John Darko
John Darko builds a bridge between specialist hi-fi culture and everyday listening, using technology coverage to show how digital audio systems fit into real homes and real habits. He runs Darko.Audio, where he focuses on the full playback chain for music lovers who care as much about usability, streaming and space constraints as they do about sound quality.
Digital-first hi-fi and the playback chain
Darko’s core subject is digital hi-fi: streamers, DACs, amplifiers and networked speakers that sit between a music service and a pair of loudspeakers or headphones. He treats each product as one link in a wider playback chain, explaining how servers, software, connectivity and conversion interact rather than isolating a single box. Streaming services and file-based playback are central to his reporting, so he spends as much time on user experience, reliability and app design as on circuit topology or parts lists. His reviews tend to set out clear use cases – for example, who needs an all-in-one streaming amplifier versus a separate DAC and integrated amp – and he is explicit about the trade-offs in flexibility, complexity and cost. Across his work he pushes past spec sheets, emphasising how changes in a digital front end affect day-to-day listening, library navigation and the practicality of living with a system over months rather than minutes.
Compact loudspeakers and space-saving systems
A recurring thread in Darko’s coverage is how hi-fi fits into small or shared spaces, with a particular interest in standmount and bookshelf loudspeakers. In his piece on Wharfedale’s Denton 1S, he uses a compact speaker that revives a 1970s design as a way to talk about space-saving systems that still feel like “proper” hi-fi, exploring how cabinet dimensions, placement and room interaction matter in tight quarters. He frequently gravitates to speakers and systems that can sit on shelves, sideboards or modest stands without dominating a living room, and he writes about positioning them among furniture and everyday clutter rather than in a bare listening lab. That lens carries into his component choices: smaller integrated amplifiers, streaming boxes and active speakers that deliver strong sound in visually tidy, unobtrusive setups. The result is coverage that helps readers think about sound quality, aesthetics and domestic compromise in the same frame.
System building, comparisons and value
Rather than treating products as isolated objects, Darko writes in terms of systems and match-ups. He often compares components at similar prices, showing how different design choices affect tone, dynamics, connectivity and upgrade paths. His pieces weigh active speakers against traditional amp-and-speaker separates, or a step-up DAC against a well-engineered budget model, with clear statements about what is gained and lost in each move. Price is always tied to context: he is explicit about when a more expensive option brings a meaningful improvement and when it simply shifts the character of a system. Even when he is enthusiastic about a piece of gear, he usually anchors that enthusiasm in specific pairings – particular speakers, listening levels or room sizes – so the value judgment is grounded in concrete use rather than abstract praise.
Video-led storytelling and personality in reviews
Alongside written articles, Darko is an early and consistent adopter of video as a primary review format for hi-fi technology. His coverage often pairs in-depth written pieces with video reviews that show products in situ, walk through setup and menus on camera, and illustrate how a system changes the feel of a room. The on-screen work is conversational and personality-driven, but it is anchored by the same concerns that run through his writing: how easy gear is to live with, how it integrates with streaming and TV use, and what kind of music best shows off its strengths. He makes frequent use of system tours and show coverage to contextualise individual reviews within broader trends, such as the rise of active loudspeakers, the shift toward streaming-first systems, or the ongoing appeal of heritage designs like the Denton 1S. That mix of narrative, demonstration and critical judgment gives his technology coverage a distinctive, immediately recognisable voice.
4 more technology journalists.
Adam Conway
Adam Conway stands out for treating consumer tech as systems to experiment with rather than products to set and forget. He is a journalist at XDA who covers phones, networks, and DIY-friendly hardware with a tinkerer’s mindset. His work focuses on hands-on testing, clear explanations, and practical ways to push devices further. He writes in depth about enthusiast hardware such as ESP32-based touchscreens, mesh networking projects, and off-grid communication tools, emphasizing setup, usability, and trade-offs. On the mobile team, he covers Android phones, software updates, and ecosystem changes, digging into network performance, battery behavior, and connectivity features. He also writes detailed how-tos on modding, customization, and configuration, with a focus on risks, prerequisites, and real-world use. His coverage is analytical, enthusiast-focused, and aimed at readers who act on his reporting.
Adnan Farooqui
Adnan Farooqui is a technology journalist at SamMobile whose work centers on Samsung’s hardware, software and strategy, with a focus on what its moves mean for the company’s future. He treats foldable phones as a strategic inflection point, using devices like the Galaxy Z Flip line to examine portfolio strategy, demand, cost and competition, and to track how long Samsung sustains product lines. He also covers the everyday Galaxy ecosystem of phones, tablets, wearables and the software that connects them, following One UI and Android updates, security patches and new features. His reporting ties product news to business decisions, pricing, launch strategy, software support windows and subscription pushes. He blends fast news with analysis, separates confirmed facts from his own reading of events, and uses plain language to frame why Samsung’s choices matter to different buyers.
Alexander Haro
Alexander Haro stands out for surf and ocean culture coverage that focuses on how people really use gear and technology in the water. He writes for surf readers who care about feel, not specs, and he often uses specific surfers, sessions, and waves to show how new equipment, design ideas, and board-building trends change the ride. He writes regularly about surf equipment, especially foiling, and he covers surf craft, foils, and the practical effects of new gear on paddling, speed, and wave connection. His work is short, session-driven, and video-led, with measured, conversational reporting that avoids hype while respecting surf history and newer ideas.
Alíz Kovács-Zöldi
Alíz Kovács-Zöldi covers photography technology where engineering detail meets practical shooting. She writes for Amateur Photographer, focusing on camera gear, optical design and how new hardware shapes the way images are made. She covers camera and lens technology, especially lenses and other core parts of a kit. She looks at how new products are built and what they are designed to do, not just their spec sheets. Her stories stay close to the tech, explaining focal lengths, focusing systems and form factors in clear language. In her piece on Thypoch’s first autofocus lens with three prime focal lengths in one unit, she shows how she explains unconventional gear and its intended use. Her beat is hardware-focused, tracking advances in autofocus, optics and physical design through concrete examples of new cameras and lenses.