TINY TECH TO BRING YOUR
DIGITAL MUSIC BACK TO LIFE
DIGITAL MUSIC
TURNYOUR COMPUTERINTO HI-FI
TURNYOUR CCCCOMPUTERINTO
TERINTO HI-FI
SPEAKERSWe test the best £1000 can buy
TECH FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE MUSIC AND MOVIES
Furutech ADL Stride Use it with your smartphone!
Furutech ADL Stride
Meridian Explorer Loves hi-res music!Meridian Explorer
Audioquest DragonFlyStill our favourite USB DAC?Audioquest DragonFly
Arcam rPAC Ideal desktop system!Arcam rPAC
Headphones Is it worth spending big money on little earbuds?
Great AV amps How to get home cinema thrills for less than £300!
NEW BUYING GUIDE!ALL THE SPECS ● ALL THE FACTS ● HINTS AND TIPS ● THE BEST ADVICE
+ THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO TABLETSNEW
● ● ●
ULTIMATE GUIDE
Apr
il 20
13 £
4.99
ww
w.w
hath
ifi.c
omw
ww
.wha
thifi
.com
WELCOME
We’re all pragmatists to a certain degree, but
some compromises and conveniences are a step
too far. The one where you store huge quantities
of music on hard disk, for example (good), but as
a result it sounds, um, terrible (not so good).
That’s why we’re pleased to present our USB
DACs Supertest (p26) – there’s no easier or
more affordable way to turn a computer into an
authentic, no-compromise hi-fi source. And for
the opposite end of your system, we’ve a test of
superb loudspeakers (p74) with six similarly
uncompromised solutions to all hi-fi dilemmas.
But there’s always a place for convenience, of
course, as the 16 bonus pages of the Ultimate
Guide (p51) amply demonstrate: everything
you could possibly need to know
about every tablet worth owning,
without compromise.
www.whathifi.com 3
Simon Lucas, Editor
Now is the time for new
adventures in hi-fi
Find us on...
What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision: 7 international editions, 1.6m readers
twitter.com/whathifi tiny.cc/playlist2013
youtube.com/WhathifiTVfacebook.com/whathifi.com
whathifi.com
My products of the month
Experience & heritage
We’ve been hard at
work helping the
world discover the
best in hi-fi and
home cinema for
more than 35 years,
and have getting on
for 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective
belts – so you can count on our expert opinions.
Dedicated test facilities
We test every
product in the
magazine or at
whathifi.com
against its peers
in our bespoke £1m
reviewing facilities.
And we test every product as a team, so our opinions
and conclusions are always the result of collaboration.
We spot big trends firstMP3 player tests before the iPod even
existed? High-def video before it even
had a name? That was us. We keep you in
touch with big stories and future trends.
Reviews youcan trust
Meridian Explorer Supertest p36
The latest venerable British hi-fi brand
to enter the USB DAC fray, Meridian
Audio has delivered a great little device
B&O BeoVision 11 Temptations p88
I want this beautiful, high-performance
television and, what’s more, I want the
loft apartment it deserves to be put in
★ France
★ India
★ Indonesia
★ Russia
★ Serbia
★ South Africa
★ Spain
Our products of the month
www.whathifi.com 111
Need more info?Go to whathifi .com
Cambridge Audio Azur 751BD 800 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Ideal for those who want more than a budget player
2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31
Denon DBP-2012UD500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A price cut makes this disc spinner even more appealing
1 0 1 8ch 11x43x32
Marantz UD7006550 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A splendid master of all trades
1 0 1 8ch 11x44x33
Marantz UD70071000 12.12/FT ★★★★★ With the right system, this is Blu-ray heaven
1 1 1 No 11x44x31
Marantz UD80042449 03.10/FT ★★★★★ A brilliant player – if you want one box to do it all
1 1 1 8ch 12x44x39
Onkyo BD-SP809500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A fine choice, but not an all-rounder
2 1 1 No 10x43x31
Oppo BDP-93EU500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for the midrange Blu-ray player market
2 1 1 8ch 8x43x31
Oppo BDP-95EU900 08.11/GT ★★★★★ A thoroughly desirable premium player
2 1 1 8ch 10x43x31
Connect your HDMI cables
If you’ve just got a Blu-ray
player and a TV, one HDMI
cable will link the two. If
you plan to use an AV amp
as well, you’ll need to buy
two cables: one from
player to amp, the other
from your amp to your TV.
Sort out your sonic links
All AV amps now accept
surround sound via HDMI.
The next-best bet is to use
your BD player to decode
the sound into multiple
channels. Or use a coax or
optical digital cable (above)
for DVD-quality sound.
Go to the on-screen menu
The key factors to check
are aspect ratio (16:9),
resolution (1080p, if your
TV can take it) and 24fps
mode. If you own a 1080p
TV, set its aspect ratio to
‘exact scan’ or ‘dot-by-dot’
mode, too
Connect to the internet
Some players have wi-fi
capability but many rely
on wired connections, so it
pays to have ethernet to
hand. You’ll get access to
network-based media
sharing, plus streamed
services such as BBC iPlayer.
Link in your media library
There’s a good chance you
can use the same ethernet
link you made in step 4 to
access stored media. All
you need is a PC or NAS,
network-attached storage,
linked to your network
using an ethernet cable.
Fine-tune your TV
Nearly there… Dig out a
THX-certified DVD or Blu-
ray with the ‘Optimizer’ in
its set-up menus and you
can fine-tune your picture
to look its best. This will
help you calibrate colour,
contrast and brightness.
How to… Set up your blu-ray
www.whathifi.com 111
media library
od chance youu
same etherneet
de in step 4 toto
ed media. Alll
s a PC or NASS,
ttached stororagege,
your networork
ethernet caablee.
FFinne-tFi une your TV
NNearly there… Dig out a
TTHX-certified DVD or Blu-
ray with the ‘Optimizer’ in
its set-up menus and you
can fine-tune your picture
to look its best. This will
help you calibrate colour,
contrast and brightness.
108
LCD, LED & plasma TVsUp to £500£500-£1000
This should buy you a basic TV set with a decent range of connections£1000+
Spend more and you’ll get additional features such as internet TV Better picture processing technologies and more luxury features
Sony KDL-40HX853Awards 2012: Best 40-42in Television
Sony KDL-32HX753Awards 2012: Best 32in Television
Panasonic TX-50P50GT50Awards 2012: Best 50-52in Television
The shortlist
LCD, LED & PLASMA TVS
LC
D, L
ED
& p
lasm
a T
Vs
Also consider
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500 Celcus LCD40S913FHD 250 02.13/ST ★★★★★ Big screen on a budget: a real supermarket special
LED 40 1920x1080 ● 3 97x22x66
Finlux 26F7030240 12 12/GT ★★★★★ A very fine and flexible passive 3D 26in screen
LED 26 1920 1080● ● 2 29 65 45
Type
Size
Reso
lutio
n
Smar
t
3D Free
view
Free
sat
HD
MI
Dim
ensi
ons
(hw
d, c
m)
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
4 www.whathifi.com
p08 First TestsThe headline act is the
Yamaha RX-A1020 (a
£1000 AV receiver),
followed by powered
speakers from Roth,
the Pioneer A-70
stereo amplifier, a
Blu-ray player from
Cambridge Audio, and
the multi-talented
Musical Fidelity M1
SDAC. And finally, we
get our hands on the
new Sony Xperia Z.
p26 Supertest: DACsWe’ve tested nine USB DACs from
well-established brands to find the one
that’ll do wonders for
your digital music
collection. With
prices ranging
from £150 to
£350, one of
these DACs is
sure to take
your fancy...
CONTENTS
Blu
-ray
pla
ye
rs
u-ray players£100£300 Fine picture quality and a decent range of features
+ Build quality improves, as does sound quality
Top-end players tend to sacrifi ce features for performanceTested
Verdict
06.11/GT ★★★★★Thoroughly admirable in isolation
1 1 0 No 12x34x56
06.12/ST ★★★★★An enjoyable and vibrant performance
1 1 0 No 4x43x19
08.12/FT ★★★★★
A good quality, stylish Blu-ray player
1 1 0 No 2.7x18x18
01.11/GT ★★★★★3D Blu-ray player with great pictures
1 1 0 No 6x43x21
06.11/GT ★★★★★This budget Blu-ray excels for the money
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
09.11/FT ★★★★★
Product of the Year - Blu-ray players. Awards 2011
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
06.12/GT ★★★★★Best Blu-ray player £100-175, Awards 2012
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
05.11/FT ★★★★★
Capable of sensational picture and sound quality
2 1 0 No 3.5x43x18
05.12/FT ★★★★★
A superb Blu-ray spinner from Panasonic
1 1 0 No 3x43x18
07.12/FT ★★★★★
A truly captivating disc spinner
2 1 1 8ch 6x43x24
01.11/GT ★★★★★A decent enough effort - but there are better options
1 1 1 8ch 6x44x25
01.12/FT ★★★★★
This budget deck is a real rival for the top performers
2 0 1 No 9x44x25
03.12/ST ★★★★★Essentially, you can’t go wrong with this disc spinner
2 1 0 8ch 9x43x25
01.11/GT ★★★★★Very, very close to being at the top of the pile
1 1 0 No 4x43x22
07.11/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player up to £120. Awards 2011
1 0 1 No 4x43x20
11.12/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player up to £100, Awards 2012
1 0 1 No 4x20x23
06.11/GT ★★★★★Sits at the top of the tree with the best in class
1 1 0 No 4x43x20
12.12/FT ★★★★★
An excellent budget Blu-ray player that also does 3D
1 0 1 No 4x43x20
08.12/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player £175+, Awards 2012. PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
2 1 1 No 4x43x19
Aw.12/FT ★★★★★Super slim PS3 feels less special, but it’s still multi-talented
1 1 0 No 6x29x23
01.11/GT ★★★★★A solid performer at an excellent price
1 0 1 No 5x36x23
04.12/GT ★★★★★A very talented Blu-ray player
2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31
08.11/GT ★★★★★Ideal for those who want more than a budget player
2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31
04.12/GT ★★★★★A price cut makes this disc spinner even more appealing
1 0 1 8ch 11x43x32
04.12/GT ★★★★★A splendid master of all trades
1 0 1 8ch 11x44x33
12.12/FT ★★★★★
With the right system, this is Blu-ray heaven
1 1 1 No 11x44x31
03.10/FT ★★★★★
A brilliant player – if you want one box to do it all
1 1 1 8ch 12x44x39
04.12/GT ★★★★★A fine choice, but not an all-rounder
2 1 1 No 10x43x31
04.12/GT ★★★★★Perfect for the midrange Blu-ray player market
2 1 1 8ch 8x43x31
08.11/GT ★★★★★A thoroughly desirable premium player
2 1 1 8ch 10x43x31
HD
MI o
utO
ptic
al o
utCo
-axi
al o
utM
ultic
hann
el o
utD
imen
sion
s(h
wd,
cm)
t out your sonic linksAV amps now acceptGo to the on-screen menuThe key factors to check
Connect to the internetSome players have wi-fiLink in your media libraryThere’s a good chance you
Fine-tune your TVNearly there Dig out a
up your blu-ray
Blu
-ray
ps
lay
ers
u-ray players£100£300 Fine picture quality and a decent range of features
+ Build quality improves, as does sound quality
Top-end players tend to sacrifi ce features for performance
fi
Tested Verdict
06.11/GT ★★★★★Thoroughly admirable in isolation
1 1 0 No 12x34x56
06.12/ST ★★★★★An enjoyable and vibrant performance
1 1 0 No 4x43x19
08.12/FT ★★★★★
A good quality, stylish Blu-ray player
1 1 0 No 2.7x18x18
01.11/GT ★★★★★3D Blu-ray player with great pictures
y
1 1 0 No 6x43x21
06.11/GT ★★★★★This budget Blu-ray excels for the money
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
09.11/FT ★★★★★
Product of the Year - Blu-ray players. Awards 2011
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
06.12/GT ★★★★★Best Blu-ray player £100-175, Awards 2012
1 1 0 No 4x43x18
05.11/FT ★★★★★
Capable of sensational picture and sound quality
2 1 0 No 3.5x43x18
05.12/FT ★★★★★
A superb Blu-ray spinner from Panasonic
1 1 0 No 3x43x18
07.12/FT ★★★★★
A truly captivating disc spc inner
2 1 1 8ch 6x43x24
01.11/GT ★★★★★A decent enough effort - but there are better options
1 1 1 8ch 6x44x25
01.12/FT ★★★★★
This budget deck is a real rival for the top performers
2 0 1 No 9x44x25
03.12/ST ★★★★★Essentially, you can’t go wrong with this disc spinner
2 1 0 8ch 9x43x25
01.11/GT ★★★★★Very, very close to being at the top of the pile
1 1 0 No 4x43x22
07.11/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player up to £120. Awards 2011
1 0 1 No 4x43x20
11.12/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player up to £100, Awards 2012
1 0 1 No 4x20x23
06.11/GT★★★★★
Sits at the top of the tree with the best in class
1 1 0 No 4x43x20
12.12/FT ★★★★★
An excellent budget Blu-ray player that also does 3D
y
1 0 1 No 4x43x20
08.12/FT ★★★★★
Best Blu-ray player £175+, Awards 2012. PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
2 1 1 No 4x43x19
Aw.12/FT ★★★★★Super slim PS3 feels less special, but it’s still multi-talented
1 1 0 No 6x29x23
01.11/GT ★★★★★A solid performer at an excellent price
1 0 1 No 5x36x23
04.12/GT ★★★★★A very talented Blu-ray player
y
2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31
08.11/GT ★★★★★Ideal for those who want more than a budget player
2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31
04.12/GT ★★★★★A price cut makes this disc spinner even more appealing
1 0 1 8ch 11x43x32
04.12/GT ★★★★★A splendid master of all trades
1 0 1 8ch 11x44x33
12.12/FT ★★★★★
With the right system, this is Blu-ray heaven y
1 1 1 No 11x44x31
03.10/FT ★★★★★
A brilliant player – if you want one box to do it all
1 1 1 8ch 12x44x39
04.12/GT ★★★★★A fine choice, but not an all-rounder
2 1 1 No 10x43x31
04.12/GT ★★★★★Perfect for the midrange Bl
ru-ray player market
2 1 1 8ch 8x43x31
08.11/GT ★★★★★A thoroughly desirable premium player
2 1 1 8ch 10x43x31
HD
MI o
utO
ptic
al o
utCo
-axi
al o
utM
ultic
hann
el o
utD
imen
sion
s(h
wd,
cm)
t oouuttt yyoyour sonic linksy
AV aamAV aampps now accpss now acceptept
Go to the on-screenreen menu menuenuThe key factors to checkk
Th kThe key factors to checkkConnConnect to the iConnect to the int
Connect to the intect to the inte intererernetnetnetSome player
SoSome players have wi-fis have wi-fi
Link iLink inLink ink in your media lib your media library
your media libraryThere’s a gore’s a good chance you
There’s a good chere’s a good chance you
Fine-tune your TVNearNearly therely there Di
uuuuupup your blu-ray
Revamped hi-fi guide!1500 products rated p103
With new categories and key tech specs, we’ve made it easier for you to pick the best kit for your cash.
How to...
Pick the perfect TV screen size p110
Set up a Blu-ray player p111
Find the right headphones p141
Unleash your smartphone p156
For a full list of specifications and other
useful info visit whathifi.com
>04 >13
New Buyer’s Guide…two mags in one!
26DACs
f the montf the mont
Mission SX2 Group Test p74
“Big standmounters that deliver scale
and authority few rivals can match.”
Ketan Bharadia Technical editor etan Bharadia Technical editor
Panasonic PT-AT6000E p86
“There’s nothing like watching a
Blu-ray on this brilliant projector.”
Joe Cox Deputy web editor
B&O BeoVision 11 Temptations p88
“A 40in screen with a big price tag
but blessed with a brilliant picture.”
Andy Madden Reviews editor
Pioneer VSX-922 Group Test p42
“An amp with midrange features
that’s simply excellent value.”
Verity Burns Multimedia editor
In-ear headphones
72
What’s in this issue
HRT microStreamer Supertest p26
“This tiny and talented USB DAC
is a treat for any digital music library.”
Kashfia Kabir Multimedia journalist
www.whathifi.com 5
INSIDER
Our ratings explained
We always test products as a team, and always compare them with their
peers – which is why our ratings are the most authoritative in the industry
+++++
++++
+++
++
+
One of the best
A serious contender
Worth a look
Disappointing
Awful
If it’s one of our winners,
you know it’s top quality
7442
p42 Group Test: AV receiversWe’ve met these talented AV receivers
before, but not at these tantalisingly entry-
level prices. We’ve got two Award-winners
from Sony and Yamaha, and a half-price
Pioneer – all under £300.
p51 Ultimate Guide: TabletsWith a plethora of tablets flooding the
market, how do you know which is the
perfect one for you? We’ve put together an
exhaustive guide to the 14 most popular
tablets, with prices from £160 to £600: pick
the one that suits all your needs.
Insider: Panasonic v Sony p22How the Japanese manufacturers are looking to strike back against the Korean giants in 2013
Playlist p96Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is
charmingly macabre, while The Flaming Lips give us The Terror
Subscription: Magazine p100Buy three issues for £3!
Sign up today and save 17% on the full cost of a mag subscription
p68 Advice CentreGot a burning hi-fi question? Our team of
experts deal with your queries and show
how to get the best from your kit.
p72 Round-up: EarphonesIf your entire music system revolves
around a smartphone or tablet,
why not treat yourself to some
premium in-ear headphones?
Take your pick from our
round-up of six pairs priced
from £125 to £200.
p74 Group Test: Hi-fi speakersThese quality standmounters from Au-
diovector, B&W, KEF, Mission, Opera and
Tannoy may cost you a pretty penny (£700
to £900), but they’re sure to make your
music sing.
p86 Head-to-Head: ProjectorsWe pit JVC’s new £3000 projector against
the Award-winning Panasonic PT-AT6000E
to see which one delivers the best big-
screen cinema thrills.
p88 TemptationsStupendous £6500 electrostatic speakers
from Quad, a trio of hi-fi separates from
Heed, and a futuristic and elegant TV from
Bang & Olufsen – we’re tempted.
Stereo speakers
Tablets
AV receivers
Projectors86
51
Why we’re No.1
UNIQUE COLLABORATIVE
TEST METHODOLOGY
Our experts work together on every single product review
The world’s no.1 home entertainment buyer’s guide
No other guide reviews all its products in rooms like ours, or with a team like ours
We’re the place to go for expert and impartial reviews
STATE OF THE ART SUITE
OF TESTING ROOMS
Acoustically treated, with top products used for comparison
THE WORLD’S FOREMOST
TEAM OF EXPERT TESTERS
With more than 100 years of full-time reviewing experience
No other mag has such a team
of experts, working full-time
in a dedicated suite of test
rooms, debating every verdict
From a gaggle of greatturntables to the latest laptopand DAC combo, we test all music and movie-playing tech
We examine the latest
products before anyone else,
and bring you our verdicts on
brand-new tech like 4K TV
We provide buying advice
across all media: mag, web,
Facebook, Twitter and our
videos on whathifi.com
8 www.whathifi.com8 www.whathifi.com
FIRST TESTSExclusive reviews of the latest kit
EXCLUSIVE
The RX-A1020 is the second AV receiver
we’ve seen from Yamaha’s new 2013
range – and we have high expectations.
Yamaha is on a roll when it comes to
turning out machines to take the all-
important place as the brains and the
brawn of your home cinema system.
At the end of last year, the company
scooped not one but two What Hi-Fi?
Sound and Vision Awards in this category,
cornering the market with two excellent
models at the affordable entry-level and
‘step-up’ price points.
Furthermore, the first of Yamaha’s 2013
receivers, the £2000 RX-A3020, walked
EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS
Sony Xperia ZPage 20
Can anything tip the Nexus off the Android throne? The Z might just manage it…
Musical Fidelity M1SDAC£800 Page 14
A well conceived DAC with a fluid, full-bodied sound and Bluetoothon board.
PICK OF
THE REST
>
away with a glowing five-star review last
month. That simply leaves this £1000
category as the one slice of the market
Yamaha has left to conquer. Naturally, we
can’t help but fancy the RX-1020’s chances.
Plenty to shout about
There are four models in the Aventage
range, with this the second-most affordable.
Predictably, it follows down a similar
path in terms of build, specification and,
ultimately, performance as the top dog
in the Aventage range that we saw last
month. It simply shears off a few features
and a little power along the way.
So, this is a 7.2-channel AV receiver
offering two zones of entertainment – you’ll
have to pay more to get more channels and
zones. Yamaha claims a rated power of
110W per channel into 8 ohms; again, you
can get more – 140W, then 150W – on the
two models above the 1020 in the range.
Elsewhere you won’t find the company’s
HQV video processing, nor a handful
of more niche features – namely High
Resolution Music Enhancer and
Component Upconversion. We’re not
sure many people will greatly miss these.
And that’s about that: there’s a lot else
still very much on the spec sheet, such as
Whether it’s thundering through Thor or
tiptoeing through Coraline, the RX-A1020
just seems to find its work so easy and fun
Yamaha RX-A1020 | AV receiver | £1000
Stunning in every way
of sound modes, networking capability
for streaming music from DLNA devices
such as NAS drives or PCs, Apple AirPlay,
and internet, FM and AM radio. But then
this is a £1000 AV receiver… of course it
does a heck of a lot.
Easy to set up and use
The unit itself looks smart with a two-
tone front fascia and a variety of Yamaha
construction technologies that ultimately
claim to give the receiver the most solid
foundations upon which to work its magic.
This includes the company’s Anti
Resonance Technology (ART) Wedge
and Rigid Bottom Frame. The proof of
that particular pudding can only come
in the eating, though. And, once we’ve
sampled it, we’re happy to report the
proof is well and truly here.
The YPAO set-up and calibration with the
integrated microphone is a doddle, taking
just a few minutes. It proves very accurate
in terms of speaker distance and levels,
too (although we had to adjust our centre
channel from ‘small’ to ‘large’).
And then we’re in business. For this sort
of money, the power and dynamics on show
are superb. With The Amazing Spider-
Man playing in our reference Marantz
4K passthrough and upscaling, not to
mention support for 3D passthrough. You
get the same number of HDMI inputs and
outputs on every model in the range (eight
in and two out, with the latter letting you
run two video outputs at the same time),
complete with Audio Return Channel, plus
a front-mounted USB input that supports
playback from iOS devices and memory
drives. Legacy video connections, plus
digital and analogue audio inputs and
outputs, are also present and as numerous
as you’ll find anywhere in the range.
There’s a full complement of supported
surround-sound codecs, a huge choice
Want more? Visit whathifi.com
for even more product reviews!
Powered speakersRothOli POWA-5
£250 p12
Blu-ray playerCambridge AudioAzur 752BD
£800 p16
Stereo ampPioneerA-70
£800 p19
www.whathifi.com 9
WHAT IT HAS TO BEAT...
Pioneer SC-LX56 | £1300
★★★★★
Our current Award-winner was tested
at £1300 but is now widely available
at closer to £1000, making this a real
contest. Power and weight is where
this Pioneer excels, plus there’s
wired and wireless connectivity
and a neat remote app. You’re really
spoiled for choice at this price!
The Android army just got stronger thanks
to the Xperia Z – it’s a fantastic smartphone
and one the Google Nexus 4 should fear
Sony Xperia Z – Page 20
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Powerful, exciting surround sound;
detailed and musical in stereo; easy to use;
extensive features, including AirPlay and DLNA
AGAINST Nothing of note
VERDICT Delivering excitement, detail
and precision, the Yamaha RX-A1020 is a
brilliantly capable all-rounder
Total build £7750
10 www.whathifi.com
FIRST TESTS AV RECEIVER
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DAY1
Time was, we
wouldn’t overly
trust auto-
calibration tools, and would
inevitably do our own
manual check. We still do,
but in this instance the
results were bang on.
We can’t resist
cranking it. The
Yamaha’s power
and control invites you to
push it to its limits, so we
run through some explosive
test scenes. It toughens up
only at ear-splitting volume.
Remote control
apps are all the
rage and Yamaha
has joined in as well as
anybody. The GUI may
leave a little to be desired
but the app looks nice
and does its job well.
Dialogue Level
Adjustment tackles
the issue of voices
getting lost when the centre
channel is over-awed by the
others. Ratchet up the level
a touch for a more natural
improvement to the sound.
While we could
play films all day
on this AV receiver,
music sounds great too.
AirPlay is a nice touch, as is
the USB input on the front
for iOS devices, but Android
support would be nice.
DAY2
DAY3
DAY4
DAY5
UD7007 Blu-ray player, it’s an exciting,
tense, atmospheric experience – everything
we’d expect, in fact, when enjoying an
excellent test disc.
There’s impressive detail in quieter
scenes, speech is handled nicely (you
can boost it if you want; we didn’t feel the
need) and there’s plenty of authority on tap,
with good control and clarity – even when
the action ratchets up. Bass hits will jolt
you up right in your seat – but fade away
just as impressively – while surround
effects sweep around the room with
speed and agility.
Excellent across the board
The RX-A1020 just seems to find its work
so easy – and so enjoyable – thundering
through Thor, tiptoeing through the
magical animation of Coraline and simply
revelling in entertaining when we play
some music Blu-rays. Beyonce’s I Am…
Yours Blu-ray has plenty of energy and it’s
brilliantly conveyed, the Yamaha proving
adept at holding a tune, and placing sounds
and instruments in the soundstage.
It’s more of the same when playing a CD,
streaming music from our MusicM8 NAS
drive or listening via a connected Apple
device on the front USB slot. We prefer
music in stereo generally, but it’s worth
experimenting with the 17 (count ’em) DSP
modes, to see if one takes your fancy. We
settled for stereo or Pure Audio.
If you’re streaming music, it’s worth
downloading Yamaha’s Control App, which
lets you browse connected media on your
phone or tablet. It comes in handy when
using the internet radio too, as well as
adjusting volume, changing inputs and
other basic controls. Streaming works well,
though the on-screen menus – throughout
the GUI – look a little uninspiring. But it’s
a means to an end rather than the focus…
It’s easy to love this receiver. It looks the
part and has tons of features, but ultimately
the RX-A1020 simply gets down to the
business of delivering brilliant sound with
minimum fuss. There’s excitement, power
and scale, coupled with the great timing,
control and attention to detail. We had high
expectations: this Yamaha utterly delivers.
BUILDERSYSTEM
Pair the Yamaha with this kit and you’ll
find yourself in home cinema heaven
SURROUND SPEAKERS
KEF R100 5.1
£2750 ★★★★★
This Award-winning setup excels in
cohesion and expression. Simply stunning
BLU-RAY PLAYER
Marantz UD7007
£1000 ★★★★★
Available for a fair bit less now, this Marantz
is supremely capable with audio and video
PROJECTOR
Panasonic PT-AT6000E
£3000 ★★★★★
Still our big-screen king, the AT6000E can’t
be rivalled for natural, filmic delivery
We’re astonished at
just how much Yamaha
has managed to
squeeze out of this
receiver for just £1000
Round the back
TECH SPECS
Channels 7.2 • Claimed power 110W per
channel • HDMI in/out 8/2 • Ethernet/wi-fi
Yes/no • Video upconversion 1080p/4K •
3D/4K compatible Yes • Dimensions (hwd)
18.2 x 43.5 x 43.2cm • Weight 15.1kg
1 Wireless is optional
Note the ethernet connection for networking. There’s no wireless, though there’s an optional YWA-10 wifi dongle for £75.
2 Use two displays
Twin HDMI outputs can deliver to two displays and even do it simultaneously, should you want to run two different zones.
3 Upscaling to 4K from all sources
All those legacy inputs are there for a reason: the Yamaha will upscale any low-quality video, right from composite up to 1080p or even 4K.
4 Multi-zone setup
Two zones are offered on the 1020. Step up to the 2020 or 3020, at £500 and £1000 extra respectively, to get three.
3
21
4
FIRST TESTS POWERED SPEAKERS
12 www.whathifi.com
Powered speakers are a neat option: an
amplifier built into the speaker cabinet
gives you positioning flexibility and avoids
the need to invest in a separate amp.
It’s no wonder, then, that British
company Roth Audio has ventured into this
realm. The POWA-5, from the well-respected
OLi range of affordable speakers, is the
firm’s first attempt at powered speakers.
Driver and slave
With the POWA-5, one speaker contains
the amplification, power and connections,
while the other functions as a conventional
passive loudspeaker. Inside the master
speaker, there’s a 2 x 40W Class D amplifier
powering a 25mm soft-dome tweeter and a
13cm mid/bass Kevlar cone. To get started,
plug the speaker into the mains, and then
connect a short length of cable between the
powered speaker and its passive twin.
The next step is to connect the speakers
to a source, and it’s here that the POWA-5s
show off their versatility. Housed at the rear
panel of the powered speaker is an array
of analogue and digital connections that’s
pretty impressive given the £250 price tag.
A pair of RCA line-level inputs allow you
to connect the speakers to a CD player,
while you can improve the sound coming
out of your TV by connecting it to either
of Roth’s two digital optical inputs.
There’s a 3.5mm auxiliary input to play
music from MP3 players but, best of all,
there’s also a built-in Bluetooth receiver,
which means you can wirelessly stream
music from any Bluetooth-enabled device.
Whether you’re using Apple, Android or
Windows, you can play your tunes straight
from your smartphone or tablet – a fact
that’s sure to be popular with buyers.
And, to top it all off, there are two
USB ports to charge your devices and a
subwoofer output (just in case you want
some extra bass to create a 2.1 system).
Roth OLi POWA-5 | Powered speakers | £250
Plug in, then take it nice and easy
Rating ★★★★
FOR Good build and connectivity; Bluetooth
streaming; pleasant sound; affordable price
AGAINST Not the subtlest or most exciting
performance; we would have liked a display
VERDICT Great features for the price, but this
is not the class-leader in outright sound quality
Also considerEpoz Aktimate Micro
£260 ★★★★★
Trade the Bluetooth option for
an iPod/iPhone dock, and
these Epoz Aktimates are a
fantastic desktop option.
Smartphone
Google Nexus 4
★★★★★
The best Android smartphone on the
market. Pair it with the POWA-5s via
Bluetooth for a seamless experience.
Music Streaming Service
Spotify Premium
£10/month ★★★★★
Definitely worth paying the subscription
for the smartphone app and unlimited
playback of countless songs and albums.
System builder
The POWA-5s themselves are solidly
built standmounters (aside from the
slightly flimsy volume control) that
come in three high-gloss finishes of
black, red or white. They’re also a good
size to position anywhere in the room,
although they aren’t quite as compact
as the Award-winning Epoz Aktimate
Micros if you’re after a desktop solution.
Strong, weighty sound
Start spinning Amanda Palmer’s The
Bed Song and the POWA-5s deliver a
strong and solid sound, the piano notes
having satisfying weight. There’s good
integration between the drivers; the top
end is comfortable and doesn’t have any
harsh edge to it, while the bass lines are
chunky. The bass can tip towards being
a bit boomy – especially when placed on
a desk, less so when on stands – but you
USE IT WITH
AppleMacbook ProAny laptop with a
digital optical will do,
but the MacBook is
our choice for its
easy-to-use interface
and flexible storage.
LIVING WITH IT
Mount the POWA-5s on stands if you can – placed directly on a desk they’re
likely to cause a fair bit of vibration
Housed at the rear panel of the powered
speaker is an array of analogue and digital
connections that’s pretty impressive given
the POWA-5’s affordable £250 price tag
can adjust the bass and treble levels using
the dinky remote, which helps a little.
Play Don’t Give Up by The Noisettes,
and the POWA-5s seem to plod along a
little bit, preferring ease over excitement
and agility. It’s also not the most refined
or precise sound – a touch more subtlety
could liven up the Roths’ performance.
Still, on the whole they are perfectly
pleasant to listen to. They offer a gentle
and undemanding musical experience.
Put it altogether and, for the modest
outlay of £250, you’re getting a great
set of features and good sound quality.
There are class rivals that deliver a
livelier and more insightful sound, but
the POWA-5s are a versatile, easy-going
pair of speakers that represent good value.
Listen to Nick Cave’s The Lyre of Orpheus and
this DAC is right at home. The open, expressive
presentation works beautifully, with Cave’s
passionate vocals rendered with real clarity
14 www.whathifi.com
It’s hard to pigeonhole products such as
the M1SDAC. As the name implies it’s
a digital-to-analogue converter – but there’s
more here. It’s a forward-looking device
that recognises phones and tablets are
viable music sources and should be
celebrated rather than ignored. To that
end the M1SDAC accepts Bluetooth apt-X
signals, and makes a serious attempt to
make them as listenable as possible.
Not that traditional hi-fi areas are
ignored. This electronic brick will also
accept analogue signals from two line-level
sources, deliver sound to a pair of
headphones and drive a power amplifier.
So, for those who feel the need to put
this product into a specific category: the
M1SDAC is a DAC/Bluetooth receiver and
decently equipped preamp. Not bad going
for £800, if it sounds good.
This is a nicely built unit. It’s finished
well and has a clear enough display. That
large control knob on the front panel
governs the volume levels and, when
pushed, produces a change in input.
As with most modern DACs, high-
resolution music streams are firmly on
the menu. As is typical, the optical input is
limited to 24-bit/96kHz, but the USB,
co-axial and AES/EBU inputs will accept
full-fat 24-bit/192kHz signals.
PC software for hi-res
Many Windows-based PCs won’t stream
192kHz music through their USB output
as standard. Musical Fidelity provides USB
driver software for Windows Vista, XP and 7
to make it possible. Any recent Mac should
just stream the highest-resolution files
without issue.
Once we wire our MacBook to the
M1SDAC we’re pleased with the results.
Through its asynchronous USB input,
playback is stable and solid. Listen to Nick
Cave’s The Lyre of Orpheus and this DAC is
Musical Fidelity M1SDAC | DAC | £800
Serious hi-fi for the Bluetooth age
right at home. The Musical Fidelity’s open,
expressive presentation works beautifully
here, Cave’s passionate vocals coming
through with real clarity. The sound is
composed and fluid, avoiding the clinical,
sometimes mechanical edge some digital
equipment still imparts.
The lovely midrange is underpinned
by a deep, powerful bass performance that
gives a really firm foundation to the music.
That bass is rarely overplayed though, and
always has the speed and tunefulness to
keep up when necessary.
Transparency and fluidity
Have a listen to higher-resolution
recordings, such as Kate Bush’s 50 Words
For Snow or The Rolling Stones’ Gimme
Shelter, and the good news continues. The
Musical Fidelity is transparent enough to
show the sonic gains made by the increased
resolution, and sounds notably more fluid
with material such as this.
It’s not all positive news though. Despite
all the good things the M1SDAC does, it’s
not the most rhythmic of devices. It’s good
enough at defining the individual notes of
The Dead Weather’s 60 Feet Tall, but can’t
convey the momentum of the song or the
sense of rhythmic interplay as well as
Audiolab’s £600 MDAC.
This shortcoming is less apparent when
listening through the M1SDAC’s optical
input. Compared with USB there’s a loss
of sonic punch and solidity, but the MF
sounds a little more enthusiastic when it
comes to conveying timing information
with this input. The Audiolab is still better
in this respect though, and adds a little
more dynamic punch to the proceedings.
Move to Bluetooth and we’re impressed.
Pairing is as easy as we hoped it would be,
and the sound quality is decent. In absolute
terms, recordings sound less transparent
than the wired alternatives, but the
USE IT WITH
The TerrorThe latest album from
The Flaming Lips
repopulates the outer
reaches of avant-garde
electronica. A great
workout for the SDAC’s
fluid dynamics. (See our
full review on p97.)
Volume control
The M1SDAC could do with a speed-sensitive volume control. It’s
a little slow to track big changes and requires lots of knob-twirling.
Bluetooth
Pairing is fuss free. Thanks to aptX, the Musical Fidelity latches
on to the signal within seconds and delivers a stable connection.
Aerial
Musical Fidelity provides a detachable aerial with a magnetic
base. This gives greater freedom as to where the aerial can be
placed. Alternatively, the aerial can be screwed directly into the
back of the M1SDAC.
USB
As is the fashion these days, the M1SDAC has an asynchronous
USB input. This puts the DAC in charge of information flow – an
arrangement that usually leads to a better sound.
Feature facts
HEADPHONES
AKG 550 £180
★★★★★
Rugged yet comfortable, these have
an entertaining sound. Closed-back
too, so you won’t disturb others.
SMARTPHONE
Google Nexus 4
★★★★★
With its slim design and premium feel, the
Nexus 4 is a brilliant realisation of Android
backed up by top-notch performance.
LAPTOP
Apple MacBook £800
Any decent computer will work
here. Just fill it full of uncompressed and high-res music
files and connect to the M1 SDAC via its USB input.
System builder Total build £1780
www.whathifi.com 15
DAC PREAMP FIRST TESTS
Rating ★★★★
FOR A full-bodied, open sound; fluid dynamics;
authoritative bass; refinement; good features
AGAINST A shortage of rhythmic drive
VERDICT A forward-looking product with a
refined sound but not quite enough sparkle
presentation is still good enough to allow
us to enjoy The xx’s Coexist. The production
may be sparse but there’s plenty going on
here, with complex rhythmic interplay
between instruments and beautifully
recorded vocals. There’s a good amount of
detail on offer, and it hangs together well.
Bluetooth, particularly in aptX form, is
a feature we wish more manufacturers
would include.
Move on to analogue sources and the
M1SDAC disappoints just a little. It sounds
smaller and less transparent than we hoped.
There’s still evidence of good detail retrieval
and fine handling of dynamics, but it
doesn’t quite hold our attention as well as
we’d like. We think the headphone output
is a good one though. It sounds solid, meaty
and in control. There’s a degree of stability
and composure here that’s mighty pleasing.
There’s no denying that the M1SDAC is a
useful box. It’s thoughtfully conceived, and
we’re particular fans of the Bluetooth
capability. It’s up against some mighty
rivals though. Audiolab’s MDAC may be a
few years old now, but it’s £200 cheaper and
we think delivers a more involving sound.
The Musical Fidelity counters with a more
full-bodied sonic presentation and a more
comprehensive specification. And that’s
enough to secure our recommendation.
A tidy appearance
and good build
quality combine with
generous features
and an open sound
1 Flexible aerial
The top-corner location for the aerial point is convenient if you’re not going the detachable way (see panel).
2 Analogue in
It’s rare to see analogue inputs on a DAC, but it means the SDAC can act as a hub to an analogue/ digital system.
3 Digital out
Digital outputs may seem out of place, but they open the door to recording or processing possibilities.
3 Pro touch
An AES/EBU digital input is more usually associated with professional kit, but it boosts the SDAC’s flexibility.
Round the back…
1
2
4
3
Colours favour a natural rather than punchy
palette, but regardless they deliver lovely
subtle detail, while motion is handled well,
with little sign of digital noise or instability
16 www.whathifi.com
Now here’s an eagerly awaited product.
Having made the leap from Blu-ray player
to universal disc player with the 751BD,
the new Cambridge Audio 752BD wants
to be your complete network media hub.
Not only will it play any audio or video
disc you can think of, it offers more inputs
and outputs than any reasonable person
could possibly need, and now has better
support for portable media, streaming
networked content and standalone
streaming services. With high-end
components taking care of audio and
video processing, this is much, much
more than just a 3D Blu-ray player
(although it’s one of those, too).
A proud heritage
Cambridge Audio made the high-end of the
disc player market its own with the release
of the 751BD, the predecessor to this
product. In an age of basic Blu-ray players
costing £50 and, more pertinently,
Cambridge Audio Azur 752BD | Blu ray player | £800
Universal player has universal appeal
Then you can use an app such as PlugPlayer
to access your library and playback controls
from your phone or tablet. (Cambridge
Audio hasn’t ruled out adding this feature
to later incarnations of its own remote
control app.) A smart new on-screen
interface will also guide you to streaming
services such as YouTube and Picasa.
Powerful processing
And you can connect sources directly, too.
Two HDMI inputs, as well as digital coaxial
and digital optical inputs, ensure you can
connect anything from an Xbox 360 or PS3
to a Sky+HD box to make this a real hub for
your home entertainment.
So why would you do this? Well, there’s
the convenience of course, but the real
benefit comes in making use of the video
and audio processing inside. The 752BD
uses a Marvell Qdeo video processor, which
will upscale any video source to 1080p or
even 4K (should you have a compatible
USE IT WITH
Amazing Spider-ManIt might ‘only’ be a
summer blockbuster,
but if you’re looking
for a great test disc,
this film has it all.
1 Backlit remote The handset has had a redesign, and now has backlit keys. It’s nice to hold and use, even if the core controls feel a little cluttered. It’s still one of the better remotes we’ve seen on such a device.
2 Streaming The ability to play content from a UPnP/DLNA device is a great feature. You can even control it all using a smartphone app such as PlugPlayer. But we are underwhelmed by the streaming services: why aren’t BBC iPlayer and Netflix on board?
3 Quality DACs Audio inputs are upsampled to 24-bit/192kHz by the onboard Wolfson DACs. Cambridge Audio tells us there’s essentially a DacMagic inside. It’s perhaps no surprise to find the digital filters found on the DAC are here, too. They’re very subtle, but definitely worth experimenting with.
4 Easy to live with In terms of all-round usability, we definitely think this is an improvement on the previous model. Discs load more quickly, the on-screen menus are clearer and the remote is an improvement. Plenty of picture controls are available within the BD752’s menus too, in case you want to further tweak your display’s settings.
Living with it
1 Networking options
You can go wireless or wired, with an Ethernet socket and a supplied wireless dongle for one of the three USB inputs.
2 HDMI input
The input on the back is ideal for a set-top box, but the one on the front supports MHL for using phones and tablets.
3 Use two displays
Twin HDMI outputs let you separate audio and video or connect up two displays – a TV and projector, for example.
4 Digital audio
The digital inputs are a great feature, with the optical input ideal for feeding the audio from a Sky+ HD box.
Round the back…
Award-winning £100 Blu-ray players
packed with internet connectivity
and more, Cambridge Audio sought
higher ground, packing its players not
just with features and functions but
the necessary components to help the
performance justify the premium.
And the 751BD was undoubtedly a
success, taking home a five-star review
when it first emerged just under two
years ago. It has since gone on to be
the company’s best-selling product –
which is no mean feat for a brand that
traditionally, in the UK at least, majors
on budget hi-fi separates.
Handles whatever you throw at it
The 752BD really can play just about every
video and audio format you can think of:
3D Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD, DVD-A and
rewritable discs, AAC, FLAC, MP3 and WAV
– it has it covered. And as well as playing
discs, it can also accept files from a USB
stick (there are now three USB inputs),
or even a smartphone or tablet. This
new feature comes courtesy of the
MHL-compatible HDMI input on the
front, which lets you play music and
video directly from compatible devices.
Also new is the ability to connect to
your network via ethernet or wi-fi (with
the included dongle), and stream music
directly from UPnP or DLNA devices.
display). What’s more, all audio sources, be
they stereo or surround sound, have access
to the five Wolfson DACs, meaning they too
can be upsampled, to 24-bit/192kHz.
On the outside, it’s pretty much as
you were, except for those extra inputs. The
752BD still looks like a Cambridge Audio
product, which is no bad thing. The metal
case is well put together too, but we’re not
sure it screams – or even murmurs – that
it’s a slab of electronics worth £800.
With all this at your disposal it’s hard
to know what to do first. We fire up the
Blu-ray of The Amazing Spider-Man:
1 2 3 4
www.whathifi.com 17
Cambridge Audio 752BD Marantz UD7007
Disc formats BD, DVD, CD, DVD-A, SACD BD, DVD, CD, DVD-A, SACD
File formats AAC, MP3, FLAC, WAV, WMA AAC, MP3, FLAC, WAV, WMA
Outputs 2 x HDMI, RCA, opt, coax, 7.1 2 x HDMI, RCA, coax, XLR
Inputs 2 x HDMI, 3 x USB, opt, coax 1 x USB
Network Ethernet, wireless dongle Ethernet
Streaming UPnP/DLNA/YouTube/Picasa UPnP/DLNA/YouTube/Netflix
Dimensions (hwd) 8.5 x 43 x 31cm 11 x 44 x 31cm
BLU-RAY PLAYER FIRST TESTS
Rating ★★★★
FOR Huge amount of connectivity; easy to use;
sounds crisp and detailed; great picture quality
AGAINST Lacks sonic punch and subtlety with
films; good but not great with music
VERDICT Features and functions combine
in fine style here, but it’s not the last word
when it comes to audio performance
pumping video and audio out via HDMI,
the sound is solid and crisp. Detail is
good and there’s real pace and agility,
while dialogue is clear. Deep bass notes
are short and sharp and you can push
it nice and loud without any danger of
the sound hardening up.
It doesn’t have quite the excitement or
dynamic power we expect, however. Action
scenes that should fill the room sound a
little smaller than on similarly priced rivals.
Great picture quality
We’re more impressed with the picture.
Colours favour a natural rather than
punchy palette, but they deliver
impressively subtle detail. Motion is
handled confidently and there’s little
Of course, there’s still the subject of
stereo music. Connected to our reference
hi-fi system and using the stereo outputs,
we worked our way through every bit-rate
going for digital music and the 752BD had
no problem playing any of them. It sounds
good, too, although even with hi-res audio
it still lacks a little excitement next to
rivals, and gives detail and subtlety away to
cheaper dedicated players (as we’d expect).
This is an incredibly versatile machine.
Rivals are thin on the ground, and almost
non-existent if you want all these features
and functions. Its performance is strong
across the board, too – but not quite as
entertaining and fulfilling, especially
sonically, as the price tag demands.
If you want a performance machine
as your complete content hub, you’ll be
happy with the 752BD, but for pure picture
and sound performance, it can be pipped.
This Marantz universal disc player picked up a cracking
five-star review at the back end of last year with a
£1000 price tag hanging around its neck. And now
that it’s widely available for less than £700, it makes
for a supremely competitive product. It too can play
3D Blu-ray, DVD, SACD and DVD-Audio discs, among
others, and also offers basic network streaming. It
doesn’t have any digital inputs, however.
MarantzUD7007★★★★★
The competition…
The 752BD might
look basic on the
outside, but under
its all-metal chassis
lies some deeply
impressive tech
sign of digital noise or any other picture
instabilities either. DVDs look great,
too – and the 752BD even has a DVD
24P mode that gets the best out of discs
made at this frame rate.
There’s plenty more to enjoy, too. A new
interface makes using the streaming feature
a doddle, sniffing out our network without
problems and letting us use the machine
as a DLNA receiver from our networked
hard-drive. The selection of streaming
services might not be too exciting but
YouTube looks good (although it did prove
prone to buffering in our test rooms).
1 Stage craft
Conveniently, the Pioneer’s phono stage can switch between moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges.
2 Ample input
Three line-level inputs might not seem generous, but they should be more than enough for external sources.
3 Power only
If you want to integrate the A-70 into a home cinema set-up, use it as a power amp via the RCA sockets.
4 Hi-res ready
Both the coaxial digital and asynchronous USB sockets can accept 24-bit/192kHz for full-fat downloads.
Round the back…
2
1
3 4
STEREO AMPLIFIER FIRST TESTS
www.whathifi.com 19
We haven’t seen much in the way of
statement stereo kit from Pioneer over
recent years, but this could all be set to
change thanks to this new addition to its
ranks, the A-70 stereo amplifier.
Out of the box, the Pioneer makes a
mighty impression. It’s a big unit, more
than 17kg, so it’s not just your speakers that
are guaranteed a workout. The chassis is
verging on bomb-proof, with solid
aluminium front and side panels: 35mm
and 18mm thick respectively. Under the
hood lies 130W of Class D amplification.
Plenty to play with
The fascia looks quite busy, with rotary
knobs for balance, tone controls, volume
and changing input. The weighting of
the input dial is spot on, with a hint of
resistance followed by a satisfying clunk
as you flick between options. However, the
other knobs turn a little too easily.
Features include a 6.3mm headphone
socket, a ‘loudness’ button to engage during
party-on listening, a ‘direct’ button which
allows you to bypass the tone controls for a
supposedly purer sound, and buttons that
switch between the two sets of speaker
terminals. The A-70 even offers a moving-
magnet and moving coil-compatible phono
stage. It’s unusual to have such flexibility,
but we’re certainly not complaining.
Pioneer A-70 | Stereo amplifier | £800
Full-feature powerhouse keeps it clean
Rating ★★★★
FOR Robust build; impressive feature set; clear,
clean presentation; tight, solid, powerful sound
AGAINST Not the last word in timing or subtle
dynamics; bass can be a touch too lean
VERDICT The Pioneer excels in many areas,
even if its sound falls short of class-leading
Also considerArcam FMJ A19
£650 ★★★★★
With lively-sounding
speakers, the A19 will deliver
a wonderfully big, open, faithful sound
CD player
Naim CD5si £995 ★★★★★
Naim isn’t short of experience when it comes to making
CD players, and the CD5si packs a punchy, entertaining
sound. This makes it a
great match for the A-70.
Network audio player
Pioneer N-50 £400 ★★★★★
If your music is stored on a NAS,
then use this great-sounding network
streamer to beam tunes through the
A-70. The matching aesthetic is a nice bonus.
Stereo speakers
KEF LS50 £800 ★★★★★
These Award-winning speakers
work well with the Pioneer, their
open soundstage and solid bass
complementing the amp’s clarity.
System builder Total build £2995
So how does it sound? The Pioneer
presents music in an exceptionally open,
clean fashion. Hit the ‘direct’ button and the
soundstage becomes even more explicit and,
in the process, tightens up the sound. Spin
The Police’s live Boston performance of So
Lonely and there’s plenty for the A-70 to get
stuck into. There’s stacks of detail across
the board: highs are crisp and to the point,
while notes from Sting’s bass guitar sound
tight and sharply defined, if a little lean.
TOP TIPTake care matching the
A-70 with speakers – we had great results with KEF’s LS50s
but were surprised to find the Mission SX2s were
less well suited
When it comes to keeping pace with the
track though, the A-70 struggles to maintain
a sense of order and rhythm – the timing
feels ever so slightly out. The story is the
same whether through line-level or USB
input. Also, strangely, the sound is
somehow more musclebound and less
precise through the headphone socket.
The A-70 is impressively put together,
and the specification list is very generous.
It delivers an exceptionally clear and
powerful sound, but it’s a touch too
clinical and falls short rhythmically.
It’s good, certainly – but not great.
Web pages and ebooks are rendered beautifully
on the Full HD screen, and at 443 pixels per
inch, the Z’s display puts plenty of breathing
room between itself and rivals like the iPhone 5
20 www.whathifi.com
Sony has lagged behind the pack in the
mobile world for a while now. The likes of
Samsung, HTC and – with the Nexus 4 – LG
have all outclassed the Japanese tech giant.
We’re sure it hasn’t been fun but instead
of bowing out, Sony’s taken its time and is
now upping the smartphone stakes in style.
The Xperia Z is a 5in, 1080p quad-core
smartphone that’s also waterproof and
4G ready. Hot under the collar yet?
A 5in screen might seem excessive but
you’ll soon rely on that extra space for
watching films, editing images and scrolling
through the web. It might be tricky to hold
one-handed for some, though, so it’s worth
trying the handset before you buy one.
Sony’s jump to a Full HD display is
obvious to the naked eye when working
with high-res images and text. Web pages
and ebooks are rendered beautifully and
at 443ppi (pixels per inch), the Z’s display
puts plenty of breathing room between
itself and rivals like the 326ppi iPhone 5.
Sony has also worked hard to improve
the screen in areas other than resolution,
using expertise from its Bravia TV division.
To that end the Xperia Z includes Mobile
Bravia Engine 2 tech, which is designed
to improve sharpness and contrast.
Turning it on results in pictures and
home-made movies appearing
oversaturated, but there is an improvement
in definition – so it’s there if you want it.
Sony Xperia Z (16GB) | Smartphone
Be afraid, Google: there’s a new Android in town
Aside from Sony’s software tricks, the
Xperia Z’s screen offers up smooth motion
and bags of detail when watching HD flicks
on Google Play. The Sony prefers a cool
colour palette majoring in detail, something
rival handests struggle to deliver. Watching
an episode of Top Gear, skin tones and
textures of Messrs Clarkson, Hammond
and May look entirely believable.
Viewing angles are a problem, though,
which means that when sharing a photo
or video with a friend, the TFT display
can appear too washed out to be watchable.
Viewed head-on, though, it’s a stunner
– one of the best screens we’ve seen yet
on an Android phone, in fact.
This is one of the best-looking handsets
we’ve encountered, with Sony’s new
OmniBalance design getting all the small
details spot on – and many of the big ones,
too. The chassis, for instance, is made from
shatterproof tempered glass, which gives
the Xperia Z a stylish look compared with
the Samsung Galaxy S3. It’s a solid-feeling
unit, and all the ports and card slots are
tucked away under flaps so as not to ruin
the lines. That includes a microSD slot
(up to 32GB), which is good news as Sony
is selling the Z as a 16GB device.
A water-resilient design
Another reason for everything – including
the headphone jack – being covered is that
the Xperia Z is waterproof, with wet-finger
tracking – so it remains usable when soggy.
It can spend up to half an hour submerged
in water, and can also handle jets of water.
This is great if you happen to listen to
your phone in the shower with a pair of
waterproof headphones, but having the
flap for the headphone socket out and
exposed all the time seems like a recipe
for disaster – especially if it ever snaps off.
With Android Jelly Bean 4.1 on-board,
the Xperia Z is lagging ever so slightly
behind the version 4.2-toting Nexus 4,
but Sony says that its flagship will get
the update this March. As it is, navigation
around homescreens, apps and menus
is very swift indeed – due partly to Sony
cleaning up its unnecessary widgets. For
example, its social media hub Socialife has
been hidden away in the app drawer and
Timescape has been ditched altogether.
The Xperia Z does, however, feature
Google Now, the automatic personal
assistant which can come in handy for
checking transport times quickly, as well
as Wisepilot for turn-by-turn navigation
and a spruced-up lockscreen for quick
access to the camera and music player.
Powerful, but a battery-hog
Sony seems to have finally got the balance
right between tweaking Android and
making it easy to dive into its media portals.
That’s before we even mention its stellar
performance, thanks to the quad-core
Qualcomm chip running the show.
Day-to-day use is as snappy and lag free
as we’ve come to expect from the Nexus 4
and Galaxy S3, and for power it’s up there
with the pumped-up Galaxy Note 2.
When playing Rihanna’s Stay or
streaming an episode of House of Cards, the
Xperia Z doesn’t shine with the supplied
headphones. To be fair, they’re better than
other pre-packaged buds we’ve come across
– they fit well and sound relatively weighty,
but they’re little boring-sounding. Go for a
decent pair such as the B&W P3s, AKG
K451s or even the £35 SoundMagic E10
earphones and the Sony has more of a
chance to impress. There’s plenty of detail
to soak up and agile, solid bass to admire.
There’s a hint of brightness too, but nothing
we’d consider distracting – which makes
the ClearAudio+ feature, which boosts
mids and treble to inject more excitement
into the sound, seem rather redundant.
The Sony Xperia Z has some new 1080p bedmates in
the form of the Huawei Ascend D2 and the HTC One, and
we’re expecting a Full HD phone from Samsung too. But
it’s not all about pixels. The iPhone 5 offers a stunning
picture, great audio and a huge selection of quality apps,
– although you’ll still be paying a premium. On the other
hand, the superb value of the Nexus 4 is very tempting,
spoiled only by the lack of 4G and expandable storage.
Google Nexus 416GB★★★★★
Apple iPhone 564GB★★★★★
The competition…
USE IT WITH
AKG K451Our 2012 Headphones Product of the Year sound superb and match the Xperia
Z’s distinctly grown-up design. They’re fun and authoritative with music, and
crisp and nuanced when it comes to speech-heavy movie soundtracks.
Apple iPhone 5 Google Nexus 4 Sony Xperia Z
Screen size 4in 4.7in 5in
Resolution 640 x 1136 (326pppi) 768 x 1280 (318ppi) 1080 x 1920 (443ppi)
Processor Apple A6 1.5GHz quad-core 1.5GHz quad-core
Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB 8GB, 16GB 16GB (with microSD expansion)
Battery 1440mAh 2100mAh 2370mAh
Operating system iOS6 Android 4.2 Android 4.1
Weight 112g 139g 146g
4G Ready Yes No Yes
www.whathifi.com 21
SMARTPHONE FIRST TESTS
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Solid build; attractive design; excellent
picture; quick in use; detailed, punchy sound
AGAINST Poor viewing angles; feel is a matter
of personal taste; blacks could be richer
VERDICT A smartphone triumph for Sony
and a real rival for the Google Nexus 4
As long as brightness is left on automatic
mode, the Z should last the day without
recharging – helped out in part by switching
on the clever Stamina mode. This turns
off all data when the screen is off – which
means waking up in the morning to the
same battery percentage you saw before
bed. Otherwise, the Z’s beefy battery drains
just as quickly as any other big-screened
flagship, which could be a letdown.
The Sony is also 4G Ready, which means
you can take your pick between standard
contract prices or shack up with EE for data
speeds up to five times faster than 3G. You
might find that battery takes a hit with a
4G SIM – so it’s a choice between a phone
that lasts the day and faster downloads…
Galaxy S3 in that respect. Leaner and
meaner than previous Sony handsets, it’s in
the details that the Xperia Z really shines:
a 16GB device with expandable storage
to make room for all those HD downloads,
a waterproof chassis and a Stamina mode
that means your smartphone’s standby is
your new faithful friend.
1
3
What’s NFC tech?
Near field communication (NFC) hasn’t so much
stormed onto the smartphone scene as crawled
its way slowly to the top of most flagship and
midrange spec lists over the past few years. The
tech standard means two NFC enabled phones or
devices can send and receive data by touching or
coming within a few centimetres of each other.
The Xperia Z can handle all the usual NFC tricks:
from pairing to specific headphones or speakers,
paying for your Starbucks coffee and altering your
phone’s settings by touching Smart Tags. With the
Z, Sony has also introduced one-touch sharing of
photos, videos and music by tapping the handset
to the remote of some of its new Bravia TVs.
2
Of course, a smartphone needs a camera,
and the Z’s 13.1-megapixel snapper does
a decent job. With intuitive controls
borrowed from Sony’s Cyber-shot cameras,
the Xperia Z matches the best of 2012’s
smartphone cams rather than building on
them. It takes fine shots outdoors and in
good light, but even though the Superior
Auto mode is quick to adjust, it’s not the
best at getting rid of noise in low light.
Full HD video shot with the rear camera
is smooth, though, and there’s a high
dynamic range option for stills and video.
The 1080p screen is the stand-out
spec here. There’s much to love about the
display – and if it’s an eye-popping picture
you want, the Xperia Z rivals the Samsung
3
We know it keeps
things waterproof,
but having this flap
over the 3.5mm jack
open all the time is
very frustrating
Power and volume
controls are along the
right edge, along
with the micro SIM
slot. Surprise! It’s
behind another flap…
Sony’s selling the Z
as a 16GB model, but
thankfully you can
expand the memory
using the microSD
card slot on the edge
1
2
INSIDERINSIDER
After their recent turmoil, can Sony and Panasonic get back on top?n top?After their recent turmoil, can Sony and Panasonic gget back onn top?
the form of a way out of the
ongoing losses they have seen in
recent years.
Panasonic hosted its annual
European Convention to flesh out
its plans for the year ahead, and
television – and plasmas
specifically – dominate. While the
company’s own brief venture in
to mobile phones seems to have
22 www.whathifi.com
News * Analysis * Opinion
INSIDERFuture tech
JAPAN BEGINSTHE FIGHTBACK
While consumers have
been enjoying some of
the most exciting
technological advances in recent
memory over the last couple of
years, times have proved tough
for some of the biggest-hitters
in the industry.
And that’s putting it mildly:
feeling the pinch more than most
have been the Japanese consumer
electronics giants, for so long the
leaders in terms of innovation,
sales and any other barometer
you choose to measure.
Not so big in Japan
The lethal combination of a
faltering Japanese economy, the
earthquake and tsunami of 2011,
and a super-strong currency, set
against a (relatively) new wave of
Korean and Chinese superpowers
with money to burn, has spelt
disaster for the twin giants
Panasonic and Sony. As we’ve
SONY
Smartphones, tablets and gaming
will be crucial for Sony, with TV and
home cinema relegated in importance
reported extensively on whathifi.
com, the two have reported some
terrifying figures in recent times,
made some heavy cuts to various
departments – notably their TV
divisions – and moved ever-more
manufacturing out of Japan.
But hope springs eternal. A
new year means a new start and
both Panasonic and Sony face a
big challenge if they want to once
more compete at the very top
tables, and get back in the black.
Is plasma the answer?
This month both companies have
set out their stalls for 2013, and
embarked on what they hope will
be the road to recovery and
success – or at least recovery, in
And don’t forget about China...It’s not just Japan and Korea fighting for supremacy: one rather large
competitor looms large over both nations’ famous companies. And that’s
China: this year’s CES saw that country’s consumer electronics
companies take a giant step in to the western market, Haier and Hisense
making their presence felt with stands as huge as anything the Japanese
and Korean players had to offer.
Chinese company TP Vision effectively controls its joint-venture deal
with Philips’ TV division (while the Philips audio and video divisions have
been bought by Japanese company Funai). Who’s to say other
companies won’t follow suit? How about a Kuro-killer made in China?
been knocked on the head, phone
interaction is clearly seen as
crucial to the appeal. The flagship
ZT60 plasma range is aiming to
lay to rest the legend of the
Pioneer Kuro sets once and for all:
Panasonic showed the ZT60 and
Kuro side-by-side, and its new
model looked very impressive .
Meanwhile the new GT60
range looks to hit the nail on the
head for price and performance,
as did its GT50 predecessor.
A new smart TV interface, voice
and gesture controls and further
emphasis on remote apps will
define the Panasonic TV range in
2013. And the firm has a joint
venture with Sony to develop
OLED screen technology.
Xperia and PlayStation
For Sony, mobile products, digital
imaging and gaming are the key
areas for recovery. That means
the new Xperia Z (see review
p20), new tablets (page 64) and
the PlayStation 4 will be
absolutely crucial, bolstered by
Sony Entertainment Network’s
range of music and video content.
As a result, the company’s AV
division (including TVs) looks set
to play second fiddle for 2013.
Sony’s PS4 announcement last
month proved suitably elusive,
but with hardware due in time for
Christmas, it was clear the new
platform will have an emphasis
on mobile –with the ability to play
games across phone and tablet
devices – and social, with the
ability to share content and game
play at the centre of things.
Will it be enough? The fight for
consumers’ attention – not to
mention their cash – is tougher
than ever, and Panasonic and
Sony have it all to play for, and all
to do, to get back on top in 2013.
www.whathifi.com 23
INSIDER
Elipson Sound Tree
Now showing in Selfridges in
London, the Elipson Sound Tree is
a £15k set of hanging speakers. See
whathifi.com for more details
THX your system
Need a hand setting up your
system? Try the THX tune-up app.
Available across iOS devices for
£1.49, an Android app is due soon
Develop desirable products and customers will buy them
The once mighty giants of Japanese industry
have been having a torrid time of late, with
losses mounting, sales declining and rivals from
Korea, China and the USA (among others) stealing
market share at an alarming rate. It’s a long time since
Sony ruled the roost in the portable audio market
with the Walkman, the advent of MP3 and Apple’s
runaway success with the iPod leaving one of the
world’s top electronics brands floundering. And it’s
still playing catch-up in the tablet market, the mighty
iPad still selling in staggering numbers. Samsung is
proving a much tougher competitor for Apple, as the
endless legal battles between the two prove.
Things are hardly much better in the über-
competitive TV sector, with over-capacity and price
erosion on the high street leading to a massive
restructuring of Panasonic and Sony’s loss-making TV
businesses. They’re not alone: even Philips has
thrown in the towel and sold out to its partners TP
Vision in China and Funai of Japan, while Sharp is
lurching ever-nearer to falling into the hands of
electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn/Hon Hai.
But if there’s one thing that Apple has proved
beyond doubt, it’s that if you create the right product,
customers will buy it: that was the genius of Steve
Jobs. The announcement of the forthcoming PS4 last
month, and a renewed focus on mobile and gaming,
suggest that Sony may finally be getting its mojo back.
But the likes of Apple, LG and Samsung won’t give
up without a fight, and they still have the cash (and
innovation) to keep the pressure on Japan Inc.
Brand editor Andy Clough
PS4 CONFIRMED
The Sony PlayStation 4 is coming in time
for Christmas, but Sony didn’t confirm
much else at the New York launch event
What we say
“Panasonic’s flagship ZT60 plasma range
aims to fill the gap left by the legendary
Pioneer Kuro plasma once and for all”
Sales in Sony’s Home
Entertainment and Sound
division, including TV, were
17.9% down
¥765bn (£5.4bn)Panasonic loss forecast
Oct-Nov 2012 (vs 2011)
2Q Acoustics Concept 20 £350Take a look at the Concept 20 stereo
speakers. Available in black or white,
and yours for £350 a pair – you’ll have to pay
£200 a pair for the stands – they are claimed to
have addressed “the fundamental problem of
distortion caused by cabinet resonance”. Bold
claim. Head online now to read all about them.
3Sonos PlayBar £600Sonos has made its first step into the
home cinema market with the Sonos
Playbar. Hoping to – in Sonos’s words – “to
crash the home theatre party”, the Playbar
connects to your TV via a single optical cable
and can form a cinema system by linking with
two Play:3 speakers. Details at whathifi.com.
4Cyrus Anniversary £17,000Cyrus Audio is celebrating its 30th
anniversary by producing a limited edition
Anniversary “ultimate hi-fi system”. Only
30 will be built, and each will cost £17,000.
There are five components in the system:
the CD XT SE2 CD transport; Stream X2
network music player; DAC XP+ with
preamp; two X 300 power amps; and two
PSX-R power supplies. More pictures online.
1Geneva WorldRadio £270Available in a choice of red, white and black
finishes, this is a sharp-looking, multi-talented
music system. The WorldRadio combines DAB/
DAB+ and FM radio reception with Bluetooth
connectivity, allowing you to stream music from
smartphones, tablets and computers, including any
music apps, internet radio services and more. The
Geneva can run on mains or battery power, with a
claimed six hours of use from the rechargeable
battery. It’s out now, so look out for a review soon.
TOP 5 New launches
Audioengine W3 adapter
A sender and transmitter kit, the
£125 W3 can turn any system
wireless, by connecting via
normal audio in and outputs
5Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 £330Wireless speakers from Cambridge
Audio? Yes indeed. Two in fact. The Minx
Air 100 and Minx Air 200 are AirPlay and
aptX Bluetooth speakers, and have internet
radio, and both RCA and aux inputs, too.
They use the BMR drivers for added sound
dispersion and offer varying power, with
the bigger Minx Air 200 including a sub for
£430. See our exclusive unboxing video
online at whathifi.com now.
24 www.whathifi.com
IIIIINNNNNNNNNNSSSSSIIIIIDDDDDEEEEERRRRRINSIDER
3
5
2
1
4
SUPERTEST
26 www.whathifi.com
USB DACs
For more TV news, reviews and
buying advice, visit whathifi.com
Adding a digital-to-analogue converter to your computer or laptop produces a very satisfying musical equation. The choice is now wide and the quality high, and there’s one to suit your taste
Whether ripping CDs into various file formats,
downloading high-resolution songs, or streaming
music from services like Spotify or Rdio, your
computer is fast becoming the main hub for your music
system. But let’s face it: a computer’s sound quality isn’t really
up to scratch. So what’s the best way to elevate your computer-
based music into the realms of hi-fi? Simple: add a DAC. A
digital-to-analogue converter with a USB connection is all you
need to bridge the gap between your computer and stereo
equipment (or headphones) to create a system that’s
convenient, versatile and, most importantly, sounds fantastic.
We’ve put together a tantalizing selection of nine DACs, all
from established brands and all vying for that prime spot next
to your computer. Turn the page to see which DAC suits your
hi-fi needs and budget best.
PC + DAC = HI-FI
Join us on Spotify
tiny.cc/playlist2013
www.whathifi.com 27
28 www.whathifi.com
For more than two years now, Arcam’s
rDAC has been our go-to DAC of choice.
We’ve loved it since we first tested it in
2010, and when we gave DACs their own
category in the 2011 What Hi-Fi? Sound
and Vision Awards, the rDAC won itself a
place among the decorated equipment.
In fact, until very recently we’d have
been hard pressed to recommend
another DAC that delivers such fantastic
value for money. When it comes to
creating a natural bridge between your
digital music collection and your
existing hi-fi set up, the rDAC still
reigns supreme.
So what makes the rDAC so special?
Simply put, it is one of the most musical
and engaging DACs we’ve ever heard at
this price. Whether you’re playing a
320kbps file from Spotify, a WAV
recording or that elusive 24-bit/192kHz
hi-res song, the rDAC faithfully delivers a
smooth and engaging performance.
Key to the rDAC’s performance is the
combination of the Wolfson WM8741
DAC chip and asynchronous USB
technology, which aims to significantly
reduce the level of jitter (timing
inaccuracies) that can be found in
computer-based music.
Play a WAV recording of Regina
Spektor’s The Flowers using the USB
connection, and there’s a wealth of detail
on a confident and authoritative
soundstage. The piano notes are struck
with appropriate weight and agility, and
Regina’s voice is conveyed with plenty of
subtlety and attention to the various
nuances of emotion. Silences are
handled with aplomb, and there’s a
depth of engagement that’s hard to find
elsewhere at this price.
Hi-res, high qualitySwitch to streaming more hi-res files
using the coaxial input (which handles
up to 24bit/192kHz, while the optical
and USB inputs are restricted to
24bit/96kHz) and the rDAC revels in the
high-quality files, with the increased
clarity and detail definition working in
the rDAC’s favour.
Stream Elephants by Them Crooked
Vultures over Spotify, and the rDAC
maintains its melodic approach, with
fluid dynamics and agile timing that
make it easy to listen to for hours on
end. It’s a testament to the Arcam’s Rating ★★★★★
FOR Good build and design; fluid dynamics;
subtle with detail; agile timing; engaging
and enjoyable sound
AGAINST No headphone output
VERDICT Melodic and engaging, this Award-
winning rDAC remains a top-notch performer
SUPERTEST USB DACS
No matter what the
source, the solidly built
rDAC delivers a smooth
and engaging sound
talents that it can apply the same
full-bodied and dynamically subtle
sound across all types of music files.
The rDAC itself is a compact and
good-looking box: the cast aluminium
chassis gives it a sleek look, and the
power supply and connections (coaxial
and optical inputs, type-B USB input and
a pair of line-level RCA outputs) are
hidden away on the rear panel. A single
button on top selects the input, with
corresponding indicators hanging over
the edge of the box lighting up neatly.
Our only gripes are that there is no
headphone output, and that it may not
be as winningly portable as some of the
other DACs in this test. On the other
hand, Arcam does make a wireless
option for around 80 quid more.
There’s no stopping the rDAC – it’s an
entertaining and superbly capable DAC
that we’d proudly display as part of our
desktop music set-up.
ARCAM rDAC £300 ★★★★★
It’s a testament to the rDAC’s
talents that it can apply the same
full-bodied and dynamically subtle
sound across all types of music files
www.whathifi.com 29
If we were missing the headphone
output on the Arcam rDAC, Arcam’s got
a pocket-sized alternative up its sleeve.
The Arcam rPAC doubles up as both a
DAC and a headphone amplifier, all
housed in a compact box that eschews
the need for mains power.
The rPAC weighs just 300g, making
it light and portable enough to carry
around in your bag if you’re using your
laptop on the move. Connections are
minimal but practical: a type-B USB
input, a pair of line-level RCA outputs
and a headphone output.
You can use the line-level outputs to
connect to your existing hi-fi set up, but
we imagine the rPAC’s most popular use
will be between a laptop/computer and
a pair of headphones.
Rather conveniently, the rPAC comes
with its own mini-USB to USB cable, but
we found the wire length to be a bit too
long, leading to tangled complications.
In comparison, the supplied USB wires
of other portable DACs in this test – such
as the HRT microStreamer and the
Meridian Explorer – are much shorter
and more practical.
The only distinctive marking on the
rPAC’s compact case is the volume
control buttons: tap or hold to change
the volume when using it with
headphones. Reminiscent of the rDAC
design, a single light indicator flashes
red-to-green when the rPAC is in use,
and blinks when changing the volume.
Just plug ‘n’ playPlug in a pair of headphones to the
rPAC’s 3.5mm socket, and you’re good
to go. The rPAC’s USB input handles file
types up to 24bit/96kHz, which is ample
opportunity to boost the sonic
performance of your laptop when
playing all types of music files.
Play a WAV recording of The Noisette’s
Don’t Give Up, and the sound is clear
and detailed, with an smooth overall
balance. There’s much of the dynamism
and agile timing that we appreciated in
Arcam’s rDAC, along with a great sense
of naturalness to voices. Instruments are
rendered with weight and rich textures,
and overall it’s an enjoyable sound.
There’s no sense of hardness or
brightness to be found at all, which is
great when you don’t want to wear your
ears out with insistent, hard electronic Rating ★★★★
FOR Portable build; smooth performance;
natural, enjoyable sound; good balance
AGAINST Faces some stiff competition from
new – sometimes more compact – rivals
VERDICT More desirable alternatives exist,
but the rPAC still has plenty of merit
USB DACS SUPERTEST
beats. However, some might find the
presentation just a touch too smooth,
and it’s true that other DACs, such as the
Audioquest DragonFly or the HRT
microStreamer do offer a more attacking
vibe. To round off the comparison, the
HRT goes that extra mile in revealing a
greater deal of subtlety and depth, with
punchier basslines.
In essence, the rPAC has the same
sonic characteristics as the rDAC – but
it’s a semi-skimmed performance
compared with the rDAC’s full-fat,
authoritative and detailed delivery.
The rPAC’s portability and great price
tag of £150 still makes it a desirable hi-fi
option, but there are some new DACs on
the block now. The emergence of even
more compact and capable alternatives
(the HRT, Meridian Explorer and
DragonFly) means the rPAC has had a
star docked. But don’t be deterred: it’s an
enjoyable DAC that’s worth your money.
If you like a smooth
sound and appreciate
the rPAC’s portability,
£150 isn’t much to pay
ARCAM rPAC £150 ★★★★★
The rPAC weighs just 300g, making
it light and portable enough to
carry around in your bag if you’re
using your laptop on the move
30 www.whathifi.com
You’ll be forgiven for your double-take
at the star rating. Our most recent 2012
DAC Product of the Year down to four
stars already? Yep, we were surprised too.
But with plenty more portable USB
DACs popping up in what was once a
very niche market, the competition is
hotting up even more – and that makes
us very excited indeed.
When the Audioquest DragonFly first
arrived at our offices, it was the first of
its kind: a DAC and headphone amplifier
all tucked into the size and shape of a
USB memory stick. All you have to do
is plug it into the USB port of your
computer, slot a pair of headphones
into the DragonFly’s sole 3.5mm output,
and voila! – you’ve transformed your
computer into a full hi-fi system.
The design of the DragonFly makes
a long-lasting impression as well: the
matte-black finish is smooth and the
DAC itself has good weight, lending it
the classy feel of a high-quality product.
The neatest feature is the DragonFly
logo embedded in the stick – it lights up
with different colours depending on the
type of file being played: 44.1kHz
(green), 48kHz (blue), 88.2kHz
(amber), and 96kHz (magenta). The
asynchronous USB DAC can handle files
up to the full 24-bit/192kHz, but they are
downsampled to 96kHz first.
It’s elegant, yes, but it’s not just a
pretty face: the DragonFly charges along
with a bold and energetic attitude, full of
rich, clear detail in an open soundstage.
There’s fast and agile timing, along with
a good deal of muscle in the lower
frequencies. There’s also a good sense of
depth that allows you to engage with the
music, and vocals are delivered with
plenty of emotion.
Attack and energyIf you’re looking for a DAC that favours
attack and aggression, the DragonFly is
ideal: it has an endless supply of energy
that ensures a fast, punchy sound –
albeit with a touch of hardness to the
overall presentation. Play Rage Against
the Machine’s Killing In The Name and
you get the full impact of the anger
and intensity behind Zach de la Rocha’s
vocals and the heavy guitar riffs.
Despite all that, the DragonFly
no longer has the monopoly on its
particular brand of portable USB DAC: Rating ★★★★
FOR Great design and build; highly portable;
bold dynamics; agile timing; clear detail
AGAINST The slightly hard edge to the sound
can become tiring; not the last word in subtlety
VERDICT We still love this little device, but
newer rivals have pushed it off top spot
SUPERTEST USB DACS
A paragon of great
design and portability,
the DragonFly also
offers real sonic bite
new rivals in the shape of the HRT
microStreamer and Meridian Explorer
have emerged, and their impact can be
seen in the DragonFly’s new star rating.
Play a WAV recording of Oasis’s
Wonderwall, and both the HRT and
Meridian DACs manage to uncover
another layer of subtle detail that
gives more depth and space than the
DragonFly (which seems just a bit too
hard and insistent in comparison).
Don’t get us wrong – the DragonFly’s
attacking sound is exciting, but it may
not suit long periods of listening as the
hardness can start to grate.
New rivals may have ousted the
DragonFly from its throne in terms of
outright sonic performance, but there’s
no escaping the fact that it’s still an
extremely attractive piece of kit to own.
It’s super-portable, has a great design,
and delivers a solid and exciting sound:
the DragonFly still has lots of appeal.
Audioquest DragonFly £215 ★★★★★
It’s not just a pretty face: the
DragonFly charges along with an
energetic attitude, full of rich,
clear detail in an open soundstage
www.whathifi.com 31
The Furutech ADL Stride has been
tested before, gaining a four-star rating
for its efforts. But in a Supertest among
its class rivals, its price, portability and
sound quality take a beating. But first,
let’s remind ourselves what this DAC
and headphone amplifier can do.
Part of Furutech’s entry-level line
of products, the Stride supports native
playback of up to 24-bit/96kHz music
files, which is plenty of scope to boost
the music playing from your iTunes
collection or Spotify playlist. Any
higher-resolution 192kHz files will
have to be downsampled to 96kHz.
There are a number of ways you can
use the Stride. First, plug your favourite
pair of cans into the 3.5mm headphone
output, and run a cable from your laptop’s
USB port to the Stride’s mini USB input.
Alternatively, you can use the headphone
output to take the signal into a stereo
amplifier and out to your speakers.
Thirdly, feed the signal from your
smartphone’s headphone output into
the Stride’s 3.5mm line level input. Of
course, that last application is a slightly
clunky way of marrying a smartphone
with this DAC – we reckon it’s more likely
to be used in a laptop system.
Adding to that set-up is the Stride’s
rechargeable battery, which means it can
deliver a claimed 80 hours of playback
when charged (via mains or USB).
There’s a slim volume wheel tucked
into the corner as well.
The Stride has a wedge-shaped
aluminium casing: it’s an odd shape and
not as classy-feeling as its rivals. We find
that the rPAC (its closest rival here in
concept) has a nicer feel to it and is a
neater, more compact option. £325 is
quite a lot of money to spend on a DAC,
especially for use on the move, and the
comprehensively equipped Lindy is the
only other one here over £300.
Bringer of balanceSo how does the ADL Stride sound? Play
In the Cold, Cold Night by The White
Stripes (Spotify, 320kbps) and there’s
a good sense of balance across the
frequencies, with clear highs and
weighty lows. There’s no unwieldy bass
and the midrange sounds clear and direct.
Meg White’s vocals are detailed and
melodic, although we’d have loved a
greater depth of detail to fully flesh out Rating ★★★
FOR Flexible connection; clear, well-balanced
sound; decent detail; 80 hours of playback
AGAINST Class leaders offer more detail, nicer
build quality and greater convenience; price
VERDICT Better-sounding, cheaper rivals mean
the Furutech is not the best portable option
USB DACS SUPERTEST
the moments when the song dips low
into quieter passages. Go up the scale in
sample rates and the detail quality hikes
up, with instruments nicely spaced out,
although the HRT microStreamer has
better spatial awareness and a more
open soundstage.
What’s clear in this company is that
the Stride doesn’t quite have the
rhythmic precision to battle against the
best in class. The rPAC isn’t the most
insightful of DACs in this test, yet it is a
notch above the Stride in delivering a
musical and engaging performance.
There’s a sense of solidity to the
plucking of strings from the Stride, but
we’d like tauter and more agile rhythms
with precise edges to tie all the
instruments together.
It’s by no means as dull a performer as
the Lindy, but the Stride is outclassed by
cheaper, more portable and much more
sonically talented performers.
Such a lofty price
tag demands sonic
excellence, and that’s
what’s missing here
Furutech ADL Stride £325 ★★★ ★★
There’s a sense of solidity to the
plucking of strings from the Stride,
but we’d like tauter and more
agile rhythms with precise edges
32 www.whathifi.com
A DAC-and-headphone-amplifier tucked
into a tiny, portable shell that’ll do
wonders to the sound quality of your
computer-stored music? That’s the HRT
microStreamer down to a tee.
High Resolution Technologies is no
stranger to producing great-sounding
USB DACs – the £150 Music Streamer II
was a 2011 Award winner – and they’ve
pushed the envelope even further with
the microStreamer.
Comparisons with the Audioquest
DragonFly were rife in our offices, along
with references to the newly launched
Meridian Explorer. The microStreamer
is a light aluminium enclosure with an
asynchronous USB design. This means
that it, rather than the circuitry in your
computer, controls the data flow, leading
to more accurate timing and better
all-round performance.
Clear informationThere are neat little icons on the fascia
to identify the line-level and headphone
outputs, as well as indicate mute status.
The microStreamer is capable of playing
files up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, and
LED indicators on the side light up
amber to show which kHz sample rate
– 32, 44.1, 44, 88.2, 96 – is playing. It’s
nice to see such an informative system
packed onto such a small surface area.
Some might prefer the built-in USB
connector design of the DragonFly, but
the microStreamer is dinky enough to fit
into the palm of your hand, and we like
the flexibility of connecting it to your
computer’s USB port with a very short
(supplied) cable. That way, there’s no
danger of knocking it out or damaging it
when moving your laptop, as you might
with the DragonFly’s design.
Let’s come straight out with it – no
other USB DAC of this design betters the
brilliantly musical and dynamic
performance of the microStreamer.
Stream Rage Against the Machine’s
Killing In The Name on Spotify, and the
sound is solid and muscular, with no
hint of hardness. The ability to start and
stop notes with precision is combined
with a superbly agile sense of rhythm
that allows the microStreamer to zing
through the track with confidence.
Enthusiasm and energy walk hand
in hand with refinement and elegance
here. A live recording of Yann Tiersen’s Rating ★★★★★
FOR Enthusiastic and engaging performance;
fast and agile timing; subtle and insightful
detail; tiny, light and portable build
AGAINST Nothing at this price
VERDICT The best portable DAC/headphone
amplifier you can buy now? A resounding ‘yes’
violin solo Sur le Fil is revealing: the
sense of space around the performance
is amply conveyed, and the bow scraping
across the strings feels raw and tangible.
Attention to detailIt’s the microStreamer’s ability to dig up
layer upon layer of detail in a recording
that delivers such an immersive
experience. Voices are full of subtlety
and rich textures that connect
emotionally with the listener.
The Meridian Explorer shares a similar
level of detail retrieval and balance, but
the microStreamer is just a touch more
transparent, melodic and insightful.
Last but not least, this little block will
cost you just £180. It’s incredible value
for money: from its size and ease of use
to its wonderfully engaging sound, this
little DAC will have you replaying your
entire digital music collection just to
hear how good it can sound.
Let’s come straight out with it – no
other DAC of this design betters the
musical and dynamic performance
given by the microStreamer
Judge me by my size,
do you? Unwise – this
tiny DAC has abilities
to belie its dimensions
HRT microStreamer £180 ★★★★★
SUPERTEST USB DACS
www.whathifi.com 35
If there were a prize for the most
connections and features on a DAC,
this LDAC-Pro from German cable and
connectivity specialists Lindy would
win easily. Perhaps that’s what’s
spawned the eyebrow-raising price – it’s
the most expensive DAC in this test.
So, to those connections. Not only
does the LDAC-Pro provide all the digital
inputs you could possibly want, it also
– unlike other DACs in this test – offers
an analogue input and both balanced
and single-ended outputs. Then there’s a
volume control so you can feed into a
power amp or active speakers and use
the Lindy as a preamp. On the front
panel, a 6.3mm headphone socket sits
next to a 3.5mm line level input, while
the power and mute buttons sit on the
top of the box. And breathe…
Cosmetically, the mains-powered
Lindy is a hefty, solidly built box – it
won’t rate highly in the portability
stakes, and will need shelf space. It
comes finished in black and, rather
unusually for a DAC, it has a front-panel
display. This shows the input source, the
sample rate of the file playing and the
volume. That’s quite a lot of information
to pack in, but it’s clear and easy to read.
Go into the menus, and you have the
options of choosing the input source,
the sample rates (we preferred to keep it
on bypass for native resolution),
headphone impedance, and to switch
between the fixed or variable volume
control. You can scroll and select using
the Lindy’s rotary volume control. And
to round off the list of features, the
Lindy even comes with a remote.
Clear but uninvolvingSo after all that, does the sound quality
live up to this dazzling array of features?
Well, not quite. Stream a 24-bit/192kHz
recording of Blue Bleezing Blind Drunk
by The Unthanks over the coaxial input,
and the Lindy delivers clean and clear
notes, along with a good amount of
weight to the sound. There’s a decent
balance across the frequencies, too. But
there’s little hint of any subtlety in detail
or dynamics (particularly in the rather
one-dimensional treble) – crucial to fully
conveying this bleak and haunting song.
The nuances in Rachel Unthank’s
unusual vocals are lost, and there’s little
depth to the layers of sound, making it Rating ★★★
FOR Exhaustive complement of features and
connections; clear and weighty sound
AGAINST Its presentation is short on insight
and subtlety; not the best with timing
VERDICT The Lindy’s appeal lies in its full
specification rather than in its sound
USB DACS SUPERTEST
difficult to connect with the music. Use
the Lindy directly as a preamp, however,
and there’s a touch more dynamism.
The Lindy delivers the bare bones of
a track, but without much involvement
in the melody or emotional content.
Play The Noisette’s Don’t Give Up
(WAV recording, USB input) and it’s clear
part of the Lindy’s laidback sound is
down to its timing. This funky, upbeat
song demands a fast, razor-sharp sense
of timing to keep its hectic momentum
going, and the Lindy falters at this point.
The Musical Fidelity may have a less
substantial sound, and the Micromega
and DragonFly might be on the hard
side, but they all have good timing on
their side to keep things interesting.
In the end, the Lindy’s matter-of-fact
sound fails to deliver a truly convincing
performance, despite having all the
connections you’ll need. And at £350,
that leaves it trailing its best rivals.
We applaud the
LDAC-Pro’s flexibility
and featuring – if only
it sounded a bit better
Lindy LDAC-Pro £350 ★★★★★
The Lindy delivers clear notes,
with a good amount of weight to
the sound, but there’s little hint of
any subtlety in detail or dynamics
36 www.whathifi.com
Meridian’s Explorer comes neatly
packaged in an impressive, slender black
box. It also ticks all the right boxes for its
elegant, portable design. The aluminium
case is slightly longer than both the
microStreamer and DragonFly, but it’s
still small and light enough to fit in your
hand or be carried in your pocket or bag.
The DAC is an asynchronous USB
design, which means that the Explorer,
rather than the internal timing circuitry
of your computer, is in charge of
controlling the flow of data. This is
preferable, as the timing circuits inside
the Explorer are of a much higher quality
than those typically used in computers,
so you end up with fewer digital timing
errors (jitter), leading to a better sound.
Higher sample ratesThe Explorer employs USB 2.0, which
allows full native playback of high-res
192kHz sample rates. This is opposed to
USB 1.0 – as in the HRT microStreamer,
for example – which limits the sample
rate to 96kHz, higher-resolution files
having to be downsampled.
We imagine the 3.5mm headphone
output will be the most popular option
when the unit is used as a portable
headphone/laptop solution. But you can
also take a line-level out to a stereo
amplifier, or use the digital optical
output (cleverly integrated into the same
socket) for additional signal processing
or for recording with minimal jitter.
Using the Meridian is easy. Mac users can
just plug and play, while Windows people
merely need to install a driver, which is a
quick and simple procedure.
Elegance, tech-spec and ease of use
are all very well, but sound quality is the
key, and the Explorer certainly delivers
a smooth and captivating performance.
Stream Sad February by The Unthanks
over Spotify, and the delicate music is
full of rich textures that convey the
haunting quality of the song, the string
instruments working together in an
open and well-placed stereo image. The
sound is clean too, with substantial
basslines and high frequencies that have
space to soar without excess brightness.
Change gears to a WAV recording of
Elephants by Them Crooked Vultures,
and the Meridian shows off its timing
talents by reproducing the fast rhythms
with energy and confidence. Rating ★★★★★
FOR Refined sound; subtle detail and precise
timing; good design; plays 192kHz files natively
AGAINST Up against some really capable rivals
that are cheaper
VERDICT The Explorer’s design and assured
sonic performance makes it a top contender
SUPERTEST USB DACS
Those beguiling looks
are backed up by some
tidy tech and fine
sound quality
How does it stand up to its rivals? The
Explorer’s refined and balanced
approach delivers a much more rounded
performance when compared with the
more hard-edged sound of the
DragonFly, and it shares the melodic and
subtle talents of the HRT microStreamer.
The HRT microStreamer has a slight
edge in delivering a more transparent
and insightful sound – as well as more
agile and exciting timing – but we think
some listeners will appreciate the
Explorer’s smoother approach, which is
easier on the ears for extended listening.
Tempting combinationWith its elegant finish, ease of use and
impressive sound quality, it’s easy to see
why anyone would fall for the Explorer’s
charms. Meridian has made its mark in
this portable DAC market, and it more
than holds its own against current rivals.
We’d highly recommend an audition.
Meridian Explorer DAC £250 ★★★★★
Stream Sad February by The
Unthanks, and the delicate music
is full of rich textures that convey
the haunting quality of the song
www.whathifi.com 37
The penultimate DAC on our Supertest
list comes from French manufacturer
Micromega. The Micromega MyDAC is
part of the company’s new ‘My’ range
of compact and affordable audio
components – a line-up which will also
include an MM/MC phono amplifier, a
headphone amplifier and a wireless
streamer, among others.
But first, the MyDAC – unleashed at
the 2012 High End Show in Munich, the
device is designed and built in France,
and will cost you £260. The compact box
comes in a matt-black (as in our review
sample) or a glossy white finish. It’s a
surprisingly light box, weighing just
300g. That’s the same as the smaller
Arcam rPAC, but the Micromega MyDAC
doesn’t quite have the same premium,
weighty quality of build and finish as
rivals like the Arcam.
We’d also be careful when connecting
up the MyDAC with the rest of your
system, as we found that heavy cables
can drag on the light box and move it out
of position. The rear panel houses all the
connections, which include the mains
power, a pair of line-level RCA outputs,
and digital optical, coaxial and type B
USB inputs. On the front, there’s an
anodized aluminium rotary wheel: turn
it to switch between standby mode, and
the USB, coaxial or optical inputs.
The asynchronous USB design ensures
low jitter levels and allows playback of
24bit/192kHz files, while a switch at the
rear panel gives you a choice of USB 1.0
or 2.0 operation. This is a nice touch
from Micromega, as not all computer
drivers are compatible with the class 2.0
option (which allows for high-resolution
24-bit/192kHz files), and the class 1.0
option (up to 96kHz) ensures better
compatibility. Two USB master clocks
inside are aimed at reducing jitter levels.
Pace and punch aplentyStart playing some tracks from a laptop,
and the Micromega delivers clear and
punchy notes. Select Elephants by Them
Crooked Vultures, and the MyDAC drives
the tune along with plenty of energy,
fully conveying the grungy, attacking
sound. There’s solid weight to all the
instruments, while decent dynamics and
timing work effectively together to
produce a fast-paced and exciting
perfomance – just what the track needs.Rating ★★★★
FOR Attacking sound; good timing; exciting
performance; USB playback of 192kHz files
AGAINST Not the most subtle of performers;
can sound a bit too hard and bright
VERDICT If you like your music to have an
attacking edge, then this DAC’s for you
USB DACS SUPERTEST
There is a slight hardness and
brightness to the edge of notes, however
– rather like the Audioquest DragonFly
– which means tracks that thrive on
excitement and attack pair up well with
the MyDAC, whereas gentler pieces of
music have an unnaturally hard edge to
them (as witnessed on a WAV recording
of Amanda Palmer’s The Bed Song).
It’s an approach that the MyDAC lends
to all types of music, and it’s hard to
ignore. From Spotify streaming to the
higher-resolution 24-bit/192kHz files,
there’s an obvious jump in quality, but
the Micromega’s tonal character lingers.
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 (in
24-bit/192kHz) could do with more layers
of detail and melody wrapped around it
for a more involving listen.
The Micromega MyDAC falls just short
of being an all-round wonder, then. But
don’t let that deter you: this DAC has
heaps of energy and attack.
Great for that punchy
beat-based album; not
so hot for your gentle
chill-out collection
Micromega MyDAC £260 ★★★★★
There’s solid weight to instruments,
while decent dynamics and timing
work together to produce a fast-
paced and exciting performance
www.whathifi.com 39
The dust had barely settled on the
V-DAC II from its first test (four stars in
our February issue) when the unit was
back out to do battle with its peers as
part of this Supertest.
The Mk II version of Musical Fidelity’s
V-DAC made a favourable impression
when we first listened to it. That’s
because it shines with a clean and clear
sound, and offers a good helping of
detail mixed in with some fluid and
smooth dynamics that keeps you
engaged with the music.
Like the Arcam rDAC, this USB device
has a sweet, melodic touch across the
frequencies, with the mid and top ranges
getting particular attention. Whether
you’re listening to Norah Jones, Nelly
Furtado or Josh Homme, their voices
sound natural and sparklingly clear.
There’s plenty of space for high notes
to thrill on an open soundstage, but they
never sound thin or harsh.
In terms of outright attack and
aggression, the V-DAC II has a more
polite and refined presentation. In
comparison, the Micromega and rDAC
have much more weight and solidity to
anchor the music down, and lend it a
stronger and punchier performance. As
it stands, the V-DAC II’s smooth and
sweet sound can come across as slightly
insubstantial. There’s no bright or brittle
treble to be found, but more muscular
and deeper lower frequencies would’ve
given the V-DAC II a fuller and richer
sound. Take Beethoven’s Moonlight
Sonata in 16-bit/44.1kHz – the music
ebbs and flows with ease, but we’d love
to hear a touch more precision and
robustness to the piano notes.
Compact dimensionsCosmetically, the V-DAC follows in the
footsteps of the rest of the products in
the company’s V-Series: the DAC is a
half-width design in a solid casing that’s
finished in brushed silver. It’s compact
enough not to disrupt the neatness of
any desk, and surprisingly light in
weight given its appearance of quality.
On the inside, there’s a Burr Brown
DSD 1796 DAC chip, and the
asynchronous USB design of the V-DAC
II aims to reduce any timing errors that
hampers music played from a computer,
and allows for playback of high-
resolution files up to 24bit/192kHz. Rating ★★★★
FOR Fluid dynamics; smooth and refined
detail; very clear sound; compact build
AGAINST Could do with more weight and
precision; no headphone output
VERDICT We love the way the V-DAC II
delivers its clear and dynamic performance
USB DACS SUPERTEST
Unlike most conventional designs
where the connections are all hidden
away on the rear panel, the inputs and
outputs are situated on the right and left
sides of the V-DAC respectively. RCA
outputs to connect the DAC to your
stereo amplifier feature on one side,
while the mains power connection and
coaxial, optical and type B USB inputs
are neatly spaced out on the other. The
coaxial input can handle files up to
24-bit/192kHz, while the optical and
USB inputs go up to 24-bit/96kHz.
Smooth and engagingWhile the V-DAC II’s smooth aural
presentation may not be for those who
favour a more attacking and punchy
style (they should, perhaps, look to the
Micromega MyDAC), its wonderfully
clear and musical approach, together
with its engaging dynamics, will win
over many other listeners.
Clarity gets the nod
over weight – both
musical and physical
– on the V-DAC II
Musical Fidelity V-DAC II £200 ★★★★★
Take Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
in 16-bit/44.1kHz, and the music
ebbs and flows with ease, but we’d
love to hear a touch more precision
USB-compatible DACs are entering the mainstream,
and our two winners – one portable and one static
– are the vanguard of an impressive new wave
HRT microStreamer£180 ★★★★★
Arcam rDAC£300 ★★★★★
THE WINNERS
VERDICTTEST
40 www.whathifi.com
SUPERTEST USB DACS
If you were ever in any doubt about
whether or not computer audio could
attain the heights of hi-fi, worry no
more. As computer-based music grows
in strength and popularity, DACs (and
especially DACs with a USB connection)
are increasingly coming out of their
niche market and enticing music lovers
everywhere with their talents.
The nine DACs we gathered for this
Supertest come in all sizes and shapes
and features, with only one common
criteria: a USB connection. We have four
mains-powered DACs from Arcam,
Lindy, Micromega and Musical Fidelity
that demand a place on your shelf or
desk, while the remaining five – from
Arcam, Audioquest, HRT, Furutech,
and Meridian – are USB-powered and
truly portable.
Spoilt for choiceWe felt a bit like a child in a sweetshop
with all these DACs at our fingertips. In
fact, this is the first (and will possibly be
the only) time that we’ve been able to
carry the entire contents of a Supertest
in just two hands. And, at prices ranging
from £150 to £350, these DACs are surely
soon to be a must-have hi-fi staple for
anyone with a digital music library.
DACs are enticing music lovers everywhere
and, at prices ranging from £150 to £350, these
ones are surely soon to be a must-have hi-fi
staple for anyone with a digital music library
For a full list of specifications and
other useful info visit whathifi.com
So, to the larger contenders first.
Crossing the £300 threshold were the
Lindy LDAC-Pro and the Furutech ADL
Stride, the two most expensive DACs in
this test, but sadly price isn’t always
indicative of sound performance. While
the Lindy is decked out with more
features than you could shake an iPod
at, it disappointed with an unexceptional
sound that seemed to have little
interest in the music it was playing. The
Furutech usefully has a line-level input
to use with smart devices, but it doesn’t
have the dynamic punch or detail of its
more capable rivals.
In four-star territory we’ve got the
sweet and midrange-rich sound of the
Musical Fidelity V-DAC II sitting next to
the exuberant attacking style of the new
Micromega MyDAC.
Both these devices are impressively
good at what they do, but neither has
the all-round performance of the Arcam
rDAC. A 2011 Award-winner, this £300
unit has remained a firm favourite
thanks to its splendid dynamics and
engaging level of detail – it just keeps
the listener hooked on the music
playing. It was easy to pick the Arcam
rDAC as our first winner: if you’ve got
over £200 to spend on a standalone
DAC that bridges the gap between your
computer and your stereo system, the
rDAC is the ideal option.
It wasn’t that straightforward when
it came to our second winner. The
emergence of neatly designed,
great-sounding pocket-sized USB DACs
has really upset the apple cart. The
Arcam rPAC was the best portable
option before this new breed of petite
DACs came along, and it’s still in the
game with a friendly sound reminiscent
of the rDAC, and even friendlier price
tag of £150, but it’s just short of the
insightful and weighty performance
found in its class rivals.
The biggest surprise concerned the
Award-winning Audioquest DragonFly:
its sleek design and colour-changing
logo still has a moth-to-flame attraction,
but the subtle dynamics and insightful
detail of the HRT microStreamer and
the Meridian Explorer superceded it.
Those two contenders easily merited
five stars, but of the two it was the
unassuming HRT microStreamer that
truly captivated us with a stunningly
agile-paced performance that reveals
layers of subtlety hitherto unheard with
a just a pair of headphones and laptop.
Factor in its £180 price tag and it was a
no-brainer: the microStreamer is the
perfect sub-£200 option for a brilliant
portable system that’ll keep your music
sounding superb.
Facts & figures
www.whathifi.com 41
USB DACS SUPERTEST
Arcam rDAC £300 ★★★★★
Lindy LDAC-Pro£350 ★★★ ★ ★
Meridian Explorer DAC £250 ★★★★★
Micromega MyDAC £260 ★★★★ ★
Musical Fidelity V-DAC II£200 ★★★★ ★
Arcam rPAC £150 ★★★★ ★
Audioquest DragonFly
£215 ★★★★ ★
Furutech ADL Stride
£325 ★★★ ★ ★
HRT microStreamer
£180 ★★★★★
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 1
• Optical digital in 1 • RCA in
0 • RCA out 1 • XLR out 0 •
Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 0 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 4 x 16 x 11cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 1
• Optical digital in 1 • RCA in
1 • RCA out 1 • XLR out 1 •
Optical digital out 1 •
Coaxial digital out 1 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 5 x 14 x 22cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 0
• Optical digital in 0 • RCA
in 0 • RCA out 0 • XLR out 0
• Optical digital out 1 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 2 x 3 x 10cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 1
• Optical digital in 1 • RCA in
0 • RCA out 1 • XLR out 0 •
Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 0 • Wireless No
Finishes 2 •Dimensions
(hwd) 3 x 14 x 14cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 1
• Optical digital in 1 • RCA in
0 • RCA out 1 • XLR out 0 •
Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 0 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 10 x 17 x 4cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 0
• Optical digital in 0 • RCA
in 0 • RCA out 1 • XLR out 0
• Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 3 x 10 x 6cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 0
• Optical digital in 0 • RCA
in 0 • RCA out 0 • XLR out 0
• Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 1 x 2 x 6cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 0
• Optical digital in 0 • RCA
in 0 • RCA out 0 • XLR out 0
• Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 3 x 7 x 12cm
USB in 1 • Coaxial digital in 0
• Optical digital in 0 • RCA
in 0 • RCA out 0 • XLR out 0
• Optical digital out 0 •
Coaxial digital out 0 •
Headphone 1 • Wireless No
Finishes 1 •Dimensions
(hwd) 1 x 3 x 6cm
BUILDERSYSTEM BUILDERSYSTEM
Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro £999
We love the Pro’s ease of use
and slick interface for storing
all types of music files.
Stereo amplifier Rega Brio-R £480
★★★★★
The rDAC will sound terrific
with the wonderfully rhythmic
and agile Rega.
Speakers Wharfedale Diamond 121 £230
★★★★★
These speakers impressed us
straight out of the box and will
ably complement the rDAC.
Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro £999
The simple plug-and-play
operation with the HRT is a
match made in hi-fi heaven.
Headphones
Philips Fidelio M1 £160
★★★★★
A warm and natural-sounding
presentation goes hand in
hand with high levels of detail.
Perfect partners for the Arcam rDAC: Perfect partners for the HRT microStreamer:
Total £2009 Total £1339
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
Performance
Features
Build
BEFORE YOU BUY
File resolution
It’s easy to get hung up
on specification. Many
of the DACs in this test
top out at 24-bit/96kHz
through USB rather than
delivering the full
24-bit/192kHz. How
important this is
depends on the music
files you use. If you buy
from iTunes or at best
rip uncompressed from
CDs then that lower
96kHz limit is still far
beyond what you’ll need.
But if you’re dedicated
to the highest-resolution
recordings, make sure
your DAC will cope.
42 www.whathifi.com
TEST AV RECEIVERS
An AV receiver is one of the most important parts of a
home cinema setup, working as the messenger
between the speakers and their audio source. It
directs the speakers to do the right things at the right time,
puts the much-needed oomph into your system when
required, and picks out the finer details that are lost when a
soundtrack is played through a TV’s built-in speakers.
But not many of us have thousands to spend on a home
cinema setup. Luckily the affordable end of the market is
getting ever more competitive, with pricier options sharing
more and more of their features with far cheaper models.
It’s this constant pushing of the bar that makes the
sub-£300 sector so interesting, not to mention constantly
changing. On test we have the Sony DTR-DH820, a 2011
Award winner for Best Home Cinema Amplifier under £350,
the Yamaha RX-V373 – the product that knocked the Sony
from its Award perch last year – and the Pioneer VSX-922, a
mid-range amp that has halved in price since we last saw it.
Pioneer VSX-922page 44Last year this was a four-,
then a three-star amp – but
that was at twice the price
Join us on Spotify
tiny.cc/playlist2013
You’ll be amazed at the genuinely cinema-like quality you can get from an entry-level AV receiver. Try one of these three and you won’t go far wrong…
CHEAP THRILLSJUST SEEK OUT SOMEHOME CINEMA JOY CAN BE YOURS:
AV amps
Sony STR-DH820page 452011’s Best Buy: a price
cut won’t do its capable
performance any harm
Yamaha RX-V373page 462012’s Best Buy is a highly
capable device, but it’s
here to be shot at
44 www.whathifi.com
When we first reviewed the VSX-922
last year, it scored a respectable four
stars. That dropped to three towards the
end of the year as competition stiffened.
But now it’s less than half its original
£500 asking price, and it’s become a
mid-level amp in an entry-level market.
We need to take another look.
For, of course, the 922 is packed with
features not usually seen in amps made
for this price point. A seven-channel
amp with a claimed 105W of power per
channel, it also offers dual subwoofer
outputs, giving you extra flexibility
for your setup.
Network connectivity is possible via
wired ethernet connection or Pioneer’s
optional USB wi-fi dongle. Then you’re
able to take advantage of internet radio
capability, AirPlay compatibility for
Apple devices, or DLNA for streaming
from any DLNA-supported gadget in
your home. It will even stream high-res
24bit/192kHz files should you have any
stored on your computer or NAS drive.
As for inputs, you get a generous six
HDMI ports and two USB ports – one for
the wi-fi dongle, a second for connecting
an external iDevice or USB key.
Speaker setup is easy enough with the
included microphone. The auto
calibration procedure is easily the most
thorough on test, lasting around 10
minutes and making for a very accurate
setup. There’s also a free-to-download
app that can help you – among other
things – make sound field adjustments,
switch between connected sources,
control bass and treble levels and adjust
video parameters. It’s a clear and
easy-to-use app and, should you
wish, can largely make the included
remote redundant.
Excellent power for the priceAt the original £500, we wanted
a more powerful sound from
the VSX-922, but at this price
it sounds much bigger than
its competition. In the
sandstorm scene of Mission:
Impossible Ghost Protocol, the
sound of the sand whips up all
around you with an impressive
level of detail, putting you right in
the middle of the storm. Sound
spreads naturally throughout the room,
jumping between the speakers with a
striking level of accuracy, and delivering
an experience that sounds all the more
realistic because of it.
The Kremlin explosion scene is also a
great way of showing off what this amp
can do. There’s real force and precision
behind every one of the blasts, and even
when things get busy and rubble
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Feature-packed; network functionality;
detailed, powerful, accurately placed sound
AGAINST It doesn’t have the very last word in
dynamics or subtlety
VERDICT A highly specified all-round
performer that excels at its new price point
TEST AV RECEIVERS
showers down around you, the VSX-922
remains focused and composed.
Music is also delivered with great
timing and precision, be it a movie
soundtrack or CD. The treble is crisp,
dialogue is clear and well defined, and
there’s real oomph in the lower
frequencies. It’s not the last word in
excitement – the Yamaha probably pips
it when it comes to conveying more
subtle dynamics – but its
performance in most other
areas goes a long way to
make up for this.
It’s hard not to keep
referring to this Pioneer’s
price drop. At its original
price point it was being
far outclassed by its
competitors; but at around
£245 right now, this is a
seriously impressive package
with so much to like.
PIONEER VSX-922£245 ★★★★★
Auto calibration
MCACC (Multichannel Acoustic Calibration
System) is Pioneer’s auto-set-up software. It’s
been developed with the help of Air Studios in
London. The system not only sets speaker
sizes, distance and level, but can also
equalise the output from each channel.
The process takes several minutes
but is pretty accurate.
This Pioneer has seen
its price slashed in half
– and it’s a serious
contender as a result
www.whathifi.com 45
Sony has had mixed success with its AV
amplifiers in the past few years, but with
the release of the STR-DH820 as the
successor to the excellent, Award-
winning STR-DH810, it seemed things
were finally looking up. Following in its
predecessor’s footsteps, the DH820 won
our 2011 Award for Best Home Cinema
Amplifer under £350, and remains one
of Sony’s go-to options.
However, a lot can change in two
years. Knocked off its Award-winning
perch by its group test buddy, the
Yamaha RX-V373, does the now cheaper
STR-DH820 still remain a keen option
for the entry-level home cinema market?
On paper, it’s certainly an impressive
package for its price. It offers seven
channels where many competitors offer
only five, and there’s a generous 100W
of power behind each channel. There’s
Dolby Pro Logic IIz on board too, so
you’re able to swap out your surround
back speakers for a front height option,
should you wish.
3D support is on board, as is 1080p
video upscaling, and you’ll get four
high-speed HDMI inputs for connecting
all your equipment – not particularly
generous but about par for the course at
this price. With no ethernet port you can
forget about network connectivity or
any sort of music streaming through the
Sony, though there is a USB port on the
front for hooking up any iPad, iPhone or
iPod and playing both video or music.
Set-up of the amp is simple for home
cinema newcomers: Sony’s Digital
Cinema Auto Calibration (DCAC) worked
quickly, and largely accurately, with the
included microphone to get our speakers
calibrated easily. We felt the subwoofer
needed turning down a few dB from
the suggested setting though, so
it’s worth keeping an eye on that.
The Sony in action We watch the opening
scenes to Quantum of Solace,
and the DH820 does a good
job of conveying a growing
sense of uneasiness from the
edgy violin soundtrack, before
the weighty roar of the Aston
Martin’s engine punctuates the
start of a tense car chase. The
sound of gunfire flies around with a fair
sense of space, though it’s not the most
natural spread of sound that we’ve heard
at this price. And, while it does well at
the big show-stopping moments where
power is key, it’s not the last word in
detail or dynamism compared with
some of its newer competitors.
Switching to a music Blu-ray of
Beyoncé in concert and, in Halo,
Rating ★★★★
FOR Great value 7.1 channel amp; 3D support;
1080p video upscaling; easy to set up; power
AGAINST No network functionality; lacks
detail compared with rivals; not a ‘big’ sound
VERDICT A capable, if not faultless, option for
those looking for a sub-£250 7.1 channel amp
Beyoncé’s voice powers through the mix
with strength and enthusiasm. It can,
though, feel somewhat removed from
the live instruments beneath it, leading
to a less engaging sound than with other
amps on test. Conversely its CD
performance shows good timing and a
respectable level of detail for an
enjoyable all-round sound.
The years since the DH820’s
release haven’t been the kindest.
Some excellent competitors
have entered the market, as
well as higher-specified
options dropping into its
price point, which means
its performance is not the
revelation it was in 2011.
That said, it’s extremely
affordable and it makes for a
solid, capable option if you’re
looking for a very affordable
seven-channel amp.
SONY STR-DH820£230 ★★★★
Speaker matching
This Sony needs care with speaker
matching. Its sonic balance is a little brighter
and harder than the Yamaha and Pioneer, so
make sure the partnering speakers have
well-behaved treble and plenty of
refinement. The Q Acoustics 2000i 5.1
package (£600) makes a perfect
match for the 820.
Our budget amp Award
winner from 2011 has a
battle on its hands with
new rivals on the scene
46 www.whathifi.com
Yamaha made quite an impact on last
year’s home cinema amplifier scene. It
stormed our Awards and beat regular
winners Onkyo, Pioneer and Sony to win
two of the four gongs, including Product
of the Year for the Yamaha RX-V673.
The cheaper RX-V373 picked up the
Award for best AV amp under £350 –
and it’s now even cheaper, offering an
outstanding value-to-performance ratio.
It’s ‘only’ a 5.1 system (100W a channel),
so you don’t have quite the flexibility for
your speaker set-up as with the other
amps here, but at the level it’s aimed at,
this is unlikely to be a huge issue.
There are four high-speed HDMI
inputs, offering 3D support and
future-proofing 4K pass-through
technology. There’s a USB port in the
front for plugging in your iDevice or
thumb drive for music playback, but you
won’t find networking options on board
for any wireless streaming here. That
might be expected at this price point,
but we do find the lack of video
upscaling disappointing – it’s a feature
you’ll find in some of its competitors.
Another niggle is that there’s only one
set of binding-post connectors – for the
front speaker channel. The rest of the
channels make do with spring-loaded
connectors. It’s a cost-saving exercise, so
not something unseen on kit at this price,
but nevertheless it’s something the
other amplifiers on test manage to avoid.
Still, what it might lose out on in the
battle of the spec sheets, it more than
makes up for in performance. Setup isn’t
quite as easy as for the other two amps
on test, but once done (and you do have
to do it only once, after all), you’ll reap
the rewards with every listening.
Big sounding, yet subtleDuring the opening scene of The
Dark Knight, the Yamaha picks
up subtleties that had been lost
or less defined when listening
to the same scene with the
Sony. As the camera pans over
the city buildings, the faint
hum of traffic is heard all
around you, the uneasy single
note of the soundtrack drawing
you into the action that’s to come.
Then, the weighty thud of the glass
window being blown out, packing
enough punch to make even a veteran
watcher of this scene jump.
It’s ‘big-sounding’ for its price,
and it spreads sound smoothly and
expressively around the room – so much
so that you don’t really miss the rear
surrounds of a 7.1 system. From the
voices of the Joker’s minions to the
soundtrack underneath, you feel
Rating ★★★★★★
FOR Impressive dynamics and detail; 4K
compatible; an immersive, expressive sound
AGAINST Only 5.1 channels; no 1080p video
upscaling; spring-loaded connectors
VERDICT Produces a dynamic, exciting sound
not often heard at this level. A class act
TEST AV RECEIVERS
involved in every uncomfortable minute
of the bank robbery as, one by one, the
sound of tight, controlled gunshots
pierce the mix.
The Yamaha is a master of dynamics
too. When playing Beyoncé’s live
Blu-ray, all the nuances of her voice are
conveyed well and with enthusiasm,
with impeccable timing and a strong,
well-balanced connection to the
instrumental accompaniment
beneath. CD performance
offers more of the same,
with great rhythm and
impressive separation.
This is an accomplished
addition to any entry-level
home cinema setup. It
might not be the most
stylish or best specified
option here, but its excellent
performance speaks for itself. It
remains a worthy five-star winner.
YAMAHA RX-V373£230 ★★★★★
USB connection
The Yamaha may be a stripped-down affair
but it still allows direct connection of an iPod/
iPhone to its front panel USB socket. This is a
direct digital connection, making the most of
the sound quality of your iDevice, and it will
charge your portable even if the Yamaha is
switched off. A USB thumb drive
can also be connected.
2012’s Best Buy in this
category, the Yamaha
proves it’s still a top
contender in this class
www.whathifi.com 49
AV RECEIVERS TEST
A massive price slash means it’s impossible
to look beyond Pioneer’s super performer
Pioneer VSX-922£245 ★★★★★
Perhaps a rather predictable
winner of this test: the features
and performance of the once
£500 Pioneer VSX-922 are just too
much for the true entry-level options
on test to compete with. That’s not to
say it was a complete whitewash.
The Sony STR-DH820 loses a star, but
it remains a capable choice for those
looking for a well-featured sub-£250
seven-channel amp. Unfortunately, two
years on from release, its sound quality
can no longer quite hold its own.
The Yamaha showed exactly why we
picked it as an Award winner. What it
may lack in the style department, it
more than picks up where it counts – in
its performance. A genuine entry-level
option, it offers class-leading sound and
the best handling of dynamics here,
conveying subtleties that some higher
priced amps can’t manage.
Channels/power 7/105W • HDMI in/out 6/1 •
Component in/out 1/1 • Optical digital in 1 •
Ethernet/Wi-fi Yes/optional • Tuner/presets FM/
MW/internet/63 • Video Upconversion Yes • Auto
set-up Yes • 3D/4K capable Yes/No • Weight 9.8kg •
• Dimensions (hwd) 17 x 44 x 36cm
Channels/power 7/100W • HDMI in/out 4/1 •
Component in/out 2/1 • Optical digital in 2 •
Ethernet/Wi-fi No/No • Tuner/presets FM/MW/
LW/60 • Video Upconversion Yes • Auto set-up Yes
• 3D/4K capable Yes/No • Weight 8.5kg •
• Dimensions (hwd) 16 x 43 x 32cm
Channels/power 5/85W • HDMI in/out 4/1 •
Component in/out 2/1 • Optical digital in 2 •
Ethernet/Wi-fi No/No • Tuner/presets FM/40 •
Video Upconversion No • Auto set-up Yes •
3D/4K capable Yes/Yes • Weight 7.5kg •
• Dimensions (hwd) 15 x 44 x 32cm
Pioneer VSX-922£245 ★★★★★
Sony STR-DH820£230 ★★★★
Yamaha RX-V373£230 ★★★★★
But it was the Pioneer VSX-922, with
all its mid-range bells and whistles, that
won us over in the end. The array of
features offered with a sub-£250 price
point is really quite extensive – in
particular its network connectivity that
adds even more functionality to your
system. Of course its performance,
which saw it lost in the competitive
£500 marketplace, shines at its new
price point, offering a big, detailed and
accurate sound that’ll place you right in
the middle of the action during those
‘show-stopper’ moments.
A predictable winner it may be, but
it’s also a reminder that it’s wise to
consider better-specified, discounted
kit when looking at equipment in
your price-point. The Pioneer VSX-922
is proof that you don’t always get
what you pay for – sometimes, you
might just get more.
Facts & figures
VERDICTTEST
THE WINNER
BLU-RAY PLAYER
Sony BDP-S390 £90
★★★★★
You can’t go wrong with this fantastic budget
Blu-ray player. It offers excellent pictures and
Smart functionality for under £100. And you
might be able to find it even cheaper.
SPEAKER PACKAGE
Q Acoustics 2000i 5.1 package
£600 ★★★★★
A 2012 Award winner, this 5.1 speaker package
produces a large, exciting sound with
impressive scale and detail for both
movies and music.
TELEVISION
Sony KDL-46HX753 £900 ★★★★★
A terrific set, this TV combines a great look
and build with excellent HD performance,
strong blacks and a superb motion
performance.
For a full list of specifications and
other useful info visit whathifi.com
Total build £1835
BUILDERSYSTEM
Kit to make the Pioneer shine
A tablet
for everyone
Don’t like Apples? We’ve got
Windows and Android tablets
here, too – so whatever you
prefer, there’s something
here for you.
Essential (free) apps
There’s an app for everything – and many of them are free.
We’ve paired up these tablets with the best
widgets out there.
www.whathifi.com 51
TABLETS
A tablet
for everyone
Don’t like Apples? We’ve got
Windows and Android tablets
here, too – so whatever you
prefer, there’s something
here for you.
Essential(free) apps
There’s an app for everything – and many of them are free.
We’ve paired up these tablets with the best
widgets out there.
www.whathifi.com 51
Watch blockbuster movies on the train. Access a world’s-worth of music. Make video calls to other continents.
Organise your life. And even remote-control your house.
A tablet does all this – and more! Find out how in our tablet special over the next 15 pages… >
Volume controls
The volume rocker is
positioned sensibly –
it’d be hard to knock it
accidentally however
you hold the iPad
To have and to hold
The iPad is lovely in the
hand – not too heavy,
not too light and no
sharp edges, either
52 www.whathifi.com52 www.whathifi.com
There’s no two ways about it. Without
the original Apple iPad, there would
be no ‘Tablets’ section in the Buyer’s
Guide section of this magazine – or,
for that matter, any interpretation
of the word ‘tablets’ beyond headache
remedies and the ones Charlton
Heston smashed in that film.
Having singlehandely invented an entire
market segment, though, Apple naturally
hasn’t stood still. The original iPad
launched in the UK on May 28th 2010 – and
less than three years later it’s this fourth
version that’s at the top of the sales charts.
Retina Display is a doozie
And equally naturally, this 4th generation
iPad is the best yet. It features a pin-sharp
‘Retina Display’ (Apple claims the iPad’s
2048 x 1536 resolution gives sufficient pixel
density to make pixelation invisible at
realistic viewing distances), an A6X
processor, 720p FaceTime camera for
video calls and dual-band wi-fi for optimum
wireless performance. It also uses the
new Lightning connector that’s proved
so vexatious for third-party manufacturers
of speaker docks and the like.
It’s the Retina Display that initially sets
the iPad apart – despite its rather eccentric
resolution (which is native to nothing at
all), it makes web-browsing, movie-
watching or photo-editing a vibrant,
crisp and endlessly inviting experience.
Apple iPad (4th gen) £480 (32GB)
TABLETS
The 4:3 screen ratio can easily be spun as
a drawback – that oddball screen resolution
means widescreen movies watched in
landscape feature black bars top and
bottom – but we’ll trade image size for
higher picture quality every time.
Watch a clip from Anna Karenina in
HD and edges are superbly drawn, while
fine costume details are crystal clear.
There’s commendable depth to the image,
and colours are nicely judged. Clean
white tones offer punchy contrasts, and
while the iPad has no trouble generating
deep, convincing blacks, they’re detailed
and subtle with it.
Change up from iTunes to one of the
numerous video streaming services the
Apple is compatible with and the quality
remains constant. Even standard-def videos
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Superb screen; audio quality;
huge selection of apps/music/movies;
splendid build quality; battery life
AGAINST Charging takes time; not cheap
VERDICT Even more desirable than before
Protect and survive
The iPad’s a typically slick bit
of Apple design, but some kind
of protective cover is in order
in case it proves a bit too
slippery.
TECH SPECS
Operating system iOS ��Screen 9.7in
��Resolution 2048 x 1536 ��Processor
Dual-core A6X ��Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB,
128GB ��Expansion card slot No ��HDMI
output No ��Battery life 10 hours ��Wi-Fi
802.11a/b/g/n ��3G Optional ��Bluetooth 4.0
��Dimensions (hwd) 24 x 19 x 1cm/652g
There’s just no arguing with the way that
swipes, pinches and zooms are resolved on
the iPad screen – it’s a pleasure to use and sets
a high bar for its (suddenly plentiful) rivals
upscaled by the iPad to match its unique
screen resolution through the Netflix app
look a treat. It will obviously never look
as clean and composed as high-definition
content, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
The A6X processor is a big success too:
little tasks like opening apps and switching
between menus happen really quickly,
while the more memory- and processing-
hungry jobs such as gaming are handled
without alarms. The complex gameplay
and graphics demands made by the likes
of The Walking Dead pose the iPad
absolutely no problems whatsoever.
Where sound quality is concerned
the iPad is among the most musical tablets
out there. Play an Apple Lossless file of
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ We No Who U R
through the built-in speakers and there’s
a class-leading sense of openness and
separation to the presentation – although
it’s rather at odds with the physical
appearance of the iPad’s speakers.
Guitars sound textured and packed
with detail, while dynamic upheavals are
communicated explicitly and handled
confidently. It’s an ongoing source of
frustration that Apple doesn’t support
FLAC, but WAV is on board for those
who want to make the absolute most
of the iPad’s sonic prowess (and aren’t
all that fussed about metadata).
In terms of specific applications there
has been much wailing and gnashing of
teeth over the idiosyncratic nature of
iTunes 11, but in every other respect the
slick and logical iPad operating system
makes the most of the numerous apps
available in Apple’s App Store. There’s just
no arguing with the way that swipes,
pinches and zooms are resolved on the
iPad screen – it’s a pleasure to use and sets
a high bar for its (suddenly plentiful) rivals.
Who will take a bite out of Apple?
With the kind of processing power the
iPad’s packing and the impeccable nature
of its all-round performance it’s easy to
see a) why the iPad is so popular and b)
why it’s inspired so many rivals. Being
a class-leader means you’re there to
be shot at, of course, but there’s no doubt
that its rivals have their work cut out.
Button it
It’s a mark of just how
good iOS is that you
only need one physical
button to use it…
www.whathifi.com 53
Need to know...
Apple’s iLife apps such as iPhoto, iMovie
and GarageBand let you create, as
well as consume, content. The screen is
good enough to make serious movie and
photo editing viable, but even beginners
can carry out tasks to impressive effect.
If you want to output your movies over
HDMI, by the way, you’ll need a Lightning
Digital AV adapter – yours for a mere £39.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
GarageBand can turn
even the tone-deaf
into a proto-Phil
Spector. Composing
couldn’t be simpler.
Twitter is perfect for
the iPad – the Retina
Display makes those
endless pictures of cats
and parties look great.
Soundcloud lets you
hear truly eclectic
material from artists all
over the world – it’s the
place for new music.
Skype uses the iPad’s
great camera and
screen to give you free
video telephony. The
future’s finally here!
McIntosh AP1 VU
meters! Backlit in
trademark cool blue!
Never forget that this
is a hi-fi magazine...
54 www.whathifi.com
Has Acer nailed the Windows 8
hybrid-tablet conundrum? The 10.1in
W510 might not be the most premium
looking device, but it’s portable, and
comes with a detachable keyboard.
Windows 8 is colourful, inviting and
finger-friendly, if a little unintuitive, and
can handle regular software like PC games.
There’s also a dual-core Intel Atom chip
inside and a USB 2.0 port in the dock – but it
must be noted that the W510 doesn’t have
the power to replace a laptop (18 hours of
combined battery doesn’t hurt, though).
So-so picture and sound
The 16:9 screen looks lovely with movies
in landscape orientation (and a little odd
in portrait). Streaming Planet Earth from
Netflix or loading your own HD content,
the 1366 x 768-pixel TFT display offers a
sharp, watchable picture with excellent
contrast – though it’s not as accurate on
colour as the likes of the Sony Xperia
Tablet S, and can’t match the iPad for pixels.
The built-in speakers aren’t half bad,
though they are placed where your hands
rest and the headphone jack is annoyingly
You might remember Toshiba’s slim,
budget AT300 tab from last year and
this refreshed model sports similar specs
in a slightly chunkier package with one
big upgrade: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
So the AT300SE is certainly slicker
than its predecessor when navigating
your way through apps but can still
be a little sluggish here and there. Still,
it’s a capable value option with two
cameras and a microSD slot for extra
storage, although it’s let down by the
shoddy metallic-looking plastic back which
wimps out at the first sign of a scrape.
Lacklustre video performance
As with the previous model, the AT300SE
is surprisingly listenable with headphones
in offering up good balance even if there’s
little of the dynamism of the iPad or Nexus.
Give the tinny speakers a miss, though…
Film buffs are spolit for choice with
Google Play and Acetrax, accessed through
Toshiba Places, but picture quality is only
so-so in both standard- and high-definition,
with washed out colours and blacks that
aren’t as inky as we’d like.
Acer Iconia W510 £530 (32GB)
Toshiba AT300SE £300 (16GB)
on the top edge – bad for trailing cables.
Cans on, the W510 overdoes it slightly. For
less money, the VivoTab produces a more
accurate, balanced sound.
Considering its price, there’s not much to
recommend the W510 over cheaper, better
quality units unless the keyboard is a must.
The AT300SE is nice enough to navigate,
but with a less than durable finish,
uninspiring video and Toshiba dropping
ports such as microHDMI, it just doesn’t
represent great value for money. We’d
recommend trying a smaller tab or
spending more on the Google Nexus 10.
Rating ★★★
FOR Full Windows 8; keyboard dock included;
good combined battery life
AGAINST Unintuitive OS; so-so AV quality
VERDICT Keyboard and battery aside, you can
get more Windows 8 for your money elsewhere
Rating ★★★
FOR Low price, decent sound with
headphones; up-to-date Jelly Bean OS
AGAINST Video could be better;
sometimes slow in operation
VERDICT A low price but not low enough
to be worth the sub-par performance
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these…
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these…
MX Player (£free)
One of our favourite
Android video players,
this has user-friendly
seek, brightness and
volume controls plus
tricks like looping
videos and subtitles.
Bluestacks App
Player (£free) Run
Android apps on your
Windows tablet.
Mainly for tweakers
who want more
games, video players
and music apps.
Movie Vault (£1.25) If
you’re willing to wince
a little at the quality,
you can stream over
1000 obscure titles,
B-movies and horror
films. Sleep tight…
TuneIn Radio (£free)
From Birdsong Radio
to Radio Bublé, this
well categorised app
has 60,000 radio
stations, some internet
only, to choose from.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Windows 8 • Screen
10.1in • Resolution 1366 x 768 • Processor
1.8GHz • Storage 32GB • Expansion card
slot microSD • HDMI output Micro HDMI •
Battery life 18 hours (with dock) • Wi-Fi
802.11a/b/g/n • 3G No • Bluetooth Yes •
Dimensions (hwd) 26 x 18.7 x 0.9cm/580g
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.1 • Screen
10.1in • Resolution 1280 x 800 • Processor
NVidia Tegra 3 • Storage 16GB • Expansion
card slot microSD • HDMI output No •
Battery life (music/video) 10 hours • Wi-Fi
Yes • 3G No • Bluetooth 3.0 • Dimensions
(hwd) 26.1 x 18 x 1cm • Weight 625g
Format-
friendly…
Jelly Bean plays plenty of file
formats, and the built-in Media
Player makes fast work
of sorting out any
tunes you load.
Expensive downloads
Xbox Movies has a good selection, but be warned: new
releases can cost as much as £14.99 (versus £11.99
on Android).
TABLETS
Considering the number of companies
Google works with – this Nexus 10 is
produced by Samsung, while LG (Nexus
4) and Asus (Nexus 7) provide other
products in the line-up – there’s a nice
coherence to the range’s design. That
said, the Nexus 10 is a bit of a plain
Jane next to the 4th-generation iPad.
There’s nothing humdrum about the 10’s
screen, though – its 2560 x 1060 resolution
equates to an iPad-stuffing 300 pixels per
inch (the same resolution as the print in
this magazine, in fact). And as it’s a 16:9
aspect ratio, widescreen movies fill the
screen nicely. Elsewhere, 32GB of memory,
Bluetooth, NFC and wi-fi support make for
a decent specification, even if the absence
of any SD-card slot and the lack of 3G (even
as an option) are fairly glaring omissions.
Fantastic picture quality
Build quality is fine in isolation – the Nexus
10 feels sturdy and fairly light – but has
a bit of flex where the iPad, for example,
feels rock-solid. And the tightly grouped
power and volume controls aren’t that
easy to operate with complete certainty.
The Android 4.2 ‘Jelly Bean’ OS, on the
other hand, is slick. Web-page loading
times are good, and the overall feel is one
of swift and well-sorted responsiveness.
Thanks to that screen ratio, widescreen
movies are a much easier watch than on
an iPad, and picture quality is excellent:
Google Nexus 10 £390 (32GB)
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Slim and light; good sound and video;
fast interface; lots of Google Play content
AGAINST Lacks tablet apps; no 3G option
VERDICT A superb display and quick interface
make the Nexus a good and well-priced option
colours are natural, edges are crisp and
there’s more than enough detail on display.
It’s the most watchable tablet we’ve seen.
Sonically it’s a more qualified success,
but thanks to a clean, detailed midrange,
ample (over-confident on occasion)
low-end presence and a spacious overall
presentation the 10 is a vigorous listen. Its
slim speakers are tucked left and right of
the screen in landscape mode, but the best
way to listen is with decent headphones.
Consider too its fairly agressive price
and it’s hard not to be impressed. There
could be more tablet-specific apps, but
the Nexus 10 gets the fundamentals pretty
much spot on. It’s a serious contender.
Before you buy…
The front camera is just 5 megapixels
and in use proves to be merely average.
Picture quality is defiantly so-so and
we can’t imagine it being used by
any semi-serious photographer.
The Nexus 10’s cover is a bit humdrum,
too – you have to pull a patch off the rear
casing to connect it, which is neither
quick nor neat. The iPad does better.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
Angry Birds Star Wars (£free)
Never played Angry Birds? You’re in
for a treat – there really is a reason
it’s so popular. This Star Wars version
is far more than a simple cash-in, too.
Snapseed (£free) The award-winning
Snapseed is one of the best – and most
extensive – photo editing apps that you
can get. You can choose to auto correct
your snaps, or tweak every last detail.
Rdio (£9.99 per month) Rdio offers
unlimited ad-free music and 18 million
tracks. Follow friends and artists to
discover new music through likeminded
folk and sync songs for offline listening.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.2 • Screen
size 10in • Resolution 2560 x 1600 •
Processor Dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 •
Storage 16GB • Expansion card slot No
• HDMI output No • Battery life (music/
video) 10 hours • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n •
3G No • Bluetooth Yes • Dimensions
(hwd) 26 x 18 x 1cm • Weight 603g
Thanks to that 16:9 screen ratio,
widescreen movies are a much
easier watch than on an iPad,
and picture quality is excellent
www.whathifi.com 55
Touch and go
There are three controls at the foot of the screen: ‘back’,
‘home’ and a button that calls up all of your open
applications.
TABLETS
56 www.whathifi.com
That Google and Samsung have given the
iPad’s halo a wobble with the Nexus 10’s
better-than-Retina screen might not
come as a surprise. But you might not
expect real competition in terms of
molten desirability backed by superb
picture quality and a brilliant keyboard
dock coming from the Asus stable.
The Transformer Pad Infinity has been
around for a while now but it still stands
apart from the current crop of Android
tablets. First, there’s the top-class build. It
really does look like £600 worth of tablet,
which can’t be said for anything else but the
iPad, with a sturdy, brushed aluminium
casing, reassuring weight and a sliver of
plastic on the back to improve the wi-fi.
The screen’s the star
Then there’s the Infinity’s mighty 10.1in
Super IPS+ display. At 1920 x 1200 pixels
it’s better than Full HD and serves up
smooth motion, deep blacks and excellent
detail when watching 1080p movies from
Google Play. The Infinity is also one of
our favourite tablets to use outside, as the
picture quality barely suffers and text on
webpages is rendered crisply regardless.
Asus hasn’t made too much of a mark
on the Ice Cream Sandwich interface either,
so if you’ve used Android tablets before
you’ll be met with the same customisable
home-screens, app drawer and multi-
tasking along with pre-installed widgets.
Asus Transformer Pad Infinity £600 (64GB)
Rating ★★★★
FOR Full HD screen; beautiful build; best
keyboard dock around
AGAINST iPad sounds better; expensive
VERDICT A very capable iPad alternative
and one of the best Android tablets around
Only the fact that it could sound a
lot better keeps it from joining the iPad
and Nexus at the top table. It’s far from
unlistenable, with plenty of agility, but isn’t
as refined as it could be – and its audio is
certainly no match for that great picture.
The Infinity does very different things
and does them well. The battery-boosting
dock is fantastic, video is impressive (if not
the absolute best) and it’s speedy in use. It’s
a shame about the sound, not to mention
the Infinity not being available in smaller
sizes than 64GB. Still, if Apple is out of
the question and you need a tablet that
is built more solidly than the Nexus 10,
the Infinity is among Android’s finest.
Should I buy one?
Asus isn’t short on well-specced tablets
these days, so if your budget doesn’t
quite stretch to the Transformer Pad
Infinity but you like the hybrid design, you
might want to consider the Windows 8-
toting VivoTab ME400 or the original
(and now slightly ancient) Transformer
Prime, which has the same build but a
lower-resolution screen.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
TED (£free) A host of videos on topics
ranging from noise pollution and the
effect it has on our brains to virtual choirs
and architecture’s influence on music.
There’s an audio-only option, too.
OfficeSuite Pro 6+ (£9.41) Great for
reading and editing Word, Excel and
Powerpoint documents on the go.
You can use all the standard keyboard
shortcuts with this app, too.
Stick it! (£1.49) Similar to the Galaxy
S3’s Popup Play feature, Stick It! Is a
floating video player that can handle
most popular formats and means you can
check emails without pausing movies.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.1 ��Screen
10.1in ��Resolution 1920 x 1200 ��Processor
1.6GHz ��Storage 32GB, 64GB, (8GB cloud
storage) ��Expansion card slot microSD
��HDMI output Micro HDMI ��Battery life
(music/video) 9.5 hours (14 with dock) ��
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n ��3G No ��Bluetooth 3.0 ��
Dimensions (hwd) 26.3 x 18 x 0.9cm/598g
The Transformer Pad Infinity also
has a battery-boosting keyboard
dock that turns it into a fully
fledged Android-toting netbook
Keyboard warrior
The keys aren’t great to use for long stints and the trackpad
can be erratic, but it’s still far better than typing on
a touchscreen.
58 www.whathifi.com
Looking to bring the success of the
Transformer series to Windows 8 is
the VivoTab ME400. This Asus tab
has a 16:9 HD screen, 64GB of storage
and an optional Surface-style, magnetic
“TranSleeve” keyboard cover.
It’s a full-fat Windows slate with the Intel
guts needed to run proper programs fairly
well, but the split OS (there’s a tablet-style
skin and a regular desktop interface) can
be irritating sometimes. To-ing and fro-ing
between modes is quick, though, and the
Start button is reassuring.
Impressive video performance
We had high hopes for the display and
while the HD isn’t of the Full variety, it’s
still bright and renders skin-tones and
colours more accurately than rivals such
as the Acer Iconia W510. Motion is handled
well and viewing angles are superb, too.
There’s just the single speaker round the
back of the VivoTab, so it might not come as
a surprise the sound is more convincing
with a pair of cans involved – it’s a much
more relaxed, natural sound than the Acer,
which is good over long listening sessions.
The comically long-named Samsung
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 might have been around
for a while, but the manufacturer’s
reputation, along with decent price-
cuts, means it’s still very popular.
It certainly still looks the part. The
chassis is plastic, but it’s a bit more stylish
and sophisticated than the likes of the
Kobo and Kindle Fire HD. It’s fair to say
that the home screen is a bit remedial,
but at least it’s fairly customisable.
Wide range of apps available
Running Android means you get access to
all the usual app suspects, including Spotify
and Netflix. If you’re more of a locally
stored files fan, you’ll be pleased to hear
that the Tab 2 7.0 plays formats such as AVI,
MKV and FLAC natively out of the box.
The screen is bright and vibrant, and
while its relatively low resolution doesn’t
dig up the greatest amount of detail, it still
looks fairly sharp. What’s more, it treats
lower-res video more kindly than most,
sharpening up rough edges quite nicely.
Music is also decent. There’s plenty of
bass and clear mid-range, and while a little
Asus VivoTab ME400 £400 (64GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 £160 (8GB)
Light and easy to hold with comfortable
curved edges, the VivoTab doesn’t match
the Microsoft Surface on the opposite page
for build quality, but otherwise it offers
more storage and the full version of the
Windows OS for the same price. Add its
excellent music and movie skills and the
VivoTab looks like a pretty good deal.
more sparkle at the top and punch all over
wouldn’t go amiss, this is a listenable
presentation that never annoys.
At the full price of £200 we wouldn’t get
too excited about the Tab, but we’ve seen
it for as little as £160 – and for that sort of
money this is a very capable all-rounder.
Rating ★★★★
FOR Full Windows 8; accurate picture
and sound; lots of storage capacity
AGAINST Creaky build; basic keyboard
VERDICT If you’re tempted by the Surface, the
VivoTab is a very convincing Windows 8 rival
Rating ★★★★
FOR Nice looks; good native format support;
vibrant, clean video; weighty audio
AGAINST Needs more musical excitement
VERDICT Find it at the right price and the
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 still has plenty to offer
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these...
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these...
TECH SPECS
Operating system Windows 8 • Screen
10.1in • Resolution 1366 x 768 • Processor
1.8Ghz dual-core • Storage 64GB (32GB free
cloud storage) • Card slot microSD • HDMI
out microHDMI • Battery life 9.5 hours •
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n • 3G No • Bluetooth 4.0 •
Dimensions (hwd) 26.5 x 17.1 x 0.9cm/580g
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.0 • Screen
size 7in • Resolution 1024 x 600 pixels
• Processor 1GHz • Storage 8GB, 16GB •
Expansion card slot Yes • HDMI out No
• Battery life (music/video) 9 hours •
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n • 3G No • Bluetooth
version 3.0 • Dimensions (hwd)
19 x 12 x 1cm • Weight 341g
An oldie,
but a goodie
It might be getting a little long
in the tooth, but the Galaxy Tab
2 7.0’s nice way with music
and video still means it
has a lot to offer.
Flipboard (£free)
Aggregates your
Twitter and Facebook
social life in a flappable
virtual mag, with the
ability to pull in news
from favourite sites.
Just your type?
Unlike the Asus, this keyboard doesn’t offer extra battery life, ports or a sturdy base
– still, it’s a light and elegant solution.
Rowi (£free) This nifty
Twitter app has three
columns for feeds/
interactions, the
tweet or profile you’re
viewing and photos
or trending topics.
Audible (£free) Want
to rest your peepers?
Audible has tons of
audiobooks, some
free, from World War Z
to Andrew Marr’s A
History of the World.
New Star Soccer
(£free) Flick your way
to footballing stardom
in perhaps the finest
casual (and most
incredibly addictive)
game on tablets.
TABLETS
Microsoft joined the tablet market a
little later than most of its competitors,
finally jumping on the bandwagon with
the Surface RT in late 2012 and releasing
it at the same time as its tablet-friendly
Windows 8 operating system.
The pressure was on to see if the Surface
could really draw consumers away from the
established options and, of course, if it
would actually be any good.
Great design and versatility
It’s obvious that Microsoft put a lot of
thought into the Surface’s design, aiming
to offer something different to the growing
number of ‘me too’ devices on the market.
With its detachable keyboard and 10.6in
screen, it walks the line well between a
device for work and play, (but is a little
heavier than its rivals at 680g).
We found performance to be a mixed
bag. You can use gestures to get around
the, but they don’t seem as intuitive as
they could be. Heavy multitasking also
caused sluggishness, and the new version
of Internet Explorer 10 didn’t load web
pages as quickly as other browsers we tried.
Picture quality is good and entirely
watchable, but the 1366 x 768-pixel screen
sees it easily outclassed by the likes of the
Nexus 10 and iPad. Edges can look soft,
colours washed out and textures somewhat
unrealistic, although the 16:9 aspect ratio
does make films fill the screen perfectly.
Microsoft Surface £390 (32GB)
Rating ★★★
FOR Solid build; detachable keyboard; decent
headphones sound; USB and SD card sockets
AGAINST Lack of apps; can be sluggish
VERDICT A good attempt at an all-rounder,
but the Surface just falls short
As you might expect from built-in
speakers, there’s not much to write
home about here, but plug in a decent set
of headphones and you’ll get a perfectly
listenable sound. Detail is good and it
manages to dodge harshness at the top
end, though the iPad will always show
up its rivals for dynamics and refinement.
The Surface is certainly far from perfect,
but we’re not sure that even really matters.
It’s a unique proposition, and those who
consider it will praise it for its flexibility
and features. Despite its flaws, it’s still
a reasonable first effort from Microsoft,
and with some refinements we’ve no doubt
that the Surface could get even better.
What about apps?
Apps are a slight sticking point for the
Surface. With Apple’s App Store and
Google Play for Android each nearing
the one-million app mark, the Windows
Marketplace has some significant
catching up to do. There isn’t even a
BBC iPlayer app, for instance – although
you can still use the service in the
Internet Explorer 10 web browser.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these...
Wikipedia (£free) 20
million articles on
every subject to solve
all those arguments
down the pub.
Fresh Paint (£free)
Mix colours, choose
brush types and pick
your paper texture to
create a masterpiece.
Skype (£free) Keep
in contact with people
across the world with
Skype and Surface’s
720p front camera.
4oD (£free) Catch up
on the best of Channel
4, E4 and More4
programming old and
new with this free app.
Music Maker Jam
(£free) Create a hit
using loops, adjusting
their key and tempo
and adding effects.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Windows RT • Screen
size 10.6in • Resolution 1366 x 768
• Processor 1.3GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra
3 • Storage 32GB, 64GB • Expansion card
slot Yes • HDMI Yes, micro • Battery life
(music/video) 8 hours • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
• 3G No • Bluetooth 4.0 • Dimensions
(hwd) 27.5 x 17.2 x 0.9cm • Weight 680g
The Surface is far from perfect,
but we’re not sure that even really
matters. It’s a unique product, with
plenty of flexibility and features
www.whathifi.com 59
A stand that delivers
The Surface has a neat trick up its sleeve in its built-in
kickstand. Flick it out at the back and you can enjoy a
movie hands-free.
TABLETS
60 www.whathifi.com
Few are the manufacturers who can
force the mighty Apple onto the back
foot but, by shrewdly deciding to launch
this smaller device rather than attempt
to muscle in on the iPad’s territory,
Google not only offered consumers a
viable Android alternative but also gave
itself a real head start on the iPad Mini.
Unsurprisingly, it took the resources of
more than one company to pull this off.
That’s why the Nexus 7 is produced in
partnership with Asus, which knows a thing
or two about Android tablets. Thanks to
this alliance, the Nexus 7’s 1280 x 800-pixel
HD screen is driven by the latest version of
Android – 4.1.2 (aka Jelly Bean).
Excellent across the board
And a very impressive tablet it is, too.
As is the Asus way, build quality is superb:
it doesn’t feel plasticky or cheap despite
being very light and super-slim, and the
textured rubber case feels pleasingly solid.
It’s easy to hold in one hand and makes
full-sized tablets feel a bit cumbersome.
The Jelly Bean operating system and
quad-core Tegra 3 processor combine
to deliver a fast, fluid experience, and
the selection of apps available from
Google Play is pretty good – staples like
BBC iPlayer are in place, and there’s an
extensive selection of books, games,
music and movies (including HD
offerings to rent or buy) available.
Google Nexus 7 £160 (16GB)
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Price; build quality; well-realised OS;
good sound; detailed video
AGAINST Needs more tablet-specific apps
VERDICT Portability, price and performance
give the Nexus 7 serious appeal
HD streaming delivers fine black tones,
in terms of depth and detail, and a well-
judged colour palette. Contrasts could be
punchier, but whites are clean and detailed,
and the fairly regulation screen ratio keeps
black bars to a minimum when watching
widescreen movies. And with its support
for MP3, WAV and FLAC music files, the
Nexus 7 makes its spacious, balanced and
commendably dynamic music reproduction
available at a variety of quality levels.
So, performance is more than up to
scratch and the super-competitive price
confirms the five-star rating. If you require
an alternative to the ubiquity of Apple
and its iPads, your search is over.
What are my options?
The battery isn’t replaceable, but it
provides a claimed nine hours of HD
video playback, 10 hours of web browsing
or 300 hours on standby – all pretty
much par for the course.
These figures are true for all three
versions: the 16GB model reviewed
here, a 32GB variant (£200) and a
£240 32GB cellular model.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
Onavo Extend (£free) Using
3G? This crunches down the
data you use for apps, email
and web surfing to make your
data allowance go further.
Sky Go (from £free) If
you’re a Sky subscriber you’ll
get access to the movies,
sports and entertainment
included in your package.
Pocket (£free) Whenever
you find an interesting link
online, send it to Pocket and
it’ll be saved offline on the
Nexus so it can be read later.
IVSO Slim-Fit Folio Case
(£13) There are plenty of
Nexus 7 cases, but we like
this thnks to to the good
price and integrated stand.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.1.2 ��Screen
size 7in ��Resolution 1280 x 800 pixels
��Processor NVidia Tegra 3 quad-core ��
Storage 16GB, 32GB ��Expansion card
slot No ��HDMI output No ��Battery life
(music/video) 8 hours ��Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
��3G Optional ��Bluetooth Yes ��Dimensions
(hwd) 20 x 12 x 1cm ��Weight 340g
Its performance is excellent and
the price is right. If you require an
alternative to the ubiquity of Apple
and its iPads, your search is over
Less is
more
At just 340g the Nexus 7
weighs little more than half
a full-sized iPad. It still feels
solid and built to last,
though.
USE IT WITH…
Amazon’s move into ebooks, MP3s and
movie streaming (via LoveFilm) leaves
few pies for the company’s fingers to
get in, and with the Kindle Fire HD
it’s combined all its services into one
mega-pie of media consumption.
The Kindle Fire HD is a chunkier tablet
than its 7in rivals, and a rather nondescript
one too, but the lightly rubberised back
panel does make it comfortable to carry
and a little less likely to slip from your grasp
than some others. It’s solid too, although
we wouldn’t expect to see it come out
on top from a fight with the pavement.
A well-stocked walled garden
Although it’s an Android tablet, the
operating system has been heavily
modified to make it more user-friendly.
That also means the Fire HD doesn’t
connect to the Google Play app, movie and
music store, but it does have alternatives.
Amazon curates its own version of the
full app store, and it covers most bases
(Spotify, Sonos, Netflix, plus many popular
games), but still misses some big-hitters
(YouTube and Sky’s apps, for example).
A click on the Videos tab takes you to
LoveFilm, for which a free one-month trial
is included (it’s £4.99 thereafter). The app
is beautiful and lets you stream thousands
of movies, although the catalogue is
still light on new blockbusters and you
can’t download movies to watch later.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD £160 (16GB)
Rating ★★★★
FOR Sharp, vibrant video; smooth, enjoyable
sound; user-friendly; LoveFilm integration
AGAINST Ring-fenced system; no option
to download videos; bigger than rivals
VERDICT A great option for heavy media
consumers, Amazon or Lovefilm fans and
those looking for a first, user-friendly tablet
You can transfer files from your PC at
least, and wherever they come from the
Kindle delivers them with lovely contrast
and detail, and vibrant but natural colours.
For music you’ve far more options. MP3s
from Amazon are stored in the Cloud for
free and can be downloaded to the Kindle,
or you can opt for Spotify or transfer your
own files (lossless FLAC is supported, too).
We like the Kindle’s sound quality: it’s
fairly rich and full-bodied with decent
punch in the mid-range and treble, and
good clarity. Even the speakers are decent.
If you’re all about media, the Kindle Fire
HD makes a compelling case for itself,
especially if you’re a keen Amazon shopper.
… after these messages
The price quoted above is for the version
‘with special offers’, which means
whenever you turn the screen on from
sleep you’ll see an advert, usually for
something Kindle-related. These aren’t
too intrusive, and can actually point
you in the direction of something good
– but an extra tenner will buy you the
version without them if you wish.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
VLC Player (£free)
Play a wider range of
formats – in greater
clarity – than the Fire
HD’s own video app.
Cut the Rope (£0.63)
The cartoon graphics
of this cute, taxing
puzzler look lovely
on the vibrant screen.
Spotify (£free) It
doesn’t have all apps
but it does have
Spotify, and for many
that will be enough.
BBC iPlayer (£free) As
brilliant as ever, iPlayer
is fantastic for catching
up on TV and radio,
and now streams live.
Jamie’s 20 Minute
Meals (£2.49) Videos
and shopping lists
make this a must-have
app for the kitchen.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Custom Android
��Screen 7in ��Resolution 1280 x 800
pixels ��Processor 1.2GHz ��Storage 16GB,
32GB ��Expansion card slot No ��HDMI
output Yes ��Battery life (music/video)
10 hours ��Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n ��3G No
��Bluetooth Yes ��Dimensions (hwd)
19 x 14 x 1cm ��Weight 395g
Amazon curates its own app store,
and it covers most bases, including
Spotify, Sonos and Netflix
www.whathifi.com 61
Stripped down
If you’re after full-fat Android and the breadth of content it contains, the Kindle isn’t for
you. But its simplicity is also its strength.
TABLETS
62 www.whathifi.com
Like the Kindle Fire HD, the Arc comes
from a company with a background in
ebooks and e-readers, to the extent that
in the UK it’s affiliated with WH Smith.
Also like the Kindle, it has a 7in, 1280 x
800-pixel screen and costs £160.
The Kobo is a more compact device,
though, and unlike the Kindle has the
standard Android 4.0 operating system,
albeit with a neat homepage skin that
involves you collecting and arranging apps,
pictures, books and the like into nicely
presented folders called Tapestries.
Like films? Then you’ll like this…
For movie lovers there’s lots to like here.
You can rent or buy SD and HD movies
from Google Play, there’s native support
for AVI files and you can add MKV playback
through an app such as MX Player. And
video playback is impressive – there’s just a
touch of noise to the Google Play download
of Looper, but colours are very natural,
detail’s decent, and motion’s generally very
solid. Overall we certainly prefer the video
performance to that of the Kindle Fire HD
– it’s just that bit sharper and more neutral.
Of course, with Google Play comes
access to millions of apps and tonnes
of games. While the Kobo Arc is far
from a powerhouse, especially next to
the Tegra 3-toting tablets you’ll find here,
it’s perfectly capable of playing casual
games such as Cut the Rope and Temple
Kobo Arc £160 (16GB)
Rating ★★★★
FOR Full-fat Android at a good price; nice
Tapestry system; nice good, natural video
AGAINST Woolly, lethargic audio
VERDICT Not one for music buffs, but for
everything else this is a great budget option
Run 2 without hassle, the latter zipping
along smoothly, with sharp definition
and very good detail.
Music is a more qualified success. On the
one hand there’s great format support as
well as all the usual music apps, but on the
other hand the delivery via headphones is
rather woolly and lethargic. Mind you, it
does have front-firing speakers that provide
very direct, clear audio by tablet standards.
It’s a great shame, as otherwise the
Kobo could be the perfect choice for
those looking for a cheap Android tablet.
If movies and general app use are your
priorities it’s well worth a look, but if music
matters there are better options available.
The book store
The Kobo might do everything a normal
tablet does, but still leans quite heavily
towards reading. By telling it the types of
books you like when you first set it up it
can tailor its recommendations for you,
and you get a big discount for your first
ebook purchase. An e-ink device is best
for serious reading, but we also found the
Arc’s LCD to be pretty kind on the eyes.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these…
Temple Run 2 (£free)
Avoid obstacles and
collect coins as you
try to escape a gorilla-
bear-thing. Addictive.
Kindle (£free) Don’t
fancy the Kobo book
store? Bolster your
options with the
Amazon Kindle app.
Marvel Comics
(£free) Colour LCD
displays make comics
look great. Marvel’s
library is a good start…
Dropbox (£free)
Cloud storage as it
should be – easy to
use, widely available
and lots of free space.
Soundmagic E10
(£35) Our favourite
budget ’phones are the
best choice to give
the Kobo a little punch.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.0
• Screen size 7in • Resolution 1280 x 800
pixels • Processor 1.5GHz • Storage 16GB,
32GB • Expansion card slot No • HDMI
output No • Battery life (music/video)
9 hours • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n • 3G No
• Bluetooth No • Dimensions (hwd)
19 x 12 x 1cm • Weight 364g
Colours are natural, detail’s decent,
and motion’s generally very solid.
Overall we prefer the Kobo’s video
to that of the Kindle Fire HD
Well
organised
The Arc’s Tapestries let you
organise content into folders
– so, for example, you could
group apps with ebooks
and pictures.
USE IT WITH…
Forced to react for once, rather than
dictating terms, Apple’s response to
pocket-sized tablets from Google,
Amazon et al is every bit as
accomplished as you’d expect.
In the hand the Mini feels like a quality
item, and it’s perfectly weighted: light
enough to be portable, heavy enough to
inspire confidence.
Picture perfect
At 7.9in the screen is a little larger than
its main rivals. Combine that extra screen
acreage with a slim bezel, and web
browsing seem a much less confined
experience than on, say, a Google Nexus 7.
The 1024 x 768-pixel resolution means the
iPad Mini is optimised for 4:3 content,
though – so widescreen movies have
generous black bars top and bottom.
Despite this drawback the picture is
outstanding, almost revelatory, indeed.
There are lavish levels of detail, punchy
contrasts, beautifully judged colours and an
impressive depth of field.
Plug in a worthwhile pair of headphones
and the Mini is a dynamic, engaging and
You may have never heard of Versus
before, but the company is starting to
make waves by offering impressively
specced tablets at very low prices.
Take the TouchPad 10.1 for example:
it’s a 10.1in dual-core tablet running
Android 4.1, and it’s available at the likes of
John Lewis for just £170. Now if that sounds
too good to be true it’s because it sort of is,
but the Versus does have things going for it.
A very useful workhorse
Despite having a largely standard version
of Android 4.1, the Versus isn’t particularly
snappy; it also seems to lack the power
to play HD MKV files smoothly. On top
of that, the screen’s panel structure is
visible as faint lines behind whatever it’s
displaying. It’s a shame, as it has decent
colour balance and detail, and standard-
definition files play fine.
It’s much better for sound, though. Plug
in a pair of decent headphones and you’ll
get good clarity, nice punch, and decent
bass and control. Only a bit of brightness
at the top spoils the party, but given the
price we’re prepared to forgive that.
Apple iPad Mini £430 (64GB)
Versus TouchPad 10.1 £170 (16GB)
endlessly listenable performer. Basslines
are solid and well-defined, rhythms are
handled confidently and vocals in the
midrange are detailed and characterful.
Add dual-band wi-fi (for another £100
you can add 3G), the iPad 2’s A5 chip and
an unfussy user experience, and it’s
obvious Apple has hit the bullseye. Again.
For web browsing, social media and
remote controlling your network-
connected home cinema and hi-fi devices
there’s little to complain about (other than
those screen lines), so as long as your
expectations aren’t higher than the price,
the Versus can be a useful tool of a tablet.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Great with video and music; excellent
operating system; outstanding build quality
AGAINST Not cheap by any measure
VERDICT It’s hard to shake the feeling that
Apple may have the tablet market sewn up
Rating ★★★
FOR Big tablet for small money; good audio;
HDMI output; expandable storage
AGAINST Flawed screen; patchy performance
VERDICT No good as a video player, but for all
of those other things the Versus is very capable
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these…
BBC iPlayer (£free)
Catch up on the week’s
TV and radio – and also
stream live. And don’t
forget, you can now
download shows
to watch later, too…
IMDb (£free) The iPad
Mini is pretty much
made for mid-movie
trivia searches – which,
of course, requires
the excellent Internet
Movie Database app.
Killer appsDon’t leave homewithout these…
TECH SPECS
Operating system iOS • Screen size 7.9in
• Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels • Processor
A5 dual-core • Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
• Expansion card slot No • Battery life
(music/video) 10hrs • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
• 3G Optional • Bluetooth 4.0 • Dimensions
(hwd) 20 x 14 x 0.7cm • Weight 308g
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.1 • Screen size
10.1in • Resolution 1280x800 • Processor
1.6GHz dual-core • Storage 16GB, 24GB,
48GB • Expansion card slot Yes • HDMI
output Yes • Battery life (music/video)
4 hours • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n • 3G No •
Bluetooth 2.1 • Dimensions (hwd)
26 x 17 x 1cm • Weight 550g
www.whathifi.com 63
Outta iSight
The 5MP iSight rear camera is similar to that on the iPod
Touch (minus the flash). In good light, photos are
very decent.
Manual
setup needed
There’s no step-by-step
first-time setup here, so you’ll
have to hop into the Settings
menu to connect to wi-fi
and add accounts.
Google Currents
(£free) The latest
version of Google’s
news aggregator and
mag-subscription app
has a lovely interface
and is great at serving
up relevant stories.
Sonos (£free) The
Versus is an affordable,
big-screen way to
operate your system.
In fact, it’s over £100
cheaper than the old
dedicated 3.5in remote!
64 www.whathifi.com
This is the successor to one of our
favourite Android tablets, the Tablet S,
but while the Xperia name has been
added, the Tablet S’s most obvious
design feature has gone – the big wedge.
Thankfully, the new Xperia Tablet S is a
far slimmer and sexier device, and it still
has a fold along one of the long edges that
makes holding it in portrait mode nicer
than other tablets. It’s splashproof, too –
just don’t lose the little USB-port cover.
It’s a shame that Sony didn’t see fit to
give the Xperia Tablet S a full HD screen,
but 1280 x 800 pixels is still respectable,
and in action the 9.4in display is rather
lovely. It’s got the sort of colour neutrality
that we’ve become accustomed to from
the company’s Bravia TVs, and given that
no Android movie service yet delivers
1080p video to tablets, there’s no detail
loss incurred by the Sony’s resolution.
Movie downloads to rival iTunes
Talking of movies, one of the Sony’s big
advantages is Movies Unlimited, perhaps
the best on-demand service after Apple’s
iTunes. Here you can rent or buy thousands
of films, many on the same day that they’re
released on Blu-ray, in HD, and either
stream them or download them for later.
And the picture, from downloaded and
PC-based content, is good. Again, the colour
realism really impresses, but there’s also
vibrancy, sharpness, good motion handling
Sony Xperia Tablet S £330 (16GB)
Rating ★★★★
FOR Lovely design; especially nice to hold in
portrait; great video quality; Movies Unlimited
AGAINST Not Full HD; sounds a touch soft
VERDICT Still one of the best Android
tablets around, especially for movie buffs
(by tablet standards, at least), and lots of
detail, albeit not as much as you’ll find on a
Retina iPad playing one of the 1080p
movies from iTunes. Still, as a movie-
watching device this is a great option.
It’s got a good handle on music, too,
whether you’re streaming from Spotify,
Music Unlimited, or playing a locally stored
FLAC or MP3. This is a clear, well-projected
performance with oodles of weighty bass.
It’s a little softer than some, though.
It all adds up to an accomplished do-it-all
tablet, and one of our favourite Android
devices around. The problem is that the
iPad with Retina Display is just £70 more
expensive – and worth every penny.
Gaming
You don’t need much power to get the
likes of Angry Birds or Cut the Rope
running, but Google Play also has plenty
of more advanced and more demanding
games these days, and for those you need
some grunt. While it’s not the very fastest
tablet around, the presence of nVidia
Tegra 3 silicon in the Sony means it’s
pretty capable in this department.
Killer apps Don’t leave homewithout these…
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.0 • Screen
9.4in • Resolution 1280 x 800 • Processor
1.3GHz • Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB •
Expansion card slot Yes • HDMI out No •
Battery life (music/video) 5.5 hours
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n • 3G Optional •
Bluetooth 3.0 • Dimensions (hwd)
24 x 17 x 1cm • Weight 570g
In action, the 9.4in screen is rather
lovely, displaying the sort of colour
neutrality and realism we’re used
to from Sony’s range of Bravia TVs
Grand Theft Auto 3
(£2.99) Still one of the
finest games around,
and it’s surprisingly
brilliant on tablets.
The Walking Dead,
Vol. 1 (£5.81) The
graphic novel that
preceded the TV show
is a gripping read.
Sony Media Remote
(£free) If you’re a
Sony TV, BD player or
home cinema owner
this lets control it all.
BeyondPod Podcast
Manager (£free)
Simply the best app for
getting and playing
podcasts on Android.
Adblock Plus (£free)
Get rid of all of the
adverts that get in the
way of your gaming
and browsing.
Sony vs Apple
If your choice comes down to Apple vs Android and you pick
Google’s lane, the Experia Tablet S certainly won’t
disappoint you.
TABLETS
Between laptops and tablets sit hybrids
often referred to as a convertibles.
The Dell is one such device, in that it’s
available with a detachable keyboard.
It’s also available in tablet form, though,
and that’s how we’re tackling it.
The wide-aspect ratio should make it
more movie-friendly, but the overall look is
a bit plasticky and there’s a little creak and
rattle in the casework. Get it going, though,
and the new Windows 8 Start interface is a
colourful, customisable pleasure, and while
it takes a while to get used to where all the
features are (generally in a menu you pull
in by swiping from the right), within a
few hours it’ll be close to second-nature.
A pleasure to use
The Dell’s version of Windows 8 is RT
rather than full-fat Pro, so you can’t install
standard Windows programs on it. Instead
you’ll be relying on the Windows 8 app
store, which might not get close to the
Apple App Store just yet but does cover
most bases and is growing quickly.
You do still get access to the traditional
Windows desktop with RT, and although
navigating the little icons can be a little
fiddly, you can easily drag-and-drop files
and access other computers and devices
on your network with ease – something
that Android and iOS devices can’t claim.
Windows 8 also comes with Xbox Movies
and has Netflix available at the Store. The
Dell XPS 10 £340 (32GB)
Rating ★★★★
FOR Colourful, customisable and fairly flexible
OS; very nice video; useful optional keyboard
AGAINST Sounds a bit bright; not the best built
VERDICT Not perfect, but the Windows 8 Dell
is an appealing alternative to the usual suspects
former might be a little expensive
by on-demand standards, but it’s also
well appointed with new releases that
look superb on the Dell’s HD Ready screen,
with Looper being presented with bags
of detail, really nice, natural colours and
just the right amount of authentic grain.
It’s a shame, then, that the sound quality
through headphones can’t match that.
It’s got enough clarity and bass weight to
handle movie soundtracks reasonably well,
but it’s too easily coaxed into brightness.
That’s not to say we’re not keen on the
Dell. Movie performance is very good, the
app count is growing, and Windows 8 offers
features that other OSes can’t. Give it a go…
Optional keyboard
The XPS 10 is available bundled with
a keyboard dock at a premium of £120.
That’s obviously pretty steep, but as
well as making it easier to take advantage
of the Microsoft Office suite that’s
pre-installed, it also boosts battery
life to up to 18 hours and adds USB
and HDMI outputs, so for some
it will certainly be worth it.
Killer apps Don’t leave home without these...
Netflix (£free) For a
£5.99 monthly fee
you’ve got instant
streaming of movies
and TV shows. Brill.
mobile.HD (£2.59)
The Dell doesn’t play
MKVs, but mobile.HD
does without needing
any conversion.
Xbox SmartGlass
(£free) SmartGlass
turns your tablet
into an Xbox remote
and second screen.
MediaMonkey
(£free) Plays formats
that Xbox Music
doesn’t, including FLAC
and 24-bit/192kHz.
Cocktail Flow (£free)
This really demands a
download, especially
if you fancy trying
your hand at mixology.
TECH SPECS
Operating system Windows RT • Screen
10.1in • Resolution 1366 x 768 • Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz • Storage
32GBm 64GB • Expansion card slot Yes
• HDMI out Requires adapter • Battery life
(music/video) 9 hours • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
• 3G No • Bluetooth 4.0 • Dimensions
(hwd) 27 x 18 x 1cm • Weight 630g
Looper looks superb on the Dell’s
HD Ready screen, with bags of
detail, really nice, natural colours
and just the right amount of grain
www.whathifi.com 65
All things to all men?
Add the optional keyboard and the XPS 10 is a tablet/
laptop/netbook, all in one – that’s got to be worth a look…
66 www.whathifi.com
Samsung’s attempts at challenging the
iPad have never been as successful as its
iPhone-bothering smartphones. But that
could change with its latest and arguably
most formidable large-screen tablet yet.
But while its features look good on paper,
first impressions are less impressive.
Costing the same as the iPad for the 16GB
model, it features a plastic build that looks
and feels cheap. We expect better for £400.
Still, get it up and running and things
start to improve. The 10.1in screen is bright
and colourful and, with a 1.4GHz quad-core
processor under the hood, it’s responsive as
you swipe through its five customisable
homescreens. Even the most power-hungry
tasks are handled without issue.
Nice sound but so-so video
Since we last tested the Note 10.1, it’s had
an upgrade to Android Jelly Bean, Google’s
latest operating system – and gets a faster,
smoother, more intuitive experience. The
Note’s S Pen stylus also becomes more
useful with new features including better
handwriting recognition, though we found
little use for it in day-to-day use.
Samsung is keen to push its services for
video, games and music through its various
hubs. The Music Hub is powered by 7Digital
and offers a decent library of content to buy
from a slightly high 99p per track. TV and
movie selection is less impressive – third
party services offer a much better selection.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 £400 (16GB)
Rating ★★★
FOR Bright screen; speedy interface;
impressive speakers; enjoyable sound
AGAINST Video lacks detail; cheap build
VERDICT An underwhelming effort from
Samsung – it needs some serious refinement
The screen resolution is disappointing.
At 1280 x 800 it’s the same resolution as
the 7in Google Nexus 7, so HD detail is
way off its closest rivals. Colours are bright
and punchy, but not the most natural.
Audio performance is better, though.
Many tablets have iffy speakers, but, the
Note’s are a pleasant surprise, and capable
of going pretty loud without distorting.
Sound is detailed and punchy, if not hugely
subtle, but if you’re streaming music from
Spotify, say, you’ll be suitably entertained.
The Note 10.1 is a promising proposition,
but it’s let down by a disappointing screen
and a poor build quality. In this market,
it’s a simple case of must try harder.
Stylus included
The Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a stylus,
but that doesn’t mean it has regressed
to using the spongy touchscreens of
old. In fact, the Note 10.1 will work well
with both your finger and the stylus.
There are dedicated apps for the S Pen
built in to the Note 10.1 too, including
‘S Note’ for making quick handwritten
notes. Useful? We’re not totally sold…
Killer apps Don’t leave homewithout these...
TECH SPECS
Operating system Android 4.1 • Screen
10.1in • Resolution 1280 x 800 • Processor
1.4GHz Exynos quad-core • Storage 16GB
• Expansion card slot Yes • HDMI out No •
Battery life (music/video) 8 hours
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n • 3G Optional •
Bluetooth 4.0 • Dimensions (hwd)
26 x 10 x 0.9cm • Weight 583g
The Note’s speakers are a pleasant
surprise, capable of going pretty
loud without distorting and giving
a decently detailed, punchy sound
Shazam (£3.59) Never wonder what
‘that’ song is again – fire up Shazam
and in a few seconds it can tell you the
name of the song and artist, and will
even give you a link to play it in Spotify.
Swiftkey (£1.49) Swiftkey offers more
intelligent autocorrection, learns words
you use often, can understand three
languages and can even predict your
next word before you’ve typed a letter.
Chrome (£free) You won’t find Google’s
browser of choice pre-loaded on the
Note 10.1. Add it for quicker searching,
faster browsing and shared bookmarks
with your computer or smartphone.
More Memory
The Note is only available in a 16GB form in the UK, but its inclusion of a microSD card
slot means you can add up to 64GB more.
TABLETS
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Which amp would go
with my B&W PM1s?
“I have £900 to spend on a high-quality
dock system for my iPod Classic. Would
Bang & Olufsen or Parrot do the trick?”
68 www.whathifi.com
ADVICE CENTREADVICE CENTREADVICE CENTREGot a burning question? It’s nothing our team of experts can’t handle – just drop us a line
PROBLEM I have a pair of
Mission MX-1s hooked up to a
Denon D-M39DAB micro system
with some nice QED wire – but as
much as I love this system, I
can’t really move it around. So,
I’m looking for a secondary
system with which I can use my
iPod Classic 120GB as the source
(all my music is stored in WAV
format). However, I don’t want
to lose quality, so I’m looking
for a premium iPod dock.
The B&W AirPlay A7 speaker
looks very tempting, but my
iPod will connect to it only via
the 3.5mm connection – which
seems a little pointless.
I have about £900 to spend.
On my shortlist at the moment
are the B&0 BeoSound 8 and
the Parrot Zikmu by Phillippe
Starck speaker. What can I do?
Forum name: JoshCohenMorgan
SOLUTION Even with that high
budget, you could do a lot worse
than audition the JBL OnBeat
Xtreme (£450). It continues
to impress us with its weighty,
punchy and exciting sound
via its iPod Classic-compatible
30-pin dock, and it also supports
Bluetooth in case you decide to
go down that road in the future.
We felt the BeoSound 8 was
a tad pricey for what it offers,
and docked a star. But it’s still a
good piece of kit – especially if you
crave mega-volume – and the
design looks great. We wouldn’t
bother with the Parrot Zikmu.
Finally, don’t discount the
B&W A7. Try it with the 3.5mm
connection on your iPod Classic
and you might be pleasantly
surprised; plus, again, it offers
a bit of futureproofing should
you ever decide to go wireless.
Premium portables
The JBL OnBeat Xtreme offers
amazing value – and sound –
for its £450 sticker price
Lightning strikes
Bluetooth or AirPlay could
still be an option if you’ve a
Lightning-connected device
and an older dock.
PROBLEM I’ve just bought some
B&W PM1s, and am now after an
amp for around £1000-£1500 to
pair with these and also to drive a
pair of B&W 620 floorstanders in
a second room. I have an old Denon
PMA720AE at the moment. Would
you expect a big difference in the
sound for this kind of budget?
Forum name: sjmbyrne
SOLUTION The Roksan Caspian
M2 amp works really well with the
PM1s. It’s also worth having a listen
to Naim’s Nait XS (£1495). The vast
majority of amplifiers at this price
don’t have speaker outputs that
can be switched,
however, so
you might have
to make other
arrangements
for sound in the
second room.
Kit testing
If you’re trying products in
a shop, take as much of your
kit with you as you can – as
well as your own CDs. It
levels the playing field…
The £350 Rotel RA-10 is a natural
partner for your turntable thanks
to its cracking phono stage
www.whathifi.com 69
ADVICE CENTRE
DAC’s the ticket
LoveFilm on a CRT telly?
PROBLEM I have a good old
CRT TV that I was thinking
of upgrading to a flatscreen.
However, there’s nothing at all
wrong with the TV I have and
I’m not happy throwing it away.
It’s connected to a Humax
PVR and a Sony DVD player
via analogue means – there’s
no HDMI connectivity on
any of my components.
What is the best option
available to me for streaming
LoveFilm, watching BBC
iPlayer and accessing
Facebook, YouTube and so
on? I’d prefer to use a wired
internet connection.
Roy Campbell
SOLUTION You’ll need
something with a composite
output to be able to connect
to your CRT telly. The Sony
BDP-S390 (£80) fits the bill,
and will also grant you access
to plenty of streaming services –
including LoveFilm and iPlayer.
It could also take the place of
your old Sony DVD player.
However, remember that
nothing it sends to your TV will
be displayed in high-definition.
The best move, if you can bear
it, would be to bin the ageing
tech and switch to a flatscreen
– check out our February 2013
issue and whathifi.com for
some absolute bargains.
Can my vinyl system sound too detailed?
PROBLEM I want to set my
Mac Mini up as a music server.
I’m pretty set on the Yamaha
A-S500 amp for this, but I’ll
need a DAC as well.
I’ve heard that the HRT
Music Streamer II USB and
microStreamer are good – but
would the Arcam rPac work
well through an amp/speaker
set-up, too? I know it’s more
designed for headphones…
I will only be looking to
connect my Mac to the DAC,
so multiple inputs aren’t
necessary. My budget is £150.
Forum name: Beese
SOLUTION You’re in luck – there’s
a Supertest of USB DACs starting
on p26 in this very issue!
For your purposes, the perfect
DAC would be the test winner –
the HRT microStreamer USB
(£180). If you can stretch to the
extra 30 quid over your £150
budget, you won’t be sorry. Not
only is this DAC compact and
portable, it’s superbly talented
too – and will inject fresh life into
your music library thanks to its
deft way with subtle detail. Works
brilliantly with headphones, too.
If £150 is your absolute ceiling,
though, the Arcam rPAC is a
great option. It serves up a nice,
melodic – and entertainingly
dynamic – sound.
And while you’re right in
saying that it’s primarily a
headphone-centric box, you can
still use it with a speaker-based
system: simply use its stereo
phono outputs to connect
to your amplifier’s analogue
inputs, and you’re good to go.
PROBLEM I have a Technics 1210
Mk2 turntable and I’m looking
for an amp and speakers to
complete the system, but I’m
not sure what best suits vinyl.
After some research I’ve
narrowed it down to a Yamaha
A-S500 or Marantz PM6004
amp with Monitor Audio
Bronze BX2, KEF Q100,
Tannoy Revolution DC6 or
Arcaydis DM1 speakers.
I like the idea of the Yamaha
with the Monitor Audios, but
I’ve heard that they put out
a very detailed sound, which
might be a bit much playing
vinyl. What do you think? My
budget is £500-£800 for the lot.
Forum name: johnnyelton
SOLUTION You’ve got a great list
of hi-fi options, there: the Yamaha
A-S500 and Marantz PM6004 are
both excellent Award-winners,
although they do have very
different sonic characteristics. The
Yamaha (£330, but you can get it
for even less if you shop around –
we’ve seen it for £230) delivers a
slightly bright, but fast and
exciting sound, while the Marantz
(£310) is a smoother, richer ride.
If your main source is your
turntable, though, we’d have
to recommend the Rotel RA-10.
A 2012 Award-winner, it’s a great
amplifier at £350, but what
really makes it special is its
phono stage, which sounds
absolutely beautiful.
As for your worries about
having too much detail in your
sound, don’t worry. You can
never have enough detail!
The Monitor Audio BX2s (£250)
are one of our long-standing
budget favourites for delivering
detailed, precise and dynamic
sound, or you could try the Q
Acoustics 2020i standmounters
(£145). These deliver great insight
and attack, along with real
composure across all music
styles. They’re also unfussy when
it comes to positioning, so you
can back them up against a wall
without too much drop in quality.
Of course, for best results, prop
them on some stands such as
the Soundstyle Z2s (£70).
Incidentally, the Arcaydis DM1s
you mention are being revised at
the moment, so it might be best
to hold off until the new versions
are out and have been reviewed.
The HRT microStreamer
is a really talented DAC (5p
piece not included, though)
A smart Blu-ray player
with analogue-friendly
outputs can deliver online
services to older televisions
CDs? Pah!
UK trade body the BPI says
99.6% of all singles sold are in
digital form – so it’s no wonder
Denon has nixed the CD
player in the Piccolo.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
PROBLEM I’m looking for a
wireless system that will give
decent quality from lossless
files; I’m really particular
about precise-sounding bass.
I’m not into the Marantz
M-CR603 AirPlay system as I’ve
heard some less than positive
comments on your forums about
its bass refinement. The B&W A7
is sadly out of my price range.
I know it’s designed to be a
cinema amp, but I’m considering
the Sony STR-DN1030 and
coupling it with a pair of
Q Acoustic 2020i speakers.
Would this be any good,
taking into account the fact
that AirPlay is less than
perfect by its nature?
I have a budget of no
more than £450.
Nadim Othman
Share your wisdom!
Got tips of your own? Visit
the ‘About the mag’ section
at whathifi.com/forums
and let us know!
SOLUTION Using an AV amp just
to get wireless audio is overkill,
but you do have other options. If
you want an all-in-one system, try
the Denon CEOL Piccolo (£260) –
it romped home with five stars in
our March issue thanks to its vast
feature count: AirPlay, Spotify,
Last.fm and streaming from a NAS;
a 30-pin dock and USB port for
Apple devices and other players;
high-res support… the list goes on.
Just add the Q Acoustics 2020is
(£150) and you’re up and running.
Or, you could go down the
separates route. We suggest
giving the Rotel RA-10 (£350),
Marantz PM6004 (£240) or
Yamaha A-S300 (£160) amps
a whirl. Pair them with the
2020is and an Apple AirPort
Express (£80) and you have
your AirPlay system.
70 www.whathifi.com
Advice from the forumsPort whine?
I have a pair of Monitor Audio RX8
floorstanders. My devil of a two-year-
old pushed the bungs so far into the
ports in the top of the cabinets that
they dropped inside. The speakers
are closed units – the only thing that
I could open is the cable panel at the
bottom, and there’s so much stuff
inside that the bungs couldn’t fall all
the way down. But after turning them
upside down, and with help from
a pair of chopsticks, the bungs are
now back where they should be!
Forum name: drlindgren
Wireless dilemma
Using an AV receiver just to get wireless
audio is overkill – there are plenty
of cheaper, more versatile options…
Build me an AirPlay system
PROBLEM I’m looking for a
new surround sound system.
Should I go for an AV amp
and separate speakers, or is
it better to buy an all-in-one?
I’ll be using the system
with my PS3 (for games and
Blu-rays), Freeview/Freesat
viewing, DLNA streaming
and AirPlay from an iPhone 5.
I’d like the speakers to be
as wireless as possible; can
you get battery ones?
My budget for all this
is around £500-600.
Forum name: TeeHachCee
SOLUTION You don’t say how
big your room is, but for your
budget an all-in-one system
would be just the ticket.
Consider the Sony BDV-N590
(£400). This Award-winner can
connect to your PS3 (as well
as play discs from its Blu-ray
drive), stream via Ethernet
or wi-fi and play files from an
iPod via its dock or USB input.
It doesn’t have wireless
speakers, however. We haven’t
tested any battery-powered
speakers, and we’re aren’t
totally convinced of the merits
of mains-powered wireless
units as it is. As you say, there
will be wires somewhere, be
they mains or speaker cables
– so you might as well go for the
simpler speaker-cable option.
You can sort the AirPlay by
adding an £80 Apple AirPort
Express to your system. This
will let you stream from your
compatible Apple portable
or any laptop running iTunes.
PROBLEM I have just bought
a Samsung UE46ES7000
TV and I was wondering
whether I should get a sound
bar to improve its audio
performance. I was thinking
of buying a Yamaha YSP-2200
– is this a good choice?
Finally, what would be
a good Blu-ray player to
complete my package?
Richard Willis
SOLUTION Regardless of how
good a flatscreen is to look at,
we’ve yet to encounter one
that blew us away when it
comes to audio – so the
YSP-2200 (£800) is a fine choice.
An Award-winner in both 2011
and 2012, it’s a great way to
beef-up the Samsung’s sound.
It produces a proper surround-
sound experience, too – not
simply a wider stereo image.
But, of course, it doesn’t come
with a Blu-ray player. You could
do a lot worse than go for Sony’s
Award-winning BDP-S790 –
especially as the company is
about to update its range. We
tested it at £200, but chances are
you’ll be able to find it for less.
To submit questions for publication in our Advice Centre section,
email [email protected]. Unfortunately we can’t reply
personally to individual emails, but if your query is urgent, the
community at www.whathifi.com/forums might provide the answer
If you’re spending £2000 on speakers,
a good rule of thumb is to spend at
least half that on your AV receiver
PROBLEM I have a Sony TV, HDD
and BDP-S790 Blu-ray player, all
controlled with my TV remote.
My next project is to invest
in a home theatre system. I want
the B&W MT-60D set-up, but
I’m torn between the Yamaha
RX-V673 and the Sony STR-
DN1030 amps. I hear the
Yamaha works well with the
ADVICE CENTRE
Top tips for going digitalBuy a CD, rip it, and then never
touch it again – but listen to it
anywhere. Here are a few things
to consider when making the
jump from disc to digital…
Get adequate storage
Music collections generally only
expand – so equip yourself with
a large hard-drive (or one that
can be upgraded in the future).
Use the good stuff
Storing your library as 128kbps MP3s
is pointless. Go for uncompressed
audio, Apple Lossless or FLAC. As the
saying goes: rubbish in, rubbish out…
Try before you buy
Being able to access a stack of albums
is only fun if you’re in tune with your
navigation interface. Try out different
systems before parting with any cash.
B&W MT-60D speakers: which receiver?
B&W by preventing brightness,
but on the other hand I like the
idea of adding another Sony
product for integration with my
TV. How does the DN1030 sound
with the B&Ws? Will this give
results as good as the Yammy?
James Hayward
SOLUTION The B&W MT-60D
package (£1950) and both the
Yamaha and Sony amps you
mention (£500 each) are great in
their own right, but putting them
together probably isn’t the best
idea given their price disparity
– the speakers simply won’t
operate to their full potential.
If you have your heart set on
the B&W, we’d step it up on the
amp front and opt for the Yamaha
RX-A1010 to get the very best
results. But that brings the total
cost to £3000ish excluding cables.
The other option is to stick
with one of the cheaper amps
and go for a less-expensive
speaker package. The Dali Fazon 1
setup (£1500) or the Zensor 5
package (£1200, and great if you
have room for its floorstanders)
will go nicely with the Sony amp.
Alternatively, if you prefer the
sound of the Yamaha, we suggest
the Award-winning Monitor
Audio Mass system (£800).
Want to boost the sound from
your TV? Yamaha’s soundbar
even gives virtual surround…
The £200 Sony BDP-S790
is a great Blu-ray player –
snap it up while you still can
The Yamaha RX-A1010
(£1000) is a great engine for
the B&W speaker system
The MT-60D package delivers
thumping cinema sound, but
in a living room-friendly formBetter TV sound
The midrange is the star here: it’s
detailed, dynamic and natural
sounding, with vocals in particular
sounding nuanced and emotive
72 www.whathifi.com
Take your portable music to the next level with these serious in-ears
Atomic Floyd SuperDarts£200�★★
We were quite taken with the SuperDarts:
from the injection-moulded steel enclosures
to the Kevlar cord and smart three-button
remote-and-mic unit, it’s clear Atomic Floyd
places immense pride in its designs.
Once plugged in and with a WAV of Brother
Love’s Turn It Up! playing on our iPhone 4,
though, that first impression unravels. The
low frequencies, while very weighty, lack the
definition we’d like. Kick-drums ‘whump’ not
‘thwack’, and a nicely detailed midrange is
swamped by all that rumbling. It’s a shame.
But it’s the treble that we have the biggest
issue with. It has an airy, open quality, sure
– but with it comes a brittle edge that makes
longer listening sessions quite tiring. That
said, there’s reasonable detail on offer.
If bass is your bag, give them a whirl – but
we can’t recommend them next to rivals here.
EarSonics SM1£160�★★★
French company EarSonics has gone down
the in-ear monitor route with its SM1s.
They’re decidedly non-fancy-looking, with no
inline mic or remote, a basic black finish (with
a braided cable for tangle-resistance), but
functional: to wit, they come with two pairs
of silicon tips and two pairs of foam ones.
Third Eye Blind’s Semi-Charmed Life is a
good test of dynamics and bass composure,
and with it the SM1s show themselves to have
an easygoing nature. It’s the midrange that’s
the star here: it’s detailed, dynamic and
natural sounding, with vocals in particular
sounding nuanced and emotive.
However, overall these headphones sound
a little… flat. We can’t help but wish for more
entertainment here, more life. It’s all just that
little bit too controlled and closed-in around
the edges. More energy would be a boon.
These in-ear monitors
form an incredibly good
seal against the hubbub
of the outside world
PREMIUM EARPHONES MEAN PROPERHI-FI EVERYWHERE
We love the SuperDarts’
build quality, but it’s
not all good news when
it comes to their sound
Join us on Spotify
tiny.cc/playlist2013
www.whathifi.com 73
Klipsch Image X7i£170�★★★★★
The X7is sit just below the Award-winning
X10is in Klipsch’s range, and are no worse off
in build quality terms for its smaller price tag.
Getting the ball rolling with Hepcat’s No
Worries, we find ourselves grinning at the
bouncy, entertaining sound. It’s an upfront
presentation, but warm with it – and pretty
balanced across the frequency range. There’s
plenty of bass here and it’s detailed too,
which says a lot for the X7is’ dynamic ability.
A slight loss of composure in really complex
parts is the only fault we could find.
Vocals are warm and revealing, while
percussion sounds as realistic as we could
hope for at this price. The treble is similarly
articulate, integrating well with the midrange
and providing a polished sheen to music.
The X7is deliver in every aspect of their
performance; it’s a well-deserved five stars.
EARPHONES ROUND-UP
Klipsch has gone for
energy and warmth
with the X7is, and it’s
an addictive combo
What can we say? These
in-ear monitors are
simply the best we’ve
heard at this price
Martin Logan Mikros 70£150�★★★★
Martin Logan is best known for its huge
high-end electrostatic speakers – so it’s
interesting to see the company turn its
attention to our ear canals.
Everything is present and correct, with
reasonably punchy bass (a little more thud
wouldn’t go amiss), natural-sounding and
articulate midrange (which could be a tad
more open) and sparkly, sweet-sounding
treble (which lacks just the last touch of
gloss). A few qualifications, then, but
definitely on the right path.
Dynamics are good, too, with shifts from
quiet to loud dispatched without issue and
plenty of space given to instruments. We
particularly like the energy the Mikros 70s
impart, and we’re happy with the detail on
offer, too – although in absolute terms it isn’t
quite up there with the Sonys and Shures.
Shure SE425£200�★★★★★
Let’s not beat around the bush, eh? These are
fantastic. Why? It’s all in the detail: get some
music going and it’s almost as if the Shures
disappear, leaving you with just their sound.
To say it’s immersive is an understatement:
the level of finesse on offer is astonishing.
They’re energetic, too, and more than
capable of handling the likes of Extreme’s
tight rhythms and punchy rock.
The midrange performance is as solid as
you like – and that vein of detail continues all
the way down the frequency range. Vocals are
nuanced and placed to the fore, and yet never
conflict with other elements in the same
frequency range. Move down to the bass and,
while the Shures don’t pack as much punch
as the Sonys or Klipsches, there’s a decent
amount of thud. These in-ear monitors won’t
wow on the catwalk, but that’s just nitpicking.
Sony XBA-2iP£125�★★★★★
These are our current Award winners – and
one look at these Sonys’ star rating should be
enough to dispel any doubts you might have
about their ability.
Get them fired up with something upbeat,
such as I Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie
& the Blowfish (you know you have a soft
spot for it) and you’re immediately met with a
lively, yet still easygoing sound. It’s a nice
character that lends a natural tone to vocals.
The treble is revealing and polished, while
bass notes hit with conviction and speed. We
particularly like the agility with which the
2iPs handle tight, funky rhythms. Our only
slight gripe – and it is a very slight one – is
with the 2iPs’ tendency to get a little strident
in the upper-midrange/lower treble area.
The Sonys simply offer a complete,
rounded performance: a splendid buy.
Our current Award-
winners more than
stack up against far
pricier competition
If you like your music
to be presented with
a matter-of-fact approach,
these are just the job
The midrange performance is as
solid as you like, and that vein of
detail continues all the way down
the frequency range. Outstanding!
Bowers & Wilkins CM5page 77We last tested the CM5s
in 2009. So has four years
told on them?
Audiovector Ki1 Superpage 76Industrial-looking units
from Denmark, that can
easily be upgraded
Tannoy Precision 6.1page 83The entry model in
Tannoy’s Precision range
excels in certain areasBowers & Wilkins CM5page 77We last tested the CM5s
in 2009. So has four years
told on them?
Audiovector Ki1 Superpage 76Industrial-looking units
from Denmark, that can
easily be upgraded
Tannoy Precision 6.1page 83The entry model in
Tannoy’s Precision range
excels in certain areas
74 www.whathifi.com
TEST £700-£900 STEREO SPEAKERS
Because yourmu
www.whathifi.com 75
£700-£900 STEREO SPEAKERS TEST
If you’re a music lover, one listen to theseu’re a musiicc lloovveerr, oonnee lliisstteen to thesequaquality sppeeakers should convince yyoouu ttheyy’rree an investment for a contented lliiffee
Join us on Spotify
tiny.cc/playlist2013
KEF LS50page 78Award-winning KEF
specials look great and
sound simply terrific
Opera Mezzapage 80Stylish and sophisticated
speakers from Italy sound
really rather good as well
Mission SX2page 79Already fine speakers
have had a price cut
of a whopping £150
76 www.whathifi.com
If your first glimpse of the Ki1 Supers
was from a distance in a hi-fi dealer,
you’d be forgiven for giving them a quick
once-over and walking on.
Out of the box, these speakers look a
little uninspiring and insubstantial. The
grey, magnetic grille combined with the
cherry wood looks very 1970s, and the
aesthetics don’t really improve with the
grille off. Peel it away, and beneath lies a
face fixed with more bolts than a
Meccano factory. The pock-marked front
baffle is in stark contrast to the clean
lines of others in this line-up.
On the plus side, the Audiovectors
have a particularly small footprint. They
are also fully upgradeable – and so
unique in this company. The Ki1 is
available in three guises – Standard,
Super and Signature – so you can
upgrade these Supers to Signature
status. This involves you sending the
speakers back to the factory in Denmark,
where the drivers and crossover are
upgraded (hence the easily accessible
bolts), the cabinets refurbished and
you’re charged the difference between
the price of a pair of Signatures and
Supers, plus 30 per cent to cover costs.
Sit back and spin some music, and any
misgivings about their appearance soon
fade away. The Supers are exceptionally
likeable speakers. They’ll take any
musical genre and give you a hugely
enjoyable, well-mannered and well-
balanced sound. Play The Rolling Stones’
Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Mick Jagger’s
vocal sounds smooth and refined.
Smooth, yet still with enough biteBut this smoothness doesn’t stunt the
speakers’ detail levels here, or elsewhere
in the frequency range – electric guitars,
for example, still have bite and a natural
resonance. Even the jazziest, most
complex tracks are dispatched with ease.
For such small speakers, the Supers
also generate decent bass weight. Low
frequencies sound solid and substantial,
and although rivals can go a little lower,
these diminutive standmounters don’t
sound out of their depth.
Rating ★★★★
FOR Hugely likeable sound; compact design;
decent bass weight
AGAINST Fussy aesthetics; lack scale and
authority of class-leaders
VERDICT These pint-sized speakers lack
far-reaching dynamics, but are easy to live with
TEST STEREO SPEAKERS
Should you take up the
option to biwire?
Biwiring opens up the soundstage and
gives greater depth. You lose a little
cohesion as a result, but the Ki1s
sound no less listenable.
All those bolts mean
the Ki1s Supers can
easily be upgraded to
the Signature version
It’s only really with dynamics that the
Supers lose out compared with close
rivals. When it comes to far-reaching
dynamics and scale, the Ki1s don’t have
that extra gear. This limited headroom
prevents them communicating dynamic
shifts in the same way as some rivals.
Carmina Burana sounds rhythmical and
refined, but those towering crescendos
sound a touch weak-willed compared
with the very best at this price.
But this doesn’t detract from speakers
that charm with an enjoyable sound. If
you want unobtrusive speakers that are
easy to live with, yet still pack a punch,
the Ki1 Supers deserve an audition.
AudiovectorKi1 Super £800 ★★★★★
www.whathifi.com 77
You may surprised to learn that the
CM5’s last outing on these pages was
way back in 2009. Over that time, a great
many speakers have come and gone, so
we’re interested to hear whether the
B&Ws can still hold their own or if
they’ve fallen behind the pack.
It’s a testament to their design and
engineering that the CM5s certainly
don’t look dated. These classy-looking
speakers are available in four distinct
finishes (rosenut or wengé wood, satin
white and gloss black, pictured) and still
look as alluring as ever. And the level of
engineering you’ll find inside the cabinet
is still among the most advanced in the
speaker sector. Key to their performance
are B&W’s trademark yellow Kevlar mid/
bass driver and the Nautilus tube-loaded
aluminium tweeter. At the rear sits one
of B&W’s Flowports, designed to reduce
chuffing at high volumes.
Play The Streets’ Empty Cans, and the
CM5s place Mike Skinner’s vocal in the
limelight. The sense of clarity and
confidence given to the midrange is
highly impressive. It sits coherently
within a spacious soundstage and the
B&Ws make a fine point of
communicating the sense of anger and
frustration in Skinner’s delivery.
At the same time, though, your
attention is drawn to hints of fizz and
tizz in the treble. The high frequencies
don’t display the same sense of
refinement as some rivals in this test – so
much so that it proves overly distracting.
Go very loud with impressive easeSwitch to Rihanna’s Only Girl In the
World and again the B&Ws feed the
listener with an open and airy
soundstage. Crank up the volume and
you can push the speakers extremely
hard – to levels, indeed, where lesser
rivals would scream in submission.
Having said that, the CM5s struggle to
match those rivals for drive and
ambition – there’s no real snap or attack
to the track. Each rhythmic clap sounds
polite rather than potent, and the
speakers’ apparent reluctance to power
Rating ★★★
FOR Attractive design; don’t mind being
pushed hard; focused, open midrange
AGAINST Treble lacks refinement; weak
punch; sound pedestrian compared with rivals
VERDICT The CM5s are decent, but they lack
the ability needed to trouble the new breed
STEREO SPEAKERS TEST
Take a little care with
placement
The CM5s work best when given room
to breathe. 40cm from a wall should
be sufficient to reinforce low
frequencies without them
sounding too boomy.
along dampens your enthusiasm for
what should otherwise be an upbeat,
uplifting tune.
We experiment with a switch to
biwired listening – and music takes a
more interesting turn. There’s a greater
sense of precision and focus across the
frequency range, low frequencies sound
more distinct and the CM5s sound a
little more sure of themselves. Still, this
doesn’t result in any surge in eagerness
from the speakers.
The Bowers and Wilkins CM5s have
always been decent-sounding speakers,
but they now find themselves lagging
behind some supremely talented rivals.
Try biwiring the CM5s.
We found it brought
a greater sense of
precision and focus
Bowers & WilkinsCM5 £780 ★★★★★
Tac
p
The CM5s w
to breathe
be suffi
frequ
so
78 www.whathifi.com
If there’s one speaker all the others in
this test should fear, it’s the KEF LS50.
This special edition speaker (designed to
celebrate KEF’s 50th anniversary) has
picked up high praise and multiple
awards across the board, including one
of our own Product Of The Year gongs.
Indeed, we’ve already dubbed these
standmounters, “easily one of KEF’s
most musical efforts in years.”
All eyes are immediately drawn to the
KEF’s trademark Uni-Q driver array,
finished in rather distinctive Rose Gold.
It may look like a single unit, but it’s
really a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter
in the centre of a 13cm magnesium/
aluminium-coned mid/bass unit. The
thinking behind this is to improve
dispersion and aid integration. What
looks like a grille to fend off wayward
fingers is in fact a waveguide designed to
improve high frequencies.
Not only have the drivers been
engineered to a high standard, but so too
have the cabinets. The curved front
panels are made from DMC (Dough
Moulding Compound): a polyester resin
combined with glass fibre and calcium
carbonate and chosen for its mass and
inertness. The elliptical ports on the rear,
designed to tune the bass, are unusual in
that the inside of each is flexible. KEF
claims this is more effective at reducing
any unwanted midrange distortions.
They look and feel like special speakers,
with neat touches too, such as the raised
KEF logo on top of each gloss cabinet.
Amazing bass for the size of boxAnd all these ingredients combine to
produce a speaker that sounds simply
astoundingly good. For boxes that stand
just 30cm high, the LS50s deliver a
ridiculous amount of bass. And it’s not
just the quantity of bass on offer – spin
Massive Attack’s Teardrop and there’s
power, depth and agility all on show too.
But it’s still balanced and beautifully
integrated. Yes, your attention is drawn
to the amount of bass, but that’s more
because you can’t quite believe the
speakers’ low-frequency ability.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Design; premium feel; outstanding bass
for their size; transparent and detailed
AGAINST They demand quality electronics
VERDICT The KEF LS50s have set a
ridiculously high benchmark. It’s going to take a
superhuman effort to top them
TEST STEREO SPEAKERS
Easygoing about room placement
The LS50s aren’t particularly fussy
about positioning. They will sound
perfectly acceptable close to a
wall – but do perform better
given ample room to
breathe.
The insides of the rear
ports are flexible –
a move designed
to reduce distortion
Then there’s the soundstage. The
KEFs set up a huge stereo image with
impressive breadth and depth. Spin
Paloma Faith’s Just Be and the LS50s set
a wonderfully musical scene with open
yet precisely positioned vocals and
piano play – they’re a sheer delight to
listen to as highs and midrange are
delivered with an exquisite blend of
detail, dynamics and sincerity.
We were gushing in our praise of the
KEF LS50s when we first reviewed them
in 2012, and our opinion hasn’t changed.
The more you listen to the LS50s, the
clearer it is that you’re listening to a pair
of very special speakers.
KEF LS50 £800 ★★★★★
www.whathifi.com 79
No two words gets a consumer’s tail
wagging more than ‘price drop’. And this
is exactly what’s happened to the SX2s
(indeed the entire SX range). Previously
£850, the SX2s are now yours for £700.
A price reduction is all well and good
but, of course, it’s all for nothing if the
Missions are not up to scratch sonically
in this incredibly tough test.
As it is, though, the Missions perform
admirably well. On the surface, the SX2s
have a fresh-looking design. They stand
out from the crowd thanks to their large
proportions (they’re the largest speakers
here by some margin), the curved
cabinet sides and top, and also the driver
arrangement: a 16cm metal/fibre cone
above a 25mm titanium dome.
This is done because Mission claims it
aids time alignment – the intention
being to make sure the sound from each
drive unit arrives at the listener’s ears at
the same time.
The SX2s certainly seem to have been
designed for use without their
magnetically-held grilles. In place, the
grilles don’t sit flush with the front
of the cabinet due to the protruding
metal faceplate.
Spin The Strokes’ Someday and there’s
a real sense of drive to the track. The
edges of guitar notes are wonderfully
defined: prominent without protruding.
Bass notes sound deep yet clear and
concise – there’s no wooliness, nor do
they lag behind the rest of the track. The
tune’s upbeat tempo is maintained and
followed to the last.
Scale, power and timingSwitch to the Moon soundtrack and
Welcome to Lunar Industries, and the
Missions capture the essence and drama
of the track in a way that some rivals
struggle to communicate. It’s a striking
combination of scale, power, timing and
dynamics. That large cabinet serves low
frequencies well too – there’s weight
and authority in spades. Add to this a
broad, inclusive soundstage and the
SX2s conjure up a captivating and
engrossing atmosphere for the listener.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Fresh look; capable of impressive scale;
comfortable with multiple music genres;
AGAINST Size could overwhelm small rooms;
ill-fitting magnetic grilles
VERDICT Dependable and capable, the SX2s
produce an authoritative sound at a fine price
STEREO SPEAKERS TEST
What happens when
you biwire them?
Switch to running the Missions biwired
and there’s an improved sense of
spaciousness, but bass, midrange
and treble don’t knit together
quite as cohesively.
Spin a few different types of track and
you soon realize the Missions are the
kind of speakers you can just put on and
forget about. But don’t confuse this with
them sounding forgettable. The fact is,
there’s no real chink in their armour.
There’s a fullness to lows, emotion to
the midrange and decisive, accurate high
frequencies which all makes for a very
entertaining combination.
You can listen without fear that
you’re going to be preoccupied with
any particular area of the frequency
range, and this can only be a good thing.
Those five stars would suggest it’s a very
good thing indeed.
The SX2s come with
grilles, but they don’t
fit terribly well, so we
wouldn’t use them
MissionSX2 £700 ★★★★★
80 www.whathifi.com
You can always trust the Italians to
bring some style and sophistication
to a Group Test. Opera’s Mezzas are
undoubtedly classy speakers and their
fit and finish definitely make them one
of the more attractive and desirable
pairs in this group.
Unbox the speakers and each
veneered cabinet feels solid and sturdy
to the touch. And, adding to their visual
appeal, each Mezza tapers in slightly to
the rear – these are cabinets fitted with
the precision and grace of an Italian suit.
The trim and finish is no less smart:
a strip of leather runs around the edge of
each cabinet giving a plush, refined feel
to the unit. Suffice it to say, you certainly
don’t feel shortchanged for your £850.
Each speaker contains one 25mm
fabric-dome tweeter and a 13cm
treated-paper, mid-bass driver. Looked
at straight on, the Mezzas don’t look as
showy as the KEFs, B&Ws or Tannoys of
this test. There’s a lot to be said for the
elegant way the drive units blend into
the front of each cabinet.
Sonically, the Mezzas do their best to
charm and seduce. After a quick
audition, your attention is drawn to their
smooth and sweet midrange. Spin Kylie’s
acoustic treatment of I Should Be So
Lucky and Ms Minogue’s vocals are
sharp and precise.
Take a bit of care with placementOpera recommends positioning its
smaller speakers around 30cm from a
back wall. In practice we wouldn’t
really place them any further away
from a boundary. Put them well out
into free space, and you’ll find that the
midrange and treble have a tendency
to veer towards the shouty and
even get a touch edgy.
Given their dimensions, the Operas
still manage to bestow the listener with
a decent amount of bass. They don’t
sound malnourished at all and cope with
the excursions during Eminem’s Without
Me reasonably well. The speakers
capture the basic flow of the song well
and manage to sketch out the general
Rating ★★★★
FOR Smart appearance and finish; balance,
unified sound; good detail, well-defined bass
AGAINST Timing could be a touch better; low
frequencies lack authority
VERDICT Look suave and sound good, but
don’t possess the sonic assertiveness of some
TEST STEREO SPEAKERS
Get the base right for solid effective bass
Biwiring the Mezzas isn’t an option,
but careful positioning and a pair of
solid speaker stands will help
solidify those low
frequencies.
The Mezzas are
beautifully finished,
so will grace any room.
They sound good, too
path of even complicated tracks such as
Thelonious Monk’s Played Twice.
Low-level dynamics, though, just
aren’t delivered with enough grunt and
aggression when the need arises. The
Mezzas are fine with the first few
seconds of Madonna’s Sky Fits Heaven
but when the track shifts up a gear, the
Operas don’t quite have the reserves in
the tank to cope.
In true Italian fashion, the Mezzas
look super-smart and are dressed to
impress. Sonically, they’re steady as
opposed to stunning, but there’s still
plenty to admire about the way they go
about their business.
OperaMezza £850 ★★★★★
For further informa on, contact your local dealer or visit www.cyrusaudio.com
www.whathifi.com 83
You could say the 6.1s have been
thrown straight in at the deep end. This
model may be the entry into the new
Precision range but that doesn’t stop it
being the most expensive in this test.
They certainly look like the money’s
worth, the gloss black finish and curved
cabinet sides giving a pleasing aesthetic.
The single Dual Concentric driver looks
understated and the way it’s mounted
into the cabinet leaves the front of the
speaker looking neat. Despite their
decent size, they feel a little lighter and
less premium than some rivals.
The 6.1s use the same dual-motor,
dual-magnet WideBand Dual Concentric
driver found in the hugely successful
Revolution DC6T SE. This driver
technology sees a 25mm titanium-dome
tweeter recessed in the 15cm paper pulp
cone, in a similar style to the KEFs.
Tannoy claims this helps with focus,
integration and dispersion.
And those are certainly areas where
the 6.1s show no signs of weakness.
You’re presented with a focused, direct
sound, with no vagueness to the
soundstage. Instruments and vocals are
rigid and regimental in their positioning.
Jessie J’s impressive acoustic version of
Domino showcasing the Tannoys’
precision and thrusting dynamics. They
deliver her strong vocal with gusto,
while piano strokes and guitar strums
are expertly and confidently defined.
Spin some classical music, such as
the Minnesota Orchestra’s version of
Études-Tableaux and the 6.1s dig up a
serious amount of detail and display
impressive agility. High notes sound
crisp and agile, and the track bounds
along without hesitation.
Just a little light in the bassOver a prolonged listen, though, your
attention is constantly drawn to the
midrange and treble. Surprisingly, the
Tannoys sound just a bit lightweight.
There’s a lack of solidity to lows which
means bass notes don’t sound quite as
gutsy when compared with rivals. Even
putting the rear-ported Tannoys up
Rating ★★★★
FOR Impressive yet understated appearance;
excellent levels of detail; focused soundstage
AGAINST Sound a little lightweight in the
lower midrange and upper bass
VERDICT Rhythmic, detailed speakers but a
lack of solidity leaves them sounding unbalanced
STEREO SPEAKERS TEST
Biwiring is well worth
consideration
Biwiring the Tannoys opens up the
soundstage and gives frequencies a
little room to breathe. This allows
their focus and precision to
shine even brighter.
against a wall doesn’t encourage quite
enough reinforcement and firmness.
The knock-on effect of this
lightweight presentation is that
vocals have a slight hardness and
edge to them, which does detract
from the overall sound.
In many ways these Tannoy’s excel:
for detail and resolution they’re
particularly tough to beat and they
produce a wonderfully focused
soundstage. But their ultimate chances
in this test have been scuppered by their
lightweight, unbalanced approach to
music. More solidity in the bass would
have nailed down that elusive fifth star.
If you’re after detail
and resolution, the
Tannoy Precision 6.1s
deserve an audition
TannoyPrecision 6.1 £900 ★★★★★
www.whathifi.com 85
STEREO SPEAKERS TEST
There are some fine speakers in this test but
we have to doff our cap to KEF’s LS50s –
they’ve set an unfeasibly high benchmark
KEF LS50£800 ★★★★★
What can you do? It just so
happens that KEF has
chosen this particular
moment to produce one of the most
talented speakers you can buy for any
money, never mind £800. There’s no
other speaker here that combines
stunning looks and outstanding sound
quality to such fine effect. They’re
finely honed and unbelievably
accomplished speakers.
In the SX2s, Mission has seriously
entertaining speakers at an even more
affordable price. Yes, they’re rather
large standmounters and you’ll need a
fair amount of space to accommodate
them, but find the room and you’ll be
subjected to a persuasive display of
authority, scale, dynamics and timing.
They’re a fine alternative to the KEFs.
This Group Test has been a baptism
of fire for Tannoy’s Precision range. In
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
88 • Impedance 4ohms
• Max power handling
100W • Biwirable Yes
• Finishes 4 •
Dimensions (hwd)
26 x 14 x 22cm
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
88 • Impedance 8ohms
• Max power handling
120W • Biwirable Yes
• Finishes 4 •
Dimensions (hwd)
34 x 20 x 28cm
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
85 • Impedance 8 ohms
• Max power handling
100W • Biwirable No
• Finishes 1 •
Dimensions (hwd)
30 x 20 x 28cm
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
85 • Impedance 6ohms
• Max power handling
100W • Biwirable Yes
• Finishes 5 •
Dimensions (hwd)
38 x 23 x 37cm
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
88 • Impedance 4ohms
• Max power handling
70W • Biwirable No
• Finishes 3 •
Dimensions (hwd)
32 x 20 x 33cm
Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
88 • Impedance 8ohms
• Max power handling
150W • Biwirable Yes
• Finishes 2 •
Dimensions (hwd)
33 x 22 x 26cm
Audiovector Ki1 Super£800 ★★★★
B&W CM5£780 ★★★
KEF LS50£800 ★★★★★
Mission SX2£700 ★★★★★
Opera Mezza£850 ★★★★
Tannoy Precision 6.1£900 ★★★★
many respects – detail, resolution and
timing, for example – the Tannoys
perhaps even pip the Missions, but
their leanness and relative lack of
balance robs them of a fifth star.
What the Audiovectors lack in
outright scale and dynamic clout, they
more than make up for in terms of
listenability. Their pleasant, even-
handed approach to music means you
can sit back and relax in their company.
In true Italian style, the Opera Mezzas
look the part, but sonically they’re
steady as opposed to stunning.
We’re surprised to see B&W bringing
up the rear, but the CM5s are now
starting to show their age. They
haven’t turned into a three-star
speaker overnight, it’s just that the
combined array of talents in this test
leaves them sounding off the pace,
lacking drive and excitement.
Facts & figures
VERDICTTEST
THE WINNER
CD PLAYER
Audiolab 8200CD £800
★★★★★
The Audiolab is a brilliant buy, capable of
exceptional sound quality and blessed with
digital inputs for optimum flexibility.
AMPLIFIER
Heed Audio Obelisk £1290
★★★★★
Don’t let the Heed’s simple style or modest
35W per channel fool you. This is a
wonderfully musical and loveable amp.
SPEAKER STANDS
Custom Design FS104 Signature
£200 ★★★★★
The KEFs, like all the speakers in this test,
require a solid stand. At this price, we’ve found
none better than these Custom Designs.
For a full list of specifications and
other useful info visit whathifi.com
Total build £3090
BUILDERSYSTEMThe KEFs deserve appropriate kit to allow
them to sing to their full potential
It’s the brilliance of the picture
that’s most exciting. We forget
about the projector, utterly
absorbed in what’s on the screen
It’s quiet in operation (Panasonic
claims just 22dB), and the PT-AT6000E
packs in all the necessary connections.
Three HDMI inputs is plenty – most
people will use an AV receiver for
switching sources – and there are PC,
component and S-Video inputs.
But it’s the simple brilliance of the
picture that’s most exciting. We find
ourselves forgetting about the projector,
utterly absorbed in what’s on the screen,
with no flaws or instabilities to jolt us
out of the action. This LCD Panasonic
projector remains a worthy champion
and a superb all-rounder for the money.
3D comparison
Both projectors come with two pairs of 3D glasses in the box.
Panasonic’s connect via infrared, while JVC offers the choice
of infared or RF connected glasses. The brighter, punchier
colour of the JVC helps when you’re looking at 3D – the
brightness is fine without alteration. On the Panasonic you
can adjust the darkness of the specs and we also bumped up
the overall brightness. Ultimately, the Panasonic is easier on
the eye, and produces a more composed picture,
free of noise or crosstalk.
FOR Easy set-up; thorough specification;
detailed, realistic pictures; great black levels;
good 3D performance
AGAINST Very little for this money
VERDICT Endlessly watchable, this remains a
classy big-screen all-rounder
86 www.whathifi.com
There’s a new challenger in town to take on the
might of our Award-winning Panasonic projector
Brilliant big-screen images in HD
and 3D are yours for less cash
than ever. JVC and Panasonic
are the top dogs once you get into
serious cinema territory, so here
we’ve pitted the Award-winning
PT-AT6000E against JVC’s brand-new
DLA-X35BE to find out who takes the
spoils at £3000. Sit back and enjoy…
Panasonic PT-AT6000E £3000 Rating ★★★★★
The Panasonic PT-AT6000E projector
swept all before it in 2012, turning up
just in time to grab our Product of the
Year Award. Taking a good look at this
projector again, it’s easy to see why.
Out of the box, the ‘6000 takes very
little adjustment to get started. There’s
no digital lens control, but a joystick
hidden beneath a removable cover on
the front of the unit makes it pretty easy
to get the picture in place. The dinky
remote control offers a small selection of
backlit buttons, useful in the dark.
Watching HD, as you must as often as
you can with a projector, the Panasonic
serves up natural, detailed images. Edges
are sharp without making the picture
look unnaturally layered, while colours
are brilliant thanks to deep blacks, bright
enough whites and a full colour palette
inbetween that’s perfectly judged.
More affordable projectors often fall
down with motion handling. The jump
in outlay here gets you a far more stable
delivery, with very little sign of blurring
or loss of focus. Even with standard-def
content the ‘6000 remains assured, easy
to watch and packing plenty of insight.
Effective with 3D as wellPanasonic’s 3D glasses – you get two
pairs of fairly comfortable ones included
– are now infrared rather than RF, and
the connection seems more robust as a
result. 2D-to-3D conversion delivers a
surprisingly watchable picture, and
works nicely for gaming. Switch to the
real thing and there’s an
enjoyable, subtle depth and
only minimal crosstalk when
really pushed.
There’s no motorised
control with the
Panasonic, but
manual set up is easy
Light heavyweights
free of noisse or crosstalk.nois
How they compareHow they compare
The projector market is arguably the
only AV category where JVC remains
truly competitive. Thankfully the
company has a fine reputation for its
home cinema machines, which the
DLA-X35BE, as the entry-level model of a
six-strong line-up of projectors new for
2013, will want to uphold.
This 3D, Full HD, D-ILA projector looks
great, with a little more flair to its design
compared with the Panasonic model. On
paper it’s also impressive, with a claimed
50,000:1 contrast, 1300 lumens
brightness and 2D-to-3D conversion as
well as native 3D playback. It’s a standard
Full HD resolution, in line with price
rivals. All the models above it in the JVC
line-up offer 4K resolution (the next
model up, the DLA-X55RBE, is £5000).
Beautifully simple to set upThe motorised lens is a great feature for
getting the projector set-up. You can use
the remote to move the lens up and
down, left and right, and zoom and
focus. Getting the picture in position
couldn’t be easier. As is often the case
with projectors, we find there isn’t too
much need to do massive adjustments
with the picture settings either.
Two HDMI inputs seems a little tight
but shouldn’t be an issue for most people
– there are component and PC inputs,
too. The long, TV-like remote control
has clear backlit buttons and basic,
intuitive menus. A 3D transmitter is
supplied – a small matchbox-sized
device that plugs in at the back and
talks to the two pairs of USB-
rechargeable active-shutter glasses.
The X35 produces punchy, dynamic
images. Watching Blu-ray content,
there’s impressive contrast, with dusky
scenes showing strong blacks and bright
whites. In fact, contrast is a little
over-cooked, even after we dial down the
settings and experiment with the various
picture modes (we settled on ‘natural’).
Bright scenes do look great, though:
sharp and clean. Colours are impressive
but after prolonged periods we prefer the
Panasonic’s more natural, filmic quality.
It’s just not as easy to sit back and enjoy
the JVC. Our eyes are also distracted by
the less-than-iron grip on fast motion. By
contrast, we find even the lowest Clear
Motion Drive setting too unnatural.
3D pictures benefit from the punch
and brightness, but again motion isn’t
flawless and we generally feel our eyes
working harder to piece together a
picture that looks at times more like
layered 2D.
There’s much to enjoy with the X35BE
– it’s bright, sharp and colourful. But for a
more natural, realistic and enjoyable
experience, it’s pipped by the Panasonic.
FOR Easy motorised set-up; bright, punchy
colours; detailed and sharp
AGAINST Contrast is a little over-cooked; some
motion issues
VERDICT Good but not great, this JVC has
plenty of appeal if you like bright pictures
www.whathifi.com 87
DLA-X35BE£3000Rating ★★★★
Setting up the JVC
is a breeze with
its motorised
lens controls
PROJECTORS HEAD TO HEAD
Panasonic PT-AT6000E JVC DLA-X35BE
Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Type LCD D-ILA
Weight 8.7kg 14.8kg
Rated fan noise 22dB 23dB
Throw ratio 1.18–2.36:1 N/A
Rated contrast 500,000:1 50,000:1
Aspect ratio 16:9 16:9
Max image size 300in 300in
Dimensions (hwd) 15 x 47 x 36cm 18 x 46 x 47cm
Rated brightness 2400 lumens 1300 lumens
Phono audio in 0 0
PC in 1 1
S-Video in 1 0
HDMI in 3 2
RGB Scart 0 0
Component in 1 1
Accepts 1080p Yes Yes
>
88 www.whathifi.com
What makes a television
luxurious? Are cutting-edge
engineering and a great
performance (at a suitably high price)
enough, or is there more to it than that?
The common path, followed by all the
industry giants, prioritises technology
above all else. The most expensive sets
have the most advanced features and, if
you’re lucky, greater attention paid to
the cosmetics. This makes for exciting
products, though it doesn’t take long for
new technology to trickle down to more
affordable price levels.
Bang & Olufsen has always done
things differently, partially because it
has to. This relatively small company
just doesn’t have the development
resources or economies of scale of the
big boys. However, once something is
developed elsewhere, such brands can
fine-tune the performance.
Bang & Olufsen’s strength is in its
understanding of the luxury market and
what the people that buy such products
want. High performance and quality
build are important, of course, but
there’s also the ability of the product to
make people feel good when they use it.
That’s something the LCD-panel-based
BeoVision 11 does with ease.
Elegance and convenienceIt starts with the elegant look of the set
and continues with the neat motorised
pedestal stand. There’s also an option of
a motorised wall bracket for those who
don’t want to take up floor space. In
both cases, the motorised support can
swivel the TV to preset viewing angles
and tuck it away when it’s not in use.
But there’s far more to this set than
just fancy supports. It has a surround
sound processor built in (see panel
Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 11-40Real luxury and top performance meet in this feature-laden television
Price £5250 ★★★★ ★
What makes it special? Superb build, ease of use and some truly well-conceived features
Tempted? B&O promises great picture and sound from this set as well as class-leading flexibility.
If it all proves to be true this screen will be a truly tempting proposition
Profile
Add any speakers from
B&O’s range and the
BeoVision’s processor
will configure them
below). It means the BeoVision can be
the heart of a complete surround
speaker set-up without having all the
complexity of a separates system.
There’s also the rather handy option
of adding a 500-gigabyte internal hard
disk for recording broadcast TV, though
it’s a pricey feature at £694. By current
standards that storage space isn’t
massive, but it’s enough for around 120
hours of high-definition broadcasts or
double that for standard-definition
material. Our review sample had one
fitted and it worked well. The recording
procedure is easy, and the pictures are
pretty much indistinguishable from
those of the original broadcasts.
The BeoVision 11 is available in three
screen sizes: the 40in under test here,
together with 46in and 55in options. All
are Full HD, of course, and 3D capable
with active glasses. The 3D glasses aren’t
Brand integration B&O’s customised surround sound
The BeoVision 11’s built-in home cinema
processor module can make it the brains
behind a complete surround-sound system.
Once connected to any B&O speakers
the BeoVision can use them in differing
configurations, from basic two-channel
stereo to a full-fat system with surround
backs plus height and width channels. The
processor knows what the speakers are
capable of and manages bass output
accordingly. It also has dedicated sound
modes for different types of programme.
www.whathifi.com 89
High performance and quality build are important,
of course, but there’s also the ability of the product
to make people feel good when they use it. That’s
something the LCD BeoVision 11 does with ease
supplied as standard, and cost a hefty
£120 each – far pricier than the slicker-
looking alternatives supplied by the likes
of Samsung. B&O needs to be more
competitive in areas such as this.
Similarly, Smart TV is present, but
is limited compared with cheaper
mass-market alternatives. There’s BBC
iPlayer, You Tube and access to the
internet, but little else that excites.
The BeoVision 11 is a DLNA TV, so it
can stream video and music from a
home network. It can do these things
wirelessly without fuss too. As is normal
these days, there are dedicated iPad and
Android control apps, which are handy
for the use of a QWERTY keyboard when
surfing the net.
Professional set-upB&O intends the dealer to install this TV,
and we would go along with that even if
you’re charged for the pleasure. It’s the
only way to ensure it works as intended
because set-up is not straightforward.
That said, the basic picture and sound
menus are simpler than the norm.
B&O engineers have sensibly mounted
the BeoVision 11’s light sensor on the top
edge of the TV, as opposed to on the
front panel. This allows it to take account
of the light conditions behind the set as
90 www.whathifi.com
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Elegant style and impressive build; terrific
picture with rich colours, strong contrasts and
surefooted handling of motion; impressive list
of features; superb sound
AGAINST Limited Smart TV apps; 3D glasses
aren’t supplied as standard and cost £120 each
VERDICT Looking for a truly luxurious TV that
delivers a great performance too? This is it
TECH SPECS
Type LCD with
edge LED
Full HD Yes
Screen Size 40in
Resolution 1920
x 1080
Accepts 1080P/
24fps Yes HDMI 6
Component In No
USB In 2
RGB Scart No
Composite With
supplied adapter
Dimensions (hwd)
89 x 96 x 6cm
Weight 41kg
We love the BeoVision’s colours. They’re rich
without being overbearing and nuanced enough
to convince with difficult-to-reproduce textures
Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 11-40
In detail: the active speaker system
One of our most common complaints against
flat-panel TV sets is their sound quality. The
drive towards ever-slimmer cabinets has left
little space to fit decently sized drive units.
The BeoVision 11 is an exception. Here, the
engineers have managed to fit a three-way
pair of fully active stereo speakers. The driver
complement includes a 19mm dome tweeter,
5cm midrange unit and a 10cm woofer.
All these drive units are powered by
dedicated 32W ICEpower Class-D amplifiers.
That’s 6 x 32W of power in total, and it allows
the BeoVision 11 to output a maximum
volume level of over 100dB.
Listen in, and all that effort is soon justified.
This is the best-sounding flatscreen we’ve
ever reviewed. The sound has weight and
authority, and the kind of clarity that’s usually
the province of dedicated audio kit.
We’re not saying this is a replacement for a
proper separates surround system, mind, but
it’s a formidable achievement for a television.
well as in front of it, giving more
effective contrast settings.
It’s a mark of the inherent rightness of
the BeoVision’s picture that we felt no
great need to play around with its
settings. This TV looked lovely with the
Blu-ray of John Carter. No matter what
you think of the film’s script and story
there’s no denying that there are plenty
of visually spectacular scenes on show,
and this B&O makes the most of them,
with its impressively crisp detail and
strong handling of contrasts.
We love the BeoVision’s colours.
They’re rich without being overbearing
and nuanced enough to convince with
difficult-to-reproduce textures such as
skin or grass. We’re equally happy with
motion handling. It’s stable and
composed, even when provoked by the
large-scale battles scenes set on Mars.
Switch to 3D with Avatar, and the
BeoVision’s active set-up produces good
results. There are slight image stability
issues with fast motion – no worse than
the best of its active rivals, we might add
– but the 11-40 still impresses
with its composure, colour
rendition and detail.
Move to some standard-
definition, DVD source
material and the
BeoVision continues to
shine. Sure, there’s the
expected drop-off in terms
of precision, but the picture
remains remarkably clean
and watchable. Picture
noise is held at low levels
and specifics such as
colour, contrast and motion are handled
very well. Much the same holds for
off-air broadcasts on Freeview HD.
Channels broadcast in standard
definition and HD look as good as we’ve
seen them, and the surefooted handling
of motion together with the high levels
of detail work well with games too.
Sound effortWhere the BeoVision pulls ahead of any
rival we’ve tested is in its sound quality.
The general standard of sound from
flatscreen TVs remains poor, but the
BeoVision is different. It packs in a pair
of generously sized three-way active
stereo speakers (see panel, above). It
sounds excellent for a TV, and is
perfectly useable without a dedicated
surround system. That’s the first time
we’ve thought that about a flat-panel TV.
In fact, B&O even promotes the idea of
using this TV as a dedicated audio
system as part of its Master Link set up.
While we would crave something of a
higher quality for music replay that’s not
a totally outlandish idea.
Compared with conventional offerings
the £5k price tag of this 40in TV looks
way over the top. But once we started
using it, the BeoVision 11 soon charmed
its way into our affections. If the price
doesn’t offend you, buy with confidence.
Which other flatscreen
TVs are blessed with a
powerful three-way
speaker configuration?
Siting the light sensor
on top of the TV rather
than on the front makes
it much more effective
The chunky metal
remote control is neatly
laid-out and feels
suitably luxurious
. . .
92 www.whathifi.com
Until last year we knew
Hungarian manufacturer Heed as
the company that makes some
rather fine budget phono stages. Then
along came the Obelisk si Award-
winning amplifier last year to change
that impression. This pre/power
combination is the natural step up from
that terrific little integrated.
The preamplifier has plenty of
line-level inputs, and space on its circuit
boards for an optional phono stage
(£145) and DAC (£265). It comes with
a remote control, but it’s of the flimsy,
credit-card type we normally find
supplied with budget iPod docks. Such
a handset has no place in a product at
this price level.
The preamplifier can be used as a
stand-alone unit, or with an optional
outboard power supply called the px.
We’ve chosen to go with the extra unit
because the preamplifier sounds so much
better when used this way (see panel).
The Obelisk ps stereo power amplifier
is rated at 60 watts per channel into an
8-ohm load, and that output goes up to
a reasonable 90 watts per channel as the
speaker impedance halves.
Full-bodied and detailedStart listening and any misgivings about
the finer points of finish (where’s that
aura of luxury?) are pushed to the back
of our minds. Everything we liked in the
integrated’s sound is here, only better.
The great thing about this combo is
that it concentrates the listener’s mind
squarely on the music, delivering it with
real enthusiasm. The bass is a touch on
the rich side and the midrange is a little
prominent, but the deviations aren’t
Heed Obelisk pre/px/psA minimalist pre/power amplifier combo that majors on musicality
Price £1350/£880/£1350 ★★★★
What makes it special? Taking the engineering principles behind the terrific little
Obelisk si integrated amplifier, and using far better quality components, results in
this attractive three-box combination
Tempted? We’re big fans of the si integrated. If this trio builds on its strengths it should be terrific
Heed Obelisk pre/px
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Lively; rhythmic; dynamic; well featured
AGAINST Poor remote; finish could be better
VERDICT This is a superb-sounding preamp,
but Heed needs to make it feel more luxurious
Heed Obelisk ps
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR A fast, rhythmic performer that is exciting
to listen to; full-bodied midrange
AGAINST Bass could be tauter; lacks authority
VERDICT Engaging and a pleasure to listen to,
even if it’s not the classiest in terms of finish
Profile
massive enough to sound unbalanced
– there’s just an appealingly full-bodied
sound that delivers an awful lot of detail
but never sounds overtly analytical.
Vocals are impressively handled,
sounding simply beautiful with great
recordings such as The Unthanks’ Last.
Move onto something larger scale such
as The Dark Knight Rises OST and it
becomes clear that the power amp isn’t
a powerhouse. There isn’t quite the
sonic authority, bass tautness or image
scale of some rivals, but rhythms are
delivered in a resolutely surefooted –
even class-leading – manner.
These Heeds aren’t flawless; we’d like
more attention paid to the finish and
there are rivals that sound more
authoritative, but this is a combo that’s
involving and exciting in a way few
rivals can match.
Heed Obelisk pre/px/ps
Outboard power Why the px is worth it
The Obelisk preamplifier can be self-powered or
used with an outboard power supply, the px. This
costs £880, which looks like rather a lot of money
when we take a look inside, despite the obvious
quality of some of the components used.
That said, the sonic benefits are obvious.
Without the px the preamplifier sounds tidy and
precise. Attach the power supply and everything
gets better. The sound becomes larger and more
expressive. There’s greater detail on offer and an
improved handling of dynamic contrasts. The pre’s
tonal balance, however, remains unchanged.
www.whathifi.com 93
The great thing about this combination is that
it concentrates the listener’s mind squarely on
the music, delivering it with real enthusiasm
Ultra-minimal styling,
but there’s nothing
minimal about the
sound this trio produces
We designed the
Obelisk pre to
follow the layout
of the Obelisk si
integrated’s
well-tried preamp
section, but set
out to raise the bar in every detail. We
combined a traditional, discrete-circuit
topology with a ’short signal path’
approach and top-grade components,
custom-made by Noratel and Mundorf.
We like to make our equipment
easily upgradeable and – unlike many
preamplifiers that have dumbed-down
internal power supplies to highlight the
benefit of power-supply upgrades – the
pre has a sophisticated and generously
sized on-board power supply. Even so,
its performance can still be enhanced
by adding the Obelisk ps.
For the px we chose a sophisticated,
fully-regulated, double-filtered circuit
arrangement which eliminates
interference from the mains supply. It
features high-grade, custom-made
components such as a Noratel mains
transformer and Mundorf capacitors.
With the ps we went for an enhanced
Obelisk si power stage in a separate
case, with improved PCB layout,
higher-grade components and a more
substantial power supply. It shows that
you can push the envelope of the
non-DC-coupled power stage design to
achieve a less ‘processed’ sound with
more natural decay of tones.
Behind the music* Attila Olah,R&D manager
94 www.whathifi.com
There are few hi-fi
products that truly merit
the term ‘legendary’.
Quad’s electrostatic
speaker is one of them
The electrostatic tech
gives a striking look –
and sound, if the ESLs
are properly positioned
Quad ESL-2812
Behind the music* Peter Comeau, Director of Acoustic Design
We started by
redesigning the
power supply
layout to eliminate
creepage – charge
flowing between
adjacent
components – and uprating the
components to Vishay resistors and
Murata capacitors. This improves the
power supply’s stability and reduces
modulation and external noise.
There’s a new grille cloth (for
superior audio transparency and a
smarter look), and the grille support
has revised ribs to reduce resonance.
The sides of the base are formed from
high-density plywood to further dampen
resonance. Matching gold-plated
terminals for new audio connection
PCBs and wiring complete the picture.
www.whathifi.com 95
Despite the protestations of
various marketing departments,
there are few hi-fi products that
genuinely merit the term ‘legendary’.
Quad’s electrostatic is one of them.
The original was launched back in
1957 and, through four generations (this
is the fifth), these electrostatics have set
the standards in a number of sonic areas
that, even today, most struggle to match.
The electrostatic operating principle
still seems clever and innovative, even
after all these years. Essentially, it
consists of an electrically charged Mylar
membrane placed between two metal
grids. As music plays, the charge on the
grids changes polarity and makes the
membrane move, so creating sound.
In the ESL-2812, the internal power
supply – needed to deliver the charge for
the thing to work – has once again been
upgraded. Its layout is revised and the
quality of components improved. It now
includes audiophile favourites such as
Vishay resistors and Murata capacitors.
An electrostatic doesn’t have a
cabinet as such. It has a supporting
frame for the diaphragm, and this
structure has been further strengthened
and damped for this new model.
Despite the raft of detail changes,
Quad’s electrostatic remains what it has
always been. It’s an obtrusively wide
product, looking for all the world like
a shrunken room partition. It’s a passive
speaker but it still requires mains power
to work, and needs a great deal of care in
room positioning and system matching.
The ESL-2812s, like the generations
before them, throw out as much sound
backwards as they do forwards, and very
little to the sides. This means a bit of
thought has to be put into placement.
Ideally, these speakers should be used
well away from rear walls, but can be
placed near a sidewall without issue.
In our listening room we heard a
clearer, better-focused sound after
placing sound-absorbing material
– heavy curtains or similar – over
reflective surfaces behind the speakers.
We got good results with our Bryston
BP26/4B SST2 reference amplifier but
things got even better when we used
Audio Research’s LS27/Reference 75
valve-powered combination. We also,
predictably, got good results with Quad’s
own II-Eighty valve monoblocs too.
Set-up is all importantIt’s worth taking the trouble to get
everything spot-on, because once you
do you’ll find the 2812s are exceptional.
They sound terrifically cohesive – not a
quality to be underestimated. There’s
a real sense of unity to the sound which,
once heard, makes most conventional
speakers sound just a little broken.
Electrostatics tend to excel in the
midrange and these are no different.
Take a listen to a 24bit/96kHz file of
Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow and the
2812s deliver Kate’s vocals with plenty
of subtlety and focus. There’s a mass of
detail but the sound never feels overtly
analytical. The presentation is wholly
Quad ESL-2812These elite stereo speakers flatly (and we mean that) refuse to conform
Price £6500 ★★★★★
What makes them special? These speakers are anything but conventional. They do without a
cabinet, crossover or multiple drive units
Tempted? Quad’s electrostatic has been a landmark product in hi-fi, and this fifth-generation
model enjoys a whole raft of improvements. Tempted? You bet
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Excel with vocals in the midrange;
sky-high detail; smoothness; cohesion
AGAINST Fussy about positioning and
partnering kit
VERDICT Still a terrific electrostatic speaker,
in certain respects it remains unmatched
Profile
unforced and natural. It’s a solid,
well-planted sound that extends well
beyond the speakers themselves.
There’s a touch of excess richness
around the bass and a slight lack of
brilliance to the treble, but put it
together and it’s a smooth presentation.
Listen to Beethoven’s Midnight Sonata
and the ESLs excel. They sound
dynamic and immensely insightful too.
Move to the likes of The Dead Weather’s
60 Feet Tall and these Quads prove
adept at delivering crisp rhythms and
the complex interplay of instruments.
If you have a large room or simply
want greater bass reach and scale, Quad
makes a larger version of this speaker
called the 2912, for around £8000.
Compared with conventional
alternatives, these electrostatics sound
immensely clean and a touch dry. Some
will want something that sounds more
overtly impressive – many conventional
floorstanding alternatives will do, at
least over a short listen. But if you value
cohesion, insight and an unexaggerated
smoothness we can’t think of an
alternative that does these things better.
These are passive
speakers but still
require their own
power supply
Special Features
Disc 1
New feature original short:
Captain Sparky vs. The Flying
Saucers – A short featuring
Victor and Sparky’s home movie.
Miniatures In Motion: Bringing
Frankenweenie to Life – An
in-depth tour of the London set,
including footage showcasing
the hundreds of artists who
worked on the film.
Frankenweenie Touring Exhibit
– explores the artistry of the
film’s puppets, sets and props in
a showcase that’s travelling
around the world.
Original live-action
Frankenweenie short
Specifications
Duration 87m
Audio English: DTS-HD
Master Audio 7.1
Picture 16:9 – 1.85:1, 1080p
96 www.whathifi.com
MOVIES + MUSIC + GAMES
Frankenweenie Blu rayOut Now
★★★
You have to be careful when
people say things like “a return to
form”. It doesn’t mean anything –
because everyone’s got a different
idea of what a director’s best work
might be. We will say this, though:
Frankenweenie is a return to...
whatever Tim Burton used to do.
How? It’s stop-motion, for a
start. A wise move, considering the
level of success that Burton
achieved with A Nightmare Before
Christmas. After the disastrously
messy Dark Shadows, it’s good to
see something totally different.
Frankenweenie is a quirky
retelling of a classic horror story
where a mad scientist brings a
dead creature to life. This time
Victor Frankenstein is a boy, and
the monster is his dead dog.
A remake from 1984…
It’s no coincidence that Burton has
chosen this story. He already tried
it once in 1984, as a live-action
short. So it’s a remake; but is it a
necessary one?
The animation looks fantastic:
some of the models are seriously
creepy, creating an uncomfortable
edge that a live-action production
would struggle to match without
seeming ridiculous.
The animation makes the whole
affair macabre and yet still
charming. Somehow, it feels fairly
normal to see children play with
dead animals. There’s also room to
cram in classic horror tropes,
which are mimicked and lovingly
mocked in equal measure.
Beyond this, however, the film
doesn’t have much to offer. Most
ideas (and homages) are used by
the third act, at which point things
begin to feel distinctly recycled.
The Blu-ray picture is excellent:
it’s sharp enough to see the models’
textures, while the blacks and
whites present strong contrast.
The audio is par for the HD course,
without any real sonic set-pieces.
Frankenweenie is a return to
form for Tim Burton in that he’s
managed to identify some of his
better ideas. We like his creepy
brand of charm. What he needs
now are some fresh ideas.
It’s a quirky retelling of a classic horror
story where a mad scientist brings a dead
creature to life. This time Frankenstein
is a boy, and the monster is his dog…
Disc of the month...
Tim Burton piles on the charm
The movies, music and games to test your system
LISTPLAY
Spotify highlights Join us on Spotify tiny.cc/playlist2013
The Cardigans: Lovefool
There are certain elements
in the WHF?S&V office that
consider this an oldie. Others among
us remember it like it was yesterday.
Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye: The
Things I Will Not Miss A lesser-
known Bacharach & David tune,
delivered in smoother-than-smooth
style by authetic heavyweights.
alt-J: Breezeblocks The standout
track on Mercury Prize-winning
album An Awesome Wave, this is a
slice of literate, intelligent indie-pop
that can’t fail to improve your day.
The Troggs: From Home So long,
Reg Presley. You were a brickie, a
mystic and a crop-circle aficionado.
Oh, and you really knew your way
around a timeless pop song.
Listen to it this way
The system
Cyrus 6a £700 ★★★★★
Energetic and thoroughly engaging,
with a long-term upgrade path
Audiolab CD8200CD
£800 ★★★★★
As insightful as CD players get, with
digital inputs for extra flexibility
KEF LS50 £800 ★★★★★
Supremely transparent, effortlessly
natural... the KEFS are superstars
The system
Rotel RA-10 £350 ★★★★★
Gutsy, detailed, with a fine phono
stage, this is an adaptable amp
Pro-ject Debut Carbon
£300 ★★★★★
Thrillingly musical and balanced
Wharfedale Diamond 121
£230 ★★★★★
Open, eloquent and a great match for
the electronics, these speakers sing
Listen to it this way
Sometimes, appearing lazy and
offhand is more taxing than being the
hardest-working band in showbiz.
Certainly The Strokes seem to work
harder at jaded insouciance than
most – but since 2001’s nigh-on
perfect Is This It it’s a strategy that’s
paying decreasing returns despite the
stylistic ticks and mannerisms the
band has acquired along the way.
Keeping it shapeless
There’s no denying Comedown
Machine sounds like a recording in
search of an identity. From the
startlingly ’80s shapes of Tap Out
and One Way Trigger (featuring a
keyboard sound and riff A-Ha would
have thought a bit much back in the
day) to Julian Casablancas’ baffling
falsetto, there’s an aimlessness and
shapelessness to the majority of
these 11 songs. Only on Welcome To
Japan (“what kind of asshole drives
a Lotus?”) and 50/50 do the band
sound engaged and energised. In
fact, it’s only here that they sound
like they may all be in the same
room at the same time.
Well-balanced recording
Sound-wise, Comedown Machine is
a quite nicely balanced recording,
with low-frequency warmth and
weight offering a nice counterpoint
to the periodically shrill keyboard
sounds and occasionally rattling top
end. The system we’ve selected
below has all the drive and punch
the recording requires but won’t
provoke those sometimes
troublesome high frequencies.
Specifications
Duration 37m 49s
Standout track 50/50, a sub-three-
minute burst of The Strokes as you
want to remember them.
www.whathifi.com 97
PLAYLIST
Download, CD Download, CD, vinyl
GAMES, MOVIES& FORTHCOMING
RELEASESp98
>Music
“A kind of religious, un-building,
relentless, crawling, strange head
song dissolving into eerie abstract
pieces of electronic mumbles... the
overall effect is disturbing and
unrewarding…” And there you have it,
from the horse’s mouth. For their 13th
album, The Flaming Lips are sticking
closely to the career arc that has seen
them begin as pyschedlic oddballs
(1987’s Oh My Gawd!!!, 1990’s In A
Priest Driven Ambulance), collide
winningly with the indie mainstream
(1999’s The Soft Bulletin, 2002’s
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots) and
subsequently drift away again on a
strange orbit only they understand.
It’s not all disturbing…
In fairness, there are substantial
sections of The Terror that aren’t
disturbing and unrewarding. Try To
Explain, for instance, is built on a
pretty and quite conventional chord
sequence and melody, even if it’s
partially submerged beneath
ominous, pulsing electronics. And
the 13-plus minutes of You Lust have
a vaguely narcoleptic, soothing
quality that’s at strong odds with
the electronic noise terror that
makes up the likes of Turning
Violent and You Are Alone.
Stereo focus, dynamic headroom,
and close attention to details and
textures are the big demands The
Terror places on your set-up. Low
frequencies, which are plentiful and
very deep, need careful attention
too if they’re not to subsume the
midrange. The system below has all
of these attributes and more.
Specifications
Duration 55m 10s
Standout track Try To Explain,
which manages to be pretty and
sinister at the same time.
THE FLAMING LIPSThe Terror Out April 1st
★★★★
THE STROKESComedown Machine Out March 25th
★★★
Watch it this way
The system
Sony KDL-46HX853
£1250 ★★★★★
A scorchingly accomplished TV
Panasonic DMP-BDT220
£155 ★★★★★
Superb in 2D and 3D; great sound too
Yamaha RX-V673
£500 ★★★★★
A big- and bold-sounding entertainer
Dali Zensor 5 5.1
£1300 ★★★★★
Prodigious performance and value
oo
er
98 www.whathifi.com
MOVIES + MUSIC + GAMES
Bioshock InfinitePS3/Xbox 360 Out now
★★★★
Crysis 3PS3/Xbox 360 Out now
★★★★
Metal Gear Rising: RevengeancePS3/Xbox 360 Out now
★★★
Tomb RaiderXbox 360 / PS3�Out now
★★★★★
Medieval fantasy-fest
One of the most inventive and
gloriously realised game settings
ever, the floating city of Columbia
is the real star of Bioshock Infinite.
The combat is shallower than
you might expect, but this is still
undeniable fun with a great story
to pull you through.
20 years after the events of Crysis 2,
New York is now part ruin, part lush
forest, and all adventure playground.
When using the new bow and sneaky
tactics this is a supremely enjoyable
(and beautiful) experience, but it’s
let down a little by uninspiringly
mediocre storytelling.
The latest Metal Gear ditches Solid
Snake for a largely mechanised
version of Raiden, who spends the
short campaign hacking limbs off
cyborgs for reasons that in classic MG
style are largely incomprehensible.
The action’s good, but the plot, acting
and abundant exposition are not.
The unfeasibly large breasts are gone,
with Lara Croft portrayed far more
realistically in this reboot. It’s gritty,
grown-up and gorgeously presented,
and if there’s a little inconsistency in
the way Lara’s character develops
we’ll forgive that for the brilliance
found every where else in the game.
Movie shortsTwilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2
It’s a bit late to jump on or off the
wagon for this teen vampire saga. It’s
a high note for the fans, while the rest
of us can be glad it’s all over. Maybe.
Untouchable
Uptight, white, disabled man gets
a laid-back black helper. It’s charming
and fun, but clichéd and not for those
allergic to life-affirming experiences.
The Maltese Falcon
One of Humphrey Bogart’s most
iconic adventures hits Blu-ray for the
first time, in a fresh batch of gorgeous
steelbook editions from Warner.
Hope Springs
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones
do marriage counselling. It’s a low
point for the Iron Lady; TLJ’s bored
grumpiness may not be an act.
On screen Games
George RR Martin’s epic saga, A Song
of Ice and Fire, continues to be
adapted. And we’re now on book
two, A Clash of Kings. There are more
characters, spread out over more
locations. There are more claims to
the Iron Throne, and kings, er, clash.
This season is much more slowly
paced than the last one, and there’s
no clear narrative arc to form the core
of the story. There’s plenty going on,
though: it all leads to an epic finale,
even if it takes its time getting there.
As we’ve come to expect from
HBO, the production is stunning.
From the sets and costumes to
fights and special effects, there’s
little to separate it from something
you might find at the cinema.
While it may not necessarily be
appropriate to compare a television
show to a movie trilogy, episode
nine’s Battle of Blackwater is just as
entertaining and visually stunning
as Helm’s Deep from Lord of the
Rings: The Two Towers.
With The Hobbit some way off,
this is as good an epic fantasy as
you’re going to get. If you want 10
episodes of fighting, food and sex,
there’s plenty to be happy about.
GAME OF THRONES SEASON 2 BLU-RAYOut Now
★★★★
www.whathifi.com 99
PLAYLIST
TV treats for Spring
What we are waiting for...Movies (Blu-ray)
End of Watch (March 18) Stylish and
stylised thriller in the mockumentary
manner about two of LAPD’s finest
(Jake Gyllenhall and Michael Pena).
Movies (cinema)
John Dies at the End (March 22)
Paul Giamatti? Bubba Ho-Tep director
John Coscarelli? Wild psychotropic
conspiracy thriller? Yes please.
Music (download, CD)
Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
(March 22) Back! Back! Back! We’re
disproportionately excited about the
imminent return of The Mode.
Movies (Blu-ray)
Jack Reacher (April 22) Admittedly
it’s a stretch (no pun intended) for
Tom Cruise to play a 6’ 5” hero, but
this will be action-packed and loud.
March in Hi-Def
Drama
Doctor WhoBBC 1 HD – March 30th
New TARDIS, new companion,
new adventures in time and space
– that’s right, Doctor Who is back
on our screens this Easter, with
the second half of series seven
starting on 30th March. There are
plenty of treats in store for us:
Mark Gatiss and Neil Gaiman
return as writers, there are villains
new and old, a smattering of guest
stars (Jessica Raine, Diana Rigg,
Warwick Davies), and we’ve been
promised the return of everyone’s
favourite interspecies crime-
fighting trio of Madam Vashtra,
Jenny and Strax.
More importantly, Jenna
Louise-Coleman joins Matt Smith
as the Doctor’s newest
companion, Clara Oswin Oswald,
who has already died twice in two
separate incarnations. With
showrunner Steven Moffat pulling
all the strings, we’re likely to get
more questions than answers, and
we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Geronimo!
Revolution Sky 1 HD – late March
Geek credentials don’t get better
than this. Revolution’s pilot
episode (airing late March) has the
trinity of executive producer J. J.
Abrams (Lost, Star Trek, Star Wars
Episode VII), writer/creator Eric
Kripke (Supernatural), and
director Jon Favreau (Iron Man)
behind it – enough to get anyone
excited. The show’s premise
revolves around an event – the
Blackout – that switched off all the
electricity in the world.
Fast forward 15 years and a group
of revolutionaries fights against
militia-rule in a dystopian world,
in search of a pendant that could
reverse the effects of the Blackout.
Game of Thrones Sky Atlantic HD – April 1st
The epic fantasy series is back!
Season three (which will air in the
UK a day after its US premiere)
will be based on the first half of A
Storm of Swords, the third of the A
Song of Ice and Fire novels by
George R R Martin. A bevy of new
cast members – including
Mackenzie Crook, Ciaran Hinds,
Diana Rigg, Thomas Sangster –
join the continuing war between
the ruling families of Westeros to
claim the Iron Throne. New
allegiances in King’s Landing just
might offer Sansa Stark a way out
of the clutches of the Lannisters;
Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch
come face-to-face with the King
Beyond the Wall; and Arya
Stark runs into the
Brotherhood Without
Banners in the
new season.
ElementarySky Living HD – March 5th
The US modern retelling of
Sherlock Holmes set in New York
City may have been met with
initial scepticism, but it has since
silenced many critics thanks to
the show’s talented leads: Jonny
Lee Miller puts his own spin on
the Great Detective, while Lucy
Liu’s Joan Watson’s exasperation
with the petulant genius is a joy.
The series returns with Holmes
suspended from the NYPD. John
Hannah guest stars as Holmes’s
drug dealer, we meet Clyde the
tortoise, and hear the first
whispers of ‘M’…
Sport
2013 Formula 1 coverageSky Sports F1 HD – March 17th
The 2013 season starts with the
Australian GP on March 17th,
where all eyes will be on Lewis
Hamilton after his switch to
Mercedes. And will anyone be able
to challenge the formidable
winning streak of Red Bull and
Sebastian Vettel? Sky Sports F1 HD
will show live coverage of the race
from the Albert Park Circuit in
Melbourne, along with the
Malaysian GP on March 24th.
More importantly, Jenna-Louise Coleman
joins Matt Smith as the Doctor’s newest
companion – who has already died twice
In Formula 1 this season, will anyone be
able to challenge the formidable winning
streak of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel?
www.whathifi.com 99
s – including
rook, Ciaran Hinds,
Thomas Sangster –
inuing war between
milies of Westeros to
n Throne. New
n King’s Landing just
ansa Stark a way out
es of the Lannisters;
d the Night’s Watch
-face with the King
Wall; and Arya
to the
Without
he
Malaysian GP on March 24th.
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FIRST TESTS
GROUP TESTS
SUPERTESTS
iPAD EDITIONApril issue available on iTunes now
The No.1 source of clear, expert and independent advice
BUYER’S GUIDEBUYER S GUIDE
QR (quick response) codes
For full reviews, get a barcode
scanner app on your smartphone.
Scan these little squares and
they’ll take you to the relevant
section on whathifi.com
Monitor Audio WS 100
“It’s hard to believe that these speakers cost
just £250. The hunt for excellent desktop
speakers just got a little easier.”
Denon CEOL Piccolo
“A Piccolo plus Spotify equals a superb
listening experience, and for some people
that’s as far as they’ll ever need to go.”
Welcome to the UK’s best guide to TVs,
hi-fi, home cinema and mobile, with star
ratings for more than 1500 products
Why our ratings count
Find what you need
We can help
Where other magazines rely on isolated writers
reviewing in a range of locations, our star ratings are
decided by an expert team of reviewers working
together, in a state-of-the-art testing facility
Within the Buying Guide you’ll find all our
favourite four- and five-star products,
including our Award-winners – to help
you pick the best kit for your budget
LCD, LED & Plasma TVs 108
Home cinemaBLU-RAY PLAYERS 111
PROJECTORS 112
AV RECEIVERS & AMPLIFIERS 113
SUBWOOFERS 115
SURROUND SPEAKERS 116
Hi-FiCD PLAYERS 120
DACS 121
TURNTABLES 122
RADIOS 123
HI-FI SPEAKERS 130
STEREO AMPLIFIERS 135
PREAMPS 136
POWER AMPS 137
iPOD DOCKS 138
WIRELESS SPEAKERS 139
HEADPHONES 140
All-in-one systemsSTEREO SYSTEMS 144
SURROUND SYSTEMS 146
SOUNDBARS 147
Network systemsMEDIA SERVERS 150
MEDIA STREAMERS 151
SET-TOP BOXES 154
Smartphones, tablets & MP3 playersMUSIC/VIDEO PLAYERS 155
TABLETS 155
SMARTPHONES 156
AccessoriesHDMI CABLES 157
DIGITAL INTERCONNECTS 159
ANALOGUE INTERCONNECTS 160
MAINS PRODUCTS 162
SPEAKER CABLES 162
SPEAKER STANDS 164
AV & HI-FI RACKS 165
HEADPHONE AMPS 166
PHONO AMPS 166
CARTRIDGES 166
Inside
The No.1 source of clear, expert and independent advice
www.whathifi.com 103
BUYER’S GUIDEBUYER’S GUIDE
Ced Yuen, Buyer’s Guide Editor
All the latest kit, all
the latest ratings…
Exciting new additions...
We’ve updated each entry
to include key tech specs,
and added new categories
too. For more info, visit us
on whathifi.com
PANASONIC
DMP-BDT220
★★★★★£155Great 3D pictures, a solid online offering and stonking sound. You simply can’t go wrong at the price
Your essential system set-ups
BEST BUYS
SONY BDP-S390
★★★★★£90Simply astonishing performance and pictures for less than £100. Smart functionality too: you can’t go wrong…
PIONEER VSX-922
★★★★★£245Now available for less than half of its previous asking price, this amp offers awesome precision and heft
Q ACOUSTICS
2000i 5.1 PACK
★★★★★£600 Our 2012 Award winner produces sound with impressive scale for movies and music
SONY BDP-S790
★★★★★£200What a bargain! Not only is this a superb 2D and 3D Blu-ray player, it is also the first to upscale to 4K ultra high definition
PIONEER
VSX-LX56
★★★★★£1300Up-to-date spec – with a fine iPhone app for remote control – plus great performance
YAMAHA RX-V673
★★★★★£500Our AV amp Product of the Year 2012, the 673 entertains with big bold dynamics, fine timing and a great deal of detail
DALI ZENSOR 5 5.1
★★★★★£1300 This is a brilliantly realised speaker set-up, and cracking value for money. Timing is confident, rhythms natural
KEF R100 5.1
★★★★★£2750Best Buy for 2012, the R100 5.1 is simply superb with demanding film soundtracks – but is great in stereo too
MARANTZ
CD6004
★★★★★£310A sound that makes it one of the most competitively priced budget machines around
ROTEL RA-10
★★★★★£350Our stereo amp Product of the Year has a level of control and poise above and beyond what we’d expect at the money
Q ACOUSTICS
2020i
★★★★★£150Refined, exciting and detailed – the 2020is deliver an endlessly listenable performance
AUDIOLAB
8200CD
★★★★★£730This player, with its stunning sound, great DAC and digital inputs, is a big achievement
ROKSAN KANDY K2
★★★★★£795A refined amp with full-bodied tonal balance, this is a deeply impressive piece of hi-fi for the money
TANNOY DC6 T SE
★★★★★£1000Purposeful looks mate with a solid sound to produce a pair of exciting, agile and nuanced floorstanders
LEEMA ANTILA
IIS ECO
★★★★★£2995A natural sound and expert timing turn a five-star player into an even better five-star player
LEEMA TUCANA II
★★★★★£3425A robust, powerful yet subtle amplifier, the Leema’s broad spread of talents makes it worth every penny
PMC TWENTY 23
★★★★★£2100They’re petite, but these Best Buys are wonderfully expressive, with firm control and superb detail
SONY
KDL-46HX853
★★★★★£1250A superb Best Buythat really shines when fed a high-definition image. Brilliant…
PANASONIC
PT-AT6000E
★★★★★£3000Superb in 2D, this projector also excelsat 3D. Edges are sharp, pictures have depth and stability
SONY
KDL-32HX753
★★★★★£580Nothing in its class can hold a candle to this, the 32in TV Best Buy in our 2012 Awards
BLU-RAY PLAYERS RECEIVERS SPEAKERS CD PLAYERS AMPLIFIERS SPEAKERSDISPLAYS
Complete your home cinema system Grow your hi-fi system
DIGITAL TV
PROJECTORS SUBWOOFERS HDMI CABLES REMOTE CONTROLS
COMPACT SPKRS FULL-SIZE SPKRS EQUIPMENT RACKS TURNTABLES RADIOS MICRO SYSTEMS
MP3 PLAYERS HEADPHONES AUDIO CABLES
Pro-ject Debut Carbon £300
Rega RP3/ELYS2£550
Rega RP6/Exact £1000
Pure One Flow £100
Pure Revo Axis XS £200
Arcam T32 £480
Denon D-M39 DAB £360
Ruark Audio R4i £550
Cyrus Streamline2 £1400
Apple iPod Shuffle From £39
Apple iPod Nano From £115
Apple iPod Touch 64GB £330
AKG K451 £80
Grado SR80i £110
Beyerdynamic MMX 101 iE£100
Audioquest FLX- SLiP 14/4 £5.80/m
Atlas Elements Integra £45
Supra USB 2.0 £30
Sky+HD 1TB £250
Samsung SMT-S7800 £200
Humax DTR-T1000 £280
Tannoy HTS101 £500
Monitor Audio MASS £800
B&W MT60D £1950
Q Acoustics 2000i 5.1 Pack £600
Dali Zensor 5 5.1 £1300
B&W CM9 Theatre £4200
BenQ W1200 £1000
Epson EH-TW4400 £2000
Panasonic PT-AT6000E £3000
B&W ASW610 £400
B&W ASW610XP £700
Velodyne SPL-1000 Ultra £1400
Audioquest Pearl £26
Wireworld Chroma 6 £60
Chord Company Active HDMI £115
Target CL430 £188
Atacama Eris Eco £460
Audiophilebase StarBase £1180
One For All Zapper £10
Logitech Harmony One £125
Logitech Harmony 1000 £280
TOTAL£1515
TOTAL£810
TOTAL£3205
TOTAL£2525
TOTAL£7250TOTAL£8520
GET THEBEST KIT
FOR YOURBUDGET
104 www.whathifi.com
audiblefidelity
May 2013 issue on sale 5th April
Future TV technology – it’s here now!OLED? 4K? We bring you up to speed with the latest innovations
STEREO AMPSSUPERTESTYour amplifier is the beating heart of your stereo system, and if you’ve got £700 or so
to spend there are some superb options out there. But which is best for you?
Here’s where you find out...
DESKTOP SPEAKERS
Great sounding, cost-effective ways to get your workstation rocking!
PLUS
NEXT MONTH
BRAND-NEW BLU-RAY PLAYERSWe test the very first new machines of 2013!
BLUETOOTH
YOURTUNES
How to combine the ultimate in
convenience with super sound quality
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EDITORIAL 020 8267 5000
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SUBSCRIPTIONS 0844 848 8813email: [email protected] Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision (incorporating VTV, Audiophile, Hi-Fi Answers,
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