Chord Electronics continues long-lasting winning streak, Chord Company, PMC and Fyne Audio also gather top prizes.
Oustanding record toppled again by Chord Electronics DACs
The dominator in the DAC category is Chord Electronics taking two out of three Best Buy awards this year. The amazing thing about the digital wizardry encoded in the FPGA arrays of Chord Electronics DACs is it’s long lasting superiority over competition. Chord Mojo portable DAC and headphone amp first generation appeared in 2015 and trailblazed the quality portable separates market. Chord Mojo 1st, its successor Chord Mojo 2 (2022) and its hardware update Chord Mojo 2 2026 never let the rivals get close, keeping the awards in “Best DAC £250–£500” category for 12 (yes, twelve) years in a row.
This time the editors praised the hardware update to the winning product which kept it ahead of the other worthy contenders. Addition of USB-C charging port and balanced headphones 4.4mm socket allowed the 2026 judges to say that “a steady run of updates keeps our pocket-sized DAC and headphone amplifier at the top of its class“. And the new version review verdict was a flattering “familiar in form but next-level everywhere else, the Mojo 2 is the The Godfather Part II of DAC sequels“.
Another long-standing record was shattered by Chord Electronics mains powered DAC, the best over £500 Chord Qutest. It is named the best in this price range for 9 (yes, nine) years in a row. Amazing longevity and another argument that Chord Electronics products are made to impress and that impression will last long-long time. The engineering team ensures that happens. And the awards panel confirms: “The judges say it remains the benchmark setting DAC at its level“.
Chord Mojo 2 and Chord Qutest pricing and original WHF reviews
Latest pricing and useful information on our website: Chord Electronics Mojo 2 portable DAC; Chord Electronics Qutest DAC. What Hi-Fi review Mojo 2. What Hi-Fi review Qutest.
Chord Company also recognised for long-lasting products by What Hi-Fi
While the company names sound similar and both were founded and currently located in roughly the same geographical area of England (you will need to drive about 190 km from one factory to another), Chord Electronics and Chord Company are not related. This does not obscure the fact that the cable people from Chord Company are also proud to make long lasting high quality products recognised by specialised press as the best in class.
Chord Company Rumour speaker cable was introduced to the market in 1996. The design was warmly welcomed by the buying public and expert press and essentially is still going strong after a few updates. Now it uses a low phase error dielectric called XLPE (cross-linked polyethilene) hence the new name is RumourX. And RumourX speaker cable is a Best Buy in 2026 so the What Hi-Fi editors had to say that “great value and build quality make the RumourX the best cable for most people“, adding in their buyer’s guide that “Chord’s Rumour cable has been our go-to recommendation for years, and improved metallurgy for the latest ‘X’ version doesn’t change that“.
Joining RumourX in Chord Company’s perennial favourites line-up is the ClearwayX RCA cable which in its analogue connection duties remains the absolute best. “The perfect way to help your system to perform to its best ability, the Chord Company ClearwayX ARAY Analogue RCA is this year’s winner“, — wrote the awards panel. ClearwayX ARAY also carries the legacy of excellent original design, the Chord Company Clearway, which recently was upgraded with XLPE dielectric (X) and new 3D conductor matrix (ARAY). In the product’s lifetime the makers changed the RCA connectors to their own Chord Company design which uses original direct plating technology called ChorAlloy.
Chord Company RumourX and ClearwayX ARAY RCA pricing and original WHF reviews
Latest pricing and useful information on our website: Chord Company RumourX speaker cable; Chord Company ClearwayX ARAY RCA analogue interconnect. What Hi-Fi review RumourX. What Hi-Fi review ClearwayX ARAY RCA.
PMC recognised for innovative new speaker series bringing studio grade sound home at reasonable prices
PMC speakers is going from strength to strength after the engineering team and management smoothly transitioned within the family company (read about this in this site’s news section Change of leadership with new CEOs at T+A and PMC ). Best floorstanding speakers in the £1000–£2000 price range award is firmly taken by PMC prodigy5 for the fourth consecutive time, the magazine commenting that “The Prodigy 5’s supremely cohesive sound remains the benchmark in their class“. Вest standmount speakers priced £1000–£1500 are PMC Prodigy1, also for the fourth time in a row. “Hugely impressive clarity and punchy“, says the awards panel.
Engineering innovations abound in the new prophecy series by PMC (more info in our news feature PMC gives the gift of prophecy (speaker series)) and the new standmount prophecy1 speaker gets its first Best Standmount Speaker over £2500 award in 2026 as “astonishingly talented standmounters capable of delivering class-leading performance“
PMC prodigy1, prodigy5 and prophecy1 pricing and original WHF reviews
Latest pricing and useful information on our website: PMC prodigy1 standmount speakers; PMC prodigy5 floorstanding speakers, PMC prophecy1 standmount speakers. What Hi-Fi review PMC prodigy1. What Hi-Fi review PMC prodigy5. What Hi-Fi review PMC prophecy1.
Fyne Audio hits with an impressive floorstander and a new mass market active speaker
In the Best Floorstanding Speaker £2000–£3000 Fyne Audio F502S repeats last year achievement as a definitive Best Buy: “Blending superb sonic integration with class-leading authority and musicality for yet another year, the F502S take the top spot“.
In a crossover hi-fi/massmarket active speaker category new Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 takes centerstage with best buy award in under £700 price range. Small but grand-sounding Cubitts 5 were designed by Christopher Mills, a recent addition to the Scottish company’s engineering roster. Even before graduating from SAE Institute of Technology, Christopher was well trained by Dr. Paul Mills, head of R&D, since he happen to be Paul’s son. New thinking was recognised by What Hi-Fi for “excellent connectivity and an insightful, balanced sound“.
Fyne Audio F502S and Cubitt 5 pricing and original WHF reviews
Latest pricing and useful information on our website: Fyne Audio F502S floorstanding speakers; Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 active speaker. What Hi-Fi review F502S. What Hi-Fi review Cubitt 5.
Grand Prix ceremony to be held by What Hi-Fi in November, additional awards to come
What Hi-Fi? magazine awards is a two stage affair and after selecting the Best Buy products in a number of price ranges and product categories the editors will move to the next step pointing out Products Of The Year out of the selected Best Buys. The overall winners will be revealed at an official ceremony in London on November 12th, with additional awards also given in special categories: Outstanding Contribution, Readers’ Award, Innovation of the Year, and Hall of Fame. MGY news will be reporting.
Written by Sergei Taranov
