News

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Dec 01, 2016  |  0 comments
Analogue Studio 45 RPM Centre Hole Spindle Adapter Machined from a single block of aluminium, the 45 RPM Centre Hole Spindle Adapter is an elegant solution for playback of any singles that are missing their detachable centre. The adapter is simply fitted over the spindle of your turntable and the single will then fit over the outside of the adapter. The adapter is very well made and the aluminium finish looks great with any modern turntable. On sale at: Analogue Seduction Price: £8 Contact: 01733 350878 Website: analogueseduction.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 30, 2016  |  0 comments
The increasing popularity of vinyl has seen a growth in record clubs where subscribers pay an annual fee and receive an exclusive album or single every month. Stylus Vinyl is the latest record club to get in on the action, but with a unique twist on the format – you also get a bottle of wine every month to enjoy with your album. Releases so far include Prince's Purple Rain and The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers and subscribers can choose from one of three payment plans. Subscribing on a month-by-month basis costs £35 a month, you can pay £100 for three months or £375 for a year.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 29, 2016  |  0 comments
A new UK music streaming service has launched, enabling users to access millions of albums via their TV and wi-fi network. Electric Jukebox is designed to provide music for a one-off single payment of £169 for a one-year 'Premium Music Pass'. The Electric Jukebox TV stick plugs into your the television's HDMI port, while the Electric Jukebox controller provides simple ‘point and click’ motion sensitive controls with a built-in microphone for Voice Search by saying the name of the artist album or song you want. It's available in a choice of red, blue and charcoal finishes and itenables users to create mixtapes or access channels curated by music experts and celebrity mixtapes.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 28, 2016  |  0 comments
It's widely aknowledge thatAudio Technica's AT-LP5 turntable is one of the best around at the price – we gave it 4. 5 stars when we reviewed it back in HFC 405 – but there is always room for improvement, and that's where The Audio Files come in. By marrying the Audio-Technica turntable with a highly respected entry-level tonearm – in the shape of the classic Rega RB202 -it's hope that the result might just be one of the best direct-drive turntables available. Further improvement, meanwhile, is afforded the budget turntable with the inclusion of a custom-made 4mm acrylic arm-board that's been CNC laser cut for perfect geometry and optimum VTA.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 25, 2016  |  0 comments
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, REL has revealed that it will be updating its reference subwoofer line and launching two new models in the shape of the No. 25 and the G1 Mark II. The No. 25 combines a 1,000W amplifier with a lightweight carbon fibre 15in driver produced using a cone material that is stronger than steel, but weighs 70 percent less than a 10in cone from just two years ago.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 24, 2016  |  0 comments
Hot on the heels of its MP5 and MP10 wireless music systems (HFC 407),Musaic has launched its third wireless audio product – the MPL Music Player, which has been designed to stream to any stereo or home cinema system. The MPL has an ESS SABRE DAC built-in while an audio playback ‘engine’ allows uncompressed high-resolution playback for uncompromised sound quality and support of almost any file type including 24-bit Studio Master files. Itconnects to any device with an analogue line-level input or via an S/PDIF or Toslink digital input. It's also fully compatible with the MP5 and MP10 smart speakers and so can be used in a multi-room setup.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 09, 2016  |  0 comments
Cambridge-based dCS introduces its £3,250 Network Bridge that enables high-resolution music file streaming from NAS and connected USB drives, online streaming services as well as AirPlay-connected devices, outputting bit-perfect audio direct to your DAC with support for 24-bit/ 384kHz files plus DSD64 or 128 in native or DoP formats. Streaming service support includes Tidal and Spotify Connect and the Network Bridge is Roon-ready. It also supports the company’s acclaimed auto-clocking system to minimise jitterfor superior sound quality. The control app uses the same interface technology as dCS’ flagship Vivaldi series to manage your entire digital music library.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 08, 2016  |  0 comments
Hi-fi specialist Pro-Ject has introduced two Primary turntables aimed, it says, at customers that want to experience true audio qualityon a budget. With a range of award-winning decks in its continuously expanding lineup, the new Primary turntables’ design takes inspiration from its accomplished Elemental and Essential II models. Like the Essential player, the Primary is a traditional layout with an MDF plinth, platter and felt mat. The plinth is available in matte black, white or red finishes, and a detachable dust cover is included.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 07, 2016  |  0 comments
Danish loudspeaker brand Dynaudio chose The Indulgence Show held in London in October to unveil its new series of Contour models to UK enthusiasts. The four-strong lineup includes the standmount Contour 20 (£3,750) – a two-way configuration with a 28mm soft dome tweeter and 180mm mid/bass driver, whichclaims 86dB sensitivity into 4ohm. The medium-sized floorstanding Contour 30 (£5,750) has the same drivers as its sibling but in a 2. 5-way configuration and claims 87dB sensitivity, while the three-way Contour 60 floorstander (£7,500) has a 150mm midrange and two 240mm bass drivers and quotes 89dB sensitivity.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 04, 2016  |  0 comments
When Naim launched the original Uniti all-in-one system in 2009, it represented a sea changeto the design philosophy of the Salisbury-based brand. In recent years, Naim has expanded the Uniti range and announced the biggest change so far with the introduction of four all-new models that previewed at the The Indulgence Show held in Hammersmith, London in October. The new lineup comprises the Uniti Atom (£1,600, pictured above) – claiming 2x 40W RMS into 8ohm, Uniti Core server (£1,650), Uniti Star (£2,999) – claiming 2x 70W into 8ohm, and Uniti Nova (£3,800, below) – claiming 2x 80W RMS into 8ohm. All are built around new software and offer streaming support for 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD128 playback.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Nov 02, 2016  |  0 comments
Loudspeakers come in all shapes and sizes, and flicking through the pages of this month’s issue with its numerous models is a testament to this burgeoning sector of the audio market. From traditional floorstanders that range from models so large they block out the sun – step forward DALI’s Opticon 8 – to more elegant and less visually demanding designs, the Group Test starting on page 24 looks at six speakers priced £2,000 and under that tread a more conventional path in philosophy and construction that reaches right back to the dawn of domestic hi-fi itself. Compare these bulky, angular, passive floorstanders to Devialet’s extraordinary Gold Phantom reviewed on page 16, and the suggestion of the possible direction for the evolution of the loudspeaker and, indeed, high-performance hi-fi is small, self-powered, wireless, well-connected, insanely loud and more or less ball-shaped. Whether it turns out to be a trailblazer or a tangent too far, it surely demonstrates the pinnacle of today’s modular music system, one that can grow into a multi-room setup for music around the home.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Oct 13, 2016  |  0 comments
There are few loudspeakers that encapsulate the standards of the time quite as well as Yamaha's NS-1000M monitors. Launched in 1974, the then flagship model was easily ahead of anything else of the day, and used incredibly light, ultra-advanced beryllium drivers to produce a fast and agile sound that still managesto impress speaker enthusiasts more than 40 years on. An innovation at the time, Yamaha is keen to continue the legacy with its new NS-5000 flagship, planned for launch in 2017. In keeping with the almost legendary NS-1000M, the NS-5000 is a 30cm three-way design with newly developed tweeter, midrange and bass driver diaphragms made from a futuristic-sounding synthetic fibre created in Japan called Zylon, said to boast acoustic velocity properties comparable to beryllium.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Oct 12, 2016  |  0 comments
Six new models join Rotel’s stereo separates lineup from this month with three integrated amplifiers – A14, A12 and A10, plus the CD14 CD player and two tuners – T14 (£699) and T11 (£329) – offering FM/DAB reception as well as streaming radio playback via DTS Play-Fi. The flagship A14 amplifier (£999) offers 2x 80W into 8ohm and has Bluetooth aptX connectivity along with USB, coaxial and optical digital inputs handled via a 32-bit/768kHz DAC. The A12 (£799) and A10 (£389) models are rated at 60W and 40W respectively. The CD14 CD player (£549) is equipped with a Wolfson 24-bit/192kHz DAC and has coaxial digital and analogue outputs.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Oct 11, 2016  |  0 comments
Following its merger with Onkyo in Japan, Pioneer has unveiled three networked CD receiver systems. Each has wi-fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay connectivity options with support for 24-bit/192kHz and DSD audio files as well as TuneIn, Spotify, Tidal and Deezer streaming services and Google Cast. The range-topping X-HM86D (above) claims 2x 65W of Class D amplification, andcosts £650. Both the X-HM76D (£470) and X-HM86Dare equipped with a DAB/DAB+ tuner.
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Oct 10, 2016  |  0 comments
The annual IFA show in Berlin, held in early September, is the autumn showcase event for big-name brand launches. This year was no exception, as Sony introducedthe flagship Signature series to celebrate its 70th year. The new high-end audio range comprises the MDR-Z1R over-ear closed-back headphone (£1,700) fitted with 70mm HD drivers, which claims to achieve a wide frequency range that extends from 4Hz to 120kHz. A high-class luxury design, it’s made using premium materials and is supplied with a selectionof connectivity options (including a 4.

Pages

X