Top 10 Hi-Fi
01 Denon D-M38DAB
Stuff says
Denon's been doing this longer than most, and it shows. This is a very well-sorted, cost-effective system
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02
Naim UnitiQute
Not since Prince's heyday has such sweet music emerged from such a tiny thing
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03
Marantz M-CR603
The Marantz lacks wireless networking, but its sound quality more than makes up for it
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04
Geneva Model M
True hi-fi sound from a one-box premium dock. The Model M’s a new benchmark.
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05
Arcam rCube
Arcam's hi-fi credentials + slick tech = a new leading iPod system
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06
TDK 2 Speaker Boombox
Reassuringly solid and as lively as it looks, with plenty of bass and a punchy sound befitting its price tag
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07
Arcam Solo Mini
Classier than the micro system mob, and well worth the Arcam premium
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08
B&W Zeppelin Air
A thumping party-starter with a new wireless dimension for Apple devotees.
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09
Pure Digital Sensia
Give us modernity or give us death – therefore, give us the Pure Sensia
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10
Logitech S715i
A small, lightweight dock that does everything you'd want a small, lightweight dock to do
Instant Expert
Nobody talks to each other any more. We’re all too busy shuffling round the shops in our own insulated little worlds, wires trickling music into our otherwise useless ears. TDK wants it to be like it was ‘back in the day’, when our portable tunes came courtesy of a Boombox (from £399, tdk-media.eu) and sharing music meant pumping up the volume and staging an impromptu dance-off with your friends. Well, if you were in Run-DMC it did. The new two- or three-speaker ghetto blasters are a pleasing mix of the classic and the futuristic, with chunky knobs and touch controls, and the thick leather strap means you can carry it around your ‘hood’ so everyone can enjoy your tunes. Nice.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1. Spread ’em As proven by the Marantz, mini doesn’t have to mean manky. Separate speakers that you can spread out will help sound quality. Adding a subwoofer, if possible, is also a good move unless you’ve got big speakers.
2. In the box Keeping the mini-system market alive is going to mean adding more features for less money – so demand DAB, decent build quality and aux-in sockets for your PMP, plus HDMI if you want TV connectivity.
3. Ugly duckling? No matter how well-specced a mini system is, it still needs to fit with the decor of the room it’s going in. There are plenty of lookers out there, so don’t settle for a minger.
4. Wake up! If your system is for the bedroom, a timer is a good feature to have. Waking up to music – even Swedish death metal or happy hardcore – is infinitely preferable to being reanimated by a dodgy alarm on your phone.
