12 of the most exciting products I saw at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2026
Heading to the Bristol Hi-Fi Show this weekend and wondering what to see? Lucky for you, I spent all of Friday (the first day of the show, February 20th) going around the show to see what’s new so you don’t miss out – from a variety of new speakers and turntables to new streaming products and a few teasers, too.
I have been going to the Bristol Hi-Fi Show for over ten years, and the show itself for over thirty years. An opportunity for hi-fi and audio manufacturers to showcase their latest and greatest products to the public, as well as give a glimpse of what’s to come.
Rega Planar 6 RS Edition turntable
Following the success of the Planar 3 RS Edition turntable, the Planar 6 has been given the ‘RS’ (Rega Special) treatment, combining the standard deck with the more premium Planar 8 essentials.
The Planar 6 RS Edition comes equipped with an RB880 tonearm, an Nd9 cartridge and features the brushed aluminum finish we love so much from the Award-winning 3 RS. It will cost £2000 and will be out in April/May – looks good, but will it continue Rega’s winning streak?
Clean Iota Alpha II floors
I always forget how he is young the Neat Iota Alpha floorstanders are: seeing them in person in the Neat Acoustics demo room makes them look good.
These Mk2 subwoofers are slightly less knee-deep, and have an upgraded middle/bass driver and updated crossover – similar to the changes made to the Neat Iota II. These are the smallest seats we’ve seen, but their sound is nothing short of impressive.
ATC EL50 Anniversary active floorstanders
A evolution of the iconic ATC SCM50 speakers, ATC has introduced its latest active speaker, the EL50 floorstanders. The three-way design includes an active crossover, with a maximum power of 350 watts per channel.
This EL50 Anniversary edition is limited to just 50 models, available from March, and priced at £49,500 a pair. Better start saving.
Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10 turntable
Pro-Ject has a new addition to its popular Debut range: the Debut Reference 10 is priced at £999 and boasts the most “accomplished” Debut turntable yet.
It is equipped with a 10-inch tonearm, a Pick it Pro Balanced cartridge, and features a hand-painted MDF chassis (similar to the one on the Award-winning Debut Pro), an aluminum sub-platter, an acrylic plate and an electronic speed switch.
The current Debut Evo 2 won an Award, so we have high hopes for the Reference 10 – we can’t wait to hear it.
Onkyo Muse broadcast amplifier
It’s the first time I’ve seen any new Onkyo products since their return to the hi-fi world in 2024. The brand has two new ranges to show the UK public: first the Icon range, and you can see the P-80 broadcast preamp and the M-80 power amp in the big picture at the top of this article, with Klipsch speakers.
But what really caught my eye were the new Muse Y-50 and Y-40 amplifiers: these are smart-looking units with a sharp, responsive display that goes hand-in-hand with a large control and volume dial. Released as part of Onkyo’s 80th anniversary this year, the new Muse broadcast amps feature Class D amplification and the expected suite of broadcast and connectivity features, and will cost $1499 and $999, with UK prices TBC.
Give them a whirl.
Dali Sonik speaker range
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After years of focusing on their high-end models, Dali’s new Sonik speaker series is a breath of fresh air as it sits in the mid to high end price range. It replaces the excellent Oberon speaker range and features many Dali technologies for the first time at this price point, such as the tweeter and SMC Essential Magnet systems.
You can see the full Sonik range on display, and my attention was caught by the slim and slim Sonik 5 (£899), although check out the second image in the gallery above for a step up Sonik 7 demo (£1299) – Dali expects both models to do well here.
ProAc Response DB1R speakers
It’s not often that ProAc has a new speaker at a show, but the Response DB1R sees the decade-old DB1 model get a ribbon tieter, while aiming to continue its legacy of delivering sound that’s rich, expressive and inclusive.
We’ve had good experience with ProAc’s ribbon tweeter performance in speakers we’ve tested, such as the Response D2R and D20R, so we’re hoping the DB1R will follow in its highly recommended footsteps.
Cyrus 80 Series
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Michell Revolv and Gyro turntables
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One of my annual rituals at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show is to drop by the Michell Audio booth and see the legendary Gyrodec in action. Years later, Michell has two new turntables – the Revolv (a step up from the entry-level Tecnodec) and the new Gyro (replacing the Gyrodec and Gyro SE).
We saw them introduced last year, but now is your chance to check out these two new Michell turntables, both of which work with an Apollo phono stage and PMC’s Prophecy speakers.
Harman Kardon SoundSticks 5 speaker system
Now this is both a throwback and one of the most unusual, exciting designs you’ll see in Bristol amongst all traditional hi-fi. Placed in the JBL room is Harman Kardon’s latest model SoundStick 5 – a 2.1 speaker system with optical design and color-changing lights.
The original model was developed in partnership with Apple in 2000, and is a turn-of-the-millennium design that still catches our eye. You can get SoundSticks 5 with fully functional wi-fi, but the one we’ve seen is the only Bluetooth model that includes HDMI.
Majority Link streamer range
Budget brand Majority is taking aim directly at the WiiM with its range of upcoming compact and wallet-friendly streaming products.
You can see prototypes of Majority’s new Link Mini, Link Pro and Link Pro Amp on display, all set to feature Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, wi-fi 6 and Bluetooth. The tiny Link Mini is designed to bring wi-fi power to any older system, the Link Pro music streamer and the Link Pro Amp feature HDMI ARC, and the Link Pro Amp broadcast amplifier has a 300W Texas Instruments amp and DAC inside.
In terms of price, they are set to cost £49.95, £199.95 and £249.95 respectively (discounted by basic WiiM competitors) and will be released later this year.
The Ruark Talisman-R sits on the ground
And finally, we’ll finish with a teaser of Ruark Audio’s upcoming speakers.
Alongside the limited edition R810 MiE that kicks off Ruark’s 40th anniversary celebrations, you’ll get your first glimpse of the Talisman-R floorstanders. We’re seeing some design similarities with its Saber-R standmount siblings, but we don’t know the price or any details yet – the Talisman-R will officially launch at the High End Show in Vienna in June, so here’s an early look.
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