LATEST ADDITIONS

Headphones
PSB M4U 8 Headphones
Review and Lab: Keith Howard  |  Jun 26, 2019
hfncommendedA development of the earlier M4U 2, this new design adds Bluetooth and internal battery charging while listening, via micro USB. How do the improvements stack up?

Although it received a lukewarm review in these pages [HFN Dec '13], the M4U 2 – predecessor to the M4U 8 we're looking at here and still available – proved to be a success for PSB, garnering plaudits and awards along the way. The M4U 8 looks very similar and it would be easy to suppose that it's just an M4U 2 with wireless capability in the form of Bluetooth and NFC (near-field communication) bolted on. In fact it's a bit more than that, principally because its onboard DSP capability allows it, in active mode, to deliver a more precise adherence to PSB's RoomFeel target frequency response.

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Hi-Res Downloads
Hi-Res Downloads, April 2019
Reviews: Hi-Fi News Team,  |  Jun 24, 2019
This month we review and test releases from: Thomas Søndergård/BBC Now, Johan Versk, Lars Danielsson & Paolo Fresu, Sir Roland Hanna and Emma Johnson & Friends
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Integrated Amplifiers
Emotiva BasX TA-100 Amplifier/DAC
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Jun 21, 2019
hfnoutstandingBudget hi-fi, from the USA: Emotiva's BasX TA-100 isn't quite what at first it seems – however, given what it does, it's hard not to conclude that it's something of a bargain

Well, this is rather confusing: look up the Emotiva BasX TA-100, which sells in the UK through Karma Audio Visual for £519, on its US-based manufacturer's website, and you'll find it appears under 'Preamps'. In fact Emotiva has a stack of preamps, and even more power amps, in its unusually extensive catalogue.

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From the Vault
Chicago, Chicago . . .
John Atkinson  |  Jun 21, 2019  |  First Published: Sep 01, 1980
John Atkinson reports on the 1980 summer Consumer Electronics Show

Thought highly of by many, the Canadian 'Oracle' turntable is winning a reputation as perhaps the first design to supersede the performance of Linn's respected Sondek. Beautifully engineered, the rigid laminated subchassis arm mount is hung from three springs, which can be adjusted from above.

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Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, April 2019
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 20, 2019
This month we review: Marvin Gaye, Gene Clark, The Remains, and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, April 2019
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 20, 2019
This month, we review: John Lennon, The Debutantes, Art Garfunkel and Jethro Tull
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Rock
Rock, April 2019
Johnny Black  |  Jun 20, 2019
This month we review: Jon Amor, Delicate Steve, Crows and Nick Waterhouse
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Jazz
Jazz, April 2019
Steve Harris  |  Jun 20, 2019
This month we review: Karin Krog & Georgie Fame, Jeff Ballard, Randy Brecker & NDR Bigband and Christian Mcbride
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Classical
Classical, April 2019
Christopher Breunig  |  Jun 20, 2019
This month we review: Stravinsky, JS Bach, Debussy and Leonard Bernstein
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Loudspeakers
Falcon Acoustics R.A.M Studio 30 Loudspeaker
Review: David Price,  |  Jun 19, 2019
hfncommendedAn unusual blend of traditional tech and modern design practice, here's a deceptively capable floorstander

Sometimes you can be too clever by half. The pursuit of perfect sound, such as it is, takes many loudspeaker manufacturers way off-piste into all sorts of weird and wonderful drive unit types, cone materials and radical cabinet shapes. Yet there's a decent body of evidence to suggest that a conventional but well made box speaker - complete with high quality drive units that don't try to trip the light fantastic - can deliver just as impressive results.

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