Displaying items by tag: uk - StereoLife Magazine

Monitor Audio has unveiled a new range of eponymously titled loudspeakers in the shape of the Monitor Series. The new speakers all feature orange driver cones for a contemporary lock and utilize a black C-CAM dome tweeter derived from Monitor Audio's Bronze series with a creative use of the drivers' configuration. With a choice of bookshelf or floor-standing speakers, and a center and subwoofer, the Monitor Series promises detailed audio resolution in both two-channel and multi-channel configurations. The speakers are finished in a choice of black, white or walnut.

Quad added a one-box hi-fi system to the Artera Series, company's primary solid-state component range. The Artera Solus combines a CD transport, DAC, preamplifier and power amplifier in a single compact chassis, with extensive connectivity options including Bluetooth wireless streaming.

Cyrus announced the ONElinear - a premium loudspeaker system, which, whilst designed to perfectly augment the Cyrus One amplifier system, provides exemplary performance with a whole host of audio systems.

NAD Electronics announced a new affordable integrated amplifier the C328. Blending simplicity and outstanding performance with flexibility, the C328 is designed for the music lover searching for a superb sounding amplifier that can master music sources, past and present.

Chord Electronics has launched their most advanced compact DAC called the Qutest. A highly accomplished standalone device, the new Qutest is based on the latest proprietary Rob Watts' FPGA technology developed for the class-leading Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp. Qutest uses an all-new precision-machined aluminium chassis and includes several new features, including fascia controls.

Leema Acoustics' new Pulse IV amplifier is the ideal hub for contemporary music-listening with its turntable connectivity, Bluetooth playback and seven digital inputs enabling a huge range of devices to connect. The Pulse IV is a highly versatile and powerful integrated amplifier that enables a world of music to be enjoyed with Leema Acoustics' sound quality thanks to a huge connectivity suite bringing together music playback in all its forms, whether on vinyl, streamed from smartphones and tablets via aptX Bluetooth, or stored on computers, laptops and more.

The new PX headphones from audio giant Bowers & Wilkins mark the company's first foray into the noise-canceling and wireless spaces. B&W's aim here was not only to encompass the benefits inherent to the noise-free headphone experience but to also incorporate some truly innovative features, class-leading audio performance, and the latest Bluetooth technology.

British monitors gained an exceptional appreciation in the audiophile world. Many manufacturers of such sets have rich and interesting history, often intertwined with famous recording studios. Even today, in the offer of PMC or ATC there is a sharp line dividing the consumer and professional segment. Obviously, every manufacturer dealing with professional equipment likes to boast about it everywhere, but it is also fair to say that many British companies have the right to do so. Among many institutions, one has become the real breeding ground of speaker talents - the British Broadcasting Corporation. Boxes originally developed for the BBC have 'that something' - the sound which is difficult to replicate even today. Most of the engineers have abandoned the old way of building the speakers, but a few companies are still faithful to those proven solutions. Graham Audio is one of them.

Just as we were finishing the review of two DACs by Chord Electronics, we had an opportunity to meet the founder of the company and ask him some questions about the technology used in the latest devices and his idea of a perfect sound reproduction so to speak. John Franks is not a musician or self-taught electronical engineer as it often happens, but an avionics engineer who knows his trade very well. This job and everything that goes with it, has been translated into the world of high-end audio equipment. The company was founded in 1989 and since then it has been associated with technical innovation and brilliant design. Chord's sources and amplifiers are not only intriguing to look at, but also full of stuff you won't find anywhere else.

Mission, B&W, KEF, Castle, Celestion, Rogers, NAD, Acoustic Energy, Naim, Spendor, Harbeth or ProAc are only a few companies whose names all audiophiles should associate with what might be called the British school of sound. Absolutely, this does not mean that the products of all these brands sound the same. You can distinguish here, at least, a couple of trends, but there is no denying that in this part of the world a lot of audiophile legends were created. Recently, another British company reminded us about itself. So far Chord Electronics were mainly engaged in hi-end gear for home use, but thanks to a small, functional headphone DAC everyone heard about it. This DAC was of course the Hugo. Hugo TT is its bigger brother - a typical desktop model, with an expanded functionality. Since we didn't have a chance to review any of them, we took both and decided to compare them.