1
PHONE
1 APPLE iPHONE 15 PRO MAX
The ultimate iPhone, the hot new 15 Pro Max does a lot right – its 48MP camera and 5x telephoto lens are truly impressive, its new action button provides a programmable shortcut and its aerospace ‐grade titanium build offers extra peace of mind. But for all of its many strengths, the Apple flagship doesn’t excel at audio. And this is where it could do with a helping hand. £1,199, apple.com
2
DAC
2 AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY RED
The DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) and audio stage inside the iPhone – or any phone for that matter – can easily be bettered for sound quality by an external one like this all-time-favourite, the USB-stick-shaped DragonFly. Connect its USB-A endpoint to the Pro Max using Apple’s camera adapter (£35), and you have a relatively discreet and fuss-free way to soup up your phone audio. £149, audioquest.com
HEADPHONES
3
3 AUSTRIAN AUDIO HI-X15
Naturally, the AudioQuest DAC can only fulfil its destiny as an audio-enhancing middleman if a pair of wired headphones is connected to its other, 3.5mmsocketed end. Our choice pick? Austrian Audio’s affordable (and traditionally closed-back) over-ears, which can extract heaps of detail while keeping the soul of your music intact. And they manage to look damned good doing it, too. £89, austrian.audio
4
STREAMING SERVICE
4 APPLE MUSIC
Apple Music changed the music streaming landscape in 2021 when it started offering lossless and hi-res streaming for no extra cost over its standard subscription fee (and spurred Amazon to quickly follow suit!). With excellent sound quality, nuanced curation and the bonus of spatial audio to experiment with, Apple Music is undoubtedly the number one streaming service for iOS loyals. £10.99/month, apple.com
5
LAPTOP
5 APPLE MACBOOK AIR M2
The best Mac for most people, the latest Air is a complete revelation with its revolutionary redesign and reinvigorated performance. That new 13.6-inch screen is punchy and practical in size, its endurance is mightily impressive (hello, all-day battery life), and it’s nothing short of a powerhouse in use. Again,
