Hi-Fi Choice

Hi-Fi Choice is the essential guide to audio excellence in the home. It is a no-nonsense guide to the finest products available, from vinyl and valves, to multi-channel digital audio and high-fidelity video. Hi-Fi Choice sorts the best from the rest with rigorous test processes and a highly experienced team of reviewers.

Welcome • Issue No. 509 January 2024

Awesome Aura • New UK affordable speaker range

Working party • New desktop speakers

Fabulous Fifties • New networked CD player and integrated amp.

Head of the class • High-end new ‘phones

Just one Duetto • New wireless speaker from Italy

Use your imagination • Trio of new speakers from Canada

Radia on! • New affordable amps, CD player and streamer

Phono home • Updated British MM stage

Baby boomer • Brand new desktoppers from Canada

Art of the furniture • UK entertainment system upgrade

Standard bearer • New DAC from Aylesbury

Off the wall • New Danish wireless system

Retro-mania • A trio of tasty new options from Tivoli

Drink up! • Intoxicating upgrade from iFi

Cubular sells • Bank-busting wireless speaker from Geneva

Compose yourself • Stylish new kit from Vienna

Unique group tests • Our Group Tests are supported by rigorous and exhaustive listening tests carried out by experts

Let’s get digital • As the popularity of digital-to-analogue converters enjoys something of a comeback, Nick Tate rounds up six of the best mid-priced offerings

ON TEST

Benchmark DAC3 B £2,050 • 40 years ago Benchmark started trading from a garage in Texas, now it sells specialist DACs all around the globe

Musical Fidelity M6x DAC £2,100 • We’ve come a long way since Antony Michaelson unveiled his Digilog DAC back in the Eighties…

M2Tech Young MkIV £2,050 • Founded in 2007 by Nadia Marino and Marco Manunta in Pisa, this Italian company has a mighty claim to fame

Pro-Ject DAC Box RS2 £1,550 • The Austrian company’s push into affordable electronics continues with this ‘out of the Box’ option

Sugden Masterclass DAC-4 £2,215 • JE Sugden started making its first product back in 1967, since then its focus has been on quality over quantity

Synthesis Roma 69DC £2,500 • The small boutique audio company from Italy specialises in tube amps and has a lot going for it

Group test verdict • After a week of indepth comparisons, Nick Tate works out the final ranking order and reveals a worthy winner

It’s showtime! • The end of September saw the massively successful UK Hi-Fi Show Live! commence at the prestigious Grandstand at Royal Ascot Racecourse. Here’s our round-up of just some of the high-end treats on display

Raising the bar • Sennheiser has added the Ambeo Mini to its soundbar range. Cliff Joseph sifts through the pros and cons

E4 excellence • The new flagship of Goldring’s E Series brings some impressive refinements to a sensible price point. Ed Selley spins it up

Fifty something • As he pops the champagne, Nick Tate celebrates Naim’s 50th anniversary with its new, limited edition, Nait 50 integrated amp

Fire starter • PMC’s most affordable home speaker is a condensed version of everything it feels is important. Ed Selley rather likes it

Artistic impression • The latest generation of the Guarneri is as beautiful as ever, but Ed Selley thinks that it’s so much more than just a pretty face

Dark star • You might not have been expecting Cyrus to join the vinyl party, but Ed Selley thinks it makes a convincing argument for itself

Hi-fi choices • YOUR LETTERS & QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Christmas...