Much better than just a compressor: Over the past few years I have written about the Ryobi One+ 18V cordless high pressure inflators sold at Home Depot. With their digital readouts and automatic operation they are extremely useful to have in your car and around the home. This especially applies in the winter months when tire pressure goes down and the pressure sensors trigger a warning light on the dash. I gave three of them as gifts and one gift compressor has been used twice for nearly flat car tires, and used many times to inflate bicycle tires. Seeing its usefulness, the recipient gifted one to her daughter who used it sometime later to inflate a flat tire on a cold winter night in Detroit. One of my recipients was a mechanic friend, who told me a year later how handy it is and that he uses it all the time. The small Ryobi compressor comes in a kit with a rechargeable battery and a charger for a list price of $89.97, and sometimes goes on sale for $69.97. I am glad I gave them as gifts years ago, but if I was buying today, I found something far better.

The Wolfbox 3000A Jump Starter with Air Compressor is almost like having roadside assistance in a compact, rugged carrying case. Not only is it a fast, powerful automatic compressor with enough battery capacity to inflate many pickup truck tires between charges, it is also a portable jump box with enough rated power to jump-start an 8-liter gasoline engine or a 6-liter diesel engine. (This is extremely impressive as I worked at a car dealership years ago, and remember how some jump boxes struggled to deliver enough current to effectively crank a car, even a smallish 4-cylinder.) The Wolfbox integrates a powerful flashlight with multiple modes and recharges by USB-C so you don’t need to detach and recharge the battery separately with a dedicated charger. The Wolfbox 3000A lists for $189.99 and typically sells for $139.99 on Amazon. Given the capabilities and current low price this is a much better option than a mere compressor. Twice in the past year I have been approached to help jump-start a car, and using the box makes it a lot easier than maneuvering long cables between two vehicles with batteries located in odd places under the hood, especially when one vehicle can’t be moved.

Q: I’m downsizing to a condo and have sold my hi-fi components. I would like help selecting an amplifier that will connect directly to streaming music sources and Amazon Alexa. My budget would be around $500 and I don’t need a lot of power as I’m using older Klipsch speakers with horn tweezers. I have no need for playing CDs or AM/FM.

— G.D., Milwaukee

A: The $379 WiiM Amp Pro would be perfect for you. This compact streaming amplifier is highly regarded by both reviewers and consumers, and it was featured at the AXPONA audio show. The WiiM Amp Pro incorporates a 60-watt amplifier with impressive specifications and ample, clean power. It has a Wi-Fi connection for streaming as well as RCA analog, USB-A, optical digital and HDMI-ARC inputs. It will perform well with your Klipsch speakers, and anyone can pair it with quality speakers to form the basis of a great-sounding, affordable hi-fi system. www.wiimhome.com.

Q: I have an old Philips CDR785 audio CD recorder that still plays well, but the remote control no longer works after all these years. I tried new batteries, etc., but no luck. Can I get a new remote somewhere, or do I just give up? I am looking at the TEAC PD-301-X as a possible replacement. Does that unit play multiple CDs?

— W.B., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

A: Don’t give up! If you need a remote for an old piece of equipment, eBay is your friend. Searching under the “CDR785 remote control” found your exact remote in working order for $23 delivered.

The $329 TEAC PD-301-X is a single-disc CD player with integrated FM tuner. It only plays one disc at a time, but if you rip multiple CDs to a USB flash drive you can play them through the USB port.

Q: I bought some Sbode sport wireless earbuds that you recommended many years ago, and it is time to replace them. I really liked that they were affordable, sounded good and had an ear hook that kept them in place, as earbuds don’t typically like to stay in my ear by fitting the earpiece alone. Do you have any new recommendations that would serve me as well as my outgoing Sbode earphones?

— P.K., Wichita, Kansas

A: I was sorry to see the Sbode wireless earbuds discontinued, but time and technology move on and I saw some earbuds at the Consumer Electronics Show that you should enjoy even more.

EarFun earphones have been getting a lot of positive press lately and have become one of the top industry reviewer recommendations for performance and value. I’ve had good experience with them myself, and reader feedback has been very positive as well. They had quite a presence at CES in January, and one of their top new product launches was the EarFun OpenJump earphones. These earphones combine some of the best qualities of a bone-conduction earphone, an open-back over-the-ear headphone and a traditional earphone, all with that useful and comfortable ear hook you are looking for.

The EarFun OpenJumps are true wireless earphones, but without the connecting cord of your Sbode earphones. The adjustable ear hook is substantial and keeps the earphones in place effortlessly and reliably. They are an open ear design where the speaker end is actually a bit outside your ear, rather than in the ear canal. This allows you to hear what is going on outside while still experiencing satisfying, high-resolution sound with good bass. I was especially impressed with the phone call and microphone functionality, which was exceptionally good for both myself and the person on the other end of the phone call. I could see myself using them while cooking given the excellent phone performance, since I am not sonically isolated from my surroundings yet I can still have a perfect conversation.

The EarFun OpenJump earphones list for $79.99 and are an excellent value at list price. They are a great sport earphone and they also represent something new and different for earphone fans to check out.