Price: $907.5
Who needs to drill holes and re-plaster
walls to get a multiroom music system at home? Not you. With Sonos, creating a
simple two-zone system is an idiot-proof doddle: the cheapest way would be to
combine two of the new Play: 3 units with the Sonos Bridge route. Want to go
more amplified ZP120 in another room, or existing one or the new Subs for a
sizeable bass boost. The dedicated controller has now been discontinued, but
the free apps (iOS, Android, Mac, PC) work beautifully.
Sonos
multiroom system
Killer feature: Zoneplayers can all sync for ‘party mode’ or play individually
Stuff says 5/5 stars
Infinite music in every room without the
need for custom installers? Sign us up now
Denon D-M38DAB
Price: $453.9
Of you want a D-M38, you’ll have to move
quickly – the D-M39 has now released and can be bought for $ 583.5. the M38 is
still a great bit of kit (especially given the price), but it might be wise to
delay your purchase until we’re reviewed its successor.
Denon
D-M38DAB
Naim UniQute
Price: $2,309.5
Value: 5/5
Not since prince’s heyday has such sweet
music emerged from such a tiny thing. The UnitiQute produces audiophile sound
from streamed files, all controlled by an iOS app. The $5267 Super Unit is
better still (but pricey): the flagship NDS ($10129) even more so.
JBL OnBeat Xtreme
Price: $559
Value: 5/5
If you want to have your cake and eat the
whole thing as well, look no further than the OnBeat Xtreme. It’s packed with
features – Bluetooth streaming, iThing dock, USB, built-in mic, video output
and more – bit it’s also loud, fun and great sounding. Tasty.
Marantz M-CR603
Price: $777.9
Value: 5/5
Marantz’s brilliant micro-hi will play CDs,
DAB, FM and internet radio, or stream from Bluetooth or DLNA-equipped gear, but
it’s the ability to stream music from devices with Apple’s AirPlay tech that
sets it apart. Shame it lacks Wi-Fi, though
Marantz
M-CR603
Geneva Model M
Price: $940
Value: 5/5
An iAudiophile’s dream, the Model M pump
out serious sound of the kind you’d expect from a separates system. Want to go
wireless? The dinky, ultra-portable Model XS ($291.9) stream via Bluetooth and
does a fantastic job given its size
Philips Fidello SoundSphere DS9800W
Price: $1,134.5
In a world awash with AirPlay-equipped
docks, the new SoundSpheres create a niche for themselves by offering proper
two-channel stereo output. iDiosuncratic looks ensure they’ll stand out even
further from the crowd, and they sound great too.
B&W Zeppelin Air
Price: $810
Value: 5/5
The Air brings the weighty sound and design
smarts we’ve come to expect from the Zeppelin family, then adds AirPlay
streaming as a bonus trick. The clever Zeppelin Air app is a further plus,
letting users pool their music collections to a collaborative playlist.
B&W
Zeppelin Air
Focal XS book
Price: $421
Value: 5/5
Can a computer ever be a proper hi-fi
substitute? It can if kitted out with these premium desktop speakers. In fact,
this 40W active system serves up such an up compromising sound it’s equally at
home when plugged into your MP3 player.
Focal
XS book
Logitech Mini Boombox
Price: $72.9
Value: 5/5
Travelling light? The Mini Boombox is so
small it’ll fit in your pocket, but still pumps out a superb sound for the
price, whether your tunes are streamed over Bluetooth or played via its 3.5mm
line-in. The perfect accessory for all your summer picnics
Instant expert
Marc McLaren lives life in stereo
Pure’s first Sensia was a big favorite at
Stuff Towers: a DAB radio with a 5.7in touchscreen, it earned itself a 5-star
review and a place in this here Top 10. Big shoes for its successor the Sensia
200D Connect ($405, pure.com) to fill then, but shoes that look like a perfect
fit. Yes, it has the same color touchscreen, 30W of power and DAB and FM tuners
as its predecessor – but it also has access to a lot more music. The new Pure
Stream app launches alongside the 200D, allowing you to stream tunes wirelessly
from your iPhone or Android smartphone, while the Spotify-esque Pure Music
service is available for $8 a month. With Pure boasting improved sound quality,
it could be back in this Top 10 soon. We’ll have a review on Stuff.tv shortly.
“The Sensia 200D can pick up a lot more
music than the original”
What look for
1. Spread ’em
As proven by the Naim, left, 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 need to fit with the décor 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.
