Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2025 i What Hi-Fi?

Convenience tends to come with compromises. It might be easier to use a piece of home-entertainment equipment that is fully automatic and does all the hard work for you; but traditionally, you will always get the very best results by taking the time to get to know a particular unit’s features and settings, and tweaking them to get the best performance for you. And, of course, by investing in specialist individual components that each do a particular job very well. While the above still holds true, these days the compromises we have to make have considerably lessened. Which is why we would urge you to think about investing in one of the streaming amplifiers (p30) we suggest in this issue. There’s barely a compromise among them. Also this month, we…

View online review whf.cm/WiiM_Amp_Pro WiiM’s first streaming amplifier – the WiiM Amp – made quite a stir, delivering amplification, DAC and wireless streaming features in a compact box that cost considerably less than anything else offered on the hi-fi market. Its feature-packed, well-built and user-friendly design for such a budget price had plenty of appeal, but we found it lacking in the sound quality department. The more ambitious WiiM Amp Pro aims to rectify this, while still retaining the same versatile specifications and affordable price that WiiM has become known for. If you’re looking for a space-saving, wallet-friendly streaming amplifier to which you just need to add a pair of speakers, the Amp Pro could be just the ticket. The WiiM Amp Pro is yours for £399 – still a…

View nline review whf.cm/Sony_XM6 Design, features, sound quality, noise cancelling, call quality. You name it, Sony has revisited it for the WH-1000XM6 to try to keep one step ahead of the competition. Although the XM6 obviously share DNA with their Award-winning predecessors, Sony has pretty much gone back to the drawing board, with multiple changes made to the design based on its own perceptions and customer feedback. Hinges make a return on XM6. The previous XM5 generation was quite rigid in its construction and couldn’t be folded away, unlike the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The stainless-steel hinges at the end of each sliding arm are made using an advanced metal injection method and mean the XM6 can be folded up into a ball – this makes them slightly easier to carry…

◼ Standmount speakers ◼ £6499 “Large-scale dynamic contrasts are rendered with heft, while lower-level shifts come through with finesse” The idea behind Fyne Audio’s ‘Special Production’ models is simple yet so alluring. Take a well-performing standard product, in this case the excellent F701 standmounter, keep the basic cabinet but let the engineers loose on everything else with a view to maximising performance and improving cosmetics. Also, bump the price up accordingly; in the case of the F701SP, the difference between the two versions is around £1500. The new Fyne F701SP features an upgraded driver array, the very same Isoflare assembly we so enjoyed with Fyne’s high-end F1-8 (£7499). In the case of these standmounters, Isoflare positions a 25mm horn-loaded magnesium dome compression tweeter at the centre of a 20cm multi-fibre…

View offers 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…

 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 WiiM Ultra £349 April 2025 This streamer puts in a mature, engaging performance; its combination of features, connectivity and terrific user experience for the price is unparalleled. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical, subwoofer 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…

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 for your seating…

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 2 £1599 July 2025 A competitive price and advanced features help the PL2 punch well above its weight. An easy recommendation for any movie fan after a UST projector. Throw ratio 0.25:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x1, 3.0x1…

 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 Shure Aonic 3 £179 Best wired in-ear headphones over £100, Awards 2024 Breathtakingly musical and comfy to wear, the Shure Aonic 3s set a new benchmark for in-ear headphones at this level. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m On-ears up to £150 Austrian Audio Hi-X15 £99 Best wired on-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2024 An analytical pair of headphones, but they still manage to make music entertaining – they extract bags of detail but keep the soul of your music intact. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 255g Austrian Audio…

 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”…

Here we have another excuse to bury your head in the musical sand and discover, or simply enjoy, some tasty test tunes. Wolf Alice, A$AP Rocky, Muse and Alice Cooper are all on the bill – you’d have to go to Glastonbury if you wanted to hear such a diverse array of talent all in one place. DIDN’T KNOW WHY TUNNG Tunng’s signature ‘folktronica’ sound is on full display, as the band blends soft, textured English folklore tones with crisp electronica noises, packing the song full of shape-shifting sonic surprises. The initial few seconds of crunchy, taut electronic noises that flit across the soundscape are gorgeous – heard on speakers that are particularly open, detailed and clear, these are sounds and textures put together in a really unique way. It…

DAB radio | £45 | View offers whf.cm/Little_Shelford Sometimes, all you want is something that does the job. In a world that seems to get smarter, faster and more bewildering by the day, there’s still a place for the simpler things in life. Nobody is denying the convenience of multi-channel streaming or voice-activated smart-home hubs, but there’s an old-school charm to a classic, no-nonsense DAB radio that, when it isn’t dodging splatters of paint from hard working builders, can sit in the corner of the kitchen happily pumping out Radio 1. Named after a small village in Cambridgeshire, Majority’s Little Shelford – billed as a portable, affordable and hassle-free FM and DAB radio – is charged with just such a purpose. Considering the low price of £45, the Little Shelford…

View online review whf.cm/SA-C600 Technics is on a great run at the moment. The brand had a bit of a rocky start when it was reintroduced into the market back in 2014, but since then has quickly found its feet. Over recent years we have reviewed a fair number of the company’s products and they have invariably been solid and talented performers. Not all have been class leaders, of course, but more often than not Technics hits gold – as it has with the SA-C600 system we have on test here. We call it a system, but you still need to add a pair of speakers. Consider the likes of Dali’s Oberon 1 standmounters (£399) a good starting point, but the SA-C600 has enough ability to justify going as high as…

View online review whf.cm/KEF_LSXII KEF’s LSX launched way back in 2018, and the diminutive streaming speaker system (try saying that fast five times in a row) made an immediate impact. We handed it a five-star rating and a number of subsequent What Hi-Fi? Awards for its efforts. The LSX and its sequel that we are looking at here, are perfect examples of the kind of coaxial driver arrangement we discussed on the previous pages, in this case thanks to KEF’s proprietary take on the technology, Uni-Q. The LSX II speakers look identical to the originals. Internal electronics changes in the speakers have increased manufacturing costs, so to keep the price of the system down, KEF has stuck with the same look. But let’s be honest, that isn’t a bad thing.…

View online review whf.cm/BoseQC_Ultra With the top-of-the range QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Bose has shown not only that it can play with the class leaders, but raise the bar in certain areas. The Ultra Headphones look like a premium pair of over-ears, and the use of metal for the arms and yokes combined with the pleather on the headband and earcups make for an attractive combination. Like a lot of modern designs, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones fold flat, but they’re still hinged which means they (and the supplied carry case) take up less space and are easier to just throw in a bag if you’re in a hurry. That’s something you can’t say about the Apple AirPods Max. The grip pressure on the Bose is well judged, and the clamping…

View online review whf.cm/AirPodsMax The AirPods Max arrived in 2020 as the most expensive pair of wireless headphones we had had the pleasure of wearing on our heads. The original model cost £549 – a good third more than the flagship pairs from Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser at the time. But it’s almost as if their release gave the green light for other brands to enter this pricier, premium fray. The Mark Levinson No.5909, Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 all launched in the aftermath of the AirPods Max’s release with even higher price tags – and justified them too. In September 2024, Apple updated the AirPods Max – but only lightly. The current AirPods Max now sport a USB-C port rather than Lightning and come with a USB-C charging…

 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 Go Blu £199 February 2022 When portability is paramount, the iFi Go Blu is every millimetre the convenient sonic upgrade your phone needs. Size 54 x 34 x 13mm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz (wired) Up to…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios  View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Revival Petite 2 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” £5000 £1000 to £5000 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…

 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…

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 online review whf.cm/Ruark_R610 Streaming amplifiers are always a compromise. They have to combine amplification, DAC, preamplifier, multiple wireless streaming protocols and support for dozens of different music apps – all in one box. To make all these elements work seamlessly and deliver a great sound is a hard task. Ruark Audio, however, has decades of experience in combining multiple functions in one box, to great success. From powered desktop speakers with Bluetooth (MR1 Mk2), to smart radios with streaming features (R1S, R2 Mk4) and all-in-one music systems (R410) – Ruark has proven it can juggle multiple features while delivering great sound, stylish design and ease of use. The Ruark Audio R610, then, should be a walk in the park, shouldn’t it? Inside, the R610 features Class D amplification with…

View online review whf.cm/Fyne_501E And now here we have Fyne Audio’s take on a coaxial driver arrangement, that the company calls Isoflare – here trickled down to the company’s F500E entry-level range for the first time in the F501E. This trademark Isoflare driver array involves the tweeter sitting in the throat of the mid/bass unit. The advantage of this type of arrangement is that it disperses sound more consistently. In this case, a 25mm titanium compression dome tweeter is partnered with a 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass unit with the crossover point set at a relatively low 1.7kHz. The mid/bass driver’s rubber surround exhibits the same fluting as seen on the company’s more upmarket products; this shape is claimed to terminate the cone more effectively, reducing distortion and improving clarity. Even spread of…

View online review whf.cm/Px7_S3 Maybe it’s just us, but the Px7 S3 are such a lovely pair of headphones that we’re almost reluctant to extract them from their case and actually wear them. B&W has always known how to make a pair of cans look chic and classy, continuing that keen-eyed legacy with these ever-so-stylish third-generation headphones. We considered the Px7 S2e to have nailed that air of high perceived value, but if anything, their successors see the headphones line looking and feeling better than ever. To handle, they are a delight. Every part of the construction feels as though genuine care and attention has been made in its design, be it the hinges adjoining the earcups, the textured woven fabric of the headband or the subtle metallic embellishments gleaming…

View online review whf.cm/Dali_IO8 Many speaker companies have tried, but hardly any have succeeded in producing truly class-leading headphones. That’s something of a surprise considering just how similar the basic principles of these components are. The honourable exceptions in our experience have been Bowers & Wilkins, Focal and, after hearing the IO-8, Dali qualifies too. The IO-8 sit in the middle of Dali’s trio of noise-cancelling wireless headphones. They are nicely made and use a classy mix of metal, textiles and high-quality leather to give a solid aura of luxury. Battery life is competitive, with a claimed 35 hours of playback with noise cancelling off and only a small drop-off to 30 hours with it on. This is on par with rivals such as the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, Focal…

◼ Turntable ◼ £9999 SME is not a company known for rapid product changes. Typically, its record players take years to develop and stay in production for decades. Witness the company’s first ever turntable, the Model 30: launched in 1991 and still being made today. The same applies to its second deck, the Model 20, released in 1992, and still in production. So, when SME replaces its entry-level Model 6 after just five years, it’s something of a surprise. The SME Model 8 feels more like an improved Mk II version of its predecessor than the all-new product the name change suggests. Generally, that’s no bad thing, considering how much we liked the older deck. But we also note that the new model’s price has increased significantly from the original’s at…

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…

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. But 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 Channel D’s Pure Vinyl…

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 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 x 45 x…

 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,…

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 supra-aural 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 earcups prevent bass leakage. 4.…

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 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 LX2-LPS £199…

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…

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…