Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2017 i Australian HiFi

The Furustat Destat III is the third-generation version of Furutech’s original destat and is claimed to remove dust and static charges in 15›seconds. ‘Japanese cable and accessories experts Furutech continue their assault on the various unwanted intruders that can get in the way of peak hifi performance,’ says David Eleftheriadis of Reference Audio Visual, which distributes Furutech in Australia. ‘The new Destat III effortlessly eliminates dust and static from analogue and digital media, from audio and video components and, well… from pretty much anything.’ Static charges are particularly problematical on LPs, where the stylus tracing the vinyl causes the static to discharge, creating a ‘popping’ sound through your loudspeakers. The static charge also attracts dust, which then accumulates in the groove and can compromise sonic performance. The Furutech Destat III…

SGR Audio has released its new CX4F Mk2 active loudspeakers, a fully active, seven-driver, four-way system that uses current drive to power the drivers. Four 153mm long-throw paper-cone woofers in a cast aluminium frame with neodymium magnets operate from 80Hz downwards, so they operate essentially as subwoofers, while the midrange is handled by a 50mm soft-dome midrange driver and the highs by a 25mm soft dome tweeter. All seven drivers are mounted on a 50mm thick diffraction-minimising front baffle that’s covered in black leather. As well as providing amplification, the SGR CX4F Mk2 has active circuitry to mitigate the effects of floor bounce and boundary gain. ‘In conjunction with the loudspeaker’s critically-damped sealed enclosure, this results in a bass response which is both fast and tight and yet a seamless…

JBL has reprised the driver configuration and aesthetics of its renowned 4310/4311/4312 studio monitors in its new 4312SE studio monitor, released to celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary. The JBL 4312SE is a 3-way, bass-reflex design using a 300mm ‘Aquaplas’-coated bass driver (Model 1200FE-8), a 125mm polymer-coated midrange driver (105H-1) and a 25mm aluminium/magnesium alloy tweeter (054ALMg-1). As with JBL’s original studio monitors, the new 4312SE is fitted with midrange and high frequency trim controls and the bass reflex port is located on the front baffle. JBL specs the frequency response as 44Hz–40kHz ±3dB and the sensitivity at 90dBSPL (2.83V@1M). Designed and assembled in Northridge, California, this special limited-edition 70th anniversary edition of the JBL 4312SE comes with a black wood-grain finish with removable black cloth grille, 70th anniversary badging and…

Bluesound’s Vault 2 can rip, store and stream your entire digital music collection without you needing to turn on your computer. It can also wirelessly stream music stored on it—or from the internet or from other devices on your home network—to multiple Bluesound players anywhere in your home. The Vault 2 has a CD drive plus a 2TB HD drive to allow simultaneous rip/store operations, and you can store files in multiple formats, including MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF. The Vault 2 can also access internet radio stations and cloud music services and be controlled wirelessly via iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, as well as from Windows and Mac OSX desktops. ‘The Bluesound Vault 2 is the heart of a modern digital music ecosystem, and thanks…

Newport Test Labs measured the frequency response of the Triton Two+ speakers with various settings of the bass level control. The response shown in Graph 1 was obtained with the control set so its calibration mark was at the ‘1:30 o-clock’ position. You can see that in essence, with the control in this position, the response of the Triton Two+ extended from 30Hz to 26kHz ±3dB which is excellent. If you’re comparing the lab’s result with the claim made by the manufacturer (16Hz–35kHz) you should note that GoldenEar does not attach any dB limits to this frequency span, so it’s really only claiming that the speaker will reproduce signals between 16Hz and 35kHz. Newport Test Labs’ graph shows that it will indeed reach these frequency extremes, except that at 16Hz…

Pioneer’s primary main power output specification says the A-70AD-K is rated at 90-watts per channel, but if you look at the fine print, you’ll find that this is only when the amplifier is driving 4 loads and with a fairly high level of distortion (0.5%). Pioneer does state an 8 figure (60-watts) but this was obtained under the same test conditions. Newport Test Labs’ rather more stringent testing regimen, which uses the Australian standard for power output, has the Pioneer A-70DA-K meeting its claimed power output only at midrange frequencies and above, into either 4 or 6 loads. At 20Hz, the amplifier delivered only 53-watts into 8 loads (both channels driven) and 80-watts into 4 loads (again BCD). Single-channel driven, the amplifier’s output exceeded its specification by a goodly margin,…

The frequency response of the Lumin A1 Network Music Player, using 16-bit/44.1kHz test data was absolutely ruler-flat up to 3kHz, after which it rolled off very slowly (and only very slightly) to the 22.05kHz cut-off dictated by the test sweep where it was just 0.22dB down, resulting in a normalised frequency response of 20Hz to 22.05kHz ±0.11dB. Separation between the left and right channels was exceptionally good, with a best result of 141dB at 1kHz, a little less at 20kHz but still a brilliant result (139dB), and rather a lot less again—but still a truly excellent result—of 121dB at 16Hz. Channel phase errors at these same frequencies were also exceptionally low, at 0.00°, –0.03°, and –0.87° respectively. Group delay was typical of an oversampling delta-sigma DAC at 180° (1–20kHz) and…

In the loudspeaker world, you could spend upwards of a quarter of a million dollars getting the ‘Utopia’ name attached to a pair of Focals. So it’s very thoughtful of the company to bring its philosophy of acoustic purity to something rather smaller and cheaper. Though perhaps ‘cheaper’ is the wrong word for a pair of headphones that still set a new level in pricing, at $5,499 a pair. But then they do offer something genuinely unique, with Focal saying it approached the design as a pair of compact, ultra-nearfield speakers as much as a pair of headphones. They manage to look stunning, of course, from their carbon-fibre yokes to their lamb-leather headband, the shape of which is described as a ‘constant bend’ which aims to spread their 490g weight…

Recently I had the good fortune to attend the 2017 CEDIA (Consumer Electronic Design and Installation Association) Expo in the US. This is a large show, with around 18,000 attendees and over 500 exhibitors. There were hundreds of training courses running over five days, and plenty of opportunity to mix with (and learn from) your peers. It is also an opportunity to discover the latest technologies, and more importantly to see where the industry is headed. Not surprisingly one of the strongest themes running through the show revolved around networking. Almost everything at the show would connect to your local network, and unless that network is rock solid it will not cope with the demands that we will be asking it to cope with in the future. At LWA we…

Sonos is not the first company to release a voice-activated speaker in Australia, but their Sonos One is the release that will make the most waves. Based on the Play:1 (it is virtually identical with voice activation added), the Sonos One sells for $299, the same price as the Play:1. It is important to note that the full functionality of the Sonos One will be progressive. To start with, Amazon’s Alexa is not as yet supported in Australia, so the Sonos One will not have voice activation until this happens. Plus not all streaming services will feature voice activation on release. Out of the box you have Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Tunein. The two big names – Tidal and Spotify – will follow ‘soon’, with others coming in 2018. Alternative…

ROON If you have a digital music collection, you will need a management system to organise it and act as an interface. The most popular of these is iTunes, but in recent times we have seen products like Media Monkey, J River and a host of others gain momentum. Roon has now emerged as the software of choice for many music lovers. It is intuitive to use, and it catalogues, collates, searches, archives and presents data in a very logical fashion. It drills down to find tons of data on your music – credits, bios, lyrics, composers, artists etc. – and does not distinguish between music you have stored and that on Tidal (which Roon integrates with). So a search for ‘Mahler’ or ‘Hotel California’ will give results from both…

Over the past few decades I have had some very memorable audio experiences, but right up there at the top of the list is the hour or so I spent listening to a pair of Sennheiser HE 1 headphones. I recall initially choosing a selection of tried-and-true audiophile tracks, but it was not long before I was seeking out tracks that I listened to simply for the entertainment value rather than for evaluation purposes. I even went back as far as bands from the 1960s such as Cream and Led Zeppelin, and came away with the opinion that in reality there is very little badly recorded music, it can all shine given the opportunity. These are not your conventional headphones. To start with they sell for €50,000 a pair (so…

Demand for bespoke home theatre system fit-outs has never been stronger, with many customers requesting full turn-key solutions that encompass not only audio-visual aspects of a project but also luxury seating to rival the best commercial ‘gold class’ offerings. As a result Len Wallis Audio has taken on RowOne Cinematic Seating products. Made in the USA, RowOne is an established name in home theatre and home entertainment seating, with a strong reputation for high quality, luxurious comfort, and innovative technology-driven designs. Initially we will have two models from the RowOne range – the Ambassador (pictured above left), and the Carmel (right) models. These can be specified in multiple configurations, and are finished in 100% all-over Top Quality Grain Leather in either Red or Black colours. (Special colours are available upon…

McIntosh has released its MCT80 SACD/CD Transport, which will play SACD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD discs. Designed to match the size of McIntosh’s MXA80 Integrated Audio System and with power control and data ports to integrate the MCT80’s operational state with other McIntosh system components, plus visuals to match (polished stainless steel chassis, black glass front panel, illuminated logo and aluminium end caps), the new MCT80 transport has three digital outputs: one standard SPDIF coaxial, one Toslink optical and a proprietary McIntosh MCT connector which must be used if you want a DSD connection for playback of the high-definition audio content on SACDs, and will only work with McIntosh models fitted with an MCT input. The standard digital outputs support CD audio formats up to 24-bit/192kHz. The transport in…

Naim has released its Uniti Atom, a compact multi-source music player/streamer with a built-in 40-watt integrated amplifier. ‘The new Uniti Atom not only looks beautiful, it also has amazing sound quality and an outstanding feature-set,’ said Chris Murphy of N.A. Distributors, which distributes Naim in Australia and New Zealand. ‘The Uniti Atom is perfect as a high-end main system or for use where space is at a premium, such as in the kitchen or study,’ Murphy told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine. ‘Just add speakers and the Atom’s high-resolution music streaming capabilities will fill your home with stunning high-fidelity sound, plus Naim’s newly updated App for iOS and Android combines all of your music sources in one place, making the Uniti Atom even more appealing.’ The new Atom has a full complement…

Dynaudio has released a new Sub 6 subwoofer with ‘intelligent’ digital signal processing that comes pre-programmed to integrate perfectly with main speakers from Dynaudio’s range. ‘Dynaudio’s engineers painstakingly modelled the acoustic characteristics of its most popular high-end hi-fi speakers and created custom performance maps for each one,’ said George Poutakidis, of BusiSoft, which distributes Dynaudio in Australia. ‘Using the display and menu system built into the Sub 6, owners simply select the specific Dynaudio main speakers they have in their set-up and the Sub 6’s output will be matched perfectly to it, so two-way speakers seamlessly become three-ways, and three-way speakers seamlessly become four-ways.’ The DSP system in the Sub 6 is firmware-updateable, so as the company releases new models, Dynaudio says it will also release firmware updates for the…

Tivoli Audio’s Model One Digital tabletop radio is now available, and according to Gary Tye, of Tivoli Audio Australia, ‘brings Tivoli Audio into the age of the smart home’. The Model One Digital builds on Tivoli Audio’s flagship Model One radio, adding a multi-operational dial and a clutch of connectivity options, including AM, FM, DAB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and music streaming via Spotify Connect and Tidal. You can use the Model One Digital in classic ‘tabletop radio’ mode (i.e. manual operation) or control it with your mobile phone (via the free Tivoli Wireless app) after which you can link it with other ‘ART by Tivoli Audio’ speakers to create stereo pairs, wireless hi-fi systems, or multi-room audio. ‘Knowing how important AM radio still is in country and regional Australia, we have…

Jeff Rowland has released a new amplifier, the 535, whose chassis is milled from a solid block of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminium. Rated with a power output of 250-watts per channel into 8 loads and 500-watts per channel into 4 loads when operated in stereo mode, the Model 535’s two channels can also be bridged for single-channel operation, in which mode the amplifier is claimed to deliver 900-watts into an 8 load. ‘The 535 uses the balanced transformerless bridging technique, using separate mono input and output connectors to allow for easy, fool-proof mono configuration,’ said Boris Granovsky, of Absolute HiEnd, which distributes Jeff Rowland products in Australia. ‘Bridged amplifier gain is automatically maintained at the same 26dB level as stereo amplifier gain for easy implementation into multi-amped systems,’ he added.…

The frequency response of the Sonus faber Chameleon B, as measured by Newport Test Labs, was outstandingly flat and extended, as is clearly evidenced by the trace of it shown in Graph 1. As usual, the trace shown is comprised of two different measurements. Below 1kHz, the response is the averaged result of nine individual frequency sweeps measured at a distance of three metres, using pink noise as the test stimulus. Above 1kHz, the response was measured using a gated sinus technique that simulates the response that would be obtained if the speaker were measured in an anechoic chamber, and at a distance of one metre, rather than three metres (so the two traces are spliced together at 1kHz via post-processing). You can see that the low-frequency response is flat…

AE: Do you have a first memory, a first unforgettable musical experience that left an impression? MH: In 1969, when I was 12, we travelled to Sydney for a family holiday. My father bought me an Aiwa tape deck duty-free. I had become aware of pop songs on the radio. I think the first song that I recorded off the radio was Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Then there was Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes by Edison Lighthouse. I was hooked. Singles were the name of the game back then and I picked up Hey Jude/Revolution first, but what really blew me away was when I bought my first album—Credence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Pendulum’—and came to understand that there could be a whole album full of good songs rather…

The detail was superb. The sound of the action of Jackson’s piano in the opening strains of Loisaida wasn’t emphasised It is five years since AudioQuest first launched its DragonFly portable headphone preamplifier and DAC. Now it has two upgraded models: The DragonFly Black and the higher-specification DragonFly Red. It’s the Red that we’re looking at here. THE EQUIPMENT The AudioQuest DragonFly Red is a tiny little thing, pretty much about the size of a USB stick, with a swelling at the end furthest from the plug. That swelling is to accommodate a 3.5mm socket for plugging in a line-level device or headphones. It is finished in a very classy-looking—almost iridescent—red gloss and decorated with a white dragonfly inset into the surface. But it turns out that the white dragonfly…

Marketing jargon gets thrown around a lot in this industry and is rightly treated with scepticism. The television sector is a prime example where manufacturers fight for mindshare by offering the most up-to-the-minute technology. Nowhere has this been more obvious than the recent OLED tsunami which is everywhere at the moment. While we have been telling you about the coming of OLED for a little while now, some of our clients rightly question: “Is now the right time to get an OLED TV?” It is true that new technologies are usually most expensive when first brought to market. Sixty-five-inch LCD screens that were worth $10,000 ten years ago can now be had (albeit from a budget brand) for less than a thousand. Surely, the price of OLED TVs will follow…

Ever since the company was formed in the 1970s, NAD has had a reputation for building great-sounding yet very affordable product. Their (original) 3020 amplifier from the late 70s is still the biggest selling integrated amplifier of all time. Many people do not realise that there is a second tier to NAD, their Masters Series. This is a range of no-holds-barred products, representing the company’s tilt at the higher end of the market. THE MASTERS MODELS M17 $8,499 This is a very high quality fully balanced A/V processor. Interestingly – and importantly – as well as its obvious abilities in the video domain it is also a very good pre-amplifier for music. I have just finished reading the review by Home Theatre Review, and they started off by testing the…

Given the ever increasing interest in vinyl records, we thought that it was time to offer an all-in-one package that brings very good performance, aesthetics and excellent value for money. We tried various combinations and have come up a fine set of components that we’d be more than happy to call our own. We guarantee this system will offer very good sound quality and satisfy your new (or renewed) passion for vinyl records for years to come: • Sounds fantastic in a way only vinyl can! • Deliciously looks the part in any situation. • Offers reliable, hassle-free playback. • Will withstand the test of time and offers different source options. • Allows for modifications (turntable) in the future if desired. • Perfect for smaller spaces – apartments, studies, bedrooms or offices! • The best Christmas Gift…

Anew range release from B&W is a rare thing, so you know it is going to be worthwhile when it happens. Their very successful ‘CM’ range has now been on the market for close to a decade, so it is no surprise that B&W decided it was time for a replacement. With the new range, B&W have reverted back to the ‘700’ Series, placing it neatly between their existing 600 and 800 ranges. The range consists of three floor-standing models, three stand-mounted speakers, two dedicated centre channels for surround sound use, and a sub-woofer. All models are available in a choice of Gloss Black, Satin White and Rosenut finishes. The range leans heavily on ‘trickled down’ technology from the very popular 800 D3 range – in particular with the use…

Australian-owned Richter Audio is bringing a new Thor subwoofer to market come mid-November – which will be known as the Thor 10.6. Richter has a well-regarded reputation for subwoofers, with many awards collected over the years for its products, so expectations to produce something exceptional with the new model were high. This time around, the design team wanted to deliver an all new subwoofer that not only offered the full Home Theatre experience but also excelled when used in 2-channel Hi-Fi systems. Mindful of changing trends, Richter managed to package this new ‘Series 6’ subwoofer into a more compact cabinet without compromising its functionality or performance. In fact it’s smaller, faster and more powerful than any previous Thor subwoofer. Higher levels of performance are realised thanks to an all new…

Stax SRM-T8000 Headphone Amplifier We have long promoted the fact that, the Sennheiser HE 1 aside (see page 23), we believe that Stax manufacture the best headphones, or as Stax call them, ‘earspeakers’ in the world. The range is electrostatic, requiring a dedicated amplifier as part of the package. They have just released a new top-of-the-line amplifier, the SRM-T8000. This unit uses twin-triode valves in the pre-amp section and class A circuitry in the power output stage. It also uses the largest toroidal transformer that Stax have used to date, to ensure that sufficient power is delivered to the circuitry. If you are already running a good Stax rig, the SRM-T8000 will be a notable upgrade. If, on the other hand, you are looking to invest in a superb new…

Jeff Fischel, the long-time general manager of Conrad-Johnson, is now the owner of the company, having purchased it from founders Bill Conrad and Lew Johnson. Dr Conrad and Dr Johnson founded Conrad Johnson in the early 1970s. Their first product was a preamplifier that actually had no name, though it would later go on sale as the PV1. Their second product, the MV75 stereo valve power amplifier, was far more successful than the PV1, indeed Conrad said: ‘the success of this product did much to ensure the long-term viability of Conrad-Johnson Design.’ But it was the company’s third product, a 200-watt per channel stereo valve power amplifier called the Premier One which cemented the company’s name in history. The Absolute Sound magazine called the Conrad-Johnson Premier One ‘the finest sounding…

Sony says its 1.7-metre tall ‘Muteki’ V90DW is the ultimate party machine for live music, karaoke, or replay of music via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB. ‘It’s a real tower of power,’ says Bridget Mills, of Sony. In addition to providing sound, the V90DW can also provide a light-show, thanks to built-in coloured lighting both on the unit itself, and via lamps that project light from it to illuminate a back wall. By connecting via the Sony Music Centre and Fiestable app, users can adjust the lighting and add sampler and DJ effects to the sound as well as control the V90W’s many features. Several of the V90DW’s features can be controlled just by waving your hands in the air (thanks to Sony’s ‘Gesture Control’). For more complex adjustments, Sony provides…

Musical Fidelity’s Nu-Vista 600 integrated amplifier, rated at 200-watts per channel, is now available in Australia. It uses nuvistor triode valves in its input stages and Class A/B output devices in its output stages. Nuvistors were originally designed in the 1950s as high-performance triodes, but went into production just as the world was switching to transistors, with the result that few designers or consumers discovered their superior audio qualities. Antony Michaelson, of Musical Fidelity, became one of the first manufacturers to use them, and remains one of the only manufacturers to do so. ‘Nuvistors provide the beauty and warmth that you would expect from an amplifier of this pedigree,’ says Nigel Macara, of Audio Marketing, which distributes Musical Fidelity in Australia, ‘but thanks to the superlative technical performance of these…

Focal has released its SIB Evo two-way bass-reflex speakers, which marry a 130mm polyflex bass/ midrange driver with a 19mm soft dome tweeter in a futuristic cabinet. ‘Focal’s new SIB Evo is a magnificent evolution of the legendary Sib&Co speakers originally designed in 2002,’ said Chris Murphy of NA Distributors, which distributes Focal in Australia. ‘The design gives added value to the timelessness of the original line by revealing a futurist style with elegant lines whose sound quality is ideal for movie soundtracks, stereo listening and high-definition music.’ In addition to being available as stereo speakers for $385 per pair, the SIB Evo is also available in Atmos for $750 per pair and both models are available in a pack with Focal’s Cub Evo subwoofer, which is also available separately…

Bose has released its SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker, which it says is the smallest and most rugged portable speaker it has ever built, with an IPX7 rating against water ingress. The Bose Micro uses a new custom loudspeaker, two miniature passive radiators, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It measures 95×95×38mm (HWD) and weighs just 290 grams. ‘For listening on-the-go, there’s nothing quite like the Micro,’ said Brian Maguire, of Bose. ‘Centimetre for centimetre, the Micro delivers a different kind of mobile audio—up to six hours of surprisingly loud-and-clear audio and low bass—from an enclosure that fits entirely in the palm of your hand.’ The Micro not only plays music via Bluetooth, you can also use it to take and make phone calls, and access Siri or Google Assistant. It has…

Synergy Audio Visual is now the official Australian distributor for both Mobile Fidelity Electronics and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. US-based company Mobile Fidelity (known as MoFi) has two divisions. Mobile Fidelity Electronics manufactures turntables, phono cartridges, phono preamplifiers and accessories. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab specialises in recording and pressing high-quality audiophile recordings on LP and SACD, as well as recording for hi-res music applications. ‘Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s ongoing quest is to deliver the foremost-sounding audio entertainment software that technological innovation can provide,’ said Philip Sawyer, of Synergy Audio Visual. ‘From its first UHQR vinyl LPs to its latest Ultradisc UHR SACDs, MoFi has been a steadfast innovator on the audiophile frontier.’ Synergy has already released the MoFi’s UltraDeck turntable which comes pre-fitted with a Mo-Fi Ultratracker phono cartridge and…

Pioneer’s merger with Onkyo two years ago (Pioneer sold its audio division to Onkyo in 2015 in exchange for a 14.95 per cent stake in the merged company) has resulted in the appearance of dozens of new Pioneer stereo hi-fi components, establishing the company’s strongest two-channel line-up in many years. The A-70DA-K amplifier reviewed here is a fine example: it’s the top-of-the-line model in a range of five new two-channel amplifiers that kicks off with the A-10 ($599) and then steps up through the A-20 ($699), A-30K ($899), and A-50DA-K ($1,499) before culminating in the A-70DA-K. There’s even a pair of small two-way loudspeakers (Pioneer SBB22LR) designed by none other than Andrew Jones. According to Powermove, all five amplifiers use Class-D output stages. It is important that you should not…

If you were thinking that Lumin’s A1 bears an uncanny resemblance to Linn’s Klimax Exakt DSM, you wouldn’t be alone. I think so too. And if you think that’s spooky, wait until you discover that it also uses Linn’s UPnP AV Extension. But if you were thinking that the two network music players might also share a price-point, you’d be dead wrong, because whereas Linn’s Klimax Exakt DSM will set you back nearly $45,000, the Lumin A1 can be yours for a fraction of that price... plus the A1 also supports MQA, Roon, Tidal, Airplay and Tune-In Radio. THE EQUIPMENT The Lumin A1 is technically known as a ‘renderer’, because it’s the component that finds all the music that’s stored on your Network Attached Storage (NAS) (which must have a…

What is it about Denmark? Fewer than six million people yet it is, and always has been, one of hi fi’s great epicentres: Dali, Dynaudio, Gryphon, Ortofon, Jamo, B&O and Steinway Lyngdorf among numerous others all come from here. And with the Danes still solidly committed to the art of sound, trends often start here. I once asked Peter Bang (grandson of the original who built radios in the attic of his mate Svend Olufsen’s parent’s house) why it was so. He explained that pretty much six months of the year Danes are locked in their houses by the weather. They demand that their entertainment systems be good, and not just that, they also have to be good to look at. So what’s happening in retail in Denmark usually points…

I recently had 18 solar panels put on the roof and a strange thing has happened. But first, some essential information. While I could afford the solar panels and the inverter, I couldn’t afford a storage battery, so I can only run on sunshine when the sun is actually shining. After dark, or when the weather is foul, it’s back to old, expensive mains power. But when the sun is bright and I have electricity to spare from the roof array, well then the excess goes back into the grid and I get paid for it. Admittedly not a lot but hey, it keeps me in postage stamps. Now I have to figure what to do with postage stamps. Anyway I noticed the other day that my stereo seemed, um,…

Since our last Headlines publication, Yamaha has been busy, launching six new receivers for its high-end Aventage range. Now entering its eighth generation since first launching in 2010, the 70-series Aventage range has never been better specified and represents exceptional value for money. These new models are brimming with up-to-the-minute features including Dolby Atmos decoding, 4K HDR video and multi-room music. All six models are now available in store and start at $1,499 with the RX-A770. Common features include Virtual Surround Back Speaker, YPAO sound calibration, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. The models will also get compatibility with Deezer and Tidal in addition to the company’s own MusicCast system, as well as DAB+ digital radio. Aventage RX-A770 $1,499 Entry-level into the Aventage range is the RX-A770, yet it’s anything but…

As you are aware, vinyl has re-emerged as the Hi-Fi category of the moment, dragging along with it all the associated products, including cartridges. The big problem with cartridges is that they are very difficult to compare. You listen to one, and by the time you remove the cartridge from the arm, reattach another, align and adjust the weight etc., you have forgotten what the first cartridge sounds like. International Dynamics, the distributors of Ortofon – arguably the best known cartridge manufacturer on the market – have come up with a brilliant solution. They have cobbled together a high quality Pro-Ject turntable and Ortofon tonearm, with a removable headshell. They have then mounted a range of cartridges in headshells, aligned them and weighted them so that they are all the…

Many of our long-term customers will recall when Meridian products were strongly recommended by LWA. With time the distributor of the day lost interest, prices soared, and a few years ago the distributor relinquished the agency. We were very pleased to see that a new distributor has finally been appointed, with more sensible pricing in place, and meanwhile some new and interesting products have come to market. Meridian have always been associated with high-quality active digital speaker designs, and this has not changed. We currently have on the floor a pair of Special Edition DSP7200 speakers (pictured right). While these are not the most expensive speaker in their range (the DSP7200 SEs sell for a little under $50,000 the pair), they do represent the pinnacle of Meridian’s active speaker technology.…

TRIANGLE AUSTRALE EZ French speaker manufacturer Triangle have released a new floor-standing speaker called the Australe EZ. Pictured in the lower image here, it joins the rest of the well-regarded Esprit range to become the new flagship. This speaker represents a substantial jump in the specifications normally seen at this price range. On board the Australe EZ is what Triangle calls the new DPS ‘Dynamic Pulse System’ technology, reserved until now for speakers in the exclusive top-of-the-range Magellan series. DPS includes the addition of a second tweeter at the rear of the speaker – the principal benefit being that it expresses high frequencies without interfering with the signals emitted from the front of the speaker. Triangle claims that the DPS technology improves the imaging and reduces directivity by providing an…

Kaleidescape Encore products are now available through Len Wallis Audio. Offering an incredibly convenient way for movie lovers to enjoy films in the finest available quality, these systems access the best movies, from the latest blockbusters to time-honoured classics, available for purchase and download from the Kaleidescape Movie Store in 4K Ultra HD with HDR, or in Blu-ray quality. It’s the ultimate way to view movies at home. The Kaleidescape experience offers a uniquely beautiful on-screen display interface that makes finding movies a pleasure, and is highly intuitive to use. In addition, integration with modern AV control systems makes for delightful extras — such as lights automatically dimming, and screen-masking automatically adjusting — bringing the real cinema experience home. This is a system you really need to experience firsthand in…

The Tivoli Model One has been on the market for almost 20 years, and it is still going strong. However technology moves on, and Tivoli have released a new range of products (the Art Collection) to reflect these changes. What has not changed is their commitment to producing some of the best-sounding radio-based products on the market. Model One Digital Loosely based on the Model One this unit has DAB+, FM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – all the simplicity and user-friendly features Tivoli is known for, but with a tech refresh. The Orb This wireless speaker can be configured to offer mono, stereo (two Orbs) or multi-room audio (multiple Orbs) playback. It can be free standing, or you can hang it on the wall. There are multiple cloth finishes available, and…