Hi-Fi+ - Issue 208 - June 2022

134 Pages·2022·22 MB·English

Do everything digital with AURALiC’s ALTAIR G2.1
IINN--DDEEPPTTHH RREEVVIIEEWWSS
◗ Audiobyte Hydra.HUB
◗ Aavik R-580
◗ Octave V70 Class A
◗ Primare NP5 mk 2
June 2022 208
Style, simplicity and
great sound from
Davone’s new active
wireless Meander
9
9
5.
£
For regulAalrl uyopud alotevse oabno tuhte h hi-oftit+e –s tn hoiw-f iw pitrho daunc etsx cvitisinitg wnewww l.ohoifki!plus.com

hi-fi+ issue 20(cid:441)
editorial
Editor
Alan Sircom
editor@hifi plus.com
Contributors this issue
include
Andrew Harrison
Sean Hannam
Buzz Hughes
Jimmy Hughes A
Jason Kennedy
Simon Lucas
Shaun Marin
Eric Neff s this issue goes to but so is that shared home experience we
press, the audio world are only a step away from recalling.
Art Director
Jenny Watson formally opens up As the pandemic restrictions eased,
Fonthill Creative, Salisbury after a lengthy period there was some reluctance in people
Advertising Manager of fallow. While audio simply to pick up where they left off. Nights
Tom Hackforth should not be defi ned of Bacchanalian excess that seemed
[phone]
purely by the quality acceptable three or four years ago are now
tom@hifi plus.com
and number of trade shows, these expos viewed with a more measured eye today.
Publisher
do act as a point of focus. Companies that I know many who – faced with a packed
Pete Collingwood-Trewin
[phone] people might otherwise overlook get the pub – prefer to back away, pick up some
pete@hifi plus.com oxygen of exposure once more. food and booze and wile away a Friday or
The Editorial offi ce can be Even before Munich High End 2022 (see Saturday at home with a few friends... and
contacted at: next issue), the popular AXPONA show was that’s where good audio comes in. In fact,
hi-fi + Editorial
the fi rst major event of this restart period. one of the great joys of streaming means
Absolute Multimedia (UK) Ltd
Unit 3, Sandleheath Industrial Judging by the success and positivity that instead of being ultimately limited by
Estate, Sandleheath, Hampshire expressed by those who attended, it’s clear your own collection, now you have access
SP6 1PA, United Kingdom
that people were missing the communal to pretty much the entire musical canon for
[phone]
audio space. your weekend gathering.
hifi plus.com
This seems like a contradiction in terms, Not that long ago, the idea of inviting your
Absolute Multimedia (UK) Ltd is a
because the zeitgeist paints audio as a friends round for a ‘sesh’ wasn’t that odd.
subsidiary of TMM Holdings LLC,
2500 McHale Court, Suite 100, solitary pursuit, with audio enthusiasts While it was replaced by nights of excess,
Austin, TX 78758, USA revelling in the silence and solitude of both end-of-the-pandemic jitters and the
CEO lockdowns so they could commune with increased cost of an evening out make the
Lee Scoggins their systems. In fact, the reverse is – or ‘sesh’ look attractive again. Pretty soon, it’ll
Chairman at least was – the case. The good audio be dinner parties, “a little cheesy pineapple
Thomas B. Martin, Jr
system should be the focal point of a great one?” and the music of Demis Roussos. Or
All Rights Reserved. evening at home. Those times when friends at least maybe something a little less kitsch.
Not one word of hi-fi + may be get together and share a musical experience
reproduced without the written (often along with a glass or three of quality The magazine was saddened to learn of
consent of the Editor. We are
in-head entertainment). Our desire to get out the passing of two greats of the American
perfectly happy to co-operate,
and about put that shared experience on amplifi er high-end this month; the designer
but we don’t want quotations to
appear out of context. hold before COVID-19, and our desire to put Bascom H King, aged 84, and Vladimir
Printed by Pensord Press, the horrors of lockdown behind us meant Lamm of Lamm Industries, who was 77. Our
Caerphilly we are all venturing out into clubs, bars and thoughts are with their families and friends at
hi-fi + is published twelve times restaurants once more. This is a good thing, this sad and diffi cult time.
a year by; Absolute Multimedia
(UK) Ltd
ISSN 1465 5950
hifi plus.com
Alan Sircom • [email protected]
Issue 209 on sale July 7, 2022 (UK), August 4, 2022 (US)
1
Two-wire design.
Twice the technology. Twice the musicality.
Distributed in the UK and Ireland by Padood
www.padood.com | [email protected]
[phone] | Nine Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1GE
hi-fi+ issue 20(cid:441)
contents
EQUIPMENT REVIEWS
23 Magico A5 floorstanding loudspeaker
31 AURALiC ALTAIR G2.1 streaming DAC preamplifier
41 Aavik Acoustics R-580 phono stage
49 Primare NP5 Prisma Mk2 network bridge/streamer
55 Audiobyte Hydra.HUB digital audio transport
61 Clearaudio Professional Power 24V power supply
for Clearaudio’s Innovation turntable
61
67 Davone Meander all in one system
73 Octave V70 Class A integrated amplifier
79 Coherence Systems ADD-Powr Sorcer X4
power conditioner
83 MCRU The First power cord
COMMENT
73
7 Incoming! Your views on all things audio
11 AXPONA 2022 the first major audio show in over
two years finally hits Chicago
85 Meet Your Dealer Ian Barnett of Vinyl Groove Audio
MUSIC
94 A Beginner’s Guide to... Kosmische Musik
Often known by as ‘Krautrock’, German music of the
early 1970s was full of innovation and wonder, and is
more than just Kraftwerk!
49
102 Music Interview songwriter Michael Head
109 Music Interview composer Max Cooper
117 Music Reviews Contemporary, classical and
audiophile music
PLUS
120 Back issues
79 127 Advertiser index
128 Next Issue Find out what’s happening next time!
3

Engström (cid:694)(cid:711)(cid:712)(cid:3)(cid:709)(cid:740)(cid:748)(cid:730)(cid:743)(cid:3)(cid:694)(cid:738)(cid:741)(cid:737)(cid:734)(cid:990)(cid:730)(cid:743) (cid:149) Distributed by BOYERAUDIO.COM
Colour consultancy service with every purchase
COMMENT
incoming
In association with
LETTER OF THE MONTH Air bearing turntables are still very
Bearing Up much in circulation. While the likes of
I have been collecting vinyl for Eminent Technology and Maplenoll
almost as long as I can remember and are no longer in production, the
I have, over the years, amassed both aforementioned Forsell, Bergmann,
a good collection of records and a Holbo, Kuzma and Walker Audio make
pretty good collection of second-hand both air-bearing arms and turntables,
record players. Some of these are while TechDAS makes a range of
quite valuable, which is why I don’t Letter of the month wins the air-bearing turntables. While new air-
wish to see my details in print. AudioQuest cable of their bearing decks and arms are not an
As such, I think I can say with choice up to £250! everyday occurrence, new models do
some authority that what has the appear from new and existing brands
Both AudioQuest and (cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:16)(cid:428)(cid:14) are
biggest influence over the sound of an from time to time.
passionate about music and the
record-replay system is the quality However, by their very nature, air-
sound it makes. We know what
of the bearings in the turntable and bearing designs are likely always going
makes a great audio experience and
arm. This might seem controversial, to be a niche product. The logistics
what makes it better. Most modern
because there are those who say after of housing some kind of air pump or
audio equipment is good, but with
a certain basic level of low-rumble, compressor (often in a separate room
the right attitude, right advice and
low-noise and speed accuracy, the to keep noise in the listening room to
the right components, the sound
only influence is the cartridge, and acceptable levels) is a step too far for
it delivers can move from ‘good’ to
there are others who think the many listeners. Also, as they are often
‘great’ to ‘awesome’.
engineering of the suspension, the hand-built, effectively custom-made
AudioQuest deals with a lot
mass of the platter, the wear on belt devices, the price of admission to the
of queries regarding good audio
or idler wheel and the rest all make a air-bearing world is high, both in terms
systems because almost everything
difference. I disagree! of financial investment and the amount
in audio is connected with a cable!
My reason for feeling this way of work that is often required to set
The company has amassed a wealth
is simple; I was fortunate enough up and operate such designs. Both of
of information on a range of topics
to obtain a Forsell Air Reference these elements combine to make air
in audio, both in general terms
Tangential air bearing turntable (at bearing vinyl replay a rarity, despite the
and with a team comprising keen,
not inconsiderable cost) and have it potential for outstanding sound they
specialist audio experts.
restored to its former glory. All other can produce.
Which is why we’ve teamed up
turntables I have ever heard pale into It seems like I don’t need to tell you
with the good folks at AudioQuest
insignificance by comparison (and I just how much of a rare jewel owning
to bring that expertise to bear in
have used several of the supposedly one of Dr Peter Forsell’s turntables
our letter of the month, and the
very best). And yet, almost no-one is. The Air Reference (made from
lucky recipient will receive a £250
speaks about air bearings. Why 1980–2000) shifted the goal-posts in
AudioQuest cable (or cables) of
is that? high-end vinyl replay. Enjoy it!
their choice!
Name supplied, via email Robert Hay, AudioQuest
Please send your hi-fi+ Incoming email to [email protected]
7
COMMENT
Whether it’s my hearing or the limits of my system, I’ve never heard a big
difference between formats that couldn’t be explained by mastering.
Coming back? It never went away audio enthusiast sales. Put simply, if In fairness, none of us have been to
Just as the mainstream media hyped the main games consoles decide their that many audio shows in the last few
up the revival of LP a few years next launch no longer supports discs, years, but not out of choice. However,
ago, they are doing the same for CD sources of key components in the CD if you did decide to go to an audio
now, saying there is a CD revival transport (such as the swing arm and expo, there’s a strong possibility you
underway. laser eye) will follow soon after because would hear the same songs you heard
I think this is nonsense. CD never demand for magneto-optical disc is whenever it was you last went to such
went away and this is just a scheme low in most fields. exhibitions. Things do move forward
to hype up the price of new discs. It To add insult to injury here, unlike slowly (Diana Krall doesn’t get as
worked well for LPs, which went from a turntable, those components are much play as she once did), but it’s
being almost free in charity shops to impossible to build except in vast still rare to hear many recordings from
crazy high prices. The same inflation numbers and don’t have a decades this century, and for those bemoaning
is happening to CD prices now; I used long shelf life if left in storage. Sooner the paucity of new blood in audio
to be able to pick up second-hand CDs or later the availability of CD-ready (either as buyers or newcomers to the
for pennies on Amazon and now they laser eyes will blink out, leaving new business)... maybe that’s the reason.
cost several pounds and new albums players almost an impossibility and Regardless, I’m glad you found it funny.
cost anything up to £20. older players both with short lifespan Deep down, that was the point.
CD is here to stay, just don’t believe and no hope of spares. Ed
what you read in the mainstream The good news is that grim scenario
media. is unlikely to happen tomorrow, but Stop the Insanity!
Paul O’Connor, via email there is every possibility that by the I listen exclusively to streamed music,
early 2030s, CD will have gone the way usually through Qobuz. I like the idea
Up to a point, I agree. CD is seeing of the floppy disk; once ubiquitous, of higher than CD quality resolution,
something of a reversal in its fortunes, now little more than a curiosity but whether it’s my hearing or the
with rising sales for the first time from the past. I hope to be proved limits of my system, I’ve never heard
since the early 2000s and stemming wrong on this! a big difference between formats that
a 17-year decline in sales. Prices Ed. couldn’t be explained by mastering.
of new and second-hand CDs are And yet, people keep claiming ever-
increasing, and sometimes increasing Bad audio dynamite! higher resolution files are better. Are
exponentially in the case of particularly Thank you for the Audiophile we just re-buying our music in the
hard to get or limited-run recordings. Demonstration Records You Love To forlorn hope of better sound?
And yes, we are seeing a small uptick Hate feature (Issue 205). It not only Peter Campbell, via email
in CD player sales. made me laugh out loud a few times. I
However, not everything in the have to confess to owning almost all I take a pragmatic line with audio files,
garden of CD is rosy. Although sales those albums and I have used them having heard really good CD-transfers
of CD players has increased in recent for assessing my system. that sound excellent due to good
years, that comes after a decade of You are absolutely right that these mastering and poor high-res files that
dealers counting the months between records are hugely overplayed in leave me cold. And vice versa. By
each CD player sale. More concerning, demonstration rooms and at hi-fi focusing purely on the bit rate and
the availability of key parts of what shows, although I haven’t been to a sampling rate, I fear we risk choosing
goes into making a CD player are in hi-fi show in years! quantity over quality.
decline (and no longer governed by Norm Hargreaves, via email Ed
8