With the CD 50n, Marantz is well on its way to renewal. It is the third CD player – and the seventh product – with the characteristic design and familiar Marantz qualities. The player is positioned between the excellent Marantz SACD 30n with SACD CD and network and the simpler CD 60. Which is a …
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 …
iFi Audio NEO Stream is a thin and nifty little streamer, only half the width of a standard rack. It can be placed horizontally, but if you want to use it on your desk, it comes with a stand for vertical placement. Despite its modest dimensions, the streamer has everything you need for your audio …
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 …
Receiver. Taste the word. It sounds a bit like Dad’s old Tandberg Sølvsuper, or Beomaster. A solid product with FM, MW, turntable input and a separate button labelled ‘Tape’. For the tape recorder. A receiver is almost the antithesis of hi-fi, a lowest common denominator, a product that brings together all the necessary functions in …
Actually, there was nothing wrong with the player from Technics. When we tested it as recently as 2020, we concluded that there weren’t many players like it on the market, certainly not with the qualities it possessed. Technics may not have been satisfied after all. Because now they have upgraded the player to this version …
The Primare player is basically similar to the Technics SL700M2 and Marantz SACD 30n, except that it does not have audio input and support for SACD playback. Like the other two, it’s solidly and convincingly built, with a quiet CD mechanism (from TEAC), and it combines CD playback with high-resolution streaming of most formats. Except …
The benefits of combining streaming with an amplifier are obvious. You have everything in one place, no cable clutter, and one remote control for everything. Another alternative to a separate music streamer is CD streamers. There aren’t many, but they exist and they’re targeted at people with a CD collection that’s still in use. This …
The earlier versions of Auralics Aries and Altair were long among the best music streamers. Therefore, we had certain expectations for the new Altair G1.1, which is an Aries with built-in DAC and analog outputs. We were not disappointed. The player looks similar to its predecessor, but the aluminium grey base plate hints at something …
Despite having no buttons or screen, the Naim player is one of the best choices in this price range. As a music streamer, it lacks almost nothing else, and even though it’s in its fifth year since the launch of the ND5 XS 2 in 2019, it’s still better than most in its class. Behind …
HiFi Rose is a relatively unknown quantity, but the South Korean company has made a name for itself in a very short time, with music streamers that surpass most of what we’ve seen. The RS150B, for example, looks unlike anything we’ve encountered before. With a 14.9-inch touchscreen taking up the entire front, it oozes high-tech, …
Matrix Audio has set out to pack big things into a small package, with the Element M2. It has a host of digital inputs, and both HDMI ARC and USB DAC inputs are available, in addition to coax and optical. A separate I2S input is also available in the form of an additional HDMI port. …
The Madison from Wattson Audio is extremely minimalist, with no remote control and no cables except for a power supply. As the importer recommended we upgrade to one from Sbooster. As said, so done. The Madison has no display, instead two red LEDs show source and audio level. In fact, you can choose between variable …
The Marantz NR1200 is a full-sized network amplifier with more connectivity and features than any other in its class, including five (!) HDMI inputs and an HDMI output with audio return. This is where you connect your TV, so you can include your stereo in your TV entertainment. There are also a couple of digital …
Externally, the new Powernode looks like its predecessor: a black or white plastic box with rounded corners and a control panel on top. The panel is more advanced than before, as there is now a touch field for controlling volume, as well as five presets that can be programmed with internet radio stations or playlists. …