Hi Fi News

Since its launch in June 1956 - two years before the commercial realisation of stereo - Hi-Fi News & Record Review has been delivering insightful reviews of the key products and technologies that lie behind our shared hobby... the passion of listening to music on the very best equipment available to the enthusiast. Every issue, Hi-Fi News delivers uniquely in-depth reviews of high-end audio equipment, including the best in vinyl replay and iconic vintage gear from the early days of audio. It is essential reading for all music enthusiasts.

Welcome

NEWS • We reveal the latest products and upcoming events

Florida Audio Expo 2025

Mind-melters • From the flower power era and the Summer of Love, through ambient house, space rock and more, Johnny Sharp picks out 20 albums that’ll take you to another dimension

The hi-fi news & Record Review Reader Pledge • Hi-Fi News’ readers can take full confidence in the fact that every product featured on our front cover, across the magazine and on our website has been comprehensively examined (inc. photography), lab tested and auditioned at our purpose-built facility

Rockport Technologies Orion • Leveraging its 30 years of innovative speaker design, the Orion features Rockport’s ‘next generation’ cabinet

Transrotor Massimo Nero • For decades a gentleman’s agreement between UK’s Michell Engineering and Germany’s Transrotor ensured they never exported to each other’s country, until now…

Manley Neo-Classic 300B • Here’s a traditional triode tube amplifier with a modern twist as Manley’s evergreen Neo-Classic 300B proves there’s more than enough power to energise your music

Dynaudio Contour 20 BE • 40 years young, Dynaudio’s Contour series is raised to a new level in this ‘Black Edition’ standmount, featuring improvements to every component. Welcome to the dark side!

Hegel D50 ‘The Raven’ • Further proof that there’s audio gold in pursuing ‘purism’ comes courtesy of Norway’s Hegel and a USB DAC that eschews streaming. We listen as the Raven takes flight…

Eversolo DMP-A10 • With its macho industrial design, large touchscreen interface, fibre network connection and cutting-edge digital technology, Eversolo’s flagship streamer/preamp raises the bar

Perlisten S7t LE • Perlisten’s flagship gets the ‘LE’ treatment with lashings of carbon-fibre, plus updated crossover and bass drivers

Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue • In this genre-melting, career-defining piece, the composer hoped to capture America’s ‘pep’ and ‘metropolitan madness’. Peter Quantrill surveys a century of recordings

Mississippi John Hurt Today! • After a brief career in the 1920s, the master storyteller returned four decades later to record this blues/folk masterpiece. Steve Sutherland hears the 180g reissue

The Fixx Reach The Beach • One thing led to another when the British group’s sophomore album was released in 1983, pushing toward the beachhead of merging new-wave sounds with reconfigured rock convention. The result was a perfect aural match for the tenor of the times

PRODUCTION NOTES

Alternate Format Discography

Metropolis Studios • Once threatened by demolition, the Power House building in Chiswick has gone from generating electricity to making, mixing and mastering music. Steve Sutherland tells all

ALBUM REVIEWS

Over the line • Technology developments and copyright concerns have left the world of online radio in a monster mess, says Barry Fox. Is a standalone Internet radio tuner the answer to his problems?

Making music • Hi-fi manufacturer MSB has a boutique offering of high-end DACs and power amplifiers, all designed, assembled and evaluated at its California HQ. Barry Willis went behind the scenes

Room service • Even simple DIY...