Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i What Hi-Fi?

Far be it from me to tell you how to spend your money – especially in the current economic climate. There is, though – surely? – food for thought in Lord Darlington’s line from Lady Windermere’s Fan about a cynic being “a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing”. Oscar Wilde was pretty good at highlighting a fundamental truth with a pithy phrase; and – while he may have been coming at it from the other side of the argument, perhaps – it is something that comes to mind with this issue of What Hi-Fi? None of the products in this high-end special can be called a bargain; these are all high-ticket items that require serious investment. But the value that should be placed on…

View online review whf.cm/SU-R1000 At the high end, simplicity is usually king. Short, simple signal paths that use the minimum number of components are the way most manufacturers go when cutting-edge performance is required. Any improvement in sound usually comes through subtle tweaks to classic circuit layouts, obsessive construction techniques and improvements in component quality. While paying full attention to the engineering and construction, Technics has thrown away the rest of the high-end amplification design handbook here, and the result is one of the most technically ambitious products we have come across. Behind that clean, uncluttered exterior you will find a breathtaking range of proprietary technologies that use fresh thinking to crack the high-end amplification nut. This is a fully featured, 150W-per-channel integrated amplifier that comes with line-level, moving-magnet and…

View online review whf.cm/6SE_80S Audio Research was founded in 1970. At that point, transistors had already taken over the world of electronics, leaving valves to be seen as outmoded and old-fashioned. We respect the fact that the Minnesota-based brand stuck to its principles, believing that valves offered the best sound quality even when pretty much every competitor had long moved away from that technology. So here we are, half a century later, listening to one of the company’s fully valve-powered pre/power amplifier combos. And we approve. While we have long admired the company’s functional approach to aesthetics, we are still pleased it has found a way to update the appearance of its products to the point where they look almost stylish. The Ref 6SE preamplifier presents a clean and uncluttered face…

View online review whf.cm/ApexDAC Rossini’s 24-bit Ring DAC conversion technology has been at the core of the company’s digital components since its first audio product, the 900 ADC, in 1987. The DAC circuit is a fully discrete electronic design that runs custom software and claims to deliver class-leading performance. Over the years the Ring DAC design has seen steady improvements, particularly on the software side of things – and wherever possible, the company has commendably made these software upgrades available to existing owners for free. The Apex in this latest product’s name signifies a major overhaul of the circuit, including changes to the reference power supply that feeds the DAC circuitry, improvements to components and their layout, as well as revised software. The analogue board has been significantly upgraded too.…

The Mission 770 story starts with the BBC. The broadcast corporation’s famed engineering department did a great deal of research into speaker design during the 1960s. Spencer Hughes was one of the engineers working on the research projects, and he went on to found Spendor. Using the knowledge gained during his time with the Beeb, Hughes designed Spendor’s first product, the BC-1 loudspeaker, in 1969. This was a hugely influential design and set the template for what many still think of as the BBC (or British) sound. Let’s fast forward a few years. It is now 1977 and Farad Azima founds Mission. He, like many, admires the BC-1, but he also thinks it can be bettered. Azima points to weaknesses in the bass and the restrained presentation. The fruit of…

View online review whf.cm/SMEmodel60 This deck is an evolution of SME’s original flagship Model 30, first made in the early ’90s; one that follows the same engineering principles but takes advantage of modern production techniques and materials where desirable. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the SME 5A tonearm. This is an update of a long-running favourite that swaps the original’s tapered magnesium armtube with one that is machined from a block of high-tech polymer resin. In cross-section it looks like a curved-sided triangle, a shape SME has chosen in order to improve rigidity. The move to a well-damped material such as this resin is a bid to reduce armtube resonances to a minimum. Each of the Model 60’s corner towers houses a revised version of the SME’s distinctive…

View online review whf.cm/ClassicPhono It’s not that this Nagra’s sound doesn’t match that hefty price tag; it’s just a shame it puts this glorious piece of kit beyond the reach of many people who would appreciate it. Nagra’s products are rarely ostentatious, and here that signal meter, which shows the Classic Phono’s output level, is the only visual flourish of note. The rest of the fascia is as clean and uncluttered as we have come to expect from the Swiss company. There are a range of equalisation curves: the standard RIAA option, plus settings for Teldec and Columbia LP – so those with records from before the mid-’50s can hear them with the correct tonal balance. There is also a mono switch, and a toggle for adjusting gain. The Classic…

View online review whf.cm/ElectroMotionESLX Well, these Martin Logans are a bit different, aren’t they? The ElectroMotion ESL X is just the latest in a long line of the company’s hybrid speaker designs that marry an electrostatic panel with moving-coil drivers to handle the bass. The 102 x 22cm electrostatic panel covers everything from 400Hz upwards, leaving the dual 20cm bass drivers – housed in the angled box enclosure – to handle the lows. This allows the electrostatic panel to be slim and keeps the speaker’s footprint manageable, while still covering the full frequency range properly. The electrostatic panel fires as much sound forwards as it does backwards, so the positioning of the ESL X in the room, relative to the back wall, has a huge impact on performance. In our…

View online review whf.cm/JBL4349 Something of an a oddity in the world of high-end standmounters, JBL’s 4349 studio monitors are huge. At 74 x 45 x 34cm (hwd) they are pretty much the size of a small fridge. There is no denying the 4349 will dominate all but the largest of rooms. That massive frontage is put to good use, with enough space for a 30cm woofer, two large reflex ports and, most strikingly, a carefully shaped horn for the equally unusual treble drive unit. This tweeter is a world away from conventional dome designs. It is JBL’s D2415K dual-diaphragm compression driver, born of the D2 designs first developed for high SPL (Sound Pressure Level), high power PA use. At the heart of this unit is a pair of 38mm ring…

View online review whf.cm/MagicoA1 The A1’s brutalist black appearance implies a no-nonsense approach to engineering – one that strongly suggests performance is more of a priority than any cosmetic considerations. This is not a conventional design; the enclosure is made of 9.5mm-thick 6061-grade aluminium panels, further reinforced by strategic aluminium bracing. The result is a dense, solid 22kg speaker. The Magico A1 are a two-way design. Their 28mm beryllium-dome tweeter shares much with the high-frequency unit used in the company’s more upmarket M-Series but does without the ultra-expensive diamond coating. The carefully developed neodymium motor system is claimed to offer low distortion coupled with wide-ranging dynamics. High power handling is also said to be a strength. The A1’s 16.5cm mid/bass is also a distinctive unit, with a carbon fibre cone…

View online review whf.cm/StaxSRL700Mk2 Stax launched the world’s first electrostatic headphones in 1960, laying the foundation for a richly deserved and glittering reputation that continues to this day. There are two parts to this set-up: the SR-L700 Mk2 headphones, and the partnering SRM-700T energiser that drives them. You cannot use a conventional headphone amplifier with electrostatic headphones, as the voltages required are far higher than usual. These headphones are strictly for domestic use – their design is simply too large and cumbersome for portable use, and the need for an energiser means that mains power is a must. These headphones may not be discreet, but they are wonderfully comfortable. At just over 370g, these Stax are pretty lightweight for high-end headphones. And those bluff-looking rectangular earpieces fit our ears well,…

View online review whf.cm/PhonitorXE We love the way this thing looks. The nerd in us is drawn to all the control dials and the multitude of switches. We like the finish options too, like the bold red of our sample. But there’s also substance, from the solidly made casework to the robust feel of the controls. This is clearly a product designed to take heavy use over many years. The Phonitor xe is an analogue headphone amplifier. It has both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA line-level inputs and delivers the output through a four-pin XLR or a standard 6.3mm socket. On the base of the Phonitor xe is a pair of dipswitches. One of these increases the unit’s output level by +22dB, in case you are using particularly inefficient headphones;…

View online review whf.cm/SelektDSM_EH Linn’s Selekt DSM has far more sophistication and versatility than the term ‘music streamer’ suggests. This is a modular design that can be specified to the buyer’s performance and features wishes. Of course, this is also a high-end product, so it costs accordingly. The unit’s luxurious feel extends from its sturdy casework, made from beautifully machined thick aluminium panels, to the lovely looking, smooth and precise control dial on the top. There is a good range of embedded streaming services, while connection to your network can be done wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 or over our preferred wired ethernet option. Where the Selekt DSM veers off-piste from standard digital-based products of this type is in the inclusion of a stereo line-level analogue input as well as a…

BUYER’S GUIDE BEST BUYS The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBStereoAmps Stereo amps up to £500 Rega io £379 Best stereo amplifier under £400, Awards 2021 Those who are happy with a no-fuss, purely analogue amp and who prioritise entertainment should arguably consider the io their number one choice. Power 30W Inputs Line-in x2, MM Outputs Headphone NAD D 3020 V2 £399 September 2018 A likeable effort that features a full-bodied sonic performance with fine timing and dynamics and lots of useful features. Power 30W Inputs Line-in, MM, optical, coaxial, BT Outputs Headphone Marantz PM6007 £499 Best stereo amplifier under £500, Awards 2022 Clearer and punchier than its Award-winning predecessor, Marantz’s latest entry-level amplifier never puts the formidable 6000 Series dynasty in doubt. Power 45W Inputs Line-in x4, MM,…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSpeakers Standmounts up to £200 Dali Spektor 2 £199 Best standmount speaker under £200, Awards 2020 The 2s combine Dali’s traditional strengths with a generous dose of entertainment that even Mission and Q Acoustics struggle to match. Size (hwd) 17 x 28 x 28cm Bi-wire No Finishes 2 Standmounters from £200 to £500 Elac Debut B5.2 £250 Best standmount speaker under £300, Awards 2022 ELAC’s latest budget standmounter is talented enough to worry the established competition. Size (hwd) 34 x 18 x 23cm Bi-wire No Finishes 1 Dali Oberon 1 £349 February 2019 About the size of a shoe, these articulate and bold-sounding speakers have a wonderfully unfussy nature and are a joy to listen to. Size (hwd) 27 x 16 x 23cm Bi-wire No Finishes 4 KEF…

View offers whf.cm/BBTurntables £150 to £300 Pro-Ject Primary E £159 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2022 Pro-Ject has revised a budget deck to nail the under £150 market – and has succeeded on every front. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 11 x 42 x 33cm £150 to £300 Audio Technica AT-LP3 £199 Best turntable under £200, Awards 2017 A fully automatic turntable that doesn’t scrimp on performance, this is the ideal entry-level deck for those looking to dip their ‘vinyl toes’ in. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 13 x 44 x 35cm Rega Planar 1 £275 Best turntable £200-£500, Awards 2022 This revamped entry-level deck from Rega doesn’t sound anything like an entry-level deck. Pleasingly solid, accurate and agile – it’s a lovely listen. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Size (hwd) 12…

View offers whf.cm/BBHomeCinemaAmps £500 and above £500 to £2000 Denon AVR-X2800H £869 Best home cinema amplifier £1000-£2000, Awards 2022 The AVR-X2800H ups the ante with more HDMI 2.1 inputs, a new user-friendly interface and a more responsive, coherent and spacious sound. Power 7 x 95W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Sony TA-AN1000 £999 July 2023 Sony has delivered an AV amp that has reignited the same excitement that we felt with its last model, here with additional dynamics, scale and accuracy. Power 7 x 85W Dolby Atmos Yes HDMI in/out 6/2 Denon AVC-X3800H £1499 Best home cinema amplifier over £2000, Awards 2022 Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the AVC-X3800H’s updated feature spec and new and improved sound make it an excellent buy. Power 9 x 105W Dolby Atmos…

View offers whf.cm/BBSoundbars Up to £500 Yamaha YAS-207 £249 Best soundbar under £300, Awards 2020 The latest in a series of fine Yamaha soundbars, this is a compelling, class-leading performer in a practical, easy-to-use package. Size (hwd) 6 x 93 x 11cm Inputs Opt, HDMI, 3.5mm, BT Sub Yes Sonos Beam (Gen 2) £449 Best soundbar under £500, Awards 2022 A compact soundbar that pumps out an exceptional sound for its size and price. Now with Dolby Atmos capabilities. Impressive. Size (hwd) 7 x 65 x 10cm Inputs Optical, HDMI ARC, AirPlay Sub No £500 to £1000 Yamaha YSP-2700 £699 February 2017 With a spacious, involving sound the YSP-2700 is the most convincing surround experience you’ll get outside of a full 5.1 surround system. Size (hwd) 5 x 94 x…

View offers whf.cm/BBTelevisions Up to 43in Samsung UE43AU7100 £449 Best 40-43in TV, Awards 2021 Samsung’s miniature hero proves you don’t need a bottomless bank account or a cavernous room to enjoy great picture quality. Type LCD/LED HDMI 3 Resolution 4K ARC/eARC eARC LG OLED42C2 £999 Best 40-43in TV and Best gaming TV, Awards 2022 Simply put, this is the best 42in TV there has ever been. Partly that’s because it’s the first OLED of its size, with fabulous contrast, colours and punch. Type OLED HDMI 4 Resolution 4K Operating system webOS22 48in to 50in Philips 48OLED807 £1249 Best 48-50in TV, Awards 2022 On performance terms this is right up there with the very best in class, surpassing them in areas such as punch, sharpness and shadow detail. Type OLED HDMI…

1. First, the most popular headphone design: the over-the-ear model, also called circumaural. These cup your ears completely, usually with semi-air-tight earcups that help minimise both sound leakage from your headphones into the outside world and the intrusive effects of ambient noise. 2. Supra-aural or on-ear designs tend to be smaller and lighter than circumaural models and, as the name suggests, they sit on your ears rather than over them. Some listeners find them lighter and easier to wear for extended listening, but they do tend to allow in more sound from outside. 3. Available in both circumaural and supraaural types, closed-back headphones are the optimum choice for cutting out external sounds altogether. They’ll also deliver more bass weight than other headphone types, because the closed earcups prevent bass leakage.…

Music apps Spotify from free December 2016 Its accessibility, ease of use, huge catalogue and more mature music discovery are reasons why Spotify remains at the top of the pile. Sound quality Up to 320kbps Ogg Vorbis Offline playback Yes Tidal from £10/month Best music streaming service, Awards 2022 One of the few streaming services to offer lossless audio, Tidal’s exclusive content and curated playlists make it stand out. Sound quality Up to 1411kbps lossless Offline playback Yes Video apps Disney Plus from £7.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards 2022 This is a polished and personal streaming service that fans of Disney’s output, both children and adults, are bound to enjoy. Resolution Up to Ultra HD Offline playback Yes Amazon Prime Instant Video from £5.99/month Best video streaming service, Awards…

View offers whf.cm/BBAVHifiRacks Up to £500 Atacama Apollo Storm 6 £390 February 2018 Another class-leading support from Atacama that’s cheaper than its Award-winning sibling. It lets your kit perform at its best. Width 590mm Modular Yes Cable management No Hi-Fi Racks Omnium8 £478 Reviewed online, 2018 Hi-Fi Racks has made the Ominium8 about as flexible as possible. You can specify everything from finish to shelf spacing and upright shape. Width 57cm Modular Yes Cable management Yes £500 and above Atacama Elite Eco 12.0 £598 March 2013 Those looking for a strong support for AV and hi-fi that enables a fluid, authoritative presentation will like the performance this rack can offer. Width 1157mm Modular Yes Cable management Yes Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 SE £600 Best equipment rack, Awards 2022 The SE…

View offers whf.cm/BBCartridges Cartridges Goldring E3 £90 Best cartridge under £100, Awards 2022 This is a wonderfully balanced and entertaining moving magnet cartridge that will work well with a wide range of record players. Type MM Tracking weight 2.0g Sumiko Rainier £160 Best cartridge £100-£250, Awards 2022 This Sumiko is a little gem. Set it up with care and have a little patience, and you’ll find this to be one of the best performers anywhere near this price. Type MM Tracking weight 1.8-2.2g (2.0g recommended) Ortofon Quintet Blue £359 Best cartridge over £250, Awards 2022 Given a suitably capable system we have no doubt the Ortofon Quintet Blue will impress. It’s a well-balanced design with no obvious weaknesses. Type MC Tracking weight 2.3g…

View offers Phono stage | £220 | whf.cm/FonoMM5 Rega’s Fono MM has been our go-to recommendation for an affordable phono stage for more years than we care to remember. It is about as minimalist as such things get at this level, being a moving-magnet-only design with just the basic input and output connections. The company clearly doesn’t want to spoil a winning recipe, so the revisions for this new Mk5 version amount to a change of casework to match some of the brand’s newer products and… well that’s it. The internals have remained unchanged from the last generation, but given that it was a clear class leader maybe that is not such a bad thing. Respectable levels A gain of just over 41dB is more than enough for any price-compatible…

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Everyone loves to dream. Even if the things we are dreaming about are beyond our reach, there’s no harm in indulging in a little wish fulfilment from time to time. With that in mind, we are proud to present this round-up of our favourite premium hi-fi products in each of the nine categories listed below. These are all products that we have welcomed into our test-room over the past year or so; they represent a cream-of-the-crop cross section of the most impressive kit to have gone through our review process. This is no-compromise equipment made from the best materials by, for the most part, specialist companies who have the expertise, resources and enthusiasm to strive for excellence in their field. And achieve it. Of course, these beauties (and many of…

View online review whf.cm/MA8950 There is no denying that the MA8950 is something of a beast. While this amplifier sits broadly in the middle of the company’s integrated range, there is nothing remotely modest about it, from the vertebrae-straining 34kg weight to the generous 200 watts-per-channel claimed power output. This is about as well equipped a high-end integrated amplifier as we have seen. It has seven line-level inputs, one of which is balanced, dedicated phono inputs for both MM and MC cartridges, plus McIntosh’s highly specified DA2 digital module supports hi-res music files up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD512. There is a generous spread of digital inputs with two coaxials, two opticals, a USB Type B, an HDMI (ARC), and an MCT input for connection to a McIntosh SACD/CD transport.…

View online review whf.cm/Mimesis37SNG What do you get for all that money? The answer is carefully developed, beautifully built yet understated products that shoot for the stars and get way closer than most. The Mimesis 37S NextGen preamplifier is the brains of this pairing. It comes in two chunky boxes; one houses the sensitive audio circuits while the other is home to the hefty power supply. This divide-to-conquer approach is sensible given that power supplies have high current flow and can generate unwanted magnetic fields and plenty of vibration. Such things will tend to spoil all aspects of the unit’s sonic performance if left unchecked. This Goldmund preamp is a focused design aiming for the ultimate in performance, so the feature count is limited. Such features as headphone connectivity or a…

View online review whf.cm/SA-10 Marantz doesn’t often produce top-end disc players, but when it does they are usually done right. Notice we say disc rather than CD player, as the SA-10 also reads SACDs and DVD-ROMs. File compatibility from disc is impressive, from 24-bit/192kHz FLACs and DSD128 all the way to ALAC, AIFF and MP3s. Marantz’s own SACD-M3 transport was a considerable investment for the company, designed to read the music data off the disc as accurately as possible first time around. Marantz has taken the opportunity to revise the entire signal path and come up with a new digital-to-analogue section that incorporates elements of the single-bit conversion used in the past, but with new filtering techniques and up-conversion. Marantz has long been a master at getting the most out…

View online review whf.cm/DG_1S One of the most distinctive things about the original DG-1 deck was the flat arm, made this way to avoid the resonances of traditional metal tube designs. That basic shape remains in this ‘S’ update but the construction has moved from a triple-layered aluminium/polymer sandwich to one that uses two bonded pieces of a five-layered polymer. The signal wires are flexible PCB signal conductors that sit between the two polymer sections. Rather than use traditional metal bearings, Vertere has gone for a Kevlar thread for the vertical movement and nylon for the horizontal – the original design used nylon for both. There is additional adjustability now and greater consistency in the build. But the idea behind using the threads remains the same: to minimise friction and…

View online review whf.cm/EQ_500 Phono stages aren’t the most glamorous item in a hi-fi chain. But if you want to hear your cherished record player at its best, a good one is essential. We have heard few better than Luxman’s EQ-500. Luxman has built the EQ-500 into full-sized casework and packed it full of toggle switches, dials and signal-level meters. It is hard to think of a more feature-packed alternative, and the majority of these features are very useful too. There are switches to govern whether the unit sends out the signal balanced or single-ended, and its phase. Further toggles govern impedance (for moving-magnet cartridges only), high- and low-pass filtering, type (moving magnet, high- and low-output moving coil), stereo/mono switching and inputs. This phono stage has an usual two-stage gain…

View online review whf.cm/ES14N Founded in the early 1980s, Epos was a bit of an engineering maverick, refusing to follow many of the speaker design conventions of the day. Its two standmounters, the mid-range ES14 and cheaper ES11 sibling, delivered exceptional sound quality thanks to a raft of clever engineering solutions. These included ultra-simple crossover networks, highly developed mid/bass drivers designed to roll-off smoothly at the top of their operating range, and cleverly constructed cabinets. Like the original, the ES14N is a largish two-way standmounter. The two generations both have metal-dome tweeters, polypropylene mid/bass cones and are rear ported. Both driver units are fresh designs specifically for this speaker. The 18cm size of the injection-moulded polypropylene mid/bass unit still echoes that of the original, because it was felt that this…

View online review whf.cm/Duetto40th The Duetto 40th is the smallest model from the Triangle’s high-end Magellan range, but these stereo speakers still pack in a full dose of the company’s technologies. This is a two-way standmount design with a pair of front-mounted reflex ports to augment the speaker’s low-frequency output. A sensitivity of 88dB and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms (minimum 4.6 ohms) is pretty much par for the course. Look behind these conventional numbers and you will find something of a maverick design that offers a distinctive performance with plenty of charm. The tweeter is the ultimate expression of Triangle’s long-running love affair with horn-loaded designs. This is a distinctive and nicely engineered unit that seeks to improve efficiency, control dispersion and reduce distortion. The central pointy phase…

View online review whf.cm/805_D4 Despite being the baby of B&W’s 800 range, the D4 are no poor relation to their pricier siblings such as the mighty range-topping 801 D4 (£32,500), and pack in all the applicable engineering advancements enjoyed elsewhere. Most notably, this is the first time that the 805 model enjoys a ‘reverse wrap’ cabinet, where the front and side panels are formed by a single shaped piece of birch ply. This approach has advantages in stiffness and resonance control, both of which are also helped by the addition of a beautifully machined aluminium spine that also houses the high quality, low-order crossover network. The internal bracing, previously made of MDF, is now replaced by plywood that also benefits from strategic aluminium reinforcements, topped off with an aluminium casting…

View online review whf.cm/R6Arrete This R6 is the third Arreté model we have heard from the Danish brand and follows the similarly range-topping versions of the standmount R1 and compact floorstanding R3. Of course, there is more scale, authority and bass extension as the speakers get bigger, but in essence they all share a common sonic character, one that we have found hugely appealing over the years. The R6 Arreté packs six drive units in a 4½-way configuration. On the front baffle is the company’s best AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter. It features a coated mylar diaphragm driven by Neodymium magnets and is decoupled from the cabinet to maximise performance. Unusually, the tweeter is open from the back as well as the front, which helps give a more spacious presentation.…

View online review whf.cm/Utopia2022 How much? We are no strangers to high-end hi-fi, but even we had to take a second look at the new Focal Utopia headphones’ suggested price – just over 20 per cent more than the original model. Unfortunately, that’s the way things are at the moment. Get past the price, if you can, and you will find Focal has given its range-topping open-back headphones a gentle revamp. The most obvious changes are cosmetic. The grilles that cover the outside of the earcups now have a hexagonal pattern to more closely match the visual design of the company’s recent premium offerings, such as the Clear Mg. That hexagonal pattern isn’t just for show either; it is claimed to be more open than the previous version, so helping…

View online review whf.cm/MHA200 Mhe MHA200 headphone amplifier is a cute little thing. Its footprint is broadly that of a decently sized paperback, yet it still manages to pack in all the charm and presence we have come to expect from a McIntosh product. This is a mains-powered analogue headphone amp. You won’t find any fancy DAC tech or, heaven forbid, anything that resembles wireless streaming. And that’s fine with us, because the MHA200 remains a carefully considered product for those who want to make the most of their domestic wired headphones. There are valves at the heart of this unit – four in total – made up of a pair of 12AT7s in the driver stage and 12BH7As in the power stage. These run warm and are usually protected…

View online review whf.cm/ND555-555PSDR If you spend £17,500k on a music streamer, you would expect it to work straight out of the box. But the ND 555 doesn’t have a built-in power supply, so you will need to add at least one of the company’s 555 PS DR outboard power units. So what we really have here is a £26,000 music streamer. And you know what? We love it. Naim has been at the forefront of hi-fi streaming for years, having invested in the technology early, and has continued to pour resources into R&D to make sure it stays at the leading edge. The basic digital streaming module used here is essentially the same as that which first appeared in the revised Uniti range in 2017 and then filtered into…

View offers whf.cm/BBCDPlayers Up to £1000 Marantz CD6007 £399 Best CD player under £1000, Awards 2022 No one can accuse Marantz of pushing the boundaries on the CD6007, but it has taken an already excellent CD player and made it a bit better. Type CD transport Outputs Coaxial, optical Musical Fidelity M2sCD £699 June 2020 Musical Fidelity’s CD player sounds expansive, detailed and delicately layered - a resoundingly listenable proposition. Type CD player Outputs Coaxial, optical £1000 to £6000 Naim CD5si £1149 October 2014 The CD5si boasts a full-bodied, winningly enthusiastic approach to music. The absence of digital outputs means there’s no upgrade path. Type CD player Outputs Line-out, DIN Cyrus CDi £1195 Best CD player over £1000, Awards 2022 Cyrus says this player is its best-sounding yet, and after…

View offers whf.cm/BBMusicStreamers Up to £500 Audiolab 6000N Play £449 Best music streamer under £500, Awards 2020 A great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality. The best budget solution we’ve seen… Outputs Line-in, coaxial, optical, subwoofer Chord 2yu £449 November 2021 Partnered with a suitably capable digital-to-analogue converter, this could be all the digital source you’ll ever need. Outputs USB, coaxial, optical, BNC £500 to £1000 Bluesound Node (2021) £549 Best music streamer under £750, Awards 2022 For this outlay the Node 2021 represents one of the most entertaining and comprehensive ways of adding music streaming to your hi-fi system. Outputs RCA, coaxial, optical, subwoofer, 3.5mm Cambridge CXN V2 £799 Best music streamer £750-£1000, Awards 2022 All the success of the classy CXN streamer,…

Wall or in the open? Where’s the best place to position a speaker? Some speakers might sound better against a wall, while others prefer to be out in the open. Whatever your specific requirements, your speaker choice should primarily take into account how much space you have to house them. Use a stand Speaker stands keep the speaker cabinet rigid. This allows for more of the drivers’ movement to be translated into sound and not wasted through vibrations. If your stands are on a carpet, make sure you have spikes to ensure stability. Tweeter height The higher-frequency sounds from a tweeter are more directional, and having them at ear level ensures optimum performance. So try to choose stands that will have your speaker at the right height for your seating…

View offers whf.cm/BBWirelessSpeakers Up to £100 Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 £60 April 2023 It’s quite astonishing just how much you get out of this little speaker; an enthusiastic and capable performer at this ultra-budget price. Size (hwd) 10 x 10 x 4.3cm Battery 12 hours Apple HomePod Mini £99 Best home wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2022 It’s much smaller and more affordable than expected, but the most surprising thing about the HomePod Mini is its superb sound. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery No JBL Flip 6 £130 May 2022 Another resoundingly five-star product, with sonic upgrades in terms of clarity and breadth across the frequencies over its Award-winning forebear. Size (hwd) 17.8 x 6.8 x 7.2cm Battery 12 hours £100 to £250 Sonos One SL £149 March 2020…

View offers whf.cm/BBProjectors Up to £2000 BenQ W1800 £1099 Best projector under £1500, Awards 2022 BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values pays off handsomely. Throw ratio 1.13-1.46:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 Speakers Yes Epson EH-TW7100 £1599 Best projector £1500-£2000, Awards 2022 The Epson EH-TW7100 stretches the limit of what can be considered a budget big screen device, but it more than justifies its price. Throw ratio 1.32-2.15:1 Inputs HDMI x2, USB 2.0 x2 Speakers Yes £2000 to £15,000 LG CineBeam HU715Q £2645 Best ultra-short-throw projector, Awards 2022 LG’s sharp and contrasty image really sells this UST projector, making it one of the few models that you might seriously consider ditching your TV for. Screen size up…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerPackages Up to £1000 Wharfedale DX-2 £399 Best speaker package under £500, Awards 2022 Wharfedale delivers movie magic on a small scale with this enjoyable, well integrated package that’s perfect for smaller rooms and budgets. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 12 x 31 x 12cm Finishes 2 Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack £895 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2020 The subwoofer needs a bit more kick, but this fantastic sub-£1000 5.1 package delivers a clear, well-balanced and expressive performance. Size (hwd) Centre speaker 15 x 43 x 22 cm Finishes 4 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP £999 Best speaker package £500-£1000, Awards 2022 Large enough to provide cinematic scale with a wide soundfield, but affordable enough to be accessible, this is a fine choice for music and film. Size…

BUYER’S GUIDE BEST BUYS The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBHeadphones In-ears up to £250 SoundMagic E11C £50 Best wired in-ear headphones under £100, Awards 2022 The latest version of Soundmagic’s budget in-ears continues to impress with a full-bodied, energetic and informative sound. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd £69 April 2019 You’ll struggle to find a better pair of in-ear headphones costing less than £70 than these Beyerdynamics. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m Klipsch T5M Wired £70 Best wired in-ear headphones £50-£100, Awards 2021 Not only do they have some of the most comfortable tips around, but these T5M Wireds also show a maturity that’s rare at this price. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEi £70 Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2017…

View offers whf.cm/BBMobilePhones iOS Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Best smartphone over £500, Awards 2022 A solid upgrade to picture quality and a huge improvement to sound put the iPhone 14 Pro Max at the top of the smartphone AV charts. OS iOS 16 Size (hwd) 161 x 78 x 8mm Storage 128GB-1TB Android Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra June 2022 If you can deal with the average battery life, this is the new flagship Android phone to rule them all – and that’s before taking into account the new S Pen. OS Android Size (hwd) 163 x 78 x 9mm Storage 128GB-1TB Sony Xperia 1 V September 2023 This is a phone for AV enthusiasts. If you are serious about taking your movies and music on the go, you will…

View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £200 Amazon Fire 7 £60 Best tablet under £150, Awards 2022 The Amazon Fire 7 is an entry-level device with budget specs, but it gets plenty right and is far better than the price may suggest. OS modified Android Size (hwd) 137 x 193 x 11mm Storage 16 or 32GB £200 and above Apple iPad Air (5th gen) £569 Best tablet over £150, Awards 2022 The same picture and sound as before, but with vastly more power under the skin. All the iPad most people will ever need. OS iOS Size (hwd) 248 x 179 x 6mm Storage 64GB, 256GB…

View offers whf.cm/BBMainsProducts Mains products Tacima CS947 £35 September 2015 Great value, the highlight being how well it allows for greater detail, attack and dynamics. For the price, it’s a brilliant entry-level purchase. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6 Russ Andrews X6 £381 September 2015 No matter what the source material, the X6 helps unearth a revealing well-integrated listen, allowing your kit to be as explicit as it can be. Type Block Mains filter Yes No. of plugs 6…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerCables Up to £10/m Chord Company C-Screen £5/m June 2018 The C-Screen possesses the fantastic ability to mirror a system’s punch and drive. What it does, it does better than anything else at the price. Single or Bi-wire Single QED XT25 £6/m May 2018 Features the same characteristics as the more expensive XT40, displaying the kind of transparency that’s difficult for its rivals to match. Single or Bi-wire Single Atlas Equator 2.0 (2018) £7.25/m Reviewed online, 2018 A nicely built speaker cable that promotes a wonderfully clean and detailed delivery – it’s an affordable and easy way to spruce up your system. Single or Bi-wire Single £10/m and above QED Reference XT40i £11/m May 2020 If you’re looking to upgrade your system by investing in speaker cables this…

View offers whf.cm/BBSpeakerStands Speaker stands Atacama Moseco 6 £150 Best speaker stand, Awards 2022 A speaker stand that impresses with how weighty and dynamic it allows systems to sound. Considering the price, it’s something of a steal. Height 60cm Fillable Yes Finishes 4 (pole), 3 (base panel) Q Acoustics 20 speaker stands £200 September 2014 Designed with QAs’ Concept 20 speakers in mind, the clever construction and elegant design ensures other speakers give their best too. Height 66.5cm Fillable No Finishes 2 FOR A FULL LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND IN-DEPTH REVIEWS VISIT WHATHIFI.COM…

View online review whf.cm/LavardinITx We first came across Lavardin’s IT integrated amplifier back in the late ’90s. That original was a simple, low-powered unit that somehow contrived to deliver a musical performance so exquisite that the memory of it remains emblazoned in our minds to this very day. We have tested thousands of products since that review, but few of them have left such a marked impact on our collective psyche. Fast forward to the present day and on our test rack sits the latest version of the IT, the Lavardin ITx. It looks utterly familiar, despite a few things having changed in the intervening decades. Over the years the IT’s insides have been tweaked to improve performance; the main ingredient of the amplifier’s secret sauce has always been the…

View online review whf.cm/UltimaPre3_6 The Ultima Pre 3/Ultima 6 is Chord’s starter full-size stereo pre/power pairing. The Pre 3 is a pure line-level device with five standard inputs, two of which are balanced XLRs, plus a 3A/5 Volt USB type A power output on the back panel that can be used to feed external products such as Chord’s Hugo 2 or Qutest DACs. The Ultima 6 power amplifier is even simpler, with just balanced and single-ended inputs and a chunky set of speaker outputs. It’s a powerful unit though, and outputs a claimed 180 watts per channel. One of the cornerstones of Chord’s electronic designs has always been the use of ultra-high-frequency power supplies, rather than the usual big transformer/large smoothing capacitor configuration used by most rivals. Not only does…

View online review whf.cm/DA1000TX TAD has evolved from its 1970s origins as a Pioneer off-shoot into a respected high-end standalone manufacturer of speakers and electronics; and the DA1000TX digital-to-analogue converter is a fine example of its wares. Like many of TAD’s designs, it is an understated product, built and engineered with obsessive care. When we say understated, that doesn’t apply to its size. It is easily bigger than many premium power amplifiers and weighs in at a hefty 16.5kg. Make sure your hi-fi rack is strong enough to support it. The front panel is pleasingly uncluttered, and this focused simplicity-first approach extends to the way the unit operates. While most DAC rivals offer a multitude of filter settings and other adjustments to allow users to tweak performance, TAD offers nothing…

View online review whf.cm/CD9SE With its top-loading design, valve-powered output stage and mighty near-£20k price tag, the Reference CD9 SE is quite some statement. The Audio Research is a substantial unit, 13.5cm tall and a hefty 15kg. You will need enough space to be able to top-load a disc – and leave plenty of space around the player for ventilation; this thing runs hot. Before initial use, you will need to fit the full complement of valves. Don’t plug the unit into the mains until after this step is complete – there are highly dangerous electric currents flowing through the circuitry. Both the valves and locations are clearly marked so it’s hard to get it wrong. For the tube nerds out there, you will find four of the five 6H30s…

View online review whf.cm/Prime21Plus The Prime 21+ builds on the solid foundation laid by 2015’s Prime turntable with well-considered changes aimed at improving performance, ease of use and cosmetics. VPI’s changes have resulted in a smarter but more conventional deck. The tonearm is a 27cm, 3D-printed gimbal-bearing design that feels less fussy in use than its uni-pivot predecessor. It is easy to set up and the bearings feel smooth, though we could detect a small amount of play in its fore/aft movement. The 43mm-thick curvy plinth is made up of a 3mm aluminium top plate on an MDF base – the metal is intended to add rigidity and damping to the structure. The detached AC motor unit has also been tweaked. It still has the same substantial high-mass aluminium casework…

View online review whf.cm/100_Phono There are plenty of choices at ‘money no object’ levels, but few can match Burmester’s phono stage with its modular nature, feature list or sumptuous build. The base version of this unit can support a single turntable (with either a moving-magnet or moving-coil module) and pass the amplified signal through single-ended or balanced XLR outputs. For an optional extra outlay, the 100 can be equipped with a second phono module and an analogue-to-digital converter to add in to the mix, which lets you digitise and archive your vinyl. The 100’s front panel is pretty busy, but the signal level meter grabs our attention. This can be selected to show the output of each channel individually or mixed together. It’s not totally accurate – there’s the inertia of…

View online review whf.cm/AmatorII We are three decades on from the release of Sonus Faber’s first Minima Amators; but that feels like a mere blink of an eye, so faithfully have the company’s designers managed to echo the visual signature of those lovely originals. The cabinets grab our attention, of course, looking just like the beautiful curved creations of the past, with immaculately finished solid walnut panels complemented by a soft leather-covered front and back. The Minima Amator II also feature brass, as an inlay just above the cabinet base, for the rear panel plate around the nicely shaped speaker terminals, and for subtle branding on the front baffle. It’s not all for show. Those solid walnut panels combine with the cabinet’s compact dimensions – 325 x 200 x 275mm…

View online review whf.cm/ProAcK1 ProAc’s high-end K series has been in production for 13 years now. The speakers have evolved and been improved in that time, but until now they have always been floorstanders. The K1’s unusual plinth design echoes the design of the K series towers, and it takes a little acclimatisation when transferred to a standmounter. This arrangement allows for a downward-facing port and gives a known fixed boundary (the plinth) for the port to fire on, without which the speaker designer is left to guess at the available space between the port and any surface it fires onto, which naturally leads to less precise port tuning. A downward-firing port should also make the speakers a little less fussy about room placement. ProAc has gone for High Density…

View online review whf.cm/KEFR1Meta We first came across KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) a few years ago through the company’s updated LS50 Meta speakers. The MAT element sits at the rear of the tweeter and looks like an ice hockey puck inside which is a maze-like structure designed to absorb the sound that comes off the rear of the tweeter dome, so giving cleaner, less distorted results. Adding this to KEF’s trademark Uni-Q driver array – where the 25mm aluminium tweeter sits in the throat of the midrange unit – involved significant re-engineering, and the company took the opportunity to add a whole host of refinements to the array’s structure, motor system and geometry to eke out a better performance. This is a three-way standmount with a dedicated 16.5cm aluminium…

View online review whf.cm/ACT3Zero We are no strangers to Wilson Benesch’s speakers. We have reviewed and liked a number of them over the years, and in the late ’90s even used a pair of the original A.C.T. One in our main reference system. Those originals pioneered the use of curved speaker cabinets; the shape reduced the build-up of internal standing waves, but that wasn’t the most important part. A.C.T. (Advanced Composite Technology), meant the use of carbon fibre – a material that even today seems exotic in the context of a speaker cabinet. The A.C.T. One combined carbon fibre, metal and wood to produce a wonderfully elegant enclosure that was class-leading when it came to balancing rigidity, inertness and resonance control. Compared with the standard rectangular wooden boxes, this design…

View online review whf.cm/YH_5000SE Mention Yamaha and it is the Japanese brand’s enviable track record with home cinema amplifiers that comes to mind. The company is also a dominant force in musical instruments, motorcycles and more, but its smallish domestic headphone range tends to get overlooked. It seems Yamaha is determined to change that with the introduction of the range-topping YH-5000SE. The YH-5000SE uses an orthodynamic driver, an older term for planar magnetic, where the diaphragm is etched with a voice coil and sits between opposing magnets. This arrangement has advantages compared with a conventional moving-coil driver as it has the potential for lower distortion because the diaphragm is driven over more of its surface area, and greater responsiveness thanks to its lower weight. The driver used here differs from…

View online review whf.cm/MelcoN10 Melco likes to call its N10/2 a ‘Music Library’, which is a pretty good description. Simply put, it is digital storage – 3.84TB worth of SSD (Solid State Drive) in the case of the N10/2-S38 we have on test here. That’s enough for nearly 6000 CDs, though hi-res recordings will take up more space. The N10/2 comes in two parts: the main unit and a separate outboard power supply. It is always a good idea to keep an electrically noisy circuit such as a power supply with large currents flowing through it away from more sensitive audio sections, purely for sound quality reasons. The main unit is a simple, uncluttered affair with just four control buttons and a rather small display on the front. Melco has…

view offers whf.cm/BBDACs Up to £300 Zorloo Ztella $99 August 2020 (issue 437) If you want to improve your smartphone sound, but don’t want a USB stick hanging off the end of it, this is a bit of a no brainer. Online only for now. Size 11cm long Resolution PCM (up to 384kHz), DSD (up to 5.6MHz), MQA Cyrus soundKey £99 Best DAC under £100, Awards 2020 An affordable, compact DAC that turns mobile listening into an authentic high-fidelity experience. iOS users may find connectivity a little inelegant. Size 2 x 5 x 1cm Resolution 24-bit/96kHz iFi Zen DAC V2 £159 Best DAC under £200, Awards 2022 A good jump in quality over the Award-winning original, to keep features and performance best in class – and for not much extra…

View offers whf.cm/BBInternetRadios View offers whf.cm/BBDABRadios Up to £200 Roberts Stream 94L £200 Best radio under £200, Awards 2022 The updated Stream 94L radio remains a firm favourite, with its extensive playback options, unfussy nature and hugely enjoyable sound. Battery Optional Size (hwd) 25 x 17 x 13cm Inputs 3.5mm, USB, BT, wi-fi Tivoli Model One Digital Generation 2 £299 Best radio over £200, Awards 2022 We really enjoy Tivoli’s winning little box of tricks. Old-school radio feels and modern AirPlay 2 and Chromecast; it scores consistently high marks. Battery No Size (hwd) 11.5 x 22.2 x 14cm Inputs Aux in, BT, Apple AirPlay £200 and above Revo SuperConnect Stereo £489 August 2023 Revo’s long-awaited sequel to the original 2014 model has been worth the wait; it is easy to…

View offers whf.cm/BBHifiSystems Up to £500 Pro-Ject Juke Box E £369 Best turntable system, Awards 2019 An impressive all-in-one system with a level of functionality that’s difficult to replicate in individual separates for a similar price. Speed 33⅓, 45rpm Inputs Line-in, BT Outputs Line-out Denon D-M41DAB £329 Best microsystem, Awards 2022 Denon hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s managed to better the M40, delivering improved sound and functionality. The best just got better. Inputs CD, line-in, optical x2, BT, DAB/FM Outputs Subwoofer Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 £499 February 2023 We are big fans of systems such as this. They are neat, well-featured and the best of the breed represent excellent value. This is one of them. Inputs USB, line-in/phono, opt, Bluetooth, HDMI (ARC) Outputs Subwoofer £500 to £1500 Marantz PM7000N…

BUYER’S GUIDE BEST BUYS The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBBlurayPlayers Up to £500 Panasonic DP-UB150EB £129 March 2020 A highly competent machine at an impressively low price, this 4K Blu-ray player represents a big step up from streaming your UHD content. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD HDMI out 1 Sony UBP-X700 £199 Best 4K Blu-ray player under £250, Awards 2021 This 4K player delivers a stunningly natural picture for an affordable price. It’ll be tough to knock this Sony off its perch. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD HDMI out 2 Panasonic DP-UB820EB £299 Best 4K Blu-ray player, Awards 2022 Delivers on multiple fronts, supporting all major HDR formats, delivering a hugely immersive and impactful picture, and all backed up by strong audio. Compatibility 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray,…

View offers whf.cm/BBSetTopBoxes PVRs Humax FVP-5000T from £179 Best PVR, Awards 2022 If you need a Full HD box to give your older TV some more sparkle, Humax’s digital box should absolutely be something to consider. Tuners 3 Storage 500GB Ultra HD No Subscription boxes Sky Q 2TB from £199 Best subscription box, Awards 2022 Sky has overhauled its TV package with Q and made it more enticing and versatile thanks to 4K support, but it comes with a high price tag. Tuners 4 Storage 2TB Ultra HD Yes…

View offers whf.cm/BBVideoStreamers Up to £100 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £50 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2020 Despite some caveats, this 4K device supports all HDR formats and delivers excellent picture quality for a very affordable price. Resolution 2160p, 1080p, 720p Storage 8GB 4K Yes Google Chromecast with Google TV £60 Best video streamer under £100, Awards 2022 With a new remote and super-smart UI, Google’s latest Chromecast video streamer is the complete package. Resolution Up to 4K HDR, 60fps Storage n/a 4K Yes £100 and above Apple TV 4K £169 Best video streamer over £100, Awards 2022 It has a fantastic UI and design, a huge library of 4K HDR content, and the best picture and sound performance at any price. Siri is useful, too. Resolution 2160p,…

 View offers whf.cm/BBPortableMusicPlayers Up to £1000 Sony NW-A55L £160 Best portable music player under £250, Awards 2020 Sony hasn’t carried out an update for the sake of it; the refresh is justified by squeezing more performance into a budget price than ever before. Hi-res 32-bit/384kHz, DSD Weight 99g Storage 16GB (plus microSD) Cowon Plenue D3 £279 Best portable music player under £500, Awards 2021 This is a talented player that betters its previous generation counterpart for detail, separation and transparency. An impressive, tiny box of tricks… Hi-res 24-bit/192kHz, DSD 128 Weight 103g Storage 64GB Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 £799 September 2023 The A&norma SR35 may not exactly be dressed for its not-insignificant price, but there’s no uncertainty over whether it performs to it. Hi-res 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256, MQA Weight 184g…

BUYER’S GUIDE BEST BUYS The only products worth considering View offers whf.cm/BBAudioCables Up to £50 Chord Company C-Line £63/m Best analogue interconnect under £100, Awards 2022 Few entry-level interconnects at the price come close to offering the sonic enjoyment that Chord has produced with this cable. Balanced/Single-ended Single QED Performance Audio 40 £40/m Best analogue interconnect under £50, Awards 2017 Few rival interconnects are as good as this QED when it comes to detail resolution and precision. It’s nicely made too. Balanced/Single-ended Single £50 and above Chord Clearway Analogue RCA £125/m Best analogue interconnect over £100, Awards 2022 If you’re spending cash on hi-fi components and you want cabling that doesn’t inhibit performance, the Clearway may be the ideal pick. Balanced/Single-ended Single…

View offers whf.cm/BBPhonoAmps Up to £200 Edwards Audio Apprentice MM £90 Awards 2017 A fine entry-level phono stage that will deliver a crisp and exciting sound from any good price-compatible moving magnet cartridge. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 16 x 11cm Up to £200 Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Communicator £180 July 2018 A gem of a phono amplifier that has stood the test of time. It offers class-leading levels of detail, brilliant timing and a sweet sound. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 12 x 19cm Rega Fono MM MK3 £199 Best phono stage under £100-£300, Awards 2021 Rega has managed to take a near-perfect product and squeeze more improvements from it. It’s a class-leading performer. Type MM Dimensions (hwd) 5 x 18 x 14cm Musical Fidelity LX2-LPS…

May we suggest a music documentary might be in order for this weekend’s viewing? There are plenty to be found across Prime Video, Disney+ and Netflix; here are nine of our favourites. SUMMER OF SOUL DISNEY PLUS Ahmir K. Thompson, known professionally as The Roots’ drummer/band leader Questlove, won an Oscar and a BAFTA for this eye-opening directorial debut. Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) follows the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which despite huge crowds and performances from Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and Sly and the Family Stone, has largely flown under the radar of music history. The archive footage and joyous performances are the stars, but the social and political context and commentary proves just as fascinating. INVENTING DAVID GEFFEN NETFLIX Music…