On the edge of greatness

One of the problems we have every year

Apple AirPods Max

EXCLUSIVE, IN-DEPTH VERDICTS ON THE  LATEST KIT

Panasonic TX-65HX940B

View offers  Television | £1199 whf.cm/TX-65HX940B |

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)

View offers Wireless speakers | £199 whf.cm/BeosoundA1-2ndGen |

Sony WF-XB700

View offers  In-ear headphones   |  £89  whf.cm /WF-XB700

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary Edition

View offers  Stereo speakers  |  £449  whf.cm/607S2Anniversary  

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch

View offers  In-ear headphones | £130 whf.cm/Melomania_Touch  

Moon 110LP v 2

View offers  Phono stage   |  £450  whf.cm /110LPv2  

THE BEST OF CES 2021: NINE PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS

CES 2021 had an unprecedented online-only format, but the show still featured the usual high number of new product announcements

INSIDER TOP FIVE LAUNCHES

Five products to look out for this month

SECRET COMBINATIONS

There are plenty of great home cinema products out there – the trick is knowing which ones work best together. Allow us to whisper a little info in your ear

SYSTEM 1: BASIC

1 Sony KD-65XH9005 (£1100) 2  Sonos Arc (£800) 3  Sony PlayStation 5 (£450)

SYSTEM 2: MID-PRICE

1 Philips 65OLED805 (£1800) 2  Panasonic DP-UB820EB (£299) 3  Sony STR-DN1080 (£429) 4  Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack (£895) 5  Sky Q

SYSTEM 3: PREMIUM

1 Sony VPL-VW270ES (£4990) 2  Sony UBP-X1100ES (£749) 3  Denon AVC-X3700H (£999) 4  Monitor Audio Silver 200 AV12 (£2865) 5  Apple TV 4K (£179)

ASUS ROG DELTA S HEADSET

The ASUS ROG Delta S headset with MQA technology is a game-changer for the gaming world

Out of this world performance

Smartphones are the perfect devices for film and audio. We test three of the best premium models

APPLE iPHONE 12 PRO MAX

View online review: whf.cm/iPhone12ProMax

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 20 ULTRA

View online review: whf.cm/GalaxyNote20Ultra

SONY XPERIA 1 II

View online review: whf.cm/Xperia1II

SONY XPERIA 1 II

PREMIUM SMARTPHONES

Rega Planar 2 vs Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo

These two turntable giants rule the roost in the sub-£500 arena and are both five-star products. So which one should you choose? Read on

VPI Prime 21+

EXPENSIVE, YES. BUT YOU KNOW YOU WANT THEM

PMC Twenty5 23i

Images: PMC “There’s no doubt that these PMCs

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

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 HOME CINEMA

SOUNDBARS & SOUNDBASES

A BRILLIANT WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR TV’S SOUND

SET-TOP BOXES

THE BEST WAY TO ACCESS THE WORLD OF TELEVISION

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

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

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

9 OF THE BEST HIP-HOP ALBUMS TO TEST YOUR SPEAKERS

Hip-hop has come a long way since the