It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Audioengine. Their products—from the small A2+ to the larger A5+ speakers— are solidly built, affordable without being cheap, and sound terrific. What’s not to like? When I reviewed the A5+ speakers, I talked about how massive they were in both weight and sound. I used to think they were great speakers—I still do, but now not as much. The venerable A5+ speakers have been upstaged in a major way by Audioengine’s new HD6 powered speakers. Audioengine has taken two steps forward and one step back with the new HD6. That step back...

What Hi*Fi? Best wireless headphones £250+, Awards 2015. Bowers & Wilkins enters the Bluetooth headphone market. Do the B&W P5 Wireless cans have what it takes to compete? Tested at  £330 Our Verdict            The cord is cut but the quality remains. These are excellent Bluetooth headphones For: Excellent sound Lovely design and build Easy Bluetooth operation Against: Nothing of note When a hi-fi manufacturer of Bowers & Wilkins’ pedigree makes something a little different, we sit up and listen. This time, though, we find ourselves sitting up with additional comfort and freedom of movement, because...

The all-in-1, or ‘Mini System’, isn’t a topic we often discuss here on Audio Appraisal. Such words usually hold memories of cheap, plastic budget audio systems, that are as far from hi-fi as it is possible to get. However, thanks to recent technical advancements, and an increasing lack of space in the modern living environment, all-in-1 systems are gaining in popularity even among audiophiles and music lovers. And, needing a small system for an area where a full-size separates system wasn’t  viable option, I decided to investigate the offerings on the market. I reached out to the awesome folks at...

The Denon DP-300F is a fully automatic turntable that is well priced to rival offerings from Pro-ject and Music Hall. But does it equal them in sound? The Denon DP-300F turntable is a modern turntable manufactured by Denon. Its reasonable price will satisfy those looking for a fully automatic turntable that produces great sound. Deconstructing the Denon DP-300F Vintage Denon turntables tend to be either semi-automatic or automatic, and Denon have continued this trend with their new offerings. Also included is a cueing lever to allow the user to select tracks on the record, a must for any good automatic...

If you’re in the market for audiophile-grade headphones, you’ve probably heard of Germany’s professional audio electronics manufacturer Beyerdynamic. In the business of handcrafting premium headphones since 1924, Beyerdynamic is synonymous with hi-fi audio and head-fi enthusiasts worldwide. It’s no surprise then, that when setting out to find a headphone that would deliver high-end performance free from the esoteric claims and sticker shock that have become commonplace in the world of audiophilia, Beyerdynamic’s offerings come highly recommended. Sitting back to enjoy a great stereo system is my preferred listening experience, but due to the fact that I spend more time in...

Sony’s first amp of 2014 is an impressive and well-featured all-rounder at a great price Our Verdict – 5 Stars For Big, immersive sound Lots of detail Well-featured Strong stereo performance Simple set up and operation Lovely user interface Against Can sound bright, so needs careful matching to get the best from it Take a quick glance at the Sony STR-DN850, and you could easily mistake it for its 2013 predecessor. From the outside, at least, it seems like very little has changed. Turn it on though, and you will see just how much difference a year can make. Design...

Say “B&W” to non-audiophile consumers and they’ll probably think you’re mispronouncing BMW, which might be one of the reasons Bowers & Wilkins now prefers to go by its full name. But say “B&W” to any audiophile, and he or she will likely know precisely what you’re talking about: a British loudspeaker manufacturer founded in 1966 by John Bowers and Peter Hayward, and at first named B&W Electronics. Over time, as B&W grew and evolved, it became one of the best-known speaker makers in high-end audio, and in recent years has branched out into all-in-one music systems and headphones. I’m pretty...

Marantz is a company which managed to successfully penetrate the area of home cinema, receivers and modern streamers while preserving audiophile roots and an aura of exclusivity at the same time. It seems that they’ve found a recipe how to balance between the world of modern technologies and this what is proved, classic and desired by the lovers of high-quality sound. If you are interested in the gear from previous ages, and if you like internet profiles with vintage audio, you have surely seen loads of Marantz’s equipment there – beautiful amplifiers, tuners with backlit scales and oscilloscopes, CD players...