Month: March 2015

Hifi News

Roksan Re-Align K2 Series Amplifiers

The Kandy K2 range of hi-fi separates from Roksan Audio have been a huge international success since their introduction in 2008 and now, with the birth of the K3 Series, Roksan are re-aligning the K2 range to appeal to a wider pool of hi-fi enthusiasts than ever before. From April 2015, the K2 Integrated Amplifier […]

Hifi News

Alan Roser MD of Anthem AV

It is with great sadness that we announce that Alan Roser, founder and MD of Anthem AV Solutions passed away last week after a short battle with cancer aged 53. Alan was born in Ash Vale, Surrey and was one of two children. His early career included stints as store manager at various Rumbelows and […]

Hifi News

Aries Cerat Diana Integrated Tube Amplifier

Using borrowed  techniques and circuits from the company’s top-line monoblocks like the Concero 65 and pre-amp stages like the Pondera Ref Aries Cerat have come up with what they describe as being “the absolute and superlative design in integrated amplifier”. The Diana is a three stage, all direct heated triode single ended amplifier. All three […]

High End Munich 2015

High End Munich On Wheels

Cars with customized sound systems at the HIGH END 2015 For many people the car has become an individual listening room. The vehicle interior is a home on the road and, at the same time, is also a place to retreat, recover and relax. Workers in Germany spend an average of 90 minutes per day […]

Hifi News

Aluma 2200 From Quadral

The new ALUMA 2200 from Quadral consists of a centre plus four satellite speakers that have the option of using the Mount 210 for wall installation.  Users can opt to aded the Qube 7 active subwoofer for a “discrete yet powerful system.” Aluminium has been used as the material for the cabs and you can […]

Hifi News

More New Members Join Clarity Alliance

The Clarity Alliance, the UK hi-fi industry’s trade body, welcomes the addition of two new manufacturers to its continually growing number of members. After a number of years absence from the UK, many who remember the brand for its well respected loudspeakers and turntables will welcome the return of Acoustic Research. The reintroduction of this […]

Hifi News

Chord Electronics At CanJAm

Great Britain’s Chord Electronics will be exhibiting at CanJam SoCal 2015 this weekend, America’s biggest dedicated ‘head-fi’ event. The Kent-based company will be showing its new Hugo TT desktop DAC/headphone amp which was launched at CES in January 2015 and starts production in April. Chord will also be demonstrating its mobile-orientated Hugo DAC/headphone amp. Rob […]

Hifi News

IsoTek EVO 3 Sequel Mains Cable

New from IsoTek, the Sequel comes in a standard length of 2m, compared to the Premier’s 1.5m. Like the Premier, it uses silver-plated oxygen-free copper conductors twisted together to aid EMI/RFI rejection, but in the Sequel the conductor geometry is “improved with optimised thickness of the individual strands”. “The Sequel also incorporates more advanced ‘active’ […]

Hifi News

McIntosh Laboratory MCT450 SACD/CD Transport

McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new MCT450 SACD/CD transport — “a high-performance disc-spinner designed to complement any McIntosh product with a digital input”. The MCT450 offers digital balanced (24-bit/192kHz), coaxial (24-bit/96kHz), optical (24- bit/192kHz) and DIN outputs for complete flexibility when connecting to partnering system components. For SACD playback, the MCT450 also employs a DIN […]

Hifi News

Gamut Appoints Sound Fowndations As New UK Distributor

Danish hi-fi specialist Gamut has appointed Berkshire-based Sound Fowndations as its new UK distributor. The two companies had already collaborated at a number of key hi-fi shows, during which it became clear that they shared a common passion and vision for high performance audio. “It’s important for us to work with the right people,” said […]

Hifi News

Noble Audio Launch Prestige IEM

Noble Audio has launched Prestige: a 10-driver bespoke monitor crafted from a choice of exotic solid materials (from £1,650) Prestige is a high-end progression of Noble Audio’s flagship custom K10 and universal-fit K10U IEMs (£999). Like its K10 siblings, Prestige also employs Noble Audio’s 10 driver balanced armature technology. But, Prestige is an CIEM with […]

Album Reviews

Björk – Vulnicura (One Little Indian)

You know, whatever your thoughts of Björk, what you really can’t knock is the quality of her recordings.  As the first track on ‘Vulnicura’, Björk’s ninth solo album draws to its close, I really can’t help feeling that it sounds – well – fantastic.  The string arrangements are just sublime.  In fact, there are several […]

Hifi News

Tidal Integrates With Meridian

TIDAL has announced it is delighted to announce its integration with Meridian Audio, the Cambridgeshire (UK)-based technology company.  With immediate effect, TIDAL will be available on Meridian’s Sooloos digital media system, enabling seamless streaming of the services extensive library of 25 million CD-quality tracks. The TIDAL integration brings a lossless audio streaming experience to Meridian […]

Live Music Music News

The Unthanks –The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

The Unthanks brought their UK tour in support of new album, Mount The Air, to a close in front of a sell out crowd at The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. Departing from tradition, not for the first time tonight, The Unthanks eschew the time-honoured format support band followed by main act. Instead, The Young Uns […]

Live Music Music News

Rumer – The Queens Hall Edinburgh

Somewhere in the deep, dusty archives of the BBC television centre lies an unseen episode of Dr Who in which Rumer becomes the Doctor’s assistant and travels back to 1975 where her new album Into Colour becomes the best selling album of the year.

Hifi News

New High-End In-Ears From Astell&Kern

Named after classic songs, clad in carbon fibre and Kevlar, and featuring the “most sophisticated in-ear headphone design yet” – Astell&Kern’s new Layla and Angie earphones certainloy look the part. The Astell&Kern earphones are engineered by Jerry Harvey Audio (JH Audio), designer of in-ear monitors (IEMs) for musicians as diverse as Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, […]

Hifi News

Bryston Isolation Transformers

Bryston has announced the introduction of new BIT (Bryston Isolation Transformer) models to serve larger applications. The new 45 and 60-Amp models feature a 220/240-volt input with a 120-volt output and are available with or without AVR technology (Automatic Voltage Regulation). In addition to these new models, all BIT products will now be available with standard […]

Hifi News

Meridian at Montreal Audio Show

Meridian Audio has announced its participation in the Montreal Audio Show, which commences on 27th March for three days during which time Meridian will unveil and demonstrate its new MQA technology. In association with AudioGroup as a Distribution Partner, Meridian will be displaying in two separate areas; Fontaine C and the Personal Audio zone at […]

Hifi News

Astell&Kern Announce Stainless Steel AK240

Astell&Kern has launched a limited edition Stainless Steel version of its flagship music player, the AK240. The move not only gives the portable a new look, but also improves both performance and durability. The AK240 Stainless Steel edition – available now, priced £2499 – also comes with a bespoke new leather case from the Tanniere […]

Hifi News

EMME Speakers Copernicus Loudspeaker

Italian loudspeaker manufacturer EMME Speakers have sent us pictures of their very latest loudspeaker Copernicus. The new loudspeaker keeps many of the concepts from the company’s previous loudspeakers and uses their BSSE system (Box Shaping for Sound Enhancement). The acoustic layout of Copernicus sees three drivers in an unconventional two-ways configuration. Mid-high frequencies are managed […]

Industry Insider

Linn Space Optimisation Launch Event

On 13th March, I attended the Hospital Club in Covent Garden for a Linn launch event to showcase the latest evolutions of the Linn DS players – for there were several. New and improved DS The first big announcement was that Linn is launching a new Klimax DS, Akurate DS, Majik DS and Majik DSM, […]

Hifi News

New Control App From Chord Electronics

Chord Electronics’ audio streamers, the DSX 1000 (£7,500) and the CodeX from the Choral Series (£4,500), have been given a new free control app, Chord 2 HD. The new app, which is available for both the iPad and iPhone, will initially be available on iOS 8.0 and above, with an Android version to follow. Chord […]