As we close out the year, we’re proud to share that six of our brands have been recognised by and received awards in the 250th issue of hi-fi+, with three taking home coveted 2026 Product of the Year titles.
To see the dedication of our brand partners reflected in these awards is incredibly rewarding. We know how much goes into the design, engineering, and voicing of each of these products, and it’s an honour to represent them in the UK.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to hi-fi+ for the recognition, and to our retail partners across the country who continue to go above and beyond in bringing these exceptional components into the lives of customers.
Here’s a closer look at each of the awarded products:
Doshi Audio | Evolution Line Preamplifier
2026 Product of the Year Award – Preamplifier Over £20,000
“Transparent and utterly tractable,” says Ed Selley of hi-fi+, who praised the Evolution Line’s drama-free operation and exceptional musical performance.
With no global negative feedback, a point-to-point wired circuit, galvanic isolation, and a custom power supply, the Doshi Evolution Line is a preamplifier built for purity and realism. As hi-fi+ notes, it’s a piece of equipment that ensures even less-than-perfect recordings remain deeply enjoyable.
Read more about the Doshi Audio Evolution Line Preamplifier here.
Doshi Audio Evolution Line Preamplifier
Entreq | Macro Twin Kit
2026 Highly Commended Award – Grounding
Described as delivering “greater presence” and a “wider, airier soundstage,” the Macro Twin Kit earned praise for its ability to enhance emotional connection to the music.
Reviewer Paul Soor for hi-fi+ remarked: “Annunciation was even more nuanced and expressive… it led to less of a barrier between me and the music.”
Read more about the Entreq Macro Twin Kit here.
Gold Note | CD-5
2026 Product of the Year Award – Digital Disc Player
Proof that the CD is still very much alive (not that it ever went away for us), the Gold Note CD-5 wowed hi-fi+ with its refined sound, superb build quality, and modern connectivity.
“Subtle and majestic,” wrote Chris Kelly, who found himself “spellbound” during the CD-5’s performance. Add Gold Note’s optional PSU-10 EVO power supply, and the CD-5 becomes a formidable disc spinner.
Read more about the Gold Note CD-5 here.
Gold Note | HP-10 Deluxe
2026 Product of the Year Award – Personal Audio Electronics
The HP-10 Deluxe is a headphone amplifier for purists and tweakers alike. With EQ settings, damping controls, crossfeed, and a variety of profiles, it’s as flexible as it is musical.
“The most immediately arresting aspect of what it does is the sheer amount of detail it effortlessly extracts,” said hi-fi+ reviewer Ed Selley. “Excellent tonal realism” and “outstanding dynamics” make this a must-hear for personal audio lovers.
Read more about the Gold Note HP-10 Deluxe here.
hARt Lab | Tune Three Power Amplifier
Highly Commended Award – Power Amplifier £10,000 – £30,000
“You’re somewhere between five and fifteen albums in, and the amplifier hasn’t crossed your mind once,” writes Ed Selley. That’s high praise indeed.
Commended for its “utter silence” and “fabulous midrange,” the Tune Three blends hybrid valve/MOSFET architecture with hARt Lab’s signature wooden chassis for unique sonic and aesthetic appeal.
Read more about the hARt Lab Tune Three Power Amplifier here.
Métronome | c|AQWO 2 DAC
Highly Commended Award – DAC £20,000 – £30,000
With two chipsets – the ESS 9039M PRO and AKM 4499EX, a high-grade external power supply, and a choice of tube or solid-state output, the new c|AQWO 2 impressed with its openness, delicacy, and dynamic power.
Chris Frankland described the c|AQWO 2 as “a quality product – heavy, robust and beautifully finished,” and was especially taken with its tube output for “three-dimensional” guitar tones and “sparkling” cymbals.
Read more about the Métronome c|AQWO 2 here.
OePhi | Kali Interconnect Cables
2026 Product of the Year Award – Interconnect Cables Over £1,000
Building on their Reference line, OePhi’s Kali interconnects maximise geometry, conductor spacing, and pure silver terminations to deliver a signal path that’s as direct as it gets.
Alan Sircom put it best: “If it were possible to directly couple the output of one device with the input of the next, that would be the Kali sound.”
Read more about the new OePhi Kali Interconnect Cables here.
A Year Ahead of the Curve
Each product here showcases not only technical mastery but emotional connection, the very essence of why you’re here, why we’re here, and why the brands we love do what they do.
In the end, it’s all about enjoying music. If we can help guide you to the hi-fi products that create the most joyous experience, we’ve done our job well.
Congratulations to our brand partners, and thank you to our retail partners. 2025 has been a good year.
Lastly, we would like to say a quick happy 250th issue to hi-fi+, what a milestone! A publication that has supported and shaped the hi-fi industry for decades, and continues to do so with care, insight, and integrity.
