What Hi-Fi? Awards 2026 banner
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Best music systems 2026

Best hi-fi system under £500

Denon D-M41DAB system placed in a book case

Denon D-M41DAB

This tiny system remains the benchmark for entry level hi-fi.

Best hi-fi system £500-£1000

 Technics SA-C600 on shelf

Technics SA-C600

For yet another year, Technics' just-add-speakers system takes the top slot.

Best hi-fi system £1000-£1500

Ruark R610 streaming amplifier in test room

Ruark Audio R610

Ruark's streaming amplifier looks good and sounds sublime, earning it another win.

Best hi-fi system £1500-£2000

NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) streaming amplifier on wooden hi-fi rack in front of bookcase

NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)

Back for its second year, the NAD C 3050 remains the benchmark in its class.

Best hi-fi system £2000-£5000

Arcam SA35 music streamer

Arcam SA35

Balanced, detailed and tuneful sound earn the SA35 this year's win.

Best hi-fi system over £5000

Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier/Caspian 4G Power Amplifier on wooden hi-fi rack in front of bookcase

Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier/Caspian 4G Power Amplifier

Expressive dynamics and a surefooted sense of rhythm earn this Roksan its first win at the What Hi-Fi? Awards.

Best speaker system under £750

Speaker system: Triangle AIO Twin

Triangle AIO Twin

A talented, versatile and great-sounding system for people who don't want to go down the separates route.

Best speaker system £750-£1500

KEF LSX LT in sage green

KEF LSX II LT

KEF's tiny speaker system fends off strong competition to retain its crown for another year.

Best speaker system £1500-£3000

KEF LS50 Wireless II in white finish on wooden rack

KEF LS50 Wireless II

A clean, punchy sound backed by flawless connectivity makes the KEF LS50 Wireless II the best option in its class.

Best speaker system over £3000

KEF LS Luxe active speakers on white surface in front of busy bookshelf

KEF LS Luxe

A detailed, nuanced and expressive sound secures KEF's premium speaker system its first What Hi-Fi? Award.

Alastair Stevenson
Editor in Chief

Alastair is What Hi-Fi?’s editor in chief. He has well over a decade’s experience as a journalist working in both B2C and B2B press. During this time he’s covered everything from the launch of the first Amazon Echo to government cyber security policy. Prior to joining What Hi-Fi? he served as Trusted Reviews’ editor-in-chief. Outside of tech, he has a Masters from King’s College London in Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, is an enthusiastic, but untalented, guitar player and runs a webcomic in his spare time. 

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