T3 - UK (2020-12)

IFI XDSD

Really sounds great

for the money, with

an expansive and

enjoyable sound

across a range of

genres and volume

levels. It also looks

very pleasing, in

a variety of high

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£250, project-audio.com

TECHNICS SL-1210GR

The iconic DJ

turntable reimagined

as a lustworthy slab

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we wouldn’t take

this out clubbing, it’s

the ultimate deck

for gently maturing

ravers, and sounds

excellent too.

£1,000, technics.com

ELIPSON CHROMA CARBON

RIAA BT

Elipson’s top-line

turntable pulls down

a lot of features from

the truly high end.

You get a super-stiff

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arm and new digital

belt drive motor,

plus AptX Bluetooth

and USB.

£699, elipson.com

AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP5X

This direct-drive

turntable comes

with the AT-VM95E

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J-shaped tonearm

that sounds great.

Build is very solid,

there are phono and

USB outputs, and it

can play 78s too.

£330, audio-technica.com

SONOS PORT

A great streamer,

especially if you

already own a Sonos

speaker. It has an

analogue input and

output, as well as

streaming to any

Sonos speaker, so

you can plug in

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£399, sonos.com

AUDIOLAB 6000N

Probably impractical

if you don’t have a

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support for audio up

to 192Khz/24-bit,

its sound quality is

noticeably better

than the Sonos and

Yamaha streamers

further up the list.

£449, audiolab.co.uk

This dinky little

combined Bluetooth

receiver, DAC and

headphone amp

supports AAC and

aptX and sounds

really superb. It has

a battery, and can be

used with earphones

as well as speakers.

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YAMAHA WXAD-10

This Yamaha lets you

stream everything

from Bluetooth

to hi-res audio,

with support for

AirPlay, most of your

favourite streaming

services and, of

course Yamaha’s

own MusicCast.

£120, yamaha.co.uk

NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION

Mu-So 2 crushes

its competition. An

awesome, thumping

wall of sound and

reliable, versatile

software platform

and streaming

support make for the

perfect 21st-century

music experience.

£1,300, naimaudio.com

BOWERS & WILKINS

FORMATION DUO

These may look

like Bender from

Futurama but sound

like God yodelling in

your ear. The only

wireless choice for

any real audiophiles

out there: highly

specced, but not

exactly affordable.

£3,500, bowerswilkins.com

RUARK R5

Like a mini system

for the 21st century,

Ruark’s R5 chucks

in a CD player, DAB

and FM radios and

two extra inputs,

including one pre-

amped for use with

a turntable. There’s

even Bluetooth too.

£1,000, ruarkaudio.com

SONOS ONE

Sonos One is

compatible with

every music service

ever, multi-room

connectivity is fab,

and Alexa comes

built in as an added

bonus. Many pricier

Sonos speakers then

await you...

£199, sonos.co.uk

TURNTABLES

STREAMING

DACs

MULTI-ROOM

SPEAKERS

Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestturntable

Find the lowest prices at:

t3.com/bestdac

Find the lowest prices at:

t3.com/bestmultiroom

PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III

92 T3 DECEMBER 2020

Best of the best