Articles by Futureshop

This section of our guide will deal with what many people consider to be the central cable in a HiFi system: the speaker cable. This is the cable that runs from an amplifier to your speakers and is the cable that generates the most ‘hype’ and some controversy. But before we get into the materials and variables, it’s important to note something that we will repeat throughout this section- there is no ‘best’ or ‘perfect’ cable for every system. (Continue reading...)

It’s now time to look at power distribution blocks and power conditioners. Distribution blocks are designed to extend one mains outlet into multiple, and higher-end version will have features like filtering or isolated sections. Power conditioners are purpose-built mains filters, designed to eradicate ‘noise’ from the electrical supply, and will also usually have multiple outputs. (Continue reading...)

At Future Shop we believe the first step to upgrading your system, and potentially one of the most important, is to address the power being fed into it. There are a lot of different metaphors and analogies out there to describe the relationship between power and the sonic performance of your system, but the one we think describes it best is thus: power is the foundation upon which your HiFi house is built. (Continue reading...)

Future Shop is a retailer that has catered to audiophiles for the last 16 years, and in that time we have enjoyed serving a discerning and knowledgeable customer base. Recently, though, we have been wondering whether that has made us a little complacent; are we relying too heavily on our customers to have a strong understanding of the different ways in which cables and accessories- what we call “the hidden costs of HiFi”- can improve their experience of their systems?  (Continue reading...)

As a computer-connected interface the Zen DAC makes a well-suited visual complement to the likes of an Apple MacBook and hooking it up is a joy, the process being completely driverless. Just select ‘iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Output’ in the ‘Sound’ pane of System Preferences. The Mac has no problems powering the DAC by itself, even using its own battery. Here’s a little secret - using a lightning adapter even an iPhone 11 Pro has the juice to power this DAC! (Continue reading...)

The new iFi ZEN line currently consists of two alternatives with very different use cases. The ZEN DAC reviewed elsewhere does exactly what it says on the tin, the more enigmatic ZEN Blue is… a Bluetooth receiver. Not so enigmatic after all maybe, but like the ZEN DAC it aims to be the best at what it does at a ridiculously competitive price point. It shares the attractive retro stylings of its partner with an even more uncluttered front panel, just bearing a connection button, a Bluetooth connection status indicator and a sample rate indicator. (Continue reading...)

Navigating the quagmire of different audio & video cable brands is not easy. There are a huge number of manufacturers developing cutting edge technologies. Each company manufactures hundreds of different cables all in many different lengths so how should you decide which company and which cable suits you and your AV set up? Each AV cable manufacturer aspires to a variety of brand values and a distinctive sound that they wish to offer (Continue reading...)

Phono Audio Cables are arguably the most used cables for any type of Audio set-ups. With different materials, construction processes and shielding, each cable can offer a unique build that differs from others and each brand aims for their own signature sound. Being one of the most used cables means there are many different varieties available so we’ve made our own list of which audio cables are a must-have: (Continue reading...)

Accessories are often forgotten and unknown aspects of improving your audiovisual experience. Sometimes the biggest improvements can come from the smallest of objects, for example, isolation products for your amplifiers which can effectively prevent excess static and vibration from being detrimental to the performance of your equipment. With many upgrades available, here is our list of must-haves to show you the possibilities: (Continue reading...)

Whether you have a £100 speaker or £1000, where you position them in a room is so important to make sure you are getting the maximum impact from the speaker. So here are some tips on How To Position Speakers Correctly: (Continue reading...)