| BUYING GUIDE - SYSTEMS |
| PRICES SHOWN ARE THOSE AT THE TIME OF REVIEW |
| Systems |
£ |
Year |
Verdict |
| Arcam Alpha |
£900 |
Nov 00 |
Perhaps the best system available for under £1000. A great sounding bargain |
| Audio Analogue System |
£2275 |
Mar 02 |
Plenty of power and dynamics. Good results with all music but favours classical or jazz. Will give many years of musical satisfaction. |
| Audio Note Zero Series |
£2295 |
Dec 99 |
A complete valve system for this kind of money and with as much quality is pretty rare. |
| Audio Note Zero System |
£2749 |
Mar 02 |
Produces a fine open sound thats hard to better at the price. A system for the real discerning listener who loves classical music. |
| Cyrus 7 System |
£1850 |
Mar 02 |
Best all rounder, will give a good account of itself whatever music you play. Bass depth and control, transparent and open sound. Highly recommended. |
| Cyrus Quattro |
£850 |
Nov 01 |
Combined CD/tuner/preamp. Beuatifully packaged, the Quattro performs its role superbly. Taut and rhythmic sound and brilliant ergonomics make it an excellent second system. |
| Denon DF100 |
£600 |
Dec 99 |
As an introduction to hi-fi we reserve judgment, but as a willing domestic workhorse and a tall step up from a 'mini' it all seems excellent value. |
| Denon UD-M30 |
£300 |
Feb 02 |
Combined CD/tuner. Detailed and open sound. Won't pound out bass or grab you by the throat but great value nontheless. |
| Kenwood Avino VH-600 |
£399 |
Mar 00 |
Great little system thats both stylish and a good performer. |
| Linn Classik |
£995 |
Nov 00 |
Combining CD player, amplifier and tuner this is another landmark product from Linn. Superb convenience with great sound. |
| Linn Classik Movie System |
£1995 |
Jun 02 |
Another great crossover product from Linn, the CMS offers tremendously satisfying sound and vision |
Linn Genki/Kolektor/
LK140/Ninka spkrs |
£3250 |
Jan 01 |
A great open, warm sound with plenty of drive and power. Could be a little too coloured for some though. |
| Musical Fidelity X-Series |
£1897 |
Nov 00 |
Not the cheapest system around or the most user-friendly, but it sounds superb |
| Myryad Cameo |
£1500 |
Nov 00 |
A bold attempt at separates to penetrate the 'lifestyle' market but the sound could be a little too thin for some. |
Naim CDX/NAC82/
HiCap/NAP250 |
£7260 |
Aug 00 |
A beautifully built and charismatic package with a totally unique sound. Rhythmically and dynamically it's peerless but it's far from tonally neutral. |
| Naim Series 5 System |
£2500 |
Mar 02 |
Sophisticated performer with fantastic build quality. Rock and pop are played with magnificent attack and speed. Bass tuneful and fast. Recommended beyond doubt. |
Naim AV2/NAP150/
NAPV175 |
£4190 |
Aug 02 |
A great way to enjoy multi-channel audio or video, and two channel too. Expensive, but many will feel this is their ultimate home cinema system. |
| Nakamichi CD-45 |
£450 |
Apr 01 |
Combined car CD/tuner with sound quality that wouldn't disgrace a decent domestic hi-fi, plus superb build and ergonomics, this is one of the most desirable car CD tuners around. Expensive, but superb value nonetheless. |
Nakamichi
Soundspace 8 |
£1100 |
Dec 99 |
Probably isn't hi-fi as we know it and lacks a bit of smoothness, but looks good! |
| Roksan Kandy |
£1325 |
Nov 00 |
Good sound and excellent build from Roksan. Exciting and up-front sound which could become tiring after a while. |
| Teac CR-H100 |
£229 |
Mar 01 |
Combined CD player, tuner and amplifier. Easy to use, and great to the ear. Partner with high quality 'speakers and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the results. |