Yamaha RX-V671:
As What Hi-Fi have recognised in their recent rave review of the 671, the result of not spending on Spotify or Airplay, is that the Yamaha actually sounds better than its rivals. It is also extremely well specified - including six HDMI 1.4 inputs, plus 7 x 150 watts, plus 1080p upscaling, plus Bi-amp capability, plus standby HDMI pass-through, plus audio return, plus second zone capability, plus front USB iPod connectivity. You can even turn your smartphone into a remote control for this amp, using the free Apple & Android Remote Apps.
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 SE:
Boston's superb Soundware XS system was a runaway success last year, with massive sales, a string of excellent reviews and an outright win at the prestigious What Hi-Fi Awards. Seldom have such small speakers received such big praise, so we were understandably concerned about what Boston would do for an encore.
We needn't have worried, because they have simply fine-tuned what was already 'best in class', to produce something that is even better - at no extra cost! The new version is designated 'SE' and boasts a luxurious Gloss finish for the satellites, better cable management and an improved wall bracket. Unless you're going to buy something that is twice the price, or three times the size, you won't find anything that sounds better than these excellent Bostons. They look great too, with 2 attractive finishes (Gloss Black or Gloss White) to match either the colour of your walls, or your TV. They also come with 2 different sets of brackets - one for flush wall fixing, and one for corner room placement. Whichever way you look at it, these new Boston speakers are top of their class. |
