LATEST ADDITIONS

Rock

Rock, June 2023

Mike Barnes | Jun 29, 2023

This month we review: Sleaford Mods, Emma Tricca, Kele and Alasdair Roberts.

Jazz

Jazz, June 2023

Steve Harris | Jun 29, 2023

This month we review: Walter Smith III, Christian Mcbride's New Jawn, Alex Sipiagin and Enzo Zirilli's Zirobop.

Classical

Classical, June 2023

Peter Quantrill | Jun 29, 2023

This month we review: Lucile Richardot, Stéphane Degout, Anne de Fornel, et AL, Los Angeles PO/Gustavo Dudamel, Veronika Eberle, LSO/Rattle and WDR SO/Łukasz Borowicz.

Hi-Res Downloads

Hi-Res Downloads, June 2023

Andrew Everard | Jun 27, 2023

This month we review and test releases from: David Chesky, Anders Jormin, Lena Willemark, Karin Nakagawa & Jon FÄlt, Stephen Layton/Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Fe Salomon and IST IST.

Loudspeakers

Totem Acoustic Bison Monitor Loudspeaker

Review: Mark Craven, | Jun 23, 2023

While not exactly an apex bovine of the wide-open prairies, the diminutive 'monitor' of Totem's new Bison series can still stampede with the best of the musical herd

Canada's Totem Acoustic is fond of a pun or two, promising a 'prairie-like', wide-open soundstage from its newest Bison loudspeaker range. You can't help feel, however, that while the name might fit the lineup's Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower floorstanders, it's a bit of a mismatch for the Bison Monitor. Priced £2495, and available in White Oak, Satin White and Black Ash colourways, this two-way standmount/bookshelf model hardly possesses a muscular, bovine build. On the contrary, it's practically petite.

Outboard DACs

SPL Diamond USB DAC

Review: Andrew Everard, | Jun 22, 2023

From Germany's SPL (Sound Performance Laboratory) comes this multicolour USB DAC designed for both 'legacy' and computer connection. There's a volume control too...

Given that most of today's digital components seem to be multifunctional – streamer DACs, DAC/headphone amps and the like – it's unusual to find a product as simple in its operation as its design. Yet that describes the latest arrival from German manufacturer SPL, the £2499 Diamond DAC, available in silver, black or red like all the company's products. A back-to-basics DAC? Well, almost...

From the Vault Pre/Power Amplifiers

Quad Valves Reinvented!

Ken Kessler | Jun 20, 2023 | First Published: Nov 01, 2000

Ken Kessler brings you an exclusive subjective review of a legend reborn: the Quad ll-forty mono power amplifiers and QC-twentyfour preamp

Goodness me! Two Quad scoops in one season! OK, so it's not like waking up with Kim Basinger, but I am fully aware of the privilege. When I kicked off the Quad 989 loudspeaker review [HFN Jul '00]

Disc Players Integrated Amplifiers

Denon DCD/PMA-1700NE SACD Player/Amplifier

Review: Jamie Biesemans, | Jun 19, 2023

Denon has been in existence for 111 years, resolutely supporting CD playback for the last 40. Its latest CD disc spinner handles SACD too, and joins the 1700 series amplifier

The Denon duo in the limelight here are an obvious refresh of the previous generation DCD-1600NE disc player and PMA-1600NE amp, introduced in 2017, rather than entirely new designs. Partly that's because both the £1299 DCD-1700NE and £1699 PMA-1700NE look very similar, if not identical, to their predecessors. The solid construction, metal front fascia that curves to ensure the Denon logo catches the light, the weighty volume knob in the middle of the amp, the old-school tone controls… it's all very par for the course, as is the choice between black or silver colourways.

Vinyl Release

Small Faces: Small Faces

Steve Sutherland | Jun 16, 2023

Under new management, the mod quartet got creative on an album of three-minute pop gems, but struggled when it came to the title. Steve Sutherland listens...

Considering we currently find him being dangled by his ankles off a balcony four floors above the pavement, you could say, without too much exaggeration, that Robert Stigwood is having a bit of a bad day. The bloke dangling him – with the aid of four fierce-looking heavies – is Don Arden, a gentleman who, shall we say, has a bone or two to pick with our Stig.

Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

Audio-Technica AT-ART20 Cartridge

Review: Adam Smith, | Jun 15, 2023

Sixty years since Hideo Matsushita founded Audio-Technica in a Tokyo suburb the brand continues its love affair with vinyl with the launch of a new ART series moving-coil

Celebrations have come thick and fast over the last couple of years, and to SME's 60th [HFN Jul '22], Clearaudio's 40th [HFN Nov '22] and Nagra's 70th [HFN Aug '22] we can add Audio-Technica's 'Diamond'. Naturally, the company has not missed the opportunity to mark the occasion by releasing a celebratory cartridge or two. There's the new £8900 flagship AT-MC2022 and the slightly more affordable AT-ART20 at £2749 that we have here.

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