Italian hi-fi brand Audio Analogue recently marked its 20 years in business with a new ‘Anniversary’ edition of its very first product, the Puccini amplifier. Having earned a ‘Highly Commended’ badge from Hi-Fi News (in the June 2016 issue), the amp’s celebrations continue with further reviews from Gramophone and What Hi-Fi magazines.
All posts by Dave Denyer
Powering on: Isotek’s EVO3 Initium power cable earns another five stars in Hi-Fi World review
“Power cables can be something of a conundrum,” admits Jon Myles in the September issue of Hi-Fi World. “There’s no doubt replacing the stock lead supplied with your CD player, amplifier, pre-amp or tuner with a specialised model can make a difference to sound quality. But at the top end prices can seem prohibitively expensive compared to the benefits.”
Enter IsoTek’s new EVO3 Initium which, at just £65 for a 1.5 metre length, promises to deliver a cost-effective upgrade to your system.
Clearaudio extends Innovation turntable range with new entry-level ‘Basic’
PRESS RELEASE
Clearaudio’s Innovation range of turntables now has a new entry point, the Innovation Basic. Borrowing technology from the three esteemed members of the Innovation family – the Innovation, Innovation Compact and Master Innovation – the new Basic packs a raft of features into its elegant bijou form and delivers stunning performance at a more accessible price.
Continue reading Clearaudio extends Innovation turntable range with new entry-level ‘Basic’
New Furutech SK-Filter gently lifts away static from your records as they spin
PRESS RELEASE
Japanese cable and accessories experts Furutech add to their acclaimed range of static charge eliminators with the new SK-Filter, conveniently designed to remove unwanted static build-up from the surface of records as they play.
Continue reading New Furutech SK-Filter gently lifts away static from your records as they spin
“It couldn’t be better”: Hi-Fi World reviews the Timestep EVOke turntable
Devon-based Timestep is well-known for its intelligent (and fully sanctioned) modifications of various iconic Technics turntables. Hi-Fi World editor Noel Keywood takes the company’s latest deck, an upgraded edition of Technics’ new SL-1200 GAE, for a spin.
Continue reading “It couldn’t be better”: Hi-Fi World reviews the Timestep EVOke turntable
What Hi-Fi turntable special: Clearaudio Concept comes out on top (again!)
The August 2016 issue of What Hi-Fi features a ‘turntable special’, with “decks for every budget, from £120 to £1,700.”
Leading the pack is Clearaudio’s Concept, the only ‘table to scoop the full five stars across every rating. And not for the first time, since the Concept has already bagged a veritable glut of What Hi-Fi awards in recent years.
Continue reading What Hi-Fi turntable special: Clearaudio Concept comes out on top (again!)
‘Hi-Fi Choice Recommended’: another five stars for the IsoTek EVO3 Initium power cable
Hot on the heels of the IsoTek EVO3 Initium’s recent rave review in Hi-Fi Plus (May 2016) comes a five-star verdict from Hi-Fi Choice in the August 2016 issue, along with a ‘Hi-Fi Choice Recommended’ badge.
Continue reading ‘Hi-Fi Choice Recommended’: another five stars for the IsoTek EVO3 Initium power cable
“The one I want”: Paul Rigby reviews the van den Hul MC-ONE Special cartridge for Hi-Fi World
“There’s something almost personal about the MC-ONE Special in terms of its packaging and how its presented,” begins Paul Rigby in his review of van den Hul’s new enhanced edition of their earlier MC-ONE model. “Opening its gold-embossed wooden box container, you will find a hand-written specification list from Arjon van den Hul, who built it, under the lid: I felt like a kid receiving a secret message.”
“Truly mag-nificent.” Hi-Fi World’s Jon Myles & Rafael Todes are seriously impressed by the new Magneplanar 20.7
Undeniably big yet unquestionably beautiful, the latest pair of planar magnetic loudspeakers from Minnesota-based Magnepan stand over 6.5 feet tall and are 29 inches wide. But being flat panels, they’re also cannily thin at just 2.5 inches deep.
Unlike several other flat panel speakers, ‘Maggies’ (as they’re known to devotees) are not electrostatic but ribbon loudspeakers, in which a light mylar film carries ribbon electrical conductors set between magnets. No need to plug them into the mains then.
So how do they sound?
Continue reading “Truly mag-nificent.” Hi-Fi World’s Jon Myles & Rafael Todes are seriously impressed by the new Magneplanar 20.7
“So different – and so special”: Roy Gregory reviews DS Audio’s DS-W1 optical cartridge for Hi-Fi Plus
While electro-magnetic pick-up technology continues to dominate the vinyl scene, there have always been alternatives or variations on the theme, suggests Roy Gregory, writing in the June 2016 issue of Hi-Fi Plus.
“It’s not too hard to understand why,” he surmises, “gives the all too audible flaws inherent in, and challenges presented by, both moving-magnet and moving-coil designs. Throw in the essential mechanical crudity of the process and it’s hardly surprising that designers and end-users alike crave a more sophisticated and elegant solution.”
The solution under review is Japanese DS Audio’s DS-W1 optical cartridge.
David Denyer PR | The hi-fi specialist 