The Ear’s reviewers pick the best hi-fi of 2025
If you want to discover the best hi-fi of 2025, the audio products that really wowed our reviewers over the last 12 months, look no further. These components made a lasting impression, they are the ones reviewers would have held onto if they could and in several cases did. There are examples of all manner of audio component, from the affordable to the extreme. We hope you find something to tempt your ears with. These remarkable components are listed in alphabetical order and you can click on the model names for a full review of each.
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary
standmount loudspeakers
£1,500
In the course of 2025, I tested a huge variety of different products. I can state with absolute assurance that many of them were more sophisticated and technically superior to this one. Yet absolutely none of them made me feel as happy as this one did. The 40th Anniversary re-release of the original Acoustic Energy speaker is easily the best sorted and most sonically capable iteration of the classic design I’ve yet to hear but what makes it so special is that none of the magic that made the original AE1 such an addictive listen has been lost in the process. Absolutely nothing else I listened to this year was as covetable as these little speakers are. The AE1 is back and ready to win over a new generation. ES
Acoustic Energy AE309.2
floorstanding loudspeakers
£1,200
I alluded to these loudspeakers as one of my Best hi-fi of the year in the body of review but that was back in May, and I have had some lovely things through my system since. Very few however have come close to dislodging these Acoustic Energy loudspeakers from their podium finish.
Paired in my system with an amplifier that costs more than four times their asking price, these very compact floor standers did an outstanding job of communicating all types of music with verve and power when required or with delicacy when that was called for. I was able to play them at very high volume and they never missed a beat. Here is how I concluded my review: If you are building your first audio system, or are thinking of upgrading what you already have, you owe it to yourself to hear them. CK
ATC SCM20ASL
active loudspeakers
£6,495
The SCM20ASLs have nailed it for me. These apparently simple and relatively compact loudspeakers get to the parts that few others do and make the music so appealing that you don’t want it to stop. They may not have DSP electronics offering all manner of tweaks but this is very much in their favour. These ATCs are an all analogue, linear power supplied musical truth conduit that will have you glued to your music for years to come. I would go so far as to say that they are a cure for audiophilia nervosa: you’re no longer thinking about how to make the system better but just wondering which album to play next. JK
Atoll IN400 Evo
integrated amplifier
£5,500
Replacing its IN400 Signature integrated, Atoll launched the Evo model as a new top-of-the-range design. Pumping out 300 watts, it bristles with analogue inputs and offers an optional digital board with DAC for extra versatility. The solidly-built unit is clearly very well designed and beautifully constructed. Sonically it doesn’t disappoint, in the highest echelons for its price bracket and can’t be recommended highly enough. The overall balance is one of beautiful transparency, without audible blemish, the resolution of detail supreme, and the ability to handle an enormous variety of material is refreshing. TB
Axxess Acoustics Forté 3
streaming amplifier
£10,000
The best of its kind in Audio Group Denmark’s Axxess range, the Forté 3 is a first class streaming amplifier that brings high build quality, broad features and thrilling sound to the table. If you enjoy the immediacy of live music and appreciate the qualities that well sorted streaming can provide it should be on your must hear list. If the price is too steep consider the Forté 1 at half the money, it’s bound to come very close in an equally well sorted package. JK
Bryston Bi200
integrated amplifier
£9,450
It is possible to argue that the Bryston is a ‘head’ purchase rather than a ‘heart’ one. It’s a mass of no-nonsense engineering, route one connectivity and that legendary Bryston warranty giving peace of mind rather than stirring the blood. But, the Bryston walks its sober walk so the rest of your system can run. The absolute transparency with which it goes about its business means that the rest of your system can crack on with being as good as it can be with no additional colouration or character; simply a generous helping of no-nonsense power. Once you come around to the Bi200’s way of thinking, it becomes harder and harder to imagine going about amplification any other way. ES
Chord Ultima Integrated
integrated amplifier
£8,500
This British brand started making amplifiers long before it became famous for producing world-class digital products. The Chord Ultima integrated amplifier impressed me the first time I heard it driving a pair of ATC SCM40s at a hi-fi show. It was a year or so later before I got to try it at home, but it was worth the wait.
Like other Chord amplifiers, it sounds far more potent than the specifications suggest, especially in the low frequencies. It also sounds fast, yet with superb control and rhythmic prowess. Few integrated amplifiers produce such a huge, holographic soundstage as this one, and even fewer cost under £10k. Combine these audiophile niceties with a rare degree of musicality and engagement, wrapped up in a stunning design, and you have a winning package. CB
Clipaudio Dolomite/Ninewave
turntable/arm
£5,000
This is something of a curate’s egg, being a mixture of several different approaches to how a turntable should (or rather, might) be assembled. The engineering is first class, and the carefully thought-through design, damping, suspension and bearing all contribute to a stunning-sounding package with quite a modest price tag. It’s not from a mainstream manufacturer, but its performance is something many brand names would be pleased to provide at the same price. Borne of a love of music, this quite individual approach pays dividends in the listening stakes. CBe
Cyrus 40 PPA
phono stage/preamp
£1,995
Phono stages, I’ve had a few. Some outstanding for the money (iFi Zen Phono), some expensive and exquisite (Tom Evans Audio Groove Plus SRX Mk2.5). But few have ticked quite as many boxes as Cyrus’s latest. A DIP switch free dream to use with a facia toting a large, legible white-on-black display, the 40 PPA’s sonics were top drawer, too, sounding palpably less interested than some in presenting a comfortably pliable sonic stance for one that was spectacularly low in noise, high in detail and energy, wide in bandwidth and dynamic range and, well, hungry for whatever level of entertainment the cartridge could summon up. Undoubtedly an uptick of the Red Bull kind. DV
Dali Epikore 9
floorstanding loudspeakers
£29,999
While they do proper hi-fi stuff like imaging immaculately as well, reproducing depth and placement of musicians with ease, the primary purpose of hi-fi gear is to make music accessible and enjoyable, to deliver the signal with the minimum of colouration. In this respect the Epikore 9s are among the very best loudspeakers I have had the pleasure of living with. They do everything so well that it’s very easy to sit back and enjoy the music and that, after all, is what this game is all about. JK
Dynavector 10XA
moving coil cartridge
£649
The original 10X caused a sensation when it launched in 1978. It was the world’s first high-output moving coil and could be played through a standard MM input. The extra ‘A’ in its name refers to the annealing process Dynavector have now applied to its generator assembly, which uses a process of heating and cooling to improve the microstructure and magnetic characteristics of the metals. It also shares other technologies with the XX-2A and 20X-2A models. The 10XA impressed me with its resolving power and how it conveys the flourishes and nuances that make good musicians great. Its strong rhythmic energy also helps the music flow and gets your foot tapping along. The legend just got better. CF
Elipson Planet L Performance
bookshelf loudspeakers
£1,200
French brand Elipson upgraded its distinctive Planet L coaxial loudspeakers to Performance level, with improved crossover and new driver. These ‘balls of sound’ produced a refined, transparent and detailed sound, confirmed by in-room measurements. They are something of an audiophile bargain and justly deserve a Product of the Year accolade. I was particularly smitten with the treble and midrange from a design that is clearly extremely well-engineered and built, and a serious loudspeaker despite its cute appearance. TB
Euphony Summus 2C/4C
server/streamer
£7,200
Many will blank Euphony’s Summus servers just because they run the company Stylus music playing software rather than that of the big gorilla in the field whose name starts with an R. Profound mistake. For the asking price the linked two-server set-up, which includes a two-year subscription for Stylus, the Summus pair stand as a reminder of what real sonic value looks and sounds like.
The Stylus music player is not as fully featured as some, but the sonic quality it delivers makes some of the alternatives sound almost broken in comparison. Buyers for whom playback quality is the primary criteria will likely hug themselves with glee on hearing this remarkable package. Quirky to a degree, but highly deserving of an award. KF
Fyne Audio Vintage 10
floorstanding loudspeakers
£18,000
Retro may be fashionable, and although the dual-concentric driver of Vintage 10 is as authentically retro as you can get, it combines this pedigree (Fyne’s founders originally worked for Tannoy) with present-day technology and materials. And to prove it, at the centre of the 10 inch Isoflare driver sits a 75mm titanium dome tweeter. Their 94dB efficiency also makes them an ideal partner for a quality valve amp. Make no mistake though, they do not sound coloured or old-fashioned. Their sound is dynamic, fun, packed with detail and nuance and a good sense of rhythm and timing. Add the Fyne SuperTrax super-tweeter, and they get even better. I was totally won over by the Vintage 10. CF
Grimm Audio PW1
phono stage/preamp
£4,695
I have to congratulate Peter van Willenswaard and Grimm Audio on the PW1, it is a very good phono stage indeed and one that is unlikely to hold back any decent cartridge.
It has some distinctly tube/valve characteristics, notably a fluency and openness allied to a balance that is revealing but never hard edged. It brings the power of solid state to the party however and has the very low noise that such tech can provide for the modern music lover. The Grimm PW1 is a good looking, great sounding winner, if you want to hear more of what’s in those grooves it is a very strong contender at the price. JK
Hana Umami Red
moving coil cartridge
£3,399
The Hana Umami Red is a deserving winner of the Best of 2025 awards because it exudes sheer class both sonically and visually. Housed in a stunning red Urushi lacquered duralumin body, the Umami Red’s hand wound generator is cryogenically treated and its stylus tracks the groove with the sure footedness of a Brazilian striker.
Sonically this is a cartridge which offers a rich and vibrant portrayal of music, revealing each instrument’s contribution to the mix. Dynamics soar and the timbre and body of strings, piano and vocals are wonderfully portrayed within a soundstage which is as tangible as architecture. In short, it’s a cartridge that rewards the listener with musical magic on every record. JG
Mofi Sourcepoint 888
floorstanding loudspeakers
£5,599
The 888 is the Andrew Jones designed floorstander that, at the time of writing, topped out Mofi’s Sourcepoint range. A stocky tower with too much bass for my smaller listening room, but given the space to properly breath it delivered a supple, loose-limbed presentation that took everything effortlessly in its stride. Music ebbed and flowed with a lucidity that treated relaxation and excitement with equal, comfortably cushioning support. The sense of space and deft textural shading, along with the finely graded palette of tonal colours and the sumptuous, deep supple bass contributed to a zero fatigue yet utterly addictive listening experience. Another Jones masterpiece. DV
Naim Nait 50
integrated amplifier
£1,199
The Nait 50 wins a Best of 2025 award because it is quite simply the most musically rewarding amplifier you can buy for under £1,500. Offering 25 watts per channel, inputs for three sources plus a headphone socket, this is all the amplifier most people will ever need.
It may be as cute as a cheerleader in pigtails, but sonically it rocks like a Hells Angel on a Harley. Crucially, this little amplifier offers all the transient speed, energy and sheer visceral impact of its bigger and more expensive Naim brothers. It’s an amplifier that makes your music fun again, reminding you what it was like to be 17 and to rush back from the record store buzzing with the thrill of a new album to play. It’s an elixir of youth and a treat for the senses. Just buy one and discover why Naim Audio remains one of the audio world’s most adored musical dynasties. JG
Network Acoustics Origin
streaming power supply
£2,295
The Network Acoustics Origin is not an inexpensive power supply but what it does for a decent but reasonably priced streamer is extraordinary. How great the benefits will be audible depends on the quality of the system being used as is always the case, but anyone that’s seriously into streamed music is going to hear what it does and not want to go back. The Origin proves that quality of power supply is fundamental to sound quality in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Every component I tried it with sounded markedly better. JK
Node Audio SS-1
isolation feet
£290 each
I know that some of you get a bit twitchy when it comes to things that are claimed to enhance the performance of your system. After all, you have spent a long time choosing your various components, connecting them with expensive cables and setting it all up very carefully. You are more than happy with the results, and then some scribe pops up lauding things that you had not even considered. But here’s the thing – I have tried the Node Audio SS-1s in various ways in my system and they really do make a huge difference. I have them under the spikes of my loudspeaker stands and that made a really big improvement to my musical enjoyment. I really thought that speakers were giving their very best until the SS-1s went in.
Since my review I have acquired four SS-1s, and deployed them under my Primaluna EVO300 Hybrid integrated amplifier, with really good results. The bottom line is that they really do work and are darn sight less expensive than going through the expense of trading in your perfectly chosen kit to get even better sound. Invest in as many SS-1s as you can afford – they are worth every penny. CK
Oephi Lounge 2
standmount loudspeakers
£2,695
Sometimes, it’s the simpler things in life that hit the spot, and that certainly seemed to be the case with Oephi’s rather too modestly named Lounge range. Confounding the impression founder and boss Joakim Juhl had taken his foot off the gas following the extraordinary Transcendence and Immanence lines, the Lounge 2 standmount turned out to be my favourite, a perfectly judged distillation of everything that’s great about Oephi without breaking the bank. Indeed, the most engrossing, temporally exact, endlessly entertaining and dangerously addictive sub £3k standmount ever to come my way, capable of giving a taste of high end with modestly priced mainstream electronics and the real thing with more ambitious kit. My hi-fi bargain of the year. DV
Oephi Transcendence 2.5
floorstanding loudspeakers
£9,495
A last-minute decision to attend an event and Oephi’s Joakim Juhl, fundamentally altered my views on what an audio system should achieve. Oephi’s speakers, and indeed, their cables, are genuine game-changers. The company’s products have redefined my expectations of timing accuracy and coherence. There are many speakers that sound fast, but few achieve this feat without compromises elsewhere.
I was impressed by Oephi’s Lounge 2 and 2.5, which are certainly less demanding partners and will be enough for many. For me, however, the Transcendence 2.5 is undoubtedly the sweet spot in the brand’s portfolio, it’s a product that I have been missing like few others since it left the listening room. For me, their combination of speed, tonal honesty and transparency makes them a standout in a crowded market. CB
Peak Consult Sonora
floorstanding loudspeakers
£23,000
The Sonora from high-end Danish speaker specialist Peak has become one of my firm favourites. Peak set out to make the cabinets as inert as possible. The twin-wall panels are 50mm thick and the bottom half of the cabinets are filled with sand. They are superbly and compellingly musical. Fast, detailed and dynamic, they let you hear exactly what each musician is playing and how they dovetail together into a coherent whole. The Sonora’s rock-solid sense of timing helps convey the most intricate rhythmic twists and turns and they sort out the layers in complex musical arrangements with ease. The Sonora simply unlocks the music for you to enjoy in a way that very few speakers do. CF
Perlisten S7t LE
floorstanding loudspeakers
£30,000
I continued listening to the S7t LEs for a lot longer than was necessary yet I failed to find the limitations of these Perlistens; every time they appeared to reveal a colouration it turned out to be on the recording. This is the way it should be but rarely is with loudspeakers, it’s why these are an expensive example of the art, but look deeper at the high-end speaker market and you will see many, many more expensive examples that are no match for this speaker’s all-round capabilities. They will get better with every upgrade that’s placed before them and are nothing if not keepers. JK
PMC prophecy9
floorstanding loudspeakers
£8,975
The prophecy9 is an uncannily neutral and low colouration loudspeaker, one that does not attempt to make the music it produces sound warm, fast, sweet or powerful but aims to render it exactly as it sounded in the studio or concert hall. This speaker is the summation of PMC’s expertise in both domestic and pro applications in a slim elegant and domestically appealing form. It is, in no uncertain terms, an absolute cracker that has remained in my system since this review. JK
Quad 33/303
pre/power amplifier
£1,199/£1,199
I know that it is easy to dismiss these new Quad components as IAG cashing in on the Quad heritage, but here’s the thing – they make an extraordinary case for themselves as contemporary audio equipment. They may have a more than passing resemblance to their forebears but inside they are very much 21st century devices. Back in the first quarter of this year they came to visit Kelly Towers and I loved having them here.
The sound does indeed remind me of my first ‘proper’ system, which had a Quad 44/405 pre and power amplifier at its heart, but these modern Quads are so much better. The remote control is a real pleasure to use and the 33 has all the facilities one needs in such a device, and the power amps have enough grunt to drive almost any loudspeaker to indecent volumes. These were real objects of desire for me and would certainly be on my short list for any future amplification purchase. They are also something of a bargain, and who doesn’t love a bargain? CK
Rega Brio Mk7
integrated amplifier
£799
The Rega Brio has always been a strong contender in the affordable amplifier stakes and its seventh iteration retains this advantage. You might find a smoother sounding amp and you will undoubtedly find one with more bells and whistles but I would challenge anyone to build something that has the authority and musical coherence that this amp displays for the same price. If you are looking for an amplifier that will keep you entertained no matter what music you play this is the strongest option on the sub £1,000 market right now. JK
Rega Planar 3 RS Edition
turntable, arm & cartridge
£999
The Planar 3 RS Edition is a stonkingly good turntable; one that offers notably more than the Planar 3 that it’s based on thanks to the power supply and plinth. It really does deliver the musical goods in a more engaging and enjoyable manner than the competition, what’s more you get build quality that few can compete with and a lifetime warranty. Add in the superb finish and extra savings provided by this package and you have a record player that anyone with a £1,000 budget would be nuts not to audition. JK
Sonus faber Concertino G4
standmount loudspeakers
£4,675
The two-way stand-mount G4 is a welcome addition to Sonus faber’s Concertino series of loudspeakers. These Italian-crafted boxes came with matching stands and boast walnut veneer inserts plus vegan-friendly ‘leather’ embellishments. Proficiently engineered, beautifully crafted and with an inviting sound, they offer a balance that is warm and natural, drawing the listener in to the performance. Nothing grates; nothing sounds out of place or exaggerated. They are a beautiful thing in so many respects, and that includes their aesthetic design. An all-round winner, in fact. TB
Soundsmith Zephyr
moving iron cartridge
£1,999.95
It’s rare that a cartridge grabs me quite as much as the Zephyr did. It has the sort of performance that, even in a modest system, will fill your room with a rather marvellous, engaging and detailed soundscape which is at the same time revealing and unfatiguing. Seemingly unfussy about the arm it’s in, the Zephyr has that uncanny ability to sound good in most settings, but in a carefully set-up high-end one will really have you believing it should have a much higher price tag. Heartfelt recommendation. CBe
Stack Serene Stabiliser & Platter Mat
vinyl puck & mat
£195/£75
Call me a sceptic, but adding the odd tweak here and there has never really been my bag. However, I have been more than aware that platter mats in various iterations, and pucks or weights can and do make a difference to the listening experience.
Even on their own, the Stack Serene Stabiliser and the Serene Platter mat make an undeniable difference (in a good way) to record reply, cleaning up and revealing much more of what’s hidden away in those minute grooves. The combination of the two together is a real revelation though, and if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive upgrade to your vinyl replay system (or a last-minute Christmas present) you could do a lot worse than head for this combination. CBe
Topping D900
DAC
£1,799
Stressing over whether or not Topping’s D900 DAC is really 1-bit as claimed is to miss the point of this remarkable product. However we choose to label what’s inside the chassis, the D900 delivers a master-class in high quality sonic engineering at an almost ridiculously low price.
Temporarily tight supply in the northern hemisphere meant that I had to buy the review sample direct from Topping. Having written the review, I sold the DAC to a fellow audiophile. He’s subsequently taken it on tour around his circle of acquaintances where in successive listening rooms it has humbled alternatives costing up to five times as much and more. More hardware input options than you can shake a stick at, Bluetooth 5.1, a crisp colour display and easy to navigate UI, built-in equaliser plus a relay-based 256 step volume control… the D900 is a complete slam-dunk for an Ear Best hi-fi of 2025 award. KF
Vertere DG X/Groove Runner X/Mystic II
turntable, arm & cartridge
£9,000
I never forget that we reviewers are in a very privileged position, getting to hear a lot of wonderful gear, some eye-wateringly expensive and some at more accessible prices. The danger is that very occasionally we encounter something that we really do not want to send back. For me, that moment arrived in the shape of this Vertere record player. It is a thing of beauty but far more importantly it sounds fantastic.
Installation is very straightforward and audio performance was sublime. The soundstage created was immense, spreading well beyond the boundaries of the loudspeakers’ cabinets, with a three-dimensional credibility that makes every album sound as if the players really are in the room. The full DG X package may seem a tad pricey, but it is all built to a very high standard and should give me many years of service. It’s a complete turntable, with no vices that I can detect after many weeks of regular use, and a pleasure to use every day. CK
Vitus RI-101 MkII
streaming amplifier
£21,500
Strictly speaking, few of us with typically sized UK living rooms really need 300 WPC, but when that power is part of a package like the Vitus RI101 Mk2, it’s hard to resist. It goes without saying that an amplifier with such power, weighing in at near 40kg, will deliver music with dynamism and authority, and it does not disappoint. You may expect exemplary transient performance and powerful low frequencies, and again, this Vitus more than satisfies. That these attributes are part of an overall package that is both even-handed, possesses exemplary timing, and just the right degree of tonal warmth makes for one of the finest integrated amplifiers available.
The optional DAC/streamer makes this Vitus possibly the ultimate one-box solution, albeit one that’s difficult to hide away. Thankfully it also looks the business, so few would wish to. It is an aspirational product with a price to match, but its immense ability makes it a genuine high-end bargain. CB
Wiim Amp Ultra
amplifier
£499
Such is the way that Wiim has got into the habit of delivering incredibly comprehensive specifications for very little money, you can begin to get a little blasé about it. The reality is though, if you look at how much the Amp Ultra does and how well it does it, the result is faintly astonishing. The Ultra takes Wiim’s self-contained streaming amp platform and elevates it to Ultra level, with more power and a slicker interface. The result is £500 of all in one system that will pair happily with a wide spread of speakers and deliver a performance that isn’t ‘good for the money’, it’s downright ridiculous. Affordable hi-fi has never been better and this is one of the reasons why. ES
Xact S1 Evo
server/streamer
£16,000
The way that the Xact S1 Evo engages both the heart and mind is what makes it so compelling, it achieves this by reducing noise and revealing all manner of detail with extraordinary degree of coherence. The result is more enjoyable, more exciting music that you just don’t want to put down. It’s worth noting that the Xact does all the things that makes a great audio source; it has speed, resolves space, images superbly and has no perceived distortion. But its power of communication is what makes it so thrilling. JK