August 2010
Analog, Digital And More!
Editorial By David Price

 

  Back in the early eighties, there was only one turntable to have - the Linn Sondek LP12. For many years everyone was talking about it, but the situation didn't last forever though, as later in the decade a new name emerged from stage left, that of Pink Triangle...

At the time, when most of this country's hi-fi press had bestowed so much purple prose upon the Linn, it was hard to come down on the side of the Pink. But many did, and little by little the deck began winning friends.

It sounded so different to the LP12 because it did things so differently. At the time it was radical; now it seems less so because, ironically, so much of the Pink's thinking has passed into common use. Modern materials, vibration paths and special motors were all put on the map, in the UK, by Pink Triangle.

So now it is great to try its spiritual heir, the Funk Firm Saffire II. Designer Arthur Khoubesserian's flourishes are all over it; like that classic first Pink Triangle, it's unmistakably his. If ‘design is intelligence made visible', as the saying goes, then this is a very smart vinyl spinner. The way it effortlessly unlocks so much of the enormous amount of information contained in a record groove is amazing; and it does this in such a distinct way. Whereas other superdecks muscle their way through the music, the Funk is so fleet of foot, supple and subtle. Read all about it on p12.

This new issue of Hi-Fi World has also got some great digital news too; from XTZ's top value budget CD spinner [p36] to the superb HRT Technologies Streamer II+, which is the answer to many a computer audiophile's prayers [p66]. Musical Fidelity's new M1 is one of the best affordable DACs we've ever heard and a veritable steal at under £400 [p68], and Micromega's CD30 is a mid-price silver disc spinner with buckets of Gallic charm, that you've just got to taste [p78].

In addition to our epic six-strong phono stage supertest on p17, we've a treat for budget speaker fans in the shape of the brand new Q Acoustics 2050 on p30; this £350 floorstander completely belies its humble price and makes a surprisingly expensive sound. And now that it's the summer silly season, don't forget our annual ‘Globies' awards on p112, where we take a slightly askance look at the products we've reviewed in the past twelve months. Enjoy!

 

David Price, editor

 

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