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cinema heaven
Jaw-dropping HDR TVs and Dolby Atmos speakers for every budget
hands-on
Next gen smartwatches
Google Pixel 3
We put six of the best to the test
complete guide to drones What to buy, where to fly
iPhone XS Max review
powerful 2-in-1 laptops
Super-flexible, pro-level specs
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waterproof jackets to tame winter
Meet the world's most powerful compact speaker
Contents
Contents
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top 10 Get some early Christmas wishlist inspiration with this month’s hottest gadget drops, including Google Pixel 3, a wee retro-style PlayStation, and Dualit’s tasty new Hotel Chocolat maker
ultimate 4k & dolby atmos setups Creating your own home cinema has never been easier or more affordable. Here’s how to do it, regardless of your chosen room size and budget…
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style New winter boots are here! Team them with Saint Laurent’s dapper Hairy Military Coat and your favourite scarf
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auto This month we take an early look at Audi’s incredible new electric SUV, and find out why it laughs in the face of wing mirrors
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fitness & outdoors Explore mountains winter-long with our expert’s guide to cold weather hiking gear
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travel Escape to the country this month with not one but three super-cosy cottage retreats, right here in the UK
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pure sound
Devialet has created the world’s most powerful ultra-compact speaker. Join us as we find out how they achieved it
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State of the art
Make work more enjoyable with the best two-in-one laptops that are actually affordable
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living Beat the autumn-winter chill by cooking your favourite cold weather dishes using some of our favourite kitchen gadgets
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gadget guru T3’s tech expert answers all of your gadget-focused questions
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talking tech Duncan Bell’s discovered something so revolutionary, even his jaded journalist self couldn’t help feeling excited
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time after time
Fancy a smartwatch powered by your own body heat? Or a watch that could save your life? Extend your wrist this way…
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complete guide to drones
Become an instant expert with our jargon-busting guide, and discover what to buy and where to fly
Contents
win! a wattbike atom indoor bike trainer This T3 Award winner is “the smartest indoor bike on the planet”, and this issue we have one to give away!
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the setup We show you how to use the Bosch Security Starter Kit to make your smart home even more secure
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upgrade You’ll be spending more time indoors throughout winter, so ensure the air you’re breathing is healthy. The Netatmo Velux Active can help
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apple iphone xs max So, Apple has joined the giant screen brigade. But is this larger phone really worth shouting home about?
Worth £1,599
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philips oled 803 It’s another Ambilight-infused stunner, featuring a slew of serious tech for a very reasonable price
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panasonic tz200 vs sony rx100 vi Our lens is bigger than yours. Yes, we had fun pitting two zoom compacts against one other, and reckon you’ll have just as much fun using ’em
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your in-depth buyer’s guide Want to know what the best top-end telly is? Or the best first-time DSLR? Or the best wireless headphones? Our giant buyer’s guide helps you find the world’s best and only the best!
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home test Add pools of ambient lighting to accent areas in your home with the best smart LED strip lighting kits
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dji mavic 2 pro Hasselblad and DJI created the ultimate imaging drone. Trust us when we say, you should definitely check this out…
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sony xperia xz3 Time to see if that Bravia-engineered display is enough to return Sony Mobile to the smartphone big time
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weatherproof jackets
Our resident experts dish out the answers to your smart home queries
Protect yourself from winter rain and wind with six of the most high-tech weatherproof jackets around
smart home surgery
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Horizon
The best new tech heading your way Edited by Claire Davies
Google Pixel 3 From £739, store.google.com
The Google Pixel 2 wowed us with its camera prowess last year (it’s arguably still the best on the market a year later), so we relished the chance to get our hands on the Pixel 3 ahead of its launch. We wanted to see whether the rest of the phone matched it, and if Google had worked even more magic with the camera. The Pixel 3 retains the two-tone, matte, softly curved design that was evident on last year’s range. With its aluminium frame, it feels smooth and premium in the hand. The 5.5-inch model that we tried eschews fashion by not including a notch in the screen, but the bigger 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL does have a chunky section cut out of the display. Both are OLED displays, as you’d expect for a flagship phone like this. In the hand, the Pixel 3’s screen is crisp and bright, and comes with a larger screen-to-body ratio than the Pixel 2. Despite only being a tad bigger than last year’s model, it feels far more spacious to the eye. Hardware-wise, things are modestly flagship, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU paired with 4GB of RAM. Storage space is 64GB or 128GB, while the Pixel 3’s battery is 2,915mAh, which maybe seems a tad low, but it depends on how Google uses it. The Pixel 3’s camera system consists of a 12.2MP dual-pixel array with autofocus and phase detection. You also get optical and electronic image stabilisation. The rear camera features shutter-lag-free HDR+, which leads to incredibly bright, well-lit photos. Shooting in low light is, therefore, an even more pleasant experience, and we were
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impressed with its shooting capabilities from the get-go. This will be the system to beat. The Top Shot feature is particularly noteworthy. Thanks to the camera’s built-in AI, the Pixel 3 can recognise poor photos and suggest alternate takes of each shot. This helps to heavily minimise the number of duff photos taken. Timing is everything with photography, and Top Shot makes it easier to get that right. Loud and clear In terms of audio, while the headphone jack remains absent, the Pixel 3’s speakers are 40 per cent louder than last year’s range. The Pixel 3 comes running Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, and is fully integrated with Google Assistant. After trying the Pixel 3, we couldn’t help but come away with the feeling that this might be the ideal phone for users who don’t buy into the ‘bigger screen is better’ movement that’s currently dominant in the industry. We’ve got no problem with big smartphones, but there’s no doubt that the Pixel 3’s screen seems perfectly in sync with its overall design language and hardware, offering an Apple-like understanding that the whole experience trumps spec peaks – especially when the experience is this premium.
tech-o-Meter
Top 10
Stand and deliver Google has added Qi wireless charging capability for the first time. It’s launched the Pixel Stand, which wirelessly juices your phone, but also changes the interface so that it becomes a Google Assistant voice home hub when it’s docked
more is more The screen is now 5.5 inches, up from five inches last year. It doesn’t feel different in the hand, but that little smidge of extra space does balance well between the nice visibility of bigger phones and the onehanded usability of smaller ones
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Horizon
True wireless earbuds
Bose SoundSport Free EARBUDS This Bose bud-tip nozzle has been engineered to spread contact evenly around the inside of your ear, while the fin naturally fits your lug’s upper ridge. They simply don’t fall out, whatever you’re doing, are super-comfortable and sound great too. £179.95, bose.co.uk
Sony WF-1000X Whether you’re travelling, talking or walking, Adaptive Sound Control detects your activity and adjusts the ambient sound settings. These buds auto power on; noise cancellation is benchmark quality; and preferences can be customised in-app. £180, sony.co.uk
Cold weather hiking gear Outdoors journalist Damian Hall selects the best kit to combat all weathers on your winter walks
Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Rugged yet premium, the new Fenix 5 Plus has best-in-test mapping and GPS tracking, wrist HR, smart connectivity, plus music playback. £699.99, garmin.com
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles Impressively light, these poles fold away neatly and are strong and durable too. £130, eu.blackdiamond equipment.com
Inov-8 Protec-Shell Waterproof Jacket Feel bulletproof in this threelayer, 20,000 HH waterproof. Streamline tech on the cuffs keeps water off your hands. £270, inov-8.com
Salomon Outline Mid GTX Deep lugs, a protective toe cap and full Gore-Tex. Trainer-like comfort ready for both hillside and urban adventures. £130, salomon.com
Petzl NAO+ The NAO+ boasts 750 lumens, while reactive lighting adjusts brightness according to ambient conditions. £154.99, petzl.com
All tooled up It’s knives at the ready as two multi-tools face off Leatherman MUT EOD £239.95, leatherman.co.uk
Jabra Elite 65t As well as excellent wind noise perception, the Jabra Sound+ app enables full sound customisation: voice assistant, music profiles, how much ambient noise you want to hear, and battery life, plus predefined settings for different situations. £149.99, jabra.co.uk 24 T3 n o v e m b er 2 01 8
From a beefy field blade, fuse-wire and cutters, to cap crimpers, a carbon scraper, bolt override tool and a replaceable C4 punch, the Leatherman MUT EOD is versatile and super-rugged. Stainless steel, bronze and black oxide combine to provide 15 tools in an intriguing design, topped with a 25-year warranty.
Victorinox SwissTool X Plus Ratchet £210, victorinox.com
From numerous screwdrivers to a wire cutter, and a woodsaw to a bottle opener, a metal file to a chisel, the SwissTool X Plus Ratchet’s super-compact design houses 29 tools and a whopping 38 functions. Elegant but practical, the multi-tool comes with a tasteful leather pouch and a (priceless) lifetime warranty.
head-to -head WINNER
Travel
Language translators
Ili Translation Ever been lost for words when dining or shopping abroad? Speak into the handheld ili and it will instantly translate what you’ve said, and without the need for Wi-Fi. At the moment it handles English to Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin. £151, iamili.com/us
Waverly Labs Pilot
house warming
Curl up and get cosy Regroup now ahead of the hectic festive season with a country cottage retreat, hand-picked by travel writer Simon Horsford What better way to put aside memories of a blazing hot summer and get a boost before the Christmas onslaught than with a couple of nights in an idyllic country bolt-hole? Here are three very different places where you can hunker down by a log fire after a long, rambling walk through the countryside and a couple of pints in the local pub… Cornwall is our first choice, and the best time to visit is out of season when it’s a little quieter. For a real escape, either the cabin or the observatory at Halzephron House, near Gunwalloe, are perfect. Set in four acres and with glorious ocean views, these beautifully styled cottages are ideal for two people. There are three great beaches nearby and a
terrific pub, The Halzephron Inn (from £250 for three nights, halzephronhouse.co.uk). Walkers with a passion for the Lake District should head to Bank End Cottage at Ennerdale. Set on a farm, this snug cottage sleeps four, has underfloor heating and bags of character – it dates back to the 17th century (from £275 for three nights, sallyscottages.co.uk). Finally, for the truly romantic, how about an old shepherd’s hut set in an orchard? The Scrumpy Shepherd near Woodbridge in Suffolk is exquisitely designed and fully equipped, and even has a fire pit outside for toasting marshmallows (from £254 for three nights, suffolkhideaways.co.uk).
Here’s a neat way to tune into another language: when you to listen to someone talking in a language you don’t understand, the Pilot can translate listen in and translate. You can also share a secondary earbud with that person so that you can converse. 15 languages are currently supported. £151, waverlylabs.com
Bragi The Dash Pro When used in tandem with the iTranslate app, the customised Bragi The Dash Pro enables you to converse in up to 40 languages. You can also use it to listen to music and to track your activities. £114, bragi.com n o v e m b er 2 01 8 T3 2 5
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GADGET GURU
T3’s resident Duracell bunny keeps going and going and going
Stephen Muir, Tring
What’s the best smartwatch for battery life? Allow GaGu the indulgence of laying a textual wreath for the now-deceased Pebble, a properly smart watch line which typically lasted a good few days before sputtering out. It may not have had the flash of the Apple Watch or the skills of Android Wear slash Samsung Gear, but darn: those things had staying power. Although new owner (and killer) Fitbit is yet to properly exploit the E-ink tech and customisable interface that gave the Pebble its popularity, something along those lines could be a good option if you’re averse to charging regularly. The dinky Fitbit Alta HR (£120), for
ILLUSTRATIONs: stephen kelly
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example, can muster around seven days on a charge, but its smartness is limited to basic notification alerts and the standard suite of fitnessmonitoring metrics. So let us look at the definitelysmart end of the line. Guru is yet to wrap Series 4 of the Apple Watch (from £399) around his hairy sausage wrists, but our review
ABOVE It’s just our luck to run out of battery when we need it the most
Guru has yet to wrap the Series 4 Apple Watch around his hairy sausage wrists, but our review says it beats its stated 18-hours
(p79) says it beats its stated battery life by a long way – it can go three or four days easily. This is done mostly through cheating, switching the screen off unless you very deliberately turn your wrist, but GaGu loves a dodge so he offers a pass on this one. Android-wise, GaGu can’t stop eyeing up the TicWatch Pro (around £230, p80), which uses two displays. There’s an OLED for all the fancy business, and a more standard LCD on top which does the job of telling time, giving it a good 48 hours of staying power – and using ‘essential mode’ could stretch that up to 30 days.
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Gadget guru
Tara Godwin, Isle of Sheppey
I’m pregnant. Can tech help me name my baby? One of Big Daddy GaGu’s more unusual requests, this one, but he’s happy to help. There are many sites online with big lists of baby names, which Guru is sure you’re already acquainted with. They generally consist of a difficult-to-navigate catalogue, with the perceived or historical meaning of each name attached; research is recommended before you make a decision. If it’s a boy, for instance, you can avoid calling him Gideon (‘Stump for a hand’) or Kennedy (derived from the Gaelic for ‘ugly head’). And if you’re having a girl, Guru would avoid the name Portia, given that it essentially means ‘pig’. Info from the Office of National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) will help clue you in on the most- and least-used names from the last year. Not that this should influence your decision, but if you don’t want your kid to be the fourth Olivia or Oliver in class, it might be best to look near the bottom of the list.
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Parents of prospective NFL players, or those looking for more originality, might want to generate something completely fresh. You could try name-generator.org.uk (which includes the hilarious question ‘Do you care if your baby can never fit his/her name on a form?’) although its suggestions are often rather conventional and useless. Using the tool at behindthename.com/random, on the other hand, offers up results based on heritage or other criteria – Guru selected ‘wrestler’, and will definitely be naming his next child ‘Rhinoquake Doubleslam’. If your problem is not so much originality as consensus, install the app Babyname (£free, but some features locked behind IAP) on yours and your partner’s phones, then go full Tinder on it. Swipe right on the names you like, and it’ll generate a list of your matches, hopefully before the little blighter makes its way outside.
ABOVE You want to name your baby, but just stay away from Twitter quizzes
Gadget Guru’s magic box GaGu’s commentary on just about every crazy thing going on in the tech world around the time of writing follows: Alexaaddled Microwave, no, but maybe yes depending on if he can truly shout at a robot to excite the molecules of microwave pizzas; Oculus without a proper computer, yes, but that would depend on if it’s actually any good and Guru suspects it’ll be bad; new iPhones, hmm. GaGu isn’t tempted to spend over a thousand pounds upgrading his Apple pocket, but he wouldn’t moan if an iPhone XS Max landed there. Your favourite Gadget Uncle does love a puzzle, as any of you who’ve woken up in the morning to find your combination locks randomly opened will know. He’s particularly fond of the Rubik’s Cube, which is why the Bluetooth-toting GoCube ($69) got a chunk of his Kickstarter money.
It’ll track every tiny motion of its solves on a connected device, and prove to GaGu just why his poor brain can’t keep up with the soft spaghetti bundles inside the skulls of ‘the youth’. Kids, with their memes and their dabs and their flossing, will never know the true joy of the original PlayStation. Except they will, apparently, as Sony has dived head first into the dirty old bucket marked ‘Christmas Rarity’ and announced the PlayStation Classic. It’s like a dinky PlayStation (that doesn’t play discs) with USB controllers and everything. As long as it’s not as iffy as the Neo Geo Classic, GaGu will be reasonably happy for Ol’ Saint Nick to lob one at him on December 25th, if only so he can learn that nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, and that his Tekken 3 skills have fallen off somewhat.
Max Harrison, Fordingbridge
Can I go smart with my garden lights? Not content with colouring your rooms a gaudy shade of pink, both Philips and LIFX have set their sights on gussying up your outdoor space, with a host of ludicrous bulbs leaving their labs all the time, from path-friendly pedestals to bigger wall lights. So yes, you certainly can, and you can automate them in exactly the way you’d work with internal lighting. Those are cute – GaGu doesn’t mean to sneer, it’s just his default mode – but you can get slightly more smart if you’re thinking practically. The Ring Spotlight Battery (£120) is just one example: it’s a camera with motion detection, it’s a PIR-driven LED security light, it’s a burglar alarm, and it’s a two-way audio system if you’d prefer to spook intruders (or barbeque guests) with whispered ghost noises. Netatmo’s Presence (£209) outdoor camera is similar, with a nice big floodlight and great video capture quality.
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Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups
Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups Words: Steve May Photography: Neil Godwin
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Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups
Creating your home cinema isn’t as complicated as you’d think, and you can do it on pretty much any budget and for any room size. Here’s how… hanks to the glorious summer we had this year, your TV gear has probably felt a bit neglected while you’ve been enjoying outdoor walks, sport, gardening and, of course, drinking. But now the weather is turning, the clocks are changing, and huddling around the warmth of a glowing OLED is a more enticing way to spend an evening. But if you’re going to enjoy more movies and TV, you want to make sure it’s in the best quality possible.
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It’s a perfect time, then, to upgrade your home cinema setup. There’s a lot going on with TV and audio right now, and with the right new tech, you could make a huge difference to your living room. 2018 is definitely the year of OLED – the richness of the HDR images these TV panels can produce is astounding, and they’re now available for really reasonable prices. Even if you go with a different tech, including LCD or projector, a high-quality 4K HDR set looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
And with Dolby Atmos, home cinema audio is getting an upgrade just as impactful as 4K. The addition of height to the 3D surround sound mix creates a whole new level of immersion, and is a massive upgrade to previous systems. And we know not everyone can fit in a huge set of speakers, so we’ve got the best soundbars too. We’ll take you through the options, section by section, suggesting the best options for all budgets and needs, so you can build your ultimate setup.
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Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups
TVs and projectors After scouting out a dedicated space, your first home cinema job is finding the best screen for your budget
Dolby Vision OLED hero
Tripping the Ambilight fantastic
LG C8 (OLED55C8 )
Philips 43PUS6753
LG’s 55-inch C8 OLED is the very model of a modern major flatscreen. Its webOS smart platform boasts all the streaming services you could want, augmented by LG ThinQ AI voice control for improved search. Thanks to an Alpha 9 intelligent processor, picture quality is breathtakingly fine, with copious detail, excellent colour and perfect blacks. HDR coverage includes DolbyVision, HDR10 and HLG. It even has a Dolby Atmos-enabled Netflix app onboard. £1,999, lg.com
You don’t need to spend loads to own a spectacular screen. This 43-incher offers both 2160p resolution with HDR compatibility and Philips’ trademark Ambilight mood lighting. LED bulbs on the rear cast colour across your wall, mimicking onscreen action or displaying a cool static hue. The set can even be incorporated into a Philips Hue smart lighting system. There’s also an effective smart platform, with all the required streaming services, plus a full fistful of catch-up TV. £429, philips.com
“Alexa, play movies”
Time to go 8K
Optoma UHD51A Alexa 4K projector
JVC DLA-NX9
Alexa can now turn on your home cinema projector, but that’s not the only reason to love this UHD-capable Optoma. This compact projector doesn’t just look crystal clear with 4K content, it’s also compatible with 3D too. TVs may have given up on the third dimension, but you can carry on watching your 3D Blu-rays on the bigger screen. The UHD51A is bright, with cinematic contrast. Operating noise is low, as long as you stick to the Eco lamp setting. £1,499, optoma.co.uk
If you’ve got the budget and the space, why not leapfrog 4K and go straight to 8K? This stunning JVC D-ILA projector couples native 4K projection with 8K e-shift technology. Crafty pixel shifting delivers an image resolution of 7680x4320. There’s no native 8K content to watch, of course, but this solution delivers a sharper image with 4K. A variety of light scattering and diffraction tech improves brightness and black levels. The end result rivals commercial cinemas for clarity. £18,600, jvckenwood.com/en
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TVs and projectors
Hollywood tuned Panasonic TX-65FZ952B To ensure this 65-inch Freeview Play OLED flagship offered blockbuster image quality, Panasonic enlisted Hollywood creatives to fine-tune its performance. A True Cinema mode replicates the same image characteristics of a Hollywood mastering monitor. The set uses the brand’s HCX Studio Colour video processor, and boasts innovative Dynamic LUT technology for unbeatable colour fidelity. HDR support covers HDR10, HLG and HDR10+. It’s not just a stunning picture performer, though. The FZ952 comes with an integrated Dynamic Blade Speaker, designed by Technics audio engineers. £3,499 panasonic.com
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Ultimate Dolby 4K setups
Dolby Vision 4K streamer Apple TV The latest version of Apple’s streamer is an AV powerhouse, able to stream movies in both Dolby Vision 4K HDR and with Dolby Atmos sound. There’s a sprightly A10X Fusion chip beneath the lid, and Siri’s on hand when you want to chat. Beyond iTunes, you also get Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Now TV, Sky News, My5, BT TV and YouTube. For those playing in Apple’s sandbox, this is a practical alternative to a UHD Blu-ray player. £179, apple.com
Streamers
Now that we’ve nailed the visuals and sound, it’s time to hook you up with super-fast streaming and epic content
All fun, no fuss
high-res audio playback
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Google Chromecast Ultra
Thanks to a bulletproof user interface, this UHD streamer is a pleasure to use. There’s no Ethernet, but the supplied USB power lead doubles as a Wi-Fi antenna. A single HDMI plugs into your TV or AV receiver. Netflix, YouTube and Amazon are all available in 4K and HDR where available, and there’s a full complement of catch-up TV. £80, roku.com
The smartest of Google’s Chromecast dongles, the Ultra supports 4K and HDR streaming over Wi-Fi. Usability is the key difference between the Ultra and other streaming boxes. There’s wide support for Chromecast-compatible apps, including YouTube and Netflix. And as it uses a Wi-Fi connection, it also offers high-res audio playback. £69, store.google.com
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Pure sound
Pure sound What does it take to create the world’s most powerful ultra-compact speaker? Devialet invited T3 to its Paris HQ to reveal all‌ Words: Claire Davies Photography: Olly Curtis
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Pure sound
hat music do you want to listen to? Scratch that. Here’s a more pertinent question: how do you want to feel when you listen to that music? Isn’t it interesting how, along the way in our fervour to try better speakers or fancier headphones, we often forget why we buy this stuff: to listen to our favourite music. To feel something, perhaps. Music has always been a conduit for emotion, but the quality of the devices we listen on can either intensify that emotion or strangle it. There are tons of speaker companies in the world, and many produce great sound. Arguably, though, few focus on it quite as intently as award-winning French audio specialist Devialet. And when we say intently, we mean this: pure sound, accessible to all (one day), is the reason this company exists. When Devialet contacted us to say they were launching a new speaker and would T3 like to be among the first to hear it, we knew it was a no-brainer. We loved the original Devialet Phantom (now renamed the Classic Phantom), released in 2015, and hoped for something of a similar quality from Devialet’s new speaker. We weren’t going to be disappointed…
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Mini size, max power We’re sitting in a spacious meeting room at Devialet’s modern-looking HQ in central Paris. Early morning sun is beating in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh pastries and juice are being passed around, and Devialet’s new speaker is currently hidden beneath a black box perched at the end of our eight-seater table. The mystery speaker is playing Ben Harper, and the sound is full and rich.
tech specs Price From £990 Power and volume 600W 95 dB SPL (Reactor 600), 900W 98dB SPL (Reactor 900) Dimensions 219mm(L) x157mm(W) x168mm(H) Weight 10lbs Range 18Hz-21Khz Audio formats HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 kbit/s), WMA (16-bit), MP3, MP3 VBR,WAV, Apple Lossless, AIFF, FLAC, Vorbis and Opus 5 0 T3 n o v e m b er 2 018
‘Did they choose this track because it sounds especially good on the new speaker?’ We whisper conspiratorially to one another. However, we weren’t expecting the sight that greets us when product manager Joachim Fritsch turns up the volume, then lifts the lid of the box… Inside sits a baby Phantom. It’s so dinky, so elegantly beautiful, we can’t help but squeal. Devialet’s stunning new audiophile grade speaker is called the Phantom Reactor. The culmination of three years of R&D, the Reactor packs in all of the company’s award-winning tech, despite being a quarter of the size of the Classic Phantom. It even squeezes in some new features (keep reading).
The Reactor is the next step towards everyone having an affordable, incredible-sounding audio device at home.” Affordable can be interpreted in many ways, though, depending on your available income. “The Reactor is Devialet’s first personal Phantom,” elaborates Emmanuel Nardin, Devialet cofounder and Product and Design Director. “The concept behind the Reactor’s size is that it belongs to you and your home – it can go anywhere.”
Death to distortion As we all know, a bad speaker can make a masterpiece sound like it’s being played through a tin can,
the reactor is as loud as a symphony orchestra, yet small enough to hold The Reactor comes in two guises: the Reactor 600 and the Reactor 900, which look identical. While the 600 reaches an impressive 95dB, the 900 hits 98dB thanks to 900 watts of peak power. Although it’s a far cry from the frankly scary 4,500 watts of power found in the top of the range Phantom Premier Gold, it’s hugely impressive considering how much smaller the Reactor is in comparison. Franck Lebouchard, Devialet’s CEO, tells us, “The Phantom Reactor is a key step towards our ultimate goal, which is for millions of people to have this pure Devialet sound. To reach that goal we need to get our sound into smaller, and more affordable, devices.
whereas a great speaker puts you in the studio, sitting in front of the singer, with the entire band surrounding you. The Phantom Reactor is a great speaker. Small stature, big sound… Just think of it as the audio tech equivalent of Lady Gaga. Precision engineered down to the last millimetre, the Reactor sports a smooth spherical form housing two push-push woofers and one full-range speaker, all working in harmony to deliver an unforgettable sound experience. Fun fact: Devialet says the Reactor is powerful enough to match a symphony orchestra playing at full force, yet small enough that you can hold it one-handed. ‘No distortion, no background noise, no saturation’. That’s the unofficial mantra among Devialet’s 100 or so engineers. Little surprise, then, that the sound produced by the Reactor really feels like it’s being true to the artist, showing incredible new detail in your favourite tracks. You can stream music easily too, as the Bluetooth Reactor offers Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay support at launch. Chromecast and AirPlay 2 support will be available further down the line via a software update, and stereo-pairing will become available in the first half of 2019. The Reactor is controlled via the Devialet app, or by pressing the controls arranged on top of the speaker; a new feature designed especially for the Reactor.
Devialet Phantom Reactor
The Devialet factory, an hour outside of Paris, has this awesomely futuristic acoustic chamber where all Reactor speakers are tested before release
“with the phantom reactor we are breaking many barriers: size, price, portability”
So, how did Devialet pull all of this off in such an ultra-compact product? “It was three years of problems,” laughs Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, co-founder, CTO and inventor of Devialet’s Analogue Digital Hybrid technology. “One of the main challenges was squeezing all of that tech into the product without any compromise in sound quality and performance. We were not able to just
reproduce the solution used in the first Phantom, so we had to design transducers and a third-generation chipset for the Reactor. “When I started Devialet, we didn’t have access to state-of-the-art miniaturisation technology. Because the first Phantom was a success, now we have access to this technology. So the Reactor is a continuation of the story, of the success, but with more integrated functionality. With Reactor we are breaking many barriers: size, price, portability.” The Reactor started out in the form of a five-litre mock-up model, then four. “The mock-up for the three-litre speaker was exactly the one you now see, just a little smaller. So from the intention to the final product, what we got is exactly what we wanted,” reveals Pierre-Emmanuel. “It’s not easy to achieve that. Every small modification has a huge impact
ABOVE LEFT AND ABOVE Frank Lebouchard, CEO of Devialet; Emmanuel Nardin, co-founder, Product and Design Director, and the man who makes Devialet’s speakers look so damn gorgeous
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Home
the setup
Each issue, we show you how to set up a key piece of connected-home tech. This month‌ Bosch Smart Home Security Starter Kit
Protection racket
The Bosch Smart Home Security Starter Kit includes a Smart Home Controller, the central hub for your smart home devices. Also bundled is a door/window contact sensor that detects unauthorised activity at your chosen entry point; an intelligent motion detector that scans the room for movement; and a smart smoke detector designed to alert you to any fire risks. It also doubles as an intruder alarm.
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The Setup
The lights are on…
One of the Bosch Smart Home Controller’s coolest features is Presence Simulation, which is ideal if you spend a lot of time away from home and want to deter intruders with a ‘we’re home’ look. With Philips Hue lighting and smart plugs connected, the Controller can intermittently switch lights on and off in different rooms, or turn on the radio in your absence. You can control your Presence Simulation schedule via the Bosch Smart Home app.
Protect your assets with Bosch’s Smart Home Security Kit Take control of your home security and smart home devices Of all the tricks that smart tech can perform, home security has to be one of the most practical. With so many gadgets filling our homes, it’s increasingly important to protect your digital bounty from the threat of intruders and the risk of fire. Though full home security systems can set you back some serious dough, Bosch’s new Smart Home Security Starter Kit (£349.95, bosch-smarthome.com) is an easy way to protect key areas of your pad. It comprises a Smart Home Controller, the central hub for all your smart home devices, a door/window contact sensor for detecting if a door or window has been opened, plus an intelligent motion detector and a smoke detector. Additional sensors and detectors can be added to the system as your needs change or you move to a bigger property. The sleek Smart Home Controller takes minutes to set up, connecting directly to your Wi-Fi router. Once installed, the free Bosch Smart Home app (iOS/Android) guides you, step by step, through linking additional smart devices and placing them around your home. Handily, Bosch gives you the option of mounting your devices using screws, or with less invasive sticky strips. These are ideal if you’re renting and would rather not make holes in the wall. In isolation, each device notifies your smartphone when triggered, providing peace of mind when you’re away from home. The fun really begins when you start customising the system via the Bosch Smart Home app: set up the smoke detector to sound an alarm to scare off intruders/cats when the motion detector or window contact sensor is triggered, or delve into the Automation menu to activate motion detection only at specific times, such as when you’re in bed. It’s possible to buddy the Smart Home Controller with other smart home devices, including Bosch’s own smart Radiator Thermostat and 360-degree Indoor Camera. Bosch’s clever Presence Simulation function can automatically control connected devices, like your Philips Hue lighting and a DAB radio connected to a smart plug, to make it look as though you’re at home, even when you’re not.
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State of the Art
Feeling flexible Work smarter and faster with our trio of premium two-in-one laptops, each designed to offer the ultimate in computing versatility Words: Alex Cox Photography: Neil Godwin
What’s on test…
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Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
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Microsoft Surface Book 2
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Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
An all-rounder with great specs for the price… And Lenovo certainly knows its way around the two-in-one world. £1,499, lenovo.com
This lean machine hits the high-end, with a detachable screen, unique design and incredible specs on paper. £2,549, microsoft.com
A convertible model that hinges on its display, with an attractive slimline design and Dell’s impeccable credentials behind it. £1,699, dell.com
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Two-in-one laptops
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he laptop is dead: long live the laptop. Now begins the new reign of the two-in-one. Doubling the potential and doubling the flexibility, the theory is that two-in-one laptops make quick work of tons of tasks, and can roam from the desk to the lap to the, er, bath. Pull off the screen or flip it over, and you’ve got a tablet that does whatever a tablet can, but you get more. More ports, a physical keyboard, a bigger slice of battery life… In short, everything a tablet lacks.
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Realistically, even if all you want is a Windows tablet, the two-in-one market is the place to look. It’s where the action is. And while Microsoft’s handle on Windows 10’s tablet mode has certainly strengthened over recent upgrades, you’d likely still rue the purchase of a tablet-only device if you were attempting to use it for work. Typing on a touchscreen is unintuitive, and somehow propping up your device while dangling a cable to a keyboard (or even using a typing cover) is invariably unpleasant.
There are double-duty machines that sit on lower rungs of the ladder than those we’ve collected here, but this being State of the Art, there’s a heavy measure of prestige to the particular devices we’ve chosen. They can work hard, they can play hard, and each boast incredible specs so that you can make sure you’re milking every ounce of your hard-earned money out of them. And if you’re of an arty persuasion, a two-in-one with maximum muscle means the most lag-free drawing experience possible. n o v e m b er 2 01 8 T3 6 5
State of the Art test 01:
Lenovo YOGA 730-15IKB
DESIGN It’s the thought (and the laptop’s construction) that counts icrosoft’s Surface Book 2 is striking and unusual; even in pictures, you can sense something different about this machine that’s found nowhere else in the market, and in person it’s more remarkable. Its corrugated hinge, for a start, is absolutely ingenious. It’s lower, keyboard-side, than the main base of the laptop section, making room for a ventilation port, and it’s sturdy enough to position the screen at every useful angle. Tap an on-keyboard key, and an internal mechanism releases its firm grip on that 15-inch 3:2 ratio tablet; place it back on, and the base fires up within a second or two. It’s weighty, particularly as a full package, but every aspect is very polished. Even the severe edges are offset by a delicate curve on either side of the base. Dell’s lean is more towards the classic two-in-one design, with a screen that flips back to tuck the keyboard underneath; this gives it a greater range of motion than Microsoft’s hinge, but it’s stiff enough that the screen doesn’t flop about at all. Its ventilation system, also exhausting through a vent behind the screen, is cleverly
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The corrugated hinge on the Microsoft Surface 2 is absolutely ingenious engineered, and there’s a textured finish to the keyboard surround that, while not offensive, doesn’t have quite the same class. No machine here is noticeably thinner than the other, but there’s plenty on display in terms of smoke and mirrors. Microsoft’s tapering profile, for example, squashes its front end down, but Lenovo’s microscopically slimmer screen section gives this flip-back two-in-one a thinner feel, particularly when closed. It also means that, unlike Dell’s insistence on sticking with USB 3 ports – a blessing and a curse in equal measure – the Yoga joins the Surface Book in featuring full-sized ports. Given the almost identical dimensions of Dell and Lenovo’s machines, we’re not quite sure why Dell couldn’t have included more versatile connectors here. It couldn’t just be because USB 3 is what all the cool kids are doing, could it? 6 6 T3 n o v e m b er 2 01 8
Lenovo’s flexible friend sports a noticeably thinner feel, thanks to a slender screen section, and feels sturdy yet comfortably light during use
Specs CPU Intel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz GPU Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 4GB Storage 512GB SSD RAM 16GB Display 15.6-inch 3840x2160 Size 17.2x360x249mm Weight 1.89 kg
TEST 01: WInner
Microsoft Surface Book 2 The Surface 2 isn’t just a solid laptop. It’s supremely flexible, incredibly desirable and massively innovative.
Two-in-one laptops Microsoft Surface Book 2
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
There’s so much to love about the Surface Book 2. From first glance, you can just tell this machine has that certain X factor, compared to the others
The classic design of Dell’s two-in-one is familiar territory, and we’re feeling the increased range of motion, achieved without any dreaded screen flop
Specs
Specs
CPU Intel Core i7-8650 2.1GHz CPU Nvidia Geforce GTX 1060 6GB Storage 512GB SSD Ram 16GB Display 15-inch 3240×2160 Size 23x343x251mm Weight 1.89kg
CPU Intel Core i5-8305G 2.8GHz GPU AMD RX Vega M Storage 256GB SSD RAM 8GB Display 15-inch 1920x1080 Size 16x354x235mm Weight 1.97kg
THIS IS what it all hinges on… Microsoft’s redesigned screen-holding mechanism is a stroke of DESIGN genius
The first-generation Surface Book had a somewhat small issue for users to contend with: the screen section, packing all the relevant hardware needed to keep the machine running, along with a fairly hefty battery of its own, made the unit rather top-heavy. Why does this matter? Because it stressed the hinge to the point where it wouldn’t always stay put. Not so here…
Microsoft’s design team has, for this gorgeous second iteration, included a ceramic part in the muscle-wire mechanism that expertly manages the hinge’s angle, making it steady as a rock in use. Hoorah! The use of ceramic, which is unusual in laptop design to say the least, should also equate to much longer staying power versus a plastic part.
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Time after time
Time after time Boost your wrist-based smarts and style with our review round-up of six key next-gen smartwatches Words: Becca Caddy, Spencer Hart Photography: Neil Godwin
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Time after time
Michael Kors Access Runway A fully capable smartwatch that’s also big on style This beautiful timepiece is designed for people who want a capable smartwatch wrapped up in a stylish package. Yes it looks similar to previous iterations from Michael Kors, but it’s had a tech boost. With a 41mm circular design, the watch suits smaller wrists and is aimed primarily at women. Its stainless steel casing comes in silver, gold or rose gold, with a choice of stainless steel and silicone straps. The design is bold, but not as glitzy as previous smartwatches from the brand. We think the simpler design makes a statement while being effortlessly stylish. The 1.19-inch touchscreen display has a super-bright 390X390 resolution, and you can even customise the watch faces.
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The Access Runway is also on hand to track your workouts, thanks to Google Fit. Fitness features include GPS for tracking outdoor activities, a swim-proof rating for hitting the pool, and heart rate tracking for dishing out enhanced fitness data. The watch also serves up notifications to your wrist and offers built-in mobile payments thanks to an NFC chip. The only downside is that smart tech eats up a lot of battery, which is likely to last between 12 and 24 hours depending on use. If you’re willing to charge it nightly, this is a reliable, fashion-forward smartwatch with good fitness tracking. From £349, michaelkors.co.uk
The complete guide to‌
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Drones
the complete guide to…
Drones
With drone technology evolving at a breakneck pace and a wide array of options hitting the market, there really hasn’t been a better time to take to the skies Words: Damien McFerran Photography: Olly Curtis
ot so long ago, the idea of flying a drone through the air sounded like something you’d only find in a sci-fi novel. Rapid advances in technology over the past decade have created a market packed with options that cater for budding aviators of all skill levels. If you just want to capture long-distance selfies on your next sunny holiday, then there’s a drone for that. Perhaps you’re a pro-level photographer or filmmaker who wants to capture high-quality aerial stills and footage – drones make these things possible within a realistic budget, whereas a few years back you’d need to rent a helicopter as well as the equipment to achieve the same results. There’s even a thriving sub-set of drones aimed at people who value thrillseeking over anything else; drone racing is a burgeoning pastime which is supported by a wide selection of products and even professional leagues. Drones – or ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ as they’re more formally known – have actually been around
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for a lot longer than you might assume. The term ‘drone’ was first used in relation to the Fairey Queen remote-controlled reconnaissance aircraft, of which three were built in the 1920s. The idea of unmanned aircraft was, of course, incredibly appealing to military and naval experts, because it meant human lives didn’t have to be at risk during dangerous missions. As drone technology and the materials used to build them have matured over the last few decades, the concept of miniature UAVs has become a reality. Along with this, there have been rapid improvements in things like flight control, power supply and drone construction – all which have culminated in the consumer-level drone market that we know today.
Drone origins Despite the dazzling array of different UAVs, most drones conform to the same basic design principles. Four propellers – one pair rotating clockwise and the other counter-clockwise – are powered by motors controlled by a
central processing unit that interprets commands from the user and turns them into accurate and responsive movement, even when the unit is being buffed by strong winds. In the past, many drones utilised rotary DC motors, but more manufacturers have now adopted brushless motors due to their durability, power and reliability. Another key component of the drone is the gyroscope. Most devices sold today have at least a three-axis (or 3D) gyro. During flight, a drone is constantly being subjected to forces such as wind resistance and gravity itself, not to mention your own – often erratic – commands. The internal gyro can detect even tiny differences in orientation and feeds data back to the drone’s central computer, which allows it to adjust the propellers and maintain a steady course – something it does multiple times every second. A three-axis gyro can measure roll (front to back), pitch (side to side) and yaw (vertical), but many modern devices are equipped with a more advanced ‘six-axis’ gyro; this adds an
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Tested
Screen 6.5-inch 2688x1242 OLED Processor A12 Bionic Storage 64BG/256GB/512GB Cameras 12MP telephoto and wide-angle rear, 7MP True Depth front Battery capacity 3,179mAh Dimensions 157.5x77.4x7.7mm Weight 208g Connectivity Apple Lightning port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
THE DESIGN AWARD
From £1,099 apple.com/uk
or the last few years, when there’s been a ‘plus’-sized iPhone, the bigger one has always been better. The screen size is a matter of personal preference, but they’ve also had significantly better battery life and dual cameras instead of single-lens affairs. That all changes with the release of the iPhone XS models. The 5.8-inch iPhone XS and 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max are the same phone in different sizes, so apart from talk of physical dimensions, this is effectively our review of both.
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max factor
Apple iPhone XS Max The iPhone joins the giant phone trend with this 6.5-inch monster, but is it a big enough reason to upgrade? 9 0 T3 n o v e m b er 2 01 8
Beauty factor We might as well start by looking at that screen. The 2688x1242 OLED screen is absolutely stunning, leading the field in vibrancy and colours without question, even if the 6.4-inch Samsung Note9 actually has it beaten for sharpness. When things are this high-res, it’s not a problem. Watching movies on the screen is especially impressive: all of Apple’s OLED phones support Dolby Vision, which is the most advanced kind of
Apple iPhone XS Max
Top six The 6.5-inch screen is amazing for video, especially Dolby Vision HDR from Netflix or iTunes. If you like to watch on your commute, it’s a real bonus
speaker power Stereo speakers (one in the notch, one on the bottom) give real stereo separation when watching videos, and are better than a cheap Bluetooth speaker for music
HDR, and is supported by Netflix and iTunes movies, so there’s plenty of content. Firing up a blockbuster that makes the most of the dynamic range on offer here puts most TVs to shame – the depth of the blacks and richness of the colours is gripping. As an added bonus, the stereo speakers actually give you true left and right separation if you’re using them, so you can hear things move in space as they travel across the screen. Good headphones will always be better, but the speakers are so clear, loud and well-balanced that this really doesn’t seem like a bad way to watch something. They’re among the most impressive we’ve heard, though the Razer phone’s amazing Atmos speakers still has them beat, since they somehow also added in height, despite coming from a phone you’re holding in front of you. Obviously, the bigger screen of the XS Max makes this experience that much more spectacular than the regular XS (which is the exact same size and resolution as the X before it). But otherwise, the difference
between using the bigger version of the phone and the smaller isn’t that pronounced – even less than we’d assumed, to be honest.
Tall order A very important piece of context here is that your reviewer is a 6' 3" man, and therefore in possession of hands that are not exactly small. Moving from an iPhone X to the Max wasn’t the huge jump we expected. We could still type one-handed with only a tiny adjustment to grip, and reaching across the phone to use universal ‘back’ swipe was fine. Reaching up to the top of the screen became a lot more of a hassle, and we had to use our pinky for supporting the phone more, but none of these left us feeling uncomfortable. However, the Max is at the edge of what we can use one-handed. Giving the two phones to other people, it doesn’t take a big size difference before the Max is too much. Which is fine – that’s why Apple makes two sizes – but outside of making videos and photos look even
Yes, the iPhone XS looks the same as the iPhone X. But bigger, in this case
bigger and better, we have to say that we didn’t find that the bigger screen of the Max did much for us. The idea is that, like the Plus phones before it, apps can make better use of the bigger screen. Turn an email or calendar to landscape and you get a split view, with a view of your email inbox on the left, say, and a pane showing the selected email’s contents on the right. We know that some power users swear by this, and hated that the 5.8-inch iPhone X didn’t have it, but we have to say that we’ve never found it essential. On the Samsung Note9, the bigger screen is used for two apps at once, and though they may be quite cramped, anyone can find this useful in a pinch. We wouldn’t say the same about the Max. Which isn’t a knock against it – we’ve already explained how some apps use the screen, and almost any app can just show more stuff, potentially – but we’re saying don’t get a bigger screen expecting to be an automatic productivity boost. The smaller, easier-to-handle model may actually be faster to use. n o v e m b er 2 01 8 T3 91
Best of the best best of…
Entertainment
However serious you are about your TV, movies and gaming setups, we’ve got the perfect buys for a tricked-out living room OLED 4K TV
Value 4K TV Sony AF8 Sony’s next-gen 4K HDR TV looks fantastic thanks to its OLED display and advanced image processing. Because of ingenious tech that uses the screen itself as a speaker, it also sounds superb. From £2,499, sony.co.uk
Top-end 4K TV
PHILIPS 43PUS6262 Combining UHD resolution with Philips’ patented Ambilight mood lighting, this is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Image quality is excellent for the price, with crisp Pixel Plus 4K detail and punchy HDR contrast. From £329, philips.co.uk
4K HDR projector LG W8 With an incredible 2.75mm thin screen and a 4.2-channel soundbar, this is a stunner. But there’s also a new brain that takes image quality to a whole new level. It’s more like a window than a screen. From £5,999, lg.com
Value 4K Blu-ray player
Optoma UHZ65 This projector brings cinema-like laser 4K projector to the home for an affordable price, meaning giant-screen Ultra HD detail with the richness of HDR. It’s unbeatable for home movie magic. £4,499, optoma.co.uk
Top-end 4K Blu-ray player
Xbox One S Yes, this is primarily a games console, but it’s a damn good UHD Blu-ray player too. Budget 4K players from other brands still cost around the same as this, but you can’t stick a game in them. £199, microsoft.com
4K streamer
PANASONIC DMP-UB900 The 4K and HDR pictures from this unit are out of this world, packing incredible colour depth and detail in Ultra HD (and making everything else look fantastic, too) to elevate your home cinema experience. £399, panasonic.com
Universal remote apple TV 4K The only streaming box capable of highend Dolby Vision HDR and 4K, with the biggest library of 4K HDR movies via iTunes, as well as streaming from Amazon, iPlayer, Now TV and loads more. £179, amazon.co.uk
TV soundbar
AV receiver Sonos Beam Not only is this a superb-sounding TV speaker, with an excellent mode for enhancing dialogue, it’s multi-room ready with Sonos’ other products, supports Apple AirPlay, and has Alexa built-in. £399, sonos.com
Portable games console Nintendo Switch Not the most powerful current-gen console, but with Nintendo’s legendary games line-up and the flexibility to play in stacks of different control configurations, it’s the best portable machine you can buy. £279, nintendo.com 10 6 T3 N o v e m b er 2 018
Logitech Harmony Elite A dual-purpose remote, as at home in your hands as it is sat in the corner of your living room, controlling everything from your TV to your lighting. You can even control it from a phone app! £279, logitech.com
MArantz NR1608 Small enough for any setup but packing in features, this receiver offers 7.2-channel surround, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D audio, eight 4K 60Hz HDMI ports, Wi-Fi music playback and smart 4K upscaling. £595, marantz.co.uk
4K games console Xbox One X The most powerful console ever is a true technical marvel, capable of astonishing graphics in native 4K and HDR, and Dolby Atmos 3D sound. It even includes highquality 4K Blu-ray playback. £449, xbox.com/en-gb
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Best of the best best of…
Audio
From wireless convenience to audiophile heaven, this is the gear you need to make the most of your favourite music Multi-room speakers
Wi-Fi speaker
Sonos One Pound for pound, this is a hell of a lot of speaker for your money, easily filling a room, and expandable through the versatile Sonos speaker range. Built-in Alexa support clinches it for Sonos. £199, sonos.com
Portable Bluetooth speaker
Naim Mu-so It’s expensive, but there just isn’t a better sounding or looking wireless speaker for the price. The sound is monumentally excellent, and it supports a solid range of streaming options. £1,199, naimaudio.com
Wireless over-ear headphones
Cambridge Audio yoyo M These portable speakers are made for wireless stereo sound and come as a pair (though you can use one on its own). They offer punchy audio in an impressively wide sound field, and look great, too. £249, cambridgeaudio.com
Wireless in-ear headphones
Bowers & Wilkins PX These stylish headphones are also technical marvels, boasting adjustable noise cancellation via an app. They pause automatically when you take them off, last ages, and sound absolutely fantastic. £329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk
wired over-ear headphones
Bose Soundsport Free These are great all-rounder headphones, with the bonus of true wireless freedom. They sound great, are sweat-proof for exercise, have a healthy five-hour battery life per charge, and are a good price. £179, bose.co.uk
wired in-ear headphones
Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature These are open-backed headphones, so they let sound in and out, but the quality is astounding, especially through a serious headphone DAC/amp setup – and they’re wonderful with compressed music too. £699, bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Portable high-res player
KEF M100 This blend of KEF’s traditional audiophile instincts with comfortable contemporary styling is a fantastic product, great value, and the best in-ear headphones, pound for pound, that you can get. £89, uk.kef.com
Astell & Kern Kann A substantial audio device at nearly 300g, but one that does incredible things. It’s a DAC in its own right, it’s an astonishing hi-res player, and its massive battery will keep you rocking for days on end. £899, astellnkern.com
Bookshelf speakers
Hi-fi streamer
KEF LS50 Wireless Adding wireless smarts and built-in amplification to KEF’s brilliant UniQ drivers makes these not only sound amazing, but they’re super flexible to place and play any music too. £1,999 (pair), uk.kef.com
Naim Uniti Atom An immensely stylish streamer with a great screen, that’s compatible with a host of music streaming services. It’ll play anything on your network and via Chromecast, AirPlay and Bluetooth aptX. £1,999, naimaudio.com
Hi-fi stereo amp Cambridge Audio Azur 851A Nine easily selected inputs and Cambridge Audio’s own patented Class XD amplifier design combine to make this a truly unique and special amp, one that can stand up to any musical test. £1,400, cambridgeaudio.com
Turntable Audio-Technica AT-LP5 Pouring 60 years of turntable expertise into one device, Audio-Technica’s AT-LP5 will give you vinyl pleasure for years, thanks to its glorious audio quality, tanklike build and USB-output future-proofing. £329, eu.audio-technica.com N o v e m b er 2 01 8 T3 107