Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i What Hi-Fi?

Like a kid in a giant sweet shop, every hi-fi enthusiast must dream of spending time surrounded by stacks of the tastiest domestic audio kit imaginable – and getting the chance to sample the goods too. Very soon, the dream will become a reality as the 36th Bristol Hi-Fi Show opens its doors. The Bristol Show is the UK’s largest and longest-running consumer hi-fi exhibition, and it represents a chance like no other within these shores to see and hear some of the best audio and AV equipment the industry has to offer. This year, The Bristol Hi-Fi Show is once again being organised by Audio T – the oldest independent specialist hi-fi retailer in the UK – and will gather together some of the biggest names in the industry…

Standmount speakers | £699 View Offers | whf.cm/Mission750 The new Mission 750 standmounters are something of an odd man out in Mission’s trio of retro-styled 700 series speakers. While the range-topping 770 and mid-priced 700 were both inspired by classic models from the company’s past, the 750 doesn’t have that kind of direct heritage to lean on. This is an all-new design that isn’t based on anything that has gone before. Does that matter? Not to us. If it shares the excellent engineering DNA of its pricier siblings and delivers the performance to match, then it could be something of a bargain. Things start off well in that regard. The 750 was initially launched at £899 in the UK, but that was quickly adjusted down to £699 once the speakers…

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TOTAL: £3247 THE SYSTEM TURNTABLE REGA PLANAR 3/ND3 £799 AMPLIFIER REGA ELEX MK4 AMP £1199 SPEAKERS PMC PRODIGY 1 £1249 SYSTEM £3247 To go along with our turntable and floorstanders set-up on p36, here we present an alternative offering, with different electronics and some stunning standmounts. A good pair of speaker stands is vital, and when you are investing this sort of money in your music, it would be foolish not to allow the loudspeakers the chance to shine. So allow another £200 or so for a decent set of stands. So why plump for this system with the smaller speakers over the floorstanders in our alternative set-up? Well, the character of the sound each system produces is, of course, different; but just as important is the fact that this…

Where some people see compromise, others see balance. And when it comes to domestic soundbar packages, we are most decidedly in the latter category. Naturally, all of us movie fans adore the wonderfully immersive sonic experience of sitting in a cinema that has an A-grade sound system, and would love to be able to replicate that experience in our homes. But the fact is that few of us have listening rooms big enough to accommodate the domestic multi-box systems needed to do that. And even the best standalone soundbars fall well short of delivering either authentic surround sound or chest-rumbling bass (remember the crash scene in Super 8?). Soundbar systems, on the other hand, include a pair of manageably sized, separate surround speakers and a subwoofer – itself usually of modest…

View online review whf.cm/LG_S95TR When done right, a soundbar speaker system of a soundbar, two wireless surround speakers and a wireless subwoofer can get surprisingly close to delivering the core experience of an AV receiver and 15 individual speakers. Little wonder that’s so appealing to so many people. The S95TR is LG’s take on the concept. Conceptually it is very similar to the Samsung HW-Q990D, which now looms large over this category. As with the Samsung, its price tag makes the LG a decidedly premium proposition, but it’s worth considering that a Sonos set-up comprising an Arc Ultra, Sub 4 and two Era 300 speakers would currently set you back £2426. Sony’s new flagship soundbar meanwhile, the Bravia Theatre Bar 9, with surrounds and subwoofer costs £2197. The LG S95TR…

View online review whf.cm/SonosArcUltra Sonos makes some seriously bold claims for its new Dolby Atmos soundbar’s performance, saying that it features ‘breakthrough’ speaker tech and “up to double the bass” of the original Arc. The Arc Ultra’s main rivals, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 and Samsung HW-Q990D, are a fair bit more expensive, but the Samsung comes with a wireless sub and wireless surrounds in the box. The Arc Ultra (£999 on its own) with the Sub 4 and a pair of Dolby Atmos-enabled Era 300 speakers in the ‘Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra’, which is how we’re testing it here, comes in at £2426. At first glance, it’s quite hard to tell the Arc Ultra from the original Arc, but there are some design differences, most notably…

View online review whf.cm/KEFR3Meta The R3 Meta speakers are part of KEF’s updated R Series, a revamped speaker range that now incorporates the company’s celebrated MAT (Metamaterial Absorption Technology) innovation – an ingenious and successful technology that has been transforming KEF’s audio performance in recent speakers. The original KEF R3 we tested a few years back received a five-star review, and the inclusion of MAT elevates the listening experience of the new speakers to a whole new standard. On the surface, perhaps not surprisingly, not much has changed. In terms of the size, build quality and driver sizes, the R3 Meta is pretty much exactly the same as the previous model. But that’s no problem at all, as these speakers are impeccably made. The finish and build quality are of…

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 w ho prioritise entertainment should arguably consider the io their number one choice. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x2, MM Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x3, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Rotel A8 £399 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A fuss-free, well-built product that sets an enviable standard for sound quality at this level. The A8’s understated…

 View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 WiiM Pro Plus £219 Best music streamer under £300, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ As a first, affordable introduction to the many and various charms of music streaming, the WiiM Pro Plus is hard to lay a glove on at the price. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Cambridge Audio MXN10 £449 Best music streamer £300-£750, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Cambridge Audio has crashed the entry-level music streamer party. Is the MXN10 the finest affordable music streamer on the market?…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Denon D-M41DAB £399 Best hi-fi system under £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Denon hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s managed to better the M40, delivering improved sound and functionality. The best just got better. Inputs CD, line-in, optical x2, BT, DAB/FM Outputs Subwoofer Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 £499 Best powered speakers, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them. Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs Subwoofer Triangle AIO Twin £699 Best speaker system under £750, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you’re looking for a fun music system that also sounds…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax Aura from £249 Best PVR, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is solid, but its useability foibles and lack of Netflix give pause for thought. Tuners 3 Storage 1TB/2TB Ultra HD Yes Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it comes with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

 View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £50 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2020 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Despite some caveats, this 4K device supports all HDR formats and delivers excellent picture quality for a very affordable price. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes Google Chromecast with Google TV £60 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2023 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ With a new remote and super-smart UI, Google’s latest Chromecast video streamer is the complete package. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £169 Best video streamer, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It has a fantastic UI and design, a huge library of 4K HDR content, and the best…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £500 Amazon Fire HD10 £349 Best budget tablet, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★★ The Fire HD10 offers a really solid picture performance that successfully balances authenticity with a surprising amount of punch and sharpness. OS Android Size (hwd) 247 x 166 x 9.2mm Storage 32 or 64GB Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M £1299 Best premium tablet, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s hugely over-powered for content consumption, of course, but there is simply no better way to watch movies on the move. OS iPadOS 18 Storage 256GB-2TB Finishes Space black, silver…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This is a wonderfully balanced and entertaining moving magnet cartridge that will work well with a wide range of record players. Type MM Tracking weight 2.0g “The sound it delivers is clear, informative and fun. We can’t ask much more than that” Sumiko Rainier £160 Best cartridge £100-£250, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This Sumiko is a little gem. Set it up with care and have a little patience, and you’ll find this to be one of the best performers anywhere near this price. Type MM Tracking weight 1.8-2.2g (2.0g recommended) “Get in some hours of use and the presentation blooms into something that’s surprisingly musical and engaging” Ortofon Quintet…

EXPERIENCE. HERITAGE. We have been helping the world discover the best in hi-fi and home entertainment for more than 45 years, and have more than 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective belts – so you can count on our expert opinion. DEDICATED TEST FACILITIES We test every product against its peers in our extensive, bespoke reviewing facilities in London and Reading. We conduct all our tests as a team – our opinions and conclusions are always the result of collaboration. HOW WE SCORE All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole – not any individual reviewer. Each product will be listened to and/or viewed by several members of the test team, who will then discuss the final verdict before it appears in the magazine…

4K TV | £398 View offers | whf.cm/TCL_C655K At under £400 for what is essentially a mid-range specified TV, the 55C655K has the potential to be one of the bargains of the year, if it has the performance chops to go with its unexpectedly long features list. This TCL is not a bad looker, thanks to a ‘brushed titanium’ finish and a decently trim screen frame for such an affordable model. It’s reasonably trim around the back, too. And the presence of a large circular subwoofer on the rear panel raises hopes of a more serious audio effort than you might expect with such a cheap TV. Everything feels pretty lightweight and plasticky – not quite to the extent that it might not survive a face-off with a wagging labrador…

Tablet | £799 View offers | whf.cm/iPad_Air_13inch You can now buy a massive iPad that isn’t a Pro – and that’s cause for celebration around these AV-obsessed parts. We’re all about movies on the move, and there is no substitute for size where cinema is concerned – even portable cinema. The 13in iPad Air should, therefore, be a winner. It equals the largest iPad Pro for screen real estate, but it does without the new M4 processor, which is undeniable overkill for our modest media-consumption needs. There’s an elephant in the room, though, in the form of Tandem OLED. The new iPad Pro has it, but this iPad Air does not. Is that a wise sacrifice in the name of cost-cutting, or a compromise not worth making? That’s a very…

So you’ve just snuck some new hi-fi kit into your house and have wired it up to your system. You have lined up your favourite album and are ready and eager to listen to how much better it now sounds compared to yesterday and congratulate yourself on your latest purchase. But between set-up and performance scrutiny is a process that will undoubtedly irk the impatient but could prevent confusion if the kit doesn’t sound as you remember it from the demo room. Yep, we’re talking about ‘running-in’. You are probably familiar with the phrase, and it essentially refers to an initial period of use whereby the moving parts begin to work and stabilise in their forever environment, during which a last little bit of shifting could occur. Just as a…

TOTAL: £1696 THE SYSTEM STREAMER CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MXN10 £449 AMPLIFIER ROTEL A8 £399 TURNTABLE PRO-JECT DEBUT EVO 2 £599 SPEAKERS WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 12.1 £249 SYSTEM £1696 This is a wonderful all-rounder of a system, and the only one of the five in this issue with both a streamer and a turntable as your musical sources. We are basing all these systems on our recent Award winners – but as we have always said, it really isn’t simply a question of shoving a quartet of Award winners together and assuming they will gel into a musically cohesive whole. Life, and marrying hi-fi products, just isn’t like that. Having said that, you will see that three of the four products above are indeed 2024 Award winners – and they have a lovely…

TOTAL: £3797 THE SYSTEM STREAMER CAMBRIDGE AUDIO EXN100 £1599 AMPLIFIER ARCAM A15 £1099 SPEAKERS KEF Q CONCERTO META £1099 SYSTEM £3797 The fact that our more entry-level streaming system (p34) has a Cambridge Audio unit doing the digital music duties, and our step-up system relies on a different product further up the brand’s chain, should tell you all you really need to know about Cambridge’s excellence in this field. Part of that top performance is down to Cambridge’s proprietary streaming platform, StreamMagic. It is controlled via an easy to use app, and we don’t have any issues with playing tracks in many different formats from many different sources. In terms of file formats supported, the EXN100 can handle high-resolution audio files up to 32-bit/784kHz PCM and DSD512, and MQA files.…

View online review whf.cm/Yamaha_TrueX Dolby Atmos-compatible ‘soundbar plus subwoofer and surrounds’ packages are gaining in popularity and present a great way to improve the sound of your favourite shows, movies and games. The Yamaha True X soundbar can be bought on its own as the True X 40A (£540) or as a True X 50A bundle with a subwoofer (£799). It is also available as a surround package that includes a pair of WS-X1A wireless speakers for £1099, which is how we are testing the system. For reference, JBL’s Bar 1300 costs £1299, while the new Sonos Arc Ultra in its ‘Immersive Set’ guise that includes the Sub 4 and a pair of Era 300 speakers is yours for roughly double the price of the Yamaha. The soundbar here is an…

View online review whf.cm/Q990D At the risk of pointing out the blooming obvious, Samsung sells a lot of TVs. And, while we have no actual evidence, we predict that it absolutely hates it when people combine those TVs with soundbars from other brands. That is why it is so determined to make its own market-leading soundbars. It’s been getting steadily closer to that lofty ambition, with last year’s Q990C falling just a whisker short of a five-star verdict. This full system comprises a soundbar, wireless suboofer and two wireless surround speakers, with a huge 11.1.4 total channel count. It’s clearly a premium proposition, but, for a full system with the sort of feature set that it has, the Q990D actually looks like pretty good value. The angular, monolithic design of…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £379 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Arcam CD5 £699 Best CD player £500-£1000, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A tremendously talented player that deserves an audition if you’re still holding on to your beloved CDs and want to give them a new lease of life. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical, line-level Musical Fidelity M2sCD £699 June 2020 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Musical Fidelity’s CD player sounds expansive, detailed and delicately layered - a resoundingly listenable proposition. Type CD…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Roberts Revival Petite 2 £100 Best radio under £100, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Packed with features and emitting a clearer, richer, more dynamic sound than you might expect, this delightful little portable is a must-have sonic accessory. Battery 20hrs (rechargeable) Size (hwd) 73 x 124 x 85mm Finishes 7 “It’s a lively, rhythmically engaging sound that has a surprising amount of weight and punch to it, given the unit’s size” Up to £200 Ruark Audio R1S £299 Best radio £100-£400, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Appealing aesthetics and sophisticated, nuanced and precise sound – it’s a level of quality we are surprised to hear from a product of this size and price. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 17.5 x 13 x…

 View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm Audio Technica AT-LP3 £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2017 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A fully automatic turntable that doesn’t scrimp on performance, this is the ideal entry-level deck for those looking to dip their ‘vinyl toes’ in. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm £150 to £300 Rega Planar 1 £299 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £2000 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 Best home cinema amplifier under £1500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9 x 105W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/3 Yamaha RX-A6A £2299 October 2022 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ With its exhaustive feature set, this is the ‘choose-your-own adventure’ of AVRs, with a…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Sony HT-S2000 £349 May 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you want clearer, more dynamic and direct sound from your TV at a price that won’t put you off, then this Sony really is an easy sell. Size (hwd) 6.4 x 80 x 12cm Inputs Optical, HDMI eARC Sub No Sonos Beam (Gen 2) £449 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. Now with Dolby Atmos capabilities. Impressive. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Dali Katch One £649 Best soundbar £500-£1000, Awards 2018 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Great for music, even better for…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in LG OLED42C4 £999 Best 40-43in TV and Best gaming TV, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The 42in LG C4 is the best small OLED TV money can buy right now, delivering a wonderfully punchy, immersive viewing experience. Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Operating system webOS24 “The C4 delivers brilliant peaks. Contrast levels are wide and impactful, and movements look wonderfully smooth” 48in to 50in Amazon Fire Omni QLED £450 Best budget 48-50in TV, Awards 2023 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Budget TVs are hard to get right, but the 50in Omni QLED succeeds thanks to a consistent, considered performance and impressive feature set. Type QLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC “A surprisingly consistent and considered performer that provides a very…

 View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 16 Pro £999 Best smartphone over £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Apple’s attention to detail is almost unrivalled. It’s a formidable smartphone for watching movies, and it’s equally impressive when it comes to music too. OS iOS 18 Size (hwd) 150 x 72 x 8.3mm Storage 128GB-1TB “The bottom line is that this iPhone delivers a balanced, sharp and bright image that looks stunning” Android Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 £1799 November 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Best described as an OLED TV that will fit into your pocket, this would be an ideal AV companion for a long-haul flight or road trip. OS Android 14 Finishes six Storage 256GB-1TB “The sharp outlines result in a picture oozing three-dimensional depth;…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £150 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single Chord Co ClearwayX ARAY Analogue RCA £130/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Evolution of a well-regarded interconnect that reveals greater texture, control and dynamics from your system’s performance than before. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

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

4K TV | £799 View Offers whf.cm/Panasonic_W90A The Panasonic W90A is the top standard LED TV currently offered by the Japanese home cinema giant. While it may not have fancy technologies such as Mini LED backlighting or the giant Technics-tuned speaker-bar seen on Panasonic’s flagship sets, it’s still a very interesting TV for a couple of reasons. First, this is one of the first TVs from Panasonic to run Amazon’s Fire TV software rather than the firm’s own My Home Screen system, which in recent years has rather been left behind by its rivals in terms of design and app availability. Second, it retains the brand’s iconic focus on delivering ‘as the director intended’ picture quality – a key area where many affordable TVs fail. But with rivals from Hisense, TCL and…

Wireless earbuds | £179 View Offers | whf.cm/AirPods_4_ANC When Apple announced its next generation of AirPods would include noise cancelling in an open (ie no eartips) design, eyebrows were raised. Both of them. The AirPods 4 launched in two variations: a standard model, and one with active noise cancellation (ANC), the latter of which we are testing here. The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (or AirPods 4 with ANC for short) cost £179. Happily, that is the same price as the previous generation they are replacing, the AirPods 3 (from 2021). The AirPods 4 with ANC sit firmly in the mid-range price bracket, then, where there are plenty of decent alternatives from the likes of JBL, Technics and Cambridge Audio; but not many extraordinary ones. The real competition…

Music streamer | £499 View offers | whf.cm/Node_2024 It’s a common theme in art and literature, from classical myths to modern novellas, that time waits for no man. No matter how great you might be and how high you may rise, there will always be something, or someone, to pull you back down to Earth. “There’s always a bigger fish,” to quote Liam Neeson in the decidedly un-literary Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. The world of hi-fi is no different. So often we have seen products dominate a corner of the market, only to be sideswiped by younger, better rivals keen for their turn at the metaphorical watering hole. Bluesound’s Node was almost synonymous with well-priced music streamers, with its third-generation iteration from 2021 earning multiple What…

1 Denon DCD-3000NE £2200 Denon is staking its claim on the CD resurgence with its latest reference disc player, which will play your physical music collection with “unprecedented sonic detail”. Capable of playing both CD and SACD formats, the DCD-3000NE also supports other digital formats such as MP3 and FLAC. Connectivity comes in the form of analogue RCA, coaxial and optical. Internally, Denon has outfitted the DCD-3000NE with a high-performance 32-bit/384kHz DAC in a quad configuration and high-quality internal components including an advanced master-clock which aims to deliver distortion-free sound. Combined with the brand’s own Ultra AL32 Processing for upsampling audio signals, this premium player should deliver clean, detailed, spacious and dynamic audio. • whf.cm/Denon_SACD 2 Tribit StormBox Blast 2 £200 Bluetooth speaker brand Tribit has made a handful…

TOTAL: £6888 THE SYSTEM STREAMER AUDIOLAB 9000N £2499 AMPLIFIER NAIM NAIT XS 3 £2499 SPEAKERS EPOS ES-7N £1890 SYSTEM £6888 Now this is a serious hi-fi system, one built with the latest 21st century technology in mind. For the best part of seven grand, you will have a system that makes your music truly sing; and here we have a full house of 2024 Award-winners to boot. While it is by no means always the case that simply bunging a gaggle of Awardwinners together will produce a system worthy of the name, this trio of equipment fits together beautifully and fully justifies the individual Awards given to the component parts. Synergy at its finest. We kick things off with the stunning Audiolab 9000N streamer. Despite a hefty two and a half…

View online review whf.cm/JBL_Bar_1300 Asoundbar package is a great option if you want serious movie sound but don’t want the fuss and expense of a full home cinema system. Comparatively simple, sleek and affordable, such packages usually consist of a ’bar, a subwoofer and two wireless surround speakers. The super-flexible approach of the JBL Bar 1300 sees the ends of the soundbar detaching to become the surround (or even standalone Bluetooth) speakers. The Bar 1300 measures just under 140cm in width with the rear speakers attached on either end; that’s a lot of bar, a fair bit wider than most standalone soundbars. With the rear speakers detached, though, the main section measures just 100cm, around the same as the smaller Yamaha True X soundbar. The main soundbar houses six 46 x…

View online review whf.cm/TheatreBar9 Sony has replaced the excellent, three-time What Hi-Fi? Award-winning HT-A7000 with this, the Bravia Theatre Bar 9. It features subtler styling, a more practical design, a better app and more drivers. The HT-A7000 is still in our view the best performance-per-pound soundbar you can buy, particularly with the last stock now being sold with some huge discounts. So has Sony improved on its predecessor’s sound with this new ‘bar? There’s no end of non-Sony rivals to contend with as well, of course, most notably the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus and Samsung HW-Q990D, the latter of which is a complete system in a box. The new Sonos Arc Ultra, in its ‘Immersive Set’ guise also carries a similar price tag to the Theatre Bar 9. The rounded…

View online review whf.cm/Epos_ES_7N Most people choose small speakers because they have a modest listening space or don’t want the speakers to dominate the room. Given these clear requirements, it is ironic that most compact models are still designed specifically to sound best when placed well away from walls. Some manufacturers even go as far as to call their smaller offerings ‘bookshelf’ designs, but take it from us that the vast majority of these won’t have been optimised to work there. Why would most speaker companies take such a contradictory design route? From an engineer’s point of view, doing things this way makes the design much easier given that they can (essentially) ignore the effects of the walls and focus on optimising performance. Given that the type of material used…

View online review whf.cm/705_S3 The 705 S3 is the top standmount speaker model in B&W’s 700 Series 3 range, and features plenty of acoustic technology trickled down from the step-up 800 Series Diamond range. The new 705 S3 is a classy design, and part of that is down to the slight curve to the speaker’s front baffle – it looks lovely and svelte. The cabinet is a touch slimmer, than previous models too, and the build quality is impeccable. Everything is built and finished to a high quality. The 705 S3 is a two-way design that incorporates B&W’s distinctive solid-body tweeter-on-top enclosure, which is milled from a single, solid block of aluminium and houses the 25mm carbon-dome tweeter. An evolution of the tweeter-on-top found in the 800 Series Diamond, this…

From 75in 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 Three newcomers enter our hi-fi Hall of Fame this month. First through the door are KEF’s wonderful Q Concerto Meta standmounters, which offer a large slice of the brand’s R3 Meta’s performance for just over half the price. Then there’s the superb Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar (seep44) and Panasonic’s latest flagship OLED TV, boasting Micro Lens Array tech. HOW TO POSITION YOUR SPEAKERS It’s not just a case of ‘plonk ’em down and plug ’em in’; getting your speakers set up properly can make all the difference to how they sound. We show you how to get it…

 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £999 Best projector under £1250, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values pays off handsomely. Throw ratio 1.13-1.46:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1250-£2000, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes Hisense PL 1 £1499 Best ultra-short-throw projector under £2000, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ With its clean, punchy and solid image, the Hisense PL1 is a gem at this…

 View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-3 HCP £499 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The DX-3 HCP delivers sound above and beyond what most soundbars are capable of while being half the price of most models that we recommend. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12 cm Finishes 2 “All of the sound effects are detailed and placed accordingly, without sounding cluttered or claustrophobic” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2020 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The subwoofer needs a bit more kick, but this fantastic sub-£1000 5.1 package delivers a clear, well-balanced and expressive performance. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 22 cm Finishes 4 “This compact set really hits the…

 View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m 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 Shure Aonic 3…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Up to £200 Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 Awards 2017 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 £110 April 2024 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It is the quality of the sound that continues to impress. Quite simply, we haven’t come across a better-sounding alternative at this entry level. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 3 x 10 x 10.5cm Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a…