Adventures in AV: 2026 is the year of weird and wacky soundbar systems
And I’m here for the quirky ’bars and strange surrounds
Hi-Fi
Best music streamers 2026: top network audio players tested by our experts
Best Buys Music streamers are a convenient and versatile one-box solution for getting high-quality digital music from multiple online sources.
Marquee audio brands Focal and Naim will soon have a new owner
Their parent company is being taken over by Belgian firm Barco
Burson’s new premium head-fi range is built to shine a spotlight on your headphones’ sonic talents
Burson’s Stellar Series comprises the Conductor and Soloist
The iconic Rega Planar 3 turntable and an Award-winning CD player are at the heart of this awesome hi-fi system
A quarter of superb hi-fi products that deliver an all-round performance
Headphones
Meze shoots for the sonic stars with its "full-bodied" Astru premium wired in-ear monitors
Nothing's colourful wireless over-ears offer a staggering 130 hours of playback on a single charge
Speakers
WiiM Sound vs Apple HomePod 2: which wireless speaker deserves a place in your home?
Can Apple’s three-year-old HomePod 2 cling on to its crown?
Sonos Play vs Apple HomePod 2: how do their specs compare?
Sonos' new speaker is the same price as the HomePod 2, but what are their differences?
Sonos Play vs Move 2: what are the differences on paper?
Sonos’s new portable speaker takes on its older, bigger sibling
Philips Fidelio FA3
Philips’ active speakers offer a decent host of features, including Bluetooth, HDMI ARC and optical inputs, but can their sound performance trouble the class leaders?
TV & Home Cinema
Best TV 2026: flagship OLEDs and budget Mini LED sets tried and tested
Best Buys Our expert reviewers detail the best TVs they've tested across every price and size.
We have only just reviewed this innovative soundbar system – but it has already had a tempting price drop
Save some hard-earned cash on this JBL model
OLED vs QLED: which is the best TV technology?
LG is the boss of OLED and Samsung was once loyal to QLED but is now playing away. So what's the difference? And which is better?
The ultimate all-rounders: an ode to games consoles as multimedia home cinema hubs
Oh my PS3, how I did love thee...
Streaming & Entertainment
Spotify claims it saved the music industry – but who will save us from the streaming model?
Many musicians would scoff if you told them Spotify has saved the music industry
HBO Max launches in the UK this month – and I'm actually excited for a new streaming service
HBO Max has its own issues, but AV fans might want to take note
I’m obsessed with new MacBook Neo, but what I really want is a cheaper Apple TV 4K
Apple’s new entry-level strategy could also be applied to its AV offerings
1976 changed music forever – and these 10 tracks still sound phenomenal today
Like us, these great songs are turning 50 this year
More from What Hi-Fi?
What's in a Naim? Why are so many big hi-fi and home cinema brands being bought right now?
There’s a lot of cash changing hands in the world of hi-fi and home cinema
Rewind: 4K Blu-ray fights back, LG’s next-gen Dolby Atmos system tested, a £160,000 “mid-range” speaker and more
Another week, another entry into our regular hi-fi and home cinema news digest
Pick of the Month: KEF’s vinyl-focused speakers, Yamaha's high-end hi-fi and Sony’s five-star headphones
It takes a lot to impress our reviewers, but these products made the cut last month
Apple pie-in-the-sky – this is our home cinema wish list for the tech giant
A home cinema lover can dream
