Quad has announced the release of two new speakers as part of its Elegan Series: the standmountable Elegan 1 and the floorstanding Elegan 2.

According to the company, the Elegan Series are “spiritual successors” to its L Series speakers, which gained popularity in the early 2000s.

The Elegan 1 are priced at £749 / $995 / AU$1699 per pair, while the Elegan 2 cost £1499 / $1995 / AU$3499. Both speakers are built around the company's woven Kevlar driver technology, which sees the speakers’ cones formed from lattice-woven Kevlar.

Quad claims that using Kevlar, which has a high tensile strength and light weight, allows the speaker cone to deliver “precise pistonic behaviour over a wider bandwidth, reducing unwanted resonance and improving midrange clarity”.

The Elegan 1 is a two-way design, pairing a 16.5cm Kevlar mid/bass driver with a 25mm fabric-dome tweeter. Quad says the Elegan 1 speakers are best suited for smaller rooms and near to mid-field listening.

The Elegan 2, on the other hand, is a three-way design, which uses dual 16.5cm bass drivers alongside a 12.5cm midrange driver and the same 25mm fabric-dome tweeter. All drivers other than the tweeter use woven Kevlar cones, and the midrange driver is housed within its own internal chamber, which Quad says ensures “clarity and expression” across the midrange.

Both models feature high-frequency waveguides, which the company claims “optimises dispersion and supports a smooth transition into the midrange”.

The speakers also employ high density cabinet walls, internal bracing and damping materials to control panel resonance. Quad says that the speakers’ structural integrity is reflected by their “significant weight”, with each Elegan 1 speaker weighing 8.9kg, while the Elegan 2 weigh 27.8kg per speaker.

The Quad Elegan 1 and Elegan 2 speakers are now available in deep matte black or walnut wood veneers, priced at £749 and £1499 per pair, respectively.

MORE

Read our Quad 3 review

Check out the first-ever speakers from 22 legendary hi-fi brands

Browse our list of the best speakers you can buy in 2026

LG has announced a new picture mode for its TVs. Creator Original Picture Mode is described as an "industry-first picture setting for streaming", and essentially lets the filmmakers decide exactly how the picture should look. Think of it as a step on from Filmmaker Mode.

Because while Filmmaker Mode disables post-processing enhancements for a truer picture, the new mode lets the filmmakers decide parameters such as shadow detail, colour balance, noise reduction and motion handling. These will differ for each film, allowing content creators to have their movies look exactly as they would like.

At least, we think that's how it works. We have a few questions, and have contacted LG for answers – we'll update this story once we've heard back.

The mode is exclusive to Prime Video (and possibly only the Masters Of The Universe reboot, but that's one of the many questions we have posed to LG). It's only available on LG's 2026 OLED evo TVs: that's the W6, G6 and C6 series.

You can also launch Masters Of The Universe by saying "I have the power" into your LG Magic Remote for LG TVs running webOS 23 or later.

Masters Of The Universe has a 67 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

MORE:

I've crunched the numbers, and Filmmaker Mode uses less energy

Check out our list of the best TVs

Find out how to set up your TV

Technics has launched a new Rolling Stones-themed variant of its five-star EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds.

The announcement has been made to coincide with the release of The Rolling Stones’ new album, Foreign Tongues.

The limited edition earbuds come in a gift box, which houses Technics’ flagship EAH-AZ100 earbuds in a black finish alongside an exclusive rubber case embossed with the band’s lips and tongues logo.

The rear of each pair’s protective case also features a laser-engraved serial number from 0001-5000. Technics says that serial numbers cannot be pre-selected.

The Technics EAH-AZ100 feature a wealth of cutting-edge hardware, including a magnetic fluid driver, which places an oil-like liquid filled with magnetic particles inside the driver’s voice coil to reduce distortion and improve bass reproduction.

We previously awarded the EAH-AZ100 a five-star review for the earbuds' “superb detail and clarity”, “expressive, spacious and engaging sound”, and “Bose-bothering ANC performance”.

But, rockers, take note: If you’re feeling tempted, you’ll need to act fast, because the earbuds are limited to 5000 units worldwide.

Exclusively available to buy online, the EAH-AZ100 Rolling Stones limited edition earbuds can be yours today for £259 / €299.

MORE

Read our Technics EAH-AZ100 review

Rewind to the 1970s with this Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon, cassette player boxset

Check out our best wireless earbuds 2026: 7 sensational pairs reviewed and rated by our experts

KEF is edging ever closer to revealing its latest set of speakers.

The British brand has already teased that a new model is in the works via an Instagram video, which teases the return of the company's much-heralded Uni-Q driver alongside a curved cabinet exterior.

Now, KEF has announced an exclusive launch event at its London headquarters on July 30th, where it will unveil its latest creation.

The accompanying picture gives a little more insight into the form that product could take. KEF has deliberately kept most of the teaser image veiled in shadows, but squint and you'll be able to make out more of that curved cabinet surrounding the unmistakable impression of a Uni-Q driver array.

According to the teaser: "True luxury does not begin with a declaration, but with an absence. A space. A silence. And then, a single note that changes everything." Not a huge amount given away there, then.

What we can say with relative confidence is that the new speaker will be designed in collaboration with Ross Lovegrove, the man who lent his talents to crafting the smooth, curved looks of KEF's Muo Bluetooth speaker and Mu wireless earbuds/headphones.

As we previously reported, KEF is promising "stunning sound clarity, sharper details and an expanded soundstage that fully immerses you in the artist's creative vision".

How much it will take to get that stunning sound hasn't yet been revealed, but with KEF teasing "luxury" from its latest creation, we'd imagine it won't come cheap.

We'll soon know for certain. The new KEF speaker will be revealed on Thursday, 30th July, so you'll only have to wait a week to find out. Stay tuned to What Hi-Fi? for all of the details as and when they arrive.

MORE:

Read our KEF LSX II LT review

And our KEF Coda W review

Our guide to the best speakers we've tested and recommend across all budgets and types

Hi-res music streamer Qobuz has redesigned its mobile and tablet app, with a new player and real-time synchronised lyrics.

The player interface has been completely overhauled to make it more intuitive, immersive and full of even more information. The visuals also dynamically adjust to the album artwork.

The mini player will remain visible at all times, so you can always control playback regardless of where you've navigated to within the app. You can also add or remove tracks to the play queue by swiping like on a dating app.

One very welcome is synchronised lyrics, which displays the words to a song line-by-line as they're sung in real time. It even includes translations so you know what they're singing about. Which should settle a few arguments without resorting to Google.

Not sure what to listen to first? Qobuz has created new playlists, including the best songs to sing along to. Sweet Caroline it is.

The Explore section can also help here. It serves up all kinds of recommendations like similar albums and artists, playlists, radio stations, and content related to the radio station or genre. You can also access the Qobuz Magazine – with editorial content on the artist – straight from the player.

The credits layout has been tweaked so give you better access to info like reviews, biographies and technical file data, plus you can follow an artist or label direct from the player.

The listening queue and autoplay now show the next three tracks, so you know – and can adjust – what's coming, and you can tweak the audio output, add tracks to favourites and add to a playlist straight from the customisable mini player.

These features are now available on mobile and tablet apps for iOS and Android, and will come to other platforms at a later date.

In February, Qobuz updated its CarPlay app with more features and Siri voice controls. At £12.99 / $17.99 / AU$20.83 a month, Qobuz is more expensive than Apple Music (which recently raised its prices), but the same price as Spotify and Tidal (in the UK at least).

MORE:

The best hi-res music streaming services compared

Tidal vs Spotify: which streaming service is best for you?

Apple Music vs Spotify: which is better?

Samsung has unveiled three new foldable phones at its annual Galaxy Unpacked event, two of which are its brightest Galaxy smartphones ever.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is a new addition to the Z Fold family, and is joined by the Z Fold8, both of which have a peak brightness of 3000 nits. That comfortably outdoes the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 2600 nits.

The Z Fold8 Ultra really follows the Z Fold7, with the same size 8-inch internal screen. The Z Fold8, however, has a smaller 7.6-inch screen, and is shorter and wider when folded. The Z Fold8’s 5.5-inch cover screen has a 10:16 aspect ratio, while the internal screen is the more traditional 4:3.

Samsung says the Z Fold8 Ultra’s internal screen is the equivalent of having two 6.5-inch screens side by side, making it ideal for multitasking.

Both it and the Z Fold8's screens have an anti-reflective coating, making them easier to see in bright sunlight.

The Z Fold8 Ultra measures 4.1mm thick when unfolded, making it the thinnest Galaxy Fold ever. It has a new hinge with new magnets, making it easier to open and more durable over time.

It also has a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra wide (up from 12 megapixels on the Fold7) and a 10-megapixel telephoto. Also onboard are the same ProVisual Engine with advanced AP processing for Nightography video as the Galaxy S26, and the same Horizontal Lock features. That keeps your video recording steady even if your hand is anything but. A new mode lets you present your videos in cinematic presets (like romance or thriller) with no editing required.

Both it and the Z Fold8 are powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy as the Galaxy S26. The Ultra has a 5000mAh battery for 27 hours of video playback, and charging up to 67 per cent capacity in 30 minutes, while the Fold8’s 4800mAh unit offers 26 hours of video and juices up to 63 per cent in 30 minutes.

At 201g, the Z Fold8 is the lightest Galaxy Z Fold that Samsung has ever made.

Samsung also announced the Galaxy Z Flip8 clamshell phone, which flips open like the classic Motorola Razr from the early noughties. It follows the four-star Z Flip 7, and is the slimmest and lightest Z Flip phone yet.

All three phones are available to pre-order now, and will ship next month. The Z Flip8 starts at £1100, the Z Fold8 £1699 and the Z Fold8 Ultra £1899 (all 256GB storage). They all come in 512GB variants too, with the two Z Folds also available with 1TB of storage.

MORE:

Check out the best smartphones for movies and music

Read our Apple iPhone 17 review

How does the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 review compare?

If you've been eyeing a pair of Monitor Audio's statement Hyphn floorstanding speakers, your choice of potential finishes just got a lot more extensive.

That's because Monitor has announced that the Hyphn are now available in over 200 custom colourways. Customers can select from a variety of Matte, Gloss and Metallic finishes across a range of over 200 colours, with each custom-finished Hyphn cabinet painted and assembled by hand in the UK.

For those unfamiliar with the Hyphn, the heavyweight floorstanders were built to commemorate Monitor's 50th birthday. Each speaker boasts a total of 11 drive units in total, including a micro pleated diaphragm tweeter surrounded by six midrange units and four bass drivers.

The cabinets, which you can daub in practically any colour you like, are formed using mineral and acrylic stone and then precision milled, resulting in what Monitor Audio describes as a totally rigid structure "that provides the perfect platform from which the drive units can operate".

The three original Hyphn finishes – Matte Heritage Green, Matte Black, and Pure Satin White – remain available. The Hyphn will set you back £70,000 / €82,500 / $92,500 per pair for the standard paint editions, while adding a custom finish will bump that up to £80,250 / €92,500 / €102,500 per pair.

MORE:

The annual What Hi-Fi? Home Cinema Week is here!

15 legendary hi-fi brands that are still going strong today

Best speakers 2026: budget to premium models tested by our expert reviewers

A new pair of Bose over-ear headphones could be arriving very shortly.

That's according to French outlet Dealabs, which reports that Bose has leaked a second-generation iteration of its QuietComfort Headphones, slated for release in just a few weeks.

Bose's QuietComfort Headphones line isn't to be confused with the more premium QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The QC Headphones are to the QC Ultra Headphones what the more affordable QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) are to the range-topping QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra (2nd Gen) – a lower price tag in return for slightly fewer features and not quite top-of-the-line performance.

That said, the new over-ears promise a full-blooded refresh over their three-year-old predecessors, with Dealabs' leak suggesting a new design, revamped controls and better sound quality could all be coming to the second-generation model in a bid to see Bose make a play for the competitive mid-range market.

Quite a few premium features could be about to trickle down from the premium QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), including Bose 'TrueSpatial' spatial audio, lossless playback via USB-C, and a host of new listening flavours, including 'Cinema Mode' for making video content more, well, cinematic.

Many existing features and functionalities are set for significant improvements. Bose's 'ActiveSense' technology works to take the edge off unwanted noise peaks when listening in 'Aware' mode, while improved call quality comes courtesy of more effective ambient noise reduction.

The headphones' on-cup controls have been revamped, with Dealabs teasing more intuitive button placement on the earcups themselves.

Wholesale improvements haven't been made to every aspect of the incoming QuietComfort Headphones, however. Battery life will likely remain the same as the soon-to-be outgoing model, with the second-gen over-ears again set to max out at a reported 24 hours of listening with ANC switched on.

That revamped design is set to feature more on-ear padding alongside a more oval earpad shape and a wider headband, all designed to improve wearer comfort over time.

A veritable Delux colour wheel of new finishes could also be set to arrive, including Black, White Smoke, Rosewood Mauve, Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, and Hazelnut Taupe.

What about prospective price? Figures are slated as £300 / $359 / €350, which represents a £50 / €50 drop for UK and European buyers respectively.

We never tested the original QuietComfort Headphones when they launched around three years ago, but we have reviewed both the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in recent times.

Bose isn't quite dominating the premium wireless headphones space when facing competition from Sony, Apple and Sennheiser, but the upcoming QC Headphones' slightly more affordable asking price and bolstered feature set might help Bose claw back ground lost to its estimable competitors.

Dealabs claims that Bose's latest cans will arrive on August 13th. We've contacted Bose for comment, and will keep you updated with developments as they arise.

MORE:

Bose QuietComfort Headphones vs QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: what are the differences?

Excited for The Odyssey? This divisive Christopher Nolan movie has the perfect test score to get you in the mood

These are the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market

CD sales have increased by 16 per cent in the US during the first half of 2026, outpacing vinyl, which grew by just 2.4 per cent in the same period.

Figures released as part of a biannual report by the data company Luminate showed that CDs sold 16.3 million units in the country between January and the end of June. Notably, however, vinyl remains the more popular physical medium in terms of overall sales, with 21.8 million units sold.

Luminate attributes part of the surge in CD sales to the release of ARIRANG, an album by K-pop group BTS, which sold 516,000 physical copies in its first week. 208,000 of the album’s physical sales were on vinyl.

According to Luminate, the album’s first week vinyl sales are the largest by a contemporary group since the data company started tracking sales electronically in 1991.

But remove BTS and the wider K-pop catalogue from the picture and CD sales still outpaced vinyl, with a growth of 6.7 per cent. So, what else could have provoked the surge?

Not long ago, we wrote about the effect that Gen Z are having on the physical sales market. Luminate’s report sheds further light on the matter, revealing that young people’s motivations aren’t limited to listening, with approximately half of Gen Z and millennials who bought a CD not owning a CD player.

According to Luminate: “This behavior underscores that for younger generations, the act of buying physical music is as much about aesthetic ownership and direct financial support for the artist as it is listening to the music on the product itself.”

Among Gen X, on the other hand, 55 per cent of buyers cited nostalgia as a direct influence on their CD purchases.

But sentimental value and affordable merchandise aren’t the only drivers here – listening habits are also changing. In the first half of 2026, 60 per cent of Gen Z listeners reported listening to music from the 1990s or earlier, in a jump of 42 per cent since 2021.

While physical sales continue to grow, it’s worth noting that they do so alongside streaming, rather than as a replacement. So far this year, US audio streams have grown by 11.8 per cent, while global on demand audio streams have risen by 9.8 percent.

So, streaming continues to dominate the landscape, but it seems that physical formats like CD are increasingly being chosen for their collectibility and improved financial connection to artists; motivations that any music lover should find hard to sniff at.

MORE

Gen Z is having more of an impact on physical sales than you might think

Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007: what are the differences between these entry-level CD players?

Best CD players 2026: budget to premium options tested by expert reviewers

McIntosh never does things by halves, but even by its standards, the MX124 is quite an AV receiver. Its 13.4-channel arrangement means it can connect to four subwoofers at once. This thing is not meant for your spare room.

Rather it's aimed at "today's most advanced home cinema systems", whether that's a pro-level viewing room setup or whole home entertainment system.

Support for 8K video comes as standard, and it's compatible with room correction software to optimise the sound to your environment.

Inside is updated processing architecture, promising advanced audio and video processing.

Its 13 audio channels support speaker configurations up to 7.4.6 or 9.4.4. And its four subwoofer outputs is twice as many as its predecessor, to support more sophisticated system layouts and more precise bass management.

McIntosh is positioning the MX124 as a way to extend the lifespan of your home cinema setup. That's thanks to its support for immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, Sony 360 Reality Audio and MPEG-H Audio, as well as its versatility in outputs and next-gen processing architecture.

With nine 32-bit digital-to-analogue converters, it promises "exceptional detail, dynamic range, and sonic accuracy", and it has bass and treble controls for tweaking the sound to your liking.

Room optimisation smarts comes courtesy of not only Dirac Live, but Dirac Live Bass Control and Audyssey MultEQ XT32. So it should sound its best in pretty much any room, with optimised bass performance, imaging, tonal balance, speaker integration and overall clarity, and all while preserving McIntosh's signature musicality.

On the video front, you get seven HDMI inputs and three HDMI outputs, one of which has eARC. They all support 4K/120Hz (and 8K/60Hz) as well as Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG and IMAX Enhanced. Gamers will enjoy the addition of ALLM and VRR.

Streaming? You got it. As well as Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth, it supports Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready, with support for high-resolution streaming up to 32-bit/192kHz.

You also get four digital audio inputs, one balanced and eight unbalanced analogue stereo inputs, component and composite video inputs, dual analogue stereo outputs for two additional listening zones, and support for Bluetooth headphones.

And if you're looking to install it professionally with custom integration, you'll welcome the web-based configuration, pre-configuration and file upload capabilities, back-up and restore support, RS232 and IP control, and certification for Control4 Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) integration.

The McIntosh MX124 is out now, and costs £16,900 (around $23,000 / AU$32,000).

MORE:

The best AV receivers around

AV receiver vs AV separates: which are better?

The best surround sound systems you can buy

In case you missed the news last week, Marantz officially announced the successors to its entry-level CD6007 CD player and PM6007 stereo amplifier.

The CD 70 and Model 70 go on sale on the 15th August for £499 | €600 | $750 | AU$1100 (exc VAT) and £749 | €850 | AU$1600 (exc VAT) respectively.

At the time of the announcement, there was no US pricing for the Model 70, and Marantz confirmed to What Hi-Fi? that this was because the stereo amplifier wouldn’t be available there at launch.

We asked Marantz to comment further, and it has replied with a full explanation for the decision:

“MODEL 70 will not be available in North America at this time. Following careful evaluation, we determined that anticipated market demand in the region would not support the minimum production volumes required for a local launch. As a result, we have made the decision to focus availability for the initial launch in markets where consumer demand can be more effectively met.

"We are confident that we already have other products in our current portfolio that can meet our customer needs for stereo components in North America, including the acclaimed STEREO 70s Stereo Receiver and the compact MODEL M1 Streaming Amplifier. We remain committed to bringing innovative products to North America and will continue to introduce new models that align well with the needs of the region.”

While it might come as a surprise to hear the amplifier isn’t launching in the US, this isn’t the first time a manufacturer has targeted specific markets with specific products and product ranges, nor will it be the last.

Different international markets might have different demands and requirements for products, so it makes sense not to launch something that might muddy the waters. Having said that, undoubtedly there will be some prospective buyers who might be looking forward to experiencing the new integrated amp and disappointed that it won't be making the journey.

The statement does use the words “initial launch”, though, so who knows if Marantz might change its plans further down the line.

We have both the CD 70 and Model 70 in for testing at the moment and will be reporting back with the official What Hi-Fi? verdict soon.

MORE:

End of an era as Marantz waves goodbye to two hi-fi classics and unveils new entry-level Model 70 integrated amplifier and CD 70 compact disc player

Read our full Marantz PM6007 review

Our pick of the best stereo amplifiers you can buy

Roberts has expanded its Revival range with the new Revival Uno Solar radio.

Priced at £199.99, Roberts says the portable radio has been designed for listeners who “appreciate timeless design” and “the simple pleasure of slowing down with great sound”.

The Revival Uno Solar supports DAB, DAB+ and FM radio. Up to 40 presets (20 DAB / 20 FM) allow you to store your favourite radio stations for fast access to entertainment, while Bluetooth support and a 3.5mm auxiliary input let you stream from your devices.

Additional features include two independent alarms with snooze, an adjustable sleep timer to minimise battery wastage should you nod off while listening, a 3.5mm headphone output for solo sessions and a 3.5mm stereo line-out connection.

Embodying the company’s love for the outdoors, which recently became more apparent than ever with the release of the SolarDAB 99, the Revival Uno Solar uses a built-in solar panel to supplement its rechargeable batteries, which can also be charged via mains. Roberts says the solar panel “offsets power consumption in naturally lit environments” and “doesn’t rely on direct sunlight”.

With a full charge providing up to 20 hours of portable playback and dainty dimensions of just 16.3 x 21.1 x 8cm (hwd), the Revival Uno Solar should have no trouble fitting into the packed car boot for your next camping trip.

Unlike the more rugged looking Solar DAB 99, the Revival Uno Solar embraces the classic design style associated with Roberts and is available in two finishes: duck egg and midnight blue.

The Revival Uno Solar is available now for £199.99.

MORE

Take advantage of the summer heatwave with Roberts’ new solar-powered radio

Roberts Reva review

Best DAB radios 2026: the best-sounding digital radios we've tested and highly recommend

Apple Music just got more expensive. The music streaming service is now £11.99 / $11.99 / AU$14.99 for the Individual plan – that's £1 / $1 / AU$2 a month pricier than before.

It's not the only streaming service hiking its prices lately. Tidal recently announced its prices will go up next month, while Spotify raised its prices at the start of this year.

Here are the new prices for Apple Music.

However, even with the price rise, Apple Music remains cheaper than Spotify and Tidal in most plans and most territories. The student plan remains unchanged in the UK at £5.99 a month.

This is Apple Music's first price rise in four years. Apple recently raised the price of some of its devices – including the Apple TV 4K and HomePod 2 – citing the global RAM shortage.

Annual price rises are swiftly becoming the new norm for streaming services. Spotify has raised its UK prices three times since 2023.

MORE:

The best music streaming services around

Apple Music vs Spotify – which is better?

Spotify says it saved the music industry – but who will save us from the streaming model?

Welcome to Home Cinema Week 2026 – our annual celebration of all things (you guessed it) home cinema. That covers everything from projectors to AVRs, and all sorts of products and topics in between.

This celebration is extra special for us, as it is What Hi-Fi?'s 50th birthday this year. Home cinema has played a massive part in our journey, as we have been reviewing a range of categories since they emerged many moons ago. We have seen trends come and go, but our quest to find the best kit on the market has never changed.

We have got a whole host of exciting content coming throughout the week to mark the occasion. That includes a look back at the first types of television technology to hit the shelves, reviews of premium AV kit, and a behind-the-scenes peek at our testing facility.

On top of that, we take a tour of London's only cinema museum, discuss the best ways to store your Blu-rays, and decide whether 8K TVs have well and truly died.

Keep an eye on our Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages as well, where we are posting extra content to celebrate.

We will keep this page updated with all published articles throughout the week, so you can stay on top of the latest content. We have certainly enjoyed getting even more stuck into the wild and wonderful world of home cinema than usual, and hope you will too.

Day 1

Day one of Home Cinema Week gave us a five-star projector review, a home cinema setup made from Award-winning products, and an ode to the music from a particularly popular director's films.

You can find all of our Home Cinema Week 2026 day one articles below:

• Hisense XR10 review
• Excited for The Odyssey? This divisive Christopher Nolan movie has the perfect test score to get you in the mood
• Buying a TV from a bricks-and-mortar shop is a great idea – just avoid these 5 mistakes
• Arcam and KEF star in this home cinema system that also stuns in stereo
• 5.1 vs 7.2 surround sound: which is better?

Day 2

We had a bumper crop of home cinema content on day two, including a review of a new Q Acoustics speaker package, a behind the scenes look at London's hidden cinema museum, and a piece questioning what actually counts as home cinema.

• Thinking of buying a soundbar? Here’s a better alternative
• I took a tour of London’s only cinema museum – and these are my three favourite finds
• Here's how much your streaming habit actually costs each year
• Does it matter what size soundbar you buy?
• The McIntosh MX124 AV receiver wants to be the beating heart of your monster home cinema setup
• 14 of the best musical movies to test your 5.1, 7.2 or Dolby Atmos surround sound system
• What is home cinema? Perhaps this is controversial, but I think it’s anything you want it to be
• Looking for a 4K projector on a budget? This quality five-star Epson is highly recommended by our home cinema experts
• Q Acoustics 3050c 5.1 with Q SUB100 review

Day 3

Another big day of AV content, including a review of Denon's powerhouse flagship AVR, a selection of recommended portable systems for when you want to take home cinema out of the home, and a comparison of Dolby Digital and DTS.

• From Bond to Hitchcock: 7 non-sports movies with brilliant sports scenes
• Why Hollywood's greatest gunfight is also a great test for your home cinema
• Dolby Digital vs DTS: our experts explain the two big surround sound technologies
• The three best portable systems for picture and sound quality on the move, recommended by our experts
• Why do so many people make this rookie mistake with their TV?
• Our reviewers' picks of the best music videos to test your home cinema hardware – from 4K Peter Gabriel remasters to Pomme’s modern classic
• Denon AVC-A1H review

Day 4

Day four brought with it a tour of our test room and reference home cinema system (complete with a video!), a review of the best UST projector we've ever tested, a trip through the What Hi-Fi? archives at the defining TV formats of the millennium so far, and much more...

• Are we living in a golden age of home cinema? What Hi-Fi? writers, editors and experts weigh in
• Warning! If you’re storing your DVDs and Blu-rays like this, you could be damaging them
• The defining TV formats of the 21st century – 1080p, OLED, 3D, 4K, 8K and beyond – and the first time What Hi-Fi? reviewed them
• If you want a future-proof, five-star flagship OLED with two key features you won't find on its rival, our experts recommend this punchy LG TV
• AWOL Vision Aetherion Max review
• Behind the scenes in our AV testing facility – here are the reference home cinema products we use every single day
• LG's Creator Original Picture Mode lets filmmakers tweak your TV's picture – but we have questions

Day 5

The Friday of Home Cinema Week was jam-packed with AV-related content, including a review of Denon's new mid-range AV receiver, opinions from the industry on 8K TVs and the best scenes for testing, and how you can use VR to transport yourself to a private cinema.

• I traded my home cinema setup for a VR headset for an evening – here's everything you need to know
• How far away should you sit from your TV? We work out the ideal distance for the best viewing experience
• I've finally given in to HBO Max – but does it merit the hype?
• Are 8K TVs dead? I asked the industry heavyweights, and the silence was deafening
• We've just reviewed this futuristic AWOL 4K projector, and it might just be our favourite UST yet
• Denon AVR-X2900H review
• “This sequence is an absolute torture test for your subwoofer and amplifier” – AV engineers reveal the ultimate test scenes to benchmark your home cinema
• 5 movies and TV shows we’re watching (and testing home cinema kit with) this month

MORE:

These are the best AV receivers you can buy right now

Check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

And here are the best projectors

The biggest sporting event on the planet has arrived as the World Cup final hits our screens.

In 2026, it's Spain taking on Argentina as Lionel Messi looks to help his country win successive titles after lifting the trophy in 2022.

Stay up to date with all the action right here, with live updates and free streams as we bring you coverage of the World Cup final.

World Cup Final: The Essentials

• Date: 19 July 2026
• Kick-Off: 8pm BST / 3pm ET / 5am AEST
• Free Streams: BBC iPlayer / ITVX (UK) | SBS On Demand (AUS)
• US Stream: FOX / Telemundo
• Unlock your free streams with Norton VPN (100% risk free)

Ready for the World Cup final?

Welcome to New Jersey!

Thanks for joining us on the big day: the World Cup 2026 final!

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a suburb of New York City, will be where the action kicks off at 8pm BST. Spain and Argentina, the two best teams of the tournament with France dropping off the radar in their last two games, will face each other in what promises to be a match for the ages.

Who will ultimately triumph? Stay with us here from now until the match concludes and we'll bring you all the action.

Messi v Yamal

The Argentinian captain and - possibly still the greatest of all time - Messi and the Spanish teenage superstar Yamal are both front and centre for their countries today.

Bizarrely there's also a photo of Messi holding Yamal as a baby for a charity photoshoot that has been doing the rounds. Now, there paths cross all these years later for a final showdown.

Yamal has not really delivered yet this tournament - only one goal and no assists to his name - whereas Messi is chasing the Golden Boat with his current 8 goals to Mbappe's 10.

So, who will come out on top?

How to watch the match wherever you are

Not figured out how you're going to watch the game yet?

Based in the UK? You have a choice of BBC iPlayer for which you'll need a TV licence or ITVX. If you're based down under, then you're best bet is SBS On Demand and for our American viewers head ton FOX / Telemundo.

Not based in any of these countries? No worries, you can still watch it on these services but first ensure you unlock your free streams with Norton VPN (100% risk free).

The race for the Golden Boot

So, Messi needs to score two goals to equalise Mbappe and get another goal or assist to go ahead of him.

If he gets two goals but no assists then they'll be tied and it'll go down to fewest minutes played...so there's a lot riding on Messi for this final World Cup game.

Never rule out Messi though.

2 hours until kickoff!

We're inching closer to the Spain v Argentina kickoff.

If it's even a shadow of the already iconic France v Argentina World Cup final from 2022 - three goals each and then penalties - we're in for a treat.

It could equally be a testy match as both sides don't want to concede...but that's not Spain's style to be fair.

Stick with us as we bring more news as we get it.

Euros winner v World Cup winner

So, Spain who are the most recent winner of the last Euros will play the most recent winner of the most recent World Cup...who will win?

The smart money would be on Argentina who want to make this two consecutive World Cups and make it a big sendoff for potentially Messi's last one.

But never rule out the consistent Spanish...

Another 10 goal game?

For those who were watching the Bronze final yesterday - a rather stupidly renamed match that no one wanted to play - it turned out to be an incredible game.

France v England could have been a nonstarter of a game but with England dominating the first half 4-0 and then France nearly catching up 4-3 in the second half before a Saka penalty, another French goal and then a Bellingham last minute masterclass, it was anything but!

No one could have been predicted a 10 goal game, and while we may not see that goal tally today fingers crossed for that same thrilling play.

England went out with a bang last night but will both of tonight's teams?

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul in training

Yesterday saw Argentina take to their final training session before today's final in Morristown, New Jersey.

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul lead the Argentina team and look to take them to their next World Cup victory today.

One hour until kick off!

Not too much longer until the game kicks off, don't go anywhere!

We'll walk through both team's Starting XI and everything else you need to know before both teams start very soon...

Closing time for the World Cup

It's nearly curtains up for another four years at the World Cup and it's been an incredible tournament.

Many were sceptical about more countries and more games but we've seen some fascinating matches such as Cape Verde's underdog attempt to go all the way, the rise of a new American team who are actually good and some last minute nail-biters.

We've also seen some shocking VAR/ref decisions and the most blatant corruption from Infantino regarding Balogun's red card. So, it probably balances out.

But all that doesn't matter as it's all come down to this final game...

Starting XI's announced

Well, here are the teams...

Argentina Starting XI

(4-4-2): Dibu Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Lisandro, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister, Nico González; Messi, Julián Álvarez.

Spain Starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Alex Baena, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal; Oyarzabal.

Spain's World Cup stats

Considering how dominant Spain have been this tournament you'd be forgiven for thinking they'd have racked up a few World Cups already.

They've only been in the final and won once. The same amount as England.

To put that in perspective they won in 2010 against the Netherlands and that's all they've got in their back pocket. They've won the Euros four times, most recently against England, but a second World Cup win would put them on equal pegging with both France and Uruguay.

Will we see a European World Cup winner today?

Argentina's World Cup stats

Argentina are looking for a fourth World Cup win which would put them on the same number as Germany and Italy, both of whom have been on the decline in recent years.

Messi has seen them lose a World Cup final in 2014 against Germany and then win against France in 2022. Won one, lost one...will he be able to win a final World Cup for his country?

If not you sense that he'll be back aged 43 in 2030 for some unfinished business..

Seats still empty due to a glitch

Apparently due to a FIFA glitch, there are big queues outside the stadium as tickets are struggling to be scanned.

This means a lot of seats remaining unfilled at the moment which is pushing back the ceremony and potentially even the game.

It wouldn't be FIFA without some last minute scandal/muck up. You'll just have to stick with me a bit longer...

The 'entertainment' starts

They love to really milk the Star-Spangled Banner and Jennifer Hudson does just that. A fantastic singer but a very dragged out rendition.

It's a thankless job and you always get stick for singing it so fair play to her for singing it.

And now we sit through a very forgettable FIFA anthem from Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini - three people who have clearly never been in a room together. It feels like if you asked AI to write a FIFA anthem and select three singers at random.

And now Tom Cruise...being Tom Cruise

Did anyone expect Tom Cruise to make an appearance?

Wheeled out at the end of Paris 2024 to to lead the handover for LA 2028, and now released into the stadium to perform an AI-written generic speech summarising the World Cup.

You can certainly say that the hosts have certainly put their own American spin on the World Cup. For better or worse.

The teams walk on to the pitch

Enter Spain and Argentina!

They walk past the World Cup trophy to get on the pitch and show a lot of self restraint, most barely looking at the prize that they'll be desperately competing for over the next 90 minutes (maybe longer).

If you haven't already, make sure you unlock your free streams with Norton VPN (100% risk free).

Argentina bring the volume

It's unclear who actually has the most fans in the stadium but if volume is any indication it's definitely Argentina.

The European champions play the World Cup champions for the first time ever, so it promises to be a thrilling ride.

We're nearly ready for kick off!

Kick off!

Argentina kicks off proceedings.

Vamos!

Spain on the front foot

Spain are dominating proceedings, as expected, looking dangerous but kept at bay by Argentina.

Argentina now counter.

Yamal has two shots within five minutes

Spain, led by Yamal, have two tasty shots on target within the first five minutes!

But as they've already done, Argentina responded with a dangerous counter which the goalie just about stopped.

Things look set for a great game.

Spain pressing

The Spanish are looking very comfortable inside the Argentina box...could we see an early goal?

Painful memories for England

Both teams playing have brought a lot of sorrow to England fans and players.

Argentina most recently knocking out the Three Lions earlier this week in the semifinals and Spain defeating them in the Euros 2024 finals.

Having said that, England will most likely be cheering on their European neighbours and least recent tormentors. But a lot of people love Messi.

Ball possession 50/50

Ball possession has been fairly equal so far which is good for Argentina who want to disrupt Spain's usually stellar control of the game.

Nearly hydration break. Let's hear those boos.

Hydration break over

Okay, let's see some goals...

Who will score first?

In 6 of the last 7 World Cup finals, the team who has scored first has won the final...another useless stat for ya.

Regardless going one nil up is a massive psychological advantage, unless you're England and then we'll just play defensive until we concede.

Argentina defence too strong

Spain are searching for a chink in the Argentinian defence but can't get through.

This may well be a goalless first half and some stern halftime pep talks on both sides.

First yellow of the game

Argentina's Martinez picks up a yellow for a poor tackle which does ultimately slow down Spain who were progressing dangerously up the pitch.

Cucurella shoots and Matrinez down

Cucurella takes a shot on target but it's stopped by the goalie.

Martinez is down and being replaced which is not great for Argentina.

We're approaching halftime and the halftime show, god help us all.

4 minutes added time

It looks unlikely we'll see a goal in the 4 minutes added time but let's see...

Goalless at halftime

It's been a tiny bit underwhelming but still some shots on target and some drama...just no goals.

Let's see if we get some Messi magic or Spanish skills in the second half...

...but first this halftime show. Let's see if the unlikely combo of BTS, Madonna and Coldplay will work and if it's worth pushing halftime up to 25 minutes.

Madonna walks on to the pitch

Madonna...and the Muppets?!

Not a duo you'd put together, singing Seven Nation Army with some Norway rowing chants (cos why not?) which was preceded by a lacklustre original song from Madonna.

And now BTS who do actually seem to get a reaction from the audience. They're really cramming a lot into a short amount of time.

Ted Lasso introduces Justin Bieber

And now, Jason Sudeikis makes a cameo as American 'soccer' coach Ted Lasso...I'm surprised it took them until the final to find a way to get America's best known and most popular football offering involved.

He intros JB who gives a bit of a downer of a song before making way to Shakira.

It's a tonal whiplash. They've obviously gone for quantity over quality.

Well, that was a halftime show

Did it justify a 25 minute extended halftime? No, but it certainly was something.

Unfair for the players having to wait around while Madonna and JB strut around the stage but there we go.

We go again!

Second half starts with a decent shot from Spain.

Start as you mean to go on.

A bit scrappy

Argentina v Spain has really turned into that.

A yellow card for Spain's Rodri as both teams square up to each other.

Spain free kick opportunity

Spain have an opportunity...and they squander it.

Maybe the final is adding nerves, maybe Argentina have proved a worthy opponent or maybe both teams have just not found their rhythm yet.

30 minutes left and extra time is rearing its head...

Spain have a shot and now a corner

Some calls for a free kick but after a deflected shot off the goalie, Spain settle for a corner...

Second hydration break

An Argentine down and a hydration break. Two bits of bad news, if you're from Argentina.

Spain are looking dominant but that's not seen any goals.

Pedri takes a shot...and misses

Maybe a little shove on the back doesn't help Pedri, but he doesn't see it go in the goal...

...but Spain aren't finished as they dominate the penalty area.

Martinez makes a good save

Spain have a shot on target...straight into the trusty gloves of Matrinez.

Argentina look a bit desperate.

Messi strolls casually around the pitch...as he will do

A quick one before full time?

Spain and Argentina are no strangers to scoring, when it counts, before full time.

Argentina broke English hearts when they did so earlier this week and against Egypt, and Spain's path to the knockout was based on stoppage time goals.

I'm calling it though: extra time stalemate.

Foul or dive?

It looks like Messi ran into a Spanish player but you could also argue it's a Spain foul.

It's a free kick, will they make it count?

Argentina down to 10 men!

Already on a yellow card, Fernandez takes a second yellow after he sends a Spanish player flying...and it's a red!

Argentina will be playing extra time with 10 men...they are on the back foot if they weren't enough already.

Another foul on Spain

Luckily Argentina avoid going down to 9 men after another dodgy tackle after a player already on a yellow makes a reckless tackle...but they've given away a free kick.

Will they seize it?

Extra time it is!

Yamal has a decent free kick that's heading in but Martinez stops it!

Extra time it is. Vamos!

30 minutes to make history

Argentina down to 10 men, it's Spain's to lose surely but 30 minutes is enough time to provide magic for either side.

If you're tuning in now and want to watch it from wherever you are, unlock your free streams with Norton VPN (100% risk free).

Martinez shows why he gets paid the big bucks

Another Spanish shot on target, a lovely header, but Martinez bats it away.

16 attempts on goal from Spain and 11 on target...and 0 attempts on goal from Argentina with 0 on target.

But if Argentina can hold on for 30 minutes they have the better track record with penalties.

Still anyone's game.

A free kick given...but the goal is not

Spain were given a free kick...but they'd already scored a goal which means it would be disallowed if this stands.

This is a big moment as the ref consults VAR.

Things are getting scrappy

Argentina coach Scaloni picks up a yellow for protesting too much from the sidelines at a controversial challenge.

The 'dark arts' are coming out now as Argentina look for any way to keep going for the next 15 minutes.

Every minute Spain don't score is an Argentine advantage.

Halftime on extra time

Final 15 minutes coming up after halftime of extra time.

The disallowed goal

Spain score!!!

Spain score!

First minute, this side of extra time halftime, sees a lovely Spanish goal from Ferran Torres.

This could be it.

Torres potentially scores the goal to win the World Cup

A goal...but offside

Torres look like he's got another goal...but the flag goes up.

Maybe a second goal is on its way for Spain but this was not it.

Williams stumbles an easy goal

Williams had a near open goal and he tried to be a bit too clever, kicking it off the pitch.

The ball goes back up the Spanish end and Messi boots it in the face of Merino. This looks painful but Argentina now have the ball, it's not over yet...

Two great opportunities for Argentina

If there was ever a chance to equalise in the dying minutes of the game, Argentina just had two.

With just 10 men and definitely the weaker team, they didn't manage to take the advantage.

3 minutes left.

Spain win!!!

They do it, Espana are victorious!

The better team won

You can't say that Spain didn't deserve to win, look at the stats and look at the last 120 minutes of football played.

Argentina were holding on and being physical - even to the point of Paredes throwing punches at the final whistle - but the talent shone through.

Maybe not the most interesting game, definitely not the Argentina v France final we saw four years ago, but it was certainly tense.

Well done Spain.

19-year-old Yamal celebrates his first World Cup win

The scrap led by Argentina's Paredes

Trump and Infantino enter...to massive boos

The awards ceremony takes place and as the two mob bosses, aka FIFA President Infantino and US President Trump, enter they are greeted with overwhelming boos.

Golden Glove goes to Unai Simon, the Spanish goalie who only conceded one goal all tournament and young player goes to the other Spanish 19-year-old who isn't Yamal: Cubarsi.

Messi can't hold back the tears

The cameras zoom in to see the tears from Argentina's Messi as Spain go up to collect their medals.

Two World Cup finals lost and one won. Not bad stats for anyone but he obviously craved the double and is thinking ahead to if he can even make 2030.

Spain raise the trophy!

What next?

Spain are now defending champions of the Euros and the World Cup...so what next?

Euros 2028 will be in the UK and Ireland and then the World Cup will be in Spain, Portugal and Morocco...favourable conditions for this team. With such a young lively squad and a proven manager it's really theirs to lose for the next tournaments, but we're still years away.

Congratulations Spain, enjoy the win.

Red and yellow: the colours of victory!

Argentine emotions run high

That's all folks!

It was barely a captivating World Cup final but it was a World Cup final. In their defence, Spain were the favourites and dominated the game and eventually found the goal after extra time halftime.

Argentina couldn't hold on to their World Cup title, Messi was denied a second World Cup, but Spain managed to secure their second ever. Well done.

Thanks for sticking with me for the last 7 hours, I've been Dan and until next time.

We’ve all been recipients of disapproving head shakes after asking the DJ for a particular tune… haven’t we?

Well, gone are the days of disc-jockey rejections, because Spotify has introduced an AI feature that allows paid users to control the app with their voice (and text) in order to create playlists, learn about songs, and even explore their own listening history.

The “Talk to Spotify” feature is available within the Home and Now Playing views on the mobile app. To use the feature, users have to press the mic button in the search field, and can then talk or type commands.

If you’re a fan of streaming music, you’ll be aware that there has been much recent discourse about cutting down on AI in the world of streaming services.

Just last month, Tidal joined Deezer and Qobuz in a clampdown on AI generated music, and even Spotify has recently culled a batch of AI generated songs, despite the company’s boss defending AI music in the not too distant past.

But when it comes to in-app functions, it seems that Spotify is embracing the technology with open arms.

The new feature joins an existing batch of AI functions within the Spotify app, which include an AI DJ that picks music based on your listening habits, an AI playlist builder that can create custom playlists in response to prompts, and Daylist, a playlist that updates to suit the mood throughout the day.

The Talk to Spotify function is now being rolled out to Spotify Premium users aged 18 and above in the US, Ireland and Sweden across iOS and Android devices in English.

According to Spotify: “Like any beta, it’s a work in progress: responses won’t always be perfect, and your feedback directly shapes what comes next.”

So, when it comes to the UK, we will be giving the new feature a try and thinking up our action points. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

MORE

How much of your playlist is AI-generated? Find out with Deezer’s new AI music detector

Tidal is the latest streaming service to clamp down on AI music – but there's a flaw

Hi-res music streaming services compared: is Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon or Apple Music better?

Skullcandy has released new premium wireless headphones, the Crusher 1080 ANC.

But rather than go it alone, the firm has enlisted the help of a powerful ally in a bid to get its latest cans competing with the best in the business.

That ally, in case you hadn't guessed already, is Bose.

The Crusher 1080 ANCs' extensive feature set is powered by 'Sound by Bose' technology, meaning the new headphones boast 'QuietControl' noise cancelling and 'TrueSpatial' sound design.

These let them deliver Bose's Immersive Audio, and 'SpeechClarity' features for, as you might have guessed, clearer voice calls.

You even get Bose-tuned EQ modes to more accurately tailor the sound to your specific preferences.

That's a lot of Bose-made tech, but what about how the Crusher 1080 ANC actually sound?

As you might have gathered from the name, the new over-ears promise "bass you can feel", complemented by "a rich, balanced sound" with plenty of "immersive detail", all aided by Bose's 'WaveForm' audio engine for improved signal processing.

The Crusher 1080 ANC boast a very impressive 60 hours of battery life with noise cancelling switched off, dropping to around 50 hours when ANC is in play, while a 'Rapid Charge' facility will grant four hours of battery life from a 10-minute boost.

Elsewhere, a decidedly premium feature set includes Google Fast Pairing, Multipoint Connectivity and Auracast audio sharing technology, as well as a low-latency audio mode for gaming and movies.

Outside of the Bose tech, the headphones also feature Skullcandy's patented 'Crusher Bass' technology, which allows you to use the Skullcandy app or a dedicated 'Crusher wheel' to dial up your lower-end reproduction and "create a physical bass sensation that adds impact and immersion to music, movies, and games".

The Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC are available now, priced at £220 / $280 / AU$400, in a choice of Brown, Pink, Grey or Black finishes.

MORE:

Read our SoundCore Liberty 5 Pro review

I auditioned a bunch of AirPods Max replacements, but none could match Apple's secret AV weapon

Best wireless earbuds: 7 sensational pairs reviewed and rated by our experts

We Are Rewind has announced its latest collaboration, which sees the cassette revival champion join forces with Pink Floyd to release a limited edition Dark Side of the Moon box set.

Alongside a Dark Side of the Moon-themed WE-001 cassette player, the set includes an exclusive limited-edition, high-quality cassette of the album’s 50th anniversary remaster.

Retro though this all sounds, cassette sales were up by 53 per cent year-on-year in the UK in 2025, as the physical sales charts saw Gen Z re-engaging with physical media.

But this cassette player is no trip down memory lane, with an aluminium casing and metal buttons for forward and rewind controls, as well as an overall modern aesthetic. Mind you, for those hoping to embrace the old-fashioned look, We Are Rewind also sells a belt clip for £24 / $32.

With Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity for wireless listening, a 3.5mm headphone output, line-in recording capability and a built-in rechargeable battery with up to 12 hours of playback, We Are Rewind says this release builds on the success of its WE-001 cassette player.

Notably, with this model, the company claims it has upgraded the cassette player’s frequency response, quoting the current range as 30-14,500 Hz ± 3 dB.

According to Romain Boudruche, founder and CEO of We Are Rewind: "To call The Dark Side of the Moon a classic album is an understatement [...] We're happy that We Are Rewind can play a part in helping preserve the physical album experience."

The limited edition The Dark Side of the Moon WE-001 box set is now available for £159 / $199.

MORE

Feeling nostalgic? We Are Rewind's limited edition cassette player takes you back to the '80s

My first time using a portable cassette player reminded me of what I love about listening to vinyl

I tried this Bluetooth cassette player so you don't have to

Premium TV brand Loewe has released its latest range of Antares 4K OLED TVs, boasting that the new premium sets combine "timeless design with genuine engineering innovation."

Loewe's Antares TV features OLED modules that the brand claims are individually calibrated before leaving the Loewe factory in Germany to deliver a "viewing experience that remains faithful to the filmmaker's intent."

The calibration comes instead of a next-gen panel, such as the Primary RGB Tandem OLED tech seen in the LG G6 or the QD-OLED in Samsung's S99H TV. These are rival next-gen OLED panel technologies that aim to boost picture quality in key metrics including peak brightness and colour accuracy.

Gamers will be pleased to hear that there is HDMI 2.1 connectivity with up to 144Hz VRR and ALLM. We're waiting for confirmation of exactly how many, however.

The TV features Loewe's os9 platform, which gives users access to most mainstream streaming services, including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. There's also voice control included with the set, so in theory, you can navigate to what you are looking for without flicking through the menus.

There's an optional Antares 80W soundbar you can add to the system as well, which delivers "greater depth and immersion". That will cost you an extra £300, though. You can also use the TV's built-in speakers or hook up a separate sound system.

You can customise the TV with the optional aluminium onlays, which come in Silver or Black. Plus, you can choose to mount the TV on the wall, a rotating floor stand or even a motorised rotation system that is controlled with a remote. That gives you a fair bit of flexibility, although you will have to factor in the extra costs.

There is a range of sizes from 42 to 65 inches. The cheapest option comes in at £2500 ($3370 / AU$4815) for the 42-inch model, and the largest size will cost a hefty £4000 (around $5390 / AU$7705).

That's certainly the high end of the OLED market, and even the flagship 65-inch LG C6 TV comes in at a more palatable £3000 / $3399 / AU$4999. Still, it might be a more appealing option for the premium buyer looking for ways to customise the screen to their space.

The Antares star is the brightest in the Scorpius constellation, so we are curious to see whether the TV will live up to its namesake and deliver a dazzling picture performance.

MORE:

Loewe's new premium LCD TVs save on space – but cost as much as an OLED

Check out the best TVs

And here is our review of the LG C6

Projector brand Xgimi has been on a roll with a continuous stream of new models flooding the shelves in the last year. And there are two more joining their ranks.

The new Elfin Flip Laser and flagship Elfin Flip 4K claim to build on the existing Elfin series to deliver “a significant upgrade in both optical performance and audio experience”.

Both projectors offer a claimed maximum brightness of 1600 ISO lumens and use an RGB triple laser light source. Unsurprisingly, the flagship model offers 4K resolution compared to the Flip Laser’s 1080p.

For gamers, the 4K model also offers VRR and ALLM support. However, like most projectors, it only runs at 1080p@120Hz. 4K is still locked to 60Hz.

The design looks practically identical to the predecessor, featuring a “book-sized” foldable build that can be tucked away when not in use. “Pick it up, place it, and the picture is ready” is Xgimi’s mantra here.

Both projectors come with Google TV built-in, which gives you access to a range of streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Netflix. In terms of sound, the models are equipped with a 7W Harmon Kardon tuned speaker with Dolby Audio support, which will supposedly “eliminate the need for external audio equipment”.

There is a range of features designed to make setup easier as well, including auto-keystone, auto-focus and obstacle avoidance.

The Elfin Flip 4K is priced at £869 / $999, and the Elfin Flip Laser comes in cheaper at £689 / $799.

That puts the flagship against the likes of the Award-winning Hisense M2 Pro, which is currently available for around £870. The five-star Hisense model will certainly prove tough competition for Xgimi’s latest bombshell, thanks to its bright picture and easy setup.

Still, the Elfin’s more portable design and promising picture specifications could challenge the current champion.

MORE:

These are the best portable projectors

And check out the best projectors

This is our review of the Xgimi MoGo 4

Apple has officially launched the public beta programme for its 2026 software releases, which includes early access to tvOS 27.

The forthcoming update introduces a bevvy of new features and performance upgrades, including Hi-Res Lossless playback in Apple Music, a redesigned Podcasts app, a more responsive Control Centre, and faster wireless connections to other Apple devices (including HomePods for TV audio) via AirPlay.

However, the biggest upgrade relates to the day-to-day performance of the nearly four-year-old streaming box. Apple says app loading times will be reduced by 30 per cent, and animations should feel smoother too. This means that the whole tvOS interface should feel slicker and more responsive.

This update comes in the wake of a price increase, which means the current-generation Apple TV 4K now starts at £199 / $199 / AU$299, or if you want 128GB of storage and an Ethernet socket, then you can expect to pay £249 / $249 / AU$399.

While the tvOS 27 update isn't expected to launch to all users until September, members of the Apple Beta Software Programme can enrol their Apple TV 4K and install the update via the Settings app, under the System tab.

If you're not in the beta programme, you can sign up here for free, and Apple lets anyone trial its software and provide feedback via the Feedback Assistant app.

Be warned, this software is still in beta, and while Apple's pre-release software is generally stable and safe to use, we'd recommend exercising some caution.

If you happen to have a spare Apple TV 4K lying around, then we'd suggest installing it on that rather than loading it onto your main device, as bugs and glitches can cause issues.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

Rejoice, Sonos fans! After months, even years, of turmoil and trouble, Sonos is making serious steps towards fixing the app that, after a disastrous redesign in 2024, threatened the company's future and forced its then-CEO to step down.

Now, Sonos is doing everything it can to repair the damage. We reported in June that CEO Tom Conrad had written on Reddit detailing some of the changes set to come to the platform, promising that the Sonos team had spent "hundreds of hours" watching people use the app to find its weak spots.

Now, Sonos is ready to put it all into practice, making the new version available in public beta form for Android and iOS users. Any customer with app version 87 can switch on 'Enable Improved Navigation' in their Settings to access the Beta as Sonos collects feedback over the next few months.

That new beta iteration touts some promising upgrades, including improved navigation, more intuitive system tab controls and an overhauled volume tuning system, as well as what Sonos terms 'Quality-of-life fixes' across Now Playing, playlists and iPad views.

The new changes are currently rolling out in their beta form as part of an opt-in public test phase, with changes set broadly to become the default once feedback has been gathered. This could be in the autumn, but no definitive date has been given.

Has Sonos learned from the mistakes of its past? You can switch to the updated version of the app in your settings and judge for yourself.

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Which Sonos speaker should you buy?

Check out our recent Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker review

Sonos Play vs HomePod 2: which should you buy?

This is a lovely name for a pair of wired earbuds.

Sivga has introduced its new Lyrebird wired in-ear headphones, designed to produce "a high-end listening experience at an accessible price point".

The in-ears feature a quad-driver, hybrid driver array, consisting of a 10mm polymer dynamic driver handling the bass frequencies alongside a dedicated balanced armature unit designed to produce vocals with "exceptional clarity and detail".

A micro planar driver seeks to add a "smooth treble extension", while a 9.2mm multilayer ceramic driver rounds things off, dealing with "the finest high-frequency nuances".

Each earpiece is constructed using a handcrafted wooden faceplate, treated with resin to improve durability and, says Sivga, help reduce unwanted resonances for a cleaner, more refined audio signature.

The wooden faceplates combine with precision-machined aluminium alloy housings in further pursuit of an elegant yet durable aesthetic.

Included with the Lyrebird is a 4.4.mm balanced-ended cable combining silver-plated copper and gold-plated conductors, designed to help preserve the earbuds' "smooth, detailed presentation". The new in-ears also come with a leather carry case and a selection of silicone ear tips.

The Sivga Lyrebird are available now, priced at £149 / $149 / €167.

We reviewed another bird-themed pair of Sivga headphones – the over-ear SV021 Robin – back in 2024, and while their sound didn't quite take flight, there was enough evidence to suggest that Sivga's fledgling talents could one day see the brand soar.

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Any new product launch from Marantz is sure to grab headlines, and this is one of its biggest yet. The Japanese hi-fi giant has finally unveiled replacements for both its all-conquering and Award-winning PM6007 stereo amplifier and CD6007 CD player…

The Model 70 and CD 70 enter the separates arena with a new look, which brings them in line with the rest of the company’s hi-fi and home cinema electronics.

This means design touches such as textured surfaces on the front of both units and the inclusion of Marantz’s trademark circular ‘porthole’ on the Model 70 amp.

These are not just pretty new faces, either. Marantz has promised multiple internal upgrades, all of which are designed to extract the best sound quality possible.

These include “optimised circuit layouts, carefully selected components and vibration-resistant chassis structures.”

We’ll start with the Model 70 amplifier, which is a Class A/B design delivering 50 Watts of power per channel. It uses an upgraded power supply and preamplifier circuit, plus a larger power transformer than its predecessor.

It also features an electronic volume control as opposed to the analogue design used on the PM6007.

There’s a high-performance DAC on board, a high-quality MM phono stage, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth (including the ability to transmit and receive) and an HDMI ARC connection.

There are also your standard suite of analogue and digital connections, plus preamplifier and subwoofer preouts. The Model 70 includes a new low-phase noise clock to reduce the effects of jitter, i.e. digital timing errors, and deliver more accurate playback of your CDs.

The CD 70 uses the same DAC as the Model 70 and offers a USB (Type-A) input on the front that allows you to connect an external hard drive. It supports a range of file types, including WAV, FLAC, AIFF and DSD.

Also on the front is a 6.3mm headphone socket which connects to the fully discrete headphone amplifier contained within the unit. To help with headphone compatibility, Marantz includes adjustable gain control, which you access through the player’s on-screen menus.

It also features an upgraded power supply, plus a double-layered chassis and rigid isolation feet to keep outside interference to a minimum.

The CD 70 costs £499 | €600 | $750 | AU$1100 (exc VAT), which, given its predecessor launched at £399 / AU$999 back in 2020, isn’t really a huge increase.

The Model 70, on the other hand, costs £749 | €850 | AU$1600 (exc VAT), which represents a larger jump from the £499 / AU$1199 launch price of the outgoing PM6007. Both are available in either black or silver and gold.

One thing you might have noticed is that there is no US price for the Model 70 amplifier. It won’t be available in North America when the products officially go on sale on the 15th August. We have reached out to Marantz for a comment about this and will report back as soon as possible.

It’s fair to say Marantz’s CD6007 and PM6007 have had a great innings – almost six years to be precise – so while it’s obviously sad to see these repeat What Hi-Fi? Award-winners replaced, it’s a change that has been coming, and we are excited to hear what the new models offer.

We currently have both models in our dedicated test rooms and will be reporting back with our official verdicts in the very near future. Keep your eyes peeled!

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Our pick of the best stereo amplifiers you can buy

And the best CD players

How to choose and set up a stereo amplifier

What is a headphone amplifier and why should you buy one?

KEF has teased that a new speaker is in the works, with an Instagram video showing the brand's iconic Uni-Q driver and promising "a new definition of luxury."

The new speaker is said to have a "sculptural" form designed by Welsh industrial designer Ross Lovegrove. Lovegrove and KEF have a long history of working together. This includes his work on the brand's flagship Muon speakers, Muo Bluetooth speaker and Mu wireless earbuds/headphones, which all have curvy forms that certainly stand out.

In a blog post on KEF's website, the brand teases that the new speaker will take inspiration from these products, promising "a visual identity unlike any other."

There's little else revealed about the speaker beyond the inclusion of the Uni-Q driver, but KEF is promising "stunning sound clarity, sharper details and an expanded soundstage, that fully immerses you in the artist's creative vision."

That's quite a lofty promise, and we're left wondering just how "luxury" these new speakers will be when it comes to their price.

The new speakers are said to be "effortless in sound" and "composed for those who listen deeply." More bass? Large speaker? Your guess is as good as ours at this point.

Will the new speaker be a passive design and follow in the footsteps of the Q Meta and R Meta speaker series? Will there be a long-awaited update to our multiple Award-winning KEF LS50 Meta? Or will this be a new entry in KEF's LS wireless active speaker range, which features five-star products such as the LSX II and LS50 Wireless II?

We've got a couple of weeks to keep guessing, as the new KEF speaker will be revealed on Thursday, 30th July.

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Read our KEF LSX II review

And our KEF LS50 Meta review

Our guide to the best speakers we've tested and recommend across all budgets and types

This could be the best thing to come to Netflix since Hot Frosty. The service's free trial is back, after a six-year hiatus. And it includes the Premium tier with 4K and HDR.

According to Android Authority, the free trial is available in multiple regions around the world, but not the UK and US. The trials offered vary between seven and 30 days in duration, though some users claim to have cleared their web browser's cookies or opened the same link in an incognito window to get the maximum 30 days.

You have to select a tier before getting the free trial period, and if you don't cancel, you will be charged the full amount from that month onwards. Like most streaming services, you can cancel Netflix with just one month's notice.

Interestingly, the Netflix support page for the UK and US says that it doesn't offer free trials, but in various other countries (including those in Europe and Asia) it reads: "Netflix is offering a limited free trial to eligible new members in certain countries. If you are eligible, the free trial option will automatically appear during sign-up. If you don't see it, the free trial option is not currently available for your location or device."

Not to be outdone, Disney+ is reportedly considering making some of its content available for free. Business Insider reports the service is mulling over hosting certain content on Disney+ without a paywall in order to compete with free services like YouTube, according to people familiar with the matter.

Product and tech chief Adam Smith reportedly floated the idea during a town hall meeting on Thursday.

So are we entering a new era of streaming? Music streaming service Spotify still offers a free, ad-supported tier, and if competition increases, the film and TV streamers could be forced to offer something similar.

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The best streaming services for movies and TV shows

The best music streaming services

Don't let the algorithm decide – this music service now offers a better way to stream

You might have heard of Tiny Vinyl, the delightful 4-inch records that launched last year. Well now the company has launched a dedicated turntable on which to play them.

The Tiny Vinyl Player is only slightly bigger than a shoebox, and was built with the sole purpose of playing Tiny Vinyls. It is also completely unnecessary, as Tiny Vinyls play on most full-size 33⅓rpm turntables. But where’s the joy in only doing what’s strictly necessary?

The Player wasn’t part of the initial plan for Tiny Vinyl. Co-founders Jesse Mann and Neil Kohler were keen to make the format as versatile as possible. But once sales took off – they just pressed their millionth Tiny Vinyl in only around a year of being on sale – both fans and their biggest retailer Target were urging them to make a dedicated Tiny Vinyl turntable. So here we are.

No small task

Creating a turntable from the ground up – especially one this titchy – is no small task, no pun intended. But, being based in Nashville, the duo are surrounded by music industry peers only too willing to lend their expertise.

“We hooked up with someone who makes the Marshall Bluetooth line of accessories,” says Mann. “He sent us some amazing initial drawings, and then it was off to the races.”

As you can imagine, it posed a bit of an engineering challenge, not least because it boasts its own built-in speakers as well as Bluetooth for playing your vinyls wirelessly on an external speaker.

“We thought adding Bluetooth would be straightforward, but it was a bit of an exercise,” admits Kohler. “It was worth it though – as well as built-in speakers, we wanted the option of playing on your own Bluetooth speaker for more versatility.”

These challenges also opened the pair’s eyes to the intricate workings of a turntable.

“One of the technical things that was interesting to watch from a testing perspective was the rpm (revolutions per minute),” says Mann. “It had to be calibrated to 33⅓rpm, and seeing it being measured with the calibrator to ensure it ran perfectly at that tiny size, that was really fun to see.”

Broadening vinyl’s appeal

Not all the parts had to be created new – the cartridge and needle are off the shelf (though they wouldn’t tell me who makes them). But lots of elements had to be made especially for this product, including the tiny tone arm, the platter and the control panel. The result is something as fun and adorable as the 4-inch vinyls themselves.

“It’s not something you sit down with to listen to The Dark Side Of The Moon,” says Kohler. “It’s not that kind of product, and it was never meant to be.” Rather, it’s an on-ramp to the world of vinyl, helping to broaden the appeal to those shut out by a traditional deck’s greater complexity or higher pricing.

This accessibility is a big part of the appeal. “When we go to vinyl conferences, we’re always surprised by the number of people who thank us for getting more people into vinyl,” says Kohler. “One thing they always say is ‘Thank goodness they’re not on Spotify!’”

The pair have also launched the Frame for displaying Tiny Vinyls on your wall, and the Crate for storing your Tiny Vinyls. The Player sits on top of the Crate in a satisfyingly space-saving way. They are also launching custom, artist-themed Players next year, making another way for fans to connect with their favourite musicians, and all through the medium of vinyl.

The Tiny Vinyl Player is available now from Target for $50 (around £38 / AU$73), with a UK launch hopefully in the autumn.

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“Vinyl records will be around for ever” – the Tiny Vinyl founders on the black disc’s enduring appeal

The best turntables – all of which are full size

The best budget record players – all of which are more affordable

Majority has announced a new radio, and it has one feature sorely lacking from the four-star Little Shelford: a rechargeable battery.

When away form the mains, the Little Shelford relies on four AA batteries to provide 15 hours of battery life. As we commented in our review, that could soon get expensive if you're using it on the go a lot. But the Mini Shelford solves this problem with a built-in 2600mAh rechargeable unit that gives you up to 20 hours of runtime.

The Mini Shelford has a shorter, wider design than the Little, but still comes wreathed in retro styling. It too offers Bluetooth connectivity (for beaming content like playlists, podcasts and streaming services to it from your phone) and a DAB+/FM radio.

And if you don't want to go wireless, you can connect wired headphones to it using the 3.5mm socket.

There's a full colour display for showing album art and track info, and you control it using the rotary dial. Other features include a dual alarm and sleep timer.

We were impressed with what the Little Shelford offered for the price, and the Mini Shelford is only a few pounds more expensive. It goes on sale in August for £49.95 (around $67 / AU$97), and comes in Dusty Rose, Olive, Black and Cream finishes.

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Read our Majority Little Shelford review

Check out the best DAB radios

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Japanese manufacturer Final has announced its new flagship closed-back headphones, the DX10000 CL, which the company calls its “most ambitious headphone project to date”. And we should hope so, too, considering that the standard edition’s pricing begins at £7499 / $8499.

So, what justifies the cosmic pricing of these high-end headphones?

Well, to start with, at the heart of the DX10000 CL is Final’s newly developed 40mm True Diamond diaphragm dynamic driver.

According to Final, diamond’s high rigidity and strong internal damping allow the diaphragm to maintain pistonic motion, reducing diaphragm deformation and suppressing residual vibrations after the signal is cut, for faster transient response and lower distortion.

A similar degree of care has been taken inside the headphones’ silver-accented, high-rigidity aluminium-magnesium alloy housing. Unnecessary material has been removed to reduce weight, and the resulting cavities have been filled with acoustic damping to minimise internal reflections.

The earpads are made of ultrasuede (a blend of ultra-fine polyester and elastic plastics), which Final says achieves the “intended acoustic response” through carefully controlled air permeability while ensuring “long-term comfort”.

According to Final, the DX10000 CL are “a closed-back flagship designed to sound powerful and immersive without losing the openness, clarity and natural tone expected from the highest level of personal audio”.

The headphones use screws rather than adhesives throughout the construction, which ensures that components can be replaced and serviced throughout their lifetime.

Included with the headphones are two silver-coated cables: a 1.5m cable with 4.4mm connection, and a 3m cable with XLR connection. 6.3mm adapters for each cable are also included for use with a wide range of sources.

The Final DX10000 CL are now available to pre-order, with shipping expected by the end of July.

The first 150 pairs of these high-end headphones are available as a limited collector's edition, which have gold-coloured accents, and include a presentation box, a silk pouch and a CNC-machined aluminium headphone stand for an extra £500.

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Final brings Hybrid ANC and long battery life to two competitively priced wireless headphones

Focal Utopia (2022) review

Best headphones 2026: tested by our experts

Sony has unveiled its latest pair of wired in-ear headphones, the IER-M500.

Developed in collaboration with monitoring engineers, Sony bills its latest in-ear headphones as being the perfect partner for musicians and performers who require "reliable and accurate in-ear monitoring" for both performance and practice.

The IEMs' fully sealed structure, combined with a large acoustic chamber, offers outstanding sound isolation, even in noisy live environments.

A set of 5mm dynamic drivers are complemented by a large acoustic chamber in pursuit of "deep, controlled bass", while the headphones' optimised internal structure has been designed to give a more refined high-frequency reproduction.

Designed to blend comfort and stability, the IER-M500 feature what Sony calls "fitting supporters".

This is a loop at the top of each earpiece which nestles under the inner ear ridge to anchor the IEMs in place. To further facilitate a better fit, four sizes of noise-isolating ear tips are included, as is a 1.6m detachable cable with a 3.5mm jack.

While they don't carry an official IP certification, Sony pledges that the IER-M500 are capable of handling moisture, such as splashes of water or human sweat, without too much trouble.

The IER-M500 will be available from August in a choice of Clear, Black and Red & Blue finishes, priced at £99 / $120 / €115.

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Like wired headphones? Read our recent Grado SR325 Classic review

Now Playing: supercharge your summer listening with the 7 best tracks we’ve been using to test hi-fi

Best wired headphones: from outstanding in-ears to five-star over-ears

Australian-owned audio platform AudioBro — which promises a smarter, more cost-effective way for hi-fi and home cinema enthusiasts to improve sound quality, without investing in new equipment — has announced it is now available worldwide.

The web-based platform is the brainchild of founder Ateeq Sheikh, who has spent the past three and a half years developing it. At its core, AudioBro aims to identify the weak links in a system — whether that’s room acoustics, speaker placement, subwoofer integration or calibration.

The paid service analyses customer-supplied data, including photographs, room dimensions, speaker layouts (from two-channel stereo through to full surround systems), in addition to calibration screenshots and acoustic measurements from third-party tools such as Dirac Live, Audyssey, REW and Anthem ARC Genesis.

From there, it prioritises the most critical issue and recommends a practical first step to improve performance. Once changes are made, users can upload new measurements to verify the results. As the company puts it: “Improvement is only considered verified after the listener makes a change and completes a comparable retest.”

A suite of tools underpins the platform. Photo Acoustics provides a visual room analysis, flagging potential reflection issues such as large window surfaces, while RoomMatch suggests optimal speaker placement based on the listening position. Tune My Sub offers guided subwoofer optimisation, and Fix My Room delivers a measurement-led diagnosis of the space.

Additional features include BassMap, which helps determine ideal subwoofer positioning based on measurement data; My Rooms, which stores test results across multiple spaces; and Guided Workflows, offering consultant-style reports and step-by-step optimisation paths.

Following its global launch in June 2026, AudioBro has also introduced a standalone Room Review service. Available separately from a subscription, it supports both self-guided optimisation and more hands-on analysis. Pricing starts at $97 for a quick review and rises to $199 for a more in-depth, measurement-based assessment.

The company says Room Review is intended as a room-first advisory tool rather than a replacement for on-site calibration. Users simply upload photos and measurements, after which the AudioBro team identifies the most likely limiting factor, then recommends a key first step and outlines practical next moves — typically within 72 hours.

Full access to the platform requires a subscription, offered in two tiers: Starter at $24.99 per month and Pro at $49.99 per month, with annual plans priced at $199.90 and $399.90, respectively.

Early adopters, however, can secure lifetime access for a one-off fee of $199 (Starter) or $299 (Pro).

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The best speakers you can buy in 2026

Bad news for Tidal users as the music-streaming service reveals an August price hike

The best stereo amplifiers to buy

Fans of Blu-rays have suffered relentless waves of bad news lately, the latest being that Sony's next PlayStation will likely be an all-digital affair with no disc drive in sight. But at last, there is some good news, of sorts.

Japanese manufacturer Buffalo will continue to make Blu-ray disc drives (as reported by PC Watch, via TechRadar), despite previously saying it would stop because of a lack of available components. However, there are a couple of caveats.

First of all, Buffalo will only keep making drives as long as the newly sourced components last. Once they dry up, production will stop, possibly for good. The exact end date will depend on inventory, so no warning will be given.

Also, Buffalo drives will cost more than they did previously. PC Watch reports that the price hikes will be between 33 per cent and 51 per cent, depending on the model of the disc drive. These price rises are said to be due to the global semiconductor shortage and the rising prices of raw materials.

Buffalo is far from the only company affected by these factors. Apple recently raised prices on certain devices, citing the same issues.

Buffalo's drives were due to cease production this month, according to the firm's announcement in February. The one silver lining is that the reason given is component shortages, and not lack of demand. But it's a very small crumb of comfort for us fans of physical media formats.

Previously, Pioneer and LG announced they would withdraw from the disc drive market.

So could this be the end of Blu-ray as we know it? Or could the format 'do a vinyl' and continue to live on?

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Sony has waged war on physical media, and I think it’s terrible news for consumers and 4K Blu-ray alike

The best Blu-ray players you can buy

Which is the best 4K Blu-ray player, PS5 or Xbox Series X?

Danish hi-fi firm Dynaudio is exiting the US market just a few months short of its 50th anniversary.

According to a press release, Dynaudio has chosen "to focus its future market development efforts on Europe and Asia as part of its long-term business strategy."

As a result, it will "cease operations of its commercial activities in North America and permanently shut down its U.S. subsidiary in the fall of 2026."

Dynaudio cites "ongoing economic challenges and market uncertainty" for its withdrawal, despite sales having grown in the region. US president Donald Trump recently repeated his claim that Greenland should be controlled by the US and not Denmark – it's not known if tensions between the two countries played a part in Dynaudio's decision.

Dynaudio says it is committed to ensuring a "smooth transition" for customers and business partners in the region, and will soon share a plan for continuity of product support and customer service.

We've contacted Dynaudio for more information and will update this story if we hear back.

Founded in 1977 in Skanderborg, Denmark, Dynaudio makes a range of speakers for the consumer, studio, car audio and custom install markets. In 2022 it revamped its Focus active range, and about 18 months ago announced a premium concept soundbar – the Symphony Opus One – which it demonstrated at the recent High End Vienna show. It has previously made speakers for Volvo, Volkswagen and Bugatti cars.

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The best speakers around

The best bookshelf speakers

And the best budget speakers

Ruark has announced its R410 Anniversary Edition, a limited-production celebratory spin on the brand's established all-in-one music system.

Built to commemorate 40 years of Ruark as a brand, the special edition system follows the same design language as the established R410, exhibiting the same slatted metallic grille and rectangular cabinet design which wowed us when we reviewed the standard model in 2023.

What marks the R410 Anniversary Edition out as unique is its hand-crafted White Oak cabinet complemented by an ebonised grille and inlay.

A new high-resolution colour screen displays vitals such as playback information and album artwork, while Ruark's established 'RotoDial' control returns to take care of volume, play/pause and presets.

Each system is finished with a commemorative anniversary badge to mark out its exclusivity, so everyone will know you've got your hands on something special.

Under the hood, the new system features optimised reflex enclosures within the cabinet to provide "ideal conditions" for the system's twin 10cm long-throw 'NS Plus' bass-mid units. Ruark promises "seamless, powerful and controlled bass through to a natural midrange".

The R410 also boasts custom 20mm tweeters, taken from the brand's five-star MR1 Mk3 powered speakers, for handling the higher frequencies.

As before, the R410 Anniversary Edition boasts an extensive streaming suite, offering support for Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, among others.

The 40th anniversary edition system boasts a fully active 120W RMS Class D amplifier, while hi-res audio support for PCM files up to 24-bit/192kHz is on the menu.

According to Alan O'Rourke, Ruark's founder and managing director: "The R410 Anniversary Edition brings together everything we care about. Extraordinary sound, considered design and exquisite materials chosen not just for how they look but how they sound. This system is the culmination of 40 years of hard work and it’s something we’re proud to make and hopefully you can be proud to own.”

Limited to just 500 units worldwide, the R410 Anniversary Edition will be available in an Ebony and White Oak finish, priced at £1399 / €1599.

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Read our review of the five-star Naim Mu-so 2

Ruark Audio R410 vs Naim Mu-so 2: which all-in-one music system is better?

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

Italian brand Volumio has been making waves with its compact streaming products that offer ample features in designs don’t look like traditional hi-fi.

The Primo V3 is the latest iteration of its music streamer and DAC, and it packs quite a number of features into its petite dimensions.

Volumio’s network streaming platform gives you access to Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz Connect, and internet radio services like TuneIn. It is DLNA compliant and Roon Ready certified, and Bluetooth 5.0 is also available.

The updated ESS Sabre 9039Q2M DAC handles hi-res audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256, and the unit offers wi-fi and Ethernet connections to your network.

Analogue outputs include balanced XLR and RCA line level, with eight adjustable voltage levels to fine tune the unit’s output to your partnering amplifier or active speakers.

There is a video-only HDMI output for seeing the Volumio OS on a screen, a microSD card slot to integrate your digital library directly without needing a network connection, and there are two USB-A ports for connecting hard drives. Notably, there are no coaxial or optical connections.

You can use either USB-A port as a digital output connected to a compatible USB DAC, via which it can handle ultra high resolutions files: PCM files with a high sampling rate of 1536kHz, and DSD1024.

Volumio says this allows you to “preserve the full fidelity of your music system” and “retain the full resolution of the original recording”. Those files must be rarer than hen's teeth, as we have rarely come across downloadable hi-res tracks beyond 24-bit/192kHz – which the Volumio natively supports.

The Primo V3’s quad core CPU is faster and more powerful than before, while care is taken internally to shorten the signal paths of the circuitry and it uses a linear power supply stage to reduce noise and interference. Combined with a high-precision clock, this helps to reduce jitter and keep the signal as clear as possible.

You can further fine tune the sound of the streamer thanks to eight DAC filters.

The Volumio Primo V3 streamer sports an all-black minimal design, and is available now for £769 / $1049 / €849.

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Our guide to the best music streamers for all budgets

Now Playing: supercharge your summer listening with the 7 best tracks we’ve been using to test hi-fi

Bad news for Tidal users as the music-streaming service reveals an August price hike

The peak of summer has coincided with the World Cup this year, leaving many of us in a conundrum as to how to keep up with the games while escaping sweltering houses.

Fortunately, Roberts has thought up a solution with its latest DAB+/FM radio with Bluetooth, the SolarDAB 99, which can harness the unrelenting sunshine as a power source thanks to built-in solar panels.

But this portable radio is no fair weather friend. Designed for outdoor use, it also has an IP55 water and dust protection rating, a 20-hour rechargeable battery life and even a dynamo which can be cranked to charge the radio instantly (one minute of cranking will give you up to seven minutes of playback, mind you). In more domestic conditions, USB-C charging is also available.

The SolarDAB 99 supports DAB, DAB+ and FM radio, alongside Bluetooth audio streaming. For easy access to your preferred radio stations, Roberts has also included 40 storable presets: 20 for FM stations, 20 for DAB.

For late-night listening that won’t wake up the campsite, the radio has a 3.5mm headphone output, as well as a USB-A port for device charging. A 3.5mm auxiliary input allows you to connect your own devices to use the radio as a speaker.

The visual display includes a backlit LCD screen showing radio band selection, battery status, signal strength, station presets and alarm settings.

According to Owen Watters, CEO of Roberts Radio, "We’re seeing a real shift in how people are choosing to spend their time - more outdoors, more off-grid, more present, and with that comes a growing awareness of being prepared for the unexpected."

And prepared you will be, because the rugged SolarDAB 99 is even equipped for emergencies, with an LED flashlight, alternating red and white lights with SOS morse code, alongside an emergency siren.

With a weight of 837g and an attachable carry strap, Roberts says this radio will be able to accompany you on your travels, no matter where you end up, “from remote campsites and festival fields to garden days and emergency situations.”

The Roberts SolarDAB 99 radio is available to buy now for £150.

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If you've desperately been trying to fill the iPod Nano-sized hole in your life since its demise in 2017, Shanling might just have answered your somewhat niche prayers.

The Chinese manufacturer's latest portable music player, the M0 Pura, puts us in mind of the Nano in its sixth-gen incarnation, offering up a compact design complete with a 1.54-inch colour touchscreen.

It also boasts many mod cons that, back in 2017 at least, Apple's much-loved micro-player wasn't capable of providing.

The M0 Pura is built around dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs, with support for PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz alongside DSD128. In order to drive more demanding headphones, the new player can offer up to 250mW of output power into 32 ohms when using an optional 3.5mm to 4.4mm balanced adapter.

Shanling claims up to 9 hours of continuous playback from a single charge, while your music collection is handled via microSD card. The built-in slot supports cards up to 2TB in size.

Unlike the now-deceased iPod Nano, the M0 Pura offers two-way Bluetooth, so you can use the player to transmit to headphones and speakers, or to receive and act as a Bluetooth DAC for a connected smartphone or laptop.

USB-C connectivity also enables Shanling's new player to act as a digital transport for external USB DACs.

The Shanling M0 Pura is supplied with a USB-C to USB-C cable, though we'd reiterate that if you want a 3.5mm to 4.4mm balanced adapter, you'll need to buy one separately.

The Shanling M0 Pura is available now, priced at £129 / $129 / €129. Rather fittingly, that makes it a similar price to the 6th-gen Nano, which arrived on the scene for £129 / $149 (8GB) back in 2010.

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“Never before in our industry has a format come back from the dead quite like vinyl” – turntable engineers discuss all things record-related, including one major flaw that needs addressing

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These are the best portable music players we recommend

If recent rumours are to be believed, Samsung is about to jump on the clip-on trend with its latest pair of wireless earbuds.

We've not had official confirmation yet, but one rather sharp-eyed Twitter / X user noticed an update to Samsung's Galaxy Wearable app which, among other things, listed the term 'Galaxy Able' in reference to a new pair of earbuds.

This tallies with earlier reports that Samsung is set to debut an entirely new product line – separate from its Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Pro ranges – this year.

According to Forbes via Android Authority, earlier leaks using the moniker "BUDSABLE" and the model number SM-U6000 had confirmed that a new pair of buds could be on the way. Leaked artwork then suggested that a clip-on design could be the direction in which Samsung was headed.

Dedicated Samsung site sammyguru.com, also alleges they might even use bone conduction technology, similar to the tech used in the sport-centric Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 from 2024.

It certainly wouldn't surprise us if Samsung ended up jumping on the ever-growing open and clip-on wireless earbud trend.

Recent clip-on offerings have included the likes of Huawei FreeClip 2 and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, as well as the open-style Sony LinkBuds Open and the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, all of which eschew traditional in-ear configurations in pursuit of a more comfortable, out-of-ear design.

Those rivals are all born from big-name brands, so it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility if Samsung moved to match its competitors by offering an open alternative to keep its Galaxy-focused fans happy.

Samsung's recent Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are some of the best buds we've yet tested from the Korean giant, so it might be in the perfect position to start rivalling its competitors in this emerging corner of the market.

Samsung has its annual Unpacked event slated for the 22nd of July, so there's a good chance we might get a proper unveiling of the new buds – and its next-gen foldable phones – when we attend in a few weeks time.

Naturally, we'll let you know what we discover.

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Read our recent Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review

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These are the best cheap wireless earbuds on the market

Nothing is back with a brand new pair of affordable, colourful wireless earbuds, the Ear (3a).

The latest addition to the brand’s more affordable, fun-centric (a) series, the new buds blend “immersive listening” with a “playful design” at a price that won’t exactly break the bank. They also have a rather intriguing feature up their sleeve…

Before we get to that, the Nothing Ear (3a) use a set of 12mm dynamic drivers designed to deliver “deeper bass and greater detail” than their previous generation antecedents, while a lightweight PMI diaphragm aims for “clear, detailed highs”.

Bolstering the buds’ new hardware is support for LDAC, the Sony-developed codec which allows for hi-res audio transmission up to 24-bit/96 kHz from a compatible source.

Noise cancelling is also available, with the Ear (3a) using an improved acoustic mesh and a more advanced ANC algorithm to keep you even more shielded from the sounds of the outside world, with Nothing promising nearly 20 per cent better performance when compared with their predecessors.

The Ear (3a) deliver up to 10 hours of playback from the buds and up to 42 hours with the charging case when noise cancelling is switched off. With ANC enabled, they offer up to six hours from the earbuds and a total of around 25 hours in total with the case in play. When things get low, a quick five-minute charge provides around one hour of playback in a pinch.

What was that intriguing feature we mentioned earlier? The Ear (3a) offer ‘Audio Snapshot’ technology, letting users instantly clip media they are listening to, be it a an online lecture, a call or a voice note, by pinching both earbuds to create an “audio screenshot” for posterity.

Nothing’s ‘Static’ spatial audio tech is also in the mix, while a three-mic array on each earbud promises clear calls, even in busy environments.

The Nothing Ear (3a) are available now, priced at £99 / $99 / €99, in a choice of Black, White, Yellow or Pink finishes.

MORE:

Five game-changing iPod docks that shaped the modern wireless speaker market

We’ve got Sony’s next-gen TVs, Denon’s flagship AVR, Roksan’s range-topping amplifiers and exclusive hi-fi in for testing right now

These are the best cheap wireless earbuds on the market

What Hi-Fi? has once again partnered with Residential Systems and TWICE to celebrate the most innovative products at this year's CEDIA Expo in September. And entries for the Best of Show Awards are now open.

This prestigious awards programme is an opportunity for your brand to stand apart from the competition in the connected space arena.

CEDIA showcases next-gen products, immersive demos, and innovative technologies in the space, and provides a platform for tech companies to engage with customers.

Here's why you should enter.

• All entries will receive a fully licensed nominee badge to use in both digital and print promotions.
• Dedicated editorial coverage across participating brands. As a winning entry, you will receive promotional coverage across social media, websites, newsletters and magazines from the official award brands – Residential Systems, TWICE and What Hi-Fi?
• Winner marketing assets to further promote your success. You will receive an official award winner's badge, fully licensed to be used with your winning product both domestically and overseas at no additional cost in addition to a winner's social assets.
• Crystal glass trophies to display your win. Individual trophies will be sent directly to winners after CEDIA, so you can continue celebrating your success after the show.

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 ET on August 21, 2026.

The only criteria for entry is that the company must be exhibiting at the show and the product must be set to ship within 12 months, if it isn’t already available.

As ever, the What Hi-Fi? entries will be judged from a purely home entertainment perspective, Residential Systems entries are judged through the lens of the residential integrator, while TWICE will judge them from a consumer electronics retailer’s point of view.

Winners will be announced on the last day of the show, which is Friday, September 4.

Interested in entering? Just follow this link and click the Start Your Entry button. You can nominate multiple products if you like – there's no limit on how many entries you submit.

The deadline for entries is 23:59 ET on August 21, 2026.

The CEDIA Expo 2023 is set to take place September 1-4 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. Make sure to check back with What Hi-Fi? on the show’s final day, when we’ll announce this year’s winners.

MORE:

Our pick of the best speakers you can buy right now

And the best TVs we've tested for all budgets

Marshall has updated two of its long-running home-based Bluetooth speakers with the launch of the Acton IV and Stanmore IV models.

Building upon the existing Acton and Stanmore models, the fourth-generation speakers feature upgraded tweeters and waveguides, updated connectivity and a refreshed design.

The updated tweeters and waveguides on both models aim to deliver “a wider, more evenly dispersed and expansive soundstage.” Both home speakers have a similar configuration of two tweeters and a woofer, with the bigger Stanmore IV model featuring a larger woofer driver.

The bass ports on both models have been redesigned for improved airflow, which should result in “cleaner and more powerful” bass performance. Marshall says the cables have also been repositioned to allow the speakers to be placed “flush against a wall without affecting audio quality”.

Along with Bluetooth and higher-quality LDAC codec support for streaming from mobile devices, both speakers feature a 3.5mm auxiliary and new RCA stereo inputs. The latter lets you connect a variety of audio sources, for instance, a turntable with a built-in phono stage such as the Sony PS-LX3BT.

The Acton IV and Stanmore IV both feature a ‘Dynamic Loudness’ setting, which automatically rebalances bass and treble frequencies in order to preserve “clarity, richness and warmth” at any volume. Improved limiters in the new models also promise to deliver a “cleaner” sound when playing at high volumes.

Although the classic look of the popular guitar amp-inspired home speakers has been preserved, their retro brass control panel sees physical improvements to the controls. On-board controls include tonal adjustments and a "media jog" that lets you play/pause/skip songs. A brand new ‘M-button’ also allows users to easily switch between EQ settings and Spotify Tap options.

For further customisation, the dedicated Marshall app allows users to adjust EQ presets and “optimise audio” with placement compensation settings. Notably, built-in Auracast technology means that Acton IV and Stanmore IV can be connected to each other for multi-speaker listening.

To integrate older-generation Acton III and Stanmore III models into a multi-speaker set-up, you will need to purchase Marshall’s streaming hub, called Heddon, to bridge the gap between generations. This is available for £180 on its own, and is free of charge when buying two or more eligible Marshall home speakers.

According to Simona Berbec, Product Manager at Marshall Group: "These always-in-place speakers... [are] chosen time and again for their iconic design, premium build quality, rich, powerful sound, and intuitive tactile controls. With our fourth generation, the focus has been on protecting and strengthening these core qualities, building on what people love rather than reinventing it.”

The Marshall Acton IV and Stanmore IV speakers, priced at £260 / $300 and £350 / $400 respectively, are available to buy from today in black or cream finishes.

MORE:

Marshall's guitar amp-inspired Stockwell III is a small, portable speaker with a big battery life

Marshall is bringing big party speaker vibes to a smaller but still powerful form

Best Bluetooth speakers 2026: tried and tested for every budget

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding digital film and TV downloads lately, so it's nice to finally hear some good news.

While Sony announced that it's ditching physical PlayStation discs and removing purchased content from users' libraries, Apple has taken a major step to improve the content within its users' Apple TV digital libraries.

A selection of around 50 TV shows has been quietly upgraded from HD to 4K, and that change is being retroactively applied for users who have already purchased these shows, at no additional cost.

The selection includes some high-profile releases, such as all seven seasons of Mad Men, the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and recent TV phenomenon Heated Rivalry. You can find the full list below:

• Aerial Australia
• Aftertaste (Season 1)
• American Magik (Season 1)
• Auto Exotica (Season 2)
• The Basement Talks (Season 1)
• Black, Brilliant, and Bold (Season 1)
• Blossoms Shanghai (Season 1)
• Bong Zombies (Season 1)
• Building Nations (Season 1)
• Car & Country Quest (Season 1)
• Changing of the Gods (Season 1)
• Chasing the Tide (Season 1)
• Claire-ity (Season 1)
• Clash of Dynasties: St. Edward vs Walsh Jesuit
• The Coroner's Assistant (Season 1)
• Drink: A Look Inside the Glass (Season 1)
• The Envoy, Pilot
• The Eternal White (Season 1)
• Extreme Airport Africa (Season 2)
• Founder (Season 1)
• Gatherings (Season 1)
• Gentle and Lowly Video Study (Season 1)
• Guerrera (Season 1)
• Gus Plus Us (Season 1)
• Heated Rivalry (Season 1)
• Honor Guard (Season 1)
• Hunting to Save the Rhinos (Season 1)
• The Hunting Wives (Season 1)
• Ice Airport Alaska (Season 5)
• Killer Whales (Season 2)
• Legacy Makers (Season 1)
• Mad Men (Seasons 1–7)
• Missionary: Obeying the Great Commission (Season 1)
• My Name is Anxiety (Season 1)
• Office Joe (Season 1)
• Perfect Sweat (Season 1)
• Q: Into the Storm
• The Religion Business and the Nonprofit Goliath (Season 1)
• Rich Africans (Season 1)
• RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Season 5)
• The RVers (Seasons 3 and 4)
• Selling Superman (Season 1)
• Sexpectations (Season 1)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 1)
• That’s Wine (Season 1)
• Third Shift
• Tractor Ted (Season 3)
• The Twilight Zone (Reboot) (Season 1)
• The Wingfeather Saga (Season 2)

This upgrade was spotted by X (formerly Twitter) user Sigmund Judge (via FlatpanelsHD), and users in the UK and US who have purchased these TV shows from the Apple TV Store (formerly the iTunes Movies & TV Shows store) should already be able to access the upgraded 4K versions from within their Apple TV library.

It's worth noting that Apple has a track record of providing free 4K upgrades to its Apple TV users. It began upgrading purchased movies from HD to 4K HDR alongside the launch of the Apple TV 4K back in 2017, and we've since seen free Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ and 3D 4K upgrades hit users' Apple TV libraries too.

This is how you win digital media sceptics over, and other companies should certainly take note.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Here are our picks for the best streaming services for movies and TV shows

As well as the best streaming devices

A network transport is quite a niche product – essentially, it fetches your digital music from a NAS drive, network storage or streaming service and passes it to a DAC in order to play it. There’s no built-in DAC, as you get with most music streamers, but that’s no problem if you already have one elsewhere in your system, or you’re happy to buy a dedicated unit and go the separates route.

Now new Polish brand Ferrum Audio has announced the Broen, a premium network transport that promises an “uncompromising digital audio performance”.

It aims to provide a clean and precise digital signal path, alongside “flexible connectivity, intuitive operation and extensive streaming support”.

It is built around Ferrum’s Serce DDC (digital to digital converter) module, which should optimise every stage of digital-signal handling. Because there is no analogue circuitry inside, Serce focuses just on digital processing, which, Ferrum claims, “delivers outstanding precision while maintaining complete separation between input and output domains.”

Galvanically isolated audio outputs and ultra-low jitter clocks help to preserve signal integrity.

It supports both wired and wireless networking; as well as wi-fi, it has a modular SFP port that can take either a standard ethernet module or an optical module. That means it can hook up to compatible SFP network switches for less electrical noise and cleaner digital transmission.

Of course you will need a DAC, and Ferrum is only too happy to sell you one. The Broen works seamlessly with Ferrum’s Wandla range of DACs, thanks to the Ferrum Streaming Control Technology (FSCT). Connect a Wandla DAC to the Broen via USB, and you can control the latter from the former’s touchscreen or remote control. Artist information, album details and playback status will appear on the DAC’s screen.

At the heart of the Broen is the Volumio streaming platform. This brings a range of music services and playback options, including Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz (with their Connect variants), AirPlay, UPnP/DLNA, internet radio, CD, multi-room, AI-powered SuperSearch, Infinity Playback and enhanced album and artist metadata.

You can add more storage using the internal SSD slot, while over-the-air firmware updates allow new features to be added remotely in the future.

The Broen is out now, and costs £1995 / $2275 (around AU$3800). That’s a similar price to the Lumin U2 Mini to which we awarded five stars last year.

MORE:

What is a CD transport? Find out here

The best DACs to pair your transport with

DAC's not right: 7 mistakes to avoid with a DAC

When Sony officially unveiled its 2026 TV range, there was plenty of disappointment that it didn’t include a new OLED model – much of it from me.

These days, Sony tends to work on two-year lifecycles for its TVs, so I wasn’t expecting a successor to last year’s Bravia 8 II; but a replacement for 2024’s Bravia 8 seemed a fairly safe bet – as did a successor to the A90K, which is now an incredible four years old.

The omission prompted some (again, mostly me) to theorise that Sony had in fact turned its back on OLED entirely, and that the Bravia 8 II could be the brand’s last OLED model.

Last month, though, we reported on rumours that Sony was bracing to launch a brand-new OLED TV. And now, those rumours have been all but confirmed by the appearance of this new OLED set on several of Sony’s own websites.

The listings, first spotted by High Def News (thanks, The Walkman Blog), confirm that the new OLED is indeed the Bravia 6. And, if the name wasn’t a big enough hint, the TV’s tagline – “OLED essentials, now within reach” – also confirms that this is indeed an entry-level OLED TV.

Naturally, I’m disappointed that Sony isn’t launching a new flagship OLED at this stage, but if the Bravia 6 is indeed Sony’s most affordable OLED TV yet, as the tagline suggests, that’s rather exciting news in its own right.

Full tech specs are currently absent from the live pages (another suggestion that they have gone live earlier than planned), but there are some nuggets of information to be gleaned.

First, the TV is listed in sizes ranging from 48 inches to 83 inches. That’s a broader range than Sony typically offers for its OLED TVs, but it’s also highly suggestive of the Bravia 6 using LG Display’s new OLED SE panel, which is available in exactly those sizes and notably not in 42 inches.

While it’s not confirmed, we believe this is the panel that is already found in the LG B6, a set we will be reviewing very soon.

Another encouraging detail is that the Bravia 6 sports four HDMI 2.1 sockets. Gamers (myself included) have long lamented Sony’s models being limited to just two HDMI 2.1 sockets, with that limitation even being true of the new flagship Bravia 9 II, so this is very good news.

The listing also confirms that Dolby Vision is supported on the video side, and that Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are present on the audio side.

Unsurprisingly, like every other modern Bravia TV, the Bravia 6 also features the Google TV platform, which can be operated via voice control (though it’s not clear whether this is via a microphone built into the remote control or the TV itself).

We do know the TV includes ambient sensors, with the listing promising automatic picture adjustments based on room conditions.

None of the leaked listings includes pricing, so we don’t yet have any indication of where the Bravia 6 will sit in Sony’s range.

We don’t even know, in fact, whether the Bravia 6 will even come to the UK. Sony has a recent habit of releasing some models in certain regions but not others.

If it does launch the new model in the UK, there’s no guarantee that it will do so in all sizes: I note that Sony Hong Kong is listing the Bravia 6 in 48-, 55- and 65-inch sizes, while Sony Gabon is listing the 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch sizes.

We have approached Sony UK for comment. We don’t expect the company to confirm the Bravia 6 ahead of an official announcement, but with multiple regional Sony websites now listing the TV, that announcement surely can’t be far away.

Stay tuned for more on the Sony Bravia 6 as we get it.

MORE:

These are the best TVs you can buy right now

Will the Bravia 6 be good enough and cheap enough to hit our list of the best cheap TVs?

Fancy something for the weekend? Well Sony has just the thing. Its Award-winning WH-1000XM6 headphones have just gained a new firmware update that enables an ultra-low-latency mode.

The update is also available for Sony’s 1000X The Collexion.

The update adds support for the Bluetooth LE Audio Gaming Audio Profile (GMAP). This reduces latency (the time that a sound takes to reach your ears) to less than 40 milliseconds.

As the name suggests, this will predominantly be of interest to gamers.

GMAP has four signal profiles (A-D) depending on whether speed or stability is the priority. Profile A is the quickest, while D is better suited for areas with lots of interference. GMAP is part of the Bluetooth specification laid down by the Bluetooth SIG, and so can work on other wireless headphones too.

In order to hear the benefit, your audio source also needs to support GMAP.

The new feature is available now via the 3.1.5 firmware update for the XM6 and 1.3.0 for the 1000X The Collexion. You can install the updates for both pairs of headphones using the Sony Sound Connect app.

MORE:

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 review

And our Sony 1000X The Collexion review

I spent 10 hours on trains listening the Sony WH-1000XM6 – here’s what I learned

You can’t always get what you want in the world of home entertainment. In an ideal world, we would all have a house with a bespoke home cinema, fully kitted out with in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, a serious 4K laser projector and some top-notch amplification.

Sometimes, though, you can get what you need as far as enjoying movies and sport at home goes. And that’s where this month's cover-star soundbar systems come in.

The summer is also a great time to invest in a premium Bluetooth speaker – especially if you want to do your music justice at home, while at the same time being able to take your tunes out and about with you in the fine weather.

Superb soundbar systems for serious home cinema sound

We have often wondered what it would be like to have your cake and eat it.

Of course, that phrase exists to describe the kind of best-of-both-worlds scenario that could never actually exist. Sometimes, though, it really is possible to get the best of both worlds, and in home cinema land, two sonic worlds coalesce beautifully in the shape of the soundbar system.

By supplying a ’bar together with a subwoofer and a pair of satellite speakers set behind your seating position, soundbar systems allow you to enjoy genuine surround sound without having to accommodate a collection of bulky boxes in your living room. Far from being a compromise, for many the impressive performance and neat convenience of such a set-up hits the home-cinema sweet spot.

The key to the neatness of this solution is that, in most examples, both the subwoofer and satellites are significantly smaller than those you would find in a conventional speaker package.

For this month's round-up, we have picked five models from a variety of price points to help you find the soundbar system that best suits your needs and budget.

So make yourself a cuppa, sit down and read on. And have some more cake.

The best Bluetooth speakers to take your tunes on the go

A Bluetooth speaker is one of the simplest and best ways to get your music playing wherever you roam. In fact, these wireless wonders can be stunningly versatile. Perhaps you want one in your office to help your working day along. Or as accompaniment to a sunbathing session in your back garden. Or maybe you’ll want to pop one in your backpack and take it further afield, to the park, the beach, or up a mountainside – or anywhere you want to take your tunes.

There are, of course, a huge number of capable Bluetooth speakers out there, of all shapes, sizes and prices. Here, though, we’re focusing on the upper echelons of this particular product category.

This month, we round up a quartet of our favourite premium wireless speakers from highly regarded audio brands Bose, Dali, Bang & Olufsen and JBL. All impressed our reviewers when we originally had them in for testing, and all remain at the top of their game for their spread of talents.

The models we have brought together for this Group Test add a hefty slice of style to their list of attributes too. Indeed, you may not even want to take them out for fear of getting them dirty – though all of them have been designed with rugged portability in mind. Either way, you’re sure to be the envy of everyone involved in your al fresco music party.

Can RGB Mini LED defeat the best OLED TV around?

There’s a war going on for your living room. The premium TV technology of choice of the last few years – OLED – is under attack from a new, stunningly bright and vibrant foe – RGB Mini LED.

Every major brand has either launched its first RGB Mini LED TVs or is about to. Hisense launched its first such models last year, but those were gigantic, 100-plus-inch sets. Now, though, it has become the first brand to submit to us a proper, mainstream RGB Mini LED TV, the UR9.

We’ve tested the Hisense UR9 and Sony Bravia 8 II side by side, feeding all of our favourite discs and streams into both simultaneously, and judging them on picture quality, sound quality, features, usability, design and price.

Find out which TV tech triumphs in August's What Hi-Fi?

Great prog rock albums that will give your system a work-out

Progressive rock is a staple in hi-fi circles, and for good reason. Explore it, and you’ll find everything from experimental, album-length tracks chronicling epic space wars to short and sweet, gentle ballads celebrating young love on a UK council estate. The only connecting factor between them is a progressive virtuosity focused on pushing sonic boundaries.

And, when done right, this means it’s a genre that can really stretch any hi-fi system, which is why it makes sense that our readers talk about it so much on our forums and social media pages. It’s also why more than a few of the What Hi-Fi? team have a soft spot for the genre and often listen to it for fun as well as work.

Here we offer our two cents on the top prog rock albums for hi-fi fans, based on those we frequently use for testing as well as some of our own personal favourites.

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is where you'll find What Hi-Fi?'s considered verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

We kick off this month with the return of an iconic hi-fi brand, with the aptly named Onkyo Icon A-50 streaming amplifier. Boasting expansive delivery and an organised sound, does the Icon indeed live up to its name? Find out in this month's What Hi-Fi?

TCL just keeps on reinventing the value rulebook with its TVs – and this month saw another of its crazy-good-value sets, the Q6C, pass through our test rooms. The Wharfedale Diamond name carries an impressive legacy, and the hi-fi firm's latest floorstanders, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3i got the full review treatment from our team of experts this month.

In August's What Hi-Fi? we also take a thorough look at (and listen to) Sharp's RP-TT100 record player, Samsung's excellent S99H OLED TV, the JBL Go 5 portable speaker, Sony's 1000X The Collexion headphones, Apple AirPods Max 2 and more.

Find all these reviews in August's What Hi-Fi? – out now!

Now arriving at Temptation Station

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

This month, feast your envious eyes on the Esoteric N-05XE streaming preamplifier. At £13,000 it's not cheap, of course, but it mightily impressed our reviews team. "Stereo imaging is excellent," they reported, "with a broad and spacious soundstage populated by crisply focused instruments." Got that kind of money? Jump in!

Graham Audio has resurrected a classic, BBC-originated speaker with the LS5/9. Modern speaker design owes something of a debt to classic standmounts like these, and we were suitably awed.

Find out more in this month's What Hi-Fi?

Finally, don't forget to check out our Buyer’s Guide, featuring a definitive and freshly updated list of all the best home entertainment kit you can buy – including winners of 2025's What Hi-Fi? Awards. If you’re looking to purchase anything from a pair of the best wireless headphones to a home cinema speaker system, this section will tell you where to spend your money wisely.

Whatever you do, don't miss the August 2026 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

LG has launched its latest moveable screen display to deliver “a more flexible and enjoyable entertainment experience”.

That comes in the form of the rather clunkily named StanbyME 2 Max (does anyone else have Ben E. King stuck in their head now?), which expands on the first iteration five years after it came out.

The idea is to take the screen with you from room to room, as it features a detachable display that can be mounted on a wheeled stand. You can use it in either portrait or landscape mode, and you can use the screen-mirroring function with your phone.

The previous model was available in 27 inches; the new version bumps that up a little to 32 inches. This display supports up to 4K resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision HDR.

There is also a built-in battery that offers up to 4.5 hours of use before needing to be plugged into the mains, so it should last for at least the runtime of Oppenheimer (and then the start of Barbie).

In terms of audio, there is Dolby Atmos support to provide “an enveloping soundscape with richer detail”. The system is also powered by LG’s Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen3, which uses AI to deliver a virtual 11.1.2-channel surround sound.

When not in use, it can display artwork from the LG Gallery+, which will possibly make it less of an eyesore.

We are still waiting on UK or Australian pricing, but it costs $1299 in the US (around £970 / AU$1870). That seems pretty steep for a 32-inch display, even if it can be wheeled around the house.

Whether it will be a practical portable addition to your home or just a bigger screen to doom scroll on remains to be seen, but we are certainly curious to find out.

MORE:

These are the best TVs

Check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Here is our LG C6 OLED TV review

Sonus Faber has unveiled the third generation of its premium Olympica loudspeaker range, which features new acoustic technology taken from the Italian audio brand's flagship Suprema speaker system, alongside cosmetic refinements. The five-strong range consists of two floorstanders, a standmount speaker, a centre channel and slim on-wall unit.

All speakers in the new range feature the Camelia midrange that was first developed for the Suprema system. Inspired by the shape of the camelia flower, this non-circular driver is made from fibre materials and features a fabric surround, and its distinct, irregular shape is designed to reduce the unwanted resonances found in more conventional drivers.

It is left unpainted too, and promises "exceptional clarity, transparency, and vocal realism."

All speakers feature a silk dome tweeter, while the 16.5cm woofers in the floorstanders (three for the Olympica V, two for the Olympica III) are new for the third-generation and feature an 'organic basket' with a honeycomb structure.

This helps to maximise airflow around the woofers while providing exceptional mechanical stability, for tighter, cleaner bass reproduction. Coupled with an advanced aluminium phase plug and new damping ring technology, this should result in greater dynamics and clarity too.

Additionally, the two floorstanders – Olympica V and Olympica III – feature a cork lining in the closed tweeter and midrange housing, which absorbs unwanted energy and reflections within the chamber to further aid the natural quality and transparency of the midrange performance.

Both floorstanders are three-way designs, with the larger Olympica V promising "expansive scale, powerful dynamics and full-range performance" that is ideally suited to larger rooms. The step-down Olympica III floorstander aims to bring that sound to "room-friendly proportions" for a wider range of spaces, while the Olympica I is a compact two-way standmount speaker that brings the range's sound signature to a smaller rooms while still offering "exceptional imaging, clarity, and emotional engagement."

All three speakers feature a silk dome tweeter and have a ported design.

“What has always defined Sonus Faber is our belief that beauty and performance should never be separated,” says Jim Mollica, president of Luxury Audio at Bose, who are the new owners of Sonus Faber. “While others prioritise one or the other, Olympica G3 unites refined Italian design and handcrafted attention to detail with advanced acoustic innovation to bring listeners closer to the music.”

The three-way Centre channel is designed to deliver articulate dialogue for use within in a home cinema surround system, while the slimline two-way Wall speaker is designed to be more discreetly integrated in on-wall systems.

The Olympica G3 features hallmarks of the brand's luxury craftsmanship, such as the lute-shaped cabinet design, which now features a herringbone real wood veneer – taken from the celebrated Stradivari floorstanders – and aluminium accents for an elevated look.

The range comes in Walnut or Wengè finishes, and is available to buy now. Sonus Faber's hand-crafted speakers are firmly on the high-end side, and the new Olympica G3 is no different, although it's a far cry from the £470,000 / $850,000 price tag of the reference Suprema floorstanders.

Prices are as follows:

Olympica G3 V floorstanders: £25,000 / $30,000
Olympica G3 III floorstanders: £20,000 / $24,000
Olympica G3 I standmounts: £10,000 / $13,000
Olympica G3 Centre: £9300 / $10,500
Olympica G3 Wall: £6500 / $8000

MORE:

Read our Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 review

Focal's latest high-end floorstanders are "an ode to the art of listening at home”

I spent a day fixing vintage hi-fi – here’s what I learned

Sony has dealt a critical blow to physical media with its latest PlayStation announcement.

Starting in 2028, Sony will end physical disc production for PlayStation games, meaning you will be able to access future titles only digitally. Sony confirms that retailers will carry digital download codes for games from 2028 onwards, with the PlayStation Store as the most convenient place for gamers to access new titles in two years.

The Japanese AV and gaming goliath confirms that this change will affect only new titles, and that “this transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format”.

This news follows the announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to be one of the biggest video game launches of all time, will be available only in digital formats on PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

The reasoning behind this monumental change, given by Sony, is that it simply follows consumers’ wants and needs. The company had this to say in a PlayStation Blog post made yesterday:

“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends, as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”

While Sony claims that this decision has been made with consumer interests in mind, the general reaction to the news has been less than positive from gamers. At the time of writing, there were 6256 comments on Sony’s blog post, and the consensus is overwhelmingly negative.

Comments on the blog post from PlayStation users include: “Do not like this, I’ve always preferred physical to digital”, “Shame on you Sony”, “Revert this decision right now”, and “We literally own nothing now but licenses; this is a horrible decision, Sony”.

This also comes in the wake of a digital-media fiasco made by PlayStation a mere three days ago. The company announced that, due to a content licensing agreement with Studio Canal, users will lose access to more than 500 films and TV shows that they have bought from the PlayStation Store here in the UK.

If that’s not already concerning enough, Sony confirmed that the affected content will be removed from users’ video library with no mention of refunds or compensation. This makes Sony’s announcement to ditch physical game releases even more troublesome.

It has been made clear time and time again that access to digital media can be revoked in a heartbeat, so seeing physical media being phased out is leaving gamers feeling understandably insecure.

While it is currently far too early to speculate, it’s presumed that Sony will lift the lid on the PlayStation 6 next year, just in time for this new digital revolution.

Therefore, it’s not out of the question to assume that the PS6 will be a digital-only console, which could deal a critical blow to the 4K Blu-ray format.

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Focal has revealed the Scala Utopia Evo M floorstanding speakers.

An evolution of the brand's established Scala Utopia Evo, these new 'M' edition floorstanders are defined by two core innovations: the inclusion of Focal's new 'PRISM' tweeter and a new 'M-profile' W midrange driver.

That PRISM tweeter was first introduced recently in Focal's high-end Diva Alta Utopia wireless speaker system and now makes its way to the three-way Scala Evo M towers. This unit uses a combination of composite materials to strike the ideal balance between lightness and damping – Focals says it achieves an even higher level of rigidity than the beryllium tweeter used in previous generations.

The new M-profile W midrange unit is derived from the Utopia Main professional monitor range, with a structure that teases "exceptional rigidity" and ultra-low distortion. Focal claims this should result in a mid-frequency response that is "more transparent, precise and natural" than before.

The W woofer has also been completely redesigned, and uses a dual-ferrite motor that promises "powerful, deep, controlled bass."

Further technologies that have appeared in other high-end Focal speakers aim to add "balance and coherence" to the new floorstanders.

Focal's 'TMD' driver suspension limits cone deformation and reduces resultant distortion, while the proprietary 'Optimum Phase Crossover' technology diminishes phase issues and enhances the speakers' ability to adapt their tonal balance according to the size and type of the room in which they're placed.

The three-way towers employ Focal's 'Focus Time' configuration, which is an articulated spine structure that arcs the speakers' design towards the listener, aiding with time alignment with the various drivers in play.

The overall aim of the Scala Utopia Evo M is to deliver "even more faithful and dynamic reproduction, capable of revealing the full richness of the most demanding recordings."

Available in five high-gloss lacquer or natural wood finishes, the new Focal Scala Utopia Evo M floorstanders are available now, priced at €40,000 / $46,000 per pair (UK price to be confirmed).

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