As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the remarkable technologies this year brought us. Over the past year, I had the privilege of reviewing more than 50 HiFi products. While many were solid performers, a select few stood out, leaving a lasting impression. These aren’t necessarily the best in their category, but their exceptional performance made them unforgettable, even long after I returned them to their manufacturers. Here are my top five HiFi picks for 2024:
Onkyo RZ30
In home audio systems, AV receivers are the most versatile devices. With every release, home theater receivers get more powerful, better, and affordable. The Onkyo RZ30 is the best example of this and shows why getting an AV receiver is probably the best option for most of us.
The Onkyo RZ30 has a Class A/B amplifier, and it offers 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms. It has 9.2 channels with pre-amp outputs for all nine channels including dual independent subwoofer outputs. If you listen to music on a digital platform, the RZ30 has WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and Airplay 2. It has support for Chromecast, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, and Amazon Music.
The Onkyo RZ30 has six 8K HDMI inputs, and two HDMI outputs, one of which supports ARC and eARC. It also supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTX:X, and HDR 10+. In regards to gaming features, it has VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and Quick Frame Transport. It has analog inputs, which can be converted to digital and played through its HDMI outputs.
Onkyo also included Diraq Live Room Correction. This means you get the best room correction software without paying for it. You only have to pay extra for Diraq’s new Bass Management add-on, if you want it.
The Onkyo RZ30 will have no issue driving your speakers to their full potential. I used it with the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signatures, and even at high volumes, this receiver didn’t let me down. The overall tone of the RZ30 is neutral, which means that tweaking settings and even the equalizer will have a noticeable impact on your listening experience. Even without an external subwoofer, the RZ30 will extract so much bass from your speaker’s woofers that it can compete with its more expensive counterparts.
With gaming, the RZ30 can handle consoles extremely well. Most games were smooth at 4K/120, while HDR and VRR were on. I didn’t notice any fluctuations, and there was zero input lag.
Sonos Arc Ultra
The original Sonos Arc came out in 2020, and it still is one of the best soundbars in 2024. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar.. It has a new control panel on the top which has a voice control button, a volume slider, and playback controls.
The Sonos Arc Ultra introduces Sonos’s new technology called Sound Motion. This reduces the size of the transducer, while also giving a big boost to the bass.. Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and the original Arc can go down to 50 Hz, but the Ultra will have almost double the impact because of the Sound Motion technology.
With the Sonos Arc Ultra, you can use TruePlay Room Correction to improve your listening experience. For iPhone users, TruePlay will use your phone’s microphone to analyze the unique acoustics of your space and optimize the equalizer settings of your soundbar to deliver better sound. For Android users, the Arc Ultra’s built-in microphone will do this.
You can connect the Sonos Arc Ultra to the Sonos app using WiFi. The app has a speech enhancement feature that improves the clarity of vocals, along with equalizer settings and music streaming. The Arc Ultra has Bluetooth 5.3, and it is compatible with Apple Airplay and Spotify Connect. If you have the Sonos Ace headphones, you can send your TV audio from the Arc Ultra directly to your headphones. With this, you get Dynamic Head Tracking, which adjusts the sound based on how you move your head.
The Sonos Arc Ultra shines in every aspect. It fully takes advantage of its drivers and gives you full, rich sound with so much clarity and detail. Even without a subwoofer, the bass has incredible depth and impact. When listening to songs, the instruments and vocals are clear, and the listening experience feels like one you would get from a proper two-channel setup. Sonos have outdone themselves with this soundbar, and it is a worthy successor to the original Arc.
Marantz Model 60n
The new Marantz Model 60n is a network-integrated amplifier that comes in two colors, Black, and Silver Gold. It has a big power supply and excellent build quality. The Marantz Model 60n has three analog inputs, with a moving magnet phono input. It has a preamp output if you want to add some extra power with another amplifier, and a subwoofer output. It has an optical input, HDMI ARC, a coaxial input, and USB-A. Bluetooth receive and transmit are built-in, and, with HDMI ARC, your TV remote will be able to directly control the volume of this amplifier.
The Model 60n also has compatibility with HEOS.. You can combine your favorite tracks from multiple services into one HEOS playlist, and almost everything you need is on the home screen. The Model 60n is compatible with Spotify, Airplay, Amazon Music, Alexa, Deezer, iHeart Radio, Pandora, SiriusXM, and TIdal.
The Marantz Model 60n has a big toroidal PSU transformer. It has Aluminum heatsinks for the output transistors, and the amplifier itself is Class A/B. Marantz used their very own HDAM(Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module) circuitry for this amplifier, which Marantz engineers developed to make their circuits more cost-effective.
In testing, the Model 60n worked perfectly. While listening to songs, instruments, and voices were clear, and dialogues felt crisp while watching movies. Overall, the sound is very nice for an amplifier in this price class.
Sony HT-A9M2 BRAVIA Speaker System
The speakers have a rectangular shape, and instead of a grille, they are wrapped in a beautiful grey fabric. This new design allows your system to blend in with the environment better, and the speakers can even be put on a table stand or be wall mounted. The Sony HT-A9M2 also comes with a support box. This supports Dolby Vision, 8K HDR, 4K 120, 360 reality audio, and Hi-Res Audio. It also supports VRR, ALLM, and SBTM when you’re gaming. You can connect wirelessly with Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and Apple Airplay.
The box connects to your TV with HDMI eARC or ARC. You must make sure your TV has one of these, as the box has no optical or 3.5mm inputs. The acoustic center sync feature amplifies the sound by using your TV as a central channel. The BRAVIA app walks you through the setup and makes sure that each speaker is connected and in the right location. The app also has additional features such as night mode which lowers bass, voice enhancement, and sound field calibration, which changes the height of the sound field.
Sony has updated the wireless connectivity of these speakers and future speakers. They have enhanced the radio output power by 2.5 times and included a dual switchable antenna and a frequency hopping system in all the speakers to ensure a stable connection between the control box and the speakers.
Calibrating the speakers will help you with Sony’s 360 Spacial Sound Mapping Technology. The speakers use this technology to create up to 12 different phantom speakers before you. These speakers reflect the sound off the ceiling and walls, enabling cinema-style sound and creating a wider soundstage.
The speakers are a good premium option and soundfield mapping is top notch. You can simply place the speakers where they are best for you and they will work perfectly. The soundstage is amazing and it has very good bass, and you won’t feel the need to add an extra subwoofer. You can be completely transported into movies thanks to the sound mapping technology, and, surprisingly, all this sound comes from such small speakers, the innovative features and premium design make them one of the best HiFi speaker systems of 2024.
Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Speakers
The 700 S3 Signature line is loaded with lots of new technology and features, and for the first time, we now have a signature center channel speaker. The cabinets are beautiful and they are available in 2 colors. B&W uses several coats of paint which gives the cabinets a lavish finish. There is no area for the soundwave to bounce off the cabinet, which helps make it sound more open.
Enhanced capacitors are integrated into the 702 S3 Signature Tower Speaker to optimize sound reproduction. These Mundorf capacitors elevate the audio clarity, ensuring a superior listening experience. The upgraded speaker terminals ensure a solid and reliable connection for your audio setup. These enhanced terminals are designed to improve signal transmission, resulting in clearer and more accurate sound reproduction.
The speaker connections have improved and are more spaced out. The speaker also features three 6 ½ inch Aerofoil woofers. These are also designed to have less distortion compared to the woofers in previous lineups. With three smaller drivers, you get the surface area equivalent to a large woofer but with the speed of smaller drivers. This gives you super fast and tight bass.
The sound is simply stunning, this speaker competes with other speakers like the B&W 804 Diamond which is almost double the price. It provides an immersive audio experience, with crisp highs and deep lows that bring music to life. The detailed midrange reproduction allows for vocals and instruments to shine, creating a realistic and engaging listening experience. The powerful bass response adds depth and richness to the overall sound profile, enhancing the enjoyment of various music genres.