keyword: Internet

debate-on-tax-id:-informational-self-determination-is-so-1983

Debate on tax ID: informational self-determination is so 1983

Members of the government parliamentary groups of the CDU / CSU and SPD did not allow themselves to be upset by sharp criticism from the opposition at the 1st reading of the controversial government draft for a law on register modernization in the Bundestag on Thursday evening. “What is behind this is what we all want: the digitization of administration,” emphasized Marc Henrichmann (CDU). Citizens and business would thus be relieved, since data about them would “not have to be collected and transferred over and over again”.

In order to ” Implementing the once only “principle, according to Henrichmann, the” known tax ID “is almost an imposing general feature. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides for the use of such a code. The fact that the opponents are now referring to the constitutional jurisprudence, “why the whole thing shouldn’t work”, does not reveal itself to him.

Limping comparisons “I would like to point out clearly”, emphasized the Christian Democrat, that the popular census judgment and the right to informational self-determination enshrined in it is “from 1983” . At that time there was “neither the Internet nor any other technology”, said the 44 – year-old. Comparisons with this state of affairs are therefore clearly limp.

If 21 states in the If the EU already had the principle of a citizen number and it worked there, Henrichmann explained why there should be different standards in Germany. Austria, which has introduced an area-specific number instead of a central identifier, is also not a good example . The Alpine republic created a “large container” with a central register at the federal level. “We work decentrally,” emphasized the lawyer. In addition, the federal government takes the state and local administrations with it. The alternative procedure would also “take twice as long”. The data protection officers would therefore have to question their point of view and release the brakes. The birth certificate, for example, should only be presented once and the data from other registers should then be queried. For this they would have to be “unequivocally assigned to the right person”, which requires a “change-proof classification feature”.

“4-corner model” The tax ID meets the necessary requirements and can be extended “without further ado”, stated the CDU politician. “We will continue to effectively rule out any profiling.” The “4-corner model” is intended for this. Accordingly, data should not be exchanged directly between authorities, but rather flow through an intermediary. Krings made it clear: “Digital Guardians” only allowed legally permitted transmissions.

There is no “secret government plan to create a transparent citizen”, assured Helge Lindh for the SPD. In the direction of the AfD, he complained: It was “completely wrong that you speak of block waiting”. It’s about service and citizen friendliness. The tax ID was not originally created for this purpose. However, the coalition will use further security mechanisms such as the planned data cockpit so that the Federal Data Protection Commissioner Ulrich Kelber is also satisfied.

Rule of law declaration of bankruptcy “Overall, the constitutional criticism is devastating,” said the liberal Manuel Höferlin, contrary to the FDP slogan “Digital first”. The Federal Constitutional Court was very clear in its statement in the census judgment. The tax ID should only refer to the tax area. The idea of ​​an area-specific number from Austria is good. To steer a constitutional lawsuit with sight now would be “under the rule of law almost a declaration of bankruptcy” Green Konstantin von Notz. The coalition must therefore take seriously the criticism that the initiative is creating the technical prerequisites for this. Instead, it is important to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project: “If this law is tiling on the wall in Karlsruhe before the Federal Constitutional Court, like so many others,” Germany will remain behind in the urgently needed modernization of the state.

Federal Registration Act passed Shortly before, the Bundestag had passed the second amendment to the Federal Registration Act with the votes of the CDU / CSU, SPD and FDP. Left and Greens were against it, the AfD abstained. This should enable citizens in the future to access their data from the population register via an administration portal and use it for various purposes. In order to be able to do this in a user-friendly way, the members of parliament have decided to change the law for the required digital processes as well as additional rules on questions of the level of authentication and the technical standards to be used. official and data protection needs “should be adapted and expanded, the Federal Government had declared in its draft. To this end, data catalogs would be standardized. In addition, a distinction will be made in the future “between calling up a specific person (person search) and calling up a large number of persons who are not named (free search)”.

With the decision, the An – and deregistering from apartments “possible and noticeably simplified from home”, explained Henrichmann in his speech given here only for the record. “In addition, all data requests are logged and can be viewed by the data subjects.” Die Linke Ulla Jelpke held against it – also in writing -: “This draft law also contains a number of provisions contrary to data protection, with which the principles of data minimization and data economy as well as the basic right to informational self-determination are weakened.”

(vbr)

heise-+-|-brazil's-path-to-data-dictatorship

heise + | Brazil's path to data dictatorship

For many years the largest democracy in Latin America has been a pioneer in data management. 1995 she founded the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. The stakeholder panel helped establish principles for Internet governance. Driven by Edward Snowden’s revelations, the government of Dilma Rousseff 2014 pioneered the Marco Civil, a kind of “Internet Bill of Rights ”, which even Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, praised. Four years later, Congress passed a data protection law, the LGPD, which is closely based on the European General Data Protection Regulation.

But times are changing. Even before the Covid – 19 – The pandemic, the Brazilian government had started to build a comprehensive infrastructure for data collection and monitoring. In October 2019 President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree obliging all federal agencies to share much of the information they have about Brazilian citizens own – from health data to biometric data – to be used jointly and stored in a master database, the Cadastro Base do Cidadão.

The official line behind this measure: through simple information exchange the government wants to increase the quality and consistency of its data in order to improve public services, curb electoral fraud and reduce bureaucracy. Critics warn, however, that such a concentration of data under Bolsonaro’s right-wing extremist leadership could easily be misused to restrict privacy and civil liberties. Especially since the scope for data collection is great. In addition to basic information such as name, marital status and occupation, the Cadastro is supposed to record biometric information such as face profiles, voice samples, iris and retinal scans, prints of fingers and palms and even a profile of the corridor. There are no limits to the exchange of health data, even gene sequences may be passed on.

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eu-encryption-debate:-the-fixed-idea-of-​​the-“magic-solution”

EU encryption debate: The fixed idea of ​​the “magic solution”

Representatives of the European Commission have emphasized in the context of an online webinar of the Internet Society entitled “The Future of Encryption in the European Union” that neither a ban on encryption nor a weakening of encryption standards will be a goal of the EU . Instead, it is about access to encrypted communication for law enforcement officers in a few cases, and a data protection-friendly technical way can certainly be found for this. Belief in such a “magical solution” has continuously revived the crypto discussion, commented one participant on the virtual discussion.

Cathrin Bauer-Bulst, Head of Unit Law Enforcement, Security and Cybercrime at the European Commission and Paul Nemitz, former Commission Director for Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law and now Chief Advisor in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, recognize the importance of encryption. In the discussion of the Internet Society, they also demanded that the prosecutors can do their jobs.

Magic is feasible “Of course, encryption should not be made a scapegoat, but it should not be seen as a panacea for all of our problems. We should understand illegal data access as a problem of our own, for which we cannot rely solely on encryption,” said Bauer-Bulst and pointed out that neither the interim solution for combating child abuse nor the draft E-Evidence ordinances contain requirements with regard to encryption Representations work and called for an open debate. At the same time he trusts the “creativity” of the engineers. “The fact that there is currently no technical solution does not give us the right to make our life easy and to call out ‘encryption ban’ or ‘back door’ immediately with every practical solution,” said Nemitz. Bauer-Bulst demanded, differentiate between the different types and levels of encryption, from transport encryption to hardware encryption.

Backdoors That it The interior ministers of the EU, who want to launch the legislative initiative for extraordinary access to encrypted communication next week and not at all about backdoors, are wrong, said Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, coordinator of Encryption Europe, an association of medium-sized companies in Security: Le Toquin referred to a statement by the French interior minister, who explicitly named a back door as a desired means, but said that this would not be open, but behind closed doors between the French government and the providers.

The EU Commission and the interior ministers of the member states also have to prepare for massive opposition to a crypto regulation in parliament. The Danish leftist Karen Melchior and the Dutch liberal Sophie In ‘t Veld, both members of the Renew Europe faction in the European Parliament, sharply criticized the Commission representatives.

In’ t Veld recalled the countless illegal scandals Access by authorities, such as ethnic profiling by the tax authorities in the Netherlands. Melchior called on the Commission officials to comply with their legal duties and to enforce the ban on general data retention.

Security with vulnerabilities Beyond the illegal data access by the data-hungry authorities, Melchior stated soberly that she understood the call for a balance of interests, but she saw no “magical” solution. “I understand it this way, either we have encryption that works, end to end. Or we have encryption that does not work and is therefore not secure.” Criminals would know what to do, warned Melchior. Suffering from new loopholes in the Security is the general public of the citizens.

Klaus Landefeld, Director of Infrastructure and Networks at the Eco Association, sees it that way. A list of the desires for access to data stored by providers shows the dilemma, he said. In the EU alone, around 13. 000 Set such access exceptions. Even if only a part of these authorities could also benefit from the extraordinary access to encrypted data, the number of authorized persons would probably be in the hundreds. How the loss of weak points, interfaces and diverted data is to be ensured remains unexplained : “A secret that hundreds of organizations un d know their employees is no longer a secret. ”

(olb)

heise-+-|-test:-six-inexpensive-4k-hdr-televisions-with-and-without-internet-functions

heise + | Test: Six inexpensive 4K HDR televisions with and without Internet functions

Do you want to watch TV and stream videos on the TV display? We took a close look at the typical equipment features of the TV manufacturers.

(Image: Andreas Martini)

Test: Six inexpensive 4K HDR televisions with and without Internet functions Operating systems and interfaces Remote controls HDR and brightness Stream, mirror, cast Individual meetings Conclusion Test table Article in c’t 25 / 2020 read For our test, we brought six 4K televisions with different operating systems into the laboratory. The devices should support HDR formats, offer a recording function and bring the most popular streaming apps. An exception is a TV display from Medion, which serves as a representative of devices without an online connection. Because the “stupid” TVs are very cheap, we have a 65 – inch model selected – it’s with 487 Euro nevertheless the cheapest device in the test. Medion also has a smart, round 132 Euro more expensive variant in the program.

Large displays without a TV tuner and smart functions are usually significantly more expensive than comparably large smart TVs. They are for continuous operation (24 hours / 7 days), for example as an advertising display or scoreboard. In return, they generally have a higher luminance, a more robust housing and come with a longer guarantee. These screens can be serviced remotely via their Ethernet connection. The higher price is also due to the small number of units: The market for 24 / 7 displays is much smaller than for smart TVs, which is why the manufacturers calculate with them with different margins.

Show four TVs in the test 55 Inches in the diagonal, with Panasonic TV these are 58 Customs and the Medion Display is said 64 – Customs. The Sony TV marked with 998 Euro the upper, Grundigs FireTV variant with 615 Euro the lower price limit of the tested Smart TVs.

Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent, critically sound c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t Read photography directly in the browser register once – on all devices read – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start your FREE month now Already subscribed to heise +?

Register and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Test: Six inexpensive 4K HDR televisions with and without Internet functions Operating systems and interfaces Remote controls HDR and brightness Stream, mirror, cast Individual meetings Conclusion Test table Article in c’t 25 / 2020 read

tuxedo-infinitybook-s-14:-lightweight-notebook-with-intel-tiger-lake-and-linux

Tuxedo InfinityBook S 14: lightweight notebook with Intel Tiger Lake and Linux

Tuxedo has the Ultrabook InfinityBook S 11 Gen6 presented as the first own model with Intel’s Tiger Lake processor. The -Nanometer top model Core i7 – 1150 G7 with four CPU cores, eight threads, up to 4.7 GHz clock frequency and integrated Xe graphics unit. The manufacturer leaves the processor with 15 Watt Thermal Design Power (TDP) run; a 71 Wh large battery should enable a long battery life.

The IPS display of the InfinityBook S 14 Gen6 measures 14 inches, solves with 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD) and lights up with 300 cd / m². In addition, the screen completely covers the SRGB color space. The hardware sits in a housing made of a magnesium alloy, thanks to which the notebook weighs only 1.1 kg. The InfinityBook S is closed 14 just under 17 mm thick.

Tuxedo InfinityBook S 11 Gen6 (17 Photos) (Image: Tuxedo) Linux pre-installed Tuxedo uses its own Linux distribution Tuxedo OS with the Budgie desktop environment as the standard operating system. Alternatively, openSUSE or Ubuntu can be installed. The whole thing is preinstalled on an M.2 SSD – in the basic configuration one 250 GByte SATA 6G model from Kingston, buyers can have a PCIe card installed for an additional charge. Either another SSD or an LTE module for mobile internet fits into a second M.2 slot. 8 GByte DDR4 – 3200 – RAM are firmly soldered; A SO-DIMM slot is available for more memory.

On the connection side, the InfinityBook S 14 Gen6 like most Tiger Lake Notebooks have a Thunderbolt 4 connection in the form of a USB-C port ready, the data with 40 Gbit / s (USB 4.0 Gen 3×2) transfers and outputs a DisplayPort 1.4 signal. There are also two USB-A ports with GBit / s (3.2 Gen 2) and 5 GBit / s (3.2 Gen 1), HDMI 2.0, an audio combo jack and a micro SD card reader. Users can charge the notebook either via the DC connection or (with its own power supply unit) via USB C. Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN 696. 11 ax) and Bluetooth 5.1 are included.

The sale of the InfinityBook S 11 Gen6 starts immediately. The basic configuration with Core i7 – 1150 G7, 250 – GByte SSD and 8 GByte RAM costs just under 1150 Euro.

(mma)

comcast-to-impose-home-internet-data-cap-of-1.2tb-in-more-than-a-dozen-us-states-next-year

Comcast to impose home internet data cap of 1.2TB in more than a dozen US states next year

Next year, Comcast plans to charge home internet customers in northeastern US states for going over 1.2TB of data in a month — a cap that’s already in effect for customers on non-unlimited plans in other parts of the country.

In January and February, Comcast will give its Xfinity customers not on an unlimited plan a “credit” for any data usage charges over 1.2TB during those months to ease them into the new limits. Then, starting in March, non-unlimited customers who exceed 1.2TB in a month will be charged $10 per 50GB of data, for a maximum of $100.

Customers who go over the limit will get one “courtesy” credit per 12 months, so if you go over 1.2TB in March, you get a grace period for April. If you go over again in May, you’ll pay $10 for each block of 50GB up to the $100 max. Customers will be notified as they approach the 1.2TB threshold.

The affected states include Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, as well as parts of North Carolina and Ohio.

According to Comcast, 95 percent of its customers don’t get close to using that much data per month; over the last six months, the median monthly data use was around 308GB. But as the coronavirus pandemic keeps people working from home and students learning remotely, the internet is feeling the strain of the increased use — even though, so far, it’s held up relatively well.

review:-auralic-aries-g2.1-dissected-a-streaming-platform

Review: Auralic Aries G2.1 dissected a streaming platform

It is impossible to imagine life without , stream music in any form. From your own collection, from streaming services or just internet radio. If something has taken off and shrunk CD production, it’s streaming. Hardware manufacturers are reaping the benefits. The drives that are always susceptible to interference are gone, something new has to come into your home and if you don’t stream, children will look at you compassionately.

Now the hardware is still manageable, writing software for a pleasant operation is a completely different field. Not everyone is given the opportunity to write a user interface of which the user intuitively understands how things fit together. Often the control of the hardware is not always successful, which can lead to crashes. One of the positive exceptions to this is Auralic with its Lightning DS platform for software and Tesla G2 platform for hardware. Resulting in a range of digital transports and streaming server / DACs. Within the package, a key component is the Aries G2.1 streaming transport, an upgrade of the esteemed Aries G2. HIFI.NL had the honor of being able to use and listen to the Aries G2.1 down to the finest detail. Refined with the knowledge of previously reviewed Auralic products, the installation was child’s play.

Auralic Aries G2.1: Description The Auralic Aries G2. 1 streaming transporter connects optionally via a Tri-band wireless connection or via wired Ethernet with Tidal (MQA) and Qobuz, with internet radio, with USB drives, NAS systems and optional internal storage. The Aries G2.1 can be used for Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and AirPlay, is fully Roon ready. All using playlists, memory caching, gapless playback and bit-perfect multiroom support. With its high computing power, the Aries G2.1 can handle files in DSD resolution up to DSD 512 and PCM to 32 bit / 384 kHz (highest resolutions over USB only).

Updated in the Aries version G2.1 compared to the G2 the chassis is made of aluminum and with an extra reinforced bottom plate. After that, the inside of the housing is clad with copper to effectively resist RFI. The Aries G2.1 stands on spring loaded feet to avoid mechanical influences. Each foot is adjusted with six springs to suit the weight and weight distribution of the device. A 4 inch 300 ppi color display shows you key functions such as playback status, configuration and artwork. In addition to the mechanical adjustment, the Aries G2.1 delivers more power to the USB output compared to the G2 for better adaptation to various brands of DACs. The software has now been brought to version 7.2.2.

The Auralic Aries G2.1 streaming transporter offers internal space for an SSD or HDD of 2 .5 inches in any capacity available. Auralic has recently released a major firmware update, bringing the possibility to play CDs with an attached optical drive via the Lightning DS software or to rip the contents of the CD (at the same time) and store them on a USB drive. If necessary even on your NAS. During playback, all the possibilities of the Auralic models are used, such as jitter reduction and upsampling.

During the ripping process, each sector is read twice. If there is a difference between the first and second read, the same sector will be read eight more times at a slower speed to get a 100 percent accuracy. The Tesla G2 platform on which the Aries G2.1 runs is designed with the sole aim of being a high quality reproduction, upgradable and is purely focused on audio. Tesla G2 works seamlessly with its own Auralic App and is the most powerful platform available for digital music playback and streaming, according to Auralic. Tesla G2 runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. With 1GB of memory cache and 8GB of data storage, multiple applications can be loaded simultaneously and network noise is reduced because circuits are open for less time.

To take the Aries G2.1 to such a high level, it internally uses two Femto clocks, digital clocks with an extreme accuracy of which à One always works for the digital technology and the other clock is assigned to the USB ports. Two linear power supplies work together, the first to power the processor circuits, the LCD display and USB connected sources. The second power supply is intended for all sensitive audio components such as the Femto clocks and the USB output. The ActiveUSB is therefore more than just an asynchronous controller due to its low jitter, precision clock and separate power supply for USB.

EMI from USB sources does not stand a chance in the Aries G2.1. The power supplies are galvanically isolated from each other to prevent EMI interference. The various electrical circuits are also galvanically separated from each other internally, such as clock, processor and data transmission. Are there wishes and comments to link to the price for the Auralic Aries G2.1 streaming transporter of € 4. 699, -? Perhaps, the Aries G2.1 is only available in black, can only be operated with Apple iOS and not with Android and â ?? ¦. I would appreciate that when music is playing the display stays on and when nothing is playing the display dims. Now the display is either always on or always off after a few seconds while playing and at rest. Difficult for the purist who never switches off his streamer and wants to save the display at rest, but wants to see what he or she is playing.

Technical details

Lossless file format: AIFF, ALAC, APE, DFF, DSF, FLAC, OGG, WAV and WV

Lossy file format: AAC, MP3 , MQA and WMA

Sampling: PCM 44. 1KHz to 384 KHz to 32 Bit, DSD 64 to DSD 512 DoP and native

Controls: Lightning DS App for iOS, BubbleUPnP, Kazoo, Roon

Inputs: USB Drive, LAN, WiFi antenna

Digital Outputs: L-Link, Toslink, S / PDIF, A ES / EBU, USB

Streaming: UPnP / DLNA Media Server, TIDAL and Qobuz, Sublime + streaming, Internet Radio, AirPlay, Bluetooth, Songcast, RoonReady, …

Options: SSD or 2.5 HDD, remote control

Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless: 802. 11 b / g / n / ac Tri-Band

Housing: Black Anodized, chassis solid aluminum one piece

Dimensions: 34 cm x 32 cm x 9 , 6cm

Weight: 9.3kg

Environment The listening takes place in the familiar home environment where the power supply is built with an AudioQuest Niagara 5000 mains filter and CrystalConnect power cords. Music storage and ethernet switch are Melco N 11 and S 100, for most of the playback I make using Roon Rock on a NUC elsewhere in the home. The DAC is a Metrum Acoustics Pavane, analog coupled with a Yter XLR interconnect to an Audia Flight Strumento No.1 preamplifier and again with Yter XLR to a FLS4 power amplifier. Crystal Cable Speak Reference connects my Spendor Classic 2/3 monitors to the amplifier, the speakers have Townshend Maximum Super Tweeters, underneath Townshend Podiums and Custom Design Fish Tank stands.

The protagonist in this review is an Auralic Aries G2.1 Streaming Transporter as the thing is called in full. Just say a streamer, connected with AudioQuest Vodka on the switch and with AudioQuest Diamond AES / EBU on the DAC. The choice for these cables and method of connection stems from working with and Aries G1, where it turned out to me that the Metrum DAC performs optimally with an AES / EBU cable and a notch less with USB, Coax or Toslink. The Auralic Aries G1 is my reference in this and in daily use. The fact that my system is structured in this way says nothing about the performance of other power cords, ethernet connections and various digital cables on the Aries G2.1. Everyone has their own preferences, budget and maybe things on the shelf. By way of illustration, in my second system, the Aries G2.1 also played for a while and did so impressively via a Grimm TPR AES / EBU cable.

Auralic joins the series of streamers known to me like Lumin , Cambridge Audio, Naim, Bryston, Metrum, Bluesound, dCS and more, brands that all have their pros and cons. Sometimes being very quirky, working with an extensive own App or rather leaning on UPnP and Roon. As an enthusiastic supporter of the convenience of Roon and the extensive extra information that Roon provides, most of the players mentioned have been used as Roon Endpoint. Just like I do with the Auralic Aries G1 and G2.1. The fact that Auralic has an extensive own App gives me the opportunity to keep my own music collection, built up over the years, separate from music services such as Tidal and Qobuz. I use Roon for my music, the Auralic Lightning App for Tidal.

If I do not have Roon, the Lightning software fully meets all the requirements that can be set for a modern streamer. That’s why I played with the Aries G2.1 as Roon Endpoint and used Lightning to discover new music. A dedicated storage was not built into the Aries G2.1, also not necessary at all if a Melco N 10 music server is present. With that I am wasting one plus of the Aries G2.1 compared to the Aries G1 in which no internal storage fits, there are still plenty of pluses left, I have noticed in the past period.

From G1 to G2.1 With both my own Aries G1 in house and the Aries G2.1 that was made available, a comparison cannot be ignored. Because why would you spend a lot more money for the same functionality if you are not going to use internal storage options. The operation is the same, the software is the same, the number of connections is the same with only one exception, even the appearance is not essentially different. The only visible exception is the Lightning Link at the rear with which a Master Clock, Upsampler and / or a DAC from Auralic can be linked jitter-free. Anyone who has had the pleasure of listening to that stack (the undersigned) knows what a great result is achievable. Back to mutual comparison. The most essential, strikingly audible difference between the G1 and the G2.1 is the G2.1 adding foundation to the music. The G1 has a reputation for being light in sound and too puristic for some already clear systems, the G2.1 does not so much bring a heavier bass response, it is rather deeper, more present, more neutral and correct.

A bass response that spreads further through the listening room, ensures that an orchestra can play to the full, that a person has a chest with air and a piano sounds longer in the dark notes . Almost the difference between a loudspeaker and the same loudspeaker with a high quality sighing subwoofer. In addition, in the G2.1 more subtle is present the degree of detail, the extra calm in the reproduction, the more holographic stereo image and the ease with which man and instrument are set off against the background. Even used exclusively as a Roon Endpoint, the G2.1 proves its added value in a beautiful system that knows how to reveal the differences. However, the memory of the observations does not so much concern the points mentioned, but rather the feeling, the experience, the imagination of the artist. n, the satisfaction of listening to music. If we were talking about wine, the G2.1 has a better finish while both are excellent in taste.

Sighs and pops After the direct comparison, there is much, very listened a lot to music, varying from French sigh girls to opera singers, from rough men to wimps, from solo instrument to orchestra or band. Divides into pop, jazz and classical. For example, I enjoyed a live recording of Carla Bruni at the Olympia in Paris. With only a small line-up and her own guitar, her voice is central, complete with recording errors, so that the CD has remained authentic. Introducing Bruni on a large stage is easy, sitting on a stool, radiating pleasure, which is rewarded by applause from an audience in which individual hands can be distinguished.

The live experience is even greater as piano and bass join in. The funny â ?? La dernière minuteâ ???? closes the concert, it seems so simple, but somewhere heavy tones appear, small subtle sounds can be perceived behind her voice, the audience goes wild at the end and finally someone bumps into a microphone. The Aries G2.1 seems to enjoy uncovering everything.

Also live is â ???? Stairway to heavenâ ????, performed exclusively on guitar by Rodrigo y Gabriela from the CD â ???? Live in Japanâ? ???. A whole CD with only two guitars is a bit too much for me, this song by Led Zeppelin has so much eloquence, power, softness to the point that it is a classic. This is where that extra foundation of the G2.1 is very welcome. A blow to the body of a guitar should be echoing, strings should resound in the body of the instrument and the Aries is a master of that. It can be even wilder in â ???? Diablo Rojoâ ???? with which the concert closes. As a music chain, try to really keep separating the two guitars and still let them flow together. Combine speed with long extinction, maintain rhythm and whip up both audience and soloists in the living room.

It is â ???? Timeâ ???? Pink Floyd says in a cacophony of bells, a constant heartbeat, wavy low that rolls across the room, echoing drums and vocals. Addicted to the LP, streaming has come a long way in my home and the LP quality has since surpassed. That has cost effort and a lot of money, the result is there and the Aries G2.1 makes an extra contribution. I own the album as a CD 44. 1 / 16 and as DSD 64, where Roon works with the Auralic Aries G2.1 to move from DSD 64 to go to PCM 176. 4 / 24 which can lock my DAC. The Aries lets you hear the differences clearly, the resolution, the foundation of the heartbeat, the DSD file makes more of it.

The Aries is anyway serving when it comes to filtering and converting. While playing you can adjust the filter ring from precise to dynamic, to balanced and soft. From very detailed to pleasant on the ear. It took some headaches and hours of listening before I figured out that â ???? Smoothâ ???? I like the most. Nice and spacious and forming a nice balance between the three other positions. A few more hours were needed to figure out whether upsampling brings or removes what. My DAC is hardly sensitive to it and does nothing to up- or down-sample itself. The Aries G2.1 (and also the Aries G1) do the resampling so correctly and without frills that I have it permanently turned on to 176. 4 or 192 depending on the source resolution. It is not unique for a streamer to be able to do that, over the years I have discovered that you can do better in the Auralic than leave it to an upsampling DAC. Almost every DAC (usually excluding R2R) has a sample rate at which it is least burdened with computing and performs the best. Unfortunately, the DAC generally lacks pure computing power and an Auralic does bring it.

To the North Almost classical music is â ???? Myopiaâ ???? from Agnes Obel. Her latest album that can project a bubble of sound in the listening room. A bell in which the sounds of acoustic instruments and the strangest electronic sounds can be heard. In this case, it is important that the chain, and the streamer as part of it, is able to separate all sounds from the reproducers. Nothing is more disturbing than listening to speakers that cannot. You can even point out the exact location with your eyes closed.

The Aries G2.1 largely helps to prevent that annoyance. This gives Obel’s polyphonic singing an added value, here and there a voice pops up, differing in placement of height, depth and width. It makes “broken sleep” to an experience where the tendency arises to turn the head in the direction of the voices. The frequent use of the cello keeps the rhythm, while long tones have the chance to fade into nothingness. What emerges is a painting of sounds and timbres, which can be distinguished from each other to a high degree, whereby the coherence is not lost.

What I can’t get enough of lately is â ???? Quiet winter night: An acoustic jazz projectâ? ??? of the Hoff Ensemble. Jazz, vocals, beautifully recorded and full of minute details as well as a powerful bass and full piano. The fact that I don’t understand a word of what is being sung is irrelevant. The extent to which the Aries G2.1 manages to deliver the stream to the DAC and the rest of the system. Perhaps this is an exceptional recording that reveals that the streamer part does have its own sound and is certainly not a conduit of ones and zeros as some think. I would love to get rid of that prejudice, unfortunately that still doesn’t work. It is going too far again to explain exhaustively that ones and zeros do not exist, that they are indications of a voltage difference that unfortunately is affected in many ways before it reaches our ears as audible sound. Just listen to an Auralic Aries G2.1 compared to other brands or types of streamers and discover the results for yourself. Even mutual results, because it is not without reason that the urge arose to upgrade my second system with my Aries G1 and to continue to feed the main system from the Aries G2.1 for good. A win-win situation for everyone, except for my bank account. Money in the bank does not make you happy, a good music reproduction all the more as an excuse I tell my environment.

Shine on Lightning DS Auralic can be praised for its excellent software under the name Lightning DS, the consistent quality of the products and the well thought-out equipment. The higher in the segment, the more Auralic sees the basic principles faithfully refining equipment in order to achieve an ever better display. Not because you have to, not because more money will flow into the till, but to give more pleasure to experiencing music. It has long been known in serious audio that an enclosure affects playback, that disconnecting equipment from the substrate can help, and that equipment must be able to â € œseeâ € each other electrically. but should not influence. Combating RFI / EMI and galvanically separating all inputs and outputs is expensive if you want to do that properly, the gain by hearing is greater than is often thought. Exactly the things that Auralic has paid attention to with the upgrade from the Aries G2 to the G2.1. The extra budget available compared to the Aries G1 also ended up well. All this makes the Auralic Aries G2.1 an attractive asset for those who stream their music rather than play it via CD or LP.

The operation is clear and straightforward. The options are widely adjustable in the software and the installation of an internal storage is obvious. Expansions in the form of a master clock, upsampler or DAC can be purchased from the same brand. Competition is fierce in the streamer world and every brand tries to differentiate itself. Because it is such a busy market, I therefore have some hesitation in rewarding the device with 5 stars and I would rather give it the designation â € œ Recommended!  € with full conviction. along. Because Auralic has succeeded in linking many consumer wishes, modern requirements, flexibility, design and seamless functioning with sound quality in order to win over the potential customer. Which â ???? sure enoughâ ???? will work with the Aries G2.1.

Auralic Aries G2 .1

â ?? ¬ 4. 699, – | Dynaudio Benelux

review:-hegel-h95-sounds-better-for-the-same-price

Review: Hegel H95 sounds better for the same price

With the slim H 95, Hegel presents an accessible amplifier that can do a lot and yet is not overly complicated. Minimalistic in appearance, perhaps, but certainly not in terms of sound quality or possibilities. The recipe is recognizable from the high-end Hegel’s, but consistency is at the heart of the success of these smart Norwegians.

Hegel has recently come out with great amps that are nothing short of groundbreaking. The H590 , H 390 , H 190, Â H 120 Â and H 90 are all devices that leave little or no stitches and excel in sound quality in their quirky Norwegian way. But what if your budget does not allow for say 6. 15 euro to spend for a nice H 390? Or you simply don’t need such an immense power plant? Then there is now an update for the valued H 95, the cheapest of Hegel’s integrated amplifiers. Pay attention in the store, because it may not be noticeable at first. The appearance is completely the same and â ???? you don’t often experience that nowadays â ???? the introduction of a new generation is not accompanied by a price increase.

This new H 95 is thus again an amplifier with a relatively accessible almost 1. 700 – Euro price point that actually already provides ninety percent of the big boys’ Hegel experience. If you know the brand, you know exactly what it means. After all, Hegel believes in a clear story that is correct for all its devices, from entry-level to top model. Think how BMW retains its design language across all models â ???? but even more consistently. It is always clear what the Oslo brand stands for: interior-friendly minimalism, excellent sound quality delivered by its own Class AB technology and streaming options that are above all practical. In this case via a compact device that takes up little space and requires little attention in your living room.

Typically Hegel The H 95 is the smallest in the Hegel family of integrated amplifiers. Strictly speaking, that junior label is correct, but at the same time it is also a bit unfair. With its 2 x 60 Watt power (at 8 Ohm), this is really a serious hi-fi amplifier, equipped with the solid hardware platform of its big brothers and a substantial power supply that you need if you are going to play truly dynamic music. But to find out you would have to dive under the hood, because the nature of the beast is to convince with performance â ???? not to show off specifications or marketing blah.

Hegel has a contemporary take on hi-fi that differs from other high-end brands. You are given the choice. The Norwegians allow you to walk the high-end path and connect your own source devices to build an entire system. You can build a turret, if you wish. Or you can use the built-in streaming options â ???? and there are quite a few â ???? to listen in high quality without the need for many extras. That focus on ‘less is more’ has always been an important part of the Hegel philosophy, but with the H 95 the story is just a bit more true. This is really an amplifier that can gracefully stand in or on a TV cabinet, without necessarily wanting to be a design statement.

The slimmer housing finished in the characteristic matte powder coating and with a slightly curved front panel made of high-quality plastic, we feel it fits very well in a modern interior. Those are those Scandinavian roots, we think. A minimum of buttons â ???? two to be exact, volume and source selection â ???? and no led lights reinforce the humble approach. This also includes the centrally placed OLED display where things like the volume level and source are shown, with white letters on a black background. It has just enough information that you can easily read even from three to four meters.

The overall impression that you get from the H 95 is one of tranquility, not of technological brilliance. That means that this device also works well with a wall-mounted TV with very thin screen edges, for example. Just like a modern TV discards itself so that only the image is central, so wants the H 95 especially music. Blue VU meters or a large touchscreen with colorful album art are not part of that.

Not just streaming Integrated amplifiers are now with streaming built-in now not so uncommon either. Still, Hegel was one of the first to focus heavily on streaming and has now completely refined the all-in-one concept. In doing so, the company always made sure there was a choice between high-quality streaming and streaming options that were just usable for every family member. Not only the audiophile on duty wants to listen to music, after all. Hence the presence of AirPlay and Spotify Connect at the H 96, two options that other hi-fi brands often foresee, but still quickly portray as inferior. It may be (and you can argue about that), but the majority of people just listen through these two popular options; it is therefore interesting that the AirPlay function has also been tinkered with to make it sound a bit better than the standard implementations that are â ???? off the shelfâ ???? purchased and built in.

It may also seem strange that Hegel continues to swear by DLNA / UPnP, a streaming technology that is a bit older. Not everyone is a fan of it, but with the right player app, it’s a great way to play your own music files. Some apps, such as BubbleUPnP on Android or mconnectPlayer on the iPhone / iPad, also allow streaming via DLNA from Tidal or Qobuz. Hegel itself does not provide an app to do this, because the Norwegians think that hi-fi companies that build apps often do this badly because it is simply not part of their core competencies. If you then look at what is already available in terms of apps, that is not bad. Which is 6, 99 euros for say mconnectPlayer HD ultimately a small investment, especially if you then get an app that works well. There are also apps that do it for free.

At the back the H 95 you will discover a very clean rear panel, with a central role for the large speaker terminals. On the left you will find two pairs of analog inputs (plus a line output for a power amp or a sub), on the right five digital inputs (1 x coaxial, three optical inputs and a USB class B). Hegel himself speaks of six digital inputs, because they count the Ethernet connection as an input. WiFi is not available, because Hegel founder Bent Holter thinks a wireless module is a potential source of interference. Bluetooth is present for the same reason; adding it is easy with a box like the Zen Blue from iFi Audio.

Major update The analog hatch of the H 95 is not very different from the H 90, that’s what Hegel says. After all, the H 90 was already equipped with SoundEngine2, the latest generation of Hegel’s proprietary feedforward technology to take distortion out of Class AB amplification. During a visit to Bent Holter’s Hegel offices in Oslo last year, we got an extensive explanation about this innovative technology, read it here if you want to know more or SoundEngine2 (and more). Also the damping factor of 2000: 1 is the same as before, providing immense control over the connected speakers. You can also discover more about this aspect in the article that we link above.

The big improvements on the H 95 are included with the DA converter part, which is derived from the much better DAC that in the H 590, H 390, H 190 and H120 is built around a chip from AKM. Hegel does not say which chip is correct, but we suspect that it is a model from the Velvet Sound series. That may explain in part why we love the tone of the recent Hegel amps.

Hi-res files can be can be delivered via all digital inputs, but there is a difference between the USB class B port and the other digital inputs. Over an optical or coaxial cable, PCM audio is up to 24 – bit / 192 KHz welcome , via USB the bar is slightly lower at 24-bit/96 KHz PCM. This is a major distinction from the more expensive integrated Hegels, which (in the case of the H 390 and above) can also handle DSD and MQA audio.

Made more sustainable The H 95 is Hegel’s last amplifier to a new platform is brought. That means several things, like the new DAC and the switch to SoundEngine2 (but as we already mentioned: SoundEngine2 was also there with the H 90). But another advantage is that this new Hegel generation has just become a bit more sustainable. Making updates is now much easier over the internet. With other types of CE devices (such as AV receivers) this has been normal for some time, but with hi-fi amplifiers the concept of a firmware update is still a rarity. This is understandable in some way, because an amplifier does not necessarily have to run software. However, that is different with an all-in-one device like this H 95. The many streaming options on board sometimes need an update to keep up with the latest evolutions. We understand that the AirPlay function in the H 95 will be brought to AirPlay 2 in this way. In terms of playback via the AirPlay technology that should not change much, but thanks to version 2 you will be able to group the Hegel amplifier during playback with other AirPlay speakers that â ???? for example â ???? in the kitchen and dining room. However, the upcoming Roon update for the higher Hegels will not be available for the H 95.

Against a black background For our test, we remove the KEF R3 speakers from the storage space. In terms of price point (799 these sturdy upright speakers fit with the innovative UniQ driver excellent at Hegel, but also in character. We also know this from a previous review of the Hegel H 190, when we also combined that higher model with the R3 speakers. Hegel is distributed in the Benelux by KEF / GP Acoustics, and that is no coincidence. The two brands match well, although other combinations are of course also possible. With a set of DALI Rubicon 2’s for example, which resulted in a slightly warmer but perhaps also a little less tight rendering. Oo I have listened to that combination with pleasure for a long time, to return to the KEFâ € ™ s with their beautiful integration of the middle and high.

Besides some speaker cable to connect the speakers to the amplifier, you basically don’t need anything else to play music from the H 95 to get. After all, streaming is built in, remember? Nevertheless, we chose to connect a turntable (a Project X1) with the Primare R 15 – phono preamplifier as a helper in between and a Volumio Primo streamer that we connect to the USB class B port on the Hegel amplifier. This Italian-made box is a convenient way to supply the highest quality digital stream to the Hegel DA converter. Admittedly, in the end you will listen to one particular source very quickly during testing, but it is good to include all input types.

That you get far with a baby Hegel and that the Norwegian brand always delivers what it promises, we notice when our test playlist in Roon comes out at â ???? Hyper-Ballad (Family Tree Version )a???? from Björk (CD quality via AirPlay and Roon). The R3â € ™ s send those low bass tones into the room nice and fat, quite an achievement because they also effortlessly put down the voice of the Icelandic and the faster, higher beats. That can only be controlled as speakers tightly, something with this track but a little later with â ???? Manitoumaniâ ???? of French techno superstar -M- is clearly the case. That absolute control is what the Hegel amps always excel at, which will definitely appeal to electronics enthusiasts who love rousing tracks. Due to the perfectly timed playback on a totally silent background, the feeling of speed is always maintained, which is of course also nice with quiet electronics genres, such as the new â ???? Articulationâ ???? – album by the ambient lovers at Rival Consoles (24-bit/96 kHz via DLNA) where the H 95 in most tracks effortlessly playful synth melodyà Dance in a large space around an underlay of inexorable deep beats.

And completely different genres? They also benefit from the qualities of the H 96. The â ???? Overtureâ ???? from Maurice Jarre’s beautiful soundtrack to the David Lean film classic â ???? Lawrence of Arabiaâ ????, in 2011 re-recorded by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (CD quality via Qobuz and DLNA), is a kind of musical summary of the whole film and the life of the eccentric desert Briton. That makes it very dynamic, with rapid changes between romantic, slow pieces with an Arabic theme, bombastic explosions of orchestral sound in which timpani provide drama and even military marching music. Interesting to know: if this film is shown as intended by Lean, you will hear this Overture without a picture, in complete darkness. In our listening room, we leave the lights on anyway, and note that the Hegel amplifier always switches smoothly, no matter how difficult it gets. Despite its modest power, Jarre’s masterpiece is rendered grand and with a lot of impact, and not exactly at low volume. Which in turn strengthens our belief that a label like “baby-Hegel” ???? really does not fit with this small but potent amplifier.

It is of course a shame that there is no phono input on the H 95 is present, although this is a typical Hegel choice. You should not put a phono preamplifier in the housing, that seems to be the philosophy of the Norwegians. Fortunately, this can be solved quickly with a separate phono amplifier or with a record player with the necessary built-in. When the doorbell rings and the postman throws in the new album of Irish punk rockers DC Fontaines with perfect timing, we gladly take the opportunity to put the disc on the X1 immediately. The group is a bit of a hype phenomenon and you have to love that Dublin accent, but there is little criticism in terms of recording. The Pro-Ject with its own cartridge introduces a bit more warmth than when we stream this album, but that’s no problem. Since the Hegel’s naturally add little color, it is not as bad as a source does. Depending on your taste of course.

Conclusion De Hegel H 95 is a leader in its class, an Integrated amplifier with excellent streaming options, an excellent DAC section and a clean sounding amplifier hatch. It excels in control and power, so you can control quite a few speakers well with this interior-friendly entry-level model from Hegel. Do take your time to find a good match with speakers. Because the Hegel amplifier hardly adds any color, you get to hear the real character of your speakers.

Hegel H 95

1. 695 euro | Â www.hegel.no

Rating 4.5 out of 5

review-gold-note-ds-10-and-pa-10:-warm-blooded-and-well-working-couple-from-tuscany

Review Gold Note DS 10 and PA 10: warm-blooded and well-working couple from Tuscany

The Italian audio company Gold Note designs and builds its products in Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region. The company claims to be influenced by the culture and (art) history of this region on the one hand, but at the same time incorporates modern and digital insights and technology into its products. In our test room are the DS – 12, a DA converter also streamer also headphone amplifier and PA – 10, a two-channel power amplifier. The devices have the same shape and dimensions and are relatively compact. How do these Tuscan products sound? We’re going the DS – 12 and PA – 10 View and Investigate. Â

Gold Note: Italian audio equipment manufacturer

The Italian audio company Gold Note was founded by Maurizio Aterini and is based in Florence. In their own words, the onset is already about 32 years ago due to the fact that founder Aterini, as a technical student, was dissatisfied with the performance level of the then turntables. After gaining the necessary design experience and work experience in the audio industry, Aterini established 2012 together with his wife Elena and his partner Alessio Gold Note op.

According to the company’s website, audio equipment often has a dual focus. On the one hand, this is a longing for the past, which can sometimes be found in the design. On the other hand, new developments and technology are often eagerly embraced. In the case of Gold Note, the appearance of the products is, according to them, inspired by the (art) history of the Italian region of Tuscany. In particular, the Gold Note turntables and speakers show smooth lines and a traditional construction method that looks artistic. We see that more often with Italian loudspeaker manufacturers. At the same time, Gold Note looks emphatically at modern technology and the company has a number of digital products. All products are designed and built in Italy.

Ease of use also plays a role. After all, Gold Note also has (pre) amplifiers with analog and digital inputs and streaming functions on board. In our test room is the DS – 12, a DA converter also streamer and headphone amplifier. This is a good example of many and easy to operate (modern) functions housed in a small housing. We’re going the DS – 12 in a moment, together with the PA – 10 a compact power amplifier.

Gold Note: portfolio of sources, amplifiers and speakers Gold Note’s portfolio covers everything today’s music lover needs. Well come on, Gold Note doesn’t build reel recorders, cassette decks and tuners, but it does build speakers, amplifiers (front, end and integrated), turntables, tonearms, cartridges, DA converters and streamers. The portfolio is not very large and does not change very frequently. Gold Note is not the kind of manufacturer that is constantly releasing new models. That is positive because a manufacturer that has models followed in quick succession gives the impression that it is not doing its homework properly. After all, barring one exception, a well-built device cannot be greatly improved a short time later.

Gold Note currently offers four speakers. A vinyl enthusiast can choose from five turntables, five pickups, two tone arms and two phono amps. Gold Note also offers one CD player, three DA converters as well as streamers, one integrated amplifier and a streamer that also has a phono stage on board, one preamplifier and two power amplifiers. . Gold Note also provides the ability to power the DS – 12, DS – 10 Plus, PH – 10, PH-1, CD – 1000, DS – 1000 upgradeable by external power supply. Recently the PSU 12 EVO announced, the external power supply for the DS – 10 and DS – 12 Plus, whose delivery should start soon. A customer can choose to immediately purchase an external power supply with his Gold Note device, but a customer can also do so later.

One of these power amplifiers is the compact model PA – 10 which is in our test room. The dad-10 is eight inches wide. Also in our test room is the DS – 10, a DA converter, streamer and headphone amplifier with volume control. Both devices have the same dimensions and can be supplied in the same color. Gold Note claims to have made two flexible and easy to operate devices. We look at the technology of both devices and then listen to music.

Gold Note PA – 12: power amplifier

The 2-channel PA – 10 works in class AB and can be used twice 125 Deliver watts into eight ohms. At four ohms, the power doubles to 150 Watt. If the impedance is halved again, ie to two ohms, the PA – 10 as stated by Gold Note 300 Deliver watts per channel. There is a small fan on the inside, which starts if the temperature exceeds a certain threshold value by playing at a high volume for a longer period of time. During the test period, we did not hear the fan.

The dad-10 also has the option to bridge the output stages (this is called by Gold Note Bridge-Tied-Load (BTL mode)), causing the PA – 10 becomes a mono amplifier by combining the output stages. The small box can then 384 Deliver watts to eight ohms and 850 Watts at four ohms. BTL mode also allows the user to connect with one PA – 10 and a second PA later – 10 next to it.

The user has the choice of a cinch input and an XLR input, both with an input sensitivity of 1.4 Volt and an impedance of 13 kOhm.

Furthermore, the user can choose a high or low damping factor with a button on the back. The default is a high damping factor, but according to Gold Note, a sensitive or small speaker can benefit from a low damping factor. The explanation of this in the manual is rather brief and we have not investigated this aspect further. We have the PA – 12 used with a high damping factor.

With the supplied trigger cable (called GN Link by Gold Note) the PA – 10 on / off with other devices, such as the DS – 10.

The heavy-duty speaker terminals accept banana plugs, forks and bare wire.

Gold Note DS – 10: DA converter, streamer and headphone amplifier

The DS – 10 has the same shape and aluminum housing as the PA – 12. Gold Note has the DS – 10 packed with modern contemporary features but at the same time trying to keep operation simple. Only one button can be found on the front. By pressing the button functions can be selected by then turning the button. If the button is not pressed, the button works as a volume control. Gold Note delivers a nice IR system remote control with the DS – 10. Let’s walk through the functions of the DS – 10.

The DS – 10, which is therefore equipped with a volume control (which can be bypassed and locked in the highest position), has only digital inputs, for connecting a CD- running gear or a streamer. Connecting a streamer is not very obvious because the DS – 10 is already a very complete streamer, but it is possible. Gold Note allows the user to adjust the sound by setting three parameters as desired. These are 1. the Low Pass filter, 2. High-frequency De-emphasis, and 3. Power line to the DAC chip. Gold Note therefore speaks of a Chameleon Dac. The user can save three profiles in addition to the default setting of the DA converter.

The DS – 10 is quite a complete streamer. The user can connect music to the DS with a computer via UPnP via wired or wireless LAN – 10 or via bluetooth 5.0, or via Apple’s AirPlay. Also, the user can connect a USB HDD or SSD formatted in FAT 32 or NTFS. The DS – 12 easily recognized a Western Digital 1TB USB HDD. The USB-HDD switches on / off with the DS – 10. The usual streaming services such as Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer and Tidal are supported, as well as internet radio via vTuner. The streamer is operated with the MConnect app. More about operation with the MConnect app later.

The DS – 10 supports MQA and is Roon-ready. Music signal may be supplied via the USB-B input in a resolution up to 32-bit/384 kHz. DSD can also be used via this entrance / 128 are delivered and processed. The other inputs (S / PDIF coax, optical and AES / EBU) allow PCM signal up to a maximum of 24-bit/192 kHz are played.

Note: who would need an analog input for the DS – 10 Plus can choose. This device has exactly the same shape and functions as the DS – 10 with addition of an analog line input designed as a 3.5 millimeter jack plug.

As befits a serious streamer, the DS – 10 an RJ 45 LAN terminal. In addition, the DS – 10 also Wi-Fi on board, but we strongly prefer a wired connection because of its inherently better stutter resistance.

The connection to an amplifier is made via the cinch output or the XLR output. On the front panel is a 6, 45 millimeter jack plug headphone connection.

Finally, a few more numbers: Gold Note specifies a signal to noise ratio of 125 dB. The total harmonic distortion is maximum 0, 06 per cent. These are excellent figures, but not exceptional because most modern DA converters have comparable figures. Basically noise and distortion are below the perceptible limit.

Enough talk about technique. Time to connect Gold Note devices and start listening to music.

review-sonoro-prestige:-ambitious-table-radio-with-a-number-of-functions-like-a-swiss-army-knife

Review Sonoro Prestige: ambitious table radio with a number of functions like a Swiss army knife


MORE FROM THIS BRAND RESUME The Sonoro Prestige has the functionality of a Swiss Army knife but is at the same time a minimalist thing. Build quality and handling are exemplary. More than one power cord is not needed to listen to music. The sound has a splash of warmth and is balanced with a surprisingly good reproduction of low tones. The stereo image is wider than the Prestige’s appearance would suggest.

PLUS POINTS Solid and minimalist design Very good build quality Too many functions to list Balanced light warm sound Exceptional bass response Stutter Free Display Pleasant operation MINUSES Woofer lacks protection grille Only supports USB sticks with FAT 16 and FAT 32 file system, not support large storage media The German audio company Sonoro builds table radios and has a portfolio that consists of mono and stereo models, with or without a CD drive and all kinds of modern streaming functions. Sonoro proposes to combine old-fashioned German engineering skills with modern engineering. Some Sonoro models rise above the level of a table radio / clock radio. In our test room is one such model, the Sonoro Prestige, an all-in-one stereo device that only needs a power outlet to make music. How does the Sonoro Prestige work and sound and how far do the Prestige’s hi-fi ambitions reach? We investigate.

Sonoro: German audio and design

Sonoro has been around since 2006 and is located in Neuss, Germany. Founder and CEO Marcell Faller: “Music is life, the great energy surrounding music has not left me personally and the Sonoro team for years. We are music-inspired audio developers and we design music systems to make the wonderful world of sound even more fascinating. ”

Sonoro says it embraces the quality promise “German Audio & Design” and thus indicates how the company develops its passion for sound and design: with a methodical working method and with a lot of dedication and attention to detail. Sonoro considers itself part of the German engineering tradition. Presumably the company thereby refers to the expression “Deutsche Gründlichkeit” which more or less stands for something like perfection and solidity.

The company declares that one of the key ingredients for the unique sound of Sonoro’s products are the carefully hand-crafted wooden enclosures. This is not only important for the appearance, but also benefits an authentic, detailed and voluminous sound image. The smart placement of the high-quality speakers, precisely tuned crossover frequencies and subtly tuned sound processors contribute to this, as do the careful assembly and checks carried out at various stages, according to the manufacturer.

Sonoro: portfolio of table radios Sonoro’s portfolio is divided into two product lines:

The Classic product line has three members. The Qubo and Easy are mono systems. The Lounge is a stereo system. All three feature built-in speakers, radio functions (FM, DAB +) and bluetooth connectivity. The Lounge and the Qubo have a CD drive on board. The Easy, the smallest model, has a leather carrying strap and batteries, so it can be used outdoors.

The Smart product line has six members. The difference with the members of the Classic line is the addition of internet radio and support for the common streaming services. The Maestro, Meisterstück and Prestige models (our test model) are stereo models. The Elite, Stream and Relax are mono models. The smallest models Stream and Relax are not equipped with a CD drive. The other four are. The Maestro, the most expensive model (1. 299 euro), is the only Sonoro model that does not have speakers on board. All other models do. Incidentally, Sonoro has now also added a passive two-way loudspeaker called Orchestra to the portfolio. The Orchestra is intended to be the perfect companion for the Maestro.

In front of us it is 799 Euro costing Prestige model available comes in a high-gloss white, black or silver finish. There is also a walnut wood version and this is 108 euros more expensive. We will walk through the technique and functions of the Prestige, after which we will discuss operation and sound.

Sonoro Prestige: amount of functions like a Swiss army knife

The Prestige’s cabinet is rectangular with a central 2.8 inch dimmable TFT screen at the front. The screen shows the date and time when the Prestige is not being used for listening to music. On either side of the screen is a speaker grille behind which is a 0, 75 – inch tweeter and a 3-inch midrange located. At the bottom is a four inch downward firing single woofer. There is also a bass reflex port at the bottom.

The woofer is placed quite close to the edge. Anyone who lifts the Prestige can accidentally touch, press and possibly damage the cone of the woofer. Of course, the Prestige will not be moved very often because it has no battery and is not suitable for mobile use. Nevertheless, in our opinion it would be obvious to protect the woofer with a grille so that the cone is well protected against accidental pressing. Perhaps something for the next version? For the rest, we do not criticize the construction and housing. The Sonoro Prestige radiates Deutsche Gründlichkeit.

The Prestige is therefore a complete three-way stereo system. In total, the Prestige has five amplifiers on board. The tweeters and the midrange each have their own amplifier of 24 Watts (RMS). The single woofer is driven with a maximum of 40 Watts (RMS). The power is specified at 1% distortion. In anticipation of operation and sound, we can already reveal that this rectangular box, which weighs 7.2 kilograms, can build up a considerable sound pressure. The Prestige features the latest generation of digital sound processor (DSP).

The radio enthusiast can choose from three types of radio. First of all, the classic analog FM radio (96, 5 MHz – 108 MHz). An extendable antenna is of course included. Then there is digital radio in the form of DAB / DAB + (Band III, 174. 928 MHz – 299. 200 MHz) and Internet radio with thousands of channels can be listened to worldwide. The user can search automatically or manually. Ten stations per type of radio can be stored for quick access.

Access to the internet is via RJ – 45 LAN connection or via Wi-Fi (with support for WEP, WPA, WPA2 (PSK) and WPS). A setup wizard links the Prestige to wireless LAN.

The Prestige supports streaming services Spotify, Tidal, Napster, Deezer, Qobuz and Amazon Music but the user can also send music to the Prestige using DLNA, UPnP or bluetooth (supporting aptX, A2DP and AVRCP). Incidentally, Bluetooth works bi-directional. This means that music signal can be sent from a smartphone to the Prestige and at the same time music signal from the Prestige to wireless headphones can be sent. Preferences can also be saved with regard to streaming services.

Of course, the Prestige is also equipped with extensive alarm and snooze functions. The automatic sleep timer can be set between 5 and 120 minutes. The user can choose to be woken by a buzzer or a radio station.

An equalizer for bass and treble adjustment is also built in. The 3D option makes the stereo image wider, according to Sonoro. There is also a loudness function for those who want it.

Below the screen is a slot-in CD drive that reads common pressed CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs . According to Sonoro, the legibility of the latter two depends on the quality, but that is normal for home-burned CDs. The drive is not suitable for loading and playing mini-CDs (which are a rarity, by the way).

Sonoro Prestige: connections

The following connections can be found on the back of the Prestige:

A cinch line input with a sensitivity of 500 mVolt A 3.5 millimeter jack plug input with a sensitivity of 300 mVolt An optical input (Toslink) that accepts PCM signal up to a resolution of 24-bit/96 kHz A USB input that supports FAT 20 and FAT 32 storage media can play. According to the manual, the Prestige can only read USB sticks, not USB HDDs. Many modern streamers can read the folder structure of large USB storage media such as 1 TB HDDs. The Prestige cannot do that. One cinch line out On the front is a 3.5 millimeter jack plug connection for headphones.

BRAND

review-como-audio-solo-+-ambiente-+-turntable-set

Review Como Audio Solo + Ambiente + Turntable set

Como Audio is certainly no stranger to the readers of HIFI.NL. We have been in regular contact with Tom DeVesto, and have previously introduced you extensively with the Como Audio Musica. The label â ???? table radioâ ???? was quite an understatement. But the line of products is bigger. Como Audio also has a record player in its range. That of course requires a review.

Como Audio Como is a relatively new brand, but has deep roots in the audio. After all, there is a man with a vision behind it: Â Tom DeVesto . A â ???? completeâ ???? bringing a new brand to the market, mainly dominated by Sonos, requires a set of balls. When we look at the products and their quality, we admire Como Audio. As audio enthusiasts, we know that CD and vinyl are not dead. And Como Audio knows that too. But then with a future proof touch.

Personally, we wanted to get started with the Como Audio Bluetooth Turntable, but in full Como mode. How? With a complete set! The Solo + Ambiente + Turntable. That is a Solo with extra speaker and a turntable: a set that provides the user with many possibilities.

The Solo becomes a real stereo system with the additional Ambiente speaker, with almost everything on board: multiroom audio, streaming audio, Spotify, DAB +, USB, headphone connection, Bluetooth, clock and alarm, 2x stereo input (3.5mm), color screen, wifi, optical input and one 30 Watt class-D amplifier for the control of the 2-way system. The Solo comes in 4 versions, for each an appropriate color for the interior.

Which brings us to the second product in this set. This turntable has no name other than Bluetooth Turntable. so Como could have come up with a peppy name for that. If we can make a suggestion: the Limoncello? The turntable itself is well put together. We see that the arm resembles a model from Pro-Ject, which suggests that parts come from it. Of course Como Audio gives it its own twist. A heavy steel platform, slip mat and a dust cover. We also find an Ortofon OM 10 element. A built-in phonostage and Bluetooth functionality make it reasonably future-proof, and that offers possibilities. The Como Audio Bluetooth Turntable can therefore be connected wirelessly to the Solo.

Start and drive Unpack, drop and set the set has a maximum of 30 minutes to time. Crazy called it took most of the time to set up. This has to do with the buttons on the front of the Solo; these are both rotary and click buttons. The screen is not a touchscreen, although the appearance suggests otherwise!

The Ambiente stereo speaker can be connected with a single RCA cable. This is attached to the speaker. To connect to the WiFi network, we have to turn and click the buttons. It gives a bit of the feel of a text message you make on a Nokia 3310. But once we are connected, it is set. We are greeted with a notification that there is a system update. It is always good to keep internet connected systems up to date. After the update we are only surprised: we can completely reset the Solo! Nothing has been preserved. That is a point to improve. It is easy to immediately download the app, available for Android and iOS.

The buttons on the front have a big advantage: quick, easy operation. If it was a bit more difficult to set up, it is that easy to use the same buttons. This also makes it clear why this was chosen. We have to understand which button does what, but we get the hang of it in no time. This is a strong point for people who don’t feel like messing with an app on the phone. In addition, a remote control is also included. We choose our favorite radio stations, our music server is linked and we connect the record player. It is almost ready for use. It is advisable to check the adjustment. A check to see if the record player is level is also a step in this process. We connect the whole with the supplied cable and adapter. For example, the record player can be connected to the Solo. The transparent RCA cable then goes to a 3.5 mm plug.

Now we already hear you think: “That’s not good, is it?”. And you are absolutely right about that. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that also applies to audio systems. Preference is given to a cable that already contains the adapter and which consists of one whole. But this is what Como Audio delivered, so this is what we test it with. Fortunately, the head office has announced that it will deliver the product with a different cable from this summer, so that no more adapters are needed. Now all that remains is an espresso and a listening session.

Musical Fun Factor “It’s a Wednesday morning, 07: 00 hours The Solo on button is pressed. Preset button 1 and Q-music can be heard over the speakers. The radio station logo appears on the screen. Meanwhile, the coffee machine is switched on and the living room is enveloped in the scent of fresh espresso. ”

This is how the Como Audio set has made its appearance in recent weeks, in a daily rhythm. The acceptance in such a steady rhythm can be a difficult process. In the case of the Como Audio Solo, Ambiente and the Turntable it was quite organic; within a day it was very natural to just turn on the radio or just turn on a CD from the server. And that is sometimes a different matter with some products. (Just below us; the Solo, Ambiente and Limoncello sound much better, right?). A comparison with Sonos or Bluesound is therefore easily made. But we’ll get to that later.

The step to turn on music for a moment is just the touch of a button. In the days when people work a lot at home, we also notice that we also listen to more music. There was a lot of radio, especially in the morning, and from lunch music was switched on via Spotify or the server. Around dinner the round black discs appeared and several LPs were listened to while enjoying a glass of wine.

The convenience and “Fun Factor” are very high with this set, and that is exactly what makes listening to music so much fun. Something we already encountered with the Crosley . But what exactly do we mean by that? It is often a combination of several factors. Think of the product, the price of the product, the ease of use, the right music and the time or place. The Solo excels in convenience. Press the button and listen. What we often encounter with multiroom or smart speakers is the smartphone. This almost always has to be taken in hand to put on other music. Then we are often tempted to read that email, or to view that post on Instagram or Facebook. There is no such distraction with the Como Audio Solo. It takes you as a user with a modern system back to a period of uncomplicated music experience. Of course there is an app available, but if we have used it five times during the entire period, then it is a lot. Combine that convenience with the sound quality and the circle is complete.

With the rotary knob we scroll through the music on the server, until we come across an album of which we think ‘yes, nice’. A good example is the Buena Vista Social Club, with the eponymous album from 1997. We own the album in Flac, hi-res. The Como just plays that. And the surprise is all the greater when we hear that the display is better than expected. The vocals and instruments are clear and have a clear place in the room. We do hear a slightly exaggerated mid-low / low. This is mainly because the housing has to compensate. So don’t expect audiophile performance. It is more like a delicious warm apple pie from Oma. All flavors have come together in that apple pie and together they form the whole. The audio performance of the Solo and the Ambiente can also be compared. We really hear music. We do not hear the vocals and instruments separately. We also don’t hear different levels, we just hear music, as a whole. Straight forward.

We also find the pleasure when we grab a few LPs. The album 21 by Adele and Forever Dreaming by Myles Sanko , for example. Adele doesn’t need an introduction. Myles Sanko is a British soul and jazz singer. He has been working hard since 2013 and has performed at North Sea Jazz, among others. We put on the song of the same name Forever Dreaming. We are looking for the swing that is in that song. With a good audio system sitting still is difficult and you will be captivated by the melody. We clearly hear the wind section shaping the melody. Here you can indeed hear the swing we are looking for. There is a small but. The music sounds good, better than you would expect. We only miss some body here and there. Just that little bit of strength underneath that creates conviction. When we set up Adele, we like to listen to that powerful swipe. Turning Tables is a very suitable number for this. Also appropriate in terms of name. Adele can convey a lot of emotion with her singing. This is also audible on the Como Audio Solo and Bluetooth Turntable. We feel the emotion and the swipe is more than pure enough. For a 2-way system, the Solo and the Turntable set a good score. Although there is more quality in the Turntable than the Solo can display.

Straightforward Now as a reader you naturally want to know what it costs and whether it is that exorbitant amount is worth. Let’s start with the target audience. For whom is such a set interesting? Are you that person who is harassed for the third time by the neighbor on Saturday because she can’t stop talking about their new Sonos speaker? And that they are now audiophiles too, because they have more than 1000 to spend on audio stuff, but they still have to save for the subwoofer. Making you wonder if you could drink the bottle of red wine in hand in one gulp, as long as you don’t have to listen to your neighbor anymore? Congratulations! You belong to the target group for Como Audio! They have an extensive range for multi-room audio products. Audio products made of wood. Available in 4 different colors, such as walnut. It is made for people who want the audio quality, but not Sonos. And especially its convenience. Just turn on some music. Music for cooking, or for relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine.

The set as a whole is very extensive and prepared for the future. The TV can also be connected to it with an optical cable. The cable was a weak link with the record player. It did not stay in place and the adapter prevented us from using all connections at the back. The Bluetooth connection provided more freedom. We could also place the record player elsewhere, at a slightly greater distance. The downside is that the quality of the connection was not always great. A slight hum could be heard when the turntable was turned on. As soon as the music started we didn’t hear anything anymore. A simple adapter is included with the record player. This could explain the hum. It can often be traced back to electricity or earth. The adapter can be replaced for an Sbooster, for example. This will also be a leap forward in the ge loud quality. The hum was also more present with Bluetooth than with wired listening, but again for the sake of completeness: the cabling of the test set differs from how the product is now delivered, and according to the manufacturer the c connector and ground cause hum in this setup.

Now we mainly used the front controls, but there is also an app. He could use some finishing touches. There will probably be a tip at startup, but that’s in a different language. So we can’t read that.

Which brings us to the prize. For the Como Audio Solo you pay 399 euro, for the Bluetooth Turntable you pay your 499 euro and for the Ambiente again 129 euros. That brings the total price to 1027 euros. Is it worth that price?

As a comparison, you could also buy 2x a Sonos Five or a Bluesound Pulse Mini, but at the same time it cannot be compared. It lacks the look and charisma of the Como Audio. The Fun Factor! The pleasure and that is precisely what makes listening to music so addictive. Another perspective can also be the ministry. This system is also very suitable for people who do not want to switch on or operate their audio with a smartphone. It would be even more attractive if Como Audio turns it into a set or bundle, including a nice set price, then we are completely happy.

Conclusion Como Audio is a great brand, with authentic audio aspects. The combination of the Solo, Ambiente and the Bluetooth Turntable provide a high fun factor. Add to that the fact that the operation is very simple and easy. A smartphone or tablet is not required for use. Are there any drawbacks? Sure, but that doesn’t make the fun and adventure of music on the Como Audio any less.

Como Audio

Combi: â ?? ¬ 1. 027 | Â como-audio.nl Â

Rating: 4/5

review:-chord-2go-streamer-module-make-your-hugo-2-wireless

Review: Chord 2go streamer module Make your Hugo 2 wireless

The Chord 2go is the highly anticipated streaming module for the Hugo 2. Finally the owners of that excellent DAC no longer have to look enviously at those who made their cheaper Mojo wireless with the Poly. Thanks to the 2go you can hang the Hugo 2 directly on the network and stream music via Roon and other services.

Chord 2go What is the 2go? An interesting question, because you cannot just classify this device under a clearly defined product type. That’s because it is an extension for another device, and not a stand-alone device itself. But ‘expansion’ is also a bit too simplistic, because it does a lot. Add the 2go to the Hugo 2 DAC and you get a new hybrid device with considerably more possibilities.

The 2go actually does the same as the Poly that comes with the Mojo, but then for that more expensive Hugo 2 DAC from Chord that we have already extensively tested. The concept remains the same: the 2go is an extension module that you attach to the DAC and add streaming. There are also two slots for microSD cards, with a maximum capacity of 4 TB. Put the necessary in this and the device will also operate as a network player and as a media server on your network. Talk about versatile.

We will repeat again: you need the Hugo 2 to use the Chord 2go. The two fit together perfectly. So good, in fact, that if you attach the Chord module to the Hugo 2, you suddenly seem to have one new device. And actually it is.

Just screwing

Somehow it’s amazing that it took so long for Chord Electronics to come up with the 2go. With the Poly for the Mojo DAC, the British had already shown that the concept was right: take an excellent DAC in its price range and turn it into a standalone streamer by means of an extra module. No need to screw open, just click and set via an app. And hey presto: your DAC is a Roon endpoint, which thanks to the built-in battery can be used as your completely wireless music source to listen to music with your headphones. It becomes an intriguing alternative to a DAP and much better suited for demanding headphones than a smartphone.

And yes, you can use the 2go / Hugo2 using mobile. After all, the Chord-DAC is equipped with a battery and the 2go can also be used on the road in hotspot mode. But we feel that this is more of a theoretical scenario. We think it is much more likely that you will use this combined device at home to listen to your music comfortably in high quality via headphones. Or you can use it as a streaming DAC in your hi-fi system. That makes much more sense with this Chord combination than with the Poly / Mojo, partly because the Hugo 2 has a full cinch output and two digital inputs (optical and coaxial). And also: there is an ethernet connection, because in a system there is a better option in terms of stability.

Then why did that 2go take so long to arrive? We guess that, but it is true that Chord Electronics has recently launched many other products. Think for example of the mighty Ultima amplifiers. Such a thing naturally demands a lot of focus within a hi-fi company.

Before you can start using the 2go, you need to get your inner do-it-yourself unleash. Fortunately, only for a short while and without having to call on next-level skills. Why? The connection between the Hugo 2 and the 2go is realized by the two micro USB connections. However, even two of those plugs are insufficient in the long run to withstand the bending force that you get when you pick up the device carelessly. Fortunately, Chord has found a solution. The box of the 2go contains two pins that you screw into existing cut-outs on the Hugo 2 – which immediately shows that the manufacturer has been working on the 2go from the start. You carefully click the streaming module onto the DAC, after which you install two small nimbus screws in the sides with the supplied key. With this you lock the streamer and you get a solid and stable whole.

With the Mojo and Poly you do not have an additional locking mechanism, but the Hugo 2 and 2go are CNC aluminum housings are therefore a lot heavier. When combined, the unit weighs 180 gram. We would recommend a case for mobile use that protects both devices well. That is also a good idea with the Mojo and Poly. Chord itself has cases that you can buy, we had a custom one made for our Mojo / Poly by a third party.

We said above that the 2go only fits the Hugo 2. That’s not quite right, because Chord is also working on the 2yu. This is a small module that you connect to the 2go instead of the Hugo 2. The device only has digital outputs, so you can use the 2go as a pure streamer with another DA converter. The 2yu may be available by summer, we’ll keep you posted.

Setup via GoFigure App You can set the 2go via the GoFigure app, which also serves the Mojo-Poly. It is a great relief that this app has now become much better. At the launch of the Poly, it was sometimes really hard to get the streamer on your network, but thanks to a series of updates that is now very easy. The 2go benefits from this work as this time we set the streamer to 1-2-3 via the iOS version on an iPad 2017. And just to make sure it works properly (and since Chord handled iOS and Android versions separately in the past anyway), we reset the device and reconfigure the 2go via GoFigure on a Huawei P 30 – smartphone. Fortunately, it goes as smoothly as on an Apple device.

You should get to know the philosophy behind the app. You are not supposed to play music from GoFigure. It is much more of an app for setting things up. That seems clear, were it not for the fact that Chord has provided two exceptions: Internet radio and MPD playlists of music files on a memory card. Why not immediately provide a full music player for those files within GoFigure, that is not so clear. We quietly suspect that Chord believes strongly in Roon. In the GoFigure app you will find all the settings you need. Conveniently, you can permanently enter different WiFi networks here, so that the 2go automatically connects to the correct network when you take the device to your office.

Music can be played via Roon, which is fine goes. The module still appears as non-certified, but functions completely as it should. You can indicate in the Roon settings that this is actually the Hugo 2, so that the correct configuration and icon is chosen.

Of course, far from everyone uses the pricey but very good Roon- software. Another option is to stream music over DLNA, where an optional memory card with music files can be the source. But you can also stream from a DLNA share on NAS. You do not arrange all this via GoFigure, but via a DLNA player app of your choice. We prefer BubbleUPnP on Android, mConnect is a popular option on iOS. Bluetooth and AirPlay (not AirPlay 2) are other streaming options, but we’re happy that aptX is supported for Bluetooth streaming.

Chord says work is in progress on adding Spotify Connect . There is no timeline for this yet – but Chord usually develops software at a relatively slow pace. It cannot be expressed in geological terms, but do not expect to see Spotify appear as an update in a few weeks. Of course we always like to be surprised …

Familiar sound Sound wise the 2go does not change the Hugo 2, or not that we can determine. When we listen to our regular test playlist via Roon and with the Focal Stellia we hear nothing that we have not heard before. After all, the Hugo 2 lives permanently next to the iMac we work on every day, and has been used intensively for over a year. We continue to consider it a reference in the price segment. To know more about what the Hugo 2 offers as a DAC, we would recommend that you read the review of this Chord on it.

One of the underexposed aspects of the Hugo 2 is the presence of the X-PHD crossfeed function. With this, Chord tries to bring the listening experience through speakers to your headphones, which some people find more natural than the strong left-right separation of headphones. We sometimes use it, sometimes we don’t, because certain pieces of music with X-PHD appear just more squashed. With other tracks, the weather reinforces the live feeling. No problem, you can switch it on (three positions) or off via a typical, colored Chord ball. The same is true for the four filters on the DAC that Chord offers, although we find the differences less striking than with the X-PHD function. It is very headphone dependent, we find.

We have used the 2go / Hugo 2 very intensively and noticed that it is a very different experience than the Poly / Mojo. Sound wise Chord takes a big step forward, but you can easily put that Poly in your pocket. The 2go / Hugo 2 is a heavier thing that we also moved very consciously and carefully because of its high value. So it is more ‘transportable’ than ‘portable’, but that is not a problem in itself. In this form, the DAC is also much more convenient and interesting to connect to an amplifier.

Chord equipped the Hugo 2 with a battery because this avoids the whole problem of disturbing power supplies. It also immediately ensures that the combination 2go / Hugo 2 can work for a long time without charging: such 12 hour. That never felt like a limitation. A complaint: if the battery is empty, you cannot immediately use the 2go again if you hang it on the charger. It has to draw some power before you can play music again, which will probably make the impatient audiophile grumble. We should also note that the 2go only establishes a WiFi connection over the 2.4 GHz channels.

Conclusion The 2go, by its nature, seems especially relevant to the Hugo 2 owner. If he is glued to his computer or fixed listening chair, he may not benefit from the product. A USB cable is then sufficient. If you would like to get rid of that dependence on that one listening position and that wired connection to your computer, then the 2go is a must-have addition to an excellent DAC. For example, it allows you to be in the garden or – why not? – can listen to your music in true hi-fi quality in bed, without compromise.

But actually the 2go provides broadening, and therefore it is not just any accessory. Anyone looking for a combined media server / streaming DAC will find an excellent solution in the bundle of the Hugo 2 and the 2go. It has a few eccentric aspects, but these are more than offset by the excellent rendering.

Chord Electronics 2go

1. 195 euro | www.chordelectronics.co.uk

Rating 4.5 out of 5

playstation-5:-stains-and-halos-on-the-body?-here's-what's-happening

PlayStation 5: stains and halos on the body? Here's what's happening

These days we often talk about PlayStation 5, for better or for worse. The images depicting one of the most evident and enigmatic problems of the Sony console are going around the web: the appearance of halos and dark spots on the two ‘sides’ of PS5. What is happening?

by Pasquale Fusco published , at 17: 53 in the Videogames channel

Sony Playstation

A few days ago we welcomed PS5 , which landed in Italy last year 19 November. With the first models arrived in our homes also the first problems arrive: it seems that the next-gen console of Sony , at least with the models just distributed, is affected by some manufacturing defect . The most obvious problem coincides with the appearance of strange stains on both sides of the body.

The ‘spots’ of PS5: numerous reports on the internet

As reported by several users on Reddit or on social networks, the problem in question seems to concern most of the PS5s sold on day one – i.e. since 12 November, the launch date chosen for Japan, the United States and other countries.

The images confirm the presence of some spots on both faceplates of the console , usually located on the central part or on the sides of the body.

Absolutely fuming. Stain on my ps5 don’t no what the fuck it is, little brown mark whiped it and it’s gone worse pic.twitter.com/tj3JtsyyXk

– Gibo (@GibosWorld) November 19, 2020

Most of the users affected have identified halos visible only against the light , while others, more unfortunate, have immortalized much more evident signs, similar to the effects of a burn . The photos and videos shared on the net made a lot of noise, without however being able to move Sony, which has not yet provided an official answer to the questions of angry users.

In any case , the stains would appear at the components that produce the most heat. We have already talked about the extreme silence of the PS5 fan, but some – like Gamers Nexus – have also talked about possible memory overheating problems.

Our experience: PS5 and possible overheating

Also in the Hardware Upgrade editorial staff some cases very similar to those reported above have occurred.

Of the three PS5 owned by our editors, two they have the same problems: on one we found some halos slightly lighter than the white color of the body; on the other, any overheating has led to the deposit of dust on the entire front of the console, dust that would probably come from the inside.

Fortunately for us, with a cloth we were able to remove the dust from the faceplate of the PlayStation 5 and we did not notice its reappearance in subsequent hours of gameplay.

Have you also experienced the same problems with your PS5? Tell us your experiences, while we await any explanations from Sony.