We have just taken in a second hand pair of PMC FB1i in Black. We do not have the boxes so they can not be shipped. They have some cosmetic scuffs, the worst is on one of the plinths as seen pictured below.
The FB1i's sold for £2700 at the end of their life. We are selling these at the bargain price of £999.
We are having a Chord Company event on the 6th September from 11 - 6pm.
The emphasis will be on the new upgrade cables that Chord do to replace the Naim Snaic 4 and 5 leads (pre to power), and their ethernet range.
There will be demonstrations of the sound improvements that these cables can make, so anyone who is interested in a relatively inexpensive upgrade to their Naim system, or streamer, should pop along for a listen.
We will be using our Naim NDX, NAC202, Hicap DR and NAP200 system through a pair of PMC Twenty24 speakers.
The cables we will be demonstrating are the Chord Chorus and Signature Tuned Aray as replacements for the Naim Snaic 4 and 5. Plus Chord Ethernet cables from the £40 C-stream upwards.
We hope to see you all there.
We have recently taken in the Denon DCD520 AE and the accompanying integrated amplifier the PMA 520 AE at £179 each.
For the initial test we put the Denon system with Q Acoustics 2020i £169.95 (non gloss) speakers. We linked the amp and CD player with Audioquest Evergreen 2RCA -2RCA (£30) and Chord Leyline (£2.60 per meter) to the speakers. We used "Don't say a word" by Phantom limb as the test track
Looks and feel wise they have have a very pleasing traditional appearance the PMA520 especially, not to mention the surprising weight of the amp. The draw action is solid and smooth on the CD player and the input selection on the amp has a very definite and pleasing feel.
The DCD-520AE has a built in 32bit/192khz DAC and the amp boasts 70 watts per channel. Making this a statistically formidable system at the price. We could not have been more impressed when we heard how full bodied yet controlled Yolander Quarteys powerful vocals came through. adding that to the separation of the backing instrumental gave impression of a much higher spec'ed system.
Out of curiosity we swapped the speaker cable for Chord Rumour at £15.00 a meter and where not disappointed, going to show that even inexpensive systems can still be improved with higher end cable allowing you draw every last ounce out of a system.
We where very impressed and surprised with what a £470 system sounded like (minus speaker cable) The Denon system we think could do even more allowing for system expansion should one wish. Our over all opinion is that this is a fantastic system that can suit a rage of enthusiasts from students looking to keep their room mates up, to any one looking to unwind after a hard day.
Exciting news, REL have released the new "S" series of subwoofers to replace the "R" series and we have the S3 and S5 on demo now.
The S2 replaces the R218, the S3 replaces the R328 and the S5 replaces the R528. However, REL have increased the price to £999, £1299 and £1599 respectively, so are they worth the serious hike in price?
The new "S" series can be made wireless, like the Habitat model, with REL's fancy Longbow tech which has zero compresion and almost instant transfer of data. However, if you are like us you don't mind hiding the wire are you paying the extra money for that? In a word no.
The new models are definately sexier looking than the "R" range (if a subwoofer can be sexy!) The old "R" range were always our favourite subs, after a quick listen to the new S5 it sounds tighter and faster than the old R528, definately better with music. With home cinema it sounds a little restrained at the moment, but the sub still needs running in. We will report back when the unit has had 20 hours or so of running.
Roll up, roll up, get your bargain pre-loved (second hand) Naim 'ere!
The first unmissable bargain is a Naim CD5XS serial number 301855 (2010) for £1299. Not only is this an excellent CD player in it's own right, but is upgradable with a Naim Flatcap or Hicap. Also it features a digital output so it can be further upgraded using a top quality DAC.
Second bargain is a Naim Nait XS serial number 284520 (2009) for £999. The Nait XS is very fine integrated amplifier upgradable with a Naim Flatcap or Hicap.
For the eagle eyed customer please do not be confused by the "Nait XS2" badge on the box. This is one of the later Nait XS's which had the box labelled as Nait XS2 but it is not the current spec.
Finally we have two Naim Flatcap XS serial numbers 324768 (2012) and 276809 (2009) both going for £499. For all non Naim 'o' files, these are external power supplies to upgrade various other Naim products, including the two products listed above. Unlike any of the other Naim Power Supplies, these flexible beauties can provide an upgrade for two products at once! For example, a CD player and a Pre-amp, making them excellent value for money.
If you're considering passing on the bargains listed above and buying new Naim kit, please remember, Naim put their prices up on the 1st April!
Ruark's new R7 is a retro styled hi-fi system with many modern features that you expect to find on a current product. Apart from the usual cd player and radio it also incorporates wireless streaming, so you can play downloaded music available on you home network.
The great styling aside, the R7 is a fantastic sounding piece of hi-fi, capable of filling a decent sized room with clean, detailed sound and plenty of bass weight.
You can easily remove the legs and place the R7 on a piece of furniture if you prefer.
The R7 is available for immediate demonstration in store so please come and have a listen.
The stunning Sony 4K TV is now running in our demo room with 4K clips, so you can get a taste of what your next TV will look like! At four times the resolution of normal High Definition it really is "like looking through a window". It's remarkably afordable at £3299 for a 55", considering it wasn't that long ago we were selling 42" plasmas for £7000!
A little while ago I wrote a blog on the fantastic new Arcam AVR750, now I'm following up with the smaller brother, the new AVR450. The AVR450 is £2200 which makes it far more attainable than the 750, and yet it still retains most of the features.
I chose to use the excellent Arcam BDP300 blu ray player with the AVR450 when I listened to them. With Arcam offering a £400 trade in on the BDP300 until 30th November 2013 it seemed the perfect time to see how good £2800 of home cinema electronics can be.
So how good are they? Stunningly good is the answer. Most people that buy Arcam home cinema equipment do so because the stereo sound for music is great. This combination is remarkably good with music. I listened to two different premium brand stereo hi-fi systems as a comparison, and the Arcam combo more than held its own, which for home cinema electronics is a hugely impressive acheivement. The Arcam sounded dynamic, detailed, and musical with everything I threw at it.
Home cinema was also handled brilliantly, as you might expect. Picture was pin sharp and vibrant, the sound was powerful and dynamic whilst still retaining the subtlety. My only concern is that the AVR450 is a little too good! It comes pretty close to the performance of the £4000 AVR750 for a lot less money. So if you are in the market for some top quality home cinema electronics I would definately recommend giving the Arcam combo a listen.
The M-CR610 is the latest all in one system from Marantz. Modern looks and a great sound make this Micro system a formidable opponent for any other compact Hi-Fi system.
Like its predecessor it offers CD playback DAB/FM radio, internet radio and networking. You can also plug an ipod into the USB socket on the front. In addition, this new model offers wireless internet connectivity and Spotify.
Marantz have an ipod/ipad app that allows you to control the unit. The app is obviously made for the ipod and works reasonably slickly, although a dedicated iPad app would be nice.
We have high hopes for Arcams new integrated recievers and the AVR750 is the first one we have had a chance to play with. At £4000 it needs to be good as there are plenty of good home cinema amps on the market for less money.
First impressions are good, the unit feels solidly built with the usual Arcam FMJ case, and the list of specifications is appropriately lengthy. The only slightly disappointing part is the remote which feels light weight and a bit insubstantial for such a quality product.
We rigged the AVR750 up to our favourite PMC speaker package. The menus and remote are slick, and quicker to react than the previous recievers. The auto set up with the microphone provided is as good as any, however I still believe that a better result can be achieved on most occasions if you spend a bit of time and do it manually.
After putting the AVR750 through it's paces for an hour I can honestly say it is one of the best, if not the best, home cinema amplifier I have ever heard. It sounded effortlessly powerful and dynamic with an action movie, but also retained subtlety, detail and musicality, not an easy combination to achieve with an integrated home cinema amplifier.
Upgraded mains cables have always seemed like a bit of Hi-Fi voodoo, and when they look like a standard mains cable given free with all products, one can not help but be sceptical. When we were first shown the thin, black, Chord C Power with it's molded plugs we thought it was a joke. However, after a fair amount of encouragement and explanation about the product we gave it a try, and had to admit that Chord have produced yet another excellent product.
The C-Power is manufactuered in the UK by a company that specialises in military grade cables which is why it is no frills. We tried it with a Rega Apollo CD Player, Arcam A19 amp, and KEF LS50 speakers and the difference with the C-Power just plugged into the CD Player was immediate, and very positive, giving the system a more open, detailed and cleaner sounding presentation.
There are not many worth while system upgrades you can do for £50, but if you have a little spare cash and want to make an improvement to your system give the C-Power a listen.
After the demise of the KEF KHT 2005 and 3005 the new KEF E305 is not only a good replacement but an improvement. Matched with the Yamaha RXV 673 and Sony BDPS 790 it gives a dynamic sound without forgoing control. We tested the system with the Mines of Moria scene from "The fellowship of the ring", with out the need to crank the volume up to get the right effect the Yamaha gave the speakers plenty to do offering great detail and an enthralling, exciting sound stage.
Musically Antonio Forcione sounded surprisingly good. Well detailed and rhythmic.
The build quality and design of the E305 is what one would expect from KEF. Very stylish in the flesh, the pictures don't do it justice, and the package has a good solid feel of quality and good engineering.
For a sub £900 speaker package the KEF E305 is at the very least a must listen if not a must have.
REL Acoustics Ltd., and Audio T Portsmouth are proud to announce an Open Day Event on Thursday 16th of May.
A representative from REL Acoustics Ltd. the UK's premier manufacturer of Subwoofers and Sub-Bass Systems will be on hand to demonstrate the astounding Gibraltar G-2, and two new subwoofers. the R-528SE and on-wall Habitat 1.
Demonstrations will illustrate what a REL Sub-Bass System can add to your loudspeaker system in terms of low frequency extension, dynamic range and soundstage enhancement. We will have three setups, a quality 2-channel Hi-Fi system, a Streaming music system & a full blown 3D Home Cinema system with HD sound.
We will also go through the correct set-up to show you how to get the best from a REL subwoofer.
Come along and meet the teams and hear how adding a subwoofer can enhance the sound quality of your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system.
Please contact Audio T Portsmouth to reserve a space!
Full product details and specs are available on the REL website http://rel.net
The new momentum headphones by Sennheiser offer a warm easy to listen and enjoyable sound with no overblown bass to make up for loss of accurate mid and treble.
The Momentum's are a small, comfortable circum oral design for portability, yet there is no compromise in sound quality so they are ideal for listening at home through something that gives better sonic performance making them great all-round headphones at a reasonable price of around £260.
In comparison to the B&W P5's, a highly regarded headphone at a similar price, the Momentum's offer a great alternative in looks and sound.
They have already been reviewed and highly praised in What Hi-Fi http://www.whathifi.com/review/momentum
The new Zipp, Live and Lounge from Libratone offer amazing quality sound with a great new look.
The new Libratone range are simple to set up and make steaming from your itouch iphone or ipad simple and enjoyable, also with designs allowing you to change the look of the product to your own taste.
The Zipp is the first and most compact of the range and offers a truly staggering sound despite its size. A rechargeable battery with eight hours of life and the ability to stream directly from from your i product means you can take this unit anywhere as well as it being mains powered. A hugly versitile unit indeed.
The second in the range is the Live, offering a bigger and more detailed sound. Although this unit has no reachable battery it does have a handle at the back to allow for easy portability around the home. Despite it's pyramid esc shape, for the best sound it works far more effectively nearer a flat wall as opposed to being in a corner.
The biggest, by some way and final unit in the range is the Lounge. As the name suggests its primary function is to remain situated in one room. With the ability to run a line in from a TV and of course the ability to stream music to the product the Lounge makes a fantastic all in one addition to any sitting room. As one would expect, it dramatically improves the sound of any TV and for music, play back should be heard to be believed.
All in all Libratones new range offer something new in both sound and image, well worth a demonstration in store.
We now have the fabulous Focal Spirit One headphones in stock and available to demonstrate.
Let us introduce you to Anthem AV amps. Home cinema amplifiers from Canada that concentrate on the main reason for having an AV amp, top quality movie sound tracks.
They may be missing some of the periphery functions of their Japanese countparts but when it comes to sound quality they are the best we have heard by far.
They have all the important features like several HDMI inputs and upscaling, Dolby and DTS HD sound processing, and some of the best room correction processing on the market.
The entry level Anthem MRX-300 (£1099) has 80 watts per channel but sounds more gutsy than amps with a claimed wattage twice that. The MRX-700 (£2099) has 120 watts per channel and if you want more power output they have a range of power amps that can be added to give huge power.
The first thing that strikes you as you unbox the Onkyo 818 is how big it is, but the front is clean and rather smart compared to other AV receivers. The remote is typically full of buttons, but the few buttons you are likely to use are in intuitive places and labelled logically. The amp is furnished with every feature you are likely to expect at this price point although you do need an optional dongle to connect to the internet wirelessly. A decent quick start guide is provided and the rest of the manual in on a disc.
Once you have connected all the speakers you can start the auto set-up process. The set-up process is one of things that they have improved over the older model. It attempts to guide you through the set-up with better explanations and pictures, and it is a lot better than than previous models, but it still isn't perfect. There are areas where a little more information would be useful.
The sound from the 818 is excellent in both home cinema and stereo, detailed and open, but not fatiguing. We used the KEF Q700 as the front speakers and were impressed with the overall performance. One thing we weren't so impressed with is the Onkyo remote app, which is awkward to set-up and use, but the internet features are reasonably easy to use when viewed through the TV if a little sluggish to react to commands.
Conclusion: Great sound and features with only a couple of minor gripes.
The KEF LS50's are here! KEF have decided to release this very special bookshelf speaker to celebrate their 50th anniversary year, and they are fantastic for £800 a pair. On a top quality pair of stands they are one of the best speakers available at the price.
The new orange limited edition Ruark R1 has to be one of the coolest looking radios we have ever seen! There is only going to be 500 made and even better, £15 of every radio sold goes to the music charity Nordoff Robbins. Go on, treat yourself!
At Audio T we're always excited to share with you our thoughts and musings on the latest and greatest Hi-Fi and home audio! Our blog features news and reviews from individual stores and occasional blogs from HQ; select your nearest store from the list below to find out what they've been up to.
