MELCO: News

Melco Audio, the Japanese digital music expert, has announced a new full-width HDD model that perfectly bridges the gap between the entry-level N100 and the compact N1Z, whilst offering a sizeable 6 TB audiophile-grade drive. Handcrafted in Japan, in line with all of Melco’s music libraries, the new N50-H60 offers key performance upgrades over Melco’s most affordable […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

MICHELL ENGINEERING: Synchro test review

Howard Popeck … The Synchro was mid-priced turntable inspired by the original GyroDec, but with an inverted-pendulum suspension and a glass platter. It looked dazzling 20 years ago, and it still does today. In the John Michell tradition, all the working parts are exposed, superbly engineered and impeccably cosmetically finished. It has a cast-ring sub […]

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ACOUSTIC RESEARCH: AR-11 turntable – so … what happened?

Audio Tools write: Although this company is mostly famous for their loudspeakers they did indeed make a line of hi-fi from the early 60’s into the late 80’s. Their turntables were almost legendary in the US but are seldom seen in Europe with their 80’s models being an exception, but those were actually manufactured at […]

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BOB HEIL: The Master of Game-Changing Microphone Technology, interviewed

Marty Paule writes:  Highly opinionated and fiercely independent in his views about pro sound, Bob Heil builds mics and possesses a professional resume to back up his often out-of-the-box attitude. And speaking of boxes, it was Bob who invented one of the most memorable guitar effects of all time: the Heil Talk Box that made […]

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OH REALLY? The 12 Most Significant Loudspeakers of All Time

Robert Harley writes: For this special loudspeaker-focus issue, I asked our most senior contributors to each name the twelve loudspeakers that had the greatest impact on high-end audio. These are the speakers that introduced a new technology, changed the market, influenced future designs, or revealed some previously unheard aspect of sound quality. Although each writer […]

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CHORD ELECTRONICS: New firmware for the 2go streamer/server is released

Chord Electronics has released new firmware for the company’s 2go streamer/server, a device that directly connects to both the Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp and the forthcoming 2yu network bridge, to bring music streaming to audio systems. The firmware rollout introduces new radio-listening features, SD card album playback and improved stability, and follows the release (13th […]

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MICHELL ENGINEERING: Orbe SE test review

HiFi Choice writes:  We are delighted to announce that the Orbe SE has won the recent group test in the January edition of the UK’s HiFi Choice Magazine.  Although the competition was fierce, the Orbe SE (fitted with Techno Arm “A“) beat off the competition to take the coveted Grouptest Winner badge. MORE PLEASE VISIT OUR […]

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BENCHMARK MEDIA: Howard Popeck speaks at length to people with interesting things to say: John Siau – Benchmark Media DACs

Originally published 2014 John … in the audiophile world Benchmark Media have entered quickly and built a terrific reputation from scratch. Very impressive. However from your perspective, how do you see the differences between studio buyers and audiophile end users? The short answer is that audiophiles talk more. Audiophiles are passionate about their love for […]

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CAD: Scott Berry of CAD / Computer Audio Design interviewed by Howard Popeck

Good afternoon readers – and welcome to the next in my ongoing series of interviews with designers of audiophile equipment. Today I welcome Mr. Scott Berry of CAD. Before we get to the first part of the series you’ll perhaps find the following background information to be useful. Thanks Howard Popeck ::::::::::: “The engineer responsible […]

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MARK LEVINSON Q&A: Their 326, Whest Two and more?

Hi. I have just added the Levinson phono boards to my 326s pre. and this arrangement seems to me to be superior to my Whest Two – which was a very big Step up from the Dino it replaced. The levinson boards work in balanced mode – the signal is automatically converted to balanced at […]

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LOW VOLUME LISTENING: Best speakers for a vivid sound ?

May need to live with some speakers that are good at low volume for a while, due to an ear problem. My room is 15 x 12 and the speakers fire from the 12 foot wall. I use Harbeth C7’s. They have been a reasonable compromise for some years now, but they work a good […]

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MAGNEPLANAR: 0.7 and what was said at the time

They say ….. What do you do if you covet Magnepan’s soaring loudspeakers but don’t have the largest of listening rooms? “We hear you”, said Magnepan. Enter the new 0.7 (‘point seven’), a scaled down version of the brand’s acclaimed 1.7 model. To say that Magnepan’s Magneplanar 1.7 flat-panel loudspeaker is highly regarded in its […]

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Quill

MICHELL ENGINEERING: GyroDec SE Mk. II turntable test review

  Brad Morrical writes ….. “Once you hear the GyroDec SE Mk.II (or rather, don’t hear it), you know it’s going to be in your system for the long haul. With a naturally balanced cartridge, I have not heard reproduced music sounding closer to live than through the GyroDec. I don’t see the need to […]

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