News

Getting its first official showing at the High End Show in Munich, Cyrus has unveiled its new ONE integrated amplifier. It’s not the first time that the Huntingdon firm has given the ‘1’ model name to an integrated amplifier, and the original Cyrus 1 some 30 years ago provided the footprint for its compact range of components that continue today. The reimagined ONE has a distinctly contemporary aesthetic with two large front panel controls for source selection and volume level control. Internally it offers a claimed 2x 100W maximumpower output and utilises the third generation of the company’s hybrid Class D technology with automatic Speaker Impedance Detection (SID) circuit to instantly measure the speaker impedance connected to its bi-wire-compatible speaker binding posts and to adjust the amplifier to suit.

Formula One motor racing and loudspeaker design might seem worlds apart, but a clear understanding of aerodynamics and the effects of air turbulence and drag is one of the key considerations in the design of PMC's Advanced Transmission Line bass loading, found in its new twenty5 series of loudspeakers. PMC's headof design, Oliver Thomas, has some experience in the motor sport, and has used his knowledge to develop an aerodynamic Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) bass loading Laminair vent that's employed in the five-strong loudspeaker series to reduce resistance and increase efficiency. Additional innovations incorporated throughout the new series include a new long-throw mid/bass driver with woven glass fibre cones, as well as refinements to its established Sonolex fabric dome tweeter to improve dispersion for a wider soundstage, says PMC. As with previous speakers from the company, the new series has slopping front and rear baffles.

When it comes to choosing how to listen to your favourite music there area number of different options available. You can go with a traditional loudspeaker hooked up to your system via cables, you can go down the wi-fi route with a digital music system, you can stream your sounds to a Bluetooth speaker or you can lose yourself in a world of your own and put on a pair of headphones. This month, the kind folk at KEF offer up a prize for each of these eventualities, meaning that no matter what way you choose to listen, you can be sure of great sound quality. The first prize in our bumper giveaway is the rather gorgeous LS50 standmount loudspeaker.

Former HFC editor and current reviewer, David Price, recently met up with Musical Fidelity's ownerAntony Michaelson for a chat about the Musical Fidelity Encore 225 streaming music system. Here's what happened. . .

Roksan Audio has uneviled the latest addition to its portfolio in the shape of the new blak series of electronics, which consists of an integrated amplifier and CD player. Theblak series is being introduced as an entirely new design for Roksan – both in terms of sound performance and visual appeal. It features a robust, industrial design that manages to look modern and elegant. The British company describes the blak series as the audiophile solution for those seeking superlative performance and features within a ‘statement product’ aesthetic, but without the esoteric high-end audio price tag.

It’s been nearly four years since the original DragonFly DAC (HFC 367) was released, and now AudioQuest is unveiling two new models designed to be compatible with Android and Apple smartphones. The new USB DACs handle files up to 24-bit/96kHz, and put music quality first, says AQ. The DragonFly Red (£169) has a 32-bit ESS Sabre 9016 chip and is suited to lower sensitivity headphones, while the Black (£89) DragonFly employs a 9010 chipset and is suited to medium to high sensitivity headphones. Like earlier DragonFlys, the Black has an analogue volume control, whilethe Red opts for a digital one.

Music centres are the perfect solution for those that are short on space, and Ruark Audio has become something of a master of the form (see its R4 Mk3 on theGroup Test in HFC 411), so the news that the British manufacturer has upgraded its R7 is very welcome. We reviewed the original R7 in HFC 384, commenting on its styling cues taken from the classic radiogram, which updates the traditional ‘wireless’ by including digital, analogue and internet tuners, along with a slot-loading CD player. Ruark Audio tells us that the updated R7 benefits from further audio enhancements to its amplifiers and speaker crossovers that results in a smoother and more extended frequency response with improved soundstage, making the listening experience even more realistic and enjoyable. The revised model still offers DLNA wi-fi and aptX Bluetooth connectivity for streaming of music from smartphones, laptops and network storage devices, as well as more traditional analogue and digital connectivity hookups – and a charging port for smartphones and tablets.