Audio Review category rankings
100 products, ranked in the categories where they belong
Headphones are compared with headphones, soundbars with soundbars, and turntables with turntables. Scores are category-specific and are not intended as direct comparisons between unrelated product types.
Category ranking
Headphones
Sound 45% · Design 20% · Features 20% · Value 15%
Category ranking
Earbuds
Sound 35% · Design 15% · Features 30% · Value 20%
Category ranking
Portable Speakers
Sound 35% · Design 20% · Features 20% · Value 25%
Category ranking
Soundbars
Sound 40% · Design 10% · Features 30% · Value 20%
Category ranking
Wireless & Smart Speakers
Sound 45% · Design 15% · Features 25% · Value 15%
Category ranking
Streamers & Amplifiers
Sound 35% · Design 15% · Features 30% · Value 20%
Category ranking
DACs & Headphone Amps
Sound 45% · Design 15% · Features 20% · Value 20%
Category ranking
Turntables
Sound 50% · Design 20% · Features 10% · Value 20%
Category ranking
AV Receivers
Sound 35% · Design 10% · Features 40% · Value 15%
Category ranking
Audio Interfaces
Sound 40% · Design 15% · Features 30% · Value 15%
How category scores are calculated
Every overall score is calculated from the same four review pillars—sound, design, features and value—but their importance changes by product type. For example, sound carries more weight for turntables and DACs, while features carry more weight for AV receivers. Scores are rounded to one decimal place; ties are resolved by the previous editorial order.
Category placement and scores update automatically when an editor changes a subscore or moves a product to another group.