A good pair of floorstanding speakers come with virtues aplenty: extended bass, thanks to larger enclosures and extra woofers, no need for an additional subwoofer and a sense of scale and authority that most bookshelf speakers can’t rival.

Best of all, finding a quality option in the £700-£1000 price bracket has recently become easier, with numerous brands developing their entry-level offerings.

Last year, our favourite was the Fyne Audio F501E, which came out on top as 2025’s Product Of The Year at the What Hi-Fi? Awards. It would be sensible, then, to pick up a pair and go forth with unwavering confidence in your choice. Well… not so fast!

Fantastic speakers though the F501E are, they have recently come up against tough competition from Dali’s Sonik 5 speakers. Designed to replace the company’s Award-winning Oberon 5, the Sonik 5 have a sound that gives speakers north of their price a serious run for their money, as do the Fynes.

So, which should you go for? Let’s get stuck into it.

Dali Sonik 5 vs Fyne Audio F501E: price

The Sonik 5 cost £899 / $1800 / AUS$1749, while the F501E are available for £999 / $1299 / AU$1999. So, right off the bat, there’s a £100 disparity between the speakers. But considering the larger size of the F501E, you quite literally get more speaker for your money.

But, because the F501E have been on the market for longer than the Sonik 5, we think they are more likely to see a discount during big sales events. Indeed, we have seen discounts of as much as £100 this year, which, when they strike, bring the speakers down to the same price for UK customers, making this a draw.

**Winner: draw**

Dali Sonik 5 vs Fyne Audio F501E: build & design

The Sonik 5 are smaller than the F501E in all dimensions. Standing at just 83cm, compared with the Fynes’ 98cm, these speakers have a significantly smaller footprint and will fit into most listening spaces with ease.

Admittedly, due to their diminutive height, some thought is necessary when it comes to positioning the speakers, especially if you are planning on sitting close to them, which, from our test room’s sofa, leaves the tweeters well below ear height.

The Sonik 5 are available in four finishes: natural oak, white, walnut or black ash. Each of the finishes has a fairly unobtrusive look, which we think is particularly well exemplified by our walnut test pair.

The cabinets’ high-grade laminate looks convincingly wood-like, with a pleasant, natural feel. Overall, these speakers have a subtly refined air.

That impression of refinement is only enhanced by the build quality. Although they are not heavy speakers, they are appropriately solid and well-constructed, and the included magnetic grilles connect firmly and complement the speakers visually.

Inside the cabinets, the Dalis employ a two-way design, using a 29mm soft-dome tweeter and two 13cm mid/bass drivers made from the company’s trademark mix of fine-grain paper pulp reinforced with wood fibres. A flared reflex port at the back of the speakers optimises airflow to reinforce bass.

Due to their reflex port, the Sonik 5 sound best when placed slightly away from the wall, so we wouldn’t recommend tucking them in too tight.

The Fynes, too, are sturdily built, and are now available in a walnut finish alongside the original black option. While their basic aesthetic does leave a somewhat monolithic impression, costs saved on aesthetic tweaks have afforded the inclusion of Fyne’s proprietary Isoflare driver technology within their entry range for the first time.

The IsoFlare design, which sees a 19mm titanium-dome tweeter mounted at the centre of a 12.5cm multi-fibre mid/bass woofer, is said to result in improved sound dispersion and integration between drivers.

Unlike the Dalis, the F501E use a two-and-a-half-way design, and the lower 15cm multi-fibre driver is tuned by a downward facing port in a configuration that the company calls Basstrax. Here, the port fires onto an upward facing cone to disperse low frequencies evenly across 360 degrees, making these speakers adaptable to different placements.

Fyne has also used a fluted surround to the mid/bass driver which it claims terminates the cone more effectively, for reduced distortion and improved clarity.

In terms of design, choosing between these speakers will depend heavily on buyers’ tastes and listening spaces. Both speakers have serious strengths: the Dalis take the lead for aesthetic charm, while Fyne’s Isoflare design works wonders in terms of stereo imaging.

As these speakers excel in different areas, at this stage, it’s neck and neck.

**Winner: Draw**

Dali Sonik 5 vs Fyne Audio F501E: compatibility

The petite Sonik 5 are unlikely to dominate most listening spaces, while the Fynes will need a bit more room to sit comfortably.

The Fyne’s Basstrax system does a lot to make the speakers less fussy about placement, though. In our 3 x 7 x 5m (hwd) test room, we find they sound best when positioned about 70cm away from the wall, but they don’t prove too particular about being placed closer.

The Dalis are somewhat more choosy about placement and need to come further into our test room – 80cm from the wall – to avoid bass dominance. Additionally, due to their compact height, we suggest tilting the Dalis slightly upwards when listening close, so that the tweeter axis lines up with your ears.

For stereo imaging, we think the Fynes sound best angled slightly in, while the Dalis perform better when facing straight out into the room. Thanks to their Isoflare design, the Fyne’s have a more precise stereo image than the Dalis, which remains stable as we move around the test room.

The Fynes have a slightly higher sensitivity of 90dB/w/m compared with the Dalis 88dB/w/m, and a claimed impedance of 8 ohms rather than 6 ohms. Both speakers work well with a range of amplifiers, from Arcam’s A5+ (50 watts per channel) and Naim Nait XS3 (70 watts per channel) to PMC’s Cor (95 watts per channel).

**Winner: Fyne Audio F501E**

Dali Sonik 5 vs Fyne Audio F501E: sound

The Sonik 5 are a highly talented pair of speakers. We are impressed by how much they do with their humble dimensions, with punchy bass, intricate dynamic tracking and a stable soundstage.

Across the frequency range, textures are presented with finesse. The Dalis’ midrange, in particular, wrings every last drop of emotion from vocal parts, with palpable humanity and warmth across genres.

Basslines are tight and well-textured, contributing to the Sonik 5s’ propulsive rhythmic drive. Thanks to the dynamic precision of these speakers, which brings out the fine details in decaying notes, percussive hits and basslines alike, their neat low frequency performance doesn’t diminish their rhythmic power.

In our review, we say that the Sonik 5 have a “layered soundstage, which retains focus and precision, even in dense arrangements”. Width is no issue for these speakers, either, and they can be positioned quite some distance apart before holes begin to appear in the stereo image.

The F501E won 2025’s Product Of The Year at the What Hi-Fi? Awards, so there isn’t much question about their sound quality.

The sophisticated and muscular sound of these speakers impresses us right away, with an ability to effectively convey a variety of sonic worlds, from “the majesty of a full blown orchestra” to A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory.

Speaking of low end, the Fynes have no trouble generating authority and punch on command. But they are also highly proficient in terms of treble, managing to handle “less than perfect recordings” with grace, “avoiding edge and undue harshness”, thanks to their balanced tonality.

Bass is taut and tuneful for price-standards, but while they might be capable of delivering more bass than the Dalis, we find that the Dalis reveal textures and dynamic subtleties in low frequencies that the Fynes sacrifice to their more powerful sound.

Nonetheless, the alignment of the drivers’ acoustic centres contributes to a well-integrated sound, with a stereo image that remains stable even as we move off axis. Improved driver integration also lends the Fynes’ midrange a crisp and forthright tonality that lets vocal lines shine through with emotional sincerity.

We find that the F501Es, a highly expressive pair of speakers, “track rhythms with determination while communicating changes in musical momentum in a natural and convincing manner.” They are rhythmically sure-footed and composed, but the Dalis take the lead here, with their snappy, more powerful sense of rhythmic drive.

While they may not be able to dive as deep as the Fynes in terms of bass, the Sonik 5 creep ahead in terms of textural detail, while also providing emotive dynamics with more than enough punch.

**Winner: Dali Sonik 5**

Dali Sonik 5 vs Fyne Audio F501E: verdict

Talk about a clash of titans. Both of these speakers boast performances that competitors will have difficulty matching. The Fyne F501E is the current What Hi-Fi? Award winner, so it’s something of a shock to see them beaten by the Sonik 5.

That’s not to say the Fynes aren’t excellent speakers in their own right. If you have the space to accommodate these towers, they are a rewarding listen with more extended bass than the Dalis and an exceptionally well-integrated sound.

But for a more precise performance, propulsive rhythmic drive and unobtrusive looks we recommend the Dali Sonik 5.

**Overall winner: Dali Sonik 5**

MORE

Read our Dali Sonik 5 review

And our Fyne Audio F501E review

How to choose the right speakers and get the best sound

Then, why not check out our guide to the best floorstanding speakers you can buy for every budget

The size of the average UK living room is now just a third of what it was in the 1970s, according to a survey by LABC (a UK representative body for local council building inspectors). Of course, as living space constricts, so does the amount of room being allocated to hi-fi set-ups.

That’s where speakers like the Dali Sonik 5 come into play. With a compact design and a price of £899 / $1800 / AUS$1749 – just shy of the current Award-winning Fyne Audio F501E at £999 / $1299 / AU$1999 – these Dali floorstanders strike a pleasing balance between convenience, cost and quality.

The new series of Sonik speakers replace the discontinued and much-loved Oberon range, making the Sonik 5 the successor to the five-star Oberon 5. A tough act to follow, given the multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards under its predecessor’s belt.

On inspection, the apple doesn’t seem to have fallen far from the tree between these models, with similar dimensions and driver configuration. But the question is, will these new floorstanders throw down the gauntlet or leave us reminiscing about the good ol’ days?

Build

The Dali Sonik 5 are compact two-way towers, with fairly diminutive dimensions of 82.6 × 16.2 × 27cm (hwd). Their petite size means these speakers never dominate visually and will fit seamlessly into most spaces.

The internally braced MDF cabinets are clad in high-grade laminate and come in four finishes: natural oak, white, walnut and black ash. On our test pair, the walnut finish looks convincingly wood-like and complements the clean front panel cosmetics well, making it look notably more modern than the Oberon 5.

In terms of drive units, there are two 13cm mid/bass drivers loaded with a rear port, and a 29mm soft dome tweeter. The mid/bass diaphragms use Dali’s trademark mix of fine-grain paper pulp reinforced with wood fibres, which the company claims provides rigidity, good damping and light weight.

The drive units employ Dali’s patented SMC (Soft Magnetic Composite) technology in the motor system to reduce distortion, which should help with optimising detail, transparency and dynamics.

All three drivers are linked through a single-wired two-way crossover, resulting in a sensitivity of 88dB/w/m and nominal impedance of 6 ohms – identical to the Oberon 5. These are typical figures, and shouldn’t cause any problems when paired with decent, price-compatible amplifiers. That said, Dali recommends pairing it with an amplifier with a power rating of 30-150 watts.

Compatibility

In terms of positioning, we find the Sonik 5 sound best facing straight ahead, with a gap of at least 0.8m from our testing room’s rear wall. When angled in, the sound is a little narrower and brighter than we would like. Positioned too close to the wall, the bass starts to dominate.

If you are listening at close range – say, closer than two metres – then it’s likely that the tweeter will be well below your ear height. In which case, we recommend tilting the speakers slightly upwards, so that the tweeter axis lines up with your ears. If your listening position is further away from the speakers, this becomes less of an issue.

In terms of partnering electronics, we found the Dali speakers coped well with similarly priced separates. We got good results from both five-star Arcam A15+ and Naim Nait XS 3 stereo amplifiers.

For the bulk of this test, we were streaming hi-res tracks using the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition music streamer, or playing compact discs from the Cyrus CDi CD player.

Sound

After giving the Sonik 5 a few days to settle in, we find ourselves thoroughly impressed by their performance. With an intricate and highly musical sound, these speakers are versatile, proving themselves a serious contender across genres.

Listening to Nude by Radiohead, we enjoy powerful but pleasingly tight bass for the speakers’ small size, vivid textural details across the frequency range, and a musical presentation that conveys each of the instruments with good separation, allowing their individual tonal qualities to shine through. At a similar price, the larger Fyne F501E produce deeper bass, but sacrifice a degree of precision in the process.

While listening to Johnny Cash’s I Won’t Back Down, backing harmonies have a pleasant, airy quality, while Cash’s voice holds its own in its chesty, elderly bass. Most impressively, his vocal remains crystalline, occupying centre stage with an eerily lifelike presence.

Dynamically, the Sonik 5 are responsive. We find that the decay of certain notes, dynamic swells and subtle ebbs in volume are all conveyed with a faithfulness that outperforms both the Oberon 5 and the Fyne F501E. No mean feat.

Dali’s speakers are not traditionally shy when it comes to treble, but with such refined textures and an ability to sparkle without veering into shrill territory, the manufacturer’s boldness has, once again, earned our respect.

Their midrange is another highlight, evoking palpable humanity and emotion from voices as varied as Tom Jones and Martha Wainwright. We enjoy the texture and natural warmth that the Sonik 5 reveal in vocal performances across our music collection.

Rhythmically, these speakers are highly adaptive, with the capacity to maintain a musical sense of momentum, even when faced with the raucous rhythms of Elvis Costello’s 20% Amnesia. But they cope just as well with the subtle undercurrents of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, Pt. III – Pursuance.

These Dalis work well with classical recordings, too. Listening to Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3, the cello’s delicate texture is preserved even when it plays incredibly quietly, as it does for extended periods in the piece. When the symphony swells to its dramatic climax, the scale and depth of field conveyed by the Sonik 5 leave us feeling the music to our very core.

The Sonik 5 maintain a stable stereo image, which by price standards is precise and well focused. Symphony No. 3 allows the speakers’ stereo image to shine, highlighting their layered soundstage, which retains focus and precision, even in dense arrangements.

Verdict

With a pleasingly compact size and excellent sound, we think the Dali Sonik 5 will make a superb addition to any home set-up, especially if you’re working with small spaces.

Provided you are willing to take some time to set them up carefully, these floorstanding speakers have plenty to offer, with a sound that transcends their dimensions.

Review published: 8th July 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Compatibility 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Fyne Audio F501E

Also consider the Dali Oberon 5

Best floorstanding speakers 2026: budget to premium models tested by our experts

As a deals writer, I spend my days hunting down the best savings on What Hi-Fi? recommended products, whether that's the latest home cinema release, hi-fi separate or other AV tech.

For Prime Day, though, I didn't have to hunt very hard – we've been flooded with savings, and luckily, most of them have been rather good.

So to celebrate, I've put together a little visual collection of some of the best Prime Day deals so far from the worlds of hi-fi and home cinema.

As always, these are all deals on products that we have tested and rated ourselves, and our expert reviewers have given them at least four stars – or, in some cases, five stars and maybe even a What Hi-Fi? Award.

I'll go into detail down below, but for now, feast your eyes on these great Prime Day savings.

The LG C5 won multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards at our most recent ceremony, thanks to its excellent picture quality and incredible gaming specs. There are LG C5 deals on virtually every size, but we've highlighted the 42-inch model as it gives you an Award-winning LG OLED TV for only £623.

The Dali Oberon 5 are a bit long in the tooth now, but they're still remarkably accomplished floorstanders for anyone getting into hi-fi or working on a budget. This is the first decent discount we've seen on the speakers – our Editor-in-Chief has been waiting half a decade.

The Award-winning Hisense AX5125H gave us quite the shock when we tested it – despite its low price tag, the soundbar system produced a room-filling, sofa-shaking, exuberant sound with amazing scale and a convincing Dolby Atmos effect. Get it quick, as it was also on offer during Black Friday last year and promptly sold out.

The JBL Charge 6 is our current Product of the Year in the wireless speaker category, thanks to its expansive, detailed and clear sound from a portable design. It hasn't been this low in price since Black Friday and is the top Bluetooth speaker deal we'd recommend this Prime Day.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 may have been replaced by their successor, the XM6, but they had a long reign as one of our favourite wireless over-ear headphones and are still an excellent choice to this day – especially at this new lowest price.

If you're looking for more budget headphones, then it doesn't get much cheaper than the Earfun Air. They're only £23, and are five-star earbuds that still offer great value.

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Amazon Prime Day 2026 Live Q&A: personalised hi-fi and home cinema buying advice, direct from our experts

Prime Day 2026 Live: all the top TV, soundbar and projector deals handpicked by our home cinema experts

Prime Day 2026 Live: the best headphone, speaker and vinyl deals picked by our hi-fi experts

If you’re just getting into hi-fi, or short on cash, but still want a stellar pair of floorstanding speakers capable of punching above their sonic weight, then we have good news.

After years of belligerently selling at full price, you can currently pick up the Dali Oberon 5 for £499 at Peter Tyson. That’s a solid £299 saving on their regular price, and the lowest currently available; the next best deal we’ve seen is on Amazon, which is selling the Oberon 5 for £599.

Why the Oberon 5 when they’re so long in the tooth? It's a fair question, as the speakers last won a What Hi-Fi? Award all the way back in 2020, and are currently being replaced by Dali’s new Sonik 5.

The answer is simple: they still sound great and are incredibly competitive performers at their new, lower price. In fact, they were so good that eagle-eyed regular readers will know I had them shortlisted to replace the Q Acoustics 3030i in my home system for many years.

They only got dethroned after I heard the Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2, which has since replaced them as the top entry on my letter to Santa. However, with them selling for £1199, that’s a big step-up in price. And for those looking for an entry-level, sub-£500 set of speakers, the Oberon 5 is a fantastic option.

As we say in our review:

“Overall, these speakers manage to sound notably larger than they are. The Q Acoustics 3050i dig even more deeply into the bass, but lack the sheer expressiveness of these Dalis, particularly through the mid and higher frequencies.”

As we said in our review, they offer buyers an unfussy, fun-sounding set of floorstanders that will match nicely with a variety of amps – including the Technics SA-C600 system I have in my lounge and the newer, Award-winning Arcam A5+ from last year.

That’s why, if you’re shopping at that level during Prime Day, I’d wholeheartedly recommend considering grabbing a pair at their current price while stocks last. With the Sonik 5 now out, they won’t be around much longer if you don’t.

MORE:

Check out our Prime Day 2026 hi-fi deals live hub

We rank the best floorstanding speakers

Our picks of the best stereo amps

We have seen several feature-packed all-in-one hi-fi systems enter the market from traditional manufacturers in recent times. Cambridge Audio, KEF, Sonus Faber, Naim and Ruark Audio, to name but a few, all offer one-box solutions which include source(s), input and speakers built-in. And now we can add Danish speaker manufacturer Dali to that list.

At High End Vienna 2026, it launched Vega, a hi-fi system with a twist, and one that the company has actually been working on for four years. Obviously, we couldn’t resist dropping by the Dali stand for a closer look to see the system in action.

Price

The Dali Vega costs £2599 / $4500 / AU$4499 and launches in October. This makes it more expensive than the Ruark Audio R410 (£1299 / $1699 / AU$2599) or Cambridge Audio Evo One (£1299 / $1499 / AU$2499.

However, it does sit below the £2999 / $3600 / €3300 asking price of the Focal Mu-so Hekla, which will be one of its key rivals.

Design and build

Dali claims Vega has been designed to be “the most versatile and user-friendly audio source in the home”. And it definitely delivers the kind of flexibility and thoughtfulness we haven’t seen in this arena before.

Besides placing Vega horizontally on a tabletop, you can also wall-mount it. Not only that, but you can flip it through ninety degrees so it hangs upright.

It’s a clever idea and offers users an extra solution when room space might be tight, and attaching it to a wall is an option.

Although it does offer HDMI connectivity, Dali is at pains to say this is a wireless sound system and not a soundbar – there’s no Dolby Atmos or upfiring drivers.

What it does have is a 400W digital amp running 8 channels of audio. Under the woven fabric speaker grilles are two 25mm soft dome tweeters and two 4.5in wood-fibre/paper mid/bass cones on the front, and you'll find the same driver configuration on the rear.

At either end of the unit is an anodised aluminium passive radiator, which matches the finish of the speaker. They’re black on the dark oak finish and silver on the light oak silver finish.

You can’t miss the large circular control on the top of Vega. Dail has spent a lot of time trying to make it tactile and nice to use, and when we try it out, it seems smooth to operate.

It uses a military-grade ball-bearing, while the housing of the wheel is metal with a glass top. Tap the glass, and it brings up Vega’s menus, which are located on a small OLED screen positioned next to it.

The writing on the screen switches to match the unit's portrait or landscape orientation, which is a neat touch. Dali explained that this functionality would have been difficult to achieve with a more traditional dot-matrix LCD display.

It does seem a little small, especially when trying to read the speaker’s settings from a distance, but once the speaker is set up, you’ll mainly be interacting with the BluOS app on your smartphone or tablet.

To the left of the control dial is a row of buttons which includes power, mute and input switching. You also get five customisable preset buttons, which you could assign to a radio station or streaming service – you can even map one to a particular input.

Features

As we’ve mentioned, Vega is powered by BluOS, which we've found to be a stable and well-featured streaming platform. Everything else for Vega has been designed in-house by Dali.

This includes a patent-pending Adaptive Stereo Enhancement (ASE) DSP processing that monitors the incoming stereo signal in real-time and adapts it to fill your room in a spacious and immersive manner.

Out of the box, Vega is set up for use on a shelf or tabletop and has three settings to choose from depending on its placement: free space, medium, and close.

Each one of these affects the sound output from the rear of the speaker, which is at its maximum when in free space mode.

You also have not one but two wall mounting options (it comes with a bracket in the box). It can be positioned horizontally or vertically and uses an internal accelerometer to work out its orientation, and it will automatically switch the output of the speakers to match.

So, when it’s mounted vertically, instead of still having left and right channels firing out of the front and rear, the whole left side of Vega becomes the left channel, and the right side becomes the right channel. Very clever.

To accommodate wall mounting, all connections are underneath the system as opposed to on the rear – Vega offers HDMI ARC, an RCA analogue input, an optical digital connection and a USB input for an external drive. There’s also a subwoofer output, should you want to up the bass at a later date.

In addition to the BluOS streaming smarts, Vega’s wireless connectivity also includes Bluetooth aptX HD, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and AirPlay 2.

Sound

During our demo with Vega, we were shown the effect of having the ASE processing on and off, and although it was tricky to hear too much, thanks to the noise coming from other areas of the exhibition space, you could still hear the sound shrink and become smaller scale when it was turned off.

Turned back on, you could hear the sound open up again and become larger and fuller.

We’ll obviously need to get it into our test rooms for a full sound quality evaluation, but we heard a few seconds of Ray Charles and Natalie Cole’s version of Fever and the double bass and finger clicks seemed to be nicely defined and have decent snap to them.

Vega seems to serve up an open and dynamic sound, although it was difficult to really evaluate the detail and definition that managed to cut through the noise on the stand.

We switched up the pace with the Stereo MC’s Step It Up, and the Dali seemed to have a skip in its step with seemingly decent punch and power. We couldn’t really hear anything stick out of the frequency range, but it was competing with a lot of environmental noise.

Initial verdict

Obviously, we won’t know how the Dali Vega truly fares until we’ve had a chance to put it through its paces in our test rooms, but it’s an eye-catching offering from the brand in the category of all-in-one hi-fi systems.

Not only does it boast interesting tech developed in-house, Dali’s managed to package its wireless sound system with an attractive amount of versatility.

Some might see the wall-mounting as a bit of a gimmick, but we think the extra flexibility has legs and is a novel approach where space in many living rooms is at a premium. If Vega manages to execute it successfully, Dali could be onto something, and we can’t wait to find out.

MORE:

Dali's premium all-in-one system promises hi-fi-level performance in any place, and in any position

High End Vienna 2026: all the news and highlights from Europe's biggest hi-fi show

I heard Cambridge Audio's new Evo streaming amplifier at High End Vienna – was it evolution or revolution?

Our pick of the best hi-fi systems you can buy for every budget

With a bank holiday weekend coming up, there is now plenty of time to decide on that all-important World Cup TV.

Luckily, this week has seen some stellar deals on all sorts of great TVs. Whether you’re after a new-release OLED or a budget LCD, we’ve got those and everything in between.

Hi-fi hasn’t been left out either: the Award-winning Cyrus 40 ST music streamer is on offer again; and Sonos is running a sale that includes its five-star spatial-audio Era 300 speaker.

As always, these are products that we have tested ourselves. And they have to have received at least four stars to receive our coveted recommendation here.

We’ll go a bit more in-depth on why we like these products so much below, but for now, happy shopping!

The LG C6 is the latest in LG’s hugely popular OLED C-series, and has the brightest, richest and most refined picture quality yet. We only reviewed it in March, but you can get 20% off with the code ‘LG20TV’ – you have to be a My John Lewis member, but it’s free to sign up.

The Cyrus 40 ST may not be cheap even with this discount, but it’s worth every single penny. The What Hi-Fi? Award Winner is the top dog out of the high-end music streamers and an incredible piece of kit.

We reviewed the TCL Q6C just two days ago, and we call it “ridiculously good value for money”. Well, the 65-inch version of this Mini LED set is already on sale – and it offers far more than a TV at this price has any right to.

If you want to go big-screen on a budget for the World Cup, then the 65-inch Samsung U8000F is an excellent choice. The Standard mode is enjoyably punchy and bright, with lots of smart TV content available in one great value package.

The Sonos Era 300 is a former What Hi-Fi? Award winner, and offers an immensely immersive experience thanks to its engaging sound and convincing spatial-audio effects. And now it can be yours with a rare £90 discount.

The 48-inch Samsung S90F made headlines for its low prices over Black Friday, but now it’s available for even less. The five-star OLED can be yours for only £764, but first you’ll have to use the code ‘RSTV100’ at checkout and then claim 10 per cent back directly from Samsung. Full T&Cs can be found here.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

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Interested in vinyl? Here are the best turntables we have tested

Dali has announced its new all-in-one wireless system, the Vega.

Cut from a similar cloth as the likes of the Naim Mu-so 2, Ruark Audio R410 and Cambridge Audio Evo One, the Vega one houses amplification, drive units and music streaming in a single box, with Dali billing its latest model as an "audio system built for those who want the best possible sound without the complexity of a hi-fi setup".

The Vega boasts 400 watts of amplification delivered across eight channels, with drivers including an ultra-light 25mm soft dome tweeter alongside midrange and bass units arranged in a back-to-back configuration to reduce cabinet resonance and deliver "room-filling sound with clarity and detail".

Paper and wood fibre cones, alongside passive bass radiators and low loss surround drivers, also come together to create "a balanced sound with best in class low frequency performance".

To maximise its drivers' performance, the Vega uses 'Adaptive Stereo Enhancement' (ASE) technology, designed to create a wider, more expansive soundstage by automatically adapting to the incoming signal to deliver, says Dali, a panoramic effect that fills your listening space with ease.

Complementing ASE is 'Adaptive Orientation Adjustment' (AOA) tech, helping the speaker to adjust its output in real time for optimised stereo mapping and better spatial accuracy.

That tech should come in particularly handy with the Vega, which has been designed to be placed in a variety of locations in a range of different ways. Not only can you position your all-in-one system horizontally on a given surface, but you can also mount it – either vertically or horizontally – on walls or corners via a set of removable wall brackets.

The new Dali all-in-one system uses the BluOS streaming and multiroom audio system, the same platform used to power the likes of the Cyrus 40 ST music streamer and the NAD C 3050 and Roksan Attessa streaming amps.

The Vega offers HDMI ARC, RCA and optical inputs alongside a sub out, while Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Apple Airplay 2, not to mention standard Bluetooth, are also on the menu for your wireless streaming needs.

Externally, the Vega's body is constructed using a blend of wood, anodised aluminium and woven fabrics to create what Dali describes as a "refined, contemporary look", while a large volume wheel and an array of preset buttons are housed on the main unit.

The Dali Vega will be available this September in a Dark Oak or Natural Oak finish, priced at £2599 / $4500 / AU$4499 – a good deal more than the comparative Ruark Audio R410 (£1299 / $1699 / AU$2599) or Cambridge Audio Evo One (£1299 / $1499 / AU$2499).

MORE:

Read our review of the Ruark Audio R410

9 debut stereo amplifiers from iconic hi-fi brands – legendary amps from Audiolab, Cyrus, McIntosh, NAD, Naim and more

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

A bank holiday weekend is upon us here in the UK, which leaves plenty of time to check out the latest deals.

It also lines up nicely with payday, so now could be the time for you to pull the trigger on the high-ticket item you’ve been eyeing up.

So whether you’re after a Bluetooth speaker to spend your long weekend in the sun or looking forward to staying in with a new soundbar system, we’ve got something for everyone.

As ever, all products have been reviewed and rated by our expert testers, so you can be sure these are good purchases even at full price.

Not sure where to start? Let us help…

If you want a beefy, rugged outdoor speaker, look no further than the JBL Xtreme 4. The Award-winning Bluetooth speaker has a great discount right now at Richer Sounds, as you can save £150 by signing up to its VIP club (which is completely free).

The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package has earned a What Hi-Fi? Award an incredible six times and is back to its Black Friday price with £200 off. Surround sound with direction and heft doesn't get much better than this.

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, then a soundbar system is a good compromise. And budget systems don’t get much better than the Hisense AX5125H, which offers amazing weight, scale and a convincing Dolby Atmos for a price less than some solo soundbars.

If you want luxury and audiophile credentials in your wireless headphones, you won’t do much better than the Focal Bathys. A classy design and a 24-bit/192kHz USB-DAC mode are two highlights out of a feature set that includes two different levels of ANC, a transparency mode, aptX Adaptive support and 30 hours of battery life included too.

For a mid-range wireless speaker that’s great value, look no further than the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII. It has been succeeded by the newer, pricier Audio Pro C20 W, but it still has great clarity with clean and tight bass.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

And the best OLED TVs for all budgets

Interested in vinyl? Here are the best turntables we have tested

The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package has earned a What Hi-Fi? Award an incredible six times. In short, surround sound with direction and heft doesn't get much better than this.

Ordinarily costing £1699, you can now snap up the Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package for £1499 at Peter Tyson. This is the same price we saw during Black Friday sales.

Our praise focuses on its stylish good looks, full, warm sound, seamless sonic integration, and expressive dynamics. They're "lean, attractive, interesting and unfussy" and now discounted by £200.

Anyone familiar with Dali speakers will recognise much of this set-up. This 5.1 package includes the Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanders as the main left and right channels and the five-star Dali Oberon 1 standmounters as the surround options.

Add in the Oberon Vokal on centre duty and the Dali Sub E9-F and you've got yourself a surround sound package!

There are four finishes available, and we found our Light Oak review set to be rather stylish and modern.

Most important is, of course, the sound, which we're pleased to report is wonderful. Whether dialogue or explosions, the Oberons deliver an immersive home cinema experience.

As our five-star Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package review states (say that fast five times): “The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 system presents every frequency in full, but with honesty and warmth that brings the best out of any soundtrack. They are transparent but fun, powerful but subtle; we’d have them round to ours any day.”

If you believe movies deserve a premium sound treatment, then the Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package definitely fills that role. They're lean, attractive, interesting and unfussy, and available for £1499 at Peter Tyson.

Our only word of caution is to remember that the Oberon 5 is at the end of its shelf life, with the newer Sonik 5 taking its place in Dali's range. But until we test the newer range, we can't comment on what sonic improvements the Sonik offers or if they're worth the additional spend.

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Ryan Gosling is really in his element right now. Following the success of the sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary, every other piece of content on my social media is a slickly edited video of the handsome devil.

Much of his back catalogue regularly appears in our AV test room. Barbie and Drive, for instance, are both excellent test discs, and the eagle-eyed among you will have spotted us using them in our reviews.

But there's another film featuring Gosling that is a brilliant way to test your home cinema hardware, and it is celebrating its 10th birthday. Damien Chazelle's La La Land leapt onto the screen back in 2017, and blew critics and audiences away with its show-stopping score and captivating performances from Gosling and Emma Stone in the leading roles.

If you have somehow never seen the modern classic, let us fill you in. It follows Sebastian, a struggling pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress, who fall in love. When their careers start to take off, they find themselves having to make some tough decisions.

It's a film that we see used time and time again in demos for a range of AV kit, but over the years we have not used it in our own test room as much as we would like to. So this anniversary seems like the best time to revisit the best scenes to challenge your home cinema system, and also to bring it back to the top of our shelf where it belongs.

Opening sequence

From the off, La La Land really starts all guns blazing. On a hot summer's day, a seemingly endless queue of cars stretches to the Los Angeles horizon during rush hour. And what would any of us do in this scenario? That's right, open up your car door and break into a synchronised song and dance number.

The six-minute scene is dynamic and energetic with near constant movement that challenges a TV or projector's motion handling. With the crowd weaving around the cars and dancing in every direction, keep your eyes peeled for motion blur or juddering.

On top of that, the scene puts your audio system to the test. As dancers clamber about on the roof of the cars and horns blare around the soundfield, the precision of your audio set-up will be challenged. With a convincing Dolby Atmos system, you should hear the various sounds all around the space with a sense of accuracy and immersion.

"A Lovely Night"

Even if you haven't seen the film, you will almost certainly recognise the classic iconography of this scene. After running into each other at a party, Sebastian and Mia find themselves at the top of a beautiful hill but, despite obviously having feelings, lament that they are wasting this romantic view by spending it with each other.

As the pair move from the shade under a tree to a colourful night sky, it is a good test of how your screen handles the subtle detail in the crinkles of Sebastian's white shirt and the darker areas of Mia's yellow dress.

This beautiful sky also delivers a great test on its own. It starts at the top of the screen with a bright violet, before merging to pink and then ending in a darker red. On many screens, this may reveal an issue with colour banding, which is where smooth colour gradients are instead divided into stark lines.

A dance under the stars

After admitting their feelings for each other, Sebastian and Mia take a romantic trip to the Griffith Observatory which makes for another excellent test scene.

As the scene takes a magical realist turn and the pair floats into the night sky, note the contrast between the bright twinkle of the stars and the dark of the sky. There is a danger of the deep black looking more like a dark grey, or the stars not standing out against the more cavernous black backdrop.

On top of that, the twinkling stars can go the other way to create an unwanted "halo effect" where light spills out too much. That is particularly prevalent with Mini LED TVs because they rely on a backlight with local dimming zones. This all means it is particularly useful if you want to challenge your own Mini LED screen.

What's your favourite scene in La La Land? Drop it in the comments below.

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If you’re looking for a pair of step-up speakers to elevate your entry-level hi-fi setup, then I have good news – after four long years, the five-star floorstanders I’ve long considered for my own rack have finally come down in price.

Right now, you can pick up the 2021 Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanding speakers for £499, a solid £200 saving on their standard £699 price tag.

Why these speakers? Well, for starters, they’re fantastic value and remain incredibly competitive performers at this price, despite their age.

We now have their successors, the Dali Sonik 5, which currently retail for £899 at most stores, to look forward to, but the Oberon 5 remain a staple comparison point we use when reviewing similarly priced speakers.

Unfussy, both for matching and room placement, they remain a fantastic step-up option for hi-fi fans looking to upgrade their entry-level, or budget system, offering an entertaining, expressive sound that’s a cut above nearly all the cheaper speakers you’ll find at this price.

Hence why, despite originally being tested in 2021, we stand by our verdict to this day: “The Dali Oberon 5 are brilliantly musical and will fit into most rooms with ease.”

Not convinced? Well, they've long been on my Christmas wish list for my own hi-fi system. I've spent many hours listening to them, and can confirm they offer a greater sense of “fun” than their Q Acoustics and Wharfedale rivals.

This, plus their small, unfussy dimensions and the clear sonic improvements they offer on the Q Acoustics 3030i I currently have plugged into my Technics SA-C600, is a key reason I've spent many moments hovering my hand over the checkout button, with these speakers in my basket.

If you have a similar entry-level system, I’d strongly recommend considering the Dali Oberon 5 as a tidy upgrade.

Just make sure to be quick – with the Sonik 5 taking the Oberon 5’s place, manufacturing has stopped. So once stock of the Oberon 5 runs dry, that’s it – they’re gone.

MORE:

These are the best floorstanding speakers we’ve tested

We rank the best speakers money can buy

Our picks of the best stereo amps

When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, it's tempting to fall back on the usual flowers, chocolate and card routine.

But have you thought about what would really excite her? Perhaps it's a chance to dig out her record collection and play them back in glorious sound quality? Bluetooth speakers for her yoga and wellness sessions? Or just some peace and quiet courtesy of noise-cancelling headphones?

Whatever the personality of your mum, as long as she's a music fan, there's sure to be a gift here that will show how much you truly care.

And, as usual, all the products below have been rated and reviewed by our expert testing team. So you can be sure your mum only gets the very best this Mother's Day.

I'll get straight to it because this deal speaks for itself. With 65 per cent off, you can be the proud owner of the LG S70TY for just £209 from Amazon.

We tested the four-star soundbar at £599, which means if you make the purchase, you'll be saving an incredible £390. A deal like this does not come along every day.

If you like the sound of "an easy-going and well-integrated soundbar package that’s easy to live with", then this deal was created just for you.

Need more convincing? In our review, we praised its full-bodied, powerful sound and impressive sense of spaciousness. It handles movie soundtracks particularly well too, with dialogue remaining clear and centred even during action-packed scenes.

It is set up in a 3.1.3-channel configuration, which includes dedicated upward-firing speakers to deliver a more immersive Atmos experience.

The included wireless subwoofer also adds a substantial low-end punch without requiring additional cables cluttering up your living room.

Connectivity is well catered for too, with HDMI eARC, optical and USB ports, while wireless options include Bluetooth for easy streaming from your mobile devices.

It also supports high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz and works with LG's Sound Station app for additional customisation options.

For anyone still relying on their TV's built-in speakers, this represents a substantial upgrade at a price that is significantly more accessible than its launch price.

If you’re after something that packs a bit more of a punch (and are willing to part with some extra cash), check out the full list of the best soundbars we have tested.

Otherwise the LG S70TY for £209 at Amazon is a fantastic deal.

MORE:

Read our full LG S70TY review

Best soundbars 2025: Dolby Atmos movie magic from budget to premium

Best TV 2025: flagship OLEDs and affordable flatscreens tried and tested

Looks can be deceiving.

At first glance, you might not expect much from the ultra-compact, highly conventional Dali Oberon 1 – but you'd be wrong.

The Oberon 1 are exceptional performers, and are now available with a handy discount. The pint-sized speakers are on offer at Peter Tyson for £299, which is a good £50 off the price we tested them at.

Better yet, this deal is available on all four classy finishes – dark walnut, light oak, black ash and white.

Even knowing Dali's pedigree, we were not quite prepared for the sound that came out of these two-way, rear-ported boxes that measure just 27 x 16 x 23cm (hwd).

To quote from the Dali Oberon 1 review, the speaker is "a wonderfully articulate performer that marries a bold, forthright nature with the kind of refinement and insight that’s rare at this level."

The Dalis are stunning with vocal-based material in particular, with the voices of Tracy Chapman and Bon Iver delivered in a solid and expressive way during testing. Usually, we'd expect to pay close to four figures for a vocal performance this good!

Rivals such as the Triangle Borea BR03 can dig up more detail, but they lack the passion and enthusiasm of the Oberon 1.

Tonally, the Dalis are nicely judged, with a smooth treble that still has plenty of bite. The presentation is full-bodied, sounding impressively confident and composed no matter the track.

No matter how good the speakers are, they must obey the laws of physics, so be aware that the bass is limited compared to larger rivals.

Bigger rivals will have superior scale and authority, but just won't be as flexible when it comes to positioning and will struggle to match them for detail and musicality.

Anyone short on space, or just after an unfussy, high-quality pair of speakers, should look no further than the Dali Oberon 1. Especially now they're £299 at Peter Tyson.

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Our pick of the very best speakers

The best computer speakers: desktop and wireless models tested

How to choose the right speakers

The traditional advice that we at What Hi-Fi? give about separate components providing better performance than products trying to be jacks of all trades needs to be given with a few caveats these days. There are some remarkable pieces of equipment out there now that will do the job of source, amplifier and speaker incredibly well.

The principle does, generally, hold true, however. Particularly when you are looking at performers at what used to be called the entry level of hi-fi – possibly better-named now as step-up products.

What we have here is, with one exception, a system that would look perfectly at home in the nation’s living rooms 40 and more years ago. A CD player feeding its signal into a stereo amplifier that in turns is linked to a pair of stereo speakers; can’t say more ’80s than that.

The new addition to the satisfyingly old-school mix is, of course, a music streamer. One little box that brings the whole shebang right up to date – and performs (of course – this is a What Hi-Fi? system after all) really well for the money.

The system

• Integrated amplifier: Rotel A8 – £399 / $449
• CD player: Marantz CD6007 – £349 / $650
• Music streamer: Cambridge Audio MXN10 – £349 / $499
• Stereo speakers: Dali Kupid – £299 / $600
• Total system price: £1396 / $2198

Integrated amplifier: Rotel A8

Every great system needs a steady powerhouse, and the budget Rotel A8 integrated amplifier does the job brilliantly. This is a unit that doesn’t shout about its talents; its appearance is simple and unassuming, and its styling is best described as functional. But don’t let the modest facade fool you – this is a hugely capable performer.

While it lacks the digital inputs and Bluetooth connectivity of some rivals (which in this system, of course, are nicely catered for by the Cambridge MXN10 streamer), the A8 has the basics covered: a moving-magnet phono input for a record player, should you wish to add one to the system at some point, and three single-ended line-level inputs.

This amp’s stated output is a modest 30W per channel into 8 ohms, but when we tested it, it proved eminently capable, driving everything from budget bookshelf speakers to more premium options without issue.

Surefooted with rhythms, it delivers an easygoing momentum with a fine sense of drive and authority. Basslines are handled with grip and punch, and its insight into the music’s subtleties is impressive. The A8 is a calm, fuss-free, well-built tool that fades into the background and lets the music shine. Just what you should want from your stereo amplifier.

CD player: Marantz CD6007

It shouldn’t surprise you in the slightest to see the Marantz CD6007 in this system. This CD player has taken a What Hi-Fi? Award each year for more than half a decade for good reason.

It provides class-leading insight, with an expansive and focused soundstage. Large-scale dynamics are delivered with verve, punch and a pleasing sense of composure.

This is a CD player that will highlight all that is good about the venerable digital format, one that brings an invigorating performance to your silver-disc collection.

Its sturdy build quality remains remarkable for its budget price, too, feeling solid and operating with a slickness that belongs at a far higher price point. The CD6007 plays CDs (and CD-RWs), but you can also play stored files using the USB type A input.

This system combination also allows you the choice between two headphone ports: a 3.5mm one on the Rotel A8 amp, and a 6.3mm output on the Marantz CD player – and it's always nice to have the choice if you use multiple wired headphones.

Stereo speakers: Dali Kupid

From a perennial Award winner to a product that is brand new. Dali’s lovely little Kupid loudspeakers picked up their Best Buy Award in 2025 at the first time of asking. With their compact form and eye-catching design, these speakers are aimed at a modern audience looking for something fresher than the traditional hi-fi crowd.

To highlight that, they are available in some pretty funky (by hi-fi speaker standards at any rate) colours. Along with the more mainstream black, white and walnut finishes, you can also go for “chilly blue” or a bright “golden yellow”. Those starburst lines radiating from the tweeter are a lovely design flourish and are present in every colourway.

The Kupids are small enough to be placed on desks or bookshelves and can be wall-mounted – indeed all the fittings required for that are included with purchase. Crucially, they are cut from the same cloth as Dali’s celebrated budget ranges.

As we say in our review: “Right from the moment we hit play, the Kupids reveal a lively, nimble presentation that is packed with enthusiasm.

“We have to accept they won’t deliver the hugest spread of sound or the deepest bass due to their cabinets’ physical constraints, but we find ourselves looking past any such limitations as the speakers themselves sound well balanced. They have a particularly expressive and solid midrange, with enough slam in the lower frequencies to contrast against the sweeter, more delicate moments.”

Music streamer: Cambridge Audio MXN10

From dinky, high-performing speakers we come to the part of this set-up that truly belongs in the 21st century. The Cambridge Audio MXN10 network audio player is equally diminutive, but it punches well above that weight as far as sonic ability goes.

The MXN10 is stacked with all the popular streaming options: Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and more are supported, alongside built-in internet radio.

Running on Cambridge Audio’s oft-lauded bespoke StreamMagic platform, the MXN10’s dedicated app is responsive and makes set-up a breeze.

Being easy to set up is all well and good, of course. Happily, though, what truly wins us over with this little box of tricks is its abilities with music.

Equipped with the excellent ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC, the MXN10 can stream high-resolution files up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. And it performs brilliantly for the price.

As we say in our review: “It walks a carefully chosen path between the even-handed, detailed and spacious sound of the similarly priced Audiolab 6000N Play and the more characterful and energetic balance of the former Award-winning Bluesound Node (2021). It combines the strengths of these talented rivals while adding a dose of dynamic expression and rhythmic coherence that they can’t match.

“We like that the Cambridge remains composed when the music becomes demanding, and the way it renders the tone and texture of instruments in such a convincing way.”

All in all, this modernised old-school system is a masterclass in step-up hi-fi building. Combining the Marantz CD6007's dramatic presentation with the Cambridge MXN10's streaming smarts, the composed control of the Rotel A8, and the sheer fun factor of the Dali Kupid speakers, this setup delivers a performance that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

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Happy Monday, and welcome to a fresh entry into our hi-fi and home cinema news digest.

In it, our team of experts once again detail all the top stories to break over the past seven days, and as always, it was a hectic period.

We saw everything from new Temptation-level amps to affordable portable DACs launch.

Here’s what you need to know.

New Arcam hardware

Kicking us off, last week Arcam chose to unveil a wealth of new hardware, including a new set of speakers and home cinema amplifiers.

The new speakers are part of the firm’s 2024-launched Radia range and come in six varieties. These include two floorstanders (R45, R35), two bookshelf models (R25, R15), a centre speaker (R35C) and a subwoofer (R25B). As you’ve likely guessed, these can be combined to create a home cinema surround sound package.

The firm also unveiled its new home cinema amplifiers. These include the entry-level AVA15, step-up AVA25, and top-end AVA35. The amps’ specifications scale with their place in the range, but given how much we’ve loved Arcam’s older AVRs, which offer a sense of musicality missing on many rivals, we can’t help but get a little excited about the new models.

Read the full story: Arcam's new Radia loudspeaker range could be the perfect match for its Award-winning electronics

Read the full story: Arcam’s Radia AV line of home cinema amps promises serious movie magic

A headphone shootout

The wireless headphones market is a noisy, chaotic mess with every man and his dog offering a pair. Which is why knowing which is best is a tricky task, even if you follow the market.

To help, last week our intrepid senior staff writer, Harry McKerrell, took the time to run all the big sets in our listening rooms head-to-head to help offer the best, most up-to-date advice possible for potential buyers.

These include top pairs from Sony, B&W, Sennheiser, Bose and more. And, while the final winner wasn’t a huge surprise, quite how competitive the battle was between each set definitely was.

Read the full story: I've heard every major pair of premium wireless headphones – and one set reigns sonically supreme

LG Sound Suite pricing

We had an early look at LG’s latest flagship Dolby Atmos system, the Sound Suite, at CES in January.

And during the demo, we found a lot to like about it, including the inclusion of Dolby’s swish new FlexConnect tech, which promises to make it much easier to optimise speakers to the specific space they’re playing in, amongst other things.

But there was one big concern the entire home cinema team shared: their very high price.

With the soundbar alone costing £1000 and its top-of-the-range M7 satellite speakers £700, Sound Suite looked set to be one of the most expensive systems on the market. Thankfully, last week, LG made moves to partially address the problem, announcing price reductions across the entire range.

Read the full story: LG's just fixed a key issue we had with its latest Dolby Atmos soundbar system – and it’s not even out yet

KEF speakers tried and tested

Finishing off this week’s digest is our review of KEF’s new Coda W standmounts. They’re an interesting set of active speakers, in that, unlike their established cousins, the KEF LSX II LT and LS50 Wireless II, they’re distinctly focused on working with vinyl and CD players, over streaming.

That’s why, instead of built-in wi-fi streaming support for Tidal Connect and the ilk, they only have Bluetooth functionality. But, to make up for that, you get a built-in moving magnet phono stage.

Has the change paid off? After thoroughly testing them, we’re happy to report that the answer is, for the most part, yes. Either via Bluetooth or with a price-appropriate turntable or CD player connected (in our case Cyrus CDi and Rega Planar 3 RS Edition) the speakers delivered a clear, detailed presentation and deep, but controlled, low end.

Hence, our verdict:

“While the phono stage could be better, listening via the other inputs is a joy. The sonic performance is a step above its smaller, Award-winning cousins, and costs you less money to enjoy, too. If you’re happy to live without the wi-fi streaming features and are looking for a neat speaker system that doesn’t cost thousands, this should definitely be on your radar.”

Read our in-depth KEF Coda W review

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Proprietary technology is a great luxury for a company to have, making for a unique selling point and potentially giving an advantage over the competition. In the case of Fyne Audio, IsoFlare is its proprietary driver technology, and the F5E speaker brings it to a more affordable price point.

IsoFlare, where the tweeter is mounted in the middle of the bass/midrange driver, is similar in principle to KEF’s Uni-Q driver array. This arrangement offers improved dispersion and integration over the conventional separated driver approach.

The Fyne Audio F5E standmounter forms part of the brand’s entry-level F500E range, which we’ve already dipped our toe into by reviewing the superb, What Hi-Fi? Award-winning F501E floorstanders (currently £899 / $1299 / AU$2149). These took home a Product of the Year trophy for floorstanders in 2025.

The F5E are the only standmounts in the range, however, so we are keen to see how they perform compared to their larger sibling.

Build & design

The F5E’s IsoFlare driver array is smaller than that used in its floorstanding sibling. Its multi-fibre mid/bass unit measures 12.5cm in diameter, while its titanium dome tweeter comes in at 19mm.

Fyne has also included another piece of proprietary technology here, its BassTrax diffuser. This is where a downward-firing port fires onto a circular cone that disperses low-frequency sound through 360 degrees. This arrangement makes the speakers less fussy about their position relative to a room wall, so they should be easier to place in a listening environment.

In terms of size, the single-wired F5E measure 27 x 17.4 x 22.8cm (hwd), so these compact boxes should slot nicely into listening rooms where space is something of a premium.

The speaker’s MDF cabinets feel pretty solid, although not as sturdy as the class rivals at this price point. We compared them to the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 (currently £439 / $1000 / AU$1149) and the Dali Oberon 1 (currently £399 / $750 / AU$549), and found the F5E felt slightly less substantial.

The plastic vents used for the F5E’s BassTrax system also feel a little cheap. However, we’re seeing the F5E available for £349 at some retailers in the UK, so we’re happy to give them a bit of leeway at this price.

Currently, these standmounts are only available in a black ash finish, but a walnut option is set for release in late spring/early summer. It’s a tidy finish, but feels a bit basic compared to their rivals.

The F5E are supplied with optional hooks for wall hanging, which do the job, but the recessed hooks built into the back of the Dali Oberon speakers are neater.

Compatibility

With a sensitivity of 87dB/W/m and nominal impedance of 8 ohms, the F5E should work well with most price-compatible stereo amplifiers. To extract the best sound from them, however, it’s important to consider the sonic character of the amplifier they are paired with.

We started off using the Arcam A5+ integrated (currently £749 / $1199 / AU$1595), as it's our go-to amplifier when testing products at this budget-to-mid price level, and the results were pretty good. The Arcam gave us a refined and fluid presentation that sounded pleasant, but we felt something was missing. Switching to Rega’s similarly priced Brio Mk7 (currently £799 / $1195 / AU$1699) gave us more of what we wanted: more punch, drive and solidity.

Our source throughout is our reference Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition music streamer (currently £2399 / $3290 / AU$4299). While it’s pricier than the kind of source the F5E would usually be partnered with, its detailed and balanced presentation allows us to put a strong spotlight on the speaker’s performance.

In our listening room, the Fynes sound best close to a wall, with about 15cm of space from the back wall. This positioning meant the F5E’s tonality remained balanced without sacrificing their ability to float an expansive soundstage. We also angled them slightly towards the listening position to add greater focus and solidity to the sound.

The claim that IsoFlare offers improved dispersion rings true as the F5E sound remarkably consistent as we get up from our main listening position and make our way around the room.

Sound

The Fyne F5E are a highly enjoyable listen, owing to how well balanced they are. We play everything from The Human League to Beethoven and A Tribe Called Quest, and there is a wonderful cohesion to the presentation. Nothing untoward sticks out, leaving us to focus purely on the music, while no favour towards a specific genre is exhibited.

The F5E’s balanced tonality and rhythmic surefootedness ensure the breakdown of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Ramble Tamble flows beautifully from one point to the next, taking you with it each step of the way. When playing the same song through the Bowers & Wilkins rival, however, the 607 S3’s slightly top-heavy presentation means the hi-hats sound too upfront, which prevents you from fully appreciating the breakdown’s mesmerising flow.

We move on to Beethoven’s Symphony No 7 In A Major - 2nd Movement - Allegretto and the F5E do a good job conveying the shifts in dynamic intensity, although the 607 S3 and Oberon 1 are superior in this regard. When the horns hit, they really wallop you on the 607 S3, while the Fynes feel like a good shove in comparison. You know you’ve been hit, but just not for six.

This classic Beethoven piece also highlights the class leaders’ superior level of detail. While the strings have a richness to them when heard through the F5E, there is less textural insight compared to the B&Ws, in particular. Picking out individual instruments is a little harder on the Fyne speakers, too.

The F5E is a small box, so it's no surprise that it doesn’t delve too deep into the low end. The 607 S3 does notably better in this regard, but the Fyne’s rendering of the lower frequencies remains relatively tight and tuneful.

Their stereo imaging is also impressive, while the soundstage is pleasingly expansive and the image nicely focused. Instruments are convincingly layered too, and they remain stable once the music becomes demanding.

At low volume, the F5E retain their tonal balance and none of the instruments feel out of place. As we begin cranking things up, this evenness is nicely maintained, and the presentation remains muddle-free.

Verdict

Fyne has obviously had to make sacrifices in order to accommodate its proprietary tech at this lower price point. The relatively basic finish is an indication of that. An enjoyable sonic performance that does many things well is the payoff for this, however. They may not be outright class leaders at this price, but a broad range of talents means these Fyne speakers are worth considering.

Review published: 19th January 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Compatibility 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

Also consider the Dali Oberon 1

Read our Dali Kupid review

Best bookshelf speakers: top standmounts for every budget tested

The attraction of small speakers is obvious. They won’t dominate a room and can be tucked out of the way, maybe close to a wall, or – less ideally in a sonic sense – in a corner or a bookshelf. From this, it would be easy to conclude that opting for a pair of compact speakers is all about convenience and little else.

Physics certainly dictates that a speaker barely larger than a shoebox will have clear limitations compared with something more generously dimensioned. The disadvantages range from restricted bass-reach to compromised large-scale dynamics and lower volume limits.

Much of this can be put down to the size of the drive unit that can be fitted into a smaller, slimmer box.

It’s time for some maths: the radiating area of a 16.5cm mid/bass (as found in most larger standmounters and many of the floorstanders on the market) is around 60% greater than that offered by the 13cm drivers typically specified in smaller speakers. The smaller unit has to work proportionally harder to produce the same output as its larger counterpart; and a driver that has to work harder usually distorts more.

But there is another side to this coin, where small speakers turn the tables on bigger alternatives. The first benefit turns a limitation into an advantage and is centred around the lack of low-frequency extension.

Most people, particularly in the UK, don’t have the luxury of large listening spaces, and smaller rooms can easily be overwhelmed by powerful low frequencies. If you use larger speakers with extended bass reach, it is easy to excite room resonances, leading to lows that are bloated and ill-defined. Such characteristics have knock-on effects across the board, from degrading midrange clarity to spoiling rhythmic drive and agility.

Small speakers produce less bass, but if they are properly engineered, the low frequencies they do generate will still sound balanced and properly integrated (Dali's new Kupid speakers are a fine example of this). The result in most modestly sized rooms will be more satisfying in the long run.

Another advantage of a compact speaker design is that the enclosure is inherently more rigid, giving the drive units a more solid base to work from. Remember, any movement of the driver’s chassis relative to the cone means lost information.

Also, the cabinet’s smaller surface area means that unwanted sound caused by panel vibrations will be at a lower level, so any negative impact on the speaker's performance is reduced. The benefits of this are plentiful, from a purer presentation to improved stereo imaging. PMC's Prophecy 1 deliver a superbly focused soundstage, and I strongly suspect that their rigid, well-controlled enclosures are a key factor in this.

Our ears are great at identifying the direction of sound, and if a cabinet resonates, we are adept at locating the source of that vibration. So, even with eyes closed, it is clear where the speakers are positioned, and the impression of a well-projected soundstage, floating free of the loudspeakers, is lost.

If you don’t think a cabinet produces much sonic output, put your ears on the top panel of your own speakers as music is playing. I suspect you will be surprised by the volume of the sound it produces.

A smaller mid/bass driver may struggle to dig out the lows or deliver large-scale dynamic shifts at higher volumes, but it does offer an advantage in terms of driver integration.

Most sensibly priced speaker designs tend to work in a two-way configuration, with a typical crossover point positioned around 2.5kHz. The smaller the mid/bass driver, the more comfortable it will be working up at this kind of frequency, and this gives the engineers greater leeway in choosing the partnering tweeter and the type of crossover filter employed.

This is the reason that small speakers tend to have a clearer, more articulate and expressive midrange performance than their larger siblings.

The successful design of all hi-fi components is invariably rooted in choosing the right compromises. There may be greater freedom at higher price points, but in the end, it is all about the engineer choosing their priorities with care.

Designing a small speaker isn’t easy, but the format also offers plenty of inherent advantages over bigger designs that shouldn’t be overlooked.

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Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen – but great sounding, five-star speakers are harder to come by. Fortunately, one of the previous mainstays of our best Bluetooth speakers guide is sporting a rather excellent discount right now.

For just £289 at Peter Tyson, the Dali Katch G2 can be yours for £60 off in Iron Black, Chilly Blue or Caramel White finishes.

Despite newer models taking its crown and offering more advanced features, we're still more than happy to recommend the Award-winning Dali if sound quality is your priority.

The Dali Katch G2 is one of the best sound-per-pound portable Bluetooth speakers, both comfortable in your home and on the road.

And while it got knocked off its spot in the best Bluetooth speakers by the JBL Xtreme 4, it's still a pick we're happy to recommend, especially at this price.

The first thing you'll notice about the Katch G2 is its classy design that's roughly the width of a hardback novel, slipping easily into your backpack, making it a great portable companion.

But under its well-designed svelte exterior there's still plenty of volume within the aluminium body for its woofers to deliver crisp, deep lows.

As we said in our original review: "Sonically, the Katch G2 is nothing short of a delight."

And while it's packed out with features, including Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX HD and aptX high-quality codecs, it's the unbelievable battery life that is a shining star – boasting 30 hours of playtime (depending on how loud you play your tunes).

Dali has also implemented a TWS (True Wireless Stereo) mode for the Katch G2, meaning you can pair two together for increased volume and separation.

So, if you're after a portable speaker that'll impress in both looks and sound, the Dali Katch G2 is one to consider. And at just £289 at Peter Tyson, it's the cheapest its ever been.

MORE:

Read our full Dali Katch G2 review

Best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And check out the best outdoor speakers

November is a busy time for What Hi-Fi?. For starters, we have to get into our gladrags, ascend from our test rooms and reveal the year’s What Hi-Fi? Award winners at our swanky black-tie ceremony.

Then we have to contend with Black Friday and trawl all the stores, specialist and mainstream, to find you the best hi-fi and home cinema deals to be had on said Award winners and any other five-star product we have reviewed.

*Raises fist at sky and screams “Black fudging Friday” in angry William Shatner voice*

On top of all that, we have to continue our eternal quest, reviewing new products to keep our buying advice up to date and relevant to what’s actually in stores right now.

Which is why, despite all of the above, we continued to publish reviews throughout November (11 to be precise), maintaining business as usual in our viewing and listening rooms.

During that process, however, there was one thing that was a little bit different in November for our reviewers: we found only one product worthy of a five-star rating. Which makes this, the latest edition of our regular Pick of the Month column, our shortest ever.

The Rotel Michi Q5

The vinyl revival has been a joyful thing for quite some time now – which is awesome. But if you prefer your physical media to be a little more compact and shiny – and at the same time have a surplus of serious cash – then you might want to consider the Rotel Michi Q5.

This undeniably premium CD player retails for £5499 ($7499 / AU$9499). That's a clear level above the £2995 ($3995 / AU$4999) Cyrus 40 CD we recommend as the top option in our best CD player guide.

After putting it through its paces, though, we can say that it’s certainly worth it – assuming you have the accompanying amplifier and speakers to back it up. The giant unit is packed with top-end, custom hardware designed to make the absolute most of CDs.

Highlights include a bespoke CNC-machined aluminium CD-transport mechanism and ESS ES9028PRO eight-channel DAC chip. The latter lets you play 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 files via its USB input, in addition to its CD-spinning capabilities.

Most importantly, when paired with our price-appropriate reference Burmester 088/911MkIII amplifier and ATC SCM50 speakers, it delivers stellar audio. Whether it’s layered classical arrangements, bopping pop, or booming metal, the unit delivers audio with impressive detail resolution, expressive dynamics and a nicely taut bass.

As you will see from our reviewers' five-star rating and verdict: “Some people will baulk at the Michi Q5’s price, and that’s understandable. Given we are so far into the age of streaming, a high-end CD player certainly isn’t going to make sense for everyone. However, if you are dedicated to the original silver disc and have a collection that justifies this kind of expense, we have no hesitation in recommending the Rotel Michi Q5 highly.”

Five stars

Read our full Rotel Michi Q5 review

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The Black Friday deals saw an awful lot of love for soundbars, from the budget Hisense AX5125H to the more premium Sonos Arc Ultra.

However, if you have the space and the budget, we usually recommend investing in a multi-channel speaker system for the best sense of directionality and heft.

And there are few better surround sound investments than the Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package, available now for £1499 at Peter Tyson.

That's £200 off the testing price of £1699! If that wasn't enough to convince you, a free QED QE5310 Cable Pack worth £89.95 is included, taking you another step further to a complete home cinema set-up.

Anyone familiar with Dali speakers will recognise much of this set-up. This 5.1 package includes the Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanders as the main left and right channels and the five-star Dali Oberon 1 standmounters as the surround options.

Add in the Oberon Vokal on centre duty and the Dali Sub E9-F and you've got yourself a surround sound package!

There are four finishes available, and we found our Light Oak review set to be rather stylish and modern.

Perhaps most important is, of course, the sound, which we're pleased to report is wonderful. Whether dialogue or explosions, the Oberons deliver an immersive home cinema experience.

As our five-star Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package review states (say that fast five times): “The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 system presents every frequency in full, but with honesty and warmth that brings the best out of any soundtrack. They are transparent but fun, powerful but subtle; we’d have them round to ours any day.”

If you need an AVR receiver also, consider the Denon AVC-X3800H AVR with a Dali Oberon 5 5.1 speaker package for £2499 at Richer Sounds.

If you believe movies deserve a premium sound treatment, then the Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package definitely fills that role. They're lean, attractive, interesting and unfussy, and available for £1499 at Peter Tyson.

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If you’re looking for a solid entry-level hi-fi setup or a secondary system, then I’d strongly recommend looking at this new hi-fi bundle from Sevenoaks Sound and Vision.

The bundle deal lets you pick up a pair of the Award-winning Dali Kupid desktop speakers and WiiM Amp Pro streaming amplifier for £599 – a £100 saving on what they’d cost if bought separately.

Why this system? Because we personally matched the two when reviewing the Kupid and found they add up to create one of the best value systems you can get without spending hundreds more or going the separates route.

The Dali Kupid speakers are undeniably the stars of the show. Dali told us it intentionally designed the beginner-friendly Kupid as an entry point for newbies or those on a strict budget to get into hi-fi.

And putting them through their paces in our listening rooms, they delivered exactly that. While you may have to be careful about their relatively low sensitivity rating with partnering products, we found they have a surprising amount of heft for such small units.

Matched with price-appropriate amplifiers and systems, which included the Amp Pro streaming amp during testing, they delivered a dynamic, detailed and punchy sound. Hence our reviewers’ glowing conclusion:

“A great choice for small, modern music systems, the entertaining Dali Kupid speakers will win over many hearts.”

And if you want a cost-effective, just-add-speakers solution to go with then, then the WiiM Amp Pro is the model I personally recommend to friends who don’t want to go down the separates route with the Kupids. I even penned a feature on how well the two work together ahead of Black Friday week.

The WiiM Amp Pro didn’t quite perform well enough to secure What Hi-Fi?’s elusive fifth star, with our reviewers yearning for a little more rhythmic precision and dynamic expression overall. However, this convenient unit combines amplification and extensive hi-res streaming smarts in one compact box – it’s still a stellar option you’ll struggle to beat without spending more.

The closest separates system we’d recommend right now would pair the Kupids with the Cambridge Audio AXA35 stereo amplifier and WiiM Pro Plus streamer, but this would raise the combined price for your new system to £817.

The best price for the Cambridge Audio AXA35 we’ve spotted is £299 at Richer Sounds. The price-appropriate WiiM Pro Plus, meanwhile, continues to sell for its standard £219 at most retailers.

If you weren’t 100 per cent wed to the Dalis, you could save a few extra pounds and bring the price down a bit by swapping them for the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, which cost £179 right now.

But as we said in our Dalli Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 guide, we’d urge most fans to go for our current Award-winners.

Having run the two head-to-head, we found that while the bigger Diamond 12.1 have their charms and a more refined, there’s a reason they were dethroned during this year's What Hi-Fi? Awards in favour of the more detailed, clearer-sounding Kupid speakers.

If you can afford the extra cost, then the dinky Dali Kupids added liveliness and greater dynamic ability make them a more enjoyable listen in most instances.

Hence, if saving space and cash is your primary concern and you need a new stereo setup with streaming smarts, the team and I fully endorse checking out Sevenoaks Sound and Vision’s current bundle deal.

Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• LG C5 55-inch: lowest-ever price at Richer Sounds
• JBL soundbar: now better than half price
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• Sony headphones: now just £29
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals
• Vinyl: 3 for £66 at Amazon
• Wireless earbuds: Award winners now £75

One of the trade-offs for being a professional magpie / shiny things chaser is that you automatically volunteer yourself as tech support for family, friends, distant acquaintances and even long forgotten evil twins (mine’s called Al-ario and if you see him in the street run, he’s still wanted in Perth for crimes against plushies).

This is particularly true during Black Friday. Which is why it was no surprise that this week I had more than a few friends, who are eager to take their first steps into hi-fi and finally leave the Wonderbooms they’ve been using since university behind, ask for advice on what “cheap” hi-fi hardware they should keep an eye on as the deals roll in.

It’s not the first time the question has come up and it certainly won’t be the last. But, as I went into my memory palace and scrolled through my rolodex of What Hi-Fi? reviews, I realised something has changed; for once, I have some actually affordable recommendations!

They are the Award-winning Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers, and the WiiM Amp Pro streaming amplifier that combines amplification, streaming features and connections into one small box.

Why these two products? Well, they are both great value: the Dali speakers retail for £299 ($600 / AU$599), while the WiiM streaming amp is yours for £399 ($379 / AU$699).

On top of that, both are pleasingly compact and a great first step into the world of hi-fi – and the team and I know they work well together as we matched them during our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 testing.

The Dali Kupid in particular are an easy recommendation – the best-sounding bookshelf speakers we have tested in their budget price range. Their low 83dB sensitivity means you may have to match your amplifier choice carefully, but we find they have all the muscle and control most people need at this level. Hence their 2025 Award and our verdict:

“Dali has hit upon a winning combination in the Kupid speakers. Small size, attractive looks, entertaining sound and an affordable price – what more could you want?”

The WiiM Amp Pro is a more interesting curveball recommendation that some buyers may not be fully convinced by, given its four-star rating in our review. But don't be deterred by ratings alone. Yes, we would have liked greater rhythmic precision and general insight from its sound, but there are very few streaming amplifiers around that deliver so many features in such a compact form – especially at its sub-£400 price point.

We have searched high and low for a five-star system with the same stellar in-built streaming smarts for this budget price, and failed. The only system you’ll find that is better is the multiple Award-winning Technics SA-C600 – but that still costs a good £350 ($370) more than the WiiM, generally floating at around £750 ($799) at most retailers.

That may not sound like a big difference to people with full separates racks, but having seen the faces many of my friends pulled when I recommended the Technics to them during past Black Fridays – especially those still on basic Bluetooth speakers – I know it is.

It may seem strange to hi-fi enthusiasts, but for most people there's a psychological block that stops them wanting to spend more than £500 / $500 on their first amp, or system.

And that’s why I recommend the WiiM Amp Pro with the Dali Kupid as an entry level, affordable system to any buyer looking to take their first step into hi-fi.

For less than £800, you’ll get a complete stereo system with a fun, entertaining sound packed with all the streaming smarts most music fans will need. It also won't take up too much space in your living room. What’s not to love?

Got a better cheap system recommendation? Get involved with the conversation using the comments section below, or on our social media channels and forums.

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When it comes to our yearly Awards testing, the best surround sound speaker package category is easily one of our favourites to judge. While it involves a lot of physical labour – constantly swapping subwoofers and floorstanding speakers is a workout for sure – we're often treated to an immersive cinematic sound experience that floors even the very best soundbars.

This year has been no exception, and the good news is that after a fairly stagnant 2024, we have a new entry to our Award-winners list. The list, which features returning champs from Wharfedale, Dali and Bowers & Wilkins, now includes a premium package courtesy of KEF; and it happens to be really quite good.

Each entry is a 5.1 system. However, the beauty of any surround sound speaker package is the flexibility to swap in different elements. Adding a pair of height channel toppers to most of these systems can easily result in a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos system, or you could hypothetically turn any of these into a 7.1 system with an additional pair of surround speakers.

That said, we've judged these systems in their respective 5.1 configurations and found plenty to like about each. We'll start with the newest addition to our list...

KEF delivers a truly stunning speaker system

KEF has made an impressive return to our AV testing room, not long after delivering one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars of the year in the form of the XIO. The Q Concerto Meta 5.1 speaker package takes a pair of five-star standmount speakers, adds a mighty good subwoofer and centre channel, and rounds things out with a very capable pair of bookshelf speakers to create a rich, powerful and superbly cinematic system.

It's a pricier package than the previously Product of the Year-winning Bowers & Wilkins package (more on that in a moment), but we found its dashing good looks, impressive cohesion and, most importantly, its exceptional cinematic sound to easily justify its price tag.

We raved about its "rich, warm and engaging sound" in our full review, noting how capable the Kube 12 MIE subwoofer is in underpinning the overall experience with a controlled-yet-punchy dose of low-end oomph.

That's balanced nicely with how agile and dynamic the other components of the system are. The centre channel does an excellent job of capturing clear and emotive dialogue with plenty of detail, while the Q Concerto Meta speakers (which serve as the namesake and front left and right channels of this system) deliver a rich and punchy sound.

The system as a whole sounds precise and keeps pace without sounding thin or analytical; in fact, we were pleasantly surprised at how rich and dynamic it sounded during our testing.

It's a step up over the B&W system, but we couldn't overlook it during our judging, which is why we've bestowed it with the "Best speaker package over £2500" title.

Wharfedale, Dali and Bowers & Wilkins all defend their titles

The rest of this list is comprised of previous Award winners, as each remains a shining example of what makes a great surround sound speaker package.

The cheapest entry is the Wharfedale DX-3 HCP, a pint-sized system that's designed for those who want top-notch cinematic sound in smaller rooms, yet you shouldn't let its compact footprint deceive you. It has no trouble in firing out a wide, spacious sound that is simultaneously crisp and dynamic. This is a great choice for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of 5.1 speaker systems for the first time, too, as it comes in one convenient package.

Stepping up to a much larger Wharfedale system, we have the Diamond 12.1 HCP, which has just earned its fifth What Hi-Fi? Award. It's a composed, spacious and insightful system that bears Wharfedale's usual warmth and depth in equal measure. We struggled to find a moment where this system put a foot wrong in our original review, and it remains a seriously compelling option in the £500-£1000 range.

Next up is another firm favourite, the Dali Oberon 5 5.1. It's won countless Awards, and for good reason too. It's a stylish system that delivers a rich, detailed and dynamic sound without breaking a sweat. We especially like how cohesive it sounds, and when we consider the cons of this system, we simply reach this conclusion: there's "nothing at this price".

Rounding out the list is the formidable Bowers & Wilkins 606 & 607 S3 speaker package. This two-time Product of the Year winner comprises two pairs of five-star stereo speakers, while the ASW610 packs a punch in the bass department. This system has it all: clarity, dynamism, warmth and agility, which is why we've featured it on our Awards list for the third year running.

The real question is who will take home the Product of the Year title? Can B&W defend its title and score the hat trick, or will KEF steal its thunder? No spoilers here – but the good news is that you'll only have to wait a few more days to find out the answer.

MORE:

Find all of the What Hi-Fi? 2025 Award winners here

Read our full KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 review

And check out our picks for the best surround sound speaker systems

Dali is best known for its stereo speakers, but its latest wave of headphones made quite the splash when it launched last year.

One set of cans to make their mark on our test team was the Dali IO-8, which sit in the middle of the range. We raved about them in our review.

Now they've got a discount we can rave about too – the headphones currently have £150 off at Smart Home Sounds in an early Black Friday deal.

A deal audiophiles everywhere should take note of!

We were very impressed with Dali's latest headphone effort in our five-star Dali IO-8 review, a particular standout being their noise-cancelling capabilities.

"As for active noise cancelling, we find the IO-8 excellent," our review reads. "They are better than both the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 and Mark Levinson No. 5909 for taking out train and bus noises on our daily commute and don’t have that unpleasant ‘suck-out’ feel when doing so. They are particularly good at taking out low-frequency rumbles and don’t overreact to short, sharp transients."

Sound quality is terrific also, with the Dali IO-8 proving themselves to be superb all-rounders that are well-balanced tonally but also deliver best-in-class insight and dynamic expression.

AptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs are all supported, and are fired through large 50mm paper/wood fibre drivers for a pleasing sonic experience.

Call quality also shines, and 3.5mm to 3.5mm and USB Type A to USB Type C cables are included for easy connectivity.

Unusually for a product of this type, the Dali IO-8 don't have a dedicated control app, meaning you'll have to make do with the extensive on-cup touch buttons. But we don't see this as a major problem – the Dali IO-8 are top-class performers and are now £150 off at Smart Home Sounds.

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If you thought hi-fi speakers were big, old fashioned and expensive, then you clearly haven't seen the Dali Kupid. These chirpy little boxes come in a range of cheerful colours, are compact enough to sit on a bookshelf and are very reasonably priced, too.

They also earned five stars in our review.

So you should just buy them, right? Not so fast. Because the Kupid is up against some stiff competition in the form of the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1. These speakers actually started life more than 40 years ago with the introduction of the original Diamond model. They have come a long way since then, of course, and offer a similarly compelling package.

Wondering which is more deserving of your hard-earned? Let's help you decide.

Price

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: price

These two are very evenly matched in terms of price. The Dali Kupid is the newer of the two models, having launched in the summer of 2025 for £299 / $600 / AU$599. That's similar to the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1's price of £249 / $399 / AU$699.

But it really depends on which country you're in. The Wharfedales are cheaper in the UK and US, but more expensive in Australia. As the older of the two pairs (having launched in 2020), they are also more likely to be given a discount during a big sales event.

**Winner: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1**

Build & design

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: build & design

The Kupid is the smaller of the two designs, being shorter, narrower and less deep than the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1. This makes them more versatile in terms of placement, by simple dint of the fact that more surfaces will be able to accommodate a smaller speaker footprint.

They come ready for wall-mounting too, with wall brackets and fixing screws included in the box.

But of course it's the colours that are the most noteworthy aspect of the Kupid design. The two standout finishes are the “chilly blue” of our review unit and “golden yellow” which will bring a welcome pop of colour to even the drabbest of interiors.

But not all Kupids come in bold colours – the speaker also comes in more subtle shades of black, white or walnut. Whichever finish you choose, they each have the same starburst lines radiating from the tweeter (though these stand out more on some colourways than others).

Build quality is good, but the speaker is a bit lightweight and feels a little cheap compared with the Diamond 12.1, whose wood finish is sturdier and more refined. But then the Wharfedales are larger and look more traditional, which may not appeal to everyone.

Despite their many similarities, these speakers are pitched quite differently – the Dalis as younger and more accessible, the Wharfedales as the more traditional offering.

The Dalis use a 26mm “ultra-light” soft dome tweeter and an 11.4cm mid/bass driver made from a paper and wood fibre material that has long been used in Dali’s speakers. A “dual flare” reflex port at the back optimises airflow to maximise bass, while magnetic grilles protect the drivers.

The Diamond 12.1s are by no means massive, though, and they have been engineered to sound equally good whether placed into a room or up against a wall. So there's still plenty of versatility to their positioning.

The cabinet is reassuringly solid, and is made from differing thicknesses of MDF bonded together to control resonances, with strategic bracing added for good measure.

The 12.1s have a 13cm mid/bass driver with a polypropylene/mica composite cone material called Klarity, along with a rear-firing reflex port. There's also a 25mm textile-dome tweeter which aims for wide dispersion.

In terms of design, these speakers are apples and oranges, and which you prefer will depend very much on your needs and preferences.

**Winner: Draw*

Compatibility

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: compatibility

The Diamond 12.1s have the higher sensitivity of the two: 88dB to the Kupids’ 83dB. But it’s a tricky tightrope to walk – speakers at this level need to play nice with both micro systems and more demanding separate components. Both models fare well.

The Kupids are easy to drive with most amplifiers we partnered them with during testing, producing ample levels of volume. They do start to sound less convincing when pushed harder, but that's to be expected given their diminutive size and the fact that they are better suited to smaller rooms.

The Diamond 12.1s are similarly adept, whether we partner them with high- or mid-level equipment. They sound more confident and composed than most similarly priced rivals, with a presentation that is simultaneously bold yet refined. Very impressive.

**Winner: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1**

Sound quality

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: sound

We'll start with the Kupids. They sound lively and full of get-up-and-go, which is appropriate given their bright and colourful design (we imagine they have a very sunny demeanour).

They don’t provide the deepest bass, nor the widest soundstage, but that’s to be expected given their small stature.

But what there is is very good indeed – well balanced, with a solid, expressive midrange and enough kick in the lower frequencies to keep your head nodding.

Basslines are tuneful and punchy, and dynamically, the Kupids deliver the ebbs and flow of tracks with conviction and deliver an exciting, involving presentation. Voices are delivered with delicacy and depth, and they sound clean and clear, too.

These speakers are also very agile, with a snappy sense of timing. “From Kendrick Lamar’s King Kunta to Tunng’s Didn’t Know Why to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, the Kupid have a fleet-footed quality that zips along with all kinds of tracks in an engaging manner,” we say in our review.

The soundstage might not be as wide as some rivals’, but it does give instruments enough room to breathe, while also revealing subtler details that some speakers might miss. For example, you can hear the differences in pressure on the piano keys in Erik Satie’s Gnossienne No.1, which is deeply impressive for speakers at this price.

We never find ourselves getting bored listening to the Kupids, and they are adept at conveying the personality and tone of different recordings, too, which is lovely to hear.

The Diamond 12.1s are previous What Hi-Fi? Award winners, so you know they're going to put in a great performance.

And they do. “They dig up a pleasing amount of detail and manage to organise it in a cohesive and musical way, with easy to follow low-level musical strands and a presentation that doesn’t start to get confused when things get busy,” we say in our review.

They are tonally smooth, and never sound anything but balanced. They will expose sub-par recordings, but at the same time they don't over-egg proceedings – a vital quality at this price.

Again, the bass isn't as deep as with bigger speakers, but that's to be expected. However, they do deliver a larger, more spacious sense of scale and authority compared with the smaller Kupids.

The Diamond 12.1s also remain composed even when the music becomes more demanding, with a surefooted sense of rhythm.

So which sound better? Again, they're really different beasts. The Kupids have more pep in their step, and are the clearer and more enjoyable listen, while the Diamond 12.1s have the more spacious and refined presentation.

For us, the Kupid's sense of liveliness and greater dynamic ability gives them the edge.

**Winner: Dali Kupid**

Verdict

Dali Kupid vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1: verdict

What a battle. With a heritage spanning back 43 years, the Diamond 12.1 standmounts remain highly recommended, while the bright and peppy Kupids are the new upstarts and have just won the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award for best standmount speaker under £500.

Each is a fantastic budget option; it just comes down to what you want from a speaker.

If space is limited, and you want a bright and colourful design that is matched by its lively sonic character, go for the Dali Kupid. If you have a touch more room to play with, and you prefer a more mature and refined design, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 are for you.

Whichever you choose, we're sure you'll have many hours of happy listening.

**Overall winner: Dali Kupid**

MORE:

Read our Dali Kupid review

And our Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 review

These are the best bookshelf speakers around

With their bold colour palette, eye-catching design and space-friendly compact form, the new Dali Kupid speakers are made to appeal to a wider audience of music fans.

The Kupid are designed to fit into people’s spaces easily and be used with modern compact hi-fi, micro systems or as TV speakers. Indeed, part of our testing period was spent hooking the Kupid speakers up to the WiiM Amp Ultra streaming amplifier we also have in for testing – and the pair showed just how simple, compact and streamlined a modern hi-fi system can be.

And affordable, too. The Dali Kupid are priced at £299 / $600 / AU$599 per pair – that puts them right up against the Award-winning Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 (£249 / $399 / AU$699).

Considering the Danish brand has spent the last handful of years focusing on the higher echelons of the high-end hi-fi scale – from the flagship Kore and Epikore speakers, to the premium IO-8 wireless headphones – this is a welcome return to the budget speaker market.

Dali’s wallet-friendly Lektor, Zensor and Spektor ranges have entertained us in the past with their enjoyable, dynamic sound from compact forms, and the new Kupid model is cut from the same cloth.

Build & design

While they’re not as titchy as the Neat Iota II speakers, the Dali Kupid are small speakers that are designed to be placed just about anywhere. Standing 23.7cm tall and 14cm wide, they are a little bigger than desktop speakers such as the Ruark MR1 Mk3, but are still a fair bit more compact than standard small speakers such as the B&W 607 S3 and Neat Petite Classic.

This means they can be placed on desks, cabinets, bookshelves, TV stands or large windowsills rather than on dedicated speaker stands, and are especially suited to those with limited space. You can even wall-mount them, with the required wall brackets and fixing screws included in the box – helpful!

The overall build quality is good, with smooth curves and a neat finish, while its lightweight frame speaks to its budget billing. But these aren’t plain Janes. We really like the styling of these speakers – they come in colourful shades that set them apart from the traditional hi-fi speaker crowd.

Our review sample comes in an appealing “chilly blue” finish, but you can also choose from a bright “golden yellow” or subtler shades of black, white and walnut. Those starburst lines radiating from the tweeter are a lovely design flourish and are present in every colourway, with the contrasting gold detail standing out on our blue sample in particular.

Compared with the brand’s own Zensor and Spektor speakers or their main rival, the long-running Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, the Kupid’s build does feel a little on the ‘budget’ side. The Diamonds are sturdier and have a more refined build quality with their wood finish, but they are also larger and more traditional-looking. The Kupid are clearly aiming for a different (and most likely younger) audience who are looking for something fresher and more modern.

Underneath that more accessible outlook lies Dali’s decades of acoustic engineering expertise, with the Kupid speakers promising to deliver a rich performance from such a compact form and at this price level.

The two-way speakers feature a 26mm “ultra-light” soft dome tweeter and an 11.4cm mid/bass driver made from a paper and wood fibre material that Dali has long used in its speakers. The dished tweeter waveguide is shaped to help integration with the midrange driver, and the custom crossovers are designed to deliver accurate timing overall.

There is a “dual flare” reflex port at the back of the cabinet that optimises airflow, minimises turbulence and aims to deliver deep bass from this compact cabinet size. It’s all very sensible, and there are magnetic grilles included in the box to protect the drivers.

Compatibility

The Kupids have a rather low sensitivity of 83dB to get enough bass extension out of such compact speakers, which is a balancing act Dali has done before in its Spektor 1 standmounts.

Despite this figure, we found they were easy enough to drive with most amplifiers we tried during testing, and got good volume levels out of them. The Kupids start to complain just a little when pushed to party levels in our fairly large test room, but as these speakers will be used mostly in smaller spaces, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.

During our testing period, we had the Kupids plugged into our usual reference system of Naim Nait XS 3 amplifier and Cyrus CDi CD player. Shifting to more appropriately priced partners, we tried the Kupid with the Arcam A5 and Rotel A8 amps, and the budget Pro-Ject Primary E turntable and Bluesound Node Icon streamer as sources, and then finally connected the speakers straight into the one-box WiiM Amp Ultra streaming amplifier.

With all combinations throughout our testing time, the Kupid speakers more than hold their own and retain their innate lively character.

Sound

Right from the moment we hit play, the Kupid reveal a lively, nimble presentation that is packed with enthusiasm.

We have to accept they won’t deliver the hugest spread of sound or the deepest bass due to their cabinets’ physical constraints, but we find ourselves looking past any such limitations as the speakers themselves sound well balanced. They have a particularly expressive and solid midrange, with enough slam in the lower frequencies to contrast against the sweeter, more delicate moments.

They exhibit a knack for snappy timing and agile rhythm. From Kendrick Lamar’s King Kunta to Tunng’s Didn’t Know Why to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, the Kupid have a fleet-footed quality that zips along with all kinds of tracks in an engaging manner.

The bassline in Rag’n’Bone Man’s Human sounds tuneful and agile enough to keep the track’s fierce momentum going, while the brooding quality and build-up of tension in Massive Attack’s Angel is felt thanks to spot-on timing and clear, precise edges to notes.

There’s enough space to allow instruments and textures to flourish, from the crunchy depth of a grungy guitar to the sweeping orchestral strings in the Game Of Thrones soundtrack.

Dynamically, the Kupids deliver the ebbs and flow of tracks with conviction, while also revealing subtler moments with a deft hand. The smooth, soulful quality of Marion Black’s 1970s hit Who Knows is full of richness and body; the hi-hats in Max Roach’s Lonesome Lover have enough fizz and snap without sounding thin, and that saxophone glides through with verve.

The Kupids do a great job in expressing the high drama and frenetic attitude of Fontaines D.C.’s Starburster, with those punctuating gasps in the chorus stopping and starting with alacrity. There’s ample excitement and solidity underpinning the high-octane track to get into the groove, but there is also no undue brashness at the top and no flab at the bottom.

Equally, the subtle differences in pressure on the piano keys in Erik Satie’s Gnossienne No.1 are delivered clearly, which is quite impressive for such budget speakers.

We particularly like how expressive, detailed and fluid the Kupids are in the midrange. Laura Marling’s strong yet intimate vocals in Hope In The Air are communicated with crystal clear focus and all the nuances and emotion in her singing are laid bare. Her voice hangs beautifully in the centre, against a fairly low-noise background.

Play Still Dre and we find ourselves tapping our toes and snapping our fingers along to the melody, with the Kupids' infectious sense of enthusiasm and stellar sense of timing and agility keeping our attention hooked. Sure, those bass notes would hit deeper with bigger speakers, but we find that the Dali speakers deliver a satisfying amount of punch that keeps us entertained.

These are very capable performers for their modest price and size. We find ourselves listening to song after song and never get bored; the Kupids also allow the personality and tone of each recording era to come through with little fuss – something that even more expensive speakers struggle to do.

The Kupid speakers are livelier and more dynamically exciting than the Diamond 12.1 rivals, even if the larger speakers are more spacious and a touch more refined. The Kupids punch harder and win us over with their sure-footed rhythm and sheer sense of fun – sonic characteristics that have run through Dali’s previous budget speakers, and which we are delighted to hear resurrected here.

Verdict

Dali has hit upon a winning combination in the Kupid speakers. Small size, attractive looks, entertaining sound and an affordable price – what more could you want?

Give them a whirl, and don’t be afraid to opt for the bolder, colourful finishes.

Review published: 1st October 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 4
• Compatibility 4

MORE:

Also consider the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1

Read our Elac Debut B5.2 review

Our guide to the best bookshelf speakers for every budget

Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen, but truly entertaining, five-star ones are harder to come by. Fortunately, one of the previous mainstays of our best Bluetooth speakers guide is sporting a rather excellent discount right now.

For just £289 at Peter Tyson, the Dali Katch G2 can be yours for £60 off in Iron Black, Chilly Blue or Caramel White finishes. Despite newer models taking its crown and offering more advanced features, we're still more than happy to recommend the Award-winning Dali if sound quality is your priority.

Best Dali Katch G2 Bluetooth speaker deal

The Katch G2 is a crowd-pleaser, performing well in your home and on the go with a wonderfully detailed, refined and musical presentation. We were so impressed with its clear, agile and neutral sound quality that we gave it a glowing five-star review during our original review and a couple of What Hi-Fi? Awards.

For this premium price (for a Bluetooth speaker), the Dali has a high quality design to justify the price. It's also slim enough to slip into your backpack and oozes class with its sleek triangular grille pattern and rubberised cap.

As we said in our original review: "The Dali Katch G2 is simply the classiest and best-sounding speaker of its kind you can buy for the money." While it got knocked off its perch in the best Bluetooth speakers at this level by the bigger, punchier and more feature-packed JBL Xtreme 4, everything we said about its sound and build still remains true today.

The Dali features Bluetooth 5.0, with support for aptX HD and aptX high-quality codecs, and offers around 30 hours of battery life depending on how loud you're playing your tunes.

You can even pair two Katch G2s together, thanks to the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) feature, which brings you increased volume and greater separation – as long as they're in the same room. Though you can't daisy-chain more than two, it's still a great additional feature.

Overall, if you're looking for a top-performing and incredibly stylish Bluetooth speaker for your home and garden, look no further than the Katch G2 at this excellent discount price of just £299 at Peter Tyson.

MORE:

Read our full Dali Katch G2 review

Best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested for every budget

And check out the best outdoor speakers: portable, wireless, and waterproof models

It’s not often we have a competition as tight as our £649-£699 stereo speakers Group Test. Tight not only as far as price goes either; all five of these rivals are superb performers, each with its own strengths, and very few weaknesses. And there are two that are brand new to these pages, to add to the spice.

Joining those speakers are two other Group Tests that posed our experienced review team some real problems in resolving the rankings, so good were the options. The 65in OLED TV is getting more and more popular, and with the four stunning examples we have it’s easy to see why.

And then we have a three-way tussle between three almost impossibly good pairs of flagship wireless earbuds from Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Technics.

Best bang-for-your-buck speakers

As you move up out of the crowded budget-speaker arena into mid-priced standmounter territory – that is, from around the £500 mark upwards – it’s here that sound quality takes a significant step forward and the sonic character of each of the products on offer becomes more clearly differentiated from that of its rivals.

Until just a year or two ago, this terrain was dominated by B&W and its 600 series; more recently, though, a flurry of talented rivals have joined the fray and ruffled B&W’s feathers with their all-round quality and, in some cases, technological innovation.

So, we thought to ourselves, time to see how those venerable B&W old-timers stand up to the challenge from the best of the newer kids on the block by running a Group Test and declaring a definitive winner.

All five pairs of speakers we're testing against each other have impressive credentials and any one of them may suit you best. But find out which pair our team of experts declared top of the pile in November's What Hi-Fi?

OLED TV group test

After just two years in the sun, LG’s MLA (Micro Lens Array) panel tech has been consigned to the great electronics dustbin in the sky, with Primary RGB Tandem taking its place as the pinnacle W-OLED panel tech – and boasting a brightness increase of a third.

Because lots of TV manufacturers source their OLED panels from LG Display, the new Primary RGB Tandem tech is now found in a handful of TVs from different brands. And we have included the two most popular and prominent examples in this test – the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B.

Just because these two TVs share a panel doesn’t mean they will perform the same. The panel is just one – admittedly very important – ingredient in the recipe that makes up a TV. Each TV’s unique picture processing is just as critical.

There are also, of course, feature differences to consider as well, from the operating system to the number of gaming-friendly HDMI 2.1 sockets and quality of the built-in sound system.

But we have still introduced only half of the TVs in this flagship-OLED battle royale, which also features two QD-OLED models, the Samsung S95F and Sony Bravia 8 II.

But, this battle isn’t between OLED panel technologies – it’s between four of the most advanced TVs on sale today, and it promises fireworks – gloriously bright, colourful fireworks against the inkiest of black backgrounds…

Premium earbuds group test

So, what does a pair of wireless earbuds need to do to be considered ‘premium’? Their price tag should tell you they sit in the top end of the market, and the pairs we’re look at here are priced at somewhere between £250-£350.

But, whatever the price bracket, we’re still looking for the best performance-versus-pound; and even with a flagship pair, you should still be looking for a fair amount of bang-for-your-buck.

To this end, there are a number of things we look for when considering the best premium pairs. Our team assess multiple factors including comfort, ease of use, noise-cancelling, call quality and battery life. Ultimately, though, sound quality and value for money are top of our list of priorities.

We’ve been testing wireless earbuds ever since the product category first emerged nearly a decade ago. These three pairs, currently, represent the cream of the crop, with class leading features, build and sound. Whichever pair – Technics, Bose or B&W – ultimately wins this group test, we’re sure you’ll be happy with any of them – we’ve pitched them against each other because they’re competitive, after all.

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

First up this month is the return of an old favourite, the NAD C 3050, now transformed via the addition of the MDC2 BluOS-D module, into a superior streaming amp. Read our review of this new combo in this month's mag!

Also on test this month, the TCL 65C8K proves the Chinese brand is a serious player in the world of LCD TVs - its five-star rating tells you we think highly of its new 65-inch TV. Elsewhere, Focal's high-end Bathys Mg prove to be real contenders in the wireless headphones arena, plus we have reviews of Ruark's latest version of its dinky desktop MR1 Mk3 speakers and the Samsung Galaxy S Flip 7 smartphone.

Guitar amplification legends Marshall have a new soundbar, the Heston 120, and other kit to pass through our test rooms includes the 48-inch version of the Panasonic Z90B OLED TV, and last but not least the Eversolo Play CD Edition.

See what our review team thought of all these products in November's What Hi-Fi?

Pricey, or priceless?

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

First up is the Eversolo DMP-A10 music streamer. It's not the cheapest option for streaming your music, but it is a nice looking bit of kit, with our expert reviews team also noting its considerable musical charms: "There are no rough edges here, just a good amount of insight, richly textured instruments and the ability to convey the sheer majesty of an orchestra well."

Then we take a look at ATC's SCM20ASL standmount speakers. Their presentation and impressive stereo imaging were enough to impress, even at their not inconsiderable price.

Find out more in November'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 2024'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 November 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

Another month has rolled by, and with it came a raft of new product announcements that caught our attention.

It has been a busy time for the world of AV and hi-fi, with new launches across categories including, but not limited to, soundbars, stereo speakers, USB DACs, Bluetooth speakers and smartphones.

Headlining this edition of On the Radar is the Bluesound Pulse Cinema, a stylish Sonos Arc Ultra alternative that could challenge the five-star ’bar’s title of the best Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Following closely behind is iFi's latest pocket-sized USB DAC, as well as JBL's latest addition to its Award-winning Bluetooth speaker family.

These are joined by Dali's cutest speakers to date, as well as Google's latest flagship Android-powered smartphone.

We told you it had a been a busy time…

Bluesound Pulse Cinema

The premium Dolby Atmos soundbar market is a competitive place, with the likes of Sony, Sennheiser, Sonos, KEF and Samsung all vying for your attention.

That hasn’t stopped Bluesound from taking a stab at the competition, however, with its latest offering: the Bluesound Pulse Cinema.

This 3.2.2 ’bar touts a total of 16 drivers, including dual 4-inch woofers and dedicated upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects, with a total claimed power output of 500W; pretty punchy if you ask us.

The Pulse Cinema also wears its hi-fi influence on its sleeve, as it is compatible with Bluesound’s BluOS platform, which can be linked to a wide range of streaming services – including Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify – for hi-res streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Priced at £1149, the Pulse Cinema is going head to head with our current favourite Atmos-equipped soundbar on the market: the Sonos Arc Ultra.

Read the full Bluesound Pulse Cinema news

• Price: £799 / $999 (around AU$1543)
• Release date: November 2025

Dali Kupid

As cute as the cherub it is named after, the Kupid puts a colourful and affordable spin on Dali’s signature and highly regarded hi-fi sound.

Best known for its high-end Epikore speakers, which can cost upwards of 30 times the price of these new budget speakers, Dali hopes to bring its signature sound to more people by pricing the Kupid very aggressively.

Inside each cabinet, you’ll find a proprietary 4.5-inch paper and wood fibre mid/bass driver, which is reinforced with a ferrite magnet system and low-loss rubber surround.

This is backed up by a custom-developed 26mm ultra-light soft-dome tweeter, which promises “detailed, extended highs with smooth dispersion and minimal distortion”.

With a custom crossover for accurate timing and a dual-flare reflex bass port for low distortion and deep bass, these speakers should sound as good as they look.

Read the full Dali Kupid news

• Price: £299 per pair (around $400 / AU$600)
• Release date: 1st October 2025

iFi Go Blu Air

Looking to boost your smartphone’s audio performance with a DAC that won’t bog you down? Enter the iFi Go Blu Air, which is one of the British audio company’s smallest and lightest offerings to date.

Measuring just 5cm and weighing a mere 30g, the Go Blu Air somehow manages to cram in separated DAC and amplification stages in pursuit of reduced noise and low distortion – despite its tiny chassis.

You’ll also find Qualcomm’s QCC5144 chipset for Bluetooth connectivity, a Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI DAC, and a twin-mono amplifier stage as part of the audio signal path to deliver up to 256mW of power.

Wired connectivity comes in the form of 4.4mm and 3.5mm balanced headphone outputs, and Bluetooth 5.2 is backed up by the latest hi-res codecs, including LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD.

Despite all this tech, iFi claims that this miniature portable DAC can last 10 hours on a single charge – impressive indeed.

Read the full iFi Go Blu Air news

• Price: £129 / $129 / AU$229
• Release date: Available now

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Google’s latest smartphone series celebrates a decade of Pixel, and the brand is adding some much-needed AV-focused features which have caught our attention.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the biggest and flashiest of the new range when it comes to conventional smartphones (the 10 Pro Fold is the highest-end model with a pliable folding display), and it comes with a big and bright OLED display.

Measuring 6.8 inches, the Super Actua LTPO OLED (now that's a tongue twister) screen will reportedly sport an eye-searing 3300-nit peak brightness, support HDR, and feature a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz.

It is also Google's first phone to include Pixel Snap, a nifty magnetic system that clips accessories (such as a wireless charger and grip/stand combo) into place, similar to Apple's MagSafe system.

The real question is, will it compare with the best that Sony, Apple and Samsung have to offer?

Read the full Google Pixel 10 Pro XL news

• Price: £1199 / $1199 / AU$1999
• Release date: Available now

JBL Grip

There's a new member in JBL's impressive Bluetooth speaker roster, and it sits just below a five-star favourite of ours.

The Grip undercuts the Flip 7 in price and stature, with a design that can be clutched in one hand; though, as we have come to expect from JBL, a small speaker doesn't mean small sound.

Within the Grip's cylindrical body, you’ll find a 43 x 80mm full-range transducer, delivering a continuous output of 16W on average, with a claimed frequency response spanning 70Hz to 20kHz.

Pair that with a rugged woven-fabric covering, IP68 water and dust resistance, a claimed 12 hours of playback on a single charge and a customisable ambient-light feature, and you should find that the grip is ready to party in any condition.

The real question is, will it carve out a name for itself among its talented peers?

Read the full JBL Grip news

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers

As well as the best DACs: USB, desktop and portable

And the best smartphones for movies and music

Some things are well worth spending the money on – for the right person, of course. There are plenty of people for whom spending three or four thousand pounds on a turntable is insanity – and that’s fair enough.

For those of us, though, who want to make the very most of our hobby and our music, it could be a relatively small price to pay (over the years) to enhance the joy in our life. And that, I would suggest, is a rather important thing to try to do. Our round up of high end turntables will give you some remarkable options.

In contrast to those stereo stunners, we also bring you a couple of fascinating AV tests. The projector is showing serious signs of fighting for survival against ever-larger TV screens. Our round-up of portable projectors highlights some particularly impressive performers in a new category for us – what we are calling “coffee table” projectors.

And don’t miss our head to head of two of the big hitters in the 48-inch OLED TV arena, as Samsung takes on LG.

Top level turntables

You could say we know a thing or two about turntables here at What Hi-Fi? After all, we’ve been testing them since the magazine first started out back in 1976. We are delighted that today, the venerable record player is enjoying such a resurgence – and vinyl fans in 2025 have such a great range of options across
all price ranges.

If you’re serious about your vinyl replay, and have the budget to spend accordingly, you may be considering one of the more premium record players we’re looking at here.

The models we feature over the following pages sit within the £3,500-£8,000 price range. For this money, you can expect superb fit and finish, some wonderful, unique designs and innovative engineering touches that push the sound of your vinyl to impressive levels of detail, dynamics and rhythmic drive.

The big players in this sector of the market include Rega, Vertere, Michell, Linn and VPI, and we have a model from each of those rightly-lauded turntable manufacturers for comparison this issue. Ready to make your dream vinyl set-up a reality? Read our recommendations in October's What Hi-Fi?

Coffee-table projectors

Here we have a relatively new species of projector: a semi-portable breed that we are calling the ‘coffee-table’ projector.

They are designed to operate on a convenient table, shelf or other typical living-room surface. Their emergence was brought on by the need for a no-fuss, adaptable all-in-one AV system – and they are thriving.

The key here is versatility. While these projectors are not fully portable (they’re too big for that), they can easily be moved from room to room – or even out into the garden for post-barbie film nights. They are designed to be easy to use too; most have built-in keystone-correction systems and automatic focus adjustments so they can easily adapt to a new environment, and their short-throw nature means they are well equipped to deliver big-screen images where space is at a premium.

4K images are the norm here and the visuals are a significant step-up from anything you would get from a fully portable model. Features, too, are generously supplied, with any model worth its salt having a comprehensive collection of TV smarts, courtesy of Google TV or similar.

Interested? This month we have picked out five leading products, ranging in price from £699 to £2200, to help you make your selection.

The battle of the 48-inch OLEDs

At the (relatively) small size of 48-inches, a TV this size can be a more convenient and space economical way to get great TV images into your living room. Or, they are a great size for a second, bedroom set or a gaming TV. The two 48-inch TV sets we pitch against each other this month are both at the premium end for this size of telly, being the latest OLED models from LG and Samsung, the C5 and S90F respectively.

Comparing the sets on price, features, all-important picture quality and more, we found much to like with both OLEDs. Which one triumphed? Read October's What Hi-Fi? to find out!

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

You may not be familiar with hi-fi manufacturer Acoustic Energy (heck, it's been a while since we'd heard the name), but this month they returned to the scene with a new standmount speaker, the AE300 Mk2, that's more than good enough to challenge the class leaders at the price. Find out more in this month's mag!

Also passing through our test rooms this month was LG's QNED93 LCD TV from the Korean tech giants. The company may be more lauded for its OLED TVs, but could this LCD set make its mark? Meanwhile, another telly, the Sharp GK4245K, also impressed – being a super-affordable yet whopping 70-inch TV.

Elsewhere this issue we have reviews of the Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar system, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII, Q Acoustics 5010 standmount speakers and an affordable AVR in the form of the JBL MA7100HP.

See what our review team thought of all these products in October's What Hi-Fi?

Pricey, or priceless?

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

PMC have made some lovely speakers in recent years, and we were lucky enough to get the company's latest floorstanders in for review. These compact towers (barely wider than a CD) have fantastic stereo imaging thanks to some brilliant engineering and integration of the drive units. That sort of quality doesn't come cheap, of course, but these floorstanders are a class act.

Also on test this month is Chord Electronics' new headphone amplifier, the Alto. Our expert reviewers reported the Alto is "up there with the best of them when it comes to honesty, resolution and musical cohesion". Interested? Then dig deep!

Find out more in October'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 2024'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 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

The best soundbars deliver excellent sound quality in a compact form factor. In fact, we recommend buying one to elevate the audio of almost any TV we review.

But they don't offer the best performance. For that you'll need a full-fat, multi-speaker package instead. It will give you a sense of directionality, heft and involvement that a soundbar simply can't.

And one of the best surround-sound packages is the Denon AVC-X3800H AV amplifier paired with the Dali Oberon 5.1 speakers. For a limited time only, you can pick this system up at Richer Sounds for £2499. That's a £250 saving for a very capable package indeed.

This is a great mid-tier package, ideal for people looking for a more powerful system.

The package uses Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanders as the main left and right channels, with five-star Dali Oberon 1 standmounters taking on the surround duties. Add to these the Dali centre-channel speaker and subwoofer, and you get a system that offers plenty of heft and volume – but requires a fair amount space to breathe as a result.

During testing, the system delivered a wonderfully full sound, with a hefty but controlled low end and agile dynamics.

The end result is a surround-sound system that delivers a truly immersive home cinema experience, whether in conversation dramas or explosion-filled action movies. Which is why the verdict of our review says:

“The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 system presents every frequency in full, but with honesty and warmth that brings the best out of any soundtrack. They are transparent but fun, powerful but subtle; we’d have them round to ours any day.”

Similarly, the five-star Denon AVC-X3800H is a step up from the Sony TA-AN1000, both in price and performance. It’s also one of the mid-tier AVRs we recommend, even at full price.

For starters, it is crammed with hardware, making it one of the most future-proofed units you can find at its price. For regular surround sound, it can power 9.2 to 11.4 channels; if you then choose to make the leap to Dolby Atmos down the line, it can go up to 5.4.4 out of the box.

We tested it with 5.1 and Atmos systems, and it delivers excellent results in both – so there is plenty of headroom for a system expansion in the future if you need it.

Then there’s flawless HDR support and six HDMI inputs – three of which are HDMI 2.1 ports rated to 40 Gbps. You shouldn’t run out of connectivity options, then, even if you have a ludicrous number of players, streamers and consoles.

The Denon's main selling point is its excellent audio ability. All of which makes it a stellar AVR to match with the fine Dali package and an easy recommendation at its current price. As we say in our Denon review:

“Combining future-proofed connectivity, flexibility and a mature, authoritative but expansive sound [if] you’re looking for an all-round performer with plenty of features and ample scope for system expansion, then the 3800 is a superb choice.”

If you want something significantly better than the Denon, you will need to go up a tier and invest in a more expensive AVR – such as the Marantz Home Cinema 30 we currently recommend, which costs £3800.

MORE:

These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we have reviewed

We rate the best projectors we have tried and tested

Our picks of the best OLED TVs

Dali is best known for its high-end speakers like the £10k Epikore 3, but the new Kupid speakers are a much more affordable option. A pair costs just £299 (around $400 / AU$600), yet it promises to deliver Dali's signature sound.

Dali's speakers can be a little old school in their looks but the Kupid provides a welcome splash of colour. With options including Golden Yellow and Chilly Blue, alongside more traditional finishes Black Ash, Walnut and Caramel White, they should complement most decors.

Despite its diminutive size and fun colours, Dali claims the speakers deliver "true hi-fi sound".

Like other Dali speakers, it's designed and engineered in-house in Denmark, and promises to maintain Dali's high levels of "precision, performance, and musicality".

This is possible thanks to the proprietary 4.5-inch paper and wood fibre bass/midrange driver, ferrite magnet system and low-loss rubber surround, all of which aim to deliver fast, tight bass and a dynamic midrange.

There's also a custom-developed 26mm ultra-light soft dome tweeter which promises "detailed, extended highs with smooth dispersion and minimal distortion". Dali promises a natural, cohesive soundstage, with the tweeter baffle being tuned for seamless integration with the midrange driver.

Custom crossovers ensure accurate timing, soft roll-off and "exceptional clarity". And a 'dual flare' bass reflex port optimises airflow and minimises resonance, promising low distortion and deep bass.

Dali says the Kupid speakers are designed around a philosophy of "keep it simple."

The speakers' consistent impedance of over 4 ohms should ensure smooth performance across a wide range of amplifiers, ​including budget models and streaming amplifiers.

Each speaker also comes with wall brackets and rubber feet, giving you options for installation and positioning.

Dali claims the Kupid speakers are the first product of a new chapter at the company, in which it will aim to make hi-fi more accessible.

The firm has released affordable speakers before – like the Award-winning Spektor 2 and Katch G2 Bluetooth speakers – but more accessible hi-fi speakers are always welcome.

The Dali Kupid speakers go on sale from 1st October for £299 per pair (around $400 / AU$600).

MORE:

Read our Dali Epikore 3 review

Best bookshelf speakers: top standmounts for every budget tested

These are the best budget hi-fi speakers

The current cycle of premium wireless headphones has thrown up some wonderful options. We had the Dali IO-8 (currently £499 / $900 / AU$999) arrive at the end of last year, and while they remain an expensive pair of over-ears, we thought the Dali would be extremely tough to beat for any set of cans operating within the premium realm.

2025, however, has seen the bar nudged ever-skywards. Beyerydynamic looked to stake its claim in the wireless arena with the talented Aventho 300 (£359 / $400 / AU$640), while the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 were a treat for the eyes and ears when they arrived in the summer for roughly £399 / $449 / AU$699.

Then, of course, there are the established models that are still staking their respective claims. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (currently £349 / $449 / AU$449) remain a great pick if noise cancelling is your top priority, whereas the older but still ongoing Apple AirPods Max (£499 / $480 / AU$899) remain a top choice for dedicated Apple fans.

Each of the aforementioned candidates has its own respective strengths and weaknesses. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, for instance, sound superb and look the business, but their noise cancelling leaves rather a lot to be desired given the price you’ll pay, while their lack of foldability hinders their portable credentials.

The AirPods Max continue to deliver a luxurious experience befitting the high price tag, but their talents work best for iOS users and newer rivals offer greater clarity and precision. While the Bose flagships are superb for noise cancelling, their sound isn’t quite class-leading anymore.

The talented Dali IO-8, meanwhile, will rightly have many fans, but their reliance on on-button controls, some of which can be fiddly to use, will frustrate users who prefer proper app support. Plus, like the Px7 S3, they don’t fold away.

Yes, you can get even better sounding wireless headphones, but as the new Focal Bathys Mg have demonstrated, you’re going to have to spend more for the privilege. For the Bathys Mg, that privilege will set you back £999 / $1299 / AU$2300.

The best of a brilliant bunch

So, what we’re looking for is a pair of wireless over-ears that sound great, are comfortable to wear, easy to use, offer a great feature set and, even if they’re not super cheap, make you feel like you’re getting proper value for money. I know just the pair...

If true all-rounders are what you seek, the Sony WH-1000XM6 (£400 / $450 / AU$699) are my top pick. The idea of ‘all-rounders’ can make you think of compromise, or of a product hedging its bets to try and please all users, but that’s never something you could accuse the sixth-gen Sony over-ears of.

They’re excellent across the board, nullifying most potential weaknesses while showcasing their exceptional strengths.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are brilliant in all of the areas in which their WH-1000XM5 antecedents excelled, albeit to a greater extent. They sound better, their feature set is expanded, they’re nicer to use and they’re even more comfortable than before.

Better yet, they’ve rectified the minor issues that we and many customers had with the fifth-generation cans. They collapse completely away with the earcups folding neatly upwards, which is a massive bonus for everyday use, while their reinforced hinges should rectify the structural weakness issues which many users had with the outgoing, Award-winning WH-1000XM5.

They're supremely comfortable, too, with our test ream finding their snug fit, improved clamping force and resistance to making our ears overheat only adding to our affections.

Heading off the competition

Against their competitors, the WH-1000XM6 can take on all comers in all departments. Sonically, they outstrip the Bose over-ears, as our review explains: “We try Time from the Inception soundtrack and the WH-1000XM6 are a step above the XM5 in terms of detail, dynamics and openness. Play the same track through the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and it isn’t a fair fight – the Bose sound out of their depth”.

They’re up for the fight against the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and the Dali IO-8 too. As we wrote at the time, the B&W cans might just win the race in terms of precision and fine detail, but the Sony have bringing a greater sense of expressiveness and musicality to their delivery.

The Dali are spacious and refined, if a little flavoured, but the Sony's exceptional helping of fun and dynamism, not to mention their overall experience, are tough to top.

Plus, unlike the Px7 S3, the Sony are now foldable and offer spatial audio support, all while dealing with noise cancelling more effectively.

In fact, in almost any area, the Sony WH-1000XM6 can hold their own, such is their impressive lack of any discernible blind spots. The Bose cans are the ANC kings, but the XM6s’ noise cancelling is so excellent that not once will you use them and feel as though you’d rather have a better alternative. They do the job brilliantly, and that’s more than enough for the vast majority of users.

Feature-wise, they’re exceptional. 30 hours of battery is enough to keep you happy at this level, as are hi-res LDAC Bluetooth codec support, Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast (for opening up connectivity to a variety of compatible sources and streams).

Sony’s 360 Reality Audio works well, while other Sony features, such as Speak to Chat and Quick Attention Mode – which allows you to hear ambient sounds by touching the right earcup – round out the spec list nicely. At this price, very few headphones can boast so many features or, more crucially, so many features that perform so well.

Maybe we'd have liked USB-C wired listening, as found with the rival Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, but considering how good the XM6 sound without wires, it's hardly a huge issue.

It wouldn’t been nice to see the high quality aptX codecs on the menu, but Sony counters all that with LDAC support, provided you have a compatible source player.

Headphones for everybody

If you’re going to spend this kind of money on a pair of wireless headphones, you want excellent performance across the board and no discernible weaknesses leaving you frustrated over time.

These are cans you have to live with, and while average ANC, say, might not bother you on day one, over time it can become a real issue. That’s the same with poor levels of comfort, tricky usability, an anaemic feature set or, of course, middling sound quality.

Perish such concerns with the WH-1000XM6. At this level, they truly are the jacks of all trades and masters of quite a few, leading the pack sonically and levelling up the flagship line’s usability credentials to new heights.

To quote from our review: "The WH-1000XM6 deliver the most detailed, dynamic, precise and open sound we’ve heard from a wireless Sony flagship". When you consider how high those standards were already, that's some seriously high praise.

I was a big fan of the WH-1000XM5, but as all the wireless headphone a person could need, the WH-1000XM6 are masterful all-rounders.

MORE:

Want to push your hi-fi system to the limit? This heavy metal track is the final boss of testing

Read our Focal Bathys Mg review

These are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy

Another week has passed in the world of all things audio and visual, and our deal experts and AV editors have once again lined up their favourite deals so you can save big without any hassle.

This week we’ve seen excellent savings on all manner of five-star audio kit, including a saving on a Technics turntable, wired Grado headphones and Dali wireless speaker. On the AV front, there’s a massively discounted 55-inch Panasonic TV and a JBL Dolby Atmos soundbar with good money off.

All our deals come with the What Hi-Fi? stamp of approval, meaning we'd be confident in recommending them to anyone looking to buy where the product in question fits their budget.

So, here are the five best hi-fi and home cinema deals we've spotted this week…

A monster saving on Panasonic's Amazon Fire TV-powered four-star flatscreen

• Need more information? Read our full Panasonic W90A review

Save a large chunk of cash on this talented portable projector

• Need more information? Read our full Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air review

Small saving on a five-star turntable shouldn't be sniffed at

• Need more information? Read our full

Affordable audiophile headphones get a tidy price cut

• Need more information? Read our full Grado SR80x review

Five-star Bluetooth speaker has brains, beauty and a solid discount

• Need more information? Read our full Dail Katch G2 review

£100 off a feature-packed Sonos soundbar rival

• Need more information? Read our full JBL Bar 300 review

Convenience tends to come with compromises. It might be easier to use a piece of home-entertainment equipment that is fully automatic and does all the hard work for you; but traditionally, you will always get the very best results by taking the time to get to know a particular unit’s features and settings, and tweaking them to get the best performance for you. And, of course, by investing in specialist individual components that each do a particular job very well.

While the above still holds true, these days the compromises we have to make have considerably lessened. Which is why we would urge you to think about investing in one of the streaming amplifiers we suggest in this month's What Hi-Fi?. There’s barely a compromise among them.

Also this month, we pit the latest of Sony’s remarkable offerings in the wireless noise-cancelling headphone market against some serious opposition from the might of Apple, Bose, B&W, Dali: there really isn’t a loser in this fierce contest.

Streaming amplifiers

Loving music as we do here at What Hi-FI?, we will always value sound quality over convenience. But if you can have both in one neat package, then what’s not to like? And that, we are pleased to report, is what today’s streaming amplifiers provide.

Until recently, despite the medium of streaming reigning unchallenged as the pre-eminent way of accessing music for well over a decade now, hi-fi manufacturers’ attempts to combine a reliable music streamer with adequate amplification in the same box tended to produce less than impressive results.

Products were usually significantly compromised in terms of sound quality and often suffered streaming drop-outs and other technical glitches.

Things have improved greatly over recent years, though, and you can now buy a wide variety of slick, good-quality streaming amps for prices that won’t leave you poorer than a church mouse.

With the choice of quality streaming amps growing by the month, we decided that now was the time to put together a quartet of our favourite models to help you find the streaming amplifier to suit you and your pocket.

Find out more in the September issue of What Hi-Fi?

Premium wireless over-ears

It’s fair to say that not much good came out of 2020. But still, that year did at least herald a significant development in the world of head-fi: the launch of Apple’s AirPods Max.

Seen as pricey at the time, but undeniably proving worth the money, these luxurious over-ears opened the gates for rivals to join them in the new premium headphones category.

Five years on and we’ve seen such hi-fi stalwarts as Bowers & Wilkins, Sony, Bose and Dali enter the fray. The AirPods Max themselves have had a minor upgrade in 2024, but their sound quality remains consistently high and, for Apple fans especially, they remain the benchmark at their kind of money.

For this group test, we’ve rounded up four potential rivals to the Max – the latest models of undeniably premium headphones from the aforementioned brands. These are all five-star pairs, which we’d heartily recommend. We’ve dug deep into their relative build quality, feature sets and, most importantly, audio performance, so that you can make a more informed choice if you’re thinking of taking the plunge with what is, after all, a fair sum of money.

So, which of these headphones are set to win you over? Find out this issue!

Coaxial drive units

This month, we ponder the advantages of coaxial driver arrangements in stereo speakers, and ask why more hi-fi manufacturers don't use the tech, which offers a more balanced and precise soundstage. Then, we look at two superb examples of the tech used in products by the aforementioned Fyne Audio and KEF.

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

We're always excited to see a new TV from tech giants Sony, and so it was with bated breath we tested the company's new Bravia 8 II QD-OLED set. Was it all we hoped for? Spoiler: yes, it was. Find out more in this month's mag.

Staying on TVs for a moment, we also had the new Sky Glass Gen 2 in for review. This is a complete 'TV package' that includes a soundbar and a TV service solution; those Sky subscriptions you'll need will start to add up, of course, but does it deliver for Sky fans? Find out in September's What Hi-Fi?

But of course, that's not all. This month, we also have expert and in-depth reviews of the Lindemann Limetree Bridge II streaming transport, the Canvas HiFi Canvas 65 soundbar, Audio-Technica AT-LP8X turntable, and the excellent BenQ W272Oi – a projector that impressed us enough to also build a home cinema system around it this month.

Finally, KEF's first soundbar, the XIO, also earned itself five stars for its performance.

See what our review team thought of all these products in September's What Hi-Fi?

Worth every considerable penny...

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

This month we had SME's high-end Model 8 turntable in our testing rooms. We found it to be an "immaculately made product that gives of the aura of something built to last for decades", and our reviewers also noted that they were "impressed with the authority on show" with the turntables's presentation.

Then we turned our attention to the Fyne Audio F701SP standmount speakers. Pricey, but our five-star rating should tell you they are undoubtedly worth the money.

Find out more in September'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 2024'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 September 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

Particularly if, fingers crossed, the summer's fine weather continues, there is little better time to buy a premium portable Bluetooth speaker.

Music, when you and your loved ones are at a secluded picnic, lazing in the park, or out in the garden for a barbecue, is a wonderful thing. To get the best from your tunes, it is worth splashing out a bit; and our round-up gives you plenty of options.

You can take things a step further, even, with some truly portable projectors. Mobile they may be, but the quality they are capable of providing might surprise you.

As for some indoor pleasures, don’t miss our round-up of the best hi-fi we saw at High End Munich.

Premium Bluetooth speakers

Like the best fictional spies, a portable, wireless Bluetooth speaker such as those we round-up here are happiest ‘out in the field’. Perhaps literally.

But whether it’s out in your garden, at the park, the beach, or just taken with you around the house or over to a mate’s – wherever you need your tunes, these jet-setting heroes are happy to oblige.

And, a bit like, say, James Bond, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are the rugged type, happy to be all-action companions that can withstand a bump or two and are hardy enough for the great British weather not to dampen their ardour.

Others are suave, sophisticated operators that manage to look classy no matter where your adventures take them. One thing’s for sure, though – all of the Bluetooth speakers we’ve rounded up here have a licence to thrill.

Sound is the priority when judging any speaker’s credentials, of course, but skills such as the ability to daisy-chain more than one of its type together for a more expansive sound, or even charge other devices while you’re on the go, can be incredibly handy. Find out more in this month's What Hi-Fi?

Mobile movie marvels

These days, portable projectors are making a splash, as manufacturers hit on new and ever more inventive ways of allowing us to watch our movies… well, pretty much anywhere. Kitchen, bedroom, holiday home – or even in the garden; just turn it on and beam it up.

Most portable projectors are relatively affordable and manufacturers are taking inventive and experimental approaches to design. Don’t expect extensive spec from a portable projector, but you can still enjoy decent HD images, ease of operation and, in most cases, streaming smarts. For the best results you will need a screen too but, frankly, that’s not essential.

For this round-up of models up to £900, we have assembled five of the leading contenders. And, whatever your taste or intended use, we are confident you will find something to suit you here.

Meet the man known as the 'ears of Sony'

Industry legend Eric Kingdon, or the “ears of Sony” as he is often described, has a brimming memory bank that few others could boast, having been involved in developing, designing and tuning many of Sony’s Award-winning hi-fi and home cinema products over the past 40 years… and counting. In this month's What Hi-Fi?, Kingdon picks out the Sony products he is most proud of.

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

First up we have Sony's WH-1000XM6 over-ear wireless cans. Their predecessors have been five-star, Award winning products with each iteration, so we were excited to see if the XM6 could continue that legacy. Read the findings of our expert reviewers in this month's mag!

If you're after a pair of diminutive desktop speakers, the Neat Iota II could be just what you're looking for. They may be slightly niche, but as we found, these little speakers have plenty of gumption.

But that's not all. Also on test this month is a super-affordable but decently-performing TV from Sharp, the GM6245K, Hisense's latest UST projector, the PX3, the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 6 soundbar package, and a pair of five-star cans from Austrian Audio in the form of the Hi-X20.

Then, in another packed First Tests section, we run the rule over LG's Xboom Buds (2025), the Nebula X1 portable projector and, finally, Revival's Audio Sprint 4 floorstanding speakers.

See what our review team thought of all these products in August's What Hi-Fi?

High price, high levels of performance

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

This month, for your delectation, we have Gryphon Audio's Diablo 333 integrated amplifier. It's pricey, but is it good? Let's just say, in recent months we’ve been fortunate enough to test some world-class integrated amplifiers – and Gryphon’s Diablo 333 can be counted among them.

Next up we have a rather special phono stage in the form of the Vertere Calon. In a set-up of similarly high-end kit, this five-star phono amp has scale and authority to spare.

Find out more in August'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 2024'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 August 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, holding the top spot for its small stature.

But, don't be fooled by its size as this five-star soundbar is a multi What Hi-Fi? Award winner that offers spacious and immersive audio, while also costing far less.

And now, this impressive soundbar has just dropped to its lowest ever price.

For just £299 at Amazon, that's a £200 saving on one of the best soundbars on the market.

The only slight caveat – while it's available in White immediately, you'll have to wait 1-2 months for delivery on the Black model.

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) may have launched several years ago, but it still remains one of the best soundbars on the market – especially when it comes to its size and price (also topping the rankings for the best budget soundbars).

When we first got our hands on it, we said: "It combines impressively spacious movie sound with clarity and punch that works just as well with music, making it an affordable, all-in-one device of rare ability."

So, if you're short on space and budget, this is the ultimate pick that, even years on from our initial testing, we're more than happy to highly recommend.

With the Beam (Gen 2) you'll get great sound, Dolby Atmos support and a ton of features, making it the perfect upgrade for your TV speakers.

While it boasts a compact design, you'll find forward-facing drivers and more processing power under the hood – saving money where more expensive soundbars would opt for upward-firing.

There's also wi-fi onboard, which is impressive for the budget price, meaning you can stream to the Beam (Gen 2) from a handheld device using Apple AirPlay 2, whilst Spotify Connect is built-in too. Not forgetting voice control of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

And, like the true Sonos product that it is, the Beam (Gen 2) can also be integrated into a wireless multi-room system via the Sonos S2 app. In the app, you'll also gain access to Trueplay to get an insight into your room calibration.

A sub £300 soundbar of this quality? That's a seriously good deal.

MORE:

Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review

Check out the best budget soundbars

As well as our list of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Sound+Image is Australia no. 1 mag for audio & AV reviews, news and technology. Every issue is divided between hi-fi features and reviews, audiovisual reviews and updates, plus a lashing of music and movie features to highlight the reason we need the equipment in the first place.

And in our latest issue, #362:...

MINI AMPS THAT ARE BIG ON STREAMING
Group test: Various developments have fed the rise of smaller hideaway amplifiers with app control and built-in streaming. But with such variety in power and price, how do you find your level?
- Feature: How to choose your amplifier
- Review: WiiM Pro
- Review: Sonos Amp
- Review: Denon Home Amp
- Review: Bluesound Powernode Edge
- Review: Marantz Model M1
- Review: Electrocompaniet RENA SA2

OPEN HEADPHONES
Group of three: They may annoy people on the bus commute, but for solo listening, open-backed headphones are a pathway to the airiest of hi-fi sounds. We test three new models at radically different price levels.

- Review: AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-R30x
New and attractively-priced open headphones – just A$219, yet they pretty much blew us away with their effortless and balanced presentation.

- Review: SENNHEISER HD 550
It can be hard to tell Sennheiser’s many headphones apart – yet they are invariably safe performers when it comes to the sonics, as these HD 550s confirm.

- Review: MEZE POET
Spectacular looks meet sparkling sonics in these Romanian planar-magnetic beauties. What airy wonders do they reveal, for their A$3499 pricing?

MORE REVIEWS...

- MARANTZ HORIZON wireless speaker
Luxurious materials and a remarkable design differentiate Marantz’s wireless speaker costing A$6500 (+A$1500 for the stand). Does it repay the price?

- KALEIDESCAPE TERRA PRIME + STRATO C 4K movie server + player
The premium movie server system is now ‘officially’ available in Australia, including a local movie store. We test a two-box server and player solution.

- VIEWSONIC V57-4K projector
It’s a ‘lumen king’ using a higher level of DLP projection than rivals to achieve higher brightness and overcome ambient light conditions.

- TANNOY SGM 10 stereo loudspeakers
These ‘heritage’-look speakers are developed from studio models and certainly have some quirks, but their sound can take on all modern challengers.

MORE FEATURES...

- TOP TVs & TV TECH FOR 2025
Advanced OLED panels arrive, but Mini LED has an RGB variation waiting in the wings. Is 8K coming or going? And will 3D return to TV?

- comment
ONE EAR ON THE FUTURE
The Editor looks forward to understanding whatever you’re all saying.

- show reports
HIGH-END MUNICH SHOW REPORT
From 2026, the HIGH END Show will move to Vienna, so there was much tearful sloshing of steins amid the usual collection of horns and sounds to celebrate the final Munich show.

- AUSTRALIAN Hi-FI SHOW, SYDNEY
Three days of Sydney sunshine, four floors of hi-fi and AV on song: here’s our full report of all the joys from this year’s Sydney show.

- countdown
THE BEST MOVIES OF THE 1980s!
From ‘Raging Bull’ to ‘Dogs in Space’, these are the 1980s movies that will get your home cinema back to the 1980s. Bring your own Spandex...

- classic movie scene
E.T.’s FLYING BICYCLE
Spielberg was riffing on the imaginary friend of his youth, but when Elliott’s bicycle took to the skies he created a scene that cinemas cheered.

- music stars
KATE BUSH
We look back at the original Kate Bush tour of 1979, her first and only time on the road until her residency London concerts 35 years later.

- NEWS
Marantz announces surprise two-box AV; Harman buys all Masimo Consumer brands; Electrocompaniet gets knobby; Rega goes digital with its Mk7 Brio amp; Melbourne gets a new AV experience store; Qobuz Connect debuts on loads of kit; Krix reveals its biggest ever subwoofer; Triangle effects speaker goes both ways; Blu-ray news: Pioneer stops, Sony goes...

It's all in #362 of Sound+Image, out now in print at newsagents and as a digital issue through Apple, Google, Readly, Zinio. Libby and more!

Amplifiers and loudspeakers have been the constants of hi-fi through the ages. But turntables? If you had asked What Hi-Fi? 30 years ago if the record player should also be on that list, I doubt you would have received a favourable response.

The venerable vinyl disc was in the doldrums rather, in the mid ’90s. Compact disc was king, and there was no real reason to think it wouldn’t be the major source of music listening for many years to come. And yet…

Vinyl – of course – never quite went away, despite being at its nadir before the turn of the century. Since that low point, the upward tick of the sales graph has been both a joy to see and somewhat of a surprise. Still, it seems the charms of the analogue still have a place in the second quarter of the 21st century.

In this issue then, we give you our pick of best turntables at four price ranges under £1000; some fine Bluetooth turntables, and a splendid selection of phono stages, without which your record deck may be of little use.

Our favourite turntables under £1K

The vinyl format is alive and well, and that means demand for the good old record player is strong enough for there to be a wide selection of models out there to choose from.

We recommend you spend at least as much time thinking about which turntable to buy as you do pondering your choice of amplifier and speakers – each of which, incidentally, should ideally cost about the same as your deck.

No matter how good your partnering kit, if it doesn’t receive top-drawer information from your source, there’s very little it can do to produce good-quality sound.

The sweet spot for ‘affordable’ turntables of decent quality starts around the £300 mark and runs to about £1000.

The main thing to remember in this price band is that spending more really does give you significant steps up, both in terms of performance and in quality of materials and construction. In particular, the cartridges fitted to the pricier decks are much better – especially in terms of detail and transparency.

So this issue we have selected five players of note at various points within that price range, all of which received five-star reviews.

Every record player in our selection comes ready-fitted with a compatible cartridge and requires minimal setting up.

Of course, you can always upgrade your cartridge at a later date, or switch from a moving-magnet one to a moving-coil model (we also have a handy cartridge explainer this month).

Go wireless with our pick of Bluetooth decks

A Bluetooth turntable combines all the benefits of a traditional record deck with the convenience of a wireless connection.

If you love vinyl as a format but don’t relish the prospect of yards of wiring or multiple boxes, a Bluetooth turntable could be just what you’re looking for. All you need to do is pair your chosen deck with some wireless headphones or speakers, and off you go.

That level of convenience and flexibility is what makes a Bluetooth turntable a tempting proposition for anyone entering the world of vinyl for the first time, or for those who are looking to save space. And if you also want the option of playing your records using a wired connection, all models can do that too.

We've rounded up our pick of the best Bluetooth turntables – get this month's What Hi-Fi? to find out more!

Turntable designers reveal their favourite vinyl albums

If anyone should know just what makes a good vinyl test subject, it would be turntable designers. We spoke to some of the industry's leading designers of premium decks to find out what they listen to, and the stories behind their love of those particular albums.

Find out more in July's What Hi-Fi?

First with reviews

As always, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

This month our test benches were again groaning under the weight of some fantastic new products, such as the latest cans from hi-fi heavyweights Bowers & Wilkins. The Px7 S3 are an exceptional pair of over-ear headphones – read our verdict on these noise-cancellers in this month's mag!

Our expert reviewers also got their eager hands on the latest home cinema projector from Epson, the EH-QB1000, and the latest iteration of Rega's Brio amplifier, the Brio Mk7. And they weren't done there: also under scrutiny this month were the Cyrus 40 CD player, Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus, JBL TT350 Classic turntable and Hisense PL2 ultra short throw projector.

See what our review team thought of all these products in July's What Hi-Fi?

Serious kit, serious prices

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

Following the theme of this month's What Hi-Fi? it only seems right that we have a high-end turntable for you to drool over! The Vertere SG-1 and XtraX cartridge package costs new-car money, but of course the quality at this level turns out to be exceptional. It looks its price, too. Read more in this month's mag!

Italian speaker brand Sonus Faber produces some lovely-looking and superb sounding loudspeakers, and this month we take a close look at the company's latest floorstanders, the Sonetto V G2. Find out more in July'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 2024'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 July 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

These days a lot of people default to soundbar packages when looking for surround sound systems. And there are plenty of good reasons for that.

The systems don't require cable management, as many – including the Award-winning Samsung HW-Q990D – use wireless satellites and subwoofers. They also take up less space than a proper 5.1 setup.

So if ease of use is your priority, going for a soundbar system makes a lot of sense. If, however, performance is your be all and end all, there’s not getting around the fact that a full-fat, multi-speaker package is usually your best bet.

After decades of testing surround sound systems we know that a good one will deliver audio with a sense of directionality and heft that you just can’t get anywhere else.

Which is why home cinema aficionados with the space to accommodate one are very likely to be looking at the wealth of new AVR / surround sound package deals that recently launched on Richer Sounds.

If you meet that description, we also have good news: after price checking the components of each deal to make sure they are actual discounts, and of course with our years of experience in using the products, we have two recommendations for you.

Sony TA-AN1000 with Q Acoustics 3020i 5.1 speaker package

The first deal we recommend gets you a Sony TA-AN1000 AVR with a Q Acoustics 3020i 5.1 surround sound package for £1489 at Richer Sounds. That’s a £106 saving on the two if you bought them separately.

Why this specific system? The two products certainly represent stellar value, but they also leave plenty of room for growth.

Sure, the Q Acoustics 3020i package is getting long in the tooth, having launched in 2021, but, to this day it offers solid value for money and a sound profile that’s great for movies.

Highlights include an atypically rich, warm sound with a full bass and precise treble. This, plus its ability to deliver sweeping dynamics makes it a great entry-level option.

For context, our perennially broke editor (me), still uses a stereo pair of the 3020i with a Technics SA-C600 system in his lounge for music listening.

The only real downside is that, despite being standmount units, they are atypically deep and you shouldn’t place them with their backs to a wall if you want the best results. So you should certainly measure the space you intend to put them in before buying.

The Sony TA-AN1000 is another impressive, stellar value option if you're just getting into “proper” home cinema surround sound. So much so that we described the Award-winning AVR as a “no brainer” purchase when we first reviewed it.

Could you get away with paying for a less muscly, cheaper AVR to power the 3020i? Probably; but the main selling point here is that the Sony has lots of room for growth, meaning you can continue to use it even if you choose to add extra channels or upgrade/replace the speakers down the line.

This, plus its flawless HDR and surround-sound standard support make it a wonderfully flexible, future-proof unit. And, even more importantly, it sounds sublime. As we say in our Sony TA-AN1000 review:

“Its crisp, precise and punchy sound strikes a nearly perfect balance, and it elevates every movie and song we throw at it. This amplifier ticks all our boxes, with a sleek design, good feature set and outstanding performance, making it so easy to recommend. If you’re looking at buying an amp at this level, then the Sony TA-AN1000 is a no-brainer.”

Denon AVC-X3800H with Dali Oberon 5 5.1 speaker package

The second deal lets you grab a Denon AVC-X3800H AVR with a Dali Oberon 5 5.1 speaker package for £2599 at Richer Sounds. Doing the maths after a thorough deal hunt, that’s a £150 saving on how much the two would cost if you bought them separately right now.

This is a great mid-tier package, ideal for people looking for a louder, more powerful system.

The speakers are another What Hi-Fi? Award-winner and it's the package we recommend to most buyers looking for a 5.1 system for less than £2000.

The package uses Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanders as the main left and right channels, with five-star Dali Oberon 1 standmounters taking on the surround duties. Add to these the Dali central channel and subwoofer, and you get a system that offers more heft and volume than the Q Acoustics – but requires more space as a result.

It also offers some sonic improvements, which justify its higher price tag. During testing, the system delivered a wonderfully full sound, with a hefty, but controlled low end and agile dynamics.

The end result is a surround sound system that delivers truly immersive home cinema experience, whether in conversation dramas or explosion-filled action movies. Which is why the verdict of our review says:

“The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 system presents every frequency in full, but with honesty and warmth that brings the best out of any soundtrack. They’re transparent but fun, powerful but subtle; we’d have them round to ours any day.”

Similarly, the five-star Denon AVC-X3800H is a step up on the Sony TA-AN1000, both in price and performance. It’s also one of the mid-tier AVRs we recommend, even at full price.

For starters, it’s crammed with hardware, making it one of the most future-proofed units you’ll find at its price. For regular surround sound, it can power 9.2 to 11.4 channels. If you want to make the leap to Dolby Atmos down the line, it can go up to 5.4.4 out of the box.

We tested it with 5.1 and Atmos systems and it delivers excellent results in both – so there is plenty of headroom for a system expansion in the future if you need it.

Then there’s flawless HDR support and six HDMI inputs – three of which are HDMI 2.1 ports rated to 40gbps. You shouldn’t run out of connectivity options, then, even if you have a ludicrous number of players, streamers and consoles.

But, as with the Sony, the Denon's main selling point is its excellent audio ability. All of which makes it a stellar AVR to match with the fine Dali package, and an easy recommendation at its current price. As we say in our Denon review:

“Combining future-proofed connectivity, flexibility and a mature, authoritative but expansive sound [if] you’re looking for an all-round performer with plenty of features and ample scope for system expansion, then the 3800 is a superb choice.”

If you want something significantly better than the Denon, you will need to go up a tier and invest in a more expensive AVR – such as the Marantz Home Cinema 30 we currently recommend, which costs £3800.

MORE:

These are the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we have reviewed

We rate the best projectors we have tried and tested

Our picks of the best OLED TVs

Munich has said goodbye to the High End show with a hearty wave and one hell of a bang, as Europe's biggest hi-fi show moves to Vienna next year.

High End Munich 2025 is the annual showcase of biggest launches from the heaviest hitters in the hi-fi industry, and this year continued that trend with a raft of audio products to get mouths watering and wallets sweating nervously.

Living up to its name, many of the new hi-fi products we saw at this year's showcase have been appropriately 'high end' in price, with five- and six-figure price tags being the norm rather than the exception in the sprawling halls. However, there were a handful of products available at real-world money that we're just as much excited about as the big, shiny, flagship products with the wow factor.

The What Hi-Fi? team spent a whirlwind couple of days at the last High End Munich 2025, and below are the biggest launches and most exciting hi-fi products we encountered. From giant subwoofers and transparent turntables to elegant floorstanders and a surprise reveal from a 40+ year brand... these are our pick of the best from Munich 2025.

Burmester Reference Line

We'll start off with one of the more wallet-busting new launches we saw at High End, and perhaps one of the most minimalist yet striking looking designs.

Burmester unveiled a brand new range of Reference Line products, comprising the 257 turntable, the 249 preamplifier and the 259 stereo power amplifier.

Which one do you fancy? If you need a turntable, the 257 boasts an inverted magnetic main bearing, two high-torque motors and an optical sensor system for outstanding rotational accuracy.

Or, you could splash out on the mighty 259 power amplifier: it has a claimed power output of 500 watts into a four-ohm load, which rises to 1500 watt when used as a monoblock. And the 249 preamp is modular, with the option to add streaming, phono and extra analogue inputs

Whatever you pick, you won't get one for cheap. While we don't have official prices just yet, we do know that the entire set is likely to cost you roughly €300,000, so we're dealing in very high end territory here.

Cyrus 80 Series

It was a surprise to see a Cyrus product in full-width form. We're so used to see the British brand's hi-fi separates in the half-width 'shoebox' chassis since its inception, but that's all about to change with the upcoming 80 Series. Cyrus' first full-width hi-fi range consists of the 80 AMP streaming amplifier, the 80 PRE preamplifier and the 80 PWR power amplifier – and we got a first look at the new design in Munich.

While they're all full-width, the new 80 Series borrows the same modernised and smart-looking design that we've admired in the 40 Series, with the anodised aluminium build and touchscreen display screen.

We're particularly excited by the prospect of the 80 AMP (pictured above), which has BluOS streaming platform at its heart and features 150W per channel of Class A/B amplification. For keeping you connected to your music, it's also equipped with support for Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify, and has an MM/MC phono stage inside.

If the 80 Series can match the 40 Series line in terms of five-star performance, exciting times could lay ahead for Cyrus. The 80 Series will officially launch in November.

Gryphon Audio Antileon Revelation

It hasn't been long since we had the five-star Gryphon Audio Diablo 333 integrated amplifier in our test rooms, which impressed us with a staggering 333 watts of power per channel. Now that is a spectacular amplifier.

At High End Munich, we saw the unveiling of a new Gryphon amplifier to fill the hole left by the Diablo 333. Designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Antileon Series and the 40th year of the company as a whole, the new Antileon Revelation power amplifier is available in both stereo and mono versions, delivering 160 and 180 watts per channel of Class A power respectively.

If that wasn't enough, two custom-wound 1500VA toroidal transformers are fitted to each 90kg enclosure, while a third independent power supply takes care of the dedicated digital control circuitry.

And the price? It's cost you a cool €38,000 / $45,500 / AU$64,995 when it's available later this year.

JBL Summit Series

Considering how many rugged Bluetooth speakers they make and the popularity of these portables, it's easy to forget that JBL has a serious history in the world of high-end hi-fi.

The JBL Summit Series of loudspeakers are certainly talking a good game. There are three new additions unveiled at the show, and we like the way these large speakers look, especially when fitted out with a rich ebony veneer with gold accents. The trio are named after Himalayan mountains: the Makalu, the Pumori and the Ama. They join the extraordinarily large Everest and five-star K2 speakers in the flagship range.

The Makalu and the Pumori are the floorstanders of the family, whereas the Ama are the ones to go for if you want standmounts in your life. We had the chance to hear what the Makalu were capable of, albeit in a less-than-ideal trade show setting, and they certainly seemed to be comfortable pumping out some rather rowdy German rock/techno fusion to a room of eager punters and journalists.

Prices range from £15,000 / $20,000 to £37,000 / $45,000, so you might have a small mountain to climb in terms of paying for them.

Fyne Audio F704SP

We've been immensely impressed with the speakers Fyne Audio has been producing in their short lifespan. We think the flagship F1-8 speakers are fantastic; and more recently, the Fyne Audio F501E bowled us over as excellent 'economy' speakers at their £1000 price point.

The new F704SP ('SP' stands for 'Special Production') are a more high-end proposition. Joining the F701SP, F702SP and F703SP models, the F704SP is positioned as the lead model in Fyne's latest F700SP range of speakers, and priced at £20,000 / $26,000 / €24,000, they're easily at home within the high-end halls of the MOC Event Center Messe München.

Aiming to replicate the experience of live music in your home, the F704SP use a 30cm IsoFlare driver which combines a 30cm multi-fibre bass/midrange cone with a 75mm titanium dome tweeter, plus a 30cm multi-fibre bass driver.

When combined with an upgraded crossover, more premium components, high-density birchwood cabinets and downward-firing port harnessing Fyne's 'BassTrax' diffuser system, they're an alluring prospect on paper.

We can't wait to hear them again.

Audiolab D7

We were super-keen to see Audiolab's latest additions to its stable of standalone DACs, the D7 and D9, as these models are set to follow in the footsteps of the original M-DAC, a five-star, multiple Award-winner that we still hold dear in our memories.

What surprised us was just how compact the Audiolab D7 DAC/headphone amp/preamp was in person, and we can see it easily fitting into many desktop surfaces – especially for laptop and headphone users who might be short on space.

It has a welcomingly petite footprint compared to the larger (and pricier) D9, the latter sporting a display screen and more advanced technology, circuitry and connectivity.

But the D9 has plenty going for it in its compact form. It uses the same ESS 32-bit DAC as the 7000A and 6000A MkII integrated amplifiers, supports up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 high-resolution files, and is Roon Tested.

There are multiple analogue and digital outputs crammed into the rear panel, including balanced XLR outputs and USB type B and type A ports.

Priced at £449 / AU$999 (around $600), it goes up against strong desktop-friendly rivals such as the Chord Mojo 2 and Cambridge Audio DacMagic200M.

Mark Levinson 600 Series

Mark Levinson's 600 Series of amplifiers consists of three models, the No. 626 dual-mono preamplifier, the No. 632 stereo power amplifier and the No. 631 monoblock. We've seen them in the flesh and, while we've not heard them hooked up to an actual system, they certainly look the business, especially the No. 631 mini-tower with brooding red vertical lights.

The amplifiers use Class A/B amplification, boast multiple analogue and digital connections, and are built on Mark Levinson’s proprietary Pure Path circuit philosophy that aims to deliver "uncompromising musical purity and an engaging listening experience" thanks to discrete components chosen for specific, precise functions.

Prices range from around 24,000 / €28,000 / $25,000 to £38,000 / €44,000 / $40,000, and we are seriously impressed with the build quality and aesthetic which blends an anodised aluminium chassis with silver controls and glass panels atop each unit.

Very much a 'If Batman had a sound system' kind of affair.

Dali V-16 F

It's always exciting to see what Danish brand Dali is up to. High End Munich 2025 was a relatively busy one for Dali, heralding the arrival of a swathe of new colourways for its IO-8 and IO-12 headphones as well as its flagship Kore loudspeakers, and, as we have here, a brand new subwoofer.

The Dali V-16 F is a big boy. At 53kg, it's something of a beast, employing a wide-band, low-loss design with low harmonic and non-harmonic distortion, with Dali promising that the V-16 F has plenty of precision to go with all of that power.

With 2500 watts of Class D power, the V-16 F is billed as Dali's "most powerful subwoofer yet". The new sub's 40.5cm driver is the main attraction, incorporating aluminium for the driver diaphragm for a rigid yet lightweight design.

It goes on sale in July for a whopping price tag of £4499 (around $6000 / AU$9000).

Audio-Technica AT-LPA2

Audio-Technica has a new premium turntable, and its name is the AT-LPA2. We're always excited to see a brand record player, especially from such an established brand, and it's sweetened even furtherer by the fact that it's a completely see-through design!

Based on a limited edition AT-LP2022 that commemorated the Japanese company's 60th anniversary, the AT-LPA2 features a belt-drive design, a carbon-fibre tonearm, and comes fitted with the brand's AT-OC9XEN dual moving coil cartridge. The transparent effect is thanks to the clear acrylic chassis and platter; a separate power supply is also included.

Audio-Technica was only offering listening demos through headphones at the show, so we'll have to wait until we get a sample in our test rooms to really hear what this new spinner can do.

Want one? The AT-LPA2 is available now, for £1699 / €1999.

Eversolo Play (+CD Edition)

Now here's something a little bit different. We've been dealing in what's generally been reasonably high-end gear, especially from the likes of Burmester and Gryphon, but as ever, High End Munich also attracts emerging brands targeting more budget tranches of the market, such as WiiM and Eversolo.

The new Eversolo Play is a versatile streaming amplifier that aims to offer a seemingly-endless list of functionality to rival most hi-fi brands, and for less money. The compact form houses a Class D amplifier, and AK4493 DAC chip and Eversolo's excellent streaming platform and interface, complete with support for hi-res audio, UPnP, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music and more.

Physical connections are impressive too, and include HDMI ARC plus optical and coaxial inputs, a sub out and a phono input. There's even a 5.5-inch touchscreen; when seeing it at the show, it seemed just as clear, responsive and delightfully packed as the Eversolo DMP-A6 music streamer that we liked using so much.

More excitingly for physical music fans, there is a CD Edition that includes a CD drive that pops out from the side.

We think that one might be rather popular, especially considering the prices. It's €699 (around £600 / $790 / AU$1200) for the standard version and €799 (around £680 / $900 / AU$1400) for the CD Edition.

Chord Electronics Ultima Phonostage

And finally, here is a product that we don't know too much about, but it makes up for it with abundance of overt styling.

Chord Electronics took the lid of the Ultima Phonostage, the new flagship phono preamplifier in its flashing Reference Ultima range.

It has a dual mono design and features the brand's Ultima technology; we've rather liked the UItima integrated and Ultima Pre 3/Ultima 6 amps, so we already have high expectations.

It supports MM and MC cartridges and you can configure the analogue inputs independently to work with up to three turntables or three tonearms.

The visual blueprint Chord's 'spaceship' aesthetic, complete with a glowing LED orb in the middle – but we were mesmerised by the two VU meters that were going full tilt during the demo.

The Ultima Phonostage will launch later this year, but we're told that the price will be around £18,000. Phew.

MORE:

High End Munich 2025 highlights: all the news and hi-fi launches

7 of the quirkiest and strangest pairs of speakers we saw at High End Munich 2025

I've had a first look at the HomePod-rivalling WiiM Sound smart speaker – and Apple should be worried

Dali has launched its most powerful subwoofer ever, and where better than at High End Munich?

Weighing over 50kg, the V-16 F is an absolute monster of a woofer. But while it packs plenty of power (as you would expect from a sub of this size), it also has "the precision and control needed to work in any audio system context and even in small rooms", Dali says.

That's thanks to a wide-band, low-loss design with low harmonic and non-harmonic distortion, that's optimised both in and out of its primary frequency band. It also boasts ultra-low signal latency, a controlled, non-resonant, low-pass roll-off and four continuous flare reflex ports tuned to 18Hz.

But the jewel in its crown is a 16-inch driver that incorporates the largest ever Constant Surface Surround (aka CSS Technology). This has been geometrically engineered to eliminate the radiating area distortion mechanism, meaning a cleaner sound with less distortion.

The driver features a T-shaped vented pole-piece that's designed to ensure symmetrical magnetic flux distribution through the voice coil. The vent hole through that pole-piece flares at both ends to ensure turbulence-free airflow, while two Faraday rings suppress flux modulation and maintain a consistent sound.

The bass driver and voice coil use a four-layer winding on a vented ultra low-loss glass-fibre former – because this material doesn't conduct electricity, it prevents the build-up of eddy currents and minimises any breaking effects on the moving voice coil, improving dynamics.

Dali has used aluminium for the driver diaphragm, as it's rigid but light, and retains its profile even under extreme excursion. Dali claims that despite its size, it's the most rigid diaphragm ever fitted to a Dali driver.

That's the insides covered, but what about the cabinet?

Its 90-litre volume is enclosed as space-efficiently as possible, and made from 25mm thick wood composite panels with 21mm internal braces. The front panel doubles this thickness to 50mm, with the internal bracing supporting the bass driver and the four 350mm long Continuous Flare reflex ports (similar to those previously seen on the Dali Epikore 11 loudspeaker).

The 1500-watt Class-D amplifier can deliver a peak power up to 2500 watts. But it also promises to keep a "vice-like grip" of the bass driver even at extreme diaphragm excursion levels, meaning powerful and accurate bass dynamics and impeccable timing, whatever the volume.

You also get three sound modes: Cinema, Music and Boost (for extra impactful bass).

So there you have it. Dali says the V-16 F will melt into the soundscape, blending seamlessly with other speaker channels, adding bass without masking midrange clarity. Which sounds good to us.

It goes on sale in July for £4499 (around $6000 / AU$9000).

MORE:

Check out the best subwoofers around

I love it, but guys, turn down the bass

How to build the perfect hi-fi system

We have said it before and, sadly, we will without doubt say it again: modern TVs seem incapable of producing sound of a quality anywhere near approaching the brilliance of the images they provide. Which is a problem. Without great sound, you can never truly be engrossed in what you are watching.

This is why we are forever recommending that you budget for a soundbar when you invest such a lot of money in a top-notch television. Even a relatively cheap model will, almost certainly, provide a better experience than the TV alone. In this issue, then, we give you a trio of choices in a trio of price breaks. Our round-up of bargain soundbars will give you some fine options that won't break the bank.

At the other end of the scale, certainly as far as price goes, we bring you some stunning stereo amplifiers. If you are serious about your music, investing in the heart of your hi-fi system is never a bad idea.

Bargain soundbars from £80-£500

Don’t worry – it’s not your ears; movie dialogue really has become harder to hear in recent years, thanks to a shift in acting styles, filmmakers prioritising characters’ emotional responses over clarity of vocal delivery and a rise in more prominent sonic special effects. And the sub-standard sound quality offered by today’s televisions – even flagship models with impressive visual credentials – does nothing to help the situation.

Thankfully, there’s an easy fix – in the shape of a soundbar. Even a budget soundbar is more than likely to raise the quality of the sound you hear significantly. And, whether you are buying a budget ’bar or a top-end device, it is in vocal delivery and other midrange sonics that the improvements are most noticeable.

What’s more, the best soundbars do a pretty good job of making your movies sound more cinematic – but without the need for multiple speakers and for far less money.

This month we are focusing on affordable soundbars (less than £500), but even in this arena the improvements in terms of additional bass weight and greater depth to the sound are obvious. Above the £300 mark, you will hear a wider soundfield and often even a palpable sense of height. And it’s around this price point that you will usually get HDMI eARC connectivity, giving access to more advanced sound processing modes and hi-res audio.

Soundbars proliferate like bunnies in spring, so to help you find the breed that’s right for you, we have assembled nine popular models in three price brackets. So if you’re not sure where to start, check out this month's What Hi-Fi?

Our favourite premium stereo amplifiers

The stereo amplifier is the MVP in any hi-fi team, being the beating heart of your separates system and the component that necessarily amplifies the audio signals from your source to an output that your passive speakers can deliver. Quite simply, no amplifier means no sound!

Which stereo amplifier you choose will greatly impact your overall system performance, so you want a best-in-class performer – one that also offers the connections your sources need.

While many amplifiers retain a more purist, analogue-only approach, the popularity of music streaming means that many now contain built-in DACs for connecting phones, hard drives and digital hi-fi sources. What you require will depend on your needs and the connectivity of any existing equipment you have.

This month we focus on the best stereo amplifiers your money can buy at the more premium end of the integrated market, specifically those priced between £1000 and £5000. You can, of course, go much higher-end, but these amplifiers are the sweet spot between fair money and top-drawer performance, with invariably lovely build and a sonic character that has found favour with us.

We have rounded up 11 great amplifiers from hi-fi stalwarts such as Arcam, Rega, Chord, JBL, Audiolab, Cambridge Audio, Cyrus and Naim; and we think that every one of these amplification stars will serve you well for years to come.

Budget streamers go head-to-head

Both the Cambridge Audio MXN10 and WiiM's Ultra are brilliantly affordable ways to add cutting-edge streaming skills to your hi-fi separates, and they can even be used to create a simple but effective audio system by connecting them directly to a pair of powered speakers.

However, with both of these products earning five-stars when we reviewed them, you might reasonably be wondering just which one should be the recipient of your hard-earned cash. So, we’ve put these two network audio players up against each other to find out which one comes out on top.

Find out more in June's What Hi-Fi?

First with reviews

Once more, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

This month we had LG's latest flagship TV, the G5, in our testing rooms. The Korean TV giants' premium G-series sets have always impressed, and this latest earned top marks from our expert reviewers. Read our thoughts on this five-star OLED in this month's What Hi-Fi?

That wasn't the only five-star TV we tested this month – we also put the 55-inch version of Sony's Bravia 7 through its paces. Elsewhere, another Sony product – this time earbuds – also acquitted itself well; the WF-C710N impressed us, and you can read just why this issue.

We also had JBL's latest iteration of its fantastic wireless speaker range, the Charge 6, in for testing, as well as a neat little lifestyle projector in the form of the BenQ GP520, Elac's new Debut 3.0 DB53 standmount speakers and iFi's Zen DAC 3. Finally we took a long, considered look at Hisense's Canvas – a TV that doubles as a work of art.

See what our review team thought of all these products in June's What Hi-Fi?

Top-drawer products at top-of-the-line prices

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

Esoteric's F-01 integrated amplifier and PS-01F power supply combination is an impressive prospect. "It marries exceptional detail resolution and dynamic fluidity better than almost anything else we've heard," enthused our reviewers, before throwing lots of stars at it. Read more in the June issue of What Hi-Fi?

The Canton Reference 5 are a fine-looking pair of floorstanding speakers that graced our test rooms this month. Our review team noted their "imposing driver complement doesn't disappoint, delivering deep, muscular lows with minimal stress". Sound like it's up your alley? Got deep pockets? Read more in this month's mag!

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 2024'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 June 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

The deal we've just spotted is for one of our favourite portable Bluetooth speakers, which not only received a stonking five-star rating during our testing, but was also a What Hi-Fi? Award winner in 2023. That product is the Dali Katch G2, and thanks to a £50 discount at Richer Sounds, you can pick it up for only £299 right now.

We saw the same price drop last Black Friday and earlier in February this year, but we think it's still a great deal price for a premium Bluetooth speaker. Even if this looks like it's the Dali speaker's new baseline price, we can't guarantee it won't jump back up. For the money, you'll get a classy-looking, refined Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive bass from a compact unit.

Best Dali Katch G2 Bluetooth speaker deal

So why all of the fuss about a mere Bluetooth speaker enjoying a £50 discount? Well, we are big fans of the Dali Katch G2, and as soon as it reached our test rooms, we were knocked out by just how good it looked. Bluetooth speakers can tend to be a little rough and ready, and understandably so, but here was a product that you could place in your living room, on your porch or in your conservatory (if you have one) and it would simply look the business.

It also does practically everything you could want it to do. The Katch G2 serves up a whopping 30 hours of playtime, with Bluetooth 5.0 onboard and supporting the higher-quality aptX HD and aptX codecs alongside standard AAC. You can stereo pair the Katch G2 if you have the money to buy two of the swanky units, granting you a total of 100W of power from this dynamic duo.

What's certainly true is that you'll want as much of the Dali's sound as possible. The second-gen G2 remains one of the most refined and musically insightful Bluetooth speakers we've heard at this level, and while the JBL Xtreme 4 might have knocked it off its perch at this level, everything we said during the Dali's original remains true today at this knockdown price.

The Katch G2 digs into your music with far more nuance and insight than lesser rivals could manage, digging out textural details and emotional nuances while capturing a genuine sense of the music being played. It is, said quietly, hi-fi-esque sound from a portable design. And for its £299 deal price at Richer Sounds, it's well worth a look.

MORE:

Read our Dali Katch G2 review

These are the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy

Bang & Olufsen's incredibly stylish Bluetooth speaker promises "elevated sound" and "enduring design"

Long-time readers of What Hi-Fi? will know that we are all about finding the best sound for your money. We have also, for the best part of half a century, extolled the virtues of separate components over jack-of-all-trades alternatives. Time and technology move on, though – and we are living in the real world; plenty of us want – need, even – a practical solution to getting quality sound at home. And there is now a serious argument for the convenience of a one-box hi-fi option that won’t require many unfortunate compromises.

Also in this issue, we have an excellent Group Test of floorstanding speakers where five heavy-hitters, costing between about £800 and £1000, are pitted one against the other.

And, if you ever wondered what our review team listen to when they are putting a new piece of equipment through our rigorous testing precedure, you will want to take a look at our favourite test albums. From Hans Zimmer to Nirvana – via Taylor Swift – there is something for everyone.

Best floorstanders £800-£1000

The five floorstanders we have gathered together here are all major players in the sub-£1000 price bracket. All are five-star products and several are multiple What Hi-Fi? Award winners. That means factors such as style and the particular requirements of your listening room are likely to carry more weight than usual.

As is often the case, there is a new kid in town. And this one is from a very good family. Fyne Audio hit the ground running when it was formed eight years ago by experienced personnel previously from veteran loudspeaker maker Tannoy; it has been picking up Awards left, right and centre ever since. Its latest offering is the F501E and, to prove it means business, the company has gifted its newborn technology from more expensive models in its range, yet kept the F501E’s price under £1000.

Bringing their formidable weapons of serious price advantage to fight off the challenge from Fyne are the Q Acoustics 5040 and the Dali Oberon 5. As well as being the least expensive models in this test, both are also well suited to smaller listening rooms, not least because of their modest (for a floorstander) dimensions.

Those with bigger listening rooms might find the Wharfedale Evo 4.4 or Triangle Borea BR08, both of which prioritise weight and scale, more worthy of close examination. So, can the newcomer from Fyne Audio topple the might of the established order or will the old guard hold the fort?

Premium hi-fi in a single box

It isn’t always easy to build a ‘separates’ hi-fi system, where every component (amplifier, speakers and at least one source) is housed in a separate box. You need space, a fair budget and the time to research what components go well together and how to best set them up. Understandably, then, the sort of time, cost and living space required for separates building means that it certainly isn’t for everyone! And that’s where all-in one hi-fi systems come in.

An all-in-one system, such as those we feature this month, offers network streaming, amplification and speakers, all in just the one box. Most offer physical connectivity, some offer wireless network multi-room, some have good old fashioned radio functionality. Crucially, of course, we wouldn’t recommend any of them unless they have great sound too.

The systems we have here are intended to take pride of place in your listening room. They feature designs that impress visually and mean they will happily serve as aesthetically pleasing pieces of furniture too.

We have seven such systems for your perusal this month, each one thoroughly tested by What Hi-Fi?’s experts, from Revo, Bowers & Wilkins, Naim, JBL, Ruark and Cambridge Audio. These marry lifestyle, convenience and sonic capabilities, meaning that you can be sure all boxes are ticked with these single box systems.

Technics vs Sony premium wireless earbuds

Sony’s WF-1000XM5 have been our favourite wireless earbuds since they launched in 2023, with their stunning sound quality standing head and shoulders above the competition. They are our current Award-winners and Best Buys in the £150-£300 bracket which, considering the volume of earbuds available in that price range, is no mean feat.

Many earbuds have tried to beat Sony’s blend of features, design and outright sound performance since then, and while some have come close (Bose’s ANC earbuds, for instance), none have dethroned them in our estimation. Technics might be about to change that. The brand has launched its flagship wireless earbuds for 2025, the EAH-AZ100, and their stellar performance across fit, features and sound has impressed us.

So, of course, we couldn't resist pitting them head-to-head. Find out how they fare against each other in this month's What Hi-Fi?

First with reviews

Once more, our First Tests section is filled to the brim with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear.

The launch of a new C-series OLED TV range from LG is big news. These popular OLEDs have won many Awards and five-star reviews from us, for their picture quality, features and gaming-friendly specs. So, it was exciting times in the What Hi-Fi? testing rooms this month as our experts got the 55-inch version of the brand new LG C5 in for review. Find out what we thought of it in May's What Hi-Fi?

Looking for a soundbar to go with your new (possibly C5) TV? We were interested to see how Sony's new Bravia Theatre Bar 8 would perform, as a much-needed replacement for a TV's usually inadequate built-in sound. See how it fared this month!

But that's not all. There was another TV in for review this month in the form of the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV. With different panel tech to the LG C5, and a lower price-tag, could this be the TV option for you?

Elsewhere, our experts formed in-depth opinions on the Beyerdynamic Aventho over-ear headphones, Lumin U2 Mini network transport (just add DAC), LG Xboom Go XG8T portable speaker, Sony LinkBuds Open earbuds and the Google TV Streamer.

See what our review team thought of all these products in May's What Hi-Fi?

Well, yes, it's expensive but...

Our Temptations section of the magazine is where you'll find the highest of the high-end of hi-fi and AV products.

This month's high-end treats include the Goldmund Telos 690 integrated amplifier. It's a mighty product with a price tag (£32,500) to match, but our review team found that "dynamic expression of both the large and low-level variety is superbly handled", and that "it can dance, too, delivering rhythm tracks with enthusiasm". Read more in the May issue of What Hi-Fi?

Then we come to a superb pair of floorstanding speakers in the form of ProAc's D20R. Our reviewers found that "large-scale dynamic shifts are delivered with a surprising degree of heft given the D20Rs' modest size". Find out more in this months' mag!

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 2024's What Hi-Fi? Awards. If you’re looking to purchase anything from a pair of 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 May 2025 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

The wireless headphones arena can sometimes feel like WWE’s annual Royal Rumble event. If you’re not familiar with the concept, the signature pay-per-view consists of 30 wrestlers sequentially entering the ring at regular intervals in a last-person-standing contest, whereby an elimination is scored by unceremoniously slinging your opponent over the top rope. Some are thrown from the ring early, some manage to stay through to the end, but all are desperate for the esteem that career-defining Rumble victory brings.

It’s a similar story in the world of wireless headphones. No matter the weight class (i.e. price) or brand, there’s always a steady flow of contenders seeking to become champion. Beyerdynamic has staked its claim within the proverbial premium wireless ring with the Aventho 300 over-ears, and while competition is fierce, the German audio brand will expect its considerable pedigree to give it the edge against the class-leading heavyweights. Let’s get ready to rumble!

Price

Costing £359 / $400 / approx. AU$640, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sit comfortably within the premium realm. Competition in this more exclusive arena comes from the five-star Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (currently around £350 / $429), as well as the outstanding Dali IO-8 over-ears (now £499 / $499) and the ever-popular Apple AirPods Max which, at the time of writing, are £450 in the UK and between $500-$550 in the US.

Build

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 aren't the sort of wireless headphones that will attract the same levels of attention, unwanted or otherwise, as the distinctive Apple AirPods Max or the classy Dali IO-8. That’s no great issue, as while the Aventho 300 don’t necessarily wear all of their considerable price tag on their sleeve, time has evidently been spent on bringing their quality and usability up to a good standard.

In fact, the Aventho 300 keep things simple to their benefit. The premium cans consist of a light metallic frame connecting to a soft foam headband and two plastic earcups, folding away neatly and smoothly in much the same way as the similarly-priced Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. They’re not quite as comfortable bending and flexing as the master yogi Bose cans, but any foldability is a welcome asset, especially if you plan to take your Aventho 300 cans on the road or have them accompany your daily commute.

When the time comes to unfold the headphones and clamp them onto your head, the Aventho 300 again prove to be a comfortable and nicely thought-out set of over-ears. Some users may find their fit to be slightly too tight (though this will likely ease off with use), while others voiced concerns that their earpads’ tapered bottom ends led to slight on-head rocking. But those niggles aside, the lightweight earcups and well-padded headband will grant most users a pleasant experience.

The Beyerdynamic cans offer a healthy array of on-cup touch controls, as well as a host of physical buttons located at the base of the right earcup. Those buttons control active noise cancellation (ANC) modes, Bluetooth pairing and power, and while they don’t feel particularly special, they’re fine for getting the job done.

Aside from physical toggles, the Aventho 300 offer a raft of functionalities via the cans’ touch-sensitive right earcup. Beyerdynamic lists this impressive array of tricks on its simple-to-navigate app, but most of them will be relatively intuitive to anyone who has used a pair of wireless headphones before – swipe up for increased volume and down to lower it, double tap to skip a track, and so on. It’s a competently implemented system, and though there’s occasionally a slight delay as the headphones take a small beat to figure out each command, it’s not quite enough to have you tearing your hair out in frustration as you wait for the Aventho to figure out that you’ve now asked them five times to accept an incoming call.

Features

Features-wise, the Aventho 300 don’t lag too far behind the competition at this level. To get the most out of the premium wireless cans, you’ll need Beyerdynamic’s bespoke app, a well-laid-out platform that presents information in a bold, clear manner. Customisation levels are strong: the app offers a five-band custom equaliser and an array of preset profiles, not to mention access to the cans’ noise-cancelling modes and a Dolby Atmos toggle switch.

The app displays your battery life as both a percentage and in hours, and thanks to the cans’ strikingly long-lasting performance, those figures are rarely in danger of running dry. The Aventho 300 offer an extremely competitive 50 hours of life on a single charge, and if you do end up getting low, you’ll be treated to five whole hours of playtime from a mere 10-minute fast charge via USB-C. For context, the Dali IO-8 manage around 30 hours of life with the ANC switched on, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can only muster about 24 hours at a push.

Digging further into the Aventho 300’s spec sheet reveals Dolby Atmos-powered spatial audio with head-tracking support. The Beyerdynamics showcase their spatial capabilities when listening to a specially mixed Tidal rendition of Gorillaz’s Cracker Island, which rejigs things so that the tune’s percussive woodblock, synthy stabs and snappy drums enjoy their own respective spaces within the sound field, making for an enjoyable, well-curated rendition. Head tracking, which can be toggled on and off via the app, also works as it should, effectively anchoring sound to a fixed point as you turn your head from side to side.

The Aventho 300 pack in the latest Bluetooth 5.4 specification and has Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for hooking up to two devices simultaneously. If you want to go traditional and listen with wires, you can do so thanks to the provided USB-C / USB-A terminated cable, although the bulk of our listening was performed wirelessly via Bluetooth.

ANC & call quality

The Aventho 300 handle calls well. Voices are communicated in a way that sounds natural and articulate, as the Beyerdynamic sidestep the pitfalls of muffled speech or hard, mechanical-sounding dialogue. They do let in a little more background noise, say if you're on a busy road or bustling office, than the rival Dali IO-8, but the Aventho 300 make up for it with how authentic and articulate they render human speech. All told, taking calls with them is a pleasure.

Active noise cancelling is the keystone feature of practically any set of wireless headphones at this price, and Beyerdynamic has duly obliged, packing in its own take on the tech by offering a standard noise cancelling setting alongside transparency mode for a more aware listening experience.

Powered by dual Sony chipsets on each side of the headphones, the standard performance on display is solid enough, reducing the swooshes of traffic or the hum of electrical equipment before allowing subtleties of human speech to flow more freely through when transparency mode is selected. It’s solid ANC for the price paid, but many will prefer the comprehensive cocoon of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones’ unparalleled talents in this arena.

Sound

The Aventho 300's on-paper credentials are impressive, and while we were only treated to a small taster of their capabilities during launch at last year’s IFA 2024 showcase, it was enough to have us craving more. The premium cans' engineering is based around Beyerdynamic’s Stellar.45 drivers, the same units found in the company’s five-star DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X wired studio headphones, while aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless capabilities grant the possibility of higher-quality hi-res streaming from compatible source devices over Bluetooth.

First up on the menu is Fontaines D.C.'s Starburster, a thrusting, raucous blast of rock that the Aventho 300 keenly gobble up. The cans’ clean and punchy character shines through as the bop thunders through its rowdy verses and fist-pumping chorus, allowing proceedings enough power and pace to keep us nodding cheerfully along. The Aventho deliver Starburster with decent bottom-end punch while they’re at it, conjuring a rendition that feels sparky and alive without overegging the proverbial pudding.

This is what the Beyerdynamic over-ears do so well – they’re a pair of neutral, nicely judged headphones that demonstrate competence across the sonic spectrum but seem happiest delivering a decent dose of midrange bite. The Aventho 300 are clean and even-handed, preventing excessive sonic overspill and sounds in their respective lanes as they play things with a noticeably straight bat.

Detail levels are strong, too. We change pace with Alice In Chains’ downtrodden ballad Down In A Hole, and all of that punch remains, with that impressive Beyerdynamic studio heritage on display as the Aventho 300 get to work displaying their textural savvy. The track’s opening guitar is distinctive and resonant, while the dual vocal harmonies sound sincere and authentic yet appreciably distinct in their tone and delivery.

Keen to discover if the Aventho 300 have the chops to match the market’s best, we pit them against the five-star Dali IO-8, and it’s here that we shine a light on both their strengths and limitations. The Aventho 300 are composed yet punchy in their delivery, but their more limited grasp of dynamic contrast renders undulating tracks as slightly restrained. That rigid approach is especially true when we listen to how the competing cans handle dynamics; listen to Starburster again and the shifts in volume, tone and texture are rendered with greater distinction through the Dali, with punchy bass notes arriving with a real feeling of power and occasion through the more colourful IO-8.

That’s not to disregard what the Beyerdynamic hopefuls do well. What the Aventho 300 provide is a remarkably composed, controlled character that will win fans among wearers who want their headphones simply to get out of the way of the music. There’s an admirable competence, clarity and feeling of maturity that they provide over the Dali IO-8, and while many will prefer the latter’s more expressive character, the Aventho’s virtues will, rightly, have their fans. Meanwhile, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones favour a slightly fuller sound with a more rounded bass reproduction, whereas the Aventho 300 have a clearer, lighter touch and a tauter lower end.

We also find that the Aventho 300’s performance is improved when listening via wired USB-C. It’s not a complete about-face transformation, but we discern more space, detail and clarity when a physical tether is introduced, as well as a more perceptive sense of dynamic differentiation. The sound of the guitars on Ghost’s Kaisarion comes over as more layered and detailed, whereas Lana Del Rey’s voice sounds more Del Rey-esque than when enjoying signature tune Off To The Races wirelessly.

Verdict

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 won’t be for everyone. They’re not an overly characterful pair of headphones, and listeners craving class-leading handling of dynamics should seek out the rival Dali IO-8, or else discover the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones if portability and class-leading ANC rank high on the agenda.

That said, these are really solid performers for the money, that resist the urge to impose their will on your music and instead step back and allow your tunes room to shine. Add to that a solid build quality and a decent array of well-performing features and it all adds up to an impressive wire-free effort from Beyerdynamic.

First reviewed: March 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Features 4

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Read our review of the Dali IO-8

Also consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Best wireless headphones reviewed and rated by our in-house experts

I remember being around four years old and all the adults in the house made the mistake of leaving me alone with the family hi-fi. The unit was a cassette receiver from a brand called Elizabethan, and I recall very little about it now apart from the stack of dials on the front and its rather fetching fake wood finish.

It was playing some classic Bollywood song from the 60s, and for the first time ever, I noticed the tone controls on the amplifier. Being so young, I had no idea what the words ‘treble’ and ‘bass’ meant at the time, of course. But once the dials were twiddled in a random fashion, I knew the one marked ‘bass’ did good things and should always be turned up to the max. The treble control, on the other hand, didn’t have any significant impact on the drums that the child-me was focussing so hard on and was quickly ignored.

My love of bass sounds started there and has continued ever since, though I would like to think my tastes are more sophisticated than just turning everything up to full as I did for most of my teenage years. Now, not only do I crave low-frequency power but I want grip, articulation and texture too. The harmonic richness of a double bass matters as does the agility and finer details of a typical Massive Attack bassline. To sum it up, I’m a bass addict and proud of it, but nowadays quality and balance matter more than outright quantity.

A recent listen to the Dali IO-8 wireless headphones annoyed me. These are excellent wireless over-ears (in most respects) and have the sonic talent to worry any alternatives vaguely near their £499 selling price, hence why they sit loud and proud in our best wireless headphones buying guide. Like just about every rival, these headphones give the user a way of boosting bass output. In this case, it’s not done through an EQ setting in an app, but a mode button on the headphones that switches between ‘Hi-fi’ and ‘Bass’ settings.

Given my tastes, the 'Bass' option should be right up my street, particularly as these headphones were designed by the very same people who engineered Dali’s new high-end Epikore speaker range (starting price of ten grand) and many other talented speakers besides. Surely, any engineer who has the well-honed sensibility to design what are undoubtedly fantastic speakers would be able to tune the bass setting just so? It turns out they don’t. The nicest thing I can say is that whoever fixed the final bass EQ curve had very similar priorities to the four-year-old me.

The lows swamp everything, leaving these otherwise excellent headphones sounding thick and sludgy. It spoils their articulate nature, unsettling their otherwise nicely judged tonal balance to a degree that I find unlistenable after a while. The standard ‘Hi-fi’ setting, on the other hand, is spot on.

Dali is not alone. Much of the industry seems to think that bass quantity trumps quality and I can understand why. It impresses on a brief listen, and that usually leads to more sales. I get it. The success of the Beats brand was built on a foundation of excessive bass, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Sony’s recently introduced ULT Series of headphones and wireless speakers, aimed at the youth market, are going great guns for the same reason. Yet, whenever I listen to such products, I can’t help but wish the manufacturers had intentionally boosted the lows with a lot more finesse to ensure satisfaction over the long term.

I know it is possible to do this. Mark Levinson gets it right on the No. 5909 headphones, as does Chord with its Mojo 2 portable DAC's clever DSP tone controls. On the more traditional hi-fi side, the Rotel A8 budget integrated amplifier still sounds articulate with the bass control turned up, and at the other end of the price scale, the PMC Cor does a fine job of it too. There are other examples, but you get the point.

While lots of bass can be fun on the right kind of music, that on its own isn't enough. Manufacturers need to realise that balance, articulation and definition matter even more over the long term. Even a certified bass-head like me recognises that.

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Today, Sky unveiled its Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and teased a second, more affordable Sky Glass Air set, which is set to get a proper full reveal at an unspecified point later this year.

And, to be clear, the Gen 2 features some notable upgrades on the original Sky Glass, which launched in 2021 and earned a respectable, but not quite perfect four-star rating from our reviewers at the time.

In case you missed the original news, the short version is that the new Sky Glass will be available tomorrow, 12th February, with prices starting at just £14 per month. This is roughly the same price as the original and puts it in the same bracket as the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED.

The key upgrades include an improved 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos-ready sound system that, according to Sky, will “remove the need for a separate sound system”. Yes, we’ve heard and poo-pooed this claim before, but considering the fact we flagged average audio as an issue on the original Sky Glass it’s still a welcome move.

While the QLED panel hasn’t been upgraded to having a Mini LED backlight, Sky claims it has more dimming zones and more advanced local dimming powers than the original Glass, allowing it to produce better black levels, clearer colours and generally better performance. Considering how impressive recent FALD sets (including the four-star Panasonic W90A I reviewed at the end of last year) have been, there could well be some truth to this claim – but we’ll need to get the new model in to confirm this.

Despite all of this, throughout the presentation, I couldn’t help but think, 'why didn’t Sky go for bigger upgrades to its new TV’s panel tech?' And, while many would talk about Mini LED, which is established in the mid-range market, my mind went a step further – surely Sky should make an OLED!

Sky representatives at the Glass Gen 2’s launch event, which was attended by our TV & AV Editor, Tom Parsons, made it very clear the firm is not interested in going after the OLED market. This is apparently largely due to the fact it thinks its customers care more about value and don’t want to splurge that much for a TV. Or, if they do, they’ll just buy one from LG, Samsung, Sony or Philips and connect a Sky Stream puck to it.

Specifically, a Sky spokesperson told us: “we wanted to expand the range so that everyone can afford our products. We're really, really thoughtful and want to make sure Sky is accessible and affordable for everyone”.

I agree with the primary point around value. I know plenty of people looking to consolidate and reduce their spending. For them, a holistic package including your content subscriptions, TV and sound system makes sense. But I’d argue that doesn’t rule out OLED. In fact, if anything, it makes a stronger case for it.

In my personal life, I know plenty of people who want an OLED but simply can’t justify paying the four-figure cost for even an entry-level TV with the tech, let alone a flagship model. Look at our LG G5, Panasonic Z95B, Philips OLED910 and Samsung S95F hands-ons and you’ll see that even in 2025 these will set you back a hefty amount of cash...

So, offering one on a subscription model is appealing, especially one where Sky could even potentially sell the hardware close to cost price as it would be making money on a subscription and the content services it provides.

This is why, for me, it would have actually made sense to offer an OLED option alongside the cheaper Glass Gen 2 and Glass Air. This would have given home cinema fans at every end of the market an option and an entry point to the entertainment platform.

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Welcome to the latest entry into our weekly Rewind hi-fi and home cinema news digest. In it, our team of audio and home cinema aficionados once again detail the top headlines you need to know about.

And this week’s another big one, with everything from our reviewers' picks of the top albums to test your system to rumblings that Panasonic may be looking to sell its OLED TV division.

Here are all the facts.

We revealed our top albums for testing hi-fi

One of the most common questions we get asked, outside of if we get to keep review samples (we don’t), is what albums and tracks we use to test hi-fi. This week our team of reviewers published a fresh list revealing the albums they keep coming back to, and it’s a pretty interesting selection!

Read the full story: What Hi-Fi? reviewers share their favourite-ever albums for testing hi-fi

Our managing editor details the six apps she uses to supercharge her hi-fi

Smartphones are clever things, but if you go on any app store there’s an awful lot of freeware tat. Just type in 'spirit level' and you’ll be flooded with a sea of “free” apps claiming to do it, but then request extortionate amounts of data, or lock the feature you want behind a paywall once you install them. Which is why last week our managing editor did the legwork so you don’t have to, and revealed the six apps she, and the wider team, use most when setting up and optimising their systems.

Read the full story: 6 free audiophile apps to supercharge your hi-fi experience

There’s a new top dog set of wireless headphones for serious music fans

We take a lot of time and care with our wireless headphone reviews. Which is why our advice can be fairly static – if something isn’t THE best option for its intended market, we’re not recommending it. So it’s quite a big deal when we do update our advice, especially in a crowded market like wireless headphones. But last week that’s exactly what happened, with the Dali I-O8 dethroning key rivals including the Mark Levinson No.5909 to become our recommended pair of wireless headphones for audiophiles.

Read the full story: We’ve just reviewed audiophile wireless headphones that knock our veteran favourites off the top spot

We finished testing the Cambridge Audio Evo One

Systems are rapidly becoming a popular category, and for good reason – they’re simple and, when done right, can sound great. Which is why last week our reviewers were delighted to finish testing the Cambridge Audio Evo One. Featuring cutting edge specifications, all the streaming smarts you’ll need, and capable of producing a spacious refined sound with fluid dynamics, there’s a lot to like about the system.

Read our full Cambridge Audio Evo One review

Panasonic’s “potentially” up for selling its TV business

Regular readers will know, Panasonic TVs have a strong track record in the What Hi-Fi? test rooms. Last year’s flagship Panasonic Z95A OLED scored a perfect five-star rating and our staff writer, Lewis Empson, walked away from his preview session with the 2025 Panasonic Z95B generally optimistic. Which is why we were surprised when industry rumblings broke last week suggesting the Japanese giant may be looking to sell its TV business. But, after we finished doing our shocked Macaulay Culkin impressions we all had a similar thought – what if Apple bought it?

Read the full story: If Panasonic does sell its TV business, I know who should buy it

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These are the best OLED TVs we’ve tested

We rate the best hi-fi systems

Our picks of the best headphones