Tag Archives: High-end
Naim does DSD with new NAC-N 272 preamp/DAC/network player
New from Naim is the £3300 NAC-N 272, a combined network music player, DAC and preamplifier – and for the first time in a Naim product it can play DSD files, either from local storage such as USB devices or streamed over a home network. The reason I was down in Salisbury last week – […]
Making a Statement: building Naim’s super-amp
Naim boss Paul Stephenson may say ‘We’re glad 2014 is behind us, and we can move on’ – he admits times were tough last summer, mainly due to global economic and political unrest –, but the company is still upbeat after recording its best-ever sales last year, with record months in the last quarter. Giving […]
REVIEW: Technics R1 and C700 systems tested
I’ve now had a chance to review both the Technics C700 Premium system and the Reference R1 set-up, and the results are very promising So, almost a year since I first heard the beginnings of the Technics revival, the boxes started arriving containing the review samples. And having now listened to both the R1 Reference […]
Two-channel audio alive and well in Japan’s megastores
So hi-fi as we know it is on its last legs, is it? The huge selection on sale in a couple of Japan’s consumer electronics superstores suggests otherwise… Some will have you believe that hi-fi as we know it is on its way out, replaced by small speakers, Bluetooth whatnots and streaming services, but having […]
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 […]
Enterprising hi-fi retailer Infidelity takes the quality music message on the road
London hi-fi specialist exhibits at car launch event, attracts interest for latest audio technology So there I was last night, rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of South-West London – well, the Lexus-buying great and the good, anyway – at the launch of the new Lexus NX hybrid SUV. Held at the impressively-positioned […]
Linn gets sourcey with its Exakt Akudorik speaker stands, and Nautilus in its expansion plans
Latest Exakt Akudorik speakers load processing engine and amps into their stands, while third-party speaker program kicks off with a word in B&W’s shell-like Things we clearly all got wrong when Linn first announced its Exakt system about this time last year: one was that it was only ever going to be available at flagship […]
REVIEW: Oppo PM-1 headphones
Beautifully presented high-end headphones also have a beautiful presentation UPDATE: Oppo has responded to those users wanting slightly more treble from their PM-1 headphones with the announcement of new earpads, designed to give a slight lift in the treble response while maintaining the existing midband and bass characteristics. The newly-designed earpads will be supplied as […]
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 […]
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