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 • www.hifichoice.com Issue No. 489 June 2022

Cutting edge • Two bursts of energy from Maidstone, Kent

Ton up! • Debut buds from A&K

Get the balance right • A trio of new products from Pro-Ject benefitting from True Balanced Connection

Mission accomplished • Classic resurrection from UK company

Bar-room blitz • New soundbar system for music and movies

Wall of sound • Discrete wireless audio system from Q Acoustics

Special branch • True wireless earbuds get an upgrade

Power play • New DC power supply from Clearaudio

Rated ‘R’ • R Series comes to the UK

Many happy returns • Naim and Focal come together to offer a complete system

Switched on • High-end network switch launches from Japan

C-ing is believing • Two new amps from Japan

DJ heaven • Limited-edition anniversary turntable from Technics

Magnificent seven • Updated range of speakers from Klipsch

Tip (less) for the top • No rubber bungs for new earbuds from Gothernburg

Over and out

Taking up Pole position • This Polish hotshot brand broke onto the audiophile scene with its programmable DC PSU, followed by the OOR headphone amp. Now, with DAC onboard, comes the ERCO

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

Speaking clearly • The affordable speaker market is now packed with clever designs being sold at very competitive prices. Ed Selley sorts his way though six contestants

Fyne Audio F300 £230 • The F300 might be small in stature, but it makes up for it by being big on engagement and character

Jamo C 93 II £470 • The Danish company resurrects its famous Concert name with pleasingly melodious results

Mission LX-3 MKII £280 • Packed with clever engineering and some nods to Mission tradition, the LX-3 gets a great deal right

Monitor Audio Bronze 100 £280 • The Bronze 100 brings the delights of big-driver listening to a more affordable price point

Q Acoustics 3030i £350 • The 3030i delivers the time-honoured virtues of QA with a few new tricks thrown in for good measure

Triangle Borea BR03 £350 • The Borea takes the basic ingredients of an affordable standmount and makes something special from them

Group test verdict • The margins of success are very tight at price points like this Ed Selley discovers as he breaks down the final rankings

The French Revolution • The first SACD player from French audio artisan, Kalista, is also this spin-off brand’s most comprehensive digital hub to date. You’ll need to win the lottery, though…

Why have cotton… • As Mark Levinson enters the Bluetooth headphone market for the first time, Cliff Joseph tries the luxury on for size

Wide load • JBL’s new all-in-one is a little larger than the norm and David Vivian wonders if it has the sonic grandeur to match its size

Desk job • David Vivian reckons some active desktop speakers are too good to be confined to the office. Take for example exhibit A80

Cloud nine • This flagship integrated looks extremely similar to the smaller i7, but Ed Selley says there’s more here than meets the eye

Little wonder • As the cost of living spirals out of control, Nick Tate tries this highly capable, cost-conscious small speaker out for...