Here are a few shopping suggestions to keep in mind. • Make sure you can return or exchange the soundbar even if you listen to it in a store before buying it. Soundbars may sound very different in your home. • Determine how many channels of sound you want. To simply enhance your TV sound,…
The U8N also lets you control the volume output of its optical port with the TV remote, making it much simpler to control older audio systems that don’t support HDMI ARC/eARC, like my original KEF LSX speakers. If you decide to settle for the onboard sound, the U8N’s 2.1.2 speaker system offers some decent detail,…
If you’re looking at bikes online—or anything, really, whether it’s headphones or monitors—you have to consider price versus payoff. Gazelle has billed its newest ebike, the Eclipse, as a long-range comfort cruiser. It is basically the expensive Dutch version of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) Rad Power Bikes’ Radster Road (8/10, WIRED Recommends). I brooded over that…
Aluminum: It’s usually dishwasher-safe, but minerals in the water might cause spots or darkening. If you want to remove those, scour with a soap-filled steel wool pad. China, crystal, and stoneware: It’s mostly safe, but if the pieces are hand-painted or fragile, wash by hand. And if it has gold leaf, that might discolor or…
Helmets With More CoverageFor all bike riders, it’s essential to make sure a helmet fits securely, Swart says—and this is equally true for anyone getting on an electric bike. But beyond that, e-bike riders might look into a helmet that provides more coverage on the sides and back of the head, like a commuter or…
The humble bathroom scale has long been overdue to learn some new tricks. After all, who needs to devote precious real estate to a device whose purpose is merely to tell you your weight? The “smart scale” category sprung to life in the early days of the internet of things, but early models weren’t always…
Control is all I want in an electric scooter. OK, that’s a lie, I also want decent range, good power, and a reasonable weight. Being able to control speed, regenerative braking, and how turn signals work—if they’re even available—is not something you find on most escooters. And even if you can access those things, tweaking…
On paper it’s an easy task: To achieve a high owner satisfaction score, just deliver on what you promise. Year over year, the models that rise to the top of CR’s owner satisfaction rankings are ones that deliver what their automakers promise. Unfortunately, every year there are also models from automakers who talk a big…
In-ground pools have traditionally been considered a drag on home sales because not all buyers want to deal with the maintenance or potential liability and safety risks. “There are many buyers who will not consider a home with a pool,” says Francie Malina, a licensed real estate salesperson at Compass Real Estate in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. “Homes with pools can…
A great grill cleaning brush isn’t just the easiest way to keep your grates immaculate—it’s also an essential tool to keep your grill working at peak performance. Each time you grill, food residue builds up on the grates and burns in place. Straggling peppers from a kebab or a stray piece of chicken skin can…