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Mini test All rounders Four-way headphone The Elipson Planet speakers amp/DAC face off that are out of this world PASSION FOR S Issue No. OUND No. 383877 AuAugustgust 22014 A HARD DAY’S NIGHT 50th anniversary soundtrack Solid tribute Silver Monitor Audio’s S8 speakers deliver sterling performance Primare NP30 StylishStylish netwnetworkork musmusicic player and DAC makes streaming simple Arcam, Eltax, Korg, Linn, Morel 38PRODUCTSODUCTS OONN TEST:TEESTS : & Origin Live PRINTED IN THE UK US$10.99 US$10.99 UK THE IN PRINTED AUGUST 2014 £4.50 2014 AUGUST GROUP TEST System upgrade Pocket rocket SixS cable looms IntroducingIntro the ultimate get blind tested 24/192 portable player MF-100 SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE HEAD PHONES When music matters most VERY HIGH QUALITY • MUSICAL FIDELITY DESIGNED NEODYMIUM DRIVE UNITS www.musicalfidelity.com +44 (0)20 8900 2866 INTRODUCTION PASSION FOR SOUND Welcome www.hifichoice.co.uk Issue No. 387 August 2014 Are you happy with your hi-fi system’s sound, or could it sing a little better? If you think that you have the right blend of components but feel it’s not quite giving its very best then this month’s cable looms 42 Group Test is just for you. Let’s face Origin Live it most of us probably have a Astute mishmash of interconnects from different brands hooking up the ins and outs of our hi-fi components, partnered with a set of speaker cables that more than likely come from another manufacturer altogether. In terms of getting a system to perform at 116 its very best we all seem to understand the importance Guide to... of synergy between electronic components and Subwoofers loudspeakers, but many of us don’t pay nearly as much attention to the cables connecting the components to one another carrying the all important audio signals. The merits of cables having an influence on the sound of a hi-fi system is a controversial topic, and one that is regularly debated among hi-fi enthusiasts with eager amounts of scepticism and a degree of mistrust regarding the claimed benefits from cable manufacturers. After all it’s just a bit or wire, right? Well, after a day spent blind listening to the cable looms in our Group Test, I can safely say that the six sets of interconnect and speaker wires carefully chosen to work together have a far bigger influence on the sound of a system than you might imagine. Turn to page 24 to 99 see how they performed. Pink Floyd The Division Bell BADGES EXPLAINED Lee Dunkley Editor OUR AWARDS Follow us: EDITOR’S RECOMMENDED: GROUP TEST twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag facebook.com/hifichoice.co.uk CHOICE: Products that WINNER: Awarded to those we feel meet a Comparative products that are high standard of tests can only judged to deliver performance have one winner, outstanding and this badge ENTERPRISE HOUSE, ENTERPRISE WAY, performance says it all! EDENBRIDGE, KENT, TN8 6HF AUGUST 2014 3 Contentshifichoice.co.uk Issue No. 387 August 2014 FREE NEWS & OPINION GROUP TEST speaker worth £79 when you 6 Audiofile Six cable looms The latest news on the hottest products 24 are given the subscribe from the world of hi-fi coming your way blind listening p20 14 Webwatch test treatment Essential websites to direct your browser towards for all your hi-fi requirements 69 Letters Put your points of view and queries on audio matters to our team of experts 77 Opinion The Hi-Fi Choice team say it as they see it as they discuss the issues of the day 99 Music Reviews The month’s essential new CD, vinyl and hi-res releases given a work out 130 Back Chat A look back in time, news snippets and an industry insider picks their top albums READER SERVICES 102 Reader Classifieds Sell your unwanted hi-fi for FREE here 124 Next Issue The sonic treats to look out for next month 62 FEATURES 62 Beatles At The Movies Grab your popcorn as we celebrate the 6 50th anniversary of A Hard Day’s Night 90 Dealer Systems We’re off to Poole in Dorset to check out the treats that Stone Audio has to offer 94 Labelled With Love Creation, home to some of the eighties and nineties most exhilarating bands 116 Guide To... Subwoofers. Add some low-end grunt to 100 your system and make your music rumble Audiofile: Dynaudio’s Xeo tech speakers Music reviews: Emerson, Lake and Palmer 4 AUGUST 2014 CONTENTS AUGUST 2014 “The benefits of integrating a subwoofer into your two-channel 105 systems will be truly sublime” Eltax Monitor III BT speakers Guide to... Subwoofers p116 TESTED THIS MONTH REVIEWS Kit testing 16 Primare NP30 streamer/DAC 42 Origin Live Astute suspended loudspeaker (Exotica) 46 Cambridge Audio Azur 851D DAC/preamplifier 50 REL Acoustics Serie S2 active sub-bass system 16 53 Morel Primare NP30 streamer/DAC SoundSpot Primo 2.1 speaker system 54 Astell & Kern AK240 digital audio player 56 Monitor Audio Silver 8 floorstanding loudspeaker 60 Elipson Planet LW and Audio Bridge two-way wireless loudpseaker system 88 BBC LS3/5A standmount loudspeaker (retro) GROUP TEST 46 Cable looms £128-£406 Cambridge Audio Azur 851D preamp 27 Black Rhodium Symphony Chrome/Twirl 56 2927 Black Ecosse Rhodium Monitor Audio NuDiva2.0 DCT/CS2.3 IV Symphony Chrome/Twirl Silver 8 floorstanding 3129 Ecosse In-akustik NuDiva2.0 DCT/CS2.3 loudspeaker Reference31 In-akustik NF-102/LS-502 NF-102/LS-502 33 QED QED Reference Audio 40/Signature CHOICE EXTRAS ReferenceRevelation Audio 40/Signature Revelation 35 Van Van Damme Damme LC-OFC Twin/2x6.00mm 105 Eltax LC-OFC37 van den Twin/2x6.00mm Hul The River/Clearwater Monitor III BT wireless speakers 37 Van den Hul 106 Arcam The River/Clearwater miniBlink Bluetooth DAC 50 109 Audio-Technica REL Serie S2 active sub-bass system AT-95E phono cartridge MINI TEST 110 Analogue Studio Headphone amp/DAC Cork and rubber turntable mat £167-£395 110 B.M.C. Audio PureUSB 1 cable 84 ADL X1 113 Lindy NCX-100 active noise 84 Fostex HP-A4 cancelling headphones 85 Korg 114 Mackenzie Hi Fi DS-DAC-100m VooDoo Audio Avatar powercord 85 Epiphany Acoustics 114 Maxell 60 EHP-O2D MXH-DBA700 earphones Elipson Planet LW and Audio Bridge Never miss an issue – turn to p20 for our latest subs offer AUGUST 2014 5 THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS… DANISH SPEAKER BRAND Dynaudio isn’t afraid to take its considerable experience to different Without markets, and has successfully managed to spread itself across domestic, pro and car audio businesses. We fi rst saw Dynaudio’s proprietary wireless tech in its Xeo 5 fl oorstanding models back in HFC wires 376, but a year on and the range has been updated with the two new Xeo models pictured here. Dynaudio introduces two new Unveiled at the Munich High End Xeo tech loudspeakers Show in May, the Xeo 4 standmount and Xeo 6 fl oorstanders are the PRICE: £1,550-£2,700 AVAILABLE: NOW company’s next-generation wireless CONTACT: 01353 721089 WEB: DYNAUDIO.COM audio speaker with high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz playback capability. Many of the elements that were successful on the original Xeo models have been carried over to the new models, plus additional refi nements to amplifi cation and DSP performance and a new interface control system on top of the cabinets to provide direct control without the need for the remote. Next-generation wireless speaker with high-resolution playback capability Styling has also been updated to refl ect the company’s Excite range of models, with low-profi le screws, smooth satin lacquer fi nishes in both black and white and magnetically attached speaker grilles. The fl oorstanders come with Dynaudio’s trademark plinth and extends the footprint to aid stability. With the new Xeo Hub (£225), the speaker can accommodate virtually any source component via its optical, coaxial and USB digital inputs – all claiming 24/96 support – as well as one pair of stereo RCAs and a mini- jack for analogue sources. It can transmit the audio signal wirelessly to the Xeo speakers up to a suggested maximum distance of 50m away without using any form of signal compression. An Ethernet connection is included for updates. Xeo Link (£135) allows for the addition of a subwoofer to the speaker system for example, and Xeo Extender (also priced at £135) increases the wireless transmission range between the Hub and the Xeo loudspeakers. Look out for our exclusive Xeo 6 review next issue. 6 AUGUST 2014 COMMENT APPLE BUYS BEATS Ever since the day when Steve Jobs shifted off this mortal coil, it’s been suggested that Apple has lost some of its magic. Though the US company may not have a charismatic figure at the helm like Jobs any more it’s still the same bunch of boff ins coming up with the goods behind the scenes, isn’t it? Whatever your opinion of what lies ahead for Apple, it’s diff icult not to find the decision to splash out the not insignificant sum of $3 billion for hip hop mogul Dr Dre’s Beats Music and Beats Electronics companies strange. While the headphones that seem to adorn everyone from teenagers waiting for the bus to celebrity sportsmen, musicians and the achingly hip are undoubtedly popular, are they really worth such a terrifyingly large sum of cash? While Dr Dre can’t quite believe his luck, the rest of the world are left wondering what the Cupertino company’s plan is. Commentators have suggested that the headphones are not what interest Apple, that it’s the music streaming service Beats Music.