Audio

Can't imagine the wonderful inconvenience of using a reel-to-reel player. Reel-to-Reel tapes are making a comeback. And one can still purchase the players brand new too RX Reels. What Hi-Fi? Published May 19, 2026 By Joe Svetlik Forget vinyl, reel-to-reel tapes are the last word in sound quality – and they’re making a comeback Stereophile Published March 15, 2026 By Tom Fine Tale of the Tape: Rhino Records' Open-Reel Tape Series

"For a supposedly obsolete music format, audio cassette sales seem to be set on fast forward at the moment." "Cassettes are fragile, inconvenient and relatively low-quality in the sound they produce – yet we’re increasingly seeing them issued by major artists." "Is it simply a case of nostalgia?" ― By Peter Hoar, Dec 03, 2025 The Conversation Cassette tapes are making a comeback. Yes, really

The Vandersteen Model 1Ci+ is the speaker I would buy if I had some spare change. It's considered a great value in the land of high-end speakers. And made in the USA. www.vandersteen.com

Fortunately for consumers, there are many great music streaming options to choose. With competition to be the best, most of the music streamers are a solid option. CNET Best Music Streaming Service for 2026

Best budget all-in-one wireless speaker system? Triangle is a French manufacturer who has been making some excellent speakers for over 40 years. The good looks of the AIO Twin is what caught our eyes. From the reviews, it also sounds great. www.whathifi.com/us www.whathifi.com/reviews/triangle-aio-twin

Best budget wired headphones? Austrian Audio started in 2017. They make some excellent microphones, headphones, and other hi-fi. www.whathifi.com/us www.whathifi.com/reviews/austrian-audio-hi-x15

Acora Acoustics may not be a brand you have ever heard of. Acora Acoustics makes some beautiful speakers made of granite. As you might expect, these speakers are priced accordingly. None the less, it's nice to dream. Photo courtesy: Robert Silva Acora Acoustics—THE interview The Power of Music and Audio Magazine Acora Acoustics—THE interview

DALI presents KUPID. DALI (Danish Audiophile Loudspeakers Industries) may not be a brand you have ever heard of. They make some high-end stuff, including many brilliant speakers. Through the years, however, DALI has been keen to offer a line of speakers for budget minded consumers, like me. DALI's KUPID is the latest budget offering, and it looks like a winner. There are other manufacturers who offer some serious audiophile bang for the buck, including Wharfedale, Q Acoustics

The Sony Walkman was first introduced in 1979. And it's still around. Quite amazing I think. The Design Museum. Sony Walkman What's The Story?

In 1984, the cassette Bose Acoustic Wave Model AW-1 started it all. The speakers were not exotic, featuring a pair of small full range speakers, and one small mid-woofer for bass. In all, Bose made five models of the Acoustic Wave. The Bose Acoustic Wave could cost over $1,000. What's Inside $1100 Bose Acoustic Wave Music System CD-3000 But the naysayers were usually sold because the sound was quite good. Plus, it looked cool, like old school futuristic. CD-2000 Acoustic Wave

Best budget integrated amplifier? Rotel is a Japanese manufacturer who has been making some excellent audio products for over 60 years. Rotel also makes the premium Michi line of products. In the past, we owned several Rotel integrated amplifiers. Rotel has always been solid. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/rotel-a8

The new budget champ? In 1982, Wharfedale first started making the Diamond Series. They are deemed as outstanding value for the money. Techradar Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i Review

I was shopping at a big box store and saw an entire aisle dedicated to vinyl and turntables. In this digital world, the resurgence of vinyl and turntables is pretty amazing. Who would have thought, right? There are many other great manufacturers of turntables including U-Turn Audio, Rega, Clearaudio, VPI, Music Hall, Denon, Technics, and many others.