US
3 MIN READ TIME
HEADPHONES

Focal Utopia

Unlock this article and much more with
You can enjoy:
Enjoy this edition in full
Instant access to 600+ titles
Thousands of back issues
No contract or commitment
Try for 99c
SUBSCRIBE NOW
30 day trial, then just $9.99 / month. Cancel anytime. New subscribers only.


Learn more
Pocketmags Plus
Pocketmags Plus

This article is from...


View Issues
What HiFi
August 2022
VIEW IN STORE

Other Articles in this Issue


WELCOME
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
TELEVISIONS
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
STEREO SPEAKERS
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
SPEAKER PACKAGES
Wharfedale Evo 4.4 5.1
A stylish surround-sound system that’s easy on the ears
HEADPHONES
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
Stax SR-L700 Mk2 / SR M-700T
Over-ear headphones £4140
SOUNDBARS
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
HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
McIntosh MHA200
Headphone amplifier £2795
STREAMERS
Moon 680D
Streamer £9700
Linn Klimax DSM AV
Streamer £30,000
DACs
Bricasti Design M3
DAC £4999
dCS Bartók
DAC £15,750
CD PLAYERS
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
AMPLIFIERS
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)
PHONO STAGES
Nagra Classic Phono
Phono stage £17,000
Burmester 100 Phono
Phono stage £17,300
TURNTABLES
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
PROJECTORS
JVC DLA-NZ9 8K
Laser projector £25,400
AV RECEIVERS
JBL Synthesis SDR-35
AV receiver £6000
BUYER’S GUIDE
BUYER’S GUIDE
The definitive guide to the best home-entertainment kit you can buy
HI-FI
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
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
PORTABLE
HEADPHONES
BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND
PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS
TREAT YOUR TUNES TO A DEDICATED MUSIC PLAYER
SMARTPHONES
SUPERB MUSIC AND VIDEO PLAYERS THAT MAKE PHONE CALLS TOO
STREAMING APPS & SERVICES
THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR STREAMING FIX
TABLETS
VIDEO, GAMES AND MUSIC ON A PORTABLE SCREEN
ACCESSORIES
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
Chat
X
Pocketmags Support