As any football fan (or really, of any team sport) knows, no matter the quality of individual star players signed on a mega-bucks deal from a top-tier club, a team is only as good as the sum of its parts. Without the right support, service into the six-yard box from the midfield etc, even a star player can be left floundering and the team stuck firmly in the doldrums of so-so mid-table placing. Equally, having the team made up of your Haalands, Yamals, Fodens etc doesn’t guarantee wins unless those players work together brilliantly.
It’s a similar story with hi-fi set-ups. As we have said many times, it’s simply not enough to put cherished What Hi-Fi? Award winners and five-star products together and expect that team-up to be as good as the sum of its parts.
But, that’s where our many years of testing hi-fi comes in. We have carefully curated 10 systems this issue that will all work perfectly together. There are a range of systems here for different use-cases, budgets, economy of space and just sheer sonic brilliance – and hopefully, whatever your needs, you will find something on the following pages to steer you right when it comes to creating the best hi-fi system for you.
From simply great-sounding turntable-based set-ups to fully modern streaming marvels; from compact convenience to lavish, high-end hi-fi, we have got you covered in our systems special. And you can be assured that each component we have recommended here, from source to speaker, will work together to bring you years of listening joy.
So, turn the page, and let’s kick off.
MICRO MAGIC
A compact system that ticks the boxes with fewer boxes
THE SYSTEM O MICROSYSTEM DENON D-M41DAB £349 O PHONO STAGE REGA FONO MINI A2D MK2 £110 O PRO-JECT PRIMARY E TURNTABLE £199 O TOTAL PRICE £658
TOTAL: £658
Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de What Hi-Fi UK.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de What Hi-Fi UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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WHAT HI-FI? AWARDS 2024
Presenting the very best hi-fi and home cinema gear you can buy right now - winners each and every one
RECORD PLAYERS ARE GETTING BETTER: IT JUST ISN'T OBVIOUS
Record replay continues to improve, but it does so in a subtle way, writes technical editor Ketan Bharadia
Hisense PX3-Pro
Gaming-focused UST projector that's great for films too
Cambridge Audio EXN100
Extensive features, refined performance
BenQ GS50
Prepare to be the talk of the campsite
Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2
An appealing turntable in looks and sound
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
How do you follow a three-time Award-winning soundbar? This is how
Rotel A8
It's no-frills’, but this amp hits the mark
Samsung Q8OD (QE55Q80D)
Even without Mini LEDs, this Samsung mid-ranger hits the mark
Epos ES-7N
Small box, flexible nature and a huge talent