01442 820580

hi-fi+ issue 225 Contents

COMMENT

5Incoming! Your views on all things audio

FEATURES

86Meet Your Maker Special Franc Kuzma’s new listening room

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

9English Acoustics Stereo 41c tube power amplifier

17dCS Lina streaming DAC, clock, headphone amplifier

27Metronome AQWO 2 CD/SACD player/DAC/streamer

37AURALiC ARIES G2.2 streamer

43B.Audio B.amp mono mono power amplifiers

50 Larsen Model 9 floorstanding loudspeaker

55Perlisten S4b, D12s, SSLR-HGB stand-mount loudspeaker, active subwoofer, stands

61Ansuz Mainz8 D3 power distributor

67Final ZE8000 in-ear monitors

71VPI Goldy moving coil cartridge

73Tellurium Q Statement II cable system

79Synergistic Research PowerCell SX power conditioner

83Chord Company Signature Super ARAY USB cable

MUSIC

94A Beginner’s Guide to... Hip-Hop Part 2

Hip-Hop goes West, and the East Coast isn’t happy about it. The 1990s and the rise of Gangsta Rap.

102Pete Molinari The best British singer-songwriter you’ve never heard of talks about his sixth album, Wondrous Afternoon.

108Emma Anderson The co-founder of shoegaze-turned-Britpop band Lush talks about her latest album, Pearlies.

117Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

114Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

125CD Salisbury Christmas: while stocks last!

127Advertiser index

128Next Issue Our Awards issue is coming soon!

hi-fi+ issue 224 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

FEATURES

96Meet Your Maker Franc Kuzma of Kuzma d.o.o.

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

10Magico S3 floorstanding loudspeaker

19PMC prodigy1 stand-mount loudspeaker

29Technics SL-1210G turntable and tonearm

37Hegel Viking CD player

43Epos ES14N stand-mount loudspeaker

52 Lowther Hegeman floorstanding loudspeaker

57Phasemation EA-350 phono stage

63Vinius Audio TVC-05 preamplifier

69Ophidian Incanto floorstanding loudspeaker

75Shunyata Research Omega loudspeaker and interconnect cables

81REL Classic 98 subwoofer

85IsoTek V5 Sigmas power conditioner

MUSIC

96A Beginner’s Guide to... Hip-Hop Part 1

Hip-Hop turns 50 this year. We look at the New York roots of the most influential genre in popular music.

104Howard Jones The 1980s pop icon is celebrating 40 years in the music business with a deluxe four-CD box-set, including a track in Simlish!

110Brian Auger Legendary keyboard player and the godfather of Acid Jazz, talks about his band Oblivion Express and the new six-disc collection.

119Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

114Competition Java Hi-Fi Single Shot amplifier worth £9,290 must be won!

116Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

127Advertiser index

128Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

hi-fi+ issue 223 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

FEATURES

10Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet with Burmester Audiosysteme
in-car entertainment

96Meet Your Maker Michael Hedges of Monitor Audio

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

17Gold Note DS-1000 EVO streaming DAC

27Sonus faber Guarneri G5 stand-mount loudspeaker

36Kudos Audio Titan 808 floorstanding loudspeaker

43PrimaLuna EVO 100 phono preamplifier

52Karan Acoustics Master Collection POWERb STEREO stereo power amplifier

57Java Hi-Fi Single Shot integrated amplifier

63Davone Reference One floorstanding loudspeaker

69Børresen X3 floorstanding loudspeaker

74Balanced Audio Technology VK80i integrated amplifier

79Vertere Acoustics Imperium Motor Drive turntable power supply

83Purist Audio Design Jade interconnect, power, and loudspeaker cable

89Coherence Systems ADDPowr Sorcer Apprentice power conditioner

93Stack Audio AUVA 100 loudspeaker isolators

MUSIC

104A Beginner’s Guide to... The Blues Part 3

The Blues moved to Chicago, and found new champions in guitar heroes!

112Iraina Mancini Singer-songwriter, DJ, and model, Mancini discusses her new album... and Jane Birkin.

118The Bees The Mercury prize winning Isle of Wight superstars, on their first album in 13 years!

127Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

115Back Issues Build your library!

124Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

135Advertiser index

136Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

hi-fi+ issue 222 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

10Russell K. RED 150Se floorstanding loudspeaker

17Innuos PULSAR streamer

27Monitor Audio Hyphnfloorstanding loudspeaker

36Zeiler Audio PR-01/PA-01 valve preamplifier/power amplifier

43Stratton Acoustics Elypsis 1512 stand-mount loudspeaker

52 Melco Audio N1-S38 music server

57VAC Master/Signature 200 iQ valve preamplifier/power amplifier

63Thrax Enyo Mk2 integrated valve amplifier

69Focal Utopia 2022 headphones

77Music First Audio Reference SUT step-up transformer

83Reiki Audio SuperSwitch Master Pro + Servant Pro filtering network switch

89Black Rhodium Intro interconnect cables, loudspeaker cables and power cords

MUSIC

96A Beginner’s Guide to...The Blues Part 2

From the Delta to the cities, how The Blues survived the Great Depression, and how it nearly didn’t!

104Tommy Stinson Founding member of The Replacements talks about Cowboys In The Campfire!

110Dot Allison The Scottish singer-songwriter proves she’s more than just trip-hop!

119Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

116Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

118Back Issues Build your library!

127Advertiser index

128Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

hi-fi+ issue 221 Contents

COMMENT

7 Incoming! Your views on all things audio

OBITUARY

128 Chris Thomas 1949–2023 As this issue went to press, we learned of the sad and sudden passing of one of our longest-standing reviewers, and a good friend...

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

10 Döhmann Audio Helix One Mk3 turntable

19 Waversa Systems digital audio streaming solution

31 MOON by Simaudio North 791 and 761 preamp and power amplifier

39 Engström Arne Mk 2 integrated valve amplifier

48 Quiescent T100MPA mono power amplifier

55 Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 floorstanding loudspeaker

61 Leben CS300XS integrated valve amplifier

67 Allnic Audio D-10000 OTL/OCL DAC

73 SoundSpace Systems Robin floorstanding loudspeaker

85 Network Acoustics muon pro Ethernet filter

89 Russ Andrews BMU 3000 Mk II balanced power supply

91 WK Audio TheRed power cord

MUSIC

97 A Beginner’s Guide to...The Blues

From slave hollers to travelling musicians, and maybe a deal with the Devil at a crossroads... how the Blues began

107 Jenny Don’t and the Spurs Portland’s alt-country outlaws on vocal chord surgery and dogs setting fire to studios, COVID-19, and more!

112 Jim Bob One half of 1990s indie-rockers Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine on his new solo album

119 Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

116 Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

118 Back Issues Build your library!

127 Advertiser index

Issue 221 on sale July 7, 2023

hi-fi+ issue 220 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

FEATURES

10Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Combining the power of Bentley with the might of Naim Audio in a £275,000 powerhouse. What’s not to like?

99Meet Your Dealer Mike Rogers of Audio Destination, Devon

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

19Linn 360 network active floorstanding loudspeakers

29AURALiC ALTAIR G1.1 digital audio streamer

38Copland CTA407 integrated amplifier

45PMC twenty5.21i stand-mount loudspeakers

53Thrax Ares MkII integrated amplifier

59 RCM Audio The Big Phono phono stage

65Atma-Sphere Music Systems Class D mono power amplifiers

71Perlisten S4b stand-mount loudspeakers

77Michell Audio Cusis moving coil cartridge

83Technics SL-G700 Mk2 streaming disc player

89Pro-Ject X2 B/S3 B turntable/phono stage

95finite elemente pagode Signature mkII equipment support system

MUSIC

106A Beginner’s Guide to... Stax

The cornerstone of Southern Soul in the 1960s and 1970s

115Don Reedman the co-creator of the legendary Classic Rock series of albums

120Jah Wobble Post-punk bass superstar on dub, jazz, folk and dark cinematic themes

127Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

124Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

125Back Issues Build your library!

135Advertiser index

136Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

hi-fi+ issue 219 Contents

COMMENT

7 Incoming! Your views on all things audio

152 Michael Fremer The legendary vinyl guru speaks!

AWARDS

79 The hi-fi+ Analogue Awards the finest turntables, tonearms, cartridges, phono stages, and more!

FEATURES

11 The history of LP 75 years of the black vinyl disc

66 Encyclopaedia Analogica confused by vinyl’s terminology? We’ve got it covered!

154 Setting up a turntable a guide for the perplexed

158 Analogue Review Compendium the complete listing of all our vinyl-related reviews

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

21 VPI Industries Avenger Direct direct drive turntable, tonearm and cartridge

29 Origin Live Voyager Mk4/Renown turntable and tonearm

37 Gold Note PH-5 phono stage

43 Reed 5A tonearm

49 Dual CS-618Q direct drive turntable

55 Vertere Acoustics Phono-1 Mk II L phono stage

61 The Funk Firm 20/20 turntable upgrades for Linn and Thorens turntables

MUSIC

176 The best selling LPs of all time

What are the biggest selling vinyl albums from the golden age of record collecting?

180 Bennett Wilson Pool Award-winning UK take on Americana trio on their new album

186 Midge Ure The legendary front-man of Ultravox on the deluxe 40th anniversary edition of Quartet

191 Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

174 Back Issues where to find all those classic reviews!

184 Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

197 Advertiser index

200 Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

hi-fi+ issue 218 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

FEATURES

10Ferrari Purosangue how Ferrari’s first four-door supercar can sound thanks to Burmester’s excellent in-car audio system

17Achieving Audio Nirvana in a 4ft × 4ft space. Is this the ultimate in small room systems?

97Power Feature is your power all its cracked up to be?

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

26Naim Audio NSC 222, NPX 300, NAP 250 line preamplifier/streamer, power supply and stereo power amplifier

37Wilson Audio Alexx V floorstanding loudspeakers

46Atoll IN300 integrated amplifier/DAC

51Vimberg Amea stand-mount loudspeakers

57Aqua Acoustic Quality La Diva M2 CD transport

63 Galion Audio TS120 SE integrated valve amplifier

69PSB Alpha iQ active loudspeaker streaming system

75T+A Solitaire T wireless headphones

81Quiescent T100SPA stereo power amplifier

87OePhi Reference interconnect, loudspeaker, and power cables

93Platanus 3.0S moving coil cartridge

MUSIC

104A Beginner’s Guide to... Musique Concrète

Perhaps the most important avant garde musical form of the 20th Century

111Billy Valentine The veteran US soul singer and songwriter on his latest album

119The Long Ryders The founding fathers of alt‑country Americana on loss and new music

127Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

120Competition! Computer Audio Design USB II-R cable worth £1,500 must be won!

135Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

135Advertiser index

136Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

Hi-Fi+ Issue 217 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

99Meet Your Maker We travelled to Athens in search of fine digital audio from Ideon Audio

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

17JMF Audio PRS 1.5/HQS 9001 line preamplifier and mono power amplifiers

24Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 stand-mount loudspeaker

33SOULNOTE D-2digital to analogue converter

39Audio Research I/50 integrated valve amplifier

45Triangle Magellan Quatour 40th Anniversary floorstanding loudspeaker

51 AVM CS 8.3 Black Edition integrated system

57Karan Acoustics Master Collection PHONOb phono stage

63Ortofon MC Diamond moving coil cartridge

69Stax SR-X9000/SRM-T8000electrostatic headphone and headphone amplifier

79Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000 portable music player

84CAD USB II-R USB cable

89Allnic Audio Mu-8R interconnect cables

93Synergistic Research Foundation SX loudspeaker and interconnect cables

97Russ Andrews SuperRouter Signature grounding block

MUSIC

106A Beginner’s Guide to...Shoegaze Introspective guitar-led indie rock from the 1990s. The antidote to jangly indie pop and Grunge

113Andy Fairweather Low The Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist from Amen Corner

120The Kynd British 1990s power-pop band on their follow-up second album... 24 years later

127Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

124Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

135Advertiser index

136Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!

Hi-Fi+ Issue 216 Contents

COMMENT

7Incoming! Your views on all things audio

10Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2023

Back at last! Our exclusive preview to the return of one of the most important UK audio events

89Meet Your Maker We speak to Arnaud and Laurent Fusilier of French audio experts, JMF Audio

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

15Robert Koda Takumi K-160 mono power amplifier

25Gold NoteDS-10 EVO/PSU-10 EVO/PA-10/A3 EVO11 DAC preamp/power supply/power amp/stand-mount loudspeaker system

34Klipsch RP-8000F IIfloorstanding loudspeaker

41Synthesis Roma 117DC/98DC line valve preamplifier/mono valve power amplifiers

47Closer Acoustics OGY stand-mount loudspeaker

53 Elipson P1F/A2700 pre/power amplifier

59Qln Prestige One stand-mount loudspeaker

65Vertere DG-1 S turntable and tonearm combination

71Revival Audio Atalante 3 stand-mount loudspeaker

77Sendy Audio Peacock planar-magnetic headphones

81iFi Audio Pro iCAN Signature headphone amplifier

87RSX Technologies Benchmark ER-20 power cord

MUSIC

96A Beginner’s Guide to...Americana

Is it Alt-Country, No Depression, or Country mixed with Punk? The essential guide to modern Americana

105Jesse Malin The New York singer-songwriter on 20 years of The Fine Art of Self-Destruction!

112Third Lung British four-piece band with stadium rock appeal

119Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and audiophile music

PLUS

104Competition! Synergistic Research’s Black Box resonator worth £2,000 must be won!!

116Subscriptions Subscribe and save!

118Back Issues Grab a classic issue!

127Advertiser Index

128Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!