Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

HUGE SCREEN, MASSIVE DEAL

It’s not often that a genuine, almost shocking, bargain comes along to our test rooms at What Hi-Fi?. We test plenty of products, naturally, that offer excellent value for money – we are in the business of sniffing them out for you, after all. TCL’s 65in mini-LED television, though, had us double and triple checking things. Suffice to say, if you are in the market for a large-screen TV, but don’t fancy splashing two grand on one, you should take a look at what the TCL has to offer in our budget 65in TV round-up (p32). Also in this AV-focused issue of What Hi-Fi? we present our favourite OLED TVs (p57) at a variety of sizes, some fine budget soundbars (p37), and a quartet of terrific AV amps under £2000…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Technics SU-GX70

View offers Streaming system | £1699 | whf.cm/SU_GX70 The new Technics SU-GX70 joins the likes of Bluesound, Cambridge Audio, Marantz and Naim in delivering one-box streaming amplifier systems that can do it (nearly) all. But the Technics goes one step further when it comes to versatility, throwing everything apart from the proverbial kitchen sink into its box of tricks. The GX in the unit’s name denotes ‘crossover’ and it is the first Technics audio product to include a video element in the form of an HDMI ARC input. Regardless of how you listen to music – Tidal, turntable, CD player, digital files, TV or even radio – the SU-GX70 has the (physical and wireless) tools to play it all. And at £1699, it’s a surprisingly well-priced system, undercutting rivals such…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3

View offers Standmount speakers | £749 | whf.cm/606_S3 Bowers & Wilkins may flaunt its flagship 800 Series of speakers as its crowning glory, but we have always had a soft spot for its entry-level 600 range. There are rave reviews throughout the range’s 20-plus year history, with the most recent 606 S2 Anniversary Edition a particular favourite – it’s our current Award-winner in the best standmount speaker £500-£750 category. Its successor, the newly released Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3, has quite a lot to live up to as a result. It’s the top standmounter in the new 600 Series 3 range, and the bigger sibling to the freshly minted five-star (and very charming) B&W 607 S3 speakers. Can this updated 606 repeat that success? Counting the cost We tested the…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

The Perfect Christmas Gift

SUBSCRIBE TO WHAT HI*FI? TODAY! SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET THE EARFUN AIR S1 EARBUDS WORTH £69.99 WHY SHOULD YOU GET YOURS TODAY? • 30 hours of playing time with the charging case• Personalise your buds with the EarFun Audio app – an uncommon feature in this price bracket• Multipoint connection function – easy switching between various devices. Connect to two devices at a time, be it a mobile phone, tablet, smartwatch or PC• Active Noise Cancellation• Intuitive touch control plus all-in-one volume control. (95 per cent of True Wireless stereo earbuds don’t have this feature)• Wireless-charging compatible, plus USB-C charging• IPX5 sweat - and water-resistant• Secure, ergonomic fit• Voice-assistant compatible. SUBSCRIBE TO WHAT HI*FI? • Our subscription offers deliver 13 issues of What Hi-Fi? a year to you, giving you…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SIX-FIVE SPECIAL

Time was, a 65in television would have seemed not only huge, but prohibitively expensive to boot. But this has become an increasingly common size many TV buyers opt for, for good reason. Those 65 inches hit a nice, sweet spot where the TV set is large enough to offer a wonderfully immersive, big-screen experience, but small enough to sit in most regular-sized living rooms without completely dominating. Prices for this size of TV have been coming down year on year, meaning you don’t necessarily need to spend multiple thousands of your hard-earned pounds to get one anymore. But of course, not all TVs are created the same – and among the reasonably priced 65in sets available now there can be massive differences in max brightness levels, high dynamic range (HDR)…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Hisense 65U7KQ

View online deals whf.cm/Hisense_U7K The 65U7K’s price looks very appealing compared with the costs of this year’s Samsung and Sony Mini LED TVs, undercutting both by hundreds of pounds for the same-sized screens. While build quality is a touch lightweight and plastic-rich compared with more premium rival Mini LED sets, it doesn’t feel flimsy or insubstantial – three sides of the screen frame, at least, are impressively trim, and the centrally mounted curved bar stand you get adds a pleasantly high-end touch. Be warned, though, that the U7K’s direct lighting system does lead to the TV sticking out quite a bit further at the rear than most of today’s slimline TVs. With the U7K we get a contrast-rich VA type of Mini LED panel and, for the 65in model at…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

LG USE6S

View online deals whf.cm/LG_USE6S Meet the LG USE6S, a plucky Atmos-equipped soundbar that is positioned in the mid-range sector, offering spatial sound at a wallet-friendly price. The USE6S is priced at £500, which puts it in the direct firing line of a couple of obvious Dolby Atmos soundbar rivals. The first is the Sony HT-A3000 (see p42), an Atmos-enabled soundbar priced at £499. Then there’s the slightly cheaper Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (p38), of course, which is a five-star soundbar through and through, with Awards clout to back it up. Attractive aesthetic By soundbar standards this is quite a nice-looking and feeling unit that is solidly constructed. Its rounded, understated aesthetic that tapers upwards slightly is intentionally minimalist to blend seamlessly into any entertainment set-up. Measuring 6 x 80 x…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Denon AVR-X2800H

View online deals whf.cm/AVR-X2800H Unlike other companies that have tried to add a touch of glamour to the considerable bulk that a home cinema amp brings, Denon has an assured, ‘if ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach, staunchly sticking to its brushed black finish and monochrome display for the AVR-X2800H. It’s a kind of confidence that is well earned, because the AVR-X2800H doesn’t need to draw attention to itself – quite simply it has one of the best all-around feature sets of any AVR at this price point, designed to appeal to serious gamers and movie buffs alike while bringing some impressive futureproofed features for its outlay. In Denon’s six-strong premium X range, the seven-channel AVR-X2800H sits below the AVC-X3800H (currently available at £999), and packs nine channels of amplification…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Yamaha RX-A6A

View online deals whf.cm/RX-A6A The RX-A6A is the most precise sounding, well-specified, flexible and future-proofed AVR that we have come across at this price point. At £1799, the Yamaha RX-A6A’s closest rival is the Denon AVC-X6700H – a formidable What Hi-Fi? Award-winner that offers two more channels of amplification than the RX-A6A. Unlike the Yamaha, however, only one of its eight inputs and two of its three outputs are HDMI 2.1-certified (though all ports already support 2.1 gaming features such as VRR, ALLM, QMS and QFT). Yamaha considers the RX-A6A to be its best-value AVR as it boasts a near-identical feature set to the flagship RX-A8A (around £2700). Most of the differences are internal: the A6A doesn’t have the same separation between the transformer and power stages, extra-large custom block…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

42IN LG OLED42C3

View online deals whf.cm/LG_42C3 Like its bigger 65in sibling, the 42in C3 is very similar to the TV it replaces. That is, of course, disappointing, and we would love to see some extra development in the small OLED TV segment which is somewhat restricted in terms of brightness compared with larger models. It’s also a slight shame that the set’s OLED-ness isn’t more obvious in the design – the chassis is 4.1cm thick across almost its whole rear, with just the final few centimetres to the sides and top that are typically OLED-thin. This is likely unavoidable, of course, given that the set is as compact as it is – it still has to pack in the same connections and processing hardware as its larger siblings. Said connections are among…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

65IN LG OLED65G3

View online deals whf.cm/LG_G3 The big talking point with the LG G3 is its new MLA technology. Put simply, this is a layer of billions of microscopic lenses (sometimes adorably referred to as ‘lenslets’) that are added to the panel in order to focus the light from the OLEDs themselves. MLA can increase the light we see without the OLEDs themselves needing to produce any more light than they did before. This is important because over-stressing OLED materials is what can lead to image retention or burn-in. The G3 also features a heatsink that allows the OLEDs to be pushed brighter than they are in standard OLED TVs such as the C3, again without any increased risk of burn-in. The G2 was already one of the brightest OLED TVs available,…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Fyne Audio Vintage Classic X

■ Floorstanding speakers ■ £6499 “Vocals come through with clarity and passion while the instrumental backdrop is immaculately organised” It is easy to underestimate speakers such as Fyne Audio’s Vintage Classic X. They look as though they have been time-warped from the 1970s, with a huge, wider-than-deep walnut-covered cabinet and lovely adjustable dials to fine-tune their tone. We suspect a large proportion of worldwide sales will be down to the rather contrived aesthetics – and that’s perfectly okay with us. Yet, for those not taken in by the Fyne’s retro charms, it would be wrong to dismiss these floorstanders as something of a novelty solely for those that yearn for the past. Listen in and you will find one of the most charming speakers available for the money. Fyne Audio…

5 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

CD PLAYERS & TRANSPORTS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

MUSIC STREAMERS

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Chord 2yu £449 November 2021 Partnered with a suitably capable digital-to-analogue converter, this could be all the digital source you’ll ever need. Outputs USB, coaxial, optical, BNC £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node (2021) £549 Best music streamer under £750, Awards 2022 For this outlay the Node 2021 represents one of the most entertaining and comprehensive ways of adding music streaming to your hi-fi system. Outputs RCA, coaxial, optical, subwoofer, 3.5mm Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £750-£1000, Awards 2022 All the success of the classy CXN streamer,…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Positioning your speakers

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

WIRELESS SPEAKERS

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

5 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

PROJECTORS

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £1099 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2022 BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values pays off handsomely. Throw ratio 1.13-1.46:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1500-£2000, Awards 2022 The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes £2000 to £15,000 LG CineBeam HU715Q £2645 Best ultra-short-throw projector, Awards 2022 LG’s sharp and contrasty image really sells this UST projector, making it one of the few models that you might seriously consider ditching your TV for. Screen size up…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SPEAKER PACKAGES

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2022 Wharfedale delivers movie magic on a small scale with this enjoyable, well integrated package that’s perfect for smaller rooms and budgets. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12cm Finishes 2 “It has all the detail, attack and deftness to deliver exhilaration in spades” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2020 The subwoofer needs a bit more kick, but this fantastic sub-£1000 5.1 package delivers a clear, well-balanced and expressive performance. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 22 cm Finishes 4 “This compact set really hits the spot with its great clarity, integration, expression and ample bass weight” Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP £999 Best speaker…

3 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

HEADPHONES

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

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SMARTPHONES

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

TABLETS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

MAINS PRODUCTS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

CARTRIDGES

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2022 This is a wonderfully balanced and entertaining moving magnet cartridge that will work well with a wide range of record players. Type MM Tracking weight 2.0g “The sound it delivers is clear, informative and fun. We can’t ask much more than that” Sumiko Rainier £160 Best cartridge £100-£250, Awards 2022 This Sumiko is a little gem. Set it up with care and have a little patience, and you’ll find this to be one of the best performers anywhere near this price. Type MM Tracking weight 1.8-2.2g (2.0g recommended) “Get in some hours of use and the presentation blooms into something that’s surprisingly musical and engaging” Ortofon Quintet Blue £359 Best cartridge over £250, Awards 2022 Given a…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SPEAKER STANDS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

HOW WE TEST

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, Reading and Bath. 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 an 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…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Ruark M2 Mk4

View offers Radio | £479 | whf.cm/RuarkR2Mk4 It would be reductive to call the R2 Mk4 just a radio. Like many modern radios from Roberts, Revo and Tivoli, it can do so much more. From wireless Bluetooth streaming to physical wired connections, the R2 Mk4 is a modern music system that can compete against any premium wireless speaker. So much of the R2’s appeal lies in its stylish, sleek modern-retro design, and it would look at home anywhere – you could, at a push, even have it as your main audio system. The sturdy cabinet is made for sound quality as well as beauty. The damped polymer cabinet is acoustically tuned, while the rounded edges of the cabinet, the slatted wood grille and bonded glass display are made to a…

4 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

View offers Tablet | £1199 | whf.cm/GalaxyTabS9Ultra “That tablet is massive,” or “What on earth is that?”; the typical responses of anyone first laying eyes on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. And we can’t blame them – it’s quite the sight. This is Samsung’s take on the tablet formula dialled up to 11, as its flagship specs and extensive list of features attest. Apple: prepare to do battle. Serving as the crown jewel in Samsung’s current trio of Tab S9 tablets, the S9 Ultra sits above the standard and Plus model variants. The base model Ultra (256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM) will set you back £1199 while, if you need extra storage, the 512GB/12GB is £1299. Then there is the top end 1TB/16GB version (£1549) for serious creative tasks.…

3 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

WHY OPEN-BACK HEADPHONES ARE THE ONLY KIND FOR ME

Something struck me the other day, as I sat at my desk navigating my laptop mouse awkwardly around several pairs of over-ear headphones that I can’t bring myself to stow away. All but one of those pairs (a wireless pair) were open-backed models. A word for the uninitiated: the headphones to which I am colloquially referring are those with ‘open-back’ designs. That is, over-ears that a) don’t have enclosures behind their drivers, and b) have perforated or otherwise unsealed earcups that leak (some) sound both in and out. Essentially, sound from those ‘free’ drivers is fired both towards and away from your ears – as opposed to just towards them as is the case in the more commonplace ‘closed-back’ design, where sound is predominantly enclosed between your ears and the…

5 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED

View online deals whf.cm/OmniQLED Amazon Fire TV devices are seriously popular – to the tune of more than 200 million of them having been sold worldwide. Amazon must anticipate sales will eventually slow down, though, as more people become owners of TVs that are already smart and therefore don’t need a Fire Stick. That is presumably why the company has finally decided to cut out the middleman and produce its own range of TVs with the Fire OS platform built in. Top of that range is the Omni QLED. It’s still very much a value-oriented proposition – and it’s really rather good. Unsurprisingly, the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED doesn’t feature the sort of craftsmanship or ultra-modern design of the latest Samsung or LG TVs, but this is far from…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SOAK UP THE ATMOS

As impressive as today’s flatscreen TVs can be (and most of them are), the one thing they simply cannot do is supply good-quality sound. That’s where soundbars come in. Even the most affordable half-decent soundbars will comfortably outclass the best-sounding televisions when it comes to sonic ability. That means you won’t have to sell the family silver to complement your telly’s big picture with the big sound it deserves. For this round-up we have selected three models under £500. For that kind of money you can expect decent sound quality with stereo music as well as with movies, plus a good array of streaming smarts. Crucially – as is the case with all three of the models featured here – you can also get the benefits of Dolby Atmos sound.…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Sony HT-A3000

View online deals whf.cm/HT_A3000 This is the newest addition to Sony’s HT-A series of Dolby Atmos soundbars, the HTA3000. It is the smallest, cheapest and lowest-specified soundbar of the currently available trio, alongside the Product of the Year-winning HT-A7000 and the not-so-Award-winning (but still good) HT-A5000. So what sets this one apart? Well, it’s still a Dolby Atmos soundbar, but Sony has cut a few features out in order to reach a lower price point – which means no upward-firing drivers or additional HDMI inputs. This puts it squarely in the sights of the mighty Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (see p38). Set into this soundbar’s smooth, black-plastic build is a selection of capacitive touch buttons for power, input, streaming, Bluetooth and volume control. There is, of course, a remote bundled…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Sony TA-AN1000

View online deals whf.cm/TA_AN1000 Sony is finally back in the AV amp game with the TA-AN1000 delivering a home cinema amplifier that has reignited the same excitement we felt with its last model. That model was the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning STR-DN1080 AV receiver which took home Product of the Year in 2017 and 2018 (the year in which it also entered into our Hall of Fame), and it held a firm place on our Awards lists until 2020. The TA-AN1000 is a new European exclusive model, that at £999 is pricier than the Denon AVR-X2800H (£599), and around the same price as Denon’s next-step up AVC-X3800H. The Sony looks sleek and modern and feels well made. The few changes from the DN1080 which it otherwise closely resembles include buttons for…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

AV SYSTEM

Here we have what we would suggest is the upper limit of a ‘real-world’ home cinema system. £15,000 is a huge amount of money and it is perfectly possible, of course, to get a decent way down the road towards this sort of performance by spending many thousands less. A decent way; but not all the way. If you are in the fortunate position, though, of having 15 grand to spend on a precious home cinema room to enjoy for many years with your friends and family, might we suggest that the items you see on this page will perform spectacularly together. These components are either What Hi-Fi? Award winners – current or from years past – or very closely related to one. As we always say, please don’t assume…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

48IN Sony XR-48A90K

View online deals whf.cm/XR_48A90K Its OLED panel might lack the Quantum Dots of its limelight-stealing QD-OLED Sony siblings, but the A90K is still supremely premium and brilliantly capable. Sony has set out to keep the A90K as compact as possible. The display itself is surrounded by a black bezel that is just 8mm thick at the top and about 12mm on the sides and bottom. At 5.9cm, the A90K is thicker than LG’s 48in C3 (4.7cm), and the plastic enclosure that houses the processing hardware, speakers and connections covers more of the screen’s rear, leaving only a small section of OLED TV super-slimness. That rear, though, has a nice, etched grid pattern covering the whole surface and plastic panels that help to hide some of the connections. Those connections include…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

65IN Samsung QE65S95C

View online deals whf.cm/SamsungS95C For 2023, Samsung is venturing a little further into the vibrant blue waters of QD-OLED with a two-model range, of which this S95C is the flagship model. The S95C boasts second-generation QD-OLED tech that promises vastly higher peak brightness and greater durability. It also has a One Connect box to keep cables away from the display and, to these eyes, is one of the most stylish overall designs of any TV on the market. In theory, this is Samsung properly delivering on the promise of QD-OLED, and it’s fair to say it is one of the most technically capable TVs we have tested. Last year’s S95B is one of the most strikingly thin TVs ever made, with the vast majority of its chassis being just a…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

BUYER’S GUIDE

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 A brand new design and a tweaked sonic signature keep the Sony WF-1000XM5 (p108) at the top of the pile when it comes to wireless noise-cancelling buds. The T+A Solitaire T (p109) are the most convincing wired/wireless hybrids we have heard, and in a league of their own when it comes to convenience and sound quality in equal measure. 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…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

DACs

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 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 iFi Zen DAC V2 £159 Best DAC under £200, Awards 2022 A good jump in quality over the Award-winning original, to keep features and performance best in class – and for not…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

RADIOS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SYSTEMS

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 2022 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 February 2023 We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them. Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs Subwoofer £500 to £1500 Marantz PM7000N…

3 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

BLU-RAY PLAYERS

View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Panasonic DP-UB150EB £129 March 2020 A highly competent machine at an impressively low price, this 4K Blu-ray player represents a big step up from streaming your UHD content. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 1 Sony UBP-X700 £199 Best 4K Blu-ray player under £250, Awards 2021 This 4K player delivers a stunningly natural picture for an affordable price. It’ll be tough to knock this Sony off its perch. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD HDMI out 2 Panasonic DP-UB820EB £299 Best 4K Blu-ray player, Awards 2022 Delivers on multiple fronts, supporting all major HDR formats, delivering a hugely immersive and impactful picture, and all backed up by strong audio. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 2…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SET-TOP BOXES

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £179 Best PVR, Awards 2022 If you need a Full HD box to give your older TV some more sparkle, Humax’s digital box should absolutely be something to consider. Tuners 3 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2022 Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it comes with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

VIDEO STREAMERS

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 2022 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 2022 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,…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS

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

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Amazon Prime Video tips, tricks and features

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice Setting up a ‘Household’ account Amazon Prime Video will recommend content based on your viewing history - but what if you’re really into crime thrillers, your other half loves romantic comedies and the kids love cartoons? The answer is by linking together two Amazon accounts that will both have access to Prime Video. Go to Your Account > Shopping Programmes > Amazon Household. There you can add another adult or profiles for children, and then click ‘Create Household’. Parental Controls You can set up a four-digit PIN on the web by going into the ‘Settings’ of the Prime Video section and also in the mobile app’s settings. Streaming Ultra HD video On Amazon’s TV app there’s a category populated with Ultra HD content. You can also…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

ANALOGUE INTERCONNECTS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Know your stuff: speaker cables

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice Termination The price we list is for a cable from a reel. However, the chances are you’ll want it terminated - which means having a connection plug fitted - and that will add to the final cost. It does make set-up much easier though. Direction Many cables come with arrows showing which way they should be connected – out of the amp, into the speaker. If there are no obvious markings or arrows on your cable, look for writing and make sure it reads in the same direction of the music flow, ie from amp to speakers. It’s a controversial subject, but it can make a difference. Length When you’re measuring up for a new speaker cable, ideally you should use the same length for both…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

View offers Standmount speakers | £599 | whf.cm/607_S3 Bowers & Wilkins’ entry-level 600 series of speakers has a storied history with us at What Hi-Fi? Now in its eighth generation, this speaker range has a slew of five-star reviews and Award wins to its name over the years, with B&W hitting upon just the right formula of great sound and affordable price tag to deliver a crowd-pleasing speaker. The smallest and most affordable of the range, the new Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3, now replaces our current Award-winning 607 S2 Anniversary Edition model. A quick look at the review score and effusive verdict already hint at the new successor’s talents, but that barely scratches the surface of these speakers’ capabilities. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that prices…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Sonos Move 2

View offers Wireless speaker | £449 | whf.cm/SonosMove2 Bucking the trend of small, rugged, carry-in-your-bag portable Bluetooth speakers, Sonos’s original Move was a chunky beast that you could realistically only shuffle in between rooms or venture out into your home garden with. The Move 2 is similarly packed with all of the usual Sonos wireless streaming and multi-room smarts, while Sonos has fully embraced its uniqueness in this market by sticking to its bulky size and bulging feature set, improving the sound quality and offering it at a premium sum of £449. It is now priced near-identically to the Sonos Era 300 wireless speaker. The Era 300 was designed from the ground up, with a unique internal driver arrangement dedicated to spatial audio playback, boasts hi-res audio streams over wi-fi…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Q Acoustics 5040

View offers Floorstanding speakers | £999 | whf.cm/QAcoustics5040 From our point of view, Q Acoustics appears to be a prisoner of its own success. The brand burst onto the scene back in 2006 with a terrific range of budget speakers, and each new generation of that original range has reinforced the company’s reputation as a budget speaker maestro. The truckload of five-star reviews and awards gained over that time have helped too. The trouble with such success at lower price points is that it has led to a lack of appreciation for the brand’s more upmarket products. The £3599 Concept 500 floorstanders are a great example. These are truly excellent speakers for the money, in many ways better than alternatives that cost thousands more; but, in the UK at least,…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

TOP FIVE LAUNCHES

1 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max £1199 Apple’s latest flagship smartphone brings a host of long-awaited features to the iPhone. USB-C is taking most of the limelight, but other new features include a brighter display, a new dedicated AV core within the processor, thinner bezels and a lightweight (yet sturdy) titanium frame. Last year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max took home Product of the Year in the smartphone category at the What Hi-Fi? Awards, dethroning Sony; but can Apple hold onto the title? https://whf.cm/iPhone_15 2 Rega Naia £12,500 Rega’s highly anticipated reference turntable is finally here; hopefully, you have had enough time to save up… It is a limited-production variant of the Naiad, a no-expense-spared research and development project that Rega ran to test its furthest limits. Due to the popularity…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

TCL 65C845K

View online deals whf.cm/TCL_C845K TCL’s 65C845K would look pretty good value for even a fairly basically specified 65in TV. However, thanks in particular to its ground-breaking brightness and potent local-dimming light control, the set boasts a level of picture and sound performance that would normally cost you hundreds, even thousands of pounds more. It’s a substantial TV – even at its thinnest section, it sticks out more than most of today’s super-slim models, while build quality feels a little plasticky. We can forgive all this though for the level of picture and sound specification it offers for so little. In particular, its 65in, VA-type screen uses Mini LED technology, where much smaller LEDs than normal are used in greater numbers to deliver more brightness and light control. This is backed…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

View online deals whf.cm/SonosBeamGen2 While sequels often pale in comparison with their predecessors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 joins the ranks of The Dark Knight, The Godfather Part II and The Empire Strikes Back as not only a worthy successor but better than its predecessor in every way. That’s no small claim, as the first generation Beam captured our hearts back in 2018 and was adorned with numerous What Hi-Fi? Awards. Key to this Sonos sequel’s success is the retention of its compact and fuss-free design, streamlined functionality and surprising sonic scale and weight, despite its modest footprint. With the arrival of its larger sibling, the Arc, in 2020, Sonos proved that it can convincingly deliver Dolby Atmos audio in a larger chassis. But we are a little apprehensive about…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

WHERE THE REAL POWER LIES

Let’s be clear about this; if you want to enjoy movies at home in the best way possible there is no substitute for a proper home cinema system. Soundbars might be an affordable way of giving your TV’s sound an effective boost (see page 37), but even the best ones don’t come close to delivering the kind of sound quality you will get from a dedicated surround-sound system. Central to every such system is its AV amplifier. These marvels of technological wizardry not only provide the muscle required to deliver cinema-like sound, they also carry the necessary audio – and video – processing ability to refine that muscle. So, in conjunction with the speakers positioned around your room, they can recreate the fully immersive sonic experience you would get at…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Arcam AVR5

They are the central hub that connects diverse, demanding home entertainment devices, so we are now used to seeing home cinema amps capable not only of handling movies in every flavour of HDR, but also the bandwidth demands of next-gen gaming consoles and an excessive quantity of immersive sound formats – as well as the swelling number of amplifier channels they require. On top of all this, users also expect a range of streaming options, room calibration and app control. So when it comes to building an entry-level AVR, the question for manufacturers is: where to trim the fat? While some brands take the approach of reducing channels of amplification or using cheaper DACs, Arcam is taking a different tack with the AVR5, its first-ever ‘entry-level’ home cinema amplifier. Entry-level…

7 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

LIFE IN THE OLED DOG YET…

You may find yourself bamboozled by all the different TV tech available these days. But OLED, a dominant player in the premium TV game for a number of years now, isn’t about to go away, and you can get affordably priced OLED sets that provide superb picture performance. Without getting too ‘sciencey,’ with OLED, light can be emitted on a pixel by pixel basis, so a bright white or coloured pixel can appear next to one that is black, or an entirely different colour, with neither impacting the other. This results in exceptional levels of contrast compared with TVs that rely on backlighting. OLED’s perceived weakness is in a relative lack of brightness compared with backlit TVs, and a number of new OLED technologies aim to address this – notably…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

55IN Sony XR-55A80L

View online deals whf.cm/Sony_55A80L While all of the OLED attention may well be focused on the super-bright new MLA and QD-OLED models, the truth is that they are prohibitively expensive right now, and this ‘step down’ A80L is nonetheless incontrovertible proof that there is plenty of life in the OLED dog yet. The set is just a touch thicker (5.3cm) than the LG C3 (4.5cm), and it’s thicker again over more of its rear, due to a larger enclosure to house the actuators that are placed behind and vibrate the whole panel in order to generate sound. Sony is continuing with its Cognitive Processor XR as the brain of its premium TVs, and this has proved to be hugely capable in the past. This year, it gets a new XR…

6 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Moon 641

■ Integrated amplifier ■ £11,000 “While Moon has long made high-end products, the North Collection is still a bold statement of intent and firmly pushes its focus upmarket” Integrated amplifiers become increasingly rare as price points rise. That makes sense given that there are invariably compromises involved when packing both a preamplifier and power amp with the partnering power supply in the same box. When spending car-buying amounts of money, any idea of compromise should be the last thing on the menu, yet here we have Moon’s new 641 integrated amplifier sitting on our equipment rack trying to convince us that it is worth every penny of its £11,000 price tag. Moon created quite a stir when it introduced its North Collection of products earlier this year. The name celebrates…

9 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

AMPLIFIERS

View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Rega io £379 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2021 Those who are happy with a no-fuss, purely analogue amp and who prioritise entertainment should arguably consider the io their number one choice. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x2, MM Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2022 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…

4 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

How to digitize your vinyl collection

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/features What do you need? The basic building blocks are: a turntable, a phono stage, an analogue-to-digital converter with USB output, and a computer with suitable recording software. There are turntables that come with a phono stage, analogue-to-digital converter and USB output built in. But most are at the budget end and focus on getting the job done rather than doing it particularly well. Your recordings won’t necessarily reflect the quality of sound possible from your records, though Audio Technica’s AT-LP5 and Sony PS-HX500 vinyl-ripping decks do their best to buck that trend. If you already have a turntable, the best option is to buy a decent USB phono stage. We like the £90 Rega Fono Mini A2D and Pro-Ject also produce decent affordable alternatives. Recording software…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

STEREO SPEAKERS

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2020 The 2s combine Dali’s traditional strengths with a generous dose of entertainment that even Mission and Q Acoustics struggle to match. Size (hwd) 17 x 28 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 “The way these speakers handle dynamics is impressive” Standmounters from £200 to £500 Elac Debut B5.2 £250 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2022 ELAC’s latest budget standmounter is talented enough to worry the established competition. Size (hwd) 34 x 18 x 23cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 “These new Debuts should be considered one of the company’s finest efforts” Dali Oberon 1 £349 February 2019 About the size of a shoe, these articulate and bold-sounding speakers have a wonderfully unfussy…

9 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

TURNTABLES

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2022 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm £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 2022 This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly solid, accurate and agile – it’s a lovely listen. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12…

3 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 and above Denon AVR-X2800H £869 Best home cinema amplifier £1000-£2000, Awards 2022 The AVR-X2800H ups the ante with more HDMI 2.1 inputs, a new user-friendly interface and a more responsive, coherent and spacious sound. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 July 2023 Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9 x 105W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SOUNDBARS & SOUNDBASES

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 2022 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. Now with Dolby Atmos capabilities. Impressive. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Yamaha YSP-2700 £699 February 2017 With a spacious, involving sound the YSP-2700 is the most convincing surround experience you’ll get outside of a full 5.1 surround system. Size (hwd) 5 x 94 x…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

TELEVISIONS

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 “Shows a level of maturity, confidence and understanding of the many elements that go into producing a truly satisfying TV picture” LG OLED42C2 £999 Best 40-43in TV and Best gaming TV, Awards 2022 Simply put, this is the best 42in TV there has ever been. Partly that’s because it’s the first OLED of its size, with fabulous contrast, colours and punch. Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Operating system webOS22 “It’s punchy but controlled, vibrant but natural, sharp but not exaggerated. A performance per pound champ” 48in to…

4 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

Headphone jargon busted

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

STREAMING APPS & SERVICES

Music apps Spotify from free December 2016 Its accessibility, ease of use, huge catalogue and more mature music discovery are reasons why Spotify remains at the top of the pile. Sound quality Up to 320kbps Ogg Vorbis Offline playback Yes Tidal from £10/month Best music streaming service, Awards 2022 One of the few streaming services to offer lossless audio, Tidal’s exclusive content and curated playlists make it stand out. Sound quality Up to 1411kbps lossless Offline playback Yes Video apps Disney Plus from £7.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2022 This is a polished and personal streaming service that fans of Disney’s output, both children and adults, are bound to enjoy. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline playback Yes Amazon Prime Instant Video from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

AV & HI-FI RACKS

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

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

PHONO STAGES

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 Up to £200 Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a sweet sound. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 12 x 19cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS £199 April 2018 Though it’s not as versatile as the Rega Mk3, the LX2 delivers a more engaging performance thanks to its open, full-bodied sound. Type MM, MC Dimensions (hwd) 4 x 17 x 19cm Rega Fono MM Mk5…

2 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

SPEAKER CABLES

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…

1 min

What Hi-Fi?|December 2023

THE 7 BEST PODCASTS ON SPOTIFY RIGHT NOW

With more than two million podcasts, some of them bizarre, many of them fascinating, quite a few hovering somewhere in between, it can be tricky choosing the right Spotify podcasts for you. Our rundown includes a mix of both Originals and podcasts you can find elsewhere, and most of the shows listed below are still updated at least semi-regularly. THE LEX FRIDMAN PODCAST AI expert, computer scientist and ju-jitsu enthusiast Fridman takes the same sort of interviewer/interviewee format that has become such a mainstay of YouTube and the podcast realm, bringing the Russian-American’s straightforward yet insightful style to thousands of listeners. The big circuit names such as Sam Harris and Andrew Huberman make appearances, yet also featured for in-depth chats are the likes of MMA legend Georges St. Pierre, former…

4 min