Headphones Fostex TH500RP
Some of the very most affordable versions we've found in recent times from Fostex, the TH500RP signifies the beginning of a move towards more consumer-friendly headphones while utilising its extensive studio experience as a much respected pro-audio brand. And the TH500RP manages to seem like a studio...
Some of the very most affordable versions we've found in recent times from Fostex, the TH500RP signifies the beginning of a move towards more consumer-friendly headphones while utilising its extensive studio experience as a much respected pro-audio brand. And the TH500RP manages to seem like a studio...
Headphones Grado SR325e
Hand produced by the family-run firm in Brooklyn, Ny, the SR325e is instantly recognisable as a Grado, with all the customary chunky foam ear pads wrapped around those distinctive open- rear earcups, placing the 40mm drivers that are dynamic. Fearless branding on each earpiece plus a leather-clad headband...
Hand produced by the family-run firm in Brooklyn, Ny, the SR325e is instantly recognisable as a Grado, with all the customary chunky foam ear pads wrapped around those distinctive open- rear earcups, placing the 40mm drivers that are dynamic. Fearless branding on each earpiece plus a leather-clad headband...
Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-W1000Z
Maybe better known in hi fi circles for the variety of turntable cartridges than its cans, Japanese brand Audio-Technica has given its extensive range a little refresh. The ATHW1000Z is the latest addition to your family and replaces the ATH-W1000X. It ushers in a GBP100 price increase and swaps a few...
Maybe better known in hi fi circles for the variety of turntable cartridges than its cans, Japanese brand Audio-Technica has given its extensive range a little refresh. The ATHW1000Z is the latest addition to your family and replaces the ATH-W1000X. It ushers in a GBP100 price increase and swaps a few...
Headphones AudioQuest NightHawk
I first saw this high end headphone at the Bristol Show. During the time, the NightHawk was some way off going on sale in the UK but its 'liquid wood' earcup building captured my attention. It might seem a flight of fancy as well as a substantial diversification for a brand that's famous for its interconnects,...
I first saw this high end headphone at the Bristol Show. During the time, the NightHawk was some way off going on sale in the UK but its 'liquid wood' earcup building captured my attention. It might seem a flight of fancy as well as a substantial diversification for a brand that's famous for its interconnects,...
CD-player Audiolab 8300CD
Audiolab faced a demanding job when looking to update the 8200CDQ and this likely explains why at first sight there doesn't appear to be a great deal o difference between its predecessor and the new 8300 CD reviewed here. The 8300CD is housed in a slim aluminium chassis (black or silver) with Audiolab's...
Audiolab faced a demanding job when looking to update the 8200CDQ and this likely explains why at first sight there doesn't appear to be a great deal o difference between its predecessor and the new 8300 CD reviewed here. The 8300CD is housed in a slim aluminium chassis (black or silver) with Audiolab's...
Amplifier Audiolab 8300A
Audiolab has enjoyed a renaissance since becoming part of China's giant IAG group just over a decade ago. Innovative goods including the MDAC and Q-DAC digital-to-analogue converters have turned into a benchmark for quality at their price points, while the 8200CDQ was a groundbreaking CD player - just...
Audiolab has enjoyed a renaissance since becoming part of China's giant IAG group just over a decade ago. Innovative goods including the MDAC and Q-DAC digital-to-analogue converters have turned into a benchmark for quality at their price points, while the 8200CDQ was a groundbreaking CD player - just...
Amplifier Hegel H300
The Hegel H300 is an integrated amplifier/DAC. Although for most British folks Hegel's sole claim to fame was being immortalised in the 'Philosopher's Song' by Monty Python's Flying Circus ("David Hume/Could out-have/Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel"), he was in fact among the driving forces behind German...
The Hegel H300 is an integrated amplifier/DAC. Although for most British folks Hegel's sole claim to fame was being immortalised in the 'Philosopher's Song' by Monty Python's Flying Circus ("David Hume/Could out-have/Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel"), he was in fact among the driving forces behind German...
Headphones AKG N60NC
All headphones offer a level of passive noise reduction by placing the earpeices. Greater background noise decrease is offered by some than others, and kinds that are in ear cut this more significantly by simply inserting earbuds into the ear canal to block out the interference. It is a smart technique,...
All headphones offer a level of passive noise reduction by placing the earpeices. Greater background noise decrease is offered by some than others, and kinds that are in ear cut this more significantly by simply inserting earbuds into the ear canal to block out the interference. It is a smart technique,...
Bookshelf speakers Elac BS 263
I reckon German loudspeaker manufacturer Elac has a little bit of an image issue in britain. Universally respected because of its high tech drive units - particularly the identifying and famous JET ribbon tweeter in fifth-gen spec - the Kiel-based business possibly comes across as having not enough,...
I reckon German loudspeaker manufacturer Elac has a little bit of an image issue in britain. Universally respected because of its high tech drive units - particularly the identifying and famous JET ribbon tweeter in fifth-gen spec - the Kiel-based business possibly comes across as having not enough,...
DAC Musical Fidelity MX-DAC
Only 15 years ago, the world was getting excited about DVD-Audio and Super Audio Compact Disc. These two hires formats had been a long time coming; almost two decades, but it felt more. The hi-fi world was rightly excited, but unfortunately this did not translate to the music buying public. Sound buffs...
Only 15 years ago, the world was getting excited about DVD-Audio and Super Audio Compact Disc. These two hires formats had been a long time coming; almost two decades, but it felt more. The hi-fi world was rightly excited, but unfortunately this did not translate to the music buying public. Sound buffs...
Amplifier Hegel H360
All-in-one integrated amplifiers are like golfers - they must do three things well. Play precise iron shots golfers must drive with power and then putt direct. Golfers and one-box amplifiers put within an average score and regularly struggle with among the skills. Then comes a Tiger. The H360 is Hegel's...
All-in-one integrated amplifiers are like golfers - they must do three things well. Play precise iron shots golfers must drive with power and then putt direct. Golfers and one-box amplifiers put within an average score and regularly struggle with among the skills. Then comes a Tiger. The H360 is Hegel's...
Amplifier Arcam A85
The past couple of years have been difficult ones for manufacturers. With declining sales in some sectors of the two-channel separates market many have felt the need to expand their product range to encompass A/V products. The audiophile likes of Musical Fidelity, Roksan and now the “UK's leading manufacturer...
The past couple of years have been difficult ones for manufacturers. With declining sales in some sectors of the two-channel separates market many have felt the need to expand their product range to encompass A/V products. The audiophile likes of Musical Fidelity, Roksan and now the “UK's leading manufacturer...
Headphone Amplifier/DAC Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2Di
There's definitely demand to get a little footprint DAC. Too often, in our day-to-day music listening, it's space that's the dominant issue so Epiphany's tiny chassis, spanning 108.5x30x82mm and available in any colour so long as it is black, is particularly flexible in these terms. The EHP-O2Di, powered...
There's definitely demand to get a little footprint DAC. Too often, in our day-to-day music listening, it's space that's the dominant issue so Epiphany's tiny chassis, spanning 108.5x30x82mm and available in any colour so long as it is black, is particularly flexible in these terms. The EHP-O2Di, powered...
Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-A900X LTD
The Audio Technica in Japan features a well-deserved name when it comes to high-fidelity equipment. Their most recent ATH-A900X Ltd Edition over -ear cans are an upgrade of the closed-rear A900Xs - featuring the same 53 mm drivers but with golden lettering and scarlet housings on the outside. Like their...
The Audio Technica in Japan features a well-deserved name when it comes to high-fidelity equipment. Their most recent ATH-A900X Ltd Edition over -ear cans are an upgrade of the closed-rear A900Xs - featuring the same 53 mm drivers but with golden lettering and scarlet housings on the outside. Like their...
Portable Player Astell&Kern AK120
The previous few years have already been an interesting time for fans of hires portable music players and Astell&Kern has attracted a lot of interest from fanciers, and with great reason. Both versions improved on the AK100's storage capacity of only 32GB upping it to 64GB (while doubling its price),...
The previous few years have already been an interesting time for fans of hires portable music players and Astell&Kern has attracted a lot of interest from fanciers, and with great reason. Both versions improved on the AK100's storage capacity of only 32GB upping it to 64GB (while doubling its price),...
Portable Player Acoustic Research AR-M2
First impressions are very good and in terms of spec and price it looks set to be pitched against Sony's eagerly anticipated NW-ZX2 - which sadly was not available to take part in this roundup. Its percentages mean it seems more like a smartphone than every other digital audio player (DAP) in the evaluation,...
First impressions are very good and in terms of spec and price it looks set to be pitched against Sony's eagerly anticipated NW-ZX2 - which sadly was not available to take part in this roundup. Its percentages mean it seems more like a smartphone than every other digital audio player (DAP) in the evaluation,...
Portable Player FiiO X5
Those in search of an alternative to the more pricey although broadly accessible hi-res portable audio players may have found an increasing amount of astonishingly affordable versions coming their way from FiiO. So that it will not come as much of a surprise to learn that the X5 is the next model up...
Those in search of an alternative to the more pricey although broadly accessible hi-res portable audio players may have found an increasing amount of astonishingly affordable versions coming their way from FiiO. So that it will not come as much of a surprise to learn that the X5 is the next model up...
Portable Player Hidizs AP100
Launched earlier in the year at CES in Las Vegas, it immediately got our attention thanks to its reasonable price tag and hi res capacities. Its looks are a little utilitarian and it is around exactly the same size as an iPod Classic, but it can playback an impressive variety of file formats including...
Launched earlier in the year at CES in Las Vegas, it immediately got our attention thanks to its reasonable price tag and hi res capacities. Its looks are a little utilitarian and it is around exactly the same size as an iPod Classic, but it can playback an impressive variety of file formats including...
Portable Player Looto PAW Gold
Like many things on earth of hifi, the digital audio player market flexibilities and has versions in a number of price points offering different functionality levels. One look in the PAW Gold from Lotoo (pronounced low-to) and you are able to view that it's firmly aimed at the high-end market. It might...
Like many things on earth of hifi, the digital audio player market flexibilities and has versions in a number of price points offering different functionality levels. One look in the PAW Gold from Lotoo (pronounced low-to) and you are able to view that it's firmly aimed at the high-end market. It might...
Portable Player Sony NWZ-A15
The NWZ-A15 efficiently replaces the F886 and is far more streamlined, with measurements akin to the 4th generation iPod Nano. It's a 2.2in screen that is plenty large enough and simple to work via the four-way navigational control below the display Features kept from the F886 comprise an FM radio and...
The NWZ-A15 efficiently replaces the F886 and is far more streamlined, with measurements akin to the 4th generation iPod Nano. It's a 2.2in screen that is plenty large enough and simple to work via the four-way navigational control below the display Features kept from the F886 comprise an FM radio and...