These days, Berlin’s flagship high-end manufacturer Burmester is always good for a surprise. On the electronics side, they present power amplifiers and amplifiers (e.g. 218 and 232) that make the competition pale with envy, and on the loudspeaker side, with the B28, a representative of the 15,000 euro league that …
Read more »
I have been following the history of Piega since its beginnings. And of course, as a proven ribbon fan, I was very pleased that the Swiss (at least in the tweeter) consistently applied this principle. I was almost electrified when company co-founder and developer Kurt Scheuch came around the corner …
Read more »
When we had the Lyravox Karlsson in our listening room for a few weeks, the small active monitor (now called Karlsson Monolith) instantly won the hearts of all LowBeats ‘ colleagues. So much precision, resolution and joy of playing is rare, especially when packaged so attractively – in noble, rock-hard …
Read more »
A test that was long overdue. The SPL Director Mk2 has been in the editorial office for a good six months now and has proven itself in the shadow of the impressive SPL mono power amp blocks called Performer m1000 has quietly earned the position of a preamp reference. Even …
Read more »
Quiz question: What do the British loudspeaker manufacturers Rogers, Spendor, Harbeth, KEF, Chartwell; RAM, Goodmans, Stirling Broadcast and Falcon Acoustics have in common? Answer: They all manufactured (or still manufacture) the BBC compact speaker legend LS 3/5a under license. The number of current successors is almost unmanageable. And now, with …
Read more »
The studio professional SPL Labs is currently shaking up the hi-fi scene. Its components from the so-called Professional Fidelity (ProFi) line combine high hi-fi ambitions with decades of experience in the studio sector. However, while the Rhinelanders have so far occupied niches with their professional components, they are now challenging …
Read more »
Can an integrated amplifier for 20,000 euros excite many HIFi fans? You would think: no. But wrong. The Westend Audio Monaco is currently enjoying an astonishing triumph. Its secret: amazingly precise tube sound plus an individual, perfect surface finish. LowBeats tested the dream amplifier – and probably won’t be giving …
Read more »
