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Listening to audio network cables and switches

6/5/2020

Preview: HIFICRITIC Vol 14 No2 April-June 2020 issue

I have almost lost count of the 100 or so listening tests recently conducted on network cables and net switches, scrutinised with the aid of an exacting audio system founded on a Naim ND555 streamer with dual PS555DR supplies. With such a task you have to be prepared for a proportion of null results, i.e. no change or no discernible difference, and even these results need repeating just to be sure – as sure as you can be, in that set up, with that state of acuity, with that system, and those chosen track(s).

The Tannoy 700 Dual Concentric

10/4/2020

Historical Review: Martin Colloms April 1993

Tannoy 700 image courtesy of www.hifido.co.jp

Tannoy has made steady progress on the studio monitor market over decades. Medium sized monitors are required to have a performance envelope which reaches beyond the capability of most domestic speaker designs. Low coloration, subtlety and transparency may be the provenance of high quality domestic speakers; the professional monitor must be capable of very high standards in terms of dynamics, 'speed', power handling and loudness as well as outright sound quality. Furthermore it must be highly analytical. It does not have to sound 'nice'; rather it must faithfully reveal both flaws and qualities in the monitored signal source.

The Sonographe SD22 CD player by conrad johnson

10/4/2020

Historical: 12 December 1991 review of an early CD player by Martin Colloms

The US company conrad johnson are best known for their classic line of high quality valve/tube electronics which includes the long running, true high end 'Premiere' series. However, this company is larger and more active than you might imagine and has other divisions which generate significant home sales such as Motif - these high performance, non valve products, and also Sonographe, a mid priced line. Sonographe includes speakers and turntables in addition to amplifier electronics and of course, the SD22 CD player, latest version from a series which has been in production for several years now.

Library of Congress Washington: The ultimate stay at home playlist

26/3/2020

The Library of Congress has released from the national recording registry the ultimate stay at home playlist. The following announcement was just released from Washington D.C.. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today named this and 20 other recordings as aural treasures worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance to the nation’s recorded sound heritage.

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show February 2020: Marriott City Centre

5/3/2020

Understandably the show was a bit smaller and quieter than in previous years, with Corona inevitably beginning to cast its shadow, but it was well attended nonetheless for its 33rd year with many improved products and systems and numerous launches of new audio product.

HIFICRITIC Price Increase from January 1, 2020

27/12/2019

We have held our HIFICRITIC magazine prices for five years despite numerous inflationary factors. From the 1st of January 2020 we are increasing our prices. We are also adding four more pages of editorial and review.

The new prices, postage included are as follows:

Single issue UK £20 (was £17)
Single issue EU £23 (was £20)
Single issue USA and Rest of the World £24 (was £22)

One year, four issue Subscription UK £75 (was £65)
One year, four issue Subscription EU £85 (was £76)
One Year four issue Subscription USA and Rest of the World £90 (was £80)

We will make the usual requests for subscription top-ups as the PayPal database entry is your contract with PayPal, not with HIFICRITIC and thus we cannot update it.

Many thanks for your support.

Munich High End Statistics

17/5/2019

551 exhibitors from 42 countries (+ 3.8%)
21,180 visitors in total (+ 6.5%)
8,208 trade visitors from 72 countries (+ 8.6%)

Munich Audio Show, MOC May 2019

17/5/2019

It seems to get bigger every year and this time I was determined to be a little selective even with the danger of overlooking something of particular interest. The layout is something of a maze and despite maps and extensive signage it is easy on more than one occasion to end up at the same place. That is not so bad, as more often than not you then find something interesting that you would otherwise have missed.

Clarity 2019 Conference London

6/4/2019

DOLBY HQ Soho Square 27. 03. 2019

Phil Hansen, Clarity operations director, kick started the annual event with some news followed by an introduction the Clarity website under development: Insidehifi.com,login required, for linking trade members with news and offers.

He then quoted Kim Bayley, CEO of the UK Electrical and Radio Association, concerning digital audio and ‘generation rent’:

Three-speed record player by ION

1/3/2019

A striking all in one three-speed record player by ION styled after a Ford Mustang dashboard radio