- Majority’s UK sub-brand Oakcastle has updated its hi-fi line-up
- The launch includes bookshelf speakers, soundbar and DAB radio/CD player
- Oh, and two new MP3 players join in on the fun, too
If you haven’t heard of Oakcastle, it’s the budget-friendly sister company to British audio label Majority, a brand that regularly receives rave reviews, such as in the Majority Folio turntable.
Well, Oakcastle’s time to shine is now, with a pair of audio products that will have hi-fi fans on a budget (and that’s most of us) rushing for the ‘Order Now’ button.
Take the new BK100 speakers, for example, which retail for just £69.96 (about $100, AU$150, but Oakcastle doesn’t appear to sell its entire range in the US or Australia). They are bookshelf speakers that emit 60W, with inputs for Bluetooth 5.4, optical, USB, AUX and HDMI ARC, so they can also be connected to your TV.
I’m currently testing the Edifier M90, which has a similar spec list but is likely to sell for around double the price, so on paper at least these Oakcastle alternatives seem like a bargain.
Oakcastle’s new soundbar catches my eye just as much: the SB80. This costs £59.95, so it’s definitely hot on our list of the best cheap soundbars, but it does have a novelty advantage. You can place it as one ‘traditional’ soundbar, i.e. horizontally under your TV, or turn it into two smaller standing speakers on either side. This makes it sound quite versatile for different room setups.
The SB80 has 2.2-channel audio, a rather rare set-up in the budget space, and supports Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI ARC, optical, USB or AUX connections. For just a little more you can buy the SB80 Xtra which costs £69.95. This one has slightly upgraded speakers and, most importantly, an additional subwoofer.
Radios and MP3 players
Oakcastle’s new releases don’t stop there.
The brand has also unveiled the DAB500. It plays DAB and also FM radio, but also has a CD player, lets you connect via Bluetooth to play through its speakers, and also supports USB and AUX input. It costs £98.99, making it the most expensive on Oakcastle’s new list.
Two new MP3 players have also joined the party, both selling for £29.95 or equivalent.
First up, the MP250, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Majority MP3 player, is a model that remains on our list of best MP3 players as an ultra-cheap option. It is a clip-on player that is light and small, with 16 GB of storage, expandable with micro SD. From my time testing the Majority, I’d guess it’s a good choice for sporty users.
Then there’s the MP300, which honestly seems like the more premium device. It has 64GB of storage, 50 hours of battery life and a more premium build. If you don’t think you’d need the MP250’s sport trim, this is the model for you.
All of these new speakers and players are on sale now, from the Oakcastle website as well as Amazon. Judging by precedent, they could also come to certain other retailers, but I don’t see them for sale anywhere else at the moment.
We haven’t tested any of these products yet, so take the promising specs list with a grain of salt, but all hi-fi fans on a budget should have them on their radar – they’re certainly on mine. Watch this space…
The best stereo speakers for all budgets
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