Tests

At the end of 2022, Marantz presented an entire series of new AV receivers, “Cinema”, which were completely redeveloped and for the first time also adopted the current housing design of the stereo devices. After the previously tested Marantz Cinema 70s, we ordered the top model Marantz Cinema 30, which …

When Karl-Heinz Fink launches a new loudspeaker, you should listen up. The well-traveled developer has already delighted us with a number of audiophile delicacies – just think of the impressive Borg, which is still LowBeats reference. But now the master has outdone himself with the small Epos ES-7N. It sounds …

Until now, Audio Group Denmark (AGD), with its brands Børresen (loudspeakers), Aavik (electronics), and Ansuz (cables/accessories), has focused entirely on exploring hi-fidelity frontiers, resulting in products that, in terms of price, only appealed to a particularly solvent target audience or extreme hobbyists. But now the Danes have added the AXXESS …

This article creates a new genre at LowBeats: the on-site listening test. With these articles we want to gain an assessment of particularly expensive (or heavy) components that we don’t bring into our listening room – precisely because they are too expensive, too heavy or both – but which are …

Clearaudio is not modest. The Franconians (The Franconian lands lie principally in Bavaria) even call the new Clearaudio Concept Signature the “most exciting complete turntable package of all time”. Big words that you can choke on. But we can understand the proudly swelling chest in our test. With the Concept …

We know Progressiv Audio as a manufacturer of outstanding sounding loudspeakers and amplifiers; PA boss Ralf Koenen simply knows what he is doing. But now he has looked outside the signal chain and, with the Progressive Audio Power Station 1KW, a power conditioner that is as clever as it is …

Many have failed in the hunt for the arch-enemy of analog reproduction. Now Helmut Thiele is also targeting the tracking error angle – and wants to defeat it with a tricky tonearm. The test of his unique Thiele TT01/TA01 turntable/tonearm combination. “Ah, I know that one!” As soon as Helmut …

Since Audio Reference from Hamburg took over the subwoofer specialist Velodyne and re-established it as Velodyne Acoustics, they have been continuously developing the brand and model series. A giant step has now been taken with the Velodyne Acoustics MiniVee X subwoofer dwarf. The compact high-gloss cube costs just 999 euros …

The TD 1600 is perhaps the most irresistible of all the new Thorens players – both aesthetically and technically: the proportions are perfect, the sub-chassis works superbly. But together with the new tonearm, i.e. the Thorens TD 1600 with TP 160, the combination comes within reach of a quality that …

The Octave V70 Class A attempts a special balancing act: it wants to be an integrated amplifier that combines the precision of the transistor with the tonal beauty of the tube and the Class A circuit. It has succeeded quite well… The tube specialist Octave has created its own league …

To speak of a true wave is certainly an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it should be noted that there is a constant trend towards well-made retro loudspeakers. The new LS 3/5a models with all their derivatives and successors are certainly the best and best-known example of this. Now the larger LS 5/9 …

The Peak Consult Sonora is just a 2-way design in floor standing speaker format. But everything about it is so consistently realized that its basic virtues make it one of the best that LowBeats has ever played. The story starts back in 1996 and I’m probably doing company founder Per …

We have already tested several Mach One models from Spatial Europe and were thoroughly impressed by the open baffles. But in the fall, Mach-One boss Robert Andorf contacted us with complete euphoria. After months of research, he achieved an epoch-making breakthrough. So we were even more excited and immediately ordered …

The recently introduced Sennheiser HD 660S2 is the latest incarnation of the 600 over-ear series from the headphone and microphone specialists from Hanover. At first glance, the changes that the HD 660S2 has undergone compared to its predecessor, the Sennheiser HD 660S, are hardly noticeable. True to the motto “Never …

Canton’s Reference series is entering its fourth generation, which the Hessians have given the suffix “2023” for the sake of better differentiation. Each of these generations had something special. However, the current 2023 series immediately catches the eye with its particularly high level of living space friendliness: Many curves create …