Tyler Hayes

Product Tester & Audiophile

Tyler Hayes is a writer obsessed with both technology and music, including the ways they intersect. He has contributed extensively to Newsweek, WIRED, The New York Times, Fast Company, and other publications since 2013.

Latest Articles from Tyler Hayes

Edifier R1280DB review: Versatile bookshelf speakers for a modern turntable

Context is king, and in the case of the Edifier R1230DB bookshelf speakers, the product's $150 price makes the product's features and sound quality a worthy consideration.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Victrola Stream Onyx review: The unofficial Sonos wireless turntable

Sonos, the wireless speaker company, doesn't make a turntable, but if it did, the Victrola Stream Onyx might be what it would look like.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee review: Headphones for serious listening

Anyone interested in wired headphones should look at Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee, but those more focused on streaming music from their recent iPhone should skip in favor of a wireless option.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Tenways CGO800S review: An e-bike made for city life

The Tenways CGO800S e-bike, with its single-gear belt drive and incredibly quiet rear motor, is a nearly perfect bike for urban riders.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Bellroy All-Conditions Phone Pocket review: Premium protection

There are cases to put on your iPhone, and then there are cases to put your iPhone in. Bellroy's All-Conditions Phone Pocket is the second one meant to protect it from falls, water, and dirt.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Marshall Middleton review: Wonderful sound overshadowed by price

True to its name, the Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker falls right in the middle of several areas, including portability, a critical area for a Bluetooth speaker.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Vactidy Nimble T6 robot vacuum review: Limited smarts, budget price

The latest automated robot vacuums are mostly pushing the limits of mapping rooms with computer vision to win over consumers. The Vactidy Nimble T6 goes the other way and sells hands-free cleaning at a budget price.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Marshall Stanmore III review: Wildly impressive but imperfect Bluetooth speaker

The vintage style and deep, rich sound of the Marshall Stanmore III might appear to be the perfect home Bluetooth speaker, but its superficial styling masks minor compromises that are magnified by its steep $379.99 retail price

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Shargeek Retro 67 review: Nostalgia plus power equal a winning formula

The Shargeek Retro 67 wall charger uses a classic Macintosh design for a bit of nostalgia, but also to show total output on its "LED Matrix" display. It's a surprisingly compelling feature with today's state of charging.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

How to decide between two HomePods or a Sonos system for a home theater

Upgrading your home theater speakers for a great movie experience is easy to do, but it can be hard to decide which route to take. Let's look at the choice between a pair of HomePods and a dedicated Sonos system.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

OneOdio OpenRock Pro review: Earbuds for people who hate stuff in their ears

The OpenRock Pro earbuds mostly succeed at providing the open-ear benefits of the bone-conducting listening experience without sacrificing audio fidelity.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Why Spatial Audio is the future of the music industry, even if you hate it

It doesn't matter if Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is good, because it's already the future of Apple Music and the larger music industry, for better or worse. Let us explain.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Apple's Studio Display doesn't shine in the light of competition

Apple's Studio Display is finally facing direct competition, and it doesn't shine as brightly under the glare of competitors.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Keychron Q1 Pro review: Finally a wireless & metal mechanical keyboard

The Keychron Q1 Pro is a well-engineered mechanical keyboard has one exciting trait that sets it apart from the Q1 variant: wireless connectivity.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Harber London Commuter Backpack review: Fashion meets tech

Made from leather and sustainable fabric, Harber London's Commuter Backpack is, in a word, sophisticated. Fashion, in this case, does come with some trade-offs.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Apple's AR & VR headset will launch into a poorly defined market

Rumors surrounding Apple's virtual reality efforts and a 2023 launch continue to swirl as other companies showed off new and uninspiring devices at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Cherry KC 6000C for Mac review: A mediocre wired keyboard

A wired keyboard might be beneficial if you're tired of constantly re-charging the batteries in all your devices, but the Cherry KC 6000C for Mac isn't the first one we'd recommend considering.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

iLive 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand review: A quirky travel charger

The iLive 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand manages to stuff an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods charger into a compact, travel-friendly, device. And still, it remains largely unremarkable.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Upgrading your iPad just for external display support isn't for everybody

Enhanced external display support for iPads is here, except Apple made it exclusive to M-series iPads. We explore whether it's worth upgrading from an older model to benefit from the new feature.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Apple in 2023: AR, VR, HomePod, Mac Pro, AirPods Max

As exciting as 2022 was for new Apple products, 2023 may put it to shame with completely new and refreshed products. Here's what the rumor mill is expecting in the year to come.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago

Fuel 3 in 1 Foldable Power Station review: Large but effective

The Fuel 3 in 1 Foldable Power Station from Case-Mate is for people who want an all-in-one charging solution wherever they go — no matter the trouble or cost.

Tyler Hayes | 1 year ago