Somehow, it’s July – and half of 2026 has already gone.
It has been time well spent, however, as the What Hi-Fi? team has spent the time testing some rather brilliant products.
From OLED TVs that give our current favourites a run for their money to long-awaited headphones that live up to the hype, we have seen various updates to many of our Best Buy guides.
So we have rounded up a few of our favourite products of the year into a handy guide. We test and review all products ourselves here at What Hi-Fi?, and all of the products below have been awarded a full five stars.
Don’t forget to check back in November for our annual Awards night, where there will be a full-on battle royale between the new releases and previous favourites to see who gets a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award.
For now, though, take a look at what has impressed us in the first half of 2026.
13. Yamaha C-5000/M-5000
Our temptation pick, the Yamaha C-5000/M-5000 pre-power amplifiers, is certainly pricey but hard to beat when it comes to the blend of build, finish and performance.
Yamaha may not be the first brand that comes to mind when we think of high-end amplification, but this C-5000/M-5000 pairing is as polished and well engineered as they come. If you’re lucky enough to have a listen, we’re sure you’ll agree.
12. Vertere Phono-1 LX
Moving on to the more affordable, but definitely still premium, the Vertere Phono-1 LX phono stage sets new standards for the price, delivering a class-leading combination of insight, dynamic punch and finesse.
It may look the same as its predecessor, the Phono-1 MkII L, but the Phono-1 LX takes a notable step forward in performance. Provided you have a talented record player and a system capable of great transparency, this Vertere phono stage is an easy recommendation.
11. Samsung HW-Q990H
We had high expectations for the Samsung HW-Q990H – its predecessor, the similarly named Q990F, won Product of the Year in the soundbar category at our most recent What Hi-Fi? Awards ceremony.
Luckily, the Q990H lives up to the hype, with subtle under-the-hood refinements that result in a touch more detail and nuance, and place spatial sound effects with even greater precision. Samsung has done it again, continuing to improve on its soundbar package year after year.
10. KEF Coda W
KEF’s wireless active speaker systems have been five-star successes recently, and the Coda W continues that trend. Unlike the brand’s previous models, the LSX II LT and LS50 Wireless II, built-in streaming capability has been replaced by Bluetooth and a moving-magnet (MM) phono stage is now included, but the high standards in sound quality have been maintained – and indeed, surpassed.
While the phono-stage performance could be better, listening via other inputs is a joy, with a clear, detailed presentation and deep, controlled bass. The build quality is rather elegant too!
9. Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2
Valerion is still very much in its infancy by AV standards, having started on Kickstarter only in 2024. That hasn’t stopped the Valerion VisionMaster 2 from becoming a (literal) shining star of the mid-range lifestyle-projector scene, and one of our favourite products of the year so far.
It’s the eye-catching and heavy-duty design that will certainly grab your attention first, but luckily the picture and sound quality is just as impressive. The VisionMaster Pro 2 punches above its weight with features too, with a particular highlight including support for all four HDR formats – including both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, a rarity for a projector.
8. Sony PS-LX3BT
After six long years, we finally have a new affordable Bluetooth turntable recommendation to knock the Sony PS-LX310BT off its perch. It is, however, another Sony offering – the Sony PS-LX3BT is the Japanese tech giant’s long-awaited return to Bluetooth turntable production, and it was certainly worth the wait.
It’s hard to think of a turntable that does so much so well yet costs so relatively little. This plug-and-play automatic turntable boasts Bluetooth powers, impressive ease of use and a sound that is accomplished and enjoyable, making it a perfect pick for beginners, budget turntable buyers or anyone after a great-value Bluetooth record player.
7. LG C6
We recently gave LG’s flagship, the G6, five stars in our re-review, but it’s the step-down OLED that has impressed us most. We don’t usually get too excited about processor upgrades, but the Alpha 11 Gen 3 has blessed the LG C6 with extra brightness and richness, improved upscaling and better shading subtlety than its predecessor, the C5.
Add in a step up in audio performance, LG’s usual awesome gaming credentials and an app-packed, optimised smart platform, and you have the mid-range OLED to beat in 2026.
6. Dali Sonik 5
The Dali Sonik 5 get to have it both ways – they are small enough to fit into most living rooms, but deliver a big sound that transcends their dimensions. Provided you take the time to set them up carefully, you will be rewarded with detailed sound and an expressive dynamic performance.
At £899/ $1800/ AU$1749, they are a pleasing balance between convenience, cost and quality, and a worthy follow-up to the multi-Award-winning Dali Oberon 5.
5. Sony Bravia Trio
Is the Sony Bravia Trio a soundbar or a speaker system? Sony’s deconstructed soundbar concept could have ended up as an awkward compromise between the two. Instead, it takes the strength of both approaches while avoiding their weaknesses.
A 3.0.2-channel system comprising dedicated left, centre and right speakers, the Bravia Trio may seem like a backwards step for soundbars by adding more speakers, but results in one of the finest lifestyle Dolby Atmos systems you can currently buy. Huge scale, impressive cohesion and excellent usability are all combined in one ingenious three-piece package.
4. JBL Xtreme 5
The JBL Xtreme line is beefier and bulkier than ever before, with the Xtreme 5 adding drop-proof to its list of indestructible credentials that include an IP68 waterproof and dust-proof rating. There’s also new colourful, customisable edge-lighting for those who really want to get the party going.
But it’s the elevated sound quality that intrigues us most, with a newfound sense of clarity and greater sonic presence than previous models. Combine that with the solid build quality, and it all spells bad news for any contenders to the Bluetooth speaker throne.
3. Samsung S99H
Samsung’s flagship TVs have been the most aesthetically appealing for some time now, but the Samsung S99H switches things up with a bold new design that takes inspiration from its design-led The Frame range.
But it’s the performance upgrades that wowed us the most. With a refined approach to picture tuning, a feature set that many TVs can only dream of, and a greatly improved sound system compared with last year’s model, Samsung’s latest flagship is the brand’s best TV to date, and the OLED to beat in 2026.
2. Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony has innovated and improved its flagship wireless earbuds time after time, but the Sony WF-1000XM6 was released to the most competitive market yet.
But that didn’t stop Sony from producing a pair of buds with out of this world sound and an all-round performance good enough to worry every major rival at the money. You’ll want to make sure you get along with the ear-tips, but the XM6 offer a new, wonderfully natural sound, noise-cancelling that is up there with the very best and brilliant call quality. Underestimate Sony at your peril!
1. Focal Mu-so Hekla
An “immersive all-in-one system”, the premium Focal Mu-so Hekla straddles the worlds of hi-fi and home cinema in a way that is very fitting for What Hi-Fi?.
So it’s lucky that Focal and Naim’s soundbar is good; not just good, in fact, but fittingly explosive. It handles whatever we throw at it with ease, offering an immersive and authoritative experience when watching movies, but also a finessed performance when fed a delicate piece of music.
If you can afford the high asking price, the Hekla more than justifies the cost.
MORE:
Check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars
And here are the best projectors
Our guide to the best speakers we have tested and recommend across all budgets and types
