Dali IO-12 wireless headphones There is a sizeable cohort of music lovers for whom the world of portable audio is off-limits. It’s true that there is a rich choice of in-ear monitors (IEMs) and some of them, I have it on good authority, are really good-sounding. So what’s the problem? The portable audio exclusion zone […]
Audio Physic Classic 8 loudspeakers With new UK distribution, via Cyrus Audio, the German loudspeaker brand Audio Physic is set for increased prominence on our high streets. What better time to try one of these highly thought of transducers which have a long and distinguished pedigree. Cyrus selected the 2½-way design that is the Classic […]
Proac Response D2R standmount speakers Since enjoying the Proac Response DB3 speakers around a year ago I have been eager to try some of the brand’s more up-market products having enjoyed them at various hi-fi shows. When the opportunity arose to listen to the D2 in my own system I jumped at the chance, even […]
Moon 791 preamplifier/streamer/DAC and 761 power amp As the owner of a Moon integrated amplifier and streaming DAC, I have been looking forward to trying this combination since news of its launch surfaced earlier this year. Even for those new to this most prominent Canadian audio brand, we at The Ear feel that the launch […]
Tellurium Q Ultra Black II power cable In the past five years of reviewing audio products, I have had quite a few pieces of Tellurium Q cable through my system and I can say with hand on heart that not once have I been disappointed by what they have delivered. In fact it was almost […]
Soulnote A-2 integrated amplifier Soulnote came to my attention when speaker design guru Karl-Heinz Fink used their amplifiers to launch the Epos ES14N at the Munich High End show last year, this demonstration and the one in the Soulnote booth suggested that they know a thing or two about making an engaging sound. Both systems […]
Hegel H600 streaming amplifier & DAC We were teased with news of a “very exciting” and “earthshattering” new product from Hegel well over a year ago. Then appeared a new CD player from this burgeoning Norwegian brand, not the news I was waiting for. But that was simply because the real force majeure was delayed […]
Revival Audio Sprint 3 speakers As an owner/daily user of Revival’s more up-market Atalante 3 two-ways the new sub £1,000 Sprint 3 promises better value by virtue of being wholly made in China rather than in Europe. The cabinets are also more, shall we say contemporary-looking and lack the exquisite finish of the Atalante range […]
Dali Epikore 11 speakers Dali is not a name that is associated with high end loudspeakers but that’s because they have been so strong at the other end of the market for so long, there has been at least one boundary stretching model in the range for much of the company’s 40 history and of […]
Kleio K135 integrated amplifier You might be thinking to yourself as you land on this review: What, another UK-made integrated amplifier, aren’t we already spoiled for choice? I must confess that when approached about reviewing the Kleio K135 I agreed but with some trepidation. However, having hosted a pre-production K135 in my system for a […]
Network Acoustics tempus network switch It was only a matter of time before Network Acoustics got around to making a network switch. The streaming specialists have built class leading ethernet filters and all manner of digital audio cables so a data or network switch was the next logical step to building a complete back end […]
Ayre EX-8 2.0 integrated amplifier & CX-8 CD player The Ayre EX-8 2.0 and CX-8 are innocuous looking components, they do not inhabit heavy, machined aluminium cases and nor do they have much in the way of ornamentation, in black they look very restrained indeed. Yet beneath the plain exterior are electronics that ensure all […]