What Hi-Fi?

View offers Smartphone | £799 | whf.cm/Xperia5II Sony’s smartphone output seems somewhat erratic. The Xperia 5 II is the second Sony smartphone we’ve tested recently, following something of an extended hiatus. There have been Xperia phones in the pre

View offers Speaker package | £8400 | whf.cm/HDI51 Of all the things we missed out on last year, trips to the cinema rank pretty highly. On the plus side, we had plenty of time to watch more movies at home during lockdown, but there’s nothing quite l

View offers Active speaker system | £1500 | whf.cm/QActive200 It’s a simple fact of life that the more there is to do, the more there is to prioritise. For Q Acoustics’ first all-in-one streaming speaker system, the British speaker specialist could h

Philips has introduced its own range of Mini LED TVs for 2021. The 9000 series comprises the 9639, which includes a built-in Bowers & Wilkins soundbar, and the 9506, featuring traditional built-in speakers. Both ranges are available at either 65in or

At the beginning of March 2020, just weeks before the first national lockdown in the UK, I shuffled around my hi-fi system to accommodate a music streamer. I had been toying with the idea for some time – not least as, through reviewing for What Hi-Fi

BEST WIRELESS IN-EARS UNDER £75 If it’s inexpensive, good-sounding waterproof buds you seek, the EarFun Air are tough to beat • Punchy, expansive sound • Great feature set • Classy build and finish www.magazinesdirect.com/whi/Earfun21 or call 0330 33

£800 We’re surprised that Revel hasn’t made a bigger impact on the UK speaker market. All the ingredients for success seem to be in place: the products are well made, solidly engineered and, in our experience, tend to sound good. The brand even has t

No-one likes to compromise in this life but, on the other hand, everyone loves getting the balance just right. Whether you’re deciding how much sugar to put in your latest biscuit recipe or devising a new fitness regime, there’s always a sweet spot t

£999 We’re currently in the sixth generation of Monitor Audio’s Silver Series speakers. Granted, it’s not quite the same generational distance as between Danny Dyer and King Edward III, for instance, but it’s still an impressively lengthy lineage. Es

£829 Small speakers have innate limitations; the Laws Of Physics see to that. But these Bowers & Wilkins compacts prove that with enough engineering knowhow those laws can be bent to produce surprising results. Meet the 707 S2s – the small speakers t

£1200 Fyne Audio might only have been around since 2018, but the F501s look, feel and – most crucially – sound more like the product of a company that’s building on many years of experience and expertise. At 98cm tall, 20cm wide and 32cm deep, the F5

£999 We often say that good sound doesn’t get old; but it does still date. Listen to hi-fi equipment from yesteryear and you might notice a different audio presentation more suited to the music from that era. In the case of the original Wharfedale Li

£1000 KEF launched the original LS50 standmounters as an anniversary celebration back in 2012, and they proved a huge success – so much so that they have continued in production pretty much untouched since then. Eight years is a long run by any stand

Once upon a time, your hi-fi kit could perform one simple task. Now, whether it’s all-in-one streaming systems or voice-controlled wireless earbuds, multifunctionality is the future – and none is more futuristic or multi-talented than a smart speaker

£50 View online review whf.cm/EchoDot4thGen When Amazon abandoned its puck-shaped Echo Dot last year and served up a spherical design instead, there was much mocking and laughter online. Amazon wasn’t the first to consider a spherical audio solution,

£999 As this round-up reveals, Triangle’s new Borea BR08 arrive into a tough and crowded market. Yet, having spent some time in the company of the BR08, we feel they offer something special. Their 102cm tall cabinets look a little basic from the outs

£90 View online review whf.cm/NestAudio Google’s new Nest-branded smart speaker has gained the suffix ‘Audio’, which suggests the Californian giant is highlighting how splendid its latest voice-activated device actually sounds, rather than what its G

£99 View online review whf.cm/HomePodMini The Apple HomePod Mini has been a long time coming. After the original HomePod was launched, it was assumed that it would be the first in a range of smart speakers; but it has taken almost three years for the

£250 View online review whf.cm/GT220 We’re surprised Grado didn’t find a way to make its first pair of true wireless earbuds open-backed; even it has had to sacrifice a principle or two in order to join the ongoing true wireless earbuds land-grab. Wi

£240 View online review whf.cm/EAH-AZ70W Given Technics’ commitment to the headphone market since its resurrection in 2014, the brand’s entrance into the popular true wireless earbuds world was inevitable. Its debut buds have arrived in the form of t

␯ Integrated amplifier ␯ £3988 Copland is one of the unsung talents of the high-end industry. Despite being in business for almost 40 years, the company has rarely grabbed the limelight. But that has more to do with the way the brand operates than th

The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Best stereo amplifier under £300, Awards 2017 Our favourite budget amplifier, this is arguably the most entertaining affordable amp around. It is agile and has a wicked sense of rhyt

␯Electrostatic headphones/energiser ␯£1195 headphones ␯£2895 energiser Ask any seasoned audiophile about high-end headphones and it won’t be long before the name Stax is mentioned. The company launched the world’s first electrostatic headphones in 19

View offers whf.cm/BBDACs August 2020 (issue 437) if you want to improve your smartphone sound, but don’t want a USB stick hanging off the end of it, this is a bit of a no brainer. Online only for now. Size 11cm long Resolution PCM (up to 384kHz), DS

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/features The basic building blocks are: a turntable, a phono stage, an analogue-to-digital converter with USB output, and a computer with suitable recording software. There are turntables that come with a phono stage, a

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Best turntable system, Awards 2019 An impressive all-in-one system with a level of functionality that’s difficult to replicate in individual separates for a similar price. Speed 33?, 45rpm Inputs Line-in, BT Outputs L

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables Best turntable under £200, Awards 2020 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm Best turntable under £200, Awards 2

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Best projector under £1500, Awards 2019 A ‘4K’ projector that brings top-tier technology to a budget price point, this device boasts punchy colours and insightful detail. Throw ratio 1.21:1-1.59:1 Inputs HDMI x2, VGA,

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes Best PVR, Awards 2020 If you need a Full HD box to give your older TV some more sparkle, Humax’s digital box should absolutely be something to consider. Tuners 3 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Best subscription box, Awards

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps Best home cinema amplifier under £750, Awards 2020 Sony’s latest AV amp is a return to form, with cutting-edge features (inc. Dolby Atmos) and a compelling sound. It ticks all the right boxes. Power 7 x 100W Dolby

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2020 The latest in a series of fine Yamaha soundbars, this is a compelling, class-leading performer in a practical, easy-to-use package. Size (hwd) 6 x 93 x 11cm Inputs Opt, HDMI, 3.5mm,

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2020 Wharfedale delivers movie magic on a small scale with this enjoyable, well integrated package that’s perfect for smaller rooms and budgets. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12

The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones Best in-ear headphones under £50, Awards 2020 The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-line cont

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2020 Despite some caveats, this 4K device supports all HDR formats and delivers excellent picture quality for a very affordable price. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8G

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2020 Does a remarkably good job in terms of core picture and sound performance and boasts the best, most-app packed operating system in the business. Type LCD/LED HDMI 2 Resolution 4K Tuner TV

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Best portable music player under £250, Awards 2020 Sony hasn’t carried out an update for the sake of it; the refresh is justified by squeezing more performance into a budget price than ever before. Hi-res 32-

Read more at… www.whathifi.com/advice Amazon Prime Video will recommend content based on your viewing history - but what if you’re really into crime thrillers, your other half loves romantic comedies and the kids love cartoons? The answer is by linki

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Best tablet under £200, Awards 2020 A cheap and cheerful tablet that’s good for the money and has a lot of the functionality you’d find in more expensive efforts. OS Android Size (hwd) 114 x 190 x 10mm Storag

The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2020 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Bala

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Awards 2017 A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Best speaker stand, Awards 2020 A speaker stand that impresses with how weighty and dynamic it allows systems to sound. Considering the price, it’s something of a steal. Height 60cm Fillable Yes Finishes 4 (pole), 3

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerCables June 2018 The C-Screen possesses the fantastic ability to mirror a system’s punch and drive. What it does, it does better than anything else at the price. Single or Bi-wire Single May 2018 Features the same characte

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridgesm Best cartridge under £150, Awards 2020 This is a wonderfully balanced and entertaining moving magnet cartridge that will work well with a wide range of record players. Type MM Tracking weight 2.0g Best cartridge over