With two models already in its catalogue –the NS and the SS (VU45 review & here; Essentiel)- Italian manufacturer Solidsteel is now launching the UL model.
Intended to replace the NS in the future, the new UL stands feature twin rectangular aluminium profiles mounted on a steel base structure. These two rectangular uprights have a hollow TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) frame, designed to improve damping and thus better combat vibrations.
The top plate is made of MDF, again with the aim of creating the best possible interaction between the stand and the speaker placed on top of it. The top and bottom plates are mechanically connected by a slender structure, specially optimized to ensure rapid damping of the system’s inherent vibration modes and a particularly fast response to mechanical transients.
Whilst the steel base, bolted to the front and rear feet, measures 280 mm x 230 mm for all UL versions, the square top plate can be chosen in either 160 x 160 mm or 200 x 200 mm for larger speakers. To meet the same customization needs, the height of the uprights can be chosen as either 40 cm (UL-4) or 60 cm (UL-6), with this having little impact on the average weight of 8 kg (17.6 Ib) per leg.
The price varies very slightly between the two versions, from 369 € for the UL-4 to 399 € for the UL-6, with no extra charge if you prefer a 200 mm top plate to the standard 160 mm one.
‘Lilliputian’—that was Stéphane Even’s concept for the compact speaker recently launched by his brand Neodio, which is currently being put through its paces at VUmètre for a review in our issue 66.
With the Lolla, the design principles and components are partly carried over, but within the dimensions of a more conventional floorstanding speaker, although kept to 165 mm in width and just under 1 m in height (97 cm). However, the weight of 16 kg (35.3 Ib) per unit hints at the rigidity of the cabinet, which is mainly made from high-density MDF.
To integrate more effectively into rooms and avoid aerodynamic noise and coupling effects with rear walls, the Lolla features a downward-facing port, whilst incorporating the tweeter and driver designed to Kartesian’s specifications for the Lilli. On this new model, the mid-bass drivers are dual-mounted, arranged in an MTM configuration above and below the tweeter at the top of the cabinet.
With a second-order crossover comprising mainly Mundorf components, the Lolla boasts a sensitivity of 88 dB (at 1 m; 2.83 V) and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. The cabling is, of course, taken from the Neodio range, specifically the Fractal 8 model. And as proof that high-quality products are still being made in France, the Lolla is priced at 7 900 € and comes with a 10-year warranty… enough to ensure you enjoy some truly wonderful listening experiences!
Although it has been a player in the world of active and connected speakers for some time now – notably thanks to its Oberon C and Rubicon C ranges – Danish manufacturer DALI is breathing new life into its catalogue with the all-in-one VEGA speaker.
As one of the pioneers in hi-fi to have made part of its range connected, DALI initially had to contend with restrictive solutions, including the need for a hub between the speakers. However, this era appears to be coming to an end, as DALI now integrates all source, amplification and transduction technologies into a single unit.
While somewhat reminiscent of the design of Naim’s Mu-So, the VEGA immediately stands out to the eye thanks to its wooden inlays, both on the top and the sides of the chassis. Developed over five years, this new arrival is designed to blend seamlessly into any interior, as it is available in light or dark oak, with black or grey front and rear panels, and can be positioned in any orientation – either horizontally on a piece of furniture or vertically mounted on a wall. It should be noted, however, that in this case one must take into account not only the product’s – reasonable – dimensions (143 x 683 x 243 mm), but also, and above all, its weight (8.7 kg/19.18 IB).
Its connectivity options allow it to support a wide range of wired inputs, including digital HDMI, USB audio and optical connections, as well as analogue RCA inputs. Bluetooth is, of course, also included, as are AirPlay 2 and Wi-Fi, the latter managed by the well-known and proven BluOS protocol, which notably enables multi-room functionality and compatibility with numerous other hi-fi products (BlueSound, Roksan, etc.).
Thanks to 8 x 50 W Class D amplification – totaling 400 W – four paper and wood-fiber cones are driven independently to handle the midrange and bass frequencies (down to 32 Hz), whilst four 25 mm soft-dome tweeters handle the treble (up to 22.7 kHz) . Crossed over at 2.4 kHz, this 2-way speaker with active crossover and DSP supports digital files up to DSD256 and PCM 192 kHz/24-bit.
While the VEGA is set to be previewed in Vienna on 4 June – which you can follow via our Instagram and Facebook videos from the show – you’ll soon be able to hear it in-store, or even purchase it for 2 999 € or $2 599 including VAT.
Featuring an IsoFlare coaxial driver similar to that of the F5S, as well as a bass-reflex design, the Cubitt 5 marks Fyne Audio’s entry into the modern era of active speakers.
Named Cubitt in reference to the brand’s headquarters address, No. 1 Cubitt Court, Belgrave Street in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, the new compact Scottish speaker (260 × 165 × 215 mm -10.2″ x 6.5″ x 8.5″- for the main unit and 223 mm -8.8″- deep for the other) houses a 130 mm (5″) driver and an amplifier capable of delivering up to 240 W in Class D within an MDF cabinet.
Connected to each other via a cable that also amplifies the secondary speaker—which is not passive, unlike in most competing systems—the Cubitt 5 offers a clever range of connections, including both analogue inputs (1 x RCA & 1 x RCA phono MM) and digital inputs (optical, HDMI eARC). For direct use without an external source, Bluetooth 5.0 is also available, supporting aptX HD and AAC codecs.
To enable usage in both hi-fi and home cinema setups, the Cubitt 5 also features a subwoofer output, whilst the HDMI input allows the volume to be adjusted via the TV screen. One slight drawback is that the USB port is intended solely for firmware updates and does not allow the use of a USB stick or external hard drive. An active filter with DSP allows the frequencies and response of the two speakers to be matched to each other, whilst the DAC supports playback of files up to PCM 96 kHz/24-bit.
Available in five finishes, the Cubitt 5 speakers do not feature bright colours such as red or yellow, opting instead for a more understated look in keeping with Fyne Audio’s style, with colour options including Arctic White, Midnight Black, Olive Green, and two shades of grey (Pearl Titanium and Pebble Grey). As for the price, this places the new speakers in an affordable bracket, with a pair priced at 650 € – almost half the cost of a KEF LSX II LT. We can’t wait to have a listen so we can bring you a web review soon!
Abandoned with the discontinuation of the DC-37, the middle high-end digital-to-analogue converter segment is being taken over by Accuphase, which previously required the purchase of the high-end DC-1000 DAC (at 21 490 €), a CD player (DP-450) or SACD player (DP-570; DP-770) to benefit from such conversion.
Less ambitious than the DC-1000, the DC-500 presents itself as a scaled-down version of the latter, a fact evidenced by its weight, which has been halved to 15.6 kg – compared to 32.1 kg for the top-of-the-range model. The width and depth of the chassis, in a classic format, are however similar, except for the height, which has been reduced to 11.4 cm – more or less the same as that of the C-57 phono preamp in the range, the only other unit in the range also finished in walnut, albeit only on the sides.
At the heart of the DC-500 lies a perfectly dual-mono and parallel configuration, still featuring the two Sabre ES9028PRO chips from the DP-770 SACD player, which utilize their 8 DACs on each channel (see our review in issue 62, Japan Special). The DAC module broadly adopts the same architecture and the MDSD (Multiple Double Speed DSD) conversion process for DSD. PCM is supported up to 384 kHz/32-bit, all once again monitored by the in-house noise control circuit (ANCC).
Perfectly separated across two different PCBs, the analogue circuit provides RCA and XLR outputs, whilst the digital circuit offers the proprietary HS-Link connection, a coaxial port, two optical ports and two USB-B (Audio) ports as inputs. Unlike the DG-78, launched around the same time in the middle of the year and based on the same DAC, there is no USB-Data port for connecting a USB stick or a NAS.
Overall, this new DAC is essentially the conversion section of the DP-770 taken out of the main unit, allowing those who do not wish to invest in an SACD player to still enjoy an Accuphase component for this stage of their hi-fi system. What’s more, the fact that the DC-500 is a pure DAC means it can use its two shielded transformers, filtered by eight capacitors totaling 120 000 μF, solely for this stage.
This further enhances the reliability of this section, and we can now look forward to the equivalent with the other half of the DP-770, namely a pure CD transport below the DP-1000.
In terms of price, it’s a dream come true, as the DC-500 is priced at 8 490 € – 2 000 € less than the previous DC-37 – despite a far more modern architecture for digital signal processing.
