- Majority’s UK sub-brand Oakcastle has refreshed its hi-fi line-up
- The launch includes bookshelf speakers, soundbar and DAB radio/CD player
- Oh, and two new MP3 players also join the fun
If you haven’t heard of Oakcastle, it’s the budget-minded sister company to British audio brand Majority, a brand which regularly receives good review scores like in the Majority Folio turntable.
Well, it’s Oakcastle’s time to shine now, with a few audio products which are going to have hi-fi fans on a budget (and that’s most of us) rushing for the ‘Order now’ button.
Take, for example, the new BK100 speakers, which sell for just £69.96 (about $100, AU$150, but Oakcastle doesn’t seem to sell its full range in the US or Australia). These are bookshelf speakers which output at 60W, with inputs for Bluetooth 5.4, optical, USB, AUX and HDMI ARC so they’ll be able to plug into your TV too.
I’m currently testing the Edifier M90 which have a similar specs list but are probably going to sell for about twice that price, so on paper at least, these Oakcastle alternatives seem like a bargain.
Drawing my eye equally is Oakcastle’s new soundbar: the SB80. This costs £59.95, so it’s certainly angling for our list of the best cheap soundbars, but it has a novelty perk. You can position it as one ‘traditional’ soundbar, ie. horizontally under your TV, or turn it into two smaller standing speakers on either side. That makes it sound pretty versatile for diverse room set-ups.
The SB80 has 2.2 channel sound, a pretty rare set-up in the budget space, and supports Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI ARC, optical, USB or AUX connections. For only a little more you can buy the SB80 Xtra, which comes in at £69.95. This has slightly upgraded speakers and, most importantly, an extra 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 via its speakers, and also supports USB and AUX input. It costs £98.99, so it’s the priciest in Oakcastle’s new list.
Two new MP3 players have also joined the party, both of which sells sell for £29.95 or equivalent.
First up is the MP250, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Majority MP3 player, a model which remains on our list of the best MP3 players as an ultra-cheap option. It’s a clip-on player that’s lightweight and small, with 16GB storage that can be expanded with micro SD. From my time testing the Majority, I’d guess that it’s a good pick for sporty users.
Then there’s the MP300, which honestly seems like the more premium device. It has 64GB storage, 50 hours of battery life, and a more premium build. If you don’t think you’d get use out of the MP250’s sports clip, this is the model for you.
All of these new speakers and players are on sale now, from Oakcastle’s website as well as Amazon. Judging by precedent, they could come to certain other retailers too, but I can’t see them on sale elsewhere at the moment.
We haven’t tested any of these products yet, so take the promising specs list with a pinch of salt, but any hi-fi fans on a budget should have them on their radar — they’re certainly on mine. Watch this space…
The best stereo speakers all budgets
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tom.bedford@hotmail.co.uk (Tom Bedford)
