Hi-Fi Choice July 2022

www.hifichoice.com Issue No. 490 July 2022 The big news is that CD sales just rose for the first time in 17 years in the US. According to data from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) orders for compact discs went from 31.6 million in 2020 to 46.6 million in 2021 – increasing by 47 percent. The last time sales of CDs were travelling northwards was way back in the early Noughties, the peak clocking nearly a billion discs shipping in the US in just one year. Streaming still accounts for the lion’s share of the music industry’s income in 2022, and the vinyl revival, despite the supply hiccups, continues apace. But CDs are back in business, the combination of their collectable physical presence, their handy size and their favourable…

PRICE: £300 EACH AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: ECLIPSE-TD.COM/UK JAPANESE COMPANY ECLIPSE has launched a new loudspeaker, the company’s first in seven years. The TD307MK3 is a compact, full-range standmount which replaces the TD307MK2 and features the same technologies as Eclipse’s more upmarket option. Boasting an integrated mounting bracket with angle adjustment, the new speaker enables wall or ceiling mounting and benefits from a 65mm full-range fibreglass drive unit upgrade (the first time fibreglass has been used in the TD307 series). The new driver is supported by a larger ‘repulsive’ neodymium main and sub-magnet system, which the company says delivers a wider frequency response, especially in the bass region: the TD307MK3 has a quoted 80Hz–25kHz range. Eclipse claims the fibreglass cone also benefits from greater speed, lower vibration, greater dynamics, a lower…

PRICE: £1,700 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: CAMBRIDGEAUDIO.COM BRITISH COMPANY CAMBRIDGE Audio has launched a new flagship turntable, the Alva TT V2 designed for spinning vinyl in a traditional hi-fi setup or wirelessly streaming to Bluetooth headphones, amps or speakers. The new vinyl spinner is an update of the Alva TT (HFC 453) and is a directdrive model with built-in switchable phono stage and aptX HD Bluetooth streaming. It retains the original Alva TT’s heavy aluminium top plate and polyoxymethylene (POM) platter, pre-installed Alva MC cartridge and the aptX HD Bluetooth that allows 24-bit/48kHz hi-res streaming. New features include an improved tonearm with detachable headshell (offering listeners an easy upgrade path), a switchable phono stage and the ability to toggle Bluetooth on/off as needed. The switchable phono stage – based on the…

PRICE: £270-£370 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: PROJECT-AUDIO.COM/EN HENLEYAUDIO.CO.UK PRO-JECT HAS INTRODUCED the E1, a true plug-and-play turntable in a trio of different variants. The standard E1 is designed to be connected directly to an external phono stage, while the E1 Phono has one built-in. And for those looking for wireless transmission, the E1 BT offers Bluetooth streaming built-in as well. The E1 range boasts electronically controlled playback speeds (33 and 45rpm), an 8.6in tonearm with aluminium tube and purpose-designed headshell, a pre-adjusted Ortofon OM 5E cartridge with elliptical stylus profile, a sub-platter drive system, an anti-resonant main platter made from strengthened ABS Polymer, a DC drive motor with damped mounting for added isolation, a wood main plinth mounted on anti-vibration feet, a turntable-ready RCA cable and a dust cover. The turntables…

PRICE: £800 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: HARMANKARDON.CO.UK HARMAN KARDON HAS launched its new Citation MultiBeam 1100 soundbar, featuring Dolby Atmos and MultiBeam. As the name suggests, it employs the MultiBeam technology alongside its 11 drivers, including two up-firing height channels, to deliver Dolby Atmos. Billed as: “A complete home entertainment system,” the HK Citation MultiBeam 1100 offers access to over 300 online music streaming services through AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM) and Chromecast built-in. According to the company it also boasts: “Intuitive controls, an HDMI eARC connection and automatic room calibration for unrivalled connectivity and seamless setup,” and features PureVoice technology with the centre channel designed with the intention of ensuring that: “speech is crystal clear at any volume.” The soundbar comes in Winter Gray or Classic Black real-wool fabric from…

PRICE: £350 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: BANG-OLUFSEN.COM/EN/GB BANG & OLUFSEN has unveiled the Beoplay EX, the latest addition to its wearable audio portfolio and, the company claims, its most versatile true-wireless earphone to date. Differing most notably from previous B&O earphones in its shape, a new stem-based design has been adopted and the housing of the earphone placed inside the ear is smaller than ever before. Bang & Olufsen says the new shape creates space for a 9.2mm driver, the biggest ever used for a true-wireless device by the brand. The company says this results in a significant upgrade in the power without compromising on comfort. “Listening can last all day, as Beoplay EX has up to 20 hours of total playtime including charging in the case and six hours of…