Isn’t modern technology marvellous? Just a few years ago, multi-room would have meant the huge expense, not to mention inconvenience, of fitting speakers in your ceiling and trailing wires around the house. But not any more – multi-room is now cheaper, simpler and easier to install than ever before.
The April issue of What Hi-Fi?, out now, is a multi-room special, taking you through the best and most desirable systems out there. With set-ups to suit all budgets, tastes and rooms, we bring you the lowdown on all our favourite systems.
Multi culture
Multi-room audio has matured into a fine young adult. Once a byword for largely expensive groups of wireless speakers, produced by a select few high-end brands, multi-room audio has become a new standard in home listening.
In our round-up, we feature two Award winning systems, Audio Pro, Bluesound Generation 2i and Sonos, as well as their closest rivals, Bose and Denon. We also review three alternative multi-room offerings from the biggest brands in the world – Amazon, Apple and Google.
Need help setting up your multi-room audio system? The April issue of What Hi-Fi? has got that covered too. In our Everything You Need to Know… feature, you’ll find all the tips, hints and explanations needed to start filling your house with music.
You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition
Feeling Blu?
But the latest issue isn’t just about multi-room systems, we also compare three of the best high-end 4K Blu-ray players in our group test. With products from Cambridge Audio, Panasonic and Pioneer, all available for under £1000, this is a battle of the high-end heavyweights. Read the latest issue to discover which one’s the winner.
Don’t miss our special feature on active versus passive speakers. It’s one of the first questions you need to consider when purchasing speakers, and our expert advice will help point you in the right direction.
Ever pondered the heritage of your favourite speaker brands? In the first of our special two-part feature, we delve back into the archives to discover the first models from a range of our current favourite speaker manufacturers.
So whether it’s the ancestry of Acoustic Research or the heritage of Harbeth, the April issue of What Hi-Fi? has it covered.
Tempting fate
In our Temptations section, we review the Linn Selekt DSM, a streaming system, which we describe as a “top end box of electronics”. We also review the Manger Audio C1 speakers.
That’s a total of nearly £17,000 worth of high-end kit to aspire to, so check your bank balance and pick up the April issue of What Hi-Fi? to find out our verdict.
First impressions
In our First Tests section, you’ll find reviews of all the latest hi-fi kit from speakers to streamers. In keeping with the multi-room theme, our main review is the Sonos Amp, an amplifier designed to offer all of Sonos’s streaming smarts in one handy neat unit.
There are also reviews of three great pairs of speakers in the Elac Debut B5.2s, B&W 607s and Fyne F303s, and four pairs of headphones – the SoundMagic E11Ds, Sennheiser Momentum True Wirelesses, Beyerdynamic Soul Byrds and PSB M4U 8s.
We also focus on the Philips 43PUS6703 4K TV, the Edwards Audio IA7 stereo amplifier and the Como Audio Musica CD player/streamer. And finally, we review the Roberts Revival iStream 3, a radio that combines familiar retro looks with the latest streaming technology.
Don’t miss your chance to get your hands on a free SoundMagic E11C in-ear isolating headphones (worth £50) when you subscribe.
The April issue is not to be missed. So grab your copy of What Hi-Fi? on sale today. Or download it to your tablet or smartphone instead. Enjoy!
You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition
