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John Higgins

John Higgins

Senior Editor, A/V

John Higgins is Digital Trends' Senior Editor and section lead for A/V. After receiving his Bachelor in Music with an Audio Production focus from Ithaca College and Master of Music in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California, he began working for Home Theater Magazine in 2003. His time in the print and online publishing world has been spent as a writer, editor, copy editor, researcher, and test lab technician. Most recently, Higgins was the Managing Editor of Tech at Reviewed, part of the USA Today network, where he led the website's tech coverage. He has previously written for Wirecutter, IGN, Projector Central, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine covering projectors, televisions, headphones and earbuds, sound bars and speakers, and monitors. He is a yearly attendee at CES and an ISF level 3 certified calibrator.

In addition to his career in publishing, Higgins has been a professional musician since the late 90s, having performed on piano in solo recitals, as a collaborative partner with various singers and instrumentalists, and with the Pacific Symphony. He also is an accomplished guitarist and, with his pop/rock band, has played such hallowed L.A. venues as the Troubadour, Roxy, Viper Room, and House of Blues. For 10 years, he was a teacher and music director at a private school in Los Angeles, and following his teaching career spent some time in the film industry as a post-production sound editor and composer.

Originally from just outside Boston, Higgins has been a Los Angeles resident since 2001 where he lives with his wife, son, two rescue dogs, and parrot. When not working, he spends his time watching TV shows about cooking and serial killers, preparing for his next D&D session, ignoring the growing list of games in his Steam gaming library, and building Legos with his son.

An Audio-technica LP120 turntable with Miles Davis Kind of Blue on its platter, an audioengine speaker to its left, and two record sleeves to its right on a wooden floor.

Don’t let audiophiles bully you out of being an audiophile

A love of music and wanting it to sound its best is all that's needed to be an audiophile.
The Google TV/basic option on the TCL Q6 television.

Nearly 1.6 million Android TV devices have been infected by Vo1d malware

While Vo1D hasn't reached the US in any sizable numbers, it's a reminder to keep all your connected devices secure, including TVs.
Hisense U7N review

Hisense QLEDs didn’t have quantum dots? A new lawsuit claims just that

A class action complaint filed on February 25 claims that certain Hisense TVs didn't contain the quantum dots promised.
An Apple HomePod and an Amazon Alexa Echo on a wooden bookshelf next to a small fountain.

I’m kicking Alexa out of my home and maybe you should, too

I've been on the edge about keeping Alexa in my home, but now I think it's time for it to go.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 cases and earbuds next to one another on a stone step.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: which Apple earbuds are best?

The AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 are closely matched. If you're deciding between the two, we'll help you know which to choose.
The Optoma Photon Go on a wooden credenza displaying a Google TV homepage with The Super Mario Bros. movie.

A portable ultra-short throw projector? Optoma has you covered with the Photon Go

The Optoma Photon Go looks to be the smallest and most portable ultra-short throw projector we've seen.
The Apple TV app on a Samsung Android phone.

A native Android Apple TV app is now in the Google Play store

After originally being released five years ago, a full-functioning Apple TV app has come to Android devices.
An iPhone 15 Max displaying the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show with Apple AirPods Pro 2 next to it on a wooden table.

Watch Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music

If you missed Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show last Sunday, Apple Music has you covered, with spatial audio, no less.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 in orange sitting in front of their case on a stone.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: your next workout earbuds

After being teased about them last fall, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally here, and they should be your next workout earbuds.
A blue image that has the Amazon swoop and "Hi there." with the date February 26 listed below.

Upcoming Amazon event invite teases a new AI-powered Alexa

Invites went out for an Amazon event in New York City on February 26, and all clues point to an Alexa AI announcement.
A Sonos Era 100 speaker next to an iPhone showing AirPlay speaker options.

Sonos troubles continue as it lays off 200 employees

Layoffs at Sonos epitomize its bad year. Time will tell if the restructuring can help the company regain its direction.
The Xfinity home screen showing Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for Super Bowl 2025.

Super Bowl 2025 will be broadcast in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for the first time

Comcast and Dolby are pairing up to broadcast the Super Bowl with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for Xfiniti customers.
A record player on the front of the Grammys poster.

Grammy 2025 song and album winners to listen to in Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos Music mixes were well represented at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including mixes by winners Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, St. Vincent, and Chappell Roan.
A TV displaying the Fox Sports, Tubi, TV, and YouTube apps.

How to watch Super Bowl 2025

Super Bowl 2025 is almost here, and it will be available on Fox, Fubo, and the free-streaming platform Tubi.
Three vinyl records below an Audio Technica turntable on a wooden table.

It’s time we admit to, and accept, vinyl’s dirty secret

Some want to believe that vinyl delivers a pure analog experience, but in reality, digital is almost always a part of it.
The LG G5 OLED TV displayed in a suite at CES 2025.

LG Display confirms what Panasonic told us at CES — new four-layer OLED is here

A brand new four-layer OLED panel structure technology has been confirmed by LG Display.
The 98-inch TCL QM6K mini-LED TV in a suite at CES 2025.

TCL focuses on new QM6K and QLED advancements at CES 2025

The new TCL QM6K TV unveiled at CES 2025 brings with it a slew of new backlight and processing improvements.
The Hisense 116UX TriChroma LED TV in a living room.

Hisense goes big with new TriChroma LED TV and a consumer microLED

At CES 2025, Hisense is showing off the new TriChroma LED TV and a consumer microLED TV.
Sansui 65-inch OLED 65VO

Sansui builds on its OLED TV line with new sizes, and adds new AI gaming monitor

Sansui has unveiled new sizes of its impressive OLED TV, as well as a new AI gaming monitor, ahead of CES 2025.
The LG G5 and C5 OLED TVs in LG's CES 2025 suite.

LG’s 2025 OLED TVs continue to get even better, but without MLA

LG's 2025 OLED evo TVs promise even better picture and more brightness, although none of them will include MLA technology.
The Apple TV 4K (2022) and Siri remote on a table.

Best streaming devices for 2025: Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and more

Your TV probably already has all the apps you need to stream all your shows and movies. But you need not settle. Here are the best streaming devices for 2025
The Hisense L9Q Laser TV ultra-short-throw projector on a dark marble background.

The Hisense L9Q Laser TV will have a variable lens for up to a 150-inch screen size

Hisense has announced the new L9Q Laser TV, redesigned from the ground up, that will have a variable lens for five different sizes ranging from 100 to 150 inches.
The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV displaying its home screen on a wooden home theater credenza.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED review: another step forward for Amazon

The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED smart TV is a great improvement over previous Amazon TV generations, but is held back by the Amazon Fire TV OS.
The Blu-ray cases of Blade Runner 2049, Ratatouille, and Akira with an iPhone displaying streaming apps all lying on a wooden table.

Should we be worried we don’t own our media anymore?

With the gradual decline of physical media, should we be concerned that all of our content will only live in the cloud?
Beats Solo 4.

The Beats Solo 4 are still 50% off for the holidays

The Beats Solo 4 are a great pair of on-ear headphones from an iconic brand, and they're 50% off at multiple retailers for the holidays.
An iPhone 15 Pro Max on a wooden table displaying streaming apps Amazon Music, Qobuz, Apple Music, Tidal, Sonos, and Spotify.

My favorite Dolby Atmos songs from 2024 to add to your playlist

There were lots of excellent songs released in 2024 that deserve to be added to your playlists. Here are some of our favorite Atmos releases.
GoldenEar T66

GoldenEar Speakers joins Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem

GoldenEar Speakers has been acquired by PML Sound International, bringing the audio brand together with Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem.
Sling TV on a TV.

Sling TV celebrates the holidays with a rate increase that goes live today

Effective today, Sling TV prices have increased by $6 per month for all of its packages.
The LG Signature OLED T, with its contrast screen not quite halfway unfurled.

The LG OLED T hits the U.S. and can be yours — for $60,000

The technologically impressive LG Signature OLED T is available at U.S. retailers now for a whopping $60,000.
A family in thier living room, watching an LG QNED TV hanging on the wall.

LG’s new QNED evo TV line has been revealed ahead of CES 2025

LG released details about its new QNED evo lineup that it will unveil at CES 2025 in January.
lg bp620 review blu ray player remote

LG exits Blu-ray player production, but that doesn’t mean discs are dead

While LG is stepping away from the Blu-ray player market, it's not necessarily the doom and gloom some are making it out to be.
The center console touchscreen in a Rivian R1S displaying Dolby Atmos Music tracks on Apple Music.

Dolby Atmos Music in a Rivian R1S is a transformative experience

Many of us spend many hours in our car listening to music. If that listening for everyone was Dolby Atmos in a Rivian R1S, it would be a better world.
Three phone screenshots of Spotify Wrapped 2024 on a yellow background.

Spotify Wrapped 2024: how to find your stats and the new Creator Wrapped

Spotify Wrapped 2024 is here, and it adds an AI podcast to tell you what you've listened to in 2024.
TCL QM89 115-inch

The TCL QM8 will light up your living room and is on sale for Cyber Week

The 2024 TCL QM8 is an excellent midrange mini-LED TV with over 4,000 nits of brightness paired with impressive black levels, and all sizes are on sale during Cyber Week.