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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSix products and systems are in What Hi-Fi?’s October 2026 test rooms, ranging from high-end Italian floorstanders and affordable wired earbuds to a Sonos-rivalling wireless speaker. The preview reports features and prices, but not finished review verdicts: it does not establish which product sounds best or which is the best buy.
The six entries cover different jobs, so they are not a meaningful head-to-head ranking. They include stereo speakers, USB-C earbuds, a portable music player, a wireless home speaker, a 5.1 speaker package and a modular home-theatre setup. The reported prices below are snapshots from What Hi-Fi?’s article published 5 October 2026, not confirmed current retail prices. What Hi-Fi?’s October testing preview does not report the results of the pending tests.
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What is being tested?
| Product or system | Role | Price reported in the preview | What remains to be tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonus Faber Olympica III G3 | Floorstanding stereo speakers | £20,000 / $24,000 per pair | How the speakers perform in listening tests |
| Sennheiser CX 80U | Wired USB-C in-ear headphones | £35 / $40 | Sound quality and how they compare with the named SoundMagic models |
| Astell & Kern PD5 | Portable digital audio player | £899 | Listening performance and absolute battery runtime |
| JBL Cove X1 | Wireless home speaker | £430 / $450 / AU$650 | Sound and spatial-audio performance in comparison with rivals |
| Dali Sonik 5 5.1 package | Surround speaker system | £2,199 | How well the components work together as a complete system |
| Sony Bravia Theatre Trio with Rear 9 and Sub 9 | Modular home-theatre system | Not stated in the preview | Whether Sub 9 addresses remaining imperfections in the tested configuration |
High-end Italian floorstanders: Sonus Faber Olympica III G3
The third-generation Olympica III is an Italian-made, hand-crafted floorstanding speaker. What Hi-Fi? says the range draws on acoustic technology from Sonus Faber’s flagship Suprema system, including an irregular-shaped, unpainted Camelia midrange driver. The preview reports £20,000 / $24,000 per pair.
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The manufacturer’s description promises “exceptional clarity, transparency, and vocal realism” from that driver. This is a product claim, not a listening verdict from the October test.
#1 Best Overall
- Beyond the basics - This 5.2-channel home theater AV receiver delivers standout performance and value with Dolby Atmos, 4K120/8K60 HDMI, Bluetooth Multipoint and effortless setup. Delivers 70W of authoritative power and flexible speaker layouts including 3.1.2-ch. with up-firing or in-ceiling heights.
- Step into lifelike sonic worlds - Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X for deeply dimensional, lifelike sound that draws you into every moment of your favorite entertainment, plus crystal-clear dialogue so you can hear every word.
- Stunning visual realism - Supports ultra-high definition 4K/120 and 8K/60 video, high-performance HDMI switching, advanced Dolby Vision and HDR10+ dynamic range technologies, HDMI eARC/ARC and next-gen gaming features like ALLM and VRR.
- Room Correction - Experience perfect sound in any room. An included setup microphone measures your room’s acoustics and speaker characteristics, allowing the receiver to automatically optimize sound performance.
- Easy streaming with Bluetooth Multipoint - Stream all your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks wirelessly. Built-in Bluetooth Multipoint lets you pair two source devices and instantly switch between them.
Affordable wired earbuds: Sennheiser CX 80U
The CX 80U is a wired in-ear headphone with a USB-C connection, listed at £35 / $40 in the preview. Its internal DAC is reported to support native audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz; the article also describes USB-C playback as low-latency and lossless. These specifications do not establish how the earbuds sound.
The comparison under consideration is with SoundMagic E11C and E80D, but the preview gives no result. Check that your phone, tablet or other playback device has a compatible USB-C audio connection before buying; the article does not establish compatibility for every device.
Rank #2
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE 7-CHANNEL AMPLIFIER WITH NEXT-GEN MOVIE IMMERSION - Enjoy Denon sound in movies, games, and music with full 3D audio support, Dynamic HDR, QMS, HDCP 2.3 & advanced video processing for the best 4K home theater (8K ready when you are)
- ADVANCED 8K HDMI VIDEO SECTION - 3 dedicated 8K inputs and 1 output (8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through; 8K upscaling on all 6 inputs). Supports 4:4:4 Pure Color Sub Sampling, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision & HLG for exceptional color, contrast, and clarity
- MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AUDIO - In addition to Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X, the AVR-X1700H also supports Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology that creates virtual height effects even without the height channels for a truly immersive experience
- AWARD-WINING ON-SCREEN QUICK SETUP GUIDE walks you through simple, clear instructions to connect your TV, specify EQ settings and helps you optimize your surround sound. The back-panel is laid out with color-coded connections that makes organizing simple
- MULTI-ROOM, MULTI-SOURCE STREAMING, watch a movie in one room while another family member streams music from popular services like Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music HD, and more via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, or Bluetooth in a different zone, without interruption
Portable high-resolution player: Astell & Kern PD5
Listed at £899, the PD5 is described as the successor to the A&norma SR35. Compared with the SR35, the preview reports a simplified redesign, eight more hours of battery life and twice as many DACs. It does not give an absolute runtime, so the eight-hour difference alone cannot tell you how long the PD5 lasts between charges.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Reported playback support reaches 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256. Wireless support includes aptX and LDAC, and the article says Tidal and Qobuz can be downloaded. Those format and service details describe compatibility, not a completed sound-quality comparison with the SR35.
Rank #3
- WATCH YOUR MOVIES IN 8K - At 70W x 5, Denon AVR-S570BT home theater receiver features (4) HDMI 2.1 8K inputs, (1) HDMI output, eARC up to 40 Gbps, successor to AVR-S540BT, ensuring HD audio playback, enhanced gaming, Power 310 W, Standby 0.1 W
- TRUE-TO-LIFE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE - The AVR-S570BT supports HDR, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR for realistic display, VRR and QFT for lag-free exceptional gaming, DTS HD Master, Dolby TrueHD immersive audio, and 5.1 surround sound receiver
- YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC AT YOUR FINGERTIPS - With built-in Bluetooth stereo receiver, play tracks from various audio sources and create an integrated multi-room audio system. Allows wireless streaming from Spotify, TIDAL, Pandora, and more
- OUR EASY ON-SCREEN HD SETUP ASSISTANT walks you through clear, intuitive instructions to connect your TV and stereo receiver with bluetooth, while specific EQ settings help optimize surround sound so you make the most of movies, music, TV, or gaming
- CONVENIENT CONTROL - Connect Denon receiver to your Smart TV remote and access speaker sources & surround selections using just one handset, or download Denon Remote App for iOS and Android to control receiver through the phone
Sonos-rivalling wireless speaker: JBL Cove X1
The Cove X1 is the flagship of a new JBL wireless home-speaker range positioned against Sonos. The preview lists six drivers, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Bluetooth and support for popular music services. JBL’s stated differentiators are easy connectivity and quick setup; their practical impact remains to be tested.
| Speaker | Price reported in the preview |
|---|---|
| JBL Cove X1 | £430 / $450 / AU$650 |
| Sonos Era 300 | £499 / $449 / AU$749 |
The prices show different regional snapshots, not a uniform cheaper-or-more-expensive result: the JBL is listed below the Sonos in pounds and Australian dollars, but above it in US dollars. Feature lists and price do not prove equivalent performance, and the preview reports no listening result for the X1.
Rank #4
- Cinematic Sound at Home: Enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows and more with theater like sound in the comfort of your home.NOTE: Scroll down the catalog to find installation Manual and User Guide for trouble shooting steps..Frequency band : 2.4 GHz band
- Virtual Front Surround: S Force PRO delivers virtual surround sound with only a 2 speaker setup
- 4K Pass Through: 4K HDR Compatible with Hdcp 2.2 Support for Sharper Source to Screen Image Quality
- SMART CONNECTIVITY: Stream music and use Bluetooth Standby to turn on the receiver from your phone
- Multi Functional System: Enjoy a Multi Channel Stereo Setup, Fm Radio Tuner and 1/4 Inches Headphone Jack
Complete surround package: Dali Sonik 5 5.1
The £2,199 package combines Sonik 1 and Sonik 5 speakers, a Sonik Cinema centre speaker and an E-9F subwoofer. Sonik 1 and Sonik 5 have each received five-star stereo ratings, but those ratings apply to the individual speakers in stereo, not to the complete 5.1 package.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTesting the full system matters because the centre, subwoofer and other speakers must work together in a surround setup. The preview leaves that integration question open.
Best Value
- 1000 Watt PEAK POWER: Donner stereo receiver provides a 1000W peak power (25W × 4 RMS power) and simplified appearance to level up your audio experience. 4 channels can be independently controlled and support up to 4 groups of 8 speakers with 4-to 16 ohms
- MULTIFUNCTION REMOTE: Without the limitation of a single function, our amplifier home audio comes with an upgraded remote control that can use the setting functions of treble/ midrange/ bass/ echo/Talkover in any input mode ( Note: 1. battery is not included; 2. please disconnect the power supply via the on/off button on the machine instead of the remote after using to avoid humming noise )
- MULTI-INPUT MODES: The audio receiver supports various sound source inputs including Bluetooth 5.3, USB (up to 64G), 2 pairs of RCA, 2 mic inputs, AUX IN, and FM radio. In addition, digital Optical fiber and coaxial interfaces have been added to fit most smart TVs （Note: 1. Please confirm whether your TV requires the "external audio output" mode to be selected before connecting our product. 2. No HDMI input ）
- CUSTOMIZED EQ CONTROL: Both the bluetooth amplifier and the remote can independently control the treble, midrange, and bass adjustment, you can set the sound as you like
- DUAL MIC INTERFACES: Equipped with dual 1/4'' microphone jacks for your karaoke party. Plus the Talk Over function can lower the background music for clearer sound output in events/ hosting/ speech occasions
Modular home theatre: Sony Bravia Theatre Trio with Rear 9 and Sub 9
The Bravia Theatre Trio is described as a soundbar arranged as centre, left and right speakers. In an earlier test, What Hi-Fi? paired it with optional Rear 9 speakers and Sub 8. The October configuration replaces Sub 8 with Sub 9 to see whether the change addresses imperfections that remained in that earlier setup.
The preview gives no outcome for the new combination and no price for the Trio with Rear 9 and Sub 9. It therefore does not establish whether Sub 9 improves the system or whether the full configuration is worth its cost.
Quick Recap
What this preview can—and cannot—tell you
- It identifies the products, their intended roles, selected specifications and article-reported prices.
- It does not name a winner or provide completed listening verdicts for these six products or systems.
- The Sonik 1 and Sonik 5 stereo ratings are earlier results for separate products; they are not a rating of the Dali 5.1 package.
- The JBL and Sonos prices are useful regional comparisons, but neither the figures nor the feature lists establish which speaker performs better.
- Prices, availability and specifications may change; the article’s figures are not verified current retail listings.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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