The past 12 months have taken us on a journey through some of the best hifi available across the globe, from entry level desktop companions to no compromise grail components that set the standard.
Here are our stand out products that hit the high bar for us in 2022.
Categories
Best integrated amplifiers
Best upgrade
Best headphone amplifier
Best digital streamers
Best on ear headphones
Best in ear headphones
Best turntable
Best phono stage
Best active loudspeaker
Best floorstanding loudspeaker
Best standmount loudspeaker
Best wallmount loudspeaker
Best Bluetooth loudspeaker
Best loudspeaker cable
Best interconnect cable
Best subwoofer
Best integrated amplifiers
Dan D’Agostino Progression
A stepping stone into an exclusive club, but putting the brand kudos aside, this is one of the finest sounding integrated amps out there, which cements why analogue stereo is still the audio pinnacle for many.
McIntosh MA7200
This amp blew us away back in January. It’s built like a tank and hides genuine cutting edge tech that gives it effortless grip and musicality without breaking a sweat. Once you’ve lived with a big Mac, it’s difficult going back.
PrimaLuna Evo 200
Think valve amps are underpowered and lacking in dynamism and control? Think again. PrimLuna’s amps can drive some of the most demanding speakers and marry power with emotion into a delicious mix. The Evo 200 captured our hearts back in June and we’re still missing it dearly.
Best upgrade
Russ Andrews – Alchemist Forseti APD 15A
This was our Editor’s personal amp, upgraded and pressed back into service thanks to the great value internal upgrades offered by Russ Andrews. It’s an approach that’s great for the environment too, keeping kit that has plenty of life left in them from the scrap heap, and amps of this rarity and quality are worth saving.
Best headphone amplifier
McIntosh MHA200
The MHA200 takes McIntosh’s substantial knowhow and distills it into a killer can amp that is without compromise. It also looks a million bucks better than most integrated amps, what’s not to like?
Best digital streamer
Primare SC 15 Prisma
Primare is one of those brands that goes for understated looks and over-expected sonics. The SC 15 Prisma is both a streamer and preamp that’s a breeze to use and is blessed with a neutral musical air that’s a delight to live with long term.
Pro-Ject Stream Box S2
Want to get streaming on a budget? For less than the price of a mid-market cable Pro-Ject can get you online and involved without fuss. It’s a bargain way to bring your system up to date.
Best on ear headphones
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
While released as a bit of prelude to its more costly PX8 brethren, the Px7 S2 shouldn’t be overlooked. It packs similar tech and audio excellence to its sibling while being better value and equally well made, which is why it gets our headphone of the year accolade.
Best in ear headphones
Marshall Motif A.N.C
These were a bit of an audio surprise to us, with Marshall’s expertise lying elsewhere in the music industry but the brand has clearly done it’s homework, as these were our favourite sounding buds of the year, and they also looked the coolest.
Best turntable
VPI Player
We’ve had our pick of hi-end reference decks this year, but VPI’s entry level spinner gets the top spot because of what it offers for the money, which is a build quality beyond most brands at this price plus a phono stage and headphone amp built in. It’s great value and great sonics make for a real winner.
Best phono stage
Primare R35
Primare’s legacy R32 has been our reference phono stage for almost a decade, but the R35 sets the bar so much higher, with so many settings, balanced connections and improved audio, it really is the reference phono stage.
Best active loudspeaker
ATC SCM40A
This brand knows a thing or two about studio grade audio, so when it decided to fit three Class AB amps into its already acclaimed SCM40 speakers we knew they were going to be something special. Put simply these speakers make the case like few others for the active path, they’re exceptional.
Best floorstanding loudspeaker
Dynaudio Confidence 50
Without doubt one of the best passive loudspeakers in production. And what makes them so astonishing is that they’re not an elitist sound, they’re pure Dynaudio, served up in extraordinary helpings.
Best standmount loudspeaker
MOON Voice 22
As a debut product the Voice 22 is outstanding. Sure the hover base offers real world benefits and the look and feel is deliciously executed, but it’s the sound that really captivated us. Few speakers at this price can conjure vocals like the MOON, as they’re voice in name and nature.
Best wallmount loudspeaker
System Audio Legend 7.2 Silverback
Sometimes floorspace is at a premium, but that doesn’t mean your music should be compromised and System Audio’s 7.2 Silverback active speakers exemplify this, with a raft of connectivity and flexible mounting options plus a bass response that belies their proportions.
Best Bluetooth loudspeaker
BoomBocs Studio
For less than the price of a tank of petrol, BoomBocs’ Studio player is an ideal desktop and portable companion that’s built on pro engineering experience, which puts the fun info affordable audio.
Best loudspeaker cable
Russ Andrews Kimber 8PR
An updated version of Kimber’s proven woven approach to RFI rejection brought up to date for 2022, we used this cable with a range of speakers from entry level to no compromise with excellent results across the board.
Best interconnect cable
VPI Weisline by Nordost
Heard it through the Weisline? You should – as Nordost and VPI’s partnership to get the most from the latter’s low level turntable signals resulted in one of the best cables we’ve heard at the price for detail retrieval and balance.
Best subwoofer
REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII
Back for 2022, REL takes the subwoofer top spot again for value, integration and build quality. The HT/1205 MKII will make a welcome addition to any bass light system without getting in the way, to simply enhance the low frequencies as required without fuss or favour.
