Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i What Hi-Fi?

Justifying the outlay for a pricey piece of home-entertainment equipment is not always easy. But, if there’s one thing the past few traumatic years have taught me, it’s that sharing experiences and passions with friends and other loved ones is fundamental to the enjoyment of life. Otherwise, what’s it all about? And, if you break down the cost of a pair of speakers, an amp, a turntable or whatever, to look at the daily outlay, in the end you see that you really can get superb value out of what you are paying undeniably big money for. You’ll be enjoying it for years. In this issue, then, we celebrate that more expensive kit; products we feel truly justify the outlay for your passion. Our high-end Temptations (p30) highlight the top-end…

Classic ½ Standmount speakers £6750 View online review whf.cm/SpendorClassic1_2 It’s easy to underestimate retro-themed speakers such as Spendor’s Classic ½s. They lean heavily on heritage and seem to have different priorities from similarly priced modern alternatives. Yet with an open mind and a careful listen you will realise that the Classic ½s offer much more than just a nostalgia trip. Spendor’s first product was the legendary 1969 BC-1, which were considered revolutionary and implemented the speaker design ideals developed by the BBC’s famed engineering department. The BC-1’s design was based on a move away from conventional paper-pulp diaphragms to using Bextrene for better resonance control. They had a thin-walled, heavily damped cabinet construction and a reputation for naturalness and transparency. The driver configuration was three-way, but split the frequency range…

F1-8 Standmount speakers £7499 View online review whf.cm/FyneF1_8 The F1-8s complement the towers in Fyne Audio’s high-end F1 series that represent the very best the brand can do, and as a result pack in a full dose of its technologies. The two-way F1-8 speakers use a coaxial driver array that puts the 25mm magnesium-dome compression tweeter at the centre of the 20cm multi-fibre mid/bass driver. This dual-driver design is what the company calls IsoFlare. This kind of arrangement has all sorts of advantages over conventional configurations, from even dispersion to allowing a degree of time alignment between the two drivers so that the sound from both reaches the listener at exactly the same time. This bodes well for focus and precision. The larger driver’s rubber surround has notches all the…

Fact Fenestria Floorstanding speakers £56,995 View online review whf.cm/FactFenestria We like shoot-for-the-stars products. It’s always fascinating to see what a company can do when the sole concern is maximising sound quality. This is what the Fact Fenestrias represent for PMC: an opportunity to take a fresh look at every part of loudspeaker design and come up with engineering solutions that are as free from budget constraints as they can be. PMC has long had firm beliefs on all aspects of speaker design, so was unlikely to follow a totally different engineering path just because there’s more money to spend. The Fact Fenestrias still use a wooden cabinet for example, though PMC has been highly imaginative in the way it has gone about reducing cabinet resonances. It’s also no surprise to…

SR-L700 Mk2 / SRM-700T Over-ear headphones £4140 View online review whf.cm/StaxSRL700Mk2 Stax launched the world’s first electrostatic headphones in 1960, laying the foundation for a richly deserved and glittering reputation that continues to this day. There are two parts to this set-up: the SR-L700 Mk2 headphones; and the partnering SRM-700T energiser that drives them. You cannot use a conventional headphone amplifier with electrostatic headphones, as the voltages required are far higher than usual. These headphones are strictly for domestic use – their design is simply too large and cumbersome for portable use, and the need for an energiser means that mains power is a must. These headphones may not be discreet, but they are wonderfully comfortable. At just over 370g, these Stax are pretty lightweight for high-end headphones. And those…

Klimax DSM AV Streamer £30,000 View online review whf.cm/LinnKlimaxDSM Linn has been in the streamer game longer than most, and it shows in the sophistication and quality of the Klimax DSM. There are three variants: a two-channel version; a System Hub that works in an all-Linn set-up; and the AV variant we have on test here. This sells at the same price as the music-only version but adds four HDMI 2.0 sockets and a single e-ARC-equipped output to an extensive features list. Specify the optional surround sound module for an extra £1200 and it can decode all the current movie sound formats bar Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. To get surround sound out of the Klimax AV, though, you must invest in Linn’s ecosystem, using a complete 7.1 active set-up with…

SA-10 CD player £5999 View online review whf.cm/SA-10 Those with long memories will remember the superb CD-94 of the late 1980s and the CD-15 that followed it, or more recently, the revered CD-7. The company doesn’t often produce top-end disc players, but when it does they are usually done right. Notice we say disc rather than CD player, as the SA-10 also reads SACDs and DVD-ROMs. File compatibility from disc is impressive, from 24-bit/192kHz FLACs and DSD128 all the way to ALAC, AIFF and MP3s. Marantz’s own SACD-M3 transport was a considerable investment for the company, designed to read the music data off the disc as accurately as possible first time around. Here, Marantz has taken the opportunity to revise the entire signal path and come up with a new…

Blu MkII/DAVE DAC CD player £16,990 View online review whf.cm/ChordBlu2 Want to know the best CD player we have heard? It’s Chord’s Blu Mk II transport combined with its range topping DAC, the DAVE. Quality costs – in this case a hefty £17,000 for the pair. But regardless of price, we haven’t heard a more insightful or transparent CD playing alternative. We already know the DAVE DAC (£8995) is brilliant, but the Blu MkII transport (£7995) doesn’t have to be partnered with it – Chord’s Hugo 2 (£1800) works well too. While the transport is capable of working with all DACs, you really need one that will accept sampling rates of 768kHz to make full use of it – and there aren’t many alternatives to these Chords in this respect.…

A-S3200 Amplifier £5999 View online review whf.cm/A_S3200 Yamaha’s A-S3200 isn’t quite what we expected. What we have here is a rather straightlaced, all-analogue integrated that has been designed in a retro way with considerable care. It has sensible features and, most importantly, performance that justifies its hefty price tag. The 25kg A-S3200 is a beautifully built product, as expected at this level. Every panel lines up perfectly, and each control and switch works with crisp precision. A large part of the amp’s retro vibe comes from those twin signal meters. In practical terms they are not of much use but we love the way they look. Take a look inside that immaculate casework and it’s obvious that Yamaha has refused to cut corners. The circuit is a fully balanced design…

Telos 590 Nextgen II Amplifier £25,000 View online review whf.cm/Telos590NGII The Telos 590 Nextgen II promises high-end enthusiasts all the sonic benefits of a traditional purist separates approach but packs preamplifier, power, digital module and a carefully honed power supply all in a single, superbly built, chunky, but reasonably compact case. A compromise? By no means. Despite the price, the headline specifications aren’t anything special. This Class A/B amplifier produces a useful 215W per channel into 8 ohms but increases that only modestly to 280W per side as impedance is halved. So, on paper at least, this isn’t a powerhouse. On the digital side, the on-board DAC module can handle PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD64 natively, though DSD128 is on the menu when it is packaged in a…

100 Phono Phono stage £17,300 View online review whf.cm/100_Phono There are plenty of choices at ‘money no object’ levels, but few can match Burmester’s phono stage with its modular nature, feature list or sumptuous build. The base version of this unit can support a single turntable (with either a moving magnet or moving coil module) and pass the amplified signal through single-ended or balanced XLR outputs. For an optional extra outlay, the 100 can be equipped with a second phono module and an analogue-to-digital converter to add in to the mix, which lets you digitise and archive your vinyl. The 100’s front panel is pretty busy, but the signal level meter grabs our attention. This can be selected to show the output of each channel individually or mixed together. It’s…

Prime 21+ Turntable £6650 View online review whf.cm/Prime21Plus The Prime 21+ aims to build on the solid foundation laid by 2015’s Prime turntable with well-considered changes aimed at improving performance, ease of use and cosmetics. VPI’s changes have resulted in a smarter but more conventional deck. The tonearm is a 27cm, 3D-printed gimbal-bearing design that feels less fussy in use than its uni-pivot predecessor. It’s easy to set up and the bearings feel smooth, though we can detect a small amount of play in its fore/aft movement. The 43mm-thick curvy plinth is made up of a 3mm aluminium top plate on an MDF base – the metal is intended to add rigidity and damping to the structure. The detached AC motor unit has also been tweaked. It still has the…

65OLED986 TV £3999 View online review whf.cm/65OLED986 It goes without saying that this is a real statement piece, with a price tag to match, but if you want and can afford the best, this is (currently) it. The obvious difference between the 65OLED986 and an average TV is that it is floor-standing, coming in at 134cm tall. The portion of stand below the Bowers and Wilkins speaker bar can be removed so that the rest can be wall-mounted, but the screen and speaker system are symbiotic – neither will work without the other. The left and right channels in the speaker bar feature their own tweeters, but the OLED986 also features a ‘tweeter-on-top’ that sits between the speaker bar and screen where it should be less susceptible to diffraction effects.…

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £300 Zorloo Ztella $99 August 2020 (issue 437) If you want to improve your smartphone sound, but don’t want a USB stick hanging off the end of it, this is a bit of a no brainer. Online only for now. Size 11cm long Resolution PCM (up to 384kHz), DSD (up to 5.6MHz), MQA Cyrus soundKey £99 Best DAC under £100, Awards 2020 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 iFi Zen DAC V2 £159 Best DAC under £200, Awards 2021 A good jump in quality over the Award-winning original, to keep features and performance best in class – and for not much extra…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Revival Petite £99 March 2022 Anyone yet to invite the joys of the original wireless into their lives will find this device a compelling gateway product. It’s also a decent Bluetooth speaker. Battery Yes Size (hwd) 8 x 12.5 x 7.5cm Inputs 3.5mm, Bluetooth Roberts Stream 94i £189 Best radio under £200, Awards 2021 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 £200 and above Tivoli Model One Digital Generation 2 £299 Best radio over £200, Awards 2021 We really enjoy Tivoli’s winning little box of tricks. Old-school radio feels and modern AirPlay 2 and…

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 microsystem, Awards 2021 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 under £1000, Awards 2021 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…

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 over £250, Awards 2021 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £179 Best PVR, Awards 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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) 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 Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 £599 Best portable music player £500-£1000, Awards 2021 More expressive and eloquent than any other portable music player we’ve encountered at this price – far beyond anything smartphones are capable of.…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2021 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 over £50, Awards 2021 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…

Stranger Things wears its influences on its 1980s sleeves. From the Duffer Brothers’ love of Spielberg movies via Stephen King, to classic ’80s sci-fi and horror, the Netflix show is brat-packed full of warm and fuzzy moments of 1980s nostalgia, (s)lashings of sci-fi horror tropes and a ton of teen friendship drama. We’ve picked, of course, Eleven movies to watch if you count yourself as a ‘Stranger’. THE THING (1982) John Carpenter’s Kurt Russell-starring horror looks likely to have its own doppelganger in Stranger Things, with Season 4 taking a lot of influence from the movie. We know the Duffers are fans and were first influenced to use old-school practical FX such as animatronics for their own creature-feature by Rob Bottin’s work in bringing The Thing’s shape-shifting horror to life.…

Headphones | £379 | whf.cm/SonyXM5 In recent years, Sony has struck upon a winning formula that has seen it build some of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. Gradual improvements in sound quality, noise-cancelling and call quality have kept the WH-1000 line one step ahead of the competition. The drawing board has been well and truly dusted off for the latest iteration of its premium wireless ANC over-ears. It’s a brave decision, but the design changes made to the Sony WH-1000XM5 are significant. This “noiseless design” has seen the company attempt to create a slimmer, more seamless pair of headphones by reworking those areas that can contribute to wind noise. This has led to smoother, sweeping lines and less aggressive edges. Importantly, a number of the joints and hinges…

R1 Arrete Standmount speakers £4995 View online review whf.cm/R1Arrete What if you have a generous budget, but a compact listening space? Audiovector’s R1 Arrete may provide the answer. Audiovector is different from most rivals in that it offers upgradable speakers. The entry-level R1, the Signature (?2499), features a good-quality dome tweeter and a carbon-coned mid/bass driver all housed in a neat, nicely made, curved cabinet. When the upgrade itch strikes, the speakers can be returned to the factory for conversion to either the Avantgarde (?4099) or the range-topping Arrete spec we have here. The changes are wholesale, involving better drive units, higher-spec crossovers and even improvements to the cabinet, depending on the level chosen. IMPROVED RESOLUTION The Arrete features an open-backed version of the company’s hand-built AMT (Air Motion Transformer)…

Elysian Floorstanding speakers £6999 View online review whf.cm/Elysian4 In our view, good value doesn’t come down to how cheap something is; for us it’s about how much you get for the money. In those terms, these big Wharfedales represent excellent value. At 119cm x 40cm, these are big speakers – unusually broad by current standards. They are a three-way design with a 27 x 90mm AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 15cm midrange unit and a pair of meaty 22cm bass units. All three of the larger units use a cone made of a woven glass fibre matrix, a proprietary material that is claimed to combine low mass with high strength. In this installation, it is also covered with a high-plasticity coating for improved damping of internal resonances. The bass units…

4349 Standmount speakers £7595 View online review whf.cm/JBL4349 Whether you’re talking about the appearance or sound quality, it seems JBL’s 4349 Studio Monitors inspire love and hate in equal measures, and sometimes both. Something of an oddity in the world of high-end standmounters, they are huge, measuring 74cm high and a whopping 45cm wide – pretty much the size of a small fridge. The cabinet depth doesn’t seem so excessive at 34cm, but there is no denying the 4349s will dominate all but the largest of rooms. That massive frontage is put to good use, with enough space for a 30cm woofer, two large reflex ports and, most strikingly, a carefully shaped horn for the equally unusual treble drive unit. This tweeter is a world away from conventional dome designs.…

IE 900 In-ear headphones £1299 View online review whf.cm/IE900 Sennheiser’s IE 900 in-ear headphones are a purist design, engineered with the singular purpose of offering the best sound quality possible at this level. 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 less common than they used to be, and understandably so. In-ears are about portability and ease of use, so the rise of wireless connectivity makes perfect sense for such a product. Add complementary technologies such as noise-cancelling and app control and the ideal features template for such earbuds looks set. Yet this template doesn’t put sound quality front and centre. If…

MHA200 Headphone amplifier £2795 View online review whf.cm/MHA200 The MHA200 headphone amplifier is a cute little thing. Its footprint is broadly that of a decently sized paperback, yet it still manages to pack in all the charm and presence we have come to expect from a McIntosh product. This is a mains-powered analogue headphone amp. You won’t find any fancy DAC tech or, heaven forbid, anything that resembles wireless streaming. And that’s fine with us, because the MHA200 remains a carefully considered product for those who want to make the most of their domestic wired headphones. There are valves at the heart of this unit – four in total – made up of a pair of 12AT7s in the driver stage and 12BH7As in the power stage. These run warm…

Design M3 DAC £4999 View online review whf.cm/DesignM3 Reflecting the company’s work in the pro sector, the Bricasti Design M3 comes across more as a working tool than any sort of statement of luxury. This is a real point of distinction from most rivals, which tend to put a greater emphasis on extravagant styling or being flamboyantly built. The M3 DAC’s sturdy casework uses thick, precision-machined aluminium panels, right down to the bottom plate. Fit and finish are straight out of the top drawer, adding to the impression that this is a component that can withstand years of use without complaint. The engineers have followed a distinctive path when it comes to the circuit design. PCM and DSD digital signals have separate signal paths, with a pair of Analog Devices…

Reference CD9 SE CD player £14,998 View online review whf.cm/CD9SE With its top-loading design, valve-powered output stage and hefty £15k price tag, the Reference CD9 SE is quite some statement. The Audio Research is a substantial unit, 13.5cm tall and a hefty 15kg. You will need enough space to be able to top-load a disc, and leave plenty of space around the player for ventilation. This thing runs hot. Before initial use, you will need to fit the full complement of valves. Don’t plug the unit into the mains until after this step is complete – there are highly dangerous electric currents flowing through the circuitry. Both the valves and locations are clearly marked so it’s hard to get it wrong. For the tube nerds out there, you will find…

CSA 100 Amplifier £3988 View online review whf.cm/CSA100 Copland is one of the unsung talents of the high-end hi-fi industry. Despite being in business for almost 40 years, the company has rarely grabbed the limelight. But that has more to do with the way the brand operates than the quality of its products. This small Danish company makes only a limited range of electronics (often valve based) and goes about its business in an understated manner. Its products’ life cycles tend to be fairly long, and new introductions are rare and launched without much fanfare. So, when a new product does appear we are keen to have a listen. And in the case of the CSA 100, we are glad we did. WIDE COMPATIBILITY As far as features go, this…

SU-R1000 Amplifier £6999 View online review whf.cm/SU-R1000 High-end stereo amplification is one of the most conservative areas of the market when it comes to accepting the march of technology. It is, after all, the only place where valves still have a foothold, six decades after transistors first started to dominate elsewhere. More recently, digital circuitry and digital signal processing have been frowned on by some purists, simply because they are considered complicated and therefore stray from the idealised ‘straight wire with gain’ principle. What would those high-end traditionalists make of the SU-R1000, we wonder? For behind its clean, beautifully constructed exterior you will find a breathtaking range of proprietary technologies that use fresh thinking to crack the high-end amplification nut. This is a fully featured, 150W-perchannel integrated amplifier that comes…

Progression Integrated Amplifier £29,998 (incl. streaming module) View online review whf.cm/DDAProgression Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems (to use the company’s full name) plays only at the top table. Despite its hefty price tag, the Progression Integrated amplifier is the starting point for the brand’s range; but that doesn’t make it a diluted facsimile of products further up the chain. It is more like everything the brand knows in a condensed package. At its most basic, this is a line-level analogue integrated amplifier costing £22,998. But add the optional digital module (as we have) for an extra £7000 and you get a good range of digital inputs alongside network streaming capabilities. Want to play records too? There’s a switchable moving-magnet/moving-coil phono stage module available for an extra £2500 and it offers…

DG-1 Dynamic Groove Turntable £2950 View online review whf.cm/DG-1 This deck/arm package offers a fair dose of the performance of Vertere’s top-end turntables but at a far more approachable outlay. It’s designed to be easy to use, with the option of a fitted cartridge. The Vertere Magneto moving-magnet cartridge (£230 bought separately) is more than capable of justifying the extra £150 it adds to the base price of £2950. But think of it as something to get you going; ultimately, the DG-1’s abilities demand something better. You will find plenty of interesting engineering details here. It’s the arm that really grabs our attention. Rather than using a conventional cylindrical arm tube, which gives rigidity but is prone to resonances, the DG-1’s arm is made of a flat, triple-layered, aluminium alloy/polymer…

No.5105/Ortofon Quintet Black S MC Turntable £7099 View online review whf.cm/No5105 As the more ‘affordable’ of Mark Levinson’s turntables, the No.5105 isn’t simply a stripped-down version of its pricier older brother, the No.515. It’s an all-new design, intended to be an ideal analogue source for the company’s 5000 series of components. The basic engineering, build and finish really is lovely. The plinth is a 50mm-thick machined block of aluminium that feels immensely solid. The front panel is another chunk of aluminium, in this case around 25mm thick, bead blasted and black anodized. There’s a small tinted glass window embedded in it, echoing the styling of other 5000 series components, and this is home to the speed and standby controls. The deck sits on three adjustable feet, and a spirit level…

DLA-NZ9 8K Laser projector £25,400 View online review whf.cm/JVC_NZ9 This JVC is the very top model in the world’s first range of 8K projectors fitted with 48Gbpsrated HDMI 2.1 ports. That ensures that it’s 8K-movie ready to go and, because it’s right at the top of the JVC D-ILA tree, you can bet it’s going to boast a picture quality that puts your local multiplex to shame. It’s the ultra-high contrast all-glass optics that separate the NZ9 from the step-down NZ8. The very best that JVC produces, they are assembled into a fully aluminium lens barrel, with a 100mm lens diameter achieving a higher optical brightness of 3000 lumens – and all with the promise of minimising colour fringing even when using high lens shift. It is capable of creating…

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 £400-£600, Awards 2021 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 Brio…

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 Standmounters from £200 to £500 Elac Debut B5.2 £250 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2021 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 Dali Oberon 1 £349 February 2019 About the size of a shoe, these articulate and bold-sounding speakers have a wonderfully unfussy nature and are a joy to listen to. Size (hwd) 27 x 16 x 23cm Bi-wire No Finishes 4 KEF…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2021 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 £150 to £300 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 2021 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £1000 AVR-X2700H £599 December 2020 Sonic improvements over its predecessor are marked, even if it’s the 8K passthrough and next-gen gaming tech that steal the headlines. Power 7 x 150W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3700H £1149 Best home cinema amplifier under £1500, Awards 2021 The best unit we’ve heard with a three-figure price tag. A surprisingly big improvement on its already excellent predecessor; sets a new standard. Power 9 x 180W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 8/3 £1000 and above Denon AVC-X6700H £2299 Best home cinema amplifier £1500-£3000, Awards 2021 Want to future-proof your set-up for the 8K content due to arrive within the five or ten year lifespan of your next amp? This Denon is a winner. Power 11 x 140W…

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 2021 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 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,…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in Samsung UE43AU7100 £449 Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2021 Samsung’s miniature hero proves you don’t need a bottomless bank account or a cavernous room to enjoy great picture quality. Type LCD/LED HDMI 3 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC 48in to 50in Hisense Roku R50A7200GTU £399 Best 48-50in TV under £1000, Awards 2021 With an excellent operating system and solid all-round performance, this is a complete package for a decent price. Type LCD/LED HDMI 3 Resolution 4K Tuner Freeview HD Sony KD-49XH9505 £1000 August 2020 (issue 437) Features a number of upgrades that make it a better TV than the Award-winner it replaces. This is an all-round cracker. Type LCD/LED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Tuner Freeview HD/YouView Philips 48OLED806 £1199 Best 48-50in TV over £1000, Awards 2021…

DSD and SACD DSD (Direct Stream Digital) was conceived as a way of archiving old analogue recordings, it was designed to be a simpler, more space efficient way of storing digital music data. How does DSD work? DSD uses a single bit of information that tells us is whether the current sample of the analogue waveform is higher or lower than before. Compared with over 65,000 different values 16-bit PCM has, the two values (0 if the new sample of the signal is lower, 1 if it’s higher) of DSD appear limiting. That resolution shortfall is made up by the very high sampling rate of over 2.8 million times a second – 64x the speed of CD. Standard DSD is also called DSD64 for this reason, with double and quadruple…

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 2021 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 2021 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 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 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 £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 this rack can offer. Width 1157mm Modular Yes Cable management Yes Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 SE £600 Best equipment rack, Awards 2021 The SE…

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 Mains products 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 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 this…

K1 Standmount speakers £6295 View online review whf.cm/ProAcK1 ProAc’s high-end K series has been in production for 12 years now. The speakers in the range have evolved and been improved in that time, of course, but they have always been floorstanders. Until now that is. An unusual plinth arrangement echoes the design of the various K series towers. It works well visually on the floorstanders, but takes a little acclimatisation when transferred to a standmounter. This arrangement allows for a downwardfacing port and gives a known fixed boundary (the plinth) for the port to fire on. Without that boundary, the speaker designer is left to guess at the available space between the port and any surface it fires onto, which naturally leads to less precise port tuning. A downward-firing port…

805 D4 Standmount speakers £7000 View online review whf.cm/805D4 Despite being the baby of B&W’s 800 range, the D4 are no poor relation to their pricier siblings such as the mighty range-topping 801 D4 (?32,500), and pack in all the applicable engineering advancements enjoyed elsewhere. The most notable is the improved cabinet construction. This is the first time that the 805 model enjoys a ‘reverse wrap’ cabinet, where the front and side panels are formed by a single shaped piece of birch ply. This approach has advantages in stiffness and resonance control, both of which are also helped by the addition of a beautifully machined aluminium spine that also houses the high quality, low-order crossover network. The internal bracing, previously made of MDF, is now replaced by plywood that also…

Precision P2.0 Floorstanding speakers £9495 View online review whf.cm/PrecisionP20 Wilson Benesch has never followed the herd. Its first products, a turntable and tonearm, were made using carbon fibre, something considered exceptionally high-tech in 1989. And it’s that forward-thinking approach to materials technology that has shone through ever since. The Precision P2.0’s build quality is excellent. The enclosure feels reassuringly solid and is finished to a suitably high standard. Inside, you will find a mix of aluminium and birch-plywood panels that are strategically braced, carefully damped and held together by high-tensile steel tensioning rods. The result is an impressively rigid and quiet box that supports the drive units brilliantly. You also get the same Tactic 2.0 mid/bass and bass drivers used in the firm’s more upmarket products. Unusually for such a…

Utopia Over-ear headphones £3699 View online review whf.cm/FocalUtopia Best known for its wide-ranging and talented speakers, this French manufacturer has been plugging away at headphones for a number of years now, without ever making the kind of impact that would get the big players to notice. Focal’s headphones have been mostly middle market and solid as far as sound is concerned, but nothing in the company’s catalogue prepared us for the arrival of the Utopias. The company has never made headphones as pricey as these, or anything with so much ability. The 40mm Beryllium drive-unit covers the frequency range from 5Hz-50kHz, and is shaped to deliver exactly the kind of dispersion the engineers wanted. The material’s combination of low weight, rigidity and damping works well. The use of a single…

680D Streamer £9700 View online review whf.cm/Moon680D Music streamers from the likes of Linn and Naim have shown that it’s possible to have an extensive features set and still deliver great sound – and this Moon product reinforces that. You’ll find no shortage of connectivity here – there are nine inputs in total, including aptX Bluetooth. We are impressed with the care taken over the circuit layout and power-supply arrangement. The 680D uses Moon’s MHP (Moon Hybrid Power) module, which mixes both traditional linear and switch mode technologies to deliver a stable, low-noise and power-efficient energy feed to the signal circuitry. Each of the nine digital inputs feeds into an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that identifies the file type and re-clocks the signal accordingly. We have no complaints with…

Bartók DAC £15,750 View online review whf.cm/dCSBartok The Bartók streaming DAC is the product of a small high-end digital specialist that refuses to cut corners with engineering and build. When it comes to digital-to-analogue conversion, dCS sits at the top table. It has quite some pedigree, pioneering high-resolution conversion in the late-1990s and implementing DSD capabilities in its products early on. From the beginning, dCS has refused to do things the easy way; rather than buy offthe-shelf DAC chips from the likes of Burr Brown, it developed its own converter technology called the Ring DAC. This uses a combination of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), an innovative circuit topology and sophisticated in-house software to deliver number-crunching capabilities the firm feels are beyond those available from bought-in alternatives. The Bartók also…

D-10X CD player £14,999 View online review whf.cm/LuxmanD10X The D-10X is an SACD and CD-playing beast. At a vertebraestraining 22.4kg, this player is heavier than most power amps we come across, and that’s down to the company’s no-compromise approach to construction. The casework is as rigid as they come, with thick aluminium panels and elaborate internal bracing. We love the company’s obsessive way with fit and finish. Each part is beautifully made and every edge lines up perfectly. This Luxman costs a lot of money, but the care taken over its build goes a long way towards justifying that expenditure. Inside, the latest version of the brand’s in-house disc drive is a truly substantial affair enclosed within 8mm-thick aluminium sides and a 5mm-thick steel top plate. The disc drawer is…

Michi X3 Amplifier £4700 View online review whf.cm/RotelMichiX3 Back in the early ’90s, Rotel was best known as a producer of excellent-value, affordable hi-fi; so the introduction of the high-end Michi sub-brand at that time was something of a surprise. A very pleasant one at that, considering the exquisite build quality and remarkable sonic talents of that original range. Rather than continue as a sub-brand, the Michi name was lost as its ideas and components found their way into the company’s more mainstream products. But now it’s back and its ethos of delivering sonic purity, exceptional build and excellent value remains undimmed. This is the baby integrated amplifier of a small range that includes a more premium one-box, a preamplifier and the choice of a stereo power amplifier or a…

Reference 6SE/80S Amplifier £16,998/14,998 View online review whf.cm/6SE_80S Audio Research was founded in 1970. At that point, transistors had already taken over the world of electronics, leaving valves to be seen as outmoded and old-fashioned. We respect the fact that the Minnesota-based brand stuck to its principles, believing that valves offered the best sound quality even when pretty much every competitor had long moved away from that technology. So here we are, half a century later, listening to one of the company’s fully valve powered pre/power amplifier combos. And we approve. DISTINCTIVE STYLE While we have long admired the company’s functional approach to aesthetics, we are still pleased it has found a way to update the appearance of its products to the point where they almost look stylish. The Ref…

Classic Phono Phono stage £17,000 View online review whf.cm/ClassicPhono It’s not that this Nagra’s sound doesn’t match that hefty price tag; it’s just a shame it puts this glorious piece of kit beyond the reach of many people who would appreciate it. Nagra’s products are rarely ostentatious, and this phono stage presents a pretty understated face to the world. That trademark signal meter, which shows the Classic Phono’s output level, is the only visual flourish of note. The rest of the fascia is as clean and uncluttered as we have come to expect from the Swiss company. There are a range of equalisation curves: the standard RIAA option, plus settings for Teldec and Columbia LP – so those with records from before the mid-’50s can hear them with the correct…

Model 6 Turntable £5995 View online review whf.cm/Model6 SME makes world-class turntables and arms, the brand’s reputation built on excellence. High-end record players are all about precision manufacturing and, when you are working to the highest standard, that’s never going to be cheap. To attempt to make the Model 6 more ‘affordable’, SME has chosen is to start with a clean sheet but keep the engineering quality as high as ever. In fact, the company claims the Model 6 is built to exactly the same impressive engineering standards as any of its pricier decks. It still looks every inch an SME. It is sized to resemble the classic Model 20, but the design shows that the company isn’t afraid to move away from tradition. Until this point, all of its…

OLED65G2 TV £3300 View online review whf.cm/LGOLED65G2 The big story with the OLED65G2 is the addition of a new heat sink layer to one of LG’s high-brightness Evo OLED panels. Being able to dissipate more heat means the TV can be run as much as 15 per cent more brightly than last year’s G1 (and this year’s C2 model, which doesn’t get the heat sink) without increasing its susceptibility to screen burn. An increase of that magnitude would see the OLED65G2 pushing against the 1000 nits figure often considered a key value when it comes to delivering high dynamic range (HDR) with conviction. The step-down C2 gets the same Alpha 9 Gen 5 LG processing system that the OLED65G2 gets; the only real difference in picture terms between the two…

Synthesis SDR-35 AV receiver £6000 View online review whf.cm/SDR_35 As the component to which all others are connected, an AV receiver or amplifier is the brains and beating heart of a system. Those who become too focused on comparing spec sheets may well overlook the JBL Synthesis SDR-35. Of course, what a spec sheet can never tell you is how a product sounds, and in this regard, the JBL Synthesis SDR-35 is a clear cut above any other AV amplifier we have tested over the past few years. It shares much specification with its Arcam AVR 35 cousin, including its Class G amplification, which consists of two power supplies – one that handles low-volume effects, and another with more power that takes over when higher volumes are required. The arrangement…

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 CD6007 £399 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2021 No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Musical Fidelity M2sCD £699 June 2020 Musical Fidelity’s CD player sounds expansive, detailed and delicately layered - a resoundingly listenable proposition. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical £1000 to £6000 Naim CD5si £1149 October 2014 The CD5si boasts a full-bodied, winningly enthusiastic approach to music. The…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Chord 2yu £449 November 2021 Partnered with a suitably capable digital-to-analogue converter, this could be all the digital source you’ll ever need. Outputs USB, coaxial, optical, BNC £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node (2021) £549 Best music streamer under £750, Awards 2021 For this outlay the Node 2021 represents one of the most entertaining and comprehensive ways of adding music streaming to your hi-fi system. Outputs RCA, coaxial, optical, subwoofer, 3.5mm Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £750-£1000, Awards 2021 All the success of the classy CXN streamer, with…

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/features It’s no good spending hundreds of pounds on your new speakers if you then don’t allow them to perform properly. Take care with positioning to get them to sing. 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 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 Apple HomePod Mini £99 Best home wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2021 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 £100 to £250 JBL Flip 6 £1320 May 2022 Another resoundingly five-star product, with sonic upgrades in terms of clarity and breadth across the frequencies over its Award-winning forebear. Size (hwd) 17.8 x 6.8 x 7.2cm Battery 12 hours Sonos One SL £149…

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 Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector under £2000, Awards 2021 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 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2021 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 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP £999 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2021 Large enough to provide cinematic scale with a wide soundfield, but affordable enough to be accessible, this is a fine choice for music and film. Size…

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £40 Best wired in-ear headphones under £50, Awards 2021 The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-linecontrols 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-linecontrols 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 just £70. But they are wonderfully smooth, expressive and balanced. In-linecontrols Yes Cable length 1.3m 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,…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 13 Best smartphone under £1000, Awards 2021 A sprinkling of improvements combined with excellent picture and sound quality make the standard iPhone 13 a top smartphone at the money. OS iOS Size (hwd) 147 x 72 x 8mm Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 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 Sony Xperia 1 III Best smartphone over £1000, Awards 2021 Sony’s latest flagship phone is well worth considering if audio and video performance are key factors for you when choosing a mobile handset.…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire HD 10 £150 Best tablet under £250, Awards 2021 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 Air (2020) £579 Best tablet £250-£750, Awards 2021 All the iPad most people will ever need. It’s such a solid and capable allrounder, that very few will feel the need to spend the extra for the iPad Pro. OS iOS Size (hwd) 248 x 179 x 6mm Storage 64GB, 256GB Apple iPad Pro 12.9 £999 Best tablet over £750, Awards 2021 It might be aimed primarily at creative types, but the new iPad Pro…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £150, Awards 2021 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 Ortofon Quintet Blue £359 Best cartridge over £150, Awards 2021 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…

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 Rega Fono MM MK3 £199 Best phono stage under £100-£300, Awards 2021 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 offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £120 Best speaker stand, Awards 2021 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…