Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2018 i Australian HiFi

Monitor Audio has gone all square with its new Monitor 50 bookshelf/ standmount, which is the smallest model in its new-for-2018 Monitor Series. Rather than being rectangular, the cabinet is square—which we wouldn’t have thought would be great for standing waves—and houses a 140mm-diameter bass/midrange driver and a 25mm-diameter ‘C-CAM’ tweeter. The cabinet is reflex-loaded, with the port at the rear. The bass/midrange driver uses Monitor Audio’s distinctive translucent orange-coloured MMP II (Metal Matrix Polymer) for its cone material, while the tweeter’s dome is made from what Monitor Audio says is ‘ceramic coated aluminium magnesium’ (hence C-CAM). Monitor Audio specs the Monitor 50’s frequency response at 55Hz–30kHz ±3dB, the sensitivity at 87dBSPL (1w/1m) and the impedance at 8 (nominal). The speaker isn’t exactly square, by the way, because it actually…

One of M&K Sound’s longest-running and most popular models recently received a total update—drivers, crossover, cabinet tuning and construction. This updated model—the S-150MkII THX Ultra2—has also dropped considerably in price. The S-150MkII THX Ultra2 uses three high-quality 25mm polymer-coated silk soft-dome, ferro-fluid cooled dual-magnet tweeters aligned in a vertical array, that are positioned directly alongside two 133mm-diameter mineral-filled polypropylene coned bass/midrange drivers that have dual-magnet cast basket woofers. ‘The S-150MkII THX Ultra2 design is based on M&K’s professional monitors and designed to accurately reproduce music and theatre system sound in small- to large-sized rooms,’ said Paul Riachi, of Indi Imports, which now distributes MK Sound in Australia. ‘The S-150MkII delivers unparalleled transparency, accuracy, and dynamics while effortlessly handling voices, percussive effects, and musical instruments with life-like impact, and is timbre-matched…

The Lavardin Model ISx Reference integrated amplifier is entirely designed and manufactured in France, and takes over from the Model IS Reference, which was not only one of the company’s longest-lived products (in continuous production from 2001 to 2016), and one of its best-selling amplifiers, but also one of the company’s most highly-awarded and best-reviewed amplifiers. Given that Lavardin is well-known for not updating its products, I was curious about the reason for the change, because it seemed to me that the only substantive difference was the provision of a remote control, plus a redesign of the front panel. According to local Australian distributor, Audio Magic, I was not entirely wrong. The front panel change was apparently to allow the implementation of a remote control (though it remains a $250…

Elac used CES 2018 to release a wireless powered loudspeaker, the Argo Series B51, as well as a Music Server called the ‘Discovery Pro.’ The Discovery Pro Music Server has eight 50-watt amplifiers and is capable of five wired audio streams, all managed by the ROON Essentials Control app, so users can stream music to individual zones or group them whilst controlling volume and other playback features. Users also can select music from downloads, ripped CDs or streaming services and access metadata about their music library. ‘The Discovery Pro Music Server provides a single unit solution for multi-room audio,’ said Chris Walker, vice president of product development, Elac. ‘However, the real power of the Discovery Pro is its capability to effortlessly manage a user’s music library and enjoy it anywhere…

Hifiman previewed its new Sundara headphones at RMAF in 2017—which we reported on in the last issue of Australian Hi-Fi Magazine—but by the time CES 2018 rolled around they were available for sale (here in Australia—for $699—as well as in North America, as it happens) so that’s what HiFiMan showed… together with many other of its open-backed planar magnetic models. The Sundara (it means ‘beautiful in Sanskrit) is an open-back planar magnetic design that uses a newly developed diaphragm that Hifiman says is 80 per cent thinner than the diaphragms it uses in its HE400 series headphones. According to the company, this results in ‘a faster and more detailed sound quality and a wider frequency response.’ The company quotes that response as 6Hz to 75kHz, the sensitivity at 94dBSPL/mW and…

Chord Electronics used CES 2018 to launch its Qutest DAC, which it claims ‘sets a new technical benchmark for a small, home system digital-to-analogue converter’ and further claims is ‘the world’s most advanced compact DAC.’ It’s based on the latest proprietary Rob Watts’ FPGA technology developed for Chord Electronics’ Hugo 2 DAC/headphone amp, and includes user-selectable frequency-shaping filters and input selection controls, available via two fascia-mounted spheres. Unlike the Hugo 2, however, the Qutest lacks a headphone amplifier, rechargeable Li-ion batteries and crossfeed circuitry… three reasons it retails for considerably less than the Hugo 2 despite the shared circuitry. ‘The new Qutest is the latest evolution of Chord Electronics’ most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces,’ says Chris Strom, of Radiance AudioVisual, which distributes Chord Electronics…

Audio-Technica says the new belt-drive AT-LP7 turntable it showed at CES 2018 was the best turntable it has ever made. It’s belt-driven, fully manual and comes with a J-shaped tonearm fitted with a removable AT-HS10 headshell that is in turn fitted with an Audio-Technica VM520EB moving-magnet phono cartridge. The VM520EB has a 0.3×0.7 bonded elliptical stylus and Audio-Technica’s ‘dual magnet’ geometry, where the two magnets are positioned to mirror the angles of the groove walls. ‘The AT-LP7 is the finest turntable the company has ever offered,’ said Bob Peet, Audio-Technica’s Marketing Manager (USA). ‘And thanks to our exclusive dual magnet design, where the magnets are precisely positioned to match the left and right channels of the record’s stereo groove walls, the VM520EB provides exceptional channel separation, and exceptional stereo imaging,…

Three men gathered at Con’s place on the coast to listen to an audio system aspiring to Jay Gatsby’s ideal—‘the unattainable dream’ of perfection—the ideal system in their case, cost no object. The green dock light in the Scott Fitzgerald novella is said to represent that unattainable dream, the ‘dream so close that one could hardly fail to grasp it.’ The light on the pier near Con’s home blinked in the wind between the tea trees as he placed the stylus on the opening groove. In the opinion of those seated in the room, the night air was charged with arguably the finest ‘life-like’ audio they were ever likely to hear. They nodded in agreement about the detail beginning with the Helix turntable and MySonics Labs cartridge and ending with…

MUSICAL FIDELITY HAS IT COVERED… Musical Fidelity is yet another company that has recently been re-priced in Australia to bring it back into line with international pricing. This has resulted in some exceptional bargains, particularly the M3Si, M5Si and M6Si integrated amplifiers which are now $1,999, $2,999 and $3,999 respectively, savings of up to $1,000. Musical Fidelity amplification is legendary, while these new price points also now make ownership more attainable. Musical Fidelity have also released a couple of new models – one firmly analogue, the other impressively digital! Here are the details… NU-VISTA VINYL PHONO STAGE The Nu-Vista series of amplifiers is about as good as integrated amps get. Musical Fidelity has now added a phono stage to the range, still utilising the nuvista sub miniature valve – and…

The benefits of wireless streaming, seamlessly distributed throughout your home, were delivered by Sonos almost a decade before anyone else. But since then a growing demand for a higher performance version of the technology has prompted the introduction of a myriad more expensive options – most notable being Bluesound. Meridian have been playing around the edges of this market for some time, but have now taken the technology to a higher level with their 251 Powered Zone Controller (above). The 251 is a compact 65 watt per channel/streamer/amplifier with both digital and analogue inputs. It will drive almost any passive loudspeaker and will serve as the centre-piece of a high performance stand-alone zone of music. The 251 Powered Zone Controller sells for $2,699, and given its performance and flexibility it…

The new Yamaha R-N303D network Hi-Fi stereo receiver (with DAB+ digital radio) provides a huge array of playback options for wallet-conscious audio enthusiasts. The timeless brushed-metal design encapsulates an ability to play music from online streaming services, mobile devices, computers, and legacy audio devices like CD players, providing a true all-in-one solution for those who can never quite settle on their preferred listening method — or who have favourite music strewn across many formats. In addition, the receiver offers all the advantages of Yamaha’s MusicCast multiroom integration, allowing it to deliver content to any MusicCast-enabled speakers or soundbars in your home, all controlled via a mobile app. The full list of connectivity options includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, DLNA and Ethernet, with music streaming integrations that include Spotify and Tidal,…

Powered by a mighty 1000W of digital amplification, and featuring the same Aerofoil-profile cone technology found in the 800 Series Diamond, the new DB4S delivers unrivalled precision, control and authority for a subwoofer in its price range. It’s the perfect partner for the company’s 700 Series speakers to deliver high-performance acoustics in home cinema environments, as well as being suitable for big and small living rooms. Styled classically, the DB4S provides more authority and control, using a digital preamplifier that features industry-best Dynamic EQ for better performance no matter how scattered the frequency range. As well as Dynamic EQ, Room EQ ensures that the audio is suited for most living room configurations. The DB4S also has its own smartphone app, which offers easy control options, including adjusting the calibration and…

Some time ago we acquired a private collection of music, movies and special interest signed posters. We have since acquired a three-frame Star Wars set (pictured above) which we are now adding to the remaining frames. This set, signed by the cast and crew, including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Dave Prowse, John Williams and George Lucas is being offered as a complete set for $6,900 (Antiquities of California currently have these listed for US$8,985 the set). We have also repriced some of our remaining frames: The Avengers: Signatures include Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johanssen and Stan Lee. Price $1,699. Director’s Cut (below left): signed by Martin Scorsese, Stephen Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas. Price $799. Director’s Cut Film Can: 12 of…

Australian loudspeaker manufacturer M8audio has released a new loudspeaker called the ‘Sweet Maxwell’, a two-way bookshelf design named in honour of James Clerk Maxwell, who formulated the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation. The M8audio Sweet Maxwell has a Beryllium tweeter and a bass/midrange driver with a cone made of Egyptian papyrus. The M8audio Sweet Maxwell’s bass/midrange driver is rated with a diameter of 187mm and its Egyptian papyrus cone is powered by a neodymium magnet structure contained within a cast aluminium chassis. ‘This driver is substantially larger than the norm for a two-way design, and contributes to the very satisfying bass, while still achieving superior midrange resolution and presence,’ said Mark Thomsen, the founder of M8audio. ‘The low damping rubber surround and advanced BIMAX spider maintain great linearity, ensuring every…

Canadian manufacturer Bryston is trying to re-define the definition of active speakers with its new ‘Active Loudspeaker’ line-up, because all the speakers in its new ‘Active Loudspeaker’ line are passive, with no electronics built into the speaker cabinets at all… not even a crossover network. Instead, all amplification and the (electronic) crossovers are external to the cabinets. The external crossover is Bryston’s DSP-enabled BAX-1 active crossover and the external amplifier can be either Bryston’s three-channel 21B³ or its six-channel 24B³. Bryston appears to both agree and disagree the accepted meaning of the words ‘active loudspeaker system’. Its press release says: ‘Most active speakers utilise an amplifier built into the speaker enclosure, however the Bryston Active solution utilises full-size, zero-compromise outboard amplifiers engineered to deliver best performance and a Bryston BAX-1…

Danish manufacturer M&K Sound (also known as MK Sound) has appointed Indi Imports as its sole Australian distributor. ‘For more than 40 years, M&K Sound loudspeakers have enjoyed an unchallenged reputation as the world’s finest, delivering the highest levels of performance to both consumers and professionals’, said Paul Riachi, Managing Director at Indi Imports. ‘Put simply, no other loudspeaker manufacturer in the world can rightfully claim the title of “The Choice of Professionals”. M&K Sound professional monitoring systems have rapidly become the standard for stereo and multi-channel production of both music and film sound.’ M&K speakers were used to produce the ‘Star Wars’ movies. Rick McCullum, who produced Star Wars Episodes 1 and 2 said, ‘We selected Miller & Kreisel speakers to create the Star Wars Episode1 soundtrack and they…

Exposure Electronics has added an ‘HP’ headphone amplifier to its small half-width chassis XM series. The new Exposure XM HP headphone amplifier is not just a headphone amplifier, because it also includes a moving-magnet phono stage, two line inputs and a digital-to-analogue converter with four SPDIF digital inputs and one USB input. As with all other components in the XM series, Exposure’s chief designer, Tony Brady, has opted for a linear rather than a switch-mode power supply. The supply in the XM HP has a 60VA custom-made toroidal power transformer. The headphone circuitry is entirely discrete, with Brady saying that he’s ensured it has a sufficiently high current capability to drive low-impedance headphones. The circuit can drive two pairs of headphones simultaneously, via two pairs of 6.35mm jacks or two…

Nagra’s long-awaited HD Preamp made its North American debut at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in 2017, as reported in the previous issue of Australian Hi-Fi Magazine, but at CES 2018 it picked up a CES Innovations Award. The HD Preamp is a two-chassis affair, with the power supply in a different chassis and the preamplifier circuitry featuring valves. The power supply uses Super Caps and is based on Nagra’s ‘virtual battery’ technology, which the company claims ‘provides superior results compared to a conventional battery without the inconvenience of dealing with charging time and battery life.’ The volume control on the HD Preamp uses a patent-pending technology that Nagra says allows perfect level matching, yet has a more transparent sound than if the company had used a potentiometer or even…

We thought we had a scoop when we spotted a turntable bearing the familiar Master & Dynamic brand-name, as it would be first for a company that mostly specialises in headphones. (Possibly obvious, as the drive belt was incorrectly positioned on the pulley, as shown in the photograph above!) But it was not to be... The Master & Dynamic turntable was very obviously just a re-badged VPI Player with a weird surface coating, but further investigation revealed that although it’s most definitely the very first turntable bearing the Master & Dynamic badge, only a very limited run of these special edition models will be available, and they’ll be reserved exclusively for use by Master & Dynamic distributors and dealers. That is, they won’t be available for sale. In the same…

Denon used CES 2018 to launch what it says is the world’s first ‘true’ 13.2 channel, 150-watt per channel AV Receiver with support for Amazon Alexa, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D. ‘We identified a missing need and designed the industry’s first true 13-channel AVR with plenty of muscle on tap to power formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D,’ said Richard Velazquez, global head of brand management at Denon. ‘In addition to our monolithic amplifier design with our custom-made transistors and compatibility with nearly every advanced AV format, the AVR-X8500H is incredibly easy to set up. Owners can use voice commands with Alexa’s Smart Home Skill to control the unit and leverage whole-home audio integration to experience the future of home theatre.’ The AVR-X8500H ($US3,999) uses thirteen custom-made…

Have you ever had a subwoofer attack you? Well, by ‘attack’ I actually mean ‘move menacingly towards you.’ I have. It was a bit scary. What was happening was that the drivers in the subwoofer were generating so much force that the cabinet was vibrating more in one direction than the other, which caused the cabinet to move towards me… or at least it did until I turned the volume down, which stopped it in its tracks. GoldenEar is obviously aware of this phenomenon and has taken two steps to avoid it happening with its newest subwoofer, the SuperSub X, which also happens to be the smallest and lightest subwoofer in its ‘Super-Sub’ series… and so would be—theoretically at least—the most likely to move of its own accord. The first…

Is Bel Canto’s new ACI 600 ‘the ultimate integrated amplifier’, as the famous US manufacturer claims? It could very well be, except that it’s not just an integrated amplifier, it’s also a DAC, a streamer, a preamplifier, a power amplifier, and a headphone amplifier, all in the one compact chassis. THE EQUIPMENT It’s a bit spooky once you’ve unpacked the ACI 600 because in spite of the extent of its capabilities, there isn’t a single knob—or button—to be seen on the expansive front panel (and it’s certainly expansive: the ACI 600 is 483mm wide… though it’s only 97mm high). There’s just that huge front panel display and that’s it. Thanks to its size, the display is super-easy to read, which is handy because it not only shows system status, source,…

Do you want your headphones to sound like loudspeakers? The Japanese makers of the Crosszone CZ-1 think you should. Their view is that the inherent individual-ear isolation of headphones is unrealistic in terms of how we perceive sound, while it tends to deliver soundstaging which is in and/or above your head. Which can be enjoyable in its way, but real sound isn’t like that—it’s all around you, with both your ears hearing things from both sides, plus reflections from room surfaces, all filtered through the undulations of your outer ear to deliver precise locational cues. Humans didn’t develop this listening system for music, of course—it was more about not getting eaten by cave panthers. But our experience of music necessarily uses this mechanism by default, and when music is played…

Marantz SR7012 Having completely re-tuned sound using upgraded parts and features, the SR7012 is a 9.2 channel network AV receiver with 11.2-channel processing capability. It includes a 192kHz/32-bit digital-to-analog converter block with Clock Jitter Reducer for a more precise, pure and high-quality sound. The SR7012’s nine amplifier stages see each channel providing 125W of pure Marantz power and finesse, giving users the ability to drive a full 5.1.4 home cinema set-up without the need for additional external amplifiers. Priced at $4190. Marantz SR8012 Taking the SR7012 advancements to a whole new level is the SR8012, Marantz’s first-ever 11.2-channel AV amplifier. It’s compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D sound formats, so the 11 amplifiers can be used in a 7.1.4-channel or 9.1.2-channel configuration. Power output is rated at an…

“AVID is different to most companies in that they initially set out to make the very best turntable they could...” We have been singing the praises of AVID turntables for some time now, but this is the first time that we have had an Acutus SP on our showroom floor. AVID is different to most companies in that they initially set out to make the very best turntable they could, resulting in the Acutus. They then trickled this technology down to less expensive models. Most manufacturers produce an initial offering and then work to improve on that, releasing consecutively more expensive models. The fact that the Acutus turntable – released two decades ago – still forms the basis of their premium offering and still remains competitive in a market where…

Krell has represented the pinnacle of amplifier design for decades. Audiophiles around the world aspire to own a Krell. That aspiration is now a little easier to achieve. Krell has been repriced in Australia to bring it into line with US pricing, and in some instances they are slightly better than ‘in line’. Some of the reductions have been significant, resulting in fantastic value. Most significant is the 200 watt/ channel Digital Vanguard integrated amplifier. Already considered to offer value at $9,995 it has been repriced at $7,995. Its less expensive sibling, the same amplifier minus the digital inputs simply called the Vanguard, is now $6,495. Also the ever popular Solo 575 Class ‘A’ mono-block power amps, rated at 575 watts RMS, have been reduced from $19,995 to $15,995 each.…

Panasonic DMR-UBT1GL-K This machine does it all. It is a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, it has a massive 2TB hard-drive for full HD recording and twin tuners – which means recording on one channel while watching something on the other (a surprising handy peace keeper when you have a programming clash!). The unit also offers extensive networking features such as 4K VOD (Video on Demand) via Netflix, plus the ability to enjoy live and recorded content via your smartphone or tablet. You can also easily register TV programs to make sure that they are automatically recorded and stored, so you’ll never miss out on recording your favourite weekly. Well done Panasonic! The DMR-UBT1GL-K sells for $999. NAD C 328 amplifier In the last issue of The Hi-Fi Headlines we mentioned…

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 an additional 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. It merges the simplicity and user-friendly features that Tivoli Audio’s classic line is known for, but with a tech refresh. Orb This wireless speaker can be configured to offer mono, stereo (two Orbs) or multi-room audio playback. It can be free standing, or you can hang it on the wall. There are multiple finishes available. MusicSystem+…

Dynaudio has replaced its popular Sub 250 subwoofer with a new model, the Dynaudio Sub 3. The Dynaudio Sub 3 has a newly-designed 240mm diameter driver that’s contained in a small enclosure with a double-thickness (37mm) front baffle. ‘Our engineers worked hard to get all the smarts of the outgoing Sub 600 into a body the size of the Sub 250, while also adding a brand-new driver and keeping the price between the two,’ said Otto Jørgensen, Product Manager at Dynaudio, Denmark. ‘It’s the ideal companion subwoofer for any stereo or multichannel system.’ The Sub 3 has a high-pass filter, volume control and dual RCA inputs and outputs. ‘This latest subwoofer from Dynaudio is very compact, but thanks to the new driver and cabinet and the 300-watt amplifier, it delivers…

Buy a Linn Majik LP12 before March 31 and you can option in one of five upgrades that are available for this model for half the usual upgrade price. ‘The Linn LP12 is the turntable that all vinyl enthusiasts really want,’ said Nigel Ng, of Advance Audio, which distributes Linn in Australia. ‘In continuous production since 1972, it is one of the only turntables that is truly made to be a lifelong companion, allowing you to upgrade the turntable over time, producing audible improvements with every upgrade.’ If you buy a Linn Majik LP-12 ($5,695 RRP) before March 31 you can option in any one of the following upgrades: Trampolin base board (RRP$339, promotional price $169.50) Kore subchassis (RRP$1,595, promotional price $797.50) Akito tonearm (RRP$3,195, promotional price $1597.50) Lingo 3…

CES is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. (Apologies to Douglas Adams, who originally wrote this to describe space, in his deserved classic Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I thought of him, and Zaphod Beeblebrox, when I saw Bellus3D’s 3D scanner at CES 2018.) The Bellus3D can create a very detailed and accurate 3D model of a face in only a couple of minutes... made clear by the photo inset between the 2nd and 3rd columns. CES is the world’s largest consumer electronics show by a long shot. And it’s going great, thank you very much for asking. CES 2018 had more floor space, more exhibitors, more visitors, more of everything, in fact… except high-end audio. In the past, any audio…

JBL’s most popular—and most famous!—loudspeaker design was the JBL L100. Originally released in 1970, the L100 was a three-way bookshelf loudspeaker that was basically a consumer version of JBL’s 4310 Pro Studio Monitor. The updated version released at CES 2018 proved to be one of the biggest hits at the show. ‘The original L100 speakers were not only JBL’s all-time, best-selling loudspeakers, but, from all indications, they were the best-selling loudspeaker system of the decade,’ said Jim Garrett, of Harman International, which owns JBL. The new L100 Classic loudspeaker may have new drivers and a new crossover, but it features the same attractive, 1970s-style retro ‘Quadrex’ foam grille in a choice of three colours—black, orange and blue. It retails for $US4,000 per pair. The new version of the L100 was…

Sony released its MDR1-AM2 headphones, which feature newly-developed 40mm drivers and Fibonacci-patterned ear cups, at CES 2018. Sony claims the new drivers have a high-frequency response that extends to 100kHz. ‘This pair of headphones has taken learnings from the Signature Series headphones, the MDR-Z1R, and follows the same impressive sound signature,’ said Laura Hunter, of Sony. ‘The headphones are lighter than their predecessor—the MDR-1A headphones that launched in 2014—which is a great advantage if you are wearing them on the go, and with this pair you can enjoy wearing your around-ear headphones for longer, with ear pads that have been specially designed for lasting comfort.’ Sony specs the MDR1-AM2 with a frequency range of 3Hz–100kHz, a sensitivity of 98dBSPL/mW and an impedance of 16 . The headphones come with two…

Released last year in a strictly limited edition to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pro-ject 175 turntable reprised its debut at CES 2018... which would seem to indicate that there are still some models left from the production run of 175… probably not so surprising given the asking price of $US8,999. The wooden chassis of the 175 is lacquered with the same type of lacquer used on violins, while the gilded metal chassis is made of material similar to that used in the manufacture of brass musical instruments. The tonearm’s finger lift echoes the design of a clarinet key and Pro-Ject says that the speed-change control ‘comes from a flute button.’ According to Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject (whose company, like the Vienna Philharmonic, is based…

Remember when the first two CD players appeared on the market? The Sony offering was a 16-bit unit, albeit with a DAC that switched between each channel, misaligning them by a small amount. (*See footnote.) Philips, though, felt that 16-bit DACs weren’t sufficiently accurate at that point, so it launched with a 14-bit DAC. The inherent 12dB higher noise floor resulting from that 2-bit shortage still put it below the noise floor of just about any phono pre-amplifier available at the time. The problem was linearity. Was it possible to create a circuit that could accurately reconstruct analogue signals from digital numbers which spanned four orders of magnitude? That issue soon became moot by means of a nifty bit of side-stepping. As silicon got better (hey, compare the capabilities of…

Newport Test Labs’ measurements proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Bel Canto ACI 600 is a powerful amplifier. It delivered more than 300-watts per channel into 8 , irrespective of whether one or both channels was driven, and more than 600-watts per channel into 4 loads, again irrespective of whether one or both channels was driven. It also was also able to deliver this above-specification power right across the frequency band, from 20Hz to 20kHz. The results are tabulated in the test result table, and shown graphically as a bar graph. Note that we haven’t shown the usual two bar graphs (one for single-channel-driven and the other for both-channels-driven) because the two graphs were identical. Channel separation was superb, besting 100dB at low and midrange frequencies and…

2018 marks 40 years for Len Wallis Audio. It has been a fabulous journey. We have witnessed a great number of changes, made an ever greater number of friends, and most importantly count ourselves incredibly lucky to work daily in an industry that we love and enjoy so much. I came into this industry almost 50 years ago through my love of music. That has not diminished – and I doubt it ever will! The components and systems that we recommend are simply a means to an end. Ideally every system we provide should have the ability to allow the music you are listening to have the same emotional impact on you that I find it has on me. This industry is currently undergoing some profound changes, and I predict…

Sony projectors take pride of place in our home cinema display suite. In fact, we have committed both spots in the room to Sony. We introduced the VW550 projector a few issues ago, but now are equally impressed with its baby brother, the VPL-VW260. As with all of Sony’s digital cinema projectors, the VW260 uses the advanced SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) panel technology which delivers native 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution images. And let’s be clear… this is true 4k. Other similar (and some also pricier) projectors use a shifting technology that projects an image and then the next frame “shifts” the image by half a pixel, thereby appearing as ultra-high definition. A standard 1080 projector will shift from approximately 2 million pixels (or mega pixels) to 4 mega…

Chord has produced some of the best, most accessible DACs available. Using high quality silicon chips with FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) technology allows Chord to tune the hardware to exacting standards to maximize a clean sample rate with minimal distortion. Many of Chord’s DACs include a built-in headphone amp with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. The Hugo 2 (see our Autumn 2017 issue) has been a great success in this regard, but if you don’t need the headphone option, you can now get the same great sound from the Qutest. As a direct replacement for the excellent 2Qute, it features the same upgrades as the Hugo 2. The solidly-built aluminium box has coaxial inputs that support 24bit/384kHz PCM and DSD128 files, while its USB-type B input pushes that to 32bit/768kHz…

PRO-JECT DEBUT RECORD MASTER Pro-Ject are one of our ‘go-to’ brands for simple and straight-forward turntables, and the Debut Record Master (pictured above) continues the trend with great looks and reliability. Based on their popular range of Debut tables, the Record Master goes a little bit further with an in-built phono stage to get you going right away. Added to that is the convenience of a speed selector right on the plinth, avoiding having to manually change the belt for adjustment. The OM10 cartridge is perfectly suited to the table, and having a USB output allows you to save that vinyl sound directly to your computer for listening on the go with your favourite digital device. But this is all about the analogue. An increased platter size and weight results…

“The makers promise zero saturation and absolutely no background noise – meaning power, precision and clarity...” The Devialet Phantom looks like no other wireless speaker. When it launched a couple of years ago, it could be pushed up to an impressive 750 watts of sound output with very little if any distortion from its unusual driver configuration. As a result it carved out a new following of Phantom devotees. Following on from its success, Devialet decided to show what it was capable of, with a 3,000-watt Silver model and then an even more amazing 4,500-watt Gold version, The only trouble with this was it made the original entry model look like a little bit of a poor relation. That’s now been remedied with the release of an updated 1,200-watt “white”…

SR-L300 Limited Earspeaker Based on the existing L300 but with the sound element from the SR-L700 and the ear-pads from the SR-L500, this headphone (or ‘Earspeaker’ as Stax refers to them) will sell for $999, giving it the performance of the SR-L700 at the price of the SR-L500. SRM-353XBK drive unit An upgraded version of the existing SRM-353X; this will sell for $1,699. The only drawback, as mentioned, is that this is a very limited release with Australia receiving only 15 systems. They have confirmed that there will not be a future production run, so if you are interested in a pair (we will not be splitting the combination) I’d suggest that you let us know. NEW PRICING Like so many other brands covered in this newsletter, Stax have had…