Month: July 2026

Marshall’s new big and bullish home speaker is just as much of a delight on the eyes as it is on the ears, and it blew me away with its rumbling bass and amp-inspired aesthetic

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Marshall Stanmore IV review If you want to invite a speaker that looks as good as it sounds into your living room, then the new Marshall Stanmore IV could be a great pick for you. It aims to deliver everything its predecessor did, but better, with a broader soundstage, enhanced bass, and superior controls. And … Read more

The DIY energy boom is here — 30 US states are planning to legalize plug-in solar tech, as home battery installations quietly hit a record high

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There’s no mistaking the growing momentum behind small-scale, low-cost solar panel installations: panels you can plug into a standard wall outlet, without the expense, time, or paperwork of a full rooftop installation. Now widely established in Europe (where the tech is best known as ‘balcony solar’), we’re starting to see a wave of American states … Read more

Austrian Audio’s new ‘semi-open-back’ wired headphones are named like some sort of hired assassin, but I tested them and if you want layered audio, they’re ‘The Arranger’ for you

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Austrian Audio The Arranger: Two-minute review The Arranger by Austrian Audio are an attempt to at least begin to fill the gap that exists between the company’s highest-end headphones and its wildly successful entry-level stuff. In case that isn’t a big enough ask by itself, Austrian Audio wants this new gap-filler to be just as … Read more

I’ve driven the hybrid Audi RS 5 — and it’s completely changed what I think of plug-in hybrids

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For decades, Audi’s RS division has built its reputation on extracting astonishing performance from combustion engines, pairing muscular powerplants with the brand’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system to create machines that could embarrass exotic supercars while carrying an entire family… and their pets. But times have changed. Stringent emissions regulations, the soaring cost of fuel and … Read more