Hi-Fi Choice

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 22, 2018 | 0 comments

With streaming music readily available at our finger tips, it’s sometimes difficult to fathom the best way of combining digital media libraries into one central location to achieve the same effortless tap-to-play scenario that brings together all our digital music. I am sure plenty of us have spent enough time grappling with network-attached storage hardware and CD-ripping software to know that there has to be a more elegant way of cataloguing our music libraries.

Loudspeakers

Triangle Esprit Australe EZ

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 21, 2018 | 0 comments

The genuine materialisation of Triangle’s philosophy”, is how the company describes this substantial floorstander – despite not being the flagship line. Instead, the Australe EZ is the top of the Esprit range, which is two below the top Magellan. You might say it’s ideal if you want the best performance and value mix.

Integrated Amplifiers

PMC Cor

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 20, 2018 | 0 comments

If asked to come up with the British loudspeaker manufacturer most likely to move into the amplifier sector, PMC might not be the first to come to mind. With a long-standing distribution relationship with Canadian amplifier specialist Bryston and a budding partnership with AVM in Germany, the company isn’t short of quality power options, so why build its own? The thing is, PMC has been building its own amplification for some of its active loudspeakers for some time now and has worked with Bryston to optimise design.

Network Media Players

Auralic Aries G1

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 19, 2018 | 0 comments

Eagle-eyed readers will recognise the form of the Auralic Aries G1 from our review in the January issue of its high-end Aries G2 sibling at £3,899. Understandably the G1 sacrifices some of the features of the flagship model to come in at less than half the price. The principle is the same, though, and this is a streaming transport that focuses on the business of accessing your digital music files on a home or external server and presenting them to an outboard DAC via its digital output connectivity.

News

Bluesound introduces Generation 2i platform

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 17, 2018 | 0 comments

Reimagining its hi-res streamingand wireless lineup, Bluesound – the Canadian multi-room music system specialist – unveils its Generation 2i (Gen 2i) platform, with extensive hardware and software updates. The comprehensive redesign sees updates in all Gen 2i models that includes dual-band wi-fi, AirPlay 2 support and two-way Bluetooth with aptX HD support. A 3. 0 version of its BluOS control app is included in the Node 2i network streamer (£499), Powernode 2i network streamer and amplifier – now with two Toslink/3.

Cables & Accessories

ISOkinetik Silver Melody 2.5

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 16, 2018 | 0 comments

There is 50 percent more silver used in the Silver Melody 2. 5 compared with the company’s original Melody 2 tonearm cable. The solid wire conductors are made from 99. 99 percent silver and insulated with the company’s dielectric material.

News

Kudos Audio unveils Titan 505 standmount loudspeaker

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 14, 2018 | 0 comments

One of the many demo highlights from last weekend's The Hi-Fi Show Live 2018, the Titan 505 standmount is the latest to join the Kudos Audio flagship series. The two-way isobaric bass reflex design features two new double-coated hard paper cone mid/bass drivers crafted by SEAS in a back-to-back arrangement. Quoted sensitivity is 87dB/1W/1m into 6ohm with a frequency range of 40Hz to 30kHz. The tweeter is saidto be a “precisely tailored” 29mm fabric dome and the loudspeaker’s internal crossover can be bypassed to enable active operation with selected systems including Linn Exakt and Devialet Expert.

News

Hana adds ML and MH M-Series Carts

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 13, 2018 | 0 comments

Known for its mid-priced moving-coil cartridges, Hana has announced a deluxe line with its M-Series moving-coil cartridges. Hailing from Tokyo’s Excel Sound Corporation, the ML and MH cartridges (Low and High output options) are a development of its SL and SH designs that we reviewed in HFC 408, and utilise a Microline nude diamond tip stylus for improved tracking and performance. Both cartridges quote a frequency range of 12Hz to 45kHz with a tracking force of 2g and have threaded fittings built into the top of the cartridge body for ease of mounting. Distributed in the UK by Air Audio Services Ltd.

News

Astell&Kern announces SP1000M Digital Audio Player

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 12, 2018 | 0 comments

Following the introduction of its £3,299 SP1000 portable music player last year, Astell&Kern has announced a new flagship in the form of the SP1000M priced at £1,999. Another bold industrial design, the body shape uses the company’s distinctive, irregular split planes to give the SP1000M a similar tactile quality to its upmarket sibling.

News

AVID introduces Ingenium Plug&Play turntable

Hi-Fi Choice | Nov 09, 2018 | 0 comments

Following the introduction of its Ingenium turntable design almost half a decade ago (HFC 379), Cambridgeshire-based AVID Hi-Fi has unveiled the Ingenium Plug&Play. Priced at £1,250 and fitted with a tonearm and moving-magnet cartridge, the packaged deck replaces previous Ingenium models and the company says: “Everything on this turntable has been reworked, from the chassis design that now sports AVID’s trademark oversized A emblazoned into the body, to the new inline power switch – now 5A with dual pole switching to allow total power isolation to the motor”. A new bearing hub has been designed with future upgradability in mind, allowing for the supplied MDF platter to be changed to a precision aluminium version to further enhance sound quality and lower the noise floor. Look out for our world-exclusive review next issue and click here for more.

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