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Webwatch: MQA Q&A
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Apr 03, 2017  |  0 comments
One of the most recognisable facesin the hi-fi industry, few people are better placed to talk about the merits of Master Quality Audio (MQA) than its creator Bob Stuart. The Bob Talks site sees the man behind the music format answer questions on every aspect of MQA, click here to find out more. . .
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Mission unveils new LX loudspeakers
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 31, 2017  |  0 comments
Showcasing its six-strong LX lineup at the Bristol Sound & Vision show held in February, visitorsto the fourth floor of the Marriott Hotel City Centre got the chanceto experience Mission's complete entry-level range of loudspeakersfor the first time. Touted as offering exceptional performance and value, the £160 LX-2 standmount and £400 LX-3 floorstanding speakers were launched almost a year ago. Theyare joined by four new models that augment the range with a further standmount speaker, two additional floorstanders as well as a centre channel model if your audio aspirations extend to multi-channel loudspeaker installations. As with the first models unveiled, Mission tells us that its LX series has been designed to deliver compelling musicality.
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Chord Electronics showcases new side panels
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 30, 2017  |  0 comments
Chord Electronics has unveiled a new solid-black machine-polished acrylic side panel option for itsflagship Reference range and its full-size Chord range. All double and quad-height products (see below for full list) in Chord Electronics’ two upper ranges can now be ordered with the new solid-black acrylic side panels as an alternative to the traditional Integra Leg System; Chord’s single-height products will also be available with the new side panels later in the year. Each block is precision-machined from solid-black acrylic and then machine polished to a piano black finish and the new design is said to take its inspiration from Bauhaus styling. Chord Electronics tells us that compatible products already in service can also be retro-fitted with the panels as a chargeable factory upgrade.
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April issue on sale now!
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 30, 2017  |  0 comments
Welcome to the April 2017 issue of Hi-Fi Choice magazine. Spotify is the world’s most popular music streaming service and has recently surpassed 50 million subscribers, according to its own stats. The streaming service giant’s popularity is also confirmed by the results of our own Twitter poll that ran online in early March asking: “What’s the best music streaming service for you?” – see full survey results on p69. Somewhat surprisingly, the results show that even among quality audio fans Spotify’s ad-free Premium subscription service with sound quality only up to 320kbps for its music streams comes top of our poll.
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Webwatch: Introducing Dallas' oldest record store
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 23, 2017  |  0 comments
Opened in 1958 Top Ten Records has become Dallas’ oldest record store. In an effort to keep the store running, the owners came up with the brilliant idea of inviting fans to subscribe and become members of what’s now a non-profit archive. Let’s hope other stores follow its lead. .
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Two new turntables from Technics
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 13, 2017  |  0 comments
Following the launch of the flagship SL-1200G direct-drive turntable reviewed in HFC 418, the Japanese tech giant introduces two additional models, but with more wallet-friendly price tags. The SL-1200GR and the SL-1210GR decks have an identical specification, but come with silver and black plinth top plates respectively. The new turntables claim to utilise the same design principles as the flagship SL-1200G, but with slightly different materials and applications. Parts from the SL-1200G are newly developed, and the twin-rotor coreless direct-drive motor designed for the flagship deck is replaced here with a single-rotor design.
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MarkLevinson releases new media hub
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 10, 2017  |  0 comments
If you’re in the market for aluxury all-in-one music player, MarkLevinson’s N°519 digital audio player may just be the ideal media hub for you. It’s a wired and wireless network-ready DAC capable of handling 32/192 PCM music files with DSD support as well as CD playback via the front disc-loading slot. The black with silver trim aluminium housing is designed and built in the USA and the company claims it uses a pure path discrete, direct coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path for best performance. Around the back there’s a hostof digital connection options, including balanced, coaxial, optical and USB asynchronous inputs.
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Bryston unveils new BCD-3 CD player
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 09, 2017  |  0 comments
CD is regarded as the format of choice for many hi-fi fans, and the Canadian high-end audio specialist introduces its premium BCD-3 CD player offering a choice of balanced XLR or RCA analogue outputs as well as coaxial and AES digital outs. It’s Ethernet connectable for software upgrades and the transport/laser pickup assembly is paired with two AKM4490 32-bit/384kHz DACs synchronised by the company’s single master clock that claims to eliminate one of the primary causes of jitter. It features a Class A analogue output stage and independent analogue and digital power supplies. Designed to complement Bryston’s Cubed Series amplifiers, it’s available in black or silver and is distributed in the UK by PMC speakers.
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Aëdle brings luxury to in-ear headphones
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 08, 2017  |  0 comments
Looking to redefine audio luxury, French manufacturer Aëdle’s in-ear headphones aim to combine minimalism and refined design with outstanding audio performance. Its latest release, the ODS-1 features a hybrid sound engine with a balanced armature driver and 10mm titanium diaphragm dynamic transducer that’s claimed to deliver powerful and warm lows with highly refined highs to render a fully immersive sound signature. Hand crafted in its Parisian workshop, the ODS-1 has a machined aluminium housing along with ear hooks and MMCX detachable cable sheathed in calf’s leather from Venetia. The removable cable has a remote control and microphone, and is compatible with iOS and Android operating systems.
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Dual relaunches in the UK
Hi-Fi Choice  |  Mar 07, 2017  |  0 comments
A familiar name to older hi-fi enthusiasts, German company Dual was once the largest manufacturer of turntables in Europe – its name a reference to the dual-mode power supplies the company pioneered in the early thirties for its gramophones, which could be powered either by electricity or their wind-up mechanism. Throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties Dual produced a series of class-leading products, and now as vinyl enjoys a renaissance, it has returned to the UK with three new offerings: the MTR-15, MTR-40 and MTR-75 with USB (pictured). The £125 MTR-15 is the most basic offering of the trio, offering fully automatic operation. Styled like a pro-audio DJ deck, the £230 MTR-40 is a direct-drive turntable with variable speed control, but of most interest is the £250 MTR-75, which the company describes as the perfect option for audiophiles on a budget.
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