Even in the middle of August, Accuphase continues to update its product lineup by introducing a new entry-level CD player, while we also eagerly await the successor to the E-5000 integrated amplifier.
Featuring a front panel design similar to the recent DP-570S, the DP-470 slightly separates the central tray from the two buttons close to it. Mechanically, the tray appears to have been slightly redesigned, notably with a new overhanging reinforcement plate. But it is above all the addition of the ANCC (Accuphase Noise and Distortion Canceling Circuit) to the MDS+ digital-to-analog conversion circuit that will make the difference.
Otherwise, the latter is still based on an ESS ES9026PRO chip used in parallel across its four DACs, a configuration that already delivered very convincing results in the model it replaces. The filtering circuit and certain components—notably the capacitors—have also been modified to achieve a total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) level now below 0.0002% in the conversion stage, with the average output THD+N remaining at 0.0008%.
The same front-panel buttons and rear panel as the DP-450 indicate that the DP-470 has not undergone a major redesign; its weight, moreover, remains at 13.7 kg. But based on one of the best CD players in its class, one can imagine the sonic improvement that ANCC can bring, given how impressive it was on the DP-770 (VU#62 FR “Japan Special” review).
By enlisting Ross Lovegrove to design its new connected speaker, the British company KEF aims to give its LS line a more modern, less “hi-fi” look.
Like the LS50 Wireless II, the LSX II, and the recent Coda W, the LS Luxe takes things a step further with a new 12th-generation Uni-Q driver—a 16.5 cm (6.5-inch) aluminum cone—featuring a 25 mm (1-inch) aluminum dome tweeter at its center, vented using the MAT process.
The amplification in this luxury model follows the same principle as the LS50 Wireless, with treble handled by a Class D module, but a Class AB amplifier for managing midrange and bass frequencies. The frequency response extends from 35 Hz (measured at -6 dB, 85 dB, 1 m) up to 47 kHz, depending on the equalizer settings.
As with the other active models in the KEF lineup, the LS Luxe consists of a primary speaker and a secondary speaker, both of the same dimensions (336 mm x 223 mm x 298 mm) and with a combined weight of 20 kg (44.1 Ibs) for the pair. However, while the secondary speaker offers only an RJ45 port for connecting to the primary speaker and a coaxial subwoofer output, the primary speaker features HDMI eARC, Toslink optical, coaxial, 3.5 mm analog, and, of course, Ethernet connections, as well as USB-C and subwoofer outputs.
Like the LS Series II models, the LS Luxe supports most file formats and “Connect” streaming platforms in addition to AirPlay, Google Chromecast, and UPnP, and features a Qualcomm 5.7 Bluetooth chip, as well as being Roon Ready. However, the resolution of supported files depends on whether the two speakers are connected via a cable—in which case they can handle up to 192 kHz—or if they are paired via Wi-Fi, in which case they are limited to the already excellent sampling rates of 96 kHz; in both cases, support extends up to 24 bits.
With a design that transforms the speaker into a true work of art, this new KEF LS Luxe is available in three finishes: Dusk Titanium, Eclipse Black, and Mineral White. This connected model comes with a C3 remote control and is available now for 3 999 €.
Never short on innovation, the South Korean company Astell & Kern continues to lead the pack against new Chinese entrants in the world of HD digital audio players. And after once again impressing with the SP4000T and its four Raytheon JAN6418 tubes in Vienna last May, it returns this summer with a new, more affordable model in the PD series.
Joining the PD20 and PD10 in the brand’s smallest of its four series, the PD5 features a switchable four- or eight-DAC architecture based on Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips (whereas the other PD models use ESS or AKM chips). It also incorporates EnviroTune technology to analyze ambient noise, delivering sound that’s ideally suited to the listener’s environment, particularly on public transportation or outdoors.
Housed in a compact aluminum enclosure, the PD5 offers up to 28 hours of continuous playback in Quad-DAC mode. But when using Octa-DAC mode, the sound quality is enhanced to deliver even more reliable bit-perfect playback for files up to 384 kHz/32-bit PCM or DSD256 formats.
The PD5’s octa-core processor and Android platform are optimized for most music streaming services. It features dual-band Wi-Fi and a Qualcomm 5.3 Bluetooth chip that supports the high-resolution codecs aptX HD, LDAC, and LHDC. We’ll provide the storage capacity, weight, and price as soon as we have them, but we can already confirm that the battery charge time has been optimized to take 2 hours and 30 minutes, compared to 4 hours for the PD20.
Based on the latest Qualcomm 6.1 chip, Questyle’s QCC Dongle Pro 2 builds on the concept of the QCC Dongle and QCC Dongle Pro but takes it a step further. As a reminder, the QCC Dongle provides a reliable Bluetooth audio connection to devices that lack this capability, simply by plugging it into the USB-C port—or into the USB-A port using a small adapter.
With the same compact dimensions (2.52 x 1.01 x 1.53 cm), the Pro 2 version still enables HD Bluetooth Audio for devices that don’t support it natively, such as the Nintendo Switch or even the Sony PS5, which only offers Bluetooth for connecting a controller—not for using headphones. But thanks to its improved power supply, it optimizes signal smoothness and ensures music files are transmitted with higher quality.
For non-gamers, the Questyle QCC Dongle helps ensure a reliable connection even between devices like iPads or iPhones and Bluetooth hi-fi headphones. And the Pro version already goes a step further than the standard model: although it’s based on the same Qualcomm 5.4 chip, it supports the LDAC codec at transfer rates of up to 990 kbps, making it one of the few transmitters with Apple MFi certification.
On the new Pro 2 version, in addition to Bluetooth aptX HD or aptX Adaptive—and thus LDAC—the LHDC (Low Latency and High-Definition Audio Codec, with 48 kHz/24-bit Hi-Res transmission) and LE Audio (LC3) codecs are now also supported. The addition of Auracast compatibility will also allow streaming to multiple sources simultaneously, while the power supply has been optimized to improve signal stability.
The official price of the QCC Dongle Pro 2 has just been announced at 139 €, which is 20 € more than the QCC Dongle Pro, priced at 119 €.
Unveiled soundlessly at the Vienna High End show, the ARTA is set to become the new flagship model from Romanian manufacturer Meze, surpassing both the Empyrean II and the Elite Tungsten.
Its main innovation is a brand-new, high-impedance planar-magnetic transducer developed by Rinaro Isodynamics. Coded MZ5 HΩ, this transducer takes the opposite approach to other planar models: instead of operating at low voltage and high current, it operates at high voltage and low current, resulting in exceptional linearity. Its nominal impedance is approximately 225 ohms.
On the Rinaro Parus ARTA® diaphragm, made of a lightweight composite material, the planar circuit is reported to be 2.5 times longer than on other high-end Meze models, with a cross-sectional area 2.8 times smaller. These specifications—which remain to be verified when we test the headphones—are designed to ensure great sound homogeneity and high sound density. The voice coil is divided into two sections: the longer, curved section handles low frequencies, while the circular section positioned at ear level handles midrange and high frequencies. Thanks to this dual-voice-coil design, the frequency range covered is enormous, as measured by the manufacturer from 3 Hz to 115 kHz.
With its fiberglass and carbon fiber frame reinforced by metal inserts, the ARTA still weighs 495 g. However, it offers exceptional comfort thanks to two pairs of ear pads of varying density and thickness. The first, the “Duo coudé,” is crafted from a blend of perforated lambskin leather and Alcantara®, angled for a more impactful musical presentation. The second, the “Slim Alcantara,” is made from two types of Alcantara® with interior perforations and designed for greater neutrality and a rounder upper frequency range.
Two 2-meter (6.6-foot) cables are included as standard with the ARTA, each consisting of silver-plated linear-crystal oxygen-free copper (LC-OFC) conductors arranged in a dual-strand configuration, with 161 individual conductors per strand and SoftFlex PVC insulation. The first, asymmetrical model features a 6.3 mm jack, while the second, symmetrical model features a 4-pin XLR connector.
The price of this new ARTA matches its musical ambitions, costing twice as much as the Empyrean II (3 000 €) and one-third more than the Elite Tungsten (4 000 €), for a total of 6 000 €. We look forward to getting our hands on a headphone amplifier worthy of it so we can test it and tell you more about its performance.
