LATEST ADDITIONS

Ken Kessler  |  Mar 01, 2025  |  First Published: Feb 01, 2025
This month we review: Art Pepper Quintet, George Benson, The Impressions and Run-D.M.C.
Ken Kessler  |  Mar 01, 2025  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2025
This month we review: Tony Rice, The Blue Aeroplanes, The Mugwumps and Santana
Ken Kessler  |  Mar 01, 2025  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2024
This month we review: Dr. John, Paul McCartney & Wings, Ravi Shankar and The John Wright Trio
Ken Kessler  |  Feb 28, 2025  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2024
This month we review: Bryan Ferry, December’s Children, Jethro Tull and Harold Land
Ken Kessler  |  Feb 28, 2025  |  First Published: Oct 01, 2024
This month we review: Buddy Rich & Alla Rakha, Duane Eddy, Hampton Hawes and The Savoy Blues Band
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Feb 10, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingEMM Labs’ head honcho, Ed Meitner, played a pivotal role in the early days of SACD and that single-bit technology still informs the current, network-attached flagship DAC

For anyone of the opinion that a standalone digital-to-analogue converter is not much more than a DAC chip, output circuitry and a power supply, the EMM Labs DA2i is going to come as something of a shock. It’s big and hefty – more amplifier-size at a full 440x160mm (wh) and weighing in at 16kg – and will set you back £34,995 in either silver or black finishes.

Review: Adam Smith,  |  Feb 07, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingThe man behind more than a few iconic and longstanding turntable designs – including Thorens – has distilled that lifetime’s experience into his own brand. Welcome, Thiele...

It’s always exciting when a designer of great renown finally brings to market an own-name product. So while many of us may not instantly recognise the name Thiele – not to be confused with the Thiel Audio brand of the US that declared bankruptcy in 2018 – there is every chance that we’ve already come across one of Helmut Thiele’s many creations.

Review: Tim Jarman,  |  Feb 05, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2025
hfnvintageFollowing its inaugural AD 800 CD player, based on a first-generation Sanyo chassis, the AD-812 slips into the mainstream with a stripped-out 16-bit/x2 player. How does it fare?

The AD-812 is the perfect CD player for those who dislike banks of buttons and legions of flashing lights. It has only nine controls and the simplest possible display, with no remote control or hidden menus with extra functions concealed within. While it might be marketed today as a stripped-out audiophile product, in 1986 it was simply a no-frills, straightforward player.

Review: Mark Craven,  |  Feb 04, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2025
hfnoutstandingGermany’s T+A has long been a champion of ‘line source’ floorstanders and its S 530 is the entry model to the concept

‘Theory and Application’ (T+A) is well-known for hi-fi separates ranging from its CALA and Caruso ‘lifestyle’ models to the DACs, amps and ‘multisource’ receivers of its premium R and HV series, all featured regularly in Hi-Fi News. Less well-known are its loudspeakers, despite T+A starting out in 1978 as a speaker manufacturer. Hoping to refresh our memory and provide scope for a full high-end T+A system, is a new three-strong Solitaire S range, of which the S 530 is the middle model.

Review: Mark Craven,  |  Feb 04, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2025
hfncommendedBased on the same ICEpower Class D amplifier module as the Stellar Strata, the ‘MK2’ trades streaming functions for an MM/MC phono stage. But power is increased...

PS Audio’s new Stellar Strata MK2 amplifier looks – at first glance – identical to the original Stellar Strata [HFN Mar ’21], save the ‘MK2’ lettering now added to its fascia. The slender chassis, offered in silver or black and a feature of all Stellar series hardware, is retained, as is the slim text display, right-side volume rotary and headphone output of its predecessor. So from the off, it’s clear that any changes made for this second-generation design are under the hood.

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