CATEGORIES

A Command Performance

FOR Weighty, assured sound; effective processing; stylishAGAINST Reliance on voice control; too Apple-focused

'Even, And Nicely Judged'

FOR Controlled, articulate sound; nice build and finishAGAINST Sound lacks a little enthusiasm and excitement

An Endearing, Upbeat Character

FOR Solid, entertaining sound;AGAINST No remote; rivals

'An Almost-Perfect Bedroom Clock'

FOR Sharp screen; neat design; clear midrangeAGAINST Sound could be better; lack of video content

No Room For Compromise

FOR Refined, faithful sound; stereo imaging; DAC; buildAGAINST Newer Apple iPhone compatibility issues

Tidal £10 Or £20 Per Month

FOR Masters tracks; interface; curated playlists; sound qualityAGAINST Few Masters tracks are easily discoverable

Has The Determination To Dig Deep And Hit Hard

FOR Detailed and transparent presentation; excellent featuresAGAINST Multiple colours for functions are confusing

Hisense Falls For Style Over Substance

FOR Crisp picture; smart design; natural colour paletteAGAINST Contrast not subtle; trouble with dark scenes

Pioneer Almost Scales The Heights

FOR Neat presentation; good level of detail; fi le compatibilityAGAINST Lacks drama; some issues with older Mac OSs

Mini Is Diminutive Only In Size

FOR Good detail; well balanced; numerous inputsAGAINST Greater expression required; fl imsy casework

The Time-Travelling Twin-Box Beauties

 Ruark’s 1998 Solstice floorstanders still sound impressive

Philips' Vision For 2017

FOR Punchy image, good 4K and HDR performance; designAGAINST Short on picture subtlety; limited catch-up apps

Streaming Hi-Res Audio At No Extra Cost? Yes Please

In the era of digital music, sound quality has often been overlooked in favour of convenience. Tidal Masters could be a best-of-both-worlds solution.

Closed-Back Paradise

FOR Excellent detail resolution; even tonal balance; scale; buildAGAINST They demand quality electronics

A Do-It-All Amp With The Mark Of A Specialist

FOR Big, enjoyable sound; insight; refinement; featuresAGAINST Some eccentricities in use; no coaxial or optical ins

Solid, No-Nonsense Kit

FOR Impressively big sound; good build; wellness functionAGAINST Stridency at volume; lack of streaming capability

Quacks Like A 4K-Enhanced Duck

FOR Crisp detail; handles whites well; intuitive controlAGAINST Blacks lack insight; brash colours

Three Words: Subtle, Confident, Muscular

FOR Bold, dynamic sound; excellent build and finishAGAINST Easy to underestimate

Freshly Squeezed For Your Pleasure

FOR Solid build; stunning screen; fast performance AGAINST No headphone jack; music could be more engaging

Punchy And Authoritative

FOR Energetic entertaining performer; strong dynamicsAGAINST Needs careful partnering and set-up

As Slick As You'd Expect From Apple

FOR Huge library of 4K HDR content; good picture qualityAGAINST No Amazon Prime Video; lacks audio formats

Room For A Little One?

FOR Balanced, natural picture; deep blacks; good motionAGAINST Lacks punch; colour balance is warm; no 4K or HDR

Classic Recipe, Great Taste

FOR Articulate and expressive sound; good detail; small sizeAGAINST Nothing of note

Same Thing, Just Better

FOR Multiple tuners; built-in wi-fi; great sound and pictureAGAINST Nothing significant at this price

Big, Bold And Confident

FOR Clear and detailed; agile and articulate with fluid dynamicsAGAINST Some may prefer a bigger, more muscular sound

Brilliant From The Off

FOR Crisp, punchy, detailed and expressive; Easy to useAGAINST Remote control could be nicer

Improving On The Best

FOR Great sound; modern design; Spotify ConnectAGAINST Nothing of note

'A Little Bit Of A Bargain'

FOR Well built; effective sound modes; BluetoothAGAINST Lacking in bass; a touch strident at high volume

'A Fine Addition To The Family'

FOR Excellent dynamics; powerful, musical performanceAGAINST Call quality could be better; harsh at the top end

'A Limited Range Of Talents'

FOR Refined balance; good bass weight; high sensitivityAGAINST Sound lacks insight compared to class leaders