Please don’t go for the easy joke — yes, I know that my ears are getting older. But that’s beside the point. The speakers built into modern TVs are terrible and do a lousy job of reproducing dialog. Compound that problem with the fact that many modern TV shows go for a more realistic approach …

If you were an aspiring audiophile in the days before digital, reading about audio gear was essential, because there was a huge difference in audio quality between entry-level audio gear and the unaffordable stuff you read about in stereo magazines. Even on a limited budget, it was essential to splurge on a high-quality turntable for example, because turntables were mechanical …

The holiday weekend is well in the rearview mirror, and many Memorial Day sales are over. But if you missed out on the action, I have some good news: You still have a chance to take advantage of a handful of sales that are lingering on though this weekend. I’ve rounded up all the best remaining holiday sales so you …

There’s no question that Marshall is leveraging its iconic history as the amplifier that powered decades of rock ‘n’ roll in its Bluetooth speakers, and I am fine with that. All of Marshall’s speakers look more or less like vintage stage amps, but perhaps no more so than the Woburn II, which measures 16 x 12 x 7.9 inches and …

Memorial Day weekend is in full swing, though it’s likely to play out quite a bit differently than usual thanks to the global pandemic — there will be fewer group outings and backyard BBQs, for example. But one thing that isn’t changing this year is the deals, and Best Buy is fully on board with its annual Memorial Day Weekend …

How are you going to spend your long weekend? If you want to pop some homemade popcorn and run a movie marathon, here’s a way to watch some of the hottest new films without spending more than a few dollars. Fandango Now is holding its own “Mega Movie Weekend” by putting hundreds of its movie rentals on sale with prices …

I’ve seen more people in my neighborhood out for a routine run recently — that’s especially comforting in a time when nothing is routine. Those joggers have encouraged me to think about exercising outdoors again. I’ve been doing all my workouts indoors, a combination of the Oculus Quest fitness game Supernatural and some time on the elliptical. If, like me, …

As Cheapskate Rick Broida has mentioned many times, a soundbar is an easy way to amp up the sound quality in your home theater, because the speakers built into your TV are objectively terrible. You don’t even need to tell me what brand or model TV you have; I already know that the speakers are terrible. A soundbar sets up …

I’m a sucker for single-use kitchen appliances. Just look in my cupboards to see a vast wasteland of pizza makers, risotto makers, ice cream topping mixers (don’t even ask) and more. But one cheap little gadget is the smartest purchase I’ve ever made: Colonel Popper is a silicone bowl that makes perfectly popped popcorn in your microwave. I paid $25 …

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. With schools, stores, restaurants and theaters closed — and “social distancing” a top contender for Merriam-Webster’s word of the year — we all need lots of ways to entertain ourselves. Since most of us still have a lot of time at home ahead …