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Classical Companion
Mozart: The Last Three Symphonies
Christopher Breunig  |  Sep 08, 2020
Were these meant to be heard as a single entity? Does the theory survive scrutiny? Christopher Breunig suggests library versions both 'historically aware' and traditional

When Nikolaus Harnoncourt's Teldec recording of Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony appeared in 1985, his sleeve essay suggested the score was in fact a musical translation of a cathartic event from his youth, (i) concerning his mother's death, and (ii) the subsequent reconciliation with his father, and as such complete.

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Integrated AmplifiersNetwork Audio Players/Servers
NAD M33 Streaming DAC/Amp
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Sep 07, 2020
hfnoutstandingEver at the cutting edge of both analogue and digital Class D amplification, NAD's new M33 is the first to utilise Purifi's groundbreaking modules. All this and streaming too...

Launched last year, NAD's M10 all-in-one streaming system [HFN Jun '19] was remarkable in two ways. One was that this compact 'just add speakers' package was actually part of the brand's elite Masters Series, more usually populated by high-end DACs and amplifiers, while the other was that this little system, selling for around £2000, was exceptionally good, receiving a glowing review in HFN before going on to win a 2019-20 EISA award as Best Smart Amplifier.

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Turntables, Arms & Cartridges
Holbo Airbearing Turntable
Review: Ken Kessler,  |  Sep 04, 2020
hfnoutstandingAn air-bearing turntable and a parallel-tracking, air-bearing tonearm in a single, easy-to-use package for under £7000? Devotees of both will love the Holbo Airbearing

Every product type has its following, however focused. I am sure, for example, that there are devotees of hybrid amps with tube front-ends and solid-state output stages just as, among the niches in LP playback, audiophiles are tempted by air-bearing turntables and parallel-tracking tonearms. Made in Slovenia by Bostjan Holc, the Holbo Airbearing combines those two, and does so for an almost-inexplicable £6500.

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Meet the Producers
Phil Ramone
Steve Sutherland  |  Sep 03, 2020
From Monroe to McCartney, and the soundtracks to more than a few iconic movies, this US-born producer was never afraid to use the latest cutting-edge studio technology while also never forgetting his people skills. Steve Sutherland on the 'Pope Of Pop'...

Afew months ago I claimed in these very pages that Jeff Lynne of ELO assembling his new best buddies Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to tart up the deceased John Lennon's 'Free As A Bird' home demo and release it as a Beatles single was the worst musical idea ever. Well today, dear reader, I humbly recant that claim for what follows is surely far more dreadful.

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Loudspeakers
Goldmund Mimesis 15/Prana Active Loudspeaker
Review and Lab: Paul Miller,  |  Sep 02, 2020
hfnedchoiceThere certainly aren't many speakers that look like them, but these baby models – yes, really – in the Swiss brand's wireless active range combine style with all-alloy substance

When the entry-level model in a speaker range costs £70,000 a pair, and weighs no less than 80kg – that's each speaker – you'd rightly assume you're in very serious high-end territory. And yes, imposing though the Prana speaker looks, its two aluminium enclosures mounted on a hefty 'Z-frame' and the whole enterprise standing some 99cm tall, this is the baby of this particular range. Above it sit the Satya speakers, 1.23m tall, 140kg apiece and £110,000 a pair, while the flagship is the 1.47m tall, 180kg-a-pop Samadhi, yours for a nice neat £200k a pair...

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Hi-Res Downloads
Hi-Res Downloads, August 2020
Hi-Fi News Staff  |  Aug 31, 2020
This month we review and test releases from: Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin/ Bernhard Forck, Yael NaÏm, Giovanni Antonini/Il Giardino Armonico, Priya Darshini and Martin Helmchen, Deutsches SO/Andrew Manze.
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Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, August 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Aug 28, 2020
This month we review: Dire Straits, The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five and Clear Light.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, August 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Aug 28, 2020
This month, we review: James Taylor, Kristin Bolstad With Stemmeklang, Cream and Jimi Hendrix.
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Rock
Rock, August 2020
Mike Barnes  |  Aug 27, 2020
This month we review: Tim Burgess, Badly Drawn Boy, Blancmange and Louise Patricia Crane.
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Jazz
Jazz, August 2020
Steve Harris  |  Aug 27, 2020
This month we review: Dinosaur, George Colligan Trio, Avishai Cohen and Jimmy Greene.
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