1 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig 2 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig This Issue REVIEWS 30. Pro-Ject Xpression Carbon UKX Turntable 37. KEF X300A Loudspeakers May 2014 Issue 5 41. PrimaLuna Prologue Premier www.hifipig.com Amplifier Telephone: +33 (0)2 97 23 70 78 E mail: [email protected] 46. Tellurium Q Ultra Black Siret - 488 244 898 00018 Interconnects REGULARS 49. MS Power Distribution Filter 5. Bird’s Eye View 7. Editorial 53. CLONES Audio Pre-amplifier and Monoblocks 10. Reader System Amplifier 18. Dealer System COMPETITION 24. Vintage Classics WIN an amptastic Mini 1 Amplifier 68. Behind the Brands worth £99 in our FREE Competition SUBSCRIBE TO HIFI PIGS FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK AND SIGNING UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER 3 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig Editorial 4 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig Bird’s Eye View It’s Munich Time Again! So, the whole Hifi universe is packing its bags and The public is becoming setting off to Munich this month, at least that’s what more and more curious it feels like…I’ve lost track of the number of people about where everything I’ve seen recently whose parting words have been they consume is from…be ‘see you in Munich’. that food or Hifi. Some brands already realize Here at Hifi Pig Towers we are VERY excited, we how important this is…look had a ball last year and are looking forward to this at Triangle and Focal or year’s show. It is a great opportunity to catch up Roksan. with old friends and to meet new ones….and of course to drink a few beers! There was a lot of Head-Fi Attention to detail, small or limited kit last year…I reckon there will be editions and a more artistic, design-led even more this year. For lots of reasons it is a growing market development process brings us products and needs to be catered to with that not only sound but look stunning and ‘proper’ products, otherwise a generation will be lost to the will often divide the market the same way clutches of Beats! as Marmite. I know in particular our very own Hifi Pig Teen correspondent is going to be snoofling this area with high interest. But the main thing is of course the Hifi. What’s new? What’s happening? Whose doing what????. So Innovations in more ‘green’ materials will be I thought I would take a little time to think about something to look out for. Bamboo, featured at what key trends we might see at High End Munich Josound, is becoming more evident as a replacement 2014. for traditional woods and it will be intriguing to see what other materials are coming to the fore. Now any one that knows me will know I like a bit of colour in my life! I expect colour to be a huge trend Home Hubs and system integration…making life at this year’s show. easier for people who want to watch a film with 2013 saw white loudspeakers everywhere. Some surround sound then play music in the brands like Amphion and Dali stood out with their kitchen…..then pick up their personal music player rainbow of colours and we are starting to see more and go out for a run or a drive. brands become braver with their palettes and break This is where the tech really starts to come into play away from the tradition of Black/silver and wooden and it will be interesting to see how different brands boxes. put their proposition forward for how we become more linked in with our approach to listening to Last year I commented that there were a lot of brands music and living our lives. This year we even have pushing the provenance of where their products are an expanded ‘High End on Wheels’ section. from. I don’t think this is a bad thing but what I don’t want Proudly displaying, ‘Made in Great Britain, France, to see is Munich to become a Tech or gadget show or Italy, Japan, USA’ just be filled with huge TVs. I expect to see this even more this year as more Hifi If done the right way then it will bring in more brands look to take stricter control of manufacturing people to the audiophile world, make it more quality by bringing the process back home. 5 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig Editorial ad 6 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig Editorial inclusive rather than all exclusive and rarefied…..we For me the quirky and the different is one of the most shall wait and see how it all pans out. exciting areas for me…..I want to be surprised and delighted…perhaps even horrified sometimes! As well as the big guys, Munich is a fabulous place to find smaller, Boutique brands. I can’t wait for the sleek and chic and the Attention to detail, small or limited editions and a unashamedly ‘manly’ …huge horns and gigantic more artistic, design-led development process brings valves, portable tech and headphones…think it might us products that not only sound but look stunning be kid in a sweetshop time! and will often divide the market the same way as Marmite. See you in Munich! Stu’s Views et another interesting month here at Hifi Pig Munich that takes place in a week or so. Linette is and it’s beginning to become a bit of a clearly very excited as you can read in her Bird’s Eye Yrecurring theme…which is nice. April saw View article, but so are the rest of the team who will us visit Bordeaux as the guests of French be attending. This year there’ll be three of us at the loudspeaker manufacturer Triangle where we heard show and we’ll be bringing all the news and photos some great kit in the most beautiful both on the site and in a special supplement to the surroundings…and there was some fabulous wine to magazine. We’ll be taking along our 16 year old son taste too. There’ll be a full write up in the next Harry who some will know from the articles and couple of months. reviews he’s written in the past for us. We think I tried my hand at DIY for the first time and built a having a young pair of eyes and ears at the show is pair of loudspeakers. OK, this is actually a bit of an vital. Young people are the future of this industry exaggeration if truth be known and I actually paid and it is at our peril that we ignore their musical someone to put a pair of cabinets together and help needs and aspirations…and speaking to pretty much fit the drivers…and the crossovers were already everyone out there they agree. built…so actually not really all that DIY at all really Of course all the high-end kit is going to be and more of a build by delegation. Again we’ll be absolutely great to see but what perhaps is of equal bringing you all the details in the next couple of interest is the newer companies looking to bring months about this build. fresh products to the market. One look at the Things are moving at a pace here with new people innovation that is taking place in the world of hifi joining the team and this month sees the first of and it becomes clear that we are on the cusp of an Grant Birch’s look at Vintage Classics with the industry that is about to move into a period of QUAD ESL 57 loudspeakers which are celecrating renewed growth and vigour. We certainly hope so. their 57th anniversary! As well as Munich we’ve also got the Cranage Hall Not only that but we’re in discussions to publish Hifi show on June 15th that Hifi Pig is media partners for. Pig Magazine in a different language too with new The event is pretty much full we hear and there are reviewers and content…watch this space. some great brands at the event and what’s better it’s However, the thing that is occupying all of our minds free – just register online here. at the moment is the forthcoming High-End show in 7 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig ad 8 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig ad Richard’s system neatly in place 9 Copyright © 2014 Hifi Pig Birth of a Life-LongReader Passion System French Hifi Pig reader Jen-Luc Sazio has a dedicated room for his kit. Here he tells us about his lifelong journey with music and some of the equipment he uses ’m 6 or 7 years old. I’m running around the table British people can get it), then to have the 2nd Iin the living room. channel, then colour television… My dad chases me. 52 years later, while listening to my system, I still He also attends some correspondence ‘radio remember this episode. courses’. Eurelec, rue Fernand Holweck, Dijon, 52 years later, this passion has never left me. How France. many DIY amps, often never finished (electronic is Every month, he receives a booklet about radio fine, but boxes…), with transistors or tubes, speaker theory, a manual and electronic components to build kits, a small collection of vintage devices (vinyl measurement material, little amps and an FM radio. decks, old radios…), loads of components. How It’s still the ‘valve’ era. many specialised magazines: Le Haut Parleur, Radio He eventually catches me and spanks me.