Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i What Hi-Fi?

The long lockdown continues – and with it a rather strange limbo-life (if you’re anything like me) of working from home and feeling a bit trapped – much as I relish the added time I can now spend with my family of course! One positive to have arisen, though, is the chance to listen to more music, both as a group and, on occasions I confess, to block out the outside world and have a little bit of solitude. In this issue, then, it’s appropriate that we take a look at ways you can enjoy those precious moments more easily at home. So we have some round-ups of the best wireless kit we know, from systems (p24) masquerading as ordinary speakers, to Bluetooth speakers (p42) so you can share your…

The original ‘wireless’ was the radio, of course. But in the 21st century, the first products properly to grab the public’s enthusiasm as far as truly wire-free entertainment goes were Bluetooth speakers. So ubiquitous had they become at social gatherings (before lockdown, naturally) that we almost take these remarkable little sonic miracle workers for granted. It’s only too easy to forget a time before our electronic kit could talk to us without that umbilical cord keeping it all restrictively nearby. The sonic quality of wireless speakers has improved greatly in a short space of time of course – as has the feature count; now we can talk to Alexa, or Siri or whoever, and access a whole world of information and music – just by asking a few questions of…

View online review whf.cm/Homepod It comes as no surprise that the HomePod is beautifully made and looks classy. It’s a bit smaller and much heavier than you might imagine – dense in the manner of dark matter. There are seven tweeters spaced around the base of the unit. The woofer is close to the top and fires upwards, reflecting mid and bass frequencies off the bottom of that glossy panel so they are distributed around the device. It’s an energetic driver, capable of moving 20mm from peak-to-peak – extraordinary excursion for a compact driver in a wireless speaker. Under the top panel, shielded from the bassy battering it receives from the woofer below, is Apple’s A8 processor. For a wireless speaker it’s quite the powerhouse. That processing power is used…

“Man is by nature a social animal,” said Aristotle, and that remains as true as ever. We text, tweet and message each other – and some even employ smart assistants such as Amazon Echo or Google Home to help streamline their communication. But now we are talking to our speakers, our watches and our phones, it makes sense that we should be able to talk to our headphones as well. That’s the thinking behind Bose’s QuietComfort 35 IIs, the updated version of the QuietComfort 35s that came out in 2016. These new headphones have a dedicated button to activate Google Assistant, which will, at your behest, play music, answer trivia questions and read you your smartphone notifications. Add that to the QC35 IIs’ pleasing audio quality and still-excellent noise-cancelling capabilities,…

Two years after its first effort, the five-star PXs, B&W launched a new pair of flagship noisecancellers, hoping that the combination of its proprietary driver technology and Qualcomm’s new aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec would see the PX7s – available in Space Grey or Silver – repeat the success of their predecessors. The PXs were among the first headphones to support Qualcomm’s aptX HD Bluetooth – a high-quality codec that enables the wireless transmission of 24-bit hi-res audio – but the PX7s (along with the PX5 on-ears and PI3 and PI4 earbuds), were the first aptX Adaptive headphones to hit the market. Synchronise watches – and listens This newer Bluetooth technology combines the 24-bit/48kHz capability of aptX HD with the benefits of aptX Low Latency (improved synchronicity of audio and video…

Stereo speakers £4500 “Delve deeper and it’s clear that Spendor’s engineers haven’t spent the past few years twiddling their fingers” We reviewed Spendor’s original D7s back in 2013. At the time we loved the slim floorstanders’ combination of cut-glass clarity and natural dynamics, while also appreciating their classy appearance. Seven years on, we have the D7.2s before us, and it seems that the company has played it rather safe with this update. But is it too safe? We doubt whether many could identify this new version on sight. But delve deeper and it’s clear that Spendor’s engineers haven’t spent the past few years twiddling their collective thumbs. The big changes are under the skin and, in truth, not particularly headline-grabbing. The cumulative result, however, is that they improve an already-excellent…

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £200 Cyrus soundKey £99 Best DAC under £100, Awards 2019 An affordable, compact DAC that turns mobile listening into an authentic high-fidelity experience. iOS users may find connectivity a little inelegant. Size 2 x 5 x 1cm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz Audiolab M-DAC nano £149 Best DAC £100-£200, Awards 2019 If you’ve got a good pair of wired headphones and want to improve your sound on the move, the Audiolab M-DAC nano makes a mighty strong case. Inputs Bluetooth 4.2 Size 44 x 44 x 14mm Res 32-bit/384kHz £200 to £1000 AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt £269 Best DAC £200-£300, Awards 2019 If you loved the DragonFly Red and you’re looking to make the next step up without compromising on size or form, this is something of a no-brainer…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Pure Evoke H2 £89 Best radio under £100, Awards 2019 Pure’s latest radio is similar to its previous incarnation, but more refined. The H2 improves on the D2’s already sophisticated sound. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 18 x 12 x 12cm Inputs 3.5mm “There’s no doubt the Pure Evoke H2 is an upgrade over the D2” Roberts Stream 94i £189 Best radio over £100, Awards 2019 Sets the bar even higher than its predecessor, adding Bluetooth without compromising its sound and offering plenty of features. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 26 x 17 x 13cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi “The Stream 94i is the complete package, making it the best radio at this price” £200 and above Roberts Revival iStream 3 £200…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2019 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33?, 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 33?, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm Sony PS-LX310BT £200 August 2019 A no-nonsense, fully automatic turntable with built-in phono stage and Bluetooth, offering a surprisingly musical sound. Speed 33?, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 43 x 37cm Rega Planar 1 £249 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2019 This…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps Up to £500 Sony STR-DN1080 £429 Best home cinema amplifier under £500, Awards 2019 Sony’s latest AV amp is a return to form, with cutting-edge features (inc. Dolby Atmos) and a compelling sound. It ticks all the right boxes. Power 7 x 100W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 £500 to £1000 Denon AVR-X2600H £599 October 2019 Denon has done it again. If you have the budget and desire for a serious home cinema, this receiver demands your attention. Power 7 x 150W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 8/2 Denon AVR-X3600H £999 Best home cinema amplifier £500-£1500, Awards 2019 Denon has nudged its 3000 series home cinema amplifiers much closer to the next level with this stunningly powerful performer. Power 7 x 180W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Yamaha YAS-207 £249 Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2019 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 £399 Best soundbar £300-£500, Awards 2019 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. It could potentially transform your listening experience. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Sonos Playbar £699 August 2017 It’s not perfect, but it still has the sonic heft and all-round quality to edge out its Sonos Playbase stablemate. Size 9 x 90 x 14cm Inputs Optical, ethernet Sub…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in Samsung UE43RU7470 £399 Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2019 For a size of TV that is all too often overlooked, we’re delighted to see that Samsung has served up a stunning 4K TV for the average household. Type LCD/LED HDMI 3 Resolution 3840 x 2160 Tuner Freesat HD, TV Plus “There’s a proper sense of depth to the image, with excellent shading in both bright and dark areas” 49in to 50in Samsung UE49RU8000 £749 Best 49-50in TV under £800, Awards 2019 This is a brilliant buy, offering most of what makes the Q70R great at a reduced price. It’s a great all-rounder with exciting HDR performance. Type LCD/LED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Tuner Freeview HD/YouView “It’s a brilliantly detailed image with sharp, clearly defined edges…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £300 Sony NW-A45 £180 Best portable music player under £200, Awards 2019 Sony has designed, marketed and prices the NW-A45 to act as a companion to your smart phone, handling your desire for hi-res music. It does this well. Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD Weight 98g Storage 16GB “There’s good bass depth, musical cohesion and space around the various instruments” Cowon Plenue D2 £259 Best portable music player £200-£500, Awards 2019 The PD2 manages to justify the premium over its predecessor. We haven’t heard a better-sounding budget portable music player. Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 128 Storage 64GB “Cowon justifies the price hike with a performance that takes transparency and entertainment to the next level” £300 to £700 Astell & Kern A&norma SR15 £549 Best portable music player £500-£1000,…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2019 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 £90/m Best analogue interconnect £50+, Awards 2019 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/BBMainsProducts Mains Cartridges 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 Olson Sound Fantastic HF6 £180 September 2015 Grants a system far greater freedom of expression without sacrificing control or authority. If you can afford to, buy it without reservations. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Russ Andrews X6 £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/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £120 Best speaker stand, Awards 2019 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”…

View offers Portable Music Player | £429 | whf.cm/PlenueR2 Cowon’s first portable MP3 player (the CW100) hit the markets in 2000, a year before Apple’s first iPod legitimised the whole notion for the mainstream. Cowon has hung on in there ever since, turning out digital audio players of lesser or greater quality, with an occasional What Hi-Fi? Award thrown in for good measure. On the face of it, this new Plenue R2 (or PR2) is more of the same. By leaving the current craze for Android interfaces and streaming service apps to its rivals, Cowon is positioning the PR2 as the purist’s choice. Cowon is betting that £429-worth of carefully specified electronics and 128GB of internal memory sounds better than an Androidpowered alternative. Can it be true? Square-edged and pointy…

The Mandalorian (2019) Set between the fall of the Empire and arrival of the First Order, Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian follows a lone bounty hunter operating in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. The eight-episode first season is available to watch now, so expect high-octane action, well-placed humour, and wonderfully imaginative creatures (yes, including Baby Yoda). The Simpsons (1989-2019) Despite Twitter outrage over speculation that The Simpsons may not appear on Disney Plus, everyone’s favourite animated sitcom is here – all 600+ episodes (30 seasons) of it. Season 31 is due to hit Disney Plus in the US in November, so UK and European subscribers can expect it shortly afterwards. Free Solo (2018) Not for the faint hearted, this Oscar-winning National Geographic…

Cutting the cord and going truly wireless with a pair of in-ear headphones might be the ultimate in portable audio – but, in our experience, it was always quite tricky to execute. Not only is it tough to generate excellent sound quality in such tiny spaces, but manufacturers also have to pack in extra components such as amplifier, battery (with acceptable battery life), Bluetooth receiver, microphone and various controls. And some of them even need to provide decent noise-cancelling. All that would be impressive enough, but then we also need to factor in the fact that the poor old designer has to present it all in a way that won’t make you look like a Cyberman. All of which has proved a fairly taxing task, as we say. It’s impressive,…

View online review whf.cm/OneSL Our review of the Sonos One described it as “essentially a Play:1 with voice control built in”, which begs the question that if the Sonos Play:1 is the Sonos One without voice assistant smarts, what is the point of the new Sonos SL, which makes the same claim? Well, you can now pair a One with a One SL to make a stereo pair – something you couldn’t do with a Play:1. Simply give your two speakers different names then click on either one in the Sonos app and select ‘create stereo pair’. You are then prompted to press and release the pairing button on whichever speaker you want to be the left of the pair. Do that and you’ve created a pair of stereo speakers…

Given the Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ears are among the best wireless headphones we've ever heard, it’s hard to imagine that presummer 2016 Sony didn’t have a premium pair of wireless, noise-cancelling headphones in its arsenal. Then, out of nowhere, the WH-1000X pair appeared, challenged noise-cancelling supremo Bose, and ran off with one of our coveted Awards. Even when the second-gen WH-1000XM2s were released, their successor was already in development. We had to wait a while for that pair, but when the XM3s finally arrived, Sony made bold claims for their sonic ability. Make yourself comfortable The headband's thick, soft cushion makes it feel as though there’s almost no weight resting on the top of your head. Combine that with the soft, wide pads that surround your ears and you have one…

View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Onkyo A-9010 £229 Best stereo amplifier under £300, Awards 2017 Our favourite budget amplifier, this is arguably the most entertaining affordable amp around. It is agile and has a wicked sense of rhythm. Power 44W Inputs Line-in x5, MM Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6006 UK Edition £369 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2019 An already class-leading amplifier gets a few small, but telling, improvements that make it an even more compelling proposition. Power 45W Inputs Line-in x4, MM, coaxial, optical x2 Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A very 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 £500 to…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 Dali Spektor 1 £159 March 2018 A small speaker that inherits all the Spektor 2’s good traits, pumping out an energetic and entertaining sound for an affordable price. Size (hwd) 24 x 14 x 20cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 “If you’re looking for really small budget speakers, buy these” Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2019 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 £200-£400, Awards 2019 ELAC’s latest budget standmounter is talented enough to…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 Ultimate Ears Roll 2 £60 Best wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2018 The Roll 2 has a sound that’s more open, more dynamic and goes louder than that of its predecessor. The drop in price makes this a bargain. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery 9 hours “The same sense of fun as the previous model, but there’s a touch of maturity with the Roll 2” 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 Optoma UHD40 £1199 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2019 A ‘4K’ projector that brings top-tier technology to a budget price point, this device boasts punchy colours and insightful detail. Throw ratio 1.21:1-1.59:1 Inputs HDMI x2, VGA, 3.5mm Speakers Yes LG CineBeam HU80KSW £1967 December 2019 An all-in-one, do-it-all 4K portable projector that does its thing with aplomb. You can have the CineBeam up and running in a matter of minutes. Throw ratio 1.3:1 Inputs HDMI x2 Speakers Yes £2000 to £10,000 Optoma UHD65 £2999 Best projector £1500+, Awards 2018 It may not have the bells and whistles of a high-end 4K projector, but it puts in a sophisticated performance, is future-proof and well priced. Throw ratio 1.39-2.22:1 Inputs HDMI x2, PC x2, Phono Speakers…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2019 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 2019 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” £1000 to £3000 B&W MT-50 £1100 Awards…

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 2019 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 BBC iPlayer Free Awards 2015 Quality content, a great interface and free (for catch-up TV), BBC’s iPlayer is one of, if not the best, video on-demand platforms out there. Resolution Up to 1080p Offline playback Yes Amazon Prime Instant Video from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2017 Cheaper than…

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 like the performance…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps 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 Rega Fono MM MK3 £199 Best phono stage under £250, Awards 2019 Rega has managed to take a near-perfect product and squeeze more improvements from it. It’s a class-leading performer. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 18 x 14cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS £199 April 2018…

View online review whf.cm/Vista The Jaybird Vistas are true wireless earbuds for athletes, with a secure fit that won’t budge even when you start to kick like Mo Farah, alongside IPX7 water- and sweat-proofing. Even if the worst happens and one earphone escapes your grasp before you manage to put it in, the Vistas are crushproof so should survive the fall and any trampling. Sure enough, they feel durable in our hands. Featuring all-new 6mm drivers, the Vistas will give you six hours of playback on a full charge, plus an additional 10 hours from the charging case. A single-earbud mode means that if you switch periodically from right to left you could potentially get 32 hours out of them, though that seems a little desperate. Jaybird claims a quick…

Sennheiser doesn’t need any ‘third time lucky’ well wishes for its third-generation Momentum Wireless noise-cancelling headphones. Both the original and second versions were instant knockouts when they arrived, the latter winning a What Hi-Fi? Award just months after it came off the production line. The flagship pairs in the now-iconic Momentum line have, alongside their extensive family of wired, over-ear, on-ear, in-ear and true wireless siblings, reflected the range’s ‘momentum’ moniker perfectly. Physics may tell you that momentum relies upon mass and velocity, but here it is maintained by a consistently strong and reliable reputation for great-value sound. And the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are among the best wireless headphones we've tested in recent months. Thoughtful design The Sennheisers – which have sheepskin leather earpads and stainless steel sliders –…

Turntable £4499 “The Planar 10’s main-bearing design is a work of art. We can’t detect any free-play on our test sample and it spins with impressive smoothness” Ever heard of the Rega Naiad? Don’t worry if not – not many people have. It’s the best record player Rega can make and was designed with little regard for cost or ease of manufacture. Originally it was only an engineering exercise, never intended to reach production. But, once people heard about it, demand started to build despite a price in the region of £30,000. Rega felt obliged to put it into limited production, but has committed to building only 50 units in total. Last time we asked, around 40 had been bought, so hurry if you want one. What’s all this got…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Cambridge CXC £299 Awards 2015 If you already have a DAC (the CXC is useless without one) we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this transport over a standalone CD player. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Marantz CD6006 UK Edition £349 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2019 The king of the budget market. The CD6006UK shows plenty of skill with detail, dynamics and clarity. A great player for the money. Type CD player Outputs Line-out, coaxial, optical, headphone, USB 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 Cyrus CD t £895 Awards 2015 An exceptionally talented transport, the CD t offers a level of insight,…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers £100 to £500 Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2019 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 Bluesound Node 2i £499 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2018 Even better than before, this large-scaled, well timed Bluesound has sensational streaming skills and features for the money. Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer £500 to £1000 Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £500-£1000, Awards 2019 All the success of the classy CXN streamer, with added Google Chromecast. Great design, features set and performance. Inputs Coaxial, optical, USB x2 £1000 to £5000 Cambridge Audio Azur 851N £1399 Best music streamer £1000-£1500, Awards 2018 A sterling streamer that…

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 33?, 45rpm Inputs Line-in, BT Outputs Line-out Denon D-M41DAB £329 Best microsystem, Awards 2019 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 £500 to £1000 KEF LSX £999 Best all-in-one system, Awards 2019 KEF has shrunk its excellent LS50 Wirelesses to create a wonderfully insightful and flexible pair of speakers with a neat, colourful design. Inputs 3.5mm, optical, BT, AirPlay 2, wi-fi Outputs Subwoofer Marantz PM7000N £999 Best system under…

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 £500, Awards 2019 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 £290 Best 4K Blu-ray player £350-£500, Awards 2019 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 £500 and…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £199 Best PVR, Awards 2019 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 2019 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 2019 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 £100 and above Apple TV 4K £179 Best video streamer over £100, Awards 2019 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, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes Games consoles Sony PS4 Pro £350 February 2017 The Pro offers a solid, relatively affordable upgrade over the base PS4, but still needs work to be an all-in-one 4K streamer and player. Resolution…

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £100 Beyerdynamic Byron £39 Best in-ears under £50, Awards 2018 A spectacular return to the budget earphone arena for Beyerdynamic, the Byron sets the standard at this price with a peerless performance. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m SoundMagic E11C £50 Best in-ear headphones under £50, Awards 2019 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 Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi £70 Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2017 You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound quite so good – not for…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 11 Best smartphone, Awards 2019 Ignore the 11 over the Pro and Pro Max, and you’re missing out on a more affordable smartphone that ticks many of the same boxes, for less cash. OS iOS Size (hwd) 151 x 76 x 8mm Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB “We’ve come to expect musicality and rhythm with Apple, and the iPhone 11 doesn’t disappoint” Android Samsung Galaxy S9 Reviewed online, 2018 A polished successor to the S8 that, due to a number of carefully considered tweaks, is one of the best Android phones available. OS Android Size (hwd) 148 x 69 x 9mm Storage 64GB/microSD “Samsung’s careful refinements make the S9 a pretty impressive package” Samsung Galaxy S9+ May 2018 It’s more evolution than revolution, but that’s…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire HD 10 £150 Best tablet under £200, Awards 2019 A cheap and cheerful tablet that’s good for the money and has a lot of the functionality you’d find in more expensive efforts. OS Android Size (hwd) 114 x 190 x 10mm Storage 8GB £200 and above Apple iPad (2018) from £319 Awards 2018 The latest iPad receives a muted update, but it still continues to give you that elegant and intuitive experience we expect from Apple. OS iOS Size (hwd) 240 x 170 x 8mm Storage 32, 128GB Apple iPad Mini (2019) £399 Best tablet over £200, Awards 2019 The looks haven’t changed, but under the skin improvements make the latest iPad Mini even better than before OS iOS Size (hwd) 204…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £150, Awards 2019 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” Ortofon Quintet Blue £349 Best cartridge over £150, Awards 2019 Given a suitably capable system we have no doubt the Ortofon Quintet Blue will impress. It’s a well-balanced design with no obvious weaknesses. Type MC Tracking weight 2.3g “There’s plenty of attack here as basslines are punched out with glee and no shortage of passion”…

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 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 Chord Company Clearway £10/m Best speaker cable, Awards 2017 Not the flashiest cable, its strength is aiding dynamics and…

Sport isn’t everything; that much is true. But for millions around the world, it’s as important an act of escapism as listening to music or burying our noses in a book. And if there’s something we need right now, it’s a few hours to escape. The sporting calendar has ground to a halt in many countries and there is no telling when it might resume; but if, like us, you’re suffering withdrawal symptoms, then look no further. This list of eight sports films and documentaries on Netflix UK, features glory and misery, tragedy and celebration, drama and comic relief. Most of all, though, they each highlight what sport means to us around the globe. MARADONA IN MEXICO Drama is never far from Diego Maradona’s door, but this documentary series, following…