It's that wonderful time of the year when avid audiophiles from around the world descend upon South-West England, to feast their ears on the wonderful tech on display at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.
We were lucky enough to head down to the annual audio get-together, and we were able to sample some of the finest sonic gadgets available to buy now.
From spellbinding speakers that cost an arm and a leg to surprisingly adept budget earphones, we saw it all in Bristol.
So, without further ado, here's our roundup of the very best audio tech we saw at the 2019 show:
Focal Stellia Headphones
French audio brand Focal is known for its super high end, luxury headphones, and its latest model, the Focal Stellia, is no exception.
With an eye-watering $3000 (£2799 / around AU$4200) price tag, you'd probably have to be a hardcore audiophile to consider purchasing these closed back, over-ear headphones.
When we tested them at the show, we were extremely impressed by their luxurious feel, both in the craftsmanship of the headphones, and the sound quality they produce.
- Read our hands on Focal Stellia headphones review
JBL L100 Classic Loudspeaker
Originally released in 1970, the L100 quickly became JBL's best selling speaker in the audio company's history.
Now it's been reimagined for the modern age, with a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter, 5-inch midrange driver, and and a 12-inch cast-frame cone woofer in a bass-reflex enclosure – in other words, this speaker should be able to truly fill any room with sound.
The new L100 Classic does retain some of its cool 70's features however, with that bright orange foam grille and walnut veneer.
Klipsch R6i II in-ear headphones
In the short time we spent with them, we were really impressed by the Klipsch R6i IIs – and even more impressed by their low price.
One of the most striking things about the R6i IIs is the size of the buds; the housings are incredibly compact, which could be ideal if you prefer a discreet-looking earbud.
The earphones also make use of Klipsch's patented oval ear tips, which the company says are "anatomically designed to accurately fit inside the human ear canal" – and we thought they were very comfortable when we tested them.
Ruark R5 Hi-Fi Music System
British audio company Ruark's latest product, the R5 High Fidelity Music System, is designed to appeal to music and design enthusiasts alike, with a combination of cool mid-century design and state-of-the-art audio tech.
We really liked the retro design, and we could imagine it being an attractive focal point in most homes.
At $1300, it's by no means cheap, but audiophiles may be able to justify that price based on the amount of audio tech that's built into the music system – and when we tested it, it felt like the combination of neodymium magnets, stereo amplifiers, the long throw subwoofer, and the specially tuned cabinet really paid off sonically.
- Want to know more? Read our hands on Ruark R5 Hi-Fi Music System review
Tri-Art Audio S-Series TA-0.5 turntable
We were completely bamboo-zled when we saw this strange-looking turntable at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show this year.
Crafted from (you guessed it) bamboo soaked in hemp and bees wax, audio company Tri-Art says that its use of the material isn't just to create a natural look, explaining on its website that bamboo is "very stiff, for excellent rigidity with the ability to dampen vibration."
With House of Marley recently launching its first smart speaker, which is also made from recycled and natural materials, we wonder whether eco-friendly gadgets could be the next big trend in audio.
Klipsch The Three with Google Assistant speaker
In the short time we spent with The Three with Google Assistant, we got a pretty clear idea of the smart speaker's character; fun, brash, and unabashedly loud.
That's not to say that the speaker doesn't have a well-balanced sound. The audio quality was generally very impressive, with a good amount of separation amongst the different frequencies.
As well as impressive sound quality, you also get all the smarts of Google Assistant, as well as the smart home connectivity the voice assistant brings with it.
- Read our hands on review of Klipsch's The Three with Google Assistant
Sennheiser CX Sports wireless earphones
Sennheiser's CX Sports are all about that bass – which could be perfect if you're looking for a pair of headphones that will bolster your running performance.
However, when we tested them, we were equally impressed by the clarity they provide to treble frequencies, and we liked the sporty neon accents that make them unmistakably designed for running and working out.
While Sennheiser is certainly following the trend for true wireless earbuds with its Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, it's reassuring to see new wireless earphones that don't entirely ditch the cable for those who want it.
- Want to know more? Read our Sennheiser CX Sports earphones hands on review
Dynaudio Confidence series
Dynaudio has updated its Confidence range with "precision-machined" drivers, soft dome tweeters, and an all-new cabinet design – and we finally got the chance to see them at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.
Particularly noteworthy is the Confidence 60. With two neodymium woofers, two midrange drivers, and a high-spec tweeters, this mighty loudspeaker costs a very expensive $39,999 (£35,000 / around AU$64,000 based on current conversion rates).
- Check out TechRadar's exhaustive guides to the best headphones, including the best over-ear headphones, best on-ear headphones and the best in-ear headphones.
- For some more specialist pairs, take a look at our guides to the best wireless headphones, best true wireless earbuds, best wireless earbuds, and the best noise-cancelling headphones.
- Need a specific brand? We have guides to the best Sony headphones, the best Bose headphones, and the best Audio-Technica headphones.
- Looking for some headphones you can work out with? Check out our guide to the best swimming headphones and the best running headphones.
