Australian Hi-Fi Magazine July / August 2021

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Australian Hi-Fi Magazine July / August 2021

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.

Editorial
3 Editor's Lead-In
Ten reasons lists about ten digital audio facts are useless.
Well, not quite ten, but then the original list didn't have ten either!
Editorial By Greg Borrowman

Features
6 Sound Bites
Estalon XB Diamond MkIIs in Oz for first time, BlueSound updates Node and PowerNode, Dali announces Oberon 7, Yamaha releases three new Adventage AVRs, Spendor Classic Range, powered Triangle AIO Twin speakers, Cambridge Audio's EVO does it all, M2Tech announced Young MkIV Rock Star DAC, Polk releases 'Reserve Series' range and more....

42 Sound Travels
It's not unusual for audiophiles to build their own loudspeakers, but it is unusual for them to build their own pre and power amplifiers. In this issue, we interview an audiophile who's built his own system, except for the sources.

64 Obituary
Lou Ottens, the inventor of the compact cassette (but not the tape cassette itself) for Philips has died, aged 94. But despite being the inventor, history reveals that he wasn't a fan....

Equipment Reviews
16 AudioSolutions O305F Speakers
All the way from Lithuania and in a new, updated generation, these speakers reflect the aspirations and inspirations of their designer like few others of their ilk.

24 Electrocompaniet ECI 6 DX Mk II Integrated Amp/DAC/Streamer
The model name is long and complex, but the product is a Swiss Army knife not only of surprises but of abilities. Here's a product you can't afford not to own.

32 Rogers LS 5/9 Loudspeakers
Rogers loudspeakers are once more being manufactured in their homeland of the United Kingdom, and the man in charge was, once, well... the man in charge!

38 Sony WF-1000XM4 True Wireless Earbuds
Class-leading battery life, the best noise-cancelling circuitry in the category and absolutely stunning sound quality... if you're using Sony's LDAC codec.

46 Weiss DAC 502 DAC
If you're after the best DAC money can buy, you need look no further. Except that it's more than a just a DAC and doesn't cost nearly as much as it probably should and there's a cheaper version of it available.

56 Audio Technica AT-LPW50B Turntable
It has been a long time coming to Australia, but Audio Technica's latest no-frills, audiophile belt-drive turntable has finally landed. And it's a beauty! (In every sense of that word.)

Music
66 Re-Issues
The 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Déjà Vu is more than just a re-issue: It's packed with tons of extras including 38 extra tracks (count 'em!) many of which are here for the first time. As for Black Sabbath's Deluxe re-issue...

68 Left Field
Where do you go to find great music Spotify won't suggest based on your listening habits? Left Field is a good place to start! But maybe you're already listening to Wolf Alice, Dennis DeYoung, Danney Elfman, Arielle, and Monster Magnet?

70 Mixed Bag
New Zealand's The Datsuns have broken a seven-year drought, Ayron Jones has finally signed with a major label, Nancy Wilson goes out on her own, without sister Ann, The Damn Truth reprise their analogue rock'n'soul, and Mojothunder's debut, Hymns from the Electric Church will have you on your knees.

71 Top Picks
Two of Australia's greatest musicians have joined forces and the result is an album that's bigger than both of them. Amends has done the same without changing its line-up: their new album is jaw-droppingly good.

82 Rock On
Blackberry Smoke's latest album, You Hear Georgia, proves that they've finally perfected a winning balancing act between their two chief influences. And New Model Justin Sullivan's first solo album is a triumph.

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