RETRO LOOKS, MODERN SOUND - THE LEAK STEREO 130 ARRIVES AT AUDIO T CARDIFF

The word retro is something that we come across of a lot of these days. It has become fashionable in clothing, furniture and many household consumer items like kitchen radios. It has also wriggled its way in to the world of Hi-Fi, especially now that vinyl has had a great revival, with sales at their highest since the early 90s. The latest example of this comes from Leak Hi-Fi.

Many of us of the older generation will have fond memories of the Leak Stereo 30 (2 x 15). This appeared in the 60’s and was a popular seller. It formed the heart of many systems. The Stereo 30 used germanium transistors, because that was all that was available at the time. They worked but were noisy and prone to thermal runaway, making it a challenge to design practical hi-fi amplifier circuits using them. These were replaced in the middle of the decade with silicon varieties, which was an improvement. These transistors were also used by Quad and B&O, as well as other manufacturers.

So here’s an interesting proposition for those of us that are enamored in the retro - Do we buy an old Leak Amp, spend some money on refurbishing it and hope we get the sound we want? Or, do we buy a system that retains the retro aesthetic whilst utilising the advantages of modern technology? Well, I know what I would do… I would invest my money in the sensible option and purchase the new one.

A 60 year old amp, however popular it was at the time, is highly unlikely to sound as good as the modern day equivalent, not to mention reliable and availability of parts moving forward.

Here enters the LEAK STEREO 130.

Looking very similar to the original, this amp certainly has the retro look. Sporting the design of the original 30 with its smart wooden enclosure. The innards of the Leak Stereo 130 are based around the Quad Venna II, so we are already off to a good start as far as sound and build quality is concerned.

The Leak 130 has a respectable 2 x 45W (8ohm) output and has been designed to fit in the modern world. It is a full-function integrated amplifier. It includes modern quirks such as a Moving Magnet phono input, a DAC, and a headphone amplifier. You can also connect to the Stereo 130 via Bluetooth using the aptX or AAC codecs. 2V Triggers are included for tethering the Stereo 130 to the matching CDT player so you can control both units with the same included remote. No stone left unturned there!

I connected the amp to a pair of Dali Oberon 5 using the Rega Planar 3/ Elys as the source. After a couple of hours warming up this system was focusing on the rhythmic aspects of the music, which certainly gets your foot tapping  A clarity that nicely highlighted vocals and lead instruments, separating them out from the mix in a very distinct manner. The overall sound image reached well beyond the Oberon’s physical placement, extending in every dimension with a clear and present sense of the space of the recording. This combination also displayed taught and well-formed bass. Turning to some classical recordings the wonderful sense of space was still present bringing extra delight to the enjoyment.

The Leak Stereo 130 certainly has a character that extends beyond its looks and when combined with a complementary speaker like the Oberon 5, it offers many strengths that will suit any music you care to play through it. Add up all of the Stereo 130’s pluses, which include a very good sounding DAC, an excellent MM phono stage, Bluetooth connectivity and a decent headphone amplifier, all in a vintage-inspired case and you have a superb amp at a price that won’t break the bank.

Audio T Cardiff - Hefin, Nick & Kerrin

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LEAK can be found at the following Audio-T stores

• BRIGHTON

• READING

• CHELTENHAM

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

DYNAUDIO SPECIAL HERITAGE - THEIR PARTS-BIN MUST BE A GOLDMINE!

Attentive Hi-Fi buffs may well remember the well-received, well-reviewed and well-loved Dynaudio Special 40 that made landfall a couple of years ago. They were a delight and everyone was très désolé when that model came to the end of its limited production run.

Emboldened by their success, the engineers at Dynaudio decided to turn their attention to drivers that “became available” from higher up in the canopy – specifically the brand-new Confidence range tweeter, the Esotar3 (but with the previous model’s mounting plate) and the Bass/Midrange unit from the outgoing and shatteringly expensive Evidence Platinum (a mere £80k!)

Dynaudio designed the cabinets to house them in are heavily overbuilt, veneered American Walnut, which reminds me of the classic Contour range from a decade or more ago. This is no bad thing. Limited globally to 2500 pairs, Heritage Special is tipped to sell out quickly.

After a loooonnngg... period of running-in, they opened like a rose to reveal a huge, marvellously wide and deep soundstage. With a bass response that had me wondering about pints, quarts and changing the laws of Physics (Captain). The insight they provide is remarkable - every breath and held breath - brilliant. They need muscular amplification and a quality source to give of their best, but these speakers are simply glorious and I would certainly want some! I know that certain staff members in sister stores have already placed orders for theirs…

If you're looking for a serious speaker for a modestly-sized environment then these must be on your shopping list; they're terrific and I want a pair. I may have said that already.

Nic, Chris & Adrian - Audio T Swansea

Dynaudio can be found at the following Audio-T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• ONLINE STORE

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

HERITAGE SPECIAL FROM DYNAUDIO

It has been quite a while since my last blog but I have been tempted to put finger to key by these rather excellent new Limited Edition Dynaudio bookshelf loudspeakers. ‘Heritage Special’ isn’t just a name. It’s a salute to traditional high-performance Danish audio design.

Now at first glance you may think that these are rather expensive, but they may just be the best bookshelfers that you will ever hear. The first thing that struck me about these little marvels was how open and detailed they sounded and how they managed to image from way left and right of the speaker cabinets. This is something quite rare in a speaker, even at this price! Bass is effortlessly deep and taught as Santa’s belt. Top end is sweet and seductive. No one part of the music ever gets coloured by any of the rest making it so easy to hear and follow everything all at the same time no matter what type of music you listen to.

Slightly retro styling with state of the art drive units

Great artwork for some wonderful music

To give these beauties a real workout I thought I would try my 2020 album of the year - The wonderful triple vinyl compilation called Door to the Cosmos from On The Corner Records.

The album’s title, a nod to the afro-futurist jazzer Sun Ra’s infamous chant ‘dare to knock at the door to the cosmos’, is the perfect invitation to delve into this vast celestial journey of sound. Door to the Cosmos can only be described as a tremendous 24-track compilation album from the innovative and exciting left-field imprint On The Corner. For their 10th full album release they have gone all out to honour their adventurous, Miles Davis-esque ‘call it what you want’ philosophy. With over 30 artists featured on the album, from long-standing label contributors to those new to the On The Corner family, all are devotees to the curation of future sounds – melding ancestral music with club culture and pushing genres. The recording quality is sublime throughout as well. A great work out for your hifi system! Just listen to the seven and a half minutes of pure joy that is La Negra Lorenza by Jose Marquez. Intoxication isn’t the word…truly stellar!! and that is just one of a huge number of amazing genre bending wonders.

Enjoy the trip….

Be warned these speakers are strictly limited to 2500 pairs worldwide and are selling fast, even in these Covid restricted times, so don’t hang around too long or you may just miss out.

“If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing Jaw-Droppingly”

The build quality is amongst the best that you see. Look closely at the tweeter. Dynaudio historians will notice the unmistakable shape of the legendary Esotar T330D soft-dome tweeter. That’s Special enough on its own – But as they say, If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing jaw-droppingly. So they have replaced the insides with the finest tweeter technology they have ever created: Esotar 3. You’ll also find it, along with its powerful neodymium magnet, larger rear chamber and resonance-defeating Hexis inner dome, in their top-of-the-line Confidence series.

Taking on mid/bass duties is something equally Special: the 18W75 XL Heritage Special MSP Woofer (bit of a mouthful that, but whatever). If you were truly eagle-eyed, you might remember its exponential cone design from the magnificent Evidence Platinum series. The difference is, the Dynaudio boffins have taken it even further: this driver has an improved voice coil (a classic internal-magnet design with aluminium windings, now on a glass-fibre former); magnet system (a hybrid design with both neodymium and ferrite magnets for even greater flux control); and spider (Nomex, as seen on Confidence and Contour i).

All this attention to detail produces what must be one of the finest stand mount loudspeakers that we have ever had the pleasure of listening to. They are never harsh or bright sounding as so many of today’s newer designs can sound. These are speakers that you can listen to all day long and never get tired of. The bass is deep and juicy but always perfectly controlled. The whole soundstage they produce is big and open, extending massively outside the boxes. Dynaudio can be well and truly proud of these. They truly deserve that “Special” tag in their name.

If you would like any more information on The Dynaudio Heritage Special loudspeakers then please contact Jon, Farid or Andy in the Cheltenham store.

Farid has even a pair himself!

Dynaudio can be found at the following Audio-T stores -

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CHELTENHAM

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

HI-FI OR SCI-FI? NURASOUND - THE FUTURE OF HEADPHONES

When looking at a new manufacturer or new product release I find myself in one of two possible mindsets… Either, I’m as giddy as an excited child on Christmas morning, eagerly awaiting their latest toy - Or, I’m a cynical old fart asking “Why bother, surely we have enough of those already” … Often the latter comes to pass with products where the market is already oversaturated with well-established, industry standards that we all know and love. Now on occasion I’ll start with my dreary, negative outlook, only for it to be washed away by a surprisingly refreshing product. I found myself doing just that with my review of Jern Speakers, and now we have NuraSound…

Established in 2016 as the brainchild of medical doctor and auditory scientist, Dr Luke Campbell and electrical engineer, Dr Dragan Petrovic. Inspired by Dr Campbell's research, the duo set out to answer a single question, "What if each of us could hear music perfectly tuned to our unique hearing?". What they didn’t realise at the time is that over the course of the following two years, the pair would find themselves reinventing headphones as we understand them.

In 2018, NuraSound launched what transpired to be Australia’s largest-ever Kickstarter campaign, raising approximately £1.35 Million, which allowed the two doctors to bring their two models to the market. The flagship Nuraphone: a ground-breaking in-ear/over-ear hybrid, noise cancelling, wireless Bluetooth headphone. And the Nuraloop: An ergonomically designed pair of noise cancelling, Bluetooth earphones durable enough for active use.

So how does Nura technology work?

Once you’ve downloaded the free dedicated Nura app, your chosen product plays a range of tones and sine waves into the ear and then measures the impulse response created by the inside of your ears. This returning sound is called the Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) and this tiny signal originates in the cochlea and vibrates the eardrum, turning it into a speaker and playing sound back out of your ear. This sound is about 10,000 times smaller than the sound that went in, yet encoded within the returning soundwave is vital information about how well your ears perceived what went in. Both models use an extremely sensitive microphone to detect and measure this returning sound wave, and a self-learning engine built into the app to create your bespoke profile. This process is all automated. No buttons, knobs or a working knowledge of auditory science required. The whole process is complete in around 60 seconds.

Once the Nura app has created your hearing profile it sonically shapes and equalises your music playback so that it perfectly matches your hearing and delivers a tailored listening experience to get the most out of the music you love!

So that’s the “How” out of the way. Let’s take a look at the products themselves...

Nuraphone

I must admit, on first inspection of these headphones I was a little concerned with how far the inner ear section stuck out from the cup and felt I was in for an Alien-like probing of my ear canal! Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the headphones. I also admire the sturdy charging port design as well as the inclusion of an analogue cable with a 3.5mm jack allowing you to use these with your existing Hi-Fi system.

On to the set-up. Downloading the app was a fairly painless experience, even with the obligatory firmware update you come to expect from a “fresh out of the box” product.

(It is worth noting that the headphones did require charging before I could use them. I know some products come out of the box fully charged, so I thought this was worth a mention).

Once the firmware had updated, I eagerly moved on to setting up my listening profile. The first part of this is a series of sounds sent through the ears to test the fit of the headphones. This wasn’t exactly straightforward as the “Seal” my ears were creating wasn’t very stable. After several attempts of trying to improve this by adjusting the headband and positioning of the cups, the app suggested moving on… So, I did. Following the test for the seal comes the measurement of the impulse responses of your ears. This cacophony of sine waves transported me back to any given 60s or 70s Sci-Film. You know the part where a computer or robot is trying to work something out and this action is portrayed by a jumble of random tones and notes? Yep, just like that!

From here, a preselected piece of very well produced music is played for you without any of the adjustments in what is known as a Neutral setting. Then, with a click of the button in the app, your personalised listening experience is brought to life. You also have the chance to play with the Immersion Mode – an adjustment of low-end resonance designed to recreate a live listening experience.

Now, whilst I was impressed with the sound being played back at me, I wasn’t blown away! This was supposed to be the listening experience of a lifetime and yet I found it was only marginally better that the wireless noise cancelling headphones I had previously sampled from the already crowded marketplace. Undeterred, I continued to listen, assuming that like a new pair of glasses there would be an adjustment period.

After about an albums worth of listening I found that the inner part of my ear was really starting to hurt. I had assumed that the Large ear bud already fitted on the Nuraphone would be the correct ones due to nature of my oversized head (believe me, buying hats is a nightmare!) Out of sheer curiosity, I removed the Large offending rubber earbuds of pain and replaced them with the included, less offensive Medium size bud (There is also a Small size included should you need it). The fit was instantly better and far more comfortable. So, I thought to myself “Perhaps I had best redo the whole thing over?” Whilst sitting in unadulterated anticipation, I found myself as giddy as the proverbial child on Christmas morning, eager to see what elusive wonder lies beyond the wrapping paper… I gently proceeded through the testing process and arrived at the listening stage of the experiment. The Neutral experience was already better than previous, I clicked on the Personalised button and… BANG! There it was! The experience that had been promised. I could feel a shiver of excitement run down my spine as the hairs on my arms stood to attention and my hearing was transported to a whole new dimension. Songs that I had listened to a thousand times before had come to life in a way never before experienced to my ears. It’s an experience hard to explain… It’s like going from standard TV to HD 4K.

It’s probably worth noting that I’m listening to the Nuraphone as I write this… I’m actually having a little difficulty separating myself from them.

As well as the exciting new performance of audio playback, the Nuraphone boast a comfortable yet sturdy design. With two assignable buttons (four if you include the double-tap feature), These are truly a headphone designed for the individual. So how does the younger brother fair up… 

Nuraloop

Having had the experience of the previous headphones, I had the gift of hindsight to aid me in the set-up. First thing I did was try the different sized buds to ensure the best fit. Funnily enough, this time I found the preinstalled size to be the best fit. From here, the initialisation was a breeze. Unsurprisingly, the earphones had to be charged and a firmware update was hiding in wait. Unlike the Nuraphone’s USB-type connection, the Nuraloop have a very cool magnetic connection for the power and analogue cables. These earphones are clearly designed with a more active/sporty user in mind, with their sweat resistant construction and 16+ hour battery life, they are perfect for the avid runner or gym user that still wants to listen to music in an outstanding fashion.

Now whilst I am incredibly impressed with these earphones, there is one minor set-back. Do you remember I said that I have an oversized cranium? Well, as embarrassing as it is to admit, due to the connecting cable these earphones are a little snug on the back of my head… Whilst they still sound out of this world, the experience is slightly marred by the fit. But hey, I’m the minority here and I doubt it will even be an issue for many of you out there.

Much like its older sibling, the Nuraloop benefit from assignable soft touch controls as well as a dial feature around the buttons to control volume and level of noise cancellation. These truly are the Hi-Fi earphone for the audiophile on the go.

After all, business giants, Forbes Magazine described them as “the last earphones you should ever buy”.

Final Thoughts

I can honestly say, that without a shadow of doubt, that these are possibly the best headphones I have ever listened to! It is obvious that this was a real labour of love for Doctors Petrovic & Campbell. The detail and precision that has gone in to developing this technology is truly incredible. Subtle features such as the assignability of controls is just another step towards distancing themselves from other market competitors. I’m a big fan off the auto on/off feature that detects when the headphones are being worn. And hey, any headphones that say “Welcome back Brad” when I put them on is a winner in my books.

Now I know everyone’s listening preferences aren’t the same, and everyone has different tastes, so these probably won’t be to everyone’s liking, so don’t just take my word for it. Why not get in touch with your local store or if you want to take the plunge, you can order online for delivery right to your door.

Brad Tyler - Audio T Media & Online Manager

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INSPIRED RETRO VIBES WITH A POWERFUL DIGITAL HEART - MARANTZ MODEL 30

In the new Marantz Model 30 series there are two models - an Integrated Amplifier which is the focus of this blog entry and the matching SACD30N CD player, which offers SACD and CD playback as well as access to to a very capable DAC and integrated networking with the inclusion of the HEOS streaming platform.

For these two new models, the Marantz design team have have taken a fairly radical departure from the familiar family casework, delving deep into the Marantz archive for design cues that draw upon an incredible history dating back to the 1950s. On first sight I was honestly smitten with this new aesthetic and the perfectly balanced mix of retro and contemporary, that is sure to make this range future objects of desire; with design cues from the original Model 25 and 28. The clean front panel has clearly been carefully considered and the fit and finish is exactly as you would expect from Marantz at this price point, absolutely exemplary. In fact every element has an air of quality about it, from the crystal clear porthole display through to the carefully weighted controls on the front panel. The volume pot offers just enough resistance and the input selector feeds back with each turn, not only by an audible indication that another input has been selected, but by a very precise step that you can clearly feel; and this attention to detail communicates a sense of the special. There is no doubt that this is a premium product.

While features are slim, there is no internal DAC, only five line level inputs, a pre-amp out and power amp in, there is a comprehensive specified Phono Stage with separate Moving Magnet and Moving Coil circuits. The latter offers three settings to accommodate the variable output levels of MC cartridges.

The Pre-amp is powered by a traditional toroidal power supply but the power amplifiers are digital and while I haven't been able to officially confirm, rumour has it that they may well be Hypex modules that the design team have worked a little Marantz magic with to deliver the sound desired. Although I can't definitively confirm that to be the case, despite assurances from my source, I can be more sure of the specs that these digital amplifiers bring to bear, outputting 100w into 8 Ohms and absolutely doubling to 200w into 4 Ohms.

For any in store demonstration, I always think it's best for our customers to be armed with their absolute favourite tracks to really help mark the differences between systems as they refine their choices. Likewise, I started with a few of my favourites and heard much of what I would expect, a familiar percussive rhythm pattern and the sweet, smoothly delivered vocal on Emiliana Torrini's Tookah. The crisp and precise triangle that marks the shift from chorus to verse in Tori Amos' Trouble's Lament, very much as expected, a full-bodied rendition of both tracks. But what was apparent, even minutes in to this listen session is just how engaging the Model 30 integrated amplifier is.

Starting a proper assessment of any component requires a patient listening ear, especially with a Blog post, but I found I was almost immediately distracted by the engaging delivery and was just far more interested in listening; and this is honestly how I spent a very enjoyable weekend.

As a good example, the piano on Trouble's Lament is a beautifully recorded and realised piece that is not lost in the many elements that make up this track. With the Model 30 in play the vocal performance was crystal clear, full of inflection and further forward in the mix than I can recall hearing recently. So, rather than listening to my go-to tracks and looking to analyse a performance I found myself ploughing through Tidal's catalogue and not just listening to the selected track but invariably a whole album.  The more time I spent joyfully listening to the Model 30 amp the more apparent its strengths became.

Clearly this is a powerful amplifier but it has the capacity to get the emotional nub of a track, it conveys the delicacy, the subtlety of Barber's Adagio and hammers out Squarepusher's Numbers Lucent with all of the texture intact and absolutely no loss of pace. There's also detail aplenty and this amp is very adept at drawing it out, even when faintly recorded and residing in the background, but it never does so at the expense of the presentation, the delivery is always coherent, dynamic and full of emotion. This amp digs deep with bass realised in spades when its present in the recording, and if your speakers are similarly talented, you are in for a fine time. This is a fantastic amplifier, powerful and controlled and able to delve in to the heart of a song and offer up the emotional core.

I would wholeheartedly recommended an audition of the Model 30 if you are in the market for a new amplifier. Both items are available for demo, just be sure to call your closest branch to arrange a genuinely rewarding experience.

Andrew, Jon, Luke and Adrian - Audio T Oxford

Be sure to keep up with all that is going on at Audio T Oxford by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Marantz can be found at the following Audio-T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

CELEBRATING 110 YEARS OF DENON WITH THE LIMITED EDITION DCD CD PLAYER AND PMA AMPLIFIER

Denon, a name that has always aligned itself with creativity and innovation is celebrating its 110th anniversary. From its humble beginnings in Japan in the early 20th Century, the company quickly found itself marching towards becoming one of the biggest innovators in creating the way we listen to music today.

The company was originally established in 1910 as part of Nippon Chikuonki Shokai (Japan Recorders Corporation), a manufacturer of single-sided disc records and gramophones. They later changed their name to Denon in 1930.

From their very inception, Denon have contributed to countless advancements in the field of Hi-Fi.

In celebration of their 110 years on this planet they have released the A-110 Anniversary Series. The PMA-A110 Amplifier, the DCD-A110 CD Player, the DL-A110 Stylus and the AVC-A110 Audio Visual Amplifier.

How do they fair?

Well, if you’re not tempted by their sleek design and gargantuan stature, then you’ll be pleased to know that there is some substance behind the style!

My head for refrence.

Here at Portsmouth, we’ve been lucky enough to be nominated as the the flagship store to hold the demonstration PMA-A110 Amplifier and DCD-A110 Super Audio CD Player models, and I had the privilege of opening them for the first time. So here are my initial feelings and thoughts on the matter.

It was clear to me from the get go that Denon wanted to to celebrate their triple digital anniversary in a BIG way. The weight and size of the boxes was the first indicator as well as the first glimpse of the stylish Silver Graphite which will no doubt become synonymous with these iconic monoliths of sound - Even the remote control is a thing of engineering beauty, with the most satisfying buttons in the industry! This handheld wonder features a stainless steel construction which feels solid and hardy.

You can feel the quality that radiates from these units. Proudly made in Denon's home factory, Shirakawa Audio Works in Shirakawa, Japan.

PMA-A110 Stereo Amplifier

The Denon PMA- A110 anniversary amplifier is a culmination of 110 years of audio heritage and a pinnacle of the engineering that featured in all the PMA series that preceded it.

Powered by Denon’s patented Advanced Ultra High Current (UHC) single-push-pull circuit power amplifier, the PMA-A110 integrated amplifier delivers 160 Watts of power-per-channel. The A110 amplifier features a two stage amplification system- a variable stage preamp and a separate power amplifier. The A110 features two transformers facing opposite directions to cancel out any mutual magnetic interference.

Designed to please the most discerning audiophile, this amp is an obvious choice for listeners who want to build the 2-channel Hi-Fi system of their dreams.

There are a whole host of functions to play with when it comes to audio quality. You can truly feel Denon’s love of musicality in the features. The unit features two modes that disable any digital component in the signal chain to give you a true analogue experience. Unlike a lot of contemporary amplifiers you’ll find a stereo balance and EQ controls, so you can have the flexibility to achieve the sound that suits you and your space. But perhaps you want to reference the music just how the engineers intended? Well, with the tap of a button you can easily switch to “Source Direct” to completely bypass any adjustment controls. At the end of the day that is what the PMA-A110 truly achieves - An amplifier that perfectly blends traditional analogue technology with the precision and detail you’ve come to expect from modern digital Hi-Fi.

This is apparent in the specifications: a total harmonic distortion of 0.01%, and the impressive four PCM1795 DAC configuration.

While this amplifier is a feat of engineering, it doesn’t appear to have smart features that we’ve become familiar with in other consumer amplifiers. Obviously Denon felt it necessary to focus more on the quality of the audio rather than adding any extras such as music streaming capability. It is a no-nonsense approach to using modern manufacturing to make it sound the best it can. And boy does that come across when putting it through its paces!

How about the DCD-A110 CD Player?

The DCD-A110 Super Audio CD Player is the perfect pairing for the PMA- A110. It features the same stunning finish as well as one of the smoothest CD tray’s I think I’ve ever seen! Much like it’s amplifier counterpart, it features a quad PMC1795 DAC configuration that acts as the dedicated processors for the player, so the quality marries perfectly with the amp to allow the two to perform in beautiful harmony.

In the modern age of Hi-Fi you can’t move an inch without running into players with integrated streamers or Bluetooth functionality. But the DCD-A110 stands out as a unit that gives CDs the attention they deserve. Some might argue that it would have been nice if Denon had included some of these additional features or even a digital input to make further use of the power inside the four DACs, however, I think it’s important to stress you’re not paying for bells and whistles. This is a unit that does exactly what it says on the tin - A exquisite CD player at the up-most top of its game.

With features similar to that of the PMA-A110 including a Pure Direct feature to turn off the digital display and the digital audio outputs to remove any interference that could impact your experience, this is a formidable system.

In conclusion, the only downside of the anniversary series I can see is the accessibility. With its premium price tag it won’t be a viable option for everyone, but if you’re in the market for some serious Hi-Fi then look no further.

Jake, 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.

Denon can be found at the following Audio-T stores

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration today!

Greetings Mr. White! No Reservoir Dogs, Just Woofers Introducing the New AE520

Every once in a while a speaker comes along which resets the price/performance mark. The Acoustic Energy AE520 are just such speakers. Beautifully designed and finished with foot tapping, awe-inspiring presentation & control.

Also available in gloss black and walnut

The AE520 is the latest flagship model in Acoustic Energy’s AE 500 series, which is designed as their reference line. We wrote about the AE500 and AE509 in a blog last year - this is a wonderful development.

The Design - “This feels like the future..”

The cabinet is thicker with bracing points and a central sealed chamber that houses the D'Appolito MTM (mid-range Tweeter & mid-range driver) arrangement. The lower three drivers drive 2Hz lower than the AE509.

This is a full 3 way with the crossover at 373Hz handing over to the mid-range and 2,800Hz to the tweeter, with a sensitivity of 90dB, which means there are a lot of options to drive and match components.

The carbon fibre 25mm cones with a resin binder, are stiffer & lighter with great damping and tonal quality. Acoustic Energy have mastered getting the best out of this material over aluminium, paper or kevlar options - this feels like the future. The lower 3 cones are housed in a stiffer surround, allowing for a longer throw and solid control over those lower musical registers.

The tweeter is noticeably set back more in the cabinet than the AE509s, with a much deeper and flared lens dispersion housing. This allows the high frequencies to blend seamlessly with the mid-range, yet curiously, still very detailed with the positioning of cymbals and high hats for example.

The Setup

We paired the speakers with a Rega Planar 6 and Naim NDX 2 streamer for source, using Chord Odyssey X cable. We wanted to investigate the options for amplification. At around £3-4K, the Rega Aethos was our first choice - though along the way we found the Naim Supernait 3, ATC P2 and a full Naim 300 system proved that these speakers aren't afraid of exotic power.

Listening

Overall, these speakers are a leap forward - in one word - control. The balance is superb. Beautifully wide separation & deep sound stage, tight base and smooth clear crisp vocals. They never felt forced or over analytical or too clinical. No matter what the setup was, they seemed to soar with an immense sense of timing and natural presentation.

Book an audition, bring along some of your favourite music & experience the AE520s for yourself.

Post by: Max, James & Justin Audio-T Bristol

Be sure to keep up with what is happening in the Bristol store by following us on Instagram and Facebook.

Acoustic Energy are available at the following Audio T stores -

• BRISTOL

• CARDIFF

• CHELTENHAM

• ENFIELD

• ONLINE STORE

• PORTSMOUTH

• READING

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

• OXFORD

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT… THE AUDIO NOTE (UK) COBRA!

Cast your memory back 20 months in to the past, to that beautiful time when we could congregate in large numbers and admire the latest innovations in Hi-Fi and Home Cinema. That’s right, I’m talking about The Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2019. It is here that we first heard the Audio Note (UK) Cobra. An incredible integrated valve amp that offers an outstanding level of performance.

JUST LIKE ITS NAMESAKE, IT’S Ready to pounce…..

THE TECHNICAL BIT

The Cobra is an integrated amplifier with a pure Class A valve design, comprising an input stage of 2 x 6AU6 and 2 x 5670, feeding the push-pull configured EL34 output valves, two of which are used per channel. The C-core output transformers are custom designed and manufactured by Audio Note (UK) and are of extremely high quality, offering outstanding, class leading performance.

The power supply is a multi-element design with choke smoothing, ensuring precise operation of each circuit stage, whilst a separate DC supply feeds the valve filaments.

As with all Audio Note products, it has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 1 criteria of pure Class A Push-Pull Pentode operation and materials and component quality.

A bit of operational detail.

Connections

At 28 watts per channel, the Cobra is capable of driving a wide variety of 'speakers thanks to its exceptional double C-core output transformers.

It is equipped with three analogue stereo inputs, and an additional three digital inputs, via the onboard DAC. The digital coax inputs can accept signals up to 24-bit/176.4kHz (native bit-depth for the Philips TDA1543 D/A converter chip is 16bit, so anything above this is truncated down). The Optical SPDIF input can accept signals up to 24-bit/96kHz (see above). The USB input can accept up to 16-bit/48kHz.

And a first for an Audio Note integrated amplifier, an internal D/A section and a remote volume control, with mute and input selection!

Great lines….

The Cobra looks great in the flesh bringing some of the design clues of the Jinro, Tomei and the legendary Onganku.

The Cobra is intended to bring the virtues of Audio Note, that is to get as close to the dynamics of live music as possible, but here at a more “introductory” level price.

From the top……..

HOW DOES IT SOUND?

“Ghosts” on Japan’s Tin Drum - here the eerie nature and laments of this track were strongly conveyed, David Sylvian’s voice was to the fore as it should be, and the ghostly gongs and synthesiser effects were, well, sinister and unearthly! This track was conveyed with all the emotion intended and some.

Following a strong cup of coffee, we put on Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name Of”. This is a strong test of dynamics, particularly drums. The Cobra rocks big time, realising this music with superb pace and timing, the drums locked in and strong and the anger of the vocals intact. What a result!

Finally, as a come down, we put on Peter Gabriel’s Us album, choosing the harmoniously complex and laid back “Blood of Eden”. This track also has a warm, deep bass. The emotions of Gabriel and the exquisitely textured music and harmonies flowed along. Quite beautiful.  

We can strongly recommend this integrated amp for all types of music. It is exciting, detailed, dynamic and tonally outstanding. A strong all-round package at the centre of any well curated music system. Just magical.

Come and hear it for yourself. Just remember that all Audio T stores are operating on an appointment only basis at the moment.

Audio Note (UK) products can be found at the Reading and Bristol Audio -T stores.

Gareth & Rob - Audio T Reading

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

THE KAROUSEL BEARING - A WEEK ON FROM OUR LINN KLINIK

It’s been a week since our Linn Klinik in-store Karousel event, and we thought we’d provide you with an update on how it went, as well as some comments from our customers who have already had the new bearing fitted. If you’re thinking about it but not 100% sure yet, maybe this will seal the deal for you?

The Karousel bearing, in all its glory!

Out of all the people we had come in for the Klinik, two-thirds of them put in their Karousel order before leaving. The others were impressed and will look to upgrading in the future, after a bit of saving. One of them is now looking into getting a whole Linn Majik system in the future, off the back of hearing it on the day. 

Using our Klimax system, the Karousel excelled [you can find details of this system here]. One customer brought in a very old record, let’s just say it was ’well used‘ and he said “struggles to play quietly wherever I’ve tried it” and it played superbly. He was shocked at how clean and clear it sounded in comparison to playing it on his own LP12 - a deck that is no slouch! The pops, crackles and scratches were very significantly reduced, and even the few that did get through sounded sweeter, and less noticeable.

So, what comes in the box?

Inside the Karousel box

Well, obviously the bearing, but as you can see here, there is a lot more in the box! You get a new inner platter, as well as; new suspension springs, grommets (large and small), an earth wire with tags, suspension lock nuts, a P-clip, and more than enough oil. A pretty impressive haul for not a huge amount of money!

*You will need a minimum of a Cirkus sub-chassis to upgrade, and it is not compatible with Valhalla or pre-Valhalla power supplies due to safety issues.

The inner platter from the Karousel bearing kit

One of the first Karousels we fitted was for a long time customer. After he received it back we got an update from him with his thoughts on the bearing. 

“Sat here on the couch slightly stunned at what I’m hearing from my turntable. There are bass and cymbal lines I’ve simply never heard before, and it’s only been playing for five minutes”

Understandably this initial response gave us confidence in the Karousel, but you’d better believe that it only got even better… One valued customer provided us with some very detailed email updates. One on the day after installation, another one a week after, and finally two weeks after.

Here are some of our favourite snippets from each of those emails!

The day after, he said “I’m quite cynical about post-upgrade over-enthusiasm, but I think your other customer’s ‘jaw-dropping’ assessment justified in this case.”

A week later; “Having now listened to a range of types of music and recordings/pressings of varying quality, I’m in no doubt at all about the scale of the improvement, with the Karousel. Instruments and vocals sound more natural, realistic and authentic. I think it’s a bigger step forward in my system than any recent upgrade.”

And after two weeks; “Two weeks post-installation and I’m out of superlatives to describe the improvement the Karousel has made to my LP12. Not surprisingly, great recordings are better now. The biggest change however is with material that didn’t sound quite right with the Cirkus, which now makes it over the line, often by a considerable margin.”

We would absolutely agree with all of these comments, and the countless snippets of praise we’ve had from everyone.  The noise floor drops away almost completely, leaving more space for each individual instrument. That’s not to say it gives an unnatural ‘3D’ sound, but you can certainly pick out more detail than with other bearings. Another benefit is that it’s less fatiguing on the ears, we can certainly attest to that having given our shop model a good run in for at least 5 full days.

As our customers have said, music that they know well is being heard in completely different ways and details that weren’t noticed before, are suddenly revealed in all their glory. We would agree with that fully, and it is a joy to listen to. 

This bearing is a real testament to the work that Linn do, and despite a global pandemic happening just as they released the bearing to the public… it has not affected the demand for these at all. We get enquiries about it daily!

We can honestly say that this upgrade is easily the best value upgrade you can do to your LP12, and it is without a doubt firmly in the top 5 upgrades of all time. 

If you’d like to discuss this, or any other LP12 upgrades, then please give us a call at the shop and we’ll be happy to talk through what we can do. Just remember that all of our stores are currently operating on an appointment only service.

John, Paul & Chris - Audio T Brighton

Linn Products are available at all of the following Audio T Stores -

• BRIGHTON

• BRISTOL

• MANCHESTER

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SWINDON

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

ROTEL TRIBUTE SERIES - THE LAST LEGACY FROM A LEGEND

Industry leaders, Rotel, have launched the A11 and CD11 Tribute series amplifier and CD player (respectively), redesigned in collaboration with the late audio legend Ken Ishiwata. Very sadly Ken passed away before seeing the final finished product.

Both the CD11 CD player and A11 amplifier feature significant changes to internal components as well as changes to the chassis design over the standard entry level versions of the cd and amp. Ken Ishiwata was famous for his work with Marantz, and as this proved to be his last manufacturer collaboration it was aptly named “Tribute” by Rotel. Ken’s knack was to take an already well performing component and take it to another level without a huge increase in price. i’m sure lots of you reading this will have owned or listened to many products that he had performed his magic on.

The Rotel A11 and CD11 Tribute fall into the same price bracket as the well established and award winning Marantz 6000 series, which we have been fans of for many years in its current and previous models. It is safe to say that these now have very stiff competition from these new Rotel models.

From setting them up from new out of the box it was clear to see that these are extremely well put together components for the price. Even perhaps a more reassuring build quality than its competition.

The first CD we played (Eric Clapton - Session for Robert J) was very impressive even from stone cold. Sounding very articulate with a tremendous sense of space and focus of the individual instruments in the laid bare live recording. Partnered with the Rotel were the Bowers and Wilkins 607 on the dedicated B&W STAV stands, and at an overall system cost of just over £1500 it really does rock along.

Curious to hear the comparison with our established go-to product it was time to set up the Marantz CD6007 and PM6007 amplifier alongside. My initial thoughts about the Rotel were reinforced in comparison to the Marantz. It would be fair to expect, as from previous Ken Ishiwata tuned products, things like the accuracy in tonality of separate instruments, and focused sound stage to be improvements, and this is certainly the case with the Rotel.

To question if the Marantz is now still top of the tree and the entry level would be a very fair discussion, certainly from what we have heard so far, the Rotel will appeal to a lot of people. So, if the Marantz is on your list to audition then you must add the Rotel Tribute to that list!

If you would like to audition these with us, please remember that during the current Covid restrictions we are still able to offer in store demonstrations by appointment. If you are unable to travel to Swansea due to local lockdown travel restrictions please get in touch with us to discuss a home demonstration.

Nic, Chris & Adrian - Audio T Swansea

Contact your local Audio T Store to listen to Rotel products

IS THIS THE NEW BRONZE AGE? MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE 6G SERIES

If you’ve ever found yourself in search of the elusive "good performance yet affordable speaker”, whether it be either for your first Hi-Fi system or perhaps even a home cinema set-up, like many of our customers you will of no doubt found yourself perusing the latest offerings from Monitor Audio. One of their most popular models being the Bronze Series, a rarity in that they are extremely well balanced between both price and performance.

Each of the six generations of the Bronze Series speakers have received rave reviews and awards a plenty over a twenty year period. They have also proven the test of time and become a perennial favourites with our customers and staff alike.

So, if it’s not broke, why fix it?

Monitor audio bronze 6G 200 in a very contemporary white finish

The new 6G series departs quite dramatically from its predecessors. The Bronze range has traditionally favoured a front ported design (with the exception of the smallest speaker in the range). This was considered by some to be a benefit to those with much smaller rooms, allowing them to place the speakers closer to the wall. This new range however has adopted much of its design from its bigger brother, The Silver Series. This would suggest that you are getting a far better speaker at the price point over its previous generations. One such design appropriation being the inclusion of the Hive2 port design, which has been integral to many of Monitor Audio's more exotically priced models. This system enables a smoother response as the cabinet moves the air, ensuring placement isn't compromised. Essentially, it doesn’t matter the size of your room, you will still be able to enjoy the Bronze Series.

As well as changes to the low end, Monitor Audio have modified their C-CAM tweeter with a "Uniform Dispersion" Waveguide. “But what does that mean Andrew?” I hear you cry – In short, this ensures a very clear delivery of higher frequencies for even more detail at the top end. In addition to this, Monitor Audio have also made improvements to their mid and bass drivers construction as well. The inclusion of Damped Concentric Mode (DCM technology) to the Bronze Series’ proprietary C-CAM driver allows for tighter low end and more clarity in the mid-range.

It is obvious to me that an enormous amount of time and effort has been invested in this new 6G series. But as with anything, the proof of Monitor Audio's extensive efforts can only be established by listening to them.

So, how do they sound?

As I’m writing this blog only to whet your appetite, I will let you make the final judgement when you call in for a critical listen. However, my humble impressions listening to both the Bronze 50 and 200 is that they both sound absolutely superb; and, most importantly, all the more impressive when you consider their very competitive price points.

Straight out of the box, both the 50s and the 200s offered a very polished performance, that ably competes with many alternative brands in and above a similar budget. The revised design really does pay dividends!

In conclusion, these new models deliver a more textured and nuanced bass output and a more refined mid-range, but the real surprise is the treble presentation, which is crisp but in no way bright and with a smoothness that is sure to surprise.

In conclusion, the new Bronze range offers a comprehensive selection of speakers that perform admirably for music and home cinema. including a new subwoofer, centre speaker, rear FX speakers and the newly introduced Atmos speakers. The range also has a very fetching new finish, Urban Grey. This contemporary finish is already proving very popular with our customers. But if this isn’t to your liking, you also have the option of the more traditional walnut, matte black or white meaning that they will match most decors.

So, there you have it. Why not book a demonstration to come and listen to these exceptional speakers in store or for home demo?

Andrew & Andy – Audio T Swindon

Monitor Audio can be found at the following Audio-T stores

• ENFIELD

• MANCHESTER

• ONLINE STORE

• OXFORD

• PORTSMOUTH

• SOUTHAMPTON

• SWANSEA

• SWINDON

Rega Aethos Update...

We have been selling this behemoth of an integrated amplifier for a few months now and in that time it has become our favourite amplifier at the price by quite some margin. It has been out performing all of the competition that have passed through our doors here in Cheltenham, some of which have cost almost twice as much. With that in mind we thought that it was about time to shout about this wonderful addition to the Rega range in one of our regular blogs. Can’t believe we haven’t done so already really. So here goes….

The Rega Aethos is an integrated amplifier that has been eagerly awaited for some time. In the last three years, Rega has released three turntables, Planar 6, Planar 8 and Planar 10, that can legitimately stake a claim to being close to or the benchmark at their respective price points. What Rega couldn’t do as easily was sell you an amp to go with them. The range has four relatively affordable amps (including the new Io and the very excellent Brio) and then a significant gap until you get to the flagship Osiris (which, by the way, is also rather excellent).

At one pound under three grand the Aethos is Rega’s exercise in making the ultimate sound they could for the price. They took out the phono stage. Their logic being that if you own an amp at this price you are more than likely going to run it with a turntable of at least the quality of the P6 if not a P8 or P10. So you will have a moving coil cartridge and will thus want to do it proper justice with an out board phono stage, such as the Mk3 version Aria or the Aura Reference.

The Aethos is a dual mono design that uses a custom wound toroidal transformer and regulated power supplies for the sensitive amplification and driver stages. The pre-amplifier stage uses class-A discrete circuitry throughout. It delivers a very impressive 125 Watts per channel into an 8 Ohm load, so it has the capability to go very loud, hence the chunky rows of heatsinks down either side. The Aethos’ build quality is impressive. The chunky styling of the new casework certainly feels rock solid and inspires confidence. The controls are simple enough with smooth-acting buttons for choosing the inputs for listening and recording.

Now of course its not all about volume (although that does help), the Aethos has control and dynamics, delivering an impressive performance that always makes the music sound vivid and alive. We have used the Aethos with many and various combinations of turntables, CD players, streamers and loudspeakers, and it always has an assured and solid sound staging ability. It possesses an amazing ability to get the sound of an instrument or a voice to appear to hang in the air in front of the listener, and to sound like it is way outside the left or right of the arc of the loudspeakers. There have been many instances where we have had one of these set up in our dem room for a customer to come in for a listen. And when the demo is over we have left it playing so that we can have a listen for ourselves, and the comments are always the same. “How does it do that for the price” or “ I want one!”

As can be seen from the picture above the Aethos is fitted with five RCA line inputs, a tape loop (that neatly features parallel outputs so you can drive a headphone amp and record at the same time), a power amp in and preamp out. This is partnered with a headphone amp running into a 6.35mm jack connection, and the performance on headphones is just as stunning as through the speakers. A nice chunky set of gold plated 4mm speaker sockets complete the line up on the rear.

The Rega Aethos has a very similar character to the Elex-R and Elicit-R but is more revealing and powerful, which opens up a wider range of loudspeaker options but does place higher demands on the source. Essentially it won’t gloss over anything coming from the front end, be that the hard- or software. But it is a very musical and compelling amplifier that makes you want to listen longer and, dare I say it, louder, which is one of life’s great pleasures after all. Add to this very high build quality, a good selection of analogue in- and outputs and you have a classic amplifier, built for sound quality first. What more do you really need?

During these difficult times we are operating on an appointment only basis, so if you’d like to listen call Audio T Cheltenham and book a demonstration.

Andy, Jon and Farid.

Rega products are available from all branches of Audio T

Introducing the Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series Anniversary.

A recent release in the wonderful world of speakers is the Bowers & Wilkins 600 Anniversary Series to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the original 600 speakers.

With the quality of sound you have come to expect from Bowers & Wilkins, but with upgraded crossovers and decoupled double dome tweeters, for the most clear listening experience possible for the anniversary. Not to mention the cosmetic upgrades to them.

Before we talk about our verdict on how they sound let’s have an overview of the history. 

1966, Worthing, England. John Bowers started out building speakers systems in his electronics workshop. This grew into Bowers starting his own speaker company, after a hefty investment of £10,000 from a satisfied customer! This grew into the company experimenting with speaker designs to push forward the capabilities of audio from the domestic monitors in the 1970s to setting up the SRE (Steyning Research Establishment) in 1981. 

Bowers and wilkins: domestic monitors, the start of their venture into home audio! read more at :https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-gb/our-story

The first 600 series came about in 1991, as a successor to the already established series of home monitors. It was a series that made quality audio even more accessible in a domestic environment, at an affordable price point, helping create what the HiFi industry is today. Designs like the original 600 series gave more of a focus on the the music lover’s home, instead of a professional studio environment. That is why we join Bowers & Wilkins in celebrating this milestone. 

“But what about the speakers?” you might ask, that’s why you clicked on this blog after all. 

The sound quality captured in the 600 series is outstanding- the clarity is comparable to speakers at a higher price point. This was surprising due to the seemingly minor changes for this anniversary edition - but those little changes make these a top competitor for their respective price points.

The 603s towering OVER THE 607s

Initially the bass that can be produced from the Floor Standing 603 speakers made me need to catch my breath. I assumed there was a subwoofer in the system with them. I was wrong, it was all the 603s work! 

From testing the 603s I went straight to warming up the 607s. I wanted to to dive into the comparison between the models. I went into testing the 607s with a pinch of salt as they are dwarfed by their big sisters, but I was wrong to do so. The 607s are the perfect speaker if you have a smaller room. They held their own in our larger demo room, which I think says a lot about the quality of the audio reproduced by them. Most speakers of this size will typically begin to suffer in this kind of environment, however, the 607s held up (albeit with a slight blur of clarity between the bass and mid-range in comparison with the more expensive models).

The 607s have a wide frequency response and great clarity, most noticeable in the crisp detail in the midrange and the high frequencies - making these small speakers an impressive thing to hear.

Introducing the 606s. If you find you have the room size for a bigger pair of speakers, but without the space for floor standing models then the 606s are for you. The slightly larger size of the 606s mean they don’t fail to fill up a room They are a favourite as our shop floor speakers to ‘warm them up’ (we just really like them to be honest).

Our first demonstration model of the 606s did kick up quite the riot in our store. The new Oak finish for the 600 series is flawless. Our 606s featured this finish, with an Oak styled veneer (a stunning shade) mixed with the white face. The contrast between the two creates a balance that I can only describe as full eye candy.  Although for the 603s we do prefer the finishes in black or white, as we think the black speaker cones don’t fully mix with the white panel - but of course that is a personal preference, how may feel otherwise.

That oaky goodness mmm

Overall we tested the speakers with a wide range of music, varying from The Cinematic Orchestra and Oh Wonder to Rollings Stones and Metallica to Jon Hopkins and the Bass Mekanik! We choose a range of different styles to reflect a range of different listening to see how they hold up. The speakers as a whole reflected a performance higher than their respected price points - in the worlds of the great Joe Reed. ‘A whole load of speaker for the price.’

It feels that Bowers and Wilkins didn’t just hit the nail on the head with this series - they may have made nails obsolete! They have offered a quality speaker that is available at a range of price points that ultimately benefits the Hi-Fi industry with a further sense of accessibility to crisp balanced plain old good sounding Hi-Fi.

We are operating an appointment only system during these difficult times. So why not book a demo to listen to these beautiful speakers today? Our demo rooms are waiting!

Jake, 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.

Bowers & Wilkins 600 Anniversary Series are available in all Audio T Stores.

Bowers & Wilkins make their mark with the new Signature series.

The new Bowers and Wilkins Signature series have arrived at our Manchester store.

B&W have used technology from the ever popular 800 series to add a little extra pizzazz to the already impressive 700 series, with new design features exclusively for this range.

The brand new Carbon Dome tweeters are purpose-built for the 700 Series and deliver pinpoint imaging accuracy and detailed insight in to your music.

Milled from a solid block of aluminium, just like Chromey, the Solid Body Tweeter design creates an acoustically optimised housing that is inert and resistant to resonances.

The tweeter grill on the 700 signature is now in an elegant silver finish, very slick.

The 702 Signature is finished in Datuk Gloss, which reminds us of a tiger ebony finish. It looks very nice.

According to B&W “Voices and instruments are delivered with purity and precision, thanks to the smooth, accurate Continuum cone mid-bass driver.”

And we agree, the Signature series are more open and spacious than the equivalent standard 705.

There’s no denying the fit and finish of the signatures. Bowers and Wilkins have done a great job.

Ahem, Chromey, that’s a bass port not a space port.

We have both the 702 Signature and 705 Signature at our Manchester store.

Both are on display and ready for demonstration. If you are interested and would like a demo, just ring the store to book an appointment.

We are only allowing 2 to 3 customers in the store at the same time in the interest of safety during these difficult times, so please ring ahead to book an appointment.

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

Time For Evolution, The New Project Debut Carbon Evo Turntable

THE project debut carbon evo in satin steel blue

The Project Debut Carbon has been around for a few years now, yet is still one of our best selling turntables. Like many, I was interested when I heard that an ‘Evo’ version had been released. What would the difference be between the two? Well, looking at the two side by side I must say they look identical (apart from the finish of course!)

the proven 8,6‘‘ one piece Carbon tonearm design. The super stiff, but lightweight tonearm delivers an insane sound quality with a convincing sound stage.

The signature, high quality carbon arm, factory fitted with the excellent Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. The connecting cable included with both models is the well respected, semi-balanced Connect-it E. And whilst it would appear to be the same looking platter, the Evo boasts a newly designed platter which we will discuss a little later. As well as this, there are now nine elegant finishes available, including Satin Steel Blue - A touch of class indeed!

So what else are we getting for the £80 premium?

To find this out we must look a bit deeper. First of all, the “Evo” has an electronic speed change. The simple on/off switch on the original has been replaced with a three position switch, flick to the left for 33 and to the right for 45. No need to remove the platter to change speed.

Whilst we’re talking about speed; this deck is also capable of playing 78’s with a special belt that is supplied. Just simply place it on the larger pulley and away you go. Just make sure you change your stylus to play your old shellacs - Ortofon manufacture an easily replaceable stylus for this very purpose.

While looking underneath the deck I also noticed that the feet were different. It now sits on three height adjustable aluminium feet which are further dampened with TPE (Thermo-Plastic Elastomer). This will ensure an absolutely stable platform, with good isolation from the shelf it is placed on.

So what’s new under the bonnet so to speak? On removing the platter we can see two noticeable improvements. The first is the in house designed motor and the way it is mounted. It is now decoupled from the chassis using a new mounting plate. This is again dampened with TPE, which isolates the motor whilst keeping it perfectly level with the sub-platter drive system.

As mentioned before, the Evo’s platter also features all new TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) technology which helps to damp the resonance completely and also increases the weight to 1.7 kg. Also, because the TPE is mounted to the inside of the platter‘s rim, the extra mass there will also create a flywheel effect. The result is an even quieter and noiseless operation, with less wow and flutter.

So, all-in-all, some worthwhile improvements for a megre £80. However the proof is in the listening…

Let the shoot-out begin!

I set both turntables up with a system that they are likely to be partnered with, consisting of the excellent Rega Brio amp and Dali Oberon 5 loudspeakers. I set them both to play for a couple of hours to make sure the system was fully warmed up. I randomly selected some vinyl from my home collection, but ones that should show the difference between these two decks.

First for a spin was Karen Souza and her cover of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way it Is.” Karen’s close mic’d vocals sounded good but with a very slight sibilance but this was not enough to spoil the performance. Imaging was good and the bass was slightly on the warm side.

So, over to the “Evo”

The first thing that was noticeable was the lower surface noise. The stereo image now was a lot wider, filling the space between the speakers nicely. Her voice was also slightly more forward in the mix, putting the band firmly behind her. In fact it was now a lot easier to individually follow the musicians. The bass was also tighter; no doubt a result of the extra damping. I didn’t seem to notice the slight sibilance.

Next, the Vivaldi. An early digital recording and not the best out there, however, with a performance amongst the top. This recording has a slightly shrill top end, and this was the case on the Debut Carbon. This was still the case with the “Evo”, however, the wider soundstage and greater bass weight made the performance much more enjoyable.

Again I had similar results with the Christine and the Queens LP. A wider soundstage with the heavy bass lines of the track “iT” much cleaner and more focused.

Last but not least was the John Mayer disc. This is a fine example of a well recorded and produced album, and both turntables shone here. The track “Gravity” is fairly narrowly mixed, and this was the case on both turntables. The biggest difference here was in the depth. The “Evo” bought Mayer’s vocals forward, and it was the same with the background vocals towards the end of the track. I imagine just as the engineer intended.

Funnily enough I was quite happy swapping from the Carbon to the EVO but not so much the other way. I just wanted to listen to the whole album. This for me would be well worth the extra £80 spend.

Project turntables are available from all Audio-T branches. Find you local store here.

Hefin, Nick & Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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

Brighton's Linn Klinik featuring new Karousel bearing - 8th October 2020

We’re very excited for our upcoming Linn Klinik event showcasing their new LP12 bearing, the Karousel! John has been very busy the last couple of months fitting Karousels to many of our customer’s decks, and the orders are still flooding in. The great thing about the Linn Klinik is that it gives customers an opportunity to hear what the Karousel does with their own ears, instead of relying solely on reviews and recommendations. 

We thought we would take this opportunity to tell you what systems we will be playing on the day.

Our ‘Karouseled’ Majik LP12!

The first system we’ll be using will be a full Linn Majik system. Comprising of a Majik LP12 - with Karousel bearing - into either a new Majik DSM or a Selekt DSM (depending on availability), playing through Linn’s own Majik 140 floor-standing speakers. We’ve been running this one on and off for the last few weeks in preparation and it sounds excellent. It’s very sweet, detailed and clear, without being too aggressive. It’s very easy to listen to without fatiguing your ears. 

the klimax lp12, with radikal lurking in the background!

The next system we’ll be using is a higher end system. We built this system based on some of the most popular combinations our customers use with this level of LP12. This one is a Klimax LP12, it has a Karousel, an internal Urika phono stage and is being powered by the Linn Radikal (Klimax enclosure) which powers both the deck and the Urika - a ‘doubly impressive upgrade’ as Linn say! This then going through a Naim NAC552 & NAP300 combination and into a pair of ATC SCM50s. This is a very impressive sounding system and really makes the Karousel shine!

Linn are also running a promotional offer for the day, if you spend £3000 or more on any Linn product*, you get the Karousel bearing for free. So, if you’ve been thinking about finally going for that Radikal upgrade, now might be the time. 

*Excluding Kandid Cartridge

We do recommend that everyone who is coming to listen brings a selection of their own records, and advise that they be records you know well, so you can really hear the differences the Karousel makes. We do carry a selection of records for demo purposes, but as we all know, each pressing is different!

Each booked appointment will last around 45-60 minutes, and we will be able to answer any questions, as well as provide recommendations about upgrades to your own system. You can book your slot in Brighton by clicking here

Below is a list of the available dates for all other participating Audio-T stores. Contact your nearest branch to get more details about booking.

Bristol - Thursday 30th September 2020

Swindon - Wednesday 7th October 2020

Cheltenham - Saturday 10th October 2020

Manchester - Friday 16th October 2020

Portsmouth - Saturday 17th October 2020

Oxford - Saturday 23rd October 2020

We’ve enjoyed putting together these systems for people to hear, and we look forward to seeing a few of you on the day! 

John, Paul, and Chris - Audio-T Brighton

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What's new at Audio T Southampton?

We are delighted to say that we have been extremely busy since we reopened after lock down. A big thank you to all of our loyal customers for your continuing support.

Now that things have calmed down a bit we would like to update you with some of the new product arrivals in our store.

We are long term fans of B&W speakers here, with 700 series amongst our favourites, so we were very excited when 700 Signature arrived.

B&W 705 Signature

B&W 702 Signature

Both models look stunning in the exclusive Datuk Gloss finish and the crossover and drive unit improvements, derived from 800 series (also on demo here), have raised performance to even greater heights, with more detail but a much sweeter treble, better imagery and deeper and more articulate bass.

Listening to some of Acoustic Energy’s current models made us realise what we were missing so we now have a few AE speakers on demo.

Acoustic Energy AE109

The slimline AE109 floor stander is a remarkably refined speaker for a very reasonable £499 in walnut, £549 in satin black.

Acoustic Energy AE500 and Reference Stands

Moving up a bit in price, the AE500 is a very worthy successor to the iconic AE1. It’s a very articulate but relaxed performer, which is easy to drive and locate and the finish is very good on both the speakers (£1000) and the excellent matching Reference stands (£350). What’s not to like?!

Acoustic Energy AE509

For those with a larger room to fill with sound, the AE509 has the same refined open top end with a weightier, but very controlled, bottom end. The gloss black finish is every bit as good as the satin white or walnut options. It’s a lot of speaker for £2300.

Ruark R3

If your requirement is for a more compact solution, rather than a sizeable pair of floor standing speakers powered by hi-fi separates, the Ruark R3 ticks a lot of boxes. For £629 it provides DAB/DAB+/FM radio, CD playback, wi-fi streaming with support for Tidal amongst others, analogue and digital inputs, bluetooth, walnut (as above) or soft grey finish, and of course, it sounds great.

Rega IO

Staying small, the new baby amplifier from Rega is a stunner. It’s minimal in features, with just two line inputs plus MM for turntable, but we are yet to hear another amplifier to beat the Rega IO for sheer musical enjoyment at anything near the bargain asking price of £379 of this giant beater.

Chord Electronics Huei

Last but by no means least, our smallest newcomer is this wonderfully crafted piece of hi-fi jewellery. Polychromatic balls embellishing an ingot of aircraft grade aluminium leave no doubt that the manufacturer of the Huei MM/MC phono stage is Chord Electronics. The exquisite build quality is matched by exceptionally transparent audio and imperceptible noise floor, breathing new life into even the most familiar vinyl. £990 seems a very fair price to rejuvenate a record collection!

Please give us a call or email if you would like to demo or home trial one of these new products, or anything else we have in store. We are currently open to appointment for booked demonstrations 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday.

We hope to see you soon,

Alan, John and Wayne

The Brand New Denon AVC-X 4700H - See What the latest AV Amplifier has to offer!

Here is the new Denon AVC-X 4700H, which offers a 9.2 200w per channel setup and gives you access to Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced audio and 8K/60Hz 4K/120Hz visuals. HDMI 2.1 is also supported on one input. With a total of 7 hdmi inputs it is more than capable of supporting a larger setup of blu-ray players, games consoles and TV boxes. Dynamic HDR, HDR10+ and eArc mean you will get the excellent picture quality you want in order to enjoy the films you watch and the games you play. 

Accessibility from a phone or tablet is easy and vast, with the inbuilt HEOS allowing you to stream high quality audio from services like Tidal or Amazon Prime Music. Airplay2 is a welcome feature for any Apple user, plus the 4700H is Roon tested and is compatible with Bluetooth. For the analogue music lovers the Denon has a phono input, a tuner input and 5 other assignable analogue inputs. Audyssey, helpful if you have a room with a less than ideal arrangement, works well and can help improve the sound quality when used correctly. The 4700H is also voice assistant compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, so no matter which one you use the Denon will have you covered.

The design of the front panel is sleek and minimalistic, with just the input selection, volume, power button and screen visible. There are some quick select options, including USB and a headphone jack, hidden behind a front panel for easy navigation, for those times when you can’t seem to find the remote. The unit itself is solid and feels well built, but is a little lighter compared to other AV amplifiers, making installation and any future rearrangement a bit easier on the lower back.    

Denon has a long history in Hi-fi dating back over a century, they pride themselves on the quality of their work, this shows in how their products improve year after year. They are usually among the first to implement new technology, as shown by the addition of 8k to their newest range of AV amplifiers, and having it work seamlessly straight out of the box. 

The setup step by step guide is very helpful and straight forward and walks you through every aspect, even including how to strip the speaker cable. This makes it accessible to newcomers starting their very first home cinema. Speaker configuration, distances and levels are quick and easy to set, so you can be sure you get the best sound from all your speakers. Pretty much everything is customisable, from how bright the front display is, the names of each of the inputs, to the EQ of the speakers. 

Listening to Tidal through the Heos app was not only simple but it also sounded really good. Without the need to drive a centre or surround speakers the 4700H becomes a very powerful stereo amp, capable of driving even some less than forgiving speakers. With a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 30’s attached, the price difference being a concern, I was expecting a sound that was lacking in cohesion and range, but I was delighted to hear that Solange’s ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ had clear, melodic vocals and an impactful but controlled bass. The phono input is adequate, but add on an external phono-stage matched to your turntable and it will finish the package off beautifully. In terms of surround sound with movies, we set up a Monitor Audio Silver and Rel 5.1.4 system,and it sounded marvellous. Voices were clear, soundtracks weren’t overpowering and with the atmos speakers turned up slightly the overhead effects during action sequences were exciting and added so much to the overall experience. Finish it off with a good sub, or two, and you can have an excellent home cinema experience without breaking the bank or compromising on quality. 

The Denon AVC-X 4700h and the other’s in the range are available at all Audio-T branches. If you would like a demo of this or any other of our selected products make sure to drop us an email or give a ring to book your appointment.

Jon and Luke - Audio-T Oxford

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The Rega IO - Half A Brio

The Rega Brio has always upset the trend with it’s incredible price to performance, but they may have just stolen the market with the new Rega IO.

The Rega IO has a small footprint, punchy sound and plenty of volume for it’s size and while it may lack some of the trimmings of it’s larger sibling it makes up for it in sound quality and price, a trade I’m glad to make! With the vinyl resurgence still in full swing Rega have made a really compelling first buy for anyone wanting to join in.

The IO has a built in MM phono stage for a total of three phono inputs, remote with motorized volume control and 30w per channel of power.

Paired with a Planar 1 and a pair of Dali Oberon 1s we’ve put together a sub £1000 system that can complete with larger contenters but with a far smaller footprint in your home.

The results of this humble system are fantastic, with depth, warmth and character. This is a modern and minimalist approach to hifi without compromising sound quality.

If you’d like to have a listen to this or any other system please feel free to contact us at Cardiff Audio-T or your local Audio-T branch.

Need to replace your beloved Linn K9? Look no further!

If you've been in the turntable game for a long time, there can be no doubt that you have come across Linn and their K9 cartridge at some stage of the journey. Originally released in 1989 as Linn's base level moving-magnet cartridge, the K9 quickly became a firm favourite and certainly one of ours. But in 2020, what on earth can we use to replace the now discontinued K9?

A K9 cartridge. The earlier models sported this yellow, before changing to a mid-grey colour later on!

The K9 MM cartridge was widely used across many turntables and not just restriced to Linn's LP12s. It was one of those cartridges that just worked no matter what the set-up. Things sounded the way you expected them to. Sonically it was very natural, clean and detailed with a great bass response. This made it really easy to listen to and not at all too taxing for your ears. Cartridges like this make it easy to think “just one more record”... and five hours later, you realise you haven’t eaten dinner yet! While it was never really a ‘cheap’ cartridge at the time, it wasn't the high-end of the market either, so it made for a great mid-range cartridge - and for people who didn’t want to shell out for the real high-end stuff, they didn't have to ‘settle for a lower sound quality’. Of course, cartridges are a matter of taste and some weren't enamoured with the K9 and found themselves shopping elsewhere. 

For those loyal K9 fans out there, the news of its discontinuation in 2001 will have been a sad day indeed. I imagine the common thought was "well, what am I supposed to use now?". So we've been searching for another cartridge that fulfils the same expectations as the K9 yet remains in a similar price bracket...

Linn’s Adikt cartridge, fitted as standard to the base level Majik LP12 turntable.

Linn technically 'replaced' the K9 with the Adikt – which is now their base level cartridge and the only MM cartridge they offer. The only trouble is, it costs £400+. While the Adikt is a phenomenal MM cartridge, it no longer filled the space of the K9 because even taking inflation into account, it's just overall a more expensive cartridge. So, we turned to a familiar face… Audio-Technica.

There had always been a link between the K9 and the AT-95 cartridge, after all the K9 was manufactured for Linn by Audio-Technica. The AT-95 stylus was also regularly retro-fitted to the K9 cartridge; it fit, but it wasn't pretty! It is still a popular option today, and is still regularly suggested. Some people didn't approve of that replacement as the AT-95s had always been a cheaper cartridge than the K9, and some felt that even a brand-new AT-95 stylus was worse than a used K9 stylus, so why even bother? - One customer once commented “It’s like putting Volkswagen wheels on a Porsche”, and that always stuck with me.

When searching for K9 replacements, you will always see familiar cartridges such as the Ortofon 2M Red or Blue, various Audio-Technicas, the Dynavector 10x range at the higher end... the list goes on and on. But wait right there! We finally think we've found the perfect replacement…

AUDIO TECHNICA AT-VM95ML

As already mentioned, there has always been a strong affinity between the AT-95s and the K9, and this particular model fits the bill perfectly. The way the MicroLinear (ML) stylus is designed certainly has a part to play in why this particular model works so well. We recently replaced a customer’s beloved Linn K9 for the AT-VM95ML and we found the sound was very similar. Uncannily so, in fact. Much like the Linn K9, it has a very natural, detailed, open sound and is very very pleasant to listen to.

With the Audio-Technica priced at around £150, it is in the same price bracket as the K9 (at the time of release). In fact, using an inflation calculator, £60 in 1989 equates to almost exactly £150 in 2020, so theoretically it's exactly the same price!! It even has a familiar look – although we do miss the iconic bright yellow look of the earlier K9s.

We will certainly be recommending the AT-VM95ML in the future for K9 replacements, and we can confidently say it will perform equally as well as your K9.

Pop-in to any of our shops for cartridge advice at any time!

Chris, John & Paul – Audio-T Brighton

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Audio Technica products are available in all Audio T Stores.