our verdict on KEF’s entry-level Meta speakers, Ruark’s new CD player and more

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Happy Monday and welcome to the latest contribution to our weekly magazine Rewind news digest, where we detail the most important headlines you need to know in the world of hi-fi and home cinema.

All eyes may be on the storefronts thanks to specialist retailers including Peter Tyson and Sevenoaks Sound and Vision pulling the trigger this year Black Friday sales event early, but among the sea of ​​deals were some big announcements.

Here’s what you need to know.

Panasonic’s latest flagship OLED is great

Last week, our team of testers gave their final verdict on the Panasonic Z95A. This is a big problem for three reasons. Firstly because it is Panasonic’s latest flagship OLED, meaning it is award-winning products M.L.A screen technology. Secondly, because it is the first OLED from the Japanese giant in years to reach the US. Third, because based on our testing, it’s pretty awesome.

Read our full Panasonic Z95A review

Just like KEF’s entry-level Meta speakers

The Z95A was one of many products that impressed last week. On the hi-fi side, we’ve also completed our review of the KEF Q Concerto Meta. This is a particularly interesting set of bookshelf speakers, as they’re the cheapest we’ve reviewed that feature the company’s Meta technology. Despite costing half the price of the KEF R3 Metawhich also received a five-star recommendation when we reviewed them, we found the Concerto to be fantastic performers that retain much of the same core DNA that made their more expensive sibling great.

Read our full KEF Q Concerto Meta Review

Lyngdorf Audio may have solved an important problem for those with limited space

Outside of our review work, Lyngdorf Audio caught our attention with its new FR-2 floorstanders, which are specifically designed to sit against walls. Besides looking cool, the slim speakers’ focus on working even when placed incredibly close to walls is an interesting and fantastic idea in our minds, as positioning is one of the most common problems many of us have .

Read the full story: Little space? Lyngdorf Audio’s quirky FR-2 floorstanders are specially designed to sit against rear walls

Ruark unveiled a CD player

Last week, Ruark jumped on the widely reported “CD revival” and unveiled its new R-CD100. With the same iconic looks as the Ruark Audio R410 system and Ruark Audio R1S radio, the sleek looking device is designed to add CD playback functionality to Ruark’s 100 series products.

Read the full story: The super chic CD player from Ruark wants to bring out the best from your CD collection

We chose a battle with big technology

Always willing to share her opinions, our editor-in-chief, Becky Roberts, last week took on the big tech companies, arguing that it’s Apple, Google and the like, not the hi-fi brands, that are holding back streaming quality. And when you read her op-ed, it’s hard not to agree…

Read the full story: Hifi and music streaming go together harmoniously, but two Big Tech brands are holding back the relationship

MORE:
The best floor standing speakers we tested

We assess the best cd players

Our choice from the best OLED TVs