Hi-Fi Choice

Hi-Fi Choice is the essential guide to audio excellence in the home. It is a no-nonsense guide to the finest products available, from vinyl and valves, to multi-channel digital audio and high-fidelity video. Hi-Fi Choice sorts the best from the rest with rigorous test processes and a highly experienced team of reviewers.

Welcome • hifichoice.com Issue No. 521 December 2024

Sabre-sonic • UK-designed retro-feel music console and speakers

G-force • Future-proofing kit upgrades from Germany

A model solution • Streaming amp from the US

Space oddity • New spatial audio cans from the US

Coming soon… • Future kit announced by WiiM

Ripping tunes • CD transport and ripper from China

Party favours • New raft of Bluetooth ‘party’ speakers

Tower of strength • New UK floorstander

Make a date • Norwegian speaker series

Loud and clear • Danish speaker debut

Needle craft • New turntable and styli from AT

Model of excellence • New French active floorstander

Punk rocking • New Green Day-sanctioned cans

Pole position • Small American speaker import

Stay sharp! • Tons of new imports from Japan

Sign here! • New affordable Danish passive speaker range

Join the Q • Brand new Japanese transport DAC

UK Hi-Fi Show Live! • For three days in September, the home of Royal Ascot was packed with thoroughbreds from across the hi-fi world. Here are some of the highlights

Unique group tests • Our Group Tests are supported by rigorous and exhaustive listening tests carried out by experts

TEST MUSIC

REFERENCE SYSTEM

Can the cans • Headphones are becoming more popular than ever with designs to suit all occasions. Cliff Joseph puts six of the best through their paces

ON TEST

Beats Solo 4 £200 • Don’t call it a comeback… the Solo is back after almost a decade, but it faces stiffer competition in 2024

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones £330 • Stop interfering! Bose adds a new flagship to its leading range of noise-cancelling headphones

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 £230 • Cambridge steps into over-ear territory with this stylish update of an already successful design

Focal Azurys £500 • Forget Bluetooth and other distractions – Focal’s latest wired offering is aimed squarely at audiophiles

Marshall Major V £130 • Back in black – a smart update for the infamous guitar amp maker’s most affordable Bluetooth headphone

Sennheiser HD 620S £300 • When it comes to the HD 620S Sennheiser aims to provide open-back sound at a closed-back price

Group Test verdict • Proving that over-ear cans are back in style, this group caters for every taste and budget. Cliff Joseph reveals the final standings

TRY WITH THESE

EAT to the gourmet beat • High style meets high mass in EAT’s flagship turntable, coupled here with one of the most flexible tonearm solutions ever seen – the F-Note even includes an alignment laser!

French fancy • The Capella is the latest member of Triangle’s self-contained systems. Ed Selley sees how it stacks up

Kore values • DALI has updated one of its most popular ranges with technology from its flagship offering. Ed Selley checks out the results

Gallic charmer • New to the UK, Advance Paris plans to deliver the high life at a low cost. David Vivian thinks its entry-level amp hits the spot

Harder, better, faster, stronger • The original Debut EVO took the Debut to new heights and the EVO 2 promises more of the same. Ed Selley gets himself in a spin…

Life of Pi • Cliff Joseph test drives Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship earbuds and...