New Rega Aethos Amplifier At Audio T Oxford

We first saw the Rega Aethos integrated amplifier at our Bristol Show in 2019. There had been a lot of talk for sometime, about a Rega amplifier that would be priced to sit between the existing Elicit and Osiris models. It was purely there as a visual exhibit and not for demonstration.

I was immediately impressed by both the styling and build quality. I can never resist seeing how heavy products are, as I (sometimes erroneously) equate weight with quality. This thing weighed a ton. I was then told that it had no transformer inside! How heavy must it be with one? The answer, is nearly eighteen kilos!

After a long wait (or heavy weight), the Aethos amplifier is now available and we have a demonstration unit in store for you to listen to.

So, what is it like?

This thing is a beast of an amplifier, far more powerful than the quoted 125 wpc would suggest. I doubt there are many loudspeakers out there that it cannot drive, easily. It is enormous fun to listen to: capable of tremendous bass and punch and yet agile and delicate when required. A truly enjoyable listen, that really grabs you on an emotional level.

If you are a headphone user, you are in for a treat! Rega have gone to town on this feature and it is better than many, not inexpensive headphone amplifiers that I have tried. Maybe it is so good so as to justify the omission of a phono pre amplifier? Rega’s logic is that; if you have an Aethos, you would probably partner it with a Rega Planar 6 (or above) turntable and that turntable would most likely be fitted with a moving coil cartridge. I suspect also, that it would also be quite difficult to implement a decent phono stage satisfactorily, inside the casework.

If you would like to hear this phenomenal Rega amplifier, please get in touch with at Audio T Oxford.

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

Naim 500 Series Now On Demonstration at Audio T Brighton

The legendary Naim NAC552 DR pre-amplifier and NAP500 DR power amplfiier are back on demonstration in Brighton alongside the outrageously good range topping ND555 network player and 555 DR power supply.

Our in store big system is really coming together now and will be joined soon by a pair of loudspeakers to complement the substantial performance on hand, but in the meantime the ATC SCM40 are doing sterling service, and have been ‘woken up’

The Rega Planar 10 and Linn Klimax LP12 turntables are on hand for record playing duties.

Streamed music played on the ND555 network music streamer comes from CD’s ripped on the Naim Uniti Core music server for best results and streamed from the internet for convenience and huge choice, with great quality too. The ND555 allows the music to flow with astonishing ease and engaging musicality. A cutting edge design in so many ways.

Rather beautiful inside and out!

The NAC552 DR pre-amplifier has proved itself time and again over the years for its ‘fundamental rightness’ and substance, with a real sense of texture and body to instruments and sounds.

The NAP500 DR power amplifier could be described as a gentle giant. It benefits from the transistors and and high power Discreet Regulators developed as part of the Naim Statement project. An amplifier of speed and agility along with great power and finesse.

The attention to detail through the design and manufacture is extraordinary and the results speak for themselves. The power supplies are housed separately from the more sensitive circuitry in each 500 series component.

The Naim Super Lumina cable range developed alongside the Statement amplifier will bring more to the 500 system than the already very good cables supplied with the products.

The Naim 500 Series is aspirational for many and with the Naim Statement amplifier beyond the grasp of all but the fortunate few, we urge you to arrange a visit and bring some music with you to spend a little while enjoying what this fabulous equipment can do for your music.

Visit us at Audio T Brighton or ring 01273 609431 or email brighton@audio-t.co.uk to explore Naim equipment.

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

Linn Training In Glasgow For Audio T Linn Dealer Staff

On a sunny but cold November morning, a number of Audio T staff arrived at the beautifully landscaped Linn factory. It is set into a hill in a very picturesque suburb of Glasgow, called Eaglesham.

The purpose of the trip was two fold: Firstly; to have a look around their very impressive factory. It has to be said that the people at Linn are true engineers. Secondly; To train some (and refresh the rest of us), with the skills needed to either build or service the legendary Linn LP12 turntable.

Contrary to some opinions out there, no special mystical or magical skills are required. As mentioned previously, Linn are an engineering company, with a passion for both music and the best means of reproducing that music.

The LP12 is a precision made machine, and a rather wonderful one at that! What is required to get the best out of this turntable, is a fully trained skill set along with the correct tools and equipment. Something that we have in Oxford and most of the other Audio T stores.

If you would like your Linn updated or serviced, or if you would like to listen to the latest incarnation of this classic turntable, please feel free to either call or email us and we will be delighted to help.

Linn Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T: Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Oxford, Swindon

New Flagship Acoustic Energy AE500 Series Loudspeakers At Audio T Bristol

This is not some "Holier than thou" new composite Unobtanium, forged in Mordor creation. This is a speaker that elevates performances in a really engaging way.

Based in Cirencester in the Cotswolds, Acoustic Energy have been around for over 30 years and are highly respected in the professional music industry, producing the highly regarded AE 1 Active and renowned by the Hi-Fi press for the original AE 100. They always seem to make a speaker that punches above it’s weight, puts a smile on your face and yet looks and feels very unstated.

The new AE500 series continues the tradition, currently comprises two models, AE500 standmount and the AE509 floor-stander. Both feature the brand new 25mm dome tweeter and 125mm mid/bass drivers with carbon fibre cone.

Until the end of December Acoustic Energy are offering 25% OFF a new pair of AE 100 / 300 or 500 series when you trade in your old loudspeakers.

Everything from the ground up has been redesigned to work with the new carbon fibre cones - beautiful woven to be stronger, lighter and faster responding to acoustic load than aluminium or paper. The lens surround of all the drivers has been redesigned and are closer together to cast a 170 degree even sound dispersion, most noticeable on the tweeter lens, softly embedded in the cabinet.

Talking of cabinets, the finish comes in Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black and American Walnut veneer with three of the twelve edges with a bevelled curved edge. Personally, I prefer the rustic feel of the walnut wood, which also suits the slim cabinet design . Acoustically, this is the same cabinet construction as their reference series using new Resonance Suppression Composite to reduce cabinet acoustic sound radiation.

The rear firing bass slot, I found is a lot faster, direct sounding with low frequencies being less breathy. The slot design seems to be less sensitive to wall proximity, which increases the speakers placement possibilities.

The internal tuning of the floorstanders is a whittling craft of baffle placement and internally machined port. Lots of loudspeaker manufacturers prefer to handle issues of internal cabinet resonance by manipulating crossover frequencies. AE prefers to keep the crossover neutral at around 4kHz. The standing wave frequency resonances are handled by a hole in the mid-placed horizontal baffle that is tuned by altering the diameter, micrometre by micrometre until a standing wave cancels out the cabinet resonance.

The floorstanders come with these elegantly machined plates with spikes making fine adjustments to positioning easier than the usual mounting underneath. This also means that the speaker has a lower centre of gravity and feels better grounded for its slim design.

For testing, we connected the 500s to Naim's new Supernait 3 using Naim's NDX5 for streaming Qobuz (Audio T Bristol playlistl) content. I suspected that this combination would sound overly bright with squeaky clean dynamics - a clinical examination resulting in a Coroner’s report that the Music died of unnatural causes!

I couldn’t have been more wrong. These speakers are exquisite sounding. Regardless of genre, this series has an uncanny ability of producing a clean, dynamic sound, effortless stereo sound stage and an engaging listen without being overly detailed or fatiguing. Female vocals soar, orchestral classical pieces a new level of detail and very involving performance.

Head to Audio T Bristol and audition the AE500 or AE509. Until the end of December Acoustic Energy are offering 25% OFF a new pair of AE 100 / 300 or 500 series when you trade in your old loudspeakers.

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

A Couple Of Modern Classics! Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary Loudspeakers

Right then …..it’s that time of year for a bit of taking stock on what has gone before and the traditional end of year poll. I will keep this one nice and simple. It consists of my own personal favourite loudspeaker of the year and my own personal favourite album of the year.

Firstly and probably most importantly, by far and away the best album of the year is a little thing by the band Lost Crowns called Every Night Something Happens. This is one of those mind bending prog/jazz/psychedelic things that comes along once in a while and really gets your brain cells tingling.

Great music with great artwork. There are connections here with Cardiacs and Knifeworld but the songs are so much better than both of these bands. Great lyrics and wild complex rhythms bounce around and off each other bringing to mind prime time Frank Zappa and Cardiacs at their most gymnastic time signature shifting best and then add a dose of Anglagard prog rock thuggery then you end up with this aural jacuzzi for the brain. May even be album of the decade…….WOW!

The band Lost Crowns. How can a band who look this great not be good!

Now then. How about a great pair of loudspeakers to help make sense of all this prog rockery? Well try the new Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary loudspeakers. Retro beauty mixed with ultra modern drive unit and cross-over technology.

This is a design that is at once ultra revealing but at the same time ultra musical. Kinda the Holy Grail of speaker design. This results in one of those very rare designs these days that is both audiophile AND fun! So many manufacturers can do one or the other but somehow manage to forget to do both!

Boasting high-tech Kevlar constructed mid and bass drivers and a textile soft dome tweeter each housed in their own internal enclosure. The Peter Comeau designed cross-over is as close to inaudible as is possible to get which means that the drive units operate seamlessly. This means that they can image as well as anything and conjure up a depth of image that very few can manage regardless of price. This is just the perfect pair of speakers to play music like Lost Crowns through. The complex rhythms shift off and around each other bouncing along infectiously and conveying beautifully both the really dark musical moments and the humour within the lyrics.

The stands double up as great record storage too. When driven by a competent amplifier they truly disappear and the music is left hanging in the air in front of you. We love them and we think that you will too.

Come in to the Cheltenham store for a no obligation demo …..just remember to bring in some of your own favourite music and we will do the refreshments.

Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary loudspeakers are available at the Audio T Cheltenham.

Just contact Andy (blogger), Jon or Farid to arrange a personal demonstration,

New REL S/812 And S/510 Subwoofers Thunder Into Audio T Manchester.

Audio T Manchester are proud stock the brand spanking new S Series subwoofers from REL Acoustics.

No End to the Low End

The new REL S/812 medium chassis subwoofer is dressed to kill with devastating levels of power. REL have upped the power of the previous S range and added an elegance and design not seen in the S range before.

A Pair of Ace of Bases

The REL S/510 follows the same suit but with smaller footprint.

Both the 812 and 510 have amplifiers that offer extra headroom over the quoted power, and as a result, even though the 812 is rated at 800 watts it could easily manage 1000 watts in short bursts.

These are also the first medium chassis REL’s designed to be stackable, yessss, up to three (3) units high per side.

Special fixtures and (included) metal plates allow these models to be stacked up to three-high safely and remain locked together. It will give our customers a chance to own REL line arrays for half the price of the Reference Line Arrays.

The 510 also has the NextGen3 amplifier from the previous outgoing flagship from the S range and now features a full 500 watt monoblock design.

Addicted to Base

The uniquely tuned passive radiators use special suspensions, now with an additional 30mm of linear travel, to produce performance far beyond conventional subwoofers.The new SuperProgressive™ passive radiator produces extremely long travel allowing for very loud output while retaining the variable stiffness of its suspension. This allows it to act like a sealed box compact 12” design at low volume and a high output 14” design at its limit.

Bass in the Place

All about the Bass

Thunderbolts and Lightning, very very frightening

At 800 watts the NextGen5 amplifier in the REL S/812 is borrowed from the reference models and rocks huge reservoirs of power and current. The 45% increase in power (previous version was 500 watts) is needed to deliver both the insane output levels needed for modern home cinema, as well as to produce the deepest bass in a high end 2-channel system. This increase in power is the result of an all-new circuit termed PerfectFilter™ that balances both frequency extremes.

PerfectFilter performs two seemingly disparate qualities; extending the strong, even response of the extreme low end of bass frequencies while simultaneously opening up air and delicacy in the middle and high frequencies of a system. Additionally, the applied customised PureTheatre™ filters allow the S/812 to deliver the most awe-inspiring home cinema effects ever offered in a classic REL.

So Much Rumble, It’ll Make Your House Crumble.

Tick, Tick,Tick, Tick….Booom!!

Yes, yes and yes…you can stack the S/series.

Our S/812 and S/510 are on demonstration at the Manchester store. and you’re welcome to come along and listen to ours.

James, Munir, Mike, Dave and Haden will be here to help.

We hope to see you soon!

REL Subwoofers are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brighton, Bristol, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Soundboard Music Awards A Great Success!

Celebrating 50 years of Music in Swansea, the Soundboard Magazine Music awards recently took place at the National Waterfont Museum in Swansea.

Soundboard Magazine celebrates original music and art across South Wales and promotes original music; past, present and future!

The awards recognise the best in Music, Live Music and Venues and Audio T were very pleased to be able to sponsor the award for “Best Single”.

An amazing line up of music started with the Fiddlesticks String Orchestra before the ceremony got under way., followed by Steve Balsamo.

On to the awards… We were very pleased to present the Award for Best Single to Who’s Molly? for “Until I Found You” Who also won awards for Best Band and Best Live act!

Mike Kennedy of Soundboard Magazine, Who’s Molly? and our very own Nic Forbes.

The next band to play was “The Stray Pursuit”, a fantastic group of young lads that have only been together for a year or so and deservedly won the award for “Best New Act.

The evening was finished by a solo acoustic performance from Who’s Molly?

The winners…….

We would very much like to thank Mike Kennedy and all at Soundboard Magazine for giving us the opportunity to support such a wonderful evening and very much look forward to next year’s event!

Pictures courtesy of @HELENLOUISEBANHAMPHOTOGRAPHY

Monitor Audio Gold Series Arrives At Audio T Enfield

We are very excited to take delivery of the fantastic Monitor Audio Gold series speakers at Enfield. We have always been fans of Monitor Audio and the Gold Series of speakers are very close to the world renowned Platinum series but at a much lower price point.

The Monitor Audio Gold speakers we have on demonstration are a mix of 2 channel stereo and Home Cinema speakers which can all be mixed and matched with each other.

We have in store two floorstanding models on demo :

Monitor Audio Gold 200

Monitor Audio Gold 300

These big boys will shake the floor boards and are suited for large rooms and also where you are looking for a massive sound stage.

We also have a fantastic Centre Channel. This is THE MOST important speaker in a Dolby Atmos Home Cinema system. Up to 70% of the on screen action arrives into this speaker, so it always pays to have a good centre channel and the Monitor Audio C250 does not disappoint.

Monitor Audio Gold C250

And for the bass freaks there’s the

Monitor Audio Gold W12 Subwoofer

So come on down to Audio T Enfield and experience the Monitor Audio Gold series of speakers in a stereo Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system.

Monitor Audio loudspeakers are available at the following branches of Audio T: Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

AURALiC Aries G1 & Altair G1 A Tale Of Two Streamers

Being relatively new to the audio market hasn’t stopped AURALiC making a big name for itself in a very short space of time. The Hong Kong based company, formed in 2009 and has garnered swathes of great reviews and much respect from the industry from day one, with the Ark D to A converter and Taurus Headphone amplifier and pre-amplifier.

Auralic Aries G1

Here we are 10 years later with AURALiC having established themselves as one of leading manufacturers of digital streamers, with two new models but with different intentions. The Aries G1 Streaming transport and the Altair G1 Streamer with DAC and digital pre-amplifier.

Auralic Altair G1

Both have the usual AURALiC high standards of build quality. Anodised matte black aluminium case with full colour 4” high resolution display giving clear images of album artwork when playing. Both have the sonic performance we have come to expect from AURALiC, with effortless clear and detailed sound but never forward and overpowering. Other makes may give the impression that they have more oomph in the lower regions, but the AURALiC family sound tends to stay on the neutral side and lets the rest of your system choose the character.

The Aries G1 streaming transport released earlier this year is just that. A network streamer without a built in digital to analogue converter (DAC). Allowing access to your music on your network attached storage (NAS), USB drive or via Tidal or Qobuz streaming services, with the added bonus of Internet radio and the ability to play via Bluetooth or Apple Airplay. With audiophile resolution up to DSD512 & PCM 32bit/384k all you need to do is just add the DAC of your choice. Available outputs are coaxial/Toslink and USB. We have been getting very good results from the Chord Electronics range for example. All can be controlled with AURALiC’s own very good Lightning DS app or if you choose, it is also Roon ready. You are now ready to explore the world of music streaming by adding this to your existing Hi-Fi system.

Auralic Aries G1 rear view

Now here is the difference. The Altair G1, with DAC can bring streaming to your existing system. There is the option to add local storage so you can store your music on board. It’s also a digital pre-amplifier with single ended RCA & balanced XLR outputs, meaning it can also be used either with a dedicated power amplifier or into active loudspeakers, making it a neat one box solution. It also has a very decent headphone amplifier built in. With the addition of digital inputs of AES/EBU, USB, coaxial and Toslink you can also add your other digital devices too.

Auralic Altair G1 rear view

This is one of the very best ways of moving up the music streaming ladder and improving considerably on the sound quality of basic music streamers or indeed of getting into streaming at a very decent level. We’re very impressed with what AURALiC offers.

Both models are available to audition at our Brighton store, so get in contact and Julian, Paul and John will be happy to set up a demonstration discuss the various features and options with you.

AURALiC Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T: Brighton, Bristol, Cheltenham, Online, Southampton

Dynavector DV-10X5 MK2 Moving Coil Cartridge Just Gets Better

I know it’s not really been that long since my last blog but I just have to tell you about the marvellous little Dynavector DV-10X5 MK2 moving coil cartridge.

The 10X series high output moving coil cartridge has actually been around since 1978 and has won so many awards it is getting embarrassing. Over the years the 10X series cartridges have become widely accepted as the benchmark for high output moving coil cartridges at this price point and way beyond.

With the introduction of the Dynavector DV-10X5 MK2 there is no doubt that Dynavector will retain this enviable position for the foreseeable future.

Dynavector are world famous for their their capability of winding the finest coil assemblies and have been able to minutely increase the number of coil windings to achieve even better sound quality.

The head block is made from aluminium to provide a rigid platform for the cartridge motor and to provide a really rigid fixing to the tonearm.

It also sports a nude diamond Shibata 3 line contact stylus tip and hardened cantilever to ensure superb tracking over even the most torturous record grooves while still achieving extended high frequency response and enhanced musical resolution avoiding the harshness or irritating edginess that can occur in other moving coil cartridges.

I recently had the pleasure of listening to the Dynavector 10X5 MK2 fitted to a Rega Planar 3 turntable and the quality of replay produced by the pairing was just gorgeous. Being played through the Rega Elicit integrated amplifier (which was fine because the Dynavector is high output and will work into a moving magnet input) and a pair of the new Acoustic Energy AE509 floorstanding loudspeakers the system was delivering a quality of sound that was way above what is normal for this price! First on was the Nils Petter Molvaer album Khmer. This has only just been released on vinyl for the first time, although it first saw the light of day in 1997. Better late than never though eh? Stunningly recorded with some of the deepest bass in recorded music history. It is a wonderful pressing and recording produced by the wizard at ECM that is Manfred Eicher.

Massive beats and throbbing grooves underpin the Norwegian trumpeter’s fiery solos in a project that forms a bridge between ECM’s improvised soundscapes and the brave new world of trip-hop, drum and bass, ambient/illbient, techno, industrial, electronica and samples. Genius and should be in every self respecting audiophile’s collection.

Next on the playlist was the rather excellent album called Baby from electro boffins Yello. Played on the Dynavector and Rega P3 combination, this produced the kind of soundstage that was so large that the walls of the room just melted away and the music was left hanging in the air in front of me. It was one of those goose-bump inducing moments that meant I just had to play the whole album!

Time and again while playing this album I was left astounded by just how good this whole system was performing. The stand out tracks being Who’s Groove and Capri Calling both sounding lush and mesmerising. I am sure that this system combination will make the most of pretty much whatever it is asked to play. I listened to some classic Blue Note jazz some beautiful old Decca classical and a bit of the good old Grateful Dead and all were portrayed with that effortless ease that is the trademark sound of a great system working really well. All in all this sparkling little cartridge proved to be the icing on the cake for this particular vibration measuring machine!

Call us or pop in if you’d like to have a listen.

Dynavector phono cartridges are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Manchester, Online, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Swansea

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

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

Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister Integrated Amplifier Teaser!

Eagle-eyed customers who pop their heads in our lower demo room door may notice a new entry in our tube amp portfolio.

Spot it? You can’t miss it!

I am reliably informed by those lovely people at Audio Note (UK) that we are in possession of the very first sample of the new Meishu Tonmeister integrated amplifier on demonstration in a UK dealer; and what a handsome beast he is.

This is first of three variants available and represents the entry into Audio Note pure class A directly heated triode operation, 300B SET, (single ended triode), zero-feedback design amplifiers and a significant upgrade from the existing Meishu. Ours includes a tube phonostage.

Our unit is currently undergoing our usual in depth running in program i.e. we’re playing loads of fab music through it often at ridiculously loud levels ;-)); and oh-boy are we enjoying the process! With Audio Note high-efficiency loudspeakers it’s just staggering what 8wpc can do!

I will cover this and the other variants in a future post when it’s fully run in (though feel free to drop in for a sneak listen anytime) but in the meantime here are some juicy pics to drool over.

It's Time To Take A Stand On Isolation! Let’s Have A Look At What IsoAcoustics Have To Offer.

One of the more commonly heard statements that leaves the lips of our loyal customers when discussing their Hi-Fi is “I’m happy with my speakers, but…”

Now, many people may think that the next step might be to look at changing the amplifier, the sound source or perhaps adding a subwoofer to improve things. Whilst these are all good options, they’re not the only ones to consider…

Whether you’re rocking a pair of mighty floor standers or the humble bookshelf equivalent, there is something to be gained from the inclusion of an isolation solution, and luckily for you, IsoAcoustics have got lots of options for you to consider.

Since 2012, IsoAcoustics have been at the forefront of acoustic isolation solutions, working at improving the sound quality within professional audio market (recording and production studios) and for the consumer home audio market.

So what do they do? Well, if you were to assume that the implementation of an isolation stand would give you tighter bass response, then you would be correct! But, it might shock you to know that they also greatly improve the upper-mid frequency response to give you a noticeably enhanced clarity and openness.

Don’t believe me? Why don’t you contact your local store to book a demonstration? Let’s have a look at the range….

The GAIA Series

Available in three different sizes to ensure the best fit for your speakers - GAIA I, II and III

Designed to replace the existing spike or rubber foot of your floor standing speakers, the GAIA are a carefully engineered master-stroke. The patented design allows the speaker to resist lateral movement and oscillations whilst maintaining alignment with the ideal listening position. Any internal reflections from the hard supporting surface are attenuated resulting in greater sound clarity and openness. You can read more on the GAIA series as well as watch some original videos here.

Three GAIA models tuned and optimized for each weight range

“When a speaker is placed on a hard surface, secondary internal reflections result. Any artifacts of this smear found in the stereo image is perceived to be in the center, causing the sound stage to collapse. The GAIA series of isolators eliminates this smear resulting in a larger 3-dimensional sound stage.”

The Aperta Series

Available in a modern aluminium finish or classic black, as well as three different sizes, the Aperta is the best option for any bookshelf speakers whether they sit on a stylish living room sideboard or dedicated speaker stands. Not only do these patent designs give you the separation and acoustic isolation you’d expect from a bespoke stand, but they also allow you to adjust and angle the speakers to ensure that you are firing the sound to the best listening position possible. The patented IsoAcoustics isolation stand Aperta, which means ‘open’ in Italian, allows the speakers to float, eliminating reflections from being conducted back into the structure that create bass smear and resulting in a lack of clarity and openness. Trust me, you will hear the difference immediately.

Which option is best for me?

The fine folk at IsoAcoustics have even created a handy calculator for you to see what is the best choice of isolation for your speakers here.

But, “Brad! I’ve already isolated my speakers. Is there anything else you can show me from IsoAcoustics?” I hear you cry! Well, luckily for you, the answer is yes. Perhaps you want to up your isolation game on your audio components or turntable? Well then you should look at the stylish Orea Series. “But Brad, my turntable is my pride and joy! I love it more than I could have ever thought! Is there anything dedicated for it that is better than the sleek Orea?” - Never fear, IsoAcoustics have you covered yet again! They say that no man is an island, but they didn’t say anything about your turntable. Feast your eyes on the aptly named Delos - The Floating Island. I think it is safe to say that these products are so mammoth that they need a blog dedicated just to them… Perhaps next month we’ll have something for you… Stay tuned to find out!

In the meantime be sure to follow the Portsmouth store on Instagram and Facebook for more original content, and don’t be afraid to message us with your suggestions and comments.

IsoAcoustics isolation products are available from all branches of Audio T and are available to buy online. You can also ask to try them out in your own system before you buy, using our home loan service. Call or ask in store for details.

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

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

System Synergy! Creating A Great Sounding Home Hi-Fi System Using Naim, Rega & Acoustic Energy

According to Wikipedia, Synergy, is the creation of a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. At Audio T we have a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from working over many years, with a multitude of different Hi-Fi manufacturers and their products. This collective knowledge means we can suggest and created great value, balanced and musically satisfying home audio systems. We also know that partnering a series of 5 star award winning products doesn’t always make for a great sounding Hi-Fi system!

So, with that in mind, we thought it would put together a complete mid-level Hi-Fi system for small to medium sized rooms, that would cope equally well with reproducing vinyl, but also introduce the option of entering the world of high quality music streaming. We wanted to put together something that would straight away get to the heart of the music and the artists performance, in a thoroughly enjoyable way.

To meet our brief, we have put together some new outstanding products with an old but good favourite. So what have we lined up?

·      Naim Nait XS3 amplifier

·      Naim ND5XS2 streamer

·      Rega Planar 6 with Exact moving magnet cartridge

·      Acoustic Energy AE500 bookshelf speakers

The talented individuals - but do they excel as a team?

Naim Nait XS3

The new Naim Nait XS3 amplifier makes a simple, elegant and powerful music playing solution. The amplifier is all analogue, with a wide and flexible range of inputs; the moving magnet phono stage is a new introduction for this model to reflect the resurgence of vinyl. It makes a great low-box pairing with the matching ND5 XS 2 streamer

Sideways glance..

Naim ND5XS2

The ND5XS2 uses the latest innovative new streaming platform from Naim with an expanded feature set. This is a versatile player giving access to a full range of streaming options including Tidal, Spotify, Internet radio etc. Naturally you can additionally install a server should you wish to stream local files; ripped CDs, Hi-Res downloads etc. It’s also Blutooth and Chromecast enabled. The Naim software can be operated from a mobile phone or tablet. The ND5XS2 can form part of a multi-room setup with other Naim streaming products too. The quality and versatility of the Naim streaming app is very good indeed.

Rega Planar 6 and Exact MM

The Planar 6 benefits from the trickle-down technology derived from ongoing research at Rega. It follows the Rega design ethic of a low mass but rigid structure, to minimise unnecessary distortion. It comes with an advanced anti-vibration motor circuit powered by a separate NEO power supply, tuned to each individual deck. Regas’ attention to rigidity is further enhanced by a double brace between the tonearm and the hub pillars to further accuracy in playback. It is clear that a lot of thought and engineering detail had gone into this simple but elegant package.

Planar 6, Exact and Aswad!

Acoustic Energy AE 500

The AE500 is a new compact stand-mount loudspeaker from the flagship AE 500 Series. It features a newly developed carbon fibre tweeter and mid/bass drivers, to enhance musical power and accuracy, but with improved self-damping for a smoother, more transparent sound. It is an attractive speaker, well put together and surprisingly heavy, given its size!

Showing the carbon drivers

Well, the important bit is how does the system sound?

It sounds very balanced and dynamic, able to easily convey the depth, richness and dynamics available from vinyl. The voicing and phono stage of the XS3 amplifier and the Rega combine to provide a very convincing and immersive sound.

The ND5 XS2 benefits from classic Naim engineering and fastidious attention to detail ensuring that it delivers natural, engaging sound quality from all streamed digital sources. Its musical and technical performance is highly satisfying and informative.

Throughout all this the XS3 provides a solid, powerful and musically coherent, tonally accurate foundation, to allow the system to really breathe and unleash the music.

The AE 500’s more than hold up their end of the bargain being rich, dynamic, insightful and faithful to the intensity of the performance. Given their size they cannot defy the laws of physics and produce prodigious bass, but they nonetheless give a very solid foundation to the music.

Together, it is a great system that makes you forget what kit you are listening to and instead become immersed in the musical performance. Everything works well together to produce an exceptional result. That is true Synergy.

If you are looking for a system built around compact speakers, you need to have a listen to this!

All items are available for demonstration at Audio T Reading.

Rob - Sales Consultant.

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

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

Acoustic Energy HI-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: Bristol, Cheltenham, Enfield, Online, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Swindon

The Deconstruction (No pun intended) Of Queen's 'Somebody To Love' Used By A Customer Choosing His New HiFi.

The other day, we had a customer, who happened to be a both a huge Queen fan and an ardent drummer. During conversation, he admitted that when listening to music, he always tuned into and appreciated the drums. if the drums weren’t doing it for him, then the system didn’t either!

I’m a big fan of radio or TV programmes that ‘dissect’ classic (normally) rock tracks and I love to hear how they were created and assembled. It occurred to me, that it might be a useful exercise to listen to how exactly Roger Taylor plays the drums. It is, however the only time that I have listened to one such piece as part of a customer demonstration

Christian James Hand is a Californian DJ who does just that. He runs a whole series of radio programmes that analyse classic rock tracks and one of these looked at the composition of ‘Somebody to Love’ (Freddie’s favourite Queen song). We listened, in isolation, to Roger’s hard hitting, repetitive bass drum beats, ending with that great crescendo and used this as a reference point for when listening to the track as a whole.

We started off with a mid-price Japanese separates system but this just wasn’t cutting the mustard. After a couple of changes, we decided to up the budget and focus on a system that really majors on timing: Settling on the new Naim Nait XS3 amplifier with the Naim ND5 XS2 Network Streamer as a source, accompanied by Dynaudio Evoke 30 speakers.

Wow! suddenly the separation of each instrument became clear, but with all of them (along with Freddie’s amazing voice), both gelling and timing perfectly. For the customer, it was a revelation, and one that he could not do without. The system is now ordered and waiting to be installed in his home.

Whether you are a musician or not, you may well find Christian Hand’s programmes interesting. Please click on the link to hear how the song that we used, sounds, when it is stripped down to its very bare essence.

Naim Hi-Fi products are available at all branches of Audio T

Dynaudio loudspeakers are available at the following branches of Audio T: Brighton, Bristol, Cheltenham, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Join Us For A Delicious Day Of All Things Vinyl With Two New Products From Rega & Diverse Vinyl

Join Manager Andy Day and an as yet unspecified special guest from Rega on Saturday 2nd November for a very special musical event showcasing two exciting new Rega products.

The long awaited Aethos amplifier, that we are presently awaiting the arrival of with baited breath……..and the new Rega Planar 10 turntable which will be coupled with the outstanding Rega Aura reference phono-stage; we expect the shop to sing, and swing, like never before!

Click the image to reserve your place or come along on the day!

We have had our new demonstration Rega Planar 10 on constantly since it arrived, just over a fortnight ago and beleive us, it sounds even better than it looks. And it seems, reading our other branches recent blog posts that the concensus is unanimous, so rather than add another superlative review to the an already crowed field we decided our time was better spent just listening to the deck!....But please check out our other branches blog posts and discover just how good this fantastic turntable is - a great way to whet the appetite before paying us a visit on Saturday 2nd November; without wishing to mix the metaphors too much.

In addition, we will also be hosting our good friend's, Diverse Vinyl, who will be bringing more vinyl treats with them than you could possibly flick through in a single afternoon, who will be operating a "pop-up" shop at Audio T, Swindon, just for the day, so you can browse and by the latest and greatest releases on vinyl.

We hope you can join us for a fantastic day of music and Hi-Fi showcasing two exceptional new products. We look much look forward to seeing you then - Andy & Andrew - Audio T Swindon.

Stop it You're Kiln Me! The New Rega Planar 10 Turntable With Ceramic Platter And Brace.

Sorry, we just couldn’t help that pun, but it was well intended. More to the point though, we have now received our spectacular new Rega Planar 10 record player.

We are also pleased to announce an official launch of the Rega Planar 10 on the 19th October 2019 at our Manchester store on Bridge Street. Click on the poster below to reserve your place or come along on the day!

And if that wasn’t exciting enough for all you vinyl heads, Diverse Vinyl will be bringing their pop up vinyl store to Manchester on the 19th too. So you can peruse the record store after you have demonstrated the some of the best turntables on the market.

And now we are thrilled to introduce the new Rega Planar 10.

Here’s a series of unboxing photos for those of you that are curious and can’t wait for our official launch event!

What’s in the box???

Take a quick shot for Instagram.

DB Technology (Double Brace Technology)
“Mass absorbs energy - lost energy equals lost music.” A super lightweight plinth combined with a ceramic top brace and phenolic resin bottom brace mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) forms a structurally sound, “stressed beam,” assembly.

Ceramic Platter
The P10 uses a custom ceramic, flywheel effect platter. The platter is produced from ceramic oxide powder which is compressed, fired and diamond cut to ensure perfect accuracy and flatness across the surface. The latest platter features a modified construction with improved coupling to the sub platter.

Aaaahnd relax….

Ultra-lightweight plinth
The Planar 10 is the third Rega turntable constructed using our latest technology the ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core (a material developed for the aerospace industry). This material is sandwiched between two layers of HPL (high pressure laminate). HPL is exceptionally thin and extremely rigid. This new construction makes the new Planar 10 skeletal plinth 30% lighter than the original RP10 while offering increased rigidity over the previous model.

The Planar 10 features the new RB3000 tonearm fitted with an improved, low mass, precision bias housing.

The beautifully machined bias adjuster.

The Rega Apheta 3

Make a note of Saturday 19th October in your diary. Records,refreshments and turntables are the order of the day.

We look forward to seeing at the store. The Rega Planar 10 will be on display and playing and we hope to have the new Rega Aethos amplifier available for you to listen to as well!

Come along and ask Dave, Munir, Mike, James and Haden at Audio T Manchester and we will more than happy to spin you some vinyl.

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

Bowers & Wilkins 800D3 & New B&W Formation Music Evening At Audio T Bristol

Join us on Thursday 24th October at 7pm at Audio T Bristol and hear Bowers & Wilkins legendary 800 D3 Series, one of the most iconic and revered loudspeakers in the world today!

The sleepy coastal town of Worthing might not seem to be a hot bed of Hi-Fi innovation, but in the 1960s one man lead the way - John Bowers. For over half a century Bowers and Wilkins has been at the forefront of music experience - to savour every nuance and detail in its purest form as the artists' intended. Then again Worthing defined from the Old English personal name Worth (meaning "valiant one, one who is noble", so maybe destiny was at work…

The iconic 800s series is the flagship class that stretches back to the late 1990s beginning with incorporating nautilus technologies, the separate top mounted tweeter housing and the synonymous yellow Kevlar woven speaker cone.

Change, evolution and relentless innovation in acoustic design and engineering are the cornerstones of B&W and today's 800 series diamond have gone further than before with B&W embarking on one of their most ambitious R&D projects ever undertaken - to re-imagine an icon from the ground up, while expanding the range and maintaining the musicality. Starting with the 805’s two way bookshelf, 804’s three way floorstanders, with material quality, cabinet finish, driver size, frequency response and overall sound stage performance rising through 803’s, 802’s & the top of the range 800’s

B&W product range continues to grow, with their audio expertise finding it's way into BMW, Maserati and McLaren cars, headphones and their Formation range, a whole home audio meshing solution.

At the Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3 Music evening at Audio T Bristol you will also be able to experience the new Formation wireless speaker range from B&W, bringing high level speaker innovation, seamless synchonisation with allowing to play your music from whatever source you have digital or analogue. The product line that began with the award winning Zeppelin has now evolved into an array of wireless solutions providing minimalist multi-room musical bliss.

For some people it's enough to hear music, but for some it's a life long journey an all encompassing hobby, others have just never heard the difference. Join us on THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER FROM 7:30PM at Audio T Bristol with Matt from B&W as he guides us through the Formation series and 800 range and enjoy an evening experience new levels of music performance.

Click here to reserve your place at this not to be missed event or come along on the day.

We look forward to seeing you. Max, James & Justin.

Essex Appeal! The New Rega Aethos Amplifier Arrives At Audio T Brighton

Hot on the heels of our Rega Planar 10 turntable fitted with the new Apheta3 cartridge, comes another new product from those clever and ingenious people from Southend-on-Sea.

Rega Planar 10 with Apheta 3 cartridge

Rob Noble and Phil Freeman from Rega arrived on Saturday 5th October with the shiny new Aethos amplifier and what an amp it is!

Rega Aethos

The newest amplifier in Rega’s range has been designed to fill the gap between the Elicit R and the Osiris

Rega Aethos rear view

This is a serious amplifier and went down a storm with all who attended on the day and was demonstrated with our Planar 10 turntable and the Saturn R CD player

RB3000 tonearm with Apheta3 fitted

The biggest disappointment of the day was having to put it back in its box to continue its journey to some of our other branches for more lucky customers to hear it.

Regas’ new addition to the family has arrived

Our demonstration model is due in the next 6 to 8 weeks at which time we can do a more in depth review but for now we’ll have to make do with the memory and look forward it its arrival in due course.

Keep an eye on our blog or the Audio T website and as soon as you see it, we should have one available here for you to take a listen to, we know you’ll not be disappointed and we will look forward to demonstrating it to you.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Julian, John & Paul - Audio T Brighton.

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

The Rega Has Landed! NEW Rega Planar 10 with Apheta 3 At Audio T Portsmouth Now

Ladies and Gentlemen, the wait is over. You can now come in to our Portsmouth store to experience the new Rega Planar 10 with Apheta 3 cartridge ahead of the dedicated launch event next month.

The Rega planar 10 on display in the portsmouth store

The eagerly awaited Rega Planar 10, inspired by the Naiad, possibly their most definitive turntable, is now with us.  Rega decided early on that instead of an evolution of the previous RP10, the new Planar 10 was to be developed and engineered to encapsulate the essence of the Naiad at a more affordable price.

The PL10 boasts a new RB3000 tonearm which implements an enhanced, low mass, precision bias housing, complimented by a central hub bearing assembly with improved mechanical integrity. All of this brought together by the new Apheta 3 cartridge using Rega’s most advanced "Fine Line" diamond profile.

Apheta 3 cartridge

…But don’t take our word for it…

Should you want to come down and talk to the fine folk from Rega as well as peruse the latest offerings from Diverse Vinyl, the official launch roadshow will be in our store on Saturday 16th November

Click here or the poster above to reserve your place or come along on the day!

We look forward to seeing you in store!

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

Be sure to keep an eye on whats happening in the Portsmouth store by following our Instagram and Facebook

Rega products are available in all Audio T Stores.