Unitra WSH-805 integrated amplifier You might be forgiven a brief, unvoiced ‘who?’ when confronted with the Unitra WSH-805. Answering that question isn’t the work of a moment either. Unitra was the umbrella group of Polish companies involved in consumer electronics back in the Cold War who produced audio equipment for domestic and export purposes. I […]
Oephi Transcendence 2.5 speakers I have been on quite a journey with Oephi over the last few months. It began with meeting proprietor and designer, Joakim Juhl at a dealer event, where I had the opportunity to experience several models from the range. The Oephi journey has caused me to recalibrate how I assess and […]
Primare PRE35 streaming preamplifier Primare is a Swedish company that conducts its design work in Sweden and manufactures in China. Their philosophy is based on the very Scandinavian concepts of lagom and hygge. Lagom roughly meaning ‘just the right amount, not too much, not too little, everything in perfect balance, harmony, and proportion – just […]
Peak Consult Sinfonia speakers Peak Consult is probably not a brand you come across often in your local hi-fi shop, unless your shop is a Peak Consult dealer of course The Danish manufacturer of high-end audio speakers has a long and at the same time short history that can be traced back to the three […]
Network Acoustics Origin Streaming Power Supply Once you have been around audio engineers for a while it becomes clear that they consider the power supply to be one of the most critical components in any piece of audio electronics. Electricity is the lifeblood of every audio device except loudspeakers, there are passive preamps of course […]
Node Audio SS-1 isolation feet Those of you who have followed my hi-fi scribblings for a few years (and I thank you for that) may recall that I have previously given very enthusiastic reception to Node Audio products. In 2023 The Ear published my thoughts on the extraordinary Hylixa loudspeakers and elsewhere I have given […]
Accuphase C-57 phono stage Accuphase is a little different from many of the Japanese brands most people are familiar with. They say they are not interested in mass production and what they see as “its inevitable compromises”. Their philosophy is to produce smaller runs of components that “focus on sound quality and that are a […]
Vitus Audio RI-101 MkII streaming amplifier The Danes appear to have a knack for producing great hi-fi. Vitus may be a niche brand for some but for those who have experienced the brand’s products, it is a name often mentioned in hushed tones. Indeed Vitus’s products, and particularly their range of amplifiers, are considered by […]
Revival Audio Sprint 4 speakers It is, and always has been, axiomatic that the ideal hi-fi system is the one that most faithfully reproduces the recording of the original musical performance. Yet never has the phrase ‘easier said than done’ been more crushingly apt. The problem here is ‘faithfully reproduces’ which, in purely pragmatic terms, […]
Fyne Audio Vintage 10 speakers I have long been a fan of dual-concentric, high-efficiency loudspeakers, which really complement amplifiers such as my Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister single-ended valve amp, but I have so far never had the opportunity to try one of Fyne Audio’s Vintage range at home. The underlying rationale behind the Vintage range […]
Silent Angel Bremen SL1P In general, there are two types of streamer product: the Times Square light show and the moonless night no show. The Silent Angel Bremen SL1P is firmly in the latter camp, easily one of the most inscrutably understated yet. A display-less, button-less metal slab you wouldn’t even know was switched on […]
Euphony Summus 2c and 4c server/streamer How do you like your network player interface? Full fat or lean? It’s a decision that undoubtedly goes in Roon’s direction most of the time. Roon offers a blend of usability, stability, search and curation functionality that taken in the round is frankly unbeatable. Still, alternatives to Roon there […]