Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i What Hi-Fi?

Premium home cinema projectors such as the Sony Bravia Projector 9 are facing a double threat these days. On the one hand, we are seeing a massive surge in the availability of affordable and, in some cases, startlingly good king-sized TVs; while on the other we’ve got brands currently fighting like rats in a sack to deliver convincing HDR projectors for relative peanuts. What’s more, we must straightaway highlight the cold fact that this projector will set you back £25,999. That’s a new car. Or multiple holidays of a lifetime. In short, the Bravia Projector 9 is going to be out of reach for anyone who is even remotely financially challenged. On the other hand, our experience has shown that arguably no projector brands tend to reward you more for…

We hi-fi reviewers all have our go-to test tracks; songs we know better than the back of our hands that allow us to identify certain (often many) aspects of a component or system’s performance. Many of the less obscure ones are referenced in What Hi-Fi? reviews so that readers can, if they so wish, follow our descriptions of how that product delivers the song, at home or during a demo. Below is a selection of test tracks our review team used most in the past year, a mixture of new releases, oldies-but-goodies that are never far from our Tidal ‘Recently Played’ rotation, and those we have picked up at hi-fi shows (because that’s always a given). So if you’ve got new kit or are simply looking for new music inspiration,…

There is good news aplenty for anyone looking to buy a pair of affordable stereo speakers. For starters, the market is awash with products of varying designs and specifications, so there is plenty of choice. Second, the overall quality of speakers in the sub-£1000 price bracket has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Advances in design and technology have meant that not only do today’s budget speakers sound significantly better than their equivalents from 20 years ago, they are also constructed from better-quality materials and are built and finished to higher standards. Improved production processes also mean it is easier and more cost-efficient for manufacturers to incorporate drive-unit materials found in their more premium speakers (the trickle-down effect) spelling another win for the buyer. That means larger…

£349 The QX-2 have always been one of the more interesting-looking speakers at this price point and with this 2022 iteration, the aluminium top plate has been revised to bring extra rigidity. The two-way standmounter also gets the latest version of Mission’s DiaDrive bass/mid driver. The cone is made from an improved acrylic fibre material, and you can actually see those fibres glisten when light catches the speaker cone from certain angles. It’s surrounded by something Mission refers to as a “serrated acoustic damping frame”. That’s not there simply for visual effect; it is engineered to help scatter unwanted reflections coming off the cone and improve the purity of sound. For the MKII variants, the layout of the indents has been tweaked while tapered indentations have been added to help…

Despite our ongoing love of physical formats, streaming music wirelessly is convenient, versatile and space-saving. Whether you have meticulously curated hard drives full of hi-res digital downloads and CD rips, or enjoy streaming in high quality from Tidal or Qobuz, playing music from one box using a wi-fi or wired connection is a versatile and high-performance experience. As a result, dedicated music streamers are increasingly a part of any audiophile’s set-up. While there are now many fantastic budget models on the market, there are also options higher up the price ladder for those who want to wring out every drop of authenticity and insight they can from their digital music. The streamers we recommend over the following pages are not the most premium options out there, but they do represent…

£2499 When Naim describes its ND5 XS 2 network streamer as ‘entry level’, it actually means that it is the cheapest dedicated component the company makes in the range. Never mind entering at this level, if this is the best your system ever sounds you’ll be doing your ears mightily proud. Understated look But this streamer isn’t boastful. Its black chassis is punctuated only by the company logo and power button, both tastefully illuminated in Naim’s iconic green, and a USB Type-A input subtly located front and left. That means no full-colour screen, something that has been a welcome and attractive feature of Naim’s recent products; but, given that your streamer will be controlled almost exclusively via the app, it’s far from an issue in terms of functionality. In fact,…

£395 If we had to choose one word that encapsulates both the design and sound of Beyerdynamic’s Amiron headphones, it would be ‘comfortable’. But naturally, good reviews are usually longer and much more insightful than just one word – and these Amiron headphones are certainly talented enough that they are worth writing plenty about. Comfortable fit You are unlikely to have many complaints about how these headphones feel. Beyerdynamic has used alcantara microfibres (a blend of polyester and polyurethane with a similar texture to suede) and microvelour to make the earcups and headband. The result is that you could easily wear these headphones for hours on end; while that may sound like marketing spiel, in our lengthy testing sessions, the Amiron manage to live up to this claim. These headphones…

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…

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

“David Beckham wears Pi6.” That’s the bold statement you will see accompanying much of the advertising material for Bowers & Wilkins’ wireless earbuds as Beckham, buds in ears, looks smoulderingly out at you. Bowers & Wilkins is a brand with a strong pedigree in the wireless arena. The company’s earbuds haven’t always hit the spot, but the Pi6’s costlier siblings, the Award-winning B&W Pi8, are sensational performers. So, our breath is suitably bated. The Pi6 sit in the premium space occupied by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the new Technics EAH-AZ100. Blessed with the same neat shape, tidy dimensions and quality feel as the Pi8, they also exude the same luxury build and design at a lower price point – never a bad thing. The charging…

This startlingly affordable whopper proves even more that the cinema-sized TV revolution is well and truly upon us. Not so long ago you would have had to pay five figures for a 98-100in TV. The TCL 98Q9BK, though, sets UK buyers back the princely sum of £3250 – and that’s despite it being far from basic with either its specifications or features. Suddenly, the current huge surge in the popularity of mega-sized TVs isn’t so hard to understand. The main king-sized TV competition for the 98Q9BK comes from TCL itself and arch-rival Hisense. The 85in TCL 85C805K we loved so much is now, incredibly, available for under £1500, while Hisense’s 100in 100E7NQT Pro is a pound under £2k. Note, though, that the 85C805K doesn’t sport as many dimming zones or…

1 Samsung HW-Q990F (£TBC) Samsung rocked the soundbar world with last year’s HW-Q990D, as it snatched the Product of the Year title from Sony and Sonos thanks to its sensational sound performance. Recognising that it struck gold with the Q990D, Samsung has opted to focus on one key area of the Dolby Atmos surround-sound package – the subwoofer. Smaller and more powerful than last year’s model, it features dual 8in woofers in a modest 25cm cube chassis which, Samsung promises, will provide “robust bass and ultra-low-frequency precision”. Furthermore, this is the first soundbar from Samsung to support its new Eclipsa Audio format which is set to tackle Dolby Atmos head-on. • whf.cm/SamsungAtmos 2 Panasonic Z95B (£TBC) The Consumer Electronics Show 2025 marked the launch of Panasonic’s latest flagship OLED TV,…

2 £199 Dali’s Spektor 2 stick to the classic budget standmounter formula like Superglue sticks to fingers. There’s everything we would expect from a typical £200 box here, from two-way driver configuration and ported bass tuning through to the 25mm dome tweeter and 13cm mid/bass driver. But as with any dish, culinary or acoustic, the list of ingredients tells you only so much – and those familiar with Dali will know it has something of a talent for budget boxes. Greater verve The Spektor 2 are pretty compact at just 29cm high and are nicely made with good general fit and attention to detail. Let them run in over a couple of days and supply them with a good system, and these speakers sparkle. Their rated sensitivity is a little…

£429 Bowers & Wilkins entry-level 600 series has a slew of five-star reviews and Award wins to its name, with B&W hitting upon just the right formula of great sound and affordable price tag to deliver real crowd-pleasers. The smallest and most affordable of the range are the Award-winning 607 S3. While we would hesitate to call the newest speakers truly ‘budget’, these are still B&W’s entry-level pair and pack in more than enough punch to justify their outlay. B&W is a brand with a strong history of trickling down technology and concepts from its premium ranges into even its most entry-level products, and accordingly the 607 S3 is filled to the brim with updates on the talented 607 S2 Anniversary Edition. First and foremost is the use of titanium in…

£2899 We reviewed the original generation of the Technics SL-G700 back in 2019. At the time it seemed like a canny choice of source product for those who want to upgrade a traditional premium system but still have an eye for the future. The passing years haven’t changed our view one bit, with the mildly fettled SL-G700M2 version admirably fulfilling the same brief. It will take more than a casual glance to uncover the differences between the two generations of this product. The casework is identical – not that we are complaining. The Technics SL-G700M2 remains a solid and beautifully made box, displaying a level of fit and finish that is among the best we have seen at this level. The front panel controls work with precision, as does the…

£249 The Prestige range of headphones has been at the core of Grado’s output since it was first introduced three decades ago. While the series has developed over the years, Grado has always done so in small evolutionary steps. The story remains the same for this newest ‘x’ generation. Put the SR325x next to its predecessor (the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning SR325e), and there is little to separate them, apart from flatter foam earpads, updated cable and lighter-coloured stitching on the firmly padded headband. As is usual with Grado, most of the important work goes unseen. The 44mm drive unit has been changed considerably, with a revised motor system, new diaphragm and upgraded coil. The aim is to improve efficiency and reduce distortion. Similarly, that new eight-conductor cable uses ‘super’ annealed…

£399 There aren’t many headphones with as much heritage and history as the Sennheiser HD 600. The fact that you can still waltz onto the Sennheiser website and buy a pair, despite the model being well over 20 years old, just goes to show they are still a respected icon and part of the headphone market furniture. Over the years, a number of new versions have launched, including the HD 650 and HD 660, not to mention the very latest version we are testing here; the Sennheiser HD 660S2. Optimised airflow The Sennheiser HD 660S2’s price puts them in the premium wired headphones category. Their most natural rival would be the Beyerdynamic Amiron (£395), although at this level prices are quite spread out and you can buy excellent options if…

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…

Traditionally, it’s hi-fi separates that have been, and for many people still are, the building blocks of any system. But in a world that is becoming increasingly wrapped up in the convenience of wireless, an all-in-one system that shares similar features to this Technics could be the natural, logical choice for many. Everything you need for your listening journey is packed into the two boxes you see here: drive units, amplification, streaming engine with access to multiple streaming services and enough connectivity options to cater for all your needs. Also, there’s an app, so you have all the controls at your fingertips. It can be a tricky task to integrate all the various elements into something that produces a seamless and satisfying user experience, and that’s before you even touch…

The Planar 3 has traditionally been the sweet spot of Rega’s turntables. Iconic by name and reputation – and the recipient of more What Hi-Fi? Award wins than we can count – this deck has recently impressed us all over again thanks to a new fitted moving-magnet cartridge (Nd3) improving the performance even further than before. There are ways to upgrade the standard Planar 3’s performance – add an outboard power supply and/or upgrade to a step-up cartridge, for instance – but there is quite a gap to the next rung up the ladder, which is the premium Planar 6 deck (£1215 without cartridge). This is where the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition comes in. The ‘RS’ stands for ‘Rega Special’ and is a full production package imbued with a…

When it comes to visitor attractions, the city of Bristol has a lot going for it. There’s a dramatic suspension bridge, an iconic observatory, stacks of museums and Brunel’s majestic SS Great Britain steam ship. But if you love hi-fi (that’s you, by the way), all of the above is of secondary importance in the city right now, because February is the month of The Bristol Hi-Fi Show. The show – which is organised by Audio T, the UK’s oldest independent specialist hi-fi retailer – is universally recognised as the UK’s premier hi-fi exhibition, and represents the best opportunity within these shores for the general public to see the latest hi-fi equipment from some of the world’s leading manufacturers, including Naim, JBL, Arcam, Cyrus, Dali and Pro-Ject. It’s also the…

£399 As one of Q Acoustics’ most affordable entry-level options, the 3020c face strong rivals at this price, such as Triangle’s Borea BR03, Dali Oberon 1 and (cheaper at £249) 2024 Award-winning Wharfedale Diamond 12.1. The British brand has always gone for a minimalist aesthetic, and here that signature snowman-like driver array is complemented by rounded cabinet edges and a modest, unobtrusive look. Their sensitivity of 87dB/W/m and 6-ohm nominal impedance is fairly typical for speakers at this size and price. Q Acoustics’ Continuous Curved Cone is deployed here for the 12cm impregnated paper mid/bass driver, and aims to offer an “articulate and fast midrange, controlled bass dynamics and detailed high frequencies.” Essentially, it seeks to combine the advantages of a flared cone and a straight-edge arrangement without incurring their…

£2499 Audiolab has become a go-to brand for us when it comes to affordable music streamers. Based on the Play-Fi streaming platform, the company’s offerings have typically delivered a balanced and insightful performance while being easy to use. The introduction of the range-topping 9000N marks a shift in ambition: it is pitched at a properly premium price, and there has been a change in streaming platform to one from high-end specialist, Lumin. Why couldn’t Audiolab just make its own streaming platform? Developing and then maintaining one (as new feature requirements arise) is such a complex and expensive task that most hi-fi companies prefer to buy in ready-made solutions from specialist suppliers. Lumin is a good choice – a firmly established manufacturer of well-regarded premium streaming products that also deals with a…

Last month, the world’s biggest tech show, CES, brought everything from amazing new wireless earbuds and next-generation OLED TVs to the surprise resurrection of a hi-fi heavyweight. Our team was on the ground at the Las Vegas show, and here we present nine products that truly caught our eye. 1 Technics EA-AZ100 Technics is well known for its hi-fi systems, turntables and speakers. To this day its SA-C600 “just add speakers” system remains a What Hi-Fi? Award winner and staple sight in our editor’s lounge, as well as our test rooms. But Technics has struggled to earn a five-star rating with its wireless earbuds. That all changed at CES 2025 where the company unveiled its new EA-AZ100 buds. Having had them in a good month before the event for review,…

£269 Austrian Audio is a relatively young company, having been founded only in mid-2017, but at its core is a group of ex-AKG employees who between them have decades of experience in the headphone industry. This wealth of knowledge clearly shines through in Austrian Audio’s products. Take a look at the number of five-star reviews the company’s headphones have already garnered, and you’ll see it has had something of a dream start when it comes to What Hi-Fi? reviews. The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 have an open-back design, meaning they leak a certain amount of sound out as well as letting a fair amount of environmental noise in. These headphones are nowhere near as leaky as the likes of Grado’s otherwise brilliant SR325x, but it’s still something to be aware of…

Over-ear headphones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but can primarily be broken down into just two types: open-back or closed-back. Whether a pair of over-ears is open or closed isn’t always immediately apparent to the eye, but essentially it comes down to their structure and consequential effect on performance. Closed-back is unarguably the most common type, with most wired and nearly all wireless models sporting a closed design; while open-back is the reserve only of wired over-ears (save for one notable exception: the Grado GW100x) and is typically more present in the higher-priced regions of that market. While headphone manufacturers produce open and closed-back headphones to varying degrees of quality, there are fundamental differences between these two main types. Thankfully, What Hi-Fi?’s expert team has, between them,…

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 Cyrus celebrates its 40th anniversary with four new models, including the classy-looking 40 ST music streamer, while Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds also impress. Elsewhere, Apple’s iPad Air 13in is a great-looking (and -sounding) tablet for those who don’t need the pricier Pro model, and the Austrian Audio Full Score One is a fine analogue headphone amp. HOW TO POSITION YOUR SPEAKERS It’s not just a case of ‘plonk ’em down and plug ’em in’; getting your speakers set up properly can make all the difference to how they sound. We show you how to get it right on page…