Welcome to the November 2024 Newsletter #43. The newsletter focuses on this month’s new reviews, music, and videos and looks forward to the coming period. We are also in the middle of the Awards Season, where the Best of 2024 is revealed.

Best of 2024, Week 1

Best of 2024

Awards Season has started with some big winners from the 2024 review cycle. Winners have included the REL 99 Classic subwoofer, the WiiM AMP, the Auralic VEGA S1 streaming DAC, and the Node Audio Support System One (SS-1). Today, the award winner was the ADOT Media Converter.  This year, there will be an overall Product of the Year reveal at the end of the awards next week.  Comment below on your best products of the year.

New Videos This Month

This month, some new videos have been released on the Kudos Audio Sigao and the iFi Audio ZEN Blue.  Having just completed the Marantz review, the AV setup with the Marantz video is also here.

New Reviews This Month

Sigao Drive Crossover

We have published reviews of the sensational Kudos Audio Sigao Drive Crossover, which received an Outstanding award this month. The Sigao Drive acted as an external crossover to a pair of Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers in the active configuration, driven by a pair of Moor Amps Angel 6 power amplifiers. The overall effect was sensational and was likened to;

…it feels like Italian caffeinated coffee versus Starbucks non-caffeinated filter coffee

We concluded;

It is nothing but the most outstanding performance and certainly the best I’ve ever heard.

Moor Amps Angel 6 power amplifier: this one is driving the driving the mid-bass driver in the 505s

We have also reviewed the iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 with the ZEN CAN headphone amplifier.  We noted in the review;

Connectivity has been faultless throughout this review process

And also using the Bluetooth Transmission function;

Watching TV with headphones is a fantastic experience in terms of its immersiveness…

ZEN Blue 3 with ZEN CAN 3 with NuPrime 5V linear power supply

This month, we have also reviewed the Marantz MODEL 50 integrated amplifier with the excellent, networked CD50n CD Player.  They form an excellent partnership.  We noted in the review;

The midrange and low treble presentation is firm and clear, …there is  plenty of resolution…

And we thought,

…the CD player is excellent with the quick-witted HEOS App…

Marantz MODEL 50 & CD 50n

Coming Up

Over the festive period, we will review two premium preamplifiers, the McIntosh Vacuum Tube C2800 and the T+A PSD 3100 HV. Now, that is worth looking forward to. Chris Baillie, who will contribute to HF&MS in the coming year, will also write a review of the Piega COAX 611. We will also look at the iFi Audio ZEN Phono 3.

New Music

There is some good music around at the moment.  Former Mercury Prize winner Micheal Kiwanuka has a new album out, as does Juanita Stein; both of these albums are well worth a listen for production alone.

Juanita Stein – The Weightless Hour

The Cure is back after a sixteen-year wait with an Album Of The Year contender in the name of Songs of a Lost World. 

The Cure – Songs of a Lost World

Speaking of the 1980s, Echo and the Bunnymen have remastered What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary today.