Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i Hi-Fi Choice

PRICE: £800-£1,100 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: ASTELLNKERN.CO.UK THERE’S PLENTY GOING on over at Astell&Kern with the launch of its A&norma SR35 media player and AK ZERO2 in-ears. The media player is the successor to the company’s SR25 MKII (HFC 489), boasts a claimed 20 hours of continuous playtime and deploys the first Dual/Quad DAC switching mode in the A&norma series – enabling users to adjust the sound and power output while improving power efficiency. The brand’s patented Teraton Alpha technology promises balanced dynamics and the SR35 is also the first in the A&norma series to be equipped with New Generation AMP technology. Featured in the latest high-end A&ultima and A&futura range, the in-house amp has been designed to eliminate noise at a high-power output: “to ensure listeners experience the clearest possible,…

PRICE: £290-£7,900 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: PIEGA.CH/EN/ SWISS COMPANY PIEGA has launched an updated version of its wireless, active high-end loudspeaker system with advanced streaming options, the Premium Wireless Gen2. There are three models in the new Premium Wireless Gen2 lineup, all support Apple Airplay, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, DNLA and Bluetooth, are Roon Ready and, the company says, everything in the range is: “versatile, simple to set up, easy to use and connect wirelessly to a wide range of sources using the separately available Piega connect plus as a hub”. The Premium 301 Wireless Gen2, Premium 501 Wireless Gen2 and Premium 701 Wireless Gen2 boast two upgrades over the first-generation models. Piega has dispensed with bass reflex porting in favour of sealed cabinets. The company says the move benefits impulse…

PRICE: £33,000 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: OPERLY.UK EMAIL: INFO@OPERLY.UK GERMAN LOUDSPEAKER MAKER Operly makes its UK debut with the arrival of its flagship horn-loaded offering, the Operly Intelligence III. The monocoque body is constructed from high-grade fiberglass, with a uniform thickness of 15mm along the entire length of the backward horn, and formed in a vacuum for maximum strength. Under the hood, the company claims: “classic elements of audiophilia go hand in hand with brand new technologies, elevating the entire sonic experience as a result. The driver features a unique design, utilising a short coil with small diameter and high gap, achieving uniformity of the magnetic field and maximum fidelity. A patented full-range horn system eliminates all connections between the forward and backward horns – allowing the front horn to be…

POSSIBLY QUALIFYING AS hi-fi’s most blatant fib, ‘wireless speakers’ at this price level are at best, let’s say, alternatively tethered. Actively powered, DAC-equipped, wi-fi networked and providing connections for external digital and analogue sources, it would be a miracle if the ‘wireless’ description could be taken literally. Just on the most fundamental level, mains leads trailing to wall sockets or a distribution block are no tidier than speaker cables running to an amplifier and usually longer. For optimum stereo performance some models (the KEF and Linn in this roundup) need to be linked by a length of Ethernet cable, to say nothing of the additional Ethernet cable from your router to the ‘master’ speaker if you want to swerve the vagaries of wi-fi, which you will if best sound quality…

► DETAILS PRODUCT LS50 Wireless II ORIGIN UK/China TYPE Active 2-way bass reflex wireless speaker WEIGHT 10kg (each) DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 200 x 305 x 311mm FEATURES ● 25mm dome tweeter; 130mm mid/bass driver ● 3.5mm analogue; optical; coaxial; Ethernet; HDMI ARC; USB-A; Bluetooth ● Claimed power: 380W (each) DISTRIBUTOR KEF It’s arguably a little too soon to start talking about KEF’s LS50 Wireless (HFC 433) as an icon. However, its game-changing status is more secure and in mark II guise with enhanced functionality, updated electronics, slicker control apps and, perhaps most important of all, the adoption of KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), its participation in any premium wireless loudspeaker roundup is an absolute must. This is the second Group Test outing for the Wireless II and it isn’t making life…

► DETAILS PRODUCT System Audio Legend 5.2 Silverback + WiSA stereo hub ORIGIN Denmark TYPE 2-way active wireless standmount loudspeaker WEIGHT 6.7kg (each) DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 190 x 320 x 265mm FEATURES ● 25mm tweeter; 114mm long-throw mid/bass driver ● RCA analogue; MM phono stage; coaxial; optical; XLR in; Ethernet; USB; Bluetooth ● Claimed power: 150W (each) DISTRIBUTOR Karma AV System Audio’s pitch is it’s all about high fidelity and something approaching an end-game standard can be achieved with two active speakers, two mains cables, a small, plainly styled stereo wireless control hub that can be hidden away in a cupboard (SA’s preference) and a smartphone or tablet. Surely that’s the future. The mission is prosecuted on several fronts – with hub-based WiSA wireless connectivity, an evolving suite of downloadable DSP-implemented…

As the latest upgrade to Vertere’s Phono-1 MkII phono preamp, the ‘L’ refers to the shape of the gold-plated PCBs used for the main phono circuit and mains power transformer. This is designed to improve the earthing and power distribution. A stainless steel shield has also been fitted to minimise interference with the audio signal. All power supply components and circuits are positioned outside the main cover shield and away from any signal path. High-quality components and solder have been used throughout the circuits. A three-way switch is at the back for different earthing arrangements and offers ‘Hard Ground’, which gives a direct connection between the phono earth lead/chassis and ground; ‘Ground Lift’, which puts a series resistor between the chassis and ground; and the default ‘Soft Ground’ connection. The…

Making it to your half century is always a cause for celebration and hot on the heels of PSB speakers hitting that milestone and celebrating with the Passif 50 (HFC 499), it’s now the turn of sister company NAD to let its hair down. Taken at face value, the C 3050 LE looks like the perfect partner for the Passif 50, but the implementation of the two devices is rather different. This is because, in engineering and operational terms, the C 3050 LE has nothing to do with its ancestors from the Seventies. Lift the lid and you’ll find an amplifier that is a mixture of components and design ideas we have seen before. The NAD is a Class D design, in this case using the company’s ‘UcD’ level of…

Starting out as an impenetrably complicated offshoot of computer audio, streaming has evolved into a buoyant product sector with a wide selection of easy-to-use players and music management tools to help integrate networked digital audio into our setups, regardless of whether you’re an audiophile or novice. The supporting infrastructure that allows streamed audio to deliver on the promises of sound quality and convenience has made major progress with lossless and hi-res audio streams and downloads readily available. Home networked storage can handle large music libraries and are smarter and easier to use than ever, with serious hi-fi models hitting the market from pretty much every major hi-fi manufacturer to deliver an audiophile approach over many standard computer storage peripherals. While the hard drive memory required to store digital music continues…

I came across this the other day: “Why do you need to read a review? Listen to it. It’s freely available! Make up your own mind. I would never read an album review and go, ‘I’m not gonna listen to that now’.” These are the sage words of Ed Sheeran, uttered in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Now, quite apart from the fact that it betrays Mr Sheeran’s obvious rancour against the scribes who have presumably (if they’ve got any sense) given him a pretty rough ride reviews-wise, it also reveals an extremely narrow assessment of the role of the rock writer. Granted we are all critics now that the digital revolution has given us all multiple platforms via which to express our opinions. Peer-to-peer recommendation may have…

AS PART OF Black Rhodium’s Intro series, this entry-level power cable is designed to offer an affordable upgrade to the standard ‘kettle leads’ that usually come supplied with audio equipment. It is available in a choice of seven different-coloured braids to help identify it and has been designed to reduce unwanted vibrations, which Black Rhodium explains has audible benefits. A large ferrite core is at the IEC connector end to attenuate radio frequency interference within the cable, resulting in a clearer and more detailed sound across all frequencies. The hand-built cable is supplied with a flat pin 13A plug fitted with a 5A fuse for UK customers in a standard length of 2m. To check out what difference the Intro Power Cable makes, I use it to connect my valve…

PRICE: £500-£1,000 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: QACOUSTICS.CO.UK Q ACOUSTICS HAS begun the roll-out of its new 5000 series featuring the introduction of its C3 Continuous Curved Cone profile in the mid/bass driver. The series also inherits cabinet and driver tech from the flagship Concept range and the company says it’s positioned between the 3000i and Concept series. The new range includes the 5010 bookshelf, 5020 standmount, 5040 and 5050 floorstanders and 5090 centre for home cinema setups. The C3 (pronounced ‘C-cubed’) Continuous Curved Cone design in the mid/bass driver is claimed to provide smoother high-frequency integration with the tweeter and superior bass dynamics while the dark acrylic baffle motif mirrors the minimalist C3 Continuous Curved Cone profile. Taken from the Concept series, it has a new housing with the high-frequency driver…

PRICE: £2,290 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: ORIGINLIVE.COM ORIGIN LIVE HAS added to its range of turntables with the Swift Mk5, a deck with a motor/power supply redesign and a Multi Layer Platter, tech which the company reveals has trickled down from its flagship Voyager vinyl spinner. The Swift features the basic design of Origin Live’s Aurora turntable, thanks to its single-point cantilevered suspension. In this system the platter and tonearm are balanced roughly in equilibrium on the ends of a rigid sub-chassis bar. Due to the microscopic flexing of the single suspension support point, the company claims this arrangement feels the same as a rigid, mechanical suspension, while avoiding the hardness of many nonsuspended designs and softening of leading edges of suspended designs. The Swift features Origin Live’s low-friction bearing, which…

PRICE: £200-£450 AVAILABLE: JUNE WEB: PSBSPEAKERS.COM PSB SPEAKERS HAS introduced its M4U 9 and M4U TWM headphones and in-ears, which implement sound personalisation options through a partnership with Audiodo Personal Sound along with PSB’s proprietary RoomFeel technology. The M4U 9 is a wireless active noisecancelling over-ear implementing new graphene-infused drivers, which PSB says improve damping, stiffness and efficiency. It boasts aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and utilises four digital MEMS microphones for its active noise cancelling. A three-position mode switch allows users to choose between ANC with RoomFeel, Active with RoomFeel or a Passive mode. Gyro-suspended, fabric and leatherette earpads tilted at 15° provide seal and comfort for up to 25 hours listening in Active Mode. It is priced at £450. The M4U TWM in-earbuds leverage Magneto-Static technology in a Hybrid Planar…

► DETAILS PRODUCT Cabasse Pearl Akoya ORIGIN France/China TYPE Tri-axial bass reflex standmount WEIGHT 6kg (each) DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 220 x 220 x 220mm FEATURES ● 130mm tweeter/ midrange driver; 170mm bass driver ● RCA analogue; optical; Ethernet; USB; Bluetooth ● Claimed power: 1,050W (each) DISTRIBUTOR Henley Audio Ltd When Elton John sings: “solid walls of sound” on Benny And The Jets, weirdly I always hear it as: “solid balls of sound”. A classic case of misheard lyric nonsense, maybe, but a perfect intro to the Pearl Akoya because that’s precisely what it is. Solid? Don’t try the traditional knuckle rap test, you’ll hurt your knuckles. Balls? Self-evidently and about the size and weight of a ten-pin bowling ball. Sound? We’ll come to that. If bonding with your wireless speaker as…

► DETAILS PRODUCT Linn Series 3 301 + 302 ORIGIN UK TYPE 2-way wireless active speaker WEIGHT 6.9kg (each) DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 250 x 296 x 206mm FEATURES ● 19mm tweeter; 160mm mid/bass driver ● HDMI ARC; Ethernet; AirPlay; Bluetooth; Roon ● Claimed power: 200W (each) DISTRIBUTOR Linn Despite its early adoption and subsequent mastery of streaming technology, Linn was in no rush to launch a wireless speaker. And I’m guessing no one outside of the company’s Glasgow-based factory expected it to look as much like a flower vase as the Series 3 does or, perhaps, cost quite so much. Then again, it provides the least costly entry to Linn’s well-established streaming platform, and that’s nothing to be sneezed at. As you’d expect, the Series 3 offers access to networked servers…

GOING WIRELESS STRIKES at the heart of what it is to be an audiophile: nailing system synergy with carefully auditioned separate components; tweaking and finetuning cables and interconnects; strategically upgrading the amp and speakers. Buying a destination rather than another leg of ‘the journey’ closes down the alchemy of the hi-fi hobby. That said, there can be no denying the convenience and efficiency active wireless systems provide. The real kicker, though, and something stoutly confirmed by this roundup, is that the sonics really do hold up. Although neither of the single-box systems can compete with twospeaker stereo, in our sub-category tussle, I’m going to give the nod to the Omnia for its ability to conjure such an expansive and precisely ordered soundstage, though for full-blooded, room-filling, fun and competitive connectivity,…

After an exciting few early years where all manner of different configurations and specs have been tried, network streamers have settled into a more recognisable pattern in terms of what they do and how they do it. This homogenisation makes HiFi Rose all the more interesting. The South Korean company has developed a bespoke streaming platform that does the things we expect a streamer to do, but with some intriguing add-ons. The basics of the RS250A are conventional enough. A replacement for the original RS250, it is able to operate as a line-level device and as a preamp, thanks to an on-board volume control. Decoding can realistically be seen as state of the art, with PCM handled to 768kHz and DSD to 512 all decoded via an ESS ES9028 PRO…

It’s strange to think that the Eighties is edging ever closer to a subject taught as part of a university history syllabus rather than a decade we all recently lived in. But as time rolls on, we realise just what a different world it was. The Technics SL-P999 is a justabout-surviving reminder of what the hi-fi world used to be. This premiumpriced CD spinner was basically the last of the original generation of multibit designs, their final hurrah before the breed was taken over by what’s now widely referred to as ‘Bitstream’ – 1-bit digital-toanalogue conversion. Since the launch of CD in 1982, hardware manufacturers had been fighting a numbers war. All CD’s technical measurements were pretty similar – every player managed 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response, for example –…

Back in the Sixties, light orchestras were very popular. One of the successful ones that rose to fame was Bert Kaempfert’s. Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, arranger and composer. He produced a number of easy listening and jazz-oriented records and had a string of number ones, such as Wonderland By Night, Bye Bye Blues and A Swingin’ Safari. His success was partly down to his excellent orchestrations and the great performances from his soloists, but a major part of this was his ‘crackling bass’ sound, which was played by his guitarist Ladislav Geisler on his Fender Telecaster bass guitar. This signature sound was a treble staccato with the bass string plucked with a pick and immediately suppressed to cancel out any sustain. At the same time,…

ANYTHING YOU CAN do to combat the inherent noise in the mains supply from reaching your system has to be a good thing. The PowerARAY directly connects to an unused power socket, either on the wall or in a mains distribution block, adjacent to sockets used to power audio systems. It uses similar tech to Chord’s GroundARAY units (HFC 481) and provides a low-impedance ‘escape route’ for the high-frequency noise that would otherwise be fed to the system. It operates in parallel to the power, so no current flows through it. This ensures wide-ranging flexibility across all manner of systems and power supplies etc. This parallel filtering is applied to the live, neutral and earth, and is optimised to reduce noise. According to Chord, the technology is slightly microphonic so…

1 KING RICHARD This looks utterly fab. Little Richard: I Am Everything is a documentary covering the extraordinary life of rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, who passed away in 2020 aged 87. The film will feature archival footage from the legend’s career and personal life, as well as never-before-seen interviews with the man himself and fellow musicians, his family and friends. The official description of the film reads: “Little Richard: I Am Everything tells the story of the black queer origins of rock ‘n’ roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator – the originator – Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard’s complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon’s life story with all its switchbacks…

PRICE: £6,500 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: COPLAND.DK ABSOLUTESOUNDS.COM DANISH AMPLIFIER SPECIALIST Copland has launched its new flagship valve-based integrated, the CTA407. Supplied with two matched pairs of 6550 output valves, the amp is rated at 50W per channel in high-biased Class A/AB mode, delivering most of its power in Class A state. Copland says this: “enables the CTA407 to combine captivating musical realism and tonal purity with sufficient power to drive a wide range of different speakers with ease”. The amp is also compatible with KT88, KT90, KT100, KT120 and KT150 valves, with automatic adjustment between types. The 40 LED diodes on the front panel (10 for each tube) are the visual part of the CTA407 tube bias and diagnostic system and can be turned off if the user doesn’t wish…

PRICE: £400 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: IFI-AUDIO.COM JOINING IFI AUDIO’S GO series of portable headphone enhancements, comes the GO pod – apair of wearable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps designed to make any pair of wired in-ears wireless. Here’s how it works... First, detach the cable from the in-ears and connect the earpieces to the left and right GO pods. Then, pair the pods with your source device and hook the ear loops behind the ears. iFi is partnering with other companies to make curated ‘GO Pod + IEM’ packages. Spanning both new and established models from 64 Audio, Craft Ears, Meze Audio, Symphonium and Westone, these collaborations have resulted in six pairs of TWS in-ears. The GO Pod boasts certification for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform and Bluetooth 5.2, with 32-bit, quad-core architecture…

WIRELESS ALL-IN-ONE LOUDSPEAKERS GROUP TEST WE’RE MIXING THINGS up for this roundup. Rather than focus exclusively on two-enclosure stereo systems (à la KEF’s LS50 Wireless II), a couple of places have been given over to multi-driver all-in-ones that use DSP to expand the stereo soundstage and enable a smaller footprint. Although most of the models in this group meet the multi-room brief, we’re concentrating on stereo performance, both in outright terms and to achieve a high sonic watermark as a second system. Before any listening is undertaken, all the models are checked for the latest firmware versions and, where required, updated. As all claim the very latest wireless connectivity, that’s how they’re set up, both using the manufacturer’s dedicated app plus Ethernet connection to the broadband router (where applicable). Each…

► DETAILS PRODUCT JBL L75ms ORIGIN China TYPE Wireless active speaker WEIGHT 16kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 790 x 216 x 287mm FEATURES ● 2x 25mm tweeter; 102mm midrange driver; 2x 133mm bass drivers ● 3.5mm analogue; MM phono stage; HDMI ARC; subwoofer out ● Claimed power: 350W (total) DISTRIBUTOR Harman UK There’s nothing tricksy about the JBL L75ms. Nothing at all. A big, heavy chunk of timber with a cubed ‘Quadrex’ foam grille, it’s an achingly predictable offering as in-tune with the brand’s classic unfrilly aesthetic tropes as Steve McQueen was with his dark green Mustang GT fastback in Bullitt. Chiefly competing against Sonus faber’s comparatively dainty, Omnia in our sub-category here of unitary all-in-ones – an Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce of a wireless speaker to continue the analogy –…

► DETAILS PRODUCT Sonus faber Omnia ORIGIN Italy TYPE Wireless active allin-one loudspeaker WEIGHT 7.6kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 650 x 130 x 280mm FEATURES ● 2x 19mm tweeters; 2x 76mm midrange drivers; 2x 44mm side-firing drivers; 165mm aluminium cone bass driver ● Inputs: RCA analogue; MM phono; HDMI ARC ● Claimed power: 490W (total) DISTRIBUTOR Sonus faber If you’re up with your Latin, you’ll know that Omnia means ‘prepared in all things’ – aclaim that sets the bar enticingly high for Sonus faber’s all-in-one player battling this field of talented over achievers. With its gorgeous walnut top panel, which incorporates slim horizontal fillets of LED illumination to signify various functions and performs a tasteful light show on startup, the Omnia wouldn’t look out of place on a superyacht moored in Monaco…

Like a number of cartridge manufacturers, Sumiko is a firm advocate of the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach. The Blue Point No. 2 was a perfect case in point. One of the first high-output moving-coil designs, it has been a mainstay of the range for quite some time now, making the arrival of the No. 3 anotable event. The new cartridge uses the same stylus, cantilever and generator that were present in the Blue Point No. 2. High and low-output versions are available with the latter giving 0.5mV and the high output (as tested here) 2.5mV. This is lower than what a more conventional moving-magnet cart can achieve, but should be fine to work into an MM phono input. The aluminium cantilever and nude elliptical stylus aren’t…

As one half of Mitchell & Johnson, Paul Mitchell decided to go it alone in 2018 with Mitchell Acoustics. Feeling that true stereo systems were being overlooked in the age of the smartphone, he launched the uStream One bookshelf speakers with the aim of combining spacious stereo sound with the convenience of wireless Bluetooth connectivity. The range has continued to expand since then and is now going portable, with the compact uStream Go. The cabinets are small enough to fit into a backpack, and the “full metal jacket” aluminium casing feels solid and sturdy enough to cope with life on the road. Each speaker houses an 80mm driver with 50Hz-18kHz frequency response, along with its own 15W amp (30W total), and a 68mm bass reflex port on the underside. There…

Every Spring the The International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI) produces its Global Music Report, which forensically dissects what happened in music in the previous year. With its HQ in London’s Piccadilly, IFPI has 8,000 members in 70 countries around the globe, and the 2023 edition of the report has just landed on my desk. There are self-important but vapid messages from the chairmen of Sony (“We continue to bring high-quality content into the world from hugely innovative creators”) as well as Universal (“As we enter our industry’s next exciting chapter we must remain focussed on our goal”) and from the CEO of Warners (“We’re excited to unlock the industry’s next phase of growth by championing extraordinary artists and songwriters”). Needless to say, they are all too polite to…

For once, perhaps, the stats do tell the story. The most honoured artist in Grammy Award history with a total of 88 nominations and 32 wins. Check. The first solo artist to have their first seven studio albums debut at number one on the chart. Check. More than 200 million records sold worldwide and according to Billboard, the bible of the American music industry, the highestearning black musician of all time. Check. Not bad given that Beyoncé – ‘Queen Bey’ to her millions of fans – is still only 41 and at the peak of her powers. To top it all, when in 2016 BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour compiled its list of the seven women to have had the biggest impact on our lives over the past seven decades,…

Recommends ESSENTIAL HI-FI YOU’LL WANT TO OWN CD PLAYERS Audiolab 6000CDT PRICE: £380 REVIEWED: HFC 447 The 6000CDT is exceptional at revealing what’s on your discs to deliver a great big soundstage with plenty of detail inside. It can dig down deep into the mix to eke out the different musical strands while dynamically and rhythmically it’s hard to beat at the price. In short, it’s a super, highly affordable audiophile CD transport. ★★★★★ Cambridge Audio AXC35 PRICE: £300 REVIEWED: HFC 454 Something of a budget marvel, you’ll have to work extra hard to get the AXC35 to put a foot wrong. Bass is firm, detailed and blessed with excellent timing; the tonal palette is pleasingly broad and clean; and though the soundstage doesn’t extend much beyond the…

PERLISTEN R5M STANDMOUNT LOUDSPEAKER On its stands it’s as big as a floorstander, it has the look of something you might see in a recording studio and, if you’ve got a nice big room to fill with sound and just North of five grand to spare, look no further. Read more about it next month... ALSO: REVIEWSCambridge Audio MXN10 streamer, Sivga Oriole headphone, Dual CS 429 turntable, Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless in-ears, FiiO K9 Pro ESS desktop DAC/amp, Russell K Red 120Se floorstanding speaker, plus a Group Test of high-output phono cartridges. FEATURES Music Legends, Music Reviews, Reasons To Be Cheerful, our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide and sharp-as-nails Opinions pieces, the Flashback interview, Beginner’s Guide all the latest kit release news in Audiofile and your hi-fi queries answered…