Richard Black

A £515 power amp with the ability to work in Class A makes the Swedish-made XTZ an attractive proposition

An upmarket optical lead with a full metal jacket

A 'medical grade' optical cable for improved hi-fi and home cinema audio

Variations in performance levels of this pre/power combination are disappointing

An undisputed badge-winner, Rotel promises a great deal for the money and delivers... in spades

This pre/power amp duo boasts a sound performance that adds extra dimension to vocals

NAD's budget combi looks very promising, but while looks can be deceiving the listening test reveals all

A traditional-sounding pre/power amp combi from Cyrus, that works hard to establish itself against the competition

Confident pre/power duo packs a punch with all types of music, but is less subtle with more complex melodies

This audio transformer aims to cut the hum between your PC and hi-fi

A high-end DAC, the Stello DA100 Signature is intended for the audiophile who thought he had everything

A phono stage that uses valves to create an awesome sound

This budget phono stage includes a USB output for hooking up to your PC

This phono stage has a clever design to help improve audio quality

Judged for its CD performance only, this multi-format player managed to hold its own

The addition of a valve in the output stage gives this player a distinctive character all of its own

A £1,500 complete audio system that's just become our favourite one-box solution

Mains filtration removes high-frequency noise, but Isol-8's Powerline Axis goes the other way, removing direct current

Thanks to this innovative room correction device, enjoying studio quality sound in your own home is a lot easier than you think

Creek's Evolution comes from a long line of respected value-for-money electronics

With its new high-end flagship headphone, Audio-Technica looks to take on the mighty Sennheiser

The budget price is tempting, but with Yamaha's not-quite-separates you get what you pay for

These futuristic black boxes look and sound the money, but don't be hoodwinked by their lively style

A chunky Hi-Fi interconnect with a light and fast sound quality

Gamma Geometry gives this interconnect rhythm and bounce