Monthly Archives: October 2015

Rock Jaw Alfa Genus V2 review: outstanding quality headphones at a bargain price

Rock Jaw Alfa Genus V2 review: outstanding quality headphones at a bargain price

Audio & Video, Wearables, , , , , ,

You probably haven’t heard of British company RockJaw, but that doesn’t matter one jot. What matters is the quality of the headphones it produces, and the Alfa Genus V2 in-ear buds are truly astonishing for this price.

Engineered by music enthusiasts who wanted to produce high-quality headphones at a price that’s much more affordable than premium brands, it’s clear that the team has succeeded brilliantly.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/headphones/rock-jaw-alfa-genus-review-3543117/

Pioneer VSK-527-K review

Pioneer VSK-527-K review

Audio & Video, , , , , , , ,

Who says home cinema amps have to be expensive? The Pioneer VSX-527-K is a stripped-down 5.1-channel amp aimed at the starter end of the market, but it also does AirPlay streaming out of the box and Bluetooth via a £50/$75 dongle.

Its socketry is fairly basic: terminals for five speaker channels, plus preamp outputs for surround-back or front-height channels, six HDMI inputs and one out, a smattering of analogue ins and outs, a couple of digitals and an Ethernet port.
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https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/vsk-527-k/review

Denon AVR-X4000 review

Denon AVR-X4000 review

Audio & Video, ,

The Denon AVR-X4000 started life costing £1,200/$1,800, then had its price lowered to just £900/$1,350.And that makes it a decent proposition for your living room.

Its sparkling clear sound and crisp edges make it an arresting listen, but it’s not without its faults.

Sound quality

The Denon AVR-X4000 blisters through a film soundtrack with remarkable clarity. The amplifier focuses on the midrange and treble to a great degree, giving the sound a crisp and rather sharp edge. While it’s a brisk, lively presentation, it’s not quite authoritative enough in the lower frequencies to deliver a fully engaging performance.
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https://www.whathifi.com/denon/avr-x4000/review

NAD T787 review

NAD T787 review

Audio & Video, , ,

The AV receiver market has been one of the more dynamic in recent years, making for an increasingly competitive landscape. Inevitably, you can get more performance and particularly functionality than ever before.

That means a £3,000/$4,500 AV receiver such as this NAD T787 is a more serious proposition than ever. It’s a heck of a lot of cash when you consider what’s on offer further down the price spectrum.
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https://www.whathifi.com/nad/t787/review

Nakamichi AV1/AVP1 review

Nakamichi AV1/AVP1 review

Audio & Video, , ,

Mention the name Nakamichi and we bet most audiophiles still associate the brand with exquisite high-end cassette decks. Yet decks like the legendary Dragon went out of production decades ago.

Over the years the brand has gone through various management changes and its product mix has changed radically.

The last time we remember reviewing anything from Nakamichi, it was an all-in-one style system built to battle Bose.

But that was years ago, so imagine our surprise to be confronted by this – the AV1/AVP1 processor/power amp combination.
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https://www.whathifi.com/nakamichi/av1avp1/review

Yamaha RX-A1040 review

Yamaha RX-A1040 review

Audio & Video, , , , , , ,

Yamaha’s Aventage range of AV amplifiers has thrilled us in recent years with their powerful and immersive surround sound.

The brand new Yamaha RX-A1040 fits into this brawny, muscular mould, but the £1,000/$1,500 seven-channel amplifier isn’t quite the resounding success we’ve come to expect from Yamaha.

Performance

Yamaha plays to its strengths: the RX-A1040 is powerful, punchy and energetic. Play Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray, and the RX-A1040 relishes the chance to flex its muscles. The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack sounds solid and weighty, with special effects whizzing across the room with a great deal of gusto.
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https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/rx-a1040/review

Harman-Kardon AVR 370 review

Harman-Kardon AVR 370 review

Audio & Video, , ,

If you’re after big, loud and brawny surround sound, the Harman Kardon AVR 370 has it in spades.

Full of unbridled power and an eagerness to have fun, this seven channel AV receiver with built-in wi-fi is yours for £800/$1,200.

Sound quality

Play Armageddon on Blu-ray and the AVR 370 ploughs through the Aerosmith-filled soundtrack with punch and vigour. Harman Kardon’s characteristically muscular performance works a treat with Michael Bay’s love of ‘thrusters’ and explosions.
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https://www.whathifi.com/harman-kardon/avr-370/review

Pioneer VSX-924 review

Pioneer VSX-924 review

Audio & Video, , ,

If we placed Pioneer’s recent receivers at this price on a scale, they’d come out around fair-to-middling.

Good rather than great, they’ve just not been able to make that jump to the next level of the likes of Sony and Yamaha.

The VSX-924 is trying to change that. From the moment you first hear it, it puts precision and clarity at the top of the list.
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https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/vsx-924/review

Denon AVR-X2100W review

Denon AVR-X2100W review

Audio & Video, ,

The Denon AVR-X2100W is all about doing things right. Fully aware that this price is bound to attract its share of first timers, as well as more seasoned users, Denon’s put a lot of thought into making sure the X2100 is easy to set up.

Set-up

Set-up is an in-depth, but easy-to-follow affair. The amp takes you through every step on screen, even down to speaker placement and wiring, complete with animations where necessary.
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https://www.whathifi.com/denon/avr-x2100w/review
Sony STR-DN1050 review

Sony STR-DN1050 review

Audio & Video,

We can’t say we didn’t have high expectations of the STR-DN1050. As the successor to the Award-winning STR-DN1040 and the big brother to the five-star STR-DN850, all eyes are on it to impress.

No pressure, then. Fortunately, Sony knows a thing or two about what makes a great AV amp at this price, and the STR-DN1050 is quite the audience pleaser.

From set-up to performance, this 7.2-channel amp with 165W per channel (into 6 Ohms) has been carefully considered at every single step, and it shows.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/sony/str-dn1050/review

Anthem MRX 510 review

Anthem MRX 510 review

Audio & Video, , , ,

Are you willing to sacrifice features for performance? That’s the question you need to ask yourself before you consider buying this Anthem home cinema amplifier.

While the MRX 510 has the connectivity to slot into most existing multi-channel set-ups, it doesn’t have anywhere near the frills of a typical £500/$750 amplifier let alone one at its elevated price point.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/anthem/mrx-510/review

Onkyo TX-NR838 review

Onkyo TX-NR838 review

Audio & Video, , ,

When it comes to AV amps, Onkyo hasn’t set our world on fire recently. Its receivers have lately tended to be a matter of features and specification over outright sound quality.

But now we have the £1,000/$1,500 Onkyo TX-NR838: are things about to change? Yes. Well, a little. It’s clearly still a matter of features over performance, but one of those features is stand-out.

This is one of the first AV receivers we’ve seen that caters for Dolby Atmos – a surround sound tech that expands on current 5.1 and 7.1 set-ups.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/onkyo/tx-nr838/review

Pioneer SC-LX88 review

Pioneer SC-LX88 review

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

Pioneer goes from strength to strength. The SC-LX88 carries all the hallmarks of a top-end Pioneer receiver – fast, precise, superb layers of detail – and adds a powerful dose of muscle to make things even more exciting than before.

That surge of power isn’t the only exciting aspect of this £2,200/$3,300 nine-channel home cinema amplifier. Alongside the extensive streaming, connectivity and file compatibility, the SC-LX88 features Dolby Atmos.
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https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/sc-lx88/review

Yamaha RX-A3040 review

Yamaha RX-A3040 review

Audio & Video, , , , , , ,

The first impression we have from the Yamaha RX-A3040 is one of scale. This £2000 nine-channel amplifier sits at the top of Yamaha’s celebrated Aventage range of AV receivers, and it duly shows off its flagship status by delivering an astonishingly mammoth soundfield. And that’s before we even get to Dolby Atmos.

Sound

Play the Edge of Tomorrow Blu-ray (with 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio), and the soundfield that envelopes you is huge. You get a real sense of the scale of the battlefield. The distant sounds of fighting, the helicopters overhead and the bursts of gunfire – all are delivered with plenty of detail to convey a large, chaotic atmosphere.
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https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/rx-a3040/review

Mpow Petrel Bluetooth Headphones review - wireless in-ear headphones for runners

Mpow Petrel Bluetooth Headphones review – wireless in-ear headphones for runners

Audio & Video, Wearables, , , , , , , , , , ,

If you hate headphone cables flapping around your head while you’re out jogging or exercising then a set of lightweight in-ear Bluetooth headphones might be the answer to your running prayers.

We’ve tested a wide range of Bluetooth headphones, but only the Mpow Petrel Bluetooth Headset so far fit the needs of the frustrated runner.

These lightweight (11.4g, 0.4 ounce) in-ear buds require no cable between them and your music player or phone, as they receive the music from the player via Bluetooth. To switch on Bluetooth you simply hold down one of the control buttons for a few seconds. There are Play, Pause and Stop controls integrated into the cord.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

Xiaomi Piston Youth Colourful Edition Headphones review: Pretty in pink, these Xiaomi kids' earphones offer style and substance at a price we like

Xiaomi Piston Youth Colourful Edition Headphones review: Pretty in pink, these Xiaomi kids’ earphones offer style and substance at a price we like

Audio & Video, , , , ,

Xiaomi’s Piston Youth Colourful Edition earphones are a very girly pink, but are they all style and no substance? We find out in our Xiaomi Piston Youth Colourful Edition review.

If you’re fond of bright colours you’ll appreciate the Xiaomi Piston Youth’s design, with these earphones available in light blue, pink and purple. The light blue looks to be a little less eye-catching than the pink version we review here, although none will go unnoticed. The name suggests they have been designed for kids, but we know of a few big girls (and boys) who would enjoy these earphones – especially at just £7.96/$12 from GearBest (discounted offer at the time of writing, usual price £20.05/$31).
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

SoundPeats QY7 review: excellent budget Bluetooth earphones

SoundPeats QY7 review: excellent budget Bluetooth earphones

Audio & Video, Wearables, , , , , , ,

Can you combine excellent audio quality, comfort and convenience in a single device? Apparently SoundPeats can. Get a closer look at its headphones in our SoundPeats QY7 review.

The first thing to notice about SoundPeats QY7 is they are wireless and can easily be connected to your device via Bluetooth, as you would do with any Bluetooth speaker.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones review: Elegance meets good audio quality and impressive battery life in these budget-friendly wireless headphones

Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones review: Elegance meets good audio quality and impressive battery life in these budget-friendly wireless headphones

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

Sleek design, long battery life and great audio performance make the Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones a premium product with a budget price (just £45/$68 from Amazon). Get to know them better in our Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth headphones review. 

The Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones caught our eye with their elegant design. Following the ‘less is better’ fashion trend, these Audiomax Headphones adopt a minimalistic style and yet nothing is left to chance – all the details have been carefully considered.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/

Nexus 5X vs iPhone 6s comparison preview

Nexus 5X vs iPhone 6s comparison preview

Phones, , , , , , ,

It’s the clash of the titans, Apple vs. Google in the battle of the flagship smartphones, with one key difference – Google’s offering starts at £200/$300 less than Apple’s does. Find out how the two compare in our preview, where we take a look at the specs and features of each to see which is worthy of your hard-earned cash. It’s called a preview as we’ve had a limited time with the Nexus 5X so far, but we’ll be updating once we’ve used it for a longer period of time.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/smartphones/nexus-5x-vs-iphone-6s-comparison-preview-3626619/

Yamaha RX-A850 review

Yamaha RX-A850 review

Audio & Video, , ,

We’ve long admired Yamaha’s Aventage range, and this year it’s five strong with prices ranging from £500/$750 to £2,000/$3,000.

This RX-A850 sits just above the entry-level RX-A550, at the sweet spot of balancing price, features and performance.

Features

At its most basic level, the Yamaha RX-A850 is the hub for your AV set up. It has plenty of connections, including eight HDMI inputs, three of them HDCP 2.2 (4K) compatible.
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https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/rx-a850/review

Onkyo LS-T30 review

Onkyo LS-T30 review

Audio & Video, , , , ,

We’re not surprised to learn Onkyo has designed its latest soundbase for the large (‘up to 70in’) or heavy (‘60kg or less’) telly. At a whopping 90cm wide and 40cm deep, you’re going to need a bigger TV rack – unless yours is already big enough to accommodate this colossal soundbase.

A few brands have honed in on the ‘big TV’ trend (Cambridge Audio and JBL to name a couple), pitching soundbases around the £300/$450 mark – so on paper at least, the LS-T30 seems like a sensible addition to the company’s inventory.
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https://www.whathifi.com/onkyo/ls-t30/review

Pioneer BDP-LX58 review

Pioneer BDP-LX58 review

Audio & Video, , , , ,

Spending £600/$900 on a Blu-ray player may seem excessive when you can get a decent-performing one with more smart features for a sixth of the price.

But if you are a home cinema enthusiast dedicated to getting exceptional picture quality, we’d say the Pioneer BDP-LX58 Blu-ray player is well worth it. The more affordable of Pioneer’s two premium models (the pricier BDP-LX88 received four stars in our March issue) is first and foremost about performance.
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https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/bdp-lx58/review

Optoma HD50 review

Optoma HD50 review

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

Big, bold and bright – the Optoma HD50 projector’s picture is certainly attention grabbing.

Performance

 A punchy, colourful Blu-ray like Guardians Of The Galaxy looks crisp and exciting through the HD50’s lens, but it’s the vibrant colour palette that really shines through. The yellow jumpsuits, green alien skin and purple-hued explosions are rich and inviting. Lens flares or flashy visual effects shine bright and punch with clarity.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/optoma/hd50/review
Bose Solo 15 Soundstage review

Bose Solo 15 Soundstage review

Audio & Video, , , , ,

Recently there seems to have been a trend for manufacturers to produce two very similar soundbases – one for smaller TVs and one for larger.

This usually means a shared character between the two. Not so with the Bose Solo 15 Soundstage – and that’s no bad thing because we were mightily disappointed the last time we saw a Bose soundbase.

Scraping three stars, the Bose Solo TV lost marks for its harsh dialogue and loose bass. Thankfully it appears such traits don’t run in the family, and the bigger Bose Solo 15 Soundstage is far better qualified to be left in charge of your movies.
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https://www.whathifi.com/bose/solo-15-soundstage/review

InFocus IN3138HDa review

InFocus IN3138HDa review

Audio & Video, , , , , , ,

Can a classroom projector double up as a home cinema projector? Well, InFocus has wowed us before with bright, sharp screens that make movie-watching a more exciting affair than you’d expect from a projector designed for fancy PowerPoint presentations.

The IN3138HDa makes a decent case for itself, but it doesn’t punch quite as high as class rivals.
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https://www.whathifi.com/infocus/in3138hda/review

TechniSat Audio Master BT review

TechniSat Audio Master BT review

Audio & Video, , , , , ,

TechniSat isn’t exactly a household name around these parts. The German brand’s last appearance was in 2010 with a digital TV box – one of its first ventures after branching out from a life as a purveyor of satellite antennas.

Today its multifaceted catalogue has expanded to include TVs, radios, tablets, headphones and now a soundbase, the Audio Master BT. You could call TechniSat a jack-of-all-trades, but is it a master of this one?
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https://www.whathifi.com/technisat/audio-master-bt/review

JBL Arena 5.1 review

JBL Arena 5.1 review

Audio & Video, , ,

JBL’s Arena 5.1 is the company’s newest, most affordable speaker package.

Following a commendable four-star First Test, we’re familiar with the Arena 170 floorstanders in this set-up, but can the 5.1 package match – or even better – their solo performance?

Compatibility

The set-up comprises the 170 floorstanders (£460/$690) and 120 standmounters (£180/$270) with the Arena 125C centre speaker (£180/$270)) and Arena SUB100 (£260/$390).
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https://www.whathifi.com/jbl/arena-51/review
Canton DM 55 review

Canton DM 55 review

Audio & Video, ,

Canton has a great record with soundbases, combining excellent sound quality with ease of use in one nicely built and affordable box. And it keeps getting better.

The new Canton DM 55 replaces the much-praised DM 50, a five-star performer at £400/$600.

The addition of a glass top, some sonic tweaks, and a price drop make this good-looking and capable unit even more appealing than before.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/canton/dm-55/review