Category Archives: systems
Aiwa M-301
“Refined to the essence of hi-fi perfection”, or so said Aiwa’s 1980 brochure for its M-301 microsystem. “The 35 Watt System: Refinement. Ingenuity. Performance”, it continued. It’s easy to laugh at the marketing hype, but look beyond this and it’s
Aiwa M-301
“Refined to the essence of hi-fi perfection”, or so said Aiwa’s 1980 brochure for its M-301 microsystem. “The 35 Watt System: Refinement. Ingenuity. Performance”, it continued. It’s easy to laugh at the marketing hype, but look beyond this and it’s
Sony HAP-S1
Sony found things difficult back in the late nineteen nineties, when MP3 files began to replace Compact Disc. The company’s instinct had always been to maintain control of the entire music recording and replay chain, from record company to format
Sony HAP-S1
Sony found things difficult back in the late nineteen nineties, when MP3 files began to replace Compact Disc. The company’s instinct had always been to maintain control of the entire music recording and replay chain, from record company to format
Denon D-90
There was a time, between the early nineteen seventies and late nineties, when a decent stereo system was part of every well equipped British home. Whether you were an audiophile or not, owning quality hi-fi equipment was a mark of your
Denon D-90
There was a time, between the early nineteen seventies and late nineties, when a decent stereo system was part of every well equipped British home. Whether you were an audiophile or not, owning quality hi-fi equipment was a mark of your
Aura Note Music Center
I first encountered April Music at Las Vegas CES in 2004. A young South Korean company, the people behind it struck me as interesting and imaginative. Under the Stello brand name, it made some fine sounding hi-fi separates, much in the
Aura Note Music Center
I first encountered April Music at Las Vegas CES in 2004. A young South Korean company, the people behind it struck me as interesting and imaginative. Under the Stello brand name, it made some fine sounding hi-fi separates, much in the
Naim mu-so
“A gateway drug” is how one Naim insider describes this one-box music machine. In truth, it is unlikely to be able to take on Bose and B&O at their own game, because both the aforementioned companies – especially the latter – plough so much
Naim mu-so
“A gateway drug” is how one Naim insider describes this one-box music machine. In truth, it is unlikely to be able to take on Bose and B&O at their own game, because both the aforementioned companies – especially the latter – plough so much
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900
As nineteen seventies hi-fi became ever more dominated by the Japanese, the more gaudy it got. Although the mass market was awash with large, brushed aluminium fronted steel boxes – festooned with knobs and flashing lights – some more discerning buyers moved to Bang &
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900
As nineteen seventies hi-fi became ever more dominated by the Japanese, the more gaudy it got. Although the mass market was awash with large, brushed aluminium fronted steel boxes – festooned with knobs and flashing lights – some more discerning buyers moved to Bang &
Sony HMK-80
In the nineteen seventies hi-fi boom, when every lifestyle magazine was telling people to buy large, unwieldy stereo separates, every self-respecting mass manufacturer offered the same thing in a single package. It was called a music centre, and admittedly the breed
Sony HMK-80
In the nineteen seventies hi-fi boom, when every lifestyle magazine was telling people to buy large, unwieldy stereo separates, every self-respecting mass manufacturer offered the same thing in a single package. It was called a music centre, and admittedly the breed
Meridian F80
Back in 1974, one of the most striking pieces of industrial design the world had seen surfaced in the shape of the Lecson AC1/AP1 preamplifier/ power amplifier combination. At a stroke, the two men behind it – Allen Boothroyd and Robert Stuart – marked themselves
Meridian F80
Back in 1974, one of the most striking pieces of industrial design the world had seen surfaced in the shape of the Lecson AC1/AP1 preamplifier/ power amplifier combination. At a stroke, the two men behind it – Allen Boothroyd and Robert Stuart – marked themselves
Naim UnitiQute
Time was when a baby Naim delivered about 7W per channel, as per the original 1985 Nait. By 2010 however, small boxes from Salisbury like the (then) new UnitiQute put out 45W a side – and threw in DAB, FM, uPnP
Naim UnitiQute
Time was when a baby Naim delivered about 7W per channel, as per the original 1985 Nait. By 2010 however, small boxes from Salisbury like the (then) new UnitiQute put out 45W a side – and threw in DAB, FM, uPnP
Aurex microsystem
What to do if you’re a Japanese electronics giant with a worthy but dull range of electronics, and you want to make an audacious bid for the niche high end hi-fi market? Well, anyone in any doubt need look no
Aurex microsystem
What to do if you’re a Japanese electronics giant with a worthy but dull range of electronics, and you want to make an audacious bid for the niche high end hi-fi market? Well, anyone in any doubt need look no
Arcam Solo Mini
Several years after Linn’s Classik arrived, Arcam began to reinvent itself by adding a range of sleeker, less specialist, music making machines. The Solo came first, and was a kind of ‘next gen’ Classik with cleaner and leaner looks than
Arcam Solo Mini
Several years after Linn’s Classik arrived, Arcam began to reinvent itself by adding a range of sleeker, less specialist, music making machines. The Solo came first, and was a kind of ‘next gen’ Classik with cleaner and leaner looks than
Linn Classik Music System
Combining CD player, amplifier and tuner in one, midi-sized box for £995 back in 2002, the Classik fell between the two traditional stalls of audio and hi-fi. This is where its problems began, because people into ‘lifestyle’ systems were unlikely
Linn Classik Music System
Combining CD player, amplifier and tuner in one, midi-sized box for £995 back in 2002, the Classik fell between the two traditional stalls of audio and hi-fi. This is where its problems began, because people into ‘lifestyle’ systems were unlikely
Brennan JB7
Launched way back in 2008, the metal-cased Brennan hard disk music server comprised a hard drive, slot loading CD player and 60W per channel amplifier designed to partner the optional BSB50 loudspeakers (£59) – although it could also be used
Brennan JB7
Launched way back in 2008, the metal-cased Brennan hard disk music server comprised a hard drive, slot loading CD player and 60W per channel amplifier designed to partner the optional BSB50 loudspeakers (£59) – although it could also be used
Philips Black Tulip
Don’t you just love Philips? Virtually every time this ingenious Dutch consumer electronics giant went anywhere near serious hi-fi, it all went horribly wrong. Such was the ‘Black Tulip’ range – the company’s portfolio of avowedly high end late nineteen seventies esoterica designed
Philips Black Tulip
Don’t you just love Philips? Virtually every time this ingenious Dutch consumer electronics giant went anywhere near serious hi-fi, it all went horribly wrong. Such was the ‘Black Tulip’ range – the company’s portfolio of avowedly high end late nineteen seventies esoterica designed
Aiwa microsystem
Warp back to 1978, and remember the Aurex System 15 by Toshiba. This was what the Japanese would call ‘epoch making’ – the first of its type, it was an incredibly small but exquisitely built ‘mini component’ system designed to
Aiwa microsystem
Warp back to 1978, and remember the Aurex System 15 by Toshiba. This was what the Japanese would call ‘epoch making’ – the first of its type, it was an incredibly small but exquisitely built ‘mini component’ system designed to
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400
Let’s be frank. Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy is not ‘sonics first, all else after’. But then again, if we’re being honest it is very hard to say the same about most so-called ‘real hi-fi’ manufacturers, to which we serious minded
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400
Let’s be frank. Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy is not ‘sonics first, all else after’. But then again, if we’re being honest it is very hard to say the same about most so-called ‘real hi-fi’ manufacturers, to which we serious minded
zStereo 