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.

1063 products Award Winning Dealer Since 2013 Free expert consultation

Where to spend next

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

432 of 1063 products

  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7510 Ultra-Slim Flat Screen Wall Mount (VESA 100)

    SKU: BT7510/B

    £13.29
    Ex. VAT

    If you're in the market for a sleek and secure wall mount for your small flat screen, look no further than the B-Tech Ultra-Slim Flat Screen Wall Mount. With its ultra-slim design, this wall mount allows for a close to the wall installation, giving your space a clean and modern look.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7511 Flat Screen Wall Mount with Tilt (VESA 100)

    SKU: BT7511/B

    £16.62
    Ex. VAT

    If you are searching for a high-quality and versatile wall mount for your flat screen, look no further than the B-Tech Flat Screen Wall Mount with Tilt. This product has a number of features that make it a top choice for mounting small screens weighing up to 20kg.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7512 Single Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount (VESA 100)

    SKU: BT7512/PB

    £35.79
    Ex. VAT

    The B-Tech Single Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount with Tilt & Swivel is the perfect solution for mounting small flat screens in your home or office. It offers easy tilt and swivel adjustment, allowing you to find the perfect angle for viewing.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7513 Double Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount (VESA 100)

    SKU: BT7513/PB

    £59.12
    Ex. VAT

    If you are looking for a high-quality and versatile wall mount for your flat screen, then the B-Tech Double Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount is the perfect choice for you. With its tilt and swivel features, this wall mount offers maximum adjustability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7514 Single Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount (VESA 200)

    SKU: BT7514/PB

    £71.62
    Ex. VAT

    With its easy tilt and swivel adjustment, the B-Tech Single Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount allows you to achieve the perfect viewing angle every time. The BT7514 features not one, but two swivel points, providing an impressive 180° range at the wall and 240° at the interface. This means you can easily adjust the screen to face different areas of the room without having to physically move it.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7515 Double Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount (VESA 200)

    SKU: BT7515/PB

    £94.12
    Ex. VAT

    The B-Tech Double Arm Flat Screen Wall Mount with Tilt & Swivel is the perfect choice for mounting your medium sized flat screen. With its double articulated arm and easy tilt adjustment, you can easily find the perfect viewing angle for your screen.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • £24.96
    Ex. VAT

    If you're in need of a durable and versatile wall mount for your small flat screen, the B-Tech Flat Screen Wall Mount is the perfect solution. This mount is designed to provide ease of use and convenience, with both tilt and swivel functions available.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7523 Flat Screen Wall Mount With Tilt (VESA 200)

    SKU: BT7523/B

    £27.46
    Ex. VAT

    If you are in need of a sturdy and reliable wall mount for your medium-sized screen, look no further than the B-Tech Flat Screen Wall Mount with Tilt. Not only is it simple to install, but it also features a tilt function that allows for easy screen positioning. No more straining your neck to get the perfect viewing angle.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • £36.62
    Ex. VAT

    The BT7532 is the perfect wall mount for medium sized flat screens, offering an ultra-slim design that allows for a close to the wall installation. This sleek and modern mount is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also easy to install with its 'OWLS' on wall levelling system.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • £19.12
    Ex. VAT

    If you're looking to upgrade your monitor or television but are concerned about compatibility with your existing mount, the B-Tech Interface Adaptor Arms are the perfect solution. These versatile arms allow you to increase the VESA mounting pattern of smaller mounts to accommodate larger screens with VESA 300x200 and 400x200 fixings.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • B-Tech

    B-Tech BT7564/B V2 Interface Adaptor Arms for VESA® 600x400

    SKU: BT7564/B V2

    £19.96
    Ex. VAT

    The B-Tech Interface Adaptor Arms for VESA® 600x400 are a must-have for anyone looking to increase the VESA mounting pattern of their smaller mounts to accommodate larger screens. With these adaptor arms, VESA 200 and 400 fixings can easily be increased to VESA 600, making it a versatile and practical solution for any installation needs.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available
  • £39.96
    Ex. VAT

    If you are looking to upgrade your existing flat screen mount to accommodate larger screens, then the B-Tech Interface Adaptor Arms are the perfect solution for you. These adaptor arms are designed to increase the VESA mounting pattern of smaller mounts to fit VESA 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 fixings.

    View Available Worldwide Shipping Available

Not finding what you need?
Our experts can help narrow it down for your exact system.
Ask an Expert →

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.

Loading...
Loading...
loader
Loading...