REQUIRE MORE GRAVITAS TO YOUR SOUND? YOU PROBABLY NEED A NAIM POWERLIN

So, what's in a mains power cable?  After-all, it’s just that black “kettle” lead you need to plug the thing into the wall, isn’t it?

I beg to differ!  Hopefully, I can convince you otherwise over the course of the next few paragraphs...

What follows is a quick review of the Naim Powerline mains cable, which I brought home from our Audio T Brighton store with me this weekend to audition and check out any improvements that may come my way.
So what are my conclusions after a short listening session, having wrestled the remote away from my children?  Read-on to find out.

Out with the Lite and in with the “Full-fat” Powerline . . .

Currently, I have the Naim Powerline Lite that came in the box with my Naim Uniti Nova. Plugging in the “full-fat” Naim Powerline brought some subtle, but significant changes.  What I will mention before going into sonics, is the connection to your socket on the amp requires some care because of the stiffness of the fitting. No biggy, just it is easy not to get the full electrical contact of the plugs if it isn't inserted all the way in.  I suspect that the firmness of the fitting and tight contact may explain some of the sonic differences I will describe forthwith.

naim uniti nova

All cables sound the same, don’t they?

So, the first thing to note, is the additional body that the sound gains once the Naim Powerline cable was introduced.  Now I would never describe the sound of the Nova as thin because it certainly isn't, but when you plug in the Powerline, instruments do seem to fill out. They get meat on the bone! There's an added layer of subtlety to the way detail is presented.  It's not that there is more detail, it's just the way the micro-dynamics are portrayed, and the tonal characteristics seem to be more “real” than before.

naim powerline

Jazz gets more real . . .

This is especially noticeable in the jazz pieces that I listened to for this session.

I am particularly partial to the wonderful 1959 recording, Gerry Mulligan meets Ben Webster, which I highly recommend.  Recordings from this era of jazz have a beautiful air of nostalgia and are often unedited in sound.  You can almost smell the cigarette smoke when playing them!

From the aforementioned recording, on both, “The Catwalk” and “Who’s Got Rhythm?”, the Powerline added some additional nourishment to the sound of their instruments; Ed Thigpen’s cymbals and brush sounds gained an additional layer of detail and became more fully fleshed out and lifelike, sounding less like crumpled paper, which was unexpected and a pleasant surprise.

the oscar peterson trio - “we get requests”

gerry mulligan meets ben webster

Listening to Oscar Peterson's, “You look good to me”, and “D and E”, from the album We Get Requests, his piano was less jangly and warmer in texture.  Bass-lines became tauter and with more apparent extension than before.

To my ears, this does seem to be a consistent sonic feature of the Powerline, in that the sound gains some fullness of tone.  Swapping back the Powerline Lite made the differences all the more obvious - this is often a recommended technique because you often appear to “lose” more quality of sound than one “gains” the other way around.

A surprisingly significant upgrade to sound . . .

In summary, the Naim Powerline seems a worthwhile upgrade to the sound of a system, not in an “in-your-face” way, but with finesse and long-term benefits that will become evident as one listens more often.
Albeit not cheap, certainly for the Uniti Nova I own, I would still suggest that this is a valuable upgrade to add to your system.

Contact your Audio T dealer for a home demo.

Thanks for reading - Ade - Audio T Brighton

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at Audio T Brighton by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Naim can be found at the following Audio T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2020 Organised By Audio T In Association With What Hi-Fi?

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show is the UK’s largest and longest running Hi-Fi and home audio Show which is now in it’s 33rd year! Organised by Audio T in association with What Hi-Fi? it is held every February at the Marriott Bristol City Centre Hotel and has become an annual pilgrimage for music lovers and Hi-Fi enthusiasts from the UK and around the world! Attended by over 80 manufacturers and distributors it represented nearly 180 brands this year!

Here are some of the Show exhibitors in pictures and we’ll add video in the coming weeks! Most of the products on demonstration at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show are available for audition at your nearest Audio T, but do give the branch staff a call first before travelling because they they may need to get the product in first! If you couldn’t make your mind up about what to listen to or buy at the Show, then this is an ideal opportunity to take some time and listen to your shortlist of products in the comfort of one of our comfortable demonstration rooms!

Hi-Fi on the move! Bentley brought along their Naim equipped Flying Spur!

The faithful turned out in force at the The Marriott City Centre Hotel, despite the inclement weather and the impending threat of Coronavirus!

Acoustic Energy were showing off their new AE500 series!

Arcam were demonstrating a phenomenal sounding Audio Visual system using their new AVR series home cinema amplifiers. An absolute joy for the film and music enthusiast!

ATC always very popular, were using CD and vinyl as their music sources.

Audeze Headphone bar featuring Chord Electronics and Astell&Kern Personal Music players.

AURALiC Showing off their G2 wares!

Bowers & Wilkins had most of their series on display this year and a good selection of their headphones were available to try.

Chord Electronics had their full range of portable headphone amplifiers and DACs on show as well as the new Ultima range, which were launched at the Show and drew packed crowds in their main listening room.

Dali had a fantastic display in their room and were showing their new Rubicon 2C Wireless system and the upcoming MENUET SE bookshelf speaker pictured here.

Dynaudio were demonstrating the new Confidence range, which were sounding particularly good! Bowie would be proud!

innuos were demonstrating their fantastic range of music servers and streamers along with the new USBClocker designed to improve the sound quality of digital music played via USB.

Not any old iron! The little Jern (Iron) speakers from Denmark made a big impression with their wide soundstage. You may well yearn for these diminutive heavyweights!

Linn pulled the crowds in with their demonstrations of the Linn Selekt DSM streaming amplifier, Sondek LP12 record player and their new wireless multi-room loudspeaker the Series 3.

Michell Engineering were spinning records with the Gyro and Gyrodec record players and demonstrating the differences in sound quality as you moved up their new range of Cusis moving coil cartridges.

Neat Acoustics were demonstrating their new Ministra standmount and floorstanding loudspeakers.

PMC as ever, were extremely popular and demonstrated their new PMC twenty5i Series and Martln Logan Electrostatics which they are now distributing in the UK.

Rega Research another huge Show favourite were showcasing their new all in one entry level System One! Which sounded very good indeed. It consists of the Rega Planar 1, new IO amplifier and Kyte standmount loudspeakers, which will retail for £999 and is due at the end of March. A fab sounding analogue music system, which is ideal for any music enthusiast starting out on their Hi-Fi and vinyl odyssey.

The REL demonstrations always impress and this year it was no exception! They had a stacked REL line array S/510 system on demonstration, which wowed the crowds!

Russell K had their new Black 50 standmount speaker and the established Red 120 floorstander on demonstration.

Spendor were demonstrating a wide range of their loudspeakers including the, A-Line, D-Line and Spendor Classic.

Solidsteel speaker stands and racks were getting lots of attention and were in use by a number if exhibitors using standmount loudspeakers. We think they are a brilliant accessory.

If you were one of the many faithful and new visitors that braved the weather and the threat of Coronavirus, we salute you and we hope that you thoroughly enjoyed the Show. Thanks for making it another great Show! If you didn’t support it, it wouldn’t happen, so huge thanks to you, the manufacturers and the press for making this one of the best Bristol Hi-Fi Shows ever! For those that couldn’t make it, you can experience it in our Whistle Stop tour video below.

Two Cracking New Hi-Fi Products From Pro-Ject! The T1 Turntable And Stream Box S2

No one can accuse Pro-Ject of resting on their laurels when it comes to bringing out new products. We have just had two of the latest arrive with us in store: the Stream Box S2 miniature Hi-Res streamer and the T1 Phono SB turntable and they are both great performers and offer great value for money.

The little Stream Box S2 is an incredibly affordable and flexible way to dip your toe into music streaming.

This tiny box really is a marvel. it will handle 24/192 streams, has its own dedicated Android and IOS app and full Tidal integration.

Round the back of the Stream Box S2 you’ll find fixed and variable analogue outputs, an optical output, line in, plus Ethernet and WiFi network connection.

It really does sound incredibly good for the money seemingly equally at home with the funk of Janelle Monae and classic rock from Pink Floyd. The dedicated app works a treat and is intuitive to use.

There is the ability to use in a multi-room configuration or even to stereo pair two together with active speakers. All in all the Stream Box S2 is a fantastic product.

Next up we have the first in the T-Line series of Pro-Ject turntables: the T1

This extremely handsome turntable is available in three variants, standard, Bluetooth with phono stage built in, and built in phono stage with a speed switch.

The one pictured here is the T1 Phono SB (speed box) and this is the walnut finish. Other finishes for the T1 are white and black.

The T1 has a beautiful frosted glass platter.

The well built tonearm is fitted with an old favourite, the Ortofon OM5e cartridge.

Add to that the options of speed control or Bluetooth capability and it’s a range which will suit most people….oh and it sounds great too! Very clean and controlled with good resolution on all types of music.

It also looks great on our Hi-Fi Racks wall bracket in walnut.

We think Pro-Ject have come with a couple of winners here, why not come in and have a listen yourself.

Pro-ject Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Swansea, Swindon

Style and Substance. The Ruark R5 Music System

The Ruark R5 System is absolutely gorgeous! There you go, we’ve said it and we mean gorgeous in its styling, its versatility, and its sound.

Wrapped in rich real walnut or in soft contemporary grey with contrasting grilles this system looks amazing.

But the beauty of the R5 is not just skin deep. This is one seriously well equipped system. The R5 has:

Bluetooth with aptX HD

Internet streaming services including internet radio, access to the most popular music services, and Spotify Connect

A DAB, DAB+ and FM radio section

CD

A phono stage built in for moving magnet cartridges

Optical digital in

Analogue in

Analogue out (subwoofers anyone?)

USB in with charge

and a Headphone output too

There’s the now familiar circular control on the R5 which makes navigating the menus and functions very easy and intuitive. This is also mirrored in the remote control which has identical form and function.

The really surprising thing about the R5 however is its sound. It sounds like serious Hi-Fi. OK it’s not going to beat a big pair of floorstanders on the end of an expensive separates system, but what it does do is play music and communicate on a far bigger scale than it should.

You can certainly tell the difference between Billy Eilish and Lorde, or Ariana and Mariah. The R5 handles midrange subtleties wonderfully. Put on some bigger scale rock or orchestral and you get the impact immediately.

There’s even a proprietary app from Ruark to control it and to integrate it with other Ruark products into a complete home multi-room system.

We simply can’t think of any other one box solution that sounds anywhere near as good as the Ruark R5.

Pop into Audio T Brentwood and we’ll be more than happy to show you why we think it is so good!

Ruark Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

Audiolab 6000N Network Player Completes The 6000 Series

We are big fans of the Audiolab 6000 series components here at Audio T Brentwood. They offer amazing value and excellent sound quality for the money, but one thing that was missing in the range was an option for music streaming.

Enter the Audiolab 6000N Network Player.

The 6000N is a deceptively simple looking box with just a power button and some preset buttons on the front.

The back of the Audiolab 6000N is a little more “busy”.

There are analogue and digital outputs, a network connection, although it will do wi-fi, and USB for software update and for synchronising with a Audiolab 6000A amplifier.

The Audiolab 6000N operates in conjunction with the PlayFi app from DTS and it does a great job. We had it up and running playing tracks from Tidal and from our shop music library in minutes and it sounds great! PlayFi gives the user access to many music streaming services, internet radio, and upNp. Spotify Connect is also included.

Whether from its digital or analogue outputs it sounds crisp, clean, and with lots of space and dimension to the sound. Florence and the Machine sounded full of energy, the frequency extremes of The Gate by Bjork were brilliantly handled.

This really does complete the 6000 series system alongside the Audiolab 6000A amplifier and 6000CDT CD player. We have found that the Audiolab series works particularly well with KEF Q series and Dali Oberon speakers and gives a lot of performance for the money!

Come and have have a demonstration at Audio T Brentwood, we know you will be impressed!

Audiolab Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Portsmouth, Southampton

Naim Mu-So 2nd Generation Wireless Speaker System

It’s almost 5 years since the first generation of the Naim Mu-So wireless streaming speaker system arrived in our stores. It impressed all that heard its might and simultaneous finesse, and set a new benchmark for build quality, sound quality and performance from an active (amplifier built in) streaming speaker system.

Now the bar has been raised again as we welcome the new, redesigned from the ground up, 2nd generation Naim Mu-So.

While only a few of the differences are immediately obvious such as the new grey finish and a sleeker look new grille, the Mu-So 2nd generation is packed with new features. Naim have maintained the room filling 450 watts from the original Mu-So but each of the individually amplified drivers have been improved as has the amplifier components of all 6 amplifiers that make up the Naim Mu-So.

Once we powered up the Mu-So we immediately saw that there are new features, 15 of them in all, that have ease of access within the iconic volume dial on an intuitive, touch sensitive control panel. The new Mu-So still has Tidal, Spotify connect and internet radio, it will still play your digital music collection from your home network via UPnP or USB and will still do multi-room with other Naim streamers on your network. You can even play your music over Bluetooth but the Mu-So 2nd generation now supports Roon music player and controller, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast so it will integrate in to a smart home effortlessly.

You can set up favourites by using the Naim control application on any smart device on your home network and then access them by using the favourites button on the touch sensative control panel. The Mu-So also comes with a remote control for ease of use.

Internally the cabinet volume has been increased to allow an ever deeper richer bass without making the overall size noticeably bigger which helps to maintain its unimposing visual presence in the home.

Mu-So 2nd Generation Connectivity.

Physical connectivity on the 2nd generation Mu-So has been improved also by adding an HDMI socket that supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) so you can connect your TV to it which will greatly improve the sound. It also still has a 3.5mm analogue input and an optical digital input for connecting other components should you wish to do so.

You can also tailor the sound to suit your room by using room compensation within the settings in the Naim application to optimise it to your taste and for increased performance through the volume scale there is a loudness feature as well.

Also supplied is a IR remote with all the basic functions for you to control, great if your phone or tablet is not around.

Come along and have a listen. We look forward to playing it to you.

Ian, Gavin & Andy - Audio T Preston

Naim Audio Hi-Fi products are available from all branches of Audio T.

The Audio Technica AT-VM95 Family. Cartridges With A Built In Upgrade Path

Audio Technica have a very long and illustrious history in the cartridge world and their little AT95e which this replaces was for years the go to entry level cartridge.

The new AT-VM95E is a completely different beast eschewing the old plastic body for a metal one with threaded inserts for the cartridge bolts.

Above is an Audio Technica AT-VM95E cartridge. It’s £45 and probably the cheapest upgrade you could make to an old turntable.

The At-VM95E is a marked improvement sonically over the older model too with loads of detail and resolution for the money.

The fun doesn’t stop there though. With the VM95 series Audio Technica have cleverly produced a single body and a range of styli which can take this from a humble budget moving magnet cartridge to something really quite special.

The range includes Conical (C), Elliptical (E), Nude Elliptical (N), Microlinear (ML) and Shiabata (S) styli.

Each one giving a marked improvement over the previous thus forming a nice logical upgrade path, there is even a 78 stylus for all you bakelite lovers out there.

To say that we are impressed is to put it mildly, even the humble AT-VM95E sounds wonderful with old classics like Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and more recent albums like Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer alike.

We will happily fit one to your turntable, and maybe sell you some new records while we’re at it!

Thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at Audio T Brentwood soon.

Audio Technica Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea

Preston Welcomes Linn Products And The New Linn Selekt DSM Music System

Here at Preston we are proud to welcome thw world reknowned Linn Products brand to our branch with their newest product, the Selekt DSM streamer.

There are four different versions of the Selekt DSM available, starting with a dedicated streamer to an all in one which incorporates their Katalyst DAC. We have in store and ready for demonstration the Selekt DSM streamer including amplifier which is a delight to operate as much as it is to listen to.

The digital inputs give you two optical, two coaxial, a USB and HDMI for all your digital connection needs. The Selekt DSM range are music streamers, which gives you access to any music that you have stored on your home network via UPNP up to 24 bit 192khz high resolution and any of the thousands of internet radio stations from anywhere in the world using Tune-in radio.

It also has Tidal and Qobuz lossless music streaming *services (*subscription required) built in, all of which can be selected and controlled by using the Linn control app that is available for your Apple and Android smart device which you can download from the app store.

Linn control app.

Within the set up procedure Linn use a very useful tool called Space optimisation, which is part of the Linn set up software that is installed from the their website onto a PC or laptop.

Main volume control

The Linn Selekt DSM software gives you the opportunity to input your listening room dimensions as well as features in the room to optimise the sound quality for your room. In this set up you can choose from a seemingly endless list of speaker manufacturers and models enabling you to get the very best sound from this system in almost any domestic setting.

Ir remote

Come on in and have a listen. We look forward to demonstrating it to you.

Ian, Gavin & Andy - Audio T Preston.

Linn Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:
Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Oxford, Preston, Swindon

The All New Ruark R5 Portable Music Streaming System Has Arrived

The all new Ruark Audio R5 has arrived. As we have come to know and love from Ruark is that they are well designed and visually pleasing, and jam packed with features for a single box music system.

The R5 is fitted with a multi-format CD player that will play self made discs in WAV, AAC and MP3 formats and has an OLED display for clear information display.

You can connect a mobile device to the R5 using the very latest in Bluetooth technology, AptX HD Bluetooth. Or, if you prefer you can stream music from Spotify, Spotify connect, Deezer, Amazon music and Tidal streaming services which are all built in to this competent and visually appealing unit.

You can choose from a phenomenal range of music stations on FM, DAB and DAB+ or from anywhere in the world using internet radio where you are sure to find something for your listening pleasure. The R5 will connect directly to your network either via an ethernet port situated on the back of the unit or via WiFi. The R5 even lets you play your stored music from a network hard drive using the UPNP feature.

The Ruark R5 is equipped with a built in phono pre-amplifier enabling you to connect a turntable directly with no additional boxes required. Ruark have also expanded the physical inputs on the R5 to include an optical input to connect your TV or another digital device as well as an analogue RCA input and a USB port for playback from USB devices in a variety of file formats.

Situated on the front of the R5 is a convenient headphone socket for those late night listening sessions enabling an up close and personal performance from your favourite artists day or night.

This latest addition to the Ruark Audio line up the R5 has a full remote control that works on radio frequencies so doesn't need to be pointed at the unit and if you misplace the remote control temporarily, there are controls on the top. Ruark Audio have a control application 'Ruark Link' which works with both Apple and Android devices giving you all the control you will ever need over your music.

The R5 is multi-room ready so will connect with MRX, R2 Mk3 and R7 Mk3 for seamless multi-room playback.

We look forward to seeing you in store for a listen

Ian/Gavin & Andy

Ruark Audio lifestyle Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:

Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

Record Store Day 2019 fun

For this year’s Record Store Day we’re going to have a fun day in store, when we’ll set up a couple of fab vinyl based systems and play a selection of classic albums all day.

This sort of thing…..

The fantastic Audio T offer of one of our excellent record bags free with any turntable purchased will be in full effect.

We will of course have the limited edition Rega Record Store Day turntable available on a first come first served basis.

Of course we’ll be happy to offer advice on upgrading or servicing your turntable as well as having a selection of vinyl based accessories from stylus brushes to phono stages to help you get the most out of your deck. Or try out one of our record cleaners and see how that can improve the sound quality of your music.

Oh and we have actual records for sale too!!!!

Come in and join in the listening

See you then!

Grab Yourself A Hi-Fi Bargain & Save Up To 50% OFF In Preston's Spring Clearance Sale

We are having a bit of a spring clean here at Audio T Preston and we are moving on some top quality Hi-Fi at bargain prices.

We have a veritable Aladdin’s cave of open box and ex-demo products including headphones, amplifiers, speakers, streamers , subwoofers and lot’s lot’s more besides.

We have Rotel, Yamaha, Dynaudio, Martin Logan, Ruark, Piega, Monitor Audio, Bowers and Wilkins, Quad and the list goes on…

If you are a member of the Audio T e-Club then you get an extra 5% discount. If you haven’t joined you can click here to sign up.

Don't forget that these are limited offers and when they are gone, they are gone, so don't miss out!

Click HERE or on the Clearance List poster above to see the full list of clearance sale products. If there is anything that you like the look of then give us a call on 01772 883958 or email us at Audio T Preston and we can discuss it further.

Listed below are just some of the bargains to be had, enjoy.

Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL - Save £1298

Quad Vena Amplifier - Save £120

Piega Classic 3.0 - Half Price !!

Novafidelity NF-X50D - Save £250

Monitor Audio Silver 200 - Save £400

Rega DAC - Save £150

Dynaudio Contour 60 - Save £2250

Seeing How They Are Made: The Bowers and Wilkins 800 Series Loudspeakers

We recently had the opportunity to visit the Worthing based production facility for Bowers and Wilkins 800 series speakers to see first hand how their flagship range are made.

We were greeted at the door by the iconic Nautilus loudspeaker, this one resplendent in its Union Flag livery.

Our guide to the process and factory was Peter, who has been working for Bowers and Wilkins for more than 25 years. He took us around the complete production facility explaining processes and technologies along the way in a very informative, and entertaining, way.

One example of this was the machine used for forming the cabinet for 800 series. This is created from multiple layers of wood and glue which are formed at high pressure and temperature by folding down across a folder like this:

The tour was like the audiophile version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with a huge array of machines and people finishing, sanding, painting etc etc.

We saw the famous Bowers and Wilkins Matrix being inserted into one of the 800 series floorstanders.

The Matrix is assembled separately

With the cabinet prised apart by metal jaws the matrix is positioned and glued into place. When the jaws are released the natural spring of the cabinet form will add compression to the matrix

Peter was full of interesting information most of which highlighted the amount of time and care which goes into making these speakers. They are not just built, they are truly hand crafted!

From paint which is applied in up to 13 layers with a four day drying time for each layer, to creating, forming, and metalising the Continuum cones for the drivers everything is done with so much care and attention to detail. The people who work at this production facility are justifiably proud of the products they create!

The factory also produces the iconic Nautilus speakers and the Custom Theatre range which includes beasts like this:

it’s big!!

Also some funky special edition colours.

All in all we were incredibly impressed with the dedication of the people on site and the pride and care which was taken over every aspect of the production of these phenomenal 800 D3 speakers.

Part of the production floor

Alien anyone?

The finished article

We came away with a new found admiration and respect for the Bowers and Wilkins 800 D3 series

We already knew they sounded stunning, now we have a better understanding of why due to the care and attention to detail that goes into creating them,

Last but not least these two poor cabinets were marked “no partner” maybe they need a dating app? I’m thinking Timbr possibly!

The Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series are available for demonstration at the following branches of Audio T:

Brentwood, Bristol

Sleek Stylish and Scintillating New SONOS Amp

The new SONOS AMP has arrived and it is a thing of beauty.

This AMP is an exercise in industrial design, sleek looking, lovely soft touch finish and touch sensor controls on the front edge.

When we look round the back of the AMP it has the same elegant and minimal approach. There is a pair of phono sockets for analogue in, an HDMI socket for interfacing with your TV, a subwoofer output for traditional subs and a couple of Ethernet sockets. The speaker sockets are 4mm banana type and plugs are supplied in the package.

This is definitely the best AMP SONOS have produced sounding wonderful streaming Woodkid -The Golden Age from our library on a pair of Dali Zensor 5 floorstanders. It handles the intricate percussion of this album with ease and manages to reproduce the scale of the production effortlessly. On more intimate material like Chris Jones - Roadhouses and Automobiles there is real delicacy and resolution

The AMP also adds a lot of flexibility to an existing SONOS system, use it to connect an external source into the SONOS chain like a turntable or CD player, it will also integrate into SONOS surround systems with its HDMI input. It has Airplay 2 and a healthy 125 W per channel unlike the old Connect amp which is 55W.

All in all the new SONOS AMP is a big hit with us here at Audio T Brentwood.

Come in and hear for yourself!

Paul, Francis, Jason, and Boswell

SONOS is available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Time For A Little ZEN Courtesy of Innuos

Just arrived into Preston store we have the all new Innuos ZEN mini MK3. With all the all the CD ripping convenience of the MK2 but with added upgrades to make it even more appealing to home digital music streaming enthusiasts.

As before the ZEN mini is available with 1/2/4/8 Tb internal storage, we opted for the 1TB at £899.

Innuos have made connectivity upgrades by adding a custom motherboard to include two Ethernet ports for network pass through to other network devices that are close by, this helps with audio playback performance.

The ZEN Mini MK3 now incorporates analogue/coaxial and optical outputs, we have used these in store and partnered it up with the Cyrus One HD and used the Neat Iota Alpha speakers and we were blown away with how it performed, whilst being so neat and compact.

As for controlling the ZEN simply type my.innuos.com into your browser and up it pops!

Taking around 5-10 minutes to copy an album (depending on which ripping mode is selected), all you need to do is pick the file format you require supporting DSD, FLAC and WAV, we tend to stick with FLAC as it takes up less space.

All the album artwork is found making for easy navigation of your collection.

If you want to control the ZEN from a tablet we have found a great free app for Android called Squeezer, if your using an Apple IOS product iPeng can be purchased for £8.99.

Also available is the new dual-linear power supply if want to get even more performance from the product at £499 or £449 if purchased together with the ZEN at the same time.

A great addition to any multi-room music system whatever the level your at. We look forward to demonstrating it for you. Ian & Gavin - Audio T Preston

Innuos Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

A New R Series From KEF At Audio T Brentwood

We’ve just recently received our new R Series speakers from KEF and we’re loving what they do. KEF have revamped the R series with new components and a radical grille aesthetic and it really works.

The previous range was a hit but KEF have once again filtered down technology from their acclaimed Reference series to produce a winning combination of finish and performance.

Pictured below is the new R7 in walnut finish and is absolutely beautiful.

With its colour matched drivers and beautiful wood veneer the R7 really is a handsome beast.

There are actually 7 speakers in the R series but for the moment we are going to concentrate on the R7 seen above, the R5 and the R3.

They all use the familiar KEF UniQ drivers to give point source accuracy, an approach which has been continually refined over the years this, coupled with new cabinet technologies like Shadow Flare to reduce edge diffraction and flexible port technology, makes for a winning combination in the sound quality stakes.

The R5 is a slightly smaller floorstander seen here in the piano black finish.

Here you can see the ingenious terminal arrangement for the R5 with KEF’s integral link knobs for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

The R3 is another true three way design but this time in a stand mount configuration

Probably the best colour to show off the rather radical grilles which are perforated microfibre and feel like suede!

So how do they sound?

Well the good news is that across these three models there is definitely a family continuity.

Run with our new Primare I35 and CD35 this is a range which exhibits a beautifully even performance across the frequency range with lovely spaciousness o the sound and great imaging.

Steven Wilson’s album, To the Bone came across with great authority but also delicacy where needed and the highly intelligent (if somewhat racy) pop of Janelle Monae’s new album Dirty Computer really had a lot of drive and flow.

With a size available to match most rooms and systems we think this R series is going to be a huge success for KEF.

Why not come and have a listen! Thanks for reading. Paul, Jason and Francis - Audio T Brentwood

KEF Loudspeakers are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Primare And The Wonderful Prisma Technology Arrives At Audio T Brentwood

We’ve just received our new stock of Primare equipment and we’re mightily impressed! This Swedish company has been making exceptional Hi-Fi products for over thirty years and always with a beauty of style and sound. They have now launched a new “connectivity and control technology” called Prisma which can be incorporated in their new modular range of separates.

Firstly they’re beautiful!

And the fit and finish is exceptional.

The first two models to show are the 35 range comprising I35 integrated amp and CD35 integrated CD player or DD35 CD transport. They sound gorgeous. Appropriately we put a CD of Eivor into the player, the album Slor, and the sense of scale and imagery through the Bowers and Wilkins 805 speakers was breathtaking. The addition of the Prisma technology takes them to another level adding app control, Bluetooth, Airplay, and Spotify Connect. Prisma also has Chromecast built in allowing you to cast from your phone or tablet direct to the Prisma module.

The I35 has analogue (balanced and single ended) and digital inputs as well making it a truly versatile and comprehensive performer.

Down from that is the 15 range comprising the I15 integrated amp and DD15 CD transport

These are equally beautifully built and can also be equipped with the same Prisma technology as their bigger siblings.

Sticking with the Scandinavian theme, we put some of Bjork’s most recent Utopia album on playing through the equally Scandi Dali Oberon 5 speakers. This album has an incredibly wide dynamic range which just sang through the speakers being driven by the little I15 (they’re only about 2/3 width).

We are really looking forward to getting to know these lovely components better, why not come in and try them for yourself.

We would like to thank all of our customers this year and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Paul, Francis, Jason and Boswell

Primare Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Bristol, Cheltenham, Manchester

Winter Sale Now On! Christmas Hi-Fi Stocking Fillers from Arcam, KEF, Rega, Bowers & Wilkins

If you are finding it hard to find to that perfect gift or stocking filler, DON'T PANIC, here at Audio T Preston, we can help with a few ideas for any Hi-Fi or music lover in your life.

WINTER SALE NOW ON!

First up we have the Arcam mini-Blink at just £99 this is a great stocking filler that will fit into any amplifier and let’s you Bluetooth sound from your phone/laptop or tablet.

Very easy to set up and use, this Bluetooth DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) sounds so much better than connecting through the headphone output even when using a good quality cable, more output and much more dynamic.

The Arcam mini-Blink comes with all the cables and power supply included, so you can be up and streaming in no time. We recommend downloading the Tunein radio app via the Apple app store or Android Playstore, to give you access to internet radio.

Keeping it Bluetooth we have the KEF Muo portable speaker.

At just 21cm wide and 0.94kg this little rechargeable speaker, packs a punch and is perfect for the listener who is on the move.

The Muo has a battery life of up to 12 hours when fully charged (3hours charging time) and 10m Bluetooth range.

Available in gold/silver/blue and grey at £150 it's a great option.

It's been another great year for turntables with sales overtaking CD players again, a great place to start is the Rega Planar 1 at just £249.

NOT SUPPLIED WITH PINK VINYL.

This is a great plug and play record player is easy to set up and it can be up and running in no time, the only thing to check is to make sure your amplifier has a designated phono stage.

NOT SUPPLIED WITH PINK VINYL.

If you don’t have a phone stage, fear not! The Rega P1 Plus has one built in and all you need to do is connect it to any line level input on your amplifier.

Both available in black or white.

If your looking to make that daily commute a little more enjoyable we have the award winning Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones.

These noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones even have their own app to perform updates and settings to match your environment, they are a closed back design so do not leak out sound and annoy your fellow commuters.

With a 22 hour battery life they are perfect for that long haul flight and can be wired, just don't forget the adaptor.

The PX's can be folded up for easy transporting and are supplied with a carry bag/usb charging cable & 3.5mm wired cable.

Available in black or soft gold.

These are just a few suggestions, please call in and we will be happy to chat about other options that would make a perfect gift, especially as our Winter Sale has just started!

On a different note (no pun intended ed) a big thank you to all who attended our Classic album evening on 20th November. Having not done one in a long time it was great to see a few familiar faces...and a few new ones too. Thanks for coming along and supporting the event.

We look forward to seeing you all over the festive period.

Have a great Christmas and New Year!

Ian and Gavin.

The All New KEF R7 Speakers Available At Audio T Preston

The original KEF R Series was a very highly regarded speaker range and was popular with both Hi-Fi and Home Cinema enthusiasts alike. For over 5 years each model in the range earned itself many awards and 5 star reviews.

Back in September KEF relaunched and proudly presented the new R Series speaker range promising that they would be even better.

We've been taking a closer look at the KEF R7 floorstanding speakers to see what has changed.

Behind the scenes at KEF... At the heart of KEF's culture lies innovation & creativity. Forever challenging the norm in every element of our work, the all-new R Series advert was no exception...

Well as it turns out they've changed quite a lot. The new KEF R Series has been completely re-engineered from the ground up, with 1,043 changes undertaken during the design process, all done to further improve upon the performance, build and finish of original R Series speaker range.

The R7 is the mid-sized floor standing member of the new R Series. Featuring two 165mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium bass drivers and a Uni-Q combining a 125mm (5 in.) mid-range driver and 25mm (1 in.) aluminium dome tweeter, R7 outperforms all expectations. Equally at home with music and film, R7 proves to be just as flexible as the rest of the R Series range. Placing the tweeter in the acoustic centre of the midrange cone brings the acoustic ideal of a single point source closer to realisation. The new R Series benefits from a new 12th generation of the legendary Uni-Q driver array.

The new R Series also utilises a new internal bracing system called Constrained Layer Damping originally developed for the LS50.

http://www.kef.com/rseries The new KEF R Series has been completely re-engineered from the ground up. Decades of experience and our unbridled passion for music come together in the new R Series.

We unboxed the R7's and immediately put them to work on a Naim Uniti Nova, we then left them playing all day and overnight to help them run in a little. By the time we could sit down for a listen they had been playing for over 48 hours and boy was it worth the wait. The audio separation and imaging they produce is superb and has plenty depth and space. We found the R7's to be both gentle and subtle when required but also commanding and authoritative when the music demands it. So if you are listening to the sweet voice of Agnes Obel or getting a bit heavier with the likes of Muse or The Prodigy, the R7's will hold your attention for many hours.

Also in the new R Series range and available for a demonstration we have R3 and the R5. Or if you are thinking of putting together a stonking home cinema system we have the R2C Centre channel and the R8A Dolby Atmos speakers.

Book your demonstration with us today on 01772 883958, you wont be disappointed.

KEF Loudspeakers are available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Brentwood Comes Of Age 21st Birthday Week & B&W 800 Event

It’s hard to believe but the store is 21 years old in a couple of weeks. In that time we’ve seen brands and formats come and go but in all that time our core beliefs have remained the same; by offering home audio and visual equipment, that will give people the maximum enjoyment and pleasure from listening to their music or watching films.

So to celebrate turning 21, and to show off our newly decorated store, we’re going to have a birthday week celebration!

The main event will be on Thursday the 29th with Bowers and Wilkins and Chord Electronics.

We will be showing off the 800 series speakers, which have recently arrived in the store plus some goodies from Chord Electronics for source and amplification. There will be food and drink supplied and music to suit all tastes.

For the rest of the week we’ll be happy to see you, give you a cuppa and maybe even a slice of birthday cake! Ask us about our special Birthday Offers and fill in an entry form in our FREE prize draw.

1st prize - A personal guided tour of the B&W 800 production facility - Priceless!

2nd prize - B&W P5 wireless headphones worth £229.

3rd prize - B&W umbrella

Four 4th prizes - of Audio T record bags worth £49

Book your tickets for the Thursday event here

There’s no charge, but it helps us predict the space and catering requirements!

No Boswell is NOT a prize!

So there you have it, 21 years is a long time but we hope to be going for many more.

Come in and say hi and help celebrate with us.

Paul, Francis, Jason and Boswell - Audio T Brentwood

Shine Bright Like A Diamond: The Bowers And Wilkins 800 Series Now At Audio T Brentwood

We are delighted to report that we have the new 800 D3 series from Bowers & Wilkins running in at the moment and we are all very excited!

These most prestigious of speakers are something we have been lusting after for some time. Now we have the chance to demonstrate them to you. These stunning speakers have go to be heard to be believed!

This is the array while we’re running them in, from left to right 802, 803, 804, and 805 Prestige Edition.

So much has been written about the 800 series that there is no real need to regurgitate facts, figures and specs, lets just say they are the pinnacle of B&W’s research and expertise. From the diamond tweeters through the continuum cones to the beautiful fit and finish these speakers ooze quality and most important of all is that they sound spectacular!

The largest floorstander we have is the 802 although there is the 800 above that in the range.

Then the 803

The 804

And finally the 805. Ours are in the Prestige finish which is a beautiful high gloss Santos rosewood and comes with a price premium over the standard finishes.

Needless to say we’ve been trying them out with all sorts of partnering equipment and music. So far they have worked well with everything we have tried and with all genres. Stay tuned for a more detailed report on this next time and for news of an 800 inspired event coming sometime before Christmas.

For now I’m just going to leave you with more pictures of these beauties and get back to listening to them!

And the obligatory Boswell picture…….he most definitely approves.

Come and have a listen! Paul, Jason & Francis - Audio T Brentwood

Bowers & Wilkins 800 loudspeakers are available for demonstration at our Cardiff & Brentwood branches.

All other Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers can be heard at the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon