HI-FI IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

When is a pair of speakers not a

HOW WE TEST

EXPERIENCE. HERITAGE. We have been helping the world

HOW WE SCORE

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the

Sony WF-1000XM5

It’s all change for Sony’s new premium wireless earbuds

Hisense 65U8KQ

The best Hisense TV we have tested yet

Sharp 55FN2KA

A 55in TV for £399? Surely some mistake…

T+A Solitaire T

Extraordinary price, extraordinary performance

Musical Fidelity A1

An iconic amplifier design of the 1980s makes a welcome return

BenQ W4000i

Boldly goes where no projector this price has gone before

Atacama Elite ECO 24

Excellent hi-fi support that doubles up as beautiful furniture

Sennheiser Ambeo Mini

Sennheiser’s smallest soundbar is a sonic swing and a miss

FAITHFUL TO THE MUSIC: RECREATING AN ICON

We speak to Musical Fidelity designer Simon Quarry about his work and the philosophy behind the resurrected A1 integrated amplifier

TOP FIVE LAUNCHES

Five products to look out for this month

THE STREAM TEAM

This trio of budget streamers will give you supersounding streaming for a seriously small outlay

AUDIOLAB 7000N PLAY

STREAMER

BLUESOUND NODE (2021)

Bluesound reasserts its authority in the budget music streamer market

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MXN10

Small, affordable and… superb

TESTWINNER CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MXN10

Giving you the best of both worlds sonically, the MXN10 is the complete package at this price

Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Sony has a new weapon with which to take on Bose’s Award-winners

Musical Fidelity A1 (1985)

Distinctively styled, hot running and a sublime sound

HOW TO BE GOOD AT EVERYTHING

All-in-one stereo speaker systems used to be about compromise – now they are about excellence

A neat, affordable and talented entry into the speaker systems market

View online review whf.cm/DCB41 ELAC DEBUT CONNEX

A talented, versatile and great-sounding all-in-one system that can do it all

View online review whf.cm/AIOTwin TRIANGLE AIO TWIN

Wharfedale Dovedale

Standmount speakers £5499 “As we listen longer

A fantastic, multi-talented streaming system perfect for smaller rooms

View online review whf.cm/KEF_LSXII KEF LSX II

Miniature monitors make for decent entries into streaming-savvy hi-fi

View online review whf.cm/JBL4305P JBL 4305P

An innovative and entertaining sequel

View online review whf.cm/LS50WirelessII £2499 KEF

One of the most sophisticated pairs of streaming speakers we have heard

View online review whf.cm/JBL4329P JBL 4329P

KEF takes all-in-one hi-fi to a whole new level

View online review whf.cm/KEFLS60 £5999 KEF LS60

THE BEST GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY TR ACKS TO TEST YOUR HI-FI SYSTEM

What Hi-Fi?’s own Awesome Mix Tape will give your stereo set-up a good run out

Class A, Class A/B and Class D amplification WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

We explain why some amplifiers run hot and others don’t

dCS Lina DAC

DAC/Network streamer £12,500 dCS calls it a

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

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

Read more at... www.whathifi.com/features It’s no good spending

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

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

View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones HEADPHONES BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS AND

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

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

CARTRIDGES

YOU CAN’T HEAR YOUR RECORDS WITHOUT ‘EM

SPEAKER CABLES

ONE OF THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE UPGRADES YOU CAN MAKE

SPEAKER STANDS

STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS NEED THE BEST SUPPORT YOU CAN GET

Know your stuff: speaker cables

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

9 BEST GORILLAZ TRACKS TO TEST YOUR SYSTEM

T he wonder of Gorillaz is that there’s