Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i What Hi-Fi?

I realise that this is the ‘February’ edition of What Hi-Fi?, but it is actually our first issue out in the shops in 2026. You can blame the vagaries of old-school magazine publishing for the dating tradition of having your issue come out a month ‘early’. This, then, is the edition that brings in the new year for us. And that, talking of tradition, means it’s our Systems Special once again. December is the perfect time of year for us to create some brilliant two-channel and home-cinema set-ups. We have, after all, just come off a month or three of Awards-testing the best products. So it’s a fun process for our expert team to take some of those Best Buys and Products of the Year and use them as the…

PRINT AND DIGITAL PLUS Digital library** £21.41 every six months DIGITAL ONLY £17.83 every six months 3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE www.magazinesdirect.com/WHI/DJ58Z or call 0330 333 1113 and Quote DJ58Z SAVE UP TO 45%* WHY WHAT HI*FI? Comprehensive reviews to help you buy the very best tech products for your money Expert advice on how to make the most of your purchases Features that offer music and movie tips, opinions, interviews and more Targeted news and info to help you find the best deals SCAN ME FOR GREAT SAVINGS! *Terms and conditions: Offer closes 16th February 2026. Price is guaranteed for the first six months. Please allow up to six weeks for the delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). The subscription rate includes postage and…

Here at What Hi-Fi?, we like to think we go above and beyond to help you enjoy your music and movies in the best way possible. In our book, that means not only reviewing individual devices so you can find the ones that suit your needs and budget, but also advising you on which products work well together. In this issue we have 24 pages devoted to doing the latter. And kicking us off – and featured over the following 15 pages – is our carefully curated collection of hi-fi systems – seven of them, in fact. (See p60 for our home-cinema set-ups.) This month’s compilations come with added spice, because they are the first systems to feature winners from our recent 2025 Awards, and the first to benefit from the…

Mission’s 770 speakers had been a What Hi-Fi? Award winner every year since they launched in 2022. This year, though, they were ousted by the new PMC Prophecy 1. Both speakers have fundamentally different design philosophies and are of different sizes, but for those looking for the best-sounding standmount speakers in this price range (roughly £2500-£3700), these are two of the best we’ve encountered in recent years. PMC Prophecy 1 vs Mission 770: price The Mission 770 cost £3499, including the all-important stands. Without the stands, they cost £3299, but we would urge you to opt for the bundled stands tailor-made for the 770s. The PMC Prophecy 1 cost a little less at £2875 – but don’t come with any stands bundled in. Once you add in a good quality…

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £300 iFi Go Link £59 October 2023 The iFi Go Link feels like the perfect device for enhancing your headphones on the move and on a budget, living up to its brief. Size 13.5cm long Resolution PCM 32-bit/384kHz, DSD 256, MQA iFi Zen DAC V2 £159 Best DAC under £200, Awards 2023 A good jump in quality over the Award-winning original, to keep features and performance best in class – and for not much extra money. Inputs USB 3.0 Size 35 x 160 x 117mm Res PCM 384kHz, DSD256, MQA iFi Go Blu £199 February 2022 When portability is paramount, the iFi Go Blu is every millimetre the convenient sonic upgrade your phone needs. Size 54 x 34 x 13mm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz (wired) Audioquest DragonFly…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Revival Petite 2 £100 Best radio under £100, Awards 2025 Packed with features and emitting a clearer, richer, more dynamic sound than you might expect, this delightful little portable is a must-have sonic accessory. Battery 20hrs (rechargeable) Size (hwd) 73 x 124 x 85mm Finishes 7 “It’s a lively, rhythmically engaging sound that has a surprising amount of weight and punch to it, given the unit’s size” £200 and above Ruark Audio R1S £299 Best radio £100-£400, Awards 2025 Appealing aesthetics and sophisticated, nuanced and precise sound – it’s a level of quality we are surprised to hear from a product of this size and price. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 17.5 x 13 x 13.5cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Denon D-M41DAB £399 Best hi-fi system under £500, Awards 2025 Denon hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s managed to better the M40, delivering improved sound and functionality. The best just got better. Inputs CD, line-in, optical x2, BT, DAB/FM Outputs Subwoofer Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 £499 Best powered speakers, Awards 2024 We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them. Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs Subwoofer £500 to £1500 Triangle AIO Twin £699 Best speaker system under £750, Awards 2025 If you’re looking for a fun music system that also sounds hugely capable in hi-fi terms, at a decent price, this system is…

View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 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 £349 Best 4K Blu-ray player, Awards 2025 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax Aura from £249 Best PVR, Awards 2024 As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is solid, but its useability foibles and lack of Netflix give pause for thought. Tuners 3 Storage 1TB/2TB Ultra HD Yes Sky Stream from £26/m Best TV subscription, Awards 2025 Sky Stream provides satellite dish-free access on any TV of your choice to the same unique Sky mix. If you don’t want a dish, this is a great option. Connections HDMI 2.1, ethernet, wi-fi Ultra HD Yes…

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Google Chromecast with Google TV £60 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2023 With a new remote and super-smart UI, Google’s latest Chromecast video streamer is the complete package. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max £70 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2025 An easy recommendation for those looking to upgrade their streaming device without breaking the bank, especially now the Chromecast is no more. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £169 Best video streamer over £100, Awards 2025 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…

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…

View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-audio-cables?utm_source=may2017&utm_medium=digedit&utm_campaign=may2017 Up to £150 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2025 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single Chord Co ClearwayX ARAY Analogue RCA £130/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2025 Evolution of a well-regarded interconnect that reveals greater texture, control and dynamics from your system’s performance than before. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

A CLEAN POWER SOURCE IS VITAL FOR INTERFERENCE-FREE HI-FI View offers whf.cm/BBMainsProducts https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-mains-products 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…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2025 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 2025 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” Nagaoka MP200 £415 Best cartridge £250-£500, Awards 2025 The Nagaoka MP-200 is a…

The year 2025 already seems like a dim and distant memory as we charge full-throttle into 2026, but the tracks we used to test kit last year are still thrilling us. So much so that we have collated the seven we think will best get your system purring, providing it’s up to the challenge. THE PACKAGE DE LA SOUL Best known for their loved-up debut 3 Feet High And Rising, New York hip-hop group De La Soul have gone back to their roots with this single off their latest album. And it’s a doozy. Like their classics The Magic Number and Eye Know, The Package is built around a catchy sample, in this case the chorus from Seven Years by Curtis Mayfield’s group The Impressions. Producer Pete Rock makes the…

■ Phono stage ■ £5499 ■ Ask us to talk about some of our favourite high-end phono stages of all time, and it wouldn’t be long before Luxman’s excellent valve-based EQ-500 is mentioned. What Hi-Fi? tested this immaculately engineered unit back in 2017, and it made such an impression that we used it in our reference system for a while. The Luxman E-07 replaces that capable model, and quite clearly has a lot to live up to. This new design is no mere tweak of its predecessor – it uses a solid-state circuit rather than valves – but in terms of build and performance, it is every bit as impressive. Luxman is currently celebrating its centenary, a milestone that few rivals can match. All that experience shines through in the construction…

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 x3, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Rotel A8 £399 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2025 A fuss-free, well-built product that sets an enviable standard for sound quality at this level. The A8’s understated charms have us hooked. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 Best stereo…

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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 £249 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2024 They can live with the best at the price. They have a bro ad spread of abilities that will help them get the most from price-compatible electronics. Size (hwd) 31 x 18 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 “They dig up a pleasing amount of detail and manage to organise it in a cohesive and musical…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £199 Best turntable under £300, Awards 2025 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm Audio Technica AT-LP3 £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2017 A fully automatic turntable that doesn’t scrimp on performance, this is the ideal entry-level deck for those looking to dip their ‘vinyl toes’ in. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm Rega Planar 1 £299 Best turntable £300-£500, Awards 2025 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 45 x…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 to £2000 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 Best home cinema amplifier under £1500, Awards 2025 Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9 x 105W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/3 Yamaha RX-A6A £2299 October 2022 With its exhaustive feature set, this is the ‘choose-your-own adventure’ of AVRs, with a completist approach to almost every aspect of its configuration. Power 9 x 150W Dolby Atmos…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Hisense AX5125 £249 Best soundbar system under £500, Awards 2025 The fact that you can get this much kit with these specs for this price is really rather impressive – the fact that it actually sounds good is pretty astonishing. Size (soundbar, hwd) 6 x 92 x 9cm Inputs Optical, HDMI eARC, BT Sub Yes Sony HT-S2000 £349 May 2024 If you want clearer, more dynamic and direct sound from your TV at a price that won’t put you off, then this Sony really is an easy sell. Size (hwd) 6.4 x 80 x 12cm Inputs Optical, HDMI eARC Sub No £500 to £1000 Sonos Beam (Gen 2) £449 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2025 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions 43in Games consoles LG C5 (OLED 42C5) £1049 Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2025 The 42in LG C5 is the best small OLED TV we have tested this year. It offers a near-flawless feature set and solid, sharp, immersive picture quality. Type OLED HDMI 4 (2.1) Resolution 4K Operating system webOS25 “Skin tones in particular look fantastic, holding a pleasing warmth without ever looking overbaked” TCL 50C6KS £429 Best budget 48-50in TV, Awards 2025 TCL’s 50-inch C6KS just shouldn’t be as good as it is for this price – it’s hands-down one of the year’s biggest bargains. Type Quantum Dot LCD HDMI 3 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC “We’re pleasantly surprised by how much refinement and subtle toning the TV retains” Panasonic Z90B (TV-48Z90B) £1499 Best premium 48-50in TV,…

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 supra-aural 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…

Music apps Tidal from £10/month Best music streaming service, Awards 2025 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 Apple TV from £9.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2025 Without doubt one of the most satisfying streaming services, with excellent new and original content, it runs on practically every platform available. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline Playback Yes Netflix from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2020 Without doubt one of the most satisfying streaming services, with excellent new and original content, it runs on practically every platform available. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline Playback Yes Sky Stream from £26/month January 2023 Provided you have…

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” Hi-Fi Racks Omnium8 £478 Reviewed online, 2018 Hi-Fi Racks has made the Ominium8 about as…

THE SYSTEM ▪ Turntable Rega Planar 3/Nd3 £840 ▪ CD player Arcam CD5 £699 ▪ Amplifier Rega Brio Mk7 £799 ▪ Speakers Fyne Audio F501E £899 TOTAL £3237 We’re getting into serious hi-fi territory here. This set-up, comprising four superb products all coming in at between £600 and £900, proves you don’t have to spend really silly money on getting stunning stereo ability. For just over three grand, you are getting here a system that will give you many years of service playing your vinyl and digital discs. And, of course, there is always the scope to upgrade, should you feel the need, adding (say) a streamer. That might not be required for a while though, as the CD player has the ability to handle hi-res files as well, so…

Welcome to part two of our systems compilation guide. Now that we have helped you put together your ideal hi-fi system (see p30), it’s time to focus on the best way for you to enjoy your television and films. As with the hi-fi selection, this month we are able to draw on our rigorous pre-Awards testing process to help us in our choices. And that exercise brought more than a few surprises as the rapidly changing landscape of the TV market became more and more apparent. Not only have the newest names in the game established a sure foothold in the sector, they are also rivalling – and sometimes toppling – the traditional masters. Who would have thought just a few years ago, for example, than no Samsung, Sony, LG…

▪ Music streamer ▪ £4100 ▪ “ It isn’t a particularly characterful unit, but that’s a good thing, being tonally balanced and unusually even-handed” Aurender has been in the streaming game longer than most, and that experience shines through in the A1000. There is an impressive maturity about this product, from its build to the stutter-free way in which it operates. Best of all, it sounds good enough to make that hefty price tag seem entirely reasonable. The basic template of a music streamer is pretty much set at this point, and the Aurender A1000 meets all expectations while adding its own twist. It will pull music files from any storage on your home network or attached to its rear-panel USB Type A socket, play internet radio, features Connect versions…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £379 Best CD player under £500, Awards 2025 No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Arcam CD5 £699 Best CD player £500-£1000, Awards 2025 A tremendously talented player that deserves an audition if you’re still holding on to your beloved CDs and want to give them a new lease of life. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical, line-level £1000 to £6000 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 Naim CD5si £1149 October 2014 The CD5si boasts…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 WiiM Pro Plus £219 Best music streamer under £300, Awards 2025 As a first, affordable introduction to the many and various charms of music streaming, the WiiM Pro Plus is hard to lay a glove on at the price. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical WiiM Ultra £349 April 2025 This streamer puts in a mature, engaging performance; its combination of features, connectivity and terrific user experience for the price is unparalleled. Outputs RCA line-level, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Cambridge Audio MXN10 £449 Best music streamer £300-£750, Awards 2025 Cambridge Audio has crashed the entry-level music streamer party. Is the MXN10 the finest affordable music streamer on the market? It could well be. Outputs Coaxial, optical, RCA line-level £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node Icon £899 Best…

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…

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 2024 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” £100 to £250 JBL Flip 7 £129 Best portable wireless speaker under £150, Awards 2025 At…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 Hisense M2 Pro £999 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2025 One of the best coffee table projectors on the market. With solid picture quality, good app support and an easy set-up, it ticks all the right boxes. Throw ratio 1.0-1.3:1 Inputs HDMI, USB 3.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1250-£2000, Awards 2024 The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes Hisense PL 2 £1599 July 2025 A competitive price and advanced features help the PL2 punch well above its weight. An easy recommendation for any movie fan after a UST projector. Throw ratio 0.25:1 Inputs HDMI…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-3 HCP £499 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2025 The DX-3 HCP delivers sound above and beyond what most soundbars are capable of while being half the price of most models that we recommend. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12 cm Finishes 2 “All of the sound effects are detailed and placed accordingly, without sounding cluttered or claustrophobic” Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack 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”…

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2025 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 Shure Aonic 3 £179 Best wired in-ear headphones over £100, Awards 2025 Breathtakingly musical and comfy to wear, the Shure Aonic 3s set a new benchmark for in-ear headphones at this level. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m On-ears up to £150 Austrian Audio Hi-X15 £99 Best wired over-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2025 An analytical pair of headphones, but they still manage to make music entertaining – they extract bags of detail but keep the soul of your music intact. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 255g Austrian Audio…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 17 £799 Best smartphone under £1000, Awards 2025 The iPhone 17’s new display steals the show thanks to its improved brightness and support for up to 120Hz variable refresh rates. OS iOS 26 Size (hwd) 150 x 72 x 8mm Storage 256GB/512GB “Firing up that glorious new display proves that it’s more than just an iterative update over the excellent iPhone 16” Android Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra £1249 Best smartphone over £1000, Awards 2025 Samsung’s effective new picture-enhancing feature has well and truly won us over. Its sound lacks some subtlety, but it’s a win for this flagship handset. OS Android 15 Finishes 7 Storage 256GB-1TB “Samsung’s new flagship handset is simply begging to be taken on a long-haul flight or lengthy train journey”…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £500 Amazon Fire HD10 £349 Best budget tablet, Awards 2025 The Fire HD10 offers a really solid picture performance that successfully balances authenticity with a surprising amount of punch and sharpness. OS Android Size (hwd) 247 x 166 x 9.2mm Storage 32 or 64GB £500 and above Apple iPad Air 13in £799 Best premium tablet, Awards 2025 While not as glorious as the OLED iPad Pro, the much more affordable 13-inch iPad Air is a fabulously cinematic tablet in its own rights. OS iPadOS 18 Size (hwd) 280 x 210 x 6mm Storage 128GB-1TB Apple iPad Pro 13-inch M £1299 Best premium tablet, Awards 2024 It’s hugely over-powered for content consumption, of course, but there is simply no better way to watch movies on the…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-headphone-amplifiers Headphone amplifiers Austrian Audio Full Score One £1299 February 2025 If you are obsessive about getting the most from your hi-fi headphones and have sources of sufficient quality, this amplifier is warmly recommended. Inputs Stereo RCA in parallel with balanced XLR Outputs XLR, 6.3mm x2 “The Full Score covers itself in glory by delivering the title track’s explosive punch and instrumental complexity so well”…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-phono-preamps?utm_source=may2017&utm_medium=digedit&utm_campaign=may2017 Up to £200 Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 Awards 2017 A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 £110 April 2024 It is the quality of the sound that continues to impress. Quite simply, we haven’t come across a better-sounding alternative at this entry level. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 3 x 10 x 10.5cm Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a sweet sound. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 12 x 19cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS £199…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerCables https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/accessories/best-cartridges 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 QED Reference XT40i £11/m May 2020 If you’re looking to upgrade your system by investing in speaker cables this side of £15…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £169 Best speaker stand, Awards 2024 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” FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND IN-DEPTH REVIEWS VISIT WHATHIFI.COM…