LATEST ADDITIONS

HeadphonesOutboard DACs
iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp/USB DAC
Review: Jamie Biesemans,  |  Sep 29, 2022
hfncommendedReplacing both the xCAN and xDSD, iFi Audio describes the xDSD Gryphon as its most ambitious portable headphone amplifier yet. Is this another boost to the success story?

Since launching in 2012, iFi Audio has established a reputation for delivering affordable, compact, often portable audio products. And at some pace too – looking back over the past decade, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the number of devices the company has released. Not all are entirely 'new', because iFi Audio likes to 'tweak' its products, which is why the xDSD Gryphon tested here follows the EISA Award-winning xDSD DAC [HFN Jul '18], and also serves as a successor to the xCAN [HFN Feb '19].

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Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, September 2022
Ken Kessler  |  Sep 27, 2022
This month we review: Carole King, Andy Bey, Jamiroquai and John McLaughlin.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, September 2022
Ken Kessler  |  Sep 27, 2022
This month, we review: The Mothers, The Church, Marianne Faithfull With Warren Ellis and Foxfeather.
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Rock
Rock, September 2022
Mike Barnes  |  Sep 27, 2022
This month we review: Sun's Signature, The Dream Syndicate, Pure Reason Revolution and Shearwater.
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Jazz
Jazz, September 2022
Steve Harris  |  Sep 27, 2022
This month we review: Lynne Arriale Trio, Fergus Mccreadie, Opus 5 and The Pucciarelli Group.
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Classical
Classical, September 2022
Peter Quantrill  |  Sep 27, 2022
This month we review: Peter Donohoe, BBC SO/Sakari Oramo, Michelle Cann, New York Youth SO/Michael Repper, Vicky Chow and Lisette Oropesa, Dresdner Phil/Daniel Oren.
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Loudspeakers
Perlisten Audio R7t Loudspeaker
Review: Mark Craven,  |  Sep 26, 2022
hfnoutstandingNo mere trickledown, the R7t floorstander inherits a full flood of technology from its flagship stablemate

Shoppers are always on the hunt for a bargain, so anything labelled 'half-price' attracts attention. Okay, that usually applies more to supermarket biscuits than floorstanding loudspeakers, but with Perlisten's R7t selling for £8100 – pretty much half that of the American company's flagship S7t [HFN Apr '22], while looking strikingly similar – it immediately appears a potential bargain. On the other hand, there must be changes behind the scenes for the price tag to have dropped so much, so the question becomes, will it sound only 'half as good'?

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Integrated AmplifiersVintage
Trio/Kenwood KA-2002 Integrated Amplifier
Review: Tim Jarman,  |  Sep 23, 2022
hfnvintageAttractive, affordable and the first step on the hi-fi highway for many a budding audiophile, is this '70s amp now the perfect introduction to vintage? We find out

The instantly recognisable Trio/Kenwood KA-2002 is one of those products that is sure to have touched the lives of many readers of Hi-Fi News. A popular first move upmarket from record players and radiograms towards 'proper' hi-fi, this inexpensive amplifier was a frequent choice for enthusiasts taking their initial steps towards serious listening.

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Network Audio Players/ServersPre/Power Amplifiers
Lindemann Musicbook Source II Networked DAC/Preamp
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Sep 22, 2022
hfncommendedNow in mkII guise, Lindemann's network-attached DAC and analogue preamp sees a raft of internal updates and the promise of 'production secured for upcoming years'

Look at the latest iteration of Lindemann's network music player, the £3450 Musicbook Source II, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that nothing much has changed [HFN Jun '20]. This is still a compact unit, just 28cm wide and a mere 6.3cm tall, with nothing much on show save a power/standby button sunk into one end of the top-plate and an edge-mounted volume control, with a push-to-mute function, at the other.

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Classical Companion
Dimitri Mitropoulos: Olympian Maestro
Peter Quantrill  |  Sep 20, 2022
Mentor to Bernstein and Karajan, controversial chief of the NYPO, Mahler pioneer, the Greek conductor is finally receiving his due. Peter Quantrill says it's not before time

Leonard Bernstein once addressed the 'art' of conducting in scientific terms, saying it required 'an inconceivable amount of knowledge', 'a profound perception of the inner meanings of music' and 'uncanny powers of communication'. More ambitiously, 'the conductor must not only make his orchestra play; he must make them want to play. He must make the orchestra love the music as he loves it'.

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