Tous les avis qui suivent sont bien sûr subjectifs, et les considérer comme des vérités absolues serait une erreur. Néanmoins, le magazine a la réputation (non usurpée) de donner des opinions claires et précieuses, assez en tout cas pour mériter considération.
Ne pouvant vous présenter l'intégralité des tests, je vous propose la petite séléction suivante, assortie des conclusions formulées par le mag':
FIRST TESTS (les 6 plus élogieux)
- Mission m73 floorstanders, £200 (!!): "impossible to fault, fabulous, stunning, the missions have got it all…" (!!!)
- Dynaudio Audience 42, £400: "among the best at the price"
- Meridian 800, £9000: "something to lust over"
- Tag Mac Laren DVD32r, £4000: "a fine cd machine, and an enticing dvd player"
- Arcam DIVA DV88, £900: "outstandingly good, and more than a match for the 7se (as a cd player)"
- Arcam AVR100, £800: "musicality first: outstanding in stereo"
Je profite de cette occasion pour en remettre une couche à propos des deux Arcam ci-dessus. Ils représentent, pour moi et à l'heure actuelle, la solution idéale pour qui désire investir dans le home cinema (sous la forme d'un intégré et d'un lecteur DVD) sans sacrifier la musicalité. A moins de 20000 francs la paire, c'est une occasion UNIQUE de réconcilier les deux mondes: certes pas de EX machin chose, mais une chaîne hi-fi digne des meilleures compos à moins de 10000 francs. De plus, comme tous les produits de la marque, ces deux merveilles sont bien sûr évolutives (dvd-a, biamplification…). A bon entendeur, …
SUPERTEST: AMPLIFIERS £800 / £1000
Arcam FMJ 22 ****
Audio Analogue Puccini SE remote ****
AVI S2000MI ****
Copland CSA8 ****
Creek 5350se ****
Musical Fidelity A3 *****
Naim Nait 5 *****
Roksan Caspian *****
Talk electronics Cyclone 2.1 ****
Union Research S2 ****
" This is a tremendously strong group, no product receiving less than four stars, and we can't imagine any of these amplifiers being a disappointment. Particular mention has to go to the likes of Audio Analogue, Creek and Union Research- each narrowly missed out on the full five-star rating. Having said that, there are three products that stand out from event this talented field: the Musical Fidelity A3, the Naim Nait 5, and the roksan Caspian.
The MF A3 is a hugely capable amplifier, and strong across the board: it sounds great, is well built and well equipped. And the Nait 5 combines traditionnal Naim qualities such as timing, punch and attack, with a new found refinement. Either of these amplifiers could quite easily have taken top spot- if it wasn't for Roksan's wonderful Caspian. In specifisc areas other amps equal the Roksan, but overall none can beat its combination of clarity, timing and dynamics. The Caspian is a worthy winner. "
SUPERTEST: CD PLAYERS £400 / £600
Arcam CD72 *****
Marantz CD6000KI ****
Rega Planet ****
Roksan Kandy ****
Sony SCD-XB940 ****
Talk Electronics Thunder 1 ****
" If detail and subtlety is your bag, then the marantz is certainly worth an audition, while if control tops your priority, you should listen to the Rega. As for rockers, then you might well find that the Roksan fits the bill.
But there's one player here that does all these and more in one spectacular package. The Arcam covers all the bases, outperforming its rivals in every aspect of sonic presentation. Add the fact that it carries the smallest price-tag here by some way, and it starts to become obvious that the CD72 is nothing short of a fabulous achievement."
CONCLUSION: allez écouter tout ça !!!
