At £885 the Minute EL-34 valve certainly looks to offer good value for money with its separate power supply. Add another £150 and you get a full compliment of cryo’d valves. Ian Ringstead takes a listen. More »
When I was a youth I had the door to my bedroom painted with all psychedelic patterns, dragons, mushrooms and the like. Somewhere on the door I also had a poem that started “I am Bufo bufo, not yet rested from the great work” and on the frame over the door I had “It’s an ill wind that blows no minds”. I’m sure my parents must have been very proud, if not a little concerned about my mental wellbeing. The year the tunes on this collection came out I was born, but I’ve always been drawn to the whole hippy vibe…man, and love the music of this era; mostly it has to be said the music that came out of the US scene. More »
Karma-AV have announced the availability of the Mark-Levinson № 526 dual- monaural preamplifier. The № 526 is a 12-input dual-monaural design featuring Pure Path circuit topology, a class-A ‘Pure Phono’ stage, a 32-bit DAC, and a class-A Main Drive Headphone output. 
Designed and engineered at HARMAN’s Engineering Centre of Excellence in Shelton, CT, USA, the Mark Levinson № 526 offers a signal path that is fully discrete, fully balanced and completely dual-monaural, with a discrete, balanced R-2R ladder volume control to maintain the highest level of sonic purity, resolution, transparency and dynamic range.
There is the choice of two balanced and three single-ended analogue audio inputs, stereo phono inputs and six digital inputs, supported by the Mark Levinson ‘Precision Link’ DAC and HARMAN Clari-Fi® music restoration technology. 
The Mark Levinson № 526 offers digital decoding up to 32-bit, 192kHz from PCM and double-speed DSD.
Its proprietary ‘Precision Link’ DAC incorporates an ESS Sabre32 Reference converter. Six digital audio inputs including asynchronous USB, AES/EBU balanced, TOSLINK optical and coaxial unbalanced, feed the digital signal path. For listeners whose libraries contain older or lower resolution content, the № 526 incorporates HARMAN Clari-Fi® music restoration technology.
In addition the № 526 is equipped with a ‘Pure Phono’ stage, which operates in class-A throughout, offering a fixed-gain MM section with five capacitive cartridge-loading settings, and an MC section with three gain settings and 10 resistive cartridge-loading settings. An infrasonic filter intelligently compensates for rumble and warping. 
The № 526 preamplifier delivers its signal to balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) stereo outputs, as well as a 1/4-inch (6.3mm) Main Drive Headphone output integrated with the front panel metalwork – a first for Mark Levinson. The Main Drive Headphone amplifier circuit drives up to 32-ohm headphones in class-A by employing the main output circuit rather than a secondary signal path.
The № 526 features a 6000- series aluminium housing in black with silver trim. It can be controlled from the front panel, from the remote control supplied and via a comprehensive range of system integration connections. Like all Mark Levinson products, the № 526 is designed and handcrafted in the USA.
Features:
- Pure Path discrete, direct coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path
- 32-bit Precision Link DAC with three selectable filters and seven power supplies
- Supports high-resolution PCM (up to 32-bit, 192kHz) and DSD (up to 5.6MHz)
- Discrete, balanced R-2R Ladder volume control for precision and performance
- Class-A Main Drive Headphone output for up to 32-ohm headphones using main circuit
- Selectable fourth-order, 80 Hz high-pass filter allows seamless integration of subwoofers
- Class-A Pure Phono stage with physically separated channels for MC and MM
- 12 analogue, digital, and phono inputs; balanced, single-ended, and headphone outputs
- Designed and handcrafted in the USA
Mark Levinson No 526 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier typical retail price inc VAT: £15,000 ea
The Tomcats were a British R&B/Mod band formed in Ealing in 1965 but it is in Spain they were most well known. The story goes that just before they were about to make it big on the R&B scene in London the band jumped in a van (bought by one of the band’s mum) and headed for Madrid. More »
PMC is enhancing its operations in the Asia Pacific territory through the appointment of Franco Lock as business development manager to drive the company’s expansion plans throughout this key market.
Based in Hong Kong, Lock has over 10 years’ experience in the Asia Pacific region audio industry, having worked for other prestigious audio brands in business development and sales director positions. Prior to the audio industry, he has served global FMCG companies, focusing on marketing and business development.
“Lock’s experience with audio companies as well as his extensive knowledge of the region and Asia Pacific cultures, puts him in the ideal position to take PMC’s business in this market to the next level” says the company’s press release. He will be responsible for the support of existing distributors and the development of new business opportunities across the domestic hi-fi and professional audio sectors.
Miles Roberts, PMC managing director, commenting on the appointment says, “I was immensely impressed with Franco’s understanding of the markets and have no doubt he will be a significant asset to all of our businesses. I hope everyone will give their warmest welcome to Franco and allow him to assist those in his region with their future plans.”
This month, John Scott revisits the 1968 classic from Pink Floyd, Saucerful Of Secrets. More »
This months offering from él records was recorded in 1956 and is Michel Legrand’s homage to the French capital where he was born in 1932. You may not necessarily know the name but you are sure to know some of his tunes as he’s got around 200 film scores to his credit and if you’re still struggling you will certainly know Dusty Springfield’s version of Windmills Of Your Mind which is another of his tunes. More »
Lyn Stanley is the darling of the audiophile community and she certainly knows how to press our collective buttons to get us all in a lather over her recordings. Not content with just releasing her music on CD, she also releases her output on Reel2Reel and very high quality vinyl too – you may have even caught one of her live performances at High-End Munich (Lyn featured on the front cover of Hifi Pig’s coverage of High End 2015) and other audio shows. More »
Howard Massey knows a thing or two about the music industry and is a long-time music journo and consultant to the pro-audio side of things. He’s been a touring/session musician, songwriter, recording engineer and producer, not to mention having written a dozen or so books used in recording school curricula including Behind The Glass and Behind The Glass Volume II. So his credentials for putting together The Great British Recording Studios would seem to be well and truly in order. More »
First Watt’s new F7 power amplifier (MSRP: $3,000) is a very unique power amplifier says the company’s press release that’s just landed at Hifi Pig. It’s a two-stage push-pull JFET (input)/MOSFET (output) topology with fewer parts than any First Watt amplifier to date. The new F7 has been created as an updated version of the earlier F5 amplifier. Conceived in 2007, the F5 was a push-pull Class A amplifier employing eight semiconductors and 23 resistors to achieve 25 watts output with good specifications and good sound. 
According to Nelson Pass: “The F7 bests the earlier F5, comprising even better sound and even simpler circuitry.”
Like all First Watt designs, it is a relatively low power (25W/channel into 8-ohms) simple Class A circuit, designed with an unusually low parts count. It is the 19th product from First Watt, since its founding in 1998 as Nelson Pass’ “personal laboratory”.
Explaining First Watt, Nelson Pass says: “I spend a lot of time building and evaluating basic amplifier concepts with an eye toward producing the highest quality sound with elegantly simple circuits.
“There is no such thing as a perfect amplifier, but there is a best amplifier for each type of speaker, music, and listener. Each First Watt model is a unique design and is ‘best’ in some particular way. They look alike because they all use the same basic chassis and power transformer. On the up side, it makes it easy for me to test ideas and compare different designs with the hardware being a fixed constant.
“Looking for tomorrow’s faceplate with yesterday’s circuits? You’re in the wrong place.”
The desire for a simpler circuit is self-explanatory – apart from the aesthetic, Nelson Pass believes that that simpler circuits tend to sound better: “In such a simple circuit, there are opportunities for improving performance by careful choice of transistors, resistor values, voltage and current values and precise matching of parts.”
The F7 has most of what was on his Wish List:
Very wide bandwidth
Low distortion and noise
Large Class A operating region
Less feedback
No degeneration in the output stage
Very low thermal distortion and drift
No capacitors or transformers (apart from the power supply)
Uniquely, it incorporates a very innovative balance of very low Negative Voltage Feedback and a small amount of Positive Current Feedback to give an “astonishing measure of control over reactive loudspeaker” loads.
Modest amounts of Negative Feedback are balanced in counterpoint to a small amount of Positive Current Feedback, creating an equilibrium where the output impedance approaches zero, improving transient and frequency response. “Of course you can achieve a similar effect with tons of negative feedback, but I think this is more elegant and sounds better. For brevity, I call it ‘PCF’,” explains Pass.
“Also, I put more capacitance in the power supply and found a clever way to further reduce the effect of high frequency DAC noise and environmental RF. This is a different amplifier. The diversity of audio taste being what it is, not everyone will prefer it. I presume that a certain segment of audiophiles will like it.”
MSRP Price: $3,000
Dimensions: 17W x 15D x 5.5H
Weight: 30 lbs.
Warranty: Parts and labour for 3 years, not covering shipping costs or consequential damages.
The £3785 Naim Superuniti is an all in one box streamer, DAC and amplifier, but is it a Jack of all trades and master of none? John Scott finds out for Hifi Pig. More »
Harmony is a new stereo interconnect cable from Black Rhodium hand built at the Black Rhodium factory in Derby employing advanced design techniques developed by Black Rhodium for use in its most expensive products. 
The wires in Harmony are insulated in silicone rubber “because its low dielectric loss ensures extremely low distortion due to dielectric absorption effects in which sound energy is absorbed in the insulation and released at a later interval of time to create highly audible time-smearing distortion”.
“‘Transient Phase Distortion’ is reduced by using thicker insulation than is usual in speaker cables, increasing the distance between conductors and thereby reducing the magnetic field seen in each conductor wire as a result of the magnetic field created by the current in the other conductor wire. A further increase in the distance between conductors is achieved by use of the attractive cable braid and this further reduces ‘Proximity Effect’ distortion.”
Construction of Harmony includes the use of two separate and complementary materials that damp mechanical vibrations within the cable without the expense of vibration stabilisers says the company’s press release.
Harmony uses RFI suppression technology originally developed for high end cables in its construction. This protects the signal wires from picking up radio frequency interference (RFI) generated from Radio, Wi-Fi, Mobile Phones and even central heating systems. Further Harmony is covered in a tightly braided screen to protect the inner cores from picking up radio frequency interference.
Harmony RCA cables are terminated with ‘Hourglass Silhouette’ RCA connectors, plated in gold for long life reliability. The shape of the connector bodies enables easy insertion and removal at the back of equipment.
Specification
- Capacitance of 1m terminated cable: 50pF
Harmony Stereo interconnects will be available at these Retail Prices:
0.5m pair terminated with GN-3 RCA plugs. £320.00
1.0m pair terminated with GN-3 RCA plugs. £370.00
3m Sub-Woofer cable terminated with GN-3 RCA plugs £300.00
5m Sub-Woofer cable terminated with GN-3 RCA plugs £400.00
The ATC SCM19A active loudspeakers have onboard amps and active crossovers more often seen in pro audio, but these £4990/pair speakers are designed most specifically for the home environment. Dan Worth plugs them in and assesses their merits. More »
Noble Audio, announces its new flagship model Katana, complete with nine proprietary drive units for each ear and available in both universal- and custom-fit versions 
Noble Audio has launched a new flagship in-ear monitor which, for the first time, features proprietary Noble drive units. The range-topping Katana IEM benefits from nine custom-made drive units for each ear and is principally manufactured in the USA. Featuring a two-part US-made precision-machined aluminium chassis, Katana is smaller and lighter than the previous Kaiser 10U flagship.
Key Features
- New US-made flagship model with nine proprietary drive units per side (ear)
- Most advanced Noble IEM and sound performance to date
- Updated Noble form factor and geometry featuring refined US-made precision-machined aluminium housings
- Sensitive enough for use with smartphones and portable audio devices
- Detachable cable with industry standard 2-pin configuration (0.78 mm diameter)
- Universal-fit as standard, custom-fit available (using alternative materials)
Noble Audio’s aluminium-chassis IEMs are no ordinary IEMs: they have been designed and manufactured in conjunction with specialists in California whose clients include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Marc Newson and Holly Hunt. The nine-driver Katana configuration is also available as a custom-fit model, using alternative construction materials from the Noble range, including acrylics and exotic solid woods (Prestige range). A 3D-printed option (SLA range) is also available for faster builds.
Supplied accessories include a Pelican 1010 case (crush-proof carrying case); a black velvet soft pouch; 12 pairs of ear tips (four kinds in three sizes); two Noble Audio bands or amp bands; a cleaning tool; a Noble cable and an ownership card.
Pricing
Universal-fit £1,350/$1,850
Custom-fit £1,350/$1,850
SLA (3D-printed) £1,199/$1,650
Prestige custom-fit from £1,999/ $2,850
Choose a word from the following: Warped, debased, putrid, twisted. And one from these: Brilliance, originality, ingenuity, inventiveness. And there you have this album pretty much reviewed and condensed into two words. For the record I’d have gone for “Twisted Brilliance” for this is what you have here. Let Me Hang You is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended, but then William Burroughs reading some of his most outrageously degenerate but simultaneously entertaining and unsettling passages from his Naked Lunch novel of 1959 was never going to be. If you don’t know Naked Lunch then look it out and devour it before it consumes you! More »
Hifi Pig’s Janine Elliot is invited along to world famous AIR Studios where BBC Radio 2s Clare Teal joins the Syd Lawrence Orchestra for a direct to disc recording session. Read on, it’s fascinating! More »
“The SI-300.2d integrated amplifier is yet another milestone as Cary Audio forges deeper into the new era of sought after premium audio systems” the North Carolina company says in its latest press release. 
The SI-300.2d mates a 300 watts per channel stereo Class A/B power amplifier with analogue RCA and XLR inputs to a Class A analogue preamplifier gain stage. The amplifier itself is biased to run Class A for an extended portion of the power output. The digital section is a chip off Cary’s reference products thereby including technologies like their proprietary TruBit™ Upsampling and OSO™ reclocking features.
Digital inputs include; XMOS USB capable of True native DSD up to 256 and PCM/DXD up to 32 Bit / 384kHz, as well as Coaxial (2), Optical, AES/EBU, and aptX® Bluetooth inputs. All SPDIF and Bluetooth digital sources offer 10 TruBit™ selectable upsampling or PCM to DSD conversion options. On the analogue side, the SI-300.2d includes 4 analogue inputs (2-balanced XLR, 2-RCA), with one each of the XLR and RCA inputs offering true Cinema Bypass features.
Additional features include: a pre/subwoofer output, coaxial and optical digital outputs, IR hand held remote, trigger out, IR sensor input, and Ethernet and Wi-Fi for controlling the SI-300.2d with free iOS and Android apps.
Weight: 52 lbs.
Dimensions: 6″ H x 17.25″ W x 18 ” D
Retail Price: $5,995
The SI-300.2d is now shipping
Download your free copy of Hifi Pig’s FREE 66 page special supplement for the last months North West Audio Show. There’s loads of reports from the show, photos and more… More »
Project have a well deserved name for producing great products at great prices, but £299 for a vacuum record cleaning machine really does seem to be very good value, at least on paper. Ian Ringstead puts a few of his grimier charity shop finds through the VC-S to find out if it sucks or not! More »
Forty years have passed since the summer of 1976, that long, hot summer when punk’s adrenaline rush threatened to sweep away anything and everything that threatened to get in its way. The Sex Pistols were punk rock’s leading lights and singer Johnny Rotten was punk’s poster boy, although whether the band were a credible threat to the establishment or simply puppets – the punky Monkees – of manager Malcolm McLaren’s situationist art project has become a moot point. “Ever had the feeling you’ve been cheated?” sneered Rotten to an audience the Pistols reached the point of self destruction. I’ve never been too sure whether he was addressing the audience or himself. More »
There are classic loudspeakers and there are classic loudspeakers. Janine Elliot takes a listen to the Chartwell LS3/5 Loudspeakers by Graham Audio costing between £1650 and £1800. The creation of a classic? More »
There is something new from Clones Audio and it’s called The Host.
The Host is the first digital music server of CLones Audio and comes equipped with a high performance USB digital audio output, Ethernet port, solid-state drive for music storage and full linear power supply with the super low noise regulator modules.
Host runs a custom Linux OS with the ROON Server but the company can also supple the DAPHILE as the difference choice for the user.
- SHAAR USB gateway for USB audio class 3.0 output.
- Full linear power supply.
- Double POWER STATION regulator supply the SSD/SHAAR and the Main processor board separately
- 256GB/ 500GB/ 1TB/ 2TB internal storage option
- Machined aluminium case
- Gigabit Ethernet LAN Port for network connectivity
Specification
- 322mm(W) X 260mm(D) X 90mm(H)
- Weight: 7kg
- Mucic Storage: 256GB/ 500GB/ 1TB/ 2TB
- Digital Output: 2 – USB
- Other I/O: Gigabit Ethernet, USB Port X 4
- 2 YEARS WARRANTY
Price: Starting from HKD11,799(EUR1,377)*
*Solid-state hard drive and ROON licence are excluded
Analogue vs Digital Battle.
We came across CODE recently at the North West Audio show where they had their fully active loudspeaker system on demonstration and they’ll be representing the digital corner at the upcoming digital vs analogue shootout at Hifi Hangar on Saturday 23rd July.
MrSpeakers, is a San Diego-based manufacturer of high performance headphones, and is introducing ETHER Flow and ETHER C Flow with patent pending TrueFlow and V-Planar technologies. “TrueFlow technology elevates award-winning ETHER and ETHER C headphones to the next level in performance (and fun) while Italian leather ear pads lend a plusher feel to the headphone” says the company’s recent press release. 
As sound waves pass magnets in the headphone motor they experience diffraction and reflection, adding resolution-cloaking noise to the music. TrueFlow aims to reduce these effects by smoothing the path of the sound wave, resulting in a major increase in clarity and resolution.
“Whilst developing electrostatic headphones Mr Speakers contrasted them to there planar magnetics and concluded that mass alone didn’t adequately explain the differences they heard. They hypothesised diffraction and reflection might be degrading sound more than we’d thought,” says Dan Clark, Headmaster of MrSpeakers. “So they created a motor structure that’s acoustically similar to an electrostatic stator, which really allowed the music to flow out of a deep-black background with exceptional texture and clarity; hence the name TrueFlowTM.”
“With the performance gains MrSpeakers has given its planar magnetic ETHER platform with ETHER Flow (and ETHER C Flow), their upcoming electrostatic ETHER has its work cut out for it,” says Jude Mansilla, Founder of head-fi.org. “The ETHER Flow and ETHER C Flow bring extraordinary clarity while still being impactful and smooth.”
TrueFlow works by filling spaces between magnets with a perforated material to form a perforated flat surface that’s acoustically similar to an electrostatic stator. “By reducing the negative effects of the motor assembly on the audio waveform, TrueFlow significantly increases clarity and detail retrieval”.
“The new headphones is are our most engaging, fun and immersive to date,” says Dan Clark. “They’re quite versatile, and the voicing is closer together than it is for ETHER and ETHER C. ETHER C Flow is the automatic choice if you need isolation. Otherwise, tonally the greatest difference is the upper bass to lower midrange. ETHER’s richer upper bass region delivers a punchier experience with jazz and rock, while for EDM fans the sub-bass of ETHER C Flow is a kick. Surprisingly ETHER C Flow is also great with acoustic and classical music.”
ETHER Flow and ETHER C Flow include MrSpeakers’ hand-made DUM Cables or Premier Cables, and will available purchase for £1750.
Also, ETHER and ETHER C Headphones will have a slight price change at the end of August with a DUM Cable are £1575, and once the standard cables which we have in stock run’s out these will also no longer available (6ft @ £1450)
Upgrades to ETHER Flow and ETHER C Flow will be available for existing owners in the near future; upgrade price and timing is to be determined (these will have to be returned to USA)
Absolute Sounds say it is pleased to announce its appointment as sole UK distributor of dCS audio equipment with immediate effect.
Based near Cambridge, dCS is a world leader in digital audio replay systems for domestic and professional use. The company is widely acknowledged to have pushed the digital audio performance envelope as a result of its many proprietary technologies, most famously the dCS Ring DAC™ – a shining example of British technological ingenuity.
Originally called Data Conversion Systems, dCS was founded in 1987 to manufacture high-performance Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital-to-Analogue Converters (DACs) for major telecommunications companies and military agencies, whose primary requirement was technology that delivered state-of-the-art precision, linearity and reliability. The company’s first project was to develop the Blue Vixen radar system for the Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 fighter aircraft.
In the late 1980s, dCS began making ADCs and DACs for music reproduction – first for the rapidly growing digital recording industry, then for use in the home. While the company’s focus had changed, its commitment to producing digital conversion systems of unrivalled accuracy had not, the company’s R&D-led approach further growing its reputation for leading-edge innovation.
dCS is responsible for many ‘firsts’ throughout its timeline, including the world’s first 24-bit audio DAC and the first-ever 24-bit/96kHz analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion systems. No company has played a more pioneering role in the development of today’s hi-res digital music scene than dCS, and its products continue to enjoy an exceptional reputation among industry professionals and discerning music lovers around the world.
Today, dCS has three main product lines – Debussy, Rossini and Vivaldi – each designed from the ground up to represent the pinnacle of digital audio performance. The company’s DAC technologies are truly unique, utilising proprietary hardware and software in place of ubiquitous, off-the-shelf chip solutions. A modular design approach delivers a clear upgrade path, allowing dCS owners to update their state-of-the-art digital playback systems as technology progresses, and all the company’s products are hand-built in the UK.
Commenting on the appointment of Absolute Sounds, David Steven, Managing Director of dCS, said:
“dCS has been developing state-of-the-art digital audio technology for almost 30 years. Since becoming Managing Director in 2009, I have been committed to furthering our pioneering tradition with products that deliver the finest performance available today.
“One of the most crucial elements in helping our customers enjoy an unrivalled listening experience is the support offered by our global distributor and dealer network. We are constantly looking for partners who share our passion and commitment to deliver an unforgettable in-home musical experience.
“Absolute Sounds has been the primary architect of the UK’s high-end audio scene over the past four decades. We share a passion for providing wonderful sound and exceptional customer service to discerning music lovers; by working together we can make that experience even stronger.”
Ricardo Franassovici, founder and Managing Director of Absolute Sounds, added:
“There are very few digital audio products in the world that deliver the level of performance we demand from the brands we represent. The components made by dCS unquestionably do, with the company’s proprietary technologies cementing its status as a true digital audio pioneer.
“When we auditioned the latest dCS Vivaldi 2.0 digital playback system, we were inspired by its magnificent sound quality. And when David Steven and his team of engineers shared their forward-thinking vision with us, we became excited at the prospect of our new partnership. On a personal note, having known David’s father prior to his death in 2009, I am delighted at the prospect of working with the innovative company that he helmed for many years and that his son now steers toward further success.”
Having heard a full dCS digital front end we at Hifi Pig can attest to how good their kit actually is!
