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 • hifichoice.com Issue No. 516 July 2024

Quality and quantity • New affordable UK speaker series

Lightning strikes! • New streamers from the US

Lucky seven • Network Audio Transport from Japan

Heavy metal • Chunky new British turntable

Home comforts • New compact smart speaker

Best buds • True wireless in-ears

Cupboard love • Stylish new vinyl storage units

Florence and the machine • Italian streamer and headphone amp

Six of the best • High-end CD system recreated

Head space • Fresh ‘phones from France

Totally (un)wired • Start-up promises lossless no-cable future

Top ten • High-end Swiss digital-to-analogue converter

Happy returns • Celebratory limited-edition standmount speaker

Swinging stuff! • Strangely shaped Danish loudspeaker

Rich and famous • High-end stereo power amp

Return to the Classics • New amplifier/DAC

High-end ear gear • DAP and in-ear imports

Munich High End 2024 • As one of Europe’s hi-fi highlights rolls around again, Ed Selley goes in search of all the goodies on show

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

One for all • Where to go if you’re a vinyl newbie wanting a turntable without tears? Nick Tate cues up six of the best affordable, user-friendly packages

Kestrel Audio KT-100 £770 • The new young upstart on the turntable block shows you can teach an old dog new tricks

Lenco LBT-345WA £450 • From a company dating back to 1946, this turntable bears scant relation to the brand’s original designs

Pro-Ject E1 BT £370 • Continuing Heinz Lichtenegger’s quest to make a turntable for every occasion comes the E1 BT

Rega Planar 1 Plus £385 • Is the fact you have to remove the platter to change the speed enough to put newcomers off?

Rekkord F110P £450 • Meet the sister company of Pro-Ject, catering for those that don’t want the hassle of manual operation

Group test verdict • Nick Tate ranks these six budget turntables; their obvious value for money enough to put him in a spin

Slimline tonic • German marque’s flagship B series floorstander offers smart bass-tuning potential. Is this the speaker for every room?

All about Eve • A network streamer that employs AirPlay, but for Apple users only? Cliff Joseph checks out what Android fans are missing

Rocking steady • Hailing from the shores of Lake Constance in Germany, we wade into Violectric’s latest headphone amp/DAC

Full contact • Gold Note has beefed up its Vasari MM cart for those looking for a premium high-output option. Ed Selley thinks it’s onto a winner

Zen master • Like a Samurai blade, iFi Audio’s latest portable DAC combines power and precision. Cliff Joseph is in awe

Take two • Hot on the heels of Final’s excellent ZE8000 true-wireless IEM comes an almost identical update. David Vivian explains all

Two into one • Dekoni Audio makes comfy earpads, HIFIMAN makes great cans. David Vivian sees what happens when the two collide

Studio standard • Nick Tate remembers Technics’ long-lost broadcast turntable motor unit, the SP-15

LETTERS • YOUR LETTERS & QUESTIONS ANSWERED

the audio consultants

Thanks for the memory...