NOTE PERFECT

Spend wisely and get great hi-fi performance for less of your cash hard-earned

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As the pesky old cost-of-living crisis rumbles ever on, it’s only natural to want to rein in your spending on what we can loosely term ‘luxury’ items such as hi-fi and AV equipment. However, since you are reading this magazine, we are guessing that this is less of a luxury than something of a necessity.

So, allow us to be of assistance. While we can’t make money grow on trees for you, we can certainly help you make wise purchasing decisions when it comes to your hi-fi set-up.

Over the next few pages, we have picked out our favourite gear at the more prudent end of each category of hi-fi – from budget turntables to affordable amps, bang-for-buck speakers and capable but reasonably priced digital sources.

Each of these carefully considered choices absolutely hit the bullseye when it comes to What Hi-Fi?’s sacred pound-to-performance mantra. They are stellar performers at their level, from some of the best names in the hi-fi business, that won’t break the bank but will provide you with the best sound possible for their relatively modest outlay.

Once you have taken a gander at our pick of amplifiers, turntables, CD players and speakers, on the pages that follow you will find our recommendations for using this great gear in a trio of amazing value systems that prioritise great sound for not too much money.

In short, you won’t need to over-reach with the overdraft in order to get yourself a fantastic hi-fi set-up, whatever your needs.

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AXA35

A musical budget amplifier with all-round appeal