the con tend Ers

“If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it...” Well, we love a bit of music (and a lot of excess) here at T3, and the contenders for this year’s audio award have taken listening to luxurious new levels. Over the year, we’ve tested a myriad of speakers, headphones and more in search of a successor to last year’s winner, the Naim Mu-so. And here’s our shortlist…

Naim Mu-so Qb

We’re huge fans of Naim’s Mu-so, so the Qb has a lot to live up to – and it doesn’t fail to delight. The little cube is compatible with AirPlay, aptX Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Tidal and internet radio, and you can stream hi-res files too.

B&W Zepelin Wireles

Bowers & Wilkins’ outrageous Zeppelin still looks like no other speaker, despite its iPhone-docking original first emerging around a decade ago. The latest wireless incarnation is even sleeker, but doesn’t scrimp on quality internals.

Sonos PLAY:5

The re-engineered Play:5 brings media-streaming poster boys Sonos bang up to date. Touch controls, as well as three 10cm drivers backed by triple tweeters, add up to the company’s most powerful speaker ever – and it’s easier to set up, too.

Beats Pill+

Beats went back to the drawing board after a stuttering start for its lozenge-shaped Pill, and reinvented the speaker system as the Pill+. Its acoustics are excellent, and it punches out the power in a typically Beats-like manner.

Marsha ll Major II

Here at T3 we’re obsessed with headphones, and these distinctive cans made an impression on us. The Marshall Major II s have a vintage appearance, but that hides excellent bass-heavy acoustics and good isolation. Excellent value for money.

B&O Beoplay A1

Something so small shouldn’t sound this good, and something puck-shaped shouldn’t be utterly stylish, but luxury Danish brand B&O has pulled off the seemingly impossible with the BeoPlay A1, a Bluetooth speaker that rocks hard.