Serato sample $149

Ready to drop a banger? Chris Rowlands loops us in with the best tools for home beatmaking…

Soundtracking your commute with a bit of Engelbert Humperdinck is all very well, but music is best enjoyed at home – in peace, in comfort, and with a cuppa in your hand. So we’ve hand-picked the best hi-fi gear to give you the ultimate listening experience…

It’s always exciting to discover a free PC program that offers advanced features you usually have to pay for. It’s also interesting to try new open-source tools from independent developers on GitHub (

Strymon’s standalone emulation of an Echoplex offers a host of adjustable parameters to tailor your sound

The Vertere Calon is a shining example of how things should be done. It is a hugely expensive product, but in a price-appropriate turntable system, it’s hard to better. Any options that come close in

Our pick of the month’s most delectable and wallet-bothering new gear