You might be tempted to bag a bargain on the latest AV devices this Black Friday, but wait. Before you draw up your wish list, it's worth throwing some older devices into the mix. But not just any older devices – those that have stood the test of time.

If you're not sure where to start, we've drawn up a list of devices that have won What Hi-Fi? Awards over multiple years. Which means not only are they exceptionally good, they're also getting on a bit, and hence are more likely to be discounted.

Remember, newer doesn't always mean better. While TVs are almost always replaced every year, and wireless headphones every two or three, products like turntables or AV receivers stay in production for a lot longer, allowing them to build up a real legacy. The Rega Planar 1 first won a What Hi-Fi? Award back in 2016, for example. That's a decade at the top of its market.

Others on our list might not have been around that long, but it's all relative – two years is ancient in headphone years, which makes the Sony WF-C510 and C710N all the more susceptible to discounts.

All of the below have at least two What Hi-Fi? Awards to their name, proving they're the best at what they do. We've also included each product's lowest price so far, so you can decide whether a discount is worth taking advantage of.

MORE:

2026 Award-winning hi-fi in the early Black Friday sales – systems, separates and more

Best early Black Friday deals on five-star AV receivers, turntables and Award-winning 4K projectors

Best deals on Award-winning OLED TVs, five-star soundbar systems and legendary CD players

Klipsch is celebrating its 80th birthday with its new Stratos Series of wired headphones.

Currently consisting of the closed-back Stratos HP-2 and semi-open-backed Stratos HP-3, the new duo are built to offer outstanding sound and enhanced user comfort in celebration of Klipsch's 80 years in the industry.

Each pair deploy a two-way coaxial driver array. The semi-open-backed HP-3 feature a 50mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver and a 10mm dynamic tweeter paired to deliver "warm, punchy bass" and "crisp, sparkly highs".

The HP-2, meanwhile, marry a 40mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver with a 10mm dynamic tweeter, pledging "deep bass" and "excellent noise isolation for studio monitoring".

Klipsch describes the new Stratos Series as having a "nostalgic yet contemporary style", with both pairs crafted from premium materials such as machined aluminium yokes, protein leather headbands, and wooden earcups accented with copper rings.

The Stratos HP-2 and HP-3 are designed for all-day wearer comfort, sporting cushioned headbands lined with open-cell foam. The earpads are wrapped in ultrasoft microsuede, aiding not only comfort but also creating a more immersive seal that "envelops the listener in pure, clear sound".

The Stratos HP-2 and HP-3 come equipped with two detachable braided nylon cables: one 3.5mm-ended and one 4.4mm balanced. A 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter is also included in the box.

According to Klipsch's Product Manager Ryan Hansen: "The Stratos Series carries forward the philosophies that have guided us for 80 years, propelled by the same ambition that has always driven us: To bring you closer to the music you love, wherever you listen."

Both models will be available in the US this December in an Auburn finish. The HP-2 will set you back $1000, while the HP-3 will cost $1200 – that's edging towards Focal Clear Mg money (£1399 / $1490).

We'll include UK prices and availability as and when we receive them.

MORE:

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 Product of the Year winners have been revealed!

The What Hi-Fi? reference system: Naim's flagship streamer, a high-end Technics turntable, powerful Burmester amplification, and legendary ATC speakers

Check out the best wired headphones we've tested

In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Onkyo has introduced a new headphone amplifier: the HA-70.

Touting flagship performance from a desk-friendly footprint, the HA-70 features two ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC chips, paired with Onkyo's own analogue circuitry to deliver an "accurate, detailed, and natural sound".

Engineered with a fully balanced signal path, the new unit features dedicated DAC and amplifier stages for each audio channel, a design which Onkyo promises improves channel separation, minimises unwanted distortion, and delivers "greater dynamic stability, clarity, and musical precision".

The HA-70 supports PCM playback up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD256. Physical connections include USB-C, optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as RCA and balanced XLR outputs.

The HA-70 features three optimised gain settings: Ultra Low Gain for in-ear monitors, Low Gain for low-impedance headphones, and High Gain for more demanding cans.

Built from a compact aluminium chassis, Onkyo teases a "sleek, space-saving design" which "integrates effortlessly into modern desktop environments without compromising performance".

The Onkyo HA-70 will be available in the spring of 2027, with a suggested US retail price of $650, putting it in direct competition with Audiolab's five-star D7 rival ($699). We'll get hold of a UK price and potential availability as soon as we can.

MORE:

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 Product of the Year winners have been revealed!

The What Hi-Fi? reference system: Naim's flagship streamer, a high-end Technics turntable, powerful Burmester amplification, and legendary ATC speakers

These are the best DACs you can buy

What Hi-Fi?’s Outstanding Contribution Award is given to an individual who has made an indelible mark on the hi-fi industry. Heinz Lichtenegger has certainly done that. If the name isn’t familiar, the products and companies he represents certainly are.

At just 19 years old, while still studying Economics in Vienna, he started Audio Tuning Heinz Lichtenegger out of a converted student flat. Within a few years, he was considered one of Austria’s top ten hi-fi retailers and soon after set about building a distribution empire. It started with companies such as Triangle and Musical Fidelity, and grew to 50 or more brands, including the likes of Cambridge Audio and Boston Acoustics.

Lichtenegger didn’t stop there. He founded Pro-Ject Audio Systems in 1991, around the time when most of the hi-fi industry had decided that record players were doomed and Compact Disc was the way forward.

It was never part of the plan to be a turntable manufacturer, though. That move was borne out of necessity. The industry had moved towards CD, but there was still demand for well-engineered, sensibly priced turntables among his customers. Few remained available on the market, so Lichtenegger decided to make his own. The rest is history.

Over time, Pro-Ject’s product range has expanded in all directions, and now it makes every part of the audio chain, from record and CD players to amplifiers and speakers. And let’s not forget the multitude of accessories.

In 1993, Heinz Lichtenegger started Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH, Pro-Ject’s parent company. It distributes products to more than 80 countries, working with international brands as varied as Audio Research, Sonus faber, Rotel, Ortofon and Astell & Kern. In large parts of Europe and the world, Heinz Lichtenegger is the person ultimately responsible for getting the products from those companies onto the shelves of hi-fi dealers.

Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH also owns a number of stalwart hi-fi brands, the most famous of which are Pro-Ject and Musical Fidelity. Newer, less storied companies such as Rekkord Audio, Tone Factory and Mo Sound are also part of the roster.

Talk to Heinz, even briefly, and his love for hi-fi (and music) shines through. The decisions to remake a classic amplifier like the Musical Fidelity A1, or even the BBC-inspired LS3/5A are left-field at best. Such niche products are unlikely to nudge the bottom line to any notable degree, yet they are made because of his emotional ties to those designs. It can not be denied that Heinz Lichtenegger is a canny businessman, but equally, in our experience, he is very much a Hi-Fi Guy.

Given his impact on the specialist audio industry across the world, there are few more deserving winners of this Outstanding Contribution Award. Heinz Lichtenegger has been a major driving force in the vinyl revival we are currently enjoying, and the industry as a whole has benefited enormously from his bravery in business and nose for a great opportunity.

MORE:

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

Behind the scenes at the Pro-Ject Audio turntable factory

Read our Pro-Ject Primary E review

Every year, we choose one product to enter our hallowed Hall of Fame: a product that doesn’t just stand out in its category and price band, but one that also exemplifies What Hi-Fi?’s performance-per-pound ethos and will stand the test of time.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, there was only one product that it felt right to bestow this honour upon.

We have been using ATC’s SCM50 as our reference stereo speakers for the best part of two decades now. They have been connected to just about every piece of electronics that has passed through our various test rooms, from budget microsystems (just for fun, you understand) all the way up to monster pre/power amplifiers that retail for Porsche money.

In all that time, and with those many hundreds of components, they have never once let us down.

Our chosen reference speakers need to be a transparent window to the sources and amplification we test, and these ATCs fit the bill superbly. In short, they are honest, even-handed speakers that don’t put a significant twist on the signal they are fed.

Rated at just 85dB/W/m, these large standmount speakers aren’t sensitive, nor are they a particularly difficult load, meaning even budget amplifiers can work with them up to decent, though not ear-splitting, volume levels.

All three drive units are designed and built in-house. The company’s background is in the studio/pro world, where reliability and high power handling are essential. The company’s engineers value low distortion and dynamic ability, and have spent years developing these units, putting them into production only when they are sure that every box has been ticked.

When improvements are possible, the company usually follows through, and it has carefully evolved the SCM50s (now £11,950 per pair) through the years.

The brand also has firm ideas about using hard cone materials such as aluminium: it doesn’t like them because they ring. So the 25mm tweeter and 75mm midrange unit use well-damped fabric-dome diaphragms. A 23cm woofer with a stiff fibre and resin composite cone produces the lows and is tuned by a large, front-facing port.

If we had to describe the ATCs’ sound in one word, it would be ‘honest’. They don’t flavour or try to make things more exciting by adding a little treble sparkle or bass thump. They simply try to reproduce the signal faithfully. The SCM50 aren’t fussy about musical genre either.

They have the dynamic punch and organisational abilities to make the most of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. They never sound fazed or stressed even when pushed hard.

Equally, there is no shortage of authority here, with the ATCs digging low and true, delivering a solid, meaty presentation when required.

They are even-handed tonally and image well, provided you take just a bit of care with positioning. In our test room, the SCM50s sound most at home well away from rear and side walls and slightly angled in towards the listening seat.

We prefer the offset tweeters to be on the inside to firm up focus. Positioned this way, we get a broad and layered soundstage that is solidly focused and pleasingly stable.

These ATCs dig up plenty of information, whether it’s a nuance in vocal delivery or the texture of a bass sound, and render it in a natural and unforced way. These speakers don’t go out of their way to highlight detail. They just present all the information in a balanced, natural and convincing way.

Every so often we come across rivals – usually pricier – that better these ATCs in some respect, whether it’s outright resolution, openness, stereo imaging or rhythmic precision.

Yet we haven’t found anything that’s as satisfying an all-rounder or as practical to use as a day-to-day review tool. Considering the SCM50 was originally introduced in the mid-’80s, that’s quite some achievement. It seems great engineering doesn’t date.

As we celebrate our 50th year, it is fitting that we have finally honoured these legendary speakers that have accompanied us for such a large chunk of that time, through thick and thin, giving us decades of service.

MORE:

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

Read the full ATC SCM50 review

The What Hi-Fi? reference stereo system in detail

All the Hall of Fame winners over the past 50 years

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 Product of the Year and special category winners have been revealed!

Yes, after months upon months of arduous comparative testing in our dedicated viewing and listening rooms, 24 products have risen to the top and been crowned the crème de la crème of AV hardware at this year’s black-tie ceremony in London.

And what a year it was, with numerous incumbent winners being dethroned and more than a few surprise upsets.

You can see the full list of winners below.

Check out the full Product of the Year winners list

• Best TV: Samsung S99H
• Best soundbar: Samsung HW-Q990H
• Best standmount speakers: Acoustic Energy AE300 Mk2
• Best floorstanding speakers: Dali Sonik 5
• Best turntable: Rega Planar 6 RS Edition
• Best wireless speakers: JBL Charge 6
• Best wired headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X
• Best Blu-ray players: Panasonic DP-UB820EB
• Best projectors: Sony VPL-XW5000ES
• Best music streamers: Bluesound Node Icon
• Best CD players: Arcam CD25
• Best radios: Ruark Audio R1S
• Best speaker packages: Dali Sonik 5 5.1
• Best tablets: Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4)
• Best stereo amplifiers: Arcam A15+
• Best home cinema amplifiers: Sony TA-AN1000
• Best wireless headphones: Sennheiser HDB 630
• Best TV and video streamers: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)
• Best DACs: Chord Mojo 2
• Best smartphones: Apple iPhone 18 Pro
• Best portable music players: Astell & Kern PD5
• Best music systems: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)
• Best streaming services: Tidal
• Best accessories: Ortofon MC X30

It was a particularly special event this year, as not only did we reveal the winners, but we also celebrated What Hi-Fi? turning 50.

As part of that, we had some extra special categories alongside our standard Outstanding Contribution, Temptation, Readers’ Award, Hall of Fame and Innovation trophies.

These included special Golden Anniversary Readers’ Award, Golden Anniversary Hall of Fame Hi-Fi and Audio Award, and Golden Anniversary Hall of Fame TV and Home Cinema Award.

The Golden Anniversary Readers Award let you pick your favourite from all the previous Readers' Award winners.

Meanwhile, the Hi-Fi and Audio and Home Cinema Golden Anniversary winners were chosen by our experts from a shortlist of past Hall of Fame winners, cementing their places in What Hi-Fi? Awards history.

You can see the full list of special category winners below.

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 special category winners

• Outstanding Contribution winner: Heinz Lichtenegger
• Readers' Award winner: iFi Go Link 2
• Temptation winner: Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition
• Hall of Fame winner: ATC SCM50
• Innovation winner: Sony Bravia Theatre Trio
• Golden Anniversary Readers' Award winner: Ruark Audio R610
• Golden Anniversary Hi-Fi and Audio winner: NAD 3020 (1978)
• Golden Anniversary TV and Home Cinema winner: Pioneer Kuro (2008)

A massive congratulations to all of our winners!

MORE:

Check out the What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame

These are the best speakers we’ve reviewed

We rank the best TVs money can buy

Streaming service Apple TV has added a much-needed feature to make its content more accessible. You will be able to toggle on British Sign Language (BSL) or American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for a selection of Apple Originals.

That’s a great step forward for Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers who prefer watching with sign language over subtitles. BSL and ASL are unique languages with their own grammar, structure and visual cues that convey emotion far better than subtitles.

Films with sign language interpretation will be labelled with a Sign Language icon. You can turn it on via the Apple TV app settings, then press the Sign Language button while watching. There is also the option to use the search feature, which Apple says makes it easier to find titles that feature sign language with simple phrases like “with ASL”.

The first new release to include the translation is Being Heumann – a biographical drama about the US disability rights activist Judith Heumann. It comes out on Apple TV this Friday. Daniel Durant, who directed the film’s sign language interpretation, said: “Bringing this experience to life required a lot of care to ensure every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.”

F1: The Movie is also getting a BSL and ASL translation. We regularly use the fast-paced racing film to challenge the latest home cinema kit in our test room, especially for a sound system's handling of Dolby Atmos, so it’s good to see the movie reaching a wider audience.

Later this year, the tech giant says that the upcoming Way Of The Warrior Kid and the 2020 war film Greyhound will follow, with more Apple Original titles to come.

While the catalogue of films in BSL and ASL is fairly small for now, it’s a promising sign that Apple TV has added the feature to some of its original releases. HBO Max has said it plans to add BSL interpretation to some of its offerings since it became available in the UK, but we are still awaiting this addition.

MORE:

Here is our review of Apple TV

These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

And check out the best TVs

If you're looking for a turntable that's a bit different, you've just found it. The PP-2 reads the groove of a record using light instead of a standard stylus. The workings are hidden inside the unit, so you place the record on upside down in order to play it.

The PP-2 is made by Paris-based design studio Waiting For Ideas. It uses Miniot's analogue stylus tech as found in its Wheel turntables that we wrote about almost a decade ago.

Waiting For Ideas claims that by using light instead of a normal stylus, the PP-2 produces a "sound of extraordinary purity – able to reach all the way down to the lowest frequencies, with a depth and precision the previous generation could only approach."

Of course we can't verify that without having tested it.

Because there are no magnets, it claims to follow the groove "more faithfully, tracing the finest details with a delicacy magnetic systems cannot match. Every micro-dynamic is preserved. Every note sits exactly where it should."

The PP-2 is driven by an axial flux direct-drive motor, which is optically controlled to adjust its speed a thousand times per second. There's a built-in preamplifier, so you can plug it straight into a pair of active speakers. It also has RCA and 3.5mm connections, and is powered by a USB-C cable.

Sound aside, it's a pleasingly minimalist device, made from a single block of anodised aluminium. But this comes at a cost – the price is €8900 (around £7400 / $9800 / AU$14,500). Minot's own Wheel 3, by contrast, costs £2900. So you'll have to really love the design to part with the extra cash.

MORE:

The best record players you can buy

5 special edition turntables that you need to see (and hear)

The best high-end turntables to splash the cash

American manufacturer Noble Audio has unveiled a new pair of wireless earbuds. The Astrid brings the hybrid driver designs of the company’s in-ear monitors to a wireless earbud.

Noble has taken pains to ensure the Astrid, with a name that means “divinely beautiful”, meets the brief, with their glass-fibre face plates featuring a frost-like pattern over a glossy black ABS housing. The earbuds also have touch controls and are IPX4 water resistant.

Inside each earbud, an 8.3mm dynamic driver, a 6mm planar driver and a balanced armature take care of sound. The addition of a planar driver takes the design one step further than Noble’s Osprey earbuds, launched earlier this year, which use a dual-driver design.

The Astrid supports Bluetooth 6.0, featuring the high-quality LDAC and aptX Adaptive alongside SBC, AAC and aptX codecs. The earbuds also come with Active Noise Cancellation to help block out background noise, while Transparency Mode lets outside sounds in, so you can stay aware of your surroundings. To keep voice calls clear, Noble has included microphone noise and wind reduction.

The earbuds have multipoint connectivity, for easy switching between two connected devices, and can be used with Audiodo Personal Sound software, which runs a short listening test to create a “personalised” hearing profile. Audiodo’s built-in equaliser also allows you to “adjust the balance to suit your taste”.

The Astrid offers 11 hours of playback on a single charge, with the case bringing the total listening time up to 40 hours while using optimal, charge-saving settings. When the battery eventually depletes, the earbuds can be recharged wirelessly or via USB-C.

The Noble Audio Astrid are available now for a price of £499 / $539. This is not cheap for a pair of ANC-equipped wireless earbuds, so we look forward to seeing how to the Astrid compare with our current ANC favourites, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (£299 / $299).

MORE

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review

I traded my Award-winning wireless earbuds for a pair of “trendy” wired earbuds – is being stylish worth the sonic sacrifices?

Stay up to date with our pick of the best wireless earbuds tested by our expert reviewers

With a total of seven turntable winners across a range of prices at this year's What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026, it seems almost inconceivable that there was a time, in the 1990s, when we were thinking of retiring this product category.

Vinyl's continuing popularity rages on, and while there are plenty of cheap, poorly made, poor-sounding record players awash on the market, the quality of build and performance amongst the serious players has never been better.

Rega dominates the category with three of these seven wins, but we also have turntables from Pro-Ject, Technics and Vertere Acoustics – all very different manufacturers that prove just how much choice there is today and how potent the competition is.

What's more, there's a terrific turntable we can recommend at every price point, from the very budget to the fantastically high-end.

Our budget wonder is the Pro-Ject Primary E at £249, which has been our favourite budget record player ever since we first tested it in 2018. This is its eighth consecutive win in this category, and we'd still recommend it as a starter turntable, especially if you're on a strict budget. Nailing the sonic basics can be hard, especially at such an affordable price, but this purist Pro-Ject deck does so brilliantly.

Go up a step on the price ladder, and you have Rega's entry-level Planar 1, another multiple Award-winner that pushes the needle forward when it comes to rhythm, dynamics and detail for an additional £80. It's a nimble, expressive performer that manages to relay the music so faithfully from a record, especially in this £300-£500 bracket.

Pro-Ject rears its head once again with the Debut Evo 2 in the mid-range £500-£750 price bracket. It comes in 11 different finish options (some in very lovely hues) and is as appealing to the eyes as to the ears. It has a wonderfully fluid and open presentation, with a particularly delicate touch with voices.

We like the standard Evo 2, but it delights us even more when you swap in a couple of very useful additions – such as an upgrade power supply and an aluminium sub-platter – that elevate the standard package to a more dynamic, authoritative and rhythmically capable turntable. The additional cost is well worth investing in and makes the Evo 2 a hugely entertaining, well-rounded turntable.

The biggest change to the category comes in the shape of Rega's newest 'RS' spin on a standard model. The Planar 3 RS Edition wowed us last year by elevating the standard Planar 3's performance – it combined the P3 with elements of the step-up Planar 6 to Award-winning success. It looks beautiful, it sounds fantastic, and it's competitively priced – it even fended off new five-star rivals from Pro-Ject and Technics to hold on to its win here.

This year, the 'Rega Special' treatment was given to the standard Planar 6, combined with elements of the more premium Planar 8 such as the step-up tonearm, and a new flagship Nd9 moving magnet cartridge, to bring the deck's performance to new heights.

The Planar 6 RS Edition is a thrilling success, so much so that it replaces the standard Planar 6/Nd7 winner at this premium price. It sounds even more stable, composed and expressive, with a quieter background allowing delicate detail to flourish. It delivers a more three-dimensional soundstage, too.

The 6 RS Edition (£2000) is a clear step up – from the Planar 3 RS and Planar 6 – and is astonishingly good value for the performance it offers.

If your pockets are deeper, you'll be met with an excellent direct-drive turntable from Technics, the returning SL-1300G, whose clever Delta-Sigma motor control technology brings astounding stability to your records' performance. Our favourite turntable between £2500 and £3500 delivers a punchy, "generous, big-boned presentation" sound that's also crisp and nuanced, while its terrific engineering and robust build quality are extremely pleasing.

At the very top end, you have the show-stopping Vertere DG-X, the latest evolution of a stunning turntable that has been impressing us for over six years now. Vertere's snazzy design is backed up by a whole lot of substance: a completely new tonearm design, a new cartridge, clever engineering throughout, and a sound that keeps its innate rhythmic talent and dynamic prowess while sounding more mature and confident than ever before.

The DG-X's tonal balance has been refined, and there's more depth and space, but that infectious, visceral, energetic sense of rhythm that brings music to life is more present than ever, and we are swept up in its charms.

It's a great time to be a turntable fan, and these seven fully deserving winners show just how high the standard is regardless of where you are in your vinyl journey. Whether it's the budget Pro-Ject, the high-end Vertere or any of the Regas in between, you're in very good hands.

MORE:

Check out all the 2026 What Hi-Fi? Award winners

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: four superb CD players with outstanding sound quality send us into a spin

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: Dali and Wharfedale shake things up in this year's floorstanders face-off

LG has announced a new OLED TV ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, but those hopeful for an early peek at the potential G7, C7 or B7 may be disappointed.

The Korean AV titan is celebrating a slew of CES 2027 innovation awards, with commendations in a wide array of categories from gaming monitors to hair dryers, and two of the Awards that it has picked up are for its new W7 OLED TV and its existing Signature OLED T6 transparent TV.

The latter was featured as part of its CES showcase last year, and it features a see-through 4K OLED display paired with a retractable contrast backing that can switch the TV from transparent to opaque.

It also comes with LG’s “60GHz-based uncompressed 4K wireless transmission” system, which is essentially a box that houses the processing power and essential connectivity, which is beamed wirelessly to the TV.

This remains an exclusive and very expensive OLED TV, with LG asking $60,000 (it’s not currently available in the UK) for the 77-inch set. It must be pre-ordered, too, as each model is made to order and takes around six weeks to ship.

For those wanting something brand new (and a bit more mainstream), the W7 OLED TV is the more exciting of the two models mentioned here.

This TV seems to be a follow-up to last year’s W6 OLED, which revived LG’s iconic Wallpaper TV line and replaced the wireless M-series OLEDs from past lineups.

Rather frustratingly, LG already released a super-thin OLED TV called the W7 back in 2017; it actually launched the Wallpaper series as a whole. However, there is one sure-fire way to distinguish this new model already, and, you guessed it, it’s all thanks to AI.

Details on this new set are as slim as the TV itself, but we do know it will feature “LG’s latest agentic AI, designed to better understand users’ needs and deliver more personalised experiences.”

Important picture and sound upgrades are yet to be revealed, and we probably won’t learn about those, or the rest of LG’s 2027 range, until CES 2027 in January. Stay tuned for more updates coming then.

MORE:

Read our LG W6 hands on review

As well as our LG C6 65-inch review

And check out our picks for the best OLED TVs

Compared with three or four years ago, when it felt as though the CD-player well was starting to dry up, 2026 has felt like it has been positively overflowing.

That might be pushing things a little bit, perhaps, but we have certainly welcomed a decent number of new players into our test rooms, from affordable spinners to machines costing well into five figures.

The net result is a solid number of five-star performers – but, more importantly, our testing has delivered two new winners in the CD player category at What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026.

We start with one familiar face at the top end. The Cyrus CD 40 is our pick of the best players over £2000, as it was in 2025.

The half-width design gives it that distinctive Cyrus appearance we’ve come to know and love over the years. Add a brushed anodised-aluminium body and glass front panel to the equation, and you have a player that oozes quality.

And the CD 40 has the performance to back it up. It’s a startling performer and, as we say in our Cyrus CD 40 review, “the way it handles every element of music with such precision, poise, subtlety and control is impressive. Pair it with an appropriately talented system, spin any CD in your collection, and we think you’ll have a terrific time.”

It’s been a good year for Arcam, with the British brand picking up not one but two CD-player gongs. The £699 / $699 CD5 picks up its third What Hi-Fi? Award in as many years as the best CD player £500-£1000.

This affordable, capable and enjoyable machine continues to set the pace at its price point with its rich and likeable sound, appealing to many a potential customer. Its all-black aluminium body looks the part and makes it a good match for Arcam's Award-winning A5 amplifier, should you want symmetry from your hi-fi electronics.

Brand new for this year is a top of the range player from Arcam: the CD25. The headline news here is that the big brother to the CD5 takes everything up a level. It gets a glossy OLED display which is sharper and crisper than the CD5’s dot-matrix/LCD effort, and it looks and feels every inch the £1499 / $1800 / AU$3295 step-up machine.

It performs like one, too. The CD25 serves up refinement and sophistication in spades, but it’s also fun to listen to. The fantastic sense of balance shown by the CD25 means we think it will slot effortlessly into many a system – making it an easy recommendation and worthy Award winner.

Last, but by no means least, we arrive at our second new entry for 2026. Replacing the all-conquering Marantz CD6007 as our favourite entry-level player is its successor, the CD 70.

While the budget hi-fi market has shifted up a price level in recent years, this £499 / $750 / AU$1000 machine still represents a sensational buy for anyone looking to add a CD player to an entry-level set-up. It’s an attractive and solidly built machine that is capable of injecting life into any CD collection.

This marks the last entry into the Award-winning CD-playing class of 2026 – all that remains to be decided is which player we crown our Product of the Year. Stay tuned for the full reveal on the night of Thursday the 12th of November!

MORE:

Forget the vinyl revival – I’m getting excited about CD players again

Read our full Arcam CD25 review

And our full Marantz CD 70 review

British hi-fi brand Cambridge Audio has today announced that an automatic room correction feature will be added to its proprietary StreamMagic app. The new feature, called RoomMagic, can be downloaded via a free over-the-air update from today, and is compatible with Cambridge’s L/R X and L/R M active stereo speakers.

We have tested only the smallest model in the L/R range, the L/R S (£399 / $549 / AU$949), but we can’t wait to get our hands on the bigger, more expensive X and M models in due course.

To use RoomMagic, users require nothing more than a smartphone or tablet with the StreamMagic App and a pair of L/R X or L/R M speakers. According to the company, the entire set-up process “only takes a few minutes” and entails no subscription, trial period or separate app.

To calibrate the speakers to your listening space, Cambridge Audio says that RoomMagic takes two measurements using your device’s built-in microphone: one to calibrate the microphone itself, and another from your listening position. After these have been taken, the software applies corrective processing to “restore the bass, scale and dynamics the L/R series was designed to deliver.”

Sonic adjustments are targeted at the low frequencies, where the company claims “rooms cause the greatest audible damage”. Middle and high frequencies are apparently left “untouched”, in order to avoid “distortion artefacts and loss of headroom”.

For an additional touch of flexibility, users can choose from three equalisation curves, which can be adjusted for intensity using a slider control within the app.

RoomMagic is being rolled out now to users of Cambridge Audio’s L/R X and L/R M speakers via the StreamMagic app.

MORE

Read our full Cambridge Audio L/R S review

12 of the best Cambridge Audio products of all time

Stay up to date with our pick of the best active speakers tested by our expert reviewers

Here's a must for fans of David Bowie and deluxe, collectors' edition physical media alike. The Man Who Fell To Earth is out next month in a 50th anniversary 4K Blu-ray.

The 1976 classic was directed by Nicolas Roeg (Don't Look Now) and sees Bowie in his debut film role. He plays a humanoid alien who's come to earth in search of water to send back to his home planet, but is soon at the mercy of humankind's vices and corruption.

This edition has been restored and is the first time it's available in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. It comes with SteelBook art by Alice X. Zhang, and is packed with extras, including an interview with Bowie from French TV in 1977, interviews with other cast and crew, a feature on the soundtrack and the trailer.

The Man Who Fell To Earth special edition is out on 15th December. You can pre-order it now exclusively from Lionsgate Limited.

MORE:

The best 4K Blu-ray players to watch it on

Thinking of starting a physical music collection? Now is a good time to start, as Black Friday approaches

I listened to David Bowie in a 360-degree show, and now I've seen what spatial audio can do

Most soundbars look much the same, but not this one. The Knit Form is a Dolby Atmos soundbar that's designed to fit in with your soft furnishings. So instead of another hard plastic rectangle, you get a “soft, sculptural shape” that's designed to work with your living space rather than against it.

It's the debut product from a new firm called the Knit Sound Company, and while it might look like a cushion or a draught excluder, it's not completely squishy. Rather, its proprietary Threadform material covers the hard shell without compromising the audio performance. It houses a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos performance with 14 channels of Class D amplification.

There are two subwoofers built in, while you can customise the centre voice array using the Knit app. As well as HDMI eARC, it supports AirPlay, Google Cast and Spotify Connect through a wi-fi connected TV. There’s also Bluetooth 5.3 for beaming audio direct to the Form, and Auracast for private listening.

The founder and CEO of Knit Sound Company is Joel Sietsema, who was previously a senior product manager and brand leader at Sound United, the parent company of Denon and Marantz. He says he wanted the Form to “look like furniture, sound incredible, and be easily integrated into the technology you’ve already welcomed in your space.”

It comes in five finishes – Cloud White, Slate Black, Pebble, Sandstone, or Ember – and costs $999 (around £750 / AU$1400). That’s around the price of the Sonos Arc Ultra, which is stiff competition. The Knit Form ships only in the US to begin with, but could come to other markets later.

MORE:

The best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can buy

The best budget soundbars

And the best soundbars of all types

German brand Leica has released a smart 4K projector which it says can “transform a wide variety of locations into a private cinema”.

The Leica Cine Play 1 Plus claims a peak brightness of 4200 ANSI lumens, with the brand saying this results in a “bright, high-contrast display even in ambient light”. The brand adds that it is an upgraded version of the older Cine Play 1, offering “significantly increased brightness and contrast”.

Compared with the previous model’s contrast ratio of up to 1500:1, Leica says that the new Cine Play can go up to 2000:1 for more “detailed reproduction of dark areas”.

The projector uses triple RGB laser technology and Leica’s proprietary image-processing system under the hood. There is also an integrated sound system, offering Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X support for “spatial sound reproduction”. There’s no Dolby Atmos on the cards, though.

When setting up the projector, there are a range of shortcuts to adapt the picture to your space. That includes an automatic image alignment and focus adjustment feature which delivers, says Leica, a “perfectly aligned image in a matter of seconds”. You can also tilt the projector’s body thanks to the built-in cradle.

The model also supports a number of HDR formats, including HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision, theoretically allowing for optimal viewing of a range of content.

Its compact body sports a “Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic”, comprising an aluminium housing with a glass front and aluminium rear panel. There’s no built-in battery with this projector, however, so make sure you have access to the mains.

You can also add the optional Leica Floor Stand 1, which features an integrated pin-contact system that enables a power supply without visible cables. That will cost you an extra £370 / AU$790.

In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth, wi-fi and Apple AirPlay are all on board. It also comes with the VIDAA smart platform built-in, which gives you access to streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+.

The mini projector is certainly priced at the premium end of the lifestyle market, coming in at £2550. The Cine Play 1 Plus is coming to Australia too (pricing TBC), but it doesn’t appear to be available in the US.

We have yet to get this new model into our test room, but its compact build and versatile design seem like a promising addition to the 4K projector market on paper. Leica is better known for its line of high-end cameras, so we are hoping its reputation for image quality can carry over to its latest home cinema venture.

MORE:

These are the best projectors

Check out the best soundbars

And here is our review for the Hisense M2 Pro

It’s game over for Sony’s next wireless speakers for PlayStation, at least for the time being. The electronics giant has delayed the Pulse Elevate speakers indefinitely, citing production issues identified during quality testing.

Writing in an update to the original blog post announcing the speakers over a year ago, Sony’s vice president of product development Edwin Foo said: “The additional time will allow us to ensure the product will deliver the experience we intended for our players.”

While stopping short of saying when the speakers would be released, they added that they “look forward to bringing Pulse Elevate to players soon”.

Announced in September 2025, the Pulse Elevate speakers were supposed to launch this Thursday, 12th November. They come as a pair in either black or white, and can stand flat or tilted backwards to direct the sound upwards.

As well as working with Sony's PlayStation 5, they are designed to connect to the PlayStation Portal handheld, as well as PC and Mac computers. They also have Bluetooth, for receiving audio straight from a phone or tablet.

PlayStation connectivity comes via PlayStation Link, an ultra-low-latency lossless connection enabled via a bundled USB dongle (similar to how the Sennheiser HDB 630 guarantee the best codec compatibility from your audio source and headphones).

They also let you listen to audio over Bluetooth and gaming audio from PlayStation Link at the same time, so you can soundtrack your game with your own playlist.

Inside are planar magnetic drivers with Tempest 3D AudioTech to produce virtual spatial sound. Built-in subwoofers take care of the low end, while AI noise reduction on the built-in mic promises clear and precise voice reproduction for in-game chatting with fellow players.

Sony hasn’t said what the issue is, but let’s hope it’s sorted soon. The Pulse Elevate speakers will sell for £200 / $220 / AU$330 when they finally launch.

MORE:

The best wireless speakers for your setup

When do wireless speakers stop making sense? This sound element determines their ceiling

Read our PlayStation 5 review

Acoustic Energy has announced the next generation of its established 500 Series hi-fi speakers. The new lineup introduces engineering developments taken from the company's flagship Corinium speakers.

Acoustic Energy promises a new range that delivers "greater openness, naturalness and coherence" while preserving the "dynamics, balance and musical engagement" of the original 500 Series.

The second-generation lineup consists of the AE500² standmounts, the AE509² floorstanders, the more premium AE520² floorstanders, and the AE507² LCR speaker.

A set of redeveloped drivers sits at the heart of the range. The new 12.5cm bass/midrange driver features a shallower carbon-fibre cone and a new motor system engineered to deliver a more natural tonal balance and a cleaner, more open midrange.

Complementing that new mid/bass driver is a 29mm soft-dome tweeter taken from its Corinium speakers, designed for "exceptional refinement and sonic integration".

Acoustic Energy has also put in work upgrading the crossover design, with new crossover networks promising improved phase integration and a more coherent sound.

All of these technological advances are housed within Acoustic Energy’s 'Resonance Suppression Composite' (RSC) cabinets, with a new tapered cabinet profile designed to disperse internal sonic reflections.

According to Mat Spandl, Chief Designer at Acoustic Energy: “We’ve looked carefully at the cone profile, the motor system, group delay in the crossover and even the way reflections behave inside the cabinet. The result is a much more open and natural-sounding loudspeaker, without losing the character that made the original 500 Series so successful".

The new 500 Series will be available from December 2026 in Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black and American Walnut wood veneer finishes. Prices are as follows:

- AE500² standmounts: £1200 per pair
- AE509² floorstanders: £2700 per pair
- AE520² floorstanders: £4000 per pair
- AE507² LCR: £650 each

MORE:

Read our recent Acoustic Energy AE2 40th Anniversary review

Rewind: Pro-Ject debuts a new turntable, Sony goes retro, and we test Sonus Faber's £20,000 floorstanders

These are the best bookshelf speakers on the market

There have been various attempts to make the vinyl format portable over the years – from the Audio-Technica Sound Burger to soundwagons in numerous guises – none of which have met with unalloyed success. But now a new model looks like a real contender – not only does it have some serious design credentials, it's made by Thorens, a high-end turntable manufacturer with over 140 years of experience.

The Coturn CT-Two measures 12.5 inches long and 1 inch thick, so it's not much bigger than a piece of vinyl itself. The chassis is made of machined aluminium, and sports a retractable tonearm and built-in phono preamplifier.

Here it is in action.

Often, these kinds of devices are let down by their sound quality. But with aptX HD for hi-res listening over wireless, the CT-Two neatly sidesteps this pitfall. Instead of having built-in speakers, you play your vinyl wirelessly to a Bluetooth speaker or pair of wireless headphones.

Of course it would be more convenient to have a full portable system in one, but if the tradeoff is better sound quality, we're all for it.

The CT-Two is battery powered, and gives you up to 20 hours of use from a single charge. It can play standard 10-, 12- or 7-inch records and has two speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm. You can even integrate it into your home hi-fi system, then sling it in a bag for a trip away.

You don't have to worry about it being damaged during the journey either, as there's a neat travel case that costs £25 extra.

It's the brainchild of German industrial designer (and BMX pro) Benjamin Großjohann, who initially created the CT-01. The CEO of Thorens saw it, loved it and the two went into partnership, establishing a brand called Coturn by Thorens GmbH. It was preceded by the CT-02, which also had Thorens' involvement, but shouldn't be confused with the CT-Two.

It also benefits from a 3.5m headphone output so you can listen via wired headphones, and a 3.5mm line-level output. Thanks to the phono preamplifier, you can connect it to powered speakers, an amplifier or stereo receiver to work as part of a wider system.

How it will perform is anyone's guess. The small platter could hinder it somewhat, though hopefully the electronically regulated DC motor and belt-drive system will help it maintain playback speed. It's also fitted with a moving magnet cartridge which is branded as made by Coturn, and that isn't removable, so you can't swap it out for a different one.

Now we doubt it's going to rival the best turntables for sound quality, and practically it will pose some playback challenges – you'll need to keep it on a steady, level surface for one thing, and stop onlookers pawing at it. But as a high-end curio that proves vinyl can be a portable format, we're all for it.

The Coturn CT-Two is available now for £511 (around $685 / AU$1000).

MORE:

The best turntables you can buy

The best high-end record players around

10 tips for buying second-hand vinyl – your guide

Huawei has launched its latest pair of affordable noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, the FreeBuds SE 5 Max.

Aiming to compete with the Award-winning Sony WF-C710N (£100 / $120 / AU$189), Huawei promises that its new buds are “built for everyday listening”, combining a mammoth battery life with immersive sound and seamless comfort for both work and leisure.

The new buds house a set of 10mm dynamic drivers, seeking to provide a “wide frequency range” for “fuller, more natural detail”. The higher-quality LDAC Bluetooth codec supports streaming of files up to 24-bit/96 kHz from appropriate sources, while four preset sound modes and a 10-band custom EQ let you tailor your tunes to your liking.

Huawei’s latest buds go big on battery life, delivering up to 80 hours of playback with the charging case in play. The earbuds provide up to 10 hours of listening with noise cancelling off, or up to seven with ANC on. A quick 10-minute charge, meanwhile, grants up to four hours of additional playtime.

For voice calls, the new buds use a triple-microphone design with noise-reduction algorithms to spotlight human voices against background noise, aiming for clearer voice quality in noisy environments.

Each earpiece weighs a modest 4.3g, making the FreeBuds SE 5 Max the lightest noise-cancelling wireless earbuds the brand has yet produced. They should be reasonably tough and tenacious, too, as an IP55 dust and water-resistance certification grants protection against water splashes and most small particle ingress.

Designed using Huawei’s simulation platform and over 10,000 ear scans, the new buds promise a secure, comfortable fit with silicone eartips in small, medium, and large sizes.

The Huawei FreeBuds SE 5 Max are available now in White, Blue or Black finishes, priced at £80 / $54.

MORE:

Sony headphones, LG OLEDs, high-end speakers and more: 17 products earn five-star ratings from our reviewers

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: Sony is still the king of wireless headphones, but is it losing its grip on the crown?

These are the best wireless earbuds on the market

Silent Angel has announced the H1, a combined music streamer and DAC housed in a single, compact unit.

The new model houses twin 32-bit ESS SABRE ES9039Q2M DAC chips working alongside a third-generation XMOS XU316 audio processor, granting support for PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512.

The H1 boasts a dual-stage jitter-rejection architecture, with its dual mono design aiming to provide "extraordinary channel separation" and improved stereo imaging.

In addition, the streamer's independent power architecture uses a custom power supply with four isolated rails in a bid to eliminate cross-circuit interference, promising a cleaner current for a purer, less distorted audio signature.

The new model supports local playback from a connected USB 3.0 storage device or a NAS drive, while major streaming services – including Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and TuneIn internet radio – are all included.

Physical connections include a USB-B input, as well as balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs. If you choose, you can use the H1 as a transport by connecting an external DAC via the provided USB or optical outputs.

Housed in a precision-machined black aluminium chassis, Silent Angel's new music streamer includes a 5.5-inch HD colour screen for displaying key streaming information and album artwork.

The Silent Angel H1 is available this December, priced at £849. At that price, it goes up against the Award-winning Bluesound Node Icon (£899 / $1199) and the oft-discounted Cambridge Audio CXN100 (tested at £899 / $1049).

MORE:

Our audio experts pick out 2026 Award-winning hi-fi in the early Black Friday sales – top systems, separates and more

Now Playing: 6 sensational songs lighting up our test rooms this month

These are the best music streamers we've tested and rated

Audiolab has announced an upgrade to its entry-level CD transport, the 6000CDT, with the release of the 6000CDT MKII.

The company says that the 60000CDT MKII has been reworked around five key areas, including a brand new CD transport mechanism, revised servo architecture, a redesigned power-supply circuit, updated transformer implementation, and new master clock circuitry, which Audiolab claims “provide more consistent disc reading and a stable, clean S/PDIF digital output”.

While everybody is familiar with the good old fashioned CD player, some of you might not know so much about CD transports. The CD transport's main job is to read the data on the discs accurately, but it doesn't have a built-in DAC like integrated CD players do. Instead of outputting an analogue signal, CD transports output a digital signal which can be fed into an external DAC or the one already in your amplifier; an approach that grants users more control over the sound of their system.

Alongside standard ‘Red Book’ 16-bit/44.1kHz CDs, the new transport accepts CD-R and CD-RW discs. What’s more, it can also play data CDs containing FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 or APE files, with support for sample rates up to 96kHz for suitable file formats.

The 6000CDT MKII also features an OLED display screen and includes convenient features such as auto standby and a 12V trigger in/out for wider system automation. Outputs include optical and 75-ohm coaxial digital connections.

In terms of technical updates, Audiolab says that the “most fundamental” change from the previous model is a new slot-loading CD transport mechanism which improves physical stability, reduces operating noise and provides “faster, more assured disc handling”.

The servo control system has also been updated to improve the stability of data reading as the laser follows the CD's microscopic data track. Audiolab says that these changes allow the 6000CDT MKII to make more effective use of its error-correction process for discs in bad condition.

The new power supply is designed to more carefully manage the power demands of the unit’s individual elements, while reducing the influence of motor activity and electrical noise on sensitive digital circuitry.

To the same end, a custom-specified transformer delivers consistent current, while “helping to maintain a low noise environment for the clock and digital output stages”.

Audiolab says that the updated master-clock system “provides a highly stable timing reference”, minimising timing errors in the digital output for “greater precision in the reproduction of transients, tighter imaging and improved musical coherence”.

The Audiolab 6000CDT MKII CD transport will be available from late November in a choice of black or silver, for a price of £399 / $799 / AU$1099.

At this price, the 6000CDT MKII's closest rival is the five-star Cambridge Audio CXC (£499 / $599 / AU$959), which impressed us with its smooth, open sound and solid construction. We look forward to seeing whether this new Audiolab CD transport can measure up.

MORE

Forget the vinyl revival – I'm getting excited about CD players again

I am ditching streaming services in favour of physical media. Here’s why

Stay up to date with our pick of the best CD players tested by our expert reviewers

For those familiar with our duo of Award-winning amplifiers, this year's What Hi-Fi? Awards will likely provide you with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.

Yes, Sony's TA-AN1000 and the Marantz Cinema 30 remain the top two choices, as the 'Best home cinema amplifier under £1500' and 'Best home cinema amplifier over £1500', respectively; and while we would have loved to have replaced either, or both, of these amplifiers this year, the fact of the matter is that no competitors could beat these models.

Overall, it's been a fairly quiet year for AVRs in our testing room. Denon's AVR-X2900H (we'll touch on that later) was the only 2026 model we tested, and we finally got around to also testing the exceptional AVC-A1H, too,

Yamaha's new budget AVRs and Arcam's new Radia range haven't made it to our testing room yet, but we hope to rectify this soon. We're hoping that they could pose a threat to these unshakeable Award winners, but until then, let's take another look at our pair of reigning champions.

Sony strikes again...

The Sony earns a spot on our Awards list for the fourth consecutive year, which is both a good and bad thing. Ultimately, the Sony's sonic presentation is still hugely impressive for the money, but Sony's approach to AVRs is starting to feel a bit "bare minimum" for our liking.

This home cinema amplifier has been Sony's one and only option here in the UK since it launched in 2023, and there has since been no sign of a successor, or even any more models in the range. That said, there has also been very little in the way of competition up until this year, although Denon sought to change that with the launch of the AVR-X2900H.

While that amplifier tried with all its might to knock the Sony off the podium, we found that it ultimately leaned too hard into deep bass and a big, rich sound, while sacrificing agility and bass definition in the process.

We must commend Denon on its valiant effort; however, the Sony TA-AN1000's exceptional handling of dynamics, energetic and agile sound, and impactful, tuneful bass keep it on this list.

Now, looking forward to 2027, any chance of a new Sony AVR? We'll be waiting...

Marantz brings the class...

Moving on to the Marantz Cinema 30, this flagship AVR is enjoying its third year on our Awards list. It's held a permanent place on the rack in our home cinema testing room since we first unboxed it in 2024, and we certainly don't mind.

This AVR looks as good as it sounds: the textured finish, subtle accent lighting, and iconic Marantz porthole display hint at the luxurious and rich audio experience it goes on to provide. The Cinema 30 is bold, broad, exceptionally detailed and superbly immersive, taking any movie or song we throw at it in its stride.

While Marantz launched a few "Series 2" upgraded AV amplifiers earlier this year, the Cinema 30 wasn't included in that upgrade cycle – although we hope that Marantz is hard at work on a levelled-up model. As for now, this classy, grown-up amplifier remains the best premium option.

Now, it's a two-horse race for the Product of the Year position, which will be revealed on the 12th November at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 ceremony. Are you siding on team Sony, or is your money on the Marantz? All will be revealed in just over a week, so stay tuned...

MORE:

Find all of our 2026 What Hi-Fi? Award winners here

Check out our picks for the best AV receivers

As well as the best surround sound systems

Standard Bluetooth should soon support hi-res and lossless audio without the need for special codecs like Qualcomm's aptX or Sony's LDAC.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced that Bluetooth High Data Throughout (HDT) – which will come as part of Bluetooth 7.0 next year – will "support lossless and high-resolution audio as well as advances in multi-channel surround sound and spatial audio".

That means that as long as your phone and wireless headphones both support Bluetooth 7.0, you should get better sound quality from your digital music.

At present, you need a codec like one of Qualcomm's many aptX variants or Sony's LDAC in order to support hi-res or lossless audio files over Bluetooth. Both your audio source (i.e. a phone or tablet) and your audio device (i.e. headphones or speaker) need to support the same codec in order to play music in that quality.

Unfortunately, many don't. Which is hardly surprising, given there are at least 11 wireless codecs to choose from. iPhones don't support either aptX or LDAC, and according to Sennheiser, less than 16 per cent of current smartphones support aptX Adaptive, while less than 1 per cent play nice with aptX Lossless.

The situation is so complicated that some models of Samsung phone differ in codec support depending on which region they're sold in (in some regions, they use Samsung's own processors instead of Qualcomm's aptX-supporting Snapdragon ones).

But with HDT built into the core version of Bluetooth, higher-quality listening should soon become the norm.

Bluetooth HDT also promises "faster data transfer, increased capacity, better energy efficiency, and enhanced reliability".

Its maximum supported bitrate is 7.5Mbps, which is nearly four times that of Bluetooth LE.

The first devices supporting Bluetooth HDT should arrive early next year – expect to see some at the CES trade show in January. If it works as promised, it should mean an end to codec clash, and higher-quality wireless listening for all.

MORE:

The best wireless headphones you can buy

"We wanted audiophiles to enjoy all-day listening" – how Sennheiser made the Award-winning HDB 630 headphones

The best Bluetooth speakers around

"The less of routine, the more of life," or so thought the American philosopher and reformer, Amos Bronson Alcott.

Here at What Hi-Fi?, we too recognise the importance of change. While the established ways of old undoubtedly have their place, we are always on the lookout for new, top-quality products that shake up the audio market.

And nowhere is that more obvious than in the standmount speakers category at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026, which contains both passive and active models amongst its nine winners. We have a second budget Dali enter the passive ranks, while the new active speakers from Fyne Audio and KEF this year have impressed us so much, we had to expand the category to acknowledge their talents.

Dali's budget duo

At the most budget end, we have the Dali Kupid (£299 / $599 / AU$599), which remains our favourite standmount speaker under £300. There's a lot to love about the Kupid. Not only are they a compact, well-built and nicely styled pair of speakers, but they also have a lively and entertaining sound, which doesn't skimp on rhythmic agility and dynamic sensitivity.

For their affordable price, we are impressed by how many boxes these Dali speakers manage to tick.

The next step up in price sees another pair of Dalis taking the win, this time in the 'Best standmount speaker £300-£500' bracket. The new Sonik 1 (£449 / $900 / AU$849) are altogether more serious looking speakers than the Kupids, but they, nonetheless, have a certain aesthetic charm. These modestly sized standmounters should also have no trouble fitting wherever you need them to go. Though, of course, we suggest a dedicated pair of stands.

The Sonik 1 are unfussy in terms of amplifier pairing, and will make the most of budget set-ups while simultaneously having the talent to bring the perks of more upmarket equipment to light.

Sonically, these speakers do a lot of things right, with authoritative and well-managed bass, a lush midrange and responsibly handled high frequencies. For their reasonable price, it is easy to recommend these talented performers.

A dark horse

Another returning Award winner is Acoustic Energy's brilliant AE300 Mk2 speakers (£649 / $1099 / AU$1580), which feature a sleek, neat design that is pleasingly unobtrusive.

Combining a large 29mm fabric dome tweeter with a fairly small 12cm paper/coconut fibre mid/bass, the AE300 Mk2 deliver a slow-burning sound that, once we've become accustomed to it, has us hooked.

These speakers' well-integrated drivers offer an unfussy, nicely balanced performance. Controlled bass and a good degree of detail across the frequency range only add to the deeply enjoyable listening experience that the AE300 Mk2 standmounters provide.

Four years of fanfare

We have a feeling that PMC knew what they were doing when they named their Prodigy speaker series. As the longest standing Award winners on this list, with four consecutive years of victory under their belt, the Prodigy 1 (£1250 / $1899 / AU$2449) have garnered quite the reputation.

The two-way standmounter's tweeter and mid/bass driver have been nabbed from more upmarket, studio-friendly models. They also feature PMC's signature ATL bass-loading method, which guides the backwards energy of the driver through damped material and out of a front port in order to bolster bass reproduction.

The resultant sound is impressively clear and organised, with a healthy side-portion of punchy, deep and well textured bass. When you are spending between £1000-£1500 on a pair of speakers, being able to make the most of textures across the frequency range is important, and these speakers should leave you smiling ear to ear.

An epic run for Epos

The second longest-running Award winner on this list is the Epos ES-7N ( £1890 / $2195 / AU$4995), which this year celebrates its third anniversary as our favourite standmount speaker between £1500-£2500.

For anyone looking for a pair of speakers that is truly flexible about placement, the ES-7N are a solid choice. This is due to a switch on the rear of the cabinet which allows you to choose between sound settings for either a semi free-standing arrangement or placing the speakers on (or in) a bookshelf or cabinet.

This arrangement is made possible, in part, by the speakers' front-ported design.

Jack of all trades, master of... not quite! The ES-7N have a clear, forthright and expressive sound, and they even cope quite well when we put them in a tightly packed bookshelf. Dynamically, these are a sensitive pair of speakers, too, and they also have plenty of rhythmic drive.

The fact that they can perform well in sub-optimal conditions just makes these Epos standmounters even easier to love.

Another win for PMC

It would be a shame to disappoint with a name like the Prophecy 1 (£2875 / $4299 / AU$5499). Thankfully, these speakers live up to their rather grandiose nomenclature, with a sound that more than justifies their position as our favourite speaker costing more than £2500.

This speaker's slim and stylish cabinets use PMC's tried and tested transmission line configuration, with a rear firing output acting as the mouth of a carefully damped path inside the cabinet. The low-frequency sound that emerges from this port fills in below the point where the mid/bass driver's output tails off, providing an extra portion of bass.

The Prophecy 1 have an expansive, layered and precise soundstage that is resilient against changes in volume and recording quality. These speakers are pleasingly tonally balanced and put in a class leading performance in terms of clarity and precision.

Small but mighty Ruarks

The Ruark MR1 MK3 (£399 / $579 / AU$899) continue to fly the flag for the 'best desktop speakers' thanks to their terrific performance from such a compact form. These speakers feature 50W of Class D amplification built in, thus setting themselves apart from the passive speakers in the first half of this category.

With an excellent built-in moving magnet phono stage, audio inputs including USB-C, optical and aux, plus Bluetooth with aptX HD, these speakers' connectivity options make them flexible to use with laptops, smartphones, TVs and record players. Their build quality, too, exudes subtle luxury in a way that will look good in any home.

In terms of sound, the MR1 MK3 have a powerful, punchy and dynamic sonic signature with a strong sense of rhythmic drive and solid stereo imaging. Even while using the internal phono stage, these speakers keep up a strong performance that belies their humble stature. For anyone short of space, these desktop powered speakers are a strong option.

Two new active speakers enter the fold

We now have our two new active speaker winners.

These speakers have built-in amplification, while also including multiple input options and Bluetooth for convenience. For those who don't want to deal with multiple separate boxes (or don't have the budget to), these active speakers are an ideal flexible option.

For under £700, it can be hard to find a pair of active speakers that meet the brief in terms of flexibility whilst maintaining superb sound quality. Fortunately, Fyne Audio's first-ever active speakers, the Cubitt 5 (£549 / $749 / AU$1495), do just that.

With inputs including HDMI ARC, optical, stereo RCA line level, a moving magnet phono stage and Bluetooth 5.0, these speakers can be used with any setup, whether that's a separates hi-fi system with a turntable, a TV or simply a smartphone with Bluetooth.

What's more, they sound great across their inputs. The Fyne boast a whopping great 120W of power per channel, and sound impressively balanced and insightful, with nicely controlled bass.

For active speakers above £700, the new KEF Coda W are another success for the brand, offering a seriously upmarket sonic performance at £799 / $1000 / AU$1450.

Again, versatility is a strong consideration here, with HDMI ARC, USB-C, optical, stereo RCA line level and moving magnet phono inputs availble. When it comes to wireless streaming, too, these speakers are well equipped with support for aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth.

However you choose to listen to music, you can expect a clear, detailed presentation, with deep, controlled bass and expertly handled dynamics.

The Coda W feature KEF's iconic Uni-Q driver array, with 100W of amplification powering each channel. They're well made too, and show off KEF's proven success in the wireless speaker systems category on a more modest and simplified pair.

All of these speakers are Award winners in their own right, but one of them will take home the overall Product of the Year trophy in the standmount speakers category. We'll be announcing those winners – a few additional special awards – at our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 ceremony on the night of 12th November, so stay tuned!

MORE:

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: Dali and Wharfedale shake things up in this year's floorstanders face-off

Best bookshelf speakers 2026: top standmounts for every budget tested

When Sony launched the first Walkman (TPS-L2) in 1979, the wired headphones it made to go along with this new portable tape player were the slim and lightweight Sony MDR-3.

And now, nearly five decades later, Sony is bringing them back. Enter the all-new, but very familiar-looking Sony MDR-3R wired headphones with a USB-C connection.

Capitalising on the popular trend for wired headphones and all things retro, particularly among the younger generation, these on-ears aim to "bring the spirit of that iconic model" along with a few modern updates.

The new MDR-3R are practically identical in design to the original headphones from 1979. Sony says that although the MDR-3 was developed over 40 years ago, it was already a pretty "complete product design".

The new cans have the same slender adjustable metal headband, with the characteristic angular fold before it meets the earcup housings, and are super lightweight at just 38g.

Two sets of colourful foam earpads – blue and orange – are included in the box. Sony has even taken pains to make sure the retail box and instruction manual of the new headphones are identical to the original packaging as well.

The MDR-3R has been "re-engineered with the same 23mm driver units" based on the original drawings of the MDR-3. The aim is to stay "true to the original sound signature", while offering a wider frequency range and better bass quality.

Sony says the new cans should deliver "rich, clear vocals" that work well with "modern music".

The earcups also feature "sound holes", as Sony calls them, meaning the new MDR-3R are an open acoustic design just like their originals. That should be good news for sound quality, but less so for those around you, as open designs tend to leak sound.

It's an interesting choice for a modern portable pair. Sony tells us there is "some sound leakage", but not too much. We'll be curious to find out how it performs in real-life use, and if there's enough leakage to be a nuisance on the train or in the office.

How else has Sony modernised this retro design? Instead of a 3.5mm connection, you get a USB-C cable for connecting to more recent smartphones and laptops.

This cable also features a built-in microphone and in-line controls, with a three-button system that lets you control playback, skip tracks, change volume, take hands-free calls, and even summon your phone's voice assistant.

There's no official IP rating, and as these are wired, there's no Bluetooth, battery life or noise-cancelling to worry about.

The new Sony MDR-3R wired headphones are available from November at a surprisingly budget price of £49 / $60 / €59 / AU$89.95.

A limited edition Stranger Things model – with a black headband with an engraved Stranger Things logo, and black and red earpads – will also be released for £59 / $80 / €69 / AU$99.95.

Will Sony be able to replicate its incredible wireless headphones success with this new wired model? We can't wait to find out. Now, if only it could also release an affordable Walkman music player alongside it…

MORE:

Sony launches two new hi-res Walkmans – but the prices may shock you

That Was Then... Sony Walkman (1979)

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: Sony is still the king of wireless headphones, but is it losing its grip on the crown?

Bose’s new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds aim to “set a new standard for what wired earbuds can be”

After over a year of waiting, British hi-fi brand KEF has announced you can transform compatible speakers into rear surrounds when paired with the Award-winning KEF XIO soundbar.

That is thanks to an update to the KEF KW2 RX receiver, which the brand says is “designed to expand your audio set-up without the need for long speaker wires spanning the room”.

The KW2 RX links the primary speaker to the XIO to deliver a “truly immersive yet minimal surround sound set-up”.

You can hook up speakers such as the LSX II, LSX II LT, and Coda W to use as dedicated surrounds. The last of those is particularly enticing, as we just gave the standmount speakers a What Hi-Fi? Award for its dynamic and controlled sound.

KEF says that it will be expanding this feature to even more speakers with a future firmware update, including the LS50 Wireless II in December this year, and the LS Luxe and LS60 Wireless in 2027.

You can connect a range of subwoofers to the XIO for “optical bass placement”, including the KC62, KC92 and KUBE models, but this has been possible since the soundbar released.

Set-up is done via the KEF Connect app, letting you pair the compatible speakers and configure them as dedicated rear channels.

When we had the KEF XIO in our test room, we were hugely impressed by its tuneful, engaging and detailed sound performance. In fact, we called the Dolby Atmos soundbar “one of the best soundbars we have heard” in our review. Hopefully the addition of rear speakers will make for an even more immersive experience, although we will have to wait until we have listened in our test room to confirm.

The KW2 RX will set you back £149, on top of the XIO's rather steep cost of £1999. That's not including the cost of the compatible speakers and subwoofers, either.

MORE:

Read the full KEF XIO review

Check out the best bookshelf speakers

And these are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

In terms of the sheer number of winners, stereo amplifiers isn't the biggest category in our yearly What Hi-Fi? Awards rundown, but it remains one of our most important.

A good stereo amp will always be the beating heart of any self-respecting hi-fi set-up, with some of the finest audio manufacturers around showcasing their best work when tasked with crafting the best amplifiers they can muster.

This year's list hasn't moved much, with only one new entry joining the party. That hasn't been due to a shortage of competition, and instead points to just how exceptional the returning winners are at their respective price points.

From sub-£500 titans to high-cost heavyweights, you're not short on quality if you seek something sensational to power your home system.

A budget Rotel and Arcam at the double

It's getting harder and harder to picture our list of the best stereo amplifiers without the Rotel A8.

Returning to bag its third What Hi-Fi? Award on the trot, the A8 remains a fantastic, fuss-free amplifier that won't come close to breaking the bank. It isn't the most lavishly built product in the world, and a lack of digital inputs might be a dealbreaker for some, but if you want the best sound you can get for under £500, the Rotel is still our pick of the bunch.

For those willing to spend a little more, Arcam has the so-called 'middle ground' of our Awards lineup nicely sewn up. The British brand's Arcam A5+ and Arcam A15+ both return for their second respective wins, with both amplifiers first arriving on our rundown last year after making subtle yet tangible tweaks to the original A5 and A15 models.

The A5+ remains the one to pick if you want class-leading insight at around the £500-£1000 mark, while the A15+ takes its smaller brother's essential character and builds on it superbly. If you're willing to break the £1000 barrier, it holds firm as our winner of the 'Best stereo amplifier between £1000-£2000' tranche.

Cyrus and Rotel lead the high-end charge

For those with cash to burn and friends to impress, let's turn our attention to the best that Cyrus and Rotel have to offer.

The Cyrus 40 AMP returns for its second consecutive win as our favourite choice between £2000-£3500, delighting us with its clean, detailed and musical sound wrapped up in a stylish, feature-laden package.

Competition at this level is fierce, coming from the likes of Rega, Naim and Arcam, but the Cyrus is so good that we wouldn't discount another Product of the Year win in 2027.

For our more premium option, it's the Rotel Michi Prestige X430. The Prestige X430 is a superbly rounded integrated amplifier that should sound at home in a wide range of systems, boasting a clean, controlled presentation anchored by an articulate bass reproduction and complemented by a very decent phono stage and DAC circuit.

Rather fittingly, then, Rotel tops and tails our list of the best amps, holding position as our best budget option alongside the Michi X430's 'best over £3500' option.

While our list of 2026 Award-winning stereo amplifiers hasn't changed a huge amount on the surface, there's been no shortage of competitors duking it out behind the scenes.

Just as the Michi Prestige X430 confounded its Rega and Naim rivals, so have Arcam and Cyrus's excellent flagbearers held off various challenges from the likes of Marantz, Quad, Cambridge Audio, Yamaha, Musical Fidelity and, of course, Rotel.

We'd equate the stereo amplifier category to that classic analogy of a swimming swan or duck: graceful above the surface, but a lot of scrappy turmoil going on underneath. And, as ever, only the sharpest swimmers with the coolest heads rise to the very top.

MORE:

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: Dali and Wharfedale shake things up in this year's floorstanders face-off

See all of our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

What's your favourite physical music format of all time? Tell us why

Check out our list of the best stereo amplifiers

KEF has cemented its position as the dominant manufacturer of active speaker systems in our 2026 What Hi-Fi? Awards. Its stylish all-in-one designs pack streaming smarts, amplification and wireless capability into a pair of stereo speakers, while delivering a level of sound quality that rivals the very best hi-fi separates alternatives.

It is a formula that has proven irresistible to our judges this year.

The highlight is undoubtedly the new premium KEF LS Luxe (£3500 / $4000 / AU$6375), which nabs the 'Best speaker system over £3000' trophy. This standmount package refines the company’s well-proven formula by adding a larger Uni-Q driver array (where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit) and a pebble-shaped cabinet made of BMC (Bulk Moulding Compound) rather than MDF.

Compared to the well-established LS50 Wireless II (£2250 / $2499 / AU$4295), the serial winner in the next price band down, the LS Luxe’s larger Uni-Q array (16.5cm vs 13cm) results in improved dynamics, higher volume capability and deeper bass.

Add in the newer model’s greater internal volume and better-damped enclosure, and the benefits are obvious, from the increased clarity to the crisper stereo imaging.

If your budget doesn't extend that far, we can highly recommend the third of KEF’s Award winners, the LSX II LT (£899 / $999 / AU$1695). These smaller speakers will fit nicely into more modest spaces while retaining much of the well-rounded character we so love from their pricier siblings.

Triangle’s excellent AIO Twin (£599 / $899 / AU$1799) completes our quartet of speaker systems. These are a fine alternative to the KEF LSX II LT, delivering a front-footed and entertaining sound for a more wallet-friendly price, and takes another win in the 'Best speaker system under £750' category.

Our expanding music systems category also includes ‘just-add-speakers’ solutions. We are pleased to report that the quality of such products continues to rise. The main attraction for such systems used to be convenience and a lack of clutter, but in recent years manufacturers have really pushed hard on sound quality.

Listen to the Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier/Power Amplifier (£6500 / $8250 / AU$13,198) combination, and you would be hard-pressed to find a traditional streamer/amplifier alternative that performs better. It is beautifully made too, and is the first pre/power two-box system we've given an Award to, and it wins the new 'Best hi-fi system over £5000' category.

Well-established class leaders such as the Technics SA-C600 (£749 / $1299 / AU$1849), the Ruark Audio R610 (£1199 / $1899 / AU$2299), the NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) (£1749 / $2449 / AU$3799) and Arcam's SA35 (£2999 / $3299 / AU$6495) all hold on to their Awards at their price bands for another year – making this one of the biggest and most varied categories of the year.

We have to give Denon’s D-M41DAB microsystem(£399 / $630 / AU$1139) a special mention too. This little budget micro comes with excellent speakers and has been our go-to entry-level system recommendation for almost a decade now.

While streaming isn’t built-in, it does feature a CD player, radio and Bluetooth. Build quality is also high. Nothing we’ve come across in all this time has made us question our affection for this modest but surprisingly capable package. It remains a great buy.

NAD took home the overall systems Product of the Year win last year, but will it hold on to that crown for another year with such strong competition for 2026? All the 2026 Product of the Year winners for each category, along with some special Awards, will be revealed at the What Hi-Fi? Awards ceremony on 12th November, so check back online next week to find out.

MORE:

Check out all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

Best hi-fi systems 2026: CD, vinyl and streaming music players for the home

What’s your favourite physical music format of all time? Tell us why

Sony launched its latest 4K Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K, just over a year ago. It seemed like the brand was reviving the category, but that is looking more uncertain now.

On Sony’s US site, the UBP-X700/K is being listed as out of stock with no mention of whether any more is coming soon. They are still available at retailers such as Walmart, but the retailer lists stock as low.

That follows on from reports via Kunkoku, a Japanese blog dedicated to Sony products and a Sony retail partner, that Sony has "ended shipments of its Ultra HD Blu-ray player".

The Japanese Sony site also shows the player is out of stock. When we reported on this story back in October, Sony told us that "this information has not been publicly announced by Sony. We are aware of the recent media reports but prefer to refrain from commenting on speculation".

If you are in the UK, though, hope is not lost just yet. You can still buy the UBP-X700/K for £299 but, judging by the worrying developments in other regions, this could be one of your last chances to get the player.

You can still use Sony’s PlayStation 5 to play your 4K Blu-rays, but that’s not the most comforting of news, considering Sony announced future consoles will not support physical discs.

There are still a selection of brands offering 4K Blu-ray players. Panasonic's DP-UB820EB, for instance, holds the crown as the best 4K Blu-ray player in this year's What Hi-Fi? Awards. We have also seen the newcomer Krovatar stepping up to the plate with its own set of products.

Hopefully Sony will still be a contender in the market for years to come, but these recent developments have us worried.

MORE:

These are the best 4K Blu-ray players

Check out the best TVs

And here are our 2026 What Hi-Fi? Award winners

Pro-Ject has announced its latest addition to the brand's established 'Debut' family of turntables, the Debut Carbon The Original.

The Original has been designed to retain the pared-back aesthetic of the often-excellent Debut range, featuring a CNC-machined MDF plinth to achieve what Pro-Ject describes as an "understated design" with a "substantial foundation".

The new deck comes equipped with a Pick it S2 Moving Magnet cartridge attached to an 8.6-inch carbon tonearm. The tonearm’s tube and headshell are crafted together as one piece, a configuration that Pro-Ject touts as "creating a direct, stable connection to the cartridge".

A low-friction aluminium bearing block supports more accurate tonearm tracking, aided by an adaptive anti-skating mechanism for more accurate vinyl playback. A TPE-damped counterweight is also included, designed to reduce arm and cartridge resonances "by up to 50 per cent".

The deck's heavy steel platter sits on an ABS sub-platter reinforced by glass fibre, driven by a precision belt and aluminium pulley. Capable of playing at 33 and 45RPM speeds via a manual speed change, Pro-Ject's new turntable is powered by an AC synchronous motor in pursuit of "a clean, controlled signal" and a stable, quiet operation.

In the box, the new turntable comes equipped with a Connect it Phono E RCA cable alongside a detachable acrylic dust cover and a felt mat.

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon The Original is available this November in three finishes – High Gloss Black, Satin Black or Real Wood Walnut – and is priced at £499 / €599 / $649.

That price sees the Debut range return to its affordable roots, with The Original acting as a more wallet-friendly alternative to the Award-winning Debut Evo 2 (£599 / $699 / AU$1299) and the recently reviewed Debut Reference 10 (£999 / $1499 / AU$2349).

MORE:

Read our review of the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition

Also consider the Technics SL-1500CS

Best turntables: top record players tested by our expert reviewers

Music streaming service Qobuz has inked a deal with Warp Records to promote the British record label's output.

Founded in 1989, and renowned as one of the most innovative and avant garde electronic music labels around, Warp is home to Aphex Twin, Squarpusher, Boards Of Canada, LFO and more.

The partnership will highlight the label's "history and exceptional musical legacy" through spotlighting albums from Warp's back catalogue on Qobuz's app, magazine, download store and marketing channels. There will be playlists curated by Warp artists, while deep dives will include The Warp Story, which is already live.

Warp albums like Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II will be discounted on the Qobuz download store, and various artists will be popping up to pay tribute to their favourite Warp album. Here's Nightmares On Wax's offering on Instagram.

Qobuz has previously had partnerships with other well-regarded labels like Blue Note, Deutsche Grammophon and ECM Records.

MORE:

Read our Qobuz review

The best hi-res music streaming services compared

Down with Spotify! Check out these indies instead

Some years bring more change than others at the What Hi-Fi? Awards. While this year hasn't seen a total overhaul of our floorstander speakers category, with many familiar faces holding on to their titles, there have been some notable shifts.

Among the exciting updates, Dali's new floorstanders have ousted a previous Product of the Year, while Wharfedale has seen yet another win for its budget speakers from the long-running Diamond Series.

Wharfedale has a long winning streak associated with the Diamond name, so we aren't entirely surprised to see this esteemed series producing yet another winner.

For anyone searching for a new pair of floorstanders that won't cost an arm and a leg, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i (£499 / $1198 / AU$1699) are hard to beat.

Given that these "i" speakers were launched as an updated replacement for the previous, also Award-winning, Diamond 12.3 model, we were intrigued to find out how they would compare. In this sense, the new Diamond 12.3i had little to worry about, with a more exciting and dramatic sound than their predecessors, which snagged them the 'Best floorstanding speaker under £500' win.

Dali aren't dallying

Next up the price ladder are the Dali Sonik 5 (£899 / $1800 / AU$1749), which overthrow the Fyne Audio F501E in the 'Best floorstanding speaker £500-£1000' category. The Dali speakers' compact proportions belie their mature, detailed and powerful sound.

But while they might stand out for their sonic performance, the tastefully subtle design of these floorstanders is unlikely to draw any unwelcome attention, and makes them ideal for those with smaller rooms.

Compared to price rivals, these speakers are a touch more tolerant of imperfect placement, so you won't be constricted when it comes to positioning. You might want to tilt them back, however, as they aren't the tallest floorstanders around.

Once placed, you can expect an expressive, dynamic performance, with well-managed bass and a pleasing dose of textural detail across frequencies. At this price, they're a strong recommendation.

A prodigy from PMC

If it ain't broke, as the saying goes, don't fix it!

PMC's Prodigy 5 (£1995 / $2999 / AU$3899) stay true to that idea, holding on to their title as the 'Best floorstanding speaker £1000-£2000' for a fourth consecutive year.

Although these speakers are on their way out of 'affordable' territory, we think that their rich and refined sonic performance makes them excellent value for money, nonetheless.

What's more, in classic PMC fashion, they are unfussy and transparent when it comes to pairing equipment. They will highlight the charms of a better amplifier, while revealing, rather than exaggerating, flaws in recordings or accompanying kit.

In terms of their visual design, the Prodigy lack any extraneous aesthetic add-ons, but their simple design is far from unsightly and will integrate nicely into most spaces.

A fine pair of Fynes

Also retaining their What Hi-Fi? Award (for the second year in a row) are the mighty Fyne Audio F502S (£2300 / $2800 / AU$3000), offering the best performance for price in the £2000-£3000 bracket.

These aren't a small pair of speakers, but for those with a capacious listening space, they will do much to justify the room they take up. Additionally, these towers aren't too fussy about placement, thanks in part to their 'Isoflare' coaxial driver design.

That arrangement, which places the tweeter at the centre of the mid/bass driver, works exceptionally well, delivering a cohesive and entertaining presentation that stays consistent, no matter where you are in the room.

Professional ProACs

Our most premium floorstanders Award category, which covers pairs costing more than £3000, also sees a two-consecutive-year Award winner, the ProAC D20R (£4100 / $5800 / AU$10,800).

These are far from a fresh face, having been released over a decade ago, which makes this year's win all the more impressive.

These speakers use a ribbon tweeter, alongside a woven glass fibre mid/bass cone to deliver an expressive, articulate and energetic sound. Dynamics are muscular and punchy, and these floorstanders are capable of a greater impact than we would conventionally expect from models of their reasonable proportions.

The ProACs' build quality is also excellent, with a meticulous, veneer-matched finish and high-quality speaker terminals. If you are spending this much on a pair of speakers, those small touches of finesse really matter.

All of these speakers are 2026 winners in their own right, but one of them will be taking home the overall Product of the Year trophy in the floorstanders category. We'll be announcing the final winners at our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 ceremony on the night of 12th November, so stay tuned!

MORE:

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

What's your favourite physical music format of all time? Tell us why

Stay up to date with our pick of the best floorstanding speakers

Update: An earlier version of this story mistakenly claimed that Presets would not launch in the UK until 2027, when in fact it's available now. The amended story follows.

Two big features from the new Sonos 27 operating system are rolling out this week, but only one is available now in the UK.

Presets is available now in the UK, while Sonos 27voice [sic] will land in the US on Friday and on these shores in early 2027.

Presets gives you the ability to set an entire mood with one press. You can save which music plays in each room, at what volume and on which Sonos speakers. Select that preset, and it will load your settings – so you can set one for a party, one for your morning routine, one for a lazy Sunday, and so on.

Sonos 27voice promises to understand you better, letting you be more conversational so it will know “what song you mean from the vaguest description”. You don’t even have to mention the artist or title, which is handy if you don’t know them.

You can also describe a mood and it will create a playlist to suit it.

But you don’t have to rely on Sonos’s voice assistant. As part of Sonos 27, you can use others, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Siri.

These features are part of the Sonos 27 operating system that launched a few weeks ago. Like iOS, it will update every year, so next year’s will be Sonos 28.

It’s part of Sonos’s push to listen to customers more and deliver on what they want, following the self-immolation that was its 2024 app update.

MORE:

We speak to Sonos about its operating system rebrand, its “customer-led” focus and app updates

Which Sonos speaker should you buy?

Check out the best Sonos alternatives

The wireless headphones category at 2025’s What Hi-Fi? Awards was something of a Sony-fest, to the extent that we were growing genuinely weary of extolling the virtues of the brand’s extensive roster of in-ear and over-ear champions.

After picking up five Awards this year, Sony continues that dominance, but there are signs that the crown could just be slipping ever so slightly from its current perch. Many competitors have upped their game in recent times, while the besting of the Sony WH-1000XM6 by Sennheiser's HDB 630 has proven that gods can indeed bleed.

With Bose and Focal also taking home one repeat Award each, not to mention a small army of contenders desperately trying to reach the summit of audio’s most slippery mountain, there is no question that Sony will have to work even harder next year if it wants to showcase the same supremacy in 2027.

For now, however, it remains good value at the top of the wire-free tree.

Sony's wireless earbuds dominance continues

2025 was a very good year for Sony’s stellar range of wireless earbuds, and 2026 has been no different.

The Japanese giant hasn’t had to do a huge amount to retain its dominance at the top of this highly competitive arena, with two returning pairs scooping What Hi-Fi? Awards alongside a set of flagship newbies released earlier in the year.

Those returning champions come in the shape of the Sony WF-C510 – our pick as the best wireless earbuds under £70 – and the Sony WF-C710N, the logical choice for great sound between £70-£150. Nothing has come close to the WF-C510 as the best entry-level pick for pure sound quality, while the WF-C710N add noise cancelling and even better audio if you’re happy to spend more for a serious step up.

Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM5 are no longer Award-winners this time around, but only because they have been replaced by the new WF-1000XM6. Boundary-pushing sound, great call quality and eminently decent ANC make the XM6 the finest premium buds available right now, fully deserving of their new crown as the ‘Best wireless earbuds over £200’.

It isn’t all Sony, Sony, Sony, though. If you seek a savvy option between the WF-C710N and the WF-1000XM6, it’s well worth putting the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) on your shortlist.

Returning for another Award as the best wireless earbuds between £150-£200, these are easily the best sound-per-pound buds that Bose makes – winning three What Hi-Fi? Awards on the bounce doesn’t happen by accident.

Wireless over-ears have never been so good

To show how crowded the wireless headphone field is in 2026, it’s worth looking at some contenders that didn’t make the cut.

The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless’s mature sound earned it a five-star review, but it wasn’t enough to win a coveted Award, while many brands failed to scoop the full five-star haul mainly because their major rivals have moved the needle too far ahead to keep up.

From the versatile Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) to the detail-rich Technics EAH-A1000, it feels harder than ever to stand out in a market brimming with ever-increasing quality.

Those that did rise among the rest, however, truly deserve their flowers. Sony’s domination of the wireless earbuds scene has translated nicely over to the over-ear category, with the Sony WH-CH730N replacing their WH-CH720N predecessors as the best option under £100 for taking everything we liked about the originals and elevating it to compelling new heights.

The over-ear market has been starved of an option that sits within the £100-250 mark, but Sony’s canny revival of its beloved WH-1000XM4 icons has plugged that gap nicely. The WH-1000XM4C are a legend reborn, emulating the richly entertaining presentation of the originals while keeping their feature set well in line with contemporary expectations.

2026 hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for Sony, with the breathtakingly excellent Sennheiser HDB 630 beating the Sony WH-1000XM6 to the coveted title of ‘Best wireless headphones between £250-£500’. For the money, they sound sensational, and things get only better with their clever aptX Adaptive-enabling dongle in play.

If you want to spend the big bucks, check out the Focal Bathys Mg. Focal knows how to make premium and high-end headphones, with the Bathys Mg encapsulating everything we admire about the French brand when it’s really firing on all cylinders. At £999, they’re not cheap, but their sound is genuinely boundary-pushing, and that’s always worth a What Hi-Fi? Award.

While the amount of actual movement from 2025’s Award-winners to those in 2026 may seem reasonably modest, the number of competitors that have passed through our test room doors has been gargantuan.

Practically every major audio brand is putting serious spending power behind cracking the wireless nut, be it established titans such as JBL, Bose and Technics, or relative newbies to this field, such as Nothing and Sonos.

There’s a lesson here for our current Award-winners: enjoy it while you can. As Liam Neeson so wisely quipped in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: there’s always a bigger fish.

MORE:

What’s your favourite physical music format of all time? Tell us why

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026: we tested more than 20 soundbars to find these 7 Dolby Atmos winners

I have heard dozens of wireless headphones this year – we’ve never had it so good

These are the best wireless headphones you can buy

Much as we love the convenience of music streaming, we really do miss having the album art on display. Well now a new device looks to arrange your digital music library as if it was vinyl on a shelf.

Spine wants to marry the convenience of streaming with joy of having your own personal music collection on show. It's a wall-mounted touchscreen that lets you flick through digital albums as if they were vinyl LPs or CDs arranged with their spines showing.

Tap one, and it shows the cover art. Hit play, and it plays through your existing setup.

It pulls your music collection through your streaming service of choice. At present, only Apple Music, Tidal and Spotify are supported (though the latter has to go through TuneMyMusic).

The unit is made of brushed gunmetal aluminium, and measures 76cm wide, 19cm tall and 8cm deep. It can double as a shelf to hold plants or books, and looks more like an item of furniture than yet another screen in the house.

You can also place it on a unit if you don't want to wall-mount it. It's connected by one cable.

It's the brainchild of Ricardo Amorim, who has 20 years' experience of making digital products at the agencies R/GA and AllofUs, and the consultancy BCG.

You can back Spine on Kickstarter now for the reduced price of £849 (around $1100 / AU$1600). It will cost £949 when it goes on general sale in July 2027. That would buy a lot of vinyl.

For us, it can't compete with a proper shelf full of dusty vinyl sleeves, and it lacks the tactility of taking a record out and putting it on a turntable. But it does at least make digital music a bit more tangible.

MORE:

The best record players you can buy

How to set up a turntable and get the best sound

5 special edition turntables that demand to be seen and heard

For most of us, travelling abroad without our favourite playlists on Apple Music or Spotify is simply unthinkable. But thanks to the outdated roaming model, you have to keep track of every megabyte and lower the sound quality to save on data. Otherwise you could face a hefty bill.

To avoid this, your connection is worth planning in advance with your digital habits in mind. The solution? A new generation of eSIM providers such as one of the pioneers of the travel eSIM market, the innovative Swiss company Yesim.

Holiday by the meter: how roaming forces you to save on mobile internet

Roaming emerged in the 1990s, when the usual scenario for using a phone abroad involved the occasional call and text message. Today the situation has changed dramatically, with dozens of apps requiring a constant connection to the network.

However, roaming packages do not cover this need at all, as we can see from the example of streaming.

High-quality music quickly eats through mobile data

A convenient starting point is Spotify Premium's popular Very High mode. According to the service itself, listening to music at a bitrate of 320 kbps uses roughly 144 MB of data per hour. When switching to lossless, consumption grows much faster. For instance, a three-minute track on Apple Music in Lossless takes up around 36 MB, while in Hi-Res Lossless it is about 145 MB. The habit of listening to music in good quality can therefore become the main consumer of data on a trip.

When sound quality becomes a matter of tariff

We have already established that Hi-Res Lossless is a fairly demanding mode. Now let us try to match its "appetite" against some roaming tariffs. For example, the British mobile operator O2 offers packages for Zone 2 (which includes 48 countries, among them the popular Turkey and Thailand) of 1 GB for £9, 3 GB for £20 and 5 GB for £29.

If you listen to Apple Music in Lossless quality, the entire 5 GB package can be used up in just 7 hours. And that's without using any other online services, like maps, which you could well need on holiday. As a result, you're forced to lower the streaming quality or give up music altogether.

Connectivity without the saving mode: what a travel eSIM changes

You can listen to music in the same quality as at home if you have chosen a travel eSIM. No, this service does not in itself reduce data consumption in Apple Music and similar services, but it does allow you to plan your connection in advance under conditions that will provide maximum comfort.

Planning your connection before you even fly

First, let's get to grips with the terms. An eSIM is a microchip built into a device onto which mobile operator profiles are downloaded and activated remotely. Travel eSIM providers build a global service for travellers on this technological foundation: an app, a tariff range, partner operators and technical support.

A travel eSIM lets you plan your connection long before a trip. The traveller chooses a country or region, a fixed or unlimited data package for the required period, installs the eSIM profile before the trip and activates the connection as soon as they land. The final cost of the service is known in advance – no queues at the airport and no unexpected roaming bills.

One route, different prices

Of all the advantages of a travel eSIM, the most important are the more attractive prices. The difference from traditional roaming can be seen clearly on a single route, for example a week-long trip to Thailand.

O2 offers a Travel Bolt On for £7 per day. Seven days of use will cost £49. With Yesim, an unlimited package for Thailand for 7 days costs less than half the price – £20.16. In the same way, you can also compare the difference between fixed packages. With O2, as we have already mentioned, the 5 GB package costs £29. With Yesim, a similar package of 5 GB and 30 days will cost only £6.30.

Yesim: the Swiss standard of travel connectivity

The Swiss company Yesim became one of the pioneers of the travel Yesim market, largely defined its modern shape and, since 2019, has provided reliable connectivity across 200 destinations to more than 4 million people.

The traveller's high level of trust in Yesim is demonstrated by its partnership with the World Players Super League — the largest golf tour, which holds more than 1800 tournaments in 50+ countries. Yesim has become WPSL's official global partner for the provision of eSIM cards, providing athletes and fans with uninterrupted mobile connectivity during their trips around the world.

Broad coverage and a flexible tariff range

Yesim allows you to choose the optimal tariffs for any route: local ones for a single country, regional ones for several and global ones for trips around the world. For example, the Global Package tariff covers over 80 countries, while the Global Plus Package extends the geography to 140+ countries. Maximum flexibility is provided by the Pay & Fly tariff with its pay-as-you-go model. It is ideal for those who do not like to worry about the details: one eSIM for 170+ countries, paying only for the data actually used.

Innovative technologies for travellers' convenience

SwitchLess Networks technology automatically selects the network with the best signal among 800+ partner operators. For music streaming this means that playback will not be interrupted even on remote beaches and crowded festivals, where access to the network from a single operator is not always stable.

How to try it without much expense

You can assess the quality of the connection with a trial tariff plan of 500 MB for a token fee of £0.45. If you are using Yesim for the first time, you can also get a 15% discount with the promo code GETYESIM15.

Conclusion

A travel eSIM fits the modern digital trip better because it lets you plan the most suitable network connection for you in advance and freely listen to Spotify or Apple Music in the quality you are used to.

Yesim has made this freedom one of its key goals. "Reliable and simple internet access abroad has become a basic necessity. We believe that staying connected while travelling should become easier and more affordable, not harder," explains Dmitri Verbovski, founder and CEO of Yesim. Take your music on the road – and leave the roaming limits at home.

Philips has introduced its latest portable radio, the TAR3500. The durable new model touts a blend of "reliable technology, sustainable design and intuitive usability" for adventurers, campers, explorers and, say it quietly, anyone worried that their power might go out.

The Philips TAR3500 is equipped with a 5.7cm full-range driver driven by 3 watts of power in its compact form. It features AM and FM radio tuners, with an extendable 550mm antenna promising clear and strong reception even in remote areas.

Philips's portable radio promises around 60 hours of playtime on a single charge via its built-in battery, and can even be used to recharge small devices such as phones via its USB-A power bank. The radio can be charged via standard USB-C, as well as solar, AAA batteries or even a good old-fashioned hand crank.

The new radio is equipped with an easy-to-read LED display and an "intuitive" user interface, offering auto digital tuning and 20 station presets for what Philips describes as "stress-free operation".

A IP55-rated housing provides reliable protection against dust and water ingress, so it should be able to cope if the weather turns nasty. If things get really tough, the TAR3500 includes an orange SOS button that activates a loud emergency siren, as well as a flashing light signal and an ultrasonic dog whistle. A built-in carry strap further adds to its portable credentials.

The TAR3500 is equipped with a built-in flashlight and a reading light for squeezing some nighttime novels into your camping trip, while a 3.5 mm headphone jack is on hand if you don't want to disturb your fellow ramblers as they snooze.

The Philips TAR3500 is available now, priced at £50 / $69.

Philips isn't alone in offering these features in a portable radio, as Roberts also recently launched the solar-powered SolarDAB 99 (£150) which we put through its paces on an overnight camping trip a few months ago.

MORE:

This classic album just turned 50 – here's why it's the ultimate test for your system

Read our recent Pure Bloom review

Best DAB radios 2026: the best-sounding digital radios we've tested and highly recommend

The 100-inch TV market is largely dominated by Mini LED TVs. Why? The price of OLEDs around this size has long been an issue, and manufacturers have yet to break this particular size threshold because of factors such as cost and manufacturing constraints – but that might be about to change.

Various Chinese media outlets (via FlatPanelsHD) are reporting that a Chinese state-owned investment firm has made a significant investment to upgrade the production of large-screen OLED panels outside of South Korea.

Global marketing and research firm TrendForce reports that Guangzhou Development Zone Holdings Group Co., Ltd. and LG Display will jointly invest RMB1 billion (around £112.45 million) into LG Display Optoelectronics Technology (China) Co., Ltd's Guangzhou production plant.

The plan is to add assembly lines for 77-, 83-, 97-, and 111-inch OLED displays at its Chinese manufacturing plant. TrendForce reports that "the 111-inch production line is the world's first dedicated module production line of the same size based on the large OLED technology route".

As such, it claims that "the 111-inch module line is a major highlight of this project", and this is the first time we could see 100-inch-plus models that don't feature a backlit panel.

Furthermore, the investment in manufacturing could see more competitively priced large-screen OLED TVs in the future.

The high cost of OLED TVs at this size has long been attributed to the failure rate of producing these large-sized panels, but a more efficient manufacturing process could change all of this.

Now, there's no guarantee that the brands will opt to pass the savings on to consumers, or even opt to use these panels in their own sets; however, it certainly appears that some foundations for bigger and cheaper OLED TVs have been laid.

Only time will tell if larger and cheaper OLED TVs do start rolling off production lines.

MORE:

Read our full LG C6 review

As well as our Samsung S99H review

And check out our pick of the best OLED TVs for every budget

Shanling is moving upmarket with its latest network music player. Whereas the SM1.3 streamer from two years ago cost £1199 / $1999, the upgraded model is heading for a more premium rung up the ladder.

The new Shanling SM1.3R HD is priced at a more premium £1799 / $1699, meaning it has to beat a formidable rival in the shape of the current Award-winning Arcam ST25.

Similar to its predecessor, the SM1.3R HD is a network streamer, DAC and headphone amplifier with extensive streaming and file support, with the new version sporting a larger display and Shanling's own discrete R2R digital conversion technology instead of the previous AKM DAC chip.

Shanling's in-house developed R2R (resistor-to-resistor) DAC architecture draws on the same tech used in its flagship SCD3.3 SACD player, which has 212 ultra-precision resistors with a claimed "0.01% accuracy" and promises to deliver a sound that's "natural and analogue-like."

The unit uses twin toroidal transformers for its linear power supply, with separate supplies going to the digital and analogue sections. Shanling says this offers a stable, clean delivery of power across its audio circuits, and that this arrangement complements the "precision of its resistor-based conversion system."

The DAC supports hi-res files up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, although this maximum resolution is natively achieved via the USB port only. For other digital connections, the native hi-res support maxes out at 24-bit/192kHz PCM.

Digital connections include coaxial, optical and DAC inputs to plug in a laptop, CD player or USB media hard drives, and you can connect the streamer to your hi-fi system thanks to RCA line-level and balanced XLR outputs.

The Shanling also offers digital outputs so you can bypass its internal DAC and use your own, while a dedicated headphone amplifier section with a 6.3mm jack and selectable gain is available for wired listening.

On the network streaming side, it features extensive support for popular music apps such as Tidal and Qobuz (and their Connect versions), as well as built-in access for Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify. The unit is Roon Ready, features DLNA and AirPlay 2, and you can stream music over your home network thanks to dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and wired Ethernet.

You can even store your hi-res digital music files on the SM1.3R HD itself thanks to an internal storage of 64GB and an M.2 SSD slot for larger libraries.

There is support for Bluetooth streaming as well, with higher-quality codecs such as LDAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive available.

Elsewhere, the streamer's aluminium casework sports the same design as before, albeit with a larger 5.98-inch screen of 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution to better show off album artwork and menus. The Shanling runs on an Android platform, with app access alongside on-unit button controls.

The Shanling SM1.3R HD is available now in black and silver finishes, costing £1799 / $1699.

MORE:

JBL's new flagship Classic Series speakers are for "serious music listeners"

10 of the best Leonard Cohen songs to test your hi-fi system

Our guide to the best music streamers we've tested and rated across all budgets

JBL's Classic Series has long paid homage to the brand's speakers from the 1970s, and now it has a new flagship.

The L150 Classic is a three-way floorstanding design that combines classic styling with modern acoustics to deliver "the scale, dynamics, and realism sought by serious music listeners," according to JBL.

With its walnut veneer, the design might be as 70s as a kipper tie and flared trousers, but inside we're promised modern drivers, crossover design and acoustic tuning.

Key to the design is a large 15-inch Pure Pulp Differential Drive woofer, which JBL claims allows for plenty of dynamic headroom and bass authority.

The woofer is joined by a 6.5-inch polymer-coated Pure Pulp midrange driver and a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter that's mated to an advanced waveguide and acoustic lens to produce "an enhanced soundstage". Crossover points of 310Hz and 1.8kHz have been chosen to bring the three drivers together to create a coherent sound.

But it's not just the drivers that have been designed for optimum sound quality.

The angled profile and sloped front baffle of each cabinet direct sound towards the listener, while the vented, bass-reflex enclosure with dual front ports extends low-frequency response to 33Hz.

You can also customise the sound to your room setup using the front panel high- and low-frequency attenuators.

Aesthetically, they're very much in keeping with the Classic Series, with the foam grilles sporting the same Quadrex design as other models in the range like the L100 and L82.

The JBL L150 Classic will go on sale in 2027 for $9999 (around £7500 / AU$14,000) per pair.

MORE:

How to choose the right speakers and get the best sound

These are the best floorstanding speakers we have tested

We rank the best standmount speakers for every budget

Amazon has announced the latest generations of two of its most popular smart speakers: the Echo Dot and the Echo Studio.

The new Dot has the same design and 44mm full-range driver as the five-star Echo Dot (5th Generation), but claims to offer "50 per cent more bass than the last generation" thanks to enhanced audio signal processing technology.

Most of the upgrades, however, come in the shape of the Echo Dot's smart capabilities. The new speaker is powered by 'AZ3', Amazon's custom-designed silicon chip, which teases enhanced processing and faster, more natural conversations with Alexa Plus.

The sixth-generation Dot also adds a fourth microphone, allowing Alexa to hear you more clearly as you move around your room. The Dot packs Amazon's 'Omnisense' sensor tech, whereby the speaker senses its environment to adjust aspects such as room temperature or lighting.

Amazon has also unveiled an updated Echo Studio, and it comes with a twist. Dubbed the 'Echo Studio with Home Camera', the new premium model is touted as Amazon's "best-sounding speaker", boasting a high-excursion 9.5cm woofer for "deep, immersive bass" alongside a trio of 5.7cm full-range drivers.

Dolby Atmos support is onboard for a more immersive audio experience, while 'Advanced Room Adaptation' tech continuously adapts the speaker's tuning to fit your listening space.

As you might have guessed, the latest Echo Studio comes equipped with a built-in camera, designed to work with Alexa Plus, with Amazon's AI assistant now able to respond to visual inputs as opposed to simply hearing spoken commands.

Following an impending update, users will be able to pair the new Echo Studio with a compatible Fire TV device to conduct video calls on the big screen.

The sixth-generation Echo Dot is available now in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green, and Coral Pink finishes, priced at £75 / $100. The Echo Studio with Home Camera is also available in a Graphite finish, priced at £240 / $250.

MORE:

Read our Amazon Echo Dot Max review

I'm a big fan of Amazon’s stunning nanomatte tablet display – but there is a frustrating catch

These are the best smart speakers on the market

Musical Fidelity has expanded its 'B-Line' of hi-fi separates with its new CD player, the B1xcd.

Following up on the B1xi integrated amplifier we reviewed late last year, the new CD player aims to bring Musical Fidelity's "high-end philosophy to a more accessible price".

The B1xcd uses the new 'BlueTiger CD-88' servo as the brains of the operation, designed to offer advanced error correction to achieve "perfect CD playback at all times".

The CD player uses a tray loader mechanism, employing a low-vibration mounting which, alongside a robust metal cover, aims to "dramatically reduce jitter and extraneous noise".

At the heart of new spinner is an ESS9018Q2M Sabre DAC chip, which contributes to the player's "warm, natural, and engaging presentation", says Musical Fidelity.

The B1xcd is equipped with analogue RCA outputs, while coaxial and optical digital outputs mean it can be used as a CD transport by connecting to an outboard DAC.

The B1xcd is constructed using premium materials, including an aluminium front panel and an all-metal chassis. Musical Fidelity teases "effortless" operation thanks to the B1xcd's front-mounted metal controls and a large LCD display. A remote control is also provided in the box.

The Musical Fidelity B1xcd is available now, priced at a competitive £549 / $799. The new contender sits between two current Award-winners, the Marantz CD 70 (£499 / $750 ) and the Arcam CD5 (£699 / $699), so it will have to work hard if it wants to deliver similarly superb sound-per-pound performance.

MORE:

This classic album just turned 50 – here's why it's the ultimate test for your system

10 of the best Leonard Cohen songs to test your hi-fi system

Treat your discs to the best CD players you can buy

Fresh off the back of its Apple TV 4K 4th Generation and HomePod Mini 2 double whammy announcement last week, Apple has unveiled its latest home cinema in a hand, the new iPad Mini.

The new iPad Mini comes with a whole host of new picture and sound upgrades that are sure to have on-the-go cinephiles salivating.

The iPad Mini 2026 is the first model outside of the Pro series to feature an OLED display, with Apple's Super Retina XDR technology on board for sharper visuals and richer colours.

The Mini also gets less mini with a new 8.7-inch display (up from 8.3 inches on the previous generation), although the size of the tablet actually stays the same thanks to Apple shrinking the bezels by an impressive 24 per cent.

According to Apple, the display can go as low as one nit and reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits – that's twice the brightness of the previous model – and it sports a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Apple is also offering its Nano Texture display coating, which can be found on the iPad Pro, and more recently the iPhone Duo, for reduced display glare. You'll need to spring for the pricier 256GB or 512GB configurations to add that option, though, as the 128GB model is only available with a glossy display finish.

The Californian tech giant hasn't confirmed if the Mini is sporting the same brightness-boosting Tandem OLED technology as the Pro, but we do know that ProMotion (Apple's high refresh rate technology) is, unfortunately, not on board.

This means that the new iPad Mini is stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate. Thankfully, it retains support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG.

While the display upgrade is monumental, what's under it is arguably even more impressive. Apple has introduced an all-new Acoustic Display speaker system on the iPad Mini. This features specially-designed under-display woofers that are "paired through the display" to produce "punchier bass and more volume".

Custom tweeters, which are hidden beneath the display, for crisper and clearer high frequencies, are also onboard. Dolby Atmos support is also sticking around, both via supported headphones and through the Acoustic Display system.

This is a first for an iPad, and we can't think of any other tablets to use this type of sound system. Our nearest frame of reference is Sony's actuator-based sound systems in its OLED TVs, which vibrate the panel to produce sound in a seemingly similar fashion.

This speaker system means the new iPad has no speaker holes, helping it achieve IP67 water- and dust-resistance. It's also now just 5.4mm thin and weighs 255g or 263g for the wi-fi and cellular versions, respectively.

Inside the new iPad Mini is Apple's A20 Pro chip, which it has borrowed directly from the Award-winning iPhone 18 Pro. It features support for Siri AI via iPadOS 27 and is rated to be powerful enough for heavier workloads, including video editing and gaming.

The 128GB and 256GB models feature a five‑core CPU with two super cores and three efficiency cores and a 16‑core Neural Engine, whereas the 512GB model introduces a hexa-core CPU and a Dual 16‑core Neural Engine for increased AI efficiency.

On sale in two dashing finishes – Midnight and Starlight – the new iPad Mini is available to pre-order now starting at £699 / $699 / AU$1099, with availability starting on the 6th of November.

That's a substantial step up from the £499 / $499 / AU$799 launch price of the previous model, but with a global RAM crisis on our hands, this increase isn't unexpected.

MORE:

Check out our iPad Air 13-inch M4 review

As well as our list of the best tablets

And find the best streaming services for movies and TV here

A collection of nearly 1300 Beatles rare records is going on sale later this week.

Once part of a large private collection, many rare and unique pressings are set to be available via Discogs and Black Plastic Records, a record store in Dortmund which has worked to identify and catalogue the records ahead of their public release.

Available exclusively through Discogs Drops, the newly on-sale assortment includes original UK pressings, promotional singles, export editions, and rare releases from across Europe.

The musical treasure trove spans mono and stereo LPs, compilations, singles, and 7-inch EPs. Various international LPs will also be available with their own quirks and idiosyncrasies, as records didn't look or sound the same across differing markets and territories.

A 1964 Italian edition of No Reply / Baby’s in Black, for instance, features an early cover design that was later replaced by a more familiar international version.

Among the standout finds is a 1963 promotional pressing of Please Please Me, one of only 250-or-so copies produced for radio stations ahead of the single’s commercial release, as well as a promotional pressing of From Me to You, the group’s first UK number one.

According to Russ Ryan, Director of Seller Experience at Discogs: "People forget Beatlemania never landed the same way twice. Different sleeves, different pressings, promo copies nobody’s seen in 60 years. That’s devotion, and a lot of record culture comes down to that: wanting to stand as close to the music as a pressing can put you".

The first release of nearly 1300 records from the collection will be available exclusively through Discogs Drops beginning October 30th, 2026 at 1pm GMT (2pm CET). The sale will remain exclusive to Discogs for its first 10 days, while fans in Dortmund can browse the collection and arrange in-store pickup at Black Plastic Records.

MORE:

I've heard dozens of wireless headphones this year – trust me, we've never had it so good

Forget the vinyl revival – I'm getting excited about CD players again

This classic album just turned 50 – here's why it's the ultimate test for your system

A big sound demands a big speaker, right? Not according to Steinway Lyngdorf. Its new Steinway & Sons Model O promises room-filling sound from a slim design.

Steinway says this is achieved through a combination of sound technologies, the firm's Integrated Systems Approach and RoomPerfect calibration.

This is the new version of the original Model O, which was introduced in 2018. Both are named after Steinway's Model O piano, which was dubbed "The Living Room Grand Piano" when it launched 120 years ago. Its aim was to bring the musical experience of a Steinway concert piano into the living room.

Despite a relatively small footprint, the new Model O speaker claims to deliver "full-bodied, detailed and clear sound". A passive bass unit concealed on the back works with the wall against which it's placed, giving you more floorspace – the speaker was tuned specifically for such placement.

For the high frequencies, Steinway's Air Motion Transformer tweeter provides "exceptional clarity and detail, reproducing the music's finest nuances."

This model has two front-mounted midrange bass drivers (the original Model O only had one), a cabinet with 80 per cent more internal volume and a 50 per cent larger passive radiator. This should mean better bass performance, more dynamic range and a more room-filling sound.

It has Steinway's trademark look too, with a gold-coated tweeter eye with a matte or polished surface and high-quality lacquer. The 26 black strings on the front are a nod to the brand's heritage in musical instruments, and there are plenty of customisation options, including gold-coated rings around the two front-mounted midrange drivers, individual lacquers and wood veneers.

Each Model O is assembled and finished by hand in Skive, Denmark, and boasts RoomPerfect calibration technology to optimise the sound to the room in which it's placed.

The Model O is out at the end of November, with the price on application.

MORE:

The best floorstanding speakers you can buy

Standmounts vs floorstanders: which speaker type should you buy?

How to set up and position your speakers in four easy steps

Newbie hi-fi brand Ubiqaudiolab has launched its ultra-high-end Ubicube range of power amplifiers, and they make quite a statement of intent.

The company's Ubicube line-up consists of three models, the Ubicube 700, 400 and 200, arriving alongside the Ubiquitous 300B preamplifier.

If you're unfamiliar, Ubiqaudiolab is a Slovenian hi-fi manufacturer established in 2021 with the aim of bringing together "exceptional engineering talent, industrial ambition and an uncompromising vision of musical realism".

Sounds like our kind of company.

The massive Ubicube 700 certainly looks to encapsulate that vision. The luxury amplifier delivers a hefty 700 watts of power into 8 ohms, boasting a Class A input stage alongside a high-bias Class A/B output stage to deliver "perfectly consistent, lightning-fast power".

The new amp uses massive internal copper heat-dissipation plates with chimney-effect airflow for faster heat transfer from the power amplifier modules, housed within a solid aluminium monocoque chassis designed for optimal mechanical stability and vibration control.

The 700's Ubicube 400 and 200 siblings are designed to deliver "the same uncompromising audio performance in a slightly smaller form factor".

The Ubicube 400 delivers 400 watts into 8 ohms, whereas the Ubicube 200 puts out 200 watts into 8 ohms.

The Ubicube 200 and 400 incorporate audiophile-grade power modules working alongside an advanced, oversized power supply in a bid to reveal the subtlest details of each recording.

Finally, the Ubiquitous 300B preamplifier aims to deliver "seamless, continuous reproduction of authentic human expression across every genre of music".

Developed with a dual-mono Class A topology and new 300B electron tube technology, the luxury preamp is designed to work with Ubiqaudiolab power amplifiers to create a "truly lifelike reproduction" of music.

While it will be unveiling its first commercially available range at the Warsaw Audio Video Show this weekend , Ubiqaudiolab reportedly has its sights set on the UK market in the future. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but expect the amps above to cost well into the tens of thousands of pounds.

MORE:

Forget the vinyl revival – I'm getting excited about CD players again

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

These are the best stereo amplifiers you can buy

Canor Audio has launched the Crius H5S, a headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier designed "to bring exceptional performance to a single, elegant component".

The new model uses a dual-mono ES9039Q2M DAC alongside a fully discrete, balanced analogue output stage. The new unit supports hi-res PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512, plus nine digital filters to help you achieve your desired audio signature.

Canor claims to have optimised each stage of the DAC circuit to deliver high linearity and extremely low distortion. An adaptive bias circuit moves between Class A and Class A/B amplification, aiming to combine "the purity of Class A with the headroom needed for more demanding loads".

Canor bills its new unit as able to drive a wide array of headphones courtesy of its balanced 4-pin XLR, 6.3mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs. Optical, coaxial and USB-C inputs all provide compatibility with a range of digital sources, complemented by balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs.

On the outside, the Crius H5S is constructed using a compact aluminium chassis, fronted by a volume control knob alongside a 1.8-inch circular display.

The Canor Crius H5S is available in Black, Silver or Bronze finishes, priced at £1799 (further prices pending). For that kind of money, the Crius H5S is going up against the exceptionally talented Chord Hugo 2 (£1795).

MORE:

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

10 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system

These are the best DACs we've tested in 2026

Audio-Technica has announced its new flagship closed-back headphones, the ATH-AWX7000, designed to integrate high-end acoustic technologies with traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

The ATH-AWX7000 are the first headphones to feature Audio-Technica’s new ‘True Closed-back Acoustic’ design, implemented to harness the air pressure generated within the earcups.

The result, says Audio-Technica, grants powerful low-frequency performance and wide dynamic range while “delivering greater transparency across the mid and high frequencies”.

Further, the new over-ears use a newly developed ‘Hybrid Matrix Diaphragm’, which incorporates thin films of different materials bonded together with the aim of improving transient response and dynamics.

That diaphragm is bolstered by the brand’s ‘High-Concentricity X Dynamic Transducer’ technology, a manufacturing process which aligns the baffle, magnet, voice coil and diaphragm to allow for “exceptionally precise diaphragm movement”.

Externally, each earcup housing is made using Japanese Kiso cypress wood, highly regarded for its durability, natural beauty and distinctive grain. Each wooden housing is finished using Echizen lacquer, applied by hand to highlight the grain of the Kiso cypress.

The ATH-AWX7000 employ soft leather earpads to provide a “gentle yet effective seal”, while precision-machined aluminium sliders are paired with a lightweight magnesium frame and arms.

A 2.5m balanced cable with XLR connectors and a 3.0m unbalanced cable with a 6.3mm stereo plug are included in the box, as well as a hard-shell carry case.

The ATH-AWX7000 are available now, priced at £3299. For context, we thought the stunning Yamaha YH-C3000 were pricey at £1499 / $1700 / AU$3000; the Audio-Technicas make them look positively affordable by comparison.

MORE:

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

Check out our Sony MDR-Z1R review

Best over-ear headphones: wired and wireless pairs tested by our in-house experts

Écoute Audio raised quite a few eyebrows – including our own – when it launched its TH1 over-ears in the UK earlier this year.

The TH1's bank-busting price was one thing, but what really stood out was their claim to be the first headphones in the world featuring a valve-based preamp stage, a DAC and dual-mono amplification. That's half a hi-fi system crammed into a pair of over-ears.

Écoute is now back with a sequel, refining the original design in a bid to improve sound quality, comfort and noise cancelling, all while introducing a few new colourways and material options in the process.

The TH2 refine the dual-mono amplification and valve preamp stage of their predecessors. Central to this is the Nutube 6P1 dual-triode valve, which then hands over to two solid-state amps that maintain channel isolation through to the 40mm titanium-coated Mylar drivers.

The headphones' dual-mono configuration keeps left and right channels separate to reduce crosstalk and better preserve stereo imaging.

The TH2 employs a new resonance chamber design from that found in the TH1, aiming to produce "deeper, punchier bass and a more sharply defined treble. Improved shielding around the Nutube valve further aims to reduce the noise floor, offering better isolation from interference to aid greater clarity and expression".

The sophomore headphones pack standard active noise cancellation alongside a transparency mode to let in outside sounds. Battery life clocks in at around 20 hours, the same approximate lifespan as the original TH1.

As well as Bluetooth 5.3 with support for Sony's higher-quality LDAC codec, you can listen wired via USB-C or standard 3.5mm. If using the latter, you can select 'active mode' to use the TH1's built-in valve preamp and dual-mono power amp, or 'passive mode' to power them with an external amp like normal wired headphones.

The TH2 have also been tweaked in pursuit of better long-term comfort. A redesigned headband uses a hybrid suspension system with three points of articulation, built to remove pressure points for a more tailored-feeling fit.

The Écoute Audio TH2 are available in three colourways – Charcoal, Gunmetal and Nickel – priced at £999 with a fabric trim or £1099 with leather.

MORE:

All the headphones that won a What Hi-Fi? 2026 Award – and the best deals available right now

Why aren't there more open-back wireless headphones?

Want a stellar pair of wireless headphones? Read our Sennheiser HDB 630 review

These are the best audiophile headphones you can buy