March 23, 2022

JOIN AUDIO T SWANSEA FOR RECORD STORE DAY 2022

March 23, 2022/ Swansea

RECORD STORE DAY 2022 is fast approaching, and hopefully we will be back to the pre-covid days of doing something special once again down at Derricks Music.

**THE INCREDIBLE WALL PAINTING AT DERRICKS - TAKE A LOOK NEXT TIME YOU ARE OUTSIDE**

As many of you know from previous Record Store Days we always try and make it a special event with a very nice system playing for you to listen to as well as having some goodies and a prize give away. Sadly, the last couple of years have put the dampers on the event and not allowed us to have our normal fun, chatting about music, playing some of your RSD purchases and talking all things vinyl.

So this year, we hope we will be back to actually seeing smiling faces beaming after spending silly amounts on gorgeous new pressings!

WILL THERE BE A COMPETITION THIS YEAR I HEAR YOU ASK?

We will of course be keeping the tradition going of giving you the chance to win a Rega Turntable in our free prize draw on the day.

This year to celebrate the 15th Year of Record Store Day - Rega have announced their RSD22 limited edition turntable. These will retail for £299.00 and be only be available to participating stores, so make sure you see us at Derricks on the day to get your entry in to be in with a chance of being a lucky winner. Images of the RSD22 turntable have just been released and it looks a cracker!

50 turntables will also have a secret voucher inside to win one of 50 artist signed books.

If you are like me you have already read the list of releases for RSD22 about ten times and amended your shopping list over and over again, it happens every year but we never learn! What starts off as just a few soon turns in to too many - but that’s half the fun of it I think. Over the years i’ve been chatting to people about the records they have bought while we are doing the competition entries or just general hi-fi chat and have ended up buying more records on their recommendations.

To have a look at the list for RSD 2022 - click here.

If you have read any of our previous blogs or posts from yesteryear at Derricks, you will know that some serious collectors will start queuing at midnight to be sure to get their first choices, so…. you have been warned - get there early if there is something you really really want.

To reward everyone for getting in line so early - Audio T will have some goodies to give away as well. We will let you know what they are closer to the day (but yes - there will be some of our famous record bags for those first in line).

Below you’ll see just a few of our lucky prize winners over the years…

Keep an eye on our social media pages over the coming weeks as we post more about what we will be doing for you at our favourite event of the year.

Thanks for reading.

Nic, Chris and Ade - Audio T Swansea

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

Rega can be found at the following Audio-T stores

July 23, 2020

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

July 23, 2020/ Brighton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rega rx1’s in cherry were used for the demonstration

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

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

So what did the customer go for?

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

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

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

Chris, Paul, and John - Audio T Brighton

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

Rega products are available in all Audio T Stores.

December 10, 2018

Winter Sale Now On! Christmas Hi-Fi Stocking Fillers from Arcam, KEF, Rega, Bowers & Wilkins

December 10, 2018/ Audio T

If you are finding it hard to find to that perfect gift or stocking filler, DON'T PANIC, here at Audio T Preston, we can help with a few ideas for any Hi-Fi or music lover in your life.

WINTER SALE NOW ON!

First up we have the Arcam mini-Blink at just £99 this is a great stocking filler that will fit into any amplifier and let’s you Bluetooth sound from your phone/laptop or tablet.

Very easy to set up and use, this Bluetooth DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) sounds so much better than connecting through the headphone output even when using a good quality cable, more output and much more dynamic.

The Arcam mini-Blink comes with all the cables and power supply included, so you can be up and streaming in no time. We recommend downloading the Tunein radio app via the Apple app store or Android Playstore, to give you access to internet radio.

Keeping it Bluetooth we have the KEF Muo portable speaker.

At just 21cm wide and 0.94kg this little rechargeable speaker, packs a punch and is perfect for the listener who is on the move.

The Muo has a battery life of up to 12 hours when fully charged (3hours charging time) and 10m Bluetooth range.

Available in gold/silver/blue and grey at £150 it's a great option.

It's been another great year for turntables with sales overtaking CD players again, a great place to start is the Rega Planar 1 at just £249.

This is a great plug and play record player is easy to set up and it can be up and running in no time, the only thing to check is to make sure your amplifier has a designated phono stage.

If you don’t have a phone stage, fear not! The Rega P1 Plus has one built in and all you need to do is connect it to any line level input on your amplifier.

Both available in black or white.

If your looking to make that daily commute a little more enjoyable we have the award winning Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones.

These noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones even have their own app to perform updates and settings to match your environment, they are a closed back design so do not leak out sound and annoy your fellow commuters.

With a 22 hour battery life they are perfect for that long haul flight and can be wired, just don't forget the adaptor.

The PX's can be folded up for easy transporting and are supplied with a carry bag/usb charging cable & 3.5mm wired cable.

These are just a few suggestions, please call in and we will be happy to chat about other options that would make a perfect gift, especially as our Winter Sale has just started!

On a different note (no pun intended ed) a big thank you to all who attended our Classic album evening on 20th November. Having not done one in a long time it was great to see a few familiar faces...and a few new ones too. Thanks for coming along and supporting the event.

We look forward to seeing you all over the festive period.

Have a great Christmas and New Year!

Ian and Gavin.

November 28, 2018

Deck Your Halls With The Sound Of Vinyl

November 28, 2018/ Cardiff

Here at Audio T Cardiff we have come up with six excellent value turntables for you to consider for Christmas. A great gift to give for a music loving loved one or to give yourself a treat. We have picked these as we believe at their respective price points, they offer tremendous value and more importantly superb sound!

First on the list is the Pro-ject “Primary” A simple plug and play unit that is simple to use. Very little set up is needed, you simply place the platter on the spindle, fit the belt, connect it to your amplfier or phono stage, power it up and away you go.

Second on our list is the “Rega Planar 1”. Again like the Pro-ject above it has the same kind of set-up and will having you listening to your vinyl in no time

In third place we have the Project “Debut Carbon”. This is one of our best selling turntables. Fitted with the superb Ortofon 2M Red cartridge a carbon fibre tone arm and a heavy steel platter, it gives the best possible performance for the money. This is also the first turntable on our list that is upgradeable. You can swap the felt mat for a cork one, upgrade the stylus to a 2M Blue or even swap the steel platter for an acrylic one.

The fourth on our list is the iconic Rega Planar 3. The Planar 3 has been around for many years over which it has been steadily improved. With its distinctive glass platter and a superb tonearm that is compatible with many different cartridges both MM (moving magnet) and MC (moving coil), this is indeed a very versatile record deck. It can be supplied without cartridge or as a package with the Elys 2 with considerable saving on the price.

In fifth place we have the Project “Classic Super Pack”. Similar in looks to the Linn LP12 or the old Thorens TD160 this record player uses a high quality tonearm a damped heavy steel platter and a very clever sorbothane suspension to eliminate vibrations. Now adding electronic speed selector and fitted with an Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge this deck will give you many years of happy listening. This turntable is also supplied with a leather mat and record clamp.

In sixth place we have a new kid in town, the stunning Rega Planar 8. Stunning in looks and performance this deck truly deserves all the accolades bestowed on it so far. It has an electronic speed box that is fine tuned and matched to every individual unit. Fitted with the Apheta 2 cartridge this turntable sounds sublime. Certainly the best we have heard for the price for a long while. However just don’t take our word for it, pop in and have a listen. Bring along your favourite vinyl records and pick the turntable that suits you best!

Pro-ject turntables are also available at the following branches of Audio T:

Brentwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Swansea, Swindon

Rega is available at all branches of Audio T.

September 20, 2017

Rega Turntables Are Superb And We Couldn't Make It Any Planar

September 20, 2017/ Audio T

Here at Audio T Preston we are pleased and proud to say that we stock the entire British made Rega Planar turntable range, from the modest entry level Planar 1, all the way up to the range topping RP10.

Rega Planar 1
This is a great entry level record player for anyone starting out listening to vinyl. It's easy to set up, and you can buy with confidence knowing that you are buying British and getting the best performance you can buy at this price point. The RB110 tonearm with the Rega Carbon cartridge combination works really well together. It sounds great and is easy to use and easy on the pocket. The P1 is available in two different finishes black and white and costs just £248 and is excellent value for money.

Rega Planar 1 Rega's entry level turntable

Rega Planar 2.
The next step up the Rega record player ladder is the P2. Whilst this turntable shares the Rega Carbon cartridge with the Planar 1, this is where the similarities end. The Planar 2 has the RB220 tonearm, which requires minimal set up to get the best from your vinyl collection. It also introduces a heavier glass platter, which increases performance. Like the Planar 1 this turntable is available in black and white finishes and costs only £375.

Rega Planar 3.
This multi-award winning incarnation of an iconic turntable has managed to improve vinyl reproduction even further. With structural bracing top and bottom between the sub platter and the RB330 tonearm, this turntable has been the benchmark model for avid vinyl listeners for many years. The RB330 arm requires the standard set up, however for even better performance this can be purchased with a variety of Rega's own cartridges to improve sound quality. We're on hand to guide you with the set up and offer a cartridge fitting service so that your music sounds as good as this turntable can reproduce. The Planar 3 is available in black and white finishes.

Rega Planar 6.
The newest edition to the range features the Neo PSU electronic speed change, advanced anti-vibration control and user adjustable electronic fine speed adjustment which until now was only found on the RP10. With a two tone black finish, dark matt grey at the top and high gloss black around the edges, this player looks stunning. We have our Planar 6 fitted with the Ania moving coil cartridge and the performance is outstanding. The Planar 6 can also be purchased with Rega Exact moving magnet cartridge.

Rega RP8
The RP8 is a ground breaking turntable which takes Rega’s design further than ever before. With low mass, high rigidity plinths combined with an electronically controlled low vibration motor, it makes this player a true force to be reckoned with. The RP8 is the first of Rega's “skeletal” design turntables with a new plinth using custom materials and the RB808 tonearm. Our demonstration RP8 is complete with the Apheta 2 MC cartridge. You can also get it with the new Ania MC cartridge.

Rega RP10.
As with the RP8, the RP10 utilises the skeletal design and space age materials, however the RP10 is fitted with the RB2000 tonearm, which is simply stunning both in appearance and in performance. The RB2000 tonearm requires the standard set up (we can fit this for you) and has a ceramic platter and a dedicated power supply, which is the same size as Rega's Brio amplifier. The combination of the changes from the RP8 to the RP10 make a huge difference in performance and make this turntable the one to aspire to own. The only way to truly appreciate just how good your music on vinyl can sound, is to bring it in and take any Rega record player for a spin in our comfortable demonstration rooms.

The range topping Rega RP10 record player

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you in store soon.

Ian, Gavin and Andy - Audio T Preston

Rega turntables and Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

December 14, 2016

The Twelve Hi-Fi Gifts of Christmas!

December 14, 2016/ Cardiff

We here at Audio T know how hard it can be to choose a gift for your music mad loved ones so this year we have you covered. Here are our top twelve suggestions to help you give the gift and joy of music this Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Sonos Play:1!

This diminutive wireless speaker has a huge sound! Using the Sonos excellent free app, opens up a world of audio streaming from your own collection, Internet radio and streaming services such as Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal. Perfect for the person who loves streaming music from their phone or computer.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Chord Electronics Mojo!

This little headphone amp/DAC has made huge waves this year, winning numerous awards and accolades and for good reason! The Mojo is simply stunning, transforming your phone into a mini hi-fi! Also pictured is the very useful Mojo cable pack and durable carry case (both sold separately) Perfect for those who are listen to a lot of music on the go. At the moment you can buy a Mojo and get a FREE carry case (Offer ends 05-01-2017)

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Denon D-M40 and Q Acoustics 3010 speakers!

This little system is fantastic as a entry into HI-Fi or as an additional system in another room in your house. Capable of playing CD, DAB radio and music via USB, this is a gorgeous combination of amplifier and speaker. Perfect for a first audio system.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…Sennheiser HD4.30i headphones!

This headphones are amazingly good value for money, strong defined bass and punchy mids combine for a lovely sound and the fact they are comfortable and foldable makes them great for wearing on the go. Perfect for anyone who listens to music when they are out and about.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…Sennheiser HD 599 headphones!

The HD 599’s are brilliant headphones for home use. They have a gorgeous open sound which never gets fatiguing and are easy to listen to for hours. Perfect for those who like to listen through headphones at home.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…Dynaudio Emit M10 Loudspeakers!

We have been very impressed with the Emit line by Dynaudio, they have a balanced sound yet are still exciting to listen to and the little M10’s are no exception. Perfect for someone who needs new speakers for a entry to mid level system.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Rega Planar 1 turntable!

Vinyl is all the rage at the moment but to take advantage of this you need a good turntable, which is where the Planar 1 comes in, offering superb looks, build and importantly sound quality….what more do you want? Perfect for someone who wants to get into vinyl.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Project Debut Carbon DC!

The Debut Carbon is a large step above entry level. It comes with a fantastic cartridge in the Ortofon 2m Red and combined with the carbon fibre arm makes for a highly enjoyable combination. Perfect for those who want to take their basic setup up a gear.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Project VC-S vinyl record cleaner!

One of the best upgrades you can do in a turntable setup is clean your vinyl, the result is staggering. The VSC makes short work of this otherwise mundane task, using its powerful vacuum to suck up any dirt and excess liquid from the surface of your favourite record or LP. Also pictured is Project’s Brush it and Clean it (both sold separately), essential tools for any turntable owner. Perfect for those who are serious about their vinyl.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…an Arcam rHead headphone amp!

A lot of the time we just suffer with poor quality through headphones for convenience sake, however a good headphone amplifier can change that completely. The R-head is one of the best on the market at the price and can transform your headphone listening experience. Perfect for the person who wants better quality sound from their headphones.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a phono stage!

We couldn’t decide on just one phono stage so we thought we’d recommend a few, pictured are the Project Phonobox MM, Project tube box DS, Nytech Audio CDP122 and the Rega Fono MM. These boxes all have the capability to transform your setup, just let us know your system and we can recommend the best match! Perfect for someone who wants to either start or improve their vinyl setup.

On the twelth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a Naim Mu-so QB!

This mini system has taken the market by storm and with very good reason! The Mu-so QB allows you to play your music via, Wi-Fi, Tidal, Spotify, internet radio, Bluetooth, usb and many more with stunning audio quality. It makes a great additional to an existing Naim setup in the form of multi-room or serves as an introduction to high quality audio. Perfect for just about anyone who wants to add high quality music streaming to a room in their house.

We hope this list has been useful for you, and as always we are always here to help you in store to make further recommendations and provide demonstrations of anything in the store. Many of the items listed are included in our winter Big Red Sale so please get in contact for more information.

From Hefin, Nick and Gareth, at Audio T Cardiff we wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

July 20, 2016

New Rega Planar 1 2 & 3 Set The Benchmark For Entry And Mid Priced Turntables

July 20, 2016/ Brighton

New revised Rega Planar turntables are setting the standard for other manufacturers to follow. The most recent addition is the all new Rega Planar 1 inc Rega Carbon cartridge £248, joining the Rega Planar 2 also with Rega Carbon cartridge £375, and the Rega Planar 3 inc Rega Elys cartridge £625 or excluding cartridge £550.

All three Planar models have been thoroughly reworked, and set new performance levels at their price points. Available in either a gloss black or gloss white plinth they look pretty fabulous too! The red mat is an optional extra.

Just come along to Audio T Brighton with a favourite record or two and have a listen. Make comparisons between them, and understand just how crucial the record player is in the great scheme of enjoying your music played on vinyl. It is vital, as once the signal leaves the record player that is what you get. So make sure you audition thoroughly to ensure you get the performance and sound you're looking for.

Buy the best you can realistically afford and then sit back and really start enjoying your music. It could be a real ear opener as a better record player can often give you what seems to be an entirely new record collection when you revisit the music and albums you thought you knew well. There is a lot of music in those grooves!