LATEST ADDITIONS

Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, September 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Sep 28, 2020
This month we review: Al Di Meola, Fred Neil, James Taylor and Twisted Sister.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, September 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Sep 28, 2020
This month, we review: T Rex, The Box Tops, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and The Monkees.
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Rock
Rock, September 2020
Mike Barnes  |  Sep 28, 2020
This month we review: Seasick Steve, Fontaines DC, Sam Prekop and The Pretenders.
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Jazz
Jazz, September 2020
Steve Harris  |  Sep 28, 2020
This month we review: Chris Montague, Ambrose Akinmusire, Andrew Mccormack and Kevin Figes Quartet.
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Classical
Classical, September 2020
Christopher Breunig  |  Sep 28, 2020
This month we review: Beethoven, L'heure Bleu, Mussorgsky/Ravel, and R Strauss.
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Turntables, Arms & CartridgesVintage
B&O Beogram 1800 turntable
Review: Tim Jarman,  |  Sep 25, 2020
hfnvintageDesigned to be worthy of the company's flagship Beolab 5000 system, this late '60s turntable was the last conventional deck to top the B&O range. How does it sound?

The argument for building a system using components from different manufacturers because 'no company is good at everything' is a good one – up to a point. Conversely, the Japanese heavyweights such as Sony, Technics and JVC were once able to put together a fairly convincing complete package, as could Philips (on a good day!).

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Pre/Power Amplifiers
Yamaha C-5000/M-5000 Pre/Power Amplifier
Review: Adam Smith,  |  Sep 24, 2020
hfncommendedMasters of retro chic, Yamaha has evolved its one-time flagship A-S3000 integrated amplifier into a fully-fledged pre/power. And there's not a digital input in sight...

Talk to audiophiles that grew up through the 1990s and the chances are they associate brands such as Sony, Yamaha, Onkyo, Pioneer and Denon with meaty AV receivers and, possibly, mini systems. The reason is that it was around this time that the major Japanese corporations began directing their energies into developing products for the burgeoning home cinema market, meaning these younger hi-fi enthusiasts never really saw them flex their design muscles in the stereo arena.

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Investigation
The New Gig Economy
Johnny Black  |  Sep 22, 2020
As more groups turn to touring to generate revenue, Johnny Black casts an eye over the more innovative ways some bands are winning over fans

It used to be so simple. Back in the day, music artists recorded albums and then went out on expensive tours, often making a loss, in order to promote and sell considerable quantities of their LPs. The big money then was in the vinyl, and that vinyl was largely under the control of a handful of major international music corporations, such as EMI, CBS, Warner Bros, Polygram and their ilk.

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Loudspeakers
System Audio Legend 40 Loudspeaker
Review: Mark Craven,  |  Sep 21, 2020
hfncommendedThis Danish brand, new to the UK, has made a name for itself on the Continent with its passive-to-active speakers

The 1994 Keanu Reeves movie Speed rewrote the Hollywood rulebook when it came to action cinema. System Audio's Legend 40 is not quite as disruptive, being a three-way floorstander with a mid-level price tag, but it too has a focus on speed. 'A System Audio speaker is much faster than a conventional loudspeaker', boasts the Danish brand. Time to buckle up, then…

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From the VaultIntegrated Amplifiers
Class Distinction
Ken Kessler  |  Sep 18, 2020  |  First Published: May 01, 1985
hfnvintageKen Kessler goes Class A in a small way with the Marantz PM-4

Phone calls from company spokespersons such as Marantz's Steve Harris, are generally one of two types. Either 'Would you like to review our new Model XYZ whatever?' or 'Where the hell is our Model XYZ whatever, which you've had for nine months?' Such phone calls are never about reviewing components that are out of production.

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