Page 92 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

FEATURE

Christmas

Wishes

NAME: Martin Pipe
STATUS: Technical expert on all things hi-fi

A free Christmas present? Yes, Martin Pipe even finds one of these for Christmas 2019,
amongst many other nice choices.

IFI ZEN BLUE HI-RES BLUETOOTH STREAMER: £129 (www.ifi-audio.com)
iFi's ZEN Blue is a diminutive gadget that adds Bluetooth capabilities to any hi-fi system. Bluetooth was a joke
worse than anything you’d find in a cracker, but thanks to developments like the HWA and aptX HD codecs
– supported alongside many others by the ZEN Blue – performance need not be sacrificed for convenience.
This modestly-priced unit employs cutting-edge Bluetooth technology, converts digital to analogue with a high-grade ESS Sabre chip and
has analogue sections constructed with audiophile-grade components. It even features balanced analogue outputs, as well as standard RCA
unbalanced types and optical/coaxial digital connectivity. Pop-up Xmas streaming radio has never sounded so good...
£129. www.ifi-audio.com

SURE UNIVERSAL REMOTE APP: free
If you’ve spent all of your money on the lead-up to Xmas, treat yourself to something
useful...but free (well, advert-supported). Replace your infra-red (IR) handsets with a universal
remote...that runs on your smartphone. It’s an app for both Android and iOS that can be
constantly upgraded to accommodate new kit. Later versions of Sure have additional features
like a media player and ‘voice assistant’. The caveat for IR gear is that your smart-device
needs to incorporate a ‘blaster’ – a feature slowly disappearing. Sure is thankfully compatible
with the Broadlink Wi-Fi to IR blaster – yours for less than a tenner on eBay!
Free, Google Play or Apple App store.

MOBILE FIDELITY INNER RECORD SLEEVES: £32.00 FOR 50 (www.russandrews.com)
Let’s talk paper...but not discarded Xmas wrapping! Re-sleeving LPs prolongs their useful life. Sleeves marketed by
Mobile Fidelity – best known for its audiophile pressings – fit the bill, being better than simple paper sleeves that
come as standard. Described as being of “archival-quality three-ply (polyethylene-paper-polyethylene) construction",
these sleeves will protect your precious records from contamination, scratches and – it is claimed – static-related
effects. £32.00 for 50. Go to www.russandrews.com

AUDIO-TECHNICA AT617A CARTRIDGE STYLUS CLEANER: £31 (https://eu.audio-technica.com)
The AT617a stylus cleaner is a small pot containing a special type of polyurethane gel that never sets. Position
said pot strategically onto your platter and use the cueing lever to gently lower the stylus onto the gel’s
surface. Raise it, and you’ll notice that crud has been transferred to the tacky surface of AT’s water-washable
wonder. It’s amazing how much rubbish accumulates on a stylus tip when playing records – and equally
amazing what removing it does for sound quality! Let’s have one in the stocking...
£31. https://eu.audio-technica.com/

PSPATIAL AUDIO STEREO LAB: £70 (www.pspatialaudio.com))
Apple Mac only software. It can decode CD-4 discrete quadraphonic records using DSP, fed 24/96
PCM digital direct from a playing system. Stereo Lab will also decode matrix systems like SQ, QS,
UHJ and the BBC’s Matrix-H system, providing multichannel PCM.
Other features include stereo enhancement, surround upmixing, accurate LP equalisation
curves, noise reduction, de-clicking, removal and even cancellation of tracking distortion! More’s to
come. You’ll know what I’ll be playing with, if Christmas TV isn’t up to scratch...
£70. www.pspatialaudio.com (Free demo available)
92 HI-FI WORLD JANUARY 2020 www.hi-fiworld.co.uk