Hi-Fi Choice

The original AE1 appeared when Acoustic Energy was a startup business in 1987. It was widely acclaimed as a benchmark for compact loudspeaker designs, and earned the Gloucestershire-based company recognition around the world. Fast forward 30 years and home speaker systems have changed dramatically, and partly because of this and to celebrate the company's anniversary in 2017, Acoustic Energy's engineers have been hard at work on an active version of its popular original AE1. Designed in response to the changing desires of audio systems at home, the AE1 Active combines the company's traditional craftsmanship along with its Aego active sub/sat system experience with built-in amplification.

Welcome to the January 2017 issue! It may seem a little early to be welcoming in the new year with the first Hi-Fi Choice issue of 2017, but we’re already bursting into next year with exclusive reviews and the hottest news. Speaking of which, breaking news as we go to press with this issue is that Samsung is to acquire Harman International for a cash sum of $18bn. As one of the biggest names in the business, the US firm has its fingers in almost every sector of the audio market through a roll call of big-name brands that includes Harman Kardon, AKG and JBL, along with specialist premium audio brands Infinity and Mark Levinson et al. There had already been rumors circulating that Samsung was looking to buy a specialist audio brand, but it’s understood that Harman’s automotive connections are what ultimately secured the landmark deal as the smart-tech giant looks to move into these sectors.

The increasing popularity of vinyl has seen a growth in record clubs where subscribers pay an annual fee and receive an exclusive album or single every month. Stylus Vinyl is the latest record club to get in on the action, but with a unique twist on the format – you also get a bottle of wine every month to enjoy with your album. Releases so far include Prince's Purple Rain and The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers and subscribers can choose from one of three payment plans. Subscribing on a month-by-month basis costs £35 a month, you can pay £100 for three months or £375 for a year.

Welcome to the AVTech Awards for 2016/17, where once again the UK’s trio of premium AV magazine brands – Hi-Fi Choice, Home Cinema Choice and Hi-Fi News & Record Review – come together to celebrate the very best hardware you can buy. Collectively we test and review more hi-fi, TV and home theatre equipment than any other organisation in the UK, with hundreds of pages of editorial content published every month! Our Awards are informed by this pool of experience, stretching from headphones and portable music players to flagship floorstanding loudspeakers; from 4K TVs to projectors and Ultra HD Blu-ray players; from media streamers, USB DACs and headphone amps to turntables, integrated and pre/power amplifiers and every black box and cable in between. So whether you’re a two-channel music fan or home cinema enthusiast, or someone seeking the best of both worlds, let the AVTech Awards be your guide. .