News

What better way to celebrate 70 years of being in the business of sound than by introducing a new model that harks back to a legendary three-way speaker fromthe seventies? That’s precisely what JBL had in mindwhen it decided to rework its classic three-way compact studio monitor, and the result is the £2,500 4312SE. Reprisingthe driver configuration and aesthetics of the renowned 4310/4311 studio and L100 ‘Century’ hi-fi monitors, the new speaker includes JBL’s latest transducers in the shape of the 300mm Aqua-Plas-coated pure pulp cone bass driver, 125mmm polymer-coated pure pulp cone midrange and a 25mm aluminium/magnesium alloy tweeter with waveguide and configured in mirror-image pairs. Additional features include a bass reflex enclosure with front-firing port, front panel mid and high-frequency controls and a removable black cloth grille. Each speaker has a special 70th anniversary badge and certificate with signatures of the engineer and assembly technician.

JBL launches new wireless earbuds, mobile speaker systems and portable speakers

Jeff Lynne’s ELO is set to deliver a new album which will be the first new ELO music in 15 years. Alone In The Universe, the album is set for global release 12 November on RCA Records in the UK. The first single When I Was a Boy was released in late September and anyone that preorders the album will get it as an instant download. As with ELO’s previous releases, Lynne continuesto serve as producer, songwriter, arranger, lead singer and guitarist.

Gold Note Vasari Shibata moving-magnet cartridge, Violectric DHA V226 desktop headphone amp/DAC, iFi Audio GO bar Kensei DAC, Eve System Eve Play network streamer, Burmester B38 floor standing loudspeakers, Munich High End show report, a turntable Group Test and much, much more

Six premium turntables in our Group Teat, RSD second drop releases, Sonus faber Lumina I, T+A Solitaire P-SE planar magnetic headphone and much more

Thanks to the large number of you that shared pictures with us of your vinyl setups in response to last month’s Twitter poll asking whether or not you own a record player. The result of the poll shows that 65 percent of respondents do indeed have a turntable, with a further 10 percent looking to discover or return to the format soon. Receiving the pics of your systems on our Facebook and Twitter feeds was very enlightening and provided a clear demonstration of the level of equipment owned along with the care and attention lavished upon turntables. With this in mind, we felt it was a perfect time to look more closely at moving-coil cartridges, and this month’s Group Test compares six upmarket MC pick-ups (£650-£1,000), designed to make a significant upgrade to your vinyl replay.

The July issue is packed with the hottest hi-fi reviews including NAD’s Masters Series M10 streaming amplifier, Kudos Audio’s Titan 505 standmount, Ophidian’s P3 Evolution floorstander and Primephonic’s classical music streaming service, plus six in-ear headphones fight it out to become the prefect partner for listening to summer sounds on the move