With Father’s Day 2026 just over three weeks away in Australia (this year it lands on Sunday, September 6) you still have a little time to consider what you're going to buy the old guy… but if you’re anything like us, that time will probably fly by, so we’re really (absolutely, definitely) getting our prezzie shopping done early.

It’s obvious to say, but socks and a mug simply don't cut it in 2026, so we've put together a comprehensive list of expert- and dad-approved AV gifts covering everything from hi-fi to home cinema.

Many of our picks are certified What Hi-Fi? Award winners, so you can rest assured that your dad will be beaming like a cheshire cat when he opens it. We’ve also deliberately turned to Amazon for many of our choices, primarily for the super-speedy delivery via Prime. Read on for our selection of the best Father's Day gifts for Aussie audiophile dads.

Father's Day hi-fi gift ideas

Father's Day home cinema gift ideas

Father's Day headphone gift ideas

Father's Day portable speaker gift ideas

We would always recommend going for the biggest TV your space and budget allows – but for some of us, that will only be a 42-inch TV. If that’s the case for you, then we have found a great deal for you – £120 off the Samsung S90F.

This TV has dropped to just £629 at Richer Sounds. That’s £20 cheaper than at Amazon. Bargain.

Samsung S90F 42-inch deal

Cards on the table: we haven’t reviewed this exact model. But the 48-inch S90F earned five stars, so we have high expectations of the 42-incher.

True, it has feet rather than a pedestal stand like its bigger brother. And smaller screens tend to have a lower HDR brightness than their larger equivalents. On the plus side, the smaller panel size should mean a higher pixel density, and hence a slightly sharper image.

The 42-inch model is as well equipped for gamers as the 48-incher, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, and a host of gaming features such as AMD FreeSync Premium, HGiG, AI Auto Game Mode, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Game Motion Plus and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).

We found the 48-inch S90F’s picture a bit red at first, and the motion a bit too smooth, but tweaking the settings helps. Overall, picture quality is superb, with realistic skin tones and solid detail levels across both the light and dark parts of the image.

Contrast might be a touch heavy-handed, leading to some black crush, but “the overall image is wonderfully three-dimensional and immersive”, we concluded.

The 42-incher has only 40W of sound output, compared with the 48-incher’s 60W. We found the latter’s speakers weak and plagued by distortion at higher volumes – hardly surprising, given that most small TVs sound terrible. So we wouldn’t expect much of the 42-incher’s audio.

But if you can put that £120 saving towards one of the best budget soundbars, you should be richly rewarded.

MORE:

Read our Samsung S90F review (48 inch)

I test OLED TVs for a living – and trust me, different sizes perform differently

We rate the best small TVs around

While we have zero trouble spruiking the benefits of the best TVs to enjoy movies and TV shows for a more cinematic experience only a projector will do.

Of course, the more you spend the more cinema-like experience you'll achieve, but if your budget is limited, the Xgimi Vibe One is a mighty-fine choice. It's the cheapest projector we've ever tested, and it's now cheaper still thanks to a 29% discount at Amazon — now AU$427.49.

Amazon has already slashed the price to AU$474.99, and at the time of publishing there's the option to apply an extra 10% saving at the checkout, which you absolutely should do.

Despite the low price, you get an awful lot of projector for your money. We did find we needed to adjust the sharpness and contrast levels from their out-the-box settings when we tested the dinky projector, but once that was done, we were wholly satisfied with the image it projected.

As our reviewer Robyn Quick said in their review, "we unearthed a more natural image that portrays the green trees around an army staging post with more balanced, yet still striking, colours", once those settings were tweaked.

The Vibe One also proved capable with darker content: "In the opening of Alien: Romulus, as a ship floats through the depths of space, the projector presents the dark abyss with an impressively deep black by budget projector standards."

What's perhaps most impressive about the Xgimi Vibe One is that it holds up well in bright conditions, making it a versatile option for daytime use too, not just movie nights curled up on the sofa.

As for specs, the Vibe One doesn't support 4K content, instead topping out at a native resolution of 1080p. It can project an image up to 150 inches in size, with a claimed 250 ISO lumens of brightness.

A single HDMI port means you can connect external source devices such as a Blu-ray player or games console, while Google TV provides native access to Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

Coming in at 1.4kg on the scales, you should have little trouble putting the Vibe One in a bag to take with you wherever you want to go. Do note though that we found that the projector only offered just under an hour of battery life in Standard brightness mode. If you plan to use the Vibe One outside, you'll likely want to consider an extension cable so you can watch a full movie uninterrupted.

You'll need to temper your expectations where sound is concerned, as the 3W speakers are reasonably loud but lack impact and detail. Fortunately, you can wirelessly connect to a Bluetooth speaker to handle sound duties.

The Xgimi Vibe One delivers a surprisingly detailed and cinematic image that outperforms expectations at this price. While its battery life is limited and the built-in audio falls short, it remains outstanding value for a projector — portable or not.

We are currently entering our third heatwave of the year, and like us, we are sure you’re doing what you can to get through it. If that involves taking your evening movie viewing outside once the temperature is slightly cooler, then we have just the deal for you.

The Xgimi Mogo 4 received four stars in our review, and has now dropped to just £379 at Amazon. That’s a discount of £130, or 26 per cent – a hot deal for the hot weather.

Xgimi Mogo 4 deal: save £130

The Xgimi Mogo 4 is a dinky little thing, about the size of a water bottle. The projector folds out from the stand, and packs the Google TV platform. That means you get Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video, ITVX and Disney+, but not Channel 4 On Demand or BBC iPlayer, which are sizeable omissions.

You can access those missing apps using Google Cast, but that’s considerably less convenient than native app support.

Bluetooth and wi-fi come as standard, while HDR support is limited to HDR10. There are a host of different picture presets to choose from, as well as the ability to tweak your own.

It can’t match a dedicated home cinema projector – and we wouldn’t expect it to – but the picture quality is still impressive. Tree branches are crisp against the background, and black levels impressively deep. Vibrancy can be a bit heavy-handed at times, but that’s to compensate for outdoor viewing conditions – though it is something to note if you will use it indoors as well.

Still, for £379 at Amazon, the Xgimi Mogo 4 is a great buy, and one of the better ways to survive a heatwave.

MORE:

Check out the best portable projectors

Read our full Xgimi Mogo 4 review

Also consider the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air

It had been a while since a flagship Denon AVR had graced our test rooms, but recently we righted that wrong. And the AVC-A1H was worth the wait.

Because while it’s undoubtedly expensive, its stacked feature set and phenomenally cinematic sound make it worth every penny. And now that it has fallen to £4999 at Sevenoaks (a discount of £1300), it’s more compelling than ever.

Denon AVC-A1H deal

The Denon AVC-A1H earned five stars from us. And that’s despite its significant heft; this thing weighs a whopping 32kg, and will take up most of your AV rack.

It might not tear up the rulebook when it comes to aesthetics, but its utilitarian design certainly gets the job done. And the metal, backlit remote is a welcome change from the plastic models we have become accustomed to.

It is one of the most extensively equipped AVRs we have had the pleasure of testing. Its 15 channels of amplification can support speaker configurations up to 9.4.6, plus you can split the amplification channels across two additional zones, and power other speakers in your home from just one amp.

It houses Denon’s most premium components, including the brand’s most powerful transformers, 10 two-channel ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC chips, a high-spec DSP processing engine, and gold-plated speaker terminals.

You get multiple wired connections to play with, and compatibility with plenty of AV formats (including all four HDR formats and numerous immersive audio formats) plus the main music streaming services.

And the sound? “Simply incredible” was our verdict.

Watching F1: The Movie, we noted that it “makes light work of creating a hugely spacious and totally immersive sound, with every aspect of the scene bursting with three-dimensional energy.

“Everything from the clattering of gravel hitting the tarmac and the screech of tyres as cars spin out, to the crackling of fireworks and a swooping helicopter sounds superbly crisp.”

Even quiet dialogue comes across sounding natural, while the bass is superb. This AV receiver is the real deal, and for £4999 at Sevenoaks, it’s now more tempting than ever.

MORE:

The best AVRs you can buy

AV receivers vs AV separates: which gives the better home cinema experience?

We’re only on day one of Amazon Prime Day in Australia, yet it’s already delivering in a major way where discounts on hi-fi, home cinema and all manner of AV tech are concerned.

Nowhere is that more evident than with headphones. And while there are literally hundreds of pairs to sift through, I’ve found 8 What Hi-Fi? Award-winning pairs — including our current Product of the Year — on sale with discounts of up to 39%.

So, if you want to make sure the pair you buy is going to give you the best possible performance, look no further.

• Check out all the latest Award winners

As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty more pairs of headphones available during the Prime Day Australia sales, alongside a solid selection of hi-fi components and Bluetooth speakers.

Remember, the majority of these deals are likely to come to an end when Prime Day finishes at 11.59pm on Monday, July 13. You’ll also need to be a Prime member to nab most of them. If you’ve not been a member before, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

As someone who tests home cinema products for a living, I have used countless 4K Blu-ray discs to challenge picture and sound quality on a range of different products. That includes some of the cheapest projectors we have tested (the Xgimi Vibe One, for example) and premium all-in-one sound systems such as the Focal Mu-so Hekla.

There are some discs that I turn to specifically for their unique specifications. Pan, for instance, is a pretty tedious watch, but it is mastered to a whopping 4000 nits, which makes it a great test of brightness.

But the majority of movies I use in the test room are films I would gladly turn on in my living room and watch all the way through. Sadly, I can't justify that when testing (cue the tears and sorrow).

So which 4K Blu-rays am I recommending this Amazon Prime Day?

There are almost too many to choose from, but I have managed to whittle my top picks down to a slender offering of six. Not only will these movies provide a gripping viewing experience, but they will also challenge your home cinema system, whether that’s with its picture, sound or both.

All of the 4K discs on this list are included in the 3 for £50 deal at HMV, which saves you about £10, although that is dependent on which movies you choose. As well as the movies below, I heartily recommend adding our all-time favourites Blade Runner 2049 and Dune: Part Two to your collection if you have not already.

Let’s dive in!

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These are the best Amazon Prime Day deals

Check out the best TVs we have tested for every budget

And here are the best soundbar deals too

During Prime Day, I always get asked, “are there any good cheap turntables?”

It’s not surprising given how vinyl, and retro hi-fi in general, seems to be growing in popularity with young people (heck, I caught my niece rocking wired headphones the other day!).

And, because I’m lazy, I have decided to address the sea of questions asking exactly that during this year’s Prime Day, here, in one handy article.

And it’s both good and bad news. Yes, there are two very good cheap turntables available right now that will delight hi-fi newbies or people looking to add a cost-effective record player to their existing system. But the deck we recommend most hasn’t had a Prime Day discount.

First up, for people who value audio quality above all else, but are on a tight budget, we have our standard recommendation, the Pro-Ject Primary E.

This is the cheap turntable we have recommended in our best record player guide for years, and the top option right now. It’s available on Amazon, and pretty much all of the specialist hi-fi retailers, for its bog standard £229 (ignore the save £20 icon on some shops, it’s been that price for ages).

The turntable offers the best audio quality you will find for less than £250, and has a pleasingly simple plug and play nature. That’s why we have recommended it for so long; our review verdict sums it up:

“There is a whole cavalcade of budget turntables flooding the market – from Crosley, Lenco, Audio-Technica, Majority and more – with fancy features, electronic speed change, and built-in preamp speakers in snazzy, trendy-looking designs. We can see their appeal, but remain unconvinced when it comes to their sound quality.

“We have no such reservations about the musically entertaining Pro-Ject Primary E. For a beginner’s vinyl revival path who has this kind of budget and is more fussed about getting the best sound from your records than about features such as record ripping and automatic operation, the multiple Award-winning Primary E could be just the ticket.”

That’s as true now as it was in 2018 when we first wrote it.

And if you’re getting a sense of déjà vu, there’s a reason: I have written a version of this piece every Prime Day since I joined What Hi-Fi?.

The only downside for the Pro-Ject Primary E is the lack of an in-built phono stage. This means you need to have an amp or system with one built in, as well as a pair of speakers, to get it running.

If that’s a problem, I am pleased to report there has been one cool development since my last warning against bogus turntable deals; we have a new cheap unit with a built-in phono stage to recommend.

Say hello to the Sony PS-LX3BT, a five-star entry-level turntable we recommend to proper hi-fi newbies who don’t own, or want, a separate system. The unit has a solid built-in phono stage, an equally easy plug-and-play nature as the Primary E, and comes with the added allure of Bluetooth connectivity.

The unit is available for £220 (save £79) on Amazon, though the retailer is reporting only having one left in stock. The next best price is on Sevenoaks Sound and Vision which is selling it for £223.

The Sony PS-LX3BT is a stellar option for people who want a just-add-speakers set-up – if you don’t already own a stereo pair, we recommend the Award-winning Dali Kupid, which cost £299.

The only reason we don’t recommend the Sony over the Pro-Ject overall, is that, during testing when we ran the two head to head, we found the Primary E is still the top dog for audio quality at this price. If plug and play simplicity is your main priority, however, the Sony is the one to get.

MORE:

These are the best desktop speakers we have reviewed

We rank the best turntable speakers

Check out our Prime Day 2026 hi-fi and home cinema deals guide

Within the world of technology, there is often a misguided notion that newer always means better.

That is certainly true in the world of TV, especially with OLED sets. And OLED is a key tech on which readers, friends, family and random passers by often ask us for advice.

That has been especially true during this year’s Prime Day, when more than a couple of people have asked if there are any decent deals going on the two big-name flagship sets we recently reviewed – the five-star LG G6 and Samsung S99H.

If you’re dead to rights hellbent on one of them being your next TV, then I am pleased to report that, yes, there are deals running on both.

The best I have spotted is Richer Sounds’ deal on the 55-inch S99H. You can grab the 55-inch Samsung S99H for £2149 right now, if you use the TRADE250 code at checkout. You can then save a further £250 by claiming cashback from Samsung after purchase, letting you grab the cutting-edge set for £1899.

For the LG G6, numerous retailers, including Peter Tyson and Richer Sounds, have lopped £400 off the set’s original asking price, letting you grab one for £2099.

Both, in isolation, are pretty good deals, considering how recently the two TVs launched. But they’re not the TVs I, or any of the home cinema reviews team, would recommend right now.

Yes, they are top performers. The Samsung S99H in particular is a brilliant set that we describe as “the best Samsung has ever made”. We don’t give praise like that lightly.

The problem is that, even discounted, the S99H and G6 are expensive luxuries that are considerably pricier than a key rival, the Sony Bravia 8 II.

Our current Product of the Award winner, the Sony Bravia 8 II, is on sale at Richer Sounds for £1699, when you use the discount code, RSTV100, at checkout. That makes it £200 cheaper than the Samsung and £300 less than the LG.

Despite being older, the Bravia 8 II is still extremely competitive – we ran it against the G6 and S99H when we reviewed the new sets.

The upgrades offered by the S99H and G6 are limited to a smidge more peak-brightness here, a tad more colour-volume there. Even then, the Sony occasionally beats its newer rivals, offering a touch more dark detail and bit more finesse with its contrast in certain scenes. And that’s before we start talking about its better audio.

All of which helps to explain why we don’t tend to recommend buying the latest OLED TVs so soon after launch.

Year-on-year upgrades tend to be incremental (though there are exceptions to this rule). Still, TV makers launch new sets with incredibly high starting RRPs, just as the older models are plummeting in price.

And that’s the point we’re at with the S99H and G6. If you really want one of these sets rather than the older Bravia 8 II, we recommend waiting until later in the year, when the newer sets’ prices will almost certainly have dropped a little deeper. This usually happens in November, around Black Friday.

Until then, I strongly suggest looking at the much cheaper Sony Bravia 8 II. It represents significantly better value right now.

MORE:

These are the best OLED TVs we have tested

We rank the best 55-inch TVs

Check out our Prime Day 2026 home cinema deals live hub

No cap, wired earbuds are #themoment, so if you're looking to soundmaxx your life, get on the trend and slay.

Don't worry if you didn't understand a word of that. Wired earbuds might be coming back among Gen-Z listeners and celebrity influencers, but this is a trend that everyone should be a part of. Wired in-ear headphones are convenient, cool and, most importantly, sound far better than their wireless counterparts.

If you're keen to hear what all of the fuss is about, might we suggest the SoundMagic E11C as a great place to start. The E11C are £35 at Richer Sounds, dropping by £15 from their initial £50 test price, and at this level, not much comes close. As our current What Hi-Fi? Awards winners in their class, this is a bit of a no-brainer.

Best Prime Day SoundMagic E11C deal

The SoundMagic E11C are no-fuss budget wired headphones that punch well above their weight. If you're looking to get on board with the wired trend (and you should be, by the way), they're the perfect place to start.

Budget they may be, but the E11C are surprisingly well-made, with a solid, sleek design complemented by a choice of small, medium and large silicone tips and an in-line remote.

In case you need reminding, they have the standard 3.5mm headphone cable connection, so you’ll need a dreaded dongle for connecting to USB-C or Apple Lightning ports. That's part of the 'retro' charm, right?

In terms of sonic performance, the E11C are a delight. They're sparky and peppy headphones that go big on detail and clarity, offering an entertaining sound that really delivers when it comes to putting the pep into your music's step. At this kind of price, we can't think of much better, though the SoundMagic E80D are also worth considering if you want a USB-C-ended alternative.

As we concluded in our review: "The E11C in-ears continue the fine work of their predecessors and deliver an entertaining, upfront sound, complete with a remote control and mic".

Grab them at Richer Sounds and feel young again.

MORE:

Hi-fi speaker deals are thin on the ground this Prime Day, but I've tracked down six of the best worth a closer look

Stay up to date with Prime Day 2026 LIVE: our hi-fi experts choose the best speaker, headphone and turntable deals

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 vs Pi6: which B&W wireless earbuds should you choose?

This isn’t my first Prime Day rodeo.

After covering more Amazon-led sales events than I care to count, I always bet on the company to discount its range of first-party AV devices, and for good reason, too.

The company practically always slashes the prices of its Fire TV range of devices, and my advice (even when reviewing them at full price) is to wait until a Prime Day or Black Friday sale to get the best deal.

In fact, during our Prime Day predictions roundup (spearheaded by our deals aficionado Daniel Furn), I said that I'd "eat my proverbial hat" if the Fire TV streaming sticks aren't heavily discounted.

Luckily for me, there will be no hat eating, as the Award-winning Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) is currently enjoying a pretty tasty discount.

Tongue twister of a name aside, this super-effective streamer offers up a simple proposition: you give it one of your TV’s HDMI sockets, and in return you get a pretty potent streaming upgrade.

We reviewed it at £70, making it one of the most affordable (if not the most affordable) products to enter our AV testing room, but you’ll find that price has been drastically reduced in the UK and the US.

We said that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) “might just be the easiest no-brainer buy in the AV world,” in our full review, and with its price slashed in half, it somehow becomes even easier to recommend.

We approved of its detailed and rich picture, comprehensive coverage of all HDR formats, and impressive range of streaming apps on offer; it really is the full streaming package.

Our review highlights a "sharp and engaging picture", with excellent motion and a balanced approach to colours. It also sounds good, with a clear approach to dialogue, and music sounds warmer and more detailed compared to the competing Google TV Streamer.

Now, in an era of smart TVs, a dedicated streaming device may sound like a pointless recommendation. Still, we've found that you can get tangible picture and sound improvements by plugging in a dedicated streamer.

We've also tested plenty of projectors that don't have streaming platforms built in, and our advice to anyone suffering with a sluggish, older 4K TV who isn't ready to upgrade yet is to invest in a streaming stick (like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max) for a smoother experience.

At a discounted price of £40 on Amazon UK or $35 at Amazon US, this streamer is the perfect choice for those wanting a Prime Day treat without breaking the bank.

MORE:

Which Amazon Fire TV streamer should you buy?

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

If you’re looking for a new OLED TV over Prime Day, you will be pleased to learn that the five-star LG C6 we christened “the firm’s finest step-down model to date” mere weeks ago has had its price slashed.

Right now you can grab a 55-inch LG C6 for £1427.98 at Amazon. That is a solid £371.02 saving on the TV’s launch price.

But, before you go rushing to grab one, I’d urge you to check out the even better deal I have spotted on the older LG C5. You can pick one up on Amazon for £906.09. That’s a solid £993.91 saving on its launch RRP and the best price we have seen for it.

Why pick the LG C5 when the C6 offers a performance upgrade? It’s a good question, especially when our reviewers reported:

“[The LG C6] is a big upgrade by C-series standards. We don’t typically get too excited about processor upgrades, but the Alpha 11 Gen 3 has forced a brighter and richer performance out of the same OLED EX panel technology, and improved upscaling and shading subtlety. The extra brightness and richness have benefits across the picture, resulting in a more enticing, dynamic and three-dimensional delivery.”

The answer comes down to another key metric we always factor into our buying advice: value for money.

Yes, the C6 offers improvements on the C5. But, having run the two head to head in our test rooms, we don’t think they currently justify the difference in price. £423 is a lot of money, especially during a cost of living crisis. Even if you do have the spare cash, we can think of a better investment that will fix both TVs’ biggest weakness: their middling audio.

Neither set offers good enough audio quality for a truly immersive home cinema experience. So, even if you do have the cash to buy the C6 right now, we still recommend investing in the LG C5 and then using the money you have saved to buy a decent Dolby Atmos soundbar.

If you pull the trigger now, the five-star Sony Bravia Theatre System 6 featured in our best Dolby Atmos soundbars guide is selling for £399 at Amazon (save £150) right now. It will match wonderfully with the LG C5.

That price will even leave you with enough cash to invest in a cold pint, or iced coffee, to help get through the heatwave…

MORE:

These are the best OLED TVs we have reviewed

Check out our Prime Day 2026 home cinema deals live hub

Our picks of the best 55-inch TVs

A pair of Sony headphones for £100 off? Normally we'd be recommending that you throw caution to the wind, boot up that laptop, stretch your clicking finger and get those cans into your digital basket, because that sounds, on paper, like a Prime Day deal worth taking.

This is one of the rare instances, however, when we'd advise you to look elsewhere. The Sony ULT Wear are a rare misfire from Sony, and while they're down from £180 to just £88 on Amazon, we just don't feel that they're worth your time. Save your cash and pick up a pair of five-star alternatives (listed below, obviously) instead.

Sony ULT Wear deal

Hooray, a pair of heavily discounted Sony headphones! They’ve got noise cancelling, a comfortable design, loads of high-performance Sony features and a majorly knocked down right, so what exactly isn’t there to love?

The problem is that the ULT Wear don’t sound as good as we had hoped. In fact, they are a rare sonic misfire for Sony, with a sound that sounds either too enthusiastic and bass-heavy, or simply too lacking in the basics of dynamics and detail to have us singing their praises. Great Sony headphones abound at the moment, but sadly, the ULT Wear are quite a long way from greatness.

Consider these alternatives instead

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I've handpicked the 12 best-value Prime Day home cinema and audio deals – all under £200

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Discounts galore! These are the best Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Streaming services have been a hot-button issue in the home cinema world for a few years now.

Once seen as a revolutionary new way to enjoy films instantly at affordable prices, all without the commitment of a costly TV contract package, the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ have all thoroughly worn away the goodwill they'd accrued in the past.

With constant monthly price increases, features being stripped away and locked behind higher subscription tiers, and content constantly bouncing between services, it's understandable why people are sick and tired of streaming.

Most importantly, it's inspiring a resurgence of popularity for physical media, and as a (perhaps slightly too keen) 4K Blu-ray enthusiast, I couldn't be happier.

The issue is that 4K Blu-rays aren't exactly cheap. New releases tend to cost between £20 and £30, and that's not taking into account the special edition steelbook versions, box sets, or limited releases.

I confess it's not a cheap hobby, but I have found a Prime Day deal that takes the edge off slightly.

Popular UK entertainment retailer HMV is running a deal in which you can buy three 4K Blu-rays for £50 currently, which is actually a bigger deal than it looks.

Yes, £50 isn't a snip when compared to the most basic Netflix package at £5.99/month, but think of all the sacrifices you're making with that. No 4K, no HDR, no Dolby Atmos, and no offline viewing; basically, serious ciniphiles need not apply.

The benefit here is that you can enjoy and keep your favourite movies in much higher quality. As someone who is constantly switching between streaming and watching films on 4K Blu-ray, trust me when I say the difference is noticeable; details are sharper, there's less banding, and audio feels fuller and richer in most cases.

I also value being able to keep copies of my favourite movies so that I can watch them at any time. Hunting down a film that used to be on one streaming service only to find it's moved to another, or even removed entirely, is always a frustrating task.

HMV's offer doesn't include all of the 4K Blu-rays on its site, but there are loads to choose from.

I've spotted a handful of favourites from our AV testing room, including Blade Runner 2049, The Batman, Interstellar, Dune: Part Two, and Oppenheimer, as well as more recent releases such as Sinners, Weapons, The Fantastic Four and Tron: Ares.

You'll find titles from the 007 franchise, the Star Wars series, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, too. And it seems like most, if not all, of these titles are individually priced between £20 and £25, so stacking up three gives you a saving of anywhere between £10 and £20.

This is a great deal for anyone looking to start a 4K Blu-ray collection, as you can hit the ground running with three titles straight away.

MORE:

Find the best Amazon Prime Day deals here

And check out our picks for the best 4K Blu-ray players

As well as the best Dolby Atmos scenes to test your home cinema setup

It must be tough when the spotlight of deals is snatched away from you during your own sales event.

Case in point, this Samsung HW-Q990F deal at B&Q, which takes the price from £1699, all the way down to just £695. That is an unbelievable discount, especially for an Award-winning, multitalented soundbar system such as this.

Now, we'll admit that B&Q isn't our usual go-to retailer for home cinema kit, but this discount shows that it's well worth looking way beyond Amazon's scope to secure the best deal.

For reference, the same soundbar package is currently sitting around the £750 mark on Amazon (there seems to be a few different listings at different prices), whereas Richer Sounds is asking £799 for it.

B&Q, it looks like you're good for more than just DIY and gardening...

Samsung's Award-winning HW-Q990F offers genuine surround sound without having to clutter your living room with cables.

The system is made up of a main soundbar unit that connects directly to your TV via HDMI eARC, as well as two wireless surround sound speakers that are designed to be placed adjacent to or behind your seating position, and a wireless subwoofer.

There are dedicated upward-firing drivers in both the soundbar and surround speakers for proper Dolby Atmos height effects, and the system as a whole features 15 drivers in total for an 11.1.4 setup.

While we loved the spacious, rich and detailed sound it provided during our thorough testing process, we found that the redesigned subwoofer was the star of the show. Samsung says it has a power output of 300W, and with bass this punchy and deep, we can believe that claim.

Not only does it sound great, but setup is a breeze, and it's feature-packed too. Practically every wireless streaming method is supported – from Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, to AirPlay 2 and Amazon Music – and you can pass signals in up to 4K/120Hz with Dolby Vision or HDR10+ via the HDMI 2.1 passthrough socket.

If you want surround sound without the hassle of hiding cables, then the Samsung HW-Q990F is a no-brainer.

Especially if you're thinking of buying it from B&Q for £695. We've never seen it drop this low before, and with most competing retailers selling it for considerably more money, we think B&Q's deal is probably the best we've ever seen on this soundbar.

If anything, this is a lesson for those on the hunt for a bargain; it pays to look further afield this Prime Day.

MORE:

Find the best Amazon Prime Day home cinema deals here

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990F review

And check out our picks for the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

We've waited 13 agonising years for GTA VI to finally hit consoles.

After what's felt like a never-ending onslaught of leaks, delays, and speculation, we're officially less than six months away from what could be the biggest gaming launch in history.

While securing a copy is top priority – pre-orders start at midnight tonight – I'm taking the release of this hotly anticipated title as an excuse to level up my gaming setup, and what better time to do it than during Amazon Prime Day?

I've found the ideal gaming TV, a soundbar system that will put you in the centre of the action, and a console that should not only be powerful enough to handle GTA VI but also ensure that the high-resolution, neon-adorned streets of Vice City shine in glorious 4K.

Regarding the console, I recommend the Sony PS5 Pro. We haven't reviewed it yet, but its dedicated upscaling feature leads us to believe that it will offer extra headroom for the expected demanding graphical requirements of GTA VI.

As someone who has gamed on a PS5 since launch (including the superb GTA V remaster), and has also been eyeing up a PS5 Pro since Sony unveiled it back in 2024, seeing it drop in price this close to GTA VI's official pre-order date simply feels like the fates aligning.

As for the TV, I felt as though the LG C5 was a no-brainer. It's our current Award-winner in various categories, including "best gaming TV", and the 55-inch (which is the size we reviewed first and can thoroughly recommend) is currently £1000 off – that's a mind-blowing saving.

It sports four full bandwidth HDMI sockets that support up to 4K/144Hz (or 4K/120Hz with the PS5 Pro), and LG's Game Dashboard feature will be the perfect sidekick during your car chases and shootouts this November.

Finally, the Samsung HW-Q990F (another Award-winner, no less) is also enjoying an unbelievable discount of just over £1000. With Dolby Atmos on board (which the PS5 Pro supports for gaming now), it's bound to get you immersed in GTA VI's sprawling city, especially with planes and helicopters soaring overhead.

And with another HDMI 2.1 socket on board (bringing the total of this system to five), we could even bestow it with the title of "best gaming soundbar".

However, what makes it truly stand out is the incredible subwoofer, which should add some serious low-end punch to gunshots, explosions and car engines.

All of the components listed here work in tandem to also deliver a superb home cinema experience, meaning movies, TV shows and music will also benefit from this do-it-all system too.

And with Prime Day in full swing, you can expect to save a staggering £2080 in total; what's not to like?

MORE:

Find the best Amazon Prime Day home cinema deals here

Check out our picks for the best gaming TVs

As well as the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

There’s a conundrum that many movie fans face. You might be perfectly happy with your TV’s picture performance, but the audio is often another matter entirely. Punchy action scenes might be missing a sense of energy, and it may be difficult to make out dialogue during busy parts of a film.

Luckily, there is a way to fix this common problem. If you don’t have the budget or space for a multi-speaker package to upgrade your sound, then adding a soundbar to the mix is a great way to go.

• View all the Prime Day deals on Amazon

And, for those on the hunt for an even more room-filling experience, there is the option of getting a soundbar with Dolby Atmos support, which can provide a much-desired extra boost of surround sound.

With Amazon Prime Day deals swarming your search like ants to a melting Calippo, it can be hard to find a model that is genuinely right for you. That’s where we come in. We have tested hundreds of soundbars over the years, and have hand-selected four products that provide immersive sound and are at a discounted price right now.

Sonos Beam Gen 2

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 holds the crown as the top entry-level Dolby Atmos bar in our best soundbars guide.

The Beam Gen 2 measures just 7 x 65 x 10cm (hwd) and weighs 2.8kg, making it easy to place in front of your TV without obscuring the picture. Under the hood, you will find four front-facing elliptical mid-woofers and a centre tweeter.

Most importantly, it offers a detailed, rich, and enveloping audio experience, which is particularly impressive considering its compact footprint.

Despite the bar’s lack of up-firing drivers, the soundfield is immersive and we get a good sense of height as well as scale. In fact, we note in our review: “Whether it’s a chirping bird, a car or a voice, there’s remarkable consistency across the complete soundfield, and seamless handover between drivers, which we have to say doesn’t always happen when a Dolby Atmos soundbar has upward drivers to contend with.”

It launched at £449, but this Prime Day deal has seen its price drop to £337 at Amazon. That’s a saving of £112, and is well worth considering if you are looking to add an Atmos soundbar to your system.

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

If you are looking for a step-up soundbar to add to your system, then the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 is hard to beat. This Sony sounds exceptionally crisp and precise, and the Atmos-ness of its delivery is hugely impressive for a standalone bar.

We find there is a slightly clinical tone in its overall delivery, but its superb detail and punch mean it still achieves five-star success.

In terms of connectivity, gaming fans will be pleased to hear that the Bar 9 has a dedicated HDMI 2.1 input and support for 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM.

You can find it for £999 at Richer Sounds, chopping £400 off its launch price. At this price, it is also worth considering the Award-winning Sonos Arc Ultra. It’s a brilliant-sounding system, offering a rich overall sound with expressive vocals.

It features only a single HDMI eARC port, however, which is not as comprehensive as the Theatre Bar 9’s offerings. The Sonos model is currently available at its launch price of £999 at Smart Home Sounds, but we have our fingers crossed for a reduction before the end of Prime Day.

Hisense AX5125H

All-in-one soundbars work excellently for some people, but you might be craving that extra sense of immersion that can come with a soundbar package. And our top budget soundbar system recommendation is currently available for an absolute steal.

You can pick up the Award-winning Hisense AX5125H for just £199 at Currys, making it easily one of the best-sounding affordable soundbar systems we have heard.

The 5.1.2 system, which supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, offers a relatively compact design that is easy to accommodate in most homes. It is made up of two small wireless surround speakers, a wireless subwoofer and the main soundbar. Even though the surround speakers are surprisingly compact (each one measures just 14 x 9 x 11cm), they produce an impressively enveloping soundfield that massively improves upon our experience with the TV’s sound.

We noted in our review when watching Civil War: “Bullets whizz from the front to the back of the room and even behind the listening position, helicopters hover at ceiling height, and distant explosions rumble menacingly.”

Vocals are clear and sound relatively emotive too, although the subwoofer can get a little overzealous and cause them to become muffled in the busiest sections. Still, the Hisense system is a top performer in its class and is even more tempting at this discount.

Samsung HW-Q990F

Finally, we have the Samsung HW-Q990F, an Award-winning 11.1.4 soundbar package. Like the Hisense system, it is made up of a soundbar, a subwoofer, and two surround speakers.

It is a chunkier system in terms of its build, though. The surrounds, for instance, measure 25 x 25 x 25cm and the soundbar comes in at a more hefty 7 x 123 x 14cm (hwd).

With support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, we were impressed by the soundbar’s ability to create that all-important dome of sound as well as ensuring the sound moves organically between the channels.

When it comes to its bass performance, we say in our review: “There is a much greater sense of tonal variation from this subwoofer [compared with the older Q990D model], which unearths a new layer to the bass. The Q990F’s bass feels more organic, balanced, and seamlessly integrated into the system as a result.”

That all makes it a focused, tonally varied overall sound that immerses us in whatever we listen to. You can find the system for £750 at Amazon, saving you around a whopping £949 off its original price.

We recently reviewed the Q990F’s successor – the Samsung HW-Q990H. This new system managed to build upon our favourite aspects of the older model, resulting in an even more detailed and nuanced performance. That meant the Q990H took the crown when we put them head to head – but the Q990F is without doubt still a brilliant performer in the category.

Plus, the Q990H's price has dropped only a small amount for Prime Day (the cheapest we have seen so far is £1299 at Amazon). That makes the older model all the more tempting.

MORE:

These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Check out the best budget soundbars

And here are the best TVs right now

I have been happily rocking a pair of the four-star Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my go-to pair of wireless headphones for a while now.

For me, they’re great, and I am more than happy with them. But, after a few readers got in touch asking if they should take advantage of Amazon’s current Aventho 300 deal, which lets you grab a pair for £239 (saving £120), my answer is, probably not.

Instead, I would point most people to Amazon’s current deal on the five-star Sony WH-1000XM6, which lets you pick up a pair for £236 (save £164).

That’s not because the Aventho 300 and I have fallen out of love and are on a break. They are fantastic, wonderfully unassuming headphones with a sonic profile that will truly delight any listener who values composure and balance, even if it means they might be a little clinical. That’s why I love them.

For most people, however, there’s a reason we scored the Sony WH-1000XM6 higher and gave them a What Hi-Fi? Award. Their sonic profile is more entertaining and packed with detail, and will please a wider audience of listeners than the Aventho 300.

They also offer better ANC, which again is a big factor that gives them more mass appeal. We said as much in our reviews of the two headphones.

For example, here is our WH-1000XM6 verdict:

“Sony’s wireless headphones deliver a performance more than befitting a flagship pair of wireless headphones. Comfort levels are great, they’re nice to use, ANC is excellent, call quality is class-leading, and sound quality can match anything at this level. Simply sensational.”

Whereas in our Aventho 300 review we reported:

“The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 won’t be for everyone [...] That said, these are really solid performers for the money, that resist the urge to impose their will on your music and instead step back and allow your tunes room to shine.”

We stand by those statements. Which is why, generally, I recommend that most buyers should opt for the Sony WH-1000XM6, even though I am personally very fond of my Aventho 300.

MORE:

Check out our Prime Day 2026 hi-fi deals live hub

These are the best wireless headphones we have reviewed

Our picks of the best wireless earbuds

Put that pizza down! Bin those takeaway menus, resist the urge to boot up the Dominos app and do something that your ears, and waistline, will thank you for: spend your money on a brilliant Bluetooth speaker instead.

For about the same price as your Saturday night takeout, you could get yourself a JBL Go 4 for just £27 at Amazon this Prime Day, down from its original price of £40. That's a saving of around 33 per cent on the best pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker on the market.

It doesn't taste particularly good (although we haven't actually tried), but it does sound the business.

Best JBL Go 4 Bluetooth speaker deal

It's remarkable how much performance JBL has managed to wring out of the soap-sized Go 4. It's handsome, well-equipped, durable and, for its size, remarkably talented sonically

The Go 4's IP67 rating means that dust and limited submersion in water will leave no lasting damage, and the general robustness of construction here is truly admirable.

Battery life is up to roughly 7 hours of standard playtime, with two more hours via Playtime Boost.

Playtime Boost will suck out most of the bass from the speaker's presentation, but that aside, the Go 5 sounds remarkably good considering its size and price. Thanks in part to its 45mm driver and that hollow-contour logo, the fifth-gen model is the meatiest, most robust sounding Go that we've yet heard, with a fuller, more powerful reproduction than its fourth-gen predecessor.

As our review stated, the fifth-gen speaker is tuned "to have an innate understanding of how your music should sound. Nothing here is overdone or overly coloured, but it shares its bigger siblings’ ability to go with the flow as we bounce around tracks and genres".

If your budget is limited, the Go 4 is our go-to recommendation – ditch the late night curry and pick one up on Amazon.

MORE:

Prime Day 2026 Live: all the top TV, soundbar and projector deals handpicked by our home cinema experts

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Discounts galore! These are the best Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Giant TVs are cool, but as our TV and AV editor, Tom Parsons, once said:

“A TV can’t replicate the charm of that beam of light flying over your head, or the little dust fairies that dance about within it. That’s real cinema, isn’t it?”

If that sentiment has tugged on your heart strings, and you have decided it’s finally time to take the plunge and build your own home cinema, I have some good news to share.

I have trawled the current sales and offers to create a stellar full-fat, wireless Dolby Atmos home theatre, built around a five-star Sony projector we use as a quality benchmark in our AV test room.

The package requires you take advantage of three key deals that are live on Peter Tyson right now. They are listed below.

• Get the Sony VPL-XW5000ES with a free Apple TV 4K for £4399 at Peter Tyson (save £1600)
• Get the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad for £1999 at Peter Tyson (save £500)
• Get the Sony SA-SW3 Wireless Subwoofer at Peter Tyson for £296 (£153)

Total system price: £4894 (save £2252, not including Apple TV)

There’s a lot to like about the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. But the main reason I would pick this five-star beamer – even at full price – over its rivals is its ability to deliver a native 4K image.

Most projectors at this level use pixel shifting to achieve 4K. This is a bit of a cheat, as it means the projector is creating its ‘4K’ image by combining two 1080p images per frame, rather than delivering it natively. Though the technology has improved over the years, the process can lead to motion flicker or haloing – two things you don’t want when watching movies.

The Sony projector’s ability to deliver a native 4K image is a key reason it offers one of the most balanced, authentic and ultimately immersive home-movie experiences you’ll find on a unit at this price. As we say in our review: “Despite being Sony’s cheapest 4K laser projector, the XW5000ES still delivers gorgeously cinematic and detailed pictures.”

One word of warning: it doesn’t have 4K/120Hz, so it’s not great for gamers. I have opted for the Peter Tyson deal here as it also gets you an Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen), which adds a source to the bundle, free of charge. (Like most long-throw projectors at this level, the VPL-XW5000ES doesn’t have a streaming platform built-in.)

Next up we have the Sony Bravia Theatre Quad. I chose Sony’s four-star wireless surround sound system over one of the sea of full fat 5.1 multi speaker setups we have reviewed, because of the simplicity it brings to the table. If you wanted to get a full fat 5.1 (or more) home cinema, you would need to invest in an AV amplifier to power it. You would also then need to connect it all up with cabling snaking around the room.

The Quad doesn’t require you do either of the above. It simply requires you to connect the control box to your source, then place the four wireless speakers (which house 16 channels with a total power output of 504W) sensibly around the room. From there it will deliver a pleasingly clear and spacious sound that should delight most movie fans.

In fact, the Quad’s only real shortcoming is that the system’s low end is a little underpowered. Which is why I recommend picking up the Sony SA-SW3 Wireless Subwoofer to complement it. The SW3 neatly slots into the system with a few button pushes; it improves low-end performance, making the whole experience all the more immersive.

So, a hassle free, wireless home theatre that combines the best of old and new. What’s not to love?

MORE:

These are the best surround sound systems we have reviewed

We rank the best projectors

Check out our Prime Day 2026 Home Cinema Deals Live Hub

If you have been looking for a way to bring the big-screen experience to your home, countless projectors and large TVs claim to deliver just that. And, with Amazon Prime Day now in full swing, plenty of different brands are offering tempting discounts across a range of products.

But which models will get you the best large screen, all while saving you some of your hard-earned cash? We have found two products to fit that particular bill – that will deliver an immersive screen size and have similar price tags. Each offers something different, but both can bring the big-screen experience to your home.

A super-sized TCL TV

First up, the gigantic 98-inch TCL C7K is a king-sized 4K TV at a jaw-droppingly low price. The five-star set would usually cost a respectable £2399, but Prime Day has seen this crash to a remarkable £1999 at Currys. Don’t get us wrong, that is still a lot of money. But for the sheer size and quality of the TV, this is a bargain price.

You get 3000 nits of brightness controlled with 2000 dimming zones, plus TCL’s Halo Control features, which aim to reduce the effect of backlight blooming. This is aided by an anti-glare film that reduces reflections.

It received a What Hi-Fi? Award last year, thanks to its spectacular brightness and colour, as well as its excellent gaming specifications. The dimensions of the TV alone are enough to blow your socks off, as we say in our review: “We’ve seen a few 98-100-inch TVs now, but the raw cinematic impact of seeing our favourite test movies and TV shows writ so large across our field of view never seems to grow old.”

The brightness is intense, especially at this size, with small HDR highlights looking every bit as dazzling as on pricier TVs. TCL’s Halo Control also does a stellar job of suppressing any unwanted blooms of light emerging.

In terms of sound, the TV offers a 6.2.2-channel system designed by Bang & Olufsen. It is detailed and clear, and never becomes overstated, harsh or brittle. It does, however, lack the levels of bass and immersion that a decent, dedicated Dolby Atmos soundbar would provide.

It’s very well equipped for gamers, with VRR, ALLM, and a 144Hz refresh rate. You get a full complement of HDR format support, but only two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Of course, a 98-inch screen will take up a fair bit of room in your home. If you don't have the space to accommodate, the option below might be a better fit for you.

And a more compact projector from BenQ

TCL’s super-sized TV is certainly a large beast to behold, but it is simply not a realistic addition to many people's homes. It measures 218cm wide, which is quite a challenge if you are working with a compact space. There is the option to wall-hang, but of course you need to have a wall capable of supporting its 55kg weight.

If that won’t work for you, there’s another way to get the big-screen experience. The BenQ W2720i is a 4K projector that holds the crown as the best mid-range model in our best projectors guide. The price for the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning projector has dropped from £1999 to £1799 at Richer Sounds, saving you a reasonable £200.

It offers a more compact option than the TCL C7K, as it measures 14 x 42 x 31cm (hwd) and weighs just 6.5kg. You can push the screen size up to a claimed 300 inches, which knocks the 98-inch TV out of the park.

When we reviewed the projector, we were met with a clean, detailed picture that still looked natural. We say in our review: “So crisp, detailed, pristine and full of texture and density are the W2720i’s pictures that they really do look 4K, even if pushed to prodigious image sizes.”

The Award-winner's connections go further than those of most projectors, by including three HDMIs, one of which provides ARC support for passing sound out to a connected AVR or soundbar, and one of which supports 4K/120Hz.

There are some limitations to consider with a projector compared with a TV. Any projector that costs less than £10,000 will struggle to produce deep black levels, especially compared with a Mini LED such as the C7K. The W2720i is still a great performer in this area when compared with rival projectors, but the TCL TV does a better job at recreating proper black depth.

You will also have to deal with a weaker picture performance in any sort of ambient light compared with a TV screen.

But the BenQ’s smaller footprint and impressive specifications may well suit your home cinema set-up better. It depends on which big-screen experience works best for you, but these stellar bargains on both products are worth looking into.

MORE:

These are the best projectors out there

Check out the best TVs we have reviewed

And this is our full review of the 98-inch TCL C7K

There are great headphones, and then there are the Grado SR325x. We're not being hyperbolic when we say that the SR325x are some of the best open-backed headphones we've ever tested, a pair of legends that have continued to scoop Award after What Hi-Fi? Award following their debut in 2021.

In fact, if you're sick of wireless headphones and just want the quality and convenience you get with wired cans, the Grado SR325x have to be on your shortlist. At £199 at Peter Tyson down from £329, they're also at what is possibly the lowest price we've yet seen.

Come on, it's time to start taking your music seriously. It's time to graduate to a pair of Grados.

Best Prime Day Grado SR325x deal

In terms of pure sound quality, wireless headphones are as good as they've ever been, but wired headphones are in a different league, with the Award-winning Grado SR325x continuing to set the standard at their premium price point.

The multi-award-winning open-backs are ideal for home listening, as while they might be hugely entertaining to listen to, they're also extremely leaky. That's just what you get with a pair of open-backed cans.

That shouldn't matter, however, as the SR325x aren't the sort of cans you simply throw in your back to fill some hours during your commute. As we wrote in our review: “The SR325x... are wonderfully expressive dynamically, and lows are agile and tuneful, but there’s still not the outright weight and low-end punch of closed headphone designs".

To get the most out of the SR325x, pair them with a DAC or decent audio source such as a portable music player. Do so, and you'll realise just how insightful and expressive the Grados are, with a fast, sparky yet authoritative signature that really shines when given proper support.

While they boast an industrial design that that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, what you get from these cans is a ruggedness and durability that’s hard to find. Comfort isn't the name of the game here – it's all about audio quality.

Ditch the Bluetooth this Prime Day, and return to the warm embrace of good old fashioned wires. Get the Grado SR32x at Peter Tyson and enjoy true headphone greatness.

MORE:

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Prime Day 2026 Live: all the top TV, soundbar and projector deals handpicked by our home cinema experts

Prime Day 2026 Live: the best headphone, speaker and vinyl deals picked by our hi-fi experts

TVs are getting bigger, and bigger… and bigger.

Hisense and TCL have been selling 116-inch and 115-inch TVs for quite some time now – and both of those look fairly modest compa red with Samsung’s behemoth 130-inch RGB Micro LED TV, which was unveiled at CES 2026.

The sensibly sized living rooms of many British homes are simply not built for a TV of that size – and many will find a proper surround sound package to be a squeeze as well. So does that mean you simply can’t fit a home cinema system into your house?

Of course it doesn’t!

We have tested plenty of smaller TVs and soundbars with modest footprints; and what they lack in size, they make up for in performance.

In fact, I have built a complete system, which includes a 42-inch OLED TV from LG, a superb scaled-down Hisense soundbar package (which even supports Dolby Atmos), and a five-star Amazon streamer that is no bigger than your average chocolate bar.

All of these products are Award-winners and, thanks to Amazon Prime Day, they are now all hugely discounted. At launch, this set-up would have cost you £1418; thanks to some pretty astonishing Prime Day discounts, it can now be yours for just £862.

This trio of petite home-cinema gadgets strikes the three core pillars of any good home cinema setup: picture, sound, and content.

And if you are happy to use LG’s webOS software platform and don’t mind a slight decrease in picture and sound performance, you could ditch the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max entirely, saving you a further £40.

The 42-inch LG C5, a compact OLED TV, is the definition of small yet mighty. Sporting a panel that delivers inky blacks and perfect contrast with ease, the C5 is a superb choice for movies – it’s and our pick for the best gaming TV, too.

We applauded its sharp, warm and rich picture, which we felt was hugely cinematic despite the comparatively small screen size from the 55- and 65-inch sets we usually test.

Furthermore, its gaming features are second to none. With a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz – ideal for PC gamers and more than enough for console gamers – and four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets. The smaller display also makes this a solid choice for dedicated gaming rooms, and it can even be used as an oversized desktop monitor.

The only area that the C5 stumbles in is sound. OLED TVs, in our experience, often disappoint when it comes to their built-in sound systems, and it’s no surprise that a TV this small doesn’t break the mould.

That’s where the Hisense AX5125H comes in. Tongue twister of a name aside, this soundbar system delivers proper surround sound at a price as modest as its footprint. The package includes a soundbar, subwoofer and two surround speakers, all of which pair wirelessly and with very little fuss out of the box.

We were surprised by its weight, scale, and spaciousness, which (much like the C5) far exceed its size. Dolby Atmos is supported with two dedicated upward-firing drivers on the main soundbar unit, and there’s even an HDMI 2.0 passthrough socket. (Maybe Sonos could learn a thing or two.)

The LG and Hisense make a great cinematic space-saving duo – and, in truth, you could leave it there. But by adding the heavily discounted, Award-winning Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you get a pretty big streaming upgrade.

Amazon’s top-tier Fire TV Stick delivers 4K streams with oodles of detail and natural colours, and with an extremely comprehensive selection of apps, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to content.

If you’re looking longingly at our best TV deals and best soundbar deals pages, but think that you can’t get involved with the Prime Day sales due to a lack of space, then hopefully this petite (and massively discounted) home cinema setup has changed your mind.

MORE:

Check out the best Amazon Prime Day AV deals live

As well as the best Amazon Prime Day hi-fi deals

And find the best OLED TV deals here

Having resisted for almost two decades, I finally took the plunge recently and tried living with a turntable as part of our special Vinyl Week.

I expected to enjoy the experiment. What I didn't expect was to fall completely in love with it.

Within days, I found myself eagerly browsing record shops, keeping an eye out for bargains on eBay and looking for excuses to put an album on.

More surprisingly, my family got into it, too. The simple ritual of choosing a record, putting it on the platter and dropping the needle proved far more engaging than scrolling endlessly through Spotify.

There was just one problem: because my main living room system is the Sony HT-A9, I needed a Bluetooth turntable that could sit at the back of the room without cables trailing across the floor.

The Pro-Ject T1 EVO BT fit the bill perfectly, but while the setup worked, I quickly discovered that the HT-A9 only supports compressed Bluetooth audio.

The result was a noticeable compromise in sound quality. I loved the vinyl experience, but I knew I wasn't hearing what the turntable was capable of.

Rather than abandon the whole project, I decided to build a minimalist hi-fi system that could coexist with my existing home cinema setup.

The turntable's location was already approved by my wife, so moving it wasn't an option: whatever I chose had to work wirelessly, fit neatly into our living room and, ideally, sound fantastic.

After much research and consultation with my esteemed colleagues Kashfia Kabir and Ketan Bharadia, I settled on the KEF Coda W active speakers – and they've been brilliant.

They're not quite as eye-catching as the models in KEF's LS range, but they're very handsome in their own right and, crucially for me, compact enough to slot into the existing bookcase in our living room. More importantly, they sound superb.

For relatively compact speakers, they produce a surprisingly big, confident and weighty sound. That's partly down to the hefty 100W of amplification power per channel. They're also detailed without sounding analytical, tonally balanced without sounding dull, and wonderfully fluid with music.

Crucially, they also support the aptX HD-quality Bluetooth streams sent by the Pro-Ject turntable, and the improvement was immediately obvious.

The speakers impressed me so much, in fact, that they inspired the next stage of the project.

Wanting to get more use from them, I borrowed a WiiM Pro Plus streamer from our hi-fi team and connected it to the Coda W via optical. The result is what I now consider to be a near-perfect modern hi-fi system: a Bluetooth turntable for vinyl, a streamer for everything else and a pair of active speakers that require no separate amplifier.

It's compact, easy to use, living-room friendly and, most importantly, it sounds terrific.

Unfortunately, the KEF Coda W speakers aren't discounted for Amazon Prime Day, nor have I spotted any worthwhile deals elsewhere. That's not especially surprising given how new they are.

Even so, I'd argue they're excellent value at their £799 asking price. There's a reason we awarded them five stars in our KEF Coda W review.

Prime Day is often about chasing the biggest discount, but sometimes the best products to buy are the ones that aren't on sale. The KEF Coda W is just one very personal example.

If you do fancy recreating my minimalist hi-fi setup, though, the good news is that both the Pro-Ject T1 EVO BT turntable and WiiM Pro Plus streamer are currently available at reduced prices:

If you’re looking to upgrade your lounge AV setup holistically during Prime Day, then we have two bits of advice.

First, don’t go for the new stuff, especially when shopping for an OLED TV or Dolby Atmos soundbar. Most of the new hardware has just arrived and is still full price, or at best has had a tiny amount shaved off its RRP.

Second, ignore Amazon, at least for now, as the best deal combination we've found for a new setup is actually at Richer Sounds.

The deal requires you to use a combination of discount codes to get the best result, but once done, it nabs you a 55-inch Samsung S95F QD-OLED TV with the firm’s Award-winning Q990F Dolby Atmos soundbar system for £1836.50 – pretty impressive considering the two products would have cost £4198 mere months ago.

All you have to do is add the 55-inch S95H and Q990F to your basket at Richer Sounds and apply the “599Q990F”, “SAMS10PERCENT” and ”RSTV200” discount codes at checkout.

As an added perk, you will even get a Samsung SP-LFF3C projector thrown in for free with the deal. We haven't reviewed that specific model, so we can't comment on performance, but free is free, right?

What about the brand new Samsung S99H and Q990H? Yes, they have also both been discounted. Richer Sounds is currently offering the 55-inch Samsung S99H for £2149 (or an even better £1899 if you apply for cashback with Samsung after purchase), which is a decent saving on its £2499 regular price.

We’ve also spotted the Q990H retailing for £1299 (save £100) on Amazon. But that still adds up to a combined cost of £3198 for the two together.

While the newer models do offer noticeable performance gains according to our testing, they still don’t quite justify an extra £1371.50 investment, in our mind.

Especially as the S95F and Q990F are still very competent performers and among the best you will find at their current, discounted price.

As we said in our Samsung S95F review: “Sound aside, the Samsung S95F is every bit the five-star stunner. Vibrant, punchy and more crisp than a lifetime’s supply of Walkers Max, it’s a thrilling TV to live with and use, yet it also continues Samsung’s trajectory in producing more balanced and cinematically authentic TVs.”

And on the topic of sound, here’s our verdict on the Q990F: “The Samsung HW-Q990F nails it with a crisp and engaging sound and a whole new level of bass performance.”

So, all in all, a match made in heaven – perfect for watching the World Cup, then.

MORE:

These are the best OLED TVs we’ve reviewed

We rank the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Check out our Prime Day 2026 home cinema deals live hub

My favourite headphones are now substantially cheaper than when I bought them – but I’m not bitter. Which, considering how tight I am, is a sign of just how good the Sony WF-C710N are.

They can be yours now for £65 at Amazon, which is £10 less than when I bought them in February. Still, considering the use I have had out of them since then, that extra tenner was money well spent.

Best-ever deal on the Sony WF-C710N earbuds

The C710N take everything we loved about their Award-winning predecessors, the C700N, and crank it up a notch: the battery life is an hour longer; the ANC has been beefed up with the addition of Dual Noise Sensor filters; the on-bud controls are now touch sensitive – and very intuitive to use.

They also have auto pause and wear detection, to help when having to interact with people.

But it’s the sound that’s the real highlight. “There’s a weight, solidity and fullness in the bass which makes the WF-C700N sound lightweight and a little top-heavy,” we note in our Sony WF-C710N review. “The new model fleshes things out better.”

They extract an enormous amount of detail from a track, lending notes plenty of texture. And they have Sony’s trademark musicality in spades.

From a personal point of view, the C710N are a great daily pair of earbuds. Their stacked feature-set makes them very versatile, and they have accompanied me on runs, walks, commutes, Zoom meetings and everything in between. If even a skinflint like me would pay more than their current price of £65 at Amazon, you know it’s a good deal.

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I’m sick of recommending them, but this cheap Sony wireless headphones deal is a no-brainer this Prime Day

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If you’re just getting into hi-fi, or short on cash, but still want a stellar pair of floorstanding speakers capable of punching above their sonic weight, then we have good news.

After years of belligerently selling at full price, you can currently pick up the Dali Oberon 5 for £499 at Peter Tyson. That’s a solid £299 saving on their regular price, and the lowest currently available; the next best deal we’ve seen is on Amazon, which is selling the Oberon 5 for £599.

Why the Oberon 5 when they’re so long in the tooth? It's a fair question, as the speakers last won a What Hi-Fi? Award all the way back in 2020, and are currently being replaced by Dali’s new Sonik 5.

The answer is simple: they still sound great and are incredibly competitive performers at their new, lower price. In fact, they were so good that eagle-eyed regular readers will know I had them shortlisted to replace the Q Acoustics 3030i in my home system for many years.

They only got dethroned after I heard the Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2, which has since replaced them as the top entry on my letter to Santa. However, with them selling for £1199, that’s a big step-up in price. And for those looking for an entry-level, sub-£500 set of speakers, the Oberon 5 is a fantastic option.

As we say in our review:

“Overall, these speakers manage to sound notably larger than they are. The Q Acoustics 3050i dig even more deeply into the bass, but lack the sheer expressiveness of these Dalis, particularly through the mid and higher frequencies.”

As we said in our review, they offer buyers an unfussy, fun-sounding set of floorstanders that will match nicely with a variety of amps – including the Technics SA-C600 system I have in my lounge and the newer, Award-winning Arcam A5+ from last year.

That’s why, if you’re shopping at that level during Prime Day, I’d wholeheartedly recommend considering grabbing a pair at their current price while stocks last. With the Sonik 5 now out, they won’t be around much longer if you don’t.

MORE:

Check out our Prime Day 2026 hi-fi deals live hub

We rank the best floorstanding speakers

Our picks of the best stereo amps

Prime Day 2026 is finally here, and while it’s set to last a whole week, Amazon’s kicked the event off with a bang, offering a solid saving on one of the best Mini LED TVs money can buy.

You can grab the 55-inch Sony Bravia 7 Mini LED TV for £1099 at Amazon right now. That’s a £400 saving on its regular price and the cheapest we’ve ever seen it retail for.

And if, for whatever reason, you are dead against getting an OLED TV as your next set, it is a fantastic saving on a TV we openly describe as “a marvel”.

But, there is one issue, stopping us from wholly recommending it: you can get a Sony Bravia 8 OLED for only £100 more.

There are reasons you may want to pick the Bravia 7 over its OLED sibling – chief of which is its higher peak brightness, which makes it better if you plan to use it in a very bright room.

But for serious movie fans, the Bravia 8’s OLED panel makes it a better option for one key reason: its ability to deliver perfect blacks.

Yes, the Bravia 7 is very good by LCD standards, but it's still a backlit TV, which, as we’ve said many times before, means it can’t match an OLED's perfect black level. Put them head-to-head and the Bravia 8’s perfect blacks are immediately apparent and convey an added depth and level of contrast.

This isn’t a dig against the Bravia 7 specifically; it’s just a constant theme we’ve experienced when comparing Mini LED sets to OLEDs. But it’s especially true with the Bravia 8, which, despite coming out two years ago, remains a top performer in its class.

Highlights include wonderfully accurate colours and a general focus on consistency that helps it deliver a truly immersive home cinema experience. And that’s why, unless you really don’t want an OLED, we’d still recommend it over its Mini LED sibling.

MORE:

Prime Day 2026 Home Cinema Deals Live: all the top discounts our experts have spotted

These are the best TVs we've fully reviewed

Our picks of the best soundbars

We all love a bargain, which is why many of you may be looking for a stellar Prime Day deal on an LG C5.

And why not? The 42-inch LG C5, 48-inch LG C5 and 55-inch LG C5 all earned five-star ratings. The range also picked up not one, but three trophies during our latest What Hi-Fi? Awards.

And, while it has since been replaced by the five-star LG C6, having tested the two head-to-head in our viewing rooms, we can confirm the older C5 remains a very competitive performer and a valid option for any movie fan – especially when discounted.

At first glance, this is especially true right now, with pretty much every size of the LG C5 currently discounted. You can see a quick Cliff Notes of the best early Prime Day deals we’ve spotted on each below.

• Get the 42-inch LG C5 for £649 at Richer Sounds (save £750).
• Get the 48-inch LG C5 down to £759 at Richer Sounds (save £650)
• Get the 55-inch LG C5 down to £989 at Richer Sounds (save £910)
• Get the 65-inch LG C5 down to £1299 at Richer Sounds (save £1400)
• Get the 83-inch LG C5 down to £3052 at Richer Sounds (save £2480)

So, it’s a no-brainer, right? Time to click that magic checkout button and treat yourself to a shiny new OLED?

It would be all too easy to say yes, as those are solid prices on very good TVs. In fact, the 83-inch LG C5 deal is the best price we’ve seen on the giant OLED.

But, if you want my advice, I’d not pull the trigger yet, as I think the C5 will go down in price even further during Prime Day.

There are two simple reasons why. First, because while those are very good prices, outside of the 83-inch deal, we’ve seen all the other sizes slightly cheaper in the past. Not always by much, but £50 saved is a big deal for a lot of us right now, given the current cost of living crisis.

Second, because Prime Day tends to bring particularly impressive deals on C-series sets. Last year, we saw prices for the older C4 hit record lows across multiple sizes during Prime Day, and my instincts tell me the same will happen for the C5 this year.

Which is why, with Prime Day not even officially started, my advice right now is to wait and see what the actual event brings to the table. After all, you only have a few more hours to wait…

MORE:

Check out our Prime Day Home Cinema Deals Live Hub

We rank the best OLED TVs

Our picks of the best TVs money can buy

"Why can't I hear the dialogue on my TV speakers?"

It's a question we're asked all of the time, and while we're seeing TV manufacturers attempt to fix the issue with built-in dialogue enhancement features, we think there's a clear answer to this problem.

An external sound device, namely a soundbar, is one of the most crucial – and easy – TV upgrades that you can make.

Not only will you get clearer dialogue, but many soundbars also offer deeper bass, improved dynamics, and, if you opt for one that supports it, Dolby Atmos.

With Amazon Prime Day officially less than 24 hours away, we expect to see plenty of discounts on several models featured in our best soundbars list.

However, if you're simply looking for a quick, easy, and reliable recommendation, then you've come to the right place.

I've selected three soundbars – an affordable option, a mid-range choice, and a premium soundbar package – all of which have been thoroughly tested to solve your sonic woes by our expert team of reviewers.

Just be warned, it's early days, so prices may drop further during the Prime Day sales as the week progresses, but these are the top savings I've spotted in the initial round of discounts.

So, if you're tired of muffled voices or you're sick of rewinding to catch a crucial missed line of dialogue, then look no further.

Affordable: Creative Stage Pro

This sub-£100 marvel of a soundbar is also the most versatile option on this list.

Designed to be used with smaller TVs or on a desk with a computer monitor, the Creative Stage Pro is a charming, super-affordable, and effective soundbar.

It ditches a fancy feature set and instead opts for a straightforward approach to improving sound, and we think that was a clever move from Creative.

That simplicity extends to the setup process; a single cable links the soundbar to the included subwoofer, and there are options to connect the soundbar to your TV via an HDMI ARC or optical connection.

We think it's especially talented when it comes to voices, as our full review notes that it outputs "crisp, detailed and emotive dialogue", which is the ideal solution to stave off muffled TV sound.

We reviewed it at £130, but Overclockers UK has it down to just £95.

Mid-range: Sony HT-S2000

Sony's entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar is my choice at the more affordable end of the market.

This compact, fuss-free soundbar sports an easy plug-and-play setup, and it produces a sound that is guaranteed to be leagues ahead of your TV's built-in speakers. Not only that, but the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.2 ensures that streaming music to the unit is a breeze.

Generally speaking, the HT-S2000 ticks a lot of boxes, especially for the money. It serves up punchy dynamics, impressive directionality, and superb clarity, which results in an impressively cinematic sound despite the soundbar's modest footprint.

When it comes to voices, we stated that the HT-S2000 delivers "crisp and clear dialogue" and praised its ability to dig up an impressive amount of sonic subtleties. This means that voices not only sound clearer, but also more textured, tonally varied, and realistic.

We reviewed it at £349, but it can be found for just £299 at Amazon right now; that's a tidy £50 saving on a five-star soundbar.

Premium: Samsung HW-Q990F

This Award-winning soundbar package has been discounted so deeply that we think it makes a compelling mid-range option for those scouting out a new 'bar to sit below their TV.

This package includes a soundbar, two surround speakers, and a subwoofer, making it a full surround sound package. The trick here is that all components connect wirelessly, making it a neater solution compared to a traditional wired surround sound package.

The system produces a hugely spacious and detailed sound, with the included subwoofer being a particular highlight. It produces a rich, powerful, and tonally varied bass that blows many competitors out of the water.

On top of this, the HW-Q990F is no slouch when it comes to dialogue. We found it presents "natural and detailed voices" in our review, and if you want even more clarity, then Samsung's Active Voice Amplifier Pro feature is on board to grant your wishes.

We reviewed it at a hefty £1699, but it can currently be found on Amazon for just £749 (a staggering £950 saving).

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Find the best soundbar deals here

As well as our picks for the best budget soundbars

As well as the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

If you need a good TV, but are tight on cash, then there’s only one TV deal I’d recommend right now.

Specifically, Argos's current deal on the TCL C6KS. The deal lets you grab the Award-winning 50-inch TCL C6KS for £343 (save 20 per cent) when you use the TCLTV20 discount code at checkout.

Why this TV in particular, especially with Prime Day about to start at the stroke of midnight? Because it’s the best cheap TV money can buy, even at full price.

Offering a Mini LED panel, the set delivers the best performance we’ve experienced on a TV at its price. Delivering atypically high, but controlled peak and operating brightness levels, solid HDR support and a nicely balanced picture that punches well above its weight, you won’t find better set this cheap.

That’s why the TCL C6KS earned a five-star rating when we tested it and then went on to win the best budget 48-50in TV trophy at the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Awards.

It’s also why, even now, we stand by our verdict: “TCL’s latest ultra-affordable TV is even better than its specs suggest and fixes pretty much everything that was wrong with its predecessor. The price seems like it must be too good to be true – but it isn’t.”

Our only word of warning is that, as is always the case at this end of the market, there are some compromises. For gamers, its framerate is capped at 60Hz, so you won’t be able to run a current-generation games console or PC at full speed.

There is also some minor motion blur during particularly animated scenes. And finally, again, like all TVs at this price, its speakers are middling. You should budget for a soundbar if you don’t already have one, as a result. We’d recommend the Sony HT-SF150 / HT-S100F featured as the top budget option in our best soundbars guide, if you don’t currently have one.

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Prime Day 2026 Home Cinema Deals LIVE: all the top savings recommended by our experts

These are the best cheap TVs we’ve tested

We rank the best soundbars money can buy

Prime Day 2026 doesn’t technically start until midnight, but that hasn’t stopped retailers from dropping a load of awesome early OLED TV deals.

And of that list, one in particular stands out; the first significant saving we’ve spotted on the five-star Samsung S99H.

That’s right, despite it just launching and receiving a glowing review from our experts mere weeks ago, Richer Sounds has already cut a significant wedge off the 55-inch S99H’s asking price.

You can grab the 55-inch Samsung S99H for £2149 right now, if you use the TRADE250 code at checkout.

But the savings don't stop there. You can then save a further £250 by claiming cashback from Samsung. That lets you get a latest generation, flagship QD-OLED for £1899, which is undoubtedly a tempting proposition.

If you’ve read our S99H review, then you’ll likely at the very least be tempted to snap one up – and we get why. As our experts said in our review:

“With a stunning, contrast-rich picture, improved sound system and a feature set that blows most other TVs out of the water, the S99H is the flagship OLED to beat for 2026.”

And if you want the best new OLED TV currently available, and don’t mind paying for it, then this deal is easy to recommend.

But, for those not 100 per cent committed to buying the latest hardware, there is one minor fly in the ointment. Specifically, the Award-winning, 55-inch Sony Bravia 8 II is also currently discounted.

Head to Richer Sounds and you can grab our 2025 Product of the Year winner for £1699. Yes, that’s not the best price ever on the set, but it’s a solid saving on its £2499 launch price. It also makes it slightly cheaper than the Samsung.

Samsung’s latest flagship OLED TV is better in some ways. Running the two sets head-to-head this year, the S99H is a smidgeon brighter and offers minor upgrades in some of the areas we are about. But it is still a very close race between the two.

Which is why we currently think the Bravia 8 II is better value for most people. Only serious performance chasers who insist on only buying the latest hardware will be better off spending that much extra for the S99H.

MORE:

Get all of our experts' recommendations in real-time with our Prime Day 2026 home cinema deals live hub!

These are the best OLED TVs we've reviewed

We rank the best TVs money can buy

I've heard a lot of premium wireless headphones in the past few months. No, seriously, when I say a lot, I mean a lot.

The Sony WH-1000XM6, the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless, the Apple AirPods Max 2, the Sony 1000X The Collexion, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; the list just goes on and on.

And yet, this Amazon Prime Day, I would pick one pair above all others. Those aforementioned headphones are all excellent, sometimes spectacular, in their own respective ways, but one pair stands head and shoulders above the rest: the Sennheiser HDB 630.

At £400 / $500 / AU$1000, they're not cheap, and discounts aren't exactly common, but if you see a drop this Prime Day, across any of the major retailers, I would urge you wholeheartedly to snap it up while you can.

In fact, even if they don't budge an inch, I'd still be urging you to get hold of the best wireless headphones Sennheiser has ever made.

It's going to be a crazy twist of fate if some of the best wireless headphones you can currently buy this Prime Day aren't currently available on Amazon. Well, it's their loss.

In truth, forget Prime Day and Amazon altogether. Forget discounts and price cuts, and even brand loyalty. Just remember one key fact: if you want the best premium noise-cancelling wireless headphones, you want the Sennheiser HDB 630. It's that simple.

Why? Well, mainly because these are sound-first headphones that have pushed the needle for how good Bluetooth over-ears can sound at this sort of price. The HDB 630 are exceptionally smooth and natural-sounding headphones, with a beautifully realised bass reproduction, a sweet, immersive mid-range and a crisp, sharply defined treble.

They're fun, dynamically adept and musically expressive, walking that tricky tightrope between analysis and entertainment with sure-footed precision.

Part of that quality comes from the Sennheiser's super-clever BTD 700 USB-C dongle that you simply plug into your device’s USB-C port to give it aptX Adaptive superpowers.

That means that any source device, including your iPhone, gains aptX Adaptive hi-res streaming up to 24bit/96kHz, even if it wouldn't natively support it. That is, quite simply, an absolute game-changer, and it works terrifically.

Plus, you get wired listening via 3.5mm and USB-C-ended cables, around 60 hours of battery life with ANC switched on, very solid noise cancelling, a luxuriously comfortable fit and very solid voice calls, all of which combine to make an exceptional all-around package.

We get that Prime Day should be all about Amazon and, of course, all about deals, but the HDB 630 are so exceptional that all sort of goes out of the window.

Discounts don't really matter (although they're great to see). Retailers don't matter. What matters is that, if you can, you pick up a pair of some of the best-sounding premium wireless headphones we've ever heard.

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Discounts galore! These are the best early Amazon Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Prime Day Predictions: the What Hi-Fi? team’s hopes, fears and dreams for Amazon Prime Day

Ah, the humble soundbar. You might not think from first glance that they are anything special. After all, their unassuming designs are usually built to blend into your living room in front of your TV virtually unnoticed.

But these compact champions can play a crucial part in your home cinema setup. If you have the right model, your TV’s (almost certainly) lacklustre audio can be upgraded to deliver immersive yet detailed sound with clear voices.

As with any piece of home cinema kit, there is a huge variety when it comes to quality and price. If you are looking on the more affordable end of the spectrum (take the Creative Stage Pro, for instance), you will rarely find Dolby Atmos support. For those who have bigger budgets, you will find more premium models with the specifications to match.

So which models are worth your time? We have tested oodles of bars over the years since the category emerged in the 2000s, so we know which soundbars are genuinely good sonic performers.

With Amazon Prime Day almost upon us (it officially runs from the 23rd to the 26th June), we have already spotted some stellar bargains on top-performing soundbars. All the models below have been thoroughly tested by our experts, and have achieved either a four or five-star rating.

MORE:

Here is our review of the Samsung HW-Q990F

Check out the best soundbars

These are the best budget bars on the market

Roughly £25 off the four-star Philips TAH8000E wireless headphones does, on the face of it, look like rather a tempting proposition.

The Philips over-ears are clear-sounding, comfortable cans with solid ANC and outstanding battery life, and now that they've fallen from £150 to £114 at Amazon, they're more appealing than ever.

The thing is, we think you can do better. Unless that absolutely monster battery life of 70 hours already has you sold on the Philips, there are finer alternatives at better prices which we think are more deserving of your cash.

An appealing wireless headphones deal

More talented alternatives?

We wouldn't discourage you from buying the Philips TAH8000EBK. They're truly solid headphones, and while their sound isn't quite class-leading, it's a long way off being a disappointment.

That mega battery life is also a huge bonus, and we know that for frequent flyers or commuters, battery is a major consumer consideration.

We just feel that sonically, you can do better. The Sony WH-CH720N are a more convincing listen than their Philips rivals, with a greater feeling of musicality and verve, even at their lower price and advancing age.

Plus, their 50-hour battery is still excellent, and you're getting all of those well-performing features and solid build quality you'd expect from a Sony product.

For sonic purists, we'd also nudge you over towards the Austrian Audio Hi-X2BT. With no noise cancelling and no app support, they are the wildcard pick, but during our testing, it was hard not to slightly fall in love with their sparky, clear and natural sonic presentation.

Three strong candidates, then, but if you want the most well-rounded and value-first over-ear package, we'd direct you over to Amazon and the Sony WH-CH720N. For sonic purists, checking out Richer Sounds and the Hi-X25BT is also well worth it.

MORE:

Read our recent AirPods Max 2 review

Rewind: Sennheiser headphone uncertainty, new Sony TVs, Dolby Atmos soundbars and more

Best wireless headphones: reviewed and rated by our in-house experts

If you’re on the lookout for a soundbar system to take your home cinema experience to the next level, the search can feel like wading through a sea of endless models with no realistic landfall in sight.

Lucky for you, then, that our team of experts have tested a huge variety of soundbars at a range of price levels to make sure you spend your hard-earned cash only on models worth your time.

And we have just spotted a tempting discount on the JBL Bar 1000MK2, one of the most recent soundbars to enter our test room.

You can pick up the Dolby Atmos soundbar system for £899 at Peter Tyson, saving you a decent £100 off its original price. It received a more than solid four-star rating, impressing us with its nifty design and clear vocal performance.

The highlight of the JBL Bar 1000MK2's design is its wireless speakers, which can be connected to the main soundbar via a magnetic port or used wirelessly to perform as separate rear surrounds.

That gives you plenty of options for setting up your soundbar package to suit your room. The JBL model also offers a neat party trick with the surrounds: they can be moved to another room while the sound from your TV or Bluetooth device continues to play, transforming it into a wireless speaker.

This works by selecting either a mono or stereo downmix via the accompanying app, then taking one or both of the speakers to a different room to deliver the chosen mix. It's a great option if you want to pop into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, say, but don’t want to miss any of the action.

The system has four HDMI sockets, including three inputs and the output/eARC. There is no 4K/120Hz support, but the HDMI passthrough supports signals up to 4K/60Hz as well as Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

When we put it through its paces in our test room, we found that the 1000MK2 delivers an exciting yet reasonably detailed sound that enhances our listening experience.

While watching Blade Runner 2049, for instance, the soundbar shows off its sense of movement and precision. We say in our review that “drones whizz past the viewer with an energy that will have you double-checking you are not sat next to a Replicant.”

That being said, the Award-winning Sonos Arc Ultra delivers a more immersive overall audio experience. That model is currently available for £999 at Richer Sounds so, if you have the budget, we recommend giving it your consideration as well.

This JBL soundbar package offers a smarter design and more set-up options, though, so it’s quite the temptation, especially at the discounted price of £899 at Peter Tyson.

MORE:

Here is our review of the JBL Bar 1000MK2

Check out our thoughts on the step-down JBL Bar 300MK2

And these are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars right now

We’re big fans of the Audio Pro C20 W.

So much so that one of our staff writers wrote an entire article about how much they hoped the Award-winning speaker would get its first-ever discount on Black Friday.

Patience, it seems, is a virtue. We never got that Black Friday discount, but we do finally have our target deal price: £399 at Peter Tyson.

We tested this Swiss Army Knife of a speaker at £450 last year, so that’s a tidy £50 saving and great value, given just how much the C20 W is capable of.

This ‘W’ model is the successor of the Audio Pro C20, which itself was an Award winner thanks to its multifaceted skill selection.

The C20 W builds on this with a number of small, meaningful tweaks to improve things further.

This includes a rethink of the sound system, which has the same drivers as the C20 but adds improved input stages for uniform sensitivity and a better dynamic range, changes to the speaker’s acoustical design, and a tuning overhaul.

We are big fans of these changes. “The C20 W offers an expansive, open soundstage, granting a pleasing airiness to the likes of Ramin Djawadi’s choral Across The Oceans Of Time or Massive Attack’s Paradise Circus,” our Audio Pro C20 W review reads.

“Those qualities of refinement and clarity walk hand in hand with a gift for overall organisation and cohesion. Even when things become challenging or overly dense, the C20 W has the poise and refinement to avoid ever sounding cluttered or slipshod.”

Bass has plenty of heft without overshadowing the rest of the frequency range, and the whole performance is a touch richer and clearer than it is with its predecessor.

When it comes to physical connections, the C20 W has it all. A set of RCA inputs, a moving-magnet phono stage, an optical input for digital sources and an HDMI ARC are all included, and there is a sub-out option for adding a subwoofer.

Wireless support is just as impressive, with AirPlay 2 and Google Cast for wireless playback up to 24-bit/96kHz as well as Bluetooth 5.0. Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect are also on the menu, as well as Audio Pro’s own multi-room offering for connecting a variety of speakers in your personal abode.

Essentially, this means you can use the C20 W as a soundbar for your TV, as a Bluetooth speaker paired with your phone, or as part of a multi-room setup. Whatever use you require from a speaker, it's very likely that the C20 W offers it.

If you’re after a multi-room offering, there is no better at this price level. The Audio Pro C20 W builds on an already Award-winning recipe to take its wireless speaker to new heights – and the price is at a new low at £399 at Peter Tyson.

MORE:

Read our review of the Sonos Era 300

Also consider the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition

Best Bluetooth speakers tried and tested for every budget

If you've been in the market for a new AV receiver and speaker package, then we'd strongly recommend the latest bundle from Peter Tyson.

The bundle pairs the showstopping Marantz Cinema 30 AVR and cinematic Fyne Audio F500E AV Pack 2, which we've just reviewed.

Normally, the two items would set you back £5748, but right now Peter Tyson is offering this at an all-in-one price of £4999. That's a saving of nearly £750 on an Award-winning amplifier, and a sound system that delivers punchy, cinematic sound.

Why is it such a great deal? We'll start with the Award-winning Marantz Cinema 30, which we've already praised countless times before. It wraps up bold, smooth and rich cinematic sound inside a classy and luxurious design to create an AVR that we can't resist.

It continues to be our reference AV amplifier in our home cinema testing room thanks to its clear and detailed nature, and the wide range of features on board (including seven HDMI 2.1 sockets and a raft of wireless streaming options) ensure its built to handle anything you can plug into it.

The icing on the cake is the fool-proof setup system, which uses Audyssey room calibration via an included microphone to adapt the sound to your listening space, and handle all sorts of speaker measurements (such as distances and levels) automatically.

Moving on to the recently-reviewed Fyne Audio F500E, we have a surround sound system that isn't quite perfect, but it is very enjoyable to listen to.

We identified the crisp and engaging F501E floorstanders as the highlight of this system, as they ensure that movies and music are presented with plenty of detail. We also have to give the F3.10 subwoofer kudos for its deep and agile bass, which adds to the dramatic and cinematic nature of this system.

While we wish that the F502E LCR was a bit more forthright and dynamic with voices, this system impressed us as a whole. We actually tested it with the very Marantz AVR mentioned above, so we can attest that this is a solid pairing if you're after big cinematic sound.

If convenience is your priority, then this bundle includes the key components (you'll just need to add speaker cables) to get your surround sound system set up. And at a £749 discount, we can also vouch for the savings.

MORE:

Read our Marantz Cinema 30 review here

As well as our full Fyne Audio F500E AV Pack 2 review

And check out our picks for the best surround sound systems

Here at What Hi-Fi? we love a good floorstanding speaker – especially those we rate at five stars and that are available with a tempting discount.

Which is exactly what we have here with Fyne Audio’s superb F501E towers. This model isn't only a five-star belter, though – it's also the holder of a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year Award!

We deemed the Fynes ‘Best floorstanding speaker £500-£1000’, and the F501E are now showing their first ever discount of £100 over at Richer Sounds. This takes their price down from £999 to £899, a tasty 10% off.

The F501E might be part of Fyne Audio’s entry-level range of speakers, but they perform above and beyond their asking price.

In our Fyne Audio F501E review, we describe the speaker as being “a talented all-rounder that has a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price.”

“We like the Fyne’s sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand. Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards.”

Fyne Audio’s trademark Isoflare driver array, which features the tweeter positioned at the throat of the mid/bass unit, is typically reserved for its more expensive loudspeakers, but it’s present on this entry-level model.

And in our review, we praise its performance, saying, “Having the acoustic centres of the tweeter and mid/bass aligned helps with integration; the result is a crisp and forthright performance with vocals that captures nuances and subtle shifts in intensity superbly.”

Build quality is solid and neat, although some might be disappointed to learn they are available only in a single finish, Black Ash.

Thanks to their downward-firing port arrangement, these Fyne’s aren’t hugely fussy about positioning, although we found they performed best around 70cm or so out from the rear wall and well away from the sides of our test room.

In terms of partnering the speakers with suitable electronics, it goes without saying that a good-quality stereo amplifier will go a long way to extracting the very best performance from the F501E.

They will deliver the goods in modestly priced systems, yet have enough in reserve to handle a move up in quality should you be considering an electronics upgrade.

We tested them with Arcam’s A5 (50 watts per channel) and Naim Nait XS3 (70 watts per channel) to PMC’s Cor (95 watts per channel) amplifiers, and they performed without any problems.

If you want an epic floorstander at an attractive price, we heartily recommend you audition the Fyne Audio F501E and take advantage of this £100 saving at Richer Sounds.

MORE:

Our pick of the best floorstanding speakers you can buy for all budgets

Standmounts vs floorstanders: which speaker type should you buy?

Read our full Fyne Audio F501E review

You don't always get everything you want for Christmas.

Some desired gifts can fall through the cracks, and while it's nice to have another set of novelty socks and a festive hamper from your estranged aunt who now lives over in Australia (doesn't she know you're a vegetarian?), sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

Grannies are great for knitting jumpers, but they don't know a huge amount about wireless headphones or budget amplifiers.

That's why we've compiled this list of the best hi-fi and audio products we're eyeballing in the post-Christmas sales – if you're flush with cash, it might be time to take matters into your own hands and get 2026 started on the right foot.

MORE:

These are the best wireless speakers in town

I tested a host of standmounts this year, and it proves there are endless ways to design a great speaker

Winners and losers of 2025: which companies and products soared this year, and which sunk?

Christmas has come (slightly) early for home cinema fans, as one of the best AV receivers that we've tested is currently subjected to a deal that knocks thousands from the price tag.

The JBL Synthesis SDR-38 is an enthusiast option for dedicated cinephiles with deep pockets, and we awarded it five stars at its launch price of £7300.

That is an unquestionably steep asking price, and we highlighted that in our full review of this amplifier. Thankfully, Richer Sounds has come to the rescue, as a deal has surfaced that makes this AVR a must-buy for anyone looking to get serious about home cinema sound.

It's being offered for just £3999 at Richer Sounds currently; that's still a fair chunk of change; however, it's a meaty £3301 discount nonetheless.

The JBL Synthesis SDR-38 won't appeal to the masses thanks to its high price tag and enthusiast-leaning setup and operation, but the sound it provides is guaranteed to win over even the pickiest of audiophiles.

Beneath its stylish and premium chassis, the SDR-38 features 180W of Class G amplification with all seven channels driven, and seven HDMI 2.1 sockets which feature the full 48Gbps bandwidth. It also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for immersive home cinema sound.

Furthermore, it supports a plethora of wireless connectivity options, including Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth with the aptX HD codec.

Onto that all-important sound performance, and the Synthesis SDR-38 is an absolute dream thanks to its "excellent detail and clarity", alongside its impressive handling of big dynamic shifts. It delivers a sound with oodles of warmth and richness, and music is also handled with "rhythmic precision and a rich vocal presentation".

Despite it being nearly identical to the SDR-35 it replaced, we found that JBL improved the bass response on this upgraded model, meaning low-end effects are handled with extra low-end oomph and sensational control.

It's seriously difficult to pick holes in the SDR-38's sound performance, hence why we were so complimentary towards it in our full five-star review. It excels at everything from large dynamic shifts (such as explosions or soundtrack crescendos) to hushed conversations, making it a top-notch choice for home cinema aficionados.

It's undoubtedly still a pricey option, but at a £3301 discount at Richer Sounds, it becomes an even more enticing AVR. Be sure to sign up for Richer Sounds' VIP Membership to access the full savings; it's a free and easy process that's well worth doing to score this huge saving.

MORE:

Read our full JBL Synthesis SDR-38 review

As well as our Denon AVC-X6800H review

And check out our picks for the best AV receivers

Back in 2018 when the Soundmagic E11C were released, wired headphones were a fair bit more common.

And while wireless headphones may have exploded in popularity since, we're happy to report that the SoundMagic E11C still do a fine job for those looking for a wired alternative, winning yet another What Hi-Fi? Award this year. And – no charging or pairing necessary!

Thanks to a discount, the five-star SoundMagic E11C are now available for £39 at Richer Sounds. That's just about the lowest price we've seen for these wired wonders, and a saving of over 20%.

Don't let the budget price fool you – these earbuds deliver on sound quality.

As our SoundMagic E11C review reads: "Simply, the E11C sound really good. Make sure you choose the right tips for your ears – you should get a snug fit that not only isolates outside noise really well but ensures you hear their full sonic spectrum – and then you’re treated to a well-balanced, entertaining, energetic sound."

A listen to Drake’s God’s Plan highlights that clarity is a strength of these in-ears, while bass notes are delivered with depth and warmth. Whatever track we listen to, though, the E11C deliver life and control.

Build quality is solid, with an updated driver from the previous E10 model as well as a new, silver-plated copper cable. Small, medium and large silicone tips are provided for a snug fit.

As you'd often see on wired headphones from that era, a remote and mic are included on the left cable, ideal for use with a 3.5mm headphone jack, whether on a smartphone or a budget portable music player.

The sensitivity rating of 112dB is quite high, so the E11C earbuds can deliver plenty of volume, while using less of your device’s power.

If you've long left 3.5mm behind but still want a wired connection, then we have no qualms in recommending the SoundMagic E80D. This newer release is at a similar price and still has the sonic signature of SoundMagic headphones, only with a USB-C termination.

But if you don't mind a 3.5mm connection and are after a pair of budget wired headphones, the SoundMagic E11C are our top recommendation. They have an entertaining, upfront sound, and a solid build, and are now only £39 at Richer Sounds.

MORE:

Here are the best earbuds money can buy

Check out our picks for the best wired headphones

Check out the best DACs we've tested

You don't have to buy a JBL Bluetooth speaker, you know. Much as we herald them as some of the best Bluetooth speakers of their size, type and class, it's nice to have alternatives to cater to different tastes. Let it never be said that we favour one given brand to the exclusion of all others.

The Pure Classic Aura is something a bit different. Shaped like a radio, portable like a Bluetooth speaker and with the funky ambient lighting of a modern gaming soundbar, its unique roster of talents make it a charming alternative to the JBL stable, especially now that the price has dropped from £119 to just £89 at Amazon. Did we mention those ambient lights..?

Best Pure Bluetooth speaker deal

Around £90 generally gets you a portable Bluetooth speaker that has been designed to be chucked in a bag or on a backseat to accompany you on your travels, such as the Award-winning JBL Flip 7 or the eminently likeable Bose SoundLink Flex.

The Pure Classic Aura, however, is designed to be plonked onto your desk or kitchen worktop, even if its lightweight build and removable rubber carry strap mean you can move it easily between rooms and/or residences. An IPX2 rating, meanwhile, means it should survive being briefly sprayed with water if you're a bit careless with your kitchen tap.

Its party piece is the collection of small circular LEDs on the rear panel that shine a variety of colours (both static and dynamic), creating an attractive halo of coloured light behind the speaker that work best when it's placed near a rear wall.

Bluetooth 5.3 support is on the menu, which offers the only means of connection aside from a 3.5mm auxiliary input, while a built-in battery pack offers 30 hours of playback on a single charge.

Pure didn't forget to make a speaker that sounds the part. Thanks to its 40-watt output, the Classic Aura is happy to go loud when you push the volume dial, serving up an impressively wide, open soundstage with pleasing detailed and nuance, particularly through. Dynamics are nicely handled, too, with the classy speaker conveying shifts in intensity and volume when required.

All in all, the Classic Aura has serious substance to go with all of that style. Check it out and its new deal price at Amazon.

MORE:

Also consider the JBL Flip 7

A big year ahead? 6 pairs of wireless headphones and earbuds I'd love to see in 2026

Best Bluetooth speakers tried and tested for every budget

If you've followed What Hi-Fi? for a while now, you might be sick of hearing us recommend JBL's expansive roster of Bluetooth speakers. Whenever a deal rolls around, we're usually pretty quick to point it out, urging you to snap up a fantastic Flip 7 or a charming Charge 6 as a matter of urgency. Hey, it's not our fault they're great speakers.

That doesn't mean we're not keen to give rivals their due. The Sony ULT Field 1 might not have been untouchable at its full price of £119, but now that it's fallen to £69 at Amazon and Sevenoaks in the runup to Christmas, it could be the perfect stocking stuffer for those buyers seeking something just a little different this festive period.

JBL might have the market monopoly, but the ULT Field 1 has enough up its sleeve to make it worthy of an audition, if it matches your particular set of criteria.

Best Sony ULT Field 1 deal

The Sony ULT Field 1 is actually a really interesting beast. It often gets forgotten amidst a wave of five-star JBLs, such as the Flip 6 and the Award-winning Flip 7, but the Field 1 is something of a wildcard that, if it's up your street, can actually represent a very attractive proposition on paper.

There are two ways of listening to Sony's slimline speaker: with the bass-boosting 'Power Sound' profile switched on or off. If you switch it on, you'll get a punchy, powerful sound anchored by a considerably weighty lower-end reproduction which goes beyond what you might expect from a unit of this size.

Switch it off and the ULT Field 1 becomes leaner, tauter and nimbler, making tracks feels sharper, freer and capable of clipping along with a sprightly sense of propulsion and rhythmic drive. Neither profile is perfect, but the Sony is notable for teasing out detail than its JBL Flip 6 rival, and that's not something to be sniffed out.

The Field 1 scores highly in other areas, too. Battery life is a respectable 12 hours if you're reasonable with your listening volume, while an IP67 is more than enough to keep the Sony speaker protected from the sand and the sea. Hands-free calling is also available, while stereo pairing is on hand for getting twin Field 1s firing together.

As an intriguing, super-discounted alternative to the class-leaders, the Sony ULT Field 1 is worth an audition. Check it out at Amazon or Sevenoaks.

MORE:

A big year ahead? 6 pairs of wireless headphones and earbuds I'd love to see in 2026

Best wireless speakers 2025: tried and tested by our expert team

And the best Bluetooth speakers, too

If you are looking for a way to get the big screen movie experience wherever you want, you should probably consider a portable projector.

In the last few years we have seen a huge improvement when it comes to their picture and sound performance.

On top of that, most models now come with a built-in streaming platform so you don't even need to worry about connecting an external source.

But which ones are worth your time? With Christmas approaching and a selection of Black Friday bargains still hanging around, there are a deals on a variety of different models to choose from.

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3, for instance, has dropped down to £300 at Amazon, which is its lowest price yet.

This model certainly looks tempting at first glance, boasting an extremely light and portable build that weighs just 950g. The 1080p projector is capable of reaching a claimed screen size of 120 inches, and it carries a fulsome Google TV smart platform.

But when we had this model in our test room, we weren't blown away by its picture performance. It is limited to 200 lumens of peak brightness, which impacts the punchiness and excitement of the image.

We said in our review: "The brightest peaks of HDR sources lack detail too, as the projector ‘clips’ out subtle shading in such areas."

This also means that the projector is best enjoyed in a darker room, which might not always be available when on the move.

This slightly underwhelming performance resulted in a three-star rating.

Lucky for you, we have spotted a four-star projector that is also enjoying an impressive discount at the moment.

The Xgimi MoGo 4, a can-shaped portable projector, is available for £399 at Amazon. That lops £110 off its original price, making it a great option for movie lovers who want a flexible projector for big-screen pictures.

The 1080p Xgimi MoGo 4 manages to deliver a colourful and engaging image, despite its size and price.

Its ultra-portable design has a handy feature – twist the body and the hard plastic on the side transforms into a stand. And tt only weighs 1.3kg, which makes it easy to transport.

The Xgimi also includes Google TV built-in, with access to Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and more, as well as the ability to cast video from your smartphone.

There's a built-in battery that offers up to 2.5 hours of charge, but this depends on your picture and brightness settings.

With a saving of £110 on this easy-to-carry Xgimi projector, this could be a great way to bring the cinema experience to your living room.

MORE:

Here's our review of the Xgimi MoGo 4

These are the best portable projectors

And check out the best outdoor projectors

With any deal event, whether it’s Black Friday or Cyber Monday, our review team doesn’t just have a duty to point you towards the best tech deals, but also to steer you away from savings that look pretty tempting on paper, but deep down, we just know there’s a better alternative elsewhere.

It might be the same price, or, if you’re lucky, even cheaper. Or, it might also be a tiny bit more expensive but we’d still recommend spending a tiny bit extra to get the added performance benefits that the product brings.

This is what I’ve done below. There are still plenty of tech deals ongoing for Cyber Monday but I’ve highlighted a handful which we think are worth avoiding because we have tested something that gives you more than just a low price to admire.

Stick with these alternative recommendations, and you won’t go wrong…

Don't buy… Amazon Echo Dot Max

On paper, the Echo Dot Max looks like a good upgrade on the 5th Gen Dot – bigger, twin driver units, and a new verison of Alexa. However, in our Echo Dot Max review, we felt that the Bluetooth speaker missed its mark completely, especially when it comes to sound quality. And this is why we think you should skip this model and go for the cheaper, smaller and older Echo Dot.

Buy this instead… Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

Don't buy… Samsung QE65S95F

In our Samsung S95F review, we described it as “the best Samsung OLED” money can buy. Now, that's high praise in itself, but we can go one better than that with a TV that boasts even better picture quality for an even better price. Movie fans need look no further than the all-conquering Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch, which just edges out the Samsung on our wish list.

Buy this instead… Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch

Don't buy… Technics SC-CX700

We love the convenience of all-in-one hi-fi systems like the Technics. They squeeze streaming smarts, a range of useful inputs and amplification into a pair of speakers. All you need to do is add power. However, in our Technics SC-CX700 review, we were left feeling slightly disappointed by the user experience and the lack of refinement in the sound quality department. Which is why we recommend the KEF alternative below.

Buy this instead… KEF LS50 Wireless II

Don't buy… Sony ULT Field 3

You'd think Sony would be able to mix it with the very best with its Bluetooth speakers, but we didn't think that was the case here. In our Sony ULT Field 3 review, we were left a little disappointed, concluding, "There’s nothing particularly offensive about how the Sony ULT Field 3 sounds, but by the same token, there’s nothing really memorable about it." For sound quality, it's easily trumped by this quality JBL alternative.

Buy this instead… JBL Charge 6

Don't buy… Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

For the past few years, we think Bose has been neck-and-neck with Sony when it comes to the performance of its flagship noise-cancelling headphones. But following our time spent testing its latest model, it would appear there's now some daylight between the two. Our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review was generally positive, but this Sony alternative is clearly more musical-sounding and just provides a better overall experience. And they're cheaper.

Buy this instead… Sony WH-1000XM6

If you look at our best TV guide and the latest What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winners list, you’ll see a lot of OLED sets in both – with good reason.

OLED’s pixel-level light control lets TVs create perfect blacks in a way no LCD panel can. If you’re a serious movie fan who wants the best picture possible, there’s a strong chance you’re one of many people considering getting an OLED over Cyber Monday.

The rub? Even during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, an OLED TV is still undeniably expensive – especially if you want a big-screen model. Heck, the 65-inch LG C5 dropped to its lowest price ever during the event at Richer Sounds, but it will still set you back a hefty £1279 right now.

Which is why bargain-hunting readers may be hovering their mouse cursor or thumb over a seemingly incredible deal on Amazon.

The discount it is currently offering on the 65-inch Toshiba XF9F53DB OLED, lets you grab the lounge filling set for a modest £699. That’s by far the lowest price I’ve seen on a 65-inch OLED this year.

And yet I have a huge word of caution about it: be aware that you are taking a huge gamble. We haven't yet tested the Toshiba XF9F53DB, so we know nothing about its performance.

I have tested OLED TVs since the technology first launched, so please trust me when I say that buying blind is a big gamble. I’ve seen plenty of OLED TVs in my nearly two decades of reviewing, and there can be big performance differences between them.

I can also confirm that having an OLED panel doesn’t automatically make a TV ‘good’. Aggressive contrast, poor colour volume, oversaturation and terrible motion handling: all issues I have experienced on OLED TVs while reviewing them.

Without testing the Toshiba, it's far safer for me to point buyers to a known factor that the team and I have reviewed and know is worth your money. There are two solid options available right now, in roughly the same price ballpark as the Toshiba.

Those who just want a solid 65-inch TV and aren’t 100 per cent committed to an OLED panel, should definitely consider the TCL C7K. As luck would have it, the Award-winning set is currently on sale for £749 at Currys. That’s a solid £150 saving on a set we currently refer to as the best Mini LED TV for most people.

Highlights include an explosively bright but immersive picture and solid gaming specifications. A couple of the reasons we gave it a five-star rating and Award, with our reviewers clearly stating:

“Super-aggressive pricing, much-improved Mini LED backlighting and expansive Quantum Dot colour make the TCL C7K a performance-per-pound champ.”

Next up, for those who really do want an OLED, I suggest looking down a size or two and checking out the five-star 48-inch Samsung S90F. It is currently available for £790 on Amazon – the lowest price I’ve seen, and a solid £710 off its launch price.

I was one of the reviewers in the room when we ran it head to head with its main rivals, the 48-inch LG C5 and 48-inch Panasonic Z90B. While it didn’t quite beat the Z90B from a pure picture quality perspective, with its colours occasionally looking a little over-baked, it remains a stellar OLED.

On top of that, it’s the cheapest you’ll find right now among the big three, and the best you’ll get from a performance-per-pound perspective, with the Z90B cost £350 more. Which is why I’m currently recommending it to any OLED shopper who can’t afford to spend more than a grand. It's far less of a risk than the wild-card Toshiba.

Cyber Monday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

If you don't have the space or budget for a multi-speaker system in your living room, investing in a soundbar may suit your needs perfectly well. And, for those wanting an immersive audio performance that can take the cinematic experience even further, choosing a soundbar with Dolby Atmos support is a great option.

With a range of different Atmos soundbars on offer, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth buying. Take the Marshall Heston 120, for instance, a 5.1.2-channel soundbar that marked the brand's first leap into the category. The soundbar launched at £900, placing it neatly in the upper end of the soundbar market.

It certainly takes a different approach in terms of design compared to the majority of other models, sporting retro-looking knobs that are certainly taking a leaf from the brand's rock and roll roots.

There is HDMI eARC for connection to your TV, plus a dedicated HDMI input, and it can pass through 4K/120Hz signals.

Those specifications certainly sound promising, but when we got the model into our test room, the Heston 120 didn't impress with its audio performance. There is a good tonal balance and cohesiveness, and a decent low-level dynamic subtlety so that voices can retain their intended emotional resonance.

But these low-level dynamics do not handle dramatic shifts very well, resulting in an overall flat and uninteresting performance. We say in the review: "It’s a soundbar that is capable of going quite loud, but it doesn’t seem either willing or able to produce the volume changes necessary to deliver real drama. In fact, we even wondered if Night mode had been activated inadvertently (it hadn’t)."

That all resulted in a three-star review from us, meaning Marshall's first soundbar didn't manage to make a meaningful mark. And, despite being released for a number of months, we haven't seen any discounts on the Marshall bar for Black Friday.

But don't worry! There's another Dolby Atmos soundbar available right now that we gave a glowing five-star review. Plus, there's a great discount for Cyber Monday, which makes this model even more tempting.

The Award-winning Sonos Arc Ultra is available for £719 at Richer Sounds, lopping a whole £280 off its original price.

A Sonos alternative that ticks all the right boxes

So what makes this model stand out from the rest? For starters, the Sonos Arc Ultra offers a level of precision and detail that is incredibly rare to find in a soundbar at this price point.

We note in our review while watching Blade Runner 2049: "Incidental noises such as footsteps, a tooth being gently placed on a glass table, and the soft squeak of a rubber surgical gown as a character stretches out his arm are all delivered clearly and cleanly but in an unforced manner, contributing to the atmosphere without distracting."

It delivers an excellent bass performance as well, certainly outdoing the Marshall Heston 120 in terms of low-level dynamics. While it doesn't go to floor-shaking levels of bass, the low-frequency notes hit with lots of force and stop precisely.

In terms of connectivity, there's wi-fi and Bluetooth support as well as an HDMI eARC output to easily connect to your TV, where it will become your TV's speakers with no need for a remote. We would have liked to have seen a few more HDMI sockets but that won't be a huge issue for most people.

So, if you're hunting for a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar to take your home cinema's audio to the next level, the Sonos Arc Ultra is an easy recommendation. And the £280 Cyber Monday saving at Richer Sounds makes this a no-brainer.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

In the past year, I've been involved in the testing of around 50 TVs.

Yes, that's a lot of TVs, and one of my favourites is the LG G5, which employs a fancy new Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel to dazzling effect.

It's a very tempting TV right now, too, as it's dropped to a record-low price of £1889 at Peter Tyson.

• Check out all of the Black Friday Week deals at Amazon
• Richer Sounds Black Friday event
• Sevenoaks Black Friday deals
• Peter Tyson: Cyber Monday event

But here's the thing: as much as I like the LG G5, the Sony Bravia 8 II is even better. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's the best TV I've ever tested.

The Bravia 8 II is discounted for Cyber Monday, too. Yes, it's a bit more expensive than the G5 – £1999 at Peter Tyson – but the extra is well worth paying, particularly if you're not going to partner your new TV with a dedicated sound system.

The Bravia 8 II is the successor to the A95L (a TV I love so much, I have one in my own living room), and it's a significant upgrade.

It uses a newer, significantly brighter QD-OLED panel, for starters. Sony doesn't push the brightness as high as LG does with the G5's Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel, but it combines the increased brightness with richer colours and Sony's peerless processing to produce an image that's exceptionally punchy and three-dimensional, but still consistent and authentic.

This is a TV that dazzles with bold, stylised content, yet it never strays into the oversaturated, over-processed territory that some rivals occasionally find themselves in. Instead, the Bravia 8 II maintains Sony’s trademark naturalism, delivering that careful balance between vibrancy and subtlety.

Dark-scene performance is especially strong. Gradation is handled with a finesse the G5 doesn’t quite match, producing true OLED blacks and shadow detail that feels layered rather than crushed.

And, as ever with Sony, you barely need to touch the settings. As noted in my original review:

“For a supremely authentic picture, simply pick Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision content or Professional for everything else.

“Should you want a little more pop to proceedings, either because you’re watching in a room with ambient light or simply because you enjoy an even more thrilling delivery, simply switch to Dolby Vision Bright or the Cinema mode.”

Audio is another feather in the Bravia 8 II’s cap. Its Acoustic Surface Audio+ system produces direct, articulate sound with an openness that most OLED rivals – including the LG G5 – simply can't match.

A dedicated sound system will always be the better option (the Sonos Arc Ultra remains an excellent match), but for built-in speakers alone, the Bravia 8 II is unusually capable.

If there’s one caveat, it’s connectivity: Sony still limits you to two HDMI 2.1 sockets (one doubling as the eARC port), whereas LG offers four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs on the G5.

For setups with multiple consoles and an AVR or soundbar, that’s something to consider. But if you have just one games machine or none at all, that won't be an issue.

And that’s ultimately why I’d recommend the Bravia 8 II over the G5: while the LG has more HDMI 2.1 sockets and higher brightness, the Sony delivers a picture and sound experience that simply feels more cinematic, more refined, and more consistently satisfying.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

If you’re shopping for a small-ish OLED TV during Cyber Monday, I have some good news.

Not one, but three of the best 48-inch OLED TVs I had the pleasure to help review this year have had decent discounts.

If you were to ask me, though, if you should get LG’s small C5, or our current Award-winner, the 48-inch Panasonic Z90B, my answer would be “neither”.

No, at its current price of £790 on Amazon, I wholeheartedly recommend that most buyers go for the 48-inch Samsung S90F.

Why this set, when we gave this year’s best premium 48-50in TV What Hi-Fi? Award to the 48-inch Panasonic Z90B, not the Samsung? It’s all to do with our hallowed performance-per-pound metric.

We always factor this into our buying advice, and while the Samsung may not be as good at full price, with the Z90B offering a bit more control and generally authentic picture, the Panasonic is currently retailing for £1099 at Richer Sounds (save £400). And at that price, it’s too expensive.

The improvements don’t merit spending that extra £310. The Samsung offers excellent picture quality in its own right, and it has better gaming specifications than the Panasonic, offering four full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs.

The Z90B has only two sockets that can run modern game consoles at full speed – and one of those doubles as the eARC connection required for a Dolby Atmos soundbar.

As we say in our S90F review:

“This is an excellent 48-inch OLED overall – one of the best we have tested, despite the slight colour exaggeration. For your money, you’ll get a bright, punchy, smallish OLED capable of delivering a fun home-movie experience full of pop. Add to this flawless gaming specifications and excellent app support, and you get a TV that we are happy to recommend.”

If you’re wondering why I’m not pushing you to the 48-inch LG C5, over the Samsung, there are two simple reasons. First, the S90F is £110 cheaper, with the 48-inch LG C5 selling for £899 at Amazon.

And second because, having had the two side by side, I can confirm the Samsung offers a slightly better picture. Though it does occasionally overbake colours compared with the C5, the S90F manages to retain colour volume during low-light scenes a lot better than the LG, making it a better option for most movie fans, in our opinion.

If you want a 48-inch OLED TV right now, then, I strongly recommend taking advantage of Amazon’s current deal on the Samsung S90F while stocks last.

Cyber Monday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• Stereo amplifier: Cambridge Audio now £299
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75