Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i What Hi-Fi?

It makes sense, in the issues following our annual Awards, to put our collective What Hi-Fi? heads together and come up with some absolutely belting systems centred around some of our outstanding Award winners. Long-time readers will be well aware by now that such systems aren’t as easy to come up with as simply sticking three or four Best Buys together and hoping for the best. Even the best five-star kit can suffer if it is forced together with something to which it is just not suited. In this month’s What Hi-Fi?, then, we take away from you the pain of the guesswork of system matching. We have suggestions for five hi-fi systems (p32) and five home cinema systems (p54), that should tick many, if not most, boxes. Also in…

In-ear headphones | £259 | View offers whf.cm/QC_Ultra_Earbuds The arrival of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds was a surprise, since they replace the barely-a-year-old and Award-winning QuietComfort Earbuds II. At this top end of the wireless earbuds market there’s some serious competition, not least from the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Pro 2, both of which can be found discounted, especially around big sales events. The Ultra’s design is pretty much identical to their predecessors save for a tweak to the finish on the outer stems of each earbud and to the way the stability bands attach to each earpiece. On the top edge of each bud is a small notch which helps you to line up the bands more easily and lock them in place more securely. The Bose tips…

View online review whf.cm/IE900 £1099 Sennheiser’s IE 900 in-ears are a purist design, engineered with the singular purpose of offering the best sound quality possible at this level. Their technical highlights include a single 7mm drive unit per earbud, an intricately machined aluminium casing, and the use of some clever resonance chambers inside that casing to improve the driver’s frequency response. Premium wired in-ears are rare these days. In-ears have always been about portability and ease of use, so the rise of wireless connectivity makes perfect sense for such a product. But despite those buds’ complementary technologies such as noise-cancelling and app control, they don’t tend to put sound quality front and centre. And if that is paramount to you, then fully wired remains the way to go and, with that,…

Welcome to part two of our two-part systems round-up. Now that we have helped you find the hi-fi system that is right for you (see p32), we turn our attention to all things audio-visual, with another five carefully curated systems. Our goal here is to guide you towards the home cinema set-up that best suits your budget and circumstances, so you can enjoy movie nights in to the maximum. With that in mind, it is worth remembering that, as with the hi-fi systems, a great AV set-up isn’t always simply a collection of Award-winners – it is one where all the components work in a special harmony. We kick off with our top gaming system, which includes a fully featured TV that will make your games look their Dolby Vision best,…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £339 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2023 No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Arcam CD5 £699 Best CD player £500-£1000, Awards 2023 A tremendously talented player that deserves an audition if you’re still holding on to your beloved CDs and want to give them a new lease of life. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical, line-level 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 WiiM Pro Plus £219 Best music streamer under £300, Awards 2023 As a first, affordable introduction to the many and various charms of music streaming, the WiiM Pro Plus is hard to lay a glove on at the price. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Cambridge Audio MXN10 £449 Best music streamer £300-£750, Awards 2023 Cambridge Audio has crashed the entry-level music streamer party. Is the MXN10 the finest affordable music streamer on the market? It could well be. Outputs Coaxial, optical, RCA line-level £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node…

Wall or in the open? Where’s the best place to position a speaker? Some speakers might sound better against a wall, while others prefer to be out in the open. Whatever your specific requirements, your speaker choice should primarily take into account how much space you have to house them. Use a stand Speaker stands keep the speaker cabinet rigid. This allows for more of the drivers’ movement to be translated into sound and not wasted through vibrations. If your stands are on a carpet, make sure you have spikes to ensure stability. Tweeter height The higher-frequency sounds from a tweeter are more directional, and having them at ear level ensures optimum performance. So try to choose stands that will have your speaker at the right height for your seating…

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

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £1099 Best projector under £1250, Awards 2023 BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values pays off handsomely. Throw ratio 1.13-1.46:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1250-£2000, Awards 2023 The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes Hisense PL £1999 Best ultra-short-throw projector, Awards 2023 With its clean, punchy and solid image, the Hisense PL1 is a gem at this price. It’s a TV alternative that actually lives up to its promise.. Throw ratio 0.25:1 Inputs HDMI x2,…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-3 HCP £499 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2023 The DX-3 HCP delivers sound above and beyond what most soundbars are capable of while being half the price of most models that we recommend. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12 cm Finishes 2 “All of the sound effects are detailed and placed accordingly, without sounding cluttered or claustrophobic” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2020 The subwoofer needs a bit more kick, but this fantastic sub-£1000 5.1 package delivers a clear, well-balanced and expressive performance. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 22 cm Finishes 4 “This compact set really hits the spot with its great clarity, integration, expression and ample bass…

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2023 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 You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max £1199 Best smartphone over £500, Awards 2023 AA punchier picture and smoother sound make the iPhone 15 Pro Max an unparalleled portable movie and music machine. OS iOS 17 Size (hwd) 160 x 77 x 8.3mm Storage 256GB-1TB “Subtle tweaks to picture and sound quality have added dynamism and refinement to a delivery that was already superb” 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, it’s tough to know which one to…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £500 Amazon Fire HD 8 £349 Best tablet under £150, Awards 2023 There are lots of people who just need a good, affordable tablet. For those people, an Amazon Fire tablet is the obvious choice; it’s also the right choice. OS modified Android Size (hwd) 137 x 193 x 11mm Storage 32 or 64GB Apple iPad £499 Best tablet £150-£750, Awards 2023 The iPad 10th Gen packs small yet meaningful upgrades into a modernised chassis, coming together to create a well-rounded and versatile tablet. OS iPadOS 16 Storage 64GB, 256GB Finishes Silver, blue, pink, yellow…

View offers whf.cm/BBMainsProducts Mains products Tacima CS947 £35 September 2015 Great value, the highlight being how well it allows for greater detail, attack and dynamics. For the price, it’s a brilliant entry-level purchase. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Russ Andrews X6 £381 September 2015 No matter what the source material, the X6 helps unearth a revealing well-integrated listen, allowing your kit to be as explicit as it can be. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerCables Up to £10/m Cartridges Chord Company C-Screen £5/m June 2018 The C-Screen possesses the fantastic ability to mirror a system’s punch and drive. What it does, it does better than anything else at the price. Single or Bi-wire Single QED XT25 £6/m May 2018 Features the same characteristics as the more expensive XT40, displaying the kind of transparency that’s difficult for its rivals to match. Single or Bi-wire Single Atlas Equator 2.0 (2018) £7.25/m Reviewed online, 2018 A nicely built speaker cable that promotes a wonderfully clean and detailed delivery – it’s an affordable and easy way to spruce up your system. Single or Bi-wire Single £10/m and above QED Reference XT40i £11/m May 2020 If you’re looking to upgrade your system by investing in speaker cables…

In a time before stereo sound was widely available, former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told the British public “You have never had it so good.” His words could equally well be directed to buyers of hi-fi equipment today; not only has our industry seen phenomenal technological advances since Harold delivered his famous verdict, it has also achieved an unprecedented level of diversity. The market is flush with great turntables, CD players and streamers, while amplifier and speaker design is also at a peak. And once you take inflation into account, it is all now available for far less than its equivalent kit would have been in Harold’s day. Wonderful though this may be, it also presents the serious hi-fi buyer with a bit of a problem: how on earth do I…

THE SYSTEM CD + STREAMER: TECHNICS SL-G700M2 £2899 TURNTABLE: TECHNICS SL-1500C £899 AMPLIFIER: ARCAM A15 £1099 FLOORSTANDERS: PMC PRODIGY 5 £1995 WIRELESS HEADPHONES: B&W PX7 S2E £379 TOTAL PRICE £7271 TOTAL: £7271 If you yearn for a higher-end hi-fi system that can pretty much do it all, we may just have saved you a lot of leg work and research. The superb set-up we have here covers the digital bases of compact disc and music streaming and marries them with a very fine turntable to tackle everything the modern hi-fi buff could wish for. But there’s more. This system, thanks to the brilliant Arcam amplifier, also allows you to listen to your music wirelessly over Bluetooth; enter the wonderfully musical Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e headphones. For most occasions, though, when…

If you have visited whathifi.com at any point since late October, or laid hold of our recent special issue, you will no doubt have seen the results of our 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards. Our annual Awards season brings with it a mammoth undertaking in which we consider every product to which we have awarded a five-star review in the preceding year, as well as a raft of brand-new kit. Much of the latter is submitted by manufacturers themselves and some of it is so new that it goes on sale only days before our winners are announced. During this time we compare hundreds of products against one another to arrive at our final list of winners. On one of the many days spent locked up in our test rooms, the reviews…

View online review whf.cm/T1-3rdGen £899 While there may be a strong sense of familiarity attached to these third generation Beyerdynamic T1 headphones, the company has evolved the T1 recipe to keep these cans at the cutting edge of performance at their price level. It’s been over a decade since we first laid ears on the original T1 model, and they have since become something of a touchstone for us as far as premium headphones go. The main change between this third-generation model and its predecessor has been to make the new pair easier to drive for laptops and mobile devices. The old model had a 600 ohm impedance, while this new one takes that down to 32 ohms. The result is a pair of headphones that is more widely compatible, even…

View online review whf.cm/HD_820 £1399 Closed back headphones may be better at blocking noise – in and out – but they tend to compromise on performance as a result. Why? A drive unit fires as much sound backward as it does forward. In an open arrangement, this rearward radiation simply escapes out into the world, causing little sonic damage to sound travelling towards the ear. In a closed pair of headphones this rearward sound is trapped in an enclosure and its energy causes resonances. It can even bounce back through the drive unit and distort the forward-firing soundwave. Over the years, manufacturers have tried different techniques to absorb the rearward sound, to varying degrees of success. Take a look at the HD 820’s earcups and you will find Sennheiser’s solution–a concave…

Turntable/cartridge £12,499 The Naia is the best turntable Rega knows how to make. Its roots go back to 2009 when the company embarked on a research and development project that aimed to push its core engineering beliefs of low mass and high rigidity to the limits. No compromise was allowed, as this was a cost-no-object exercise that was never intended to be put on sale. That meant it could be designed purely for maximum performance using the most exotic materials and no regard to how it could actually be put into production. The result was the legendary Naiad turntable. But there was a problem; people wanted to buy it. At first, Rega resisted the idea, but such was the interest that it was forced to put the Naiad into a…

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

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Stream 94L £199 Best radio under £250, Awards 2023 The updated Stream 94L radio remains a firm favourite, with its extensive playback options, unfussy nature and hugely enjoyable sound. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 25 x 17 x 13cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi “This radio is such an enjoyable performer. We have it playing throughout the day and never tire of it.” £200 and above Tivoli Model One Digital Generation 2 £299 Best radio over £200, Awards 2022 We really enjoy Tivoli’s winning little box of tricks. Old-school radio feels and modern AirPlay 2 and Chromecast; it scores consistently high marks. Battery No Size (hwd) 11.5 x 22.2 x 14cm Inputs Aux in, BT, Apple AirPlay “The sound is more…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Pro-Ject Juke Box E £369 Best turntable system, Awards 2019 An impressive all-in-one system with a level of functionality that’s difficult to replicate in individual separates for a similar price. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Inputs Line-in, BT Outputs Line-out Denon D-M41DAB £329 Best hi-fi system under £500, Awards 2023 Denon hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s managed to better the M40, delivering improved sound and functionality. The best just got better. Inputs CD, line-in, optical x2, BT, DAB/FM Outputs Subwoofer Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 £499 Best powered speakers, Awards 2023 We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them. Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs…

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 2023 Delivers on multiple fronts, supporting all major HDR formats, delivering a hugely immersive and impactful picture, and all backed up by strong audio. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 2…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax Aura from £249 Best PVR, Awards 2023 As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is solid, but its useability foibles and lack of Netflix give pause for thought. Tuners 3 Storage 1TB/2TB Ultra HD Yes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2023 Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it comes with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £50 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2020 Despite some caveats, this 4K device supports all HDR formats and delivers excellent picture quality for a very affordable price. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes Google Chromecast with Google TV £60 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2023 With a new remote and super-smart UI, Google’s latest Chromecast video streamer is the complete package. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £169 Best video streamer over £100, Awards 2023 It has a fantastic UI and design, a huge library of 4K HDR content, and the best picture and sound performance at any price. Siri is useful, too. Resolution 2160p,…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £1000 Sony NW-A55L £160 Best portable music player under £250, Awards 2020 Sony hasn’t carried out an update for the sake of it; the refresh is justified by squeezing more performance into a budget price than ever before. Hi-res 32-bit/384kHz, DSD Weight 99g Storage 16GB (plus microSD) “If you’re looking for a sonic upgrade over your phone, the Sony will offer it across the board” Cowon Plenue D3 £279 Best portable music player under £500, Awards 2021 This is a talented player that betters its previous generation counterpart for detail, separation and transparency. An impressive, tiny box of tricks… Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 128 Weight 103g Storage 64GB “Cowon has added Bluetooth, a volume wheel and a dual DAC to its player and released another class…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £150 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2023 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single Chord Co ClearwayX ARAY Analogue RCA £130/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2023 Evolution of a well-regarded interconnect that reveals greater texture, control and dynamics from your system’s performance than before. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Up to £200 Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 Awards 2017 A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a sweet sound. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 12 x 19cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS £199 April 2018 Though it’s not as versatile as the Rega Mk3, the LX2 delivers a more engaging performance thanks to its open, full-bodied sound. Type MM, MC Dimensions (hwd) 4 x 17 x 19cm £200 to £500 Rega Fono MM Mk5…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £150 Best speaker stand, Awards 2023 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) 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 FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND IN-DEPTH REVIEWS VISIT WHATHIFI.COM…

There’s no doubting the sheer volume, or indeed the quality, of the shows and movies on Netflix being offered with 4K HDR pictures and Dolby Atmos surround sound. With new programming frequently being presented in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Netflix remains the go-to streaming service for home cinema entertainment. But with such a plethora of series and movies available on Netflix, discovering new releases that will truly show your 4K TV and immersive audio system off to their best is no easy task. Luckily, we have been putting in the legwork, so all you have to do is trust our recommendations, crank up the volume, dim the house lights, and hit ‘Play’… ONE PIECE This visually inventive live-action version of the classic Japanese pirate anime looks like no other…

Over-ear headphones | £159 | View offers whf.cm/Accentum_Wireless When Sennheiser announced the release of a pair of mid-range wireless over-ears that would hit the gap in the market between the likes of the super-affordable Sony WH-CH520 and more premium models such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Sony WH-1000XM5, we were intrigued. That said, so-called ‘mid-range’ products can often go one of two ways. They can either nail that sweet spot of affordability and performance, providing great value in the process, or else can end up compromised and a little stitched together in their attempts to emulate more high-end performers while keeping costs to a minimum. Without completely giving the game away, the Sennheiser Accentum Wireless are disappointingly more of the latter than they are the former, feeling more…

View online review whf.cm/FocalClearMg £999 Straight away, French brand Focal’s high-end, open-backed headphones impress. Their luxurious packaging screams quality and feels every bit the high-priced, stylish item. The quality of materials is excellent, from the thick, cushioned leather headband to the microfibre cloth on the cosseting earpads. We love the intricate hexagonal metal detailing on the open-backed earcups, and the durable feel of the overall structure. At the heart of the Clear Mg is a full-range 40mm magnesium-coned drive unit. Magnesium has been chosen for its blend of lightness and stiffness, while the use of a carefully chosen surround helps to control damping and resonant behaviour. You’ll find a tough carrying case included, along with a choice of two detachable leads: a 1.2m option with a 3.5mm jack (and a 6.3mm…

Open-back headphones £1899 “This is a refined presentation, without losing the sense of life the brand is traditionally so good at conveying” There are reasons not to buy Grado’s new GS3000x range-topping headphones. They feel more functional than luxurious, which is a bit of a disappointment given their hefty price, and – like every other Grado open-back headphones we have tested – they offer next to no isolation from outside noises. You will hear everything that happens around you, and perhaps just as annoyingly, everyone around you will be able to hear whatever music you are playing. MUSICAL AND ENJOYABLE So, why buy them? Well, if you can get past those hurdles, you will find one of the most musical and enjoyable headphones available at this kind of money. We…

View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Rega io £379 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2021 Those who are happy with a no-fuss, purely analogue amp and who prioritise entertainment should arguably consider the io their number one choice. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x2, MM Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2023 Clearer and punchier than its Award-winning predecessor, Marantz’s latest entry-level amplifier never puts the formidable 6000 Series dynasty in doubt. Power 45W Inputs Line-in x4, MM, coax, optical Outputs 6.3mm h’phone £500 to £1000 Rega…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2020 The 2s combine Dali’s traditional strengths with a generous dose of entertainment that even Mission and Q Acoustics struggle to match. Size (hwd) 17 x 28 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 “The way these speakers handle dynamics is impressive” Standmounters from £200 to £500 Elac Debut B5.2 £250 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2023 ELAC’s latest budget standmounter is talented enough to worry the established competition. Size (hwd) 34 x 18 x 23cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 “These new Debuts should be considered one of the company’s finest efforts” Dali Oberon 1 £349 February 2019 About the size of a shoe, these articulate and bold-sounding speakers have a wonderfully unfussy…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2023 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 2023 This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly solid, accurate and agile – it’s a lovely listen. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £2000 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 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 Best home cinema amplifier under £1500, Awards 2023 Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Yamaha YAS-207 £249 Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2020 The latest in a series of fine Yamaha soundbars, this is a compelling, class-leading performer in a practical, easy-to-use package. Size (hwd) 6 x 93 x 11cm Inputs Opt, HDMI, 3.5mm, BT Sub Yes Sonos Beam (Gen 2) £449 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2023 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. Now with Dolby Atmos capabilities. Impressive. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Yamaha YSP-2700 £699 February 2017 With a spacious, involving sound the YSP-2700 is the most convincing surround experience you’ll get outside of a full 5.1 surround system. Size (hwd) 5 x 94 x…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in LG OLED42C3 £1199 Best 40-43in TV and Best gaming TV, Awards 2023 It’s only marginally better than the C2 it replaces – but that is still good enough for the OLED42C3 to be the best 42-inch TV we have tested. Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Operating system webOS23 “It is much easier to get the C3 looking its best than it is most other TVs” 48in to 50in Philips 48OLED807 £1249 Best 48-50in TV, Awards 2022 On performance terms this is right up there with the very best in class, surpassing them in areas such as punch, sharpness and shadow detail. Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC “Make those changes and the Philips OLED807’s picture performance is glorious” Amazon Fire Omni…

1. First, the most popular headphone design: the over-the-ear model, also called circumaural. These cup your ears completely, usually with semi-air-tight earcups that help minimise both sound leakage from your headphones into the outside world and the intrusive effects of ambient noise. 2. Supra-aural or on-ear designs tend to be smaller and lighter than circumaural models and, as the name suggests, they sit on your ears rather than over them. Some listeners find them lighter and easier to wear for extended listening, but they do tend to allow in more sound from outside. 3. Available in both circumaural and supraaural types, closed-back headphones are the optimum choice for cutting out external sounds altogether. They’ll also deliver more bass weight than other headphone types, because the closed earcups prevent bass leakage.…

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 2023 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 2023 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 streaming service, Awards…

View offers whf.cm/BBAVHifiRacks Up to £500 Atacama Elite ECO 24 £300 per shelf November 2023 The cumulative upgrades in absolute audio quality that a rack like Atacama’s Elite Eco 24 Reference offers is worth it to our minds and ears. Width 600mm Modular Yes Cable management No “An essential luxury if you want the best support for your hi-fi system. This appealing rack is worth investing in” Atacama Apollo Storm 6 £390 February 2018 Another class-leading support from Atacama that’s cheaper than its Award-winning sibling. It lets your kit perform at its best. Width 590mm Modular Yes Cable management No “Want to give your system adequate support for a decent price? Atacama has you covered” £500 and above Hi-Fi Racks Omnium8 £478 Reviewed online, 2018 Hi-Fi Racks has made the…

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