OVERALL VERDICT

HEOS is aimed at those who always have a smart device to hand. There’s no highresolution music playback (yet, it may come later this year), but MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC and WAV are fine, along with streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and internet radio, all of which are ably delivered here. The Link can add HEOS abilities to existing audio and AV systems, while the soundbar and speaker solutions spread HEOS streaming around a whole home. The app is well designed and easy to use, and all of the speaker units (the HEOS 3 being the only one we’ve not spent extensive time with) proved able performers, with the HEOS 5 a particularly enjoyable sweetspot. The Amp also proved valuable for the quality of its power and its range of handy inputs. And don’t underestimate the importance of a real audio company, Denon, behind all this.