Audiolab has introduced the 6000CDT MKII, a £399 CD transport with a new disc mechanism and redesigned electronics. Available from late November in black or silver, it is aimed at listeners who want to add CD playback to a system that already has a digital-to-analogue converter, or DAC. The important bit is that this is […]
Acoustic Energy has announced the AE500², a new standmount speaker joining its redesigned 500 Series. Priced at £1,200 a pair, it brings technology developed through the company’s flagship Corinium project into a smaller passive speaker. This is a bigger-budget option for someone taking the next step with a separates system. You will need an amplifier […]
Schiit has introduced the Magni 6, a compact headphone amplifier that starts at $99 in the US. An optional built-in Mesh 2 DAC takes the price to $169 and combines digital conversion and headphone amplification in one small box. For a desk used for both headphones and powered speakers, one practical addition is independent switching […]
Pro-Ject’s Debut family has a new option for anyone putting together a dedicated vinyl system. The Debut Carbon – The Original arrives with a carbon-fibre tonearm, a fitted moving-magnet cartridge and a UK price of £499. The focus is on the record-playing hardware. This is a manual turntable, so you place the arm on the […]
Spine Music has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a wall-mounted display that turns a streaming library into a row of album spines. The idea is to make choosing an album feel more like browsing a shelf, without collecting another stack of discs. At a £849 campaign price, with £949 planned afterwards, this is an expensive […]
Japanese audio brand km5 has revealed two additions to its compact music system: the Sp1 Bluetooth speaker and the Mp1 wireless mixer. One is designed for everyday listening; the other lets you bring two music sources together and experiment with a mix. There is an important catch before anyone starts saving up: prices have not […]
Audio-Technica has added a wireless model to its StreamSet headset range. The ATH-M50xSTS-WL combines closed-back headphones with a boom microphone, giving desktop listeners who also stream, chat or record a single device for both jobs. Listed at $299 in the US, it sits above entry-level headset prices. Its appeal is the combination of music listening […]
Connecting wireless headphones to a device with a headphone socket can involve a frustrating amount of blinking lights and guesswork. Twelve South’s new AirFly View adds a display to show what is connecting, with a US price of $79.99. Although aimed at travel, it could also help with compatible home equipment. It is an adapter […]
A favourite old music player does not have to become useless when your headphones go wireless. iFi has announced the UP Travel Max, a £129 Bluetooth adapter that can send sound from a wired source to wireless headphones, or work in reverse to feed a wired system. Its folding 3.5mm plug tucks away for carrying. […]
Shanling has introduced the SM1.3R HD, combining a network streamer, digital-to-analogue converter and headphone amplifier in one box. It builds on the SM1.3R with an upgraded touchscreen and Shanling’s own resistor-based DAC technology. At £1,799 / $1,699, this is a substantial upgrade purchase rather than a budget starting point. It can bring streaming and stored […]
Musical Fidelity has introduced the B1xcd, a £549 CD player joining its returning B-Line range. It combines a dedicated disc mechanism, a built-in ESS DAC and an all-metal chassis, with connections for an amplifier or a separate DAC. It is a dedicated source rather than an all-in-one system, so you will still need amplification and […]
This week’s Sunday Thoughts is being written while I’m lying on the bed at the Sobieski Hotel in downtown…or is it uptown? I’m never entirely sure what American folk mean by those terms… Warsaw, where we are staying while covering the excellent Audio Video Show. It’s a brilliant event and, obviously, we’ll be bringing you […]
ORCHARD AUDIO STARKRIMSON MONO ULTRA-PREMIUM LPS GaN POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW I recently reviewed a gallium nitride (GaN) amplifier from ArgentPur, also originating from the USA. This is a relatively new technology. Just as valve and now silicon transistor technology is getting a bit long in the tooth, new technology is always welcome, as we have […]
The Bristol HiFi Show returns from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 February 2027, marking 40 years since its first event in 1987. Tickets are on sale now, with free entry for accompanied under-16s and reduced prices for students. More than 110 brands are expected at Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre. For anyone getting […]
Topping has launched the Mini 500, a compact Class D amplifier for passive speakers. Priced at $229 in the official store, it could form the centre of a first HiFi system built around a pair of bookshelf speakers and a separate music source. Despite being called a power amplifier, the Mini 500 includes a front-panel […]
The Jamo HYG 5 combines a network streamer, amplifier and active speaker system in one compact cabinet. That makes it a simple route into better home listening if you want more than a small Bluetooth speaker but do not have room for separate HiFi boxes. It can play music directly from several streaming services, receive […]