What Hi-Fi? | Tech news and reviews

Latest Australian updates

Devialet Dione review

By Jez Ford published 6 August 22

The price may make you wince, but the sound of this high-end soundbar will have you cheering. The Devialet Dione shows that soundbars don’t have to be a compromise solution.

Richter Thor 10.6 subwoofer review

By Sound+Image published 30 July 22

Marvellously deep bass performance, with tuneful and rhythmic musical delivery plus superbly low levels of distortion from a remarkably compact subwoofer.

Is Kyron's new Gaia Evolution the most incredible hi-fi system in Australia?

By Jez Ford published 22 July 22

A dozen 12-inch drivers and a large pair of subwoofers are just the start of Kyron's Gaia Evolution system

Don't believe the hype: Bluetooth LE and the LC3 codec won't improve audio quality

By Jez Ford published 20 July 22

Announcements regarding Bluetooth LE and the new LC3 audio codec need to be treated with caution

Epson EH-LS12000B review

By Sound+Image published 19 July 22

Epson combines new laser sources with a new 4K pixel-shifting system for a result which qualifies as a bigscreen bargain.

Focal-Naim's new Aussie store is "a window to another world"

By Australian Hi-Fi published 14 July 22

“It’s time to change the public’s perception of audio,” says George Poutakidis, director of Addicted To Audio.

Stranger Things S4 sounds better thanks to Sennheiser's ever-morphing Ambeo

By Jez Ford published 12 July 22

If you think Sennheiser’s Ambeo is a world-beating soundbar, think again. Now it’s a stereo soundtrack on Netflix’s Series 4 of Stranger Things. Confused? Here’s the back story.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 review

By Jez Ford published 1 July 22

Luxurious wireless noise-cancellers get a major revision to bring them back among the market leaders.

Latest Reviews

Q Acoustics M20 review

By What Hi-Fi?

Q Acoustics more than achieves its aims with the M20 music system, delivering convenience, connectivity and great sound quality at an affordable price point.

Devialet Dione review

By Jez Ford published 6 August 22

The price may make you wince, but the sound of this high-end soundbar will have you cheering. The Devialet Dione shows that soundbars don’t have to be a compromise solution.

Sonos Ray review

By What Hi-Fi? published 4 August 22

UPDATED Can Sonos deliver aspirational home cinema sound on a budget without lowering its high standards?

UPDATED

Grado RS1x review

By What Hi-Fi? published 3 August 22

For its top Reference Series headphones, Grado has combined three types of wood with the largest size of its all-new driver yet

Tidal review

By What Hi-Fi? published 2 August 22

UPDATED Tidal's facing new competition in the hi-res music streaming arena, so is it still the best service for demanding listeners?

UPDATED

Integrated amplifier: PrimaLuna Evo 300 Hybrid

PrimaLuna Evo 300 Hybrid review

By What Hi-Fi? published 1 August 22

PrimaLuna’s Evo 300 Hybrid aims to marry the stereotypical sweetness and fluidity of valves with the grunt of solid state. It succeeds, but is that enough?

Richter Thor 10.6 subwoofer review

By Sound+Image published 30 July 22

Marvellously deep bass performance, with tuneful and rhythmic musical delivery plus superbly low levels of distortion from a remarkably compact subwoofer.

Sony SRS-NS7 review

By What Hi-Fi? published 29 July 22

Sony’s Dolby Atmos neck speaker is a unique home cinema sound product with niche appeal.

Optoma UHD55 review

By What Hi-Fi? published 28 July 22

Optoma’s latest projector delivers streaming smarts and bright, colourful 4K HDR images for a very attractive price. So what’s the catch?

Sonos Arc review

By What Hi-Fi? published 25 July 22

UPDATED Sonos might have been late to the Dolby Atmos soundbar party, but the Arc continues to impress.

UPDATED

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Latest News

What Hi-Fi? Awards: 26 Product of the Year winners announced for 2021!

By Becky Roberts

Today we have decorated 26 of our 109 Best Buy winners with the even more prestigious Product of the Year accolade...

The cheapest iPhone 14 will cost $799, leak says

By Joe Svetlik published 5 August 22

While the standard iPhone 14 could cost the same as the equivalent iPhone 13, the lack of a Mini variant will push up the entry price.

Pro-Ject launches HMV anniversary turntable featuring its famous dog

By Joe Svetlik published 5 August 22

Project's T1 has been given a makeover for this special edition model marking HMV's 100 years on the high street.

Next entry-level iPad could drop the headphone jack

By Joe Svetlik published 5 August 22

Apple's iPad 10 could finally ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack, if these leaked renders are to be believed.

LG TVs come with 3 months' free Google Stadia

Select LG TVs now come with 3 months free Google Stadia

By Tom Bailey published 4 August 22

LG and Google Stadia have joined forces to offer LG TV customers three months of free gaming on certain models.

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022: last chance to enter!

By Joe Cox published 4 August 22

This year will be the 40th incarnation of the What Hi-Fi? Awards, with more than 100 winners expected to be announced.

Achievement unlocked: Samsung Gaming Hub adds Amazon Luna, completes roster

Amazon Luna joins Google Stadia and Xbox on Samsung's Gaming Hub

By Joe Svetlik published 4 August 22

Samsung Gaming Hub has added Amazon Luna to its roster, giving you access to over 250 games.

Meze Audio teases 109 Pro over-ear headphones

Meze Audio teases 109 Pro audiophile headphones

By Tom Bailey published 3 August 22

Meze Audio's latest open-backed headphones are due out in October

Pro-Ject launches X2 B turntable with balanced XLR outputs

By Mary Stone published 3 August 22

Pro-Ject has unveiled the X2 B turntable, a new record player from its True Balanced Connection range, which features a balanced XLR output.

iPhone 14 Pro poised to get big OLED display upgrades

By Lewis Empson published 3 August 22

Reports suggest that the iPhone 14 Pro series will receive high refresh rate OLED displays based on a new material set from Samsung, complete with an always-on-display mode.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 leaked by Canadian retailer

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones leaked by Canadian retailer

By Tom Bailey published 2 August 22

Canada Computers & Electronics has revealed the first proper images of Sennheiser's next premium noise-cancelling headphones ahead of their August arrival...

Aurender launches the A15, a one-box server and streamer with a built-in DAC

By Mary Stone published 2 August 22

Aurender has released the A15, a new music server/streamer with a built-in DAC, featuring a fresh look and optional storage expansion.

Spotify Premium customers are getting separate play and shuffle buttons

By Joe Svetlik published 2 August 22

Spotify's paying customers will soon get the choice of either playing tracks in order or shuffling them at random

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Latest Advice

iPhone 14 Pro: release date rumours, price news and other leaks for Apple's next iPhone Pro

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max: release date rumours, price news, and leaks for Apple's 2022 flagships

By Joe Svetlik published 5 August 22

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will likely be the name of Apple's top-tier iPhones for 2022. Here's what we can expect from them...

iPhone 14: release date rumours, price news, specs and leaks

By Tom Bailey published 5 August 22

Apple is tipped to announce the iPhone 14 in September. Here are all the latest rumours and leaks about the new iPhone's price, release date, screen and features...

Macbook vs iPad: 8 things tablets can do for students that laptops can’t

By Ruben Circelli published 4 August 22

iPads can oftentimes be the better pick over a Macbook, depending on your circumstances...

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless: release date, price news, features

By Tom Bailey published 2 August 22

Sennheiser has promised to unveils its 4th generation ANC headphones, complete with 60-hour battery life, this month. Here's everything we know so far about the Momentum 4 cans...

Dolby Digital vs DTS: what's the difference between the two leading surround sound formats?

By What Hi-Fi? published 26 July 22

Updated Dolby Digital or DTS? Dolby Atmos or DTS:X? What's the difference between the two surround sound formats, and which is better?

Updated

How to buy second-hand and vintage hi-fi speakers

By Ketan Bharadia published 25 July 22

Buying second-hand hi-fi speakers can be a brilliant way to bag a bargain – so long as you avoid some potential pitfalls.

MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC: all the audio file formats explained

By Becky Scarrott published 25 July 22

What's an audio file format? Which music file formats are hi-res? We delve into the differences between MP3, FLAC, ALAC and more.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2: news, rumours, and 7 features we'd like to see

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2: news, rumours, and 7 features we want to see

By Joe Svetlik published 25 July 22

Samsung is holding its Unpacked event next month – but could its Galaxy Buds Pro 2 earbuds arrive before then?

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700: which are best?

By Joe Svetlik published 21 July 22

Sony and Bose make some of the best noise-cancelling headphones ever. But which of its premium pairs is best?

Latest Features

QD OLED vs OLED: which is the best TV technology?

By What Hi-Fi? published 6 August 22

Is Quantum-Dot OLED tech, which brings the benefits of LCD and OLED together, better than straight-up OLED for picture quality?

The best Marvel movie scenes to test your Dolby Atmos soundbar or home cinema

By Mary Stone published 5 August 22

We have selected some of our favourite Marvel film scenes for testing and showing off your Dolby Atmos sound system.

8 best study playlists for work, concentration and focus

By Ruben Circelli published 4 August 22

Tune into our pick of the best study playlists when you need to hunker down and get some work done...

Wireless headphones are the best they’ve ever been – and yet the wire is more relevant than before

By Becky Roberts published 30 July 22

Despite four-figure wireless headphones reaching new sonic levels, the increasing accessibility of high-quality audio is still only truly served by the wire.

8 reasons you should keep buying 4K Blu-ray discs

By John Archer published 29 July 22

In these days of ubiquitous streaming, it's easy to overlook the benefits a high-quality 4K disc can bring.

The 22 best Dolby Atmos movie scenes to test your home cinema surround sound system

By Mary Stone published 22 July 22

We run down our favourite film scenes that need to be heard in Dolby Atmos.

4 brilliant book-to-film adaptations to watch on Netflix after The Gray Man

By Becky Roberts published 22 July 22

The just-landed Ryan Gosling thriller is in good company when it comes to movie adaptations on Netflix...

Is Kyron's new Gaia Evolution the most incredible hi-fi system in Australia?

By Jez Ford published 22 July 22

A dozen 12-inch drivers and a large pair of subwoofers are just the start of Kyron's Gaia Evolution system

Listen to our pick of the best new and classic tracks to test your hi-fi in the What Hi-Fi? playlist for September 2022

By Mary Stone published 21 July 22

Every time a new issue of What Hi-Fi? is published, we update our playlist (on Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal) with music we've been testing with in the last month. So please, join us...

Stereo? Who needs it: I think The Beatles sound better in mono

By Ruben Circelli published 20 July 22

Stereo seems like the default pick nowadays, but it's not always the best choice...

Don't believe the hype: Bluetooth LE and the LC3 codec won't improve audio quality

By Jez Ford published 20 July 22

Announcements regarding Bluetooth LE and the new LC3 audio codec need to be treated with caution

10 of the best music documentaries currently included with Amazon Prime Video UK

By Andrew Murphy, Mary Stone published 15 July 22

Feature Come-backs, subcultures and concerts – take a peek behind the curtain of the music industry with these amazing music films included in your Amazon Prime subscription.

Feature

Latest Best Buys

Best AirPods Max alternatives 2022

By Joe Svetlik published 4 August 22

Best Buys You don't need Apple's premium headphones to have a great wireless, noise-cancelling experience.

Best Buys

AV receiver: Arcam AVR5 Home Cinema Amplifier

Best AV receivers 2022: excellent home cinema amplifiers for all budgets

By Mary Stone published 4 August 22

Best Buys From Dolby Atmos to HDMI 2.1, make sure you get the surround set-up your money deserves with our list of the top AVR amplifiers that we've tried and tested.

Best Buys

The 12 best headphones for students 2022

By Joe Svetlik published 4 August 22

Studying without music is like a bath without bubbles. These are the best headphones for students to help you hit the books...

Dolby Atmos soundbar: Majority Sierra Plus

Best budget soundbars 2022: affordable home cinema sound

By Mary Stone published 3 August 22

Best Buys You don't have to spend a fortune to improve your TV's sound. These budget soundbars are easy, effective and affordable ways to give your home cinema a lift.

Best Buys

Best Dolby Atmos soundbars 2022: budget to premium

By Joe Svetlik, Andy Madden published 2 August 22

Best Buys Add a sprinkling of immersive audio to your TV with our pick of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars at a range of prices.

Best Buys

Best DACs 2022: USB, portable and desktop digital-to-analogue converters

By Becky Roberts published 2 August 22

Best Buys The best DACs can take hi-fi, desktop and portable systems to another level, and we've rounded up our favourites here...

Best Buys

Best soundbars in Australia 2022: the best TV speakers you can buy

By Harry Domanski published 1 August 22

Best Buys If a surround sound system is too expensive or space-consuming for you, then a soundbar will meet your TV-boosting needs perfectly.

Best Buys

Best Android phones 2022: Google-powered smartphones for all budgets

By Dan Sung, Lewis Empson published 29 July 22

Watching or listening on the move? Our pick of the best Android phones will do you proud.

Best cheap noise-cancelling headphones: ANC headphones on a budget

Best cheap noise-cancelling headphones 2022

By Joe Svetlik published 29 July 22

Best Buys Blocking background noise doesn't have to cost a fortune – these are the best cheap ANC headphones we've tested.

Best Buys

Best 55-inch TVs 2022: smart, 4K, HDR and OLED TVs

By Tom Parsons published 27 July 22

best buys These are the best 55-inch TVs around right now, featuring smart, 4K, HDR and OLED 55-inch TVs.

best buys

Best wireless headphones 2022

By Becky Roberts published 26 July 22

Best Buys The best wireless headphones offer convenience and quality in a single package. Here are the very best pairs on the market...

Best Buys

Best 50-inch TVs 2022: 4K TVs for all budgets

By Tom Parsons published 26 July 22

Best Buys Our expert advice on the best 48-inch, 49-inch and 50-inch TVs around right now, delivering 4K pictures, the latest features, streaming apps, and more.

Best Buys