Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2019 i What Hi-Fi?

EXPERIENCE. HERITAGE. We’ve been helping the world discover the best in hi-fi and home entertainment for more than 40 years, and have more than 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective belts – so you can count on our expert opinion. DEDICATED TEST FACILITIES We test every product against its peers in our brand-new, bespoke reviewing facilities in London and Bath. We conduct all our tests as a team – our opinions and conclusions are always the result of collaboration. HOW WE SCORE All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole – not an individual reviewer. Each product will be listened to and/or viewed by several members of the test team, who will then discuss the final verdict before it appears in the magazine or…

“Considering how little has changed over the years, it’s surprising how capable this Dual remains. The CS 505-4 is a viable choice for anyone wanting good sound with a high degree of convenience” View offers Turntable | £599 | whf.cm/CS5054 Back in 1983, the first generation of Dual’s evergreen CS 505 cost just over £90. At that time, it was the go-to budget turntable and was ideal for those who wanted a good sounding, fuss-free record player. Back then, you’d have to spend a third as much more to buy Rega’s even more talented first generation Planar 2. While the Dual has been developed over the intervening years, anyone comparing that original turntable with the current Mk4 version would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Look closely and you’ll…

View offers Wireless speaker | £ 990 | whf.cm/Reactor600 Until recently, many people might have considered Devialet’s Phantom range of premium wireless speakers too rich for their blood. The entry-level Classic Phantom, for example, boasts 1200W of power and comes with a £1590 price tag. Now Devialet has introduced two smaller, slightly more affordable models, the Phantom Reactor 600 (£990) and Phantom Reactor 900 (£1290). The Reactors look like scaled-down versions of the existing Phantoms and still pack in a full dose of the range's innovative technologies for a decent saving in cost. On review here is the Phantom Reactor 600, so-called because of its impressive 600W power amplification. It is similar to its siblings in that it’s completely dissimilar to any wireless speaker you’ve ever seen before. Stormtrooper's lunchbox…

View offers Stereo speakers | £499 | whf.cm/Albany If you’ve never heard of KLH, you’re not alone. Despite it being big in the early 1960s, few on these shores had heard of the US-based company until the former president of Klipsch bought it in 2017. Since then, KLH has developed a new range, comprising standmounts, surrounds, subwoofers and floor-standing speakers – all named after Boston streets. So here we have the Albany “bookshelf” speakers, the marginally bigger of two standmounters within the 12-strong range. Shoe-in Roughly the size of a shoebox, each speaker weighs a reassuring 5kg. The Albanys are well built and finished to a fine standard; our review samples come in a smart black veneer, but they are also available in the walnut you see here. It’s a…

Few hi-fi engineers have the public profile of Ken Ishiwata. After more than 40 years at Marantz, he’s something of a celebrity, and is often mobbed at hi-fi shows with people clamouring for his attention. His demos are renowned for their obsessive set-up and, while he’s known for his extrovert dress sense, it’s the quality of products he’s been involved with that have earned such respect. KI Signature products – the result of Marantz letting Ishiwata hone those products to his taste – have etched their way into hi-fi legend. Few companies give their engineers this kind of freedom or public exposure. We caught up with Ishiwata just before news broke that he was leaving Marantz – a perfect time to get the inside story on a colourful career. WHF:…

Despite all its What Hi-Fi? Awards, LG is in a tricky position with its OLED TVs. According to accepted wisdom, OLED panels hit their performance limit in 2017 and, from a hardware perspective, these 2019 OLEDs are similar to models from then. Releasing the same sets every year won’t keep LG on top, so the company has looked beyond the panel hardware. Last year, the Alpha 9 processor was the focus – this time LG is making lots of noise about AI and the benefits to the picture, sound and user experience. While LG has overplayed the impact of its AI tech, the C9 is still a cracking set. The C-class OLED gets you all of LG’s advanced picture and processing tech in the most affordable package. But even though it's…

TEST WINNER This has been one of the hardest group tests we’ve had to judge in a long time because each of the three contenders is truly exceptional. In the end, though, it’s the LG that takes the win by way of its awesome, effortlessly consistent performance and reasonable price. Although £3299 is a huge amount to pay for a TV, the LG C9 undercuts the Samsung and Sony here by £500 and £700 respectively, while offering a performance so exciting, enticing and natural that it begs the question; why spend more? Sure, its picture settings menus are a pain, but the TV is so close to spot-on out of the box that you need only make minimal contact with them. It’s not the best TV here for motion or…

Backing up its Playbar and Playbase stablemates, the Sonos Beam is a smaller, cheaper TV speaker with a few additions to its spec sheet, including an HDMI connection plus voice control assistants Amazon Alexa and, from July, Google Assistant, with Apple Siri set to follow. At just 65cm wide and weighing 2.8kg, it’s smaller and significantly lighter than the Playbar. Around the back you'll find the HDMI input, ethernet port, power connection and a pairing button. Available in black and white finishes, the Beam looks stylish but understated. It's small, light and will fit easily into most living rooms. Inside are four full-range drivers, one tweeter and three passive radiators, plus five class-D amplifiers. Voice control is taken care of by five far-field microphones. This isn’t simply a soundbar: it's…

This charming little pair of desktop speakers briefly lost their Award-winning status before Ruark returned with an updated version that somehow improved on an already mature, nuanced presentation that is the nearest thing to hi-fi we’ve heard from a product of this type. Bluetooth is built in, meaning you can connect wirelessly to your TV as well as any smartphone or tablet for music streaming, while an auxiliary input is also included for older devices or higher-resolution listening. Being a stereo pair – one speaker acts as a controller, the other recieving information from it – you needn’t double up, as you’d have to with the Addon C10 above, to enjoy a wide, spacious soundstage. They are small, however, so the subwoofer output is a welcome addition for those seeking…

You’d be forgiven for feeling a little daunted purchasing your first surround-sound system, not least because of the cost. But products such as Q Acoustics’s 3010i 5.1 speaker package, and particularly Sony’s astoundingly good STR-DN1080 AV amplifier, have made it possible to achieve truly great surround sound without the headaches or black hole in your bank account. Comprising entirely standmount speakers, this particular package does, of course, require the added cost of quality cables and five speaker stands if you’re going to get the most from it, but its svelte design – including that of the slimline subwoofer – will help keep it from dominating your living room. Those looking for a step up in performance and power can also swap the right and left channels seamlessly for Q’s 3050i…

£1558 For a product as modern as a 4K HDR television, the Sony KD-49XF9005 has a surprisingly strong legacy behind it. It’s the sequel to last year’s KD-49XE9005 – which bagged a What Hi-Fi? Award – and is the smaller sibling to the five-star rated KD-65XF9005. And it's just as accomplished as its relatives. We think it looks the part. Its slim bezels keep this television looking sharp, although its splayed legs look a little weird in our view. The KD-49XF9005’s screen has a direct LED backlight with ‘Dynamic Backlight Control’, so it can go brighter and more accurately adjust the lighting in certain parts of the screen than edge-lit alternatives, providing better handling of contrast within areas of similar colour. Sony’s X1 Extreme processor, previously reserved for the company’s…

£1799 Our first experience of this screen was marred by bugs and glitches, but that's all in the past, leaving this Ambilight-equipped beauty to really shine in the way it deserves. This is one of the best-looking TVs we’ve ever had in for testing. The two dainty feet are simple, supremely stylish, and keep the screen low to the furniture upon which it’s standing. We have extolled the virtues of Ambilight time and again, and it works the same magic here, providing a beautiful effect that draws the eye into the image. There are two remotes in the box; a stripped-back wand with a few symbols and a touch-sensitive panel, and a bigger, more traditional controller that has a full QWERTY keyboard on the rear. It’s a bit cluttered, but…

4K TV is here and the BBC is, finally, on board. The first BBC 4K broadcasts have taken place, with the corporation using the iPlayer service to stream 4K TV shows and live 4K sport, all for free to license holders. The amount of 4K iPlayer content available to watch remains limited, however, with new shows and broadcasts launching on an ad hoc basic – and for limited numbers of people. So how can you watch 4K BBC content? What can you watch? And what are the future plans for 4K Ultra HD on the iPlayer? We’ve been keeping tabs on all the 4K BBC developments, and spoken to the BBC’s R&D team, so read on for the latest details. 4K iPlayer: the 4K trials so far Back in 2016,…

□ Projector □ £25,000 FOR Beautiful colour palette Excellent details in dark and light areas True sense of picture depth AGAINST Intensity of blacks not up to top TV standards No 3D glasses included Cheaper in-house competition VERDICT The VPL-VW870ES’s high-end picture quality comes at a high price compared with the competition both outside and inside of Sony’s 4K projector line-up “The snow has such differentiation that you can begin to appreciate why the Inuits have so many words for the stuff” Colour, clarity and long-lasting performance – those are the promises Sony makes about its VPL-VW870ES 4K projector. With an SXRD chip at its core, the same technology that powers the company’s professional-grade machines, we have high hopes for Sony’s latest 4K offering. When we tested Sony’s previous true…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Pro-Ject Juke Box E £349 Best turntable system, Awards 2018 An impressive all-in-one system with a level of functionality that’s difficult to replicate in individual separates for a similar price. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Inputs Line-in, BT Outputs Line-out Denon D-M41DAB £379 Best microsystem, Awards 2018 Denon hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s managed to better the M40, delivering improved sound and functionality. The best just got better. Inputs CD, line-in, optical x2, BT, DAB/FM Outputs Subwoofer £500 to £1000 Revo SuperSystem £549 Best all-in-one system under £1000, Awards 2017 An all-in-one system that exudes quality, this Revo features great sonic performance and terrific retro looks. It’s a talented system. Inputs 3.5mm, opt, BT, DAB/FM, wi-fi Outputs Line-out, opt, headphone £1000 to £2000 KEF LSX…

BLU-RAY PLAYERS ENJOY HIGH-DEF MOVIE THRILLS View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Panasonic DMP-BDT180EB £80 Best Blu-ray player under £100, Awards 2017 A budget player that delivers a high-quality picture. Whether it’s Blu-ray, DVD or streaming, this spinner handles them all with skill and flair. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 1 Sony UBP-X700 £185 Best Blu-ray player under £500, Awards 2018 This 4K player delivers a stunningly natural picture for an affordable price. It’ll be tough to knock this Sony off its perch. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD HDMI out 2 £500 and above Cambridge CXUHD £699 February 2018 One of the best 4K players available, this delivers an accurate and understated performance that’s one of the best we’ve seen and heard. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD,…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £199 Best PVR, Awards 2018 If you need a Full HD box to give your older TV some more sparkle, Humax’s digital box should absolutely be something to consider. Tuners 3 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2018 Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it does come with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Google Chromecast (2018) £30 Reviewed online, 2018 Tiny, affordable and anonymous - this little device has had few updates but remains a simple, neat way to cast content from smartphone to TV. Resolution 1080p, 720p Storage 2GB 4K No Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £50 Reviewed online, 2018 Despite some caveats, this 4K device supports all HDR formats and delivers excellent picture quality for a very affordable price. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £179 Best video streamer, Awards 2018 It has a fantastic UI and design, a huge library of 4K HDR content, and the best picture and sound performance at any price. Siri is useful, too. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes Games…

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £100 Beyerdynamic Byron £39 Best in-ears under £50, Awards 2018 A spectacular return to the budget earphone arena for Beyerdynamic, the Byron sets the standard at this price with a peerless performance. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m SoundMagic E11C £50 January 2019 The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd £69 April 2019 You’ll struggle to find a better pair of in-ear headphones costing less than £70 than these Beyerdynamics. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi £70 Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2017 You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound quite so good – not for just £80. But they are…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS “The iPhone XS Max is simply the best smartphone for movies and music” Apple iPhone XS Max Best smartphone, Awards 2018 Apple may have pushed price points sky-high, but this flagship is the finest smartphone around when it comes to video and music replay. OS iOS Size (hwd) 158 x 77 x 8mm Storage 64GB, 256GB, 512GB “Samsung’s careful refinements make the S9 a pretty impressive package” Android Samsung Galaxy S9 Reviewed online, 2018 A polished successor to the S8 that, due to a number of carefully considered tweaks, is one of the best Android phones available. OS Android Size (hwd) 148 x 69 x 9mm Storage 64GB/microSD “The S9+ is as polished and refined as Android phones currently get” Samsung Galaxy S9+ May 2018 It’s…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire HD 10 £150 Best tablet under £200, Awards 2018 A cheap and cheerful tablet that’s good for the money and has a lot of the functionality you’d find in more expensive efforts. OS Android Size (hwd) 114 x 190 x 10mm Storage 8GB £200 and above Apple iPad (2018) from £319 Best tablet over £200, Awards 2018 The latest iPad receives a muted update, but it still continues to give you that elegant and intuitive experience we expect from Apple. OS iOS Size (hwd) 240 x 170 x 8mm Storage 32, 128GB Apple iPad Mini (2019) £399 July 2019 The looks haven’t changed, but under the skin improvements make the latest iPad Mini even better than before OS iOS Size (hwd) 204…

View offers Portable DAC | £149 | whf.cm/M-DACnano If you want to improve the sound of your phone or laptop, there aren’t many options. Until now, our recommendation would have been a portable USB DAC such as Cyrus’s Soundkey (£79) or the Audioquest Dragonfly Red (£169). These are excellent devices and do their job brilliantly for the money, but they’re not ideal for truly portable use. Both need an extra lead to work from a phone, meaning that you have to carry around an unwieldy combination of phone, adaptor cable and DAC. That’s a lot to fit in one pocket, no matter how small the DAC. However, Audiolab is offering an enticing alternative with its new M-DAC nano. Cream of the crop The M-DAC nano is a tiny unit, barely…

View offers Stereo amplifier | £199 | whf.cm/R-S202D For a while, we’ve struggled for any great wealth of budget stereo amplifiers we can wholeheartedly recommend. Yamaha appears to have taken it upon itself to expand that list in recent months, however, and its latest integrated amplifier, the R-S202D, is another welcome addition. In other situations, the term ‘budget’ might signify a stripping back of features or a scaling down of the attention to detail, but the R-S202D is budget only in terms of its price tag. Yamaha has taken the same care building this amp as it would any more expensive component. There are signs in the weight of its volume dial and the sheen of its brushed-aluminium fascia that this has not been cobbled together to cater for the…

View offers Wireless speaker | £40 | whf.cm/SoundCore2 The market for affordable, portable Bluetooth speakers is booming. But, terrible puns aside, spending less than £50 on a diminutive design today doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enjoy a musical sound too. Some recent budget arrivals, such as this Anker SoundCore 2, have shown that is certainly possible. Anker is more often associated with super-fast power charging banks, but the company has recently updated its initial contender to the wireless speaker market, the SoundCore. The update is clearly aiming to please more than just our ears – the SoundCore 2 is far more striking in appearance than its predecessor. Rubber love The SoundCore 2 is covered in smooth, but grippy rubber, and while you’ll either love the touch or hate it (we’re…

In-car audio system | £600 Noise is everywhere. Picture noise can distract you from your favourite TV show, electrical noise can upset the sound of your hi-fi, and noisy neighbours can disturb a decent night’s sleep. When it comes to in-car audio, engine noise can hamper your experience. From a V12 symphony to a gruff diesel grumble, the various frequencies emitted from your engine all have an adverse impact on the audio from your sound system. The effects of this can be mitigated through the sound-tuning process, and systems can be put in place to compensate. But what happens when the engine is taken out of the equation? We got behind the wheel of the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace to find out. Speaker count rising The Meridian Surround Sound System comes…

1 Cambridge Audio AX series £229-£449 • whf.cm/AXseries Despite focusing a great deal of attention lately on introducing its flagship Edge hi-fi range, Cambridge Audio hasn’t forgotten about the more modest end of the hi-fi market. The AX series comprises two CD players, two integrated amplifiers and two stereo receivers, all promising hi-fi performance on a budget. 2 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 £350 • whf.cm/Bose700 The 700s, which will exist alongside Bose’s £289 QC35 II 2018 model, use a four-microphone system with 11 levels of noise-cancellation to choose from. There’s a brand-new acoustic design, as well as motion sensors that detect body movement and allow sound to be tailored to the user’s activity. 3 Sony WH-XB900N £230 • whf.cm/SonyWHXB900N While Bose is focusing on a higher price point, Sony’s…

Being excellent simply isn’t good enough for Samsung. Only the very best will do. Despite its 2018 4K flagship being the best TV it had produced, with performance way beyond that of any other LCD set, Samsung fixated on the few flaws that prevented it from winning a What Hi-Fi? Award. Thankfully, the Q90R (here in 65in size), is every bit the belter that the Q9FN was, but with most of its relative weaknesses fixed. Not only is it the best backlit set we’ve tested, it also plays OLED rivals at their own game. The main criticism of the Q9FN (and QLED as a whole) in comparison to OLED rivals, is viewing angles. It’s no surprise, then, that Samsung has prioritised fixing this particular problem. Its new Ultra Viewing Angle…

Q Acoustics M2 £300 Q Acoustics seems to be in for a penny, in for a pound when it comes to boosting TV sound. Following the success of its Award-winning Media 4 soundbar and, to a lesser extent, the M3 follow-up, the British brand weighed in with the M2, its soundbase debut. As we close the disc tray on a Blu-ray copy of Neon Demon, the M2 doesn’t waste a moment before revealing its talents. The opening credits are a window into not only Cliff Martinez’s eclectic score, but also Q Acoustics’ pleasing tonality and potential elsewhere. The downward-firing subwoofer digs deep to punch through the bassline, while the twin Balanced Mode Radiator speakers fight just as hard for the credit by delivering clear, sparkly chimes and energetic synth-driven electronica.…

Dali has come up with some great things over the years. Most of them have been stereo and surround speakers but this soundbar is just as good. Dali says the Kubik One is not exactly a soundbar – it’s a system in its own right, rather than a mere extension of your TV. Whatever the appropriate nomenclature, one thing is for sure: we think it’s brilliant. Award-winning brilliant, in fact. We dive straight into Guardians Of The Galaxy, and it’s hard not to notice the size of the sound. It’s a wide, spacious soundstage, giving jets and spaceships ample room to manoeuvre. It’s accurate too, and that’s what separates the wheat from the chaff. It manages to ping effects around meticulously, and with an impressive clarity. It also makes the…

KEF’s development of its LS50 Wireless speakers – a high-end, hi-fi-ready system of streamer, amplifier and aptX Bluetooth connection all condensed into two boxes – was a masterstroke. But let’s not ignore the equally grand feat of cramming those same features into a half-sized, half-price product that does not compromise on that class-leading sonic signature. You’ll need a top-drawer pair of stands to make the most of what the LSXs have to offer, but other than that this is a true all-in-one (or all-in-two) system that will make the most of your home cinema experience just as it does with music. Without losing any of the snap or excitement neccessary for a truly immersive film experience, the LSXs are a real upgrade on our previous two entries in terms of…

Panasonic TX-50GX800 p51 Philips 50PUS6703 p51 Philips 43PUS6703 p50 Sony KD-49XF9005 p50 Philips 55OLED803 p52 Samsung QE55Q85R p52 Sony KD-65XG9505 p53 65in 55in 50in 49in 43in What do you mean, 65 inches might be a little bit big…? Ah well, then; yes, fair enough, there are very many of us who have neither the funds nor the space for a televisual behemoth such as those in our Group Test (which starts on page 34). Happily for us, then, there is an absolute host of fantastic TVs available at more manageable and practical sizes. Over the next few pages, we give you our recommendations for sets at a variety of sizes – and importantly of course, prices – that will serve you very well for your home entertainment needs. We've got…

£399 If TV manufacturing were a sport then Philips’s 50PUS6703 would be a Bolt, or a Williams or a Pelé. Compared with the competition, it’s almost unfair that they’re in the running. The 50PUS6703 is a superb TV at a surprisingly small cost. For £399, you get a 4K HDR panel with three-way-Ambilight (see far left) thrown in. And it looks darn good. Unfortunately, Philips doesn’t make it easy to access that quality. There’s a multitude of menus to go through to get it looking its best. You’ll have to turn off the default ‘Eco’ mode, undo all the noisereduction settings and adjust the contrast and brightness. Then do it all again for HDR content, because the TV treats that separately. For non-HDR content we use the Movie preset. When…

£2299 In the battle of QLED versus OLED, Samsung’s campaign got off to a rip-roaring start in 2019, with the company’s flagship 4K model receiving five stars. But not everyone can afford or justify forking out for a top-of-the-range screen, which is why the QE55Q85R appeals. Straight out of the box, we have only good things to say about the Q85R. Its tiny, 4mm bezel creates a virtual edge-to-edge experience that makes the whole front seem almost all screen. From the initial set-up to the day-to-day menus, navigating around the operating system is a dream made all the sweeter by the minimalistic Samsung smart remote control. With shortcut buttons for Netflix, Amazon Video and Rakuten, it covers pretty much all your needs. There’s also Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant. The Q85R…

Ecosse ES2.23+ £15/m Ecosse’s ES2.23+ speaker cable may not be much to look at, but its heritage goes back almost two decades. Any product that survives so long – the original was called the ES2.3 – deserves some credit. This cable uses a twisted pair of high purity copper conductors with a polypropylene dielectric. Each of those conductors is made up of around 400 copper strands, 0.07mm in diameter. The conductors are twisted to reduce the effect of external electrical interference. The ES2.23+’s outer jacket is made of soft PVC and is tough and flexible. This is a cable that’s not too hard to hide or run neatly around the listening room. Just like the pricier Audioquest Rocket 22 (£20/m) this is not a cable to judge straight from the…

From 65in 4K TVs to turntables, and from portable Bluetooth speakers to Dolby Atmos surround sound packages, here’s where you’ll find the perfect hi-fi and AV product, fast. NEW ENTRIES THIS MONTH There’s a real touch of the ancient and modern about this month’s new entries. We have a turntable from Sony that has a Bluetooth connection, Acoustic Energy’s excellent AE309 loudspeakers, and Audiolab’s fascinating new M-DAC nano, that could bring new life to your wired headphones when you’re listening to your music out and about…

View offers hf.cm/BBDACs Up to £200 Cyrus soundKey £99 Best DAC under £150, Awards 2018 An affordable, compact DAC that turns mobile listening into an authentic high-fidelity experience. iOS users may find connectivity a little inelegant. Size 2 x 5 x 1cm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz Audiolab M-DAC nano £149 August 2019 If you’ve got a good pair of tired headphones and ant to improve your sound on the move, the Audiolab M-DAC nano makes a mighty strong case. Inputs Bluetooth 4.2 Size 44 x 44 x 14mm Res 32-bit/384kHz Audioquest DragonFly Red £169 Best DAC £150-£300, Awards 2018 A more expensive alternative to the DragonFly Black, this is a marked improvement over the original, sounding more sophisticated and subtler. Size 6 x 2 x 1cm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz £200 to £500 Chord…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 “There’s no doubt the Pure Evoke H2 is an upgrade over the D2” Pure Evoke H2 £89 Best radio under £100, Awards 2018 Pure’s latest radio is similar to its previous incarnation, but more refined. The H2 improves on the D2’s already-sophisticated sound. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 18 x 12 x 12cm Inputs 3.5mm “Its ability to fill a medium-sized room is not to be understated” Revo SuperSignal £179 August 2016 A stylish radio with plenty of features, it’s even more impressive on the audio front thanks to a large-scale sound that belies its appearance. Battery No Size (hwd) 21 x 14 x 14cm Inputs 3.5mm, Bluetooth “The Stream 94i is the complete package, making it the best radio at this…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £149 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2018 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm £150 to £300 Audio Technica AT-LP3 £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2017 A fully automatic turntable that doesn’t scrimp on performance, this is the ideal entry-level deck for those looking to dip their ‘vinyl toes’ in. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm Sony PS-LX310BT £200 August 2019 A no-nonsense, fully automatic turntable with built-in phono stage and Bluetooth, offering a surprisingly musical sound. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 43 x 37cm Rega Planar 1 £249 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps Up to £500 Sony STR-DN1080 £429 Best home cinema amplifier under £500, Awards 2018 Sony’s latest AV amp is a return to form, with cutting-edge features (inc. Dolby Atmos) and a compelling sound. It ticks all the right boxes. Power 7 x 100W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Up to £500 Denon AVR-X2500H £499 October 2018 Builds upon its predecessor’s all-round excellence, with plenty of extra muscle. This will be a strong draw for anyone with £500 to spend. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 8/2 £500 to £1000 Denon AVR-X3500H £899 Best home cinema amplifier £500-£1000, Awards 2018 A mid-priced amp that adds authority and scale alongside detail, clarity and compsoure. This feature-packed AVR is easy on the ears and your wallet.…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £300 “Compared with the sound quality from even the best smartphones, there’s more detail and nuance” Cowon Plenue D £199 Best portable music player under £250, Awards 2018 The Plenue D is a player worth its salt. It can handle a range of files, has an open and insightful sound and is easy to use. Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz Weight 94g Storage 32GB “Cowon justifies the price hike with a performance that takes transparency and entertainment to the next level” Cowon Plenue D2 £259 June 2019 The PD2 manages to justify the premium over its predecessor. We haven’t heard a better-sounding budget portable music player. Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 128 Storage 64GB “The A&norma has as much sonic aspiration as design ambition” £300 to £700 Astell & Kern…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice Whether you’re a Prime professional or just thinking of signing up, you’ll want to get the most out of the service. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to do exactly that. Setting up a ‘Household’ account Amazon Prime Video will recommend content based on your viewing history - but what if you’re really into crime thrillers, your other half loves romantic comedies and the kids love cartoons? The answer is by linking together two Amazon accounts that will both have access to Prime Video. Go to Your Account > Shopping Programmes > Amazon Household. There you can add another adult or profiles for children, and then click ‘Create Household’. Parental Controls You can set up a four-digit PIN on the web by going…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2018 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single £50 and above Chord Clearway Analogue RCA £90/m Best analogue interconnect £50+, Awards 2018 If you’re spending cash on hi-fi components and you want cabling that doesn’t inhibit performance, the Clearway may be the ideal pick. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Up to £200 Rega Fono Mini A2D £85 March 2012 There’s little fancy about the Fono Mini A2D, but that doesn’t matter when the presentation is this good. And it has a useful USB output. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 6 x 18 x 25cm Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 Best phono stage under £250, Awards 2017 A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a sweet sound. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 12 x…

View offers 8K Television | £13,999 | whf.cm/KD-85ZG9 We’re in a real chicken-and-egg situation with 8K. Without more 8K TVs being sold, no one will be interested in streaming or broadcasting 8K content. And as long as there’s no 8K content to watch few people can justify the extra outlay for an 8K TV. And we are talking about a huge outlay. The Sony ZG9 is available in two sizes, the biggest of which (98in) will set you back £85,000. The smaller, 85in ZG9 is cheap by comparison, but at £14,000, it’s still £9000 more expensive than Sony’s top 4K LCD, the KD-85XG9505. In other words, you’ve got to have extremely deep pockets and really want to be at the bleeding edge of TV tech. But if those two statements…

View offers Turntable | £200 | whf.cm/PS-LX310BT “For anyone wanting a fully automatic deck with built-in phono stage, the Sony PS-LX310BT is one of the best we’ve heard” For many people, the prospect of shelling out for various bits of highly involved and potentially incompatible hi-fi can turn the happy notion of Sundays spent chilling with your music into a headache. It's a particular problem for those wishing to listen to vinyl – Cartridge, phono stage, alignment gauge, tracking weight scales, long-nosed pliers, set of allen keys? It can be a daunting technological assault course. And yet, having done little more than plug Sony’s PS-LX310BT turntable into the wall socket, we are listening to Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run through Bluetooth headphones. The whole set-up process takes about the same…

View offers 4K television | £2299 | whf.cm/QE55Q85R In the battle of QLED versus OLED, Samsung’s campaign got off to a rip-roaring start in 2019, with the company’s flagship 4K model receiving a five-star review and praise for improving QLED performance across the board. But not everyone can afford or justify forking out for a top-of-the-range model, which is why the QE55Q85R looks mighty appealing. It sacrifices a little of the Q90R’s brightness and a good number of its backlight dimming zones, but also shaves £500 off the price. All good things Straight out of the box, we have only good things to say about the Q85R. Like most modern TVs, it’s designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, and its 4mm bezel certainly helps. The effect is a virtual…

About your Anker PowerWave Fast Wireless Charging Pad gift: This case-friendly, non-slip wireless charging pad offers a convenient power boost when your smartphone needs it! It works with the latest smartphones that support wireless charging. A Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger is required for Fast Charge mode (not included). WORTH £31.99! TWO WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/whi/ankert Order hotline 0344 848 2852 Please quote anker when ordering by phone overseas +44(0) 344 848 2852 Lines open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm (GMT) SUBSCRIBE TO WHAT HI★FI? • Our print subscription delivers 13 print issues of What Hi-Fi? a year to your door, saving you up to 61% on the cover price! • Incredible gift of an Anker PowerWave Fast Wireless Charging Pad, a non-slip, slimline charging option for your…

It might be a clichéd phrase, but how else to describe the battle about to take place? Here we have a clash between three flagship TVs from the biggest names in the business. These televisions represent the pinnacle of LG, Samsung and Sony's current capabilities – at least in the 4K realm. While they are all premium models, they’re not completely out of reach in terms of price, and at 65in, they’re suitably cinematic in scale, without being out of the question for a standard-sized living room. Our first contender is the LG C9 (OLED65C9PLA). This is not, in fact, the most premium 4K OLED in LG’s 2019 range, but those models above it (the E9, W9 and R9) are, by LG’s own admission, no better in the picture department…

With all brands using the same LGsourced panels for their OLED TVs, the question is how do you differentiate yours from everyone else’s? With its striking designs, superior processing and ingenious screen-vibrating sound solution, that’s a question Sony has answered better than most. The AG9 is the latest in this long line of well-differentiated OLEDs. It looks more conventional than those before it, but still looks and sounds better than its rivals. It also forms part of Sony’s Master Series, designed to recreate the creative intent as faithfully as possible. Thanks to its presence in every stage of the film production process – many studios use the company’s BVM-X300 monitor when mastering content – that’s something Sony is uniquely positioned to deliver. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,…

Let’s give credit where it’s due to Yamaha. While a large slice of its home theatre market is geared towards AV receivers and speaker packages, it has also long sympathised with those people who don’t have the space for full surround sound systems. By creating YSP (Yamaha Sound Projection) technology – designed to emulate a surround-sound experience from a single soundbar – for its YSP soundbar range, the company offers a reasonable compromise between performance and practicality. The technology has been created so people can enjoy all the height and surround sound effects, but with just a soundbar. While the bar has optical and 3.5mm inputs, we choose to go through the HDMI sockets, which enable 4K and HDR passthrough. The 207 doesn’t make soundtracks appear as if they’re being…

Audio Pro Addon C10 Just as the best-sounding TV soundbars can be used as an all-in-one wireless home-entertainment system, speakers such as the Award-winning Addon C10, from boombox specialists Audio Pro, have all the neccessary talent to make your television sing. Simply put, you won’t find a soundbar around this price that can match the C10 for musicality – we’re talking the dynamic expression imperative for expressive dialogue, and sense of timing that will make action scenes snap – while its full-bodied midrange and impressive bass-reach negates the absolute need for a subwoofer, though that is also an option. You can also pair two or more speakers, thanks to the C10’s multi-room functionality, for the kind of wider sound dispersion more readily associated with a traditional stereo speaker set-up.…

If you have a decent budget but you aren’t hell-bent on surround sound, you won’t achieve better sonic performance for your money than with what is essentially a traditional hi-fi set-up. The sonic essentials are the same for music and film, so you can save a wad of cash – or make the same money go further – by not spending it on amp channels you won’t use or extra boxes you don’t need. Not only that, you’ll save a good deal on space with this particular pairing as well. The Uniti Atom – the cheapest and most compact of Naim’s superlative Uniti products – is essentially a just-add-speakers hi-fi system that outperforms any pairing of streamer/amplifier separates we’ve heard together for the same sum. Neat’s Iota Alpha floorstanders, meanwhile…

£1999 Such is the competitiveness of the TV market, the Sony KD-65XG9505, which has been available for barely five minutes, has already dropped from £2199 to £1999. This is Sony’s top model below its Master Series ZG9 8K LCD and AG9 OLED, and is intended to bring the Master Series’ approach to a wider audience. It’s a 4K LCD set with a direct, full array, LED backlight. On the HDR front, there is compatibility for standard HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision. HDR10+ is not included, but given the paucity of available content, we don’t imagine many buyers being put off by that. The XG9505 has Android TV 8.0 pre-installed. Android TV is responsive and snappy on the XG9505, thanks largely to the abundant processing power on tap. It’s still a…

£1470 Neat’s Iota Alphas are odd-looking things. Thanks to the mixture of knee-high stature and strangely angled appearance, it’s difficult to take them seriously. Yet, if you believe that beauty is as beauty does, then these floor-standers are something to savour. They’re for people that want great sound without room-dominating hi-fi. We’re big fans of the original Iota stand-mounters. They remain a superb utility choice; small enough to squeeze into all sorts of places but always performing well. The idea behind the Iota Alpha is to take this can-do attitude and add an extra dose of sonic authority. The top half of the Alpha is straight from the original. A 50mm Emit magnetic/planar tweeter sits alongside a 10cm polypropylene mid/bass unit. However, here they’re in a sealed compartment in an…

□ Stereo speakers □ £ 3999 FOR Impressive dynamics Taut and powerful low frequencies Good detail Exciting presentation AGAINST • They’re hardly subtle, particularly if you opt for the orange grille VERDICT The L100 Classics may lean heavily on retro appeal, but their unusual blend of sonic strengths makes them a viable alternative to the very best of their modern rivals “Though the Classics are designed to emulate their predecessors appearance and size, they are an all-new design” Retro is in, and that’s a fact not lost on JBL. Established in 1946, the company is one of the oldest hi-fi manufacturers around. Over the years, it has made some mightily impressive speakers for use in recording studios, concert venues, cinemas and, of course, the home. But the original L100 remains…

AMPLIFIERS THE BEATING HEART OF YOUR HI-FI SYSTEM View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Onkyo A-9010 £229 Best stereo amplifier under £300, Awards 2017 Our favourite budget amplifier, this is arguably the most entertaining affordable amp around. It is agile and has a wicked sense of rhythm. Power 44W Inputs Line-in x5, MM Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6006 UK Edition £369 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2018 An already class-leading amplifier gets a few small, but telling, improvements that make it an even more compelling proposition. Power 45W Inputs Line-in x4, MM, coaxial, optical x2 Outputs Headphone NADD 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A very likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM,…

Read more at… www.xwhathifi.com/features What do you need? The basic building blocks are: a turntable, a phono stage, an analogue-to-digital converter with USB output, and a computer with suitable recording software. There are turntables that come with a phono stage, analogue-to-digital converter and USB output built in. However, most are at the budget end and focus on getting the job done rather than doing it particularly well. Your recordings won’t necessarily reflect the quality of sound possible from your records, though Audio Technica’s AT-LP5 and Sony PS-HX500 vinyl-ripping decks do their best to buck that trend. If you already have a turntable, the best option is to buy a decent USB phono stage. We like the £90 Rega Fono Mini A2D and Pro-Ject also produce decent affordable alternatives. Recording software…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 “Partner these Missions with care and they’re as entertaining a budget box as we’ve heard in years” Mission LX-2 £149 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2016 Mission’s most convincing budget speaker in quite some time, the LX-2s are one of the best speakers under £200 you can buy. Size (hwd) 31 x 19 x 25cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 “If you’re looking for really small budget speakers, buy these” Dali Spektor 1 £159 March 2018 A small speaker that inherits all the Spektor 2’s good traits, pumping out an energetic and entertaining sound for an affordable price. Size (hwd) 24 x 14 x 20cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 “The way these speakers handle dynamics is impressive” Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 “The same sense of fun as the previous model, but there’s a touch of maturity with the Roll 2” Ultimate Ears Roll 2 £60 Best wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2018 The Roll 2 has a sound that’s more open, more dynamic and goes louder than that of its predecessor. The drop in price makes this a bargain. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery 9 hours “It might be about as big as a coffee mug, but it certainly won’t break quite so easily” Ultimate Ears Wonderboom £80 June 2017 If you want a travelling companion you can rely on, this portable, rugged and durable speaker is a great-sounding option. Size (hw) 10 x 9cm Battery 10 hours £100 to £200 “It is more…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 Optoma UHD40 £1199 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2018 A ‘4K’ projector that brings top-tier technology to a budget price point, this device boasts punchy colours and insightful detail. Throw ratio 1.21:1-1.59:1 Inputs HDMI x2, VGA, 3.5mm Speakers Yes £2000 to £10,000 Optoma UHD65 £2999 Best projector £1500+, Awards 2018 It may not have the bells and whistles of a high-end 4K projector, but it puts in a sophisticated performance, is future-proof and well priced. Throw ratio 1.39-2.22:1 Inputs HDMI x2, PC x2, Phono Speakers No Epson EH-TW7400 £1900 Reviewed online, 2018 The perfect compromise if you want a super-sized faux-4K picture on a budget. The Epson’s rich palette and upscaling skills will delight. Throw ratio 1.35-2.84:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB, VGA, Speakers No…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 “It has all the detail, attack and deftness to deliver exhilaration in spades” Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2018 Wharfedale delivers movie magic on a small scale with this enjoyable, well integrated package that’s perfect for smaller rooms and budgets. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12cm Finishes 2 “This compact set really hits the spot with its great clarity, integration, expression and ample bass weight” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2018 The subwoofer needs a bit more kick, but this fantastic sub-£1000 5.1 package delivers a clear, well-balanced and expressive performance. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 22 cm Finishes 4 “It’s a fluid, dynamic performance that soars…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice As ever in consumer electronics, there is always something new on the horizon and that new thing is 8K. So here’s what we know about the latest format to trouble the TV market. What is 8K? 8K refers to resolution – the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. Pixels equals information, so more pixels should, in theory, make for a better quality image. 8K, has a horizontal resolution of 7680 pixels and a vertical resolution of 4320 pixels. 4K has half the number of horizontal and vertical lines (3840 x 2160) and Full HD is 1920 x 1080. Count the pixels up and 8K has four times as many as 4K and 16 times more than Full HD. Who is making 8K content?…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerCables Up to £10/m Chord Company C-Screen £5/m June 2018 The C-Screen possesses the fantastic ability to mirror a system’s punch and drive. What it does, it does better than anything else at the price. Single or Bi-wire Single QED XT25 £6/m May 2018 Features the same characteristics as the more expensive XT40, displaying the kind of transparency that’s difficult for its rivals to match. Single or Bi-wire Single Atlas Equator 2.0 (2018) £7.25/m Reviewed online, 2018 A nicely built speaker cable that promotes a wonderfully clean and detailed delivery – it’s an affordable and easy way to spruce up your system. Single or Bi-wire Single £10/m and above Chord Company Clearway £10/m Best speaker cable, Awards 2017 Not the flashiest cable, its strength is aiding dynamics and…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands “The Mosecos may just be our new favourite affordable speaker stands” Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £120 Best speaker stand, Awards 2018 A speaker stand that impresses with how weighty and dynamic it allows systems to sound. Considering the price, it’s something of a steal. Height 60cm Fillable Yes Finishes 4 (pole), 3 (base panel) “£200 for a pair of speaker stands? When they’re this good, we don’t mind” Q Acoustics 20 speaker stands £200 September 2014 Designed with QAs’ Concept 20 speakers in mind, the clever construction and elegant design ensures other speakers give their best too. Height 66.5cm Fillable No Finishes 2…