Denon DCD-50 CD / DAC and PMA-50 Amplifier Small and Beautifully Formed!

We've just taken delivery of these two components at Brentwood and have to say we're mightily impressed. 

The DCD-50 CD Player has a high resolution 32 bit DAC and will play CDs as well as data discs, whilst the PMA-50 is a digital integrated amplifier with an onboard DAC a USB connection for computers and built in bluetooth.

They are beautifull small components as well, equally at home on a book case, or office desk, as you can see even Boswell looks big beside them, and he is a bear of small proportions.

The big surprise comes when you fire them up, a big rich full bodied sound from a couple of tiny components, the amplifier will drive speakers much bigger than itself with ease, and the CD player produces a very musical performance. Oh and they can be used on their sides as well, the little OLED display flips through 90 degrees which is a very neat touch.

Come in and have a listen, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Isotek Mains Power Conditioning Event Update

With just a week to go until our Isotek event on the 4th and 5th September we have some exciting news updates for you!

Isotek distributors Sound Fowndations have confirmed that they will be bringing the entire range of Isotek products all the way up to the awesome Super Titan and Genesis!

Prepare to be amazed as you hear the improvements each Isotek upgrade makes from replacing a standard plastic trailing socket all the way up to the world's most powerful audiophile mains conditioner, Super Titan and the world's first multiple mains generator, Genesis!

As if this isn't enough to tempt you in we will have exclusive Isotek offers during the event and a prize draw with first prize of a Polaris power bar with mains conditioning, worth £294.95, and second prize of a Premier mains cable which retails for £99.95!

It's a great opportunity to experience the enormous audio benefits of mains conditioning, meet and quiz Isotek experts, enter the prize draw, and to take advantage of the event offers.  

We look forward to welcoming you in store on either 4pm-8pm Friday 4th September or 10am-6pm Saturday 5th.

See you soon,

Alan and John 

What is the ultimate source? Discover the truth with Isotek at Audio T Southampton

Debates continue to this day amongst hi-fi enthusiasts as to which source is the best.

Many say good old vinyl but streaming quality has advanced in leaps and bounds and the current choice of great CD players and DACs shows that there is still plenty of life left in the silver disc.  

Whichever format you favour, they are all capable of providing enormous listening pleasure and musical involvement.  We will explore and demonstrate the quality of some outstanding turntables, CD players, DACs and Streamers at our forthcoming audio events so do check out our store page regularly to ensure you don't miss out on our Autumn Audio Extravaganza!

We will have exclusive offers to tempt you as well as prize draws and the opportunity to listen to some great music on awe inspiring systems!

Our first event, on the 4th and 5th September, features Isotek products with experts from the company present, to explain the science and demonstrate the performance of their impressive range of power cables and and mains conditioners.

This event aims to dispel arguments about the relative benefits of different source components and to demonstrate that the real source for any hi-fi system is not the digital or analogue front end.  In fact it's the mains power supply.

We all know the source first principle of sytem hierarchy, and, however much we all tweak our hi-fi systems, in the search for hi-fi nirvana, Isotek will show that the first priority should be to tackle problems with the mains supply.  It really is a case of rubbish in rubbish out.

Without the mains supply we all take for granted our hi-fi systems would remain silent but there's a lot more to the electricity supply than just the provision of voltage.  We are all bombarded with RFI and EMI from the ever growing number of electrical, especially wireless, items in use preventing our hi-fi systems from working optimally, however much money we spend on other upgrades and tweaks.

Isotek have solutions to deal with all aspects of cleaning up the dirty and worsening mains supply and getting your system singing.

Just £99.95 for an Isotek Evo3 Premier power cable to replace the throwaway mains lead provided with most products will yield huge benefits.   

Isotek will show how much more can be done to ameliorate the negative effect of dirty mains on your musical enjoyment with better power cables such as Sequel at £199.95.

Prepare to be amazed when a system is transformed by the mightily impressive Sigmas Mains Conditioner!

The improvements Isotek mains products can make to any system, regardless of price, are so profound that we really don't want you to miss this golden opportunity to quiz the experts from Isotek and we are sure that you will be as stunned as we were when you here what Isotek can do to enhance your hi-fi!

Don't forget we will also have exclusive Isotek offers and a prize draw - watch this space for more details very soon!  

Do come along after 4pm on Friday 4th September (until 8pm) or between 10am and 6pm on Saturday 5th.

In the words of Keith Martin, founder and Managing Director - think power, think Isotek! 

Arcam A29 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Now In Store

Arcam have now released their new A29 stereo amplifier. This new amp completes the range of integrated stereo amplifiers available from Arcam consisting of the A19 , A29 , A39, A49.

The new A29 boasts an impressive 80w p/c into 8 ohms or 175w p/c into 4 ohms. It does this using class G amplification which makes the amplifier highly efficient while still maintaining exceptionally low levels of distortion.

We have put it through its paces and in no way does it disappoint, pitched at £995 it will definitely have other manufacturers looking over their shoulders.

If you are thinking of buying a stereo amplifier at this kind of price level then the Arcam A29 is a must for your audition list.

To arrange a demonstration give us a call on 01772 883958.

Arcam is also available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford,Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon 

Audioquest Jitterbug - Best £40 Upgrade for your Hi-Fi?

Just arrived in Portsmouth the new Audioquest Jitterbug USB Data and Power Noise Filter.

All you have to do is plug this USB filter into any audio based USB socket, like in our Naim Superuniti pictured above. Or you can use it in-line with any USB cable, for example going to a USB DAC.

It makes an obvious improvement/change to the sound of the system, making it more refined. It also seems to reduce the noise floor, and generally makes the system sound cleaner.

Come in for a demo and hear for yourself!

The Audioqest Jitterbug is available on home loan or if there is no demo unit available, on sale or return from the following branches of Audio T:  Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Portsmouth, Swindon

The Spendor D7's Reveal Some Hidden Depths.

Having listened to the Spendor D7's for many months we can certainly say that they deliver music in a fresh vibrant realism that many speakers cannot match at this price level. No doubt this is mostly due to some important innovations at Spendor.

Spendor's humble beginnings go back to the mid sixties. At the time speaker development work at the BBC had advanced to a stage that was beyond the capabilities of the available paper pulp coned drive units. So it was decided to experiment with various plastics. Here is an excerpt from the journal of the founder of Spendor, Spencer Hughes (1924-1983:

"My part as a laboratory technician in the operation, was to do most of the actual work both on the plastic investigation, and development of the LS5/5. With that experience I decided that it should be possible to make a loudspeaker from scratch in the home environment. With the aid of our electric fire, a compressor working in reverse and an old iron bedstead, the first vacuum former was built. Bins full of malformed cones were produced before any measure of success was achieved and the first 8 inch unit was produced. This turned out as the first commercial 8 inch bextrene driver and still arguably one of the best."

Spendor continue to explore new formulations and the D7 is no exception, the bass mid range cone being made of copolymer with the bass only unit employing Kevlar reinforced skins on a lightweight core.

The new LPZ tweeter is also rather special. Built around a stainless steel front plate that forms an acoustic chamber in front of the diaphragm which in turn equalizes the sound wave and provides a symmetrical pressure environment so the tweeter actually operates in a balanced linear mode. This coupled with the other drivers give an honest portrayal of the music being played with vocals and instrument timber being remarkably neutral.

The photo above shows the Linear Flow port. Designed to work with the dynamic damping and looking somewhat like an aeroplane wing, assures the smooth flow of air both in and out of the cabinet. This is tuned to a low 27Hz which reduces port distortion and gives a practical in room bass extension down to 30Hz.

With a nominal impedance of 8ohms and a sensitivity of 90dB/W they are an easy drive for any amplifier and will also be well suited to valve equipment. We have been listening to them with the new Nytech CP202/CPA402 pre-power combination (more on these in the next blog) and it has been magical.

Last but not least is the rigid plinth and spikes mountings situatated on all four corners, ensure the D7's have a stable and sure footing. 

So pop  in with your favourite music and have a listen.

Spendor is a speaker brand that is also available at our Cheltenham store.

Spendor A5R Floorstanding Loudspeaker

The new Spendor A5R is the replacement for the original A5. It has benefited from technical improvements developed during the design of the High End D7 loudspeaker. 

The new 15cm bass driver utilises an advanced polymer cone and an ultra light Kevlar piston to give ultra fast and seamless bass/mid performance. High frequencies are produced by a newly designed 22mm wide surround dome tweeter utilising fluid cooling.

The A5Rs have a sealed cabinet so it doesn't suffer from many of the problems associated with a reflex cabinets and allows easy placement of the speakers in virtually any room.

The cabinets have been significantly improved from the A5 and now offer asymmetric bracing and a new dynamic damping system. By isolating the front radiating surfaces from the rear surfaces the A5R has managed to remove the effect of bass smearing often associated with smaller floor standing loudspeakers.

On listening all of these improvements that have been made are clearly apparent. Bass is tight, deep and very tuneful. This integrates seamlessly with the open and detailed midrange. Coupled with the 22mmm fluid cooled tweeter that offers a sweet and highly detailed top end.The A5Rs really are a significant improvement over the original A5.

Specifications

Type 2.5 Way Floor Standing

HF Unit 22mm Wide Surround dome with Fluid Damping

MF/LF Unit 150mm ep77 Polymer Cone

LF Unit 150mm Kevlar Composite Cone

Sensitivity 87dB for 1 Watt at 1 Metre

Impedance 8 Ohms

Power Handling 150W (Unclipped)

Cabinet Size 830mm x 165mm x 250mm (H x W x D)

The A5R is available in the following real wood veneers:

Black Ash, Cherry, Light Oak and Dark Walnut.

These speakers are available for demonstration. If you are looking for a compact floorstanding loudspeaker with exceptional performance the A5Rs are a must listen.

Spendor Loudspeakers are also available at our Cardiff store.