Newbie hi-fi brand Ubiqaudiolab has launched its ultra-high-end Ubicube range of power amplifiers, and they make quite a statement of intent.

The company's Ubicube line-up consists of three models, the Ubicube 700, 400 and 200, arriving alongside the Ubiquitous 300B preamplifier.

If you're unfamiliar, Ubiqaudiolab is a Slovenian hi-fi manufacturer established in 2021 with the aim of bringing together "exceptional engineering talent, industrial ambition and an uncompromising vision of musical realism".

Sounds like our kind of company.

The massive Ubicube 700 certainly looks to encapsulate that vision. The luxury amplifier delivers a hefty 700 watts of power into 8 ohms, boasting a Class A input stage alongside a high-bias Class A/B output stage to deliver "perfectly consistent, lightning-fast power".

The new amp uses massive internal copper heat-dissipation plates with chimney-effect airflow for faster heat transfer from the power amplifier modules, housed within a solid aluminium monocoque chassis designed for optimal mechanical stability and vibration control.

The 700's Ubicube 400 and 200 siblings are designed to deliver "the same uncompromising audio performance in a slightly smaller form factor".

The Ubicube 400 delivers 400 watts into 8 ohms, whereas the Ubicube 200 puts out 200 watts into 8 ohms.

The Ubicube 200 and 400 incorporate audiophile-grade power modules working alongside an advanced, oversized power supply in a bid to reveal the subtlest details of each recording.

Finally, the Ubiquitous 300B preamplifier aims to deliver "seamless, continuous reproduction of authentic human expression across every genre of music".

Developed with a dual-mono Class A topology and new 300B electron tube technology, the luxury preamp is designed to work with Ubiqaudiolab power amplifiers to create a "truly lifelike reproduction" of music.

While it will be unveiling its first commercially available range at the Warsaw Audio Video Show this weekend , Ubiqaudiolab reportedly has its sights set on the UK market in the future. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but expect the amps above to cost well into the tens of thousands of pounds.

MORE:

Forget the vinyl revival – I'm getting excited about CD players again

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

These are the best stereo amplifiers you can buy

In case you hadn't realised, What Hi-Fi? is celebrating a very special milestone this year.

The magazine is marking its golden anniversary, with 50 years passing since our very first issue went on sale in October 1976.

To celebrate, we've teamed up with Richer Sounds to give one very lucky reader a full state-of-the-art hi-fi system worth a whopping £11,000.

The system is made up of Roksan Caspian amplifiers for high-fidelity sound and uncompromising power, Monitor Audio Gold 300 speakers with advanced acoustic engineering and premium craftsmanship and a sleek, stylish BLOK Collection 3 2G hi-fi rack.

The amplifiers have notably just won a 2026 What Hi-Fi? Award – our five-star Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier/Caspian 4G Power Amplifier review praised the pairing as "a refreshingly forward-looking combination with the sonic talent to worry the class leaders".

So how do you enter? Simply head to the Richer Sounds giveaway page and fill in the form to enter the prize draw.

You won't want to hang about, however, as the competition closes on 26th October 2026! You have to be 18 years old or over to enter – full T&Cs can be found on the giveaway page.

For more on our big birthday, our bumper 50th Anniversary special is on sale now, and we'll continue the celebrations with a very special edition of our annual Awards night in November.

For now, though, good luck to all who enter the prize draw!

MORE:

"We charged extended lunchtime pub tabs to expenses" – from litigation to listening rooms; the joys and challenges of producing What Hi-Fi? in a pre-digital era

What Hi-Fi? (and my dad) got me into hi-fi, and as it turns 50, I can still remember one review in particular

3D TV, Sonos and Spotify – former What Hi-Fi? editor recalls a time of huge transition, including the launch of the website and the "pivot to video"

There’s some good news for those who consider Die Hard a Christmas movie (and even those who don’t) – the original trilogy is getting a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook release in early December. It includes Die Hard, Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance.

It's not the first time the original movie has been released in the premium format, but it does mark a 4K debut for the second and third films.

If the film series has somehow passed you by, let us fill you in on the details. New York policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Los Angeles hoping to patch up his marriage with his estranged wife. But just minutes into her office’s Christmas party, the building is overtaken by a group of terrorists led by Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber.

In the second and third instalments, McClane faces similarly perilous situations where he battles military mercenaries in an airport and is targeted by Simon Gruber – Hans’s vengeful brother.

There are more films in the franchise (Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard), but they won’t be getting the same SteelBook treatment this time. In the latter's case, perhaps that’s for the best, given its 15 per cent Rotten Tomatoes rating.

The SteelBooks include commentary from the directors, with the third instalment also offering visual effects breakdowns and an interview with Bruce Willis.

Disappointingly, though, all of the discs are lacking one major feature. While there is DTS-HD Master Audio support, Dolby Atmos is not on the cards (and neither is DTS:X). That’s a shame for those wanting more immersive surround sound options, especially if your system doesn't have DTS support.

Each Steelbook will set you back £35, cementing its position as a premium option for hardcore collectors. If your budget can't stretch, though, all three films are also getting standard 4K Blu-ray release, priced at £25 each. You can pre-order at HMV and Amazon.

MORE:

Check out the best 4K Blu-ray players you can buy

Here are the best TVs to watch them on

And the best Dolby Atmos soundbars if you're short on space

Canor Audio has launched the Crius H5S, a headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier designed "to bring exceptional performance to a single, elegant component".

The new model uses a dual-mono ES9039Q2M DAC alongside a fully discrete, balanced analogue output stage. The new unit supports hi-res PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512, plus nine digital filters to help you achieve your desired audio signature.

Canor claims to have optimised each stage of the DAC circuit to deliver high linearity and extremely low distortion. An adaptive bias circuit moves between Class A and Class A/B amplification, aiming to combine "the purity of Class A with the headroom needed for more demanding loads".

Canor bills its new unit as able to drive a wide array of headphones courtesy of its balanced 4-pin XLR, 6.3mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs. Optical, coaxial and USB-C inputs all provide compatibility with a range of digital sources, complemented by balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs.

On the outside, the Crius H5S is constructed using a compact aluminium chassis, fronted by a volume control knob alongside a 1.8-inch circular display.

The Canor Crius H5S is available in Black, Silver or Bronze finishes, priced at £1799 (further prices pending). For that kind of money, the Crius H5S is going up against the exceptionally talented Chord Hugo 2 (£1795).

MORE:

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

10 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system

These are the best DACs we've tested in 2026

Audio-Technica has announced its new flagship closed-back headphones, the ATH-AWX7000, designed to integrate high-end acoustic technologies with traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

The ATH-AWX7000 are the first headphones to feature Audio-Technica’s new ‘True Closed-back Acoustic’ design, implemented to harness the air pressure generated within the earcups.

The result, says Audio-Technica, grants powerful low-frequency performance and wide dynamic range while “delivering greater transparency across the mid and high frequencies”.

Further, the new over-ears use a newly developed ‘Hybrid Matrix Diaphragm’, which incorporates thin films of different materials bonded together with the aim of improving transient response and dynamics.

That diaphragm is bolstered by the brand’s ‘High-Concentricity X Dynamic Transducer’ technology, a manufacturing process which aligns the baffle, magnet, voice coil and diaphragm to allow for “exceptionally precise diaphragm movement”.

Externally, each earcup housing is made using Japanese Kiso cypress wood, highly regarded for its durability, natural beauty and distinctive grain. Each wooden housing is finished using Echizen lacquer, applied by hand to highlight the grain of the Kiso cypress.

The ATH-AWX7000 employ soft leather earpads to provide a “gentle yet effective seal”, while precision-machined aluminium sliders are paired with a lightweight magnesium frame and arms.

A 2.5m balanced cable with XLR connectors and a 3.0m unbalanced cable with a 6.3mm stereo plug are included in the box, as well as a hard-shell carry case.

The ATH-AWX7000 are available now, priced at £3299. For context, we thought the stunning Yamaha YH-C3000 were pricey at £1499 / $1700 / AU$3000; the Audio-Technicas make them look positively affordable by comparison.

MORE:

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

Check out our Sony MDR-Z1R review

Best over-ear headphones: wired and wireless pairs tested by our in-house experts

Écoute Audio raised quite a few eyebrows – including our own – when it launched its TH1 over-ears in the UK earlier this year.

The TH1's bank-busting price was one thing, but what really stood out was their claim to be the first headphones in the world featuring a valve-based preamp stage, a DAC and dual-mono amplification. That's half a hi-fi system crammed into a pair of over-ears.

Écoute is now back with a sequel, refining the original design in a bid to improve sound quality, comfort and noise cancelling, all while introducing a few new colourways and material options in the process.

The TH2 refine the dual-mono amplification and valve preamp stage of their predecessors. Central to this is the Nutube 6P1 dual-triode valve, which then hands over to two solid-state amps that maintain channel isolation through to the 40mm titanium-coated Mylar drivers.

The headphones' dual-mono configuration keeps left and right channels separate to reduce crosstalk and better preserve stereo imaging.

The TH2 employs a new resonance chamber design from that found in the TH1, aiming to produce "deeper, punchier bass and a more sharply defined treble. Improved shielding around the Nutube valve further aims to reduce the noise floor, offering better isolation from interference to aid greater clarity and expression".

The sophomore headphones pack standard active noise cancellation alongside a transparency mode to let in outside sounds. Battery life clocks in at around 20 hours, the same approximate lifespan as the original TH1.

As well as Bluetooth 5.3 with support for Sony's higher-quality LDAC codec, you can listen wired via USB-C or standard 3.5mm. If using the latter, you can select 'active mode' to use the TH1's built-in valve preamp and dual-mono power amp, or 'passive mode' to power them with an external amp like normal wired headphones.

The TH2 have also been tweaked in pursuit of better long-term comfort. A redesigned headband uses a hybrid suspension system with three points of articulation, built to remove pressure points for a more tailored-feeling fit.

The Écoute Audio TH2 are available in three colourways – Charcoal, Gunmetal and Nickel – priced at £999 with a fabric trim or £1099 with leather.

MORE:

All the headphones that won a What Hi-Fi? 2026 Award – and the best deals available right now

Why aren't there more open-back wireless headphones?

Want a stellar pair of wireless headphones? Read our Sennheiser HDB 630 review

These are the best audiophile headphones you can buy

Brooklyn-based audio manufacturer Grado today announced a new pair of wired headphones, the Signature S150, which it calls “the most accessible entry” into its expanding Signature Series.

The new model uses technology from Grado’s high-end HP100 SE and S950 headphones and includes a newly developed 44mm paper composite driver, which the company claims delivers a “full-bodied, musical presentation”.

As part of their “lightweight” construction (the headphones weigh 220 grams), the S150 use a new single-piece housing with a padded leather headband. “Refined mechanical components”, including matte-black polymer gimbals, stainless-steel height rods, and reinforced junction blocks, provide “improved stability, adjustability, and durability”.

Like Grado’s more upmarket headphones, the S150 use a detachable cable system, with 3.5mm sockets in each headphone housing. Their cable also comes with a 6.3mm adapter.

The new headphones feature with Grado’s ‘F cushions’, which feature internal acoustic slits to promote airflow and “contribute to the headphone’s open, detailed presentation”. The S150 are also compatible with the company's other headphone cushions, which allow for further customisation.

The Grado S150 will be available in late November for £295 / $295, and we look forward to getting them in our test rooms.

MORE:

Why aren't there more open-back wireless headphones?

Read our full Grado SR325 Classic review

Stay up to date with our pick of the best wired headphones tested by our expert reviewers

ORIGINAL STORY 22/10/2026: Just when it looked like a 4K Blu-ray revival was in full gear, Sony could be about to bring the occasion to a crashing halt.

Reports suggest the firm is ending production of its final commercial model, the UBP-X700/K, despite only launching it just over a year ago.

Kunkoku, a Japanese blog dedicated to Sony products and a Sony retail partner, reports (via FlatpanelsHD) that Sony has "ended shipments of its Ultra HD Blu-ray player", with sales of the UBP-X700/K ceasing once stock runs out.

Visiting the Sony Japan online store reveals that the player is already out of stock, so it may already be too late for those looking to purchase the Blu-ray player in Japan.

This could leave the PlayStation 5 as the company's final remaining device capable of playing 4K Blu-ray discs.

But that will be of little comfort to physical media fans, as we know from Sony's previous announcement that future PlayStation consoles will not support physical discs.

On a wider scale, Panasonic could be the only remaining mainstream manufacturer to continue producing 4K disc players, with new players, such as Krovatar, and enthusiast manufacturers, including Magnetar, filling in the gaps.

Kunkoku affirms that "no information regarding a successor model has been announced at this time". While the end of production of 4K Blu-ray players is specifically in Japan from this source, we'd be surprised if Sony opts to continue selling them globally despite ending production within its home market.

Stock appears to still be available via Sony's official channels in the UK, and third-party retailers are also showing the UBP X700/K as available. That said, once stock runs dry, we could see a similar situation here.

We've reached out to Sony for comment.

MORE:

Read our Sony UBP-X700 review

Check out our picks for the best 4K Blu-ray players

And read our Sony PlayStation 5 review

Deezer has introduced a way for its users to filter out AI-generated content from its streaming platform, allowing users to remove tracks created using artificial intelligence via a simple toggle.

In 2025, Deezer became the first music streaming service to tag AI-generated content, but is now going one step further by allowing its members to filter out all music not sourced from a human artist.

Other services have followed Deezer’s suit in flagging artificial content. As part of its AI charter, French music streaming service Qobuz announced last month that it would now display a tag alerting users when music has been identified as AI-generated.

Currently, however, Deezer appears to be the only player willing to provide an actual toggle to prevent such content from appearing at all.

Deezer claims that it receives nearly 90,000 AI-generated tracks per day, with more than 42 million AI-generated songs removed from the platform’s recommendations between January 2025 and August 2026.

According to Alexis Lanternier, Deezer’s CEO: “The explosion of AI-generated content continues to impact the whole music ecosystem. We’ve seen a clear user demand for the ability to filter out AI-generated music, and we are now giving everyone the option to remove this content completely from their streaming experience on Deezer, and focus only on human creators.”

Deezer’s new measures will be introduced globally before the end of 2026. Will other major services follow suit in allowing a full-scale exclusionary filter? Time will tell.

MORE

New issue of What Hi-Fi? out now: super standalone streaming systems, tempting turntable cartridges and more

Best music streaming services: is Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon or Apple Music better?

Read our original Deezer review

Audio Solutions has announced its latest pair of floorstanders, the Overture G4.

Audio Solutions is a hi-fi manufacturer based in Lithuania. Founded in 2011, it’s still a relatively fresh-faced brand which lists four main loudspeaker ranges – the Vantage, Virtuoso, Figaro and Overture – among its overall lineup.

The G4 are, naturally, the fourth generation of the brand’s Overture roster, inheriting trickle-down structural and acoustic innovations from the higher-tier Figaro and Virtuoso ranges.

Designed to “bridge the gap between entry-level and high-end”, each fourth-gen tower packs a 19mm silk-dome tweeter alongside a 15cm paper-cone midrange and two 15cm paper-cone bass units.

The tweeter benefits from Audio Solution’s ‘Mini-Horn’ waveguide technology, designed to enhance tweeter performance by damping the micro-flexing that affects soft-dome tweeters at higher volumes, resulting in “exceptional clarity, detail, and transient speed”.

Elsewhere, the Overture G4 cabinets employ a dual-shell design consisting of a 10mm inner shell and a larger 22mm outer shell. These layers are separated by a specialised damping material to eliminate unwanted resonances inside the cabinets.

The Overture G4 also use an internal bracing skeleton to enhance structural rigidity and further manage internal standing waves.

The new speakers are available in two standard finishes – Gloss White or Gloss Dark Grey – or you can use Audio Solutions’ product configurator to customise the speakers’ front panels, side panels and accessories to your liking. For a cost, of course.

The new Overture G4 come in ‘S’ and ‘M’ sizes, with the former costing £6000 and the latter setting you back £7500.

MORE:

I flew to Switzerland to hear a £1 million hi-fi system – and it made quite the Statement

“It’s not our job to fix a bad recording” – Goldmund’s brutal pursuit of honest sound, according to its head of acoustics

These are the best floorstanding speakers around

Audio giant Bose has bought fellow US company Skullcandy, a headphone maker known for its brash, youth-oriented designs.

It might seem an odd fit, but their respective differences might well complement each other. The two will combine Bose’s “audio expertise, technology, and global reach with Skullcandy’s design, understanding of its consumers, and authentic community connections to create new products and experiences and accelerate growth,” says Bose.

The two have collaborated previously during a multi-year partnership. Over the summer, they released the Skullcandy Crusher 1080 ANC (pictured), which feature Bose’s active noise cancellation (ANC) tech.

Skullcandy will remain a separate brand within Bose’s portfolio, much as Beats has since being acquired by Apple in 2014.

Indeed, the acquisition has echoes of the Apple/Beats deal, with an established market leader snapping up a youth-oriented upstart with a strong reputation in sports and plenty of athletes as ambassadors. Skullcandy is big in board sports, gaming and fitness.

Bose says the deal will allow it to reach previously untapped markets.

“For more than 60 years, Bose has been committed to delivering incredible audio experiences however and wherever people choose to listen. As we work to reach even more people, we’re expanding how we do that, not only through Bose products, but through technology partnerships and a growing portfolio of brands,” Lila Snyder, chief executive officer of Bose Corporation, said in a statement.

Skullcandy’s CEO said the deal was “a win for Skullcandy and our fans”, allowing it to bring Bose’s “audio expertise and technology to our products”.

As well as giving Skullcandy access to its technology, Bose will share resources, global distribution, and commercial relationships while allowing it to “continue evolving in ways that are authentic to its identity and consumers”, Bose said.

Skullcandy will continue to be based in Park City, Utah. Financial details of the deal haven’t been disclosed.

The deal was announced just a week or so before Halloween, which is a time for both skulls and candy. But will it end up being a trick or treat for the two brands? Skullcandy products don’t have a particularly great reputation in terms of sound quality, so hopefully some Bose tech will improve both its audio and ANC capabilities.

MORE:

The best over-ear headphones around

The best wireless headphones of all styles

Check out our Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) review

When we tested LG’s Sound Suite system, there was a fair bit to like about the soundbar package.

Made up of the H7 soundbar, W7 subwoofer and two M7 speakers, the system offered a room-filling sound with impressive Dolby Atmos handling and deep bass. But its slightly aggressive overall presentation and inexpressive dialogue mean it scored a middling three-star review.

Now, though, LG is adding a big free upgrade that could make it more appealing for some, with the brand claiming to expand “immersive audio possibilities for home theatre enthusiasts".

The most notable of these upgrades is the addition of DTS:X support, as the soundbar system previously offered only Atmos. Even though the latter is much more widely available for both streaming and physical media, there are still a few discs that exclusively support the surround sound format. Anyway, it’s always nice to have both on board for comprehensive coverage.

That is available with both the LG Sound Suite as well as the LG H7 soundbar on its own.

LG is also giving the option to add in two of the W7 subwoofers instead of the one that we used to test the package. The brand adds that this should “improve bass consistency throughout a room, delivering more balanced low-frequency performance across multiple seating positions.”

On top of that, LG has added support for Wi‑Fi 6 GHz networks and 5 GHz DFS channels. You will also now be able to access Google Cast support, which means you can stream music directly from your phone, tablet, or laptop.

While it is not the upgrade we were hoping for in terms of improved audio performance, it’s certainly a welcome addition when it comes to surround sound support and increased flexibility.

MORE:

Here’s our review of the LG Sound Suite H7

Check out the best soundbars

And this is our review of the LG Sound Suite system

When is a pair of loudspeakers not a pair of loudspeakers? When it’s a streaming system, of course. Time was when we at What Hi-Fi? would urge the serious music enthusiast to invest in separate components to get the very best performance from their system to enjoy their hobby.

These days, things aren’t so simple. Or rather, perhaps, they have in fact been made more simple, by the introduction of some absolutely superb all-in-one set-ups in the form of a pair of speakers; for these are speakers that perform the functions of source, amp and speaker in one package. And they are brilliant – as our round-up of all-in-one systems makes clear.

We also have a Group Test of £800-£1000 soundbars with the mighty Sonos taking on rivals from Sony, Samsung and Bose; premium home cinema amplifiers; and a round-up of turntable cartridges from less than £100 to just under £1000. Plenty here, then, to get your teeth into.

All-in-one streaming systems

For many years the received wisdom when it comes to domestic hi-fi equipment has been that, if you want the best sound quality from a sound system, buy separates.

Although all-in-one systems have existed in one form or another since hi-fi itself came into being (remember the ‘music centre’ anyone?), such musical multi-taskers were never any match for a system in which the source, amplification and speakers were each provided by a dedicated unit.

Then, not so long ago, the market started to fill with one-box technological marvels whose sound quality could rival – and often surpass – equivalent systems comprising three or more different products.

Essentially, hi-fi technology developed to such an extent that electronic circuits could be fine-tuned to produce superior sound quality in a very confined space, making it possible to build complex, multi-faceted devices inside a single unit – and by a single manufacturer.

The pinnacle of this sonic engineering is the ‘speaker system’ – a hi-fi breed that provides a source, amplification and stereo speakers in just two boxes. Not only are these creatures sonically impressive, they are also beautifully practical, minimising the need for lots of space and wiring.

Today’s speaker systems are the epitome of what modern hi-fi should be: quality and convenience in one neat, compromise-free solution. This month we round up four such fully-contained systems between £2000 and £3500.

Premium soundbars Group Test

If you want to upgrade your TV’s audio, a soundbar is a great way to go. It takes up much less space than a hefty surround sound system, while still delivering a room-filling and detailed audio experience that gives movies and music extra punch.

We have tested countless soundbars over the years, with some expertly delivering three-dimensional sound wrapped up in a compact design. Others, however, have not quite nailed the concept and fall short of five-star greatness. Will it be a similar story with the premium all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbars we have here?

All of these single bars can be upgraded by adding in separate subwoofers or surround speakers but, for this Group Test we are looking at the soundbars on their own.

So, which premium Dolby Atmos soundbar will come out on top? Find out in this month's mag!

What Hi-Fi?'s reference system

It being our 50th birthday year, it seems the perfect time to take a look at the stereo system that the What Hi-Fi? team uses most of all.

The systems we usually suggest, you will note, aren’t generally quite as pricey as the one you see here. But there are good reasons for us to invest in (well, okay, borrow from the manufacturers – but you know what we mean) a top-notch set-up.

This system needs to do more than simply sound brilliant. It needs to be able to perform day in, day out for months at a time – indeed, years in the case of some of the products – without letting us down.

Each component needs to be able to get on with doing its thing, without unduly affecting the other parts of the system. That way, the What Hi-Fi? review team can know, when they swap a product out with something new that has come in for test, that any changes to the sound they hear are coming from the new piece of kit and that there is no colouration from its system partners – or, at least, as little as is possible.

Find out what we use as our reference set-up only in this month's What Hi-Fi?.

Upgrade your vinyl sound

You might not realise it, but your cartridge has as much or more to do with the character of your turntable’s sound than any other component part. Consequently, if you feel that you’re not quite getting the sound you want from your turntable, it’s worth considering changing the current cartridge rather than swapping out the entire record player.

It’s a simple but effective change, and you might find yourself listening to your records with fresh ears thanks to a new, updated cartridge.

This month we present our pick of the best cartridges, spanning budget to premium models, and both moving magnet and moving coil types. If you’re looking to upgrade and enhance your vinyl replay, any of these options would be a fine choice.

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 a new soundbar from Sonos. Thanks to the company's Sonos Arc and Beam models especially, Sonos has carved out an enviable reputation in the soundbar world. Its latest entry into the popular Beam range, the Sonos Beam Ultra, adds proper up-firing drivers and, spoiler alert, scores five stars for its efforts.

That's not all from Sonos, though. We weren't exactly blown away by the sound of the company's first stab it wireless over-ear headphones, the Ace, when they released a couple of years ago. But this month we've had the sequel, the Sonos Ace Ultra, in for testing. Will they fare any better? Find out in this month's What Hi-Fi?.

Elsewhere we have reviews of the Marshall Kilburn III wireless speaker, AudioQuest's DragonFly Copper DAC, Acer Vero HL6810ATV projector, Cambridge Audio's Evo 300 streaming amplifier, Hisense PX4 Pro UST projector, iFi iDSD GR2 DAC and new TVs from TCL and Samsung.

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

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 December 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

Technics has today announced a new direct-drive DJ turntable, the SL-1210MKX, which the company says was “developed with direct input from working DJs and sound engineers to deliver greater stability, enhanced pitch precision and expanded creative freedom”.

According to the Technics, the new model is positioned above the SL-1210MK7 as the latest evolution of its iconic SL-1200 series.

The turntable has been designed specifically to address the challenges DJs face “in high pressure performance settings where powerful sound systems, deep bass, structural vibration and extended operating periods place exceptional demands on equipment.”

To confront these challenges, the SL-1210MKX features a “significantly heavier, optimally balanced chassis”, which Technics claims improves resistance to external vibration, while the turntable’s isolation feet have been re-engineered to balance “effective feedback isolation with the stability required for confident scratching and performance use.”

In a first for the SL-1200 Series, the SL-1210MKX features a ±4% pitch modulation range, allowing users a finer degree of adjustment for “accurate beatmatching and subtle tempo correction”. Alongside standard pitch settings, there is also a ±50% range, which expands the series’ tempo variation options.

Other developments include a quieter reset switch, which Technics says was inspired by earlier SL-1200 models, and a coreless direct-drive motor with adjustable start-up torque and brake speed, 78rpm playback and reverse functionality.

Emphasising the model’s “premium character”, a polished silver tonearm and a black finish pay tribute to the SL-1200MK2, a staple turntable in DJ history.

According to Stefanie Baron, manager Technics DJ channel Europe, Panasonic Consumer Europe (PCEU): “The SL-1200 Series has earned its reputation through decades of real-world performance in clubs, on stage and in studios around the world. With the SL-1210MKX, we wanted to build on that legacy by working closely with professional DJs and sound technicians to better understand the challenges they face. The result is a turntable that delivers even greater stability, precision and creative freedom while staying true to the qualities that have made the SL-1200 an industry standard for more than five decades.”

The SL-1210MKX will be available from January 2027 for £1299 (we will add US pricing once we get it). At this price, the turntable comes up against the slightly cheaper, What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, which is currently available for around £1099 / $1,795. We can’t wait to see how these turntables compare.

MORE

Read our full Technics SL-1300G review

Plus, our guide on how to choose the right record player for you

Stay up to date with our pick of the best turntables tested by our expert reviewers

Nagra has announced the latest addition to its Series II range, the Nagra Amp II-S.

Following the arrival of the Preamp II-S earlier this year, the Swiss brand’s new stereo power amplifier aims for outstanding “musical coherence, transparency and refinement”. Although conceived as the natural partner to the Preamp II-S, Nagra bills the Amp II-S as equally at home in a wide variety of high-end setups.

At its heart is a new linear power-supply, built around a custom-made 800 VA potted transformer. Thanks to the greater energy reserves and increased voltage headroom, Nagra promises its latest amp reproduces “demanding musical passages with greater ease and authority”.

The new model delivers 120 watts of Class A/B power per channel into 8 ohms, with the first 10 watts operating as purely Class A.

The amp’s input board derives from Nagra’s high-end Reference Amp, aiming for improved channel separation and spatial precision. Revised circuit layouts, internal wiring, and isolated controls work together to improve overall transparency and clarity.

The high-end amplifier’s mechanical construction includes a massive CNC-machined heatsink for providing “exceptional thermal inertia” while minimising vibrations, whereas a specially designed transformer suspension also reduces the transmission of unwanted mechanical oscillation.

The Amp II-S sports Nagra’s established front-panel ‘Modulometer’, a precise analogue audio level meter inspired by the company’s IV-S reel-to-reel recorder from 1971.

The Nagra Amp II-S is available to order now, priced at £21,998 / AU$33,955 (further prices pending).

MORE:

I flew to Switzerland to hear a £1 million hi-fi system – and it made quite the Statement

“It’s not our job to fix a bad recording” – Goldmund’s brutal pursuit of honest sound, according to its head of acoustics

These are the best stereo amps around

Esoteric has launched its latest high-end CD player, the Grandioso K1XE, alongside the Grandioso PS1 XE, an optional external power supply.

Touted as the brand’s flagship ‘Super Audio CD player’, the K1XE features a premium suite of Esoteric’s high-end technologies and materials, all designed to push towards “the pinnacle of all-in-one CD and DAC performance”.

The flagship player incorporates Esoteric’s in-house ‘VRDS-ATLAS’ transport mechanism, featuring an exceptionally rigid, heavyweight platform engineered for outstanding mechanical precision.

The K1XE is also fitted with a Master Sound Discrete DAC G2, designed in-house, deploying a fully dual-mono configuration and discrete components in pursuit of boundary-pushing performance.

The flagship model is built using a multi-layer chassis, designed to prevent interference between circuit components in pursuit of greater sonic purity. A semi-floating top panel – a design signature found across many of Esoteric’s high-end amps, including the five-star F-01 – aids a more open presentation.

For physical connections, you are furnished with USB, XLR, and optical outputs, as well as an ‘ES-Link 5’ input for granting a connection to Esoteric’s Grandioso N1T streaming transport.

Complementing the K1XE as an optional addition is the PS1XE power supply. This is designed to enhance the performance of the Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 via its four independently aligned power transformers and optimised filter circuits.

Like its CD player companion, the new model also boasts a multi-layer chassis and a semi-floating top panel, as well as advanced isolation feet for reducing resonances and enhancing sonic clarity.

The Esoteric Grandioso K1XE and PS1XE will be available in November 2026. The K1XE will cost £37,999 / $45,000, while the PS1XE will set you back an additional £16,500 / $19,000.

MORE:

Read our five-star Esoteric N-05XE review

“It’s not our job to fix a bad recording” – Goldmund’s brutal pursuit of honest sound, according to its head of acoustics

These are the best CD players around

It has been a tough time for Spotify users. Prices have risen significantly, AI ‘artists’ abound, and extraneous features have received a mixed reception from the fanbase.

Now, Spotify has quietly announced that it is rolling out a new way of clamping down on Family plan sharing, aiming to make it far trickier for members to share their accounts with users who aren’t actually living under the same roof. No more farming out access to your mate who lives in a different country, then.

As you’ll find on Spotify’s support page, Family plan members may need to “verify they live with the plan manager by scanning a QR code. The code appears on the plan manager’s device and is scannable following a pop-up on the device of the member wishing to be added.”

A foolproof method, then. Well, unless you use video calling to scan the code via, say, FaceTime, but given that it is designed to change every few seconds, that could throw a spanner in the works.

Spotify is playing hardball with its implementation, too. Users have a seven-day window between when the QR code prompt first appears to complete the process, and if you miss that window, you won’t be able to join a different Family or Duo plan for 12 months. You can still sign up for an Individual plan, because hey, business is business.

We imagine that this is the way that the wind is blowing for most major streaming subscriptions, be they audio or visual.

Netflix’s recent crackdown restricted account sharing to members living under the same roof, and with services (supposedly) facing rising operating costs, don’t be surprised to see them use every trick in the book to claw back as much revenue as possible.

MORE:

I am ditching streaming services in favour of physical media. Here’s why

“It’s not our job to fix a bad recording” – Goldmund’s brutal pursuit of honest sound, according to its head of acoustics

These are the best music streaming services

Bluesound has today announced that support for Apple Music will be integrated into its wireless speakers, stereo components and soundbars through a free BluOS software update. Among the company’s compatible products are its Node streamer and Pulse Flex and Pulse Cinema wireless speakers.

The update will also affect compatible BluOS devices from other manufacturers, including NAD Electronics, PSB Speakers, Dali, Cyrus, and Monitor Audio.

The streaming service is the latest to join a host of platforms already available via the BluOS Controller app, including Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and more. Apple Music support is added to existing support for Apple AirPlay 2, which has been part of the BluOS platform for some time.

Bluesound says the service will grant users access to “over 100 million songs, ad-free”. Aside from music, personalised recommendations, expert-curated playlists, artist-hosted shows and global radio programming can also be accessed via the streaming platform.

To make the most of the update, users will require an Apple Music subscription, which costs £12 / $12 per month at the time of writing. For those already signed up, logging in to Apple Music with the BluOS Controller app will let you access the service on any compatible device.

Apple Music can also be used with BluOS multi-room, allowing users to stream using a single Bluesound device or share music across multiple players throughout the home. Using the multi-room function, rooms and ‘audio zones’ can be grouped together, allowing for a “whole-home music experience” or “something different in each room”.

According to Matt Simmonds, Bluesound’s product manager: “ Bluesound has always been about music discovery and the freedom to enjoy their music their way, in every room they listen in. Adding Apple Music means even more listeners can bring the music they love to their Bluesound system, with the simplicity of the BluOS Controller app and the sound quality Bluesound is known for.”

MORE

Read our full Apple Music review

Plus, our full Bluesound Node review

Stay up to date with our pick of the best music streamers tested by our expert reviewers

Jamo’s HYG Series just got a new flagship. The HYG 5 is a wireless speaker that looks a bit like a portlier, friendlier HomePod, but with one added skill: motion controls.

A wave of your palm wakes the HYG 5 and resumes playback from the last source. In standby, the touch interface dims so as not to distract you from the speaker’s sleek aesthetic, while the warm ambient light ring adjusts depending on the room’s brightness.

All well and good. But what’s under the hood?

There are two 2.5-inch full-range drivers angled upwards and outwards to spread the stereo image as wide as possible. On bass duties is a 4-inch down-firing woofer, with two symmetrical flared ports beneath the cabinet and ribbed port walls to limit unwanted vibrations.

The speaker is compatible with Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect, as well as TuneIn and QPlay II, while AirPlay 2 and Google Cast allow for simple casting and multi-room playback.

You can also beam audio to it via Bluetooth 5.0 (though sadly not the newer Bluetooth 6 standard), while those of a wired bent can hook up a turntable or CD player via a stereo RCA line input. The HYG 5 also supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.

You can control the HYG 5 from the Jamo Play app for iOS and Android, and also adjust the EQ to suit your taste and surroundings.

The HYG range takes its name from the Danish word ‘hygge’, which, as anyone who read a Sunday supplement 10 years ago will tell you, means cosiness and comfort, especially in the cold winter months.

Jamo previously announced the HYG Reflect bedside speaker, HYG Flow for outdoors and HYG Flex for taking from room to room.

It has been a busy few months for Jamo. After being sold off in 2024, the brand made a return earlier this year under new ownership, and promptly announced two premium ranges of Concert passive speakers followed by the HYG range. In 2028, it will celebrate 60 years in the hi-fi industry – a milestone that not many brands have reached.

The HYG 5 is out now for £349 / $399 (around AU$670).

MORE:

The best wireless speakers it is up against

The best multi-room speakers

Multi-room audio: everything you need to know

Sky Sports is adding new accessibility features to its Premier League coverage, making it easier for blind, partially sighted and hard-of-hearing fans to support their team.

The British-based company claims that “the two services mark a significant step forward in making live sport more accessible to a wider audience.”

The first is a Live Descriptive Audio Commentary feature which is targeting football fans with sight loss. Instead of offering occasional commentary, as the previous audio offering did, Sky is moving to a continuous description of the match action that Sky says is “closer to the style of traditional radio commentary”.

Sky adds that it helps supporters better understand the movement of play, as well as the atmosphere on and off the pitch, creating a “richer and more immersive live football experience”.

It is available across around 109 Premier League matches per season, which equates to roughly one match per day in each gameweek.

To check if you can watch it on certain matches, just open your TV Guide and scroll to the programme. Sky says that the AD logo will appear, and a short beep will also sound to indicate that the feature is available.

For hard-of-hearing and deaf football viewers, there’s good news too. The Live Subtitles feature lets you follow live commentary, analysis and on-screen dialogue in real time. You can find it on all front-channel Premier League matches, covering approximately 210 games each season.

The features are available across Sky+, Sky Q, Sky Glass, Sky Stream and NOW, as well as to customers watching via Virgin Media.

Both features may not be available across all of the Premier League matches on Sky, but this is still a step in the right direction to make sure that every football fan can get better access. Let’s see if other providers can step up their game as well.

MORE:

Sky's OS is getting a big facelift

These are the best TVs right now

And check out the best wireless headphones

Swiss high-end hi-fi firm Goldmund has unveiled its latest premium pre-amplifier, the Mimesis Statement.

The analogue pre-amp was unveiled at the firm’s Geneva headquarters at a press event attended by What Hi-Fi?.

Featuring a three-box design that mixes a cover glass display and metal-coated front-panel controls for the amp section with two power supply boxes, at first glance the Statement continues Goldmund’s hard-edged, minimalist design philosophy.

However, Goldmund COO Gaspar Baldunciel told us the pre-amp is otherwise completely new and the result of vast R&D investment, with nearly every part being either proprietary to, or newly developed by, the firm.

For starters, the Statement is the first from Goldmund to feature a dual-mono power supply, with one box dedicated to feeding either the left or right channel.

Goldmund head of engineering, Dr Mehran Erza, clarified that every part of the power supply has been custom-designed by the internal team, with the aim of helping minimise noise and interference.

Despite housing the amplification electronics in one box, the firm has also taken a different approach with the pre-amp section’s design, working to isolate and separate the left and right channels as much as possible. This includes physically separating them with a custom “unique heat dissipation component” on the board.

“[For the amplification] if you see the main board, you’ll see things for controlling [things like] input/output selections, displays, volume. But everything relating to the sound and the signals will not go through the main board,” he explained.

“They’re going into the dedicated audio boards [on top], which are separated into the left and right channels, which each has its own power supply. Everything is separated to reduce crosstalk and interference. And again, the circuitry we’ve developed for that is not something you will find anywhere else.”

This, according to Goldmund, means the Statement can deliver a wide-bandwidth signal – 0.2Hz-1.5 MHz (±3 dB) – with low distortion.

He added that he believes the design is more elegant and less problematic for the end user than a four-box design.

Connectivity-wise, the Statement features three balanced XLR and seven single-ended RCA line-level inputs. For outputs, you will find three balanced XLR and three RCA connections.

Goldmund confirmed the amp has been tuned to deliver “a pure” listening experience that lets the original recording “pass through with minimal alteration”.

The Mimesis Statement costs £220,000, which makes sense given its place at the top of the range and recommended matching with the firm’s latest Telos 9800 power amp.

The step-down pre-amp, the Mimesis Reference, is around £145,000, and the partnering monoblocs are around £350,000 each.

MORE:

These are the best stereo amplifiers we’ve tested

We rank the best floorstanding speakers money can buy

Our picks of the best turntables

French audio firm Triangle has expanded its Borea Series with a new large-format standmount speaker, the BR05.

The company says that the BR05 combines “retro-chic styling with contemporary acoustic design”.

At the heart of the new speaker is a 21cm mid/bass driver made from natural cellulose pulp.

Triangle says that the driver’s material “gives voices and instruments a sense of texture and presence, while the cone profile and dust cap are tuned to balance scale with finesse”.

The mid/bass motor system features a 120mm ferrite magnet and a 40mm voice coil, while a “rigid, open basket promotes airflow and heat dissipation to help the BR05 stay composed during dynamic passages”.

To handle high frequencies, the BR05 uses the Borea Series’ signature 25mm silk dome tweeter with a phase plug. Triangle claims this lets the speakers deliver a more precise soundstage.

The bi-wirable speaker’s internally braced cabinet is made from high-density MDF. Triangle claims that its proprietary driver vibration absorption system “[dissipates] mechanical energy before it reaches the cabinet”, using a high-density foam gasket to connect the rear of the motor to an internal brace.

Two forward-facing bass-reflex ports have also been included to make the speaker “less sensitive to distance from the rear wall and easier to position in a real room”.

A supplied base tilts the speaker back by eight degrees to “improve soundstage coherence, while maintaining a discreet visual footprint”.

For those looking to raise the speakers to listening height, optional S03 stands are available for £225 / $299 per pair. According to Triangle, the eight-degree tilt is maintained in both positions

The Borea BR05 are available to order now for £729 / $999 in five finishes: Light Oak, Black Ash, Chestnut, Green and Frosted White.

This makes them the most expensive standmounter speakers in the Borea range but still cheaper than the firm's premium Borea BR10 floorstanders (priced at £1379 / $1149).

The speakers' main rivals at this price are the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Acoustic Energy AE3000 Mk2. Here's hoping they're up to the challenge when we get them in for testing.

MORE:

Read our full Triangle Borea BR04 review

And our Triangle Borea BR03 review

Stay up to date with our pick of the best standmounter speakers tested by our expert reviewers

English manufacturer Audiolab has announced the release of its first standalone phono stage in almost 20 years, the PPA7. The company says that the new unit is “much more than a traditional phono stage”, calling it “a veritable multitool for vinyl lovers”.

It may not include a corkscrew or a nail file, but the PPA7 doesn’t fall short of its “multi-tool” status, with a built-in headphone amplifier and an analogue to digital converter (ADC).

In this case, the ADC serves the dual purpose of enabling wireless streaming to Bluetooth headphones or speakers via Bluetooth 5.3 (with support for the hi-res aptX HD codec), and also allows the unit to be connected to a PC or Mac via USB-C for digitising and storing records.

The ADC supports 16 and 24-bit recording at sample rates ranging from 44.1kHz to 192kHz. Audiolab says the ADC's adjustable output level allows users to “achieve an ideal balance between recording loudness and the audible noise floor”.

The company has acknowledged the PPA7’s visual likeness to the five-star rated D7 DAC, which launched last year. The units have identical 5.6 x 18 x 20.8 cm (hwd) aluminium cases, sharing features “right down to the multifunction rotary controls” which flank the 33mm OLED display.

Separate stereo RCA inputs are included for moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges, alongside RCA outputs for connecting to an external amplifier or powered speakers. The output can be switched between fixed or variable modes, the latter of which engages a built-in volume control for direct connection to a power amplifier.

Both types of cartridge are well-accommodated by the PPA7. For MM cartridges, a 47kOhm input impedance can be switched between capacitances of 100pF and 220pF, while selectable 100 ohm and 330 ohm resistance loads provide further flexibility for MC cartridges. Audiolab claims that these settings allow users to “fine-tune the sound to suit their system”.

Gain can also be adjusted with a maximum value of 52dB for MM and 66dB for MC cartridges.

A front-mounted 6.35mm headphone socket can deliver up to 600mW of power to drive loads ranging from 20 to 600 ohms, supporting “a detailed and dynamic performance with a broad range of wired headphones”.

Future and past-proofing the PPA7’s design, a USB-A input has been included for firmware updates, while a 12V trigger inputs allow the unit to be integrated into a wider system for coordinated powering up and down.

We've previously seen headphone amps integrated into phono stages, with five-star products such as the Cambridge Audio Duo pulling it off in style, but we look forward to testing the extra functionality of Bluetooth and USB that the PPA7 has to offer.

The PPA7 will be available for £499 / $699 / AU$1099 in a choice of black or silver, with sales beginning in late October.

MORE

Read our full Audiolab D7 DAC review

Plus, our Cambridge Audio Duo MC/MM review

Stay up to date with our pick of the best phono preamps tested by our expert reviewers

Sony has lifted the lid on two new hi-res Walkmans, but they are both significantly more expensive than their 2022 predecessors.

But let's not dwell on that – after all, it would be a bit naive to expect new products at four-year-old prices. Let's focus on the good stuff.

And there's certainly plenty of that. The flagship NW-WM1ZM3 and step-down NW-WM1AM3 promise to "bring together Sony's most advanced audio technologies" and capture "subtle nuances throughout a performance, while maintaining clarity, scale and dynamics at higher volumes."

So what's the difference between them? The flagship NW-WM1ZM3 features a gold-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC) chassis which doesn't just hold the parts in place, but helps enhance the sound quality.

The 99.99 per cent (4N) purity OFC main chassis and OFC rear chassis are secured with screws secured with a low-resistance gold-plated treatment that's exclusive to the ZM3, which provides a stable ground connection to deliver "powerful bass, an expansive soundstage and smooth, extended high frequencies."

It also has the same thick Kimber Kable wiring as the massive DMP-Z1, which reduces noise and preserves signal integrity.

The NW-WM1AM3 isn't quite as premium, but still boasts an aluminium-alloy main chassis and gold-plated OFC rear chassis to enhance rigidity and hence sound quality.

Both models have upgraded power supply architecture, with the single high-polymer capacitor replaced by dual ones. Add in hand-soldered OFC wiring, and it should produce a cleaner, more stable power supply with less interference.

The larger, high-purity 4N copper coil used in the L-C filter optimises the balance output signal from the digital amplifier, while its flat conductive wire reduces resistance and distortion, meaning better clarity and detail across the frequency range.

The digital ground is further strengthened by an OFC milled block covering the digital components, resulting in more clarity and definition, Sony says.

Also onboard is Sony's S-Master HX digital amp tech, which was developed specifically for Walkmans, and promises a powerful, detailed sound. It's compatible with Native DSD formats, and includes a look-ahead noise shaper that predicts quantisation noise in advance and applies optimal processing for a clearer, faster sound reproduction.

The same look-ahead noise shaper features in Sony's five-star WH-100XM6 headphones, courtesy of the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3.

Sony's DSD Remastering Engine is there too, to resample PCM audio into an 11.2MHz DSD ultra-high-frequency stream. Sony claims this gives the sound a character that's closer to analogue.

You can now use the DSD Remastering Engine when listening to music streamed over wi-fi or that's been downloaded.

The 35-hour battery life (for both) is a big step on from the 18 hours offered by the ZM2, but there's a caveat. That figure involves listening to 128kbps MP3s, which would seem a bit of a waste considering the audio chops at your disposal. Listening to DSD files will drain the battery far quicker – we got less than 10 hours from the ZM2, which is around 50 per cent less than the quoted run time.

Over streaming, Sony claims the new players will last 31 hours (though that's in "offline mode with balanced connection").

The screens have also been enlarged, and now stand 5.5 inches across (half an inch bigger than the ZM2's). You can now customise the home screen interface, too. And the screens promise to be smoother and more responsive – which is good news, given that the clunky interface was one of our main criticisms of the last model.

Which brings us to the price. The NW1-WM1ZM3 costs £4299 / AU$8499 (around $5899 and the NW-WM1AM3 £2099 / AU$3999 (around $2999). That's an increase on their 2022 predecessors of £949 for the flagship and £799 for the step-down. Ouch.

We found the ZM2 to be a deeply impressive performer with beautiful build quality, but it was let down by its limited power output and rather clunky operation. Let's hope these improvements can help the new model earn that elusive fifth star.

MORE:

Read our Sony NW-WM1ZM2 review

Why the time is ripe for a new Walkman – one that plays cassettes

The best portable music players around

This portable music player worked first time after over a decade being sat unused in a garage

Sky has just announced two new Sky Sports memberships for their NOW streaming service.

The Football membership will provide access to Sky Sports’ football coverage only, with prices starting from £23.99 a month.

Conversely, the Multi-Sport Membership includes Sky’s non-football coverage. Formula 1, golf majors, international cricket, year-round tennis, darts, rugby, NFL and more are all part of the membership, which starts at £19.99 a month.

Fans can still enjoy access to all coverage through the regular Sky Sports membership, which has been renamed All Sky Sports and starts at £27.99 a month.

By choosing a Football or Multi-Sport membership, fans can save £4 or £8 a month, respectively compared to paying for an All Sky Sports membership.

However, these prices are only for the Standard membership with 720p picture quality and stereo sound. A Boost membership for 1080p Full HD quality and Dolby 5.1 sound costs an extra £6, while Ultra Boost for 4K and Dolby Atmos support is £9 more.

If we're to do the maths here, with Ultra Boost, that brings Multi-Sport to £28.99 a month, Football to £32.99 and All Sky Sports to £36.99. Do note, however, that no 4K channels are included with the Football membership.

The recently announced Multiview feature will also be available when selected Premier League fixtures overlap.

While these extra memberships will undoubtedly add some confusion to the already complex subscription options, we welcome the extra flexibility to pay only for the sports you actually watch.

It's been a busy few months for Sky – we recently had a sneak peek at the new TV OS, while the mobile streaming app is getting a picture quality boost.

MORE:

Here’s our review of Sky Glass Air

Check out our thoughts on Sky Glass Gen 2

For football, Dolby Atmos is a bigger game-changer than 4K and HDR combined – and Sky could make it even better

British hi-fi mainstay NAD has announced two new products in its Classic Series: the C 359S streaming amplifier and C 569 CD player.

The C 359S brings streaming smarts to a traditional Class AB amplifier courtesy of the BluOS platform. And the C 569 uses NAD's Dynamic Digital Headroom (DDH) and QRONO d2a technologies to bring out more detail, depth and presence from your CD collection.

While the C 359S uses Class AB amplification, it foregoes the large transformer and linear power supply usually associated with that design. Instead, it employs a high-current, low-noise switch mode power supply that's derived from NAD's flagship Class D amplifier platform.

Power conversion, signal processing and amplification are kept separate by a modern multi-layer architecture, while grounding, current paths and signal routing minimise unwanted interaction between the amp's various functions.

NAD claims the C 359S is "a remarkably quiet, responsive amplifier" that delivers 2 x 70 watts of continuous power into 8 ohms, and can handle demanding loudspeakers "without compromise".

Hi-res streaming and multi-room audio come courtesy of the BluOS platform, so you can beam audio to speakers dotted throughout the house. With aptX HD Bluetooth also onboard, a phono input for turntables, plus an HDMI eARC port for connecting to your TV, it's equipped to handle multiple audio sources.

By redirecting deep bass to the subwoofer via high-pass filtering, it eases the load on the main speakers and amp for better clarity, imaging and headroom within a 2.1-channel setup.

And the design is recognisably NAD, with push buttons, knob controls and a bundled IR remote.

The C 569 CD player sits between the entry-level C 538 and flagship (and much more recent) C 589. Onboard is the latter's Qrono d2a filtering technology, which refines timing and resolution for a more natural performance from PCM- and MQA-encoded music.

NAD's own Dynamic Digital Headroom (DDH) tech eliminates inter-sample clipping so that percussion and transients can hit harder and cleaner without digital distortion.

Both of these technologies are part of NAD's "Music First" design, which "favours musicality, tonal balance and clarity over exaggerated detail or specs", creating performances that are "naturally engaging" even during long listens.

Onboard are an ESS Sabre DAC, improved op-amps and a refined power supply that should lower noise while preserving low-level details, while the C 359 can also be used as a CD transport with a separate DAC.

The C 359 is out now and costs £1099 (around $1400 / AU$2000), while the C 569 CD player is coming in late November for £749 (around $1000 / AU$1400). The C 569 is just a tad pricier than the Award-winning Arcam CD5, so it'll be fascinating to see how they compare.

MORE:

What does the future hold for Bluesound and NAD? We talk to Lenbrook's CTO to find out

Should you buy a streaming amplifier? Pros and cons

What is a CD transport? How does it differ from a CD player?

Projector brand Xgimi has added three RGB triple-laser models to its collection, promising to bring the “big-screen experience home without the need for a dedicated home cinema space”.

The Horizon 30 Series comprises the Horizon 30 Pro, 30 Max, and 30 Ultra Max. All of them offer 4K resolution and have a 120Hz refresh rate, with Xgimi claiming that the latter results in “smooth, natural motion”.

This follows on from Xgimi’s Horizon 20 Series which came out last year, but the China-based company says the new models will deliver an “upgraded viewing experience with vivid images in rooms with ambient light, greater depth in dark scenes, and smoother motion for fast-moving content”.

There is a Dual Intelligent Iris system built into each model, which Xgimi claims can adjust light output as scenes change. Like its predecessors, all three projectors also support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, plus IMAX Enhanced content.

On top of the projectors’ 4k/120Hz offerings, gamers will be pleased to hear that they support variable refresh rates (VRR), and auto low latency mode (ALLM) for "faster, more responsive play".

According to Xgimi, the models can project an image up to 300 inches, which should make for an immersive viewing experience.

There are a range of features built-in to make set-up easier, including optical zoom, lens shift, automatic keystone correction, and autofocus. There are also obstacle avoidance and screen alignment features on hand. This easy set-up is helped by each projector’s built-in stand, which you can tilt vertically and rotate horizontally if you need to adjust manually.

The 30 Ultra Max offers the highest claimed brightness of the bunch at 6000 ANSI lumens. Then the 30 Max comes in at 5300 lumens, and the 30 Pro claims to go up to 4800 lumens.

Google TV is on board, which gives you access to the usual streaming apps, including Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+. The projectors also come with their own built-in sound system, consisting of two 12W Harman Kardon speakers.

So, how much will the new range set you back? The most expensive of the bunch is the Horizon 30 Ultra Max, which comes in at £2799 / $3199 / around AU$5366. Next is the Horizon 30 Max, setting you back £2399 / $2699 / AU$4599. Finally, the 30 Pro will cost you £2099 / $2099 / around AU$4025.

We tested Xgimi's older Horizon 20 Max and gave it a solid four-star review in our test room, praising its extreme brightness and room-filling sound by projector standards. We said in our review that the black levels aren’t the best so, if the new models can fix this issue, we could be getting an even stronger entry to the market.

MORE:

Check out the best projectors

Here is our review of the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max

These are the best soundbars you can buy

Moon has expanded its Compass collection of hi-fi separates with its latest integrated amplifier, the 341.

Combining Class A/B power amplification and fully balanced preamplification into a single unit, the new model boasts 100 watts of power into 8 ohms, to deliver what its maker describes as “exceptional sound” with “clarity, poise and musicality”.

The Moon 341 comes equipped with an integrated phono stage with support for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, as well as four RCA outputs and a balanced XLR input.

The integrated model features the brand’s ‘Moon Hybrid Power’ (MHP) and ‘Distortion-Cancelling Amplifier’ (MDCA) technologies derived from the company’s flagship North collection.

MHP aims to combine the benefits of a traditional power supply with modern switch-mode tech for better energy efficiency and stability; MDCA uses error correction outside the audio signal path to further reduce audio distortion.

According to Renaissance MD John Carroll: “The 341 is a new classic. It has been created using more than 40 years of audio design expertise and is set to be popular with our customers, especially as physical music formats continue to see strong sales. We know that owners of the 341 will love the way it delivers a powerful yet detailed performance from both CDs and vinyl.”

You can manage your new integrated amp via a large rotational dial alongside on-unit buttons, or use the provided aluminium remote control.

The Moon 341 integrated amplifier is available in combined black and silver or an all-black finish, priced at £4400 / $5,000.

MORE:

“We don’t want to compromise on anything” – we visit Focal to discover the human craft behind its high-end speakers and headphones

Read our recent Moon 371 review

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners have been revealed!

These are the best stereo amplifiers you can buy

If you’re worried about the environmental impact your headphone habit is having on the planet – or just fancy a pair you can repair yourself – the Fairbuds 2 wireless earbuds could be for you.

They are made by Fairphone, the Dutch manufacturer who specialises in modular, repairable and eco-friendly designs. And they add impressive audio specification to the bargain.

Such as support for LDAC, Sony’s hi-res audio codec. There is also a new 11mm dynamic driver with an organic bio-cellulose diaphragm, and tuning by Rotterdam-based studio Form Follows Frequency.

Fairphone claims that the driver is lighter and responds faster than that in the original Fairbuds, and that it delivers a brighter, crisper treble. We are also promised “a rich, balanced sound out of the box, with deeper bass, warmer mids and clear highs.”

They are well-specified in other regards, too. You get 40 hours of total battery life (including the case), active noise cancellation, IP54 water resistance and Bluetooth 6.0 complete with Multipoint for connecting to two devices at once.

They are also 37 per cent smaller than their predecessors, with a charging case that’s 32 per cent smaller.

But it’s the buds’ eco credentials that will appeal to many. They are made with SGS-tested, PFAS-free plastics and silicone that come in direct contact with your skin, and many components are replaceable by users, including the earbuds and batteries within the case. Unlike other earbuds, the batteries and components are not sealed behind glued-shut cases. So if they fail, you can just swap them for a new one.

They are also made with about 49 per cent “fair and recycled materials” – those produced under fair working conditions as part of Fairphone’s Living Wage Bonus and Workers’ Voice programmes.

They’re also completely e-waste neutral.

Fairphone went back to the drawing board for this pair of in-ears, saying they are “completely re-engineered for all-day comfort across a wider variety of ears”. This better fit should also improve passive noise cancellation, while active noise cancellation comes via a six-mic array that claims to block noise by up to 45dB.

The Fairbuds app has also had a refresh, with a new design, and new features including new audio presets, customisable equaliser settings, and a tips and tricks section.

Despite these improvements, the Fairbuds 2 are actually around 20 per cent cheaper than their predecessors. They are out now in the UK (coming 2nd November in the US), and cost £99 / $119 (around AU$190). They come in Forest Green or Horizon Black.

Fairphone claims that less than 15 per cent of small electronics such as earbuds are ever reused or responsibly recycled, with around 40,000 tons of headphones being thrown on the scrapheap each year. Anything that can help can only be a good thing.

MORE:

Our guide to the best wireless earbuds around

Sustainable, affordable and easy – this simple upgrade saves old hi-fi products

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

Naim has announced its latest high-end all-in-one wireless music system, the Mu-so Utopia.

We travelled to Naim and Focal’s respective headquarters for a hands-on preview of the new system ahead of launch – you can read our first impressions via the link below.

• Read our Naim Mu-so Utopia hands-on review

Following on from the excellent Focal Mu-so Hekla we tested earlier this year, the new system combines Naim-powered amplification with trickle-down technology taken from Focal’s high-end series of Utopia loudspeakers.

Inside, the do-it-all system packs 720 watts of Class D and A/B amplification driving a whopping 15 drive units, teasing an “immersive experience” that will happily cover rooms up to around 50m² in size.

The majority of the drivers are powered with Class D amplification, including a pair of 2.75cm ‘M-shaped’ midrange woofers and four full-range drivers housed at the sides and top of the unit.

Twin 25mm ‘PRISM’ tweeters – derived from those found in Focal’s more prestigious Scala and Diva Utopia loudspeaker ranges – are driven using Class A/B power, with Focal’s engineers informing us that A/B gives greater control to the upper frequencies.

On the streaming side, Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify are all on board in their ‘Connect’ forms, as are AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Bluetooth 5.3 with standard AAC and SBC codecs. UPnP streaming lets you play stored files from your local network, and you can create a multi-room setup with compatible Naim and Focal products.

The Naim Mu-so Utopia is capable of handling hi-res files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM alongside DSD128, while Dolby Atmos support is a major part of the system’s appeal. There are plenty of sound modes from which to choose, ranging from a Dolby Movie mode to ‘Sphere Music’ which uses beamforming microphone tech to build a three-dimensional audio experience.

Physical connections include HDMI eARC for integration with a home cinema system, as well as an optical input and an RCA output if you want to connect to a subwoofer. There’s also an Ethernet port for a physical connection to your wi-fi network.

The Mu-so Utopia follows a similar design language to the Mu-so Hekla and Naim Mu-so 2 systems that preceded it, with an anodised aluminium chassis accented by a red trim that runs lengthways across the main body. Just be aware that, at 100cm in length and weighing around 14kg, this mighty Mu-so will need plenty of space.

An illuminated white dial is found atop the Mu-so Utopia, from which you can control volume by turning it to the side, with the dial also acting as a touch screen for selecting your input and switching power on/off.

The Naim Mu-so Utopia will set you back £4499 / $5500 at launch, a good deal more than the £3000 / $3600 for the Hekla we took for a spin earlier in the summer. Once we have put it through its paces in our test rooms, we’ll know whether it’s worth the extra outlay.

MORE:

Read our Naim Mu-so Utopia hands-on review

And our established Focal Mu-so Hekla review

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

If you are a Disney+ subscriber in the UK, we have some unfortunate news: there is another price hike for each of the streaming tiers.

The cheapest choice (Standard with Ads) comes in at £6.99 from £5.99 per month. Standard Monthly has gone from £9.99 to £11.99, and Premium Monthly has jumped from £14.99 to £15.99.

For those on an annual subscription, the Standard tier will cost £119.90 compared to £99.90. Finally, the Premium tier has also gone from £149.90 up to £159.90.

That means that those on the Standard plans are being hit the hardest, and the price difference between paying for 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos for the Premium subscription is getting smaller.

New customers will have to pay this new price starting today, while existing monthly subscribers will have until 18 November before seeing the increase. If you are on an annual subscription, then the new bill won’t come until 2nd of December.

As a small consolation, Disney also announced a promotion for new and eligible returning customers, who can also save with a six-month saver offer, with monthly prices of £5.99 for Standard with Ads, £9.99 for Standard and £11.99 for Premium.

The price of the Extra Member is staying the same at least, costing £4.99 a month if you’re on Standard with Ads, and £5.99 a month on Standard or Premium.

This most recent price hike is hardly a surprise – Disney+ has consistently increased its fee since 2020. And it’s hardly the only platform to do so, with Netflix recently increasing its highest Premium tier from £18.99 per month to £20.99.

These consistent price hikes and the uncertainty of your favourite shows remaining on a platform long-term, certainly make us cling to our collection of 4K Blu-rays a little tighter.

After all, once you have a physical copy of Avatar or Ant-Man, at least you are not at the mercy of these ever-increasing costs.

MORE:

Here's our review of Disney+

These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Check out the best TVs

Scottish hi-fi manufacturer Linn has announced the 343, its latest high-end four-way active floorstanders.

Available in two distinct flavours, the new compact floorstanders harness Linn’s proprietary technologies to project an “unshakeable illusion of reality”.

Each new speaker packs a woven carbon 19mm tweeter and a 6.4cm midrange driver, as well as a 22cm bass unit alongside a 19cm upper bass driver. Both lower-end drivers harness the brand’s Pistonik motor system inherited from Linn’s flagship 360 speakers introduced in 2026.

That Pistonik motor system promises “flawless linear force” over its entire wide range of in-and-out travel thanks to its long-stroke motor topology and extended magnet gap.

The result, says Linn, is “bass performance with the depth and authority to give 343 its remarkable sense of scale, and the precision to preserve its composure”.

Each speaker’s continuous cabinet is free from hard edges, designed to let sound leave the loudspeaker more consistently and reduce diffraction effects that reveal the position of each box within the room.

Central to realising this effect is the cabinet material, made using a glass-fibre-reinforced moulding compound which allows for the enclosures to boast thinner walls while preserving structural integrity and performance.

The 343 is available in two variants. The Exakt Integrated version comes fitted with a power supply, digital crossover, DAC architecture, and amplification housed within its integrated module. As its name suggests, it also harnesses Linn’s Exakt technology, which adjusts your speaker’s output to a given space in pursuit of better harmonics and time alignment.

The Passive with Active Bass (PWAB) variant shares the same drive units, this time boasting a Utopik and Power DAC for the bass system, with the 343 array comprising upper bass, midrange and tweeter units driven instead by external amplification.

Both versions are available now in a choice of Triton Black, Single Malt, Clyde Built, Linn Heritage, Piano Black, or Alpine White finishes. The Exakt edition is on sale for £65,000 / $97,500 / AU$139,995 while the PWAB version will set you back £45,000 / $67,500 / AU$99,995.

MORE:

The What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners have been revealed!

Rewind: High-end speakers, an affordable five-star treat for home cinema fans, new Rega turntable rated and more

These are the best floorstanding speakers you can buy

Cambridge Audio has announced a new turntable, the Spira, which the company says is “built to work with any system you already own, whether that’s a full hi-fi set-up, active speakers, a Bluetooth speaker or even headphones”.

According to Cambridge Audio, “Spira has everything you need straight out of the box”, including a pre-fitted Audio-Technica cartridge, a built-in phono stage and a Bluetooth transmitter for streaming to wireless headphones or Bluetooth speakers.

We have previously seen similarly equipped turntables from Cambridge Audio, such as the premium Alva TT V2 and Alva ST models, but at a price of £329 / $499, the Spira is the company’s most affordable model to date.

What’s more, despite its reasonable pricing, the turntable has kept flexibility and upgrades in mind. A removable headshell makes cartridge changes “far easier”, while the built-in phono stage can be bypassed, allowing users to connect their own external phono stage.

But it’s not all about change. Cambridge Audio says the turntable has been “tuned to perform and made to last”, with an aluminium alloy tonearm with adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, alongside a 1.8kg steel platter mounted on a “solid wooden” plinth for “stable, low-vibration playback”.

Speeds of 33 1/3 and 45 RPM are supported, but however fast you spin your wax, your records will be safe from harm thanks to a full dust cover. To “keep rumble out of the signal”, the turntable also comes with a felt mat and vibration-absorbing feet.

The Spira comes in Black, White, Green, Orange and Blue finishes, which are conveniently matched to Cambridge Audio’s L/R active speakers.

The Cambridge Audio Spira is available now, priced at £329 / $499. This puts it right between two of our favourite Bluetooth turntables – the Sony PS-LX3BT and the Sony PS-LX5BT, both of which received five-star reviews earlier this year – so we can't wait to hear how the Spira compares.

MORE:

Read our full Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 review

Don't know where to start? Consult our guide on how to choose the right record player for you

Plus, check out our pick of the best turntables tested by our expert reviewers

Apple has finally lifted the lid on its new 4K streamer, ending the four-year reign of the Apple TV 4K 3rd Generation.

The new Apple TV 4K will deliver the "most immersive home theatre experience yet", according to Apple, alongside new Siri AI smart features and a hands-free way to interact with the streaming box.

While it may look almost identical from the outside, the Apple TV 4K 4th Generation sports a new front-facing LED indicator, which displays when the new built-in far-field microphones are listening for hands-free navigation via Siri voice commands.

Speaking of Siri, Apple is really pushing the virtual assistant with this latest-generation streaming box, claiming it to be a "profoundly more capable and conversational assistant".

Finding content should be easier with wider and more natural search parameters; for example, users can ask, “What Apple TV shows won at the Emmy Awards this year?" and they will be shown a rail of content, alongside similar options to expand the search.

Furthermore, Siri AI will also be able to answer while you're watching movies and TV shows. Apple's examples include “Where was Pluribus filmed?” and “Is this appropriate for a 15-year-old?”, with a subtle text overlay providing an answer without distracting from the content on screen.

The new Siri AI system, which was introduced in Apple's most recent batch of software updates, comes to tvOS for the first time thanks to the A19 processor – the same chip found in the iPhone 17.

While Apple touts 50 per cent faster CPU performance and up to two times faster GPU performance, the real benefit of this new chipset we're concerned with is the inclusion of a dedicated AV1 decoder.

It's set to deliver "more efficient, high-quality streaming while using less bandwidth", and we could see better HDR performance and sharper visuals thanks to the improved decompression of streamed video feeds.

The new Apple TV 4K supports the same HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats as its predecessor. Audio support is consistent, with Dolby formats up to Dolby Atmos, plus Apple Lossless for Apple Music.

On the subject of audio, Apple is introducing a major surround sound audio upgrade too. Users will now be able to connect up to four HomePod speakers to create a wireless surround sound system.

Apple says that four HomePod 2 speakers will deliver the "ultimate audio experience", and the newly announced HomePod Mini 2 can also work as a quartet. Users can even mix and match between the speakers, provided that the front and rear speaker pairs match.

The HomePod speakers will reportedly work together to "intelligently recognise their position in the room", meaning that audio levels and timing will be automatically calibrated to suit your space.

Moving on to the remote, Apple's sleek metallic handset looks familiar; however, it hides an internal upgrade that will seriously appeal to those sick of losing their remote between the couch cushions. It now supports Find My with Precision Finding, meaning you can use your iPhone to play chimes and track its location directly if it slips out of sight.

Finally, the Apple TV 4K 4th Generation sticks to one configuration, unlike its predecessor, which could be optioned with less storage and no Ethernet port. The latest generation sticks to 128GB of storage and an Ethernet socket, but it comes at a high price.

The Apple TV 4K now costs £299 / $299 / AU$449, which is a steep step up from its predecessor. Originally launched at £169 / $150 / $250 for the 128GB model, the 3rd Generation was subjected to an unwelcome price increase earlier this year, bringing it to £249 / $249 / AU$399.

Will the new features justify a substantial price hike? We'll have to wait until the 13th November, when the Apple TV 4K 4th Generation launches, to find out.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

As well as our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Generation review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

This is the HomePod with a screen that has been rumoured for years; it’s called Apple HomeView.

It is designed as a smart home hub, but it has some impressive audio chops courtesy of its custom-engineered acoustic system. This comprises two custom full-range drivers within the display itself that deliver Spatial Audio, while the down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators in the base take care of the lower registers.

The computational audio (powered by Apple silicon and real-time sensors) promises to optimise continually the loudness and bass response. The wall-mounted version might lack the base’s bass capabilities, but the computational audio is tuned especially for on-wall placement.

That’s right, you can buy it either with the base for placing on a surface such as a kitchen counter or bedside table, or without for attaching to the wall. Both cost the same £299 / $299 / AU$449, but the wall-mounted model requires fittings and a power supply, both of which cost extra.

Like Apple’s HomePods, the HomeView can play music and wirelessly link up to other Apple speakers for multi-room audio. The difference is that the HomeView has a 7-inch Liquid Retina display that can show films and TV series, messages, calendars and FaceTime calls, and let you manage your smart home devices.

You control it either by tapping the touchscreen or with voice controls via Siri AI.

Thanks to facial recognition, it can serve up a personalised home screen for up to six users, all of whom can personalise Siri’s voice and even speaking speed. Pair it with your Apple Intelligence-powered device (such as the iPhone 18 Pro) and it can draw on your personal context, as long as you use Apple’s apps such as iMessage and Calendar.

On the version with a base, the screen can tilt for the perfect viewing angle, making it versatile in terms of placement. It's connected to the base by a stainless-steel hinge, and comes in four colours: silver, starlight, rose pink, or space grey. Each comes with a matching cable.

The screen has Apple’s True Tone tech that adapts the colour temperature depending on the ambient lighting conditions, while automatic brightness adjusts from 500 nits down to 0.3 nits for dark conditions. The interface even adjusts based on how far away from it you are, getting more detailed the closer you get.

You can personalise HomeView with your own photos, effectively making it double as a digital photo frame, or choose the Flow face to make it a piece of interactive digital art. Or add an animated Snoopy to the homepage, and watch him react to the time of day, the weather and sporting events (though thankfully not current events).

Album art on Apple Music is animated and serves up lyrics, while Handoff lets you continue listening to a song from your phone on HomeView by placing your handset in front of the HomeView display.

HomeView also works with Apple Home Collection, a new range of smart home cameras, thermostats and a lock, designed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

HomeView is Apple’s big play for the smart home – but how useful it will be depends on how ensconced you are in the Apple ecosystem. We’re looking forward to trying out its AV skills though.

It is available to pre-order now for £299 / $299 / AU$449. Shipping starts on 13th November.

MORE:

It’s official! The HomePod Mini 2 has finally landed – and there’s good news and bad news

The best smart speakers you can buy

It's officially official: Apple has finally announced the HomePod Mini 2.

We've had so many letdowns with regard to the new Mini, with Apple's recent September launch event omitting the brand's compact smart speaker from its rundown of high-profile announcements, but this time, the news is truly set in stone.

Perhaps the biggest change beneath the surface is the jump from the original model's S5 chip to a new S10 chip which, alongside "advanced computational audio", helps to "analyse music in real time to optimise dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance". Theoretically then, the second-gen model should sound better than its predecessor.

The new model should also be smarter than its predecessor thanks to that new chip and updated support for Apple Intelligence, allowing the Mini 2 to be integrated within Apple's 'Home' ecosystem and giving Siri AI voice assistant a smarter, more personable upgrade.

There's a small catch, however. Siri AI will be available via a future software update in major territories such as the US, Australia, Canada and the UK, so you're not getting the speaker's full capabilities straight out of the box. When it does arrive, you can opt in to a more bespoke Siri experience via the Apple Home app.

The Mini 2 can be used as a single speaker, in a stereo pair, or as part of a multi-room set-up. Users can even create a four-speaker surround sound system with Apple TV 4K (4th generation), wherein four HomePod Mini 2 speakers and the new Apple TV 4K recognise one another's position in the room and automatically calibrate to the resultant output to fit the given listening space.

The external form is much the same as before, with a design that's akin to a hockey ball with the upper section cut off and a touch panel placed on top. The difference this time around is 'Sound Glow', whereby the top of the Mini glows and pulses in sync with the music, while the song’s album artwork generates a "colour-matched light experience that’s unique to every song".

According to Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing: “HomePod Mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colours, and incredible audio. With Siri AI, it understands you better than ever, drawing on personal context and broad world knowledge to make music discovery even richer."

The HomePod Mini 2 is available for pre-order in green, pink, blue, white or black finishes, priced at £149 / $149 / AU$229. That's a considerable price hike from the £99 / $99 / AU$149 RRP of the original Mini, so it's up to Apple to prove that its next-gen sequel is worth the extra cash.

MORE:

Apple HomePod 2 vs HomePod Mini: what are the differences?

From Technics’ iconic turntables to JBL’s Classic standmounts – discover five of the best hi-fi product revivals

Our pick of the best wireless speakers you can buy right now

Rega has announced a brand new budget turntable with a completely new design, aiming to “remove all the paranoia and confusion” of the vinyl world by creating the “perfect” plug-and-play deck for new vinyl listeners.

The Rega Replay is the brand’s new entry-level offering priced competitively at £259 in the UK. Labelled as the “audiophile gateway drug”, the turntable has been designed from the ground up over three years, to “deliver exceptional sound at an accessible price”.

The Replay sits just under the multiple Award-winning Planar 1, which has traditionally been the most affordable record player in Rega’s line-up. We originally tested the current Planar 1 back in 2016 at £250, but the price has steadily risen over the years to £329 now.

The Rega Replay features many of the core elements of the standard Planar 1 – the phenolic resin platter with flywheel effect, the RB110 tonearm, and the Carbon moving-magnet cartridge fitted as standard.

But instead of a full-size conventional rectangular plinth, the Replay’s plinth is as minimal as can be.

Inspired by the skeletal plinths of the more premium Planar 8 and 10 turntables, the Replay features a reduced plinth footprint that weighs a mere 2.2kg in total.

The plinth features a laminated “high rigidity, low skeletal mass” design with an MDF core. This follows Rega’s long-held engineering belief that more mass saps music’s natural energy and introduces unwanted resonances that negatively affect the turntable’s performance.

The motor module under the main pulley also features the power input, power switch and a new PCB with built-in ventilation, and incorporates one of the three feet of the turntable.

The turntable remains a manual, belt-driven design, although there is no need to set the tracking force or anti-skating weight or balance the arm – you simply push the counterbalance weight on the tonearm as far as it will go, and that’s all the set-up required. Rega claims the Replay “can be set up and ready to use in under one minute”.

The Replay comes with a white mat that has a “different texture on one side to optimise grip on the textured platter surface”, says Rega, while the dustcover included is a minimal design, rather than a full-size hinged lid.

The Rega Replay will be going up against another long-running Award-winner, the Pro-Ject Primary E, which has been our favourite budget turntable for eight years now at a similar price of £249 in the UK. That’s going to be quite the battle.

We are waiting to get a sample of the new Rega Replay in for testing, so stay tuned for a full review soon.

MORE:

Read our recent Rega Planar 6 RS Edition review

Our guide to the best turntables for every budget

Hi-fi and home cinema fans, assemble! We’ve just revealed the Best Buy winners for the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026, in partnership with Richer Sounds.

That’s right, after months of rigorous comparative testing in our dedicated testing rooms, our reviewers have crowned our first set of winners.

• See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 winners

There are 111 winners across 24 categories, covering everything from affordable surround sound systems to high-end stereo amplifiers, budget turntables to premium televisions.

And if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, this is only the beginning of this year’s fun. As always, from this list of Best Buy winners will come our overall Products of the Year. We’ll crown these ultimate winners at our Awards ceremony, and simultaneously online, on 12th November.

We’ll also reveal the winners of our special categories at the event. These include the Outstanding Contribution winner, Readers’ Award, Innovation of the Year, and Hall of Fame.

Finally, as part of our 50th birthday celebrations, we also have three extra Golden Anniversary trophies this year, making the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 one of our biggest and most exciting to date.

You can follow along on our website and social media channels, where we’ll post all the winners as they’re announced.

Check out the full winners list

• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best TV winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best soundbar winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best standmount speakers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best floorstanding speakers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best turntable winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best wireless speakers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best wired headphones winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best Blu-ray players winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best projectors winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best music streamers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best CD players winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best radios winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best speaker packages winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best tablets winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best stereo amplifiers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best wireless headphones winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best TV and video streamers winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best DACs winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best smartphones winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best portable music players winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best music systems winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best streaming services winners
• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 best accessories winners

You can't accuse venerable Japanese brand Luxman of not knowing how to party. When it turned 100 last year – one of the few hi-fi firms to reach that milestone – it launched a stable of Centennial products to celebrate. Now it's keeping the party going with the B-100 Centennial, or B-100C for short.

This is its first mono power amp in two decades (the last launched to celebrate the firm's 80th anniversary). And it's the culmination of all of Luxman's engineering and acoustic knowhow.

It was previously shown off at High End Vienna over the summer, but now it's ready to ship, we have more details. So let's see what this centurion can do.

It claims to eliminate crossover distortion and deliver excellent linearity, while its output-stage architecture promises none of the low efficiency and considerable heat generation usually associated with Class A amplification. Essentially, it combines the best of Class A and Class AB amplification.

It does this by relying on continuous Class A amplification up to 25 watts (into 8 ohms), but beyond that, switches to Class AB to generate more power without the heat and power consumption of continuous Class A at these levels.

It's not the first amp to work like this. But Luxman claims its approach is "particularly refined, ensuring a seamless transition between [Class and Class AB]."

In total, it delivers 125 watts into 8 ohms, and 250 watts into 4 ohms, and claims to drive "even the most demanding loudspeaker loads with authority."

Its output stage features a 4×4 configuration, with four quadruple-paralleled, triple-stage Darlington push-pull modules per amplifier, and its power supply has a highly stable El-core transformer with flat copper windings to minimise losses. It claims "outstanding linearity, abundant energy and vice-like control," combined with a sound that's "natural, open and deeply expressive".

Luxman's proprietary feedback circuit feeds back only the distortion components detected by comparing the input and output signals, rather than the original music signal itself to combine the low distortion, linearity and stability of negative feedback with the natural openness and vitality of non-feedback designs.

For the B-100C, this has been refined by using parallel differential-detection circuitry to reduce distortion and improve precision.

Luxman removed solder masks and residual flux from signal paths to preserve signal integrity particularly for high frequencies. Every aspect was engineered for ultra-low impedance signal transmission, with large-gauge output conductors carrying the amp's output signal with minimal resistance, paired with a new, heavy-duty output coil and low-resistance speaker relays

Luxman says it considered every single circuit component to ensure it meets its exacting standards. The external design features the brand's signature 'Blasted White' silver finish, and loop-less chassis construction to minimise ground impedance.

It's supported by cast-iron density gradient isolation feet that block external vibrations while dissipating those generated within the chassis itself.

On the front is an analogue meter to show real-time signal output, which is lit by soft white LEDs.

Even the rear ports have received the high-end treatment – there are highly rigid Luxman RCA terminals, Neutrik XLR connectors to heavy-duty binding posts and an AC inlet that's "engineered to provide exceptional mechanical stability and long-term reliability."

And the price? As you can imagine, it's not cheap, costing £22,000 / $29,995 / €26,495 each (around AU$42,000), or £44,000 / $59,990 / €52,990 (around AU$83,000) for a stereo pair. Still, it's not every day you get a birthday message from the King.

It's shipping now in the UK via IAG.

MORE:

The best stereo amplifiers it's possible to buy

Integrated vs pre/power amplification: the pros, cons and which is best for you

How to build the perfect hi-fi system – your complete guide

Scottish loudspeaker manufacturer, Fyne Audio, has launched a limited-edition version of its first ever loudspeaker, the F1-10, in celebration of the company’s 10-year anniversary.

The F1-10 Anniversary speakers are limited to 30 individually numbered pairs worldwide and feature an updated ‘IsoFlare’ driver design, a newly developed ultra-high-frequency tweeter system and Fyne’s “most ambitious crossover to date”.

The new ‘IsoFlare’ driver features a 7.5cm aluminosilicate glass compression tweeter mounted at the acoustic centre of a 25cm multi-fibre mid/bass driver.

The company claims that the new tweeter material offers “extremely low mass, exceptional strength” and improved internal damping. The glass diaphragm also uses a powerful neodymium magnet and a vented rear chamber to deliver “outstanding transient response, low distortion and high power handling without thermal compression”.

A computer-optimised waveguide is used to control the tweeter’s dispersion, which the company says allows the ‘IsoFlare’ driver to deliver “consistent directivity, exceptional stereo imaging and a stable, immersive soundstage”.

The new ultra-high-frequency ‘SuperTrax’ system sees a 2.5cm thin-ply carbon tweeter mounted horizontally in the enclosure’s top panel. This additional tweeter fires onto a diffuser, which, Fyne claims, distributes its output “evenly throughout the listening environment rather than projecting it narrowly towards the listener”.

In a rather sci-fi touch, each unit’s crossover undergoes a “super-deep freezing and controlled thawing process”, which Fyne says “[optimises] electrical conductivity and signal transparency”.

The new speaker has bi-wire terminals, alongside a fifth grounding terminal, which allows the driver chassis to be grounded to source and amplifier equipment, to minimise radio-frequency interference.

Following in the footsteps of the original F1-10, the Anniversary edition includes ±3 dB controls for high frequencies above 750Hz and “presence” between 2.5kHz and 5kHz.

That’s a lot of talk about high frequencies, but Fyne has also taken bass into account, using a ‘BassTrax’ diffuser to distribute the output of a downward firing bass-port “uniformly into the room”. The company claims that the diffusion system makes the speakers less fussy about placement than rear or forward ported alternatives.

Low frequencies are also looked after by an internal twin-cavity tuning system for “tight, articulate and naturally integrated bass”.

Fyne says that the F1-10 Anniversary’s cabinet design “celebrates the unique original F1-10”, with a curved cabinet and a luxury gloss veneer finish.

Each “extensively braced” cabinet is made from high density birch and plywood, and finished in an American walnut veneer with contrasting high-gloss burr walnut, a solid walnut trim, and champagne gold accents.

For 30 lucky owners, every pair of F1-10 Anniversary speakers will also include floor-protection cups, a precision adjustment tool, Neotech single-wire jumper leads, an individually signed anniversary booklet and certificates of approval. Limited-edition etched Glencairn whisky glasses and an optional black driver trim kit “complete the ownership package”.

According to Andrzej Sosna, managing director of Fyne Audio, “The F1-10 Anniversary is a truly landmark product for the brand. Each pair is not only a celebration of Fyne Audio’s first decade, but a lasting demonstration of the knowledge, skill and passion of the people who have shaped that journey. While the Anniversary is a limited-edition loudspeaker, the design philosophy, technologies, and engineering behind it form the foundation of the next decade of Fyne Audio loudspeaker ranges.”

The Fyne Audio F1-10 Anniversary speakers are available now for £37,000 / $50,000.

MORE

Read our full Fyne Audio F1-8 review

Then, check out our Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 review

Plus, stay up to date with our pick of the best floorstanding speakers tested by our expert reviewers

The next Apple TV 4K is expected to launch at tomorrow's Welcome Home event, and now some last-minute details have leaked ahead of the announcement.

We have an expected release date (30th October), the processor (A19 Pro with 8GB RAM) and some extra features (built-in mics for Siri AI, plus an updated Siri remote with a built-in speaker to make it easier to find).

Of course, none of this is official. But seeing as it's all come via Bloomberg's Mark Gurman – possibly the most reliable Apple leaker there is – so close to the expected announcement, we anticipate at least a lot of it to be on the money.

Gurman also had some beans to spill on the new HomePod Mini that's rumoured to launch at the same event.

He says it will feature the same S10 chip as the Apple Watch Series 10, which is a big improvement on the current model's S5 chip. And he reckons it will come in five colours: green, pink, blue, white, and midnight.

These devices will apparently be joined by a new device called Apple HomeView. This will serve as a smart home hub, coming in either wall-mounted or tabletop form factors. Both will feature touchscreens, the A18 chip and support Siri for voice controls. The tabletop version will reportedly have "better sound quality" than the HomePod Mini.

Also expected is a slew of smart home devices like locks and lights made by LG and Schneider Electric, both under the name 'Apple Home Collection'.

The last Apple TV 4K launched in 2022, and the original HomePod Mini in 2020 – an age when it comes to these kinds of devices. Apple recently increased the price of both due to the ongoing global RAM shortage, so we'll be keenly watching the pricing of the new models.

We'll bring you all the news from tomorrow's event as soon as it's announced.

MORE:

Read our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And our HomePod Mini review

Apple HomePod 2 vs HomePod Mini: what are the differences?

No thanks, I'm cutting down on dairy. Oh, these are speakers are they? Shaped like milk cartons? Go on then.

These are the first Bluetooth speakers from Nothing's budget sub-brand CMF, and as you would expect, they are very affordable indeed. But we'll get to that in a minute.

They're certainly eye catching. The Speaker M (the larger one) and Speaker S (seen below) both come in white, dark grey, orange and turquoise, with swappable front panels and knobs. Both support standardised, 3D-printable custom designs, if you want to add a personal touch.

Both are built to be taken with you – the Speaker S has an "attachment point" for hooking on a strap or carabiner, while the M has a built-in handle.

The M is the more powerful of the two, boasting a 25W woofer and 10W tweeter with an output of 35W RMS across 60Hz-20kHz. This should mean "deeper bass, clearer highs and more separation for vocals and instruments" than the Speaker S's 45mm full-range driver and dual passive radiators, which deliver up to 10W RMS across 70Hz-20kHz.

Both speakers feature an Adaptive Tuning algorithm that continuously analyses playback and optimises the output and EQ in real time to make sure the sound remains balanced.

Or you can dive into the Nothing X app to pick from four equaliser presets (Balanced, More Bass, More Treble and Voice).

Ultra Bass mode adds even more low-end weight (though it's "controlled", CMF insists), while Wide Soundstage makes for a more open sonic landscape.

You can control Ultra Bass from a knob on the device itself, which also handles playback, track navigation and volume. There are also dedicated buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing and Auracast.

You can pair two of the same model to create a stereo sound, or use the Auracast-based Party Mode to sync up to 10 speakers, including those from other brands. (Portable speaker bigwig JBL uses the same tech.)

Both speakers have Bluetooth 6.0, and can pair quickly using NFC, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. They can connect to two devices at once so you don't need to re-pair every time you switch between them, and they can also connect over USB-C.

Speaker charging? It can wake automatically when a paired device reconnects to it, thanks to Auto Wake.

Battery life for both is a healthy 18 hours, which is two hours shy of the JBL Charge 6, our pick as best overall in our best Bluetooth speakers guide. And both CMF speakers are IP68 dust- and water-resistant, so will survive a dunk in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes.

They're both out today. The Speaker S is just £49 / $59 / €59 / AU$119 and the Speaker M £99 / $109 / €99 / AU$199. Which is very cheap indeed, though it all comes down to how they perform.

MORE:

The best Bluetooth speakers around

Wait! 8 things to consider before buying a Bluetooth speaker

JBL Charge 6 vs Flip 7: which is right for you?

HMV has announced it will close its flagship Oxford Street store next year.

The store previously closed in 2019, nearly 100 years after first opening, when the chain collapsed into administration. HMV was rescued by Canadian retail tycoon Doug Putman, with the store at 363 Oxford Street reopening at the end of 2023.

Now it will close in March 2027.

The chain blamed a combination of soaring rent and the cost of “substantial” renovations. It said the landlord wanted to double the current rent.

However, the chain insists it will maintain a “significant presence” in London. It’s looking for an alternative site for a West End store, and will seek to minimise job losses by redeploying staff.

“This is a special store. It’s where we began 100 years ago and bringing it back to life in 2023 was a big moment in our recent history,” said managing director Phil Halliday.

“It’s frustrating that it has been made commercially unviable. However, we are looking ahead, and our focus is now on what we do to make exciting steps for HMV in 2027.”

What will those steps entail? Halliday didn’t say. But HMV is in rude health generally – the chain reported a 15 per cent rise in sales for the first nine months of 2026. Revenue from its 123 UK shops and online is set to reach £240million, up from £212million in 2025 – likely driven, in no small part, by physical media such as vinyl records and CDs.

So while it’s disappointing to see such a high-street stalwart suffer, there are still plenty of reasons for fans of physical media – and bricks-and-mortar shops – to be happy.

MORE:

The UK’s best independent record shops – as chosen by readers

How vinyl record shops are thriving in the digital age

Proof they can play nice: hi-res streaming hits record stores as Rough Trade and Qobuz announce global partnership

It's a busy time of year for streaming launches – not only is a new Apple TV 4K rumoured to launch tomorrow, a new Google TV Streamer is also rumoured to be in the works (via 9to5Google).

However, while the new Apple TV is rumoured to launch tomorrow, the new Google TV Streamer is only said to be in development. So it might not launch for a while yet.

It's said to have a similar design to the two-year-old model, but be slightly slimmer to take up a little less room on a TV cabinet.

It's also said to feature microphones on the device itself – complete with cutouts – to listen out for "Hey Google" voice commands.

Presence sensing is also rumoured. This feature will detect when someone approaches and adjust the Google Photos screensaver to show the time and weather. (This has previously been seen on select TVs running the Google TV operating system.)

A faster processor and more storage are also rumoured. The current Google TV Streamer has 32GB storage.

The new remote is said to be largely the same as the existing one, but with two new shortcut buttons to join those for YouTube and Netflix. There's no word on which services they will shortcut to.

The existing Google TV Streamer scored four stars in our review. We love its natural, balanced picture and levels of detail, but its visuals lack dynamism, and sonically, it's second best to Apple's streamer.

At present, there's no word on when the new Google TV Streamer will launch. But with Apple's highly anticipated next Apple TV expected to be announced tomorrow, Google will have a fight on its hands.

MORE:

Read our Google TV Streamer review

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: how do they compare?

Read our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

Hot on the heels of its iPhone 18 Pro launch in September, Apple has announced its next event, with an apparent focus on smart home devices.

According to MacRumors, the event, which is titled "Welcome Home", is rumoured to centre around an array of refreshed and all-new products, including a smart lock, doorbell and thermostat. All of which sound interesting, but we're more interested in the potential AV-related announcements.

Luckily for us, it seems as though two hugely overlooked devices in Apple's lineup might finally get some overdue attention, with new versions of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini expected to break cover.

The Apple TV 4K was last updated in 2022, with the current model earning multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards. Speculation over a new model has been rife for several years, although there was suspicion that Apple kept delaying the new model as it's expected to be heavily reliant on the company's Apple Intelligence system; which, as we know, didn't meet expectations.

With Siri AI now established and, from our experience, much more robust than Apple's previous attempt at AI, the Apple TV 4K could now be primed for launch. The new streaming box is also expected to sport an A19 or A19 Pro chip from the iPhone 17 series, and Apple's N1 connectivity chip for improved wi-fi and Bluetooth.

It's also slated to come with an upgraded Siri Remote – our fingers are tightly crossed for backlit buttons – and more RAM is also potentially on the table, too. We are, of course, hoping for picture and sound upgrades too.

Onto the HomePod Mini, its slated to also receive the N1 chip, and a newer S-series processor to support Siri AI. New colours have also been leaked, with new pink and sage green options to choose from. Given that the HomePod Mini hasn't had a proper upgrade since it launched in 2020, we're also expecting an upgrade to sound performance too.

Finally, and on the subject of HomePods, Apple is also expected to launch an all-new addition to the lineup. It's expected to be a home hub for controlling smart devices, with an expected design that blends an iPad with a HomePod.

Two configurations have been rumoured; one with a display and speaker base, and the other that is just a display for managing smart devices and appliances. Amazon and Google have both launched smart speaker/display hybrids previously in the form of the Echo Show and Nest Hub series respectively, so Apple could have its competition cut out.

Apple hasn't confirmed if this will be a full-blown event or if its announcements will come in the form of press releases on its newsroom. Either way, we'll be diligently watching out for information next week, especially if it includes confirmation of our two most highly anticipated products of the year.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as our Apple HomePod Mini review

And check out our picks for the best wireless speakers

Amazon has announced the Amazon Alexa Tablet range, a new premium line that will pit an Amazon tablet directly against the iPad for the first time.

The line includes three models: Amazon Alexa Tablet 8, the Alexa Tablet 11 and the flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is available with an optional “Nanomatte” display that uses anti-glare technology to reduce screen glare, and Amazon claims 82% contrast retention in bright conditions. There’s also a 120hz refresh rate and 280 pixels per inch.

I have seen the Nanomatte display in action, and it was noticeably brighter and more contrast-rich than the rest of the line-up, as well as Amazon’s previous tablets. I was shown a few minutes of the opening of House of Cards, where a crisp, white shirt contrasted nicely with an inky-black night sky.

On the audio side, there is support for Dolby Atmos, as was the case with Amazon’s budget Fire HD range. I didn’t get long with the audio, but the 12 Pro is loud enough and clear enough to listen to even in a room full of talking people.

These are also the first Amazon tablets to run on full Android, complete with access to the Google Play Store and its wide array of more than a million apps. This is a very welcome move – one of our biggest gripes with Amazon’s previous tablets was the limited app selection on the retail giant’s own operating system.

All three tablets now come with Alexa+ fully integrated into the tablet rather than as a standalone app. This can be called upon any time via voice control or by tapping the “Ask Alexa” button. This will benefit productivity more than entertainment, though I was shown a demonstration of how Alexa can find and play shows across various streaming services and suggest films you might like, based on your taste.

On-Screen Intelligence can also read your screen, should you allow it, for personalised help. The 12 Pro also comes with support for the Tablet Pro Pen and Pro Keyboard, both sold separately, much like other premium tablets.

The flagship Amazon Alexa 12 Pro with Nanomatte display starts at £500, which puts it directly up against the iPad and iPad Mini, which start at £429 and £599 respectively.

The rest of the range is priced lower – the Alexa Tablet 8 starts at £200 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 starts at £290 with 8GB RAM and 64GB storage, and the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with a standard display starts at £450 for 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

All three Amazon Alexa tablets are available to pre-order now and will be released on 19th October.

MORE:

Read our iPad Mini 6 review

Also consider our Amazon Fire HD 8 (newest gen) review

These are the best tablets for movies and music

Eversolo's AMP-F8 is a serious piece of kit for serious listeners. Because it's a power amplifier, you'll need a separate preamp as well, so it's very much for those taking the separates approach to hi-fi.

But as anyone who's ever done so will confirm, it's worth the effort.

The AMP-F8 was unveiled at High End Vienna in June, but it's just been announced that it goes on sale in the UK next week. So why is it worth considering?

Well, there's the power, for one thing. With generous power reserves, it can drive large speakers – in bridged mode, it delivers up to 500W into 8Ω, in stereo mode, 180W per channel into 8Ω and 280W per channel into 4Ω.

This delivers "a greater sense of scale, while helping bass remain firm, elastic and controlled," Eversolo says.

Its performance is kept stable by a custom 800W high-power toroidal linear power supply that reduces interaction between channels for more stable imaging and more control during dynamic output. And there are 24 custom audio-grade filter capacitors to reduce power-supply ripple and support stronger transient current response, enabling quick energy release as required to give dynamic sections of music more composure.

Mechanical vibrations and interference are suppressed by the integrated DC blocking circuit, giving the amplification circuit a cleaner, more stable power supply.

All this helps keep total harmonic distortion as low as 0.003 per cent, resulting in less unwanted colouration and a sound reproduction that's closer to the original recording.

The signal-to-noise ration of 115dB promises a "cleaner and quieter sonic background" to reveal the subtle details of a track more clearly. In low-level audio signals, noise and external interference is minimised thanks to the AMP-F8's dual differential amplification architecture with symmetrical circuitry and precision negative feedback design. It promises to remain natural and transparent-sounding both with big dynamic shifts and subtle details.

The damping factor over 400 should reduce unwanted movement caused by driver inertia, keep the bass firm and clear with deeper extension and a faster transient response. And the Class AB amplification architecture employs three pairs of precision-matched high-current MOSFET power devices for each channel to distribute power more evenly and reduce distortion.

It also looks the part, thanks to its dual analogue VU meters whose needles move in real time to reflect changes in level and dynamics.

The chassis is precision CNC machined with an anodised sandblasted finish, and promises to suppress physical resonance while improving thermal efficiency and electromagnetic shielding. Combined with its natural convection cooling system and optimised internal layout, it should remain stable even during long listening sessions and under heavy sonic loads.

It also has XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced inputs, making it compatible with preamplifiers, DACs and high-end music sources.

It's out next week in the UK, and costs £1749 (around $2300 / AU$3300) through Decent Audio.

MORE:

The best stereo amplifiers it's possible to buy

Integrated vs pre/power amplification: the pros, cons and which is best for you

How to build the perfect hi-fi system – your complete guide

Note: Magico has pointed out that due to inflation, the original A3's price rose to just shy of £22,000 this year – almost £10,000 more than its launch price. The original story follows.

When it launched in 2017, the original A3 was Magico's most affordable speaker ever (though at £12,000 per pair, it wasn't exactly pocket money). Now the A3 has been reborn as the A3 2027, with a new cabinet, new drivers and new crossover.

Oh, and a new price that's over twice as much as the original A3 at launch.

The new model is again a three-way, four-driver floorstander, but it was developed with the same advanced measurement instruments that produced the ultra-high-end M9 (which cost a staggering £840,000 per pair at launch, but are probably closer to £1 million now).

Californian firm Magico claims that no part of the original A3 speaker was kept just because it worked before – rather every element was reconsidered and reevaluated.

The midrange and woofer cones are built around aluminium-honeycomb cores, which have "ideal thickness, light weight, and the ability to be formed into custom shapes", Magico says. Once sandwiched between carbon fibre skins, they produce "groundbreaking performance" with ultra-low distortion.

Each drive unit was designed especially for the A3 2027. The tweeter's pure-beryllium 28mm diameter diaphragm has a new neodymium-based motor to deliver low distortion with greater power handling, while the 5-inch midrange uses a new long-life foam surround to achieve "excellent cone-to-surround integration, fast settling time, and ultra-low distortion figures," according to Magico.

The midrange also has a super-stabilised magnetic field, pure titanium voice coil and pure copper shorting rings courtesy of a new motor system to minimise eddy currents.

The two 7-inch bass units use the same new cone geometry as the midrange, with the same motor system and all its benefits. These units were optimised for minimal distortion using FEA simulation.

So that's the actual sound-producing parts covered. But the rest of the speaker received just as much attention to detail.

The new crossover is implemented as an acoustical-target 24dB Linkwitz-Riley slope, "delivering maximum frequency and phase linearity while keeping intermodulation distortion minimal." Magico's Elliptical Symmetry Crossover techniques control driver resonances, while Mundorf EB GmbH components promise greater power handling, transparency and liquidity.

Bracing and damping were targeted precisely where needed, thanks to the use of a Laser Vibrometer measuring the vibrations in the cabinet panels. A Near-Field Scanner (NFS) robot measured the 3D sphere surrounding the speaker to optimise the A3 2027's acoustic output, while constrained layer damping means less noise radiating from the parts of the cabinet featuring bracing and bolts.

The visual design has been overhauled, too, with radiused vertical edges and no hard corners visible when viewed in profile. There's no visible fastener either, so it looks like one uninterrupted surface only broken by the drivers. The base is precision-machined and mirrors the speakers' radiused geometry, with custom footers that help reduce diffraction.

The cabinet has had a glow up as well, with the panels now bead blasted and anodised, resulting in a satin texture. And it now comes in four finishes – black, silver, red, and blue – to the original A3's two.

All of these improvements come at a price, and that price is £28,998 per pair (around $38,000 / AU$55,000). That's more than twice the launch price of the original A3.

Look out for it in the first part of 2027 from UK distributor Absolute Sounds.

MORE:

Read about the original Magico A3

And the insane M9 flagship

Best floorstanding speakers: budget to premium models tested by our experts

The Beatles have released an expanded special edition of their 1965 album, Rubber Soul, featuring new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes, archival recordings from early sessions, and a variety of physical formats.

The special edition features new mixes by Giles Martin (producer and son of George Martin) and engineer Sam Okell.

Alongside the new Dolby Atmos and stereo mixes, the collection includes the original mono mix, the original Capitol US Album Version, and previously unreleased session recordings and home demos, plus a double A-side single featuring Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out.

A few versions of the new release are available, including single CD and LP editions, double CD and LP Special Editions, and four-CD and five-LP Super Deluxe editions. A Blu-Ray edition will also be available, featuring the Dolby Atmos mix, a hi-res stereo version and promotional films for Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out.

UMG and Apple Corps Ltd have also announced limited-edition orange vinyl and D2C exclusive Zoetrope vinyl editions.

Those willing to fork out on the Super Deluxe editions can expect to hear 24 early session recordings, including 20 previously unreleased takes and three previously unreleased home demos, one of which, titled Little Girl, is touted to be a “previously unheard” John Lennon song.

Super Deluxe buyers can also expect an 88-page hardcover book to accompany their CD or vinyl, with an introduction by Paul McCartney and foreword pieced together from John Lennon’s own words.

The Rubber Soul special edition collections are available to order now. Full UK pricing is as follows:

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Standard: 1CD: £13.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Standard: 1LP: £29.99

Rubber Soul - Blu-ray Edition: £29.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Deluxe: 2CD: £22.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Standard: 1LP Zoetrope £31.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Deluxe: 2LP: £44.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Super Deluxe: 4CD Box Set: £119.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Super Deluxe: 4CD Box Set + Posters + Art Cards: £129.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Super Deluxe: 5LP + 7" Single Box Set: £189.99

Rubber Soul - Special Edition Super Deluxe: 5LP + 7" Single Box Set + Posters + Art Cards: £199.99

MORE

12 of the best songs by The Beatles to test your hi-fi system

Stereo? Who needs it: I think The Beatles sound better in mono

Check out our pick of the best turntables tested by our expert reviewers