JBL launches its new range of AV receivers

/ Audio T Portsmouth/

The new JBL MA range brings something new to audio visual processing and amplification. The high spec, value-focused range consists of five models: the MA310, MA510, MA710, MA7100HP and MA9100HP.

The range comes in both black and white-fascia models all with a snazzy orange accent behind the front plate and also around the base of the feet. The units look unfussy and modern.

JBL MA9100HP


We’re focusing on the baby of the range here, the £499 MA310. Yes, that’s correct, £499!

JBL MA310


In common with it’s bigger brothers the MA310 packs Class D amplification under the bonnet, in this case pushing out 60W into two channels at 8ohms, or 100W at 4ohms.

It’s a 5.2 receiver meaning you can run two front speakers, a centre speaker, two rears and two subwoofers. It has four 4K HDMI inputs and an HDMI Arc out.

There are additionally two pairs of analogue RCA inputs plus coaxial, optical and USB inputs. There is Dolby and DTS decoding and DACs can handle high res up to 192kHz 24-bit.

JBL MA310 rear

It doesn’t seem like a massive spec until you remind yourself that this is a sub-£500 AV receiver. You may well ask, how many more inputs and outputs do I really need?

JBL MA range remote

After all, with the MA310 it is possible to create a full 5.1 surround system that will leave every sound bar out there in its dust. And potentially, depending on your choice of speakers, you can have this for around £2,000.

That’s a lot of surround sound real estate for a very reasonable investment.

Added to which the MA range comes with free EZ Set EQ app (iOS and Android) which can optimise the sound for all connected speakers. There is on-screen display for easy set up. And it is Bluetooth enabled for music replay from a suitably enabled device.

The MA range offers a natural upgrade path.

Stepping up to the MA510 gives you 75W RMS, an eARC and HDMI 2.1, HDR10+/Dolby Vision and WiFi.

JBL MA9100HP

The MA710 additionally gives you 7.2, 110W, Dolby Atmos, 6xHDMI, APTX HD Bluetooth, a zone 2 pre out options, biamping. The MA7100HP has 125W, 2 HDMI outs, 3xOptical, an MM phono stage Dirac Live, colour LCD and built-in ambient lighting. The MA9100HP offers 9.2 channels and 140W.

Thanks for reading.

Alan, Stephen and Luke - Audio T Portsmouth

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

The “Best” Hi-Fi Systems of 2024 for £2,500 - Audio T Swindon Top Picks

/ Audio T Swindon/
The “Best” Hi-Fi Systems of 2024 for £2,500 - Audio T Swindon Top Picks

In the previous blog Modern Hi-Fi 101 - A beginners’ guide exploring the Basics of Hi-Fi Setups in 2024 we discussed some of the key concepts and considerations to be had when building a modern Hi-Fi system. Here, we are taking this further and giving you The Best Hi-Fi Systems of 2024…

…  okay ‘The Best’ will never truly be objectively correct, nevertheless we will be sharing a few of our favourite picks, giving examples of some worthy listening combinations of current equipment out there, all within the £2500 budget (at time of writing)

Read More

'Good Morning - Audio T Swansea, how can I help?'

/ Audio T Swansea/

Customer - “Hiyah! I need a decent vinyl system, but I'm on a tight budget.”

Us - “Don’t worry, we’re here to help and this is not our first rodeo.”

Customers who are unfamiliar with Audio T, perhaps acting on a friend’s recommendation, often feel as if they need to empty their bank account to own a system that will give them joy. This is especially true if they happen to be a hi-fi novice who has friends who have been cultivating and upgrading their systems over a number of years. A mature vinyl replay setup which to the untrained eye, may look complicated and expensive. We’ll let you into a secret; it doesn’t have to be…

“this is what i’d have, if it was my money miss”

Record Player

If we’re talking record players, few manufacturers can boast such a pedigree as Rega. Now well into their 51st year, Rega of Southend-on-Sea is known for producing quality hi-fi entirely in Essex, and for those on a modest budget, squeezing every last drop of performance from every penny spent. The phrase “Sweat your assets” might have been coined for them.

For this enquiry we shall choose the entry-level Rega Planar 1 turntable. Starting at £299* (although the walnut finish photographed is £329*) it displays the core design philosophy of Rega turntables (and Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars) ‘Add lightness.’ Rega hold that mass in a turntable will absorb energy, we need all the energy that is generated in a pick-up cartridge to be transferred to the amplifier, so we make the supporting system as light as possible. We also want the fewest losses in the system of cantilevers, beams and bearings as we can, so the system has to be as rigid and as closely-toleranced as possible. Simple, light and stiff; rather like a good martini.

the rega planar 1 playing a record. unsurprising, given its brief.

Lively and always up for a good time, this deck can only be characterised as F.U.N.

Amplifiers

On the subject of amplifiers for vinyl playback - Some suggest that it makes sense to choose a manufacturer of turntables to produce an amplifier that will ensure the best quality replay from a vinyl source. Now, let’s not forget that we working with a budget conscious customer… Enter the Rega iO at £420*. Developed especially to partner the Rega Planar 1 and Planar 2 turntables, the iO is a simplified version of Rega’s venerable and hugely popular Brio amplifier (currently on sale at £549) It has just three inputs – Moving Magnet for vinyl and two line-level, (maybe for the value-for-money music streamer, the Wiim Pro, which I reviewed a few months ago.) Do not be deceived by modest dimensions of the iO, with the correct partnering speakers, this amplifier has horsepower enough to rock your room.

the rega io amplifier, playing through its turtable input, very, very, quietly.

Cables

black rhodium intro loudspeaker cable. note the ferite ring under the white heatshrink. unusual at this price point.

The connection between amplifier and speaker can be marred by the wrong choice of cable. We could be tempted to use something like QED 79 Strand to keep costs down, but in this case we are vastly better-served by choosing something that has been designed to sound much better. A personal favourite of ours is the Black Rhodium Intro loudspeaker cable at £70 for a 3m pair. These are factory-terminated, directional cables with ferrite cores at their terminus and they absolutely sing. With a sparkling treble, decent weight and surprising scale, our system suddenly sounds much more expensive.

Speakers

Finally, we come to my favourite inexpensive loudspeakers, the Acoustic Energy AE100² at £279*. Available in black, walnut or white, music pours out of them in such a hearty, good-natured fashion, you simply cannot help but raise a smile. Are they the last word in loudspeaker transparency? Absolutely not. Are they enjoyable and fun to listen to? Unequivocally, yes. Do they want you to have a good time? Without a doubt! And, so do we. So, if you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to contact us

ae100 speakers resting upon isoacoustic aperta 155 isolation stands.

Thanks for Reading

Adrian (Images by Nic) - Audio T Swansea

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Rega can be found at the following Audio T stores

Black Rhodium can be found at the following Audio T stores

Acoustic Energy can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

The Behemoth Returns - Denon AVC-A1H weighs in on its home cinema credentials

/ Audio T Manchester/

When you think of Japanese Hi-Fi companies, you tend to think in relatively modern decades... 70s, 80s etc. But, Denon can trace their sound making roots back to the beginning of recorded sound. Up until the 21st Century, Denon was the brand name of The Nippon Columbia record company. The Japanese arm of the American record company Columbia, supplying the Japanese market more with it's own material than American imports. Through events such as World Wars and various Emperors, Denon slowly became the company we know today.

A bit of history

A major supplier to the Japanese broadcasting organisation NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai, literally Japan Broadcasting Corporation) building electronics, turntables and pick-up cartridges specifically for the Japanese broadcaster. Even today, the classic DL103 cartridge, launched for broadcast purposes in 1963 is still a part of the Denon lineup.

The Legendary DN-023R

Denon was at the forefront of digital audio. In 1972 it announced the DN-023R , the world's first digital recorder. Less than a decade later, the brand unveiled the first CD player for professional use, followed a year later by the first consumer model, the inimitable DCD-2000.

The humble cassette.

Denon used to make a plethora of great cassette decks in the 80’s and 90’s

At the end of the 60s, Denon was one of the first companies experimenting with digital PCM recording, as a route to mastering better vinyl record replay, and by the mid-1970s, Denon had firmly established a digital recording and mastering chain, releasing all of their recordings as digital mastered, years before the CD player was on the market. They earned a high reputation for sophisticated direct-drive turntables, and some of the best sounding cassette recorders ever made.

As the market moved towards multi-channel sound and home theatre, Denon was one of the companies pioneering the technology. In fact, the original version of the Denon AVC A1 amplifier, was one of the very first amplifiers with full Dolby Digital surround.

And today, from Denon we have a new behemoth to wow our home cinema enthusiasts. Enter the Denon AVC-A1H…

Design

Denon has consistently been a reputable name in the audio-visual industry, known for its high-quality receivers and amplifiers. The latest addition to their lineup, the Denon AVC-1H, continues this tradition with a host of advanced features and cracking performance.

The AVC-1H boasts a sleek and modern design, characterized by a minimalist front panel with a clear, easy-to-read display, which to be honest hasn’t really changed much over the last number of generations, and that’s not a bad thing. The construction is solid and at 32kg it feels like it. Its aesthetic appeal will complement any home cinema setup, blending seamlessly with both modern and traditional decors.

The ins and outs

The Denon AVC-1H is packed with connectivity options, including multiple HDMI inputs and outputs, USB, and analogue connections, dedicated XLR connections from high-end sources like the Panasonic UB9000 UHD player and XLR outputs for subwoofers. So those of you who may have high-end subwoofers in your setup, you are not going to be left wanting.

One standout feature is the support for HEOS multi-room audio technology, which enables seamless music streaming throughout your home. Additionally, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 offer versatile wireless streaming options, catering to different user preferences.

The AVC-1H also includes voice control compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, providing convenient hands-free operation. The intuitive setup assistant and on-screen GUI make installation and configuration straightforward, even for those new to high-end AV equipment.

So many useful connections hidden around the back, wait!!!, whats that!! a lesser spotted Chrome trooper??

the avc is designed and built in Japan

the high quality transformer brings the power

high end components adorn the inside of the AVC-1H

Performance

Denon has always prioritised sound quality with its flagship range, and the AVC-1H is no exception. Equipped with advanced audio processing technologies, it delivers rich, immersive sound. The receiver supports the latest audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D, providing a three-dimensional audio experience that is both enveloping and precise.

The power output packs a punch with it's 210W per channel, easily driving a wide range of speakers with precision, clarity and detail. The AVC-1H’s ability to reproduce both subtle details and stark dynamic shifts makes it ideal for both music and movies, ensuring an engaging listening and visual experience. The beach scene at the beginning of Dunkirk is a great example of this, a great movie with superlative audio and visuals.

In addition to its stellar audio performance, the AVC-1H excels in video processing. It supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through, making it future-proof for upcoming content. HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG compatibility.

While the AVC-1H sits at the higher end of the price range, its extensive feature set and exceptional performance justify the investment, standing as a powerful and versatile AV receiver that excels in both audio and video performance for audiophiles and home cinema enthusiasts seeking the top tier of audio and video quality.

Its wide range of features, future-proof specifications, and user-friendly design make it a standout choice for anyone looking to elevate their home entertainment system. Whether you’re a cinephile or a music lover, the AVC-1H promises to deliver an immersive and satisfying experience.

Our AVC-1H is on demo at our Manchester store. We have both inwall and free standing speakers to hang off the AVC-1H, all of which sound absolutely epic.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

Thanks for reading

Munir - Audio T Manchester

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Audio T Cheltenham and The SME Model 12 Mk 2 Turntable

/ Audio T Cheltenham/

“This is no ordinary turntable” is the first thing you read upon opening up the instruction book for this sexy beast of a vinyl spinner. Well then let’s put that bold statement to the test then shall we?

First The History Lesson…

SME is without doubt one of the hi-fi world’s most iconic brands. Founded in 1946 by audio legend Alastair Robertson-Aikman in West Sussex. Today SME is recognised as makers of one of the finest precision turntables and tonearms in the world. Entirely made in house with state of the art manufacturing processes, complemented by traditional craftsmanship methods. SME audio has evolved from 75 years of engineering excellence, innovation and perfection, delivering precise and pure audio reproduction.

The SME model 12 mk2 in all its glory

Then The Science Bit…

The Model 12A MK2 is a precision turntable of high mass made to exacting engineering standards for high performance. The chassis and sub-chassis are CNC machined from premium grade aluminium billet. The sub-chassis is suspended on an advanced isolation system for primary resonance control and houses the main bearing, platter and tonearm. Four fully adjustable feet are mechanically de-coupled from the main chassis by isolators providing base resonance control.

The main spindle is 19mm precision machined from high chrome tool steel, ground, super finished and supported in a sealed housing with individually fitted sintered bronze bearings of generous proportions needed for precise bearing and platter rotation.

The platter is machined from aluminium alloy and weighs over 4.6kg. Extensionally dampened with the top surface iso-damp, diamond-turned with a fine scroll for acoustic performance. This method of finishing upsets a myriad of tiny fibres which interface with the underside of the vinyl record. A substantial record clamp operating on the reflex principle ensures the largest possible platter contact even when appreciable record warp is present.

The motor conforms to the highest standards of silent running and the turntable is driven by a custom made bi-phase AC synchronous motor controlled by a highly advanced speed control unit providing precise speed accuracy and stability.

close up of that beautiful arm bearing

The MK2 Model 12 comes equipped with a Model 309 tonearm with internal wiring by Crystal Cable as standard. Tonearm choice can be upgraded to the superior Series IV or V if you so wish.

Speed control box

The Speed Control Box…

The Speed Control Unit uses a dedicated DSP engine to generate two independent pure mathematical sine waves which provide total control of frequency, phase relationship and amplitude. These in turn are matched (tuned) to the motor for accuracy to obtain the best possible performance.

The speed range is 33.33 and 45rpm with independent memory settings via a switched encoder. Fine pitch speed increments/decrements of +/-0.01% of the selected speed are made by a rotary control on the Speed Control Unit fascia. The SCU case is CNC machined from billet aluminium. A separate mains Power Unit keeps the transformer away from the SCU and importantly separated from the turntable audio signal cables.

The Dynavector 10x5 Mk2 looks good in the 309 arm

We have chosen to partner the SME up with the Dynavector 10X5 Mk2 moving coil cartridge. A combination that works exceedingly well.

Power unit for the speed control box

Time for a listen

When presented with a new turntable such as this I always like to refer back to a couple of favourite demo albums of mine. Both are really good at telling me how a turntable is performing but both are very different from each other.

I Robot MFSL

First under the clamp is I Robot by The Alan Parsons Project. Not the standard version but the Mobile Fidelity double vinyl edition with the album spread over four sides and playing at 45 rpm for extra detail and bandwidth. I always side one track one which just so happens to be the title track. All swirly synthesisers and female vocals morph into a rhythmic hypnotic electronic Tangerine Dreamy pulsing with snappy drums then choral vocals to form a very Pink Floyd like funky melange which the SME portrayed beautifully. Has to be one of the best times I have ever had whilst listening to this old favourite. Just stunning… especially the separation of the band from the wordless choral vocals…..just beautiful.

A krautrock classic

Next on my test album list was the three sided live bootleg of one of my all time favourite bands Ash Ra Tempel. Being a bootleg this one is not the nth degree in sound quality that the Alan Parsons Project is but hey I love it and for a turntable to be my friend it has to make this Krautrock gem sound OK. And boy does it! Again quite possibly the best I have ever heard it. I always go for the track Ooze Away on the Red Side of the album. Spaced out drums emerge from an ambient freak out elecrosludge and when the drums kick in it becomes truly transportative (is that even a word? Tis now!).

Summing Up

Here we have what is without doubt one of the great turntables from one of the great turntable manufacturers. If you are in the market for that one vinyl spinner to last you the rest of your life and provide your hifi system with the source signal it so richly deserves this could quite possibly be it. Me? I will love it forever just because it makes my 1973 Ash Ra Temple bootleg sound sooooooo good. Audio perfection…Nuff said!

Many thanks for reading

Andy, Jon and Farid - Audio T Cheltenham Store.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

The SME Model 12 Mk2 can be found at the following Audio T store

Dynavector can be found at the following Audio T stores

Creativity At It's Finest - A Look at Michell Engineering.

/ Audio T Southampton/

Hello fellow audio enthusiasts, and welcome to another blog from Audio T Southampton. The topic of this month’s article is all about the incredible Michell Engineering, the creators of the world-renowned Michell Gyro SE. In this blog we will be taking a look at their history, and then discussing two of their turntables that we currently have in stock for demonstration. So, without much further ado, let's take a dive into the history of Michell Engineering…

John Michell working at his test bench

Start at the beginning

Our story begins in 1966, when an engineer by the name of John Michell started a new company producing scale models for use in movies, as well as engineering components for local firms. His business expanded quickly, and he soon found himself in a large unit based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

You can see some of his earlier work in the film “2001 A Space Odyssey”, where he and Stanley Kubrick worked together on the model for the Discovery One ship.

pre-production model of the discovery one

In 1969 a turntable company known as Transcriptor contacted John, and Michell Engineering began to produce multiple parts for them.

Later on in the year Transcriptor moved into the Michell premises, though they didn't stick around for long as in 1973 they relocated to Ireland. However it wasn't all in vain for John, who took over the manufacturing of their stunning Hydraulic Reference Turntable.

An original transcriptor hydraulic reference turntable.

Progress comes with experience…

1977 was a truly significant year for Michell Engineering, as this was when John began manufacturing his own turntable – the extremely rare Michell Reference Electronic Turntable. This originally came with a black base, though later during its production Michell offered two alternative choices; either a mirrored or a marble base. But this wasn't the only thing that came out of Michell, for John had something of a breakthrough and invented the record clamp, which a large variety of other manufacturers have now followed suit and adopted.

an original michell reference electronic in the fabled black.

An icon is born…

Moving forward to 1982, we see something truly revolutionary for Michell Engineering, more so than the previous turntable; this was the creation of the GyroDec. Originally fitted with a heavy aluminium platter that featured a rubber mat and the signature gold platter weights below, this unit really took the world by storm.

1989 saw Michell introduce a new upgrade, the Gyropower QC; a much more silent and efficient method of supplying power to their turntables. In 1995 something very exciting was released in the form of the new flagship Orbe Turntable; created after the monumental success of the GyroDec created a lot of requests and feedback that the company elevate themselves to new higher grounds. The Orbe features significant engineering changes over the GyroDec, making the Orbe the true high-end turntable from Michell Engineering.

The first rendition of the gyrodec.

In 2002 John became seriously ill, forcing him to take a step back to recover whilst his family ran the business for him. During this time John invented multiple things from the comfort of his own home, including the TecnoDec, the TecnoArm, Techno Weight and many more. However, sadly on the 23rd of October 2003 John died, leaving behind a great legacy, an amazing company and a loving family.

The family continues to offer the world near unrivalled performance for the price paid, and even to this day Michell Engineering are synonymous with fantastic design and magnificent sound.

The true flagship from michell, the orbe.

Now that we have had a look at the history of Michell, let's dive into two of their notable turntables, these being the TecnoDec and the GyroDec, both units that we have in stock at our Southampton branch.

A Look Into The TecnoDec

The Michell TecnoDec is a fantastic mid-range turntable, perfect for those seeking a beautiful sound without parting with all of their savings in one fell swoop. The variant we have in-store is the one featuring a T2i Tonearm and the Goldring E3 Moving Magnet Cartridge, which would set you back a very reasonable £2,000* in total. With the classic Michell Engineering design of keeping the motor and power supply separate from the plinth to minimise vibrations, the TecnoDec is a superb turntable.

Truthfully when I first laid eyes on it, I thought it would be a very good deck, however I wasn't prepared for the level of sound that I received. Each note hit perfectly, and the deck's simple design means using it is a breeze. Offering a lovely clear and open sound signature, the TecnoDec is a magnificent addition to any system, especially for those seeking to begin their record collection and who need a turntable which will unlock the secrets the records contain.

The michell tecnodec

Up A Notch To The GyroDec

And now onto the stunning Michell GyroDec. Featuring the T8 tonearm and Michell’s own Cusis S Moving Coil Cartridge, this setup sits at a strong £6,800* total. To my mind there is no doubt as to why the GyroDec is world-renowned, each note being reproduced perfectly and clearly. I know it’s a cliché but I really did hear things in some tracks that previously I did not know where there.

I had guessed that the GyroDec was going to be a brilliant addition to the Southampton store, however nothing could have prepared me for the sheer level of detail and clarity provided, alongside the gorgeous design. The cartridge was simply sublime, a perfect pairing for the rest of the turntable. So much so that this has now become my all-time personal favourite, and is one I would strongly suggest everyone listen to at some point.

The two SE models; the Gyro SE and the orbe se.

And that is all I have for you. Just a brief introduction into Michell alongside my own personal thoughts on both units. If you would like to listen to these, then please contact our Southampton store for further details.

Thanks for reading

Tiago - Audio T Southampton.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Michell can be found at the following Audio T stores

Hey Big Spendor! A closer look and listen to the floor standing A2, A4 and A7 models.

/ Audio T Brighton/

Hi folks, and welcome to this month’s article from us here at Audio T Brighton. We’re in for a bit of domestic speaker bliss this month because we’re taking a look and listening to a classic British speaker brand, namely Spendor loudspeakers. Spendor have many designs in their portfolio and we couldn’t possibly cover them all in this blog, so we will concentrate on models from the A-range of floor-standing loudspeakers; the A2, A4 & A7.

Our colleagues at Audio T in Reading have written a similar blog this month on one of their smaller siblings, the Spendor Classic 4/5 stand-mount speaker and you can read about that here.

Spendor - a potted history...

Spendor have always had a reputation for making fine speakers and we were recently given the opportunity to have a listen to a few pairs at our store in Brighton. We liked them so much we’ve taken some of their range on permanently and thought a fresh take on their qualities would be nice to write about in this month’s blog.

Spendor is a fusion of the creators, Spencer and Dorothy Hughes, who morphed the ‘Spen’ and ‘Dor’ to establish the brand name.

Spencer’s knowledge gained as an engineer at the BBC helped to create his first loudspeaker, the BC1, a design that has since gone on to become a bit of a classic.

spendor bc1 loudspeaker

To Spend Or Not To Spend?

50 years on from the Spendor BC1, the company has continued to evolve and currently has an extensive range of speakers, starting with the A-line, which is the focus of today’s article. The full range of Spendor speakers can be seen on our Audio T website or by visiting Spendor’s own website.

The Spendor company is a rarity in hi-fi manufacturing, in that they manufacture all of the cabinets in-house as well as the crossovers and drive units themselves. This allows complete control over the manufacturing process, with results we all can see and hear.

The quality of finish is near-unrivalled in the industry and several other manufacturers have, until recently, utilised the cabinet craftsmanship of the skilled carpenters at Spendor. The manufacturing process is a joy to behold - just watch the video below for evidence…

Spendor A2 - the baby of the line-up...

spendor a2 in oak

The Spendor A2 really is a quart-in-a-pint pot speaker. Measuring just 786mm(H) by 150mm(W) by 258mm(D), the A2 will slot in many places you wouldn’t expect a floor-standing speaker to go and as I expect you will find out, placement is easier than many a small stand mount speaker and without the bass overhang generated by positioning close to boundary walls. Now that isn’t to say careful positioning shouldn’t be undertaken, because any speaker will sound at its best when positioned well and matched with quality electronics. However, Spendor make bold claims about the room friendliness of their designs and for the most part, we’d have to agree.

At 85dB and 6.6 ohm minimum impedance, the Spendor A2 aren’t a challenging load for any decent amplifier but you will need some power to drive them to reasonable levels because of their low sensitivity. Spendor suggest 25 - 125 W/ch but we would err towards the upper limit of their recommendations to allow sufficient amplifier headroom.

Spendor A2 manufacturer specs can be seen here.

Spendor A4 - the middle man...

black spendor a4’s on dem at audio T in brighton

Unlike A4 v A2 printer paper, the Spendor A4 is the larger of the Spendor A2 and Spendor A4 loudspeakers. Measuring 861mm (H) by 165mm (W) by 284mm (D), the Spendor A4 are a substantially larger speaker and although the rated frequency response in the bass region (34Hz) v A2 (36Hz) is not significantly different on paper (whoops another paper reference!), the Spendor A4 sounds fuller and more dynamically free, certainly more than the additional 2Hz bass extension would suggest. It is also more sensitive at 86dB/W and will go louder much more comfortably than its baby brother.

More detailed Spendor A4 specs can be found here.

Now for the big Spendor - the Spendor A7...

oak spendor a7’s in our brighton audio T demonstration room

So now we get to the head-honcho of Spendor’s A-Line range of speakers.

The Spendor A7 measures 934mm(H) by 180mm (W) by 305mm (D). With a sensitivity of 88dB/W, it is an easy speaker to drive with a minimum impedance of 6 ohms. Power handling is increased to 200 Watts and the Spendor A7 rewards an amplifier with power and grip, not because it needs it, but the Spendor A7 is clearly the most capable of the three speakers tested in our blog. When we listened with our resident Naim ND 5XS2 streamer and Rega Aethos amplifier the sound blossomed beautifully. They also responded to further improvements in the front-end and amplification, as our resident Naim NSC 222 streaming preamp and Naim NAP 250 power amplifier ably demonstrated. The 4G Linear Flow Reflex bass port in the Spendor A7, unlike the normal circular port in the Spendor A2 and Spendor A4, seems to add additional control whilst delving a bit deeper into the bass. On top of that (pun intended) the mid-range and top-end of the frequency range seemed a bit more detailed and refined. We often hear that when the bass end of a speaker is improved, it creates a more natural and spacious effect in the upper frequencies, not unlike what may be achieved when a subwoofer is added.

For more technical specs on the Spendor A7 click here.

To sum up...

If the Spendor A-Line of speakers were exams, then each of our students would confidently achieve top marks in their respective speaker categories.

Beautifully made, easy to drive and exquisite sounding, you should form an orderly queue outside your local Audio T for a listen, they are that good.

As always, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so get in touch to book a demonstration.

Thanks for reading.

Ade, John and Paul - Audio T Brighton

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Time capsule turntable is a real treat

/ Audio T Portsmouth/

When Philip Atkinson walked into the Portsmouth shop carrying a yellowed Rega box we assumed it contained another much-used Planar deck in need of some TLC…

We get quite a few customers in the Audio T Portsmouth store looking to buy a turntable because they sold their old deck many years ago, and in some cases all their vinyl too, in the belief that CDs were the only future for hi-fi.

Others come in with old decks they haven’t listened to in a few years and want us to give them a service to get them sounding as good as they did when new.

And then there are the dedicated vinyl enthusiasts who bring their treasured and well-used turntables in for regular servicing.

But, as far as we can remember, no-one has ever come in with a 33-year-old turntable that not only have they never played but they have not even unboxed since they bought it!

Until now.

When Philip told us he’d never unpacked the deck since buying it in 1991 we did a collective double take.

the yellowed Timecapsule rega box

Looking at the yellowed Rega box, he explained: “I bought it from Chichester High Fidelity and I didn’t open it because we were moving house.

“When we moved I put it in a spare room and I just never got round to opening it and setting it up. I just moved onto CDs.

“Fortunately I kept all my old records. Some date back to the 1960s. So, I thought it was probably about time I finally got the turntable up and running. But I did think that Audio T better check everything was in working order first.”

Remember when hifi cost this much?

Philip kindly shared the original receipt from Chichester High Fidelity with us. Those of you who recently bought new hi-fi may want to look away now. The total cost was £271, including a Linn K5 cartridge, 10 metres of QED cable (terminated with banana plugs) and only 15% VAT!

The bargain of the century in today’s prices! But remember that the average full-time salary in the UK in 1991 was around £12,000 a-year. And, just for reference, it’s worth bearing in mind that in 1991 John Major was Prime Minister, Freddie Mercury died and Nirvana released their landmark album Nevermind. In other words, it’s quite a long time ago!

The first-time unboxing of a time capsule Planar 3 a third of a century after its purchase is not something we get to do every day. So we proceeded carefully, joking that like an ancient Egyptian mummy the whole thing might crumble to dust on contact with the air.

Everything was neatly packed and wrapped as it would have been the day it left the former Chichester High Fidelity shop. There was even the old Rega hints and tips sheet in the box that they used to send with every turntable. Rega tell us that they stopped issuing hints and tips sheets in the early 2000s!

Longterm Rega customers may remember these sheets

The chaps at the former Chichester High Fidelity had already set the deck up which is exactly what we do at Audio T with modern Planar 3s. This involves checking that the cartridge is properly fitted, including setting the correct tracking weight.

The first thing we did after setting it up was give it a spin, eager to hear what a 33-year-old, but effectively new, turntable sounded like.

Remarkably, it sounded very good indeed. Testament to Rega build quality, not to mention the Linn cartridge.

The linn k5 cartridge fitted in 1991

Nonetheless we carried out a service. The drive belt had gone egg-shaped after three decades in one position and the compound was also slightly degraded, so we replaced it. We checked the turntable speed which was pretty accurate. However we also cleaned the sub-platter bearing assembly. The oil had become yellowed and tacky over the years which along with the old drive belt was affecting the speed slightly. We then checked and adjusted the tracking weight.

So after 33 years in its box Philip’s Planar 3 is again in tiptop condition and ready for him to finally give his records their first spin on his new(ish) deck.

Ready for action 33 years later

Thank you Philip! This was a rare treat indeed.

Don’t forget that we’ve extended our popular free turntable healthcheck, so if you want us to look at yours, be sure to contact us.

Thanks for reading.

Alan - Audio T Portsmouth

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Audio Note - Music’s Finest Conductor?

/ Audio T Oxford/

Musical joy - The complete system from the listening chair

Here at Audio T Oxford, we are very pleased to announce that we are the latest official Audio Note dealer within Audio T. We prefaced this by making a visit to the Audio Note factory earlier in the year and being totally impressed by their quality ethos, the company’s technical and engineering capabilities, and the dedication of its staff to producing “Music’s Finest Conductor”.

Audio Note definitely plough their own furrow, one that seemingly goes against current mainstream ideas, creating products such as low- powered single-ended tube amplifiers, CD players with no over-sampling or digital filters, the belief in turntable superiority in the digital era, and loudspeakers which go against most all currently accepted speaker design principles. But there is a good reason for this, it is a calculated engineering and highly reasoned approach that produces a thoroughly musical and insightful outcome that serves all kinds of music.

Additionally, Audio Note have a continuous research and development programme into outstanding musical reproduction, and to this end have recently introduced such innovations as field coil loudspeakers and idler drive CD players.

The System

Audio Note products are terrific in their own right, but they really start coming into their own as part of a complete Audio Note system. So, we have now decided to maintain a permanent set up in our demonstration room, which at present comprises:

  • CD3.1xII compact disc player (2) dedicated modified Phillips Red Book mechanism, with analogue output stages served by two dual triode valves and custom designed capacitors

  • Otto Phono SE Signature integrated amp (2) driven by pure Class A Single Ended Pentode valves.

  • TT2 Deluxe turntable with external PSU, Arm 3/ll and IQ3 mm cartridge (2)

  • AN-J SPe Hemp high efficiency speakers and matching stands (3)

  • AN Isis interconnects (3) and AN – SPe (3) loudspeaker leads

The tt2 on top, with power supply oN THE LOWEST shelf, The CD3.1xII and OtTo amp in between.

As pictured, this is a Level 2/3 system in the Audio Note product hierarchy and majors on vinyl and CD reproduction. CD is still considered to be a viable digital medium by Audio Note and when they bring their special talents to CD replay, you will understand why!

You will have noticed that the AN-J SPe speakers are sited in the room corners. Like their bigger brother, the AN-E, the J is designed, ideally, for corner loading. The idea with Audio Note speakers is to place them as close to the corners as possible and angled in. If it is impractical to place them so, then close to a rear wall. So, overall, these speakers are designed to work in unison with near room boundaries.

So how does it sound?

Preface

We thought it appropriate having set up an all-Audio Note system, that we should review it as a unified whole, rather than a collection of individual units. That is not to say the Audio Note products cannot sound great in a variety of sympathetic mixed make systems, because in that environment they can and do sound excellent.

The Audio Note System listening notes:

A glorious combination of leading-edge attack and full-bodied decay with astonishing bass depth and a grain-free open treble reproduction; beautiful tone, timbre, and a full-bodied enveloping sound that makes it difficult to resist on any type of music programme. That is a key indicator of Audio Note systems that they will sound real and impressive, with any genre of music.

In their side wall-loaded positions, the AN-J’s in combination with the Otto opened up the soundscape considerably becoming more three-dimensional, almost holographic. The lowest frequencies of the Audio Note UK AN-J weren’t overbearing in the least, but tuneful and precisely focused in space, with a steady and unerring sense of control.

The AN-J’s in their corner position

With this system the midrange (voice) is present, articulate and expressive. This is a real litmus test in that the human voice is the final and conclusive standard by which to judge the ‘accuracy’ of high-definition sound reproduction.

This expressive sound is provided regardless of format. The CD3 contributing quite superbly with its quality, untampered data stream revealing tons of transparency and information, as well as fine musical tonality that you may have missed listening previously to your best CDs. With the TT-Two, as soon as you put on your favourite record, it immediately makes a very persuasive case for itself. The two motors allow the platter to spin up to speed almost instantly and pitch stability is rock solid.

The fantastic TT2 in action

Sonically, both the CD3 and TT-Two are muscular and powerful performers. Fast paced recordings are delivered with real urgency, underpinned with a tight and potent bass that has shape, insight and just the right amount of depth. Music sounds dynamic, full, natural and layered, starting and stopping with real poise.

Music Used

We threw all types of musical genres via CD and vinyl to see if we could trip it up:

Vinyl (please not vinyls!)

  • Horace Andy – Midnight Scorchers. A great mix of Massive Attack and dub-like sonics.

  • Lamb – The Secret of Letting Go. High dynamic range recording, drum and bass blended with downbeat bliss, excellent vocals.

  • Yello – Zebra. Well recorded 1980’s dance, with a sense of fun.

  • Sibelius Symphony No1 – BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent. The symphony is characterised by its use of string and woodwind solos.

CD’s

  • Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Nights Dream/Neville Mariner. A clear and natural recording.

  • Alice Coltrane – Journey to Satchidananda. A classic bit of mystical 70s jazz feat. Pharoah Sanders

  • Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet. Rock/Prog underpinned by a fearsome bass and drum rhythm section and unusual keyboard arrangements.

  • Jeff Buckley – Grace. Classic inventive rock and melody with astounding vocals.

Summary

This system provides organic musicality in spades. It will make you keen to rediscover your music collection and give you insight into the musicians’ intent, whatever the genre. A real joy with long listening sessions guaranteed!

Available for demonstration now, come and experience the magic of Audio Note!

Thanks for reading.

Rob & Jon - Audio T Oxford

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below… 

Audio Note can be found at the following Audio T stores

Hey (Not So Big) Spendor! – Audio T Reading Size Up The Little Spendor Classic 4/5

/ Audio T Reading/

A hearty hello to everyone from us at Audio T Reading, from pastures new in Swallowfield. Last June we did a feature article on “Three Little Lionhearted Loudspeakers“ and taking centre stage were the Neat Petite Classic, the Audio Note AX One/II, and the Harbeth P3ESR XD. Back then we asked the question “Is bigger always better?” going on to discuss the many virtues of those premium little loudspeakers. It was one of the most fun speaker shoot-outs we have ever done, however there was another pair of speakers that we would have loved to include in the showdown that unfortunately weren’t in our possession at the time. On the upside, we have now been able to get our hands (and ears) on the missing “little loudies” and have spent a good amount of very enjoyable time with them – so without further ado let us to tell you of our tremendous trio becoming a colossal quartet and let us share with you our experience with the wee Spendor Classic 4/5…

A LITTLE BIT OF BIG HISTORY – SPENDOR’S MINI MONITOR HERITAGE

Spendor have certainly played their part in the history of small but mighty British loudspeakers, most notably of course playing a key role in the manufacture of the legendary LS3/5A studio monitor under licence from the BBC – these went on to reach the homes and studios of many thousands of likely happy punters. While not an exact replica, the Spendor Classic 4/5 is certainly a huge nod to that classic monitor with a re-invigorated take on that design to meet the demands of the modern music and home audio consumer.

Back then, the initial job of the LS3/5A was to scrutinise the quality of BBC transmissions from within the tiny confines of their dedicated broadcast vans, most likely in an all-analogue environment. But now, courtesy of the Classic 4/5, Spendor has delivered a tiny transducer that excels at conveying the sonic nuances from the upstream electronics in both the digital and analogue domain. Most notably when you hear these mini marvels, the memo this time around from Spendor appears to be “bring forth the music”; bring it in as huge a dose as possible and from as small a cabinet as possible… surely impossible?

THE CLASSIC 4/5 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – HOW DO THEY SOUND?

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is described here as being a ‘rare brain-related condition that makes things look or feel larger or smaller than they actually are’ and incidentally is believed to be ‘most common in children’. Well… it must be said, we are the biggest kids going when it comes to boundless enthusiasm for all-things-audio, and we must confess that this dinky duo from Spendor has certainly left our senses in a state of child-like, AIWS disarray – a good kind if such a thing exists!

On first listen to the Classic 4/5, the spread of sound in front of us was appreciably grander than the dimensions of the cabinets had us believing it would be. Further auditioning revealed a sweetly extended top end, wonderful clarity and openness throughout the midrange, and the bass on offer – while not plummeting the depths of the room – was bewitchingly big and full sounding, taking us back into AIWS territory once again.

Our best discovery with these slender Spendors is how beautifully musical they are – they won’t punch you in the rib cage, at least not in an overt way, when a kick drum hits hard. Nor will they pound out a brazen rock track with the kind of vest-ripping, chest-outward bravado that some might crave for. But what the Classic 4/5 never fail to achieve is to get the core musicality of the message across; these baby boxes unassumingly lure you into listening sessions that end up way longer than intended, whatever the genre. It’s this most desirable trait that leaves us repeatedly grinning like a cheshire cat.

THE SKINNY ON THE SKINNY SPENDORS – LASTING IMPRESSIONS

The Spendor Classic 4/5 aren’t an unfamiliar breed in that they are a sealed-box design on the slimmer side, but this time-honoured approach does buck a modern movement of seemingly hordes of loudspeakers that tend to favour impressing its audiences with beefed up lower-ends and striking dynamics.

Whilst the Classic 4/5 are recommended for use with 25w -100w per channel amplification, we found that they deliver their best, most balanced, presentation when partnered with the likes of the Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 all-in-one player or the Rega Elicit Mk5 integrated amplifier, both punching at the higher end of the quoted power range. In fact, we even tried these bijou Spendors with an amp delivering 125 watts per channel, the hefty Rega Aethos, and the sonic outcome was magnificent.

With more juice behind the Classic 4/5, we found that the fullness in their upper bass strengthens, without losing any definition or tautness, and the result was more coherence with the rest of the audio spectrum and a broader canvas of musical images that convince rather than impress.

CONCLUSION

When compared to the previously showcased triumvirate of the Neat Petite Classic, Audio Note AX One/II and Harbeth P3ESR XD, the Spendor 4/5 hold themselves in said company with consummate ease and are not in too dissimilar a mould to the P3ESR XD; both are exceptional sealed-box allrounders, although each set possesses a special sonic character of its very own.

All four of these bantamweight boxed pairs certainly warrant your attention and are superlative in their own right. If you would like to know more, or would like to hear a set of these splendid speakers in action, please do contact us or your nearest Audio T store; our knowledgeable team will be most happy to assist you.

Thank you for reading.

Rishi – Audio T Reading

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

A BIT ABOUT OUR NEW STORE

Our new Swallowfield store is accessible via the 600 bus route from Reading town centre and is very easy to reach by road with the A33, M3 and M4 all nearby. On arrival you’ll find ample free parking right on our doorstep, and our showroom and demo rooms are all on ground level.

The picturesque surroundings here provide many places to enjoy a countryside walk, a riverside stroll, or a picnic. There are local sites of interest to explore such as the Blackwater River, Wellington Country Park, Siren Craft Brewery and a host of cute village pubs with gardens.

Also during the Summer Bank Holiday weekend in August, nearby Swallowfield Park plays home to the vibrant Swallowfield Show. When you come to see us, why not make a fun day of it?

The products featured here can be found or enquired about at the following Audio T stores:

Audio T Cheltenham Gets Closer To The Source!

/ Audio T Cheltenham/

I would just like to deviate a little from the normal style of my articles and take the opportunity with this one to put forward some musings as to exactly which component within a hi-fi system is the most important!

Sources For Courses

To this extent there are those who will put forward the view that the source component (turntable, compact disc player, DAC, streamer, FM tuner, etc) is the most important part of the system as it is the provider of that all important signal at the very beginning of the chain. Indeed if you are an audiophile of a certain age you may well remember that old Linn mantra of “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” True to an extent I will grant you but let’s see where this train of thought goes!

Speakers Corner

Then of course, perhaps the biggest perceivable difference to a hi-fi system may well be entirely down to the loudspeaker choice and how it interacts with not only the rest of the system components but also (very importantly) the room within which they are being used.

Very often rooms are entirely the cause of lousy sounding hi-fi systems (this subject may well be worth a blog all of its very own!). Of all the components in your set-up, the loudspeaker’s job is probably the most difficult in a never ending battle against the laws of physics to reproduce that believable three dimensional sound-space that hangs in the air in front of you from a relatively small box. And of course just to baffle you even more, there are so many of them!

Control Freaks

Next comes the amplifier conundrum. Does it drive your loudspeakers adequately? More importantly is it degrading that all important delicate music signal before it even reaches your loudspeakers. It undoubtedly is a very important part of the system chain enabling the selection of signals from various inputs and sending them on for the speakers to do whatever they can with them. Skimp here and be damned.

It’s Just A Piece of Wire Isn’t It?

Loudspeaker cables and interconnects are also very important to consider being as they are essentially the finishing touch to the system chain. They need to be compatible with the system components and most importantly not do any harm to the music signal. Do you mix and match cable brands or should you stick with one manufacturer for all. That will quite probably only become apparent upon careful experimenting and listening.

All of these are very important questions to be taken into account and all will need very careful consideration whilst you choose your new hi-fi system or upgrade your existing one.

But here’s the thing…

Isn’t the most important part of the hi-fi system and potentially it’s limiting factor entirely down to your choice of music and the quality of the recording that you play on it?

Alpha by asia….dont bother!

I would argue that yes, using that old Linn “Garbage in, Garbage out” theory, the ultimate source of the hi-fi system becomes the music played on it. For example, this will more often than not be on my preferred vinyl format and the record that prompted this little rant which is… Alpha by legendary prog rock supergroup, Asia. Now this album ain’t gonna sound good on anything ‘cos it sounds LOUSY! It’s a real shame as in there somewhere are some very pretty tunes by some top notch musicians. We have the collected talents of Geoff Downes from Buggles and Yes, Steve Howe also from Yes, Carl Palmer from ELP and John Wetton formerly of Family and King Crimson, so it should be all good. Sadly, that is not the case.

The sound is bright and flat with no depth, no width and no perceptible bass on it at all. I have played this album so many times on so many great and good hi-fi systems and have never ever got it to sound good. You would never want to use this one as a demonstration album.

Oh well… at least the beautiful cover artwork by prog legend, Roger Dean, is great. I think if the cover art was lousy I would probably have binned it a long time ago! It is still one of my guilty pleasures though and gets an outing every once in a while- if only to remind myself how good it could have been.

The Flip Side

Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons…Timeless classic!

Now this is the polar opposite of the album by Asia. This little gem is the brand new album from Beth Gibbons called Lives Outgrown. And both the music and the sound quality are stunning. You may know Beth as the singer with genre defining trip hoppers, Portishead.

Here she collaborates with Lee Harris of TalkTalk and the resulting album is all at once eerie, spooky and well suited to the time of year. There is a little bit of Pink Floyd in here too and lyrically the album seems centered on fighting personal battles and then whatever may come after! The overall package is great too, coming in a retro effect tip-on gatefold sleeve with a studio booklet, art print and gatefold lyric sheet with pictures of Beth in blurry reflective mode.

One to file next to Out Of Season and in between Kate Bush and TalkTalk. As I touched upon before the sound quality of this album is amazing and the pressing is faultless. That bass thump at the end of the first track on side two “Reaching Out” is just awesome. The real star of the show is just how well the vocals are recorded. There is space aplenty with a goosebump inducing palpable sense of reality As such this is the kind of album that will make your hi-fi system really sing. And that is what I mean when I say that the most important part of your hi-fi system and the gateway to the best musical experience will always be the music you play on it… I rest my case m’lud!

Many thanks for reading

Andy, Jon and Farid - Audio T Cheltenham Store.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

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Hugo Can Weave Magic: The Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 Desktop Headphone Amplifier

/ Audio T Swansea/

The Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 is the latest evolution to the Hugo family, following the original portable Hugo DAC/headphone amplifier, Hugo TT(desktop), and Hugo 2 (portable) units. All three previous Hugos offered excellent sound, features and build quality. TT2 capitalises upon that foundation…

that shiny gold chord badge does give us the shivers

that shiny chord badge does give us the shivers

The original Hugo was a tiny bit bright sounding for many people and the original Hugo TT didn’t have quite enough output power for some of the more demanding (read high-end) headphones out there. The Hugo 2 fixed the somewhat bright sound of the original Hugo and then some, but predictably it lacks the power necessary for the aforementioned harder-to-drive cans. It’s a lovely bit of kit, but it’s not quite perfect.

jimi, he approves of all the purple. (these photos aren’t just thrown together you know)

Chord Electronics have realised that the majority of Hugo TT owners use them as a stationary piece of hi-fi, which rather negates the need for the original incarnation’s internal batteries. The space these batteries took up in the TT1, have been redesigned to accommodate six ‘super capacitors’.

These super capacitors allow for much higher maximum output power, which better enables the TT2 to drive those dashed tricky headphones; The Hi-FiMan Susvara being a notorious example. Offering up 7.3W at 8 ohms single ended, and 18W at 8 ohms from the balanced outputs on the rear of the device, there aren’t many headphones the TT2 can’t handle.

those single-ended and balanced output stages

someone’s been busy with the cnc lathe. by eck it’s gorgeous.

Opening the TT2 packaging, you are greeted with a sleek, compact, solid piece of engineering. One thing we have noticed with Chord products, in the headphone market in particular, is that they are almost unrivalled in terms of build quality. All the buttons and knobs, (or in this case a backlit textured sphere,) have the perfect feel. Not stiff to turn, they always feel light and nicely damped. Speaking of backlit spheres, it’s a quirky and interesting way to indicate the current volume on the device. Whilst not everyone is enthused by Chord’s ‘marbles’, they are an innovative way to convey the sample rate, volume, etc that you are currently experiencing. They’re rather fun and it demonstrates that Chord Electronics don’t take themselves terribly seriously, except with regard to the sound of their hi-fi.

IS IT PINK? MAGENTA MAYBE? EITHER WAY AND IN THE WORDS OF THE INIMITABLE bOB SMITH: IT’S HOT HOT HOT.

Our store reference DAC is the Chord DAVE. Supreme clarity, detail, and definition, it has few rivals. There are other DACs out there, but I have not heard an arguably better one. It would be wrong not to admit that their different flavours may appeal to you more. The only problem with DAVE in terms of headphone replay is that it only offers 2W out of its headphone socket. Enough for many headphones, but not for the aforementioned hard to drive ones.

The savvy headphone enthusiast then, should consider a TT2 with Chord Electronic’s M-Scaler. A two-box system that is powerful, as well as being the closest to a DAVE in terms of performance as anything else we’ve heard.

THOSE TWIN BNC SOCKETS ARE WHERE ONE WILL CONNECT AN M-SCALER. it generates SO MUCH INFORMATION, ONE COAXIAL CABLE CAN’T CARRY IT ALL. note two optical inputs next to the all-important usb-b socket. how else are you to enjoy dsd?

DAVE is king of micro detail, has a more transparent and nuanced presentation than the TT2.

The TT2, however seems to have a bit more meat on its bones, and is a touch warmer than DAVE. Both are superb DACs and it is a case of your budget and use, as to which you should choose. If you listen via speakers the majority of the time, then DAVE is king. However, if like a great many music fans you prefer to use headphones, the TT2 is the way to go. Partnered with the M-Scaler, it can be argued that it’s the more enjoyable option. Mind you, once you’ve heard DAVE with an M-Scaler….

it’ll even decode bluetooth, should you require it. more handy than you might anticipate.

The TT2 is a superb all in one device. There truly isn’t much it can’t do. Drive your desktop speakers? Sure. Drive low efficiency headphones? Sure, no problem. Want a superb DAC? Here you go. Heard a DAVE, can’t live without it but it’s out of reach right now? Great! This is as good a stepping stone as you could possibly hope for.

The Hugo TT2 is an all around performer. Granted, It does not have the ultimate DAC quality of DAVE but it makes a trade off to be one of the best, most flexible, all in one headphone source components on the market, for well under half the price of DAVE. In that regard, it’s solid value and highly recommended. Especially as it’s now reverted to its pre-Covid price of £3995*.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog!

Audio-T Swansea

Words by Ade, pics by Nic.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to contact us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Chord Electronics can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Harbeth P3ESR XD and the Nelson Bass Extender Stands

/ Audio T Bristol/
Image: Harbeth Nelson Bass Extender stand - detail of Base

A mishearing of “Harbeth Nelson” conjured up fond childhood memories of 4 O'Clock on Saturday afternoons in the 1980s - Dickie Davis introduces ITV World of Sport Wrestling. Big Daddy takes on Giant Haystacks. Invariably, the first piece of theatrical grappling is the full or Harbeth Half Nelson. The victim of the hold red faced, eyes bulging - tapping out in pain or near suffocation. But how do the Harbeth Nelson grapple with the lower octaves?

The Nelson reference is more prosaic than my overactive imagination, a reference to Nelson’s Column at London’s Trafalgar Square and there are certainly Corinthian design cues.

For years, Harbeth have designed arguably one of the the best iterations of the BBC Mini Monitor - currently the P3ESR-XD. Derived from the original LS3/5A BBC R&D specification request, note the credit on this whitepaper - non other than H.D. Harwood, the founder of Harbeth. The internet is awash with great stories of how this speaker legend came about. I’ve collected below some links that track the venerable history and the modern day offshoots.

Suggested Reading

A word on Frequencies

The common misconception is that a sub works on sub-hearing frequencies, i.e. below our hearing range of 20Hz - 20KHz and is a modern phenomenon of electronic music. However, this is not the case. If we look at the frequencies of orchestral instruments - some pipe organs reach as low as 16Hz, a grand piano’s lowest note is 27.5Hz. At the other end the piccolo chirps away at a maximum of 5KHz - still a long way off human hearing limit of 20KHz.

The Harbeth PSESR-XD speakers have a quoted frequency range of 75-20KHz - 75Hz is around an octave and a half above the lowest note on a piano - though room resonances and harmonics will allow for an impression of reproduction of lower notes.

The BBC spec sheet, was about the clear reproduction of the human voice for studio monitoring in a variety of conditions - production studio to outside broadcast back of a van. It was about uniformity of reproduction.

Filling in the Gaps

The Nelson Bass Extender incorporates a Harbeth 5-inch drive unit and 50 watts of digital amplifier power, speaker frequency extension from 35Hz to 75Hz resulting in exceptional bass control, great integration (notice how that upper frequency exactly matches the lowest frequency of the P3) and power output.

Essentially, removing the stress of stand selection, improving bass extension without the additional space and cabling of sub woofers.

Setup

Harbeth Nelson Bass Extender Stand - Connections detail

One of our favourite combinations with the Harbeth P3, is the Naim Uniti Nova. The transparency, clarity and breath of presentation is really an enjoyable listen. Curiously, although the speaker does not reach particularly low frequencies, the way they roll off is so gentle that it only feels somewhat lacking in bass heavy electronic music.

What takes your breath away, is the mid range and upper frequencies. So perfectly balanced that there is no fatigue when listening and it really magically draws you in to the performance. Upping the ante to the Supernait 3 with NDX 2 then to the Naim 222 and Naim 250 still provides even more performance. The limiting factor is their diminutive size - a room dimension of 5m x 4m with standard 2.5m ceiling is probably their limit.

Placing the Harbeth on the Nelson Bass Extender stands raised the height by about 10cm compared to them being placed on a conventional 600mm stand. I thought this would upset presentation as my ear was now level with between the tweeter and mid range driver, not on axis with the tweeter, but really it did not matter.

More problematic was positioning. The advice from Harbeth is to start with the Nelsons at mid level bass on both stands and adjust from there. But getting the sweet spot was tricky. Push the speakers too far back and bass bloom flowered like a Hydrangea. Adjust the Nelsons volume to compensate and it felt like the bass fell away too quickly. The sweet spot was around 40cm from side or back wall and the Nelson volume on a 1/4, and a little more on the right channel, where there was more free space, in order to balance the presentation. This lays bare the Nelson issue - It negates a key advantage of a separate subwoofer–being able to place it optimally in a different location from the main speakers in order to reduce placement issues and blooms/nulls at the listener position.

Qobuz Audio T Bristol, Selected from Playlist:

Here is a selection of tracks we use for evaluating bass performance. The full playlist is available on Qobuz Here.

  • Sailing to Philadelphia - Mark Knopfler

  • Limit to your Love - James Blake

  • Veto, Tremours - SOHN

  • Man in the Long Black Coat (Album Version) - Bob Dylan

  • Never Come Back (Koreless Remix) - Caribou

  • Paper Tiger (Album Version) - Beck

  • Playing God - Polyphia

  • Chameleon - Trentemøller

  • THE EIGHTH NIGHT PART 1 - Mike Dean

  • Veto, Tremours - SOHN

Conclusion

Let’s be clear - this is a bass extender not a sub. We are talking about extending the range of the Harbeth P3 in an integral way that does not necessarily mean sub frequency theatrical slams, but lower octaves enhancement.

The clearest benefits are that bass extension works absolutely beautifully. One of the most curious advantages is in the way the whole soundstage benefits - clearer imaging, greater expanse of sound and depth in the whole frequency range and a book shelf clarity, speed and transparency with the reach of a floorstander.

Aesthetically, the footprint is unchanged and thus the visual marmite of separate subs is a household argument that will not be an issue.

If you are a Harbeth P3 or BBC LS3/5A model incarnation owner - this is well worth an audition.

Thank you for reading,

Justin - Audio T Bristol

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Harbeth can be found at the following Audio T stores

Isolation Is The Word - A look at IsoAcoustic and fine-tuning your Hi-Fi system

/ Audio T Cardiff/

Matt from Audio T Cardiff takes a deeper look into the story behind one of our favourite brands, IsoAcoustics, and how we can better isolate the components in our Hi-Fi systems.

As promised, I’m following on from last month's blog and talking about IsoAcoustics; what makes them tick, how they got into the audio business and the evolution of their purpose and design process. But, more importantly, how IsoAcoustics can help fine-tune your Hi-Fi components from turntable, amplification, right down to your speakers.

So come with me now, and let’s take this journey and see where we end up…

Last month I invited you to join me as I continued on my personal journey through Hi-Fi and talked about the importance of dedicated furniture and the difference it makes to how our components sound. But I’m not stopping things there… Although people don’t realise it, there’s more to isolation than meets the eye (or ears), and this is where IsoAcoustics comes into the equation.

Like many Audio T customers, I own a few IsoAcoustics products which I use in my personal system. At the time of writing this, I have Orea Graphite isolation pucks under my turntable and speakers. Before I talk about the difference it has made in my system’s sound, let's talk a little about where IsoAcoustics as a company....

So where did it all begin?

Like a lot of great audio innovations out there, IsoAcoustics was born in the recording studio. This is where the now company president and co-founder of IsoAcoustics, Dave Morrison, and co-designer and inventor, Robert G. Dickie, both from Ontario, Canada, started.

Dave and Robert's ideas took shape whilst working with television and sound studios such as CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) back in 2010, using their patented speaker stands to help isolate and control the speaker system within the studio. But isolation work with CBC studios wasn’t only limited to speaker stands. Dave also worked on the structural side of the very building they worked in, using isolation treatment under the suspended floors, helping to create the perfect studio recording environment.

Dave’s passion for sound and attempting to recreate perfect audio has helped many studios around the world. All their hard work and design resulted in the birth of IsoAcoustics in 2012. The rest, as they say, is history…

“How do IsoAcoustic products work?” I hear you ask!

First, imagine a perfectly still pond. Now imagine throwing a stone into said pond. When the stone hits the water, you can clearly see the ripples expanding across the water’s surface.

What does isolation have in common with ripples in a pond, I hear you ask? Well, this is how sound waves work. They radiate in all directions away from the source, the only significant difference is that we can’t see them.

The issue with isolation when it comes to Studio, Hi-Fi or Home Cinema equipment is that we’re not just dealing speakers, sound waves and standing waves (the bouncing of sound waves between fixed points). We also have to deal with vibrations created by the physical components.

All of these waves and vibrations are moving the air around us, which affects our listening space and, more importantly, our listening experience and thus the enjoyment of music.

There’s a lot of physics involved in all of this. For example, when a loudspeaker cone moves forward pushing air, the opposing force wants the enclosure to move backward. In an ideal world, the cabinet would not move or vibrate at all. But that is only achieved with an enclosure of infinite mass, which is a physical impossibility.

But that problem isn’t limited to just the cone and cabinet. A loudspeaker will sit on something, whether that be the floor, a desktop or speaker stand, each surface will have the same problem opposing forces and vibrations. The unwanted resonant frequencies and vibrations from the speaker work their way through the surface they sit on. Obviously most floorstanding speakers will use spikes to attempt to quell these effects by dramatically reducing the touching surface areas… But that’s not enough.

So, I guess that leads us on to question of “How does an IsoAcoustics product help to counteract these problems?”

ISOACOUSTIC PATENTED DESIGNS

A great example of one of IsoAcoustic’s products and how it controls this very problem is the Aperta speaker stands. Dave Morrison and Robert G. Dickie effectively developed a floating speaker stand that has two specially designed upper and lower platforms that manage how sound reflects within the two structures.

Internally, rubber bushings are used in the top and bottom plates, which the connecting rods push into. These bushings enable front-to-back movement of the connecting rods while minimizing side-to-side motion, effectively creating a floating speaker stand with each connecting rod decoupled from any outer casing.

A very similar design principle is used in other products in the range, such as the Gaia isolation feet and the Orea pucks.

Time to weigh-in

For those not in the know, rubber is measured by tensile strength, the composition, and the thickness of the material used. So, each of the varying models of Gaia feet and Orea pucks have different weight-load options, meaning you can get the right isolation for your specific product - from small desktop speakers, to the biggest floorstanding monoliths or to massive monoblock power amplifiers.

The great thing is IsoAcoustics has simplified the way to find the right products for your equipment using their product selection wizard, which you can find on our site here. Trust me, it’s such a valuable tool!

So, to answer the question, “What Do these products do to help with unwanted vibrations in equipment?” The answer is that they effectively help to remove most of these unwanted vibrations, reducing noise and providing us with the best listening experience possible. Take, for instance, my personal setup. As you may know, I’m quite limited with space and trying to control frequencies such as bass and also things like acoustic feedback became somewhat of a problem in my room.

So how did I fix these issues in the room and fine tune my system.

If you read last month’s blog you will know I bought a Solidsteel rack to compliment my system., but I didn't stop there. I had to think about how to control vibrations toward my turntable, causing the feedback issue I was experiencing.

I have used the Orea Graphite pucks at three points under the turntable. The effect of using these has eliminated the feedback and tightened up the sound from my turntable source. I have also used the Oreos on my speaker stands as my Dynaudios have to sit pretty close to the wall. Using the pucks have on the speakers gives more control on the bass frequencies and opens up the mids, giving the speakers a more focused and detailed sound.

In conclusion

IsoAcoustics is quite an amazing company, and Dave and Robert have come up with some true engineering marvels, bringing near perfection to how equipment sounds in the studio and in our homes. My best advice is to try their products and listen to the differences they make to how your Hi-Fi system sounds. It's surprising in a good way, trust me.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog!

Matt - Audio T Cardiff

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Affordable Hi-Fi - An absolutely superb system with Rega, Acoustic Energy and Bluesound!

/ Audio T Oxford/

It’s no secret that the Hi-Fi industry is one of the few where the more you spend, the more you get in terms of performance. So does that mean that all good Hi-Fi systems are expensive? The short answer: No. There are Hi-Fi systems out there that can be affordable without compromising quality, and today we’re going to look at just that…

We’ve put together this system for the person or family looking for a great sounding and affordable set-up, who primarily wants to be able to both stream music and also play records.

Rega Brio

I have chosen the heart of the system to be the Rega Brio amplifier. I could have chosen the junior Rega IO, but with the Brio being priced at £549* (reduced from £700) while stocks last, it is well worth shelling out the extra £129.

The Brio is a half width, no frills amplifier, packing 50 watts into an 8 ohm load. Rega took the decision to forgo having an internal DAC or Bluetooth receiver and instead opted on spending more of the budget on having an excellent in-built MM phono stage along with higher quality electrical components.

This multi-award winning amplifier is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to build a two channel Hi-Fi system.

Rega Planar 1

The Planar 1 is at the entry point of Rega’s turntable line-up and is pretty much a plug and play deck; with no anti-skate to adjust and a counterweight that simply slides onto the arm until it comes to a stop.

Speed change is manual but is very quick and easy to accomplish, you are not paying for an electronic speed change that does absolutely nothing for sound quality. It comes fitted with a Rega Carbon cartridge as standard, but could easily be upgraded should you wish.

The Rega Planar 1 is not short of competition but it truly is the ultimate budget turntable!

Listening to Yello’s excellent ‘One Second’ album; the track track ‘La Habanera’ shows just how good the phono stage in the Brio is, highlighting deep lows and possessing a lustrous tonality. Shirley Bassey’s vocals on ‘The Rhythm Divine’ exhibit a rich top end and are never bright or forward. There is good bass control but it is the lovely top end where it shines the most.

The Rega Planar 1 exhibits a smooth midrange and open treble. The lower frequencies are tight and punchy.

Bluesound Node

The current Bluesound Node adds to the strengths of its illustrious predecessors. The all important control App is one of the best in the business and connectivity is excellent: Wired or wireless, Bluetooth in and out, HDMI (to connect to your television), plus analogue and digital outputs. There is also the ability to add music to extra rooms with other Bluesound devices.

Like Rega, the Node strength’s are all about rhythm and dynamics. Piano music can be a real test of any Hi-Fi system or component. Debussy’s ‘Children’s Corner’ can sound splashy and unpleasant on many a system but not here. The subtle harmonics that give depth and resonance to the piano are accurately reproduced and everything flows beautifully.

With the advent of the excellent WiiM series of music streamers, the Node is no longer the cheapest introduction to high quality streaming, but it is still the best value for money in our humble opinion.

Acoustic Energy AE100² Speakers

These attractive little speakers are without doubt the best budget speakers that I have ever heard and can easily rival opposition that may cost twice as much.

With nicely rounded corners and a magnetic grill they have an appealing design. The cabinet is unusual in that it is made of HDF rather than MDF; this allows for thinner walls and bracing, increasing the internal volume and therefore increasing the depth of bass available from the cabinet size.

Perhaps their strongest attribute is with regard to their sound staging abilities; with just a little bit of toe in they can present a broad sound field, with real depth and an excellent central image. They are detailed, with a punchy midrange. The treble and upper midrange err towards brightness but they are by no means fatiguing to listen to. Bruce Springsteen’s ‘57 Channels and Nothing On’ is a foot tapping track and it was delivered in a snappy way and never once sounded harsh or edgy.

Bass depth and extension is in line with most of their peers.

In conclusion

I would argue that each and every one of these components is individually the best in class.

We know from experience that putting two or more excellent products together is by no means always a recipe for success. The key to putting a good system together is all about obtaining good synergy. There might be occasions when putting a system together where every item errs towards dynamics might be over egging the pudding, but no, these all work together perfectly.

The result is a fabulous little system that is a delight to listen to.

Thank you for reading.

Jon and Rob - Audio T Oxford

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below… 

Rega, Acoustic Energy and Bluesound can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

A Wiim my way, is all mighty in the value stakes

/ Audio T Manchester/

Whilst being a fairly new name on the streaming market Wiim are making real waves in the Hi-Fi industry, releasing some of the most affordable units around. Offering a range of products from the Wiim Mini (a Google Chromecast style device), two Hi-Res streamers in the form of the Wiim Pro and the Pro+, and the all-new flagship model: The Wiim Ultra.

Although it is the Wiim Streaming Amp that is the feature of this month’s little review, a lot of the operational features described are also applicable to the stand alone streamers too. Wiim are really offering incredibly good value with all of their products. The Pro streamer costing just under £150*, the higher spec Pro+ at under £220. The Wiim Streaming Amplifier incorporates a well specified Class D power amplifier, producing a decent 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and doubling that to 120 watts in to 4 ohms load, and is incredible value at just £319.

The super compact 19cm x 19cm x 7.5cm enclosure has a digital volume control with a pause/play in the middle, and at the side, a row of pin-sized LED indicators show the volume level. The main control of the amp is really carried out by the included Bluetooth remote or, the slick Wiim app on smartphone or tablet.

On the rear are the mains power connector, four quality speaker terminals, along with subwoofer output, analogue input, HDMI Arc connector for enhancing your TV sound, USB, an optical 'toslink' SPDIF digital input, and a network LAN connector for those not wishing to use Wifi.

Although there is no physical headphone socket, the Wiim amp offers two-way Bluetooth, so any Bluetooth headphones can be connected, and everyone, including guests, can stream in via Bluetooth.

As a streaming product, the support offered by the Wiim app is second to none. As well as being Roon Ready, this little box offers direct streaming from Amazon Alexa & Music, BBC Radio, Calm Radio, Deezer, Napster, Open Network Stream, Pandora, Qobuz, Radio Paradise, SoundCloud, SoundMachine, Soundtrack, Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and vTuner (subscriptions may be required for some services of course).

Connectivity with other apps is also similarly impressive. Chromecast Audio, group connect with HomePods Nest and Echo speakers and displays, Alexa Multiroom, control via Siri, Alexa, Google, the mentioned Bluetooth, full DLNA, local network accessible hard drives, and AirPlay 2. It is hard to find something this little box doesn't support, and with automatic updates through the internet, you’ll always stay connected and up to date.

The included remote control is fully voice-controlled, and being Bluetooth has the advantage it will work in the room regardless of where you locate the tiny Wiim amp, even if it is hidden in a cabinet, not that anyone could object to such a tiny little enclosure.

In use, just add speakers, plug in and go! Of course, the HDMI input is a real boon for TV users. Simply connecting to your TV set’s HDMI Arc channel will establish a connection, enabling TV sound and level control to be sent via the Wiim amp. All sources can be used in multi-room mode too, with any compatible Wiim device.

It's hard to believe so much technology is packed into such a tiny little enclosure, and that it all works so well! Of course, as a streamer, you must download the control app to your device to start. Set up is super easy, be it wired LAN connection, or using your Wifi. Connect up your loudspeakers, plug into mains power, and you are off. The app is super slick, and on top of that, it’s whizzy in its use. No waiting for operations, it just does it.

Considering the price, the sound quality is seriously good. Stereo image and location are excellent, giving the sense of space and reality. The midrange is also fluid, and for a small enclosure, the sound packs a punch. A digital graphic equalizer is incorporated within the design, which can be handy for customers needing the speakers tucked away. Different EQ settings are available for different inputs too. Given the unit is happy with 4-ohm speakers, it can drive a surprising amount of loudspeakers with ease.

The value for money is amazing with the baby Wiim streaming amplifier. It would be great value even just as a source for Bluetooth headphones, with the built-in 240W power amp, superb app, and great sound per pound, it makes the perfect second room system or can form the basis of a very competent introduction system, and the world of streaming.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

Thanks for reading

David, Munir, James & Haden - Audio T Manchester

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

It's time to Selekt your Linn product - a review of the Linn Selekt DSM Hub Classic modular Hi-Fi system.

/ Audio T Brighton/

Hi folks, and welcome to this month’s article from us here at Audio T Brighton. We’re in for a bit of modular streaming hi-fi bliss this month because the streaming DAC/pre-amp/amplifier in question is one of the most flexible and upgradeable units on the market today. Throw in fine sound, sleek looks and user-friendliness and you’re as future-proof a design in this field as one can get. Time to look at the Linn Selekt DSM Hub Classic and her options.

Linn Selekt DSM Hub...

linn selekt dsm hub classic in a black finish

The Linn Selekt DSM hub comes in several variants - I will attempt to cover many of them throughout the course of this blog, but as a catalyst (or should I say Katalyst - pun very much intended!), we’ll be referring to a custom build of the Linn Selekt DSM Classic Hub with a built-in amplifier/standard DAC module. This version is on one of the starter models on the Linn Ladder of Listenability via modular design, which is both neat and allows customers flexibility as their music system expands with personal requirements. To be fair, this is not just marketing PR, which the industry can be prone to, as Linn has always followed this philosophy with their famous Linn LP12 turntables, allowing upgradability when funds and desires coincide.

Linn Selekt DSM Classic Hub with amp/DAC modules... Assembly

I thought a little video insert might be educational for folks to see how well thought out the Linn modular design is. So here goes...

I’m not sure the BBC have much to worry about and before you ask, no I didn’t go to film school! 😅 P.S. I did put the lid back on afterwards!

Linn Selekt DSM Hub hall of fame...

This section will aim to break down the options available on the Linn Ladder of Listenability and provide some insight into the plethora of options available to our customers.

First of all comes the box, so to speak, with a folded aluminium case in the Classic Hub, or a fully-machined case out of a solid block of aluminium with the Edition Hub.

It should be noted that the Edition hub comes with a fully machined chassis for rigidity. The sonic benefits this type of enclosure offers; reduced interference and microphonics, should not be dismissed lightly. The Edition hub version also has a built-in headphone socket and subwoofer output, which may be essential for some users.

Second up comes your choice of DAC performance; Standard, Katalyst, Organik or Dual-Mono Organik. I can personally vouch for the sonic upgrade between the Standard and Organik DAC’s, having fitted and listened to both, the sound improvements are marked and very worthwhile!

Choose your linn selekt dsm dac performance level

Thirdly, comes your application requirement; either as a digital source, a fully-fledged 2-channel stereo system or an AV/TV system.

All Linn Selekt DSM Hubs come with the latest Utopik power supply, which is in itself a significant upgrade, which I experienced when I fitted and heard the before and after on a customer’s Linn Klimax DSM.

It should be mentioned that owing to the modular upgradability of the Linn system, the Linn Utopik power supply upgrade is available as a retrofit upgrade for earlier versions of the Linn Selekt DSM Hubs.

More details about the various system configurations can be found on our website at Audio T in Brighton or by following the links provided in this blog or on Linn’s own website.

A technical tour-de-force...

linn selekt dsm technical specs

WiFi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 come as standard but we always recommend a good old ethernet cable whenever possible.

Being a Linn product , one would come to expect a good quality MM/MC Phono Stage and the Selekt DSM Hubs don’t disappoint, as we find out in our listening tests later. Digital playback is as agnostic as you’ll get, with Hi-Res, DSD lossless formats catered for and most compressed file types in the mix as well.

For those who encounter sound problems owing to awkward room dimensions or room layout, reflective surfaces etc, then Space Optimisation is available to counter these deleterious effects. Personally, we feel good speaker placement and system set-up negates the need for DSP but it is still a nice extra to have should you need it.

It’s time to Selekt your music...

linn selekt dsm edition hub with a matching linn selekt LP12 turntable

So, once you’ve chosen your Selekt DSM Hub configuration and had it assembled, delivered and installed by your local Audio T, now is the time to choose some music and enjoy your purchase, knowing full well that your future playback requirements are covered.

Linn Selekt DSM Classic sound...

How does it sound? Quite frankly, stunning!

Linn has built a sonic reputation around their famous Linn LP12 turntables, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and currently comprises three performance levels: Linn Majik LP12, Linn Selekt LP12 and Linn Klimax LP12.

I’m pleased to say that the various incarnations of the Linn Majik DSM, Linn Selekt DSM and Linn Klimax DSM hubs perform at a commensurate level to their analogue siblings.

Here at our Audio T shop in Brighton, we paired a Linn Majik LP12 with a Linn Adikt MM cartridge, the aforementioned Linn Selekt DSM Hub Classic amp/dac module and a pair of Linn Majik 140 floor-standing speakers to great effect, sounding neutral, detailed and wholesome at the same time - not an easy feat for a music system, at any price.

I have attached a short video of the system in action for your pleasure!

Be one of the Selekt few...

The Linn Selekt DSM Classic Hub offers the user fine sound quality, an excellent user experience and a future-proof modular upgrade path. It comes highly recommended from Audio T.

As always, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so get in touch to book a demonstration.

Thanks for reading.

Ade, John and Paul - Audio T Brighton

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Cable guys for a day - A visit to Chord Company HQ

/ Audio T Portsmouth/

First founded in 1985, Chord Company enjoys a global reputation for quality products that can enhance the sound of any Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system…

If you cast your mind back to last year, you may recall that we wrote about Chord’s English Electric Ethernet Switch, PowerHAUS P6 mains distribution block and their BurndyX cables for Naim systems in our November blog.

For those of you that read the article, you’ll know that we liked these products a lot! Each of them improving the sound we got out of our reference Naim 300 series.

So we were delighted when the kind people at Chord Company invited the Audio T Portsmouth team to spend a day at their Amesbury headquarters in order to learn more about their products and manufacturing processes.

Chord Company HQ

Organised

The first thing that struck us was the smaller-than-expected Chord set-up. Given the global reputation and reach of Chord Company cables, I suppose we were expecting a football field-sized factory.

Looks can, however, be deceptive, and inside the modern industrial units at Chord HQ it was clear that this was a highly organised, highly efficient operation.

Chord warehouse

Our guides for the day were Chord’s Southern UK Sales Rep, Ian Kemsley, and Bill Fraser, UK Sales.

Hands-On

After a quick tour of the immaculately organised warehouse and fabrication rooms we were led to some free workbenches and told that our task for the morning was to make some EpicX Aray RCA interconnects and a length of EpicX speaker cable.

Our workbenches for the day

Together these cables, at the lengths we were making, retail at close to £1,000. So, no pressure then!

We tackled the EpicX Aray RCAs first. The Aray technology addresses the internal mechanical noises inherent in all cables.

Chord Epic X Aray RCAs

The precision required to solder the RCAs onto the various cores in the cables was a real test of hand-eye coordination, something that Chord’s Production Technician, David Shannon, made look way easier than it was.

Next up were the Epic X speaker cables. These use the ChordOhmic plugs. The plugs are micro-welded to the cable by using the ChordOhmic Hex Gun tool which applies huge amounts of pressure to create the weld. Both the cables and the interconnects are heavily shielded and coated in XLPE (cross-linked polythene).

Chord Epic X speaker cables fitted with chordohmic plugs

Under the guidance of David our cable making results were pretty good, even if we do say so ourselves.

The proof is in the pudding…

After lunch we decamped to the listening room to hear some Chord cables in action, specifically Chord’s top of the range ChordMusic cabling, using tuned aray technology and Taylon insulation. They connected a Moon Mind network player, to a Chord Electronics Dave, and Bonnec Pre and Power amps powering Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 speakers.

chordmusic cables

Needless to say they sounded superb, the ChordMusic cables allowing the musical detail to shine.

Sound Advice

Ian was a veritable font of knowledge and useful advice about cabling. Perhaps his most interesting tip was to remove all non-essential cables from your set-up. Ian left one end of an ethernet cable plugged into an English Electric ethernet switch. The other end was left dangling.

We were sceptical that leaving the ethernet cable plugged into the switch would make any appreciable difference to the sound. Ian played part of a test track with the cable in, then removed the cable and replayed the test track. Surprisingly, there was a clearly audible improvement in the sound stage and detail.

Ian explained that all cables can act as aerials and can introduce interference into a system which affects performance, meaning you hear less of the music. So, we should all do our systems a favour by unplugging all unnecessary cables!

Interference and noise is why quality manufacturers like Chord pay so much attention to shielding on their cables.

Having recently introduced a pair of Chord EpicX speaker cables into my own hi-fi system, I can vouch for the positive difference good cabling makes to a set-up.

Chord epic x speaker cable

As Ian said: “Think of your cable loom as another component in your system, like an amp or a streamer.”

“People tend to match components by quality and, by extension, price point. We wouldn’t generally match our mid to high-end source component with a significantly less expensive amplifier.”

“The same holds true for cabling. It allows your system to perform to its full potential.”

Sound advice. So, if you are happy with the system you have currently, but wonder if you can squeeze even more performance out of it then it may be worth upgrading your cabling. You may be surprised at the difference they can make. Check out Audio T’s range of cables here, and get in touch to arrange a home demonstration.

Thanks for reading.

Alan - Audio T Portsmouth

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Rack 'em up! - Dispelling the myth around Hi-Fi Furniture

/ Audio T Cardiff/

A question we get asked a lot is “Does a Hi-Fi rack make any difference sonically?” Matt from our Cardiff store takes a deeper look in to how we set our Hi-Fi systems up at home and sets out to answer questions like “How does it improve the performance and presentation of the music?” as well as “Do we go for style over function? Or do we walk the line between the two?”

On my exciting journey through the wonderful world of Hi-Fi, there have been many changes to my own system of the past couple of years. One big change came this year after attending the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, where I had a rather in-depth chat with MIAN Audio Distribution who represent Solidsteel Hi-Fi furniture for the UK.

I had some issues with my current set-up with unwanted acoustic feedback and vibration problems when listening to music at home (teamed with a difficult placement situation). After a very informative conversation, I decided to finally take the plunge and I bought myself a new rack. Now my system proudly sits on a rather cool SolidSteel S3-3 in black. 

Matt’s Hi-Fi rack at home solidsteel s3-3

Since I made this big change in my Hi-Fi it has made the world of difference to how the music sounds. How much difference does Hi-Fi furniture make? How does isolating components help with things such as noise floor?

Studio Time

As I’ve mentioned in other blogs; in my late teens I used to quite often help my dad in the TV studio he worked in. I was tasked with such things as carrying cables and making coffee, especially when working on outside broadcast.

I remember one day asking my dad why the equipment was mounted in rack cases. He essentially told me that it makes it easier to strip down the rig if there is a problem, but more importantly it keeps everything isolated. This is especially important when you’re recording quite instruments or speech as the least amount of component noise is required.

Fast forward to present day and working at Audio T, I feel Hi-Fi racks play a important role as a rack case would in the studio, isolating our equipment and giving easy access to individual components.

The big question?

All this talk about how we house our systems brings to light the big question I hear you asking out there, are Hi-Fi racks and Hi-Fi furniture worth it? How much difference does it make to the sound of my system? and also just as important, how does a Hi-Fi rack perform this magic act of changing the way our system sounds?

Let’s talk technical

Talking technical, I promise I won’t go on too much but I will give you a bit of information to think about. Most of our audio equipment generates unwanted vibrations and standing waves which are barely audible but can disturb the components in our Hi-Fi systems, such as our turntables and other sensitive electronic components, compromising sound quality. It manifests in the form of noise and gives your audio an unnatural harshness or even distortion. These unwanted vibrations can come from the transformers in our components for example, even movement from our speakers or other appliances in our homes is also a factor.

All of this makes a dedicated rack an essential part of any good audio system making our listening experience more enjoyable (sorry to sound a little vain but a rack really makes your system look the business too).

It’s all material

All of the Hi-Fi furniture manufacturers we deal with at Audio T have a well established background in engineering and design. Companies such as Solidsteel, Quadraspire and Atacama to name but a few. Before we talk about these three amazing companies, let’s look into the materials they use and why.

Many companies such as Atacama and Quadraspire use more natural materials for their damping characteristics, bamboo being one example. Suitable hardwoods such as solid oak are favoured by others. Hardwood ply has excellent acoustic properties since it consists of multiple layers of wood which have different resonances. Another alternative being MDF, which companies like Solidsteel use to make their shelves due to its more consistent density from a lack of wood grain.

There are other things at play in how a rack is built, leg design and materials such as aluminium alloy being particularly dead and easy to machine. For example, Atacama put their legs on spikes between shelves to further decrease contact between components and reduce the amount of unwanted vibration.

Let’s talk a little history

Let’s start with my personal favourite, Solidsteel. Their story is deeply rooted in passion and craftsmanship with Moreno Conti, a music enthusiast, laying the foundation for the brand in the early 1990s. His commitment to excellence has led to Solidsteel being one of the most recognised hi-fi furniture brands available in the UK.

SolidSteel S5-3 Rack

The name ‘Solidsteel’ traces its origins back to the 70s and 80s with a young man from Pescara, driven by a love for music and motors. An interesting side note is his love of motors can be seen in their speaker stands which, believe it or not, are welded by the same gentleman that welds Ducati’s motorcycle exhausts. He has experimented with cutting-edge metalworking techniques over the years which led to the creation of their first metal furniture.

Moving onto Quadraspire

The company was started by Dutch designer Eddie Spruit back in 1995 in an east London Studio, but now based in Bath. Going back over twenty years ago he set out to deliver near perfect Hi-Fi performance and something that looks the part as well. After a lot of research and experimentation, Eddie came up with his preferred materials. Bamboo for the shelves and solid machined aluminium for the legs. Using a curved design on the shelves as well as cutting cross sections out from the underside of the shelves. This fine tuning removes any unwanted resonances, almost like a spruce top on Martin acoustic guitar, they use what is know as ‘X‘ bracing to tune the wood. All of these design aspects help with the overall performance of Quadraspire racks.

And last but certainly not least

Atacama Audio, formerly know as “Sambell Engineering Ltd”, goes right back to 1969. Specialising in aerospace engineering while working beside prestigious companies such as Rolls Royce aircraft division.

Moving forward to 1987, Atacama became involved in the Hi-Fi industry. Drawing from their past experience with aluminium, they had the perfect means to design legs and feet for a Hi-Fi rack. Next, they had to come up with the perfect materials for shelving. They started with tempered glass shelves which worked really well but were still prone to vibration, they then went onto using what they felt was the perfect materials, oak and bamboo. They also incorporated a curved design to the shelves as well as using spiked isolation between them to develop their signature characteristics.

Do all Hi-Fi racks cost a small fortune?

The resounding answer is ‘no’, the great thing is Solidsteel and Atacama both have racks in their ranges that are cost effective and look great, such as the Solidsteel S2 series and the Apollo storm range from Atacama. Both are fantastic options, but I personally decided to up the performance and went for the S3 rack. That being said, the S3 is still very reasonably priced and above all great performing.

Standing up for ourselves, with speakers that is!

All three of the aforementioned companies also make speaker stands using the same design aspects, taking unwanted resonances out of the stand and increasing the performance and focus of our speakers.

For instance, I own a pair of Atacama Nexus 600 speaker stands for my Dynaudio Evoke speakers (pictured to the right). Although they are the basic range from Atacama, they do have some amazing and functional design cues. For instance, their tubular steel legs can be filled with sand or Atacama’s own Atabites to dampen any resonance they might still have.

I can’t mention speaker stands without talking about a true favourite of mine (a very near future purchase for me 😉) - The Solidsteel SS-6. As well as looking great they also isolate the speakers really well. The top plate is made from MDF, bolted into the frame as well as resting on three bearing points, again reducing any movement from vibrations.

Other ways to isolate the components in your system…

IsoAcoustics, a brand born from the recording studio and the brainchild of Canadian Dave Morrison who started the company in 2012. He was closely involved in the design of music and television studios.

I personally have some of their Graphite range pucks under my turntable and speakers, believe you me they do make a big difference, I highly recommend giving them a try! However the graphite range is the tip of the iceberg for these guys. I will be taking a bigger dive into IsoAcoustics in another blog in the very near future, so watch this space!

IsoAcoustics Orea Graphite

In conclusion

Going back to that original question, “Is Hi-Fi furniture worth it or is it just smoke and mirrors?”…

Smoke and mirrors? Definitely not! They serve a very real purpose that is audibly noticeable when implemented, especially when moving from generic furniture from the likes of IKEA that is popular with many people.

As well as proving to make a sonic difference to your system’s performance, dedicated Hi-Fi furniture showcases your set-up in the best way possible and gives it the stage it deserves.

But don’t just take my word for it pop into our store and try out the Solidsteel, Quadraspire or Atacama series racks for yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog!

Matt - Audio T Cardiff

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

DALI iO-12 Headphones - Jack of All Trades?

/ Audio T Oxford/

Introduction

io-12’s sophisticated design

DALI pitch their relatively new iO-12 cans as the only headphones you will ever need, bridging the ground between premium wireless and wired headphones. Whether you're plugged into your Hi-Fi, immersed deep into your vinyl collection, or paired with a smartphone or laptop enjoying music whilst on the move.

So the DALI are offered up as being able to excel in the portable, wireless role, but also in the wired domestic role. This is not necessarily to say that they are up there with the best Sennheiser or Mezze high-end wired offerings, but rather that they have the dual facility of being wired and wireless and they will sound great with both. They will compare favourably against functionally similar portable alternatives around the price-point. Almost a new category of headphone really, majoring both on sound quality and versatility.

The technical stuff

Wirelessly, the iO-12 features AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive. They also features Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and also has a USB-C input which sends its signal to the DALI internal DAC (handling up to 24-bit 96kHz files).

iPhone 15 or iPad users with USB charging and output points can jump for joy here as you can get direct access to the full-fat-cream hi-res experience streaming experience from Apple Music, Qobuz and the like. There are two sound profiles when listening in wireless, one is Hi-Fi and the other is Bass.

They also have a purely passive wired-only mode for use with a headphone amplifier, via a 3.5mm stereo jack.

DALI plough their own furrow in many ways with the iO-12 in that there is no app to partner with and control it. They have gone for the no-fuss simplicity of buttons on the right-hand ear cup that toggle noise cancelling on and off, power/pairing on and off, apply bass boost and allow volume and track selection to be controlled. A lovely touch here is that when you press a button a voice through the headphone informs you of the setting. Personally, I prefer this simple but effective approach over an app.

Controls on the right earcup, here with bluetooth engaged

The 35 hours of battery life with noise cancelling and Bluetooth turned on is likely to prove more than sufficient for most users.

DALI has done something quite interesting and unique with the iO-12, they are the first headphones to feature the company’s patented Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) technology which aims to reduce unwanted distortion and give a clearer. This is a “trickle down “usually found in DALI high end speaker systems.

The internals of the io-12 speaker driver

The speaker units also feature large 50mm drivers utilizing a paper fibre cone, again to help lower distortion.

Quality and comfort

The iO-12 exude the quality and style of a premium product, and the overall colour effect is a sort of mid to dark chocolate brown. Continuing the quality feel, the headband is leather, and the bottom padded section is a soft rubbery material that is well cushioned, and the earpads are sort of rectangular and made from genuine leather. They are quite big, and they are very comfortable, but they do look physically big when you are wearing them.

high quality travelling case

The earpads are nice and deep and easily cover my ears, they are also well padded which leads to good comfort levels all-round, a must for a headphone that is designed for out-and-about daily use. 

The luxury feel, packaging and comfort of the iO-12 is very good indeed and will no doubt add to the pride of ownership.

How do they sound?

To test out the flexibility of these cans I used Bluetooth 5.2 for streaming from my laptop and phone. Watching Foundation on Netflix from the laptop, there was a convincing soundstage, dynamics and most importantly, clarity of voice. A good start.

Music from Qobuz was well presented and nuanced via the iPhone with Bluetooth, and quite immersive, allowing you to get lost in the music with all its ambient clues. It was a rich and detailed experience both inside the house or going for a walk. The Bass setting was good, tilted more towards the lower end, giving substance but not overpoweringly so. The Hi-fi setting gave more detail as expected but in a very convincing way that got to the heart of the performance, the lossy codecs doing a surprisingly good job of transferring musical information.

Listening to film Media via USB/Thunderbolt, using the internal dac

Going back to the laptop I was able to plug the iO-12 directly into the USB3/Thunderbolt ports, thus accessing the in-built DAC in the headset. This was a great experience and a step up in musical clarity and dynamics over Bluetooth.

I also managed to dig out my old Meridian Explorer USB DAC and attach it to the Mac to use the iO-12 in passive mode via the stereo jack. Bingo, this gave an outstanding result as well, with clarity and insight. Another uptick in sound quality was achieved when heard in passive mode via the Naim Uniti Atom HE.

io-12’s passively driven via meridian explored

Using the iO-12 in its tethered modes, either via USB-C or the stereo jack, reveals just how much more detail is available, and how engagingly capable the iO-12 is as a passive headphone. This makes me think that DALI have done some careful work on the shape and engineering of the headset cups, rather than just relying on heavy DSP to get their headphones to sound right. The iO-12 sound good in passive mode, and though they have a warm tilt this doesn’t mask an overall clean sound.

Last but by no means least, the ANC worked well to damp out distracting roar in a noisy environment, Transparency mode works as it should and allows you to hear more of your surroundings as and when needed. Also, the passive isolation is excellent.

Music and Media

Music (thought I would throw in something different this time):

  • Maria Topley Bird – Forever I Wait

  • Lady Blackbird – Black Acid Soul

  • Nine Horses – The Banality of Evil

Other Media Used:

  • Foundation streaming series, Ad Astra film via Apple TV and various podcasts from BBC Sounds

Summary

The DALI iO-12 are one of the best high-end wireless options on the market for out-and-about use, they even do a fantastic job when sitting down and listening at home. They are flexible and produce a great sound regardless of which mode you listen to. They are thoughtfully engineered to give a great sound quality.

Personally, I find the no app ethos refreshing, it is one less thing to worry about or get lost in. In practice the physical sound mode buttons just perform very well indeed and the ANC simply works.

Comfort and premium build quality is superb. Price is a bit more than many wireless alternatives, but so is flexibility.

These are great all-rounders and deserve to be heard. Why not book a demo?

Thank you for reading.

Rob - Audio T Oxford

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below… 

DALI can be found at the following Audio T stores