Denon DRA-100

Expanding its Design Series, Denon adds an all-in-one network receiver to the stylish lineup, and Andrew Everard is impressed

Tested Denon’s PMA-50 – the company’s compact amplifier – always had the promise to be the start of something big. Building on the technology of the DA-300USB DAC, it added in amplification and a sleek look combining a gloss black main body with aluminium top and bottom plates, plus a novel design with revolving main display to allow it to be used horizontally or vertically.

Lotoo PAW 5000

Fed up with touchscreen portable players? Lotoo’s PAW 5000 takes a different approach

Since the demise of the iPod Classic, the dedicated portable audio player has staged a small but meaningful fight back. Music is a storage-heavy medium and relying on your mobile phone to hold it all is problematic even before any argument about sound quality is entertained. Many players that have hit the market recently have been heavily influenced by smartphone and tablet touchscreen technology and are often rather large as a result.