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

Samsung AU7100 Crystal UHD Smart TV (UE43AU7100) review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 6 October 22

Great Value

It makes some minor concessions in the upscaling and sound performance departments, but otherwise this budget 4K TV has one of the best price-to-performance ratios out there.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II worn by a man outside

Bose launches QuietComfort Earbuds II, with next-gen noise-canceling skills

By Simon Lucas Last updated 7 September 22

The new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II bring super-adaptive noise blocking, in a seriously small and light package.

Samsung QN90B vs Samsung QN85B: which Neo QLED 4K TV is best for you?

By Simon Lucas Published 22 August 22

These two Samsung TVs both use advanced mini-LED tech, so what are the big differences? We explain everything you need to know

Samsung Q80B vs Samsung QN85B: which mid-range QLED 4K TV is best?

By Simon Lucas Published 17 August 22

These two Samsung 4K TVs sit next to each other in the range, but there are some big differences between them.

4 tips to get perfect pictures from the Samsung QN85B Neo QLED 4K TV

By Simon Lucas Published 16 August 22

The Samsung QN85B is a great TV, but it needs a bit of coaxing to encourage its best results. Here's how to make it sing.

the final audio ux3000 over-ear headphones

Final Audio UX3000 review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 9 August 22

Editor's Choice

The Final Audio UX3000 are a pair of over-headphones that offer noise cancellation, great sound, and a comfy fit for a good price.

Naim Mu-so Qb (2019) review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 8 August 22

Updated The smaller, squarer Naim Mu-so Qb wireless speaker got the ‘2nd Generation’ treatment to become even better than the original.

I tested Sony's 42-inch OLED TV, and this stunning 4K TV has two big flaws

By Simon Lucas Published 7 August 22

Opinion If ‘small’ really is ‘beautiful’, shouldn’t everything about the Sony XR-42A90K be small?

Samsung QN85B (55QN85B)

By Simon Lucas Last updated 4 August 22

The Samsung QN85B delivers huge brightness and lavish colors, but its dark tones are still no match for OLED.

I tested Samsung's QN85B Neo QLED 4K TV, and it's not pulling me away from OLED

By Simon Lucas Last updated 4 August 22

More affordable mini-LED just can't match the depth of OLED's images, despite all the other things to love.

Sony LinkBuds S in their case on a table

Sony LinkBuds S review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 2 August 22

Sony is betting that small (and light) is beautiful for the LinkBuds S, which continue its fledgling new range of true wireless headphones.

Grado GT220 review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 2 August 22

Editor's Choice

Judge the price of the Grados against the specification and you might be concerned. Hear them, though, and you won’t be.

the sony wf-c500 true wireless earbuds next to their charging case on a stone surface

Sony WF-C500 review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 2 August 22

Great Value

Sony's WF-C500 budget wireless earbuds move down-market without moving downmarket.

Samsung Q60B and Q80B TVs on grey background

Samsung Q60B vs Samsung Q80B: which 2022 QLED 4K TV is best for you?

By Simon Lucas Published 14 July 22

Is the Samsung Q60B or Q80B the affordable QLED 4K TV you've been waiting for? We compare the two models.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ review

By Simon Lucas Last updated 11 July 22

Bang & Olufsen usually means premium materials, premium design and a premium price – and the Beoplay EQ don’t stray far from that template.

Samsung BU8500 (55BU8500)

By Simon Lucas Published 8 July 22

Recommended

Samsung's latest cheap 4K TV is another great balance of price and picture quality, though we do wish the company would get on board with Dolby Vision HDR.

Meze Audio Liric review

By Simon Lucas Published 4 June 22

Editor's Choice

Hardly a budget buy, but the Meze Audio Liric wired headphones are money very well spent indeed.

Grell Audio TWS/1 earbuds in case on table

Grell Audio TWS/1 review

By Simon Lucas Published 3 June 22

Editor's Choice

The Grell Audio TWS/1 show that there's still space for a new player in the wireless earbuds game, because these are just excellent.

Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort 45 on blue backgrounds

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort 45

By Simon Lucas Published 21 May 22

Which headphones are better the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort 45.

The noise-cancelling Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5 vs WH-1000XM4: should you buy the new flagship noise-cancelling headphones?

By Simon Lucas Published 12 May 22

Here's how the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones stack up against the older champ: the WH-1000XM4 headphones.

the fluance rt85n turntable spinning a record

Fluance RT85N review

By Simon Lucas Published 4 May 22

The Fluance RT85N is specified to compete with other record players on the market, but its sound quality lets it down.

Astell & Kern UW1000 earbuds on surface showing song lyrics

Astell & Kern AK UW100 review

By Simon Lucas Published 2 May 22

Editor's Choice

The Astell & Kern AK UW100 true wireless earbuds are made for audiophiles (and those with large ears)

10 albums we wish were available in Spatial Audio

By Simon Lucas Published 30 April 22

Our AirPods Max are just begging for these albums to get the Spatial Audio treatment.

the ath-cks50tw true wireless earbuds in their charging case

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW review

By Simon Lucas Published 27 April 22

Recommended

These Audio-Technica true wireless earbuds just go on and on, thanks to their long battery life.

Mark Levinson No. 5909 review

By Simon Lucas Published 18 April 22

The Mark Levinson No. 5909 cost as much as three pairs of headphones - so are they worth the money?

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