Articles
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Vincent SA-94 preamp and SP-995 mono power amps
|One of the first of the brands to design in Europe and build in Asia from the outset, Vincent is perhaps best known for its valve designs. In fact, the company is completely device agnostic, ...read more -
Burson Audio Soloist Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier (Playback 60)
|Long-term Playback readers know that we are great admirers of the Australian-made Burson Audio HA-160 headphone amplifier and AB-160 audio buffer. Both products make sense to us, and the HA-160 in particular offers a ton ...read more -
Albarry AP11 Preamp and M608 Monoblock Amps (Hi-Fi+)
|Albarry comes from that honourable tradition of small British hi-fi manufacturers, each ploughing an individual furrow and (hopefully) cultivating an enthusiastic group of adherents along the way. Some have moved up to a bigger league, ...read more -
April Music Eximus DP1 DAC, Preamplifier, and Headphone Amplifier (TAS 221)
|What constitutes a mid-priced DAC? There’s a ton of room between the least expensive high-performance external USB DAC, such as the $169 HRT MusicStreamer II, and the most expensive, such as an $80,000 dCS combo ...read more -
Consonance Linear 1 preamplifier, Cyber 211 mono power amps (Hi-Fi+ 87)
|Consonance is one of those companies that everyone skips over. The brand makes some of the most consistently excellent products in any line up, and yet all of us keep choosing the same old high-end ...read more -
Electrocompaniet EMP 1/S, EC4.8 and AW250-R (Hi-Fi+)
|Resplendent in a thick acrylic front panel, gold anodized switchery and blue-lit display, the overall effect of this trio of components from Electrocompaniet’s covetable Classic Line is rather more pleasing, and rather less ‘footballers wives’ ...read more -
Simaudio MOON Evolution Series 850P Preamplifier & 880M Mono-Bloc Amps (Hi-Fi+)
|Simaudio’s MOON series electronics are a well-established face on the UK hi-fi scene, with an enviable reputation for solid engineering underpinning excellent sound. For many a dealer they are fast becoming the “go-to” choice, capable ...read more -
Antelope Zodiac Gold DAC/Preamp (Playback 53)
|The European firm Antelope Audio is one of the increasing numbers of audio companies with roots in the professional audio market, but that also offers some of its products for audiophiles and other sound quality-conscious ...read more -
Jeff Rowland Corus Preamp & 625 Power Amp (Hi-Fi+)
|Absolutes are dangerous things – especially if you are an audio reviewer. No sooner do you declare something to be the “Best” than something else will come along that’s better. Yes, absolutes allow you the ...read more -
High Performance Audio, CEDIA 2011—Part 4
|This is Part 4 of a four-part report on High-Performance Audio at CEDIA 2011, which highlights new products from: Pioneer, Polk Audio, Pro-Ject, PSB, Rotel, Soundmatters, TAD (Technical Audio Devices), Totem Acoustic, Wadia Digital, Wharfedale, ...read more -
David Berning ZOTL-One Preamp and ZH-230 Power Amp (Hi-Fi+)
|Last year was unprecedented where David Berning was concerned as he released two new products. * When I reviewed the QZ mono amps back in Issue 68 I was stunned by their performance and it ...read more -
Siltech C1 Preamplifier (Hi-Fi+ 78)
|Reviewers can wax lyrical and philosophical. Sometimes, as a method of padding out a review. Sometimes though the navel gazing is a vital part of defining the nature of the product. That’s the thing about ...read more -
Musical Fidelity M6CD, M6PRE & M6PRX (Hi-Fi+ 76)
|You know how it is with Musical Fidelity. Nothing for ages, then along come three at once. The M6i integrated amplifier was an impressive debut for Musical Fidelity’s M6 series. A CD player, pre and ...read more -
Steven Stone's Best of CES 2011
|Best Sound (cost no object) The Wilson Alexandria X-2s tethered to a pair of Lamm ML3 signature amplifiers playing Peter McGrath’s recording of Leonard Shure’s rendition of Beethoven’s Op. 109 was so beautiful that it ...read more -
Belles LA-01 Preamplifier (HiFi-Plus 67)
|Waaaaay back in the before time, in the long, long ago, Roy Gregory made a promise. Coming at the end of a review of a pair of Belles MB-200 mono amps, he said something like ...read more