For 40 years, Cyrus has been one of the UK’s most distinctive hi-fi brands. Their iconic half-width design has been a counterbalance to ever-larger competitors and, together with Naim and Rega, has proven that size is not decisive for sound quality. With the 40 Series, the company has truly entered the modern and digital age, …
When viewed from the front, the Argon Audio SA2 looks exactly like its predecessor, the SA1. The two amplifiers have exactly the same dimensions and weight, and with nothing but ‘Argon Audio’ on the front, it’s impossible to tell the difference. Unless you’ve chosen the blue version of the SA2. Because in addition to black …
Sometimes products come along that we just have to surrender to. The small wireless streamers from WiiM are among those products. They give you streaming with a sound quality that far surpasses what we are used to in the budget class. Now they have taken the successful streaming platform one step further and combined it …
From a cynical point of view, one could argue that perhaps it was time for a successor. After all, the Hegel H190 is their oldest amplifier, and seven years after its debut, perhaps it’s time for a sequel? It’s definitely coming, just not any time soon, but this one will. The Hegel H190V is not …
When I was a young, lanky nerd (now I’m only a nerd), my boyhood dream was a nice stereo system with a robust amplifier at its centre. That was many years ago, and the classic stereo amplifier was for many years an endangered species. But like the turntable and vinyl records, the stereo amplifier is …
No one has a larger selection of turntables and turntable accessories than the Austrian company Pro-Ject. They make players in all price ranges, pickups, tonearms, record brushes, cleaning equipment and, of course, phono cartridges. Not one or two, no. They have more phonostages than I can count. Need a turntable input? Pro-Ject has an affordable …
So you want an amplifier? Should it be for hi-fi or home cinema? Although both applications should, in principle, be about good sound, the lines are drawn very clearly. So much so that in many hi-fi forums, mentioning the word “surround” can be cause for banishment. The Marantz Stereo 70s may be a bridge between …
Wipe dust off the record. Pour a glass of wine. Alphabetise your record collection. But don’t sit and stare at the LED lights in the front. That will only frustrate you. When switching on the Copland amplifier, you will need a saint’s patience. Because it takes a while for the sound to become smooth. But …
The sound of the piano is crystal clear. As if carved out with a scalpel. At the same time, the notes float weightlessly into space, creating a warm, almost organic atmosphere. Jan Gunnar Hoff’s otherworldly piano playing rarely sounds as good on vinyl as it does right now. Interestingly, it’s not because I’ve set up …
A glowing blue light and a red-hot amplifier sounds like an upcoming emergency, but the little amplifier blazed through the test without a hitch. It wasn’t always like this. The tiny Musical Fidelity A1 was once known for its beautiful sound, but the first amplifiers launched in 1985 gained a reputation for frying the output …
Bluesound Node is a small family of streaming receivers. We tested the fourth edition two years ago. But now the fifth incarnation has arrived, and it’s not called Node 5, but Node X. This is to mark the 10th anniversary of Bluesound. The Bluesound Node X has exactly the same dimensions and connections as its …
Many newbies get a surprise the first time they buy a turntable. When they plug it into their amplifier, they realise there’s something strange about the sound. What many don’t realise is that all turntables need to be connected to a special input, often called phono stage, RIAA stage or simply turntable input. Many amplifiers …
Danish company Tangent Audio doesn’t do things the same way as the majority. In a time when only the most expensive and heavy gear is available as separate components, they offer preamp and power amplifier sets at budget prices – and in mini format. We have previously tested the Tangent Preamp II / PowerAmpster II …
It almost makes one feel a bit stupid. When I’ve tested an amplifier with both power and resolution, I often use the words: “Can drive any speaker“. And I often add: “with conviction“. But what are these words really worth? There’s no doubt that you can have a lot of fun with a 120-150 watt …
With increasing opportunities to stream music in the highest quality, it’s more important than ever that every link maintains the same high quality. That’s why the market for amplifiers with built-in streaming is growing. For the record, we’re not talking about Bluetooth, but streaming over your home network. While Bluetooth is practical in headphones, earbuds …