News

Inside the May issue: Auralic’s Vega G1 streaming DAC, Hegel’s H590 reference integrated amplifier, Acoustic Energy’s AE120 floorstanding loudspeaker and Polk Audio’s UK-tuned Signature S15e standmount loudspeaker. Also, Music Legends pays tribute to Billie Holiday and Beautiful System looks at Kii Audio’s six-driver, DSP-controlled active loudspeaker while this month’s group test looks at six USB DACs from: Audiolab, Benchmark, Heed Audio, Leema Acoustics, Musical Fidelity and Mytek.

Welcome to the May 2016 issue of Hi-Fi Choice – the essential guide to getting the best possible sound from your hi-fi, whether you're buying, tuning or tweaking. . . 

 If this month’s cover star is anything to go by, hi-res audio is gaining traction among serious audio fans.

Impressive new launches from vintage US specialist

First unveiled in the summer of 2016, McIntosh’s new MP100 phono preamplifier marks the company's first ever dedicated phono stage. The new MP100 has been designed to get the best from vinyl collections along with 24-bit recording via USB. The MP100 featuresboth moving-coil and moving-magnet inputs, with both inputs benefitting from adjustable loading (six settings each) to optimise performance. Despite its compact dimensions, the MP100 also features balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs, plus a ‘mono mode’ switch to decrease noise and process the signal when playing legacy mono recordings.

New York-based company's new vacuum tube preamp and solid-state amp

HDD digital music library from Japan

Building on the success of its original N1 series of NAS drives (we saw the N1A back in HFC 397), Melco has unveiled the three new models that makeup the MKII range. Like the N1A before them, the new N1ZS20/2, N1ZH60/2 and N1AH60/2 store and play a digital music library without the need for any other computer or IT devices. The flagship N1ZS20/2 (£7,700) has two new second-generation 1TB solid state drivers (SSD) mounted on what Melco describes as a massive non-magnetic anti-vibration platform. These are supported by a dedicated power supply with additional capacitorbanks using audiophile-grade components for the SSDs, ensuring purity right at the very start of the audio chain.