The top five new products that caught our eye this month
Five products to look out for this month
1 Astell & Kern SE200 £1799
The world’s first personal music player to use a multi-dac set-up. Digital players these days often have dual or even quad DAC configurations, but the SE200 actually uses a combination of DAC chips – two Sabre ESS9068AS DACS (in a dual configuration) as well as a single AKM4499EQ (as found in Astell & Kern’s top-of-the-line SP2000 player). This unique multi-dac implementation allows owners to customise the SE200’S sound based on their preferences and music type, with DAC filters offering opportunities for further fine-tuning. whf.cm/se200
2 Elipson Chroma 400 RIAA BT Carbon £699
If you’re after an affordable turntable that does more than just spin records – by which we mean one that can record vinyl to digital files and stream vinyl over Bluetooth – then you may well be interested in the flagship model in Elipson’s new range of decks. Not only does the Chroma Carbon RIAA BT Carbon sport said modern features, it also brings a smattering of performance upgrades over the French brand’s successful Alpha and Omega decks. whf.cm/chroma
3 Quad Artera Solus Play £1699
As indicated by its name, Quad’s latest just-add-speakers solution is based on the DTS Play-fi hi-res streaming platform, bringing network streaming and multi-room functionality to the fore of the compact system’s spec sheet. There’s also a built-in CD player, aptx Bluetooth and Spotify Connect support, in addition to a range of analogue and digital connections – everything but the kitchen sink, then. whf.cm/solusplay
4 Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature £2699
Arriving alongside the 702 Signature, B&W’S latest Signature standmount is derived from, but promises improvements over, the 702 speaker the company launched in 2017. It carries over that distinct tweeter-on-top design, below which is a 16.5cm Continuum midrange driver, manufactured by B&W and first seen in its 800 Series Diamond. It benefits from upgraded bypass capacitors, larger heat-sinking and a new Datuk Gloss ebony-coloured veneer complete with celebratory Signature identity plate. whf.cm/signature705
5 Grado The Hemp Headphone Limited Edition £480
“We weren’t sure how these hemphones would turn out, but to everyone’s surprise it quickly became a favorite passed around Grado,” reads the company’s introduction to its latest open-back headphones. Regardless of your feelings towards the word ‘hemphones’, they certainly pique our interest. The hemp material from which they’re made supposedly creates a damping effect between the fibres that helps produce a fuller sound that features a prominent low-end and a smooth treble. whf.cm/hemphones