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

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…

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.

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.

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

A pair of Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers, each placed on separate speaker stands.

I've spent 20 years testing hi-fi and these bookshelf speakers are the gateway drug to passive perfection

By Simon Lucas published

Editor's Choice

After chasing the pricier loudspeaker dollar, Dali has returned to its roots with the super-affordable Kupid. Is the company’s entry-level mojo still working?

FiiO FT13 closed-back over-ear wired headphones, with braided wire, on a wooden surface.

FiiO's wired FT13 over-ear headphones offer unique design and an organized sound, they just lack a bit of bite

By Simon Lucas published

FiiO FT13's visual interest fills a tiny gap in a stacked closed-back product lineup

The Topping DX5 II on a light-wood table, showing the VU meter, ports and just-seen remote

Topping's new DAC, headphone amp and preamp just toppled a few key players to sit with the top of the class

By Simon Lucas published

Recommended

Topping is absolutely determined to become a force where affordable digital audio equipment is concerned – and the DX5 II proves it’s going the right way about it…

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on a plain background.

I tested them, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the absolute best active noise cancelling cans for the money

By Simon Lucas published

Editor's Choice

Evolution, not revolution: the second generation flagship Bose noise-cancellers are the same as the first, except where they're not (because they're better)

FiiO QX13 headphone amp/DAC on a wooden surface

I love this headphone amp/DAC's confident sound, but it's far from the only game in town

By Simon Lucas published

The FiiO QX13 is a headphone amp/DAC with open and detailed sound to make your smartphone sing, but it's a little fiddly and has plenty of competition.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 over-ear ANC headphones on a white surface

Bowers & Wilkins' new elite over-ear ANC headphones more than justify their price tag in this class-leading way...

By Simon Lucas published

Editor's Choice

Bowers & Wilkins gives a little and takes a little to deliver the Px8 S2 wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones – can they justify their lofty asking price?

The JBL Charge 6 shown from the front, including its carry handle

I reviewed the JBL Charge 6 Bluetooth speaker, and if you want big, high-quality sound for a great price, it's unbeatable

By Simon Lucas published

Editor's Choice

What JBL doesn’t know about outstanding portable Bluetooth speakers doesn’t seem to be worth knowing. So with the latest JBL Charge does lightning strike [checks notes] a sixth time?

Ruark MR1 Mk3 powered speakers either side of a laptop, on a white surface

I test audio kit for a living and these are among the best pound-for-pound powered stereo speakers I've heard

By Simon Lucas published

Editor's Choice

The Ruark MR1 Mk3 powered stereo speaker system is a pound-for-pound contender for best on the market.

Front panel of Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII on a white background

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: WiiM addition fixes the wireless speakers' only minor issue

By Simon Lucas last updated

Recommended

Now with the WiiM streaming platform, the beautiful Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is maturing into later life

Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 portable music player on a white surface

I tested this digital audio player and its sound dominates almost any rival, but there's a catch

By Simon Lucas published

Recommended

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 is remarkably accomplished but let down by a hefty price

The Cambridge Evo 150 SE on a gray hi-fi rack, showing the color screen, grilles and ports

I tested Cambridge's Evo 150 SE streaming amp and it is as high-performing a just-add-speakers system can possibly be, for this money

By Simon Lucas published

Recommended

Cambridge has dropped the ‘Audio’ and added the ‘SE’ to its Evo 150 music streaming amplifier – but what else has it done?

Campfire Audio Rely headphone DAC on a wooden surface

Campfire's portable USB headphone amp/DAC proves an interesting listen but you should try before you buy

By Simon Lucas published

The Campfire Audio Relay is a solid and compact headphone amp/DAC but needs a performance taste-test before you buy it.

Final Audio ZE3000 SV wireless earbuds in their carry, on a white background

I tested these chic sub-$100 true wireless earbuds, but their lacklustre sound is too hard to ignore

By Simon Lucas published

The Final Audio ZE3000 SV are a set of Final true wireless earbuds that don’t want to cause a fuss, which they achieve through a disappointingly meager sound.

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

FiiO's wireless little BTR17 headphone DAC and amp is a tour de force at a very attainable price

By Simon Lucas published

Recommended

Look, this is FiiO we’re discussing here, it because of that it naturally follows that the BTR17 portable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier is very, very good indeed.

Cambridge Audio P100 on a wooden table in the sun

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review: incredible value wireless over-ear headphones that last and last (and last)

By Simon Lucas last updated

Editor's Choice

Cambridge Audio's first ever wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones have landed. Do they have what it takes to stand out? You betcha they do.

Focal Bathys Mg in bronze, featuring ear cup detail on gray background

Focal Bathys MG review: beautiful wireless headphones that are so very nearly the finest in the game

By Simon Lucas published

Recommended

You’d never know by looking at them, but Focal’s Bathys MG represent a pretty big step on from the inaugural 2022 Bathys

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