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2018 marks 50 years since Professor Gordon Edge came up with Cambridge Audio's first product, the P40 integrated amplifier. And so it seems rather fitting that one of the British company's founders is the inspiration for this new high-end series, released specifically to celebrate its golden anniversary. In a marked change from Cambridge's more traditional affordable fare, the new Edge series is designed to bring all of the company's experience in'Great British Sound' to produce its most accomplished system to date. Consequently, every product has been selected for its sonic merit throughan exhausting set of blind auditions, rather than working towards a price, featureset or series of measurements.

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Originally launched exclusively in Germany to celebrate its 30th anniversary, AVM has revealed plans to introduce its AVM30 series into the UK via PMC UK Distribution. The entry-level range includes integrated pre and power amplifiers and a CD and media player and visitors to the Bristol Show got to see for themselves what it has to offer – see Show Report in the current issue. Drawing on the heritage of the AVM A2, the new £2,750 A 30 integrated amplifier takes the direct double-mono setup of its predecessor and adds additional functionality such as digital inputs, the latest version of Bluetooth and adjustment options for input sensitivity and sound control. The PA 30 preamplifier boasts an MM and MC phono module, the same adjustment options and connectivity including digital S/PDIF optical, coaxial and USB inputs plus Bluetooth.

On display for the first time at The Bristol Show in February (seeour full report in the latest issue), the Studio is the latest two-way standmount design from Monitor Audio. Without any kind of grille, Studio's designers tell us that the intention was to make the two metallic-silver RDT II speaker cones the focal point and give it an eye-catching contemporary edge. The dual 102mm drivers are modified versions of those found on its Platinum range flagship PL500 II floorstander. Utilising the same design principles and materials, a micro pleated diaphragm (MPD) is used as the cental high-frequency transducer.

One of the things we love about hi-fi is that it’s continuously evolving. As our systems grow with a mix of carefully chosen components based on our format needs and total synergy with the rest of the setup, it feels like audio art in the making – and it doesn’t stop once all the components are in place either. Years of tinkering has taught me that significant improvements in the sound of my system can often be gained by simply rearranging the furniture in my room or by trying out one of the vast numbers of accessories designed to help prevent interference from external forces or maintain audio signal integrity throughout the chain of components. Not all of them have had a positive effect on the sound of my setup, but many have achieved a nuanced influence, bringing greater rewards to the listening experience.

Built specifically to partner the Class D topology of its half-width ONE amplifier (HFC 417), Cyrus has unveiled the £350 ONElinear; a compact bookshelf loudspeaker that managing director Simon Freethy says: “. . . is designed to showcase the amplifier’s true ability.

For Exposure, 2017 was the year for downsizing, or at least it was as far as its XM series was concerned. A quick recap: back in HFC 424 the XM5 integrated amplifier wowed reviewersby providing an audiophile performance from the sort of sleek half-width dimensions more commonly associated with a lifestyle product. And then it repeated the trick in HFC 429 with the XM7 preamp/DAC and XM9 power amplifier. Now comes the turn of the XM HP headphone amplifier.