Gear of the Year 2025: ListenUp’s Top Picks in Hi-Fi Audio & Home Theater
Discover ListenUp’s Gear of the Year 2025 picks as Scotty G and Nathan break down the best turntables, speakers, streamers, DACs, headphones, amps, TVs, and soundbars of the year.
Every year, the team at ListenUp highlights the most impressive and innovative products in the world of hi-fi audio, home theater, and high-performance entertainment gear. In this year's Gear of the Year 2025 roundup, Scotty G and Nathan walk through their favorite turntables, speakers, streamers, DACs, headphones, amplifiers, and TVs, offering real-world insights and hands-on experience.
Below is a complete summary of the standout categories and products featured in the video.
Turntables: Analog Excellence Meets Modern Engineering
Turntables had a stellar year, with brands pushing boundaries in both design and technology.
Audio-Technica Hotaru Floating Turntable
This visually stunning magnetic-levitation turntable became an instant icon. With an illuminated floating platter and precision engineering, it's one of the most talked-about audiophile turntables of 2025.
Technics SL-50C
A refreshing take on the classic Technics formula, the SL-50C delivers high-quality performance under $1,000. With an L-shaped tonearm and detachable headshell, it’s ideal for vinyl lovers looking for exceptional value.
Digital Music Streamers & Transports
Digital audio continued to evolve in 2025 with new releases that blend convenience with high fidelity.
Bluesound Node Icon
Long awaited by the community, the new Bluesound Node Icon brings balanced outputs, upgraded DACs, and a sleek front display—instantly becoming a top music streamer for hi-fi systems.
Eversolo T8 & A10
Eversolo dominated the digital space this year.
A new EverSolo standalone DAC is also on the way and is already generating buzz.
CD Players Are Back
Believe it or not, CD players were another hot category in 2025 as more listeners rediscovered the clarity, dynamics, and ownership of physical media.
Top mentions include:
- Rotel/Michi CD5 – admired for its rich sound and top-loading design.
- Luxman D-03R – warm, smooth, and exceptionally lifelike.
- Arcam CD5 – an impressive entry point for under $1,000.
- Shanling Portable Tube CD Player – a nostalgic yet high-end portable disc experience.
Headphones & Headphone Amplifiers
The headphone world saw major innovation and exceptional new offerings.
Top Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 550 – lightweight, easy to drive, and classic Sennheiser sound.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 – premium Bluetooth headphones with audiophile detail.
- Meze Audio Poet – stunning planar magnetic design with immersive openness.
- Meze 99 V2 – one of the best-performing mid-tier headphone options.
- Audio-Technica ADX7000 – ultra-detailed flagship open backs.
Headphone Amps
2025 delivered a huge wave of amplification options:
- Rotel DX3 – simple but powerful desktop solution.
- iFi Valkyrie – portable, robust, and highly adjustable.
- Luxsin X9 – a rising newcomer with excellent DAC performance built in.
Speakers: From Heritage Classics to Future Icons
Speakers were a highlight of the year, with incredible releases across multiple price points.
KLH Model Seven
A long-awaited follow-up to the Model Five and Three, the Model Seven combines vintage charm with modern acoustic performance.
Sonus Faber Amati Supreme
One of the most anticipated releases of 2025, the Amati Supreme features technology from the flagship Supremacy line, including the new Camelia midrange driver and refined voicing. These speakers offer breathtaking detail, imaging, and craftsmanship.
KEF Coda W
KEF brought high-performance convenience with the Coda W, a feature-rich active speaker with built-in phono, HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, and robust DSP.
Focal Diva Utopia
A show-stopping active speaker system powered by Naim amplification—blending reference-grade performance with plug-and-play simplicity.
Standalone DACs & Integrated Amplifiers
Digital-to-analog converters and integrated amps made major strides this year.
DAC Highlights
- Hegel D50 – perfect for upgrading existing Hegel systems.
- Eversolo Z10 – highly flexible and ideal when paired with the T8 transport.
Integrated Amplifier Standouts
- Arcam Radia A25+ – class-G power, Dirac room correction, and clean British sound.
- Rotel DX5 – slimline but powerful.
- Moon 371 Compass Series – an all-in-one DAC/streamer/phono/amplifier powerhouse that ListenUp calls “the gateway drug to high-end audio.”
Video: Sony Leads Another Big Year
Sony impressed across the board in home theater and large-format displays.
Sony BRAVIA Highlights
- BRAVIA 7 Projector – outstanding motion and color.
-
BRAVIA 8 Mark II OLED – the best OLED picture ListenUp’s team has ever seen.
- 98-inch BRAVIA 5 – giant-screen viewing at a previously unbelievable price point.
Large-format TVs are now challenging projectors in ways never seen before.
Soundbars: The Biggest Leap Yet
KEF XIO
Taking technology from its Meta and Uni-Q lines, the KEF XIO soundbar delivers shockingly accurate, full-range home theater sound.
Klipsch Flexus Core
A modular surround ecosystem offering wireless Dolby Atmos, powerful subwoofers, and easy expandability—perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, and multi-purpose spaces.
Final Thoughts
The Gear of the Year 2025 lineup showcases how vibrant and fast-moving the hi-fi, home theater, and audiophile world has become. From floating turntables and reference-level streaming gear to cutting-edge TVs and luxurious speakers, this year delivered some of the most exciting innovations we’ve seen.
Whether you're building your first system or upgrading a long-standing setup, these products represent the best of what 2025 had to offer.
