COMPONENTS
ARCAM SA30 £2,000
Arcam’s flagship amp exemplifies all the company has been working on in recent years, combining its proprietary Class G amplification to provide 120W of power to a wide spread of inputs, with the added benefit of Dirac Room EQ software.
JBL HDI-1600 £2,000
The smallest member of the HDI Series that takes features from the larger and more ornate ranges, the HDI-1600 combines a 165mm aluminium mid/ bass driver with a compression-loaded tweeter in a trademark JBL waveguide.
In the ‘almost but not quite English’ language of marketing, ‘brand identity’ is a very good thing. The idea that products you produce can be instantly recognised as one of your own is a desirable way of standing out. The hi-fiindustry, consciously or otherwise, is rather good at this with many companies building product that is recognisable on sight as the work of one specific manufacturer. What happens, though, when your brand identity is ideal for a certain type of product, but you need to apply it to something outside that window?
JBL has had to grapple with that particular question. It has a fine reputation for a particular breed of speaker that is generally on the hefty side. Its larger models are held in considerable reverence in many circles and it’s done a fine job of mining a rich vein of heritage in some of its other recent offerings. What you see here is recognisably a JBL model, but one that takes the fight to more conventional rivals.
Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Hi-Fi Choice.
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Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Hi-Fi Choice.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Old boys network
As the lineups start to emerge for this summer's festivals, Nigel Williamson investigates where the problem lies for the continuing dearth of female headliners
DESTINATION: LEITH
Welcome to a friendly haven of Californian cool in the creative heart of a former Edinburgh port. Simon Berkovitch samples the sunshine on Leith
Core values
Apple’s revamped HomePod smart speaker off ers attractive sound quality, but its Apple-centric focus remains frustrating for Cliff Joseph
Forty something
Creek Audio is celebrating its big four-o with the release of the new 4040 A integrated. Nick Tate lights the candles and listens in
One for all
German high-ender AVM wants to make top all-in-one performers. David Vivian takes a listen to its all-singing integrated amp
Three for all
The 700 Series receives a helping of tech from the flagship 800 models. Ed Selley sees how the smallest speaker fares
All in one
DAP, DAC, amplifier and streaming device, is there anything A&K’s new Acro can’t do? Cliff Joseph finds out
Wooden wonder
Better known for its speakers, ELAC’s range of electronics now has a new flagship turntable. Ed Selley takes it for a spin
System matching
Why finding the perfect synergy between your chosen integrated amplifier and favourite speakers holds the key to maximising your system’s potential
Game on!
At times the hi-fi and gaming industries might seem like they’re worlds apart, but Cliff Joseph reckons they both share a love of high-quality sound