphone amplifiers are viewed as essential by some and farcical by others. The maths behind impedance and sensitivity tells you which camp your own headphones belong in.
A clear guide to digital audio formats — lossy vs lossless, MP3 vs FLAC vs AAC vs Ogg Vorbis — and why most format decisions are simpler than they look.
Why audio enthusiasts split their pre-amp and power amp into separate boxes, what it actually buys you in headroom and dynamic range, and how to tell if your own system is a good candidate.
How to get your music collection playing through every room in the house — and in your pocket — using network streamers, UPnP servers, and smartphone control.
Get more out of your speakers without spending a cent — a practical guide to optimal placement, from wall distances and the equilateral triangle sweet spot to height and toe-in.
Achieve digital zen: a guide to cleaning up a messy music library using MediaMonkey, covering missing tags, tagging inconsistencies, and automatic file organisation.
Six wireless music streaming units from Lenco, Panasonic, and Denon compared, including a look at the Qualcomm AllPlay platform that's finally bringing cross-brand interoperability to multi-room audio.
Object-based surround sound does away with fixed channel layouts altogether. A look at how Dolby Atmos and DTS:X work, what they need from your home theatre, and how they compare.
A comprehensive guide to home theatre projectors — covering DLP, LCD, and LCoS technologies, how to read spec sheets, and how to choose and position a screen.
A guide to choosing, connecting, and calibrating a subwoofer — covering driver size, power, connection options, crossover settings, and phase calibration.
Taking your car audio further with a separate amplifier and subwoofer — covering enclosure types, power ratings, and how to pair an amp to your speakers.
A buyer's guide to upgrading your TV's audio — comparing soundbars, self-powered speakers, and component A/V receiver systems, with budget allocation advice best supporting future upgrade paths.
Ten apps for scientists and science enthusiasts — from an interactive periodic table and 3D molecule viewer to journal readers and a scientific calculator.
Ten apps to explore the cosmos from your pocket — augmented reality night skies, interactive planetary maps, and a fully simulated space shuttle landing.
Ten apps for staying across the latest news — from algorithmic aggregators and magazine-style readers to trusted public broadcasters and citizen journalism on Twitter.
Ten apps that make the most of your phone's location smarts — from real-time tracking and crowd-sourced navigation to augmented reality gaming and zombie-powered fitness.
Nine apps for cyclists of every stripe — route tracking and leaderboards, bike-share finders, gear calculators, maintenance guides, and a full ANT+ sensor suite.
Nine apps guaranteed to supply your daily dose of internet humour — meme generators, satirical news, webcomics, and some face-swapping tools of questionable taste.
