The front panel is simple and uncluttered, with a row of LED indicators in the centre for Bluetooth, CD optical, tuner line-in and aux inputs. To the right of these is a dial for changing the volume or switching inputs. Unlike here in Canada, really small speakers are available in Europe from dozens of manufacturers, domestic and imported. If you drop in to any ‘Richer Sounds’ store in the UK you will find whole walls of them. Even their floor standers are compact by our standards.

This is not the most extensive list of inputs going but it should be sufficient for most requirements. Crucially, that digital input is a little more talented than you might expect. Until recently, it would be have been entirely acceptable for it to top out at 16/48 or similar but Tangent has equipped the Ampster with the ability to handle 24/96. In the great scheme of things, this might not sound important but it means two things. The first is that the Tangent is likely to put in some decent numbers with ordinary 16/44.1. The second is that it does mean that the Ampster has the ability to work with you if you decide to use this as a starting point that will take you to the lofty peaks of the high end. Initially using the Bluetooth connection and running into Polk’s Signature S15e speaker, the Ampster BT II sounds extremely good. A Tidal stream of The Cinematic Orchestra’s A Caged Bird/Imitations Of Life has pleasing energy and impact. The Tangent works well with the Polk’s naturally upbeat presentation and combines to produce a performance that’s weighty enough to convince but never at the expense of struggling with the timing of more complex compositions. All three units are designed to enhance each other and can be controlled with one remote control. You might want to connect the system to Tangents X4 or X5 speakers and even an active Sub for an even bigger sound. Tangent Ampster BT II High quality components are used by Danish company, tangent, to deliver a smooth and detailed sound. The robust slot-load mechanism uses fewer moving parts than a draw system, giving improved reliability.

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At 70 x 194 x 195mm (HWD), the Ampster BT II is a diminutive amplifier. There’s obviously the size of the accompanying speakers to take into account, but a compact bookshelf speaker would do the job here. Tangent’s CD player II is a multi-format digital CD player that’s compatible with all current CD formats. It has regular line-outputs plus digital optical outputs for connection to a higher quality or digital amp. It is also designed to produce lossless connectivity to any HI-FI system. Remote control

I’d found instructions on the web from Mac expert Kirk McElhearn, on how to rip a CD to a single file using iTunes. It’s one of those hidden features that has been there since the year dot, but I’d never needed it until now; why would I? High-Quality Sound: The Tangent CD Player II is meticulously crafted with premium components and advanced digital technology, ensuring an unparalleled sound experience. From crystal-clear highs to deep, rich bass, it elevates your music to new heights. Like a number of such devices we’ve looked at though, the Tangent has the scope to do rather more than simply collate your analogue sources. With decoding and Bluetooth on board, this little device has the potential to be quite content to work on its own, so long as you have a mobile phone and a streaming services account. What’s more, the Ampster - as we shall come to - is offered at a very tempting price for this sort of thing. Beyond rhythmic capability, the most notable attribute it consistently brings to material is tonal realism. Voices are very impressive. There’s no unnatural emphasis that makes them feel separated from supporting instruments, but they always come across as distinct and the focus of attention. Other standard challenges like piano notes and strings come across well and sound right.

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Remote Control: Navigate your music library with ease and adjust settings from anywhere in the room with the included remote control, adding convenience to your listening experience.

Embrace the fusion of Danish ingenuity and audio engineering with Tangent's Hi-Fi II system. Since 1996, Tangent has been synonymous with both high sound quality and visually appealing design. Don't let your cherished CD collection gather dust; instead, relish the albums you love in style. Tangent's commitment to minimalistic, modern design ensures that your audio system not only sounds fantastic but also enhances your living space. Say goodbye to clunky, outdated CD systems and welcome a sleek, contemporary audio solution. I strapped everything together and set the units up on an equipment table (see photo). I placed the speakers flat on the equipment stand about 4.5 feet apart and at knee high level. From a purist’s viewpoint this is not ideal, but it is a mini-system after all and many potential owners will set it up this way – for example in a student’s dormitory, or in a bedroom system or an office. Some compromises are often going to be necessary.

The apollo is a fantastic player, noticeably better than the old blu ray that i was using temporally before this. Also fits perfectly inside my cabinet too. In the mid 1990s an array of mini-systems were still available in the shops. I lived in the UK for a couple of years during that period and if you went into a Dixon’s (something like Best Buy here), they were everywhere to be seen. Much as Tangent would like you to go CD, the true calling of that input is for two rather more modern roles. The first is that the Ampster is a fine partner to boost the sound of a flatscreen TV - and one that comes in at price more in keeping with the outrageous bargains that seem to crop up routinely in the world of soundbars. That inbuilt ability to work out of sight allows the Tangent to be hidden away so you can have a nice clean install of the TV and a pair of speakers and, potentially, very smart it will look too. The small matter of the Masterchef final was entrusted to the Tangent and the Polks and a very fine job they did too. The second generation of Tangent’s Ampster BT amplifier offers streaming via Bluetooth or you can connect your device using an AUX cable. Digital and analogue line inputs, a sub-output and USB charging ports are also provided. It’s more straightforward in how it goes about its business – more clinical than musical – but it achieves a good degree of balance through the frequencies. The lush tones of Eden from Beale Street aren’t as emotive or grand as you’d like, but it’s still capable of sweeping you away with its detail. While it isn’t the heftiest of presentation, it never strikes me as being insubstantial either. You should buy the Tangent Ampster BT II if…