breaking news
Goldmund launches the new Ouranos Signature & Excellence processors
Primarily designed to be paired with Goldmund active loudspeakers, the new Ouranos Signature and Ouranos Excellence are processors engineered to output only the digital signal. Both simplified and modernized, the Ouranos models incorporate the latest advancements in...
Gryphon adds the Helios to its range of preamplifiers
Billed as a worthy successor to the Pandora, the Helios sits between the Essence preamplifier and the flagship Commander. Designed to complement the recent Antileon Revelation, though naturally compatible with all power amplifiers on the market, this new Danish...
KORA CD140
Is a beautiful, brand-new CD player in 2024 a reasonable purchase? Absolutely. Because although streaming has made enormous progress since its inception, it’s good to vary your pleasures, and using different sources (LP, CD, SACD, streaming, etc.) allows you to alternate between complementary sound experiences. So let’s give a warm welcome to this new player, the Kora CD140, with its truly original pedigree.
NEWS
Stax launch with the SR-009D a more affordable version of the SR-009
Between the recently released SR-007S (test VU#62 FR) and the SR-009S, derived from the flagship SR-009 of 2011 (test VU#03 FR), the famous Japanese brand of electrostatic headphones has responded to enthusiasts’ demands by reintroducing the SR-009D model. More than...
Thrax expands its Evolution series with the Janus R2R DAC
Following the Cotys phono preamp (test VU#63 FR; Remarkable), Thrax returns to its new Evolution series with the Janus. Housed in a chassis similar to the first model in the series, except that the four switches have been replaced by two dials next to the front-panel...
Audirvāna launches Studio 3.0
After over a year in development, Audirvāna Studio is now available in version 3.0 for all Mac, Windows and Linux versions, as well as the Audirvāna Remote smartphone app for iOS and Android. Featuring a new design called ‘Allegro’, the app has been improved in terms...
After ‘unveiling’ them, Hifiman adds WiFi connectivity to its headphones
For nearly three years, Hifiman has primarily promoted the innovation in the ‘unveiling’ of its open-back headphones, which involved reducing the protection over the drivers to allow for better sound dispersion. Now, the manufacturer is adding WiFi connectivity to...
Etsuro introduces the Gin-nezu cartridge
A small revolution at Etsuro, a brand of the Excel Sound group, which is releasing its first non ‘Urushi’ cartridge. Named Gin-nezu (literally “silver-gray”), this cartridge largely retains the same specifications as the Urushi Cobalt (nearly twice as expensive), but...
A renewal for Analog Relax cartridges
Having been virtually unseen in our region in recent years, the Japanese Analog Relax cartridges are making a comeback in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland through the distributor Ana Mighty Sound, which is now offering listening sessions...
TESTS
TECHNICS SL-1200 GR2
A democratic version of the SL-1200 G, retaining its iconic visual style, the new Technics SL-1200 GR2 turntable maintains the same audiophile approach by continuing the Japanese company’s pursuit of innovation and continuous improvement in technology, starting with the all-new speed controller, combined with the famous direct drive for which the brand remains one of the global benchmarks.
Naim NAIT 50
Created as a commemorative symbol for the 50th anniversary of the Naim brand, the NAIM NAIT 50 is produced in a limited edition of 1,973 units, the date on which the brand was created by Julian Vereker. That was all it took to pique our curiosity, as long-time fans of the British manufacturer!
GRAPHITE AUDIO CLASSIC 100
Founded in Poland in 2020, Graphite Audio is not the result of a brilliant DIY project, but rather of nearly three years of fundamental research into the vibrational behavior of devices. The creator’s credo is to help develop the most natural sound possible. An experienced audiophile himself, he has tested a wide range of solutions. He quickly realized that hyper-rigid materials were not at all suited to his specifications. He therefore banned all metal, steel, ceramic, and glass parts due to their tendency to color certain frequencies. On the contrary, he realized that it was important to use materials capable of providing natural damping in this type of device.
KORA CD140
Is a beautiful, brand-new CD player in 2024 a reasonable purchase? Absolutely. Because although streaming has made enormous progress since its inception, it’s good to vary your pleasures, and using different sources (LP, CD, SACD, streaming, etc.) allows you to alternate between complementary sound experiences. So let’s give a warm welcome to this new player, the Kora CD140, with its truly original pedigree.
JCT SUPPLY ONE
Never short of good ideas for improving the quality of its products, French manufacturer Hi-Fi Câbles & Cie has equipped its JCT Supply One power cord with new plugs. The result: even better! That’s definitely worth a little article…
ODEON AUDIO TOSCA 2020
Featured in our issue no. 43 alongside its larger compact model, the Izumi, German brand Odeon Audio returns to VUmètre with a more substantial offering: the Odeon Audio Tosca 2020. This floorstanding speaker is the most advanced model in its catalog, ahead of the three external horn models. Priced at €8,290, it stands out for the quality of its hand-picked components—from Wima capacitors to Mundorf coils and Scan Speak drivers—in addition to its special compression tweeter from Italy, for a natural and versatile sound.
INTERVIEWS
Provence Audio Show in Aix on November 15 & 16
This weekend at the Renaissance Hotel in Aix-en-Provence, the Provence Audio Show invites you to discover more than 70 hi-fi brands across 300 m2, presented on two floors by around twenty exhibitors. In this particularly pleasant location, you can listen to both major...
MATTHEW WEBSTER – YG ACOUSTICS
Present in Munich with most of his staff, Matthew Webster, YG Acoustic CEO, answered our questions about the launch of a new Ultimate range, which includes the Gemini project. Definitively named Titan for its commercial release, the new pair of ultimate speakers was recently heard again in excellent acoustic conditions in Tokyo and will also be presented in France at the Paris Audio Video Show at the end of October.
ACCUPHASE INTERVIEW 2023
After attending the High End trade show in Munich, Accuphase’s management team headed for Paris, where they visited Music Hall, one of the most important resellers for the company in France. On this occasion, we had the privilege of meeting one of the brand’s founders, Jim S. Saito, surrounded by his team of engineers and sales staff.
REPORTS
THE BRISTOL HI-FI SHOW 2026
Among the world’s major hi-fi shows, the one in Bristol is the most famous in the United Kingdom. Held in a large downtown hotel, it occupies a long ground floor, a terrace, a basement, and four mezzanine levels, each with about fifteen rooms. At the 2026 show, we...
Report: Provence Audio Show in Aix, 15 & 16 November 2025
Three weekends after the Paris Audio Video Show, the Provence Audio Show was held on the other side of France. Like last year at the Mariott Renaissance Hotel in Aix-en-Provence, the second edition of this show allowed more than a thousand enthusiasts and...
Tokyo International Audio Show 2025 (TIAS)
The International Forum from October 17 to 19 was held the Tokyo Audio Video Show 2025. This annual hi-fi gala in Japan provides an opportunity to take the pulse of current innovations and interests among the country's music lovers. While turntables, CD players, and...
MUSICS
VINCENT PEIRANI – LIVING BEING IV (TIME REFLECTIONS)
Inspired by many styles, accordionist Vincent Peirani brings them together with his quintet in Living Being IV (Time Reflections), a jazz album that is both accessible and invigorating.
TORO Y MOI – UNERTHED: HOLE ERTH UNPLUGGED
Accustomed to regularly changing styles, Toro Y Mio delivers Unerthed: Hole Erth Unplugged, a tender folk version of the previous album, which was much more electronic-oriented.
THE BETHS – STRAIGHT LINE WAS A LIE
Holding an enviable place in independent pop, New Zealand’s The Beths are back with Straight Line Was A Lie, which, despite its sometimes-profound lyrics, also manages to remain light and tangy.
