Simon Lucas

Simon Lucas

Simon Lucas is a freelance technology journalist and consultant, with particular emphasis on the audio/video aspects of home entertainment. If it's involved in the production of sound or visual images, Simon will have written about it during the course of what will soon be a 20-year career.


Before embracing the carefree life of the freelancer, Simon was editor of What Hi-Fi? magazine and whathifi.com – a stint that lasted nearly six years and coincided with the website becoming the planet's leading source of audio/visual buying advice for consumers. Since then, he's written for titles including (but not limited to) to Wired, Metro, the Guardian, HiFi+ and GQ, and has acted as an audio consultant for some of the world's most high-profile consumer electronics brands. All from what he likes to call 'The English Riviera' but what is more commonly known as 'Brighton'. 


Despite an invariably packed schedule, Simon likes to make time during the working week to publish (and invariably then hastily delete) tweets about the state of the nation (in general), the state of Aston Villa (in particular) and the state of his partner's cat via @OnlySimonLucas.

Articles by: Simon Lucas

The Topping DX1 II DAC, with wired headphones resting on top, show the dB level on a white surface.
This well-built Topping DAC has a packed feature-set and makes a real difference to a desktop system, but it just… doesn't grab me by the lapels

By Simon Lucas Published

The Topping DX1 II is a big step up from the original DX1 DAC, at least where specification is concerned, but it's a little laid-back to truly excite.

The Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 stereo speaker system, part of a wider hi-fi setup, on a wooden surface.
I tried to ignore this stereo speaker system's background hiss and focus on the admittedly spacious, punchy sound, but it's hard to forgive its low-rent remote

By Simon Lucas Published

Fyne Audio’s first wireless stereo speaker system, the Cubitt 5, is priced to compete in a fiercely contested part of the market. Brave or foolhardy?

Ruark Audio Talisman-R floorstanding speakers either side of a hi-fi system, all on a wooden floor.
I thoroughly recommend these discreet passive speakers' impeccable design and detailed sound — but you need a small room to enjoy them properly

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

Gorgeous passive speakers that deliver an informative sound and impeccable finish — just don't buy them for the ballroom

2 Comments
The Focal Mu-so Hekla in front of the Samsung R95H TV showing a scene from Elio.
‘One of the most successful one-box spatial audio solutions around’ — the immersive Dolby Atmos sound the Focal Mu-so Hekla drenched me in was astounding, although its price is similarly staggering

By Simon Lucas Published

Our review of the Focal Mu-so Hekla asks, among other things: when is a soundbar not a soundbar? And when is a Naim Mu-so speaker not a Naim Mu-so speaker?

Cambridge A100 SE in black, on a white table
Cambridge's new cheap hi-res earbuds are every bit worthy of their humble price tag — despite one minor sonic flaw

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

Cambridge refreshes its true wireless in-ear offering with some enticing new specification and a very tempting asking price…

Q Acoustics M40 HD on blue TR buying guide background
The best stereo speakers: top speaker systems for all budgets, tested by our experts

By Becky Scarrott Last updated

Buying Guide The best stereo speakers to deck out your home audio system.

KEF LS Luxe in a hi-fi listening room
'Unarguably one of the very best wireless stereo speaker systems you can currently buy': KEF's LS Luxe is the real deal, if you can accept the placement fussiness and 'visual drama'

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

In which KEF moves its established wireless stereo speaker system excellence further upmarket…

Top-down image of the Fosi Audio Merak CD player, playing a Universal Sounds of America compilation CD, with a remote control on a white background.
I enjoyed this CD player's sturdy build and solid sound in testing, but it has a fatal flaw

By Simon Lucas Published

If your system needs an affordable compact disc solution (or if you want to hear your CDs in private), the Fosi Audio Merak might just be the answer…

Q Acoustics 3040c speakers in a white listening room, with a hi-fi stack and turntable between them
Q Acoustics' handsome 3040c floorstanding speakers are cheaper than most rival bookshelf buys, and a thorough testing reveals a poised, clear, balanced listen

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

Q Acoustics completes the line-up of its acclaimed 3000c series of passive loudspeakers with this compact 3040c floorstander and for this money, knocks it out the park

Austrian Audio The Arranger wired open-back over-ear headphones, showing the ear cups, on a white surface
Austrian Audio’s new ‘semi-open-back’ wired headphones are named like some sort of hired assassin, but I tested them and if you want layered audio, they’re 'The Arranger' for you

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

With the awkwardly named ‘The Arranger’, Austrian Audio wants to try and bridge the gap between its excellent entry-level models and its excellent high-end products…

PSB iQ2 stereo speaker system on a wooden surface.
I tested PSB's new stereo speaker system and the punchy sound and compact styling are a delight, but don't bother if you listen to a lot of vinyl

By Simon Lucas Published

The PSB iQ2 may be the largest model in the brand's stereo speaker range, but it's still pretty small — can it justify its big price-tag?

Bose Lifestyle Ultra speaker on a white table
Bose’s chic Lifestyle Ultra speaker works fantastically over Wi-Fi and with surprising height to the sound, which is why the ‘vanilla’ Bluetooth support is a bit of a let down

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

The newest wireless speaker in the Bose line-up offers great audio over Wi-Fi, which is why its non-Wi-Fi chops could be improved, at this point

The Astell & Kern AK HC5 on a grey table, with the top plate illuminated and hooked up to Sennheiser IEMs and a FiiO digital audio player
I tested it, and Astell & Kern’s new pocketable smartphone DAC is a clear winner for detail, marred just slightly by bantamweight bass

By Simon Lucas Published

Astell & Kern realises we can’t all afford one of its lovely digital audio players. So it’s trying to bring a little of the A&K magic to your humble smartphone…

LG G1 OLED with landscape painting
Best wall-mount TVs: screens worthy of hanging at home

By Simon Lucas Last updated

We compare the best wall-mount TVs around for satisfying picture quality and for satisfying your latent interior decorator.

KEF Muo 2025 in black, on a white table
KEF's nouveau Muo is a solid little Bluetooth speaker, but the game's changed since 2016 — and it's no longer top of the pile

By Simon Lucas Published

After too long a break, KEF is back in the Bluetooth speaker game. It’s aiming for the upper end of the market though — so does the Muo hit the mark?

Meze Audio Strada headphones with wooden ear cups, in close-up and with their case and cables visible, on a white table
Meze Audio's new closed-back headphones are gloriously green and expansive, but the soundstage isn't the only thing about them that's wide

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

Plenty that will appeal to the well-off and larger-headed listener

Sony PS-LX510BT turntable on a brown wood hi-fi rack, with closeups
It ain't heavy, but Sony's new budget Bluetooth turntable is still a winner eight days a week

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

The PS-LX5BT has big budget-turntable-shaped shoes to fill, and fill them it does…

4 Comments
KEF Coda W active speakers, either side of an audio system and turntable, on top of a pair of speaker stands.
I enjoyed testing this accomplished active stereo speaker system, until it threw in the towel too easily

By Simon Lucas Published

The KEF Coda W has plenty to recommend it but the active pair of stereo speakers has involved the brand in an arms race with itself…

3 Comments
Cambridge L/R S active stereo speaker system, with a silver finish, on a white surface.
I spent two weeks with Cambridge's all-new active bookshelf speakers and they're an immediate pound-for-pound market-leader contender

By Simon Lucas Published

Editor's Choice

The Cambridge L/R S active stereo speaker system has picked the hardest fight against market leaders, but it's a pound-for-pound contender.

The Philips Fidelio FA3 on a white surface
I reviewed Philips' affordable Fidelio stereo speakers that look 'too good to be true' on the spec sheet — and they nearly pull it off

By Simon Lucas Published

An active wireless speaker system with specification beyond the asking price, and an actually useful app — what’s the catch?

The Eversolo DAC-Z10 on a hi-fi rack, showing a frequency range readout on the screen
I reviewed the Eversolo DAC-Z10, and this DAC/preamp/headphone amp combo reveals details you didn't know were in your music

By Simon Lucas Published

Editor's Choice

Eversolo continues its world domination of digital hi-fi with this amazing, five-star addition.

The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i speaker in slate gray
'I cannot think of a single meaningful downside:' I tested Wharfedale's new Diamond 12.1i stereo speakers, and they're as good as things get for this price

By Simon Lucas Published

Editor's Choice

Wharfedale finally refreshes its great Diamond 12 series of stereo speakers, and they're nearly flawless.

The FiiO M27 player with screen and dial showing, and content on the screen, on beige or yellow background
FiiO's new elite hi-res audio player will delight you, provided you serve it only the best – but disappoint it at your peril

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

FiiO has truly gone to town with this hi-res player (and you should too)

Close ups of the Final DX3000CL with a hi-res digital audio player, showing the ear cups, arm and screen on the player, all on beige background
Final's latest DX over-ear headphones still aren't cheap — but if you need detail and faithful neutrality, they're the ones

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

The first closed-back design in Final Audio’s ‘DX’ range is also the most affordable – but that’s not the same as saying it’s in any way inexpensive…

Rotel's DX-5 integrated amp in silver on a light gray table, with the amp's remote visible
Rotel's bijou integrated amp is small but mighty — and it became my system's pint-sized powerhouse

By Simon Lucas Published

Recommended

Rotel has belatedly realised that ‘small’ really might be ‘beautiful’ after all – and the DX-5 wants to be your miniature stereo hero

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