Okay, you won’t stop breathing if you don’t own these objects… but they will take your breath away

Words: Alex Cox, David Nield Photography: Neil Godwin

# SOUND

#1 SONY WH-1000XM4

Sony was so tired of the XM3’s place at the top of the ANC headphone tree that it decided to knock it down itself: the XM4 marks a new high point for wireless over-ear headphones. This latest iteration is pricey, but it basically leapfrogs every other competitor – and there are many – with ANC that smashes its accomplished predecessor and audio quality that goes far beyond the usual wireless standard.

£350, sony.co.uk

#2 SHURE AONIC 3

The more wireless headphones grow, the more great-quality wired in-ear monitors work even harder justify their continued place in the market.

If you’re looking for low latency, precise sound quality and great passive sound isolation, Shure’s tiny Aonic 3 buds offer it, with Shure’s studio standard sound shining through. And if you really want to go wireless in the future, these can be upgraded with a simple kit.

£179, shure.com

#3 BOWERS & WILKINS 606 S2 ANNIVERSARY EDITION

B&W’s 600 series is a quarter of a century old, and this seventh-generation refresh of its 606 standmounters declares, in no uncertain terms, that the reign of the king is far from over. The changes aren’t huge, sure – we wouldn’t replace an existing 606 setup – but they’re very apparent from top to bottom. These are tight, transparent units which perform far better than their reasonable price point might suggest.

£599 per pair, bowerswilkins.com

#4 AMAZON ECHO

Leading a growing, improving market means making the best hardware possible – and Amazon’s 4th-gen take on the Echo is just that. It’s extra-smart, inheriting the Zigbee hub that used to be the domain of pricier Echoes. It sounds great, with a host of speakers and mics crammed into its spherical shell. And while its design is a little divisive, we think it looks amazing – for the money, this is the best smart speaker going.

£90, amazon.co.uk

#5 THX ONYX

There are full-sized hi-fi DACs, there are chunky portable DACs, and then there’s this: THX’s debut piece of first-party hardware, and one of the most compact DACs we’ve ever seen. Using the company’s own Achromatic Audio Amplifier tech, it pulls extra detail and power out of standard sources, reducing distortion and noise in the process. It supports MQA, too – perfect for getting the best from Tidal’s catalogue.

£200, thx.com

# 6 BOWERS & WILKINS PI7

2021’s T3 Awards cemented the PI7 as a truly standout performer, winning both the Best True Wireless Earbuds gong and the overall prize for Best Headphones, and if that doesn’t convince you of B&W’s expertise we’re certain you’ll be won over once they’re in your ears. Yes, they’re more expensive than many alternatives, but they’re worth every penny and quite a few more: this is true wireless done so, so right.

£349, bowerswilkins.com

#7 TECHNICS SL-1200GR

Technics’ SL-1200G sequel redesigns a host of its components, like its single-rotor cogless motor (capable of 2.2kg x cm torque), its heavier platter, and custom-cooked vibration dampening. Technics hasn’t gone crazy, though: this keeps the essential tech that made its predecessor the gold standard of direct-drive reference turntables, and the classic DJesque styling that the SL range is known for.

£1,299, technics.com

#8 GRADO SR325X

We love the way Grado has proven itself entirely on merit. Its headphones are minimalistically designed and distinctively Grado, and their sound is out of this world. With the SR325x, a new entry in the company’s Prestige series, the formula laid out by the SR325e is not thrown out but iterated upon, with a better cable, upgraded ear pads, and a new drive unit, which boosts the audio quality even further.

£330, gradolabs.com

#9 CAMBRIDGE AUDIO EVO 150

Not just the streaming centre of a hi-fi setup, but an entire hi-fi setup in itself, the Evo 150 combines Cambridge Audio’s superior streaming smarts with internal DACs, stacks of external connectivity, and 150W of Class-D amplification to drive your speakers directly. Whatever you’re looking to play, however you want to hear it, this has you covered.

£2,249, cambridgeaudio.com

#10 AUDIO PRO C10 MKII

If you’ve ever wanted your sound to emerge from the face of a very loud cartoon koala, Audio Pro’s driver arrangement has you covered. Whisper it, but we actually kinda love that bold and contrasty design, and the sound – which is loud, clear and, if you want it to be, plenty boomy – absolutely justifies this as the audio centre of any room. There’s plenty of connectivity, too, including Google Cast and AirPlay 2.

£359, audiopro.com

# TV

#11 SAMSUNG UE43TU8500

There’s a lot to like about the 4K Samsung UE43TU8500 set: natural colours, deep levels of contrast, 4K upscaling so that any content source looks fantastic, and plenty more besides – including all the on-board streaming apps you’ll need. We’ve picked the more compact, affordable 43-inch version here, but you can get the same set in bigger sizes. £479, samsung.com

#12 LG G1

Sometimes you just have to pay the going rate to get the best there is, and the LG G1 certainly falls into that category – this 55-inch, 65-inch or 77-inch 4K smart OLED TV produces a brilliantly sharp and rich picture, whether you’re using it for movies, sports or gaming. LG calls the panel its best OLED ever, and it’s not hard to see why. £2,999.98, lg.com

#13 SAMSUNG QN900A

You won’t find much 8K content out there at the moment, but there’s no doubt that it’s on the way – and when it arrives you’ll be more than ready for it with the outstanding Samsung QN900A. Available in 65-inch, 75- inch, and 85-inch sizes, this set has virtually no bezels around it and packs in all the latest and greatest Samsung tech.

From £5,299, samsung.com

#14 SONY BRAVIA X95J

One of the best 4K sets on the market right now, the Sony Bravia X95J will set you back a good chunk of money but is worth the investment. Both picture and sound are superb, and its on-board processing power ensures that brightness, colour and contrast are always perfectly tuned. And the set comes in 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch models.

From £3,499, sony.co.uk

#15 FACEBOOK PORTAL TV

You might associate Facebook with interminable updates from people you used to go to school with, but it also makes this rather impressive webcam for your TV. The Portal will follow you around and keep you in the frame while you make video calls over Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, as well as showing your friends and family on the big screen.