A damning report by Enders Analysis has called on big tech companies to crack down on piracy issues.

The research, written by Gareth Sutcliffe and Ollie Meir, says that Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft are all enabling “industry scale theft” of video services.

According to the report, the sports broadcasting industry is the biggest contributor to this issue. That’s because it is becoming more and more expensive to access legally.

Much of the piracy can be attributed to users buying illegal Amazon Fire TV Sticks sold via Meta’s platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

According to data for the first quarter of this year, provided to Enders by Sky, 59 per cent of people in the UK who admitted to watching pirated material in the last year while using a physical device said they had used a Amazon Fire product.

But illegal streaming sticks are not the only problem here.

Fire TV Sticks can run sideloaded Android apps, as the Fire TV operating system is based on Android; so users can install apps not found in the official app stores.

This is also possible on Android TV and Google TV devices.

The research adds: “Big tech is both friend and foe in solving the piracy problem. Conflicting incentives harm consumer safety by providing easy discovery of illegal pirated services, and reduced friction through low-cost hardware such as the Amazon Firestick.”

An Amazon spokesperson told the BBC: "Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers."

The company has made changes to its Fire devices to make it harder for people to stream pirated content, they added.

Another development that could improve the problem is Amazon's promise to switch to its in-house Vega OS for Fire TV Sticks. This transition will require developers to rebuild all apps and would stop the ability to sideload Android apps.

Google and Microsoft are also in the firing line of the report, which says that the Digital Rights Management solutions provided by the companies “are in steep decline”.

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Microsoft has announced a major price increase to its Xbox range, and it's going to impact more than just the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.

It will affect the UK, North America, Australia and Europe, with accessories and first-party games also going up, meaning new and existing Xbox gamers are going to feel the sting.

Starting with the consoles, the Xbox Series S, which we reviewed at £250 / $300 / AU$500 back in 2021, will now carry a recommended retail price of £300 / $380 / AU$550.

The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, will increase from £449 / $499 / AU$749, to £500 / $600 / AU$850. Price increases are also hitting the 512GB version of the Xbox Series S, the discless Xbox Series X Digital, and the 2TB Xbox Series X.

Furthermore, Microsoft states that "Xbox Series S and X availability may continue to change over time depending on the retailer and by country."

We're not entirely sure what this entails, but it could hint towards stock shortages that harken back to this console generation's early days, in which Xbox and PlayStation consoles were hard to come by.

Alongside the consoles, controllers are set to become more expensive, with the standard remote now costing £60 / $65 / AU$100; for reference the Xbox Wireless Controller originally launched at £55 / $60 / AU$90.

Xbox's official headsets (both the wired and wireless versions) are also getting a price hike, though it will only affect the US and Canada.

Finally, Microsoft has confirmed that first-party game titles will also get more expensive. It states that some titles will go up to $80 by the "holiday season" (presumably December), though it hasn't confirmed international pricing for future games quite yet.

Microsoft cites "market conditions and the rising cost of development" as the reasons behind this price increase, and it isn't the only company that's feeling the pressure.

Sony announced that the PlayStation 5 will become more expensive due to “a challenging economic environment” last month. Furthermore, Nintendo has raised eyebrows with its pricey new Switch 2 console, which features games priced similarly to the incoming Xbox increase.

We're willing to bet that the vaguely named "market conditions" and "challenging economic environment" are in reference to the tariff situation in the United States. Microsoft primarily manufactures its Xbox hardware in China, which is currently subject to substantial tariff rates, so while it's disappointing to see a price increase, it's not entirely surprising.

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If you own wireless Bose headphones or earbuds, congratulations – you likely own one of the best Bluetooth pairs in the business. Indeed, thanks to their typically impressive sound and build quality, not to mention their class-leading noise cancellation, Bose headphones are no stranger to our best wireless earbuds and best noise-cancelling headphones buying guides. But as with all modern wireless headphones, connecting them to various devices of various brands isn't always as straightforward as you might think.

That’s precisely why we’ve put together this guide on how to connect Bose headphones to your Mac, Windows laptop or smartphone via the wireless wonders of Bluetooth – to ensure that you can get them up and running without any hassle. Want to connect them to multiple devices simultaneously? Our guide covers that too. 

Before we dive into the specifics, it is worth noting that you have two options when it comes to wirelessly connecting your Bose headphones:

1. Connect directly via your device's Bluetooth settings, without the Bose app
2. Connect using the Bose app (available for iOS and Android devices)

While both methods will get you up and running quickly and easily, we recommend using the Bose app if you are connecting to a phone or tablet and want to make the most of your Bose headphones' features. Simply download the Bose app (formerly the Bose Music app) from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS/iPadOS). These apps are not available for Macs or Windows computers.

The app offers additional settings, like EQ adjustments and noise cancellation controls, that vary depending on your specific model.

So, what's next?

Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode

Regardless of which device you are connecting to, the first step is always to put your Bose headphones in pairing mode. Here's how:

1. Power on your headphones or earbuds.
2. Press and hold their Power/Bluetooth button until you hear "Ready to pair" (or similar) come through the headphones, or see the Bluetooth indicator blinking blue.

Note: for certain earbud models like Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds (pictured above), you must instead press the button on the charging case to enter pairing mode. The case's flashing blue LEDs will let you know you’ve been successful.

Now that you're paired, let's dive into the different device connection methods...

How to connect Bose headphones to a Mac

Connecting your Bose headphones to your Mac is a straightforward affair, and one that doesn't require the installation of any apps or software. Remember to put your Bose headphones or earbuds in pairing mode (as explained in the previous section), and you're good to go:

1. Go to System Settings on your Mac.
2. Select the Bluetooth option and ensure it's turned on.
3. Once in pairing mode, your Bose headphones should appear on the screen.
4. Click the 'Connect' button to pair them with your Mac.

How to connect Bose headphones to a Windows PC

As with a Mac, pairing your Bose headphones with your Windows laptop or desktop PC is straightforward. As before, make sure your Bose headphones or earbuds are in Bluetooth pairing mode and then:

1. Access Settings on your Windows PC.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
3. Turn on Bluetooth.
4. Click 'Add device'.
5. Select Bluetooth on the pop-up screen.
6. Click on your Bose headphones from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions until you hear the "Connected" voice prompt.

How to connect Bose headphones to an Android device

If you want to connect your Bose headphones to your Android smartphone or tablet without using the Bose app, you can:

1. Go to Settings and select Connections.
2. Tap on Bluetooth.
3. Turn on your Bose headphones and put them in pairing mode.
4. Select your Bose headphones from the list of available devices.
5. Listen for a connectivity chime to confirm successful pairing.

If you want to unlock the full potential and features of your Bose headphones, however, it is certainly worth connecting using the dedicated Bose app. Here's how:

1. Download and install the Bose app from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and select 'Connect a Product' then 'Headphones & Frames'.
3. The app will search for nearby Bose devices. When your headphones appear, tap on them to begin the connection process.
4. You may be prompted to confirm the pairing on your Android device. If so, tap 'Pair' when the Bluetooth pairing request appears.

Lastly, if you're rocking an Android 6.0 device or higher (and chances are, you definitely are), then you can take advantage of Google Fast Pair for an even easier connection experience...

1. Press and hold the Power button or Bluetooth button on your Bose headphones
2. As long as your headphones are relatively nearby (i.e. in the same room), your Android phone will handily pop up a notification window saying that it's found some ready-to-connect headphones nearby.
3. Tap the notification to connect it, and you're good to go.

How to connect Bose headphones to an iPhone or iPad

As with Android devices, you can choose to connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone or iPad without installing the Bose app. Here's how:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select Bluetooth and ensure it's turned on.
3. Your Bose headphones should appear under 'Other Devices'.
4. Tap on their name to start pairing.
5. Wait for a voice confirmation of a successful connection.

If, however, you want the full features of the iOS Bose app (which we would say is worthwhile), then you'll want to do the following:

1. Download and install the Bose app from the App Store.
2. Open the app and select 'Connect a Product' then 'Headphones & Frames'.
3. The app will search for nearby Bose devices. When your headphones appear, tap on them to begin the connection process.
4. You may need to confirm the pairing on your iOS device. If prompted, tap 'Pair' when the Bluetooth pairing request appears.

How to connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth Multipoint

Some Bose headphones support Bluetooth Multipoint technology, allowing you to connect them to multiple devices simultaneously. Your Bose headphones can store up to eight devices and be actively connected to two at a time – say, your phone and your laptop. This can be handy if you want to listen to music on your laptop but be able to easily accept incoming calls on your phone.

When powered on, the headphones will automatically connect to the two most recently connected devices. To switch between connected devices, simply pause audio on the first device and play from the second. Alternatively, you can switch between two devices using the Bose app.

Bose headphones and earbuds compatible with Multipoint Bluetooth are the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Ultra Open Earbuds, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, QuietComfort Headphones and the now-discontinued QuietComfort 45 Headphones.

To connect to a device in the headphone memory that isn't currently connected:

1. Open the Bose app
2. On the product home screen, tap 'Source'
3. Next to the desired device name, set the toggle switch to the right to connect that device.

By following these steps, you should be able to seamlessly connect your Bose headphones to all your devices. Whether you're switching between work and personal devices or sharing audio with a friend, Bose headphones offer flexibility and convenience alongside their renowned sound quality.

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It’s been three years since Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X, but with stock shortages seriously restricting availability, for a long time afterwards the idea of getting one for much less than full price was nothing but a pipe dream – until now. 

In the Amazon Black Friday sale, the Xbox Series X is currently at an all-time low price of just £359 thanks to a 25 per cent discount on the usual asking price. Considering Microsoft raised the RRP to £480 earlier this year, that’s even more of a bargain than it first appears.

And if you were looking for a Series S deal instead, don't feel left out – the cheaper console is also on sale, now just £189 at Amazon.

So what do you get for your money? The Xbox Series X is officially the most powerful games console ever made, just edging out Sony’s PS5 when it comes to raw specs, with an 8-core 3.8GHz CPU and 12-teraflop GPU. That translates to 4K graphics at up to 120fps that’ll really get the most of your new TV, especially if it supports VRR and ALLM, and particularly now developers have worked out how to squeeze more performance out of the hardware.

The Series X will also play your Ultra HD Blu-rays, but Dolby Vision is only supported if you’re using compatible streaming apps. The disc drive is also a bit on the noisy side, so worth bearing in mind if physical media is your only option.

That’s not a decision you have to make if you opt for the digital-only Xbox Series S, which is also heavily discounted this Black Friday. This much more compact console is the less powerful sibling, so resolution maxes out at 1440p, but it does mean you’ll currently only pay £189 for one – a 24% saving on its usual £250 RRP.

It plays all the same games as the Series X, though, and for those not fussed about truly next-gen gaming experiences it does so with stable motion and plenty of detail. The same is true of its streaming apps, which include Netflix, Sky Go, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Disney+, but if you have a newish TV or streaming device that’ll probably be a moot point anyway.

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The PlayStation 5 might be around for a while yet, as Sony doesn't expect to launch a new console until at least 2027, a new document suggests.

The document (via Eurogamer) is Sony Interactive Entertainment's observations on the Competition and Market Authority's issues statement on Microsoft's bid to buy the Activision Blizzard gaming company. The acquisition would make Microsoft the third biggest games company in the world – a move that Sony objects to.

Sony's objections are laid out in this document. And one of them suggests the shelf life of the PS5 will be at least as long as its predecessor, the PS4.

The passage in question reveals that Sony expects to lose access to the Call of Duty franchise (which is made by Activision Blizzard) in 2027. It goes on to say that by the time Sony "launched the next generation of its PlayStation console... it would have lost access to Call of Duty and other Activision titles."

All of which suggests Sony won't launch a new console until at least 2027.

(A likely launch date of Sony's next console is stated within the document, but it's redacted.)

Sony fears that losing Call of Duty in 2027 would leave PlayStation "vulnerable to consumer switching and subsequent degradation in its competitiveness," the document says. In other words, by lacking one of the biggest selling gaming franchises, Sony's next console would be at a disadvantage versus Microsoft's next Xbox machine.

For the record, Microsoft has said that – should the deal go through – it will continue to release and support Call of Duty on PlayStation.

The PS5 launched in November 2020. If it was succeeded in 2027, it would match the seven-year shelf life of its predecessor, the PS4, which launched in 2013. (That wouldn't mean the PS5 stopped being sold or supported then.)

The PS5 suffered stock shortages for the first year and some change of its life, though these have mostly been resolved now.

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iFi has added another affordable and well-kitted-out DAC to its extensive portfolio. The iFi Uno is its most entry-level device yet – a £79 portable DAC and headphone amplifier designed to boost the audio of your desktop or mobile devices.

The Uno's main connection is a USB-C input, meaning it can connect to Windows PCs, Apple Mac computers, and the latest smartphones and tablets. It draws power from the device it's connected to, so there's no need for extra power cables.

At its budget price of £79 / $79 (around AU$129 - AU$139), the iFi Uno is billed as a "first-rung audio upgrade" for those that aren't an audiophile and don't care much about the technical innards when it comes to DACs. It's designed to simply deliver a better, more "thrilling" sound when you're listening to music or watching videos on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

But that doesn't mean iFi has skimped on the technical aspects of the Uno – far from it. Inside its tiny footprint (it measures a tiny 8.8 x 2.6 x 8.1cm) lies a powerful ESS Sabre DAC chip, jitter elimination technologies, and iFi’s dedicated clock circuitry that aims to deliver "ultra-low distortion, excellent clarity and impressive dynamic range."

High-resolution audio support is extensive for those that do have a growing digital library, with the Uno supporting playback of files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, DSD256 and including MQA files from Tidal. If you want to know what's being played, the illuminated ring behind the volume dial will light up with different colours to show the file type and sample rate.

The 3.5mm headphone jack is compatible with a wide variety of headphones and earphones, and even includes switchable gain (with 6dB adjustments) to better match your headphones. Additionally, there's a pair of RCA stereo outputs that lets you connect the Uno to an amplifier or powered speakers.

There are three pre-set EQ modes for music, movies and games that tailor the sound according to what media you're enjoying.

The iFi Uno will cost £79 / $79 (around AU$129 - AU$139) and is available to buy from the end of November.

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The main compromise with the cheaper Xbox Series S versus the Series X is the lack of a disc drive, but Microsoft might have a solution. It has patented an external disc drive (via GameRant), which would allow the digital-only Series S to read physical game discs. This would effectively let you play disc-based games through the console.

How? By validating your ownership of a physical game to then let you access a digital version online. So while it wouldn't play the game straight from the disc, it would let you enjoy the same experience by routing it online.

The system would involve two devices – one with an optical disc drive to read the game disc and connect to Xbox servers to confirm your ownership, and one to download the digital copy.

In the patent, Microsoft says the main use would be backwards compatibility, as it would allow Xbox gamers with a stacked library of physical game discs from older generation consoles to enjoy those titles on their disc drive-less Xbox Series S.

It's likely the system would be able to check if a game had already been verified, in order to prevent digital piracy. Otherwise, you could simply borrow a game disc from someone and download a digital version to keep in your library forever.

As ever with patents, there is no mention when it could become reality, if it ever does. Much is still up in the air, but it looks like a promising step for anyone with a large library of game discs they want to continue enjoying.

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It's not always possible to head to the cinema with friends or go round to a pal's place to enjoy some TV together. That's why Netflix Party was invented; although, the service has since rebranded to Teleparty.

If you didn't try it out during lockdown, Teleparty is a way of watching Netflix together while staying apart, all from the comfort of your respective homes.

The reason for the name change is that the service has since expanded to support YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Prime Video, while even more services are supported if you sign up for Teleparty's premium service.

Here we'll show you what Teleparty can do, how it works, and how to use it.

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What is Teleparty?

Teleparty is an extension for the Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera browsers – and there's a free version as well as an Android app.

Install it, then head to the web versions of Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, or Prime Video to sync your streaming with friends so that the film or TV show you've all chosen starts at the same time for all of you. 

On the app, once you've signed into your streaming service of choice, it's just a couple of taps between you and your friends watching something.

Once it begins, you can all watch the same thing together as well as chat with Teleparty's text chat feature. If you're looking for even more features, you can sign up for Teleparty's premium subscription.

This will run you $3.99/month or $47.88 annually, and you'll get support for additional streaming services, like Apple TV, Crunchyroll, Paramount+, Peacock, ESPN+, Hotstar, and Star+. But that's not all that comes with premium.

You also get voice and video chat, chat badges, nickname customization, and additional reactions you can use while chatting. Teleparty also adds new features to its premium service over time, so keep an eye out if you sign up.

What can you do with Teleparty?

Teleparty lets you all watch at the same time through your individual accounts. It also includes a way to chat with your friends while watching.

You can type to chat with your friends – comment on the film/TV show, ask them how they are, talk about the weather, send hugs, or say whatever you like. Naturally, you can send GIFs, emoji, and screengrabs, too. Voice and video options are available with the premium version of Teleparty.

There is a limit to the number of people that one Teleparty can hold, but it's a whopping 1000! Good luck organising that and do send us the pics. You can Teleparty with anyone across the globe, but do bear in mind that the same TV show or film might not be available in every country.

Also, those conscious of privacy will be pleased to know that Teleparty does not store messages or chat histories of its users.

What devices does Teleparty work on?

The Teleparty extension works on laptop and desktop computers, both Macs and PCs. There's also an Android app, which you can download from the Google Play Store. According to Teleparty, support for other devices, like iPhones and iPads, is coming soon, so stay tuned.

When it comes to video quality, Teleparty supports streaming in HD; however, Teleparty supports up to 4K streaming on the Microsoft Edge browser.

How do you use Teleparty?

It's easy. On your computer, install the free Teleparty extension from the Google Chrome Store, the Teleparty extension on the Edge Web Store, or on Opera. 

Then, open up Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Max, or Prime Video, and start watching a video. It can be a film, show, documentary, or anything else.

The Teleparty extension icon next to the address bar in your browser window should have changed from grey to red. Click it, then follow the instructions in the pop-up window to start a Teleparty. Then, send the link to your friends.

On Android, download the Teleparty app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, you'll need to sign into your streaming service of choice within the app. After signing in, you'll be in a party and can tap 'invite' to add friends.

You can either take total control over the video playback or leave it open to anyone in the party. It's like leaving the remote control on the table for anyone to use. You'll be assigned an icon to represent yourself, sort of like an avatar. You can change this if you like, along with your nickname.

Those invited to join will also need to install the Teleparty extension or app. 

And there you go. Happy watching!

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Audyssey is launching MultEQ-X, a PC-based software package for home theatre AVRs that gives users improved flexibility when using the company's MultEQ room equalisation technology.

MultEQ-X will offer owners of compatible Denon and Marantz AVRs enhanced controls to tweak their room calibration parameters and display detailed information about their room acoustics. 

Key features of the new software include the capability to adjust subwoofer levels with slow or super-slow time rates and an advanced frequency response curve designer with a new ‘cut-off mode’, as well as complete control over target sound curves for every channel and every preset. In addition, all users will be able to manually override any of the measured parameters and view frequency responses for individual channels with improved resolution.

Furthermore, Audyssey says that MultEQ-X users will also gain early access to future updates of the MultEQ suite of software.

Available from today, the in-app purchase of MultEQ-X costs $200 (around £151 / AU$281) and includes a non-transferable license that entitles a single user to calibrate one specific AVR for the lifetime of that product. But those keen to try before they buy will be pleased to know that a virtual demo AVR is included with MultEQ-X for free to illustrate the new features and settings available. 

At launch, the software will be supported by all Denon and Marantz AVRs compatible with the existing Audyssey MultEQ Editor mobile app (available on iOS and Android for a cost of £18 / $20 / AU$31), though some features will not be supported across every product. 

The new software is not intended as a replacement for the current mobile application, instead, MultEQ-X is aimed at professionals and enthusiasts who may want to scrutinise the granular detail of their acoustic adjustments on a larger screen. The new system will require a 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 10/11 (version 1809, build 17763 or later), with wider support planned in the future.

Sound United, the parent company for Denon and Marantz, will be running free webinars on December 15th to introduce users to the new software – you can reserve a place here.

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We've spent over two years with Sony and Microsoft's latest consoles, and it's safe to say this generation has seen its ups and downs already. Whether its ongoing issues with supply or inflating prices of hardware and software, the Xbox Series X and PS5 have both faced adversity during their respective launches. However, the main priority with this comparison isn't technically these devices prowess as gaming consoles, but instead as Blu-ray players fo you home cinema. 

While fans have understandably been focused on games since the two new consoles came out, both the Xbox Series X and the premium PS5 model carry built-in 4K Blu-ray players. This means that between them, the new consoles have massively increased the number of 4K Blu-ray players tucked under TVs across the world.

Users of previous generation consoles will know that while Xbox already supported 4K Blu-ray playback with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, Sony frustratingly decided not to implement 4K Blu-ray support with the PS4 Pro. Thankfully, next-gen gamers from both console factions can breath a sigh of relief knowing that both this generation's Xbox and PlayStation have standardised 4K Blu-ray support - that's if you have a console with a disc drive, sorry Xbox Series S.

This is a big deal to anyone who, like us, cares about getting the best home entertainment experiences. The more 4K Blu-ray players there are out there, after all, the more UHD-BD discs will hopefully be sold. And the more UHD-BD discs are sold, the more confident film studios will feel about sticking with the latest and greatest physical media format even as they go about setting up their own streaming platforms.

The extent to which the PS5 and Xbox Series X might impact 4K Blu-ray’s fortunes will depend, though, on two things: just how aware owners are of their new consoles’ 4K movie disc drives, and how good those disc drives are.

The first of these we can’t really predict. Sales of 4K Blu-ray discs as a percentage of the wider movie disc market do seem to have slightly improved in recent months, but perhaps not by enough to say for sure that it’s down to a new console ‘bounce’. 

We can, though, investigate how well the consoles perform as 4K movie players. Especially now that some initial technical issues (especially with the Series X) have been addressed by post-launch firmware updates. So how do they fare against standalone 4K Blu-ray players? And, more importantly, which of them is best at this specific job?

• Check out the best PS5 deals

4K Blu-ray features

Neither the premium PS5 nor Xbox Series X can claim to have particularly richly featured 4K disc drives. Particularly disappointing is their lack of support for either of the ‘premium’ HDR formats – Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

These two formats allow compatible TVs to deliver better HDR pictures by providing extra scene by scene information you don’t get with the standard HDR10 format. 

The lack of support from either console for the premium HDR formats won’t matter to you if your TV doesn’t support Dolby Vision or HDR10+. A growing number of TVs DO support at least one of these formats, though - and in some cases both. And most stand-alone 4K Blu-ray players now also support at least one of the premium HDR formats. 

Series X fans are holding out hope that the Dolby Vision support the console now carries for some streaming apps and gaming might eventually be extended to the 4K Blu-ray drive. Microsoft, though, has so far pointedly neglected to mention this as something in its feature pipeline.

There’s no support on either console’s 4K Blu-ray player, either, for 3D discs, SACDs (Super Audio CDs), or DVD Audio discs, though it’s unlikely that too many people will be overwhelmingly upset by any of those omissions. You do get playback of standard Blu-rays and DVDs on top of the 4K Blu-ray support, though, as well as CD support on the Series X. For some reason, Sony continues to ignore CD playback on its consoles.

*Winner* Xbox Series X

4K Blu-ray audio format support

Both consoles support playback of all the audio formats currently found on 4K Blu-rays, including the awesome Dolby Atmos and DTS:X systems. Both consoles can be a bit fiddly to set up for these premium audio formats, though. 

On the PS5, you need to enter the options menu while a Blu-ray disc is playing; there are other audio output options in the main settings menu, but this appears to be focused on gaming audio. Instead, press the "options" button on the PS5 remote, click the three dots, then click settings, navigate to audio formats, and then select Bitstream.

On the Xbox, you need to use the Dolby and DTS apps, making sure that you have Pass Audio To Receiver selected in the Atmos app if you’re using an external Dolby Atmos soundbar or AV receiver. Bear in mind that Dolby Atmos headphone support on the Xbox, if you don’t want to use a separates-based Atmos audio system, requires you to pay a one-off subscription fee.

One odd issue experienced with the Xbox Series X is the console’s unwillingness to play DTS soundtracks into TVs that don’t have DTS decoding. It throws up an error message in such circumstances saying you need to turn Pass To Receiver off. The vast majority of 4K Blu-ray players, by comparison, simply downgrade the sound it outputs to something the TV can handle, without any manual intervention required.

*Winner* PS5

4K Blu-ray picture performance

Running against a range of standalone 4K Blu-ray players from Oppo, Panasonic and Sony that cover a wide variety of price points, neither the PS5 nor the Xbox Series X give a particularly stellar account of themselves where picture quality is concerned. 

For starters, players that support HDR10+, or particularly Dolby Vision, instantly prove the worth of these formats on compatible TVs. Both types of ‘active’ HDR content enjoy noticeably better dynamics and slightly richer but also more natural looking colours on compatible displays than the standard HDR10 feeds the consoles can provide.

Even with standard HDR10 discs, though, almost all of the standalone players - even a £169 Panasonic DP-UB450EB - outperform both new consoles overall, typically enjoying greater sharpness and detail, less noise, and marginally more refined and balanced colours. 

One of the consoles does at least outgun the UB450EB in one or two areas, though, as well as, more importantly for the purposes of this article, comfortably outperforming its great console rival. And that console is the PS5.

The PS5’s player most clearly makes its mark over its Xbox rival when it comes to sharpness. Crisp 4K transfers enjoy more clarity and detail on Sony’s device, putting more clear blue water between the picture quality of HD and 4K Blu-ray than the Series X does. The extra sharpness also makes the PS5’s 4K Blu-ray pictures look more three-dimensional.

The Series X’s 4K Blu-ray pictures do still look 4K, to be clear. But there’s an extra level of clarity with the PS5 that’s easily visible with the naked eye.

Sticking with resolution, the PS5 also does a much better job of upscaling standard, 1080p Blu-rays to 4K than the Xbox Series X. The Series X’s upscaled pictures look softer and more artificial than those of the PS5. They’re noisier, too - as if the Xbox’s processing isn’t as clever about spotting the difference between noise and ‘real’ picture information in low-resolution sources.

In fact, while you can quite happily leave the PS5 to do the upscaling of HD Blu-rays and DVDs, if you have a good quality 4K TV you might find you get better results with a Series X if you set the console to output 1080p when watching HD Blu-rays, so that your TV is left to do the 4K upscaling instead.

The Series X doesn’t just exhibit more video noise than the PS5 with upscaled images, either. Its 4K images tend to look a little ‘rougher’ too, with slightly more dot crawl in areas of fine detail or subtle colour blends; a more jagged look to some curved or very thin lines; and even some faint but occasionally noticeable horizontal line structure over certain types of image elements - especially clouds and thin horizontal lines.

The PS5 suffers with some colour noise too - more so than any of the standalone players we tested the consoles against. But overall its images are cleaner and more immersive than those of its console rival.

The PS5 also holds an advantage - albeit a very small one this time - with motion when playing 24fps 4K Blu-ray films. While the Series X handles motion much more consistently well than the One X does, just occasionally there’s a slightly laboured look to the judder. Whereas the PS5 maintains a slightly more consistently cinematic look.

• Our pick of the best PS5 games 2021

Neither the PS5 nor the Xbox Series X run as quietly when playing 4K Blu-ray films as the vast majority of stand-alone players do, and the Xbox is definitely the noisier of the two. The noise made by both disc drives and cooling fans is typically smooth enough to let you tune it out pretty well, particularly from the other side of the room, but you’re more likely to hear the Xbox during very quiet scenes than you are the PS5. It’s also worth noting that the Xbox often produces extra, short-lived audible buzz when skipping chapters or fast-forwarding/rewinding.

The Series X holds its own against the PS5 when it comes to colour balance and naturalism. At launch the Series X suffered with a pretty severe raised brightness issue that affected both its colour and contrast with 4K Blu-ray playback. This was swiftly fixed by a firmware update, though, and now the Series X is at least as good as the PS5 where contrast is concerned. In fact, the PS5 very (very!) occasionally exhibits a touch of instability in extremely dark scenes when running on some high-contrast OLED TVs that the Xbox now does not. But this really is a rare issue indeed.

*Winner* PS5

4K Blu-ray sound quality

Once you’ve figured out how to get them outputting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks from 4K Blu-rays that carry them (and most do carry one or the other these days), both consoles perform reasonably well sonically, albeit not as well as a standalone Blu-ray player.

Spinning up the bombing-run scene of Unbroken via Blu-ray, it turns out that the PS5 can do a very good job of Dolby Atmos soundtracks when given the chance (remember; it only supports Dolby Atmos when playing Blu-rays). It doesn’t quite have the crispness or dynamic punch of a dedicated player, but the console produces a muscular, room-filling sound with good clarity and well-placed sound effects.

For a games console, the Series X is very capable, too. It’s not quite as precise or weighty as the PS5, but it does get to the core of a soundtrack, delivering it with reasonably impressive clarity, solidity and atmosphere. Play an Atmos-enabled film, such as 1917, and the console delivers a great sense of place, filling the room with effects that sweep across the soundstage as the action unfolds.

That said, if you once again compare the Series X to the Sony UBP-X700 Blu-ray player, it’s clear that the latter is a sonic step-up in just about every way. As Lance Corporal Schofield makes his mad dash through the enemy-infested streets in 1917, the Sony’s added punch, detail, precision and dynamic expression combine for a more intense and engaging experience.

You probably wouldn’t want to use either the PS5 nor the Series X as serious music players; don’t forget that the PS5 doesn’t even play CDs. For movie soundtracks, though, while neither console is as capable as a standalone 4K Blu-ray player, both are perfectly decent in their own right.

*Winner* Draw

4K Blu-ray verdict

Neither of the latest Sony and Microsoft consoles are exactly great as 4K Blu-ray movie players. They both come up short versus even some very affordable standalone players in both feature and performance terms. 

That said, both consoles give you at least some of the picture quality advantages that the UHD Blu-ray format’s technology is renowned for; native 4K resolution and, especially, high dynamic range. Some may argue that this is fair enough for products that are built first and foremost as games consoles rather than home cinema sources.

If you are as into home cinema as you are gaming, though, and you don’t want to invest in a separate standalone 4K Blu-ray player, then the disc drive-carrying PS5’s movie spinning skills comfortably outperform those of its Microsoft rival.

*Overall winner* PS5

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Check out our PS5 v Xbox Series X comparison

Read our Xbox Series X review

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Microsoft has unveiled details of its next Windows 10 update, including big improvements in how the operating system handles Bluetooth audio.

The biggest change is that Windows will begin to support Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) over Bluetooth. AAC is a compressed file format developed by Apple, used for iTunes and Apple Music. It is also a type of Bluetooth codec compatible with Apple audio hardware such as AirPods.

At present, Windows 10 only supports the SBC and aptX Bluetooth codecs, so if you want to playback AAC files from iTunes to listen to on your AirPods, the files get converted into the SBC codec. 

Not only is SBC more lossy, but the process of conversion also degrades the sound quality. By supporting AAC Bluetooth, AAC files will be transmitted with less processing, and Apple fans with Windows devices can enjoy a higher-quality listening experience. 

Microsoft will also update the way Windows 10 lets you select Bluetooth input devices by creating a 'unified audio endpoint'. When using headphones with a mic, users are currently offered multiple Bluetooth profiles for both headset and headphones. 

Using a single audio endpoint, Windows will automatically switch to the correct Bluetooth profile as you swap between listening to music and making calls. Unfortunately, the announcement comes about a year too late to save us from thousands of video meeting audio fails.

The full update is expected later this year but is available now as part of the Insider Preview Build 21370, released to members of the Windows Insider Program.

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What’s the first thing you think of when someone says the word ‘multi-room’?

For most, we imagine it's a dedicated set-up from a single manufacturer such as Sonos or Bluesound, with its connected ecosystem of speakers, soundbars, soundbases and hi-fi components. Or perhaps you'd think of AirPlay 2, a gateway for an iOS source (Apple device) to stream music to multiple compatible products.

If you want to mix and match from multiple manufacturers, cherry-picking devices in order to get the best performance and fit for each room, DTS Play-Fi could be an option worth looking into. The app-controlled, wireless, multi-room platform has been licensed to several hi-fi brands and consequently sits at the functionality core of excellent streaming products such as the What Hi-Fi? Award winning Audiolab 6000N Play (pictured below) and five-star Arcam rPlay music streamers.

It claims to provide “premium wireless audio for every room of your house”, and works across a wide array of products. So, let’s take a look at what it does, how it does it and what products utilise it...

• Multi-room audio: everything you need to know

What is DTS Play-Fi?

DTS Play-Fi is, at the most fundamental level, a platform and app that lets you connect and control various hi-fi devices together in order to stream audio from one to another. This can be within one room for a multi-channel set-up, or across multiple rooms in your home. Multi-room aside, it can just be used to facilitate network streaming in one standalone product.

The range of compatible devices includes portable wireless speakers, stereo systems, A/V tuners, preamps, amplifiers, music streamers and media servers – all of which can be managed on your smartphone, tablet, PC or TV via the dedicated app. DTS Play-Fi launched in 2012 and originally its app was only available only on Android. But now its dedicated control app is available on iOS, Kindle Fire (the operating system on Amazon’s Fire tablets) and Windows PCs too, as well as on TVs.

On Windows, however, there are two varieties of Play-Fi app: a free version and a “Play-Fi HD” version. The latter costs $14.95 (approximately £10), which buys you a code for from the DTS online store and ultimately gives you greater control over your audio as well as higher quality. 

• Best multi-room systems 2021
• Best multi-room speakers 2021

How does it work?

Download the app and you should quickly see a list of available devices. Tap to select it, then choose audio from a number of sources including Amazon Music (including Amazon Music HD), Tidal, Deezer, Spotify and Qobuz, as well as internet radio stations via iHeartRadio, SirusXM and Radio.com. Apple Music is not available on the service at the moment.

Some DTS Play-Fi-compatible products will also support AirPlay and AirPlay 2, Apple’s simple method of streaming audio and video directly from iPhones, iPads and other devices. However, this isn’t available in every DTS Play-Fi product; it's the manufacturer's decision whether to implement it or not. Similarly, that's the case with Google Chromecast and Spotify Connect.

You can configure two separate speakers into a stereo pairing – one playing the left channel audio, the other playing the right – using the app, or (if you have at least six DTS Play-Fi compatible products) create a 5.1 surround-sound system.

Those speaker groups can then be designated as ‘Zones’, which allows you to delegate music to different rooms of your house. For example, you could have a Tidal stream going to the speakers in your living room while a Deezer stream plays in the bedroom.

A new companion app, called DTS Play-Fi Headphones, also lets you stream audio from select DTS Play-Fi-connected products (soundbars, stereo amps and speakers) to a pair of headphones over wi-fi. DTS claims the wi-fi connection is better than Bluetooth headphones (which can introduce latency issues) and its AV synchronisation technology means there shouldn't be any syncing issues between picture and audio when watching TV.

To use it, you have to connect your wired headphones to your smartphone or tablet with the app on it, up to four people can be connected to one stream, and users can even listen at different volumes. The free app is available on iOS and Android.

• Best music streaming services 2021 

Does DTS Play-Fi support hi-res music?

DTS Play-Fi will play MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF files. They can be streamed up to a 16-bit/48kHz resolution limit without compression – anything bigger will be compressed by default.

However, this can be changed using the service’s Critical Listening mode, which lets you stream 24-bit/192kHz music across your wi-fi network. A word of warning, though: since those files are generally pretty large (many of our hi-res music files are between 30MB and 70MB per track, compared to 3.5MB for the average MP3 file) and thus require greater bandwidth to stream, DTS advises using a wired connection for more reliable performance.

• High-resolution audio: everything you need to know

Which products support DTS Play-Fi?

Among the vast array of products supporting DTS Play-Fi are soundbars, systems and speakers from – deep breath – Audiolab, Anthem, Arcam, Aerix, Definitive Technology, Integra, Klipsch, MartinLogan, McIntosh, Onkyo, Paradigm, Philips, Polk, Quad, Rotel, Phorus, Pioneer and Sonus faber.

Most recently, product announcements include the Quad Artera Solus Play streaming system, a range of Philips audio kit and TVs, and kit by Porsche Design.

You can see the full list of supported brands here.

• Best music streamers 2021
• How to add a streamer to your hi-fi system

How many products can you connect using DTS Play-Fi?

In the words of The Notorious B.I.G., the sky’s the limit. You could theoretically connect as many products as you like together, but DTS recommends a maximum of 32 Play-Fi devices per home network, lest performance start to suffer.

Up to 16 Play-Fi products can stream the same song, whether that’s from your phone, tablet, or Windows PC. You can designate a maximum of four zones, with each zone streaming audio from a different source.

Up to eight people can use the same wi-fi network to stream songs using DTS Play-Fi (provided they’re all using different devices).

• Adding a music streamer to my hi-fi system has been a revelation (and a frustration)

Does DTS Play-Fi support voice control?

In a word, yes. DTS Play-Fi supports voice control most exhaustively via Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. This functionality is available in two ways: “integration of Alexa Voice Services” (which is for products with the Alexa voice assistant built-in) or, most commonly, “Works with Alexa” (which means you’ll be able to control Alexa-based music streams on DTS Play-Fi products via an Echo device).

Play-Fi-connected smart speakers such as the Onkyo P3, Pioneer F4 and Phorus PS10 have integrated Alexa, so you can shout commands at it just as you would Amazon's own Echo speakers.

To use Alexa with other Play-Fi products (such as those from McIntosh or Martin Logan – basically anything without microphones built in) you'll need to ask any of the above smart speakers or an Echo or Dot to play music, which it will then do across the rest of your Play-Fi products. There's a long list of Works with Alexa-supporting DTS Play-Fi products, which we can be found here. 

Speaking of Alexa, DTS Play-Fi products now support Alexa Cast, allowing users to send and control music directly from the Amazon Music app to them. See compatible products here.

How about Apple's Siri voice assistant? Music playback on Play-Fi products that support AirPlay 2 can be started via voice commands to Siri or to a HomePod. Alternatively, users can use spoken commands to add AirPlay 2 speakers into a group with a HomePod or even transfer music playback from the HomePod to other AirPlay 2 products in the home.

• Amazon Echo smart speakers: which Alexa speaker should you buy?
• Best smart speakers 2021

What are the DTS Play-Fi alternatives?

Many other companies offer their own services to connect up audio kit – controlled through bespoke apps. Sonos is the obvious standout in that respect – its multi-room speakers routinely win What Hi-Fi? Awards for ease of use and excellent support of numerous streaming services, plus exclusive features such as Sonos Trueplay.

Streaming products from the likes of Naim, Linn, Audio Pro, B&O and Bose (and many more) use their own streaming apps, while Bluesound, NAD, Dali use the shared BluOS platform, and Denon and Marantz use the shared HEOS platform.

Then there's arguably the most ubiquitous platforms: Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, which have been integrated across a huge variety of wireless products, allowing you to mix-and-match products in your streaming household.

One thing's for sure, it's no longer difficult to make a multi-room audio system. If anything, it's just harder to choose which of the many paths to go down.

November is gearing up to be a big month in the gaming world. Microsoft is launching the Xbox Series X and Series S on the 10th, while the Sony PS5 and its disc-less sibling, the PS5 Digital Edition will touch down the following week.

While Sony's consoles boast plenty to get excited about, we're going to focus on the latest Xboxes, which are available to pre-order now (stock is extremely scarce, but we'll explain more about that below). 

So which next-gen Xbox should you buy – Series X or Series S? 

We've reviewed both consoles, so we now know how they stack up against each other in terms of features, power, price, availability and looks. Wondering which new Xbox console to buy? Step right this way and we'll explain all...

• Everything you need to know about the all-new Xbox Series X
• Read the full Xbox Series X review
• Or check out its cheaper equivalent: Xbox Series S review

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: price

Given that the Xbox Series S is lower-specced than the Series X, you would expect it to be cheaper. And you'd be right.

The Series S costs £250 ($299, €299, AU$499). That's a lot cheaper than the £450 ($499, €499, AU$749) that Xbox is charging for the Series X.

The first wave of pre-orders went live on Tuesday 22nd September and promptly sold out. Some retailers are occasionally releasing more pre-orders but you'll need to get in quick. This guide explains how – and where – to pre-order the new Xbox in the UK, US, Australia, Canada and the rest of the world. 

Not yet pre-ordered? Microsoft has hinted that there'll be plenty of consoles available from launch on 10th November.

More than you can afford in one go? Xbox All Access could be for you. Rather than pay upfront, the service lets you pre-order an Xbox Series X for £28.99 ($33.99, AU$46) per month based on a 24 month contract. You can get your mitts on a box-fresh Series S on the same basis but with lower payments – just £20.99 ($24.99, AU$33) per month. Here's a list of all the major retailers offering the Xbox All Access.  

• How – and where – to pre-order the new Xbox Series X console

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: specs

The Series X is the bigger and more powerful console. According to the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, it's four times as powerful as the Xbox One X. Inside you'll find 12.15 teraflops (TFLOPS) of GPU power.

Compared to the Xbox One's eight-core 1.75GHz CPU, or the One X's eight-core 2.3GHz CPU, the Series X's eight-core 3.6GHz Custom AMD Zen 2 chip improves practically every aspect of how games run. Loading times have been virtually eliminated, so you can fire up a game and get going almost immediately. Amazing.

The Series X also boasts variable rate shading and hardware-accelerated DirectX raytracing, which makes for better graphics. Quick Resume means you can nip in and out of games (picking up where you left off) with no delay – this was previously available on the Xbox One X, but only on one game at a time. The Series X ups this to between four and six games, depending on their complexity. It works exactly as promised and makes dipping back into a game at precisely the point you left off a matter of mere seconds.

The Xbox Series S has the same Quick Resume feature, but because of its less powerful innards can only flick between three and four games. Which is still plenty for most people.

On the connections front, the Series X has an HDMI output and an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable is included in the box, which is handy if your display of choice supports HDMI 2.1. Through that, gamers can enjoy frame rates up to 120fps and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology too.

But it's not all roses when it comes to connections. There's no HDMI input nor an optical digital out – both of which can be found on the Xbox One X and Xbox One S. The HDMI input was introduced to Xbox consoles so you could plug in and control a set-top box, although many felt it was never really implemented properly.

The loss of the optical output could have a bigger impact on users, though. It means if you want to enjoy home cinema sound from your Xbox Series X, you’ll need an AV receiver or soundbar with HDMI connectivity.

So how about the Series S? According to an article on Xbox Wire by Liz Hamren, Head of Platform Engineering and Hardware for Xbox, the Series S "delivers four times the processing power of of an Xbox One console". On paper, the figures are 12.15 TFLOPS of power for the Series X compared to 4 TFLOPS of power for the Xbox Series S.

The Series S is "similar in CPU" to the Series X but not identical. The Xbox Series X uses an 8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU running at 3.8GHz (3.6GHz with SMT enabled) while the Series S uses the same CPU working at 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT enabled).

The 'X' is powered by a 52CU (compute unit) RDNA GPU running at 1.825GHz, while its cheaper sibling has a 20CU, 1.565GHz GPU.

The Series S doesn’t have the graphics grunt of its sibling, meaning that resolution is a big difference between the consoles. The Xbox Series S has been geared towards outputting 1440p at 60Hz, up to a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. It can upscale the picture to 4K to match your 4K TV, but you won’t be able to see next-gen games in native 4K. You can only play games in native 4K resolution (at up to 120Hz) on the Xbox Series X.

The Series S also doesn't run Xbox Series X enhanced versions of older games. Instead, the Series S has prettified Xbox One S versions of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. In other words, the Series won't run older Xbox titles in 4K, something the Xbox Series X allows you to do.

The Xbox Series S also has to make do with a 512GB solid state hard drive, of which only 364GB is usable. This seems tiny, especially considering that some games come in at 60GB+. The Series X has a more respectable 1TB of storage, of which around 800GB is usable. 

The good news is that both consoles support optional storage expansion. The bad news? It's not cheap. The 1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card is now available to pre-order, priced at £219 ($219, AU$359). But standard HDDs and SSDs can be used for the storage of standard Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles – i.e. games that haven’t specifically been optimised for Series X.

Gaming aside, both the Series X and S support both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. But that HDR10+ support that was rumoured? Sadly the rumours proved to be false.

• Level up with the best gaming headsets
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Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: design and build

The Series X measures 30 x 15 x 15cm compared to the Xbox One X’s 30 x 24 x 6cm. Its weight is 4.45kg, vs the 3.69kg of the older machine.

As you can see in the above image, the Series S is much more petite. It measures 28cm x 15 x 6cm and is a relative featherweight (1.9kg). In fact, the Series S is almost 60 percent smaller than the Series X, making it the smallest Xbox yet. This should make it more portable and easier to throw in a bag to take to a friend's house.

The two consoles look quite different. The Series S is finished in what Xbox calls Robot White, and is a lot less imposing than the X. It also has its cooling vent on the side (that bit that looks like a speaker grille), whereas the X passes air out of the top (although the orientation of both consoles can be switched).

The Series X's internal fan might be huge, but it runs nice and quietly. Sadly the same can't be said of the disc drive – it makes a real racket. It’s not really a problem with disc-based games as they install to and run from the console’s internal storage, requiring the disc to spin only briefly on start-up, but it is an issue when watching Blu-rays and DVDs. The Xbox can easily be heard during low-volume scenes; a dedicated player is unsurprisingly significantly quieter.

The Series S doesn't have a disc drive, of course, so doesn't suffer from this issue.

Both the S and X consoles come bundled the new Xbox Wireless controller as standard. The controller includes a tweaked design, a new "Share" button and a hybrid D-pad that provides a deeper "dish" for your thumb to rest in. The controller is a little easier to grip, and a tad more ergonomically advanced. It's also backwards compatible with the Xbox One, and vice-versa.

Microsoft has also applied some spit and polish to the Xbox user interface. The new "look and feel" of the Xbox operating system sports a bunch of improvements including slicker menus, an updated social feed and a Home Screen that is said to launch "50% faster". It's still recognisably Xbox though – something that will split opinion between those happy with the familiarity versus those expecting a 'true' next-gen gaming experience, UI and all.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: streaming apps

The good news is that both consoles will have the same streaming apps at launch – a godsend for the disc-less Xbox Series S. The headline news is that the Apple TV app will be available from day one, giving you (paid) access to the Netflix-like Apple TV Plus streaming service.

But that's not the only streaming option. Both consoles will have access to all the same streaming apps as the Xbox One consoles. Namely (but not limited to):

• Netflix
• Disney Plus
• HBO Max
• Spotify
• YouTube
• YouTube TV
• Amazon Prime Video
• Hulu
• NBC Peacock
• Vudu
• FandangoNow
• Twitch
• Sky Go
• Now TV
• Sky Ticket

These in the UK also get access to BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4. So despite the lack of a disc drive, there will be plenty for Xbox Series S owners to watch and listen to.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: picture quality

So how do these  ‘Optimized for X’ games look? The answer is, very good indeed. 

Opting for Gears 5 first, we get a strong sense of the upgrades as soon as we enter the action. The resolution still adjusts dynamically according to what’s happening on screen, so doesn’t stick as rigidly to 4K as you might hope, but detail has been increased and lighting has been improved. The result is a significantly more crisp, solid and three-dimensional image that’s more immersive and exciting.

Arguably more transformative is the upgrade to the way the game feels to play. The Series X is able to stick pretty rigidly to its 60fps target and, when combined with the DLI feature that reduces input lag, it makes for a supremely responsive playing experience.

The game isn’t totally immune to drops in frame rate, but they are rare and hard to spot. Those who own a TV with VRR won’t see them at all, as the tech brilliantly compensates for these little drops. Those with a TV that supports 4K@120Hz, meanwhile, will be able to set Gears 5 to 120fps for multiplayer. It makes the game feel even more fluid and responsive, to the extent it might bestow a slight advantage when competing in the online arenas.

So far, we've only managed to test either existing Xbox One X games that have been given Series X upgrades, or those that haven't been optimised for the Series X. And they all look great: the former, dazzling, and the latter, significantly better – and quicker to load – than on the previous generation of consoles. We can't wait to see what games look like that have been designed from the ground up specifically for the Series X.

The Series X also introduces a new feature called Auto HDR, which uses machine learning to up-convert SDR titles. It works very well, broadly speaking, and adding HDR can have a transformative effect on the solidity of a game’s visuals. It isn’t perfect, though, and there are times the enhancement looks a little too artificial. Given the general effectiveness of the implementation, we’d leave the feature on in the console’s settings, only switching it off if you notice issues with specific games that you’re playing.

On the subject of HDR, there’s one big disappointment away from games: while Dolby Vision is supported via certain streaming apps, it isn’t via 4K Blu-rays. That, combined with its noisy disc drive, rather dents the Series X’s credentials as a 4K Blu-ray player. That’s a shame, because the picture performance here is broadly good. An affordable standalone model, such as the Sony UBP-X700 is a little bit better across the board, but the Series X reproduces disc-based movies with lots of detail, nicely judged colours and sharp edges.

It’s even more successful as a video streamer, offering a performance up there with the current benchmark standalone player, the Apple TV 4K. Playing Lost in Space via Netflix, we’re really impressed by the crispness and punch of the picture, and its balance of vibrancy and subtlety.

If you’re wondering how the Series S compares picture-wise, the answer is: not favourably. The cut-price console is perfectly capable in its own right, and actually very good for the money, but its lower resolution output makes for a much softer and flatter presentation that becomes a blur as you pan your view at any speed; the Series X remains pin-sharp throughout.

While the Series S isn't native 4K, what it does dish out is pretty easy on the eye. Play Madden 21 and the intro video bursts into life with a colourful and vibrant display of NFL uniforms and impressive-looking stadia shots.

Detail on jerseys and boots is good. The reflections on player helmets are glossy and add polish to the presentation. The motion of the players, whether they’re walking slowly into formation or blitzing the opposing team, is stable and we don’t notice anything in the way of tearing, judder or artefacts.

Gears 5 looks good too, even though it isn’t being rendered in true 4K. Compared with the Xbox Series X, the more powerful console delivers a picture with more ‘wow’ factor, but the Series S is by no means embarrassed. The on-screen detail is good enough, with decent texture on chiselled faces and war-torn body armour. Motion is stable, and there’s good insight in the shadows.

As a streaming device, the Xbox Series S is on a par with the Series X. Playing Altered Carbon via Netflix, the Series S produces a watchable picture, with none of the artificial appearance that can sometimes be served up by poorer streaming devices.

There’s a good sense of clarity and motion, with detail and definition both excellent too. As Quellcrist Falconer makes Angelfire rain down on her pursuers, the screen lights up with bolts of blue neon. As each soldier is struck down, the flames turn to embers, small pin pricks burning briefly, but ever so brightly, in Dolby Vision HDR. The detail in the shadows as she hides behind a fallen tree is nicely judged and not overly dark.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: sound

For a games console, the Series X is very sonically capable. It gets to the core of a soundtrack and delivers it with reasonably impressive clarity, solidity and atmosphere. Play an Atmos-enabled game or film such as Gears 5 or 1917 respectively, and the console delivers a great sense of place, filling the room with effects that sweep across the soundstage as the action unfolds.

That said, it's a little lacking compared to a standalone 4K Blu-ray player, with less punch, detail, precision and dynamic expression. Though that's to be expected. 

Overall, the Xbox Series X’s audio performance leaves little room for complaint.

The Series S also puts in a perfectly acceptable sonic performance. It sounds punchy and lively with a decent sense of clarity, and an even tonal balance. Again, it's not going to trouble any dedicated 4K Blu-ray players, not even budget ones, and it doesn't have the same sense of timing and natural flair with music. But it sounds lively enough, creating a fine sense of immersion and atmosphere for games and movies alike.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: verdict

The X and S are two quite different propositions. Sure, they both connect to the internet, both play games and both will let you access video and music streaming services. But which is right for you really depends on your needs.

If you're ready to wave goodbye to the disc format, don't mind a drop in resolution and power and your budget can't stretch past £249/$299/AU$499, the Xbox One S looks like the console for you. It's also the most portable of the two, which could sway someone looking for a more flexible gaming lifestyle. 

But if you want the ultimate next-gen Xbox experience, you'll have to stump up for the Series X. It's bigger and more powerful, and more impressive visually. It also has a disc drive onboard, so you can play Blu-rays and CDs too.

All this extra power comes at a price though – an extra £200 (or $200/AU$250) to be exact. 

Which console is right for you? It really depends on what price you put on those extra features and improved performance...

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Game on: Xbox Series X price and pre-orders

Next-gen consoles compared: PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition

On the fence? Here's our take on the PS5 vs Xbox Series X battle.

Sony and Microsoft's next-gen consoles are nearly here. The PS5 and Xbox Series X have been officially unveiled and pre-orders have begun – and that includes their cheaper, disc-less, all-digital counterparts, the PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S. But which of these digital next-gen consoles is the better buy?

Both lack a disc drive and both are quite a bit cheaper than their full-fat siblings. But there are more differences between them. Here you'll find out what they are, and see which console is right for you. Let the games begin.

• Where to find the best PS5 deals and where to pre-order
• Save big with today's best Xbox Series X deals
• PS5 vs Xbox Series X: the next-gen consoles compared

PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: price

New consoles don't come cheap, but Sony and Microsoft have kept the prices lower than feared. And kudos to both for launching a more affordable version of each, too.

The Xbox Series S is the cheaper of the two, costing £249 ($299, AU$499). The PS5 Digital Edition is pricier, at £359 ($399, €399, AU$599). But that's only half the story.

As we'll see, the PS5 Digital Edition has the same power and storage as the full-fat PS5, whereas the Xbox Series S is lower-specced than its pricier sibling. 

To make the Series S even more wallet-friendly, Microsoft is offering a monthly repayment plan courtesy of its Xbox All Access subscription service. For the Xbox Series S, you'll pay £20.99 ($24.99, AU$33) a month. That's cheaper than a lot of phone contracts. Sony does not offer a similar monthly repayment option, but you might find that selected retailers set and offer their own payment plans).

Both consoles are in a high-demand and supply is scare. So far, Microsoft has enjoyed a smoother Xbox Series X pre-order experience, with fewer stock shortages than the PS5 pre-orders. 

The Xbox Series S goes on sale all over the world on the same day (10th November), while Sony's consoles hit the shelves on 12th November in the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Canada, and 19th November in the UK and rest of the world. 

All in all, the PS5 pre-launch run has been a bit of a mess. Coupled with the fact that the Xbox goes on sale first, we'd hand this round to Microsoft.

**Winner** Xbox Series S

PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: specs

The Xbox Series S might be the lesser-powered of the new generation of consoles, but it's still pretty beefy. It has four times the processing power of an Xbox One. That's 4 TFLOPS, stat fans.

It uses an 8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU working at 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT enabled), along with a 20CU (compute unit) and 1.565GHz GPU. Games run at 1440p at 60 frames per second with support for up to 120fps. Got that?

But the Xbox Series S doesn't run Xbox Series X enhanced versions of older games. Instead, it will make do with beefed-up Xbox One S versions of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. In other words, the Series S won't run older Xbox titles in 4K, which is something the Xbox Series X allows you to do.

The Xbox Series S also has to make do with a 512GB solid state drive. It will support optional Seagate Storage Expansion Cards but it looks like they won't be cheap – £159 in the UK, or $220 in the US. Ouch.

Audio-wise, it supports Spatial Sound, including Dolby Atmos and will support Dolby Vision HDR through supported streaming apps like Disney+, Vudu and Netflix. Dolby Atmos will be available at launch, but Dolby Vision won't land until 2021.

There's one rather large difference between the Xbox Series S and PS5 Digital Edition: power. While the Series S is lower-specced than its pricier sibling, the PS5 Digital Edition shares the same specs as its bigger brother. All that's different is the lack of a disc drive. And the dimensions.

Just like the full-fat PS5, the Digital Edition offers 4K graphics, ray-tracing support, ultra-high-speed SSD and PS5 3D audio. Or, as Sony's Jim Ryan puts it, "Whichever PS5 you choose, you’ll enjoy the same breathtaking, next-gen gaming experiences." Quite.

Sony has also revealed that the PS5 will come withNetflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV, Spotify, Twitch and YouTube from day one. Amazon Prime Video, MyCanal, Hulu and Peacock will follow. The Apple TV app isn't currently available on Xbox devices but Microsoft is in talks to rectify that ahead of the Series X/S launch.

The PS5 Digital Edition wins the storage wars, too: it comes with an 825GB solid-state hard drive, compared to the Series S' 512GB SSD. Throw in 8K video support, a frame rate of up to 120fps, and HDR and the PS5 Digital Edition looks to be a classy all-rounder.

Sony has claimed the PS5 will set a new 'gold standard' in audio. The PS5's 3D Audio engine, called Tempest, is said to deliver object-based 3D sound that will allow gamers to "hear individual raindrops". Or, more usefully, to more accurately locate enemies or incoming projectiles on sound alone.

Inside is an AMD Zen 2-based CPU, and 16GB GDDR6 / 256-bit memory.

The PS5 Digital Edition has jump on the Xbox Series S in terms of power. Looks like that higher price might be justified after all.

**Winner** PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: design and build

The PS5 Digital Edition looks just like the standard PS5, but without a disc drive. That means it can be slightly slimmer towards the base. We like the sculpted, sci-fi looks, especially when they're not blotted by an unsightly disc drive. 

With its high, white-collared shell, soft blue lights and finned gaps to aid ventilation, the PS5 Digital Edition is definitely more distinctive than the Xbox Series S. But it's massive, threatening to tower over your set-top box, pot plants, and even some TVs (maybe not that last one, but you get the picture; it's big).

The Xbox Series S is a more modest size. In fact, it's almost 60 percent smaller than the Series X, and could fit inside the Series X. The Series S is the smallest Xbox Microsoft has ever made. Which should make it more portable and easier to store under a TV.

Both consoles offer a slick new user interfaces. Sony recently gave gamers their first look at the PS5 user experience, complete with 4K animation and instant-loading capability. The new Control Center allows users to dip in and out of game levels and video feeds without any lag. 

Not to be outdone, Microsoft's already started rolling out a major update to the Xbox user experience. The Home screen promises to load "50% faster" and you'll be welcomed by "refined" animations. The Series S landing page will offer more customisation and will be better integrated with xCloud, Microsoft's cloud gaming service, and popular streaming apps.

Of course, it's not only what's inside that counts. Which design you prefer is very much a matter of personal taste – beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all – so we'll call this round a draw.

**Winner** Draw

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PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: verdict

It's a close one. Both consoles pack powerful engines, both offer access to all the major streaming services, and will run all the biggest games (bar a few console-limited exclusives).

The PS5 Digital Edition just has the edge in terms of raw power and storage, and it's capable of gaming up to 8K. But then, the Xbox Series S is smaller, cheaper, and has the option of a monthly repayment plan.

Console gamers are a dedicated bunch, so chances are Xbox gamers will stick with Microsoft's consoles, while Sony fans will opt for a new PS5. For us? The proof will be in the playing. 

MORE:

See which suits you better: PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition

Compare Xbox consoles: Xbox Series X vs Series S

Place your order: Xbox Series X pre-orders and price

You have to feel for whoever is in charge of box-ticking in the product design chain of a music streamer. The range of desirable features available to a network streamer gets ever wider as more services, codecs and technologies continue to work their way into the vast and volatile world of streaming.

With the NAD C 658 priced at the more premium end of the market, you’d expect it to tick off most of them, which it does. A streamer, DAC and preamplifier combination, this NAD is a real Swiss Army knife of a hi-fi component.

Features

The C 658 uses the BluOS streaming platform, which was developed for Bluesound kit and has since expanded to other brands within the Lenbrook parent company, such as NAD, and been licensed to other manufacturers, including Dali. 

The platform and its accompanying BluOS app is an access point for many streaming music and radio services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, HDTracks, Napster, TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio. It can also access local and networked music, supporting files up to 32-bit/192kHz and including MQA, of which over 250,000 tracks can be indexed.

It facilitates multi-room pairing with any other player in the BluOS ecosystem, and, thanks to a recent update, also boasts another form of multi-room and streaming for Apple devices courtesy of AirPlay 2.

The app – available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS phones, tablets and computers – sets the benchmark for streaming platforms alongside those from Naim and Linn. 

The BluOS app is easy to operate, with its pull-out sidebar menu listing sources and services and offering quick access to playlists and content you’ve selected as a favourite or preset. It’s a nicely designed app and reliably responsive; even switching from songs in one music service to another or to a local library is smooth.

BluOS may be at the heart of the C 658, but the NAD’s impressive features don’t end there. For one, there is two-way Bluetooth aptX HD, which allows high-quality transmission of the NAD’s audio playback to a pair of wireless headphones and, perhaps more typically, can receive tracks over Bluetooth from a smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled source device.

And there’s plenty of opportunity to use the NAD as the nucleus of a multi-source system, too, thanks to its analogue and digital inputs, which include two opticals, two coaxials and a single USB (fed to an ESS Sabre 32bit DAC), plus two RCAs and an MM phono for hooking up a compatible turntable. 

Recognising that audio industry technologies and standards are being updated all the time, NAD has taken considerable care to futureproof the C 658 through the brand’s modular construction.

Its design means that all major digital circuits can be upgraded and replaced down the line, while a future expansion of functionality can be accommodated courtesy of two Modular Design Construction slots, one of which can be filled with NAD’s now-available 4K passthrough-compatible HDMI module (£299) to facilitate the connection of, say, a game console, Blu-ray player and set-top box.

The icing on the cake is built-in support for Dirac Live room correction. Also found in NAD’s M10 and some of the brand’s surround sound machines, the calibration technology measures the acoustics of a room and optimises performance accordingly. It’s something we rarely see on two-channel kit, which we find ourselves wishing wasn’t the case.

The process is simple: plug the supplied microphone/USB adapter combination into the C 658, download the Dirac Live app and follow the instructions, taking multiple measurements by placing the supplied microphone in different points around your listening position.

The software analyses your room’s frequency response and generates a sonic filter, which you can save to your smartphone. The process takes around 20 minutes, however, given the amount of tweakery on offer, you may want to factor in some time to experiment. 

Sound

Dirac Live calibration proves its worth during our testing, opening out the sound and giving it a livelier disposition. In its pre-correction state, the electronic jazz embodied in Muff’s Ufofka bursts onto a broad soundstage laden with clarity and subtle detail, but activating our room correction filter in the app gives it a lift. There’s more space for the cacophony of simultaneous sounds – wild drum beats, intense trumpets, pensive strings – to move, too.

The software adds an extra edge to what is already a hugely entertaining and informative performer. The Knife’s I Just Had To Die demands energy, and the NAD’s rendition shows plenty of it as it encourages the steadfast percussive beat and bubbly organ melody along. Throw it a more barren track, such as For The Morning by Tyler Ramsay, and the focus and insight of the NAD’s midrange come to the fore, providing a true sonic visualisation of the track’s meandering finger-picking and languid vocal.

We put the NAD’s phono stage on trial as we settle the groove on Pink Floyd’s In The Flesh?. That musicality and insight arise once again, and the NAD's animation and sonic heft play to the track’s stirring dramatisation. For those with plans to use the C 658 as the hub of their system, it’s good to know its quality is all-encompassing. 

The NAD comes in at a price point dominated by three-time Product of the Year winner, the Cambridge Azur 851N – and it rises to the challenge. While not as rhythmically regimented as its rival, the NAD counters with an unmatched lucidity. Its impressive level of expression involves you in the music, while dynamics have a natural fluidity.

Build

The only place where this streamer lets us down is in its physical exterior. The C 658 doesn’t exactly look the part of a high-end hi-fi component, its matte finish and asymmetrically laid out plastic controls are hardly indicative of its price tag.

The two screw-in antennas for dual-band wi-fi and Bluetooth don’t help the aesthetics either, although the screen in the centre is useful for glancing at playback information to save you getting your phone out of your pocket. And we’ve no qualms with the quality of the NAD’s construction.

The plain, black plastic build of the remote control doesn’t exactly entice you to choose it above the control app, so you may wish to set another remote in your household up to control the NAD via IR learning.

Verdict

The NAD C 658 is one of the most fully furnished, future-proofed and intuitive streamers we’ve come across – and at this sub-£2000 price, one of the most convincing performers. It puts a big, bold tick in a great number of boxes. Nice work, NAD.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 5
• Build 4

MORE:

Best music streamers 2020

Read our Cambridge Azur 851N review

Since 2011, French company Audirvana has promised Mac users a better-sounding music player alternative to iTunes. It’s marketed itself as a ‘HiFi player’, a platform similar to Roon, where all of your music – from local and networked files to Tidal and Qobuz streaming services – can be integrated and, Audirvana claims, played in better audio quality.

To make good on the latter, the software supposedly shortens the audio signal path to reduce noise, and performs digital processing before its conversion to analogue.

Soon, however, the player will no longer be exclusive to Appleites. Audirvana has announced that from next month its Audirvana Plus player will also be available on PCs running Windows 10.

Like the Mac version, the Windows variant (available in both a desktop and mobile app versions) will be able to support playback of FLAC, WAV and AIFF hi-res files, as well those packaged in MQA and DSD.

It also introduces some of Audirvana’s latest interface and usability developments, including viewing by artists (in addition to tracks and albums), a direct selection of the device on the main interface, a redesigned search engine and a new mini-player.

Available in June, the Audirvana Plus for Windows 10 costs £67 (following a 15-day free trial), and includes a three-month subscription to Tidal and a one-month subscription to Qobuz.

MORE:

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Before them all, there was Napster. Originally a peer-to-peer free file-sharing service, and one of the first of its kind, it’s fair to say it didn’t make too many friends in the music industry, upsetting everyone from Dr Dre to Metallica.

It bowed out of the public eye after a raft of copyright lawsuits and injunctions pushed it into bankruptcy more than a decade ago.

Features

Now, it’s gone legit. Bought by US music-streaming service Rhapsody in 2011, all that connects Napster now with Napster then is its name and logo.

It only offers two paid-for subscription options – there’s no ad-based free option here – both offering access to the service’s 20-million strong catalogue.

Napster has worked hard to make music discovery a big part of its service.

While you can browse through genres or search directly for songs and albums you like, the Featured tab is always well worth a visit.

Here you’ll find snappy editorial content from Napster’s music experts supporting playlists based around new music or eras, as well as new album picks.

You’re also able to follow friends and other users on the service for further discovery.

Of course, if you’d prefer to keep your secret Taylor Swift addiction under wraps, you can opt for a private profile in the settings menu, which means you won’t be searchable.

Its artist radio allows you to customise the variety and popularity of tracks that make it into your station, or create a station based on an individual track or genre.

There’s a handful of video content, though it’s not as established as Deezer.

Napster’s interface is easy to use across platforms: it’s simple enough for the small screen of a mobile, while the iPad gets the visual treatment with a tablet-specific app.

Platforms + Apps

Android and iOS are taken care of in both mobile and tablet forms, there's a phone app for Windows Phone users and a web app for use on computers.

Sonos includes Napster in its multi-room streaming options, plus other kit such as Yamaha AV receivers and Xbox 360 have Napster functionality built in too.

Unfortunately, BlackBerry users will have to go elsewhere for now.

Streaming

What lets all this goodness down is the streaming bitrate, which tops out at 192kbps for tracks streamed via mobile apps and played offline, dropping to 128kbps for those on your laptop and 64kbps for those not available in high quality (though we didn’t come across any of these during testing).

Despite its on-paper fate looking grim, Napster still manages to sound competitive, even against the higher bitrates on test.

Detail levels didn’t sound hugely different compared with a 320kbps stream from Deezer, but it’s a softer, more rounded-off sound in comparison.

It steers clear of brightness in the treble, which makes it a fine companion for long listening sessions.

Verdict

Napster looks great and is a good choice for those who like some context to their music.

Its sound, despite faring better than expected, still falls behind the market leaders, and when its pricing structure is the same, there’s not much excuse for it.

Get it sounding as good as it looks and it could be a real contender.

Tech specs:

Catalogue: 20 million

Bitrate: up to 192kbps

File format: AAC+, MP3

Countries: 24

Mobile platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone

Desktop app: No

Tablet optimised: Android, iOS

MORE: Google Play Music All Access review

MORE: Best apps and services 2014

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It’s hard to pigeonhole products such as the Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC. Yes, as the name implies it’s a digital-to-analogue converter, but there’s more here.

The Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC is also a forward-looking device that recognises the fact that smartphones and tablets are viable music sources and should be celebrated rather than ignored.

To that end, it accepts higher-quality aptX Bluetooth signals, and makes a serious attempt to make them as listenable as possible.

Not that traditional hi-fi areas are ignored: this gizmo will also accept analogue signals from two line-level sources, deliver sound to a pair of headphones and drive a power amplifier directly.

So, for those that feel the need to put this product into a specific category: the M1 SDAC is a DAC/Bluetooth receiver and decently equipped preamp. Not bad going for £800, if it sounds good.

Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC: Tech specs

This is a nicely built unit. It’s finished well and has a clear enough display. That large control knob on the front panel governs the volume levels and once pushed enables a change in input.

We’d have been happier if it was a speed-sensitive volume control, though; this one is a little too slow to track big changes.

As with most modern DACs, high-resolution music streams are on the menu. The optical input is limited to 24-bit/96kHz (typical for most such devices), but the USB, coaxial and AES/EBU inputs will accept full-fat 24-bit/192kHz signals.

Many Windows-based PCs won’t stream 192kHz music through their USB output as standard, so Musical Fidelity provides USB driver software for Windows Vista, XP and 7 to make it possible. Any recent Mac should just stream the highest resolution files without issue.

Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC: Sound quality

Once we wire our MacBook to the M1 SDAC we’re pleased with the results: the results are good and solid through its asynchronous USB input. (This type of connection puts the DAC in charge of information flow – an arrangement that usually leads to a better sound.)

Listen to Nick Cave’s The Lyre of Orpheus and this DAC is right at home. The Musical Fidelity’s open, expressive presentation works beautifully here, with the passionate vocal part chiming through with real clarity. It’s a composed and fluid, avoiding the clinical, sometimes mechanical edge that some digital equipment still imparts.

That lovely midrange is underpinned by a deep, powerful low-frequency performance that gives the music a really firm foundation. That bass is rarely overplayed though, and has the speed and tunefulness to keep up when necessary.

Have a listen to higher resolution recordings such as Kate Bush’s 50 words for Snow or the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter and the good news continues. The Musical Fidelity is transparent enough to show the sonic gains made by the increased resolution, and sounds notably more fluid with material such as this.

Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC vs. Audiolab M-DAC

However, despite all the good things the M1 SDAC does it’s not the most rhythmic of devices. It’s good enough at defining the individual notes of The Dead Weather’s 60 Feet Tall, but can’t convey the momentum of the song or the sense of rhythmic interplay as well as the £600 Audiolab M-DAC.

This shortcoming is less apparent when listening through the M1 SDAC’s optical input. Compared with USB there’s a loss of sonic punch and solidity, but a touch more enthusiasm when it comes to conveying timing information.

The Audiolab is still better in this respect though, and adds a little more dynamic punch to the proceedings too. Using the coaxial input mirrors these results.

Musical Fidelity M1 SDAC: Bluetooth

Move to Bluetooth and we’re impressed. Pairing is as easy as we hoped it would be, and the sound quality is decent.

In absolute terms, recordings sound less transparent than the wired alternatives, but the presentation is still good enough to allow us to enjoy The XX’s Coexist.

The production may be sparse but there’s plenty going on here with the complex rhythmic interplay between instruments and the beautifully recorded vocals.

There’s a good amount of detail on offer too, and it hangs together well. Bluetooth, particularly in aptX form, is a feature we wish more specialist manufacturers would include.

Move on to analogue sources and the M1 SDAC disappoints just a little, sounding smaller and less transparent than we hoped.

There’s still evidence of good detail retrieval and a fine handling of dynamics, but it doesn’t quite hold our attention as well as we’d like.

We think the headphone output is a good one, though. It sounds solid, meaty and in control and there’s a degree of stability and composure here that’s mighty pleasing.

Musical Fidelity S1 DAC: Verdict

There’s no denying that the M1 SDAC is a useful box. It’s thoughtfully conceived, and we’re particular fans of the Bluetooth capability (and detachable aerial).

It’s up against some mighty rivals though: Audiolab’s M-DAC might be a few years old now, but it’s cheaper at £600 and we think it delivers a more involving sound.

The Musical Fidelity counters with a more full-bodied sonic presentation, however, not to mention a more comprehensive specification that includes Bluetooth and analogue inputs. Overall, it’s well worth a look.

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