Top 10 Hi-Fi
01 Sonos Digital Music System
Stuff says
Still the king of multi-room music, and now much more affordable. The Sonos is a pleasure to use, sounds great and looks stunning. We like
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02
Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6
Packed with features and great sound, we're smitten with this Cambridge Audio streamer
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03
Naim NaimUniti 2
One of the most expensive audio systems is also the best sounding – though it lacks some streaming options
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04
JBL OnBeat Xtreme
Fun, dynamic and versatile, the JBL OnBeat Xtreme may be the ultimate tech dock
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05
Onkyo CR-N755
Seriously good sound quality coupled with the latest streaming technology makes this Onkyo an all-round winner
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06
Libratone Zipp
As fun to listen to as it is to look at, the portable Zipp is an AirPlay pleasure
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07
Philips Fidelio SoundSphere DS9800W
A novel design and a cracking sound – what's not to like?
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08
B&W A7
Expensive, beautiful and better sounding than any AirPlay speaker we’ve heard.
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09
Focal XS Book
A new desktop champion, the Focal XS Book speakers will have your PC singing in style
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10
Logitech Mini Boombox
The Mini offers physics-defying ability at an amazingly low price
Instant Expert
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1. Spread ’em As proven by the Naim, mini doesn’t have to mean manky. Spreading the speakers out will help sound quality and adding a subwoofer can be a good move.
2. Boxes of tricks Look for as many features as you can get for your money: demand DAB, decent build quality and aux-in sockets for your PMP, plus HDMI if you want TV connectivity, and DLNA, AirPlay or UPnP music streaming tech.
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. Stream team Most hi-fi systems are network-ready these days, but to take advantage of their streaming skills you'll need a server – whether PC or NAS drive – and a good Wi-Fi set-up. Going wired can be a better bet in houses with thick walls.
