Anyone drawing up a mid-range/premium soundbar shortlist will no doubt be intrigued by Yamaha’s YSP-1600. It shares some of the DNA of the brand’s higher-end models (the YSP-2500 and YSP-5600) but leaves more cash in the bank for Blu-rays. There are plenty of other prospect at this price, however, so can the soundbar do enough … Read more
Of 3D audio’s your thing, then this Denon AVR is where you want to be. It’s a tempting time to upgrade your AVR. With a rising tide of 4K content requiring HDCP 2.2 copy protection, UHD 2,160p displays and object-based audio formats, the stars are aligning for those eager for a movie theatre makeover. And … Read more
The Mu-so Qb is Naim’s most affordable system yet. Ed Selley finds out if its small dimensions can produce a big sound It’s fair to say that Naim’s product development over the last few years has taken the company in directions it would have been hard to imagine back at the start of the millennium. … Read more
Leema Acoustics has reworked its classic speaker into the Xen 2. David Price finds out how it compares with the original Once upon a time, two former BBC engineers decided to form a hi-fi company. Prior to starting Leema, Lee Taylor was the recipient of BAFTA and Palme d’Or awards for his work in recording … Read more
Like the rest of us, headphones have dreams and aspirations. They know they have to start out small with whatever phone, computer, or AVR comes to hand. But they dream of something better—of an amp and DAC tailored just for their needs. In short, they long for their dream home. If you’ve invested in a … Read more
What could be more logical than for a famous headphone manufacturer to offer an audiophile headphone amp? Still, the AT-HA5050H offers surprises on various fronts Hybrid electronics are nothing new in high-end audio, but products which mix valves (tubes) and transistors remain rare enough that this new flagship headphone amp from Audio-Technica is the first … Read more
The latest member of KEF’s EGG family updates the iconic speaker design. Ed Selley enjoys some over-easy beats As the revival in the fortunes of two-channel audio looks set to continue, we’re seeing companies adapt products that were originally intended for multi-channel use to more traditional stereo-orientated designs. In the case of KEF, the … Read more
A powerful portable and rechargeable Bluetooth speaker from Edifier The latest trend for Bluetooth speakers has been smaller and smaller sizes, to the point where some of the units are about as much use as a bean can and a length of string. (If the analogy escapes you, ask your parents). Yet this latest offering from … Read more
All kinds of audio This big, shiny digital music player comes in white or black. Its feature list reads like one of those adverts for slightly-too-clever gadgets you find in the back of Sunday newspaper supplements. But instead of being the brainchild of some shock-haired hi-fi boffin it’s made by Panasonic, the very sensible electronics … Read more
Pioneer returns to the AVR killzone with a Dolby Atmos model. Mark Craven reports Last year, Pioneer dipped its toes into the Dolby Atmos waters, but only with its upper-tier LX-branded receivers. In 2015, it’s lowered its entry price for 3D audio to a tempting £500, in the shape of the VSX-930. This is good … Read more
VERDICT A slim soundbar that punches above its weight, but it’s sonically flawed THE LG SJ8 is one of the most attractive soundbars we’ve ever come across. Not because it’s ostentatious or showy, or because it lights up like a Christmas tree when you switch it on, but because it’s incredibly, implausibly thin. It stands … Read more
“Pretty much the ideal entry level product…” FOR Expressive and musical; built-in phono stage AGAINST Nothing of note “Budget, fully automatic?” Isn’t this treating turntables as toys? Stripping away the rules and reducing the record player to little more than a retro trinket. And, more annoyingly, these sorts of turntables are usually catering for those … Read more