October is here, and while many of us may be battening down the hatches, preparing for the flood of costume-clad, demonic children on their yearly hunt for free sweets, our experts remain (safely) locked in our test rooms.
Thankfully, their efforts over the past month have not been in vain, as we’ve found eight hi-fi and home cinema products worthy of our hallowed five-star rating. Here’s what you need to know about them.
AudioQuest DragonFly Copper
Multiple team members have chronicled their fondness for the AudioQuest DragonFly over the past year. A tiny DAC designed to elevate any phone, tablet or laptop’s audio, the original DragonFly was a breakout success when it first launched over a decade ago. And, having fully tested the new DragonFly Copper, we’re pleased to confirm the tiny DAC lives up to the line’s strong legacy in nearly every way. As we said in our full review:
“We were briefly worried that AudioQuest wouldn’t be making any more DragonFlys once the Cobalt DAC’s stock started winding down. We are very glad that it has, as the new DragonFly Copper is a terrific, tiny, simple device that is incredibly effective at making your desktop-bound music sound a hundred times better. For its size and price, it’s quite astonishing just how good it is. Highly recommend.”
Five stars
Read our full AudioQuest DragonFly Copper review
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
Sennheiser has been on something of a hot streak with its recent wireless offerings, with the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless and “benchmark-setting” Sennheiser HDB 630 both earning five-star ratings from our reviewers.
Last month, we found a sprinkling of the magic that made those sets great has landed on the firm’s latest earbuds, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5. Featuring a new design, completely reworked internals and the firm’s bespoke 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers, the buds are a sonic treat capable of giving the best in the business a run for their money. As we said in our review:
“Sennheiser’s recent success in the over-ear headphones category has translated seamlessly to its latest pair of flagship wireless earbuds. If spaciousness, detail and precision are at the top of your sonic wishlist, the Momentum True Wireless 5 are a Christmas gift come early.”
Five stars
Read our full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review
Sonos Beam Ultra
Our reviewers have long wished for a new affordable Sonos soundbar to replace the still-great but long in the tooth Beam (Gen 2). So on the one hand, we were initially a bit disappointed when the Beam Ultra, which sits above the Beam (Gen 2), launched and didn’t deliver what we asked for. But, having put it through its paces, we can confirm it’s still a fantastic performer – one of the best you’ll find at its price.
The addition of up-firing Dolby Atmos drivers, refinements to its low end and minor quality of life improvements make it feel like a suitable step up and one of the best mid-range options for home cinema fans. As we said in our review: “The Beam Ultra is an exceptional soundbar in its own right. Sonos has struck Dolby Atmos gold yet again."
Five stars
Read our full Sonos Beam Ultra review
Hisense PX4 Pro
Rotel Michi Prestige X430
Rotel’s Michi line continued its five-star streak last month with the new Prestige X430 integrated amplifier.
Packed with all the connectivity you can think of, including a built-in phono stage, digital inputs, HDMI ARC connectivity, Bluetooth and two sets of switchable speaker outputs, the unit is a Swiss Army knife product designed for premium buyers looking to take their first proper step into the world of high-end separates.
It’s still far from “cheap”, but competitive £4499 / $4999 / AU$6499 pricing places it a good few grand lower than its main rivals, making it an alluring proposition for its target market, especially given its unfussy nature and generally stellar audio.
During testing, while we weren’t wholly convinced by its headphone output, it otherwise put in a five-star performance. Matched with our reference Naim ND 555/555 PS DR music streamer and the Technics SL-1000R record player and a variety of price-appropriate speakers, including our reference ATC SCM50, the X430 delivered an insightful, clean and controlled presentation that will delight music fans.
As we said in our review: “This Rotel Michi Prestige X430 amplifier is, in most ways, a superb all-rounder. We can’t think of a rival that is as uniformly capable across its inputs as this one. It will drive any price-compatible speaker with ease and has a wonderfully unfussy nature.”
Five stars
Read our full Rotel Michi Prestige X430 review
Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10
Ask any hi-fi fan to name a stellar, affordable turntable, and there’s a strong chance it’ll be a Pro-Ject they mention – and for good reason. Since the original Pro-Ject Debut launched in the 1990s, it’s delivered a long line of stellar-value record spinners. But recently, its products have started creeping up in price, a trend that continued with the £999 / $1499 / AU$2349 Debut Reference 10, which landed in our listening rooms last month.
The unit features a lot of common DNA with the Debut Pro, but comes with a new tonearm, player and sub-platter designed to help it compete with the accomplished rivals it faces in its more premium target market. Putting it through its paces, while it’s not the most musically expressive turntable you’ll find for the money, it’s still a great option for any vinyl fan. Paired with our trusty Naim Nait XS 3 stereo amplifier and a pair of five-star Epos ES-7N standmounts, the Debut Reference 10 delivered a nicely detailed, easy-going performance that will delight many a music fan.
As we said in our review: “Not only is it handsomely made and easy to set up, but the Debut Reference 10 serves up a clear, stable and authoritative sound.”
Five stars
Read our full Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10 review
Technics SL-1500CS
Technics is the brand synonymous with direct-drive turntables. So we were excited to see the Technics SL-1500CS, a step-up sibling to the long-recommended, five-star SL-1500C, land in our review rooms last month.
Though at first glance the two look very similar, there is one key difference, justifying the 1500CS’s increased £1099 / $1799 / AU$2499 cost: its use of Technic’s Delta-Sigma Drive technology. Normally seen on Technics’ digital amplifiers, the tech has been tweaked and repurposed to fit the turntable’s direct-drive circuit in a bid to deliver a purer signal feed.
Feeding an Arcam A15+ amplifier and KEF LS50 Meta speakers, the unit proved a clear step up on its sibling, delivering a holistically well-rounded, but slightly short of best-in-class, performance. Hence our verdict: “The SL-1500CS represents a solid sonic upgrade over the standard version and is one of the best options at this level.”
Five stars
Read our full Technics SL-1500CS review
Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition
If you’re one of the lucky few able to invest over £20k in a pair of speakers, then we’d recommend taking a look at the Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition standmounts, which we finished reviewing last month. Undeniably premium, and requiring careful system matching, they won’t be for everyone. But for the lucky few able to buy from the top end of the market, the speakers are a delight.
Swapping the high-end Swedish speaker firm’s standard ceramic diaphragms for, as the name suggests, an even more premium diamond dome and more premium crossover design, the pair delivered a wonderful performance when matched with our reference set-up – which included a Naim ND555 / 555 PS DR music streamer and the Technics SL-1000R/Kiseki Purpleheart record player feeding a Burmester 088/911 MkIII pre/power amplifier combination.
As we said in our review: “The real shame of a product like this is that very few people will actually be able to hear and enjoy it, given its price and restricted exposure. However, if you are one of the lucky few with the budget and system to do a speaker like this justice, we recommend a serious audition; the Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition is a true endgame speaker.”
Five stars
Read our full Marten Parker Duo Diamond Edition
MORE:
These are the best stereo amplifiers we’ve tested
Our experts rank the best projectors
We rank the best Dolby Atmos soundbars
