HIFICRITIC Volume 13 Number 2 April / May / June 2019

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	High-Performance Audio Reviews Music News, Show Reports, And More! Celebrating 29 Years Of Service To Music Lovers

HIFICRITIC April / May / June 2019

Reviews & Articles Within This Issue
2 The Vision We Have For HIFICRITIC Magazine
Editorial By Martin Colloms, Editor-in-Chief

4 Stan's Safari No 46
In which Stan Curtis recounts tales of monster speakers designed to get closer to the studio, designing in excitement, and how musicians choose their systems.

6 Wilson Audio Sasha DAW
Long-time Wilson WATT/PUPPY enthusiast Martin Colloms finds much to admire in the company's latest model, a tribute to late founder David Wilson.

10 Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2019 Report
Passing Notes 7
Julian Musgrave takes a long hard look at what his record is doing, and enjoys his visit to the 2019 Bristol Show.

13 HIGH END Munich 2019
Ed Selley hits the halls of Europe's biggest specialist audio show, and finds plenty to talk about – and the odd oddity!

15 Audio Research's new Reference
The Reference Six preamp and Reference 160M monoblocks get the Colloms scrutiny.

20 The Complications Of Simplicity
In an exclusive interview, Vertere founder Touraj Moghaddam explains how great design means going back to basics.

24 Bespoke Audio Preamp
Made to measure, is this the best preamplifier Andrew Harrison has ever encountered?

26 The Are We Breathe
Could the air within our listening rooms be having more of an effect than we know? Keith Howard takes a deep breath, and plunges into this complex subject.

29 Chord Hugo 2
Not much larger than the entry-level Mojo, and now in Mk II form, this little DAC delights John Honeyball. Well, apart from actually using it, that is...

32 Roon Comes of Age
Once the preserve of a small group of enthusiasts, Roon now seems to be just about everywhere. Andrew Everard takes a closer look at what it does, and what you need.

34 Fyne Audio F303
This budget floorstander wasn't the speaker Kevin Fiske was hoping for, but he came away from it mighty impressed.

36 Clio Pocket
Martin Colloms assesses an affordable, but
hugely powerful, measurement system.

39 Nordost Valhalla 2
Andrew Harrison tries the 'full loom' of Nordost's flagship cabling system. This could get a bit expensive...

40 Nova Fidelity X45
A do-it-all digital music ripper, server and player has Andrew Everard impressed.

42 Leema Sirius
Andrew Harrison examines this flexible digital player from the Welsh wizards.

44 Formation Flying
The new Bowers & Wilkins multi-room music system: here's all you need to know.

46 Definitive Technology D9
Chris Frankland finds this speaker from the States can mix it with the best of British.

48 One Box Or Two?
Naim's Uniti Nova is a fine 'just add speakers' system, but can it match the sound of similarly-priced separates?

51 Vangelis – A Portrait
Julian Musgrave surveys the career – and influence – of the electronic music pioneer.

54 Jazz And Classical Picks
Greg Drygala and Colin Anderson highlight recent jazz and classical releases.

58 How We Listen
Talk Electronics founder Keven Edwards discusses designing hi-fi, playing brass in bands and orchestras, and the music he uses when system-tuning.