In 2017 Exposure Electronics launched the ‘XM’ series of hifi components, designed to be compact and affordable. Since then, the series has grown to include a phonostage, an integrated amplifier, a preamplifier, mono power amps and a headphone amp.
Tangent Audio has announced the launch of a new and improved version of their compact sized, Ampster Bluetooth amplifier. A new matching CD and Tuner have also been designed to create a full audio system that can also be partnered with Tangent’s own X4 or X5 speakers. More »
The Unico Due integrated amplifier from Unison Research, the Italian hifi electronics manufacturer, replaces the long-standing Unico Secondo in the line, but brings new features to the range while also drawing inspiration from the Unico 90 design. More »
Henley Audio has announced the first new products from Musical Fidelity, since the brand changed ownership and received new investment earlier in 2018. The M2 range features an integrated amplifier and a CD player. More »
Connected Distribution, UK distributor for Parasound, is launching a charity auction in conjunction with the well-known rock star and platinum-selling artist, Fish, enabling one lucky person to win a complete system signed by the man himself. Fish’s chosen charity, Chest Heart Stroke Scotland, will benefit from 100% of the proceeds of the auction which is for a complete Paraasound Z Series hifi system, comprising: Zpre v.2, Zamp v.3, Zdac v.2 and Zphono. More »
We brought you the news last week of Audiolab’s new 6000A integrated amplifier, now Audiolab have released their 6000CDT which they say is the 6000A’s ideal CD-playing companion. More »
International consumer electronics show, IFA 2018, is underway in Berlin and MQA has a strong presence, with several partners showcasing new MQA-enabled products. More »
Primare has announced the shipping of the first Prisma models: the I35 Prisma integrated amplifier/network player and CD35 Prisma CD/network player. More »
NAD Electronics has announced their new C 538 CD player which is available now with an MSRP of £249.00. Though music downloads and streaming continue to grow in popularity, many consumers still have a vast collection of CDs and need a player to enjoy them. NAD has continued to develop its CD players as part of its development in digital technology. More »
ATC Loudspeaker Technology announce the arrival of the CDA 2 Mk2 CD/DAC preamp, which represents a re-engineering of its predecessor in all the key performance areas. Developed as partner for ATC’s latest P2 power amplifier and active speaker designs, the Mk2 combines USB access to high-resolution music streaming with an upgraded CD transport and DAC board, dedicated headphone amplification, wider input selection and redesigned analogue circuits. More »
The £4100 Lector 707 CD Player, here with the top level power supply, the PSU-7T, is made in Italy, has a valve output stage and a top loading transport. Dominic Marsh and Lionel Payne. put it through its paces. More »
Pioneer has announced the release of the PD-70AE, its new flagship SACD player & Digital to Analogue converter (DAC). More »
Metronome Technologie, the mother company of Kalista, was established in 1987. In order to celebrate this anniversary, Kalista manufactures a special edition of its famous DreamPlay CD and Kalista DAC. More »
The £4100 Lector 707 CD Player, here with the top level power supply, the PSU-7T, is made in Italy, has a valve output stage and a top loading transport. Dominic Marsh and Lionel Payne. put it through its paces.
Musical Fidelity’s recently introduced M6 Encore 225 has just received its most important updates with the integration of the Tidal service, both directly within the player and in the app, the addition of 24bit/192 audio compatibility over the USB – B input and the super fast copying of audio from USB sticks. More »
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 output for connection to select McIntosh models (with a DIN input), such as the new D150 digital preamp launched at CES in January 2015.
The transport is compatible with all common disc types including: SACD; CD; CD-R and CD- RW (MP3 and WMA). “A twin-laser optical pickup assures optimal disc-reading, while 2x read speed provides improved data-reading from damaged discs”.
Further features include a premium aluminium die-cast CD tray, plus power control and data ports to control the unit’s operational state via other McIntosh system components. The entire unit is housed in a classic McIntosh-styled polished stainless steel chassis with a black- glass front panel and brushed-aluminium end caps.
The MCT450 sells for £4,495.
Top end of the METRONOME TECHNOLOGIE products, the KALISTA Ultimate CD Transport with its separate ELEKTRA power supply is “today the high class 
component which permits to obtain an unmatched level in terms of harmonic realism, dynamic and 3D sound specialization.”
Main Highlights and Design Features
The Philips CDM 12 Pro 2 metal chassis has been significantly customized by METRONOME TECHNOLGIE and provides a stable foundation.
The Perpex® and stainless steel clamp and the proprietary shaft designed by METRONOME TECHNOLGIE has been designed to give better stability of the CD and consequently to reproduce the best possible sound with a low jitter.
Continuous ground link from the disc surface to the electrical earth permits the dissipation of static electricity for better working conditions of electronic and optical components.
A switchable up sampling device delivers 24 bit/96 kHz signal to the D/A converter.
The Elektra separate power supply with individual power transformers and completely independent regulation lines for each critical part of the transport – display, servo mechanism, motor, digital output stage – provides an inter-stage EMI/RFI radiation protection and ensures a “dynamic analog-like sound quality”. It also permits to mechanically isolate the sensitive electronic components from the vibration induced by the transformers.
Kalista may come with a series of options, such as a tripod stand as well as customisations.
Lector has contacted Hifi Pig to tell us about their new tube output CD player. The new rounded shape 
CD player is said to offer better rigidity and mechanical vibration control and the CD player has a new laser mechanism that is said to be highly accurate. A specially designed rubber suspension is employed to further reduce both internal and external vibration and inside new servo circuits based on a 32 bit microprocessor are used.
The on-board DAC board is a 32 bit 192 KHz low jitter design and output is pure class A to tubes without any solid state device in the signal path.
Only one polyprop capacitor is in the signal path and several power supply circuits are employed with “great capacitor reserve”.
The new Esoteric K-05 is a combined CD/SACD player as well as an outboard DAC for decoding your digital audio stored on your PC, MAC or media server. This unit uses the highly regarded ESOTERIC VRDS mechanism for playing of any form of CD or SACD. It also is fitted with Digital to Analog conversion circuits using the AKM 4399 DAC chips in a dual differential design. This new product is an upgraded replacement for the very popular ESOTERIC X-05 
New in the K-05 is an improved voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VXCO) clock generator with it’s own dedicated power supply for improved accuracy and stability. The K-05, like it’s bigger siblings, the K-01 and the K-03, has multiple digital-to-digital conversion capabilities. Material being played or streamed through the K-05 can be up-sampled to as high as 176.4 kHz at 32 bits or the played program can be up-converted to DSD (Direct-Stream-Digital) before running the signal through the D to A converters. Five separate digital filters are included offering the ability to customize the character of the sound to one’s own personal taste. In the tradition of the other “K” series products, the solidity and beauty of the product is exemplified in the sculpted aluminum panels and the massive anti-resonance steel sub chassis. Other features include:
MSRP of $8,300.00
