LATEST ADDITIONS

Review: Ken Kessler,  |  May 03, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingPromising ‘a new era of analogue sound’, DS Audio launches its first all-tube energiser/equaliser to partner its growing range of optical pick-up cartridges. Has it succeeded?

This just may be the most self-fulfilling review I’ve ever written. DS Audio has unleashed a valve energiser and equaliser, the TB-100, for its optical cartridges. Up to this point, every one of its cartridges has been launched with a matching solid-state energiser of relative or comparable price, but the TB-100 has been released on its own. Because every DS Audio cartridge will work with any of the energisers regardless of price, this time it’s all about the tubes.

Johnny Sharp  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025

Looking for fresh finds for your music playlist? Johnny Sharp brings you 20 trailblazing sets from standout solo artists as he showcases the emerging talents taking centre stage

Review: Mark Craven,  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingStyled to match its amplifier siblings, the latest member of Rotel’s flagship Michi family combines a custom-made top-loading CD transport with USB input and DAC stage

Rotel has crowned its new Michi Q5 a 'Transport DAC', which strikes us as a somewhat vague description of what is, first and foremost, a CD player. Yes, it has digital inputs to make wider use of its onboard DAC, plus digital outputs, but just one glance at the Q5's distinctive top-loading drive mechanism – plus the fact it resides under the 'CD player' tab on Rotel's website – tells you this is a unit primarily aimed at silver disc lovers.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
hfnoutstanding

Debuted at the UK Hi-Fi Show Live 24, Audio Research’s new flagship monoblocks are not quite its most powerful ever, but are the first to feature the mighty KT170 output tubes

The latest arrival from US high-end brand Audio Research Corp., the Reference 330M monoblock amplifier (£92,000 per pair) may not quite be the most powerful amp the company has ever built, but by any standards a rated output of 330W – into 4ohm or 8ohm speaker loads – is going some for an amplifier using tube technology. Indeed, it will come as something of an eye-opener for those still subscribing to the belief that for the purity of the valve sound – or whatever else you consider to be the sonic traits of the genre – you must settle for low output power, and start looking for speakers of appropriately high sensitivity.

Andrew Everard,  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
This month we review and test releases from: The Tord Gustavsen Trio, Anthony Inglis/NSO, Trichotomy, Agustin Maruri, and Sparks
Mike Barnes  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
This month we review: HiFi Sean and David McAlmont, The Delines, Edvard Graham Lewis and Bartees Strange
Peter Quantrill  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
This month we review: Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Asya Fateyeva, Lithuanian National SO, and Erich Korngold
Steve Harris  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
This month we review: Misha Mullov-Abbado; Danielsson, Pohjola, Parricelli; Snorre Kirk; and John Patitucci
Ken Kessler  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025
This month we review: John Cale, Gerry And The Pacemakers, Kim Wilde, and Thom LaFond
Ken Kessler  |  May 02, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 01, 2025

This month we review: Patrick Leonard, Howard McGhee, Santana, and Truth

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