Hi-Fi Choice - Issue 493 - October 2022

134 Pages·2022·21 MB·English

Boss sounds: Great outdoors:
Bruce Springsteen DALI’s Katch G2 updated
on his all-time top LPs portable Bluetooth speaker
PASSION FOR SOUND
Issue No. 493 October 2022 BUYI
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KING SPIN! G
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GROUP TEST
SSSSSSSSSSiiiiiiiiiixx aaffffffffffff oorrdable turntables vie for
the vinyl-playing crown
ABSOLUTE STEAL
Sivga’s SV023
open-back ’phones
are bargain
of the month
PEACE
OF MIND
“DINKY BUT
How your
DYNAMIC...”
favourite tunes
Our retro celebration of the Cyrus can be good
III/PSX-R integrated amplifier for your brain
NEWS SPECIAL:
“Glorious detail...”
Launches from Sony, KEF,
Elipson, Klipsch, Tangent, Black
Shelter’s Harmony moving-coil cartridge
Rhodium, TAD and more...
“FAST AND FURIOUS” HIGH VOLTAGE “HIGH-END EXPERIENCE”
5
5.7
£
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Fidelio
Fidelio
T1 Headphones
T1 Headphones
Crafted
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for life on the go
for life on the go
True wireless headphones. Made for music.
True wireless headphones. Made for music.
Exceptional sound on the go.
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Sound quality Noise canceling pro+ 9 + 25 hours play time Crystal clear call
Sound quality Noise canceling pro+ 9 + 25 hours play time Cwriythst 2a lm cliecsa rE cNaCll
with 2 mics ENC
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome
PASSION FOR SOUND
www.hifichoice.com Issue No. 493 October 2022
Having spent a couple of weeks
recently driving around
California in an undersized
vehicle with three teenagers
constantly misplacing their
earbuds and fighting over
dominance of the in-car
Bluetooth – a rather unseemly
52
three-way bout between Phoebe Bridgers, Korn and
Engström
The Velvet Underground – I can attest to the absolute
ARNE
bliss of being back and pootling on my lonesome
through the country lanes accompanied by my own
uninterrupted personal soundtrack. Alice Coltrane,
yup. Type O Negative, nope.
With this in mind, I heartily recommend Neville
Roberts’ Opinion piece in this month’s issue, which
67
goes further in eulogising the long-term healthy
Yamaha
TW-E5B
benefits of luxuriating in your own private favourite
playlist. Furthermore, by the time you’re reading this
you could well be in happyland having had a bunch
of fun trying out all the new kit at the recent Hi-Fi
Show Live at Ascot. There’ll be tons of news from
onsite at the racecourse grandstand for those of you
that missed the fun in next month’s issue.
In the meantime, there’s plenty to get stuck into,
90
including our Group Test of affordable turntables and
Jesca Hoop
an envious gawp at the nigh-on 30 grand Engström
Order Of Romance
ARNE triode tube amplifier.
BADGES EXPLAINED Enjoy!
OUR AWARDS
Steve Sutherland Editor
Motlock Follow us: twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag
Aga facebook.com/hifichoice.co.uk
Hoop picture credit: ECApjouurDwHdotIagsOdTrteuOIaddCcneR ttEddso’:Si tt ndoh ge at lhti vaoersere RPwhpierEegorC hffdeoO suertcMmla tmnsMad etnEhaecaNrted taD oEfD : GWCcwbaaoRiInndmNOn goNpeUenarE lPs,yr Raa aT hyn:tEasidvSv i etteTh at oielslns! ets SUITE 6G, EDENhi fHicOhoUicSeEm, aEgNaTzEinRePRISE WAY,
Jesca performance EDENBRIDGE, KENT TN8 6HF
OCTOBER 2022 3
Contents
BUYING
hifichoice.com Issue No. 493 October 2022 GUIDE
NEWS & OPINION GROUP TEST 1c0o0m+p eosnseennttisa l
6 Audiofile p109
36
The latest news on the hottest products
from the world of hi-fi coming your way
Six sub-£1,000
75 Letters belt-drive turntables
Put your points of view and queries on battle it out for the
audio matters to our team of experts king of spin crown
84 Opinion
The Hi-Fi Choice team say it as they see
it as they discuss the issues of the day
90 Music Reviews
The month’s essential new CD, vinyl
and hi-res releases given a work out
READER SERVICES
109 Buying Guide
Our hottest hi-fi component picks
122 Reader Classifieds
Sell your unwanted hi-fi for FREE here
130 Next Issue
The sonic treats to look out for next month
FEATURES
72 Destination:
North Berwick
Scotland’s Orange Moon Records comes
under the record store spotlight
100 Music Legends
The kings of priapic hard-rocking,
bad boy boogie, AC/DC shoot to thrill
129 Reasons
To Be Cheerful
Our pick of the most exciting things
coming your way this month
72 6 100
Destination: North Berwick Audiofile: KEF LSX II wireless system Music Legends: AC/DC
4 OCTOBER 2022
CONTENTS
OCTOBER 2022
“Her virtuosity does not often
come to the fore, but when
it does you know that she
60 is supremely skilled“
Sonos Ray
Mari Samuelsen’s Mari, Music Reviews p92
TESTED THIS MONTH

30 52
Shelter Harmony Engström ARNE
REVIEWS CHOICE EXTRAS
106 QED
Kit testing
30 Shelter XT3 power cable
106 Ecosse
Harmony medium-output moving-coil
cartridge (Main Test) Baton MkII analogue interconnect
52 Engström
GROUP TEST
ARNE triode tube amplifier (Exotica)
Turntables £500-£995
62 59 Sivga
38 Edwards Audio
SV023 open-back, over-ear
JBL 4305P
wired headphones TT4 Carbon
60 Sonos 40 NAD C 588
42 Pro-Ject
Ray soundbar X1
62 JBL 44 Rega Planar 3
4305P active wireless loudspeaker 47 Roksan Attessa
65 DALI 49 Yamaha MusicCast
65
Vinyl 500
Katch G2 Bluetooth loudspeaker
DALI Katch G2 67 Yamaha
TW-E5B true-wireless Bluetooth earbuds
69 Bang & Olufsen
Beoplay EX true-wireless
noise-cancelling earbuds
C)
D
C/ 70 Cyrus
A
heuse ( 69 III/PSX-R integrated amplifier (Retro) 106
C
osh Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX QED XT3
dit: J
ure cre Never miss an issue – turn to p126 for our latest subs offer
Pict
OCTOBER 2022 5
T H E L AT E S T I N D U S T R Y N E W S …
LSX II marks
the spot
New line in UK wireless hi-fi
PRICE: £1,200 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: KEF.COM
Mineral White,
Lava Red and
Cobalt Blue are
just some of the
colour options
6 OCTOBER 2022
AUDIOFILE
UK COMPANY KEF has introduced its devices, while Bluetooth is a further
LSX II wireless hi-fi system, which is being option. You can use native apps to stream
marketed as boasting: “high-fi delity sound, directly from Spotify Connect, Tidal and
numerous connectivity options, easy use QPlay, and it is Roon Ready. When using
and contemporary design”. An upgrade Airplay 2, Chromecast or Roon, you can
from the original LSX (HFC 456), the new stream to multiple wireless speakers to
model uses the W2 wireless platform synchronise music around the home.
from the LS50 Wireless II (HFC 488) and You can also access your own music
connectivity options include HDMI and collection from a compatible NAS drive or
USB-C, making it compatible for TV, laptop music server and fi le support is claimed at
and desktop computer setups. up to 24-bit/384kHz (PCM), DSD and full
MQA rendering.
The X factor
The aforementioned HDMI ARC enables
The company describes the LSX II as connection to a screen and control via the
taking: “the two-speaker box approach, TV remote, while the USB-C input enables
giving music the space to breathe and streaming for your computer. There
develop, creating a three-dimensional are also connections for a turntable, CD
soundstage”. Each speaker uses a version player, games console and other devices.
of KEF’s 11th-generation Uni-Q driver In addition, there’s a dedicated output
array, a signature technology which acts so you can connect a KEF subwoofer.
as a point source where the tweeter is The LSX II also boasts volume settings,
placed at the precise acoustic centre of sensitivity adjustments and the ability to
the driver. It’s a design that the company select a source to wake it up when it comes
claims: “eliminates the traditional, tiny on. It measures 155 x 240 x 180mm
sweet spot, instead delivering accurate, (WxHxD), weighs 7.2kg and comes in fi ve
pristine sound to all listeners”. fi nishes – the Mineral White and Lava Red
The LSX II has a claimed combined models come with matte satin and
200W of system power. The tweeter and high-gloss fi nish respectively, while Carbon
bass driver are powered by their own Black and Cobalt Blue are clad in a
dedicated amplifi er, powered by the Music specially designed fabric from Danish
Integrity Engine – which has been contemporary textile designer, Kvadrat.
optimised for the Uni-Q driver. The Soundwave by Terence Conran Edition
Using the latest KEF Connect app, you is one of the iconic British designer’s fi nal
can stream Amazon Music, Qobuz, Tidal, collaborations. It sees the ‘soundwave’
Deezer, Internet Radio stations and pattern woven into the unique Kvadrat
podcasts. Apple AirPlay 2 and Google fabric complemented with Conran’s
Chromecast stream audio from compatible signature blue on the port and driver.
OCTOBER 2022 7
AUDIOFILE
A fine vintage
New addition to Heritage line of speakers from France
PRICE: £250-£1,500 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: EN.ELIPSON.COM AVOKE.CO.UK
FRENCH COMPANY ELIPSON has added The XLS 11 is a three-way speaker in a bass amplitude of mid and high frequencies by +
to its Heritage line of loudspeakers with refl ex design with a front-fi ring fl ared port. It or –2dB to allow for variables in the listener’s
the unveiling of its XLS 11 model, which features a new 56mm domed drive unit for room. It measures 320 x 560 x 278mm
it says is the smaller sibling of the XLS 15, the midrange and a 22mm silk dome tweeter (WxHxD) and weighs 17kg.
designed: “to create a duo of speakers that derived from Elipson’s fl agship Prestige. A dedicated metal stand at additional cost
refl ect today’s vintage feel of styling and Handling the bass is another new driver this has been designed to position the speaker
design. The XLS 11 brings performance time a 203mm unit being an evolution of the at the optimal height and angle for acoustic
elements from the XLS 15 and combines XLS 15’s 305mm bass driver. phasing. It comes in a black fi nish, measures
them with a more compact form factor to As with the XLS 15, the XLS 11 has the 330 x 220 x 50mm (WxHxD) and weighs
give further fl exibility when integrating the additional fl exibility of adjustment via the 2.9kg per unit. The XLS 11 speaker is priced
speakers into the home.” front of the cabinet. This fi ne tunes the at £1,500 per pair, the stands at £250.
8 OCTOBER 2022

AUDIOFILE
Light up your life!
A trio of new portable speakers from Sony
PRICE: £140-£260 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: SONY.CO.UK
SONY HAS EXPANDED its wireless while the smaller SRS-XE200 has a strap, The SRS-XE300 and SRS-XE200 feature
X-Series portable speaker range with three making it easy to carry around. Ambient Noise Sensing, Sony’s mic tech
new models: the SRS-XG300, SRS-XE300 All models come with IP67 rating, making that analyses surrounding noise and makes
and SRS-XE200. The company says that the them splash and dust proof. The SRS-XE300 adjustments to save the battery when outside.
SRS-XG300: “lets you enjoy deep, club-like and SRS-XE200 also benefi t from Sony’s All three speakers also come with Party
bass and clear high-frequency audio, thanks shock testing to ensure they can withstand Connect, so you can combine up to 100
to the integrated tweeters and Mega Bass the inevitable knocks, bumps and scrapes compatible wireless speakers using
features… For those who prefer their party that come with everyday use. Bluetooth and sync your music via the Sony
with some added colour, you can switch Fully charged, the SRS-XG300 offers a Music Center app.
on the SRS-XG300’s ambient illumination claimed 25 hours of playback time, the The SRS-XG300 is priced at £260 and
that synchronises the lighting on the SRS-XE300 24 hours and the SRS-XE200 comes in light grey or black, the SRS-XE300
speakers to the beat of the music.” 16 hours. All three speakers also provide is £170 and is available in light grey, black or
Designed with portability in mind, the Quick charging, giving 70-minutes play blue and the SRS-XE200 is £140 and comes
SRS-XG300 comes with a retractable handle time from just a 10-minute boost. in light grey, black, orange or blue.
10 OCTOBER 2022