HOW WE TEST

A MIXED BAG OF TERRIFIC TECH

We have an eclectic and, I think, rather

Panasonic TX-65LZ2000B

Panasonic’s top 2022 TV is as cinematic as they come

Samsung QE55Q60B

The Korean company’s cheapest 55in Quantum Dot TV doesn’t quite nail it

TCL 55RP620K

All the apps and most of the performance too

TOSHIBA 50UK4D63DB

How does a TV this cheap get so good?

TOSHIBA 55QA5D63DB

Can Toshiba rewrite the value rulebook with this Quantum-Dot toting set?

SAMSUNG UE50BU8000

The price might look tasty, but the performance lacks flavour

TCL 55C735K

A fantastic bargain for gamers and movie fans alike

SAMSUNG UE55BU8500

Samsung’s premium non-QLED TV struggles to stand out

dCS Rossini Apex DAC

At 15.6kg, the Rossini Apex is heavier than

Fyne Audio F502SP

Fasten your seatbelts, the F502SP are a thrill ride

Sonus Faber Lumina V

Classy Italian floorstanders that have plenty of charm

BRISTOL HI-FI SHOW 2023

After three years without a show, there’s a real buzz around this year ’s event. Come and share in the fun

TEN STARS OF THE CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW

We were at the world’s biggest tech show, CES, in Las Vegas last month. Here are just a handful of our particular highlights

TOP FIVE L AUNCHES

Five products to look out for this month

THE STYLUS COUNCIL

Upgrading your cartridge could be the best thing that ever happened to your vinyl

TURNTABLE SYSTEM WITH VERTERE SABRE CARTRIDGE

Vertere DG-1S with Sabre cartridge £3550 Naim

STELLAR CASTE

These premium wireless headphones all have star-quality. But which is best?

EarMen CH-Amp

Neither champ nor chump; this headphone amplifier is a mixed bag

SPL Phonitor xe

FOR • Refined, insightful and expressive • Sonic

Jabra Elite 5

Small is partially beautiful

APPLE AIRPODS MAX

Apple’s first over-ear wireless headphones justify their premium price

BOWERS & WILKINS PX8

Excellent ANC headphones push price and performance levels

FOCAL BATHYS

Focal’s deep dive into wireless noise-cancelling headphones proves a worthy exploration

MARK LEVINSON NO. 5909

As the price tag demands, the No.5909 bring wired-standard sound to wireless convenience

TEST WINNER MARK LEVINSON NO. 5909

Everyone comes out of this well, but the ML’s edge it

4K FOR LESS OUTLAY

If money is an object, you could do worse than these six affordable 4K TVs

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

Is this small wonder still a winning formula?

GOLDRING E3

A fantastic and affordable all-rounder

SUMIKO RAINIER

Fun and affordable; what’s not to like?

ORTOFON QUINTET BLUE

A modestly priced moving-coil cartridge

VERTERE SABRE MM

A fantastic allrounder that doesn’t come cheap

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

How to digitize your vinyl collection

Read more at... www.whathifi.com/features Turntables might not be

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

Positioning your speakers

It’s no good spending hundreds of pounds on

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

BLU-RAY PLAYERS

ENJOY HIGH-DEF MOVIE THRILLS

HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS

POWERFUL SOUND THAT TRULY BRINGS MOVIES TO LIFE

PROJECTORS

BECAUSE A MASSIVE PICTURE IS

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

PORTABLE HEADPHONES

BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND

PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS

TREAT YOUR TUNES TO A DEDICATED MUSIC PLAYER

Headphone jargon busted

Read more at... www.whathifi.com/advice What’s the difference between

SMARTPHONES

SUPERB MUSIC AND VIDEO PLAYERS THAT MAKE PHONE CALLS TOO

Amazon Prime Video tips, tricks and features

Read more at... www.whathifi.com/advice Whether you’re a Prime

STREAMING APPS & SERVICES

THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR STREAMING FIX

TABLETS

VIDEO, GAMES AND MUSIC ON A PORTABLE SCREEN

ACCESSORIES

ANALOGUE INTERCONNECTS

AV & HI-FI RACKS

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

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

CARTRIDGES

YOU CAN’T HEAR YOUR RECORDS WITHOUT ‘EM

Know your stuff: Know speaker yourcables stuff: speaker cables

Read more at... www.whathifi.com/advice It’s not always

SPEAKER STANDS

STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS NEED THE BEST SUPPORT YOU CAN GET

THE 21-CHANNEL NAKAMICHI DRAGON SOUNDBAR REALLY ROARS

H as any piece of hi-fi ever sounded