Michael Gowan
Michael Gowan is a freelance technology journalist covering soundbars, TVs, and wireless speakers of all kinds of shapes and sizes for Tom’s Guide. He has written hundreds of product reviews, focusing on sound quality and value to help shoppers make informed buying decisions. Micheal has written about music and consumer technology for more than 25 years. His work has appeared in publications including CNN, Wired, Men’s Journal, PC World and Macworld. When Michael’s not reviewing speakers, he’s probably listening to one anyway.
Latest articles by Michael Gowan
Creative Pebble V3 review: Small, mighty, stylish
By Michael Gowan published
The Creative Pebble V3 produce good sound for their size and price — and look good, too.
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Computer Speaker review
By Michael Gowan published
The Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX speaker delivers great sound at a good price — if you’ve got the space for a subwoofer and don’t need Bluetooth.
Vizio V-Series (2021 Model) review
By Michael Gowan published
The Vizio V-Series is a solid TV for the price, if you can live with low brightness and poor HDR performance.
Bose Companion 2 Series III review
By Michael Gowan published
Bose Companion 2 Series III sound great and aren’t too big — but lack the latest tech.
Vizio P-Series Quantum (P65Q9-H1) review
By Michael Gowan published
The Vizio P-Series Quantum (P65Q9-H1) delivers a crisp picture with great contrast at a good price — but its software holds it back.
Klipsch AW-650 Outdoor Speaker review
By Michael Gowan published
The Klipsch AW650 Outdoor Speakers are big in size, sound and price.
Sonos Beam (Gen 1) review
By Michael Gowan published
The first-generation Sonos Beam delivers very good sound for a small soundbar, and comes with Alexa voice controls.
Android TV vs. Fire TV: Which smart TV OS is better?
By Michael Gowan published
We compare Android TV to Fire TV to find out which smart TV OS offers the better experience.
Polk Atrium 4 review
By Michael Gowan published
Polk Atrium 4 set the standard for wired outdoor speakers with a wide, balanced sound for under $200.
Hisense U7G Android TV (65U7G) review
By Michael Gowan published
The Hisense U7G is a solid all-around TV, with good brightness and color, at a competitive price.
Insignia F30 Fire TV Edition (2020 model) review
By Michael Gowan published
Despite some picture problems, the Insignia 4K Ultra HD Fire TV Edition delivers an enjoyable viewing experience thanks to Fire TV OS.
Yamaha NS-AW150W review
By Michael Gowan published
The Yamaha NS-AW150W outdoor speakers produce a bright sound with full vocals, at an excellent price.
Toshiba C350 Fire TV (2021 model) review
By Michael Gowan published
The Toshiba C350 is a solid Fire TV, with good color, but doesn’t handle HDR content well.
Sony Bravia X800H review
By Michael Gowan published
The bright and sharp picture of the Sony Bravia X800H, along with its robust Android TV smart OS, make it one of the best mid-range TVs.
Polk React review
By Michael Gowan published
This Alexa-powered soundbar produces impressive bass without a subwoofer, though it lacks a truly wide soundstage.
TCL 6-Series vs. TCL 8-Series: Which TV should you buy?
By Michael Gowan published
TCL 6-Series Roku TV (R635) vs. TCL 8-Series Roku TV (Q825): Both TVs offer QLED and Mini-LED, and a premium Roku TV experience, but which is better?
Samsung Q60T QLED TV review
By Michael Gowan published
The Samsung Q60T QLED TV costs less, adds Alexa and delivers sharp detail and bright colors — as long as you don’t push it too hard.
Samsung Q70T QLED TV review
By Michael Gowan published
Samsung’s Q70T delivers good color and sharp images at a decent price.
Hisense U8G Android TV (65U8G) review
By Michael Gowan published
The Hisense U8G Android TV (65U8G) delivers rich colors, sharp details — and is oh-so-bright.
Roku Streambar Pro review
By Michael Gowan published
The Roku Streambar Pro, which combines a soundbar and Roku streaming device, is easy to set up and has good sound — but can be sluggish as a streamer.
JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam review
By Michael Gowan published
The compact JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam soundbar delivers rooming-filling Atmos audio and good bass — but you can’t make many adjustments.
JBL Charge 5 review
By Michael Gowan published
With a new look, a little more ruggedness and improved sound, the JBL Charge 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers — just not one of the cheapest.
TCL Alto 6 Plus review: A cheap but powerful soundbar
By Michael Gowan published
The TCL Alto 6 Plus doesn’t cost much and has few frills, but delivers impressive audio for the price.
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