Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 543 - 2025 i Australian HiFi

Yamaha unleashed the world's first soundbar back in 2005 with the YSP-1, an innovative piece of home cinema equipment that, at the time, was a whole new concept. 20 years later, the Japanese audio brand has launched its latest model, the True X Surround 90A. It's set to maximise cinematic scale and immersion, backed by over two decades of expertise and development – Yamaha says that this soundbar has been years in the making. It follows on from the True X lineup, which launched back in 2023, and which included the Bar 50A, Bar 40A and SW-X100A subwoofer, and the nifty True X Speaker X1A wireless surrounds, which could also be used as individual Bluetooth speakers. Jez Ford reviewed the True X Soundbar System for our sister mag, Sound +…

Following its first foray into soundbars recently, British hi-fi brand KEF is now taking aim at the more cost-friendly end of the powered speaker market with the Coda W. While the brand clearly has the know-how when it comes to wireless speaker systems thanks to the likes of the LS50 Wireless II and LSX II, this latest system builds on KEF's long-running Coda range, which started life in the 1970s and made hi-fi sound more accessible. Clearly we're not in the 1970s anymore, and as such the Coda W is packed with all the modern smarts a budding hi-fi enthusiast could wish for, while also recognising the Coda range's illustrious heritage. Key to what could make the Coda W a success is a dedicated phono input that instantly makes the…

French audio brand Triangle has announced the Capella 2, an updated version of its Triangle Capella wireless active speaker system that debuted in 2024, which arrived with the aim to outmuscle similarly premium systems from the likes of KEF and Sonus faber. The first major change for this second-gen system is a revamped Stereo Hub 2 network player, which now includes native support for Spotify Connect Lossless and Tidal Connect, both of which were conspicuously absent from the first-generation system at launch. The hub also gains an ethernet port for more stable and responsive network connections, along with the existing Wi-Fi connectivity for those who'd rather do away with more cables. Another notable addition is a dedicated subwoofer output, adjustable via Triangle's Capella app, allowing users to add low-frequency reinforcement…

Superb sound Insane build quality and looks HEOS ecosystem • Nothing of significance $19,000 Marantz is a unique audio brand because although it's been owned by multiple different owners (and companies) during its 70-year history, it's always taken pride of place in those companies' as a premium ‘flagship’ brand, even if those companies had other brands in their stables. At the time of going to press, Marantz is in the process of being purchased by US-based Harman International, which is itself a subsidiary of Samsung, but it appears that despite the new ownership, Marantz's premium products will continue to be built entirely in Japan, at a dedicated production facility located in Shirakawa approximately 185 kilometres northeast of Tokyo. This facility (Shirakawa Audio Works) has been building Marantz's reference-line products since…

Sonic purity Super-quiet Stereo imaging Mono mode Mains power switch Unusual shape $10,300 The external design of the Wattson Audio Madison Power Amplifier is so unique, as you can see from the photograph above, that it really only makes sense that you partner it with Wattson Audio's preamplifier. Although if you do, you'll discover that the dimensions of the two components are different and, as a result, some of the design elements, such as the three grooves etched in the top surface, do not align with each other. For the purpose of this review, however, we will just be looking at the Madison as a stand-alone component. THE EQUIPMENT Before we can start the review at all, however, we need to get some housekeeping out of the way, because if…

Danish loudspeaker maker Dali has announced a new affordable range of bookshelf speakers called Kupid. While the company's longstanding speaker ranges, such as Rubicon, Rubikore and Epikore adopt more conventional aesthetics, the Kupid arrives in a range of eye-catching colours. That includes the affectionately named Golden Yellow, Chilly Blue, Black Ash, Walnut and Caramel White, and at $599 a pair, Dali is aiming Kupid at a younger audience looking to take their first steps into hi-fi. Despite the affordable price tag, Dali says Kupid is a “compact, high-performance loudspeaker that delivers true hi-fi sound”. Indeed, the Danish outfit says Kupid shares much of the same DNA as its flagship speakers, with a keen focus on “precision, performance and musicality”. Krestian Pedersen, Dali's Head of Product Management, adds that the company…

Vivid Audio has announced a third generation of its iconic Giya loudspeakers — the Giya Cu. Comprising four models — the G4 Cu, G3 Cu, G2 Cu and G1S Cu — the new units mark an evolution of the Giya series, maintaining the instantly recognisable aesthetic, but seeing its enclosure updated to be lighter, stiffer and smoother in the pursuit of improved sound. As the name implies, the headline feature in the Giya Cu speaker series is the use of copper as a material — Cu is the periodic symbol for copper — which is used for the copper-capped upper and lower midrange drivers, which were first developed for the mammoth Moya M1 flagship. Vivid Audio says the use of copper caps “lowers the 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion, the…

High-end Swiss audio manufacturer Nagra has officially launched its Compact series of components in Australia, following an international release in 2024. The four-strong Compact range has been designed and priced to be more accessible than many of Nagra's other products, which can cost upwards of $20,000 and often well into six figures. They are the Streamer ($7,995), Compact Phono ($7,995), Compact PSU ($5,795) and Compact VFS, a scaled-down version of the company's VFS acoustic isolation base, at $2,195. The Streamer is Nagra's first and was first shown off at High End Munich last year. It supports Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify in their Connect guises, is Roon Ready and Roon Tested, works with Audirvana and supports AirPlay 2 and streaming from networked servers. The Compact Phono, meanwhile, draws upon Nagra's expertise…

Who would have thought that when the Acoustic Energy AE1 bookshelf speakers launched back in 1987, they would become one of the debut products that defined hi-fi history. They're regarded in such high esteem that Acoustic Energy is bringing the compact boxes back with its AE1 40th Anniversary Edition model, which is a “reimagined version” aiming to bring together a classic design with modern engineering, “while preserving the sonic character that made the original a legend”. “We had to examine where we could improve upon the original while retaining the character which made it such a big hit for decades. The AE1 40th is a faithful evolution, not a simple reissue,” says Mat Spandl, Managing Director. Obviously, Acoustic Energy couldn't just build the new model using old components, but it…

French audio manufacturer Advance Paris is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the arrival of its Apex series, a premium range of amplifiers and hi-fi components designed to bring together a potent blend of “form, function and value”. The new range comprises four models: the A8 Apex, A10 Apex and A12 Apex integrated amplifiers, as well as the ACD Apex CD player. Each amplifier in the range uses Advance Paris's hybrid valve and transistor topology, aiming to deliver “precise dynamics, clarity, and detail”. The Apex amps introduce upgrades over the brand's more affordable Classic range, including lower noise power supplies, ESS Technology voltage regulators, and premium components such as resistors and capacitors. The A8 Apex and A10 Apex deploy a ESS9018 DAC, while the flagship A12 Apex goes a step further…

Solid sound, great build Bluetooth, cable and USB-C playback Good app options and controls Safe for your hair! • Bass needs taming $349 Beyerdynamic has a well-priced new pair of wireless noise-cancellers for its Aventho range: the Aventho 100 at $349. These are closed on-ear designs, as opposed to over-ear designs (the over-ear Aventho 300s are currently selling at $584), although on-ears are relatively rare in the commute-and-travel noise-cancelling market. This may be because some consider over-ears to be better able to form a reliable seal around the ears, something essential to effective noise cancelling. But the best on-ears can do the job well, and they have a particular bonus for some people — because they don't mess up your hair. NEW CANS, NEW OWNERS These are interesting times at…

12-inch tonearm Silent operation Speed stability Lacks dustcover Only two speeds $18,999 Is a longer one better than a shorter one? That question has been divisive since the beginning of time. But when it comes to tonearms, absolutely no debate is necessary, because longer tonearms give far superior sonic results to shorter ones. And although E.A.T.'s F-Dur incorporates a great deal of technology that puts it into the very highest echelons of vinyl-spinners — no doubt partly responsible for it currently holding the honour of being named by the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) as ‘Best Product of the Year’ in the Premium Turntable category, the feature that to my mind most sets it apart from the crowd is that it is fitted with E.A.T.'s F-Note 304.8mm (12-inch) tonearm,…

Danish audio brand Jamo has been a little quiet of late, but is forging a return, spearheaded by the new C707PA MKII active speakers, the first release of a refreshed C700 series. Hoping to make Jamo's return a success is Audacity Australia, which has exclusive distribution rights. As with previous releases from the company, this new bookshelf model is just as much about design as it is about substance. Of course, your options aren't exactly limited in the compact active speaker space in 2025 — just take a look at the Elac Debut ConneX DCB61 featured in our previous issue (#542, page 6) — so what is it about the Jamo C707PA MKII that deserves your attention? Firstly, it uses the brand's own Hybrid Composition Conical Cone (HCCC) driver, which…

Providing yet more proof that CDs are still a long way off surrendering to the convenience of streaming, Japanese brand Luxman has introduced the high-end D-03R CD player. The new model replaces the D-03X and rather than adopting just a new name and a couple of iterative upgrades, the D-03R actually represents a rather thorough redesign. Aesthetically, there's little to separate the two models; it's under the hood where the changes have been made. Perhaps the headline change is the replacement of the Texas Instruments DAC chips with dual ROHM BD34352EKV chips, which operate in a fully balanced dual-mono configuration. Luxman says this upgrade results in a “leap in resolution and musicality”. To further help ensure your prized CD collection can sound its best — the D-03R supports MQA-CD and…

Pro-Ject has announced the launch of two new phono stages, the compact Pro-Ject Tube Box E and the balanced Tube Box S3 B. Let's start with the more premium of the two. The Tube Box S3 B is a valve-based balanced phono stage that seeks to blend high-end technologies with an extensive range of connection options housed within a compact design, with Pro-Ject promising a model which “raises the bar in the premium analogue market”. Central to the new unit is its symmetrical discrete gain stage which, when coupled with a balanced-ready turntable, maintains a balanced signal path for reducing noise and preserving musical detail. The Tube Box S3 B offers a wide array of gain options from 40–65dB, meaning it can cope with moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.…

Following an announcement in May, Samsung-owned Harman has finalised its deal to acquire some of the biggest names in hi-fi. It has taken over Masimo's Sound United stable of brands, which encompasses Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, HEOS and Boston Acoustics. The deal gives Harman – which has been owned by Samsung Electronics since 2016 – quite the catalogue of brands in its stable, as it already owns Arcam, AKG, JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel. As a result, Harman has an even broader spread of devices across all sorts of audio categories, including home audio, electronics, headphones and in-car audio. “Harman's vision is to create experiences that enrich people's lives through exceptional audio experiences,” said Dave Rogers, president of Harman's Lifestyle Division. “Sound United's impressive…

Unrivalled video and sound quality Attractive and intuitive interface Content from the Movie Store is affordable Limited onboard storage Australian Movie Store not as populated at present $5,299 Kaleidescape is a Californian company that's been at the forefront of digital home movies since 2001. While its brand name is likely known predominantly in the custom-install market for those with the space (and budget) for dedicated home theatres, I was pleasantly surprised by just how well a movie player can fit into a more conventional home system. You may not have heard of the company before — it hasn't officially had a presence Down Under until this year, although it's previously been possible to import players and servers from the US, even without offical support. Fortunately that's all changed, as Melbourne-based…

Streaming amplifiers are always a compromise. They have to combine amplification, DAC, preamp, multiple wireless streaming protocols and support for dozens of different music apps – all in one box. To make all these elements work seamlessly and deliver a great sound is a hard task. Ruark Audio, however, has decades of experience in combining multiple functions in one box, to great success. From powered desktop speakers with Bluetooth — such as the MR1 Mk3 featured in issue #542 — smart radios with streaming features (R2 Mk4) and all-in-one music systems (R410) – the British company has already proven it can juggle multiple features while delivering great sound, stylish design and ease of use. The Ruark Audio R610 streaming amplifier, then, should be a walk in the park, shouldn't it?…

Newport Test Labs measured the rotational speed of the E.A.T. F-Dur turntable as being exact at 33.33 rpm and also at 45 rpm. Measured wow and flutter was extremely low irrespective of rotational speed, with Newport Test Labs measuring 0.075% CCIR weighted, 0.07% DIN weighted and 0.07% RMS unweighted (all measured at 33.33 rpm). At 45 rpm, the lab measured wow and flutter at 0.07% CCIR weighted, 0.07% DIN weighted and 0.06% RMS unweighted. Rumble was measured as being more than 70dB down, referenced to the level of a 1kHz signal recorded at 3.54cm/second. The graph showing rumble vs. frequency shows that there's some mains-induced hum at 50Hz and 100Hz, but this could be partly a result of the high level of electrical activity in the laboratory environment.…