LATEST ADDITIONS

Ed Selley  |  Feb 12, 2012  |  0 comments
Cyrus Streamline £1,600 Well equipped for the brave new world of streamed music and other digital sources We reviewed Cyrus’s Stream X a few issues ago (HFC 351) in our first-ever Blind-listening Group Test of streaming music players. The Streamline effectively adds an integrated amplifier to the Stream X, and does so for just £200 extra. To some, the amplifier may look like a cheapskate add-on; a single high-performance integrated circuit which includes a full 30W per channel power amplifier in a single package. Time was, when that kind of thing was death to real sound quality, but things have moved on and the data sheet on this device suggests a performance that most designers of ‘serious’ amplifiers wouldn’t consider too shabby.
Ed Selley  |  Feb 12, 2012  |  0 comments
Myryad Mi - £1,295 Super user interface, neat packaging and great sound make this the star of the show The elder statesmen of the one-box system breed these days, the Myryad Mi has no way of connecting to a computer. It will, however, connect via its ‘M-Port’ to an iPod or iPhone Touch, which gives it some of the internet connectivity that some others lack. You can, for instance, use services like Spotify via an iPhone. It’s a mixed blessing; Apple products famously have a nice user interface, but you have to tie one up as a basic data-forwarding device when you could, with a fully Ethernet-enabled streamer, use that boring router box parked out of sight near your phone master socket.
Ed Selley  |  Feb 12, 2012  |  0 comments
Arcam Solo Neo £1,400 Highly specified, with full streaming capabilities, the Neo is the latest in Arcam’s popular Solo range Bringing the Solo up to date with recent trends, Arcam’s Neo is well-equipped with digital connectivity, including wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB (for portable players, etc. ). It doesn’t digitally interface to iPods and other Apple products, but it can control them via Arcam’s own optional irDock. It doesn’t have S/PDIF inputs either, but does sport four handy line-level analogue inputs.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 16, 2012  |  0 comments
Best Equipment Support Quadraspire Sunoko-Vent T A clever solution to the twin problems of resonance and ventilation, the slotted-shelves of the Sunoko- Vent T provide additional airfl ow to components that need them. And while reducing resonance from external sources, the main frame design allows equipment placed on it to shine. A good enough reason to be an award-winner. Details PRICE: £800 (includes four shelves) TYPE: Equipment rack TELEPHONE: 01179 863228 WEBSITE: quadraspire.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 16, 2012  |  0 comments
Best Turntable up to £1,500 Pro-Ject 6 Perspex Winning the Blind-listening Group Test (HFC 338), against competition that included a more recent version of last year’s award-winner, the 6 Perspex truly deserves this year’s top-spot. We loved its open and even-handed sound, the handsome design and its excellent build quality. Details PRICE: £1,280 (incl arm) TYPE: Turntable TELEPHONE: 01235 511166 WEBSITE: project-audio. com Clearaudio Concept Details PRICE: £1,100 (incl arm/ cartridge) TYPE: Turntable TELEPHONE: 01252 702705 WEBSITE: clearaudio.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 16, 2012  |  0 comments
Best Turntable over £1,500 Dr Feickert Analogue Woodpecker Vinyl has been with us for decades and yet the Woodpecker manages to pack some surprising innovations into its handsome design. A composite of metals, laminates and acetal plastic, the deck offers an insightful and revealing sound that makes it a worthy award-winner. . Details PRICE: £2,995 (excluding arm and cartridge) TYPE: Turntable TELEPHONE: 01923 352479 WEBSITE: angelsoundaudio.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 16, 2012  |  0 comments
Best Tuner Pure Sensia More than just a simple radio, the Sensia won over the judges, thanks in part to its excellent Pure DAB reception. It can also stream music over a wireless network and even surf the internet. That it does all of these things with aplomb easily makes it this year’s award-winner. Details PRICE: £250 TYPE: DAB/FM/web radio/media player TELEPHONE: 0845 148 9001 WEBSITE: pure.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 13, 2012  |  0 comments
Best Amplifier up to £1,000 Denon PMA-1510AE The ‘1510AE won us over with a clean and immediate sonic performance, coupled with a power output that is up to the task of driving virtually any speaker it is likely to encounter. For the price, it also enjoys excellent fit and finish and an extensive feature set, including bypassable tone controls and a good-quality MM/MC phono stage. A worthy winner. Details PRICE: £900 TYPE: Integrated TELEPHONE: 02890 279830 WEBSITE: denon.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 13, 2012  |  0 comments
Best CD Player up to £1,000 Roksan Kandy K2 The Kandy K2 is the only product from the 2009 Awards to retain its title. It returned to see off all challengers in a recent Blind-listening Group Test and the same qualities that earned it the award last year still apply. It is a truly accomplished musicmaker across a wide variety of styles and genres. With excellent timing and tonality the K2 is a great listen.
Ed Selley  |  Jan 13, 2012  |  0 comments
Best CD Player over £1,000 Resolution Audio Cantata We loved the Opus 21 CD player by Resolution Audio and always felt that it was going to take something special to better it. The Cantata is that something. Combining the roles of standalone CD player with that of a media streamer and DAC, the Cantata handles all roles with style, possessing a sound quality that is the equal of more expensive players. Details PRICE: £5,995 TYPE: CD/streamer TELEPHONE: 01268 858222 WEBSITE: resolutionaudio.

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