SAVE! Up to 33% on the shop price when you subscribe to What Hi-Fi? p24 SWEET SPOT FOR SWEET SOUNDS “You get what you pay for” is, for the most part, a truism that is only very rarely disproved. And it stands, of course, when it comes to loudspeakers. There are some hugely talented speakers costing less than £1000 that are far more talented than you should have the right to expect, but it is between £1000 and £2000 that the sweet spot of cost and performance truly lies. Our round-up of standmount speakers (p30) brings you some simply stunning performers that will give you years of joy. Talking of joy, I am always happy when we get a radio in for review. Thirty or forty years ago, a tuner was an integral part of a hi-fi system; with the advent of broadband and streaming, that is no longer the case, but there is still a place for portable units – and the medium is still going reassuringly strong. Our radio round-up (p44) gives you some terrific options, whether for out and about, in the garden or in your living room. Home cinema is catered for too: our AV amplifiers (p52) round-up gives you some great choices from around £600 up. Jonathan Evans, editor Scan this QR code to enjoy What Hi-Fi? in your inbox with our email newsletter MY PRODUCT OF THE MONTH JBL Xtreme 4, p18 Big, beefy, engaging portable that just proves JBL’s brilliance in the field FIND US ONLINE instagram.com/whathifiuk www.whathifi.com @whathifi whf.cm/UltimateTracks youtube.com/WhathifiTV facebook.com/whathifi.com What Hi-Fi? (ISSN 0309-3336) (October 2024, issue 491) is published monthly with an extra issue in March by Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA, UK. The US annual subscription price is $175.37. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named World Container Inc., c/o BBT 150-15 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Brooklyn NY 11256. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to What Hi-Fi?, World Container Inc., c/o BBT 150-15 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Subscription records are maintained at Future Publishing, c/o Air Business Subscriptions, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3DH, UK. WELCOME HOW WE TEST EXPERIENCE. HERITAGE. We have been helping the world discover the best in hi-fi and home entertainment for more than 45 years, and have more than 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective belts – so you can count on our expert opinion. DEDICATED TEST FACILITIES We test every product against its peers in our extensive, bespoke reviewing facilities in London and Reading. We conduct all our tests as a team – our opinions and conclusions are always the result of collaboration. HOW WE SCORE All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole – not any individual reviewer. Each product will be listened to and/or viewed by several members of the test team, who will then discuss the final verdict before it appears in the magazine or on the website. This avoids any individual bias creeping in. OUR SCORES EXPLAINED One of the best ★★★★★ A serious contender ★★★★★ Worth a look ★★★★★ Disappointing ★★★★★ Awful ★★★★★ View offers Look out for this badge to find the best price www.whathifi.com 3