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Meet the latest update to Roksan’s famed Radius turntable, the Radius 7. Boasting the same decoupled dual-layer plinth design as the company’s Xerxes record deck, but in a new precision-machined ‘glass-effect’ finish, the Radius 7 features a high-accuracy, temperature-compensated crystal speed control system, claimed to maintain pitch-perfect speed stability at both 33 and 45rpm. The Radius 7 comes supplied as standardwith the Roksan Nima tonearm, which is a low-friction, uni-pivot design that allowsany pick-up cartridge to navigate the groove accurately to a fine tolerance. Assembled byhand, the aluminium alloy arm tube boaststhe same internal wiring as Roksan’s previousflagship tonearm, the Artemiz.

Do you know what Roon is? Do you think you need to know? Should you even care? When hi-fi manufacturers launch a new amplifier or loudspeaker, the question immediately turns to its styling, specification and indeed performance. Rarely – if ever – does one ever end up asking: “Why do I need it?”, or “How will owning such a thing make my life better?” The problem for Roon founder Enno Vandermeer is that his product needs a whole lot of explanation before people can take a view about whether they actually want it. “We created an experience that people were missing. The only trouble is, they didn’t know it!”, he says.

Hi-fi specialist unveils new low-cost CD player and integrated amplifier

Six new models join Rotel’s stereo separates lineup from this month with three integrated amplifiers – A14, A12 and A10, plus the CD14 CD player and two tuners – T14 (£699) and T11 (£329) – offering FM/DAB reception as well as streaming radio playback via DTS Play-Fi. The flagship A14 amplifier (£999) offers 2x 80W into 8ohm and has Bluetooth aptX connectivity along with USB, coaxial and optical digital inputs handled via a 32-bit/768kHz DAC. The A12 (£799) and A10 (£389) models are rated at 60W and 40W respectively. The CD14 CD player (£549) is equipped with a Wolfson 24-bit/192kHz DAC and has coaxial digital and analogue outputs.

Michi upgrades from Japan

A trio of new products from Japan