Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i What Hi-Fi?

The words ‘New!’ and ‘Improved!’ aren’t automatically guarantees of either improvement or modernity, particularly when they’re accompanied by exclamation marks. But I’m confident this very issue is so improved – just a glance at the thoroughly revamped and more-useful-than-ever Buyer’s Guide (p98), not to mention the more in-depth reviews (p6-89 inclusive) confirms it – to the point it deserves all the exclamation marks available. Although now I think about it, I should probably save some of that punctuation for describing our brilliant Group Test of seven leading high-resolution audio download sites (p56)! At a stroke, we can make your acquisition of hi-res music simple and cost-effective. And if that’s not offering an improvement, I don’t know what is. Find us on... facebook.com/whathifi.com youtube.com/WhathifiTV @whathifi whf.cm/playlist16 whathifi.com…

FOR Solid, detailed sound; lovely build; portable AGAINST Patchy reception; care with headphone matching KEY FEATURES TUNERS: DAB, FM PRESETS: 10 BATTERY LIFE: 10 HOURS For such a tiny portable radio, available at this budget-friendly price, the little Blighty (made by radio specialist View Quest) is rather well-featured. It has FM and DAB tuners on board (and DAB+ for the countries that support it), 10 presets to save your favourite stations, and a battery life of up to 10 hours. A handy, practical design Mostly, we just really like the design. It’s small and light, with the curved back and edges letting it fit snugly in the palm of your hand. You can easily stash it in your pocket or bag. The finish is nice, with the Blighty available in…

FOR Comfortable and secure fit; crisp, fast and agile sound AGAINST Lack insight and weight; bettered for dynamics KEY FEATURES NOISE CANCELLING CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M ‘People who plug their keyboards into their hi-fi aren't idiots, that would be stereotyping'. ‘The latest iPhone is a huge 6s.’ Everyone loves a good pun – or even a couple of mediocre ones – including Sony, by sound of its latest buds. Pronounced ‘hear’ (their less puntastic model name is MDR-EX750NA), the h.ear in NCs have been released alongside the h.ear ons (on-ears) and two Walkman music players. The common gene in this product family? With Sony running with the idea that single-colour products are easier to coordinate than two-tone ones, they all share the same distinct, colourful finishes. The h.ears come in straight-up…

THE HEART OF THE MATTER KEF Muo It’s the talent across the board that delights us here; articulacy, clarity, energy and rhythm all feature across a variety of music. Libratone Zipp Libratone puts the emphasis on flexibility, letting you connect up to six speakers via wi-fi and place them where you like in the house. Sony SRS-X88 That big, engrossing sound is one thing but, more than the others, the Sony also exudes the kind of build quality that signals real class. RANGE OF WI-FI Join us on Spotify & Tidal whf.cm/playlist16 Listen to our favourite tracks every month!…

Burmester 089 CD Player £13,320 FOR Refined yet powerful presentation; excellent build AGAINST Its price puts it beyond the reach of most KEY FEATURES DAC BLUETOOTH USB Over recent years an increasing number of manufacturers, at both ends of the market, have taken to including digital inputs on their new CD players. Given that every CD player already has built-in digital-to-analogue converter circuitry, this would seem to make perfect sense. After all, if it’s a good-sounding DAC, why wouldn’t you want to use it to make all your other digital music sources sound better? The 089 is Burmester’s high-end take on a CD player with digital inputs. There’s also an added twist in the form of an optional module called MMI (yours for an extra £1340), which adds USB and…

intergrated Amps under £500 Marantz PM6005 £300 06.15 The PM6005 is a multiple Award-winner for good reason. Nicely made, well featured and with refinement and insight few rivals can match. Power 45W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs 2 x speaker, headphone Onkyo A-9010 £200 Best stereo amplifier under £300, Awards 2015 Our favourite budget amplifier, this is arguably the most entertaining affordable amp around. It has agility and a wicked sense of rhythm. Power 44W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs speaker, headphone intergrated Amps under £500 - £1000 Arcam FMJ A19 £650 05.14 Arcam’s entry-level amplifier is a terrific combination of sensible features, fine build and entertaining sound. Power 50W Inputs 6 line-in, MM Outputs Speaker, headphone, preamp Cambridge Audio CXA60 £500 Best stereo amplifier £300-£700, Awards 2015 This is…

Transports under £1000 Cambridge Audio CXC £300 Best CD transport under £500, 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 Cyrus CD t £750 Best CD transport £500+, Awards 2015 An exceptionally talented transport, the CD t offers a level of insight, transparency and clarity you’d struggle to find elsewhere at this price. Type CD transport Outputs coaxial, optical CD players under £1000 Marantz CD6005 £300 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2015 Marantz’s CD6005 is rightly regarded as fantastic player, one that offers sprinkles of improvements on top of its superb predecessor. Type CD player Outputs coaxial, optical, RCA, headphone Naim CD5si £1080…

Radios Geneva World Radio DAB+ £270 09.13 This Bluetooth-toting portable radio is a sleek, modern machine that is a breeze to use. The full-bodied, detailed performance is worth the price. Battery Yes (rechargeable) Size (hwd) 18 x 30 x 12cm Inputs 3.5mm, Bluetooth Pure Evoke D2 £90 Best radio under £100, Awards 2015 There’s a reason the Evoke D2 is a three-time Award-winner. For just £85, you have a stellar radio that not only sounds lovely but will look charming in any home. Battery Yes Size (hwd) 15 x 21 x 7cm Inputs mini-USB, 3.5mm Revo Axis X3 £200 01.14 Strong with voices, this X3 goes surprisingly loud for a compact radio. It also has internet radio, aptX Bluetooth and a Lightning connector dock for new iPhones. Battery No Size…

Speaker cable What is it? Solid-core or stranded cable. What’s it for? Connecting multiple speakers. Digital optical cable What is it? Cable that transmits audio as light. What’s it for? Transmitting audio in the digital domain. HDMI cable What is it? A digital cable that transmits video and audio. What’s it for? To link HDMI sources. Stereo interconnects What is it? Analogue cable. What’s it for? To replace your kit’s freebie leads. Mains cable What is it? Heavy-duty cable upgrade. What’s it for? To replace your kit’s inferior mains cable.…

Onkyo Remote Free Compatible with Onkyo releases between 2010 and 2014, this app gives the user a clean, navigable interface, with easy streaming from online services and connected devices. Yamaha AV controller Free Yamaha’s app has a stark, unfussy interface but offers options for tweaking levels, selecting sound modes and changing inputs. Decent, simple remote, too. Pioneer iControlAV5 Free Updated for 2015, iControlAV5 has features such as a searchable music list, remote control and EQ settings. It’s also backwards-compatible with Pioneer amps dating back to 2012.…

Under £500 Q Acoustics Media 4 £330 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Q Acoustics’ debut soundbar is remarkable value – even more so at its reduced price – and more than worthy of its two-time PoY status. Size (hwd) 9 x 100 x 14cm Inputs Optical, RCA Subwoofer No Dali Kubik One £800 Best soundbar £500+, Awards 2015 A gorgeous and complete package, Dali’s debut soundbar impresses with its hugely engaging sound and smart, well-equipped exterior. Size (hwd) 15 x 98 x 10cm Inputs Optical, 2 x RCA Subwoofer No Soundbars £500 + Philips Fidelio B5 £600 12.15 Thanks to two detachable (wireless, battery-powered) speakers, it can add surround sound or be a multi-room system. Great sound, too. Size 7 x 104 x 16cm Inputs…

Video stremaaers under £100 Amazon Fire TV (2015) £80 Aw.15 Best streaming box, Awards 2015 An improvement on the first Fire TV. For the same money you get 4K streaming, greater speed and power, and expanded storage options. Resolution Ultra HD, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB Ultra HD Yes Google Chromecast 2 £30 12.15 The second-gen Chromecast still ‘casts’ content from a device to a TV over wi-fi, but now with speedier operation and a performance boost. Resolution 1080p, 720p Storage No Ultra HD No Under £100 Now TV (2015) £15 Reviewed online Now it outputs 1080p and passes through 7.1 surround sound, NOW TV is a great way to open your doors to a plethora of Sky content. Resolution 1080p, 720p Storage n/a Ultra HD No Video Streamers £100 +…

On demand BBC iPlayer Free Best video-on-demand service, 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 Google Play Movies & TV Free 06.14 Google’s venture into video streaming is a success, offering pretty much everything we could ask for from an on-demand video service. Resolution Up to 1080p Offline playback Yes subscription Amazon Prime Instant Video £6/month 06.14 A very good video subscription service, its strengths lie in its strong film library and its near-ubiquity among devices. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline playback Yes Apple Music £10/month 09.15 This long-awaited service from Apple has intelligent curation, a huge catalogue, good sound quality and an…

For those of us that consider themselves a music lover, albeit to different degrees, we are part of a very fortunate generation. We now have access to an ever-growing wealth of recorded music of extraordinary range and depth, effectively accumulated over the last 60 years. With the introduction of the microgroove LP record in the early 1950's, playback quality took a quantum leap forward and this also coincided with a far higher standard of recording techniques. Although further improvements have been made over the years, this was a watershed time that first introduced hi-fi as a reality. We now have literally millions of recorded music tracks available to us in all genres and many different formats. One trend over recent years, however, has been to deliberately downgrade the quality in…

AV & Hi-fi racks under £500 Atacama Eris Eco 5.0 £460 04.12 Whatever hi-fi you have will sound agile, detailed and dynamic on this. If that’s not all, the Eco is well built, easy to construct and looks smart. Width 590mm Modular Yes Cable management No Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 £450 09.14 Helps a hi-fi system by giving it the support to sound confident, insightful and entertaining. Build and design are superb, naturally. Width 600mm Modular Yes Cable management No AV & Hi-fi racks £500+ Atacama Elite Eco 12.0 £500 03.13 Those looking for a strong support for AV and hi-fi that enables a fluid, authoritative presentation will like the performance this rack can offer. Width 1157mm Modular Yes Cable management Yes Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 SE £525 Best equipment…

Speaker cable Audioquest FLX-SLiP 14/4 £5.80/m 11.13 Not only is the FLX-SLiP 14/4 able to turn a corner no matter how tight, lest we forget, it’s also an incredibly easy cable to listen to as well. Single or Bi-wire Single Chord Clearway £10/m Best speaker cable, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Not the flashiest cable, its strength is aiding dynamics and musicality, as well as knitting instruments together for an enjoyable experience. Single or Bi-wire Single QED Ruby Anniversary Evolution £6/m 03.14 Capable of delivering a jolt of excitement to a hi-fi system, but can emphasise any harshness present in bright-sounding electronics. Single or Bi-wire Single QED XT40 £10/m Aw.14 Facilitates a detailed, balanced and authoritative sound with a full-bodied presentation that leaves competitors sounding lean. Single or Bi-wire…

Experience & heritage We’ve been hard at work helping the world discover the best in hi-fi and home cinema for more than 37 years, and have getting on for 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective belts – so you can count on our expert opinions. Dedicated test facilities We test every product in the magazine or at whathifi.com against its peers in our New! Improved! bespoke reviewing facilities. And we test every product as a team, so our opinions and conclusions are always the result of collaboration. We spot big trends first MP3 player tests before the iPod even existed? High-def video before it even had a name? That was us. We keep you in touch with big stories and future trends. Worldwide readership With seven international editions…

The giant flagship smartphone competition is even fiercer than before, with Samsung and Apple locked in an endless game of oneupmanship. And neither Google nor Motorola can match them for picture and sound quality. The metal-clad Nexus 6P lets itself down with a relatively soft picture that loses out on contrast and clarity. Music performance is also less-than inspiring, lacking in precision, agility and a full-bodied performance. It’s a shame, as the Nexus 6P has never looked better. The Moto X Style, on the other hand, has more punch and clarity with video and music alike. However, an overly rich colour palette and the need for greater subtlety with music stops it from getting full marks. Both incredibly desirable The promise of pure Android will have many eyeing up the…

intergrated Amps £1000 + Naim Supernait 2 £2750 12.13 A terrific integrated amplifier. It’s punchy, with a low-frequency performance that brims with authority. Dynamics are strong too. Power 80W Inputs 5 line-in Outputs Speaker, headphone, preamp Rega Elicit-R £1600 Best stereo amplifier £1000+, Awards 2015 Rega’s top integrated builds on the qualities of its smaller brother, the Elex-R. We haven’t heard a more precise amplifier for the money. Power 105W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs preamp, speaker Roksan Caspian M2 £1900 10.13 A supremely rounded product with solid build, classy aesthetics and a brilliant all-round sound that works well with all types of music. Power 85W Inputs 5 line-in Outputs Speaker, preamp preAmps Aesthetix Janus Signature£10,000 04.15 This cutting-edge valve-powered preamp is remarkably refined but preserves all the energy and…

Under £1000 Arcam miniBlink £90 05.14 This Bluetooth receiver has serious dynamic clout. Its zingy and fluid rhythm is impressive. The 3.5mm analogue output means an adaptor is needed for trad hi-fi. Inputs Bluetooth Size (hwd) 2.5 x 3 x 4cm Audiolab M-DAC £600 06.15 A really good desktop alternative to the Chord Mojo, with plenty more sockets and features. Smooth balance, fluid dynamics and subtle detail make it a lovely listen. Inputs USB, 2 x opt, 2 x coax Size 6 x 25 x 25cm Resolution Up to 24-bit/192kHz Audioquest DragonFly v1.2 £130 02.14 This tiny DAC and headphone amp remains one of our favourites for its brilliant USBstick size and tremendous sonic talents. Clear, detailed with a fantastic sense of timing. Inputs USB Size (hwd) 6 x 2…

Desktop Speakers Eclipse TD-M1 £1000 08.14 Some might feel as though the TD-M1s are watching them. Yes, it’s a quirky design, but we’re more interested in the great stereo imaging, fine detail and precision. Size (hwd) 24 x 16 x 22cm Powered Yes Finishes 2 KEF Egg £350 Best desktop speaker £200+, Awards 2015 Our 2015 Best Desktop Speaker Over £200 have a distinctive design and flexible connectivity. And they follow through with a stunning, consistent performance. Size (hwd) 27 x 13 x 17cm Powered Yes Finishes 3 Wharfedale DS-1 £130 Best desktop speaker under £200, Awards 2015 They look smart, sound terrific and cost just £130. If you’re after small, articulate, affordable desktops with Bluetooth streaming, you can’t go wrong with the DS-1s. Size (hwd) 19 x 11 x…

Turntables under £500 Pro-Ject Elemental £150 04.14 As plug-in-and-play as you’re likely to find, this is a quality entry-level record player for those taking their first steps in the world of vinyl. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 9 x 43 x 30cm Pro-Ject Essential II £210 Best turntable under £400, Awards 2015 A frill-free, entry-level product that gets all the basics spot-on. Easy to set up and even easier to enjoy, it’s an obvious Award-winner. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 46 x 36cm Rega RP1 £225 Awards 2010 The unadorned RP1 is an impressive turntable in its own right, with a good sense of drive and pleasing transparency. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm Turntables £500 - £1000 Clearaudio Concept £995…

Blu-ray players under £300 Panasonic DMP-BDT170 £90 08.15 Picture quality is what counts. It might be short on catch-up services but the arresting colours, strong contrast and good upscaling make up for that. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD Panasonic DMP-BDT370 £100 Best Blu-ray player under £150, Awards 2015. Product of the Year A bright, sharp picture, weighty sound and 4K upscaling, all for just £100. Enough to award this player our 2015 Blu-ray Product of the Year. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD Sony BDP-S4500 £75 08.15 Nothing’s perfect in this life, but the BDP-S4500 comes pretty close. Delivering on every count, it’s a positive steal at this price. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD Sony BDP-5500 £110 07.15 A tiny player that goes big on performance. Features and design are strong too – and…

Under £1000 BenQ W1080ST+ £850 Best projector under £1000, Awards 2015 This short-throw projector can sit less than six feet from the screen at max zoom – and looks brilliant thanks to its crisp, eye-catching pic. Throw ratio 0.69-0.83:1 Inputs 2 x HDMI, component Speakers Yes Projectors £1000+ Epson EH-TW6600 £1400 04.15 If you aren’t bothered about wireless connectivity, you’ll be thrilled by its bold, rich colours, sharp lines and hugely impressive contrast. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs 2 x HDMI, PC, component Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7200 £1900 Best projector £1000-£2000, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Versatile and easy to set up, this one raises the bar for picture quality in the sub-£2000 arena with its realistic, subtle and punchy performance. Throw ratio 1.34-2.87:1 Inputs 2 x HDMI, component Speakers…

Soundbases under £500 Cambridge Audio TV5 £250 06.15 The TV5 shares its TV2 sibling’s rich presentation, but with an extra driver and bigger chassis there’s better detail, clarity and dynamics. Size (hwd) 10 x 73 x 34cm Inputs Optical Canton DM55 £330 Best soundbase under £400, Awards 2015 Replacing the DM50, the £70 cheaper DM55 is even more appealing – its meaty yet subtle sound is a huge audio upgrade for your TV. Size (hwd) 7 x 55 x 30cm Inputs Optical, coaxial £500 + Geneva Model Cinema £550 06.15 This premium soundbase has a big, balanced and authoritative sound, with detail and dynamic insight in spades. It’s worth the extra spend. Size (hwd) 10 x 70 x 35cm Inputs Optical, coaxial FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND OTHER…

MAKE THE FOCUS OF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT HUB A GOOD ONE Under £500 Panasonic TX-40CS520 £380 10.15 Best 40-46in TV under £500, Awards 2015 This is a great deal. It might not be flashy (there’s no 3D or 4K) but it’s packed full of features and its picture quality is best-in-class. Type LCD/LED Screen size 40in Resolution 1920 x 1080 £500 -£1000 Panasonic TX-40CX680B £700 08.15 This good-looking telly is a great advert for smaller-screen 4K, offering a fine picture and a good stack of features with it. £700 well spent. Type LCD/LED Screen size 40in Resolution 3840 x 2160 Televisions £500 -£1000 Panasonic TX-50CS520 £500 10.15 This Full HD TV presents a stunning picture, but the sound is good too. Add a fine interface and that £500 price becomes an…

Portable music players under £500 Apple iPod Touch (6th Gen) 128GB £330 12.15 There’s life in the iPod Touch yet. Its price and talent with CD-quality music makes it a worthy challenge to pricier rivals with hi-res audio. Hi-res compatible No Weight 88g Storage128GB Astell & Kern Ak Jr £400 Best portable music player, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Our favourite portable unit of 2015, this hi-res player isn’t cheap, but its build quality and performance make it a formidable, portable pleasure. Hi-res compatible Yes Weight 93g Storage 64GB Sony NWZ-A15 £170 12.14 Hi-res music players don’t all cost a fortune. If you’re not after flashy features and want to try high resolution, this is a fine place to start. Hi-res compatible Yes Weight 66g Storage 16GB Portable music…

With Bluetooth and AirPlay-capable smartphones and tablets able to access such a variety of streaming services, it’s never made more sense to invest in a wireless speaker. Smaller ones are great for taking on holiday (although you’ll give up sonic heft), while the big boys could take pride of place in your living room. Here’s what to consider… TOP TIP Wi-fi and Bluetooth don’t get on particularly well. If you’re streaming music via Bluetooth, the last thing you need is another wireless signal firing in and out of your device. Try turning your portable’s wi-fi mode off if you’re experiencing signal drop-outs and weird skipping. AirPlay Apple’s proprietary wireless system works over your wi-fi network and can send video content as well as audio. It won’t play with Android, and…

Listed below is our selection of THE BEST HI-FI DEALERS IN THE UK. They have been chosen because they are known to do an excellent job in guiding customers towards hi-fi that will give years of musical enjoyment and total satisfaction. SOUTH Ashford, Kent SOUNDCRAFT HI-FI 40 High Street. t: 01233 624441 www.soundcrafthifi.com Chelmsford RAYLEIGH HI-FI SOUND & VISION 216 Moulsham Street. t: 01245 265245 www.rayleighhifi.com Kingston-upon-Thames INFIDELITY 9 High Street, Hampton Wick. t: 020 8943 3530 www.infidelity.co.uk Maidenhead AUDIO VENUE 36 Queen Street. t: 01628 633995 www.audiovenue.com Norwich MARTINS HI-FI 85-91 Ber Street. t: 01603 627134 www.martinshifi.co.uk Rayleigh RAYLEIGH HI-FI 44a High Street. t: 01268 779762 www.rayleighhifi.com Southend-on-Sea RAYLEIGH HI-FI SOUND & VISION 132/4 London Road. t: 01702 435255 www.rayleighhifi.com LONDON Ealing AUDIO VENUE 27 Bond Street. t: 020…

Mains products Isotek EVO Polaris + Premier cable £400 09.15 Offers a significant improvement over just plugging your hi-fi into the wall, allowing your system to sound more positive and confident. Type Cable + block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Mains products Olson Sound Fantastic HF6 £135 09.15 Grants a system far greater freedom of expression without sacrificing control or authority. If you can afford to, buy it without reservations. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Russ Andrews X6 £350 09.15 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 Tacima CS947 £45 09.15 Great value, the highlight being how…

Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £120 Best speaker stand, Awards 2015 A speaker stand that impresses with how weighty and dynamic it allows systems to sound. Considering the price, it’s something of a steal. Top plate size (wd) 130 x 170mm Height 60cm Fillable Yes Custom Design FS104 Signature £200 09.11 A stylish, reasonably priced stands that work across a variety of speakers. Buy Custom Design’s Inert Filler (£20) for the best results. Top plate size (hwd) 220 x 260 x 4mm Height 60cm Fillable Yes Q Acoustics 20 speaker stands £200 09.14 Designed with QAs’ Concept 20 speakers in mind, the clever construction and elegant design ensures other speakers give their best too. Top plate size (hd) n/a Height 66.5cm Fillable No Soundstyle Z2 £70 11.08 An ideal stand…

LG 65EF950V OLED Television £4000 FOR Superb contrast; punchy yet subtle colours; classy design AGAINST No ITV player or All4 KEY FEATURES SMART 3D SKYPE LG has finally taken the iron to its OLED TVs. The panel technology has, until now, been exclusive to a handful of curved screens, but the 65EF950V is the world’s first flat 4K OLED (alongside its £2500 55in sibling). Given that one caveat of curved tellies is their less-than-ideal viewing angle, the introduction of the EF950V range should please not only general curve-haters but also those who regularly miss out on the centre seat on the sofa. It’s also one of LG’s newest, most expensive TVs – and in terms of value makes a strong case, at 65in, for being the king of OLED screens…

FOR Full-bodied sound; helps system deliver lots of detail AGAINST Bulkier than rivals; self-assembly required; price We live in a world today in which everything seems to be labelled either 'family-run' or 'handmade'. What once were vernacular rosettes to be worn with pride and prestige have, largely through their ubiquity, become more than a bit preachy. That’s why we must thank companies such as Hi-Fi Racks for safeguarding ‘handmade’ and ‘family-run’ from becoming entirely synonymous with spreading artisan pickles onto sourdough bread (whatever that is). Homespun, handmade It would be difficult, in fact, to imagine a more honest beginning than that of this now Award-winning business. Quite simply, Bradley Walters, now managing director, needed a rack for his own hi-fi system. So he built one. Then he built more. He…

1 Soundmagic Vento P55 headphones £150 The Vento P55s are SoundMagic’s first pair of premium headphones. They use high-end materials and have drivers that are made entirely in-house using Japanese copper as a winding material. whf.cm/VentoP55 2 Hisense 65XT910 £2400 The 65XT910 is the world's first ULED (Ultra LED) TV, which is said to deliver similar picture quality to OLED but for a fraction of the price. Hisense has developed ULED itself and it combines four main features to improve performance. Want to know more? whf.cm/HisenseCurvedULED 3 Sky Q TBC Sky Q is Sky's next-generation TV service which promises to 'reimagine' TV. It will merge live TV with catch-up and on-demand content. The new box features 12 tuners, Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth. whf.cm/SkyQService 4 Arcam Solo 3rd Generation from £1500…

Apple iPhone 6S Plus Screen size 5.5in • Resolution 1920 x 1080 • Dimensions 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm • Weight 192g • Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB • Expandable storage No • Battery 2750mAh • Camera Rear 12MP; Front 5MP • Fingerprint sensor Yes Google Nexus 6P Screen size 5.7in • Resolution 2560 x 1440 • Dimensions 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm • Weight 178g • Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB • Expandable storage No • Battery 3450mAh • Camera Rear 12.3MP; Front 8MP • Fingerprint sensor Yes Motorola Moto X Style Screen size 5.7in • Resolution 2560 x 1440 • Dimensions 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1mm • Weight 179g • Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB • Expandable storage Up to 128GB • Battery 3000mAh Camera Rear 21MP; Front 5MP Fingerprint sensor No Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ Screen size 5.7in • Resolution 2560 x 1440 • Dimensions 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9mm • Weight 153g • Storage 32GB,…

FOR Full-bodied sound; neat design; multi-room options AGAINST Lacking some drive; slightly cluttered presentation KEY FEATURES INPUTS: 3.5MM; USB BATTERY: YES, 10 HOURS NFC: NO Even for us, we thought, it’s a tad uncouth to anthropomorphise a wireless speaker you can unzip. Besides, what impressed us so much about the original Libratone Zipp, to which we awarded five stars three years ago, was not its colourful anorak but its performance. That’s how it became the company’s best-selling product to date and the one upon which it built its now rather heady reputation. Similar, but different The new Zipp works on the same principle: it’s an upright, cylindrical design, devised to output 360-degree sound. That’s serviced by an integrated digital Class D amplifier, feeding a claimed 100W into a 10cm woofer.…

Preamps GamuT D3i £6150 01.15 This GamuT D3i is a brilliant performer with excellent detail and superb transparency. It isn’t packed with inputs, but will cope with most set-ups. Inputs 3 line-in Output Balanced, single-ended DAC No Mark Levinson 326S £9300 07.15 This classy unit has a refined presentation and a spellbinding sense of control. Construction quality is deeply impressive. Inputs 7 line-in Output Balanced, single-ended DAC No Townshend Allegri £1895 08.12 The Allegri a passive unit with six inputs and two outputs, but the real attraction is a wonderfully transparent sound that brims with insight. Inputs 6 line-in, MC Output Single-ended DAC No Power Amps Altas Stereo Signature £10,000 04.15 This Atlas comes close to being all things to all listeners. It has loads of grunt, yet there’s a…

300 - Under £1000 Bluesound Node 2 £435 11.15 Looking for a non-amplified streamer to hook up to your existing hi-fi? The Node is back, and better, with improved design and connectivity. DLNA Yes Inputs Toslink, 3.5mm Storage No Cambridge Audio CXN £700 Best streamer £500-£1000, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Building on the success of Cambridge’s Award-winning Stream Magic 6 v2, the CXN features an all-new design and improved sound. DLNA Yes Inputs optical, coaxial, 3 x USB Storage No Google Chromecast Audio £30 01.16 Google turns its expertise to audio streaming to bring music from any Cast-compatible app to your amps and speakers. And for only £30. DLNA Yes Inputs RCA, 3.5mm, optical Storage No Pioneer N-50A £500 Best streamer £500-£100, Awards 2015. Product of the Year…

Multi-room systems Sonos System From £175 Best multi-room system under £500, Awards 2015 If you don’t need high-res, Sonos is an obvious choice for multi-room. A great user experience alongside a full-bodied, insightful sound. Res 16-bit/44.1kHz App Mac, Android Formats MP3, iTunes Plus, WMA Bluesound Generation 2 From £540 Best multi-room system over £500, Awards 2015 Bluesound’s Generation 2 has a more streamlined design and sounds as good as ever, offering high-res support and good connectivity. Res 24-bit/192kHz App iOS, Android Formats MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG Stereo systems under £500 Cambridge Audio Minx Xi £400 Best music system £400-£800, Awards 2015 This terrific system is a joy to use. It has a 24-bit/96kHz resolution limit, but that’s OK in light of its articulate and hugely likeable character. Inputs Analogue &…

Wireless speakers under £300 Audio Pro Addon T3 £165 Best portable wireless speaker £100-£200, 2015. Product of the Year This classy boombox from Audio Pro ignores gimmicks and focuses on delivering the best sound possible for an extremely tempting price. Size (hwd) 12 x 22 x 14 Battery Yes Audio Pro Addon T8 £250 06.14 These lively, beautifully built speakers are punchy, offer plenty of detail and an upbeat and immensely enjoyable overall sound. Size (hwd) 16 x 10 x 14cm Battery No Cambridge Audio Go £120 Awards 2014 Few wireless speakers offer such a great combination of build quality, battery life and enjoyable performance as this former Award-winner. Size (hwd) 24 x 12 x 6cm Battery Yes JBL Xtreme £250 11.15 The Xtreme delivers all the power suggested by…

Home cinema ampllifiers under £500 Sony STR-DN860 £400 09.15 Sony proves the value of performance over the latest mod cons. No Dolby Atmos, but a thoroughly authoritative and engaging sound. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos No Yamaha RX-V379 £300 Best home cinema amplifier under £350, Awards 2015 This entry-level amp is a great way to start in home cinema. Champion under £350 at the Awards, it offers a scale of sound belying its price. Power 5 x 70W Dolby Atmos No Home cinema ampllifiers £500 - £1000 Denon AVR-X2200W £500 Best home cinema amplifier £350-£700, Awards 2015. Product of the Year Our AV amp Product of the Year is an articulate and detailed amp, with stacks of functionality and future-proofing. Packed with features. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos…

PVR Set-top boxes Humax DTR-T2000 £180 Best PVR, Awards 2015 This YouView recorder is still one of the best ways to handle live TV. Its 500GB is a decent amount of space, but it’s now available with 1TB too. Tuners 2 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Humax HDR-1100S £190 (500GB), £220 (1TB), £270 (2TB) 12.15 Now with wi-fi, this impressive Freesat recorder is a genuine wireless entertainment hub. It’s our top subscription-free choice. Tuners 2 Storage 500GB, 1TB, 2TB Ultra HD No Subscription set-top boxes BT Ultra HD YouView min £15/month + fees 11.15 The first 4K box to hit the market, this is the most accomplished live TV you can watch. Content is a little limited right now – so sports fans only. Tuners 2 Storage 1TB Ultra HD…

Style under £1000 Q Acoustics Q7000i £900 11.13 Got £900 to spend on a sub/sat package? Spend it here. This compact set creates a cohesive and expansive soundfield, with strong bass. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 20 x 16cm Finishes 2 Tannoy HTS-101 XP £600 Best style package under £1000, Awards 2015 The latest incarnation of a multiple winner has a sonic character that retains its fast, spacious quality, but with extra detail and solidity. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 19 x 10 x 11cm Finishes 1 Style £1000 - £2000 B&W MT-50 £1100 Best style package £1000+, Awards 2015 These speakers sound crisp, clear and insightful, and the sub and satellites integrate so well. Value and versatility combined. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 25 x 11 x 16cm Finishes 2…

In-ear headphones under £100 Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi £90 Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2015. Product of the Year You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound so good – not for just £90. But good they sound, wonderfully smooth, expressive and balanced. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m Sony MDR-EX650AP £60 11.14 These smart buds are nicely judged tonally, with plenty of detail. Add an expansive soundstage and you’re looking at great value for money. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m SoundMagic E10S £40 Best in-ears under £50, Awards 2015 Paying £40 for a pair of buds like these ranks as one of the simplest, most affordable and most satisfying upgrades available. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m In-ear headphones £100 - £300 Focal Sphear £100 11.15 These Focals back…

Under 5” Apple iPhone 6S Best smartphone under 5in, Awards 2015. Product of the Year The iPhone 6s packs class-leading audio and video performances, a faster processor, better camera and the intuitive 3D Touch feature. OS iOS Size (hwd) 138 x 67 x 7mm Storage 16/64/128GB Smartphones over 5” Apple iPhone 6S Plus 01.16 The best big screen iPhone yet, we heartily recommend this if you have deep pockets and are looking for a fantastic multimedia device. OS iOS Size (hwd) 158 x 78 x 7mm Storage 16/64/128GB LG G4 08.15 If its leather exterior isn’t enough to win you over, the G4’s snappy processor, stunning screen and superb camera probably will. OS Android Size (hwd) 149 x 76 x 10mm Storage 32GB & microSD Samsung Galaxy S6 08.15 It’s…

Under 8” Apple iPad mini 4 from £320 Aw.15 Best tablet under 8in, Awards 2015 Apple’s best small tablet yet? A superb screen, great user experience, punchy audio and fine apps make this the best small-screen tablet. OS iOS Size (hwd) 203 x 135 x 6mm Storage 16/64/128GB Smartphones over 8” Apple iPad Air 2 from £400 Best tablet 8in+, Awards 2015. Product of the Year The iPad Air 2 ticks all the boxes. Best-bar-none video and audio, an unrivalled user experience, snappy in use and a gorgeous design. OS iOS Size (hwd) 240 x 170 x 6mm Storage 16/64/128GB Sony Xperia Z4 tablet £500 Reviewed online An excellent screen, superb sound and lovely features. The Z4 is a great option for Android fans and, at last, a real competitor…

Analogue interconnects Atlas Element Integra £45 11.13 An Award-winner three years on the trot, this cable digs up detail and isn’t fussy about the kit it’s used with. A great first upgrade. Balanced/Single Single Chord C-Line £45 Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2015 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single Single QED Reference Audio 40 £85 06.14 An engaging interconnect that’s capable of expressing the dynamics and nuances of a track, and which has reassuring build quality. Balanced/Single Single…

Phono amplifiers Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £160 06.13 Fast, organised and dynamic, this box offers great quality on a budget. The Gram Amp 2 Communicator is low on frills but high on quality. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 7 x 10 x 25cm Rega Aria £800 03.10 A phono stage of rare quality under £1000, the Rega Aria will perform superbly – as long as the rest of your system is suitably talented. Type MM, MC Dimensions (hwd) 8 x 22 x 32cm Rega Fono Mini A2D £85 03.12 There’s little fancy about the Fono Mini A2D but that doesn’t matter when the presentation is this good. And it has a useful USB output. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 6 x 18 x 25cm Phono amp Rega Fono MM Mk2…