Small Form Factor Gets a Big Boost from Arcam and Rega.

They say good things come in small packages, well, presented here are two new pieces of hifi amplification from Arcam and Rega that prove the point. The Rega is a pure analog beast with a cheeky little phono stage built into it, meanwhile the Arcam is a streaming amplifier and is purely in the digital domain, with Airplay and Chromecast being the priority connections. Read on for more info.

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The Rega IO comes in at 18cm x 29cm and has a power rating of 30w per channel. It has the same sonic ablilities as it’s bigger bro…The Brio. So it’s open and punchy with depth to the soundstage, which is presented beautifully, albiet not quite as exciting as the Brio but really excellent for the price.

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The Solo Uno comes in at an even smaller 14cm x 21cm. It has a power rating of 25w per channel. The Solo Uno is completely new in its design, and is an even “younger” brother of the original Solo Mini. It genuinely has a tiny foot print.

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Around the back of the Solo Uno you have the wifi antenna for Airplay, Chromecast and an auxiliary input for any analogue devices you may have. The dedicated subwoofer output lets you add a little meat to smaller speakers you may have connected to the Solo Uno. The new T/Zero from REL would be a perfect choice.

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Around the back of Rega IO we have two regular analogue inputs and a phono MM input and, with Rega’s penchant for making great phono stages, that’s a welcome bonus. There’s even a headphone jack on the front.

The build quality on both units is telling. The Solo Uno has great looking binding posts ready to accept a decent set of speaker cables. The Rega’s casework has quality all over it, even underneath, the fit and finish offered is exceptional.

Both units are available to demostrate at our Manchester store.

Come along to see us and we will be happy to help, but please remember it’s appointment only at the moment.

Quart* From a Pint Pot: The New Arcam Solo Uno.

Arcam Sales Manager: "We're bringing Solo back!"

Audio-T Swansea staff: “…?”

Arcam: "No, not *that* Solo - the little all-in-one stereo we used to do? We’re doing a new one."

Swansea: "Oh I seeeee.... OK.” “Tidy mun.” “Look forward to that."

*Cue our stores closing their doors and the staff placed on furlough.*

Three months later...

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...we're no longer as furloughed as we once were** and we have our expectant palms on Arcam's new design of the Solo - the Solo Uno.

Not much bigger than a modern smartphone, it's a network audio player and stereo amplifier all in one curvy, dinky, shiny box, with a couple of pretty lights on the front (they tell you when it's powered up and connected to your network.) The two-tone, two texture metallic fascia is about as minimalist as I'd like it; just a solid power button, volume +/- and mute. Reassuringly weighty in the hand (the traditional indicator of quality gear) this is a remarkably small box.

Featured here with a Samsung S10 smartphone for scale. Small isn’t it?

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It has one external input - a 3.5mm analogue socket (vinyl anyone?) Connection to the internet comes via Wi-Fi (hence the aerial) or ethernet cable. Speaker terminals are solid, quality units and you can connect a subwoofer via the RCA socket should you require it (and who doesn't?) it's that simple. Roon ready, but all you really need is an app to drive it (GoogleCast, AirPlay 2, UPnP Streamer) and broadband. And a pair of speakers.

It even decodes MQA files. Look.

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We tried the charming and inexpensive Acoustic Energy AE100 loudspeakers (~£220) first and thought that it sounded just fine. We added the IsoAcoustic Aperta desktop stands (£199 - more about which in another blog) under the AE100s and thought that it sounded very credible indeed - quite lovely actually, with a “big” sound to it. About a grand for that level of performance? Yeah, we'll take that.

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Nic suggested "What about KEF LS50s? People have got LS50s. People like LS50s".

With meaningful glances at each other and everyone else thinking "It'll never drive these", I hooked them up.

Good grief.

Norah Jones soared, Melody Gardot introspected, Alison Goldfrapp got up, got down and boogied. How on Earth is it doing that?

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The Solo is never going to fill Madison Square Garden, but it'll fill a bijou lounge or your kitchen/diner with aural loveliness. Come on over and give it a try. Just give us a call first.


*a smidge over a litre for those of you under forty.

**at the time of publication we're in 4 days a week each. Happily, normal store opening hours still apply.

Stories from Lockdown - Five Wondrous Prog-Rock Albums that kept me sane!

It has been a bit of a while since my last blog, so for my first one back I thought I would try to entertain you with tales of the albums that kept me partially sane during the darkest days of the Covid Lockdown.

Now there were of course many varied albums spanning a myriad of weird and wonderful genres. Honourable mentions must go to (amongst others) The Grateful Dead, Ozric Tentacles, Led Zeppelin and Pere Ubu (I feel The Modern Dance is one of the most perfect things ever to be created by humanity and also happens to be a great recording to boot). But the top five groovy spiral slices of vinyl loveliness went to…

No. 5 - You by Gong

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For the final instalment of the wonderfully named Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, band leader Daevid Allen assembled an all star bunch of hippy virtuoso musicnauts, intent on crashing their spaceship in to the deepest inner space. With help from the main protagonist, Zero the Hero, along with assorted members of Pothead Pixies, Octave Doctors and Flying Teapots.

For me the standout track is the beautifully titled “A Sprinkling of Clouds”. The track starts off slowly with synthesiser and glissando guitar panning from speaker to speaker, taking on momentum and building to a breathtaking crescendo of guitar, saxophone, bass guitar and drums that really will put your hi-fi system to the test. Only the best will hold this together and keep the whole band tightly locked in their hash-haze freak out!

No. 4 - Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson, Lake and Palmer

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The artwork of this album alone ascends it above most of its peers. The fact that the music happens to be one of Prog Rock’s highest watermarks pushes it even further into the realms of the stellar. Packed with Prog-Rock excess, this power trio took the cake and the serving platter: Keith Emerson's keyboard showroom; Carl Palmer's motorised, rotating behemoth drum kit; sports-arena gigs with full orchestra and choir, etc. But here, they masterfully balanced the bombast and brilliance. Opening in full-tilt, English-poetic-visionary style with a soaring arrangement of William Blake's Jerusalem. On to one of my all time favourite demonstration tracks Still…You Turn Me On, which is a real work out for your loudspeakers!. Next up is Emerson's virtuoso riff on a piano concerto Toccata by 20th Century Argentine composer, Alberto Ginastera. Finally we have the nearly 30 minute long and multi-part dystopian fantasy Karn Evil 9, in which intoxicating entertainments (a sideshow where a Gypsy queen/In a glaze of Vaseline/Will perform on a guillotine) distract us from evil computer intelligence and modern surveillance-era interweb. Prescient and pretty damn rocking. Totally essential listening.

No. 3 - The Snow Goose by Camel

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This one is just so incredibly gorgeous that I almost don’t know have the words to describe it. Have you ever found yourself listening to a piece of music that you totally get lost in and float away with? That is what this is! Quite possibly some of the best keyboard playing you will ever hear. And if you ask me, definitely one of rock musics juiciest guitar solos can be found on Rhayader Goes to Town. It's like it takes a scoop of David Gilmour and adds a dash of Robin Trower for good measure. Not an overly long album but crammed full of inventive loveliness. It is also another great recording that on a great system will let you hear all around and even behind the instruments, almost like you've been transported right in to the recording studio.

No. 2 - Relayer by Yes

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This one is a little more complicated. This is the sound of a band pulling out all the stops. Rick Wakeman has been replaced by Patrick Moraz which some feel gave them an extra jolt of power. This can really be laid bare on a system that has great separation and mid-range detail. The full on power moments are tempered by the more delicate songs such as Soon, which is served like some sort of sorbet palette cleanser after the wildness that is The Gates Of Delirium and To Be Over which does the same after Sound Chaser. With amazing Sci-Fi artwork courtesy of Roger Dean adding to the already powerful vibe. This one may not be their best high fidelity recording, but played on a nice system you will hear a band at the peak of their powers and some absolutely stunning lead guitar work by Steve Howe.

No. 1 - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis

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This has to be my all favourite Prog-Rock album. It is one that reveals more and more every time I spin it. A surreal , beguiling, elaborate and strangely rewarding listening experience. It contains within its double vinyl grooves some of the most powerful Prog-Rock moments of all time ever. Fact! Just take in the moment on Fly on a Windshield, when the band all come in together just after Peter Gabriel has sung the line “And I’m hovering in the air waiting for the windshield on the freeway”. That is proper power and just about as dark, dirty and evil as genesis ever got. This stands alone in their canon of work head and shoulders above all the others. The lyrics are just poetry and at times the music is truly breathtaking. It's all killer and no filler. For proper full on power and bass slam just try the afore mentioned Fly on a Windshield. If you don’t get goosebumps, your Hi-Fi just ain’t up to the job I'm afraid, simple as that.

These were the albums that crept towards the front of my vinyl play pile during the strange days of the Covid Lockdown. I hope this little blog inspires you to try them out and if by some chance you would like to make them all sound even better perhaps we can help you with an upgrade of one sort or another to your Hi-Fi system. Feel free to bring in some of your own Lockdown favourites to play as well but please call us on 01242 583960 to make an appointment first.

Andy, Jon and Farid. Cheltenham.

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JERN SPEAKERS - WELCOME TO THE IRON AGE OF HI-FI!

In terms of brands and models available, speakers are arguably one of the most overly saturated fields in the world of Hi-Fi. So to come on to the scene as a relatively new name in the industry, you have to able to bring something revolutionary to the table... Are Jern the company to do just that?

Founded in 1975 by engineering graduate Holger Dissing, Dansk Skalform; the group behind Jern, is best known as a reputable casting company for the automobile and machinery industries, working with the likes of Rolls Royce, Porsche, McLaren, Audi and many more. So how did they find themselves in the Hi-Fi trade?

Today the company is run by Søren Dissing, son of founder Holger Dissing. One day he thought to himself, “What would happen if a loudspeaker was moulded out of one solid piece of iron?” From here, Søren and his team got to work to produce a loudspeaker prototype that comprised of the finest quality cast iron using skills laid out by his father decades before. And there you have it, Jern Speakers was born.

SO WHY GREY CAST IRON?

If we get in to the nitty-gritty of the physics behind speaker construction, it is a fact that all solid materials resonate when they are excited by vibrations. When a speaker cabinets resonates, it continues to “sing” each note long after the next note begins. Sonically it is very confusing to listen to and creates ghost frequencies that aren't actually on the original recording and are often out of tune with the source material. To counteract this, varying manufacturers adopt different methods. Some use elaborate internal bracing, even on those with inner aluminium shells; Others will use foam or inert filler within the cabinet to deaden the vibrations.

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Did you know that “Jern” is Danish for “Iron”?

The truth of the matter is nothing will completely stop vibrations travelling through the cabinet, but grey cast iron can effortlessly and naturally do what the other materials strive towards. It has been proven to be ten times more effective than wooden cabinets and up to one hundred times better than aluminium in reducing vibrations. It is so effective as a dampening material that legendary grand piano manufacturers such as Bechstein, Steinway and Bösendorfer use grey cast iron for their piano frames as it doesn't add any resonant frequencies to the notes being played.

 

IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS

They look like something designed by H R Geiger for the film ' Aliens'.

They look like something designed by H R Geiger for the film ' Aliens'.

Whilst the curved exterior of these cast iron speakers is smooth, some of the real magic happens internally. The inner walls of these loudspeakers are lined with hexagonal domes designed to break-up any internal standing waves that would otherwise compromise the performance of the drivers. This CDS (Cast Dome Structure) technology creates a completely neutral cabinet and is vital to the Jern Sound.

Now Some of you might be asking “Brad, what does a moulding company know about Hi-Fi?”... Well, let’s find out! Jern have sent me a pair of their Model 11 speakers to listen to and put through their paces...

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On first inspection I didn't feel like I was just removing another pair of speaker from their boxes. Instead I felt like a curator removing a valuable piece of modern art for my galleries latest exhibition. These things look stylish and slick, but boy are they heavy! Although the Jern Model 11 have a flat base, the best option is to use the included ring to stand them on. This simplistic accessory not only creates isolation between the speaker cabinet and the surface it sits on, but it also allows it to be tilted backwards, forwards and side to side to truly manipulate the soundstage and pinpoint the sweet spot no matter where you are in the room. But there is no denying there is an artistic look to their shapely design.

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Armed with my playlist of trusty “go-to” songs for such an occasion, I was able to really put the Model 11's through their paces. For a speaker of this size there is always the expectation that there will be a lack in bass response, but this was not the case. Every track I threw at them did not disappoint. Now I'm not saying they wouldn't benefit from a subwoofer in the long-run, but it certainly isn't an immediate requirement like some models out there. Equally, some speakers of this size can come across as being trebly or too pronounced in the mid-range, again this wasn't the case. The Jern Model 11's have impeccable separation and detail within the sound stage that it's almost like you're not listening to speakers at all, you're completely submerged in the music.

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As a side note, if you want to really test the bass response of a pair of speakers, I would suggest Billie Eilish's “Bad Guy”. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea, it is undoubtably a well produced track with some truly unparalleled sub harmonic bass parts.

at one point a passing light meant that the SPEAKERS had this glow about them like a terrifying alien russian doll!

at one point a passing light meant that the SPEAKERS had this glow about them like a terrifying alien russian doll!

Whilst sat in our demo room listening away, the thing that really struck me is how effortlessly they make the whole listening experience have a more enjoyable feel about it. I find myself no longer analysing the response of the speaker, but instead I'm lost in the music and that is something I think is incredibly special about these particular loudspeakers. It's like they make you fall in love with music all over again. On several tracks I literally felt shivers down my spine!

There are so many factors that attribute to the outstanding performance of these speakers, so much so that I could probably write two or three blogs on the cabinets alone. But alas we must conclude. So heres a rundown of the Pros and Cons -

Pros -

  • Compact size in relation to sound stage and bass response.

  • No bass reflex ports mean you can place them pretty much anywhere.

  • Grey cast iron cabinet means you hear only the sound waves from the loudspeaker driver

  • Made from recycled materials.

  • Compete far beyond their price point - Easily worth every penny.

  • One of the best speakers I've ever heard!

  • Dedicated, stylish tripod stands available in Oak or Walnut for an incredibly contemporary look. There is also a dedicated flood stand available.

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Cons -

  • At 12kg each, some might find them to be too heavy for wall mounting or putting them on shelves... And certainly don't drop them on your toes when setting up!

  • Due to the materials used, the range is limited to four finishes – Polar White, Casting Grey, Nordic Black and Fine Red. (Personally, I'm a huge fan of 'Casting Grey', and as this is purely cosmetic, I'm not sure if it's fair to class it as a 'Con')

So, in summary, I absolutely love these speakers! The design, the sound, performance, Everything! I don't think I've ever heard a speaker perform with such conviction... So much so that I think I'll be ordering a pair for myself! But why take my word for it? Come in and have a listen for yourself!

Should you want to have a listen or want to discuss them further, be sure to drop us a line or pop in to your local Audio T store.

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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JERN Loudspeakers can be found at the following Audio-T stores

Chord Electronics HUEI - Lights, Turntable, Action.

Chord Huei Phono Stage - Front view with polychromatic controls spheres

Chord Huei Phono Stage - Front view with polychromatic controls spheres

Introducing the HUEI phono stage. Chords Electronics solution to a well priced, high performing moving magnet/moving coil phono stage that can integrate into a range of systems.

From first impressions it is very easy to tell this is a product designed by Rob Watts and his Engineering team in Kent, with its classic, well built housing and eye catching candy lights, that appear on many of their products. It was a no brainer that this was something we had to try, and we are glad we did.

Now looking at the specifications of the HUEI from the front panel, the first thing we notice is that you are easily able to switch between moving magnet and moving coil with the simple press of a button. This is very handy as this will allow all types of cartridges to be used with the Huei. The moving magnet is at 47,000Ω, whereas the moving coil has a 12 step user selectable impedance button, also located on the front of the unit. This ranges from 100Ω - 3700Ω, and can be set to match your cartridge easily from the top of the unit. 

As well as an impedance button, the HUEI also boasts a gain range selection button that is set at an 8 step user selection for both moving magnet and moving coil. Once again this will allow you to marry the phono stage to your cartridge, to get optimum sound quality and clarity in the music.

Chord Huei phono stage - Rear panel, 12v DC power, RCA inputs, RCA outputs and XLR Outputs

Chord Huei phono stage - Rear panel, 12v DC power, RCA inputs, RCA outputs and XLR Outputs

The unit has balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo outputs, which is very useful, and one RCA input. With a phono stage at this price point, it is very creditable.

Listening to the HUEI, first impressions indicated that this unit will shine as the level of detail that came from the music once swapping it out for a phono stage at a similar price was phenomenal - which is what we have come to expect from any Chord Electronics product. We used this with the new REGA Planar 10, feeding into a line level input on the new highly regarded REGA integrated Aethos amplifier and finally ATC SCM19 speakers.

Chord Huei phono stage with sticker placed under unit - colour reference sticker with impedance, gain, MC & MM settings

Chord Huei phono stage with sticker placed under unit - colour reference sticker with impedance, gain, MC & MM settings

What we did notice was that with music ranging from classical to progressive rock and even modern electronica, the HUEI phono stage didn’t trip up on itself at all and handled all genres very well. We find this throughout the Chord Electronics product range, the extraction of detail and clarity in music is very noticeable.

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The surprising thing is that for the money, it sure packs a lot of detail as mentioned, as well as musicality (something we think that can be lost when a system is over clinical) therefore setting a nice well balanced sound.

We have tried the HUEI with a range of pre/power and integrated systems as well as other well known and loved turntables, such as Michell Gyro SE (Michell Tecnoarm A and Dynavector 20x2 cartridge) and a LINN Akurate LP12. The HUEI performed really well with all these highly regarded turntables. For us it is a serious contender for its price and performance. If you are looking to change your phono stage this is definitely one to consider. Get in contact with your local Audio T and we will be happy to show you!

Don’t forget you can book a demonstration to hear the comparisons for yourself.

Justin, James and Max - Audio T Bristol

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Chord Electronics products are available in all Audio T Stores.

Entering the ring, Rega Planar 1 vs Rega Planar 2 - Battle of Britain‘s Most Affordable Home Grown Turntables

If you’re just starting in the world of turntables, you might have done some research online or in-store and you’ll most likely come across the UK made Rega Planar 1 or Planar 2 turntables. These are both excellent entry-level turntables, but what are the real differences between these two models? We recently put them through their paces in-store with one of our customers and here’s what we found out.

For someone who is new to the world of Hi-Fi equipment, it may seem like a daunting mountain to start to climb. Rega, even at their entry-level, is a great starting point that easily sounds as though it should be double the price tag.

Rega as a company have always had great vision, and that is something they stick to across their entire range. From the humble Planar 1 at £249 all the way to the Planar 10 that goes beyond the £6k mark! As a result, Rega products have a unique signature sound and characteristic. Any time you upgrade to the next model up, you will hear that familiar sound, but noticeably improved - But who knows, maybe you prefer the sound of something like the Planar 2 over a Planar 3, and that’s definitely allowed.

The Rega Planar 1 (P1), pictured on THE DEDICATED Rega wall bracket.

The Rega Planar 1 (P1), pictured on THE DEDICATED Rega wall bracket.

Above you’ll see the Planar 1, a very respectable turntable. It adopts the timeless Rega design, dating back decades . While this is indeed a great sounding deck, especially for the modest price point, there is certainly a noticeable difference when you step up to the Planar 2.

The Planar 2 (P2), WE CHOSE THE WHITE VERSION FOR OUR DISPLAY MODEL, but IT is also available in BLACK AND RED.

The Planar 2 (P2), WE CHOSE THE WHITE VERSION FOR OUR DISPLAY MODEL, but IT is also available in BLACK AND RED.

Next, we have the Planar 2. Although our display model (pictured above) is the white version, it clearly has the same Rega design. You may spot one very obvious and crucial difference just from looking though… the platter! The P2 has a 10mm thick ‘Float Glass’ platter whereas the P1’s platter uses a ‘phenolic resin’ design. Whilst they have both been designed to minimise any vibrations that could interfere with the playback of a record, one does it better than the other… and how great does that glass platter look?! You always want to get the best possible sound from whatever record you’re spinning, and details like this certainly help in that department.

For the purpose of our test, the customer brought his own records. We always recommend that everyone does this because the music you know and love is going to really allow you to analyse any differences between whatever you’re comparing. Although it is still a good idea to listen to a wide variety of music whilst testing a system; if the sound of your favourite album captivates you through a new set-up, then you know you’re on to a winner!

We tried the P1 first, and it doesn’t disappoint at all. That classic Rega sound is very apparent, and the vinyl character shines straight through. We have the IO driving a pair of Rega RX1 speakers on floor stands; a great and affordable combination!

We Tried BOTH THE turntables through Rega’s newest power amp, the io. This is also an amazing sounding unit, THE MOST AFFORDABLE UK MADE AMPLIFIER ON THE MARKET, and we love it!

We Tried BOTH THE turntables through Rega’s newest power amp, the io. This is also an amazing sounding unit, THE MOST AFFORDABLE UK MADE AMPLIFIER ON THE MARKET, and we love it!

Rega rx1’s in cherry were used for the demonstration

Rega rx1’s in cherry were used for the demonstration

When we move up to the P2, using the same amp and speakers, the difference is instantly noticeable! The sound is much more open and defined, the soundstage is bigger, individual instruments have more separation and are more defined in their ‘space’ within the recording. The frequency range is noticeably extended at both ends and overall there is more detail available from within the record compared with the P1.

As someone new to Hi-Fi like our customer, they didn’t immediately notice a difference. Their ears may not necessarily be tuned to what to listen out for. Often, the differences are much more apparent when you go back down to the lower model. Your ear quickly gets used to the extra detail you can hear and when those details are missing on the lower model, you’ll notice it straight away. We did this and almost instantly the customer noticed the quality of the sound was lower. It is important to jump between models whilst your ears are fresh and not fatigued, as the differences really stand out.

So what did the customer go for?

In this instance, the customer decided to purchase the Planar 2, even though prior to listening, they were pretty set on the Planar 1. They were also impressed with the IO amp and RX1 speakers and how everything worked together, so much so that they had to write down the models. We think they’ll be back for those soon as they were a significant improvement on their current system!

This has us thinking - If we’re hearing such a difference between the Planar 1 and a Planar 2, what would we start to hear if we compared to P3s, P6s, and beyond? Maybe that will be a blog for another day…

Don’t forget you can pop into any Audio T store to hear the comparisons for yourself.

Chris, Paul, and John - Audio T Brighton

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Rega products are available in all Audio T Stores.

The Rega IO, small but feisty.

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When the IO came in I was excited, as a fan of pretty much every Rega product I’ve heard so far, I couldn't wait to hear what their newest toy could do. With a Planar 2, Apollo CD and a pair of Quad S1 speakers to complement it, I grabbed some of my favourite albums and made myself comfy. 

I thought that I should do a comparison with the Brio. I’ll be honest, this is where you can see why the Brio is more expensive, because just like Liam Hemsworth it just can’t quite compare with it’s older and bulkier brother.

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The sound stage was smaller, bass notes were more muddy, harmonies blended together and the music overall just felt less alive. It had been a couple of hours by this point and after my fourth listen of Black Magic Woman by Fleetwood Mac I was ready to give up, was I just expecting too much? I left to have some food and after returning less hangry and fully hydrated, I had the bright idea to stop comparing it. 

This is when the IO truly came to life, now that I wasn’t swapping everything over every thirty seconds the minor grievances I was listening so hard for faded away. The pure joy that comes from listening to tracks, like Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon by Queen, as it’s allowed to flaunt it’s short but sweet bubbliness, had me tapping my feet and singing along. The IO may not sound technically perfect but it has plenty of character that shines through once you give it the opportunity, voices are clear and if you close your eyes you can pinpoint each individual aspect of most tracks. 

The explosion of colour and flavour that poured out of Michael Jackson’s P.Y.T caught me off guard, I couldn’t understand how such a small piece of hardware could produce such personality, reminds me of a joke relating to the importance of size, but it escapes me. With it being an analog amp there is no messing about with internet connections and apps. You simply put it down, plug it in and play until the cows come home, or at least until you get told to turn it down, it just works.

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This diminutive, 3kg integrated amp has an output of 30 watts into 8 Ohms with 3 analogue inputs and a 3.5 mini jack for headphone users. The inputs include a MM phono, which is of great quality as per usual with other Rega amps, and two line level inputs. Build quality feels generally solid plus it’s small size and economical design means it will fit into any setup quite happily. Overall the IO will not disappoint and is well worth it’s £379 price point, if you are new to hi-fi and looking for an affordable entry point or looking for a smaller secondary system.      

A Naim to Remember - A Visit to the Naim Factory

On a cold, yet sunny morning in November of last year, I hit the road and embarked on a journey to the medieval city of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Situated a mere 9 miles south of the mystifying ancient circle of Stonehenge and home to the iconic 13th Century Cathedral and its 123m tall spire, Salisbury holds another wonder within its city limits... Naim Audio.

Founded in 1973 by British born engineer, Julian Vereker, Naim Audio have been an industry leader in high-end audio equipment for the past 47 years.

Founded in 1973 by British born engineer, Julian Vereker, Naim Audio have been an industry leader in high-end audio equipment for the past 47 years.

The Visionary – A Brief History of Julian Vereker

Julian Charles Prendergast Vereker, MBE (7 May 1945 – 14 January 2000)

Julian Charles Prendergast Vereker, MBE (7 May 1945 – 14 January 2000)

Born in Oxford in 1945, Julian Vereker demonstrated a flare for engineering from an young age. Whilst his early ventures centred around the world of motorsports, and a brief albeit successful career as a race-car driver, it wasn't long until he focused his attentions towards audio. Through a personal passion for recording his friends bands, Vereker began to develop and design his own equipment as he was unhappy with the quality he was getting from the products available at the time.

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Unknown to many, Vereker was instrumental in creating Brompton Bicycle, a start-up company credited as inventing the folding bicycles.

From here Vereker founded Naim Audio Visual in 1969. Its first product was a unit capable of switching 30kW of lighting on and off in time to music. The following year, he released his first professional audio product the M10.2 mixer. In 1971, Naim Audio Visual produced its very first amplifier, although initially it was made on demand for friends and acquaintances. Following on from this success, Vereker won a contract to supply Capital Radio with new amplification in 1973, thus Naim Audio was born. And the rest they say, is history...

Despite Naim's merger with French speaker company, Focal, in 2011 - the vast majority of their catalogue is still made in the UK, and I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the factory.

I couldn’t resist a stupid selfy…

I couldn’t resist a stupid selfy…

The first thing that struck me about my visit to Naim was how fetching I looked in a light blue lab-coat...

No, but seriously, the first thing that hit me was that Naim's organisation isn't some lifeless conveyor belt of mass production like you'd expect to find in a factory.

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The whole operation has more of a family business vibe to it, with a very relaxed and happy atmosphere throughout the building. Its obvious that all of the engineers love what they do and are truly passionate about their craft.

Our host for the factory tour, Mark Raggett, joined Naim at the age of 19 and has worked in most areas within the business. This was instantly apparent in his encyclopedic knowledge of the company and all of their products.

Mark Raggett, International Product Training Manager, Has over 25 years experience with naim

Mark Raggett, International Product Training Manager, Has over 25 years experience with naim

Mark shows us the inner workings of the flagship, naim statement system

Mark shows us the inner workings of the flagship, naim statement system

Most of you will know that each Naim product is manufactured to extremely precise level, but what you may not know is in-depth this goes. Every cable within each product has been designed to such a level that the engineers have tested whether or not the sound benefits a cable being straight, coiled or bending around the chassis. This is then replicated in every finished product.

Every product made in the naim factory has a master model which each engineer must replicate every single time.

Every product made in the naim factory has a master model which each engineer must replicate every single time.

Newly built products ready to hit the QC area of the factory

Newly built products ready to hit the QC area of the factory

Unlike a lot of manufacturers, Naim make their products to order. You won't find shelves of boxed stock sat there waiting for someone to buy one. I think this really emphasises the level of quality you are purchasing when you invest in a Naim product.

The legendary naim “snake shaker” - This machine puts every naim DINN cable through its paces before it leaves the factory.

The legendary naim “snake shaker” - This machine puts every naim DINN cable through its paces before it leaves the factory.

The tour was concluded in the newly refurbished demonstration room.

The tour was concluded in the newly refurbished demonstration room.

Here we were able to listen to the full range of naim products and the difference between models.

Here we were able to listen to the full range of naim products and the difference between models.

I genuinely found the whole tour to be fascinating! Every part of the operation is meticulously run, and the same care and precision is present throughout each step of the manufacturing and quality control process. If you ever get the opportunity to go to this Willy Wonka's factory of audio delight, then do it!

Should you want to discuss Naim or demo any of their products, be sure to get in touch with us.

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

Naim is available in all Audio T Stores.

New Russell K Red 50: Better Value Than Ever!

Many of you I’m sure will be aware we are great fans of Russell K loudspeakers: for those that may have forgotten what been said here about them can read previous posts here & here.

Well, you may ask, what’s new about these? Haven’t they been available for quite some time now? And the answer to that is yes but now they represent even greater value than ever in the form of a new variant.

Just to recap; what makes Russell loudspeakers stand out from the crowd is the blend of old and new thinking; not everything that is old is redundant; not everything new is better.

Rather than just following the herd, Russell designs his speakers to get to the core of the music whilst offering a larger than expected presentation in a modern and compact enclosure finished in high quality real wood veneers.

With this new offering he has eschewed the wood veneers for an elegant, more industrial finish in the form of a textured black powder coat; this is deliberately echoing the look pro monitors used in studios rather than the more common flat or satin finishes and with probably be more robust in use.

It must be said that absolutely none of the fantastic sound quality has been sacrificed along the way making them outstanding value for money.

But it doesn’t end there. We thought, in these very troubled times, that we would offer a very limited quantity at a special introductory price available exclusively through our online store here.

Red 50 Textured Matt Black Fleck £899.99 Special price £749.00

Also available;

Red 50 Oak or Walnut wood veneer £1099.99

Spendor Classic 2/3 And 4/5 Standmount Loudspeakers For The Audio Connoisseur

At Audio T, we test everything in the shop and that means listening... a lot of listening!  Then mixing and matching components to bring synergies out in the whole system.  Loudspeakers are the final piece of this puzzle and arguably the one that can make the biggest difference.

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Spendor was founded in the 1960s by Spencer & Dorothy Hughes, hence Spen-Dor.  Spencer’s applied knowledge and expertise came from many years as an engineer in the BBC sound department.  The iconic BC-1 he created went on to become one of the most iconic speakers of our time. 50 years on and the range of Spendor from the A-line, D line and Classic all have design cues, sound profile and performance that is unmistakably Spendor. The Classic range are styled and have a sound profile from the days of the BC-1, but have evolved into a very special sound.

It’s all about presentation in the end. The loudspeaker, with its crossover, bit of wiring, cabinet and drive units are going to fill your room with the illusion of a full London Symphony Orchestra, thumping Hendrix live a Woodstock or Norah Jones, whispering in your ear. 

Broadly speaking, and I’m generalising, there are 3 basic “ speaker presentations”; forward, neutral or back.  The trend today is forward, the Spendors are an involving listen,  back presentation and a sound that you listen into.  The detail in the treble is silky, gentle, direct and not at all metallic or edgy.  The bass rhythmic, supportive and precise.  Where these excel is in the mid-range.

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J Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile magazine and the father of subjective audio-equipment evaluation once wrote “if the midrange isn’t right, nothing else matters”. 

So, naturally it was straight to Metallica! Taking a Classic speaker and chucking rock at it is a bit uncouth, we’ll admit. But our job is to help you decide upon a system that will exceed your expectations not just for now, but for the long-term and assisting with critical listening is one way we can help you to enjoy your music selection even more.  There is a place for audiophile music with perfect recording settings, mastering notes and all the rest and we love helping those customers too and more often than not, their decades of high-end audio experience is a personal journey that we also learn from.

The Classic range all have the same form factor and to the eye are dimensionally very similar.  This allows for selection of the best size for room and acoustic properties for positioning.  We found the larger Classic 2/3 sounded best when placed about 1m from the front wall, 2.5m apart with a smaller toe in than most speakers.  The Classic 4/5, 1.7m apart and 50cm from the wall for better bass presentation. We suspect in both cases this is due to the cabinet design being thin walled and flexible, allowing the speaker to interact more with the room.

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What is really moving about these Spendors is the way they present the music. 

The perspective, depth of sound stage and elegance of timbre; richness and warmth have become expletives in this modern age. As irrelevant as pipe and slippers, smoking jacket and cravat. But to call these speakers irrelevant nostalgia would be to miss point.  Classic does not do fashion — it’s timeless and engaging in a magnolia world.

The Spendor Classic 2/3 at £3,600 & The Spendor Classic 4/5 £1,600 are available for audition at Audio T Bristol.  

Components used to audition the Spendor Classic 2/3 & 4/5:

Accessories: 
Power cables; ISOL-8 Isolink Wave, Naim Powerline Lite  Interconnects; - Chord Shawline Analogue RCA Interconnect ,  Naim Hi-line Interconnect DIN to RCA Cable; Naim NACA5 speaker cable , stands Solidsteel SS-6&5 Speaker Stands

Sources:
CD Player Rega Saturn R, 
Streamer Naim NDX 2
Turntable Rega Planar 3 with Elys cartridge 

Amplifiers:
Naim Supernait 3 
Rega Aethos 

Music used in all the tests can be found at Audio T Bristol playlist on Qobuz : http://open.qobuz.com/playlist/2438053

Spendor Loudspeakers are available from the following branches of Audio T: BristolCardiffCheltenhamPortsmouthSwindon

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

Ex-Streaming-ly Good Entertainment! An Overview Of Video Streaming Services

Being in my early thirties, I remember a time when the only choice of viewing in our household was the four main terrestrial channels or a good old VHS that had to be rewound just enough to ensure you get to the start of the film, but not so far that you hit the beginning of the tape and had to endure the same four trailers for the tenth millionth time... It became a subtle art! Or, and this was a very special occasion, we would take a trip to Blockbusters to pick up the latest release. 

Fast forward to twenty years (see what I did there?) and the world would never be the same again...

Netflix, originally founded in 1997 as a mail order DVD rental service, are attributed as being the driving force behind the streaming movement from 2010, although they weren't the first service available...

AMAZON PRIME

First released in the US as Amazon Unbox in 2006, the now household name, Amazon Prime, started its journey as an ever expanding and evolving video streaming service that as of January 2020 boasts over 105 million users worldwide. It wasn't until 2011, when Amazon acquired Love Film that it brought its streaming services to the UK and Ireland.

MR Robot - courtesy of amazon prime

MR Robot - courtesy of amazon prime

I think it's safe to say that Prime was very much playing second fiddle to its competitors until at least 2015 when the company started producing critically acclaimed shows such as Sneaky Pete, The Man in the High Castle and Mr Robot – From here on out, the general public started taking more stock in this late-bloomer of a brand.

The boys - courtesy of amazon prime

The boys - courtesy of amazon prime

FLEABAG - COURTESY OF AMAZON PRIME

FLEABAG - COURTESY OF AMAZON PRIME

Over the past few years, Amazon Prime has brought some truly incredible shows to our screens with the likes of The Boys - A dark and witty take on the superhero genre. Good Omens starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen and created by the indomitable forces of fantasy writing, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Fleabag - Phoebe Waller Bridge's hilarious and wicked crowning glory, based on her 2013 one-woman stage show. The Grand Tour saw fan's of the infamous presenting trio of BBC's Top Gear return to their usual car-fuelled hijinks. And a surprising personal favourite of mine, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan with its title character being portrayed by the always excellent, John Krasinski, best known for his role as Jim in the American take on The Office.

With a full roster of original material, not to mention a whole host of new releases as well as classic content, most of which is a available in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos – Oh, and did I mention a access to a high-definition music streaming service (which we will cover another time) and a preferential delivery system on purchases made through Amazon. It's no surprise that this streaming service has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Amazon Prime is available on smart TV, PC, Mac, iOS and Android.

DISNEY+

Mickey, working hard…

Mickey, working hard…

The newest and probably most anticipated edition to the streaming community is Disney+.

As the Magical Kingdom expands in to a formidable Media Empire with its acquisitions of Marvel, the Star Wars Universe and most recently - Fox Entertainment, it's no surprise that people have been eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Star Wars - The Mandalorian - courtesy of Disney+

Star Wars - The Mandalorian - courtesy of Disney+

He is bloody cute though! Star Wars - The Mandalorian - Courtesy of Disney+

He is bloody cute though! Star Wars - The Mandalorian - Courtesy of Disney+

The service, currently priced at £5.99 per month, or an annual subscription of £59.99 (Prices correct at the time of writing), is streaming all previous releases from Disney's current back-catalogue including Pixar, National Geographic plus its other properties mentioned earlier. The service has already started to dazzle its customers with new content with shows such as Star Wars - The Mandalorian. You only have to be on the internet for 30 seconds before you see a picture of Baby Yoda...

So if you’re a subscriber of other streaming platforms, expect to see fewer Disney releases as they'll be making new residence over at Disney+. But at a fairly competitive price point, 4K HD Ultra & Dolby Atmos ready, AND playback available on Android & iOS, I think it’s safe to say that this will become a quick family favourite... As a huge Marvel nerd, I might just go register myself!

NOW TV

AMC’s the walking dead

AMC’s the walking dead

Some of you out there might question the validity of Now TV's streaming service status due to the fact that it is merely a subsidiary of the Sky Group. Well to those naysayers I say, “Nay”! Founded in 2012, Now TV was widely accepted as a successful alternative to Netflix, probably because if you're anything like me and you don't want to be locked in to a lengthy contract on Sky but be able to gain access to some top quality shows and films, then it works pretty well!

Unlike the other services on this list, Now TV technically doesn't make its own content as it drip-feeds through from Sky TV, HBO, AMC, MTV and Comedy Central to name but a few.

For many people, Now TV (or Sky) is the only way to access favourite shows such as AMC's The Walking Dead, which is now set to conclude its 10th series with season 11 due next year... (I think I gave up half way through season 8...)

It’s sad to say goodbye… Modern Family - courtesy of abc

It’s sad to say goodbye… Modern Family - courtesy of abc

On reflection, I think one of my all time favourite shows to grace Now TV would have to be ABC's hilarious sitcom, Modern Family, which is soon to comes to its end after 11 hilarious years of relatable comedy… I may have just binged the last 10 season in two weeks… *looks awkwardly around the room*

Although Now TV is available on iOS, Android, through games consoles and the Smart Stick on HD, should you want the 4K Ultra HD experience, you need to purchase the additional Smart Box.

APPLE TV+

Being the brainchild of of the tech giant Apple and having only debuted in November 2019, I find it personally surprising to find that this is probably the least coveted subscription package on this list.

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Apple TV+ and its original content is available through Apple's website as well as their own TV app, which as of last year expanded its availability to compatible smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV devices, with further plans to expand availability again in the near future.

Now as I mentioned before, Apple TV+ is yet to find its foothold in the market, which is unexpected given the acting calibre that graces their original material – Take The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon for example, not to mention the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie in The Banker. Perhaps it's just early days for Apple and they'll find their niche. Let’s just say that they are one to watch.

NETFLIX

As the only streaming service on this list to have spawned a popular colloquial saying for promiscuous relationships among millennials, I think it's safe to say it needs no further introduction...

With over 167 million subscribers worldwide, a wide range of your favourite films & series and arguably some of the best and most critically acclaimed originally produced content available, Netflix is a solid choice for anyone looking for the best subscription offer for them.

With an ever-growing selection of 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos enabled programming, iOS & Android playback, and access through most games consoles and smart TVs and subscriptions starting from £5.99 a month, it's not really surprising that it's considered to be one of the most popular choices from this list.

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A little known fact…

In 2000, Netflix approached Blockbuster and offered them a partnership that would see Netflix rebranded as Blockbuster.com and deal with the online side of the once proud rental giant. This $50m dollar was declined, and today the company has a net value of $20 billion... I bet someone is kicking themselves over that decision!

Stranger things - season 3 - courtesy of netflix

Stranger things - season 3 - courtesy of netflix

If there was one show that I would use as a reason to subscribe to Netflix, we would have to travel back to the 1980s to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana... Stranger Things, a Netflix original science fiction/horror, is by far one of the best shows to grace the screen in the past 10 years. Created and directed by the Duffer Brothers, it is a perfect homage to the likes of Steven Spielberg, Stephen King and John Carpenter. The production values are faultless. With authentic props and a soundtrack that teleports you back 40 years. Accompany this with a solid cast of exceptionally talented child actors, some now famous names such as David Harbour, plus a career revving performance from veteran child star, Winona Ryder – I urge you, if you haven't already watched this show, go binge it right now!

So there we have it. Which of these services do you use? Are there any we've missed that are worth checking out? Leave your comments below or contact us directly.

Should you want to upgrade your home cinema system and get the most out of your streaming service; whether it be a new TV, a projector, a soundbar or a 5.1 surround sound system, be sure to get in touch with us -

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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

We stock a wide range of Home Cinema & Audio Visual Systems at all Audio T Stores.

HEOS by Denon & Marantz – The Home of the Future, Today!

If you were to believe science fiction films and TV from the 60's through to the 90's; here in 2020 we should by now all be commuting to work in flying cars and enjoying our meals in pill-form as well as a plethora of other laughable and inaccurate predictions. But let’s just step back and take a second to think about the ones that did come true...

Back in 1966 Star Trek gave us a glimpse into the future with mobile communication devices that neatly fit in to our pockets as well as the humble yet futuristic automatic doors that graced the starship Enterprise. In 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey, wowed us with a type of video communication which is akin to Skype and Facetime. And even in James Cameron's 1984 classic, Terminator, he terrified us with faceless military drones that are now commonplace on the modern battlefield. But let’s focus on Star TrekThe Next Generation for a moment. First aired in 1987, it was a regular occurrence within every episode to see the crew asking the ever-present computer for answers to questions or requesting that it turn on the lights, or even play a piece of their favourite music... Today, we just call that computer Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant! So it comes as no surprise that the world of home entertainment has been swept-up in the latest of these eerie predictions from pop-culture of yesteryear, and what better way to get involved than with HEOS from Denon & Marantz.

HEOS, (Home Entertainment Operating System), is a wireless music system that allows you to effortlessly control all of your music throughout your home with the free app on your smartphone, tablet or even your voice when used with Amazon Alexa... That's right, YOU can be the Captain! Let’s have a look at how this all works…

HEOS – The App

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Available for free on iOS, Android and Kindle, HEOS gives you all the options you'd want and all the access you'd need to wirelessly stream from your favourite cloud-based sources such as Spotify, TIDAL, SoundCloud and Amazon Music to name but a few. You can also listen to tracks directly from your smartphone, tablet or USB drive. All of this is possible by connecting your HEOS app and applicable products to your home network.

So let’s take a look at a few of the products that will allow you to access this remarkable system in your home…

Denon Home Series Speakers

Possibly the easiest and most affordable way to turn your house in to the home of the future is with the Denon Home series. Available in three models, these fairly new arrivals to the scene were a very popular choice at the Bristol Hi-Fi show. With their sleek and stylish design, available in either black or white, these speakers offer a powerful and detailed soundstage. Let me introduce you to the range -

Denon Home 150 

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The younger sibling of the current trio offers a 3.5” woofer and 1” tweeter combo, making it small but mighty. This little speaker is perfect for your living room, but will equally look great in your kitchen or bedroom!

Denon Home 250

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Working on the same speaker configuration but double the speaker count (plus a passive bass port), The Home 250 offers quad amplification giving the optimum amount of power so you get the best sound quality available from such a compact unit.

Denon Home 350

This exploded view shows off the home 350 in all of its glory

This exploded view shows off the home 350 in all of its glory

The Home 350 is the flagship model of this family and truly brings the performance to another level. Boasting six channels of amplification, powering two 6.5” woofers, two 2” mid-range drivers and two 1” tweeters.

This amazing speaker would take pride of place in any lounge or living room.

Each of these fantastic speakers feature three quick select buttons for your favourite stations, have 3.5mm auxiliary inputs for direct connectivity, work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2.

As it stands, voice control is available with use of a third-party device enabled with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. Each of the Home series has an integrated microphone, with voice assistant to be added later this year via a firmware update, making it a very attractive alternative to Sonos.

To sum things up on the Home Series, I think the thing that I love about these speakers, aside from the excellent sound quality, is that they can be used as a single stand alone option or added to an existing HEOS enabled system.

Denon AVR-X3600H AV Receiver and Streamer

Now for those of you that love your films and are looking to turn your living room in to your very own cinema whilst taking advantage of the full capabilities of streaming your music at home, the Denon AVR-X3600H AV Receiver is the one for you! Providing a hefty 9.2 surround sound option, you will find yourself fully immersed in whatever you're watching.

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Not only is this AV Receiver impressive sonically, it also hosts a multitude of inputs, making it the central hub of your home entertainment system. With enough HDMI inputs for cable TV, games consoles, DVD and Blu-ray players as well as 4K and eARC – This Enhanced Audio Return Channel (or eARC as it is known) is a feature found in most HDMI 2.1 connections. But what does it mean for you? Well, the biggest advantage of eARC is a huge boost in bandwidth and speed of data transfer. This allows you to send higher-quality audio and picture from your TV to the receiver.

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You don't have to go full 7.2 with your set-up. This will work work perfectly in a 5.1 or even 2.1 should you want to start out slow. And if you find the prospect of setting up that many speakers a bit daunting, Denon include a microphone to use with their Audyssey room calibration tool to ensure you get the best sound out of the system for your listening space.

On top of all this; thanks to a recent firmware update, you can even transmit the sound to your Bluetooth headphones. Giving you the option to utilise the AVR's capabilities without disturbing the rest of the family. This update is available on Support for selected Denon AVR´s (AVR-X1600H, AVR-X2600H, AVR-X2600HDAB, AVR-X3600H, DRA-800H) and Marantz AVR´s (SR5014, SR6014, NR1510, NR1710, NR1200).

Marantz PM7000N Integrated Network Amplifier

OK, so wireless speakers and AV receivers aren't your bag. You like simplicity, but you also crave quality... No problem. We've got you covered!

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The award winning Marantz PM7000N is considered to be one of the best integrated amplifiers in its price bracket, and that's without even mentioning its streaming capability. Listening to this model, it is as though Marantz have poured their 65 years of hifi experience directly in to this powerhouse of audio giving it the most musical sound. The PM7000N is certainly not short of connectivity. Equipped with four analogue inputs as well one analogue output, plus a high quality MM phono stage which allows you to connect your turntable directly without the need of additional boxes. You'll also notice it features a USB-A input for high resolution audio files, one coaxial and two optical digital inputs should you want to connect your TV. The digital boards are shielded and can also be completely switched off independently using “Pure Modes” to avoid any interferences that might hinder the listening experience of you audiophiles out there.

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This extremely well built unit is an excellent choice of amplifier to take centre-stage in your home set-up. Throw in the HEOS capability and you have yourself a formidable audio system. There’s a reason this thing won best Hi-Fi under £1000 during the last What Hi-Fi? Awards.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and live that Jetson's lifestyle!

Should you want to see any of these products in the flesh, or want to discuss them further, be sure to give us a shout or pop in to the shop.

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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

All of these Denon & Marantz products are available in all Audio T Stores.

Audio T Oxford Customer Naim Factory Visit

Naim welcomed a number of our Naim owning customers to their factory on Friday 13 March. The tour was presented by the ever brilliant Jason Gould, a man with endless enthusiasm, belief and a true passion, for this most prestigious brand.

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It was a great opportunity for our Naim customers to see how their products are designed and built. 
I think it is safe to say that they were all most impressed with the obsessive care and attention taken by Naim, to ensure that all of their products sound as good as they possibly can, and are built to the highest quality.

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The legendary Snaic shaker!

The legendary Snaic shaker!

The day finished with a demonstration of the ND555 Network Player, playing through their flagship Statement amplifier, driving a pair of Focal Scala Utopia speakers.....Wonderful!

A full Statement system

A full Statement system

Audio bliss!

Audio bliss!

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

Linn Sondek LP12 New Karousel Main Bearing Upgrade

With over 100,000 Sondek LP12 turntables sold in almost 50 years Linn are introducing the Karousel, a new precision engineered single point bearing, offering smoother rotation and greater stability for even better sound from the Sondek LP12.

The Karousel is available on all new LP12’s from 23rd March and as an upgrade kit (in the photo below) for earlier LP12’s, in keeping with the modular nature of this great record player.

LP12 Upgrade Promotion

From 23rd March until 22nd May 2020, customers upgrading their LP12 with the new Karousel bearing will receive this free of charge when spending £3,000 or more on any Linn products*. (T&Cs apply)

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That vital union between the platter, spindle, bearing and sub-chassis is now the strongest they’ve ever achieved, thanks to the innovative new design and material choice. All of this combined leads to the reduction of noise for more accurate vinyl reproduction. In short, the addition of Karousel will elevate the performance of every LP12 ever made.

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Adding the personal touch. High gloss plinth finishes.

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And…available for the Keel, choose up to 4 letters to be precision laser-etched onto the armboard, to make it truly yours forever.

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Join us in Brighton and take your LP12 to the next level.

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

Five Fantastic Accessories To Get the Most Out of Your System

Here at Audio T Portsmouth we've been having a good old natter, discussing the accessories that we feel have made a big difference to our own set-ups or those we've tried in store. Whether you're looking to build and improve on your own Hi-Fi/AV system, or you want to buy a gift for that beloved Hi-Fi enthusiast in your life, here we have for you our Top Five Fantastic Accessories to help you get the most from your system!

So come with me now on a journey of discovery as we look at five products that you may have seen, you may have not, but we assure you they can make a big difference!

Pro-Ject VS-S2 ALU Record Cleaner

OK, I know what some of you are saying - "But Brad, I don't play records, this is completely irrelevant to me!" Well, to that I reply - "Get in to records, they're awesome!”

You don't get the same experience from any other medium. There's something about the whole tactile experience. Removing it from the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, enjoying the whole album without skipping a track, appreciating the sleeve and artwork... It's obviously a love affair of mine.

But if that doesn't sway you, then skip to the next product.

I was only introduced to the world of professional record cleaners when I joined Audio T last year. I think it's safe to say that we've all seen those £30 cleaners that seem to just spin the record vertically in a small bath of liquid... Now, my only thought here would be that I wouldn't want to get in a bath after a load of other people have been in there, so why would I put my records through the same thing?

The VS-S2 ALU is the latest in the range of pro-ject record cleaners

The VS-S2 ALU is the latest in the range of pro-ject record cleaners

The Pro-Ject VS-S2 ALU record cleaner is by far one of the best cleaning solutions within its price-range.

The concept is simple: The record sits on a platter and is kept in place by an aluminium screw-on clamp (which also protects the records label from any excess cleaning fluid), you apply said fluid to the surface of the record and spread it out evenly with the provided brush. Move the robust, metal vacuum arm in to place over the record, turn on the motor and the extremely powerful vacuum. The record spins and the vacuum sucks! Your record should be clean in one or two rotations, but the Pro-Ject VS-S2 has a bi-directional motor, so you can give it a spin in each direction to achieve the best result.

As for the fluid itself, Pro-Ject offer the Wash-IT concentrate series, which is not only eco-friendly but also non-alcoholic, so it won't corrode your records - plus it reduces the vinyls static charge, so it will protect the record and stylus and significantly reduce wear.

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“I’ve used this machine to clean records that I’ve owned from new and noticed a HUGE change in the depth, quality and clarity of sound! An absolute must have for the hardcore vinyl users out there”

Now, I'm not saying this is made for every vinyl enthusiast. If you've got 20 to 30 records, it's probably not an accessory on your wish-list. But, if like me you have hundreds (if not thousands) of records, then it’s a worthwhile investment!

Audioquest RCA Jack Noise-Stopper

One of the things that Mark (our illustrious Website manager) suggested is the Audioquest Noise-Stopper Caps. Certainly not the most expensive accessory on this list, but possibly one of the most overlooked ones out there that can resolve an issue that you didn't even know you had.

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You may not realise it but we are continually surrounded by Radio Frequency and Electromagnetic Interference (RF/EMI Interference). These fairly innocuous waves have a nasty habit of entering our equipment through unused connections and negatively affecting the clarity and dynamics of our Hi-Fi or AV set-ups. The best solution to stopping this, is to cap all of your unused inputs. Audioquest make a range of these caps, from the RCA Jack (pictured) to XLR, HDMI, USB and RJ45 Optical.

When Mark implemented these on his own Denon AV amp at home, not only did it drastically improve the noise floor and clean-up the signal, but he also found that it improved the general quality -

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"This rather simple solution turned the sound of my generic AV set-up in to that of a more of a refined stereo amp. Everything became more focused, less hazy, and far more detailed. There was also a noticeable difference in the sound-stage that I just didn't expect".

Considering you get 10 caps for around £40, this is definitely worth trying at home, regardless of whether you're solely Hi-Fi or AV... Give it a go and let us know your thoughts.

one of the most cost effective solutions on our top five list.

one of the most cost effective solutions on our top five list.

Naim Power-Line Lite IEC Mains Cable

Naim Audio have been a powerhouse in Hi-Fi since its founding in 1973 by renowned engineer, Julian Vereker. Known for pushing the boundaries of “The norm”, the British company has always been at the forefront of innovation. Now, when it comes to fans of Naim, they don't come much bigger than our fabled store manager, Nick.

With almost 45 years worth of experience in the Hi-Fi industry, Nick has been in the business almost as long as Naim. So, if he suggests something... I tend listen to what he has to say! With Nick being the ultra Naim fan that he is, I wasn't surprised when he recommended a Naim product as his accessory of choice.

I think it's safe to say that we've all heard the expression “Your signal chain is as strong as its weakest link”, but I think that what a lot of us don't seem to appreciate is that this includes EVERY link, even our power cables!

Derived from the industry-standard Power-Line and using the same de-coupling techniques, the Power-Line Lite was developed at the same time as the UnitI range from Naim.

Derived from the industry-standard Power-Line and using the same de-coupling techniques, the Power-Line Lite was developed at the same time as the UnitI range from Naim.

Featuring a high-gloss floating cable retainer, Thermoset resin case and floating pins within the case for superior electrical contact, the Power-Line Lite will improve the quality of your AV or Hi-Fi, regardless of the manufacturer.

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“It's a great solution to improve the musicality of your set-up without spending too much money. The self-aligning pins reduce the floor noise and improve the quality of the sonics.”

So, on Nick's recommendation I found myself in a bit of a comparison challenge. Whilst the differences are subtle in some cases, there was definitely an improvement in bass response, added clarity in the treble, and it generally opened up the soundstage. Definitely one to try if you want to get the best your system.

Audioquest Vodka Ethernet Cable

This is one for all of you streamers out there!

Having been with Audio T for 20 years, Joe shines out as our resident AV nut. His accessory of choice was one that he found to make a huge difference on his own system at home.

Arguably one of the most controversial subject matters when discussing interconnects is the humble digital cable. All you have to do is look up any Hi-Fi blog and you'll see most people saying that “digital is digital”, and “How can a cable make the difference?”, well to those naysayers I say “Give it a go for yourself! It REALLY does make a difference”.

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A major contributing factor to the degradation of a digital signal is strand interaction within the cable itself. This is one of the biggest sources of distortion. Audioquest tackle this by using solid, 10% silver conductors which completely remove any possibility of that pesky strand interaction, giving you a more involved, cleare and dynamic sound.

As you can see, this is a seriously industrial connection.

As you can see, this is a seriously industrial connection.

In the words of Audioquest - “Superior conductor metals minimize distortion by having fewer grain boundaries and less impurities (such as oxides) at those boundaries. Solid High-Density Polyethylene (PE) insulation helps maintain critical signal-pair geometry.”

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“When it came to switching over to the Audioquest Vodka, I noticed an instant improvement in the sound-stage and sonics. Everything became bigger with much more detail and presence”.

Even our customers don't have a bad word to say about it on our online reviews.

IsoAcoustic Gia / IsoAcoustic Aperta

I’ll admit that this may be cheating, as I’ve already published a blog post on how I feel about the IsoAcoustic stands, that said, I cannot stress to you enough what a difference these made when I’ve used them in store! The fact that they have products like the Gaia for floor-stander users, as well as the Aperta for bookshelf speakers, means that everyone can get onboard.

Three GAIA models tuned and optimized for each weight range

Three GAIA models tuned and optimized for each weight range

A lot of people may assume that isolation will give them a tighter bass response. What they may not realise is that the IsoAcoustic options shown here, also have an amazing ability to open-up the soundstage and create fantastic clarity in the upper-mid frequencie. This allows for better isolations of instrumentation and vocals.

The aperta doesn’t only elevate and isolate your speaker, but also allows you to angle vertically.

The aperta doesn’t only elevate and isolate your speaker, but also allows you to angle vertically.

Should you want to see any of these products in the flesh, or want to discuss them further, be sure to give us a shout or pop in to the shop.

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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

All of these products are available in all Audio T Stores.

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2020 Organised By Audio T In Association With What Hi-Fi?

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show is the UK’s largest and longest running Hi-Fi and home audio Show which is now in it’s 33rd year! Organised by Audio T in association with What Hi-Fi? it is held every February at the Marriott Bristol City Centre Hotel and has become an annual pilgrimage for music lovers and Hi-Fi enthusiasts from the UK and around the world! Attended by over 80 manufacturers and distributors it represented nearly 180 brands this year!

Here are some of the Show exhibitors in pictures and we’ll add video in the coming weeks! Most of the products on demonstration at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show are available for audition at your nearest Audio T, but do give the branch staff a call first before travelling because they they may need to get the product in first! If you couldn’t make your mind up about what to listen to or buy at the Show, then this is an ideal opportunity to take some time and listen to your shortlist of products in the comfort of one of our comfortable demonstration rooms!

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Hi-Fi on the move! Bentley brought along their Naim equipped Flying Spur!

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The faithful turned out in force at the The Marriott City Centre Hotel, despite the inclement weather and the impending threat of Coronavirus!

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Acoustic Energy were showing off their new AE500 series!

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Arcam were demonstrating a phenomenal sounding Audio Visual system using their new AVR series home cinema amplifiers. An absolute joy for the film and music enthusiast!

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ATC always very popular, were using CD and vinyl as their music sources.

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Audeze Headphone bar featuring Chord Electronics and Astell&Kern Personal Music players.

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AURALiC Showing off their G2 wares!

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Bowers & Wilkins had most of their series on display this year and a good selection of their headphones were available to try.

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Chord Electronics had their full range of portable headphone amplifiers and DACs on show as well as the new Ultima range, which were launched at the Show and drew packed crowds in their main listening room.

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Dali had a fantastic display in their room and were showing their new Rubicon 2C Wireless system and the upcoming MENUET SE bookshelf speaker pictured here.

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Dynaudio were demonstrating the new Confidence range, which were sounding particularly good! Bowie would be proud!

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innuos were demonstrating their fantastic range of music servers and streamers along with the new USBClocker designed to improve the sound quality of digital music played via USB.

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Not any old iron! The little Jern (Iron) speakers from Denmark made a big impression with their wide soundstage. You may well yearn for these diminutive heavyweights!

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Linn pulled the crowds in with their demonstrations of the Linn Selekt DSM streaming amplifier, Sondek LP12 record player and their new wireless multi-room loudspeaker the Series 3.

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Michell Engineering were spinning records with the Gyro and Gyrodec record players and demonstrating the differences in sound quality as you moved up their new range of Cusis moving coil cartridges.

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Neat Acoustics were demonstrating their new Ministra standmount and floorstanding loudspeakers.

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PMC as ever, were extremely popular and demonstrated their new PMC twenty5i Series and Martln Logan Electrostatics which they are now distributing in the UK.

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Rega Research another huge Show favourite were showcasing their new all in one entry level System One! Which sounded very good indeed. It consists of the Rega Planar 1, new IO amplifier and Kyte standmount loudspeakers, which will retail for £999 and is due at the end of March. A fab sounding analogue music system, which is ideal for any music enthusiast starting out on their Hi-Fi and vinyl odyssey.

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The REL demonstrations always impress and this year it was no exception! They had a stacked REL line array S/510 system on demonstration, which wowed the crowds!

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Russell K had their new Black 50 standmount speaker and the established Red 120 floorstander on demonstration.

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Spendor were demonstrating a wide range of their loudspeakers including the, A-Line, D-Line and Spendor Classic.

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Solidsteel speaker stands and racks were getting lots of attention and were in use by a number if exhibitors using standmount loudspeakers. We think they are a brilliant accessory.

If you were one of the many faithful and new visitors that braved the weather and the threat of Coronavirus, we salute you and we hope that you thoroughly enjoyed the Show. Thanks for making it another great Show! If you didn’t support it, it wouldn’t happen, so huge thanks to you, the manufacturers and the press for making this one of the best Bristol Hi-Fi Shows ever! For those that couldn’t make it, you can experience it in our Whistle Stop tour video below.

ATC SCM50 Loudspeakers And Native Qobuz High Resolution Streaming For Naim

We are very pleased at Brighton to have our new ATC SCM50 on demonstration in store and complementing our Naim ND555, NAC552 and NAP500 system. There is no doubt that these speakers are what we’ve been looking for as they bring a new level of engagement and integrity to the musical performance.

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The ATC SCM59 3 way speaker system comprises the improved new 25mm tweeter, along with the outstanding 75mm soft dome midrange driver and 234mm super linear bass driver, in a relatively compact and very solidly constructed cabinet. These speakers are built for serious performance, and can be used in passive or active configuration. We have the active amplifier modules as well, so with some notice, we can demonstrate both versions. ATC make larger versions of this speaker for those able to accommodate them.

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Do drop in for a listen or make an arrangement so you can spend a decent amount of time with the system.

Qobuz high resolution streaming comes to Naim along with a free 30 day trial. Certainly worth giving it a try to see what it offers.

Naim have incorporated native Qobuz music streaming in the recent firmware version 3.4 update for ND555, NDX2, ND5XS2 network players and Uniti Nova, Star and Atom systems along with other improvements, that include better sound reproduction. The firmware update for the 2nd Generation Mu-so2 and Qb2 will follow soon.

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Visit us at Audio T Brighton or ring 01273 609431 or email us to explore Naim equipment.

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

IsoAcoustics Gaia lll Isolates Your Speakers From Earth

The Gaia III isolators from IsoAcoustics are part of a range of products that help you decouple your Hi-Fi and speakers from the rest of the planet and improve the sound quality of your system.

The IsoAcoustics Gaia III feet are designed to replace the spikes at the bottom of your speakers. We have been putting ours through their paces at the store, and taking some cool snaps with Chromey as our model.

Iso Acoustics Gaia III Isolators.

Iso Acoustics Gaia III Isolators.

Stop, Isolate and listen, IsoAcoustics are back with a brand new invention.

Stop, Isolate and listen, IsoAcoustics are back with a brand new invention.

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Interestingly the base of the Gaia feet is made from a rubber compound that acts like a sucker and sticks to hard surfaces. Inside the Gaia III is a spring loaded mechanism that works the magic to reduce the vibrations.

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The Spendor D7.2s floorstanding loudspeakers sounded and looked a whole lot better after the Gaia III upgrade.

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Our own tests prove that the Gaia feet do actually make a difference. Adding the feet to a pair of Spendor D7.2's with the Rega Aethos integrated amplifier and the Naim NDX2, the Gaia's made the music much easier to listen to. Even making the instruments sound clearer, it tidied up the bass and improved the overall sound stage, giving you an improved image if you like.

So that's a marked improvement to your sound quality for a little under £600.

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For those of you with carpets, IsoAcoustics also make carpet discs for all 3 sizes of the Gaia feet.

Not pictured here.

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And as you can see they have won plaudits from across the pond, with the legendary publication Stereophile, giving the Gaia III’s the product of the year award and editor’s choice award. Not an easy feat. (Nice to see you having pun! Ed.)

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Why not come in and have a listen at Audio T Manchester and hear the difference for yourself. If you’re still not convinced, you can make use of our home loan service and try them on your own speakers. Hearing is believing!

IsoAcoustics isolation products are available at all branches of Audio T.

Cyrus ONE Cast Integrated Streaming Amplifier Arrives At Audio T Enfield

We welcome the new Cyrus ONE Cast streaming amplifier that includes amongst other features it offers you, voice control by Alexa, Siri and Google! All you need to do is connect it to your Wi-Fi network and just add the speakers of your choice to enjoy your music.

The Cyrus ONE Cast also is a fantastic streamer with Google Chromecast built in, Apple Air Play 2 and Bluetooth audio so no matter which way you want to connect to it, you can!

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Turntable fans are catered for as the Cyrus ONE Cast has a built in MM Phono stage. So there is no need to buy an outboard phono stage which will save you money.

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The Cyrus ONE Cast is so flexible, you can also connect your existing CD player and TV to it as it has 4 Digital Inputs.

There is a dedicated headphone amplifier when you want to hear your music with a little more intimacy.

No need for another App and let’s face it, there are probably more apps than you currently need on your phone.

If you subscribe to any of the following, you are good to go without another app to use. This includes Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer or whatever streaming app you use.

If you want a multi-room whole house audio system, just add more Cyrus ONE Cast units around the house with speakers and the same music track will play in all rooms.

Just two taps and the music on your phone will play. Simples!

If you want to hear the Cyrus ONE Cast- pop into Audio T Enfield and we’ll show you just how flexible this little unit is.

The Cyrus ONE Cast is available at all branches of Audio T.

Cyrus Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: CardiffEnfieldManchesterSouthamptonSwindon

The Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker Is it Set To Rise Or Remain in the Ashes?

With the advent of streaming firmly cemented in the homes of countless music lovers, manufacturers everywhere are looking to improve the quality and capabilities of their products to keep up with the high resolution audio provided by the likes of Amazon Music and Tidal. But what if you didn't want to change your streamer? What options are actually out there? The answers are few and far between, but Innuos just might have something of interest.

Innuos developed the Phoenix by replicating technology found in their flagship model, the Statement, which retails around the £10k mark.

Innuos developed the Phoenix by replicating technology found in their flagship model, the Statement, which retails around the £10k mark.

The Innuos Phoenix USB offers three separate components all in one sleek unit. A USB regenerator, a linear power supply (which means mains power is supplied to the transformer via input filtering and helps to eradicate mains-borne noise) and an external master clock with its own linear power supply.

How does it work? The Phoenix reclocker takes the USB signal from any source and completely regenerates it to an extremely high-precision signal to feed into your DAC by re-clocking it and allowing it to perform at its best. For those of you who aren't aware, re-clocking is a technique of rounding incoming data to match with generated clock signal from a new source, reducing random data jitter.

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We were lucky enough to have the guys from Innuos visit us in the Portsmouth store with the pre-production model in hand, so we were quick to set it up and had a play. Whilst some products when added to an existing set-up make a subtle difference, the Phoenix is a powerhouse of change.

Personally I was shocked as to how much depth and detail the re-clocker was able to bring to what you assume is already a pristine digital sound. The first thing that really hit me was the effect it had on increasing the soundstage, not only in width but also height – Things got way bigger! Secondly, but arguably more important, was the change in clarity and separation in the music – you could really pinpoint each instrument in the mix. It also gave a depth of sound that was akin to making a 2D image 3D.

We demonstrated the Phoenix with several different streamers from different manufacturers at varying price ranges and found it made the same difference on each one.

I think that it's safe to say - Much like its namesake, the Phoenix is a thing of pure magic.

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We'll hopefully be seeing stock of the Phoenix towards the end of February, but if you can't wait until then Innuos will be showing off this box of tricks at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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

Innuos products are available at all Audio T Stores.