Hi-Fi Essentials

Hardware and treatment for a system you already own: headphones, DACs, amplifiers, streamers, isolation, racks and grounding. The next purchase after the system exists.

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This is the upgrade section rather than the starting point. It assumes you have a system, know roughly what it does well, and want to work out what to change next.

The order that usually works starts with the mechanical foundation. A rack that resonates undermines everything sitting on it, so proper support and isolation come first. Then the source, because nothing downstream can recover what a poor source has already lost. Then the electronics, and last the treatments that sit around the edges of a system, such as grounding.

Some of what is here is uncontested. Speaker stands, isolation feet and a rigid rack do measurable and audible things. Other categories, grounding in particular, divide opinion sharply, and we say so on the pages where that applies. What we will not do is recommend something we have not heard, or call a component essential when your system does not need it. Tell us what you are running and what you want to improve, and we will give you a straight answer.

4.95/5 from 20,702+ reviews Award Winning Dealer Since 2013 UK Specialist since 2005

300 of 1063 products

  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT TVM 3605 Fixed TV Wall Mount

    SKU: TVM 3605

    £54.12
    Ex. VAT

    Would you like to mount your valuable TV safely and stylishly like a painting on the wall? If so, a COMFORT Fixed TV wall mount is exactly what you need. This wall mount is specially designed for lively homes. Your TV will be mounted tight, firm and safe. The space between the TV and the wall is only 2.2 cm. Please note: this is the large size version with a maximum load of 75kg, designed for 40 - 100 inch screens.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT TVM 3215 Tilting Wall Mount

    SKU: TVM 3215

    £37.46
    Ex. VAT

    Would you like to mount your TV a bit higher on the wall, for example in the bedroom? And are you looking for a stylish, safe and tilting TV wall mount? If so, the COMFORT Tilt TV wall mount is exactly what you need. It allows you to mount your TV beautifully and safely on the wall. Setting up the ideal viewing angle is a simple matter of tilting your TV. This can be done up to an angle of 20°.

    Please note: this is the small size version, with supporting up to 15kg and 19-43 inch screens.

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  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT TVM 3415 Tilting Wall Mount

    SKU: TVM 3415

    £54.12
    Ex. VAT
    Would you like to mount your TV a bit higher on the wall, for example in the bedroom? And are you looking for a stylish, safe and tilting TV wall mount? If so, the COMFORT Tilt TV wall mount is exactly what you need. It allows you to mount your TV beautifully and safely on the wall. Setting up the ideal viewing angle is a simple matter of tilting your TV. This can be done up to an angle of 20°.
    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT TVM 3615 Tilting Wall Mount

    SKU: TVM 3615

    £70.79
    Ex. VAT

    Would you like to mount your TV a bit higher on the wall, for example in the bedroom? And are you looking for a stylish, safe and tilting TV wall mount? If so, the COMFORT Tilt TV wall mount is exactly what you need. It allows you to mount your TV beautifully and safely on the wall. Setting up the ideal viewing angle is a simple matter of tilting your TV. This can be done up to an angle of 20°.

    Please note: this is the large size version, with supporting up to 35kg and 40-77 inch screens.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT Full-Motion TV Wall Mount - Medium

    SKU: TVM 3425/3445

    From
    £124.96
    Ex. VAT

    Stylish design. Robust and secure. With the COMFORT Full-Motion TV wall mount, watching TV becomes a real pleasure for everyone. Not only is your TV mounted beautifully and 'family proof' on the wall, you are also assured of optimal viewing comfort. Because you can easily turn the TV, you always have a perfect view from any corner of the room.

    Please note: this product is the medium size version supporting up to 25kg and 32-65 inch screens.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT Full-Motion TV Wall Mount - Large

    SKU: TVM 3625/3645

    From
    £166.62
    Ex. VAT

    Stylish design. Robust and secure. With the COMFORT Full-Motion TV wall mount, watching TV becomes a real pleasure for everyone. Not only is your TV mounted beautifully and 'family proof' on the wall, you are also assured of optimal viewing comfort. Because you can easily turn the TV, you always have a perfect view from any corner of the room.

    Please note: this product is the small size version supporting up to 35kg and 40-77 inch screens.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • £199.96
    Ex. VAT

    Stylish. Safe. Can be turned up to 180°. And specially developed for large OLED TVs. With this 'family-proof' COMFORT Full-Motion+ TV wall mount, you will enjoy your beautiful OLED TV to the max. Even after years of intensive use, it still functions just as well as on the first day.

    Please note: this product is the large size version supporting up to 35kg and 40-77 inch OLED screens.

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  • £158.29
    Ex. VAT

    Stylish. Safe. Can be turned up to 180°. And specially developed for large OLED TVs. With this 'family-proof' COMFORT Full-Motion+ TV wall mount, you will enjoy your beautiful OLED TV to the max. Even after years of intensive use, it still functions just as well as on the first day.

    Please note: this product is the large size version supporting up to 25kg and 32-65 inch OLED screens.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 Hi-Fi Rack Inc. Base Shelf
    SALE

    Atacama

    Atacama Evoque Eco 65-60 SE2 Hi-Fi Rack Inc. Base Shelf

    SKU: Evoque Eco 65-60 SE2

    £514.57 £541.66
    Ex. VAT ✓ Save £27.08

    The new Evoque Eco 65-60 SE2 by Atacama brings further technological advances to build upon their industry-leading Evoque Eco 60-40 and also comes with a significantly increased storage capacity in terms of weight (50% increase compared to the 60-40) and width, supporting larger hifi components.

    View Available
  • Vogels

    Vogels COMFORT TVS 3690 Steel TV Floor Stand

    SKU: TVS 3690

    £208.29
    Ex. VAT
    Introducing Vogel’s TVS 3690, the ultimate flexible, free-standing TV floor stand. Easily adjust and position your TV thanks to their safe, sturdy, and stylish design. Built with premium steel, the TVS 3690 is ideal for almost all TVs from 40”-77”, and up to 50kg.
    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • Entreq Macro Kit - Ground Box and Cable - Black November Deal
    SALE

    Entreq

    Entreq Macro Kit - Ground Box and Cable - Black November Deal

    SKU: Entreq Macro Kit

    £304.95 £380.00
    Inc. VAT ✓ Save £75.05
    The Macro Kit by Entreq offers greater performance than the Micro, and is refined version of the DisKon box which used to be provided with Discover and Konstantin cables. While supplied with a 1.65m spade-to-3.5mm cable and RCA adaptor as standard, you have the choice of USB, RJ45, Spade, XLR male & female, UK or EU Schuko adaptors at no extra cost.
    View Available Free delivery
  • Chord Electronics

    Chord Electronics Mojo 2 Poly Premium Leather Case

    SKU: Mojo 2 Poly Case

    £66.67
    Ex. VAT

    Luxuriously finished, the Poly/Mojo 2 protective leather case offers a snug fit that perfectly cossets the two devices, offering protection both at home and on the go. The design gives unrestricted access to Poly’s Micro SD card slot, Micro USB charging port, device status indicators and configuration port, plus Mojo 2’s twin 3.5mm headphone mini-jack outputs and illuminated control/display spheres.

    Please note: our first shipment of the Mojo 2 is due to arrive in the next couple of days.

    View Available

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Start with power (cables & distribution), then upgrade signal cabling, support (Hi-Fi Racks) and isolation accessories. These incremental changes can unlock more from your existing gear. Once you have the basic essentials, then you can look at further upgrades, such as fuses, cartridges, better isolation and more!

It is usually best to address obvious issues first, such as unstable equipment placement or poor isolation, before adding more specialised accessories. Call (0208 905 1555) or Email (sales@futureshop.co.uk) one of our consultants to identify an ideal upgrade path for your system.

A high-quality hi-fi system is built around a few core elements working together. At its heart is a source, such as a streamer, turntable, CD player, or digital audio player, which provides the music. This signal is then shaped and boosted by amplification, which may include an integrated amplifier, headphone amplifier, or phono stage depending on the system. The sound is delivered through speakers or headphones, which have a major influence on the overall character of what you hear.

Supporting components also play an important role. DACs improve digital playback quality, cartridges and phono stages are vital for vinyl, and hi-fi racks, speaker stands, and isolation products help equipment perform consistently. A balanced system does not rely on one standout component, but on how well everything works together.

Isolation and support products can make a clearly audible difference, especially in resolving systems. Vibrations from floors, speakers, and even airborne sound can interfere with sensitive components like turntables, DACs, and amplifiers. Proper speaker stands help speakers perform as intended by improving stability, positioning, and bass control.

Hi-fi racks and isolation platforms reduce unwanted resonance, helping systems sound cleaner, more focused, and more consistent. While these products may not change the sound as dramatically as speakers or cartridges, they often unlock performance that is already there but being masked by vibration or poor placement.

That depends on the starting point of the system. If the fundamentals are weak, such as entry-level speakers, poor setup, or missing core components, starting with the basics usually brings the biggest gains. A well-matched foundation allows later upgrades to shine.

If the system is already balanced, upgrading individual components can be very effective. Improvements such as a better cartridge, DAC, phono stage, or isolation can refine detail, clarity, and realism. The most rewarding upgrades tend to be those that address the system’s weakest link rather than focusing on one category alone.

In many systems, the biggest improvement comes from upgrading speakers or headphones, as these shape the sound more than any other component. For vinyl systems, the cartridge and phono stage are often the most influential upgrades. In digital systems, a higher-quality DAC or streamer can significantly improve clarity and timing.

Beyond electronics, addressing setup, isolation, and support is often overlooked but highly effective. Improving speaker positioning, adding proper stands, or isolating sensitive equipment can deliver noticeable gains without changing core components. The best first upgrade is usually the one that removes the most obvious limitation in the current system.

There are lots of components and tweaks that can offer a lift in performance, however, our current favourite is the UK 13A mains fuse from your wall socket to your distribution block or amplifier. This is an often overlooked component in most systems but the improvements far outweigh it's size and cost.

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