Ask Our Experts
Would real
wood flooring
be best for a
high-traffic area
in my house?
WHEN FACED WITH the abrasion machine in our surface wear
tests, most of the solid wood and engineered wood products
receive Good or Fair results. “Laminate and vinyl products are
generally made of tougher stuff,” says CR tester Joan Muratore.
Our top-performing products get Excellent ratings not just for
resisting foot traffic but also stains and sunlight. (The Pergo
above offers a limited lifetime warranty that it won’t wear or
fade.) Porcelain is also tough but more expensive and trickier
to install. Worried that lower-cost laminate and vinyl will look
fake? Our experts say it helps to mix up planks from different
boxes as you lay them down to break up a repetitive pattern.W hat We’re Testing
in Our Labs ...
In our 63 labs, we continually review and rate products. Here, timely picks for this month.
WE TESTED: 17 wireless and
Bluetooth models
WE TEST FOR: Sound quality,
including the ability to
reproduce fine sonic detail;
ease of use; and versatility of
features offered.Home Speakers Under $
ABOUT THE SCORES:
Median: 60
Range: 38-Superior Sound Quality
Edifier R2000DB, Bluetooth
$250 for the pairRetro Look With LCD Screen
Fluance Fi50, Bluetooth
$Sonos-Compatible Bargain
Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf,
WiFi $OVERALL
SCORE73
OVERALL
SCORE61
OVERALL
SCORE61
WE TESTED: 63 products
WE TEST FOR: Resistance to foot
traffic, scratches, and denting;
appearance after more
than 300 hours of sunlight;
and staining from common
household substances.Flooring
ABOUT THE SCORES:
Median: 58
Range: 28-Best Overall Laminate
Pergo Outlast+ Vintage
Pewter Oak LF
(Home Depot), $3 per sq. ft.Hard-to-Dent Vinyl
Armstrong Pryzm Elements
of Heritage Vintage Multi
PC020, $5.30 per sq. ft.Pretty in Porcelain
Style Selections Natural
Timber Ash 553878 (Lowe’s),
$4 per sq. ft.OVERALL
SCORE90
OVERALL
SCORE89
OVERALL
SCORE88
IL
LUSTRATION:
S
ERGEB
LOCH10 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2020