The first play is a big moment for any turntable. You've agonised over exactly which model to buy, possibly lugged it home from the shops, taken time to set it up properly and now, finally, is its time to shine.
But what do you play on it?
It's a big decision, as chances are, this performance will live long in the memory. Get it right, and your new deck will be off to a flying start. Choose a dud, and it could taint everything you play on it subsequently.
Do you go for a well known classic from a band like The Beatles? Something more obscure that only you know and love? A track that brings back memories of a certain time in your life? Or something modern that you've been loving of late, to see how the sound compares to how you've previously been enjoying it?
Whatever you go for, it's not a decision to take lightly.
If you can't make up your mind, we've got plenty of lists of test tracks for your system, from acoustic tracks and movie scores to those by artists like Radiohead and Nick Cave. But that's us. For this month's Ask The Reader, we want to know what you choose.
You can tell us about your favourite first-play tracks in the comments below, on our forum, or on our social media channels. We'll put them all together in a follow-up article so you can see your fellow readers' picks. So let us know!
Panasonic has taken the wraps off two new micro hi-fi systems – one for bigger rooms and budgets, and a smaller, more affordable option.
The SC-PMX112 is the bigger of the two, packing 180W of power from its 13cm full-range drivers, as well as internet radio, Spotify Connect compatibility and a range of digital and physical inputs.
The combination of drivers, dedicated tweeters and bass reflex ports promises "clear vocals, detailed high frequencies and powerful bass". You can also choose from five presets on the EQ, if you want a different sound profile.
The wooden speaker cabinets might suggest a retro approach, but the system has dual-band wi-fi, with compatibility with Spotify Connect and internet radio. There's also Bluetooth for more localised wireless playback, DAB+ and FM radio, and it plays CDs and files via USB. You can also hook up other devices via an optical input and 3.5mm line input, plus there are outputs for a subwoofer and a pair of wired headphones, both of which will widen your listening options.
(Image credit: Panasonic)
The smaller SC-PM302 offers 60W RMS stereo sound, with the same CD and USB playback alongside Bluetooth, DAB+ and FM radio. It still has an optical in and line in, but lacks the headphone and subwoofer outputs of its bigger brother.
It has 10 cm full-range speakers and wooden-cabinet housing. Its colour TFT display is a little smaller than its stablemate's (2.4 inches to 2.8 inches). Both systems come with a remote control.
Both ship this month – they're currently listed as 'coming soon' on the Panasonic website. The SC-PMX112 costs £270 (around $350 / AU$500) and the SC-PM302 £120 (around $160 / AU$230).
The latest firmware update is called 10.12.12 and it brings four new features to play.
First up, Bluetooth LE Audio support. This next-gen version is more efficient than standard Bluetooth, and supports the LC3 codec which has better sound quality than the standard SBC you find with bog-standard Bluetooth. It’s worth noting, however, that some don’t think it delivers on this promise.
The greater efficiency could help prolong battery life too, though Bose hasn’t commented on this in the firmware update notes, so any gain is likely to be marginal. And LE Audio opens the door to Auracast, which lets devices broadcast to multiple headphones at once, so you could tune into a news channel in an airport lounge, for example.
The downside? Bluetooth LE Audio doesn’t work with Apple devices, so this is for Android and Windows users only.
The update also brings 5.1 spatial audio with head tracking to compatible Android devices, and higher-quality gaming and voice audio over a wired USB-C cable from a compatible PC or mobile device. It also brings improved USB compatibility with web conferencing applications, for when you’re taking care of business.
Other big headphone makers also support Bluetooth LE Audio on select models such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, though the recently unveiled Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 will get it only via a future firmware update.
Still, Bose’s move is proof that once you buy a pair of wireless headphones, they can keep getting better. If you’re not using an iPhone, that is.
Keep an eye on the Bose app to see when the update is available. It should download automatically, but you’ll need to keep your headphones connected to your device while it transfers, which can take up to 40 minutes. Then actually installing it can take another 15 minutes.
Four years is long time in the headphone world – cans age in dog years. But thankfully Technics has brought its latest pair bang up to date on the technical front – these are no annual iterations, but a complete overhaul of the previous model. Technics says it "reconsidered every element" of the over-ears, with highlights of the new model including a new 40mm Magnetic Fluid Driver and acoustics technologies developed for the hi-fi brand's speakers.
The driver was developed to have precise control in order to deliver low distortion with an expansive soundstage. It uses Technics' magnetic fluid technology as found in its Award-winning EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds – this material has both magnetic and liquid properties, and is placed between the voice coil and driver magnet to suppress unwanted vibrations and distortion.
(Image credit: Technics)
The driver's performance is enhanced by the inclusion of an SST (Symmetrical Surround Technology) Edge, which is taken from Technics' flagship hi-fi speakers. This reduces distortion by improving the symmetry of the edge's back and forth movement as it supports the diaphragm. It's made of carbon fibre which is rigid yet lightweight, and its cone shape suppresses flexing to enable a fast response and stable movement.
Technics says that the two technologies work in tandem to "preserve the sense of scale in the bass and the spacious soundstage associated with over-ear headphones" while reproducing music how the artist intended.
A redesigned acoustic path preserves the air movement from the driver all the way to the ear, while a new Baffle Flat Structure reduces uneven surfaces around the driver to limit unwanted reflections, creating a natural sound field with clear imaging.
Airflow is managed by an Acoustic Control Chamber behind the driver, which should ensure a balanced sound. And Adaptive Noise Cancelling adjusts to your environment and fit, with three feed-forward microphones and one feedback mic on each side to detect and suppress noise from different directions.
(Image credit: Technics)
The fit has also been re-engineered. The new Flow Arm headband is square at the slider but triangular at the hanger. As you can see from the pictures, it perches on the outside of the earcups like a luxuriously draped moustache.
The movement of the ear cups, refined headband shape and improved slider-based adjustability should distribute pressure evenly across your noggin, allowing you to wear them for longer periods without becoming uncomfortable. This will be helped by the memory foam earpads.
The headphones fold up into a ball for stowing in a bag.
They support high-quality audio via the LDAC codec and through wired listening over USB Audio. The battery is good for 45 hours with ANC on before needing a recharge, and like the Award-winning EAH-AZ100, they support three devices via Bluetooth Multipoint, instead of the standard two.
The Technics EAH-A1000 go on sale from 30th September for £399 / €449 / $449. They come in Black and Platinum Greige finishes (a mix of grey and beige).
Technics might be renowned for its turntables, but it does a nice line in headphones too – the EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds won a What Hi-Fi? Award, while the A1000's predecessor pair (the EAH-A80) scored four stars. You can find out how the new EAH-A1000 headphones fare in our full review.
The Sennheisers seriously impressed us with their top sound, marathon battery life and extensive feature set, even if they can sound a little etched in the higher frequencies.
Pros
Crisp, nimble presentation
Strong clarity and detail
Impressive battery life
More comfortable than the XM6
Cons
ANC isn't quite as good as the Sonys'
Highest frequencies can sound a tad etched
Sony
WF-1000XM6
They may not quite have the sparkling clarity of the Sennheisers, but the Sonys have the more entertaining, expressive sound backed by superior call quality and a raft of advanced features.
Pros
Wonderfully natural, musical sound
Excellent detail and dynamics
Class-leading noise cancelling
Better call quality than the Sennheisers
Cons
We don't find them as comfy as the Momentum TW 5
Bulky charging case
Sennheiser and Sony make some of the best wireless earbuds around, so when a new pair from either brand launches, it's big news indeed.
Sennheiser's latest, the Momentum True Wireless 5, do not disappoint. Their crisp, detailed sound and impressive battery life helped them earn a five-star review, but are they better than Sony's five-star WF-1000XM6? That's what we're here to find out.
We've compared every aspect of the two pairs to help you decide which is right for you. Ready? Let's go.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: tech specs comparison
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
Sony WF-1000XM6
Bluetooth version
6.0
5.3
Codec support
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
Battery life (ANC on)
6hrs (earbuds); 25hrs with case
8hrs (earbuds); 24hrs with case
Finishes
5 (Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim, Lavender)
2 (Black, Platinum Silver)
Weight
7g per bud
6.2g per bud
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: price
When it comes to price, there really isn't much to choose between these two pairs. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 launched at £250 / $300 / AU$480, which is very similar to the XM6's launch price of £250 / $330 / AU$500.
However, the XM6 went on sale back in February 2026, whereas the Sennheisers only launched at the start of September, meaning that the Sonys are much more likely to be discounted.
Indeed, they already have been. Last summer's Prime Day saw the XM6 drop to £199, and with both Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday coming soon, expect plenty more drops where that came from.
It's too early for a major deal on the Sennheisers, though we could see a small discount this side of Christmas.
** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: build & comfort
Sennheiser has slightly modified the design for the fifth-gen Momentum True WirelessWhat Hi-Fi?Sony's eartips can split opinionWhat Hi-Fi?
Sony and Sennheiser have strong legacies in the wireless earbuds space, so it's hardly surprising that both pairs stick to the respective brands' tried-and-tested designs.
The Sennheisers have had a few subtle tweaks to freshen up the design. They're now rounder and more similar in shape to a baked bean. The Momentum True Wireless 5 have a new case too, which is taller and slimmer than its predecessor, and made of speckled plastic.
Both pairs are comfortable enough to wear for long sessions, though we have found the XM6 (like most Sony 'buds) split opinion – some people get on with them fine, others struggle to get a secure fit even after trying the various sizes of bundled eartips.
Both pairs offer XS, S, M and L tip choices, though we'd predict that most users will find the Momentum TW 5s' fit more secure and forgiving than that offered by their Sony rivals.
With an IP54 rating, the Sennheisers are protected against dust and water splashes, whereas the Sonys only have water protection. If you're heading to the beach, the Momentum True Wireless 5 are the safer bet, as they'll offer a more reliable shield against small particle ingress.
Both pairs of buds feature touch controls which can be customised using the respective mobile apps, both of which are in-dept and a pleasure to use.
Do note that the Sennheisers come in far more finishes – five, to the Sony's rather measly two.
** Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 **
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: features
Sennheiser's buds support more widely-used sound formats like Dolby Atmos and aptX AdaptiveWhat Hi-Fi?Whereas Sony ploughs its own furrow with its proprietary 360 Reality Audio and LDAC formatsWhat Hi-Fi?
These new Sennheisers support spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, while Sony's wireless buds have their proprietary equivalent 360 Reality Audio. Both features work well, especially the dynamic head tracking, though Atmos is the more widely supported format, so you'll find more spatial content to listen to using Sennheiser's 'buds. Plus, you'll have to have your ears 'analysed' to use 360 Reality Audio, something which some users might find to be an unnecessary hassle.
The Sonys counter with the longer battery life, on the buds at least – you get eight hours of playtime from the buds alone, and only six from the Sennheisers. The Sennheisers do last an hour longer when you factor in recharges from the case, however, offering 25 hours of use to the XM6s' 24 hours. These figures are all with active noise cancellation turned on. Turn it off, and the Sennheisers go for a marathon 40 hours in total)
For higher-quality listening, the Sennheisers support the aptX Adaptive codec, while the Sonys have LDAC. The Sennheisers also support a more recent version of Bluetooth: 6.0 compared to 5.3 on the Sonys. Bluetooth Multipoint comes on both pairs for seamlessly switching between connected devices.
Sony's DSEE Extreme processing boosts the sound of lower-quality files – handy if you're listening to compressed formats like MP3. But for the longer total battery life, more advanced Bluetooth and more widely used audio standards, the Sennheisers take this round.
** Winner: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 **
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: ANC & call quality
The Sennheisers' new shape is designed to provide better passive noise isolationWhat Hi-Fi?But the Sonys offer superior call qualityWhat Hi-Fi?
Sennheiser and Sony have been in the noise-cancelling game for quite some time now, and their flagship pairs of earbuds pack some mighty impressive ANC credentials.
Both pairs pack four mics in each earbud, while the Sonys add the brand's third-gen HD Noise Cancelling processor QN3e and Adaptive NC Optimiser, which automatically adapts the ANC algorithm to your fit and environment.
The Sennheisers' new shape is designed to provide better passive noise isolation. In our Momentum True Wireless 5 review, we found the noise cancellation "powerful yet not overdone" and more natural-feeling than some rival buds' ANC.
"The shrillest highs and most booming lows will penetrate," we concluded, "but for softening or excluding most external sounds, from general chatter to humming air conditioning, they confidently make the grade."
The WF-1000XM6 also fare very well in this regard. Testing them on planes and trains (but sadly not automobiles) for our XM6 review, we wrote that "they impressed us with their consistency and ability to extract both low-frequency rumbles of carriages and aeroplane engines, but also more high-pitched screeches and whistles that crept into our environment."
For call quality, however, there's a clearer winner.
The Sonys combine AI beamforming, bone conduction sensors, extra mics and a wind noise reduction design to devastating effect. They "do a great job subduing and minimising background noise, including tricky-to-handle wind noise – voices come through loud and clear with a great level of detail," as we wrote at the time.
While the Sennheisers' microphone plates and acoustic chamber are configured to reduce the effect of wind, and they handle calls competently, we found that "voices can sound a little muffled when compared with the natural clarity of the Sony WF-1000XM6."
A win for Sony on this one.
** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: sound
The Sennheisers sound great, but can be a little etched at the higher frequenciesWhat Hi-Fi?The Sony XM6 have a natural warmth and are full of texture and insightWhat Hi-Fi?
And so to sound.
Sennheiser's flagship pair contain the brand's signature 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers, which helps the sound stay clean and balanced.
Playing Massive Attack’s Paradise Circus, the Sennheisers "confidently track clacking drums, scattered hand claps and glassy synths" with plenty of insight and clarity. They excel in the midrange too – witness Hope Sandoval’s breathy whispers – and have no trouble staying organised and composed when faced with trickier compositions. Their bass, meanwhile, is weighty yet precise, adding a natural anchor to the frequencies above.
The XM6 also sound excellent, full of a natural warmth while also boasting impressive levels of detail and insight.
As we wrote in our review: "Everything that you expect to be present in a pair of flagship wireless earbuds is there: a fantastic sense of timing, an expressive midrange, weighty yet well-defined bass and crisp, nicely controlled highs. The Sonys cover all the bases and then some".
Through the Sonys, Tom Odell's Black Friday has plenty of delicacy and subtlety, and as fingers slide up the acoustic guitar's neck, "you can explicitly hear the little shifts in dynamics and the fine details in the gentle piano play, both of which mix beautifully with the sweeping strings that flow alongside both instruments."
Bass is powerful but controlled, and their rhythmic abilities are second to none.
So both pairs sound pretty great, but how do they compare side by side?
Both sets handle dynamics superbly, even with their somewhat contrasting approaches. As we wrote during our review of the Momentum TW 5, the XM6 "are more expressive in how they keep the underlying pulse of Radiohead’s Burn The Witch ticking away, but the Sennheisers' agile, nimble sound means that the track's relentless sense of attack isn't lost for a moment".
Side-by-side, the Sennheisers are also prone to sounding a bit more etched than the Sonys, particularly in the high frequencies, but this can be somewhat negated via the provided in-app equaliser.
The XM6 come across as more natural at this end of the frequency range, whereas the Sennheisers can sound a little hard-edged with cymbal strikes or shrieking strings. It's not a dealbreaker, but it is something to consider when weighing up your purchase.
This one is as much about taste as objective quality. The Sennheisers are sparklingly clear, especially through their superb midrange, with a natural smoothness and poise that we find to be a delight. If that's your kind of thing, they're a complete no-brainer.
For us, the Sony WF-1000XM6 just grab and hold our attention more effectively thanks to their more expressive, grippy sound. It's a close one, but the XM6s' masterful blend of analysis and entertainment is yet to be surpassed.
** Winner: Sony WF-1000XM6 **
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 vs Sony WF-1000XM6: verdict
It's a close run thing, but for sound, call quality and features, we just about prefer the Sonys. And given that they've been around since February 2026, they're more likely to see decent discounts than the much newer Sennheisers.
The Momentum True Wireless 5 are still a five-star pair, however, with a robust design, packed feature set and nimble sound. If their sonic personality sounds like your kind of thing, they're well worth considering, because they could definitely be the buds for you.
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