There's a new issue of Australia's top magazine for audio & AV – packed with reviews, news and comment to keep you up on all the latest, while considering your next hi-fi or AV purchase.
From all-in-one sound systems to complete home cinema installation, it's all inside #359 of Sound+Image, together with news, views, music and movies to provide a solid summer-scorching read!
REVIEWS THIS ISSUE:
Sony ‘Bravia 8’ 4K projector REVIEW
Also known as the VPL-XW6100ES, the latest of Sony’s native-4K projectors shows the inherent stability of genuine 4K bigscreen entertainment.
Musical Fidelity LS3/5A stereo loudspeakers REVIEW
A 50-year-old loudspeaker design originally intended for use in BBC vans. Does it retain any relevance to the modern world of hi-fi? (Spoiler: yes it does.)
Zildjian Alchem-E wireless NC headphones REVIEW
A 17th-century cymbal maker delivers genuinely-different wireless NC headphones — protective, corrective, enjoyable, and especially attractive for drummers.
ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS
Meridian Ellipse wireless streaming speaker REVIEW
Meridian’s Ellipse may be the best small wireless speaker we’ve ever heard, but we confess to being a tad shocked by the price-tag.
Revo SuperConnect Stereo streaming radio REVIEW
Revo has a new presence in Australia, and this latest SuperConnect Stereo model shows that the company hasn’t lost its mojo.
Audio Pro C20 wireless speaker REVIEW
It looks minimalist, but this stylish Scandi-design system is well-equipped with inputs and streaming, while delivering fantastic all-in-one performance.
Ruark R1S streaming radio REVIEW
A classic digital and FM radio updated to include Spotify and streaming… with the surprise being how good a sound this relatively small box can deliver.
JBL Xtreme 4 portable waterproof speaker REVIEW
Not a boom box! The rugged exterior of the portable Xtreme 4 hides a performance which can surprise hi-fi fans as well as getting beachgoers dancing round the firepit.
VINYL – CLEAR & SIMPLE
Pro-Ject XA B turntable REVIEW
Clear acrylic plinth, radical ‘balanced’ moving-magnet cartridge, and a gimbal that needed re-engineering: we had fun with Pro-Ject’s $2399 turntable.
Audio-Technica AT-LP70x turntable REVIEW
For just $499, a just-above-entry-level deck for those looking to start a relationship with vinyl, or for those who are getting back to the black.
The alpha & omega of vinyl
Best opening songs ever to appear on vinyl, and then the best closing songs ever! But do you agree?
Wavetrain’s Signature Series cinemas CUSTOM INSTALLATION
This award-winning home cinema demonstrates the level of quality available from customising one of Wavetrain’s ‘Signature Series’ cinema options.
tech brief: Is your streaming lossless?
Music subscription services say they stream at a certain quality, but is your music compressed on the way down? Stephen Dawson aims to find out.
comment: DYNAMIC TENSION
The Editor likes it loud….
News
Marantz ports its circles into new Horizons
Revox brings a new B77 reel-to-reel
JBL’s all-dancing Tour PRO 3 true wireless buds
Qobuz adds DSD
Electrocompaniet’s simple rooms of sound
Beyerdynamic’s 100th anniversary headphones
Zeppelin gets a Pro tweak
Marantz buys in circuits for its range-topping Model 10 amplifier
Michi spins up a new CD transport
Richter soups up its classic Merlin speakers
SVS brings 17-inch subwoofers
Lumagen’s more affordable new processor
MOVIES & MUSIC
film classic: Loving the Alien
45 years on from Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece, we look back at what made this slasher-in-space such a cinema legend.
cult movie: Meet the Flintstones
A top cast in a classic cartoon adaptation, successful box office — so why was there never a second Flintstones movie?
the big picture: Citizen Kane’s mirror image
Orson Welles threw every cinematic trick in the book at his legendary mono masterpiece: here’s the story of the classic mirror moment.
Robbie Robertson
From the Hawks to The Band and on through a sparse but solid solo career, Robbie Robertson created unique music with depth and soul.
music reviews: Releases & re-releases
New tunes from MC5, Peter Perrett, Pixies and Kim Deal, and re-releases from Thin Lizzy, Queen, the Yardbirds and Melanie.
classic track: Fortunate Son
The Creedence classic was released when America was tearing itself apart. How timely…
It's all in the new #359 of Sound+Image available on newstands, digitally (see below) or direct by mail at techmags.com.au
