ARCAM'S FLAGSHIP STREAMER; THE ST25

This month, Audio T Swindon explores the latest network streamer from Arcam

A brief history of Arcam

Established in 1976, Arcam is a British manufacturer of hi-fi equipment based in Cambridgeshire. Like many renowned British hi-fi brands, its roots trace back to Cambridge University, where John Dawson and Chris Evans founded the company. Today, Arcam is part of the Harman group, alongside American speaker manufacturer JBL.

Arcam has a history of innovation, producing standout products such as a standalone NICAM tuner and the only British cassette deck to feature Dolby S.

As a personal note, my first ‘proper’ hi-fi system included an Arcam amplifier and CD player—a setup that still brings back fond memories.

The Arcam ST25 streamer

Arcam has recently unveiled its new flagship streamer, the ST25. Designed to complement the rest of the current Radia range, its soft curves and contemporary colours give it an understated elegance.

A standout feature is the front panel, which conceals a large 6.5” high-resolution display. This impressive screen provides clear playback information and vibrant artwork, remaining easy to read even from across the room.

Under the hood, the ST25 is equipped with a linear toroidal power supply—powering everything except the standby circuit—to deliver a lower noise floor. Six-layer circuit boards with a ground plane help shield sensitive components from interference, while the latest ESS Hyperstream IV DAC topology handles digital and streaming duties with precision.

The ST25 introduces an entirely new streaming platform, user interface, and app, marking a significant leap forward for Arcam. The app, in particular, has seen remarkable improvements since its initial launch, reflecting Arcam's commitment to an intuitive and user-friendly experience. The interface is clean, simple, and easy to navigate.

A remote control is also included for added convenience.

ARCAM ST25 in AUDIO T SWINDON

Features

Screenshot of the app

The ST25 offers an impressive range of supported features, ensuring compatibility with various streaming and connectivity options. These include Airplay, Google Cast, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, allowing you to access music effortlessly from a range of platforms. The device also supports Internet Radio, UPNP for seamless network streaming, and includes both USB input and optical and coaxial outputs for versatile connectivity. Plus, with Roon Ready integration, the ST25 ensures an exceptional, high-quality experience for audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

REAR OF THE ARCAM ST25 in AUDIO T SWINDON

ALL SET-UP AND READY TO GO

Sound Quality

I’ve been selling Arcam products for around 35 years, and if I were to describe Arcam’s signature sound, it would be warm and unfatiguing. The ST25 continues in this vein, offering a warm and inviting presentation while remaining capable of revealing the differences with higher-definition streams.

When playing Children’s Corner by Debussy, the treble is open yet never harsh, even on a piece that can sometimes come across as splashy or hard.

Playback in Qobuz Via the app

Moving on to The Wall by Pink Floyd, the bass is solid and authoritative. The vocals are superb, with the Arcam particularly excelling in the midrange—a hallmark of its performance.

Conclusion

As part of an Arcam system—or indeed any quality separates setup—the ST25 is more than worthy of an audition.

Its warm presentation is particularly suited to those who appreciate the human voice, whether male or female, and it remains entirely non-fatiguing throughout extended listening sessions.

The front panel display is a visual highlight and is, without question, the best I’ve encountered.

If you would like to arrange a demonstration, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you for reading:

Jon & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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Arcam is available in the following stores:

• CHELTENHAM

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWINDON

FIRST LOOK AT THE RUARK R610 MUSIC CONSOLE AND RUARK SABRE-R LOUDSPEAKERS

For those of us with long memories Ruark Audio was originally a manufacturer of high quality loudspeakers; indeed I fondly remember my first ‘proper’ sale (back when I first joined Audio T), which included a pair of the original Ruark Sabre as part of the customer’s system. Ruark then moved into the manufacturing of high quality radios, followed by stylish all-in-one systems. They have now gone full circle with the release of the brand new Sabre-R loudspeakers, designed to partner the all new R610 Music Console.

Ruark R610 and Ruark Sabre-r’s

Ruark R610

Instantly recognisable as a Ruark product, the design features elegant mid-century cues and those signature wooden slats, also found on the R1 MK4, R2 MK4, R410 and the flagship R810. The build quality is exceptional, with top-notch materials that exude a real sense of craftsmanship. Its modest dimensions make it easy to accommodate in various spaces.

The product is available in two stunning finishes: satin charcoal and fused walnut. Control is effortless thanks to the intuitive Roto Dial on the top panel, complemented by a matching Roto Dial remote control. Both are beautifully made, tactile, and a pleasure to use. A large, full-colour display adds to the experience by providing clear information and artwork. Power is delivered via 2 x 75 watts of Class D amplification.

RUARK R610 Music console

Connectivity is a standout feature of the R610, offering Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth, DAB, FM, and Internet radio. It’s also compatible with UPnP music servers. Physical connections include a moving magnet turntable input, HDMI with eARC, and a USB port for the matching R-CD100 CD player. While there is no dedicated app, the system can be easily controlled via your mobile device.

Ruark Sabre-R

Ruark SABRE-R

Similar in size to the original Sabres, these speakers are impeccably finished and feature wooden strips that perfectly complement the style of the R610. It's a thoughtful design touch that integrates beautifully. These two-way speakers boast an 86dB sensitivity and a 6-ohm nominal impedance, with a frequency range of 50Hz–20kHz (+/- 3dB) in free space conditions.

Included in the package is surprisingly high-quality speaker cable—far from the budget cable you might expect to find bundled in.

While all components are available separately, it’s likely these products will often be purchased as a set. They’ve been carefully voiced to work together as a system, delivering a cohesive and harmonious performance.

So, how do they sound?

Listening to Shelby Lynne’s “Just A Little Lovin’,” the presentation is warm and non-fatiguing - a laid-back delivery that remains thoroughly engaging. Switching to “Ballad of the Runaway Horse” by Rob Wasserman and Jennifer Warnes (my go-to setup track), the system showcases excellent midrange clarity and an open treble. Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” reveals just how far speaker technology has come during my 35 years in the industry, delivering lovely, tuneful bass. The bass extension is particularly impressive, defying the compact dimensions of the speakers.

In Conclusion

At £1,899* for the system (plus £249* for the optional CD player), this package represents something of a Hi-Fi bargain. With extensive connectivity, exemplary build quality, and superb sound, it’s a standout offering.

If you’d like to experience it for yourself, please get in touch.

Thank you for reading:

Jon & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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Ruark Audio can be found at the following Audio T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• ONLINE STORE

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

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*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

ROTEL AII AND CD11 MK2: Rotel’s latest amplifier and CD player

Introducing the A11 and CD11 MKII at Audio T Swindon

As many of you may know, Rotel is a respected Japanese Hi-Fi brand with a remarkable history spanning nearly seventy years, and it's still family-owned to this day.

Their latest MkII versions of the amplifier and CD player build upon the success of the previous Tribute series—a tough act to follow, given the Tribute models’ strong reputation. Rather than a complete overhaul, Rotel opted for an evolutionary approach, refining and enhancing the original design—a wise choice that retains the qualities that made the Tribute series so popular while adding thoughtful improvements.

A11 MK2 amplifier

In updating this amplifier, Rotel has chosen to add a Texas Instruments 32-bit, 384 kHz DAC—the same high-quality DAC featured in the CD11 MKII. This choice reflects their commitment to providing excellent digital performance. Unlike the previous Tribute model, which lacked a DAC but offered two pairs of speaker outputs, the A11 MKII includes only one pair of outputs. Personally, I find the addition of a DAC far more valuable than the ability to run dual speaker sets.

Inside the beast (photo credit: rotel)

The Rotel A11 MKII offers coaxial and optical inputs, but if digital functionality isn't essential, the A10 MKII is identical in all other respects and saves you £150. The A11 MKII includes a high-quality moving magnet phono input, analogue and Bluetooth connectivity, and a front-panel 3.5mm headphone jack. The metal casing, offered in silver or black, features all-metal rotary controls, with a volume knob that has a nicely weighted feel—adding to its premium impression. With 50 watts per channel, it easily drives most compatible speakers.

Rotel CD11 and A11 MKII at Audio T Swindon

CD11 MK2

Over thirty years ago, during my early days at Audio T (when I still had hair!), we took-on Rotel's first CD player, the multi-bit RCD 855, soon followed by the highly popular Bitstream RCD 865. Rotel quickly established itself as a leading name in CD playback, and it’s reassuring to see their continued support for this format. This model, as mentioned, shares the same TI chip as the matching amplifier and features a proprietary Rotel transport, with a digital stage that improves upon its Tribute predecessor. Naturally, the same high-quality build is maintained throughout.

As a system:

We paired the system with a set of Dali Oberon 5 speakers and played our go-to test track, Ballad of the Runaway Horse by Rob Wasserman and Jennifer Warnes. If you’re not already using this track for setup, it’s worth considering: it helps position Jennifer’s voice precisely in height and width, while also assessing bass control—a valuable tool for fine-tuning. The result was a spacious, well-defined soundstage with an authentic performance feel. It was musical, detailed, and truly enjoyable. Switching to the Hi-Fi show favourite Hey Now by London Grammar, the system handled the notoriously challenging bass with control, delivering a warm high-end and a balanced, mellifluous presentation overall.

Conclusion.

These units offer outstanding value for money, providing ample power for real-world listening environments. They deliver a sound that’s impressively detailed yet easy on the ears, ensuring an enjoyable and non-fatiguing experience over extended listening sessions. Built to an exceptional standard, they’re as robust as they are elegantly designed, with controls that feel precise and intuitive—making them a pleasure to use.

For those who appreciate a traditional setup, there’s also a matching tuner, the T11, a rare find in today’s market, which seamlessly complements the system.

If you’d like to experience these for yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out and book a listening session.

Thank you for reading.

Jon and Andy - Audio T Swindon

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Rotel products are available at the following stores:

• BRIGHTON

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

Valve-Driven Streaming: The Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes Review

Over the last couple of weeks we have been stunned by some of the sound qualities coming out of the Advance Paris catalogue. Today, we are reviewing a network streamer in quite a competitive market within the £500 price bracket. With the likes of Bluesound, WiiM or Sonos, amongst others, all fighting for a similar spot…

Whilst many of the functionalities overlap, each streamer has their own unique characteristics and we feel the WTX StreamTubes has a couple of fun tricks up its sleeves. What really sets it apart immediately is its unique implementation of valve technology. In a sea of digital components, this little detail adds a touch of analogue warmth and musicality that’s often missing from other streamers, which often rely purely on solid-state components.

WTX-StreamTubes key features:

The streamer supports a variety of high-resolution formats, including FLAC, WAV, and AAC, amongst others, ensuring that it can handle most demanding digital audio files with ease. It allows for Wifi and Ethernet connections, as well as Bluetooth aptX HD, with the latter requiring the purchase of the optional X-FT Bluetooth receiver.

The WTX-StreamTubes is also equipped with a USB port, allowing for direct playback from external drives, and it integrates smoothly with popular streaming services like Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Apple Music, Apple Airplay and TuneIn, amongst many others. Its UPnP compatibility means it can easily slot into an existing home network, allowing you to stream from a NAS or other DLNA-compliant devices without a problem.

Finally, the design feels very solid. Despite it's very small size, it feels well built. The valves are illuminated upon powering up on the front panel, with only a power button plus a source switch between Bluetooth and WiFi streaming. The inclusion of both analogue and digital outputs ensures that it can be paired with a wide range of audio systems, giving you the flexibility to bypass the DAC.

Upon warming up the valves…

When it comes to sound quality, the valves are what make the difference compared to the competition. The implementation of 5703 subminiature valves in the output stage delivers a sound that is both smooth and engaging, with a natural warmth that complements a wide range of musical genres. Whether you're streaming classical, jazz, or modern electronic tracks, this WTX translates the sound with a sense of depth and richness that solid-state streamers sometimes can’t replicate.

The tonality is well-balanced, with a slightly pronounced midrange that brings vocals and instruments to life without overshadowing the other frequencies. The bass is tight and controlled, offering enough punch to satisfy most listeners, while the treble is detailed but not harsh, maintaining a smoothness that is easy on the ears even during extended listening sessions. It’s worth mentioning that the unit needs good running in, as it did not sound this neat right out of the box, so a little patience is needed for the components to really click, with the bass tightening up after several listening sessions.

This streamer also has a nice way of handling dynamics. Quiet passages are rendered with delicacy, while louder sections are delivered with a good sense of authority. The soundstage is impressively wide for a streamer in this price range, creating an immersive listening experience that allows you to pinpoint the placement of instruments and voices within the mix. Overall it is a sound that prioritises the emotion and engaging aspects of music over analytical precision.

User Interface

With the sound quality being on par, if not better in some aspects, compared with the top rated streamers in this range, it is equally important to discuss the user interface and the functionality and intuitiveness of the app.

The Advance PlayStream app, available for both iOS and Android, utilises the same interface as WiiM Home, so those familiar with the layout will have no trouble navigating around it. In fact, the StreamTubes can be controlled with the WiiM App without any noticeable drawbacks.

As you can see above, the Advanced PlayStream interface is clean and easy to navigate, whereas some third party control apps don’t have this intuitive and appealing layout.

Advance Paris Vs…

In comparison to its rivals, the Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes carves out a unique niche. The Bluesound Node, for instance, is widely praised for its excellent DAC and robust ecosystem, but it lacks the distinctive warmth provided by the WTX-StreamTubes’ valve output stage. The Bluesound Node might offer a more clinical, accurate sound, which some might prefer, but for those who enjoy a touch of analogue warmth, the WTX-StreamTubes holds a clear advantage.

When compared to the WiiM Ultra or Pro+, the WTX-StreamTubes offers a more refined listening experience. While the WiiM models are excellent for those who want a straightforward, no-frills streamer with decent support and wide format compatibility, they don’t quite match the musicality and tonal richness of the WTX-StreamTubes. The WiiM Pro+ does offer a great value proposition with its extensive feature set, whereas the WTX-StreamTubes feels like a musical instrument in its own right.

In conclusion, the Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes is a standout option in the crowded £500 streamer market, especially for those who value sound quality and a touch of audiophile nostalgia. Its use of valve technology offers a unique, warm, and rich sound that is rare to find in streamers at this price point. It delivers an engaging and musical performance that is sure to please those who prioritise audio quality above all else.

More information on the WTX-StreamTubes found here.

As always, we recommend you hear the difference for yourself. Contact your nearest Audio T to book a demonstration.

Thanks for reading.

Dan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

Advance Paris can be found at the following Audio T stores:

• BRISTOL

• BRIGHTON

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

PMC Prodigy Series – Twins In Their Promise.

Who are PMC?

PMC’s own story begins in the early years of the 90s with the unwavering aim of providing a very high standard of engineering present in all their products and, in turn, matching this aspect with a true and faithful reproduction of music in both personal and commercial applications.

PMC’s reputation as a noteworthy manufacture of loudspeakers has been fairly and justifiably won, as any of the numerous testaments, awards and appraisals that are available to view and read on their website will confirm.

Further to this, PMC provide a chronological history of notable dates and events in the company’s journey for the interested spectator to view at their leisure, here.

To list the extent of this validation in its entirety in this blog would be slightly superfluous and detract from its primary focus, which concerns the 2023 release and launch of the Prodigy range of bookshelf and floorstanding speakers; a range that PMC offer with the aim of them fulfilling the role of an entry point into the brand for customers, whilst retaining the sonic characteristics and integrity that the company is built upon.

Brother Against Brother – One Sound Versus Another.

PMC have maintained and continued with the two design principles synonymous with their name in the development and construction of the Prodigy series, principles which are featured in all of their product ranges, both consumer and professional.

The principles are their ATL (Advanced Transmission Line) loudspeaker enclosure and the use of Laminair flow, a concept visible on the front ports, which controls any variations in airflow outputted in the form of turbulence, which ultimately affects the clarity and precision of the lower frequency range by adding unwanted noises.

It should also be noted that the same tweeter that is used in the studio range of Result 6 monitor speakers is present in the Prodigy range, to further ensure the same sonic characteristics are replicated.

Anything You Can Do - I Can Do Greater… Then Please Demonstrate.

Both the Prodigy 1 and Prodigy 5 have an authenticity and straightforward approach to any genre of music played through them, an aspect that I am particularly glad to see carried over when listening to classical pieces/recordings, as many speakers have a tendency to not be very kind to older, more historic recordings by displaying and drawing attention to the inherent flaws.

The increased enclosure size of the Prodigy 5 lends them well to electronic tracks with the depth and timing of the low frequencies being handled and controlled accurately. This is not a slight on the Prodigy 1 in their presentation of electronic tracks, more the fact that the Prodigy 5 naturally and physically benefit from the increased cabinet size when being asked to cope with heavier dynamics.

Driven with the power of Rega’s Aethos amplifier, the Prodigy 1 deliver a sound more powerful and robust than their dimensions would suggest on paper.

This confident presentation of low to midrange performance, coupled with a clear delivery of high frequency information that is neither too harsh nor too abrasive, (with much thanks in part to the tweeters that are used in higher product lines as mentioned previously), makes both of the options in the Prodigy series worthy contenders to take note of when considering which speakers to choose in your home set up.

Closing Thoughts - Sibling Rivalry Averted.

The Prodigy series are a set of very accomplished loudspeakers; competent and faithful in carrying out their design aims; both are available in a silk matt black finish, so take care of those stray fingerprints.

If this account of their performance has piqued your interest, then give us a call at Audio T Swindon and book a dem to hear how your choices of music are handled by PMC’s latest offering.

Thanks for reading

Josh & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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PMC can be found at the following Audio T stores

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWINDON

The Pro-Ject Colourful Audio System - Vinyl and music streaming at home

What is the Pro-Ject Colourful Audio System? It is a music system put together by Vinyl specialist Pro-Ject Audio, a company from Austria, renowned for high quality Hi-fi equipment. The idea is a complete music system that doesn’t take up much room, is easy to set-up and most importantly, a system that sounds great. We have sold Pro-Ject equipment for a long time and we can’t wait to hear what it can do.

The Pro-Ject Colourful Audio System comes in five hand painted satin finishes, black, fir green, golden yellow, steel blue, and white plus a real wood veneer. The Speaker Box 5 S2 and Debut Carbon Evo are bundled in the same finish, the Maia S3 amplifier comes in a black finish.

The Pro-ject Colourful Audio System in Steel Blue

What’s in the box?

The Turntable - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo

The turntable is the award winning Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo. It comes fitted with a Carbon Fibre tonearm, rarely found on turntables below £500, a factory fitted and aligned Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, a new motor suspension, a heavy steel platter and all of it mounted to a very solid plinth with high adjustable dampening feet - This is a high spec turntable.

A switch underneath the plinth allows speed change from 33 rpm to 45 rpm and with an extra belt supplied, it will play 78rpm records, as well.

The Amplifier - Pro-Ject Maia S3

The Maia S3 is the heart of the system and it offers up to 40 Watts per channel. There are three analogue and three digital inputs, the latter very handy to connect a tv or set-top box or any device that has an optical or coaxial output. If you want to stream your music from your mobile phone, tablet or pc you can simply connect to the high definition AptX HD capable Bluetooth 5.0 input with a sound quality up to 24-bit & 48kHz which is better than standard CD quality. A pair of headphones connect to the front headphone socket.

The Loudspeakers - Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2

The Speaker Box5 S2 are a perfect partner for the Maia S3 amplifier and we would say, they are the surprise in this system. They are easy to drive and with a 25 mm silk dome tweeter that delivers crystal clear highs and a 130 mm fibreglass bass/mid driver, this speaker gives full-bodied and lush mids as well as punchy and tight bass. A set of grills are supplied in the box.

Included Accessories

The Colourful Audio System comes with all accessories you need. Included is a three metre pair of speaker cables with fitted gold plated plugs, a 7” single adapter, an extra belt for playing 78 rpm records, power supply, a dust cover, turntable interconnect, 6 absorber feet to reduce vibrations if the speakers are on the same surface as the turntable and a set-up guide for the turntable.

Accessrories included with the Colourful Audio System

Sound Quality

The system is set up and the first record we play is Morning Phase from Beck. We have listened to this album many times and because it is so nicely recorded we couldn’t resist playing it again. This a very relaxing sounding album and this system made us feel exactly that - We feel chilled and happy. It is fantastic how good music makes you feel when it’s well recorded and played on a great sounding system.

Then we choose to play a track called Human from Sevdaliza. We stream it from Tidal Hi-fi, a high quality music streaming service and play it via Bluetooth to the Maia S3 amplifier. I picked up this track during an install from a customer’s play list, and this is a great system tester for bass to check what the system is capable of. It sounds crisp, punchy and powerful, incredible for such a small speaker. We can’t get enough of this.

Our verdict is - You like it ? Go for it. The Pro-Ject Colourful Audio System looks and sounds fantastic and it is fun to use. Please come in for a listen in one of our demonstration rooms and feel free to bring some of your own records.

Thanks for reading

Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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Pro-Ject products can be found in the following Audio-T stores

• Bristol

• Brighton

• Cardiff

• Cheltenham

• Enfield

• Manchester

• Online Store

• Oxford

• Portsmouth

• Reading

• Southampton

• Swansea

• Swindon

High Quality Loudspeakers from Italy - Sonus Faber - Sonetto Range

On the subject of this month’s blog, we would like to discuss the very popular Sonetto range from Sonus Faber, designed and handcrafted in Italy. They're physically beautiful, compact, easy to set up and place and, most importantly, they sound fantastic. Anyone looking for speakers in this price range, for whom looks, size and sound quality are important, should check them out.

There are eight different models in the Sonetto range - two pairs of stand mounts and three pairs of floor standing speakers, two centre channels and a pair of on-wall speakers. All of them are available in walnut, wenge, white and gloss black.

Sonetto 1 & 2 - Compact but elegant

The Sonetto 1 & the Sonetto 2 are the entry-level stand-mounted speakers within the Sonetto range. Designed to be both compact and elegant at the same time, they offer a very refined and detailed sound. The speakers are front ported, which allows close-to-the-wall room placement, making them perfect for those who lack space.

Sonetto 3 & 5 - Sublime design and engineering

There are three floor standing models in the Sonetto range, Sonetto 3, Sonetto 5 and the Sonetto 8. The Sonetto 8 are the largest of the three, (although we currently don’t hold demonstration stock).

Someone once said “ Thanks to its terrific design and sublime engineering, the Sonus Faber Sonetto 3 produce a much bigger sound than a speaker its size has a right to “

We can’t agree more with this. The Sonetto 3 are the smallest of the three pairs of floorstanders but they are surprisingly room filling.

If you like the Sonetto sound and you want more of it, the Sonetto 5 and Sonetto 8 will take it to the next level.

Sonetto Centre 1 & 2 - Home Cinema Speakers

The centre loudspeaker locks the sound onto the screen and it is a very important part in a home cinema system. Sonus Faber offers two Sonetto centre speaker models, the Centre 1 and the Centre 2.

The smaller Centre 1 is a perfect match for the Sonetto 1, Sonetto 2 and Sonetto 3. A very useful accessory is the supplied table support stand. Position the centre speaker onto the stand, then turn the centre speaker up or down to set up the angle for the best performance.

The Sonetto Center 2 is the larger of the two, a true 3-way design to go with Sonetto 5 or Sonetto 8.

Sonetto Wall - Discreet physical presence

Sonetto Wall, a very elegant 2-way on-wall speaker can be added to a home cinema, a two-channel system or as a stand-alone pair in a room as part of a multi-room system. The Sonetto Wall is available in the four Sonetto finishes.

Our verdict is - Sonus Faber Sonetto loudspeakers sound brilliant, are easy to set up and in our opinion worth every penny!

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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Sonus Faber products can be found in the following Audio T stores -

• BRISTOL

• SWINDON

Denon AV Receivers - For Gamers and Movie Lovers!

Watching movies and playing video games is a fun pastime, and with current TV/Projector technologies video looks sharp and crystal clear - But what about the cinema-quality sound? The soundtracks mixed into a movie or video game? The sound that brings the theatrical to life? The answer - A home cinema system. And at its heart sits an AV amplifier.

Denon have launched a new range of Dolby Atmos/DTS-X AV amplifiers and the first two new models have arrived with us at Audio T Swindon. The 7 channel Denon AVR-X2800H and the 9 channel Denon AVC-X3800H.

Two new AV amplifiers - Deneon’s AVR-X-2800H and AVR-X3800H

Denon AVR-X2800H

Let’s start with the first of our new arrivals, the Denon AVR-X2800H. It is a 7.2 channel power house that allows connectivity for games consoles, 4K Blu-Ray players, video servers and more. 6 HDMI sockets, with three of them ready for up to 8K video resolution, 2 optical inputs and a front USB socket for music stored on flash drives. Five analogue inputs including a Phono MM input for a turntable are on board, too.

The two surround back amplifier channels can be assigned to either connect to a pair of surround back speakers (2 surround speakers beside and the surround back speakers behind the listening position) or they can be used to drive a pair of “atmos-pheric” Atmos speakers (a pair of surround speakers behind the listening position and one pair of in-ceiling speakers). The choice is yours.

Can I connect it ? Yes you can

Denon AVC-X3800H

The Denon AVC-X3800H includes all the features of the Denon AVR-X2800H and allows to add two more speakers to the system. So for example you can connect an extra pair of surround back speakers and one pair of Atmos speakers to a 5.1 system or assign all four outputs to height speakers like overhead-speakers. It is all set-up here in the shop and we are happy to talk you through it.

Compared to the AVR-X2800H, the AVC-X3800H offers 20 watts more per channel and this really makes a difference to the sound. Generally speaking, speakers like power and control and a better output results in a more balanced sound. There is room for expansion as there are pre-out sockets for all channels should you want to power some of the channels/speakers with external power amplifiers or even take it up to an impressive 11 channel speaker system.

HEOS - Built-in music streaming technology

Both amplifiers can be set-up to use the HEOS platform, a free app that can control almost all Denon products. You can use it to play music from streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, Deezer or from a music server in the house - no problem. Bluetooth and Apple Airplay2? Certainly, on board.

You can find out more about the HEOS app in a blog from our Portsmouth store Here.

Another cool feature is the option to use the free Denon control app, available for Android and iOS. Denon AVR Control works really well and is fun to use. Very helpful if your new AV amplifier is inside a rack or cupboard, or you can not use the supplied remote control.

DENON AVR Remote app

Set Up and Sound Performance

The set-up process is very straightforward and everything is explained via a menu on the tv screen. Fresh out of the box an on-screen menu takes you through the initial set-up with the supplied room calibration microphone, and once that is done have a listen and tweak it to your liking.

We started with a 5.1.2 system and the Denon AVR-X2800H sounds fantastic and detailed, big sounding but not overblown. We added another pair of speakers (5.1.4) to the AVC-AVC-X3800H and we hear the extra control and improved timing. The 2022 blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick is a great system tester with a nice mix of cinematic music and incredible surround effects. The sound quality is mind blowing, so much so that we had to keep watching as it sounded so good.

Our verdict is - Both amplifiers sound brilliant, are easy to use and in our opinion worth every penny!

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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Denon products are available from the following Audio T stores -

• BRISTOL

• BRIGHTON

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

Stand By Me - Incredible Stand Mount Speakers from Bowers & Wilkins

British loudspeaker manufacturer, Bowers & Wilkins have launched the latest generation of their successful 700 series, now called the 700 S3. The range comprises three floorstanders, three stand mounted speakers, two centre channels and a matching subwoofer.

The former CM range joined the 700 Series some time ago but every time a replacement or upgrade was launched the results were absolutely spectacular. It’s safe to say that we can’t wait to hear the next instalment when they arrive.

B&W 706 S3 in gloss black and 707 S3 in mocha

But for the time being, here at Audio T Swindon we have two of the stand mounted speakers of the new 700 S3 range, the 707 S3 and the 706 S3….

Blown away by walking into our demonstration room

I was about to walk into our demonstration room because I heard some good music playing in there. The music wasn’t overly loud, more at a reasonable volume level but something got my feet tapping (you know what I mean). What happened to me can only be described as one of these jaw-dropping moments when I opened the door and realised that it was a pair of B&W 707 S3, connected to a Rega system (Rega Aethos, Rega Saturn MK3 and a Rega Planar 6). Wow, it sounded big, and the bass was tight but not overblown and the midrange and treble blended in nicely. It just makes you want to sit down and listen to more music,

B&W 706 S3 and 707 S3 now ready for demonstration

B&W 707 S3 - A devil in disguise

The B&W 707 S3 are the smallest pair of new 700 S3 series. They are available in gloss black, satin white and a new finish, mocha. The 707 S3 feel very solid with each of them weighing over 6kg. This is due to the quality cabinet, the internal bracing that reduces unwanted vibrations and of course the high-quality drive units.

This speaker is like a devil in disguise, and it will stand its ground without problems if you play some tight bass through them. At the same time the bass doesn’t dominate the midrange or treble. What leaves us speechless is how room filling they sound for their size. A great song that I love to demonstrate speakers with is Homeless from Paul Simon’s album, Graceland. It’s this big and spacious sound that gives us goosebumps all the way.

As this is a standmount speaker, we found it works best on a solid stand to bring the tweeter up to ear level. The FS-700 S3 stands featured in one of the photos above, are the perfect companion and can also be filled with sand or an inert filler for a better performance.

Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 - “Truly amazing with punch and finesse”…

The Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3 are the next model above the 707 S3. They are larger in size and that is exactly how they sound. A larger cabinet and a higher sensitivity, two reasons why the 706 S3 are ideal for people who like the 707 S3 but want more of that big, lush sound.

There are many good guidelines as to how to buy a pair of loudspeakers. Our best advice is to give us some time, bring some CDs or records and book a demonstration here with us. Here at Audio T Swindon, our two different sized demonstration rooms will help you find the speaker that works for you.

For more information please feel free to call us on 01793 538222 or send an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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Bowers & Wilkins products can be found in the following Audio T stores -

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

Great features, wide connectivity and great sound… Denon & Marantz Microsystems!

All-in-one music systems are very popular with a wide range of consumers for a whole host of good reasons. Not only are they are they a fantastic introduction to the world of Hi-Fi for many, but they are also a perfect secondary system for the most experienced of audiophiles due to their compact size.

These tiny boxes are packed full of features, but how do they sound? Let’s find out…

The three systems we want to show you in this article are -

• Denon RCDM-41DAB,

• Denon RCD-N11DAB

• Marantz MCR-612.

Whilst some of these models are available as bundles with speakers branded by the original manufacturer, we think that this can limit your choice to get the best out of the system. As you’ll already know, we stock a wide range of speakers that we are happy to set up alongside one of these microsystems, and tailor the sound to your needs.

Denon RCDM-41 DAB

The entry-level price point of our trio comes in the form of the Denon RCDM-41 DAB. This great system is available in either black or silver, allowing you to fit it in to any classic or contemporary environment.

The RCDM-41 DAB combines an amplifier of 2 x 30 watts per channel with a CD player, a DAB/DAB+/FM radio tuner and Bluetooth music streaming. It also includes a headphone socket, which is nice touch that allows you to enjoy your music even late at night.

Denon RCDM-41 DAB - The front panel looks neat and tidy and you get all important buttons to control the system.

Tone controls are built in to the system, meaning that bass, treble and balance can be easily adjusted. You’ll also find a clock, a sleep timer and even a programmable timer added to the list of features.

Denon RCDM-41DAB rear panel - Plenty of inputs

On the back, you’ll find a set of decent loudspeaker terminals and the very useful analogue input to plug in a turntable phono stage. The two digital optical inputs will take care of a TV, set-top box, games console or video streamer. For extra bass just connect a subwoofer.

We’re big fans of this system and love the sound, especially considering the modest price point. Having demonstrated this countless times in store, we’ve found some great tried and tested speakers to partner with the RCDM-41 DAB to be -

• Acoustic Energy AE100²

• DALI Spektor 2

• Monitor Audio Bronze 50

Denon RCD-N11 DAB - HEOS Music Streaming and Multiroom ready

Like the Denon RCDM-41 DAB, the Denon RCD-N11 DAB is a system that includes a CD player, DAB/DAB+/FM radio tuner, Bluetooth music streaming and the same number of inputs and outputs. In addition, Denon have included HEOS - HEOS what is that?

Stream Music with HEOS - Denon/Marantz wireless multiroom audio platform

HEOS (Home Entertainment Operating System) is a wireless multi-room audio platform from Denon/Marantz, and it is fun to use. HEOS works through your existing Wi-Fi home network. Connect any Denon/Marantz product with built-in HEOS music streaming to your home network (wirelessly or hard wired) and you can enjoy Spotify, Amazon Music HD, TIDAL, DEEZER, SOUNDCLOUD, Napster and TuneIn. Apple Airplay 2 is included, too.

Music streaming via the HEOS app

HEOS, which is now included in many Denon & Marantz home cinema receivers, wireless music streaming speakers and all-in-one music systems, can be selected for multiroom music via the HEOS app. This app is free and available for Android and Apple iOS. We use this app daily here at the Swindon showroom and find it works really well and is extremely stable, as well as user friendly.

Multiroom music play back via the HEOS app

The Denon RCD-N11 DAB music system with HEOS music streaming (available in black, grey or white) is extremely good value for money and with an output of 60 watts per channel, a pair of B&W 607 S2 or Monitor Audio Silver 50 will work really well with it.

Marantz M-CR612 - Stylish with all your music in one place

The Marantz MCR-612 is very similar to the Denon RCD-N11 DAB and offers a lot of the same specifications. The question is is - Is there a difference between them? Yes, there is. Although Marantz and Denon share a lot of the same technology, the answer is on the back of the M-CR612.

There are two sets of loudspeaker outputs, and they can be used to power one pair of speakers (Speakers A) or two pairs of speakers (Speaker A&B). Perfect for someone who wants to listen to music in two separate rooms.

Bi-Amping - More control for a better sound

Another option is bi-amping. If the speakers have bi-wire terminals (4 sockets on the back), Speakers A&B can be configured to drive one pair of speakers. We would recommend trying it as it is a great upgrade to the sound without adding more boxes to the system.

Loudspeakers like Acoustic Energy AE300, Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 or Dali Oberon 3 are no problem at all for the Marantz M-CR612 to handle. And with HEOS music streaming, CD and radio on board we think it’s a very enjoyable system.

Our Verdict

We truly love these three music systems! Despite their small physical stature and modest price points, they are certainly not to be overlooked. They sound great and look modern & stylish. These little boxes can become the heart of your home entertainment with the addition of a turntable, a TV (set-top box/games console). All you need to add is a pair of speakers of your choice. What’s not to like?

For more information please feel free to call us on 01793 538222 or send an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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Denon and Marantz products can be found at the following Audio T stores -

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

Rega turntable buying guide - One for every budget

So, you’ve decided to buy a turntable and you’re wondering why they come in all different prices, which brand offers great value for money or maybe even where to go for advice and a demonstration? We at Audio T Swindon are here to help you find the turntable that suits you. In this article we will talk you through the Rega range of turntables, and we’ll look to answer all your questions - No problem.

Turntables are quite exciting to look at. They make you feel attached to your music system. Buy a record and look at the cover, take the record out of the sleeve and put it on the turntable platter, use your anti static brush to take the dust and debris off your record before playing it. Check the speed then lower the tonearm and enjoy the music - I’ll warn you, It’s very addictive once you have started the journey.

The Rega Turntable Range

Rega Research is a British audio equipment manufacturer. Since their humble beginnings back in 1973, Rega’s initial success was built upon award-winning tonearms and turntables but Rega has been making complete hi-fi systems since the eighties.

In it’s 47 year history, the Planar Turntable has been a staple of the Rega’s arsenal. You can see a selection of our demonstration models below…

Rega Turntables

Planar 1 and Planar 2 - Great sound and easy to set-up!

At first sight both look almost identical. But what makes them different?

Finishes and Features

The Planar 1 is a Plug-and-Play design that is available in three finishes: Matt White, Matt Black and an all new Walnut effect finish.

Simply unbox it, push the round counter weight onto the back of the tonearm and you’re ready to play your vinyl. The supplied Rega Carbon cartridge (sometimes referred to as the needle) is fitted as standard and a dust cover is included, too. This Planar 1 is also available as a Planar 1 Plus which has a phono amplifier built-in which allows you to connect either directly to a pair of active speakers or an amplifier that doesn’t have it’s own phono stage. Both sound great straight out of the box.

The Planar 2 is available in three high gloss finishes: Red, White and Black. The Planar 2’s counter weight and adjustable bias, (counteracts the centripetal force pulling the arm towards the centre of the record), allows the use of a wider range of cartridges should you want to experiment or upgrade in future. The most notable difference, the high gloss plinth, is an MDF core covered with a highly rigid, acrylic laminate and the float glass platter improves accuracy. Just like the Planar 1, a dust cover is supplied as standard. The Planar 2 tonearm set-up is very easy, however, we are happy to set it up for you if you like - at no extra cost. In our opinion, more detail and a larger soundstage are definitely worth the extra money.

How to change the speed between 33 and 45 RPM?

Lift the platter and move the belt that goes around the shiny pulley to the top groove for 33 or the bottom groove for 45 RPM.

From the Planar 2 to the Planar 3 - Quite a step up…

Where to start here? First up is a strengthened plinth to prevent unwanted resonance and a double brace system to add more overall stiffness. A high precision tonearm bearing that is almost friction free - This is just to name a few improvements compared to the Planar 2, all of which makes such a big difference to the sound. The combination of the RB330 tonearm and its supplied counterweight allows the use of a much wider range of cartridges so you can finely tune the system to your requirements.

The Planar 3 is available with factory fitted Elys2 or Exact moving magnet cartridges. You even have the option to purchase the Planar 3 without a cartridge if you already have one you’re looking to fit.

You may also notice that there is an upgrade socket on the back of the Planar 3. This allows you to connect the Rega Neo MK2 turntable power supply that further reduces motor noise, improves speed stability and the convenience of electronic speed change.

With a much bigger upgrade path the Planar 3 offers incredible value for the money.

It keeps getting better - Planar 6 with a super lightweight foam core and more

What do you get when you move from the Planar 3 to the Planar 6?

The most obvious difference in the picture above is the little box lying in front of the Planar 6. This is the previously mentioned Neo MK2 turntable power supply. Rather than being an additional purchase, the Planar 6 comes with a custom matched PSU as standard. It further reduces motor noise, improves speed stability and the convenience of electronic speed change.

The Planar 6 features a super lightweight foam core, made from material developed for the aerospace industry. It is sandwiched between two layers of high pressure laminate that adds the right amount of stiffness and this combination reduces external energy from entering the plinth. Rega have decided to offer a single stunning finish, Polaris Matt Grey, with a high gloss polymer black edge trim.

The Planar 6 is available as Planar 6/Exact (MM), Planar 6/Ania (MC), Planar 6/Ania Pro (MC) cartridges or Planar 6/no cartridge.

Sub platter and platter - Precision and Accuracy

The sub platter is made from a single-piece of machined aluminium that offers better speed stability. The dual layer glass platter improves the flywheel effect and with that the rotational speed.

The Planar 6 offers a tighter and deeper bass, more separation between the instruments and more silence in quieter parts of the music.

You spin me right round - The Planar 8

A small footprint with an impressive sound - Rega decided to take a very elegant approach with the Planar 8. It is quite a unique design compared to most of the more conventional looking turntables available on the market.

Take off the triple layer glass platter, then lift the skeletal lightweight foam plinth - This plinth is incredibly light, constructed from Tancast 8 core and covered in a high-pressure laminate (HPL) skin (a material developed for the aerospace industry).

What makes the Planar 8 such a great sounding turntable ?

It is this very clever combination of a incredibly lightweight plinth, sandwiched between two layers of high pressure laminate, the new bearing assembly and the single piece machined aluminium sub-platter that holds the three-piece laminated glass platter (constructed from two different high-quality Pilkington glasses, a British glass engineering company). The platter is driven by two EBLT reference drive belts, made from a bespoke new rubber compound. Those are just a few reasons why the Planar 8 takes it to a new level.

The Planar 8 is available as Planar 8/Ania (MC), Planar 8/Ania Pro (MC), Planar 8/Apheta3 (MC) and Planar 8 /no cartridge.

“Every aspect of the Planar 8 is engineered to extract as much detail from the vinyl surface as possible”

— Rega Research

The Rega Planar 10 - An engineering statement

The Planar 10 was inspired by the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad. Built around the same ultra-light skeletal plinth featured on the Planar 8. There are however some significant improvements compared to the Planar 8 -

• The Planar 10 uses a more advanced double brace system (a mix of phenolic resin and ceramic) to reduce unwanted resonance.

• The hub bearing assembly eradicates unwanted potential energy being transferred or stored in the plinth.

• The ceramic flywheel platter with improved coupling to the sub platter.

• The 24v low noise motor is hand tuned to match its own custom matched P10 PSU power supply before fitting to the turntable to optimise the anti-vibration circuit.

• The RB3000 tonearm designed to have the minimum of mechanical joints while using the stiffest materials in all critical areas.

• Available with factory fitted Apheta 3 MC or Aphelion 2 MC cartridges

The Planar 10 looks amazing and it sounds fantastic with more clarity, soul and groove.

As we’ve said previously, we set up all purchased turntables free of charge, so they are ready to use as soon as you get home!

For more information please feel free to call us on 01793 538222 or send an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores -

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

Aesthetic & Powerful - The New McIntosh integrated amplifier MA9500

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. have added two new integrated amplifiers to their already distinguished range - The MA8950 and the MA9500. Being the flagship Audio T store for McIntosh, we have had the pleasure of listening to quite a few of their integrated amplifiers (including the top of the range MA12000), so we couldn’t wait to hear one of the latest editions. Here at Audio T Swindon, we’ve taken delivery of the McIntosh MA9500. Let’s take a look…

What’s New?

When comparing it to the award-winning MA9000, McIntosh states that the MA9500 has a 50% increase in dynamic headroom, less distortion and better bass performance. The power supply components have been upgraded, too.

Whilst the MA9000 included the option for the DA1 Digital Audio Module, the MA9500 comes with the DA2 Digital Audio Module as standard (We'll discuss this a bit more a little later on).

MA9500 with eight-band tone control and a high quality headphone amplifier

A little insight of what is going on inside the MA9500

Guaranteed 300W per channel?

An amplifiers job is to drive and to control a pair of loudspeakers. As we know, loudspeakers come with different sensitivity and impedance so it’s difficult to say how much power is required to do the best job. The MA9500 offers 300 watts per channel. Thanks to McIntosh’s Autoformer™ technology this is guaranteed into a load of 2, 4 or 8 Ohms. (The McIntosh Output Autoformer™ is a special transformer that is designed and manufactured in-house by McIntosh.)

The DA-2 Digital Audio Module

As mentioned previously, the MA9500 comes with a factory fitted DA-2 Digital Audio Module which offers 7 digital inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT, and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that has improvements in both dynamic range and total harmonic distortion compared to the DAC in the DA1. The coax and optical inputs in the DA2 can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for playback of high-resolution audio. The DA2 has a McIntosh exclusive MCT input that offers a secure DSD connection to any of their MCT series of SACD/CD Transports, to deliver the best possible sound quality of the high-definition audio found on your SACDs.

The flexibility of the DA2 means you can connect a TV via the ARC HDMI socket, a CD transport to an optical or coaxial input and if you have a PC, Mac or Music server such as the Innuos range, connect it to the USB audio socket. This allows you to make the MA9500 the centre of your home entertainment system. And whilst the DA2 is factory fitted, its modular design means it's possible to someday replace it with any newer Digital Audio Modules that McIntosh may release.

MA9500 rear panel

There are 6 unbalanced phono and 2 balanced XLR inputs, one fixed-level phono input for integration into a home cinema set-up and individual inputs for Moving Magnet and Moving Coil, both with adjustable loading.

Would you look at those high quality loudspeaker binding posts!

The Solid Cinch speaker binding posts are gold-plated to prevent corrosion

Let’s listen to some music…

We put together a system comprising of the McIntosh MA9500 integrated amplifier, Rega Saturn MK3 cd player, Rega Planar 8 turntable w/ Ania MC Cartridge and the Innuos Zen MK3 music server. We decided to use the Spendor D7.2. and PMC Twenty5 24i as both are favourites here in the Swindon store.

Rega Saturn MK3, McIntosh MA9500, Rega Planar8/Ania MC and on the middle shelf the Innuos Zen Mini MK3 music server

Like a luxury car engine - You just feel it…

In our humble opinion, the MA9500 is a must have for any audiophile. It creates such a big, open and airy soundstage that it simply takes your breath away… It’s like being in the midst of an open air concert!

The bass is tight and controlled without suppressing any of the deep-toned resonance you’d expect from the low-end. It really does allow for incredible sonorance without compromising the rest of the frequency range. Vocals are focused and stand out nicely in a mix.

The MA9500’s volume control is very precise and you can really feel those 300w per channel at work - It’s like the big engine of a luxurious car, not only designed for going fast but also making sure you have the most comfortable ride at the same time.

The built-in phono stage sounds incredible! Whilst we used the Rega Planar 8 for this demonstration, the flexibility of having inputs for both MM and MC, not to mention their adjustable loads, means you can accompany this amplifier with virtually any turntable/cartridge combination.

The USB audio connectivity is a great touch that you don’t find on all amplifiers. We connected our Innuos music server to the DA2 and truly noticed the improved clocking with the increased DSD playback support (up to DSD512).

This powerhouse of a unit also features built-in High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®). This crossfeed implementations aims to achieve a more speaker-like presentation. It does this by blending the signal before it hits your ears, as speakers do naturally whilst headphones, by their very nature, do not. It brings a whole new dimension to headphones, which is perfect for a relaxing late night listening session.

It’s safe to say that we are huge fans of the MA9500 Integrated Amplifier, not to mention the rest of the products in the McIntosh range. If you haven’t already, we’d strongly suggest that you have a listen for yourself.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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…

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McIntosh can be found at the following Audio T stores -

• SWINDON

Still listening to CD's? So are we - Marantz SA10 Premium CD & SACD Player / DAC

We have received the Marantz top-end CD/SACD player, the SA10. It is more than a CD player. It is a multi-talented device that not only plays CDs but also SACDs (Super Audio CD). First introduced in 1999, Super Audio CDs were developed by Philips and Sony. Some music available on SACD was not only available on the standard stereo, but also multi-channel. Those of us lucky enough to who have SACDs at home know exactly how great this format is.

First impression - It feels like a premium product

The SA10’s build quality is superb and it weighs just over 18kg. Everything looks and feels like a premium product. The casework has a very luxurious feel, with details such as the ‘on/off’ button, that makes a lush click when depressed - I miss that on many contemporary products but maybe that’s just me? When you press the ‘open/close’ button, the tray elegantly and quietly opens or closes - This is all very promising and we can’t wait to hear some music. Let’s have a look and listen, shall we?

Marantz SA10 CD/SACD/DAC in silver/gold

The Marantz SA10 has the choice of either balanced XLR or single-ended phono sockets as a preferred connection method. Balanced XLR reduces the noise floor when connected to another balanced XLR device. This can mean that you hear more detail in the music.

More than just a CD/SACD Player - The SA10’s DAC…

These days, people like the ability to connect all their sources, analogue and digital, to the one amplifier. A very nice feature of this unit is the built-in DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter). Marantz have added isolated low-noise digital inputs for a better sound quality. This allows you to connect devices such as music streamers, set-top box, TV, games console and more directly to the SA10 and select the inputs via it’s supplied remote control. This adds a lot of flexibility to your music system and reduces the box count.

There are two USB sockets. The larger of the two (USB-B) is for computer audio (PC or MAC) or a device like the Innuos music servers. The smaller one is to connect a USB memory stick or an external hard drive with a library of music.

The built-in, fully discrete headphone amplifier means minimum interference and with a wide choice of headphones available on the market, the gain can be set to low, mid or high.

Marantz SA10 CD/SACD/DAC Rear Panel

Sound Quality

To put the Marantz SA10 through its paces we setup a system comprising Spendor D7 loudspeakers, Marantz Model 30 integrated. The speaker cable use is the Chord Company Shawline X and a set of Shawline interconnects.

Marantz Model30 and SA10 CD/SACD Player

We started with B.B.King & Eric Clapton’s “Riding With The King“ and wow! It certainly got our feet tapping. The clarity and rhythm was stunning. The instruments and vocals sound like a highly refined wall of sound that makes you want to listen to more and more. The “Three O’Clock Blues” makes you feel as though you’re sat in a cozy little Jazz Club with a drink on the table, a welcome remedy after a long day at work.

Love this Sony SACD Collection from 2001

Next up we used one of my Sony SACDs (Super Audio CD), “Ultimate Collection” from 2001. “Gratitude” from Earth, Wind and Fire. Gosh, was I blown away when I heard this track on SACD for the very first time. This is one funky song that has a lot of punch and energy. I couldn’t resist turning it up. I think this is what makes a great CD player - It makes you want to listen to more and more music.

But would we recommend it?

The Marantz SA10 CD/SACD sounds extremely good on both CD and SACD, and yes, we would highly recommend it! The humble CD is not out of fashion at all and the SA10 proves that. Well done Marantz.

Spendor D7 speakers in natural oak

Here at Audio T Swindon, we are here to help and we’d love to set something up for you so please get in touch with us. You can call us on 01793 538222 or email us on swindon@audio-t.co.uk. Our opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.

Thanks for reading

Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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Marantz can be found at the following stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• ONLINE STORE

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

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Spendor can be found at the following stores

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• PORTSMOUTH

• SWINDON

• MANCHESTER

• READING

HI-FI OR HOME CINEMA - WE’RE HERE TO HELP AT AUDIO T SWINDON

In this article, we’ll discuss what it is we do here in store and give you some guidelines to help you before you make an appointment or visit our shop. It is a priority for us to make sure that our customers feel as comfortable as possible when they sit down with us here at Audio T Swindon.

Some of our equipment

How to start? Tell us what you have in mind

Whilst we are here to guide you through your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema needs, it’s good to have some sort of idea where you want to start. We think that some of the questions below will help you prepare for your journey…

• Do you want to build a home cinema or a two channel audio system?

• Are you completely new to this or do you have an existing system?

• Are you looking to upgrade or down size?

• What are the room dimensions and how is it laid out ( Furniture, windows, doors, fireplace etc.)? You can send us photos of your room prior to the appointment.

• How would you like to play your music? CDs, vinyl or streaming service such as Spotify or Tidal?

• Would you like to play music in more than one room or add this in the future?

• Do you want separate components or are you looking for a one box solution?

• How do you want to display the new system? Do you have suitable furniture for the setup?

• Do you have any equipment you would like to trade-in?

Free Parking behind our shop

We have a customer car park right behind the shop. You’ll find it via Faringdon Road, Farnsby Street and then turn left into Villette Street - At the end turn left and sharp right into our long driveway that will take you into our enclosed car park (big black sign on the white wall)…

Demonstration Rooms - Try before you buy

Whilst we have a selection of records, CDs and access to several streaming services, we encourage our customers to bring their favourite music as well to listen to in demonstrations.

Home Cinema or Music System ? Or both ?

It’s important for us to have an idea of what sort of thing you’re after before your appointment, that way we can make sure that one of our two bespoke demonstration rooms is set up and ready when you arrive. We have two different sized rooms and we will set up the equipment in the one that is closest in size to your room.

Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the demonstration over a cup of tea or coffee

Part Exchange - No problem

Here at Audio T, we use a third party solution to take on your unwanted Hi-Fi and Home Cinema equipment. All we need to get you a valuation is the details of the item (condition, accessories, packaging etc) and if possible, some photos.

Price Promise

We know you won’t find better service or expertise.

We know you won’t find better sound.

But if you do find a better deal from another authorised shop, let us know and we’ll be happy to match it (subject to verification). Be sure to Contact Us or visit your Local Store.

Collection or Installation?

Do you feel confident to collect and install your new system yourself? Not a problem. But if you’d like the expert touch, we can deliver locally, install and set up your new Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system.

You can contact us on 01793 538222 or email us on swindon@audio-t.co.uk. Our opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

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…

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Find your nearest Audio T store Here.

Entertaining and musical at a lower price - BRAND NEW Arcam AVR5 AV Receiver

NEW PRODUCT

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NEW PRODUCT 〰️

In this month’s article we would like to introduce Arcam’s new audio/visual entertainment hub, the entry level AVR5. AV products made by Cambridge based Arcam are renowned for their build quality and ability to bring music and movies to life, and this is exactly why we at Audio T Swindon love them and they reinforce why we are so passionate about this industry.

Arcam AVR5

The AVR5, out of the box is a seven channel receiver, meaning individual amplifiers to drive seven speakers. Although there are only seven channels of amplification, the top configuration can be an impressive eleven speakers plus subwoofer 7.1.4 set-up (four ATMOS speakers, in-ceiling or upfiring), with the help of an external power amplifier for the second pair of ATMOS speakers. And yes, there can be more than one subwoofer but that’s another tale that we talked about in one of our previous blogs - see here REL 3D

What’s under the bonnet?

Quite a lot to be honest. The AVR5 is very well built and we couldn’t resist to take a look inside.

Can I connect it ? Yes you can!

Arcam AVR5 rear panel

What can be connected? Pretty much everything in the audio/visual world. Games consoles, set-top boxes, blu-ray players and video streamers can be connected via HDMI, digital coax or optical cables. CD players and turntables (via a separate phono box) can be connected to an analogue phono input..

More features are:
• Dolby Atmos & DTS:X 7.1.4 decoding
• 4K (UHD) HDMI2.0b with HDCP2.2
• 7 HDMI inputs, 2 HDMI outputs, eARC compatible
• Ready to use with Dirac Live® room correction*
• ESS 9026 PRO audiophile DAC
• 7 Channels of Class AB power amplification
• Wifi / Ethernet, RS232 and IR control
• Chromecast/UPnP capability for streaming audio
• Bluetooth aptX® HD
• Free MusicLife iOS and Android UPnP and control app
• Supports MQA
• Roon Ready

It’s worth mentioning that the free MusicLife app makes streaming easy from services like Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music and internet radio.

Sound Check - Music and Movies

Many av receivers sound fantastic in movie mode but they lack the punch and precision of a two channel amplifier when listening to music. Multichannel surround sound versus two channel music - How does the sound differ?

Movie sound can wizz around the room for around two hours, and that’s exactly why watching movies can be so much fun. For music, we aim for a soundstage between the two front speakers and we start setting up home cinema systems with the focus on these two channels before we add the surround channels.

For the best results we select the Direct Mode before we start listening to music. The AVR5 sounds very good right of the box and Jack Johnson’s album “In Between Dreams” and Beck’s “Morning Phase” never disappoint and are a delight to listen to. What a great start.

Now it’s movie time and for first impressions we put on Godzilla (which one? - Take a look at the photo above). This movie and in particular the sound draws us in every time we put it on.

At the end of Chapter 3 / beginning of chapter 4, Bryan Cranston is being questioned and knowing what’s coming to mankind if people don’t listen to him, he tries to warn the scientists. The monster, held in a secure complex, makes loud thumping noises (sounds great with a good subwoofer) while feeding on several nuclear reactors and eventually manages to break free and escapes - At the end of that scene a person breathes through a gas mask and the breathing fades away through the rear speakers.

Wow, we feel exhausted because it sounded like we were there.

The AVR5’s sound and build quality is great and it serves both movies and music really well.

For more information please feel free to book a demonstration and call us on 01793 538222 or send an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.

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If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on Facebook to keep an eye on what’s happening in store.

Arcam products are available from the following Audio T stores

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

First look at DALI Active Oberon C Series - Wireless Music and Home Cinema

Today we take a look at the new Oberon C Series, one of DALI’s wireless active loudspeaker ranges. Whilst the active version of the speakers are physically the same size as the passive ones, the amplifiers are built in to the cabinets and the musIc is transmitted wirelessly, without loss of quality from a system HUB. This means that no speaker cables run across the floor and the speakers can be positioned almost anywhere in the room (within 10 metres of the HUB and ideally within the same room).

The DALI Oberon C Series comprises of four active speakers : The Oberon 1 C book shelf, the Oberon 7 C floorstander, the On-Wall C wall mounted speakers and the Vokal C centre speaker. The quartet of speakers are available in white, black ash, light oak and walnut finishes.

Oberon 7 C, Oberon1 C and Oberon Vokal C

NO SPEAKER CABLE, MORE FLEXIBILITY - HOW DOES IT WORK ?

Choose a pair of Oberon 1 C, Oberon 7 C or Oberon On-Wall C as your front left & right loudspeakers. Position them in the room, then add one of the two sound hub options. The SOUND HUB COMPACT (for a stereo speaker setup) has one HDMI ARC input, two optical inputs, a set of phono inputs and Bluetooth. You can also add a subwoofer as well.

SOUND HUB COMPACT

The second HUB, the SOUND HUB (for a system with up to seven speakers) offers an upgrade path. On board are two digital optical inputs, one digital coax, two analogue inputs and Bluetooth. Pre-out sockets allow you to connect the Sound HUB to an external power amplifier with passive speakers, and a subwoofer can be connected as well.

UPGRADE OPTIONS

Two easy-to-install modules can be added. One is an HDMi ARC/eARC module for Dolby or DTS up to 7.1 surround sound.

The other one is a BluOS NPM-2i module. BluOS is an advanced multi-room audio technology that lets you stream music from all your favourite streaming services, radio stations, and digital sources to any BluOS enabled stereo system or speaker, using the BluOS app.

EASY TO SET UP

The speakers are added wirelessly via link-connect buttons on the back of the speakers and the HUB. Start the pairing and set each speaker to the correct position. On the back of each speaker is a diagram with 7 led’s and what looks like a little figure sitting on a chair facing a line (which is supposed to be the screen/tv) helps to assign the correct position of the speaker and you’re done. It is really that easy.

Good news for all people with existing subwoofers - The DALI WSR (Wireless Subwoofer Receiver) can be added to turn any subwoofer into a wireless subwoofer - Clever.

DALI WSR - Wireless Subwoofer Receiver

SOUND QUALITY

The Dali Oberon C system sounds fast, fresh and open and this is because of the short signal path between the DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), the built-in amplifiers (2x 50 Watts per speaker) and the speaker drive units. The way the speakers respond to even small adjustments in volume via the Sound HUB is fantastic.

Play music via Wifi or Bluetooth, you can access and share music from a computer, phone, tablet or network-attached storage drive (NAS) or listen to music from one of the many streaming services and internet radio apps built right into the BluOS NPM-2i module.

CAN A TURNTABLE BE CONNECTED ?

Yes, either via a phono amplifier that sits between the turntable and the SOUND HUB or plug it in straight away if the phono amplifier is built into the turntable.

HOME CINEMA SOUND

We have set up a 5.1 Oberon C home cinema system that comprises of a pair of Oberon 7 C ( front left & right channels ) , Vokal C centre speaker, a pair of Oberon 1 C ( rear surround channels ) and the WSR ( Wireless subwoofer receiver ) that connects to the subwoofer. The final steps are connecting a Blu-Ray player to our tv and running an HDMI cable from the screen’s ARC/eARC socket to the Sound HUB.

There are too many great movie scenes to choose from and to talk about but we can tell you this - It sounds very cinematic with all the punch, attack and finesse that we have heard from passive speaker packages before and thanks to speaker level adjustment it is very easy to fine tune the speakers to any room.

DALI wireless technology definitely offers more flexibility for those of us with wooden or tiled floors and more importantly, without compromises on sound quality.

We hope that you have enjoyed this blog. If you are interested in an DALI product that isn’t mentioned in this blog, please give us a call on 01793 538222 or send us an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on Facebook to keep an eye on what’s happening in store.

DALI products are available from the following Audio T stores -

• CARDIFF

• ENFIELD

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

• CHELTENHAM

• OXFORD

• SWANSEA

Audiolab Omnia - A Multi-Talented Performer

With our upcoming Audiolab/DALI event here at Audio T Swindon on the 25th & 26th of February 2022 we would like to introduce our latest arrival - The new Audiolab Omnia ALL-IN-ONE music system.

We have seen and listened to quite a few space saving and nice sounding stand-alone systems and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on this promising box of tricks from Audiolab.

Audiolab Omnia

What’s in the box?

The Audiolab Omnia, available in black or silver, is a CD player, integrated amplifier, wireless streaming player, DAC, headphone amplifier, and pre-amp – in one single unit!.

The 4.3inch full colour screen looks great and everything displayed on it looks crystal clear. The CD player is a tray loading design and we think it’s great addition to have on board as many people still have a collection of CDs at home.

Plenty of inputs for your equipment

Audiolab have included a lot of connectivity options. Three analogue inputs, plus a MM phono stage for a turntable, a USB-HDD input for a flash drive or portable hard drive, one USB-B input for a pc or music server (like the ones from Innuos), two optical and two coaxial inputs plus both digital output options for those of you who want to use your own DAC. The three aerials are for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection - We can’t ask for more.

Music Streaming with DTS Play-Fi - Let’s set it up

DTS Play-Fi opens the door to a number of music streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Tidal to name the most popular. Access to internet radio and even the option to play music stored on a network attached storage drive (aka NAS) is fantastic. Let’s set it up; the easiest option is to run an ethernet/network cable from your broadband router into the ethernet port on the back of the Omnia - done. For ease of use the Omnia can be set up wirelessly if the router is not close enough to the unit. We download the DTS Play-Fi app (available for Android, Apple iOS, Kindle Fire and Window PC), rename the Unit into Family Room and we are ready to take a look at the choice of streaming services and options.

Streaming Services and Options

Audiolab Omnia Music System and DALI Oberon 5 Loudspeakers

With a powerful 50w per channel into 8Ohm we connected a pair of DALI Oberon 5 and start streaming music in CD quality and higher from Qobuz, we listen to internet radio and play music from YouTube via Bluetooth, and the Ominia brings our demonstration room to life. Good news for those with a Roon account, Omnia is Roon ready - perfect.

Digital and Analogue VU meters? Why not !

We think someone at Audiolab, who has worked a long time in the Hi-Fi industry, must have thought - “Hey, why don’t we add a little bit of Hi-Fi nostalgia to the Omnia by adding digital and analogue VU meters?” We have to say that it looks very nice with the room light dimmed and there are four display modes to choose from (digital & analogue VU meter, source display mode or off).

What do we think about the Audiolab Omnia ?

Audiolab haven’t promised too much. The Omnia sounds excellent, it looks modern and it is easy to use. Believe it or not, there is so much more and if you are curious to find out more about the Audiolab Omnia then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

We hope that you have enjoyed this blog. All mentioned products are available to listen to at Audio T Swindon and if you are interested in an Audiolab product that isn’t mentioned in this blog, please give us a call on 01793 538222 or send us an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.

Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on Facebook to keep an eye on what’s happening in store.

Audiolab products are available from the following Audio T stores -

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWINDON

• ONLINE STORE

• BRISTOL