Planet HiFi / Founded in 1997
Hear what matters.
High-end audio, from classic listening rooms to the systems we build today.
McIntosh and Mark Levinson amplifiers. Sonus Faber, B&W and ProAc loudspeakers. dCS and Schiit DACs. Explore the components, recordings and connections that bring a system together.
Classic reviews. Practical guides. A shared love of music.
Good sound.
Across generations.
Start with a listening review, compare a component or untangle a digital-audio setting. These are a few places to begin.
McIntosh MA9000
An integrated amplifier with blue meters, an onboard DAC and a place at the heart of a high-end system.
Read McIntosh MA9000Sonus Faber Concerto
A classic listening review of the compact Italian loudspeaker, with voices and musical expression at its heart.
Read Sonus Faber ConcertoPCM vs Bitstream
Understand where audio is decoded and choose the output format that fits your receiver, TV or soundbar.
Read PCM vs Bitstream
The Schiit stack
Small components, one signal path: a closer look at the DAC, headphone amplifier and equalizer working together.
Read The Schiit stackdCS Elgar Plus
Explore the Ring DAC, PCM and DSD support, and the connections behind a landmark digital source.
Read dCS Elgar Plus
Living with Pioneer Kuro
An owner’s account of the PDP-5090 plasma television: black levels, picture quality and years of everyday use.
Read Living with Pioneer KuroFollow the signal.
A great component is part of a bigger picture. Follow the connections between sources, amplification and the loudspeakers in your room.
Power with purpose.
Explore the Mark Levinson No. 5805, plan a system with our Denon Hi-Fi guide, and get the basics of amplifier and speaker matching right.
Voices in the room.
From the Sonus Faber Concerto to the B&W 805 D3 and ProAc Response DT8, explore how different designs approach the music.
Where it all starts.
Revisit the Rega Planar 2 on vinyl, or explore early high-resolution digital playback with the Sony SCD-777ES and Technics DVD-A10.
A system of your own.
Pair the compact Schiit desktop stack with a closer look at Sennheiser HD595 headphones, or explore headphones with detachable cables.
Planet HiFi / Since 1997
The equipment changes.
The music stays.
A 1998 loudspeaker review and a guide to today’s digital connections belong in the same listening room. Our early reviews and Audio Doctor columns sit alongside later component reviews and practical guides, each with the voice and context of its time.
From a classic DAC
to your next connection.
Conversion, decoding and connections are different parts of the signal path. Explore them through the products and formats in the library.
The DAC story
Read the Bel Canto DAC 1 review from 2000, then explore the dCS Elgar Plus and the principles behind PCM audio.
PCM or bitstream?
Start with PCM vs Bitstream, then follow the settings for Samsung TVs, LG TVs and Dolby Atmos playback.
Bring it together
Compare PCM and passthrough, check HDMI input audio settings, or explore the Denon AVC-X4700H at the centre of a home-cinema system.
Find your next read.
Every published review, guide and issue, organised by subject. Classic and later articles share the same shelves.
Amplifiers & system matching
Browse categoryDACs, PCM & digital sources
Browse category- PCM vs Bitstream: Which One Should You Select?
- PCM Audio: Sample Rate, Bit Depth and Playback Explained
- dCS Elgar Plus DAC
- Schiit Stack Review
- Bel Canto Design DAC 1 Review: These Are the Days
- Z-Systems RDP-1 Review
- Sony SCD-777ES and Technics DVD-A10 Review
- Sony DVP-S7000 DVD Player Review
- PCM vs Bitstream for Samsung TV: Settings Explained
- HDMI Input Audio Format Bitstream Or PCM
- How To Change PCM To Dolby Digital on Samsung TV
- PCM vs Passthrough
- PCM vs Bitstream LG TV
- PCM vs Bitstream Atmos
- PCM vs Bitstream For Soundbar
- PCM or Bitstream For 2.1 Soundbar
- DTS Neo 2.5: What It Is and How It Differs
Loudspeakers
Browse categoryHome cinema & displays
Browse categoryCables & power
Browse categoryVinyl, listening advice & issues
Browse categoryKeep listening
Build around the music.
Choose a subject, follow a review and discover how the pieces fit together.