T3 December 2022

KEF MU7 With a rep for balanced but agile sound and smart design, KEF’s loudspeakers are a sure-fire hit for audiophiles looking for max return for a mid-range price. Despite this, its forays into the headphones space haven’t quite managed to get its tanks on the lawn of brands like Sony. Until now. KEF’s new noise-cancelling Mu7 have plenty of features that make them a worthy rival of Sony’s WH-1000XM5. Their 40mm drivers dwarf the XM5’s 30mm, meaning they should offer better bass response and dynamism, although Sony’s 32-bit/96kHz LDAC Bluetooth codec does trounce the 24-bit/48kHz offered by the Mu7’s aptX HD. The Mu7 more than make up for this in terms of battery life though: they last a whopping 40 hours and will top up eight hours’ use after just…

SUBSCRIBE to T3 and get free Earfun Air Wireless buds! Our subscription offer gets you this great gift, which is worth £55! SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE! magazinesdirect.com/ttt/x731…

Iiiiiiiiit’s Christmas! That magical time of year where we focus on the true spirit of the season – making sure children don’t listen to the words of Xmas songs too closely. We all have our own Xmas traditions. Mine is to drink enough spiced booze for my blood to congeal into mulled wine and play computer games until my brain resembles three-day old trifle. But apparently some people actually exchange gifts on Christmas Day now. So for the sake of this newfangled custom, we’ve been taking a look at some of the cracking gadgets you can give your loved ones. First off, if you’re looking for the perfect tech to place under your tree, make sure you check out our Xmas gadget gift guide. Whether you’re looking for cracking creative kit, glorious…

1 SONY ALPHA 7R V • £4,000, sony.co.uk It’s time to make two bold and controversial statements. One, the quality of Sony’s recent camera output now places it directly next to Canon and Nikon in pro cameras’ upper tier. Two: the DSLR is dead. Mirrorless sensors open up new possibilities, and manufacturers are only now scratching the surface of what’s possible. Right now, the Alpha 7R V is utterly remarkable for its AI subject detection engine, which utilises deep learning to pull off what Sony calls ‘next-generation autofocus’, able to not only accurately pick out subjects in frame but to analyse their pose to ensure the 7R V never locks onto a foreground finger. Five years down the line? The entire mirrorless market will be brainier than your cat. The Alpha 7R V also…

CHRISTMAS SOCKS Yes, yes, we know that this trio is hardly winning any sartorial awards but how can you fully celebrate the festive season without comedy footwear? So here we go with a choice of three Yuletide inspired socks. £4.99, tkmaxx.com PAUL SMITH SIGNATURE SCARF You don’t need Paul’s name to recognise the designer’s distinctive artist’s stripes but it’s written loud and proud anyway on this wool and alpaca wool blend scarf that’s been crafted in Italy and completed with tasselled ends. £100, paulsmith.com SUEDE SLIPPERS While we’re all home more during the winter, these black Pascal slippers will keep you comfy and looking dapper. Made from premium suede with stripe detail and leather trim, they’re finished with leather soles. £190, paulsmith.com MEN’S UNDERWEAR The Just Wears team, who successfully passed through the jaws of Dragon’s Den, says its pants…

CHRISTOPHER WARD, C1 BEL CANTO For the first time, one of the most complex mechanical complications has been made accessible by Christopher Ward. Chiming on the hour, the Bel Canto is limited to 300 pieces in Azzurro blue. £2,995, christopherward.com MONDAINE, CLASSIC Launching its most recent sustainable innovation; Mondaine’s iconic Classic Collection is now available with brand-new vegan grape leather straps, made with high-quality composite grape material at the same competitive price. £189, uk.mondaine.com OMEGA, SPEEDMASTER X-33 MARSTIMER Creators of the first watch worn on the Moon have anticipated humanity’s next giant leap with a Speedmaster designed for life on Mars. It’s made in partnership with the European Space Agency. £6,000, omegawatches.com RADO, DIASTAR ORIGINAL 60-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION For this very special launch, Rado worked with Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli, giving the 60-Year Anniversary edition a new fresh take on…