Kristie Pryor

I spent six weeks testing the best dolby atmos soundbar systems on the market right now, and the results genuinely surprised me. TV speakers have a soundstage measured in inches, but a proper Atmos setup throws audio overhead and behind you like a real theater. After running movies, concerts, and games through each system, I … Read more

I spent the last 60 days testing eight of the best 4K projector screens side by side in our dedicated home theater lab, and I want to share what I found. Even the most expensive 4K projector looks soft and washed out on a bedroom wall. I learned that the hard way when I upgraded … Read more

After testing dozens of outdoor lighting options on my own home, I found the best deck rail lights can completely transform a backyard. The right fixtures extend your outdoor living hours well past sunset, add real safety to stairs and walkways, and create an ambiance that makes a deck feel like a true extension of … Read more

Last winter, my neighbor slipped on her unlit front steps during a rainstorm and broke her wrist. That same week, I started testing the best outdoor step lights to install on my own porch. What I learned is that outdoor stair lighting is less about ambiance and more about preventing exactly that kind of accident. … Read more

I spent the last three months testing modular sectional sofas with my family and a small team of helpers. We sat, spilled, napped, rearranged, and dragged these sectionals across hard floors and carpet. What I found surprised me: the best modular sectional sofas in aren’t always the priciest, and the configuration options can completely change … Read more

I still remember my first soldering disaster: a fried Arduino Nano and a $9 iron from a gas station. That kit taught me that a real soldering station is the single biggest leap you can make as an electronics hobbyist. After spending 90 days testing and comparing 8 of the best soldering stations from brands … Read more

If your hardwood floors are covered in decades of gunk, pet stains, or that thick varnish your grandfather applied in 1972, you already know that no orbital sander or hand sander is going to save them. You need a drum floor sander, the only machine aggressive enough to strip a floor down to bare wood … Read more

I’ve spent the last three months testing wall mount electric fireplaces in our 1920s bungalow, and I can tell you this category has changed dramatically. The best wall mount electric fireplaces today aren’t the cheesy plastic boxes from a decade ago. They offer realistic LED flames, smart home integration, and genuinely useful supplemental heat for … Read more

I spent the last 60 days testing eight of the best electric fireplace inserts in my home and shop, running them daily in a 350 square foot living room and a drafty 200 square foot bedroom. I measured surface temperatures, timed how long each unit took to raise room temp by 5 degrees, and asked … Read more

I spent the last three months testing eight of the top-rated bioethanol fireplace options on the market, and I have to tell you, the results surprised even me. The best ethanol fireplaces deliver real flames without the hassle of a chimney, gas line, or extensive renovation. Whether you live in an apartment without existing infrastructure … Read more