Best hi-fi systems 2025: CD, vinyl and streaming music players for the home

The Revo SuperConnect Stereo on a tabletop next to plants
(Image credit: Future)

It isn't necessarily easy to build a 'separates' hi-fi system, where every component (amplifier, speakers and at least one source) is housed in a separate box. You need space, a fair budget and the time to research what components go well together and how to best set them up. Understandably, it isn't for everyone! And that's where hi-fi systems come in.

These integrated multi-tasking music machines typically pack every job of a system into fewer boxes, making your journey to audio nirvana much more straightforward.

Such hi-fi systems vary wildly in form factor, feature set and, of course, price. You have all-in-one microsystems complete with speakers; pairs of streaming stereo speakers housing everything you need; or single boxes of streaming, CD- or vinyl-playing electronics to which stereo speakers must be added.

Each kind is covered here within our top 10 picks (and Also Consider alternatives), but they all share one thing in common: class-leading performance at their price. They combine best-in-class features and intuitive usability, too.

Our expert in-house reviews team tests hi-fi systems throughout the year and across the market, with each one benchmarked against its closest competitors. Naturally, only those that come out of our comprehensive testing criteria with flying colours make it into this definitive hi-fi system buying guide.

The quick list

Recent updates

February 2025: We had high hopes that the new Technics SC-CX700 would give the KEF LS50 Wireless II below a run for its money, but it has proven disappointing, receiving only three stars. Meanwhile, the stupendously high-end Focal Diva Utopia makes our Also Consider list.

Written by
Becky Roberts
Written by
Becky Roberts

I'm the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, with 11 years of experience in reviewing hi-fi, have seen first-hand the hi-fi system category evolve into what it is today. Now smarter than ever and with fewer compromises than before in the sound department, the integrated systems you see below are fantastic ways of obtaining proper hi-fi sound without needing to go the whole hog and set up a purist 'separates' system. Whether you simply want an easy vinyl playback solution or everything the streaming world offers, you can now get it from high-performing and space-efficient offerings that don't need to break the bank.

Best microsystem

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. Proof that a great entry-level hi-fi system needn't have several components.

Specifications

Power: 30W per channel
Inputs: RCA, optical x2, Bluetooth
Outputs: Sub, headphone
Radio: DAB, FM
CD player: Yes
Wi-fi streaming: No

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent sound quality
+
Bluetooth connectivity
+
Attractively affordable price

Reasons to avoid

-
No network streaming

The default budget all-in-one system choice for years, this Denon multi-Award winner is still at the top of its game, so much so we're yet to really find anything of its type that can outdo it at a similar price.

You can buy the D-M41DAB with or without Denon's own speakers. Without, the system is called RCD-M41DAB and can be found online for under £250 / $350 / AU$500. The speakers are dubbed SC-M41; put the two together and you have the D-M41DAB. Indeed, we'd happily recommend Denon's speakers if you don't have your own already.

The inclusion of Bluetooth (which can be turned on or off to avoid affecting the D-M41DAB’s overall performance) is cause for celebration, as is the superb sound quality. In terms of performance, this system could hold its own against groups of separates at a greater cost, with a graceful, insightful and expressive sound.

"The combination of low-end stability and dynamic sensibilities leaves us with a remarkably human performance for a hi-fi system at this price," our in-house experts penned in our D-M41DAB review.

Microsystems may seem like a dated concept nowadays, but this Denon proves that they can still be a perfect route to convenience and great-value sound; a way to get true stereo room-filling sound that a one-box system can't always deliver. A truly remarkable system for the money.

Read our full Denon D-M41DAB review

Best budget speaker system

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. An affordable but no less complete stereo speaker system perfect for smaller rooms.

Specifications

Power : 100W
Inputs : HDMI ARC, USB-C, optical
Outputs : Sub
Radio : Internet
CD player : No
Wi-fi streaming: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Cohesive, effortlessly balanced performance
+
Full, well-formed bass
+
Great value for most users

Reasons to avoid

-
No aux input
-
Cable runs between the two speakers

KEF’s LS50 Wireless II standmount speaker systems (below) and its more recently launched LS60 Wireless floorstanding speaker system have stolen a lot of headlines in recent years, but we shouldn’t forget there is actually a third and fourth member of KEF’s wireless speaker system family – the LSX II and, the cheapest and newest of them all, the LSX II LT we have here.

The LSX II arrived as essentially a more modest, miniature member of the clan, pretty much perfect for smaller rooms, and now this LT version has made it even more accessible by bringing the price down without cutting many corners. In 2023, the LSX II won the What Hi-Fi? Award as the 'Best speaker system' at its level, but in 2024 the LT version took its place as the better value of the two.

This stereo speaker system still delivers much of what has made the KEF LSX II a two-time What Hi-Fi? Award winner, including the very same musical, detailed sound (our expert reviewers said that it "shares the same sonic credentials as the LSX Il, with almost no sonic shortcomings when the two are directly compared side-by-side") and generous streaming features. It simply drops the option of a wireless link between the speakers, the aux input and a few colourway options, while lopping £300 / $400 / AU$500 off the price.

The KEF LSX II LT is therefore a fantastic value alternative to the more illustrious, expensive LSX II. By taking a great system and streamlining it without compromising the sound, KEF has nailed it once again.

Don't want to spend quite so much? The Triangle Twin AIO, found below, are a fantastic bargain desktop system at an extremely attractive price.

Read our full KEF LSX II LT review

Best premium speaker system

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. A premium does-it-all speaker system that is both innovative and entertaining.

Specifications

Power: 380W
Inputs: Optical, coaxial, 3.5mm, HDMI eARC
Outputs: Sub
Radio: Internet
CD player: No
Wi-fi streaming: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Big performance leap
+
Clean, punchy sound
+
All-encompassing connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey options

Premium versions of the LSX II LT above, KEF's sequel to its outstanding LS50 Wireless speakers improves on greatness – no easy feat, even for an audio brand as surefooted as KEF.

They sit below the JBL 4329P (below) as well as KEF's pricier LS60 Wireless offerings in the burgeoning market, in terms of both price and performance, but if the LS50 Wireless II suit your budget more, you won't be disappointed with this premium system.

Like their illustrious predecessors, the LS50 Wireless II serves as a superb all-in-one system (streaming and amplification are built-in) by dint of their advanced connectivity. Improvements include upgraded components and a new KEF Connect app where you can access the likes of Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music and Deezer. Not that you'll need to reach for any of the aforementioned apps; these speakers are capable of streaming via AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Bluetooth, and are also Roon Ready.

KEF's striking design is matched by stunning sonics, enhanced by refreshed Uni-Q drivers and KEF's all-new MAT absorption technology. The presentation is more refined and the addition of MAT can be heard in the treble and midrange, which our in-house experts described as "cleaner-cut". Our LS50 Wireless II review reads: "The whole presentation has been opened out, that extra room not only filled with subtler, more precise detail, but also allowing for greater instrument separation."

Quite simply, if you're in the market for a high-fidelity all-in-one system packed with streaming smarts, this sophisticated sequel should top your list.

Read our full KEF LS50 Wireless II review

Best high-end speaker system

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. One of the most mature speaker system implementations we've come across.

Specifications

Power : 300W per channel
Inputs : XLR, 3.5mm aux, Toslink/optical, USB Type B
Outputs: Subwoofer
Radio: Internet
CD player: Yes
Wi-fi streaming : Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Big, clear, powerful sound
+
Classic aesthetic
+
Generous streaming and physical connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Treble could be sweeter

It’s still the case today that all-in-one systems generally don’t tend to perform as well as the best separates systems totalling similar amounts. However, such space-efficient, convenient, do-it-all designs are improving sonically by the year and becoming all the more compelling for it. Case in point: the JBL 4329P Studio Monitor.

This system sounds more or less as it looks – immense. "They do everything to capture our attention as we play Pink Floyd’s Time," reads our 4329P review, "conveying the size and scale of the track’s atmospheric soundscape while ensuring every instrument has the room, clarity and texture needed for its role to be fully appreciated in the mix." Our in-house experts were also impressed with bass response, both in terms of quantity and quality, and while they sound captivatingly big and boisterous, detail and dynamic expression don't suffer because of that.

All you might want, this JBL system offers: AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, DLNA, Bluetooth, plus physical connections that include XLR and a USB Type B that supports PCM files up to 192kHz.

That the JBL are so versatile, not only in terms of connectivity and positioning, while managing to sound so mature, is a testament to JBL’s persistent efforts in speaker design and electronics, and a milestone in all-in-one speaker systems of this kind and at this price. Will the sonic sacrifice inherent in choosing all-in-one designs over separates systems always exist? Probably, but the once-wide gap is certainly getting narrower. This is a great option if you want high-end performance from a convenient speaker setup.

After this concept but in a much higher-end proposition? Our Focal Diva Utopia review should be your next stop.

Read our full JBL 4329P Studio Monitor review

Best budget streaming amp

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. This compact streaming/CD amplifier truly shines – just add speakers.

Specifications

Power : 30W per channel
Inputs : RCA, Phono MM, USB Type A, USB Type B, optical, coaxial
Outputs: 3.5mm headphone, subwoofer
Radio: Internet
CD player: Yes
Wi-fi streaming : Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Entertaining sound
+
Expressive and punchy dynamics
+
Well equipped
+
Good MM phono stage

Reasons to avoid

-
Set up without the app is a bit clumsy
-
Line-level input could sound better

The SA-C600 really is a well-equipped streaming amplifier, to which you just need to add speakers. Technics has seen fit to include a CD player alongside the more usual network streaming capabilities with up to 32-bit/384kHz file compatibility.

There is support for Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music, as well as DAB/DAB+ and FM radio. You also have a choice of Bluetooth, Chromecast and AirPlay 2 in addition to a raft of physical analogue (stereo RCA) and digital connections (USB Type A, USB Type B, coax and optical). Note that there is also a moving magnet phono stage allowing you to add a turntable – which makes sense given the brand’s strong connection to record player manufacturing.

Often, such systems are all about looks and features, but Technics has shown that it is possible to add great sound into the mix. "It’s an expressive and punchy performer that builds its performance around a solid framework of surefooted rhythmic drive and expressive dynamics," said our expert reviewers in our SA-C600 review. "Details levels are good, but it is the confident way this unit organises that information into a cohesive and musical whole that really impresses."

It's a really well-conceived product and fully deserves its What Hi-Fi? Award win, even with tough competition from the similarly outstanding Marantz PM700N (£999 / $999 AU$1999) and the Bluesound Powernode (£849 / $899 / AU$1599).

Highly recommended.

Read our full Technics SA-C600 review

Best premium streaming amp

What Hi-Fi? Award winner. Great features, sound, design and value – our favourite streaming amplifier since records began.

Specifications

Power : 40W per channel
Inputs : USB, HDMI, optical x2, coaxial, RCA, Bluetooth
Outputs : RCA preamp, 3.5mm
Radio : Internet
CD player : No
Wi-fi streaming : Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Class-leading clarity and insight
+
Precise timing, impressive dynamic range
+
Looks as impressive as it sounds

Reasons to avoid

-
Starting to show its age

To describe the multi-award-winning Uniti Atom as a streamer would be akin to describing Wagyu beef as sustenance. From the coffee-coaster volume dial on the roof – the pleasure of spinning it is almost enough in itself to justify buying this system – to its full-colour LCD front panel display exhibiting album art as it plays, Naim has nailed a gorgeous aesthetic for its premium streaming amplifier.

All you need do is add a pair of suitable hi-fi speakers – Naim promises 40W per channel at 8 ohms, so a pair of £1000/$1000/AU$2000 standmounters, say, would be ideal. Once you've soaked up the delicious design cues, you'll be wowed by the Atom's performance as well as its connectivity. Levels of clarity and insight are truly exceptional, as is the Atom's penchant for rhythms. "We make an attempt to wrong-foot the Uniti Atom with a grander arrangement, via Tidal, using Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No1 in F-Sharp Minor, but have about as much luck as a camel at a swimming gala," reads our Uniti Atom review.

Google Chromecast, Tidal, Spotify Connect and Internet radio are built-in, with further wireless connection available via AirPlay and Bluetooth aptX HD. You can also play music stored on a USB stick.

All in all, the talented Uniti Atom is everything we've come to expect from Naim. A superb blend of lifestyle product and premium hi-fi – as it's consecutive What Hi-Fi? Awards every year since 2017 go to show. For our money, the Uniti Atom remains the finest premium streaming amp at this level.

Read our full Naim Uniti Atom review

Best turntable system

Fuss-free and a glorious listen, this is the entry-level vinyl system to beat.

Specifications

Power : 30W per channel
Inouts : RCA x2, phono
Outputs : RCA, 3.5mm
Radio : No
CD player : No
Wi-fi streaming : No

Reasons to buy

+
Zealous musical presentation
+
Simple set-up
+
Compact amp and speakers

Reasons to avoid

-
Amp and speakers could look smarter

If you’re after a simple-to-use vinyl set-up that’s a great deal of fun to listen to, this Rega system is a great place to start.

The three-product turntable system under our noses here is the entry-level Rega System One, comprised of two What Hi-Fi? Award winners – namely Rega’s excellent Planar 1 turntable and integrated io amp – and the company's Kyte stereo speakers.

You can get a slightly more sonically transparent combination by swapping out the Kytes for something like the Dali Oberon 1, but that doesn't mean this all-in-one triple-threat option isn't a very good one. Its keen, zealous musical presentation especially makes it a great bet for those of us who like their music with plenty of vigour and spice. Like many of Rega's products, the System One, to borrow a quite from our review, "gets the basics of music reproduction spot-on, delivering musical cohesion and dynamic expression in a way that eludes most alternative set-ups".

Comprehensive, easy to set up and surprisingly compact in terms of what you actually get, too, this is a great way to get yourself a really solid vinyl setup without tearing your hair out in the process.

Read our full Rega System One review

Best radio system