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
JBL Flip 5 review
By Michael Gowan published
Thanks to above-average sound in a small package, the JBL Flip 5 remains one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers.
Marshall Mode II review: No ANC, but AirPods-beating sound
By Michael Gowan published
The Marshall Mode II wireless earbuds rival the best in this price range for sound quality, but lack active noise cancellation and ruggedness.
JBL Link 20 review
By Michael Gowan published
The JBL Link 20 delivers almost all the features of Google Home in great-sounding portable speaker.
LG XBoom Go PL7 review
By Michael Gowan published
While the lights on the LG XBoom Go PL7 may attract your eyes, it’s the detailed sound that will hook your ears.
Vizio M-Series 5.1 M51a-H6 review
By Michael Gowan published
Vizio’s M-Series 5.1 M51a-H6 gives you a lot for the money, but you need to work to get it to sound at its best.
How to set up Bixby and Alexa on your 2020 Samsung TV
By Michael Gowan published
Learn how to enable a voice assistant on your Samsung TV.
How to update system software on your 2020 Samsung TV
By Michael Gowan published
Learn how to update the system software on your Samsung TV.
How to install and delete apps on your 2020 Samsung TV
By Michael Gowan published
Learn how to add and remove apps on your Samsung TV.
How to set up your 2020 Samsung smart TV
By Michael Gowan published
Follow these steps to set up your Samsung smart TV and you’ll be watching it in no time.
Enclave Audio CineHome Pro 5.1 CineHub Edition review
By Michael Gowan published
The Enclave CineHome Pro 5.1 CineHub Edition delivers better sound than a single soundbar, without sacrificing simplicity — but you’ll have to live without the latest technologies.
UE Hyperboom review
By Michael Gowan published
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom portable Bluetooth speaker is a big speaker that produces a big sound — at a big price.
UE Megaboom 3 review
By Michael Gowan published
The UE Megaboom 3 has what you want in a portable Bluetooth speaker: good sound quality, long battery life, ruggedness and more.
Vizio V-Series 2.1 Home Theater Soundbar V21-H8 review
By Michael Gowan published
The Vizio V-Series 2.1 Home Theater Soundbar V21-H8 delivers wide sound, big bass and plenty of options for not much money.
Bose Soundbar 500 review
By Michael Gowan published
The Bose Soundbar 500 is a slim speaker with serious smarts.
Yamaha YAS-108 review: An excellent low-cost soundbar
By Michael Gowan published
Yamaha's YAS-108 soundbar delivers plenty of features and overall very good overall sound, all for $220.
Polk MagniFi Mini Review: Small Size, Huge Sound
By Michael Gowan published
The Polk MagniFi Mini is a solid small soundbar that delivers big sound.
Fugoo Sport 2.0 review
By Michael Gowan published
The Fugoo Sport 2.0 is a versatile and affordable wireless speaker, though it doesn’t improve much on the original.
AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Which headphones will win?
By Michael Gowan published
Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Sony has a leg up in this competition, but AirPods Max look promising.
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround review
By Michael Gowan published
The bass-rich JBL Bar 5.1 Surround soundbar creates an encompassing sound, if you can figure out how to take advantage of its talents.
LG SN8YG soundbar review
By Michael Gowan published
The LG SN8YG delivers the precision of Dolby Atmos sound at an affordable price — and gets very loud.
TCL 6-Series Roku TV (R635) vs. Samsung Q60T QLED faceoff
By Michael Gowan published
Which budget QLED — TCL’s 6-Series and Samsung’s Q60T — is the best for you?
Google Home speaker review
By Michael Gowan published
Google Home plays nice with Google software and hardware, but it lacks some key features of its competitors.
Sony HT-CT370 Review: Feature-Rich Soundbar
By Michael Gowan published
With HDMI, Bluetooth and a wireless subwoofer, Sony's HT-CT370 delivers plenty of features and very good sound.
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