The remarkable resurrection of vinyl over the past decade or so shows no sign of abating. Quite the contrary, in fact. Indeed, there are plenty of people, apparently, who are getting into record collecting even before they own a turntable!
That is a situation that we at What Hi-Fi? feel obliged to address. In this issue, then, we have some excellent suggestions for turntables that will make living with a record deck and enjoying your vinyl collection as easy and fuss-free as possible. Whether it’s fully automatic functioning, an incorporated phono stage or Bluetooth capabilities so you can link in with your wireless system, it’s all there for you.
We also have a remarkable Group Test of floorstanding speakers from £900-£1200, where Dali takes on established favourites from Acoustic Energy, Fyne Audio and Monitor Audio. And we round-up premium standalone soundbars, showing that a single unit can get much of the way towards delivering a full surround-system’s sound.
Turntables that make vinyl replay a doddle
Perhaps you’re just considering dipping your toes into vinyl waters for the first time, but don’t necessarily want the fuss of a purist approach, where manual speed control – physically changing the belt over between 45 and 33⅓rpm – is just the tip of the audiophile iceberg. Or, maybe you’re an old hand with vinyl, but are pining for the simple life.
What you may be looking for is the tactility and fantastic, warm sound of vinyl that you’ve heard about, but with a little more simplicity and convenience. And for that, any of the turntables we are recommending over the following pages will suit you very nicely.
The decks we round up this month are designed to be as fuss-free as possible. Automatic speed control is, thankfully, present on all these turntables. Some have auto start/stop functionality, some even have Bluetooth so you can beam your vinyl music wirelessly to your chosen set-up.
Make no mistake though, every record player here, regardless of convenience, feature set and ease of use, sounds great – as you should expect from some of the world’s foremost turntable manufacturers. There’s a brace each from Sony and Audio-Technica, and Dual, Pro-Ject and Technics also make our list of seven.
What each of these turntables aims to do is get you playing your vinyl quickly and easily – whether it is your first deck, you’re dusting off your record collection for the first time in years, or you’re somewhere in between.
Premium soundbars round-up
The very best soundbars will take your home-cinema sound to the next level, without the need for multiple speakers.
Their compact nature makes them the ideal solution for those without the space for a full surround-sound set-up, with fronts, surrounds, subs, AVRs and the whole shebang. While there really is no substitute for such a set-up, it’s just not always practical.
But, if truly immersive cinematic sound is a priority, and your budget allows, a premium soundbar such as those featured here will mean less of a compromise, while still avoiding the trailing wires and need for placement of multiple boxes.
We have four premium soundbars for your consideration this month, from KEF, Sennheiser, Canvas Hi-Fi and Focal. None of these audio systems is cheap, of course, but each is a viable option for rivalling a full surround-sound system with a smaller footprint.
See if your next home cinema sound update could be found in this quartet of rather impressive soundbar solutions, only in this month's What Hi-Fi?
Budget stereo amplifier head-to-head
The sub-£1000 integrated stereo amplifier market is a tough nut to crack. Such amplifiers need to be forgiving enough to work well with budget sources and speakers, while having the sonic stretch to shine with higher-quality partners. Arcam’s A5 has been the dominant force in this sector since its introduction in late 2023, and the revised, current Award-winning A5+ version has simply reinforced that superiority.
The arrival of the Marantz Model 70 could be a problem for Arcam, though. Marantz is a recognised master of entry-level stereo amplification, and make no mistake, the company has been aggressive here, pitching the Model 70 directly at the class champion. We’ve tested both amplifiers against each other to find out.
Floorstanders group test
When it comes to floorstanding speakers, those in the £1000 ballpark face a difficult challenge: maintaining a mid-range price tag while matching the performance of higher-end separates. They should shine in use alongside premium gear, while giving budget options their best shot at success.
The Fyne Audio F501E are our current Award-winners in this bracket, with a powerful sound that justifies their significant proportions. However, they have recently come up against aggressive competition from the Dali Sonik 5, which, for speakers of their relatively modest size, bring with them a host of competing talents.
The priciest of our quartet of floorstanders, the Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2 are hotly pursued by the Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G, which land dead centre of our price range at £1000.
Which of these pairs of towers is our top recommendation at this level? Find out in this month's mag.
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.
A new affordable stereo amplifier is always interesting, and this month past masters Marantz return with the Model 70. Will it impress as much as the outgoing Marantz PM6007 has?
The Model 70 isn't the only Marantz separate to have entered our test rooms this month. The CD 70 is, as you might guess, a CD player – with CD sales reportedly on the rise, this could be a timely move for Marantz in a market that hasn't exactly been awash with players in the last few years.
Elsewhere we have reviews of the KEF LS Luxe active speakers, Denon AVR-X2900H home cinema amplifier, Grado SR325 Classic headphones, Q Acoustics 3050c 5.1 speaker package, Hisense XR10 projector, Samsung S85H OLED TV and Acoustic Energy AE Active speakers.
Find all these reviews in October's What Hi-Fi? – out now!
High-end and mightily tempting
Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.
The Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier and 4G Power Amplifier combination "bristles with energy, balancing excitement with control superbly". Our reviewers also note that the units "render an expansive soundstage". Tempted? Deep pockets? Find out more this month!
Marten has named its latest standmount speakers after jazz legend Charlie Parker, and indeed the Marten Parker Duo Diamond edition are musically rather special. "These speakers sound neutral while still displaying natural warmth and richness," we say in our review. Find out more about these classy speakers in this month's What Hi-Fi?.
Finally, don't forget to check out our Buyer’s Guide, featuring a definitive and freshly updated list of all the best home entertainment kit you can buy – including winners of 2025's What Hi-Fi? Awards. If you’re looking to purchase anything from a pair of the best wireless headphones to a home cinema speaker system, this section will tell you where to spend your money wisely.
Whatever you do, don't miss the October 2026 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!
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