Opinion

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Opinion
A call to arms
Steve Harris  |  Jul 09, 2025  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2025

While the Covid pandemic didn’t kill the vinyl revival, it sealed the fate of Japanese tonearm and cartridge maker Jelco. Steve Harris salutes the family firm famous for its ‘knife edge’ bearings

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Opinion
Forty years of ECM
Peter Quantrill  |  Jul 09, 2025  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2025

A new coffee table book of album covers and statistics from Manfred Eicher’s record label will make a happy trip down memory lane for any serious collector, says Peter Quantrill

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Opinion
The missing link
Jim Lesurf  |  Jul 09, 2025  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2025

They’re the hidden heroes in our electrical hardware, but not all of them are the same. Jim Lesurf addresses confusion about fuses as he makes a quick switch to keep a 40-year-old amp in service

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Opinion
Plug-in and play
Barry Willis  |  Jul 09, 2025  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2025

Whether through hardware or software, there are ways to tweak your system sound. But, asks Barry Willis, what’s the appeal in adding vinyl-style artefacts to modern, digital productions?

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Opinion
From home to hi-fi
Barry Fox  |  Jul 09, 2025  |  First Published: Jul 01, 2025

Before DIY musicians unleash their tracks on streaming platforms, some are having them mastered by pros. Barry Fox goes behind the scenes to learn about ‘smashing’ and ‘sculpting’

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Opinion
Useful uses for AI... at last
Barry Fox  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  First Published: Jun 02, 2025
Companies including Apple and DTS are using Artificial Intelligence to pioneer ‘personalised’ audio solutions. Barry Fox imagines a halcyon future where people on the TV don’t mumble
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Opinion
Record cleaners
Christopher Breunig  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2025
If you collect LPs, a vinyl record cleaner might be considered as much a part of your system as a tonearm or cartridge. Christopher Breunig has recently put three different methods to the test
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Opinion
Classic speakers compared
Jim Lesurf  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2025
Inspired by a new amp purchase, Jim Lesurf discusses the sonic signatures of two iconic speakers, and wonders what his love of Quad ESLs and the BBC LS3/5As says about his taste in music
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Opinion
Lessons from Kurtág
Peter Quantrill  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2025
An encounter with the Hungarian composer gets Peter Quantrill thinking about how we respond to music... and whether it’s the music that we’re responding to, or our own feelings
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Opinion
SACD and DSD
Steve Harris  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2025
Steve Harris on SACD’s journey from proposed CD replacement to niche, audiophile favourite, plus where to go for DSD and PCM downloads that’ll give your DAC a challenge
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Opinion
Ted Jordan
Steve Harris  |  May 22, 2025
Across six articles for HFN beginning in 1959, speaker designer Ted Jordan taught DIY enthusiasts the tricks of the trade – and his full-range Eikona driver is still going strong, says Steve Harris
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Opinion
The scent of success
Peter Quantrill  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  First Published: May 01, 2025
A big prize for a contemporary composer – from an unexpected source – has Peter Quantrill wondering why we don’t see more cross-pollination and mutual recognition between art forms
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Opinion
Changing technology
Steve Harris  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  First Published: May 01, 2025
From Cecil Rhodes’ plan for an African telegraph line to early MP3 players with memory issues... Steve Harris on how rapid changes in technology can leave new ideas looking like old hat
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Opinion
Room service
Jim Lesurf  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  First Published: May 01, 2025
Even simple DIY acoustic treatments, plus careful positioning of loudspeakers, can have a positive impact on your system’s performance, says Jim Lesurf. You don’t always need an amp upgrade!
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Opinion
Online radio
Barry Fox  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  First Published: May 01, 2025
Technology developments and copyright concerns have left the world of online radio in a monster mess, says Barry Fox. Is a standalone Internet radio tuner the answer to his problems?
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