Articles and Reviews – page 2

Not long ago it seemed that the Technics brand had sunk into oblivion in the audiophile field - but it rose from the ashes and offered fans of High End not just a set of impressive equipment. But they also rethought modern approaches to the design of such electronics. The Technics Reference series of components today is an example of how many years of disassembly and traditional attention to every detail allow you to give the world genuine pearls of good sound. The Technics SU-R1000 integrated amplifier is just one of them, and we are testing it today.

The updated Chord Hugo TT2 digital-to-analog converter inherits the features of its predecessors but has received a noticeably more powerful decoding system (five times more than the original Hugo and twice as powerful as Hugo 2). Enclosed in a stylish compact case by John Franks made of milled aluminum, the device turned out to be very impressive on our test bench - throughout the review stage, we did not cease to be amazed by the capabilities of this little one.

Review: Michell Orbe SE – a turntable that takes us back to the golden era of sound

The first loudspeakers of the ProAc Response series made a splash in the Hi-Fi market at the end of the 20th century – compact speakers provided incredible panchy bass and mind-blowing dynamics. Today, the legendary series of the British company is still in service – we review the new ProAc Response DT8 speakers, which inherit all the family features of past generations of Response-series.

The Polish company LampizatOr and its head, Łukasz Fikus, are among those people who are changing the landscape of modern High End sound. The first digital-to-analog converter Atlantic 1 DAC was presented to the public five years ago, and today the company has significantly modernized the device – this is how LampizatOr Atlantic 3 TRP appeared.

When we talk about a High End R2R tape recorder, we remember the Studer A810. Although new machines from famous brands are gradually appearing on the market, no one can eclipse the glory of the hero. Today, a working device can be found on the second-hand market – and many private craftsmen and restoration companies guarantee decent service for the model.

The innovative integrated amplifier Devialet D-Premier was first presented at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, after the device earned a standing ovation from both the specialized press and audiophiles.

Gryphon Audio Designs is a company with an unquestionable reputation in the upper echelon audio market. The Danish company, which became a legend back in the 80s of the XX century, is still a trendsetter in the High End industry today - primarily in the field of amplification. Mephisto Stereo, one of the top models in the Gryphon's product line, reflects all the company's developments over its long history.

When it comes to High End acoustics, the first company that comes to mind is Wilson Audio, an American trendsetter in the field of high-quality sound reproduction that has repeatedly turned our ideas about how home speakers should sound upside down. Today, with the appearance of the Wilson Audio Sasha V model on the market, we can talk about it once again and can see a really gamechanger loudspeakers.

In an effort to provide the highest possible sound quality, developers of High-End equipment and acoustics go to incredible tricks and release truly monumental and innovative developments. Our new rating is made up of just such pearls of the firmament of good sound – loudspeakers that can amaze you with their appearance, offer a whole book of innovations and, of course, boast incredible sound quality. So, the ten most daring innovative High-End acoustics of 2025.