A regular on our test benches, Meze returns this year not with headphones but with in-ear headphones: the Meze Alba. A model presented as more accessible than its big brother, the Advar, aimed at both novice music lovers and demanding audiophiles looking for affordable, stylish, and high-performance headphones. No small feat. A new gem from the Romanian manufacturer?
While the reputation of headphones designed around electrostatic transducers is based on the finesse of their sound reproduction and the sharpness of the sound image they deliver, this technology remains particularly difficult to implement. Very few manufacturers venture into this field, even among the most expert in the world of headphones. Japanese headphone designer Stax has over 70 years of expertise and mastery of this technology. Today, it presents a unique combination of electrostatic headphones and a dedicated portable headphone amplifier. A first in this field!
Inspired by the spacecraft in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the Soulines Kubrick DCX features an all-aluminum base designed around the golden ratio and the Fibonacci sequence. Adaptable to a wide range of tonearms thanks to three interchangeable bases, this Serbian-made turntable is available in France with a Japanese tonearm that is particularly well suited, both in terms of its modern design and innovative technology: the Sorane SA-1.2, also made entirely of aluminum, giving it a fast and tight sound that is as neutral as possible in its tones.
At the start of this year, it is taking advantage of a new distribution network to regain the upper hand, especially as it now offers a new range that is more affordable than the Reference. Named YG Acoustics Peak Ascent in homage to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, this new series of six models starts with two compact speakers, a subwoofer, and three floorstanding speakers, of which we are testing the mid-range, a magnificent three-way model called Ascent.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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…
