buying guide
Key
W = Sound+Image Award Product of the Year
HC = Sound+Image Award Highly Commended
WELCOME
Our buying guide is based on the Sound+Image Awards presented each year, highlighting the very best value products at each price level. We list the latest winners from our recent 2022 Awards, along with the best winners still available from previous awards. For more details, see the full Awards issue.
Streaming music players
A difficult category to define, since streaming now appears in all manner of product from amps and receivers to DACs and headphone amps. Here we’ve included three award-winners that didn’t slot in anywhere else! They’re not just for Spotify; these streamers handle high resolution files from the internet or your network for the highest of performance.
MATRIX AUDIO ELEMENT i
W2022 ∕ $1699 ∕ addictedtoaudio.com.au
The element i is a super-neat streamer, Roon endpoint, digital preamp and headphone amp; on run-out as the i2 version is now imminent.
NAIM UNITI ATOM HE
W2022 ∕ $5250 ∕ www.busisoft.com.au
Catering to headphone lovers while doubling as a top-quality streaming preamp which excels either standalone or at the heart of a system.
LUMIN U1 MINI
W2021 ∕ $3290 ∕ www.audiomagic.com.au
This digital renderer of streaming music is about a third of the price of the non-’Mini’ version, yet the performance is still magical.
Systems & wireless speakers
All-in-one solutions: here are our award picks of portable Bluetooth speakers, home lifestyle wireless systems, also active speakers with a highly hi-fi sound along with active and/or wireless convenience. These are thoroughly modern music systems, often loaded with tech for streaming and/or multiroom operation under app control from phone and tablet.
JBL XTREME 3
W2022 ∕ $399.95 ∕ www.jbl.com.au
With a bottle opener on the strap, the outdoor nature of the Xtreme 3 seems assured. But this is no doof-doof box: we were impressed by well-proportioned stereo sound at home or away.
DENON HOME 250
W2021 ∕ $699 ∕ www.denon.com.au
Neatly replacing the former HEOS 5, the midrange Home 250 offers solid sonic performance backed by the HEOS wireless multiroom platform’s easy and extensive access to streaming music.
RUARK R3
W2022 ∕ $1299 ∕ www.synergyaudio.com
Simultaneously classic and modern in its style and abilities, Ruark’s R3 proves a lovely compact system for CD, radio and streaming.
DENON CEOL N11DAB
W2022 ∕ $1399 ∕ www.denon.com.au
Craic agus ceol is exactly what Denon’s all-in-one system delivers, loaded as it is with full streaming abilities in addition to more traditional inputs, plus CD and radio playback.
BOWERS & WILKINS FORMATION WEDGE
W2021 ∕ $1499 ∕ bowerswilkins.com/en-au
Despite offering zero physical inputs the Formation Wedge is an undoubtedly premium performer in the wireless speaker space, with real visual style and luxuriously expansive sound.
