Editor’s Choice

• Old school vs. Future-Fi: Arcam A5+ or WiiM AMP Ultra? 4th January 2026
  The WiiM AMP Ultra might have been 2025’s streaming darling, but Arcam’s A5+ reminds us that old-school Class A/B amplification still has tricks up its sleeve when driving DALI’s adorable but demanding Kupid loudspeakers. After years of building €1000 Kick-Ass systems, inflation has forced my hand upward to €1500. Good […] The post Old school […]
• When R2R goes streaming: Gustard R30 DAC review 2nd January 2026
  At €3311/US$3599, the Gustard R30 wants to be your next streaming DAC. The Chinese manufacturer has put discrete R2R conversion and basic network streaming into a single chassis that weighs a surprising 10kg. The heft comes courtesy of dual toroidal transformers – one feeding the digital section, another powering the […] The post When R2R […]
• Global feedback: black or silver? 31st December 2025
  Earlier this week, a finish preference poll followed my extensive article weighing the pros and cons of black versus silver hi-fi components. I invited Darko.Audio YouTube subscribers and Patrons to choose between the two. The results are in. And they’re spookily consistent. YouTube (10,000 votes): Black: 63% Silver: 37% Patreon […] The post Global feedback: […]