We are always impartial and do our best to make sure we're hearing every product at its very best, so we'll try plenty of different types of music and give each one extensive listening time – including time to run in.

as real users, posing a threat to a site’s security, so the site sometimes runs random security checks. On top of that, based on our experience testing them, not every Alexa speaker is worth your hard-earned cash. The app is excellent to use, the number of streaming features is, frankly, vast, and it's as well-made and reliable as you might expect. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our site, provide personalised content and advertising, analyse our traffic, and ensure you see more of what you love. we are proud to consistently deliver honest, unbiased reviews – something we have been doing for over 45 years.Sound performance is authoritative and expansive with a weighty, pleasing bass feel, and there's even a convenient strap for ease of transport for what is still a primarily portable unit.

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the entire team, rather than an individual reviewer, to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. The main question is this: do you want something small and unassuming to kick-start a smart system, or do you want a substantial wireless speaker with built-in brains that sounds good to boot? Big choral numbers feel broad and immersive thanks to spatial audio, but the Era 300 excels seemingly with all genres; hip-hop, classic rock, movie soundtracks, it’s all covered with ease. Music-wise, throw whatever you like at the Era 300, chances are it has it covered, filling our testing rooms with cohesive, spacious sound without a hint of a struggle. Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget.If a product has noteworthy features (including smart skills via Alexa voice control) we'll ensure part of our testing involves trialling the claims made by its makers. Sound quality is solid considering what it is, even if the Echo Show 5 can be beaten by more audio-focused rivals at this level. It's expensive, sure, but if you have money to spend, the smart Beosound A1 is a rather remarkable all-rounder. Ever since Apple's HomePod 2 landedearly in 2023 with the ability to deliver spatial audio, the race has been on to see who could challenge the biggest dog on the block when it came to integrating the much-vaunted tech into their own speaker designs. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door.