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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.

A familiar name to older hi-fi enthusiasts, German company Dual was once the largest manufacturer of turntables in Europe – its name a reference to the dual-mode power supplies the company pioneered in the early thirties for its gramophones, which could be powered either by electricity or their wind-up mechanism. Throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties Dual produced a series of class-leading products, and now as vinyl enjoys a renaissance, it has returned to the UK with three new offerings: the MTR-15, MTR-40 and MTR-75 with USB (pictured). The £125 MTR-15 is the most basic offering of the trio, offering fully automatic operation. Styled like a pro-audio DJ deck, the £230 MTR-40 is a direct-drive turntable with variable speed control, but of most interest is the £250 MTR-75, which the company describes as the perfect option for audiophiles on a budget.

Multi-room music systems are a popular choice for a growing number of music fans and Danish hi-fi loudspeaker brand Dynaudio is the latest to diversify and join the fray. Its new four-strong range of networked active speaker systems is called Music and can be used in any combination desired up to a total of six units. All four speakers share some common intelligent technology, designed to make them easier to integrate into your environment. Each is fitted with software called RoomAdapt, which claims to sense the proximity of the speaker in relation to rear or side walls and adjust its output for the optimum performance.

Dynaudio has announced details of its new Contour LE series, consisting of the S 1. 4 LE bookshelf loudspeaker (pictured above) and the S 3. 4LE floorstander. The rigid cabinet design features what Dynaudio describes as a “unique baffle” made up of three layers – including a layer of damping material and a thick metal plate.

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Two years in development, Talk Electronics has unveiled its latest Edwards Audio integrated amplifier. The IA3-R boasts a new MOSFET output stage, RF filtering, improved small signal transistors and a new custom-wound toroidal transformer. It claims power output of 2x 90W into 8ohm and a signal-to-noise ratio of 85dB at 1W. Completely designed and manufactured in the UK, it hasa blue backlit display and comes equipped with a remote control handset.