Articles by 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

Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 on a side table with a plant

Harman Kardon's new Bluetooth speakers bring back a Jony Ive design icon, with a twist

By Simon Lucas published 6 July 23

There are three new speakers for different sizes and budgets – and one is real funky.

The FiiO FT3 over-ear headphones in black on a wooden surface.

Fiio FT3: high-end wired headphones without the high-end price

By Simon Lucas published 29 June 23

Editor's Choice

The Fiio FT3 headphones are super-comfortable and super-rich sounding, even if you're not super-rich.

Audeze Euclid review: some of the most insightful earbuds you can buy

By Simon Lucas published 28 June 23

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 published 14 June 23

Recommended

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

Technics EAH-AZ80 review: feature-packed wireless earbuds with tough rivals

By Simon Lucas published 2 June 23

Recommended

With its new EAH-AZ80 true wireless earphones, Technics is attempting to crash a party that may well be over capacity already.

Ruark MR1 MkII speakers sitting on a wooden surface

Ruark MR1 MkII review: the best small stereo Bluetooth speakers

By Simon Lucas published 26 April 23

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 published 14 March 23

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 published 9 March 23

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 review: a cheaper Dolby Atmos soundbar that sounds big

By Simon Lucas published 27 February 23

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 published 21 February 23

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 last updated 15 December 22

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.

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

By Simon Lucas published 22 October 22

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 (65QN800B) review

By Simon Lucas published 19 October 22

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

Samsung AU7100 Crystal UHD Smart TV (UE43AU7100) review

By Simon Lucas last updated 6 October 22

Great Value

It makes some minor concessions in the upscaling and sound performance departments, but otherwise this budget 4K TV has one of the best price-to-performance ratios out there.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II worn by a man outside

Bose launches QuietComfort Earbuds II, with next-gen noise-canceling skills

By Simon Lucas last updated 7 September 22

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

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

By Simon Lucas published 22 August 22

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

By Simon Lucas published 17 August 22

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

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

By Simon Lucas published 16 August 22

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 last updated 9 August 22

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 (2019) review

By Simon Lucas last updated 8 August 22

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

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

By Simon Lucas published 7 August 22

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

Samsung QN85B (55QN85B)

By Simon Lucas last updated 4 August 22

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

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

By Simon Lucas last updated 4 August 22

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 last updated 2 August 22

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 review

By Simon Lucas last updated 2 August 22

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.

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