The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Vinyl Records
Vinyl records are more than just a medium for music; they’re a tactile, nostalgic, and, for many, superior way to experience sound. But unlike digital formats, vinyl requires regular care to maintain its audio fidelity and longevity. If you’re a vinyl enthusiast, whether a seasoned collector or a newcomer, understanding how to properly care for your records is essential to preserving their quality. This guide covers everything you need to know about cleaning, maintaining, and storing your vinyl records. It’s aimed at both newcomers and confirmed vinyl-heads.
Headed up by Tony Crocker, Oklahoma-based Swan Song Audio takes a very different approach to the design of their headphones and headphone amplifier. The headphones use a combination of 3D printing techniques and different woods, and the amplifier uses 3D printed parts too. All this innovation makes the Sawn Song Audio combo a very different proposition to what you might be used to, but how do they sound? Janine Elliot finds out for HiFi PiG.
We bumped into Joseph at the Bristol Show earlier this year when he was trying on a pair of headphones. We asked if it was OK to photograph him and he agreed. After that we got chatting and asked if he’d like to do a short review of the Bristol HiFi Show for us. He agreed and this is what you see here.
Remember the Titan Audio Ares mains distribution block we reviewed back at the tail end of 2023? It was good enough to make it onto that year´s Best Of list, and it was (and still is) only 400 quid. This, the second iteration of the Eros mains block, is significantly better, but at a more substantial but still reasonable GBP 875.
Auris Audio is well known for its turntables and headphone DAC/amps, including products from its sister brand, EarMen. Founded in Serbia in 2013, Headonia 300B represents the brand’s 10th-anniversary model. It costs a whopping €11,999. This is a serious headphone amplifier, made for the most discerning of headphone users, so let’s look at what this headphone amp is capable of.
Volumio Rivo + is a digital player that is big on features, has a dedicated app but will integrate with ROON seamlessly, and looks very attractive. Stuart Smith takes a listen to this player costing a pound less than £1100.
Cyrus 40 AMP is, needless to say, an amplifier from British brand Cyrus. It has an onboard DAC, MM phonostage, and costs £3995. Janine Elliot takes a listen for HiFi PiG.
The Manger Z1 is a large standmount loudspeaker that uses the innovative and very interesting Manger Sound Transducer for the mids and tops. In the UK the speakers cost £9720. Hifi PiG’s Stuart takes a listen.
ELAC CARINA BS 243.4 bookshelf speakers are a beer token less than a grand in the UK, but do they cut the sonic mustard? Michael Fairbairn finds out for HiFi PiG.
DMconnect NASA N1 CAT8 ethernet cable is an aftermarket “audiophile” ethernet cable costing around £500. Musician and HiFi PiG reviewer Michael Fairbairn plays some of his own bands’ creations to assess what this cable does – if anything.
Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 streaming DAC is pretty much what it says on the tin – a one-box streaming DAC costing £799. Janine Elliot takes a listen for HiFi PiG.
With just three weeks to go until Audio Show Deluxe, excitement is growing amongst music lovers and those who appreciate the finer things in life. The high-end home audio show, now in its third year, is the year’s event for those looking to experience the pinnacle of what the world of luxury audio can offer.
Over the last few years, iFi Audio have built a name for itself, making excellent head-fi related kit at often reasonable prices. In this review, we will be taking a closer look at their ZEN DAC 3, the latest DAC from their popular ZEN range of products.
The Innuos Next-Gen is the Portuguese brand’s latest high-end streaming offering with a host of innovative new features to maximise sound quality and usability. In this review of the ZEN NEXT-GEN from INNUOS, Alan McIntosh doesn’t seem to want to send it back.
Hana SL MKII MC Cartridge is the second iteration of the brand’s SL phono-cartridge and comes with a few improvements over the original including cryogenically treated parts, a new covering material to help dampen the cartridge, and a new cantelever. Stuart Smith takes a listen to this £650 low-output moving coil cartridge.
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Should Home Audio Look Good As Good As It Sounds?
Should Home Audio Look Good As Good As It Sounds?
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