The summer holidays have ended, and we are all well and truly back in work mode as a result. At least that’s what it felt like for our team of hi-fi and home cinema experts last week, who were outright bombarded with hardware launches.
These included everything from multiple new Sonos products launching to the arrival of Yamaha’s new active speakers in our review rooms. So if you struggled to keep up with all the news, don’t worry.
As always, we’re here to help keep you apprised of all the most important AV developments with our latest Rewind column.
Sonos unveiled two new products
The biggest news of the week came from Sonos, which unveiled not one, but two, new pieces of hardware. First up are the new Sonos Ace Ultra wireless headphones. These are the second wireless headphones from the brand, following on from the three-star Sonos Ace we reviewed two years ago. Loaded with new drivers, refined tuning and upgraded ANC, Sonos made big claims about their improved audio quality at the event. Fingers crossed they ring true when we get the Ace Ultra in for testing.
Second, there was also a new Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar. Despite the naming, this isn’t a replacement for the long-lived, five-star Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Instead, the Ultra sits between the entry-level Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Arc Ultra in the firm’s lineup. The biggest upgrade is the Beam Ultra’s new driver arrangement, which includes up-firing Atmos speakers. We haven’t reviewed it yet, but our staff writer, Robyn Quick, walked away from the demo session very impressed. We’re excited to get one into our viewing rooms for the full What Hi-Fi? review treatment, as a result.
Read the full story: Sonos Ace Ultra feature all-new drivers, updated ANC, and a "direct connection" to the current Sonos ecosystem
Read the full story: Sonos' new Beam soundbar is finally here with a big Dolby Atmos upgrade – but there’s still something missing
We reviewed Yamaha’s active speakers
Active speaker systems are a vogue category in the world of hi-fi right now, with the Cambridge Audio L/R series speakers, KEF LS Luxe and more already having passed through our review rooms this year. Last week, we had the Yamaha NX-70A wireless speaker system in our test rooms, continuing this trend.
Sandwiched between the five-star LS Luxe (£3500 / $4000 / AU$6375) and LS50 Wireless II systems (£2199 / $3000 / AU$4000) on price, they have stiff competition. But during testing we found plenty to like, with the units delivering a mature, spacious sound with a nicely extended, well-controlled bass. Add to this their stellar, high-quality build, and there’s a lot to like about them. Were it not for their strong rivals, which offer slightly more rhythmic drive, they’d be a class leader, rather than merely a valid alternative to the KEFs.
As we said in our review: “The Yamaha NX-70A is a sonically talented and highly adaptable wireless all-in-one speaker system. While it might not be an outright class leader, this system is nonetheless worthy of serious attention for its expansive feature set, heaps of aesthetic panache and mature, expressive sound.”
Read our full Yamaha NX-70A review
What Hi-Fi? readers unite behind Blu-ray
We always love it when we get to chat with you, our ever-opinionated readers – especially when the stars align and you agree with us. That’s exactly what happened last week when we collated your responses to our last Ask The Reader question: are we living in a golden age of home cinema?
You were all united in your response of no, we are not. But it was the reason for your rejection of said 'golden age' that caught our eye, with nearly all of you flagging the prevalence of streaming as a key reason, arguing that the technical and cultural benefits of physical media, especially Blu-ray, mean the days of yore were superior. We can’t help but agree.
Read the full story: The What Hi-Fi? readers have spoken and the age of streaming is not a golden one for home cinema – all hail the Blu-ray
A new premium Dolby Atmos system caught our eye
Samsung has long dominated the premium Dolby Atmos soundbar system space. That’s undeniable if you look at recent years’ What Hi-Fi? Award winners and our latest five-star review of the flagship Samsung HW-Q990H system.
But walking around the IFA tradeshow, our eagle-eyed (and eared) senior staff writer, Lewis Empson, spotted a potential rival with the technical chops to challenge for the crown this year. Specifically, the Hisense UX1.
Featuring satellite wireless surrounds and a subwoofer, complementing the central soundbar, the UX1 impressed him for three key reasons, which you can find out by clicking the article below.
Read the full story: Hisense is taking on the mighty Samsung HW-Q990H with a new Dolby Atmos soundbar system – here are 3 reasons I think it could be great
New Michi amps
Finally, last week Japanese brand Rotel unveiled two new additions to its premium line of separates: the Michi Prestige P430 preamplifier and Michi Prestige S430 stereo amplifier.
Offering music fans 230 watts per channel into 8 ohms worth of muscle, Rotel claims the S430 is designed for people who want to graduate from single box systems into the world of separates. Packed with custom hardware, Rotel claims it will deliver a sound full of dynamic impact and a firm but controlled low end.
Alongside it, Rotel is pitching its P430 preamplifier as an ideal purchase for music fans looking for modern connectivity alongside premium separates performance. Loaded with all the outputs you most people will ever need and built around an ESS SABRE ES9028PRO 8-channel DAC, Rotel claims the preamplifier will deliver audio with “pristine clarity, natural detail, and an open, precisely focused soundstage".
Both units are set to go on sale this month. The S430 will retail for £3599 / $3999 / €3999, while the P430 will cost £3599 / $3999 / €3999.
Read the full story: Double drop! Rotel expands its premium Michi portfolio with a new stereo amplifier and preamplifier
MORE:
Our reviewers rank the best stereo amps
These are the best hi-fi systems we’ve tested
Our picks of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars
