BEST OF THE REST

BEST Monitors Focal Shape From £479

Focal’s recent range of two-way, nearfield active monitors supposedly saw the company rethinking their approach, and the results are undeniably impressive. The resulting Shape range manages to deliver accuracy and details without feeling clinical or lacking presence. These stand out as a set of speakers worth investigating.

Best Hardw are Effect: Stam Audio SA-4000 Compressor £675

Even in this age of digital production and mixing there’s still a special place in our hearts for quality outboard compressors. Enter the SA-4000 from Chilean brand Stam – a stereo buss compressor based on the iconic SSL G Series Console. This authentic feeling analogue box is well built, and delivers sound worthy of (if not precisely the same as) its influential inspiration. Importantly though, it delivers that all-important mix glue that is so widely sought-after in plugin emulation – and all for a very competitive price.

Best Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-E70 £249

We don’t usually think of in-ear headphones as a credible option for monitoring duties, but Audio-Technica’s multi-driver-equipped E70s are impressive from top to bottom, and have us rethinking that assumption. They’re lightweight and comfortable, built to last, and boast reliable, quality sound that we wouldn’t hesitate in trusting for production duties. They’re not cheap, but you get what you pay for in quality.

Best Stompbox: Elektron Analog Drive £199

Elektron’s Analog Heat distortion unit impressed us greatly last year, so it’s little surprise that their guitar-centric follow-up is just as enticing. Rather than simply take the distortion elements of the Heat and dump them into a stompbox, Elektron have adjusted and re-tailored their multiple flavours of drive and distortion in order to suit six-string touting musicians. The result is one of the best distortion stompboxes on the market right now.