Buying Guides

Latest Buying guides

Boss DS-1W Waza Craft on a wooden floor

Best distortion pedals 2025: our pick of the top gain stages for guitar

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated

Bring the filth with 10 of the best distortion pedals for hard-rock, metal, and beyond

Guitar Pedals
Looking at a yellow drum kit from behind on stage with a drum stool in the foreground

Best drum thrones 2025: Top stools for comfort behind the kit

By Stuart Williams last updated

DW, Roc-N-Soc and Gibraltar are among the budget-spanning brands vying to be crowned king of the drum thrones – but which one is right for you?

Drum Gear
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar

Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: Find your favourite acoustic strings

By Jonathan Horsley last updated

Our pick of the best acoustic guitar strings for your style and budget from Elixir, Ernie Ball, Martin, D'Addario, and more

Guitar Strings
Close up of the body on a Godin MultiAc Nylon electro classical guitar

Best classical guitars 2025: Our pick of top nylon-string, flamenco and hybrid acoustics

By Jonathan Horsley last updated

Your guide to the finest classical, flamenco, and hybrid guitars from big names including Yamaha, Cordoba, Godin, Taylor, and more

Acoustic Guitars
Man sits behind a Roland digital piano in a white room

Best Roland digital pianos 2025: Our top pick of digital pianos from across the full Roland range

By Helen Nash last updated

Bag yourself the ultimate digital playing experience with these top-rated Roland pianos - featuring units from the RP, F, HP, DP, Kiyola, LX and GP series

Keyboards & Pianos
Close-up of the keys of a Steinway & Sons grand piano

Best acoustic pianos 2025: Budget to premium instruments for home and studio

By Dave Clews last updated

If you’re considering buying a new acoustic piano and want some advice, don’t worry – pianos are our forte

Keyboards & Pianos
An Arturia MIDI keyboard controller on a desktop in a studio

Best MIDI keyboards for beginners 2025: Entry-level controllers for those starting out in music production

By Andy Jones last updated

Get producing your own music with our pick of the best MIDI controller keyboards for beginner musicians

Midi Controllers
Two travel guitars leaning against a wooden panel

Best travel guitars 2025: Top acoustic and electric guitars for musicians on the go

By Chris Corfield last updated

Out top picks for practicing your guitar on the move, wherever the road takes you

Guitars
A Teenage Engineering TP-7 field recorder lying on a desk

Best field recorders 2025: Top portable recorders for capturing sound on-the-go

By Simon Fellows last updated

From Foley and found sound to recording your rehearsals, a field recorder can unlock the sonics that surround us

Recording
An image of a podcast studio with headphones, mixer, laptop, and condenser microphone

Best podcast headphones 2025: An essential tool for your podcast rig

By Chris Corfield last updated

Our pick of closed-back, wired headphones will help you up your podcasting game in no time

Headphones
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