September 2017
In This Issue...
Something Valuable, And Hopefully Entertaining, About High-Fidelity
Article By Noel Keywood

  Karl-Heinz Fink is a German loudspeaker engineer I speak to often at shows. Karl well knows not only about the engineering of loudspeakers, he understands "the British sound" (a standard and an expectation set by the BBC long ago). You may find his consulting website interesting, it's at this link. There Karl talks about what he's been saying animatedly to me at the last few shows we met, namely cabinet vibrations. I like to keep away from such troublesome things so his concerns were not my concerns, but I realise I should have been concerned after listening to the new Q Acoustics Concept 500 loudspeakers Jon Myles reviews on page 11 – designed by Mr Fink. Their cohesive smoothness was almost a shock to me because this is electrostatic territory – something that eludes most multi-driver loudspeakers in resonant boxes. The Concept 500s may look conventional, but appearances deceive here. I hope you enjoy reading Jon's review of them in this issue.

As Editor it's my business to try and wheedle in those with something valuable and hopefully entertaining to say about high-fidelity. Dave Tutt has been e-mailing me with a barrage of information on treasured subjects – like Leak valve amplifiers – for a long time. He's risen to the challenge of providing us all with regular insights into real-world issues, like the truth behind that bit of tat you see and irrationally fall in love with at a car boot sale. Lie on the couch and listen to Dave Tutt's ministrations – available on p92 – or become poorer!

For me as a reviewer, this issue has been a tad frustrating. Audeze in the USA went silent when, after a long technical discussion by e-mail, I asked them to tell me which was the right way to connect their headphones I review on p21: the analogue lead or the digital lead. No response.

And a reader enthusiastic about recording DSD from Sony's PS-HX500 turntable was taken aback to learn it offers no such thing, as explained on p83. 'Misleading' was his view – and perhaps so. Yet it still delivers hi-res.

High Fidelity is never a dull subject. From spinning tape reels to smoothie loudspeakers, and the questionable behaviour of manufacturers. I hope you enjoy reading what we bring you in this issue.

--- Noel Keywood, editor.

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