The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas remains the best place to get a first look at a huge range of consumer electronics products heading our way in 2018.
From the main showfloor at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the likes of LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony showcase increasingly outlandish TVs and more, to the halls of The Venetian, home to some of the world's best-known hi-fi brands, to VR, wearables, car tech and more...
CES 2018 delivered 11 official venues across 2.5 million net square feet of space and, as usual, there really was something for everyone.
Stars of CES
Let's start with the best of the best: our Stars of CES. These are the products that most impressed us during the exhibition, and the ones you should be looking out for in 2018.
Among our winners - some of which are mentioned below - are the Chord Qutest. That's the company's latest desktop DAC, is designed solely as a link between digital source and amplification, rather than as a headphone amp, and acts as a direct replacement for the 2Qute.
Also making our prestigious list is DS Audio's DS W2, a breathtaking $13,000 phono cartridge system complete with preamp and cartridge. And there's a laser in there too.
The NAS D 3020 V2 stereo integrated amplifer also makes the cut, the replacement for the D 3020. Adding a moving magnet phono stage alongside its stereo pre-outs, RCA analogue inputs, and optical and coaxial digital sockets (as well as aptX Bluetooth) this is certainly going to make its mark when it's launched proper.
What else showed up in Vegas? Read on to find out...
CES 2018 Roundup
Hands on reviews
Highlights
Stars of CES 2018: The best audio products of CES
Sony at CES 2018: 5 key highlights, including 4K OLED TVs and wireless earbuds
Hands on with Samsung’s 2018 TV tech: 8K AI QLED, MicroLED and Smart Sound
Samsung at CES 2018: 5 key highlights, from Bixby to 8K QLED TVs
Panasonic at CES 2018: 5 key highlights, including OLED TVs and Technics turntables
LG at CES 2018: 5 key highlights, from OLED TV to CLOi the AI robot
CES 2018 - Day 4 highlights
Denon launches X8500H 13.2-channel flagship AV amplifier
Build your own speaker stack with Soundots modular speakers
New Soul Electronics headphones track how you're moving
THX and i-BLADES unite for sound-improving phone cases
Arcam’s new HDA range comprises an SACD/CD player and two integrated amps
CES 2018 - Day 3 highlights
Sony unveils AF8 Series of 4K HDR OLED TVs
NAD unveils new amps and headphones at CES 2018
Audeze iSine LX are the company’s most affordable in-ear headphones
Sony unveils 'world's first' 3.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar with virtual surround sound
B&O Play announces flagship wireless headphones
Chord launches Qutest, a DAC in the Hugo 2 mould
Sony takes the covers off yet more headphones at CES 2018
Sony announces new compact soundbar: HT-SF200
Audio-Technica unveils new range of headphones at CES 2018
Libratone announces TRACK+ wireless, noise-cancelling in-ears
Sony launches UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player and STR-DH790 AV receiver
Sony WF-SP700N earbuds are the first noise-cancelling and splash-proof wireless in-ears
CES 2018 - Day 2 highlights
LG at CES 2018: 5 key highlights, from OLED TV to CLOi the AI robot
Technics introduces SP-10R and SL-1000R turntables
LG unveils 2018 4K OLED and LCD TV ranges
Monster launches AirLinks true wireless earbuds with voice control
Bragi is working on tailor-made listening experiences
AKG announces N5005 in-ear headphones, yours for £1000
JBL launches Google Assistant headphones and new wireless speakers
Etymotic launches two new ER3 headphones
Sennheiser unveils Ambeo '3D' soundbar, plus new headphones
CES 2018 - Day 1 highlights
2018 Samsung TVs feature 8K QLED, Micro LED, Bixby voice control, HDR10+
Mars wireless earbuds can translate conversations in real-time
New Debussy headphones boast OLED touchscreens and AI smarts
The Aurasens smart chair promises to upgrade your AV experience
CES 2018 TVs
You need to make yourself seen at CES and, along with simply buying-up huge swathes of the showfloor, the easiest way for many big brands is with increasingly crazy TVs.
And since television manufacturers last year featured the super-slim LG Signature W OLED, the Panasonic EZ1002 second-gen OLED, Sony's first A1 OLED and the Samsung Q9 QLED, it's no surprise that this year they've doubled down on how much your television can do.
LG announced five new OLED ranges - the W8, G8, E8, C8 and B8 - all of which come under the company's ThinQ concept. This makes them smarter, able to connect to other smart devices and be controlled with Google Assistant.
They're also packing all the latest visual technology, including HLG, HDR10 and Dolby Vision varieties of HDR - and, uniquely for a TV manufacturer, Technicolor's Advanced HDR.
Sony's innovations also centre around smart speakers - as its latest AF8 range can be controlled by Google Assistant or Alexa systems. It's also putting out an update for its devices so they'll support Dolby Vision; this is a long awaited update as Dolby's software seems to bring out the best in your pictures...provided it's implimented well.
But its flagships have been left well alone (understandably, we feel, as they've been chart-toppers for a while). The AF8's slot in underneath them, providing a bit more diversification in the OLED market.
Panasonic, however, did announce new OLED televisions, the Z950 and Z800, with the intention of bringing 'Hollywood to your home'. They also include Panasonic's latest picture-processing suite, HCX, and 'Dynamic LUT' for tweaking luminance levels. Unlike LG, which is looking to be the smartest, it seems like Panasonic is trying to bring out the best looking televisions about.
Samsung, meanwhile, are continuing a technological trend they began early last year with QLED sets. There's no denying that we've been impressed with QLED in the past, but usually it's lost out to OLED. Apart from that, and integration of Bixby, Samsung has been pretty secretive about what they're bringing out this year. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds...
CES 2018 home cinema
As with televisions, home cinema was looking to the future too - Denon brought out its latest amplifier, the X8500H, heralding it as "the industry's first true 13.2 channel receiver".
Not only does it have more channels than you could shake the proverbial stick at, it also supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D, plus Amazon Alexa voice control, Apple AirPlay and HEOS multi-room.
On the video side, 4K 60Hz is supported (complete with Dolby Vision, HDR and HLG video) and upcoming HDMI 2.1 compatibility means 8K passthrough is capable too.
Not to be outdone, Marantz has its own 13-channel amplifier, the AV8805, which also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (with Auro-3D support coming via a future firmware update). While it doesn't seem to have the same variety of control as Denon's amp, sound quality will be what's most important - we look forward to seeing which comes out on top.
And to play all the new releases this year Sony brought out a new Blu-ray player; the UBP-X700, which supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, although the latter will come via a firmware update, which Sony claims will arrive in Summer 2018.
It seems to be a less expensive version of its Award-winning sibling, the Sony UBP-X800, and priced at £270 Sony could be on to another winner.
Sony also brought out some new soundbars, a compact HT-SF200 and, more impressively, the 'world's first' 3.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar (pictured above). It's called the HT-ZF9, and what sets it apart from other soundbars - including Sony's own HT-ST5000 - is that it emits a three-dimensional sound using a new Vertical Surround Engine.
This apparently adds height without the need for additional or upward-facing drivers (although Sony is still releasing Dolby Atmos soundbars in the older format, like the HT-XF9000 that will also be announced alongside it in the spring).
CES 2018 hi-fi
Arcam, meanwhile, brought out its “best performing range of audio products yet” in the HDA range - which is comprised of the CDS50 SACD/CD player and SA10 and SA20 integrated amplifiers.
The SA10 replaces the FMJ A19, and delivers 50 watts per channel of Class A/B amplification; the SA20 is the replacement for the FMJ A29, and has a Class G amplifier that delivers 80 watts per channel.
We also saw the potential for modularity in smaller hi-fi, in the form of a Soundots setup that had a lot of little modular speakers connect up to create a bigger sound (like the ones pictured above). They connect via hidden digital optical connections, and even support hi-res audio.
Digital signal processing then tunes the sound according to your setup for optimum playback; and while it might not turn heads of traditional audiophiles, it could capture the market for its convenience.
CES 2018 had us looking to the past as well as the future, though. JBL revived its retro L100 line, a pair of speakers that were not only JBL's all-time best-selling loudspeakers but possibly the best-selling system of the 1970s. Aptly named, they're called the L100 Classic.
Technics also brought out two new models - the SP-10R and SL-1000R - meaning the revived brand now has four turntables to choose from. The SP-10R is apparently the company's most premium turntable ever, and features a coreless direct-drive motor to reduce low-speed irregularities.
The verdict? Hi-fi enthusiasts should go into 2018 looking happy.
CES 2018 headphones
Headphones make headlines at CES, and this year was no different - especially with many manufacturers focusing on bringing out headphones with noise-cancelling, wireless and truly wireless functionality.
Sony had set the benchmark with its five-star WF-1000X earphones, and followed them up with the WF-SP700N - splash-proof, optimised for Google Assistant, and with Sony's noise-cancelling capabilities built in too.
B&O also updated its Beoplay range with the H8i and H9i headphones that will be coming to the UK in a few weeks. These are some smart headphones by anyone's judgement: with proximity sensors, transparency modes, and touch controls (for the H9i; the H8i has normal buttons).
Audeze brought out some cheaper versions of its Sine headphones (although not that cheap, they're still $200). The company's headphones have remained popular due to their planar magnetic tech, and the iSine LX - its newest - come with the option for a lightning cable that can bypass your iPhone's internal DAC.
This means you can use Siri with them, but also listen to 24bit music. That is, provided you know how to get hi-res tracks on your iPhone. on the menu as well as Siri interactivity. The Cipher cable works with iPhone 7 onwards.
Don't think we were without high-price headphones, though. AKG came in with an £1000 pair of in-ears, the N5005s, which are Hi-Res Audio-capable and use a five-way design with the company's One Dynamic and Quad BA drivers.
Funky Sound Studio also made waves with its Debussy brand (pictured above), stealing the spotlight for its claim to be the "only luxury smart headphone with a touchscreen". The ability to stream directly from Tidal, Spotify and Qobuz over the internet is a useful one, and voice controls could be a useful feature we see in more headphones.
If nothing else, they look like they come from a golden future - we'll have to wait and see whether their quality backs that up.
CES 2018 pre-show news
Panasonic’s flagship 2018 4K Blu-ray player supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Alexa
Panasonic reveals two 4K HDR OLED TV ranges ahead of CES 2018
LG reveals its first 4K HDR projector just prior to CES 2018 debut
LG's 2018 TVs will support Google Assistant
Astell & Kern ACRO L1000 is a hi-res desktop amp and DAC
Samsung's bringing a 'directional speaker' concept to CES 2018
LG kicks off 2018 with new soundbars and smart speakers
