Ed Selley

Cyrus Streamline £1,600 Well equipped for the brave new world of streamed music and other digital sources We reviewed Cyrus’s Stream X a few issues ago (HFC 351) in our first-ever Blind-listening Group Test of streaming music players. The Streamline effectively adds an integrated amplifier to the Stream X, and does so for just £200 extra. To some, the amplifier may look like a cheapskate add-on; a single high-performance integrated circuit which includes a full 30W per channel power amplifier in a single package. Time was, when that kind of thing was death to real sound quality, but things have moved on and the data sheet on this device suggests a performance that most designers of ‘serious’ amplifiers wouldn’t consider too shabby.

Arcam Solo Neo £1,400 Highly specified, with full streaming capabilities, the Neo is the latest in Arcam’s popular Solo range Bringing the Solo up to date with recent trends, Arcam’s Neo is well-equipped with digital connectivity, including wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB (for portable players, etc. ). It doesn’t digitally interface to iPods and other Apple products, but it can control them via Arcam’s own optional irDock. It doesn’t have S/PDIF inputs either, but does sport four handy line-level analogue inputs.

Best Turntable up to £1,500 Pro-Ject 6 Perspex Winning the Blind-listening Group Test (HFC 338), against competition that included a more recent version of last year’s award-winner, the 6 Perspex truly deserves this year’s top-spot. We loved its open and even-handed sound, the handsome design and its excellent build quality. Details PRICE: £1,280 (incl arm) TYPE: Turntable TELEPHONE: 01235 511166 WEBSITE: project-audio. com Clearaudio Concept Details PRICE: £1,100 (incl arm/ cartridge) TYPE: Turntable TELEPHONE: 01252 702705 WEBSITE: clearaudio.

Best Tuner Pure Sensia More than just a simple radio, the Sensia won over the judges, thanks in part to its excellent Pure DAB reception. It can also stream music over a wireless network and even surf the internet. That it does all of these things with aplomb easily makes it this year’s award-winner. Details PRICE: £250 TYPE: DAB/FM/web radio/media player TELEPHONE: 0845 148 9001 WEBSITE: pure.