Every job has its downsides. Ever-looming deadlines and the wrath of disgruntled PRs are among mine. Still, I’d be the first to admit that there’s plenty about what I do for a living that’s brilliant, and I get to test some pretty amazing kit ranks right at the top.
I’ve seen and heard a lot of great products this year, from premium LG OLED TVs and high-end laser projectors from Sony to PMC’s industry-leading Fact Finestria speakers. Many deserved them won What Hi-Fi? Awards in recognition of their great value.
But there are products that still stand out beyond these obvious choices. None of my picks below are perfect – after all, what is! – but for some reason they all left an indelible mark on my memory banks long after they hit the Which Hi-Fi? test chambers.
dCS Rossini Apex streaming DAC
Cambridge-based dCS has been at the forefront of digital technology since the brand’s inception in the late 1980s. It started as a consultancy for the aerospace and military industries, but it wasn’t long before the company’s focus shifted to audio, first by creating digital products for the professional world and then for home use. The first domestic DAC, the Elgar, pioneered high-resolution playback for the home, starting with 24-bit/96kHz capabilities before upgrading to full-fledged 24-bit/192kHz guise.
Over the years, dCS has continued to push performance standards, but has always tried to take existing customers along for the ride. Where possible, upgrades can be retrofitted to older products and software upgrades are usually free. The new Rossini Apex DAC is a good example. Owners of previous generation Rossini products can have them modified to current specs, but in this case there will be a cost as it involves hardware changes. We wouldn’t hesitate to make those changes, though, as the sound improvements are spectacular.
The Rossini Apex DAC combines the latest generation of the company’s advanced proprietary Ring DAC technology with newly revamped analog circuitry. The result is probably the best sounding DAC Which Hi-Fi? ever tested. I certainly can’t recall a rival that can come close to the awesome resolution of this product or the utmost stability of its presentation. If you’re looking for the last word in sonic authority and control and have the required £26,775 / $32,800 / AU$46,995 then dive right in. You will have no regrets.
Read the full dCS Rossini Apex DAC test
Elac Debut Connex DCB41 active speakers
I admit, listing the Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 powered speakers right after the extraordinary dCS Rossini Apex DAC is a bit of a contrast, but this powerful package is just so compelling for the money and is one of the better surprises to come. we encountered in our test room during the last weeks of 2022.
At £529 / $595 / AU$900 it’s an excellent hi-fi for beginners. Add to that a source in the form of a telephone, laptop or television and you have an extremely enjoyable set-up for a very reasonable price. Of course, given the price and compact size, there are sonic limitations. But they’re so well camouflaged by the expertly balanced presentation with its smooth dynamics and steady sense of timing that I just don’t mind. Nothing else I’ve heard of this type offers so much performance and functionality for so little.
As a team, we kept listening to this little package long after our testing was done, even though much more expensive alternatives were available. If that isn’t a recommendation, I don’t know what is.
Read the full Elac debut ConneX DCB41 review
Focal Utopia (2022) open-back headphones
Back to the expensive stuff. Now, £4699 / $4999 / AU$6999 is a huge sum of money for headphones, I think everyone would agree. But many may be surprised to learn that most of the Focal Utopia’s rivals cost even more. The 2022 version introduces mild tweaks to the 40mm beryllium drive unit and ear cushions, while the rear of the ear cups benefits from a more open design that closely matches the aesthetics of Focal’s newer models.
The open-back wired Utopias feel as luxurious and well-made as the price demands. They’re comfortable too, despite weighing a pretty hefty 490 grams, thanks to the soft, shapely ear cushions and headband. But it’s the sound quality that impresses me the most.
Don’t even think about using these headphones with a laptop, phone or tablet as your main source. Do that and you’ll never hear how good they can sound. You need a dedicated high quality source with a suitable high quality headphone amplifier. I think the Chord Hugo 2 is the minimum to consider. Once that’s sorted out, you’ll be treated to some of the most detailed and insightful sounds possible. These headphones are fast, dynamic and subtle. I hear things in familiar recordings that I’ve never noticed before, but the Focal’s real talent lies in organizing all this information into a cohesive and musical whole. While the level of information is very impressive, it’s Utopia’s ability to get me to the recording studio that impresses the most.
Many will struggle with the price of the Focal. Yes, they are expensive for a pair of headphones, but their breathtaking sonic prowess can really stir the soul.
Read the full Focal Utopia (2022) review
McIntosh MHA200 Headphone Amplifier
If you’re wondering which headphone amp is best for the Focal Utopia, this McIntosh is the answer. It’s a pretty nice valve-driven unit that looks every inch like a mini McIntosh amp that it is. The construction is solid, but like all products from the American manufacturer, it has the look of laboratory equipment as much as a piece of luxury hi-fi. It may surprise many to learn that no DAC is included. I don’t mind because I’d rather have the choice and want McIntosh to focus on the analog circuits.
There’s the option of balanced and single-ended headphone jacks, but little else in terms of features. But you don’t spend £2995 / $2500 / AU$4995 on an analog headphone amp if features are the priority. There are cheaper products that offer much more in that regard. What they don’t do, however, is come close to the excellent sound quality of the MHA200.
This unit offers a full and smooth presentation of the kind that reminds me why some people think tube amps can never be beaten. But, unlike some lesser specimens of the breed, this McIntosh still has expressive dynamics and a good sense of punch. The bass is rich and heavy without sacrificing too much in terms of articulation. The midrange is delicious; open, solid and manoeuvrable. Vocal nuances are conveyed in a natural and casual way. Everything I listen to for hours has to be really good. The McIntosh MHA200 certainly is.
Read the full McIntosh MHA200 review
Technics SA-C600 just add speakers system
When I think of Technics, two images come to mind. The first is of course the turntables, the history of the brand is so intertwined with records and DJ culture that it cannot be otherwise. My next thought goes back to the 1980s and some of the fantastic, highly developed tape decks the brand was making back then. I remember going to John Lewis, when it sold high-quality casual hi-fi, and just marveling at the smoothness of the carefully cushioned cassette trays when I hit the eject button. The smoothness of the transport mechanisms also impressed.
But Technics in its current form is not stuck in the past, as the SA-C600 system proves. This compact unit includes a CD player and all the modern streaming smarts and connectivity you’d expect in 2022. The built-in amplifier offers a modest 30 watts per channel, but still proves muscular enough to drive all the price-compatible speakers we’ve tried. during the review.
Given the brand’s heritage, it’s no surprise there’s a moving magnet phono stage built in, although its quality is much better than I’d expect from a system like this. This welcome bonus makes it worth partnering the SA-C600 with a good turntable (such as the Rega Planar 2).
That could only be true if the rest of the SA-C600 sounded as good, and it does. This is a system that just sounds good. It’s not the most detailed or transparent package you’ll ever hear, but it’s one that makes listening to music, any type of music, fun.
The presentation is bold and punchy, and there’s a certain way with rhythms that few alternatives match. The ones that do, we think Naim’s Uniti, cost a lot more.
This Technics is also a fine streamer, moving smoothly between the different services and file types. Above all, regardless of the source, I enjoy listening to this system. Unfortunately there is little else at this level that I can say the same about.
Read the full Technics SA-C600 review
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