The New Marantz PM7000N Music Streaming Amplifier At Audio T Swindon. Just Add Speakers

With the recently launched Marantz PM7000N, we now have a one-box Hi-Fi solution without compromise, that offers incredible value for money.​​

Any Hi-Fi enthusiast, whether a seasoned audiophile or someone just setting out on their Hi-Fi journey, will more than likely be acquainted with Marantz. Leaving aside the fact that the Marantz heritage is legend, and is doubtless worthy of a separate blog post, I am keen to focus on their current range of amplifiers; of which the PM7000N is the latest addition.

If you're considering your first Hi-Fi amplifier then a Marantz PM5005 will probably by very close to the top of your shortlist and one listen tells you the brand clearly has a winning formula. It's an enormously talented amp' and for such relatively small beer. Take a step up the ladder to the multi-award winning PM6006, which still continues to garner praise, particularly following its UK tuned edition, the SE, and you have two exceptional amplifiers for a very reasonable price. Equally, take a little look at the present range toppers, the PM10 integrated amplifier, and matching SA10 CD Player. A fine combination that will stand proud against any perceived competitor offering poise, power and control, and outstanding detail and dynamics; not to mention absolute bullet-proof build quality. And while not inexpensive, at literally a pound or two less than £14000, they make for an impeccable partnership that absolutely delights. But with all of that said, what is often easy to overlook is the consistency inherent throughout Marantz' range of amplifiers, particularly when step up from the PM6006 to the next in line, the PM8006.

At this price point your head can easily be turned by the likes of Naim's entry level offering, the Nait 5Si or the equally well regarded Rega Elex-R; both fine amps in their own right. Consequently the PM8006 is often overlooked in favour brands that open their ranges with pricer products. And I have always thought this is a shame as the PM8006 in my experience offers a little taste of the what a high-end equipment can do for your music. I've always found the PM8006 to offer a more mature and powerful sound than those below it; giving a clean and musical presentation, it's never bright, but it does bring the out finer detail. Instruments are resolved with greater realism and it offers a wonderfully deep soundstage, it’s an exceptional amplifier!

The reason for the preamble, is that a little bird tells me that the new Marantz PM700N Streaming Amplifier model is very much based on the PM8006, and in no small way either! There are subtle differences in the spec' sheet. The PM8006 is rated at 70w in to 8 Ohms, 100 into 4 Ohms, while the PM7000N offers 60w & 80w respectively. The PM7000N also includes both a newly designed pre-amplifier circuit and moving-magnet phono-stage, Marantz Current Feedback Amplification and their Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules, in this case the HDAM-SA3. It also includes a brand new DAC circuit built around Asahi Kasei AK4490 chip. In terms of inputs, while a perfect one box solution, the PM7000N has more than enough inputs anyone using multiple sources.

There are three line level inputs, plus the new MM Phono-stage. The inputs for the internal DAC include a single coax input, two optical connections and USB-A port for your PC and the DAC is capable up to PCM 24bit/192 and DSD 5.2 with the USB, coaxial and optical inputs. Naturally there is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and Denon and Marantz's propriety HEOS streaming platform. HEOS gives you access to Amazon Music, Spotify connect, Napster, Pandora, Tune-In and Tidal, to name just a few, and all can be controlled via the HEOS app', which is beautifully straight forward to navigate and the streamer also offers Apple AirPlay 2. There is also a handy feature that allows you to switch off the digital circuits such as the USB input, Bluetooth and & Wi-Fi to enhance analogue replay; particularly useful if your intending to indulge your record collection for an afternoon. ​​

With the tech-specs taken care of, what of course is most important, is how it sounds! Now my impressions are my own, but as with the other amplifiers mentioned in this blog I really do like it and my brief description to the PM8006 sound should give you a very clear indication of what you can expect from the PM7000N.

While assessing the sound, I paired it with both the Monitor Audio‘s Silver 200, to great effect, and with a pair if Spendor A4’s, which are quite a bit more expensive than the amplifier priced at £2400. While the Silver 200 and the A4's are clearly very different the speakers are able to deliver what the speaker designers intended because the amplifier is so well balanced. I won't say too much more about the sound, we all experience sound differently and we also have our personal preferences, but if you’re in the market for an new amplifier, upgrade or downsize or otherwise, the Marantz PM7000N Streaming Amplifier is absolutely worthy of an audition.​

Please contact the Audio T Swindon team and we will be happy to arrange a proper demonstration for you. Call Andy or Andrew on 01793 538222, we are always pleased to hear from you.

Marantz Hi-Fi products are available from all branches of Audio T:

The Arcam SA30 Wireless Streaming Integrated Room Correcting Amplifier At Audio T Swansea

Eagerly anticipated since Arcam told us about it in late 2019 (they do enjoy a good tease in Cambridge) the SA30 Intelligent Wireless Streaming Integrated Amplifier has finally washed up upon Swansea’s golden shore. (Yay!)

Armed to the teeth with the Network Audio Player from Arcam’s range of exciting and excellent-sounding AV amplifiers, plus that whale of a killer app; Dirac Live Room Correction.

The Arcam SA30 has the same handsome fascia and build of it’s junior siblings the SA10 and SA20, power output has been uprated to 130W into 8 Ohms (200W into 4 Ohms) This should be sufficient for most reasonably priced loudspeakers on the market. Supporting the extra hwyl* and gusto is an HDMI ARC input for your TV, four digital inputs, three line-level analogue ones and a phono stage capable of supporting moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges.

For your added convenience, the handset is a learning model, full home automation integration is available via the RS232 socket and one can disable all digital functions by pressing the DIRECT button, turning the SA30 into a vanilla analogue amplifier - especially comforting when listening to your latest vinyl cuts.

The Arcam SA30 in currently running in our first floor music salon. Why not come down for a gander and fill your ears with sublime sounding music?

Noun: *hwyl (in Welsh use) a stirring feeling of emotional motivation and energy.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to welcoming you in store soon!

Arcam Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T: Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Oxford, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Rega P3, 24 Volt Motor Upgrade At Audio T Oxford

This 30 year old Rega P3 was bought in with a failed motor. After discussing the various options with the client, it was agreed that it would be a good opportunity to replace the old motor with the new improved 24V version.

The new motor is far smoother running than the original and because vibration is the enemy of turntables, it results in a lower noise floor and gives greater detail and dynamics. We also replaced the standard belt with the high performance version for better pitch stability.

The old motor and circuit board, prior to removal.

New 24 volt motor and circuit board.

The previous motor has been removed. The new one is ready to be installed. There’s no margin for error when placing the new motor in place!

Nearly finished.

Protective cover in place.

Lubricating the bearing.

Lastly, before playing, we check the alignment and weight of the cartridge.

The finished turntable now sounds better than when it was first purchased. The customer loves it!

Servicing A Linn LP12 Turntable At Audio T Oxford

With the current resurgence of both vinyl and turntable sales, we now see many customers who want to rejuvenate their classic Linn or Rega turntables.

Recently we had a client wishing to get the most of his large record collection. He bought in his elderly, early 1990’s Linn LP12, for us to service.

We hope you might find the work that this entailed interesting.

Levelling the Linn jig. If this is not done correctly, you will never be able to set up the turntable.

Ready to start work. Base board removed.

Ensuring chassis bolts are completely vertical. This is vital for a correct setup.

Replacing the bearing oil.

Refitting the inner platter, using gloves to avoid fingerprints.

Checking on belt orientation.

Checking on tonearm collar fit and alignment. While the tonearm is out, we will check its bearings.

Setting the correct ‘bounce’. An LP12 should have a nice, pistonic bounce, with a steady, even decay.

Setting the speed, using a strobe.

Setting the correct weight for the cartridge.

Checking cartridge alignment.

The finished turntable, now playing at its optimum, with added pep, life and soul.

If you own a Linn, we can service and also advise on the numerous upgrades that are available to further boost the sound quality.

Retro And Fun JBL L100 Classic Loudspeakers At Audio T Cheltenham

Originally introduced in the Summer of 1970 the L100 was conceived as the domestic version of the L4310 Professional Studio Monitor and it soon became JBL’s biggest seller.

This new JBL L100 Classic looks very similar and indeed keeps the original styling with the distinctive Quadrex grille foam, but the boffins at JBL have done a turbo on basically everything to put this new version in the mix with the very best.

Thicker cabinets with better bracing than the original models and a brand new and bang up to date complement of top notch drive units to include a 1” titanium dome tweeter with soft surround and acoustic lens wave guide, a 5” Pure-Pulp cone mid range drive unit and a monster 12” cast frame White Pure-Pulp bass unit all in a bass reflex enclosure weighing a very chunky 27kg each and tuned via a single front firing port. The front panel also has high and mid-range L-Pad adjusters. These may come in useful for a little fine tweaking work depending on personal tastes and speaker positioning but we used them set to their flat position.

Now in this day and age where the majority of fashionable loudspeakers tend to be tall and slim and come in all sorts of shiny piano lacquers, these JBL’s are quite a lot wider than they are deep, making them about as trendy as professing to be a Marillion fan. But then what do the fashionistas know about good taste anyhow. By dismissing Marillion they would be missing out on some of the loveliest music produced by a band in recent times and by dismissing these JBL’s they would be missing a loudspeaker that is loaded with fun. Accurate? …… Possibly not as accurate as the B&W’s, KEF’s and many others I could mention, but who cares about accurate when you can have this much fun? They are wonderfully animated with amazing dynamics and a real and palpable sense of authority. I played the track Eyes Of The World from the new live Grateful Dead album Saint Of Circumstance and they were digging out the most joyous of basslines and made the whole song take off within a soundstage bigger than most speakers can only dream of.

This album really gives those 12 inch pulp drivers a work out!

Prospective purchasers have the choice of walnut , walnut or walnut for the cabinet finishes but then you can choose between orange, blue or black for the grille foam colour to complete that real retro look.

They proved very easy to accommodate position wise in our demo room on the supplied JBL stands, which gets the speaker up off the ground and angles it back slightly. This helps with the time alignment of the mid and high frequencies, which will manifest itself as an improvement in clarity and detail. We had them working really well about 50 cm away from the rear wall and angled in slightly.

They proved to be a very moreish listen, making us want to try lots of music of many different genres one after another and they were not fazed by any of them. If you are into something that goes against the grain a little and offers up a charismatic alternative to many of today’s samey and some would say, boring speaker designs then give us a call and bring in a pile of your favourite music and have some fun……..we do! We also make great cup of tea or coffee and have some nice biscuits too!

Thanks lots for reading, Andy, Jon and Farid.

The JBL L100 Classic loudspeakers are only available at Audio T Cheltenham

Acoustic Energy AE300 Series Arrives At Audio T 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

Much Anticipated Arcam SA30 Wireless Streaming Amplifier Arrives At Audio T Southampton!

We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new top of the range Arcam SA30 wireless streaming integrated amplifier for some time. It’s definitely been well worth the long wait!

The attractive full width casework is barely taller than Arcam’s SA10 and SA20, and no deeper, but packs a hefty punch at 120W per channel into 8 ohm and a massive 220W into 4 ohm speakers. The features list is very comprehensive too. Musical performance is always the priority for Arcam but this is by no means a minimalist product and it’s great to be able to offer a British designed amplifier which ticks so many feature boxes without compromising sound quality.

The five analogue inputs include a phono input which is, unusually, switchable for moving coil (MC) as well as moving magnet (MM). Four digital inputs (2 optical, 2 coaxial) feed the integral 32 bit Sabre DAC. There’s also an ARC input for TV sound via HDMI and the SA30 is a uPnP wireless streamer incorporating GoogleCast and AirPlay 2 as well as being a Roon endpoint.

Like Arcam’s AV receivers, the SA30 wireless streaming amplifier is equipped with Dirac loudspeaker set up and room equalisation, enabling tailoring to speaker characteristics and removal of adverse resonant room frequencies. Individual Dirac Live curves can even be stored for different inputs. A calibration microphone is supplied for use with a PC or MAC to set up Dirac.

The Arcam SA30 wireless streaming integrated amplifier is a great addition to our range of stereo amplifiers in store, with a stunning set of features and very impressive power output. We can’t wait to put it through its paces!

Check back later to see how SA30 performs in our dem room, or call to arrange a listen or just pop in and see us at Audio T Southampton (Chandlers Ford).

See you soon,

Alan, John and Wayne

Arcam Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T: Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Oxford, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

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