Here, we will look at What’s The Best, which tests and reviews audio products, including speakers, earphones, headphones and soundbars.
At What's The Best, we are all about real-world testing and down-to-earth reviews. Statistics and graphs are all good, but we want to let you, our readers, know what a product is like to experience, use, and carry with you daily.
This ethos carries across to our audio reviews and hands-on tests. We don’t go in for testing audio equipment with fancy frequency analysers – instead, we adopt the audio device into our lives and use them just as a regular customer would.
Here are our best-of audio lists:
Who tests the audio equipment?
We have a number of audio experts on the team and at every level, from Tech Writers to the Digital Editor.
The audio products that we test are commissioned to reviewers based on their particular interests, knowledge areas, and experiences.
For example, if we are reviewing some high-end bookshelf speakers – such as the KEF Q350 – we will ensure that they land with a reviewer who has the equipment to test such a product. In this case, they went to Senior Reviewer Chris Duffill, who used his record player and home hi-fi setup to wear in and test the speakers to the fullest.
Items that require less specialist equipment can be shared more easily across the team, with headphones, earbuds and Bluetooth speakers being tested by a wider selection of experts. Again, we will discern who is best placed to review an item answering a specific need. For example, Digital Editor William Austin-Lobley is often called upon to test exercise and running headphones, often in the gym and pounding pavements on runs. At the same time, Tech Reviewer Kyle Purves is known for their encyclopaedic knowledge of Anker products, so uses this experience to get a beat on the latest releases from that brand.
How we test audio equipment
We keep it simple. If we are testing speakers – like the JBL Authentics 300 smart speaker – we set the speaker up in our room and use it. The same goes for earphones, earbuds and headphones – such as theShokz OpenFit Air – which replace our everyday set and are used for office work, commutes and gym sessions. We also make sure to download and use any companion apps on our smartphones and use them as required.
We make an effort to throw specific music through them to see how they handle more sonically challenging genres, like rock, bass-heavy, or classical music. But for the most part, we are just using them as anyone else would.
As we use the products, we use our experience and expert ears to determine whether the product delivers on its promises. We have extensive experience with audio products from our personal lives and as professional reviewers, so we trust our inherent knowledge and gut feeling. If something sounds good, we can tell and shout about it. Equally, when something under-delivers, we are disappointed and feel duty-bound to pass this knowledge on.
How we score audio equipment
When it comes to assessing an audio product, there are some areas that we pay particular attention to and make sure to mention when we are writing up our review. These include:
Build. We check to make sure there’s a solid construction, a comfortable fit (if we are looking at headphones or earbuds), and the durability of materials. If a product is battery-powered, we will test how long the equipment lasts on a single charge and how quickly it recharges.
Usability. When considering the use of a product, we look to make sure that the controls are intuitive, the app is worth downloading, and other functions are easy to use, such as whether the device pairs easily with your other gadgets.
Sound quality. When it comes to sound quality, we listen to various audio content, including music, podcasts, and movies, across different genres and volume levels. We are experts and passionate about music and audio quality, so we naturally pay attention to clarity, bass response, and how well the audio equipment handles highs, mids, and lows. We also listen out for any distortion at high volumes and the overall balance of the sound.
Other features. If the product offers additional features, we will test these to their limits. For example, for noise-cancelling features, we will evaluate how well the device blocks out external sounds in various environments, such as in a busy office or on public transport.
Price and competition. Here, we assess the product's market position relative to its competitors and its overall value. We balance the quality and performance with the price tag to see if they all align.
Other products to consider. Here, we suggest alternative products that meet similar needs, including options that cater to various budgets, from more affordable to premium choices.
We then use our experience to guide our scoring, which was a star rating out of five. Reviews are subjective and are only the informed opinion of the reviewer. We never influence our reviews to inflate or deflate scores, and we never allow a brand or manufacturer to have input on our final words.
If a brand or manufacturer disagrees with our score for fair reasons – for example, believing that we were sent a defective unit – we will place a disclaimer in our review explaining the brand/manufacturer’s position and update the final score if, after further testing of a new unit, the original review verdict is changed.
How long we test audio equipment
We have no hard-and-fast rule on how long we test a product, instead relying on our experience and knowledge to gauge when we have learnt all we need about a product. On average, this takes at least a few weeks, with other reviews running into the months.
We never unpack a product, take a few shots, plug them in for five minutes and write up our review. We like to allow the product to settle into our lives and reveal its strengths and weaknesses through prolonged testing.
Testing imagery for audio products
The images we include in our reviews of audio products are, for the most part, original images taken by our expert reviewers. The only time we use stock imagery is when it shows something that we cannot – for example, the inner workings of an earbud.
Most of our reviewers use their smartphones to take pictures, but those who have cameras may break them out for some particularly nice shots and close-ups. Photographs are taken throughout the testing process, and we endeavour to include images that reinforce our reviews, showcase features, and give readers a realistic impression of the product.
How do we get audio equipment to review?
Our experts acquire speakers and earphones for testing in various ways. One method involves receiving sample items from brands or PR companies representing them. Alternatively, What’s The Best may purchase items for testing, or our experts may review personal purchases.
Some products are sent to us for a loan period, while others – particularly earphones for hygiene reasons – are ours to keep.
Regardless of how a product reaches our experts, we ensure the final review is sincere, reflecting their firsthand experience. Our evaluations are unbiased, offering praise when deserved and criticism when warranted.
At times, we may receive commission or other compensation through product links, which supports our passion for providing valuable product advice without compromising the integrity of our reviews.