Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i What Hi-Fi?

It seems an appropriate time to be celebrating all that British hi-fi has to offer. For a relatively small island, Britain has offered more than its fair share of musical artists to the world. And, to go hand in hand with them, it has also produced an astonishing number of world-beating pieces of hi-fi equipment. Of course, as with most industry these days, it is getting harder to nail down precisely what ‘British’ is. Many of the products we cover in this issue are manufactured in the UK; some now come from the far East. And some of the famous old brand names are now foreign-owned; such is the nature of world markets. But all of the ‘British’ equipment we have for you in this issue of What Hi-Fi? can…

Portable music player | £489 | View offers whf.cm/FiiOM11S FiiO’s M11S has all the mod cons of a music player in 2023 – file support that extends to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256 and MQA; access to music-streaming services (plus every other app on Android); and even a choice of 3.5mm, balanced 2.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs. But it also goes the extra mile to become a bigger part of your music-listening life, thanks to its extracurricular duty as a USB DAC for your laptop, not to mention its ability to stream music to wireless headphones and speakers via Bluetooth (LDAC, aptX HD, LHDC) or AirPlay. The M11S is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 chip (the same used in FiiO’s flagship M17), so it’s no surprise that every task we ask of…

View online review whf.cm/Spendor_A7 WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ The big brothers of Spendor’s A-Line, these A7 are superb floorstanders that sound great, look great, are compact enough to fit into most homes and are elegant in their simplicity. Build quality is of a high standard, with crisp edges and a choice of impeccably smart wood veneer finishes. The A7 are two-way speakers. Each speaker has an 18cm mid/bass driver and a 22mm tweeter with a wide surround, which help disperse the sound even further. The main difference is, of course, cabinet size. The A7 head Spendor’s A-Line range (they’re about 7cm taller than the A4 floorstanders, and 2kg heavier), but their relatively slim and compact dimensions mean they will fit neatly into most homes. Position them correctly, around 20-30cm away from…

View online review whf.cm/FactFenestria WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ It is always fascinating to see what a company can do when the sole concern is maximising sound quality. This is what the range-topping Fact Fenestrias represent for PMC – a chance to take a fresh look at every part of loudspeaker design and come up with engineering solutions that are as free from budget constraints as they can be. We don’t have space here to delve into all of the innovative developments here, but as an example, take the main cabinet design. PMC has adopted a technique used for controlling the swaying motion in skyscrapers (from earthquakes or high winds) and applied it to the cabinet sides. Compliantly-mounted panels on each side of the cabinet, which stand proud of the speaker box,…

From 65in 4K TVs to turntables, and from portable Bluetooth speakers to Dolby Atmos surround sound packages, here’s where you will find the perfect hi-fi and AV product, fast. NEW ENTRIES THIS MONTH If nothing else, the Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL X speakers are sure to turn heads – but there is a lot else: great detail, superb clarity and real finesse. Samsung’s Mini LED-based QE65QN95C TV, meanwhile, is an absolute stunner, while the LG OLED65G3 marries a near-flawless feature set with wonderfully bright and natural-looking images. Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL X, p90 These unusual speakers pair an electrostatic panel with moving-coil drivers for excellent results Samsung QE65QN95C p103 By doubling the number of dimming zones, Samsung has improved almost every aspect of picture quality HOW TO POSITION YOUR SPEAKERS…

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” Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 £90 Best portable wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2019 ★★★★★ If you want a travelling companion you can rely on, this portable, rugged and durable speaker is a great-sounding option. Size (hw) 10.5 x 9.5cm Battery 13 hours “The Wonderboom 2 delivers a sound as cohesive and detailed as we could hope for at the price” Apple HomePod Mini £99 Best home wireless…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £1099 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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 £1500-£2000, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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 £2000 and to £15,000 LG CineBeam HU715Q £2645 Best ultra-short-throw projector, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ LG’s sharp and contrasty image really sells this UST projector, making it one of the few models that you might seriously consider ditching your TV for.…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ Wharfedale delivers movie magic on a small scale with this enjoyable, well integrated package that’s perfect for smaller rooms and budgets. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12cm Finishes 2 “It has all the detail, attack and deftness to deliver exhilaration in spades” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 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 weight” Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP £999 Best…

The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound.  In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd £69 April 2019 ★★★★★ You’ll struggle to find a better pair of in-ear headphones costing less than £70 than these Beyerdynamics. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Klipsch T5M Wired £70 Best wired in-ear headphones £50-£100, Awards 2021 ★★★★★ Not only do they have some of the most comfortable tips around, but these T5M Wireds also show a maturity that’s rare at this price. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi £70 Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2017…

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 2022 ★★★★★ 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 2022 ★★★★★ 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 Amazon Prime Instant Video from £5.99/month Best video…

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

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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 2022 ★★★★★ 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 2022…

Pink Floyd’s hugely influential recorded output has covered all the bases from psychedelia and prog to, yes, even disco. Unapologetically experimental from the off, the band’s attention to detail and musical invention make their recordings perfect food for hi-fi gourmands. And, they are as British as a cup of tea. Each of these picks is sure to put your system through its paces. Set the controls for… well, you know SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND (PT 1-5) This devastatingly beautiful opus to Syd Barrett’s spirit and creativity demands to be listened to through the best system. Your system should pick out the gorgeously orchestrated parts with enough transparency and map its shifting time signatures with ease. Your kit will also need to deliver the track with gusto, keeping the bassline,…

The recent announcement that MQA Ltd has entered into administration has been one of the most significant news stories of the year so far within the world of audio tech. Things came to a head when the company’s main financial backer began looking for a way out of its investment, and now MQA is itself looking for a way out of what is unquestionably an unenviable financial situation. The news has implications that reach far beyond the company itself and has raised important questions regarding the future of MQA, its software and the platforms and brands that currently use it. In order to understand the potential effect this restructuring could have on the industry, it’s important to look back at the events themselves, why they have occurred, and what the…

View online review whf.cm/Response_DT8 WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ The use of two types of 16.5cm mid/bass driver working in tandem may be clever from an engineering point of view, but visually it unsettles us. Still, these towers turn in as musically cohesive a performance as we’ve heard around this price. Why use two types of mid/bass driver? In engineering terms, there’s always a trade-off between the optimisation of midrange and bass performance in a drive unit. Designers simply end up with a compromise that best suits the product. By using different drivers working in tandem, ProAc’s engineers have attempted to get the best of all worlds, a polypropylene cone in the top unit shoots for natural mids, and a stiff poly mica diaphragm in the lower to deliver powerful-but-articulate bass. The…

View online review whf.cm/QAConcept500 WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ These Concept 500s are Q Acoustics’ most ambitious attempt yet to move upmarket. While they undeniably build on the brand’s existing technologies, these speakers also take numerous steps forward in a bid to justify their premium price. That 115cm tall cabinet retains the brand’s distinctive visual identity, and it’s a sturdy box, but here Q Acoustics uses no less than three layers of MDF separated by a soft decoupling material called Gelcore. This technique really does help reduce the cabinet’s contribution to the overall sound. Any vibration transmitted through the wooden layers is absorbed and turned into heat, but the enclosure doesn’t feel warm to the touch during use, even at party levels. The whole structure is strategically braced too, reducing vibration without…

Nobody rocks like the British. Beneath our mannered exteriors and illusions of refinement and reserve lies a single heart beating to the common rhythm of rock. Nothing tests a system like a great rock track, and we Brits’ natural inclination towards experimentation and progressivism lends itself perfectly to a rich culture of challenging, complex and often utterly bizarre musical output. For getting the best out of your speakers, you could do worse than our pick of great British rockers. Foals Inhaler A track that starts with a warping plucky guitar and fairly low-key vocals soon becomes a crashing, thunderous rock anthem with Yannis Philippakis practically screaming the lyrics over a truly addictive guitar riff. It’s an excellent way to test the dynamics and timing capabilities of your system thanks to…

EXPENSIVE, YES. BUT YOU KNOW YOU WANT THEM ■ Floorstanding speakers ■ £31,995 ■ ★★★★★ WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ We listen to hundreds of products every year. Some are bad, many are good and the odd few are truly excellent. But then, once or twice in a decade, if we’re lucky, we come across something as sublime as Wilson Benesch’s A.C.T. 3Zero. Now, we are no strangers to Wilson Benesch’s speakers. We have reviewed and liked a number of them over the years, and back in the late ’90s even used a pair of the original A.C.T. One in our main reference system. Those floorstanders were the brand’s first speakers and set the template for everything that has followed. The One’s DNA clearly still runs strongly through the 3Zero. Those originals…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 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 Chord 2yu £449 November 2021 ★★★★★ Partnered with a suitably capable digital-to-analogue converter, this could be all the digital source you’ll ever need. Outputs USB, coaxial, optical, BNC £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node (2021) £549 Best music streamer under £750, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ For this outlay the Node 2021 represents one of the most entertaining and comprehensive ways of adding music streaming to your hi-fi system. Outputs RCA, coaxial, optical, subwoofer, 3.5mm Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £750-£1000, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ All the success of…

The only products worth considering  View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Panasonic DP-UB150EB £129 March 2020 ★★★★★ A highly competent machine at an impressively low price, this 4K Blu-ray player represents a big step up from streaming your UHD content. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 1 Sony UBP-X700 £199 Best 4K Blu-ray player under £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 £299 Best 4K Blu-ray player, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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,…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £179 Best PVR, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ If you need a Full HD box to give your older TV some more sparkle, Humax’s digital box should absolutely be something to consider. Tuners 3 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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/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…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire 7 £60 Best tablet under £150, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ The Amazon Fire 7 is an entry-level device with budget specs, but it gets plenty right and is far better than the price may suggest. OS modified Android Size (hwd) 137 x 193 x 11mm Storage 16 or 32GB £200 and above Apple iPad Air (5th gen) £569 Best tablet over £150, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ The same picture and sound as before, but with vastly more power under the skin. All the iPad most people will ever need. OS iOS Size (hwd) 248 x 179 x 6mm Storage 64GB, 256GB…

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…

Wireless headphones | £249 | View offers whf.cm/GradoGW100x If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on a pair of Grado’s open-back GW100x headphones, you will be greeted by a message on the box’s lid-interior informing you that the company has been “family run for six decades in Brooklyn, New York”. There is something about Grado’s products that reflects this proud heritage from the heart of America’s most famous city. The headphones’ design especially, with their no-frills presentation, chunky circular grilles and smooth, black-leather headband, reflects a kind of idiosyncratic confidence consistent with the Brooklyn character. There are no gimmicks here, just a commitment to delivering really great sound. These latest GW100x are the new improved version of the GW100 model, a five-star set of wireless headphones that, while…

View online review whf.cm/Diamond123 WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ Sitting at the more affordable end of the floorstanding speaker market, these Diamond 12.3s have a musical performance that impresses us even more than that from the lauded Diamond 12.1 standmounters. The carefully crafted, straight-edged cabinet is strategically braced to provide a solid and low resonance platform for the drive units to work from. It’s all wrapped in a neat, classy finish that belies the modest price. And the drive units are just as admirable, with a 2.5-way design where the upper 13cm driver covers everything from midrange downwards, leaving the second one to reinforce the lows. Both drivers use a cone material called Klarity, a mix of polypropylene and mica, claimed to be light, rigid and well damped. The tweeter is a 25mm…

View online review whf.cm/IotaAlpha WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ We’re big fans of the original Iota standmounters. They remain a superb utility choice: small enough to squeeze into all sorts of places but always perform well. The idea behind Iota Alpha is to take this can-do attitude and add extra sonic authority and scale. The business end of the Alpha is straight from the original. A 50mm Emit magnetic/planar tweeter sits alongside a 10cm polypropylene mid/bass unit. However, here they’re in a sealed compartment to help integration with the downward-facing 13.5cm pulp paper bass unit. Bass is augmented by a rear-firing port. The three drivers are linked through a relatively simple crossover that uses first and second-order slopes for filtering. All the components are hard-wired to maintain sonic integrity, and include Mundorf…

View online review whf.cm/Mission770 WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ We love classic old hi-fi. Give us a chance to hear an original pair of Quad ESL-57 electrostatic speakers or an early Linn LP12 and we simply wouldn’t be able to resist. So what if you take such a classic design as a base, and then execute it with the full might of current technology and improved know-how gained over the decades? The original 1970s Mission 770 were large two-way standmounters with a 20cm polypropylene mid/bass unit mated to a 25mm plastic-dome tweeter through a relatively simple crossover. The cabinet was made of heavily damped chipboard. Mission has been faithful to the original’s appearance, and the resemblance between 770 generations is unmistakable. But Mission has chosen a more modern approach to the cabinet…

View online review whf.cm/F502SP WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ For these Special Production (SP) models, Fynes engineers have taken the standard F502s and upgraded pretty much everything while keeping to the same basic design and dimensions. Think of it as ‘hotrodding’ taken to an extreme. The regular model’s drivers are replaced by new designs derived from those used in the company’s high-end F700 range, which makes the SP all the more impressive at the price. The IsoFlare drive array is a 25mm horn-loaded magnesium tweeter sitting in the throat of a 20cm multi-fibre (paper) coned mid/bass unit. The idea is to create a point source, where all frequencies of sound seem to come from the same place. Contrast this with the conventional way of arranging driver units on a speaker where they…

EXPENSIVE, YES. BUT YOU KNOW YOU WANT THEM ■ Wired headphones ■ £4799 ■ ★★★★★ WHAT HI★FI? ★★★★★ “In our view, they justify their high price with a depth of ability that we haven’t come across at this level before” Mention Yamaha to us and it is the brand’s enviable track record with home cinema amplifiers that comes to mind. Of course, Yamaha is far more than that and has its fingers in more pies than Mr Kipling. The company is a dominant force in musical instruments, making everything you can think of from grand pianos and electronic keyboards to trumpets and drums. Then there are the motorcycles and pretty much anything you would need to deliver sound in a broadcast or concert environment. Given such a context, maybe it…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £399 Best CD player under £1000, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Musical Fidelity M2sCD £699 June 2020 ★★★★★ Musical Fidelity’s CD player sounds expansive, detailed and delicately layered - a resoundingly listenable proposition. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical £1000 to £6000 Naim CD5si £1149 October 2014 ★★★★★ The CD5si boasts a full-bodied, winningly enthusiastic approach to music. The absence of digital outputs means there’s no upgrade path. Type CD player Outputs Line-out, DIN Cyrus CDi £1195 Best CD player over £1000, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ Cyrus says this player is its…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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 £275 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £2000 Denon AVR-X2800H £869 Best home cinema amplifier £1000-£2000, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ The AVR-X2800H ups the ante with more HDMI 2.1 inputs, a new user-friendly interface and a more responsive, coherent and spacious sound. Power 7 x 95W 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 Arcam AVR 5 £2000 September 2022 ★★★★★ While it lacks some of the functionality and usability of the competition, the AVR5 delivers an impeccable sonic performance. Power 7 x 60W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 7/2 £2000…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Best smartphone over £500, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ A solid upgrade to picture quality and a huge improvement to sound put the iPhone 14 Pro Max at the top of the smartphone AV charts. OS iOS 16 Size (hwd) 161 x 78 x 8mm Storage 128GB-1TB “The iPhone 14 Pro Max is clearly punchier, more rhythmic, weightier, clearer and more dynamic than its predecessors” Android Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra June 2022 ★★★★★ If you can deal with the average battery life, this is the new flagship Android phone to rule them all – and that’s before taking into account the new S Pen. OS Android Size (hwd) 163 x 78 x 9mm Storage 128GB-1TB “This flagship Samsung boasts so many headline-grabbing specs,…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 ★★★★★ Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single £50 and above Chord Clearway Analogue RCA £125/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ If you’re spending cash on hi-fi components and you want cabling that doesn’t inhibit performance, the Clearway may be the ideal pick. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £150 Best speaker stand, Awards 2022 ★★★★★ A speaker stand that impresses with how weighty and dynamic it allows systems to sound. Considering the price, it’s something of a steal. Height 60cm Fillable Yes Finishes 4 (pole), 3 (base panel) “The Mosecos may just be our new favourite affordable speaker stands” Q Acoustics 20 speaker stands £200 September 2014 ★★★★★ Designed with QAs’ Concept 20 speakers in mind, the clever construction and elegant design ensures other speakers give their best too. Height 66.5cm Fillable No Finishes 2 “£200 for a pair of speaker stands? When they’re this good, we don’t mind” FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND IN-DEPTH REVIEWS VISIT WHATHIFI.COM Know your stuff: Know speaker your cables stuff: Read more…