What Hi-Fi? 2026 Products of the Year

TV OF THE YEAR
Samsung QE55S99H

“There’s no other way of putting it; Samsung has knocked it out of the park with the S99H… the company’s latest flagship OLED TV takes the title from the S95F as the best TV the company has made to date.” – What Hi-Fi?

SOUNDBAR OF THE YEAR
Samsung HW-Q990H

“Its ability to capture a touch more detail and nuance, and place spatial sound effects with even greater precision, makes this system another step up in a lineage of soundbars that have improved year-on-year.” – What Hi-Fi?

PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR
Sony VPL-XW5000ES

“While you inevitably have to accept a compromise or two in return for Sony delivering a full 4K laser projector at this price, those compromises are ultimately crushed by the joyous impact the XW5000ES’s combination of laser lighting and exceptional X1 Ultimate processing has on both your immediate and long-term movie night thrills.” – What Hi-Fi?

AV RECEIVER OF THE YEAR
Sony TA-AN1000

“Its crisp, precise and punchy sound strikes a nearly perfect balance, and it elevates every movie and song we throw at it. This amplifier ticks all our boxes, with a sleek design, good feature set and outstanding performance, making it so easy to recommend.” – What Hi-Fi?

PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Astell & Kern PD5

“Its obvious talents continue to shine through… If you’re looking for an exceptionally detailed, refined and dynamic sound that brings your hi-res music library to life – along with plenty of extra functionality – this Astell & Kern portable music player is the one to pick.” – What Hi-Fi?

WIRELESS SPEAKER OF THE YEAR
JBL Charge 6

“One of the things that always surprises us about the Charge speaker is just how balanced, subtle and controlled it sounds – it’s a mature presentation you wouldn’t expect from its rugged, burly exterior… It’s hugely fun to listen to, and we can highly recommend it.” – What Hi-Fi?

MUSIC STREAMER OF THE YEAR
Bluesound Node Icon

“Its wonderfully musical, engaging quality holds our interest like no other Bluesound product has done before. For anyone looking for a compact, feature-laden, fuss-free streamer that sounds great for a rather reasonable price, we can’t recommend the Node Icon highly enough.” – What Hi-Fi?

STEREO AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR
Arcam A15+

“We are impressed with the way this amplifier organises detail and its composure when things get demanding… this amplifier may kick hard in the bass, but it also retains a degree of tunefulness and agility that is rare to find at this level. Basslines are meaty yet retain a lovely flow.” – What Hi-Fi?

CD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Arcam CD25

“It’s a clear step above any entry-level player on the market and brings a level of sophistication, musicality and clarity that will have you shopping for new additions to your CD collection. A very talented performer that we’d seriously recommend taking for a spin.” – What Hi-Fi?

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY READER'S AWARD
Ruark R610

“The Ruark R610 streaming amplifier is a fine example of what can be accomplished in such a compact, multi-faceted form, and at this price. The R610 is a gorgeous piece of design; it’s lovely to use and however you listen to music – vinyl, streaming, CD, radio – it delivers an engaging, convincing performance.” – What Hi-Fi?

WIRELESS HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR
Sennheiser HDB 630

“The HDB 630 are a well-rounded package… they also score well enough in the design, features and noise-cancelling departments to be considered a highly attractive all-round package. For sound-conscious folk looking for convenience and audio quality, the Sennheiser HDB 630 are serious best-of-both-world propositions.” – What Hi-Fi?

FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR
DALI Sonik 5

“With a pleasingly compact size and excellent sound, we think the Dali Sonik 5 will make a superb addition to any home set-up, especially if you’re working with small spaces. Provided you are willing to take some time to set them up carefully, these floorstanding speakers have plenty to offer, with a sound that transcends their dimensions.” – What Hi-Fi?