Australian Hi-Fi Magazine March / April 2018

    Since 1969, Australian Hi-Fi Magazine has kept audiophiles up to date on all the latest advances in audio technology and the hi-fi components available to enjoy music. All equipment reviews and music reviews are written by professionals who are experts in their respective fields, and are checked for accuracy by experienced sub-editors. Every audio component reviewed in Australian Hi-Fi Magazine is also independently tested by a NATA-certified test laboratory, whose test results and graphs are published with each review, together with a detailed technical analysis of those results. Australian Hi-Fi Magazine also maintains a complete database of all Australian and New Zealand distributors of hi-fi equipment, along with updated listings of the brands they distribute. Australian Hi-Fi Magazine is published six times a year and on sale at thousands of news agencies throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as being available in selected audio stores across the country plus International mail and online via digital download.

Features
3 Editor's Lead-In Editor Greg Borrowman reveals how he was tricked by a fake review on the internet, and why others are posting fake reviews for fun and profit.

6 Audio News
M8 Audio Launch, Blue Designs Yeti, Magico A3, Bryston Active Series, Harbeth P3ESR, Monitor Audio Monitor 50, M&K Sound at Indi, Dynaudio Sub 3, Bose SoundSport, Questyle HB2 Hi-Fi Hub, Top Wing Seiryu and Suzaku, Boulder 1110, Exposure XMHP, Linn LP12 Upgrade Special, MK Sound Price Drop, McIntosh XRT2.1k, and Focal Clear.

26 Show Report
The world's largest consumer electronics show, CES, was this year bigger than ever in every facet except audio exhibits. What went wrong?

Equipment Reviews
18 Lavardin ISx Reference Integrated Amplifier
Why would Lavardin, which is renowned for not updating its products, update its longest-lived and most highly-awarded integrated amplifier? We couldn't wait to find out... 

34 GoldenEar SuperSub X Subwoofer
What do you get when you combine a 1,400-watt DSP-enabled Class-D amplifier with a two 203mm drivers and a pair of quadratic planar infrasonic radiators?

38 Schiit Bifrost Multibit DAC
A high-value, high-performance DAC designed for PCM signals up to 24 bits and 192kHz that's upgradeable?

82 Dynaudio Focus 60XD Active Speakers
New Australian distribution has seen a dramatic drop in price, so you're getting even more sound quality per dollar than ever before!

88 Bel Canto ACI 600 Amplifier/DAC
Bel Canto has taken three of its top-line components and built them all into one sleek chassis. It's an 'I can do everything' masterpiece.

96 Crosszone CZ-1 Headphones
Headphones that sound like loudspeakers? What could be the use of that? Jez Ford says the CZ-1s are 'clearly not for everyone.'

Features
76 Sound Travels
Nathan Haines is one of New Zealand's most successful jazz exports. He's had multiple albums released in the UK and Europe and has played at Tokyo Blue Note and Ronnie Scott's. He also has a fine collection of esoteric hi-fi components that he uses both for work and for listening pleasure...

87 Hi-Fi Deconstructed
Rod Easdown gives some tips on how to win bets in a pub, and reveals why the quality of sound in the home is about to spiral downwards...

94 Profile
Con Lucas is one of the two co-founders of Telos Distribution, and being 'in the business' means that he has a great-sounding system. Peter Xeni sat in on one of his listening sessions.

Music
98 Top Picks
Matt Doria and Peter Zaluzny listen to the latest releases from Belle Haven, In Hearts Wake, Rachel Maria Cox, Rise Against, Prophets of Rage and Crossfaith.

99 Super Fidelity
Despite predictions of the SACD format disappearing, new SACD recordings are appearing every week, and we review the best of them here. The new Daphnis et Chloe is a stunner!

100 Jazz Track
Walkley Award-winning journalist, playwright, poet and reviewer John Shand checks out Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Sandy Evans, Andrew Robson, Dan Barnett and more...

101 Rock On
Bruce Cockburn completists will be pulling out their wallet yet again, to purchase Bone on Bone, his 33rd release... to date. Jez Ford is a fan, and also a fan of John Oates, Tony Banks and Ruichi Sakamoto, whose new albums he also reviews in this issue.

102 Blu-ray Reviews
What caused the decline of Western civilization? In this article Stephen Dawson investigates the classic music documentary about punk rock bands playing around Los Angeles during the 70s.

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