SMARTPHONES

BIG TICKET CAN BE TOP VALUE

Justifying the outlay for a pricey piece of

HOW WE TEST

■ EXPERIENCE. HERITAGE. We’ve been helping the world

HOW WE SCORE

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the

Sony XR-55A95K

The world’s first QD-OLED TV might not be a game-changer, but it is still brilliant

LG OLED65G2

TV £3300

Philips 65OLED986

TV £3999

Mission 770

Taking inspiration from the old ways can give great results

KEF LS60 Wireless

KEF’s stunning LS60 Wireless system could be the only hi-fi set-up you ever need

Audiovector R1 Arreté

Standmount speakers £4995

ProAc K1

Standmount speakers £6295

Spendor Classic 1/2

Standmount speakers £6750

Wharfedale Elysian

Floorstanding speakers £6999

Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4

Standmount speakers £7000

Fyne Audio F1-8

Standmount speakers £7499

JBL 4349

Standmount speakers £7595

Wilson Benesch Precision P2.0

Floorstanding speakers £9495 ★★★★★ Cabinets are impressively rigid

PMC Fact Fenestria

Floorstanding speakers £56,995

Wharfedale Evo 4.4 5.1

A stylish surround-sound system that’s easy on the ears

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

Three is a magic number for the latest incarnation of these fine noise-cancelling wireless earbuds

Sony WH-1000XM5

New design, same stunning result for Sony’s latest premium noise-cancelling headphones

Sennheiser IE 900

In-ear headphones £1299

Focal Utopia

Over-ear headphones £3699

Stax SR-L700 Mk2 / SR M-700T

Over-ear headphones £4140

Sonos Ray

Sparkling vocal clarity abounds, but there’s an uncharacteristic flaw here

11 OF THE BEST PRODUCTS AT HIGH END MUNICH 2022

What Hi-Fi? was in Germany for Europe’s premier hi-fi industry event, and here is our pick of the best new kit on show

WHAT’S THE FASCINATION WITH RETRO?

Technical editor Ketan Bharadia rues hi-fi’s growing infatuation with nostalgia

Paradise found

If you can afford them, these products will take you into hi-fi heaven. And if you can’t, you can at least take a peek through the pearly gates

McIntosh MHA200

Headphone amplifier £2795

Moon 680D

Streamer £9700

Linn Klimax DSM AV

Streamer £30,000

Bricasti Design M3

DAC £4999

dCS Bartók

DAC £15,750

Marantz SA-10

CD player £5999

Audio Research Reference CD9 SE

CD player £14,998

Luxman D-10X

CD player £14,999

Chord Blu MkII/DAVE DAC

CD player £16,990

Copland CSA 100

Amplifier £3988

Rotel Michi X3

Amplifier £4700 ★★★★★ View online review whf.cm/RotelMichiX3 Build

Yamaha A-S3200

Amplifier £5999

Technics SU-R1000

Amplifier £6999

Audio Research Reference 6SE/80S

Amplifier £16,998/14,998

Goldmund Telos 590 Nextgen II

Amplifier £25,000

Dan D’Agostino Progression Integrated

Amplifier £29,998 (incl. streaming module)

Nagra Classic Phono

Phono stage £17,000

Burmester 100 Phono

Phono stage £17,300

Vertere DG-1 Dynamic Groove

Turntable £2950

SME Model 6

Turntable £5995

VPI Prime 21+

Turntable £6650 ★★★★★ View online review whf.cm/Prime21Plus Isolating

Mark Levinson No.5105/Or tofon Quintet Black S MC

Turntable £7099

JVC DLA-NZ9 8K

Laser projector £25,400

JBL Synthesis SDR-35

AV receiver £6000

BUYER’S GUIDE

The definitive guide to the best home-entertainment kit you can buy

AMPLIFIERS

THE BEATING HEART OF YOUR HI-FI SYSTEM

CD PLAYERS & TRANSPORTS

GET THE RIGHT PLAYER AND CD CAN STILL SHINE

DACs

A DIGITAL-TO-ANALOGUE CONVERTER IS A MODERN HI-FI MUST

MUSIC STREAMERS

THE BEST WAY TO SHARE YOUR TUNES AROUND THE HOUSE

RADIOS

THE ORIGINAL WIRELESS IS STILL GOING STRONG

STEREO SPEAKERS

THEY BRING THE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS – SO CHOOSE WITH CARE

SYSTEMS

CONVENIENCE DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN LOWER QUALITY

TURNTABLES

DECKS TO KEEP THE VINYL REVIVAL THRIVING

WIRELESS SPEAKERS

FREE YOUR MUSIC WITH ONE OF THESE STREAMING WONDERS

HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS

POWERFUL SOUND THAT TRULY BRINGS MOVIES TO LIFE

BLU-RAY PLAYERS

HOME CINEMA ENJOY HIGH-DEF MOVIE THRILLS

PROJECTORS

BECAUSE A MASSIVE PICTURE IS HOME CINEMA

SET-TOP BOXES

THE BEST WAY TO ACCESS THE WORLD OF TELEVISION

SOUNDBARS & SOUNDBASES

A BRILLIANT WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR TV’S SOUND

SPEAKER PACKAGES

GOOD SURROUND-SOUND IS A MOVIE-MAGIC MUST

VIDEO STREAMERS

DON’T RESTRICT STREAMING TO A LAPTOP – GET IT ON THE TELLY

TELEVISIONS

MAKE THE FOCUS OF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT HUB A GOOD ONE

HEADPHONES

BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND

PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS

TREAT YOUR TUNES TO A DEDICATED MUSIC PLAYER

STREAMING APPS & SERVICES

THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR STREAMING FIX

TABLETS

VIDEO, GAMES AND MUSIC ON A PORTABLE SCREEN

ANALOGUE INTERCONNECTS

DON’T SKIMP ON CABLES: THEY’RE A TOP-VALUE UPGRADE

AV & HI-FI RACKS

HI-FI KIT CAN ONLY SOUND ITS BEST WITH THE PROPER SUPPORT

CARTRIDGES

YOU CAN’T HEAR YOUR RECORDS WITHOUT ‘EM

HEADPHONE AMPLIFIERS

HOW TO GET THE VERY BEST FROM YOUR CANS

MAINS PRODUCTS

A CLEAN POWER SOURCE IS VITAL FOR INTERFERENCE-FREE HI-FI

PHONO STAGES

EVERY RECORD DECK NEEDS A PHONO AMP

SPEAKER CABLES

ONE OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE UPGRADES YOU CAN MAKE

SPEAKER STANDS

STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS NEED THE BEST SUPPORT YOU CAN GET

11 GREAT SCI-FI MOVIES TO WATCH IF YOU LOVE STRANGER THINGS

S tranger Things wears its influences on its