Hi-Fi Choice

Inside the September 2017 issue we take anIn-depthlook at B&W’s dazzling 800 Series Diamond 805 D3 standmount, plusExoticatakes an exclusive look at a Class D power amp and preamp combo by Mola-Mola, while our regular reviews section looks at the stunning new Rega Planar 6 turntable, Simaudio’s Moon Nēo MiND network music player, ATC’s HTS7 wall mounting speakers, and IsoAcoustic’s GAIA II isolation feet. Plus,Beautiful Systemlooks at a stunning vinyl and streaming setup from Gold Note, whileMusic Legendsspotlights Bob Marley – the man who brought reggae to the masses – and our six-wayGroup Testlooks at six muscular amps from Arcam, Denon, Hegel, Technics, and Yamaha. Insider Feature The world of content streaming is a difficult one to master and many music streaming services face uncertain times. Qobuz knows all about such difficulties and after facing near collapse in 2015, the French streaming and download platform is back on track following an overhaul of its services under new stewardship.

Not content with breathing new life into its famed SL-1200 turntable (see p46), Technics has unveiled a new compact stereo system in the shape of the SC-C70. With five loudspeakers built-in and Technics-developed Space Tune calibration software – which corrects parameters over its own network to optimise its spatial surroundings – the SC-C70 featuresa built-in CD player alongside Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, DLNA compliancy and a USB input for streaming from electronic devices like tablets and smartphones alongside music services such as Spotify and Tidal. An app will be introduced to make operation from a smart device simple, and the SC-C70 will be available from September. Price is still to be confirmed, but click here for more.

Probably best known as a manufacturer of full-size headphones that utilise planar magnetic driver technology to create thin and lightweight units with the voice coil printed into them, Audeze recently became the first company to repeat the trick by including the driver technology on its range of in-ear headphones – most notably in the shape of the iSINE 10. Reviewed on these very pages back in issue 423, we were very impressed and consequently issued a Recommended badge. So expectations are suitably high for the newly released LCDi4. Described by the maker as: “The end game in-ear headphone for music lovers”, the £2,400 LCD-i4 uses the same 0.

Since 1981, Wharfedale has been making an attractive entrypoint into hi-fi sound quality withits Diamond series of loudspeakers, enticing audio fans with their fine design and performance. The latest range, unveiled at the High End Show in Munich, comprises eight new models: three two-way standmounts – Diamond 11. 0 (£160), 11. 1 (£270) and 11.