Articles by Simon Lucas

Simon Lucas is a freelance technology journalist and consultant, with particular emphasis on the audio/video aspects of home entertainment. If it's involved in the production of sound or visual images, Simon will have written about it during the course of what will soon be a 20-year career.

Before embracing the carefree life of the freelancer, Simon was editor of What Hi-Fi? magazine and whathifi.com – a stint that lasted nearly six years and coincided with the website becoming the planet's leading source of audio/visual buying advice for consumers. Since then, he's written for titles including (but not limited to) to Wired, Metro, the Guardian, HiFi+ and GQ, and has acted as an audio consultant for some of the world's most high-profile consumer electronics brands. All from what he likes to call 'The English Riviera' but what is more commonly known as 'Brighton'.

Despite an invariably packed schedule, Simon likes to make time during the working week to publish (and invariably then hastily delete) tweets about the state of the nation (in general), the state of Aston Villa (in particular) and the state of his partner's cat via @OnlySimonLucas.

Articles by: Simon Lucas

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 over-ear ANC headphones on a white surface

Bowers & Wilkins' new elite over-ear ANC headphones more than justify their price tag in this class-leading way...

By Simon Lucas Published 9 October 25

Editor's Choice

Bowers & Wilkins gives a little and takes a little to deliver the Px8 S2 wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones – can they justify their lofty asking price?

The JBL Charge 6 shown from the front, including its carry handle

I reviewed the JBL Charge 6 Bluetooth speaker, and if you want big, high-quality sound for a great price, it's unbeatable

By Simon Lucas Published 30 September 25

Editor's Choice

What JBL doesn’t know about outstanding portable Bluetooth speakers doesn’t seem to be worth knowing. So with the latest JBL Charge does lightning strike [checks notes] a sixth time?

Ruark MR1 Mk3 powered speakers either side of a laptop, on a white surface

I test audio kit for a living and these are among the best pound-for-pound powered stereo speakers I've heard

By Simon Lucas Published 25 September 25

Editor's Choice

The Ruark MR1 Mk3 powered stereo speaker system is a pound-for-pound contender for best on the market.

Front panel of Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII on a white background

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: WiiM addition fixes the wireless speakers' only minor issue

By Simon Lucas Last updated 19 September 25

Recommended

Now with the WiiM streaming platform, the beautiful Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is maturing into later life

Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 portable music player on a white surface

I tested this digital audio player and its sound dominates almost any rival, but there's a catch

By Simon Lucas Published 6 September 25

Recommended

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 is remarkably accomplished but let down by a hefty price

The Cambridge Evo 150 SE on a gray hi-fi rack, showing the color screen, grilles and ports

I tested Cambridge's Evo 150 SE streaming amp and it is as high-performing a just-add-speakers system can possibly be, for this money

By Simon Lucas Published 26 August 25

Recommended

Cambridge has dropped the ‘Audio’ and added the ‘SE’ to its Evo 150 music streaming amplifier – but what else has it done?

Campfire Audio Rely headphone DAC on a wooden surface

Campfire's portable USB headphone amp/DAC proves an interesting listen but you should try before you buy

By Simon Lucas Published 16 August 25

The Campfire Audio Relay is a solid and compact headphone amp/DAC but needs a performance taste-test before you buy it.

Final Audio ZE3000 SV wireless earbuds in their carry, on a white background

I tested these chic sub-$100 true wireless earbuds, but their lacklustre sound is too hard to ignore

By Simon Lucas Published 5 August 25

The Final Audio ZE3000 SV are a set of Final true wireless earbuds that don’t want to cause a fuss, which they achieve through a disappointingly meager sound.

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

FiiO's wireless little BTR17 headphone DAC and amp is a tour de force at a very attainable price

By Simon Lucas Published 2 August 25

Recommended

Look, this is FiiO we’re discussing here, it because of that it naturally follows that the BTR17 portable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier is very, very good indeed.

Cambridge Audio P100 on a wooden table in the sun

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review: incredible value wireless over-ear headphones that last and last (and last)

By Simon Lucas Last updated 1 August 25

Editor's Choice

Cambridge Audio's first ever wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones have landed. Do they have what it takes to stand out? You betcha they do.

Focal Bathys Mg in bronze, featuring ear cup detail on gray background

Focal Bathys MG review: beautiful wireless headphones that are so very nearly the finest in the game

By Simon Lucas Published 2 July 25

Recommended

You’d never know by looking at them, but Focal’s Bathys MG represent a pretty big step on from the inaugural 2022 Bathys

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

Bose SoundLink Plus review: a difficult middle child in Bose's Bluetooth speaker lineup? Not. At. All.

By Simon Lucas Published 26 June 25

Recommended

As Bose fills the gaps in its SoundLink range, is the Plus just a difficult middle child?

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 on white background

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: these earbuds are even crazier about music now, in the best way

By Simon Lucas Published 26 June 25

Editor's Choice

In which Cambridge Audio attempts to move the dial on its earbuds lineup from ‘very good’ to ‘truly great’... and succeeds with gusto.

JBL Tour One M3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a white surface

JBL Tour One M3 review: a determined attempt to dominate the over-ear noise-cancelling headphones market, with one issue

By Simon Lucas Published 31 May 25

JBL’s third generation of its Tour One wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones have a party piece – but it will cost you…

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation in silver, on gray table

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: three is truly the magic number for this excellent portable speaker

By Simon Lucas Published 7 May 25

Editor's Choice

If three really is a magic number, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is going to be quite a speaker – given how good the first two were…

iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC review: a headphone amp capable of staggeringly complete, informative sound

By Simon Lucas Published 30 April 25

Recommended

Never knowingly understated, iFi has upped the ‘transportable DAC/headphone amp’ once again with another portentously named product. Is the iDSD Valkyrie ready to slay the opposition?

2 Comments

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker on a white surface

JBL Flip 7 review: meet the new portable Bluetooth speaker boss, even better than the class-leading old boss

By Simon Lucas Published 28 April 25

Editor's Choice

The JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker bests its class-leading former self to make the most of music on-the-go

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear headphones on a white surface

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: gorgeous over-ear ANC headphones with near-perfect sound

By Simon Lucas Published 24 April 25

Editor's Choice

Considerably more than a simple refresh, the third version of Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 wireless over-ear noise-cancellers is the best (and the priciest) so far

2 Comments

Vertere DG X turntable, in a hi-fi listening room, ready for testing

Vertere's DG X turntable is both sonically gifted and easy to use, and for 'serious' hi-fi, that's rare

By Simon Lucas Published 10 April 25

Recommended

In which Vertere delivers a complete, ready-to-go turntable package at what is, by its standards, a very affordable price indeed…

The Sennheiser HD 505 headphones held in a man's hand

I tested Sennheiser's HD 505 wired headphones, and they give you a taste of the high end at a real-world price

By Simon Lucas Published 11 March 25

Affordable Sennheiser open-backed headphones with rich sound and a comfortable fit.

FiiO JM21 portable music player on a white surface

I tested the FiiO JM21 portable music player and it's hard to believe an entry-level digital audio device can sound so good for so little outlay

By Simon Lucas Published 27 February 25

Editor's Choice

FiiO has come up with another intriguing product, and the JM21 is now making a play at the digital audio player entry level market...

4 Comments

The EAT C-Dur Concrete turntable on a wooden shelf

EAT C-Dur Concrete review: yes, it's real concrete, and it's amazingly detailed and insightful

By Simon Lucas Published 23 February 25

Big and heavy and intermittently clever, the C-Dur turntable (plus the C-Tone tonearm and the Jo No.8 moving magnet cartridge) create a strong visual, as well as sonic, impression.

2 Comments

Sonus Faber Lumina II on a stone surface

Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Italian-made stereo speakers that deliver an engaging sound and an indulgent finish (if that's your bag)

By Simon Lucas Published 18 February 25

Recommended

Sonus Faber has added an entry-level alternative to its wide-ranging catalog of balanced, rewarding stereo speakers that deliver a detailed and engaging sound.