AURORASOUND HFSA-01 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER REVIEW
In this Aurorasound HFSA-01 integrated review, Janine Elliot takes a listen to this valve amplifier that uses the EL84 valve/tube and costs £3699 in the UK.
MCINTOSH ADD TO THEIR CUSTOM INSTALL FIDELITY PORTFOLIO
McIntosh has launched the MI502 2-Channel Digital Amplifier, a Class D power amp that’s set to expand the company’s ‘Ci-Fi’ (Custom Install Fidelity) portfolio.
COPLAND CSA 150 REVIEW
Copland CSA 150 Integrated Amplifier is distributed in the UK by Absolute sounds and costs £4988. It’s an integrated amp with an onboard DAC and a moving magnet phonostage. Stuart Smith takes it for a whirl. More »
The Synthesis Roma 98DC hails from Italy and costs a couple of notes under €5000 for a 
stereo pair. Janine Elliot takes a listen. More »
TAGA Harmony, manufacturer of speakers and audio electronics, has unveiled a new high-fidelity hybrid amplifier, the HTA-1200. More »
In 2015, Italian “valve specialists” Unison Research renovated their Unico range of hybrid hifi electronics with the introduction of a new flagship. Unison Research told us: “The Unico 150 integrated amplifier was born out of an extensive R&D process and utilised optimal electrical characteristics to achieve a true high-end sound performance. Now, the lessons learned in the development of the Unico 150 have resulted in the introduction of an alternative high-end offering”. More »
McIntosh has announced the MA9000 Integrated Amplifier. Their largest integrated in both size and power, it offers 300 Watts per channel and combines amplifier and preamplifier into one unit. More »
Loudspeaker manufacturer Avantgarde Acoustic has been awarded Gold in the German Brand Award 2017. More »
Boulder Amplifiers has announced the immediate release and shipment of the 1160 Stereo Power Amplifier. The 1160 is the successor to the 1060 Stereo Power Amplifier and the first product in the new 1100 Series to debut. More »
Earlier in 2017 Exposure Electronics launched its new ‘XM’ series of hifi components, packing a complement of high-end features into a compact and affordable design. Now, the XM3 phonostage and XM5 integrated amplifier are joined by the new XM7 preamp and XM9 mono power amp. More »
Octave have launched their very first single-ended amplifier. The V16 Single-Ended has a range of high-end elements as well as an integrated headphone amp. More »
The AudioWorks will be exhibiting at the North West Audio Show, showcasing a system never before seen in the UK. More »
Norfolk based audio equipment manufacturer Ovation High Fidelity will showcase their high performance audio power amplifiers and preamplifier at the North West Audio Show 2017. More »
Midland Audio Exchange will be holding a Naim Statement event in June. More »
Onkyo have just announced their 7.2-Channel TX-NR676E Network A/V Receiver that adds audio-video support, app-based streaming, and multi-room audio distribution to a foundation of “high-current amplification power”. More »
Luxman have announced the CL-38uSE and MQ-88uSE Special-edition valve preamplifier and power amplifier, with production limited to just 100 pieces of each. More »
Audio Hungary got in touch to tell us more about their Qualiton brand, their products, philosophy and their history. “Audio Hungary Ltd., owners of the Qualiton brand, started off in 2012. This essentially came about when they purchased Univox Ltd, a manufacturer of industrial PA equipment. Without wanting to make this a lesson in economic history: the company started back in the 1940’s operating under the names of “Audio” “EAG “and BEAG until the 1990’s. That was when Univox was created from a manufacturing unit of BEAG (Budapest Electro-Acoustics Factory). BEAG used to be one of the largest players in the industry in the Eastern bloc, having also supplied the entire PA system for the Moscow Olympics back in 1980”. More »
In case you are not familiar with the name Unison Research, it is an Italian company in business for some 20 years or so at Treviso, a municipality just to the north of Venice, with a well earned reputation for producing some excellent hifi components. Dominic Marsh has a play with their Triode 25 valve amplifier. More »
The Conrad-Johnson design team say they are particularly excited with the introduction of two new Classic amplifiers, the Classic Sixty-Two (CL62) and Classic One-Twenty (CL120). More »
Danish brand Densen need little introduction to audiophiles in the know. Dominic Marsh has a play with their B-130XS amplifier costing £2490. More »
Westminster Lab, who Hifi Pig visited at last year’s Newcomers stand at High End Munich, will be there again this year displaying their UNUM amplifier and their cable collection to visitors to the show.
“The UNUM is the first handcrafted solid state mono amps without any sort of PCB, components are directly connected and soldered with each other without intermediate disturbance. The chassis is made from an unprecedented combination of aluminium, solid brass, solid copper, carbon fibre, PEEK, titanium & 24k gold.” Says the company’s recent press release.
You can visit Westminster Lab at Hall 2, G06 at this years High end show in Munich.
Read more news about Munich High End 2016 Here and Hifi Pig’s coverage of last years High End Munich here
Leema Acoustics has launched the Libra DAC/preamp, an “astonishingly featured- packed high-resolution digital hub, combining highly advanced digital 
technologies with an incredible complement of connectivity options.”
The Libra is the latest addition to Leema Acoustics’ flagship Constellation series and has the same precision-machined casework as the award-winning Tucana amp and Antila CD player.
Designed and built by Lee Taylor and Mallory Nicholls (Leema), Libra’s simple-yet- elegant looks conceal a “staggering array of class-leading technologies”. The new Libra crystallises Leema’s decades of experience in digital audio for professional studios worldwide.
The high-resolution Libra DSD DAC has been designed for today’s (and tomorrow’s) HD audio world and is said to be fully future-proofed. The Libra offers extreme high- resolution playback including: DSD 64; DSD 128, DXD and 384kHz PCM via USB (and Libra’s I2S inputs). DSD64 is also supported via all S/PDIF inputs (coaxial and optical) and AES/EBU inputs.
The new high-resolution DAC/preamp contains Leema Acoustics’ new fully balanced Quattro Infinity dual-mono DAC modules which are field-replaceable; should conversion technology improve in the future, the modules can be upgraded. The advanced Quattro Infinity modules also feature user-selectable output filters, for maximum flexibility with higher sample-rate sources.
The Libra boasts loads of connectivity options plus three coaxial and three optical inputs, capable of accepting high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz audio. For high-end partnering equipment, the Libra also offers some more esoteric options, including two I2S inputs via RJ45 connectors. With fully programmable pin-allocation on one of these inputs in software, any high-end source with an I2S interface can easily be accommodated. Source components with professional standard AES/EBU outputs can also be connected: the Libra offers two input connections available via industry standard XLR connectors.
Leema’s M1 USB module provides a connection for computer audio replay from both Windows (driver software included), Macintosh and Linux machines. This interface is fully asynchronous, allowing the Libra to precisely regulate the data rate coming from the computer and deliver “incredibly low jitter levels”.
Libra offers three separate analogue inputs, each of which can be individually configured as unbalanced, via RCA Cinch connectors, or fully balanced via XLR connectors. The entire signal path, both digital and analogue, is fully balanced from the digital data stream, to the balanced analogue outputs.
The Libra is able to operate either as a conventional audio component with fixed output level, or as a high-end pre-amplifier with full analogue volume control on-board. Outputs are provided via unbalanced RCA/Cinch connectors and balanced XLR connectors. Libra is also a full LIPS controller (see below) and can control Leema Acoustics’ range of power amplifiers directly.
For added flexibility in the digital age, the Libra also has an optional Bluetooth interface and a headphone amplifier.
LIPS is an acronym of Leema Intelligent Protocol System. It is a communication bus that enables Leema Acoustics components to communicate with other units in the range. The communication enables simple control of power on/off from one unit, right up to the control of all functions in a Leema Acoustics system, comprising up to 15 individual components.
The Libra DAC/preamp is priced at £5,995 and is available now.
Clones Audio got in touch with us to tell us about their all new 25iR stereo integrated amplifier with remote control function.
The new design features separated power supply for the remote control and improved power supply for the main section.
Remote Control has a learning function which will allow you to teach the URC-R6 commands from other remote controls.
There will be 3 unbalanced RCA stereo inputs and 2 sets of high-quality 5-way binding posts which will host speaker cables with banana plugs or spades, or just bare speaker wire.
Specifications:
Output power: 25W+25W (8ohms)
Input impedance: 10k ( unbalanced only, 3 inputs )
Gain: 30dB
Signal to Noise Ratio: <95dB (min)
Dimensions:170(w)x100(h)x170(d)mm
Weight: 6.0kg
* 5 year warranty
HKD8,690.00
Henley Designs Ltd. got in touch with Hifi Pig to tell us they are delighted to announce the launch of Roksan Audio’s newest series
of hi-fi electronics.
The K3 Integrated Amplifier and K3 CD Player from Roksan Audio have been designed and built with style, performance and function in mind. Combining visual elegance with audiophile performance inspired by the M2 range; the K3 series offers the “ultimate in musical involvement, audio engineering and user flexibility. Researched and developed over a number of 
years, these new models employ vastly improved technologies and aesthetics when compared to anything that has come before”. We certainly enjoyed the new range when we got a bit of an exclusive listen a couple of months ago.
The K3 Integrated Amplifier has five Line Level inputs, a Moving Magnet phono stage and superior aptX® Bluetooth technology and is described as an ideal hub for all manner of audio sources. The aptX technology employed allows for high-quality wireless streaming from compatible devices – including tablets, smartphones and computers. Under the cover new op-amps, audio and power supply circuits, and high-quality signal output relays are used to make an amplifier that is said to be very reliable.
The K3 CD Player is based on the well-known K2 design; “but new circuitry and improved components combine to elevate this latest player to a new level of performance”. Usability is said to be simple and intuitive.
The all-new system remote (supplied in each box), is elegant, compact and a perfect accompaniment to the new K3 design. It boasts complete control over all the commands of both the Integrated Amplifier and the CD Player, and the clear-contrast labelling makes usage effortlessly simple.
All K3 electronics are available in three brand new finishes. Charcoal (shown above, Amplifier), Opium and Anthracite (shown above, CD Player).
SRP £1,250.00 (each)
Technical Information
K3 Integrated Amplifier
Inputs: 5 x RCA Stereo Line Level
1 x Moving Magnet Phono
1 x Wireless (aptX® Bluetooth)
1 x Bypass
Outputs: 4 x Speaker Connectors (+/- L & R)
1 x RCA Pre-amplifier
1 x 3.5mm Headphone
Power Output: > 140W (8Ω) / > 220W (4Ω)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > -90dB
Frequency Response: < 3Hz – > 100kHz (-3dB)
Gain: 37.5dB (75x)
Harmonic Distortion: < 0.005% 1kHz – 14W @ 8Ω
Power Supply: 550VA Ultra-Low Noise Toroidal Transformer
5 Regulated Power Supply Rails
Dimensions (W x H x D): 432 x 102 x 380mm (incl. feet)
Weight: 14kg
K3 CD Player
Operating System: CD Digital Audio System (CD, CD-R, CD-RW)
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (± 0.2dB)
Harmonic Distortion: < 0.002% @ 0dB, 1kHz
< 0.006% @ -30dB, 1kHz
< 0.002% @ 0dB, 20kHz
< 0.008% @ -30dB, 20kHz
Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.0015% @ 0dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: < 96dB L&R (IHF-A Weighted)
Wow & Flutter: Quartz Precision
Outputs: 1 x RCA Stereo Line Level
1 x 75Ω Coaxial (RCA)
1 x 110Ω Balanced AES/EBU (XLR)
1 x Optical (Toslink)
D/A Conversion: PCM1730E Advance Segment, Audio-Stereo DAC (24-bit / 192kHz)
Crystal: Super-Precision, Custom Made
Jitter: < 150psec
Power Supply: High Performance Low Noise Toroidal Transformer
7 Fully Regulated Power Supply Rails
Dimensions (W x H x D): 432 x 105 x 380mm (incl. feet)
Weight: 9kg
Roksan have announced the launch of their K2 BT 150 amplifier which takes elements of the previous K2 model but 
improves connectivity, flexibility and sonics.
The power rating is increased from 120W to 150W per channel whilst high frequency noise has been radically reduced in both the pre section and the power amplifier section.
The new K2BT comes with a Bluetooth aptX module with CD standard (16-bit/44.1kHz audio bandwidth) allowing connectivity to a host of devices.
Roksan say the improvements made on the K2 BT make for better imaging, soundstaging, transparency and dynamic range.
Specifications
Inputs – 5 line level inputs, Moving Magnet phono, Bluetooth AptX
Outputs – Loudspeakers, Preamplifier, Headphone
Output Power – 150 W (8 Ohms), 300 W (4 Ohms)
Power Supply – 550VA Ultra LowNoise ToroidalTransformer
Frequencyresponse – (-3dB), <3Hz– >100kHz
Gain37.3dB Overall(Pre& Power)
HarmonicDistortion<0.005%1kHz-8Ω
Dimension432 x 380 x 90(W x D x H) mm
Weigth15 Kg
