Best Audio & Video (2026)

The Cloud III S Wireless is the safer new buy for most people, but the older Cloud III Wireless can still make sense at the right clearance price.

The best earbuds for calls are not always the best-sounding earbuds. Here is how to pick for microphone clarity, wind handling, platform features, and long meetings.

Budget ANC headphones are better than they used to be, but the bad ones still cut corners in comfort, microphones, and app support. These are the cheap noise cancelling headphones worth shortlisting.

The best budget webcams for Zoom, Teams, school, and streaming basics, plus the specs that actually matter under $100.

The best computer speakers for workstations, gaming desks, small rooms, and nearfield music, with practical advice on size, inputs, and subwoofers.

Updated June 2026. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 vs HyperX Cloud III Wireless: which wireless gaming headset to buy for Bluetooth, battery life, comfort, mic quality, software, and value.

Gaming headsets in 2026 split into three real tiers: $80 starter wireless that's good enough for most, $250-350 flagship wireless with proper mics and battery life, and $400+ pro tier with swappable batteries and broadcast-grade audio. Here's which to actually buy, with honest notes on the wireless lag myth and which 'audiophile' marketing is real.

Capture cards used to be a solved problem. Then 4K 120Hz, HDR, and VRR arrived and broke half the market. Here's the shortlist that actually works for streaming PS5, Xbox Series X, and a gaming PC in 2026.

Stream decks aren't just for streamers anymore. The right one becomes the most-used input device on your desk. Here are the picks worth buying in 2026, by use case.

USB mics for video calls are a different category. If you're recording a podcast, streaming, or making YouTube videos, the bar is higher. Here are the studio mics worth buying in 2026 at every budget.

TV speakers got worse every year as TVs got thinner. A good soundbar fixes that. Here are the ones worth buying in 2026 at every budget, and the ones that are paying for branding.

Headphones for focus, earbuds for commutes, speakers for the desk, a mic for calls — the modern home audio stack has clear winners in each category. Here is the full SolderMag map.

What actually matters when buying wireless earbuds. Sound, ANC, fit, battery, codecs. Cut through the marketing and pick the right pair.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM TW4 after two months of daily use. Sound quality, ANC, fit, calls, and whether the premium price is worth it over the Sony WF-1000XM5.

The best workout earbuds of 2026 for running, gym, and outdoor training. IP ratings, fit, and battery life compared.

Cut through the marketing. What to look for in ANC headphones, what specs lie, and how to test before you commit.

Sony XM6 after daily use. ANC, sound, comfort, calls, and battery. What changed from XM5 and whether it matters.

The best smart speakers of 2026. sound quality, smart home control, and privacy compared across Alexa, Google, and Apple ecosystems.

Sony XM6 vs Bose QC Ultra. sound, ANC, comfort, and battery compared. Clear winner for most people.

Bluetooth speakers are a minefield of fake watts, shouty tuning, and mystery waterproofing. Here’s how to buy a good one in 2026. and the picks that usually nail it.

ANC is incredible when it’s tuned well. and miserable when it isn’t. Here are the 2026 picks that get the fundamentals right, plus the red flags that waste your money.

Updated May 2026. Great earbuds aren't about big bass — they're about fit, stability, call quality, and not getting trapped in a codec ecosystem. Six earbuds actually worth buying in 2026, with honest notes on ANC, battery, and which features are marketing fluff.

You don’t need a studio mic to sound professional on Zoom/Meet. just the right pattern, placement, and a mic that behaves. Here are the 2026 picks and the traps to avoid.

Most bad webcam problems are lighting and exposure, not resolution. What to buy, what to skip, and how to look great on Zoom in 2026.