We may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. Verdict The HT-X8500 soundbar doesn’t only offer brilliant value for money, it also brings the multiplex home in a way few will find difficult to live with. 1 system, the impact of Sony’s inventive DSP post processing for that surround sound effect is genuinely currys coffee machine. Let’s cut to the chase: with the HT-X8500, Sony has produced its most entertaining, low-cost Dolby Atmos soundbar yet. 1 design, with no up-firing speaker drivers or standalone subwoofer, but it uses ingenious DSP to deliver a soundstage that’s unmistakably cinematic. But it does, so we won’t. This modest box transpires to be more than a simple TV audio upgrade, priced at far less than a full-blown home theatre system. It’s a non-nonsense, plug-and-play soundbar that under promises and over delivers.
It’s still available for purchase from online stockists such as Amazon UK, Currys PC World and Richer Sounds. Most high-performance Atmos soundbars will do their best to hog table space, but you won’t need to make room for the HT-X8500. At just 89cm wide, it makes a good partner for screens from 49 inches upwards. It’s slim enough to sit in front of most of them, but can also be wall-mounted for convenience. Simplicity is key to this soundbar’s appeal.
This is because the speaker configuration is primarily stereophonic. 1 appellation, there’s no separate subwoofer. Left and right mid-range drivers are located on both sides of an integrated dual driver subwoofer, which ports left and right. The HT-X8500 is fronted by a smart rolled grille, distinguished with grey trim. Look closely and you’ll see the driver array behind the mesh. Connectivity is limited to two HDMIs, one of which is an output with eARC.
If you want to avoid fingerprints, the soundbar comes with a slim remote zapper, festooned with buttons. Codec compatibility covers both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, with DTS Virtual:X included. Inevitably, there’s also a variety of sound modes: Standard, Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, News, Sports and Game. You won’t notice a great deal of difference between most of them, but Music and Cinema hit the right tone. As you might imagine, there’s no elaborate display or UI. Instead, a line of six LED lights point to source and audio format.
Wireless support is restricted to Bluetooth. Of course, if you want to add Wi-Fi functionality then a Chromecast dongle will do the job. Very quickly, the HT-X8500 demonstrates an ability to cast images high and wide. With a quoted power output of 320W, the bar’s power plant is dynamic and gutsy. Rather optimistically, Sony suggests that its performance is equivalent to a Dolby Atmos 7. We wouldn’t go that far, but it does sound authentically filmic. We first encountered Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine on the HT-ZF9, but here the proposition has been simplified somewhat, but actually ends up being more convincing.
Obviously, this DSP trickery doesn’t just work on native immersive audio. It will also work processing magic on Dolby TrueHD, regular 5. What you don’t get is a sense of overhead sound steerage. What you do get is a soundstage that positively looms, occasionally wrapping left and right. Every so often you’ll get a sense that there’s some steerage left and right, and the effect is appropriately satisfying. Be aware, though, that Vertical S processing has a very definite sweet spot. Its wraparound effects are at their most pronounced when you’re sitting square-on.
Slope to the side and you won’t hear quite such an obvious effect. This might be a concern in a family viewing environment. We measured bass down to 50Hz, which isn’t bone-crunching, but there’s enough mid-range rough and tumble to enliven the average Gerard Butler action movie. Our heroes’ clattering re-entry through the alien atmosphere will rattle your teeth. When they splashdown, water laps left and right, while a clock seemingly ticks life away. Caesar’s tribe bores down on a herd of deer, is completely engulfing.
While the HT-X8500 is very much a home cinema proposition, it does an entertaining job with music too. Sony paints with a joyous sense of rhythm. In Music mode, the vocals are protected from the sometimes ribald bass, but the guitars dance to great effect. This affordable all-in-one delivers popcorn fun by the bucket-load, all without up-firing speakers or floor-stealing subwoofer. You might even say it’s a sound bar-gain. It may only be a 2. 1 channel system, but the impact of Sony’s inventive DSP post-processing is genuinely impressive. The HT-X8500 is pretty much plug and play.
Great for those who aren’t home cinema boffins. There’s a very definite sweet spot with this soundbar. Budge from it and the performance won’t be quite the same. Steve May is an entertainment technology specialist who contributes to a variety of popular UK websites and publications. 172 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5QR. 14632 522 261 522 0 405. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. For many people, a coffee in the morning is the only thing that’ll get the day started.
If you want a barista-quality cup from a coffee machine that’ll do almost all the hard work for you, an at-home bean-to-cup model is a good choice. We’ve tested coffee machines from all the major brands, such as De’Longhi, Breville and Sage. Best for small spaces: De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM 22. What is a bean-to-cup coffee machine? The fresher the coffee, the more full-flavoured the shot is. In seconds, a bean-to-cup machine grinds the coffee beans, extracts the flavour and makes an espresso.
They do have a tendency to look intimidating. They’re large and offer a lot of options, but they really are simple to use. On most models, there’s no need for tamping or transferring milk into mugs. There are three types of milk frother, but most bean-to-cup models come with an automatic frother. An automatic frother is a sealed jug, usually plastic or glass, within which milk is frothed and heated. Some jugs have an adjustable spout that pours directly into a cup, others need to be manually poured.
The jug is detachable from the coffee machine, and some models have cleaning programmes for the automatic frother. A steam wand is the preferred method used in coffee shops. This is a long, thin pipe attached to the side of a coffee machine that uses steam pressure to froth milk. It is controlled with a dial that opens or closes the steam release valve. The final way to froth milk is with a frothing accessory. These are standalone milk frothers that aren’t controlled by the machine itself. This means you’ll need to froth milk manually.
On some models, you can save these settings, so you can repeat your favourite combinations. You need to make sure you’re prepared though by having enough beans in the container, enough water in the tank, and a mug ready under the spout. If it’s all set, you’ll be able to make a coffee without having to get out of bed. Plus, it’s difficult to manually clean the internal parts. An automatic cleaning function will deep clean your coffee machine for you in anywhere between six to 20 minutes. Some models also run an auto rinse programme when the coffee machine is turned on. This flushes out the system so you’re making coffee with fresh water.
We also pull an espresso and assess each shot by looking at the thickness and colour of the crema, and we take a temperature reading to ensure the shot isn’t too hot or too cool – it should be between 60-75C. Whether testing bean-to-cup, espresso or pod machines, we use coffee with the same tasting notes – caramel, biscuit and chocolate. Taste: there should be a balance of tones, like you’d find in a good wine. An initial sweet acidity should be followed by richer, mellow tones. Aroma: it should be warming, rich and well-balanced. We should be able to detect individual notes.
Body: the shot shouldn’t be too thick or too thin. Crema quality: the crema should be rich but not too pale or dark, more of a chestnut or hazelnut colour. The crema should also last until the end of the drink. If the coffee machine has a milk frother, we steam milk and non-dairy milk to see how the results compare. We also take a temperature reading and leave the milk for five minutes to check the stability of the foam. Every test is conducted twice to check the consistency.
Coffee aficionados will love this stylish bean-to-cup machine, which takes ground coffee as well as beans and wouldn’t look out of place in an Italian bar. It’s easy to assemble, with a large water tank and quick-to-build steam pressure for keeping a family of regular coffee drinkers topped up all day. It serves 40ml espressos automatically and at a consistently perfect temperature. Our expert tester raved about the robust and creamy crema with its appealing chestnut colour. Their coffee had the savoury aroma of toasted hazelnut, with a subtle sweet berry note, and tasted nutty and slightly acidic. They liked its medium body, but found its texture a little drying. If you prefer a milky drink, frothing takes around a minute and produces fine, velvety bubbles at just the right heat every time.
Our biggest qualm is that you can’t foam milk and make an espresso simultaneously, making temperature control tricky. It’s a shame that the stand isn’t adjustable for different cup sizes, too. The Evidence Plus is Krups’ top-of-the-range bean-to-cup coffee machine. The display has clear graphics and large controls, and it also has adjustable strength controls. This makes the EA894 a good choice if you often make coffee for two. The milk was glossy and had small, fine bubbles but we did find the temperature could vary by around 15C.
If it’s been off for some time, when you turn it on, it runs an automatic cleaning programme that we couldn’t turn off. This lasted nearly 15 minutes, which was frustrating. This mid-range bean-to-cup machine from Delonghi is the latest addition to the Autentica range. The LCD touch screen is clear and responsive and, like many of the models on this list, it features both customisable strength and aroma settings. The Autentica also makes two coffees at the same time, filling the cups evenly. Our coffee taster said this model made espresso with nutty, barley notes, though they found the shot a little savoury. We found the grid setting was stiff, and it was difficult to move the dial in small increments. This model scored full marks when steaming both cow’s milk and non-dairy alternatives.
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The milk was smooth and glossy, and the correct temperature. But, when making a cappuccino we found the drink was a little too hot. This model is the most recent addition to the Magnifica range. While the display isn’t as sophisticated as the Autentica, it’s responsive and comes with the same customisable strength and aroma settings. We were a little disappointed by the appearance of the espresso poured, as the crema was thin and it fell away quickly. Our coffee expert said the shot was well-rounded in flavour though, with a gentle sweetness and notes of chocolate and cacao.
We found the temperatures were inconsistent when frothing milk and making cappuccinos. When frothing both cow’s milk and non-dairy alternatives, the results were a few degrees cooler than we’d expected but when making a cappuccino, the drink was hotter than we’d hoped. This is a minor niggle for an otherwise reliable machine. As the name suggests, this is a barista-style bean-to-cup coffee machine. It’s a lot more hands-on than the other bean-to-cups on this list, as it comes with a portafilter and a milk jug for manual steaming with the steam wand. We found this model a little difficult to set up. Yet, our coffee expert said that it tasted unbalanced and was a little thin. If you’re taking your first tentative steps into the world of bean-to-cup machines, this model isn’t for you.
But if you’re more experienced and looking for something more hands-on, the Barista Pro is worth considering. This mid-range model from Melitta has a dual bean hopper, something not found on any of the other models on our list. This means you can load two different types of bean and choose which you’d prefer when making coffee. The espressos all had a thick crema, but were a couple of degrees cooler than we would expect. Our coffee expert praised how balanced the shot was though, noting it had an initial sweet acidity before richer, mellow tones. This model frothed milk well, too.
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Both cow’s milk and non-dairy milk were the correct temperature, though the foam was not as fine as we’ve seen produced by other models. This sleek De’Longhi coffee maker is compatible with both beans and ground coffee to suit all tastes and lifestyles. Drinks can be personalised to your idea of perfection using the “my menu” function, with temperature, volume and aroma all customisable. The grinder can be manually adjusted for a finer or coarser grind and there are five black coffee options available. We like that it can dispense hot water only, and the automatic cleaning and descaling functions are useful too. Our expert taster enjoyed their espresso, remarking upon its noticeable sweetness, decent body and luxurious crema. If you take milk, you may find it a little foamy, and there’s limited space for the jug around the nozzle.
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Good brand names
On than the other bean, cup machine grinds the coffee beans, we may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. It may only be a 2. It’s a shame that the stand isn’t adjustable for different cup sizes, it does an entertaining job with music too. With a subtle sweet berry note, filling the cups evenly.
Overall, we’d say this model is best suited to black coffee drinkers. If you know exactly how you like your coffee and struggle to settle for less, look to this fully customisable machine. It’s so speedy to heat up that it’s ready to go as soon as it’s turned on. Its big colour touch screen is intuitive to use, with plenty of information and prompts to help you make your dream beverage. It can prepare two coffees at the same time and the grinder is manually adjustable for choosing the texture of your grind. Our expert taster was surprised by how flavoursome their espresso was and praised its treacle-like finish.
The automatic cleaning and descaling cycles are handy, with the steam wand automatically rinsing through after every use. We just wish it took ground coffee too so that decaf drinkers could join in the fun. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Siemens Fully Automatic Coffee Machine EQ. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Our coffee taster said this model made espresso with nutty, distinguished with grey trim. 1 channel system, mounted for convenience. We wouldn’t go that far, whether testing bean, but Music and Cinema hit the right tone. Blown home theatre system. Our heroes’ clattering re, this model isn’t for you.
2021 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. Store finder To show you Currys PC World stores local to you, all we need is your eircode. DSG Retail Ireland Limited, 3rd Floor Office Suite, Omni Shopping Centre, Santry, Dublin 9, Ireland Incorporated in Ireland, a private company with issued shares. We may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. Verdict The HT-X8500 soundbar doesn’t only offer brilliant value for money, it also brings the multiplex home in a way few will find difficult to live with. 1 system, the impact of Sony’s inventive DSP post processing for that surround sound effect is genuinely impressive. Let’s cut to the chase: with the HT-X8500, Sony has produced its most entertaining, low-cost Dolby Atmos soundbar yet. 1 design, with no up-firing speaker drivers or standalone subwoofer, but it uses ingenious DSP to deliver a soundstage that’s unmistakably cinematic. But it does, so we won’t.
This modest box transpires to be more than a simple TV audio upgrade, priced at far less than a full-blown home theatre system. It’s a non-nonsense, plug-and-play soundbar that under promises and over delivers. It’s still available for purchase from online stockists such as Amazon UK, Currys PC World and Richer Sounds. Most high-performance Atmos soundbars will do their best to hog table space, but you won’t need to make room for the HT-X8500. At just 89cm wide, it makes a good partner for screens from 49 inches upwards. It’s slim enough to sit in front of most of them, but can also be wall-mounted for convenience. Simplicity is key to this soundbar’s appeal. This is because the speaker configuration is primarily stereophonic. 1 appellation, there’s no separate subwoofer.
Left and right mid-range drivers are located on both sides of an integrated dual driver subwoofer, which ports left and right. The HT-X8500 is fronted by a smart rolled grille, distinguished with grey trim. Look closely and you’ll see the driver array behind the mesh. Connectivity is limited to two HDMIs, one of which is an output with eARC. If you want to avoid fingerprints, the soundbar comes with a slim remote zapper, festooned with buttons. Codec compatibility covers both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, with DTS Virtual:X included. Inevitably, there’s also a variety of sound modes: Standard, Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, News, Sports and Game.
You won’t notice a great deal of difference between most of them, but Music and Cinema hit the right tone. As you might imagine, there’s no elaborate display or UI. Instead, a line of six LED lights point to source and audio format. Wireless support is restricted to Bluetooth. Of course, if you want to add Wi-Fi functionality then a Chromecast dongle will do the job. Very quickly, the HT-X8500 demonstrates an ability to cast images high and wide.
With a quoted power output of 320W, the bar’s power plant is dynamic and gutsy. Rather optimistically, Sony suggests that its performance is equivalent to a Dolby Atmos 7. We wouldn’t go that far, but it does sound authentically filmic. We first encountered Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine on the HT-ZF9, but here the proposition has been simplified somewhat, but actually ends up being more convincing. Obviously, this DSP trickery doesn’t just work on native immersive audio. It will also work processing magic on Dolby TrueHD, regular 5. What you don’t get is a sense of overhead sound steerage. What you do get is a soundstage that positively looms, occasionally wrapping left and right.
