Review: Andrew Everard

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Jun 30, 2025  |  Published: Jun 01, 2025  |  0 comments
hfnoutstandingNo off-the-shelf chips for Holland’s Grimm Audio as the networking and custom code of the MU1 music server are joined by a Roon-equipped DAC/preamp in the same chassis

Network players have the potential to be a great leveller for ‘family listening’ outside of the exclusive audiophile world. It’s even possible that younger music fans will discover the joys of sitting and listening via a proper hi-fi system. Of course, that means everyone getting to grips with streaming music from internal storage or Tidal and Qobuz, putting together the odd personal playlist, and even routing the TV sound through the system.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Jun 19, 2025  |  Published: Jun 01, 2025  |  0 comments
This month we review and test releases from: Colin Vallon, Patrice Moret, and Julian Sartorius; Lucian Ban & Mat Maneri; Lux Quartet; Rondi Charleston/Fred Hersch; and John Hollenbeck
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 28, 2025  |  Published: Nov 01, 2024  |  0 comments
hfnoutstandingThe latest iteration of Auralic’s streamer/DAC boasts a new generation of the Tesla platform at its core, and an updated version of its ‘Lightning’ operating system

Almost as tricky as keeping up to speed with Taylor Swift releases is staying abreast of the range offered by network audio specialists, Auralic. Wrestling with the products’ naming and respective functionality can also be less than straightforward... The Altair G2.2 is the latest version of the company’s streamer/DAC, designed to be used into a conventional preamp, or direct into power amplification or active speakers via its analogue volume control.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 27, 2025  |  Published: Nov 01, 2024  |  0 comments
This month we review and test releases from: Eline Hensels & Daniël Kramer; Guy Yehuda; Arve Henriksen/Harmen Fraanje; Arve Henriksen/Harmen Fraanje; and Vince Guaraldi
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 27, 2025  |  Published: Nov 01, 2024  |  0 comments
hfnoutstandingOnce again there’s nothing fishy about this innovative Dutch brand’s latest catch – a reference-quality stereo Class D amplifier netted into the Kaluga’s mono chassis

Time, it seems, to forget all the stereotypes of high-output power amplifiers as massive devices that dim the lights when fired up and convert even the chilliest of spaces into a listening-room sauna. Instead, the £7299 Perca stereo power amp from Dutch manufacturer Mola Mola is just 215mm wide and 110mm tall, and weighs a mere 5.25kg, yet claims a stereo output of 150W/8ohm, doubling to 300W/4ohm.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 02, 2025  |  Published: Nov 01, 2024  |  0 comments
hfnoutstandingNaim Audio’s latest single-box solution takes the Uniti Nova, with its NP800 streaming platform, and swaps out the Class A/B amplifier for a higher power Class D engine

The term ‘game-changing’ is widely overused, but it’s fully justified in the case of Naim’s original Naim Uniti. Launched in 2009, it was in the vanguard of CD/streaming/amplifier products, a concept now more widely adopted in the past decade and a half. And in the 15 years since the original Naim Uniti appeared, the company has continuously developed the technology inside the series, not to mention spinning it off into component network players and its Mu-so network speaker systems.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 02, 2025  |  Published: Apr 01, 2025  |  0 comments
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.

Review: Andrew Everard,  |  May 02, 2025  |  Published: Apr 01, 2025  |  0 comments
This month we review and test releases from: The Tord Gustavsen Trio, Anthony Inglis/NSO, Trichotomy, Agustin Maruri, and Sparks
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Apr 25, 2025  |  Published: Oct 01, 2024  |  0 comments
This month we review and test releases from: Serol Yapici & Héctor Sanz Castillo, Norma Winstone & Kit Downes, Andrew Wilcox, Ola Kvernberg, and Sasha Witteveene
Review: Andrew Everard,  |  Apr 23, 2025  |  Published: Oct 01, 2024  |  0 comments
hfnoutstanding

Conceived as the ‘command centre’ of a modern high-end system, T+A’s powerful all-in-one system embraces CD and streamed audio, in all its flavours, and radio too...

Looking for a simple, no-frills, ‘straight wire with gain’ amplification solution? If so, it’s a case of ‘move right along, please – nothing to see here’, for T+A’s R 2500 R, available in black or silver at £12,905, is a prime example of large-scale integration in the quest for one of those ‘just add speakers’ systems. Yes, you could connect other source components to it, thanks to a choice of analogue and digital inputs – but really, why would you want to?

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