May 2012
Within This Issue...
Editorial By Noel Keywood

 

  No one produces new loudspeakers faster than Martin Logan it would seem, so we have yet another new model in this issue, the amazing £9500 Montis on p12. We never miss a Martin Logan, because these hybrid electrostatics are all but unique and have their own astonishing sound. I hope you enjoy reading about them. Dare I admit their Theos has just arrived at our offices for review soon! 

A media player plays music from SD card or USB memory. There aren’t so many around right now but we have just been sent a fascinating example from China, due for review in the next issue. See it pictured in this issue on p44, heading up a feature on the new breed. You’ll see another Chinese manufacturer claiming Media Players are the natural replacement for CD – an interesting idea indeed. Read about it all in Hi-Fi World this month.

You thought a Mac Mini was a dinky little computer? Not when audiophiles get their hands on it. U.K. importer and distributor Item Audio now offer an AP Edition tuned up to deliver high fidelity and you can read about it on p26. 

Vinylistas need not worry about all this digital activity though. A good moving coil cartridge playing LP puts most digital to shame! We review six affordable MCs in this issue just to underline how good analogue can be – see p17. OK, they cost as much as a Mac Mini and more than a PC (!) but well – that’s about right value-wise isn’t it?

As Adam Smith notes in his column this month we have plenty of shows to keep us busy at the start of 2012 and two are featured in this issue, Bristol Sound & Vision (p71) and the Wigwam forum show (p117). They reveal the commercial and the enthusiast sides of audio respectively – and how different they can be! Both were fascinating I think you'll agree when you see what was on display in our show reports.

This is another great issue full of interesting entrants into the wonderful world of high fidelity that I hope you will enjoy.

--- Noel Keywood, editor.

 

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