MAY 2016 100
INDIA'S No.1 HOME ENTERTAINMENT MAGA GAZINE
STEREO SPEAKERS From floorstanders to standmounts and even satellites, we test 'em all!
HEAD SPACE
Seven luxury cans in a head-to-head battle
IT'S THE TIME TO UPGRADE TO 4K More content, more models and finally lower prices!
JITTERBUG
Audioquest's instant sonic booster is here
EXCLUSIVE BENQ W8000 Their finest HT projector yet?
W E LC O M E
Hello/05/16 There’s a revolution brewing on the horizon and this time it’s calling out to videophiles. After spending the better part of the last three years in the shadows of consumer electronic shows, UHD has finally arrived. It’s mainstream and now is also being offered in the OLED spec, thanks to LG. After spending a few minutes dazzled by the perfect blacks, we reached the conclusion that the future of TV has indeed arrived! But projectors aren’t giving up on the fight just yet. In fact, both the Sony 4K (p08) and BenQ (p76) Full-HD models reviewed in this issue prove that there is plenty of picture to be had if you’re willing to give up ever so slightly on practicality. If you’re thinking of the associated equipment you’ll need with that shiny new telly, we’ve got you covered there too. Our Supertest (p32) on Stereo Speakers spans price brackets and sizes to make for an interesting comparison of the best value orators on sale today. If you like to keep your music a bit more private, the Round-Up (p56) of Wireless Headphones should arm you with options you can buy or recommend with confidence. Something in between, perhaps? No problem. Just sift over to the Wireless Speakers Group Test (p44) to find out which one wants to carry your music from room to room. With so many options, it’s only wise to take your time and savour this issue as much as we did putting it together. Enjoy the music!
Raheja Xion, 4th/5th Floor, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr B Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (East), Mumbai 400 027. email us whathifi.edit@haymarketsac.com Call us 022-23787500 / 23787400 EDITORIAL Editor Nishant Padhiar Deputy Editor Yatish Suvarna Editor (Web) Farhan Kapadia Editor-Special Projects Vaibhav Sharma Sr. Correspondent Kaizad S Billimoria Staff Writer (Web) Karan Lohan Sub Editor Shanth Swaroop Content Editor Steve D’Souza Deputy Art Editor Kritika Dayal Sr. Designers Sahaya Johnson, Sukhdeep Singh MARKETING Sr. Manager Kunal Marjadi Executive Jayson Lobo ADVERTISING Group Head Harvinder Pal Singh Chief Manager Amjad Khan Regional Head Amit Ahlawat (North) Managers Nackeeran (Chennai), Kanika Sood (Delhi) Asst. Manager Ratan Deb (Mumbai), Neha Singh (Delhi) Advertising Co-ordinator Sonal Jain PRODUCTION Sr. Manager Sanjeev Govekar Deputy Manager Prasad Gangurde CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION General Manager Gilbert D’Souza Head-Circulation Satish Kumar (North) Regional Manager P Vijayakumar (South) Asst. Manager Saravana D, Vimal Sharma Sr. Executive Ashok More (West) Executives Tapan H, Yogesh S, Anil Raghav Manager Subscription Mahesh Malusare Co-ordinator Rajesh Salian ACCOUNTS Finance Head Hital Vyas Manager Finance Amol Mahadik INTERNATIONAL Managing Editor Jonathan Evans Brand Editor Andy Clough Managing Director David Prasher Chief Operating Officer Brian Freeman Chief Executive Kevin Costello Chairman Rupert Heseltine Licensing Account Manager Isla Friend CONTACT Mumbai Raheja Xion, 4th/5th Floor, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr B Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (East), Mumbai 400 027. email us whathifi.edit@haymarketsac.com Call us 022-23787500 / 23787400 New Delhi A2/9, Lower Ground Floor, Safdarjung Enclave, Africa Avenue Road, New Delhi - 110029 Tel : 011-46020600, 32444090, 32969125 Fax: 011-46020633 Chennai M H V Pinnacle, First Floor 8/27 Govindu Street, T Nagar Chennai 600 017. Tel: 044-65446363 Telefax: 044-4212 3230
Nishant Padhiar, Editor
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My product of the month
News-stand price 100
BenQ W8000 Off the Shelf A fin ne effort to make the heir best projector yet y and it shows!
All prices and content correct at the time of going to press (*denotes indicative pricing) All rights reserved. All the data contained in this magazine is based on the information available with the publisher at the time of going to press. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Unsolicited material – including photographs and transparencies–is used in WHAT HI-FI? SOUND AND VISION, but is submitted entirely at the owner’s risk, and the publisher accepts no responsibility for its loss or damage. Advertisements are accepted by us in good faith as correct at the time of going to press. Printed and published by Hormazd Sorabjee on behalf of Haymarket SAC Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd. Raheja Xion, 4th/5th Floor, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr B Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (East), Mumbai 400 027. Printed at Indigo Press (India) Pvt Ltd Plot No. 1, C/7 16, Off Dadoji Konddeo Cross Road, between Sussex and Retiwala Industrial Estate, Byculla (East), Mumbai 400 027. Published at Haymarket SAC Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd. Raheja Xion, 4th/5th Floor, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr B Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (East), Mumbai 400 027. Editor: Nishant Padhiar CIN No. U22120MH1998PTC116780 This magazine contains 108 pages including both covers.
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CONTENTS “We’ve come a long way from the heavy-duty wireless headsets that graced the shelves in the 2000s” Page 56 6
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One of the best ★★★★★ A serious contender ★★★★ Worth a look ★★★ Disappointing ★★ Awful ★
CONTENTS
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THIS MONTH WE’VE THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON THESE FINE PRODUCTS CD PLAYERS Burmester 089 HEADPHONES Beats Solo 2 Wireless B&O BeoPlay H8 Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless Parrot Zik 3.0 RHA T20
8 4K HDR PROJECTOR
20 4K TELEVISION
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless
Prepare to have your retinas fried
An attractive 4K screen at a very tempting price
Soundmagic WP10 Sony MDR-1ABT PROJECTORS BenQ W8000 Sony VPL-VW520ES STEREO SPEAKERS Wharfedale DS-1 Q Acoustics 3020 Monitor Audio Bronze Dali Zensor3 Q Acoustics Concept 20 KEF Egg B&W 685 S2 Q Acoustics 3050 Triangle Esprit Titus EZ
24 INSIDER
32 STEREO SPEAKERS
Neat Iota
Quality cables are the new way of life
Splash your cash on the best speakers out there
KEF LS50 Q Acoustics Concept 40 Tannoy Revolution XT 6F Neat Motive SX3 ProAc Studio 118 B&W 683 S2 ATC SCM11 Tannoy Revolution XT 8F PMC Twenty 22 ATC SCM19 STEREO AMPLIFIERS Unison Research Unico 150 SMARTPHONE Motorola Moto X Force
44 WIRELESS SPEAKERS
68 TEMPTATIONS
Apple iPhone SE
Free yourself from the tyranny of wires
The powerhouse you’ve always dreamt of
SOUNDBASE Philips Fidelio XS1 TELEVISION Samsung UE65JS9000 USB NOISE FILTER Audioquest JitterBug
79 BUYING GUIDE
106 THAT WAS THEN
FIND THE BEST KIT AROUND, FAST!
TANNOY WAS KING OF BUDGET... ...and it still continues to be
Our verdicts on every product worth owning
WIRELESS SPEAKERS Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Dali Kubik Free Geneva Aerosphère Large Naim Muso-Qb JBL Charge 2+ Harman Kardon Onyx Studio2
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 5
THE ULTIMATE HOME CINEMA EXPERIENCE BenQ’s new W3000 and W2000 Home Video Projectors are here. Giving you Rec.709 colour accuracy, unmatched features, and class-leading optics, right in the comfort of your home. So sit back and get ready for the ride of your life, as your favourite TV shows, blockbuster movies, and sports tournaments come to life thanks to the world’s best imaging technology, only from BenQ!
Rec.709 for accurate colours that take your breath away
Now get a bright, punchy image with BenQ’s image tech
Add some colour to your weekends with BenQ’s Full HD home cinema projectors. Enjoy colours that leap out and grab your attention. Best of all, with BenQ’s 6x RGBRGB colour wheel that meets Rec. 709 norms (the international standard guaranteeing the accurate reproduction of cinematic colour), you know you’re watching a movie just how its creator intended! Combine that with innovative software optimisation and production line testing, and you’re guaranteed the best image quality imaginable.
BenQ’s home cinema projectors pump out a lot of power through every pixel, resulting in a crisp, clear, and lifelike image other projectors could never hope to replicate! A class-leading High-Fill Factor also eliminates any screen door effect. What’s that? You prefer watching art-house flicks with plenty of atmosphere? Great news for you, as BenQ ‘s SmartEco mode lowers the power output during dark scenes, keeping everything authentic! Want more? How about enhanced contrast and deeper blacks?
W2000
W3000
True-to-life Cinematic Colour to your living room *BenQ offers a 2-year onsite warranty on all DLP projectors with a lamp warranty of 6 months or 500 hours, whichever is earlier Website: www.BenQ.co.in
Customer Care Number: 1800-419-9979
Email: sales.enquiryin@BenQ.com
ADVERTORIAL
An easy install experience so you can just push play!
There’s enough space for all your friends and family
No matter how big or small your home theatre room is, you can still get the big picture with unmatched ease! With features like 2D Keystone Correction, Big Zoom, Horizontal / Vertical Lens Shift, and Side Projection, your BenQ projector is so easy to install, you can keep it in any room you want , and that too anywhere-Want to keep it in a corner? Don’t want to remove your stylish furniture? Just tweak the image! In fact, it’s so easy, your friends will all want to borrow your new projector!
Invited all your friends for a brunch and want to watch a new movie? Luckily, everyone can fit in your home theatre room now and still enjoy a picture up to 100inches in size. Yes, your BenQ Full HD projector features Short-Throw Projection, which lets it throw out a 100in picture from as close as 2.5m away. So push the projector close, pull up a few sofas, and make space for everyone in your life! Want more freedom? Get the optional Wireless Full HD Kit and enjoy 100m range with Zero Latency!
CinemaMaster takes your viewing experience up a notch
Flawless optics for the ultimate viewing experience
Stay home on the weekend! Yeah, with BenQ’s CinemaMaster Video+ technology, you don’t need to visit a cinema to get the best movie experience. All thanks to features like Motion Enhancer that smoothens highintensity action scenes, Colour Enhancer, which balances richer hues and more detailed gradients, Pixel Enhancer, which sharpens detail to give you an immersive experience, and of course, Flesh Tone Enhancer, which optimises skin tones while leaving the rest of the picture untouched!
It’s all about the optics, isn’t it? Lucky you, as BenQ’s 1080p Full HD optical tech uses an all-glass projection system made of the highest grade optical glass with proprietary Low Dispersion lens coatings. What does that mean for the finicky cinema buff? True details possible only with glass, and minimised chromatic aberration. So no matter what format you prefer - DVD, DTH, or Blu-Ray, you’re guaranteed the best picture quality in any viewing conditions. Perfect, isn’t it?
Get blown away with powerful CinemaMaster Audio+
ISFccc Certification for an accurate, true-to-life image
What if your home theatre could bring you the roars of a football ground, the screaming guitars of a concert, and the epic soundtrack of the summer’s blockbusters? Why not! Well, as long as you have BenQ projector! Thanks to CinemaMaster Audio Enhancer with special presets and user-defined EQ, you’re prepared for everything you’d ever want to watch! And with a powerful Chambered Speaker System, even the softest whispers and the biggest explosions will be as clear as you could imagine.
No matter what you want to watch - whether it’s a classic Hollywood flick, a peppy Bollywood hit, a summer action blockbuster, an award-winning documentary, or even live football action, your BenQ projector will make sure you get unmatched image quality. That’s thanks to the magic of BenQ’s ISFccc Certification, which also includes separate day and night modes. What are you waiting for? Gather your friends, take out your Blu-Rays, and make tonight the ultimate movie night!
FIRST TEST
FIRST TESTS
RD EXCLUSIVE, IN-DEPTH VE
ICTS ON THE LATEST KIT
Sony VPL-VW520ES | Projector | 10,58,000
The future – projected into the present FOR Fantastic all-round picture; HDR support; easy set-up
AGAINST It's a shame 3D glasses aren't included
★★★★★
We know what you’re thinking: what does a projector have to do to justify a near- 10k price tag? You could get a brand-new car for that. Or get yourself most of the way to a deposit on a house. Well, Sony has done some secondguessing and, as a result, given its top-tiering VPL-VW520ES everything you might (realistically) want from a 2016 projector. That means it’s native 4K (of course!) like its predecessor, the VPL-VW500ES, and the five-star VPL-VW300ES we saw last summer. Sony’s proprietary SXRD system, which uniquely uses LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology – almost a cross between the usual DLP and LCD technologies – is still the only one currently offering native 4K playback, with rivals JVC and Epson only venturing as far as faux-K projection. But Sony has far from rested on its resolution-pushing laurels. Upstaging itself in a manner Steve Jobs would approve, it has produced the VPL-VW520ES – claimed to be the world’s first HDR-ready 4K home cinema projector. It may as well have a big police tape-like banner across the front saying ‘future-proofed’. After all, 4K and HDR are the immediate future of the AV world, and just about ready to take centre stage in a living room near you.
2.2 certified to pass through streamed and physical 4K content from video-streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon or impending Ultra HD blu-ray players. And if that doesn’t have you drooling over the page maybe a 300,000:1 contrast ratio will – up again from its predecessor’s 200,000:1. Sony also claims an impressive 6000-hour lamp life. The VPL-VW520ES uses three native 4K SXRD panels with a 4096 x 2160 resolution,
On the subject of lenses, set-up is dead simple. Once powered up (it takes a few seconds to show a picture), it’s simply a case of using the motorised shift, focus and (up to 2.1x) zoom adjustments on the wellsized, backlit-on-demand remote – much more efficient, we think, than twisting dials on units with non-powered lenses. Plus you can do it from your sofa. Keeping the two HDMIs company are LAN, IR and trigger inputs and a USB for firmware updates.
Key extra features HDR support sets the Sony apart from its sibling, the VPL-VW30ES, as does a greater brightness output (the 520ES has 1800 lumens rather than the 320ES’s 1500). HDR can be carried through the second of the Sony’s two HDMI inputs, which is HDCP
8 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
“With the trusty guidance of a THX Optimizer and a bit of patience, a thorough play with the settings produces a picture we think befits the Sony’s asking price. And that's really saying something” as per the 4K film-projection standard and much like a commercial 4K cinema. They may not be the digits you’ve clocked on TV adverts, but that’s because the TV industry shoehorns it into 3840 x 2160. You get a lot of projector for your money. 14kg of it, in fact. It’s a bulky, structurally well-made unit, but like its predecessors runs with the aesthetic curve to help it look more capable of fitting in with your home furnishings than something you might think had a past life as a Robot Wars contestant. In fact, it doesn’t look too dissimilar from the brand’s five-figure flagship model, which can only be a good thing. The finish (available in white or black) is attractive, and the gold frills around the lens bring a touch of pizzazz about the design.
Taking a page out of the Victorian schoolbook, the VPL-VW520ES understands its duty to be seen and not heard. The claimed 26dB fan noise proves pretty accurate and, even sitting close by, it's easy to ignore altogether when we fire up our reference home cinema set-up.
Twin delights HDR 4K material is being hailed as the predominent next-gen content, and while 4K and HDR are different technologies, they do seem to come packaged together. Combined content is still thin on the ground, although it should come trickling in this year. Even more exciting, Ultra HD Blu-ray players and discs are due in the coming months too.
KEY FEATURES
4K RESOLUTION HDR MOTORISED LENS
FIRST TEST Creating a very happy marriage of 4K and HDR technologies, the Sony takes big-screen viewing to a super-lofty level
While 4K is all about delivering more pixels, HDR is all about extracting more information from within the pixels, opening the dynamic contrast range up to brighter whites, darker blacks and greater colour insight inbetween. And, trust us, it’s an impressive indicator to the future of home cinema. We tuck into 4K HDR clips provided by Sony, on a USB stick fed through the company's FMP-X5 4K media player, the most eye-boggling of which include The Amazing Spider-Man 2 footage. There’s varying intensity to the voltage running down Electro’s face and the lights in Time Square’s billboards and skyscrapers. You can follow the billowing smoke from the electric sparks as it trails off into the atmosphere and, during the slow-mo, make out every stitch of Spidey’s sleeve.
Even Japanese cityscapes are a treat to scrutinise. Take a colourful mosaic lampshade, for example. Rather than simply seeing light glow through the whole lampshade, here each piece reveals varying degrees of light shining through. Strip the HDR, and 4K delivery alone is still enough to turn heads. The technology has spread into the TV industry like wildfire, but arguably it’s even more important for larger projected pictures where you’ll see how much each of those 8.3 million pixels counts. We see a sharply drawn picture no less crisp than that from the better 4K TVs we’ve seen. It truly wows on our 100in screen with its sharpness, accuracy and precision – but it’s not love at first sight. You may think our claim of the Sony’s refined, natural colours is suspect upon
your first acquaintance with the projector. Indeed, out of the box they’re more ‘out there’ and oversaturated than organic. But with the trusty guidance of a THX Optimizer and a bit of patience, a thorough play with the settings produces a calibre of picture we think befits the Sony’s asking price. And taking into account what that is, that's really saying something.
Reaping the rewards Spending time tweaking colour hues and experimenting with contrast modes pays off royally, so when we test the results on The Ridiculous 6, desert landscapes no longer look too richly hued. In fact, that spot-on palette coupled with gritty texture and wide-open insight provides a realism that’ll soon have you reaching for a glass of water.
IN DETAIL...
A motorised lens makes set-up – which can be done from your sofa – easy
Alongside the two HDMI side inputs are LAN (for control purposes only), IR and trigger connections
The good-sized remote is well featured and has optional backlighting
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 9
FIRST TEST
We can’t fault the Sony’s design or quality of build but bear in mind that – at 20 x 50 x 47cm – it’s a bulky unit
The browns and golds of The Wild West jump out from one another, all subtly identifiable as different in tone. The darks of trees don’t compromise the bleach-white outfits standing in front of them and, similarly, the brightness of a campfire doesn’t sacrifice dark details in the characters sitting around it. It’s up there with one of the most complete projected pictures we’ve ever seen, and we aren’t just talking about 4K performance. Those whose viewing habits lie mostly with Blu-ray, HD streams or DVD (which is more or less everyone) will have every reason to invest here too. Taking a resolution knock to satisfy your Fargo addiction isn’t so bad. The HD picture sheds a layer of sharpness, losing its immaculate feel, yet it’s still a precise, mature display. Colour and contrast remain on the money – the snow as white as car tyres are black – and detail spreads evenly around the screen so textures in jumpers are as obvious as details in the cast's faces.
No sudden movements Motion handling doesn’t have us reaching for menu assistance (in the Sony’s case the ‘Motionflow’ mode), though anyone having
“It’s up there with one of the most complete projected pictures we’ve ever seen, and we aren’t just talking about 4K performance”
trouble in that area should find a remedy in the ‘smooth high’ setting. A common bugbear of the very first 4K TVs was the substandard quality of standard-def – after all, they have to upscale a huge amount to fill the screen. Visually, it’s a bit like flicking over to an episode of Fawlty Towers after you’ve just watched a glitzy new drama; you see that outlines have softened and freshness is lost.
Dealing with SD And not even a near- 9 Lac projector can make standard-definition content look spanking. We wouldn’t go as far as saying skyline panoramas in our Robocop DVD are crisp or the expressions of people in the background well etched. But the clarity exceeds our expectations and it’s a remarkable effort – one that rubs shoulders with the best we’ve seen from a 4K telly. Compared with Blu-rays, more motion instability is noticeable as the camera pans across foyers, but the picture stays sufficiently coherent in action scenes. By and large, it’s more than watchable. When an 10 Lac 3D-compatible projector doesn’t come with any 3D glasses, though, it’s a bit like breaking the bank for a weekend’s paintball session and then having to shed out extra for pellets. Okay, so glasses are pretty cheap these days for those who enjoy the 3D movie experience, but it’s the principle… That said, when that’s our only gripe, we can’t help but sing the Sony VPLVW520ES’s praises. It’s a beast of a performer with anything you throw at it and, at the moment, one of the most cutting-edge, future-proofed home cinema projectors money can buy. If it’s within your grasp financially, and you’re all about the here-and-now rather than waiting to see what competitors respond with (because no doubt they will be hot on Sony’s heels) – and if you're excited by the benefits of HDR technology – we’d be hard-pushed to recommend anything else. Good job, Sony.
SYSTEM BUILDER Sort your source and amplification…
BLU-RAY BLU RAY PLAYER Cambridge Audio CXU ★★ ★ ★ ★ 1,25,600 A multi-talented universal player
HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIER Onkyo TX-NR3030 ★★ ★ ★ ★ 1,90,000 High-end, high-quality surround sound
SPEAKER PACKAGE KEF R100 5.1 ★★ ★ ★ ★ 3,13,000 A surround package to do the other kit justice
Total build 16,86,900
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ PICTURE FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT A feature-laden, pull-out-all-thestops performer that has a high degree of future-proofing built in
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 11
For Any Enquiry and Dealership:
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FIRST TEST The sleek, glasstopped main unit sits under your TV while the more functional-looking subwoofer can be tucked out of sight
Philips Fidelio XS1 | Soundbase | 34,900
Slimline approach is a real tonic FOR Seamless integration; lots of inputs; innovative design
AGAINST Could do with greater subtlety and dynamics
Divide and conquer. That seems to be Philips’ tactic when it comes to soundbars. Take the Award-winning HTL9100 from a few years ago, with side speakers that detached to double as wireless surrounds. Now we have the Fidelio XS1 soundbase, and it looks as though the company has taken a similar approach. This one doesn’t come apart or transform, but it does have a wireless subwoofer that you stick under the sofa (if your sofa has a clearance of at least 9cm). Or behind it (not too close to the wall though – it doesn't play well with walls). Or next to it. The point is to hide the bulk of the system, which means your TV gets to sit on something that doesn’t have the appearance or heft of a tombstone. That way you get substantial sound as well as slimline looks. It’s sleek, as soundbases go. Metal and glass, plenty of class, and only 4cm high. It’s sturdy too: Philips says it can comfortably hold up 44kg, and we believe it. It looks and feels every rupee of that 35,000 price tag.
mains power. Once plugged in, you could pair them manually, but we find the automatic connection works flawlessly. A dimmable dot matrix display at the front does a clear, big-enough job of indicating which input you’ve selected.
Hook-up heaven It's well specified, too. A great many soundbars and soundbases come with only a digital optical input, with the idea that you plug everything into your TV, and then boost your sound with a single cable. Not so with the Philips Fidelio XS1. On top of the digital optical input, you get digital coaxial in, HDMI in and out, plus a 3.5mm output for headphones. Then there’s the USB 2.0 port, for memory sticks containing MP3 and WMA music files. You also get aptX Bluetooth, with NFC (Near Field Communication) for speedy pairing. Set-up is a painless process. The soundbase and subwoofer require separate
★★ ★ ★ ★ KEY FEATURES
SLIMLINE SUBWOOFER
Know your settings Before you get listening, there are some final adjustments. We would advise turning off Auto Volume Leveller and Night Mode. Those settings may keep your neighbours happy, but they restrain the dynamic range. We’d also suggest turning the bass way down, because when you’re sitting right above a subwoofer, you really don’t want it higher than the -5 setting. It’s time to get cracking, and few films get cracking like Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray. The audio performance is a mixed, but mostly positive, bag. We are seriously impressed by the integration between soundbase and subwoofer. At no point do we feel we are listening to two separate components – which cannot be said for many such systems. Whether you’re watching a conversation or a gunfight, there is no perceptible lag or miscommunication. The subwoofer works well. Bass weight is never an issue – you get plenty of it, and it goes down deep, with the sort of rumble that occasionally and momentarily makes
BLUETOOTH WIDE
you fear for your safety. At the top end the sound is clear and rounded, never sounding shrill even when you crank the volume. The midrange suffers, mind. We like a direct, open midrange and here it’s a bit recessed. Then there’s the matter of dynamics. It’s an impactful performance for sure, and things kick up a notch when lips stop flapping and bullets start flying. But the Philips struggles with subtlety, and wide dynamic shifts don’t come easy. Voices don’t carry as much emotion as they should – when Samuel L Jackson doesn’t sound angry, you know something is amiss.
CONNECTIVITY
What are your priorities? We compare the Philips with our favourite soundbase, the Geneva Model Cinema. That unit makes no attempt at Philips’ slimlining – nor does it have the lowend heft – but its performance is more faithful and more rounded. It comes down to features versus performance. If you’re after outright performance, the likes of the Geneva make a more compelling argument. If you’re willing to trade some of the audio quality for features, connections and streamlined looks, the Philips Fidelio XS1 is spot-on.
If the subwoofer doesn't fit under your sofa you can stand it upright
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT An innovative, well integrated design that gets the basics just right
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 13
SYNC YOUR LIFE
syncair WIFI AUDIO STREAMER
connect==1==sync==1==pl y A device that receives internet streaming music or other wireless music, and can combine multiple receivers to play the same music in one zone.
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FIRST TEST
Audioquest JitterBug | USB noise filter | 4200
“A clear head versus a hangover” FOR Affordable; encourages a more solid and precise sound
AGAINST Improvement can be product-dependent
Upgrading your hi-fi system needn’t always involve a hefty blow to your wallet – an affordable little tweak here and there can make a world of difference. With a desktop audio system, it could be adding a little critter like the Audioquest JitterBug. Slightly larger than your average USB memory stick, JitterBug plugs into your computer’s USB socket and acts as a link between your computer and DAC, whether it’s a standalone converter or housed in a headphone amp or traditional stereo amp. The thinking goes there’s a lot of noise and interference coursing through the circuitry of your average desktop computer or laptop, the main source of which is your computer’s own power supply. JitterBug’s job is to act as a passive filter and dissipate any noise before the signal enters your DAC.
★★ ★ ★★
Slightly larger than a USB memory stick, the JitterBug filters noise interference before the signal enters your DAC
Punctuating the right places So does it work? We tested JitterBug with a number of different products and varying qualities of source material. We kick off with Audioquest’s own DragonFly USB DAC hooked up to a MacBook Pro. Fed a CD rip of Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ Don’t Forget Me, there’s more meat on the bones of the opening guitar riff, there’s more solidity to each note and you can hear the subtle differences as different levels of force are applied to the strings. Drum thwacks hit with more conviction, punctuating the track in all the right places without disrupting its rhythm. There’s also more detail and insight to the echo and reverb that halos Anthony Kiedis’s vocal. You are presented with a rich, detailed picture, even if you swap to a 320kbps online stream of the same track. Take JitterBug out of the chain and you’re back to square one. The song sounds
vague in comparison. Those punctuation marks and leading edges are all less pronounced. The clarity is replaced by a murky fog and as a result, rhythms are harder to follow. It’s like the difference between a hangover and a clear head. We step up a level to the Award-winning Chord Mojo and a similar pattern emerges. Switching tracks to The Border, taken from the soundtrack to gangster flick Sicario, the track sounds dramatic enough without using the JitterBug. But slot it into the system and the tension and drama goes up
USE IT WITH STREAMING SERVICE Apple Music 120/ pm
★★ ★ ★ ★ Apple's quality streams sound clear, crisp and packed with detail through the Audioquest pairing
a notch. There’s immense power and solidity to the pulsing drumbeat, and a level of dynamism and attack on display that goes missing when JitterBug bugs out. Even with more laid-back tracks such as The 1975’s So Far (It’s Alright), you can hear the Jitterbug have an impact. The dynamic shifts between bass notes sounds much clearer and more lucid. Percussion has more of a cutting edge and sparkle.
Our doubts evaporate The next step on our journey is the Mojo’s bigger brother, Hugo. And here the story takes a twist. The improvements in sound quality are there: the increased robustness, the upsurge in dynamics and clarity are all present and correct, but the music doesn’t flow quite as effortlessly – it’s as if the extra weight and solidity stunt the natural flow. It’s a strange one, especially when we swap the Hugo for DAC input of Cambridge Audio’s Azur 851N streamer. Any previous questions we had evaporate, and once again the positive status quo is resumed. The xx’s Heart Skipped A Beat sounds punchier and more precise than ever. Clarity goes up a notch soundstage opens up and the his ‘n’ hers vocals hang beautifully. Shifts between high and low dynamics are more explicit and the track displays a new-found sparkle. Audioquest even claims that using two JitterBugs in parallel can make a difference, but in our experience using one had much more of a significant impact. Nine times out of ten we’d rather have a Jitterbug in our system than leave it out. If it fits your current set-up, we’d certainly recommend taking one for a spin – it’s a clever, audio-improving critter.
SYSTEM BUILDER says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND COMPATIBILITY
LAPTOP Apple MacBook Pro from 89,900 Our go-to laptop stores all our hi-res tunes and is easy to use
DAC Audioquest DragonFly v1.2 ★★ ★ ★ ★ 14,700 Delivers a potent combination of musicality and dynamics
HEADPHONES AKG Y50 5999 ★★ ★ ★ ★ Style, comfort and sound quality in spades. They’re a great pair of on-ears, for home or portable use
BUILD
VERDICT It might not look like much, but for the results it produces this affordable USB upgrade is well worth investigating
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 15
FIRST TEST
RHA T20 | In-ear headphones | 18,999
RHA doesn’t drop the ball with T20s FOR Plenty of detail; punchy and exciting; comfortable fit
AGAINST More accuracy needed with complex rhythms
No, it’s got nothing to do with cricket, but that won’t necessarily prevent us from trying to fill this review with dreadful/ terrific T20-based dad jokes. Right off the bat (sorry!) these RHA in-ears appear befitting of their substantial price tag. Of course quality isn’t measured in grams, but the T20s’ thick rubber cord and kidney-shaped stainless steel earpieces weigh a reassuring 39g. It’s probably worth noting here that you’ll need to spend an extra amount on the T20i for the pleasure of an inline microphone.
Despite the subtleties the T20s are able to unearth, they are also capable of entertaining, in no small part thanks to a decent amount of driving low end. However, that depth isn’t only useful for bass-driven songs. Fast forward to tracks as sparse as The Railway House and you experience the support it gives the whole midrange. The song keeps its light-footed airiness in the absence of bass frequencies, but there’s a solidity and warmth to the vocal that keeps a satisfying balance. So what’s the catch (shoehorning in another cricket pun) then? Comparison with the Shure SE425s highlights a few of the T20s’ weaknesses. We find the Shures to be more dynamically expressive and more accurate articulators, especially when dealing with more complex rhythms. Play something such as 65Daysofstatic’s Drove Through Ghosts To Get Here, for example, constantly accelerating and
Heavy metal Although they're a third heavier than RHA’s main rival at this price point, the Awardwinning Shure SE425, it needn’t be an issue thanks to support from the T20s’ over-ear cabling. In fact, these are some of the most comfortable in-ears we’ve tested, and they also come armed with a selection of 10
“What’s more, this is a performance full of life. The bass and 4/4 kick drum have real impetus that steers the song from the moment their beat kicks in. There's a decent amount of driving low end” interchangeable tips, including doubleflange and memory-foam types. Much of the T20s’ mass is housing what RHA has dubbed its Revolutionary DualCoil dynamic driver. The purpose of the additional, independently moving voice coil here is to separate higher and lower frequency signals and produce a more accurate overall reproduction. There’s certainly some logic there. The performance tends to support the theory. We play Patrick Wolf’s Wind In The Wires and are struck immediately by the detail in the introduction of the album’s opening track, The Libertine. As the piano and violin meander towards a beginning, there is ample room beneath to accommodate the insect-like scraping percussion and electric hum. As the piece progresses, we’re drawn to each of the subtler accompaniments: the lightly strumming acoustic guitar, the sampled horse hooves and octave-up doubled vocal. What’s more, this is a performance full of life. The bass and 4/4 kick drum have real impetus that steers the song from the moment their beat begins.
★★ ★ ★ ★
One of the most comfortable in-ears we’ve tested, the T20s also have a selection of ten interchangable tips
You can tweak the settings on the T20s with three interchangeable filters – reference, bass and treble
decelerating and broadening in percussive texture. The T20s don’t lose pace – they’re quite capable of expressing the rubato – but are less precise with each glitch and beat as the rhythms grow to near a cacophony.
Bowled over That loss in accuracy is likely due to the rich bass, which the Shures cannot match – nor do they offer the same solidity and warmth to the midrange – but it's enough, along with the less able grasp of subtler dynamics, to have the T20s drop a star. While you can combat this to a point by tweaking the amount of low end via the interchangeable filters – ‘Reference’ filters come attached, but also included are ‘bass’ and ‘treble’ filters – it isn’t drastic enough a change and you sacrifice the overall balance of our preferred choice ‘Reference’. But this is a high four; we like the T20s. They are detailed, punchy, fun and have an impressive amount of low end. Though we’d want a little more to challenge the Award-winning Shure SE425s at this price, we’d be lying if we told you we weren’t bowled over by them. So, how’s that?
KEY FEATURES
39g
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ FILTER CHOICE
SOUND BUILD
STEEL BODY COMFORT
VERDICT If you’re after an entertaining, exciting sound with plenty of detail and low end, the RHA T20 could be your match
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 17
FIRST TEST
Motorola Moto X Force | Smartphone | 34,999
“...ballistic nylon...” FOR Sharp picture; shatterproof screen; expandable storage
Accidents happen. It’s inevitable. That’s why we love it when manufacturers not only keep that in mind, but also show off how much they’ve kept that in mind. Take the Moto X Force. So confident is Motorola that you won’t be able to break its screen, that it is guaranteed against cracking and shattering for four years of 'typical' use. This ruggedness is down to Motorola’s ‘ShatterShield’ technology, a display comprising five layers (instead of the typical three). At the top is a sheet of hardened plastic and glass, followed by a dual touch-sensitive layer, which senses the prod of your fingertips. Underneath that is an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2560x1440, also known as Quad HD. And, finally, an aluminium chassis holds it all together. The plastic layer is userreplaceable, so you could fix any minor damage yourself. This is all on top of Motorola’s approach to building phones. The metal frame is good, but the option to customise the rest of the phone is something special. The Moto Maker website lets you choose a phone back made of tough fabric (‘ballistic nylon’), soft-touch plastic, or leather.
AGAINST Colours could be more natural; poor low-light pics
KEY FEATURES
“This is Motorola’s best smartphone yet. Picture and sound performance could be better, but in almost every other respect it's a remarkable device”
BLUETOOTH
DLNA 24/192 KHz
HI-RES
We all want vibrant colours, but the Moto X Force overdoes it a little and ends up looking not entirely realistic. Skies are a little too blue, street lamps too yellow and there's a slight green tint that prevents whites from achieving a fresh-snow purity. However, we are impressed by the clarity of the screen. QHD resolution and a pixel density of 540 pixels per inch may be overkill for a 5.4in screen, but the image is about as sharp as you get on a smartphone. Sound is also good, but not truly great. There’s clarity and organisation – it’s easy to make out the various textures and vocals,
Plenty of storage space It also lets you upgrade the internal storage from the standard 32GB to 64GB. However, that’s not entirely necessary, because the Moto X Force has what is increasingly rare in the world of premium smartphones: expandable memory. The SIM tray has a secondary slot for microSD cards up to 2TB. To go with its extensive storage capabilities, the Moto X Force has a powerful 3760mAh battery. We play a 720p video on loop for 15 hours and 30 minutes before it gives out. There's also an updated version of Motorola’s TurboPower charging. We go from zero to 20 per cent charge in 10 minutes, and just over 90 per cent in an hour. The phone also offers wireless charging, compatible with QI and PMA type chargers. But when it comes to sound and picture performance, we’d file this under ‘almost there’. There’s much to like, but there are also flaws. The picture demonstrates the typical strengths and weaknesses we’ve seen in phones with AMOLED screens. Contrast is lovely. It’s a more dramatic look than the LCD of an iPhone 6S, with livelier colours, brighter whites and darker blacks.
★★ ★ ★ ★
and they’re not all crammed in there. It is powerful and articulate enough to handle the dynamic shifts of Ennio Morricone’s The Hateful Eight soundtrack, for example. Tonal balance is okay, although the midrange feels a little too keen. Timing could also be a little tighter – we still prefer the iPhone 6S’s rhythmic agility and snap.
Not right in low light The camera is let down by flaws. The 21MP sensor has plenty going for it in good lighting conditions – images are sharp and colours are natural. The default camera software lets you set separate focus and exposure settings but, without optical image stabilisation, it is much harder to achieve sharp images in low light. Overall it is a decent camera, but beaten by those on the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. One area of operation that doesn’t disappoint is the operating system. The Moto X Force ships with Android 5.1 Lollipop, driven by Qualcomm’s 2.0GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM. It can be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which positively flies. What you get is a slick experience free from annoying third-party bloatware – both Samsung and Sony should take note. There’s no doubt this is Motorola's best smartphone yet. Picture and sound performance could be better, but in almost every other respect it's a remarkable device – powerful, smart and shatterproof. Factor in an asking price significantly lower than the flagship competition and you have a force to be reckoned with.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SCREEN SOUND
The Moto X Force is a powerful smartphone with a fine AMOLED screen and it's at a price to get its rivals properly concerned
FEATURES
VERDICT A solid performance and neat customisable features make this smartphone a force to be reckoned with
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 19
FIRST TEST
Samsung UE65JS9000 | SUHD Television | 4,40,900*
“A very tempting proposition indeed” FOR Impressive sharpness; lovely colours; that curve
Samsung had a very good 2015. Its TV range earned a swathe of glowing reviews, including five sets that went on to win What Hi-Fi? Awards. Yes, it’s 2016, which means the new range is due in months. But that doesn’t mean you ought to write off the current models, especially when they have been discounted at several retailers. The UE65JS9000 is very nearly at the top of the Samsung hierarchy. It sits only one step down from the UE65JS9500, which offers slightly more advanced processing. Not that you’ll be left wanting once you clap eyes on the JS9000, which is ranked highly enough to qualify for SUHD status – Samsung’s way of differentiating its very best from ‘regular’ TVs offering 3840 x 2160 Ultra High Definition (usually known as 4K). What does the S stand for? Nobody
AGAINST 3D glasses sold separately; that curve
KEY FEATURES
65IN SCREEN
CURVED
UPGRADABLE
★★ ★ ★ ★
8.3 million pixels, and you get clarity and sharpness in spades. It’s easy to make out the texture of Parmesan cheese on Chef’s Table with virtually no picture noise. As for colours, those nano-crystals give you lush, expressive hues. It’s a wide colour palette – and doesn’t look exaggerated or false.
Detail in the shadows Contrast performance is strong, with no problems juggling bright whites and deep blacks. Those black levels are surprisingly deep for an edge-lit LED panel, with a good amount of detail in shadows, but we don't think this TV goes quite as black as the top-of-the-line Samsung UE65JS9500. This TV is also compatible with High Dynamic Range (HDR). While there is still a dearth of HDR content, what we find
Price for Indian equivalent model Samsung UA65JS9000K
“The Samsung UE65JS9000 worth it? We think so. It is an excellent TV from a series that has done extremely well. We like the big-screen picture, the sound and its smart features” knows. ‘Super’ would make sense but it could easily be ‘Sith’ or ‘Smarties’. In any case, it refers to the use of fancy processing and nano-crystal technology, where a thin layer of the stuff in the display panel emits light in various colours according to their size. SUHD TVs claim to thoroughly embarrass conventional UHD TVs: 64 times the colour expression, 2.5 times the brightness and 10 times darker blacks. While we’re not entirely convinced by those numbers, we can verify that the Samsung UE65JS9000 offers a picture of extraordinary beauty. We begin with UHD footage, because there’s a lot more of it about these days, thanks to the likes of Netflix and Amazon. The Samsung makes the most of those
20 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
Outputs such as USB ports are housed on the ‘One Connect’ box, connected to the TV via a single proprietary cable
on Amazon Instant Video is impressive. The colour gamut is wider and more life-like, while still resisting the temptation to get psychedelic. Step down to Blu-ray and the Samsung proves itself an adept upscaler of Full HD 1080p. It is sharp enough that we don’t feel the need to switch back to UHD. The standard definition you get from DVDs and most TV channels is significantly less clean and defined, as expected. Overall, though, this is a hugely impressive picture. We are surprised by the sound. We’ve come to expect flat TVs to sound thin and hard, but that isn’t the case here.
With Samsung's 8.3 million pixels, you get clarity and sharpness in spades and a wide colour palette that looks convincing There is a 4.2channel sound system, four front-firing drivers and dual subwoofers. It’s not the stuff of a hi-fi system, but the weight, clarity definition and spread mean you don’t need a soundbar straight away.
Check out the curves The design doesn’t wander far from the rest of the 2015 range. Expect a slim bezel and a minimalist Y-shaped stand, with a single point holding the screen up. Some of the lower models in the range had a wobbling issue, but this one is sturdier and heavier. It takes two people to install the thing, especially if you’re wall-mounting. The screen has a curvature of 4200R, which refers to a radius of 4200cm. That means it’s a fairly gentle bend, so you’re not anchored in the central viewing position. But the curve itself isn't necessary, so check it out in a showroom before spending cash. As a member of Samsung’s top tier, the UE65JS9000 is well connected. The highlights are four HDMI sockets, three USB ports (one of them a 3.0), optical digital output and ethernet, as well as aerial
FIRST TEST
IN DETAIL...
We might not know for sure what the 'S' stands for, but SUHD denotes this as one of Samsung’s top sets
The elegant stand design is simple, yet effective. It feels significantly more sturdy than previous efforts
and satellite connections. Samsung maintains the habit of moving all these bits and pieces off-site – you won’t find them on the back of the telly. Instead they are on a separate ‘One Connect’ box, which connects to the TV via a single proprietary cable. This saves space on the TV itself, and it also means you could position the connections somewhere more accessible than down the back of the shelf. Samsung sees these One Connect boxes as an external upgrade option, so you won’t need to buy a new TV just to get the latest connections, chipsets and smart features. Curiously, Samsung doesn’t seem to think much of 3D’s longevity. This set supports active 3D, but no glasses are provided.
USE IT WITH
though navigation isn’t the smoothest. Even with the set’s octa-core processor we experience the occasional lag and stutter. By contrast, LG’s WebOS is silky smooth. Is the Samsung UE65JS9000 worth it? We think so. It is an excellent TV from the top of a series that has done extremely well. We like the big-screen picture, we like the sound, and we like its smart features. Factor in the drop in price and this becomes a very tempting proposition indeed.
Netflix 800pm Our 2015 Awardwinner is the complete video streaming service
The Samsung comes with a choice of remote controls – both are nicely designed and simple to use
Smarter navigation Samsung’s operating system, Tizen, looks remarkably similar to LG’s Web OS. The idea is that you can jump between apps, TV programmes and physical inputs as easily as flicking between channels. No longer are you booted off whatever you’re watching and made to watch a loading screen while the TV brings up a ‘smart’ landing page. You navigate the options on a pop-up menu, like the ones on a Blu-ray disc – all without interrupting your current programming. It’s useful,
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★★ PICTURE SOUND
There are volume and channel controls on the rear panel, which can be used should you misplace both remotes
FEATURES
VERDICT A top-tier 4K TV with superb picture and sound, plus smart features, now available for less? It’s hugely tempting
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 21
FIRST TEST
Apple iPhone 5SE | Smartphone | 39,000
Star of the small screen FOR Small screen; good spec; decent camera; battery life
AGAINST Contrast could be better; audio lacks dynamics
★★ ★ ★ ★
It’s a sign of the times when a smartphone coming in at over 35,000 for the basic model is described as cheap. The iPhone 5SE isn’t cheap, but it is, on paper at least, the best-value iPhone we’ve ever seen. It’s actually Apple’s second stab at the more affordable market – the first being the misjudged iPhone 5C in 2013, which managed to be both overpriced and underfeatured for those who could afford it. This time, Apple seems to have the balance just right. Yes, it looks just like a phone first released almost four years ago, but a well-loved design combined with a spec sheet that could be mistaken for that of the iPhone 6S sounds pretty promising.
Pocket-friendly price The iPhone 5SE looks and feels identical to the 5 and 5S with a few subtle differences, including the edges being matte-chamfered. Otherwise it’s business as usual when it comes to button placement, so any iPhone 5/5S accessories should fit the 5SE too. It feels small, but that will please those who aren’t fans of the current trend for ‘bigger is better’ handsets. Coming from the larger 6S, texting does feel strange at first, but we’re soon back to typing without issue. The 4in screen is the same display as that in the 5 and 5S, which means it takes a dip in resolution from the 750 x 1334 screen of the 6S to 640 x 1136. It keeps the same 326ppi Retina display and we don’t notice huge differences in the detail levels. Brightness doesn’t go quite as high, so viewing the screen outside in sunlight can prove a little tricky, and viewing angles aren’t as strong. We notice a difference in colour and contrast, too. Blacks don’t go as inky deep on the 5SE and whites aren’t as pure and bright, something that shows up more when viewing black text on white webpages than when watching videos. Colours lack the punch of the 6S, making pictures a little flat in comparison. There’s still plenty of detail, and colours are wonderfully judged, but it falls behind the screens on the pricier iPhones. We’re no longer sold on the idea of a 4in screen for watching video either – the larger 6S or 6S Plus make for more immersive experiences. Finally, Apple has done away with the 3D Touch of the iPhone 6S, so there’s no ‘peek and pop’ here. However, that’s a premium feature and one we’re happy to give up for a more pocket-friendly price tag.
22 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
“A well-loved design, combined with the spec sheet of the iPhone 6S, sounds very promising” One of the biggest things the 5SE has going for it is that it packs just as much horsepower as the iPhone 6S, with Apple’s 64-bit A9 chip and M9 co-processor on board, alongside 2GB RAM. That’s two times faster CPU and three times faster GPU performance than the iPhone 5S.
It’s business as usual for button placement – good news for those with iPhone 5 accessories
KEY FEATURES
The smaller screen ekes out the battery life too, offering an improvement over the 6S. We usually find ourselves reaching for the charger for the 6S midway through the day, but notice the 5SE holding on for longer. Apple’s TouchID fingerprint scanner appears on the 5SE for both security and Apple Pay functionality, however, it's a little slower than the one on the 6S as it uses the previous generation’s scanner. We’ve always praised the audio on iPhones, but the 5SE leaves us a little disappointed. It’s still a crisp, precise and well-timed performance, but the 6S overshadows it in almost every other way. Listen to an orchestral piece, such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and dynamically the iPhone 6 leaves the 5SE for dust. Not only does it portray soft and loud better, but its sense of scale and instrument separation is better. There’s also more subtle detail on the iPhone 6S – voices have more insight and there’s more texture and tonal differentiation in the guitar strums and piano notes, which the 5SE glosses over. The main camera on the 5SE is the same 12MP camera as on the 6S, with 4K video recording (up from 1080p on the 5S) and dual-LED flash. Apple has chosen to leave the 5S’s lo-res 1.2MP front-facing snapper on the 5SE instead of upgrading to the 5MP iSight camera on the 6S. There’s a difference in quality here, especially in low light. The iPhone 5SE may seem like the best value iPhone, but that doesn’t mean it comes without compromises. From an audio perspective, it is beaten by its pricier sibling and that 4in screen won’t be for everyone either. But if size doesn’t matter and you want the best, the higher-end iPhone is where it’s at. There’s a 10,000 difference upfront for the 64GB model. We’d go for that option – your movies and music will thank you for it.
4in SCREEN
Size doesn't matter This, combined with a smaller screen, makes for a quick and smooth experience with no hesitation whether you're moving between apps or swiping through menus. Games play smoothly and webpages load quickly too – most noticeably Safari is able to keep multiple tabs loaded in the background without the need to refresh them, allowing for faster page switching than was possible on the 5S.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ 640 X 1136 RESOLUTION
SCREEN SOUND FEATURES
12MP CAMERA
VERDICT The 5SE is a fine phone for those who want a small screen. Its pricier sibling does better with audio and video though
FIRST TEST
Q Acoustics Media 4 | Soundbar | 45,000
First impressions are the best FOR Great dispersion of sound; AGAINST No HDMI inputs; Weighty, powerful bass Size won’t suit everyone
The Media 4 was Q Acoustics' first foray into the brave new world of soundbars, and a successful one at that. But this hasn't stopped the company from cutting the price of the bar, giving you an extra reason to take the plunge.
Trapey design The Q Acoustics Media 4, or ‘QM4’ as it’s referred to in the company’s literature, should be a good fit for 40in TVs and larger – it looks reasonably compact from the front, but the trapezoidal cabinet actually extends back around 14cm. Using this shape allows enough room for a large elliptical subwoofer to sit in the back of the cabinet. A couple of 6.5cm BMR drivers (Balanced Mode Radiators) are the final pieces in this 2.1 soundbar. The relatively simple, unfussy design is mirrored in the features and functionality on offer. Some may be disappointed by the lack of HDMI inputs – this means you have to connect all your kit into the TV, and then run a digital optical cable (supplied in the box) from the back of the set into the QM4 soundbar. On the plus side, you do get aptX Bluetooth support and the convenience of near-field communication (NFC) pairing, which works with compatible smartphones and tablets.
Composed performer IIt’s a huge step up from conventional flatscreen sound, bringing the full-bodied, nicely rounded character we’ve come to expect from the company’s stereo speakers into a soundbar setting. Play the last couple
of chapters of G.I. Joe: Retaliation and, as our heroes gatecrash Cobra Command’s world summit and Roadblock blasts his way through the enemy tanks, the internal subwoofer gets to work. It reinforces explosions and heavy gunfire with real weight and delivers the action with great gusto. Compared with a rival product, such as the Yamaha YSP-1400 for example, you get less of a sense of sound-effects panning around you, but the Q Acoustics does a better job of delivering solidity and authority. It manages to convey a real sense
★★ ★ ★ ★ KEY FEATURES
excellent option in an already enviable product range. It’s sensibly priced and sounds fantastic, so we would happily part with our hard-earned cash. It’s a great unit for the price.
BLUETOOTH WIDE CONNECTIVITY
“Highs don’t sound bright or aggressive and dialogue doesn’t struggle, but instead manages to come across clearly” of excitement and drama. And, even in the midst of all that on-screen action, the Media 4 keeps its composure. Highs don’t sound bright or aggressive and dialogue doesn’t struggle, but instead manages to come across clearly, and when we play Eminem’s Without Me over Bluetooth the Media 4 shows a tuneful side to its character, too. There’s a decent level of detail in the track and the soundbar’s powerful and agile bass keeps the music bouncing along. Turn up the volume and the soundbar doesn’t flinch at the challenge, and at low levels there’s no shortage of detail or dynamics. Q Acoustics is in a rich vein of form at the moment – and the Media 4 is just another
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT Q Acoustics has taken its stereo speaker expertise and put it to great use
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 23
OF 4K
THE RISE
For a few years, ‘4K is coming’ has been the cry. But with more content now available, that day may finally be here The next phase of home entertainment is in full swing. 4K TVs, Ultra HD TVs, whatever you want to call them: they’re no longer an upcoming fad, because they’re here. They are the reality and there is no going back. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this stunning new LG OLED 4K TV which
finally debuted here a few days back. The series comprises of the all new G6 and E6 series TVs. HAve an up close look at the flagship G6 Signature 4K OLED TV and simply put, it offeres the best black levels we have seen yet. The picture quality offered by the OLED screen is ethereal. Colour contrast is spot on and the
INSIDER
4K CONTENT IS GROWING
The most persistent obstacle to 4K TVs was a lack of content, but that’s no longer true. Ultra HD content is here... • For years, we were confined to a Netflix stream of House of Cards Season 2 • Amazon has joined the throng with many TV shows and a growing library of 4K films • YouTube has lots of free content. Some of the footage from 4K drones is stunning • 4K coverage of Euro 2016 is rumoured (but sadly not the Rio Olympics)
4K STREAMING IS ON THE RISE
Our first 4K TV reviews spoke exclusively of House of Cards Season 2 on Netflix. Now with Amazon on board we have crime thrillers (Bosch, Narcos), drama comedies (Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle) and a couple of superhero yarns (Daredevil, Jessica Jones) – plus 4K films too. YouTube also has plenty of user-made 4K content too
INSIDER
imagery dazzles the senses. The TV even sports a soundbar, which is beautifully integrated to the base. The set supports 4K Ultra HD resolution and high dynamic range (HDR). The G6 is certified as UHD Premium by the UHD Alliance, the series even supports DolbyVision technology, which makes it future ready. Content built for the tech will be out soon with Marco Polo on Netflix and The Jungle Book on cinema joining the party.Both the TVs in the Signature collection feature LG’s new webOS 3.0 smart TV platform, which in its current iteration makes finding and switching between LG’s expanded content options a truly speedy affair.
So is this the time to get on board? We think so. That’s not to say everybody needs to buy a 4K TV right now, but for those keeping a wary eye out for the opportune moment, this is it. Be optimistic. We’re pleased and relieved to say the market is now stable and growing. Buy a premium 4K/HDR TV in 2016 and you will not be left out to dry. Here is everything you need to know about the state of 4K TVs, and why this is a very good time to switch on.
All in it together It’s a good sign when everybody puts their full weight behind something, and by ‘everybody’ we mean the big five TV manufacturers: Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sony and Philips. The bulk of their offerings are 4K TVs, from the fanciest flagship to the bottom of the mid-range. By this point the Ultra HD revolution is so far along that you’ve got to buy something pretty unspectacular to avoid 4K – generally the smaller screen sizes and lower price tiers, where ‘mere’ Full HD TVs find themselves these days.
“The question is no longer whether you’re ready for 4K, but whether 4K is ready for you. Is this the time to get on board? We think it is” The price is right now Of course this also means new HDTVs have never been so affordable, which must surely be tempting – but one must consider futureproofing. There’s no doubt about it: 4K is a growing trend, and there’s only more of it on the way. Prices started high, as they always do, but they’ve tumbled. One of the 65in Korean flagships came out in 2014 at roughly 4,00,000. The 2015 equivalent is about 3,14,900. It’s no pocket change by any means but it’s a realistic ask, especially considering these are the big premium models. The smaller mid-range ones? There are some 40in 4K beauties that cost way lesser. Then you’ve got cut-price newcomers getting in on the action.
4K actually works! UHD BLU-RAY IS HERE
The first 4K Blu-ray player from Panasonic and so far three major studios (Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures) have committed to UHD Blu-ray
We’ve been streaming 4K via Netflix for a while now and can verify that it works, because it has been our principal means of testing 4K TVs. But wasn’t always this way. Some of the first 4K TVs we received were not
able to decode Netflix 4K. There were issues with HDCP 2.2 (a type of copy protection) and HEVC (a form of compression) that was needed for it to work. At times, the little 4K content that existed simply could not be played back. Thankfully, these specifications became a requirement for anything claiming 4K compatibility and now there’s an official spec from the UHD Alliance. These days, every 4K TV we receive is able to stream 4K from Netflix and Amazon. No problem. Oh, and we just received shipment of a 4K Panasonic Blu-ray player. That works too.
More content The most stubborn obstacle to 4K TVs has been a lack of content, but that’s no longer the case. Ultra HD content is here, whether it’s House of Cards Season 4 on Netflix, or crime thrillers (Bosch, Narcos), and films on Amazon or even YouTube, which has plenty of free content. There is also 4K broadcasting, with Tata SKY, Videocon d2h ramping up the level of 4K content. One thing we truly looked forward to was the broadcast of the upcoming Olympics in 4K. However that plan has been shelved. Then there’s the matter of UHD Blu-rays, with the first eight 4K discs due on sale now.
High dynamic range It’s not just the number of pixels that count, but also how hard they work. HDR (High Dynamic Range) expands the contrast and colour range, making for a more realistic picture. Why does this have to do with 4K? Because the latest batch of premium 4K TVs will be HDR-compatible. Amazon is currently the only streaming service to offer HDR content, but HDR is also built into the specification of UHD Blu-rays. Every 4K disc will offer greater brightness and dynamic contrast than regular Blu-rays. See, it’s a two-pronged attack. Even if the extra sharpness does nothing for you, you’ll still see the next-gen difference.
Seize the moment That’s the state of 4K TVs in a nutshell, and we think it’s a pretty picture. There’s no shortage of hardware. The supply of software is growing. You’ve got different parties talking to one another to make sure it all works, while prices tumble towards the sensible and accessible. Curved screens are going away, and meanwhile there’s going to be a surge in brightness and colour. The question is no longer whether you’re ready for 4K, but whether 4K is
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 25
INSIDER
PALM EXPO 2016 : IT'S BACK AND HOW
Country's premier B2B pro Audio, Video and Light expo is ready to roll out the big guns
Come 26th May 2016, the doors to the coutry's biggest and most eagerly awaited expo will be thrown open for all purveyors and fans of pro audio, pro lighting, AV install and music production platforms and more. Having grown bigger and better over the years, with a dedicated fan following of sorts that regularly return to the show, year after year, the Palm Expo, held in Mumbai, is the one place where the biggest to the smallest players get to interact and show-off their arsenal to a more than willing audience, thus making it the best entry point for global brands to annouce it's entry into the country. But the Palm Expo is more than just a place for brands to peacock. With attractive, interactive and fun avenues such as the Harman-sponsored 'Live Arena' which has always seen the best live acts of the country, come and play to their heart's content. A recent favourite and continuous feature since the last two years, the Demo Cube, is a concept where two major brands – Pope Professional and Hi-Tech Audio for 2016 – will have a 'live' demo area. Meaning in this acoustically treated area, speakers from the brands can be manipulated to perform by controlling various parameters so as to fully guage their output. The cube is the best place for brands to showcase their prowess as they can perform without any disturbance from ambient noise. A crowd favourite, the 26 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
'Open Air Line Array Demo' features arrays from more than 12 brands, each performing for a stipulated period of time for the pure enthrallment of array-enthusiasts. With seminars, awards, demonstrations and a whole lot more on the agenda, Palm Expo is back, and how!
INSIDER
ASUS LAUNCHES A LUNCHBOX-PROJECTOR Announces an LED projector with ultra-short-throw lens and 800 lumen brightness A projector that fits in the palm of the hand is no biggie in 2016, specially with examples from China aplenty. But when industry experts Asus make a noise about it, it catches our eye. The P3B ultra-short-throw battery-powered projector, which Asus claims is compact and lightweight. The P3B provides WXGA-resolution (1280 x 800) images with a maximum brightness of 800 lumens. The ultra-short-throw lens means the Asus P3B projects images measuring 25in (0.45m) to 200in (3.4m) at close range. The P3B weighs just 750g and measures just 153.5 x 43 x 131.2mm – giving it a footprint similar to a CD case and can work on a built-in 12,000mAh rechargeable battery that provides up to 3 hours of cable-free projection time. You can also use the puny unit as a power bank incase your phone runs out of juice thanks to the USB output available at the back of the unit. The ASUS P3B has an optional Wi-Fi adapter for wireless connections or if you're old school and like hard-wiring your stuff, you can use the HDMI/MHL and VGA ports. There's also a microSD slot available for direct play for when you slot in one and a USB port is also provided along with 2GBs of internal storage on the P3B itself. It covers just about all connections you can think of and it probably should considering it will cost a whopping
60,500 when it launches next month. Now, we already have a review unit and a hefty review is underway. A bit of a spoiler? Its carry case looks exactly like a lunch box you'd carry to work. Sigh.
Our award-winning DAC finds new ways to enter our home and lives We've not held back with our praise for this British hi-fi manufacturer. After winning award after award, the hi-fi electronic giant has tied hands with local distributor headphonezone.in for the sale of the Chord Mojo. In case you didn't know – the Mojo is a contraction of ‘Mobile Joy’, and is a headphone amplifier and DAC (digital-toanalogue convertor) that lets smartphones deliver music content at up to studio-master-tape quality. And with a price as affordable as 39,990, any self-respecting audiophile should have this in the pocket.
KRK’ss new headphones are KRK a for the truly discerning With a brand profile that’s built on being studio-centric, the KNS 8400 are the latest pair of cans that stay true to the calling card of a brand like KRK. Claimed to have accurate, natural and wide frequency response with precise imaging and extended LF response along with high isolation for both noise rejection and leakage, these closed back circumaural headphones are indeed for the discerning, aka pro-audio industry professionals. Priced at 15,499 (bajaao.com) look out for a review of these over-ear headphones that feature a pair of 40mm neodymium drivers. May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 27
INSIDER
ATC announce Signature Edition to commemorate founder’s birthday
Sony launches MDR-100ABN noise-cancelling headphones With the launch of the MDR-100ABN, Sony has finally taken a plunge into the noise cancellation segment in a big way. Featuring Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, the MDR-100ABN can also be used with the included cable. The MDR houses 40mm HD drivers, a mic, Automatic AI Noise Cancellation and support for SBC, AAC, aptX and LDAC codecs.
Say hello to the CarPlay-supporting Pioneer AVIC-F80BT Pioneer’s new AVIC-F80BT car infotainment system is now available in India. With a 7in touchscreen, this Apple CarPlay unit supports Bluetooth, dual USB, 13-band equaliser, touch slide crossover settings and offers steering wheel controls for selected cars. Apart from this, the in-built mapping features offer offline navigation for over 7000 cities and 500,000 towns and villages across India.
Harman launches limited-edition AR Rahman-autographed headphones Fans of maestro AR Rahman can check out JBL’s new Raaga Synchros S500AR Limited Edition. Autographed by the Academy Award winner, the new limited edition headphones feature LiveStage signal processing, a lightweight steel headband, PureBass support, 50mm drivers and leather ear cushions. Using a detachable cable, the Raaga Synchros S500AR are available in both Android and iOS variants.
28 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
To mark the 70th birthday of founder and Managing Director, Billy Woodman, ATC has launched a Signature Edition loudspeaker – the SCM10SE. The SCM10SE is based on the older but highly acclaimed SMC10 mini monitor from 1990. With a fulgent ATC Blue piano finish, the SCM10SE features an anodised silver aluminium tweeter wave guide and a SH25-76S ‘S-Spec’ 25mm soft dome tweeter in dual-suspension design with a complementary SB45-125SC 125mm mid/bass unit, replete with an integral soft dome. With a fine grain blue leather baffle hand-finished by Eissmann (who’s a supplier of interior trims for uber-luxurious car brands such as Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini and McLaren), the SCM10SE proprietary drivers and crossovers, re-designed for the drive units employ ATC’s hand-wound air-core inductors with polypropylene capacitors throughout. These have been developed and built at the brand’s UK-based production facility in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The limited edition monitor will see only 70 pairs, each supplied with a little bit of information tracing Billy Woodman’s career path. As with all ATC products, the SCM10SE will also be backed by a six-year warranty. Chennai-based Cinema Focus is the distributor for ATC products in India.
Google launches new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio Get multi-room music with the Chromecast Audio. Google has introduced its updated Chromecast video streaming stick to the Indian market. Also new to India is the Chromecast Audio, which offers users the ability to stream audio from a wide range of sources. The refreshed Chromecast for video builds on the original’s streaming prowess by including support for dual-band Wi-Fi, along with 802.11ac. Google promises better network performance thanks to an adaptive antenna system, along with faster Chrome tab mirroring, a sleeker design for easier installation, and extended support for game streaming to your TV. Google also says users will be able to take advantage of improved content discovery through the redesigned Cast app. The all-new Chromecast Audio has also arrived in India, with the promise of enabling streaming audio on non-wireless speakers. The Chromecast Audio
connects to media players and phones over Wi-Fi and includes optical, 3.5mm and RCA connections to speakers. Other features include ‘music mirroring’ for Android apps that don’t support Casting, multi-room audio and guest mode. Along with the launch of the two new devices, buyers can also avail of promotional offers from services like Hooq and Saavn.
INSIDER
NORDOST CABLES COMES A-CALLING
Innovative Information Technology organises impressive Nordost 'show and tell' Known world over as the pioneers that came out with the first Flatline Speaker cables, high end audio and video cable brand Nordost was the star of the evening at a demonstration organised by its local distributor, Innovative Information Technology. Since designing the flat FEP cables, which employed space age-technology, that was initially made for the aerospace industry, Nordost has only grown from strength to strength and branched out into new categories like interconnects, power cords, power purifiers, power strips and resonance-control products like still points among others. Mr. Alex Brady, International Sales and Product Trainer from Nordost walked stalwarts of the industry through a series of demonstrations that did justice to the range of products on display, with each product showing a discerning change to the output when integrated into the system. Harping on what Nordost believes as ‘The Foundation of Great Sound’, power strips from it’s QRT range of power products and cables, first set the
pace. Also showcased were interconnects and unique speaker cables from its entry, mid and flagship series such as Leif, Norse 2, Valhalla 2 and Odin. The flat speaker cables employed silver-plated, OFC solid core conductors treated with Nordost’s precision FEP extrusion process, where each conductor is individually enclosed in FEP insulation. Finally, showing their unique approach to vibration-related solutions, three varieties of stillpoints from the Sort Kone series – bronze, aluminium and titanium – showed their mettle as they were employed in various combinations to achieve desired audio output. That concluded an impressive launch from an impressive brand.
Nativ Sound launches crowdfunded high-res audio gear Hong-Kong based Nativ Sound has taken the crowdfunding route (via Indiegogo) for its new Vita and Wave products. The Vita control centre and media player feature an 11.6in touchscreen and can be used to play back audio from NAS drives and streaming services to A/V receivers or wireless speakers. The Vita also has its own hard drive and support for 802.11ac wi-fi. Along with this, Native has also introduced the Wave DAC and headphone amp with support for DSD, DXD and MQA codecs.
Sansui updates its TV range with 10 new models Celebrating three years of association with IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, Sansui recently added 10 new models to its TV range. The new models include 4K Ultra HD LED sets, Smart Connect sets and Full HD sets, with the highlight of the range being the Curve 4K Ultra HD TV with a gold-colour bezel. Features of the new range-topper include a 65in curved panel, 4K resolution, 3D and built-in Wi-Fi. Speaking at the launch, Sansui’s COO, Amitabh Tiwari, also stated that the Japanese home entertainment maker was aiming to capture a 10 percent of the TV market this year.
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 29
INSIDER
INSIDER
TOP FIVE
1 Onkyo headphones TBA Onkyo’s new headphones comprise on-, over- and in-ear designs. Sitting at the top of the range are the premium A800s, with an open-back design, 50mm drivers and leather headband with velvet and memory foam earpads.
LAUNCHES
Five of the best new products this month
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3 ATC SCM19AT 5,52,000 ATC has enlarged its Award-winning SCM19 standmounters with the introduction of the SCM19 active tower (AT) speakers. They come with a new one metre-high cabinet and biamp packs to power each driver.
2 2 Spec RSP 901EX 3,85,000 Spec Corp categorises these as a class D, Real-Sound AmpliďŹ er. Designed by the legendary Mr. Shirokazu Yazaki, the RSP 901EX is an 'impedance compensator' that works in a similar way as a loudspeaker's crossover. Distributed by Absolute Phase, the change in output is claimed to be phenomenal.
4 Avid Diva II 1,05,000 The Diva II harbours many of the design elements found in pricier Avid turntables. With a foundation made from a single piece of aluminium casting with a sapphire bearing and a matt cork composite, MDF platter construction, among other features, make this a turntable to reckon with.
3
4 5 Clearaudio record cleaning machine TBA Fed up of your vinyl collection picking up dust and dirt? Then the Double Matrix Professional Sonic is for you. It features a double-sided vacuum cleaner and a sonic element that uses vibrations to loosen the dirt from the record's grooves.
5
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 31
STEREO SPEAKERS
finest
ROUND-UP
Hi-fi’s
These are the elite – the best you can buy. From small desktops to mighty floorstanders, we’ve picked the 20 best speakers on the market, from 16,000 to 3 Lacs. All you need to do is pick a pair
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Wharfedale DS-1 Q Acoustics 3020 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Dali Zensor 3 Q Acoustics Concept 20 KEF Egg B&W 685 S2 Q Acoustics 3050 Triangle Esprit Titus EZ Neat Iota KEF LS50 Q Acoustics Concept 40 Tannoy Revolution XT 6F Neat Motive SX3 ProAc Studio 118 B&W 683 S2 ATC SCM11 Tannoy Revolution XT 8F PMC Twenty 22 ATC SCM19
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Wharfedale DS-1 16,500 (Approx.) The Award-winning Wharfedale DS-1s are what we’d call the ideal desktop size: tiny. They look like miniature versions of the equally decorated Diamond 220s. They also benefit from their siblings’ hi-fi pedigree. These DS-1s have a mature presentation that gives them the upper hand against budget rivals. They’re small, yet produce a very grown-up sound. We’re hardly expecting a huge spread of sound, given their diminutive stature and 14W of internal power, but the DS-1s go fairly loud when the volume is cranked up. The tonal balance is wonderfully even – there are no spiky edges to the treble, nor does the bassline boom.
Engaging attention to detail They’re detailed and agile as well, with voices firmly placed in the centre and instruments spaced cohesively in a wellbalanced soundfield. We could spend hours listening without losing interest. The bassline in Beck’s Where It’s At is taut and nimble, the hand-claps having just the right amount of bite to drive the rhythm along. Stream Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You via Spotify, and the delicate vocals are crystal clear and expressive.
Things can sound a touch too mature at times, and we’d urge these speakers to have a bit more fun, but it’s a small grumble given how capable and detailed the DS-1s are at this money. As for connectivity, Wharfedale keeps it simple with just Bluetooth streaming (of the higher-quality aptX variety) and a 3.5mm input for hardwiring music players. They’re NFC-enabled, too, so if you have a compatible smartphone, just tap it to the left speaker for connection. It has also kept the fascia clear of any controls or dials, which is a smart decision. There’s only a bright LED at the bottom to indicate if you’re using Bluetooth or the 3.5mm input (green). In summation, these Wharfedales look smart, sound terrific and they cost just 16,500. It’s a no-brainer, really.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT Don’t be fooled by the DS-1s’ diminutive stature – these speakers offer a very grown-up sound at a budget price
Finely balanced
The smooth treble and taut, yet agile, bass produce a tonal balance that’s rare at this price
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The tweeter uses a diaphragm that aims to combine the best of ring-radiator and dome designs
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The 3020 is part of Q Acoustics’ 3000 Series. The larger of the standmounting options, there’s a familiar look about these speakers but otherwise almost everything else stands apart. The 3020s aren’t particularly picky about positioning. We prefer them around 15cm from a back wall, but they sound tonally balanced even well out into the room. The tweeter’s dispersion characteristics – it uses a diaphragm that aims to combine the best of ring radiator and dome designs – mean that exact toe-in angle isn’t critical. They just render a wide and cohesive stereo image without much effort.
Width, depth and focus Play Prokofiev’s Romeo And Juliet and the 3020s deliver a wide, deep soundstage populated by nicely layered and precisely focused instruments. We’re impressed by the dynamics on offer, as the 3020s deliver the music’s crescendos with confidence while rendering low-level subtleties with a skill quite outside the scope of most rivals. We listen to Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song and love the way these
speakers handle the genuine emotion in Springsteen’s vocals as he mourns the loss of his friend. The tweeter does its job well here, delivering all the bite we expect without overplaying the recording’s occasional hard edge. Move up a gear to Radio Nowhere and the Qs show they can rock too. They motor along with this track, delivering plenty in the way of dynamics and attack. We listen to a range of music, from the sparsely produced Coexist from The xx to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and these little gems never fail to please. For their size they deliver a decent dose of low-end punch, and are loud enough for most situations. Partner the Q Acoustics 3020 speakers with a bit of care and you’ll get a quality of sound that’s well beyond the typical.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT A lesson in how to punch above your weight. Worthy winners of our 2015 Best Stereo Speaker under 30k Award
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 33
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STEREO SPEAKERS
If these new Bronze 2s give you a strong sense of déjà vu, that’s exactly what Monitor Audio intended. Seeing no reason to mess with a successful formula, the company has chosen the door marked ‘evolution’ and introduced a whole raft of engineering changes, making these arguably the most complete Bronze standmounters yet. The big news is that both drive units are new. They still use Monitor Audio’s trademark C-CAM (ceramic-coated aluminium magnesium) diaphragms, but beyond that much has been revised. The 16.5cm mid/bass now has a dished cone, without the traditional dustcapcovered hole in the centre, which not only helps rigidity but also gives a greater radiating area and better control at the top end of the driver’s frequency range. The surround has been redesigned to make the most of this change.
The pressure’s off There’s also a new venting system behind the diaphragm of the gold dome tweeter that leaks air into a rear chamber. This prevents air being compressed behind the dome, reducing distortion, improving dynamics and lowering unwanted mechanical resonances. Rated at 90dB/W/m sensitivity with an 8 ohm impedance, the Bronze 2s offer decent volume levels with any amplifier capable of around 30W per channel power output. It’s worth playing around with the toe-in angle to firm up the stereo imaging, but these speakers aren’t especially demanding – we find they achieve the best balance around 30cm out into the room. Biwiring is also beneficial, improving openness and delivering a little more finesse. Once up and running, their delivery isn’t showy, but give the Bronzes a little time and you’ll realise there’s real depth of talent here. We begin with Debussy’s Clair De Lune and these Monitor Audios sail through the test. They have delicacy when
Very dishy In order to acheive a greater radiating area and better higher frequencies, the mid/ bass driver now has a dished cone
ATC B&W Dali KEF EF M Monito Audio NEAT ProAc T Tannoy Triangle Q Acoustics required and handle dynamics deftly. There’s plenty of insight here, from the way the trailing edges of the piano notes fade gracefully into silence to the ability to track subtle pace changes. It’s a spellbinding performance, out of keeping from what we normally hear at this level. A move to Hans Zimmer’s Inception OST allows these standmounters to show off their assured bass. Low frequencies are articulate and delivered with plenty of control. This confident low-end performance gives urgent, bass-driven tracks such as Mombasa a firm foundation and real authority.
KEY FEATURES
TWO-WAY
BIWIRABLE 90 DB/W/M SENSITIVITY
SYSTEM BUILDER
We’re impressed by the Bronze 2’s ability to stay composed, even at high volumes, and by the scale of their presentation. For the most part there are no rough edges here – this is a carefully honed pair of speakers that brim with refinement. There’s still plenty of attack though, and a fine sense of drive. Rhythmically, these speakers have a good amount of precision and communicate momentum well.
In deep For their size, these speakers dig deep in the bass – they’re tonally balanced and impressively detailed too. Add fine build and Monitor Audio’s usual high standard of finish and there’s much to applaud here. Previous generations of Bronze 2s were class leaders. This is too.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ CD player Marantz CD6005 47,900 ★★ ★ ★ ★ A wonderfully musical player. Its spacious delivery complements the Bronze 2s’ insight
34 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
St lifi Stereo amplifier Marantz PM6005 47,900 ★★ ★ ★ ★ This Marantz is still one of the best performers under 50k. Superb sound quality
VERDICT An object lesson in how to take a great-sounding speaker and refine it further. Arguably the best Bronzes yet
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DALI Zensor 3 33,000 To put it simply, these are stonkingly good speakers. They’re engaging and enjoyable enough that we find ourselves going through entire albums at a time, nearly forgetting that we are meant to be testing them. Out of the box, the Zensor 3s don’t sound particularly refined or fluid. Give them a good long run-in though – a weekend should do the trick – and you’re in for a treat.
Bigger than you think The first thing that strikes you is the scale. The soundstage is wide open, and there’s ample headroom too. If you like your speakers toed in, don’t. The Zensor 3s prefer to fire straight ahead, rather than inwards. Sound is nicely dispersed, and the presentation is airy. It’s a balanced sound. There’s a crisp top-end and a sweet midrange. The bass response is stunning for the size of the cabinets: there’s plenty of deep, tight bass that’s rich without ever getting heavy. It’s nearly impossible not to be moved by the Zensor 3s’ take on an orchestra: the power on hand, combined with that scale, is deeply impressive.
It’s an easy listen too, and never tiring. These are upbeat speakers, and music is handled with an infectious enthusiasm. We put that down to the combination of energy and punchy dynamics. Such is their authority and exuberance, we find ourselves rapt with attention. You also get plenty of detail and a high level of clarity. It’s easy to pick out the individual parts of even the most complex tracks. Play Atoms For Peace’s Ingenue and the bizarre percussion in the background is clearly a load of water drops. It’s not overly analytical, however. Disparate elements work together with excellent timing and organisation, and come across as a cohesive whole. It’s not the very last word in poise and precision but, then again, we are so busy having fun we aren’t really bothered.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT Spacious and punchy, these speakers will help you wring every last drop of fun and energy from your music
Face the front
Unlike most speakers, the Zensor 3s sound best facing straight ahead rather than toed in slightly
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Gelcore is the key to the cabinet, reducing the amount of energy travelling between the inner and outer enclosures
In simple terms the Concept 20s are essentially the Award-winning 2020is with a better cabinet. It’s amazing how much difference a cabinet makes. Such is their dynamic verve and clarity throughout the frequency range that we are repeatedly drawn into listening to complete albums. The Concept 20s sound all of a piece – seamless, in fact – and have a consistency of character from the deepest bass upwards that’s rarely heard at this (indeed any) price.
Subtle yet punchy enough
The presentation is articulate and subtle yet has the punch and attack to satisfy, even when we listen to the likes of The Dead Weather’s 60 Feet Tall. There’s a measured hand when it comes to rhythms, but changes in pace in the music are easily heard. It’s the transparency that impresses most, though. That new cabinet plays a key role: there really is the feeling the enclosure isn’t contributing much to the final sound at all. The result is a high level of precision, excellent definition and the ability to play complex music without a loss of organisation.
The Concept 20s are immensely composed, even when pushed hard, and can fill most rooms with a scale and volume of sound that seems scarcely credible from such a small cabinet. Another benefit of that cabinet design is stereo imaging: these speakers are brilliantly precise, throwing out a huge soundstage populated by pleasingly focused instruments. Such is these Q Acoustics’ spread of talents that they sound at home with all types of music. They have the insight and finesse to deliver Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata with real grace while being more than happy to charge along to the likes of N.W.A. How much difference does a cabinet make? When it comes to the Concept 20 we’d say a massive amount.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT That trick cabinet better allows the 20s to stand aside and just let the music shine through with clarity and refinement
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 35
ATC B&W Dali KEF EF Monito M Audio NEAT ProAc T Tannoy Ta Triangle Q Acoustics Wharfedale ATC B&W Dal Dali DESKTOP WONDERS KEF M it A di NEAT KEF Egg 39,000 STEREO SPEAKERS
When we hear the phrase ‘KEF Eggs’, the company’s popular 5.1 surround speaker packages come to mind. Those speakers picked up the affectionate nickname from reviewers and owners alike, thanks to their egg-shaped design. Although KEF initially seemed uncertain about the name, it has now acknowledged it entirely, officially naming this new system, the ‘KEF Egg Wireless Digital Music System’. Catchy. It’s a wireless and powered 2.0 offering. The emphasis here is on flexibility – no longer are you tied down to a traditional hi-fi set-up. You can use these with computers, portable devices and TVs.
Powered partners Though they look the same at a glance, all the processing takes place at the foot of the master unit (right)
Trademark tweeter design Peel off the speaker grilles and you’ll find KEF’s trademark Uni-Q driver, which has a tweeter placed in the middle of the mid/bass driver and is designed to aid dispersion and integration. The tweeter is internally vented to prevent (potentially distorting) high pressures from building up behind the dome. The tangerine-shaped waveguide position in front of the tweeter helps spread the sound for wider and more even dispersion. The ‘Z-flex’ cone around the mid/bass diaphragm limits secondary radiation. The midrange/bass cone is made of aluminium to retain stiffness, and there’s also a damping ring to control resonances. The two KEF Eggs look identical at a glance, but this is actually a master/slave system. One does the heavy lifting and passes information to the other. All processing takes place in the foot of the master unit, which features a mains input, mini USB input and an output for connecting to the slave unit, plus a subwoofer output for (optionally) adding lower frequencies later. The USB input can accept hi-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, and there’s also Bluetooth 4.0 with support for aptX devices. KEF has also hidden a hybrid 3.5mm/digital optical input behind a
removable wedge of plastic at the side of the device. You can switch between inputs and adjust the volume using buttons built into the base of the master unit, or use the remote control which, we’re pleased to see, is a proper remote and not one of those plasticky ‘credit card’-type abominations. Thankfully, sound quality is good whether you use the Eggs up close or from across the room. The Uni-Q drivers disperse sound in a seamless and immersive way. Integration is a particular forte: no matter where you stand in the room it is hard to tell where midrange ends and treble begins. It’s not the most hard-hitting sound we’ve heard, but the Eggs make up for
KEY FEATURES
Getting the low-down BLUETOOTH
OPTICAL
24/192 HI-RES
SYSTEM BUILDER
that with agility and clarity. Voices are projected cleanly, with a convincing richness. Instruments are accompanied by natural textures and taut rhythm.
It’s a balanced sound, too. It may have that subwoofer output, but we don’t immediately feel the need to get one out of the stockroom and hook it up. The low end won’t shake your house’s foundations, but it goes sufficiently deep with control and eloquence. The KEF Eggs’ distinctive design and flexible connectivity make for a great start, and they follow through with a stunning performance that is consistently competent across a variety of placements.
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Smartphone Apple iPhone 6s from 62,000 ★★ ★ ★ ★ The best iPhone yet is wonderfully slick in operation and as capable with music as ever
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Music streaming service Apple Music 120 pm ★★ ★ ★ ★ Our favourite music streaming service has loads to offer for very little money
VERDICT Great design, great sound and great flexibility – KEF has really cracked it with these distinctive speakers
ATC B&W Dal Monitor Audio N ProAc Tannoy noy T cs W Wha h ha Dali al K udio N nnoy T csWha csWh Wh STEREO SPEAKERS
What’s new?
The dome tweeter has been reinforced with a thicker metal ring to make it stronger and better damped
B&W 685 S2 65,000 It took seven years, but this new generation of Bowers & Wilkins 685 speakers sounds impressive. Mightily impressive, in fact. From the start, these 685s burst to life with a powerful, clear and agile sound. They are hugely talented and enjoyable speakers, and a definite step up from their Awardwinning predecessors. As well as the tweeter changes (see roundel), the mid/bass driver now has a dustcap derived from the high-end B&W PM1 speakers, aimed at further damping the driver down. The sense of scale is massive, especially coming from such relatively compact standmounters. The soundstage is wide and deep, enveloping you in a richly detailed, subtly dynamic and cohesive performance.
The Bed Song sounds sweet and delicate, while her breathy vocal is full of texture and emotion. Switch to something more sprawling, such as Radiohead’s The King Of Limbs album, and the stop and start of notes are definite, rhythm changes are handled with confidence, and each instrument is conveyed with great finesse and insight. They can also go extremely loud with little obvious distortion. A slight discrepancy in character between the tweeter and midrange – evident in the older 685s – can still be heard, but to a far lesser degree. While the 685 S2s don’t make too much of a fuss with hard or bright recordings, give them a wellrecorded album and they truly shine. In a nutshell, B&W’s S2 revisions have made the 685 a class leader.
Q ATC B Mon Moni ProAc Q Aco ATC B Mon Moni ProA ProAc bQ Acoustics AT B&W Dali KEF ATC Wharfedale ATC Q Acoustics 3050 75,400 Mon Whole lotta bass
The deep and taut bass is particularly impressive. Play Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love and the bass notes are so rich and powerful that it almost feels like there’s a subwoofer in the room. The 685s sound remarkably clean and precise. The piano in Amanda Palmer’s
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT B&W has raised its game again with the 685s, trouncing the competition. Our loudspeaker Product of the Year 2015
Cabinet reshuffle
The baffle is thicker than on the 2050i and the cabinet has been further braced to control resonances
Though smaller than their older brothers, the Q Acoustics 2050is, these floorstanders gain in every aspect of performance. Despite the company already leading in the sub- 80k floorstander market, here it somehow manages to significantly up the ante. The company has created a hugely likeable signature sound over the years: refined and subtle, yet full of punch and attack. The 3050s follow suit but prove more transparent and authoritative than any of their predecessors.
Across-the-board richness
Q Ac AT ATC
A full, agile and dulcet bass and crisp, controlled treble define the tonal balance here which, in typical Q Acoustics fashion, favours the rich side of neutral. That promises listeners a full-bodied presentation that’s solid and robust across the frequencies. Powerful and assertive, the 3050s deliver a huge sense of scale and are capable of enveloping our largest test room with ease. You can place them quite far apart without losing a tight stereo image, while they strike the best balance pulled at least 20cm away from the wall.
Their musical, measured stance and crisp rhythmic drive lie at the heart of their sonic magic, and it’s this that causes us to consume an entire Dire Straits’ album before we know it. These speakers buckle down during Your Latest Trick, the chorus’s sweetsounding saxophone soaring though the wide-open soundstage with stunning clarity and texture, not to mention impressive scale. Dynamic shifts are well resolved at any volume and there’s an unusually high level of subtlety. By the time Brothers In Arms comes on, it’s clear that electric guitar solos have plenty of elbow room, while the tender vocals are stacked with emotion and insight. Hats off to Q Acoustics: these speakers are yet another staggering achievement.
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT The 3050s’ faithful reproduction would give decent speakers closer to the 1Lac mark a run for their money
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 37
STEREO SPEAKERS
ATC B&W Dal Dali K Monitor Audio N ProAc Pr Tannoy ❍roAc Triangle Q Aco Wharfedalee ATC Wh Wha AT D Mon Monito Audio NEAT Pr Pro Tannoy T y Triangle Q AcousticsW AcousticsWha AcousticsWh A M P Q W Dali K A Audio Tann Q Aco A Wharr Wha Dali K Audio NEAT ProA
Partnering kit
Triangle Esprit Titus EZ 78,500 Listen to these standmounters straight out of the box and you might well wonder what the fuss is about. They sound tonally uneven and have a peaky treble that needs little encouragement to sound harsh and aggressive. But give the Titus EZs a couple of days of use and things change considerably. The speakers’ high frequencies gain in smoothness and integration improves. We would still recommend taking care in partnering electronics (avoiding brighter-sounding kit), mind you.
Matches made in heaven The result, when you do take care, is excellent. We try a range of amplifiers, right up to our reference kit, and at each stage these Triangle speakers have the transparency to take a notable step up in performance. They’re small, standing just over 30cm tall, so really deep bass isn’t on the menu. Accept this innate limitation and you have one of the most articulate and expressive speakers we’ve heard below the 1Lac mark. Positioned around 30cm from a rear wall on some solid stands, the Titus EZ
Avoid partnering the EZs with bright-sounding electronics and you should hear a great sonic balance
speakers sound fast, responding to leading edges and dynamic shifts with admirable precision. Play a complex piece of music such as Hans Zimmer’s Gotham’s Reckoning and they take it all in their stride, keeping a multitude of instrumental strands under control and refusing to blur things even when the music becomes demanding. Both large-scale and low-level dynamics are delivered with infectious enthusiasm and no sense of the rounding-off of which many rivals are guilty. The result is an involving sound that pulls you in and holds you. Moving on to Tracy Chapman’s Goodbye shows the Titus’s subtler side. There’s finesse here, with the nuanced rendering of Chapman’s distinctive voice leaving us spellbound. We’re impressed.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT In a suitably talented system, and given time to bed in, these classy standmounters will really excel
AT B&W Dal ATC Dali K KEF Monitor Audio NNeat Iota 90,000 ProAc Tannoy T Q Acoustics W Wha ha ATC B&W Dali K A M P Q A M P Q A M P Q Acoustics W Wha ha ATC B&W Dal Dali K Hanging out
They have mounts for use with wall-hanging brackets, but optional stands are available
Look, nobody tell the Neat Iota loudspeakers they’re really small, right? If we all keep schtum, they might just keep on turning out a big, weighty and detailed sound, capable of amazing all who hear them. There’s a lot that’s unusual about the Iotas, from the planar ribbon tweeter to the fact they’re designed to be used ‘on their sides’, standing just 13cm tall, 20cm wide and 16.5cm deep. That makes them ideal for desktops, shelves or brackets.
Slave to the ribbon
Neat says that the ribbon tweeter was chosen because its ‘strengths of superb dynamic contrast and accurate tonal colour are well matched to those of the main drive unit’. The two drivers are linked with a three-element crossover and high-grade polypropylene capacitors. As is usual with Neat products, the crossovers have been designed the best way – as the result of extensive listening rather than just measurement. The Neat team has combined its talents in speaker design, recording and musicianship to wring out of very small boxes much more sound than one would expect.
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As the Iotas come as a mirror-image pair, you can experiment with using them with the tweeters innermost or outermost. ‘In’ gives really sharp stereo focus, but rather too-small a soundstage; we preferred ‘out’ for its bigger sound and improved depth and openness. However you use the Neats, you’re not going to feel short-changed by the detail, weight and scale on offer – whether with pacy rock or pop, or complex classical works, these speakers sound truly remarkable and should be auditioned. They’re well-suited for use with amplification of modest power, and just keep getting better as the partnering equipment is improved. True, there are other speakers able to do as much for the same money, but none of them do so while taking up so little space.
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT Tiny speakers with an attractive, intriguing design and a quality of sound way beyond what you’d expect at this size
ATC B&W Dal K A M Monitor Audio N ProAc P Pr roAc Tannoy ❍Trian Wharfe W Wha rfe Dalii KE D A Audio T Tanno Q Acou STEREO SPEAKERS
Tweeter of the day
What looks like a grille in front of the tweeter is in fact a waveguide that is designed to improve performance
KEF LS50 1,10,000 In our experience, Anniversary products tend to be either high-end mega-money statements to show just what the company is capable of, or distinctly retro to show where it started. KEF’s LS50, released in 2012, is neither. The drive unit complement is a recent evolution of KEF’s trademark Uni-Q array. The Uni-Q may look like a single unit, but it’s really a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter in the centre of a 13cm magnesium/aluminium–coned mid/bass. The idea is to improve sound dispersion and help integration.
Distinctive drivers Even without that opinion-dividing colour – KEF calls it Rose Gold – this is one distinctive driver complement. Given a little space to breathe and mounted on a pair of solid stands these monitors sound terrific. The first thing that strikes us is the quality of the bass. For boxes that stand just 30cm high, these speakers deliver deep, agile and powerful lows from the likes of Massive Attack’s Flat Of The Blade. But, unlike most small speakers that deliver big bass, the LS50s don’t over-egg things.
Move up the frequency range and these beautifully built KEFs continue to impress. Kate Bush’s vocal on 50 Words For Snow is as clear and articulate as you could wish for. These speakers communicate the energy and drive in a piece of music brilliantly. We’re impressed by the speaker’s seamless integration as well, as we are by the way it sets up a huge stereo image populated by securely focused sounds. And, perhaps most importantly, these speakers are fun to listen to. It’s not something (we think) KEF has always prioritised with its products. Here it has. Of course, the LS50’s innate transparency means that any flaws in the partnering kit will be apparent. But get it right and you have what is one of the best standmounters 1,10,000 can buy.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT One of KEF’s most musical efforts in years. That’s the way to celebrate half a century in the business
Audio NEAT Pro A ATC B&W Dal Dali K KEF Monitor Audio N Q Acoustics Concept 40 1,27,000 ProAc Tannoy Tr Q Acousti Acoustics Wha ha ATC B&W K Monitor Audio N ProAc Tannoy T Q Acousti AcousticsWha ha ATC B&W K Monitor A M Audio N ProAc Tan Tr Q Acousti Acoustics Wha ha ATC B&W K Monitor Audio N M Pr Q Acoustics W Wh ATC B&W Dal Dali K Aesthetic sensibility
We’re much taken by the Concept 40’s design – minimalist and futuristic – and the build quality is first-rate
Despite its success, Q Acoustics never gets complacent. The Concept 40s (and their standmounted siblings the Concept 20s – see page 36) are a determined move upmarket, bringing a relatively exotic cabinet construction to their price points.
The Russian-doll approach
What you get here is an unusual box-within-a-box structure – an elastic compound called Gelcore, which turns vibrations in the inner cabinet into heat, separates two layers of MDF. The idea is that those vibrations don’t radiate to the outside world to distort the sound. It works. The level of insight is very impressive. Not only are we treated to bags of detail, it’s also an extraordinarily clear sound. Then there’s the consistency to the way the Concept 40s handle all parts of the frequency range. Tonally, it’s the same Q Acoustics sound we know and love. That means a smooth, highly refined presentation that trades outright excitement for an easy listening experience. The Concept 40s could never beat the Tannoy Revolution XT6Fs (their natural rivals – see page 44) when it comes to
sheer excitement or finger-snapping glee, but then again they don’t want to. Q Acoustics instead aims to give you a sound that you can happily listen to for hours on end. There are strong dynamics on show here, as well as a pleasing degree of agility. They have no problem making sense of Étienne de Crécy’s dance-happy Smile – certainly not when there’s the kind of hefty low-end that could cause your neighbours considerable grief. No doubt about it: these are five-star speakers. Sure, they lack the outright precision and high-octane entertainment offered by the Tannoys, but they counter with a very high level of refinement. If you want a talented set of speakers with an easy-going, welcoming sound, these must be considered.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT These floorstanders build on the brand’s strengths to deliver a wonderfully inviting, refined sound
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 39
STEREO SPEAKERS
ATC B&W Dal Dali KE Monitor Audio NE ProAc Tannoy Triangle Q Acoust Wharfedale ATC W CB D Da or A Au oA o Ta T i gle Q AcousticsWharfed Ac ed AT KE Monitor Audio NE M Pr Triangle Tr ang e Q Acoust Wharfedale ATC W CB D Da or A Au oA o Tannoy Tria gle Ta Q Acous Wharfedale Wha rfed ATC CB Dali KEF Monitor New slant
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F 1,41,000 The aptitude of Tannoy’s Revolution XT 6Fs is obvious. They waste no time in setting out their stall: what you get is an entertaining listen. There’s a tremendous immediacy to the Tannoys’ delivery that has no problem attracting your undivided attention. We put on a bit of Prince and party like it’s 1999. Your feet will tap. Your fingers will snap. So infectious is the level of energy that you can’t escape, at the least, doing a tiny dance in your chair. But these Tannoys are more than just a joyride.
Any pace, any style These are versatile speakers, and while they’re happy to bop along with Pharrell Williams they are just as content chilling with Portishead. Timing and dynamics are key here, and these Tannoys are well endowed in both departments. Whatever you throw at them will be handled with precision and agility, while the wide dynamic range offers enough zest to ensure the performance never veers into the clinical. Despite their lively demeanour, the sound is nicely balanced. No part of the frequency range demands extra attention.
Look closely and you’ll see the cabinet bases are angled. That’s to give the down-firing reflex port better dispersion
The midrange is lovely. It’s direct without being demanding and vocals stand out without feeling isolated. There’s a good deal of bass, but it’s agile and nicely controlled. We move up to the treble and find it could be a little sweeter and more delicate, but now we’re just nitpicking. We’re impressed by the level of integration – the various elements cooperate to perform as a unified whole. There’s also plenty of detail throughout the frequency range. The various textures are entirely convincing. It also helps that it’s a big sound, tall and wide as you like. The presentation is spacious and airy, so there’s room enough whether you want to occupy that soundstage with brass bands or full orchestras. Whichever you choose, these Tannoys will be organised and up for it.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT Super-talented and hugely entertaining – enough to win our 2015 Best floorstander 1,00,000- 1,50,000 Award
ATC B&W Dal Dali KEF Monitor M tor Audio NNeat Motive SX3 1,50,000 ProAc Tannoy P annoy T Q Acoustics Wh W ATC B&W A W Dal Dali K Monitor A Mo M Audio N ProAc P oA A Tannoy aanno T Q AcousticsWhaa A AT ATC K Monito A dio N Mon ProA T Q Ac Acoustics Wha ha AT ATC K Monitor Audio N Mon ProAc Tannoy T ProA Q Ac Acoustics Wha ha ATC B&W Dal Dali K The SX Factor
Design tweaks since the original Motive 3s include a better crossover unit and separate tweeter enclosures
It’s not unfair to expect big things from speakers as small as the Neat Motive SX3s – not when their five-star predecessors, the Motive 3s, kept us entertained for the best part of a decade. Internally, the original titanium dome tweeter has made way for a new aluminium unit – black anodised for stiffness – which Neat says brings more natural tonality and a sweeter highfrequency response. It’s now also separately enclosed from the mid/bass driver to minimise interference. As you’d expect from cabinets no bigger than two encyclopaedias back-to-back, they can’t summon the horsepower or scale of their larger peers. The atmospheric thunderstorm in Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms doesn’t feel quite so looming as when hollered out from the ProAc Studio 118s or ATC SCM11s.
Hugely expressive midrange Still, they more than exceed expectations for their size: soaring guitars never feel restricted for space or height. Couple that with impressive detail and dynamics, and a hugely expressive midrange, and there’s no
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choice but to stay all ears for the track’s seven-minute duration. But the real pinnacle of the Motive SX3s’ talents is their true devotion to having a good time. Play Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Wing$ and they don’t need spurring on, pelting through the propulsive rhythms with crisp precision. As Macklemore gets his anticonsumerism message across, his vocals are full of conviction and dynamism, while the dense instrumentals that weave around them never sound convoluted or ill-timed. With fast, insightful mids, a pithy, clear treble and taut, punchy bass, the delivery here is as on the ball with shakers as it is drum beats. The Neat Motive SX3s may be small, but they aren’t without attitude.
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT If you’re tight on space these articulate, fun-loving speakers should be a certainty for your shortlist.
E EF E t B ProAc Studio 118 1,25,000 A
d E E t B A
B
ATC B&W Dal Monitor Audio N ProAc Tan Tannoy T Q Acousti ATC B&W B Monitor A ProAc Ta Q Acousti AT M Mo Pro QA AT M Mo Pro QA AT M Mo Pro bQ Acoustics ATC ATC B B& &W W Dal Dali KEF Monitorr Audio NB&W 683 S2 1,59,000 Mon Monit ProAc P T Q Wh A K M oN P yT Q ha A K Monitor Audio N M P T Q Acoustics Wh h A K Monitor M ttor A Audio oN ProAcc Tannoy P aanno T Q Aco Acoustics Wh h ATC B K You underestimate the ProAc Studio 118s at your peril. Give these standmount speakers a bit of space, with the offset tweeters on the inside and angled slightly towards the listening position, and you’ll know what we mean. You feel the extra kick offered by the bass port – absent from the predecessor 115s – from the first thud of Radiohead’s 15 Step, but equally apparent is that they’ve surrendered no clarity as a result – especially if you choose to biwire.
Well-timed thumps
In the wrong hands this track’s polyrhythm can sound like an injured crab tripping over a boiled-sweet wrapper, but the Studio 118s manage to make sense of it all. The amalgam of electronically filtered thumps, scratches and scrapes time perfectly and it’s as though they’ve each been given their own shelf from which to sound. There’s detail of which Vermeer would be proud; you can hear the musician as well as the instrument, and the vocals have the natural sound of a live recording. The Studio 118s are delicate with dynamics, following the complexities of
STEREO SPEAKERS
Inside job
each part intimately as they rise and settle. You get the feeling that, given a blank score and these speakers, you could fill in the dynamics of a piece of music yourself. ProAc says the Studio 118s handle all genres excellently, and it’s difficult to argue. They follow the story of The Streets’ Blinded By The Lights: there is real oomph in the kick, yet there is still enough space to express the vulnerability in the vocals, that honest, almost confessional Mike Skinner tone. Just one word of warning; brightsounding kit could easily cause the 118s’ excitable temperament to rub you up the wrong way. But give them something tonally balanced, dynamic and not afraid to put on its dancing shoes (Rega’s Elex-R amp, say), and you’ll reap the rewards.
We find the ProAcs sound best set away from the back wall, angled in slightly and with the tweeters on the inside
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RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT Thoughtfully partnered, these speakers will deliver an exciting yet controlled sound that has natural balance
Set-up solution
As well as giving them plenty of space, we’d recommend biwiring the S2s to make the most of their subtlety
It may not come as a surprise that big speakers sound, well, big. The 683 S2s are larger than many of their peers, but the sense of scale is massive. The soundstage is wide and tall, and instruments are organised with plenty of room to breathe. There’s good clarity. The performance is sharp and precise, stopping and starting right on cue. This helps to create a very deliberate vibe: music is performed with confidence and verve. We’d go so far as to say panache.
Wonders of the deep
Tonally they are well balanced and well integrated, but we should give a shout-out to the 683 S2s’ impressive low end. It’s deep and authoritative enough to make you briefly wonder if there’s a subwoofer hidden somewhere. And yet nothing gets drowned out by the bass. This is the kind of low-end heft we like: powerful but nuanced, and controlled enough not to compromise the rest of the frequency range. For the muscle on hand, there’s a surprising level of nuance. The 683 S2s are big and bold – they grab your attention effortlessly and stir your feet, but also provide delicacy and subtlety.
We’re not entirely sure how B&W has managed to achieve this stunning performance, but it’s surely due to careful engineering. There’s a new tweeter: an aluminium dome reinforced by an aluminium ring for rigidity. It is decoupled from the cabinet by a gel ring to minimise the impact of unwanted vibrations from the other drivers. It also has a protective grille (which doubles as a waveguide), so it’s slightly safer from wandering fingers. Elsewhere, the twin bass cones have also been reinforced with rings of aluminium, and the FST Kevlar midrange driver has a new spider. The 683 S2s are tremendously talented speakers. We’re impressed by their power, scale and delicacy – they’re wonderfully versatile performers.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT If you’ve got the space to let their sound thrive, the S2s will deliver an intoxicating blend of power and subtlety
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 41
STEREO SPEAKERS
ATC SCM11 1,42,000 What can you say about a product that’s won more What Hi-Fi? Awards than John McEnroe has Grand Slams? Since the ATC SCM11s’ first incarnation in 2006, they have gone from strength to strength, and their latest embodiment leaves little to be desired. They respond with great subtlety and resolution, showing their true colours when we play Rodriguez’s I Wonder. Just when you think a rival is really getting to the core of a vocal, the ATCs manage to peel away another layer. You can really feel the guttural, aching quality of Rodriguez’s delivery.
Reasons to be cheerful The sound is bigger and more spacious than before, and there’s a much higher level of rhythmic precision, helped by increased agility. Dynamics are stronger and further-reaching, and the sound is more transparent than ever. These SCM11s have a sealed-box design, which means the low frequencies aren’t quite delivered in the generous quantities of some ported rivals, but you do get impressive bass texture, tonality – and let’s not forget agility.
In fact, the whole frequency range is superbly controlled. We go from Atoms for Peace to Massive Attack, via Eminem: at every turn the ATCs demonstrate an extraordinary level of precision. That extends to the focused stereo image as we switch to Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets suite. It is easy to place the various parts of the orchestra on the wide-open soundstage, without becoming overly analytical. These speakers manage to knit everything into a cohesive, musical whole. And the trait we like the most about the original SCM11s – their natural, balanced sound – is here, too. Whatever we feed the speakers, the sound comes out uncoloured and uncorrupted. It’s hard not to be totally and utterly enamoured with the ATC SCM11s.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT For the money, they seem to do everything right. When it comes to speakers there are few better ways to spend 1.40Lacs
ATC B&W Dal Dali KE Monitor Audio NE ProAc Tannoy Triangle Q Acoust Wharfedale ATC W T B D Da onitor Audio NEAT Pr ProA Tannoy Tria Ta Triangle Q coustics W AT M ProA Trian Wha Dali A Audi Tann Q Ac A Wha Dali D ali Unity, not uniformity
The SCM11s knit instruments together into a musical whole while placing each precisely in the soundstage
ATC B&W Dal Dali D li K KEF Monitor Audio udio NTannoy Revolution XT 8F 1,89,500 noy T h K N T a K N T ha K N noy T Q Acoustics cs W Wha ha ATC B&W Dal Dali K The big boys
The 8Fs use a larger version of the 6Fs’ concentric driver, so if you like the sixes but want more power…
In essence, these are just larger 6Fs, using a 20cm version of Tannoy’s dual concentric driver rather than the 15cm version. Tannoy has put a lot of work into this latest generation of drive unit, honing just about every aspect of the design from the motor system to the tweeter waveguide in an attempt to push performance standards higher. As you start listening, it’s obvious the work has paid off.
Agility with a solid punch
These Tannoys are capable of producing oodles of low-frequency information. Not only is it deep, it’s delivered with real power and precision. There’s plenty of agility here coupled with a solid punch. If you have a medium-sized room, say anything smaller than 4x4m, then the quantity of low-end might prove too much. But give them a larger space to play in and the XT8Fs will shine, delivering a scale of sound and dynamic reach that’s hard to better for the money. There’s more to these towers than just bass and brawn, though. Move up the frequency range and they’re articulate
42 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
and communicative. There’s a fine degree of rhythmic drive and plenty of attack on offer. Vocals are crisply rendered, lacking nothing when it comes to subtlety and precision. There’s a lovely directness to the way these speakers produce sound that just draws the listener into the music. Tonally, these Tannoys aren’t the sweetest-sounding performers around. You’ll have to take care not to partner them with anything that sounds overly forward or harsh, because they’ll do little to tone those qualities down. But given a suitably talented system and a large enough room, few rivals can match this combination of muscle and subtlety. Most of all they make listening to music fun. That, more than anything else, is why we recommend them.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VERDICT Given the right partnering kit and a big enough room, these Tannoys can see off all but the very best rivals
E
B c
ATC B&W Dal K Monitor Audio N ProAc Pr roAc Tannoy ❍Triangle Q Aco Wharfedale Wha rfe ATC Dali KE E Audio N A Tannoy Acouss STEREO SPEAKERS
Tweeter, mid/ bass – and grille
PMC Twenty 22 2,80,000 It’s fair to say PMC has been one of the big hi-fi success stories over the past couple of decades. The company started in the professional world – the initials PMC stand for Professional Monitor Company – but pretty soon it moved into the domestic market too. The new Twenty series celebrates the company’s first 20 years, and builds on everything it has learned over that time.
A larger standmounter The 22 is the larger of two standmounters in that range. Its tweeter is designed to deliver high levels of detail with a wide dispersion. The mid/bass driver uses a doped-paper cone (PMC likes paper’s low weight, rigidity and resonance behaviour). It’s the inclusion of a transmission line that makes PMC speakers different from most. The idea is that the rearward output of the mid/bass driver is forced through an internal folded path that exits through the front rectangular grille. This path is lined with damping material that absorbs all but the lowest frequencies. PMC thinks this is the best way to get high-quality, low-distortion bass.
Tonally, the speakers sound a little lean and immensely taut. Some may prefer a more relaxing presentation, but it would be very hard to find such definition and speed any other way. The 22s stand only 41cm high but the bass weight and power they produce is impressive. This low frequency performance is agile enough to integrate well with the explicit midrange and leads to a really cohesive overall performance. There’s scale and power enough to do justice to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture in full flow and the tonal balance to render individual instruments convincingly. They’ll also deliver intimate music such as Bon Iver’s Michicant with a pleasing amount of finesse. The detail resolution and low-level dynamics are as good as anything we’ve heard at this price level.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT PMC has put 20 years’ worth of experience to good use to create speakers with class-leading levels of detail retrieval
The rectangular grille emits only the lowest frequencies from the mid/bass driver
P ProAc Tannoy T Q Wharfedale ATC W T D on onito A T Pro Pr Tannoy Triangle T Q Wharfedale ATC W T D on onito Audi NEAT Pro
ATC B B&W W Dal Dali K KEF Monittor Audio Mo udio N ATC SCM19 2,28,000 Pr noy Tr QA cs W Wha ha AT Dali al K Mo udio N Pr QA AT Mon to Monit ProAcc Q Aco ou ATC B B& Mon to Monit ProAcc Q Aco oustics W ATC B&W B Dali K Dal Bringers of balance
Even at this price, few speakers strike such a good balance between faithful reproduction and musicality
ATC has expanded on the formula of the beloved SCM11s and come up with the SCM19s. The nicely made sealed-box cabinet of the ’11s has grown in volume to 19 litres and the mid/bass driver changes to the company’s highly developed 15cm unit. It uses a cone made of doped polyester weave onto which a 75mm dome is grafted in a bid to improve the unit’s performance at the integration point. Take one of these drivers out of the 19s and you’ll find it’s a heavily engineered unit with a huge magnet assembly. It weighs a hefty 9kg, accounting for almost half the weight of the speaker. The big news, though, is the tweeter. This 25mm soft dome has been in development for years and is made in-house – quite an accomplishment for such a small company.
Settle down for a great listen Given a day to settle, these standmounters turn in a great performance. We start off listening to Ludovico Einaudi’s live album from the Royal Albert Hall. There’s a clear sense of the venue, the SCM19s picking up the
subtle acoustic clues that allow us to perceive that size. Piano notes are delivered with solidity and finesse. The leading and trailing edges of notes are crisply defined without sounding artificially hyped. These speakers really sound right at home here, delivering a presentation that’s as convincing tonally as it is spellbinding dynamically. We also like the SCM19s’ ability to render a large-scale soundstage and populate it with well-focused instruments. Things stay stable even as the piece’s complexity increases. These boxes like to party too, delivering rhythmic momentum with enthusiasm – bass kicks hard and drums attack. Vocals are handled in a crisp and articulate manner, yet lack nothing in body or warmth. Deeply impressive.
says
RATING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERDICT These ATCs are highly analytical yet never sound clinical or passionless. Buy with confidence
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 43
GROUP TEST
What is your Today’s premium wirelesss gn speakers ooze desig nd innovation. They soun pretty fine too. Here, fou ur of the best square up
44 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
shape hi-fi?
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless 58,000, p46
Dali Kubik Free 75,900, p48
Geneva Aerosphère Large 65,000*, p50
Naim Mu-so Qb 89,785, p52
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 45
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
TT IT’S NEVER BEEN IN BE
ER SHAPE
B&W Zeppelin Wireless 58,000 FOR Spread of sound; precise soundstage; control and design
AGAINST No Android app; midrange could be fuller
Bowers & Wilkins has cemented its commitment to the wireless speaker market in recent years with the five-star A5 and A7 AirPlay models and portable T7, but the brand’s Zeppelin line is perhaps its biggest success story in the field. It all started eight years ago. The original Zeppelin marked the brand’s first foray into all-in-one speakers, spawning the equally impressive Zeppelin Mini (in 2009) and Zeppelin Air (in 2011). Just when we thought the beloved range had succumbed to the brand’s more regular-looking entries, the Zeppelin Wireless arrives to make its mark – and with an almighty bang. B&W couldn’t very well tamper with the airship-shape and keep the legendary moniker, so the iconic design returns – the Wireless simply gains a couple of centimetres here and there. In a test filled with speakers of different shapes and sizes, its unique look doesn’t seem quite so offbeat now either, but it does enough to stand out while still looking elegant and stylish.
resonance dust caps for a cleaner, smoother response. Taking centre stage on the baffle (now double the thickness to reduce vibrations, and strengthened with glass-fibre ribs, by the way) is a single 15cm woofer – the same size as the one found on the flagship A7. Save for a few upgraded components the amplification stage is largely the same, each driver powered by a Class-D amplifier. B&W claims that the digital signal processing is now twice as powerful for more accuracy too. That’s pretty tech-heavy stuff for a 58,000 wireless speaker, but if an established stereo speaker company such as B&W wants to repackage some of its flagship technology into a more modest offering, who are we to argue?
Under-skin overhaul Its design might appear familiar, then, but beyond the chassis shape almost everything has been entirely reworked. Behind the elliptical front panel are five new drivers: two 25mm Double Dome tweeters as found in the company’s CM Series speakers, and a pair of midrange drivers which, featuring FST technology borrowed from the flagship Diamond 800 Series, use a foam surround instead of a conventional one to improve damping. They also feature anti-
Leaving dock Sensing the end of an era, the Zeppelin Wireless ditches the front-facing Apple dock, so Apple users don’t need to hand over their iPhone or iPod anymore. A direct connection to a smartphone or tablet can still be made via its 3.5mm input, but, living up to its name, the Zeppelin’s focus is very much on wireless connectivity –through AirPlay, aptX Bluetooth or Spotify Connect. Design-wise, it’s the most seamlesslooking of the Zeppelins, and not just because it doesn’t have a device sticking out of it. A small brand badge – the only thing protruding from the shapely chassis – doubles as a neatly discreet control touch-panel. Touch its righthand side for two seconds to initiate
“It doesn’t just throw out a big stage but also a precise and well imaged one that stays composed no matter how hard you push up the volume. In that respect it puts the Dali Kubik Free in the shade” 46 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
★★ ★ ★★
That distinctive airship design endures, but the front-facing Apple dock has given way to wireless functionality
Bowers & Wilkins control app B&W’s alliance with Apple is no secret, but that’s no excuse for not doing an Android version of its app. As long as you’re able to make use of this iOS only offering, though, it’s neat and it lets you view any and all B&W speakers in your system, control playback and update firmware. This, then, is not the best featured app around, but it’s easy to use for Apple owners. RATING
Bluetooth pairing, tap the other side to switch to the 3.5mm input. It’s wonderfully simple. Set-up is facilitated by the updated Bowers & Wilkins control app, which works a treat and gets you up and running in no time. You can download it on a Mac, PC or iOS device, but there’s no Android version, which feels quite an oversight. The only other things to get acquainted with are three buttons on the top for volume and playback, and the ethernet, power and auxiliary
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
sockets around the rear (the type-B USB is for service only). The Zeppelin plays and upsamples to 24-bit/192kHz so a 96kHz file of Muse’s Supremacy over Bluetooth seems like a good place to start.
KEY FEATURES
APTX BLUETOOTH
Feel the width The B&W’s wide girth helps to create an expansive, sweeping spread of sound that doesn’t struggle to fill our largest test room nor overpower our smallest one; close your eyes and it’s easy to imagine that the song’s epic orchestration is blaring from two speakers. It doesn’t just throw out a big stage but also a precise and well imaged one that stays composed no matter how hard you push up the volume. In that respect it puts the Dali Kubik Free in the shade. The last-generation Zeppelin impressed most with how tight and defined it was in the bass, and that proves one of the Wireless’s biggest charms too. The track’s big walloping drums are lathered with punch and power, and the rolling drumbeat slaps with a vengeance underneath the vocals. As the onslaught of distorted guitars comes in, there’s heft behind each precise string strum and, in the same breath, enough insight to hear every
AIRPLAY
3.5MM INPUT
tremor in its diction. The Zeppelin isn’t all about the big picture, putting its finger on the finer details too. The dramatic rapture of violins pulls through with clarity and texture in spades. Convincingly organised and with a precise ear for rhythms, the B&W stays coherent and coordinated even in the dense orchestral climax. Its pricier competition shows it up in absolute timing but there’s agility aplenty for its level. Take the intensity down to a simple vocal and guitar accompaniment – this time Eva Cassidy’s Fields Of Gold – and you can really appreciate the transparency of the midrange. Her soaring vocals are given free rein in the soundstage, with all her subtle outbursts and trail-offs accounted for, and there’s a strong sense of tactility to the strings.
There’s also a slight dip in sound quality playing songs over AirPlay, most notably in clarity and subtlety. Against Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, it makes music feel a little closed-in too. That said, even a lo-res Spotify stream of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall Pt 1 sounds surprisingly informative. The Zeppelin Wireless keeps the range’s legacy well and truly alive, combining a highly accomplished sound with greater functionality and an even more seamless design. It’s not often a product, let alone one as short-lived as a wireless speaker, has such timelessness, but the Zeppelin is still a great option. More expensive rivals might have more to offer in terms of timing, drive and overall authority, but at 58,000 this is one of the most talented wireless speakers we’ve heard.
Venomous delivery laid bare Move onto Eminem’s rap vocal in Bad Guy and it sounds almost like an assault, the venom in his delivery and the dynamics of his quirky vocal laid bare. There’s no shortage of clarity and insight at this price then, but we would perhaps like a touch more solidity through the midrange to give the Zeppelin just a little more authority. Compared with the 89,7850 Naim Qb, it reveals a hint of fragility and leanness.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT Building on the beloved range’s sterling reputation, the Wireless is the best Zeppelin yet
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 47
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
THE LEAN MACHINE
Dali Kubik Free 75,900 FOR Enthusiastic sound; fine dynamics; good connections
AGAINST Unresponsive; no app; unrefined treble
what source is selected by following the For a company that has built up its white LED along the bottom of the unit. reputation in stereo speakers and The remote has been updated since speaker packages, the introduction of we last saw the Kubik Free, and is now a the Kubik Free active wireless speaker much nicer-feeling metal design. We still signalled Dali’s move into new territory. have similar issues with responsiveness Like many premium wireless though, which appears to be down to a speakers, particularly those from short transmission range. From our traditional hi-fi manufacturers, Dali listening position we have to lean hasn’t concerned itself with the more forward to ensure our volume affordable end of the market. Even after commands are recognised. two years, the Kubik Free still is Even then, the buttons a true reflection of the A raft of wired don’t always feel like quality of which this connections (not they’re making compact speaker is least a micro USB contact with the capable. port) nestles under electronics. Look closely a neat clip-in panel The good and you’ll see news is the where every same controls penny has been can also be spent. Behind found in a panel the removable on the right side cloth panel, of the Kubik Free. available in a There’s no control choice of nine app though, so in any colours, you’ll find a event you’ll have to be 13cm mid/bass using the remote most of wood-fibre cone, supported the time. We hope Dali has an by a 25mm soft-dome tweeter. app in the pipeline. Both are Dali designed, as is the 100W Finally, nestled up alongside the digital amplifier which powers them. controls on the unit is a 3.5mm auxiliary input for connecting a smartphone Extensive options or tablet, with a handful of other On board is aptX Bluetooth, though controls on the back of the unit, there are wired connections for those including a full-sized USB port for who need them too, all hidden neatly charging devices only. under a clip-in panel on the base. These include an optical digital input for using the speaker with a TV Intimate streaming and a micro USB socket for connecting We find Bluetooth pairing is a quick to a computer. Both of these digital and easy process, and it takes just a inputs support up to 24-bit/96kHz matter of seconds to connect before we sampling rates. can start streaming music. The results You’ll also find a pair of analogue ins are good – take something such as The for hooking up CD players and the like, Masterplan by Oasis, and the strippedplus a subwoofer out for adding some back intro sounds delicate and intimate, extra kick to the low end. with an impressive amount of detail, if It’s a good range of inputs, though we not quite up to the levels of the would say the sockets are a little close AeroSphère Large. for comfort if you have all the cables Vocals are clear and sit pretty connected at once. You’ll also need to alongside precise, crisp guitar make sure you have any cables you strums, while still providing enough require, as the Kubik Free doesn’t come get up and go for when the strings with any included, which feels a touch really kick in later. mean-spirited at this price. The Kubik Free is capable of a big What is included is a small remote, sound for something so compact, but which allows you to control power, does sit on the leaner side with its source and volume – you’ll be able to see presentation. This certainly helps with
48 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
★★ ★ ★ ★ KEY FEATURES
APTX BLUETOOTH
100W POWER
OPTICAL INPUT
Like the 100W amp that powers them, the tweeter and mid-bass cone are Dali-designed
keeping it light on its feet for more complex rhythms, but means it isn’t able to compete with the weight and authority of the Mu-so Qb.
Lacking an app This leanness also emphasises the speaker’s slightly unrefined treble, which can make the likes of cymbals and electronic music sound harsh. It can also lend a certain hardness to the edges of vocals too. An app with some EQ settings might be able to help even this edginess out somewhat. That would make a significant difference, because while it isn’t overly distracting for the most part, it’s possible that longer listening sessions with more aggressive recordings could render this character trait a little tiring. We take things up a notch and Rudimental’s Waiting All Night confirms just how well the Dali handles timing
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
“The Free is capable of a big sound for something so compact, but its presentation sits on the lean side. This helps keep it light on its feet, but means it can’t compete with the weight of the Mu-so Qb”
articulation. It’s not the best in this test, but it’s a decent performance from such a compact speaker. While the Kubik Free is happy to ride solo, it does have a partner in the shape of the Kubik Xtra – a second speaker that turns the system into a stereo pair. Simply connect them using the supplied umbilical cable and you’ll get an immediately more expansive, weighty sound, and a much greater sense of scale and drive. If this sounds like something you’d want, you can choose to buy them in a package, or add the Xtra in later. It’s been two years since we first heaped praise on the Dali Kubik Free, and while much of that opinion still stands – which is to its credit given the movement of the market in that time – there are now competitors that really challenge it – particularly if you have the space to accommodate a larger speaker.
Our wishlist We want a touch more bass richness and authority to tone down that leanness, a more refined treble and a bit more by way of detail and dynamics. A remote app (or a better remote control handset) and wireless support for streaming from NAS devices would be nice at this price too. But there’s no doubt the Kubik Free is still an engaging speaker, Dali using its wealth of speaker expertise to pack plenty into such a compact size. It’s just that we need a touch more from the Kubik in 2016 if it’s to keep up with the competition. Until then, it’s nudged from a five-star rating to four.
and rhythm. It sounds tight, fluid and foot-tappingly entertaining, and the bass is solid and balanced. There is, though, a slight lack of warmth and solidity when compared with the competition. It’s as though the overall sound has been stripped back to help boost clarity, but ends up sounding a little clinical instead. The AeroSphère Large shows the Dali a thing or two when it comes to dynamics too but it does more in this
says department than the Mu-so Qb, thanks to a touch more subtlety and insight in its presentation. Feed it a Spotify stream of Foo Fighters’ Everlong, for example, and the Kubik Free is able to offer up some separation of the cymbal beat from the guitar melody and vocals, while changes in tempo and volume are demonstrated with reasonable
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT Still a talented speaker, but the bar is currently set high in this market and there are competitors that better it now
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 49
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
THE BIG, IMPRESSIVE S
OFTY
Geneva AeroSphère Large 65,000* FOR Scale of sound, frequency range; rhythmic and expressive
AGAINST DLNA needs separate app; it really is large
independently of one another. There’s the optional AeroSphère Base too, which, if added to your system, can stream CD and FM/DAB radio over wi-fi to up to four AeroSphère devices. This app also helps with set-up. Obviously if you’re playing back via Bluetooth then you just n eed to pair A significant presence with the AeroSphère directly, but for We say big – Geneva certainly wasn’t AirPlay and DLNA connections you’ll joking when it labelled this speaker need it on your network. Follow Large. At 40cm tall and wide, it’s the instructions on the not going to play the part of app to do so and you the unassuming kitchen As well as via the should be up and companion or wireless modes of running within bedside clock radio. AirPlay, DLNA and minutes. The AeroSphère Bluetooth, you can There are demands space connect through coloured LEDs to really show the 3.5mm input behind the what it’s capable Geneva logo on of – and our time the base of the with it tells us AeroSphère that it absolutely will light up to deserves it. help you with Underneath its set-up. They will also soft-domed exterior tell you what source is (available in a choice of connected – by, for black, white or red) is a instance, appearing blue for cabinet comprising three separate Bluetooth. acoustic chambers, which house an As long as you can find a decently impressive driver set-up of two 25mm sized surface on which to position it, the tweeters, a pair of 10cm midrange/ AeroSphère Large will work fine just woofers and an up-firing 15cm about anywhere in the house. We have subwoofer, all powered by dedicated it about 50cm from our back wall but amplifiers. Geneva says the positioning the speaker configuration means you of the subwoofer in particular makes the needn’t be too fussy. speaker less fussy about where you place For best results, we’d steer clear of it in the room. placing it too deeply into a corner but, In terms of connectivity, the if you have to, the app has some EQ AeroSphère supports AirPlay, DLNA and settings that will help you find the right high-quality aptX Bluetooth, plus has a balance. Geneva suggests knocking the 3.5mm input, meaning it’s pretty much bass down to -6 for corner placements, compatible with any device on which and giving it at least 55cm of space from you store your music. either wall if possible. It’s not often we find ourselves throwing our arms around a wireless speaker. But the Geneva AeroSphère Large is so big and so soft it leaves us with little option but to humour that particular impulse.
Ways to take control A large remote control is included in the box. It is finished in a rather fetching silver aluminium and it covers off most controls you’ll need for input selection, volume and playback in a spacious, easy-to-read manner. You can also control multiple AeroSphère products via the free iOS or Android app and create your own multi-room system of AeroSphères. Your chosen configuration of speakers can then play music together or
50 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
Piano? Forte At 65,000, this isn’t a penny pincher’s choice, so we throw the AeroSphère in at the deep end with the second movement of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No1 In B Flat Minor as played by Daniil Trifonov and the Mariinsky Orchestra. And we are impressed. The pizzicato strings opening the movement are rhythmically spritely and set in open space that is soon shared by woodwind, brass and, of course, piano.
★★ ★ ★★ There is more insight into each instrument than you might expect from a product such as this, and a dynamic understanding that lets each part sing. As the texture builds, the AeroSphère doesn’t seem to be in awe of the task presented to it. Feeding each staccato note with decent attack, it also appears to have more space to give.
Punching above its weight Over six-and-a-bit minutes, we hear the kind of dynamics, balance and organisation we wouldn’t have dared expect from a wireless speaker at this price not long ago. Let’s put this into perspective: in terms of overall sound quality, the Large isn’t that far away from the Naim Mu-so. At this level, and in this test, the Geneva has other competition, in the shape of the Naim’s smaller brother, the Mu-so Qb, and the Dali Kubik Free. And it bests them both when it comes to insight and dynamic know-how. There’s stacks of space to its presentation too, which makes mincemeat of tricky dynamic shifts and dramatic orchestral sweeps, plus there’s real scale here – this speaker sounds big at normal listening levels but push it loud and it will fill the biggest of rooms without ever sounding stretched. Changing musical direction, we test the AeroSphère with La Dispute’s
Inside the dome are two tweeters, two mid/woofers and an upfiring sub, all powered by dedicated amps
Geneva control app Geneva’s app features a bold, modern design that’s both clear and easy to use. In the Settings menu you can adjust bass and treble levels, select from three DSP settings and set up two Aerosphères as a stereo pair. One downside is that you can’t access any DLNA devices through it – for that, you have to download a third-party app instead, which is a bit of a shame. RATING
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
“Over six-and-a-bit minutes of classic Tchaikovsky, we hear the kind of dynamics, balance and organisation we wouldn’t have dared expect from a wireless speaker at this price not long ago” out everything from Frank Sinatra to FKA Twigs. We tell ourselves we’re testing the speaker’s versatility, but in reality we’re simply enjoying listening to it – surely the most telling sign of a truly great speaker.
Still on top
Hudsonville, MI 1956, and find electric guitars and drums are treated with the same insight and expressiveness as the Mariinsky Orchestra. The rhythms are there in Jordan Dreyer’s vocal, so often toeing the line between lyrics and performance poetry. And so is the expression – as Dreyer’s tone switches between apathy and anguish in almost schizophrenic fashion, the AeroSphère is there ready to act as a faithful conduit. Switch it up again to Rihanna’s Work and the AeroSphère demonstrates a natural effortlessness and fluidity to the way it flows over the song’s catchy melody. Once again the level of insight here is second to none at this price and the transparency afforded the vocals really allows us to pick out the fine detail and nuances lost elsewhere.
KEY FEATURES
The bassline is rich and full-bodied, punctuating the track with real weight and authority, but still offering up enough agility to drive the track forward with excitement and enthusiasm.
Put simply, this is as close to hi-fi as we’ve heard a wireless speaker get at this price – and even six months on from it winning our Award at this level, the AeroSphère is still holding its own admirably against newer competition. This isn’t merely a victory for interior-design one-upmanship. Geneva has succeeded in bridging the gap between kitchen-top mini speakers and much more expensive kit, providing a truly enjoyable and talented performance to complement its huggable stand-out design. The AeroSphère might be large, but once you’ve heard what it’s capable of, we don’t think many people will have trouble making space for it.
APTX BLUETOOTH
A precise, textured sound
AIRPLAY
DLNA
This rumbling muscularity doesn’t stop the treble from shining either, with a smooth, open high end that remains controlled and clear, even at volume. The frantic cymbals in Foo Fighters’ Everlong never pick up a harsh edge or sound unnatural, instead sounding precise and full of texture. Even better, we find that whether playing over AirPlay or Bluetooth the AeroSphère remains consistent, keeping its punchy, detailed and expressive character across both media. We continue raiding our library, trying
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT One of the most striking wireless speakers we’ve ever seen, and top of the list of the best we’ve heard at this price
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 51
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
A MASTERCLASS IN TIM
ING
Naim Mu-so Qb 89,785 FOR Big, bold sound; decent detail; well featured; fine build
AGAINST Bass a bit thick; quality of the competition
for the Qb, allowing you to tap In 2014, Naim took some time out from illuminated icons to select inputs and producing more traditional hi-fi kit to manage playback. have a punt at the wireless speaker It’s a stylish and sophisticated system market with its original Mu-so. And it not that works wonderfully well while only gained a legion of new fans, but also also looking the part. Considering the proved it could bring hi-fi sound quality design has been borrowed from Naim’s to a one-box design – albeit at a price. flagship Statement pre/power amp, Now Naim is taking this a step further we’re not surprised. by taking everything we love about the To get the sound it wanted from such Mu-so and squeezing it into a more a small speaker, Naim carefully affordable, more compact design. positioned a five-strong The result is the Mu-so custom driver set-up Qb, a stylish speaker into a sturdy casing with a small behind the front footprint but panel, placing a big personality. some at an And with a angle to widen performance the sound. this good, we’re The set up only too happy comprises two to stand back dome tweeters and let it work and two midrange its magic. drivers, as well as a If you’ve seen single woofer the Mu-so, the Qb’s Naim’s designers supported by two design will look familiar, have positioned passive radiators, which except instead of a long, the five speaker help the Qb go deeper at rectangular outline, the Qb is – drivers at differing bass frequencies. It’s run on as its name alludes to – a angles to widen the same 32-bit DSP as the compact cube shape. It’s a the overall sound Mu-so too, and it all comes striking yet minimalist design, together to deliver a huge with an illuminated acrylic base 300W of sound – no mean feat for a that makes it look as though it’s speaker of this size. hovering. Its otherwise crisp outlines are But the real coup for the Naim Qb is softened by the characteristic ripple of that it comes with all the streaming the Qb’s three grilles. features found in the bigger Mu-so. This As with the Mu-so, these grilles can be means Apple AirPlay, aptX Bluetooth, switched up from a dramatic black to Spotify Connect, Tidal and internet radio more playful choices of blue, red or are all present, as is uPnP for sniffing out orange, while the back edge of the cube music stored on your home network. is given up to the same distinctive aluminium heat sink that keeps things cool on the original. Not just wireless Plenty of design similarities then, but On its back panel there are also a number while the original Mu-so needs a of physical connections, including a considerable amount of space, the Qb’s 3.5mm aux in and an optical input, plus more flexible design means it can fit on a USB port for connecting external drives your bedside table, on the kitchen and Apple devices. worktop or in the corner of a room. Fans of high-resolution music are in luck, with support for everything from MP3s all the way up to 24-bit/192kHz Qb: Quality build hi-res tracks in WAV, FLAC and AIFF. The It’s impeccably made – heavier than you only catch is that you’ll need to be might expect, and topped with the same hardwired to get the best sample rates gorgeous touchscreen dial that we love – any hi-res tracks streamed over wi-fi will on the original Mu-so. As well as be downsampled to a still-respectable, adjusting the volume, the aluminium “better-than-CD-quality” 24-bit/48kHz. dial also doubles as the control panel
52 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
★★ ★ ★★ The easiest way to hook up to your home network via wi-fi is to download the Naim control app. Once your device is connected, the app will walk you through the set-up process (see panel). One of the first things that strikes us about the Qb is just how powerful it sounds for such a small speaker. It delivers a size and scale of sound that you just wouldn’t expect from such compact dimensions. This suits its bold demeanour, with an upfront, muscular presentation that isn’t short of clout in the low end.
Larger than life Listen to Top Boy by Blacks and the larger-than-life bassline is deep and weighty. It’s taut and controlled for the most part, if perhaps a little on the rich side for neutral ears, but it does deliver a real sense of solidity to its character that helps with lower-quality recordings and streams. There is a hint of thickness to the bass when the volume is pushed, but it’s far from a dealbreaker. Most usage won’t require anything like the volume levels you have to reach before this really becomes noticeable… because this can go loud. Really loud.
Naim control app In Naim’s case, the app is especially handy since there’s no remote control. It’s well designed too, allowing you to skip between sources and control internet radio presets with ease. You can also set up a multiroom system with up to four other Mu-sos, playing either simultaneously or independently of each other. Oh, and you can control the base’s illumination. RATING
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
“We praised the ability of the original Naim Mu-so to deliver hi-fi sound in a wireless speaker, and the Qb follows in these footsteps with a big, authoritative sound that belies its small stature”
While the bass might steal the show in the sonic signature, its solidity rubs off on the midrange and treble too. Vocals are clean and focused, while the high-end sounds open and composed – there’s no hint of hardness here. We do note a slight lack of subtlety in the midrange when compared with the cheaper B&W Zeppelin Wireless though, with finer details hidden beneath its bold-as-brass presentation and dynamics that are not quite as expressive. For example, Nina Simone’s Baltimore, with its sassy instrumental mix of guitars and violins, doesn’t rise and fall with quite the same command as you’ll hear with the B&W. But where the Naim falls short in these areas, it really makes up for in its
KEY FEATURES 24/192 KHz
24-BIT/192KHZ SUPPORT
INTERNET RADIO
APTX BLUETOOTH
rhythmic flair, and here it leaves the Zeppelin Wireless for dust. Half of the charm of Baltimore’s instrumental is the foot-tapping exchange between the bass guitar and kick drum that punctuates the track, and the Qb delivers the punch it needs.
It’s a masterclass in timing, and it’s this that really makes the Qb character one to fall in love with. Its bold, upfront sound might well grab your attention, but the punchy precision and rhythmic know-how holds it. We praised the ability of the original Naim Mu-so to deliver hi-fi sound in a wireless speaker, and the Qb follows in these footsteps with a big, authoritative sound that belies its small stature. It complements the Mu-so’s slightly more refined sound with one that’s a touch more mainstream in its balance, packing a punch in the low end and delivering a real sense of presence and solidity. This confident persona can mean the Qb falls a touch short with finer detail and dynamics, but it makes up for this with a superb handle on timing for a tight presentation that’s both upfront and exciting. Add to this a whole load of connectivity for streaming to the Qb and it makes for a very comprehensive speaker indeed. While spending roughly 90,000 is still a lot of money to spend on a wireless speaker, if your budget can cover such a price tag there’s no doubt the Qb should be high on your shortlist.
Bite and precision Play Home by St. Lucia and the staccato electronic instrumental is delivered with both bite and precision, starting and stopping on cue while keeping a tight hold on its presentation throughout. Even the most complex rhythmic patterns can’t fluster it, as is shown by a playthrough of Roulette Dares (The Haunt of ) by The Mars Volta. The Qb keeps up with every change of tempo and makes rhythmic sense of manic riffs over which lesser speakers would stumble.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT A small speaker with big personality, the Qb combines style, substance and a whole lot of features
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 53
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
TEST WINNER
Geneva Aerosphère Large 65,000 ★★★★★ All four speakers shine, but the Geneva presents the most rounded case. In more ways than one talented (but pricier) rivals that leaves us wanting somewhat. The Geneva Aerosphère Large certainly couldn’t be accused of that. Warm, weighty and full of confidence, this enthusiastic speaker also manages to be agile enough to demonstrate a masterclass in dynamics as well as show off superb levels of insight and expression. It might look fun on the outside, but on the inside this speaker is serious about sound. And it’s an attitude that pays dividends for the buyer.
As we’ve seen in this test, wireless speakers come in all shapes and sizes, and with all four of our contenders putting in performances worthy of their loftier price tags, some part of your decision may well come down to what your situation most requires.
Compact options If you need a more compact speaker, the Dali Kubik Free or Naim’s Mu-so Qb are going to be your best options, thanks to their smaller footprint. The latter is a stunningly designed, flexible box of tricks, with stacks of connectivity and authority by the bucketload. We love its way with rhythm and are impressed that such a small box is capable of such full-bodied bass. It’s another stunning addition to the Mu-so family, and it gets the full five stars. What the Dali Kubik Free can offer over the Naim is slightly better dynamic expression and a little more space in its presentation, but when it comes to timing and muscularity it just can’t compete. Its leanness also emphasises a slightly unrefined treble, and it just lacks the solidity and warmth of its cubed competitor. While the Dali is still a talented speaker with plenty to offer, after a few years at five stars the competition now forces it down to four.
Balancing size and price
The two larger speakers in this test sit at slightly different price points – the Zeppelin Wireless at 58k and the Geneva Aerosphère Large at 65k – and present rather different form factors too.
USE IT WITH Apple iPhone The premium design is one thing, but it’s the rich, full-bodied audio performance that delights. Just like the Geneva, then.
The crucial difference The Zeppelin Wireless, with its iconic and enduring airship design, brings a large, spacious presentation, with detail levels and dynamics that shine at its price. There’s just a slight lack of solidity here when compared with its more
Of course, at £150 more expensive than the B&W, you’d expect a shift in quality, and you certainly get it – but the Zeppelin Wireless remains a compelling choice for those who can’t make the jump over 60k. Both score the full five. As for the winner? If your budget can handle it and your room can accommodate it, the Aerosphère Large offers the best balance between muscle, detail and dynamics in this test, delivering a distinct hint of hi-fi to the wireless speaker market.
HOW THEY MEASURE UP
TEST WINNER
B&W Zeppelin Wireless
Dali Kubik Free
Geneva AeroSphere Large
Naim Mu-so Qb
Bluetooth
Yes, aptX
Yes, aptX
Yes, aptX
Yes, aptX
AirPlay
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Inputs
3.5mm
3.5; opt; analogue; USB
3.5mm
3.5mm, USB, optical
Claimed power
150W
100W
Not listed
300W
Dimensions (hwd)
19 x 66 x 18cm
31 x 15 x 15cm
41 x 41 x 32cm
21 x 22 x 21cm
Weight
6.5kg
4.5kg
8kg
5.6kg
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 55
GROUP TEST
When the music takes you to another place, why tie yourself to the source? Now’s the time to cut loose with these excellent wireless headphones
Parrot Zik 3.0 28,000* p61
56 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 39,990 p58
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless 34,990 p62
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Beats Solo 2 Wireless 27,500 p59
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless 28,950 p60
Soundmagic WP10 14,999 (approx) p64
Sony MDR-1ABT 29,990 p63
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 57
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
CHORD CORD-CUTTING, NOT
-CUTTING
B&O BeoPlay H8 39,990 FOR Effective noise-cancelling; full-bodied listen; look stylish
AGAINST Bass a little fat; slight thud with movement
★★ ★ ★ ★
Decent-sounding wireless headphones no longer cost the earth – just look at the Award-winning AKG Y50BTs. But when they serve up noise-cancelling and premium material trimmings too, you should expect to pay top whack – as you do for the Award-winning Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless. Here, out to rival them, are B&O’s BeoPlay H8s.
and balanced, with no hint of hiss to give away the wirelessness. From detail to dynamics, it’s a good all-round performance. It takes one play of Mercury Rev’s Holes to appreciate how impressively solid and detailed the midrange is. Every vocal croon is communicated, while breathy woodwinds, whining musical saws and soaring trumpets are lathered in clarity and texture. They offer decent timing and dynamics to the stepping keyboard rhythm too, and while the H8s can’t layer the opening ethereal orchestration as well as the more transparent Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wirelesses, nor sound quite as cohesive or precise, there is generous insight to enjoy.
More sound per pound ‘Plush’ may well be the Danish brand’s middle name, what with some of the n eye-pleasing designs it fashions. A fusion of leather, aluminium and plastic, our off-nude Agrilla Bright sample looks classy, but there’s also a Gray Hazel (grey and dark brown) finish too. The memory-foam lambskin-coated earpads sit just right, and are plump enough to keep their shape and comfort level for long periods. Padding underneath the leather headband makes sure the H8s are kind to your head.
Down to the wire
IN DETAIL...
The right earcup has a jack for wired use, a microUSB slot and an on/off switch
The left earcup has a compartment for a rechargeable – and replaceable – battery
58 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
There’s a circular metal plate on each earcup, with the right one packing a headphone jack for wired use, a microUSB input for charging, and a switch for on/off and Bluetooth pairing. There are touch-sensitive playback controls too – and, once memorised, actions become second nature. The controls are redundant during wired use, although noise-cancelling is still good and works for up to 35 hours on a single charge. A full three-hour charge should get 14 hours of playback with Bluetooth and noise-cancelling activated, or 16 hours of Bluetooth alone. On the left earcup you’ll see a compartment for the rechargeable battery, which is handily replaceable. Having a spare could see the end of your weekend camping woes, keeping you listening twice as long when you’re away from a power outlet. As far as accessories go, there’s a soft drawstring bag, a flight adapter and two lengths of cable for listening through a wire. B&O’s products can be hit and miss when it comes to sound for your pound; this time it’s a hit. Putting their mouth where their money is, the H8s are clear
KEY FEATURES
BLUETOOTH
NOISE-CANCELLING
Treble doesn’t let the side down, with shakers and cymbal strikes biting and defined. It’s bass that proves their weak spot: though confidently deep, it’s a little on the tubby side in comparison with the Sennheisers and B&W P5 Wireless – not quite as taut or punchy as we’d like. Listening through the wire brings a touch of refinement and precision but frankly there’s not much in it, which if anything is a credit to its cord-cutting performance. Noise-cancelling is so effective, we find ourselves reaching for it on nearly every occasion. However, the earcups provide a good enough seal to keep outside noise to a minimum for general use in quiet places. It also helps reduce the thudding sound of your footsteps that come through the H8s when you walk, so bear that in mind if it’s primarily hiking partners you’re after. The asking price may be a little steep, but if Bluetooth and noise-cancelling are must-have features then consider the B&O BeoPlay H8s. The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless’s more open, transparent sound top our wishlist, but the B&Os certainly make a good option.
REPLACEABLE BATTERY
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT Style meets great features and good sound in B&O’s flagship on-ears
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
EA AN EMPHASIS ON DRIV
ND ATTACK
Beats Solo 2 Wireless 27,500 FOR Bold, upfront listen; rich, full-bodied sound
AGAINST Lack subtlety; need better dynamics; expensive
★★ ★ ★ ★
It’s hard to deny the influence Beaats headphones have had on the n mainstream headphone industry in y recent years. While their popularity one, hasn’t gone down well with everyo oney Beats made it cool to spend big mo y on headphones and, for that at leasst, the industry should be grateful. With their popularity, the Beats range r g has grown, not to mention improveed. essed The tonal balance has been readdress nes since the original Studio headphon were launched, earning the currentt line up several four-star reviews.
IN DETAIL...
The earpads are made of a soft, leatherlookk material, but the grip is quite firm
Ears are burning The Solo 2 Wireless are a wireless version of the Solo 2 headphones, tthe smaller on-ear sibling to the over-eear Studio range. As is often the case with w Wireless portable headphones, the Solo 2 W own, are hinged so they can be folded do and come with a neoprene zip casee. h The body is largely plastic, which keeps them nice and light, and therre are g the 11 colours to choose from including rose gold of our review sample. Thee plasticky look might not be to ever yone’s pend taste, but you’re going to have to sp more money to get the more premiium he finish of the B&W P5 Wireless or th Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wirelesss.. The earcups are made from a sofft, leather-look material and there’s a h sit it generously padded headband, so they comfortably on your head. The grip is on the firm side of things, which makes them great for wearing during exercise but perhaps a bit too tight for long wear. They make our ears a little hot too. Being wireless, there is Bluetooth on board, and a built-in control system – you click the Beats logo on the left earcup to control track and volume. The power button sits on the right, with five small LEDs underneath it to show how much battery life you have left – Beats’ claim of around 12 hours seems accurate and, for their size, pretty generous too. Should you be caught short on battery life, they can be used wired, with the included cable also featuring inline controls. It’s a familiar sound – rich, full-bodied and full of attack. There seems to be very little difference in character between wired and wireless listening, which some lesser headphones don’t manage as convincingly. Play Kanye West’s
The Beats can be used wired, with the included cable featuring inline controls
Spaceship basslinee iss warm Sp p aand d thee bass a aand d ll pronounced d without ith t b i well being overpowering. There’s no denying its forward character in comparison with other elements of the frequency range and, though not unwieldy, it could be a little tighter for a more cohesive sound.
KEY FEATURES S
BLUETOOTH
Lost in the fine detail That’s not really what these headphones are about though – their emphasis is on drive and attack. They deliver a fun and exciting sound, but fall down in their handling of nuance and fine detail. While they’ll throw themselves enthusiastically behind any piece of music and do a good job rhythmically, listen with a more critical ear and you’ll realise they aren’t actually telling you much about the track at all. Detail levels don’t dig much below the surface and subtlety falls short – vocals and instruments can’t shift between loud and soft with real authority. The midrange could do with a touch more bite too.
12 HOURS BATTERY LIFE
The real struggle here is the cost. At T 27 27,500, the Beats sit between two great pairs of headphones – the AKG Y50BTs at 17,295 and the B&W P5 Wireless at 28,950, either of which make much more sense at their price. If you want a bold, upfront pair of headphones that look good and carry some kind of street cred, the Beats Solo 2 Wireless are ones to consider. However, we’re not convinced their performance justifies the pricetag, especially when there are better options out there.
says ON-EAR FIT
RATING ★★ ★ ★
★
SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT Balance is much improved,but detail and dynamics fall short of the best
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 59
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
AN ARMCHAIR FOR YO
UR EARS
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless 28,950 FOR Excellent sound; lovely design; Bluetooth operation
AGAINST Nothing of note
★★ ★ ★ ★
When a hi-fi manufacturer of Bowers & Wilkins’ pedigree makes something a little different, we sit up and listen. This time, though, we find ourselves sitting up with additional comfort and freedom of movement, because the company has entered the Bluetooth headphone market. Behold, the B&W P5 Wireless. B&W is established when it comes to wired headphones: its P3, P5 and P7 have all garnered significant praise from us. Fans of those will be right at home here: the P5 Wireless headphones are based on the excellent P5 Series 2.
IN DETAIL...
The standard three-button control configuration is on the right earcup
Mistaken identity You might struggle to tell them apart at a glance, because they share a design philosophy – rounded rectangular earcups, sheep’s leather and twisted aluminium. It’s an executive armchair for your ears and the epitome of portable elegance. There are key differences, however. The right earcup has a standard three-button configuration for volume, play/pause and calling, along with a power/pair slider. There are two microphones and a lithium battery, and crucially, Bluetooth of the aptX variety. The headphones are a joy to operate. The entire process is intuitive and responsive. Pairing is easy, with connection taking place in seconds. Once connected, the link is stable, and button commands are carried out without hesitation. The P5 Wireless are very impressive, retaining much of the sonic character of the excellent wired P5 S2s. A blast of Muse’s Psycho proves a rousing listen, the headphones maintaining the song’s fist-pounding aggression. It’s a bold sound with enough weight to give your ears a thorough slamming. The wide dynamic reach helps to reinforce that impression of power. Subtle dynamics make the most of the song’s distorted guitar torture, while a firm grip on rhythm ensures an eloquent delivery. It’s not merely the impression of authority – you will find yourself paying attention. The bassline is deep and taut, the drums kick hard and there’s easily enough texture to make out Matt Bellamy’s laboured breathing. It helps that the sound is clean, with barely a hint of the hiss we sometimes get from
60 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
Bluetooth headphones. We love the sound of the wired P5 S2s, but if you want to cut loose, the P5 Wireless present a worthy, more flexible alternative.
Protected from yanking Despite packing extra kit, the Wireless have not put on much weight – an extra 28g compared with the wired P5 S2, with earcups just 2mm thicker. They are little burden for your cranium. The extra weight is barely perceptible, and clamp force is well judged. They are a little snug out of the box, but soon loosen up while maintaining enough grip for a brisk walk. As for the earpads, the foam is obliging and the leather soft, but they do get warm during longer listens. The earpads are attached by magnets, and can easily be replaced if necessary. Under the pad you will also find a hidden socket for wired use. It’s hidden so the headphone cables need to be snaked through a tiny channel, thereby protecting the socket from death by yanking. A cable is included for passive listening, in case you run out of power – but B&W claims a battery life of 17 hours.
KEY FEATURES
BLUETOOTH
BATTERY: 17 HOURS
The socket for wired use is under the pad, which prevents it from being pulled out
The power cell is charged by plugging in a microUSB cable (included), at which point a small LED glows approvingly. So what’s not to like about the B&W P5 Wirelesses? Not a lot, from what we can see and hear in our time with them. Bowers & Wilkins has taken the excellent P5 Series 2s and added a wireless option – and it works beautifully. Great sound and gorgeous design, minus the inconvenience of cables – that’s what we like to hear.
WEIGHT: 213G
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★★ SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT The cord is cut but the quality remains. These are excellent headphones
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
THEY COME S A D E K C A -P RE TU A FE AS
Parrot Zik 3.0 28,000* FOR Balanced, up-front sound; effective noise-cancelling
AGAINST Poor dynamics; bass lacks depth; short battery life
★★ ★ ★ ★
Everything comes with an app these days: AV amps, wireless speakers, streamers, Blu-ray players. But a pair of Bluetooth headphones? That’s a new one on us. The Parrot Zik 3.0s’ app (officially named ‘Parrot Zik’ and available on iOS, Android, Apple Watch and Android Wear devices), lets you activate noise cancellation and unlock more functions. If nothing else, it shows Parrot is thinking outside the box. When noise-cancelling is activated, the app shows how much ambient sound is being kept out in real time (the Ziks claim to block ‘up to 30dB’). Battery status is handily displayed too, and you can fiddle with the pretty extensive EQ settings yourself or download existing presets by various music artists – we try those from DJ Jazzy Jeff and La Roux – free of charge. You can turn on text-to-speech, which automatically pauses music when a call comes in and tells you who is calling too. There’s more menial stuff: personalising the name and colour of your Ziks, and a ‘noise map’ that pinpoints the noisiest areas in the world, based on data from Parrot Zik users.
IN DETAIL...
The Parrots are compatible with wireless Qi chargers, but also charge via microUSB
Who’s a pretty boy? Away from the app, the Parrots have a couple more tricks up their sleeve. They automatically pause your music when you take them off your head, and are compatible with wireless Qi chargers – though one isn’t included in the box. A two-hour charge should get you 18 hours’ playback of noise-cancelling, though only six hours with Bluetooth activated too. That tallies up with our tests – we would like more stamina from the Parrots. More down-to-earth functionality sees discreet touch-panel controls on the whole surface of the right earcup, with tap, drag and swipe actions covering volume, track skipping and noise-cancelling activation. It works well nine times out of ten, although any haphazard dragging (for volume) can be mistaken for tapping (for pausing). Anyone familiar with the Zik 2.0s will be able to tell their successor a mile off. The French company has, in its words, created ‘a touch of couture’ with the oval earcup designs this time. There’s red, green, black or brown in crocodile effect, overstitched effect in black or ivory, and a black or tan leather grain finish. Pretty boys indeed, the Parrots are well made and tidily finished. The matte chrome details you might see in a modern
Right earcup has touch control for volume, track skipping and noise-cancelling
bathroom look rather lavish, and even the headphone socket feels of certain quality. The pads completely encase your ears, a good seal providing a sense of isolation, and the headband is well cushioned. The stiff adjustment slider could be easier to manipulate when mounted, though.
KEY FEATURES
BLUETOOTH
Knocked off its perch There’s no question that the Parrot Zik 3.0s have plenty to offer the modern, choiceladen consumer. But what’s the point if sound quality isn’t up to scratch? That could have well been our closing line, as this is where the Parrot’s lose their edge. Strict balance, fair detail and a timely manner make them an innocuous listen. They have the gusto to bop along to the bouncy bassline and larger-than-life synth melody driving Broken Bells’ After the Disco, and enough weight to make the electronics in My Morning Jacket’s Big Decisions sound comfortably bold. Treble snaps through slicing cymbals, vocals are clear and focused.
NOISE-CANCELLING
But bass isn’t very pronounced, and there’s not much going on dynamically. At this price they have a battle against the solid, dynamic B&W P5 Wireless. Where the Parrots feel congested during the cacophonous accordion in Mabon’s The Accordionist’s Despair, the B&Ws are more orderly, with a greater sense of space and precision. It’s a fair performance, just not one that’s going to place the Parrots high up the pecking order – even if they are among the best-equipped cans we’ve come across.
says
WEIGHT: 275G
RATING ★★ ★ ★
★
SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT Sadly for Parrot, a whole lot of features can’t make up for so-so sound
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 61
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
WE AS CLOSE TO WIRED AS
’VE HEARD
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless 34,990 FOR Premium design; rich bass; comfortable; great dynamics
AGAINST A little pricey, but that’s about all
★★ ★ ★ ★ The noise-cancelling on board is Sennheiser’s proprietary NoiseGard technology, and it does a really good job of dulling down the outside world. Office noise is all but gone and airplane noise is reduced to a negligible hum – it’s up there as one of the most effective noise-cancelling experiences we’ve had.
When Sennheiser launched the first range of Momentum headphones in 2013, it showed a fashion-conscious headphone market that style and substance didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Now in its second generation, that message is stronger than ever. Not only has the range been improved, but it’s also expanded with the addition of these wireless, noise-cancelling cans.
Close to wired performance
Even better portability At first glance, The Momentum 2.0 Wireless appear similar to their predecessors, with an all-leather headband and elegantly sculpted earcups that sit on adjustable stainless steel rails. Look closer though, and you’ll notice some tweaks. The frame is now collapsible, allowing them to fold down for better portability, while the earcups are bigger to ensure a better fit.
IN DETAIL...
The soft leather earpads are thicker too, making them even comfier than before. We wear them for hours at a time without feeling the need to remove or adjust them, and our ears don’t get overly warm during use either.
KEY FEATURES
APTX BLUETOOTH
aptX and noise-cancelling Thick, soft earpads block out noise, and now there’s active noise-cancelling too
They look similar to their predecessors, including an all-leather headband
62 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
The headline features of this model are the introduction of aptX Bluetooth and active noise-cancellation, both of which make their debut here. You’ll get around 22 hours of stable wireless music playback with noise-cancellation activated and, should you drain that before you manage to charge them via microUSB, you can attach the included cable and continue listening passively. The controls for power and music control are on the right earcup. The power button doubles as the pairing button for up to eight different devices, or you can use NFC pairing if your device is compatible. The multi-function button shifts up and down for volume, and can be pressed to skip tracks, answer calls or find out how much battery is remaining.
BATTERY: 22 HOURS
Fire them up and you’re greeted with the signature Momentum sound. In fact, we’re impressed at how close the wired and wireless performances are. It’s a rich, full-bodied sound with a level of composure and refinement we don’t always hear from Bluetooth headphones. The low end is weighty but detailed, offering the pulsating bassline of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s No Church In The Wild plenty of punch without ever sounding boomy or overbearing. Despite the strong bass response, it’s in the midrange that the Momentums really shine. From vocals to guitars, there’s a level of subtlety here that uncovers stacks of fine detail with plenty of clarity to boot. The high end is as well judged as the rest of the frequency range, with an open and articulate treble that shows no signs of harshness either, even with lesser quality recordings. In the Momentum 2.0 Wireless, Sennheiser has delivered an endlessly listenable pair of headphones, with useful new features and design tweaks that make them better than ever. We didn’t think it was possible to like the Momentums more than we already did, but the Momentum 2.0 Wireless have managed it. The only hitch is the price – 34,990 is a not inconsiderable amount for a pair of headphones – but if you can stretch to their price, you’ll be rewarded with every listen.
NOISE-CANCELLING
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT The Momentum range got even better – these headphones sound superb
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
A NEW TYPE OF BLUETO
OTH
Sony MDR-1ABT 29,990 FOR Comfortable; spacious presentation; deep, agile bass
AGAINST Recessed vocals; lack a bit of get-up-and-go
★★ ★ ★ ★ Smooth, refined and laid-back, the Sonys paint the orchestration in Wycliffe Gordon’s Royal Garden Blues vividly on an open, airy canvas: trumpets left, clarinets right, with trombones and drums precisely drawn inbetween. Said trombones dig down deep and true without ever hitting rock, proving a good character reference for the Sonys’ agile low-end too. There’s plenty of detail revealed by their openness, and no sign of tonal bias here. In fact, the Sonys’ rendition is one you could nod off to in your favourite armchair.
Sony is continuing to fly the flag for high-resolution audio, and this latest push zeros in on higher-quality Bluetooth streaming. The company claims its new proprietary Bluetooth codec, LDAC, transmits data three times more efficiently than standard Bluetooth encoding – supposedly maintaining a maximum bit depth and frequency of up to 24-bit/96kHz – so in theory, most hi-res music shouldn’t suffer as much compression in the transmission.
Tap and swipe controls Both the source and headphone/speaker must be equipped with the codec. Right now, these MDR-1ABTs – wireless versions of the MDR-1As – are one of the first LDAC-compatible products, alongside Sony’s high-end NW-ZX2 Walkman and a handful of wireless speakers, AV amps and soundbars. That doesn’t make the MDR-1ABTs redundant with your smartphone or
Lacking get-up-and-go
IN DETAIL... tablet – they’ll simply stream using standard Bluetooth. NFC functionality enables one-touch pairing – the badge on the left earcup marks the spot. On the right earcup you’ll find touch controls neatly embedded: tapping the earcup plays and pauses songs, and picks up calls. Swiping it allows you to skip tracks or change volume.
Comfort is first rate The right earcup has the touch controls; tap and swipe for a range of functions
Leather earpads are soft and supportive – like the sweet spot on your sofa
The plastic earcups and chrome-like details may not seem particularly up-market, but the soft-yet-supportive leather earpads make up for it. Mounting them on your head is like snuggling into the sweet spot on your sofa. There’s generous support beneath the headband too, though the Sonys feel fairly lightweight to wear anyway. The cups swivel to fold flat into the material storage pouch, though it would be nice if they folded inwards too. Sony is no newbie to the wireless game and its experience shows. The MDR-1ABT’s sound is clean, open and sweet-sounding with not the slightest hint of the snap, crackle and pop often associated with wireless playback.
KEY FEATURES
BLUETOOTH
BATTERY: 30 HOURS
NFC: YES
But that’s half the problem. Sure, they can throw enough weight behind electronics as we switch to David Bowie’s (You Will) Set The World On Fire, but they can feel a bit withdrawn and weary. To get us tapping our feet along to the track’s pummelling drums, splashy cymbals and power chords, they need to trade a bit of that smoothness for some attack. We find vocals a little recessed through the MDR-1As and the same applies here. Bowie’s vocals feel almost like an afterthought, reasonably insightful but not as clear or direct as through the B&W P5 Wireless or B&O BeoPlay H8s. The treble tends to cower away from the spotlight too, cymbals lacking outright clarity and crispness. Sony claims 30 hours playback from a four-hour charge, and we get around 20 hours – a fair amount at high, batteryhungry volumes. Wired up they gain a little more poise, remaining open, spacious and precise, though that sense of get-up-and-go is still missing. Sonically, these Sonys do a lot of things right. But there’s also a lack of entertainment, which leaves us looking elsewhere.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★
★
SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT Comfortable and easy-going, but these Sonys could be more entertaining
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 63
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
BLUETOOTH? NOT REQ
UIRED
Soundmagic WP10 14,999 (Approx) FOR Expansive presentation; impressive transmission range
AGAINST Flat dynamics; chunky transmitter; plasticky
★★ ★ ★ ★
These days you wouldn’t think of setting off on a road trip without a satnav even though, while less convenient, a trusty map or AA Route Finder print-out ultimately get you to the same place. The same is true of wireless headphones. Bluetooth has dominated much of the past decade thanks to its ubiquity and convenience, but there are still those that do the job via oldfashioned infrared or radio frequency. The Soundmagic WP10s are examples of the latter, which means that, instead of receiving music directly from a source like Bluetooth headphones, the WP10s stream from a small transmitter wired to your device.
IN DETAIL...
Buttons on the earcup allow for pairing between portable device and headphones
Surprisingly portable You can connect three ways: by wiring the transmitter (which is about the size of three packs of gum) to your portable device via 3.5mm cable – or even to the headphones themselves for passive listening – or by using the included RCA cable to hook it up to your hi-fi kit. Alternatively, you can connect the transmitter to your laptop or PC via USB cable, going through its built-in DAC. The first two methods are simple: press the power buttons on the transmitter and left earcup, and then the ID button next to it on the earcup to pair. However, the transmitter method requires both headphones and transmitter to be charged. The bottom line is that, out and about, you’ll need the transmitter wired to your device. On the plus side, the WP10 is compatible with almost any music source. And with a wireless range of 50m, they are arguably much better if you like to wander around away from your source than Bluetooth headphones, which typically have a range closer to 10m. At first glance, the chunky WP10s don’t look terribly portable with their jumbo earcups, richly padded pleather pads and belt-thick, leatherette-wrapped headband. However, their ability to fold into a ball, thanks to collapsible earcups, helps their case. Soundmagic has played it safe in the design department, and while we don’t doubt the rugged WP10s will stand up to the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, at this price we would prefer less plastic and more metal on show.
64 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
You won’t hear any grumbles from us where comfort is concerned though. The earpads create a firm, comfortable and well-isolating seal around your ears.
KEY FEATURES RF WIRELESS
Enjoy a greater range We get stuck into our LG G4’s music library and Neutral Milk Hotel’s The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. One fills the WP10s’ expansive soundfield with tangible guitar strums and textured, doublelayered vocals. Accordion melodies come through thick and fast, showcasing the WP10s’ agile, articulate demeanour. Vocals generally sound clear, smooth and fairly expressive, with mids falling headfirst into the WP10s’ comfort zone. However, the low end is a little on the murky side, and the bright treble almost wilfully sticks out in the mix, making for a lively rendition of Suede’s We Are The Pigs that isn’t sparse on wince-worthy riffs and cymbal crashes. Tonal balance needs smoothing out, and the presentation could do with a larger dynamic window to operate in too. A lack of dynamic expression and punch sees them downplaying the sweeps of
Instead of receiving music directly, the WP10s stream from a small transmitter
WEIGHT 331G
OUTBOARD TRANSMITTER
guitar solos, and sucking the excitement out of the track’s explosive opening. Neither is remedied by using a USB connection, although you do get a touch more clarity, solidity, precision and volume than offered by the 3.5mm port. The WP10s will have their fans – home users who play music from a variety of analogue and digital devices and who will appreciate the transmission range. But for portable use they have their caveats and, ultimately, need to sound better too.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND COMFORT BUILD
VERDICT Streaming via transmitter has its pros and cons, but sound needs improving
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
TEST WINNER
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless 34,990 ★★★★★ We’d like to say it went right down to the wire, but there’s only one winner of this particular test Apple’s rumoured plans to ditch the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 should suit the wireless headphone market nicely. There will be competition from the Lightning connector models, but the convenience of cutting the chord and the growing accessibility of wireless cans should sway the masses.
Gathering Momentum We’ve come a long way from the heavy-duty wireless headsets that graced the shelves in the 2000s. Now we have wireless cans that come with apps and others that measure your heart rate. Better still, sonic standards are improving all the time. Philips M2BTs and AKG Y50BTs are proof you can get good wireless sound for much less. Sennheiser’s Momentum line impresses all the way up to its flagship Bluetooth and noise-cancelling Momentum 2.0 Wireless models. They build on generous functionality with a likeable, refined and insightful sonic signature, and a swish, portable design. B&O’s BeoPlay H8s go shoulder to shoulder with them where price and functionality are concerned, but less insight and a fatter bass see them settle for four stars. The B&W P5 Wireless keep
the full star set awarded last summer. If noise cancelling isn’t a must-have, then they are a strong choice.
SYSTEM BUILDER
Best of the rest Entries from Parrot, Beats, Sony and Soundmagic are harder to recommend for their sonic capabilities, but aren’t without benefits. Those who can’t afford the Sennheisers may look to the Parrots for their sound-blocking skills. Beats headphones never fail to attract a fan base and, despite the Solo 2 Wireless favouring attack over fine detail and nuance, they’re much improved on earlier versions. The Sonys’ comfort, above-par battery life and easy listening manner will appeal to the frequent traveller, while the Soundmagics stand apart for their extensive wireless range and source compatibility.
Streaming service: Apple Music ★★ ★ ★ ★ 120pm A superb streaming service where a great curated sound collection is matched by a simple interface.
Smartphone: Apple iPhone 6S ★★ ★ ★ ★ from 52,000 Clever features and upgrades that matter come together to deliver an experience that few can challenge
Total build 87,110
HOW THEY MEASURE UP B&O BeoPlay H8
Beats Solo 2 Wireless
B&W P5 Wireless
Parrot Zik 3.0
Weight (g)
255
215
213
275
Bluetooth
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Noise-cancelling
Yes
No
No
Yes
Battery life
16 hours
12 hours
17 hours
18 hours
Cable length (m)
n/a
1.3
n/a
1.3
3.5 connector
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Senn M’tum 2.0 Wireless
Sony MDR-1ABT
Soundmagic WP10
Weight (g)
190
300
331
Bluetooth
Yes
Yes
No
Noise-cancelling
Yes
No
No
Battery life
22 hours
30 hours
12 hours
Cable length (m)
1.4
1.2
1.2
3.5 connector
Yes
Yes
Yes
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 65
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WORTH
22,600 speakers, the Compact 1 will amuse and amaze with it’s fluid and dynamic performance. These active bookshelves belittle their looks in terms of output with size-defying depth and detail. Guaranteed to put a smile on any audiophile, amateur or veteran alike, there’s no way you could go wrong with the Acoustic Energy Compact 1. Prize courtesy
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They say big things come in small sizes and the Acoustic Energy Compact1 is a true testament of that adage. Built to take on the modern day dilemma of small spaces, these nifty standmounters will gladly perform without ‘booming’ issues, regardless of its placement or proximity to its surroundings. Mount it on a wall, pair it with a subwoofer or use them as desktop
MAY 2016
TEMPTATION EXPENSIVE, YES. BUT YO
U KNOW YOU WANT ON
E
Unison Research Unico 150 | Stereo amplifier | NA
“A beast – albeit one in a smart suit” ★★ ★ ★ FOR Muscular presentation; huge scale; strong dynamics
AGAINST Lacks a little insight and precision; some build issues
Unison Research’s flagship Unico amplifier is something of a beast, albeit one dressed in a crisp smart suit. The numbers reveal a lot about this hybrid integrated – 25kg and 150W per channel – but even these take a back seat to the way it dominates our test rack. Thanks to its generously stocky proportions, the Unico dwarfs most of our reference kit. That nicely finished casework measures a substantial 18 x 44 x 44cm (hwd), so make sure you have plenty of space to house it, and to help with ventilation.
That Class A/B MOSFET output stage is capable of plenty of power. It has a claimed output of 150W per channel into 8 ohms that rises to a mighty 220W as impedance halves. That’s plenty of grunt and certainly enough to deliver high volume levels from most price-appropriate speakers. The Unico’s connectivity is good enough for the types of systems it will typically be bought for. There are a decent number of line-level inputs, including two balanced XLRs, plus a direct connection that bypasses the volume control – for use in a multichannel set-up where the volume
★
level will be controlled by an external AV processor. There are two pairs of speaker connections to help make biwiring easier. The distinctive remote got a mixed reaction from our test team. For the most part we warmed to the oddly shaped wooden casing, but it’s a system remote, which means many of the multitude of identikit small circular buttons are no use for the amp – and their slightly sharp edges didn’t meet with universal approval. Once up and running, the Unico proves an impressive unit. We connect it into our reference system using Naim’s NDS/555PS
Searching for perfection The three-piece front panel is crisply machined and the rest of the casework feels immensely solid. Neat details such as the classy-looking RCA sockets used and Unison Research-branded speaker connections lift the 150 above the norm. There’s a choice of finishes – the silver of our test sample, or black. The latter will cost you a little more. There are some areas where there is room for improvement. The two large control dials fit nicely in the hand, but the input selector feels a little wobbly. That three-piece front panel looks distinctive, but one of the trio of panels wasn’t aligned exactly. It was only a touch out, but at this price we’d expect perfection. Take a look inside and you’ll find a dual-mono hybrid circuit, which mixes valves in the input and driver stages with MOSFETs on the output stage. It’s a clear attempt to blend the fluidity and finesse of valves with plenty of muscle and grip. Many manufacturers have tried to combine these vastly different technologies and, judging by the mixed results, it isn’t easy. In our experience, Unison Research is one of the few to do so on a consistent basis.
68 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
1
2
3
IN CLOSER DETAIL 1 Good array of single-ended connections. There’s a pre-amp output alongside a tape out and a bypass input that makes integration into an AV set-up easier.
2 The two pairs of balanced XLR inputs should be enough for most high-end set-ups. Unison Research has chosen not to offer digital options with this amp.
3 We are impressed by these speaker terminals. They’re nicely made, they feel chunky and the paired-up arrangement makes biwiring much easier.
T E M P TAT I O N
”The Unico is exciting, articulate and a whole lot of fun – something many high-end products overlook in the quest for insight and refinement”
music streamer as the main source, with our long-serving ATC SCM50 speakers completing the set-up. In this system the 150 comes across as a powerhouse – no surprise considering its generous output.
KEY FEATURES
Huge scale and authority
HYBRID CIRCUIT DESIGN
Considering the amplifier’s muscularity, large-scale classical works seem a good place to start listening. We run through Tchaikovsky’s Marché Slave Op.31 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, taking in a large dose of Dvořák in the middle. The Unison Research is a smooth performer with a lively and articulate nature, though that isn’t what grabs our attention. We are initially drawn to the presentation’s scale and authority. It sounds huge, with plenty of headroom and the ability to play at furniture-rattling levels without any obvious signs of stress. There is little sign of hardness as the volume level heads northwards, just a wall of sound that extends to completely fill one end of our listening room.
150 WATTS PER CHANNEL
25KG WEIGHT
Tonally there’s a decent balance, though the top end lacks a bit of the body and richness that makes the bass frequencies so attractive. The Unico’s sound staging is nice and wide, but lacks a little depth compared with the best we’ve heard at the price.
A whole lot of fun We move onto Nick Cave’s Push the Sky Away and love the way the Unison renders voices. There’s delicacy here and the kind of fluidity that brings to mind some of the company’s all-valve designs. It makes a decent job of rhythms too, allowing the song’s gentle momentum to build with grace. We know there’s more detail on this track than the Unico delivers and a greater separation of instruments too, but there’s enough this amplifier does right that such shortcomings don’t overly concern us. That’s particularly the case when playing Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore & Lewis, where the Unison Research’s responsive nature makes listening to the song a treat. The amplifier’s energetic delivery works
brilliantly. There’s so much drive, it’s exciting, impressively articulate and a whole lot of fun – something many high-end products overlook in the quest for more insight and refinement. We’re glad Unison Research hasn’t gone down that road. The Unico 150 isn’t flawless, but it is immensely likeable. For some the size may be an issue, others may want a more precise and transparent performer, but we’re charmed by its big-hearted presentation.
says
RATING ★★ ★ ★ SOUND FEATURES BUILD
VERDICT The Unico 150 is a powerhouse, delivering an immensely muscular sound mixed in with a large dose of fun
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 69
TEMPTATION Burmester 089 | CD Player | 22,04,752
“Never afraid to hang hefty prices on its products” FOR Refined yet powerful presentation; excellent build
AGAINST Its price puts it beyond the reach of most
O
very top end of the market in terms of price, but they’re invariably well made and engineered to last decades. Importantly, the brand is happy to support these units for years after they’ve been made, which is reassuring considering their eye-watering price tags.
ver recent years an increasing number of manufacturers, at both ends of the market, have taken to including digital inputs on their new CD players. Given that every CD player already has built-in digital-to-analogue converter circuitry, this would seem to make perfect sense. After all, if it’s a good-sounding DAC, why wouldn’t you want to use it to make all your other digital music sources sound better? The 089 is Burmester’s high-end take on a CD player with digital inputs. There’s also an added twist in the form of an optional module called MMI, which adds USB and aptX Bluetooth inputs to the product. This Burmester is as much a system hub as it is a CD player, particularly when you consider it has balanced analogue inputs and variable output too. That means it can work directly into a power amplifier or a pair of active speakers, bypassing the need (and let’s not forget additional cost) for a separate preamp. Burmester’s products tend to sit at the
Two-handed operation The 089 certainly lives up to the company’s reputation. It weighs in at a hefty 13kg, which is more than most integrated amplifiers. That trademark chrome finish may not be to all tastes but there’s no denying its quality or the overall attention to detail. All the controls, including the large remote handset, feel robust and precise. Our only complaint is the handset’s buttons are pretty closely packed and identically sized, making it a little harder to use than ideal. Its generous size means using it is a two-handed operation for most people. The main unit’s front panel display is
★★ ★ ★★ clear, too. It’s relatively simple, keeping to just the basics in terms of information, but it can still be read from the other side of a brightly lit room. Take a look inside that lovely casework and you’ll find many interesting engineering touches. The 089 is that rare thing, a belt-driven CD player – most CD players are direct drive where the centre spindle is connected to the motor.
Minimising disturbances The idea behind belt drive is that any vibration from the motor is isolated away from the disc and laser, improving the laser’s ability to pick information up. The whole transport is also isolated from external interference by sitting in its own low-resonance chamber. The aim, again, is to make the laser’s life easier by minimising the amount of external disturbances it has to cope with. Burmester has traditionally favoured balanced circuit design, and this product is no different. It starts right from the DAC
"Burmester’s products tend to sit at the very top end of the market in terms of price, but they’re invariably well made and engineered to last decades” 70 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
T E M P TAT I O N
1 2
IN CLOSER DETAIL 1 The chunky remote is nice to hold but the multitude of same-sized buttons makes it a bit awkward to use
2 Push the sliding door back to load a CD. Don’t forget to put the magnetic puck on top to hold the CD in place
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 71
T E M P TAT I O N
1
3
2
stage and continues through to the output terminals. The company also doesn’t like to use capacitors in the signal path, claiming a reduction of distortion as the prime benefit of their omission. Great care is taken with the analogue output section – it’s the same X-Amp 2 modules as used on the brand’s top-end preamps. There are four digital inputs on our MMIequipped review sample: 24-bit/192kHz USB, optical and coax alongside aptX Bluetooth. A balanced XLR analogue input makes the 089 more versatile in a system context, particularly if the player is configured as a preamp too. There are both balanced and single-ended analogue outputs alongside a single-ended record out.
Talented system required A product of this type needs a suitably talented system to shine. We used our reference set-up of Gamut D3i/D200i pre/ power, ATC SCM50 speakers along with Naim’s NDS/555PS streamer and a MacBook Air loaded with Pure Music software as the digital sources. On the whole this system worked very well. We use the 089 both with and without an external preamp. There are certainly (slight) gains in outright transparency and resolution when used directly into our Gamut power amplifier, but also losses in terms of drive and authority. We decide to keep our reference D3i preamp in the system for the bulk of the test sessions. Once up and running, the 089 is a hugely impressive performer. With a unit like this we would normally start with CD replay, but here we’re intrigued by its Bluetooth capability. Such a connection is usually far too compromised for traditional high-end enthusiasts, and with Burmester charging a hefty sum for the MMI module, we want to know whether is worth it. We’re pleased to report it is. We use a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact as source and the results are impressive. The sound is smooth and free of the slightly hazy,
unsubtle quality Bluetooth still suffers from in many applications. Listening to Here’s The Tender Coming from The Unthanks, we’re greeted by a refined, large-scale presentation that brims with finesse – it’s hard to believe Bluetooth has anything to do with the music transfer. There’s a good amount of insight and an admirable degree of dynamic expression. The group’s vocals come through with just the right degree of warmth, solidity and plenty of passion.
A higher plane The MMI module also adds USB capability. There are two settings here: the Class 1 option is limited to 24-bit/96kHz input signals but should work with a wider range of sources; Class 2 takes that upper resolution limit to 24-bit/192kHz, but will require specific software drivers for non-Apple computers. As expected, USB improves on Bluetooth, taking the already pleasing sound to a higher plane – everything just sounds more precise and under control. It’s a similarly positive story through both the standard optical and coaxial inputs. The 089 really has a talented DAC section, delivering excellent results when fed with something as capable as our Naim NDS/555PS streamer.
Easy to follow The CD section is excellent. We listen to a range of music from Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Leonard Cohen’s Popular Problems all the way through to Eminem’s Recovery and we love what we hear. The 089 is subtle when it needs to be, delivering low-level details with delicacy. It’s wonderfully organised too, managing to keep a multitude of instrumental strands audible and easy to follow, no matter how complex the music gets. There’s also plenty of muscle here. The huge dynamic swings of the Stravinsky piece are punched out with venom,
IN CLOSER DETAIL 1 Manual sliding door for CD loading feels substantial and moves smoothly
"Bluetooth is usually too compromised for high-end enthusiasts, so is the MM1 module worth it? Yes, it is”
2 Optimal MMI module adds useful connectivity to the 089. It sounds good too
3 There are analogue inputs and variable outputs, and a single-end option for wider compatibility
KEY FEATURES
authority and no sense of strain.
Every inch a Burmester The Burmester’s stereo imaging is terrific. It combines an expansive and stable soundstage with precisely located instruments. The presentation is nicely layered and conveys a good sense of depth too – something that’s not always a given. Tonally, the 089 is every inch a Burmester, delivering a smooth, slightly rich sound without sacrificing too much bite or attack. It’s the kind of balance that is forgiving of a poor or harsh recording, without affecting the overall transparency. Such is the insight on offer that a good recording will always shine through. Burmester has never been afraid to hang hefty price tags on its products and the 089 is no different. There’s plenty of substance and ability here too, and certainly enough to earn a warm recommendation even at this price.
Says DAC
RATING ★★ ★ ★ ★ SOUND BUILD
BLUETOOTH FEATURES
VERDICT A top-class CD player with a talented DAC section, the 089 is one of the best digital sources money can buy USB
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 73
6 016 FEBRUARY 20 F
OF
S ELF
M STEM SYS CE S R FERENC RE
We use only the best ingredients in the making of this magazine. This in-house system helps us to evaluate incoming products with more insight and accuracy, so you always get the best tests!
Denon AVR-X7200W Dolby Atmos out of the box and an upgrade to Auro 3D on its way, this is the most future-proof AVR we could get our hands on, yet.
Arcam D33 DAC / UDP-411 BD/SACD Player Capable of full high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz processing and SACD playback, this duo is state-of-art audio/video decoding
BlueSound Vault
Mark Levinson No. 585
All our CDs and music get stored and served by this elegant solution from the boys at NAD
An integrated amplifier with (almost) no equal, this 200 w/pc dual mono design is the pinnacle of cutting-edge tech along with a 32-bit DAC onboard for added ammo!
PMC Twenty Series speakers
AudioQuest cables
Using the Twenty.26 as mains, Twenty.C for centre, DB1 Gold and Wafer 1 for surrounds, this speaker suite is the ideal blend of neutrality and musicality
Working truthfully between the various components, the DBSequipped line of cables and interconnects helps us see and hear without any anomalies
REL S5 Subwoofer
The cleanest and fastest way to add real weight and dynamics to our system was to introduce the brilliant S5 to the music and multichannel mix. A true legend
Also part of the system: Samsung 75H6400 LED TV, Apple Mac Mini, Audirvana Music Player, JBL Synthesis S800 power amp, Definitive Trinity Signature subwoofer
OFF THE SHELF
No Bluetooth here but everything that a studio engineer and an audiophile would need is present
Gibson Les Paul 8 Reference Monitor 80,000 (approx)
Smoke on the speaker FOR Looks and finish; punchy sound with great timing Known globally as a maker of fine instruments for gentlemen of rock n’ roll, Gibson has now branched out into the business of recreating music and their first product bears no less than Les Paul’s insignia! The samples delivered to us were wearing the Tobacco Burst finish which is reminiscent of many great guitars in the hands of even greater musicians. It’s clear from the first time you set your eyes on these monitors that no matter how they sound, you might just still end up buying them because it’s a heart over mind matter. Wrapped in soft fabric covers, they unravel themselves to a lot of oohs and ahhs and since these are the 8, they’re also large and easy to spot across the room, instantly gathering a crowd before you know it. The deep gloss of the front baffle with the contrasting matt top and sides along with the splashes of cream highlights gives it a retro-coolness that’s hard to brush off. Build to a very high standard, Gibson has included flourishes that speak of its flamboyant heritage. A chrome ring surrounding the woofer and tweeter protection bar, along with a glowing orange Gibson logo complete the million-dollar look. Oh wait, there’s also the Les Paul insignia on the woofer driver itself, always reminding you that you’re part of music history. The speakers have
AGAINST No Bluetooth; they're limited edition! some heft to them too, which is a good thing when you have an 8in woofer trying to push as much air out as Lars Ulrich in the middle of Enter Sandman. Gibson claims the woofer is made of a non-woven carbon and the tweeter is a “diamond-like” carbon-coated titanium material which is
The sound is tight, punchy and detailed with the right amount of high-frequency sheen that makes for a revealing listen, not harsh as dubious as it gets. But usually the term ‘Reference’ is reserved for products that are tuned to deliver a flat and accurate frequency response, so it would be fair to let Gibson have the benefit of doubt here. The design is bass-reflex, which means it’s vented through ports, in this case up front and arc-shaped completing the archtop look of classic Gibson guitars. Around the back, the Les Paul’s are in good shape. Trim controls for the bass/treble allow you to contour the sound to your preference with a +/- 4dB window and a master volume controls how loud you want to rock the house. It’s only natural to judge a speaker by its looks and by that standard, we had
high expectations from the Les Paul 8. Happy to report it didn't let us down at all. The tweeter does take its time to settle down but let it break-in over a few days and it comes into its own. The sound is tight, punchy and detailed with the right amount of high-frequency sheen that makes for a revealing listen, not harsh. Will Butler’s Anna starts with a thump that will have you looking for a subwoofer tucked under the desk. There’s plenty of attack in the delivery and regardless of using the XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) connections, it just begs you to turn up the volume to the point where you can feel your heartbeat pulsating with the kick drum. Lapsley's Leap proves that the Gibson’s excel at the delicate stuff too with pin-sharp imaging and a good amount of depth that audiophiles so crave for. Their active nature means that they have in-built amplifiers and all you need is a source like a laptop or even a smartphone could do! They revel in percussion-heavy recordings like Andra Day’s Cheers to the Fall album which is as live as any drum set could sound. It is capable of going loud too, upto 118dB and that’s enough to have the neighbours file a complaint. Sitting closer to the speakers don’t cause any fatigue too and that’s the hallmark of a well engineered and well made loudspeaker It serves all musical tastes well and will especially make your living space look chic just by being there!
Says VERDICT If you have the space, budget and eye for detail, look no further and get one of these now! TECH SPECS
Design 2-way Drivers 1 x 1in titanium tweeter, 1 x8in non-woven, carbon woofer Frequency Range 37Hz - 47kHz System power 247watts Crossover 2.7kHz Max SPL 118dB Connections RCA, Balanced TRS, Balanced XLR Dimensions (HWD) 18.6 x 12 x 13.78in Weight 13.8kgs
May 2016| What Hi Fi? | 75
OFF THE SHELF
BenQ B Q W8000 P Projector j t 2,75,000 2 75 000
HD's last hurrah FOR Colour accuracy; flexibility in installation; ease of use Gaining momentum rapidly in both the business and consumer segments, Benq has taken over the top spot in the projector pyramid. The W8000 here is at the top of the food chain, well at least until the 4K model arrives next year. Being the very first sample in the country, Benq was predictably shy in letting out a lot of details just yet, but here at WHF, we can’t keep our hands off a new bit of kit. The W8000 comes with an arsenal of tech aimed squarely at the home-theatre enthusiast who is looking for a no-compromise Full HD 3D projector. BenQ has employed a six-segment colour wheel for this single-chip DLP design. Tuned to adhere to the REC709 HDTV standard, it ensures that you get the most accurate colour reproduction this side of Hollywood. Currently the defacto standard in evaluating the capability of any video hardware being able to produce the enhanced colour gamut, the REC709 standard will be outdated when 4K and HDR come into the mainstream, but as of now it gives the W8000 the clear edge over rivals. Even the design of the W8000 is more serious than any previous Benq, with a large chassis and a more industrial look that is aimed towards custom installation. In fact, this is also the first Benq home-theatre projector with interchangeable lens, opening up a while new world of possibilities when it comes to
76 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
AGAINST Rare instances that show a rainbow effect shoehorning the W8000 into your living space. Depending on your throw distance, the different available lenses allow for 1.7mts to 11.1mts of play between the screen and projector mount location. But it's the picture that we're most interested in and that is the real pudding here. Special black paint on the insides to reduce light leakage, Total Inner Reflection (TIR) optical system, CineMaster video processing and
The colours were evenly balanced without any hue that appeared over saturated and this helps in bringing out finer detail too advanced controls for all six primary colours make it an ISF-friendly projector and can be tweaked to the installer's heart's content. The horizontal and vertical lens shift allow for plenty of play as far as location is concerned and we had no issues getting a 110in image from a distance of 15ft. Using Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the opener, we were stunned at the naturalness of the picture right from the word go. To make matters easier, the W8000 comes with a REC709 preset mode that takes the thinking out of the equation. The colours were evenly balanced without any hue that appeared over saturated and this helps in bringing out finer detail too. Shot intentionally to preserve a film-like grain, Star Wars is a
great test for a display device and the W8000 held its own. Moving on to something that is a complete digital render, The Good Dinosaur showed off the projectors command over smooth motion in 2D or 3D modes. But like every self-respecting videophile, you will have to keep the motion processing switched off for the most natural and believeable look although the other myriad of picture enhancement options it provides are worth trying, depending on what you're looking for. There is virtually zero pincushioning effect even while using the lens shift in its maximum setting and this means that Benq engineers have spent considerable time in perfecting this product. If you're a stickler for black levels and contrast, again, the W8000 should exceed your expectations. In the Heart of the Sea has challenging scenes with different shades of green and blue in the choppy seas while the whale hunters fight the giant mammals, making for a great test and here too, the W8000 excelled at presenting the picture with a smoothness and richness that made it closer to a movie-theatre experience than home-theatre. The addition of swappable lens and built-in aspect ratio selection makes it useable with a wide variety of Blu-rays, maximising your screen space and preserving the true nature of film. Going through a whole pile of Blu-rays, it was hard to come across any serious flaw in the W8000 besides the very rare case of the dreaded "rainbow effect" that is caused by the spinning DLP colour wheel. It's not serious enough to warrant dark circles and you might not even notice it depending on your own vision but keep an eye out when there's overlaying text on video. Silent and supremely capable, this is a bargain projector at its price that will be giving costlier competitors a run for their money. Highly recommended!
Says VERDICT A projector that punches above its class with stunning results. Superb colour rendition, easy to set-up TECH SPECS Engine Single-chip DLP Resolution 1920x1080 Aspect Ratio 16:9 (native) Brightness 2000ANSI lumens Contrast Ratio 50000:1 Connectivity HDMI x 2, RCA x 1, D-Sub x 1, component x 1, USB x 1 Dimensions (WHD) 431 x 167 x 321mm Weight 8.8kgs
OFF THE SHELF
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 BT Speaker 34,990
Black magic woes FOR Superb build; bluetooth call capabilities; great mid range One look at the Onyx and memories of the beautiful B&O A9 flash like a spotlight right in the eye. Are we over exagerating? No, it is true, this really seems to be a scale model of B&O’s offering. Of course it isn’t as big and not as classy and sophisticated and doesn’t come with skins that make it look like the moon or a starry night, but it does have its charm and won’t tear down your pocket. Under the dark grille, the moonshaped unit houses two 3/4in tweeters, two 3in woofers and two passive radiators. Connection is primarily through Bluetooth 3.0 and an aux input is also included for those who like to hardwire their music. Build quality is typical Harman Kardon. The Onyx feels rigid and the hard plastic shell feels it can take some beating before it gives in to an unfortunate fall from height. It comes in two colour options: black and white. We like the white option better as it would be more fitting in a lot of scenarios without looking like a sea
AGAINST Boomy low end; five hour battery; tad expensive urchin on a white sandy beach. That’s not to say you should take it to the beach. It is by no chance waterproof or anything of that sort, but that’s exactly what you would want to do when you listen to it. Play any track and what you get is a fun, enjoyable listen. Stream a high quality sample of Happy by Pharrel and the Onyx manages to bring out the easy going and light emotion of the track. Powerful vocals are something we don’t expect from such units, but the Onyx trumps this. Vocals engendered by the Onyx are backed by layers of information you get when you listen to more
Powerful vocals engendered by the Onyx are backed by layers of information expensive systems. However, bass appears boomy on certain tracks such as Royals by Lorde and finer details are as rare as a Billy Ray Cyrus hit song. Give the Onyx some space to breathe, though, and
JBL Charge 2+ Portable Speaker 13,990
Twice the charge FOR Rugged build; waterproof; battery bank; capable sonics With every new smartphone launch, comes a new set of features and apps that make sure you drain your battery even further. What if we told you that we have a product that can not only charge your devices but also have you enjoy some great music? The product in picture is the new JBL Charge 2+ which is beautifully built, sports a rugged waterproof design and lets you play music via Bluetooth. We love the solid construction and the exterior, JBL tells us that we can clean this speaker under running water, but not submerge it. The JBL Charge 2+ is powered by a 6000mAh battery that
AGAINST Fidelity could be better bass loses detail at high volume provides up to 12 hours of playtime and it even lets you charge all your smartphones, tablets and other devices. Charge 2+ also comes with a built-in noise and echo cancelling speakerphone, through which you
Bluetooth connectivity is effortless and you can get the Charge 2+ to play music in no time can make and receive calls. Another nifty bit about the Charge 2+ is the fact that you can connect up to 3 music sources and play music turn by turn.
thi ngs impro pro prove rove ve a n notc otch, ot otc h but h, but n bu no ot that a much. t ing ggss im However, at this p pric i e and nd siz s e the he Onyx y belies b l all ll your assumptions and d is a loud l d and enjoyable listen. We’d place this on a balcony and enjoy our favourite tunes without worrying about details and finer intricacies of music much. Best listened to: relaxed.
Says VERDICT A worthy option to consider if you want a BT speaker that’s easy going and brings out the fun in your tracks TECH SPECS Drivers 2 x 3/4in tweeters, 2 x 3in woofers, 2 passive radiators Connectivity Bluetooth 3.0 A2DP v1.3 AVRCP v1.5 Frequency Response 2402MHz – 2480MHz Impedance 4 Ohms Battery 5 hours Bi-amplification 4 x 15W Dimensions 280mm x 161mm x 260mm
Bluetooth connectivity is effortless and you can get the Charge2+ to play music in no time. We started off with Andra Day’s new magnificent album Cheers To The Fall and as the title track played, the Charge 2+ tries its level best to punch out ear-pleasing sonics and succeeds to a fair extent. It can get very loud for its size, without a problem, but sonics do sound compressed with you ramp up the volume. The Charge2+ can handle decent amount of bass but overall sonics sound hollow at higher volume levels. We shift to Sheher Mein from Rockstar and vocals sound crisp and overall, it is a pleasing listening experience. The Charge 2+ does well when you need to watch trailers on YouTube or play games. If you are okay with the lack of fidelity and the high price tag, and need a rugged, portable speaker that can double up as a battery bank, you could consider this one.
Says VERDICT Fantastic water-proof exterior. If the compressed sonics and high price doesn’t bother you, this one is a party starter TECH SPECS Frequency Response 75Hz-20kHz Drivers 2x45mm Power Output 15W Music playtime up to 12 hours Battery Size/Type Lithium-ion Polymer (3.7V, 6000mAh) Battery Charge Time 4 hrs Built-in Microphone Yes Weight 600gms
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 77
BUYER’S GUIDE
BUYER’S GUIDE BEST BUYS
NOW WITH THE BEST BUYS IN EVERY CATEGORY
HI-FI INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS
80
CD PLAYERS
82
DACS
83
MUSIC STREAMERS
84
STEREO SPEAKERS
85
MULTI-ROOM SYSTEMS
89
TURNTABLES
90
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
91
HOME CINEMA
This is the definitive guide to the best home entertainment kit you can buy. From 75in TVs to smartphones, from portable Bluetooth speakers to Dolby Atmos surround-sound packages, here’s where you’ll find the perfect product, fast.
BLU-RAY PLAYERS
93
HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS
93
PROJECTORS
94
SOUNDBARS
95
SOUNDBASES
95
SPEAKER PACKAGES
96
TELEVISIONS
97
PORTABLE HEADPHONES
99
INSIDE S FFrom wall-sized 4K TVs, class-topping CD playyers and transports, to speakers and am mplifiers of repute, we have it all, in a whole new layout.
Shanth Swaroop, Buyer’s Guide Editor Sh
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BUYER’S GUIDE
BEST BUYS
HI-FI
Stereo amps under 50,000
The only products worth considering
AMPLIFIERS THE BEATING HEART OF YOUR HI-FI SYSTEM
Marantz PM6005 44,900 The PM6005 is a multiple Award-winner for good reason. Nicely made, well featured and with refinement and insight few rivals can match. Power 45W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs 2 x speaker, headphone
Onkyo A-9010 27,0000 Best stereo amplifier under 30,000, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
Our favourite budget amplifier, this is arguably the most entertaining affordable amp around. It has agility and a wicked sense of rhythm. Power 44W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs speaker, headphone
Arcam FMJ A19 90,000
Stereo amps 50,000- 1,50,000
Arcam’s entry-level amplifier is a terrific combination of sensible features, fine build and entertaining sound. Power 50W Inputs 6 line-in, MM Outputs Speaker, headphone, preamp
Cambridge Audio CXA60 63,400
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best stereo amplifier 30,000- 70,000, Awards 2015
This is a lively performer with expressive dynamics and a surefooted sense of rhythm. Build quality is impressive. Power 60W Inputs 4 line-in Outputs preamp, 2 x speaker, headphone
Naim Nait 5si 1,35,000 Naim’s starter amp is an exceptionally polished performer which combines drama with the insight and subtlety to match the very best. Power 60W Inputs 3 line-in Outputs speaker, headphone
Rega Elex-R 1,12,500 Best stereo amplifier 70,000- 1,50,000, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
Stereo amps 1,50,000+
Arguably the best-value amp Rega makes, with insight and the precise handling of rhythms that’s hard to better even at double the price. Power 72W Inputs 4 line-in, MM Outputs Speaker, preamp
Burmester 032 17,79,221 An expensive product but feels it too. Plug the 032 into a system and it sounds lovely: top-class levels of resolution, authority and dynamics. Power 105W Inputs 5 line-in, MM, MC Outputs Speaker, ’phone, preamp
Mark Levinson No. 585 13,60,800 Get past the cost of the Mark Levinson No.585 Integrated and you’ll find a startlingly capable product – one of the finest amplifiers on the planet. Power 200W Inputs 6 line-in Outputs Speaker, headphone
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AWARD WINNER
AMPLIFIERS CONTINUED Naim Supernait 2 4,27,985 A terrific integrated amplifier. It’s punchy, with a low-frequency performance that brims with authority. Dynamics are strong too. Power 80W Inputs 5 line-in Outputs Speaker, headphone, preamp Stereo amps 1,50,000+
Rega Elicit-R 1,90,000
AWARD WINNER
Best stereo amplifier 1,50,000+, Awards 2015 Rega’s top integrated builds on the qualities of its smaller brother, the Elex-R. We haven’t heard a more precise amplifier for the money. Power 105W Inputs 5 line-in, MM Outputs preamp, speaker
Roksan Caspian M2 2,44,000 A supremely rounded product with solid build, classy aesthetics and a brilliant all-round sound that works well with all types of music. Power 85W Inputs 5 line-in Outputs Speaker, preamp
GamuT D3i 9,09,000 This GamuT D3i is a brilliant performer with excellent detail and superb transparency. It isn’t packed with inputs, but will cope with most set-ups. Inputs 3 line-in Output Balanced, single-ended DAC No
Mark Levinson 326S 9,10,000 Power amps up to 35,00,000
This classy unit has a refined presentation and a spellbinding sense of control. Construction quality is deeply impressive. Inputs 7 line-in Output Balanced, single-ended DAC No
Burmester 911 Mk3 24,65,077 The 911 is a real powerhouse, capable of delivering high power into difficult speakers without struggling. Refinement is top class, as is build. Power output 535W Mono/Stereo Stereo Inputs XLR
Cyrus Mono X300 Signature 3,25,000 Don’t let the Cyrus’s compact casework fool you. This powerhouse delivers high volume levels with a pleasing dynamic punch. Power output 225W Mono/Stereo Mono Inputs Phono, XLR
GamuT D200i 11,28,000 The D200i combines transparency, muscle and agility better than any alternative we’ve heard. Build and finish are excellent. Power output 220W Mono/Stereo Stereo Inputs phono, XLR
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CD PLAYERS & TRANSPORTS
CD players under 1,50,000
CD transports under 1,00,000
GET THE RIGHT PLAYER AND CD CAN STILL SHINE Cambridge Audio CXC 39,800
AWARD WINNER
Best CD transport under 50,000, Awards 2015
If you already have a DAC – the CXC is useless without one – we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this transport over a standalone CD player. Type CD transport Outputs coaxial, optical
Cyrus CD t 1,28,000
AWARD WINNER
Best CD transport 50,000+, Awards 2015
An exceptionally talented transport, the CD t offers a level of insight, transparency and clarity you’d struggle to find elsewhere at this price. Type CD transport Outputs coaxial, optical
Marantz CD6005 44,900
AWARD WINNER
Best CD player under 50,000, Awards 2015
Marantz’s CD6005 is rightly regarded as fantastic player, one that offers sprinkles of improvements on top of its superb predecessor. Type CD player Outputs coaxial, optical, RCA, headphone
Naim CD5si 1,45,000 The CD5si boasts a full-bodied, winningly enthusiastic approach to music. The absence of digital outputs means there’s no upgrade path. Type CD player Outputs RCA, DIN
CD players 1,50,000 and above
Burmester 069 51,54,435 If you can get past the massive price tag then you have a wonderful player that ranks among the best, if not the best, we’ve ever heard. Type CD player Outputs 2 x coaxial, opt, XLR, RCA Inputs coax, opt
Burmester 089 22,04,752 A top-class player that requires a suitably talented system to shine, the 089 is one of the best digital sources money can buy. Type CD player Outputs coaxial, optical, USB Inputs coax, opt
Cyrus CD i 1,59,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best CD player 50,000+, Awards 2015
Cyrus says this player is its best-sounding yet, and after listening to how confident and entertaining it sounds, it’s tough to disagree. Type CD player Outputs coaxial, optical, RCA
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CD PLAYERS & TRANSPORTS CONTINUED Cyrus CD Xt Signature 2,24,000 Looking for a top-class transport? The Xt Signature provides a sound that’s cleaner, crisper and more dynamic than its predecessor. Type CD transport Outputs coaxial, optical
Awards 2010
The Caspian M2 CD has been around the block, but it’s showing few signs of its age, showing skill with timing, dynamics and authority. Type CD player Outputs coaxial, optical, XLR, RCA
Roksan K3 CD Di 1,69,400 Few players at this price are as musical as the K3 CD Di. It promotes the character of your music, so you’ll never tire of listening to it. Type CD player Outputs coax, opt, XLR, RCA Inputs coax, opt
CD players 1,50,000 and above
Roksan Caspian M2 CD 2,21,800
Naim CD555/555PS 16,40,000 A CD player and a separate power supply, this might not look like much but there are few players better at revealing what’s on your discs. Type CD player Outputs RCA
DACS A DIGITAL-TO-ANALOGUE CONVERTER IS A MODERN HI-FI MUST Arcam miniBlink 13,800
AWARD WINNER
Best Bluetooth receiver, Awards 15
This receiver has serious dynamic clout, with a zingy and fluid rhythm. The 3.5mm analogue output means an adaptor is needed for trad hi-fi. Inputs Bluetooth Size (hwd) 2.5 x 3 x 4cm
A good desktop alternative to the Chord Mojo, with plenty more sockets and features. Smooth balance, fluid dynamics and subtle detail. Inputs USB, opt, coax Size 6 x 25 x 25cm Res Up to 24-bit/192kHz
Audioquest DragonFly v1.2 14,700 This tiny DAC/headphone amp remains one of our favourites for its USB-stick size and fine sonic talents. Clear, detailed with a fantastic sense of timing. Inputs USB Size (hwd) 6 x 2 x 1cm Resolution Up to 24-bit/96kHz
Chord Mojo 39,990
DACS under 1,00,000 D
Audiolab M-DAC 69,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best DAC 40,000- 80,000, Awards 2015
The majority of the Hugo’s performance for a fraction of the price. An enthusiastic performer that stays refined and superbly balanced. Inputs USB, opt, coax Size 2 x 6 x 8cm Resolution 32-768kHz/DSD 512
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DACS CONTINUED Oppo HA-2 27,999
AWARD WINNER
The range of inputs makes this ideal to use with any laptop or smartphone. The engaging performance and detail retrieval is remarkable at the price. Inputs USB, optical Size 16 x 7 x1cm Res up to 384 kHz, 16/24/32-bit AWARD WINNER
Chord 2Qute 1,19,000
DACS 1,00,000 and above
The 2Qute’s insight, accuracy and dynamic punch outshine rivals with aplomb. The colourful display and the shiny chassis continue to wow us. Inputs USB, opt, coax Size 7 x 16 x 4cm Resolution Up to 32-bit/384kHz
Bricasti Design M1 DAC 9,49,000 This high-end DAC is impeccably built. There’s power, rhythmic coherence and dynamic punch, but it majors in analysis of the music. Inputs USB, opt, coax, AESB, HDMI Size 6x43x30cm Res to 352.8kHz AWARD WINNER
Chord Hugo 1,59,999 The Hugo benefits from the genius circuitry informing Chord’s latest products. It has superb timing, remarkable clarity and plenty of power. Inputs 2x USB, opt, coax Size 2 x 13 x 10cm Resolution Up to 384kHz PCM
Chord Hugo TT 3,19,000 This ‘table-top’ version is the basic Hugo design, but supercharged. The finish is gorgeous, and it sounds better than its cheaper siblings. Inputs USB, opt, coax Size 5 x 24 x 23 Res Up to 32-bit/384kHz
Naim DAC-V1 1,95,000 Naim’s entry DAC is typical of the company’s sonic signature, combining a balanced tone with strong dynamics and fine organisation. Inputs USB, 2x opt, 3 x coax Size 9 x 21 x 32cm Res 24-bit/384kHz
MUSIC STREAMERS
Streamers under 1,00,000
THE BEST WAY TO SHARE YOUR TUNES AROUND THE HOUSE Bluesound Node 2 50,000 Looking for a non-amplified streamer to hook up to your existing hi-fi? The Node is back, and better, with improved design and connectivity. DLNA Yes Inputs Toslink, 3.5mm Storage No
Cambridge Audio CXN 79,600
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best streamer 50,000- 1,00,000, Awards 2015
Building on the success of Cambridge’s Award-winning Stream Magic 6 v2, the CXN features an all-new design and improved sound. DLNA Yes Inputs optical, coaxial, 3 x USB Storage No
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MUSIC STREAMERS CONTINUED Burmester Musiccenter 151 17,90,235 This multi-talented machine is a streamer, server, CD player and ripper, all wrapped in one superbly made chrome-laden box. DLNA Yes Inputs optical, coaxial, USB Storage 4TB
Cyrus Stream Xa 1,79,000 Best streamer 1,00,000- 2,00,000, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER Music streamers 1,00,000 and above
The two-time Award-winning Xa is a corker. Its half-width design won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but its truly entrancing sound surely will. DLNA Yes Inputs 2 x optical, 3 x coaxial, USB Storage No
Cyrus Stream XP2-Qx 2,69,000 An all-in-one music streamer that serves up an energetic, enthusiastic and immersive performance. Worthy of the sizeable asking price. DLNA Yes Inputs 2 x optical, 3 x coaxial, USB Storage No
Naim ND5 XS 3,00,000
AWARD WINNER
Best streamer 2,00,000+, Awards 2015
A forward-thinking design from an established hi-fi company. A brilliant sonic performance and a must-have if you’re after a do-it-all streamer. DLNA Yes Inputs USB, coaxial, optical Storage No
Naim NDS/555PS 11,80,000 Hear what this monster of a streaming machine can do and there will be no going back. Can afford the outlay? Lucky you DLNA Yes Inputs 2 x coaxial, optical Storage No
STEREO SPEAKERS THEY BRING THE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS – SO CHOOSE WITH CARE AWARD WINNER
Desktop Speakers up to 1,00,000
KEF Egg 39,000 Best desktop speaker 20,000+, Awards 2015
Our 2015 Best Desktop Speaker Over 20k have a distinctive design and flexible connectivity – and a stunning, consistent performance. Size (hwd) 27 x 13 x 17cm Powered Yes Finishes 3
Wharfedale DS-1 16,500
AWARD WINNER
Best desktop speaker under 200, Awards 2015
Smart and terrific-sounding; if you’re after small, articulate, affordable desktops with Bluetooth streaming, you can’t go wrong. Size (hwd) 19 x 11 x 15cm Powered No Finishes 1
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STEREO SPEAKERS CONTINUED B&W 683 S2 1,59,000
Floorstanders under 1,60,000
Tremendously talented speakers. We’re impressed by their power, scale and delicacy – they’re wonderfully versatile performers. Size (hwd) 99 x 19 x 36cm Powered No Finishes 2
Q Acoustics 3050 75,400
AWARD WINNER
Best floorstander under 80,000, Awards 2015
Another 2015 Award-winner, and no wonder. The powerful 3050s are so talented, they give speakers closer to a lakh a run for their money. Size (hwd) 100 x 20 x 30cm Powered No Finishes 5
Q Acoustics Concept 40 1,27,000 If you want a talented set of speakers with an easy-going, welcoming sound, you must consider these. Size (hwd) 97 x 17 x 29cm Powered No Finishes 2
Tannoy Revolution XT 6F 1,41,000
AWARD WINNER
Best floorstander 80,000- 1,50,000, Awards 2015
These Tannoys are something special – they fire out an infectious, entertaining sound that charms us. Superbly finished, too. Size (hwd) 100 x 27 x 32cm Powered No Finishes 2
Tannoy Revolution XT 8F 1,89,500 Few rivals will be able to match this combination of muscle and subtlety. Most of all they make listening to music fun. Size (hwd) 108 x 32 x 35cm Powered No Finishes 2
Floorstanders 1,60,000 and above
ATC SCM40A 6,99,000 The price looks steep but factor in built-in amplification and exceptional sound, and the SCM40As emerge as something of a high-end bargain. Size (hwd) 98 x 37 x 34cm Powered Yes Finishes 2
Focal Electra 1038Be 8,99,999 A hefty slice of the performance of Focal’s high-end Utopia range, at a fraction of the cost. Impressive detail, dynamics, bass and timing. Size (hwd) 125 x 30 x 40cm Powered No Finishes 2
PMC Twenty 23 3,12,200 These PMCs show real class, serving up sound that’s both refined and exciting. The 23s stand on their clean insight and unfussy nature. Size (hwd) 92 x 15 x 33cm Powered No Finishes 4
PMC Twenty 26 7,72,686* This range of speakers hardly puts a foot wrong. Here, it’s the insightful yet refined balance and impressive levels of detail that win the day. Size (hwd) 109 x 19 x 44cm Powered No Finishes 4
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STEREO SPEAKERS CONTINUED ProAc Response D40/R 6,33,000 As musical as they come, these are also as articulate, transparent and dynamic as any floorstander we’ve heard around this price. Size (hwd) 120 x 21 x 34cm Powered No Finishes 6
Spendor A6R 2,25,000
AWARD WINNER
Best floorstander over 1,50,000, Awards 2015
Spendor D7 4,12,000 When it comes to insight and precision, these floorstanders set the standard at this price. Unfussy, and they deliver a huge sound for their size. Size (hwd) 95 x 20 x 32cm Powered No Finishes 6
Tannoy Kensington GR 12,80,000
F Floorst tanders 1,60,000 and above
Musical notes have dimension and depth, and vocals are conveyed with reality and emotion. Outstanding. Size (hwd) 87.5 x 19 x 28cm Powered No Finishes 5
Along with that traditional appearance comes real substance. These are gentle giants, balancing finesse with force in a mighty appealing way. Size (hwd) 110 x 41 x 34cm Powered No Finishes 2
Triangle Signature Delta 5,60,000 Terrific timing ability combines with strong dynamics and impressive resolution to produce speakers that can stand toe-to-toe with the best. Size (hwd) 123 x 37 x 39cm Powered No Finishes 3
Dali Zensor 1 23,700 If you’re looking for a versatile, energetic pair of affordable speakers, give these a listen. They have a real feel for the the music. Good fun. Size (hwd) 27 x 16 x 22cm Powered No Finishes 2
Dali Zensor 3 33,000
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 42,000
AWARD WINNER
Best standmounter 30,000- 45,000, Awards 2015
For their size, these Monitor Audio Bronze 2 dig deep in the bass. They’re tonally balanced and impressively detailed too. Size (hwd) 35 x 19 x 26cm Powered No Finishes 4
Q Acoustics 3020 28,900
AWARD WINNER
Standmounters under 50,000
If they’re made by Dali, they’re going to be fun to listen to. These classy-looking speakers have plenty of punch and winning dynamics. Size (hwd) 35 x 21 x 29cm Powered No Finishes 3
Best stereo speaker under 30,000, Awards 2015
These lovingly constructed boxes deliver an exceptional combination of refinement, insight and dynamics. We can’t fault them. Size (hwd) 26 x 17 x 23cm Powered No Finishes 5
Q Acoustic Concept 20 43,000 If you want a top-quality, sub- 50K standmounter you ignore this one at your peril. Clarity and refinement shine through in abundance. Size (hwd) 26 x 17 x 28cm Powered No Finishes 2
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STEREO SPEAKERS CONTINUED B&W 685 S2 65,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Product of the Year, Awards 2015
Standmounters 50,000 - 1,20,000
Put simply, the 685 S2s are superb. Hugely entertaining, with power, punch and excellent detail retrieval. Size (hwd) 35 x 19 x 32cm Powered No Finishes 2
KEF LS50 1,10,000 These striking speakers are blindingly good. Get their partnering kit right and you’ll revel in the excellent bass, energy and fine articulation. Size (hwd) 30 x 20 x 28cm Powered No Finishes 1
Martin Logan Motion 15 78,000 A talented and fun pair of speakers. We particularly like the lively, natural presentation, even if the low end could do with more punch. Size (hwd) 29 x 13 x 24cm Powered No Finishes 2
Triangle Esprit Titus EZ 78,500 Your hunt to find a supplier for the Esprits might take a while, but it will be worth it for the articulate and agile presentation you’ll hear. Size (hwd) 31 x 17 x 27cm Powered No Finishes 3
ATC SCM11 (2013) 1,42,000
AWARD WINNER
Best standmounter 80,000- 1,50,000, Awards 2015
These are the most talented standmounters anywhere near this price. The transparency of their sound compares with far more expensive rivals. Size (hwd) 38 x 21 x 25cm Powered No Finishes 2
Standmounters 1,20,000 - 2,50,000
Dynaudio Xeo 4 2,40,000 The active Xeo 4s (they have built-in amps) offer hassle-free set-up and an insightful, musical sound from almost any source. High-res support, too. Size (hwd) 28 x 17 x 25cm Powered Yes Finishes 2
Neat Motive SX3 1,50,000 If you’re tight on space, or don’t need an overpowering sound, these articulate, fun-loving speakers should be a shoo-in for your shortlist. Size (hwd) 33 x 16 x 20cm Powered No Finishes 4
ProAC Studio 118 1,25,000 Weighty, detailed bass, lively treble and a good natural balance overall. The energy of the 118’s performance will provide hours of enjoyment. Size (hwd) 38 x 19 x 24cm Powered No Finishes 4
ATC SCM19 2,28,000
AWARD WINNER
Best standmounter 1,50,000+, Awards 2015
2,50,000+
It’s quite a trick for a speaker to be highly analytical with music yet never sound clinical or passionless. And yet so it is with the SCM19s. Size (hwd) 44 x 27 x 30cm Powered No Finishes 2
PMC Twenty 22 2,80,000 Solid build and a quality finish are just the start; it’s a big, authoritative sound, perfect for those who like a natural kind of presentation. Size (hwd) 41 x 18 x 37cm Powered No Finishes 4
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SYSTEMS SIMPLE DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN LOWER QUALITY Multi-room systems up to 1,00,000
Sonos System From 26,500
AWARD WINNER
Best multi-room system under 50,000, Awards 2015
If you don’t need high-res, Sonos is an obvious choice for multi-room. A great user experience alongside a full-bodied, insightful sound. Res 16-bit/44.1kHz App Mac, Android Formats MP3, iTunes Plus, WMA
Bluesound Generation 2 From 35,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best multi-room system over 50,000, Awards 2015
Bluesound’s Generation 2 has a more streamlined design and sounds as good as ever, offering high-res support and good connectivity. Res 24-bit/192kHz App iOS, Android Formats MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG
Best music system 50,000- 80,000, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
Stereo systems under 50,000
Cambridge Audio Minx Xi 51,300
This terrific system is a joy to use. It has a 24-bit/96kHz resolution limit, but that’s OK in light of its articulate and hugely likeable character. Inputs Analogue & digital Sources Streaming, internet
Denon D-M40DAB 49,900
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best music system under 50,000, Awards 2015
Denon continues to reign supreme on the micro-systems front. There are no Bluetooth or wireless features, but the sound makes up for it. Inputs Analogue & digital Sources CD, streaming, DAB, FM
Stereo systems 50,000+
Cyrus Streamline 2 1,73,000 Cyrus expertly combines hi-fi credentials and streaming features with ease. The superb sound quality is second to none at this price. Inputs Analogue & digital Sources Streaming, internet
Naim UnitiQute 2 1,60,000
AWARD WINNER
Best music system 80,000- 2,00,000, Awards 2015
The epitome of a modern streaming system. The insightful, rhythmically precise, spacious sound is tremendous – and worth the high-end price. Inputs Analogue & digital Sources Streaming, internet, DAB+, FM
Systems jargon buster UPnP Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a series of protocols that allow devices easily to discover and communicate with each other over a network to share information.
DLNA DLNA focuses on media formats and management, allowing content (video, audio, pictures, etc) to be shared across devices, with the user able to manage said files. Most DLNA tagged devices are UPnP capable too.
CD-quality CD-quality refers to the resolution of an audio CD, which is 16-bit/44.1kHz. CD-quality should not be confused with high resolution audio.
High resolution High-resolution audio has a higher sampling frequency and bit rate than CD-quality audio. Hi-res files tend to use a range of sampling rates, the most common being 96kHz and 192kHz at 24-bit.
NAS NAS – Network Attached Storage – is an intelligent storage device. Content stored on a NAS can be accessed through a media streamer via a network.
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 89
TURNTABLES DECKS TO KEEP THE VINYL REVIVAL THRIVING
Turntables under 50,000
Pro-Ject Elemental 22,500 As plug-in-and-play as you’re likely to find, this is a quality entry-level record player for those taking their first steps in the world of vinyl. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 9 x 43 x 30cm
Pro-Ject Essential II 30,900
AWARD WINNER
Best turntable under 40,000, Awards 2015
A frill-free, entry-level product that gets all the basics spot-on. Easy to set up and even easier to enjoy, it’s an obvious Award-winner. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 46 x 36cm
Rega RP1 36,000 The unadorned RP1 is an impressive turntable in its own right, with a good sense of drive and pleasing transparency. Speed 33.3 & 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
Clearaudio Concept 94,600
AWARD WINNER
Turntables 50,000- 1,00,000
Best turntable 80,000+, Awards 2015
A thoroughly sorted, easy-to-own package with tremendous sound, combining punch, extension and tonal variation in equal measure. Speed 33.3, 45, 78rpm Size (hwd) 14 x 42 x 35cm
Pro–Ject 1 Xpression Carbon 70,800 The Pro-Ject 1 Xpression Carbon UKX is a terrific package for the price; it is balanced and insightful, rivalling the class-leaders in overall ability. Speed 33.3, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 42 x 34cm
Rega RP3/Elys2 72,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best turntable 40,000- 80,000, Awards 2015
Turntables 1,00,000 and above
Few rivals are as fuss-free or sound so good, building on the balance, resolution and excitement of prior generations while adding more clarity. Speed 33.3, 45rpm Size (hwd) 10 x 45 x 36cm
Rega RP6/Exact 1,35,000 The RP6’s simple styling belies its engaging, detailed sound. One of the most expressive and enthusiastic turntables you can buy for the money. Speed 33.3, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
Rega RP8/Apheta 2,97,000 A terrific turntable that sets standards at the price. A detailed sound delivered with superb agility, strong dynamics and exceptional precision. Speed 33.3, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12 x 45 x 36cm
90 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
WIRELESS SPEAKERS CONTINUED
WIRELESS SPEAKERS FREE YOUR MUSIC WITH ONE OF THESE STREAMING WONDERS Audio Pro Addon T3 29,999
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best portable wireless speaker 20,000- 30,000, 2015
This classy boombox from Audio Pro ignores gimmicks and focuses on delivering the best sound possible for an extremely tempting price. Size (hwd) 12 x 22 x 14 Battery Yes
Cambridge Audio Go 12,500 Awards 2014 Wireless speakers under 30,000
Few wireless speakers offer such a great combination of build quality, battery life and enjoyable performance as this former Award-winner. Size (hwd) 24 x 12 x 6cm Battery Yes
JBL Xtreme 24,990 The Xtreme delivers all the power suggested by its brutish physique, but is also capable of great subtlety and insight. Powerful and portable. Size (hwd) 13 x 28 x 12cm Battery Yes
Monitor Audio Airstream S150 15,500
AWARD WINNER
Best mains-powered wireless speaker under 20,000, Awards 2015
The Airstream S150 boasts impressive clarity and detail with solid, weighty bass and an agile and dynamic delivery. Size (hwd) 27 x 12 x 14cm Battery No
Ultimate Ears Roll 8,495
AWARD WINNER
Best portable wireless speaker under 10,000, Awards 2015
Super-portable, waterproof and with great sound, the Roll is the ideal on-the-go companion. We haven’t heard better for less than a ton. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery Yes
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Wireless speakers 50,000+
Wireless speakers 30,000- 50,000
WIRELESS SPEAKERS CONTINUED KEF Muo 35,000
AWARD WINNER
Best portable wireless speaker 20,000, Awards 2015
The Muo brings a touch of luxury with its detailed musical performance and great looks. You won’t get better without going mains-powered. Size (hwd) 8 x 21 x 6cm Battery Yes
Q Acoustics Q-BT3 43,000 Few products are as versatile as these for the price: wireless speakers, soundbar replacement, iPod dock or powered stereo speakers. Size (hwd) 31 x 19 x 24cm Battery No
B&W Zeppellin Wireless 58,000 Eight years on, the Zeppelin speaker is still a must-have for the audiophile who wants fine sound in a convenient package. Size (hwd) 18 x 66 x 18cm Battery No
Naim Mu-So 1,39,875
AWARD WINNER
Best mains-powered wireless speaker 80,000+, Awards 2015
The Mu-so has a rich, powerful sound, a huge sense of scale and soaring dynamics – and it’s now been updated to accommodate Tidal. Size (hwd) 12 x 63 x 26cm Battery No
Getting the most out of your wireless speaker
Wireless tech explained The most used wireless transmission methods tend to be the following: aptX Bluetooth, regular Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay and Kleer (used by Arcam). AirPlay is Apple’s proprietary solution and works only with Apple devices. Bluetooth, and its higherquality aptX variant, will work with any Bluetoothcompatible device, while Kleer requires a dongle. If it were our money, we would opt for one of the Bluetooth variants – it’s versatile and the quality is fine, albeit lower than with a wired connection.
92 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
How much should you spend? This all depends on what you want your dock to do. If you fancy something to take to the park for picnics, then you’d want to consider a unit that has a good battery life. If you’re replacing a micro or mini system, then something like the B&W Zeppelin Wireless will do a commendable job. As ever, try before you buy, especially if you’re heading towards the premium range. A good tip is to take your library with you to the dealer/ retailer and play some of the greatest hits straight from your portable.
Choose the right file type Whichever one you go for, and especially if you’re connecting your device, it’s important to supply the dock with a high enough quality file. We find that 320kbps is as low as we’d go with MP3 files, with Apple Lossless, FLAC or uncompressed WAV far more preferable. If you use an Apple device, and use WAV files on your computer but don’t have space for them on your portable, iTunes has a handy option to sync slightly lower-quality versions of your tracks to your device.
Instant multi-room music If you’re looking to build a multi-room system, you’re in luck. Some docks won’t be able to play music on more than one device at a time (unless you have more than one which can stream to each other), but it does mean you can simply select each device on your portable as you move between rooms and have your music instantly switch between docks. Alternatively, you could fork out for a Sonos system – but that isn’t really the point. Wireless docks mean minimal set-up – always a bonus.
BUYER’S GUIDE
BEST BUYS
HOME CINEMA
The only products worth considering
BLU-RAY PLAYERS ENJOY HIGH-DEF MOVIE THRILLS
AWARD WINNER
Marantz UD7007 72,900
Cambridge Audio CXU 1,25,600
AWARD WINNER
Best Blu-ray player 30,000+, Awards 2015
A universal disc-player, packed with features and connections, that pushes the boundaries with both picture and sound quality. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD
Oppo BDP-105D 1,29,999
Blu-ray players 30,000 and above
A 2013 Awards winner, this is a solidly made machine that performs to a very high standard. If you have the right system, it’s a terrific buy. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD
It might seem a lot for a disc player, but if you want a quality component that’s as adept with music as it is with movies, you’ll want this. Top class. Compatibility Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD
HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS STUNNING SOUND THAT TRULY BRINGS MOVIES TO LIFE Denon AVR-X2200W 69,900
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best home cinema amplifier 50K- 70K, Awards 2015
Yamaha RX-A850 93,990
AWARD WINNER
Best home cinema amplifier 70K- 1Lac, Awards 2015
In the sweet spot of balancing price, features and performance, this has a hugely entertaining combination of power and precision. Power 7 x 100W Dolby Atmos Yes
AV amplifiers 50,000- 1,00,000
Our AV amp Product of the Year is an articulate and detailed amp, with stacks of functionality and future-proofing. Packed with features. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos Yes
Yamaha RX-V679 59,990 No Dolby Atmos but Yamaha does offer a big, spacious sound with decent detail and balance, though some others are more nuanced. Power 7 x 90W Dolby Atmos No
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 93
HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS CONTINUED
HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIERS AV amplifiers 1,00,00 and above
STUNNING SOUND THAT TRULY BRINGS MOVIES TO LIFE Onkyo TX-NR3030 1,90,000 Looking for high-end, high-quality surround audio? This amp delivers with a spacious, subtle sound, a plethora of features and Dolby Atmos. Power 11 x 185W Atmos Yes
Pioneer SC-LX59 1,32,000
AWARD WINNER
Best home cinema amplifier 1,00,000+, Awards 2015
The SC-LX59 makes it six 1,00,000+ Awards in a row for Pioneer. This latest offering is better than ever, making it a class-leading receiver. Power 9 x 140W Atmos Yes
PROJECTORS
Projectors 1,50,000 and above
Under 1.5lac
BECAUSE A MASSIVE PICTURE IS HOME CINEMA BenQ W1080ST+ 1,25,000 Best projector under 1,50,000, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
This short-throw projector can sit less than six feet from the screen at max zoom – and looks brilliant thanks to its crisp, eye-catching pic. Throw ratio 0.69-0.83:1 Inputs 2 x HDMI, component Speakers Yes
Epson EH-TW7200 1,80,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best projector 1,50,000- 2,50,000, Awards 2015
Versatile and easy to set up, this one raises the bar for picture quality in the sub- 2lacs arena with its realistic, subtle and punchy performance. Throw ratio 1.34-2.87:1 Inputs 2 x HDMI, component Speakers No
Sony VPL-HW55ES 3,16,667
AWARD WINNER
Best projector 2,50,000+, Awards 2015
This well-specified Sony produces a very natural picture that’s precisely crisp and bright, and demonstrates exemplary contrast. Brilliant. Throw ratio n/a Inputs 2 x HDMI, component Speakers No
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SOUNDBARS AN IMPRESSIVE WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR TV’S SOUND Under 50,000
Q Acoustics Media 4 45,000
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best soundbar under 50,000, Awards 2015
Q Acoustics’ debut soundbar is remarkable value – even more so at its reduced price – and more than worthy of its two-time PoY status. Size (hwd) 9 x 100 x 14cm Inputs Optical, RCA Subwoofer No AWARD WINNER
Soundbars 50,000 and above
Dali Kubik One 1,05,000 Best soundbar 50,000+, Awards 2015
A gorgeous and complete package, Dali’s debut soundbar impresses with its hugely engaging sound and smart, well-equipped exterior. Size (hwd) 15 x 98 x 10cm Inputs Optical, 2 x RCA Subwoofer No
Philips Fidelio B5 54,990 Thanks to two detachable (wireless, battery-powered) speakers, it can add surround sound or be a multi-room system. Great sound, too. Size 7 x 104 x 16cm Inputs 2 x HDMI, optical, coax, RCA Sub Yes
SOUNDBASES AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF SUPERIOR TV SOUND Soundbases under 30,000- 70,000
Cambridge Audio TV5 37,100 The TV5 shares its TV2 sibling’s rich presentation, but with an extra driver and bigger chassis there’s better detail, clarity and dynamics. Size (hwd) 10 x 73 x 34cm Inputs Optical
Canton DM55 69,000
AWARD WINNER
Best soundbase under 70,000, Awards 2015
Replacing the DM50, the cheaper DM55 is even more appealing – its meaty yet subtle sound is a huge audio upgrade for your TV. Size (hwd) 7 x 55 x 30cm Inputs Optical, coaxial
Select the right cable for your system
Speaker cable What is it? Solid-core or stranded cable. What’s it for? Connecting multiple speakers.
Digital optical cable What is it? Cable that transmits audio as light. What’s it for? Transmitting audio in the digital domain.
HDMI cable What is it? A digital cable that transmits video and audio. What’s it for? To link HDMI sources.
Stereo interconnects What is it? Analogue cable. What’s it for? To replace your kit’s freebie leads.
Mains cable What is it? Heavy-duty cable upgrade. What’s it for? To replace your kit’s inferior mains cable.
May 2016 | What Hi Fi? | 95
SPEAKER PACKAGES
Style packages 1,10,000- 2,00,000
Style packages under 1,10,0000
GOOD SURROUND SOUND IS A MOVIE-MAGIC MUST
Q Acoustics Q7000i 1,06,000 Got a lac to spend on a sub/sat package? Spend it here. This compact set creates a cohesive and expansive soundfield, with strong bass. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 20 x 16cm Finishes 2
Tannoy HTS-101 XP 72,900
AWARD WINNER
Best style package under 1,00,000, Awards 2015
The latest incarnation of a multiple winner has a sonic character that retains its fast, spacious quality, but with extra detail and solidity. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 19 x 10 x 11cm Finishes 1
B&W MT-50 1,76,000
AWARD WINNER
Best style package 1,00,000+, Awards 2015
These speakers sound crisp, clear and insightful, and the sub and satellites integrate so well. Value and versatility combined. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 25 x 11 x 16cm Finishes 2
B&W MT-60D 2,95,000 Compact and stylish (we love that sub), this package presents a dynamic, powerful sound that excels with surround sound and stereo music. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 25 x 11 x 16cm Finishes 2
Before you buy: equipment racks sider… Choosing an equipment rack can be tricky. Here are a few things to consider…
1) Equipment supports have a difficult job to do. Ideally, they should isolate your system from external vibrations, so that it can perform optimally, but also act as a ‘sink’ for any internally generated vibrations – say, the effects of a spinning disc or the low-level buzz of a mains transformer. Make sure there’s enough air space around your kit to avoid it overheating, though. 2) Racks come in different sizes and lengths. Do you need a full-width bench-style rack? If you have lots of hi-fi equipment, a wider rack might suit you better if you have the space for it. For those with only a CD player or amplifier to support, there are rack companies which sell half-width versions.
MODULAR RACK Ideal if you plan to grow your system, but check its ease of assembly
3) Plan for the future by choosing a rack with a modular design. It’s a good halfway house if you have one eye on later system expansion. How easy it is to assemble may be something to consider in this situation, too; a fussy design could bring frustration. However, while another shelf won’t be cheap, it’s likely to be less expensive than investing in a new rack altogether.
“Equipment supports should isolate your system from external vibrations, but also act as a ‘sink’ for internally generated vibrations”
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FULL-WIDTH RACK The solution for those with plenty of hi-fi equipment to support
SPEAKER PACKAGES CONTINUED Traditional packages under 1.5Lacs
Dali Zensor 1 5.1 1,12,200
AWARD WINNER
Best traditional package under 1,50,000, Awards 2015
Why did it win an Award? Because of the sound’s punchy dynamics, abundance of detail, expression, articulation and impressive integration. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 16 x 44 x 29cm Finishes 3
Q Acoustics 3000 Series 5.1 99,500 A budget package that makes the sound from films come across as subtle, atmospheric and detailed. This is a fun listening experience. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 20cm Finishes 5
Monitor Audio Bronze B5 AV 2,42,500 Best traditional package 1Lac- 3Lacs, Awards 2015
Traditional packages 1.5 Lacs+
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Our Speaker Package Product of the Year is beautifully designed, has ample punch, creates a spacious soundfield and is very musical. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 17 x 46 x 19cm Finishes 4
KEF R100 5.1 3,13,000 Best traditional package 3,00,000+, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
Gorgeous looks and superior sound quality – the R100 5.1 has both. There’s great scale, seamless integration, and an expressive midrange. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 17 x 53 x 31cm Finishes 4
TELEVISIONS MAKE THE FOCUS OF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT HUB A GOOD ONE AWARD WINNER
Televisions 50,000- 1,10,000
Samsung UA40JU6470U 83,900 Best 40-46in TV 50,000+, Awards 2015
You don’t need a huge screen to appreciate the benefits of a 4K pic. This sleek 40in set combines features, functionality and performance. Type LCD/LED Screen size 40in Resolution 3840 x 2160
Samsung UA48J6300AK 1,04,900
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best 47-52in TV under 1,10,000, Awards 2015
It has a pronounced curve, but the picture quality is a fantastic proposition at this price. Astonishingly good Full HD performance. Type LCD/LED Screen size 48in Resolution 1920 x 1080
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Televisions 1,10,000- 2,00,000
TELEVISIONS CONTINUED Sony KDL-55W800C 1,24,900 Ultra HD 4K screens may be grabbing all the headlines, but Full HD screens are still in the majority. A Android TV with the flair to dazzle. Type LCD/LED Screen size 55in Resolution 1920 x 1080
Samsung UA48JU6470U 1,31,900
AWARD WINNER
Best 47-52in TV 1,00,000+, Awards 2015
This Samsung is special: super-sharp 4K, realistic textures, a smart interface, and a slim, attractive physique. Impressive. Type LCD/LED Screen size 48in Resolution 3840 x 2160
LG65EC970T 5,79,900 One of the very best TVs on the market, this LG is a lovely looking telly with a fantastic picture. Whisper it, but OLED is becoming accessible. Type OLED Screen size 65in Resolution 3840 x 2160
LG55EG960T 3,59,900
AWARD WINNER
Televisions 2,00,000 and above
Best 52-60in TV 2,50,000+, Awards 2015
Top-drawer 4K Ultra HD resolution meets OLED technology, and the results are simply stunning. The price seems to be slipping too… Type OLED Screen size 55in Resolution 3840 x 2160
Samsung UA55JU7500K 2,41,900
AWARD WINNER
Best 52-60in TV under 2,50,000, Awards 2015
This 55in beauty produces not just excellent 4K content, but will make your HD TV channels and Blu-rays look awesome too. Type LCD/LED Screen size 55in Resolution 3840 x 2160
Samsung UA65JS9000K 4,40,900
AWARD WINNER
Best 60in+ TV, Awards 2015
This curved set combines excellent smarts with a gorgeous, insightful picture. If a big screen and 4K are must-haves, your search is over. Type LCD/LED Screen size 65in Resolution 3840 x 2160
Sony KD-65X9300C, 3,74,900 A great, and very big telly, its stunning picture (and brilliant sound) is everything you would expect from a flagship television. Type LCD/LED Screen size 65in Resolution 3840 x 2160
Gaming TVs
Input lag Televisions come with their own built-in latency, and high latencies lead to less-responsive controls. Manufacturers rarely mention these figures, but look online and you’ll find some useful sites that list television latencies.
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If you’re into gaming then a television that gives you an advantage is vital We’ve highlighted four areas to ensure you won’t be left on the losing side
Local dimming Local dimming works by dimming the backlight in the image’s darker areas, resulting in deeper blacks. TVs with good dimming can have excellent contrast, making for more vivid, expressive colours but they can also add to a TV’s latency.
Don’t believe refresh rates Higher refresh rates update the image faster, which should reduce motion judder. Console games run no faster than 60 frames per second, so refresh rates of 120Hz and more won’t hugely improve performance. A 60Hz set is more than capable.
Game mode Game mode disables processing modes thereby reducing input lag. That’s the good part. Less good is that contrast and image quality suffer, resulting in a drablooking image. A game mode can be useful, but it can also compromise the image.
BUYER’S GUIDE
BEST BUYS The only products worth considering
PORTABLE HEADPHONES BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS, AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND
Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi 6990
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Best in-ears 5000- 10,000, Awards 2015
You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound so good for the cost. But good they sound, wonderfully smooth, expressive and balanced. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m In-ears under 10,000
FiiO EX1 4,999 These monitors are nicely judged tonally, with plenty of detail. Add an expansive soundstage and you’re looking at great value for money. In-line controls No Cable length 1.2m
SoundMagic E10S 1999
AWARD WINNER
Best in-ears under 5000, Awards 2015
Paying 2000 for a pair of buds like these ranks as one of the simplest, most affordable and most satisfying upgrades available. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m
Shure SE425 23,220
AWARD WINNER
Best in-ears 10,000- 30000, Awards 2015
Sennheiser IE 800 54,990
In-ears 10,000 and above
If you’re serious about the quality of your in-ear headphones, we’d point you here. The energetic, immersive performance is irresistible. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.6m AWARD WINNER
Best in-ears 30,000+, Awards 2015
You might think it a waste to spend so much on buds, but don’t make up your mind till you’ve heard these – they’re astonishing performers. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.1m
Shure SE846 84,700 Stunning detail, supreme tonal balance and extraordinary dynamics. You just need to ensure you use an equally talented source In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m & 1.6m
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Noise cancelling heaphones up to 30,000
HEADPHONES CONTINUED Bose QuietComfort 25 25,200 These cans are a real treat. Their noise-cancelling capabilities are extraordinary, their clear, balanced sound a joy to hear. Quoted battery life 35 hours
PSB M4U2 23,900 As well as obliging with a powerful delivery the PSBs offer a choice of listening modes (passive, active and noise-cancelling), to suit. Quoted battery life 55 hours
AKG K451 4999 Great agility and precision timing combined with excellent build and compact size, makes the K451s a must-audition pair of cans. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 120g PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
On-ears under 15,000
AKG Y50 7990 Best portable on-ears under 10,000, Awards 2015
Our Product of the Year cans for 2015 are portable on-ears, and deliver a rhythmic, clear, detailed, dynamic sound. At this price they’re amazing. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 190g
Philips Fidelio M1MkII 10,999
AWARD WINNER
The Fidelios offer an unusually smooth delivery and plenty of weighty, punchy bass. Clarity and precision are further strong points. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 166g
On-ears 15,000- 30,000
Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H2 15,990 Not only do these headphones look great, they also do a fine job of music reproduction – and offer great pride of ownership. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 155g
Beyerdynamic T51i 19,999 Awards 2014
It’s satisfying when great design, premium build and top performance all come together. These on-ears really do sound as good as they look. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 174g
B&W P5 Series 2 18,800 Clear, precise sound, bags of detail, punchy rhythm – these gorgeous ’phones have the lot. We can’t think of anything to say against them. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 195g
System Killers
Mission Impossible Out now
100 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
Inside out Out now
Mad Max: Fury Road Out now
Ex Machina Out now
Fast and Furious 7 Out now
HEADPHONES CONTINUED Grado SR125e 13,200 On-ears 15,000- 30,000
These might have looked at home on the ears of a wartime radio operator, but they sound great. Stay at home, though: they’re leaky. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.5mm Weight 363g
Grado SR325e 25,900
AWARD WINNER
Best home on-ears £15,000- 30,000, Awards 2015
If you don’t mind the sound that leaks from them, you’re free to enjoy the fluid dynamics and wonderfully musical presentation. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.5mm Weight 330g
AKG K812 99,052 On-ears 30,000 and above
For outright insight you’d have to spend thousands more than this on speakers before you get close to the resolution and agility on offer here. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 390g PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
B&W P7 33,000 Worth every penny. The solid build quality and comfy fit we expect, but the level of detail and dynamics swept us off our feet. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 290g
Shure SRH1540 41,300
AWARD WINNER
Best home on-ears 30,000+, Awards 2015
Once the music starts you’ll focus on the expansive, beautifully balanced sound. There’s agility, enthusiasm and genuine musicality too. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 286g
Best wireless headphones 25,000+, Awards 2015
AWARD WINNER
Wireless headphones up to 40K
B&W P5 Wireless 28,950
All the characteristics of the P5 Series 2 without the wire. The Bluetooth connection works well and the sound is nigh-on as good as the Series 2. Folding Yes Quoted battery life 17hrs Wireless range n/a
Philips Fidelio M2BT 14,500 Bluetooth here is the superior aptX version. There’s also NFC connectivity and – most important – a rich, balanced, musical sound. Folding No Quoted battery life 10hrs Wireless range 15m
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N E H T S A W T A TH 97 JULY 19 TANNOY MERCURY M3
Tannoy’s Eclipse Threes are brilliant descendents of the budget Mercury M3
M3: start of the road Tannoy’s budget floorstanderse Tannoy is best known for its proudly retro yet truly charismatic Prestige speaker range. Rightly so, as these products have long offered qualities sorely lacking in most modern rivals. But that affinity for top-end products hasn’t stopped the brand from trying to compete at budget price points too. It hasn’t always succeeded – the cut-price world of budget speakers doesn’t lend itself easily to Tannoy’s quality-led ethos, or allow the use of its clever dual-concentric driver technology. Take away this trademark tech and it becomes hard for the company to stand out. That doesn’t mean Tannoy can’t challenge. The brand new Eclipse Threes are excellent, delivering a combination of brute force and
”The brand new Eclipse Threes are excellent, delivering a combination of brute force and subtlety most rivals struggle to match” 106 | What Hi Fi? | May 2016
subtlety most rivals struggle to match. This isn’t the first time Tannoy has come up with brilliant budget floorstanders, though. Back in 1997, the Mercury M3s were taller versions of the highly rated M2 standmounters, using slightly tweaked drivers and crossovers in taller cabinets. The results were excellent. Those M3s were refined and unfussy performers – ideal qualities for speakers likely to be partnered with less-than-sophisticated budget
electronics. But partnered with care they could deliver a sweet, informative sound that brimmed with dynamic expression and cohesion. The current Eclipse Threes strike an even more convincing balance. Punchier and more insightful, they latch onto a rhythm with more conviction than their ancestors. Consider the Eclipses cost just a tad more than the M3s did in 1997 and Tannoy’s achievement is all the more impressive.
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Debut S12EQ by Andrew Jones. 12-inch 1,000-Watt Powered Subwoofer
Advanced Bluetooth® Control Doing away with traditional analog controls, the subwoofer incorporates our advanced digital control system. Simply download the ELAC SubEQ app for your smartphone* and you have complete control. No more fumbling around the back of the subwoofer again.
Auto EQ Utilizing our SubEQ app and your smartphone’s microphone, the subwoofer will automatically EQ itself to your room’s unique characteristics using a 12-Band parametric equalizer. Full manual EQ is available as well.
Custom Driver A custom 12-inch long-throw driver provides the quality and quantity of bass that is fundamental to accurately reproducing today’s demanding movie soundtracks and music. A 12-inch passive radiator improves the transient response and increases the efficiency of the system.
BASH® Amplifier All ELAC subwoofers utilize BASH tracking amplifiers. Unlike conventional amplifiers, BASH amplifiers track the input signal and adjust the available supply voltage to a traditional Class AB amplifier. This makes the amplifier incredibly efficient but also provides the on-demand power needed for dynamic movies and music.
Braced MDF Cabinet A horizontal center brace strengthens and stiffens the cabinet, helping minimize unwanted vibrations that can discolor music or movie content.
Auto Power On/Off The subwoofer will detect when an audio signal is being sent to the amplifier and will power on. Also, to conserve energy, the subwoofer will power off after a long period of inactivity.