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Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 17, 2017  |  0 comments
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.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 17, 2017  |  0 comments
In its 90-year history, one of Tannoy's biggest succeses was its HPD loudspeaker series from the seventies. and now the hugely popular speaker series is set to return with every element crucial to its breathtaking dynamic range, clarity of sound and classic look preserved, while refinements that reflect only true audio progress have carefully been added. Hand crafted in Coatbridge, Scotland, every speaker in the new Legacy serieswill include an ‘owner’s care package’ as well as a certificate of authenticity, signed by the experts that made them. The new speakers include the floorstanding Legacy Arden and Legacy Cheviot alongside the standmount Legacy Eaton.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 13, 2017  |  0 comments
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.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 12, 2017  |  0 comments
IsoTek's new Mosaic series consists of a trio of compact power cleaning solutions in a slim-width format. The series balances power conditioning, voltage stabilisation and mains sine wave generation for a selection of components that you can mix and match to suit your hi-fi system. The EVO3 Genesis One (above), is a single-cell sine wave generation system withextremely low THD. As the name suggests, it features a single power outlet and is designed to work with a single front-endsource component.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 11, 2017  |  0 comments
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.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 10, 2017  |  0 comments
Did you know that the picture disc single of Madonna’s Erotica featuring Madge sucking on some toes was hastily withdrawn by her record label in 1992, making copies of the record now worth a cool £2,500? Find out which other singles are worth the most. Might be time to have a check in your attic by clicking here. . .
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 07, 2017  |  0 comments
What better way to pay tribute to the deceased vinyl lover in your life than by having their ashes pressed into a piece of vinyl featuring audio of them talking and a personalised sleeve? Poor-taste gimmick or tender way to remember a loved one? Decide for yourself. . . .
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 06, 2017  |  0 comments
German Audio Specialist AVM (Audio Video Manufaktur) has been around for 30 years, and has established a considerable lineup of components spread across three key ranges called Inspiration, Evolution and Ovation. The new brand to the UK got its first outing at the Bristol Sound & Vision show in February and carries a comprehensive range of models including integrated, pre and power amplifiers, receivers, CD player/DACs and all-in-one solutions like the £11,695 Ovation CS 6. 2 and 8. 2 flagship models (above and below respectively).
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 05, 2017  |  0 comments
Properly cleaning loudspeakers isn’tas simple as you might imagine. Fortunately Dynaudio’s Customer Care Manager, Otto Jørgensen is on hand to explain all, including how to turn a pushed in tweeter out again. . .
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 04, 2017  |  0 comments
Following the launch of the DS-W1 optical cartridge from DS Audio, the Japanese company has announced the introduction ofits most affordable optical pick-upto date in the form of the DS 002. Drawing on its experience with developing the original DS-W1 optical cartridge that arrived in the UK in 2015 and quickly followed by the Master 1 design released here in 2016, the DS 002 sportsan aluminium chassis, aluminium cantilever and classic Shibata stylus with the same enhanced optical-mechanical system and wire-suspended cantilever, and claims to deliver a similar output to the Master 1 with 500mV and 25dB of separation. The DS 002 optical cartridge also comes packaged with a more compact and lightweight phono stage/equaliser unit, in which a newly updated power supply features 10 33,000uF capacitors delivering what the maker claims is effortless power and superlative sound quality. It usesa special shielding that is 1.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 03, 2017  |  0 comments
One of the most recognisable facesin the hi-fi industry, few people are better placed to talk about the merits of Master Quality Audio (MQA) than its creator Bob Stuart. The Bob Talks site sees the man behind the music format answer questions on every aspect of MQA, click here to find out more. . .
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 31, 2017  |  0 comments
Showcasing its six-strong LX lineup at the Bristol Sound & Vision show held in February, visitorsto the fourth floor of the Marriott Hotel City Centre got the chanceto experience Mission's complete entry-level range of loudspeakersfor the first time. Touted as offering exceptional performance and value, the £160 LX-2 standmount and £400 LX-3 floorstanding speakers were launched almost a year ago. Theyare joined by four new models that augment the range with a further standmount speaker, two additional floorstanders as well as a centre channel model if your audio aspirations extend to multi-channel loudspeaker installations. As with the first models unveiled, Mission tells us that its LX series has been designed to deliver compelling musicality.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 30, 2017  |  0 comments
Chord Electronics has unveiled a new solid-black machine-polished acrylic side panel option for itsflagship Reference range and its full-size Chord range. All double and quad-height products (see below for full list) in Chord Electronics’ two upper ranges can now be ordered with the new solid-black acrylic side panels as an alternative to the traditional Integra Leg System; Chord’s single-height products will also be available with the new side panels later in the year. Each block is precision-machined from solid-black acrylic and then machine polished to a piano black finish and the new design is said to take its inspiration from Bauhaus styling. Chord Electronics tells us that compatible products already in service can also be retro-fitted with the panels as a chargeable factory upgrade.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 30, 2017  |  0 comments
Welcome to the April 2017 issue of Hi-Fi Choice magazine. Spotify is the world’s most popular music streaming service and has recently surpassed 50 million subscribers, according to its own stats. The streaming service giant’s popularity is also confirmed by the results of our own Twitter poll that ran online in early March asking: “What’s the best music streaming service for you?” – see full survey results on p69. Somewhat surprisingly, the results show that even among quality audio fans Spotify’s ad-free Premium subscription service with sound quality only up to 320kbps for its music streams comes top of our poll.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 23, 2017  |  0 comments
Opened in 1958 Top Ten Records has become Dallas’ oldest record store. In an effort to keep the store running, the owners came up with the brilliant idea of inviting fans to subscribe and become members of what’s now a non-profit archive. Let’s hope other stores follow its lead. .

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