Review: Ken Kessler

First impressions usually set the mood. In the case of Luxman’s new flagship CD/SACD player and DAC, the D-100C (£15,995) with ‘C’ for Centennial, it’s the weight. I have no idea how many high-end digital front-ends tip the scales at 25kg, but it told me that this unit must have one chunky chassis, accounting for dimensions of 440x154x420mm (whd). If you’re a ‘tyre-kicker’ – and I admit to succumbing to the notion that ‘massive’ equals ‘better’ – then this player impresses even before you’ve opened the triple-layer carton.

With a gap of over £5000 between MoFi's UltraPhono [HFN Mar '20] and flagship MasterPhono [HFN Dec '23], it was only a matter of time before the US brand inserted a third model between these two phono preamps. On the surface, the new UltraPhono Pro (£2499) looks to be a stripped-down version of the MasterPhono [see boxout], effectively halving the price for a full-size, function-rich MoFi unit.

Two essential features define all TechDAS turntables: an air bearing beneath the heavy platter and vacuum hold-down of the LP. From the inboard-motor entry-level Air Force V [HFN Jan '19] to the king's ransom Air Force Zero, all possess those two operational niceties, while the Japanese manufacturer's top two models add an air suspension for the entire chassis. The latter is less important if your floor is solid or your equipment stands rigid, but the air bearing and vacuum hold-down are the deal makers. And the new Air Force IV at £19,998 may be the best deal of all.

Entrusted with the legacy of his father-in-law, the late Franco Serblin, Massimiliano Favella has stuck rigidly to the design precepts which established Sonus faber, and which were the basis for Franco Serblin, the company. Favella inherited Serblin’s notes and concepts, which have ensured that the eponymous brand would have a steady flow of new models and ideas for years to come. This treasure trove, and the success of the Accordo family, has resulted in a new flagship speaker for the range, the Accordo Unica.