BUYING GUIDE 2021 The hybrid concept: Stereo receiver/network player. A new approach for the demanding audiophile.

Evolution means transformation. Evolution means improvement. Evolution means progress. Every era has its prerogatives and the field of stereophony is no exception. We, lovers of beautiful sounds, have always sought perfection in our listening and over the years we have seen little change... Not so long ago, to reach a higher level of reproduction, it was necessary to spend tens of thousands of dollars for the purchase of a record player generating a minimum of background noise supported by a high quality diamond cartridge. To this was added high-end speakers and a top-notch amplifier. At a time when people looking for ambient sound to fill the silence at home had cheap mini-systems, the serious enthusiast had no way of acquiring compact, high-performance equipment.

Fortunately, times are changing and someone has finally heard our prayers! So I'm going to tell you about some very sophisticated products that only require the addition of speakers to be viable. Many of you who already have what you need at home, i.e. good speakers, to complete your new kind of set, will benefit from considering the following...

Undeniable advantages.

By opting for a combo unit, you no longer have to worry about connections and spending hundreds of dollars for a perfect match. Hybrid receivers have internal links without compromise or loss of resolution.

Design matters like never before and these receivers are designed to add character to your home, some using wooden side panels, others brushed aluminium. And they don't take up any space.

   In short, you can have incredible full hi-fi sound, with all its precision, scale and emotional expression. But you can also enjoy this extraordinary sound quality from a compact, practical and attractive all-in-one system.

This is a big step forward...

Mixed purpose amplifiers.

The advent of digital music as a source of high fidelity has changed the way music is consumed. For the past ten years, manufacturers have been offering digital players with network connectivity. These devices are very versatile, allowing you to connect to different sources on the web, but also via USB connectivity to a computer or memory stick and to play high-resolution material. So why not put it all together? This is what the products described below offer. It's more expensive, but if you consider the savings versus adding an external DAC, it's worth it! 

- CAMBRIDGE EVO $2999 / $3999

Here is our favourite 2021!

EVO is everything we hoped for, elegant design, extensive functionality, total simplicity and outstanding performance in one package.

The EVO range is dedicated to digital, but the vinyl lover will not be left out. A moving magnet cartridge record player input is included. In fact, as far as connections are concerned, everything is there, here is the list:

• Two terminal blocks for 2 pairs of speakers. (EVO 150)
• One 1/8" phono CD input.
• One HDMI ARC input.
• Two USB type A and B inputs for a memory stick and a computer.
• One coaxial and two optical inputs for digital audio signals such as CD.
• A double XLR input for connecting an external high resolution DAC.
• RCA input for Phono and Auxiliary. (EVO150)
• A dual output for a subwoofer. Rear panel.

The front of the black anodised aluminium case is tastefully decorated with an almost 7-inch colour display! - ideal for displaying album art and playback information, and useful for any manual source switching or library browsing - and a control dial for volume and scrolling. The side panels are made of walnut wood or a black corrugated finish and are both included in the box.

The engineers at Cambridge have incorporated a little bit of the EDGE approach (the brand's 50th anniversary project) by integrating the two rotary knob system on the same axis. This means you can view the menu and make settings in one place - truly futuristic!

The Technologies.

Cambridge uses an enhanced version of Class 'D' amplification for the first time.

Class D is more energy efficient than Class A/B, but it needs to be better controlled to avoid distortion and colouration. To achieve this, Cambridge collaborated with Hypex using their "NCore" principle.

Hypex has developed its own way to further improve the D-Class, working mainly on the feedback loop. This is what sets Hypex apart from other manufacturers, as it is their exclusive technology.

This means that they have achieved a very low output impedance, no high frequency resonance, like many other class D amps - so there are no artefacts in the high frequency range. It also achieves an extremely low distortion rate comparable to the best Class AB amps.

The result of this approach is one of absolute neutrality. When you listen to one of the EVOs, what will jump out at you is the sharpness of the bass, the very defined midrange leaving the illusion that the sound is coming from much wider than the spacing of your columns. What about the highs? They are razor sharp, so much so that there is finesse.

As always with Cambridge, the amount of testing with different brands of speakers has resulted in a perfect, universal performance.

- DENON PMA-150HSP $1699

An affordable solution.

The Denon PMA-150H integrated network amplifier lets you enjoy crisp, powerful, digitally amplified sound from your favorite speakers or headphones with detailed musical precision. And with built-in HEOS (Denon's wireless platform), you can enjoy online music streaming from services like Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer and more!

Denon's engineers offer their different approach with four digital amplifiers that use Qualcomm's Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA) technology to reduce damaging noise and jitter compared to traditional Class D amplifier designs.

This all-digital approach, a data interpolation algorithm is used to further refine the sound quality. This algorithm converts 16-bit audio to 32-bit and oversamples 44.1 kHz signals 16 times. Predictive data interpolation is also used to make the digital sound as smooth and accurate as possible. In case you want to listen to an analogue source such as a TV or record player (use of an external phono preamp required) you can disable the digital processing, Bluetooth and WIFI to give the amplification a break.

The power output at 70 watts in traditional configuration is fair, but sufficient. Note that there is an output for a subwoofer, and I recommend adding a small 8-inch model to complete the performance.

The PMA-150 is ideal for those who want to get started in the new world of streaming radio and high-resolution files.

- NAIM UNITI ATOM $4290

British precision without fail...

Naim is an English brand appreciated for its uncompromising designs. It is well known that to own Naim, you have to invest. Some products are real quality-price finds being sold at prices that do not require a mortgage! This is the case of the UNITI series and especially the ATOM model.

First of all, speaking of atoms, I can tell you that we are more in the nuclear yield here than in the Lilliputian domain of the very small! It's not big, but it's got it in it 😊

The Uniti Atom features a 5" glass LCD colour display with a proximity sensor that turns on the display when the user approaches, as well as an intelligent two-way remote control that works in perfect harmony with the device's volume control. Uniti. It's illuminated!

Like all high-performance products, the use of a toroidal transformer ensures a firm and controlled push from your speakers. This particular configuration will give you the impression of having twice as much power as its advertised 80 total watts, you have to hear it to believe it, believe me!

In the digital spectrum, all bases are covered, here is the list:

• WAV - up to 32 bits/384 kHz
• FLAC and AIFF - up to 24 bits/384 kHz
• ALAC (Apple Lossless) - up to 24 bits/384 kHz
• MP3 - up to 48 kHz, 320 kbit (16 bit)
• AAC - up to 48 kHz, 320 kbit (16 bit)
• OGG and WMA - up to 48 kHz (16 bit)
• DSD - 64 and 128 fs

Plug in a hard drive and you'll have up to 20,000 pieces of high-resolution music at your fingertips. Winks to the past, that's the equivalent of a 15 by 15 room filled to the ceiling with vinyl albums...

Although more compact, it similarly incorporates the same connector inputs as its EVO rival.

Once again, the look is very attractive, beautiful and good! 

- YAMAHA RN803B $1099

A surprisingly traditional approach.

Let's face it, the WOW factor isn't there as opposed to the competitors listed above, but be warned, it will stand up to many others twice as expensive...

  Yamaha boasts over 60 years of history as an audio brand. And the R-N803's technology comes directly from Yamaha's ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) concept, which faithfully maintains the integrity of the audio by combining a meticulously symmetrical left/right circuit arrangement with the shortest signal path from source to output. The chassis is low-vibration and high-rigidity, equipped with a special resin frame that absorbs and blocks unnecessary vibrations. This approach of maximum control of room feedback and shortest path helps to achieve the finest signal performance.

Yamaha's approach is one that focuses on signal processing technologies, in the case of the RN803B a system of in-situ listening and performance correction, the YPAO, is proposed.

For the first time in a Yamaha hi-fi receiver, the R-N803 features the Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimiser (YPAO), a famous technology used in Yamaha's cinema receivers. It measures the shape of the room, the material of the wall and the position of the speaker, then automatically adjusts the sound to create a pleasant, non-distracting sound quality.

This technology is not ideal, but it may be useful for those who do not want to spend time adjusting their room for optimal listening. The system will take care of that.

For good performance, Yamaha uses a renowned Sabre 9006 AS decoder that will allow you to play all digital files from the USB socket on the front or via the USB-A input on the back from your computer.

Distortion is well controlled with an output of twice 100 W at 8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.019% harmonic distortion.

Finally, there is Bluetooth connectivity and a phono input. 

The last word.

The above selection is targeted by the requirements of the listener and the budget allocated. Cambridge and Naim are uncompromising products. As for Denon, you retain the same design attributes as the other two, but at a lower cost with some compromises. As for Yamaha, it's a very powerful hybrid receiver with really respectable sound qualities in a less "hot" format than the other three, but as we say so well: It does the job!

It also contrasts two philosophies: that of the Englishman, who seeks the precision of a watchmaker, and that of the Japanese, who solves the difficulties by means of computerised signal processing. If you feel like it, all you have to do is come and listen to it, remembering to have your music files with you! Your ear, guided by a competent and honest adviser, will always have the last word!

Stay tuned!

- Christian. 

Naim Uniti Star

Naim Uniti Nova