No Substitute for a Subwoofer - it’s not just thump

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When some people think of a subwoofer they likely imagine one that occupies the whole boot of a small souped-up car, with a “DOOOF DOOOF DOOOF” so powerful it startles pedestrians and sets off car alarms as it goes past.

In hifi it’s very different, the key is: a subwoofer should not be the component you hear the most in a system - actually you should hardly hear much of it at all, but you should definitely feel it.

The REL S/510 cranked up!

The Home Cinema bit

It’s easy to appreciate the impact of a subwoofer in your home cinema system, adding excitement to action films, adding more depth to atmospheric background noises or more drama to cinematic scores.

The Audiophile bit

Adding a sub to a 2 channel system currently seems to be more popular in the US than in Europe, but audiophiles are starting to catch on here too. We believe a subwoofer can bring a stereo system to life! A well set-up sub seems to add depth and clarity to the midrange of your existing stereo speakers no matter the size.

A subwoofer only lets you know it’s there once it’s been switched off - you’ll really notice the difference in the sound. Its main job is to underpin the sound of your main speakers with those lower frequencies, so what you hear sounds ‘fuller’.

How Low Can You Go?

Or more importantly, how low does our music really go? Bass notes are made up of a fundamental pitch, plus complex overtones and harmonics that give a note character and allow us to identify the instrument that created it.

In the old days of acoustic instruments in contemporary music, the bass player struggled to be heard over the drummer and the horn section. The advent of the Fender Electric Precision Bass Guitar and amplification in 1950 allowed the lowest bass notes to be heard much more clearly. A four string electric bass is usually tuned E, A, D, G with the fundamental frequency of the low E string at approximately 41.2 Hz when tuned to concert pitch.

In the early 1970s electric bass player Anthony Jackson tuned his Fender Jazz bass down to a low C. You should check out his amazing bass lines on Chaka Khan’s early solo albums and also with Steve Khan’s Eyewitness Band. He then commissioned luthier, Carl Thompson, to create a 5 string bass tuned BEADG, and later a 6 string “contrabass” tuned BEADGC, the low B having a fundamental frequency of 30 hz.

A 6 string bass alongside a rel subwoofer

Some genres such and metal or electronic music use even lower notes than this, some classical music has thunderous bass notes that makes an orchestra sound huge.

What Hi-Fi? have written an article specifically listing the best tracks for testing bass, which you can find here.

REL Subwoofers

REL Acoustics LTD was founded in 1990 by Richard Edmund Lord, on the basis of his dissatisfaction with the performance of available subwoofers at the time. By 2005, John Hunter and Donald Brody had taken over. Find out more about their chronological timeline and products here.

The evolutionary key element of the subwoofers’ design is the high input level, which came about from the design idea from Silicon Valley of more power and better performance with natural sound filtering. They also use musical instrument grade bracing on cabinets for a controlled bassline.

REL subs have very low latency even when using their Arrow wireless system… The quicker the drive unit moves, the tighter the bassline sounds. And it’s not just about how quickly a note starts, the timing of where the note stops is equally important with bass players often using space between the notes to create a groove.

REL Subs have two inputs: a high level input that is piggybacked off your speaker terminals using a special cable (provided) and a line level input. Each input has a volume setting for maximum flexibility.

Sub Optimal Placement…or optimal sub placement?

Low frequency sound waves become problematic when their wavelength starts to coincide with the dimensions of your room. This causes the sound to either cancel out at certain frequencies, or to combine and produce resonant notes. This will also result in an uneven bass response, with some parts of the room bass heavy and other areas completely lacking. If your listening position happens to be in one of these nulls then turning up the bass isn’t going to make any difference, it may even make the problem worse!

One trick to is to place your subwoofer in your listening position and then place yourself in various locations around the room until you find a spot where the bass sounds great…. that’s probably where your subwoofer should ideally go. It does however involve crawling around the room, so maybe wait until you’ve got the house to yourself, family members probably wouldn’t understand.

Although, let’s be honest, they probably already don’t understand.

The optimal placement for your subwoofer will often be very different to the optimal position for your main speakers, with subs near a wall or in a corner and the main speakers away from walls where possible.

Placing your full range speakers can often be a bit of a compromise between bass coherence versus soundstage, adding a sub you can allow you to make fewer compromises with your main speaker placement.

Sub Settings

Before experimenting with levels and crossovers it’s important to listen with the phase switch in each position, you want your sub to be working with your speakers and adding to the sound. If the sub is out of phase it will likely cancel out some bass, and not in a predictable way, one position will sound clearly better.

Crossover frequency

This controls the cut-off point of the sub and will depend on how deep your main speakers will play, you want enough overlap so that basslines don’t drop out at certain frequencies, but not too much that you get a bass hump.

Conclusions

While it may take a few hours to initially set your sub up for best results, and you may spend a few weeks making small adjustments, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Why not try it for yourself. Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Richard & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

The most important Surround Sound Speaker is...

/ Audio T Enfield/

…right in front of you

Sounds from the back may be immersive, rumbles from the subwoofer may add drama, ATMOS and ceiling speakers may add ambience. But a large percentage of your movie sound is dialogue from your centre channel so it had better be good… But what makes a great centre speaker?

Clarity and Naturalness

Remember the controversy a few years ago surrounding the Poldark series on TV? Actors were accused of mumbling and making the plot hard to follow. Clarity is super important and if you’re struggling to understand what is being said you’re not going to relax and enjoy what you’re watching. Conversely, a small centre channel may fit into most TV cabinets but will often sound boxy and thin, this can also become tiring after a while.

Integration with the other speakers

It’s also important that the timbre is consistent across the stereo field. For example, footsteps walking from left to right should probably all sound the same, or maybe a plane whooshing across the screen.

In some bigger setups, the same model speaker is used for fronts, rears and centre channel, but few people have the space for such a setup at home.

Frequency Response

It’s tempting to think that frequency response isn’t too important in a centre channel, but a smaller speaker will struggle to reproduce deeper male voices with authority, and it’s difficult to take Darth Vader seriously if he sounds like he’s four feet tall.

While you can set a subwoofer to add low frequency oomph this can be difficult to integrate seamlessly. Some people even add a sub to each channel including centre, it’s maybe easier to use a larger speaker where possible.

Size and Layout

A large speaker may sound great but can be difficult to place under most people’s TVs, especially since many mainstream TV cabinets don’t allow a lot of space for a centre speaker.

In order to get the speaker under your TV most centre speakers use a D’Appolito layout: Two mid drivers with a tweeter in the middle, although often one of the mid drivers will be crossed over at a lower frequency to deliver bass. This results in a smaller unit but it can sometimes lead to dispersion problems for viewers sitting off centre.

The Monitor Audio 250 centre channels use a tweeter and small midrange arranged vertically to help alleviate dispersion problems for listeners not sitting directly in front of the screen. They have two larger drivers to fill out the lower midrange and bass, these frequencies are generally less sensitive off axis.

While many centre channels are ported at the back, Sonus Faber’s Lumina Centre i has ports at the bottom in common with their other Lumina bookshelf speakers. PMC’s Twenty5 C1 on the other hand have Transmission Line ports on the front in common with their other speakers. In theory at least, port position shouldn’t matter as low frequencies come from the port as a spherical pressure wave, but if your port is obstructed by your TV cabinet the speaker won’t sound as intended.

Aesthetics

In terms of looks, many people choose a centre channel with a finish that matches their main speakers, but maybe you’d prefer a black centre channel that doesn’t draw the eye away from the screen and stand out?

However, a possible downside of a non-matching colour speaker is that it may affect the resale value if you ever want to sell all the speakers as a set.

Some ideas to adjust the sound

Once placed in a TV cabinet some centre speakers can sound boxy and too bass heavy. Ideally you would want the speaker on a stand with no other objects nearby while keeping it as close to the screen as possible. Much easier if you are using a projector.

A larger more open hifi rack such as HiFi Racks 3 Tier Podium maybe the answer, or a dedicated centre speaker stand if you can mount your TV on the wall. Another alternative could be a wall mounted speaker such as Acoustic Energy AE105.

Many speakers are ported, so you could experiment with foam bungs to tune the bass.

Maybe try an isolation product like Sorbothane feet or isolation pucks from Iso Acoustics, this will help stop the TV stand acting as a sounding board.

To get more treble or clarity you could experiment with the angle of speaker. The tweeter is often lower than ear level, so tilting the speaker upwards slightly can help high frequencies reach your ears instead of your knees.

Many AV amplifiers allow you to EQ individual speakers to compensate for room acoustics and placement. Using room correction software such as Audyssey or Dirac will calculate the curves based on measurements taken with a microphone, and often allow you to tailor them to your tastes.

Finally, a different cable will change the sound, but often the centre channel is the shortest cable run of an AV system so don’t expect big changes.

In conclusion

It may be worth spending a bit more time listening and tweaking your centre channel, you might be surprised at the improvement in your movie enjoyment. If you’re considering a full set of surround sound speakers, maybe the quality of the centre channel should be a higher priority and not just an afterthought.

Why not try it for yourself. Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?

Thanks for reading!

Richard & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

PMC can be found at the following Audio T stores

Monitor Audio can be found at the following Audio T stores


Hi-Fi Racks can be found at the following Audio T stores


Sonus faber can be found at the following Audio T stores

Acoustic Energy can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

First Look at the Brand New Cyrus PSU-XR

/ Audio T Enfield/

The long-awaited PSU-XR has landed at Audio T Enfield, and it was most certainly worth the wait! The flagship range from Cyrus continues to grow (not to mention the imminent release of something top secret), and this particular power supply certainly gives you bang for your buck in terms of upgrading your kit.

What did we see?

Cyrus have stuck to their signature, compact design, ensuring it will snuggly fit into any corner of your home or alongside its sibling components on the Hark 3 Modular Hi-Fi Shelf. The once green display has followed suit with the rest of the XR products and is now a lovely light blue colour. Of course the PSU-XR doesn’t have a display screen, instead the blue is used for the standby button when switched on. Like the other gear in the range, it is available in a simple Phantom Black finish.

The PSU-XR draws on their long history of power supply design. Cyrus has always been an industry leader in supplying clean, dependable, and 'stiff' external upgrade power supplies since the first PSX. 'Stiffness' is crucial, as the voltage must stay entirely steady even when huge loads are applied. To supply a startling amount of power, the PSU-XR features the biggest toroidal transformer Cyrus have ever utilised, together with some incredibly efficient load control circuits.

The PSU-XR is capable of delivering 'precise' power needs to three distinct circuits on the host device, considerably improving the performance of any XR product with which it is utilised. Advanced microprocessor controls, relay switching, entirely independent 'grounds' to reduce 'noise transmission,' and a future-proof architecture are just a few of the features.

What did we hear?

We listened to Seal’s classic track ‘Kiss From a Rose’ and I couldn’t think of a more perfect track for the demonstration. We listened on just the i9-XR and CDi-XR first and then again, this time with the PSU-XR. We all heard one major improvement as soon as the PSU-XR was switched on; the sound became more ‘spherical’, meaning along with the sound-stage having ‘width’, it now had plenty of ‘depth’ too. The vocals came forward, and everything just sounded more full.

What are the specs?

image taken from the official cyrus website

  • 1 x Output connector for compatible Cyrus XR products

  • Low voltage supply
    Standby mode +5V DC
    Operational +5V DC

  • Fixed voltage supply
    Standby mode 0V
    Operational ±24V DC

  • Variable supply
    Standby mode 0V
    Regulated ±10V to ±45V DC
    Unregulated ±45V or ±56V DC

  • Size (H x W x D)
    75 x 215 x 355 mm (2.95” x 8.46” x 13.98”)

  • Weight
    7.7kg (17lbs)

Say what?!

Whoever said you need to upgrade an entire component in a system isn’t entirely correct. Sure, it will definitely elevate your Hi-Fi to the next level, but what if you don’t want to get rid of a perfectly working amp or CD player? What if it simply needs a bit of a facelift? Well that’s exactly what adding the PSU-XR does. That added bit of power most certainly fills the gap in a soundstage you didn’t know was there, but once you’ve heard it, you can’t really ‘un-hear’ it…

But of course you’ll have to be the judge of that! Pop in for a demonstration and go with your ears instead of your head or heart, trust me - you won’t want to miss out on this one. Contact us to book yourself in!

Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Richard – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Eager for Rega? The New Rega Elex MK4 Integrated Amplifier

/ Audio T Enfield/

The new and improved Rega Elex amplifier is now out there in the wild. Whilst its predecessor, the award winning Elex R, is still hugely popular within the Hi-Fi community, we have every reason to believe this new incarnation will take your system up a notch. Why’s that then? Well, let us tell you…

Same But Different

Sitting in the middle of the Rega range of amplifiers at around the £1200* mark, this beauty looks a little different to the Elex R in terms of aesthetics; firstly, the input button has noticeably moved from its more central position on the front panel to being on the left-hand side, with the word ‘input’ labelled underneath.

The input lights are now horizontal and central in comparison to them previously being vertical towards the right-hand side, next to the volume button (which remains in the same position).

The mute button has gone from being a single light with the word ‘mute’ underneath to now being a tiny graphic of a megaphone with a line across it (kind of like when we had our microphones on mute during a Zoom meeting!), again being placed in the middle of the panel with the input lights.

Some Specifications…

Now whilst this is a brand new product that is somewhat different, there are still some features that have been kept the same (otherwise it would have a different name, duh!). Built on the previous design, the amp has an A/B power amp circuit that delivers 72w (watts) into 8Ω (ohms), and has a moving magnet phono stage.

The Elex MK4 is capable of driving tough loudspeakers with ease and will seamlessly fit into any audio system thanks to a broader choice of connecting options. Aside from line level, digital inputs, and a high grade moving magnet phono stage, there is also Pre-out and Record Out capability. The selection of important audio components has been given special consideration. Throughout the design, discrete circuitry, high grade relays, polypropylene capacitors, and Sanken output transistors are employed.

The upgraded amp now includes a DAC (closely based on the very successful Rega DAC-R circuit) with two digital inputs and a high quality headphone input conveniently placed on the front panel. The speaker switching is accomplished by the output mute relay to avoid blocking the signal route and assuring no loss of performance while not in use.

The circuit incorporates a high-performance Rega-designed integrated moving magnet (MM) phono stage. To reduce interaction, the RIAA equalisation has been divided into two steps. Polyester capacitors were employed in the signal route, whereas polypropylene capacitors were used in RIAA equalisation circuits.

The new custom case design and construction brings the Elex MK4 inline with the rest of the Rega range and provides improved heat dissipation by using the entire case as an ultra efficient heat sink. It includes Thermal CUT-OUT, short circuit protection and DC protection to prevent the risk of damage from excess heat, excessive currents or short circuits.

Take a closer look by watching part one of our unboxing video below:

Have a listen!

If you’re not quite convinced that this will give your system the boost it may need, then we’d recommend booking a demonstration with us so you can take the time to listen and (hopefully) be persuaded by your own senses!

Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Richard – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Untangle Your Music… Are Power Cable upgrades just snake oil?

/ Audio T Enfield/

Before joining Audio T I wasn’t entirely convinced of the importance of cables in a low or even mid level hi-fi system. Interconnects and speaker cable…. sure. But mains cables? No way! power is power, surely?

So how did it start?

Things first started to change for me when I heard what a difference upgrading an interconnect made to my turntable, so I looked at the mess of mains cables behind my home cinema system and decided I could do better.

£45 and a few mouse clicks later, I had bought some used, short audiophile shielded mains cables (I thoroughly checked the connections before using them). I plugged them in, sat back and listened to some music and…. not much had changed. Maybe it sounded better? Or was it just wishful thinking? Eventually I came the conclusion it possibly sounded very slightly clearer but probably not worth the money in terms of sound quality. It did however tidy up the back of my system considerably, that alone may be reason it sounded slightly better? The jury was out on that one.

Good luck keeping this tidy!

Good luck keeping this tidy!

I gave up, switched on the telly to look at the TV guide and was astonished at the picture quality. There had always been a slight shimmer which I had put down to the limitations of plasma screens, but from my viewing position the picture was now flawless, it was only when I got right up close to the screen that I could see any shimmering at all. So, money well spent then!

Now, a few years later, I’m working at Audio T where we have a selection of audiophile mains cables to choose from, plugging a £250 mains cable into an expensive system doesn’t seem such an extravagance and sounds infinitely better, but would they make a difference to my humble Denon AVR at home?

The Test

To put it to the test, I took home three different models of mains cables to compare with my existing shielded cable. The first two made only a slight improvement on my current setup, but the third, a Chord Shawline immediately increased detail and clarity, and also improved soundstage. It was a clear change to older, well mastered music, but particularly noticeable with some of the less well produced music that has been released in more recent years. A lot of my favourite music from the 90s and 00s came alive and no longer sounded muddled or dull, very surprising!

Chord Shawline mains cable

So what’s going on here?

The Chord Shawline mains cable uses high purity, thicker stranded conductor and double shielding - a foil wrap to catch the high frequency interference and a wire braid to catch the lower frequency stuff. The cable also has a tough outer jacket that helps to damp any vibrations. All a significant upgrade over my existing foil shielded cable.

But the rest of my house isn’t wired with this stuff, so why does replacing the final couple of metres make such a difference?

It’s the last bit next to the AV equipment that is the noisiest part, with every unit and its cables putting out some kind of interference, so shielding in this area is very important.

Where to use shielded mains cables?

Basically everywhere if you can, some recommend you start with CD, Blu Ray, Network streamers and other sources first as these are more likely to be affected by noise.

All Chord power cables are available with a selection of connectors including IEC and figure 8 to suit most equipment. Standard lengths are: 1m, 1.5m and 2m although other lengths can be ordered to suit.

In conclusion, although you would probably think twice about spending £250 on a mains cable for a £300 AVR, I just couldn’t go back to the old sound and give up the extra detail and depth. I’ve spent the last few weeks enjoying music that previously I couldn’t listen to, so for me it was money well spent!

Don’t believe me? Why not try it for yourself. Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Richard, Elena & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…


Chord Company can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Accessorize your Christmas with Hi-Fi add-ons you never knew you needed!

/ Audio T Enfield/

When you hear the word ‘Hi-Fi’, you might often think of big, elaborate systems. But what if we told you that there could be some smaller, essential accessories missing from or could be added to your set-up? Or maybe you just fancy sprucin’ it up a bit? Either way, in this article we’ve listed 5 great items that you can add to your system right here at Audio T Enfield this Christmas, with some of those being on attractive Black Friday deals. Grab it while you can!

  1. Chord Electronics Mojo/Poly Premium Leather Case or Polycarbonate Hard Case - *BLACK FRIDAY OFFER*

Please Note: this is for the version one Mojo and will not fit the Mojo 2

Premium Leather Case

‘Butter fingers’ is the expression that comes to mind… Has anyone ever described you in this way? Are you a little bit on the clumsy side and seem to drop everything? While we can’t always control these accidents, we can certainly add a layer of protection.

When we’ve invested our hard earned money into building your perfect system, it goes without saying that we want to keep it out of harm’s way as much as possible, after all, it would be a huge shame to spend a lump sum on something just for it to get damaged or break down the line, all because of those butter fingers!

Polycarbonate hard case

Chord Electronics are here to help with the Premium Leather and Polycarbonate cases. They’re suitable for both Mojo version one and Poly, so why not add some extra protection for your DAC and grab a great deal all at once? You can save over £50* on the Premium Leather case as it is currently on a Black Friday offer for a very generous £69.00*! The Polycarbonate Hard Case is also up for grabs for £59*, saving you more than £20*.

Cases for the Mojo 2 are also available at their standard price, click here to view options.

Audioquest Super-Conductive Anti-Static Record Brush

2. Audioquest Super-Conductive Anti-Static Record Brush

Those small specks of dust on your record can be a right nuisance, especially when you hear those crackling sounds, knowing the stylus just did a hit and run on a bit of fluff. Many vinyl novices have probably tried a few tricks to get it clean; the good old ‘huff and puff and blow onto the vinyl’ (spoiler: it doesn’t work!), the overused ‘pull your sleeve down and wipe around in circular motion’ (spoiler: it really doesn’t work!), and the infamous ‘physically wiping off each individual particle with your fingertips (spoiler: it definitely DOES NOT work!).

“So what can I use to clean my records then?!” I hear you exclaim. The answer to your question: the Audioquest Super-Conductive Anti-Static Record Brush. Featuring 1,248,000 super-conductive carbon fibres, this record brush gently reaches into the groove, pulling out dust and dirt that would otherwise snap, crackle, and pop through your speakers. If you’re unsure of how to use the brush, click here to watch a short tutorial.

Retailing at just £24.95*, it’s not a hefty price to pay if you want to keep your extremely valuable and sentimental vinyl collection clean and listenable.

3. Pro-ject Clamp-It Record Clamp

The pro-ject clamp-it Record clamp

Keeping to the subject of vinyl, here we have something that will allow your records to play at reduced resonance levels. Placing the Pro-ject Clamp-it on top of your record while it’s playing does not add weight, and you can fine-adjust the pressure according to the condition of your records.

Record Puck Issues

The Clamp-It weight is more effective than "standard" record pucks, which generally have two disadvantages that affect the sound negatively:

1) The weight can induce higher levels of rumble, when used with lower cost turntables which have less massive main bearings

2) Instead of tightening the records surface to the platter, heavyweight record pucks can cause the opposite: Vinyl will get shaped like a bowl with no contact of the outer edges of the record to the platter.

Why use Clamp It?

the clamp-it in action

In contrast, Clamp-It is a real solution, with a clamp mechanism around the centre spindle that will not add weight, which would induce rumble. You can fine-adjust pressure according condition of your warped records. Fitting of Clamp-It is easily done within seconds. This accessory will not only please your ears, its beautifully machined diamond-cut edges will also look extremely cool on any turntable!

At it’s modest price point of £79*, this would make a great stocking filler for vinyl lovers this Christmas.

4. Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earphones - *BLACK FRIDAY OFFER*

Sennheiser CX True Wireless in-ear eaphones

These noise-cancelling* beauties are perfect for someone who enjoys being in their own solitude. Whether it be on the work commute, at the gym, or even in the comfort of your own home, if you want to cut out the noise, these will do it for you! Alongside N.C*, features include Customizable Touch Controls, Bass Boost, IPX4 and 27-hour Battery Life, so you’ll never be without your playlists at a high-end quality.

What's in the box?

  • CX True Wireless Earbuds

  • Silicone ear adapter sets (XS, S, M, L)

  • Charging Case

  • USB-C Cable

  • Quick Guide & Safety Guide

Again, this would be a hugely apt stocking filler for just about anybody that enjoys their music. Save £50* this Black Friday on the Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earphones, now priced at £69.99*! Grab the deal while you can - surely it’s a no-brainer?!

5. Audioquest JitterBug USB Filter

Audioquest JitterBug USB Filter

Upgrading speaker or interconnect cables isn’t unusual for a traditional Hi-Fi system, but what if you wanted to upgrade your desktop audio system? This is where the JitterBug comes in.

Slightly smaller and chunkier than the DragonFly USB DAC (also currently on a Black Friday offer), it plugs straight into your computer’s USB input, where its job is to act as a passive filter and dissipate any noise before the signal enters your DAC. The main source of noise is actually your computer’s power supply - oh the irony! Nevertheless, the JitterBug saves the day by reducing this as much as possible.

So the bottom line is, if you own a desktop audio system then you should surely be equipping yourself with a JitterBug?! And if you’re not, then it’s never too late!

£59* is the current price for one of these, which I personally believe is practically daylight robbery for the job it does. Do yourself a quick favour and purchase one whilst they’re in stock!

Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Richard – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Why the Sonos Sub Mini could be the perfect Christmas gift for surround sound lovers

/ Audio T Enfield/

This time last year I wrote a blog about the Sonos surround system consisting of the Arc sound bar, and two One SL speakers. Sonos is a great surround sound solution for those who don’t necessarily want a mass of cables in their room and want to get as much bang for their buck. The great thing about this type of wireless set-up means you can swap out other Sonos gear to create your perfect system, so in this article I’ll be speaking about the Sonos Sub Mini and how it can benefit your current or future Sonos set-up…

Sonos Sub Mini

‘The compact subwoofer with big bass’

As it’s name would suggest, the Sub Mini is considerably smaller than the Sonos Sub Gen 3, but I can assure you that the difference in performance isn’t hugely noticeable, especially in smaller listening spaces.

To put it through its paces and test it in a real world application, I took the Sub Mini home to try in my humble abode. It’s safe to say that I was thoroughly impressed! Admittedly, I didn’t have a huge expectation, but I learned very quickly that a smaller unit does not always equate to dimmed performance. You can check out the video below to hear how punchy and tight that bassline is!

The sonos sub mini in full swing

Like all other Sonos products, the Sub Mini is available in both White and Black, meaning it will fit in to all home styles.

Compact-ible!

Being smaller in stature assures excellent pairing with other smaller Sonos components. For example, in the video above the Sub Mini is paired with a One SL, and because of they’re matching abilities, one doesn’t over power the other. The same goes for the Sonos One, Beam and Ray (the latest soundbar from Sonos). Any of these can be paired (or grouped if you have both surrounds and sound bar) with the Sub Mini seamlessly via the Sonos app and create a beautiful set-up for a great surround system, without hugely denting your pocket!

Specs

  • Amplifiers: Both Class-D digital amplifiers are perfectly tuned to the unique acoustic architecture.

  • Frequency Response: As low as 25 Hz

  • Woofers: Dual 6" woofers face inwards for a force-cancelling effect.

  • EQ Audio: settings automatically equalise to balance Sub Mini and the paired Sonos product(s). Use the Sonos app to adjust bass, treble, and loudness.

  • Architecture: Sealed cabinet neutralises distortion and enhances bass response.

  • Trueplay: This software measures the acoustics of the room then fine-tunes your Sonos system. Supported iOS device required.

  • Dimensions:  Height: 9.1 in (305 mm) Width: 12 in (230 mm)

  • Finish: Matte Weight 14 lb (6.35 kg)

  • Join Button: Press once to add Sub Mini to your system during setup.

  • WiFi: Connect to WiFi with any 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4 or 5 GHz broadcast-capable router.

  • CPU:  Quad Core 1.4 GHz A-53

  • Ethernet: 10/100 port for hardwiring to your router

  • Memory:  1GB SDRAM 4GB NV

  • Voltage: 100-240V 50/60Hz internal power supply

  • Operating Temperature:  5°C to 35°C (41°F to 95°F)

Sonos Novice

If you’re new to surround sound, Sonos or subwoofers, this would be a great way to start building your system. Although this is considered by many to be ‘entry-level’, it definitely performs at a standard that would make you think it’s at least an intermediate product, which is exactly why you don’t have to break the bank this Christmas!

So whether you’re buying for yourself or for a loved one, rest assured you can feel confident that you’re buying a product that performs impeccably despite its smaller stature. And why not check out our other Sonos products so you can create your own perfect set-up?

Contact Us to book a free demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Richard – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Ruark R2 Mk4 - What can we expect from the latest addition to the Ruark Family?

/ Audio T Enfield/

Incoming, it’s on its way! The latest product release from Ruark Audio. The R2 Mk4, is about to hit our stores.

Picture an asteroid flying through space and hurtling towards Earth… Now imagine the asteroid is the contemporary-looking, all-in-one system, about to crash land (while staying perfectly intact, of course) into our Audio T showrooms across the country. The R2 Mk4 will arrive imminently (October 2022), so not too long a wait. In the meantime, let’s take a look at why we’re really looking forward to having it on our shelves…

A Present from the Past

The vita audio R2

As many of you will know, the first model of the R2 was released in 2007, and the Mk4 will be a subtle nod to what once was. It’s retained key features that have contributed to its popularity right from its inception, such as the trademark RotoDial controller at the top, and sleek, rounded edges, with its one of its most obvious changes being its slimmer profile. Another noticeable difference (although not a recent one) is that Ruark, as a parent company, used to brand their small radios and DAB systems as ‘Vita Audio’. As of 2012 however, all products carry the same brand name ‘Ruark’.

Aesthetically Pleasing

Alongside its timeless, retro slatted wood grilles and bonded glass display, the system’s new coloured LCD display now presents the time, alarm and programme information (including station and album artwork) and has an auto-adjust feature to adapt to any ambience in a room.

The ruark r2 mk4 in light cream finish

Features

R2 Mk4 is a full music system that includes DAB/DAB+, FM and internet tuners with presets, and natively supports major streaming services such as Spotify (also Spotify Hi-Fi once available), Amazon Music, and Deezer, as well as every other streaming service available over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth capability also combines smoothly with the volume function on phones and tablets, allowing volume to be quickly increased or decreased as needed. The R2 Mk4 also has a USB-C charge and playback connector, auxiliary line input, and headphone output. Remote control is provided via the free UNDOK app, or as an optional extra, a small IR handset.

Specs…

  • Bluetooth: Latest generation Bluetooth 5 Receiver

  • Radio: Smart Radio tuner with internet radio/DAB/DAB+/FM

  • USB: USB-C playback/charge port

  • Remote Control: Optional Infrared remote control

  • I/O: Analogue Input / Headphone Output

  • Display: Full colour auto dimming LCD display

  • Dimensions: H x W x D (mm) 185 x 340 x 150

  • Weight: 2.9Kg

Have a listen…

A both visually and audibly appealing bit of gear, you’ll want to grab the chance to demonstrate fairly quickly, as their reasonable price point of around the £480* will definitely be attention grabbing to many enthusiasts!

You can also read more about the Ruark R2 Mk4 in a full article featured in Music at Home+ Autumn Edition - Our FREE quarterly digital magazine.

Contact Us to book a FREE demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Richard – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Up and ‘Atom’! A closer look at the Naim Uniti Atom streamer

/ Audio T Enfield/

I know what you’re thinking - another blog another product, but just hear me out with this one… In our current world of streaming, there aren’t many products quite like the Naim Uniti Atom. Here at Audio T Enfield we usually use the streamer to play background music on our shop floor, providing those ‘good vibes’ for you, the customer. It’s convenience is unmatched - we open up, stick the kettle on and press the Atom’s ‘on’ and ‘play’ buttons. Internet Radio begins to play, which we then change to a playlist (because no-one wants to hear adverts after every 3 or 4 songs) and voila, we have our good vibes. Really straightforward and easy right?! Today we’ll be taking a closer look at what makes the Atom super special, and hopefully by the end of this article, you’ll be convinced to invest in this lovely product.

What’s In A Naim?

I’m sure many of you appreciated the pun I just used. Even though it just sprung to mind this second, I’m certainly not the first person to use it. Although it lacks in originality, it’s an attention grabbing sub-title and its meaning holds significant relevance to what you’re about to read. “What’s in a name?” was originally quoted by Shakespeare in his play ‘Romeo and Juliet’. In basic terms, it means that a name itself does not hold much meaning, so one can be called anything else and the qualities the object/person holds don’t change. “How is that even remotely relevant?” I hear you ask. Well I’ll explain.

Julian vereker - the founder of naim audio

While not completely clear, there are a couple of theories as to why Naim is called ‘Naim’. The first being the obvious explanation of it simply being a play on the word ‘name’. Certainly plausible, but maybe a bit superficial. The second theory is that Naim sounds like ‘sweet sounding’ in Hebrew, so definitely a more full-bodied definition with added sentiment. Either way, the reason for its name doesn’t actually matter too much. ‘Naim’ is pretty basic and stands out just enough for consumers to remember, but it’s abundantly apparent that the manufacturer chose a simple name so that the focal point would be on the innovation and quality of it’s electronic products. And that’s perfectly fine, because the brand will always hold its qualities despite its name, bringing this full circle and back to that famous Shakespeare quote. See what I did there? *mic drop*

A Household Naim

Since its founding by Julian Vereker, the brand has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the UK’s leading Hi-Fi manufacturers, with some of it’s most well-known products including the 250 power amp, the CD5si and Nait 1 power amp to name a few.

In the late 60s, Vereker and his friends formed a band and produced/recorded music. However he became increasingly frustrated with the current products available on the market not producing the quality of playback he craved, so he turned his attention from race-car engineering to building and experimenting with amplifiers. Naim was officially founded in 1973, with the Salisbury-based HQ having both demonstrating and manufacturing facilities.

As technology and Hi-Fi itself evolved over the years, their products have accompanied this. Streaming was introduced in 2009 through the very first all-in-one player, the Naim Uniti, which was combined with a CD player and an integrated amplifier. Over time these players expanded, with the SuperUniti, NaimUniti 2, UnitiLite, UnitiQute 2 all released over the course of 3 years (although all have since been discontinued) between 2010 and 2013. The Atom was released in 2017 along with the Uniti Star and Uniti Nova, and in 2014 the Mu-so Gen 1 came into distribution. The difference between an all-in-one player and all-in-one system is that the latter doesn’t need speakers - they are built in along with everything else. But I digress…

Being an all-in-one player, the Naim Uniti Atom requires speakers (which isn’t the end of the world considering its capabilities). As of 2019, the Atom has been upgraded to include HDMI as standard, meaning it can be used as the central hub of your home entertainment system.

In 2021, Naim released the Atom Headphone Edition, which as its name would suggest., was geared more towards headphone enthusiasts. This version of the Uniti Atom doesn’t have a built-in amplifier, but that’s not to say you can’t include an additional amp or connect directly to a pair of active speakers.

Set-up is totally straightforward. Simply plug in your power cable along with your speaker cables and that’s the practical side done. Ensure you download the Naim app on your phone/tablet and follow the instructions on there for wireless configuration.

Spec-tacular!

For the tech-heads out there, here are the Atom’s specs:

Dimensions and weight:
95 mm x 245 mm x 265 mm (H x W x D)
7 kg

Connectivity:
Audio Inputs
2 x Optical TOSLink (up to 24bit/96kHz)
1 x Coaxial RCA (up to 24bit/192kHz, DoP 64Fs)
1 x HDMI ARC
1 x RCA
2 x USB Type A socket (front and rear)

Audio Outputs
1 x Stereo power amplifier
1 x RCA sub/pre output
1 x 3.5mm headphone jack 

Streaming:
Chromecast Built-In, Apple Airplay, TIDAL, Spotify® Connect, Bluetooth (AptX HD), Internet Radio™, UPnP™ (hi-res streaming), Roon Ready

You can read a more in-depth article on the specs here.

Say my Naim, Say my Naim…

So if you fancy moving on to streaming, or upgrading your current streaming system, the Naim Uniti Atom should definitely be a product you consider. Whether you’d listen through speakers or headphones, the crisp detail you’ll get from playback is pretty astonishing. And considering it’s so straightforward to set up both practically and on your phone/tablet, you won’t have any trouble listening to your favourite tracks, albums or podcasts. At the reasonable price point of around £2500*, you’ll get a huge amount for your buck! If we haven’t convinced you to purchase, then hopefully we’ve persuaded you to at least take a listen, which you can do so by booking a listening session with us today.

Contact Us to book a FREE demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

A First look at the New Russell K Red 50 2022 spec

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Russell K Red 50 2022 spec.

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New Product

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Russell K Red 50 2022 spec. 〰️ New Product 〰️

Here at Audio T Enfield, we are proud to stock Russell K speakers, and last week we were lucky enough to be the first retailer in the country to get a first listen and look at the new RED 50 22 speakers.

A brief history on Russell K

Russell Kauffman

Russell Kauffman, a personal friend of Audio T, is the Managing Director and Designer of Russell K Ltd. He began his career in the industry as a manager for Hi-Fi retailer Lasky’s during the 80s, later going on to work for Wharfedale, Monitor Audio, Bowers & Wilkins and Morel Acoustics.

Russell K Ltd was established in 2013 when Russell pursued his dream of creating his own Hi-Fi brand, with the first product, the RED 100 speakers, on the market by 2014. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength, distributing throughout Europe and part of South-East Asia. The British based company’s mission is to “build precision audio loudspeakers” where they are “totally focussed on producing the most authentic and believable sound possible”.

Three series of speakers have been developed; The BLACK series (BLACK 50s, 100s, 120s & 150s), the RED series (RED 50s, 100s, 120s & 150s), and the SE series (120SEs & 150 SEs); cloth grilles for all models and JK100 stands for the 100 series are sold separately. They are massively popular amongst Hi-Fi enthusiasts due to their excellent sound quality, and many have received top reviews both in the UK and internationally.

You can read some of Russell K’s great reviews here.

The RED 50 22s - what’s new?

The finishes have changed from gloss to matt with a wood-type veneer, and the once silver screws around the drive unit and tweeter have been replaced with black ones, creating a sleeker look.

The components inside the cabinet haven’t been changed, meaning you will still get the signature Russell K sound from them.

What can you choose from?

As pictured above, there are three new finishes:

  • Oak & White baffle

  • Black Wood & Black baffle

  • Walnut & Black baffle

And so we listened…

For the listening session we played the debut CD album by 90s RnB girl band Eternal, ‘Always and Forever’ on the Audiolab Omnia , using the standard power cables at first. Russell himself joined us on this particular day to provide training, which is always great fun!

The beauty of this album (and one of the main reasons why I love early 90s music) is that it was recorded before auto-tune was invented, so little tweaking has been done to their vocals; the recordings sound much more natural and less computerised/edited. These are great albums to use when testing out Hi-Fi gear; it will really show the system’s capability in playing the true sound of the music.

The RED 50 22s had no trouble giving us the album’s authentic sound; we particularly noticed this on the track ‘Let’s Stay Together’. Easther’s (lead singer) voice in particular has a very soulful tone that was hugely complimented by the speakers; they allowed us to connect more emotionally with the her tone and the music overall. We even did a comparison test with another pair of speakers, and you could really hear the difference clarity-wise; the Russell K’s had much more life and character to them. Russell’s aim when building any speaker is for the listener to be so connected to what they hear, that the Hi-Fi gear disappears and they’re immersed in the music. That’s exactly what happened next…

The REd 50 22s

We listened for most of the morning and then switched genres in the afternoon. I wanted to explore a track that is polar-opposite in its production to really test the speakers’ capabilities. I chose ‘Frozen’ by Sickick and Madonna, which is a remix of Madonna’s iconic 90s synth-heavy track, made famous by TikTok trends. It falls under the genre of ‘trap’, which is a bass and beat heavy style of music with lots of digital production and auto-tune (I really meant it when I said polar-opposite!). The speakers delivered as expected; the bassline was clear, the beat was tight and we were completely immersed by the huge sound-stage.

The verdict

From what I discovered during my training/listening session, the RED 50 22s are capable of anything. No matter the genre, the recording, the production, these speakers will bring any song to life and allow you to connect in a way you may not have done previously. Plus they’d look really good in your home, which means they are a win all-round! As always, we recommend coming in and listening so you get your own feel of the speakers.

Thanks for reading

Elena & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Russell K can be found at the following Audio-T stores:

Open or Closed-Back Headphones? What’s the difference?

/ Audio T Enfield /

Don’t we all just love putting on our headphones and retreating into our own solitude from time to time? The world is drowned out and whatever you’re listening to has your undivided attention. For example, picture yourself on an 8-hour flight - a good-quality pair of headphones can make an otherwise noisy flight far more relaxing and enjoyable. But with such a huge variety of headphones out there, which ones will sound the best? And what factors contribute to their overall quality? Today’s article will be discussing the differences between open and closed back headphones, which will hopefully help you make a more informed decision when purchasing your next pair.

Open-back headphones

The Beyerdynamic Dt 990 Open-back headphones

Firstly, for those who aren’t familiar, let’s answer the question of “what are open-back headphones?”. Open-back headphones allow air from the rear of the speaker driver to pass through the ear cups, meaning that low-frequency build-up and resonances caused by the enclosure are not an issue. This allows them to sound more clear and natural, which is great if you’re using them for critical listening or mixing and mastering. This also makes them a go-to option for audiophiles seeking the highest quality.

Despite their advantages, you’ll only tend to get the best out of this type of headphones if you’re in a relatively quiet surrounding, due to their inability to completely block out noise. So you wouldn’t necessarily want to use these when commuting on public transport or at the gym where there is a lot going on. As well as allowing sound in, they leak sound out too, so others around will be able to hear what you’re listening to. Picture this, you’re at work, in your own world and listening to music through open-back headphones. Your colleagues begin raising their eyebrows in annoyance, wondering where that racket is coming from - cue the idle gossip about your awful music taste! Who will have more to answer for in this situation?! You, for being unintentionally inconsiderate for playing such loud music? Or the others, for brazenly ‘dissing’ your playlist? Anyway, I digress… Or do I? Really and truly, no-one is in the wrong, everyone thought the other couldn’t hear them, but it turns out the open-back headphones had other ideas…

Closed-back headphones

The Beyerdynamic Dt 450 Pro Closed-back Headphones

As you’ve most probably guessed, closed-back headphones are the exact opposite. They are completely sealed on the back of the earcup, meaning sound can’t leak out past your ears. Their inherent ‘noise-cancelling’ qualities means that you can listen in a somewhat busy environment and not hear most, if any of the background noise. Equally, people around you can’t hear the audio leaking either, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

It’s important to note that closed-back headphones aren’t the same as noise cancelling. Active noise-cancelling (or 'ANC') headphones come mostly in wireless form and work via a microphone capturing the targeted ambient sounds, and a small amplifier generates sound waves that are exactly out of phase with the undesired background noise. When the sound pressure of the noise wave is high, the cancelling wave is low (and vice versa). The opposite sound waves collide and are eliminated or "cancelled".

Whilst blocking out background noise is brilliant for anyone that wants to be in their own solitude, this may affect their listening experience. The sealed ear chamber can result in the low frequencies building-up and being emphasised, meaning it won’t sound as good or as natural as it should. You may also eventually have the small inconvenience of your ears feeling quite warm because of the lack of ventilation due to the sealed chamber design. Whilst closed-back headphones may be great for recording audio professionals, probably not the best option during a workout; sweaty, red ears aren’t the most flattering of looks! You may want to give an in-ear option a go instead!

So, which type should I buy?

Well, that’s the big question isn’t it? Obviously, taking into consideration the pros and cons of both types of headphones, your purchase may be swayed by how you intend on using them. As previously mentioned, if you’re in a public setting or perhaps listening at home whilst trying not to disturb other people in the room, you may find the closed-back to be the best option. What I think is really important to note is that just because a pair of headphones is designed in a certain way, doesn’t necessarily always make them sound better than one another. You can try two different models or brands of closed-back headphones and find the results to be completely different. The moral of the story? It’s important for you to try them out for yourself. With that in mind, be sure to Contact Us to book a FREE demonstration. We can set you up with a turntable and amp, a streamer and headphone amp, or simply your phone and a DAC. We’ll ensure you’re testing the headphones in the right way!

Thanks for reading

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Beyerdynamic can be found at the following Audio T stores:

An integrated amplifier reimagined - the Marantz MODEL 40n

/ Audio T Enfield/

The latest release from Marantz, the MODEL 40n, has expectedly been very impressive; it’s finish is beautiful and it sounds great, but arguably so does every other Marantz product. “So what makes it stand out?” I hear you ask. Well, hopefully by the time you’ve finished reading this article, that question will have been answered and you’ll be convinced that the MODEL 40n is something built to last…

Way back when…

Saul B Marantz

First founded in New York but now based in Japan, Marantz began its operations in 1953 when Saul Marantz, an American musician, inventor and engineer, designed the brand’s first audio product, the Audio Consolette, at his home in Kew Gardens, NY.

The Marantz audio consollette

The company went on to be a major influence in high fidelity audio systems, reaching the height of its success during the mid to late 70s.

During the 80s they were owned by Phillips, and subsequently sold some highly-regarded CD players, until their focus turned to higher-end components in the early 90s. Marantz Japan bought the brand from Philips in 2001 and owned all worldwide sales subsidiaries. Marantz combined with competitor Denon in 2002 to form D&M Holdings Inc., which was eventually renamed D+M Group. Sound United LLC finalised the acquisition of D+M Holdings on March 1st, 2017.

Music to my eyes…

Marantz’s attention to detail in their designs of the MODEL 40n doesn’t go unnoticed. The brand ensures many aspects are carefully considered when it comes to aesthetics - premium materials, symmetry, smooth operation of rotary controls, and porthole display, which can be seen throughout their long-line of renowned offerings.

Marantz don’t want their products to look like lifeless lab equipment, but instead, a beautiful extension of your home. The MODEL 40n does just that. It’s iconic porthole screen displays the right information at the right time, allowing you to adjust accordingly using the control knobs, which are strategically placed to create a symmetrical look. You can adjust the bass and treble using these knobs to suit your sound. Available in black or silver, it’s carbon fibre-like pattern makes it all the more attractive, and although it strongly resembles its predecessor, the MODEL 30, on the outside, they are far from similar once opened up…

The Marantz Model 40n

It’s what’s on the inside that counts…

While the MODEL 30 is an all-analogue (input) architecture driven by Class D Hypex Ncore modules, the MODEL 40n is based on the Class A/B design of older Marantz amplifiers. The discrete HDAM modules, the power supply, and the power amp have all been improved to enhance the ability to drive low impedance loads.

The model 40n’s components and structure

When did you get so smart?!

With a variety of streaming smarts built-in, including HEOS, Bluetooth and Airplay2, the all-in-one amplifier puts the control at your fingertips, allowing those with an infinite, digital collection to listen online. DLNA compatibility along with voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri devices makes it effortless for enthusiasts to use.

Mind the gap

The Marantz MODEL 40n bridges the gap between analogue and digital. It’s versatile enough to connect everything from your TV to your turntable, in addition to a wide choice of network streaming possibilities. There is an HDMI with ARC for TV. The optical and coaxial digital inputs are used to connect games consoles and other digital sources. There are three RCA phonos and a recording output for analogue sources. Connect your deck to the phono input for the best in vinyl (MM). So if you fancy a quick switch between listening to your records and Internet radio, then you can do just that. Equally, if you’d prefer to put your feet up and watch the telly, you can do that too!

Tech-y info:

  • Marantz’s bespoke op-amps, the HDAM-SA3s, improve temperature stability by using surface-mount metal-film resistors - the end result is a less-distorted and cleaner sound.

  • The non-magnetic aluminium front panel and steel top cover allows the amp to resist both electrical and mechanical interference.

  • The Marantz MODEL 40n boasts plenty of power for room-filling sound, with 70 watts per channel. The toroidal power transformer, which is doubly insulated, provides this Marantz amp with sustained power, minimal noise, and silent operation - ideal for hearing every detail in your favourite music.

Is this integrated amp the ‘model’ student?

In a nutshell, I’d say this is probably one of the most versatile pieces of hi-fi gear currently available on the market, simply due to the fact it can do so much. You can connect your TV, turntable and game console, not forgetting the variety of built-in smarts it comes with.

So, was the earlier question answered? Are you now convinced that the MODEL 40n is something built to last? If not, then you may need to hear it with your own ears!

Thanks for reading

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

The ‘Quest’ to discovering cables - Exploring AudioQuest cables and how they can improve your system

/ Audio T Enfield/

One of the most common questions amongst Hi-Fi and Home Cinema enthusiasts is, “Do cables make a difference to my system?”. Some are adamant that they can’t hear any differences between various grades or ranges, others are insistent of the exact opposite, that cables can make or break the way a set-up sounds. One thing is for certain though - there are plenty of cable manufacturers out there, all of which spend countless months researching the best combination of metals & materials to use to create the best cables. During this article, I’ll be looking at AudioQuest and discussing their cables and the different core metal wirings used to find out how this affects their conductivity and overall quality.

The Quest to AudioQuest

AudioQuest was founded by William (Bill) Lowe (also CEO) in 1980, just two years after he had started making cables at his one-man Hi-Fi shop. With their headquartering in Irvine, California and offices in the Netherlands, they have become a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of high-end AV products and custom-install solutions over the last 40 years, distributing to approximately 65 countries throughout the world.

Bill discovered how easily influenced a system was by the quality of cables during the early days of his Hi-Fi career, and through successful experimentation, he founded AudioQuest to create new and innovative wires, connectors and accessories.

“Everything I’ve learned about hi-fi or cables is purely the result of being interested in getting high on music.”
— Bill Lowe, The Absolute Sound magazine, 2008

The Four Elements. But they’re not Earth, Water, Air and Fire…

AudioQuest describes their design philosophies and foundational materials with the Four Elements:

  • Solid Conductors

  • Directionality

  • Noise-Dissipation

  • Metal Quality

If you’d like a more indepth read about these elements, you can check them out Here (Page 5).

What’s in a name?

The naming of the cables may seem a bit strange - cable types often fall under a group of “something”. For example, the interconnects are all named after Bridges & Falls - Tower, Evergreen, Golden Gate, Big Sur, Sydney, Yosemite and Angel, and Subwoofer cables are named after dog breeds - Black Lab, Greyhound, Irish Red, Boxer and Husky.

Other cables are named after popular indulgences from around the globe, like Forest, Pearl, Blueberry, Vodka and Diamond, and these names are used for multiple cable types (HDMIs, Ethernets, Digital Coaxs etc.).

Then there’s heroes of folklore (Robin Hood & William Tell) and Mythical Creatures (ThunderBird, FireBird & Dragon), which are two groups of speaker cables as well as Rocket and others.

So now we have a basic understanding of the cables and names, but what makes them differ from one another? How do we know which cables are improving in conductivity? This is where core metal wiring comes in.

Why does the metal core wiring matter?

There are other important elements that can improve a cable’s overall quality aside from core metal wiring, however for the sake of not over-complicating matters, we will be primarily focussing on how a cable’s conductivity is dependent on the metal used.

It goes without saying that the core metal wirings play one of the most important roles within the complexities of the cable’s structure. Different metals will have differing conductivity levels, so it’s important to have an understanding of this when deciding which cables to buy for your system.

Copper is often the preferred metal used in cables for a few reasons: its high conductivity levels; its inexpensive price; its thermal resistance; and its ductility. Check out Monroe Engineering’s blog where they go into more detail about this.

Pure Silver is proven to be the best conductor of electricity, however is seldom used due to it’s high cost. AudioQuest incorporate a lot of Silver into their products as they go up the range, so if the conductivity is improved, then surely upgrading cables will make a difference to how your system will sound? Let’s listen and find out.

The listening session

We split the session into three sections for each cable type:

The system used throughout was a Windows laptop running Roon with a USB > Ethernet adaptor > Apple Airport Express.

The experiment began with analogue interconnects:

Next up were the Ethernet cables:

And lastly, we ended our session with the AC Power Cables:

We listened to the same song with each cable type, listed in the order above, and all three of us noticed an improvement as they went up in the range. We followed a comparison system too; once we got to the last cable (typically the best of the group), we’d go back and listen to the first cable - this is where we really heard just how much the cables improved the quality of what we were listening to.

Starting with the interconnects, despite being entry-level the Tower sounded great, lots of clarity and very smooth - easy on the ears for sure. As we progressed through the cables, this clarity and smoothness improved massively, especially when we reached the Angel cable which is made of Solid PSS (Perfect Surface Silver AKA pure Silver). The stunning quality this cable provided so effortlessly was unbelievable, particularly heard once compared with the Tower.

Following on, we had a play around with the ethernets, and admittedly there was more scepticism around them, purely because we live in such a wireless world and weren’t sure what we were listening for. Pearl was up first, showing us it’s ability to seamlessly carry lots of information from the system to our ears - the music’s sharpness was undeniable. Again we followed the system of going up the range, where more and more Silver is used in the core metal wiring for this cable type. As we got to Diamond, the top in the range made from 100% PSS, we were hearing things in the music that we weren’t aware of beforehand. We then went back and comparatively listened to both the Pearl and the Diamond, which confirmed our findings.

Finally, it was the AC power cables’ turn. We listened to a choir track for this round, which enabled us to really gauge the capabilities of a power cable. The NRG-Z2 was first; the beauty of a choir is all the different voices you can pick out amongst them, and this particular cable made that really easy to do. There was a great deal of clarity amongst the vocals, but it didn’t sound clinical; it sounded full-bodied, as though they were almost in the room with you. We progressed to the NRG-Z3, and it was at that point that the choir felt as though it was in front of us. The vocals were brought to the forefront, giving us the ability to pick out more voices than before. The sound-stage grew immensely, with those vocals all around us rather than in front of us.

So, what’s the verdict?

Purely from a scientific point of view, the question “Do cables make a difference to my system?” can be answered as a yes, absolutely. Improving the conductivity by incorporating more and more silver into the core metal wiring, which is proven to be the best electricity conductor, will definitely make a difference in how those electrical signals pass through one part of your system to another. That being said, it is definitely recommended that one listens with their own ears to draw their own conclusions, and what better way than to come in and listen for yourself?!

Thanks for reading

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Your whole CD Collection in one box - A Closer Look At The Innuos Zen Mini Mk3

/ Audio T Enfield/

Hi-Fi enthusiasts will often have a vast collection of physical music of differing formats, whether it be on CDs, vinyl records or even cassette tapes. Fanatics are well-known to have hundreds or some cases even thousands of these sitting on their shelves. A collection that expansive may be slightly tricky to manage when there are so many tangible items that require maintenance. Ensuring they are dusted, well-organised and there is enough space for a growing collection. With the increasing popularity of vinyl, people are more likely to dedicate the time and effort to a collection, but what about CDs? They’re not the most attractive format to keep on display… Taking this into consideration, wouldn’t it be ideal to have access to your whole CD collection in one place, all while keeping the original sound quality? This is where the Innuos Zen Mini Mk3 comes in…

First, a bit of backstory…

Founded in 2009 in the UK, Innuos had the vision of never needing to sacrifice sound quality for the convenience of having all your music in one digital space, while simultaneously being easy enough for a streaming novice to use. A combination of three core principles is believed to be the only way to achieve this vision, they are:

  • Perfect Synergy Between Hardware and Software.

  • Customer-Driven Research and Development.

  • Open Platform - Integration with the most Multi-room products in the market.

You can read more about these principals here.

The Innuos Zen Mini Mk3 is essentially a music streamer/server which can also be used as a hard drive to rip your CDs onto. The Zen Mini will read Red Book standard CDs as well as CD-R & CD-RW, and store on the drive as FLAC (zero compression) or WAV, either will not compromise the sound quality on playback. There are three different hard drive memory sizes available - 1TB, 2TB and 4TB.

So how does it work?

To get started, an ethernet cable is required for the Zen Mini as it doesn’t connect to the Internet via wireless network. Plug this in along with the power cable and the Zen Mini will come to life. Then you’ll need to download the Innuos Sense app onto your smartphone or tablet and it will automatically search for Innuos products. Once connected to the Zen Mini, you’ll be able to stream music, create playlists and rip your favourite albums. Storing your music is very easy! Simply insert your CD into the disc drive and you will see the app automatically uploading your music.

What’s in the box?

A quick start guide will be the first thing you see when you open the box. It sits on top of the polystyrene, face up ready to guide you through the set-up. A power cable comes in a small rectangular box, which is stored neatly on the side, underneath the first layer of protective polystyrene.

Innuos also include a carry bag as part of their merchandise, which is great if you are travelling and want to take the Zen Mini with you!

An optional, external power supply can be bought to compliment the Zen Mini; the Innuos Linear Power Supply. The Innuos Optional PSU offers a separate linear power supply upgrade to improve upon the sound quality delivered by the Zen Mini, with better vibration and resonance isolation. You’ll find the same accessories in this box as well. Plus, you can buy the Zen Mini and Linear PSU together as a bundle and save a bit of money too! (Contact Us for more information).

To conclude…

So, why not have all your music in one place? Sure, having a physical collection is great, but with the previously mentioned drawbacks of storing it, maintenance and finding what you’re looking for can be time consuming, so keeping it on one hard drive will cut out the middle man! The quantity of music shouldn’t matter as the Zen Minis have plenty of memory space, and as mentioned above, your sound quality won’t be compromised either.

Contact Us to book a FREE demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Dispelling the myth around affordable speakers with the DALI Oberon - King of the Fair(l)y Priced Speakers.

/ Audio T Enfield/

As many of you will know by now, I thoroughly enjoy experimenting with a variety of Hi-Fi gear to gauge what equipment will produce the most detail from my favourite music. From CD players and turntables, to amplifiers and speakers, it’s an ongoing investigation that, let’s face it, may never end as most brands are almost constantly releasing new and upgraded models. Working at Audio T has really opened my eyes to expansive world of Hi-Fi and the amount of brands and models available.

Hopefully, this article will dispel the myth that you have to break the bank in order to own a great set of Hi-Fi speakers as we’ll be exploring the subject by looking at a beautiful pair of floor standing speakers that perform well beyond their price point – the DALI Oberon 5.

A COLOUR FOR EVERY INTERIOR

The DALI Oberon 5 come in a range of finishes – Light Oak, White, Dark Walnut, and Black Ash. Mountain Grey grilles are supplied with the lighter finishes and Shadow Black grilles with the darker; Marshmallow White is also available at an extra cost. Standing at 83cm high, 16cm wide and 28cm deep, their striking beauty frequently catches the attention of customers when they enter the store, giving us many great opportunities to tell the customers how well they perform. Most of the time they intrigue customers enough to sit down and have a listen in our demonstration room, and are often pleasantly surprised by how beautiful these speakers sound and perform considering their fairly reasonable price mark. In fact, most customers can’t believe their luck when they discover these incredible floorstanders.

We currently have a Light Oak pair on display in store, and they are regularly used as a “go-to” for demonstrating moderately priced CD players, turntables, etc. The Oberon 5 produce crisp detail that isn’t harsh or overwhelming to the ears, making them a good all-rounder for any source.

The Dali Oberon 5s in Light Oak

One of the first things I noticed about the Oberon 5 was how light they felt when setting them up. There is often a misconception that heavy speakers make for a better sound, but this isn’t always the case… Developments in materials and manufacturing over the decades has meant that speaker cabinets can be less weighty and their drivers often have lighter neodymium magnets which allows the cone to move faster through their higher magnetic properties, giving the speaker a more detailed sound. It wasn’t until I really took the time to listen to them critically that I appreciated that although they may feel light in weight, they are full-bodied in sound.

It was at this point I realised that I hadn’t even thought of their monetary value. So when I confirmed the price, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing given the experience I just had from them. “Surely they must be more expensive, they sound excellent!”. Some might think that because of their modest price-point that they are of lesser quality, but in fact, the award winning Oberon series are DALI’s intermediate range, sitting above the entry level Spektors. After I learned all of this, the DALI Oberon 5 became something I often recommended and demonstrated to customers who came in to store with a certain price bracket in mind.

“These superb floorstanders are right up there with the best”
— What Hi-Fi? Magazine

TIME TO LISTEN

So for today’s listening session, I hooked the speakers up with the Rega Planar 3, AT-VM95ML cartridge and the Arcam SA20 amplifier. I popped on the Michael Jackson 1987 record “Bad” and away it spun. The beauty of vinyl is the way it re-produces the precision and detail of original recordings, which is complimented by the Oberon 5s. For me, there’s nothing like the needle hitting the record and that moment of analogue silence just before the music kicks in.

The Rega Planar 3 paired with the Audio Technica AT-VM95ML cartridge

The Arcam SA20 amplifier

I didn’t need to listen for long to be truly moved by what I was hearing. The bass was tight, the drums were crisp and you could hear the sound of guitar strings being plucked as well as the notes they were producing. Aside from the detail, the music had so much presence and soul. Being an avid audiophile, when listening to music I want it to sound as close to the recording session as possible, and these speakers did just that. The ambience created by the DALI Oberon 5 is unparalleled for its price-point, not to mention the fact that they are very easy on the eye!

CONCLUSION

It’s safe to say from the tone of this article that I’ve been a fan from the beginning, but it’s important to summarise that all the key features of these speakers truly dispel the myth around affordable speakers, and you can get great quality at an affordable price.

Impressed by what you’ve read? Or need a little more convincing? Either way, Contact Us to book a FREE demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest news and offers!

DALI can be found at the following Audio T stores:

The Audiolab Omnia – Can You Really Have the Best of Both Worlds?

/ Audio T Enfield /

I was born into this world in 1995, making me a “Millennial”, a term that generally refers to the generation of people born between the early 1980s and 1990s. I, like so many of my generation, have grown up in an era not only between analogue and digital mediums, but also physical and streamed. You could say, we “bridge the gap”, between formats.

I’ve owned a cassette walkman, CD players, an MP3 player and iPods in various incarnations… Over the course of my life, most forms of entertainment have gone from physical to digitally streamed. It didn’t happen overnight of course. Bit by bit the analogue faded for many and the streaming took over, and before I (or any of us knew it), we were immersed in new age technology in many aspects of our lives, particularly in music.

Today, we’ll be exploring the concepts of physical and digitally streamed music using a lovely piece of equipment that’s designed to give you the best of both, but can we really have it all?

Nostalgia vs Modern Day

I’ve often met customers who are struggling with whether or not to upgrade and digitise their current analogue system. They frequently tell me, “I’ve got rid of my CDs” or “My other half/kids want to be able to quickly stream from their phones”, and proceed to ask for advice – questions such as, “What’s the best decision for my system and/or household?” or “Is there a way to keep my current system and just add streaming?” or “Is 100% digital the way forward?” There are things to consider…

Physical media comes in many formats – We are all too familiar with records, especially with the “Vinyl Revival” showing increased popularity and sales in vinyl records year on year since 2007. Even the humble cassette tape is starting to see a renaissance within younger consumers, no doubt in the wake of vinyl's enormous resurgence. CDs are yet to make their comeback, with digital streaming making up to 85% of music consumption, and vinyl records outselling those shiny discs for the first time in almost three decades. Lets not forget to mention MiniDisc, Reel-to-Reel or even the LearJet Stereo 8 Portable 8-Track Player!

As things have evolved, digital streaming has become the most predominant format, with over three quarters of the world favouring it over anything else. This change in trend has meant that the charts are now counted in most part by the number of times a song, artist or album has been streamed, counting this towards their “sales”, moving them up or down the charts in relation to these numbers. Meaning that most songs that have been number one over the last few years has most probably been streamed more times than physically bought.

Contrastingly, it is argued that physical formats mainly exist nowadays as a marketing tool to attract collectors. For example, when the Spice Girls (I know what you’re thinking, “Can we go one blog without mention of the Spice Girls!”, the answer is No!) released their 25th anniversary edition of their first album Spice, it was available on six individual releases of vinyl, five cassettes and a double CD. Hardcore collectors such as myself would’ve bought all the variants (each one a different colour representing each Spice Girl, and a generic one), meaning the collectors have exactly the same album on multiple formats. Of course I’ve bought them all, but they sit on my display shelf purely to look pretty as part of one extensive collection. I only really ever listen to the album through streaming platforms such as Spotify, as I’m sure many others do!

Now unless you’re using streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz or Amazon Music HD, a small downfall with streaming is that many platforms compress the sound, meaning that the music somewhat loses the life it once had.

So what do we do? Do we scrap physical media altogether, considering how much of the world is now streamed? Or are both able to happily co-exist together? Let’s investigate…

The Audiolab Omnia

The Audiolab Omnia is an all-in-one pre-amp, amplifier, CD player and streamer system, where with just a click of a button, you can choose to stream or listen to your CDs; it even has a built-in phono input, allowing vinyl lovers to plug in their turntables too. So really and truly, all you need for this system are a pair of speakers and you’re good to go! The award-winning system comes in a black or silver finish, and it’s aluminium framework is typical of Audiolab’s modernised aesthetic for today’s living environments. Considering that the cost is sometimes a bit out of reach when buying all of these systems separately, the Omnia has a very effective price-point for it’s capabilities! So, without further ado, let’s plug it in and see how it sounds.

The Audiolab Omnia

The Acosutic Energy AE320 floor-standing speakers

The setup is relatively easy. First, to get it running you’ll need to plug it in with the provided power supply (or perhaps one of the many aftermarket cables we stock Here). The Omnia comes with a remote control, making it that much easier to switch between sources at a distance. I plugged in some Acoustic Energy AE320s and I was ready to go. Although the Omnia has an ethernet connection, I opted for wireless connectivity.

Now that’s sorted, on to playback…

I ensured I was on the “Bluetooth” source and then simply connected through my phone’s settings. I began streaming my favourite songs from Spotify first, then afterwards I switched over to Tidal, a streaming platform that uses the MQA file type. In comparison, Tidal provided a clearer and more open sound quality due to the file types it uses. I could hear that the detail was cleaner amongst the broader ambience in the room. Don’t get me wrong, Spotify sounded brilliant, but Tidal’s uncompressed file types are unmatched. So, whichever one you use is completely a personal choice.

The Audiolab Omnia remote control

Next, I played the same tracks on CD. Once inserted, it’s a simple case of pressing the “source” button on the remote control, and it instantly flicked over to the CD source. I listened carefully to hear the differences, and admittedly, the songs I streamed through Tidal sounded almost identical to the CD, but the latter definitely seemed to have the upper hand. It was that little bit more crisp, open and detailed. So far, I’m majorly impressed!

After a while of listening, switching back and forth between Bluetooth and CD, I became curious about what vinyl would sound like. I plugged in a Rega Planar 3 exact, and again played the same tracks to hear any differences (like I said before, I have every format of this particular album, so I was well-prepared). I found that every detail was brought forward as the stylus moved between the grooves. This time, the differences were extremely obvious! The sound-stage opened up immensely, and I could hear every part of the song much more clearly. The ambience filled the room more, as if the album just gained some more life and soul.

The Rega Planar 3 exact

So, to conclude…

To answer an earlier question, can physical and digital happily co-exist together? The answer is most definitely yes. Let’s break it down:

Firstly, if you use a streaming platform such as Tidal (or any platform that doesn’t compress sound for that matter), that is the closest thing you will get to physical format without having something tangible. Streaming doesn’t necessarily have to compromise on sound, so you can find almost identical quality of music digitally!

Having the Audiolab Omnia means you can very easily switch between each source you’d like to use at the touch of a button, so if you prefer to listen to CDs and others in your household prefer streaming, you won’t have to buy separate systems to please everyone, saving you money and space in your home, and everyone’s needs are met.

Speaking of the financial side, as mentioned before, buying a pre-amp, amplifier, CD player and streamer separately to create one big system can be a much bigger dent to the bank balance, whereas the Audiolab Omnia gives you all of that for a relatively sensible price around the £1600 mark.

On a more personal note and bringing this blog full circle, being a millennial and part of the “bridging the gap” generation, I love that the Omnia gives me the opportunity to use all of these formats. I have CDs that I still listen to that aren’t available on Spotify or other streaming platforms, and vice versa, so being able to use an all-in-one system that meets all of my musical needs is amazing!

So, taking into consideration that streaming can provide an almost identical sound quality as physical format, the way our world has become digital but hasn’t totally forgotten about the analogue side of things, the Audiolab Omnia’s ease of use and price point, can we have the best of both worlds? The answer is a resounding YES.

Not quite convinced? Come and have a free demonstration!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Jason – Audio T Enfield

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest news and offers!

The Audiolab Omnia and other Audiolab products are available at the following Audio T stores -

PMC, Arcam & JVC Take-Over Weekend

/ Audio T Enfield/

Well, we have some new dates for your diary! Sadly, due to Covid (again), the Bristol Hi-Fi show has been cancelled. However, no need to fret! Over the weekend of 25th & 26th February, the Enfield store will be host to Hi-Fi and AV icons – PMC, JVC & Arcam! Tom Barron from PMC, James Buckle from Arcam/Harman and Larry Sadoo from JVC will kindly be joining us for the event, showcasing some of their top of the range equipment. As with our recent Cyrus Experience Tour, we will be booking one hour time-slots for our lovely customers to have a safe one-to-one experience. We have limited spaces available, so if you don’t want to miss the chance, give us a call or drop us an email to secure your spot!

PMC

The Professional Monitoring Company, better known as PMC, was founded in 1991 by Peter Thomas (previously of the BBC) and Adrian Loader (previously of FWO Bauch, an audio distributor). The products are widely used in domestic and professional settings, as well as other hi-fi applications. Notably, their very first speaker, the BB5A, has been used in recording studios by legendary artists such as Prince and Stevie Wonder, subsequently winning an Emmy Award in recognition of its “contribution to recording excellence”.

All of PMC's loudspeakers feature "Advanced Transmission Line" technology. This is a method of loading a drive unit in a cabinet such that undesirable frequencies radiating from the rear of the speaker driver are absorbed. Within the cabinet, the speaker is positioned at the end of a folded line lined with foam of varied absorbency. Low frequencies are permitted to flow through the line and emerge in phase from a vent on the cabinet's front or back face, therefore functioning as a second bass driver. The higher bass and midrange are not masked by harmonic distortion because the undesired bass frequencies are absorbed.

The PMC Twenty5 24i floor-standers in walnut

Arcam

A&R Cambridge, more commonly known as Arcam, was founded in 1976 by University of Cambridge science and engineering students Chris Evans and John Dawson. Through its American subsidiary Harman International Industries, it has been a part of the South Korean firm Samsung Electronics since July 2017. The earliest activities of its founders, were represented in the name 'Amplification & Recording, Cambridge,' which was later simplified to 'A&R Cambridge.' Its products include anything from integrated stereo amplifiers to high-performance AV processors, music players, and a variety of other small lifestyle items.

Learn more about their engineering and timeline of products here.

From top: the Arcam CDS50 CD player and Streamer, SA20 amplifier, SA30 streaming amplifier and ST60 music streamer.

JVC

JVC (short for Japan Victor Company) is a Japanese brand owned by JVCKenwood corporation and previously by the Victor Company of Japan Limited. In 1927 the company was founded and is now best known for introducing Japan's first televisions, and (a treat for you 80s and 90s babies) developing the Video Home System (VHS) video recorder.

JVC are also known for co-developing the KS2 information processing technology, alongside Victor Entertainment (formerly known as Victor Studio of Victor Music Industries). The KS2 technology enhances sound quality of digital sound sources, and includes a variety of unique technologies, including waveform data analysis technology that varies from moment to moment in the data space. The technique was created through several rounds of testing and auditioning by Victor Studio engineers, who are professionals in music and sound production.

The JVC the DLA-N5BE projector

The Take-Over

Tom will be here on both the Friday 25th and Saturday 26th, ready to show off some great PMC products. Particularly within the Twenty5 range, we will have a variety of speakers set up ready for demonstration, including a pair Twenty5 26is, and no doubt that Tom will deliver some great talk-throughs considering his level of expertise within PMC!

James will be in attendance on Friday 25th February showcasing some of Arcam’s most well-known products. The AVR30 will be set up with Dirac live, including the multiple subs bass management module. As with Tom, James’ knowledge of Arcam will definitely ensure customers make informed decisions relative to their existing systems.

Larry is joining us on Friday 25th February and will be offering his expertise to deliver some great demonstrations and answer any questions you may have. Currently, we have the DLA-N5BE projector set up in our big demonstration room, ready for home-cinema enthusiasts to take a seat and enjoy what they see & hear.. We have a great selection of Blu-ray movies, so you can choose your favourite genre and see it brought to life on this amazing piece of equipment!

Don’t miss your chance to be here in person! There are 2 days to choose from so give us a call or drop us an email to book yourself in!

Thanks for reading!

Elena, John & Jason – Enfield branch

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest news and offers!

PMC is available at the following stores:

BRIGHTON

BRISTOL

CARDIFF

ENFIELD

PORTSMOUTH

SOUTHAMPTON

SWINDON

Arcam is available at the following stores:

CHELTENHAM

ENFIELD

SOUTHAMPTON

SWINDON

ONLINE STORE

JVC is available at the following stores:

ENFIELD

PORTSMOUTH

SOUTHAMPTON

A recap on the "Cyrus Experience Tour" at Audio T Enfield

/ Audio T Enfield/

First and foremost, we would like to say a big thank you to our lovely customers who came to the event – we hope you had a great a day as we did! Secondly, we would like to also say thank you to Jason Saxon, our Field Sales & Training Representative from Cyrus, for taking the time to come down to London and host the event for us and some of our other branches. It’s been a great experience for all of us learning about the new Cyrus XR series, (especially for myself still being somewhat of a newbie), which really is a work of art in itself.

What is the '“Cyrus Experience Tour”?

The ‘Experience Tour’ is a chance for Cyrus to share with you some of their passion and enthusiasm for music; to share some of their knowledge and decades of experience to help you make better and more informed decisions about Hi-Fi.

The programme has been developed to help enthusiasts of all backgrounds to learn more about good reproduction and the difference it can make to your enjoyment of music.

On to our Event…

For us in store, the event started the day before we opened to the public. It was my first time meeting Jason; he arrived in the afternoon and after exchanging pleasantries, we unloaded the equipment and he began setting up. During this time, I sparked some general chit chat about Cyrus. Whenever I meet someone from a manufacturer I like to ask about their product USPs (Unique Selling Points), which helps me learn about each product and the manufacturer’s individual merits.

Whilst talking about the individual products we were setting-up, Jason kept referring back to the history of Cyrus, where & how they started off, how they came to be as popular as they are now and what makes their products unique.

Our demonstration room set-up for the Cyrus XR series

For those of you that aren’t aware, Cyrus started off under another name, Mission Electronics in the early 80s and was founded by Farad Azima, with the assistance of his brother Henry Azima as the developer, and Stan Curtis. They released their first products under the name Cyrus in 1984 - amplifiers Cyrus One and Cyrus Two. And the rest is history! As many of you will know, Cyrus has become one of the most well-known Hi-Fi manufacturer in the UK ever since. One of Cyrus’ most popular features and selling points is it’s signature compact design, be it an amplifier, CD player or streamer. It’s smaller size allows these products to fit into a modest space and look aesthetically pleasing wherever it’s placed, without compromising on sound quality. It’s ease of use never falls short either! The products are only available in black, however they come in different finishes – brushed black and phantom black, which provides variety in textures rather than colours, and let’s face it, sometimes black has the upper hand in creating that little bit more elegant and sophisticated look. The XR series however, are sold exclusively in phantom black, which is the smoother texture of the two.

Jason brought along two Mono X300 Signature Power Amps and a Stereo 200; in-store we already had the i7-XR, i9-XR, Cdt-XR, Cdi-XR and the Pre-XR out as demonstration units. We created a nice little set-up using the Cyrus Hark III shelf-rack, as well as having an appealing layout across other units in the demo room. After listening to a few different configurations, I had come to the conclusion that the XR series is nothing less than a revolution in audio quality. It represents the best-in-class application of new DAC technologies, Power supply Design, Circuit topology, User Interface and it is built solely in the UK using components of the highest specification. In layman’s terms, it sounds bloomin’ brilliant! Providing some of the cleanest and most detailed audio quality I’ve heard in awhile, it’s compact size has no relevance in its ability to fill a room with musical magic. The details are crisp without being harsh, giving audiophiles the joy in being able to hear every detail without taking away the bigger picture of the song as a whole.

From left: the CDt-XR, the Stereo 200 and the CDi-XR

The i7-XR

The i9-XR

From top: The Pre-XR, CDi-XR and two Mono X300 Signature Amps on the Hark III shelf rack

Let the public in…

As with most of our in-store events, we felt the day would work best if we were to assign customers their own time slot, ensuring they had one-to-one time with Jason and be able to ask questions, along with a demo of the XR series. The customers were really pleased with the fact they had the opportunity to delve in at this depth and get to know the products. The first customers of the day were a couple looking to upgrade their existing Cyrus 8 equipment, which was great as they already had an in depth knowledge of the brand, plus they had an idea of what they were looking for which always makes the demonstration process much more easy going. The gentleman in particular really became engrossed in the listening experience. He showed us this by leaning forward attentively, catching every detail of the music. The customers left with big smiles on their faces, which we can only assume meant they left very happy!

The next customer was also looking to upgrade some existing Cyrus equipment. I sat in for this particular demonstration and Jason gave a great talk-through of the new products. He provided lots of detailed information for the customer and was very engaging. In turn, the customer asked lots of questions which Jason answered thoroughly but simply enough that you don’t need a degree in engineering to understand. As we listened along to the music, our customer was keen on listening to both the i7 & i9 in comparison to one another, ensuring he was making the best decision relative to his system at home. He too was very happy and had great chat, leaving with a smile on his face. To be honest, this was a similar vibe for everyone that attended the days event.

Overall, we had a very successful day! The customers that came in were friendly, attentive and passionate, enabling Jason to provide the best demonstrations possible. They were enthusiastic to learn about the XR series and were all really keen on getting the best equipment for their systems. Additionally, having great conversations and banter with the customers really makes it all worthwhile, if they’re happy then we’re even happier!

Missed the Cyrus Experience Tour? Want to see for yourself and take a listen? Give us a call or drop us an email to book a free demonstration!

Thanks for reading.

Elena, Jason & John - Audio T Enfield

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at Audio T by following us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Cyrus can be found at the following Audio T stores

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SONOS - THE INEXPENSIVE SURROUND SOUND SOLUTION

/ Audio T Enfield/

I’ve been working at Audio T for just over two months now and I’m really getting to know all the different systems. One brand in particular that has captured my interest is Sonos.

Unsurprisingly, I had heard of Sonos years before starting my employment in the world of Hi-Fi and Home Cinema; admittedly my view of it was an overpriced Bluetooth sound system. I now know that was completely inaccurate. Firstly, with the exception of two speakers in the range (the Roam and the Move), Sonos works on a network basis, not Bluetooth. On our shop floor, we’ll often use a Sonos One SL to play background music or digital radio and have some of those “good vibe” tunes on for when you, the customers, come in. From this passing day-to-day interaction, I had a pretty good idea of how it sounds. That being said, I’m not really able to crank the volume to full blast due to it being on the shop floor, but I can still gauge how good the quality of that little speaker is, which has now heightened my curiosity with other Sonos products.

The Sonos One SL

A few weeks into working here, a customer enquiry introduced me to the world of Dolby Atmos – something I was previously oblivious to being somewhat of a Home Cinema novice. For those who aren’t familiar with Dolby Atmos, essentially it’s a type of surround sound technology that aims to fully immerse you in whatever you are watching/listening to by directing the sound waves directly to where you’re sitting. It’s not like your usual surround sound – I describe it in my own terms as “5D Surround Sound”. Why mention this you say? Well, as I started to research more and more into Dolby Atmos, I discovered that many Sonos products now support the format, which enticed me even more. I’ve wanted a surround sound system of my own for as long as I can remember, so I dug deeper and learnt that the Sonos Arc and a couple of Sonos One or One SLs can create a great Home Cinema system in a limited space.

The Sonos Arc

A huge benefit of working for Audio T is being able take products home to try for ourselves in our own space to really get to grips with them and make our own, unbiased opinions. So I took full advantage of this and brought home the Sonos Arc and One SL to try.

The Set-up

The Sonos App (top row, second from left)

Although not as straightforward as simply connecting the speakers to the network, the set-up was not too difficult. I had already downloaded the Sonos app to my phone to use in the shop, which otherwise would’ve been the first step of set-up. So, as these units were already in use in the shop, the first thing I had to do was to factory reset both products. This is far more simple than it sounds. Simply plug them in and hold down the “Join” button on the back until the LED flashes amber.

The reason for doing this is so that I can give it a fresh start and forget any previous network settings or user profiles. Don’t worry, you won’t have to do this with a fresh new one out of the box.

Next, I made sure my phone was connected to Wifi and opened the Sonos app, where it automatically searched for products. At this stage, once it had picked up on the products, I had to scan them in so to speak, so I held my phone over the now green light on the Sonos Arc and I was connected. I started off using only the Arc and I was majorly impressed - the room filled-out with the most brilliant spatial audio, allowing me to experience my favourite songs in a new way (I know what you’re thinking, yes I did listen to Spice by Spice Girls… shamelessly).

After a while of enjoying the Arc, I then turned my attention to creating surround sound within the room. To do this you simply open the the Sonos app, click “system”, then “add new product”, and repeat the same steps as I did with the Arc to connect the One SL. I then grouped them together and played the same songs so I could hear the difference.

You can actually add up to 32 speakers for one system - imagine that!

Now that you’ve added both products to your system, you can now group the speakers. To do this, tap the “now playing” tab in your Sonos app.

Next, tap the icon on the right hand side of the volume control (looks like a triangle within a square).

It will bring up this mini menu, where you can now choose which speaker you want to stream from.

Simply select both speakers and now they are grouped for multi-speaker playback. You can choose up to 32 products for a single system.

A great advantage of grouping the speakers together is that you can control each one’s volume separately. So, depending on where I sat in the room, I could tweak the volume on each speaker to create a more even surround sound experience.

Simply swipe down on your phone screen and the playback options will appear. Now that the Arc and the One SL are grouped, they appear as one playback speaker. Tap on the speaker icon that appears on the left hand side of “Arc+One SL”

It will then show the speakers separately, allowing you to toggle the volume control of each individual speaker so that you can create the perfect surround sound for your room.

The Listening

At this point, even though both products sounded amazing together and they did in fact create a surround sound, I came to the conclusion that I needed more than one One SL to fill out the room in the way I wanted, and these would most probably need to be mounted on the wall. Nonetheless, this minor issue did not take away from how impressed I was!

After about an hour of experimenting with the sound, and some questionable dancing, I turned my attention to using the Arc’s Dolby Atmos feature. Although Dolby Atmos is primarily used for Home Cinema, personally I would prefer to use it for music. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I’m someone who appreciates every detail of a song and wanted to be able to hear these nuances in a whole new way. Not to mention that some of my favourite albums of all time have recently been re-mastered in Dolby Atmos, so I was keen to listen and hear the differences which, according to my research, are very apparent.

To listen to the Dolby Atmos mastered albums, I had subscribed to Apple Music (which was a pain because I already have Spotify, but at this moment the platform doesn’t support Dolby Atmos). I did a quick Google search into how to connect the Sonos Arc to my TV - all I needed was the HDMI cable that came in the box, so I plugged it into the HDMI-Arc input on the back of my TV.

The sound from the TV sounded awesome as expected, but I couldn’t hear significant difference to make me think it was playing in Dolby Atmos. I checked the Sonos app, which told me in the “now playing” section that the Arc was playing in Stereo. After going into my TV’s settings, it told me that the TV itself does not support Dolby Atmos, which I was gutted about. So now I have to get a new TV! Maybe one for you all to watch out for.

Conclusion

Overall, the experience I had with these two products definitely made me realise that if I wanted a surround sound system with minimal wiring and easy set-up, then Sonos is the way to go.

The next day…

In perfect, impeccable timing, the very next day a young couple who had just bought their first home together came in looking for a surround sound system for their living room. Of course, I straight away recommended Sonos given my new found appreciation of the brand. I told them about my experience and they seemed impressed; they had previously researched Sonos and my input confirmed their findings. We booked them in for a demo and I showed them the products – I recommended the Arc and One SL combo to fill out their living area (this particular room is “L-shaped”, so their concern was to fill out the corner that the sound may not have reached so well). I showed them how to tweak the volume to get the perfect surround sound of their choice, all while they both led the way in telling me what they wanted. Essentially, my fresh experience enabled me to recommend these products whilst not overtaking the demo with my suggestions – they asked me questions, I showed them how to do it. It’s safe to say I think we have a sale on our hands!

But why take my word for it? Why not book a demonstration today at your local store.

Thanks for reading.

Elena, Jason & John - Audio T Enfield

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at Audio T by following us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Sonos can be found at the following Audio T stores

WE ARE LIVING IN A HI-FI WORLD AND I AM A NOW A HI-FI GIRL

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Ever feel like you’ve been both in and out of your comfort zone at the same time? Where you have a tonne of knowledge in one area and virtually none in another? Almost like you know exactly what you're talking about but at the same time you don't have all the answers? Well, if that’s the case, you’re not alone. As the newest member of staff at Audio T Enfield, I invite you on my journey of discovery in to the world of Hi-Fi.

As a lover of music, my world wouldn't be right without hearing my favourite songs throughout the day. Having an ear for hearing almost every instrument in a song and being aware of every single detail throughout is something I consider a blessing - something only like-minded people will understand. Being possibly the biggest Spice Girls fan (literally an out-of-control fanatic with zero shame) threw me in the deep end of the world of music as a toddler, which in turn enabled me to be the musically minded person I am today.

Spice up your life

You see, although they come under the very broad, and sometimes unfair, umbrella of “pop music”, almost each Spice Girls song is a different genre in itself. Their debut album, Spice (released in 1996) is a mixture of conventional pop, acoustic, funk and Urban RnB, with favourites such as safe-sex anthem, “2 Become 1”, and bass heavy hit “Who Do You Think You Are”. Whereas their second album Spiceworld (released in 1997) consists very much of that era-defining “Bubble-Gum Pop” sound. Some tracks even mixed a bit of a Latin influence that was popularised at the time by the likes of Shakira and Enrique Iglesias. Fast-forward a few years, and their third album, Forever, truly embraces the ever-popular R’n’B vibe of the early 2000’s.

Despite being Spice Girls mad, or as I was recently called, a “Pop Princess” it's not difficult to gauge why I can happily listen to many different genres of music. My favourites have to be old school R’n’B, Hip Hop and UK Garage. Aside from the fact that the songs are blooming brilliant, they bring a whole feeling of nostalgia for me, as that's the just some of music I was raised on. As you can imagine I listen to a lot of digital radio stations such as Kisstory.

Where music meets Hi-Fi

So, with this burning passion for music just sitting there, I didn’t know where to take it - I came across a job opening at Audio T Enfield. I couldn’t help but think to myself, "my love of music would be so beneficial for this job". This is where we come back to our opening statement – I find music is my biggest comfort, I know it all so well; the systems we play them on however... let's just say I didn't have that much experience. So, at this point I feel like I'm already halfway there – I know what makes a good composition (to my ears at least)... But which systems would get the best out of my beloved music?

Now, from here I guess it's all about navigating the Hi-Fi world, getting to know the systems and their best qualities. But where to start? As I’m sure we all know, when it comes to Hi-Fi, your overall system is as strong as the weakest link. Each component is arguably as important as the next. But as far as I’m concerned, we should start with the source. And just as an excuse to show off my coveted Spice Girls vinyl, let’s start with turntables –

A first look at entry-level turntables

Project Primary E Phono

The Project Primary E is the most affordable turntable we stock at Audio T. It comes in two variates - The standard version and the Primary E Phono. The difference? Well, it’s all in the name. The latter has a built-in phono stage for those amplifiers that do not have one built-in. It also allows you to plug straight in to an active speaker.

This turntable was described to me as a “plug and play”, which fundamentally means it’s ready to go straight out of the box. So for a novice such as myself, it should have been a doddle. However, I found the built-in cables were a little bit fiddly and delicate with this turntable, especially the ground wire (not ideal for a clumsy person like myself). Nonetheless, the set-up was fairly straight forward (minus the fiddly cables). In this set-up I used the Rega IO Amp and B&W 607 S2 speakers.

Once more, the sound of a record I’ve heard time and time again surrounded me in it’s mist-like fashion and I sat, gathering every detail I could hear. There is a particular album track, “Last Time Lover”, which has many hidden instruments in the background that aren’t too prominent. This turntable, like the others, had made these background instruments come to the forefront with the rest of the track. The plucking of guitar strings sound sharp and the subtle trumpet smooth playing through the Primary E Phono.

Rega Planar 1

I hooked up the turntable with a Rega IO Amp and Dynaudio Emit 10 speakers – this was all pretty straightforward to set up, a few cables plugged into their correct places and Bob’s your uncle! Moving on from the technical perspective, I put the needle on the record and gave it a listen, with admittedly high expectations, and I was not disappointed at all.

The quality of sound that penetrated my ears was amazing! I could hear every part of each song so clearly – particularly on “2 Become 1”, where I’ve never been able to hear a consistent bassline, but this turntable proved to me it does indeed have a consistent and prominent bassline! Without popping this record onto the Rega Planar 1, I would never have heard it.

After inspecting the turntable more thoroughly, I was a little confused as to how you change the speed on the Planar 1. One of my colleagues informed me of the manual belt change required to move from 33rpm to 45rpm. As I didn’t have any 7” singles or 33rpm 12” I couldn’t help but try the album… Instantly, the Spice Girls turned in to Alvin and the Chipmunks, which was highly amusing.

Having listened to this album hundreds of times in standard CD or streaming quality, it was beautifully refreshing to hear it sound so much clearer and smoother – the music felt as though it was a light mist surrounding me completely. Overall, The Rega Planar 1 is a great turntable for those who aren’t looking to spend too much, but still want a record player that offers a high quality of sound. Especially when you consider that this is handmade in the UK, you get a lot of bang for your buck!

Rega Planar 2

On this occasion, I managed to set up the Rega Planar 2 alone; once again it was fairly simple, ensuring the cables are in the right place, using the same amp and speakers.

To offer the fairest comparison, I started the record from the beginning, listening extra carefully for any changes. Admittedly, I didn’t instantly appreciate the differences…

At a first glance, the Planar 1 and 2 look incredibly similar. If it wasn’t for the difference in the P1’s matte finish to the P2’s gloss finish, you would be forgiven for thinking they were the same product. But on closer inspection you’ll see there is much more to separate these two models…

So what’s the difference in the Planar models?

The Plinth

Let’s start with the plinth. This is the main platform (or deck) on which the turntable is built. These plinths are designed to be rigid to prevent unwanted resonance or vibrations being transferred from the motor, which can have a negative affect the music and even be heard through your loudspeakers.

Whilst they may look the same with the exception of their finishes, the Planar 1 plinth is made from a composite material and covered with a really hard resin material called thermoset laminate. The Planar 2 plinth is an MDF core coated in a high-gloss acrylic laminate. I’m sure there is some sort of reason behind this, but it has been decided by greater minds than my own.

Both Planar models use the same, low noise, 24v motor, but there is more to these two models.

The Platter

The platter is that spinning circular disc that you sit your records on. Whilst different manufacturers use varying designs and materials for their platters, they are important as they are crucial for consistent speed and good musical reproduction.

The platter needs to weigh enough to deliver a constant rotational speed but must not be so heavy that it will put the drive motor under unnecessary strain or potentially stretch the drive belt on start up.

The Planar 1 uses a resin platter that is heavier on the outside edge to help it run consistently The Planar 2 uses an extremely high quality 10mm float glass platter that not only performs better, but looks great too. Both come with a felt mat which sits on top of the platter to improve grip.

Tonearm

If, like me, you’re new to Hi-Fi, you probably thought that all tonearms were the same… Oh how wrong I was! The tonearm is a seriously important part of the turntable.

The RB110 on the Planar 1, uses a single piece aluminium tube with a rigid headshell. It’s a proper “plug and play” design.

The Planar 2 uses the upgraded RB220 arm. It is more adjustable which means you can use a wide range of cartridges other than the Rega Carbon that is fitted as standard.

If I’m being completely honest, unless you are a hardcore Hi-Fi enthusiast, you probably wouldn’t know what advantages the upgraded components give. However, there is definitely an improvement to the sound and detail you get from your records. I noticed this particularly during “Say You’ll Be There”, where there was an extra set of percussion during Mel B’s verse – the Rega Planar 2 made the presence of this particular sound very evident where I hadn’t heard it on the Planar 1 or Primary E. I do recommend playing an album that is familiar to you so that you can listen out for tiny details you wouldn’t normally hear. As for my experience, overall I did notice the quality improvement – the music sounded that little bit smoother, that little bit tighter, that little bit more prominent. I think it’s safe to say that the price difference is warranted in the improvement of sound.

The final thoughts…

To conclude. After careful comparison and analysis, I found that, whilst the Project Primary E Phono turntable gave an impressive performance for its price, there is a marked improvement in moving over to the Planar 1 or better still, the Planar 2. There is a noticeable improvement in quality when you switch over to the British made Rega turntables.

But why take my word for it? Why not book a demonstration today at your local store.

Thanks for reading.

Elena, Jason & John - Audio T Enfield

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at Audio T by following us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Rega can be found at the following Audio-T stores

Project can be found at the following Audio-T stores