LATEST ADDITIONS

Turntables, Arms & Cartridges
Clearaudio Reference Jubilee Turntable
Review: Adam Smith,  |  Nov 03, 2022
hfnoutstandingStill featuring the iconic V-shaped plinth, this Jubilee update on Clearaudio's inaugural Reference deck features a Panzerholz plinth and magnetically-assisted ceramic bearing

Bunting must surely be in short supply. Along with the Royal Jubilee, we had SME officially celebrating its 60th birthday while Nagra rolled out the cake for its 70th – and now Clearaudio has released a product to celebrate its '40 years of excellence' (an anniversary that actually fell in 2018, but product delays are nothing new). The good news is that the result is the £17,500 Clearaudio Reference Jubilee turntable; the bad news is that production is limited to 250 units worldwide.

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Integrated Amplifiers
Audio Research I/50 Integrated Amplifier
Review: Ken Kessler,  |  Nov 01, 2022
hfnoutstandingA new dawn? Audio Research's first fresh integrated amp in seven years shows a change of direction while still maintaining a grip on the brand's sonic virtues. Enter the I/50...

Few companies have been as resistant to styling changes as Audio Research. Even after a decade-plus under the ownership of fashion-conscious Italians, ARC products still suggest they belong in studios or government laboratories. Can you imagine the shock, then, when news releases arrived showing a swoopy integrated amplifier available in six colourways?

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Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, October 2022
Ken Kessler  |  Oct 31, 2022
This month we review: Mose Allison, Ornette Coleman, Electric Light Orchestra and Madness.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, October 2022
Ken Kessler  |  Oct 31, 2022
This month, we review: Judee Sill, Augustus, Eddie Piller Presents British Mod Sounds and A Summer Of Soul.
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Rock
Rock, October 2022
Mike Barnes  |  Oct 31, 2022
This month we review: Working Men's Club, Tim Bowness, Breathless and Martin Courtney.
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Jazz
Jazz, October 2022
Steve Harris  |  Oct 31, 2022
This month we review: Joey Alexander, Chet Baker Trio, Charles Lloyd and Justin Thurgur.
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Classical
Classical, October 2022
Peter Quantrill  |  Oct 31, 2022
This month we review: Hallé/Sir Mark Elder, Vienna State Opera/Welser-Möst, Bertrand Chamayou and Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice.
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Hi-Res Downloads
Hi-Res Downloads, October 2022
Andrew Everard  |  Oct 28, 2022
This month we review and test releases from: Marc-André Hamelin, Carmen Sandim, The Gesualdo Six, Jeremy Mohney and Mansur.
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Phono PreamplifiersTurntables, Arms & Cartridges
Pro-Ject X2 B/Phono Box S3 B Turntable/Phono Preamp
Review: Ken Kessler,  |  Oct 27, 2022
hfnoutstandingMoving-coil pick-ups are inherently 'balanced' and Pro-Ject is determined to reveal them at their best with this balanced-wired version of the X2 deck and phono preamp

One burning question is begged by the arrival of Pro-Ject's X2 B turntable and Phono Box S3 B phono stage: why did it take so long for the industry to simplify a balanced vinyl-playing front-end? It's not like balanced operation wasn't adopted by high-end listeners decades ago as superior to single-ended for both line-level sources – DACs and top-flight CD players – and pre-to-power amp connections. MC cartridges are inherently balanced. So why the wait?

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Pre/Power AmplifiersVintage
Two Tube Winners
Ken Kessler  |  Oct 25, 2022  |  First Published: Jun 01, 1993
hfnvintageAn old circuit with a modern look versus a new design with retro styling as Ken Kessler hears valve amps from Papworth and Sonic Frontiers

Contrary to the practices of most specialist companies, some still believe that small is beautiful. Despite the continuing displays of excess from across the Pond, enough manufacturers realise that the only way to get quality sound into certain homes is to 'down-size'.

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