101 gadgets: Stuff’s pick of brilliant TV and Hi-Fi gear to treat your eyes in 2025
TVs, projectors and hi-fi heroes that turn everyday watching and listening into a feast for the senses
Fancy giving your home entertainment setup a proper upgrade? Look no further. We’ve worked hard to serve up a cracking round-up of the best TV and Hi-Fi gear that’s set to take your viewing and listening experience to new heights.
From cutting-edge 4K tellies to top-notch amplifiers, streamers, and speakers, we’ve got the lot. Whether you’re after crystal-clear visuals or audio that’ll knock your socks off, our selection should see you in good stead for years to come.
- Read more: The best amplifiers money can buy
Sony Bravia 8 II
Sony’s new kid on the OLED block promises to dazzle onlookers with a 50% brighter screen over its A95L predecessor, delivering the vibrant colors and deep blacks that OLED lovers covet. Its brain (aka, the Cognitive Processor XR), intelligently analyses content to optimise contrast, colour, and clarity in real-time, promising to provide even more immersive movie nights. Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology also turns the entire screen into a speaker, providing precise audio alignment with on-screen action. And, thanks to Google TV, users can access all the streaming services and apps one will ever need. All that, and it’s launching for a price that’s cheaper than the A95L, in the UK, at least. Makes for a nice change
Xgimi Portable Outdoor Screen
Xgimi’s 70-inch screen offers a wrinkle-free viewing surface, ideal for outdoor projector-powered movie nights. Its lightweight aluminium alloy frame also ensures easy setup and portability, making it perfect for backyard gatherings or killing the boredom on tedious camping trips. Shame it can’t do anything about the mosquitoes, though.
Focal Bathys MG
Focal’s Bathys MG headphones combine audiophile-approved high-fidelity sound with wireless convenience. Featuring magnesium drivers, they deliver detailed audio with a delectable tone, delivering musical nectar directly to your ears. Active noise cancellation and a comfortable design make them ideal for extended listening sessions, whether at home or on the go.
Pro-Ject A1.2 Turntable
This pleasantly minimalist, fully automatic turntable simplifies the vinyl-spinning ritual without compromising sound quality. Its ultra-light aluminium tonearm and die-cast aluminium platter team up for precise tracking and reduced resonance, delivering the rich analogue sound that record-lovers crave. Best of all, though, is its fully automated start/stop feature.
Sennheiser HD 550
Sennheiser’s HD 550 headphones offer audiophile-grade clarity with gamers in mind, wooing listeners over with a wide frequency response and low distortion. Their 150-ohm impedance makes them suitable for various audio sources, while the comfortable design ensures enjoyable, long listening sessions. Best of all? Not a gaudy RGB LED in sight.
Optoma UHZ68LV
This 4K UHD dual-laser projector delivers bright, vibrant images with 5000 lumens of brightness and 90% DCI-P3 colour accuracy. Supporting HDR10 and Dolby Vision, its quiet operation is an added bonus. It’s also rated to last 30,000 hours – enough to enjoy The Rock approximately 13,235 times.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
The pleasingly circular Onyx Studio 9 combines elegant design with powerful sound. Its built-in battery and integrated handle offer play-anywhere portability, while features like self-tuning and multi-speaker connectivity via the wonders of Auracast unlock surround sound trickery. The eight-hour battery could be longer, but it’s more than enough for a sensible garden rave.
Tribit StormBox Lava
With a name plucked straight out of a 90s toy commercial, this portable Bluetooth speaker delivers robust bass and clear sound, making it ideal for parties and outdoor gatherings. Its IP67 rating laughs in the face of spilt Crémant and runaway pâté, while a seriously impressive 24-hour battery life keeps the party going.
We Are Rewind EDITH
This stunning example of eye-popping retro design and modern convenience is a cassette aficionado’s dream. Housed in a durable aluminium casing, it offers Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, USB-C charging, and up to 12 hours of playback. With stereo recording capabilities, it’s a fitting tribute to the OG Walkman that inspired it.
iFi iDSD Valkyrie
The iDSD Valkyrie is a portable DAC and headphone amplifier that delivers powerful, detailed sound. With quad-DAC architecture, 5700mW output, and support for high-resolution audio formats, it caters to audiophiles seeking top-tier performance on the go. Its long battery life and Bluetooth connectivity also add to its versatility. Plus, it has a wonderful Old Norse name.
- Read more: Our pick of the best Blu-ray players
