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

Fyne Audio has impressed us before. Across the nine years that the company has been producing speakers, we have awarded five stars to varied products such as the high-end F701SP standmounts, the compact Vintage Five, and the F501E floorstanders, which are current What Hi-Fi? Award winners.

With the release of the entry-level F5E standmount speakers (tested at £399 / $699 / AU$895), Fyne’s proprietary IsoFlare technology only recently became available at a more affordable price. At that point, however, the company still hadn’t made an entrance into the growing market for active, Bluetooth-enabled stereo speakers.

Enter the Cubitt 5. With a good spread of connectivity options, Fyne’s first active speakers do an awful lot for their desk-friendly proportions. How will they measure up against more established rivals?

Price

Currently available at £549 / $749 / AU$1495, the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 sit in between two strong five-star rivals.

Those are the smaller, Award-winning Ruark MR1 Mk3 (£399 / $579 / AU$899), which we praised for their punchy sound and good quality phono stage, and the larger KEF Coda W (£799 / $1000 / AU$1450), with their elegant build quality and excellent dynamic handling.

Build & design

The first thing we notice about the 26cm-tall Cubitt 5 is their rather stylish design, featuring curved edges and a sleek chrome surround to the main driver. With a minimal, modern look and shoebox-sized dimensions, they make an unobtrusive addition to our test room.

We are also struck by how these speakers look just as comfortable on speaker stands as they do sitting on our desk.

Our test pair arrived in Olive Green, but the Cubitt 5 are also available in Midnight Black, Pearl Titanium, Pebble Grey and Arctic White finishes. Our pair look well finished and feel solidly constructed, with a reassuring but easily transportable weight of approximately 4kg per speaker.

Despite their robust and satisfyingly minimal design, we are somewhat disappointed to find that the speakers feature no onboard controls. Although the included remote is a handy addition while listening from a distance, in a desktop setting, where the speakers are close to hand, it becomes frustrating to have to find the remote every time we want to change source or volume.

In contrast to the sturdy speakers, the black plastic remote feels somewhat insubstantial, but nonetheless does its job well, allowing for easy switching between sources, volume adjustment and activating standby mode. In a thoughtful touch from Fyne, the remote can also be stored in a small metal holder attached to the back of the right speaker so you don’t lose it.

But let’s get into the nitty gritty. Taking a closer look at their fully active design, we find that each of the enclosures houses two 60W Class D amplifiers, one dedicated to each drive unit.

The speaker’s IsoFlare driver array sees a 19mm titanium dome tweeter mounted at the centre of a 12.5cm multi-fibre mid/bass unit to improve sound dispersion and integration between drivers. IsoFlare positions the drivers’ acoustic centres (the point at which the drive unit appears to generate sound) on the same axis, rather than above one another as they would be in a conventional design.

As with Fyne’s other IsoFlare products, the mid/bass driver’s rubber surround exhibits the company’s patented fluting, which it claims damps down energy from the driver more effectively, reducing distortion and improving clarity. The speakers also employ a front-firing bass port to reinforce the low end.

Similar to active speakers such as the KEF Coda W, the Cubitt 5 feature one master speaker housing power connection, amplification, DAC and connections, with a wired connection to the other speaker. A 3m cable comes included in the box, but Fyne also offers a longer 8m version, which is available to purchase for £39.99 / €44.99 / $49.99.

Pleasingly, all inputs are clearly labelled, making the Cubitt 5 an accessible option for music fans of all technical abilities. On the front panel, however, we begin to feel that the minimalist design, which includes just a single LED that turns red during standby, doesn’t provide us with enough information.

Without any visual indication of volume, we found it all too easy to return from a break after listening at high levels, and get unexpectedly blasted away when we turn them back on. Similarly, when switching between sources, we would have liked some way of knowing which source was currently selected.

Features

The Cubitt 5 are equipped for wireless playback via Bluetooth 5.0, which supports the standard AAC and higher-quality aptX HD codecs.

In terms of wired connections, the speakers house stereo RCA analogue inputs, an optical input that handles hi-res files up to 24-bit/96kHz PCM, and an HDMI eARC input for hooking up to a television, and an integrated moving magnet phono stage for use with a record player.

Our first pair of test speakers had issues with clipping when using the analogue RCA inputs. Fyne sent us another sample though, which performed without a hitch – so we’ll give these speakers the benefit of the doubt.

We find that the Cubitt 5’s Bluetooth connection works well with both our Macbook and smartphone, entering pairing mode easily with one click of the remote and maintaining a stable connection throughout testing. The speakers remember their last connection, so you can pick up where you left off when switching between devices.

Further reflecting their versatile design, the built-in moving magnet phono stage means these speakers can be connected to a turntable without the need for any extra boxes – ideal for vinyl enthusiasts with limited space. A phono ground output is also included on the primary speaker’s rear panel.

For those wanting to extend the speakers’ already impressively controlled and punchy bass, a subwoofer output is also available.

Unlike some of their rivals, the Cubitt 5 do not offer any kind of tonal equalisation or the option of a control app. Fortunately, though, the speakers are sufficiently well balanced and simple to use that these omissions don’t feel like a major issue.

Sound

The Fyne Cubitt 5 sound best placed against our listening room’s rear wall, mounted on speaker stands. It is worth noting, however, that they also cope remarkably well on a desktop, resisting both low-frequency blurring and excessive desk vibration better than most rivals.

Across every input, the speakers deliver an impressively taut sound, with a vibrant, airy top end. Bass performance is at once impactful and satisfyingly neat, considering the constraints of their size.

We are immediately impressed by their textural fidelity, with the acoustic guitars of Adrienne Lenker’s Sadness As A Gift showcasing their animated and vivid presentation.

Equally propulsive and contextually sensitive, the Cubitt 5’s rhythmic drive is nothing short of impressive for their price. When listening to Fcukers’ I Like It Like That, we are immediately struck by the manner in which powerful hits of synthesised sub bass drive the song relentlessly forward without ever compromising the gossamer quality of the lead vocals.

Notably, the Cubitt 5 hold their own at high volume, staying composed even when pushed hard.

The Cubitt 5’s soundstage is impressively stable. Listening to David Bowie’s Blackstar, we note the speakers’ precise stereo presentation, with instruments sitting firmly in their places across the left/right axis.

Moving the speakers further apart, we find they are capable of significant width before any central holes begin to appear in the stereo image. With an unexaggerated sense of depth, the Cubitt 5 allow Lazarus’s smooth, layered drums to sit comfortably behind Bowie’s pained vocal.

Moving further away from the speakers, we find they retain a satisfying sense of spatial reality, even as we walk around the room.

Dynamically, the Cubitt 5 are highly responsive. Listening to Talk Talk’s The Rainbow, transitions between delicate piano chords and the brash roar of a distorted harmonica are reproduced with equivalent ease. Similarly, large jumps in volume during Radiohead’s Palo Alto are delivered with an impact that seems to sit comfortably within the speakers’ ability.

The Cubitt 5’s MM phono stage sounds pleasantly detailed and energetic when we tried it with the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, and will be fine for most users. However, if vinyl is your main source, we think it would be worth upgrading to a standalone phono stage for an extra touch of dynamic sensitivity.

An additional word of caution: we do note that the Cubitt 5 produce a slightly higher level of hiss than their rivals, which is apparent when no music is playing, but which isn’t, ultimately, loud enough to bother us during playback.

Compared to the smaller Ruark MR1 Mk3, we feel that the Cubitt 5 offer superior bass handling in terms of agility and grip, and a more faithful, if slightly less energetic, sound signature.

With a responsibly vivacious presentation, these speakers provide an honourable, if not entirely threatening, challenge to more expensive active designs such as the KEF Coda W. However, given the price difference between the two, we are happy to accept any compromises.

Verdict

With the Cubitt 5, Fyne Audio is an accomplished addition to the growing market for active speakers with Bluetooth. Their compact proportions, ease of use and feature set make them an ideal addition to a home audio set-up, especially if you have limited space.

While we would have liked to see on-board controls and a visual volume display included, these speakers nonetheless deliver an enjoyable and immersive listening experience for the price.

Review published: 26th June 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our Ruark MR1 Mk3 review

Also consider the step-up KEF Coda W active speakers

Best active speakers 2026: our experts pick the top pairs with integrated amplifiers

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

And the best OLED TVs for all budgets

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

Fyne Audio is branching into new territory with its first active speakers, the Cubitt 5, which aims to connect "a whole new generation of music lovers through audiophile sound."

The Glasgow-based hi-fi brand has been on an admirable run with its ample stable of passive loudspeakers, including Award-winning F501E floorstanders, but now it is turning its attention to a younger, more convenience-hungry audience with the Cubitt 5.

Similar to the KEF Coda W active speakers, the Cubitt 5 features amplification, power and connections housed in bookshelf speakers, with Bluetooth on the menu for easy streaming from your smartphone.

At the heart of the new speakers is Fyne's latest 12.5cm IsoFlare point-source driver, designed to produce "precise stereo imaging and natural, room-filling sound". That IsoFlare unit is complemented by 'FyneFlute' surround technology, which aims to reduce unwanted colouration and improve overall clarity by reducing the extent to which energy is reflected back down the driver cone.

Alongside Bluetooth, the Cubitt 5 boasts a built-in phono stage for connecting turntables, as well as analogue RCA and optical connections. HDMI eARC is on board for plugging in a TV, while a subwoofer out means you can add some extra bass to your setup.

High-resolution files up to 24-bit/96kHz are supported over optical, while the Bluetooth aptX HD codec is supported.

According to Fyne, the Cubitt 5 has been designed to integrate seamlessly into modern living spaces. Each speaker cabinet features Fyne's high-density construction with internal bracing for reduced vibration, alongside a front-firing bass port which allows the speakers to be placed close to a back wall.

According to Fyne Audio's MD Anji Sosna: "The Cubitt 5 is the culmination of two years research and development into how we can best bring a whole new generation of music lovers into enjoying high fidelity music reproduction at home. Most of all, it had to distil Fyne’s extensive audio engineering pedigree and sound quality into truly class-leading performance".

Available in five finishes – Midnight Black, Pearl Titanium, Olive Green, Pebble Grey or Arctic White – the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 will be on sale from June 2026, priced at £549 / €649 / $749. That makes them a more competitive option than the five-star KEF Coda W (£799 / $1000 / AU$1450) – stay tuned for our full review in the coming weeks.

MORE:

Read the Fyne F5E review

KEF Coda W vs LSX II LT: which speaker system is the best option for you?

Our guide to the best active speakers we've tested

Sony's latest AV-focused flagship smartphone is here: meet the Sony Xperia 1 VIII.

It’s good news for audio fans as, like the brand's previous offering, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is quite a rarity in smartphones and claims to "support high-quality audio using wired headphones."

It has enlisted the help of the firm's Walkman division once again to boost audio quality on this new handset.

Sony has also improved the full-stage stereo speakers, which the brand says will produce deeper bass and extended high frequencies.

The new smartphone's 6.5-inch, Full HD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display has been tuned by Bravia, and it features a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate too.

It can also automatically adjust the brightness and colour of the display according to the environment, with Sony claiming it delivers a “bright display even under sunlight”.

If you are looking at the VIII and VII editions side by side, then the immediate difference is in the camera design. Instead of having the camera lenses in a vertical line as with its predecessor, the new Xperia model features a raised camera square containing three lenses.

There are plenty of AI features packed into Sony’s latest release, including an AI camera assistant which “suggests creative expressions based on the scene recognised”. If you don’t want artificial intelligence poking around with your photography, however, there is the option to switch it off.

The brand is also implementing a new ORE-inspired design, which has a textured feel like rough stone. This comes in Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red and Native Gold colour finishes.

In terms of chipset, owners of the Xperia VIII will be looking at the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (backed up by 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage). If you choose the Gold edition, which is available in select countries in-store, then you have the option of upgrading to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

Sony also claims you can get two days of battery life from the phone, thanks to the 5000mAh battery.

The new model is launching at the same price as its predecessor in the UK, setting you back £1399 for the 256GB version and £1849 for the 1TB Gold version. When we had the Sony Xperia 1 VII in our test room, we were impressed by its detailed audio and balanced picture. Its limited HDR format and frustrating operating system quirks held it back from true greatness, but it still received a four-star rating overall.

The previous Sony phone was outshone by the five-star Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, so it will be intriguing to see how the new model compares.

MORE:

Here is our review of the Sony Xperia 1 VII

Check out the best smartphones we have tested

I will keep playing music through my phone's speakers for this very simple reason

Choosing the right floorstanding speakers is a big decision. After all, the right pair is going to supercharge your hi-fi system – but there are plenty of great options to choose from. A tempting discount is one way to make the decision a little easier.

Right now, the five-star Fyne Audio F501E floorstanders are down to just £899 at Richer Sounds. That's a solid £100 off their launch price.

Even better news? They're not just one of the best floorstanding speakers we've ever tested, they're our overall top pick at the moment, having scooped Product of the Year at the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Awards.

The Fyne Audio F501E provide the best value for money at their sub-£1000 price point, made even sweeter by this enticing deal.

They are, to be frank, outstanding loudspeakers at this mid-range level. And while they're not particularly stunning to look at, with Black Ash the only finish on offer, they certainly deliver top-class performance.

In fact, our expert testers said: "It doesn’t take long to realise that the F501E are hugely capable. They do the basics well by offering good insight and delivering decently balanced tonality."

And it's how they sound that really got us singing their praises in our full review: "We like the Fyne’s sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand.

"Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards. We push the volume levels northward to see how the F501E cope – they tick that box confidently at anything that passes for normal listening levels."

The Isoflare drive array unit (a proprietary premium technology available at this price for the first time) properly delivers, offering a sense of dispersion and scale and keeping the lower frequencies taut and completely in check.

Thanks to their downward-firing port arrangement, these Fynes aren’t hugely fussy about positioning, although we found they performed best around 70cm or so out from the rear wall and well away from the sides of our test room.

In terms of partnering the speakers with suitable electronics, it goes without saying that a good quality stereo amplifier will go a long way to extracting the very best performance from the F501E. And our expert testers found them to be relatively accommodating in terms of partnering gear.

We tested them with Arcam’s A5 (50 watts per channel), the Naim Nait XS3 (70 watts per channel) and PMC’s Cor (95 watts per channel), and they sounded great with all three amplifiers.

Ultimately, the F501E's set a new benchmark for value. They're nuanced performers with a fluid and expressive manner that's fun to listen to.

And they've just upped the performance-per-pound ante, dropping to £899 at Richer Sounds.

MORE:

Read our full Fyne Audio F501E review

Our pick of the best floorstanding speakers you can buy for all budgets

Standmounts vs floorstanders: which speaker type should you buy?

If you're in the market for a pair of active Bluetooth speakers with ample connectivity, then you're in luck, as French hi-fi brand Elipson has put its hat into this particular ring.

Elipson's Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT is a pair of active bookshelf speakers sporting Bluetooth connectivity alongside HDMI ARC and a moving magnet phono stage. The new active model joins Elipson's Prestige Facet II loudspeaker range that launched last year with 10 models, from floorstanders to Dolby Atmos speakers.

The Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT has a 25mm tweeter and a 12.7cm (5-inch) mid/bass driver and features 50 watts of Class D amplification per channel, with a completely redesigned crossover. The aim is to deliver a "complete, high performance audio solution that is easy to integrate in a workspace, a living room or any multimedia environment."

Bluetooth 5.3 is on board with support for the aptX HD codec for easy streaming from mobile devices. Physical connections include RCA line level, optical and coaxial inputs, and an HDMI ARC input for using the speakers with your TV. Elipson says the Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT speakers could "replace a soundbar for users seeking an elegant and high performance stereo solution."

The aforementioned moving magnet phono stage means you can directly plug your turntable into the active speakers without the need for extra amplifier boxes. Additionally, a USB-C audio input supports playback of hi-res 24-bit/192kHz files directly from your laptop, offering a "wider soundstage, reduced background noise and enhanced dynamics."

There is also a subwoofer output if you want even more bass extension, and each pair comes with a remote control. The speakers will be available in three finishes: black matt, white matt, and black matt/walnut.

The Elipson speakers will be available at the end of March and will cost £599 per pair.

That's a fair bit pricier than some of the best active/powered desktop models we've tested recently, which include the Award-winning Ruark MR1 Mk3 (£399) and the five-star Onkyo GX-30ARC (£299-£339), both of which offer Bluetooth, USB-C and built-in phono stages of good quality, while the Onkyo also has an HDMI ARC input.

Compared to these rivals, Elipson's active speakers are also a fair bit bigger at 29.8 x 17.6 x 22.3cm, more like 'normal' bookshelf speakers – which could potentially be good news for their sound performance.

MORE:

Best active speakers 2026: our experts pick the top pairs with integrated amplifiers

Onkyo, Ruark and Philips are all vying for desktop speaker supremacy – so which pair should you pick?

Philips' do-it-all microsystem boasts AirPlay 2 and Tidal Connect alongside a built-in CD player

Australian hi-fi brand Burson Audio has unveiled its new Stellar series of compact Class A desktop components.

The new series currently consists of the Conductor Stellar, which acts as a DAC as well as a Class A headphone amp and desktop preamplifier, alongside the Soloist Stellar headphone amplifier and preamp.

Both members of the new Stellar range are built to power a wide range of headphones, from in-ear monitors to more demanding planar magnetic models, with each featuring a dedicated ultra-low-noise amplification stage in order to reveal “exceptional micro-detail and realism” no matter the headphones used.

Both models pack 8 watts of Class A power, designed to deliver “outstanding resolution, dynamic contrast, and clarity”. For both, each channel is powered by four optimised Onsemi MJE15032 transistors in a bid to bring out the “control and musicality” of the new range.

At its core, the more costly and versatile Conductor Stellar features an ESS9039PRO DAC chip in pursuit of “exceptional resolution and dynamic range”.

The Conductor offers balanced XLR and RCA inputs and a USB-C input alongside 6.35mm and 3.5mm outputs, as well as XLR and RCA outputs and a subwoofer out. The Soloist, meanwhile, features balanced XLR, 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone ports alongside XLR and RCA outputs and a sub out.

The new unit is capable of handling PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside native DSD512, while wireless connectivity comes via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for the high-quality LDAC and aptX HD codecs for wire-free streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz.

The Burson Audio Conductor Stellar is available now, priced £2000 / $1800 / €1900 / AU$2800. The Soloist Stellar is also out now, and will set you back £1700 / $1500 / €1600 / AU$2600.

MORE:

The iconic Rega Planar 3 turntable and an Award-winning CD player are at the heart of this awesome hi-fi system

1976 changed music for ever – and these 10 tracks still sound phenomenal today

Best DACs: tried and tested by our experts

We’re getting into serious hi-fi territory here. This set-up, of four superb products, proves you don’t have to spend really silly money on getting stunning stereo ability.

For just over three grand (in the UK, that is; those in US and Australia will be paying a bit more), you are getting here a system that will give you many years of service playing your vinyl and digital discs. And, of course, there is always the scope to upgrade, should you feel the need, adding (say) a music streamer to the party.

That might not be needed for a while though, as the CD player here has the ability to handle hi-res files as well, so there’s plenty of variety available here straight out of the box.

The system

• Turntable: Rega Planar 3/Nd3 – £840 / $1395 / AU$1799
• CD player: Arcam CD5 – £699 / $770 / AU$1495
• Integrated amplifier: Rega Brio Mk7 – £799 / $1095 / AU$1699
• Floorstanding speakers: Fyne Audio F501E – £999 / $1299 / AU$1999
• Total system price: £3337 / $4559 / AU$6992

Turntable: Rega Planar 3/Nd3

Rega’s Planar 3 record deck has been around for as long as What Hi-Fi? – that is to say, it is now in its 50th year, having been launched back in 1976. In that time, of course, it has been tweaked, upgraded, improved, and lots of other words implying generally made better, on numerous occasions.

Probably the biggest evolution came a decade or so ago in 2016, but it was buffed again in 2024. The minimal but well made Planar 3 is now available in four finish options: black, white or red, all in gloss, and a light-oak finish. The big change last year, though, was the switch of cartridge from the Elys2 to the newer Nd3.

As we say in our most recent Planar 3 review: “The comparisons between the Nd3 and long-running Elys 2 don’t take long to make. As we work our way through Michael Jackson’s Bad set, The Boatman’s Call by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, it becomes clear that the new cartridge is better in just about every area.” And the Elys 2 package had won plenty of Awards itself, remember.

“The Nd3 tells us more about the recording, rendering vocals and instrumental textures more convincingly. It has stronger dynamics too.”

So what we have is a package that improved on an already rival-beating forebear, and not for too much extra money either. No-brainer there, then.

CD player: Arcam CD5

The turntable is joined here by Arcam’s new(ish – it came out in 2023) CD5 CD player. New kid it may be, but the CD5 has fast become a mid-price contender.

Connections have been kept frugal, with a single pair of RCA line level outputs and, on the digital side, one optical and one coaxial output apiece. Importantly, though, and as referenced above, you can also play music files (in FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 and AAC formats up to 24-bit/192kHz) if they are stored on a USB flash drive or hard disk, thanks to the USB-A input on the back panel.

It is a tremendously entertaining and talented performer with an engaging, punchy and muscular delivery. It’s a great big spread of sound that fills up a room easily, but never overwhelms, staying on the pleasant side of transparent and neutral. The CD5 offers an evenly balanced performance throughout: the treble bites but never makes us wince, while the muscular low end has a satisfying solidity that keeps us connected to every genre of music.

As we say in our review: “Most of all, it’s just fun to listen to. The CD5’s rich and likeable presentation delivers the essence of a song in the most entertaining way, while also ensuring it hits all the right hi-fi notes along the way.”

Integrated amplifier: Rega Brio Mk7

The Rega Brio amplifier, like its stablemate turntable in this system, has been around for quite some time – in this case since 1991. Now in its Mk7 iteration, it (finally) acknowledges the world in which we’re living, and includes digital inputs for the first time (potential system-upgrade potential alert).

With the improvements to this version of the Brio, however, also came an increase in price – and we were somewhat concerned that it might not be able to compete as effectively in this higher price bracket. Clearly, we shouldn’t have worried.

Judged by those price standards, it is a hugely accomplished performer that puts clear air between itself and its predecessor. “As we compare the two, it doesn’t take long to appreciate the new amplifier’s greater insight, organisation and improved dynamic expression.

“The Brio Mk7 has a bold presentation, one that brims with confidence and substance… it is hard not to be impressed by the Brio’s taut, grounded, low-frequency performance and its ability to deliver dynamic contests with conviction. It has a firm grip of rhythms too, giving the music a solid foundation and a great sense of momentum.”

Floorstanding speakers: Fyne Audio F501E

We needed speakers in this system to take advantage of all the musical strengths the sources and amplifier bring to the party, of course.

And Fyne Audio have absolutely pulled it out of the bag with the What Hi-Fi? floorstanding speaker Product of the Year winners, the F501E.

The big news for this impressive entry level floorstander is that Fyne’s trademark Isoflare driver array, where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit, has trickled down to this range for the first time.

General build quality is as solid and neat as expected at this level. However, these speakers are available only in a black-ash vinyl wrap. The lower production cost of having just a single finish is a part of the reason Fyne can achieve such an aggressive price for the F501E. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a compromise that we – after hearing these superb floorstanders perform – are only too willing to make.

One of the advantages of a coaxial configuration such as the Isoflare array is that it disperses sound more consistently as we move off-axis. This trait pays dividends in the F501E’s focused and layered stereo imaging and the way its soundstage remains stable even when we move away from the (relatively wide) sweet spot.

“We like the sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand,” we say in our review. “Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards. We push the volume levels northward to see how the F501E cope – they tick that box confidently at anything that passes for normal listening levels.

“These towers are a fun listen too, as a trip down memory lane with The Low End Theory from A Tribe Called Quest proves. The F501E are fluid and expressive. They track rhythms with determination while communicating changes in musical momentum in a natural and convincing manner.”

We sum up our review of the speakers thus: “The F501E is a talented all-rounder that has a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price.” And really, that sentence could stand for each of the products in this impressive system.

The fact that, on top of that, they all gel together so remarkably well, means that this is a quartet that you just won’t be able to top at this price.

MORE:

The best floorstanding speakers we've tested and recommend

This neat streaming and vinyl system is a modern take on a classic hi-fi setup – fewer boxes, great sound

This golden trio of Award-winning products gel together to deliver a superb-sounding streaming system

It may be Valentine's weekend, but our heads have well and truly been turned by some of the excellent deals on offer this week.

And we mean excellent – every one of the products below is a past or present Award winner, so you can be sure of quality that stands out from the competition.

Highlights include a whopping £140 off the JBL Xtreme 4, our favourite premium Bluetooth speaker, which has crashed down to a more mid-range price. Talking of premium, our favourite high-end wireless earbuds are also on sale again for the first time since Black Friday, with the Technics EAH-AZ100 reaching a new record low price.

And lastly, our favourite multi-room speaker, the Audio Pro C20 W, is enjoying its first-ever discount after many months of us hoping and praying.

As ever, all products below are reviewed, rated and recommended by us – with a particularly thorough process to determine our Award-winners. So the below have definitely worked hard to get such high praise!

So without further ado, here are the deals:

The January sales may be over, but there's still a surprising amount of good deals popping up as we enter February.

It's been a great week for projector deals in particular, with discounts on everything from 4K home cinema models to portable garden options.

We've included the eminently likeable Nebula X1 on our Deals of the Week list this week after it returned to its record low price, but there are several other categories seeing significant savings.

The detailed and already affordable Elac Debut 3.0 DB53 are nearly half price with £130 off, while the five-star Denon AVC-X3800H AV receiver also has a tidy £500 off. Or for those after a whole surround sound system, the Award-winning Marantz Cinema 30 and the recently reviewed Fyne Audio F500E AV Pack 2 are available together with a £750 saving.

If you couldn't tell already, we've tested and reviewed every product we recommend. So you can shop with peace of mind knowing you're getting some quality AV hardware with the What Hi-Fi? seal of approval.

So, here are the all-important deals...

Yamaha is a difficult company to pigeonhole. It dominates the musical instruments market, manufacturing everything from grand pianos and electronic keyboards to guitars and trumpets. The brand is also rather good at making motorbikes, engines and jet skis.

In the world of domestic consumer electronics, Yamaha has spent recent decades focusing on the home cinema market, particularly AV amplifiers and soundbars, so much so that it is easy to forget the brand’s rich hi-fi heritage. The NS-1000 speakers of the 1970s are a highlight, as are the more recent, Award-winning YH-5000SE planar magnetic wired headphones, but there are so many others.

What does all of this have to do with the new high-end Yamaha C-5000/M-5000 preamp/stereo power amplifier combination we have on test here? To our way of thinking, any company so involved in music-making and the playback chain is ideally placed to make a no-compromise piece of hi-fi. Given Yamaha’s broad spread of expertise and the scale of the resources at its disposal, the prospect is enticing.

Features & connectivity

The C-5000 preamp (£8599 / £10,999 / AU$12,999) is a well-equipped unit, though perhaps more focused than we would have expected. This is a wholly analogue product, with plenty of connectivity and a serious moving magnet/moving coil phono stage.

We can’t imagine the C-5000 preamp getting caught short with its six line-level inputs that include two sets of stereo balanced XLRs. Even the phono stage offers balanced XLR connectivity to partner the conventional RCA option. Those expecting digital inputs or even Bluetooth are in for a disappointment; Yamaha has chosen a more purist route in a bid to optimise performance, which is fine by us.

In our experience, even the digital modules included in car money components often struggle to sound better than standalone units like Chord’s Qutest DAC (£1195 / $1625 / AU$2400), so we think Yamaha’s decision to exclude the digital circuit makes sense. Doing so also avoids any unwanted interactions spoiling the preamp’s analogue line-level performance.

The C-5000 has a trio of line-level outputs: two single-ended stereo pairs and a balanced XLR option. There is a 6.3mm headphone socket on the front, accompanied by a trim control that helps to compensate for different headphones with varying sensitivity. This is a thoughtful touch by the engineers that keeps the volume control operating across a usable range.

You will also find a subsonic filter switch on the front panel. This is useful for minimising any rumble or ultra-low frequency noise generated by the partnering record player that could cause your speaker’s woofer to move excessively. The waste of power and additional distortion associated with such cone movement is well worth avoiding. However, while this filter does as advertised, it also degrades the preamp’s transparency a little.

Other controls include tone adjustments that are subtle enough to be useful, preamp output attenuation to optimise use with third-party power amplifiers and a cartridge gain selector with loading options for moving coils.

The M-5000 power amplifier (£8599 / £10,999 / AU$12,999) is a hefty 27kg beast that delivers 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and doubles that output as impedance halves. We doubt there are many domestic speakers that it couldn’t drive to high volume levels.

Even so, flick the small toggle on the back panel and the M-5000 reconfigures into a bridged monobloc capable of pumping out 400 watts into 8 ohms. That should be plenty, even for those with large rooms.

Other switches on the M-5000’s back panel invert phase and govern whether the power amplifier goes into standby automatically or not. Inputs? It will come as no surprise that there are both single-ended and balanced input options.

Build & design

Both of these products are immaculately made inside and out, as befits their high price tag. Their caseworks are made of beautifully finished slabs of aluminium, and each of the panel lines up perfectly. We love the flawless mirror finish on the gloss black wooden side cheeks and suspect that the company’s experience with its similarly furnished grand pianos pays dividends here.

These Yamaha products are truly tactile treats to use, with each switch and control working with precision and positivity. The nicely tapered volume dial even uses ball bearings to ensure smooth operation. The C-5000 preamp’s simple yet effective remote is nice enough to add to the feel-good factor.

Take a look inside the pre and power, and you will find that both designs are built around fully balanced circuits with a ‘floating’ ground, which means that any ground plane noise isn’t injected into the audio signal. Great care has been taken over the power supply arrangements to ensure that the sensitive audio boards get a stable and low-noise feed.

The C-5000 preamp even uses dual mains transformers to avoid unwanted interaction between the two stereo channels. These transformers are encased in copper to control stray magnetic fields and reduce any mechanical vibrations. Yamaha has really pushed the boat out with the preamp’s circuit layout with mirror-imaged signal paths for the left and right channels to ensure identical routing, helping stereo imaging.

Of course, we have to mention the M-5000 power amplifier’s huge VU meters. They may not be the last word in accuracy, given that their mechanical nature means they take a certain time to react to the signal, but they look lovely and add an extra touch of class to the visuals.

Any amplifier at this level positively demands a top-class partnering system. Our sources are Naim’s range-topping ND555/555 PS DR music streamer and the Technics SL-1000R record player. As for cartridges, we have our usual Kiseki Purpleheart to test out the C-5000’s moving coil performance and a Vertere Dark Sabre for moving magnet duties.

Speakers? The bulk of our testing sees us use the ATC SCM50, but we also spend a fair amount of time with Fyne’s rather talented F1-8 standmounters.

Sound

Given their imposing size and hefty power output, we would expect this Yamaha duo to go big on scale, authority and dynamic reach, and it does. But those things aren’t the highlights of what turns out to be an impressively sophisticated and natural performance.

The biggest compliment we can give to this Yamaha combination is that, after a short time, we don’t even notice it in our system. We end up spending far more time thinking about our speaker choice or the quality of the recording than what the Yamaha amplifiers are doing. This pairing just goes about its business without drawing any undue attention, and if you think about it, that’s exactly what an amplifier should do.

This combo has the talent to deliver Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata with all the finesse and subtlety it deserves. There is plenty of detail, of course, and all that information is organised with care. The result is that the piano at the core of the piece sounds as harmonically rich and natural as we’ve heard at this level.

We’ve already written the word ‘natural’ twice, and our thoughts keep coming back to just how unexaggerated and even-handed this amplifier pairing sounds. Low-level dynamic shifts are rendered with unusual fluidity and ease, while larger-scale changes in intensity are delivered with verve. Importantly, this never comes at the expense of control or composure.

Tonally, things are spot-on and as balanced as you like. As we work our way through our collection of classical and jazz recordings from Coltrane’s Love Supreme to Shostakovich’s dense Symphony No.10 through to Olafur Arnald’s Found Songs, we can’t help but be impressed by the C-5000/M-5000’s chameleon-like nature.

This duo can stretch the impression of scale and authority as the recording demands, sounding bold and powerful with the Shostakovich piece, offering impressive insight into the complex work, while rendering Found Songs with real intimacy. This amplifier is agile when the music demands, yet can produce a sound of breathtaking solidity and power when required.

Stereo imaging is accomplished too, with a nicely layered soundstage and precisely located instruments. We are pleased with the stability on offer and the convincing sense of image depth.

Moving to other genres of music reinforces our opinion of the Yamaha’s admirably accommodating nature. Ice T’s O.G. Original Gangster comes through with plenty of rhythmic drive and a full dose of menace. His bold and aggressive vocal delivery cuts through the mix as it should, and bass lines are rendered with power, punch and precision.

Similarly, we have a great deal of fun listening to Quincy Jones’s The Dude set with its complex production, immaculate musicianship and vivid dynamics. This Yamaha pairing shows no favour and treats all types of music equally well.

Feed this Yamaha pairing a poor recording, and it won’t hide the flaws. This is a highly revealing performer after all, but provided you’ve partnered it with suitable care, it won’t go out of its way to highlight the recording’s shortcomings over the positives.

We’re pleased to report that the C-5000’s phono stage is good too. It is decently quiet and retains the refinement and insight we hear through the line stages. If vinyl were our main source, then we would still be tempted to add an outboard unit like Luxman’s excellent E-07 to optimise the results with records. But, if the record player is going to be an occasional listen for you, then the phono stage built into the C-5000 is more than good enough to satisfy.

Equally, we’re pleased with the sound we hear through the headphone output. We try both the Sony MDR-Z1R, as well as Yamaha’s own excellent YH-5000SE headphones, and enjoy the results. The sound out of the headphone socket is detailed, clean and crisp without losing any of the energy we so enjoy with speakers.

Verdict

Yamaha may not be the first brand that comes to mind when we think of high-end amplification, but this C-5000/M-5000 pairing proves that it is capable of producing truly excellent products when it wants to.

If you are lucky enough to be able to buy at this level, this pairing is hard to beat when it comes to the blend of build, finish and performance. Take a listen. We’re sure you’ll be as impressed as we are.

Review published: 2nd February 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Also consider the Chord Pre 3/Ultima 6

Best stereo amplifiers: 9 class leaders chosen by our review experts

Integrated vs pre/power amplification: the pros, cons and which is best for you

Fyne Audio made waves in our hi-fi testing room with its F501E floorstanding speakers, earning a coveted Product of the Year title in 2025. You can, therefore, imagine our excitement when Fyne revealed that it offers a full 5.1 surround sound system that features these speakers in the headlining spot.

However, as any concert-goer knows, a good headliner is even better when it's backed up by a talented support act, and with the Fyne Audio F5E scoring a still admirable, but not perfect, four stars recently, we do have some reservations about whether this system can rival the likes of the Award-winning KEF and Bowers & Wilkins systems.

And we can’t forget about the centre channel and subwoofer, as these components take two pairs of stereo speakers and make them into a fully fledged surround sound system, which Fyne is calling the F500E AV Pack 2. Yes, an AV Pack 1 exists, though it swaps the front speakers for an additional pair of F5E speakers.

With all that in mind, can Fyne Audio deliver a 5.1 system that ticks all of our boxes? Simply put, the F500E AV Pack 2 is certainly cinematic, but it’s also a little rough around the edges…

Price

Breaking that £2500 total price down, we have the F501E floorstanders for £999, the F5E surround speakers for £399, the F502E LCR centre speaker for £600, and the F3.10 subwoofer for £500.

At the time of writing, Peter Tyson is offering the speakers as a bundle, somewhat confusingly under the name 'Fyne Audio F501e 5.1 Speaker Package', but with a big discount that takes the all-in price down to £2249.

Other retailers may soon offer a bundle, too, and even those that don't might well be willing to match the Peter Tyson price if you ask nicely.

You’ll notice that we’re only including UK pricing here. That's because certain components – namely the centre channel and subwoofer – don’t seem to be available in the US and Australia.

Competition in this price range is surprisingly fierce. The Fyne Audio package is among Award-winning peers, including the Bowers & Wilkins 606/607 S3 speaker package, which we reviewed at £2496 but can now be found for around £1999.

KEF also sells its mighty Q Concerto Meta 5.1 package for £2549 at select retailers. While that is a step up in price, the performance increase may well justify the additional outlay, as we’ll find out later in this review.

Build

If we had to distil our feelings towards the styling of the F501E system down to one word, it would be “functional”.

The floorstanding speakers that make up a predominant portion of this system look neat, and the black ash vinyl finish feels high-quality enough to the touch, but they don’t spark the same allure that the trendy KEF Q Concerto Meta speakers do in that Award-winning 5.1 system.

You’ll also need to ensure you have ample space, as they measure in at a substantial 98 x 25 x 29cm (hwd).

Thankfully, the modest F5E bookshelf speakers are less demanding, as they only measure 27 x 17 x 23cm, though you will have to provide and factor in the space requirements for a pair of speaker stands, or you can wall-mount them if your space allows.

Furthermore, they’re wrapped in the same black ash vinyl, which looks smart enough, but doesn’t exude a luxurious feel, as is present with the similarly priced KEF and B&W packages.

This sentiment is most felt in the bulky F502E LCR centre speaker, which measures in at 25 x 68 x 25cm. It’s designed to be wall-mounted, and it features screw hooks on the back to support this, but the sheer size of it means that your TV or projector screen will have to be fairly high up to accommodate its height.

Also, we could not find any attachable rubber feet in the box to use this in a tabletop set-up. However, as the sound section of this review will reveal, that may be intentional.

The F3.10 subwoofer measures 34 x 41 x 39cm, and it’s wrapped in a matching black ash vinyl finish, which complements the rest of the components nicely.

Overall, the exposed screws, basic styling and mismatch of speaker sizes can make this system look somewhat slapdash, which is slightly disappointing when we look at Fyne Audio’s wider range of eye-catching hi-fi speakers.

Features

Fyne Audio’s IsoFlare point source driver array is front and centre in this system, literally, and it’s also found in the surround speakers too.

This proprietary driver, in which the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit, has previously been reserved for higher-end models within Fyne’s speaker ranges; however, it’s trickled down to the more affordable F501E and F5E stereo speakers, as well as the F502 LCR centre speaker.

The F501E speakers sport a 2.5-way design, with a downward-firing port that utilises the company’s BassTrax Tractrix diffuser technology, which aims to deliver more uniform bass dispersion around your listening space.

These floorstanders each sport a 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass driver with a 25mm titanium dome compression tweeter, paired with a 15cm multi-fibre bass driver.

The F5E, on the other hand, feature a 2-way design, with a 125mm IsoFlare, multi-fibre mid/bass driver, with a 19mm titanium dome compression tweeter. Much like their floorstanding counterparts, these bookshelf speakers also have a downward-firing port with Fyne Audio’s BassTrax Tractix diffuser.

The F502E LCR, on the other hand, sports a 2.5-way design with a 200mm IsoFlare multi-fibre mid/bass driver with a 25mm titanium dome compression tweeter, flanked by electromagnetically damped 20cm bass and 20cm ABR drivers.

Rounding things out with the F3.10 subwoofer, which pairs a 25cm woofer with 450W of amplification. Fyne has outfitted a down-firing low-turbulence port, which it says will deliver “consistent in-room performance”.

Sound

The most important aspect of any home cinema speaker system is, of course, how it sounds. Considering that the F501E proved to be a hit in our hi-fi testing room, and the F5E also scored admirably, we have high hopes (and expectations) for the sonic capabilities of this system.

We’ve paired the F501E package with our reference Marantz Cinema 30 amplifier, alongside the Oppo UDP 203 4K Blu-ray player, which is sadly no longer on sale. We also have the KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1, and Bowers & Wilkins 606/607 S3 speaker packages on hand as two Award-winning reference points to compare the Fyne system with.

Starting with Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, we immediately deduce that the main objective of this speaker system is to deliver a sound with immense cinematic scale. The sequence in which the group of anti-heroes escape a facility with the seemingly non-super-powered Bob is conveyed with a serious dose of punch, which heightens the excitement throughout.

As the thunderous score reaches its crescendo after a shocking revelation about Bob, we find it hard not to get drawn into the scene, thanks to the Fyne’s bold and dramatic dynamic shifts.

While scale is prioritised, we’re pleased to find that detail isn’t sacrificed as a result. The crispness and clarity of the F501E floorstanders are a huge benefit to the system as a whole, as details are captured throughout the scene with plenty of texture.

Switching to Blade Runner 2049 to assess the low-end capabilities of the subwoofer, we find the F3.10 to deliver weighty and agile bass that does a solid job of building tension in the infamous chapter two sequence.

Some fuzz does creep in during the deepest parts of the sequence, and it isn’t as taut or snappy as its rivals. Nevertheless, the Fyne subwoofer does a solid job of adding some low-end oomph to the system.

What's more, this system nails the “surround” aspect of “surround sound”. The cat and mouse chase sequence in No Time To Die, in which 007 has to evade a group of henchmen in 4x4s and on motorcycles, is presented in a way that puts us immediately into the centre of the action, with effects passing around our seating position and towards the surround speakers with solid accuracy and fluidity.

This does, however, bring us to the biggest drawback of the system. While the surround effect is convincing, we wouldn’t necessarily say that there is much cohesion when it comes to the sonic character of each component.

This is most felt with the centre speaker, which can sometimes feel at odds with the rest of the system. While the F501E floorstanders deliver quite a clean, clear and engaging sound, the F502E LCR can sound a bit softer and less defined.

We should note that this centre speaker seems to perform better when placed against a wall; however, even in the optimal position, we find that voices lack purity and can sound somewhat recessed.

The F5E surround speakers aren’t a perfect match either, meaning that we sometimes notice a slight sonic mismatch here, too.

This becomes more evident when we compare this system with the KEF and B&W alternatives, both of which feature stellar sonic cohesion across their respective components, and handle dialogue with detail and consideration in equal measures.

We find that both of these systems offer a more agile and precise sound, too, whereas the Fyne package continues to prioritise scale and cinematic punch at the expense of some dexterity.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The F500E package proves to be an exciting and engaging surround sound system throughout our testing, and we find ourselves appreciating the sheer magnitude of the sound this system produces. That being said, its Award-winning peers offer a bit more in terms of sonic subtlety.

Verdict

The Fyne Audio F500E Pack 2 has many positive attributes, and it will appeal to anyone who favours big, punchy and broad cinematic sound. It can be fairly revealing thanks to the detailed and crisp F501E front speakers, but as good as these floorstanders are, we feel as though the rest of the system can let them down.

The F5E surrounds aren’t miles off, and they play a key role in delivering a truly impressive surround sound effect, but the centre channel is less appealing, thanks to its bulky frame and softer sonic characteristics.

Still, while the system as a whole falls short of true greatness, there's still much enjoyment to be found in its bold delivery.

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 4
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Bowers & Wilkins 606/607 S3 Speaker Package

Also consider the KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Speaker System

Read our Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package review

Best surround sound systems: home cinema speakers and soundbars put to the test

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

We're halfway through January now, but the New Year sales are still delivering the goods when it comes to discounts.

The bar has been set particularly high this week, with every product featured either a past or present Award winner.

This includes a Product of the Year winner in the Fyne Audio F501E, fantastic floorstanders which are seeing a ten per cent saving.

That is far from the only great deal available, though – see what else is on offer below:

MORE:

See all our 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award winners

KEF, Sony, Spotify and Harman all feature in our rundown of 2025’s hi-fi and home cinema highlights

9 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system

Folks, we're battling through January.

But amongst the post-Christmas comedown and freezing temperatures, there is one shining light through the doom and gloom: the January sales.

The sales have been especially kind this year, with several Award-winners seeing prices slashed, half-price discounts on older products and even some recent favourites seeing impressive savings already.

On the home cinema side, highlights include a discount on the recently-reviewed Philips OLED910, a close competitor of the Sony Bravia 8 II despite costing hundreds less. There's also 46 per cent off a Samsung soundbar we reviewed only last month, and a sweet saving on our favourite budget TV.

The hi-fi side has spoilt us, however, with deals on headphones, streamers and speakers galore. This includes a Product of the Year in the superb Fyne Audio F501E floorstanders, as well as several other Award-winners such as the multi-talented Technics SA-C600 and great value Sony WF-C510.

Let's not hang around then – see the best deals from the January sales below.

MORE:

Hi-fi and luxury have always been intertwined, but is style as important as sonic substance?

The new LG C6 OLED TV features Primary RGB Tandem panel tech – there's just one problem…

Onkyo celebrates its 80th anniversary with all-new Muse streaming amplifiers

Are you craving smooth, rich, and powerful cinematic sound? Then you need one of the best AV receivers that money can buy. It's the Marantz Cinema 30, and right now it's discounted by £500 down to £3499 at Peter Tyson.

The Cinema 30 is for the person who desires a serious cinema setup and has the funds to indulge it. This is a feature-rich amplifier with a premium build quality, and it sounds absolutely fantastic! You really do get what you pay for here.

Premium price, elite performance: the Award-winning Marantz Cinema 30 is a feature-rich beast that dominates its class.

We deem the Cinema 30, in our review, to be an AVR of “rare ability”, due to its sensational cinematic sound. Rich, punchy, dynamic, detailed, this AVR has it all – and it's the perfect amplifier to take your home cinema to the next level if you've been thinking of upgrading.

With 11 channels of amplification and a claimed 140W of power when two channels are driven, the Cinema 30 can easily drive a 7.2.2 channel Dolby Atmos system. DTS:X and Auro-3D are also on board, and you can easily configure and calibrate your system with the included Audyssey microphone.

It's the perfect hub for all of your connected devices, thanks to its seven HDMI 2.1 inputs, all of which support up to 4K/120Hz or 8K/60Hz with VRR, ALLM and QMS. HDR is also supported in all of the major formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG.

Wireless streaming is another key component of this AVR, with a wide range of services supported. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Music HD, and HEOS are all available, allowing you to beam music directly to the amplifier from a smartphone or tablet.

We also have to give Marantz credit for how this AVR looks. Available in two finishes – Black or Silver Gold – the Cinema 30 is a handsome piece of home cinema kit, with Marantz's iconic circular display up front and sleek accent lighting that accentuates the textured metal finish; this AVR is easily one of the best-looking home cinema amplifier we have tested.

Having all of these features and good looks to match is all well and good, but sound performance is paramount, of course. Thankfully, the Cinema 30 delivers a smooth and refined sound that can balance huge scale and control without breaking a sweat.

This AVR has earned its spot as the reference amplifier in our AV testing room, which should serve as a testament to its performance. We have been using it to test the capabilities of the latest speaker packages from Fyne Audio and KEF, so keep your eyes peeled for reviews of those 5.1 speaker systems coming soon.

The on-screen setup menus and easy calibration have made this process refreshingly simple, and its reference-worthy sound has ensured that these speakers are performing at their very best.

If you've been considering an AVR upgrade for your home cinema setup, the Marantz Cinema 30 is simply the best around at this price. While it costs quite a lot more than our current AV receiver Product of the Year – the Sony TA-AN1000 – its stellar sound (and looks) make it a serious consideration if you have extra cash to spend.

This deal at Peter Tyson will, of course, soften the blow to your wallet, and we assure you that you won't regret the purchase once you hear it in action.

MORE:

Read our full Maratnz Cinema 30 review

Here are the reference home cinema products we use every single day

How to set up your AV receiver and get the best sound

Here at What Hi-Fi? we love a good floorstanding speaker – especially those we rate at five stars and that are available with a tempting discount.

Which is exactly what we have here with Fyne Audio’s superb F501E towers. This model isn't only a five-star belter, though – it's also the holder of a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year Award!

We deemed the Fynes ‘Best floorstanding speaker £500-£1000’, and the F501E are now showing their first ever discount of £100 over at Richer Sounds. This takes their price down from £999 to £899, a tasty 10% off.

The F501E might be part of Fyne Audio’s entry-level range of speakers, but they perform above and beyond their asking price.

In our Fyne Audio F501E review, we describe the speaker as being “a talented all-rounder that has a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price.”

“We like the Fyne’s sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand. Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards.”

Fyne Audio’s trademark Isoflare driver array, which features the tweeter positioned at the throat of the mid/bass unit, is typically reserved for its more expensive loudspeakers, but it’s present on this entry-level model.

And in our review, we praise its performance, saying, “Having the acoustic centres of the tweeter and mid/bass aligned helps with integration; the result is a crisp and forthright performance with vocals that captures nuances and subtle shifts in intensity superbly.”

Build quality is solid and neat, although some might be disappointed to learn they are available only in a single finish, Black Ash.

Thanks to their downward-firing port arrangement, these Fyne’s aren’t hugely fussy about positioning, although we found they performed best around 70cm or so out from the rear wall and well away from the sides of our test room.

In terms of partnering the speakers with suitable electronics, it goes without saying that a good-quality stereo amplifier will go a long way to extracting the very best performance from the F501E.

They will deliver the goods in modestly priced systems, yet have enough in reserve to handle a move up in quality should you be considering an electronics upgrade.

We tested them with Arcam’s A5 (50 watts per channel) and Naim Nait XS3 (70 watts per channel) to PMC’s Cor (95 watts per channel) amplifiers, and they performed without any problems.

If you want an epic floorstander at an attractive price, we heartily recommend you audition the Fyne Audio F501E and take advantage of this £100 saving at Richer Sounds.

MORE:

Our pick of the best floorstanding speakers you can buy for all budgets

Standmounts vs floorstanders: which speaker type should you buy?

Read our full Fyne Audio F501E review

It's a brand new year! Happy new year to our readers, and we are here to brighten the January blues by giving you an insight into the hi-fi and home cinema products we have in for review this month.

While we try to clear away the festive-induced cobwebs and tackle 2026 with refreshed energy, there is no time to catch our breath when it comes to what's really important to us at What Hi-Fi? towers: reviews.

Our listening rooms have already opened the doors to new products as we get back to work on our first week, and we have on the testing block products as varied as Rega's flagship pre/power amplifiers, high-end open-back headphones and a new contender in the premium 4K projector space.

Below is a small selection of the tantalising products we have in for testing this month. Get in touch with us via whathifi@futurenet.com if you have any questions about them, and we can endeavour to answer your query during testing.

Rega Mercury and Solis

They're finally here. Rega's Mercury and Solis pre/power are the brand's new high-end flagship amplifiers, and they are finally in full production flow, after early concepts and units were teased and previewed at trade shows over the past year.

The pre/power duo costs £13,900 in total (approx. $21,000 / AU$29,000), and are, according to the brand, "the culmination of almost four decades of Rega electronics engineering experience in solid-state amplifier development". The engineers have obsessively worked on this new flagship, choosing components intentionally (even older DAC chips, for instance) to prioritise sound quality above all.

The preamp features line-level and balanced XLR inputs, coaxial and optical inputs, and USB type B, with the internal DAC supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD64 file resolutions. The power amp outputs a claimed 168W per channel into 8 ohms – it may not be the flashiest product in terms of specs and design, but here's hoping that Rega can deliver where it really counts: pure audio performance and enjoyment.

We've got review samples of the Mercury/Solis in right now and are currently testing them – stay tuned for the full review in a few weeks.

Quad 3

Here's another product we've been dying to get into our test rooms ever since we first laid eyes on it last year. The Quad 3 amplifier takes inspiration from the charming 33 / 303 pre/power amp duo and brings those gorgeous 1960s retro looks to an integrated design.

Underneath the hood, however, it's a thoroughly modern affair, with cutting-edge specs (advanced ESS Sabre DAC chip, extensive file compatibility, aptX Bluetooth, HDMI ARC) and the promise of a "detailed, expansive and expressive sound".

All that packed into a nifty compact design with that eye-catching LED display, for £1249 / €1895 / AU$2799, is certainly tempting. Now, if only we had that matching Quad 3CDT transport that was just announced before Christmas in too...

Yamaha YH-4000

Yamaha's high-end YH-5000SE wired headphones were a revelation: they were a five-star stunner and winner of our Temptation Award in 2023 – truly, an impressive, hugely talented and insightful pair of audiophile open-backs.

Now, we have their latest premium headphones in for testing. The new YH-4000 open-back headphones follow the same design structure and magnesium body as the 5000SE, but with updated materials and technology. The orthodynamic (planar magnetic) drivers return, while there is a new mesh filter and brand new earpads specifically made for this model. The headphones are hand-assembled in Yamaha's Kakegawa factory, where their famed grand pianos are also made, and we hope the "uniquely responsive, natural and precise sound” lives up to the promise.

We also have the closed-back model, the Yamaha YH-C3000 ($1699), in for testing. The C3000 uses a new "armodynamic" driver and feature hand-crafted beech wood housings for the earcups – which promise lightweight build and natural sound.

Sharp RP-TT100

To quote our original news story: "This wasn't on our 2025 bingo card". TV/AV manufacturer Sharp surprised us with its first turntable in 20 years, with the RP-TT100 making its debut at the IFA showcase last year.

The RP-TT100 record player is fully automatic in use, with pause, reward, fast forward and repeat functions available at the push of buttons. There is even a USB-C port for digitising your records, while the deck itself features an aluminium platter and metal tonearm.

With built-in phono stage and Bluetooth streaming, Sharp is aiming to deliver all the modern requirements of a turntable for newbie vinyl fans.

The price is on the affordable side, too, costing a rather competitive £180 / €199, with availability in UK and Europe at the moment. Can it hold its own in the very crowded budget turntable market? We shall see.

Fyne F500E 5.1 speaker package

Fyne Audio's F501E wowed us with their incredibly expressive, cohesive and entertaining performance at £999 per pair, beating out plenty of pricier alternatives and winning the overall Product of the Year gong for floorstanders at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025.

Naturally, a 5.1 surround sound package incorporating these talented speakers is our next step. This Fyne package consists of the F501E as the front left/right speakers, the smaller standmount F5E as the surround speakers, with the F502E centre and F3-10 subwoofer – all for £2249.

Can Fyne succeed in a home cinema setting the way it excelled on the stereo front? We are currently testing this 5.1 package, so you won't have long to find out in our full review.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max

We normally encounter Xgimi projectors at the portable end of the market, such as the cute and enjoyable Xgimi MoGo 4, but the Chinese brand is now aiming for the big boys.

Its new range of 4K projectors are aimed at "serious home theatre enthusiasts" and we have the flagship, the Horizon 20 Max, in for review. This RBG triple laser projector aims to deliver “immersive visuals even in daylight or high-ambient light environments”, and has a claimed 5700 ISO lumens of brightness and 20,000:1 contrast ratio. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced, while Google TV gives you plenty of smart app access.

Sound is provided by Harman Kardon, while gamers are promised low-latency modes and a 240Hz refresh rate. Priced at £2599, it goes up against fierce competition from the Award-winning Epson EH-LS9000 – we can't wait to see how the new Xgimi fares.

TCL C6K (Q6C)

TCL had a terrific year at our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025, picking up three wins for its C7K and C6KS TVs. Sandwiched between them is the C6K (or Q6C) range, and we have high hopes that this Mini LED TV lives up to such high expectations.

As part of TCL's 2025 TV range, the C6K stars from £799 for the 55-inch up to £3199 for the 98-incher. This Mini LED TV features comprehensive HDR support (same as those in the C7K), high refresh rates, and support for Dolby Atmos Flex Connect, which should give you greater flexibility for choosing and placing your home cinema speakers.

You get fewer dimming zones and lower max brightness of 1000 nits compared with the step-up C7K, and a 2.1-channel 40W Onkyo sound system, instead of the C7K's Bang & Olufsen version.

We praised the punchy brightness and contrast on TCL's C6Ks and C7K TVs as well as their very competitive prices last year, so here's hoping that the C6K model we have in for testing follows in its siblings footsteps.

MORE:

Hi-fi and luxury have always been intertwined, but is style as important as sonic substance?

The new LG C6 OLED TV features Primary RGB Tandem panel tech – there's just one problem…

Onkyo celebrates its 80th anniversary with all-new Muse streaming amplifiers

Fyne Audio has made its entry-level F500E series more affordable with the launch of its latest floorstanders, the F55E.

The slim speakers are designed to bring a premium listening experience to small and medium-sized listening rooms. The Scottish manufacturer claims the F55E “delivers the refinement, delicacy and imaging precision of a small stand-mount speaker, but with the body, bass weight, and scale of a floorstander.”

Launched earlier this year, Fyne’s F500E series features the Award-winning F501E, terrific floorstanders which we praised for delivering outstanding value for money thanks to their cohesive, expressive and entertaining presentation at for around £999 / $1299 / AU$1999.

The newer, more affordable towers once again deploy Fyne's signature IsoFlare driver array, whereby where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass drive unit, with the F55E bringing together a 12.5cm multi-fibre mid-bass with a 19mm compression tweeter alongside a distinct 12.5cm bass driver.

According to Fyne, this design “ensures that all frequencies radiate outward from precisely the same point in space, producing a perfectly time-aligned wavefront for pinpoint imaging and natural coherence across the frequency spectrum.”

Fyne’s BassTrax Tractrix diffuser system is also present, whereby the port fires directly onto an upward-facing cone which disperses low-end sound evenly through 360 degrees, resulting in “deep, articulate bass that integrates effortlessly with the room”.

These patented technologies are housed in slender, high-density MDF cabinets, internally braced and acoustically damped to reduce internal vibrations and create a cleaner, clearer sound.

Fyne has been on an impressive run with its floorstanding speakers of late, with the F501E and more premium F502S both earning What Hi-Fi? Awards this year, so we're hoping for the same levels of performance from the compact, affordable F55E.

The Fyne Audio F55E are available now in Black Oak, while the Walnut finish will be available in early 2026. They are priced at £900 / $1100 / AU$1695.

MORE:

We have tested the wireless headphones and turntable in the John Lewis Christmas ad – and they're both five-star stunners

Check out the eight spectacular tracks lighting up our test rooms this month

These are the best floorstanders you can buy

Fyne Audio's F501E floorstanding speakers are a five-star pair that just won a What Hi-Fi? Award for their cohesive and expressive sound.

And right now, you can grab them for just £799 at Richer Sounds, a mega £200 saving on what we already considered an outstanding sound-per-pound performance at this level.

At first, they will appear to be £999, which is the same price we tested them at, but once you get to checkout, there's a sneaky 20% saving to be had. So, grab it, before it's gone!

We gave the Fyne Audio F501E floorstanding speakers a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award for being the best model we have tested priced between £500-£1000.

And right now, they are £200 off at Richer Sounds, which is amazing news since we already found them to be excellent value for money and outstanding loudspeakers at this mid-range level.

We will admit they aren’t the most stunning speakers we have ever come across – they are available only in an ash-black vinyl wrap – but what they do offer is a solid and neat build.

Where the F501E's really shine though is their overall sonic credentials. They boast an immensely musical, fun and yet surprisingly insightful sound that left us struggling to think of aspects we didn't like about them when we put them through testing.

As one of the best floorstanding speakers on the market, these are nuanced performers with a fluid and expressive manner that is fun to listen to.

In our full review, all this led our expert testers to say: “The F501E is a talented all-rounder that has a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price. Partner these floorstanders with a bit of care and we think you’ll be as impressed with them as we are.”

And while we already couldn't imagine another pair beating them for this kind of money, it just got even more competitive with Richer Sounds' sneaky deal.

MORE:

Read our full Fyne Audio F501E review

Check out the best floorstanding speakers: budget to premium models tested by our experts

And take a look at the other What Hi-Fi? 2025 Award winners

China-based brand Xgimi has launched its latest portable projector, the Vibe One, along with a new sub-brand.

The Vibe is being pitched as an affordable, portable option for people looking for a big screen movie watching experience that won't break the bank.

Apollo Zhong, chairman at Xgimi, comments: “With Vibe One, we’re giving users a product that’s simple, fun, and dependable, while still carrying the design DNA XGIMI is known for.”

Featuring auto-keystone and auto-focus, the 1080p projector’s stand can tilt up to 160 degrees making it, in theory, easy to setup on the fly.

It also has a compact design akin to a camping lantern with a carry handle on the top. The only slight concern is that the Vibe One only offers up to 1.2 hours video or four hours music playback according to the company. So, if you're looking to watch any of Martin Scorsese's library of work you'll need a battery pack or mains connection.

In terms of sound, there are two 3W speakers featuring Sound by JBL for “rich, room-filling audio” that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. As you'd expect for a projector this class, Dolby Atmos is not included.

The Vibe One uses Google TV with built-in Netflix support, plus the usual streaming suspects. That includes Amazon Prime Video, ITVX and Disney+.

It also includes eight Ambient Light Mode colours to help set a "vibe" when using it. You can get the projector in two different finishes: Cloud Ash and Blue Spark (featuring a yellow handle and blue base).

The projector will cost £219 in the UK and $269 in the US on 5 November, although for the latter there is a reduced early bird price of $199 if you pre-order.

Even compared to a similar model from the brand, the Xgimi MoGo 4, that is quite a low price and puts the Vibe One in the entry-level portable projector category.

When we reviewed the MoGo 4 (which launched at £509 / $499 / AU$1399), we rated it four stars for its punchy picture and easy-to-use design.

It certainly seems that Xgimi have continued its legacy with the compact build, but we will have to see how this cheaper projector fares when it comes to its picture.

MORE:

Here's our review of the Xgimi MoGo 4

These are the best portable projectors

And check out the best projectors right now

You would be forgiven for thinking, looking at the products on this page, that we have taken one of our occasional nostalgic steps back in time. There is a very definite old-school look to this terrific streaming and vinyl system.

But the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” was really never more apt. Magnificently 1970s it may look, but the combination of products you see here is as excellent and up to date an offering as you will find at the beginning of the second quarter of the 21st century.

And that's not all: all of the products chosen for this system are fresh recipients of a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award – so you know they are of great value and come highly recommended.

The system

• Streaming amplifier: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) – £1699 / $2199 / AU$3599
• Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 (with upgrades) – £739 / $943 / AU$1617
• Floorstanding speakers: Fyne Audio F501E – £999 / $1299 / AU$1999
• Tablet: Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) – £799 / $799 / AU$1349
• Total (without tablet): £3437 / $4441 / AU$7215
• Total (with tablet): £4236 / $5240 / AU$8564

Streaming amplifier: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)

The NAD C 3050 is far more than just a nod to vintage hi-fi. While its mechanical power meters and walnut vinyl-covered casework evoke a bygone era, beneath the surface lies sophisticated engineering.

The real game-changer for our purposes, though, is the optional MDC2 BluOS-D streaming module. This clever piece of tech transforms the C 3050 amplifier into a versatile, just-add-speakers streaming system.

A senior member of the What Hi-FI? reviewing team liked the C 3050 streaming amplifier so much, indeed, that he was heard to say, “I was so surprised at how good it was.” High praise from a notoriously tough audience.

In its base form, the C 3050 is a well-equipped amplifier, boasting a moving-magnet phono stage, two-way Bluetooth (aptX HD), coaxial and optical digital inputs, and a robust 100 watts per channel output into both 4-ohm and 8-ohm speaker loads. The inclusion of an HDMI eARC input further enhances its integration into modern AV setups.

That’s all satisfying enough on its own. Adding the MDC2 BluOS-D module, though, significantly expands its options. This module, built on the stable BluOS platform, allows the C 3050 to stream music files from a home network, access internet radio, and connect to popular streaming services.

And the C 3050 is a high achiever, delivering a clear, spacious, and expressive presentation. It excels with vocal-based music, offering superb midrange clarity and fluidity, and capturing the texture and tone of voices with heartfelt passion. It demonstrates impressive dynamic prowess with more demanding pieces, too, conveying power and authority with a muscular, rich, and punchy low-end.

The soundstaging is expansive and focused, remaining stable even during complex musical passages. The built-in DAC and phono stage are equally commendable, providing agile, informative, and dynamically interesting sound.

The great thing about the BluOS module is that, despite the fact that Bluesound introduced the technology such a long time ago, it continues to develop and refine it – and users of the unit will only benefit from that input over the coming years of ownership.

Read our full NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) review

Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 (with upgrades)

The turntable we have selected for this system has also had some extras added to it – extras that take a good design and elevate it to something really quite special.

For the Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 is available to buy with some optional upgrades. And, of those, by swapping out the standard power supply for the High Power it 2 fully grounded power supply and replacing the base sub platter with the Alu Sub-Platter, we have found that you can deliver a significant jump up in the Evo 2's overall performance. Adding those two modifications increases the Evo 2's price to £739 / $943 / AU$1617, but we think it's well worth the investment.

With these amendments to the set-up, the Debut Evo 2 finds itself nestling rather nicely between two of its great rivals – Rega’s mighty Planar 2 and the step-up Planar 3.

Indeed, the High Power it 2 power supply could be the best £25 / $45 / AU$99 you ever spend on a turntable. It offers greater solidity and depth to the Evo 2's sound, but without compromising that delicate fluidity we like so much. Voices have more conviction, dynamic swings are more subtle and dramatic, and you even get a snappier sense of timing.

To move things up the scale even more, swapping the Evo 2's standard sub-platter for the Alu Sub-Platter is a terrific upgrade. It adds a satisfying amount of muscle, scale and authority to the Evo 2's sound – attributes we felt were somewhat lacking in our initial test. There is greater power and subtler detail unearthed, the soundstage is more spacious, and the dynamics are improved even further.

Orchestral instruments have greater weight and heft behind them, while the quieter moments are more dramatic and cleaner-sounding. This aluminium sub-platter fundamentally improves everything the deck does; it is a pricey upgrade at £115 / $199 / AU$219, but it means you don’t have to level up to a new turntable if you want a performance upgrade.

Read our full Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 review

Floorstanding speakers: Fyne Audio F501E

To complete this old-school looking yet thoroughly modern system, we present the ideal match as far as speakers go.

The Fyne Audio F501E floorstanders are aggressively priced, offering exceptional value for money by incorporating flagship driver technologies into an entry-level range.

The F501E features Fyne’s trademark IsoFlare driver array, where a 25mm titanium compression dome tweeter sits within the throat of a 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass unit. This coaxial configuration ensures consistent sound dispersion, leading to focused and layered stereo imaging that remains stable even when the listener moves off-axis.

A dedicated 15cm multi-fibre bass unit, rolling in below 250Hz, is tuned by a downward-firing Basstrax port arrangement, which disperses bass evenly through 360 degrees, making the speakers less fussy than many about room placement.

These towers are a fun listen too, fluid and expressive in their delivery. They track rhythms with determination while communicating changes in musical momentum in a natural and convincing manner. Having the acoustic centres of the tweeter and mid/bass aligned helps with integration; the result is a crisp and forthright performance, with vocals that capture nuances and subtle shifts in intensity superbly.

As we say in our review, “Through the test process, we cover large swathes of our music collection from Dvořàk’s New World Symphony and John Coltrane’s legendary Giant Steps set to Hit Me Hard And Soft by Billie Eilish, and the Fynes never miss a beat. They have the sophistication and muscularity to convey the majesty of a full-blown orchestra yet can still convey the intimacy of Eilish’s Wildflower superbly."

Read our full Fyne Audio F501E review

Tablet: Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3)

The last piece of our system is not a vital component. And it clearly is the only piece of tech here that actually would stand out in a ’70s living room. But you are going to need something to steer the digital part of this system to the music.

A smartphone would, of course, do the trick. But, for ease of use and a sense of occasion when settling down to do some proper listening – rather than simply having something on in the background – we find an Apple iPad, with its greater screen real estate and impressive accessibility, is our preferred form of remote control. It’s a brilliant piece of tech, and will allow access to the digital music files and streaming services you own.

Which iPad you opt for – whether it's the larger iPad Pro or the newer, thinner iPad Air – any model will do the job as the control centre for your music library.

And, of course, if you want to take yourself back in time 50 years (or at least appear to the outside world), you can simply hide the iPad under a handy cushion, stick on a record, and sink back into the music. Bliss.

Read our full Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) review

MORE:

These are the 7 scarily good tunes we've been using for testing this month

Our guide to the best turntables you can buy

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winners revealed!

• These are the best floorstanding speakers we've reviewed

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

Marantz struck gold when it launched the Cinema 30, a premium Dolby Atmos-touting AVR that looks as good as it sounds.

While we acknowledged in our full review that it is a pricey piece of home cinema equipment, we couldn't resist its smooth, rich, and powerful cinematic sound, which is why it found its way onto our best AV receivers list and earned a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award.

Thankfully, our sticking point regarding the price of this home cinema amp has been addressed, as it's just seen a major discount at Peter Tyson, which drops the price from £3999 to £3499.

We deemed the Cinema 30 to be an AVR of "rare ability", due to its sensational cinematic sound. Rich, punchy, dynamic, detailed; this AVR has it all, and it's the perfect amplifier to take your home cinema to the next level if you've been thinking of upgrading.

With 11 channels of amplification and a claimed 140W of power when two channels are driven, the Cinema 30 can easily drive a 7.2.2 channel Dolby Atmos system. DTS:X and Auro-3D are also on board, and you can easily configure and calibrate your system with the included Audyssey microphone.

And it's the perfect hub for all of your connected devices, thanks to its seven HDMI 2.1 inputs, all of which support up to 4K/120Hz or 8K/60Hz with VRR, ALLM and QMS. HDR is also supported in all of the major formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG.

Wireless streaming is also a key component of this AVR, with a wide range of services supported. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Music HD, and HEOS are all available, allowing you to beam music directly to the amplifier from a smartphone or tablet.

We also have to give Marantz credit for how this AVR looks. Available in two finishes – Black and Silver Gold – the Cinema 30 is a handsome piece of home cinema kit, with Marantz's iconic circular display up front and sleek accent lighting which accentuates the textured metal finish; this AVR is easily the best-looking home cinema amplifier that we've tested.

Having all of these features and good looks to match is all well and good, but sound performance is paramount. Thankfully, the Cinema 30 delivers a smooth and refined sound that can balance huge scale and control without breaking a sweat.

This AVR has earned its spot as our reference amplifier in our AV testing room, which should serve as a testament to its performance. I've been using it to test the capabilities of the latest speaker packages from Fyne and KEF, so keep your eyes peeled for reviews of those 5.1 speaker systems coming soon.

The on-screen setup menus and easy calibration have made this process refreshingly simple, and its reference-worthy sound has ensured that these speakers are performing at their very best.

If you've been considering an AVR upgrade for your home cinema setup, the Marantz Cinema 30 is simply the best around. While it costs quite a lot more than our current pick for the best AV receiver – that being the Sony TA-AN1000 – its stellar sound (and looks) make it a worthy consideration if you have extra cash to spend.

This deal at Peter Tyson will, of course, soften the blow to your wallet, and we assure you that you won't regret the purchase once you hear it in action.

MORE:

Read our full Maratnz Cinema 30 review

Here are the reference home cinema products we use every single day

How to set up your AV receiver and get the best sound

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 world of floorstanders is, as you can imagine, a hotly contested arena, and our list of the best floorstanding speakers across all budgets is an evolving, curated guide for music fans looking to fill their room with big, entertaining sound.

There are plenty of new contenders, and it takes truly great-sounding and great-value speakers to make it to the main list, which sees competition from brands such as PMC, Bowers & Wilkins, Wharfedale and Q Acoustics, to mention but a few.

This year, we've had a number of floorstanders pass through our test rooms: Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 (£5995 / $6499 / AU$11,995) and the Revival Audio Sprint 4 (£1790 / $1990 / AU$3300) have charmed us without quite making it onto our main list of recommendations, while the long-running, five-star ProAc D20R (£3825 / $6500 / AU$9600) are accomplished enough to have made their way into our 'also consider' section.

The new Fyne Audio F502S floorstanders that we've just tested (priced at £2300 / $2800 / AU$3000 per pair), however, cannot be ignored.

At this premium price level, they are hugely talented and offer such great overall value, that we had to include them in our main list – we highly recommend them as the best floorstanding speakers for large rooms on both our US and UK best floorstander guides.

Fyne-ally, a worthy opponent!

The Fyne Audio F502S are not small speakers. Place them side by side with their price-comparable Neat Mystique Classic rivals (a word on them below), and the former will positively dwarf the latter to an almost comical extent. These are big towers, and they need an appropriately large space to accommodate them.

If you do have the space to let them fully flourish, the results are mesmerising. Rarely have we heard a pair of floorstanders at this price that can do so much so well, with the F502S offering a perfect balance of authority, scale, refinement and entertainment.

They're powerful, poised and impressively detailed, yes, but never do we find them boring or lacking in expressiveness. Their proprietary Isoflare point source driver design is a big bonus, too, giving the sizeable towers outstanding sonic integration and making them more flexible about positioning in the process.

To quote from our review, the Fyne Audio F502S "are are like your favourite school teacher or most inspiring university lecturer: authoritative and competent, yes, but personable, engaging and genuinely approachable".

They bring us closer to the emotional heart of our music, too. As we wrote at the time, the F502S have palpable authority and scale, but their "ability to bring out the emotional beats beneath the surface really knocks us sideways".

We're struck by how good Fyne's heavyweight towers are. If you are specifically after a large pair of excellent all-rounders to fill a large listening room, these premium floorstanders are our top recommendation to do the job.

A small word on the Neat Mystique Classic

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the also recently reviewed Neat Mystique Classic floorstanders making it into our 'also consider' section. At £2475 / $3699 / AU$5400, these towers are swimming in the same sorts of waters as their Fyne counterparts, however they are a vastly different proposition.

These are designed for smaller rooms, and have a small footprint and slim profile. But they punch well above their weight when it comes to performance, and also gain a five-star review.

As our verdict stated, the Neat Mystique Classic are "immensely charming floorstanding speakers. Compact, snappy and relentlessly entertaining – we’re completely sold". They're small and not that luxurious to look at, but they can produce a surprisingly broad, enveloping sound despite their diminutive cabinet sizes.

Plus, they're just very, very charming. With a snappy, light-footed character and excellent low-level dynamic reproduction despite their physical limitations, not to mention a very nicely controlled lower end, they're floorstanders that, while small, like to go big on fun.

The Neats are a strong addition to our best floorstanding speakers list and prove you don't have to invest in large-sized speakers to get great sound. Worth considering if the F502S are too big for your more modest listening space.

MORE:

This hidden hi-fi danger can ruin the sound from your stereo speakers – here’s how to avoid it

These rival floorstanders have impressed us in our test rooms – but for entirely different reasons

Best bookshelf speakers 2025: top standmounts for every budget tested

Fyne Audio is enjoying, to borrow some classic football parlance, an enviable purple patch at the moment. From top to bottom, the Scotland-based hi-fi brand is producing some exceptional loudspeakers, from the recently reviewed F701SP standmounts to the aggressively priced F501E floorstanders.

Fyne unveiled its latest F500S range of loudspeakers at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show back in February, promising a "significant audio and aesthetic upgrade" over the previous generation F502.

Placed a step above the brand’s entry-level F500E Series, the new range – fronted by the large F502S floorstanders – aims to make noticeable sonic strides without a huge increase in price.

Build & design

The Fyne Audio F502S are a big old pair of speakers. For this kind of money, you can get your hands on the very petite Neat Mystique Classic or the slimline (and cheaper) PMC Prodigy 5, but the F502S towers dwarf those competitors so that, side by side, they look like giants in the land of Lilliput.

These sturdy speakers measure in at 111 x 30 x 38cm (hwd) when placed on their metal plinths, so you will need a reasonably capacious listening space to accommodate them.

Big doesn't have to mean ugly, of course. Our test pair look smooth and shiny when daubed in their piano-grade black gloss finish, and while there are few fancy embellishments to speak of, there’s very little that distracts the eye in a negative sense.

Maybe the pickiest of picky people might have a problem with the slightly industrial look of the metal driver surrounds, but they’d have to be very fussy to care.

Internally, Fyne is sticking with what works. The substantial towers feature a 25mm magnesium dome tweeter alongside a 20cm mid/bass driver and a 20cm bass driver. That mid/bass unit harnesses the brand’s signature Isoflare point source technology, which has trickled down from its higher-end models to its ever-expanding roster of speakers.

Fyne wants to take its patented driver tech to the next level with its latest range, with the F502S including a neodymium high-frequency magnet with a vented rear chamber to minimise resonance, as well as a 25mm magnesium high-frequency diaphragm selected for its damping properties.

Each tweeter's waveguide has a unique geometry to avoid internal reflections, helping to improve dispersion over the previous generation F500 in pursuit of enhanced stereo imaging and improved overall sonic performance.

The brand’s ‘BassTrax’ diffuser system, meanwhile, aims to deliver bass more uniformly and make the speakers less sensitive to their position in a given space. You’ll also find sturdy speaker terminals at the rear base of the towers, and they are suitable for bi-wiring.

Compatibility

Our testing begins hooked up to our reference Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer and Burmester 088/911 MKIII pre/power amplifier, a big-money combination with which the F502S certainly sound comfortable.

That said, switching to the more price-appropriate Naim Nait XS 3 amp (£2499 / $3999) just adds an extra layer of pep and punch to the F502S’s sound, and we feel that this is exactly the sort of pairing they’d be most suited to. That said, if you wanted to go with a cheaper amp, the accommodating Arcam A15 (£1099 / $999) is a smart alternative.

The F502S are big speakers, but we don’t find them particularly fussy about placement. In our larger test room, they sound best placed roughly 70cm from our back wall, angled in slightly so that they cross behind our listening position to give us the optimal mix of having a stable stereo image and solid low-end reproduction.

Sound

That Isoflare driver technology is once again at the heart of the F502S, an established design which aims to have all the speakers’ sonic frequencies sounding as though they are coming from the same place, seeking more consistent dispersion, better time alignment and more seamless musical integration.

As we’ve heard many times before, the tech just works so incredibly well. Stand anywhere in relation to the substantial towers and you’ll receive a remarkably consistent sonic signature. With so many speakers, voices or that central image can collapse when you move off-centre, but the F502S are remarkably unfussy when it comes to your given listening position.

The resulting sonic integration, meanwhile, is outstanding. The speakers don’t sound as though each frequency is sitting on top of the other in a messy pile, nor do they make the bass, mid and treble sound overly pulled apart or abstracted.

Everything works together seamlessly to create a wonderfully cohesive, well-integrated presentation as that lovely Isoflare tech works its magic. As you’d expect given their size, the F502S produce a good deal of bass, but they have the restraint and agility to keep their lower end taut and remarkably well-controlled.

Maybe you lose just a hint of sweetness in the upper ranges – every design has its tradeoffs, after all – but that’s never enough to dampen our considerable affections for what is, as we listen more and more, another excellent specimen rolling off the Fyne production line.

Important as they are, terms such as “sonic integration” and “improved time alignment” may not be setting your heart all aflutter, but trust us, the F520S are by no means all tech and no trousers.

Quite the opposite. Take their handling of Hans Zimmer’s The Battle from the ever-beloved Gladiator soundtrack, a 10-minute epic we tend to bring out whenever we really want to test what a pair of speakers can do.

The F502S barely break a sweat from the first minute until the last, communicating every subtle dynamic shift and instrumental detail with ease, bringing the music to life with a rendition that blends mournful melancholy with a tangible sense of rousing triumph.

The Fyne are like your favourite school teacher or most inspiring university lecturer: authoritative and competent, yes, but personable, engaging and genuinely approachable.

Max Richter’s solemn Never Goodbye provides an equally fitting showcase for what these remarkably talented floorstanders can do. The F502S have the nous and nuance to provide the track’s opening piano and strings with the subtle delicacy they require, switching gears as the piece grows and swells to create a powerfully rich, resonant reproduction that fully brings out the music’s haunting resonance.

The authority and scale are palpable, but it’s the Fynes’ ability to bring out the emotional beats beneath the surface that really knocks us sideways.

No matter your music’s volume, the speakers retain their precision, balance and subtlety – crank up the dial and they’ll thrill you, but keep your listening low and the Fynes’ essential character still shines through with remarkable integrity.

In fact, it doesn’t matter what genre or recording we play, we’re incapable of catching these floorstanders out. Whether it’s the snappy rhythm of Muse’s Panic Station, the orchestral swells of Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting or the emotional tear jerking of Lady Gaga’s Shallow, the F502S can do it all.

Verdict

These premium F502S towers continue a rather remarkable hot streak.

Fyne set out to bring exceptional sound-per-pound value with its new F500S line, and if the entertaining, dynamic and musical presentation of the outstanding F502S floorstanders is anything to go by, it’s done just that.

Review published: 26th August 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Compatibility 4

MORE:

Read our review of the ProAc Response DT8

Also consider the Neat Mystique Classic

Our guide to the best floorstanding speakers tested across all budgets

If you're on the search for a pair of classy speakers that won't break the bank, then the Fyne Audio F500 should absolutely be in the mix. We wouldn't be recommending them at their full price of £799, but now they've been discounted to £499 at Richer Sounds, they're looking like a steal.

To take advantage of the deal, you'll need to be a Richer Sounds VIP member, but that's 100 per cent free and simply requires filling out a quick sign-up form.

The F500s serve up plenty of bass weight alongside a solid, focused midrange. They're also incredibly well-built and unfussy with placement. Given the price, there's little not to love about one of Fyne Audio's finest products.

Best Fyne Audio F500 deal

You can read about the sound quality of these speakers in our Fyne Audio F500 review. We praise the impressive low end, that has "sufficient punch to deal heavy kicks and the smoothness to feed bubbling pulses and luscious pedals".

This results in a warm and welcoming sound. Many standmount speakers can sound small, but the F500s give the midrange real purchase with that support coming from the lower registers.

Their main competitor is the B&W’s 606, which offer superior handling of rhythm and dynamics. As a result, they're more exciting than the F500. That's why we gave the B&W speakers a full five stars.

That being said, the build quality of the F500 is second to none. The IsoFlare configuration, where the tweeter sits in the middle of the mid/bass driver, sharing a common centre, also aids directivity and stereo imaging.

In terms of compatibility, the downfiring port, with a cone-shaped BassTrax Tractix diffuser, aims for 360-degree dispersion of the soundwaves, as well as allowing for increased versatility when it comes to placement in regard to a back wall.

At £300 off the list price, you can't really go wrong with the Fyne Audio F500s.

MORE:

Read our Fyne Audio F500 review

Check out our best speakers guide

and our list of the best floorstanding speakers

Things that cost the same generally are the same, right? Buy a £5 coffee from Starbucks and it’ll probably be pretty similar to the same-price alternative you’ll find at Costa or Café Nero.

A meal deal sandwich is broadly similar no matter which supermarket you patronise (M&S’s weird birthday cake monstrosities notwithstanding), while a £50 electric razor is probably going to do a similar job in a similar way, no matter the manufacturer.

Speakers, however, can be rather different in this regard. Size and shape, let alone performance, don’t always perfectly correspond to price, meaning you’ll often find rivals competing in the same price tranche despite looking and sounding entirely different.

Just take the Fyne Audio F502S (£2300 / $2800 / AU$3000) and Neat Mystique Classic (£2475 / $3699 / AU$5400) floorstanders, both pairs of which have been gracing our test rooms of late. Reviews, of course, will follow in the coming weeks.

Both will set you back a similar price, especially in the UK, yet place them side by side and you might as well be comparing Peter Crouch with Miriam Margolyes. Okay, for our non-UK-based readers, LeBron James and Danny DeVito.

The size difference is naturally what hits you first. It’s such a disparity that it raises a genuine chuckle every time we see the towers placed side by side, as though the Fyne Towers are the responsible parents ushering their Neat offspring off to school. It’s adorable!

The F502S are over 111.2cm tall. The Mystique Classic, by contrast, clock in at just 78cm. Making comparisons between this striking height disparity and any such disparities noticeable within our own What Hi-Fi? team, incidentally, has become a sackable offence.

That makes, naturally, these apparent rivals into very different propositions. For a start, their respective use-cases are hugely dictated by their differing sizes – you can pick up and carry a Neat tower almost in one hand, while the F502S are, unless you’re a seasoned strongman, a two-person job.

If you live in a top-floor flat, then, the F502S might simply be off the table, as pure logistics may make it troublesome to get them to where you want in the first place (although elevators are usually an option). Even if you can get them to where you want them to be, you’ve then got to consider whether the F502S are suitable for your space.

A massive set of floorstanders isn’t really viable for most customers in communal buildings or compact living spaces, as you’re in danger either of ticking off the neighbours or not giving your precious towers sufficient room to breathe and excel.

The Mystique, meanwhile, are small, light and easy to position, and while they’re not too fussy about back-wall placement, you do need to take care with the distance between the speakers to ensure you get a good central stereo image.

This said, part of the benefit to the Fyne’s design – in particular, their use of the IsoFlare driver array which aims to have all the speakers’ sonic frequencies sounding like they're coming from the same place – is that they aren’t too fussy about your given listening spot if your room happens to be large enough.

Stand anywhere in relation to the speakers and you’ll receive a remarkably stable reproduction – that IsoFlare tech really does work wonders in this regard.

Aesthetics play a part, too. Size aside, the Fyne towers do look like the more luxurious choice. The shiny veneered finish of our piano black test samples is an enchanting addition, contrasting with the rather basic, almost matte veneer of the Fyne towers.

For shunting unobtrusively to the back of a room, the Mystique are perfect, but as a showpiece, they’re not exactly eye-catching.

Then, as is always the case with hi-fi speakers, comes the matter of compatibility. We’re not dealing with two super-fussy rivals, but it’s worth noting that the Mystique sounded far more comfortable when paired with a Naim amp (the Nait XS 3) and Naim cables.

The F502S, on the other hand, seem comfortable with anything from an Arcam A15 (£1099 / $999) up to our high-end Burmester 088/911 MKIII reference system.

The key factor, of course, is the sound of our head-to-head contenders, and it won’t surprise you to know that, without giving the game away, they do things very differently. These are both excellent examples of what a floorstander at this price can be, albeit for rather pleasingly different reasons.

The Fyne, for example, are built to deliver a satisfying blend of authority, scale and musicality, and while you’ll have to wait for our forthcoming review to get the full lowdown, they’re impressive all-rounders. Good at low and high volumes and hugely capable no matter the genre you feed them, they’re true crowd-pleasers.

The Mystique, on the other hand, broadly emulate the characteristics of their Neat Petite Classic standmount siblings.

They’re fun and nimble, with a sweet midrange reproduction and a bass signature that, while less authoritative than the F502S, is remarkably taut and controlled. They’re niche, yes, but for pep and pizzazz, they’re immensely hard to look past.

The lesson here, of course, is simple: be sure to look beyond pure price. Speakers are less akin to supermarket sandwiches or overpriced coffee; instead, they’re like dog breeds, running shoes or even different types of cars.

In the same way you can buy a Labrador or a Rottweiler for £2000, you’re not getting the same thing. Or, let’s say you do get the same breed, one Labrador can be entirely distinct from the other, even for the same money.

This is the real pleasure, and indeed the danger, of hi-fi, and a warning to do proper research before leaping in and simply buying something because it’s the ‘right’ sort of price.

Price is merely the first hurdle. You then need to make those key considerations – compatibility, sound, styling – as well as more basic but oft-overlooked criteria such as space, logistics, how and where you'll listen and even your ownership timeframe.

The Mystique Classic, for example, may thrill you in the short term, but with a longer term view, would you be happier with the more rounded, accessible approach of the F502S? Don't get us wrong, we're keen on the Neat towers, but these are simply the questions you should be asking when investing in hi-fi.

If nothing else, these excellent contenders teach us a valuable lesson: the Fyne Audio F502S and Neat Mystique Classic may swim in the same price circles, but the way they actually look, sound and perform are utterly distinct.

Roughly £2500 is a lot of money: make sure you’re spending it on something you actually want.

MORE:

Composure over razzmatazz – why these understated five-star hi-fi speakers are the ones I’m lusting after

6 things I learned after spending 24 hours with the Eversolo Play CD Edition streaming amplifier

From the AirPods Max 2 to the Sony WF-1000XM6, these are the wireless headphones we're keen to see in 2025

When it comes to getting the best sound from a pair of stereo speakers and enjoying them as the engineer intended, various factors can make a difference to the quality of your listening experience.

A lot of the hi-fi advice you’ll read will centre around a speaker’s positioning in relation to where you sit.

How far should they be from your seating position? Should they be toed in for the optimum stereo image? And, if so, by how much? Should they be used in open space or up close to a wall?

Reach for the manual and there’s a good chance you’ll be told the answers to some, if not all, of these questions.

But there could also be another key piece of information among those pages, which could make a big difference to how you enjoy their sound. And it’s one you might not have thought about before. Speaker height.

The highs and lows of speaker set-up

As well as where you’re sitting, have you ever thought about how you’re sitting and what you’re sitting on? Upright in a chair, slouched on a couch or horizontal on a chaise longue – all of these positions will affect what you actually hear from your speakers.

Now, all speakers are designed to be listened to at a specific height. Typically, this is with your ears at somewhere around tweeter height to just below. This is where the drive units have been designed to work together best and the position where they will sound the most tonally balanced.

In an ideal world, of course, there would be one driver producing all frequencies, but that’s not possible without introducing numerous compromises at both frequency extremes. Instead, most speaker designs use multiple drivers placed above one other on a front baffle.

Because each driver has its own acoustic centre and they aren’t lined up (an acoustic centre is the point in space from where sound waves appear to originate), the distance from the acoustic centre of each driver to the listener must be the same to get the most balanced and cohesive sound possible.

Any movement on the vertical listening axis alters your distance from the drivers (in the same way it does on the horizontal), so it follows that if you sit above or below a speaker’s sweet spot, you’ll get an unbalanced sound.

Spot the symptoms

So how can you tell if the sound is being affected because you’re not sitting at the right height? Check your instruction manual; but, roughly, your ears need to be at tweeter height or between the tweeter and mid/bass driver, depending on the speaker design.

Generally speaking, if you sit too high, your speakers will sound thinner and brighter, with a key symptom being a hollow-sounding midrange.

If you are sitting too low, they can sound lifeless and display less energy in the higher frequencies.

One thing that brought this back to my attention was a recent experience with the Neat Mystique Classic, a petite and short (we’re talking just 78cm tall) pair of floorstanders that we have in for review.

During testing, some experimentation was required – we were sitting a little high, so they needed angling up slightly to give us a fuller, better-balanced tonal and a more focused stereo image.

Now, some speaker manufacturers have tried to tackle the problem head-on. Fyne Audio and KEF, use Isoflare and Uni-Q technology, respectively, and have designed drive units which combine a tweeter inside a mid/bass unit in a way that matches up their acoustic centres better.

Such designs are more even in the way they disperse sound, and so are less fussy about listener positioning. They maintain their tonal balance more easily than speakers that rely on aligning multiple separate, stacked driver units.

All about the angles

If you think there might be an issue with your speakers' positioning, you could always experiment by placing them on shorter or taller stands, or tilting them up or down, depending on how you are sitting.

It could be as simple as tweaking the spikes on the front or back of your speaker (or speaker stands) to get the desired effect. A couple of degrees of tilt can make a big difference, so don’t think you have to hit crazy angles to hear a change in balance.

In your search for the best sound from your speakers, you will probably dedicate time to moving your speakers around your room and experimenting with distances and angles; but don’t forget that how you listen could be having an equally big impact on what reaches your ears too.

MORE:

Our pick of the best stereo speakers for all budgets

How to set up and position your speakers in 4 simple steps

How to build the perfect hi-fi system

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

The clock is ticking. We’re well into the fourth and final day of the Amazon Prime Day sales, which means two things. There are still deals to be had, but you’ll also need to be quick because I think quite a few will disappear at midnight tonight.

And, one category where you’re still spoiled for choice is wireless headphones, and in particular, Sony wireless headphones.

I’ve checked and you can still make fantastic savings on no fewer than eight different models, all of which we’ve given five stars to during testing and some of which are at their lowest price ever.

Out of all the Sony wireless earbuds currently on sale, I think the best deal is the first major price drop on the WF-C710N.

These budget earbuds deliver everything I want and expect from a pair under £100 and now that they have dropped to £79 at Amazon I think this it's a great time to buy – they definitely won't be at this price for much longer, especially because they are the newest of all Sony's wireless earbuds.

On the over-ear front, there's great value to be had from the WH-1000XM4. These were Sony's flagship wireless headphones a couple of generations ago, but the emergence of new models has pushed them down the pecking order.

However, at just £168 at Amazon, I think these are still hugely competitive at the money and ideal if you don't want to spend extra on the WH-1000XM5 (which aren't near their lowest price ever) and the brand new WH-1000XM6, which haven't seen any discount this Prime Day.

• Browse all of today's best Amazon deals

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

It’s the first Friday of the month, which means it’s time for a fresh entry into our regular Pick of the Month column.

In it, our team of hi-fi and home cinema experts once again detail all the latest products to impress them enough to earn five-star ratings in the past month.

And while we had a wealth of new hardware pass through our viewing and listening rooms in May, only five impressed us enough to make the cut for this month’s column.

Here is what you need to know about them.

Fyne Audio F701SP

The 701SP are the “special edition” version of the base Fyne Audio F701 standmount speakers we reviewed and gave five stars to all the way back in 2021.

At first glance you would be forgiven for wondering what Fyne’s done to justify the SP edition’s extra letters and higher price tag, as they feature the same cabinet design.

But, if you delve a little deeper, you’ll find they are completely different beasts, with Fyne’s engineers having completely redesigned the F701SP’s internals.

These include massive tweaks to Isoflare hardware, which places a 25mm horn-loaded magnesium dome compression tweeter at the centre of a 20cm multi-fibre paper mid/bass cone.

This along with other adjustments elsewhere let them deliver stellar audio when matched with price appropriate, powerful enough equipment during our checks. Hence our reviewers’ five star rating and glowing verdict:

“We remain great fans of the base model, but if your system is capable enough to reveal the sonic improvements the SP-spec provides, then for us, the decision is a no-brainer. Life is short and the extra buzz you’ll get from the upgraded model is worth every single penny.”

Five stars

Read our full Fyne Audio F701SP review

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the latest over-ear headphones from Sony and a direct successor to the older Sony WH-1000XM5 that have been a staple sight in our best wireless headphones guide for many moons.

This makes them a fairly big deal, and meant our team of reviewers had high expectations from the set when they arrived in our listening rooms last month.

Thankfully, after thorough testing, we can confirm our hopes for the headphones have been met, with the new XM6 coming with a wealth of hardware upgrades and offering excellent audio.

Technical highlights include the introduction of a hinge mechanism that makes them much more travel friendly, higher clamping force for a more snug fit and implementation of newly designed drivers and HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 chipset.

This all adds up to make them an easy five star recommendation and one of the best wireless headphones you’ll find right now. Hence our glowing verdict:

“It feels like the Sony WH-1000XM6 have been a long time coming, and we are pleased to tell you they have been well worth the wait. They’re the best-sounding flagship pair we’ve heard from Sony to date, which is no mean feat.”

Five stars

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Apple iPhone 16e

The iPhone 16e is the latest “affordable” iPhone from Apple. While we’re not completely convinced that £599 / $599 / AU$999 makes it “cheap” by any stretch of the imagination, having thoroughly put it through its paces we can confidently say it’s an excellent smartphone for music and movie fans.

During our checks, while we found it to be not quite as sharp as the full-fat iPhone 16 Pro, the 6.1-inch OLED screen offered an immersive, exciting small-screen viewing experience. Support for all the common HDR formats and decent max brightness levels make movie content look particularly impressive by phone standards.

But, most importantly it continues Apple handsets’ track record for offering solid audio quality. Paired with wireless sets and cabled cans (via a USB-C adapter), the iPhone offered brilliantly punchy audio with suitably energetic, but accurate, rhythmic drive.

Hence our five-star rating and verdict:

“The iPhone 16e is a very different proposition to Apple’s SE phones of old. This is a phone that delivers most of the iPhone 16 ownership experience, particularly where picture and sound quality are concerned, for a healthy chunk of change less.”

Five stars

Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

LG G5 (OLED65G5)

We technically first reviewed the LG G5 in April and at the time it fell just short of making it into Pick of the Month thanks to a huge bug that made streamed Dolby Vision content close to unwatchable.

Thankfully a few weeks on, LG has released a fix for the bug via an over-the-air update and, having re-reviewed the OLED TV, we can confirm it works.

That’s why we updated our review awarding the LG G5 a five-star rating in May, earning it a place in this month’s column.

The update means the LG G5 is now one of the best premium OLED TVs on the market.

The main highlight is its cutting edge, fourth-generation OLED panel, which not only contributes to its radically improved maximum brightness levels, but also lets the G5 deliver much better colour volume during low light scenes.

Add to this its flawless gaming specifications, which include four HDMI 2.1 inputs that let current generation consoles and PCs run at full speed, and solid app support, and it becomes an easy recommendation.

Hence our reviewers’ glowing updated verdict:

“Now that an early Dolby Vision issue has been fixed, we can be almost entirely effusive in our praise of the G5: this is a stunning set and a leap forward for OLED TV technology.”

Five stars

Read our full LG G5 (OLED65G5) review

Hisense PL2

The Hisense PL2 is the successor to the Hisense PL1 – a multiple year What Hi-Fi? Award-winner and staple entry in our best projectors guide for the past year.

And while, like the Fyne speakers at the top of this list, it looks all but identical to its predecessor, under the hood Hisense has made a number of key upgrades to the PL2.

These include raising its peak brightness from 2100 to 2700 ANSI Lumens – a figure that puts its just shy of matching the more premium Hisense PX3 Pro, just above it in the firm’s UST range.

The maximum projection size has also been increased from 120-inches up to 150-inches, letting it offer an even larger home cinema experience.

Add to this its solid HDR standard support, robust app library (which includes popular UK catchup services, BBC iPlayer and the ilk) and it becomes an easy recommendation for any UST buyer who primarily wants to watch movies.

As we say in our verdict:

“Hisense’s focus on delivering a balanced picture that accepts the shortcomings inherent to a UST lets the PL2 offer a consistent, controlled picture that never distracts from what’s playing on screen.

“This, plus its competitive price and advanced features help the PL2 punch well above its weight and make it an easy recommendation for any movie fan on the hunt for a UST projector.”

Our only word of caution is for gamers: the PX3 Pro is better as, despite having HDMI 2.1 inputs, the PL2 can’t run games at frame rates above 60fps in 4K.

Five stars

Read our full Hisense PL2 review

MORE:
These are the best 65-inch TVs we have reviewed

Our picks of the best wireless earbuds

We rate the best OLED TVs

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

Happy Monday, and welcome to the latest entry into our Rewind hi-fi and home cinema news digest.

For those of us short on time, our team of experts has created a handy summary of all the important hi-fi and home cinema news to break over the past seven days.

It was another hectic time for the What Hi-Fi? team with a new pair of hi-fi speakers impressing our reviewers enough to earn a five-star rating, as well as a surprising bit of good news for home cinema fans from Sony.

Here’s what you need to know.

Fyne’s new standmounts expertly blend of insight and expression

The Fyne Audio F701SP is an interesting pair of stereo speakers. The idea behind them is to take the five-star F701 standmount speaker’s cabinet as a base and then give the company’s engineers free rein on everything else.

The result? Based on our experience, after putting them through their paces in our listening rooms over the past week, a fantastic set of speakers that will delight hi-fi fans.

The tweaks Fyne has made to the speakers’ Isoflare hardware, which places a 25mm horn-loaded magnesium dome compression tweeter at the centre of a 20cm multi-fibre paper mid/bass cone, along with other adjustments elsewhere lets them deliver excellent audio when matched well.

Paired with appropriately refined, price-compatible hardware, the speakers deliver a fast, agile and articulate performance with stellar detail and expressive dynamics. Hence our five-star rating and conclusion:

“The F701SP speakers deliver a blend of insight and expression that’s hard to beat for the money.”

Read our full Fyne Audio F701SP review

Surprise! Sony projectors are back on sale

Earlier this year Sony was forced to take a number of its five-star projectors off sale – much to the dismay of our editor (me).

Though the reason was never made explicit, it was believed to be due to sanctions hitting part of the supply chain that made sourcing components nigh impossible.

But this week we had some good news, with the brand confirming all the impacted models will go back on sale.

These include the Award-winning VPL-XW5000ES, Bravia Projector 8 and Bravia Projector 9.

Read the full story: Sony officially resumes projector sales in Europe, and it's even bringing a new model to the market

The next Apple TV is shaping up to be a very different beast

Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) is fast approaching and we have seen a steady stream of rumours suggesting it will feature more than a few big changes to its current home cinema and audio platforms.

The strongest to break came from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The serial Apple leaker reported that sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the Apple TV platform will be getting its biggest user-interface overhaul ever.

Read the full story: Apple TV 4K owners should prepare for a major software upgrade, according to this report

We did a technical deep dive on OLED’s latest rival

We got our first glimpse of RGB Mini LED at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) in January.

Since then, a number of big name brands, including Sony, Hisense, Samsung and TCL, have confirmed plans to use the technology in their TVs. All those brands have since shown off demonstration / prototype units with the hardware in place over the past five months.

This is a big deal: all the companies are pitching the new technology as “the next big thing” in home cinema, and a rival to OLED as the panel of choice for peak performance.

With our TV and AV editor, Tom Parsons, and senior staff writer, Lewis Empson, both having seen the tech at separate preview events, and walking away impressed, we are already taking these boasts very seriously.

Which is why we took a technical deep dive, to explain how RGB Mini LED works, last week.

Read the full story: RGB Mini LED: all you need to know about the TV panel tech that could defeat OLED

MORE:

These are the best bookshelf speakers we have tested

Our picks of the best OLED TVs

We rate the the best projectors we have reviewed

Fyne Audio’s ‘Special Production’ models have been a huge success for the Scottish speaker specialist. The idea behind them is simple yet so alluring. Take a well-performing standard product, in this case the excellent F701 standmounter, keep the basic cabinet but let the engineers loose on everything else with a view to maximising performance and improving cosmetics.

Also, bump the price up accordingly; in the case of the Fyne Audio F701SP we're reviewing here, the difference between the two versions is around £1500 / $2200.

Build & design

At a casual glance, most people would be hard pushed to notice that the new Fyne F701SP features an upgraded driver array. It is now the very same Isoflare assembly that we so enjoyed when we tested the company’s excellent high-end F1-8 standmount (£7499 / $10,499).

In the case of these standmount speakers, Isoflare positions a 25mm horn-loaded magnesium dome compression tweeter at the centre of a 20cm multi-fibre paper mid/bass cone. This arrangement offers all sorts of benefits over traditional separated drive unit configurations, from more consistent dispersion characteristics to improved time alignment and integration. KEF has remained faithful to its similar Uni-Q arrangement for the same reasons.

Why don’t more manufacturers follow the coaxial driver approach, if it’s so good? That probably comes down to cost, together with big challenges regarding mechanical, acoustic and magnetic interactions between the two drivers. The engineers at Fyne and KEF have worked hard over decades to minimise the negatives and each company has made their take on the arrangement work extremely well. This task isn’t an easy thing for others to emulate.

But Fyne’s engineering skills aren’t just limited to the Isoflare configuration, as there are numerous examples of the company’s interesting ideas.

The mid/bass unit’s surround has indents all the way around (called ‘FyneFlute) to damp down any cone resonances more effectively, and the unit’s low frequency performance is tuned by the brand’s ‘BassTrax’ system.

This is essentially a downward-facing port that fires onto a specially shaped upward-facing cone, which converts the port’s output into a 360-degree wave front. This kind of dispersion at bass frequencies is claimed to make the speakers less fussy about their exact positioning in the listening room, and in our experience, does just that.

The F701SP speaker has an improved and re-tuned crossover compared to the standard model, and is packed with better quality components. It is a fairly minimalist design that uses a 2nd order filter for the mid/bass and a shallow 1st order for the tweeter. This crossover network is cryogenically treated to remove internal stresses within the components, which makes a notable improvement to overall transparency in our experience.

Elsewhere, the internal wiring is upgraded to Neotech high-purity copper and the crossover is mounted onto fibreboard panels to reduce the amount of vibrations that feed into the circuit.

What of the cabinet? It essentially remains the same rigid, well-built birch ply enclosure as the base product, though the hefty precision-machined aluminium plinth is upgraded to improve the performance of the ‘BassTrax’ system.

The SP variant adds a natural walnut finish to the standard model’s choice of piano gloss options (white, back and walnut). Look around the back and you will find a quartet of rather tasty WBT 0703 multi-way binding posts rather than the standard F701’s less flashy terminals.

The company continues to offer the option of earthing the speakers, and while the addition of yet another cable doesn’t do much for listening room neatness, the improvements we hear in transparency, refinement and resolution are clear, if subtle.

Compatibility

Admittedly, you need to use a top-class system to really hear the improvements. Our sources are Naim’s ND555/555 PS DR music streamer and the Technics SL-1000R record player partnered with Kiseki’s Purpleheart MC cartridge. As for amplification, we have our usual Burmester 088/911MkIII and PMC Cor integrated to hand. Our benchmark speakers are ATC’s SCM50, the ES-14N from Epos and Fyne’s own F1-8 standmounters.

With a claimed sensitivity of 90dB/W/m and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms, these should be an easy load for any decent price-compatible amplifier, bar some of the left-field, single-figure power output valve-driven designs still on the market.

The performance of any standmounter is reliant on the quality of its support, and these Fynes are no different. While it is tempting to skimp in this area, to do so would defeat the point of buying a product at this level. We used Fyne Audio’s FS08 stands, which at £1099 / $1750 aren’t cheap but do the job well. We would consider the stands an essential part of the package and budget accordingly.

The F701SP proves relatively unfussy when it comes to positioning. In our 3 x 7 x 5m (hwd) test room, they sound best around 80cm out from the wall and well away from the sides. Move the speakers much closer to the wall behind them and the speaker’s low bass becomes a little stodgy, but not by much compared to most rivals.

Our bigger issues with such a placement are the flattening of the soundstage and loss of overall transparency. We angle them towards the main listening position, so that the tweeters are aimed at either side of our shoulders, to optimise the stereo focus.

It is well worth experimenting with the distance between the speakers to solidify the results.

Sound

Get it all right and you should end up with a beautifully precise soundstage that is as crisp, layered and expansive as they come at this level. The sound floats free of the speaker’s enclosures, which strongly suggests that the care Fyne’s engineers have taken to reduce the cabinet’s resonances has worked. The benefits of the Isoflare arrangement come to the fore with the stereo imaging’s stability as we move around the room.

As we listen to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, we can’t help but be impressed by the Fynes’ enthusiasm. These speakers sound confident and have the composure to stand firm when the music gets demanding. Large-scale dynamic contrasts are rendered with heft, while lower-level shifts come through with the finesse they deserve.

Resolution of detail is excellent, with the speakers delivering plenty of insight while having the control to organise the piece’s various musical strands in a cohesive and musical way.

Tonally, the F701SP are pleasingly even. They aren’t the kind of standmounters that have you looking around the room for a hidden subwoofer, but the low frequencies they do produce are taut and tuneful. The payoff for not chasing bass quantity is that the lows generated here sound precise, subtle and nicely textured.

The F701SP’s innate transparency means that they won’t let a less-than-perfect recording or partnering system hide, but equally, their top-end has enough in the way of refinement to not make a meal of things when fed a poor quality signal.

These standmounters’ nicely judged balance means that they work well across a wide range of musical genres. Their front-footed handling of rhythmic drive and dynamics means that they sound right at home when asked to play Michael Jackson’s Dangerous set. On the opening track, Jam, they sound comfortable with all the crashing percussion and hard-charging beats.

Jackson’s aggressive delivery comes through with passion intact and is easy to follow despite the dense musical backdrop, thanks to top-class clarity and separation of detail. The overall result is wonderfully involving, and yes, fun.

We compare the F701SP to its pricier sibling, the F1-8, and can confirm that it offers much of the performance of the senior model. It doesn’t challenge the hierarchy though, with the F1-8 delivering a little more authority, image scale and a greater sense of subtlety.

We suspect the pricier model’s slightly larger internal cabinet volume (27.8l vs 24.4l) and more elaborate cabinet construction pay dividends in these areas.

Verdict

Still, as we work our way through our music library, it is hard to come to any other conclusion than Fyne Audio has come up with yet another great set of speakers in the F701SP. We remain great fans of the base model, but if your system is capable enough to reveal the sonic improvements the SP-spec provides, then for us, the decision is a no-brainer.

Life is short and the extra buzz you’ll get from the upgraded model is worth every single penny.

Review published: 28th May 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Compatibility 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4

Also consider the ProAc K1

Read our KEF Reference 1 Meta review

Coaxial drive units: is it a path more speaker manufacturers should follow?

Best bookshelf speakers: top standmounts for every budget tested

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

Fyne Audio has announced the latest pair of high-end speakers to get the "Special Production" treatment, the F704SP. Joining the F701SP, F702SP and F703SP models, the F704SP is positioned as the lead model in Fyne's latest F700SP range of speakers.

The new floorstanders will debut at the High End Munich Show this week (officially May 15th to May 18th), promising to combine the power of the original F704 speakers with innovations drawn from the brand's even more high-end, flagship F1 Series.

Designed 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 Fyne’s 75mm titanium dome tweeter, as well as a separate 30cm multi-fibre bass driver that takes care of the lower frequencies.

Central to the F704SP's sonic profile is an upgraded crossover network which incorporates premium components such as high-grade polypropylene capacitors and military-grade film resistors. According to Fyne, these advances "dramatically reduce compression effects and elevate detail resolution, enabling listeners to experience a richer, more lifelike musical performance".

Further, Fyne has also used cryogenic treatment on the complete crossover assembly in a bid to relax material stresses in components, maximising signal transparency and leading to improved sonic fidelity. Advanced wiring, meanwhile, teases "exceptional clarity" and efficiency, while gold-plated terminals aim to deliver "impeccable connectivity for premium audio systems".

Moving outside, the new speakers' cabinets are made using high-density European birch plywood bolstered by extensive internal bracing, leading to "unsurpassed rigidity" and less noise interference. The enclosure also incorporates Fyne's twin cavity loading system in which a downward-firing port is paired with Fyne Audio’s bespoke 'BassTrax' diffuser system to deliver a 360-degree wavefront, resulting in a broader sonic dispersion.

The new Fyne speakers are available in piano gloss black, gloss white and gloss walnut finishes, as well as a new walnut veneer. The Fyne F704SP will make their debut at this year's High End Munich showcase, priced at £20,000 / $26,000 / €24,000.

MORE:

Read our recent Fyne Audio 501E review

These are the best floorstanding speakers around

High End Munich preview: what to expect from the upcoming hi-fi show

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

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

It's not often a brand that’s so new to the market makes such an impact on our review team. But that’s exactly what happened when we tested the Eversolo DMP-A6 music streamer.

We’ve already stated a couple of elements of its design that would feature in our dream music streamer should we ever have the opportunity to build one and now the Eversolo can be yours with £160 off at Peter Tyson.

This discount sees the asking price drop to £599 from our 'tested at' price of £759 which is quite a sizeable saving. You’ll need to be a member of Peter Tyson’s VIP Club but it's quick to sign up to and, more importantly, free to join.

In our Eversolo DMP-A6 review, we weren’t short of praise for this music streamer. It’s quite the package, with an attractive, compact design, brushed aluminium finish and a wonderfully large and intuitive six-inch LCD touchscreen which we loved getting to grips with.

We said, “It does a fantastic job of mimicking the same experience you get when using a smartphone or tablet’s touchscreen… the album art is lovely to behold in full colour, and being able to read the source, song and artist name, data rate, file type and file resolution all at one glance is a design triumph”.

It also boasts all the streaming features you could really wish for, including UPnP support and support for Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music and even Apple Music. It’s also Roon-ready certified with aptX HD Bluetooth also available when using compatible source devices.

During testing, we praised its “taut, punchy sound” and the fact it “delivers music with solid, clear notes and good space around instruments”. It might lack the ultimate hi-fi credentials of the class leaders at the money but it’s still a very enjoyable listen. Combine this with an unparalleled user experience and this £160 discount at Peter Tyson and you have a streamer deal that really should be investigated.

MORE:

Read our full Eversolo DMP-A6 review

The perfect hi-fi streamer exists only in our imagination – here’s how it looks

Eversolo follows up its hi-fi hit with the upgraded DMP-A6 Gen 2 music streamer

Our pick of the best music streamers

It's a tough market out there. As soon as we think we've found a product that will be sitting pretty in a given area for the foreseeable future, along comes a new challenger keen to oust it from its place. Our list of the best floorstanding speakers is often in flux, as brands are constantly vying to have their finest contenders reaching the highest heights and earning a coveted spot on our esteemed rundown. It's a fertile market, too – just think of the myriad brands worthy of consideration: Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, PMC, Acoustic Energy, ATC, Focal, Wharfedale, Quad, Mission, Wilson Benesch, Spendor...we could be here for a while.

The point is, there's plenty of competition to be found, meaning that standards are high and, crucially, it's a big deal when a new pair manages to muscle its way into the pantheon. To do so, you've got to be built well and have the compatibility and flexibility to accommodate a suitable array of partnering equipment, but most importantly, you've got to be able to walk the sonic walk. Thankfully, that's not a problem for our outstanding newbies...

Sound that's more than just "Fyne"

The Fyne Audio F501E have elbowed the Q Acoustics 5040 out of our list of the best floorstanding speakers, dropping the latter into our also consider section. That's not something we necessarily envisioned happening so soon – we reviewed the 5040 in 2024, lavishing upon them not only a five-star review but a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award in the process. These are serious performers, offering insight, dynamic expression and superb clarity in spades, so we were quietly assuming that they might be sitting pretty for quite a while.

Lesson learned: never make assumptions in this ever-changing hi-fi world. Tested at pretty much exactly the same price tag of £999 in the UK, the Fyne Audio F501E vowed to deliver the most exceptional sound-per-sound performance you could find for under a grand. Like the costlier PMC Prodigy 5 we gushed over last year, the F501E are aggressively priced, only offering one rather plain black finish to keep production costs down and maintain that sub-£1000 price tag.

Instead, the F501E are all about performance, and what a performance it is. Equipped with the Scotland-based company's signature Isoflare driver array in which the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit and improves sonic dispersion, the F051E are a masterclass at delivering a great sound at a reasonable price.

As we stated in our review, "The F501E are talented all-rounders that have a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price. Partner them with a bit of care and we think you’ll be as impressed with them as we are." From their cohesion and expression to their taut and tuneful bass, we feel that they leave the immensely capable 5040 somewhat in the shade, and that's not something said lightly.

We know we're in danger of falling into the same trap of complacency as we did with the Q Acoustics, but we're struggling to think of how the Fyne towers could be toppled anytime soon. The gauntlet has been laid down at this mid-range level – let's see if anyone is willing to take up the challenge.

A small word on ProAc 

While they didn't quite make the cut to be included in our main list of the best floorstanding speakers, we'd be remiss if we didn't give a small mention to the recently-reviewed ProAc D20R. A more costly proposition at £3825 / $6500 / AU$9600, the D20R are five-star floorstanders that sit proudly in our guide's also consider section, and boy have they earned their place.

Okay, the D20R aren't the newest speakers on the planet – they launched back in 2014 – but we have to get through a lot of products from across the hi-fi and headphones gamut. We're glad we finally got hold of a pair of the D20R, though, because they are, to quote from our review, "charmers of the highest order".

Beautifully made and with a sonic character that appeals as much to the heart as it does to the head, they're a nuanced and expressive set of floorstanders that we could have enjoyed for days on end. If you're after something a little more premium than the Fyne towers above, the ProAc are capable of giving the high-end Spendor A7 speakers a run for their money.

Two different pairs of speakers have arrived, in one form or another, onto our list of the market's best floorstanders. While the models they either replace or contend with are now far from redundant, we'd urge you to investigate their charms further – you may just discover your new favourite pair of fantastic floorstanders.

MORE:

See every record player featured in our best turntables 2025 buying guide

17 memorable hi-fi and AV products turning 25 in 2025

I love bass, but please turn it down

Welcome to the latest entry into our weekly Rewind hi-fi and home cinema news digest, where we detail the top stories to break over the past seven days.

Last week was a particularly busy one as not only did our team of experts have to contend with a surprise Apple launch, they also spent the weekend covering the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025, where we saw a wealth of new products launch.

Here’s what you need to know.

There were loads of new speakers at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show is a staple entry in most audio fans’ calendar and this year’s expo was a great example why. As well as showing off the latest wares from over 150 audio brands, it also saw numerous new products launch. Reporting live at the show our audio team trawled the showroom floor having a look and listen at as many of them as they could and found seven in particular that caught their eye.

Read the full story: The 7 best speakers we saw at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025 – Ruark Audio, Wharfedale and more

Rega has a new amp

While most of the “new” products at Bristol were speakers, Rega bucked the trend unveiling its seventh generation Brio amp at the show.

The amp is particularly interesting for a couple of reasons. First because it comes from Rega Research, which has a very strong track record in the space, based on our decades of testing. Second, because it’s the first entry to the line with a DAC.

Read the full story: Rega reveals 7th generation Brio amplifier – and this time it has a DAC!

Fyne unveiled new mid-range speakers

Fresh off the back of our five star review of its Fyne Audio F501E, Fyne Audio unveiled its new mid-range F500S speakers last week.

We haven’t had a chance to listen to the new F500S yet, but Fyne claims they are a "significant audio and aesthetic upgrade" over the established F500 Series and on paper there’s a lot of evidence to back this up.

The speakers feature the firm’s IsoFlare driver technology. This is a cool feature we’ve seen before that aims to improve stereo imaging with a custom design where the bass/midrange driver shares a common centre with the speaker’s high-frequency unit.

Read the full story: Fyne Audio's mid-range F500S speakers aim for serious increases in sonic performance, not price

Neat’s latest speakers are outright dinky

Last week Neat launched its new Neat Iota II speakers. Why are they interesting? Because they are outright tiny, measuring in at just 13cm tall, 20cm wide and 16.5cm deep. Despite this Neat’s loaded them with some impressive hardware that it promises will let them deliver room filling, hi-fi grade audio, even in incredibly tight spaces.

Read the full story: Neat Iota II are ultra-tiny speakers with big ambitions and are ideal for small spaces

Optoma’s new UST projector is an interesting beast

Optoma last week unveiled its new Photon Go ultra short throw projector. Though UST is a bit of a vogue category at the moment the Go is interesting as it features one key bit of tech we haven’t seen in many rivals: a battery. This, plus its small dimensions and light weight could make it an ideal option for movie fans on the hunt for a portable projector they can use on the go when travelling or even camping.

Read the full story: Optoma's new on-the-go projector is set to be one of the cheaper USTs on the market

Surprise! There’s a new cheap(ish) iPhone

Last week Apple unveiled its new iPhone 16e. The device was originally expected to be called the iPhone SE 4, and is at first glance a refreshed version of the iPhone 14, with the only major additions being a new Apple Intelligence (AI) ready A18 chipset and OLED screen. Despite this, considering how much we liked the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16’s audio when we tested them, it could still be a very solid option for serious music fans that want a phone that can double as a proper portable music player.

Read the full story: Apple officially unveils the affordable iPhone 16e complete with an OLED display and Dolby Atmos support

MORE:

These are the best phones for music and movie fans

Our picks of the best speakers money can buy

We rank the best floorstanding speakers

Fyne Audio has unveiled its new F500S Series of loudspeakers at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. Teased as a "significant audio and aesthetic upgrade" over the established F500 Series and positioned a step above the entry-level F500E Series, the new step-up series strives for serious sonic gains without an increase in overall price. The F500S Series features five distinct speakers: the standmount F5S and F500S speakers, the F501S and F502S floorstanders, as well as a mountable LCR unit named the F500S.

Striving to deliver exceptional sound-per-pound value, the F500S line once again sees the Scottish audio brand using its proprietary IsoFlare driver technology wherein the bass/midrange driver shares a common centre with the high-frequency unit for improved stereo imaging. It's the same tech as found in the recently-reviewed Fyne Audio F501E – given our hearty five-star assessment, it worked pretty well in a more affordable model.

Fyne is looking to take its integration of the Isoflare drive design to new heights with its latest range. This approach includes a neodymium high-frequency magnet with a vented rear chamber to minimise resonance, as well as a 25mm magnesium high-frequency diaphragm selected for its damping properties. Each driver's waveguide has a unique geometry to avoid internal reflections, helping to improve dispersion over the previous generation F500 for further enhanced stereo imaging and improved sonic performance.

Each driver's low-frequency section uses a multifibre cone, chosen for its "natural sound and predictable characteristics". The section is terminated with a 'FyneFlute' roll surround which aims to facilitate a clean transient response, while the brand's 'BassTrax' diffuser system helps to deliver bass more uniformly while helping to diminish each speaker's sensitivity to room positioning.

The new speakers use high-rigidity MDF cabinets which can be finished either in real wood veneers or piano-grade gloss paint, with each unit boasting bi-wirable speaker binding posts, stabilising plinths and magnetic rear grille storage for the floorstanding units.

The Fyne Audio F500S Series will be available in Spring 2025, but if you're heading down to the Bristol Hi-Fi Show this weekend, you'll be able to get a first-hand taste of the new range. Prices are as follows:

- F5S standmounts: £600 / $800 / €700
- F500S standmounts: £800 / $1000 / €950
- F501S floorstanders: £1700 / $2250 €2000
- F502S floorstanders: £2300 / $3000 / €2800
- F500S LCR: £500 / $650 / €600

MORE:

These are the best floorstanding speakers we've tested

Here’s why I’ll be sprinting to hear the Wharfedale Super Linton at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show

It's not always about sound quality; sometimes it's the small things that make using a hi-fi product such a joy

Fyne Audio has been astonishingly aggressive with the pricing of its new F501E floorstanders. They are part of the new F500E entry-level range, which in effect replaces the established and much-liked budget F300 series. We all know the price of just about everything has gone up massively in recent years, so it is refreshing to find that this latest 501 model retails for less than the original did back in 2018. That first version is currently still on sale for around £1700 / $2875.

It is fair to acknowledge that the older floorstander was aimed at a more premium part of the market when introduced. It is wrapped in a lovely real wood finish, rather than the black ash vinyl of the new one, and has classier cosmetic detailing. But, we still find it impressive that this new ‘E’ model can boast the same range of in-house technologies at such a saving.

Design

The big news here is that Fyne’s trademark Isoflare driver array, where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit, has trickled down to its entry range for the first time. In this case, it is a 25mm titanium compression dome tweeter partnered with a 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass unit with the crossover point set at a relatively low 1.7kHz.

The mid/bass driver’s rubber surround exhibits the same fluting as seen on the company’s more upmarket products; this shape is claimed to terminate the cone more effectively, reducing distortion and improving clarity.

The F501E is a 2 1/2 way design where the lower 15cm multi-fibre driver, a dedicated bass unit that rolls in below 250Hz, is tuned by a downward firing port arrangement called Basstrax. Here, the port fires onto an upward-facing cone that disperses the sound evenly through 360 degrees. Look just above the plinth and you will see the bass vents on all sides of the cabinet. That even spread of bass is claimed to make the speakers less fussy about room placement, and that proves to be the case. Even so, our samples still sound best around 70cm out from the rear wall and well away from the sides in our 3 x 7 x 5m (hwd) test room.

General build quality is as solid and neat as expected at this level. However, these speakers are only available in a black ash vinyl wrap. The lower production cost of only having a single finish is a part of the reason Fyne can achieve such an aggressive price for the F501E. The finish itself is decent, but to our eyes looks a little drab next to classier price rivals such as the Q Acoustics 5040/5050 duo.

Compatibility

Speakers at this level have a difficult balancing act to perform. They should be unfussy enough to sound decent with modestly-priced systems but still have enough sonic stretch to show improvements when the partnering electronics are upgraded. The Fynes’ sensitivity is rated at 90dB/W/m and their nominal impedance is claimed to be an entirely conventional 8 ohms. We try 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) without issue. For performance benchmarking, we have the Award-winning Q Acoustics 5050 towers on hand, alongside KEF’s similarly-priced LS50 Meta standmounters, and for a broader context, PMC’s more expensive Prodigy 5.

It doesn’t take long to realise that the F501E are hugely capable. They do the basics well by offering good insight and delivering decently balanced tonality. Our experience of Fyne’s more affordable models, capable as they have been, is that they haven’t always had the most refined treble. But, we’re pleased to note that the F501E does a pleasing job in this respect. It avoids edge and undue harshness at higher frequencies, even when provoked by less-than-perfect recordings. This is a huge plus for those who choose their music on merit rather than recording quality.

That doesn’t give the user a free pass on using capable partnering equipment, though. While these towers don’t necessarily force a spotlight on any sonic flaws upstream, like any capable speaker they will only shine when fed a good-quality signal.

Sound

Given such a signal, their dynamics are strong and delivered with natural fluidity. As we listen to Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar OST it is hard not to be impressed by the clarity on offer and the Fynes’ ability to organise the mass of instrumentation on Cornfield Chase. These floorstanders stay composed when the production becomes dense and deliver the music’s growing intensity, as it reaches the end, with conviction.

One of the advantages of a coaxial configuration such as the Isoflare array is that it disperses sound more consistently as we move off-axis. This trait pays dividends in the F501E’s focused and layered stereo imaging and the way its soundstage remains stable even when we move away from the (relatively wide) sweet spot. In comparison, the more conventional Q Acoustics 5050 become a little more uneven when we do so.

We like the Fyne’s sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand. Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards. We push the volume levels northward to see how the F501E cope – they tick that box confidently at anything that passes for normal listening levels.

These towers are a fun listen too, as a trip down memory lane with The Low End Theory from A Tribe Called Quest proves. The F501E are fluid and expressive. They track rhythms with determination while communicating changes in musical momentum in a natural and convincing manner. Having the acoustic centres of the tweeter and mid/bass aligned helps with integration; the result is a crisp and forthright performance with vocals that captures nuances and subtle shifts in intensity superbly. The rival Q Acoustics 5050 sound a touch disinterested and mechanical in contrast.

Through the test process, we cover large swathes of our music collection from Dvorak’s New World Symphony and John Coltrane’s legendary Giant Steps set to Hit Me Hard And Soft by Billie Eilish, and the Fynes never miss a beat. They have the sophistication and muscularity to convey the majesty of a full-blown orchestra yet can still convey the intimacy of Eilish’s Wildflower superbly.

Verdict

If you can put up with the less-than-inspiring finish then there is very little to dislike here. The F501E is a talented all-rounder that has a range of sonic abilities that are hard to better at this price. Partner these floorstanders with a bit of care and we think you’ll be as impressed with them as we are.

First reviewed: February 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 4
• Compatibility 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Q Acoustics 5040

Also consider the Q Acoustics 5050

Read our Dali Oberon 5 review

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

Are you on the lookout for a pair of mid-range speakers to elevate your home listening experience? Then look no further than the Fyne Audio F500 speakers, which are on sale for £499 at Richer Sounds. You'll need to be a VIP member to take advantage of the deal but that is completely free and simply requires filling out a quick sign-up form.

Fyne Audio is a the manufacturer of some excellent speakers, and the F500s are truncated versions of the first Fyne speakers we tested, the F501 towers. We liked those so much that they were named our favourite floorstanders below £1500 at the 2018 What Hi-Fi? Awards.

Best Fyne Audio F500 deal

You can read about the sound quality of these speakers in our Fyne Audio F500 review. We praise the impressive low end, with "sufficient punch to deal heavy kicks and the smoothness to feed bubbling pulses and luscious pedals." This results in a warm and welcoming sound. Many standmount speakers can sound small, but the F500s give the midrange real purchase with that support coming from the lower registers.

The build quality of these speakers is impressive as well. In terms of compatibility, the downfiring port, with a cone-shaped BassTrax Tractix diffuser, aims for 360-degree dispersion of the soundwaves, as well as allowing for increased versatility when it comes to placement in regards to a back wall.

At £300 off the list price, you can't really go wrong with the Fyne Audio F500s.

MORE:

Read our Fyne Audio F500 review

Check out our best speakers guide

and our list of the best floorstanding speakers

If you found a time machine and travelled back to December 2023, you’d see a tired shell of a professional 'shiny things chaser' (me) penning an end of year feature detailing why 2024 could be the year Mini LED takes on OLED.

At the time there was a good reason for that. Sony had indicated it would be moving to prioritise Mini LED sets in its top-end line, alongside OLED models. A fact then demonstrated in the new year when it unveiled its 2024 flagship, the Bravia 9, which uses a Mini LED, not QD-OLED panel.

Samsung had also jumped on the bandwagon, telling investors in its final earnings call for the year that it would be betting on giant Mini LED and 8K TVs in 2024. Hisense and TCL then announced similar plans – though with those two it was no great surprise, as both have been throwing shade at OLED for years.

But now, with 2024 in the rearview mirror and myself and theWhat Hi-Fi? team having once again sacrificed our retinas, and short term sanity, testing every flagship TV we could get our hands on over the past 12 months, you may justifiably be wondering: did the gamble pay off?

The short answer is no, it did not.

If you run through our reviews of some of 2024’s top-end Mini LED TV heavy-hitters, which includes the Sony Bravia 9, Hisense U8N, Samsung QN95D and more, you’ll notice a common theme: they all scored four stars.

Conversely, their main OLED rivals, including the flagship LG G4, Panasonic Z95A and Samsung S95D, as well as step-down LG C4, Sony Bravia 8 and Philips OLED809, all got five stars.

If you were to ask for a detailed breakdown as to why, the answer would vary slightly depending on the exact Mini LED and OLED sets we were talking about. But ultimately the answer would boil down to a simple point: the OLED sets offered better picture quality, holistically.

Whether it was the wonderful, pixel perfect light control we saw on the Bravia 8, the stellar, authentic colour reproduction of the Z95A or wonderfully sharp and punchy performance of the C4, the OLEDs performed better.

Just to prove my point, here’s a quick smorgasbord of direct quotes saying as much from our reviewers, starting with the Bravia 9:

“For most people, we simply feel that the cheaper Bravia 8 OLED is the better option thanks to its improved skin tones, more consistent handling of colours, better three-dimensional depth and sharper details.”

And the Hisense U8:

“If you can stretch to invest a few hundred more you can grab an LG C4, which offers easier set-up, deeper blacks, pixel level contrast control, an equally good app ecosystem and better gaming features. This means that for now the U8N is a good, but not perfect, option for any premium TV buyer.”

And finally, the Samsung QN95D:

“Unfortunately, a handful of factors hold it back from true greatness: distracting visual oddities and a middling sound system are frustrating, and the blooming effect found in particularly dark scenes is very disappointing. There is also the S95D, which lurks uncomfortably close on price and with its glorious QD-OLED panel produces a deeper, richer and more cinematic picture overall.”

Does that mean Mini LED is bad? No. To be clear, all we’re saying here is that it still can’t compete in the top end of the market on TVs that cost as much as an OLED.

In the mid-range part of the market we’ve seen plenty of strong Mini LED performers that offer exceptional value for money. Our 2024 Award-winner, the TCL 85C805K is clear evidence of that. While its picture isn’t on a par with an OLED’s, its lower price means it’s still a fantastic option, especially for people on a budget – remember we always review with performance-per-pound/dollar in mind.

The new Mini LEDs are also a step forward for the technology, delivering uniformly better performance than their predecessors, so there is still hope for the technology – but 2024 wasn't its time. Which is why I’m going to end this feature with some borrowed words from our home cinema editor, Tom Parsons, in our Bravia 9 review, which accurately sums up our feelings on Mini LED in general.

“We're certainly not writing off Sony's new Mini LED backlighting system, as a second-generation version could be truly brilliant but, at this point, its strengths – impressive though they are – don't quite outweigh its compromises.”

MORE:

These are the best Mini LED TVs we’ve reviewed

We rate the best OLED TVs

Our picks of the best 65-inch TVs