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

Audeze Euclid held in a woman's hand
Audeze Euclid review: some of the most insightful earbuds you can buy

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

Unlikely as it may seem, the Audeze Euclid in-ear monitors deliver a sound that’s even bigger than the earbuds themselves

The Sony NW-A306 with Stevie Wonder playing
Sony NW-A306 review: a small but mighty digital audio player with a retro look

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

Sony's NW-A306 boasts hi-res audio playing capabilities in a compact design for an affordable price.

Ruark MR1 MkII speakers sitting on a wooden surface
Ruark MR1 MkII review: the best small stereo Bluetooth speakers

By Simon Lucas

Editor's Choice

Get sumptuous stereo sound without the bulk of an old-style system.

The Yamaha SR-C30A soundbar and subwoofer pictured on a wooden table.
Yamaha SR-C30A: one of the best cheap soundbars you can buy

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

Yamaha is strongly betting that small is beautiful with its latest Yamaha SR-C30A Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer.

Majority Sierra Plus soundbar in a living room
Majority Sierra Plus review: a cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar that's big and (partly) clever

By Simon Lucas

The Majority Sierra Plus is made for those who want sound quantity over sound quality – but comes with some excellent features for the price.

Denon DHT-S517 on a wooden surface
Denon DHT-S517 review: a cheaper Dolby Atmos soundbar that sounds big

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

The Denon DHT-S517 can help you maximize your home theater sound experience without maxing your credit card, but not quite flawlessly.

Fiio M11s on table, showing the lock screen
FiiO M11S review: a mid-price music player with premium Hi-Res sound

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

The FiiO M11S is a talented portable music player, and is tantalisingly close to being ideal.

The Samsung AU9000 TV on a wooden cabinet in a living room.
Samsung AU9000 TV review

By Simon Lucas

Great Value

REVIEW We knew how accomplished Samsung is at developing and delivering high-performance TVs at realistic prices, and the AU9000 absolutely delivers on that promise.

Samsung QN800B 8K TV in living room
I tested Samsung’s cheaper 8K TV and I’m not sure I see the point of it

By Simon Lucas

Opinion When 8K TVs feature the best image quality as well as super-resolution screens, they're wonderful. But if the picture quality falls short of 4K TVs, they look lost.

Samsung QN800B 8K TV in living room
Samsung QN800B (65QN800B) review

By Simon Lucas

The Samsung QN800B delivers 8K detail for a more affordable price, but 4K TVs still offer better value.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II worn by a man outside
Bose launches QuietComfort Earbuds II, with next-gen noise-canceling skills

By Simon Lucas

The new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II bring super-adaptive noise blocking, in a seriously small and light package.

Samsung QN90B and QN85B side by side
Samsung QN90B vs Samsung QN85B: which Neo QLED 4K TV is best for you?

By Simon Lucas

These two Samsung TVs both use advanced mini-LED tech, so what are the big differences? We explain everything you need to know

Samsung Q80B next to Samsung QN85B
Samsung Q80B vs Samsung QN85B: which mid-range QLED 4K TV is best?

By Simon Lucas

These two Samsung 4K TVs sit next to each other in the range, but there are some big differences between them.

Samsung QN85B in living room
4 tips to get perfect pictures from the Samsung QN85B Neo QLED 4K TV

By Simon Lucas

The Samsung QN85B is a great TV, but it needs a bit of coaxing to encourage its best results. Here's how to make it sing.

the final audio ux3000 over-ear headphones
Final Audio UX3000 review

By Simon Lucas

Editor's Choice

The Final Audio UX3000 are a pair of over-headphones that offer noise cancellation, great sound, and a comfy fit for a good price.

Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation
Naim Mu-so Qb (2019) review

By Simon Lucas

Updated The smaller, squarer Naim Mu-so Qb wireless speaker got the ‘2nd Generation’ treatment to become even better than the original.

Sony A90K on pink background
I tested Sony's 42-inch OLED TV, and this stunning 4K TV has two big flaws

By Simon Lucas

Opinion If ‘small’ really is ‘beautiful’, shouldn’t everything about the Sony XR-42A90K be small?

Samsung QN85B TV in living room
Samsung QN85B (55QN85B)

By Simon Lucas

The Samsung QN85B delivers huge brightness and lavish colors, but its dark tones are still no match for OLED.

Samsung QN85B in living room
I tested Samsung's QN85B Neo QLED 4K TV, and it's not pulling me away from OLED

By Simon Lucas

More affordable mini-LED just can't match the depth of OLED's images, despite all the other things to love.

Sony LinkBuds S in their case on a table
Sony LinkBuds S review

By Simon Lucas

Sony is betting that small (and light) is beautiful for the LinkBuds S, which continue its fledgling new range of true wireless headphones.

grado gt220
Grado GT220 review

By Simon Lucas

Editor's Choice

Judge the price of the Grados against the specification and you might be concerned. Hear them, though, and you won’t be.

the sony wf-c500 true wireless earbuds next to their charging case on a stone surface
Sony WF-C500 review

By Simon Lucas

Great Value

Sony's WF-C500 budget wireless earbuds move down-market without moving downmarket.

Samsung Q60B and Q80B TVs on grey background
Samsung Q60B vs Samsung Q80B: which 2022 QLED 4K TV is best for you?

By Simon Lucas

Is the Samsung Q60B or Q80B the affordable QLED 4K TV you've been waiting for? We compare the two models.

the beoplay eq true wireless earbuds
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ review

By Simon Lucas

Bang & Olufsen usually means premium materials, premium design and a premium price – and the Beoplay EQ don’t stray far from that template.

Samsung BU8500 TV
Samsung BU8500 (55BU8500)

By Simon Lucas

Recommended

Samsung's latest cheap 4K TV is another great balance of price and picture quality, though we do wish the company would get on board with Dolby Vision HDR.

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