What Hi-Fi?’s 1 May 2026 “Pick of the Month” roundup names the Sony PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT Bluetooth turntables, JBL Summit Ama standmount speakers and Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2 floorstanders. It reports that seven products earned five stars in the publication’s April coverage. But the roundup does not identify a newly rated Rega turntable, and the available details do not identify the “affordable five-star treat for home cinema fans” in the headline wording. Those claims should not be attached to a product without a matching source. Read the roundup.
Which products does the May 2026 roundup name?
The roundup is a What Hi-Fi? selection of products from its April coverage, not a market-wide count or an independent survey. Its article reports seven five-star ratings. The named products relevant to speakers and turntables are:
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| Product | Type and details in the roundup | Rating or price stated there |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2 | Floorstanding speakers; siblings of the AE300 Mk2 standmounts | The roundup reproduces a positive review verdict; the available details do not separately state the AE309 Mk2’s star rating. |
| JBL Summit Ama | The smallest and only standmount model in JBL’s Summit series; described as needing careful partnering | Five stars; no price stated in the available roundup details. |
| Sony PS-LX3BT | Entry-level, plug-and-play Bluetooth turntable with a built-in phono stage | Five stars; £299, $400 and AU$469 at the roundup’s publication time. |
| Sony PS-LX5BT | Step-up Bluetooth turntable with a step-up cartridge, a slightly different arm tube, mat and finish, and detachable interconnect cables | Five stars; reported as £100, $100 or AU$150 more than the PS-LX3BT at the prices stated in the roundup. |
The listed prices are the publication-time figures in the May 2026 article, not a statement of current prices or availability.
What the speaker reviews say—and what to consider in a room
Acoustic Energy AE309 Mk2
What Hi-Fi?’s reproduced review verdict describes the AE309 Mk2 as a compact, balanced floorstander that gives class leaders at its level strong competition. The roundup links it to the AE300 Mk2, which had previously received five stars and a What Hi-Fi? Award. That earlier rating belongs to the AE300 Mk2, not automatically to its floorstanding sibling.
#1 Best Overall
- EASY OPERATION: Effortlessly enjoy your favorite records with one-step auto start, stop and return.
- WIRELESS CONNECTION: Connect to wireless speakers, headphones, soundbars, or other Bluetooth enabled devices.
- WIRED CONNECTION: Enjoy a simple wired connection to receivers, powered speakers, and other components with built-in audio cable.
- HIGH QUALITY AUDIO: Built-in switchable phono EQ allows the turntable to connect to a home stereo, powered speakers, or another component, with or without a dedicated phono input.
- TRANSPARENT DUST COVER: Showcase your vinyl collection with a clear dust cover that protects your turntable without hiding your favorite records.
JBL Summit Ama
The roundup explicitly gives the Summit Ama five stars. It describes the model as a costly standmount with an impressive range of abilities, including dynamic expression, finesse and the capacity to rock. Its review also stresses system matching: these speakers are presented as a better fit for appropriately high-end equipment than as an easy pairing with any amplifier.
Match speaker size and partnering to the room
A floorstander is not automatically the better choice simply because it is larger. What Hi-Fi?’s floorstanding-speaker guide advises considering both budget and room size, alongside build, amplifier and source compatibility, and the sound qualities you value. Its recommendations illustrate that context matters: it names the Fyne Audio F501E as its overall floorstanding pick for buyers able to give it a larger room, and the PMC Prophecy 7 as a high-end floorstander suited to a modest-sized room.
Rank #2
- EASY OPERATION: Effortlessly enjoy your favorite records with one-step auto start, stop and return.
- WIRELESS CONNECTION: Connect to wireless speakers, headphones, soundbars, or other Bluetooth enabled devices.
- WIRED CONNECTION: Enjoy a simple wired connection to receivers, powered speakers, and other components with gold plated audio jacks and the included detachable audio cable for uncompromised sound.
- ELEVATED SOUND: Experience elevated sound with the vibration-controlled chassis, one-piece top cabinet, precision pivot bearing aluminum tone arm, and built-in phono EQ
- HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS: support clearer, more stable sound performance with reduced noise and distortion
For other budgets, the guide includes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 among its affordable choices and discusses the Q Acoustics 5050 in its premium section. The guide gives the 5050 a sensitivity of 91.8dB/W/m and says it can reach decent levels with budget amplifiers, while recommending more capable partners for the best results. These are guide-specific assessments, not guarantees for every room or system.
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Which Sony turntable is the more convenient fit?
PS-LX3BT: simpler setup
The PS-LX3BT is framed as the accessible plug-and-play option. Its built-in phono stage can simplify connection to compatible equipment, and Bluetooth offers a wireless listening route. What Hi-Fi?’s verdict calls it an easy-to-use and easy-to-recommend way to play records. The roundup compares it with the Rega Planar 1 Plus and Pro-Ject Primary E, while noting that purists may prefer to spend more on the Rega. That comparison is not a Rega review or rating.
Rank #3
- 1-Step Bluetooth Connection
- Built-In Phono EQ Supports Phono And Line Out
- Full Auto Playback
PS-LX5BT: a step up in features
The PS-LX5BT costs more in the roundup’s stated prices and adds a step-up cartridge, a slightly different arm tube, mat and finish, plus detachable interconnect cables. What Hi-Fi?’s verdict argues that the improvement in sound and versatility can justify the premium for listeners seeking greater longer-term satisfaction. Whether those changes are worth the extra cost depends on your priorities and the prices available where you shop.
Does this confirm a newly rated Rega turntable?
No. The May roundup discusses two Sony turntables and compares the PS-LX3BT with the Rega Planar 1 Plus, but it does not report a new Rega rating. A separate What Hi-Fi? feature mentions a Rega Planar 1 Plus in a system with KEF LS50 Wireless II and notes its integrated phono stage. It also lists a Rega Planar 1 with a Marantz PM6007 amplifier and Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 speakers. These are system examples, not evidence of a newly rated Rega model. The feature also mentions the Rega Planar 2, Project Debut Pro and Rega Fono Mini A2D Mk2 as alternatives or additions. See the system examples.
Rank #4
- EASY OPERATION: Effortlessly enjoy your favorite records with one-step auto start, stop and return.Power source: Corded Electric
- TWO SPEEDS: 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm, with the 45 rpm adaptor stowed neatly in a slot beneath the deck
- HIGH QUALITY AUDIO: Built in switchable phono output / line out phono preamp and 3 gain settings
- USB RIPPING: Rip vinyl records to digital MP3 files on your computer to take a favorite LP on the go
- WIRELESS CONNECTION: Connect to wireless speakers, headphones or other Bluetooth enabled devices. Supports phono and line output thanks to built-in Phono EQ
What about the affordable home-cinema product?
The headline language refers to an affordable five-star treat for home-cinema fans, but the available details from the May roundup do not identify that product or establish its price, category or rating. The article title mentions a shining-star OLED TV, but that wording alone is not enough to determine which product the phrase describes. It would be misleading to label one of the named speakers or turntables as the home-cinema item.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Experience the high-fidelity audio of vinyl
- Fully automatic belt-drive turntable operation with two speeds: 33-1/3, 45 RPM
- Anti-resonance, die-cast aluminum platter
- Redesigned tonearm base and headshell for improved tracking and reduced resonance
- Integral Dual Magnet phono cartridge with replaceable diamond stylus (ATN3600LC)
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.
