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Articles by Ed Selley
Discussion of our review of Fyne Cubitt 5 Active Speaker
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Tech Talk: Spring Meng of Eversolo
In a very short time, Eversolo has become one of the leading lights in next-generation audio products. It’s easy to dismiss the brand as an overnight success, but like all such winners, that ‘overnight success’ is the result of many, many years of painstaking research, development and product design. We spoke to Eversolo’s Chief Technology Officer, Spring Meng, about what goes into developing the exciting new face of audio! I’m Spring Meng, CTO of Eversolo.
Eversolo T8
The streaming transport is a device that exists in a somewhat fragile state. Its ability to improve a system heavily depends on how the connected digital input utilises the signal it sends, which means that debates over their value often shift to issues of functionality. This approach can sometimes seem uncertain when compared to simply using the digital outputs of a streamer from the same company. The Eversolo T8 exemplifies this situation.
Tech Talk: Mat Spandl of Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Energy is a leading name in the UK loudspeaker scene. Since the 1980s, the company has been associated with outstanding loudspeaker systems, both active and passive. It is perhaps best known for its two-way stand-mount loudspeakers, such as the classic AE1, which was recently relaunched to mark its 40th anniversary (reviewed in Issue 249). The company also has a strong reputation for producing high-quality active loudspeakers.
Acoustic Energy AE Active
For many years, active speakers had a practicality problem. Sure, the engineering argument for powering the crossover and placing amplification after that point, directly coupled to each driver, was easy to make, but the practicality argument was trickier. The difference between a system with passive speakers and one with active models was effectively half an amplifier. However, more recently, this calculation has changed dramatically as a huge swathe of equipment has gained preamp functionality.
Technics SC-C70 Mk2 Wireless Speaker Review & Discussion
#6 I agree with the contents of the review, having purchased an SC-C70MkII some 4yrs ago. The reason for the purchase is that we downsized our house and no longer had the space for my Audiolab bi-amped set-up! (which I still have boxed up in the office!) Also I wanted to remain married so a compromise had to be made. The sound is ok for the money but lacks the weight and authority of my Audiolab setup. But that said, the sound is "good enough".
Technics Ottava SC-C30 Wireless Speaker Review & Comments
#2 I received one of these free last week when I bought it's big brother the Technics Ottava SC-C70. Great deal actually, although to be fair the SC-C30 is probably over-priced at it's current retail £499. It's replaced a HomePod in the kitchen and, to my ears, presents a more balanced sound, less bass heavy than the HomePod. I definitely prefer it, it's a nice listen but can also go more than loud enough when needed.
Discussion of our review of NAD C 3030S Streaming Amplifier
#1 Read the NAD C 3030S Streaming Amplifier Review . The self-contained version of NAD's compact amp is here - does it refine an already solid product into something class leading? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of AudioQuest DragonFly Copper DAC
#1 Read the AudioQuest DragonFly Copper DAC Review . The dinky DAC from AudioQuest is back with new hardware and a splendid shiny finish. Is this still a competitive option for getting great sound from your portable? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Vertere Phono-1 LX Phono Stage
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Topping DX9 Discrete Review
Verdict The DX9 takes the brilliance of the D900 and makes it more affordable and more flexible.
Tech Talk: Wiktor Schulfer of Unitra
Unitra is a legendary Polish brand. Unitra’s history dates back to 1961, when the Union of the Electronic and Communications Industry (Zjednoczenie Przemysłu Elektronicznego i Teletechnicznego) was established. In a short time, the brand became a driving force in the Polish electronic industry, bringing together as many as 28 manufacturing companies, supported by technology sales centres and design and engineering offices.
Unitra WSH-805
Nostalgia is a powerful influence in product design, but even so, it’s surprising how many different forms it can take. Unitra was the name of a collective of Polish companies involved in consumer electronics during the Cold War. Although I am keen on history, Unitra isn’t my specialist subject, but its output was well regarded. Nonetheless, faced with rising competition, the original Unitra ceased operations in 1989.
Discussion of our review of Majority Auto Turntable
#1 Read the Majority Auto Turntable Review . Majority's breadth of products is already eye opening but, in the Auto, it's gone and released a turntable with functionality we've never seen here before - is it any good? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane. #2 Thank you Ed.I have a P3RS and a Planar 2 (I'm going to do some tweaks on the P2 and sell it).
Quad Platina Review
Verdict The Platina shuns the comforting retro aesthetic of some other Quad devices to encase an amplifier that combines clean, modern looks with an absolutely up to the minute spec and genuinely superb performance. It’s not cheap but it’s worth every penny.
Discussion of our review of Acoustic Energy AE Active Loudspeaker
#1 Read the Acoustic Energy AE Active Loudspeaker Review . The AE1 Active has been a quiet success story for Acoustic Energy but with an actual AE1 wearing the name again, it's time for a refresh - does the AE Active deliver? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
NAD C589 - Sound Advice Review
For a fair while now, compact disc has widely been regarded as a spent force - a format that, if not actively seen as ‘dead’, is definitely on the glide slope towards the end of its life. The sheer volume of discs in circulation mean it was never going to disappear overnight, but the idea of releasing a brand new, standalone CD player seems to make less and less sense. Throughout 2026, though, CD has been staging a bit of a fightback.
Discussion of our review of Rotel Michi Prestige X430 Integrated Amplifier
#1 Read the Rotel Michi Prestige X430 Integrated Amplifier Review. Building on the success of the Michi line, Rotel has revamped models and introduced a new tier. The X430 looks like a formidable bit of kit but can it deliver in reality? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Eversolo T10 Streaming Transport
#1 Read the Eversolo T10 Streaming Transport Review . Having demonstrated that its interface is more than up to the task of feeding other people's decoding with the T8, Eversolo has upped the ante with the T10 - can it possibly justify the extra outlay? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane. #2 After spending time with both the T8 and T10, I didn’t hear any meaningful sonic distinction between the two.
Discussion of our review of Marantz Model 70 Amp and CD 70 CD Player
#1 Read the Marantz Model 70 Amp and CD 70 CD Player Review. Modern hifi takes all manner of different forms and box counts... or you can buy an integrated amp and CD from Marantz. Is this still worthwhile and do you want to? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Earphone
#1 Read the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Earphone Review . With the Momentum 5 over ear setting a very high standard, it's the turn of the in ear to get the same treatment. Is it a double whammy? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Technics SC-CX700
The Technics SC-CX700 is a self-contained, wireless, active loudspeaker. That category is currently experiencing significant growth in the market. This makes sense considering the concept addresses a typically challenging issue. Wireless active speakers can operate independently as a single-unit system. However, because they come as a pair, they can also deliver genuine stereo performance.
Moon 371
Verdict It isn’t cheap but the Moon 371 takes the ‘do anything integrated amplifier’ concept to a very special place indeed.
Discussion of our review of Cyrus 80 AMP Streaming Amp
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Revival Audio Sprint 3
Receiving a product for review from a company you haven’t interacted with before is always slightly tense. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to examine something into which the designer has invested their heart and soul. You must compare the materials you’ve been given with the actual object or objects in the rack. And you can’t even ride a motorbike while jumping out of a helicopter wearing someone else’s face. The Revival Audio Sprint 3 is one such mission.
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a range of products that are loving tributes to models from decades ago. Nostalgia is a major market; whether appealing to those who admired the product in the past but couldn’t afford it, or simply tapping into a broader desire to nostalgically revisit a time when things were at least differently terrible. At first glance, the relaunched Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary appears much the same.
Discussion of our review of Moon 371 Network Player/Amplifier
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Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX
Mains (or AC) treatment is a crucial part of the Synergistic Research portfolio, and the range is extensive. It reaches up to the Galileo flagship at nearly thirty thousand pounds. Galileo has proven very effective as a testbed for technology and ideas. These have subsequently filtered down to the rest of the range. This means that the PowerCell 8 SX is both more affordable and compact.
#1 Read the Meze Audio Astru Wired Earphone Review. The Astru seeks to undertake the complex task of being an in ear monitor by applying a dose of simplicity; does it work? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
New speakers to bring the best from a Naim Uniti Nova PE
RH contacted sound-advice.online with an interesting dilemma about his next loudspeaker choice. He’s been using a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2 floorstanders for some years - but a recent change to a Naim Uniti Nova PE had him wondering if there was more to be had from it, particularly in his relatively compact room. The two main candidates are the S3 version of the 702 floorstander he’s already been using.
Discussion of our review of Majority Audio Folio Turntable
#1 Read the Majority Audio Folio Turntable Review . The self contained turntable market is festooned with attractive looking designs that are ruinous for your records. Can Majority solve this with the Folio? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Monitor Audio Silver 100 8G
Something that Monitor Audio has devoted commendably little time to over the last few decades are product names. The company decided on speaker lines called ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’ over twenty years ago - and while it has had to come up with some extra model names for models outside this, those three ranges have been a constantly updated part of the line-up ever since. In the case of the ‘Silver’ series, this latest iteration is the 8th generation of speakers to bear the name.
Discussion of our review of Topping DX9 Discrete DAC/Preamp Headphone Amp
Read the Topping DX9 Discrete DAC/Preamp Headphone Amp Review. The D900 showed that Topping's proprietary decoding could do some deeply impressive things. The DX9 Discrete is here to simplify the process and add some extra functionality - is this the version of PSRM you'll actually want to buy?
Discussion of our review of Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 Master Edition Streaming Preamp
#1 Read the Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 Master Edition Streaming Preamp Review . It's the turn of Eversolo's DMP-A8 to be given the Gen 2 treatment... and in the case of the Master Edition some rather unexpected new functionality too. How does it fare? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of AVID Ingenium SE Turntable
#1 Read the AVID Ingenium SE Turntable Review. Just in case your choice of vinyl front ends under 3k wasn't extensive enough, AVID has launched an updated version of the Ingenium. Will it cause you to revise your purchasing decisions? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Michell Audio Apollo and Muse
To the uninitiated, the last two or three years of output from Michell Audio appear to be a period of unexpected activity following a longer phase of steady progress. The reality, however, is somewhat more complex. Michell has never ceased to tweak, upgrade, and strengthen its range of products; it has simply become much better at communicating that to people.
Discussion of our review of Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G Floorstanding Speaker
Review Specifications Discussion (32) #1 Read the Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G Floorstanding Speaker Review. Monitor Audio is no stranger to a cost effective floorstander and the Bronze 300 7G is here to show us they still know what they are doing. There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane. #2 I get that at this price range you can't complain too much, but they don't half look boring.
Astell & Kern PD20 Review
Verdict The PD20 combines all of Astell & Kern’s longstanding understanding of electronics and metalwork with a freshly comprehensive suite of software that makes it a formidable option for headphone use on the move.
Discussion of our review of Q Acoustics 3040c Floorstanding Speaker
#1 Read the Q Acoustics 3040c Floorstanding Speaker Review. The 3000c range launched with a single fairly hefty floorstander in the form of the 3050c. Now it has been reinforced with the smaller 3040c and we need to see if it's any good. There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Titanic Audio Newton
The vast majority will earn a living as record weights, and they’ll do a fine job of it. Replete with its new LEVI feet, I pressed it into service on my Michell GyroDec in place of the screw clamp. Its first test was a copy of Jamiroquai’s Travelling Without Moving [Sony], which has a warp severe enough on record one to ensure that the opening ‘Virtual Insanity’ can’t be tracked by the cartridge without the clamp in place.
Discussion of our review of Neat IOTA Alpha 2 Floorstanding Speaker
#1 Read the Neat IOTA Alpha 2 Floorstanding Speaker Review . The teeniest floorstander going is back in updated form, offering to reach the parts that rivals cannot. How does the little guy fare? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Eversolo T10 - Sound Advice Review
Elsewhere on Sound Advice you’ll find a review of Eversolo’s DAC-Z10 - and if you haven’t already read it, this might be a perfect time to do so. It emphasises the fact that the DAC-Z10 does a lot of things and, moreover, does all of them exceptionally well. The T10 is designed to partner the DAC-Z10, so you might assume it will be another blizzard of functionality. In fact, the reality is rather different. The T10 does in fact do one (ONE) thing.
Stack Audio Serene
It’s what’s on the other side of the silicone that makes the Serene work. It’s filled with lightweight rubber particles that, within limits, can move around inside the Serene. The idea is that energy transferred to the Stack Audio Serene is dissipated as heat rather than being squashed out of existence. Designer Theo Stack argues that this method works better across the full spectrum of possible vibrations, rather than being a one-size-fits-all solution. There are additional benefits as well.
Discussion of our review of Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier
#1 Read the Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier Review . Having revisited their past with the 33/303, Quad riffs on it with the all new Quad 3. How does it fit in the market? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of DALI IO-12 Wireless Headphone
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Discussion of our review of iFi Stream 3, Network Streaming Preamp
#1 Read the iFi Stream 3, Network Streaming Preamp Review. iFi's take on an all in one streamer is a different one to most of its rivals. Do the tweaks to the original recipe give it a broader appeal? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Wharfedale Denton 1S Standmount Speaker
#1 Read the Wharfedale Denton 1S Standmount Speaker Review. The latest heritage speaker from Wharfedale... doesn't really look like a heritage design at all. Is the Denton 1S a weird take on nostalgia or something perfectly set up for the modern world? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Cambridge Evo 300 All In One System
#1 Read the Cambridge Evo 300 All In One System Review. The Evo Series has been a bit of a hit for Cambridge and they've doubled down with the most powerful version yet. Does the Evo 300 kick on where the 150 left off? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Discussion of our review of Ferrum Wandla HP DAC/Preamp
#1 Read the Ferrum Wandla HP DAC/Preamp Review . The Wandla HP combines elements of two of Ferrum's existing products into one chassis and proceeds to add some interesting connectivity. Is the result worth the considerable asking price? There were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.
Lindemann Woodnote COMBO
In hardware terms, the Woodnote COMBO follows the standard Lindemann approach of combining some off-the-shelf components with carefully selected bespoke hardware. The amplifier is a Class D unit that delivers 30 watts into an eight-ohm load and 50 watts into a four-ohm load. Lindemann does not specify the origin of this module. However, it neither claims it as anything other than an existing device. From this point, the Woodnote COMBO becomes more interesting.
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