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Acoustic Energy AE 103 £550 Bowers & Wilkins 684 S2 £800 Cambridge Audio Aeromax 6 £900 Dali Zensor 7 £730 PSB Speakers Imagine X1T £750 Roth OLi RA4 £400 This well-executed British-designed floorstander has a build quality that’s well above its price point and a specification that partners nicely done anodised aluminium cones with a soft fabric dome tweeter. The second incarnation of the 684 is thinner than it’s predecessor thanks to the use of smaller drive units still utilising the brand’s characteristic woven Kevlar cones. But how does the heavily tweaked S2 design fare against price rivals here? Just 18 month’s after the launch of its Aero range comes the revamped Aeromax, complete with shiny cabinets, improved internal bracing and driver enhancements. It’s the most costly model here, but will that be enough to take the spoils? One of Denmark’s most respected loudspeaker makers, Dali should always be on your audition list.

Radio 3's new controller Alan Davey, CEO of the Arts Council England is set to join BBC Radio 3 as Controller in January. Davey will take over from Roger Wright who has led the station for 15 years. With a passion for classical music, Davey also brings a long legacy of driving music educationforwardwhile at ACE and says he's committed to renewing the station for the digital age. .

Following our IAG Insider Feature in the October issue of Hi-Fi Choice we are pleased to give news of a special Quad event to be held at KJ West One. Peter J. Comeau, head of Acoustic Design at IAG, the owner of Quad, will be presenting the Quad family of audio electronics and speakers in a unique opportunity to get up close and hear the current generation of components. On show will be the Platinum series electronics, the Elite range that offers such exceptional value and the classic valve-based components, as well as the chance to examine and audition the Vena – see the November 390 issue for the world's first review of this new model – played through the 11 L loudspeakers.

PRODUCT Oppo HA-1 ORIGIN USA/China TYPE Class A headphone amplifier/preamp/ DAC WEIGHT 5. 9kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 254 x 80 x 333mm FEATURES ● Coaxial, Toslink; USB; AES/EBU and Bluetooth digital inputs ● Support for PCM; DSD (DoP v1. 1 or native); MP3; AAC ● 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre 9018 DAC ● 4. 3in fine-pitch colour display DISTRIBUTOR Oppo BD UK Ltd TELEPHONE 0845 0609395 WEBSITE oppodigital.

Click here to buy issue 389 and read the full review . . . .

The October 2014 issue of Hi-Fi Choice magazine has the usual wide range of features and equipment reviews, including our unique group test. It's packed with products for getting the best possible sound from your hi-fi, whether you're buying or tuning and tweaking. . .

click hereto purchase the September isse 388 and read the full review . . . .