Better known for its hi-fi furniture than its cables, Norstone nonetheless has several ranges to suit all uses, with digital, mains, analog and speaker models, such as the new Jura MC.
In addition to launching two new ranges of cables on 100 m reels (PR250 at 699 € & ST250 at 1 399 €) for use in the walls of integration systems, Norstone is presenting a new speaker cable to top its range, currently made up of two other models. Specified “Premium Signature”, this new Jura MC cable joins the Arran MC and Skye MC and uses a PVC coating integrated into a textile braid. An aluminum strip in the center surrounds cotton fiber, into which the positive and negative cables -each with a polyethylene sheath- are integrated, with 19 OCC 6N and OFC 4N pure copper stranded conductors (2.5 mm2) inside.
With this triple shielding and 24k gold-plated banana plugs with optimized clamping, this Jura MC boasts very low resistance (0.006704 Ω/m) and inductance (0.9944 μH/m), for a capacitance of 93.088 pF/m. Its price remains very attractive for a premium high-fidelity cable, starting at 339 € for a length of 1.5 m, 399 € for 3 m and 479 € for 5 m. You can find it at any of the brand’s retailers.
Part of the EMM Labs group, which retains the brand name for its top-of-the-range products, Meitner has made a name for itself over the past few years with a flagship product: the MA3 network player and converter.
At the start of 2025, the MA3 becomes the MA3i and, like its predecessor, it is primarily a DAC, but with a high-quality network module and a volume control ready to transform it into a real preamplifier if need be. To start with this point, the volume module is still controlled by the big knob on the front, by remote control or by a UPnP app, and is none other than the one derived from the EMM Labs DV2i. The MDAC2™ DAC is designed in-house from 16 discrete double-differential DSDs, with a similarly proprietary MDAT2™ audio signal transition technology.
As is often the case with these in-house technologies, the devices do not yet attempt to decode the largest files, which are still virtually non-existent on the market (remember that an SACD or Qobuz Hi-Res streaming works at 96 kHz), but instead use the already very adequate sampling rates of 192 kHz/24-bit and DSD128, with the possibility of going up (via DoP) to DXD352 and 384 kHz PCM via USB link and network. The connectivity menu includes all the classic audio features (USB Audio, AES/EBU, RCA coaxial, Toslink optical and a USB data port), but no HDMI eArc. The MA3i is also platform-compatible, with Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Qobuz and more. It can be connected to a preamplifier or directly to a power amplifier via a balanced XLR connection and a pair of RCA terminals.
This Meitner preamplifier-streamer-DAC is musically very promising, as we were able to see in February at a preview at Studio Hifi in Versailles during a Gryphon event (report to follow), but it is 1 500 € more expensive than the previous generation, with the MA3i now priced at 12 500 € ($11 500 in US).
With the D50 DAC, Hegel has taken a major step forward in digital audio. It’s not just another DAC; it’s an exploration of what’s possible when technology is stripped down to its essentials.
The Norwegian manufacturer wanted to create a dedicated machine that does one thing exceptionally well, converting ones and zeros into music. To achieve this, Hegel avoided anything that might introduce noise. This means there is no network input, streamer or preamplifier. By concentrating solely on converting digital signals into music, Hegel has created a machine that sets itself apart from the competition.
At first glance, the D50 appears discreet, with its minimalist black design. No flashy details or superfluous features detract from its purpose. Beneath its elegant appearance lies a remarkable ability to decode and deliver digital audio with total precision.
Hegel has been perfecting the art of DAC design for over two decades, and the D50 represents the pinnacle of this expertise, a sophisticated tool with immense potential. But like the raven, one of the few animals capable of using tools with precision, the genius of the D50 lies in the way it wields that technology. Every detail of the circuit design and layout has been meticulously crafted to extract the full potential of the DAC chip. The result is a design that uses this tool to its full potential, unlocking extraordinary sound reproduction.
We’ll soon have the opportunity to present this promising device to you in detail.
Founded in 2011 in Romania, more specifically in the Maramures region, Meze has become one of the leading specialists in orthoplanar technology helmets, also known as orthodynamics. At the start of this year, the company is expanding its catalogue with a mid-range open face helmet.
Positioned at the same level as the Liric (closed version; 2 000 €), with which it shares the same price, and therefore below the Empyrean II (open, 3 000 €), the Poet incorporates a new Isodynamic® Hybrid Array MZ6 transducer, created by the Ukrainian company RINARO using the technologies and designs used for the MZ4 transducer (Liric) and the MZ3SE (Elite; 4 000 €). The reinforced polymer housings incorporate a very thin membrane in the center, with a two-coil design, one spiral for the mid-highs, the other in the shape of a coil above for the bass. The latter is made from extremely light (0.06 g) semi-crystalline polymer film, energized by neodymium magnets, for a total of 73 g per transducer. The shape of the openings is based on the AMTS process, patented by Dan Clark for his own headphones.
Very flattering to the eye, the Poet retains the magnetic coupling system of the Liric’s earpads, which are very comfortable even during prolonged listening, and uses a suede leather headband, placed under a double titanium headband. The edges of the grey earpads add a discreet touch, counterbalanced by the copper colors of the outer panels and stems, also enhanced by the hand-woven pure leather cable, with 3.5 mm jack to the earpads and 6.35 mm to connect to the amplifier. Weighing in at around 400g with ear cushions, these planar headphones boast a signal-to-noise ratio in excess of 130dB and a very wide frequency range from 4Hz to 96kHz.
As mentioned at the start of this article, they are priced on a par with the Liric, at 2 000 €, leaving users to choose between open or closed Meze headphones for this price.
