Why we revisited · 18 April 2026
Re-opening our over-ear headphones review after eighteen months
Firmware moves, ear-pad wear, and a hinge issue we wanted to put on the record.
— Theo Marchetti
Editorial desk
Audio
Headphones, speakers, and listening — without mysticism.
Coverage of headphones, speakers, DACs, and the listening rooms that surround them. Our audio critic is a former mastering engineer and writes accordingly.
Editorial perspective
We measure where measurement helps and describe where it doesn't. We don't believe in cables that change the soundstage.
Featured guide
Eighteen Months With the Sony WH-1000XM5
Our audio critic spent a year and a half with Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones — on planes, in offices, and at a writing desk. The verdict is mixed in interesting ways.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-05-15
Read the reviewSupporting guides
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Two Years With KEF Q150s
An entry-level audiophile bookshelf that has remained our critic's main listening pair.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-02-30
A Year With Moondrop Aria 2 IEMs
Cheap, fragile, and still in our reviewer's bag.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-05-10
The Reference Tracks We've Used Since 2023
A short essay on the listening material our audio critic has used to evaluate every set of headphones and speakers in the archive.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-04-22
The Wireless Earbuds We'd Recommend, Honestly
A category analysis covering the four pairs that consistently survive editorial scrutiny — and a clear note on who each one is actually for.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-05-30
Four Bluetooth Speakers Worth Recommending
Category analysis of portable speakers across kitchen, garden, shelf, and travel use — with a clear note on which trade-offs each one asks of the room.
By Theo Marchetti · Last reviewed 2026-05-22
6
Guides on this desk
1
Long-term reviews
2026-05
Last desk revision
2023
Desk established
Editor's picks
What Theo keeps recommending.
01
Eighteen Months With the Sony WH-1000XM5
Our audio critic spent a year and a half with Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones — on planes, in offices, and at a writing desk. The verdict is mixed in interesting ways.
02
Two Years With KEF Q150s
An entry-level audiophile bookshelf that has remained our critic's main listening pair.
03
The Wireless Earbuds We'd Recommend, Honestly
A category analysis covering the four pairs that consistently survive editorial scrutiny — and a clear note on who each one is actually for.
Recently updated
What this desk revisited most recently.
Last reviewed
2026-05-30The Wireless Earbuds We'd Recommend, Honestly
Theo Marchetti · Editorial recommendations
Last reviewed
2026-05-22Four Bluetooth Speakers Worth Recommending
Theo Marchetti · Editorial recommendations
Last reviewed
2026-05-15Eighteen Months With the Sony WH-1000XM5
Theo Marchetti ·
Last reviewed
2026-05-10A Year With Moondrop Aria 2 IEMs
Theo Marchetti · Long-term use report
Long-term reviews
Guides we've lived with for at least a year.
Two Years With KEF Q150s
Published 2024-02 · Last revisit 2026-02-30
Editor's notes from this desk
Corrections from this desk
What we've amended on the record.
2026-03-22
Corrected the codec list in the connectivity section. The unit supports LDAC but does not support aptX Lossless; an earlier draft conflated the two during a firmware transition.
Reader questions
About this desk
- How long does the Audio desk test before publishing?
- Most reviews here represent at least three months of regular use, with a meaningful share extending to multiple years before publication.
- Do you accept review samples from brands?
- Occasionally, with clear ground rules: no editorial influence, no embargoed coverage, and full disclosure inside the review.
- How do I suggest something to cover?
- Reader suggestions are taken seriously. Write to us with the object, the question you wish someone would answer, and how long you've lived with it yourself.
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