It is the end of a dreadful year for the world, but as per tradition, we at What Hi Fi have painstakingly gone through each and every product that landed on our test bench and hand-picked the most worthy of the lot. We don't hand out awards easily but this time we gave away over 100 of them to the choicest of products in each category. These products are simply the best in terms of price, performance and value. Take your pick.

SMALL SPEAKERS SUPERB SOUND 
Top-quality speakers for those smaller spaces

ROUND-UP: BARGAIN TVs
Three 43in televisions that give you an awful lot for, frankly, not very much at all

ROUND-UP: SOUNDBARS
Anyone with a budget from £500 to £1000 has a ticket to step-up soundbar territory

THE STORY OF THE LS3/5A
How the BBC created a new kind of speaker that continues to charm today

C D PLAYERS ROUND-UP
The compact-disc format is alive and kicking, with plenty of quality players available. These are our favourites, from £339 to £2499.

AFFORDABLE SOUNDBARS
You don’t have to pay through the nose to boost your TV’s sound from puny to punchy; any of these five will do the job nicely..

STEP-UP AMPLIFIERS
For those about to upgrade, we salute you. Our pick of the best amps around the £350-£700 mark will elevate your system.

AV RECEIVERS
We round up four of the best premium home cinema amplifiers. Movie nights will go with more of a convincing bang with these...

PROJECTORS ROUND-UP
Ultra-short throw devices are hot property right now. These are our favourites.

TV GOODIES IN 2024
Our 12-page feature details the screens and AV innovations heading our way, as seen at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show..

HI-FI SYSTEMS
We have matched up Award-winning and five-star products to build an array of top-drawer stereo set-ups.

AV SYSTEMS
The best home cinema kit you can match-up to provide audio visual treats on a variety of budgets..

TOP FIVE
These are the newest kids on the audio block this month – and it looks as though they can really sing…

FLOORSTANDER ROUND-UP
Our spotlight on the best stereo speakers starts with full reviews of eight of our favourite floorstanders…

CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Four pages of top ideas for your AV-loving loved ones..

THESE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Our full test verdicts on the products that have beaten all the others this year, in every category and price bracket, including a Product of the Year Award for the standout piece of kit in each of the 26 categories..

BARGAIN 65in TELEVISIONS
An immersive cinematic experience may be within reach – we round up the best affordable big TVs.

AV AMP ROUND UP
Going full home-cinema? You’re going to need an AV receiver to power your cinematic sound.

HOME CINEMA SYSTEM
This premium home cinema set-up will provide hours of immersive viewing...

BRINGING BACK AN ICON
Musical Fidelity’s Simon Quarry talks to us about his work and the new A1 amp. 

SPEAKER SYSTEMS
From budget boxes to premium pairs – our round-up of the best all-in-one systems.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
The best tracks from these movies to test your system..

MISSION POSSIBLE
Mission’s 770 speakers still impress 45 years on, even compared to the newer versions of that iconic standmounter.

NINE BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES
Our pick of great music docs to stream right now..

AMPLIFIERS
Affordable amps from Cambridge, NAD, Marantz and more.

SOUNDBARS
The best way to enhance your TV’s sound – these affordable ‘bars will serve you well.

TEMPTATIONS
KEF’s innovative Metamaterial Absorption Technology looms large in the Reference 1 Meta speakers..

15 OF THE BEST VINYL RECORDS TO TEST YOUR DECK
We have picked examples from across the musical spectrum to bring you our list of discs that will put your turntable through its paces.

OPTIMISE YOUR TURNTABLE
Ways of making sure your player is working at its best..

ALL-BRITISH SYSTEMS
We’ve put together Award-winning British kit for four stunning hi-fi systems.

BRITISH INNOVATIONS
Seven of the best British hi-fi innovations and tech.

BRIT ROCK
The 19 best British rock songs to test your hi-fi system..

SONOS ERA 300 TESTED
Sonos’s unusually shaped new spatial audio-toting smart speaker is put through its paces by our team of expert reviewers. 

BEST SPATIAL TRACKS
Our pick of the best tunes to test immersive audio..

MARK OF QUALITY
Mark Levinson’s director of engineering talks high-end hi-fi.

JOHN WILLIAMS
The composer’s best tracks to test your system.

HEADPHONE AMPS 101
All you need to know about headphone amplifiers..

STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS
Four of our favourite premium two-way standmounters go head to head.

WIRED HEADPHONES
We round up a magnificent seven wired over-ears for the best quality ‘me time’ with your music..

STARS OF THE SHOW
Our 10 favourite reveals at the Consumer Electronic Show 2023 in Las Vegas.

CARTRIDGES
We round up four great options for upgrading your turntable’s sound, from Vertere, Goldring, Ortofon and Sumiko.

JUST-ADD-SPEAKERS SYSTEMS
These compact marvels can provide all the great sound you need – just plug in your choice of speakers and you’re good to go.

SMALL ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS
Proof that you don’t always need lots of boxes to provide you with a fantastic listening experience, these bijou systems will fit in even the smallest spaces.

FOUR GREAT HOME CINEMA SYSTEMS
From simple soundbarbased AV set-ups to full surround-sound ‘dream’ home cinema systems, we’ve got you covered…

PREMIUM SMALL TVs
The best TV tech finally comes to smaller TVs, and we round up the finest 42-43in models available.

FLAGSHIP NOISECANCELLING BUDS
The best premium in-ears with active noise-cancelling tech.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...
Without further ado, let us reveal the best 109 products on the market right now, and announce our Product of the Year winners in each category. Drum roll please....

NEXT LEVEL TURNTABLES
Three new decks take on Rega’s mighty Planar 3

TEMPTATIONS
Melco’s brilliant N10/2-S38 digital storage
solution and the classy R6 Arreté floorstanders from Danish brand Audiovector

SONIC THRILLS
Dolby Atmos can turn great-sounding movie moments into truly thrilling
ones. Want proof? Check out these 22 classic scenes

BETTER HI-FI
Affordable ways to upgrade your system.

FREE MUSIC
Streaming services that won’t cost you a penny.

AFFORDABLE HI-FI SYSTEMS
Audio set-ups that will give you all the listening pleasure for an equally pleasing price.

IN FOCUS: UST PROJECTORS
Ultra-short-throw projectors are on the rise; we tell you everything you need to know about them.

SIX GREAT MUSIC FILMS TO STREAM
Seen Elvis and want more of the same? Try these..

TIMBERWORX
Behind the scenes at the little-known company that makes cabinets for some of the world’s leading speaker brands.

TEMPTATION
Audio Analogue’s beautifully expressive AAdac DAC is a hugely appealing piece of kit.

HIGH-END SPECIAL
We round up our favourite gear with money no object. From speakers to TVs, amplifiers to DACs to turntables, this fantastic kit represents the best that money can buy. We know you’ll be tempted!

HIGH-END MUNICH SHOW
This month we report on the latest hi-fi tech revealed at Germany’s hi-fi exposé, including new gear from Pro-Ject, Dali and more.

ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS
Vinyl shouldn’t be easy – and that’s the problem with all-in-one turntables.

BEST CARTRIDGES
The top performing cartridges to boost your turntable’s performance..

ROB WATTS
Chord Electronics’ digital design consultant reveals the secrets behind the tech that has redefined the brand’s DACs.

THE TROUBLE WITH HI-RES
Are you getting the most out of your hi-resolution music? We explain why you might not be – and what you can do about it.

HARD FACTS ON SOFTWARE
As the quality of hi-fi products’ software increasingly determines their value, we assess the pros and cons of the shift in emphasis.

VINYL SPECIAL
With records still riding high in the hi-fi charts, we help you find the right turntable. Our special feature has verdicts on our top 12 record players, from £230 to £3100.

INSIDER
THE STORY OF THE AIRPODS
Apple’s VP of Acoustics talks to us about the challenges of designing the AirPods 3, and the direction the company will take with future wireless models.

TOP CULT CLASSIC ’80s MOVIES
Pre-HD cinema gems that largely slipped under the radar but that will still look great on your contemporary AV system.

CES ROUND-UP
All the new tech reveals from the Consumer Electronics Show, including ‘invisible’ headphones and Samsung QD-Display TV.

BOXING CLEVER
Compact systems may be in vogue, but here’s why more components in your hi-fi system is a good thing.

June 2024

May 2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Awards 2023

December 2023

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

June 2023

May 2023

April 2023

What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home cinema products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the best equipment for your cash, with the magazine's advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies.

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What Hi-Fi UK Magazine - December 2020

What Hi-Fi UK Magazine - December 2020

In this issue

Sonos Arc

Astell & Kern A&norma SR25

iFi hip-dac

1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones

Shure Aonic 50

14 Hi-Fi And Home Cinema Products We Want To See

HDFury now in India

Audio Nirvana bring in the heavy guns

Return of the king

Bright, bold and budget

What Hi-Fi UK Magazine Description: