News

2017 got off to an exciting start following our annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show last month to witness the latest technology developments and product launches for the year ahead. The massive event attracts trade visitors from across the globe, and you can read all about the hottest new trends and audio highlights coming your way in our CES Show Report. One of the most significant stories at this year’s show was MQA’s announcement that its Masters hi-res content has been added to Tidal’s HiFi music platform. Tidal is the first to offer hi-res audio streaming content, and regular readers will know that its top-tier HiFi subscription offering is our preferred music service of choice after winning our blind listening streaming servicesGroup Testfor two years running, thanks to its consistent CD-quality streams.

Welcome to the Hi-Fi Choice Yearbook 2016. In putting together this special edition of your favourite hi-fi magazine, it’s clear to see what a landmark year it has been for audio, with a staggering number of high-performance components emerging to feed our passion for quality sound in increasingly innovative ways. But this has also been the year we said goodbye to too many cherished musicians, and you’ll find our tributes to David Bowie and Prince inside this bumper issue. Elsewhere inside this 164-page bumper issue you’ll find our pick of the greatest-sounding audio products to undergo our respected reviewing process in 2016.

Hot on the heels of its Essential II (HFC 376), Pro-Ject has unveiled its follow-up Essential III. Manufactured from high-quality MDF and wrapped in a high-gloss paint finish (in a choice of red, white or black), the design will be familiar to those that know the II – even down to the three anti-vibration feet. The Essential III comes pre-fitted with an 8. 6in aluminium tonearm and Ortofon OM 10 cartridge (the II had the OM 5E).

The original AE1 appeared when Acoustic Energy was a startup business in 1987. It was widely acclaimed as a benchmark for compact loudspeaker designs, and earned the Gloucestershire-based company recognition around the world. Fast forward 30 years and home speaker systems have changed dramatically, and partly because of this and to celebrate the company's anniversary in 2017, Acoustic Energy's engineers have been hard at work on an active version of its popular original AE1. Designed in response to the changing desires of audio systems at home, the AE1 Active combines the company's traditional craftsmanship along with its Aego active sub/sat system experience with built-in amplification.

Welcome to the January 2017 issue! It may seem a little early to be welcoming in the new year with the first Hi-Fi Choice issue of 2017, but we’re already bursting into next year with exclusive reviews and the hottest news. Speaking of which, breaking news as we go to press with this issue is that Samsung is to acquire Harman International for a cash sum of $18bn. As one of the biggest names in the business, the US firm has its fingers in almost every sector of the audio market through a roll call of big-name brands that includes Harman Kardon, AKG and JBL, along with specialist premium audio brands Infinity and Mark Levinson et al. There had already been rumors circulating that Samsung was looking to buy a specialist audio brand, but it’s understood that Harman’s automotive connections are what ultimately secured the landmark deal as the smart-tech giant looks to move into these sectors.

The increasing popularity of vinyl has seen a growth in record clubs where subscribers pay an annual fee and receive an exclusive album or single every month. Stylus Vinyl is the latest record club to get in on the action, but with a unique twist on the format – you also get a bottle of wine every month to enjoy with your album. Releases so far include Prince's Purple Rain and The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers and subscribers can choose from one of three payment plans. Subscribing on a month-by-month basis costs £35 a month, you can pay £100 for three months or £375 for a year.

It's widely aknowledge thatAudio Technica's AT-LP5 turntable is one of the best around at the price – we gave it 4. 5 stars when we reviewed it back in HFC 405 – but there is always room for improvement, and that's where The Audio Files come in. By marrying the Audio-Technica turntable with a highly respected entry-level tonearm – in the shape of the classic Rega RB202 -it's hope that the result might just be one of the best direct-drive turntables available. Further improvement, meanwhile, is afforded the budget turntable with the inclusion of a custom-made 4mm acrylic arm-board that's been CNC laser cut for perfect geometry and optimum VTA.