While in the mid-range of the hi-fi market, the question of removing the DAC from certain integrated amplifiers remains –as seen recently with Hegel’s purely analog version (A200) of its new H200– in the ultra-high-end segment, the opposite approach is being...
After having attracted many audio engineers in recent years, Gallium nitride (GaN-FET) transistor technology could be the long-awaited breakthrough that propels Class D amplifiers into the ranks of music lovers’ favorites. Following the launch of a brand like Ixycore...
After 16 years of excellent and very loyal service, the Hana EL has been modified to join the SL in the MkII generation. Available in both the entry-level MC EL version and the high-end MC EH version, the new MkII chassis features several enhancements derived from the...
The British manufacturer has recently set to work upgrading its 800 Series speakers from D4 to D5. This 5th generation of diamond-dome tweeter speakers still consists of seven models, ranging from the compact 805 D5 to the four floorstanding models—the 804 D5, 803 D5,...
The launch momentum shows no signs of slowing down at McIntosh. Following the new MA2375 tube integrated amplifier (previewed in VUmètre No. 67 FR) and the MX124 13.4-channel audio-video processor, the American brand has announced the new CS7500 preamp-streamer. With...
Housed in a chassis similar to the Uniti Nova’s, the Uniti Star Lite incorporates much of the same technology, but at a lower price. Overall, this new model retains the Uniti Nova’s amplifier-streamer functions, as well as the 5-inch LCD screen on the front panel and...
Unveiled at the Vienna show, though somewhat overshadowed by the new flagship MC Vertex, the MC X50 rounds out the top end of the X Series by adopting the diamond image previously seen on the more ambitious MC Diamond. In 2025, Ortofon demonstrated its dynamism by...
Not to be confused with the PH5.2 phono preamp, the new headphone amplifier from the same series is the HP-5.2. It is part of the entry-level series from Italian manufacturer Gold Note and features the same compact anodized aluminum chassis. While it’s derived from...
This new version of the PH5 features the sandblasted anodized aluminum chassis from the new Series 2, which reduces internal electromagnetic interference. Like the brand’s other phono preamps—including the PH-10, which we have here at VUmètre—the PH5.2 lets you choose...
