Welcome to this Summer 2024 Newsletter, where we look back at recent reviews and anticipate those coming soon.  It has been a Glastonbury summer.  We set up our cinema screen as we do every year, but this time, my KEF R700s were supported by a REL 99 Classic, which, it is fair to say, changed the dynamic of the event for us as a family.  Our highlights included Dua Lipa on Friday and, whatever you think about them, Coldplay.

Videos

Like and Subscribe

We have put a new video up in the last few weeks; it is a shorter one based on feedback, and we’re seeking 1,000 subscribers. The video is a summary of the Ruark R410 all-in-one system, so please take a look, like, and subscribe if you’d like to see more like this. The next video, due out next week, is a summary of how to upgrade your old Naim Classic equipment based on this article.

Reviews

Naim Upgrade with Chord Company

BurdyX and SignatureX upgrades are in place

Recent reviews and articles you may have missed include the aforementioned Naim Upgrade piece done in June and featured cable upgrades from Chord Company.  I concluded in that piece;

…the Burndy upgrade with the 4-pin DIN addition has positively improved the 272/250 outcome.

Triangle Borea BR10 floorstanding loudspeakers

Borea BR10 cabinet

Other reviews in the last few months have included the imposing Triangle Borea BR10 floorstanding loudspeakers.  We said of these very competitively priced three-way loudspeakers;

…these loudspeakers have a considerable amount to recommend them, and they demand an audition if this is near your price point.

REL 99 Classic subwoofer

The Boreas were at various stages in our home cinema room when the REL 99 Classic subwoofer arrived.  The combined sound was thunderous. The 99 Classic (see picture above) received an Editor’s Pick where we noted;

This is the single most musical REL out there.

REL’s 99 Classic

iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier and DAC

In the last few weeks we have completed a review of the iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier and DAC. It is a sparkling and dynamic piece of portable equipment; we concluded;

This is a quite flawless package

Diablo 2 with wings on the side

WiiM Amp

The WiiM Amp has had a lot said about it this year, and most of this chat is about the price, a quite unbelievable £319, which, for what it delivers (we said);

….is ridiculous

The WiiM Amp review is here.

WiiM Amp

PlixiR Statement balanced linear power supply

Finally, this week, we published a review of the PlixiR Statement balanced linear power supply. The PlixiR is the culmination of a journey with a suite of products designed to deliver the cleanest possible source from which to stream music. This source is the Melco N100 library, and the journey includes the ADOT Optical Media Converter, the S100 data switch, and the D100 Optical CD player. ADMM distributes these products in the UK.

PlixiR Statement

Reviews Coming Up

Some lovely product reviews are coming in the Autumn period. These include the new Moon North Collection. The Moon 641 integrated and 681 network player/DAC are currently being run in.

MOON by Simaudio North Collection

Separately, we have the Sonus faber Sonetto G2 III here. They are absolutely immaculate and are currently driven by the Naim Audio New Classic NAP 250.  Other upcoming reviews include the Focal Azurys headphones and the Volumio RIVO streamer.

Finally, there will be a few reviews of some FiiO products that have been travelling with this reviewer during the summer holidays and other journeys.  These products include the stunning FiiO  FA19s that have ten balanced armature drivers crammed into them, such incredible technology!  There will also be reviews of the FiiO K11 headphone amplifier and the stunning desktop Android R9 music player.  FiiO is a company at the leading edge of the Chi-Fi rush of stunningly priced products that are causing much debate at this time.  I read this article on the Chinese Audio revolution from partner publication PMA.

Music

Synchronicity 40th Anniversary Edition

There’s been a lot of decent music out recently.  I particularly enjoyed the Police’s Synchronicity 40th Anniversary release and the new music by Japanese composer and legend Ryuichi Sakamoto.  If you have missed it, other music to look out for includes a new album by Sabrina Carpenter and a new Remastered release by the Cocteau Twins.  Cat Burns released her first full-length album called early twenties in July, featuring her hit record go.

Cat Burns, early twenties (deluxe)

Review Playlists

Finally, here are the latest Review Playlists from HF&MS.  Many of the playlists feature familiar and repeated tracks for consistency.

WiiM Amp Playlist (Qobuz)

99 Classic (Tidal)

These two Playlists are rapidly becoming ‘Reference.’

HF&MS Slave To The Rhythm Playlist (Qobuz)

HF&MS Atlas Mavros Loudspeaker Cable Project (Qobuz)