You don’t need to break the bank to achieve high-quality sound, even if you have a discerning ear. This became clear to us during our testing of the Wiim Mini last year. This unassuming, plug-and-play music streamer delivers high-resolution audio, making it an excellent option for those seeking an elevated listening experience without a hefty …
If you know Reloop at all, it is in most cases for their turntables for DJs. In other words, turntables where robustness and longevity matter more than sound quality. Therefore, when they launched their first turntable for home use, it was met with a slight shrug of the shoulders. They called it the Reloop Hi-Fi …
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 …
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 …
If I say that you should definitely take the chance to listen to something ineffective that gets very hot and doesn’t deliver much power, you might think that I have totally lost it. If, at the same time, I tell you it’s a valve amplifier, you’ll probably shake your head and smile with condescension. Because …
The massive McIntosh powerhouses have always been in the top class of amplifiers. The new MA9500 is no exception, but I wouldn’t have thought it would be audibly better than its predecessor. Not that there’s no precedent. The first really good and powerful integrated amplifier we tested from McIntosh, the MA7000 in 2008 – which …
Argon Audio shows that you don’t have to buy from traditional manufacturers to get a quality turntable. Compared to Thorens, Rega or Pro-Ject, Argon Audio is barely out of kindergarten. But that doesn’t stop them from making successful products. The turntable, which looks confusingly like a Pro-Ject player, is a simple belt-driven design with electronic …
A good pair of headphones needs an amplifier to drive them. We’re not talking about low-cost headphones for a hundred Euros or so – they’ll probably do fine with the headphone output of your existing amp, and you might even get acceptable quality from the output of a laptop. But more expensive headphones deserve better. …
Never mind that the turntable is called Pro. It’s not intended for professional use at all, and you’ll never see a DJ with two Pro-Ject turntables like this. The Debut Pro, as it is somewhat misleadingly called, is a turntable for those who are bored with the old turntable. It’s a turntable for music enjoyment. …
Ask ten experts about the best portable music players on the market, and at least a couple of them will say Astell & Kern. They’re known in the hi-fi industry for making some of the best – and most expensive – DAP’s. With the A&ultima SP2000T, A&K have taken things up a notch by including …
This must be the quietest valve amp ever, I thought. The valves were glowing and reflected in the glossy black surface. The two Lexie valves in the middle told me the volume was 38. Still, it was quiet as the grave. No sound. At all. A quick look at all the connections gave me no …
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. …
The superb Marantz Model 40n amplifier plays music with infectious commitment and immediately became one of my favourites in its price range. It didn’t take long, either. A few minutes with the Keith Jarrett Trio on a pair of Klipsch Heresy IVs (test in progress) was enough. I was hooked. For those who are thinking …
I must admit I was a little surprised. It’s not that I’m prejudiced against valve amplifiers, but I wasn’t expecting this. Let me explain… Many people I talk to have an inherent scepticism about valve amplifiers. That someone uses vacuum valves to get sound into speakers is not only an anachronism, it’s also foolish, they …
Although streaming has become popular and is the dominant way to consume music, many people – after radio – swear by vinyl records. There are many reasons for this, such as the warm sound, album covers that border on art (and sometimes are art), and all the information you find on an album. That’s why …