Hi-Fi Choice

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 16, 2015 | 0 comments

“Striking sound that can both soar and soothe” is how Danish manufacturer DALI describes the ethos that is at the heart of the new Opticon range. Consisting of seven models, the hand-assembled speakers boast a unique SMC-based magnet motor system alongside hybrid soft dome ribbon tweeters and wood-fibre, low-loss cones. The £499 Opticon 1 is a compact standmount with a 26mm soft dome tweeter and a 120mm wood-fibre, low-loss woofer. The slightly larger Opticon 2 (£649) increases the woofer to 165mm and partners it with a 28mm tweeter.

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Chord unveils Mojo DAC

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 15, 2015 | 0 comments

Following on from the success of its excellent Hugo DAC (on test HFC 386), Chord Electronics has unveiled a new portable digital-to-analogue converter aimed specifically at the large number of people that listen to their music on their smartphone. Mojo connects digitally to smartphones and portable devices via either Micro USB (a cable is supplied), optical or a 3. 5mm coaxial input and is capable of playing back all format types, including the hi-res Dop and DSD 64, 128 and 256 options. Mojo utilises a new Atrix-7 FPGA chipset from Silicon Valley's Xilinx, which is a programmable circuit that Chord claims makes Mojo the most advanced DAC on the planet.

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The Who release The Track Records Singles 1967-1973

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 13, 2015 | 0 comments

Put together to mark the 50th anniversary of The Who,The Track Records Singles 1967 – 1973isvolume three of a four-part set of classic Who singles by labels including Brunswick, Reaction, Track and Polydor. The 15-disc set features classic hit singles including Pinball Wizard, I Can See For Miles and Won’t Get Fooled Again. Housed in a rigid ‘lid-and-tray’ full colour, laminatedouter box,this special boxset also includes a 7in-sized 20-page colour booklet with liner notes about each release and period memorabilia, making it the ultimate Who fans' collector's item. It's available to pre order now here for £109.

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Ruark revamps R4 Integrated Music System

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 12, 2015 | 0 comments

Ruark’s R4 Integrated Music System (IMS) incorporates a CD player, aptX Bluetooth connectivity, DAB/DAB+/FM tuners with a 2. 1 speaker system. The third-generation R4 IMS looks familiar but, says Ruark, it has a sleeker profile, an OLED display, RotoDial controller and an ergonomically designed remote. The updated slot-loading CD mechanism provides CD text info with compatible discs, and the rear panel has a USB playback port for MP3, AAC and WMA files (which also doubles as a mobile charge port) along with optical digital and RCA analogue inputs.

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Onkyo releases new TX-8150 and TX-8130 stereo amps

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 09, 2015 | 0 comments

The newly launched TX-8150 and TX-8130 stereo receivers from Onkyo offer 2x 135W and 110Wper channel respectively. Touted as hi-res network receivers, they both use a 32-bit/384kHz DAC to decode any digital two-channel source, be it wireless (TX-8150) or wired (TX-8130), including 24-bit/192kHz FLAC or DSD 5. 6MHz music files over a home network. Deezer, TuneIn, and Spotify Connect streaming services are onboard with song selection available via a free remote app that can integrate with music libraries stored on PC or media server to control playback.

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Sony to introduce new CAS-1 Compact Audio System

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 08, 2015 | 0 comments

Announced at the IFA Show in Berlin, Sony’s new CAS-1 Compact Audio System comes with support for 24-bit/192kHz hi-res and DSD 2. 8MHz audio. We’re told it has independent amplifier sections – one to drive the partnering speakers using Sony’s proprietary S-Master HX high-resolution audio amplifier, while the other drives the headphone output section and has a dedicated adjustable gain control to accommodate different headphone impedances. Connectivity includes the facility to attach your smartphone via Sony’s SongPal app and stream your music using LDAC-supported Bluetooth and NFC.

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Heed launches Elixir Series

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 07, 2015 | 0 comments

The Elixir amplifier from Heed is the first model to kick start a new range that’s aimed at music lovers seeking slimline yet flexible component solutions at a reasonable price. An integrated amplifier with a built-in MM phono stage and Class A headphone amp, it claims 50W per channel output (into 8ohm), and is flexible enough to drive a wide range of loudspeakers, says Heed. Connectivity includes four stereo RCA line-level inputs, a MM phono input and stereo preamp output. The flexible specification is designed, says Heed, to be simple for hi-fi newcomers but is flexible enough to expand your system.

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Audiolab produces new 8300 Series

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 06, 2015 | 0 comments

Audiolab’s 8200CD CD player won a well-deserved Recommended badge back in HFC 340, and now its long-awaited successor, the 8300CD, spearheads the all-new 8300 Series, which also includes the 8300A – a completely redesigned update of its original integrated amp. Available in silver or black, the 8300CD is built around the Sabre32 9018 DAC which, it’s claimed, reduces jitter to the levels expected from a much more expensive player. It processes data up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB, and also accepts DSD files, while a full range of inputs and outputs have been retained from the original models, along with an AES/EBU digital input and XLR digital output. The 8300A has a dual-mono power amplifier section delivering 75W into 8ohm and is powered by a 300VA toroidal transformer.

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Technics releases new OTTAVA SC-C500 all-in-one

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 05, 2015 | 0 comments

The new compact OTTAVA SC-C500 system from Technics combines an all-in-one network CD stereo amplifier and speakers. It’s perfectly suited to homes with limited space, and delivers an audio experience more typically associated with larger amps, or so Technics claims. Digital input formats include PCM (24-bit/96kHz); FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC (24-bit/192kHz); MP3, WMA; AAC and DSD (2. 8MHz, 5.

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Yamaha unveils MusicCast range

Hi-Fi Choice | Oct 02, 2015 | 0 comments

Want to find a way of getting your music distributed around the home without going down the Sonos (or the like) route, yet desire the same kind of multi-room integration using more traditional audio components? Yamaha's MusicCast range of products has arrived with the aim of doing just this. With its own multi-room standard integratedinto its new series of hi-fi components, soundbars and AV receivers, it allows audio to be shared over wired and wireless networks as well as using Bluetooth and AirPlay through connected devices. If the MusicCast name sounds familiar, it's because it is the monicker (but not the tech) that was also given to the brand's hard-disk-based system launched in 2003. With 23 MusicCast products announced – including the MCR-N670D micro system (£700) pictured – there looks to be plenty of component options to enable customers to quickly establish a multi-room setup and share any input on any MusicCast device with any other around the home.

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