What HiFi

Product category Dock systems

Logitech has established itself as manufacturer of some excellent, affordable desktop audio systems. Its iPod-friendly products such as the Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 (£80) and the S715i (£100) have won Awards.

Product UE Air Speaker Pros Easy set-up; AirPlay equipped; powerful, entertaining sound; precise, taut bass Cons Looks plain from the front Abstract

Logitech’s AirPlay-toting speaker dock sounds the business

We Say Logitech’s AirPlay-toting speaker dock sounds the business Verdict Logitech’s AirPlay-toting speaker dock sounds the business. Arcam et al had better watch out Images Star Rating Test Month 06 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Hi-fi amplifiers

Product Obelisk si Pros Terrifically musical; fine timing; cohesive presentation; upgradeable Cons Finish; poor remote handset Abstract

A musically talented performer that entertains as well as anything at this price point

We Say A talented performer for the money Verdict A musically talented performer that entertains as well as anything at this price point Images Star Rating Test Month 06 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Preamps

The Townshend Audio Allegri preamplifier is designed to answer some of the main questions asked about the design of purely passive devices such as this, including how to build a device that's as near as possble to 'a straight wire with a volume control' while avoiding the heightened sensitivity to partnering equiment and even cables all too often found in such designs.

Product Allegri Pros Exceptional transparency; terrific detail resolution and dynamic punch; simplicity Cons Poor perceived value for money; basic feature list Abstract

It might lack features, but this premium preamp is a force to be reckoned with, packing amazing transparency and insight

We Say Featureless, but terrific sounding Verdict If you can put up with the lack of features this is a terrific-sounding product Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category CD players

The Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 digital-to-analogue converter is illed as a simple system-booster for a variety of sources – a neat-looking little unit. It replaces the original DacMagic, and even costs £30 less.

Product DacMagic 100 Pros Neat design; fine connectivity; inputs support up to 24-bit/192kHz; open, detailed sound Cons Lacks dynamic reach and scale Abstract

An affordable, very listenable DAC, but lacks dynamic reach and scale

We Say An affordable, very listenable DAC, but lacks dynamic reach and scale Verdict Another affordable, fine-looking and very listenable DAC from Cambridge Audio Images Star Rating Test Month 06 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Hi-fi speakers

Never heard of Accolade Audio? It’s a new brand, part of the Arcaydis group, sitting alongside the well-regarded (but online only) EB Acoustics brand.

Product Model 1 Pros Precise midrange; excellent insight; terrific resolution; unfussy about positioning Cons Treble lacks refinement; lack of consistency across the frequency range Abstract

There's much to like about these standmounters, but they're not perfect

We Say There's much to like with these unfussy standmounters Verdict In some ways the Model 1s are deeply impressive, but they have some issues too Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category CD players

The Audioengine D1 is a USB-powered DAC, which makes it truly portable, combined with a headphone amplifier, which makes it even more so.

What's more, as well as accepting a signal through the USB input, it also offers the option of an optical connection, which also has the benefit of accepting content of up to 192kHz/24-bit, rather than the USB connection's 92kHz/24-bit limitation.

Product D1 Pros Refined, well-balanced, informative sound Cons Just lacks a touch of precision Abstract

A great headphone amp and DAC in one neat box, but needs a touch more precision

We Say A great headphone amp and DAC in one box Verdict The D1 is a fine performer with a well balanced and informative sound Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Hi-fi speakers

Our first impression of the JBL Studio 580 speakers isn’t great.

Product Studio 580 Pros Insight and subtlety coupled with the dynamic power and attack expected from JBL Cons Fit and finish seems rather ordinary Abstract

Unusual looks, but deliver an impressively capable (and fun) sound

We Say Impressive and insightful floorstanders Verdict Hugely capable floorstanders that deliver an impressively capable (and fun) sound Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Dock systems

Creative has brought out a modular update to its ZiiSound D5 Bluetooth wireless iPod dock system.

Product ZiiSound D5x Pros Wireless; allows iPod to be used as a remote control; easy to setup; enjoyable listen Cons Could do with a little more definition and openness Abstract

An enjoyably musical wireless Bluetooth system

We Say An enjoyably musical wireless Bluetooth system Verdict A good wireless system; enjoyably musical, and good to use with an iPod remotely Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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Product category Dock systems

Product Fidelio SoundSphere DS9800 Pros Intriguing looks; punchy, unified and nicely balanced sound via AirPlay Cons Lose composure when playing via a physical connection; not the most detailed Abstract

Distinctive AirPlay speakers are a pretty persuasive proposition

We Say Distinctive AirPlay speakers are a pretty persuasive proposition Verdict As an alternative to, well, just about everything for your iPod, the Philips Fidelio DS9800s are a pretty persuasive proposition Images Star Rating Test Month 05 Test Year 12 Test Type category First test

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