Hi Fi News September 2019

SHUNYATA RESEARCH: US PATENTS Method to reduce distortion in an audio cable using ferroelectric substances. Patent Number: US 6,545,213 Method to eliminate RFI, EMI and other interference in a power supply. Patent Number: US 7,196,892 Power conditioner that actively corrects A.C. line harmonic distortion. Patent Number: US 7,256,638 Cable elevator that neutralizes static electric interference. Patent Number: US 7,694,917 Device that reduces AC power line noise using ferroelectric substances. Patent Number: US 8,658,892 Method to reduce dielectric distortion in signal transmission cables. Patent Number: US 8,912,436 Method to improve instantaneous current delivery in an AC to DC power supply. Patent Number: 10,031,536 Distributed in The UK and Ireland by The Shunyata Distribution Company Guillaume Boyer // t. 0330 223 3769 // shunyata-uk.com…

Major Tom may not have walked on the moon, but he does share his anniversary with the Apollo 11 mission and the late, great Neil Armstrong. In July 1969 as the Saturn V rocket roared out of our atmosphere on the first stage of that half million mile round trip, back on terra firma David Bowie’s first hit single, ‘Space Oddity’, was released to a newly astronomically-savvy audience. Both left an indelible mark on a generation – so 50 years on, not only are we celebrating the achievement of the Apollo 11 mission but we can also indulge ourselves with a special 7in anniversary EP box set of the iconic Space Oddity. One EP carries the original mono mixes, with ‘Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud’ on the B side, while the other…

BARRY FOX Investigative journalist supreme, Barry is the first with news of the latest developments in hi-fi and music technologies DAVID PRICE An avid collector of audio treasures, and life-long hi-fi addict, DP lends his ears and experience from analogue to digital KEN KESSLER is a long-serving contributor, luxury goods writer and champion for the renaissance in valves and ‘vintage hi-fi’ KEITH HOWARD has written about hi-fi for 40 years, and edited Hi-Fi Answers for nine. KH performs our speaker and headphone lab tests STEVE HARRIS Former Editor of this very title from 1986 through to 2005. A lifetime in audio and a love of jazz makes Steve a goldmine ANDREW EVERARD has reviewed hi-fi for over 30 years and is still effortlessly enthusiastic about new technology, kit and discovering new music STEVE SUTHERLAND worked on Melody Maker and then edited NME from…

Priced at £4500, the latest turntable from Luxman – the PD-151 – hardly rates as entry-level but undercuts the current PD-171A [HFN Dec’13] by a significant £1000. Belt-driven and with an integral S-shaped pick-up arm, the PD-151 claims effective isolation from external vibration thanks to an underslung suspension system beneath its 10mm aluminium top plate. Drive is from a newly-developed brushless DC motor which provides three-speed operation (33.3/45/78rpm), with fine adjustment on each. Speed selection and trimming are effected via rotary controls on the front face of the plinth, leaving the top plate entirely control-free but for the cueing lever of the statically-balanced Jelco pick-up arm. The latter features a detachable magnesium headshell for easy cartridge swapping while overhang adjustment is via slots for the cartridge mounting bolts. Weighing 4kg,…

Naim Audio has made what it claims are significant performance upgrades to its Nait XS and Supernait to create the £2199 Nait XS3 and £3499 Supernait 3 integrated amplifiers. One of the most important changes is that both models now include MM phono inputs comprising three stages – gain, passive EQ and gain/active EQ – which incorporate an LF response that falls between the classic RIAA and IEC replay curves. This, says Naim, combines good bass extension with sufficient attenuation of infra-bass warp and ripple signals to prevent midrange intermodulation issues. The EQ capacitors are all through-hole types to ensure resistance to microphony. Other key features are Class A headphone amplifiers, Alps Blue Velvet potentiometers for volume control, reed relay input switching, larger toroidal mains transformers and a Naim Discrete…

STREAMING ATLAS Audio cable specialist Atlas Cables has launched three new Cat6-bandwidth streaming cables: Equator, Hyper and Mavros Grun. All three feature solid OFC conductors and polyethylene insulation – solid in the Equator but foamed in the two costlier cables. Mavros is compatible with Atlas’s Grun earthing system. Prices range from £82.50 through £160 to £485 for the shortest 0.75m lengths, rising to £125/£245/£655, respectively, for the longest 5m cables. www.atlascables.com BRAUN AUDIO After a 28 year absence from the hi-fi market, German electronics manufacturer Braun is to start selling audio equipment again later this year, beginning with updated versions of its slim LE loudspeakers introduced in 1959. Details and prices have yet to be announced but the reborn LE range will be unveiled at IFA Berlin in early September. www.braun.com…