Tag Archives: asynchronous USB
REVIEW: Marantz HD-AMP1 is a classic in the making
New Marantz HD-AMP1 combines retro style with a specification that’s right up to date – and a superb sound
REVIEW: Astell & Kern AK500 system
Nothing looks quite like the extraordinary Astell & Kern AK500 system ‘stack’ – but if you’re expecting it to be style over substance, think again… The Astell & Kern AK500N is unusual enough: a high-end CD ripping/storage/network player, all housed in a near-cube with styling apparently inspired by the Matterhorn, powered by internal batteries and […]
Korg adds DSD DAC complete with A-to-D for recording LPs
New Korg DS-DAC-10R offers DSD128 decoding/encoding, and has built-in phono stage for simple recording of vinyl to hi-res audio Just announced by Korg is the DS-DAC-10R, combing the functions of hi-res digital-to-analogue conversion and analogue-to-digital for recording to DSD. Selling for £439 when it hits the shops in January 2016, the new model even has […]
Why Classé is ignoring the AV features arms-race
New Classé Sigma SSP processor, launched with two matching power amps, plays it simple in the quest for ultimate sound quality Interesting afternoon at the London Bowers & Wilkins office yesterday, hearing about – and hearing – the new Classé Sigma series with company CEO Dave Nauber. The range is designed to slot in below […]
Technics is back – and here’s the inside story
I’ve been following the development of the products chosen by Panasonic to revive one of the best-known names in audio – and they’re nothing if not ambitious Technics is back. Speaking at IFA in Berlin today, Michiko Ogawa – former Technics engineer, celebrated jazz pianist and the leader of the Panasonic project to revive the […]
REVIEW: Oppo HA-1 headphone amplifier
Bells, whistles and solid engineering in this all-in-one headphone amp and DAC, plus a smooth, confident sound to make the most of the superb PM-1 ‘phones Headphone amplifiers are clearly like buses: you wait ages for one, then two come along at once. And so it was, just as I was wrapping up my review […]
REVIEW: Fiio X3 gets even better as new firmware adds DSD and a slicker interface
Free download improves the user-interface immensely, and the £160 digital media player now handles more music formats and plays them better, too The Fiio X3, the Chinese company’s great-sounding little digital media player, just keeps on getting better. You may have read my original review of this bargain-priced device back in August last year, and […]
REVIEW: Pro-Ject DAC Box DS
Fine-sounding converter is now even better value with DSD capability DSD: it’s a contentious subject among those interested in all things high-resolution. I’ve been subject to some quite scathing comments from some keyboard warriors for suggesting anyone should buy products not supporting DSD, which they see as the way, truth and light; others, meanwhile, see […]
REVIEW: Denon DA-300USB DAC
…And here’s what happens when mainstream hi-fi players start taking desktop audio seriously Until recently, the whole world of desktop audio wasn’t something troubling the big names of mainstream audio unduly. True, everyone from high-end companies to accessory specialists and even all-but-unknown start-ups had already gone down the route of providing digital-to-analogue converter bridges between […]
REVIEW: Quad Platinum DMP and Stereo power amplifier
While the links to history are obvious, there’s a distinct whiff of ‘I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore’ about the Quad Platinum range. In my position as Audio Editor of Gramophone, I do occasionally have to disabuse people of a few well-rehearsed myths about the readership. No, the magazine’s readers didn’t all start […]
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