LATEST ADDITIONS

Opinion
The price of success
Peter Quantrill  |  Sep 12, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2025

The winner of this year’s Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will have the musical world at their feet – won’t they? Self-confessed ‘jaded hack’ Peter Quantrill has his doubts

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Opinion
In praise of tone controls
Jim Lesurf  |  Sep 12, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2025

As the sight of tone controls on hi-fi hardware becomes rarer, Jim Lesurf salutes their use in making his music listening more enjoyable. Some recordings just need a little helping hand...

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Opinion
A century of sound
Barry Willis  |  Sep 12, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2025

When was the birth of hi-fi? Barry Willis argues it might have been 100 years ago when record labels embraced new electrical technologies and moved away from the ‘acoustic era’

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Opinion
Drop the mic
Barry Fox  |  Sep 12, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2025

Hearing singers perform without the benefit of amplification is a must for any hi-fi enthusiast, says Barry Fox, so the use of a microphone at the opera means he feels obliged to speak out

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Turntables, Arms & Cartridges
Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge
Review: Jamie Biesemans,  |  Aug 26, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingDecades of precious jewel/ceramic engineering and cartridge manufacturing gel in Nagaoka’s new flagship that takes the ‘moving-permalloy’ principle to new heights

Timed to coincide with its 85th anniversary, Nagaoka is launching the MP-700 as the new flagship model of its longstanding MP series. Sidestepping the usual cartridge question – is it moving-magnet or moving-coil? – by answering ‘moving-permalloy’, this range is already well established.

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Integrated AmplifiersNetwork Audio Players/Servers
Devialet Astra ‘Opéra de Paris’ streaming amplifier
Review: Mark Craven,  |  Aug 26, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingFifteen years after the French boutique brand stunned the hi-fi world with its unique ‘Analogue/Digital Hybrid’ D-Premier amplifier, the technology gets a reboot... and an app

French audio marque Devialet has been on quite a journey. Its first product, in 2010, was the D-Premier [HFN Apr ’10], an innovative integrated amplifier showcasing the ADH (Analogue/Digital Hybrid) topology of designer/company founder Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel and colleague Mathias Moronvalle. Eye-catchingly designed, thrillingly innovative and a sonic marvel, Devialet’s amplifier was a shot in the arm for the hi-fi industry.

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Phono Preamplifiers
Michell Apollo/Muse MM/MC phono preamp
Review: Adam Smith,  |  Aug 22, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingWith a history stretching back 60 years, the brand responsible for the iconic Reference Electronic and GyroDec turntables launches a new phono preamp. And it’s a knockout!

Given that Michell Engineering is not exactly known for its breakneck pace in launching new models, the announcement of a new product at the beginning of 2025 got many a vinyl fan’s pulse racing. With the wraps now off, Michell marks a return to electronics manufacturing in the form of the new £3500 Apollo phono preamp with its matching Muse power supply.

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Turntables, Arms & Cartridges
Technics SL-1300G turntable/arm
Review: Adam Smith,  |  Aug 21, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025

hfnoutstandingA half century on from its launch, Technics’ latest SL-1300 turntable is still a direct-drive design featuring an S-shaped tonearm, but the tech has evolved beyond compare!

Is Technics trying to recreate its phonographic glory days of the 1970s? Back then, its catalogues were filled with 10-15 different models, while the arrival of the new £2799 SL-1300G turntable takes the current tally to seven across DJ, Grand Class, Premium Class and Reference Class ranges, plus the odd limited edition. So, the modern day Technics brand is inching closer!

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Disc PlayersFrom the Vault
Teac VRDS-25 CD player
Review: Paul Miller,  |  Aug 21, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025
hfnvintageWith its massive construction, bespoke drive mech and advanced 20-bit DAC, can this silver disc spinner measure up to Paul Miller’s expectations?

Appearances are almost always deceptive. Take Teac’s new £1300 VRDS-25. Here’s a CD player that looks rather like the established VRDS-10 and VRDS-7 [see below], featuring the CMK3 version of its VRDS transport with wafer-thin drawer mechanism, elegant orange-coloured display and basic range of onboard controls.

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Loudspeakers
Perlisten D15s active subwoofer
Review: Mark Craven,  |  Aug 21, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingLeading the US marque’s range of certified ‘THX Dominus’ single-driver subwoofers, the D15s aims to keep its massive 380mm woofer on a tight leash via state-of-the-art DSP

Just as the American audio manufacturer Perlisten sells a varied range of loudspeakers [HFN Apr/Jun/Aug ’22 and [HFN May ’25], it also features an equally expansive line of active subwoofers. They don’t quite come in all shapes and sizes – the shapes never vary beyond flavours of cuboid – but there’s a broad sweep of price and specification to match different room sizes. Towards the top of the lineup is the £5500 D15s, reviewed here.

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