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 …
New CD players are not commonplace, but surprisingly, there is a demand for CDs that makes it necessary to offer players. Add to that the millions of CDs sold since 1982, and it starts to make sense to offer your customers a CD player or two. Hegel’s decision to do so doesn’t seem so strange …
At one point in Autumn Leaves, Jack DeJohnette hits the snare drum as a warning. Then one more time. You sense what’s coming. A few bars later, an interplay starts with Keith Jarrett behind the piano, and the two of them take off at a breakneck pace before everything calms down and the drumsticks gently …
The Hegel H590 was perhaps the best integrated I’d heard when I tested it back in 2018. But things move fast, especially in electronics and digital processing, so a lot has happened in the last five years. Let’s not forget that Hegel recently launched its two-part amplifier set P30A and H30A, which beats its predecessors …
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 …
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 …
With the DNP-2000NE, Denon has a solution for anyone who wants better sound with streaming than you get from a Bluesound Node or a Wiim Pro. The Denon streamer also features a DA converter, HDMI input, headphone output and volume control. This means it can also be used as a pre-amplifier. Which makes it just …
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 …
Anyone who streams music from their phone knows just how quick it is to get some tunes playing. Most folks stick with Bluetooth because it’s so simple, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Playing music over the Wi-Fi network can be just as easy, but in that case you’ll need a better solution for streaming. …
Fortunately, streaming your favourite music is not just reserved for Bluetooth. Which is convenient enough when you’re on the move, but at home you want better sound than you get from wireless earbuds. Wireless streaming over the Wi-Fi network provides by far the best sound quality, and now more products are emerging with inbuilt streaming …
CD sales are on the rise, according to figures from the Recording Industry Association of America – RIAA . The figures are nowhere near the peak years of 1995 to 2005, and interestingly, vinyl sales are higher. But the point is that interest in CDs is actually growing. In addition, millions of households around the …