You’re about as likely to spot a member of the What Hi-Fi? reviews team in the wild over September / October as you are to see good ol’ Nessie in our editor in chief’s home nation or a sasquatch on the other side of the pond.
Why? Because we’re usually locked in windowless rooms tirelessly running a hardware battle royale to find our latest batch of What Hi-Fi? Award winners.
It’s also why this month’s Pick of the Month column, where we detail the top new hardware to pass through our test rooms and then to impress us enough to earn a five star rating, is a particularly long one.
In October we saw a near record-breaking 17 products earn the accolade. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Sony Bravia Projector 7 (VPL-XW5100ES)
Sony’s been on something of a winning streak with its projectors over the past five years. And while it didn’t quite manage to win an Award alongside the cheaper Sony VPL-XW5000ES and more expensive Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) this year, the Sony Bravia Projector 7 (VPL-XW5100ES) is still an extremely capable performer.
For your money you’ll get a well stacked long-throw projector capable of delivering a rich, balanced and truly three-dimensional image. We just wish it wasn’t priced so awkwardly between its siblings. As we say in our verdict for this five-star product:
“Sony’s latest projector bridges the gap between two Award-winning projectors, all while carving out a place for itself within the growing lineup. If you want a rich, engaging and deeply cinematic image at a (slightly) cheaper price, then this projector is absolutely worth considering.”
Five stars
Read our Sony Bravia Projector 7 (VPL-XW5100ES) review
Michell Apollo
If you asked any high-end hi-fi fan to name an iconic British turntable brand, Michell would probably be one of the main names you’d hear fired back. Thanks to the iconic Gyrodec and Orbe decks, there's a good reason for that.
But, Michell also has a strong history in the world of premium amplifiers – a fact most recently demonstrated by the five-star Apollo.
Unveiled and tested by our reviewers in October, the two-box phono stage is an impressive piece of hardware that any vinyl fan with the cash to spare and appropriately premium hardware to make it shine would do well to consider. As we say in our review:
“The competition is tough, but the Apollo’s formidable blend of talents is hard to resist. Its unfussy attitude, seductive sound and excellent build make it one of the standout options in this part of the market. Michell may be best known for its turntables, but once again, it proves a dab hand at electronics too.”
Five stars
Read our Michell Apollo review
Lindemann Limetree Phono II
If the Apollo above is a little too rich for your blood, you may want to check out the Lindemann Limetree Phono II, the second phono stage to earn a five-star rating from our reviewers last month. It's a much more affordable option for buyers on the hunt for a talented, but sensibly priced moving-magnet phono stage.
The small, no-frills unit may not be exciting to look at, but our tests proved that it is capable of delivering excellent audio when matched with price appropriate hardware, such as the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition with Nd5 moving-magnet cartridge.
The unit gets all the basic rights, offering a clean, crisp, nicely agile performance across every genre we threw at it. As we say in our review: “You would have to stretch to the likes of Rega’s Aria or Vertere’s Phono-1 MkII L, which cost at least double the Lindemann’s price, to get something appreciably better.”
Five stars
Read our Lindemann Limetree Phono II review
Arcam A5+
The Arcam A5+ is a product with big shoes to fill. It’s the direct successor to last year’s Arcam A5, an amp that not only earned a five-star rating, but also went on to win a What Hi-Fi? Best Buy trophy.
Does it live up to its predecessor’s legacy? Having put it through its paces last month we’re pleased to report that yes, it does. So much so that it has replaced the original A5 as this year’s Award-winner.
Subtle changes to its circuitry, power supply and Bluetooth module yielded noticeable performance improvements when we tested it, with the A5+ delivering an articulate, insightful sound with better levels of detail and dynamics than its predecessor.
As we say in our review's verdict: “Versatile, easy to use and a delight to listen to, it’s one of the best amplifiers you’re likely to find at this price.”
Five stars
Read our Arcam A5+ review
KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Speaker System
KEF speakers are a common sight in our hi-fi listening rooms, but it’s been a while since we’ve had a full 5.1 surround sound system from the brand in our home cinema testing facilities. Which is why our reviewers were very excited to get the new KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Speaker System in for testing last month.
The package is seriously enticing. It combines a five-star pair of a Q Concerto Meta standmounts with a Q6 centre, Kube 12 MIE subwoofer and Q1 Meta bookshelf surrounds. And that combination makes it a clear winning package – so much so that we gave it a What Hi-Fi? Award.
The speakers deliver a warm, rich and suitably engaging sound to create a truly immersive home cinema experience that more than justifies the package’s admittedly hefty price.
As we say in our review: “KEF’s latest surround sound package offers up a rich, detailed and engaging cinematic sound that’s hard to resist – it truly reminds us what makes proper surround sound so appealing.”
So if you have the funds, this is the home cinema speaker package to get.
Five stars
Read our KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Speaker System review
Cyrus 40 ST
The Cyrus 40 ST is another new What Hi-Fi? Award-winner. It’s a terrific unit that offers the best performance we have encountered in its class, making it a fantastic option for any hi-fi fan looking to add streaming smarts to their rack.
Specification snobs may well point out that its streaming engine is limited to 24-bit/192kHz PCM resolution and no DSD, but we think that’s a small compromise given the stellar audio it can deliver when matched with suitably premium hardware.
Then, the streamer delivers an expressive, punchy sound full of rhythmic drive that has even the most stoic members of our team nodding along to the music. Hence its five-star rating and our glowing verdict:
“We’re no strangers to fine-sounding Cyrus products, but this 40 ST streamer surprises us with its breadth of talent and even-handed nature. It doesn’t favour any particular type of music and is a strong enough all-rounder to shine in a wide range of systems.”
Five stars
Read our Cyrus 40 ST review
Apple iPhone 17
Apple iPhones have a strong track record as the handsets we recommend to music and movie fans looking for mobile entertainment stations.
What makes this year special, though, is that the entry-level model for this year’s iPhone has the same 120Hz, bright, variable refresh-rate screen technology that the firm traditionally reserved for the more expensive Pro models.
The end result is one of the best phones we have tested for music and movie fans. As we say in our review: “The iPhone 17’s new display steals the show thanks to its improved brightness and support for up to 120Hz variable refresh rates. The era of the best AV features only coming to the Pro-series iPhones seems to be over, and we’re here for it.”
Five stars
Read our full Apple iPhone 17 review
Hisense AX5125H
Finding a good, cheap, solid-sounding Dolby Atmos soundbar for less than £300 / $300 is hard. We know, because we are constantly testing units, hoping to find a new performance-per-pound champion to recommend to you, our lovely readers.
Finding one that also comes with a decent wireless subwoofer and set of satellite surround speakers included was downright unheard of – until last month.
The Hisense AX5125H is the first affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar system to not only impress our reviewers enough to earn a five-star rating, but also pick up a What Hi-Fi? Award.
As our testers say in our full review: “The fact that you can get this much kit with these specs for this price is really rather impressive – the fact that it actually sounds good is pretty astonishing.”
Five stars
Read our full Hisense AX5125H review
Arcam SA35
The just-add-speakers system is an increasingly popular category in the world of hi-fi – and we completely understand why.
Separates are cool and there’s undeniably something magical about matching hardware. But, for a lot of people, the process of system matching can feel intimidating and there’s something oh-so appealing about having a single-box solution where the only real question is which speakers to pair them with.
If you’re of that mindset but still want a premium, excellent-sounding package with all the connectivity and amplification you need to drive serious speakers, the Arcam SA35 is a fantastic option.
Paired with everything from our reference ATC SCM50 to the PMC Prodigy 5 floorstanders and the Award-winning KEF LS50 Meta, the SA35 delivered a balanced, detailed and tuneful sound.
As we say in our review: “In this modern age, where people want the convenience of a one-box solution but don’t want to make huge sacrifices where sound quality is concerned, the Arcam SA35 streaming amplifier is one of those rare do-it-all devices that does it all extremely well. Highly recommended.”
Five stars
Read our full Arcam SA35 review
Epson EH-LS9000
The EH-LS9000 is the latest affordable “proper” home cinema projector from Epson. That means, unlike its coffee-table sibling, the EF-72, it is designed for people who want a long-throw unit to pair with a proper sound system and a separate source, in a dedicated space optimised to deliver a proper, dark room, home cinema experience.
While its price tag hardly makes it “cheap”, it does cost considerably less than many rivals, including the Sony further up this list.
During testing we found that, while it is undeniably a little clunky to use, due to its old-school, non-smart menu system and interface, it gets the most important thing that its target audience cares about absolutely right: picture quality.
Black levels aren’t the best we have seen, but that aside the unit delivered a beautifully crisp, punchy and three-dimensional picture. Hence our glowing verdict: “A slight lack of black depth aside, the Epson EH-LS9000 is an exceptional home cinema projector that redefines performance expectations at this level."
Five stars
Read our full Epson EH-LS9000 review
Hisense M2 Pro
The M2 Pro is pretty much the exact opposite of the Epson mentioned above. It’s a coffee-table projector designed for people who want a home cinema in a box solution that can be neatly and quickly set up for an impromptu movie night and then discreetly stored away when not needed.
For its target market, this is one of the best options available right now. The surprisingly small and light unit’s hinge design, robust autocorrection powers and intuitive smart interface make it easy to get up and running within minutes of taking it out of the box. And while its inbuilt speakers are by no means perfect, they are loud and controlled enough for casual viewing.
Add to this sharp, consistent picture quality and a competitive price tag, and it becomes an easy recommendation.
As we say in our review: “The Hisense M2 Pro isn’t perfect. But by focusing on making all the right compromises and delivering a consistent, balanced home movie experience, it gets more right than it does wrong. This adds up to make it one of the best coffee-table projectors on the market.”
Five stars
Read our full Hisense M2 Pro review
Arcam ST25
The ST25 is Arcam’s latest premium music streamer. Some hi-fi fans might be quick to dismiss it, given the three-star performance of the cheaper Arcam ST5 when we reviewed it in 2023; but, after putting the ST25 through its paces, we urge them to reconsider.
Featuring a modern, streamlined design, hi-res audio support for up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 files and stellar app support, it’s an excellent option for music fans with the hardware to do it justice. Whether streaming hi-res tracks stored on our Naim Uniti Core server or via Tidal Connect the unit delivers an impressively clear sound with excellent rhythmic drive.
In fact, the performance is so good that this Arcam managed to prise this year’s What Hi-Fi? Awards Best Buy trophy from last year’s winner in its class, the Cambridge Audio EXN100.
Five stars
Read our full Arcam ST25 review
Bluesound Node Icon
If the first two streamers in this month’s column are a bit too rich for your blood, we have good news. We also tested the significantly cheaper Bluesound Node Icon – and it, too, is a top performer, especially from a value for money perspective.
Despite being the cheapest option on this list, this is Bluesound’s flagship streamer, sitting above the Node and Node Nano in the firm’s current range.
The unit’s main selling point is its twin ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC chips, which are set in a dual-mono DAC architecture. The idea here is that the arrangement lets the unit devote its full processing power to each channel, thus delivering a purer sound than rivals.
Paired with our reference Naim Nait XS 3 system and Epos ES-7N speakers, the unit delivers clear, insightful sound that delighted our reviewers. Hence our verdict: “Bluesound’s flagship streamer is a triumph, with an engaging, musical performance that delights along with a fuss-free, stable streaming platform and sturdy, compact build.”
Five stars
Read our full Bluesound Node Icon review
Audio Pro C20 W
The original Audio Pro C20 has long been described by the What Hi-Fi? team as a Swiss Army Knife wireless speaker that is as comfortable sitting below your TV as it is on a counter blasting tunes into your kitchen.
And while the latest iteration, the Audio C20 W, doesn’t radically change the range’s core offering, our testing proved that it's still a fantastic speaker that moderately improves on the already excellent C20 in all the ways most people care about.
Despite no change to the speaker’s core hardware, the new unit features tweaks to its input stages and acoustical design in a bid to refine the experience. The end result is a speaker that offers a broad clear sound with a surprisingly controlled and precise low end, excellent connectivity and pleasingly swish looking design.
Which is why we give it a five-star rating and say: “The Audio Pro C20 W is a versatile, well realised wireless speaker which benefits from excellent overall usability and a clear, composed sonic character.”
Five stars
Read our full Audio Pro C20 W review
Samsung QN90F (QE65QN90F)
The QN90F is the second most premium Mini LED TV in Samsung’s current range. Despite that, it is actually priced closer to a step-down OLED – the LG C5 or Samsung S90F, say – than most of this year’s five-star Mini LEDs.
In some ways that makes it a hard sell. The cheaper, five-star TCL C8K and C7K share many of its perks – at least if you go off specification alone. Thankfully, when we got it into our test rooms, we found a lot to like about the set, with Samsung’s “Real Quantum Dot Display” and anti-glare technology going a long way to justify the price.
These two features help the set offer clear picture-quality improvements on many of those cheaper rivals, with it delivering a punchy immersive experience during our checks. As we say in our review’s verdict: “Provided you don’t mind a bit of tinkering and can afford it, the Samsung QN90F is an outstanding living room TV.”
Five stars
Read our full Samsung QN90F (QE65QN90F) review
Arcam A15+
The A15+ is a refinement on the Arcam A15 we liked enough to give a What Hi-Fi? Award to last year.
And our testing revealed it to represent a big enough step up to dethrone its predecessor and earn this year’s Award in its class.
There haven’t been any massive revisions or specifications changes, but the modest updates Arcam has made, which include a move to Bluetooth Version 5.4 with Auracast for easier wireless streaming and optimisations to its power supply, are positive.
When paired with price-appropriate speakers, in our case the Acoustic Energy AE300 Mk2 and KEF Q3 Meta, the unit delivers a solid, transparent sound with noticeably better levels of clarity and expression than its predecessor.
As we say in our review: “Arcam’s bit of gentle fettling reinforces the A15+ amplifier's class-leading status.”
Five stars
Read our full Arcam A15+ review
Dali Kupid
Remember all the times we’ve called for more affordable, small, but excellent-sounding hi-fi? Well this year Dali delivered on that call in spades with its new Kupid speakers.
Designed to appeal to buyers on a strict budget and people just getting into hi-fi, the Kupid are tiny bookshelf speakers with an incredibly low price tag. So much so that we had to double check when we reviewed the speakers, fearing it was a typo.
Though their low sensitivity rating will put off some, we find the Kupid are incredible performers considering their price, even when paired with similarly budget, price appropriate sources, such as the WiiM Amp Ultra.
Regardless of what genre we throw at them the speakers deliver a lively, entertaining, rhythmically agile sound that will delight music fans on a budget. As we say in the review: “Dali has hit upon a winning combination in the Kupid speakers. Small size, attractive looks, entertaining sound and an affordable price – what more could you want?”
Five stars
Read our full Dali Kupid review
MORE:
These are the best bookshelf speakers we have reviewed
Our picks of the best music streamers
These are the best Mini LED TVs money can buy
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