Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023 i Hi-Fi Choice

PRICE: £4,000-£8,500 AVAILABLE: SEPTEMBER WEB: CHORDELECTRONICS.CO.UK THERE'S BEEN TONS of activity down in Kent as Chord Electronics announces the release of a pair of new products – the Ultima Integrated 125W amplifier and its BerTTi power amp. The Ultima Integrated features the latest dual-feed-forward error-correction topology, which monitors and immediately corrects signals before the output stage. Connections include four inputs – one fully balanced and three unbalanced – offering individual buffering and filtering against potential ingress from radio frequency interference. Selection switching is via microprocessorcontrolled sealed relays. In addition, the amplifier benefits from an AV bypass input, plus a balanced preamp out for connection to additional power amps. The new Ultima Integrated is the only full-width model in the company’s range (Anni – HFC 483 – from the Qutest range,…

PRICE: £55,000 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: BANG-OLUFSEN.DK BANG & OLUFSEN has come over all poetic about its limited-edition Beosystem 72-23 Nordic Dawn system, which the company says is: “inspired by the light of a Scandinavian sunrise” and “connects the years 1972 and 2023 by merging immersive music experiences from both vinyl and digital streaming”. The Beosystem is described thus: “the warm honey, ginger and amber tone aluminium finishes come together with a perfectly crafted birch wood panel to shape the heart of the system – the iconic Beogram 4000c turntable. The Beogram 4000c has been recreated by hand and customised for the first time in the Nordic Dawn colourway to create an aesthetic that is reminiscent of soft mornings in the Scandinavian meadows.” Match of the day The turntable is accompanied…

TRUE WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES GROUP TEST THERE’S A LOT of ground to cover when testing true-wireless in-ear headphones, with a variety of audio technologies and other digital features that may affect your buying decision. As well as opting for different versions of the underlying Bluetooth wireless technology – Bluetooth 5.2 and 5.3 currently seem to be the most power-efficient – each manufacturer also has to make a choice about the specific codecs that it supports. There’s a wide variety of different noise-cancelling technologies available as well, which is often a key feature for many people when choosing earbuds. Apple goes its own way with the AirPods Pro, choosing the aging AAC codec while virtually all of its rivals now support both AAC and aptX Adaptive – which is closer to…

DETAILS PRODUCT Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 ORIGIN Japan/China TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 5.4g each Case: 56g FEATURES ● 5.8mm drivers ● IPX4 water resistant DISTRIBUTOR Audio-Technica Audio-Technica impressed us last year with its highly affordable ATH-CKS50TW (HFC 490) earbuds, which cost just £150. The ATH-TWX9 is almost twice the price, but takes a different approach with a more compact and streamlined design that boasts a variety of advanced digital features – including a built-in UV sterilisation feature that we’ve never seen on any earbuds before. The design is clearly influenced by Apple’s AirPods Pro, with a short stalk that descends down from the ear and houses a number of touch-sensitive controls. It outguns the AirPods in many ways, though, including its 5.8mm drivers, with support for 24-bit/96kHz audio and claimed…

DETAILS PRODUCT Logitech Zone True Wireless ORIGIN US/Malaysia TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 6.5g each Case: 46g FEATURES ● 12mm drivers ● IP68 water/dust resistant DISTRIBUTOR Logitech Inrecent years we’ve seen a number of traditional hi-fi manufacturers attempting to get a slice of the growing market for gaming headphones and headsets. That traffic flows both ways and Logitech is a company with a strong gaming pedigree that is now extending its reach into the hi-fi realm with products such as the Zone True Wireless earbuds. The Zone is a versatile offering with features that could rival Apple’s AirPods. Available in a variety of colours, it is quite large with an oddly angular design, which at least allows it to house large 12mm drivers, multiple microphones for noise cancellation and…

DETAILS PRODUCT Döhmann Helix Two Mk3 ORIGIN Australia TYPE Belt-drive turntable with electronic speed control WEIGHT 38kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 480 x 200 x 400mm FEATURES ● 33 and 45rpm ● Facilitates the mounting of tonearms up to 12in ● Dual-belt platter drive DISTRIBUTOR Absolute Sounds WEBSITE dohmannaudio.com absolutesounds.com The finely-engineered, and robustly elegant, turntable that graces the pages before you – the ‘Two’, one of a pair of decks in the Helix range, now in Mk3 guise – represents the latest thinking on the art and science of vinyl replay from Director Of Design Mark Döhmann. All previous iterations of the Helix One and Two turntables may be updated to the current Mk3 standard, side-stepping obsolescence, while the brand’s UK footprint has just received a boost with its adoption into…

DETAILS PRODUCT Zorloo ZuperDAC Max ORIGIN China TYPE Portable DAC WEIGHT 15g DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 46 x 21.5 x 10.5mm FEATURES ● Outputs: 3.5mm; 4.4mm balanced ● Supports: PCM up to 768kHz; DSD512; MQA DISTRIBUTOR Amazon (TBC) WEBSITE zorloo.com Barely a week now goes by without the release of another low-cost portable DAC aimed at smartphone users, and this latest addition from Zorloo provides both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced connectors for wired headphones. Though it’s currently only available in Hong Kong, the company expects them to go on sale via Amazon in the coming months. The ZuperDAC Max is solidly built and easy to slip into a pocket or bag when you’re travelling, although you do also need to use the separate USB-C cable – 115mm long – to connect it…

If you’re a petrolhead, you’ll likely know all about the so-called ‘restomod’ scene. Bored by modern motors, classic car fans have started buying ‘distressed’ older models and restoring them. But rather than a simple resto back to factory spec, they make sympathetic modifications so they’re more suitable for modern driving. The same is now happening in hi-fi. Specialists are restoring classic audio products that are past their best, back to new condition – but often with tweaking to improve the sound and/or style. You might say that Peter Farrow’s Wiltshire-based English Acoustics brand fits into this category, but actually there’s more to it than that… The Stereo 21c never started life as an amplifier made in the Leak factory from 1958. Think of it as a tribute to the Stereo…

During the year following Apple’s acquisition of classical music streaming pioneer Primephonic, there was a lot of speculation as to what it would do with its new toy. Well, in March 2023, Apple Music Classical was finally launched as a standalone application available to existing Apple Music users as part of their £10.99 monthly subscription fee. Classical music has traditionally struggled to adapt to the music streaming era, mainly due to the relatively low quality and lack of classical music-orientated metadata. Apple states that users will now be able to search by composer, work, conductor or even catalogue number to find specific recordings on Music Classical. Users will also have access to lossless versions of tracks at resolutions of up to 24-bit/192kHz and Dolby Atmos/spatial audio at some point in…

★★★★☆ CD LÄUTEN DER SEELE’S third album in two years is their best yet. Over two side-long pieces, inspired by a cache of memories of nature, Ertrunken Im Seichtesten Gewässer is seamlessly assembled, skilfully organic sounding and endlessly surprising. Snippets of pastoral classical music emerge from wispy clouds of abstract electronics, thickets of mysterious glossolalia and phalanx of eclectic instrumentation. It’s a psychedelic sound-world that commands the listener’s full attention. File next to the classic soundtracks to Valerie And Her Week Of Wonders and Caravaggio, this LP is available as a limited vinyl pressing of just 400 copies. SB…

USING THE SAME materials as the company’s RumourX (HFC 447) speaker cable, Chord’s OdysseyX features heavier gauge conductors. This is to improve the dynamic range and detail of the music. The conductors are made from silver-plated oxygenfree copper and arranged in a twisted pair configuration inside the PVC outer sheath. The OdysseyX has an 8mm white PVC outer jacket and is flexible enough to fit around the corners of the room. It is insulated with XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene), which the company considers to be better than using a PTFE dielectric material. I connect the OdysseyX cable between my transmission line speakers and valve monoblocks and commence listening with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade played by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Rudolf Kempe. The symphonic suite opens with a stern and commanding…

Audiolab 8300CDQ £1,100 HFC 448 Taking the winning recipe of the 8200CDQ and adding an upgraded DAC with DSD playback, the accurate and uncoloured sound of the Audiolab is unmistakable. Vast amounts of detail are extracted from the mix, soundstaging is incredible and music flows naturally. Leema Acoustics Stream IV £2,300 HFC 456 The latest update to this long-established player feels a considerable step forward. CD playback is highly refined, assured and transparent, bass is rock solid with visceral depth that positively grips your solar plexus and streaming shares all these qualities for the best of both worlds. Marantz SACD 30n £2,700 HFC 468 While its styling might be a touch divisive, the SACD 30n’s involving, detailed and highly refined sound is beyond dispute whether it be…

Atlas Cables Element Achromatic PRICE: £86for1m REVIEWED: HFC 485 Achromatic means without colour and that’svery muchwhatyougetwiththisaffordable offering. Compared with previous Atlas Element cables this has increased OCC copper content on the conductors and a new process for reduced distortion. The result is great spaciousness to the soundstage and imaging plus powerful bass. Black Rhodium Minuet S PRICE: £240for1m REVIEWED: HFC 492 Replacing the original Minuet (HFC 453), this RCA interconnect is screened to shield against extraneous RFI and EMI interference. The result is improved intimacy in quieter sections of music and great dynamics in the louder passages. The soundstage reveals new breadth and depth coupled with great mids. Chord Company Clearway PRICE: £100for1m REVIEWED: HFC 485 A fantastic performer across a broad range of different music styles,…

Auralic Altair G2.1 PRICE: £4,600 REVIEWED: HFC 482 Not just a network-attached DAC/preamp, with the addition of onboard storage the Altair G2.1 morphs into a self-contained music hub that reveals itself to be a deliciously neutral and clean source. It presents high levels of detail without sounding mechanical or artificial and musical involvement is top notch across all genres. HiFi Rose RS250A PRICE: £2,350 REVIEWED: HFC 502 Don’t be fooled, the ability to stream both audio and video is no gimmick. In fact the core functionality is so well sorted that this can be judged as a sober and carefully engineered network streamer that’s competitive with anything at the price. Throw in the engaging and fluid sound, and you have a winner. iFi Audio NEO Stream PRICE: £1,300…

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo PRICE: £4,000 REVIEWED: HFC 488 It might offer relatively poor connectivity without the Formation Audio hub (an extra £650), but otherwise this is one of the best wireless speakers around thanks to its stunning design and class-leading sound which reveals impressive levels of power and poise under pressure regardless of source. Cabasse Pearl Akoya PRICE: £2,950 REVIEWED: HFC 488 Bringing a retro futuristic touch of glamour to the wireless world, the Pearl Akoya is sold as a single speaker only – so doesn’t come cheap. HDMI aside, it ticks most boxes connectivitywise and its crisp, expansive sound ensures it will prove more than capable for audiophiles. Superlative space-age stereo at its best. KEF LS50 Wireless II PRICE: £2,500 REVIEWED: HFC 502 Combining…

AVID Volvere SP PRICE: From£5,500 REVIEWED: HFC 472 With its dynamic, detailed and confident presentation, the Volvere SP delivers all of the thrills hidden in your vinyl's grooves and adds a few more just for good measure. Rock solid, unerringly precise and gloriously natural, it’s a triumph that combines the joys of a belt drive with the accuracy of a direct drive. Linn Majik LP12/Krane PRICE: £3,500 REVIEWED: HFC 477 For such an old design, this Group Test winner sounds surprisingly modern. It’s not as soft and rounded as it used to be, but still retains enough of the traditional Sondek character for it to charm listeners. The result is a big, confident and enjoyable sound that’s tonally a little warm but with high levels of technical virtuosity.…

Chord Electronics Hugo 2 £1,800 HFC 428 An essential audition, the Hugo 2 is not just a portable DAC/headphone amp, but the best hi-fi digital converter available at or near the price. Music ebbs and flows along in an organic and unforced way and it images with stunning pinpoint precision. Chord Electronics Mojo 2 £450 HFC 488 It might be £50 more than its predecessor, but the follow-up Mojo makes the superb original sound opaque, coloured and closed-in by comparison. Prepare to experience complex textures, limpid transparency, striking stereo and unnoticed details like never before. iFi Audio GO bar £330 HFC 494 A near technically perfect example of a portable DAC, the GO bar sets new standards of for the breed with functionality for every occasion. Accurate,…

PRICE: £2,644-£12,340 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: NAIMAUDIO.COM THEY’VE BEEN MIGHTY busy down Wiltshire way at Naim Audio creating a new range of products, the 300 Series, to celebrate the Salisbury-based company’s 50th anniversary. The 300 Series features the NSS 333 streamer, NAC 332 preamp. NAP 350 monoblock power amplifier, NVC TT phono stage and NPX TT power supply. Both the NSS 333 streamer and NAC 332 preamplifier have been designed so they can enjoy a performance boost by adding an NPX 300 power supply. The company explains that the NSS 333: “provides a high-resolution streaming solution supporting top-rate file formats from plug-and-play devices and streaming services. Using the NSS 333’s internal DAC enables improved performance from other audio devices within your system, benefitting from universal control across the Naim range; all…

CRAFT RECORDINGS HAS announced the release of Go West!: The Contemporary Records Albums, a new 3-LP, 3-CD and digital collection that explores Sonny Rollins’ output for Lester Koenig’s revered Los Angeles jazz label. Newly cut from the original analogue tapes by Grammy-winning engineer (and former Contemporary Records studio employee) Bernie Grundman, the 20-track set presents two classic albums from the legendary saxophonist’s catalogue: Way Out West (recorded in March 1957) and Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders (October 1958). Adding additional context are six alternate takes, culled from both albums. Originally released in 1986 on the out-of-print compilation album Contemporary Alternate Takes, these tracks allow listeners to hear Rollins develop such iconic recordings as Way Out West! and Come, Gone. The 3-LP edition (pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI) and…

PRICE: TBC AVAILABLE: LATE SUMMER WEB: HIFIROSE.COM HENLEYAUDIO.CO.UK HERE’S AN EARLY tip-off about Korean company HiFi Rose’s new flagship network streaming transport the RS130, which will boast a host of new technologies in a brand-new chassis that shares design aspects with the company’s RS150B. HiFi Rose has designed the RS130 in an effort to completely block digital noise by supporting fibre optic Ethernet and USB transmission and employing an ultra-stable, high-precision OCXO clock. It will also feature a front-mounted, full-colour 15.4in LCD touchscreen. Feature comforts Other flourishes include an aluminium chassis with ventilation built-in to the ‘ROSE’ logo, new Ethernet network connectivity supporting SFP protocol for greater transmission quality, a linear power supply with high-capacity supercapacitors, dedicated SSD for audio caching built-in (allowing for clean signal generation and low latency)…

PRICE: £275-£315 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: ORANGEAMPS.COM ORANGE AMPLIFICATION, BEST known as the manufacturer of guitar and bass amps for the likes of Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Fleetwood Mac, Rush, Oasis and Madonna, has been providing on-stage equipment since 1968 and is now branching out into the consumer business with the launch of two new Orange Box Bluetooth speakers. Claiming to be the only Bluetooth speakers on the market that use both a single 30W RMS Class D and 2x 10W RMS A/B analogue amplifiers, the company explains that the Boxes boast: “controlled, tight, punchy bass and smooth, natural mids and highs”. Play it safe Also included is a unique audio safety feature, which continually monitors the volume with a flashing light when the unit is being driven too…

IT’S LESS THAN a decade since Apple popularised the true wireless in-ear with its first AirPods back in 2016, but there’s been an awful lot of water under the bridge since then. Millions of people bought earbuds for Zoom calls and working from home during the pandemic, which brought technologies such as active noise-cancellation (ANC) to the fore, with the result it is now a standard feature for all but the most affordable entry-level models. And noise cancellation isn’t a simple on/off affair any more, with most models offering multiple modes to suit different environments. Coronavirus has left a more disturbing legacy too, with companies such as Audio-Technica introducing anti-bacterial sterilisation features in its latest offering. Not all new fashions catch on, though, and Apple’s current fad for ‘spatial audio’…

DETAILS PRODUCT Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 ORIGIN UK/China TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 7g each Case: 47g FEATURES ● 9.2mm drivers ● IP54 water/dust resistant ● Audio Retransmission from charging case DISTRIBUTOR Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins’ popular PX range of over-ear headphones tends to grab all the headlines, but its Pi series of wireless in-ears also has plenty to offer. In fact, the recently updated Pi7 S2 even manages to introduce a really useful ‘semi-wired’ mode called Audio Retransmission Technology that we’ve never seen on true-wireless earbuds before. The charging case – or ‘smartcase’ as B&W calls it – can be charged wirelessly or by using the USB-C port on its rear. However, this port can also accept a wired audio input – using either the…

DETAILS PRODUCT Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 ORIGIN Germany/China TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 5.8g each Case: 66.4g FEATURES ● 7mm drivers ● IPX4 splash resistant ● Multipoint pairing (two devices) DISTRIBUTOR Sennheiser A lot has happened since Sennheiser released the Momentum True Wireless 2, back in early 2020. This means that the third-generation Momentum TW3 has some catching up to do, so Sennheiser starts by acknowledging the increased competition in this market with a very welcome price cut. Available in white, black or grey, the small pellet-shaped earpieces are a little more streamlined and easier to fit into the ear. Along with its standard four sizes of eartips, Sennheiser also includes three sets of rubber ‘fins’ – which wrap around the outer body of the earpieces and help…

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re living through some pretty hard times at the moment. The cost of living has skyrocketed, with price inflation in both the UK and EU running at around 10 percent year-on-year. In some countries, food prices have risen at over twice that rate. Times are tough, so who on earth would be a hi-fi manufacturer in 2023? Kevin Edwards doesn’t seem to have got the memo. He’s just opened a new factory in Wiltshire and is busy churning out large amounts of affordable turntables. He’s in the electronics market too, with the new Apprentice IA integrated before you. This is by no means an austerity special. A half-width, pint-sized amp with a minimum of facilities, it’s designed to appeal to people just getting into proper…

Has anybody noticed the growing tendency of artists to re-record new versions of their old songs? Taylor Swift is perhaps the most high-profile example and has just released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), featuring re-recorded takes of all 14 songs on her original 2010 album. It’s her third such re-recording, following new revisions of Fearless and Red in 2021. There is little attempt to update, the songs in a new direction. They’re straight covers of her younger self in what is simply a legal/financial tactic to regain control of music she does not own. Then there’s Bono and U2, who are re-recording 40 of their favourite tracks spanning their entire 43-year back catalogue on the double album Songs Of Surrender. Initially conceived as an accompaniment to Bono’s 2022 memoir, Surrender, unlike…

AS YOU MIGHT expect from the name, the Redline mains power cable is resplendent in a red sheath. It additionally has a matching red IEC connector and red and white, gold-plated 13A mains plug. Both the IEC connector and mains plug are robustly made to a very high quality. Based on the company’s high-end Pulse-HB power cable, the Redline employs Vertere’s proprietary multi-conductor construction for both live and neutral conductors. These are individually double shielded with an additional overall shield covering all three conductors to further enhance performance. I connect the power cable to the power supply of my valve phono stage and valve preamp and spin an LP of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The drum roll at the beginning tends to be felt…

Cambridge Audio Edge W £2,500 HFC 447 The Edge W power amplifier quotes 2x 100W RMS output and has oodles of power to drive pretty much any speaker. It has a neutral sound with a hint of sweetness and an upbeat nature underwritten by plenty of insight that’s seriously good for the money. Chord Electronics Ultima Pre 3 £6,000 HFC 503 NEW ENTRY Combining class-leading sound with an attractive and distinctive visual look and feel, the Ultima 3 preamp takes some beating. With a nimble and highly lithe sound that’s never slow out of the blocks, it might be expensive but it still offers exceptional value for money. Elipson P1 F/A2700 £2,800/£3,000 HFC 494 Elipson’s walk on the wild side from speakers to electronics is deeply impressive…

Alpha Design Labs Stratos PRICE: £1,315 REVIEWED: HFC 455 Remarkably flexible at the price, the Stratos offers an impressively wide-reaching range of features without compromising sound quality. The soundstage is wide and open with a refined presentation, delicate details are reproduced with breath-taking accuracy and instrument separation and location are absolutely spot on. Audiolab M-DAC+ PRICE: £800 REVIEWED: HFC 449 While some DACs can dive deeper into a recording, what’s so likeable about the M-DAC+ is its poise, control and command of the bigger musical picture. With its stunning grasp of flow and tempo, there’s a welcome warmth to its presentation and its solid three dimensional imaging is second to none. Chord Electronics TT2 PRICE: £3,400 REVIEWED: HFC 468 We could talk about dynamic range and noise…

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary PRICE: £450 REVIEWED: HFC 470 More than just a range refresh, this baby box has had new life breathed into it in a rather skilful and expert way. So much more than the sum of its parts, the 607 S2 Anniversary Edition is highly engaging across all types of music, has a super classy treble and is the best B&W entry-level standmount yet. Fyne Audio F1-8 PRICE: £6,000 REVIEWED: HFC 473 If the F1-8 is anything to go by, size really does matter. If you’re short of space, look elsewhere as this is a beast that won’t melt into the background. But as a speaker that merges the strengths of the best standmounts and floorstanders, it is dynamic, dextrous and deeply satisfying…

Audiolab Omnia £1,600 HFC 490 Despite some operational foibles, the Omnia offers a level of performance that very little under £2,000 can get anywhere near. It combines excellent functionality and spec with a supreme level of performance across its wide spread of connections. Cambridge Audio Evo 150 £2,250 HFC 477 In terms of functionality, the Evo 150 offers little over a dedicated streaming amp such as Hegel's H95. As an object of desire, however, it's on a different plane – as lovely to look at as it is to use and to listen to. There will be many takers for it. NAD M10 £2,200 HFC 451 With its super flexibility, powerful amplifier design, big front panel touchscreen and impressive BluOS platform, this is a supremely stylish offering.…

PRICE: £3,750 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: IFI-AUDIO.COM IFI AUDIO HAS released its new flagship analogue headphone amplifier, the iCAN Phantom, which the company claims: “takes the Pro iCAN (HFC 428) and refines and enhances every element of its circuitry to further elevate its performance. Incorporating technology from the Pro iESL (HFC 430) – previously a separate component – for electrostatic headphones, it adds a new, advanced user interface and networkconnected control system.” Available in a dual-level black and silver finish measuring 256 x 120 x 185mm (WxHxD), it’s constructed from aluminium, with the bottom layer sporting cable connections front and back, and the top offering tactile controls and a colourful OLED display. The top of also incorporates a flush-fitting smoked glass panel, through which the amp’s circuitry – including its glowing…

PRICE: £75,000 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: PIEGA.CH/EN INTRODUCED AT THE Munich High End Show, Swiss company Piega’s bank account busting Master Line Source 2 Gen2 presented: “a newly designed interpretation of a floor-to-ceiling, slim, yet uncompromising high-end sound transducer”. Combining ribbon tweeters, coaxial line sources and dipoles the MLS 2 Gen2 is positioned between the company’s four-part Master Line Source and the more compact MLS 3 and boasts an aluminium front finish in an enclosure available in matte silver, matte black, matte white or Zebrano wood. The cabinet has been reinforced to benefit the bass reproduction: with two driven UHQD drivers with 220mm diameters and two 220mm passive radiators for the lowest bass frequencies. Keep it natural “We have significantly improved the sound slats of the Gen2 compared with the first…

HERE’S A FIRST detailed update on the UK Hi-Fi Show Live, which takes place on 30 September and 1 October at the Grandstand at Ascot Racecourse. Advance tickets are now on sale priced £20 per day or £30 for a weekend pass via eventbrite.co.uk or the link on the hifishowlive.com website. Concessionary £15 day passes will be offered for HFC and Hi-Fi News subscribers, and you can find details about that on the insert included with future subscriber copies. Full brand listings of attendees and seminars are being constantly updated on the website, so be sure to check it out regularly. This year the UK Hi-Fi Show Live is going to be bigger than ever, expanding into additional and larger spaces, making room for more heavyweight brands. Exclusives already confirmed…

DETAILS PRODUCT Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) ORIGIN US/China TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 5.3g each Case: 50.8g FEATURES ● 6mm drivers ● IPX4 water resistant ● Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos DISTRIBUTOR Apple UK There are now several different models available in the AirPods range – including the over-ear AirPods Max (HFC 501) – but this second-generation version is the current top-of-the-range for the Cupertino-based company’s in-ears. The design hasn’t changed much for this update, but there’s a new ‘low distortion driver’ that provides enhanced audio quality. It doesn’t specify its size, but reports online suggest it has increased from 5mm to 6mm. Apple’s H2 chip also provides a number of technical improvements, including enhanced noise cancellation and a touch-sensitive volume control on the AirPods’ trademark stalk. Battery…

DETAILS PRODUCT JBL Tour Pro 2 ORIGIN US/China TYPE True wireless in-ear headphones WEIGHT 6.1g each Case: 73g FEATURES ● 10mm drivers ● IPX5 water resistant DISTRIBUTOR Harman UK Adopting a compact design for your true wireless earbuds does come at the expense of the battery, but JBL’s recently updated Tour Pro 2 stands out from the rest in a number of ways, including all-day battery life and an unusual charging case that does a lot more than just boosting the juice. Available in either black or silver finish, the Tour Pro 2’s case is the only one here to boast a small touchscreen display that allows you to easily adjust controls and settings without having to use the dedicated Headphone app (available for both Android and Apple). The earbuds…

IT’S DIFFICULT TO pick a single outright winner in this group of true-wireless in-ear headphones, as each model has distinctive features that may appeal to different people in different situations. Logitech puts a lot of emphasis on digital features with its Zone True Wireless, while its decent battery makes it ideal for life on the move. However, noise cancelling proves less effective – especially for the price. Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro is superb with Apple devices, with strong sound quality and some of the most effective noise-cancelling in the group. Ultimately it is let down by the way it only plays nicely with other Apple devices. JBL makes a strong pitch for travellers, with its Tour Pro 2 offering an unrivalled eight hours of battery life when using noise cancelling.…

If you’d told me when I bought my first ever LP – ABBA’s Arrival back in 1976 – that nearly 50 years later I would still be playing records on newly released turntables, I’d have laughed at you. Yet here we are, with a new vinyl spinner from a new British company. Extra sobering for some of us more senior audiophiles, is the fact that the brand is the brainchild of Will Turrell – who is, to put it politely, young enough to view ABBA in the same way that I regard George Gershwin, namely ancient history. A keen percussionist from an early age, he gave up a budding career as a musician to work in engineering. Then, to cut a long story short, he partnered up with Kevin Edwards…

Available in black or white, the Era 300 is a departure from the conventional rectangular design that Sonos’ larger speakers have used up until recently. And, as multi-room audio is now a well-established technology, Sonos is extending its capabilities to embrace Dolby Atmos for movie soundtracks and spatial audio for some streaming services. Sonos describes the design of the Era 300 as an: “elegantly cinched hourglass” and it has six separate drivers, each with their own Class D amps. The front panel houses a single mid-tweeter, while the left and right include both a bass driver and a mid-tweeter to enhance stereo separation. There’s one more high/ mid tweeter located on the top – just behind the main control panel – angled to bounce sound off the ceiling for Atmos…

The humble headphone has gone from being something that hi-fi enthusiasts could employ for late-night listening to touchoperated, wireless smartphone controllers par excellence. Meanwhile, the number of manufacturers has ballooned from a few specialists to everyone from hip-hop producers to popstars getting in on the act. The pretty much universal adoption of smartphones has meant that everyone is after a way to listen to their music on the move and, what was once a niche part of the market, has very quickly transformed into a multi-million pound industry. Once considered a fall back if you couldn’t afford a fine pair of loudspeakers or – even if you could – away to enjoy music at decent volume levels without annoying the neighbours or room-sharing relatives, headphones have become both an essential…

There’s this terribly clever bloke called Mark Mothersbaugh who does tons of music for movies and TV shows. His credits include Rugrats, Mario, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Clifford The Big Red Dog… You get the picture. Quirky stuff. Anyway, he kicked off his illustrious career by forming and fronting the band Devo who were like a post-punk novelty art project dressed in flowerpot hats and boiler suits. Devo was short for De-evolution, a crackpot theory that Mothersbaugh held, the gist of which was that instead of evolving mankind had actually peaked civilisation-wise and was now rapidly pursuing an ugly path of regression. This sounded bonkers back in the Seventies, but I reckon he may not have been barking up the wrong tree after all. Where to…

★★★★★ BOTH SYMPHONIES ARE popular and recorded quite often. But Les Ambassadeurs chose the second (1834) version of the Italian and the original (1829) version of the Reformation. Mendelssohn was notoriously self-critical. He revised both these symphonies several times yet never felt completely satisfied with either. Despite their numbering, they’re actually early works, written when the composer was in his early twenties. For those that know the revised versions, the earlier scores offer some fascinating differences – the recitative for solo flute in the Reformation is usually cut. The performances are energetic and lively, while the recordings are very open and transparent. JH…

Exactly 40 years ago in the summer of 1983, an unknown band from Manchester released a single called Hand In Glove. Like The Beatles’ debut single Love Me Do, the song began with a harmonica and shared a similar freshness and urgent vigour. Hand In Glove may have failed to chart, but its impact was in its way as significant in the development of British pop as Love Me Do had been two decades earlier. The band, of course, was The Smiths and despite the lack of sales for that first single, discerning ears were pricking up and taking notice where it mattered. In the NME, Barney Hoskyns called the song: “one of the year’s few masterpieces, a thing of beauty and a joy forever”. Recognising that here was a…

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 speakers, there’s great depth perspective. Cyrus CDi-XR Phantom Black PRICE:…

Copland CSA150 PRICE: £4,988 REVIEWED: HFC 479 A tube/transistor hybrid that’s more than the sum of its parts, the CSA150 is not just a fine all-rounder as it also excels sonically with a big, strong, engaging performance that’s also surprisingly subtle and detailed for such a muscular thing. Well worth an audition, it’s a bargain at the price considering all that it does. Cyrus Classic AMP PRICE: £2,000 REVIEWED: HFC 496 As the name suggests, this is classic Cyrus. The AMP partners four RCA line inputs, an MM phono stage and pre-out with two coaxial and two optical ins with 24-bit/192kHz sampling. The result is top-class refinement and realism to its fast, lively and highly forgiving sound. Ideal if you already have source components. Exposure 3510 PRICE: From£2,250…

Bluesound Vault 2i £1,100 HFC 452 If you see yourself buying into the BluOS ecosystem favoured by the Canadian brand and its cohorts, this 2TB, server, ripper and player compatible with up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and MQA files, is a great way of starting off in one room and expanding as your system grows. Innuos Zenith Mk3 From £3,000 HFC 451 With one of the best interfaces going and a potently flexible spec, the 4TB, CD ripping Zenith can be used as a Roon Core and delivers an outstanding performance that inspires confidence even for those starting out. It should be right near the top of any shortlist. Melco N100 EX £2,000 HFC 462 Following a software update back in December 2019, the N100 became the EX…

Chord Company Epic XL £600 1.5m, terminated HFC 450 Combining elements of Chord’s Signature Reference/XL with its Epic speaker cable, the XL bristles with energy and brings fantastic detail to the fore. Subtle elements are captivatingly clear, soundstage depth is enormous and clarity is supremely enhanced. Chord Company Odyssey X £150 1m, terminated HFC 451 Made from the same materials as the Rumour X (HFC 447), the Odyssey X is designed to bring more control to dynamics and definition, and boy does it deliver. Front-to-back imaging is superb, instruments are well focused and clearly positioned while piano is full and rich. QED XT25 £85 3m HFC 434 Claimed to achieve a lowering of impedance compared with a traditional large cross-sectional area twin-core cable, the XT25 offers up…

The quiet little man with bovine, brown eyes and a whisper of a moustache stares absent-mindedly out of the hotel window across London’s rainswept rooftops. “Actually,” he decides with pronounced hesitation, “I think it’s much more embarrassing talking about these things than doing them. I mean, I find it a lot easier to sing swear words than to say them, and when I first had a girl, I found it really hard to tell my mother but, Lord knows, I didn’t feel embarrassed while doing it to her.” The man shifts in his seat, fidgets with his fingers and smiles uneasily. He’s nervous – so nervous he gives me the jitters. I remember the quote from the New York Times: “With his sassy grace and precocious musicality he is heir…