Innholdsfortegnelse for Awards 2020 i What Hi-Fi?

What a year. I could never have guessed, when I wrote the introduction to 2019’s Awards issue, quite what was in store for us all in the following 12 months. And it’s not over yet, of course. This year, then, there can be no Park Lane black-tie get-together to celebrate the very best the wonderful home entertainment industry can produce. All the more important then, surely, to fly the flag for the superb products themselves: this year, more than any other, has highlighted the value of listening to music and watching movies and box-sets with your family at home. We’re proud, then, to be able to do just that here. Our Awards presentation starts on page 27, and includes, as ever, the very greatest products you can buy in every…

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View offers: whf.cm/BestTablets2020 Apple iPad 8th Generation £329 The Apple iPad 8th Generation is almost identical to its predecessor – both physically and specification-wise. It has the same 10.2in display, 8MP rear and 1.2MP front camera array, 3GB RAM, 32GB and 128GB storage options, and a 10-hour battery life. Even the Silver, Gold and Space Grey finishes carry over. The 2020 iPad is powered by the Apple A12 Bionic chip also found in the iPhone XS, 2019 iPad Air and fifth-generation iPad Mini, which promises to be 40 per cent faster than the Apple iPad 7th Generation and offer twice the graphics performance. But despite its seemingly incremental evolution, this iPad is still at the top of the tablet game. The 8th gen model retains the classic iPad look, complete…

Adjust placement and positioning Hopefully you spent some time thinking where to put your speakers when you got them, but it’s worth ensuring you’ve got it right. Placing them close to any wall will reinforce their low-frequency output; an idea that may initially appeal but that usually spoils bass agility and precision. Most are designed to be at least 30cm clear of a rear wall and a minimum of a metre from any side walls. Pointing the speakers inwards towards the listening position can help to firm up the stereo imaging, but go too far and the soundstage width will suffer. It’s not only speakers that will benefit from careful placement. Ideally, you want the rest of your kit placed away from your speakers (as far as the room allows)…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Cambridge CXC £299 Awards 2015 If you already have a DAC (the CXC is useless without one) we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this transport over a standalone CD player. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Marantz CD6007 £399 November 2020 No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Musical Fidelity M2sCD £699 June 2020 Musical Fidelity’s CD player sounds expansive, detailed and delicately layered - a resoundingly listenable proposition. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical Cyrus CD t £895 Awards 2015 An exceptionally talented transport, the CD t offers a level of insight, transparency and clarity you’d struggle to…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers £100 to £500 Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2019 A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Bluesound Node 2i £499 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2018 Even better than before, this large-scaled, well timed Bluesound has sensational streaming skills and features for the money. Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer £500 to £1000 Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £500-£1000, Awards 2019 All the success of the classy CXN streamer, with added Google Chromecast. Great design, features set and performance. Inputs Coaxial, optical, USB x2 Chord 2go £995 July 2020 The Chord 2go is a brilliant way to add streaming capability to the…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/features Wall or in the open? Where’s the best place to position a speaker? Some speakers might sound better against a wall, while others prefer to be out in the open. Whatever your specific requirements, your speaker choice should primarily take into account how much space you have to house them. Use a stand Speaker stands keep the speaker cabinet rigid. This allows for more of the drivers’movement to be translated into sound and not wasted through vibrations. If your stands are on a carpet, make sure you have spikes to ensure stability. Tweeter height The higher-frequency sounds from a tweeter are more directional, and having them at ear level ensures optimum performance. So try to choose stands that will have your speaker at the right height…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 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 “The same sense of fun as the previous model, but there’s a touch of maturity with the Roll 2” Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 £90 Best portable wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2019 If you want a travelling companion you can rely on, this portable, rugged and durable speaker is a great-sounding option. Size (hw) 10.5 x 9.5cm Battery 13 hours “The Wonderboom 2 delivers a sound as cohesive and detailed as we could hope for at the…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 Optoma UHD40 £1199 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2019 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 LG CineBeam HU80KSW £1967 December 2019 An all-in-one, do-it-all 4K portable projector that does its thing with aplomb. You can have the CineBeam up and running in a matter of minutes. Throw ratio 1.3:1 Inputs HDMI x2 Speakers Yes £2000 to £10,000 Epson EH-TW9400 £2549 Best projector £1500-£3000, Awards 2019 The perfect compromise if you want a super-sized faux-4K picture on a budget. The picture vibrancy and sense of depth are impressive. Throw ratio 1.35-2.84:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USBx2 Speakers No Optoma UHD65 £2999 Best…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2019 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 “It has all the detail, attack and deftness to deliver exhilaration in spades” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2019 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 “This compact set really hits the spot with its great clarity, integration, expression and ample bass weight” £1000 to £3000 B&W MT-50 £1100 Awards…

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 Best in-ear headphones under £50, Awards 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 11 Best smartphone, Awards 2019 Ignore the 11 over the Pro and Pro Max, and you’re missing out on a more affordable smartphone that ticks many of the same boxes, for less cash. OS iOS Size (hwd) 151 x 76 x 8mm Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB “We’ve come to expect musicality and rhythm with Apple, and the iPhone 11 doesn’t disappoint” 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 “Samsung’s careful refinements make the S9 a pretty impressive package” Samsung Galaxy S9+ May 2018 It’s more evolution than revolution, but that’s…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire HD 10 £150 Best tablet under £200, Awards 2019 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 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 Best tablet over £200, Awards 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 whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £150, Awards 2019 This is a wonderfully balanced and entertaining moving magnet cartridge that will work well with a wide range of record players. Type MM Tracking weight 2.0g “The sound it delivers is clear, informative and fun. We can’t ask much more than that” Ortofon Quintet Blue £349 Best cartridge over £150, Awards 2019 Given a suitably capable system we have no doubt the Ortofon Quintet Blue will impress. It’s a well-balanced design with no obvious weaknesses. Type MC Tracking weight 2.3g “There’s plenty of attack here as basslines are punched out with glee and no shortage of passion”…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Up to £200 Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 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 19cm Rega Fono MM MK3 £199 Best phono stage under £250, Awards 2019 Rega has managed to take a near-perfect product and squeeze more improvements from it. It’s a class-leading performer. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 18 x 14cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS £199 April 2018…

JOE COX Global editor-in-chief “The SL-1500C is a beautifully made, fuss-free record player – and highly recommended” TECHNICS SL-1500C PAGE 54 KETAN BHARADIA Technical editor “These new KEFs sound so much cleaner and more sophisticated than before” KEF LS50 META PAGE 64 ANDY MADDEN Deputy editor “We didn’t think Sony could improve on the XM3s, but the WH-1000XM4s have done it” SONY WH-1000XM4 PAGE 28 BECKY ROBERTS Hi-fi editor “The Vertere DG-1 is a terrific sounding deck, brimming with energy and drive” VERTERE DG-1 DYNAMIC GROOVE/MAGNETO PAGE 55 TOM PARSONS TV & AV editor “Sony has beaten LG at its own game – the A9 OLED is the best TV of 2020” SONY KD-48A9 PAGE 78 DAN SUNG Staff writer “Wonderful sounding and too good looking for any partner to…

View offers Smart speaker | £90 | whf.cm/NestAudio Google’s new Nest-branded smart speaker has been anointed with the suffix ‘Audio’, a moniker that suggests the Californian giant is highlighting how splendid its latest voice-activated device actually sounds, rather than what its Google Assistant can help you with. The redesigned Google Nest Audio feels surprisingly tall and heavy in our hands. Whatever your thoughts on pebble-coloured, fabric-swathed cuboids, here is a second-gen speaker that could never be mistaken for an air freshener. So, will Google’s clear shot at nominative determinism succeed or struggle? Let’s see. Visual appeal The Nest Audio’s dimensions are roughly that of a house brick turned upright, but the aesthetic here is altogether more calming. There is no visible branding and no visible controls, apart from a small…

Organising your digital music collection, you may be struck by the number of different audio file formats in your library. But don’t worry, we’ll explain the meaning of the most common music file formats, the differences between them, and why you should care. MP3 (not hi-res) Popular, lossy compressed format ensures small file size, but far from the best sound quality. Convenient for storing music on smartphones and iPods. AAC (not hi-res) Apple’s alternative to MP3; lossy and compressed, but sounds better. Used for iTunes downloads and Apple Music streaming. WAV (hi-res) The standard format in which all CDs are encoded. Great sound quality, but it’s uncompressed, meaning huge file sizes (especially for hi-res files). It has poor metadata support (that is, album artwork, artist and song title information). FLAC…

View offers: whf.cm/BestVideoStreamers2020 Apple TV 4K £179 The introduction of 4K and HDR, along with a number of other improvements – not least the inclusion of Amazon Prime TV, alongside other catch-up services such as ITV Player and My5 – have helped the Apple TV 4K video-streaming device retain its Product of the Year crown this year. There’s 32GB storage in the standard model and 64GB in the £199 version. While that may not seem particularly generous, as a streaming device, the only storage the Apple TV 4K box needs is for the streaming apps themselves, which are often quite small. The menu system is nicely designed and easy to use, and the voice control is genuinely useful. You can even ask Siri to clarify some dialogue that you’ve missed,…

View offers: whf.cm/BestRadios2020 Roberts Stream 94i £180 The Roberts Stream 94i has now won a What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year gong three times in a row, equalling the achievement of its predecessor, the Stream 93i. That should give you some idea of the quality of this lineage of Roberts radios. Roberts has made only a few small changes for the 94i, including the addition of Bluetooth – the one thing we felt was missing from its predecessor. With that and a snappier new design, the 94i radio sets the bar even higher. It has access to FM, DAB and internet stations, so you should never be lacking for sounds – whether from your local radio or connected to the internet via the built-in wifi or ethernet port. Other physical…

Sony WH-1000XM4 Each year, we select one product that has not only won in its category but, in our opinion, will make a lasting impact on the market for years to come – and we then add that product to the What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame features products from more than 40 years of our history, with past winners including the B&W 606 speakers, the Naim Mu-so wireless speaker, the Yamaha YSP-1 soundbar and the Pioneer Kuro plasma TV. There have also been a few pairs of headphones. We chose the Sennheiser HD600s from 1998, a pair of premium headphones that set a serious standard long before ‘head-fi’ went mainstream. And, in a similar vein, the Bose QuietComfort 15s, our choice from the 2009 Awards, set…

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £200 Zorloo Ztella $99 August 2020 (issue 437) if you want to improve your smartphone sound, but don’t want a USB stick hanging off the end of it, this is a bit of a no brainer. Online only for now. Size 11cm long Resolution PCM (up to 384kHz), DSD (up to 5.6MHz), MQA Cyrus soundKey £99 Best DAC under £100, Awards 2019 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 Best DAC £100-£200, Awards 2019 If you’ve got a good pair of wired headphones and want to improve your sound on the move, the Audiolab M-DAC nano makes a mighty…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Pure Evoke H2 £89 Best radio under £100, Awards 2019 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 “There’s no doubt the Pure Evoke H2 is an upgrade over the D2” Roberts Stream 94i £189 Best radio over £100, Awards 2019 Sets the bar even higher than its predecessor, adding Bluetooth without compromising its sound and offering plenty of features. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 26 x 17 x 13cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi “The Stream 94i is the complete package, making it the best radio at this price” £200 and above Roberts Revival iStream 3 £200…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Pro-Ject Juke Box E £369 Best turntable system, Awards 2019 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 £329 Best microsystem, Awards 2019 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 KEF LSX £999 Best all-in-one system, Awards 2019 KEF has shrunk its excellent LS50 Wirelesses to create a wonderfully insightful and flexible pair of speakers with a neat, colourful design. Inputs 3.5mm, optical, BT, AirPlay 2, wi-fi Outputs Subwoofer Marantz PM7000N £999 Best system under…

View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Panasonic DP-UB150EB £129 March 2020 A highly competent machine at an impressively low price, this 4K Blu-ray player represents a big step up from streaming your UHD content. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 1 Sony UBP-X700 £199 Best 4K Blu-ray player under £500, Awards 2019 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 Panasonic DP-UB820EB £290 Best 4K Blu-ray player £350-£500, Awards 2019 Delivers on multiple fronts, supporting all major HDR formats, delivering a hugely immersive and impactful picture, and all backed up by strong audio. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 2 £500 and…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £199 Best PVR, Awards 2019 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 2019 Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it comes with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £50 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2019 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 over £100, Awards 2019 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 consoles Sony PS4 Pro £350 February 2017 The Pro offers a solid, relatively affordable upgrade over the base PS4, but still needs work to be an all-in-one 4K streamer and player. Resolution…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £300 Sony NW-A55L £160 December 2020 Sony hasn’t carried out an update for the sake of it; the refresh is justified by squeezing more performance into a budget price than ever before. Hi-res 32-bit/384kHz, DSD Weight 99g Storage 16GB (plus microSD) “If you’re looking for a sonic upgrade over your phone, the Sony will offer it across the board” Cowon Plenue D2 £259 Best portable music player £200-£500, Awards 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 “Cowon justifies the price hike with a performance that takes transparency and entertainment to the next level” £300 to £700 Astell & Kern A&norma SR15 £549 Best portable music player…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2019 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 2019 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/BBMainsProducts Mains products Tacima CS947 £35 September 2015 Great value, the highlight being how well it allows for greater detail, attack and dynamics. For the price, it’s a brilliant entry-level purchase. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Russ Andrews X6 £381 September 2015 No matter what the source material, the X6 helps unearth a revealing well-integrated listen, allowing your kit to be as explicit as it can be. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6…

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 Up to £10/m 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 Chord Company Clearway £10/m Best speaker cable, Awards 2017 Not the flashiest cable, its strength is aiding dynamics and musicality,…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £120 Best speaker stand, Awards 2019 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) “The Mosecos may just be our new favourite affordable speaker stands” 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 “£200 for a pair of speaker stands? When they’re this good, we don’t mind” FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND IN-DEPTH REVIEWS VISIT WHATHIFI.COM…

View offers: whf.cm/BestSmartphones2020 Sony Xperia 1 II £1100 With its glorious 4K resolution screen, Sony’s sonic expertise and cutting-edge audio features, plus a great camera, this is a brilliant smartphone for music and movie lovers. The Sony Xperia 1 II is not cheap, but its design does its best to make that chunky price tag feel like money well spent. It’s a sleek, shiny handset with neatly rounded corners to an otherwise angular design. This Sony stands out from the crowd by sporting a 21:9 aspect ratio with a 6.5in display, giving it a long, slim appearance. This makes it easier to grip one-handed than many of the largest phones on the market. Despite its large dimensions, the phone is relatively light, at 181g. There’s a standard volume button on…

Maximise your power supply There are various ways in which you can better power your system. The simplest is to ensure the mains plugs you’re using are clean (best done by treating the pins with a cleaning solution, but make sure they’re dry afterwards) and all the components are connected as close together as possible. This means not plugging your preamp in on one side of the room and your power amp on the other. This improves system grounding and sound quality. You could give your hi-fi a dedicated feed from your fuse box. This will bypass everything else plugged into the mains – from your TV to the fridge – that adds noise to the signal. There are greater gains to be made the higher up the food chain…

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 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, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 November 2020 Clearer and punchier than its Award-winning predecessor, Marantz’s latest entry-level amplifier never puts the formidable 6000 Series dynasty in doubt. Power 45W Inputs Line-in x4, MM, coax, optical Outputs 6.3mm h’phone £500 to £1000 Audiolab 6000A £599 December 2018…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 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 “If you’re looking really small budget speakers, buy these” Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2019 The 2s combine Dali’s traditional strengths with a generous dose of entertainment that even Mission and Q Acoustics struggle to match. Size (hwd) 17 x 28 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 “The way these speakers handle dynamics is impressive” Standmounters from £200 to £500 Elac Debut B5.2 £250 Best standmount speaker £200-£400, Awards 2019 ELAC’s latest budget standmounter is talented enough to worry…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2019 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £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,…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps Up to £500 Sony STR-DN1080 £429 Best home cinema amplifier under £500, Awards 2019 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 £500 to £1000 AVR-X2700H £599 December 2020 Sonic improvements over its predecessor are marked, even if it’s the 8K passthrough and next-gen gaming tech that steal the headlines. Power 7 x 150W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVR-X3600H £999 Best home cinema amplifier £500-£1500, Awards 2019 Denon has nudged its 3000 series home cinema amplifiers much closer to the next level with this stunningly powerful performer. Power 7 x 180W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 8/3…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Yamaha YAS-207 £249 Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2019 The latest in a series of fine Yamaha soundbars, this is a compelling, class-leading performer in a practical, easy-to-use package. Size (hwd) 6 x 93 x 11cm Inputs Opt, HDMI, 3.5mm, BT Sub Yes Sonos Beam £399 Best soundbar £300-£500, Awards 2019 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. It could potentially transform your listening experience. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Sonos Playbar £699 August 2017 It’s not perfect, but it still has the sonic heft and all-round quality to edge out its Sonos Playbase stablemate. Size 9 x 90 x 14cm Inputs Optical, ethernet Sub…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in Samsung UE43RU7470 £399 Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2019 For a size of TV that is all too often overlooked, we’re delighted to see that Samsung has served up a stunning 4K TV for the average household. Type LCD/LED HDMI 3 Resolution 3840 x 2160 Tuner Freesat HD, TV Plus “There’s a proper sense of depth to the image, with excellent shading in both bright and dark areas” 48in to 50in Samsung UE49RU8000 £749 Best 49-50in TV under £800, Awards 2019 This is a brilliant buy, offering most of what makes the Q70R great at a reduced price. It’s a great all-rounder with exciting HDR performance. Type LCD/LED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Tuner Freeview HD/YouView “It’s a brilliantly detailed image with sharp, clearly defined edges…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice 1. First, the most popular headphone design: the over-the-ear model, also called circumaural. These cup your ears completely, usually with semi-air-tight earcups that help minimise both sound leakage from your headphones into the outside world and the intrusive effects of ambient noise. 2. Supra-aural or on-ear designs tend to be smaller and lighter than circumaural models and, as the name suggests, they sit on your ears rather than over them. Some listeners find them lighter and easier to wear for extended listening, but they do tend to allow in more sound from outside. 3. Available in both circumaural and supraaural types, closed-back headphones are the optimum choice for cutting out external sounds altogether. They’ll also deliver more bass weight than other headphone types, because the closed…

Music apps Spotify from free December 2016 Its accessibility, ease of use, huge catalogue and more mature music discovery are reasons why Spotify remains at the top of the pile. Sound quality Up to 320kbps Ogg Vorbis Offline playback Yes Tidal from £10/month Best music streaming service, Awards 2019 One of the few streaming services to offer lossless audio, Tidal’s exclusive content and curated playlists make it stand out. Sound quality Up to 1411kbps lossless Offline playback Yes Video apps BBC iPlayer Free Awards 2015 Quality content, a great interface and free (for catch-up TV), BBC’s iPlayer is one of, if not the best, video on-demand platforms out there. Resolution Up to 1080p Offline playback Yes Amazon Prime Instant Video from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2017 Cheaper than…

View offers whf.cm/BBAVHifiRacks Up to £500 Atacama Apollo Storm 6 £390 February 2018 Another class-leading support from Atacama that’s cheaper than its Award-winning sibling. It lets your kit perform at its best. Width 590mm Modular Yes Cable management No “Want to give your system adequate support for a decent price? Atacama has you covered” Hi-Fi Racks Omnium8 £478 Reviewed online, 2018 Hi-Fi Racks has made the Ominium8 about as flexible as possible. You can specify everything from finish to shelf spacing and upright shape. Width 57cm Modular Yes Cable management Yes “As configurable an equipment rack as we’ve come across” £500 and above Atacama Elite Eco 12.0 £598 March 2013 Those looking for a strong support for AV and hi-fi that enables a fluid, authoritative presentation will like the performance…

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of our friend and colleague, Andy Clough, who has died in Teddington, London at the age of 58. Andy really was ‘Mr What Hi-Fi?’, dedicating the best part of 25 years of his working life to the magazine and the website, successfully overseeing a multitude of changes for the brand and helping it adapt and thrive as the media landscape shifted. He did this with a cheery energy and endeavour, embodying the idea of leading by example. Enthusiastic, friendly, diligent and dedicated, his own personality and passion came to be central to the What Hi-Fi? ethos. He was a lynchpin of the UK hi-fi industry, with an unrivalled contact book, but he was a friend rather than…