Time was, an all-in-one music system was considered a handy however sonically moderately compromised choice for listening to your music at residence.
And whereas it’s true that we at What Hello-Fi? are nonetheless advocates of utilizing specialist merchandise for every hyperlink in a system, these compromises of occasions passed by have lessened to such a level that we now have completely no hesitation in recommending an all-in- one system now; and naturally they are often a wonderful value choice over separate parts.
All of which is confirmed in our round-up of some excellent techniques that appear like audio system. They vary in worth from £529 to £6000, and are all terrific worth for cash in their very own method. You would need to go some to raised their efficiency with separate parts, and there might be no doubting that their seems and space-saving dimensions merely can’t be matched by multi-unit rivals.
And, as ordinary, we even have critiques of the very newest hi-fi and AV merchandise in our First Exams part.
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Hello-fi hiding in plain sight
Not that way back, anybody who needed high quality hi-fi sound of their residence was obliged to analysis and spend money on a lot of separate merchandise, and add varied cables and helps to make the entire thing work.
All-in-one techniques are nothing new, however till just lately tended to come back with a big serving to of sonic mediocrity connected. Of late, although, the standard of such techniques has soared – together with the quantity and kind obtainable. In terms of ’correct’ hi-fi, it’s time to take the all-in-one resolution severely.
Primarily, these techniques carry all the things that you must take heed to your music in only a pair of speaker cupboards. They’re all powered audio system, which implies they carry their very own amplification, together with all the opposite electrical circuitry wanted to supply high quality sound. Most present their very own supply too, within the type of entry to streaming companies; all you must do is plug them in, and off you go. And ample connectivity means you’ll be able to at all times add your individual sources as properly.
Right here, we now have introduced collectively seven of our favorite speaker techniques, protecting standmounted and floorstanding choices, from the likes of KEF, Elac, JBL and Triangle.
In case you prioritise comfort in addition to high quality sound, you will not need to miss this month’s What Hello-Fi?
Streaming techniques
Price range community streamers are perfect for anybody trying to enhance their set-up’s streaming capabilities with out risking chapter within the course of. Because the identify suggests, a community streamer can take music from a NAS unit in your community, a streaming service or web radio as properly taking sound from a pc, telephone or pill wirelessly. They’re superb for individuals who need entry to an enormous quantity of music with out fuss.
Even price range community streamers have a number of wi-fi enjoying choices at their disposal, to not point out bodily connectivity around the again and assist for all kinds of file codecs from DSD to hi-res music platforms akin to Tidal. If you wish to be the very best, then merely okay sound, an ethernet port and a few fundamental buttons aren’t going to chop it anymore.
And so this month we now have pulled collectively a trio of top-tier price range music streamers – the Audiolab 7000N, Bluesound Node (2021) and Cambridge Audio MXN10 – to check and distinction every mannequin’s strengths and shortcomings in order that you’ll know precisely the place you stand when looking for an economical resolution to your streaming wants.
Superior mixes to check your hi-fi
We have created our personal ‘Superior Playlist’ picked from Guardians Of The Galaxy soundtrack highlights, all of which can check your hi-fi in several methods. This eclectic bunch of tracks (that truly would match properly on a C60 cassette) will check the skills and abilities of your totally different parts and total set-up.
Elsewhere we clarify the variations in Class A, Class A/B and Class D amplification, and current a ‘That Was Then…’ characteristic on the Musical Constancy A1, a distinctively styled, chic sounding (and considerably hot-running) amplifier that was launched method again in 1985.
First with critiques
As at all times in our First Exams part, you may discover our famously in-depth, neutral and skilled critiques of the very newest AV and hi-fi equipment.
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds have been one in every of our go-to premium pairs of wi-fi earbuds for the final couple of years, and now finally we now have a sequel: the WF-1000XM5, reviewed this difficulty. They’re nonetheless premium, high quality buds for a comparatively cheap outlay, however as our assessment workforce came upon, Sony have opted for a special sonic character this time. Is that good, or unhealthy? Discover out in November’s What Hello-Fi?
Elsewhere we now have critiques of the Hisense 65U8KQ and Sharp 55FN2KA. Each are very affordably priced 4K TVs, and we give them our full consideration this month to seek out out in the event that they’re value that cheap outlay by way of image high quality.
We additionally run the rule over Sennheiser’s Ambeo Mini soundbar, the BenQ W4000i residence cinema projector, the most recent iteration of Musical Constancy’s A1 amp (see elsewhere this difficulty for a nostalgic look again on the 1985 unique), T+A Solitaire T over-ear headphones and Atacama’s newest premium hi-fi rack, the Elite ECO 24.
Discover out what our assessment workforce considered all these merchandise in November’s What Hello-Fi?
Our Temptations part of the journal is the place we characteristic the most recent high-end merchandise, that carry a price ticket as formidable as their claims to sonic supremacy.
This month it is the flip of the Wharfedale Dovedale standmounters and dCS Lina DAC. The previous are the legendary British hi-fi speaker producer’s newest prime finish loudspeakers. They exude olde-worlde attraction by way of aesthetics, however show to be massively succesful, pleasing and versatile performers.
The dCS Lina, in the meantime, could name itself a DAC, however is actually a community streamer. Our assessment workforce discovered that it “ticks each field with regards to the mechanics of hi-fi, akin to a targeted and fantastically layered soundstage”. It does not come low-cost, thoughts you, so it’s possible you’ll must raid that piggy financial institution.
Costly, sure, however you realize you need them!
Lastly, do not forget to take a look at our Purchaser’s Informationthat includes a definitive listing of all the very best residence leisure equipment you should purchase – together with winners of 2022’s What Hello-Fi? Awards. In case you’re trying to buy something from a pair of wi-fi headphones to a house cinema speaker system, this part will let you know the place to spend your cash properly.
No matter you do, do not miss the November 2023 difficulty of What Hello-Fi?. Seize a replica at this time, or just obtain it onto your pill or smartphone. Get pleasure from!
You possibly can subscribe or purchase the most recent difficulty right hereor purchase the digital version on iPhone, iPad, Android gadgets or Kindle version
