Hi-Fi Choice January 2022

There’s a battle raging in the pages of this issue. On the side of good there’s our regular pièce-de-résistance, the Group Test, a cluster of top-notch MC cartridges. Allied to this you’ll find our roundup of 22 of the most promising new albums coming your way in the first quarter of 2022 including Alicia Keys, The Cure and Guns N’ Roses. On the side of evil, and threatening to undo all this anticipated enjoyment, is a very real danger in the ominous guise of a breakdown in vinyl production. As detailed in Nigel Williamson’s Opinion (p89), a dastardly confederation of COVID, Brexit and climate change are conspiring to bring the manufacture, supply and distribution of our vinyl to its knees. It’s a drama that will keep you on the edge of your…

There’s a battle raging in the pages of this issue. On the side of good there’s our regular pièce-de-résistance, the Group Test, a cluster of top-notch MC cartridges. Allied to this you’ll find our roundup of 22 of the most promising new albums coming your way in the first quarter of 2022 including Alicia Keys, The Cure and Guns N’ Roses. On the side of evil, and threatening to undo all this anticipated enjoyment, is a very real danger in the ominous guise of a breakdown in vinyl production. As detailed in Nigel Williamson’s Opinion (p89), a dastardly confederation of COVID, Brexit and climate change are conspiring to bring the manufacture, supply and distribution of our vinyl to its knees. It’s a drama that will keep you on the edge…

PRICE: £700 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: BOWERSWILKINS.COM BOWERS & WILKINS has updated and relaunched its classic 2007 iPod dock, the Zeppelin. “Better-sounding, better-looking and smarter than ever,” according to the blurb. The company says the new Zeppelin has been re-imagined for the streaming age: “now both smarter and more flexible, while its high-resolution sound is more detailed and dynamic than ever”. Available in two finishes – one dark (midnight grey) and one light (pearl grey) – the Zeppelin now includes switchable, dimmable ambient lighting to create a ‘halo’ lighting effect onto its metal pedestal stand. A complete stereo system in one component, featuring dedicated left and right speaker assemblies around a central, large subwoofer, all powered by 240W of amplification, the Zeppelin’s premium components are mounted in an ultra-rigid, FEA-optimised enclosure…

PRICE: £700 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: BOWERSWILKINS.COM BOWERS & WILKINS has updated and relaunched its classic 2007 iPod dock, the Zeppelin. “Better-sounding, better-looking and smarter than ever,” according to the blurb. The company says the new Zeppelin has been re-imagined for the streaming age: “now both smarter and more flexible, while its high-resolution sound is more detailed and dynamic than ever”. Available in two finishes – one dark (midnight grey) and one light (pearl grey) – the Zeppelin now includes switchable, dimmable ambient lighting to create a ‘halo’ lighting effect onto its metal pedestal stand. A complete stereo system in one component, featuring dedicated left and right speaker assemblies around a central, large subwoofer, all powered by 240W of amplification, the Zeppelin’s premium components are mounted in an ultra-rigid, FEA-optimised enclosure that is…

PRICE: £1,500 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB:MOFI.COM KARMA-AV.CO.UK KARMA-AV IS INTRODUCING Mobile Fidelity’s UltraGold moving-coil phono cartridge to the UK. The cartridge unites the UltraGold MC’s nude shibata diamond profile stylus and boron cantilever with a neodymium magnet and permendur yoke, housed within an ultra-low resonance aluminium/brass extrusion with the intention of delivering: “palpable low-end energy, high transient responsiveness and compelling openness and transparency from vinyl”. In essence, the UltraGold MC exists to liberate the astonishing musical glory of Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recordings and other reference pressings. It’s precision crafted in Japan and the company explains that the UltraGold MC offers an: “exceptionally wide frequency response, tonal richness, lifelike separation and true-to-the-source faithfulness of a class-leading audiophile moving-coil design”. Claiming ease of installation in virtually any setup, the threaded cartridge body permits mounting to…

PRICE: £1,500 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB:MOFI.COM KARMA-AV.CO.UK KARMA-AV IS INTRODUCING Mobile Fidelity’s UltraGold moving-coil phono cartridge to the UK. The cartridge unites the UltraGold MC’s nude shibata diamond profile stylus and boron cantilever with a neodymium magnet and permendur yoke, housed within an ultra-low resonance aluminium/brass extrusion with the intention of delivering: “palpable low-end energy, high transient responsiveness and compelling openness and transparency from vinyl”. In essence, the UltraGold MC exists to liberate the astonishing musical glory of Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recordings and other reference pressings. It’s precision crafted in Japan and the company explains that the UltraGold MC offers an: “exceptionally wide frequency response, tonal richness, lifelike separation and true-to-the-source faithfulness of a class-leading audiophile moving-coil design”. Claiming ease of installation in virtually any setup, the threaded cartridge body…