Since its launch in June 1956 - two years before the commercial realisation of stereo - Hi-Fi News & Record Review has been delivering insightful reviews of the key products and technologies that lie behind our shared hobby... the passion of listening to music on the very best equipment available to the enthusiast. Every issue, Hi-Fi News delivers uniquely in-depth reviews of high-end audio equipment, including the best in vinyl replay and iconic vintage gear from the early days of audio. It is essential reading for all music enthusiasts.
AUG/21
HI-FI NEWS’ EXPERT LINE UP: THE FINEST MINDS IN AUDIO JOURNALISM BRING THEIR EXPERIENCE TO BEAR ON ALL AREAS OF HI-FI & MUSIC
Limited Luxman • ONLY 300 SAMPLES OF THE L-595A SE INTEGRATED BUILT
Q more Acoustic • ACTIVE FLOORSTANDER WITH BMR DRIVERS
HI-FI NEWS' NUGGETS
Premium preamps • ROTEL’S UPGRADED MKII PREAMPLIFIERS
All Sabre, no rattle • VERTERE ANNOUNCES NEW HIGH-END MOVING-MAGNET
Nostalgia for the ears • GRADO LAUNCHES PRESTIGE X SERIES HEADPHONES
Bright knight rises • HYBRID TUBE/TRANSISTOR INTEGRATED FROM BAT
HI-FI NEWS? JUST ASK…
Hidden Treasures… • Do you have a Banksy in that box of unplayed records, or a supermarket disc worth hundreds? Johnny Sharp on some less likely LP/CD gems
When Covid sets the beat • How has the pandemic affected the music business? Mike Barnes finds out
REMOTE CONTROL
The hi-finews & Record Review Reader Pledge • Hi-Fi News’ readers can take full confidence in the fact that every product featured on our front cover, throughout the magazine and on our website has been comprehensively reviewed (auditioned, photographed and lab tested) at our facility
IN THIS ISSUE…
PMC fact fenestria • Launched three years ago but only now released for review, PMC’s flagship fenestria is a towering statement
GRAND DOME
OLIVER THOMAS
PMC FACT FENESTRIA
AGD Gran Vivace • Infineon Technologies’ Class D solutions have been seen before in audiophile amps, but this is the first to feature gallium nitride FETs. The ‘tubes’, however, are pure decoration!
CLASS D IN A BOTTLE
AGD GRAN VIVACE
Naim Audio Uniti Atom Headphone Edition • The evergreen Uniti Atom all-in-one platform, complete with custom streaming solution, is adapted to service the needs of the most demanding headphone users
DIGITAL DOMAIN
NAIM UNITI ATOM HEADPHONE ED
Spendor Classic 3/1 • There are three two-way standmounts in Spendor’s 1970s-inspired Classic range, and the 3/1 is the centre model. Is this entirely UK-built model the sweetspot of the series?
SPENDOR AT THE BEEB
SPENDOR CLASSIC 3/1
VAC Sigma 170i • Hot on the heels of VAC’s flagship separates stack on our March ’21 cover comes the more affordable derivative, the integrated VAC Sigma 170i – is it a true Mini-Me?
TAP TUNING
VAC SIGMA 170I
System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback • Most compact SA floorstander is not only offered in fully active ‘Silverback’ guise, but now supports ‘RAM Tweaks’
RAM TWEAKS
SA LEGEND 40.2 SILVERBACK
Linn Majik LP12/Krane • Linn’s ‘most affordable’ route into the world of the iconic Sondek LP12 turntable is all the more convenient now its Majik deck is packaged with Clearaudio-sourced Krane arm
LP12 LINEAGE
LINN MAJIK LP12/KRANE
McIntosh MCD85 • Well, one thing’s for sure: the new SACD/CD player/DAC from McIntosh looks quite unlike any other machine of its kind. So, does the sound live up to the unique style?
FUTUREPROOF MCINTOSH
MCINTOSH MCD85
CrystalConnect van Gogh • This ‘Art Series’ is the first silver CrystalConnect offering curated by high-end...