Just Tested
Power amps
Naim NAP 100
Designed to partner the DAC-V1 DAC/preamp, the NAP 100 has much to offer anyone wanting a fine power amp in compact form
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Android Smartphones & Tablets
Google Nexus 4
Our once-favourite Android bows down to fine rivals. Still great value, though
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Hi-fi amplifiers
EAR Yoshino V12
The EAR Yoshino V12 is a terrific integrated amplifier – it needn’t fear any rival at this price
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In this month's mag
August 2013
GROUP TEST: Floorstanding speakers from £440-£500
GROUP TEST: TV Titans – 55in tellies from £2300-£2500
ULTIMATE GUIDE: DACs from £180-£4995
© 2013 Haymarket Publishing
Comments
All this still leaves me in a quandary.
Also if you read the tech spec it states that the cd player has no dac?
All seems a bit half hearted, as if it's too much trouble.
Also there is nothing about how it compares to the orginal Apollo?
Overall a disappointing review in this case.
The DAC reference in the tech specs is slightly confusing, it means that the player doesn't come with a separate DAC in a separate box, which is hard to explain in a simple database field. Obviously there is one built into the player.
Thank you Andy for clearing up the point about the dac, does seem a bit confusing to me and no doubt others.
Care to comment on any comparisons between this player and the previous Apollo?
It seems a few people are interested in the comparison?
Also how about the Apollo R plus Rega D against something like a Naim CD 5 SI?
Many thanks.
It's been a while since we reviewed the earlier Apollo, but going by memory I'm not sure the new one is better overall. If it is, it's not by much.
I'm a big fan of the Rega DAC, it's a great sounding unit. But, based solely on sound quality, I'd go for the Naim player over the Rega combo. The CD5si really is an enjoyable listen.
Thanks Ketan, looks like I will be having a trip to check out some naim gear then?
Any other players around the same price point to that are worth comparing it too?
I'd have a listen to Audiolab's 8200CD too. It has a very different balance to the Naim, but sounds really good.
I have this player plugged into the rega dac.
Whe I auditioned it the guy did a comparison test with the £6k osrisis player also through the dac.
We both felt there was not a lot in it, then with the osrisis using it's analogue outs it was again a little better but not £5.5k better.
To me this shows that the trickle down of technology from the osrisis was significant.
I love this player and have not heard anything quite like it from a digital source before, surprised at the 4 star rating but then if it was not used with the dac perhaps it's justified and fair.
Well worth the audition is anyone is thinking about a purchase.
Also worthy of note is that it sounded far superior to the linn sneaky when the same cd's were converted to flac, the cdp is not dead yet by a long chalk.
This is a strange review. Its not believable that the apollo R is not better than the original apollo. I don't think Rega would knowingly release it if that were the case. Tone Audio just posted a review calling it one of the product's of the year. Very strange to have such contradictory reviews.
That being said, I also would be interested in how it compares to the Marantz.
But does it beat the Marantz if price is not an issue?
Any comments on how it compares to the original Apollo? Thanks.