News

Introducing the WXAD-10, the latest addition to Yamaha’s MusicCast family of products. Powered by a single USB cable, the small box connects to your existing hi-fi setup via RCA line-level or 3. 5mm output and provides the additional functionality of Bluetooth connectivity, AirPlay and a wide selection of streaming services including Spotify, Tidal and Deezer. A built-in Burr-Brown DAC supports hi-res audio up to 24/192 FLAC, WAV and AIFF, plus 24/92 ALAC file formats.

Adding to its family of digital-to-analogue converters (the impressive iDSD Black Label is reviewed in the Group Test in HFC 423), iFiAudio has unveiled its new nano iOne. Described as the ideal audio solution for the modern home by iFi, the ‘Hub’ DAC is designed to be used with everything from TV and gaming consoles through to tablets, smartphones and computers. Input options include coaxial, USB or aptX-flavoured Bluetooth for wireless hookup and there’s an RCA output for connecting to an amplifier. The nano iOne is compatible with PCM up to 192kHz, up to 12.

It's fair to say that Sonus faber loudspeakers typically embody the very idea of luxury style and design for many high-quality audio fans, thanks to the brand's impeccable build using quality materials. The company introduced its first models in theearly eighties and each Sf speaker is handcrafted in its factory in Vicenza, Italy – around 40 miles West of Venice. The current three-strong Homage Tradition loudspeaker series had its UK launch at the end of March to an invited audience at Central London's high-end audio retailer KJ West One and currently consists of stereo models – Guarneri Tradition, Sarafino Tradition and Amati Tradition – while a Vox centre for multi-channel setups will arrive later in the year. The new lineup includes the latest version of two of the company’s celebrated Homage speakers – the £23,500 Amati 3.

Sonos has announced details of PLAYBASE, the latest addition to its wireless home sound system and the newest speaker in its home theatre lineup. Inspired by the insight that up to 70 percent of all TVs stand on furniture and are not mounted to the wall, PLAYBASE is a thin speaker that sits discreetly under the TV screen. At just 58 mmin height and packing 10 drivers, PLAYBASE can be used for both TV sound and for music playback. The construction has no visible seams resulting in clean lines, an ultra-flat top surface and more than 43,000 holes that make up an acoustically transparent grille.

First unveiled in the summer of 2016, McIntosh’s new MP100 phono preamplifier marks the company's first ever dedicated phono stage. The new MP100 has been designed to get the best from vinyl collections along with 24-bit recording via USB. The MP100 featuresboth moving-coil and moving-magnet inputs, with both inputs benefitting from adjustable loading (six settings each) to optimise performance. Despite its compact dimensions, the MP100 also features balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs, plus a ‘mono mode’ switch to decrease noise and process the signal when playing legacy mono recordings.

We’re big fans of the direct-to-vinyl recording method and back in the October 2016 issue (HFC 415) we ran an Insider Feature on the extraordinary process run by Mike Valentine’s specialist Chasing The Dragon record label that followed a direct-cut recording of Clare Tealand The Syd Lawrence Orchestra performing a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald at Air Studios. 180g vinyl pressingsof its one-take recordings can be purchased from the website, butin moving with the times the labelhas announced that it has addeda high-resolution download area where fans can access all of the label’s recordings in their native resolution from 24/88. 2 to DSD128. Download prices start from £18.