August 12, 2022

Straight Outta Welshpool! Taking a look at Leema Acoustics…

August 12, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

In this months blog from sunny Cardiff, Matt takes a look at the story of a Welsh Hi-Fi company and goes on to review the Tucana ll Anniversary integrated amplifier as well as discuss our planned store event on September 15th and 16th with Leema Acoustics at Audio T Cardiff. So without further ado…

Leema Tucana II anniversary in its natural habitat

The Hi-Fi industry has many groundbreaking product releases from manufacturers that tends to turn heads, and Leema Acoustics has certainly done just that over the years since the birth of the company in 1998. They are definitely not showing any sign of slowing, continuing to come up with innovating ideas that are sleek looking and well designed boxes in your Hi-Fi rack. In my humble opinion, they’re in the business of creating tone monsters capable of giving massive sound stages and superb timing. This presentation is delivered perfectly with the Leema Tucana and in particular the Tucana II Anniversary model springs to mind. I myself have come to rely on this amplifier, it never disappoints and no matter what I plug into this amp everything sounds right to my ears.

So, I thought it was high time to take this wonderful opportunity to take the Tucana II Anniversary home and really get to know it. In my own space with plenty of time over a weekend I could really put this amplifier through its paces and hear what makes this beast tick. I have put this amplifier in the forever category along with Spendor D7.2s (by the way to me this is the perfect combination that one day I will end up with… I hope). Before I start down the road of talking your ears off about my favourite amplifier and why I call it the “God of Thunder” let’s take a little dive into Leema’s history and what they are all about by exploring some of their current range.

A little Leema history

Founding member lee taylor - the “lee” in leema

Leema was originally founded in 1998 by two ex-BBC engineers, Lee Taylor and Mallory Nicholls. Both had and still have a fanatical interest in audio reproduction. Their first project focussed on pushing the boundaries of loudspeaker design and their idea was to create a miniature loudspeaker capable of outperforming speakers many times its size. After many years of intense research and testing they came up with the Xen micro monitor which they claim, became unsurpassed in technical and musical excellence. Xen was originally only available to the professional market and was found in many studios. It wasn’t long before audiophiles began to take notice of these speakers due to their build quality and sound presentation. By this time Leema was starting to take hold in the Hi-Fi industry, so Mallory and Lee decided to turn their expertise to audio electronics. Their first project was the original incarnation of the award winning Tucana integrated amplifier, which was released in early 2006. Shortly afterwards they came up with the Antila CD player which won the Sound and Vision Award in 2007.

Since then, the Leema portfolio has grown exponentially joining forces with Davtec who have had a long history in manufacturing electronics, established in 1983. I know this might sound a little strange but, just to show how diverse they are, Davtec also design and manufacture a whole host of other things from traffic lights to milking machines. Now in partnership with Davtec, Leema has well and truly spread its wings.

Moving forward, they came up with other great amplification such as the Pyxis preamp, which I had the pleasure of installing in a customer’s system recently. Teamed with a pair of Cyrus Mono X 300 Signature amplifiers and Spendor D9.2s. I have never heard a sound stage like it and a lot of that character is injected by the Leema Pyxis preamplifier.

The Pyxis would normally be partnered with the Hydra power amplifier to make a pretty unstoppable combination. Leema have also introduced phono stages to their range,such as the Agena, as well as standalone digital to analogue converters like the Libra.

lips link back panel tucana II anniversary

Leema have now added a more focused approach to affordable options for Hi-Fi in the form of the Elements range. To my ears I think the Elements amplifier has borrowed some of the Tucana’s soul. Also in that range you’ll find a great CD player, streamer and phono stage that works in perfect harmony with Leema’s LIPS technology (Leema Intelligent Protocol System) which enables each part of the system to talk to one another. LIPS is also featured on other products such as the Pyxis and Tucana ll. You’ll be as glad as we are to hear that there are more toys on the horizon from Leema, the all new Quantum pre-amplifier and power amplifier.

As promised let’s talk Tucana ll Anniversary

The award winning Tucana burst into life in 2006 and is still winning awards today. Moving on 10 years, Leema celebrated the anniversary of this truly masterful piece of kit and its unparalleled audio quality by introducing the Tucana II Anniversary. Within the existing premium chassis of this class AB amplifier lies quite a few worthwhile upgrades. Leema revisited those key areas within the circuitry that matters the most when defining the character and delivery of the amps already immersive soundstage. The upgrades go beyond the badge on the front, the printed circuit boards are upgraded with double weight copper, further reducing the resistance of PCB traces and improving the power delivery. All relevant capacitors have been upgraded to Nicholson high quality grade MUSE series. PCB to speaker terminal wiring is now Leema’s Reference 2 speaker cable, that’s 16 woven cores, multi high strand high purity copper with individual silver plating. These are just some of the upgrades this amplifier has gone through, not to mention the cool remote control…

Leema acoustics tucana ii anniversary remote control

Let the listening begin…

Working for Audio T, I feel blessed to be able to take such an amplifier home with me to put through its paces in my natural habitat. The source being vinyl played from a Rega Planar 6 fitted with Ortofon 2M Black cartridge and stylus via Nytech Audio CDP122 phono stage and the Acoustic Energy AE300 speakers.

Over a weekend I swapped out my Rega Elex-R amplifier for the Tucana ll Anniversary and trust me, I was full of excitement. I know how this amplifier sounds in our shop demo room but listening in the home environment is a different experience. Starting with this amplifiers character, some say it’s forward and some have commented that it can be too neutral whereas I say it’s more than that. The sound stage envelops you and draws you in. The listening experience never became tiring even with its high detailed delivery. This amplifier has the ability to control most speakers big and small that I’ve thrown at it, including my Acoustic Energy AE300s, they sound like a speaker 4 times the price when coupled with the Tucana II Anniversary. Spending time alone with this amplifier has given me the chance to explore the amplifier’s functions. Starting with the core of this amp it is class AB and you may already know that I’m a big fan of class AB amplifiers. Leema have managed to deliver a sound that takes class AB amplification to another level, it’s big open sound and perfect timing kept me engaged throughout the listening experience. Moving onto the controls this amp’s simple design allows me to adjust everything at ease, the volume control is well lit on front panel and shows where you are with full and half steps. The amp also has a very easy to use gain control allowing the user to set every input to an equal level so there’s no sudden jumps in volume, for instance when switching from a CD player to a turntable.

Test Tracks and albums used

Steve Vai - Inviolate (2022) - Track used:
“Teeth of the Hydra”
Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (2002) - Track used:
“Army Reserve”
Pink Floyd - Momentary laps in reason (1987) - Track used:
“Learning to fly”

Starting with Mr Vai and “Teeth of the Hydra”. On this track Steve Vai commissioned Ibanez to make a multi strung/multi neck guitar. This was a 7 string and 12 string guitar, fretless bass and even a harp configuration of all things. This track has a lot going on and the Tucana held everything together perfectly. The finer details of this instrumental track creates a massive sound stage, Vai’s guitar and the percussion fills the room. Tracks like this one is why I call this amplifier the “God of Thunder”, power with perfect control. Moving onto Pearl Jam’s “Army Reserve”. Again the Tucana brings out detail on vinyl I haven’t heard before, such as Eddie Vedder’s voice you can hear him breathe on the microphone and Jeff Ament’s solid bass groove on this track had more clarity and superb timing. Now last but not least Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”. Right from the start of the song the Tucana makes me feel like I’m at a concert. Dave Gilmour’s guitar and the rest of the band playing on this track again fill the room with tone, detail and great timing.

In summary

As you can tell, I hold this amplifier in very high regard and as I said before this amplifier is in the forever class as it holds everything I would ever want in an integrated amplifier. From its class AB nature to its ability to work with many source components whether it is vinyl, streaming or CD.

This September you will have the chance to listen for yourself and tell us what you think of the Tucana and other amplifiers in Leema’s line-up including a first look at the new Quantum pre-amplifier and power amplifier. We have setup a two day event at Audio T Cardiff so put the dates in your diary, Thursday 15th September and Friday 16th September. A representative from Leema Acoustics will be on hand conducting timed demonstrations from early afternoon to early evening with a brief look at the history of Leema Acoustics and where they are heading in the future.

If you would like to attend this event contact us on 02920 228565 or Email us at cardiff@audio-t.co.uk we look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you for reading

Matt, Nick and Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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…

Leema Acoustics can be found at the following Audio T stores

July 15, 2022

Spendor Speaking From The Heart - A story of a traditional loudspeaker company and overview of the Spendor D7.2

July 15, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

Working for Audio T gives me the chance to listen to a fantastic range of new and classic gear which I feel extremely lucky to be able to do (not to mention that I get to call it my job!). In this instance I thought I’d write this article on a brand that is right up there for performance, Spendor. As we often find in Hi-Fi retail, each of us have our favourite models and personally one of my favourite loudspeakers are the Spendor D7.2.

I feel these loudspeakers need no introduction they speak for themselves but this isn’t just a blog about the D7.2. I thought I would delve deeper into this British loudspeaker manufacturer, as well as giving you a run down of the wonderful D7.2 and an insight in to why I like them so much personally, and how they’ve become our go-to loudspeaker when auditioning new gear for our demonstrations.

A brief history of Spendor

Casting our minds back to 1969 an important year for many things, the Isle of Wight Festival, Led Zeppelin’s first album, Hendrix at Woodstock, the first test flight of Concorde and of course the Moon Landing. Amongst all of these groundbreaking goings-on, another thing happened the birth of the first Spendor loudspeaker, the legendary BC1 and the unmistakable LS1B.

Spendor was started in the late 60s by Spencer and Dorothy Hughes, hence the wonderfully clever anagram we know as Spendor. Spencer and co designer Dudley Harwood were working in the BBC’s sound engineering department and decided to put their knowledge and expertise gained over the years into the development of the game changing BC1 loudspeaker. This became the studio monitor of choice for broadcasters and sound studios worldwide. In the early days of design and production they used bextrene which, believe it or not, was used to make egg cartons. When covered in adhesive it became a suitable material for making loudspeaker diaphragms. The three way design used an 8” bextrene bass/mid driver, a Celestion tweeter and a Coles super tweeter. The drivers were mounted in a thin walled reflex enclosure and with a few tweaks to the crossover the legendary BC1 was born. The BC1 quickly rivalled other brands at the time such as Rogers with their LS3/5 A. With Spendor’s impressive stereo imaging and detail as well as sounding smooth with low distortion it wasn’t long before the Hi-Fi industry started to take notice when dealers started to sell them in the early 70s. These speakers were in production right up until 1994 and still influence Spendor’s design and sound today.

Moving forward to the current lines

Terry Miles was the designer behind the most recent speaker designs for Spendor, keeping the classic look and sound Spencer and Dudley designed all those years ago. Terry put his expertise to ranges such as the A and D series floor standing speakers introducing the A5 & A6R, then moving on to the introduction of the D series from the D1 stand mount all the way up to the D9 floor standing monsters. He also made a number of changes to the Classic Range from 4/5 right up to the 200Ti.

Another big change in Spendor’s rich history was ownership. Philip Swift made the big decision to buy this amazing speaker company back in the year 2000. He always had great passion for Spendor and saw his chance to own this true British heritage speaker brand. Those who know of Philip Swift, know he co-founded Audiolab back in 1983 and is responsible for co designing the first Audiolab 8000A integrated amplifier which is still around today in the form of the 8300. Philip has very much a hands on approach to the current Spendor speaker design. Interesting fact, Philip worked part time for Audio T whilst in university, the shop was located on the top floor of Dryden Chambers, off London's Oxford Street all of those years ago.

Spendor D7.2

So we start with Spendor’s LPZ or Linear pressure zone tweeter. Starting from its stainless steel front plate forming a damped acoustic chamber directly in from a light weight polyamide diaphragm. The front plate incorporates a shade correcting micro foil to equalise sound wave path lengths across the diaphragm. Next we have Spendor’s specially designed 18cm drive units. The bass/mid drive unit has an advanced EP77 polymer cone giving this speaker unsurpassed clarity. The low frequency drive unit has an ultra rigid, two part bonded kevlar cone giving powerful low accurate bass response. Both drivers feature magnesium alloy chassis. These drive units are aided by their high efficiency motor systems.

Using the fifth generation linear flow port technology these speakers benefit from their aerodynamically profiled central baffle to create a tapered twin Venturi port. This tapered twin port helps air velocity in the cabinet, meaning the bass is more controlled and these speakers can even be used in smaller rooms. don’t let the size fool you. Lastly Spendor’s dynamic cabinet damping delivers excellent timing. The damping is a big part of speaker design and the rigid high density cabinet panels in the D series are mass damped to reduce cross talk. This allows the energy in the cabinets is slowly be released the way Spendor intends preventing a blurred image. This damping design is achieved by using asymmetric aperture bracing, think of how an acoustic guitar is braced and how each guitar sounds different depending on its bracing, the same thought process goes for speaker cabinet design.

The set up

Electronics used in audition on HiFiRACKS LTD Podium Trio equipment rack

Turntable: Rega Planar 10 fitted with a Rega Apheta 3 moving coil cartridge.

Phono preamp: Trichord Dino with never connected power supply

Amplification: Cyrus pre XR preamp and Cyrus stereo 200 power amp

Speakers: Spendor D7.2s

HiFi rack used: HI-FI RACKS LTD Podium Trio OAK

Cables used: Chord Epic RCA cables going from the phono stage to the pre amp. Chord Shawline XLR cables connecting pre to power and Chord Epic speaker cables with ohmic banana plugs

Test tracks and albums used.

Led Zeppelin - lll (1970). - Track used: “Friends”
Pearl Jam - Riot Act (2002) - Track used: “You Are”
Metallica - Black Album (1991) - Track used: “Sad but true”

When listening to Led Zeppelin “Friends”, the D7.2 allowed me to hear so much detail in the track. The congas at the start of the track give a more dynamic feel to the ear and I could hear John Paul Jones’s Moog synthesizer kick in giving me a truly immersive stereo image.

Pearl Jam “You are”, is a bit of a tricky one to present using some of the rival speakers to the D7.2. This tends to be down to Jeff Ament’s bass becoming a wash and overpowering on some systems, but the D7.2 held up perfectly. It had good definition all the way through, I could even hear the octave strings on Jeff’s bass towards the end of the track.

Last up is the mighty Metallica, with “Sad but true”. I remember queuing up outside Our Price records in Cardiff for this album on release day in 1991! When listening to this track James Hetfield’s opening guitar riff sounded big and tone full but without sounding harsh, again on some speakers this track can do just that but not on the D7.2!

In summary

When I first started working for Audio T last year, I had listened to a few different brands and types of speakers, until one day my colleagues introduced me to the Spendor D7.2. They changed everything to my ears and as the saying goes if it sounds right, it usually is. To me the dynamic range is near perfect, good control with vocals, lead guitars and smooths the instruments that can normally sound harsh, such as the mandolin, but keeping the realism. The mid range frequencies are well controlled with excellent definition. Bass is tight and not overpowering, especially with that Pearl Jam track previously mentioned. The Spendor D7.2 are not difficult to drive and not too fussy on placement either, which is why they will work well in most rooms with little adjustment.

“Beautifully-made, relatively compact yet having a sound that boasts extended treble and a smooth mid-band allied to some real punch in the bass department. There’s a room filling sound on offer and they are not too fussy about positioning. As floorstanders go in this price range there’s little to touch them. Listen in and enjoy.”

— Hi-Fi World

It’s not very often you come across a pair of speaker that sounds right from the get go. I would put the Spendor D7.2 in the “forever speaker class” and one day hopefully I will own a pair. With all that being said, we know that everyone’s tastes can be very different and there’s no right or wrong answer. So, why not pop in and have a listen for yourself and tell us what you think.

Thanks for reading

Matt, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

If you would like to know more about Spendor you can check out the latest article in our summer edition of Music at Home+.

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…

Spendor can be found at the following Audio T stores

June 14, 2022

Rega Amplifiers - Shelf Filling Heavy Weights

June 14, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

With the arrival of the all new Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier, I thought it was high time we compared three of Rega’s best; the Elex-R , Elicit and the Aethos. I’ll take a look at the differences in performance and tell you all about these fantastic British built amplifiers. I very proudly own a Rega Elex-R with a Rega Planar 6 turntable myself, so I’ll let you know how I came to the decision of my purchase and why I count myself as a bit of a Rega fanboy!

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. From day one every Rega product has been designed to achieve some of the best musical performances and deliver a lifetime of musical enjoyment at an affordable price.

To this day, Rega designs and assembles every product by hand in their custom-built 38,000 square foot facility in the South East of England, employing over 140 people, their product range is currently exported globally to 46 different countries. So let’s take a look…

Rega - Elex-R

Starting with the Elex-R we have a fine blend of the Brio and the Elicit. So, what comes from where and why combine the two amps. The Elex-R borrows its power circuit and phono stage from its big brother the Elicit and the simplicity from the Brio, this comes together giving you more power control and dynamics while retaining that classic warm but detailed Rega tone we all know and love. Basic features:

Price £1045*
72 watts per channel into 8 ohm and 90 watts per channel into 6 ohm
Moving magnet phono stage
4-line inputs with pre-amp and record out
Class A/B design
The same power transformer as the Elicit

View online

Rega - Elicit MK5

Now for the new kid on the block, the Elicit MK5. This highly anticipated amplifier has gone through its fair share of changes making it a real force to be reckoned with. With decades of award-winning design packed with a few new features, Rega have come up with the perfect integrated amplifier at this price point. Featuring the same FET based pre-amp circuit found in the award winning Aethos, and it is powerful enough to run even the most power hungry floor standing speakers. It also has arguably one of the best integrated DACs I have ever come across in an amplifier. The Wolfson DAC really stands out in the crowd, especially being driven by Rega’s all new Saturn MK3 CD player, I can hear great detail while maintaining the warmth and musicality. Here are the features:

Price £2000*
105 watts into 8 ohms 127 watt’s into 6 ohm and a huge 162 watt into 4 ohms
Moving magnet phono stage
4 line out input’s with record in and out
Class A/B design
Built in Wolfson 16 to 24 bit DAC with digital, optical and coax input’s
Built in headphone amp with 1/4” socket
Direct and preamp out

View Online

Rega - Aethos

Now last but not least the Jewel in Rega’s crown the Aethos . Although the Aethos looks very similar to the Elex-R and the Elicit it certainly stands apart from the others in not just price. Being the most powerful amplifier in this shoot out with its internal dual mono design putting out 156 Watts per channel into 6 ohms this amp is a true monster. The headphone amplification circuit switches the main speaker output using a mute relay as so not to obstruct the signal path, so you get the sound quality you desire while listening through headphones. The tech specs:

Price £3300*
125 Watts into 8 ohms and 156 Watts into 6 ohms’
No phono stage
5-line inputs with direct input, record out and pre-amp out
Dual mono design
Built in headphone amp with 1/4” socket

view online

The Setup

So I could best judge the performance of the amplifiers, I have replicated as much of my home setup for a reference point I’m intimately familiar with…

Rega Planar 6 with Ania Pro cartridge (moving coil)
Rega Fono MK5 - MC phono stage
Rega Saturn Mk3 - CD player
Rega Elex-R amplifier
Rega Elicit MK5 amplifier
Rega Aethos amplifier
Acoustic Energy AE300 speakers with matching reference stands
Chord Shawline interconnects and speaker cables

Music used

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced - recorded in 1967 - Tracks used - ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ (Vinyl)

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - Recorded in 1975 - Tracks used - ‘Trampled Underfoot’ and ‘Ten Years Gone By’ (Vinyl)

Alice In Chains - Rainier Fog - Recorded in 2018 - Track used - All I Am (CD)

The listening

So down to the important part. As previously mentioned, I personally own the Rega Elex-R. I know how it is going to sound and perform. This is where my love of class A/B amplification starts. With its ability to create a good and strong sound stage and warm yet detailed tone, also borrowing some of the same tricks that the Elicit has up it’s sleeve, i.e., the power circuit bringing out things I’ve not heard before like the backing vocals in Hendrix’s ‘Wind cries Mary’. What stood out to me aside from its tone is its simplistic design and the fantastic value. It is a lot of amplifier for your money.

Now onto the all new Elicit Mk5. As I stated before, this is the latest edition to the Rega family. There have been several incarnations of the Elicit amplifier before, but I personally think Rega have outdone themselves on this one. Not only does it have more power, but it has so much of the same feel as its big brother, the Aethos. The Elicit feels more effortless and I found myself turning the volume up, especially on ‘Led Zeppelin’s - Trampled Underfoot’ with that infamous clavinet used on that track by John Paul Jones, instantly getting my foot tapping.

Next, I thought I’d explore the Elicit’s Wolfson DAC so I connected up the Rega Saturn MK3 CD player. I found it detailed and easy to listen to as well as engaging on ‘Alice in Chains - All I Am’. The swirling phaser effect that they use on the recording is mesmerising and full of depth. This amplifier is a hard one to beat at this price point.

Ok, and now for the finale (drum roll please)… Well, I have to say this amplifier has taken my breath away. Yes, this amplifier has a lot more power but that in no way means it is hard to control. It is effortless to listen to, yet draws more detail out of the music. This was noticeable when playing ‘Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone By’. I could hear that slight bit of a ring from John Bonham’s upper toms on his drum kit (I know I’m being really nerdy, I’m sorry). In short, the Aethos is at the top end of the scale here but if you think about what you are getting for your money this amplifier is priceless.

Conclusion

So, to sum up this shootout - Each of these amazing amplifiers bring something different to the table and not just more of the same. The Elex-R has fantastic build quality and simplicity, a rich tone and bags of power. The Elicit has more power but yet more functionality especially with it’s lovely new built-in DAC. And of course, the Aethos a true class A amplifier with more power to say the least, but yet more control and detail and much much more to make you smile.

You maybe wondering why I went for the Elex-R?

It’s a long enjoyable road on the Hi-fi journey and I am at the start. I felt the Elex-R is the best amp to start with for me as I really enjoy its class AB tonal characteristics and how easy it is to use. The power behind it as I mentioned before is borrowing some of the Elicits power amp design which is capable of driving many many loudspeakers on the market. It drives my Acoustic energy AE300 speakers with ease and was at the right price point. Maybe further down the road I may go for an Elicit or really head down that wonderful class A route and go for the Aethos… We’ll just have to see.

But don’t take my word for it. Why not pop into our store for a demonstration and see which one you prefer.

Thanks for reading

Nick, Matt & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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…

Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores -

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

April 21, 2022

A Tale Of Two CD Players - Cyrus CDi-XR Vs Leema Elements CD Player

April 21, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

I am currently on a personal Hi-Fi journey, building my own ideal system from scratch. Turntable, amplifier and speakers are now sorted and my eyes and ears now turn to the CD element (pardon the pun you’ll see what I mean in a bit). There are a couple of schools of thought with this side of Hi-Fi, some believe CD is dead and go fully down the streaming route…

There are some great products out there like the Bluesound Node and the Innuos range of ripper, hard drive streaming units, which are really accessible and easy to use, teamed with a great choice of high quality streaming services at your fingertips. Myself, I still love the CD format, plus there’s nothing like getting that CD from your local record shop and having the physical item In your hands. This is of course a large part of the thought process when buying music on vinyl as well, not just the sound quality but the tactile experience too. I have a massive CD collection and I feel it’s such a shame to let them sit there gathering dust and also the fact a lot of what I have is still not available on vinyl. I have a love for vinyl, but I be-grudge getting rid of my CD’s.

So, this leads me to looking for a CD player that works with my system and sounds right to me. I’m a fan of good detail and warmth of tone, hence the amplifier I own, the Rega Elex-R.

The Rega Elex-R is a class AB amplifier and very much has that warm tone I desire. As we know there are a couple of ways to go about adding a CD player to an existing system. One way is going for a CD transport with an outboard DAC (Digital to analogue converter) such as the amazing Chord Electronics Qutest which I’m a big fan of. The other school of thought is the integrated route where the CD player has an internal DAC. A large number of CD players out there have an excellent on-board DAC and if you're anything like me struggling for space, this is a perfect way to go.

The question is, “Which integrated CD player to go for?” as there are so many great ones to choose from. I have personally narrowed down my choice to….. (Drum roll please) the Cyrus CDi XR CD player and the Leema Acoustics Elements CD player.

So down to the details of these two titans…

First up, the Leema Acoustics Elements CD player. Leema continues their innovative design with this small but classy looking CD player. With its TEAC dedicated transport it reduces levels of jitter and also has the Leema inbuilt Quattro Infinity 24 bit DAC. The CD player itself is super quiet so good news it doesn’t sound like a tractor on loading up and playing. Outputs on the back panel include balanced XLR, RCA for unbalanced and COAX or optical for digital output. This CD player also includes the Leema lips socket for seamless connection to other units in the Leema Elements range of products. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it’s made right here in Wales!

Now onto the second CD player in this shoot-out the Cyrus CDi XR integrated CD player. The XR range is considered to be the crown jewel of Cyrus CD player range and I think they are right. Cyrus XR CD players are amazingly quiet, sporting an almost silent servo loading mechanism which also helps with how this CD player reads the vital information. The principle is to read as much information as possible from the disc, giving you better reproduction when listening to your music. Also, onboard it has the legendary QXR 32 bit 2nd gen Cyrus DAC, giving incredible precision and detail to render the finest output possible. Internally Cyrus has upgraded components along with intelligently designed circuits using ‘counter-current’ methodologies to reduce noise. On the back panel we have RCA for analogue and COAX or Optical connections for digital.

My home system consists of the following:

Rega Planar 6 turntable with an Ortofon 2m black cartridge
Rega Elex-R amplifier
Nytech Audio CDP122 moving magnet phono stage
Acoustic Energy AE300 speakers
Chord Clearway interconnects and speaker cables

Who will be the champion?

So, what music did I use:

1st Metallica: Album: Master of puppets: 1986
- Track: Orion
2nd Rival Sons: Album: feral roots: 2019
- Track: Too bad
3rd David Bowie: Album: Scary monsters: 1980
- Track: Ashes to ashes

Up first, the Leema Elements CD player. This CD player has a real analogue vibe to it. It plays all three test tracks really well producing good detail and real engagement especially on the Rival Sons track, Too Bad. The Leema Quattro DAC converts digital to analogue incredibly well.

Up second is the Cyrus CDi XR. Repeating the same tracks gave me a very different listening experience. I found the Cyrus drew more detail from the disc especially from the instrumental track Orion found on Metallica’s Master Of Puppets album. I could hear a lot more of what was going on. For instance I could hear more of the melody from Cliff Burton’s bass, in fact the bass was more controlled on every track. This CD player really lives up to its name being the flagship of their range. The QXR DAC stands testament to what the guys at Cyrus can do. In short, this CD player gave me a really exciting and engaging listening experience.

cyrus audio cdi XR in phantom black finish

In summary

Both CD players are fantastic at their price points, the Leema at £1495* and the Cyrus CDi XR at £2195*. Both brought great things to the table but also very different at the same time. The two CD players have excellent build quality and both have superb DACs on board. For my ear the Cyrus does have the leading edge due to the overall clarity but the Leema does have a warmer analogue sound to it. In conclusion I will more than likely go for the Cyrus. Everybody’s listening experience is different. What is important is that the music engages you and makes you want to play more. For me the Cyrus does this a little better than the Leema and I found myself digging through my collection and revisiting music I may not have listened to for a little while.

Why not pop into our store and listen for yourself and check out these stunning CD players out and tell us what you think. You may not agree with me.

We are currently offering the Cyrus XR series spring trade-in promotion on all Cyrus XR products. You can save up to 20% on the Cyrus XR range of amplifiers and CD players. This offer is running from the 4th April to the 6th June. You can check out our website for details.

Contact us anytime about any of the products seen here or if you would like a demo contact us on 02920 228565 or email us at cardiff@audio-t.co.uk

Thank you for reading

Matt, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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…

Cyrus can be found at the following Audio T stores -

Leema Acoustics are available in our

*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

March 22, 2022

Introducing the Hisense 100L5FTUK 100" Laser TV

March 22, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

Thinking of home cinema but don’t want the hassle of having a projector fitted into your ceiling? Fear not, Hisense and Audio T have you covered.

With many of us staying at home these days due to a global pandemic, the cost of petrol, or even the cost of going abroad we look to our own home entertainment, whether it’s your sound system or in this case your viewing pleasure.

Like a lot of you out there, I am a big film buff. Before COVID hit, one of my favourite things to do was going to the cinema, it always felt like a event. Sitting in a darkened room, popcorn in hand, seeing a movie for the first time on the silver screen… I know, sounds romantic doesn’t it? But with the turn of recent events, some of that romance has been lost.

As I say there’s nothing like the big screen, so how do we replicate that experience in our own homes?

For many people, they very quickly get put off by the expense and in some cases, the inconvenience of having a projector mounted to your ceiling and a massive retractable screen put in, not to mention having a surround sound system of amplifier and speakers etc. Fear not, those awesome people at Hisense have come up with the perfect solution. The 100 L5FT UK-A12, also known as the 100” laser TV. I know what you’re thinking, “ A 100 inch laser tv?!” Don’t worry, it’s a 100 inch screen with a short throw projector.

There is currently is a promotion until the end of March 2022 which can include the amazing people at Hisense delivering and professionally fitting all in the price of the projector and screen. Contact us for more details!

The great thing about the 100 L5FT UK-A12 is that there is no need to have a projector hanging from your ceiling as this amazing piece of kit is a short throw and will sit quite neatly in front of the screen. Dare I say it, but I think it looks really cool too! This system could easily replace your TV as it has some rather good speaker built-in as well as TV tuners and all the current smart functions we’ve come to expect from our living room TVs. And for you concerned parents out there like myself, I'd normally be worrying about my kids going near the bright lights of the laser but this projector has a great safety feature where the laser cuts out when you get too close to it.

If you did want that full surround sound cinema experience, we at Audio T can certainly help. We have a wide range of systems to suit your needs.

On to the technical part…

Let’s start with its state of the art laser engine, which is how the projector achieves its incredibly sharp focus, aided by its X-Fusion laser light. All of these components help when viewing even with ambient light in the room. In short, you don’t need a pitch black room to watch a film. This is also helped by the dedicated light reflecting screen. It has stunningly realistic 4K Ultra HD, giving you that pin-sharp clarity. It is also blue light certified, helping with less blue light that can put excessive strain on your eyes. As I mentioned before it has a great safety feature with its laser if you get too close to it the laser will turn off.

Hisense 100L5FTUK 100" Laser TV DOLBY ATMOS SPEAKER

As I’ve mentioned previously, the projector has a built in speaker system that gives you a surprisingly good immersive sound experience. This projector works really well as a smart TV with its Hisense inbuilt VIDDA U interface so you have access to all of your favourite apps such as YouTube and Netflix etc. If you’d like to read more on the specs of this truly amazing projector package, check out our website or give us a call at any of our stores. As we always say, music and film is our passion.

The set-up…

In this instance, we set-up the projector ourselves and believe it or not it was really easy to do this. Hisense has a guide which will take you through the set-up of the projector step by step using an alignment tool on your smartphone. (So, if you needed to move the projector it’s easy to do so).

The bracketry for the 100 inch screen is really straightforward to mount and there is lots of room for movement and adjustment, so if you need to hit a stud in the wall or have a small area that can take the fixings this is not a head scratcher. Even down to levelling the screen, once it is up it is so easy with the threaded adjustment as shown in the pic. Once levelled off correctly these metal loops will scoop up behind the screen and be available if any minor adjustment is needed in the future.

On the audio side we have a 4.1 surround sound set up with a Marantz NR 1711 slimline AV receiver and Panasonic DP-UB9000EB1 4K Blu-ray player. Speaker wise we have Acoustic energy AE 520 floor standing speakers on the front and on the rear we have Acoustic energy AE 500 stand mount speakers and of course not forgetting the subwoofer, we have the amazing REL Ht-1205 running as well. So, we have the perfect viewing and listening package here. Why not pop in and take a seat and experience it for yourselves.

Laser projector setup Hisense 100L5FTUK 100" Laser TV Marantz Panasonic & Acoustic Energy

So, what do we know about Hisense?

Originally the Qingdao No.2 radio factory established in 1969, moving forward making television for China’s national defence office, through to making televisions for the general public. In the 70s they went on to manufacturing televisions of well known companies such as Hitachi NEC Sanyo and Toshiba. In 1992 the company was bought out by Zhou Houjian, the Hisense group emerged moving many years on in 2013 Hisense made the first type of transparent 3D televisions as well as making fantastic televisions in their range. Now turning their attention to short throw projectors, we have this fantastic projector package.

In summary

The Hisense 100 L5FT UK-12 is the perfect movie package or even if you want to watch the game or put on your favourite concert, as we say there’s nothing like live music especially when you can experience it in the comfort of your own room kick back relax and enjoy. If you’d like more information on this fantastic projector package, call us on 02920 228565 or email us at cardiff@audio-t.co.uk or why not pop in for a demo of this amazing projector package.

Thanks for reading.

Matt, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Hisense can be found at the following Audio-T stores

February 10, 2022

The Bristol Show may be cancelled, but we've got you sorted with Cyrus, Spendor and REL!

February 10, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

As we have all come to know over the years February is an exciting time in the Hi-Fi event calendar, we have the Bristol show organised by Audio T where we get to see and more importantly, hear the best, brightest and newest gear from the classic brands we love to new brands on the block. Last year the show made the difficult decision to cancel due to COVID-19 and sadly the same for this year but fear not, Audio T have come up with the solution. Each of our branches will be hosting a mini show over two days of Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of February.

Each of our store’s have chosen some of our favourite brands we carry in our inventory to showcase. You can see what all the other stores are up to Here.

At Audio T Cardiff we have chosen a few of our favourite brands Cyrus audio, REL acoustics and last but not least I’ll give you a clue D7, yes you guessed it one of our favourite loudspeaker brands Spendor.

System T7x subwoofer Spendor A4 Cyrus XR range demonstration prepared

We will have two dedicated demo rooms for you to listen to these fantastic products. But remember that we’re working via appointment, so be sure to Contact Us to book your place! We will also have systems set up on our shop floor where we have seating areas for you to listen to equipment of your choice in comfort. There will be representative’s from Cyrus Audio and REL Acoustics to show you what the equipment can do as well as giving you great set up tips on how to get the best sound possible out of your Hi-Fi or AV system. As we know, REL make fantastic subwoofers which make a great edition to your cinema experience as well as your Hi-Fi. A REL subwoofer can give your music experience more depth and dynamics and not forgetting our range of Spendor loudspeakers , from book shelf to stand mount right up to floorstanders we have a good spread to choose from. Also, the three of us will be on hand to welcome you and help with all of your Hi-Fi and AV needs offering solid advice or if you’d like just pop in for a chat because as you know with Audio T Hi-Fi, music and film is our passion.

So now for a little bit of history into the brands we will be showcasing at our mini show event.

Cyrus Audio

Starting with Cyrus Audio we know they have played a big part in the British Hifi industry. Going back to the start, Cyrus was part of the Mission speaker brand which was founded by Farad Azima. Moving forward through the early 80s came the birth of the first Cyrus one amplifier which took the industry by storm. By 2005 the Mission speaker company and Cyrus parted ways and Cyrus Audio was born. Now nearly a century later we have the amazing XR range which we will have at our event.

REL Acoustics

Now on to REL acoustics. REL was founded in 1990 by Richard Edmund Lord however the company we know today was born in 2005 with John Hunter and Donald Brody heading it up. Since 1990 one of the keys to the evolution of their subwoofer design has been the high level input, which is still seen today in their subwoofers. Moving forward to 2005 onwards, the new ownership came with fresh ideas from Silicon Valley engineering, producing more power and better performance with natural sound filtering, but it doesn’t stop at the electronics level. REL use musical instrument grade bracing on their cabinets giving you that controlled bass and detail we all desire. So, whether you're looking at the HT series or right up to the reference series you’ll have great performance detail and bass. We will have a selection of REL subwoofers on show and on demonstration at our event.

Spendor Loudspeakers

Last but not least of course SPENDOR Audio. So, what do we know about Spendor. Spendor was founded in the late 1960s by Spencer and Dorothy Hughes (Not just a clever anagram in the company name) working in BBC’s engineering department they came up with the iconic BC1 which was a big game changer, not only in the studio but in the Hifi community. Almost 50 years later the BC1 and its successors have been heard with their distinctive sound that truly captivates you. The same can be applied for their modern ranges from the classic series to A series right through to D series they still maintain that amazing sound we love. We will have a great selection of Spendor speakers on demonstration at our show, so you will have the chance to see and hear why we love them.

Join us for our Show Weekend Event…

So on both the Friday the 25th and Saturday 26th February the main demo room will be home to the following system for timed demonstrations by Cyrus Audio and REL. The New Cyrus XR range including the CDT XR, PRE XR and MONO X300 power amplifiers driving Spendor D9.2 all underpinned by 2 REL Carbon Special subwoofers as a stereo pair. This reference level setup will blow your socks off.

In our second smaller demo room we will have all the 7s. A more affordable system on show here that will include Cyrus CDi XR, Cyrus i7 XR teamed with Spendor A7 loudspeakers and a single REL T7X.

As we usually do at the Bristol show there will be show discounts on selected products. We will also be running a prize draw with the chance to win a pair of Cyrus Soundbuds 2 wireless earbuds.

The demo rooms will be on an appointment basis so please contact us at our Cardiff shop for your slot either ring us on 02920 228565 or email us at cardiff@audio-t.co.uk for more details.

We look forward to seeing you all here

Thanks for reading.

Matt, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Cyrus can be found at the following Audio T stores -

Spendor can be found at the following Audio T stores -

REL can be found at the following Audio T stores -

January 18, 2022

Spending time with Cyrus XR over the Christmas period

January 18, 2022/ Audio T Cardiff/ Cardiff

As a member of the Audio T family, we are often encouraged to take equipment home to get some real world, hands-on experience. I saw this as my chance to get up close and personal with the Cyrus XR range. So, over the Christmas period I was lucky enough to be able to take home, what I consider to be my ideal Hi-Fi setup from the many systems we stock here at Audio T Cardiff.

The Setup

The system consisted of -

Rega planar 6 turntable with Ania pro cartridge

Trichord Dino phono stage

Cyrus CDI XR cd player

Cyrus i7 integrated amplifier

PMC Twenty5 21 stand mount speakers

Chord cable shawline rca interconnects

Chord cable shawline X speaker cable with Ohmic banana plugs

All this makes for one amazing system, and in my eyes, a perfect setup. But, after listening to them in the shop and demonstrating them to customers, my main focus was on Cyrus. It’s nice to be able to put my ears to use and listen in the comfort of my own home. As we know, every room sounds different.

It’s probably worth noting that most of the photos you see here are in our demo room at our Cardiff shop, just in case you thought I had a weird living room…

Cyrus Audio

So, casting our minds back in to the history of Cyrus, the brand was founded in the early 80s in Cambridgeshire. Originally formed as part of the Mission Speaker Company, then called Mission Cyrus, their debut amplifiers took the industry by storm. Parting ways with Mission Speakers in 2005, Cyrus came back on to the scene as the Cyrus Audio we know today. Fast forward nearly two decades, and they’re still innovating, releasing new products whilst retaining their classic, sleek look, and always featuring their great sound which Cyrus are known for. Now, with the latest in Cyrus technology, here we have the XR range.

i7-XR rear panel including Chord co. Shawline Analogue

Cyrus i7-XR Amplifier

So, first onto the amplifier. The Cyrus i7-XR. I thought I’d start with this unit even though it has a more powerful sibling, the Cyrus i9-XR. So let’s get into it!

Pre and power amplification all in one box. Power aside, the i7-XR responds from DC to beyond 100KHZ ensuring ruler flat frequency response, keeping those unwanted phase shifts out of earshot. It also has a very generous, over-specified, power supply delivering 52w. On the preamp side the i7-XR has a true analogue preamp at its soul, featuring a high performance gain stage that makes this preamplifier extremely transparent. Connectivity wise, you have plenty of analogue and digital connections on the back to choose from, as well as a built in moving magnet phono stage. Also, not forgetting the amazing award winning QXR DAC on board, which has seven digital alignment options to suit the listeners taste.

Cyrus CDi-XR

Now onto the CD player. The CDi-XR is designed as Cyrus’ reference CD player, forged from evolution of its predecessors and years of research. Cyrus has developed their own servos for this new model, which are designed to read as much information on the disc first time around without re-reading the disc. This type of technology results in a better conversion of digital information for a pristine audio experience.

With all the precision engineering and research that has gone into building this amazing CD player, I would say the CDi-XR is almost perfect in every way. From the way they’ve shielded the components inside the chassis, right down to how they contain the noise in the circuitry. Much like the 7i-XR, the CDi-XR again features Cyrus’ award winning QXR DAC on board.

Cyrus CDi XR rear panel including Chord co. Shawline Digital

The listening…

Now to the important bit… How does this fantastic equipment sound?

Starting with vinyl running through the Rega Planar 6, via the Trichord Dino phono stage, into the i7-XR and then on to the fantastic PMC Twenty5 21.

Rega Planar 6 with ANIA PRO cartridge & Trichord Dino phonostage

First up, Bruce Springsteen’s live album from the 1979 concert, “No nukes” The track “Badlands” sounded big and warm with a lot of detail, especially when the amp warmed up to its potential, giving you that feel of a true live performance.

Second album to spin on the Rega Planar 6 was Black Label Society’s, “Doom Crew inc”. Special attention was paid to a favourite track of mine, “End of days” which I found to be tight with a lot of punch, which is a tone we’ve come to expect from American guitar God, Zakk Wylde, who a lot of you would know as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist over the years.

Finally, an undisputed classic… Pink Floyd’s “Dark side of the moon”. “Breathe”, sounded mesmerising, really big and warm but with a lot of clarity. Everything right down to the iconic “Uni-Vibe” guitar FX pedal that Dave Gilmour used in his rig when this album was recorded in 1973.

From Analogue to Digital…

Now onto the awesome CDi-XR. I was eager to find out how it sounded connected via the coax and using the onboard XR DAC of the Cyrus i7-XR amplifier.

PMC Twenty5 21i rear panel including Chord co. Shawline X speaker cable and Ohmic plugs

Albums and tracks I listened to that stuck out for me included the following:

First up we have “The Devil put Dinosaurs Here” by 90s grunge band, Alice in chains. The track, “Low Ceiling”, had an amazing amount of detail and presence, most certainly aided by the way it had been beautifully recorded. I found a great trick up the sleeve of the i7-XR. A selection of different filters that can be used, depending on how the album was recorded and mastered, to bring out the best of the tonal attributes.

Second album by Massive Attack, “Protection”, features the track “Karmacoma”, which was recorded in the late 90s. For anybody who knows the track, the bass is a key feature that some might say is a little overbearing. The performance through the CDi-XR had an overall clarity and balance that made the track truly enjoyable to listen to. Playing with the filters really came in handy in bringing out the best of Massive Attack’s iconic sound.

Finally on to “Beyond the veil”, a track from the album “Cautionary Tale” by Dylan Leblanc, which sounded absolutely perfect straight from the moment of hitting play. A really well recorded track that I thought brought out the best in the CD player, with really good production and plenty of detail.

On a side note: Dylan Leblanc is an amazing newcomer to the country scene hailing from Shreveport, Louisiana. With four albums under his belt and another one on the way, He’s definitely worth checking out.

In Summary…

As I said at the start of the blog, I feel that Cyrus XR series truly shows off the decades of research and design that brings this range to life, and more importantly to our ears. My listening experience went from strength to strength not just the clarity, warmth and presence from the Cyrus system, the ease of use and how everything complemented in the signal chain.

But why take my word for it? Why not have a listen for yourself.

Thanks for reading.

Matt, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

If you are curious about how the new Cyrus XR range we have teamed up with Cyrus Audio to bring you the Cyrus Experience Tour on Saturday 22nd January 2022 at Audio T Cardiff.

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Cyrus can be found at the following Audio T stores

Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores

December 17, 2021

From Italy Sonus Faber to Fine Sounds UK - Sonetto I Speakers

December 17, 2021/ Cardiff

A few months back we wrote a blog to introduce the new Sonus Faber ranges, distributed by Fine Sounds UK. This month we thought we would delve a little deeper into Sonus Faber, and take a closer look at the the Sonetto I bookshelf speakers.

The Sonus Faber Sonetto 1 is a very pretty loudspeaker with some some fantastic finishes available to compliment your home décor. Gloss Black, Wenge, Wood or Satin White as featured here are the available finishes. These slick cabinet colours are teamed with a hand-sewn leather top, a designed feature filtered down form the Olympica range.

All of the Sonetto range incorporates the Lute shaped cabinet that is not only pleasing to the eye but sonically important. This shape ensures that there are no parallel surfaces in the internal construction, offering perfect control over the internal resonances.

Bespoke Accessories

To complete the stylish look of the Sonetto I, Sonus Faber have created a bespoke pair of Sonetto Stands, manufactured from extruded aluminium to give it the rigidity needed for the performance expected from such a standmount loudspeaker. A nice touch to give piece of mind is the bolt on system for the top plate to the base of the speaker. The Soft velour on the base of the speaker and the top of the stand give a perfect seat for placement before bolting down. A nice extra is the cut out in the back of the stand upright for cable management.

Performance

Now let’s take a look at the sonic performance of the Sonetto I. Sonus Faber talk of the "voice" of its loudspeaker ranges and this voice is provided by the combination of cabinet construction, silk dome tweeter and natural fibre midwoofer and the front reflex port.

The silk dome tweeter is constructed with D.A.D (damped apex dome) technology and the mid-woofer with its natural fibre air dried diaphragm delivers high end performance at an affordable price. This technology has filtered down from their flagship Reference and Olympica ranges to achieve such high sonic presentation.

If asked, we would describe the Sonetto range as incredibly smooth without lacking punch or detail. The bass is defined, tight and tuneful and the treble is smooth, sweet and not fatiguing. The midrange offers detail in vocals that other loudspeakers at this price struggle to achieve. I think I could put my feet up and listen to these speakers all day and I wouldn’t get tired.

We have found the Sonetto I easy to place in most rooms. If space is tight it is surprising how well they perform close to the wall due to the shape of cabinet and the front mounted bass reflex port .

The System

For the purpose of this demonstration we used a system consisting of -

Leema Acoustics Elements amplifier - (Soon to be a permanent fixture at Audio T Cardiff, so watch this space for a future blog)
Bluesound Node 3 Wireless Network Music Streamer
Rega Planar 8 fitted with a Dynavector 20x cartridge
Trichord Dino Mk3 phono stage
All hooked up with Chord Company Epic X speaker cable and Shawline interconnects.

Demo tracks we've enjoyed on the Sonetto 1 include

Pearl Jam - Yield - Vinyl
Jessie Ware - Mirage (Don't Stop) - Tidal Streaming
Little Simz - Point and Kill - Qobuz Hi-Res Audio

Pearl Jam’s , Yield, is an album recorded in the 90s and when played on vinyl can be a little on the loose side in the bass, but the Sonetto I has no problem in controlling this and offers an immersive experience. Jessie Ware - Mirage offers a disco style with some pace. The vocal reproduction on these speakers is superb, along with the presence and timing of the modulated rhythm guitar. If you are looking to improve your stereo hi-fi or expand on your home cinema the Sonus Faber Sonetto I is a must to audition and are exceptional contenders in their price range.

Thanks for reading.

Nick, Kerrin & Matt - Audio T Cardiff

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Sonus faber can be found at the following Audio-T stores

June 29, 2021

THE NEW BLUESOUND NODE 3

June 29, 2021/ Cardiff

That’s right, the new Bluesound Node 3 has arrived with us here in Audio T Cardiff. It features an upgraded DAC as well as a festoon of extra buttons! But what else is lurking beneath this cool, stealth-like exterior…?

For those that aren’t familiar with the Bluesound Node series, they are, in our humble opinion, one of the best choices for streamers in terms of value for features. They are controlled by a fantastic user friendly app via smartphone or tablet and are constantly being improved upon with firmware and software updates, not to mention they have a remarkable sound quality considering the price tag. Realistically, if you wanted to significantly better the performance of the Node, you would have to spend well north of £1000.

Same Chassis, new tricks…

Superficially it looks no different to its predecessors, that is of course until you turn it on. Upon closer inspection you find that the top panel no longer consists of solely transport buttons, but now has five presets buttons and a volume slider control.

While at first I thought to myself “I’d never use a preset or volume control” I quickly found out I was wrong. The ability to have your favourite radio stations available at the touch of a button, allowing you to quickly throw some background music on without having to pull up a smart phone app was a incredibly refreshing experience. I also found the volume slider to be surprisingly responsive for a simple touch panel. It also gives a nice visual indication of how much volume you have to play with.

The Node 3 also now includes a HDMI ARC port, which really brings this streamer into the modern fold. This addition allows you to route all audio from your TV, Sky box or games console through the Bluesound’s new and improved DAC, giving a nice bump in quality while combining your Hi-Fi and TV in to one multi-media set-up.

So what’s under the hood?

Regarding DACs, the new Burr-Brown featured inside the Bluesound Node 3 gives a much more natural and smooth sound. Due to it’s differential output design it also has a much improved harmonic distortion reducing it to 0.002% THD, less than half it was before. Simply put this is a fantastic improvement to an already great sounding bit of kit.

The new processor has been bumped up to a 1.8Ghz Arm A3 and while the extra speed is not currently a noticeable improvement it could pave the way for an expansion of features in the future.

What we see here is Bluesound solidifying their position in the market and making an even more compelling product for the price. It would take a lot for anyone else to catch up and has been our go to streamer in this range for a long time now.

If you wish to listen to the new Bluesound Node 3 you can find them available for demonstration here at our Cardiff store or your local Audio-T which you can find here.

Thanks for reading.

Hefin, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Bluesound can be found at the following Audio-T stores

May 18, 2021

SOME BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN MODELS IN STORE AT AUDIO T CARDIFF

May 18, 2021/ Cardiff

The lovely leather and wood design of Sonus Faber screams Italian heritage and brings a little style here to our Cardiff store, and whilst they are beautiful speakers to behold, they aren’t just a pretty face.

With the arrival of four pairs in their range we gleefully went straight for the big guns and had a listen to the Olympica Nova IIIs. As you’d expect with a speaker of this calibre they needed a good amount of power to tame but with that came an abundance of musicality that easily deserves the price tag. For smaller rooms the Nova I are fantastically smooth and are happier with lower powered amplification.

Sonus Faber have a silky smooth top and a thunderous low end that brought the bass into to ‘Brothers In Arms’ by Dire Straits to life with their huge depth of range. The Sonetto IIIs with Hans ZImmer’s ‘Time’ from the Inception soundtrack showed their prowess at orchestral arrangements and that’s really where I find the Sonus Fabers shining, real instruments are convincing and powerful. After I listened to Yosi Horikawa’s ‘Bubbles’, I found myself even doubting the need to ever own a surround sound system with the width and depth almost as expansive without the need for rear speakers.

Sonus Faber aren’t afraid of innovation with a few interesting design choices, the Olympica Novas have an asymmetrical profile with the rear port firing out at an angle meaning you can either aim them into the rear wall or the corner opening up possibilities with room placement. The grills on the Novas are very intriguing, being constructed out of elastic they don’t obstruct the view or performance of the drivers while still giving protection. The Sonetto IIIs have a downwards firing port which makes them incredibly easy to place and are happy almost anywhere with a lovely tulip body profile somewhat akin to the classic B&W 800 series.

We found ourselves pairing Sonus Faber with Nytech Audio and Leema amplification to good effect and would make for a great combination with Naim.

It’s not very often I find form and function so perfectly balanced, but here I found myself with an abundance of both that was thoroughly enjoyable! If this sounds like a speaker that would be right for you, be sure to give us a call and book a demonstration.

Thanks for reading.

Hefin, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

Keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

Sonus faber can be found at the following Audio-T stores

January 14, 2021

RETRO LOOKS, MODERN SOUND - THE LEAK STEREO 130 ARRIVES AT AUDIO T CARDIFF

January 14, 2021/ Cardiff

The word retro is something that we come across of a lot of these days. It has become fashionable in clothing, furniture and many household consumer items like kitchen radios. It has also wriggled its way in to the world of Hi-Fi, especially now that vinyl has had a great revival, with sales at their highest since the early 90s. The latest example of this comes from Leak Hi-Fi.

Many of us of the older generation will have fond memories of the Leak Stereo 30 (2 x 15). This appeared in the 60’s and was a popular seller. It formed the heart of many systems. The Stereo 30 used germanium transistors, because that was all that was available at the time. They worked but were noisy and prone to thermal runaway, making it a challenge to design practical hi-fi amplifier circuits using them. These were replaced in the middle of the decade with silicon varieties, which was an improvement. These transistors were also used by Quad and B&O, as well as other manufacturers.

So here’s an interesting proposition for those of us that are enamored in the retro - Do we buy an old Leak Amp, spend some money on refurbishing it and hope we get the sound we want? Or, do we buy a system that retains the retro aesthetic whilst utilising the advantages of modern technology? Well, I know what I would do… I would invest my money in the sensible option and purchase the new one.

A 60 year old amp, however popular it was at the time, is highly unlikely to sound as good as the modern day equivalent, not to mention reliable and availability of parts moving forward.

Here enters the LEAK STEREO 130.

Looking very similar to the original, this amp certainly has the retro look. Sporting the design of the original 30 with its smart wooden enclosure. The innards of the Leak Stereo 130 are based around the Quad Venna II, so we are already off to a good start as far as sound and build quality is concerned.

The Leak 130 has a respectable 2 x 45W (8ohm) output and has been designed to fit in the modern world. It is a full-function integrated amplifier. It includes modern quirks such as a Moving Magnet phono input, a DAC, and a headphone amplifier. You can also connect to the Stereo 130 via Bluetooth using the aptX or AAC codecs. 2V Triggers are included for tethering the Stereo 130 to the matching CDT player so you can control both units with the same included remote. No stone left unturned there!

I connected the amp to a pair of Dali Oberon 5 using the Rega Planar 3/ Elys as the source. After a couple of hours warming up this system was focusing on the rhythmic aspects of the music, which certainly gets your foot tapping A clarity that nicely highlighted vocals and lead instruments, separating them out from the mix in a very distinct manner. The overall sound image reached well beyond the Oberon’s physical placement, extending in every dimension with a clear and present sense of the space of the recording. This combination also displayed taught and well-formed bass. Turning to some classical recordings the wonderful sense of space was still present bringing extra delight to the enjoyment.

The Leak Stereo 130 certainly has a character that extends beyond its looks and when combined with a complementary speaker like the Oberon 5, it offers many strengths that will suit any music you care to play through it. Add up all of the Stereo 130’s pluses, which include a very good sounding DAC, an excellent MM phono stage, Bluetooth connectivity and a decent headphone amplifier, all in a vintage-inspired case and you have a superb amp at a price that won’t break the bank.

Audio T Cardiff - Hefin, Nick & Kerrin

Be sure to keep up to date with everything going on at Audio T Cardiff by following us on Facebook and Instagram

LEAK can be found at the following Audio-T stores

September 17, 2020

Time For Evolution, The New Project Debut Carbon Evo Turntable

September 17, 2020/ Cardiff

THE project debut carbon evo in satin steel blue

The Project Debut Carbon has been around for a few years now, yet is still one of our best selling turntables. Like many, I was interested when I heard that an ‘Evo’ version had been released. What would the difference be between the two? Well, looking at the two side by side I must say they look identical (apart from the finish of course!)

the proven 8,6‘‘ one piece Carbon tonearm design. The super stiff, but lightweight tonearm delivers an insane sound quality with a convincing sound stage.

The signature, high quality carbon arm, factory fitted with the excellent Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. The connecting cable included with both models is the well respected, semi-balanced Connect-it E. And whilst it would appear to be the same looking platter, the Evo boasts a newly designed platter which we will discuss a little later. As well as this, there are now nine elegant finishes available, including Satin Steel Blue - A touch of class indeed!

So what else are we getting for the £80 premium?

To find this out we must look a bit deeper. First of all, the “Evo” has an electronic speed change. The simple on/off switch on the original has been replaced with a three position switch, flick to the left for 33 and to the right for 45. No need to remove the platter to change speed.

Whilst we’re talking about speed; this deck is also capable of playing 78’s with a special belt that is supplied. Just simply place it on the larger pulley and away you go. Just make sure you change your stylus to play your old shellacs - Ortofon manufacture an easily replaceable stylus for this very purpose.

While looking underneath the deck I also noticed that the feet were different. It now sits on three height adjustable aluminium feet which are further dampened with TPE (Thermo-Plastic Elastomer). This will ensure an absolutely stable platform, with good isolation from the shelf it is placed on.

So what’s new under the bonnet so to speak? On removing the platter we can see two noticeable improvements. The first is the in house designed motor and the way it is mounted. It is now decoupled from the chassis using a new mounting plate. This is again dampened with TPE, which isolates the motor whilst keeping it perfectly level with the sub-platter drive system.

As mentioned before, the Evo’s platter also features all new TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) technology which helps to damp the resonance completely and also increases the weight to 1.7 kg. Also, because the TPE is mounted to the inside of the platter‘s rim, the extra mass there will also create a flywheel effect. The result is an even quieter and noiseless operation, with less wow and flutter.

So, all-in-all, some worthwhile improvements for a megre £80. However the proof is in the listening…

Let the shoot-out begin!

I set both turntables up with a system that they are likely to be partnered with, consisting of the excellent Rega Brio amp and Dali Oberon 5 loudspeakers. I set them both to play for a couple of hours to make sure the system was fully warmed up. I randomly selected some vinyl from my home collection, but ones that should show the difference between these two decks.

First for a spin was Karen Souza and her cover of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way it Is.” Karen’s close mic’d vocals sounded good but with a very slight sibilance but this was not enough to spoil the performance. Imaging was good and the bass was slightly on the warm side.

So, over to the “Evo”

The first thing that was noticeable was the lower surface noise. The stereo image now was a lot wider, filling the space between the speakers nicely. Her voice was also slightly more forward in the mix, putting the band firmly behind her. In fact it was now a lot easier to individually follow the musicians. The bass was also tighter; no doubt a result of the extra damping. I didn’t seem to notice the slight sibilance.

Next, the Vivaldi. An early digital recording and not the best out there, however, with a performance amongst the top. This recording has a slightly shrill top end, and this was the case on the Debut Carbon. This was still the case with the “Evo”, however, the wider soundstage and greater bass weight made the performance much more enjoyable.

Again I had similar results with the Christine and the Queens LP. A wider soundstage with the heavy bass lines of the track “iT” much cleaner and more focused.

Last but not least was the John Mayer disc. This is a fine example of a well recorded and produced album, and both turntables shone here. The track “Gravity” is fairly narrowly mixed, and this was the case on both turntables. The biggest difference here was in the depth. The “Evo” bought Mayer’s vocals forward, and it was the same with the background vocals towards the end of the track. I imagine just as the engineer intended.

Funnily enough I was quite happy swapping from the Carbon to the EVO but not so much the other way. I just wanted to listen to the whole album. This for me would be well worth the extra £80 spend.

Project turntables are available from all Audio-T branches. Find you local store here.

Hefin, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

Be sure to keep an eye on what’s happening in the Cardiff store by following us on Instagram and Facebook.

September 15, 2020

The Rega IO - Half A Brio

September 15, 2020/ Cardiff

The Rega Brio has always upset the trend with it’s incredible price to performance, but they may have just stolen the market with the new Rega IO.

The Rega IO has a small footprint, punchy sound and plenty of volume for it’s size and while it may lack some of the trimmings of it’s larger sibling it makes up for it in sound quality and price, a trade I’m glad to make! With the vinyl resurgence still in full swing Rega have made a really compelling first buy for anyone wanting to join in.

The IO has a built in MM phono stage for a total of three phono inputs, remote with motorized volume control and 30w per channel of power.

Paired with a Planar 1 and a pair of Dali Oberon 1s we’ve put together a sub £1000 system that can complete with larger contenters but with a far smaller footprint in your home.

The results of this humble system are fantastic, with depth, warmth and character. This is a modern and minimalist approach to hifi without compromising sound quality.

If you’d like to have a listen to this or any other system please feel free to contact us at Cardiff Audio-T or your local Audio-T branch.

January 22, 2020

Acoustic Energy AE300 Series Arrives At Audio T Cardiff

January 22, 2020/ Cardiff

With a gap in our shelves we set out on the hunt for a new pair of speakers to fill out our repertoire…

After reading and hearing glowing reviews of Acoustic Energy loudspeakers, we thought we’d have a listen to their AE309s that they kindly brought down for demonstration. The design is elegant, simple and most importantly sounds great, we were sold from a single listening session and had them on order immediately. The delivery times were brilliant and we had them on our hands right away, a pair of AE309s and AE300s both in walnut.

As metal domed speakers go I am usually a skeptic but Acoustic Energy now have me convinced that it can be done right with their aluminum domed tweeters.

There was still some of the sibilance that I attributed to the metal cones but as they wore in and when I replaced the NACA5 speaker cable with Chord it disappeared and became incredibly musical. What worries I had were simply washed away with the depth of bass and clarity of treble, I find myself quite literally hearing detail I have never before heard. I have to sometimes remind myself that these are a £1100 speaker and to stop comparing them to others way above their price range!

They have a forward sound much like Bowers & Wilkins, so if that doesn’t appeal to you then I would suggest listening to Dali or Spendor as an alternative. In comparing them to other metal dome loudspeakers in a similar price range, I’m surprised to find that I prefer the AE309s in many ways, they are great value for money for their size and are far less fussy about placement.

The Acoustic Energy 300 series have a few quirks that make them interesting, a rectangular rear port which reduces the affect of the rear wall (we had our placed about 30cm away), opposing rounded edges to reduce the number of veneer sheets used and a bottom weighted cabinet to improve stability and cabinet resonance. The 300s come paired with their own stands with a stylistic walnut stripe down the front and a solid design.

If any of my waffle resonates with you then feel free to come down to our Cardiff store and try them for yourself! They are a very refreshing take on the ‘modern’ speaker sound that might convince even the most old school of Hi-Fi enthusiasts.

Thanks for reading, Hefin, Nick and Kerrin.

Acoustic Energy loudspeakers are available from the following branches of Audio T: Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading, Swansea, Swindon

November 02, 2019

A System Mixed To Perfection! PMC twenty5 23, Naim Supernait 3 & Project Extension 9

November 02, 2019/ Cardiff

Having worked in audio production in the past, I have always had a thirst for absolute precision and control in a music system and with that in mind I went out to set up a Hi-Fi system that would happily suit a sound engineer or a home audio enthusiast!

Starting with the delectable PMC Twenty5 23s

Going for that “studio sound” the PMC Twenty5 23s are the natural choice with superb dynamic range and clarity. Being transmission line and with their famous studio heritage , provide particularly ‘flat’ frequency response that I find refreshing and familiar, but with a loud and proud immersive listening experience that you wouldn’t achieve from a studio monitor. Simply put, they offer the best of both worlds, giving benefits from a true Hi-FI speaker and a studio monitor.

I knew the new Naim Supernait 3 was a perfect match for the PMCs the moment I put them together!

The control of the new Naim Supernait 3 keeps the PMC’s perfectly in check delivering beautiful low end stability that stunned me when I played ‘2049’ from the Hans Zimmer Blade Runner Soundtrack. The depth and spacing of the track was incredible and something that I hadn’t even heard in the cinema when it was first released in 2017.

Project Extension 9 with moving coil Quitet Black Cartidge

Bringing the heart into the system is the Project Extension 9 Superpack turntable that comes with the Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge and to back it up the GoldNote PH10 phono stage. When I first assembled this turntable for our display it felt like engineering perfected. It comes with three feet matched and labeled for each thread to make a perfect fit and four counterweights to give you a huge range of cartridge choices. The sheer weight and stability of the turntable leaves nothing to be desired.

What this all results in is me feeling giddy as a child to listen to music again (and spending far too much time in the demonstration rooms than I ought to). I think I’ve just decided to start saving so I can have this very system at home…

Kerrin Beckwith - Sales Consultant at Audio T Cardiff.

All Items are available for demonstration at our Cardiff Store

September 26, 2019

Exclusive Rega Planar 10 And Aethos Amplifier Product Launch & Vinyl Event At Audio T Cardiff

September 26, 2019/ Cardiff

If you love your music played on vinyl, then this is an event not to be missed! We are proud to be hosts for the exclusive launch of the NEW Rega Planar 10 turntable and Aethos amplifier.

The Date : Thursday October 10th here at Audio T Cardiff.

Also joining us will be Kellys Records with a pop-up shop. They are Wales’ largest vinyl store, so they will have a great selection of LP’s for you to browse and buy.

To reserve your place click here or come along on the day. Either way, we hope you can join us for what promises to be a fantastic day of music and Hi-Fi from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

Hefin, Nick and Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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

August 28, 2019

Italy Goes For Gold With The Gold Note PH-10 Phono Stage

August 28, 2019/ Cardiff

The Gold Note PH-10 phono stage is designed and built by Maurizio Aterni (CEO and Founder) and Giovani Rialti (Chief Engineer) in Montespertoli (Florence) Italy. With a host for features including various equalisation curves and nine load impedances, MM and MC inputs the Gold Note PH-10 becomes a very versatile unit. Available in silver, black or gold finishes, the non-magnetic anodised aluminium is milled from a solid piece of metal.

On powering up, you are greeted with a bright 2.8” TFT screen which displays the status of the unit (this can be switched off once your preferred settings have been found). By using the single control knob you can set the Gold Note PH-10 to match almost any cartridge thus giving the best possible sound and enjoyment from your vinyl records. This can also be useful for changing and fine tuning “on the fly”. No awkward dip switches here! As well as the adjustments for gain and impedance there is also a choice of three equalisation curves. All modern LP’s use the RIAA curve, however some older pressings like Decca/London or American CBS/Columbia would have been recorded using a different curve. For example some of the early Decca SXL pressings using the Decca/London setting sounded more airy in the higher frequencies.

On the back of the unit we have a selection of two inputs. We have the two RCA phono inputs both of which can be set to MM or MC, complimented by their individual grounding posts. Outputs consist of a pair of balanced XLR and a pair of unbalanced RCA. Also there is a 8-pin socket for adding the PSU10 power supply, a micro USB for future software upgrades and finally the IEC mains socket with the master on/off switch. The unit can be switched to standby from the from panel.

As well as following closely the curves of the three record standards this unit even allows you to select an “enhanced” curve following the Neumann 3.18us/50kHz single pole filter. This gives a more exciting sound at higher frequencies. A dotted red line on the display shows when this is selected. This is very effective at giving some extra life to dull sounding pressings

While listening to this Gold Note PH-10 phono stage we found nothing but pleasure. We could find no vices, just music delivered the way we love to hear it. It had our toes tapping and bought many a smile to our faces. With 6 EQ patterns, 4 choices of gain and 9 impedance settings this new baby from Gold Note is an amazing product. You can get speed, depth, detail and transparency from your vinyl, a sound that belies its price point

Gold Note products can be ordered from all Audio T branches and are on demonstration now at our Cardiff and Bristol stores.

July 08, 2019

Honey, I've Shrunk The Radiogram - Ruark R5 Music Streaming System

July 08, 2019/ Cardiff

Ruark have scaled down their flagship model the R7 to create a tabletop version. They have listened to customer feedback and have learnt that many love the design and features of the Ruark R7 and have scaled down their flagship model in all but sound to create the R5.

The Ruark R5 is multi-room ready and if desired can be wirelessly linked with the Ruark MRx, R2 Mk3 and R7 Mk3 to provide beautiful sound all around your home. Perfect on its own or with a TV as a complete home entertainment solution, The R5 embodies their rich heritage with awareness of changing technology in a system that is timeless and built to last.

The wonderful walnut wood and lovely lush sound of the Ruark R5 is something to be experienced. The canvas front and minimalistic look give it a fantastic modern look that catches the eye and is backed up with a very solid sound.

Whether you want to wirelessly stream or want to connect a turntable or TV, the R5 has it covered. For direct streaming, R5’s aptX HD Bluetooth receiver provides above CD quality from compatible devices and with a broadband connection you’ll have access to Internet radio stations worldwide and an infinite library of music through services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and Tidal. Moreover, with both analogue and digital inputs it’s also easy to connect and enjoy other devices. In particular the Ruark R5 makes a great sound system to boost the sound quality of your TV.

The Ruark R5 features an underside subwoofer which gives it a larger than life sound and a surprisingly wide soundstage to the point we have mistaken its sound for the massive floorstanders we have beside it!

The R5 also incorporates a high quality moving magnet (MM) phono stage so connecting a turntable now is an easy option. No more fiddling about with add on phono stages or inferior turntables, just plug one in and you will be listening to your favourite vinyl in minutes.

The remote control puck mirrors the top controls and provides unique and convenient control. Ruark also provides an alternative control method through the ‘Ruark Link’ phone app meaning you’ll never be far from your music.

Come on in and have a listen and you could be bringing high quality music to any room in your house.

The Ruark R5 is available at the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

May 13, 2019

solidsteel SS-6Raw - A Stand That Won't Join the Band!

May 13, 2019/ Cardiff

If you are looking for an upgrade to your existing stand mount speakers then the solidsteel speaker stand range is definitely worth a demonstration.

We have recently taken on solidsteel in our show room and are blown away by the performance and style of the SS-6. There is no doubt that this is an upgrade to what your speaker can already offer.

Available in white, black or the very pretty raw finish the SS-6 is simple yet elegant with its tripod style design. They just create the perfect base to extract the very last bit of detail from the speakers.

SolidSteel are an Italian Hi-Fi furniture manufacturer whose mission statement is “to serve music and nothing else.” With 29 years of providing excellent home audio furniture solutions this experience really shows through with the performance of the SS-6 speaker stands.

What to expect? Well………You have not heard your speakers sound this good, whether you are driving £200 loudspeakers or £2000 loudspeakers the SS-6 stands will undoubtedly improve the performance. Bass tightens up, soundstage widens and the overall transparency of the speakers increases. You are no longer listening to your speakers but being immersed in sound and the music just flows.

As our tag line states, “the stand won’t join the band”.

Available in 3 different heights, 50cm, 60cm and 70cm and 3 finishes, black, white and the raw (displayed in the these pictures).

solidsteel HiFi furniture is available in the following Audio T shops, Brentwood, Bristol, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Preston, Southampton, Swindon, Swansea and Cardiff.

March 08, 2019

The Hills Are ALive With An ACE Sound. Benz Micro Ace SL MC Cartridge From Switzerland

March 08, 2019/ Cardiff

Benz Micro cartridges have been in production since the 1980s, earning recognition throughout the world as one the top brands in the field. Ernst Benz, founder and designer of the original Benz-Micro cartridges, retired in 1994 and sold the cartridge production to Albert Lukaschek, his close associate and designer of the Benz-Micro PP-1 phono stage.

Albert relocated and modernized the factory, employed a highly skilled workforce, introduced many new models, including the ACE which we are looking at here. Though best known among audiophiles as a cartridge designer and manufacturer, Ernst Benz was also a well respected watch designer. He also developed and manufactured a high temperature vacuum oven for bonding diamond to steel that resulted in a line of diamond cutting tools.

Hand-building a phono cartridge is a highly developed skill, requiring specially trained technicians working with microscopes and ultra small-scale manufacturing. A competitive global business environment and technically demanding jobs have made finding skilled workers a major concern. On-going changes in the Swiss workforce, including the growth of both the high-end watch industry and high tech, have reduced the pool of these skilled technicians and the potential for new trainees. Benz Micro’s current production team represents the best of the best for producing state-of-the-art phono cartridges. These changes in the labour force, combined with further advances in design and materials, have resulted in new Benz-Micro models that surpass all previous versions in music reproduction.

The Benz ACE S-L has become one of our favourite phono cartridges. It is a low output device (.4mV) based on the generator system and stylus assembly of the Benz Glider with a protective acrylic body, The ACE is the first handmade cartridge in the range and one of the only hand-built cartridges at this price point! The Benz ACE is simple to install thanks to the inclusion of threaded mounting holes, no nuts were needed during set-up, which was welcomed as, with its exposed generator and lack of stylus guard, any mistakes could have been costly. The translucent shell projects the vital parts inside. This low output version is distinguished by its red casework, and features a solid boron cantilever and line contact stylus, rather than conical or elliptical profiles. It is also available in both medium and high output versions

The Swiss pedigree is obvious from the packaging and accompanying accessories alone, which include a circular bubble level and stainless miniature screwdriver. Albert Lukaschek listens to every Benz Ace cartridge before it leaves the factory ensuring that they all meet the high level of sound quality he demands.

To describe it as both warm and neutral might sound contradictory but that’s exactly what it is. There is never a sense of “character”. The Benz micro is a pure musical tool; it delivers exactly what the record intends, whether it is life and propulsion or calm and introspection and without even a hint of harshness. Instruments are portrayed realistically and with occasional surprise; sounds sometimes leap out that you wouldn’t expect, giving that spine tingling sensation. This is a true music lover's cartridge, warm and natural through the mid-range, with great bass extension and silky smooth high frequencies. If you just want to play record after record with a big smile on your face...the ACE is the cartridge for you.

Fitted to A Michell Techno “a” Arm” ready to play!

The Benz Micro SL MC Cartridge is available from all branches of Audio T.

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Ruark have scaled down their flagship model the R7 to create a tabletop version. They have listened to customer feedback and have learnt that many love the design and features of the Ruark R7 and have scaled down their flagship model in all but sound to create the R5.

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