Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2015 i What Hi-Fi?

There was a sense of excitement in our office when we heard Panasonic was reviving the Technics brand. The legendary SL1210 turntable was lauded, of course, with further reminiscences taking in some fine budget CD-players and Award-winning middle-market amps from the 90s. We almost got misty-eyed, but great old products can only get a company so far. Technics really needs the new ones to hit the mark – but, if the SB-C700 speakers are anything to go by, re-establishing the brand could be tough. First the good news: we like the way these look. There’s more than a passing resemblance to KEF’s LS50, thanks to the use of a co-axial drive-unit array. They’re nicely proportioned and look classy. That co-axial array consists of a 19mm aluminium-dome tweeter coupled to a…

For a company with such a rich history in digital audio replay, we’re surprised it’s taken Sony so long to jump on to the desktop DAC bandwagon. The PHA-3AC is just the second such device we’ve seen from the company, and it’s more left-field than we would have expected. This DAC is small (imagine something a little taller than a pack of cards) and, at 230g, it’s pretty light too. The inclusion of an on-board battery suggests true portability, but this doesn’t pan out in use. The battery is there to smooth the power feed to the audio circuits, but can’t power the PHA-3AC by itself – disconnect the power input and the unit stops working. We tried to power the unit from our computer. It worked for a while…

Nocs made a name for itself with its headphones range before moving into the blossoming powered-speaker market last year. First there was the NS2 Airplay desktop speaker, which restricted wireless streaming to Apple users only, and now the Swedish manufacturer has brought an Apple and Android-friendly version to the market: the NS2 v2. With the NS2’s Airplay support and 3.5mm input still on board, the well-featured NS2 v2 also has Bluetooth and Spotify Connect – handy for subscribers to Spotify Premium. Colourful character The ‘v2’ also adds a green finish to the original NS2’s already colourful line-up of yellow, white, orange, black, red and grey. We thought our favourite Award-winning Ruark MR1s were diminutive, but the Nocs really are dinky – perfect for, say, setting at the side of a…

With little over a month now left until we head down the M4, the 2015 Bristol Sound and Vision Show is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet, with nearly 170 manufacturers signed up to show off their latest hi-fi and home cinema kit. Now into its 28th year, the show at Bristol’s Marriott City Centre Hotel is the largest and longest-running show of its kind in the UK, and remains the only place to see all your favourite AV companies and products under one roof. You’ll be able to get hands, eyes and ears on all the products you’ve been reading about, not to mention a veritable smorgasbord of new kit that’ll be competing for place at the show. You’ll also be able to take…

Bang and Olufsen is known for making specialist, high-end and stylish products. So when it lends its Scandinavian sense of premium-quality minimalist design to a portable Bluetooth speaker (the company’s first), you know it’ll be special. The B&O BeoPlay A2 looks luxurious: the curved polymer shell with its high-quality leather strap is a premium lifestyle product. The metal panel, with its beautifully machined buttons, adds elegance. It’s well made, and light enough to carry using the sturdy strap. Plastic not so fantastic The plastic casing is a touch disappointing (we had hoped for an aluminium grille), as it flexes when picked up. However, the unit is designed to withstand scuffs and scratches. In its all-black finish, the A2 looks a little plain. The green or grey alternatives, with contrasting brown…

Bowers & Wilkins has form when it comes to wireless speakers. The AirPlay-toting Zeppelin Air, A5 and A7 impressed us with their classy designs and five-star sound qualities, and so it’s no surprise that B&W has struck gold with its first portable Bluetooth speaker: the T7. Unchained melody Punchy, clear, detailed and full of energy, the T7 wants to have fun playing music. It’s every bit a B&W speaker in that respect. Crunchy songs from Alice in Chains are delivered with as much precision and verve as Kate Bush’s ethereal vocals. There’s attack and finesse in equal measure, the T7 impressing with its agile and precise rhythm. Funky blues tunes have their groove intact, and it delivers subtle detail with such ease. Clarity and detail go hand-in-hand, and the amount…

The Spaced360 is an unusual Bluetooth speaker. You know this triangular unit wants to stand out from the crowd. But its unique styling is core to its aim to deliver a larger spread of sound. It does this by using three different speaker drivers, pointing in three different directions. Spaced Audio also employs airSOUND technology (used by Orbitsound’s soundbars to increase the spread of sound) to make their 360-degree plans come to life. Does it work? Spreading itself too thin Well, the spread of sound is definitely large and open. It’s a hefty sound as well, with decent weight to the spacious presentation. That’s where the good news ends. Musically, the Spaced360 struggles to hold a rhythm together. That’s the inherent problem in having three drivers facing three separate directions.…

The print has barely dried on our First Test of Arcam’s FMJ A39, but it’s straight into a group test battle for this stereo amp to see how it holds up against the competition. As the middle child of Arcam’s high-end FMJ range, the A39 shares a similar look to the rest of the family, having a sturdy black steel and aluminium shell and a clear, dimmable display. Offering function over flair, it’s an easy-to-use if uninspiring design – there’s certainly no Technics levels of styling here. Analogue emphasis There are six line-level inputs, alongside a moving-magnet phono stage and two analogue outs, with both a 3.5mm input and 3.5mm headphone out on the front. You won’t find anything in the way of digital inputs, but there are twin speaker…

The Technics revival took us a little by surprise when it was announced at IFA 2014, but ever since we’ve been filled with the same nostalgic excitement for its second coming as most other hi-fi enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it’s far from the triumphant return we had hoped for. But let’s start off with what’s good, and there’s no doubting there has been some serious consideration when it comes to the design of the SU-C700. Its size is unusual, sitting somewhere between half-rack and full-rack width at 34cm across, and its rigid casework, made from aluminium, is available only in silver. The big talking point is the large VU meters, which take up the majority of its front panel and are illuminated when the amp is turned on (but can be dimmed).…

You can trust Samsung to cram a lot into its kit. The Samsung BD-H6500 is the company’s current flagship model, and it’s brimming with top content and features. The company is clearly out to tick as many boxes as it can. We begin with what makes the Samsung stand out, which actually has little to do with playing Blu-rays. We’re talking about the smart content on offer. Samsung is the only company to offer the full selection of the UK’s catch-up services on its Blu-ray players. BBC iPlayer is on everything these days, but you also get 4oD, ITV Player and Demand 5. Netflix is the other ubiquitous one, and it is joined by Amazon Instant Video. Streaming good books These are the biggest names in video streaming, so if…

Just because you’re on a tight budget, or looking to take your first step onto the home cinema ladder, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. This test offers proof of that. The Sony BDP-S5200 puts in a virtually flawless outing, offering top-tier performance and great features. You’re getting hell of a lot for a mere £85, and that’s why it wins the test – we’re not entirely surprised. It’s an Award-winner, after all, and those are not easily defeated. Only the Panasonic DMP-BDT260 comes close. In terms of picture and sound performance, the two are very close. They have different characters, but their qualities overall are on par with one another. The deciding factor here is the feature list. Although they cost and perform similarly, the Panasonic comes…

The demand for bigger screen sizes (over 50in) is increasing year-on-year, but there’s still no escaping the popularity of smaller sets. Not everyone has the space for a monster screen and, even if you have, a set like this Sony makes a lot of sense as a second-room solution. Unlike many rival sets at this price, the KDL-32W706B uses a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution panel, and the benefits are obvious. The Sony’s a tremendously well-balanced watch. Colours are natural, whether they’re skin tones, brightly punchy primaries or subtly drab. Contrasts are strong too, and there’s ample detail to the brightest white or inkiest black scenes. The benefits of a native Full HD panel become obvious when you study the Sony’s confident and secure handling of motion. The Sony…

For some manufacturers 4K Ultra HD is all about the bigger picture, ie they claim it’s best viewed on screens 55in and above. But such is the Ultra HD picture quality of Samsung’s UE48HU7500 we’d argue 4K content can make just as much of an impact on a smaller screen. Three of the 4K TVs in this round-up come from Samsung’s ‘HU7500’ range so it’ll come as no surprise they are all closely matched in terms of specification. The design shares the lovely thin bezel of its bigger brothers, as well as their impressive ergonomics and thorough feature set. This includes the five different ‘panes’ of Samsung’s Smart Hub experience, which has been well thought-out and makes navigating content, be it multimedia, apps or games, a real pleasure. And, as…

You don’t need 20/20 vision to see the appeal of 4K Ultra HD and it’s only natural you want a piece of the action. But you don’t want to pay through the nose for the privilege. That’s where Samsung’s stunning UE55HU7500 comes in. At 55in, it’s big-but-not-too-big, and now it’s priced below £2000 it’s even more affordable than it was when we gave it an Award last year. But what sets it apart from the competition is its prodigious combination of picture quality, build quality, on-line functionality, design and ergonomics. Obviously this screen is at its best with 4K material and with some native Netflix content streamed in the Samsung looks superb. Every crucial component of picture creation (contrast, colour, detail, edge-definition) is beyond reproach. And with excellent motion-handling added…

AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-CKP200 £30 The last thing you want while exercising is the weight of headphones dragging you down. It’s a burden Audio Technica is clearly aware of: its budget sport in-ears weigh just 9g – pretty impressive given their 'hanger' style. They're flexible too, thanks to a hinge mechanism. Snug and secure The ATH-CKP200s fit well and never feel like they’re going anywhere (except, perhaps, with you on your run); even when we accidentally tugged on the wire, they didn't became dislodged. You can have a 0.6m or 1.2m (courtesy of the extension lead) cable. Handy. The absence of a mic and remote is disappointing, but the CKP200s hardly skimp on other features. Their IPX5 rating means they can endure a downpour and be washed. Headphones this cheap are…

1 The rear panel is relatively crowded, but the unit itself doesn't run that hot thanks to a relatively large heat sink. The quality of build is high, and the speaker terminals at either edge of the unit are sturdy, substantial affairs. 2 A quartet of digital inputs – including a relatively rare AES/EBU connection – make the MXA suitable for use with a wide range of digital devices. Balanced XLR and single-ended analogue inputs are also on board to cater for more traditional sources. 3 The preamp output can be used independently of the main amp to allow the MXA70 to become part of a more ambitious, full-size system.…

A Most Wanted Man Blu-ray Out 19 Jan There are two kinds of spy: fun ones and realistic ones. Fun Spy gets girls, gadgets, and kung fu. Realistic Spy is an alcoholic chain-smoker fighting guilt and paranoia. The latter is much more interesting, particularly when played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. A refugee turns up in Hamburg, and may or may not be a terrorist. That’s what Hoffman’s German spymaster must work out – before the CIA does. There are secret exchanges, and naturally the spymaster is a workaholic with no life outside playing Guess the Terrorist. The film is committed to serving up all manner of fog, and there’s no rush to spell anything out. It’s a slow burner, with time to weave past prejudices, human rights and wavering German…

It is a period of civil war: plasma is dead, and emerging technologies are vying for a foothold in the market. Ultra High Definition (or 4K) is exciting but largely absent, with no indication of when it will stop hugging the horizon. OLED has been hailed as the ultimate weapon for years, but is only now priced sensibly enough for mere mortals. Essentially, nobody knows how the future of televisions will unfold. Perhaps we will see an influx of UHD content next year, perhaps not. What we do know is this: right now, more than 99 per cent of your content will be in Full HD or standard definition. Right now, at 1080p, we’re in love with the LG 55EC930V. A lot can change in a year. The last time…

It’s been a while since we tested anything from Klipsch’s home cinema line-up, but with its new Reference range hitting the shelves, it seems like the perfect time to take a fresh look. Sitting just below the pricier Reference II Series, the new Reference line-up is made up of a standard home cinema package and two soundbars, the R-10B and R-20B. It’s the flagship R-20B we’re concentrating on here: a soundbar and subwoofer duo wading in at a price-point to take on Dali and Yamaha in this increasingly competitive world. A smart, if not striking, appearance Design-wise it doesn’t stand out like the Dali Kubik One or the Focal Dimension, but it’s certainly smart, and its smaller footprint will appeal to those lacking space. That said, the Klipsch does comes…

It seems like high-res audio and 4K video have been the “next big thing” for a couple of years now, but 2014 felt like breakthroughs had been made. With 4K, the lack of content had been a key issue in its slow uptake – but internet streaming of Ultra HD video from services such as Netflix and Amazon has now arrived with the promise of making 4K more accessible. But what about its audio equivalent? Well, courtesy of Meridian Audio, a new era may be about to dawn for music streaming... MQA – the future is now? Meridian’s new technology, Master Quality Authenticated, is a new method of digitally capturing recorded music in a far smaller file than existing formats. The traditional advantage here is storage space - but in…

If sound quality was decided on bass performance alone, the Bayan Audio SoundBook X3 would be a lightweight contender. Rivals such as the Bose SoundLink III pile on the muscle and low-end oomph, but the X3 takes a lighter approach. It focuses on the midrange and top-end of the frequencies, offering a gentle performance to try to win us over. A Birdy in the hand The upside of this is that there’s no booming bass overwhelming the rest of the frequencies. However, it does mean the X3 isn’t the most solid or punchy-sounding speaker at this price. For the most part, the Bayan is a pleasant and inoffensive listen despite the imbalance in frequencies. The treble is rounded off, meaning you won’t get any sharp edges when listening to Kate…

We’re big fans of the Libratone Zipp BT, and not just because of the bright woolly covers. The original Zipp wowed us with its extensive steaming features and superb sound quality. And with new Bluetooth powers and an all-new price of £300, the updated Libratone Zipp BT is even more tempting than before. It sounds gorgeous. The Zipp BT easily fills the room with subtle and refined detail, delivering each note of a song with a lively, agile rhythm. Timing is precise, and the fluid dynamics ensure your attention is drawn to the music. Open and expressive, the Zipp BT is a lesson in how to deliver a big, uniform distribution of sound. Libratone’s ‘FullRoom’ technology (which uses a 10cm-bass driver, a pair of ribbon tweeters and the cylindrical design…

In the world of Bluetooth speakers, the competition is so fierce that a small misstep can mean the loss of a star. It’s not only about which speaker has the best sound quality (although that’s primary), but it’s also about build and design, features, ease of use, and battery life. This test proves just how high expectations are, especially at this price – £300 is a significant sum to spend on a portable speaker. Spaced out Where the Libratone Zipp BT succeeds in showing how to deliver open and omnidirectional room-filling sound, the Spaced360 fails. Its three-speaker design makes for a diffused and disorganised performance, where voices and instruments never seem to be playing in time with one other. There’s a solid sound at the heart of the speaker, but…

The longer we’ve known the Rega Elicit-R, the more we’ve fallen in love with it. When we first heard it late last year, it won an easy five stars, but didn’t win its group test at that price, being just pipped by the Roksan Caspian M2. This year, due to some price changes of rival products, it now stands out as one of the best amps you can get for the money. So much so it has a 2014 What Hi-Fi? Award to its name. Natural rhythm What immediately captures our attention is just how good the Elicit-R’s sense of timing is: the agility and control it has over rhythms is hugely impressive. Play Of Monsters And Men’s Little Talks and the Elicit-R carries the upbeat track forward with drive…

Reviewing technology can be quite an unpredictable job. There are the great moments when you find an unexpected gem that blows you away. But there are also the not-so-great, when a product you had such high hopes for turns out to be something of a let-down. We so wanted the Technics SU-C700 to be good, but it falls way short of the mark here. How it got things quite so wrong we’re not sure, but when an amp at a third of the price outclasses it something needs to change, and quick. The attention to detail in its design is nice but it’s performance that counts, so it lands itself an unrecommendable two stars. Luckily, we received better news elsewhere. The Arcam A39, fresh from a First Test last month,…

The LG BP645 sits somewhere in the middle of the company’s latest range of Blu-ray players. It’s good, but good isn’t quite enough to hold off the competition, some of which is mighty strong. We begin by putting in a Blu-ray of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Loading time is short, but not quite short enough to beat Samsung’s BD-H6500. Adjustable picture The picture is unrealistically sharp at first, to the point of looking noisy and processed. Thankfully the LG offers options to fine-tune the picture. The Info/Menu button leads to various presets (Standard, Vivid, Movie) as well as finer user settings. We knock down the sharpness levels a couple of notches. In both 2D and 3D it’s a punchy picture. Colours are bold and lines are clearly drawn. We’d…

Sometimes, a product just hits all the right notes, and the Sony BDP-S5200 is a fine example of that. Its tempting price is at odds with its performance and list of features. A few months ago, we even gave it an Award. Now it faces fresh competition, as well as a rematch with a price-cut rival (the Panasonic DMP-BDT260). Does it have what it takes to remain our favourite budget Blu-ray player? In short, yes. We serve up a Blu-ray of Edge Of Tomorrow, and the Sony handles it very well. It looks excellent. There’s a convincing level of depth, thanks to strong contrast and nuanced shading. Edges are sharply drawn without being over-etched. It’s a natural picture, even as we watch Emily Blunt hack aliens to pieces. Fine detail…

There’s been no shortage of great 40in sets to choose from in recent months. In fact, the level of performance and features you’re getting for your money has never been greater. So how have we managed to narrow it down to the Sony KDL-40W605B? Straight out of the box, the Sony puts forward a convincing case. Even before you take a closer look at some of the basic settings, you’re taken by just how subtle and punchy the picture is. The Sony can offer detail in even the inkiest, most uniformly black scenes, and variation in the most glaringly bright. The colour balance – rich and vivid, but unarguably natural too – is smartly judged, with skin tones appearing especially convincing. Motion is dealt with confidently and edges are crisply…

Curved TVs aren’t necessarily for everyone. Which is why if you want your next TV to be 4K, flat and 65in, then it has to be Samsung’s UE65HU7500. Originally reviewed in August last year, this set was the first ever 4K TV to get five stars from our review team. Some TVs focus purely on 4K picture quality, and it can sometimes be at the expense of Full HD and standard-def images. But this Samsung achieves a fantastic balance. With 4K content those eight million pixels are put to great use, and watching Breaking Bad (streamed via Netflix), we’re blown away by how much texture is afforded to everything. The image is clean and crisp, and with little noise. Colours are immaculately judged: subtle and less shouty than Samsung sets…

McIntosh MXA70 Stereo system £5995 We like the MXA70 system. It’s a concentrated dose of McIntosh’s traditional values at a relatively affordable price. Affordable? Don’t laugh; judged by the American brand’s usual standards this counts as affordable. Let’s get one thing clear. This product’s appeal doesn’t rest solely on absolute performance. If sound is the main priority there are better ways of spending this amount of money, even if you want to do it in a neat and compact way. We have no doubt something like Naim’s SuperUniti with suitable speakers would better this McIntosh for outright performance, and score higher when it comes to features. But we think that’s missing the point. A very particular pedigree It’s a McIntosh product, and for many that will be enough. The company…

The best on the box In a new post-watershed timeslot, Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D’Artagnan must fight against the machinations of a new villain Better Call Saul Netflix – 8th February Miss Breaking Bad? Tune into this tasty spin-off show, starring Bob Odenkirk as fan favourite Saul Goodman, Albuquerque’s go-to criminal lawyer. The Netflix series will follow Saul’s life six years before his appearance on Breaking Bad series two, although the show will dip in and out of events during and after his time looking after Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Jonathan Banks will reprise his role as private investigator Mike Ehrmantraut and, while we’ve been told it’s unlikely, we can’t help but hope for cameos from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. Broadchurch ITV HD – Mondays, 9pm The first…

We’re used to sounds coming at us from the left, right and centre channels but what Dolby Atmos aims to do is place the viewer within a hemisphere of sound, where sounds can come at us, from the sides and from above. Expanding on the current 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems, Atmos has provisions for speakers placed in both the ceiling and walls – in a cinema there can be up to 64 of them – allowing sounds to travel across the room in a manner Dolby claims is more life-like. Home comforts That’s a brief summation of its use in cinemas, but how would it work at home? Try to fit 64 speakers into your living room and you’ll come unstuck very quickly. You can buy an Atmos surround…

Stylish. Functional. Portable. Bluetooth speakers are gradually climbing up the ranks in hi-fi society, and these seven speakers are a prime example of just how diverse and exciting the market currently is. From brand-new contenders to established hi-fi stalwarts – everyone wants to woo the wireless speaker audience. With a price range spanning £200 to £300, these seven speakers must deliver the very best in design, features and usability to justify a place in our homes. To truly win us over, though, they have to sound fantastic, too. Which speaker will stand out from the rest and claim top spot? Read on to find out… Join us on Spotify whf.cm/spotify2015 Listen to our favourite tracks every month!…

Rich, warm with an abundance of bass – these are the hallmarks of the Bose SoundLink III’s sound. This sturdy, portable Bluetooth speaker may have received four stars when we first tested it, but it has a tough battle on its hand in light of newer, more competitive rivals. A big, warm sound The SoundLink III’s robust, bass-heavy performance and that big, enveloping sound is appealing, but it’s at the cost of clarity and precision. Rich bass rumbles along satisfyingly, with plenty of power. A smooth approach to detail glosses over harsh recordings and low-resolution Spotify streams – it’s a comfortable listen. It has no problem filling a room, either. But there’s no escaping just how overpowering that deep bass is. Play Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ Red Right…

The Loewe Speaker 2go is sure to catch your attention. It isn’t just because of its shiny-metal design, or its powerfully loud and punchy sound. It’s because it offers all these qualities for just £200. It’s an impressively affordable wireless speaker, and warrants an audition thanks to just how much fun it can sound. Louder than bombs Boy, does it go loud. For such a compact speaker we can carry with one hand, the Loewe packs a substantial punch: 40 watts of amplification powering two full-range speakers and a subwoofer. Crank the volume up and your neighbours will be calling. We wouldn’t push it too far, though, as a hard edge creeps in. Stream David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream on a more sensible level, and the Loewe delivers a solid, toe-tapping…

The Roksan K3 has some big shoes to fill. Up until a few years ago, its Kandy K2 stablemate was one of our favourites at the price. The K3 is hoping to score a similar success, but at a new price, jumping from just under £1000 to £1250. It does have a few new tricks up its sleeve. For a start, while it resembles its little brother visually, the audio path has been completely redesigned in a desire to offer a clearer stereo performance, while the power supply section has also been enhanced to increase efficiency. As with the K2 BT, Roksan has also squeezed in aptX Bluetooth to the K3, opening it up to use with streaming services and portable devices as well as all your analogue sources. Ins…

Where do we start? Award-winner, Supertest victor and What Hi-Fi’s TV Product of the Year 2014. These are just a few accolades we’ve given the Samsung UE48H6400 over the past few months. And one thing’s for certain, our rundown of the best TVs currently on the planet wouldn’t be complete without reserving a space for this shining star. Sharp, clear and full of subtle detail that’s hugely impressive at this price, the 6400 has you hooked from the moment you turn it on. High-definition pictures burst with clarity and crispness, and the screen has a beautifully judged colour palette that’s full of depth, subtlety and punch. Great contrast and minimal picture noise also help make the Samsung’s active 3D processing enjoyable and low-fatigue. Switch down the resolutions to DVD or…

Twelve months ago you would have been looking at a price tag of £8000 for a slice of LG’s curved OLED TV technology. Today you can stand right on the cutting edge for a fraction of that. Just doing the simple maths is enough to encourage a hand-on-wallet moment, even before you’re being persuaded to chip and PIN by the stunning picture quality. The 55EC930V (turn to page 14 for our full review) is a beautiful specimen of a TV, even when it’s a blank screen. Whether or not you believe in the merits of curved over flat, it helps give the set serious aesthetic appeal. There’s barely any bezel around the edges, and because it’s OLED the screen is pretty much wafer-thin. Another of the benefits of OLED tech…

Imagine, if you will, a large volume knob. This is the Dial of Silliness. At zero are the artiest, fartiest, most intellectual tales imaginable. At 10, there is cheese and bad science. Luc Besson flits between the extremes in the hope of finding a balance with Lucy. Sadly he doesn’t – but he does get it up to 11. Our starting point is the notion that humans use only 10 per cent of their brains. Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) has an incident involving magic drugs and ends up using 100 per cent of hers. Chaos ensues, largely for the gangsters who want their drugs back. It’s utter nonsense, of course. But it’s as decent a springboard as any, and we are not going to turn down an opportunity for some shameless,…

Most DACs offer a range of inputs. But which should you use? If you’re hooking up a computer, the obvious choice is USB but many also have optical connections. Technically, optical will transfer less noise from the computer into your system, but in our experience, a properly engineered USB tends to give more entertaining results. Coaxial, which often sounds the best to us, tends to be used more for legacy components such as CD transports.…

By now you’re familiar with the concept of 4K, or Ultra HD, as it’s also called. It’s a picture standard with designs on replacing Full HD as the de facto powerhouse in the TV resolution stakes. When we last wrote about it, there were very few TVs about and they were quite expensive. More than a year has passed and 4K is older, wiser and cheaper. Is it worth your time? What is it? What elevates 4K above other picture standards is the number of pixels that make a 4K image. Full HD has 1920 x 1080. 4K TVs use the widescreen format (16:9 ratio) for an image that’s 3840 x 2160. A 4K projector can go even further with 4096 x 2160 image. With extra pixels in play, there’s…

What Hi-fi?’s first high-definition disc player test was published in our October 2007 issue. Back then, there was a format war between Blu-ray and the (short-lived) HD DVD format, so our test included a mix of products from both camps, including the likes of Pioneer, Panasonic, Toshiba and Sony. There was even an early PS3 in there. When the dust settled, Sony’s first dedicated UK player, the BDP-S1E, walked away with a glowing five-star rating. It’s a feat the company has managed more regularly since then than just about every other manufacturer. The BDP-S1 wasn’t perfect though. Unusually for a Sony it wasn’t great to use, and its specification list, as with all the early Blu-ray machines, was far from comprehensive. The likes of HDMI 1.3a, ethernet and the ability…