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The new ATC SCM20 ASLs offer all the quality for a lot lessWhen it comes to high-end hi-fi sound, the name ATC carries a weight that commands respect—especially among audiophiles in search of reference-grade precision without compromise. Their latest release, the SCM20ASL Pro Mk2 active loudspeakers, proves exactly that: it is possible to preserve professional sound quality while significantly reducing costs. Studio-born heritageThe new SCM20ASLs are speakers that uphold the core principles of ATC’s philosophy: neutral sound, exceptional resolution, and uncompromising build quality. These are ..

To play a disc with Technics' new SL-1300G record player means pushing its round On button, then touching one or more of its rectangular speed selector buttons, then pushing the big square [Start:Stop] button, then unclamping the tonearm and using its cue lever to raise it up. Technics' first generation of direct drives began in 1970 and included the SP-10 and the SL-1100. Technics' second generation, which added quartz-locked speed control, was labeled Mk.II. It included the SP-10 Mk.II and the biggest-selling turntable of all time: the SL-1200 Mk.II. The third generation began in 2016 with t..

The Raven is currently Hegel’s only standalone DAC. It joins Hegel’s other top-tier audio components, which include the P30A preamplifier (“the Conductor”), the H30A power amplifier (“the Orchestra”), and the Viking CD player. While the D50 is an ideal match for Hegel’s reference separate components, Hegel has ensured that the D50 can also be seamlessly integrated with its top-tier streaming integrated amplifiers using a connection it calls the DAC-Loop.With its midnight-black plumage, the raven is a bird that evokes a sense of seriousness. It’s been associated with prophecy and mysticism, a..

The special edition REL Acoustics T/9x SE subwoofer in Italian red may be a little too racy for some hifi fans, but I love the vibe this strikingly colourful sub-bass speaker brings to my listening room. It’s more than a flashy supercar paint job to one of REL’s most popular mid-series models, though. This limited edition version of the Serie T/x flagship sports an upgraded centre cap to the forward-firing ‘attack’ driver and a re-tuned chassis suspension for faster low frequency handling and scale.PerformanceThe system’s sound with the T/9x SE in place has all the depth I’ve come to expect, a..

Awarding a ‘Best Buy’ with an ultimate 10/10 score, Martin Dew at AVForums has been stunned by a close encounter with a compact 5.1 system of Perlisten’s R series speakers.If the imposing towers and super-reference status of Perlisten’s S-Series loudspeakers are outside your budget, why not try the more affordable bookshelf package? I say ‘affordable’, but I think you know what I mean. This R-Series package puts the brand within reach of many more enthusiasts, or at least it’s a combo that can arguably be saved up for. The only other opportunities I’ve had to listen to Perlisten’s range have b..

The most compact active speaker in the ATC line and based on the 50th anniversary ‘Limited Edition’ design, the SCM20ASL is the ideal choice for modestly sized rooms where outstanding musical reproduction is the goal. The 2-way SCM20ASL continues ATC’s philosophy of combining the best in-house drive units with matched on-board amplification for optimal fidelity. Uniting the benefits of compact size and wider bandwidth with the improved phase coherence, response speed and dynamics of ATC active operation, the SCM20ASL is perfected for small to medium sized listening environments. In addition, i..

Revealed in advance of its official debut at High End Munich 2025, the NAGAOKA MP-700 sets a new benchmark as the flagship model of the MP Series. With over 85 years of Japanese engineering excellence, NAGAOKA has long been a trusted name in analog audio—its cartridges are widely used by leading manufacturers as OEM and private-label components. The MP-700 features NAGAOKA’s distinctive Moving Permalloy (MP) design, a sophisticated alternative to traditional Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges. This design uses a lightweight permalloy element affixed to the cantilever, dramatically reducing mass and..

Audiolab unleashes two new standalone DACs, the D7 and D9, directly descended from the seminal M-DAC to enhance all manner of digital audio Audiolab’s track record of producing exceptional DACs stretches back more than 30 years. From the 8000DAC in the early 1990s to 2011’s all-conquering M-DAC and its successor the M-DAC+, the Cambridgeshire-based company’s expertise in the field have led to a succession of class-leading devices, each expertly engineered to elevate the performance of all forms of digital audio. While Audiolab has continued to refine the DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter) tec..