Graham Slee has just released a new flagship phono stage (we’ve been using their Elevator EXP MC Step-up Amplifier and Reflex XM phono stage to excellent effect for some time). Called the Accession, it’s a moving magnet sensitivity device with a new take on equalisation and many useful features for the serious vinyl enthusiast. Equalisation Firstly […]
The Chord Company has chosen headroom to reveal a number of new cables designed to exploit the full potential of today’s high-performance desktop audio and headphone-based systems. Chord’s headroom stand will introduce new high-performance USB and digital cables, plus the Tuned ARAY prototype headphone cable. The new headphone cable will be available in two terminations […]
Valves or solid-state? Solid-state or valves? The question that is always getting brought up in audio circles. Ian Ringstead looks at a bit of the history and some of his preferences.
Following last year’s launch of their Reference Amplifiers, AVID have announced their complimenting range of Reference loudspeakers, which will officially launch at this year’s Munich High End Show 2016. Made up of one stand-mounted design and two floor-standing models, they have massive black aluminium enclosures and trademark AVID design touches. The three models start with […]
Mike Twomey continues his monthly look at the hifi and audio business from the perspective of the dealer. This month he focuses on that all important, but oft’ forgotten aspect of the business that is customer service and why it is so important to the industry.
All things headfi and portable audio will be on show this Friday and Saturday at headroom in London. New product launches include: Sennheiser HD 800 S reference-level headphone (£1,200) Audiolab M-DAC+ (£799.95) SHURE KSE 1500 isolating electrostatic earphone (£2,199) Questyle QP1R high-res portable music player DAP (£699) Quad VA-One headphone amp (£1,399.95) Arcam MusicBOOST headphone […]
I first became aware of the film Whiplash when Mr and Mrs Pig both raved about it on Facebook so I was delighted when my son’s girlfriend arrived home one evening with the DVD. Whiplash is indeed a terrific film. I won’t give away too much about the story but basically a talented young jazz […]
Pure Hell, very much a punk band in the original form, hail from Philadelphia and were active in New York from 74 to 78 along with the likes of New York Dolls. Their sound is inspired, as many bands of this time were, by The Stooges and The MC5.
The title of Darlene Love’s latest album is of course ironic. Darlene had her first hit in 1962 with He’s A Rebel as the lead singer of The Blossoms, although the single was credited to the better-known Crystals who were out on tour and were unavailable to record the song at the time. He’s A […]
High-End audio and why people buy into the whole concept is a complex subject…Stuart Smith talks about very expensive cars instead.
Linette Smith takes a look into her crystal ball and see’s if she can pluck out some trends for 2016 out of the swirling mists.
James Loudspeaker, designers and manufacturers of décor-friendly entertainment products for both residential and commercial applications, has announced the introduction of the W-Series loudspeakers designed for specialised boundary applications, such as integration into a 90-degree corner where walls and ceilings converge. James Loudspeaker say “The visually unobtrusive wedge-shaped form factor is ideal for the latest immersive […]
Astell&Kern has launched a limited Copper edition of its AK380 flagship high-resolution music player. Each AK380 casing is milled from a solid, 1.7Kg block of copperwhich is then hand finished and coated in a four-stage process that prevents oxidization and produces a brushed-metal finish. The player is completed by a carbon-fibre backing, and comes with […]
Dominic Marsh takes this €4790, chrome plated integrated amplifier from German manufacturer High End GmbH for a whirl to see if its sonic attributes live up to the amps good looks.
A full size integrated amplifier with phonostage, plus a CD player that is also a streamer for just shy of £1200 seems like a good deal. Stuart Smith investigates.
Russell Kauffman’s Russell K company make just two models of loudspeaker. Here Dominic Marsh takes a listen to the bigger Red 100 standmounters costing £1784 in the piano gloss finish and with grilles, though less pricey options are available.