What Hi-Fi? Visit & Tour of £1M Test Facilities

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Earlier this summer, we went to meet with the What Hi-FI? team to see their £1M state of the art test facilities, where they test and review the latest and greatest consumer Hi-Fi products.

 

What Hi-Fi? are extremely supportive and are the main media partner of the Audio T Sound & Vision Bristol Show, the UK's No1 Hi-FI show and the defacto place to be if you're a manufacturer or an enthusiast!

What H-Fi? give the Bristol show extensive coverage in the magazine and online in the run up to, during and after the event and are ever present at the show providing live demonstrations of cutting edge Hi-Fi technology as well as offering great prizes for the show competition. 

Jerry Lewin, Audio T's CFO and Hi-Fi industry veteran, film lover and serial gigger (tell us about the Stones at Glasto Jezza!) had never seen the test facilities before (*Ed. I already made the visit having been involved in a WHF reader test) so it was an opportunity to review the review facilities, so to speak and see where the plethora of equipment is put through its paces.  

There are six testing rooms, the main four being: Hi-Fi, Home Cinema/AV, TV and MP3, which is a small room for testing ermmmmmmm MP3 players, mini and all in one systems, headphones and phones etc. You can read more about the facilities here Though I have been reliably informed that this is due for a bit of makeover. 

Andy Clough Projecting himself in the Main AV Test Room

We will be running a competition in July and four lucky Audio T customers will win a trip to WHF to see the test facilities, and a three month FREE subscription to the electronic or print version of the magazine. 

Our visit was very informative and productive. The upshot of this is that we will be further raising our profile by making use of several What HiFi? services including the weekly e-mail service when we need to communicate major sales, special offers, promotions and events. We will also be joining the What Hi-Fi? Shop, so that anyone searching for products through What HiFI? will see the premium Hi-Fi products that are avialable in store and online. 

We look forward to our continued associatiion with What Hi-Fi? and continuing to bringing the best in Hi-Fi to Audio T customers old and new. 


Passing the test? Phil (Ed) and Andy talking HiFi

Arcam's AVR750 Lands In Our Demo Room!

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Arcam's top of the range and eagerly awaited Home Cinema Amplifier has arrived!


It feels like Christmas has come early! :)

 Supplied with the Arcam AVR750 you will find x1 Power Cable, x1 Set-Up Mic, x1 FM/DAB Aerial, x1 Remote (CR450), and x2 AAA Batteries.

Arcam's AVR750 isn't just an improvement over its predecessor the AVR600.... Its a giant leap forward in Movie and Music terms!, Arcam quoted that the AVR600 was known as the "best sounding" receiver available at that price point and beyond, however Arcam's AVR750 is being referred to as Arcam's best ever "stereo" amplifier!

Arcam have decided to use a completely new HDMI board for the AVR750 which relates to faster input switching & a faster to appear set-up on-screen menu which all helps create a smooth & seamless operation of the new AVR's, but more importantly is the improvements over picture definition! (We find ourselves getting pulled further into the picture noticing minute details that we previously had missed!). Arcam has also changed the volume control using a resistive ladder operation much like a high-end multi-pole resistor switch (usually found in esoteric and expensive pre-amps). With this design it means that only a single resistor is in place of the signal path , offering next to no distortion!

Lurking under the casework of the Arcam AVR750 is a huge toroidal transformer supplying the Class G power amplifiers with the clean, stable power they need to deliver a genuine 120 Watts (2 channels driven) and 100 Watts per channel when driving all seven, however the majority of normal listening uses a Class A stage, making Arcam's AVR750 a cut above the competition for music playback & arguably movies "Hollywood is easy......get the music right and Hollywood will follow".

Lastly the new remote (CR450) is superior to the one previously supplied with the AVR360/400/600, With much better and reliable lighting you can enjoy a home theater experience without having to stumble in the dark trying to find the right button!

Our first listens have left us gob smacked!.... thanks to it's refined Class G power amplifer and new analogue volume control its so much cleaner sounding than both the AVR400 & AVR600 amps.  The picture appears to have more depth & HDMI handshaking speeds are incredibly fast due to the new HDMI boards. This feels like what the AVR600 should have been.

Well done ARCAM! :) It's Amazing!

Book a demo today!

Audio-T Enfield

Tel:0208 367 3132

Email:enfield@audio-t.co.uk

ROLL UP ROLL UP,.. Get 'em while they're fresh!..

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EX-DEMO DEALS IN SWINDON....

Are you after something new in your system?

If the answer is YES then we just might have something for you in our Clearance Corner!
Pop into Audio T Swindon or go on to our Clearance section on our website to see what Ex-Demo deals we have for you.

It's changing on a regular basis so please keep checking back to see our latest offers.

If you have any questions relating to an item we have listed then please feel free to give us a call on: 01793 538222.

 

Arcam's irDAC is here!

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We've got our hands on the eagerly awaited Arcam irDAC!

We open the box to find everything perfectly wrapped in individual compartments.

With everything unpacked its clear to see Arcam has been quite generous. Supplied with the irDAC is all the relevent cables needed to get you on your way. PSU, Remote, x1 Stereo phono-phono cable, x1 Digital Optical cable, x1 Digital Coax cable, USB A-B cable, and Manual.

The Arcam irDAC uses x1 Burr-Brown/TI PCM1796 DAC chipset (Hang on don't they use x2 of them in Arcam's D33... Yes!) So arguably quite a lot of DAC for a mere £399!

On the back of Arcam's irDAC you will find x1 USB input Class I/II(switchable)[Faster is better :) Driver needed visit http://www.arcam.co.uk/extranethome/tor and download the D33/irDac driver to support the faster class II USB input], USB iPod input, x2 Optical inputs, x2 Coax inputs, x1 Digital Coax output & x1 Analogue Phono output.

 

So for those of us that don't have £2200 to spend on Arcam's wonderful D33! Is this the answer?

We have our irDAC running in now, so our thoughts will follow in a couple of days(Watch this space!)

 

Arcam's irDac is everything I expected from the little brother of the mighty D33.The irDac stays true to Arcam's sonic signature, which I feel is a vast,immersive 3D sound stage which brings you closer to the music & allows the listener to forget about their speakers & electronics! Arcam's irDac sounds right... everything I've played through it (from Classical to Metal, and everything in between) has made me smile with its sweet, natural tones. In turn this has given me more head room to crank the volume up, without my system losing control.

The Arcam irDac is one of the best £399 I can think of spending, which is why mine's on order.

 

Book a demo today!

Audio-T Enfield

Tel: 0208 3673132

Email: enfield@audio-t.co.uk