Sure, you can drink at home with some music on, but that doesn’t replicate the feeling of being out at a bar among friends and total strangers. As it turns out, nothing can, other than… well, being at a bar.
But a project called I Miss My Bar, via belong.io, comes the closest to making me feel like I’m at my local watering hole — loud voices, street sounds, and all. The only element missing is the trademark bar scent of booze mixed with cleaning products. You know the smell.
Anyway, head to I Miss My Bar, where, unlike real life, you can choose just how loud everyone is talking. You can also tweak the volume of a number of different sound effects that might make you even more nostalgic for better times, like the clinks of a bartender working, corks being popped, liquid being poured into a glass, the rain pattering on a window, horns honking outside, you get the idea — the normal commotion of pre-pandemic gatherings.
This project was kicked off by Maverick, a bar out of San Pedro Garza García, Mexíco. It was developed and designed by two companies, Lagom and Tandem, that operate out of the same city, so it’s less of a fan project and more of an ad campaign of sorts. Nevertheless, folks who work at that bar are updating the playlist on the site each week, and I already like what I’m seeing here. This particular week is hosting nothing but David Bowie, and if you want to subscribe to its playlist on Spotify, you can do that right here.
Once you’re all settled, hop on Zoom or your preferred video chat app, and try to relive some of the good times with friends and family. Cheers.
(Pocket-lint) – Welcome to our guide to the best 65-inch TVs. As manufacturers find new ways to harness their technology and take leaps forward technically, the sets that almost always get those innovations first are the bigger ones in their ranges.
Best 4K TV: Premium Ultra HD smart TVs to buy today
If you’re used to smaller TVs, the jump to a 65-inch television can feel like a really big one, but trust us that it’s worth it if you can fit one in. You’ll be transported into the content you’re watching or playing and will be able to plan movie nights that really are like going to the theatre. So, to that end, we’ve gathered some of the very best 65-inch TVs on the market right now for you to choose from.
Our pick of the best 65-inch 4K TVs to buy today
LG
LG OLED CX
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LG is sort of the kind of OLED TVs at the moment – it’s got the display tech down to a tee, and the CX is another in a long line of hits for the manufacturer.
It’s nicely designed with a stand that’s attractive without being too big, and bezels that are practically non-existant. On top of that you get stunning picture-quality on a really well-made OS, making it a joy to use. Of course, you’ll pay handsomely for the privilege.
LG OLED CX 4K TV review: Superb picture quality
Samsung
Samsung Q80T
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Samsung’s Q80T is a real stormer of a release – it’s still pretty pricey, but by Samsung’s standards brings the pricing down nicely, and has a range of sizes to pick from.
The 65-inch version, like the others, is a really superb display that uses Samsung’s trademark QLED technology to get deep blacks and impressive colour range without using OLED tech.
Samsung Q80T 4K QLED TV review: A 4K sensation
LG
LG NANO90 65-inch
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LG’s got another ace up its sleeve in the form of this NANO90 TV, which is perfect if you’re a big gamer and want to guarantee low lag to give you every possible advantage.
It might look like any old TV nowadays, but the picture quality is great and by cutting on the cost of OLED, using standard LED, LG’s been able to make sure the TV is super-fast, perfect for games.
LG NANO90 4K NanoCell TV review: Can it outshine OLED?
TCL
TCL 5-Series S535
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This is a high-quality 4K QLED TV but it isn’t outrageously expensive. TCL’s Natural Motion 240 tech is designed to reduce motion blur, especially when watching sports or other fast-moving scenes.
As you’d expect the TV is HDR compatible (HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision) while there are all the smart TV apps you’ll need, four HDMI ports and Google Assistant/Alexa integration.
TCL’s 5-Series is also available in 55, 75 and 50-inch sizes.
Samsung
Samsung Q65T
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If you like the look of Samsung’s televisions, but don’t want to fork out the money needed for the Q80T, the Q65T is a fabulous compromise.
You still get a brilliant QLED panel that’s gorgeous to watch 4K content on, and it’s a dab hand at upscaling, too. Sound quality could be better, we feel, but that’s not exactly the top concern when you buy a TV.
Samsung Q65T 4K QLED TV review: Punchy picture at an attractive price
Insignia
Insignia NS-65DF710NA21
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This is a stunningly good value 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV that’s based around Amazon’s Fire TV interface. if you’ve used an Amazon Fire TV Stick or similar you’ll know that it’s easy to use.
Fire TVs have an Alexa remote, so there’s full voice control, too.
And you can be safe in the knowledge that your TV will support all the latest streaming apps and services, too.
There’s full HDR support, too.
This model is also available in 43, 50, 55 and 70-inch sizes.
Sony
Sony XH95
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Sony comes in swinging with this huge TV that specialises in colour – its HDR is as good as you’ll find out there, making for amazing contrast and depths.
This isn’t an OLED or QLED display, instead representing the best of what an LCD display can offer with a bunch of refinements and improvements, and we’re suitably impressed. At this price, though, we wonder if OLED would be a better investment.
Sony XH95 4K TV review: Punchy pictures
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Dan Grabham.
It looks like Sonos is making a pair of headphones. This would be quite a departure for the brand, which has built a reputation as the king of multi-room audio. But if the Sonos track record is anything to go by, then we’re certainly interested to see the company try its hand at something new.
And the Sonos headphones could be here very soon indeed. In a recent earnings call with investors, Sonos’ CEO Patrick Spence said the firm would launch a new product in March 2021. While he didn’t give any details, speculation is rife he was talking about Sonos’ first wireless headphones.
So what kind of Sonos headphones can we expect? Will they be on-ear, over-ear or in-ear? Wireless? And what kinds of features and specs can we look forward to?
We’ve rounded up all the latest Sonos leaks and rumours, and sprinkled a bit of industry knowledge of our own into the mix, to bring you the best possible idea ahead of a launch. And if we’re in the right ballpark, it looks like we’re in for a treat…
Sonos headphones: release date
The Sonos headphones could be here very soon indeed. In his recent call with investors, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence promised “to deliver innovative new products”, and said a new device would launch in March.
That could be the second Bluetooth speaker that was spotted recently. Or it could be Sonos’ first pair of headphones. Spence did confirm for sure that “in the next year” there would be a product in a new category for Sonos. So this makes us very confident that the headphones are coming in 2021. Whether it’s March or later in the year, we’ll find out soon enough.
Sonos headphones: price
For consumer audio, Sonos speakers tend to have a small premium over competitor products – wireless speakers and also soundbars. So with its first headphones, we would expect to see something on the more premium side, with potentially a more affordable product further down the road. That’s certainly the way Sonos approached the speaker and soundbar categories.
While any Sonos headphones perhaps won’t trouble the Apple AirPods Max astonishingly high price of £549 ($549, AU$899), we can expect them to be similar to well-respected and well-established rivals like Sony and Bose.
Sony’s superb WH-1000XM4 (which have been some of our favourite over-ear headphones since they launched) retail for £350 ($350, AU$550), while Bose’s Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 go for £350 ($399, AU550).
It’s a tricky line for Sonos to walk. Price them too low, and consumers won’t expect great sound quality. Too high, and they will turn off some potential buyers. Sonos has a large and dedicated following, but it’s not quite at Apple levels of slavish dedication. Hence an asking price of over £400 ($550, AU$700) is probably off the cards.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, the headphones will cost about £220 ($300, AU$400). That would undercut Sony’s range toppers by quite a way.
Sonos headphones: design
(Image credit: Sonos (via USPTO))
Headphones come in all shapes and sizes: in-ear, on-ear, over-ear, wireless, wireless earbuds, sporty models, and so on. It seems like Sonos is going for an over-ear wireless model, as detailed by a patent that emerged in September last year.
The patent shows two designs, both of which take an over-ear, wireless form. They both have oval earcups that are angled slightly so that the lower part sits a little further forward on the wearer.
They look like a pretty standard pair of over-ear cans, but the devil is in the detail. Apple’s AirPods Max raised the bar somewhat in the design stakes lately – not only do they feature premium materials and an “obsessive craftsmanship”, they also let you swap the earcups for replacements. Handy if yours wear out, or you just want to sport a different colour for a change.
Replaceable parts are of course more sustainable and something we’re also seeing in wireless speakers such as the B&O Beosound Level, and indeed the Sonos Move (Sonos now sells a replacement battery kit for the Move).
Given that Sonos recently pledged to deliver “innovative new products”, and that it has already adopted a culture of replaceable parts in its other products, there’s a high likelihood that its first headphones will look to play on this.
Sonos headphones: features
(Image credit: Dixons)
The aforementioned patent also points to some pretty cool new features. Chief among them? Swap, which lets the cans work seamlessly with your home Sonos speakers like the Play:5.
The idea is simple. You come home listening to your headphones, and can ‘swap’ the music to your home system, so the same song switches to play from your Sonos multi-room speakers. It should happen seamlessly, so the song doesn’t miss a beat.
As the patent puts it: “For example, if a particular piece of content is currently playing on the wireless headphones, a swap changes the playback to play that piece of content on one or more other playback devices on the local network.”
The “one or more” is crucial here. It means that what’s playing on your headphones could ‘swap’ to blast from every speaker in your house, as long as they’re all on the same network (and presumably are all Sonos speakers).
It’s not something we’ve seen in headphones before, though we have seen something similar in other devices – for example, apps that let you start watching on your phone and pick up where you left off on your TV when you come home. Some headphones can also detect when you take them off and pause what’s playing. Sonos’ feature would seem like a natural evolution of these two functions.
Other than that, the patent shows all the usual bells and whistles: voice assistant control (as seen on the firm’s multi-room speakers and soundbars, like the Beam), volume slider, playback controls and a mic for handsfree calls. In fact, according to a Bloombergreport, which predates the patent’s emergence, the headphones will work with multiple virtual assistants, much like the Sonos Arc and Sonos One speakers.
We would also expect active noise cancelling (ANC), though how many levels and whether – and how much – control the wearer has over it remains to be seen. One of the patent designs mentions a rotating knob, which would give the wearer control over the ANC. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (pictured, above) give you 10 levels of ANC to choose from – Sonos doesn’t have to match that necessarily, but some control would be nice.
Lastly, battery life. The AirPods Max manage 20 hours between charges, while the Sony WH-1000XM4 manage 30. We would expect Sonos to deliver somewhere between these two figures, though a lot depends on what kind of feature set it offers. No noise cancellation? Then there’s no excuse for not giving us more than 30 hours playback on a single charge, thank you very much.
Sonos headphones: initial verdict
Launching a premium pair of noise-cancelling wireless headphones is no mean feat – competition is fierce at that end of the market, with Sony, Sennheiser, B&W and Bose all vying for supremacy. It’s only been made harder by the recent entry of industry titan Apple into the space.
In its 20-odd years in the business, Sonos has built a solid reputation as an audio pioneer, so a move into headphones could be a very smart one indeed. If it can marry a desirable design, great sound and a killer feature set complete with an industry-first feature, it could be a real game-changer.
MORE:
Don’t Move, improve: Sonos launches replacement battery kit for its Move wireless speaker
Get the full skinny: Which Sonos speaker should you buy?
Sonos: everything you need to know about the multi-room king
It’s no secret the pandemic has taken a huge toll on the theater industry, but some chains are getting clever to offset some of these losses. BBC reports that CGV, the largest cinema company in South Korea, has been allowing gamers to rent its screens for two-hour chunks, costing $90 before 6PM, then going up to $135 later in the evening.
That’s a lot of money, especially since gamers need to come bearing their own consoles, controllers, and games. But hey, where else can you play games on a screen that’s at least 20 feet long with bombastic sound quality?
Given the opportunity, I’d bring my PS5 so I could play through the last few layers in Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons standing in my way of a platinum trophy (it’s a PS4 game, I know!). Destruction AllStars would probably look and sound fantastic, too. Though, before I get too excited, I’m a little skeptical that a DualSense, or really any wireless controller could fare being too far from the console to which it’s paired.
Even with bookings from gamers, CGV told BBC they make nothing close to what a usual, pre-pandemic night could bring in. A 100-seat auditorium filled to half capacity would bring in $600 alone, not including the cost of food. But the company says its screens have been booked more than 130 times since launching the service in late January 2021, so it’s popular — mostly among men in their 30s and 40s. Couples and families are renting screens, too, according CGV. The company calls this service “AzitX,” a play on the Korean word “azit,” meaning hideout.
The report also points out that US theater company Malco Theaters, which owns 36 cinemas in southern states, has been allowing people to rent screens for gaming or private viewing. It has a name for this service, called Malco Select Gaming, and pricing is set at $100 for two hours or $150 for three hours. You can bring up to 20 guests. Malco specifies on its FAQ that any console that connects with an HDMI port can be used, and you can connect via Ethernet to play online, which is cool. However, you can’t host a stream there, so leave your ring light setup at home.
Launched back in 1991, Sonus Faber’s original Extrema were seen as the culmination of everything the Italian manufacturer had learnt in its first decade. Up to that point, the brand had carved out a useful niche at premium price levels, with a limited range of compact standmounters that were lauded as much for their immaculately crafted cabinets as their artfully judged sound.
The Extrema marked its first assault on the very top end of the speaker market and, as the name implies, the engineering team didn’t hold back. At £6000 ($12,500), they were up there with some of the priciest speakers available, but with hindsight, that price doesn’t seem unduly excessive – certainly not when considering the ambitious engineering, exceptional build quality and brilliant performance.
From the front, they look like mid-sized standmounters, measuring 46cm tall and 27cm wide, but move to the side and you’ll see their depth is almost comically out of proportion at a huge 55cm. Account for the thickness of the chunky cabinet walls and that gives a useful, though not huge, internal volume of 20 litres. The whole lot weighs in at a hernia-inducing 40kg.
This is far from a conventional wooden cabinet design, too. The satin black central section is comprises seven separate sections bolted together to form a highly rigid, low-resonance structure. You’ll find a heavily sculptured, 32mm-thick slab of solid walnut on each side, adding further rigidity and damping as well as an extra dose of visual drama. The combination of curves, angles and colours gives these Sonus Fabers a look unlike any other; you certainly cannot mistake them for anything else.
(Image credit: Sonus Faber)
Arguably, the drive units are just as special as the box. The tweeter is Dynaudio’s Esotar 330T/SF: a 28mm soft dome that was rightly regarded as one of the best around at the time. It is mated to a 19cm Audio Technology mid/bass unit, which uses a magnesium oxide-loaded polypropylene cone, coated with carbonium-acrylate for extra damping and resonance control.
Take the mid/bass unit out of the cabinet and you’ll see that the magnet on the back is huge. It’s about the size of the cone, suggesting that there’s plenty of magnetic drive but also that no corners have been cut.
It’s an impression that’s solidified with the use of a large 75mm voice coil and contemporary looking open chassis design. Overall, it’s clear that this is a proper no-compromise design. It’s a highly robust one, too, if the company’s claim that the Extrema will accept 2kW in short bursts without damage is true.
Look around the back of the enclosure and you’ll find a thick metal plate standing proud of the rear panel. Peek through the gap between the plate and panel and you’ll spy what looks like an oval-shaped drive unit but is, in fact, a passive radiator, designed to augment the speaker’s low-frequency output, centred on 35Hz.
(Image credit: Sonus Faber)
Early Extrema models used KEF’s long-running B139 ‘race track driver’ for the job, but later production models (from mid-1992 onwards) switched to the similar TDL 3021GT03 when the B139 went out of production.
A passive radiator and reflex port often work in much the same way. Ports tend to be far more common, simply because a tube (usually a plastic moulding) costs less than what is essentially another drive unit. The radiator in the Extrema is a little unusual because its output can be adjusted via a five-way rotary control on the back panel, allowing the speaker’s bass to be fine-tuned for their place in the listening room. The adjustment is subtle enough to be useful and allows us to dial in performance really well.
Next to the radiator’s control is a small heatsink. Why does a passive set of speakers need a heatsink? The Extrema has a kind of crossover design we’ve never come across before. While its use of a gentle first-order filter is relatively uncommon, it’s the lack of capacitors that provides the real talking point here.
Sonus Faber’s engineers wanted to avoid these components to improve clarity and transparency, and so, instead, they ended up using an inductor in parallel with the tweeter rather than the usual capacitor in series. For everything to work properly, a resistor is required in the circuit too, but it needs the heatsink to cope with the power demands. We never felt the heatsink getting hot during use, even with the speakers pushed hard.
(Image credit: Sonus Faber)
Naturally, the performance of a standmounter depends strongly on the kind of support it gets, and Sonus Faber left nothing to chance by making its own dedicated 55cm-tall steel stands. Coated in textured black paint, they use no fewer than six chunky pillars filled with lead and sand. These stands are exceptionally heavy, immensely rigid and do their job brilliantly. Their price back in 1991 was commensurately substantial, at £799 ($1500).
The Extrema are beautifully made and ooze luxury in a way few speakers manage. Indeed, those who appreciate high-end furniture will find much to admire here. While the speakers’ slightly oddball proportions may split opinion, there’s no denying the exquisite quality of workmanship here.
The adjustable passive radiator offers a certain amount of freedom, but we still prefer these speakers well out into the listening room and placed with a bit of angle to cross just behind the main listening position. This way, we get a wide and expansive soundstage coupled with a laser-precise sense of focus.
Any shoot-for-the-stars kind of speaker positively demands a top-class partnering system, and the fact that the Extrema were designed over three decades ago doesn’t change that. These remain immensely revealing and nuanced performers, so a lack of quality from your electronics won’t be hidden.
(Image credit: Sonus Faber)
We’d avoid using bright or aggressive system electronics, as the Extrema’s hugely capable tweeter and unusual crossover arrangement can combine to brutal effect, revealing flaws with glee.
Your amp will need a decent amount of grunt, too, if you’re going to make full use of the Extrema’s excellent dynamic abilities and loudness potential. Think of a healthy 100W-per-channel output as a good place to start, though we have no doubt there’s enough leeway for lower-powered combinations to work well. The rated sensitivity of 88dB/W/m and nominal 4ohm impedance isn’t unusually brutal.
Upon launch, the Extrema were considered exceptional performers and one of the best speakers money could buy. We can see why: given a state-of-the-art source such as Naim’s ND555/555PS DR music streamer and being driven by our current reference Burmester 088/911 Mk3 amp, these boxes still produce magnificent results.
They sound huge – so much bigger than their cabinet size suggests – and rarely do we come across standmounters that deliver such solidity and authority. Once the passive radiator is suitably dialled-in, we get taut and agile lows coupled to an impressive degree of muscularity.
(Image credit: Sonus Faber)
We listen to Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator OST and the Sonus Fabers seem right at home. They deliver a demanding track such as The Battle with real verve, surfing the wide-ranging dynamics skilfully and thumping out the vicious crescendos with control. Yet, despite all the chest-thumping on show, the whole lot is tied together with subtlety and finesse, as shown by the lovely way they render instrumental textures and low-level inflections.
There’s a wonderful sense of top-to-bottom cohesion that would shame many a current high-end speaker, and that goes in hand with seamless integration between the drive units. This is a nicely balanced presentation with an element of well-judged extra richness through the midrange and lower frequencies. Such a presentation adds meat to the bones of the sound, giving instruments and voices palpable presence in our listening room.
Detail levels are pleasing, though outright resolution and distortion levels are areas in which advancements in drive units and cabinet designs have resulted in significant improvements since the Extremas were made. A good modern high-end speaker will simply sound cleaner and clearer, but is it more enjoyable? Now, that’s open to debate. In much the same way that many enjoy driving a classic car more than a modern equivalent, so it is here.
We put on Bjork’s Vulnicura set and revel in the sonic textures and dynamic shading. There’s plenty of punch here, and the Extrema are more than happy to play at high volume. We enjoy the insight and effortless fluidity, not to mention their ability to make listening to music really feel like an all-enveloping experience rather than just a mere activity to pass the time. The Extrema seem to have a little bit of magic baked into their sonic DNA.
Judged by current standards, these speakers could be criticised for a lack of rhythmic drive, and we wouldn’t say no to a better sense of organisation when things get really complicated. Even so, the important thing is that we’re having so much fun and can’t help but keep listening.
The Sonus Faber Extrema are now, at the time of writing, 30 years old. There aren’t many good samples knocking about, and those that are still working aren’t easy to hear. We hope anyone who owns a pair really cherishes them, because they’re pretty much impossible to replace.
MORE:
22 debut speakers from iconic hi-fi brands
The best 30 hi-fi speakers of What Hi-Fi?’s lifetime
(Pocket-lint) – Samsung has numerous options within its smartphone portfolio, from the flagship Galaxy Z folding models to the latest Galaxy S and Galaxy Note ranges.
There’s also the sub-flagship Galaxy A range to consider, as well as the older Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models. Choosing the right Galaxy for you if it’s Samsung you are after is no easy task.
We’ve broken down the four core ranges – Galaxy S, Note, A and Z – and the devices available within each to help you choose the right Samsung device for you and your budget.
Quick Summary
• The Samsung Galaxy S range is the company’s main flagship smartphone range. Most of its models have a glass and metal waterproof design, lots of power and the best cameras.
• The Samsung Galaxy Note series is often more expensive than the S range, but it adds S Pen functionality with the stylus built into a metal and glass design. The overall look has similar traits to the Galaxy S range.
• The Samsung Galaxy A is the sub-flagship range, sitting below the S range in terms of price, but borrowing several of its design features including full displays and under-screen fingerprint sensors in some models.
• The Galaxy Z series is the Samsung’s folding smartphones, sitting at the top of the portfolio in terms of price and offering the company’s latest innovations in design.
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy S
The 2021 flagships for the Galaxy S range are the S21, S21+ and the S21 Ultra, succeeding the S20, S20+ and the S20 Ultra from 2020. There’s also the cheaper but great S20 FE to consider. In 2019, there was the Galaxy S10e, S10 and S10+, which are still available to buy. We wouldn’t recommend going further back than that because of a lack of software updates.
Samsung Galaxy S20 range compared: S20 vs S20+ vs S20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21
Dimensions: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 172g, IP68
Display: 6.2-inches, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128/256GB, no microSD
Battery: 4000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 succeeds the S20, offering a new processor, 5G capabilites, a slight redesign, but otherwise a very similar offering to the 2020 handset. It offers a flat display instead of curved, and a drop in resolution to Full HD+.
The material finish is also plastic rather than glass, like the Galaxy S20 FE. It offers the same camera hardware as the S20 however, as well as the same battery capacity and RAM. It’s the entry point into the new Galaxy S devices.
Samsung Galaxy S21 review
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Dimensions: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, 202g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128/256GB, no microSD
Battery: 4800mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21+ offers almost identical specifications to its smaller sibling, the Galaxy S21. It is slightly larger and heavier, offering a bigger display but like the S21, it is a flat display with a Full HD+ resolution rather than curved like the S20+.
The camera hardware is the same as the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S20, ditching the depth sensor from the Galaxy S20+. We expect it to deliver good results and this 2021 model has a battery increase compared to its predecessor too.
Cameras: 108MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 10MP tele + 10MP tele 2; 40MP front
Storage: 128/256/512GB, no microSD
Battery: 5000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the top of the S21 range, offering the largest display, a glass and metal body, an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and a sharper display than the S21 and S21+.
It also has a different camera loadout than the other two devices in the range with two telephoto lenses on board. Additionally, the S21 Ultra comes with S Pen functionality, putting it up against the Note range, even though the difference here is that the Ultra doesn’t have the S Pen included. It’s the most expensive of the S21 range however so be prepared to dig deep.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Dimensions: 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm, 190g, IP68
Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz,
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 8MP zoom; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE launched after the rest of the Galaxy S20 range but it offers a lot for its price point – which is quite a bit lower than the Galaxy S20. The FE, or Fan Edition, offers a big display with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a design that is the same as the S20 range but with a plastic body instead of glass.
It drops the screen resolution to Full HD+ like the S21 and S21+ and it has a flat display with larger bezels than the rest of the S20 range, but it offers a good camera loadout, a good battery and it’s a great price.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review
Samsung Galaxy S20
Dimensions: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm, 163g, IP68
Display: 6.2-inches, 3200 x 1440 (566ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the foundation for the 2020 phones, updating the Galaxy S10, with new hardware, a new display that offers 120Hz, a bigger battery and new cameras.
The camera gets a new sensor with larger pixels and a more impressive zoom arrangement giving you up to 30X digital zoom, as well as 8K video capture. This model also comes in 4G or 5G versions. It’s more affordable than the bigger devices, but the display is smaller. Overall, it’s a good solid phone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 review
Samsung Galaxy S20+
Dimensions: 161.9, 73.7 x 7.8mm, 186g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 3200 x 1440 (524ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom + DepthVision; 10MP front
Storage: 128/512GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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Switching things up, the S20+ is probably the sweet spot for many in the S20 series, in terms of size, but it only comes as a 5G handset in many markets, making it look relatively expensive compared to the S10+ that it replaces.
It also offers lots of power, that great display with 120Hz for those who want it, and a new camera system – the same as the Galaxy S20 and S21 but with an added depth sensor – which doesn’t appear to do much. The battery is respectable making this a good all-rounder.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ review
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8mm, 220g, IP68
Display: 6.9-inches, 3200 x 1440 (509ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 108MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 48MP zoom + DepthVision; 40MP front
Storage: 128/512GB, microSD
Battery: 5000mAh
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The Galaxy S20 Ultra sets out to be the greatest of the Galaxy S20 family with big everything: big display, big battery, big camera resolutions. Just like the S21 Ultra that replaces it. That all, sadly, comes at a big price.
On the whole the S20 Ultra is a great phone, but the battery might not last as long as you expect and the cameras are a little oversold, so the 100X zoom headline doesn’t really deliver. It’s a 5G phone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy S10e
Dimensions: 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm, 150g, IP68
Display: 5.8-inches, 2280 x 1080 (438ppi), flat Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP wide + 12MP main; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB or 256GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3100mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10e was originally the cheapest of the S10 range, offering a flat display and a physical fingerprint sensor, rather than a curved screen and under-display sensor. On the back, the S10e has a dual camera instead of triple.
It misses out on a couple of the features but the S10e still offers a fresh design, as well as lovely build quality and good hardware. It’s undercut by the impressive S10 Lite however, which appears to offer more for the money.
Samsung Galaxy S10e review
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Dimensions: 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm, 186g
Display: 6.7-inches, 1080 x 2400 (394ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 12MP wide + 5MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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An addition to the S10 range, this handset debuted alongside the Note 10 Lite at CES 2020 in early January.
It fits into the range above the S10e. Why? It has more cameras, a larger screen and a bigger battery. It’s actually the largest of the standard S10 series, having the same screen size as the S10 5G.
It also has some other premium specs, not least the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 platform under the hood. Confusing, but given the price, very compelling.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite review
Samsung Galaxy S10
Dimensions: 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm, 157g, IP68
Display: 6.1-inches, 3040 x 1440 (550ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP, 10MP front
Storage: 128GB or 512GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3400mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10 is a great device, featuring a lovely design and plenty of features including an in-display fingerprint sensor and reverse wireless charging.
There’s a triple camera on the rear and the 19.5:9 aspect ratio display is stunning, while the software experience is up there with the best.
Samsung Galaxy S10 review
Samsung Galaxy S10+
Dimensions: 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8mm, 175g, IP68
Display: 6.4-inches, 3040 x 1440 (522ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB, 512GB or 1TB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4100mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10+ features an outstanding display, brilliant sound quality and a great software experience packed full of features.
The design is great, it has a fun wide-angle camera and it offers strengths in all areas, delivering one of the best phones of 2019.
Samsung Galaxy S10+ review
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Dimensions: 1162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9mm, 198g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 3040 x 1440 (505ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 3D Depth + 16MP + 12MP + 12MP; 10MP front + 3D Depth Camera
Storage: 256GB or 512GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G follows a very similar design to the S10+ but it’s larger, has a couple of extra cameras and most importantly, it is 5G-enabled.
It’s not cheap, but it has a good design, great camera potential and if you’re after a 5G phone, it’s an option worth considering as it should be available at good prices now the S10 range has been superseded twice.
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G review
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy Note
The main models in the Galaxy Note range are the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra (and their 5G variants), all of which launched in August 2020. Don’t ignore the Note 10 Lite, Note 10 and Note 10+ if you’re interested in the Note though.
As ever, only opt for a Note if you’re going to make use of the S Pen stylus and consider the S20 Ultra if you want S Pen compatibility but without it being built in.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20: What’s the difference?
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Dimensions: 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3mm, 192g (LTE), 194g (5G), IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (393ppi), flat Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 64MP telephoto; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB/256GB (5G), 256GB (LTE), no microSD support
Battery: 4300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 offers a similar design to the Note 10 it succeeds, but it opts for a flat display and changes the camera housing on the rear to a more pronounced offering. There’s also a ‘glasstic’ rear instead of glass but the overall design is lovely and neat.
The camera system is the same as what you’ll find in the Galaxy S20 and S21 so it should deliver great things, and while the display sticks to a 60Hz refresh rate and there’s no microSD support again, if you’re looking for a phone with an integrated stylus then there’s little better than the note-taking potential of this phone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 initial review
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Dimensions: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm, 208g, IP68
Display: 6.9-inches, 3088 x 1440 (496ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP main + 108MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB (5G), 256GB/512GB (LTE), microSD support
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra sits at the top of the Galaxy Note series and it offers some of the best technology Samsung has to offer. It has a similar design to the Note 10+ but changes things up in the rear camera housing as well as the camera make up. A similar offering to the S20 Ultra is on board but with a laser sensor to help with the zoom – which has dropped to 50X instead of 100X.
After nearly 10 years at the cutting edge, the Samsung Galaxy Note series is still on top of its game. Yes, it’s easy to see the Note 20 Ultra as “just another Note” – but that’s because it’s got so much right.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10
Dimensions: 151 x 71.8 x 7.9mm, 168g, IP68
Display: 6.3-inches, 2280 x 1080 (401ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP + 16MP + 12MP; 10MP front
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 offers a cleaner design than the S10 range with vertical rear camera setup and a centralised punch-hole front camera.
It was the first Note device to offer a smaller screen but it retains all the S Pen performance of the other models. A few compromises have been made, such as a lower resolution display and no microSD support, but the Note 10 is a great option for those that have always wanted a Note but may have found it too big. There’s the option of 4G and 5G models too.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9mm, 196g, IP68
Display: 6.8-inches, 3040 x 1440 (498ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP + Depth; 10MP front
Storage: 256GB/512GB, microSD support (up to 1TB)
Battery: 4300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has the same design as the Note 10 but on a larger scale. It also ups the rear camera lenses to four, adding a depth sensor and it increases the screen resolution and size too.
The S Pen stylus and its gesture controls are great, while the huge screen and neat punch hole camera are everything you’d hope for from the Note series. There’s also smooth and speedy operation, making the Note 10+ a fabulous handset. Like the standard Note 10, there are 4G and 5G options.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Dimensions: 163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7mm, 199g
Display: 6.7 inches, 2400 x 1080 (394ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Note 10 Lite arrived in January 2020 and is an entry to the Note range that reflects what Samsung tried to do with the S10e – have a cheaper model that still retained a premium name.
It’s no slouch with an Exynos 9810 octa-core platform underpinning everything and it only features a few corner cuts as opposed to the main Note 10 models. It’s also bigger than the standard Note 10, but slightly smaller than the Note 10+.
It doesn’t, however, quite have the specs to compete with the S10 Lite.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite initial review
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy A
Samsung also offers a wide range of A models, which might be worth considering depending on what you want from your smartphone. There’s some overlap with Galaxy S phones, especially at the top end.
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
Dimensions: 164.8 x 76.4 x 8.4mm, 206g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (393ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP + 5MP + 8MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G has a large display with a small waterdrop notch at the top and a triple vertical camera on the rear, neatly positioned in the top left corner. It’s also Snapdragon 855, so this is flagship grade, even if it is 2019 flagship grade.
There are some excellent features onboard this device, not just a lovely design and build quality but a triple rear camera, an under-display fingerprint scanner and 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G review
Samsung Galaxy A80
Dimensions: 165.2 x 76.5 x 9.3mm, 220g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (392ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: Rotating 48MP + 8MP + HQVGA
Storage: 128GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3700mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A80 has a huge, uninterrupted display thanks to the automatic slide up rotating camera. We weren’t 100 per cent sold on the rotating mechanism’s durability, but the A80 is a lovely looking device with some great features.
There are some excellent specs under its hood, including plenty of RAM, a battery that will likely see you through the day, as well as an under-display fingerprint sensor, bringing lots of flagship features for less money than the flagship Galaxy devices.
Samsung A80 review
Samsung Galaxy A71
Dimensions: 163.6 x 76.0 x 7.7mm, 179g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (392ppi), Super AMOLED Plus
Cameras: 64MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 5MP macro + depth sensor; 32MP (f/2.2) front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 1TB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A71 was announced at the start of 2020, essentially an update for the A70. That brings with it newer hardware, but similar core specs. There’s the shift to Infinity-O for the display, with a punch hole rather than the notch of the A70. There is also a 5G version in some regions.
That’s joined by a higher resolution rear camera, going after the megapixels in this mid-range device. If you love the S10 range but you can’t justify the price tag, the A71 is half the price with plenty to love.
Samsung A70 review
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
Dimensions: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7mm, 187g
Display: 6.5-inches, 2400 x 1080 (405ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP depth + 5MP macro; 32MP (f/2.2) front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 1TB
Battery: 4500mAh
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There’s a few small differences between the Galaxy A51 and the Galaxy A71 models, but overall this is an update on the A50 model, with a larger display, increased resolution on the cameras and a larger battery capacity.
It’s still a mid-range device, but it is available with 5G in some regions. The base level of storage is generous with microSD expansion and a there’s a nice punch hole display too.
Samsung Galaxy A41
Dimensions: 149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9mm, 152g
Display: 6.1-inches, 2400 x 1080 (431ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 8MP ultra wide + 5MP depth; 25MP front
Storage: 64GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A41 updates the A40, moving to a 0.2-inch larger display with an under-display fingerprint scanner and a largwer battery. It keeps the Infinity-U display, so there’s a water drop notch at the top, rather than the punch hole that you’ll find on the A51.
There’s a step-down in the number of cameras from the A51, missing out on the macro camera, but otherwise the A41 offers a nice compact Samsung handset.
The Samsung Galaxy A21s has a huge display with a punch hole selfie camera in the top left corner, a huge battery that should more than see you through the day and a quad camera on the rear in a camera housing that resembles the more expensive S20 range.
There’s a physical fingerprint sensor on the rear and microSD support for storage expansion too. The resolution isn’t the highest, nor is the internal storage but for the price, the A21s could be a good option for those that want a Samsung with a big screen and big battery.
Samsung Galaxy A21e
Dimensions: 147.4 x 69.7 x 8.4mm, 141g
Display: 5.8-inches, 1560 x 720 (296ppi), TFT LCD
Cameras: Dual rear 13MP (f/1.9) main + 5MP (f/2.2) ultra wide; 8MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 32GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A21e doesn’t have a punch hole camera like the A20s – instead opting for a waterdrop notch at the top – making it look a little more dated. There’s a big enough display though, a dual rear camera and it still has a nice design for the price.
You get a little more with the A21s – especially in the case of the battery – but the A21e still has an ultra-wide angle camera on the rear to give you some interesting shots, as well as some software features for great selfies from the front.
Samsung Galaxy A10
Dimensions: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm, 157g
Display: 6.2-inches, 1520 x 720 (271ppi), TFT LCD
Cameras: 13MP (f/1.9, AF, FHD video), 5MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 32GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3400mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A10 is the cheapest A model device but it still has a huge display for its footprint, a large battery capacity that should easily see you through a day and then some and plenty of storage from the 512GB microSD support.
It doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor and it only offers a single rear camera and single front camera, but if you’re after a cheap Samsung device with a nice design and basic specifications, the Galaxy A10 might be the one for you.
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy Z
The Samsung Galaxy Z series sits at the top of the Galaxy portfolio in terms of price, mainly down to their folding designs. The two latest models are the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip. There’s also the original folding device in the Galaxy Fold but it has had its issues so the newer model is likely the better option.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Dimensions: 159.2 x 128.2 x 6.9mm (unfolded), 159.2 x 68 x 16.8mm (folded), 282g
Internal display: 7.6-inches, 2208 x 1768 (372ppi), AMOLED
External display: 6.2-inches, 2260 x 816 (388ppi), AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP (f/1.8, AF, OIS), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12MP telephoto (f/2.4), two 10MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 succeeds the original Galaxy Fold, offering the same book-style design with a vertical fold but featuring a number of refinements, including a hinge redesign. There’s also a larger external display on board and punch hole front cameras for a neater finish.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 appears to have fixed some of the biggest issues with the original Fold so if you’re after a folding smartphone and the latest innovation Samsung has to offer in terms of design, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 might be the one for you.
Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 review
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs Fold: What’s the difference?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Dimensions: 167.3 x 73.6 x 7.2mm (unfolded), 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.3mm (folded), 183g
Internal display: 6.7-inches, 2636 x 1080 pixels (425ppi), AMOLED
External display: 1.1-inches, 300 x 112 pixels (303ppi)
Cameras: 12MP (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 10MP front (f/2.4)
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is also a foldable smartphone but it folds horizontally rather than vertically like the Fold, resulting in a very cool clamshell design. A little like an older Galaxy S model folded in half. There is a 4G model with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ and a 5G model running the Snapdragon 865+.
The Z Flip 5G allows you to have a larger display but without that length in your pocket and the hinge design offers various viewing angles. There are some compromises in terms of camera and battery but for those after retro cool, the Z Flip could definitely be the Galaxy for you.
To commemorate Burmester’s late founder, Dieter Burmester, who would have turned 75 yesterday, Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH is announcing several new products to be released in 2021.
What’s new on the menu? Plenty, actually. Burmester is promising a slew of “new products such as music centres, power amplifiers, and a new turntable”.
In addition, Burmester states that its existing product lines, such as the Burmester Reference Line, will be “complemented and rounded off with new loudspeaker models”.
In 2020, the German high-end audio specialist presented the five-star premium surround sound system for the Porsche 911 and now the firm is concentrating its energies on its core products: hi-fi separates for the home.
In lieu of new imagery (and to showcase Burmester’s impressive history) the photo above is of the first ever Burmester product, the Burmester 777 – a preamp Dieter Burmester built himself from parts of medical machines and so-named because it was released on the seventh month in the year 1977. In 2007, the firm even released a 30th anniversary update in its honour, the Burmester 077. (Did we like it? Oh, you could say that. In our review, we concluded, “If you can afford it, buy it right now.”)
With High End Munich postponed until September this year for obvious reasons, we may miss out on a May reveal from Burmester – but of course, it’s not impossible.
“Dieter Burmester was a perfectionist who developed his components with a technical precision that is still unbeaten today,” said Marianne Burmester, the company’s managing director, adding, “Our ambition is to continue this uncompromising approach on behalf of delivering true sound.”
MORE:
See all our Burmester reviews
Read more about the Burmester 777 in 9 debut stereo amplifiers from iconic hi-fi brands
Need more high-end hi-fi? Peruse 10 of the craziest-looking high-end hi-fi products on the planet
Has the resurgence of vinyl got you excited? Perhaps you’re a lapsed lover of the big, groovy discs, with a collection in the loft just begging to have the cobwebs blown away – or maybe a newcomer looking to inject a little analogue into your current, exclusively digital musical diet.
But what if you don’t have a traditional hi-fi system to which you can simply connect a turntable? Or your current sound system is more geared towards TV sound, home cinema or multi-room?
Actually, in practically all of these cases, adding a turntable is remarkably easy – as long as you know the type of turntable you’re looking for. To help you, we’ve selected four non-traditional audio systems and outlined the sort of turntables you should be looking at and how to connect them.
We’ve even given specific examples of turntables to check out, so you’ll know exactly which model will work with your setup. Read on, you’re only a few steps away from vinyl nirvana…
How to add a turntable to a soundbar or soundbase
If the only audio system you’ve got is a soundbar or soundbase connected to your TV, you might be tempted to assume that adding a turntable simply isn’t on the cards – but you’d be wrong. In fact, with most soundbars and soundbases it’s a simple process; just choose the correct turntable, depending on which soundbar or soundbase you have.
Let’s use a couple of our 2020 Award winners as examples (we’ll tackle the Sonos Beam and Arc in the dedicated section below): both the Yamaha YAS-207 and Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar have a stereo analogue input in the form of a pair of standard RCA terminals. That means you can add any turntable that has a phono stage built-in, or any standard turntable via an external phono stage.
We’ll guess that at least part of your reason for choosing a soundbar or soundbase audio system was the neatness it offered, and you’re probably keen to avoid adding too many extra devices and their accompanying cables. So, we’re going to stick with turntables that have integrated phono stages for our recommendations. And, while these devices sound great for soundbars and soundbases, most don’t have the hi-fi credentials to make the most of serious, high-end kit, so it’s not worth spending a fortune on your new turntable.
With all of that in mind, we think the Audio-Technica AT-LP3 would be the best turntable to add to almost any soundbar or soundbase. It costs just £149, is simple to set up and sounds so good we gave it an Award. It has an integrated phono stage so you can connect it directly to any standard pair of stereo analogue terminals.
And if you simply can’t stomach the idea of adding any extra cables to your system, you could consider a turntable that outputs via Bluetooth, which most soundbars and soundbases (including the two mentioned above) can receive. Good-sounding Bluetooth turntables are still rather rare, and there’s an inevitable drop-off in sound quality compared to using cables, but if that’s the route you want to go down you could take a look at Sony’s five-star PS-LX310BT (£200), or if you really want to splash the cash then there’s the £1499 Cambridge Audio Alva TT.
How to add a turntable to an AV receiver
The great thing about an AV receiver (or AV amplifier) is that it has lots of inputs for all manner of audio and video devices, and connecting a turntable is not a problem. In fact, many AV receivers have a built-in phono stage, allowing you to connect any standard turntable directly. All of Denon’s current line of AV receivers have a phono stage, for example – simply connect your new deck to the ‘phono’ input and you’re sorted.
However, the phono stage of an AV receiver will often fall short of the performance of an external phono stage or one built into a turntable. It’s worth taking this into account if you’re serious about sound quality.
(If you do decide to add a turntable with a built-in phono stage or use an external phono stage, you need to avoid the phono input on your receiver and use one of the standard pairs of RCA terminals).
In terms of recommendations, let’s again look at our Award-winning AV receivers. For the Denon AVR-X3700H (tested at £999), we’d recommend the Rega Planar 1 Plus (£329); it’s Rega’s entry-level turntable in integrated phono stage form.
The Denon AVC-X6700H (available for £2299) is capable of making the most of a higher-end turntable – we’d suggest the Rega Planar 3 with the Elys 2 cartridge (£649). You could connect this directly to the amp’s phono input, but you’ll get more out of the set-up if you also add a dedicated phono stage. Rega’s own Fono MM MK3 (£199) is a strong choice.
The multi-Award-winning Sony STR-DN1080 doesn’t have a phono stage, but as we’ve suggested ignoring those of the Denons above, that’s no barrier to vinyl enjoyment. Here, we’d suggest the Sony PS-HX500 (£279), which will be a nice aesthetic match to the amp, sounds great, has an integrated phono stage and will even let you rip your vinyl to hi-res digital files via USB.
How to add a turntable to a Sonos system
A multi-room streaming system and turntable might not immediately sound like perfect bedfellows, but it’s surprisingly easy to add vinyl to Sonos – and if you do so you can hear your records in every room of the house.
You need one of the Sonos units with a standard pair of stereo analogue terminals. That means having a Play:5 (for which you’ll also need an RCA-to-3.5mm adapter), Connect (or older ZP80 or ZP90), Connect:Amp (or older ZP100 or ZP120) or the new Sonos Amp. None of these has a built-in phono stage, so you’ll need a turntable that has one integrated, or buy an external phono stage at the same time.
For the Sonos, we’d suggest the Sony PS-HX500, particularly if you’re connecting to the Sonos Amp, which is sonically capable enough to make more of the Sony’s musical talents. Connect the turntable to any of the Sonos devices listed above, and whatever vinyl you play on it can be streamed to every other Sonos in the house.
What if you’ve got a multi-room system that isn’t Sonos? Most offer a similar route to turntable integration. The majority of Bluesound’s players have standard stereo RCA inputs, as do Audio Pro’s C5 and C10 speakers, and both systems support multi-room playback of your vinyl.
How to add a turntable to a wireless speaker
If your existing music system consists of a simple wireless speaker, there’s still every chance that you’ll be able to connect a turntable.
To do it ‘properly’, you want a wireless speaker with an analogue stereo input (whether that’s a pair of RCA terminals or a 3.5mm socket that will require an inexpensive adapter), and all of our 2020 Award-winners (the JBL Flip 5, Audio Pro Addon C3, Audio Pro Addon C10 and Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation) have just that. In those cases we’d again suggest you check out the plug-and-play Audio-Technica AT-LP3.
And even if your wireless speaker is entirely lacking physical inputs, you can connect a Bluetooth turntable such as the Sony PS-LX310BT, which we gave five stars for both its wired and wireless audio talents.
In short, practically any wireless speaker can be connected to a turntable. The notable exceptions are the Sonos One, Play:1 and Play:3 (which can still receive streams from your turntable via another Sonos unit – see above) and the Apple HomePod.
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The times were that Dolby Atmos soundbars came at a premium but not any more, not now that Monoprice has launched its SB-600 5.1.2 system for under $450.
It’s not just a soundbar either. The Monoprice SB-600 is a bar, a wireless 8in subwoofer and two wireless satellite speakers to help create a genuine sense of TV surround sound. Monoprice is even throwing in wallmounting brackets, a remote control and an HDMI cable too.
The main bar itself comprises 2 x 2in cones for the centre channel, 2.5in drivers for the left and right as well as tweeters and up-firing units for the sides as well. They’re powered to the tune of 125W in total.
There are no height units on two satellite speakers. These are surround channels only, designed for placing behind the viewer. Their power output is just 15W each but expect plenty from the 180W sub with its down-firing cone.
Somehow Monoprice has still found change for a very healthy feature set. There are two Dolby Vision and 4K-rated HDMI inputs on the rear – so that you can use the system as something of a hub – and a single, eARC-enabled HDMI-out to help offer the best quality of audio, depending on your source. There are also ports for coaxial, optical, USB and a 3.5mm line plus wireless audio through Bluetooth 4.2.
It’s certainly an excellent package for the price on paper but the proof of the pudding is going to be in the listening. With any luck, this should be a neat and compelling compromise for those on a budget looking to take their first steps into external TV sound.
MORE:
Tried and tested; take a look at the very best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
Know your ARC from your elbow – HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC: everything you need to know.
YouTuber Print ‘N Play has put his Raspberry Pi Pico to good use by building a miniature version of the arcade classic Space Invaders using just a few components and plenty of MicroPython.
Building a miniature video game is entirely possible with Raspberry Pi Pico. In fact the Pico can emulate many 80s computers and consoles.
In Print ‘N Play’s detailed video he covers how to connect the hardware for the project, a small I2C OLED screen with a 128 x 32 pixel resolution, a 10K potentiometer used to control your ship, and a simple buzzer for sound effects. We learn how to connect these devices to a breadboard, test that they are working and learn how to write the code that eventually becomes a Space Invaders game.
The Raspberry Pi Pico looks set to become the go to device for retro hardware projects. The Pico can output video via VGA / DVI and it can access SD cards enabling the storage of larger game files. With Print ‘N Play’s project we could reduce the size to fit inside a 3D printed arcade cabinet!
After years of niche positioning in the music world, “high-resolution audio” (or “hi-res audio”) finally hit the mainstream, thanks to a huge raft of support in streaming services (such as Tidal and Amazon Music HD) and products (from smartphones to most digital hi-fi components).
So why should you care about hi-res audio? If you want the best digital music experience possible or at least better sound quality than you’re currently used to (and why wouldn’t you?), hi-res audio is definitely worth investigating.
It can be a daunting prospect. After all, what exactly constitutes hi-res audio, what do all the different file formats and numbers mean, where can you download or stream these high quality files, and what devices do you need to play it?
Indeed, where do you even begin?
That’s where we come in. Our handy guide will take you through the ins and outs of hi-res audio. By the end, we hope you’ll know everything you need to know (and then some) and will be well on your way to enjoying your new and improved sonic lifestyle.
50 of the best hi-fi albums for audiophiles
What is high-resolution audio?
Unlike high-definition video, there’s no single universal standard for hi-res audio. In 2014, the Digital Entertainment Group, Consumer Electronics Association and The Recording Academy, together with record labels, formally defined high-resolution audio as “lossless audio that is capable of reproducing the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better than CD quality music sources”.
In its simplest terms, hi-res audio tends to refer to music files that have a higher sampling frequency and/or bit depth than CD, which is specified at 16-bit/44.1kHz.
Sampling frequency (or sample rate) refers to the number of times samples of the signal are taken per second during the analogue-to-digital conversion process. The more bits there are, the more accurately the signal can be measured in the first instance, so going 16bit to 24bit can deliver a noticeable leap in quality. Hi-res audio files usually use a sampling frequency of 96kHz or 192kHz at 24bit. You can also have 88.2kHz and 176.4kHz files too.
Hi-res audio does come with a downside though: file size. A hi-res file can typically be tens of megabytes in size, and a few tracks can quickly eat up the storage on your device or be cumbersome to stream over your wi-fi or mobile network. Thankfully, storage is much cheaper than it used to be, so it’s easier to get higher-capacity devices. And technologies such as MQA (see below) have arrived to help tackle that.
That’s not all: there are also several different hi-res audio file formats to choose from, all of which have their own compatibility requirements.
They include the popular FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) formats, both of which are compressed but in a way which means that, in theory, no information is lost. Other formats include the uncompressed WAV and AIFF formats, DSD (the format used for Super Audio CDs) and the more recent MQA (Master Quality Authenticated).
The relative merits of each of the formats can be argued, but the most crucial issue will be the file’s compatibility with your chosen products and software.
Here’s a breakdown of all the main file formats:
MP3 (not hi-res): Popular, lossy compressed format ensures small file size, but far from the best sound quality. Convenient for storing music on smartphones and iPods, but doesn’t support hi-res.
AAC (not hi-res): An alternative to MP3s, it’s lossy and compressed but sounds better. Used for iTunes downloads, Apple Music streaming (at 256kbps) and YouTube streaming.
WAV (hi-res): The standard format all CDs are encoded in. Great sound quality but it’s uncompressed, meaning huge file sizes (especially for hi-res files). It has poor metadata support (that is, album artwork, artist and song title information).
AIFF (hi-res): Apple’s alternative to WAV, with better metadata support. It is lossless and uncompressed (so big file sizes), but not massively popular.
FLAC (hi-res): This lossless compression format supports hi-res sample rates, takes up about half the space of WAV, and stores metadata. It’s royalty-free and widely supported (though not by Apple) and is considered the preferred format for downloading and storing hi-res albums.
ALAC (hi-res): Apple’s own lossless compression format also does hi-res, stores metadata and takes up half the space of WAV. An iTunes- and iOS-friendly alternative to FLAC.
DSD(hi-res): The single-bit format used for Super Audio CDs. It comes in 2.8MHz, 5.6mHz and 11.2mHz varieties, but isn’t widely supported.
MQA(hi-res): A lossless compression format that efficiently packages hi-res files with more emphasis on the time domain. Used for Tidal Masters hi-res streaming, and product support is picking up pace.
MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC: all the audio file formats explained
What’s so good about hi-res audio?
The main claimed benefit of high-resolution audio files is superior sound quality over compressed audio formats such as MP3 and AAC.
Downloads from sites such as Amazon and iTunes, and streaming services such as Spotify, use compressed file formats with relatively low bitrates – such as 256kbps AAC files on Apple Music and 320kbps Ogg Vorbis streams on Spotify.
The use of lossy compression means data is lost in the encoding process, which in turn means resolution is sacrificed for the sake of convenience and smaller file sizes. This has an effect upon the sound quality – those formats aren’t telling the full story of our favourite songs.
This might be fine when you’re listening to Spotify playlists on your smartphone on the bus on the morning commute, but serious audiophiles and music fans should want better. This is where high-resolution audio comes in.
To illustrate why it should sound better than MP3, for example, let’s compare the relative bitrates. The highest quality MP3 has a bitrate of 320kbps, whereas a 24-bit/192kHz file has a data rate of 9216kbps. Music CDs are 1411kbps.
The hi-res 24-bit/96kHz or 24-bit/192kHz files should, therefore, more closely replicate the sound quality the musicians and engineers were working with in the studio. And they could be that very same recorded file, too. These files are labelled as “Studio Masters” in some cases.
With more information on the file to play with, hi-res audio tends to boast greater detail and texture, bringing listeners closer to the original performance – provided your system is transparent enough.
What do I need to play hi-res audio?
There’s a huge variety of products that can playback hi-res audio. It all depends on how big or small you want your system to be, how much your budget is, and what method you’ll mostly be using to listen to your tunes. But it’s never been easier to get involved, now that plenty of the digital and streaming ecosystem supports hi-res, and especially as popular streaming platforms such as Google Chromecast (although not AirPlay 2) do.
These days, even, you don’t have to completely abandon your vinyl collection to go hi-res, either; turntables such as the Sony PS-HX500 let you digitise your vinyl collection by ripping your record tracks into hi-res audio files.
Smartphones If you’re going portable, smartphones are increasingly supporting hi-res playback. This is restricted to higher-end Android models, though – Apple iPhones so far don’t support hi-res audio out of the box (though there are ways around this by using the right app, and then either plugging in a DAC or using Lightning headphones with the iPhones’ Lightning connector).
Phones that have USB-C sockets instead of 3.5mm headphones jacks for music playback – as is becoming the norm – can boost their USB-C output with adapters such as Zorloo’s Ztella USB-C DAC.
Hi-res audio is increasingly easy to stream wirelessly thanks to new advancements in Bluetooth. Phones with aptX HD Bluetooth support (which many these days have, although Apple’s iPhones are an exception) can wirelessly transmit hi-res audio to aptX HD-supporting headphones (such as the Sony WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM3 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 noise-cancelling headphones).
aptX HD Bluetooth: What is it? How can you get it?
Portable music players Alternatively, there are plenty of dedicated portable hi-res music players such as various Sony Walkmans and Award-winning Astell & Kerns and Cowons that offer more storage space and far better sound quality than a multi-tasking smartphone. More digital players than not support hi-res audio, although again an Apple product is the exception, this time the iPod Touch.
Desktop For a desktop solution, your laptop (Windows, Mac, Linux) is a prime source for storing and playing hi-res music (after all, this is where you’ll be downloading the tunes from hi-res download sites anyway), but make sure the software you use to play music also supports hi-res playback. Apple iTunes, for instance, doesn’t support it, even if your MacBook does, so you’ll need to buy and download separate music playing software. The likes of Channel D’s Pure Music and Amarra are worth considering for a Mac. On a PC? Try JRiver Media Center.
DACs We wouldn’t just rely on your computer or phone’s internal DAC to do hi-res audio justice, either. A USB or desktop DAC (such as the Cyrus soundKey, Chord Mojo or Audiolab M-DAC nano) is a good way to get great sound quality out of hi-res files stored on your computer or smartphone (whose audio circuits don’t tend to be optimised for sound quality). Simply plug a decent digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) in between your source and headphones for an instant sonic boost.
Best DACs: USB, portable and desktop DAC
Music streamers
If you’re after a proper hi-fi set-up, you’ll need to look into music streamers that support hi-res, and highly recommendable contenders include the Audiolab 6000N Play, Cambridge CXN V2 and NAD C 658. This is especially if you’ll be storing your growing hi-res library on a NAS (Network Attached Storage, essentially a hard-drive with processing built in), which we would recommend.
Systems
There are plenty of other products that also support hi-res playback, including hybrid DAC-amp-streamer systems (Moon Neo Ace), speaker systems with everything built into them (KEF LS50 Wireless II), just-add-speaker systems (Marantz PM7000N) and current AV receivers (Sony STR-DN1080).
The ever-popular Sonos multi-room system still has no plans to support hi-res audio, and neither does Apple. But that has led rival companies such as Bluesound to offer hi-res playback across their range of connected products (for a higher price, of course).
Wireless speakers At the higher end of the wireless speaker market you’ll find hi-res support the norm. The likes of the Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation, Linn Series 3 and Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge are all able to handle hi-res file playback over wi-fi.
Best wireless speakers 2021
Where can I buy and download hi-res music?
Now that you’re armed with all this information on hi-res music, your next question should be: where can I get all these glorious hi-res music tracks?
There are currently a handful of UK download sites that let you buy and download single tracks and full albums in various hi-res formats. There are also plenty of US and European sites, though not all of them let you purchase from the UK.
Major music labels such as Sony, Warner and Universal have made their extensive music catalogues available to these hi-res download services – which is a real shot in the arm for fans of high-resolution audio. With all sites, make sure it’s clear what file format and bitrate you are buying. Ultimately, you may end up with a favourite go-to site, but even then, it’s worth checking across the different sites for the same album or track, too, as some stores can offer better prices than others.
Here are the top UK hi-res download sites:
7Digital With a strong catalogue offering hi-res music from all genres and a website that makes buying music easy, 7digital is an excellent all-rounder. There’s an accurate search function and the website is simple to navigate. You can easily spot hi-res recordings thanks to a ’24bit FLAC’ badge on an album or song’s thumbnail, and there’s also a dedicated hi-res section. The sole drawback is that it only offers downloads in the FLAC format. Prices are affordable, though, and you can buy individual tracks as well as full albums.
Qobuz Sublime
Music discovery and front-end intuitiveness get full marks on French download store Qobuz. Both the website and dedicated app are easy to navigate, and you can search by genre or new releases, which can be sorted by sample rate. There is a strong Francophile focus, although the catalogue is growing more varied every day. Pricing is competitive, but if you opt for the hybrid download-and-streaming Sublime+ service you do get discounts when buying hi-res albums.
HDtracks
HDtracks may be one of the most established hi-res download stores, but it’s in need of a refresh in looks and catalogue. It can feel aimed at an older audience (there’s strong focus on jazz, classical and dad rock), which can be off-putting for wider audiences, especially fans of more current, popular music. On the other hand, whereas other download sites offer FLAC as default, HDtracks lets you choose between FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF (and the sampling rate for each) before downloading. There’s a selection of DSD tunes, too, which is great for audiophiles.
How to build the perfect hi-fi system
Where can I stream hi-res music?
Not ready to download hi-res files, or simply prefer streaming? Tidal and Qobuz streaming services have offered hi-res and CD-quality streams for years, putting them ahead of rivals Spotify and Apple Music. And now that Amazon has joined the party with its HD service, hi-res streaming is now firmly in the mainstream domain.
Tidal Masters Tidal and MQA’s partnership has brought us one step closer to mainstream hi-res music streaming. You’ll need to subscribe to Tidal’s HiFi tier (which offers CD quality streaming) to unlock the Masters section, and then you can stream hi-res MQA files through the desktop app and Android/iOS mobile apps.
Tidal claims a 30,000-strong catalogue of MQA files, with about 400 clearly labelled. The MQA files have a resolution of up to 24-bit/96kHz (any 192kHz files will be unpackaged to 96kHz by MQA’s core decoding). With the right kit, the streamed tunes sound great, too. It’s a solid foundation from which the hi-res streaming experience can only evolve.
Qobuz Sublime+ Qobuz strikes again here and says its hybrid download-and-streaming tier is ‘”the best music subscription in the world.” This top-tier package offers hi-res streaming up to 24bit/192kHz files (as well as CD quality tracks) on its desktop and mobile apps, with its 50-million-track catalogue including more than 240,000 hi-res albums.
The big downside is the price – you have to pay an upfront £250 annual fee to use Sublime+ and all its perks (which does include good discounts when buying hi-res albums). And in comparison, we found Tidal offers more drive and dynamism when it comes to sound quality. Qobuz’s hi-res streaming tier is a great venture, but only if you’re fully committed to hi-res streaming.
Amazon Music HD The most recent entrant into the hi-res streaming service world is Amazon – and its arrival at the end of 2019 largely marked hi-res streaming going mainstream. The cheapest hi-res service of the three, the value-packed streaming service is up there with the best thanks to its Intuitive desktop and mobile apps, good CD-quality and hi-res library and excellent value.
What’s next for hi-res audio?
With more support than ever before, hi-res audio is a viable choice for anyone interested in audio quality, whether part of your home audio system or when on the move.
Whether the biggest players – Apple, Sonos and Spotify – will ever natively support hi-res remains to be seen, but there are plenty of other, increasingly affordable ways that you can start delving into the hi-res audio world. (Interestingly, 360-degree or surround sound formats such as Sony 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos Music respectively are also making headway in offering higher quality, if not necessarily ‘hi-res’, music experiences, so they’re other options for melomaniacs to explore.)
With this wider availability, more people are able to learn and understand exactly what high-resolution audio is, and the benefits it can bring to music. There’s plenty of content out there, and there’s plenty of hardware to go with it.
So if you want the ultimate sonic solution, you know what to do.
MORE:
Where is Spotify Hi-Fi? And do we still want a lossless Spotify tier?
3 of the best high-res audio systems
Here’s a superb-sounding hi-fi system with streaming skills
Audi has announced the E-Tron GT, an expensive new high-performance electric sedan built on technology developed for Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan.
Due out this spring in Europe, the E-Tron GT will start at €99,800 with a top-spec RS version starting at €138,200. It will then come stateside in the summer, with the base GT starting at $99,900 and the RS beginning at $139,900.
For all of that money, buyers will get the most performance that Audi has squeezed out of an electric car to date. The standard E-Tron GT can output 350kW of power, or roughly 470 horsepower, while the RS version boasts 440kW, or about 590 horsepower. In overboost mode, those numbers jump to 522 horsepower and 637 horsepower, respectively. With overboost and launch control, the E-Tron GT can sprint to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.1 seconds, and the RS version makes that run in 3.3 seconds. Not bad for a car that weighs about 5,100 pounds.
Both models achieve that performance with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup that’s powered by a 93kWh battery pack (with 85kWh of usable energy). The battery pack uses 800-volt technology, too, which not only lets the GT perform at high levels but will also enable faster charging. Audi says just five minutes will recover 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, of range when hooked up to a high-speed charging network like Volkswagen’s Electrify America.
Image: Audi
If those numbers sound familiar, it’s because it’s the exact same setup as the Porsche Taycan. That was the plan from the jump when the GT was first revealed as a concept car at the 2018 LA Auto Show and even made an appearance in Avengers: Endgame. Much like how the larger Volkswagen Group will share the German automaker’s mass-market MEB electric car platform, the powertrain that was developed for Porsche’s first EV was made available to Audi for the GT, which will exist as a halo vehicle of its all-electric E-Tron brand. (To wit, it will even be built on the same assembly line as the R8 sports car.)
Audi says the base E-Tron GT should get “more than 488km” (or 298 miles) of range on a full charge, though that’s according to the European WLTP testing standard. In its US press release, Audi cites a 238-mile range for the standard GT and a 232-mile range for the RS, though those are not official EPA range estimates.
Despite being such a pricey car, the base E-Tron GT’s price tag will climb even higher for buyers who want the German automaker’s most advanced tech. Audi’s Matrix LED headlights, which have a complex mirror system that can shape the light in highly specific ways, are an option (though only in Europe). There’s also an optional heads-up display that can project information onto the windshield. All-wheel steering is available, but only as an option. Bang & Olufsen sound system? Optional.
The more expensive RS model includes some of these features, though its price can also jump depending on which wheels are fitted or if the buyer opts for a carbon-fiber reinforced roof over the standard glass option. Noise-insulating glass on the side and rear windows are also an option, as are massage seats.
Both E-Tron GTs come fitted with two displays — a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen — that are powered by the latest version of Audi’s infotainment system. That means there’s an LTE Advanced chip for onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, navigation powered by Here maps, a companion smartphone app for controlling door locks and other functions, and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
In total, the E-Tron GT is the most loaded up electric Audi to date. It’s the kind of thing that could properly compete (in some respects) with Tesla’s new refreshed Model S, and it gives deep-pocketed customers the option of Porsche Taycan-level performance in a different package.
Audi has already shipped tens of thousands of E-Tron SUVs and Sportbacks, its first electric models released in the wake of the Volkswagen Group’s Dieselgate scandal. But the extra capability afforded by Porsche’s technology could help the automaker steal away luxury car buyers who were previously put off by the lacking range of the original E-Tron (or its most direct competition, the Mercedes-Benz EQC). Beyond that, the E-Tron GT will now serve as the standard bearer for Audi’s push into electric vehicles, the car that all other Audi EVs will be measured against as most customers inevitably settle for something more attainable.
(Pocket-lint) – If you’re seeking proof that videogames are about way more than shooting people in the face, you could do a lot worse than check out Little Nightmares 2.
Despite only being between five and six hours long, it manages to be by turns scary, cute, inventive and thought-provoking, all the while providing plenty of distinctive and often challenging puzzles.
Arthouse horror
The first Little Nightmares game, released in 2017, put its developer Tarsier Studios firmly on the games industry map and garnered a number of awards.
The sequel, Little Nightmares 2, doesn’t mess with the formula it established – but positively throbs with the confidence of a developer that knows it’s onto something unique.
As in the original game, it combines puzzle-solving with platform-style gameplay, taking in stealth and hair-raising chase sequences, and even stretching to a couple of thoroughly idiosyncratic segments that essentially amount to boss-battles.
At its heart, it’s a puzzle game, but its gothic and often threatening vibe – rarely but brilliantly punctuated by uplifting moments – set it far apart from the puzzle-game norm. That said, it will feel quite familiar to anyone who played the first Little Nightmares game.
A new face in town
This time around, you also control a small child, called Mono, embarking on a quest for freedom and liberation. Mono’s journey starts in a swampy, somewhat foetid countryside area, where he swiftly hooks up with Six, the protagonist of the first game.
Bandai Namco
Escaping from a shotgun-wielding adult – seriously, all the adults in the game are scary, Fantastic Mr Fox this isn’t – the pair stumble into a beyond-dystopian city, and must make their way through localities including the creepiest school and hospital you will ever encounter.
You can’t control Six, but she comes in handy as a co-operative partner, offering leg-ups so Mono can reach otherwise inaccessible places, and catching him at the end of gaps he wouldn’t normally be able to jump over. Plus, she provides an emotional wrench whenever the pair are separated, and close observation of her behaviour can produce hints about how to solve some of the more head-scratching puzzles.
Minimalistic marvel
As in the first game, Little Nightmares 2’s controls are very minimal: Mono can run, jump grab and, at times, use items like a TV remote and a torch.
Bandai Namco
He can also use weapons, including axes and bits of pipe, although not exactly in the manner you would expect if playing an action game. Because they are adult-sized, they are too heavy for him to wield with any dexterity, so he drags them around behind him, and has to work his way up to each strike, so timing is paramount.
Details like that bring an incredibly tactile feeling to the game, a sense which is enhanced by superb sound design and music. The music would adorn many a horror movie, while the ambient sounds create a chilling atmosphere and, sometimes, contribute to the puzzle-solving that allows you to keep moving forward.
Rewarding the observant
Little Nightmares 2 is packed with puzzles that are wildly inventive, vary according to where you are in the game, and are extremely memorable. At times, you will find yourself embarking on periods of head-scratching, and the game definitely rewards the observant, but there’s a lot of satisfaction to be had when you figure out what has to be done in order to progress.
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Bandai Namco
Despite its wordlessness – Little Nightmares 2 contains not a single word of dialogue – it still manages to cleverly convey a story, and its overall approximation of the disturbing nightmares we’ve all experienced is punctuated by moments of uplift and even cuteness.
As you work your way through the city, you discover an adult population transfixed by whatever beams out of the screens of their televisions, to such an extent that if you turn one TV off, they will move to the next one – or if there isn’t another one at hand, pursue you relentlessly. Which triggers all manner of reflections about being in thrall to whatever is broadcast to us, no matter how poisonous it might be – a very topical theme.
Verdict
Although roughly twice as long as the original game, Little Nightmares 2 clocks in between five and six hours, so it still isn’t hugely substantial, but the presence of hats that Mono can wear hidden in off-the-beaten-track areas that you might well have failed to explore in your first play-through provides a certain amount of replay value.
If you appreciate games that strive to create a unique ambience, harbour ambitions to be seen as art rather than mere entertainment, and have a thought-provoking agenda, you’ll struggle to find anything that fits the bill better than Little Nightmares 2.
Traversing a world of nightmares has never been so much fun. Little Nightmares 2 is a thoroughly entertaining, truly nightmarish work of art.
Companies looking to make a name in podcasting have mostly done so by spending lots of money on flashy names, big acquisitions, and valuable content libraries. But increasingly, the audio itself, and the recording techniques used to capture it, are becoming the selling point.
Today, iHeart Media announced that it’s investing in binaural audio, also known as 3D audio, which effectively places listeners in the room of a recording and makes them feel like it’s happening around them. Listening to a show in 3D audio sounds like you’re in the scene and hearing things exactly as you would in real life because the microphones are often shaped like a human head or a pair of ears. This means the sounds hit your ears as they would normally, a zooming car, for example, might be louder in your right ear and then move to your left as it passes, slowly fading from your right. (The Verge’s audio director Andrew Marino published a ton of 3D audio clips here if you want some examples.)
iHeart is launching an entire slate of shows dedicated to the technique, under the name iHeart 3D Audio. It will feature programs made with Blumhouse Television as well as podcast creator and producer Aaron Mahnke.
The company has built three studios specifically equipped to handle 3D audio recording and employs a team of 12 producers who are trained in capturing binaural audio. By the end of 2021, iHeart plans to have 10 to 12 series produced with the technology, says Conal Byrne, president of the iHeartPodcast Network. The team also plans to host live radio events because iHeart owns hundreds of US radio stations, during which it’ll encourage listeners to don a pair of headphones to enjoy the binaural experience.
“I think a lot more should be in 3D audio than is,” Byrne says. “And so as we look across the slate of shows we have from A-to-Z, across 2021, most of those, there’s a 3D audio version that’s probably better than what [we’re] doing normally.”
Byrne sees the form as a tool for storytelling, sure, but also as a new way for sponsors to send a message — and another way for iHeart to differentiate itself from all the companies looking for brand partners.
“I think 3D audio to make a new kind of a 30-60-two minute ad could really kind of — I’m not going to suggest will reinvent podcast advertising — but could definitely push it further toward immersion,” he says. “So we’re going to offer that.”
iHeart isn’t the only network to harness 3D audio, and creators have been doing so for years. Indie network Paragon Collective has used the technology for some of its narrative shows as well, including The Oyster and Darkest Night.
“What I really like about 3D audio is it just sucks people in, so where I’ll use it a lot now is when a character’s whispering to another one, so you can get in their head, or it makes a huge difference when you’re using these sound effects on 3D audio and the user’s in the middle of the room,” says Alex Aldea, founder and CEO of Paragon.
Binaural could become more popular than ever for a few reasons. For one, it’s more immersive, which is good for getting people to listen and stick through a podcast. It’s also compatible with any pair of headphones, meaning listeners don’t need special equipment or software to enjoy it. And finally, narrative podcasts are booming with many networks looking to gain an audience for their shows and a way to differentiate themselves. If you try 3D audio and love it, you might look for more shows like it.
Another network, QCODE, which makes narrative shows with big-name stars, is looking to take the next step in podcast audio and create surround-sound experiences. The company tells The Verge it’s been mixing its shows in Dolby Atmos. Crucially, no major podcast apps support the standard yet, despite companies like Apple supporting it on their hardware devices, like the AirPods Pro, the HomePod, and Apple TV 4K. QCODE is essentially preparing for a day when podcast app makers are ready to support the standard.
“Creating these environments and this experience is going to be a really new thing, and a really positive one for this type of storytelling,” says Rob Herting, CEO at QCODE. “It’s not to say that it’s a replacement for good storytelling, and you can’t think of it like a gimmick, but I think when used well, it can be really, really impactful.”
Podcasts are increasingly becoming IP machines, or a way to make a story come to life and sell a potential film or TV adaptation. Surround sound and 3D audio are just the next steps in that journey to keep listeners tuned in and make podcasts seem even closer to the experience of watching something on the big screen.
The HP Spectre x360 has an attractive design and long battery life, though the 16:9 display feels dated. Its only performance downside is in bursty workloads, which we saw some issues with.
For
Sliim, attractive chassis
Solid speakers for a laptop
Long battery life
Still squeezes in a USB Type-A port
Against
16:9 display is dated, especially as a tablet
Not great with bursty performance
Difficult to upgrade
Sure, the
best ultrabooks and premium laptops
are tools, but you also want your computing device to look good. Design is important, after all.
The HP Spectre 360 13t ($949.99 to start, $1,249.99 as tested) continues to be one of the best-looking Windows devices out there, with a refined, thin design and clever port placement with both Thunderbolt 4 and USB Type-A.
But a tool also has to do the job well. With a 16:9 screen, the Spectre x360 can still, well, compute, but it doesn’t show as much as some others. And then there’s the question of whether or not this laptop can tame Intel’s latest Tiger Lake processors.
Design of the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
HP’s Spectre lineup has had an aesthetic that would make a jeweler proud for the last few years. The Spectre x360 13t is no different there. The laptop, made from silver aluminum (it comes in black or blue for an extra cost), and has a reflective, modernized HP logo that I think the company should really start using on all of its products. But what makes it stand out are the cut-off corners near the back hinge, one of which has the power button while the other houses a Thunderbolt 4 port.
Those corners are always accessible, and easy enough to reach whether the laptop is being used as a notebook or a tablet.
The 13.3-inch display has very thin bezels, but looks short and squat with a 16:9 aspect ratio. As more notebooks move to taller 16:10 displays, like the
Dell XPS 13
and
MacBook Pro
or a 3:2 display like the
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
, it makes the whole design here, not just the screen, seem a little cramped and dated. (HP does have a 3:2 Spectre x360 with the 14-inch version of this laptop, which we hope to be able to test soon.)
HP has packed in a full-size keyboard, including a row for home, page up, page down and end keys, and the rest of the construction is aluminum. This thing is built solid.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
While thicker notebooks may have more ports, HP hasn’t given up on USB Type-A here, which I really appreciate. The left side of the notebook has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A with a drop-jaw hinge to squeeze it into the chassis, as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The right side has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (one in the top-right corner), a kill switch for the camera, and a microSD card reader.
The Spectre x360 13 measures 12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds. That makes it ever so slightly lighter than the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310, which is 2.9 pounds and 11.6 x 8.15 x 0.56 inches. The Asus ZenBook Flip S UX371 is a slighter 2.7 pounds and 12 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches. Apple’s MacBook Pro, a clamshell, is 3 pounds and 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches.
HP Spectre x360 13-inch Specifications
CPU
Intel Core i7-1165G7
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
16GB LPDDR4X-4266
Storage
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 32GB Intel Optane
Display
13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS touchscreen
Networking
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, Headphone/microphone jack, microSD card reader
Camera
720p IR
Battery
60 WHr
Power Adapter
65 W
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Dimensions(WxDxH)
12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches / 306.83 x 194.56 x 17.01 mm
Weight
2.8 pounds / 1.27 kg
Price (as configured)
$1,249.99
Productivity Performance HP Spectre x360 13-inch
The Spectre is the latest machine we’ve tested with Intel’s Core i7-1165G7 “Tiger Lake” mobile processors. Our configuration of the 2-in-1 has paired that with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB Intel SSD and 32GB of Intel Optane memory.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
On comparable versions of Geekbench 5, an overall performance benchmark, the Spectre had a single core-score of 1,574 and a multi-core score of 4,749. The ZenBook Flip S had a higher multi-core score (4,952) but a lower single-core score (1,512) with the same CPU. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, also with the same Core i7, has a far higher multi-core score (5,639) but a lower single-core score (1,532). On the same test, the MacBook Pro had a multi-core score of 5,925 and a single-core score of 1,316, and that was through Rosetta emulation that can decrease performance.
The Spectre transferred 25GB of files at a rate of 452.62 MBps, edging out the XPS 13 2-in-1. But the ZenBook Flip S out-performed here at 979.37
It took the Spectre x360 18 minutes and 39 seconds to complete our Handbrake test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p. That’s faster than the ZenBook, though the XPS 13 2-in-1 had it beat, while the MacBook Pro was more than five minutes faster than the Spectre, even through Rosetta 2 emulation.
We also ran the Spectre through our stress test, which runs Cinebench R23 twenty times on a loop. The results were largely in the high 3,000’s, occasionally peaking over 4,000. Towards the end, it was a bit erratic. The CPU ran at an average of 2.52 GHz and an average temperature of 64.88 degrees Celsius (148.78 degrees Fahrenheit). HWInfo’s monitoring software detected several instances of cores’ power limits being exceeded.
Display on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch Specifications
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Our review unit has a 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. That seems a bit squat, even outdated, compared to some competitors, which have moved on to 16:10 or 3:2 displays that are taller and show more of your work at once. It’s also more natural for tablet mode.
Part of my testing included watching the trailer for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Some explosions early in the trailer showed some intense burst of orange, though some scenes on a football field had fireworks that didn’t pop against the night sky as much as I would have liked to see. It’s usable, but not the best I’ve seen.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Spectre’s IPS display covered 67.7% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, in the range of the XPS 13 2-in-1 (70%). We reviewed the ZenBook Flip S with an OLED display that hit 113.1% (you can get the Spectre with OLED; see configurations below). Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro reached 78.3%.
HP’s display measured an average of 391 nits of brightness, beating the ZenBook, but falling short of the MacBook Pro and the XPS 13 2-in-1.
Keyboard and Touchpad on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The keyboard on the Spectre x360 is comfortable, with a satisfying click (at least, as far as membranes go), that bounces up in a responsive fashion.
My bigger issue was the wristrest. The deck is a bit short, so my hands hung off it while I typed. I hit 88 words per minute on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, which is a bit low for me; I’m generally in the high 90’s. It wasn’t because of the keyboard, but because I was floating my wrists in the air. A taller screen would require a longer deck, which could help solve this.
I would prefer that the 4.4 x 2.2 inch touchpad be a bit taller, but there’s also not any room for that on the device. Still, the vertical height was slightly limiting, and I often hit the edge of it. That said, the precision touchpad is sensitive enough that I was able to perform gestures, even with four fingers, without any issues.
Audio on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
For such a trim device, HP is offering up decent quality sound. The bottom-firing speakers, tuned by Bang & Olufsen, were clear with detailed sound. In Yellowcard’s “City of Devils,” the mix of violins, guitars, cymbals and drums were well leveled and textured, though, like many laptops, the bass wasn’t particularly perceptible.
The included Bang & Olufsen Audio control app helped that a bit when I switched to the Bass equalizer preset, but I preferred the overall mix of the default settings, which better highlighted the violins and vocals.
Upgradeability of the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
There are only two visible screws (a pair of Torx) on the bottom of the Spectre x360. If only things were that easy.
There are four additional Phillips-head screws beneath one of the laptop’s two adhesive-backed rubber feet. Removing the foot could potentially rip or tear it, making it difficult to replace later, so the average person probably shouldn’t attempt to open the laptop up.
Per HP’s maintenance manual for this laptop, the battery, Wi-Fi card and SSD are all replaceable if you do get in there, though the RAM is soldered down.
For most people, we recommend ensuring you get the configuration with enough storage and RAM to future proof it for you. Enthusiasts who can risk that rubber foot will find some upgradeable and repairable parts inside.
Battery Life on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
This 2-in-1 has some endurance. While it comes with a nice USB Type-C charger with a braided cable, you should be able to go quite a while without it. The Spectre ran for 12 hours and 32 minutes on our battery test, which continuously browses the web, runs OpenGL tests and streams video over Wi-Fi, all at 150 nits of brightness.
It outlased both the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, which ran for 10:52, and the Asus ZenBook Flip S, which lasted 8:11. But Apple’s MacBook Pro, powered by its incredibly-efficient M1 processor, lasted four hours longer at 16:32.
Heat on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
Beyond internal temperatures, we took skin temperatures while we ran our Cinebench R23 stress test.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The center of the keyboard, between the G andH keys, measured 36.2 degrees Celsius (97.16 degrees Fahrenheit), though the keyboard was a cooler 29 degrees Celsius.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The hottest point on the bottom of the laptop hit 41.7 degrees Celsius (107.06 degrees Fahrenheit).
Webcam on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
The 720p camera in the Spectre x360’s bezel produces blurry images and doesn’t capture color well. In a shot at my desk, My blue eyes looked dark, my orange shirt muted, and the whole image was covered in visual noise.
Is it usable? Sure. But you may also want to consider buying best webcams for improved image quality. There’s a kill switch on the right side of the laptop for extra privacy when you’re not using the webcam.
Software and Warranty on the HP Spectre x360 13-inch
Most of the software preinstalled on the Spectre is from HP itself. The most important is HP Command Center, a one-stop-shop to choose between performance presets, network prioritization for applications and system information. The others include HP Support Assistant (which I think could be rolled into Command Center), HP Privacy Settings and a link to the user manual for the laptop. There’s also MyHP, which gives you easy access to your serial numbers and a bunch of short tutorials for Windows and Microsoft Office.
Of course, there’s still the bloat that comes with most Windows 10 installs, like Spotify, Hulu, Roblox and Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure.
HP sells the 13-inch Spectre x360 with a 1-year warranty that can be extended at an additional cost.
HP Spectre x360 13-inch Configurations
We tested the Spectre x360 with an Intel Core i7-1165G7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage with 32GB of Intel Optane memory and a 1920 x 1080 IPS touchscreen. All of that comes for $1,249.99.
The base model is $949.99, with an Intel Core i5-1135G7, 8GB of RAM, a 1080p screen and a 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD.
Many of the components are configurable. You can go up to a
4K
UHD OLED touch screen (add $180), or opt for FHD
OLED
(add $30) or even WLED with Sure View Privacy (a $60 extra.) Storage goes up to a 2TB PCIe SSD. If you don’t want the silver color, you can pay $10 for black or $20 extra for blue.
The most expensive version, with a “Poseidon blue” chassis, Windows 10 Pro and the maximum specs runs $1,869.99.
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In its latest iteration, the 13-inch HP Spectre x360 continues to be an attractive choice, quite literally. The Spectre remains one of the best-looking notebooks on the market, and it’s sleek and trim. Its battery life is impressive, and the Bang & Olufsen audio is pretty good for a 2-in-1 laptop.
While many ultrabook owners may not use their laptops for the most intense workloads, those who do may notice the issues we saw in our Cinebench gauntlet. That’s not a huge issue for day-to-day use, but enthusiasts or power users may seek other options.
If you’re looking for a convertible 2-in-1, the go-to continues to be the
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
, which offers strong performance and a taller, 16:10 display that works better as a tablet. You will, however, give up the full-sized USB Type-A port. HP also offers a comfier keyboard, in this author’s opinion, though a short wrist rest mars the typing experience.
But if a mix of style and endurace strikes your fancy, the Spectre x360 should be under consideration, though I’m hoping we can check out the 14-inch, 3:2 version soon.
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