Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 540 - 2025 i Australian HiFi

When streaming services came along and changed how many of us consumed music, hi-fi electronics brands had to adapt; they had to accommodate. And they have done spectacularly. It’s been a rather long road, but in recent years we have reached a supreme moment where hi-fi and streaming go together like cops and doughnuts. Today, we have music streamers, streaming amps and streaming-savvy all-in-one systems, from the affordable to the aspirational, that sound good and offer intuitive user experiences consistent with other parts of our technological lives. Hi-fi manufacturers of such components have created software teams to a) develop their own control apps — apps that meet the high standards we have become accustomed to in today’s app-driven world; b) grapple with audio transmission standards and protocols that can differ…

Neat Acoustics produces some of the world’s most impressive compact speakers, with its ultra-compact Iota the miniature yet mighty marvels that first spring to mind when I think of Neat. And now we have their sequel. The Iota II retain the same super petite cabinet size and footprint at 13cm tall, 20cm wide and 16.5cm deep, meaning you can place them in just about any space or corner, on desktops or in bookshelves — ideal options if you’re short on space but not on performance expectations. In keeping with the original model, they are designed to be placed on their side (as pictured) either on stands or wall-mounted. The Iota II feature upgraded mid/bass drivers that promise “even better bass extension and bigger scale”, while sticking with their predecessors' ribbon…

WiiM has been quite the disruptor in the budget hi-fi market in recent years, having gained widespread acclaim for its affordable streaming electronics (namely the Pro Plus streamer) and proving that decent entry-level streaming sound and operation are available for (relative) peanuts. But the Chinese outfit will soon launch something slightly different — the Vibelink Amp. This is the brand’s first amplifier without any streaming smarts. Naturally it is being marketed as the “perfect complement” for its Mini, Pro Plus and Ultra streamers. As the product has only been teased for now, there isn’t much to tell, other than that it will deliver 100 watts per channel (into 8 ohms), sport a built-in DAC supporting the sample rates and bit depths you would expect, and have “premium component choices”. More…

Loudspeakers • Fabulous sound with impressive bass extention • Gorgeous finish • True three-way design No bi-wire facility RRP $9,995 Yamaha is better known for its musical instruments (pianos, flutes, guitars), its machinery (motorcycles and outboard motors) and its electronic audio components (amplifiers, AV receivers, CD players) than it is its hi-fi loudspeakers, and yet the Japanese company has actually been building loudspeakers for longer than it has been building many of these other components. You see, Yamaha’s first electronic organ, the Electone D-1, released in 1959, featured its very own ‘Natural Sound’ loudspeakers. These speakers were subsequently developed into high-end hi-fi speakers bearing the NS-20 and NS-30 model names, released eight years after the electric organ and often claimed to be Yamaha’s first ‘Natural Sound’ speakers. Both were three-way…

Onkyo TX-8470 Network Stereo Receiver VALUED AT $1,799 A streaming receiver that seamlessly blends exceptional audio fidelity with modern connectivity for hassle-free home entertainment. The TX-8470 offers fuss-free access to your favourite hi-res services and technologies, including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, AirPlay and Chromecast. It is also built for the vinyl comeback era, giving you the perfect opportunity to dust off your record collection… or start a new one! The promise: to transform your living room into a sanctuary of hi-fi sound. Denon PerL Pro True Wireless Earbuds VALUED AT $549 Discover uncompressed sound with both lossless and spatial audio technologies through Denon’s PerL Pro wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. They allow you to create a personalised sound profile with Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT) for audio that is perfectly tuned…

Grado has added a second model to its nascent Signature headphones series, the Signature S950, which follow the Signature HP100 SE ($3,999) released last year. Grado has used wood extensively across several of its most recognisable headphones, including the GS1000X Statement, RS1x and RS2E Reference cans, so its incorporation of Brazilian walnut for the new S950’s ear cups is a return to familiar territory and presents a balance in the series, with the existing Signature pair sporting aluminium housings for an equally traditional Grado look. The Brooklyn-based manufacturer says this wood material not only makes for a lighter construction (just 395g) but also offers what it describes as a “relaxed musical presentation”. The Signature S950 use an incarnation of Grado’s 52mm S driver, originally designed for the first Signature model.…

Sennheiser has been one of the leading lights in the affordable open-back headphone market for decades, and its latest pair looks to further lock down that legacy. The HD 505 are new additions to the company’s 500 Series, which has previously included acclaimed models such as the HD 599 and HD 560S, and which sits below the 600 Series of HD 600 fame. The HD 505 cost $449.95, putting them in the firing line of established competition such as the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X. They also sit between Grado’s acclaimed SR80x and SR325x in price. So while wired headphones may not be as popular in the affordable headphones sphere as they once were, there is still plenty of competition for the new Sennheisers here. Bidding to overcome those challengers,…

Meze Audio has launched its latest pair of planar magnetic headphones, which are yet another sight for sore eyes from the Romanian manufacturer. The Poet, conceived as a “carefully crafted audio masterpiece” and blending the company's latest technologies and materials, are open-back headphones promising highend performance at a similarly rarefied price of $3,550. At their core are Rinaro's MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array planar magnetic drivers, developed exclusively for Meze and handassembled at Rinaro's facility in Ukraine. The driver design is the synthesis of that found in Meze's higher-end Elite and lower-ranging Liric models, and at its heart are neodymium magnets arranged into a 'Hybrid Array' to create a 0.3 Tesla Isodynamic magnetic field for a “uniform, powerful” distribution across the lightweight (0.06g!) semi-crystalline polymer diaphragm. Total harmonic distortion (THD) supposedly…

The in-room frequency response measured by Newport Test Labs for the Yamaha NS-2000A design is shown in Graph 1 and you can see that it’s superbly linear and extended, such that the overall response is 24Hz to 20kHz ±3dB. If we ignore the very lowest frequencies, the response between 60Hz and 20kHz is essentially ±1.5dB — amazingly flat. This response was obtained by averaging nine measurements taken in a grid form, with the centre of the grid on-axis with the tweeter at a three-metre distance. Graph 2 shows a frequency response where the trace below 1.5kHz is the room response from Graph 1, while the trace above is the anechoic response of the tweeter, measured on-axis with the tweeter at a distance of only one metre. The anechoic measurement enables…

Turntable • Powerful and punchy presentation • Impressive sonic stability • Very easy to use • Lift/lower mechanism feels vague and cheap • Supplied signal leads are poor $4,999 Ask any budding DJ what their dream turntable is and a Technics one would inevitably be high on their list. The brand’s range of direct-drive record players has carved out an enviable niche over the years, achieving almost legendary status in DJ circles thanks to their high-torque motors, tank-like build and canny range of features. It is fair to say these positive vibes carry through to the consumer hi-fi side of its catalogue too. Technics’ new SL-1300G is a particularly fine example of a breed that can stand toe-to-toe with the best of the competition without issue. The company’s heavyweight engineering…

Dan Wright originally planned a future in journalism, and to that end spent a year in Australia as an exchange student. On his return to the USA, however, he decided against journalism and instead enrolled in a computer engineering course at Anchorage University in Alaska. He later switched courses and universities to graduate from Fairbanks University with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. Taking advantage of his qualifications, Wright began a career as a professional engineer specialising in heating and ventilation systems. However, having long been interested in designing and building audio equipment, Wright deployed his multiple skills to develop a part-time business improving existing audio products by upgrading various components within them, such as op-amps, resistors and capacitors. He also modified and improved the power supplies inside various other…

Information correct at time of printing SPRING COVE ROOM LOWER GROUND FLOOR LEICA CAMERA AUSTRALIA Spring Cove Room It’s movie time! The Leica Cine Play leverages the German company’s world-leading imaging skills for this state-of-the-art, compact and versatile smart mini projector. Its innovative features, including a Full Auto Alignment system, VIDAA smart operation and a unique Leica Summicron zoom lens, ensure hassle-free setup, flexible positioning and exceptional 4K resolution. It’s an excellent portable cinema for home and outdoor entertainment without permanent installations — head down to the Lower Ground via the lifts for your Leica experience! GROUND FLOOR SYNERGY AUDIO VISUAL Elizabeth Bay Room Last year’s show winner for Best Sound is back in the same spot, bringing the best of the Melbourne distributor’s brands, which include McIntosh, Sonus faber,…

Swiss loudspeaker manufacturer Piega has launched its Premium Gen 2 loudspeaker range, comprising the Premium 301 Gen 2 standmounts alongside the floorstanding Premium 701 Gen 2. The 301 Gen 2 is more compact than its predecessor but, despite having less volume, supposedly delivers the same bass response while offering “significantly improved” acoustics. Meanwhile, the 701 Gen 2 has evolved from a 2.5 to a fully fledged 3-way design here, offering a dedicated midrange driver and two bass drivers. The new models have been designed to fit into modern living spaces while delivering uncompromising performance levels. The headline is arguably the company’s specially developed ‘magnetostatic’ ribbon tweeter, the RM 01-24, which Piega’s Head of Development, Roger Kessler, describes as the “Rolls Royce of tweeters”. ‘Our ribbon specialist Mario and our chief…

Musical Fidelity has teased two mid-market components that it will officially launch in winter, the B1xi integrated amplifier and — good news for persistent CD spinners — the B1xCD disc player. The original affordable B1 amplifier was an important part of Musical Fidelity’s history as it expanded the company’s reach to a wider audience in the early 1990s, and this forthcoming pair of MF products is staying true to the legendary ‘B’ moniker by offering high performance and functionality for the more price-conscious hi-fi fan. Both the B1xi and B1xCD are expected to cost less than $1,500 each. The amplifier is a Class A/B design packing 50 watts of power into 8 ohms (or 100W into 4), meaning it should be able to drive most speakers without feeling too much…

Wilson Benesch kept to its emerging tradition of launching new additions to its Fibonacci Series of loudspeakers at the Bristol show, debuting the third member, the Horizon. The Sheffield-based company claims this floorstander “embodies all the qualities of the award-winning Fibonacci Series, setting a new benchmark in cutting-edge loudspeaker technology and craftsmanship within its class”. The two existing Fibbonachi members — the Discovery 3Zero ($42,745) standmounts and A.C.T. 3Zero floorstanders ($71,000) — have both received critical acclaim, so expectations are naturally high for this latest model, which doesn’t yet have an official price tag but is expected to sit in the middle of the family. As with the rest of the Fibonacci Series (and in line with Wilson Benesch’s cutting-edge approach across its 30 years), the Horizon uses a Monocoque…

FiiO has announced flagship headphones that build on the developments behind the current FT5 and FT3. For the new FT7, the company claims its patent-pending ‘Gold + Silver Precious Metal Multi-Layer Coating’ technology has resulted in both improved sound and durability. Inside are 106mm full-size planar magnetic drivers with a 1μm ultra-thin film diaphragm and 18 high-performance N52 neodymium magnets on either side. They certainly look the part, too, thanks to their zebrawood grilles and earpads made of lambskin and suede. Even the cord has been given the design treatment — it’s a liquid nitrogen-frozen single-crystal copper cable, cased in custom-detailed linen from the Yauli region of Peru. At 427g, they are fairly light for a flagship pair. Pricing and availability have not been confirmed, but an “around [US]$800” figure…

The name itself reveals Dutch & Dutch’s background because the company is headed up by two Dutchmen, Martijn Mensink (the company’s founder and often described as its ‘acoustic brain’) and Kevin Klein (originally a mathematical biologist who now leads the R&D team). As you might also expect, the company is headquartered in the Netherlands — more precisely, Rotterdam. Dutch & Dutch was established in 2014 to build professional public address systems that used anti-phase sound techniques to enable localized sound control in small commercial venues. This allowed specific regions inside the venue to have completely different sound pressure levels, despite being driven by the same sound source. Mensink says the development process meant that “extensive research became our foundation, immersing our team in the intricacies of digital filters and sound…

Streaming Amplifier • Ample streaming and physical connectivity • Authoritative, dynamic and full-bodied presentation • Classic yet contemporary look No Qobuz support (yet) $2,500 Marantz is seemingly on a mission to ensure hi-fi enthusiasts of all persuasions are well catered to with its eclectic catalogue, one of the most established in the consumer audio market and seemingly ever-expanding. Head to the amplifier listings on the company’s website and you will count no fewer than 11 models. (In that way, the brand somewhat fits with the name of its American parent company, Masimo Consumer, considering ‘massimo’ (derived from Latin Maximus) means ‘biggest’ and ‘greatest’.) From an aesthetics point of view, not much separates them — indeed, if they were all lined up in front of you, you would be hard-pressed to…

The Verve This Is Music: The Singles UMR There’s always been a boldness to The Verve’s attitude: titling their 2004 singles compilation This Is Music, after its opening track, was intended as a brash, definitive statement, rendering all other sound unworthy. This vinyl anniversary reissue, with its original bonus tracks now replaced with the two singles from 2008’s reunion album Forth, has lost absolutely none of its bravado over the past two decades. Its first three tracks lay out The Verve’s initial evolution, albeit nonchronologically. This Is Music, representing 1995’s second album A Northern Soul, thunders in on tides of swirling psych-rock that sound like Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix battling for supremacy over an alternative dimension in which it is forever — hazily — 1969, with singer Richard Ashcroft,…