LATEST ADDITIONS

Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, June 2023
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 30, 2023
This month we review: Allen Toussaint, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Sanctuary and The Yardbirds.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, June 2023
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 30, 2023
This month, we review: Kim André Arnese, Durham County Poets, Jeremy Mohney and R.E.O. Speedwagon.
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Rock
Rock, June 2023
Mike Barnes  |  Jun 29, 2023
This month we review: Sleaford Mods, Emma Tricca, Kele and Alasdair Roberts.
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Jazz
Jazz, June 2023
Steve Harris  |  Jun 29, 2023
This month we review: Walter Smith III, Christian Mcbride's New Jawn, Alex Sipiagin and Enzo Zirilli's Zirobop.
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Classical
Classical, June 2023
Peter Quantrill  |  Jun 29, 2023
This month we review: Lucile Richardot, Stéphane Degout, Anne de Fornel, et AL, Los Angeles PO/Gustavo Dudamel, Veronika Eberle, LSO/Rattle and WDR SO/Łukasz Borowicz.
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Hi-Res Downloads
Hi-Res Downloads, June 2023
Andrew Everard  |  Jun 27, 2023
This month we review and test releases from: David Chesky, Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark, Karin Nakagawa & Jon FÄlt, Stephen Layton/Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Fe Salomon and IST IST.
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Loudspeakers
Totem Acoustic Bison Monitor Loudspeaker
Review: Mark Craven,  |  Jun 23, 2023
hfncommendedWhile not exactly an apex bovine of the wide-open prairies, the diminutive 'monitor' of Totem's new Bison series can still stampede with the best of the musical herd

Canada's Totem Acoustic is fond of a pun or two, promising a 'prairie-like', wide-open soundstage from its newest Bison loudspeaker range. You can't help feel, however, that while the name might fit the lineup's Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower floorstanders, it's a bit of a mismatch for the Bison Monitor. Priced £2495, and available in White Oak, Satin White and Black Ash colourways, this two-way standmount/bookshelf model hardly possesses a muscular, bovine build. On the contrary, it's practically petite.

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Outboard DACs
SPL Diamond USB DAC
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Jun 22, 2023
hfnoutstandingFrom Germany's SPL (Sound Performance Laboratory) comes this multicolour USB DAC designed for both 'legacy' and computer connection. There's a volume control too...

Given that most of today's digital components seem to be multifunctional – streamer DACs, DAC/headphone amps and the like – it's unusual to find a product as simple in its operation as its design. Yet that describes the latest arrival from German manufacturer SPL, the £2499 Diamond DAC, available in silver, black or red like all the company's products. A back-to-basics DAC? Well, almost...

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From the VaultPre/Power Amplifiers
Quad Valves Reinvented!
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 20, 2023  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2000
hfnvintageKen Kessler brings you an exclusive subjective review of a legend reborn: the Quad ll-forty mono power amplifiers and QC-twentyfour preamp

Goodness me! Two Quad scoops in one season! OK, so it's not like waking up with Kim Basinger, but I am fully aware of the privilege. When I kicked off the Quad 989 loudspeaker review [HFN Jul '00]

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Disc PlayersIntegrated Amplifiers
Denon DCD/PMA-1700NE SACD Player/Amplifier
Review: Jamie Biesemans,  |  Jun 19, 2023
hfnoutstandingDenon has been in existence for 111 years, resolutely supporting CD playback for the last 40. Its latest CD disc spinner handles SACD too, and joins the 1700 series amplifier

The Denon duo in the limelight here are an obvious refresh of the previous generation DCD-1600NE disc player and PMA-1600NE amp, introduced in 2017, rather than entirely new designs. Partly that's because both the £1299 DCD-1700NE and £1699 PMA-1700NE look very similar, if not identical, to their predecessors. The solid construction, metal front fascia that curves to ensure the Denon logo catches the light, the weighty volume knob in the middle of the amp, the old-school tone controls… it's all very par for the course, as is the choice between black or silver colourways.

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