LATEST ADDITIONS

Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 12, 2016  |  0 comments
Columbia Records has confirmed that a new studio album from Bob Dylan, his 37th studio LP,will be released on 20 May. Featuring 12 classic American tunes written by some of music’s most acclaimed and influential songwriters, Fallen Angels showcases Dylan’s unique and much-lauded talents as a vocalist, arranger and bandleader. The Jack Frost-produced album marks the first new music from the artist since 2015'sShadows In The Night. One of the album’s recordings, “Melancholy Mood” is available now on iTunes as an Instant Gratification track, and will also be released as part of a four-track 7in EP on 16 April for Record Store Day.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 12, 2016  |  0 comments
The idea behind Pie & Vinyl is simple, a combination of “our love and passion for music with one of England’s favourite old-fashioned comfort foods”, reads the enterprise’s mission statement. So, now we’ve got your attention… “We wanted to create an experience. It’s my idea of heaven,” explains Pie & Vinyl’s founder and co-owner Steven Courtnell as he introduces some of the team behind this Victorian-themed feast for all the senses. Two smiling Robs – Rob Litchfield, co-owner who looks after the kitchen, and Rob Addison, retail general manager – offer a warm welcome as I begin to tuck in.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 05, 2016  |  0 comments
Sitting comfortably? Good, then we’ll begin… How do you like to listen to your music? Laid flat out on a sofa, perched attentively on an office chair or dancing around the room lost in the music? Have you ever considered investing in a proper dedicated listening chair? Danish manufacturer Gamut Audio has become the first to produce a chair that’s designed specifically for listening to your hi-fi. The chair has been designed to control the sound reflections that reach the ears, allowing the listener to hear a more precise and natural soundstage – at least, that’s the claim. Specifically, it shields the ear from reflections emanating from behind the listening position, while at the same time preventing the sound from reflecting on the forward-facing areas of the headrest that flank the listener’s head. The Lobster Chair – so called because of its distinctive shape – is the creation of iconic Danish designers Lund and Paarmann and is manufactured by high-end furniture makers Kvist Industries.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 04, 2016  |  0 comments
It might have the appearance of a speaker that looks like it’s sinking into the ground on which it’s standing, but there’s a theory behind the rather unique design of XTZ Sound’s Tune 4 loudspeaker. Believing that the vast majority of people that have hi-fi setups at home tend to place their speakers below ear level – thus resulting in a less defined sound, due to the tweeter being off axis relative to the listener’s ear – Tune 4 has come up with the tilted baffle. And what about those that do have their speakers positioned at ear level, we hear you ask. Well XTZ Sound has thought of this and added a special foot.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 01, 2016  |  0 comments
Forget vinyl, the biggest-growing format currently in the UK is eight-track tape, according to the latest figures. Data announced this morning has revealed that the long-forgotten analogue format has overtaken streaming, hi-res music downloads and vinyl to become the format of choice among hipsters and the young. Manager of Harry's Hi-Fi, Avril Foal, exclusively told HFC: "The kids just adore its analogue sound. They love the simplicity that the format offers and they can't get enough of those cartidges and the ability to switch between tracks.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 01, 2016  |  0 comments
Fresh from the news that the best-selling item inthe Amazon US home electronics category over Christmas was the turntable, it looks increasingly likely that the vinylboom is set to continue into 2016and beyond. Unsurprisingly, the popularity in the analogue format means a greater number of decks hitting the market, which is great for both new and old vinyl fans alike. One new arrival is the Zero turntable from British newcomer Analogue Works. We have already sampled the company’s Turntable One, which was highly Recommended when reviewed in issue 388.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 31, 2016  |  0 comments
ATC describes its new SCM19 Active Tower speaker system as delivering "the company’s reference-quality audio from an elegantly curved floor-standing design". Measuring 370mm wide and 980mm in height, it will no doubt be familiar to seasoned fans of the company's speakers as it is acoustically identical to the two-way SCM19 (tested in HFC 390). The 25mm tweeter employs a unique dual-suspension system, which has been designed to suppress rocking modes even at high power output levels. The configuration of a short edge-wound voice coil in a long, narrow magnetic gap is claimed to deleiver exceptionally low distortion throughout the operating band and removes the need for ferrofluids.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 30, 2016  |  0 comments
This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys' classic albumPet Sounds. To mark the occasion, the band is planning to release a special 50th Anniversary boxset in June. The deluxe collector's edition comes on four CD/Blu-ray discs stored in a natty-looking hardback book. The collection will include stereo, mono and high-resolution recordings of the album, plus instrumentals, 5.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 29, 2016  |  0 comments
PMC introduced the Bryston Cubed power amplifier series to visitors of this year’s Bristol Show, debuting the 300W 4B3 – which is also bridgeable to create a 900W mono amplifier – and the 600W mono 7B3. Described by PMC as a statement design platform idealfor music enthusiasts, the stylish amplifiers are also being aimedat home cinema installation and professional audio applications. The series is claimed to feature robust RF and audio frequency noise filtering circuitry positioned before the power supplies to prevent unwanted interference from affecting the audio signal. The amps cost £5,299 and £5,449 respectively and are available to buy now.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 28, 2016  |  0 comments
Meet the latest update to Roksan’s famed Radius turntable, the Radius 7. Boasting the same decoupled dual-layer plinth design as the company’s Xerxes record deck, but in a new precision-machined ‘glass-effect’ finish, the Radius 7 features a high-accuracy, temperature-compensated crystal speed control system, claimed to maintain pitch-perfect speed stability at both 33 and 45rpm. The Radius 7 comes supplied as standardwith the Roksan Nima tonearm, which is a low-friction, uni-pivot design that allowsany pick-up cartridge to navigate the groove accurately to a fine tolerance. Assembled byhand, the aluminium alloy arm tube boaststhe same internal wiring as Roksan’s previousflagship tonearm, the Artemiz.

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