Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i What Hi-Fi?

For many of us, a music streamer is a very modern piece of kit. But (such is the nature of things for us old-timers) things move quickly in every aspect of life – and certainly in hi-fi. While they may seem new, streamers have been around for many years; consumers are using the likes of Tidal and Spotify much of the time, and the compact disc is becoming a dying medium. Which is why the music streamer is becoming a fundamental part of every hi-fi system. And, if you are yet to embark on the voyage to serious hi-fi streaming, you should seriously think about it. Our round-up of affordable music streamers (p28) highlights six of the best that will bring real hi-fi to your downloads or the digital files…

This budget music streamer is designed either to bring high-quality audio-streaming smarts to music set-ups that pre-date the technology, or to improve those systems that aren’t much good at it. It’s a fair bit more affordable than the most budget music streamer we have seen so far, but, of course, undercutting on price only works if performance isn’t compromised to the same degree. As long as the Pro Plus can outperform its asking price, though – even just a little – it should be easy enough to overlook just how ungainly the word ‘WiiM’ looks in print. Before we tested the WiiM Pro Plus in the summer of 2023, we admired the Cambridge Audio MXN10 – it’s a compact, likeable music streamer that we dubbed ‘fantastically affordable’, and it sells…

The WiiM Ultra’s £349 price point is so competitive that it falls into entry-level territory for most rival music streamers from established hi-fi brands. Our reigning champ here, the Cambridge Audio MXN10, launched at £449, but is now available for £349. The four-star Bluesound Node Nano costs £299. The WiiM Ultra is a joy to use thanks to an appealing, user-friendly design. It has such a fresh, modern feel about it – from the sleek, compact design to the very inviting touchscreen display. It’s a smartly built unit, and we like the way the screen curves around the edges of the aluminium-encased body – it’s a nice detail and elevates its perception of quality. It’s a fair bit taller, wider and deeper than the dinky step-down WiiM Pro Plus (almost…

Xgimi has rapidly established itself as one of the most imaginative and dynamic projector brands on the market. It has proved consistently unafraid to blaze new feature trails, push picture quality to startling new extremes, experiment with a wide range of different projector types, and get playful with projector designs. Not every innovation has fully paid off, but most of the brand’s projectors are at the very least interesting. That’s a trend kept very much alive by the new ultra-portable MoGo 3 Pro. The Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro is good value; its price beats that of another barrel-shaped ultra-portable projector, Samsung’s The Freestyle, while substantially undercutting such more performance-led portable models such as the Nebula Mars 3 Air and LG CineBeam Q. Its really cute and premium design combines with…

The Cinebeam Q is one of the bestlooking portable projectors we have tested, thanks in part to the thick brushed metal finish that wraps around its sides and top edge, plus the large, gleaming chrome-like circular mounting points for the built-in carry handle, which has a tasteful leathery cover that wraps around its horizontal part to make it more comfortable in your hand. Closer inspection reveals a couple of clever bits about the CineBeam Q’s design to go with its generally opulent feel. First, the carry handle can actually be rotated right the way around the projector’s body, in a full 360-degree turn so that it can become a stand you can use to angle the projector’s lens up or down to almost any angle you need to get images…

If you’re shopping around for one of the best soundbars, chances are you have come across the superb, five-star Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9. Then again, if you are already invested in the Sonos ecosystem, it’s likely that the Sonos Arc Ultra is also on your shortlist. Decisions, decisions… Both are five-star soundbars, and both cost a pretty penny. But which would be best for you? We have put both through their paces with our typically thorough reviews process, so we can help you find the best soundbar for you. Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: price While both soundbars sit firmly in the premium category, there is a notable price difference between them. The Sonos Arc Ultra comes in at £999, positioning itself as Sonos’s new…

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £300 iFi Go Link £59 October 2023 The iFi Go Link feels like the perfect device for enhancing your headphones on the move and on a budget, living up to its brief. Size 13.5cm long Resolution PCM 32-bit/384kHz, DSD 256, MQA iFi Zen DAC V2 £159 Best DAC under £200, Awards 2023 A good jump in quality over the Award-winning original, to keep features and performance best in class – and for not much extra money. Inputs USB 3.0 Size 35 x 160 x 117mm Res PCM 384kHz, DSD256, MQA iFi hip-dac 2 £179 April 2022 At this level, you’re unlikely to find a portable DAC as clear, zealous, fully featured, or as downright good-looking as the iFi hip-dac 2.  Inputs USB 3.0 Size 14…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Revival Petite 2 £100 Best radio under £100, Awards 2024 Packed with features and emitting a clearer, richer, more dynamic sound than you might expect, this delightful little portable is a must-have sonic accessory. Battery 20hrs (rechargeable) Size (hwd) 73 x 124 x 85mm Finishes 7 “It’s a lively, rhythmically engaging sound that has a surprising amount of weight and punch to it, given the unit’s size” £200 and above Ruark Audio R1S £299 Best radio £100-£400, Awards 2024 Appealing aesthetics and sophisticated, nuanced and precise sound – it’s a level of quality we are surprised to hear from a product of this size and price. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 17.5 x 13 x 13.5cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi “The…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Denon D-M41DAB £399 Best hi-fi system under £500, Awards 2024 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 Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 £499 Best powered speakers, Awards 2024 We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them.  Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs Subwoofer £500 to £1500 Triangle AIO Twin £699 Best speaker system under £750, Awards 2024 If you’re looking for a fun music system that also sounds hugely capable in hi-fi terms, at a decent price, this system is…

 View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Sony UBP-X700 £199 Best 4K Blu-ray player under £250, Awards 2021 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 £349 Best 4K Blu-ray player, Awards 2024 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…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax Aura from £249 Best PVR, Awards 2024 As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is solid, but its useability foibles and lack of Netflix give pause for thought.  Tuners 3 Storage 1TB/2TB Ultra HD Yes Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2024 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 2020 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 Google Chromecast with Google TV £60 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2023 With a new remote and super-smart UI, Google’s latest Chromecast video streamer is the complete package. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £169 Best video streamer, Awards 2024 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…

 View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £1000 Sony NW-A55L £160 Best portable music player under £250, Awards 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 D3 £279 Best portable music player under £500, Awards 2021 This is a talented player that betters its previous generation counterpart for detail, separation and transparency. An impressive, tiny box of tricks… Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 128 Weight 103g Storage 64GB “Cowon has added Bluetooth, a volume wheel and a dual DAC to its player and released another class…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice 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 into the ‘Settings’ of the Prime Video section and also in the mobile app’s settings. Streaming Ultra HD video On Amazon’s TV app there’s a category populated with Ultra HD content. You can also…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £150 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2024 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 Chord Co ClearwayX ARAY Analogue RCA £130/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2024 Evolution of a well-regarded interconnect that reveals greater texture, control and dynamics from your system’s performance than before. 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 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 £10/m and above 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 QED Reference XT40i £11/m May 2020 If you’re looking to upgrade your system by investing in speaker cables this…

Astell & Kern is one of the brands to have dominated the portable music player market, with numerous five-star players that sound fantastic, bringing out more detail, dynamics and power than even the best-sounding smartphone. A&K’s players tend to be rather pricey, however; so the Activo sub-brand was created to cater to a younger, more ‘active’ audience whose budgets can’t quite stretch to four figures. At £399, the Activo P1 a considerably cheaper entry point into the world of hi-res music players. Around the P1’s price we have the Sony Walkman NW-A306, a compact and likeable if sometimes clunky player that is a smidge cheaper at £349. The same team behind our favourite portable digital audio player, A&K’s SR35, conceived and designed the P1, so we aren’t surprised to find…

The late great musical icon Prince was, when not enhancing his stature using fancy footwear, just 5 feet 2 inches tall. Angus Young of AC/DC currently clocks in at the same height, whereas pop sensation du jour Sabrina Carpenter barely scrapes into the five-foot club at all. That restricted size, however, didn’t prevent Carpenter from giving the world the 2024 mega-hit Espresso and jamming it into the brains of some What Hi-Fi? writers from now until the end of time. To employ that awful cliché, it turns out that good things can indeed come in small packages, words that Canadian audio brand Bluesound aims to prove aren’t just an empty platitude. Bluesound unveiled its three new-generation music streamers in 2024 – the premium Node Icon, the affordable Node (2024) and…

It’s a common theme in art and literature, from classical myths to modern novellas – that time waits for no man. No matter how great you might be and how high you may rise, there will always be something, or someone to pull you back down to Earth just as you grow to your tallest, proudest peak. “There’s always a bigger fish,” to quote Liam Neeson in the decidedly un-literary Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. The world of hi-fi is no different. So often we have seen products dominate a corner of the market, only to be sideswiped by younger, better rivals keen for their turn at the metaphorical watering hole. Bluesound’s Node was almost synonymous with well-priced music streamers, with its third-generation iteration from 2021 earning…

We have recently seen all kinds of weird and wonderful designs as manufacturers try to find new ways to cater for the ‘movies anywhere’ projector market. No convenience-focused projector we have seen, though, has looked quite like BenQ’s GV31. Its mostly circular shape slots vertically into a simple desktop cradle, within which it can be rotated through 135 degrees to show images on either a wall or – get this, lazy home cinema fans – ceiling. Perhaps the closest projector rival to the GV31 right now, in the sense that it also sits in a cradle within which it can be rotated through (actually more than) 135 degrees, is Samsung’s barrel-shaped, but much smaller and more portable, The Freestyle, or the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro, which can rotate through 130 degrees.…

The Epson EF-22 is one of the most eye-catching lifestyle projectors yet, as well as one of the biggest. The EF-22 is not too heavy, though (just 3kg), and the remarkable ease with which the projector can rotate through a full 360 degrees on its circular base or tilt through 150 degrees on its cradle attachment – even becoming a ceiling projector if you wish – really does make it easy to move from room to room or house to house, especially as an attractive felt section on its rear hides a built-in stereo speaker system. The cradle mount adds enough to the EF-22’s usefulness, we would argue, to justify its extra cost over its cradle-free version, the EF-21. It becomes even more portable, too, if you sort yourself out…

View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Rega io £379 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2021 Those who are happy with a no-fuss, purely analogue amp and who prioritise entertainment should arguably consider the io their number one choice. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x2, MM Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x3, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Rotel A8 £399 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2024 A fuss-free, well-built product that sets an enviable standard for sound quality at this level. The A8’s understated charms have us hooked. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 Best stereo…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2020 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 £249 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2024 They can live with the best at the price. They have a bro ad spread of abilities that will help them get the most from price-compatible electronics. Size (hwd) 31 x 18 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 “They dig up a pleasing amount of detail and manage to organise it in a cohesive and musical…

 View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2024 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 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 £150 to £300 Rega Planar 1 £299 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2024 This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly solid, accurate and agile – it’s a lovely listen. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £2000 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 Best home cinema amplifier under £1500, Awards 2024 Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9 x 105W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/3 Yamaha RX-A6A £2299 October 2022 With its exhaustive feature set, this is the ‘choose-your-own adventure’ of AVRs, with a completist approach to almost every aspect of its configuration. Power 9 x 150W Dolby Atmos…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Sony HT-S2000 £349 May 2024 If you want clearer, more dynamic and direct sound from your TV at a price that won’t put you off, then this Sony really is an easy sell. Size (hwd) 6.4 x 80 x 12cm Inputs Optical, HDMI eARC Sub No Sonos Beam (Gen 2) £449 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2024 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. Now with Dolby Atmos capabilities. Impressive. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Dali Katch One £649 Best soundbar £500-£1000, Awards 2018 Great for music, even better for films, this tidy soundbar delivers all the sound your living room is likely to need.…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in LG OLED42C4 £999 Best 40-43in TV and Best gaming TV, Awards 2024 The 42in LG C4 is the best small OLED TV money can buy right now, delivering a wonderfully punchy, immersive viewing experience.  Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Operating system webOS24 “The C4 delivers brilliant peaks. Contrast levels are wide and impactful, and movements look wonderfully smooth” 48in to 50in Amazon Fire Omni QLED £450 Best budget 48-50in TV, Awards 2023 Budget TVs are hard to get right, but the 50in Omni QLED succeeds thanks to a consistent, considered performance and impressive feature set. Type QLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC “A surprisingly consistent and considered performer that provides a very satisfying and authentic picture” LG OLED48C4 £1199  Best 48-50in TV,…

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 2024 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 Disney Plus from £7.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2024 This is a polished and personal streaming service that fans of Disney’s output, both children and adults, are bound to enjoy. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline playback Yes Netflix from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2020 Without doubt…

 View offers whf.cm/BBAVHifiRacks Up to £500 Atacama Elite ECO 24 £300 per shelf November 2023 The cumulative upgrades in absolute audio quality that a rack like Atacama’s Elite Eco 24 Reference offers is worth it to our minds and ears. Width 600mm Modular Yes Cable management No “An essential luxury if you want the best support for your hi-fi system. This appealing rack is worth investing in” 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…

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 Up to £200 Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 £110 April 2024 It is the quality of the sound that continues to impress. Quite simply, we haven’t come across a better-sounding alternative at this entry level. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 3 x 10 x 10.5cm 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 Musical Fidelity…

One of the great perks of working at What Hi-Fi? is that you get to spend a lot of time listening to music on the best audio products on the market. At any given moment in time, you can all but guarantee that at least one member of our expert team is banging out Brahms on big-money floorstanders while another is putting a budget Bluetooth speaker through its paces using a lovely slice of, say, Elliott Smith. The more music we listen to, the more insight we gain into how audio equipment is performing. It’s a pleasing symbiosis: the equipment aims to bring the most from the music and the right music strives to get the most from the equipment. We are also a team of music lovers, of course,…

Size really isn’t everything. Whether it’s a pair of speakers, a dinky DAC or even a portable Bluetooth speaker, there is absolutely no guarantee that size in any way correlates with great sound. Big and bulky units certainly have their place, and the trend towards more size equalling more sound is pretty inescapable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean improvements in actual audio quality. In reality, the finest brands in the business often know how to get a lot out of a little. That’s just as well, because this affordable Cambridge Audio network music streamer is something of a tiddler. Neat, compact and easy to pop onto your hi-fi rack without needing three burly men and a new extension to install, the new Cambridge Audio MXN10 is one of the most…

Audiolab has an impressive track record with regard to wallet-friendly hi-fi designed to give musical satisfaction for a sensible price. The Audiolab 7000N Play sits relatively low down on the network streamer price scale – no bad thing considering how impressed we were with the refinement and insight of Audiolab’s entry-level 6000N Play. That budget streamer gained a What Hi-Fi? Award a few years ago, so we are hopeful that a similar trick can be repeated with the slightly more costly 7000N Play. There’s certainly tough competition at this level courtesy of the Bluesound Node (2024) and the Cambridge Audio MXN10, both of which feature in this round-up. Not a risk-taker If you are choosing the 7000N Play music streamer over the 6000N, you’ll probably want to know what you’re…

Now that king-sized TVs with prices you can actually afford have suddenly become a thing, the projection world is finding itself having to think out of the box a bit to ensure it still has a part to play on today’s fast-changing AV stage. Nowhere is this more evident than in the portable projector market, which now finds itself very much in the limelight. That’s a development that we are happy to say Anker’s Nebula Mars 3 Air has responded to particularly well. While this is too big and heavy to be considered a true ‘pocket rocket’ projector, it is still eminently portable – not least because a strikingly well-made and comfortable carry strap is attached to its top edge. Attractive design The Mars 3 Air is a pretty thing.…

◼ Standmount speakers ◼ £9999 ◼ “The Dali Epikore 3 are surprisingly smooth and refined, sounding full-bodied and naturally rich in nature” Dali launched its flagship Kore floorstanders back in 2022. This formidable beast stands almost 1.7m high, weighs in at a vertebrae-crunching 148kg and represents the very best the company can do in a passive speaker design. The price? A whopping £84,995. Their huge cost and size inevitably put them out of the reach of most. That’s where the new high-end Epikore series comes in. It offers the bulk of the engineering content and technology used in the flagship model but at a notably more attainable price. The Dali Epikore 3 standmounter is the first model in a four-strong line-up that includes three towers of increasing size and complexity.…

Viewoffers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £379 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2024 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 Arcam CD5 £699 Best CD player £500-£1000, Awards 2024 A tremendously talented player that deserves an audition if you’re still holding on to your beloved CDs and want to give them a new lease of life. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical, line-level £1000 to £6000 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 Naim CD5si £1149 October 2014 The CD5si boasts a…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 WiiM Pro Plus £219 Best music streamer under £300, Awards 2024 As a first, affordable introduction to the many and various charms of music streaming, the WiiM Pro Plus is hard to lay a glove on at the price. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 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 Cambridge Audio MXN10 £449 Best music streamer £300-£750, Awards 2024 Cambridge Audio has crashed the entry-level music streamer party. Is the MXN10 the finest affordable music streamer on the market? It could well be. Outputs Coaxial, optical, RCA line-level £500 to £1000 Cambridge Audio…

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…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 £60 April 2023 It’s quite astonishing just how much you get out of this little speaker; an enthusiastic and capable performer at this ultra-budget price. Size (hwd) 10 x 10 x 4.3cm Battery 12 hours “There’s energy in spades… voices in particular shine through the Micro 2: they are clear and detailed” Apple HomePod Mini £99 Best home wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2024 It’s much smaller and more affordable than expected, but the most surprising thing about the HomePod Mini is its superb sound. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery No “It’s clear that the HomePod Mini comfortably outperforms its size and price” £100 to £250 JBL Flip 6 £130 May 2022 Another resoundingly five-star product, with sonic upgrades…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £999 Best projector under £1250, Awards 2024 BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values pays off handsomely.  Throw ratio 1.13-1.46:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1250-£2000, Awards 2024 The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes Hisense PL 1 £1499 Best ultra-short-throw projector under £2000, Awards 2024 With its clean, punchy and solid image, the Hisense PL1 is a gem at this price. It’s a TV alternative that actually lives up to its promise. Throw ratio 0.25:1…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-3 HCP £499 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2024 The DX-3 HCP delivers sound above and beyond what most soundbars are capable of while being half the price of most models that we recommend.  Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12 cm Finishes 2 “All of the sound effects are detailed and placed accordingly, without sounding cluttered or claustrophobic” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2020 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…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2024 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 Klipsch T5M Wired £70 Best wired in-ear headphones £50-£100, Awards 2021 Not only do they have some of the most comfortable tips around, but these T5M Wireds also show a maturity that’s rare at this price.  In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m Shure Aonic 3 £179 Best wired in-ear headphones over £100, Awards 2024 Breathtakingly musical and comfy to wear,…

 View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 16 Pro £999 Best smartphone over £500, Awards 2024 Apple’s attention to detail is almost unrivalled. It’s a formidable smartphone for watching movies, and it’s equally impressive when it comes to music too. OS iOS 18 Size (hwd) 150 x 72 x 8.3mm Storage 128GB-1TB “The bottom line is that this iPhone delivers a balanced, sharp and bright image that looks stunning” Android Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 £1799 November 2024 Best described as an OLED TV that will fit into your pocket, this would be an ideal AV companion for a long-haul flight or road trip.  OS Android 14 Finishes six Storage 256GB-1TB “The sharp outlines result in a picture oozing three-dimensional depth; comparatively it makes the iPhones look somewhat flat” Sony Xperia…

 View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £500 Amazon Fire HD10 £349 Best budget tablet, Awards 2024 The Fire HD10 offers a really solid picture performance that successfully balances authenticity with a surprising amount of punch and sharpness. OS Android Size (hwd) 247 x 166 x 9.2mm Storage 32 or 64GB £500 and above Apple iPad Air 13in £799 February 2025 While not as glorious as the OLED iPad Pro, the much more affordable 13-inch iPad Air is a fabulously cinematic tablet in its own rights. OS iPadOS 18 Size (hwd) 280 x 210 x 6mm Storage 128GB-1TB Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M £1299 Best premium tablet, Awards 2024 It’s hugely over-powered for content consumption, of course, but there is simply no better way to watch movies on the move. OS iPadOS…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Headphone amplifiers Austrian Audio Full Score One £1299 February 2025 If you are obsessive about getting the most from your hi-fi headphones and have sources of sufficient quality, this amplifier is warmly recommended. Inputs Stereo RCA in parallel with balanced XLR Outputs XLR, 6.3mm x2 “The Full Score covers itself in glory by delivering the title track’s explosive punch and instrumental complexity so well”…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2024 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” Sumiko Rainier £160 Best cartridge £100-£250, Awards 2024 This Sumiko is a little gem. Set it up with care and have a little patience, and you’ll find this to be one of the best performers anywhere near this price.  Type MM Tracking weight 1.8-2.2g (2.0g recommended) “Get in some hours of use and the presentation blooms into something that’s surprisingly musical and engaging” Ortofon Quintet Blue £359 Best cartridge over £250, Awards 2023 Given a suitably…