Technology
what hi-fi sound and vision
all the upgrades you'll ever need
bundled buds are all well and good, but the discerning listener – that’s you – wants something better. we’ve plugged in to eight in-ear options across the price spectrum to help you choose.
10+ min |
february 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Virtues For All Your Devices
FOR Detailed, balanced sound; good battery life; versatileAGAINST Lacks a little dynamic subtlety and timing
3 min |
February 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Detail, Clarity And Insight
FOR Loads of detail; spacious soundstage; variety of cablesAGAINST Disappointing dynamics; lots of cable noise
3 min |
February 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
LG OLED55C7V £1800
FOR Awesome OLED picture; HDR support; neat designAGAINST Sound quality is no more than average
3 min |
February 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
​Cambridge CXUHD £700
FOR Natural colours; detail; sound quality; upscalingAGAINST No streaming apps
3 min |
February 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
True Showstoppers…
FOR Fine timing; refined highs, punchy lows; noise-cancellingAGAINST Touchpad controls take a bit of practice
3 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Like Part Of The Family
FOR Expressive and fun; flexible with positioningAGAINST Nothing of note at this price
5 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
An Elegant, All-Round Musical Performer
FOR Fine balance; good sense of timing; musical performanceAGAINST No built-in DAC; no DSD support
5 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Bells And Whistles Colour The Sound
FOR Well-equipped; Google Chromecast; smooth toneAGAINST Short on expression, detail and rhythmic ability
3 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Deliver Things Small Speakers Usually Don't
FOR Authoritative presentation; powerful bass; solid engineeringAGAINST Sound lacks dynamic subtlety and rhythmic dexterity
6 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Small-Screen Samsung Is A Stellar Performer
FOR Deep, insightful blacks; nuanced colours; great valueAGAINST Better HDR is available for more money
5 min |
November 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Modernity, Vintage Style
FOR Stylish design; lots of features; decent dynamics AGAINST Buttons could feel nicer; sound needs more detail
4 min |
March 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Lenco L-85
FOR Enjoyable sound; user friendly; price; features AGAINST Rivals offer subtler, more dynamic sound
4 min |
March 2017
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
'The Final Piece Of The Sonic Jigsaw Puzzle'
FOR Large, spacious sound; vast streaming supportAGAINST Tough competition; size won’t suit everyone
3 min |
March 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
'A Thoroughly Good Tv Set'
FOR Natural colours; good 4K upscaling; Smart TV optionsAGAINST Image lacks punch; no Amazon Prime; UI is slow
3 min |
March 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Mission LX-2
FOR Verve and insight; timing and dynamics; punchy; buildAGAINST Needs care in partnering; tough competition
3 min |
March 2018
What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision
Q Acoustics 3020
FOR Exceptional refinement, insight and dynamics; buildAGAINST Absolutely nothing at this price
3 min |