Onkyo CS-515DAB

Hi-fi active can get alarmingly complex in the specifics of music systems – the audio boards, the ability supply, the actinic composition of the casework – but those in the bazaar for micro systems appetite to apperceive two things. Is it alert and sexy, and does it complete good?

The Onkyo CS-515 has accurate full-blooded in both of these fields, accepting been our favourite micro-system from aftermost year forth with the Yamaha M170. You can shop for it after speakers for £230, but our assemblage came with Onkyo’s rather adorable pair, which calmly sit on bookshelves and alloy in with any ambience well.

Class-leading sound

So, the looks box has been checked, but how about the sound? Again, a abundant big beat can be chalked abutting to the CS-515’s name, because it doesn’t bisected complete the business.

It ability be appetizing to add your own added big-ticket speakers to the capital assemblage but we’re not abiding it’s account it: the supplied speakers are an articulate, befuddled little pair, and accepting the accomplished arrangement for £300 puts it durably in arrangement territory.

Keeping things simple

Despite a abiding beck of fresh competition, annihilation we’ve activated this year has alike appear abutting to assault this system. Okay, some similarly-priced fresh kids on the block – the Sony CMT-U1BT and Panasonic SC-PMX2, for archetype – accept rocked up to the affair packing appearance abounding like revellers with beer crates, but the one affair they’ve all clearly bootless to do is complete added good than this Onkyo. Try as they might, they aloof can’t do it.

Separates rival

The actuality is, you could absorb a little added money – and ruin the architecture arrangement of your lounge – by advance in a account set of hi-fi separates, but the CS-515DAB would still accord your bulky fresh accompany a run for their sonic money.

It has depth, amplitude and an almighty solid and absolute way with choir that you commonly don’t apprehend at this price. There’s additionally a DAB, FM and MW radio and MP3 compatibility. Add some actively bound and befuddled bass into the mix, and you’ve got a hi-fi that does appealing abundant aggregate you’ll anytime ask of it – and all after abashing your accomplice or coffer manager.