Holiday specials and audio gear deals: October is here and the holiday season will soon be upon us. Until the end of the year, in addition to the usual Q&A I will often have a product highlight or two at the beginning of the column. The industry buzz is that there are going to be some exceptional items and bargains offered over the next few ...Read more

HumminGuru automatic record cleaner: Ultrasonic record cleaning machines are considered the best, but my past experience turned me off to them even though I liked the results. The process was complicated and time-consuming, made up of multiple lengthy sessions in the cleaner alternating with spraying and brushing the record between each ...Read more

Q. About four years ago I bought a ZVOX SB380 soundbar to use with a Samsung Series 8 TV. The soundbar recently failed after a power surge, so I'm looking for a new one. Is there wisdom in pairing a Samsung soundbar with a Samsung TV? I’ve looked at the Samsung soundbar options and most of them come at a higher price point. Is it possible to ...Read more

Q. Currently I have an old plasma TV from Panasonic and love the television, but the Netflix app no longer works because it is out-of-date and cannot be updated. I know I can buy a streaming box to get Netflix, but it is probably time to upgrade to 4K anyway. I would like to stick with a Panasonic TV, but they are no longer available. What do ...Read more

Q. I followed your electric toothbrush recommendation several years ago and have been very pleased with it. Can you recommend a water flosser?

—J.B., Minneapolis

A. After my positive experience with the Oclean toothbrush I bought the Oclean W10 Water Flosser and have been very pleased with it. I will expand on that later, but first would ...Read more

Q. Earlier this year you highlighted the TEAC AD-850-SE Cassette Deck CD Player, which also has a USB port for recording to USB flash drives. I am considering buying one, but do you know if it possible to use it with a turntable and record to the USB port, like you can record to USB from the integrated cassette deck and CD player? I would like ...Read more

EarFun Air 2 NC earphones for only $39.95: A few weeks ago a reader asked about quality earphones for between $20-$40 after the ZVOX AV30 earbuds were discontinued and sold out. I replied that I was looking for another budget recommendation, and I have found it in the newly introduced EarFun Air 2 NC earphones.

EarFun is better known overseas, ...Read more

Samsung Music Frame: Samsung has seen great success with their Frame TVs, which display your own or Samsung-provided art when not in use as a television. The effect is quite convincing, especially with the included flat wall mount and single thin cable that runs to the television. I have recommended them to friends and they have been very ...Read more

Q. You mentioned in your column about your plug-in hybrid that you have a 240V charger as well as the 120V charger that came with the car. Which 240V charger do you have, and how much did your electric bill go up per month?

—L.D., San Francisco

A. I have an Emporia Level 2 EV charger with J1772 connector, sold by Emporia Energy. Since it was...Read more

Kicking things off this week is a review of some of the best headphones I have ever heard, a product on the completely opposite end of the spectrum compared to the budget earphones I have covered recently. The Meze 109 Pro open-back wired headphones are a premium product meant for audiophiles and music lovers. Handmade in Romania, the 109 Pro is...Read more

Q. A few months ago you gave an ecstatic review of a $1,000 75-inch TV. Could you tell me what brand, model, etc., and where I can see one in person?

—E.T., Minneapolis

A. You are referring to the TCL Q6 QLED 4K Smart TV, which uses the Google TV operating system. I did not review the entire TV but mentioned it had the best TV tuner I had ...Read more

Q. I am looking for a decent stand-alone record player for our living room cabinet, preferably one that has its own internal speakers. I also have a Bose TV Speaker on the cabinet that we can use with the turntable. I am considering the $249 Fluance RT81 turntable. Do you have any other recommendations between $200-$500?

—R., Coon Rapids, ...Read more

Q. I was entertained to see you were reviewing the Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid SUV. As a long-time Alfa 164 owner, I was hoping to hear how the trial turned out. As a Chevy Volt owner, I was curious about whether an Alfa could approach the Volt's incredible drivetrain (acknowledging that many other aspects of the Volt are terrible.)

—M.W...Read more