Italian brand Volumio has been making waves with its compact streaming products that offer ample features in designs don’t look like traditional hi-fi.

The Primo V3 is the latest iteration of its music streamer and DAC, and it packs quite a number of features into its petite dimensions.

Volumio’s network streaming platform gives you access to Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz Connect, and internet radio services like TuneIn. It is DLNA compliant and Roon Ready certified, and Bluetooth 5.0 is also available.

The updated ESS Sabre 9039Q2M DAC handles hi-res audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256, and the unit offers wi-fi and Ethernet connections to your network.

Analogue outputs include balanced XLR and RCA line level, with eight adjustable voltage levels to fine tune the unit’s output to your partnering amplifier or active speakers.

There is a video-only HDMI output for seeing the Volumio OS on a screen, a microSD card slot to integrate your digital library directly without needing a network connection, and there are two USB-A ports for connecting hard drives. Notably, there are no coaxial or optical connections.

You can use either USB-A port as a digital output connected to a compatible USB DAC, via which it can handle ultra high resolutions files: PCM files with a high sampling rate of 1536kHz, and DSD1024.

Volumio says this allows you to “preserve the full fidelity of your music system” and “retain the full resolution of the original recording”. Those files must be rarer than hen's teeth, as we have rarely come across downloadable hi-res tracks beyond 24-bit/192kHz – which the Volumio natively supports.

The Primo V3’s quad core CPU is faster and more powerful than before, while care is taken internally to shorten the signal paths of the circuitry and it uses a linear power supply stage to reduce noise and interference. Combined with a high-precision clock, this helps to reduce jitter and keep the signal as clear as possible.

You can further fine tune the sound of the streamer thanks to eight DAC filters.

The Volumio Primo V3 streamer sports an all-black minimal design, and is available now for £769 / $1049 / €849.

MORE:

Our guide to the best music streamers for all budgets

Now Playing: supercharge your summer listening with the 7 best tracks we’ve been using to test hi-fi

Bad news for Tidal users as the music-streaming service reveals an August price hike

A music streamer is one of the easiest ways to modernise an ageing hi-fi system. They bring streaming services to equipment that still sounds great, without the expense of a full system upgrade.

As part of this year’s Prime Day, the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning WiiM Pro Plus has dropped to just £175 at Amazon, Peter Tyson and Smart Home Sounds. Meanwhile, its step-up model, the WiiM Ultra is available for just £279 from Amazon.

Both streamers have impressed the What Hi-Fi? review team, earning five stars for their exceptional functionality and sound quality. Whether you are looking for a simple streaming upgrade or a more premium all-in-one hub for your hi-fi system, these discounts make both models all the more appealing.

The WiiM Pro Plus is one of our favourite affordable music streamers, having earned both a five-star review and a What Hi-Fi? Award for its combination of accessible pricing, extensive streaming support and strong sound quality.

Compact and minimal in its design, the Pro Plus will be easy to accommodate in most systems. The streamer features dual-band wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.1 (with SBC and AAC codec compatibility).

Chromecast is built in, but Apple Airplay 2 is also available, and the Home control app supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, Pandora, Tuneln and a host of less high-profile alternatives.

Crucially, the Pro Plus sounds more accomplished than its price tag suggests. In our review we praise its “clear, detailed” and “dynamically adept” sound, noting its “impressive” presentation. Even at its standard price, the Pro Plus provides excellent value for money, so this Prime Day deal feels like a true bargain.

Those willing to spend a little more should also consider the step-up WiiM Ultra, which is currently seeing a 20% Prime Day discount on Amazon. While the Ultra shares many features of the Pro Plus, it builds on its successful formula with a more premium design, larger feature set and improved sonic performance.

The most obvious difference is the Ultra’s sleek aluminium chassis and responsive 3.5-inch colour touchscreen, which displays album art and playback information, while offering quick, simple access to settings and presets.

Connectivity is another area where the Ultra excels. Alongside analogue and digital inputs and outputs, the Ultra adds HDMI ARC, a moving-magnet phono stage, a USB input, subwoofer output and a headphone socket, almost doubling the connections of the Pro Plus.

Sonically, we found that the Ultra delivers greater “detail, clarity and space” than the Pro Plus, with a sound we described as “mature and capable”.

Both the WiiM Pro Plus and WiiM Ultra offer an easy, high-quality upgrade for your hi-fi system and are now available with appealing Prime Day discounts. The Pro Plus can be yours for £175 at Amazon, Peter Tyson and Smart Home Sounds, and the Ultra is available for just £279 from Amazon.

MORE

Read our WiiM Pro Plus review

and our WiiM Ultra review

Keep up to date with Prime Day 2026 LIVE: the best headphone, speaker and vinyl deals picked by our hi-fi experts

It’s been a tricky few years for Onkyo.

Historically better known for its AV receivers, the Japanese company filed for bankruptcy back in 2022, but not before offloading its core home AV and hi-fi division to a joint venture between Premium Audio Company (the parent company of Klipsch, Integra, Magnat and others) and Sharp.

It teased a return at the end of 2024 before finally launching new hi-fi electronics and an affordable line of powered speakers at CES 2025.

That range of electronics was called ‘Icon’, and it’s the Onkyo Icon A-50 streaming amplifier that you see before you here.

It’s a strong choice of name – but can the level of performance on offer match it?

Price

Priced at £1199 / £1599 / AU$3299, the Onkyo lives in a space where there isn’t too much in the way of major rivals.

The one potential stumbling block to its success is a big one, though. It comes in the shape of the Ruark Audio R610 (£1199 / $1599 / AU$2299), a What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winner, no less.

This neat box of tricks offers similar functionality to the Onkyo and has a price tag which is comparable in both the UK and the US.

There is a bit of a gap in pricing when you look at the Australian market, but we think it’s the product most people are likely to compare it to.

Design & build

Once unboxed, first impressions are mixed. Onkyo has gone down the traditional full-width separates route for the Icon A-50 as opposed to the slightly more stylish and more modern design of the Ruark.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with 'traditional', and from a distance everything appears perfectly well-appointed – all the various controls, buttons and switches seem to be proportionate and in the right place.

Once it’s powered up, that sliver of orange LED on the volume control sharpens up the amp’s appearance nicely. It contrasts neatly with its black surround and matches the ladder of LEDs that arcs around the input selector. Each rung glows orange as you cycle through the various options until you arrive at your desired input.

However, your contact points feel a little, dare we say, cheap. The top of the chassis, despite having an attractive pattern of vents, doesn’t feel the most robust.

The power button, depending on how it’s pressed, can make a quite off-putting springy noise, while the volume control makes quite a substantial clicking noise around halfway up its travel.

We weren’t quite sure why the amp was doing this, so we reached out to Onkyo, who told us “to prevent the product temperature from becoming high, the power supply for the amplifier is designed to switch between two levels, low and high, depending on factors such as the volume value, internal temperature sensor, and speaker output level".

It’s a strange quirk and something that we haven’t come across on a product like this before. It’s also something that we did find distracting during testing.

The textured finish to the input selector feels nice to the touch, but the control’s actual movement is a little soft and not quite as precise as we’d like.

Add all the design and build elements together, and we’re left with a feeling that we’re not quite getting our money’s worth.

The supplied remote is a relatively ordinary plastic wand which contains all the basic buttons for changing input, volume and accessing the tone controls.

It does the job without too many complaints, although a couple of times, when controlling the volume, the dial seemed to briefly resist and even go in the opposite direction before rotating the desired way.

Features

Speaking of controls, you are encouraged to download Onkyo’s Controller app before you begin set-up.

Companion apps for anything streaming-related can be hit and miss in our experience, and the Onkyo’s isn’t without issue. There’s plenty of functionality built in, for sure, but it struggles to gloss over what is all too often a frustrating and buggy experience.

What should be a simple set-up process is hampered by an over-complicated and overly fussy menu system and an app that is generally slow and sluggish to respond.

Tidal Connect worked smoothly as you’d expect, but the Amazon Music implementation is sluggish and buggy. On one occasion, we are streaming music using the service through the Controller app and the icons for skipping tracks disappear from the screen on our iPhone 15 Plus.

Through the app, you can access the Onkyo’s basic Dirac Live room correction or the built-in Fidelity IQ calibration. Both of these can use the microphone, which comes with the amplifier and plugs into the corresponding socket on the front panel.

Depending on your room layout and characteristics, you might want to stick with how they calibrate the sound, but we preferred them both turned off. In our acoustically treated rooms, Dirac Live sounded a little lightweight, while the Fidelity IQ option seemed to change the balance and boost certain frequencies at the expense of others, resulting in an unbalanced sound.

Instead, we would suggest actually flicking the switch on the front of the A-50 to turn on Direct mode. With this mode engaged, your music won’t pass through the amp’s tone control circuit and instead travel on a slightly shorter signal path.

In our opinion, it makes a subtle, yet audible difference to the sound quality. Music sounds slightly cleaner and more transparent.

During testing, there were a couple of bugs that cropped up when experimenting with Dirac Live, Fidelity IQ, and Direct mode. On a couple of occasions, the amplifier went rogue and turned the bass up in the tone controls when switching between them. The Onkyo would also occasionally mute the sound when switching between Dirac Live and Fidelity IQ.

We actually found the best part of the control app to be the volume control. Tapping the button on your screen launches a pop-up volume dial, which you slide your thumb around. The dial’s action is nice and smooth, and the amp is quick to respond.

On the front of the amp is a 6.3mm headphone socket, and four LED indicators next to a ‘my input’ button, which you can use to assign a particular source and sound settings to a single preset.

Around the back are three analogue inputs, two optical digital inputs, one coaxial digital input, a USB-A input for an external storage device, an HDMI ARC socket and a phono input for the moving magnet/moving coil phono stage.

Bluetooth connectivity is also included, which allows you to not only beam music to the Onkyo from a smartphone or tablet, but also transmit Bluetooth audio to a pair of Bluetooth headphones for, say, some late-night, wireless listening. The amp is compatible with SBC, aptX and aptX HD codecs.

The networked A-50 can cater for virtually all your streaming needs with support for Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Amazon Music and TuneIn internet radio. It also supports AirPlay, Chromecast and is Roon Ready.

Sound

The Icon A-50 is claimed to deliver 110W per channel (into 8 ohms) using Class A/B amplification. During testing, we have it hooked up to our reference bookshelf speakers, the Epos ES-7N, and the amplifier seems perfectly at home driving them.

We start with a track or two from our Naim Uniti Core server accessed through the controller app, and we like what we hear.

Playing Lady Gaga’s Starstruck, the A-50 puts its best foot forward. The track sounds punchy, weighty and piques our interest with a lively and spacious sound.

There’s plenty of scale and size to the soundstage, too – the Onkyo sounds bold and forthcoming, but doesn’t sound overpowering. It’s nicely measured in its approach.

Bass notes hit with weight and authority, but it’s not just about the amount of bass. There’s decent detail and texture there too, and the difference in intensity between each low-frequency blow is easy enough to distinguish.

We wheel out the five-star Ruark R610 for comparison, and although it sounds smaller scale and less open, you do get a much greater sense of focus and precision compared to the Onkyo.

The current What Hi-Fi? Award-winner sounds more sure of itself, displaying greater composure and also has the edge when communicating the rhythmic flow and dynamic shifts of the track.

We slow things down with George Michael’s Careless Whisper and the Onkyo’s large, expansive delivery comes to the fore once again. It’s nice to listen to and does a fine job of separating the various elements of the track.

However, the vocal isn’t delivered with quite as much conviction or precision, nor does the saxophone sound as solid or dynamically dexterous as it is when heard through the Ruark.

Having said that, the A-50 still sounds balanced. There’s no sign of any brightness or hardness at the top end, and you certainly couldn’t accuse the Onkyo of delivering unruly and overly keen bass frequencies, either.

We play the same two tunes over Tidal Connect and Bluetooth, and the amplifier remains in character. Yes, the compressed Bluetooth versions sound just that, but the Onkyo maintains its broad, expansive personality.

Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the phono stage. Connecting a Rega Planar 3 RS Edition and playing Lukas Graham’s Happy Home, and we are left feeling disappointed by the slightly flat and compressed sound that greets us.

Tonally, there’s nothing too off-putting, and it’s balanced and easy-going enough, but there’s a distinct lack of drive to the synthy bassline, and his normally expressive vocal sounds stunted.

The headphone output, by contrast, sounds tonally grey compared to what we hear from the amp’s speaker outputs. There’s a lack of natural warmth, and detail levels take a hit too.

Verdict

As you’ll have probably guessed by now, we aren’t as enamoured with the Onkyo Icon A-50 as we had hoped to be.

The large-scale, powerful sound it produces shows potential, and there are likeable elements to its sound quality, but it never really comes close to troubling the composure and dynamic finesse of the class-leader at this level.

Combine the questions over build with the buggy app, and the Onkyo feels like one of those products where it’s a good concept on paper, but, ultimately, the execution is lacking.

Review published: 9th June 2026

SCORES

• Sound 3
• Features 3
• Build 3

MORE:

Also consider the Ruark Audio R610

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

Streaming amplifiers make a lot of sense – they are solutions for people who want convenience but don’t want to sacrifice audio quality.

Historically, Cambridge Audio’s Evo line has provided just that – and it now has a new addition in the shape of the range-topping Evo 300.

We headed into Cambridge Audio’s demonstration room at High End Vienna 2026 to see and hear it in action.

Price

The Evo 300 costs £3499/€3999/$3999 which places it slightly above our current favourite around that price, the Award-winning Arcam SA35. The Arcam costs £2999 / $3300 / AU$6495 and launched back in May 2024.

To give you some extra context, the Cambridge Audio Evo 75 and Evo 150 launched in 2021 for £1799 / $2250 / AU$3299 and £2249 / $3000 / AU$4299, respectively, while the Evo 150 SE arrived in 2025 with a price tag of £1999 / $3299 / AU$5795.

Design and build

If you’re familiar with any of the previous Evo models, you’ll know what to expect from the Evo 300. And the fact that it takes after its siblings is a good thing.

Like the rest of the Evo family that has come before, the new model is a good-looking piece of kit with styling that should look at home in a wide range of listening environments.

It has a premium-looking and feeling black aluminium cabinet which boasts Evo’s party piece – interchangeable side panels. You get two options: a real wood veneer or a black slatted option, should you want a traditional or more modern aesthetic.

On the front of the amp is a 7.8-inch display – the largest Cambridge Audio has used to date. And it seems just as crisp and punchy as the screens we have seen on older Evo products.

Album artwork looks good, and it’s also easy to read, whether you’re looking at track information, changing volume or switching inputs. This is good to see – it isn’t always a given on products of this type.

As with previous Evos, a small strip of buttons runs down the right side of the screen, and at the far right side of the fascia is the volume dial/control wheel combination.

You do get a slender remote control with the Evo 300, although you’re more likely to use Cambridge Audio’s intuitive StreamMagic app for the majority of your interactions.

Features

As the model name implies, the power output of the Evo is 300W per channel. This is provided by Hypex NCOREx power modules.

Under the aluminium chassis, you’ll find a dual-mono layout, a balanced pre-amplifier stage and an ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC, which supports up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512.

Streaming comes courtesy of Cambridge Audio’s excellent StreamMagic platform, which provides support for Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio. The amp also supports Bluetooth 5.4 (including aptX HD), AirPlay 2 and is Roon Ready.

Around the back of the unit, there are two sets of speaker terminals, RCA and balanced XLR inputs, HDMI eARC connectivity, and a built-in moving-magnet phono stage for a compatible turntable.

You also get an adjustable subwoofer output and an optional high-pass filter for the main speakers.

Sound

All the hi-fi show listening caveats apply here in terms of room design, layout and impact of external noise. In a room full of keen journalists jostling for position, it’s tricky to get the complete picture of a product.

Still, we were treated to a few tracks on the Evo 300 – partnered with a pair of £8000 Dynaudio Contour Legacy floorstanders – to give us a flavour.

We kick things off with a blast of Inertia Creeps by Massive Attack, and there seems to be plenty of power behind the drum thwacks.

The overall delivery appears focused and precise with a good amount of insight. Edges of notes seem well-defined with a good amount of texture.

Switching to Foo Fighters’ Stranger Things Have Happened, and there seems to be good separation in the stereo image with space around both the guitar and Dave Grohl’s vocal.

It’s an open, expansive image, and the guitar strums sound nicely defined with a good amount of weight behind them.

As the intensity of the guitar play and the vocal pick up during the course of the track, the amplifier seems to follow suit.

Initial verdict

In terms of build, design and features, it certainly looks as though the Cambridge Audio Evo 300 ticks a lot of boxes.

And, although we aren’t too familiar with the speakers used by Cambridge Audio in the demo, what we hear in our brief time with the streaming amplifier is more than enough to make us keen to get one into our test rooms for a closer listen.

The streaming amplifiers category is growing in size all the time, so it will be interesting to see if Cambridge Audio can set the benchmark for performance at the price.

MORE:

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

I’ve had a first listen to Bowers & Wilkins’ new flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers – and now I’m desperate to hear more

Our pick of the best hi-fi systems for all budgets

It has been five years since Cambridge Audio introduced its Evo range of all-in-one streaming amplifiers, the Evo 75 and Evo 150.

Then, in June 2025, it announced the updated Evo 150 SE, which introduced a higher-quality ESS SABRE ES9018k2m DAC and Hypex NCOREx amplifier module, improvements to the signal path and a refined output stage.

Now, at High End Vienna, Cambridge Audio has upped the ante with a new, more powerful model, the Evo 300 (£3499/€3999/$3999).

As you can probably guess from the model name, the new streaming amplifier boasts 300W of Hypex NCOREx Class D power per channel.

And decoding comes courtesy of a new ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC, which supports up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512.

Streaming comes via Cambridge Audio’s excellent StreamMagic platform, which provides support for Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio. The amp also supports AirPlay 2 and is Roon Ready.

The Evo 300 also includes RCA and balanced XLR inputs, HDMI eARC connectivity, Bluetooth 5.4 (including aptX HD) and a built-in moving-magnet phono stage for a compatible turntable.

You also get an adjustable subwoofer output and an optional high pass filter for the main speakers.

On the front of the unit is a 7.8-inch colour screen, which allows you to switch between views that show VU meters, a clock or album artwork. Evo 300 also features interchangeable side panels, should you want to tweak its appearance.

Under the aluminium chassis, you’ll find a dual-mono layout, a balanced pre-amplifier stage, switch-mode power supply and “high-precision analogue volume controls for each channel”.

We were huge fans of the Evo 75 and Evo 150, both of which received five stars from our test team, with the Evo 150 SE picking up a solid four-star rating. We can’t wait to see how the Evo 300 performs.

Also at High End Vienna, Cambridge Audio has unveiled a special “Midnight” black version of its Evo One all-in-one system. It features the same electronics and 14-driver array, but the new finish offers an aesthetic alternative to the real walnut veneer of the original. Pricing remains the same at £1299/€1499/$1799.

MORE:

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

Read our Cambridge Audio 150 review

And our Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE review

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

We are big fans of Ruark Audio's R610 streaming amplifier. Indeed, its vintage-inspired design and smooth, dynamic sound nabbed it a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award win.

Ruark has now launched a bigger brother, the R710. It builds upon the excellent R610 (£1199 / $1599 / AU$2299) by adding more power and, due to popular demand, an integrated CD player.

Seeing that CDs are having a revival, the team at Ruark (who are “lifelong vinyl and CD fans”) have incorporated a CD drive into the R710 music system, with the slot-loading mechanism cleverly hidden amongst the wooden slats adorning the front of the unit. Ruark calls CDs “the last tangible music format” and believes that CDs can offer “superior sound over streaming”.

That doesn’t mean Ruark has completely ignored the most dominant way we listen to music these days; there are ample network-streaming features included in the R710. Popular music streaming services such as Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect are available alongside AirPlay, Google Cast, Bluetooth aptX HD, and internet radio.

You can also stream hi-res audio files from a connected NAS drive or via USB, with up to 32-bit/192kHz PCM file resolution supported.

As with the R610, the R710 features Class D amplification, but the power output has been beefed up considerably, to 200W per channel. In comparison, the R610 features 75W per channel. The more powerful R710 unit features a custom switch-mode power supply, and Ruark has also taken care with the layout of the internal circuit, from using audio-grade components to keeping signal paths short and direct.

The R710 is also bigger than the R610’s compact footprint, and features a larger 6.8-inch full-colour display screen to show off album artwork, track info and input selection.

Around the back, you’ll find a good complement of digital and analogue connections, including RCA line level, optical, USB-C, and an HDMI eARC input to use it with a TV. Continuing the love for physical media, there is a built-in moving-magnet phono stage so you can directly connect a turntable.

Effectively, you can play music from pretty much any source and in any popular format you have (bar DSD) through the R710.

The R710’s cabinet design remains visually consistent with the R610 and the rest of the 100 Series, and features the brand’s iconic and tactile RotoDial controller embedded on top of the unit, with a matching Bluetooth remote.

The R710 aims to combine “analogue charm with digital convenience”, with Ruark having designed the more powerful streaming amp for both serious listeners and “anyone who wants their home to sound extraordinary”. Its gorgeous lifestyle-friendly looks are a bonus, too.

The Ruark R710 will be available in fused walnut veneer or satin charcoal lacquer finishes, and is available to buy later in this year for £2199 / €2699.

MORE:

Read our Ruark Audio R610 review

Ruark resurrects Talisman-R floorstanders for "people who care about their home as much as their music"

All the latest news from the High End Vienna 2026 show

Tannoy teases exclusive limited-edition speakers to mark its 100th anniversary

Onkyo originally teased the Muse Y-50 Network Integrated Amplifier Anniversary Edition back in January at CES, but we didn’t know the full model name at the time (nor how much of a mouthful it would be) or the pricing.

The new unit is inspired by the Onkyo Integra M-588 amplifier from the early 1990s, which had real-wood walnut side panels and illuminated meters. The Y-50 gets Bordeaux walnut side panels and an aluminium front panel finished in champagne gold.

The special-edition Y-50 gets a 5.46-inch colour LCD display which can be used to show track information, access settings and also display analogue-style VU meters.

You can take control of the Y-50 through Onkyo’s Controller app, and it also comes with proprietary room-calibration software specifically developed for the Muse series.

Amplification is 250 watts of Class D power (into 4-ohms), and connectivity options include analogue RCA, coaxial digital, HDMI ARC, ethernet, wi-fi, and a moving-magnet/moving-coil compatible phono stage.

Streaming support extends to Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Qplay.

Onkyo’s Creator GX-30ARC and GX-10DB Powered Monitor Anniversary Limited Edition speakers bring (as well as another mouthful) a new industrial design to two models which are already on the market.

We gave the GX-30ARC five stars when we tested them back in January, so you already know they are among the best desktop speakers around.

The revamped design for the anniversary edition includes tweaked proportions, dark silver trim rings, textured black baffles, a Bordeaux walnut finish, and black, angled stands. The new look has been inspired by Onkyo D-200 Liverpool monitors, which the company introduced back in 1987.

As with the standard versions, which launched at the start of 2026, these models still use Class D amplification and include features such as Bluetooth 5.3, a USB-C input, an optical digital input, a phono input and a subwoofer pre-out. The more expensive GX-30ARC also boast HDMI ARC connectivity.

Pricing will be $1699 for the Muse Y-50 Anniversary Edition, $399 for the GX-30ARC and $299 for the GX-10DB when they all go on sale in August.

MORE:

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

Read our full Onkyo GX-30ARC review

Our pick of the best music streamers

The separates approach has held sway in the world of high-end hi-fi from the very beginning. That is perfectly understandable, given the idea that each component only has one job to do, and so can be optimised for that task. Such logic is undeniable. When you are charging huge sums of money for a premium product, every last degree of performance matters, after all.

But we’ve noticed a change in recent years. Manufacturers are getting better at integrating functionality without compromising the sound, particularly in the digital space. Esoteric’s new N-05XE streaming preamplifier is a prime example of that trend.

This beautifully made unit combines network streaming, digital-to-analogue conversion and a preamplifier in one neat, albeit chunky box. Any house-proud hi-fi enthusiast will appreciate the reduction in interconnects, mains cables and required rack space a product like this brings. Just add a power amp with passive speakers or, even better, a pair of actives, and you have a minimalist but well-featured system that (potentially) can still match the best at the price.

Design & features

The N-05XE seems like an ideal front-end for such a set-up. It is well equipped, sporting a streaming section that ticks almost all the boxes. This Esoteric will play any music file available on your home network, but has to be hardwired via an Ethernet cable or optical using an SFP port. wi-fi connectivity, while undeniably convenient, is not on the menu on stability and performance grounds.

We have no complaints about file compatibility. It is excellent. This Esoteric is happy to play high-res recordings up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD 22.5MHz. We can’t imagine anyone getting caught short with this player. Embedded streaming services include the Connect versions of Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify, and the N-05XE is certified as Roon Ready.

This streaming preamp’s digital section is a little out of the ordinary. Rather than use off-the-shelf DAC chips for the N-05XE’s digital module, the engineers decided on an in-house solution based around an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array); a powerful processor programmed with the company’s own software instructions. This converter section is a multi-level Delta Sigma design based around discrete components to optimise performance.

Should the upgrade bug strike, which we suspect may take a while, it is possible to add an outboard 10MHz clock to the N-05XE. Esoteric’s own G-05 clock costs £5500 / $5800 / AU$9000, so it's a serious investment. We have heard such things make a notable improvement, so it is worth a listen.

For a streaming preamp to be successful, the analogue side of things has to be as capable as the digital. Esoteric’s engineers haven’t cut corners with the N-05XE’s analogue preamp section. It is a dual-mono, fully-balanced design with a sophisticated power supply arrangement that even goes as far as delivering a dedicated feed to the volume control circuit. Great care has been taken to ensure that the preamp performs consistently, whether driving a power amplifier, the line output or the headphone socket.

That headphone output is no afterthought. Esoteric has taken things seriously here, developing a new dual-mono parallel single-ended amplifier module. The aim was not only to improve the sound but also to ensure good drive characteristics across a broad spectrum of headphone types. There is a choice of a conventional 6.3mm socket or a 4-pin XLR output on the front panel. The headphone amplifier is rated at a healthy 1200mW per channel into a 32-ohm load, which should be enough in most cases.

The company has worked hard to ensure that the N-05XE can slot easily into a wide range of systems. There is a good choice of digital connections on the rear panel (USB Type B, coax x 2, optical x 2 and AES/EBU) alongside a USB Type A for playback of stored music. In addition, there is a USB Type C socket on the front to connect either a flash drive or a digital source such as a computer or personal music player.

Bluetooth 4.2 is included too. While it isn’t the best sounding connection option as far as sound quality goes, compatibility with higher-quality aptX and LDAC codecs means the results are still more than acceptable. We like that Esoteric has included this wireless functionality, as there are times when the convenience trumps the need for absolute performance

On the analogue side, there are two line-level inputs (stereo RCA and XLR), where the XLR can be configured for conventional balanced use or running Esoteric’s proprietary ES-Link system.

ES-Link is a current-based transmission method (rather than voltage-based, as is conventional), and is claimed to be less sensitive to the impedance characteristics of whatever it is connected to, so improving sound quality. The choice of single-ended RCA, balanced XLR and ESL-A is mirrored on the analogue output side of things

Build

Esoteric has built an enviable reputation for excellent build and engineering, and rightly so. We are happy to report that the N-05XE lives up to those traditions. Its casework is immaculately made and finished, feeling reassuringly solid. Finish options? The N-05XE is available in both black and silver.

The large volume dial spins on ball bearings, so its rotation is as smooth as you like, while every switch and button works with precision, and feels like it will last a generation. We even like the small, double-sided metal remote. It is logically laid out and easy to use.

Esoteric’s engineers are clearly happy to defy convention when they think it is justified. In this case, the N-05XE’s top panel floats loose rather than being attached solidly. It is essentially free to move a millimetre or so and rattles when we tap it.

During development, it was found that mounting the lid loosely in this way lends an increased openness to the product’s sound. Similarly, you will notice that the unit’s feet move around when you take it out of the box. These feet are of a surprisingly complex design, featuring an internal spike-and-base arrangement claimed to disperse mechanical vibrations.

In day-to-day use, a network streamer lives or dies by the quality of its partnering app. Esoteric’s Sound Stream app is a solid effort that proves stable in use. It has the usual range of features, but isn’t quite as slick and intuitive as the best we’ve come across. The layout can look rather cluttered, though we get used to things relatively quickly.

A product at this level deserves a top-class partnering system. We slot the N-05XE into our reference set-up, using it first with our Burmester 088/911 MKIII pre/power driving ATC SCM50 speakers, and then bypassing the preamp and plugging directly into the power.

Our main streamer comparison is with Naim’s pricier ND 555/555 PS DR, but we also have recent experience with price rivals such as Moon’s 681, Linn’s Selekt DSM Edition Hub and Naim’s NSS 333.

Sound

If you love to tweak, you are in luck. In line with most modern digital products, the Esoteric N-05XE allows the user to switch between various upsampling and filter settings.

We spend a good few days experimenting with the various options, and settle on the highest rate (512) for the Delta Sigma Modulator operating frequency and the RDOT option (a slow roll-off design with some clever processing) for the digital filter. But note, the differences between the various settings are subtle at best. The choice comes down to taste and partnering system as much as any obvious superiority.

If you like an extrovert, end-of-the-seat presentation, then this or any other Esoteric product isn’t for you. In our experience, the company’s sonic signature is all about precision, refinement and delicacy. It is a cultured sound that’s impressively clean, combining class-leading detail resolution with a degree of understatement that takes time to appreciate. Once you get used to it, most alternatives seem a little uncouth in comparison.

Stream a demanding classical piece such as Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and the N-05XE’s composure is welcome. It takes a frantic piece of music and lays it all out effortlessly for the listener. Each instrumental strand is easy to track, and nothing gets lost as the composition becomes ever more difficult. Instruments are carefully rendered, with the texture and shape of notes presented with care.

Tonally, this Esoteric is as balanced as they come, with no particular part of the frequency range gaining undue prominence. The highs are sweet without sacrificing too much in the way of bite, while the top-to-bottom balance remains beautifully cohesive and nicely judged. The presentation doesn’t have the architectural solidity of our reference Naim, but it remains clean and stable.

The N-05XE’s stereo imaging is excellent. The product’s dual-mono configuration obviously pays dividends here, with a broad and spacious soundstage populated by crisply focused instruments. Everything is locked in position and doesn’t blur as the music becomes more demanding. We’re particularly pleased with the way that the N-05XE renders soundstage depth, giving the recording a wonderfully three-dimensional feel.

It is pleasing to note that this Esoteric is equally as talented when used as a DAC. We use a variety of sources from our MacBook Pro (loaded with Audirvana music-playing software and plenty of high-res music files) and Naim’s ND 555 streamer serving as a digital source to an iPhone 14 Pro Max to test Bluetooth.

The N-05XE does well. It has a highly-resolving DAC module and equally talented analogue output stage, which combine to deliver whatever the recording requires. Rosalía’s Berghain comes through with dynamic intensity and rhythmic momentum intact. We marvel at the music’s drama and the Esoteric’s ability to communicate the singer’s emotion while still delivering a high degree of clarity and control.

We switch between various file types from 24-bit/192kHz Beethoven recordings to Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions on DSD, and the N-05XE copes with ease. There is no hint of unwanted hesitation or noise. It gets on with the job without fuss.

Bluetooth pairing is swift, and we have no issues with stability. The sound quality via this input is obviously limited compared to the other options, but it is perfectly fine for casual listening.

It is also pleasing to note that the Esoteric’s analogue inputs sound good too. Such a talent isn’t a given with digital-based components, but it means that the N-05XE is perfectly capable of working well with both analogue and digital sources.

The story is just as positive with headphones. We try Yamaha’s magnetic planar YH-5000SE, Austrian Audio’s open-back The Composer and Focal’s closed-back Stellia, and all work well. The N-05XE drives every headphone with ease, delivering a balanced and detailed sound that is neutral enough to put the spotlight on the headphones rather than the source component.

Verdict

Convenience and the high-end aren’t usually comfortable bedfellows, but this Esoteric proves it is possible to combine the two in a neat, easy-to-use package.

The N-05XE is a hugely capable product that compromises very little compared to more purist options. If you are looking for a top-class sound and don’t want the clutter of conventional high-end separates, this Esoteric is a great place to start.

Review published: 3rd June 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 5

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Read our review of the Naim NSS 333

Also consider the Moon 681

Read our Linn Selekt DSM Edition Hub review

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

If you're in the market for one of the best music streamers money can buy, then the five-star, What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Cyrus 40 ST has to be in the mix.

It boasts a breadth of talent and even-handed nature alongside a level of clarity and precision that we haven’t heard bettered anywhere near this price point.

If all that sounds good and you've got the money in the bank to make it happen, we suggest taking a look at the Cyrus 40 ST for £2649 at Richer Sounds.

After being underwhelmed by Cyrus Audio's XR range, the Cyrus 40 ST proved to be a very welcome surprise during our testing, one that shook up our premium music streamer recommendations.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was the sleek modern look, with new aluminium casework yet still retaining Cyrus's iconic half-width chassis design.

We were even more enamoured of the Cyrus 40 ST's terrific sound quality.

“Dynamically, it is impressively expressive, rendering low-level shifts in intensity elegantly, and delivering large-scale orchestral crescendos with real conviction” our Cyrus 40 ST review reads.

We also found that, whatever music we played, the Cyrus 40 ST was organised, insightful and heaps of fun, offering a “blend of detail, dynamics and rhythmic security that’s hard to better at the money”.

The 40 ST employs the BluOS streaming engine, which offers support for AirPlay, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, internet radio, and numerous other services.

You should bear in mind that there's no Bluetooth or Chromecast support, which is curious for a premium music streamer. Hi-res file support is also present, but is restricted to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and MQA.

As with other Cyrus products, there is upgrade potential should you wish to invest further. The outboard 40 PSU (power supply unit) can be added for even greater scale, power and authority, though it's an admittedly pricey £2495.

If you have deep pockets and are not concerned about a few missing features, the Cyrus 40 ST is a strong all-rounder that can shine in a range of systems. A £346 saving on an Award-winner is definitely not to be sniffed at, so check out the 40 ST at Richer Sounds for £2649.

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Read our review of the Audiolab 9000N

Also consider the Naim ND5 XS2

Nick Clarke interview: Cyrus Audio's MD has an eye to the future

The humble stereo amplifier has been at the core of any proper hi-fi system for decades, but for most of those it was useless until you added a source or two. These days that’s no longer the case.

Streaming amplifiers need nothing more than a pair of speakers to start singing, with amplification, DAC, connections and all the necessary network technology to play tunes from Spotify, Tidal et al already built in.

Cambridge Audio’s Evo 150 SE and the NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) are two of the best examples of this idea in action, but which premium streaming amplifier is better? Let’s take a look.

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE vs NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module): price

When the original Cambridge Audio Evo 150 launched in 2021 it would have set you back £2249 / $3000 / AU$4299, but this revamped SE model comes in at £1999 / $3299 / AU$5795, which is nice if you live in the UK but less so if you don’t.

The standard NAD C 3050 is a stereo amplifier that costs £1349 / $1699 / AU$2699, but with the MDC2 BluOS-D module added to turn it into the Award-winning streaming amplifier, it raises the price tag to £1699 / $2199 / AU$3599. The price can fluctuate – we have seen it drop to £1499 during Black Friday, and at the time of writing, it’s available to order for £1749 in the UK.

Even without a discount that’s still a good £250 / $1100 / AU$2196 less than the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE, which makes the NAD an easy winner as far as your bank balance is concerned.

**Winner: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)**

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE vs NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module): features and connectivity

One of the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE’s strong points is just how welcoming it is. If you’ve got something you want to plug into it, chances are you’ll find the necessary port or socket somewhere on the back.

RCA, optical, coaxial, USB (type B), balanced XLR, HDMI ARC and 3.5mm are all present and correct, plus you get two sets of speaker terminals too. There’s also a moving-magnet phono stage inside in case you want to hook up your turntable. It's an exhaustive list of connections that should keep everyone happy.

Its wireless capabilities come courtesy of Cambridge’s fourth-generation StreamMagic platform, so you get Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast, with Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal (and their Connect versions) all supported along with Amazon Music and Deezer. If you have a networked drive stuffed with digital music it’s also good news, as the Cambridge is UPnP compatible and can play hi-res files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256.

The C 3050 isn’t quite as well equipped on the physical connections front, but NAD has still found space for coaxial, optical, USB (type A), and HDMI eARC inputs, plus a 6.3mm headphone socket on the front. Like the Evo 150 SE, there’s also a moving-magnet phono stage built in. The essentials are covered, then.

Thanks to the MDC2 BluOS-D streaming module, which runs on the exhaustive BluOS streaming platform, the feature set is bountiful, although Google Cast is the only major omission. Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal Connect are available, as is Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, and it also has UPnP support for streaming hi-res files from your local network.

However, it doesn’t support DSD files (which might disappoint some) and PCM playback is limited to a maximum of 24-bit/192kHz. Considering most download sites don't offer tracks higher than that rate, we don't think it's an issue.

The NAD does also come with Dirac Live room-equalisation software, which is useful if your listening room is particularly troublesome from an acoustics point of view.

In terms of power, both use Class D amplification, but the Evo 150 SE also outmuscles the NAD. Cambridge boasts 150W per channel, while the NAD has a still-considerable 100W per channel (both into 8 ohms). It’s a knockout blow that means the Cambridge, combined with its greater features set and broader file compatibility, takes this round without breaking a sweat.

**Winner: Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE**

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE vs NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module): build and design

From an aesthetic point of view, these two streaming amplifiers could hardly be more different.

Cambridge Audio has gone for a modern look with the Evo 150 SE, although you can give it a slightly more retro feel by using the wooden side panels that come in the box rather than the plain black ones. The 6.8-inch colour screen on the front will always give it away as a contemporary bit of kit, though, and we do like how clearly it displays information.

The knurled control dial, which is used to select your sources, feels better to use than the looser-feeling volume one, and you also get a sleek remote control included. Much of your interaction with the Evo 150 SE is likely to be through the StreamMagic app, which is straightforward and intuitive to use.

The NAD C 3050, on the other hand, is very much a throwback, thanks in no small part to those lovely mechanical meters on the front. In fact, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for something from the past century – and we mean that entirely as a compliment.

The walnut vinyl-covered casework is solid, the controls feel suitably sturdy and the whole thing has a premium feel to it, which is exactly what you want when spending this sort of cash.

What gives the C 3050 away as something more modern than its appearance might suggest is its compatibility with the BluOS app, which makes getting it to stream music simple and hassle-free.

Of course, which of these two styles you prefer will be entirely personal and may just come down to which one matches the rest of your system, which means this one has to go down as a draw.

**Winner: Draw**

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE vs NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module): sound

The NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) is a current What Hi-Fi? Award winner so it sets the benchmark as far as sound quality from a streaming amplifier is concerned at this price.

It offers a clear, spacious and expressive presentation from both the streaming module and the wired inputs, uncovering detail in a wonderfully organic way that makes vocals really shine.

We say in our review: “It has the midrange clarity and fluidity to shine with a vocal-based group such as The Unthanks. Detail levels are good, but it’s the organic way in which the C 3050 arranges all that detail that draws us into the music. It captures the texture and tone of the sisters’ voices superbly and so communicates the heartfelt passion in the title track, Mount The Air, better than most alternatives we’ve heard.”

There’s plenty of punch and power on offer too, with the necessary dynamism to deliver it properly, along with rich, full-bodied lows that manage to avoid ever sounding sludgy. In our review, we note that Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances Op.45 “sounds muscular, delivering lows with a richness and punch that’s enjoyable.”

Even when the music becomes demanding, the soundstaging remains reasonably expansive and nicely focused.

The phono stage is fairly quiet but we never felt the need to bypass it for a separate one when connected to our Rega Planar 2/Nd3. It sounds agile, informative and dynamically interesting – NAD has done a great job of its built-in phono preamp here.

In comparison, the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is even more powerful, but it can struggle to match the NAD C 3050 when it comes to rhythmic cohesion and dynamic subtlety.

Our review notes that it’s capable of “a fluid and spacious sound that is wonderfully clear and detailed”, but you do need to be careful to pair it with the right set of speakers or it can sound rather emotionally detached. Paired with the KEF LS50 Meta or PMC Prodigy 5 speakers, there is a greater degree of warmth, dynamism and pep through the Cambridge.

Be wary of a less harmonious pairing, as it might lead the Cambridge to sound less dynamically exciting with a curious lack of grip and rhythmic propulsion.

When you do get the pairing right, though, the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is capable of delivering songs with great clarity, plenty of detail and the kind of low-frequencies that really thump you in the chest. Unfortunately, the last of those does sometimes go against it when playing delicate compositions such as songs from Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones or Nick Cave. During our testing, we found “that slightly relentless, muscle-bound lower end works with frenetic songs that require that high energy, but it does these gentler, emotive songs a disservice.”

We do find the Evo 150 SE prefers being played at louder volumes, relishing the chance to flex its muscles and show off its scale and power. The start and finish of notes are clearly defined, distortion levels are impressively low, and there is ample punch. In comparison, the NAD sounds smaller-scaled and less powerful, although it is less fussy with speaker matching.

Playing Midnight City by M83 and we find that the “Evo 150 SE’s soundstage is impressively large and wide, with ample space given over to the various instrumentals.”

No matter which input you use, the Evo 150 SE’s open, refined character comes across, although the one thing we would avoid using is the integrated phono stage. It sounds lightweight and muddy, with a lack of detail and dynamism – so if you’re serious about vinyl replay, you would definitely be better off using an external phono preamp.

There’s really only one winner here. While the Cambridge impresses with its scale, power and refinement, it’s the NAD’s greater expressiveness and fluid handling of rhythm that keeps our attention rapt and our foot tapping.

**Winner: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)**

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE vs NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module): verdict

It’s probably not a huge surprise that the streaming amplifer with a What Hi-Fi? Award already sitting in its trophy cabinet is the winner here. But it's not quite so straightforward, as the Cambridge’s presentation has its strengths, while its greater set of connectivity and extensive file resolution specs will no double appeal to many.

The NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) has all the essential features, however, and more crucially, it is cheaper and sounds better than the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE. So unless you really have something against its retro styling or your music collection consists entirely of DSD files that it can’t play, there’s one clear winner here.

**Overall winner: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)**

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Should you buy a streaming amplifier? Pros and cons to consider before owning a network amp

If you love to stream music, then you might be considering a music streamer in your hi-fi system. And fortunately, there's a wide range of models available to suit everyone's needs and budget.

But, if you're looking for a music streamer that also doubles up as a CD player in one premium box, then there's one model we love to recommend – and right now, it's at its lowest-ever price.

The Technics SL-G700M2 can be yours for just £2399 at Peter Tyson, which is a whopping £500 saving. It's the best saving we've ever seen, so you might want to jump on it before it's too late!

The Technics SL-G700M2 combines physical media playback and wireless music streaming in a design our expert testers said, "remains a solid and beautifully made box, displaying a level of fit and finish that is among the best we have seen at this level".

As a CD/SACD player with network audio streaming smarts, it's a product that's well-suited to the 21st century, building on its five-star predecessor and boasting a wealth of digital connectivity alongside a multitude of streaming options.

Onboard for wireless connection, you get Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast and Apple Airplay, while the streamer module allows for connecting to everything from NAS units and USB sticks to Tidal, Deezer and internet radio.

There's a USB Type B on the back panel to allow easy connection to a computer, alongside the carry-over front and back panel USB Type A ports. Of course, the built-in disc section means you can play CDs and SACDs too.

However you choose to enjoy your music, you can expect exceptional sound quality from the SL-G700M2. And our expert testers said: "The Technics has a controlled and clear delivery that works well regardless of what we play. It is a detailed and insightful presentation, and manages to organise the musical information in a cohesive and entertaining way."

The Technics SL-G700M2 is a capable streamer and CD player that covers all bases while being entertaining. And at just £2399 at Peter Tyson, it's a price that makes this deal easy to recommend.

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Read our full Technics SL-G700M2 review

Check out the best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

And the best CD players: budget to premium options tested by expert reviewers

A saving on any good hi-fi product is always welcome, but savings on Award winners are especially welcome.

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 has you covered, then. Not only is the dinky music streamer on offer, but it has won multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards including a coveted Readers' Award in 2023 – so you can rest assured that owners are happy with it.

And the deal? The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is currently £100 off, and can be yours for just £349 at Richer Sounds.

That's a return to the Black Friday price for the talented streamer, which is the lowest price it has ever been.

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 has become a staple of our Awards season, having won every year since it was released back in 2023. As well as refusing to budge from our trophy list, the MXN10 is also our overall pick of the best music streamers.

The MXN10 may be diminutive, but don't let its compact dimensions fool you. This little box offers engaging sound and impressive specifications at a competitive price.

Support is strong with Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz all on board, as well as the option for connection over Bluetooth 5.0.

Radio is also covered with high-quality streaming of pretty much any global station you can think of, while the MXN10 can also locate and play music files stored on your home network, such as from NAS devices.

There aren't many physical connections but all the essentials you'll need are there – an RCA line level analogue output, one coaxial and one optical can be found on the back, as well as an ethernet port for plugging the unit directly into your router.

Equipped with the ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC, the MXN10 can stream high-resolution files of up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 resolution.

"Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s collaboration on Holy Grail further reveals the MXN10’s capabilities," our Cambridge Audio MXN10 review reads.

"Whether it’s Timberlake’s high, soulful vocals or Z’s hard and heavy rapping under a punchy beat, the MXN10 easily has it covered, delivering a real sense of rhythm and swing by the time the verses kick in. If you want to feel the energy and movement the track demands, this is the way to listen to it."

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 has an utterly charming performance and is a What Hi-Fi? favourite – especially with £100 off at Amazon or Richer Sounds.

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Read our full Cambridge Audio MXN10 review

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

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Home audio systems deserve a top music streamer, and one of the best is Cambridge Audio's five-star CXN100. Ordinarily priced at £899, it can be snapped up, for a limited time only, for just £799 at Richer Sounds.

This is the first time we have seen the quality streamer discounted since last Black Friday, and there are no guarantees it will be discounted again until later in the year.

At this price, it’s a deal that’s hard to beat. With clarity, precision and spaciousness, the amply featured and user-friendly CXN100 is worth every single penny.

If you have had your mind set on making the upgrade to your home audio setup, the CXN100 is absolutely worth a look.

Best Cambridge Audio CXN100 music streamer deal

The Cambridge Audio CXN100 is one of our favourite music streamers for less than £1000.

The larger, colour-screen sporting sibling to the Award-winning MXN10, this step-up streamer offers support for Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, internet radio and Bluetooth, as well as wired and wi-fi network connectivity.

The CXN100 offers USB Type A and Type B inputs alongside the standard coaxial and optical options, plus optical, coaxial, balanced XLR and RCA outputs. That gives you plenty of different ways to play your music collection no matter where it's stored or streamed from.

This is the sequel to the Award-winning CXN (V2) network player. While external refinements aren't always easy to spot, there has been plenty of new internal wizardry added to get this latest model sounding its best.

Redesigned from the ground up, the CXN100 sports Cambridge’s latest-generation streaming module and an ESS ES9028Q2M DAC for handling 32-bit/768kHz PCM, DSD512 and MQA files natively. It also benefits from uprated capacitors and op-amps to help reduce distortion and offer a better signal-to-noise ratio.

And it all results in a sophisticated, refined sound that's open and expansive. Nimbly riding the line between smoothness and bite, this is a balanced, precise and spacious performer that doesn't fall into that most dreaded trap of being boring to listen to.

Whether you're after a step up from the MXN10 or starting your streaming system from scratch, the CXN100 is an assured player that brings you all the features you could hope for, along with an impressive performance to match.

If you're looking for a new music streamer, this £100 discount at Richer Sounds is well worth a look.

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Read our Cambridge Audio CXN100 review

Check out the best music streamers

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025: get your hands on all of our hi-fi and audio Product of the Year winners

British audio manufacturer Leak has announced its first-ever dedicated music streamer, the TruStream.

Following Leak's return to the audio world in 2020 with the likes of the Stereo 130 amp and CDT CD transport, the established brand is now turning its attention to modern music streaming with its debut network player.

At the heart of the new player is an ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC chip, complemented by ESS's HyperStream II architecture and 'Time Domain Jitter Eliminator' technologies for reducing timing inaccuracies and improving sonic fidelity. The TruStream also makes use of a post-DAC active filter circuit designed to "unlock the potential of the (DAC's) performance and dynamic range".

Leak's debutante uses Silent Angel's dedicated streaming platform, the same as you'll find in the recently revealed half-width Mission 778S network player.

In terms of hi-res audio, the TruStream supports PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512. Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and TuneIn radio are all on the menu, as is Silent Angel’s own Internet Radio platform. It's also UPnP/DLNA compliant for connecting to your home network, and is Roon Ready.

For physical connection, the vintage-looking music streamer offers a USB-C audio input and twin USB-A ports. Optical and coaxial outputs cater for the digital side, while balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs are supplied on the analogue end. If you want to get up close and personal, a 6.5mm headphone port has you covered.

The TruStream sports a vintage "mid-century" look, blending a walnut wood-veneered cabinet alongside an aluminium chassis.

The Leak TruStream network player will be available from April, priced at £999 / €1199 / $1495 / AU$2199.

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Hi-fi enthusiasts have traditionally shied away from multi-function components, and for good reason. While such products may be convenient and reduce clutter, there is usually a large price to pay in terms of performance compared to separates alternatives.

However, we’ve noticed that things have been changing over the last few years. Manufacturers are definitely becoming better at integrating multiple functionality into a single chassis, while still achieving good sound quality.

When it comes to the premium audio space, we think Moon has gone further along that path than most. Its Neo Ace from 2016 was a great building block, but for us, the new Moon 371 streaming amplifier takes a significant step forward into a world where ‘all-in-one’ doesn’t mean obvious sonic compromise.

This is the first product in Moon’s new Compass Collection, but perhaps even more importantly, the 371 introduces a much-evolved form of the company’s clever power supply technology, MHP (Moon Hybrid Power). But more on that later.

Features & connectivity

It’s fair to say that the Moon 371 is a thoroughly modern take on what a premium streaming amplifier should be. That smart and relatively slim casework houses Class A/B amplification, a moving magnet/moving coil phono stage, digital-to-analogue conversion circuitry and a streaming module. You simply need to add speakers to create a neat system.

Though the sleek visuals don’t really hint at it, this is a surprisingly powerful unit that is claimed to deliver 100 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load, and twice that as impedance halves.

That ability to double power output with a halving of impedance is rare among amplifiers, and pretty much unheard of among those that also stream. In practical terms, that means the 371 is likely to drive pretty much any speakers you like to high volume levels.

Beyond muscle, what we have is a well-equipped unit. The 371 packs Moon’s latest MiND 2 streaming platform, which means it plays music files from any server or storage on your home network, as well as providing access to streaming services such as Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal (all in Connect form), internet radio and more. It also features AirPlay and is Roon Ready.

Streaming file compatibility is good, with up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 files on the menu. This should be more than enough to cover most people’s needs.

Physical connectivity is generous, and includes balanced and single-ended analogue inputs, two coaxial, one optical, USB-C for attached storage, and HDMI ARC. There is also a 6.3mm headphone socket on the front panel and a preamp-out on the rear.

Interestingly, the HDMI isn’t specified as eARC. When quizzed about this, Moon claims that the advantages of eARC don’t really translate into a stereo product like the 371.

Fans of vinyl records haven’t been ignored. This streaming amplifier has a switchable moving magnet/moving coil phono stage built in. The switching is done via the on-board set-up menus. The moving-magnet gain is set at 40dB, and 60dB for moving-coil cartridges. These are fairly typical values for such inputs and should work well for most partnering cartridges.

Build

Moon’s designers have taken the opportunity to update the company’s distinctive look, and to our eyes it works. This product instantly dates some of the older products in the company’s portfolio, while retaining all the elegance and curves that are part and parcel of Moon’s DNA. Finish options are either black or the company’s distinctive two-tone look.

The large 17cm front-panel colour display is crisp and easy to see from a distance. It helps that the text font increases in size as the volume level changes, making it easy to read from the other side of the room, even in low light conditions.

The 371’s build is well made. In the metal, the unit feels solid and is beautifully finished. We particularly like the newly designed heatsink on each side, a design that manages to look discreet and elegant while losing nothing in terms of efficiency.

Design & engineering

Take a look inside the elegant casework, and you will find a neat and clean circuit layout. This streaming amplifier features two of Moon’s signature technologies, MHP (Moon Hybrid Power) and MDCA (Moon Distortion Cancelling Amplifier).

We have come across MHP before (it was used in the 681 network streamer we reviewed back in early 2024), and it combines elements of a switch-mode design with those of a traditional linear power supply. However, in the 371 streaming amp, its use marks a major landmark in the technology’s development.

Up until now, an MHP supply has only been used in the company’s streamers and digital-to-analogue converters, components that have fairly consistent and relatively low power requirements.

This is certainly not the case with an amplifier, which has to work from whisper quiet to party levels, while driving a pair of speakers (with their demanding and inconsistent electrical loads). Moon’s engineers have put around two years of development into bringing the new MHP design to the market.

The claims for this new generation of MHP over conventional switch-mode or linear power supply designs are improved stability, low noise and reduced vulnerability to mains supply issues. Moon is really proud of this development, so don’t be surprised to see it spread to future amplifier products.

MDCA is a clever amplifier circuit design that reduces distortion to very low levels by comparing the input signal to the output and correcting any errors.

While that description makes it sound like a conventional feedback circuit, the configuration is cleverer than that, and our experience with the 371 shows plenty of benefits.

A high-end streaming amplifier such as this Moon deserves good-quality speakers. Most of our testing is done using ATC’s SCM50 monitors and Epos’s ES-14N standmounters, though we also try it with the new Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary edition and the Award-winning PMC Prophecy 1. We’re pleased to report that the 371 performs admirably and consistently with all of them.

Sound

Moon’s sonic DNA is based around refinement and fluidity. Its products don’t remind us of valve-based equipment or anything like that, but they invariably seem to deliver a clean, smooth balance that’s hard to dislike.

It’s a spacious and uncluttered sound that is packed with detail and organised with care. These are ideal characteristics to allow Holst’s Mars (streamed from our Naim NAS) to shine.

The 371 captures the menace of this Holst composition beautifully, delivering the piece with the authority and muscle it deserves. Dynamic shifts come through with force, yet there is never a sense that the Moon is working hard. There is a stress-free ease about this product’s presentation that is easy to like, particularly as it still communicates the energy and excitement in the music well.

Refinement levels stay high even when we push volume levels northward, and there is little sign of edge or undue hardness when we do so. We note that the 371’s casework remains at reasonable temperatures even when the amplifier is forced to work hard, which speaks well of the internal heat management

The 371 paints a broad and deep soundstage, locating instruments with impressive precision and stability. As the music builds, we are impressed with the Moon’s composure and its ability to keep a firm grip on the various instrumental strands while still allowing the music to flow organically.

Detail levels are great, giving the sense that the Moon is communicating every last piece of information in the recording. This feeling remains in place when we switch to Prince's Diamonds And Pearls set on Tidal.

Here, the 371 reinforces our positivity by proving impressively cohesive when playing Gett Off. This song can easily sound messy, but the Moon isn’t having any of that. It renders the song with attitude and drive intact. The mass of instrumentation is arranged with care and underpinned by a firm understanding of rhythmic drive.

Gett Off’s chunky bassline comes through with weight and power, yet remains surprisingly articulate. The 371’s presentation is superbly balanced, where no part of the frequency range gets undue attention.

We can’t help but be pleased by the midrange clarity on offer and the way this unit conveys the texture and sass of Prince’s distinctive vocals well.

We like what the 371 does, irrespective of the input chosen. The company has shown itself to be skilled at DAC designs in the past, and that carries through here. The 371’s digital inputs retain everything we admire from the streaming section, from balanced tonality to the surprising degree of insight. The internal DAC switches between a 24-bit/192kHz recording of Shostakovich’s Symphony No.4 to Aimee Mann’s Lost In Space on DSD without issue.

The phono stage is good too. We feed it with our reference Technics SL-1000R with either the Kiseki Purpleheart moving coil cartridge or Vertere’s Dark Sabre moving magnet, and it works well with both. The circuit is quiet and hum-free while delivering a decent dose of transparency and balance.

If vinyl were our main source, we would still consider a dedicated outboard unit such as Cyrus’ 40 PPA or Vertere’s Phono-1 MkII L, but for occasional users or those that simply don’t want to add the clutter of another box, the 371’s phono stage works well enough.

We’re more enthusiastic about the 371’s headphone output. It sounds clear, clean and composed whether we connect the lively Grado RS1x or the technically accomplished though analytical Austrian Audio The Composer headphones. There is plenty of drive and a good range of adjustment on the volume control.

Verdict

Moon has done a great job with the 371 streaming amplifier. It is a neat and stylish package that ticks all the boxes as far as features go, while being a pleasure to use. Add the excellent sound quality into the equation, and it becomes a proper alternative to the best streamer/amplifier separates combinations on the market.

Style, build and ease of use without sonic compromise? The Moon 371 shows it is possible.

Review published: 2nd March 2026

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Naim Uniti Nova

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

Nagra's Compact Series has a new member. The Compact Player is the latest entrant to Nagra's club of smaller, more affordable devices, and combines the network audio architecture of the Nagra Streamer with a DAC stage. Hence it can be connected to an integrated amplifier, power amp or active speakers for a complete audio setup.

It might be smaller and cheaper than some of Nagra's devices, but at £6000 / AU$9,495(around $8000) it's still not exactly cheap.

But then Nagra doesn't really ‘do’ cheap. Its proprietary technologies, such as its unique clock generator and power regulation, feature to elevate the sonic performance.

Nagra hopes this will set the Compact Player apart from the many – much cheaper – streamers already available. We are promised Nagra’s signature sound, a presentation which is described as “fluid and unforced, harmonically complete, and spatially precise”. This should result in “stable imaging, natural decay and an organic continuity” that closely replicates a live performance.

Like most streamers, it supports Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect, alongside vTuner and AirPlay 2. Local playback is possible via UPnP/DLNA and USB.

It is also certified Roon Ready, and is compatible with the mConnect and Audirvāna music playback platforms.

Manufactured in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, it has a case machined from a solid aluminium billet, giving it a pleasingly demure, minimalist look. It's also upgradeable – the standard external power supply can be added to with Nagra's Compact PSU, or the Compact VFS isolation platform.

Nagra positions the Compact Player as a gateway to the company’s ecosystem. You might want to start saving…

MORE:

Read the full Nagra Classic Phono review

Our experience with the Nagra PL-P – the brand's first hi-fi product

The best music streamers money can buy

There is always a sense of familiarity at the annual Bristol Hi-Fi Show, with brands and industry faces we have seen for years, sometimes decades, in a landscape where – even as new products and technologies usher in – some things never change.

It's no secret that the popularity of traditional separates hi-fi – while still going strong in our circles – has diminished in recent times. New players (Sonos, Apple and the like) have come onto the scene to challenge what a modern music system should look like. Especially for those looking at the affordable end of the market.

WiiM is one such new player. Its products have disrupted the hi-fi industry in the past handful of years with their compact, modern-looking, Apple-like designs. They are packed with features and cost considerably less than any of their rivals.

And these products sound good, too. The Pro Plus music streamer is a multiple What Hi-Fi? Award winner; the WiiM Ultra is a solid five-star product that holds a firm place in our best music streamers guide; and the Amp Pro and Amp Ultra streaming amplifiers are highly recommended for those trying to create a do-it-all music system in small spaces for sensible money.

Many hi-fi brands have taken notice of WiiM's meteoric rise in popularity and its game-changing offerings, with some even proposing that their new products – the budget Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers, for example – be used with WiiM's compact products.

No one, however, has directly taken on WiiM at its own game. Yes, streaming products are more abundant than before and they're getting less costly (Cambridge's MXN10 and Bluesound's Node Icon are great examples), but they are still a way off from WiiM's truly compact and affordable fare.

Until now. Surprisingly, it is another fairly young, budget-leaning brand that has decided to aim directly for WiiM and its range of products. Majority has been around a short while, and it too has built a reputation for undercutting its rivals by a considerable margin with its array of über-affordable products.

At the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2026, just a few floors down from the WiiM demo room, Majority teased a brand new range of compact hi-fi streaming products that will be coming out later this year, comprising the Link Mini, the Link Pro and the Link Amp Pro. They will feature Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE Audio, AirPlay 2, Spotify Lossless and Tidal Connect.

It's not hard to make direct comparisons with WiiM's range. The Link Mini is similar to the WiiM Mini (£89), designed to bring network powers to any old system; the Link Pro streamer presumably goes toe to toe with the WiiM Pro Plus (£219); the Link Pro Amp is a streaming amplifier in a similar vein to the WiiM Amp Pro (£399).

Granted, these are early development prototypes, and the full specifications and details aren't finalised yet, but we do know that Majority's Link Pro and Link Pro Amp will feature an HDMI ARC input and a display screen, and that the streaming amp claims to have 300W of amplification power.

What's of note already, though, is the prices set out for the trio. They look to be a good £30 to £150 less than the WiiMs: the Link Mini is £49.95; the Link Pro is £199.95; the Link Pro Amp is £249.95. That's quite punchy. WiiM has made a name for itself for undercutting its competitors; Majority even more so. Whether the final Majority Link streaming products – in terms of design, specification, app interface and performance – can rival the very slick WiiM range remains to be seen.

We often hear the refrain “where is all the affordable hi-fi?” – and it’s true that really affordable kit feels few and far between these days when costs are constantly rising. But this area of the market could be hotting up, as more emerging rivals take on the likes of WiiM.

It's interesting to note, though, that in a showcase full of hi-fi products – from brand new, tech-laden launches, exciting sequels and boundary-pushing engineering, from brands with stellar performance records – the products taking on the upstart WiiM are from yet another upstart budget brand.

How will it pan out? We can't wait to find out.

MORE:

12 of the most exciting products I saw at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2026

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Rega's Award-winning Planar 6 turntable gets the 'RS Edition' treatment

When Cambridge Audio first unveiled its Evo 75 and 150 models back in 2021, streaming amplifiers weren’t quite as widespread as they are now. These premium units housed power amplification, DAC, preamp and streaming modules all in one neatly designed box – all you need to do is add speakers. Both got five stars.

Since then, plenty of established hi-fi and emerging audio brands have joined in on the action, offering a range of streaming amplifiers in all shapes and at all prices.

Cambridge has given its Evo 150 model a refresh (the cheaper Evo 75 is now discontinued), bringing purported sonic upgrades while keeping its ample feature set intact. The SE in the name might stand for ‘special edition’, but this is no limited, fleeting model with an unusual finish. It’s a full production model that aims to appeal to hi-fi and casual/lifestyle users alike. Does it succeed?

Price

At £1999 / $3299 / AU$5795, the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is cheaper in the UK than the original Evo 150, which launched at £2249 / $3000 / AU$4299. Those in the US and Australia will unfortunately be paying more for the new model.

At this price range, our favourite streaming amplifier is the NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module), which can be yours for less at £1699 / $2199 / $3599. The NAD isn’t just a current What Hi-Fi? Award winner; it’s also the recipient of a coveted Product of the Year trophy, so Cambridge Audio has some mighty competition to reckon with.

Features & connectivity

On the whole, there is plenty about the SE version of the Evo 150 that hasn’t changed. Its amplification power rating remains the same 150W per channel (into 8 ohms), it uses the same ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC chip, and has the exact same set of connections as before.

That might be a disappointment to some, but the original Evo 150 was so feature-packed that it would be difficult to see what else Cambridge’s engineers could add to it. As we said in our original review, “There’s little you can’t plug into the Evo 150.”

So what has changed? Instead of superfluous changes, Cambridge’s engineers have concentrated on elements of the internal circuitry to improve performance as much as possible. Firstly, there is a new Hypex NCoreX Class D amplifier module, which has been custom-tuned by Cambridge to deliver a “warm, dynamic and controlled sound” across all inputs. Additionally, the SE model uses uprated components, and features improvements throughout the signal path.

The Evo 150 SE runs on the current, fourth-generation StreamMagic platform, which offers a well-equipped, slick and user-friendly interface for all your streaming needs. All the popular music streaming services – Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal and their Connect versions, along with Amazon Music and Deezer – are supported, as well as internet radio.

Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Google Cast are also on board for easy streaming from mobile devices, and you can even connect a pair of wireless headphones by choosing Bluetooth as an audio output. You can stream large digital media libraries stored on hard drives or NAS drives connected to the same network thanks to UPnP compatibility, too.

File compatibility is extensive, with the Cambridge supporting hi-res audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, and streamed playback is stable across both wi-fi and wired Ethernet set-ups.

As before, there are analogue and digital connections aplenty on the Evo 150 SE, including balanced XLR alongside the usual RCA line level inputs. You get an HDMI ARC input so you can use the Evo with a TV, and there is a moving magnet phono stage built in for connecting a turntable directly.

Optical, coaxial and USB type B inputs are available so you can plug in a variety of sources (we used a CD player and a laptop), and there is a 3.5mm headphone port for plugging in your favourite pair of wired cans.

The Evo 150 SE can also function as a preamp and, unusually at this level, there are two sets of speaker terminals in case you want to run a second pair of speakers in a different room.

In short, there is little the Evo 150 SE can’t do or play. Even streaming amplifiers double the price tend to struggle to deliver such exhaustive options.

Build & design

Physically, there is even less difference compared with the original model, but it’s hard to complain when the Evo 150 SE is such a looker. It’s a well-designed streaming amp, from the appealing footprint that’s roughly the size of a vinyl record sleeve, to the clean, modern and minimalist styling – for many, this streaming amplifier will have more lifestyle appeal than many of its more traditional hi-fi rivals.

The black aluminium cabinet is well made, and the Evo’s party trick is swappable side panels that you can change up to suit your tastes or match your interior design. There are two options in the box – a real wood veneer and a (new) all-black, slatted option – that snap on magnetically.

The front of the unit is dominated by a 6.8-inch full-colour screen that’s crisp and brightly contrasted, showing off album artwork with punchy colours. We especially like how large the font is, as song and artist names, and source inputs, can be clearly read from across the room. The knurled pattern on the control dial is slightly different from the previous model, but it feels well-machined and offers good grip when scrolling through the sources.

The volume dial, in contrast, feels less precise in action, and we wish this was given as much attention as the control wheel. The small strip of buttons on the side of the screen returns, and while they still feel a little cheaper than the rest of the unit, they are handy to have.

A sleek remote control handset is also included here, and we must applaud Cambridge for how well the unit responds no matter what you use to control it. During testing, the Evo 150 SE is a joy to use; we didn’t encounter any hiccups or barriers to playing our music no matter what method we used.

Most of the music playback control will naturally be done using the StreamMagic app, which is an organised, user-friendly interface that works in perfect unison with the streaming amplifier. There is a basic slider for room compensation and a suite of EQ settings, but otherwise the Evo 150 SE is a straightforward, plug-and-play operation.

You can hide unused inputs in the StreamMagic app so only the relevant sources and favoured streaming options are at your fingertips, while saving/selecting presets and scrolling through our large music library stored on a Naim Core server are intuitive in use. It’s a smooth system.

Sound

We plug our reference Epos ES-7N speakers into the Cambridge, rev up Midnight City by M83 and are put smack in the middle of a big, shiny, neon-lit soundscape. The Evo 150 SE’s soundstage is impressively large and wide, with ample space given over to the various instrumentals. The dreamy synth track is delivered with clarity and plenty of detail, with enough headroom and shine to the sparkling synths – but never making those highs sound too bright or wince-inducing.

Play Meltphace 6 by Aphex Twin and the Cambridge eats up the ambient noises with relish; the initial sparse electronic noises bubble around in a spacious, enveloping soundscape that’s fairly easy to listen to. The stop and start of notes are clearly defined, and the punctuating, low-frequency beat thumps you in the chest with brawny physicality.

The Evo 150 SE prefers being played loudly rather than at softer volumes, and you’ll be rewarded with a clean, powerful sound with little distortion as you turn the volume up and up.

That powerful bass can sound a little overcooked when listening to more delicate pieces of music, such as Waxahatchee, Norah Jones, Nick Cave or Billie Eilish. That slightly relentless, muscle-bound lower end works with frenetic songs that require that high energy, but it does these gentler, emotive songs a disservice. Toning down the bass EQ helps mitigate this somewhat, but the more we listen, we find that while there is plenty of punch through the Cambridge, its rhythm and dynamic prowess are lagging somewhat behind.

There is a curious lack of real grip and propulsive momentum to the performance. Fat Larry’s Band’s Act Like You Know sounds big and brawny on the surface, but is lacking the gritty textures and dynamic subtlety to really get us grooving. We’d like to hear greater precision with each note that hits, along with a more tuneful, agile bassline that we can really sink our teeth into.

Play Joni Mitchell’s A Case Of You, and we find ourselves struggling to connect with her lilting vocals. The Evo 150 SE’s midrange sounds a touch reserved, with voices coming across less focused and not packing the emotional nuance and textural insight we’d normally hear. Dynamically, we find ourselves willing the Cambridge on, to gain more momentum and variation to the notes as the song ebbs and flows.

Switch to the rival NAD streaming amplifier, and all that rhythmic cohesion, the dynamic subtlety, the momentum and emotional pull come flooding back into the same tunes. Yes, the NAD is smaller-scaled, less refined and doesn’t sound as muscular, but the music hangs together better through it.

Joni Mitchell sounds sweeter, with more vocal and emotional nuance clearly and more capably delivered to capture our senses, while even the shiny, spacious ambient Aphex Twin tracks have more dimensionality and greater precision here. There’s more grip and control; there’s greater agility and fluidity; it simply makes more musical sense and sounds more engaging.

We switch back to the Cambridge and note the slightly detached and less dynamic presentation, even as more power, space, clarity and refinement are added into the mix.

Our experience with testing streaming amplifiers tells us this might well be a case of finding the right speakers to pair the unit with, and we go through some trial and error. Swapping our reference Epos and ATC speakers (both quite neutral and transparent) for the smooth and subtle Acoustic Energy AE300 Mk2 doesn’t quite work to bring the Cambridge out of its shell. But pair the Evo 150 SE with the KEF LS50 Meta or PMC Prodigy 5 speakers, and suddenly, more pep, warmth and dynamism enter the fray.

It almost sounds like it’s given a new lease of life. The White Stripes’ In The Cold, Cold Night has more verve and precise footing when using either KEF or PMC speakers, while the electric guitar distorts with scuzzy edges and textures that sound more vibrant and enjoyable when using either of these speakers. Voices such as Mitchell’s or Norah Jones’ have more immediacy, and sound more tender and affecting. Altogether, music flows with greater fluidity and there is more warmth given to the Evo 150 SE’s performance.

It doesn’t quite fix all of the Cambridge’s inherent issues, however. Nina Simone has plenty of headroom when singing My Baby Just Cares For Me and the Evo 150 SE is capable enough to convey the differences between a 1950s/’60s soul jazz track and a shiny modern K-pop track with a good deal of transparency. The NAD rival, however, gets more of the spirit and personality of her singing through, regardless of what speakers it is paired with. Dynamically, the Evo is still outperformed by the less costly NAD streaming amp.

To give credit to the Cambridge, its open, refined sound character is consistent throughout every input we test. Yes, tracks played over lossy Bluetooth and AirPlay sound less refined, but it won’t make much of a fuss; feeding it higher-quality tracks (from our Naim server or through our laptop via USB type B) results in a more detailed and composed sound overall.

Plug in a pair of Grado SR325x headphones and we’re treated to much of that clear-eyed, tonally balanced sound that marks the Evo’s overall sonic characteristic. We also use a Cyrus CDi CD player to test the Evo 150 SE's DAC (good) and a Rega Planar 3 RS Edition to test its phono stage (less good). The phono stage sounds lightweight and muddy; it’s not particularly dynamic or detailed, and we’d urge anyone serious about vinyl to opt for an external phono stage.

Verdict

The Evo 150 SE proves just how important system matching is. Get the speakers right, and you’ll be rewarded with a fluid and spacious sound that is wonderfully clear and detailed. A mismatch in partnering speakers will show the Evo at its worst: lacking in dynamics and rhythmic flow.

The Evo may not be an all-rounder this time, but there’s no denying how good its design, ease of use and exhaustive features are for this kind of all-in-one unit. It has greater competition than before when it comes to sound, but its lovely, user-friendly design is worth an audition.

Review published: 18th February 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

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Best hi-fi systems 2026: CD, vinyl and streaming music players for the home

Aurender has been in the streaming game longer than most, and that experience shines through in the A1000. There is an impressive maturity about this product from its build to the stutter-free way it operates. Best of all, it sounds good enough to make that hefty price tag seem entirely reasonable.

Build & features

The basic template of a music streamer is pretty much set at this point, and the Aurender A1000 meets all expectations while adding its own twist. It will pull music files from any storage on your home network or attached to its rear-panel USB Type A socket, play internet radio, feature Connect versions of Tidal, Spotify and Qobuz, as well as offer a range of digital inputs.

It is a compact unit that’s around a third narrower than typical 43cm-wide components. We have no complaints about the build; the Aurender’s aluminium casework feels rigid and nicely finished. There is a slick professionalism about the way this product feels and works that inspires confidence.

The front panel full-colour display is relatively large at 6.9in, and makes it easy to navigate around the A1000’s various settings. Of course, most people will use the dedicated app to make changes, but it is still nice to have confirmation of actions from the unit itself.

The front panel is a cleanly designed piece of work and contains just the basics as far as controls go. The back panel is more interesting, packing in the usual range of USB Type B, coaxial and optical digital inputs alongside the increasingly common HDMI ARC that helps to integrate your hi-fi with your television.

There is a pair of USB Type A sockets, one for sound output and the other as a connection for external storage. As would be expected, this Aurender will connect wirelessly or wired to your home network.

Bluetooth is also on the menu, in aptX HD form. While this wireless connection will never be our first choice where sound quality is concerned, it is well worth having for convenience reasons, even though the inclusion of Apple AirPlay and Google Cast means that there are alternatives which can be used instead.

Remember that twist we mentioned? Take a look at Aurender’s website and you will find the A1000 listed under Analogue Music Servers, and that’s because it has a slot for a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD drive of up to 8TB. That’s plenty of capacity, even for those with large high-res music libraries.

Our review sample didn’t come with a drive fitted, but it is a neat solution for those who want to simplify their music storage solution. In case you are wondering why it’s listed under ‘Analogue’, it’s because the A1000 has a built-in digital-to-analogue module, and the company also makes a range of servers that don’t (and so require an outboard DAC to make a sound).

The A1000’s digital circuitry packs an AKM 4490REQ dual-mono DAC chip and quad 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex A55 processing unit, which gives it great file compatibility of up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. We think that should be more than enough for most people’s music collections.

The user experience of any hi-fi music streamer is almost entirely reliant on the quality of the partnering control app. Aurender’s experience in the field is obvious, with the app proving to be slick and stable. It’s not all roses though, with the layout appearing a little cluttered and fussy. A bit of tidying up would be welcome.

Sound

A product at this level demands a quality partnering system, so we use our reference Burmester 088/911MkIII amplifier and ATC SCM50 speakers for the bulk of our test sessions. We also feed the Aurender’s analogue output into the PMC Cor integrated amplifier, driving a pair of Epos ES14N speakers, to hear how it fits into a different flavour of system.

The A1000 turns out to be a pleasingly balanced and insightful performer. One that sounds comfortable in both systems we tried. It isn’t a particularly characterful unit, and, just to be clear, that’s a good thing, being tonally balanced and unusually even-handed in the way it deals with the various genres of music.

Listen to a grand symphony, such as Shostakovich’s 10th, and the Aurender responds with all the scale, authority and control the music demands. The dense instrumentation is handled well, with the music’s various strands nicely separated while never losing the cohesion necessary for emotional impact.

Detail resolution is good; the A1000 renders the acoustic space around the musicians properly, as well as capturing the distinctive textures of the various instruments well.

It has the transparency to allow the characteristics of the recording to shine through rather than painting the sound with its own flavour, as some do. That’s a quality we really admire, but it’s also fair to say that it plays things a little safe, too.

While the music’s dramatic dynamic shifts are delivered in a composed way, we can’t help but feel that the Aurender keeps the handbrake on just a bit. Alternatives such as the Cyrus 40 ST, Audiolab 9000N and the Naim NSC 222 deliver music with more verve and drama.

The result is that music such as this Shostakovich symphony or Nirvana’s Nevermind album doesn’t quite hit home with the emotional impact it should. That strain of restraint doesn’t stop us from enjoying everything the Aurender does, though it is the prime reason that this streamer doesn’t get the full five stars from us.

As we work our way through our music collection, taking in Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions on DSD, Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall (24-bit/96kHz) and The Unthanks’ Mount The Air set (16-bit/44.1kHz), it is easy to admire the Aurender’s broad spread of abilities. Its clear but organic-sounding midrange allows the likes of The Unthanks and Wonder to come through with expression and passion intact.

There is an impressive sense of organisation that gives this streamer the ability to play complicated pieces of music without ever sounding like it is struggling. That is a great talent to have.

The A1000 has pleasing rhythmic ability too. While not quite as joyous-sounding as the aforementioned Cyrus and Naim, it still brews a storm with the likes of Jackson’s Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough charging along full throttle. Basslines hit hard and true, and come barrelling out of our speakers with a good amount of enthusiasm.

We’re pleased to report that this Aurender continues to impress through its digital inputs. We feed in the digital outputs from our reference Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer, as well as our Apple MacBook Pro (loaded with Audirvana music playing software and plenty of high-res music files), and find that the A1000’s DAC module is a good one. It sounds detailed, balanced and musical, regardless of the music we play.

We’re equally positive about the Aurender’s performance with Bluetooth. While obviously limited in outright transparency when compared to the same recording played back from our NAS, or directly with Tidal Connect, Bluetooth from our iPhone 14 Pro still sounds entertaining and holds our attention.

Verdict

The Aurender A1000 is a solid all-around performer that has the bonus of being able to store your music files, all in one neat box. It is well-made and easy to use. Most importantly, despite our complaint about the lack of verve, it remains a pleasure to listen to.

Anyone looking for such a versatile music streamer at this level should seriously consider this capable unit.

Review published: 27th January 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Cyrus 40 ST

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Read our Naim NSC222 review

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

If you’re going to name your flagship product after one of the most iconic luxury cars of all time, you’d better make sure it’s ready to live up to its prestigious title.

It’s not the first time iFi has used the word “Phantom” in one of its products – the British brand attached the same moniker to its iFi iCan Phantom headphone amplifier a few years back.

iFi has freely admitted that the name of its new flagship Phantom hi-res music streamer, which also functions as a DAC, preamplifier and headphone amplifier, is directly inspired by the the legendary Rolls Royce of the same name, hoping to infuse some of their latest offering’s DNA with that same blend of style, sophistication and performance in celebration of “quintessential British engineering”.

At £4495 / $4495 per piece, you’d hope so.

We were keen to see if the Phantom could live up to its name, heading to iFi's exclusive launch event at Tower Bridge, London, to take the Phantom flagbearer for a test drive.

Under the hood

Externally, it’s a chic yet unassuming little thing. The iFi is narrower than most standard laptops, with a two-tier design through which the main inputs and connections are housed on the darker plinth and the controls and screen sit above. Speaking of controls, a right-hand rotary dial handles volume, whereas a left-hand counterpart lets you access settings, inputs and the like.

The high-end Phantom has come into this world charged with quite the roster of tasks it must ably perform, acting not only as a preamplifier and music streamer but also as a dedicated headphone amplifier and standalone DAC.

To meet this heady array of tasks, the decidedly compact unit boasts more than 7000 megawatts of power, a healthy array of connectivity options – including coaxial inputs, balanced XLR and RCA outputs and a series of headphone ports including 4-pin balanced, 3-pin balanced, 4.4 balanced and 3.5mm – to meet the demands required of a do-it-all (or nearly all) system.

Flagship technology comes with the flagship territory, with the Phantom boasting JVC Kenwood K2 and K2HD information processing tech for upsampling file rates digitally, as well as four interleaved Burr Brown DSD1793 DAC chips capable of handling files up to DSD2048 (with remastering) and PCM 32-bit/768kHz.

Rather niftily, the new unit also offers a choice of two distinct output topologies – one Class A solid state and one tube-based – depending on your preference. They are accessible via a small toggle mounted on the Phantom’s fascia.

Taking it for a test drive

There are a number of ways to listen to iFi's latest, with our demonstration at the launch event giving us the chance to sample a small handful.

Proceedings kick off with the Phantom acting as a preamplifier and music streamer to a pair of PMC twenty5.24i floorstanders, during which it provides a sharp, snappy rendition of Pharrell Williams’ Come Get It Bae before ably downshifting to showcase its smoother side via MC Jones and Maevy’s jazzy So Glad.

That premium combination conjures, to our ears, a wide soundstage with the aid of the PMC towers, as the various sprinkles of texture and detail on So Glad flit gracefully across that expansive, full-bodied canvas.

Detail levels appear impressive, though as is always the case with tests such as these, it's worth considering how much of the work is being done by the speakers as much as the source feeding them.

The bulk of our personal listening is done via wired headphones, with iFi generously setting up a further four Phantoms, each attached to a different set of high-end cans, including the Sennheiser HD800, the Sennheiser HD 820 and the Final D8000 DC Pro Edition, with a companion iPad playing Tidal as our streaming source.

Naturally, the sound produced depends somewhat on which headphones we select – the Sennheiser HD800, for instance, have a sharper, cleaner profile than the smoother, richer Finals.

That said, it isn't hard to discern the particular characteristics of the Phantom itself shining through to our ears as we work our way from headphone to headphone and from track to track.

Playing Radiohead’s 15 Step, for instance, reveals what appears to be a clear, detailed and spacious sound, with the Phantom showcasing plenty of detail and sketching out the leading edges of notes with a precise hand. Switching to the unit’s tube setting elicits a fuller, warmer sound, yet not to the expense of all that lovely textural insight.

The Phantom once again seems to paint upon an open soundstage, granting tracks an airy, cinematic feel, to the extent that you’d be forgiven for thinking that background vocals flitting across 15 Steps’ tightly orchestrated composition were in fact emanating from somewhere outside of the headphones' enclosure, as though somebody was playing the same track in a neighbouring room.

iFi’s flagship debutante further hints at its seamless feeling of fluidity during our demo period. Tracks such as Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun and Nick Cave’s Night Raid seem to flow easily and naturally as instruments move across that generous soundstage. The Phantom appears to be strong at granting the impression of genuine musical interplay, of instruments being played organically rather than reproduced in a stilted or mechanical fashion.

Rhythmically, the new flagship streamer gives a good impression of sounding precise and punchy, especially when operating in its solid-state amplification mode, all while offering what appears at first listen to be a healthy distinction between small scale dynamic fluctuations.

There are certain tracks we'd have relished the chance to test these facets further – a bit of Hans Zimmer or Ludwig Goransson, perhaps – but we're working with the limits of the tunes we've been provided with for our demo.

We find that iFi's midrange production lends clarity to key vocal performances, yet we’d have liked more time to discern whether the streamer-cum-DAC is able fully to communicate the quirks and emotions underpinning some of our favourite performances.

This feels like a detailed and precise performer, in our first impressions, but does it sometimes stray into the realm of the overly analytical? More testing time would undoubtedly be required to really get to grips with what the new Phantom is capable of.

While our demo time was relatively short, it was capable of leaving an enduring impression. Do-it-all products such as these can often struggle to make good on their myriad promises, yet we heard a strong indication that the Phantom could be as comfortable powering your favourite headphones as slotting into a high-end hi-fi system.

Any firm conclusions would require more dedicated testing in our listening rooms, but it's hard to deny that iFi has produced something interesting for potential users who have money to spend and want a powerful, versatile means of upgrading their home listening setup.

MORE:

Read our recent WiiM Amp Ultra review

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Want a small, neatly styled streaming hi-fi system that won’t break the bank? The WiiM Amp Ultra could well be the answer, given its competitive pricing, slick appearance and compact dimensions. Add some quality small speakers and this stylish streaming amplifier has the potential to be the ideal set-up for many.

WiiM has been throwing rocks into the affordable hi-fi pond for a few years now, and has been successful enough to make us, and the market as a whole, reconsider what can be achieved at lower price points.

The Amp Ultra on test here is the premium option in WiiM’s trio of streaming amplifier offerings, packing in a capable streaming module, sensible connectivity and surprisingly muscular 100-watts per channel output into that compact chassis.

While the Ultra is certainly the best performing of the three, the move to a higher price (the step-down Amp Pro costs £399 / $379 / AU$699) means that we also have to be more demanding as to what we expect from the product.

Build

Our first impressions are entirely positive. We can’t believe that WiiM has managed to produce such a sophisticated package for what is still a relatively low price. The Amp Ultra is a superbly finished unit that puts us in mind of Apple’s products, which is some compliment. It makes price rivals like the Bluesound Powernode Edge look pretty basic.

The Amp Ultra’s unibody aluminium casework is shared with WiiM’s excellent standalone Ultra streamer (£349 / $329 / AU$599) and is none the worse for that. There are two finish options, the Space Gray of our review sample, and Silver.

On the front, you will find a crisp and responsive 3.5-inch touchscreen display adjacent to a multi-functional rotary control that feels reassuringly positive in use. That rotary dial governs the volume level, play/pause and various set-up functions.

Of course, most people will just use the partnering WiiM Home app to control the unit, and by general standards, it is good. We have no complaints about its layout, stability or responsiveness, and we are up and running in minutes.

If you don’t want to use the app, there is always the rather nice metal remote. It is a simple design that is intuitive to use. This handset is rechargeable and puts the cheap plastic offerings served up by most of the industry to shame.

Features & connections

While WiiM doesn’t go to extremes when it comes to sonic adjustability, it still offers RoomFit room calibration, numerous EQ presets and a parametric equaliser. Our test rooms are acoustically treated and well behaved, so the RoomFit system, which makes use of your phone/tablet’s microphone, proves a bit of a mixed bag.

It improves certain aspects of the sound, such as tonal evenness and bass weight, but also robs the presentation of a little agility. However, we can still see it proving useful in less-than-perfect surroundings.

The WiiM Amp Ultra’s streaming section is as well-equipped as we’ve come to expect. It will access music files from across your home network and play internet radio. All the usual streaming services are present; you have Connect versions of Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz among the myriad of choices. Google Cast is included, but AirPlay isn’t. For users of Apple products, this could be a big miss.

There is also a USB Type A port on the back panel to access stored music, and if switched from the app, it will deliver a digital feed to drive an external DAC. Adding an external DAC to an all-in-one electronics package like this doesn’t make sense to us.

The highly rated ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC chip sits at the heart of the WiiM’s digital module. The company claims file compatibility of up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM, but our sample also plays DSD files, albeit converting them to PCM in the process.

Two-way Bluetooth is on the menu, so you can use your phone or computer as a source or swap to another source and send the sound out to a pair of suitable headphones. Bluetooth pairing to our iPhone 14 Pro Max (running the latest iOS 26.2 software) or a pair of Mark Levinson No.5909 headphones is swift and seamless.

As for physical connectivity, there is an HDMI ARC to make integration into an AV system easier, an optical input, a single stereo RCA input and a subwoofer output. We would have liked another analogue input for those that have, say, both a CD player and a record player, though the latter will also need an outboard phonostage.

And there is no physical headphone output, which is a shame for those who own wired designs.

Design & compatibility

Given the unit’s price, compact dimensions and lack of external heatsinking, we’re impressed by the WiiM’s power output figures. The Class D power amplifier circuitry will deliver a claimed 100 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load and double that as impedance halves. That’s impressive, especially as the unit only gets warm rather than hot when pushed.

As a precaution, we still recommend that you leave plenty of space around it for ventilation purposes.

The WiiM’s Class D circuit uses ‘Post Filter Feedback Technology’ to overcome the speaker-dependent nature of the configuration. It seems to work, as the Amp Ultra’s presentation and tonal balance remain consistent as we swap between various speaker designs.

We try price-compatible choices like the Dali Kupid and Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, as well as pricier alternatives like the KEF LS50 Meta. For fun, we even connect our reference ATC SCM50 speakers with reasonable results. A Cyrus CDi CD player is pressed into service to test the WiiM Amp Ultra’s analogue and optical inputs.

Given its aggressive price, excellent build and slick usability, we’re feeling mighty good about this WiiM. Our positivity remains even after we start listening, though there are areas where we want more from the product.

Sound

The Amp Ultra has a clean and crisp presentation. There is a good amount of detail and, even given a complex piece of music like Orff’s Carmina Burana, the level of cohesion and organisation deserves praise.

The unit’s generous power output pays dividends when it comes to delivering the ferocious crescendoes of this Orff piece, with the WiiM sounding taut and controlled. There is little sense of harshness or stress at any reasonable volume level, and a good degree of separation between notes is maintained when the music becomes dense.

Tonally, it all sounds pretty even, and there is enough scope in the various equaliser functions to balance things if necessary, though doing that does affect overall transparency and articulation.

There is a fair sense of scale and authority, though the Amp Ultra does sound a touch lean and lacking in body, in absolute terms. Given its price, we are happy to overlook this.

It is harder to ignore the slightly restrained dynamic expression, though.

This streaming amp, like its cheaper siblings, isn’t great at communicating subtle shifts in intensity or conveying dynamic contrasts. The result is that the sound, while perfectly listenable, doesn’t convey the emotional impact of the music as it should.

It doesn’t help that rhythmic precision is also lacking, so that when we play recordings as varied as Get Lucky by Daft Punk or A.R. Rahman’s Chaiyya Chaiyya, there is an element of musical propulsion and engagement missing. The sound remains pleasant, crisp and decently refined, but we can’t help wanting a little more.

Still, the midrange is open and well projected, so voices come through with clarity, while the top-end balances bite and refinement well. Look further down the frequency range and you will find that bass notes punch hard.

The Amp Ultra’s unfussy nature is another plus point. Play a poor recording and the WiiM doesn’t make a meal of it, which is ideal for people who base their listening habits around music they like rather than prioritise recording quality.

Verdict

Regardless of its sonic shortcomings, we think that this WiiM has a strong place in the market. It is small, neatly styled and a pleasure to use. We still can’t figure out how the brand can make such a slick product for so much less than most of its rivals.

The Amp Ultra certainly sounds better than its cheaper siblings, and our complaints about dynamics and rhythmic drive don’t stop it from being a pleasant sonic companion. While this streaming amp isn’t for those who put sound quality first, it certainly has a place for those looking for a fuss-free audio solution.

Review published: 16th January 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the WiiM Amp Pro

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Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

At long last, Mission has launched its 778S music streamer, and it's full of surprises.

This standalone streamer is designed to match the 778X stereo amplifier, a half-width design that marked Mission's return to the amplifier market in late 2022, after a hiatus of 40 years. It received five stars in our review for its wonderfully balanced sound and compact, versatile design for the attractive price (£549 / $549 / AU$1099).

The matching music streamer (and CD transport) for the 778X was first teased at High End Munich in May 2024, showcasing the same half-width design; but details and pricing were under wraps – until now.

We now know the Mission 778S is as well equipped as any modern network music player, and it is designed in partnership with streaming specialist Silent Angel.

This specialist streaming brand has been around since 2014, and Mission says the 778S integrates “a custom version of Silent Angel’s streaming engine with Mission’s own circuit designs” along with a specialised app for iOS and Android designs.

The 778S supports all the popular streaming features: Connect versions of Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify, TuneIn internet radio, and AirPlay 2. Wi-fi and ethernet are on board, while DLNA/UPnP compatibility ensures that the 778S will be able to stream files from any connected storage devices on the same home network, such as a laptop or NAS drive. The unit it also Roon Ready, but there is no Google Chromecast or Bluetooth on board here.

As part of the DAC stage, Mission uses the ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M chip along with its proprietary clock and power supply circuitry. The brand has taken care to “eliminate noise and distortion in the signal path”, along with ensuring that clean, consistent power is sent to the digital and analogue stages.

File compatibility is extensive, with the streamer supporting up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 – that's more than enough for the majority of digital libraries and hi-res streaming platforms.

The streamer is also able to upsample all PCM streams to 352.8kHz or 384kHz before converting to analogue, in a bid to move digital artefacts into the realms beyond audible hearing. Alternatively, users can select between five “reconstruction filters” to fine-tune the sound to your source.

There is a healthy complement of physical connections too, including USB-C and two USB-A ports for connecting to laptops and storage devices. There are balanced XLR and RCA outputs on the analogue side, along with digital coaxial, optical and USB-A outputs. It even has a 6.35mm headphone socket.

Mission stats that “every aspect of its technical design is focused on delivering sonic excellence.” We are promised a “fluid, full-bodied, detailed and dynamic” performance. The ‘mission’, according to the press release, is “to bring sonic rapture to music-loving souls on this earthly plane.” That's quite the ambition.

The 778S follows the same half-width design with anodised aluminium casing as the 778X amplifier, and features two large control dials (one for input selection, one for volume control) in a symmetrical format on the front panel.

There is no full-colour display with album artwork as we have come to expect from most modern streaming rivals; instead, the 778S has a dimmable OLED display for text-based information such as input chosen.

The Mission 778S will be available from late January in silver or black finishes, and costs £799 / $1699 / AU$1899. At this price, its main rivals are the five-star Cambridge Audio CXN100 (£799 / $1049 / AU$1899) and Award-winning Bluesound Node Icon (£899 / $1199 / AU$1949). Let’s hope Mission's first streamer has been worth the wait.

MORE:

Read our Mission 778X review

Qobuz Connect: what is it? Which products support it?

Check out the best music streamers we've tested for every budget

For many hi-fi enthusiasts, it’s great to have the modern convenience provided by combination digital systems. The good news is that, nowadays, you can find high quality in this category too.

The Technics SL-G700M2 is a great example. Combining a music streamer and CD player into one excellently built package, it has a strong sonic performance across its wide range of digital audio inputs.

Thanks to this tasty deal, the SL-G700M2 can now be yours for more than £300 off its original price too. It’s available for £2589 at Peter Tyson, £310 off its RRP and the cheapest we’ve seen it!

A solid and beautifully made box, the SL-G700M2 streamer/CD combo boasts a wide range of digital inputs and outputs. There are two USB-A, one USB-C, coaxial and optical inputs, along with coax and optical outputs.

Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast and Apple Airplay are on-board for wireless connection, while the steamer module allows for connecting to everything from NAS units and USB sticks to Tidal, Deezer and internet radio – so there is a huge amount of choice of where you play your music from.

Of course, the built-in CD player means you can spin your favourite CDs and SACDs too.

However you choose to enjoy your music, you can expect exceptional sound quality from the SL-G700M2.

During testing, we played several CDs, including Eminem’s Recovery , Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love and Arvo Pärt’s Litany, and found the Technics has a “controlled and clear delivery that works well regardless of what we play”, while its presentation is “detailed and insightful”.

When we swapped to the streaming module, we also found it “gives balanced results regardless of source”. It is “bold and authoritative when it needs to be”, while it can change down the gears effortlessly to render more delicate recordings.

If you’re looking for a premium streamer/CD combo, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the Technics SL-G700M2 for £2589 at Peter Tyson.

MORE:

Check out our list of the best CD players

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It was a big night for Cyrus Audio at the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Awards, with the 12-time Award-winning CDi CD player deservedly entering our Hall of Fame.

But it was far from Cyrus's only win that night, with a further three gongs handed out for its 40 Series, in a tremendous return to form.

Among those winners was the Cyrus 40 ST, the brand's new high-end music streamer, which both surprised and impressed us in testing. And now the 40 ST is a good £350 off – it is currently available for £2645 at Richer Sounds.

After being underwhelmed by Cyrus Audio's XR range, the Cyrus 40 ST proved to be a very welcome surprise during our testing that shook up our premium music streamer recommendations.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was the sleek modern look, utilising a new aluminium casework while still retaining Cyrus's iconic half-width chassis design.

We were even more enamoured of the Cyrus 40 ST's terrific sound quality.

“Dynamically, it is impressively expressive, rendering low-level shifts in intensity elegantly, and delivering large-scale orchestral crescendos with real conviction” our Cyrus 40 ST review reads.

We also found that, whatever music we played, the Cyrus 40 ST was organised, insightful and heaps of fun, offering a “blend of detail, dynamics and rhythmic security that’s hard to better at the money”.

The 40 ST utilises the BluOS streaming engine, which offers support for AirPlay, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, internet radio, and numerous other services.

You should bear in mind that there's no Bluetooth or Chromecast support, which is curious for a premium music streamer. Hi-res file support is also present, but is restricted to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and MQA.

As with other Cyrus products, there is upgrade potential should you wish to invest further. The outboard 40 PSU (power supply unit) can be added for even greater scale, power and authority, though it's an admittedly pricey £2495.

If you have deep pockets and are not concerned about a few missing features, the Cyrus 40 ST is a strong all-rounder that can shine in a range of systems. A £350 saving on an Award-winner is definitely not to be sniffed at, so check out the 40 ST at Richer Sounds for £2645.

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If you're looking for retro charm and sonic excellence this Cyber Monday, then you could do significantly worse than this excellent deal on a 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award-winner.

In fact, the NAD C 3050 with MDC2 BluOS-D streaming module earned a Product of the Year Award gong in the music systems category, positioning it as the best of the best.

And it just gets even better on Cyber Monday. There's currently a £200 saving to be had with the all-in-one priced at £1499 at Sevenoaks. It's one to consider before the price jumps back up.

As a 100W per channel amplifier, the NAD C 3050 is a fine performer across all connections, with a good moving magnet phono stage and a very capable DAC module.

But it's the addition of the MDC2-BluOS-D’s streaming smarts that change everything, propelling the NAD to class-leading status among streaming systems.

The C 3050 can stream music files from your home network, play internet radio or access streaming services through wired or wireless means, with support for UPnP, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music Ultra HD and Deezer.

It's worth noting that it doesn’t play DSD files, and the PCM files it does play are limited to a maximum of 24-bit/192kHz, but we doubt this will be a deal-clincher for most.

There's also two-way Bluetooth of the aptX variety, a front panel-mounted 6.3mm headphone output, and an HDMI eARC input for you to hook up a TV.

And, however you choose to listen, the NAD C 3050 sounds great.

As we said in our NAD C 3050 review: "It has the midrange clarity and fluidity to shine with a vocal-based group such as The Unthanks. Detail levels are good, but it's the organic way in which the C 3050 arranges all that detail that draws us into the music.

It captures the texture and tone of the sisters’ voices superbly and so communicates the heartfelt passion in the title track, Mount The Air, better than most alternatives we’ve heard."

If you want one box to take care of all your audio needs, the NAD is an extremely neat and characterful just-add-speakers streaming system. And at £1499 at Sevenoaks, it's an easy recommendation.

Cyber Monday quick links

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

If you're getting déjà vu, we can't blame you. See, we covered the Naim ND5 XS 2 getting a price cut just eight days ago – but now it's happened again!

The streamer originally dropped £700 from its RRP, but now it's had another £300 slashed from its price tag, bringing it down to just £1499 at Peter Tyson. That's a massive total price drop of £1000 (or 40 per cent). It must be Black Friday.

Best Black Friday Naim ND5 XS 2 deal

We originally tested the ND5 XS 2 at £2299 in 2019, but the price has crept up since then. That same year it picked up its first of five What Hi-Fi? Awards – quite a track record. So you won't be surprised to hear that it's an awesome performer.

It's approaching the end of its life – hence the price cut – but is still a great option for anyone stepping up from a budget music streamer to a more mature performer.

In our Naim ND5 XS 2 review, we were extremely impressed, saying, “There is nothing sonically for which we can fault its performance.” We also said it has “the ability to dig deep into bass frequencies with ease, tempering that with rich and insightful mids and treble”.

We also praised its attention to detail and ability to handle complex rhythms.

Build quality is excellent, with an understated design and brushed metal fascia. And you've got plenty of connection choices, with four digital inputs (a pair of optical, one coaxial RCA and a coaxial BNC), RCA and five-pin DIN analogue audio outputs, plus a USB Type-A socket and terminals for Ethernet cable, Bluetooth and dual-band wi-fi aerials.

The Naim is also UPnP enabled, and can stream files up to 32-bit/384kHz from any outboard NAS device or home computer.

The only thing we should point out is that this version on sale uses white LEDs on the fascia, which means you won’t get the traditional green Naim glow that some of you might be accustomed to. Naim has moved away from green LEDs on many of its products in recent years, so it’s just something to bear in mind.

If you’re able to look past that, though, you’ll have a seriously capable music streamer sitting on your hi-fi rack and one we think is well worth the discounted price of £1499 over at Peter Tyson.

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Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals

The WiiM Pro Plus is simply one of the best music streamers you can get for under £300, hence it’s won back-to-back What Hi-Fi? Awards in that category. It’s detailed and expressive, while being easy to set up and use. What more can you ask for from a budget music streamer?

We tested the Pro Plus at £219, but thanks to the onslaught of Black Friday deals that just keep on coming, it can be yours for £50 less. You can pick it up for a mighty fine £169 at Richer Sounds, Peter Tyson, Amazon and Smart Home Sounds, and we’d encourage anyone who is thinking of adding music streaming to their system to consider doing so with this great value WiiM.

With its compact build (it's about the size and weight of a paperback book) and simple set-up, the WiiM Pro Plus can easily slot into any existing hi-fi system.

The slick and well-organised WiiM Home app will bring a wide array of streaming sources and apps to your fingertips, and controlling playback, sources and even multi-room arrangements is user-friendly. A remote control is also provided for making adjustments.

The Pro Plus supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music, Pandora and TuneIn radio, while DLNA compatibility means music stored on a home network can be played via this budget music streamer. AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Bluetooth 5.1 are all on board too, alongside dual-band wi-fi.

Hi-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz is supported, while RCA and digital optical inputs and outputs are built-in. A digital coaxial output also features.

Whatever your streaming source, you’ll be treated to a sound that is “attentive to even the most minor or transient dynamic variations”, particularly if playing hi-res audio files. During testing, however, we found that even when playing inferior audio sources, the Pro Plus streamer was a “clear, detailed and even quite dynamically adept listen”.

In terms of sheer value, the Pro Plus takes some beating – its feature set rivals that of models twice its price, while its sound quality suits budget to mid-priced systems well.

So, if you’re looking for an affordable route into the world of hi-res music streaming, take a look at the great-sounding and easy-to-use WiiM Pro Plus for £169 at Richer Sounds, Peter Tyson, Amazon or Smart Home Sounds.

MORE:

WiiM Ultra vs WiiM Pro Plus: which five-star music streamer is the best option for you?

Black Friday 2025 hi-fi deals live: our audio experts picks of the top savings on speakers, headphones, vinyl and more

How to avoid bad hi-fi and home cinema deals this Black Friday – top tips and tricks from our review team

Black Friday quick links

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

Good news, everyone! The WiiM Ultra has dropped from £349 to just £279 at Amazon, Richer Sounds, Peter Tyson and Sevenoaks, a spicy saving of £70 on a five-star music streamer. For delivering excellent sound in a lovely package, all for a very modest price, the Ultra is rather tricky to beat.

This deal won't be around forever, though. From what we've seen, the Ultra only tends to be discounted during major sales events such as Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, before shooting all the way back up to its full RRP during the rest of the year.

If you want to take advantage of this deal, now is the time, because come the end of Cyber Monday, the Ultra will almost certainly be right back up to its full £349 figure.

Best WiiM Ultra Black Friday deal

Along with the Award-winning Cambridge Audio MXN10, the WiiM Ultra is one of the finest music streamers you can grab for under £400. It's slick and stylish to use, like practically all of WiiM's products, but what marks out the Ultra has such a hot contender is how ably it handles your musical catalogue.

The five-star streamer offers a likeable, tidy performance that keeps us wanting to play more songs from our various music libraries. We're particularly impressed by how the Ultra doesn’t try to grab your attention with gimmicks or excessive sonic flavouring; instead, its "clean, balanced and nimble sound packs enough punch and pizazz to keep you interested" no matter the tracks you select.

The feature set is equally impressive. You get your usual RCA stereo line level inputs and outputs, along with digital optical in/out and a coaxial output, as well as an HDMI ARC input and a moving magnet phono stage. That's a lot of physical options for a streamer that, on sale, costs you £279, especially given that even the rival Cambridge MXN10 doesn’t offer HDMI or MM phono inputs.

It's not even the whole story. The WiiM offers a subwoofer output, a USB-A input for playing files from a media drive, plus an ethernet port round out the busy back panel and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the front.

On the streaming side, the Ultra plays nice with any DLNA-compatible network storage to access and stream hi-res audio files over a network. Inside the unit is a 32-bit/384kHz ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC, and you can natively play up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM files into the bargain.

Better yet, the Ultra offers support for Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer and Qobuz, along with internet radio and BBC radio. Bluetooth 5.3 and Google Chromecast are on board for streaming from devices, but the notable exception here is AirPlay, which isn't on board for iOS and Apple fans.

Apart from that, it's hard not to keep singing the WiiM Ultra's praises. Not only is it immensely well-featured and excellent to listen to, but it's a delight to use thanks to its classy design dominated by a responsive 3.5-inch full colour touchscreen display. Again, it's easy to forget you're paying just £279 (on a deal) for the privilege.

All in all, a terrific music streamer that will have huge appeal to those users who are starting out on their hi-fi adventure and are in need of a five-star bargain source. Amazon and Sevenoaks are the places to be before the Ultra springs back up to full price.

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Black Friday quick links

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

If you're familiar with hi-fi, you'll probably know the name 'WiiM'. The Chinese brand has had a meteoric rise of late, mainly owing to its proclivity for providing a range of compact hi-fi separates boasting impressive feature sets at affordable prices.

In that regard, the WiiM Amp Pro is no exception: it's small, it's smart, and it's impressively affordable.

That's before we get into its juicy Black Friday discount. For bargain hunters seeking to get their first hi-fi system off the ground for a minimal outlay, the WiiM Amp Pro has dropped to just £319 at Amazon, an outstanding saving of £80 off its standard £399 price.

Specialist hi-fi retailers such as Richer Sounds and Peter Tyson are also offering the Amp Pro at £319, so it's worth shopping around beyond Amazon if you have a preference for a given outlet.

Best WiiM Black Friday deal

WiiM's first streaming amplifier, the three-star WiiM Amp, failed to impress us sonically, despite its combination of talents in such a small, affordable box.

Thankfully, the step-up WiiM Amp Pro improves upon its sound quality in a big way – enough to gain an additional star and earn a firm recommendation from us. WiiM is really finding its feet at the moment, and much of that momentum is reflected in the capable Amp Pro.

The compact streaming amp combines a modest size with a wallet-friendly price tag, packing 60W of Class D amplification and a DAC that can handle 24-bit/192kHz hi-res files, as well as a host of streaming features for playing music over hi-res services such as Tidal and Qobuz.

There's also support for Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Chromecast, although AirPlay is notably absent. It's the only real drawback in an otherwise easy-to-use, stable platform, with a novice-friendly app that makes setup a breeze.

The Amp Pro even has an HDMI ARC input for connecting to your TV, along with RCA line level, digital optical and USB-A inputs.

When it comes to sound quality, the Pro delivers more pep and dynamic interest than its cheaper sibling, the WiiM Amp. We said in our review: "There is more punch, snap and sparkle to the sound... the Amp Pro offers greater subtlety to the way dynamic swings are communicated, and there is a more convincing sense of dynamic contrast and rhythmic agility to the sound".

While we still find the WiiM is playing it just a little safe and could do with a better sense of timing, its renewed sense of fun and energy, along with greater detail, keep us listening to every song we play. All you nee to do is add in a pair of, say, the five-star Dali Kupid standmounts and you've got yourself an affordable, very entertaining little hi-fi system.

There simply isn't anything else on the market that offers what the WiiM does in such a modern, user-friendly and compact form – nor anywhere close to its budget billing.

With this massive £80 saving at Amazon, Richer Sounds and Peter Tyson for Black Friday, the Amp Pro is even more tempting than ever.

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Black Friday quick links

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

Lumin has unveiled a new flagship network audio player, the Lumin X2, which boasts a fully custom, bespoke DAC circuit and advanced streaming features for a high-end price point.

After years of R&D, Lumin has built its first in-house DAC architecture that uses individually selected components, which allows the brand to optimise every aspect of the digital-to-analogue process to a higher degree of precision in this streamer.

Replacing the Dual ESS SABRE32 ES9038Pro DAC used in the previous X1 model, the new Lumin Discrete DAC is tailored to work with the brand's streaming engine. It sits in a redesigned system with new circuit layout, power management and more precise clocking, all of which are “carefully tuned for maximum coherence, ensuring exceptional precision in network audio reproduction.”

Designed from the ground up, this custom DAC circuit works in conjunction with a fully customised Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Dual Femto Crystal Oscillators, and promises reduced timing errors, minimised interference and preserved channel separation.

Other features include a new output-buffer for greater clarity, detail and warmth, a dual-mono power supply for the analogue circuitry, and a high-quality lossless digital volume control that means you can connect the X2 directly to a power amplifier.

The X2 carries on key technologies and specifications that were introduced in Lumin's previous X1 flagship. At its centre lies Lumin's advanced streaming platform, which gives you access to all the popular music-streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and their Connect versions, along with Amazon Music and TuneIn internet radio stations.

Apple AirPlay is also on board, but as with other Lumin products, they don't include lossy Bluetooth here.

File compatibility is comprehensive, with support for hi-res files up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, and you can stream from connected music libraries and servers stored on the same network.

You can control your connected music libraries and sources using the Lumin app, and the X2 is also Audirvana and Roon Ready certified.

As for physical connections, there are balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs, while a USB port with native full hi-res and DSD512 support sits alongside a BNC SPDIF socket for digital outputs.

There are additional USB ports for connecting hard disks, flash drives and USB storage. An RJ45 Ethernet port is provided alongside an SFP Optical Network input that offers complete isolation from the rest of the network, and there is a built-in network switch.

The new flagship Lumin X2 streamer is available from December in natural or black anodised aluminium, with a matching outboard power supply unit. It will cost a cool £12,995 / $16,800 / AU$21,500.

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Our guide to the best music streamers, reviewed and rated

Check out the best early Black Friday hi-fi deals

If you're in the market for a new music streamer this Black Friday, then you're in luck: Cambridge Audio's five-star CXN100 can be yours with a £100 saving at Richer Sounds.

We've seen the CXN100 drop to £799 from its original £899 RRP before, but it's a rare occurrence, and tends only to happen during sales events or perhaps the festive period. We don't know how long this deal will last, so don't hesitate long if you've had your heart set on bagging a five-star music streamer for your home system.

Best Cambridge Audio CXN100 music streamer deal

The Cambridge Audio CXN100 is one of our favourite music streamers under £1000.

The larger, colour screen-sporting sibling to the Award-winning MXN10, this step-up streamer offers support for Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, internet radio and Bluetooth, as well as wired and wi-fi network connectivity.

For physical connections, the CXN100 offers USB Type A and Type B inputs alongside the standard coaxial and optical options, plus optical, coaxial, balanced XLR and RCA outputs. That gives you plenty of different ways to play your music collection no matter where it's stored or streamed from.

The CXN100 is a sequel to the Award-winning CXN (V2) network player, and while external refinements aren't always easy to spot, there's been plenty of new internal wizardry to get this latest model sounding its best.

Redesigned from the ground up, the CXN100 sports Cambridge's latest-gen streaming module and an ESS ES9028Q2M DAC for handling 32-bit/768kHz PCM, DSD512 and MQA files natively, not to mention uprated capacitors and op-amps in the post-DAC analogue stage built to reduce distortion and offer a better signal-to-noise ratio.

What this has all resulted in is a sophisticated, refined sound that's open and expansive. Articulate and clear, the CXN100 oozes both competence and confidence, handling your tracks in a cool, collected manner without coming across as detached from the music.

Riding the line between smoothness and bite, it's a balanced, precise and spacious performer that doesn't fall into that most dreaded trap: it's never boring to listen to.

Whether you're after a step up from the MXN10 or starting your streaming system from scratch, the CXN100 is an assured player that brings you all the features you could hope for, along with an impressive performance to match.

If you're looking to get ahead of the Black Friday crowds or even eyeing an early Christmas present (to yourself, perhaps?), this £100 discount at Richer Sounds comes at just the right time.

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Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals

We've just celebrated the best of the hi-fi and AV world with our What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025, heaping praise on only the most talents products we feel as leading the charge at their given prices and within their respective categories.

In the land of budget music streamers, the Cambridge Audio MXN10 continues to scoop trophies, remaining one of our absolute favourite budget network players after a few years in the game.

Better still, the outstanding MXN10 has sunk from a very reasonable £459 to just £349 at Richer Sounds, a major saving of £100 on an outstanding Award-winner. If you're seeking to modernise your setup for a very modest outlay, it's a very fine place to start.

Best Cambridge Audio MXN10 music streamer deal

As far as budget hi-fi deals go, this is one of the best. The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is proof that good things can indeed come in small packages, serving up some of the best sound and design you'll find from a network player at this price point. Put up against direct rivals, the MXN10 is a class above.

Why? Part of its charm comes courtesy of how versatile the small, shiny little box is, with the MXN10 offering support for Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz, as well as the choice of connecting via Bluetooth 5.0.

There’s built-in high-quality radio streaming across practically any global station you can think of, and the Cambridge can also locate and play any music file stored on the same home network, such as from NAS devices.

For physical connections, the MXN10 is fitted with an RCA line level analogue output, one coaxial and one optical on the digital side, as well as an ethernet port if you’re planning on plugging the unit directly into your router. Bigger units will naturally give you a bit more around the back, but there’s enough here to satisfy the essential requirements.

Internally, the compact Cambridge network player comes equipped with the ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC, allowing it to stream high-resolution files of up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 resolution, so you’ll rarely find your dinky streamer caught out by something it can’t handle.

If all of that wasn't enough, allow us to fight the MXN10's corner some more. The dinky music streamer offers the best sound we've heard at this entry-level price point, impressing us with how utterly poised, balanced and wide-ranging its sonic talents are.

Across practically all genres and assessed across pretty much any set of criteria, the MXN10 outclasses its rivals to produce a sound that has all of the rhythm and energy you could want, all balanced by so much space and detail that you can often feel spoiled by the sound you're getting. To our ears, it's a true 'best of all worlds' performer.

If you're getting into hi-fi this Black Friday and want an entry-level streamer to kick-start your system, Richer Sounds is the place to look.

Black Friday quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals

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The Bluesound Powernode (2021) is a great option if you're looking for a compact system that doesn't involve multiple boxes and lots of cables, as you would with a traditional hi-fi separates set up, but still want great sound and ample features.

The Powernode is a streaming amplifier, meaning it combines all the amplification, streaming features, DAC and connections into one compact box, so all you have to do is add a pair of speakers, and voila! – you have yourself a small but powerful hi-fi system.

It's a tidy solution that Bluesound has become known for, and the five-star Powernode streaming amp we tested back in 2021 is currently enjoying a great £150 discount that we find rather tempting. That means you can snap up this excellent streaming system for just £699 at Sevenoaks in this early Black Friday deal – add a pair of great budget speakers, and you could have yourself a complete hi-fi system for under £1000!

The Powernode combines 80 watts of HybridDigital amplification developed by sister-brand NAD with the former Award-winning Node (2021)'s music streaming talents. The streaming amplifier runs on the comprehensive and regularly updated BluOS platform, which brings Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, internet radio and many more music apps at your disposal.

You can stream hi-res digital albums stored on your laptop or NAS drive (support is up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM), and you can also easily play music from devices using AirPlay and two-way Bluetooth aptX HD. The only real gap in its heaving specifications list is Google Cast.

While primarily used for streaming music, there are physical connections – a USB input, a combined 3.5mm aux/optical jack, and HDMI eARC – to connect other sources, such as an MP3 player, a CD player, and, most importantly, your TV.

The Powernode is an engaging and informative performer, sounding clear, insightful, with a more neutral balance than its previous generations.

We said in our original review that it sounds "dynamically fluid and punchy, with plenty of energy to bestow on tracks that warrant it", while vocals sound full-bodied.

We found that the Powernode sounds best when paired with speakers with a good amount of pep, so the small and energetic Dali Kupid (£299) would be our prime choice here (and keep the total system price under £1000). Alternatively, you could opt for the more refined and bigger Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 speakers, which are themselves enjoying a great discount price of £449 at Sevenoaks.

If you're after a great-sounding, compact hi-fi that majors on streaming talent, then the Bluesound Powernode's current deal price of £699 at Sevenoaks is one worth considering.

Black Friday UK quick links

• Amazon: browse all of today's best deals
• B&W speakers: save £200
• Bluetooth speaker: 48% off five-star JBL
• Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: save £100
• Bravia 8 TV: save 34% on 55in Sony TV
• Denon AV receiver: save £500
• Dolby Atmos soundbar: down to £299
• ELAC Debut 2: five-star speakers now £199
• Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 now £169
• John Lewis: £500 off LG and Sony OLED TVs
• Richer Sounds: browse Black Friday deals
• Sevenoaks: £150 off Award-winning speakers
• TVs, movies, home cinema: browse the best deals

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As music streaming dominates the way we listen to our favourite tunes more than ever before, far surpassing vinyl's resurgence, it is perhaps no surprise that the music streamer – or network audio player – category at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 has seen such an upheaval.

Three out of the five winners are brand-new entrants, showing just how competitive and strong the market is in this ever-growing category. That these new winners are all on the premium side also shows just how serious – and seriously good – brands are getting in terms of delivering great usability, a wide array of features and great hi-res sound quality.

All the winning streamers here tick the boxes when it comes to supporting the popular music streaming services (Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, internet radio), playing hi-res music over a wi-fi or wired network, along with a varying array of physical connectivity. Each model has its own particulars – and some provide more features than others – but overall, each model's streaming platform is strong, covers the most popular streaming methods, and is easy to use.

Taking it from the top, our most premium winner (over £2000+) is the Cyrus 40 ST. We were impressed with its sleek, modern design – that still stayed true to Cyrus's iconic half-width chassis blueprint – and were further enamoured with its terrific sound quality. We said in our review: "Dynamically, it is impressively expressive, rendering low-level shifts in intensity elegantly, and delivering large-scale orchestral crescendos with real conviction." No matter what genre of music we play through it, the Cyrus sounds composed, organised, insightful and, crucially, heaps of fun.

We concluded that the Cyrus 40 ST has a "blend of detail, dynamics and rhythmic security that’s hard to better at the money" – it's an outstanding performer.

Arcam's new ST25 is our favourite music streamer in the £1000-£2000 price range. It's actually the only traditional full-width streamer in this category, with most other winners favouring compact forms. The ST25 naturally works a treat with its partnering A5+ and A15+ stereo amplifiers (both 2025 Award winners, too), and delivers an effortless, crystal clear sound quality.

"It sets an eerily quiet backdrop for the music, which allows all the instruments space to breathe," we said in our review. "There’s a real sense of pace, agility and power to the bassline as it pounds along, laying a robust foundation for all the electronica poured on top." There is ample subtlety and dynamics as you hear the intent and intensity changing behind each piano strike, while a bountiful soundstage allows every layer of a composition to be delivered in a cohesive, insightful manner.

And the last of our fresh new trio of winners is perhaps the one with the most features packed into a small box: the Bluesound Node Icon. We've seen Bluesound pick up Award trophies in the more affordable price ranges in previous years, but it's the brand's most premium model yet that delivers a brilliantly musical, dynamic and subtle sound that works a treat for all genres of music.

We said in our review: "It’s a lively, engaging and dynamic performer that grabs our interest at the beginning and only continues to impress us the more we listen." There is a spark to the Node Icon's sound, coupled with composure, good balance and agile rhythmic ability, that means we simply have a great time listening to it.

Taking the trophy in the £750-£1000 price bracket, the Bluesound boasts plenty of additional features that the more traditional hi-fi brands/models don't – such as an HDMI eARC input, support for Dirac Live room correction technology, and two 6.3mm headphone sockets.

The two returning winners in this category are brilliant budget gems that we are delighted to give flowers to for another year: the WiiM Pro Plus and the Cambridge Audio MXN10. Both remain superb value products at their more affordable price points, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to gain a wealth of hi-res streaming features without spending big bucks.

Cambridge's MXN10 is a delightful compact streamer whose dynamic expression and rhythmic coherence are really rather impressive at its more budget price point, is packed with energy and detail, and is a great stepping stone into the world of separates hi-fi.

Of course, if your budget can't stretch even to the MXN10's £350 price tag, the WiiM Pro Plus remains one of the best bargains of the year, costing under £300 and delivering a detailed, organised and likeable sound for very little relative outlay.

We liked its rather natural midrange talents, "where the vocal is brimming with character and attitude", while it sounds best with hi-res tracks but is still forgiving with poor sources. It also has a well-executed app that we find is particularly user-friendly for beginners, which is always a bonus.

The well-deserved 2025 winners in our music streamers category cover a broad price spectrum, sonic tastes and specific connectivity, and no matter your budget, we think there's something for everyone here to enjoy.

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This race has already been run. When the Bluesound Node Icon arrived in the What Hi-Fi? test rooms, it went up against the established five-star Cambridge Audio CXN100 and came away from that head-to-head victorious, winning the 2025 What Hi-Fi? Award for the ‘Best music streamer £750-£1000’.

But while that spoiler somewhat gives away which has the performance edge and is our expert reviews team’s preference of the two premium streamers, it doesn’t tell the whole story of how these excellent machines compare – nor does it necessarily determine which one you should favour.

After all, one may have more suitable connectivity for your setup, one sonic character may suit your system components more than the other.

Below, our expert reviews team have put the two literally side by side to directly compare their build, features, sound, user experience and price, to help you make an informed choice over which premium streamer, if either, is right for you. Off we go…

Price

Bluesound streamers have traditionally occupied the entry-level end of the market, its original (and following generations of) Node having been the core model in the Canadian company’s range for a decade now, priced around and below the £400/$500/AU$1000 mark.

The Node Icon sees Bluesound reach higher up the market, where fellow streamer stalwart Cambridge Audio has, in contrast, years of experience. The new flagship costs £899 / $1199 / AU$1949, making its natural rival Cambridge Audio’s similarly priced CXN100 (£899 / $1049 / AU$1899).

While many five-star streamers sit on either side of this price level, as featured in our best music streamers buying guide, not much at it has genuinely impressed besides the Cambridge and Bluesound. We are also big fans of the Lindemann Limetree Bridge II (£875 / $1350 / AU$1495), but unlike the two streamers in the spotlight here, it doesn’t integrate a DAC and is therefore considered a ‘streaming transport’.

**Winner: Draw**

Features & connectivity

With DACs on board, both the Bluesound Icon Node and Cambridge Audio CXN100 are fully fledged music streamers that can connect to any stereo amplifier (digital or analogue) or active speaker via their wealth of outputs.

The Bluesound has the full output suite – coaxial, optical, RCA, XLR, sub and even two 6.3mm headphone sockets – plus an HDMI eARC for connecting the unit to a TV. If you wanted to connect a CD player, laptop or other audio device to the Node Icon, you can do so thanks to its RCA, optical, USB-A and USB-C inputs.

As far as its built-in streaming savviness goes, the Bluesound runs on the excellent BluOS platform, which is a comprehensive and easy to navigate gateway to all the streaming service and internet radio apps one would expect. It also supports AirPlay 2, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, with the only real notable omission being Google Cast.

The Cambridge Audio streamer, meanwhile, is almost as well furnished for physical connections. It just swaps the Bluesound’s USB-C port for a USB Type-B one, and forgoes its rival’s HDMI and RCA inputs and subwoofer and headphone outputs.

Its streaming skills are certainly a match for the Node Icon’s, though, and even extend to Google Cast. Both machines are Roon Ready.

While the high-resolution audio file support of the Bluesound’s twin ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC chips caps out at 24-bit/192kHz PCM, DSD256 and MQA, the Cambridge’s ESS ES9028Q2M DAC can handle 32-bit/768kHz PCM, DSD512 and MQA. Both limits should be fine for most people, though anyone with particularly high-quality (and indeed niche) DSD and PCM files will naturally be better served by the Cambridge.

Besides connectivity and streaming, the Node Icon packs an extra feature that could be a real bonus for those whose listening rooms have serious acoustic issues: Dirac Live support. The room-correction software is designed to optimise the Bluesound’s performance to a listening space, although you will need to purchase separately the calibration kit (comprising a high-sensitivity microphone and USB adapter) and a Dirac license to make it all work.

**Winner: Bluesound Node Icon**

Build & design

Music streamers nowadays tend to go one of two ways when it comes to design; they are either compact, discreet boxes, with control and aesthetics largely the domain of the companion app, or they somewhat complement the app design by also leaning into physical tactility.

The Bluesound belongs to the latter category. The Node Icon is a taller, boxier unit than its ‘modem’-like siblings, though it’s still fairly compact, its 22cm width conforming to ‘half-width’ dimensions.

It’s modern-looking, too. The anodised-aluminium metal casing and shiny glass top feel, to quote our Node Icon review, “sturdy and substantial”, while the five-inch colour display and touch-capacitative controls are lovely, colourful and responsive.

Our reviewers particularly like how you can appoint five presets, allowing access to your favourite playlist or radio station with a single tap of an illuminated ‘dot’. We aren’t as taken with the fact that a clock interface shows when the unit is on standby or when the music is paused, but Bluesound says the decision was partly taken to reduce screen burn-in, and it’s a small niggle in the grand scheme of things.

The Cambridge Audio CXN100 is, in contrast, a more ‘hi-fi-looking’ full-width design that doesn’t invite as much physical interaction with the unit. Its sleek, metal chassis – almost identical to the company’s previous-gen CXN V2 – is elegant, and the 4.8-inch display is pleasingly crisp and colourful. There are simple playback/menu navigation buttons on either side of it, but we can’t imagine them being used on many occasions.

We believe both designs, while very different, have their place in the streamer market, and which you prefer will come down to personal preference and, most likely, the size and colour of your other system components.

Neither machine comes with a remote control, though you can buy one separately for the CXN100 or use the same remote you get with the company’s CX amplifiers or CXC transport.

Indeed, the main means of control for both units is the companion app, and both Bluesound’s BluOS and Cambridge Audio’s StreamMagic apps are good and evidence of the brands’ long-held expertise in the field.

**Winner: Draw**

Sound quality

The app doesn’t fall far from the tree where the streamers’ sound quality is concerned either. Bluesound and Cambridge both have a pedigree in the field, and their premium offerings here are testaments to that.

The most recent Bluesound products we have reviewed prior to the Node Icon have been capable and competent, but we felt that they were missing some kind of spark – the spark that Bluesound products of old had in spades.

Thankfully, this spark has returned in the flagship, making for, to quote our review, “a lively, engaging and dynamic performer that grabs our interest at the beginning and only continues to impress us the more we listen.”

There’s detail and clarity aplenty, and every part of the frequency range is delivered faithfully, without any embellishment. The similarly competent headphone amplifier performance really gives that bonus feature significant value, too.

The Node Icon’s lithe and musically engaging nature is satisfyingly consistent across the inputs (just expect the usual dip in power, punch and detail with Bluetooth playback), and ultimately is what gets one over on the Cambridge Audio rival. “We find ourselves willing the leaner Cambridge streamer to sound that bit more propulsive and more dynamically adept with the same songs during our comparison testing,” reads our Bluesound Node Icon review.

The CXN100 is no musical slouch, you understand – just not quite as propulsive or dynamically expressive as the Bluesound. It offers a bigger, more spacious soundstage than the Node Icon, and delivers in every other sonic respect, making it a proud silver medalist.

It’s wonderfully clear and articulate, sparklingly precise, and consistent regardless of the input or streaming method used. And its refinement spells good news for fans of heavier music genres and/or loud volume levels. “We don’t get to say this very often, but the CXN100 sounds great with heavy metal tracks, with a top end that strikes the right balance between smoothness and bite,” reads our Cambridge Audio CXN100 review.

Owners of its predecessor who may be looking to upgrade should know, however, that the CXN V2 is richer and warmer in character than the faster, cleaner CXN100, and perhaps slightly more natural in the way it delivers voices as a result – but it certainly isn’t as sophisticated when it comes to clarity, precision and spaciousness.

Both streamers show how far music streamer performance has come in recent years, and have the all-round talents deserving of their five-star verdicts – the arrival of the slightly more musically gifted Bluesound doesn’t change that for the Cambridge Audio.

**Winner: Bluesound Node Icon**

Verdict

It’s a closely fought battle, but ultimately one that sees Bluesound sticking its flag in the ground. The Node Icon’s more musically convincing manner edges things in the sound department, and its more generous physical connectivity should particularly appeal to those who want to integrate a streamer into a TV-inclusive setup.

Indeed, Bluesound’s ambition to extend further up the music-streamer chain than before has paid off for both it and streaming-savvy consumers.

Bluesound and Cambridge Audio are arguably the best brands in the music streamer business before you get to pricier offerings from the likes of Cyrus, Naim and Audiolab territory, and we can undoubtedly look forward to many more battles between them in future.

**Overall winner: Bluesound Node Icon**

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Quad is rapidly expanding its Platina range of hi-fi separates, which it boasts are, "the finest range of solid-state audio electronics the company has ever produced".

Just days after the announcement of the new Platina Integrated amplifier, the new family has been bolstered by the arrival of the Platina Stream network player.

At the core of the new music streamer is an onboard DAC stage built around the ES9038PRO Sabre DAC chip. The DAC’s eight audio channels have been designed to drastically reduce noise and distortion, bolstered by Quad's proprietary circuitry and precise clock technology.

The new streamer incorporates a Class A post-DAC circuit stage that has been tailored to bring out the best of the ES9038PRO’s performance. Hi-res support is extensive, with the Platina Stream capable of handling PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz alongside DSD512.

Regarding physical connections, Quad's latest network player offers single-ended RCA and balanced XLR analogue outputs, complemented by coaxial and optical digital outputs, meaning the Platina Stream can be connected to an external DAC.

The new network player can stream via wi-fi or a supplied Ethernet port, with native support offered for services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and TuneIn Radio.

Externally, the Platina Stream has been built to complement the aesthetics of its Platina Integrated sibling, exhibiting the same steel chassis and aluminium front panel alongside side-mounted heat sinks and anti-resonance feet.

At the front, the unit's fascia is equipped with a power button, a rotary control and a 4.3-inch colour display.

The Quad Platina Stream network player will be available from November 2025 with a choice of a choice of silver or black front panel, priced at £2999 / €3599 / $4495 / AU$6899.

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Award season is upon us and we recently gave the Cambridge Audio MXN10 a coveted winners' spot in the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025, cementing its place as one of the best music streamers money can buy at its price.

But, what if we were to tell you it just got even more affordable?

For just £349 at Amazon. the five-star MXN10 is small, affordable and... superb. This incredible saving of £100 is the lowest price we've seen the music streamer drop to and given we already found it to be fantastically affordable, an excellent deal we're happy to recommend.

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 tops our list of the the best music streamers we've tested. And it shouldn't be all that surprising to hear that we've also given it a What Hi-Fi? Award three years in a row.

The appealingly dinky MXN10 offers awesome, engaging sound and impressive specifications at a competitive price.

Packed into the neat little box (by rival's standards), the MXN10 offers support for Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz, as well as the choice of connecting via Bluetooth 5.0., controlled via Cambridge Audio's StreamMagic app.

There’s also built-in high-quality radio streaming across practically any global station you can think of, whilst also being able to locate and play any music file stored on the same home network, such as from NAS devices.

For physical connections, the MXN10 is fitted with an RCA line level analogue output, one coaxial and one optical on the digital side, as well as an ethernet port if you’re planning on plugging the unit directly into your router, as opposed to relying on your wi-fi connection.

Internally, the compact Cambridge network player comes equipped with the ESS Sabre ES9033Q DAC, allowing it to stream high-resolution files of up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 resolution, so you’ll rarely find your dinky streamer caught out.

And when it comes to sound, scale and authority are impressive from such a compact device, while the tone and texture of instruments come to the fore with a great amount of detail. It's balanced and energetic, and turns its hand to every music genre we play through it.

So, why not save yourself £100 on an already wonderfully affordable music streamer? It's as simple as picking it up for £349 at Amazon and with musical performance that is utterly charming, it remains a favourite of ours at this seriously competitive price.

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On the face of it, Arcam has everything in place for its SA35 streaming hi-fi system to be a slam-dunk success.

It already has a What Hi-Fi? approved five-star music streamer in its lineup in the shape of the ST25. And it has not one but four five-star stereo amplifiers (the updated A5+ and A15+, and the original A5 and A15).

You would think, then, that for Arcam and the SA35, it’s going to be a relatively straightforward case of taking the best bits from its streamer and amps, adding a smattering of extra features, and just sitting back and admiring its work.

However, after years of testing products like this, we know that marrying everything together and automatically creating five-star synergy isn’t easy. There’s no doubt that Arcam potentially has a pretty solid foundation from which to build for the SA35, but can it execute?

Price

The SA35 is Arcam’s entry-level streaming amplifier and has an asking price of £2999 / $3300 / AU$6495. There is a step-up model in Arcam’s Radia range, the SA45, which costs £4499 / $5500 / AU$9995.

There aren’t a huge number of rivals for the Arcam around its price point – it’s relatively similar in terms of features and functionality to the Naim Uniti Atom £2299 / $3799 / AU$5750, although the Naim is cheaper and getting a little long in the tooth now.

Build & design

Like its ST25 streamer and A15+ stereo amplifier siblings, the SA35 is quite a chunky unit. It weighs in at 12kg, which you can definitely feel when moving the unit into position.

The black chassis hides its size well, though – we think Arcam has really nailed the styling of this Radia series of hi-fi products.

The clean-but-stealthy look combined with the yellow halo lighting around the input and volume dials, and the yellow highlights around the top vents, make for a striking piece of kit.

There’s nothing stealthy about the large 6.5-inch high-resolution display that sits right in the middle of the fascia, though. It’s bright, punchy and colourful and, from what we can tell, virtually identical to that found on the ST25.

This means album artwork generally looks great on the Arcam, offering you a few different configurations for how it and the accompanying metadata are displayed.

The display's size and clarity also make navigating the on-screen menus very straightforward when you’re carrying out functions like choosing inputs, cycling through filters and setting up Bluetooth.

The display is flanked by those input and volume dials, which give the front of the unit a neat symmetry. Both rotary controls feel good to use – they turn smoothly but, being ultra-critical, we think they could have a tiny bit more resistance to them. Otherwise, you’re treated to a tactile user experience.

The supplied remote does feel cheap and plastic in comparison, though. It’s a little small in hand, and although the volume control gets the job done, it feels on the finicky side when you’re trying to do more extensive navigating.

Depending on the streaming services and features you want to use, you’ll also be using the Arcam Radia control app, which is fine, but isn’t the last word in intuitiveness.

It also feels slightly clunky that you have to use the remote to access some features and settings, and Arcam’s Radia app for others. It would make for a more complete user experience if you could access everything through the app.

The inputs on the rear of the unit are all clearly labelled, although the hood that extends over the rear of the chassis does get in the way when you’re hooking everything up for the very first time. Thankfully, most users will only have to do this once and then forget about it.

Features

Arcam has been as thorough as possible with the spec sheet for the SA35.

The streaming section of the SA35 caters for Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Amazon Music and Roon. There’s also playback from UPnP servers and the system can handle a multitude of high-res formats up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256.

There’s also two-way Bluetooth connectivity, which not only allows you to stream music to the system from a smartphone or tablet but also allows you to stream music from the Arcam to any pair of Bluetooth headphones you want to pair with the unit.

For those seeking a wired headphones connection, there’s a 3.5mm socket in the bottom left-hand corner of the front of the unit.

Connectivity also includes a pair of optical digital inputs, a pair of coaxial digital inputs (both styles of digital input support datastreams up to 24-bit/192kHz) and HDMI eARC for anyone wanting to use the Arcam to receive audio from a compatible TV.

You even get individual inputs for moving magnet and moving coil phono stages to cater for your turntable.

To help with set-up, there’s Dirac Live Room Correction; you get a mic and remote in the box to help get the system configured best for your particular room conditions.

Our test rooms have been acoustically treated and designed to minimise effects that Dirac compensates for, but in our experience the system encourages your set-up to sound more even as well as clearer, but the trade off is that you lose a bit of rhythmic drive and expression,

If your room isn’t well behaved we definitely feel there’s no harm running it to try and improve how your system sounds.

120W of Class G amplification (per channel) provides the grunt, which is more than you’ll find in any of Arcam’s stand-alone Radia amplifiers, including the 100W A25+. It’s actually Arcam’s fifth generation of Class G amplification and uses new components and materials to raise performance levels.

Similarly to Arcam’s ST25 music streamer, you have a choice of different DAC filters to choose from to help you tailor the sound to suit your own taste.

The four options are minimum phase, linear phase apodizing, linear phase slow roll-off, and minimum phase slow roll-off. We found all four very similar during testing and stick to the default on the unit, which in this case is linear phase apodizing.

To try and give us an idea of compatibility, during testing we try the Arcam SA35 with a range of different speakers from our reference ATC SCM50 to the PMC Prodigy 5 floorstanders and the Award-winning KEF LS50 Meta. The Arcam handles each pair with relative ease, and we don’t think it should have any issues driving most suitably-priced pairs.

Sound

We kick things off with a CD-quality stream of Adele’s Hometown Glory and the Arcam SA35 shows an amazing sense of control and precision with every keystroke.

The quiet background, the reverb from each string, the Arcam reveals detail effortlessly and delivers a level of intimacy that really connects with the listener. As the piano play becomes more dramatic and Adele’s voice enters the fray, you can feel the intensity pick up.

Her vocal sounds expressive and emotional, superbly reinforced by the increased intensity of the piano. When the strings seep in, they just add another layer of detail and simply add to the dynamic reach of the Arcam.

There’s a real sadness, anger and feeling of conflict with Adele’s vocal, which the Arcam captures perfectly. It’s calm, controlled and conveys emotion well.

The stereo imaging you get is clear and precisely layered. Tonally, The Arcam system is well-balanced too – there’s no coarseness at the top end, nor any bloating at the bottom end.

We turn up the sonic temperature with a stream of Mombassa from the Inception OST and the Arcam goes straight on the offensive, showcasing its agility and ability to capture the feeling and tone of a track at will.

It dispatches bass notes with confidence and efficiency – there isn’t an ounce of fat on the meat of the track. There’s ample power behind each low frequency hit and the SA35 goes deep yet still delivers detail and texture to satisfy those who want to hear the fine details in their music.

The dramatic, high-octane nature of the track is captured superbly, and as the track courses along, you’re left in no doubt as to the feeling of impending danger and action that the track is conveying. It’s a confident performance across the board.

During testing, we don’t ignore the Arcam’s phono stage options and headphone output. Arcam really has ticked all the boxes with the SA35, but it’s also ensured both the MM/MC phono stages and headphone output are up to scratch. Play Michael Jackson’s Bad on vinyl and both inputs maintain the very likeable, clean-cut, precise sound of the system. It’s effortless and expressive.

And as you’d probably expect, the Bluetooth connection is sonically more limited than the other connectivity options, but it’s good enough for general listening.

Verdict

In this modern age, where people want the convenience of a one-box solution but don’t want to make huge sacrifices where sound quality is concerned, the Arcam SA35 streaming amplifier is one of those rare do-it-all devices that does it all extremely well. Highly recommended.

Review published: 13th October 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 5
• Build 5

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Generally speaking, we’ve had nothing but love for Arcam’s recent Radia range of hi-fi separates. It’s delivered multiple five-star products, including a pair of Award-winning stereo amplifiers and CD player. Next up for the eyes and ears of our crack team of reviewers is its premium ST25 music streamer.

Ironically, the only blot on Radia’s copybook so far has been the Arcam ST25’s cheaper sibling, the ST5. It disappointed us with a three-star performance when it passed through our test rooms a couple of years ago.

Now it’s time for the pricier model to go on the test bench, and, to put it rather bluntly, we are hoping for bigger and better things from the step-up streamer…

Price

Priced at £1499 / $1650 / AU$2995, the Arcam ST25 is a clear step above entry-level music streamers and will need to deliver the sound performance befitting a premium model.

The closest rival we have tested is the Cambridge Audio EXN100 at £1599 / $1799, a formidable five-star rival and What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winner.

Build & design

We’re a fan of the design language Arcam adopted for its Radia range and our opinion isn’t shifted by the ST25.

It’s a modern, clean-looking, solidly made hi-fi separate – the full-width all-black chassis makes quite the impression, especially against lighter-coloured racks and kit.

The top panel shows some nice attention to detail, with furrows running front to back that gradually get deeper as you reach the streamer’s front panel.

And, speaking of the front panel, a large chunk of it is dedicated to a 6.5-inch high-resolution display. It looks great; the album artwork appears bright, punchy and colourful with good viewing angles, while the accompanying metadata is easy enough to read too.

The front of the ST25 is also zero fuss, with not even a power button in sight.

Inside the ST25’s chassis, you’ll find a new six-layer digital audio and streaming platform. Arcam has included a ground plane through the board to keep noise and interference away from the audio components.

These components include the latest Hyperstream iV DAC topology from ESS in a balanced configuration with advanced jitter elimination to minimise digital timing errors.

The ST25 also uses a new linear, low-noise toroidal power supply and a switching power supply, which takes over when in standby for improved efficiency.

Features

While that 6.5-inch display dominates the front of the Arcam ST25, the rear of the unit is a more stripped-back and minimalist affair.

Tucked beneath the hood, which extends over the rear of the streamer (we understand it helps keep dust off the sockets, but it does get in the way a tad if you’re a hi-fi reviewer who constantly needs to keep switching between it and rival products), you’ll find a pair of analogue line-level outputs, an Ethernet connection, and coaxial and optical digital outputs.

There’s also a USB port for connecting an external drive and a control port – the latter comes into play if you want to pair the streamer with one of Arcam’s Radia stereo amplifiers (such as the A5+ or A15+) and use the two together.

Arcam’s menu of streaming support includes Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Amazon Music and Roon, which should be more than enough to cater for most streaming needs.

Of course, if all your music is stored on a server on your connected home network, the ST25 can stream from there too, and it supports high-res audio up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 files.

The ST25 comes with a small remote control, which you’ll need to use to carry out some functions, including selecting your favourite DAC filter and dimming or turning the display off.

When it comes to choosing your preferred DAC filter, you have four options: minimum phase, linear phase apodizing, linear phase slow roll-off, and minimum phase slow roll-off. The effects are extremely subtle, but we settle on linear phase apodizing for the bulk of our testing.

If you’re not using a streaming service like Tidal or Spotify with ‘Connect’ functionality, you’ll be using the Arcam Radia app to control the streamer. Here you can set internet radio presets, access podcasts and other services such as Amazon Music.

In an ideal world, it would be nice to be able to access all settings through the app, including the filter options mentioned above, as jumping between the app on a phone or tablet and the on-unit menu with the remote wand does feel a little jarring.

It’s also a shame Amazon doesn’t have ‘Connect’ functionality like Tidal and Spotify, because its implementation in the Radia app does feel a little clunky when trying to navigate tunes and playlists.

Similarly, accessing music stored on our review network is fine, but it could be slightly easier to navigate than having to scroll through long lists of artists, for example.

Having the ability to jump to different letters in the alphabet and navigate that way could make the experience slightly slicker.

Rival apps from the likes of Cambridge Audio and Bluesound do feel a little more intuitive, clearer and more rewarding to use.

There’s no Bluetooth functionality on the Arcam, which some users might find a strange omission, but for us, it isn’t a deal-breaker.

Sound

We carry out our testing using a variety of streaming options, including Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, internet radio and high-res tracks stored on our Naim Uniti Core server.

We start testing with a CD-quality stream of Madonna's Sky Fits Heaven from our Uniti Core server.

The first thing we notice about the Arcam is its crystal clear and clean delivery. It sets an eerily quiet backdrop for the music, which allows all the instruments space to breathe.

The track starts with rapid pulsing synths, which exhibit great texture and fine detail.

There’s a real sense of pace, agility and power to the bassline as it pounds along, laying a robust foundation for all the electronica poured on top.

The ST25 is really easy to listen to and doesn’t leave any unpleasant aftertaste. Madonna’s vocal sounds effortless and comes at you covered in texture and oozing emotion.

All the different elements mix like a perfectly crafted cocktail; drum machine, vocal and synths all move around in unison, with the Arcam really capturing the high-energy tempo of the track.

We switch over to something a little calmer, and play Einaudi: Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, as a 24-bit/48kHz stream from Tidal Connect.

The Arcam’s quietness plus attention to detail means the precision and delicacy of the piano play leaves a sonic mark on the listener.

Notes hang in open space, with differences in dynamics explicitly presented. You can hear the intent and intensity behind each key strike change as the track flows gracefully along.

While the piano remains pacesetter for the track, strings slide into view with precision – they’re tightly defined, natural-sounding strokes, and you can feel the intent behind each one.

The Arcam layers the track beautifully as more elements come together in a bountiful soundstage. The drama blossoms into a beautiful crescendo before all those extra layers fall away, leaving just the piano exposed.

We compared the Arcam to its closest rival, the Cambridge Audio EXN100, and while the Cambridge streamer sounds big, bold and confident in its own right, we think the Arcam opens up an even bigger window into the music being streamed.

The ST25 and its quieter background allow for an even greater level of insight and subtlety, which allows it to form an even stronger connection with the listener.

Verdict

If you’re looking to add a great all-round streamer to your hi-fi system, and it warrants a standalone unit at this price, the Arcam is a fantastic option.

Whether it’s internet radio or high-res audio streams, the ST25 presents them in a hugely enjoyable and musical way.

Okay, so the control app isn’t the slickest we’ve used, but the class with which it presents music, and in such a detailed and dynamic manner, needs to be heard.

Review published: 13th October 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Features 4
• Build 5

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Read our Bluesound Node Icon review

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Bluesound has had a run of very competent, well-featured and well-priced compact music streamers, but it’s been a while since one really stood out as a class leader when it comes to outright sound quality.

That all changes with the Node Icon.

Where the mid-range Node (2024) model conceded to the greater musicality of the Cambridge Audio MXN10, and the budget Node Nano couldn’t topple the wallet-friendly WiiM Pro Plus from its throne, the Bluesound Node Icon stands head and shoulders above its siblings in design, features and, most importantly, performance.

Price

The Bluesound Node Icon is yours for £899 / $1199 / AU$1949 and is the priciest of the current Node range of streamers. Its main competition is the five-star Cambridge Audio CXN100, which retails for a very similar price at £899 / $1049 / AU$1899.

After a time with the Icon and its many talents, you might well think it outperforms its sub-£1000 billing.

Build & design

The three members of the Node family have distinct profiles, but instead of the slimline, ‘modem’-like designs of most Nodes, the Icon is a taller, boxier unit. It’s still a fairly compact unit, taking up roughly the same footprint as the smaller Node (2024) and Cambridge Audio MXN10, but is twice the height of its younger sibling.

Its build quality is of a considerably higher quality, too – the anodised aluminium metal casing and shiny glass top feel sturdy and substantial. Altogether, it’s a classier and more premium-feeling unit, but is still discreet enough to hide away in your listening room if that’s your preference.

What stands out is the 5-inch full colour display that dominates the front panel. It’s the first Bluesound streamer to sport a screen, and it is sharp, clear and appealing. It displays album artwork, track and source information when music is playing, while a clock face is shown when the unit is on standby or, unusually, when the music is paused.

This is a quirk of the unit’s system that can’t be changed; Bluesound states that the clock display automatically slides in to prevent issues such as image burn-in on the screen, to reduce interface clutter when the unit is inactive, and simply to provide useful information – the time – when it’s in idle mode. We do sometimes wish the ‘now playing’ screen stayed on for a little longer, but it’s a pretty small niggle in the grand scheme of things. Bluesound’s reasoning is sensible, and we get used to this quirk in the course of our testing period.

It’s also worth noting that, unlike some of the screen-toting WiiM and Eversolo streamers, the Node Icon’s display isn’t a touchscreen one. But the Icon does incorporate the touch-capacitative controls that we’ve seen on its siblings. That sloped glass section on top of the unit houses this strip of touch controls, which includes basic music playback (pause, play, previous and next-track skipping) and a volume slider.

More usefully, you can appoint five presets that are readily available to you by tapping the five illuminated ‘dots’ – meaning you can play your favourite playlist or radio station with a single tap, without having to fire up your smartphone or app. Neat.

The controls are responsive, and the streamer is overall easy and uncomplicated to operate, especially when combined with the handy BluOS app. The touch controls on the highly reflective glass panel do pick up fingerprint marks easily, but we should note that this is less obvious in person than how it looks in our photos here.

Features

Pitched as the “audiophile” flagship option of the Node family, Bluesound has imbued the Node Icon with more advanced audio technology and tuning, and a greater spread of connections, although the streaming elements remain the same across the family.

Internally, the Icon features twin ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC chips in a dual-mono DAC architecture. This means each chip can devote its full processing power to each channel, with Bluesound saying this offers a more separated and “pure” sound. The Icon has an integrated power supply design that aims to reduce noise and produce a clearer signal, while a “transparent” circuitry helps with delivering high levels of resolution, dynamism and ultra-low distortion.

As with the current Bluesound Node products, the native file resolution support here goes up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD256.

In addition to that, the Node Icon is the first to implement MQA Labs’ Qrono digital-to-analogue technology, following parent company Lenbrook’s acquisition of MQA Ltd and its technologies. The Qrono technology aims to further refine the DAC’s timing response, so that it aligns more authentically with the original recording. We always found Tidal’s MQA tracks have the upper hand when it comes to rhythmic ability, so we are hoping that this sonic trait translates here.

The Node Icon runs on the tried-and-tested BluOS streaming platform, which is smooth-running and feature-packed. The connection is stable over both wi-fi and wired Ethernet, and we didn’t encounter any issues when playing music from Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect or BBC 6 Music.

The BluOS app supports plenty more streaming services and various internet radio stations, and is overall well organised and intuitive to use, especially with large music libraries stored on connected NAS drives or media servers.

There’s no Google Chromecast support, however, which is standard for all BluOS-supported products. Some might miss this functionality, but Bluetooth (of the aptX Adaptive variety) and Apple AirPlay 2 are also on board for convenient streaming from a smartphone or tablet.

There is scope to adjust the Icon’s audio settings further in the app: there are gain options, mono/stereo playback modes, tone controls (which we preferred to leave off for a more solid, punchier sound), and the ability to toggle the fixed output level on or off, depending on whether you want to use the Bluesound streamer as a preamp.

You can also combine other BluOS-compatible wireless speakers and streaming products (from Bluesound, NAD, Cyrus, Dali, Roksan and more) into a wider multi-room system all through the app, should you wish.

Physical connections include digital coaxial and optical outputs, as well as an HDMI eARC for connecting the unit to a TV. The Node Icon is the only one of its family to include a pair of balanced XLR analogue outputs, alongside one set of RCA line level outputs. You also get an RCA line level and optical input apiece on the back panel, along with USB-A and USB-C ports for plugging in a laptop or external storage devices.

As with its streaming talents, switching between our connected TV and CD player is a smooth process, and the Icon never falters when we swap between multiple sources in quick succession to try and trip it up.

One of our favourite things about the Node Icon is that it offers not one, but two full-size 6.3mm headphone jacks, which are situated at either side of the unit. This means two people can simultaneously listen to the same music or TV show late at night. It’s a lovely touch. The headphone amplifier stage features THX AAA feed-forward error correction technology that promises low distortion levels and great clarity and soundstaging. Similarly to the Node (2024), the headphone amplifier proves once again to be of great quality in the Icon.

Another key USP of the Node Icon is that it is Dirac Live Ready, although you will have to separately purchase the calibration kit (£39, consisting of a high-sensitivity microphone and USB adapter) and a Dirac license to make it all work. Dirac Live is a room correction software designed to optimise the streamer’s performance to your listening space, especially if the room has serious acoustic issues.

There is a limited bandwidth licence ($159) and a full bandwidth license ($249); we were provided with the full kit for our review, but as we found during the NAD C 3050 with MDC2 BluOS-D module testing, this doesn’t make much of a substantial difference in our acoustically treated test rooms. However, we can see the benefit of investing in this calibration kit and software when your listening space is less than ideal, and so we will be trying the Dirac Live effect further when one of our reviewers takes the Node Icon into their home, which has zero acoustic treatment.

Sound

Despite the time it’s taken us to get to the sound quality section, getting music playing from the Node Icon takes a small handful of minutes after unboxing it. What’s even more pleasing is just how musically engaging the Node Icon sounds right from the start.

The Bluesound products we’ve recently reviewed have been capable and competent, but we felt that they were missing some kind of spark. There are no such reservations with the Node Icon. It’s a lively, engaging and dynamic performer that grabs our interest at the beginning and only continues to impress us the more we listen.

Plugged into our test room’s reference system of the Naim Nait XS 3 and Epos ES-7N speakers, the Node Icon delivers music with a pleasing richness and solidity, along with having an agile sense of rhythm and a strong handle on dynamics.

The fiery intensity and propulsive rhythm in Eminem’s The Way I Am is delivered with punch and snappy timing, while the solo drum pattern in Dave Brubeck’s Take Five is tightly and cohesively knitted together – it all makes rhythmic sense and keeps our attention hooked on the music.

This isn’t an extroverted, look-at-me presentation, but the Icon’s sound has a glimmer to it – underpinned by stellar composure and well-judged ability over the frequency range – that is so appealing to listen to that we find ourselves playing song after song through the Node Icon and having a great time.

There is clarity and detail aplenty when conveying The Unthanks’ delicate but nuanced vocals in Gan To The Kye, and there is a satisfying amount of body and twang to the shapely and taut basslines in Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody. There is a lovely fluidity and precision to the way the Node Icon handles music from any source, with a nimble footing that keeps pace with whatever genre or song we throw at it.

The Node Icon sounds even more at home when paired with the price-compatible Arcam A5+. Both meld together with a deft handling of dynamics that means there is an appropriate sense of drama and excitement when listening to Fontaines D.C.’s high-octane Starburster track. The Icon is able to tidily convey the subtler flourishes and different timbres of instruments in Khruangbin’s funky, easy-going Maria Tambien, as well as the softly mournful piano notes in Ólafur Arnald’s Raein composition.

This lithe and musically engaging presentation is heard across the various inputs, too, with albums played on our Cyrus CDi player sounding clean and solid via optical, and hi-res songs from our NAS drive having that bit more depth and grip. Songs played through Bluetooth naturally dip in power, punch and detail as expected, but it’s perfectly fine as a convenient solution.

To give credit to the Node Icon, it doesn’t put a spotlight on any sonic element in particular, aiming to simply deliver music in a confident, balanced and entertaining way. The streamer is transparent enough to reveal the subtle differences in source quality or of the era in which a recording was made, such as how a 1970s soul track has such a different feel and texture from a modern, polished K-pop production.

The Icon deftly relays all these nuances in space, texture and resolution without making too much of a meal of it. It doesn’t try to embellish any frequency, nor does it try to hide any warts – this is a quietly but terrifically capable performer that simply gets out of the way and lets the music shine through.

Plug a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 X Pro open-back headphones in, and we’re met with vocals that are crystal clear and emotive against an impressively quiet background, while instruments and melodies retain their snap and sparkle. It’s an excellent performer, and we wouldn’t hesitate to aim higher with your audiophile headphone pairing.

The five-star Cambridge Audio CXN100 rival offers a bigger and more spacious soundstage than the Icon, but we find ourselves willing the leaner Cambridge streamer to sound that bit more propulsive and more dynamically adept with the same songs during our comparison testing. The Bluesound is more musically cohesive and dynamically subtler; it times better and has that spark that keeps our attention fully captured through the drama and message of a song.

Verdict

Sure, it could sound bigger, and pricier options from Naim, Cyrus and Audiolab raise the standards even higher and are more articulate, insightful and offer greater precision and control. That the Node Icon sounds so deft, composed and fun at this sub-£1000 level is pretty remarkable, and it does so with such ease that it puts rivals to shame.

We hope the Node Icon’s strong sonic talents are reflected in Bluesound’s future models, as its wonderfully musical, engaging quality holds our interest like no other Bluesound product has done before.

For anyone looking for a compact, feature-laden, fuss-free streamer that sounds great for a rather reasonable price, we can’t recommend the Node Icon highly enough.

Review published: 11th October 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Also consider the Cambridge Audio CXN100

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

Qobuz Connect: what is it? Which products support it?

Cambridge Audio owners, rejoice: Qobuz Connect is now available on the brand's current crop of streaming products, following a software update this week.

Qobuz Connect integration comes to Cambridge Audio products running on the fourth generation of the StreamMagic platform. That includes the Evo 150 SE, Evo 150, Evo 75 and Evo One streaming systems, and the CXN100, EXN100, AXN10 and MXN10 music streamers.

Owners of these products simply need to run the latest software update and then should be able to enjoy Qobuz Connect functionality in full. While Cambridge Audio products already had Qobuz integrated in the StreamMagic app, Qobuz Connect allows you to bypass this control app entirely and stream music directly from the native Qobuz app.

Like Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect allows music to be streamed over the network directly from the music platform's servers to the compatible audio product, freeing up your phone to be used simply for playback control. It means text notifications and phone calls won't interrupt your stream, and offers a more intuitive experience overall.

Qobuz's 100 million+ catalogue is available in up to 24-bit/192kHz high resolution and in lossless CD quality, which you can enjoy in full via Qobuz Connect. Simply fire up the Qobuz app, select the compatible Cambridge Audio product as the audio output, and hit play.

What about older generation models? Qobuz Connect availability for the StreamMagic Gen 3 and Gen 2 network streamers – such as the Hall of Famer CXN (V2), Edge NQ and Azur 851N – is also being worked on, we're told, and will be available at a later date. An earlier community post says this support should arrive by the end of the year.

Cambridge Audio has recently added support for Spotify Lossless in all Gen 4, Gen 3, and Gen 2 StreamMagic products. Qobuz has also updated its Discover home page in the app to include a more personalised feed and recommendations.

MORE:

Read our Cambridge Audio EXN100 review

Qobuz Connect: what is it? Which products support it?

Our guide to the best music streaming services for sound quality

Whenever a big sales event comes along, such as Amazon's Big Deals Day that's happening right now, I always keep an eye out for deals on WiiM products

The young brand's music streamers, specifically the budget WiiM Pro Plus and step-up Wiim Ultra, are already pretty great value at full price. They combine a superb array of features, likeable sound quality and user-friendly experience in compact boxes that are cost-effective compared with their rivals. For adding streaming skills to your hi-fi system, they are our go-to recommendations.

Thanks to today's Prime Day deals, both these five-star WiiMs are enjoying a healthy 20% discount, with the WiiM Ultra now available for £279 (down from £349) and the WiiM Pro Plus available for £175 (down from £219) at Amazon.

But you can find an even cheaper deal for the excellent Award-winning Pro Plus if you head to Richer Sounds or Peter Tyson, who are selling it for its lowest-ever price of £169. That's a chunky £50 saving and money well spent, in my books.

• Browse all the Amazon Prime Day deals

Which WiiM streamer should you buy?

Whichever WiiM streamer best suits your budget, both are highly recommendable at full price, and even more so at these healthy Prime Day discounts.

For the money, the little Pro Plus lets you quickly and easily add streaming skills to most home setups, with the WiiM offering a robust set of connectivity options – optical and RCA line-level inputs/outputs mean it can connect to most amplifiers.

Streaming-wise, it's as feature-rich as you can get: there's dual-band wi-fi, Bluetooth, built-in Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 support. An intuitive app makes it quick and easy to stream tracks from popular music services such as as Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn radio, and plenty more.

But how does it sound, we hear you ask? Based on our testing, our reviewers reported that it delivers great sound considering the wallet-friendly asking price. As we said in our review: “the WiiM Pro Plus is hard to lay a glove on at the price. It sounds poised and accomplished, it has a surprisingly well-executed control app, and it’s ready to form the basis of a multi-room system too."

For £169, you can't really go wrong with this multiple Award-winning product.

That said, if you can stretch to £279, you'll be richly rewarded by the gains in connectivity and performance that the Ultra streamer brings.

You get the same streaming functionality as the Pro Plus, with the only omission being AirPlay 2. On the plus side, the Ultra adds HDMI ARC and phono connections that allow you to hook it up to a TV and turntable, respectively. And you get a snazzy, full-colour touchscreen display from which you can easily access your favourite presets, playlists and inputs.

In terms of sound quality, our review experts compared the two directly, concluding: "The Ultra offers a more full-bodied and expansive sound, with greater muscle and dynamism than the Pro Plus. The smaller sibling still knits music together quite cohesively for its budget price, but the Ultra’s more mature and capable sound reveals more about the music being played."

Really, the choice between the two comes down to your budget, and which element – HDMI and/or phono stage connections versus AirPlay 2 compatibility – is most important to how you listen to music.

Whichever model you choose, you'll be getting a great product and a terrific bargain this Prime Day.

MORE:

Amazon Big Deal Days hi-fi deals live: all the top headphone, vinyl and speaker savings picked by our experts

Looking for an excellent Bluetooth turntable? This five-star deck is enjoying a cracking Prime Day deal

Sony's five-star premium wireless earbuds have plunged in price for Prime Day – grab them before they go!

It was teased at High End Munich earlier this year, but we now have official details and prices for the Eversolo T8. This is Eversolo's first streaming transport, i.e. a product with all the latest network streaming software and features but without a DAC built in; so you will need to plug it into an external DAC or into the digital inputs of your amplifier.

It's a neat way to add modern streaming powers to a hi-fi system that already has a great DAC. It could also prove to be a smart route for the brand, considering how we have heaped praise on Eversolo's excellent streaming software and its capability as a digital source in the DMP-A6 and DMP-A10 streamers that we have tested.

The T8 aims to deliver “clean, precise digital audio” and features carefully isolated digital outputs, an ultra-high precision clock, and all the bells and whistles that come with Eversolo's proprietary software ecosystem.

The Eversolo T8 features a 6-inch touchscreen display that lets you select the numerous music apps and services available, control playback, adjust settings and more. This display screen dominates the front of a sleek, aluminium chassis that boasts shielding from its internal circuitry as well as from outside electromagnetic interference.

Expect all the streaming features we encountered in the flagship DMP-A10 music streamer: AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music, internet radio, DLNA and LAN access for playing from connected storage and hard drives, as well as bit-perfect playback of Apple Music's hi-res library, internet radio and a wide variety of third-party music apps that you can download directly to the unit.

It features Wi-Fi 6 and is Roon Ready certified, too. A quad-core ARM processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage aim to provide smooth daily use and “efficient data management”.

The T8 features an ultra-high precision femtosecond clock system (a femtosecond is one quadrillionth of a second), which is responsible for maintaining the timing of every audio signal with accuracy and reducing jitter. The T8 promises to deliver “focused sound, well-defined imaging, rich detail, and natural dynamics.”

It also houses a “super-silent” linear power supply, which is further isolated from the digital circuitry. If connecting an external DAC via USB, Eversolo says the T8’s USB Audio output is further isolated from noise generated by the power stage and potential ground differences, to ensure only clean audio signals are transmitted.

There are only digital outputs on this unit: AES/EBU, optical and coaxial. The unit supports playback of hi-res files up to DSD512 and 32-bit/768kHz PCM, although the coaxial output is limited to 24-bit/192kHz.

Additionally, there are two SSD slots in the T8 to hold a sizable digital music library, supporting up to 16TB (2 x 8TB) of maximum storage capacity. Room correction software that can be used with a separate mic or your smartphone's mic is on board, and you can control all features and playback with the included remote control and by using the Eversolo Control app.

The T8 can be used with a wide variety of DACs, and it aims to provide “flexibility, depth, and a high-end audio experience for music lovers and audiophiles alike.” The Eversolo T8 streaming transport is available for pre-order now and costs £1199 / $1380 / €1380.

MORE:

Read our Eversolo DMP-A10 music streamer review

And read our Lumin U2 Mini streaming transport review

Our guide to the best music streamers you can buy

Eversolo is a young company and it shows. There is a sense of adventure and ambition about its products that we rarely see from longer-established alternatives. This Chinese brand was founded in 2014, but here in the UK, it only really came to our attention somewhere around 2023, when the mostly excellent DMP-A6 streamer (tested at £759 / $859 / AU$1399) made something of a splash.

What a splash it was. That music streamer still seems as modern as they come, with a combination of slick ergonomics and class-leading usability that makes almost all its sub-£1000 rivals seem a generation older. Factor a generous feature set and good sound into the equation, and the result remains tempting.

The range-topping Eversolo DMP-A10 we have on test here feels like that first model on steroids, sharing its excellent ergonomics and modern styling but now shooting for the stars when it comes to performance.

Does it succeed? Considering the price, the answer is mostly, but that’s not the full story, so read on.

Features & connectivity

Calling the DMP-A10 just a music streamer is somewhat underselling its talents. Yes, it will pull music files from any storage connected to it or on your home network. As expected, all the usual streaming services and internet radio are present, as is Bluetooth, AirPlay and Roon Ready compatibility.

Like most streamers that come our way, it has digital inputs but alongside the usual trio of USB (Type B), optical and coax, it also adds HDMI ARC to make integration into a two-channel AV set-up easier. We connect it to a 32-inch Sony W8 TV and everything works seamlessly. So far, so good, with the Eversolo up there with the best-equipped of its rivals.

Then it adds proper analogue preamp functionality. There is a pair of single-ended RCA inputs sitting above a balanced XLR option, and that combination is mirrored on the output side, with one stereo pair marked for use with subwoofers. Just add a power amplifier and a pair of speakers, and off you go.

Better still, an Eversolo DMP-A10 driving a pair of good active speakers would make for a wonderfully minimalist set-up that, on paper at least, would have nothing to fear from traditional separates alternatives.

This Eversolo isn’t unique in offering such a range of features, but add that to its beautifully presented touchscreen display, exceptional build quality and nicely sorted software app, and you have something unusual in the world of high-end hi-fi.

We have to tell you about the Eversolo Control app. It's a world away from the clunky off-the-shelf efforts we usually see from small high-end companies that don’t have the software resources to do the job properly in-house.

This is about as comprehensive as control software gets, arguably adding a level of customisation that enthusiasts may enjoy but may leave some users bewildered.

Want some examples? There are a myriad of options for the main display, including seven VU meters of various designs, multiple layout choices and even a range of spectrum graphics that provide quite the light show.

The signal path for the analogue input signal is user-selectable. You can send it directly into the volume control, or convert the signal into digital first via a 192kHz-capable ADC (Analogue-to-Digital Converter).

This latter approach allows a range of digital processing, before switching the signal back to analogue and continuing through the volume control and output stage. There are also seven digital filter options, a 15-band graphic equaliser and a 10-band parametric option. Those who like to tweak are in for a treat here.

The DMP-A10 even has built-in room equalisation that can use the microphone fitted in your smartphone or tablet to balance out the frequency response of your listening space. There are only a handful of other streaming products, those from Linn and Lyngdorf come to mind, that offer something similar.

This streamer’s file compatibility is excellent with the DMP-A10 happy to play up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM hi-res music files and DSD512. It is also equipped with Connect versions of Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz, as well as Deezer, Amazon Music and rather unusually, Apple Music.

This Eversolo will not only access music files from anything connected to your home network, but also has two M.2 NVMe SSD slots (hidden behind a flap on the base) to offer local storage for 2 x 4TB of music files.

Build & design

Take a look inside that immaculate casework and you will find an astonishingly neat circuit layout. Eversolo is proud of its custom-designed OCXO clock system that is temperature-controlled and features dual crystal oscillators (operating at 45.1584MHz and 49.152MHz, respectively) to minimise jitter levels.

ESS Sabre’s flagship DAC chip, the ES9039Pro, sits at the heart of the DMP-A10’s digital circuitry, working in partnership with an XMOS316 processor.

The analogue preamp circuitry is fully balanced and features a resistor ladder volume control that emits a fairly loud click for every step change. Some members of our team like the sound, while others find it annoying over time.

Thankfully, there proves to be enough steps to allow subtle adjustments of volume in our system, which isn’t always the case. Even here, Eversolo offers the user the chance to adjust the volume steps to taste.

There is no divergence of opinion when it comes to the little display built into the volume control, which is impressively crisp and easy to read. Like the main front panel display, it is heavily customisable in terms of appearance and the information it shows.

If you aren’t a fan of using apps to control your streamer, Eversolo has also supplied a conventional remote with the DMP-A10. This is a slim, simple affair that’s easy to use and pleasant to hold.

Set-up and compatibility

A product at this level demands a quality system. We have our Burmester 088/911 MkIII reference amplifier on hand, powering the ATC SCM50 speakers. Our alternative set-up is a PMC Cor integrated amplifier driving Epos’s excellent ES-14N speakers. The Eversolo DMP-A10 turns in a good performance regardless of the partnering electronics used.

It is a breeze to set up, taking little more than 10 minutes to get up and running, though working through the various set-up options and processing modes takes considerably longer. That said, the whole process shouldn’t be seen as a chore, and certainly allows us to optimise the product's sonic presentation to match our tastes.

We start by trying the Eversolo’s room equalisation system. It does a decent job, and we can see it being helpful if your room doesn’t have a particularly even response. But, in our acoustically treated test space, the additional processing also robs the sound of a little too much transparency and dynamic subtlety.

We also work our way through the various digital filter settings and settle on Minimum Phase Slow Roll-Off as the best option in our set-up. It just sounds a touch more natural and fluid than the other choices. By most standards, the differences between the filters aren’t massive, and in our experience, the one you like tends to come down to your taste and partnering system.

Sound

Those things done, we are ready for some serious listening. While some of our listening is done using the Burmester 088 preamp, we also spend a fair amount of time with the DMP-A10 connected directly to our Burmester 911 MkIII power amplifier.

In our view, this is the way to go, as it makes the best use of the Eversolo streamer’s range of features, and saves the cost of an additional preamp section. The decision is made all the easier by the streamer’s analogue section being a good performer. Its presentation isn’t the last word in transparency, but it is tidy, nicely detailed and well-balanced.

We stream music files from our Naim Uniti Core server and find the Eversolo consistent in its behaviour regardless of the music or file format being played. As we listen to Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, we find plenty to admire. The DMP-A10 has a solid and refined sound that’s easy to enjoy.

Details levels are good, and the unit assembles that information in an organised and controlled way. There are no rough edges here, just a good amount of insight, richly textured instruments and the ability to convey the sheer majesty of a full orchestra well.

Tonally, things are full-bodied, avoiding the etched, slightly lean presentation that seems to be in fashion in some quarters. Yet, there remains a decent amount of agility and the talent to track dynamic sweeps with conviction. There is a pleasing lack of clutter to the sound, with each instrumental section enjoying a decent amount of space around it. The stereo imaging is nicely broad and deep, and layered with care.

Switching to an old favourite in the form of Massive Attack’s Heligoland proves that the DMP-A10 has a weighty but nicely agile bass, and the ability to punch hard when the music demands. It seems less comfortable with this album’s complicated rhythms though, underplaying their role and in the process diluting the appeal of songs like Flat Of The Blade. The result is that the track entertains less than expected.

This streamer has decent dynamics, though, but softens the extremes, which makes the music sound more comfortable. Now, a comfortable presentation certainly has a place. Such a presentation suits some small-scale acoustic pieces or voice-and-guitar recordings, but it costs the Eversolo a degree of excitement and energy with hip-hop, rock and dance that rivals such as the excellent Cyrus 40 ST streamer has in abundance.

Generally, the DMP-A10 likes to take a more relaxed view of the music, and that holds true whether we listen to the built-in streaming module, the analogue inputs or even the digital inputs.

We are pleased to report that this streamer is a remarkably consistent performer across its various inputs. Bluetooth pairing is slick, and the sound is as good as we can expect from such a limited transmission method.

The internal DAC module is a fine one, rendering the sound from both our Apple MacBook Pro (loaded with Audirvana music software) and the digital output from our reference Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer well. Even the analogue inputs, once we choose the more direct and minimal processing signal path, sound good, sharing the streamer’s undemanding and smooth approach to music replay.

Verdict

A product like the Eversolo DMP-A10 is tough to sum up. When it comes to build, features and usability, we have nothing but praise. This Eversolo sets standards in these areas that are unmatched at this price. When it comes to sound quality, however, we find things less remarkable.

This is a good, solid performer. One that digs up a competitive amount of information and presents it in a refined and confident manner that some will admire. It may not be the most foot-tapping or thrilling music streamer on the market, but we still recommend giving it a serious audition.

Review published: 1st September 2025

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Cyrus 40 ST

Also consider the Audiolab 9000N

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

The Eversolo Play is a thoroughly modern audio product. It has a cutting-edge design and all the streaming (and physical) features you can think of, resplendent with a snazzy touchscreen display, a compact size and a fairly reasonable price point.

All you need is a pair of speakers to complete the system. It’s a world away from traditional hi-fi separates, and we can see the instant appeal of this streaming amplifier.

While we think the traditional hi-fi brands could learn a thing or two from Eversolo regarding its design and slick software implementation, in turn, Eversolo still needs to learn a thing or two from the hi-fi stalwarts when it comes to outright sound quality.

Star ratings alone don’t tell the full picture, however, so let’s dig into the Eversolo Play CD Edition and everything it is capable of.

Price

The Eversolo Play streaming amplifier comes in two variants. The Play CD Edition that we have on test here has an integrated CD-ROM drive and costs £699 / $799 / AU$1349, while the standard Play model without the CD drive costs £599 / $699 / AU$1199.

We’ve encountered streaming amplifiers at affordable prices more recently, with the WiiM Amp Pro the cheapest example we’ve tested yet at £399 / $379 / AU$699. The newer WiiM Amp Ultra (yet to be tested, but no CD drive) clocks in at £499 / $529 / AU$899.

Meanwhile, the multiple Award-winning Technics SA-C600, which includes a CD player, is the Eversolo’s closest rival at £789 in the UK, but pricer in the USA ($1300) and Australia (around AU$1699).

Features & connections

The Eversolo Play CD Edition is packed to the gills with most essential streaming features and physical connections, and then some. It’s more than we’d expect to see offered in a product of this type and at its price. At times, we think it might be trying to do too much – but we can’t help but applaud its generosity and the need to tick every possible feature that today’s streaming-savvy customer could want.

The most popular music services and their Connect versions are supported (Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify), while Amazon Music, Deezer and TuneIn internet radio are all available, as are more specialist apps such as Idagio and Presto. Local radio apps are supported, while you can download a variety of third-party apps directly to the Eversolo.

This includes Apple Music (essentially the Android app version), and it is a rare opportunity to play Apple Music’s large library of hi-res files in lossless quality up to 24-bit/192kHz directly from this Eversolo unit, instead of streaming via lossy AirPlay like most of its rivals.

AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth are on the menu for easy streaming from other source devices, but it doesn't feature Chromecast/Google Cast.

Both wi-fi and ethernet connections are swift and stable, although we found that the Eversolo Control app recognised the product more readily when using a wired network. UPnP compatibility means that the Eversolo Play can access music libraries stored on the same network, and it is also Roon Ready certified.

If the music apps aren’t enough, there is a fun feature called Listen At Will which will play truly random selections from all your logged-in services and connected libraries. The aim is to deliver surprising results for genuine music discovery – it’s a nice idea, even if our test unit has a penchant for recommending Weird Al Yankovic parody tracks at first.

File compatibility is extensive, too, with the streaming amp able to handle hi-res files up to 32-bit/768 PCM and DSD512 thanks to an AK4493SEQ DAC at its core.

On the amplification side, the Eversolo uses a Class D power module that claims to deliver 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, which the company says is enough to power most bookshelf speakers, and we find that to be largely true during testing.

Physical connectivity is just as ample. You get an HDMI ARC input for connecting to your TV, and there are two digital and one pair of RCA analogue inputs. There are two USB 3.0 type A ports, too – helpful for adding external hard drives.

More unusually, Play has a built-in phono stage that works with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. Most streaming products – even higher-end ones – don’t tend to include MC compatibility with their built-in phono preamps.

There are no analogue outputs, but there is one coaxial output that you can use to feed an external DAC, just in case you want to focus on using the Eversolo as a digital source only.

The only thing it doesn’t have is a headphone jack, which is a shame.

The Play CD Edition we’re testing has a Hitachi-LG CD-ROM drive included, which can both play and rip CDs. CD playback is fuss-free and quiet, while the CD ripping process is swift and informative.

It’s a nice process: track titles can be renamed, there is a progress bar, and you can even choose whether the tracks are ripped as WAV or FLAC files. You can also choose where the ripped CDs are stored, whether it’s in the unit’s rather limited 32GB of internal storage or to any connected hard drives with larger capacity. You can access all of this under the streaming amp’s Files/Functions folders.

Other advanced features include room correction using your smartphone’s mic, setting volume limits and detailed EQ settings for each input. We think these rather involved parametric and graphic equalisers can be a little daunting for the type of customer we expect will buy the Eversolo Play CD Edition, while those who enjoy tweaking to their heart’s content will no doubt enjoy the level of control over their audio signals.

There are also 23 preset EQ options (from Pop to Lounge to Classical), but these are hidden away – we think these settings could have been made more easily accessible for casual users.

All of these features can be accessed within the Eversolo Control app, which does a good job of organising all the various sources, apps, settings and customisation options available in a packed but overall neat interface.

Build & design

In fact, the Eversolo Play’s biggest appeal is how slick it is to use, both in terms of its excellent software and the physical product itself.

The square, compact dimensions means it is easy to accommodate on a small shelf rack as well as on desks, making it appealing for those with limited spaces. Paired with small bookshelf speakers, we can see the Play CD Edition forming a tidy, discreet desktop system that will fit into most homes.

The aluminium alloy casing is well made; it feels sturdy, and we like how the entire bottom area of the unit operates as a heat sink. It’s a smart design, and looks even smarter thanks to that large 5.5-inch full-colour LCD touchscreen that dominates the front panel. Overall, it’s a joy to use.

You can access all of the Eversolo Play’s features, sources and playback options through this bright and colourful touchscreen, which is nicely responsive and smooth in operation. We find ourselves swiping and tapping at it more than the smartphone app, and we have yet to see it falter in operation. Album artwork is displayed with good contrast and looks great to our eyes, too.

Because of the sheer amount of things you can do with the Eversolo Play CD Edition, we do sometimes get lost within the multiple menus and folders available, but find our way around after a series of taps.

That touchscreen display can be heavily customised, too. You can choose between seven retro dual VU meter display designs, four different colourful spectrum graphs, and three themes for how minimal or detailed you want the ‘now playing’ screen to be. We like how the sample rate, file type and source being played can be shown during playback; despite all this information, the screen never looks too cluttered.

You can even customise the subtle ring of light around the volume/control dial on the front panel, either from a suite of 16 set colours or choose your own shade in the app.

Fancy customisations aside, the Eversolo Play CD Edition unit itself is nice to use and the on-unit controls work smoothly in daily use. We wish the CD-ROM drive tray was a little sturdier, but it works well and we have no serious complaints at this level.

Sound

Once we’ve played around enough with the Eversolo’s features and settings, we plug the streaming amplifier into our usual Epos ES-7N reference speakers and start listening.

We also try it with more price-compatible options such as the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, Dali’s Oberon 1 and the brand-new (but yet to be reviewed) Dali Kupid speakers, and find that the Eversolo benefits from partnering with speakers that have a lively, forthright and punchy presentation.

This is because, after all that excitement of exploring its many features, the Eversolo Play CD Edition’s actual sound performance is rather disappointing.

It has a flat, uninvolving presentation that simply isn’t very interesting to listen to. We start with Billie Eilish’s bad guy and it sounds upfront, clear and spacious enough. To the Eversolo’s credit, neither of the frequency extremes sticks out unduly: the low end doesn’t flab or boom, while the top end has no shrillness or frizz.

But the Play CD also doesn’t do much to dig into the textures of details, or deliver dynamics with much subtlety or drama. The French horns at the start of the Jurassic Park theme have little sweetness or fluidity, Bon Iver’s luxuriously deep vocals on Exile lack richness and nuance, and the highly textured and shapely bassline on SBTRKT's Wildfire is delivered in a one-dimensional manner.

It feels very much like music is being played in a paint-by-numbers fashion, but with a limited palette that doesn’t have much light or shade to it.

Yes, it is a fairly clear sound, the notes are in order, the sound is solid and its timing doesn’t trudge along like treacle – but it’s all rather perfunctory. There isn’t much in the way of gripping rhythmic drive or dynamic prowess, meaning songs don’t ebb and flow as naturally as they should.

We’d feel happier if the Play streaming amp at least delivered each song with more gusto and enthusiasm – its detached quality means it is difficult to get emotionally involved with the music being played.

We switch to the Technics SA-C600 rival and are met with an immediate rush of dynamic subtlety, richer and subtler textures unearthed, along with greater punch and vitality. Songs are delivered with so much more conviction and emotion.

Even the cheaper WiiM Amp Pro has a livelier, more appealing presentation about it, even if the Eversolo has tauter, tighter bass and delivers cleaner detail.

We are surprised at how Eversolo Play CD Edition’s listless sound is so at odds with its vibrant design. We’ve had far more positive experiences with its streamers, the punchier and more capable four-star DMP-A6 and flagship DMP-A10 (review out next week).

We use the unit’s coaxial output and plug it into the Arcam A5 amplifier, and sure enough, we find that the streaming section comes to life. There is levity, agility and finer detail, sounding more confident and involved; it’s the amplifier section within that is dragging it down.

Finally, we connect a Rega Planar 3 RS Edition turntable to the Eversolo to try out the phono preamp section, and the vinyl album of Portishead’s Dummy sounds less clear, less detailed and somewhat fuzzy. The quality is fairly on par with the middling built-in phono preamps we encounter in similarly priced streaming products, although we’d still want more vigour and dynamic punch.

To end things on a positive note, the Eversolo’s sound is at least consistent regardless of what source or input we use. Songs streamed from our NAS library, Qobuz, Apple Music, BBC Radio 6, over AirPlay and via physical CDs have the same presentation, with ripped WAV files having a tad more solidity and grip.

Verdict

We have rarely experienced such a large discrepancy between a product’s design and its sonic performance. The Eversolo Play CD Edition does so much – commendably so – in a well-designed, compact and appealing unit, but we wish the company had paid more attention to the more crucial aspect of sound quality.

For all its laden features and satisfying user experience, an audio product that is unable to deliver an engaging sound performance is hard to recommend.

Review published: 28th August 2025

SCORES

• Sound 2
• Features 5
• Build 5

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After just shy of two decades working as a professional shiny things chaser, I have come to terms with the fact that I am the tech support for most of my immediate friends and family.

Whether it’s which new TV to get, why they shouldn’t put their new speakers flush to the wall or the ongoing argument I have with my neighbour about floorstanders vs standmounts, I get asked many questions on a regular basis.

But most recently, either thanks to my age, or the fact many of my friends and relatives have decided 2025 is the year to spring clean their homes, one in particular has been playing on repeat: “What should I do with all this old hi-fi?”

And it is a fair question, especially if you’re inheriting a load of hardware from an old-school hi-fi fanatic, as is the case with one of my old university mates. As we know, and frequent "Reader Rescue" efforts have highlighted, hi-fi is often a hobby that appeals to collectors.

Just the other day our freelance sub editor, Andrew Puddifoot, was quizzing our technical editor, Ketan Bharadia and I about what to do with some old Tannoy speakers he’d found helping clear a friend’s house.

Generally, my first bit of advice is, “don’t throw it away".

Why? There are three reasons. First, because you may have stumbled on audio gold.

At What Hi-Fi? we keep a lot of equipment around to help us properly review products – we always test comparatively, to make sure we can hear products side-by-side rather than relying on memory.

This means we have a lot of products passing through our listening rooms at any given time.

For especially interesting older products we even have a special That Was Then series where Ketan discusses their legacy and even runs them head-to-head with modern rivals.

And thanks to that, we know, while hi-fi is getting better, there are a wealth of old amps and speakers that still sound great, even by today’s standards.

Recent examples covered in our column include the first NAD 3020 and original Cyrus 2, which despite not having all the modern streaming smarts and coming with certain compromises, still deliver where it matters most: audio quality.

Yes, the NAD 3020 isn’t the final word for clarity, dynamic expression and rhythmic precision. But, Ketan still liked it enough to report: “It remains a hugely entertaining proposition with a smooth, big-boned presentation that grips the listener from the first note of a song to the last.”

In the same vein, the Cyrus 2 couldn’t match the firm’s current Cyrus One for sheer muscle and low end heft, but it proved superior when it came to responsiveness and general transparency.

So, just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, the only features you 100 per cent won't find on older amps are streaming smarts. There's an obvious reason for that. Wi-fi and Bluetooth, let alone Spotify, Apple Music, Qobuz, Tidal Connect and the ilk, simply didn't exist when these classic products were made.

Still, even knowing that, when most of us use streaming as our primary way to access music, their absence is an undeniable pain.

But, that brings me on nicely to my second point – remember, it’s easy to add modern streaming smarts to amps in particular.

I said as much when I first listened to Cambridge Audio's MXN10 streamer – a tiny unit that went on to take the top spot in our best music streamer guide.

Featuring a compact design and the ability to add hi-res streaming capabilities to most amps, the Cambridge Audio MX10N is a quick, easy and eco-friendly way to give old amps a new lease of life.

And there are now plenty of options, from affordable units like the £220 WiiM Pro Plus up to premium packages, such as the £2500 Audiolab 9000N.

Trust me, whether you’re on a budget or lucky enough to be able to afford high-end hi-fi there’s a price appropriate five-star streamer available that we’ve tested and recommend. So, there's no reason to not at least consider upgrading that old amp before going full on scorched Earth and starting all over again. Which is why my top tip is always, have you thought about adding a streamer?

Speaking of scorched Earth, that brings me to my third and in some ways most important piece of advice for anyone who comes across some dusty old hi-fi gear – think of the environment.

E-waste is a serious problem right now. The latest numbers, which are referenced in the UK government’s official waste estimates for 2025, show that we generated 128,000 metric tons of e-waste in Q3 2024.

To make matters worse the same UK government stats report we only have a 44.6 per cent household recycling rate right now.

Go bigger and look at the latest stats from eco consultancy DTP Group and you'll see scary forecasts estimating that global e-waste levels will reach 82 million tons by 2030. Take that number in for a second...

The last thing we should be doing is adding to that pile with old consumer technology devices, particularly with hi-fi products that can perform well for decades.

So if you ever find or inherit some old hi-fi, I’d urge you to consider reviving, upgrading and hopefully enjoying it, before sending it to the big audio farm in the sky.

Not only will you potentially find a hidden gem, you’ll also be actively helping reduce the amount of waste we as enthusiasts, and a wider industry, generate.

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NAD’s C 3050 is more than it initially seems. On the surface, it’s yet another hi-fi product that has boarded the retro design train. But, look closer and you will find real engineering substance behind those admittedly rather appealing mechanical power meters.

The headline feature, and the main differentiator between the C 3050 and excellent stereo amplifier rivals such as the Arcam A15 or the Rega Elex Mk4, is the option to add a streaming module. Called, rather catchily, the MDC2 BluOS-D, the module is based on a platform developed by NAD’s sister company, Bluesound.

Ticking this box may raise the price from the standard amplifier’s £1349 / $1699 / AU$2699, but it turns the C 3050 into an extremely neat and characterful just-add-speakers streaming system.

Features & connectivity

The NAD brand is built on good value electronics, and even in base form, the C 3050 amplifier still has a lot going for it. It is well equipped with a moving magnet phono stage, two-way Bluetooth (of the aptX HD variety), coax and optical digital inputs and a healthy power output of 100 watts per channel.

There is also a front panel-mounted 6.3mm headphone output and, rather usefully, an HDMI eARC input to help the NAD integrate into an AV set-up.

Add the optional streaming module, and the product’s functionality increases massively. A fully-loaded C 3050 can stream music files from your home network, play internet radio or access any of the usual streaming services through wired or wireless means.

The MDC2 BluOS-D module’s range of abilities should be extensive enough for most users, but we note that there are some obvious gaps in its specifications. It doesn’t play DSD files and the PCM files it does play are limited to a maximum of 24-bit/192kHz.

While we suspect neither of these will be an issue for the vast majority of users, those with more ambitious tastes in file formats may feel shortchanged here.

While Spotify and Tidal in Connect form are available, at the time of writing, Qobuz Connect isn’t. Similarly, Apple AirPlay 2 is on the menu but Google Cast isn’t. Streaming is a software-based world, and that means shortcomings such as these can be remedied with updates.

It will be interesting to find out whether NAD feels the need to do so. We can only hope.

Unusually, NAD has included Dirac Live room equalisation software as part of the MDC2 BluOS-D package. This is the limited bandwidth version of the room correction system and operates from 20Hz to 500Hz. If you want the full range, full-fat version that works up to 20kHz, you’ll have to buy it from Dirac’s online store for around £75/ $99 (around AU$154).

Whether the additional expense is worthwhile is a matter of context. In our acoustically treated listening room, the basic Dirac Live system gives a slightly more even frequency response when using Fyne Audio’s large F502S floorstanders, but it comes at the expense of a slight degradation of low-level dynamics and rhythmic drive.

However, we can certainly see benefits of using the system in rooms that have more serious acoustic issues, so in those cases, the premium version of the software may well make sense.

Build & design

Take a look inside the C 3050’s walnut vinyl-covered casework and you will find NAD’s trusted HybridDigital UcD output stage delivering a solid 100 watts per channel into both 4-ohm and 8-ohm speaker loads. The output rises to a claimed 135 watts per channel on short-term dynamic peaks.

That should be enough to drive any price-compatible speaker to decent levels in all but the largest of listening spaces. We certainly didn’t have any problems driving a range of speakers, including the Acoustic Energy AE300 Mk2, the KEF LS50 Meta, the Fyne Audio F502S and the Neat Mystique Classic floorstanders (reviews coming soon).

A Texas Instruments PCM5242 differential 24-bit/192kHz DAC chip is at the heart of the C 3050’s digital circuits. NAD’s engineers chose this DAC for its dynamic performance and resistance to clock jitter.

We have no issue with the C 3050’s build and finish. It feels like a quality product with solid casework and sturdy controls. The fit and finish are good too, giving the NAD a proper premium aura. The streaming side is taken care of by the well-established BluOS app. This is one of the better pieces of streaming control software on the market and is stable, easy to use and intuitive on the whole.

It doesn’t take long to get a sound from the C 3050 once we get it out of the packaging. Our sources are the Technics SL-1000R/Nagaoka MP-200 record player to test the NAD’s moving magnet phono stage, Naim’s ND555/555 PS DR music streamer to feed the analogue and coaxial inputs, alongside a Cyrus CDi for the optical.

We have an iPhone 12 Pro Max to test the C 3050’s Bluetooth performance. Of the list of aforementioned speakers, we spend the most time with the KEF LS50 Meta connected to the NAD, as these seem the most appropriate partners in terms of price and quality.

Sound

We start by listening to the NAD using the built-in streaming module. It all works smoothly, with none of the clunkiness that a less well-engineered add-on solution could suffer from.

And you know what? The C 3050 sounds great.

As we work through a collection of music that spans a broad range from a small-scale folk group like The Unthanks (the Mount The Air album) and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances Op.45 through to Nick Cave’s Wild God set, the NAD doesn’t skip a beat.

It has the midrange clarity and fluidity to shine with a vocal-based group such as The Unthanks. Detail levels are good, but it's the organic way in which the C 3050 arranges all that detail that draws us into the music. It captures the texture and tone of the sisters’ voices superbly and so communicates the heartfelt passion in the title track, Mount The Air, better than most alternatives we’ve heard.

The NAD doesn’t just excel with the subtleties either. It may be refined, but when the music demands, there is bite here too. The Rachmaninov piece shows the C 3050’s dynamic prowess and ability to convey the piece's power and authority. It sounds muscular, delivering lows with a richness and punch that’s enjoyable. The presentation is airy but still manages to retain the music’s exuberance.

Soundstaging is reasonably expansive and nicely focused. It stays stable even when the music becomes demanding. Our listening room is a decent size at 3 x 7 x 5m (hwd), and the C 3050 has no trouble filling it with sound.

Of course, it can be made to sound stressed if you really push things. But provided your speakers aren’t unusually insensitive (or your room isn’t massive), we think this amplifier has you covered.

Feeding Mary J Blige’s No More Drama from our Naim music streamer into the C 3050’s line level input proves that the NAD has surefooted rhythmic drive and a good degree of punch. It delivers the album’s basslines with verve, while neatly swerving the sludgy feel that such a full-bodied and rich low-end can sometimes impart.

The story remains positive when we try the NAD’s digital inputs. The sound through these retains the characteristics we so like from the streaming module and line stages, and the on-board DAC has no issue when we work our way through the various music file resolutions from 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz.

Even the phono stage is good. It is reasonably quiet but still sounds agile, informative and dynamically interesting. It's good enough to handle the likes of the Rega Planar 2/Nd3 without leaving us feeling that we need to upgrade. Considering the general standard of built-in phono stages in most rivals, it is fair to say that NAD has done a great job here.

Verdict

That applies to the complete product. The NAD C 3050 is a high achiever across the board, from the better-than-average Bluetooth performance to the capable DAC module and talented streaming section. While the basic amplifier is a fine performer, it would still struggle to topple class leaders like the Arcam A15.

However, add the MDC2-BluOS-D’s streaming smarts into the equation and the story changes dramatically, catapulting the NAD to class-leading status as far as streaming systems are concerned.

The attractive retro appearance may be the thing that draws people to the C 3050, but it’s the product's all round abilities as a streaming package that makes it such a strong buy. Highly recommended.

Review published: 18th August 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 5
• Features 4

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Technics may be known more for its rock-solid, direct-drive turntables (such as the excellent SL-1300G), but the Japanese audio brand's digital-first and streaming hi-fi products have earned a great reputation with us.

The superb Technics SL-G700M2 is one such product, which combines a CD player with network streaming in an impressive way, both in design and sonic performance. We originally tested this terrific Technics unit at £2899, but you can now snap it up for £2599 at Peter Tyson and Richer Sounds.

That's a massive £300 saving on a premium hi-fi product, and one we would highly recommend if you are looking to upgrade your current hi-fi setup to the next level or have an equally high-calibre system.

The Technics SL-G7000M2 is an impressive product that puts digital sources first. It gives you the best of both worlds: it supports all the major streaming apps and protocols for high-quality wireless listening, as well as playback of physical formats like CDs and SACDs.

Connection via wi-fi or ethernet is stable, and while you need the Google Home app for initial set up before using the Technics app for control (a double-step that is a little clunky, but you only need to do this once), the unit is seamless in use with AirPlay, Bluetooth, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and more.

We've recently checked with Technics, and Qobuz Connect support is on the horizon too. You can also access any stored libraries on the same network and play in full native hi-res quality via the USB type B input. Up to hi-res 32-bit/384kHz PCM, DSD512 and MQA files are supported.

Of course, a big appeal of the G700M2 is that it incorporates a CD player, which can also play the higher-quality SACDs. Technics has taken care with the internal DAC, circuitry, and power supply of this premium unit to ensure the best sonic performance.

In our review, we said: "It is a detailed and insightful presentation, and manages to organise the musical information in a cohesive and entertaining way." The Technics is clear, controlled and authoritative across all genres we play, and doesn't try to artificially enhance any excitement.

This is a measured and balanced performance that is rather understated but also inherently musical and engaging. This balance is consistent across all sources we use, from streams to CDs to digital files. Pair it with equally capable speakers and amplifier, and you have a terrifically talented system.

Special mention has to go to just how beautifully made the product is, befitting its premium price tag. The metal casework is sleek, the buttons and dial are smooth in use, and the disc-loading drawer in particular "glides in a beautifully damped way."

As an all-round proposition, the Technics SL-G700M2 is hard to better – yes it's a premium source, but it more than justifies the price point. And with £300 off at Peter Tyson, it's even better value and worth considering.

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6 test tracks we've been playing in the What Hi-Fi? listening rooms this month

Network transports are having a bit of a moment. It is widely understood that music streamers integrate a DAC – but what if you already have a perfectly good (or very good indeed) DAC in your hi-fi system chain and just want to add streaming powers without doubling up?

That's where a network transport, also referred to as a streaming transport or network streaming bridge, comes in. We've recently tested the Lumin U2 Mini and Lindeman Limetree Bridge II to great five-star success, and high-end streaming specialist Lumin has just announced a new flagship network transport in the form of the U2X.

Featuring key technologies derived from the company's flagship X1 streamer, the new U2X promises to "meet the demands of audiophiles seeking pristine sound quality and seamless functionality".

The U2X supposedly delivers a "significant boost" in processing power over its predecessor (U1X) thanks to its use of its most advanced, high-speed System-on-Chip processor, which was launched in 2022.

This allows for better real-time handling of high-resolution files and enhanced upsampling, as well as future-proofing.

Also included is a high-precision 10MHz clock, which allows the U2X to be used as either a master or slave clock through its 10MHz single input and two outputs.

This unusual feature (at this price level) is useful if your system includes external master clocks or multiple digital devices that require precise synchronisation, allowing one unit to dictate the timing for the other units.

Lumin says this helps to "enhance audio accuracy and fidelity," as well as minimise jitter by ensuring all devices are working with a consistent timing reference.

The Lumin U2X's file support is extensive: it supports up to 32-bit/768kHz hi-res PCM audio files and native DSD512 playback, alongside DSD256 up/down sampling; even MQA files are on the menu.

Thanks to UPnP compatibility, the U2X can access your digital audio library stored locally on connected NAS drives. Streaming features include support for Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect and KKBOX, as well as TuneIn internet radio and AirPlay. It is also Roon Ready and Audirvana certified.

In terms of digital outputs, the Lumin U2X offers a single optical, two coaxial (RCA and BNC sockets) and AES-EBU connections. Standard Ethernet and optical fibre network ports are available.

One of the three available USB ports is isolated from the noisy network, while the other two are free for music storage.

All streaming features and connected music libraries can be managed by the comprehensive Lumin app, which has also been updated to offer simpler view options on your smart device.

As with Lumin's other flagships, the U2X and its accompanying external power supply are housed in a chassis that is CNC-machined from a solid block of aluminium, with thick walls that provide ultimate rigidity and isolation from unwanted interference.

The low-noise external supply separates the digital processing elements from the analogue components, while also maintaining a clean signal path for 'optimal' sonic performance.

The Lumin U2X is available from August, priced at £8995 / $9990 / AU$18,200.

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