Hi-Fi News – October 2026

Summary

Bowers & Wilkins 801 D5 flagship loudspeaker takes the cover of Hi-Fi News October 2026, scored in an exclusive four-page group test against the Monitor Audio Silver 500 8G and the Canor Verto D3. The issue, dated October 2026, delivers nine definitive product reviews anchored by the Simaudio MOON 891/861 separates, the Ortofon MC Vertex phono cartridge, and Luxman's D-100 Centennial SACD player. Each review follows the HFN Pledge measurement protocol with lab test data.

Definitive reviews occupy the core: Luxman's D-100 Centennial SACD player, the Ayre PX-8 phono preamplifier, the Cambridge Audio Evo 300 streaming integrated, and the Simaudio MOON 891/861 pre-power combination. The Ortofon MC Vertex moving-coil cartridge and Canor Verto D3 valve phono stage get separate full-length evaluations. Vinyl coverage continues with the regular Vinyl Icon reissue column and Classical Companion. The Vintage Review section reprints a period test of Quad's 33/303 pre-power from the archives.

The Music Reviews section covers 12 new live albums, and the Top 20 New Live Albums feature ranks the reissues worth owning. Opinion, Sound Off, and Off The Leash columns round out the editorial. Showblog covers the Northwest Audio Show 2026. Vintage coverage includes a From The Vault reissue of a classic amplifier test from 1983. Every product review includes a "Lab Report" sidebar with measured frequency response, distortion, and signal-to-noise figures.

p.44 · B&W 801 D5 — Exclusive Group Test
The 801 D5, Bowers & Wilkins's new flagship, is tested alongside the Monitor Audio Silver 500 8G and the Canor Verto D3. The HFN test lab reports a frequency response of 28Hz-28kHz ±3dB for the B&W and a 4-ohm nominal impedance that drops to 2.8 ohms at 80Hz, demanding a high-current amplifier. The Monitor Audio produces 89dB sensitivity versus the B&W's 90dB. The writer prefers the D5's soundstage depth but notes the Silver 500 delivers 85 percent of the performance at 40 percent of the price. A buyer with a room under 400 square feet should shortlist the Monitor Audio and save £6,000.

p.50 · Simaudio MOON 891/861 Pre-Power Amplifier
The North American separates stack is measured at 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms, with a damping factor exceeding 800. The lab graph shows distortion below 0.003 percent from 20Hz to 20kHz at rated power. The preamplifier section contributes 13dB of gain with a signal-to-noise ratio of 120dB. The review notes the 891/861 pair drives the B&W 801 D5 without strain, but the 42-kilogram power amplifier requires two people to lift into a rack. An owner of inefficient electrostatic speakers should audition this before buying anything else in the price class.

p.56 · Ortofon MC Vertex Moving-Coil Cartridge
Ortofon's new MC Vertex uses a Shibata stylus on a boron cantilever, tracking at 2.0 grams. The output voltage measures 0.4mV at 5cm/s. Lab test delivers a channel separation of 30dB at 1kHz, improving to 28dB at 10kHz. The review compares it favorably against the less expensive MC Quintet Black at a 50-percent price premium. A vinyl listener who already owns a step-up transformer at 20dB gain will get full performance without buying additional gear.

p.62 · Luxman D-100 Centennial SACD Player
Luxman's anniversary SACD player uses a discrete DAC ladder array and a slot-loading Mechatronics transport. measured THD+N is 0.0015 percent at 0dBFS. The review notes the D-100's ability to upsample PCM to 384kHz/32-bit internally. The aluminium chassis weighs 18 kilograms. The player's headphone output drives 32-600 ohm loads via a 6.35mm jack. A collector who still owns 100-plus SACDs now has a source component that justifies keeping the physical library.

p.68 · Ayre PX-8 Phono Preamplifier
Ayre's solid-state phono stage accepts both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges with 24 gain settings. The lab confirms a noise floor of -92dBV at 60dB gain (MC). The subsonic filter activates at 12dB per octave below 20Hz. The review panel commends the PX-8's ability to resolve low-level information from a Decca SXL pressing of Solti's Ring cycle. A turntable owner with a low-output cartridge (under 0.5mV) should pair this unit for the adjustable loading from 30 to 1,000 ohms.

p.86 · Cambridge Audio Evo 300 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
Cambridge's streaming integrated delivers 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms and supports Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Roon Ready. The DAC stage uses two ESS ES9028Q2M chips in dual-mono configuration. HDMI ARC input allows TV audio integration. The review measures 0.008 percent distortion at 80 percent power. A listener building a first serious system on a £2,500 budget should start here and add the Monitor Audio Silver 500.

p.34 · Top 20 New Live Albums
Three editors rank 20 live reissues released in the past 12 months. The list includes Van Morrison's "Live at the Grand Opera House (Remastered)" and a previously unreleased John Coltrane set from the 1965 Newport Jazz Festival. Each entry includes original recording date, label, and a 50-word evaluation. A collector looking to add five live albums to a shelf now knows to start with the Coltrane, priced at £24.99 and limited to 3,000 copies.

Editor's Take

October 2026 is the year's strongest Hi-Fi News issue on a per-page value basis — nine lab-tested products and the first B&W 800-series flagship review in a decade. The weakest element is Showblog, which devotes five pages to a trade show that happened six years ago (NWAS 2020) with dated product references. The issue suits the serious loudspeaker buyer: the 801 D5, Monitor Audio Silver 500, and Canor Verto D3 group test alone contains enough data to make a £10,000-plus purchase decision. Photography of the vintage reprint pages suffers from low resolution, but the lab measurement graphs are crisp.

Strengths
• B&W 801 D5 group test with direct price-versus-performance comparison
• Nine full product reviews each with HFN lab measurement data
• Ortofon MC Vertex review includes stylus geometry and tracking-force specifics

Weaknesses
• Showblog feature covers a 2020 trade show with no 2026 relevance
• Vintage Review section reprint scans are low-resolution

Verdict: Recommended — Nine lab-measured product reviews make this a keeper reference issue for anyone spending over £2,000 on audio.