What’s most surprising is that, having been unveiled and put on sale, the WiiM Ultra is actually even less than the cheapest option on that list. Can you imagine Apple ever asking what a reasonable price for its latest iPad Pro might be? Us neither. 

You get plenty of streamer for your money, too. The Mac Mini-esque aluminium chassis bears a 3.5in touchscreen, which can be used to just display things like artwork or to control playback and tweak settings, and a physical volume dial, adding a touch of the tactile to your digital music delivery.

There’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 inside, with two antennas for solid streaming from Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast, but it also has a pre-amp built-in, so you can use the wealth of ports round the back to connect other sources, from turntables to TVs. You get line-in and phono-in, optical and HDMI ARC, but there’s also a subwoofer socket, USB for adding storage, and a 3.5mm output that’s connected to a dedicated headphone amp. 

The WiiM Ultra uses an ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC, which means hi-res files at up to 192kHz/24-bit are on the playback menu, with tech to automatically tweak the sound based on the sonic characteristics of the room you use it in. 

You get all of this for just £339 – a tenner less than the lowest price proposed by WiiM before launch. Bargain.

• Read more: Spotify Supremium explained – when will the long-awaited hi-res streaming upgrade appear?

While the shape of the Meridian Ellipse might not come as a surprise, then, its audio capabilities might. Despite only being about the size of a shoebox, Meridian has found space inside for a pair of 90mm wide-range drivers and a suitably oval-shaped subwoofer, each with a dedicated chunk of the 80W total amplification.

There’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard, with support for AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify and Tidal Connect, but unusually for a wireless speaker of this size there’s also plenty of ports positioned neatly on the back, including ethernet, USB-C (which enables playback of hi-res tunes at up to 24-bit/192kHz), 3.5mm and, with a little help from a dongle, digital optical. You also get a set of illuminated touch controls on the top, which allow you to stop, start and skip tracks, and adjust the volume, plus there’s a hidden NFC chip for easily pairing your phone.

It all runs on Meridian’s R2 platform, which includes the same signal enhancements found inside its £60,000 DSP9 active floorstanding speakers. If you buy a pair of those you can choose any colour of the rainbow (and pick between matt, satin and gloss finishes), but the Ellipse only comes in black.

Just make sure you don’t look at it from the top, because then you’ll realise it’s actually the shape of a purple Quality Street and Meridian will have to come up with a new name.

The Meridian Ellipse is available to buy now and will set you back a pretty hefty £1900.

• Read more: Best wireless speakers 2024 – music and radio via Wi-Fi

The headphones are, for the most part, standard premium Bluetooth 5.4 active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones with spatial audio.

They’re not unmistakably Sonos, but they are nice and subtle and very well thought out with up to 30 hours of battery life on board and a three-hour life available after a three-minute quick charge.

As usual with Sonos gear, they’re available in white and black. You can switch between transparency, ANC and Aware Mode easily.

However, they do have one killer feature called TV Audio Swap – and that’s the ability to switch audio from your soundbar to the headphones with a single press of the so-called Content Key, which is a volume slider and play/pause/answer/end call button.

This will work with Sonos Arc initially, but Sonos were clear that support would come to all current-generation soundbars over the coming months, even the base-level Ray.

Sonos confirmed to Stuff that this feature works using Wi-Fi, although Sonos is clear in its materials not to state that the headphones use Wi-Fi. Presumably, this is to avoid confusion that Sonos Ace can connect to other Sonos products like speakers and fully integrate with a Sonos system – because it can’t.

That could be seen as a disadvantage, but clearly was too difficult to achieve. However, we’d like to see the ability to swap content from other Sonos speakers.

Another technology is called TrueCinema. It’s coming later this year and is, essentially, TruePlay for these headphones. It optimises sound for your living space for a “hyperrealistic listening experience” says the company.

Sonos Ace does support lossless audio if you are using them wirelessly with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound-compatible device using aptX Lossless. However, those devices remain thin on the ground so much more likely is you can cable them up via USB-C if you’re concerned about having lossless audio.

The headphones use custom 40mm drivers, have wear detection so they pause when you remove them and you can customise the EQ in the app. The spatial audio – from supported services like Apple Music – is powered by Dolby Atmos tech. Comfort has also been paid particular attention to, especially with two different types of foam in the headband.

We’re expecting our Sonos Ace review sample to appear soon and we’ll bring you a full review just as soon as we’re able.

• Read more: Best wireless earbuds 2024: reviewed and rated

The star of the show here is the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds. They’re are not just another pair of earbuds to toss in your bag. LG has pumped them full of tech, including pure graphene for the drivers. For those not in the know, graphene is this wonder material that’s not only feather-light but also robust, perfect for delivering crisp, clean sounds that can make your tunes sound as though they’re unfolding right between your ears.

And these earbuds come equipped with Dolby Atmos and something called Dolby Head Tracking. If you’re watching a film, and you turn your head, the sound adjusts to keep you in the middle of the action. It’s like being in the cinema, but instead, you’re just turning your noggin on the sofa while shoving popcorn in your face. There’s also UV tech in the charging case to clean your buds when you take them off.

Also letting you take Dolby Atmos on the go is the new LG Xboom speaker – albeit with a bigger punch. The Xboom 360 and its siblings like the portable XG8 and rugged XG2 are ready to turn any location into a mini performance. The XBoom speakers are designed to pump out sound that’s not only loud but also clear, enveloping, and, frankly, quite mood-enhancing with their fancy light shows. On the top, you’ll find accent lighting, and the whole shebang will keep playing for around 15 hours.

The Tone T90S earbuds are hitting the shelves on the 24th May and will set you back £229. If you’re more in the market for some booming sound from the Xboom series, the XG8 is launching on the 30th May. Meanwhile, the XG2 and the 360 are ready to go at £70 and £200, respectively. All these audio gadgets are up for grabs directly from LG.

• Related: Best Bluetooth speaker 2024: reviewed and rated

• Read more: Best home theater systems 2024: ultimate surround sound immersion

A successor to the wildly popular 3000i, this new collection continues Q Acoustics’ trend of delivering superior sonic quality and impeccable build for a reasonable price. Whether you’re a newbie dipping your toes into the audiophile world or just looking to refresh your setup with some stellar acoustics, the 3000c range has got you covered. The whole line-up spans the 3010c bookshelf, 3020c stand mount, 3030c larger stand mount, 3050c floor stander, and the 3090c centre-channel for home cinema enthusiasts.

This speaker family is loaded with tech. It offers up the C3 Continuous Curved Cone driver design. It’s been pulled straight from the 5000 series and M40 powered micro-tower speakers. The result? An articulate mid-range, punchy bass, and crystal-clear high frequencies. Plus, it’s all wrapped in a beautifully designed cabinet.

Q Acoustics also brought plenty of extra goodies to the table. You’ll find smoother integration with tweeters, better bass dynamics, reduced distortion, and flexibility in speaker positioning. The 3050c gets even more luxurious with P2P bracing and HPE tubes to tackle internal pressure waves.

Looking to bring the cinema experience home? The Q Acoustics 3000c can handle that. Pair up the 3090c with either the 3010c 5.1 or the 3050c 5.1 speaker packages for a seamless 5.1 surround setup. The 3090c delivers pinpoint dialogue, while the subwoofers complete the experience with booming lows.

Ready to add some extra speakers to your gaff? You can snag the 3000c models starting in August directly from Q Acoustics, with pricing as follows:

• 3010c bookshelf: $399/£329/€399
• 3020c stand mount: $499/£399/€499
• 3030c larger stand mount: $649/£499/€649
• 3050c floor stander: $1,199/£899/€1,199
• 3090c centre-channel: $399/£299/€399

The 5.1 packages’ pricing is yet to be confirmed, but they’ll be worth the wait for sure.

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That’s an awful lot of oomph from a cylindrical speaker not much bigger than a regulation FIFA football. The amp powers and array of full-range drivers and passive bass radiators, with Loewe’s in-house audio team on tuning duties. If you think you can do better, the touch-sensitive volume slider can also adjust bass and treble on-device.

The We. Hear pro is anything but subtle in KM’s favoured colour, neon yellow. The denim and black versions are less in-yer-face, but all three carry the striker’s initials at the edge. A matching adjustable shoulder strap then makes it as easy to carry around as your kit bag.

Each speaker is wrapped in acoustic fabric and is IPX6 certified against the elements, so even if the game gets rained off you’ll be able to keep the tunes pumping. The feel of the material and general shape of the speaker gave me real UE Megaboom vibes when I tried one at a pre-launch preview, only on a much larger scale.

The built-in battery is good for up to 20 hours of mains-free listening, and it should need just two hours for a full top-up over USB-C. If your other tech starts to run low, it can also double as a portable power bank.

As well as Bluetooth, it’s also packing Loewe’s true wireless multi-pairing tech to sync with up to 13 other speakers at the same time – though I expect you’d need an Mbappé-level salary to be able to afford that many.

Loewe says this is its first collab with the French footballer – indicating more tech wearing KM initials may eventually follow later down the line.

Until that happens, the We. HEAR Pro is your one and only choice for German engineered speakers endorsed by famous French sportsmen. It’ll be going on sale in May, for $275/£269, through the Loewe website and all the usual retailers.

• Related: Wireless speaker tech explained – should you go for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?

• Read more: Best Bluetooth speaker 2024: reviewed and rated

The two brands teamed up to launch the SL-1200M7B. It’s a special-edition turntable that marries Technics’ iconic sound engineering with Lamborghini’s unmistakable design language. Inspired by Lamborghini’s signature Y-shape pattern, the SL-1200M7B turntable comes in three distinct colours: Orange, Green, and Yellow.

This collaboration borrows the rock-solid foundation of Technics’ acclaimed SL-1200MK7/SL-1210MK7 DJ models and adds a bit of Italian flair. With a coreless direct-drive motor for reliable torque and anti-cogging, a two-layer platter structure for superb vibration damping, and a reverse play function to let DJs experiment, this turntable promises sound quality as revved up as a Lamborghini V12.

Speaking of revving, every purchase of this turntable comes with a vinyl record capturing the distinctive growl of six Lamborghini V12-engine super sports cars: the 400GT 2+2, Miura SV, 25th Anniversary Countach, Diablo 6.0 SE, Murciélago LP 640, and the latest Revuelto. This exclusive record is even pressed as a picture disc that showcases the tire of the Revuelto itself, so you can listen to those roars while watching that rubber spin round on the platter. To complete the package, buyers also receive a slipmat and two stickers with the logos of both iconic brands.

Fancy owning this supercar turntable? Pricing for this limited edition bit of audio gear hasn’t been announced yet. But we expect it to match its supercar inspiration. Sales are set to kick off in July 2024, but availability may vary depending on your region. You’ll be able to order it directly through Technics.

• Related: 60 best hi-fi audiophile albums ever

• Read more: Best headphones 2024: earbud and over-ear headphones reviewed

With the new Accentum buds, Sennheiser promises the same audio quality. The brand’s proprietary 7mm True Response Transducers offer dynamic bass, smooth mids, and crisp treble, capturing even the trickiest tunes with aplomb. These ultra-low distortion drivers are crafted at Sennheiser’s Tullamore factory alongside their audiophile headphones, ensuring top-notch sound quality. We complimented the Accentum headphones’ sound quality in our five star review of the over-ears.

To keep them snug and comfortable for all wearers, Sennheiser collaborated with Sonova to analyse thousands of ear shapes. This led to a design that balances stability and sophistication – so you can keep them in your lugs for longer. Four sizes of ear tips offer optimal noise cancellation and a solid seal for thumping bass.

For a whisper-quiet listening experience, the Hybrid ANC feature keeps distractions at bay. Transparency mode lets ambient sound through with just a tap. Customisation is key with the Sennheiser Smart Control app, offering a 5-band EQ and Sound Check for personalized sound profiles.

The buds are prepped for Bluetooth 5.3, including LE Audio and Auracast, for sharing streams at Auracast-enabled venues. With SBC, AAC, aptX, and LC3 codec support, they guarantee reliable audio quality and battery life. You’ll get up to 8 hours per charge and 28 hours in total with the charging case. Ready to recharge? The Qi-enabled case juices up via USB-C or wireless charging and promises 1 hour of playback with just a 10-minute charge.

Fancy shrinking down Sennheiser’s Accentum headphones? The new Accentum True Wireless buds are up for pre-order now directly from the brand. They launch officially on 21 May, and you can nab them for £170/€170 in black or white.

• Related: Best cheap headphones 2024: ultimate budget wireless earphones

The brown-hued Hadenys was apparently inspired by the Hadean Eon, one of the earliest points in Earth’s history, where the planet’s tectonic plates were still being formed. The blue coloured Azurys was influenced by the precious mineral Azurite, which is almost as old.

Both use the same 40mm speaker drivers as the superb Focal Bathys Bluetooth over-ears, which were easily one of my favourite pairs of headphones in 2023. Except here you have the choice of open- or closed-back drivers. The open-back Hadenys is meant for at-home listening, while the closed-back Azurys won’t earn you disapproving tuts from your fellow commuters when you use ’em in public.

The two new arrivals effectively become the French luxury audio firm’s entry-level wired offerings (its high end headphones will set you back well north of four figures) – but don’t go thinking Focal has skimped on materials or styling. They each tick all the familiar Focal design boxes: honeycomb grilles, memory foam ear pads, woven fabric stretched over the headbands and yokes, and liberal amounts of genuine leather.

Both headphones ship in a sturdy fabric travel case. The Hadenys gets a 1.8m cable and includes a 6.3mm adaptor for hooking up to a high-end Hi-Fi; the Azurys has a shorter 1.25m cable with an in-line remote control and microphone.

The two new pairs of headphones are on sale right now, directly from Focal. Expect to shell out $549/£499/€549 for the Azurys, or $699/£599/€699 for the Hedenys. They’ll start shipping in June, but eager audiophiles heading to this week’s Munich High End show will be able to check them out in person ahead of launch.

• Related: Wireless vs wired headphones – which is better?

It’s sort of a beefed up version of the SoundLink Flex, with similar styling and a silicone-wrapped steel chassis that can survive bumps and bashes. Bose promises no peeling, flaking or UV damage, whether you pick one up in Black or Blue Dusk colours. The whole thing is also IP67 weather resistant, so a bit of rain or dust isn’t going to force an early curfew on your tunes.

A removable rope handle gives you something substantial to grab onto, and Bose also has an optional matching shoulder strap, for a more modern take on the “boombox over the shoulder” look. There’ll be an optional bunch of different coloured handles to swap in, which sound perfect for colour-matching to a throwback 90s shell suit.

Naturally for a Bose speaker, the SoundLink Max doesn’t skimp on its audio chops. There are three transducer speakers inside, along with two passive bass radiators. Tuning and signal processing used in Bose’s soundbars promise a “full, natural sound”, and the smartphone companion app will let you adjust the EQ for more personalised listening.

There’s Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, along with a 3.5mm auxiliary input for wired playback. Ditched your wired gadgets a while back? No problem, the AUX button can be reassigned to launch Spotify Tap instead. It also has Google Fast Pair support for easy setup on an Android phone.

• Read more: What’s the best Bose speaker? Ultimate Bose gear to choose from

The built-in battery should be good for up to 20 hours of music playback. If you’d rather siphon some of that off to keep your other gadgets topped up, the USB-C port can turn the speaker into a portable power bank.

The SoundLink Max will go on sale in the US on May 16, directly from the Bose website, for $399. The UK will follow on June 4 for £399, with pre-orders opening on May 14.

• Related: Wireless speaker tech explained -: should you go for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?