Welcome
Welcome to Newsletter #55 for December 2025. Here’s a roundup of the latest news and reviews from the world of HiFi since the last Newsletter at the end of October, that you may have missed.
New Reviews
Acoustic Energy AE320² (Published Nov 4)
This month, we reviewed the Acoustic Energy AE320². They are imposing, and on top of that, they are at an incredible price point. Click on the above image to read the full review
Acoustic Energy 320² Highlights
Merlin Cables – Tarantula (Published Nov 11)
Speaking of incredible price points, this month we also reviewed the £16/m Merlin Tarantula loudspeaker cables. We said;
These cables give me enough confidence to totally recommend them, particularly at this price.
Click on the image to read the full review!
DELA S5 Audiophile Network Switch (Published Nov 25)
This month, Chris Baillie reviewed the DELA S5 Audiophile Network Switch for Hifiandmusicsource.com.
Click on the image to read the full review! The review highlights are below.
DELA S5 Audiophile Network Switch Highlights
Best of 2025
It is that time of year when the year’s awards are dished out. Here at HF&MS, the process to find the Product of the Year has begun. The complete list of contenders is here, along with some thoughts on the year’s trends. The full list includes all of the reviews completed here at HF&MS in 2025. The Best of 2025 awards are not necessarily the best audiophile products, but rather the ones that had the most tremendous impact on the writers here at HF&MS.
The Best of 2025 winners so far are as follows;
Day 1 – Focal DIVA UTOPIA
Day 2 – REL T/9x SE Stereo Pair
Day 3 – Tellurium Q Ultra Silver II loudspeaker cable
Day 4 – Fell Audio Amplifier and CD Highlights
Today, Day 5 – A&ultima SP3000M
Coming Up on HF&MS
Although it is December, there’s plenty to listen to. And the Reference system is going through the mill at the moment with the arrival of the stunning Moor Amps manaDAC. This has a Burr-Brown PCM1794A hybrid Resistor-Ladder and Sigma-Delta DAC chip that delivers massive detail with an analogue feel. Just when you thought the Focal DIVA UTOPIA had it in the bag, the manaDAC is coming up on the ‘stand side’ for Product of the Year, so watch this space in the coming days.
Other reviews coming along shortly are of the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen and the terrific DALI Kupid loudspeakers.
New Music November
It is fair to say I’ve been relatively quiet on the New Music front, save for Celeste’s recent album and Olivia Dean’s Art of Loving. Albums I am lining up, however, include De La Soul’s Cabin in the Sky and, of course, Anthology 4, from the Beatles. If you do listen to Anthology 4, have a listen to In My Life (Take 1). If that is Take 1, I’ll eat my hat, but either way, it is beautiful in its stripped-back form.
For a challenging demonstration of speed and depth, your REL T/9X Stereo Pair subwoofers need Skrillex’s hit me where it hurts. This track features extremely fast, low-frequency content. For contrast and a reference in musicality, be sure to audition the detailed bass line found in Bebel Gilberto’s Tanto Tempo (25th Anniversary).
Further Reading
Best of 2025 – Tellurium Q Ultra Silver II loudspeaker cable
Best of 2025 - Tellurium Q Ultra Silver II…
Best of 2025 – REL T/9x SE Stereo Pair
Best of 2025 - REL T/9x SE subwoofers in a stereo…
