Articles and Reviews – page 6

The updated Chord Hugo TT2 digital-to-analog converter inherits the features of its predecessors but has received a noticeably more powerful decoding system (five times more than the original Hugo and twice as powerful as Hugo 2). Enclosed in a stylish compact case by John Franks made of milled aluminum, the device turned out to be very impressive on our test bench - throughout the review stage, we did not cease to be amazed by the capabilities of this little one.

Review: Michell Orbe SE – a turntable that takes us back to the golden era of sound

The first loudspeakers of the ProAc Response series made a splash in the Hi-Fi market at the end of the 20th century – compact speakers provided incredible panchy bass and mind-blowing dynamics. Today, the legendary series of the British company is still in service – we review the new ProAc Response DT8 speakers, which inherit all the family features of past generations of Response-series.

The Polish company LampizatOr and its head, Łukasz Fikus, are among those people who are changing the landscape of modern High End sound. The first digital-to-analog converter Atlantic 1 DAC was presented to the public five years ago, and today the company has significantly modernized the device – this is how LampizatOr Atlantic 3 TRP appeared.

When we talk about a High End R2R tape recorder, we remember the Studer A810. Although new machines from famous brands are gradually appearing on the market, no one can eclipse the glory of the hero. Today, a working device can be found on the second-hand market – and many private craftsmen and restoration companies guarantee decent service for the model.

The innovative integrated amplifier Devialet D-Premier was first presented at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, after the device earned a standing ovation from both the specialized press and audiophiles.

Gryphon Audio Designs is a company with an unquestionable reputation in the upper echelon audio market. The Danish company, which became a legend back in the 80s of the XX century, is still a trendsetter in the High End industry today - primarily in the field of amplification. Mephisto Stereo, one of the top models in the Gryphon's product line, reflects all the company's developments over its long history.

When it comes to High End acoustics, the first company that comes to mind is Wilson Audio, an American trendsetter in the field of high-quality sound reproduction that has repeatedly turned our ideas about how home speakers should sound upside down. Today, with the appearance of the Wilson Audio Sasha V model on the market, we can talk about it once again and can see a really gamechanger loudspeakers.

Just a few years ago, buying a digital-to-analog converter for two hundred dollars meant an inevitable compromise in sound quality. Devices at this price point could only be recommended for the most entry-level Hi-Fi systems. Fortunately, digital audio technology is advancing at the fastest pace of all - so today's market within this budget offers DACs that would have cost close to a thousand dollars five years ago. FiiO, Topping, SMSL, and other companies have truly transformed our understanding of what an entry-level DAC can deliver.

Engineers from Denmark (Purifi), the Netherlands (Hypex), and the USA (Orchard Audio, AGD Productions) have solved Class D's main problems - high-frequency distortion, heavy dependence on speaker impedance, and synthetic-sounding reproduction. In this analytical article, we break down the principles of digital amplification, describe the major modern Class D modules, and select the best among digital amplifiers priced from $89 to $6,500.

Last year, vinyl record sales in the US surpassed $1 billion for the first time since 1983 - and as a result, the market is now flooded not only with LPs but also with turntables. While the high-end segment remains fairly conservative, the budget turntable sector is absolutely bursting with options. Even a savvy audiophile could get lost in this abundance - but the good news is that for under $500 you can now find a unit that would have cost twice as much five years ago in terms of sound quality. Our editorial team has separated the wheat from the chaff and selected the best affordable turntables on the market today. That's right - years of refinement from brands like Rega, Pro-Ject, Audio-Technica, and U-Turn have paid off.