H.ifi - World May.2007
H.ifi - World May.2007
H.ifi - World May.2007
MAY 2007
UK 3.80
www.hi-world.co.uk
COMPETITION
SIMON YORKE S9 TURNTABLE, CD PLAYER GROUP TEST
WIN A FANTASTIC
ROTEL RB-1092
WORTH 1,595!
MERIDIAN F80
compact system
SIMON YORKE S9
turntable
MAY 2007
VOL. 17 No. 03
CD PLAYER
SUPERTEST:
>
>
>
>
19/3/07 13:24:50
8/2/07
12:31 pm
Page 1
Meet the new breed of 2-channel amplifiers and Super Audio CD player
Based on the acclaimed A-400 amplifier, these new models have been
redesigned for the 21st Century. Uncomplicated features and simple linear
circuit design are encased in a stylish but rigid construction, giving pure
unadulterated sound for your enjoyment.
www.pioneer.co.uk/evolution
welcome
EDITOR
David Price
tel/fax
+44 (0) 1275 371 386
e-mail:
editorial@hi-fiworld.co.uk
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Adam Smith
editorial@hi-fiworld.co.uk
e-mail:
DESIGN EDITOR
Faiza Chunara
tel:
+44 (0) 20 7625 3129
fax:
+44 (0) 20 7328 1844
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David Noble
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e-mail:
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
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WRITERS
Dominic Todd, Patrick Cleasby,
Steven Green, Channa Vithana,
Paul Rigby, David Allcock,
Martin Wolszczak.
hi-fi world
verdicts
testing
To ensure the upmost accuracy in our product reviews,
Hi-Fi World has extremely comprehensive in-house test
facilities, and our test equipment - from big names like
Rohde & Schwarz and Hewlett Packard - is amongst the
most advanced in the world.
Loudspeakers are measured using a calibrated Bruel
& Kjaer microphone feeding a Clio-based computer
OUTSTANDING
EXCELLENT
extremely capable
GOOD
worth auditioning
MEDIOCRE
unremarkable
POOR
seriously flawed
VALUE
keenly priced
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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10
20
32
50
4
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Leema
Acoustics Tucana - a
.
superb high end integrated.
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hi-fi world
MAY 2007
contents
VOLUME 17 : NO. 03
DIGITAL
SHANLING SCD-T2000 14
Few digital disc players offer as much insight as this, says Martin Wolszczak.
CD PLAYER SUPERTEST 32
MARANTZ DV-9600 43
VINYL
SIMON YORKE S9 10
This handmade high end MC cartridge gets the treatment from David Allcock.
AESTHETIX RHEA 40
David Price auditions Mark Baker's latest and greatest flagship pickup arm.
7 NEWS
27, 87 SOUNDBITES
18 COMPETITION
54 ON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
50% discount for on-line copy subscription.
AMPLIFICATION
LEEMA TUCANA 20
This swish new high end British integrated is reviewed by David Allcock.
ECS PRE 58
David Price tries a massive high end preamplifier from European Circuit
Solutions.
68 SUBSCRIPTIONS
The team get to grips with matters music, hi-fi and life.
82 AUDIOPHILE VINYL
LOUDSPEAKERS
ISOPHON CASSIANO 66
A German high end loudspeaker gets its first UK review from Adam Smith.
99 MAIL
118 DIAL-A-DEALER
RADIO
MAGICBOX IMP 85
SYSTEMS
MERIDIAN F80 52
FEATURES
EVOLUTION RUSH 55
Channa Vithana assembles a 3,000 system from Creek, Design e and B&W.
Paul Rigby checks out Ella Fitzgerald's 1963 classic 'Jerome Kern Songbook'.
OLDE WORLDE 88
DIY SECTION
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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20/3/07 16:07:17
Whats remarkable about the new series of LP12 SE upgrades is not that
its taken 35 years to develop them, or that they can be retro-fitted to any
Sondek LP12 turntable, but the fact that they retrieve even more music
from your vinyl collection than ever before.
HiFi_world_Linn_LP12_ad.indd 1
14/3/07 10:26:00 am
NEWS
news
news@hi-fiworld.co.uk
SUPER, MAN!
INTERSTELLAR
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
7
12/3/07 16:44:49
NEWS
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
TEAC TIDBITS
NEM RACKS
Looking very
impressive
at Januarys
Manchester Sound
and Vision show were new equipment racks from NEM Hi-Fi.
These make use of solid cherry wood for the frames, which are
mortice and tennon jointed and glued. Each isolation shelf is made
of 30mm thick polished and profiled granite 30mm thick which
is supported by spiked dampers mounted in compliant rubber
inserted in gold-plated bases. The three basic models consist of
a four shelf rack with four legs, and three shelf units with either
three or four legs. Prices range from 1,500 to 2,000 - we hope
to bring you a review soon. For further details lease contact Steve
Nemeth on 01623 740521 or visit
http://nem-hi-fi.mysite.orange.co.uk.
8
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14/3/07 09:08:07
NEWS
ESOTERIC STUFF
P-03
Fans of the brand that many believe make the best optical disc devices around right
now will be interested to hear of the new P-03/D-03 transport/DAC combination.
Taking the design concepts from the flagship P-01/D-01 system, Esoteric have
applied new DSD signal processing to create the more affordable P-03/D03 CD/SACD player combo. Said to be extremely versatile, it features multiple
user selectable playback modes including CD audio (Red Book) playback, native
DSD decoding, PCM upconversion and Esoterics advanced PCM to DSD signal
conversion. Digital signal transfer of DSD signals is now offered with an i.LINK
interface, in addition to Esoterics proprietary ES-LINK format. The heart of the
P-03 is the state-of-the-art VRDS-NEO mechanism, a new version of which
was developed exclusively for the P-03. A new Disc Tray Shutter mechanism was
designed to shield the internal mechanism, reducing any mechanical vibration.
The dual chassis design of the Model P-03 forms an
integrated one-piece body, which contains separate
D-03
power supply and transport compartments. As for the
Model D-03 Stereo DAC, it was developed from the
Esoteric monoblock D-01 design and sports completely
separate L/R channel components for power, analogue
audio circuits, etc. Featuring AD1955 DAC devices,
D-03 is capable of processing both DSD and PCM
signal formats. Compatible with various source formats
including CD, SACD and DVD-A, it can operate as high
as 192kHz. For information, call Symmetry on
01727 865 488 or click on www.symmetry-systems.co.uk.
TIP TOP
SPOTTED!
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION!
BEARING UP
9
12/3/07 16:45:02
REVIEW
New Yorke
The S9 turntable package is the latest creation from the Simon Yorke Designs
stable. Handmade by a passionate and committed designer, it promises a
unique musical experience says Adam Smith...
10
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REVIEW
SOUND QUALITY
The S9 is not a cheap turntable, both
in terms of price and construction
quality, and this is immediately
obvious as soon as the stylus hits the
groove. The sound that immediately
leaps forth from the loudspeakers
is very polished and 'grown-up' for
want of a better expression.
The first main thing that struck
me was the superb sense of space
and atmosphere around everything in
the mid and upper registers. This was
exactly the same effect that I noticed
in April 2007s edition of Hi-Fi World
when testing the Roksan Nima arm
and it would seem to be that this is
a common feature of unipivot arms.
This is most definitely a good thing as
it imparts the S9 with a grand sense
of scale and depth to the soundstage.
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REVIEW
was quite uncanny to hear how, as
the strings were plucked, the leading
edges of the notes were stunningly
presented. Shutting my eyes it was
easily possible to perceive that there
was a large harp right in front of me,
where the review system had been
moments before.
Finally, comparisons to the
Slatedeck 401/SME setup proved
interesting. Whilst the S9 could not
match the sheer impact and stunning
transient abilities of the Garrard in
the bass department (I have yet to
hear a deck that can...) the S9 offered
noticeable improvements in terms of
spatial abilities and soundstaging. The
Slatedeck combo is not 'shut-in' at all,
far from it, but it has a slightly more
polite midrange and treble compared
to the effortless atmospherics
developed by the S9.
CONCLUSION
The best turntables I have ever
heard always seem to have a definite
design rationale behind them that
makes them succeed, albeit usually
in different areas. With the Garrard
301 and 401, I would say that their
strengths come from the quality and
scale of build that they incorporate;
for the Michell Orbe, another of
my favourites, it is the attention to
detail and engineering excellence.
The Simon Yorke
S9 is a new arrival
to the list and this
time it is the sheer
SIMON YORKE S9
4,995
Distributed by The Audio Salon
+44 (0)845 4000 400
www.recordplayer.com
FOR
- design and engineering
- superlative sound
- consistent musicality
- styling
AGAINST
- bias weight!
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
The results of vibration analysis on this
arm, using a B&K accelerometer, clearly
show it suffers significantly less from
vibrational modes than most arms - a
very interesting result considering its
unusual construction. The main arm
tube mode is at 700Hz, a very high
frequency, suggesting this is a very stiff
structure, in addition to being of low
mass. The narrowness of the peak and
its low amplitude both also suggest
the tube is well damped. Generally,
the absence of vibrational peaks up
to 3kHz - main arm tube mode apart
- suggest the Simon Yorke arm will give
an exceptionally clean sound, likely
with firm bass and a great stereo sound
stage. It will time well too, lacking
overhang, and is likely to deliver much
well differentiated fine detail, as the
high frequency spectrum above 3kHz is
also relatively well controlled.
The belt drive platter produced
a low 0.07% IEC weighted Wow and
Flutter figure. There is a peak at 1.5Hz
which is a small mystery, as this is
not a cyclic eccentric platter/disc
component at 0.55Hz, nor a pulley
component at much higher frequency.
All the same it is at low level and
low frequency so is unlikely to have
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VERDICT
Accel.
(g)
0.2
Main arm
tube mode
I
0.1
15Hz
frequency (Hz)
6kHz
13
15/3/07 13:17:52
REVIEW
New Resolution
Few digital disc players offer as much insight into both CD and SACD formats as
Shanling's new SCD-T2000, says Martin Wolszczak...
14
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19/3/07 16:34:19
REVIEW
would not play a couple of tracks
from various SACD albums at all
and on a few other occasions was
skipping them, while with the same
tracks my Sony SACD/DVD Swoboda
Mod DVP-NS 9100ES did not have
any problems at all, nor the other
players I have had at my disposal.
As far as looks are concerned
SCD-T2000 reminds me of products
of the prestige audio marque from
Germany called T+A. Shanlings build
quality and aesthetics are superb. For
a full description, see David Prices
original review of the SCD-T200C
in the November 2004 issue of Hi-Fi
World.
The original SCD-T200C and
the new SCD-T2000 look almost
identical. The new version is still
finished in brushed aluminium, but
Shanling gave up on the gold touches
of some parts. At the front, there
is an overly small display, this time
in green, instead of blue. The rear
panel remains unchanged. There are
two RCA unbalanced outputs for
the vacuum tube output stage, and
two RCA unbalanced outputs for
the solid-state stage, plus one coaxial
digital output terminal. Both sets of
unbalanced outputs, along with the
headphone jack are situated on the
right side of unit; they are attenuated
by high-precision, digitally controlled
analogue volume control. In the box
I found - apart from nicely metalcrafted remote and impressive power
cord - an interesting compilation
SACD sampler disc.
The sole UK distributor of
the hybrid Shanling SCD-T2000
is Matthew Jameson of Real Hi-Fi.
Using a stock SCD-T2000 player
manufactured by Shenzhen Shanling
Electronic Co. Ltd of China, the 3D
Acoustics modification incorporates a
few vital key improvements, including
240V power transformers, Schottky
fast-recovery diodes, Os-Con
capacitors and tantalum resistors
applied in crucial parts of the circuit.
Above all the spinner comes with full
factory one year UK warranty.
Straight out the box this player
proved easy to use and great to look
at. It gives you feeling of money well
spent. So what about the sound then?
SOUND QUALITY
Since I began my journey with SACD
I have collected about 170 discs.
During my audition of this player, I
spent a significant amount of time
going back and forth between the
vacuum tube and solid-state outputs
listening mainly to Super Audio discs.
As I did not audition the old Shanling
SCD-T200C, I am relying on DPs
view here. So although I cannot
determine whether the new spinner
about openness, clarity and detail this is top drawer in every way.
Relaxing to the SACD version of
Norah Joness 'Come Away With Me'
(BlueNote 724354174728) proved
to a blissful and tranquil experience
through the Shanling SCD-T2000.
Its ability to convey her distinctive
sultry voice was captured with a
liquidity that was transparent and
pure. Norahs impassioned 'Turn Me
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REVIEW
REFERENCE SYSTEM:
YBA Passion 300 amplifier
JM LAB Focal Micro Utopia Be loudspeakers
LFD Spirolink IV interconnects
Isotek Super Supreme power cables
Townshend Isolda DCT speaker cables
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
FOR
- soundstaging and dynamics
- build quality
- CD performance
AGAINST
- some SACD readability
issues
SHANLING SCD-T2000 2,250
Distributed by Real Hi-Fi
+44 (0)870 909 6777
www.realhi-fi.com
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
VERDICT
17
19/3/07 16:35:03
COMPETITION
QUESTIONS
[1] Which class of
operation does the
Rotel use?
[a] CLASS A
[b] CLASS B
[c] CLASS AB
[d] CLASS D
[2] What is the name
of the power technology used by the RB1092?
[a] Cold Running
[b] Chill Thrill
[c] Draft Performance
[d] ICE power
[3] What is the
claimed output power
of the RB-1092?
[a] 5mW
[b] 5W
[c] 50W
[d] 500W
[4] DP says its a
genuinely what
sounding bit of kit?
[a] cool
[b] hot
[c] rough
[d] svelte
May Competition
Hi-Fi World Magazine
Unit G4 Argo House
The Park Business Centre
Kilburn Park Rd.
London NW6 5LF
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 11:25:35
REVIEW
Heavenly
David Allcock finds the Blue Angel Mantis moving
coil cartridge makes music in an other worldly
way...
SOUND QUALITY
Handling the Mantis requires delicacy,
as you might imagine, but installation
was aided by the square body shape.
Tracking weight is quoted between
1.8 and 2.0gms, and on my Graham
tonearm I found 1.85gms offered
the best sound balance. The Mantis
sounds very good at 47k Ohm input
loading, but I found the midrange was
a little richer and vocals had more
body at 2.5k or 1k Ohm.
Once optimised, this cartridge
quickly established itself as being an
outstanding musical performer. The
high frequencies were notable for
their astonishingly smooth, detailed
presentation. Whilst obviously
capable of very high resolution, the
Mantis MC was very refined in how
it presented this information, it
just let the information flow, rather
ew entrants in the
world of high end cartridges are rare. The
new Blue Angel Mantis
moving coil has caused
quite a stir due to the
obsessive attention to detail paid to
each and every cartridge by designer
Andre Hanekom. Virtually everything,
bar the cantilever/stylus assembly and
the wooden packing box, is manufactured from scratch by its designer,
who also builds and tests every cartridge. To do this, Andre had to install
his own lathe and milling facilities,
then build his own tooling to facilitate manufacture.
The Mantis uses a wooden
body into which is installed a
plastic carrier, and it is within this
carrier that the cartridge generator
mechanism is located. This carrier
is highly specialised, as the plastic
used has been carefully selected for
both environmental stability and
resonant behaviour. The coils are
very high purity copper, whilst high
power neodymium magnets are used
to ensure a healthy 0.35mv output.
The cantilever/stylus assembly is
brought in from Swiss specialist Fritz
Gyger and uses a hollow aluminium
cantilever to reduce moving mass,
plus a fine line FG II profile stylus tip.
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
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REVIEW
Star Quality
Leema Acoustics is very much in the ascendant, with a range of impressive looking
electronics to match their established loudspeaker line. The new Tucana integrated amplifier
shines brightly, says David Allcock...
SOUND QUALITY
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 11:11:51
REVIEW
VERDICT
Powerful, detailed and engrossingly
musical sound allied to superlative build
makes this is a great British integrated
amplifier.
LEEMA TUCANA
2,995
Activ Distribution
+44(0)1635 291357
www.leema-acoustics.com
FOR
- dynamic range
- smooth yet resolved sound
- current drive
- build and finish
whilst I could hear a little more
stage depth with additional air and
focus with my established reference
combination, the Tucana had a rare
ability to convince the listener they
were listening to a real performance,
even using a digital source. The Diana
Krall recording is outstanding, but the
Tucana was able to lift it to another
level above any other integrated.
Spatial relationships between the
performers on Devil May Care were
precise and completely natural. The
Tucana was also sensitive to the scale
of the acoustic, and did not try to
impose itself on every recording.
Able to drive most loudspeakers
to very high levels without a hint of
compression, this integrated proved
crushingly powerful. And whilst the
Audiolab 8000S I reviewed a few
months ago was capable of very
fast transient response, the Tucana
surpassed this with ease, requiring
the likes of the NuForce Reference
9SE and Bryston 14B-SST to substantially better it. It was the perfect
partner for the unique vocal ability
of Kate Bush, whose performance on
Man with the Child in his Eyes not
only moves around in the frequency
domain, but also dynamically, leaving
most amplifiers at best merely hinting
at her true ability. The Tucana proved
itself more than capable of keeping
up with the shifts in Kates voice with
remarkable ease and with the kind of
easy, effortless style heard from very
few standalone power amplifiers, it
tracked the shifts like a bloodhound
following even the smallest variations
in dynamics with ease.
The bass registers of this
amplifier, even with a demanding load,
are excellent. Whilst the ML Vantage
uses an active bass driver, both the
Leema Xavier and Hyperion HPS938 loudspeakers demand a firm
hand to get the best out of their
respective bass drivers. The Tucana
succeeded in extracting greater levels
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
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REVIEW
Broadcast News
Channa Vithana reviews the latest iteration
of the Harbeth HL-Compact loudspeaker,
now in 7ES-3 form...
arbeth
are not a
conventional,
mainstream
British loudspeaker company.
Thanks in no small part to its
founder Dudley Harwoods BBC
engineering background, their biggest British customer is good old
auntie Beeb. Otherwise, they sell
well in Japan and China.
Based in Haywards Heath, West
Sussex, they can trace their roots
back into the nineteen sixties, and
have produced a range of quintessentially British sounding products,
a little conservative in presentation
perhaps, but still extremely able and
often far better than their more
popular rivals.
Now in 2007, Harbeth have
just released a new version of
their single-wired HL-Compact
loudspeaker, called the 7ES-3,
priced at 1,799. It has excellent
build and is finished in a beautifully
crafted light Cherry veneer as
standard. There are other veneers
available, including Eucalyptus, for
about 1,899 to special order.
Though called Compact, measuring
520x273x315mm and weighing
13.2kg apiece, the 7ES-3 by modern
standards is a large two-way frontported standmount loudspeaker, and
with its black cloth grill in place can
be easily mistaken for a new-oldstock classic monitor from the sixties
or seventies!
I quite like its chunky
proportions, but it would be nice to
see more of the front baffle the
grill looked difficult to remove, so
it was left in place (which Harbeth
recommend). Indeed, more attractive
silver hex-head fixings could have
been used instead of the ordinary
cross-head ones across the rear
panel, and those at the front baffle,
for the nail-free, glueless lossy
joint which suppresses resonances.
Additionally, it would have been more
22
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attractive
if they
used a
circular
opening for
the mid/bass
driver. As such,
some will be
put off by this
traditional styling.
The 7ES-3
cabinet, says Harbeth,
quite literally
breathes at the very
lowest frequencies, as
do the finest wooden
instruments. A 25mm
aluminium dome tweeter,
which Harbeth have used for
twenty years, is utilised because
of its manufacturing consistency,
and needs no added damping
(unlike fabric). The classically BBC
proportioned 200mm (8inch) Radial
cone mid/bass driver is located into
a glass-reinforced nylon chassis with
a new rubber surround utilising a
softer smoother profile for improved
damping. The front-mounted port
has been tuned for better bass,
while the cabinet has better internal
SOUND QUALITY
In the Harbeth User Guide it is
recommended that the loudspeakers
are placed about 75cm away from the
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12/3/07 16:54:16
REVIEW
rear wall,
2.5m apart
and with a little
toe-in (about five to
ten degrees) - and I concur,
as this sounds the best. After
a relatively short listening period, it
was obvious to me that the Harbeths
have marked strengths what they
do well, they do very well. The key
is their delicately balanced sound,
with wonderful timbral acuity and
the ability to convey the emotional
impact of a recording. With the music
from the Vivaldi, LAmore per Elvira
recording by La Serenissima, the
violin and harpsichord had very good
phrasing, definition and clarity. The
music was nicely expressed, in a very
clear yet timbrally convincing manner,
and there was excellent body to each
instrument.
On Whats The
World Coming
MUSIC
To from Say You
La Serenissima, Vivaldi, LAmore per Elvira (2006)
Will by Fleetwood Mac, the
Depeche Mode, The Singles 86>98 (1998)
Harbeths sounded bold and
expressive, proving convincing Fleetwood Mac, Say You Will (2003)
and enjoyable. The groove-led Metallica, Metallica (1991)
bass lines were excellent in
their composure, feel and extension
REFERENCE SYSTEM:
while Mick Fleetwoods signature
Naim CDX2 CD player (3,000 approx.)
drum-track was a delight with crisp,
Unison Research Unico CD player, (1,250)
clear and deep timbres. The pulsating
Moon Audio i-3 integrated amplifier, (1,595)
opening bass line to Depeche Modes
Waterfall Victoria loudspeakers (2,000)
Behind The Wheel from The Singles
86>98 compilation was engagingly
tuneful in extension, control and
wayward or complex song structures,
feel. The music as a whole was
as on the Fleetwood Mac and
also superb with a powerful yet
Metallica recordings, and thus, the
articulated sound that was very
interplay of instrumental and vocal
communicative.
phrasing and timing of the music was
The eerie mix of beautiful
preferable with them. For this reason,
opening guitar melodies and
I think the Harbeths are ideal for
menacing, growling bass lines to
delicate, subtle acoustic music, but
Enter Sandman by Metallica
less successful on highly modulated
was sheer delight. And just like
complex rock music lovers of
Depeche Mode previously, the
heavy metal should look
Harbeths showed a superbly tuneful
elsewhere!
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REVIEW
SHAW SPEAKS
CONCLUSION
No loudspeaker is a master of all trades, and the
Harbeth HL-Compact 7ES-3 is no exception, but
I found them exceptional in respect of their bass
control, tunefulness and general timbral accuracy
they are BBC-style monitors in the classic and best
sense of the word. The downside is that they are
not rhythmically as free flowing as some, and dont
flatter big, complex, over produced stadium rock
music. If a good tone in the archetypal BBC sense
of the word is paramount for you, then few if any
at the price can touch these loudspeakers.
FOR
- tonal accuracy
- tuneful bass
- build and finish
AGAINST
- traditional styling
- rhythmic flow
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
The HL Compact 7-ES 3s have a very
flat and well controlled frequency
response, as would be expected from
a traditional monitor type loudspeaker.
There are no unpleasant peaks or dips
anywhere in the frequency range and
the overall trend of the response is
downward with increasing frequency.
This will endow the Harbeths with a
warm sound and they will not be bright
or sharp.
Bass response is good for a
relatively compact cabinet with the
bass driver rolling off around 50Hz and
handing over to the port which is tuned
to 40Hz. This is a front panel-mounted
item and thus the Compact 7ES-3s
will be relatively uncritical of close
placement to a wall.
The impedance curve is smooth,
with a measured average of 8.6 Ohms,
dipping to a minimum of around 6
Ohms. The Harbeths are not a difficult
load and will work on an 8 Ohm
amplifier tap. Their measured sensitivity
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P22-25 NK subbed.indd 25
HARBETH HL-COMPACT
7ES-3
1,799
Harbeth Audio Ltd
+44 (0)870 803 4788
www.harbeth.co.uk
HARBETH HISTORY
VERDICT
25
12/3/07 16:54:34
Duevel Planets
800 (pair)
Real hi-
Shanling, Hyperion, Duevel, Horning, AMR, Supravox, A2T, Metaxas, Heart, Bias King, 3D Sonics
Tel: 0870 909 6777 info@realhi-.com www.realhi-.com
To nd your nearest Real hi- Dealer visit www.realhi-.com or call us today.
Dealer enquiries very welcome.
10/3/07 20:40:39
SOUNDBITES
Oehlbach NF214
Oehlbach NF14
Oehlbach NF12
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P27 Oehlbach.indd 27
27
16/3/07 16:33:08
UPGRADE
MONITOR AUDIO
RS1 SPEAKERS
SPENDOR
S5e SPEAKERS
Compact design
Metal cone technology
Available in a choice of finishes
KEF
iQ5 SPEAKERS
Uni-Q design
Finish options
Floorstanding
Award-winning
DECEMBER 2005
MARCH 2006
MONITOR AUDIO
BRONZE BR5 SPEAKERS
The new BR5 is an astonishing mix of clarity, exuberance
and power from a deceptively slender loudspeaker.
2.5-way design Finish options available
NEW
JULY 2004
01 www.ssav.com
6890-91 HiFi Pgs 1&2 May 07.indd2 2
13.03.2007 16:06:56
HI-FI COMPONENTS
MARANTZ
ROTEL 06 SERIES
PRIMARE
JANUARY 2006
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With the major brands in stock, Sevenoaks can help you choose individual components or design a complete system
from scratch. Just tell our in-store experts what you listen to, when and where.
ARCAM
SOLO MUSIC SYSTEM
NEW
DIVA SERIES
Revive
your record
collection
PROJECT DEBUT III
Two speed, belt drive turntable complete with cartridge
What Hi-Fi? award-winner
CYRUS
www.ssav.com 02
6890-91 HiFi Pgs 1&2 May 07.indd3 3
13.03.2007 16:07:28
MEMBERS
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How it works
Create your dreams with the latest home entertainment technology. Whether it be home
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13.03.2007 16:05:17
SEVENOAKS
GUIDE
Sevenoaks Sound & Vision is the UK's largest specialist retailer of highquality home entertainment solutions. With 49 stores nationwide and
a proud history of satisfying customers, Sevenoaks has a hard-earned
reputation as the most comprehensive provider of home cinema, hi-fi and
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www.ssav.com 04
6892-93 HiFi Pgs 3&4 May 07.indd3 3
13.03.2007 16:05:44
GROUP TEST
Silver Machines
Although you can buy a CD player for 20 at your local supermarket (that also
plays DVDs!), spending a serious sum really yields benefits. In this month's
supertest, Noel Keywood rounds up four sub-1,000 models from Cambridge
Audio, Roksan, Creek and Vincent...
32
p32 subbed.indd 32
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 14:53:16
GROUP TEST
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
Distortion
0dB
-6dB
-60dB
-80dB
0.0007%
0.00045%
0.24%
2.8%
FOR
- extremely detailed
- insightful
- seismic deep bass
AGAINST
- lacks warmth
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
p33 subbed.indd 33
SOUND QUALITY
VERDICT
33
16/3/07 13:22:29
12/3/07
12:30 pm
Page 1
Minimalist masterpieces!
T U C A N A
A N T I L A
AUDIOPHILE
STEREO AMPLIFIER
C D P L AY E R
STUNNING
THE NEW ANTILA CD PLAYER WITH ITS UNIQUE MD2 ACTIVE DIFFERENTIAL
MULTI-DAC CONVERTER TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES BREATHTAKING REALISM AND A
TACTILE PANORAMIC IMAGE.
LIPS
ENSURES THE ULTIMATE SIMPLICITY IN USE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE.
ONLY
TO
LEEMA ACOUSTICS
ON
01938 811900
OR LOG ON TO WWW.LEEMA-ACOUSTICS.COM
H A N D M A D E
I N B R I TA I N
B E A U T I F U L L Y
E N G I N E E R E D
S O U N D
GROUP TEST
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
SOUND QUALITY
In contrast to the other players
in this test, which have a definite
tonal character to them, the
Creek proved remarkably
CREEK CLASSIC CD
850
Creek Audio
+44 (0)1442 260 146
www.creekaudio.co.uk
FOR
- superbly natural
- open and spacious
- transparency
AGAINST
- styling
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
p35 subbed$.indd 35
VERDICT
35
16/3/07 16:43:49
GROUP TEST
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
VERDICT
Composed and dynamic sound with
pacey bass that's ideal for rock music.
ROKSAN CASPIAN
800
Henley Designs
+44 (0) 1235 511166
www.roksan.co.uk
FOR
- fast, powerful bass
- cohesive and balanced
- dimensional and convincing
AGAINST
- tonal hardness
- music dependent
36
p36 subbed$.indd 36
2Hz-21.1kHz
0.0003%
0.0004%
0.22%
2.3%
1.8%
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 16:37:30
GROUP TEST
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
2Hz-21.3kHz
VINCENT CD-S6MK
999
Distributed by Ruark Acoustics
+44 (0) 1702 601410
www.vincent-tac.de
FOR
Distortion
Unbalanced / Balanced
0dB
0.18 / 0.027%
-6dB
0.002 / 0.014%
-60dB
0.28 / 0.25%
-80dB
2.9 / 2.8%
-80dB dithered
2 / 2.1%
- capacious soundstaging
- extended dynamics
- timbrally convincing
AGAINST
- sharp upper treble
- bulky!
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P37 subbed$.indd 37
VERDICT
37
16/3/07 16:38:55
P12.indd 12
19/3/07 13:22:12
CONCLUSION
39
19/3/07 13:50:40
REVIEW
Stadium
Shocker
Few phono stages come more vast in size than
the huge Aesthetix Rhea. Noel Keywood enjoys
this sizeable slice of high end America...
an armful of Bo
Diddley LPs the other
night, I was told that LPs
are original music. Hes
the sort of avid collector
who, alongside audiophiles,
may spend thousands on a phono
stage able to reveal every little
nuance of an original recording. As he
pointed out, his record collection is
worth far more than the equipment
he plays it on - at 30 a disc for
audiophile pressings it doesnt take
so many to equal the price of this
phono stage! All the same, is it really
worth 1,200 LPs?
Well, certainly in terms of size
and complexity, yes. I have rarely
encountered a phono stage that
offers so many connections and
adjustments. It has no fewer than
three phono inputs for example,
for those with three record decks
[Handy. I'd only need six of them,
then - AS]. Microprocessor control is
built in, which demands all-electronic
switching, so there are numerous
40
P40-P41 subbed.indd 40
and there's a
wide range, from x110 for
the highest output Moving Magnet
cartridges through to a massive
x6950 for the lowest output moving
coils. But that's not all - because the
Rhea has balanced outputs (XLR
sockets) in addition to conventional
unbalanced (phono sockets) outputs,
from which the unbalanced output
is derived, balanced output gives
double the gain figures above. Using a
balanced line can then give you a vast
x14815 gain; under test a low 1mV in
gave no less than 14.815V out. Phew!
Lacking input transformers I was
expecting to measure noise (hiss),
because valves are not as quiet as
transistors, but this is an extremely
quiet design, with an input noise
value up with the best solid-state
stages. Aesthetix say there are no
solid-state devices in the signal chain,
so they get very low noise from the
Sovtek 12AX7LP input valves.
Input load can also be selected
by remote control, so you can judge
the affect on sound quality without
jumping up and down from the
settee and playing around with diddy
DIP switches and the like. Aesthetix
have dreamt up an arrangement
that is totally new to me: the display
window actually rocks laterally. Press
the left side to decrease gain or load
value; press the right side to increase
it. More astonishment in Keywood
towers!
The gain values are expressed
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 16:35:55
REVIEW
SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality differences between
the very best valve phono stages
get quite
small, in spite
of the large differences
in circuitry, layout and components
used. But to get this into context,
I do mean super high quality valve
stages such as this. Generally valves
occupy a region that starts at around
VERDICT
600 and goes on upward. Expect a
Impressively complex valve phono
more capacious soundstage, one that
that gives fine results with moving coil
stretches back to give instruments
CONCLUSION
cartridges.
and singers room to breathe - and the The huge Aesthetix Rhea epitomises
AESTHETIX RHEA
3,175
Aesthetix managed this with ease...
the US high end sound. Brilliantly
Distributed
by
Audio
Reference
It images very well indeed,
powerful in the bass, lavishly smooth
+44 (0)1252 702705
although I felt my reference
up top and with a crisp, engaging
www.musicalsurroundings.
Eastern Electric Minimax phono
midband, it will flatter both old
com/aesthetix
stage sounded a little wider, with
vinyl pressings and new. It offers
instruments more assertive at stage
tremendous flexibility too in terms
FOR
extremes. The Rhea pushed singers
of loading and input switching. Its
- solid, weighty bass
and instruments forwards a little,
extraordinary level of automation is
- open and revealing midband
showing a small degree of midband
another factor that will impress many.
- connectivity
forwardness that seemingly lit centre
At this price, it is obviously not for
- remote control
stage performers better. By way of
everyone, and - no less importantly
contrast, it has creamy smooth treble
- it may be too big! If you've got a
AGAINST
that melts away seamlessly, to gently
house and pocket to match however,
- physical size!
burnish down any top end sizzle
it is an essential audition.
- price
from a cartridge. Tracey
Chapman sang 'Fast Car'
clearly from centre stage
with the sort of startling
The Aesthetix Rhea is accurately
Frequency response
5Hz-30kHz
presence only valves can
equalised to the RIAA standard, our
Separation
66dB
achieve, whilst the bass
analysis showing a slight roll down
Noise (e.i.n.)
0.6uV
rumbled pleasingly in the at high and low frequencies through
Distortion
0.02%
the unbalanced and balanced outputs.
Gain (unbal)
background.
Precise figures are -0.5dB at 20kHz and
x110, 221, 440, 875, 1740, 3480, 6950
Spinning Alison
-0.25dB at 20Hz, so deviations are small.
Overload
61mV in / 25V out
Goldfrapp 45s like
The -1dB bandwidth we usually quote
'Ride a White Horse'
was a wide 5Hz-30kHz. There is no warp
showed this stage has
filter, so the lower limit cannot be raised.
tremendous low end
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Input noise, IEC A weighted, was
grunt. It compares with
a low 0.6uV - as low as it gets. Input
Frequency response
the very best and gets
overload was satisfactory at 61mV, and
level
balance absolutely right.
output overload 25V (unbal), the former
(dB)
I used the unbalanced
being important at low gain, the latter
at high gain. Total gain range was x110
output through a
+1
up to x6950, and double that through
0
Quad QC-twenty four
the balanced output - all anyone would
-1
preamplifier and both
need for the highest output MMs to the
unbalanced and balanced
lowest output MCs. Input capacitance is
cables through an ECS
200pF and unadjustable.
preamplifier, where
5k
50
1k
20k
200
The Aesthetix measures well in
I could conveniently
frequency (Hz)
every respect. NK
switch between the
in dB,
by the way, so
x110 (+41dB) is flagged
up simply as 38, the 3dB discrepancy
being unimportant.
Press Load on the front panel or
remote control and you get the input
load value. This is the resistive load
only, not parallel capacitance which
cannot be adjusted. Values available
are 47k, 10k, 5k, 2.5k, 1k, 500, 250,
125 and 75 Ohms. Most useful are
47k for MM cartridges and 125 for
MCs. I sometimes use 10 Ohms in
my own preamp to damp a zingy
sounding low-Z MC, so this preamp
doesn't quite cover every option,
and of course you cannot switch in
capacitive loading for MMs, an option
available on most dedicated phono
stages. However, the Rhea has some
other tricks up its sleeve. Strangest
is a Demagnetiser, a slightly alarming
idea since every cartridge relies on
magnetism and would fall silent if
this was to eliminate it! I presume
it doesn't (and couldn't) generate
anything like enough power to
demagnetise the permanent magnet
that exists in every cartridge, so it
likely reduces residual magnetism in
core materials to zero.
The Rhea is superbly built and
extravagantly finished, featuring
ornate triangular switches and a
nicely machined fascia, with smoothly
rounded corners and edges. The rear
panel carries normal phono inputs
(i.e. unbalanced). There are balanced
outputs, driven by balanced internal
valve circuits - the proper way of
doing it - rather than a solid-state
unbalanced balanced line driver.
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P40-P41 subbed.indd 41
41
16/3/07 16:36:05
DENSEN V1.qxp
05-12-2006
10:09
Side 1
Authorised dealers:
Acoustic Arts, Bedfordshire, Tel. 01923 245250 - Adventures in Hi-Fi Ltd., Chester, Tel. 01942 234202 - The Audio Room, Hedon , Tel. 01482 891375 - Adams & Jarrett, East Sussex, Tel.
01424 437165 - Divine Audio, Leicestershire, Tel. 01858 432999 - Glasgow Audio, Glasgow, Tel. 01413 324707 - Hi-Fi Studios. Doncaster, Tel. 01302 725550 - Holburn Hi-Fi. Aberdeen, Tel.
01224 585713 - New Audio Frontiers, Loughborough, Tel. 01509 264002 - Phonography, Ringwood, Tel. 01425 461230 - Practical Hi-Fi, Lancaster, Tel. 01524 39657 - Practtical Hi-Fi,
Manchester, Tel. 01618 398869 - Practical Hi-Fi, Preston, Tel. 01772 883958 - Practical Hi-Fi, Warrington, Tel. 01925 632179 - R.J.F, Cornwall, Tel. 01209 710777 - Sound Seduction,
Sevenoaks, Tel. 01732 456573 - VideoTech, Huddersfield, Tel. 01484 516670
REVIEW
Do It All
I
Marantzs DV9600 is that rare beast in the audio-visual jungle, a DVD player that
plays video superbly, yet handles all standard and hi res audio formats with equal
skill, says Patrick Cleasby...
SOUND QUALITY
Given that people will be buying this
at least for some video capability
(otherwise Marantz have some nice
bespoke SACD players to sell you),
I kicked off with a quick look at the
video and found it very capable on
my newest Harry Potter DVD video
(I have kids, right!). Still, moving on to
the main event, the DV9600 is one
of those machines that shocks you
with its musical ability the instant you
slot that first CD into the drawer
it proved an all rounder beyond my
expectations.
ABCs recent Deluxe Edition
remastered CD reissue of Lexicon
of Love showed its mettle. Whereas
most DVD players, even at this
price, offer a polite but perfunctory
sixteen bit sound, the Marantz
was taking real trouble to delve
right into the disc, offering a highly
musically insightful sound. The wide
soundstaging was the highlight, the
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P43-P45 subbed.indd 43
43
19/3/07 14:52:15
HIAudio UK Distribution
For your nearest stockist go to www.hiaudio.co.uk or call direct on 0845 0525259
vertexaq
44
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
[E] info@vertexaq.com
[W] www.vertexaq.com
HFW/VAQ/0507
16/3/07 17:13:19
20/3/07 10:34:47
REVIEW
soundfield and a less harsh high end,
right into the disc, offering a highly
but I would say who wouldnt?
musically insightful sound. The wide
soundstaging was the highlight, the
DV9600 painting an expansive picture CONCLUSION
with loads of detail going right into
A highly desirable prospect on
the back of the mix. At the same
simple visual appeal and robust
time, it remained very smooth its
physical and technical design, once
insight didnt come from undue
you audition the DV9600 you are
forwardness.
bound to be impressed with the
It was plenty musical too. The
sympathetic even-handedness with
recent solo single from Everything
which it plays all music. But the real
but the Girls Tracey Thorn, Its All
selling point for me is that you get
True had a great analogue synth
that sound whichever of the three
pulse groove to it and a lot of high
audio formats you are using. Vintage
range drum machine cymbals which
CDs sound blissful and modern
could have easily been over-cutting,
compressed monstrosities are
but they remained within safe, nonrendered just about listenable. For
fatiguing listening bounds. That was
once, equivalent DVD-As and SACDs
REFERENCE SYSTEM:
followed by a nice healthy slab of
are uniformly excellent and virtually
Toshiba 32 LCD TV
Beth Ditto and The Gossip, which
indistinguishable to the ear. A real
TCI Viper 6 analogue interconnects
not particularly into
proved the Marantz had no less of a
feat, and only achieved just before
Denon AVC-A1SRA AV receiver
DVD-A and SACD, but Monitor Audio GR20 loudspeakers
way with a raucous guitar ditty and
both formats hit the slab, I fear!
have a large library
real cymbals. Rhythmically engaging,
Of course 1,500 is a lot to pay
of DVDs and CDs and a decent
tonally even and dynamic in equal
for a DVD player to watch films on,
audio and 1080p capable playback
measures, this is certainly the best
particularly given that The Man is
system, then this is among the very
quality CD playback I have heard at
probably going to persuade you to
best mass market does everything
the price, among the myriad universal
lash out on a high def player in the
before HD players around. Heartily
players I have tested.
next couple of years, or at least a
recommended.
Still, I must say the lack
PlayStation 3. However, even if youre
of HDCD decoding is a
disappointment considering
how great those Cirrus Logic
DACs via analogue outputs
CD frequency response was flat and
sound. The DV9600 really
wide, as our analysis shows, reaching
DVD FREQUENCY RESPONSE
excels with electronic music,
21.9kHz. SACD was flat to 50kHz (making Japans Gentlemen
1dB) and DVD-A reached 54kHz, so
Take Polaroids and the early
the DV9600 gives good results with all
three audio formats.
works of Stephen Duffy sound
Distortion levels were also class
as near to the lovely sound of
leading, at -60dB measuring 0.27% with
editor DPs vinyl system as is
possible via CD. Equally though, CD, and 0.06% with both SACD and
DVD-A. Both the latter produced -100dB
Modern Times from the
tones, with around 4% distortion on
traditional elder rock statesman this player - a very good result. Jitter
Bob Dylan, sounded warm and
performance on the digital output was
inviting. All of this was done
superb, measuring a low 20pS, with no
using the Pure mode which
programme related components.
shuts down dimmer, video
Results were excellent in all other
CD FREQUENCY RESPONSE
areas, on all three formats, showing the
and digital output circuitry.
DV9600 is very well designed.
It even makes the massively
This player gives a superb
compressed A Weekend In
measured performance from CD, SACD
The City by Bloc Party sound
and DVD-A. It will likely have obvious
musical, which is no small feat...
treble with CD, judging from frequency
The usual hi res suspects
response, but SACD should be more
yielded some extremely high
neutral and DVD-A fast and dynamic.
VERDICT
quality results as well. As most
NK
Highly accomplished with Compact
universals I have previously
Disc, SACD, DVD-Audio and video alike,
this is an exceptional do-it-all disc
tested came from the DVD
Frequency response (-1dB)
player.
CD
2Hz-21.9kHz
Forum side of the fence
DVD-A
2Hz-54kHz
originally they all tended to
MARANTZ DV9600
1,500
2Hz-50kHz
DISTORTION
favour DVD-A, but the ultimate SACD
Marantz (UK)
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
Distortion
-6dB
-60dB
-80dB
-100dB
CD
0.0004%
0.27%
2.9%
-
Separation (1kHz)
Noise (CD, IEC A)
Dynamic range
Output
DVD
0.0003%
0.06%
0.8%
4.4%
SACD
0.0003%
0.06%
0.5%
3.6%
FOR
- performance across formats
- smart video tweaks
- build
112dB
-122dB
111dB
2.04V
AGAINST
- no HDCD
- no DIVX
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P43-P45 subbed.indd 45
45
19/3/07 15:10:44
If god is in the details, then this ecs pre/power system should provide more than a few
religious experiences.
Jason Kennedy Hi Choice 119, The collection edition
Unique advanced design
The rst ever multi source pre amp to employ the NeverConnected power supply. Zero feedback , Fully balanced, Using a unique ground switching selector.
This extraordinary, musical product is supported by ECS with a service that offers discerning music lovers a
peace of mind, pride of ownership, and a convenient way to audition and purchase it. 5 years warranty are
offered (UK only), and a dedicated phone line is available for our customers to use when they require assistance or advice.
www.ecsampliers.co.uk
Contacts
sales@ecsampliers.co.uk
(+44) 0208 932 7995/0208 743 8880
ECS, Impress House, Mansell Road, London W3 7QH
P46.indd 46
20/3/07 12:49:01
REVIEW
Black Magic
Russ Andrews DAC-1 USB is a cracking new upsampling digital to analogue convertor
with a twist it takes USB inputs. David Price listens in...
SOUND QUALITY
Kicking off with a high quality low
jitter signal from a Trichord Clock 4
modded high end Sony CD spinner,
the DAC-1 USB proved a most
impressive performer. Indeed, I have
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P47-P49 NK subbed.indd 47
47
13/3/07 09:38:15
rt
29/9/06
11:49 Page 1page advert 29/9/06 11:49 Page martin
martin
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29/9/06
Page advert
1
martin
kleiser11:49
full page
martin kleiser
kleiser full
full page advert 29/9/06 11:49 Page 11
29/9/06
11:49
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P48.indd 48
20/3/07 15:33:46
REVIEW
REFERENCE SYSTEM
Sony CDP-X303ES/Trichord Clock 4 CD player
MF Audio Passive Magnetic Preamplifier (silver)
Rotel RB-1092 power amplifier
Yamaha NS1000M loudspeakers
Black Rhodium interconnects/cables
CONCLUSION
Mahlers
Symphony
No.10 (Berliner
Philharmoniker,
Simon Rattle) showed
up the DAC-1 USBs superb midband
RUSS ANDREWS
DAC-1 USB
599
Russ Andrews
+44 (0)845 345 1550
www.russandrews.com
FOR
- detail
- rhythmic drive
- build, finish, features
AGAINST
- nothing at the price
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
A distinctive feature of this digital-toanalogue convertor (DAC) is gently
falling upper treble output, our high
resolution convolved impulse analysis
reveals. This will ensure it sounds
smooth, lacking CD bite, and it tends to
make for a cohesive sound, as treble is
subjectively pulled back into the sound
field. Together with very low distortion
figures I would expect this DAC to
come over as smooth, clean, easy
going yet cohesive in basic presentation. Interestingly, switching from
Bypass to 192kHz upsampling reduced
the noise floor by 6dB, although it
did not affect frequency response or
distortion figures. Dynamic range also
improved by a few dB, reaching a high
value of 111dB.
The Russ Andrews DAC-1 is nicely
engineered, measuring and working
well on the test bench. It should sound
good. NK
Frequency response (-1dB)
Distortion (%)
0dB
-6dB
-60dB
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P47-P49 NK subbed.indd 49
VERDICT
-80dB
-80dB dithered
2.8
3.2
Separation (1kHz)
Noise (IEC A, 192)
Dynamic range (EIAJ)
Output
112dB
-107dB
111dB
2.6V
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
DISTORTION
2Hz-20.2kHz
0.04
0.018
0.22
MAY 2007 HI-FI WORLD
49
14/3/07 10:51:30
REVIEW
Starship Trooper
S
ome ten years back, Origin
Live came up with a brilliant 75 structural modification which gave the Rega
RB300 a considerable fillip.
Suddenly this venerable
fifteen year old pickup was back on
the map, with a much more easy and
relaxed sound thanks to its superior
counterweight arrangement. Internal
rewiring options also took out some
of the tonal dryness, and suddenly
this arm was challenging giants like
the SME Series V (if carefully set up)
in several respects...
Origin Live then took their idea
and ran with it. A range of tonearms
was launched, all basically variations
on the Rega RB theme. We had the
OL1 (a Rega RB250 rewired and with
various structural modifications), the
Silver (a far more tweaked RB250),
then the Conqueror, Encounter and
Illustrious. Each new variant moved
the design further away from the
original Rega, and the sonic voicing
50
P50-P51 subbed.indd 50
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 16:22:39
REVIEW
Setup
was
straightforward,
the Enterprise fitting a
standard Rega mounting
hole (like all Origin
Live arms). Close
examination of the
comprehensive set-up
instructions shows two
points that dont apply to
other OL arms. First, backing
off the top two tiny allen
screws on the back face of
the arm by one turn releases the
transit bolts which is a must for
decent sound. And secondly, Mark
Baker recommends that the height
adjuster should be only very lightly
clamped if at all. This helps to
decouple the arm from the turntable
to which it is fitted, an idea for which
Mark is a keen advocate.
SOUND QUALITY
Having had a range of high
performance arms in my GyroDec
of late, I was fascinated by how this
would sound. Using my usual van
den Hul Frog MC reference, I was
greeted by an exceedingly fast and
open performance. Kicking off with
The Associates Party Fears Two
from their early eighties classic Sulk,
I was amazed at how the Enterprise
scythed through this murky mix.
It laid down a big, strong, slightly
warm bass with a wide midband
and deliciously subtle treble. Billy
MacKenzies vocal theatrics were
quite arresting he had a special
voice, not to everyones taste, and
it felt eerily real through my system.
The way it hovered outside and
CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a superb pickup arm
with a grippingly
REFERENCE SYSTEM
musical sound and
Michell GyroDec/vdH The Frog
lovely rhythmic ability.
Note Products PhoNote
It has wonderful
MF Audio Passive Pre (silver)
tonal shading (an
2xNuForce Reference 9SE
SME Series V sounds
Yamaha NS1000M
monochrome, by
comparison) and deep
soundstaging with masses of detail.
Its not quite as expansive
as the Cartridge Man
Conductor in terms of left
to right staging, but overall its
an exceptional performer one
which offers a brilliant mix of tonality
and rhythmic grip.
Still, 4,500 is a heck of a
lot of money, and this is my only
VERDICT
real criticism, as there is so much
One of the most explicitly musical
competition below it - not least
tonearms around, it nevertheless faces
Origin Live's own Conqueror, which stiff competition at the price.
will be all most people should ever
ORIGIN LIVE
need. The Enterprise is subtly but
ENTERPRISE
4,500
obviously better, but many would find Origin Live
the additional outlay better spent
+44 (0)2380 578877
elsewhere - of course, this point is
www.originlive.com
pertinent to all high end products,
FOR
not just this. Those in the fortunate
- engaging, vivid sound
position to contemplate purchasing
- rhythmic flow
it might be interested to know that
- dynamics
Origin Live do a one-month 'money
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P50-P51 subbed.indd 51
51
16/3/07 16:22:47
REVIEW
Race bred
The F80 portable home entertainment system is one of Meridians most interesting products
since the companys inception, some thirty years ago, says David Price...
52
P52-P53 subbed.indd 52
construction
technology,
Meridian will
be in markets it
could never previously have
reached. It is an excellent idea from
Bob Stuart, but I have to ask why he
didnt do it fifteen years earlier he
and Allen Boothroyd are precisely
the people who could come up with
a design for life, in my opinion.
The other raison dtre for the
F80 is to give people the option of
buying a very high quality portable
music (and movie) centre. Basically,
its a glorified table radio with DAB/
AM/FM and silver disc (CD, CD-DA,
CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, DualDisc,
DVD-V and DVD-R/RW) functionality
but this is to understate whats
inside, and what it can do. This is
no pale Bose imitation, but hi-fi in
miniature, with all the technology
that Meridian use (albeit in on a
larger scale) in their separates. The
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 16:30:33
REVIEW
antenna
for local radio
reception, and dual
connections for external antennae.
To give you an idea of the
detailed thinking that lies behind the
F80, these are individually assignable
so you can use one for AM and the
other for cable radio, for example.
The speakers are all under digital
signal processing control, with
three power amplifiers delivering
80W to the two front speakers,
plus an integral rear subwoofer. The
loudspeakers themselves are special
full-range designs, custom-made with
powerful neodymium magnets and
cones fashioned from magnesium and
aluminium alloy.
This is all well and good, but
for me its the display and control
interface that are really going to sell
the F80, and it is interesting to say
the least. The front of the unit has a
superb fine-pitch dot matrix organic
LED display, which gives extremely
comprehensive information. For
example, in radio mode, it shows the
TRACK TESTING
"with a decently
recorded CD, you get
a genuinely musically
enjoyable sound"
Of course, this is
not repeat, not designed to
compete pound for pound with a
1,495 separates hi-fi. However, in
two respects at least it is far better,
as the F80 is a joy to use and to look
at. Sonically, I found this half moonshaped Meridian to be like most hi-fi
it sounded mediocre cold, out of
the box. Given a good few warm up
laps however, things really shifted
up a gear, and I could hear that the
company has put serious work into
the audio performance of the F80.
It really does sound rather good,
which makes it quite unlike any other
product of its type Ive heard so far,
even including the likes of the B&O
BeoSound One (850) which is its
closest obvious rival.
Like all modern Meridian kit,
it has a very clean midband, with
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P52-P53 subbed.indd 53
VERDICT
One of the most interesting products
to hit the market for years, this is a
brilliantly designed and made compact
music system.
MERIDIAN F80
1,495
Meridian Audio
+44 (0)1480 445678
www.engineeredtoexcel.com
FOR
- design
- build
- functionality
AGAINST
- price
53
19/3/07 14:59:54
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
ON-LINE MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIPTION
SLASHED BY 50% TO
JUST
20
for 12 issues
1.90
for 1 issue
P54.indd 72
20/3/07 14:31:40
FEATURE
Evolution Rush
Channa Vithana assembles a racy looking digital source-based 3,000 separates system from
Creek, Design e and B&W...
"an attractively different yet tuneful alternative to the mass produced norm..."
designer of the radical Aerial Atom,
Ian Webster went on to work for
Mitsubishi and Ford in car design.
Websters spherically designed
745 GT3 loudspeakers are actually
more conservative compared to
his avant-garde floorstanding GT1
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P55-P57 subbed.indd 55
55
15/3/07 11:35:59
56
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
18/1/07 15:56:17
19/3/07 14:27:39
FEATURE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P55-P57 subbed.indd 57
DESIGN E GT3
745
Design e
+44 (0)1243 377899
www.designe.co.uk
B&W PV1
950
B&W Ltd.
+44 (0)1903 221800
www.bwspeakers.com
CONCLUSION
SOUND QUALITY
57
15/3/07 11:36:02
REVIEW
Pre, Eminent
David Price auditions a most distinguished sounding high end preamplifier from European
Circuit Solutions, the ECS Pre...
he best preamplifier is no
preamplifier, something that
hardly makes you predisposed to splashing all your
cash on one you can
sometimes live without a
preamp, but not a power amp, source
or speakers! As far as this particular
part of your hi-fi is concerned, its
very much a case of less is more.
But the simple fact is that anyone
who lives with two or more music
sources is going to have to submit to
buying a switching unit and volume
control (i.e. a preamplifier) and as
anything is going to degrade sound
to an extent, the better it is the less
sound degradation you get. In the
case of the ECSpre you see here,
youll need to spend 5,500 and
for that you should expect very little
deterioration indeed...
Despite the considerable bulk
and weight of this product, the key
to its design is the short signal path
philosophy. Said to comprise only one
Single-Ended bipolar amplifying stage
in a novel configuration, operating
without loop negative feedback and
with a super high quality air gapped
58
P58-P59 cut.indd 58
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 17:00:00
REVIEW
SOUND QUALITY
Regular readers will know that I
have been using the MF Audio Silver
Passive Pre in my system for many
months now, and it is one which I
hold in extremely high regard. At less
than half the price of the ECSpre,
I feared that in value for money
terms at least, this was going to be
something of a rout...
The ECSpre is without doubt an
immensely capable device. Back to
back with the MF Audio Silver, it was
the first preamplifier Ive ever heard
that was able to tell me what was
going wrong with the MF. That said,
I have to say that the MF still held
its own very well and extensive
A-B tests only left me with increased
regard for both products!
Given that the MF Audio Silver
is one of the most transparent and
revealing preamplifiers around, it was
something of a surprise to find that
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P58-P59 cut.indd 59
59
19/3/07 17:00:04
W
inner of Stereo Times magazine Most anted component
of 2005 award
Ultimate performance
Your cartridge can deliver vastly improved results if coupled with a high
grade arm. Great tonearms of the past were recognised for what they
contributed but we would suggest its time to upgrade. Massive performance
improvements are now possible, so why not advance your system to a
new level? After all, a signicant tonearm upgrade offers many times the
improvements of those given by cartridge upgrades, and last a lot longer.
Our multi-award winning arms are offered with a no risk, money back
guarantee should you be anything other than delighted.
Enterprise
Conqueror
Illustrious
Encounter
Silver
OL1
60
P60.indd 60
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 14:35:55
REVIEW
Interestingly, on dynamic crescendos
simply glossing over.
REFERENCE SYSTEM
in classical music, the ECS was
I have to say I was quite stunned,
Michell GyroDec/Michell TecnoArm a/vdH The Frog
obviously in more control, letting
as normally, comparisons with the
Note Products PhoNote phonostage
more detail through even when the
MF and other preamps produce the
MF Audio Passive Magnetic Preamplifier (silver)
entire orchestra was pressed into
opposite result. I know that the ECS
NuForce Reference 9SE monoblock power amplifiers
action, but still the MF Audio went
is twice the price, and so should
World Audio Design K5881 (modded) power amplifier
louder and seemed less compressed.
be doing all this, but to date the
Rotel RB-1092 power amplifier
MF has been so capable that such
Yamaha NS1000M loudspeakers
commonsense rules dont apply.
CONCLUSION
Quad ESL 989 loudspeakers
In other respects, the ECS had
By any standards, this is a sublime
Black Rhodium interconnects/cables
the legs on the MF, with a substansounding preamplifier, and one
this sum), I can see why it is selling
tially more expansive soundstage. The
that will delight its purchasers. It
for this, and I can also appreciate why
MF seems to pull the whole recorded is uncannily, remarkably clean and
people are buying it. I am awarding it
acoustic towards the centre of the
precise across the midband and
four globes, because I think its bass
speakers, whereas the ECS pushed it
treble, with an ability to scythe
isnt quite as good as it should be
wide to the left and right extremities
through music that Ive never heard
against the diminutive MF Audio, but I
of the room. Likewise, the stage
before. Its sense of physical scale
came very close to giving it five so
depth fell back substantially better,
and proportion is also excellent, and
stunning is it across the mid in terms
and within this there was more light
quite special in the great preamplifier
of detailing and depth perspective.
and shade. The sense of physical
scheme of things.
As a caveat, I actually think most
space the ECS achieved was superb.
However, nothing is ever simple
peoples systems wont be good
Tonally, it was also seriously
in high end hi-fi, and I have to say
enough to show this superlative
impressive. 4heros Morning Child
that it not quite so accomplished in
transparency up. My Quad 989
on CD was a joy, with a better lit
every department. Rhythmically it
electrostatics missed all the extra
midband. The MF Audio Silver was a
is very adept, especially across the
reverb around the vocals on the
tad dull across the upper mid and
midband, but its bass is a fraction
Yes track, and it was only when I
treble in comparison, and the ECS
slower and less well articulated than
moved to Yamaha NS1000Ms that it
managed to provide a better sense of
the MF Audio. It has a more evenflooded out. If youre running 14,000
space and air without ever sounding
handed and less emotional character
Apogees, you may well find that only
harsh. There was also a real sense of
which some will love, and others
the ECSpre will do, but back down
listening to the instruments natural
will not and this is particularly
in the real world, the MF Audio will
timbre; glassy piano recordings
noticeable on dynamics, which arent
do it all for half the price or less.
sounded glassy, warm ones warm.
quite as convincingly carried as the
Overall then, in some respects, the
Again, there was a very slightly wider
MF. However, the sheer clarity and
best preamplifier I have heard, and a
variety to the ECSs tonal palette.
composure on dynamic peaks is
total joy. At this level though, whether
However, the ECS didnt have
obviously superior, and many will be
you should buy it depends entirely
it all its own way. The bass on the
happy to trade one for the other.
on you, your finances, your tastes and
MF was more of a piece; ever so
I wont say the ECSpre is
slightly stronger, it was also more
cracking value for money at this price the rest of your system. Go find that
dealer and decide for yourself!
fluid and just seemed to flow more
(I dont think any piece of hi-fi is for
convincingly. The ECS
was workmanlike and
dutiful at the low end,
giving a tight and taut
bass sound but not
really showing any signs
of relish. On my vinyl
pressing of UB40s
King, the MF seemed
more emotionally
VERDICT
engaged with the song.
Startling soundstaging, clarity and
The ECS, despite supplying a
composure make it one of the best
breathtakingly wide soundstage
preamps in the world, but less expresThe main point of note about the ECS
Frequency response
6Hz-100kHz
and startling insight into the
sively musical than some and finish
is that its simple circuit topology offers
Separation
99dB
lacking at the price.
minutiae of the recording,
little gain: just x1.2 from the normal
Noise (e.i.n.)
-90dB
simply didnt seem to be having
ECS PRE
5,500
unbalanced phono socket CD input to
Distortion
0.003%
as much fun. Falling back on
ECS amplifiers
the phono socket output. The balanced
Gain (unbal./bal.)
x1.2 / x2.3
the dreaded car analogies, we
output gives double this and its the
Overload
6.5V out
+44(0) 208 743 8880
seemed to have a case of a
most on offer. Via the balanced input
www.ecsamplifiers.co.uk
to balanced output gain measured
DISTORTION
massive Yank muscle car trying
FOR
just x1.5. This is fine for matching CD,
to follow a smaller European
- sublime detailing
SACD
and
DVD
players
to
most
(but
not
sportster on twisty roads...
all) power amps, which need just 1V in,
- breathtaking soundstaging
Most obvious was the MF
but things get difficult if you use, say,
- supreme cohesion
Audios dynamic alacrity. The
a quality phono stage with limited gain.
- tonal acuity
ECS proved in no way deficient,
Otherwise, frequency response was
its just that on musical peaks,
wide and distortion low. Input noise
AGAINST
the MF seemed to be able
was high in absolute terms, but still
- absolute dynamic ability
to signpost the power and
low enough to be inaudible. So the ECS
- bass articulation
exertion the musicians were
measures well, but it has little gain.
- imposing styling
NK
putting in, whereas the ECS
- finish
took a more relaxed approach.
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P58-P59 cut.indd 61
61
19/3/07 17:00:11
REVIEW
Progress Report
Vinyl replay has come a long way since the 1970s, with new developments seemingly
every month. Ortofon's brand new 2M Red and Blue moving magnets are the
company's latest cartridge offerings, promising far superior sound to the old 520
range. So how do they compare to a thirty year old classic budget MM, such as
Nagaoka's MP11? Noel Keywood couldn't resist finding out...
62
p62-65 subbed final.indd 62
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 15:30:14
REVIEW
SOUND QUALITY
Listening to this little group, there
was no doubt which were the new
'cutting edge' cartridges, and which
was the nineteen seventies classic.
The difference in presentation was
marked, and throws what Ortofon
are trying to do with the new 2M
series into sharp relief. The 2M Blue
is a cartridge that reveals whats
on a disc with a ruthlessly forensic
approach that is a world away from
the classic Nagaoka, or most other
cartridges if it comes to that.
This 120 moving magnet gave
me Tracey Chapman in vivid detail,
close in front
of me
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
La La', another
modern pressing
with good
recording and
cutting quality,
and the Blue
delivered the most
Tracking force
Weight
Vertical tracking angle
Red/Blue
Frequency response
Channel separation
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
1.8gms
6gms
33/30degrees
20Hz - 20kHz
25/23dB
63
19/3/07 15:30:22
64
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
13/3/07 14:04:53
REVIEW
LPs if you are cash-strapped, as it
will never mistrack. I ought to point
out though, that if you play old
LPs with a new cartridge like
this you may well hear the
damage imprinted into
the groove walls by the
mistracking of previous
cartridges.
SOUND QUALITY
NAGAOKA MP11
One look at the MP11s bodywork
is enough to convince any potential
buyer that this little cartridge is
from the functional design school
and not a candidate for any Museum
of Modern Art. Never mind though,
as those boxy parallel sides are
just what is wanted for accurate
alignment in an arms headshell. Skew
in the headshell raises distortion
considerably, from around 1% up to
2% or more, so the MP11s boxiness
is no bad thing. Weighing in at 6.8gms
it is also a perfect match for the
balancing system of every arm, as all
can cope with 6-10gms.
At the price the Nagaokas
MP11 comes in simple packaging
by Shure standards, but this is of
little consequence in itself, as its
the cartridge that matters and here
Nagaoka, I found, have maintained
standards. Tests showed that at the
recommended tracking force of
2gms - very close to Goldring and
Ortofons use of 1.8gms, note - the
MP11 sailed through all tracking tests
with an ease that few can match at
any price. Consequently, the MP11 is
a fine choice for preserving valuable
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
65
19/3/07 15:30:29
REVIEW
Black Run
Loaded up with high tech materials, the
German Isophon Cassiano loudspeakers
feature some very innovative technology.
Adam Smith listens in.
66
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
14/3/07 16:01:36
SOUND QUALITY
'Big' is not only the name of a 1988
Tom Hanks film, but also the word
that kept popping into my head
during my time auditioning the
Cassianos. Whilst it can also be used
to describe their height (and price
tag...) it is most aptly applied to the
soundstage that they generate - make
no mistake about it, for realism,
spatial abilities and soundstaging,
these are amongst the best nonelectrostatic loudspeakers I have
encountered. No matter what music
I played, I could shut my eyes and be
transported straight to the concert
hall, studio or even dance tent where
it was recorded.
The Isophons' bass is immensely
deep and powerful, yet exhibits pace,
fluidity and a lightness of touch when
required that belies their dimensions.
Stringed bass instruments, whether
acoustic or electric had real depth
and emotion, with each plucked
VERDICT
Magnificent loudspeakers that possess
qualities of imaging, scale and dynamics
that few others can match.
REVIEW
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P66-P67.indd 67
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14/3/07 16:01:49
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(ERTFORDSHIRE(052
REVIEW
Jailhouse
Rock
All the way from Memphis come the Eggleston Works Isabel
loudspeakers. Adam Smith dons his blue suede shoes and takes a
listen.
hen thinking
of great names
from Tennessee,
Elvis Presley and
Graceland would
immediately spring
to mind, possibly closely followed by
Jack Daniels. I suspect, however, that
loudspeaker manufacturers would
not be high on the list for many of us
here in the UK, but this could well be
ripe for change.
Since 1992, Eggleston Works have
been manufacturing loudspeakers, and
are rightly proud that their factory
in downtown Memphis is very close
to "the birthplace of Blues and Rock
'n' Roll". Each loudspeaker is built
almost entirely by hand, making use
of top quality materials, assembled
with great care and attention to
detail. As an example, each cabinet is
constructed using two MDF panels,
each of which is five-eighths of an
inch thick and glued together with
viscoelastic damping material.
All loudspeakers are then handfinished in an eight hour process
that uses over a dozen different
specialised polishing and finishing
tools. As if this was not enough,
the finishing touch is a granite slab
carefully aligned and affixed to each
side panel. This confers superb
rigidity to the cabinet and is aimed
to virtually eliminating cabinet
colouration.
With a range currently consisting
of eight loudspeakers and stretching
up to the impressive 'Ivy', weighing in
at no less than 360kg and sporting
a rather astonishing twenty three
drive units (only eight of which are
visible!), Eggleston Works can offer a
comprehensive selection of models
to suit virtually all pockets and
rooms. However, our pockets are
quite shallow here at Hi-Fi World, so
we elected to listen to the babies of
the range, the Isabels. With a price
tag of 2,299 these are compact
70
P70-P71.indd 70
standmounting
loudspeakers that
include matching
bases in their price.
A two way
design, the Isabels
make use of
Eggleston Works'
universal six inch
(150mm) bass/
midrange driver
that features a
polypropylene cone,
double magnet
motor unit and a
three inch (75mm)
voice coil for good
power handling and
reduced distortion
Most unusually, it
is run full-range
with no crossover,
which requires a
very careful design in
order that the cone
does not become
aurally offensive when
it enters its breakup
region (which, of
course, a crossover
filters out).
This is mated to
a one inch (25mm)
soft dome Dynaudio
Esotar tweeter, filtered
via a simple hard-wired
crossover. A single set
of input terminals are
provided and, thanks in
no small part to those
granite side panels, the
Isabels weigh a considerable 25kg. Connected
up to our test system
that includes Quad
QC24 and II-Forty
amplifiers, a Cambridge
Azur 840C CD player and
an Eastern Electric Minimax phono
stage fed by vinyl sources including
our Pioneer PLC-590/SME M2-10 and
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
16/3/07 11:16:16
REVIEW
free from any unpleasant 'zing'
is to ensure that it is supported well
but had good realism and body to
on a sturdy and acoustically inert
them. Once again the clean nature
stand. Unfortunately things did not
of the midband came to the fore
get off to a promising start with the
and worked well with the higher
Isabels as their bass was boxy
frequencies to ensure that all details
with a noticeably 'honky'
were retrieved and presented well.
nature. Kevin Akam from
Steve Earle's 'Copperhead
Signature Audio advised
Road' recording can become quite
that mass loading the
harsh and muddled through some
bases was a good idea,
loudspeakers but I was pleased to
which did indeed improve
hear that the Isabels did not fall into
things. However, for
this trap, remaining composed and
review purposes I set the
unflustered throughout the CD. On
'speakers up on a pair of
a couple of occasions it would have
conventional 60cm Sound
been nice if they had let rip a little
Organisation stands and
more but, on the whole, their innate
this elicited the best
sense of polish and precision is
results from them.
enjoyable.
As suspected from
the measurements
taken [See MEASURED
CONCLUSION
PERFORMANCE] the
The Eggleston Works Isabels have a
bass from the Isabel
very poised nature and they excel on
loudspeakers was not
acoustic and atmospheric music. They
the deepest around,
also seemed to suit vinyl very well,
even given their cabinet
thanks to their expansive soundstage.
VERDICT
size. Fortunately what
The only area in which they
was there was tight,
seem to hold back somewhat is when Stylish and well designed loudspeakers
with an impressive soundstage. The
punchy and tuneful, and
the pace of the music steps up a gear Isabels perform consistently with a wide
they never sounded
or two, as they are not the 'rockiest' variety of music.
lightweight. This
speakers around, despite those
EGGLESTON WORKS
integrated well into
granite sides! That said, they never
ISABEL
2,299
the higher frequencies
became jumbled or congested, as I
Distributed by Signature Audio
and it was here that
have heard some loudspeakers do,
+44(0) 208 480 3333
the granite side panels
they just never seemed to dig totally
www.egglestonworks.com
paid dividends as the
into the heart of the rhythm.
FOR
midrange was very clean
Ultimately, however, the Isabels
- Build quality and finish
and detailed with no
are a well considered design that
- Excellent soundstaging
boxy colouration.
have a very enjoyable sound. Their
- Well balanced performance
The soundstage set
accomplished and sophisticated
up by the Isabels was
performance speaks volumes for
AGAINST
surprisingly capacious
the technology used in their cabinet
- A little polite at times
and they offered a
construction and driver technology,
- Perform better on stands
sense of scale that one
especially given the crossover-less
other than those supplied
generally only experiences nature of the main drive unit.
with larger
loudspeakers.
Listening to
The Eggleston Works Isabel
well with around 40-50W.
Emmylou
loudspeakers have a slightly uneven
AS
Harris's
nature to their output but not in areas
'Jerusalem
that cause concern. The lift in midrange FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Tomorrow',
output from 600Hz to 1kHz will add
her vocals had presence and details to vocals, but the
a rich fluidity
flat response just above this should
minimise any harshness in this area.
to them and
Treble output rises steadily above
she was sat
10kHz which will add detail and sparkle
perfectly
to the sound.
centre stage,
Bass output starts to roll off at
with the
150Hz and the port is tuned to around
accompanying
Green - driver output
100Hz, meaning that earth-shattering
double bass
Red - port output
bass will not be on the agenda. That
thrumming
said, the port is rear-mounted and so
IMPEDANCE
gently away
will enable fine tuning via judicious
positioning.
behind her.
Measured sensitivity was fine for
Treble was very
a small loudspeaker at 85dB and the
sweet and clean, yet
impedance curve shows a smooth
well detailed, the rise
and well damped response. Average
in output towards
impedance is 9.1 Ohms, dipping to a
20kHz clearly helping
minimum of 7 Ohms. The Isabels will
here. Percussive effects
not be difficult to drive and should work
such as cymbals were
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
the Slatedeck
Garrard 401/SME
312, I was ready to rock.
SOUND QUALITY
One of the vital aspects of obtaining
good sound from a small loudspeaker
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P70-P71.indd 71
71
16/3/07 11:16:26
s h a d o w
t h e
s h o p
t h a t
a u d i o
n e v e r
s l e e p s
shadow audio
SELECTED PRODUCTS:
SELECTED BRANDS:
Analogue
Cables
Cleaning
Mains Conditioning
Isolation / Support
Room Acoustics
Storage
Amplifiers
CD Players
Loudspeakers
Tuners
Turntables
Audiophile Recordings (CD, Vinyl)
Apollo
ART Loudspeakers
Black Rhodium
CEC
Clearaudio
Custom Design
Eastern Electric
Eclipse Speakers
JAS Audio
IsoTek
Nordost
Slim Devices
Turtle Records
VPI & more to come....
www.shadowaudio.co.uk
SA-HFW May07 FP v1 out.indd 1
8/3/07 14:00:04
OPINION
adam
smith
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P73.indd 73
73
19/3/07 11:47:57
Hi-definition audio
Explore your senses with the ultimate in world class Hi-Fi
Visit www.naim-audio.com for details of your nearest retailer
or email info@naim-uk.com
OPINION
dominic
todd
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P75 NK subbed.indd 75
75
13/3/07 09:40:16
Lucy just couldnt understand Toms sudden lack of interest in an early night
5/2/07 3:49:59 pm
OPINION
paul
rigby
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P77 NK subbed.indd 77
77
13/3/07 09:46:38
Walrus
MBL 111 RC
Hrning Agathon
Ultimate
P72.indd 72
Musically satisfying...
modern yet romantic
is what comes to mind
when describing the
sound of this new valve
driven line stage preamplifier, the Melody Pure
Black 101D.
Emille KI-240
6/12/06 09:32:59
OPINION
steven
green
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P79.indd 79
79
16/3/07 15:45:52
5/1/07 11:17:59 am
OPINION
noel
keywood
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P81 subbed.indd 81
81
16/3/07 14:20:54
AUDIOPHILE VINYL
82
P82-P83 subbed.indd 82
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
20/3/07 12:50:53
AUDIOPHILE VINYL
MIGHTY BABY
A Jug Of Love
Sunbeam Records/
Blue Horizon
The keyboard player for the original
band, Ian Whiteman, who now lives
in Spain, revealed that he owned
a master tape for this particular
album. Sunbeam MD Steven Carr
was delighted. He didnt have the
original master. I think the multitrack
was mixed down to a 2-tracker and
he probably had the safety copy
or something - which was more
common at the time. The condition
wasnt bad, I was quite surprised. It
played straight through. Ive done
stuff, using tapes from Abbey Road,
where the edits have popped like
nobodys business. This one was
fine, though. The master tape was
given to Nick Webb, an experienced
mastering engineer and ex-Abbey
Road employee.
In fact, both Carr and Webb
may be familiar to Naim customers
because the pair handle all of that
companys vinyl too. Michael Evans,
Mighty Babys bass player, sat in
attendance during the mastering
although he offered no assistance.
JOHN ENTWISTLE
Smash Your Head Against
The Wall
Earmark/Track Records
One of the most important and
distinctive bass players the world
has ever known, before him bass
players were part of the stage
wallpaper. Entwistle was the calm
amongst the storm that was the rest
of The Who yet his bass work was
musically complex and physically
demanding. As The Whos guitarist
and songwriter Pete Townshend said,
you quickly got the feeling that,
yes, hes playing the bass but hes
not really playing the bass. This is
something else. He realised that he
had the power to change the f**king
instrument!
Entwistle had shown his song
writing credentials during his time in
The Who with the likes of Boris the
Spider, Whiskey Man and My Wife.
This, his first solo album released in
1971 was his best. Not surprisingly,
the album had a strong Who sound
and influence. It also allowed
Entwistle to spread his wings. For
example, in Pick Me Up he plays
the whole horn section many fans
were unaware that Entwistle had
been trained to play the French
Horn at a young age along with the
piano!
In many ways, it was a dark
album but with superb melodic
lines. This Earmark release has been
mastered onto 180gm vinyl and set
within a gatefold cover. It features
the original album only so doesnt
include any extra tracks, such as the
Repertoire 1996 CD issue which
adds Cinnamon Girl. The Earmark
release is big and bold with drums
and bass to the fore and the vocals
hovering over the instruments.
Its not so much heavy rock as big
rock. The cut is pretty quiet too
which is welcome. All in all, this is
a recommended release, especially
as original vinyl copies are not too
thick on the ground.
CONTACTS:
Diverse Vinyl
+44(0)1633 256261
www.diversevinyl.com
Stamford Audio
+44(0)1223 894999
www.stamfordaudio.com
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P82-P83 subbed.indd 83
83
20/3/07 12:50:53
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4EL%MAILWWWSTAMFORDAUDIOCOM
3LQGG
REVIEW
Presto!
With nearly 5,500 stations, fine sound
and freedom from DAB woes, the
MagicBox Imp is an automatic choice
for radio fans, says Steven Green...
SOUND QUALITY
When playing high bit rate MP3 files
from my PC the sound quality was
unusually excellent for a device with
such a small speaker, delivering a
pleasingly crisp and punchy sound.
The radio performed best in the
bass and midrange, but a slightly shrill
treble let things down occasionally. As
you would expect, the audio quality
of Internet radio stations was highly
dependent on the bit rate used, with
the higher bit rate streams providing
higher audio quality, and vice versa.
The one negative issue as far as
WHAT IS IT?
A Wi-Fi Internet radio that works like a normal mains powered radio, but which gives access to over 5,300 Internet
radio stations from around the world, including over 500
from the UK. The Imp also allows you to play audio streamed
wirelessly from your PC. To use an Imp you need to have a
broadband Internet connection, and a Wi-Fi router (if you
need to buy one, the wireless router that seems to be almost
universally recommended is the Netgear DG834G).
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P85 NK subbed.indd 85
VERDICT
MAGICBOX IMP
129
MagicBox
+44 (0)1959 565525
www.magicboxproducts.co.uk
FOR
- future-proof
- range of stations
- sound quality
AGAINST
- connection time
- audio format support
85
13/3/07 09:52:16
P e r f o r m a nce
series
L2 Series Loudspeakers
99 Series Electronics
A new breed
Quad L2 series Loudspeakers
The Quad 99 series electronics and L2 series loudspeakers
are a match made in heaven. Detail, accuracy and refinement
all combine to present one of the most musical and insightful
systems available and with our new 99CDP-2, will integrate
seamlessly into your digital world allowing up to 6* digital
sources to benefit from our state-of-the-art DACs
* CDP-2 includes 3 x Optical and 2 x Co-axial digital inputs.
L2 advert AV 07.indd 1
www.quad-hifi.co.uk
8/3/07 11:05:05
SOUNDBITES
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P87 subbed.indd 19
87
15/3/07 13:00:43
OLDE WORLDE
Metallica
Dominic Todd pens a paean of praise to his favourite classic loudspeaker, Celestions SL600...
market.
What made this speaker special
was the scale of sound available from
such a compact cabinet. Rather like
the Wharfedale Diamond had done
just months before, the SL6 proved
that a large cabinet wasnt required
to create a decent sound. At the
time, the SL6 was one of the most
thoroughly researched speakers
ever produced and used the then
new-fangled laser velocity analysis
to measure driver and cabinet
performance.
Such research proved invaluable.
At a time when most speaker
cabinets flexed like a Rolf Harris
wobble board, the SL6 used a highly
rigid, internally braced cabinet. Even
more intriguing was the electroformed copper tweeter. This was
unique at the time and played its part
in spreading metal dome tweeters
across the hi-fi industry. As it turned
88
P88-P89 NK subbed.indd 88
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
13/3/07 10:50:32
OLDE WORLDE
It was worth it. The exceptionally
light cabinet was also particularly
rigid and free from colouration. To
provide suitable damping, the cabinet
was filled with layers of varied
densities of foam. The original Kobex
woofer and copper tweeter made
it across from the SL6 but, in this
case, they were hand selected. The
hardwired crossover was matched
to a specific tweeter, thus ensuring
correct alignment with the 21kHz
compensation network. Like the SL6,
the first SL600s used simple 4mm
speaker sockets making banana
plugs essential.
Unlike the SL6, the SL600 came
without a grill. This was because the
cabinet would lose rigidity if drilled
further for grill mounting points.
Yet, with its smart Nextel paintwork
and diecast metal faceplates, few
customers would want to cover
the SL600. Lets not forget, this was
seriously hi-tech stuff in 1984!
Celestion obviously received
complaints about its lack of grill,
as the next version, the SL600Si
featured one (cleverly attached to the
existing faceplate bolts). Skipping the
S improvements altogether, it was
only in 1988 when the SL600 got its
first upgrade. Like the SL6, the new
Si included a revised crossover with
biwiring and some cosmetic tidying
including a new, harder wearing, paint.
Interestingly, the SL600 never got
the aluminium tweeter or the dual
density woofer surround (they were
destined for the even posher SL700)
but perhaps this was no bad thing as
it meant that, for better or worse,
the SL600 never lost its original
character.
SOUND QUALITY
Celestion SL600s divided audiophile
opinion like few other loudspeakers
ever made. Detractors criticised
the sat upon sound, slow bass and
tragic efficiency, whereas supporters
loved their eerie transparency. Taking
the nay-sayers first, there is no
doubt that the SL600s are woefully
inefficient - 82dB rules them out for
use with many amplifiers. In addition
to this, they also tend to be system
and room fussy. They require plenty
of space from a rear wall and, believe
it or not, decent room temperature
that PVC woofer surround moves
very little when it gets cold! Against
modern speakers, bass can also
justifiably labelled as off the pace
or turgid. Yet, just before you write
them off, take a closer listen...
When properly set up and
matched with sympathetic ancillaries,
the SL600s produce a wonderfully
holographic soundstage that can rival
a Quad electrostatic for transparency.
SECOND THOUGHTS
As eighties as red braces, Golf GTis and Filofaxes, the SL600s
haled from the days when loudspeakers were as characterful as a tipsy Boy George on the Parkinson Show. In 2007,
where so many boxes are well-honed variations on a theme
set many years ago, the original SL6s were a breath of fresh
air. Small two-way 'speakers with unusual styling, space-age
computer aided design work to their drive units and the first
copper dome tweeter ever, they were certainly different. The
82dB efficiency was outrageous even by the lowly standards
of the previous decade, meaning that only the likes of a Krell
could truly light them up. The SL600 added the high tech
metal cabinet, and made the SL6 package sound like no other
boxed loudspeaker around - by comparison, the likes of the
Acoustic Energy AE1 was boxy and wooden. Me, I hated the
SL600s and still do theyre far too Radio 3 for my tastes, but
several classical music lovers I know hold them in even higher
estimation than the Quad ESL57s and 63s they sold to buy their
SL600s. Different strokes for different folks, but Ill concede
this was a speaker that genuinely moved the game along and
radically transformed the eighties speaker scene. DP
speakers are extremely long lasting.
That PVC and Kobex woofer may
be inefficient, but boy does it last
well. The copper tweeter is similarly
robust. Its good to know that
the SL600s can still be serviced
- Celestion themselves no longer
support the model but there are
specialists such as DK Loudspeaker
Services (+44 (0)1708 447344) that
can help.
Apart from the drive units, the
main consideration when buying a
pair of SL600s is the cabinet. Whilst
Aerolam is very rigid, its also rather
soft. Dented cabinets arent unusual,
and are not something that can be
patched up with wood glue and
plastic wood! Small dents wont
affect the sound but anything larger
effectively relegates the speakers to
the role of parts donor. Cosmetically,
BUYING SECOND-HAND
Although far from universally loved,
the SL600s still have a cult following.
Unlike the SL6, prices for the SL600
are higher than you might expect for
a twenty year old design. Whereas
as little as 30 to 150 should find a
pair of working SL6s, you need more
like 200 to get hold of a pair of
the 600s and this would be for a
tatty pair. For a mint and boxed set
of SL600Sis, with grills and possibly
even stands you could be looking at
anything up to 500.
Although not cheap, these
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SHOW REPORT
Show Time
David Price and Adam Smith round up their faves from the Bristol Sound & Vision Show....
PIONEER
Pioneer were exhibiting a welcome return to two channel audio
with their new PD-D6-J SACD/CD
player along with the A-A6-J and
A-A9-J amplifiers. Combining
sleek styling with a wealth of
audiophile features, all items
were making some very promising noises through Pioneers own
TAD-branded loudspeakers.
QUAD
Quad were exhibiting their superb ESL-2905 loudspeakers using prototypes of their brand new II-Eighty
monoblock power amplifiers. Taking the already
superb II-Forty amplifiers as a starting point, the
new items increase the valve count and thus the
power output to 80 watts, more than enough for the
most demanding loudspeaker.
Interestingly, playing
a visitors requested
Robert Miles track,
this setup more
than disproved
the old notion that
electrostatics dont
do bass...
SPENDOR
Spendor were showing
samples of their new flagship loudspeakers, the ST-1s,
which they estimate will sell
for around 5,000. The ST-1s
feature brand new drive units,
housed in a stylish gloss black
cabinet which has a contrasting panel down the front. This
contrasting front panel will be
available in a wide variety of
finishes, including wood, leather and metal of differing types.
HENLEY DESIGNS
Henley Designs had a party atmosphere in their
room all weekend thanks to their lava lamps and
a certain individual mysteriously known only as
Billy the Fridge! Supplying suitable sounds were
two Pro-ject and Roksan based systems, one of
which was running the brand new Ortofon 2M
Blue moving magnet cartridge. Initial responses
were very positive from the Hi-Fi World team...
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
13/3/07 10:01:56
how....
SHOW REPORT
NEAT
Neat Acoustics were demonstrating
their new Momentum 3i and 4i loudspeakers, the former being a standmounter that retails for 1,745 and the
latter a floorstander retailing at 2,695.
Both make use of isobaric bass loading
and the 4i is particularly interesting as
it uses two 6.5 inch bass units in this
configuration, and hidden from view.
Watch this space for a review...
ARCAM
One of the most interesting new
Arcam products for years was the
FMJ MS250 Music Server. 3,000 is a
lot to pay, but its a very sophisticated beast and with superb sound too!
REGA
Rega's resident vinyl boffin Terry
Batemans fingerprints are all over
the new Rega MC Stage - a full on
audiophile phono stage with highly
adjustable loading and sensitivity.
Rega also had their new Apheta
MC cartridge on show too...
LINN
About time too is what we say
- a brilliant evolution of the
Sondek! Some werent quite so
sure, but theres no doubting
the latest LP12 SE is tighter,
cleaner, faster and more modern sounding. Again, wait here
for the definitive review...
LEEMA
Following our rave
review of the baby
Xen a few months
back, it was interesting to hear a cheaper
evolution of them.
Diminutive, but with a
fantastically clean and
musical sound, they
could be one of the
best mini monitors on
sale when they hit the
shops next month...
ONKYO
Onkyo started life
as a speaker manufacturer, and the
D-TK10 - produced
in association with
high end guitar
specialist Takamine,
shows they havent
lost their touch.
Amazing sound
from tiny cabs,
but they do cost
$2,000...
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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Faiza
Great
GamuT system
Best wishes
Jeremy
01225 874728
or lo-call
CD: ACCUSTIC ARTS, BEL CANTO, dCS (ELGAR, DELIUS, PURCELL, VERDI, VERONA, P8I),
GAMUT, RESOLUTION AUDIO, STELLO, WADIA. VINYL: AESTHETICS, AVID, CLEARAUDIO,
DNM, GRAHAM, THE GROOVE, LEHMANN, MICHELL, ORIGIN LIVE, SUMIKO BLUE POINT
SPECIAL, TRANSFIGURATION. AMPLIFIERS: BEL CANTO, CAT, DK DESIGN, DNM, GAMUT,
HALCRO, HOVLAND, SONNETEER, STELLO. LOUDSPEAKERS: AUDIO PHYSIC, DALI, ETHOS,
GAMUT, NEAT, TOTEM. CABLES: CHORD CO., DNM, NORDOST, SILTECH, VERTEX AQ
MAINS Vertex AQ. SUPPORTS: ARCICI, STANDS UNIQUE, VERTEX AQ
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
13/3/07 13:12:22
13/3/07 12:58:05
DIY FEATURE
Designing
Speakers
Part 6 Crossover Design
Crossovers are the bte noir of loudspeakers, but do they really cause more problems than
theyre worth? Peter Comeau explains...
FIRST ORDER
First of all why do we need to
crossover at all? To see why, you
really need to have a listen to one
of the full range drive units that are
the fave rave of the DIY speaker
fraternity. Listen to a Fostex or a
Lowther in comparison to a two-way
speaker and youll be immediately
aware of the lack of bass power and
treble extension, as well as honky,
clappy, tubey, papery colorations in
some areas of the midband.
Now before I get a raft of
letters and e-mails from DIY speaker
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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DIY FEATURE
Breakup modes are caused when the drive unit stops behaving like a
piston. Part of the diaphragm starts to move independently and this can be
audibly noticeable.
You can see the breakup modes as ripples in the frequency response that
match with those in the impedance graph.
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FIRST ORDER
So far so good. This is the basis of
the classic two-way loudspeaker. The
problem then becomes just how do
we cross over from one drive unit to
the other?
The simplest method is to use an
inductor in series with the bass unit
and a capacitor in series with the
treble unit. The inductor increases in
impedance as the frequencies rise,
resulting in less treble energy getting
through to the bass/midrange unit.
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 13:47:05
DIY FEATURE
real-world drive units dont behave
like this and very often the combined
phase response of the electrical
output of the crossover and the
acoustic performance of the drive
unit result in phase discrepancies
which wreck the smooth crossover
we are aiming for.
THIRD ORDER
First order slopes are very gentle at just 6dB/Octave
attenuation below the crossover frequency. So the use
of first order crossovers requires exemplary drive units
with good behaviour over a very wide frequency range.
SECOND ORDER
The next step up from first order
is, of course, second order. Here we
add a second leg to each inductor
and capacitor. The series inductor
to the bass unit now has a capacitor
across the bass unit. This capacitor
shunts some of the treble energy
away from the drive unit (remember
a capacitors impedance falls as the
frequency gets higher).
Similarly there is an inductor
Diagrams of electrical 1st order, 2nd order, 3rd order and 4th
order crossover networks. These are theoretical electrical
crossovers. Practical circuits designed to work with real drive
units may differ from these, but the basic arrangement of the
components will remain the same.
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DIY FEATURE
Octave of a second order electrical
crossover and, bingo, there is your
third order acoustic crossover.
So you will often see what
initially looks like a mismatch of
second order and third order
crossovers in commercial speakers,
but bear in mind that you are only
looking at electrical slopes. It is the
final, acoustic slopes that we are
more interested in.
ACTIVE CROSSOVERS
From third order we can go on
adding elements to take us to
fourth order electrical crossovers,
but now things start to become
rather unmanageable. Imagine, if
you will, juggling the values of all
those elements to try and achieve
the desired acoustic crossover.
As you change the value of just
one component it can affect the
performance so much that you need
to adjust the values of all the other
components to balance the result.
It is difficult enough doing this
with third order crossovers. Adding
the complexity of a fourth element
in each leg is asking for trouble. In
addition, as the filter slope increases,
the ringing of the filter becomes
worse. Unless carefully managed this
affects the transient response and
adds hardness and sharpness to the
sound through the crossover region
which can become fatiguing.
Every time we add elements
to the crossover the reflected
impedance to the amplifier runs the
risk of looking worse. The swing of
capacitance to inductance through
the crossover region can upset even
the most well behaved amplifiers. So
it is in our interest to try and keep
the overall system impedance looking
fairly benign, otherwise the speakers
will sound very different in character
depending on the amplifier they are
partnered with.
For these reasons the role of
higher order crossovers is often kept
in the electronic domain. There is a
persuasive argument for coupling a
power amplifier to each drive unit
and putting the crossover in the
preamplifier section. To start with the
amplifier can control the drive unit
more accurately if it doesnt have the
impedance of the crossover in the
way. Then we can build a high slope
into an electronic crossover, with
fewer problems than attempting it
with passive components, and achieve
the desired acoustic response by
mapping the drive unit characteristics to the required filter slopes in
an active crossover design.
If speaker designers had their
way then I suspect that most
speakers would be active designs.
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P93-P96.indd 96
CALCULATIONS
OK, so where are the calculations,
you know, the ones to select the
right values for our crossover
elements? Sorry to disappoint you,
but they dont exist! Yes, I know that
you can look up spreadsheets and
calculators that give you theoretical
values for a given crossover
frequency. But look at what they ask
you. What is the impedance of the
drive units?
Indeed, just what is the
impedance of the drive units? A bass
unit may be 8 Ohms at 250Hz but it
is likely to have an impedance of 22
Ohms at 1kHz. It is a variable, not a
fixed, impedance and your crossover
calculator cannot possibly take a
guess at the component values for an
impedance that varies with frequency.
So just how do you get started?
The old way, and for many the best
way, was to take the prototype
SHORTCUTS
Occasionally we see loudspeakers
come in for review that have, fairly
obviously, been designed by ear
without recourse to, or perhaps
ignoring, the requirements for
a smooth frequency response.
Generally they have one or two
problem areas which show up on
audition, perhaps a gap in the upper
midrange which leads to a dulled
presentation of detail or a peak in
the treble region that makes them
overbright.
Let me tell you it is much
easier to iron out all the frequency
response anomalies and then fine
tune the acoustic performance than
to just play it by ear.
Now this may be a
disappointment to you budding
speaker designers, but dont become
downhearted and give up yet. Next
month well look at ways that you
can use a computer to run your own
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 13:47:12
WD Phono 3
W
DIY FEATURE
Part 5
Moving Coil Cartridge step-up Head amp or Transformer? Peter Comeau explores...
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98
P98.indd 98
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www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
20/3/07 10:17:21
MIXED UP
Firstly I must say, Hi-Fi World has been
coming up with some great articles that
are of real use to me at the moment, in
particular around the subject of directdrive turntables. I have been pondering
the matter myself for a while following
the theft of two Vestax PDX-2000
turntables, a Vestax PMC-25 mixer
(which was my pride and joy - I have
kind of replaced it with a PMC-250
which is something of a consolation),
a Nait 3 and a Marantz CD63 which
at the time served my needs spinning
tunes together and generally having a
ball. I should mention that since then
I have made myself a pair of Studio
Monitors from Wilmslow Audio with
upgraded tweeters, caps and wiring
which I am happy enough to live with
for the time being. However, I have
been suffering greatly with the sound
from an old Dual 505 and a Denon
combo thing that some friends passed
on to help me out; it works, but it is
definitely not music as I know it.
Now having accumulated a
reasonable sum of money, I am trying
to reconcile houseparty DJing with
budding audiophile tendencies kept
mainly in check previously by spending
far too much on music. My girlfriend is
getting sick of the sight of magazines
with photos of wires and things. The
article on the Vestax deck recently was
interesting but swung me away from
the brand to look at the alternatives.
A custom made Brinkmann Oasis with
added pitch control would be lovely but
sadly I am a nurse and not a footballer.
Ideas began to coalesce after
reading about the Origin Live mod to
allow a replacement arm onto SL1200s
and the more I have thought about it,
the more determined I have become
to follow this path, adding OL Silver
2s, SDS platters, some decent oil and
perhaps Isonote footers to provide
some basic isolation until I can afford to
address proper support furniture at a
later date.
You seem very keen on the
Goldring 1042 cartridge at the
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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15/3/07 14:19:08
MAIL
thing or what issues hinder it? Any
advice respectfully received, hope you
can help in some way,
Gareth Richards
Upgrading the Technics as you
suggest is a fine idea and would
definitely improve your audio quality.
However, if your houseparty DJ-ing is
carried out at places other than your
home, it might be worth considering
a couple of standard Technics or
Vestax decks for this purpose and
then have a dedicated hi-fi deck at
home. This is the route I have taken,
and there is a lot to be said for not
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CARTRIDGE CONUNDRUM
Im in a quandary! Some time ago my
now retired bank manager, a generous
hi-fi fan, gave me an Entre moving coil
cartridge (Graham, If you see this, please
feel free to contact me and we can
resume our chats about hi-fi). Although
Ive been unable to find out much about
it, Im led to believe that in its day, it
was a reasonably expensive and good
piece of kit. Once fitted it was obviously
superior to the Rega MM cartridge
it replaced and Ive been very happy
with its performance, but I will need to
replace it in the not too distant future
and the question is, with what?
Have I been horribly spoiled and
need to spend 500 plus (which I
cant afford) to match its performance,
or have times moved on and a less
expensive replacement may be in order?
I listen to a lot of accessible jazz such
as Dave Grusin, Jaco Pastorius, George
Duke and other quite musically complex
material including Joni Mitchell, Steely
Dan, Tears for fears and Little Feat. To
be honest I cant really justify spending
more than around 100 and I realise
(unless I can pick up another used one)
my choice will be limited.
My present number one system
comprises; Rega Planar 3, RB300 with
Michell TecnoWeight conversion, Audiolab
8000A amp (and its MC input) into MS
208s via VDH the Clearwater cable.
Digital is provided by Arcam Alpha Plus
and Arcam Delta Black Box.
Also another question, is there a
direct link to the love of motorcycles and
hi-fi? Ive seen several references to bikes
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
15/3/07 14:19:10
MAIL
in your magazine and mail my friends
who like hi-fi but also own bikes (I ride a
ZZR 1100).
Terry Symonds
Used cartridges are something of a
minefield, Terry, as you can never be
sure exactly how many hours the
stylus has under it, or what sort of
conditions the records that is has
played were in. For your 100 budget,
the immediate candidates that spring
to mind are the new Ortofon Tango
and Denon DL103 if you really want
another MC, or if you dont mind
going back to the MM stable, we
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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DL103
forum posts are quite aggressive for example, blithely dismissing your
use of an LP12 and implying you
must be stupid for owning one. Well
I've heard a good number of great
turntables, and for some types of
music I've still never heard anything
better. In other instances, I wouldn't
touch it with a bargepole, but my
point is that if I was a full-on jazz fan,
for example, I'd be running one now
and not a GyroDec and/or Pioneer
PL-L1000. The longer I do this job,
the harder I find it to laugh derisively
at other peoples' systems - generally
enthusiasts have evolved their set-ups
into something that does it for them.
Forum-goers, I would argue, often
have a more simplistic and less three
dimensional view of life...
As for your cartridge, I am
afraid the MusicMaker didn't float
my boat. I must confess that (like
Noel) I'm a fan of the subtlety and
insight a serious moving coil can
bring. Moving magnets such as the
MusicMaker are just too veiled in the
treble and opaque in the midband for
my tastes, although it is excellent in
other respects, as its name suggests!
I personally would go for an Ortofon
Rondo Bronze (500) which will give
you the clarity and bite of the Denon
304 with a good deal more finesse.
It is slightly less warm though, but
your Linn LP12 should add a little
DL103R
welcome colour!
The LP12SE mods will be done
in full, very soon. Rest assured we'll
be handling the subject with love and
affection for the Sondek, and not just
looking for a chance to deride it! At
the Bristol show, my first impressions
were wholly positive, although there
were some there who rather missed
the 'romance' of the old deck. We'll
see! DP
SPEAKING BRIEFLY
Just a very quick question: did your
magazine ever do a test of the B&W
803D loudspeakers and, if so, what were
your experiences of them?
Raymond Van Rompaey
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
15/3/07 14:19:11
INDEXING
I am currently re-reading my collection
of hi-fi magazines, with the claimed goal
of making an index of the articles I have
found useful/of interest in order to be
able to quickly find them again. In fact, I
am suspicious that this is just a pretext
as I enjoy reading the magazines again!
However, re-reading articles from
different magazines over a long period
(15 years) has made me aware of some
general tendencies:
- a piece of equipment doesnt need
to measure well in order to deliver the
goods
- the revival of vinyl and valves
- the boom of what was in the past
considered as secondary accessories
(if ever) such as cables, mains filters,
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MAIL
a pot plant on top of
them. Hi-fi is an immensely
rewarding pastime, but is
not really a fit-and-forget
activity, especially if you like
those valves and vinyl!
As to the use of French,
I suspect that, deep-down,
we feel it confers a sense of
the exotic and mysterious
upon us when we use it.
Of course, slipping into the
realms of Del-Boy Trotter
is always a danger, so we
shall have to monitor these
more closely in future.
Mangetout!
AS
Au contraire Rodney
- I mean Adam!
Sometimes we need
to use French to
describe situations or
sensations for which
Yamaha NS1000 (again!) - benefit immensely from a set of
adjectives or phrases
custom-made stands.
don't exist in English.
No excuse for the
odd typo admittedly, but using foreign
Secondly, digital room correction. There
words is accepted English practice,
are already existing products (Lyngdorf,
and useful too - as anyone who's
Tact, DEXQ) as well as DIY attempts
ever tried to describe dj vu in
on the net that do not cost an arm and
English will know!
a leg. Wouldnt it be a good thing to
As for the Yamaha NS1000Ms
experiment what the mixing engineer
and myself, I now realise I have
attempted to do without transforming
spawned a monster. I use
our listening room (which is also the
them because I've yet to
family living room for most of us) into
hear more transparent
a studio suite spoilt with absorbers,
loudspeakers (from any
diffusers and Helmholtz resonators?
era), but I admit they are
Thats enough for now. Keep up the
flawed in some ways (like
good work!
every other speaker). The
Jean-Christophe Xerri
trouble is, after twenty years
in the wilderness (in this
Hmm, I am not entirely sure that
country at least), it appears
it is true that a piece of equipment
that every single Englishdoes not need to measure well in
speaking NS1000 owner in the
order to sound good. Very often any
world picked up on me using
irregularities in measurement can
them and decided to write in.
indeed be heard but the important
Apologies for this, as I realise
point is whether their resulting
it is terminally dull for noneffects are objectionable or fairly
NS1000 owners - maybe we
benign. Ultimately, however, we do
CD and LP come from different masshould introduce a ban, like the ter tapes, so they cannot be comtend to find that the best-sounding
French once tried with English pared. Heaven Seventeen's 'Luxury
equipment that we audition does
words in la langue franaise!
indeed measure fairly well as well.
Gap' CD demonstrated what happens
Given what I've just said, I shall
Just to confuse things even further
when you use the same master, in this
not divulge my plans to run my
however, we do sometimes find that
case the LP cutting master.
Yams with Marantz electronic
a set of good measurements do not
crossovers... DP
necessarily guarantee a good sound...
to perceive stereo. Distortion is
I dont think anyone could have
another controversial one: second
predicted fifteen years ago how some There were some glorious examples
harmonic distortion (a signal at
aspects of the current audio industry,
of CDs being derived from LP cutting
twice the frequency of the stimulus)
such as valves and vinyl, would have
masters, Heaven Seventeens Luxury
developed. Others, such as proper
Gap being a classic example. But I am is also subjectively innocuous. Third
harmonic adds sharpness, but at low
setup, system synergy and suitable
not aware this was ever a common
levels gives the sound incision and
accessories, seem to be a natural
practice/ mistake. Quite the reverse
a hard edged quality that some like,
progression to me and I am surprised in fact: the recording business was
as it seems to 'sharpen things up'.
that it took so long for someone
excited by the introduction of CD
Much above this however and the
to realise that the best place to site
and the lack of any need to derive a
ear starts to hear distortion not as
their loudspeakers was not actually
special cutting master, due to CDs
a change in quality of the music, but
plonked down beside the sofa with
intrinsic accuracy. Back then, digital
104
P99-P106.indd 104
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15/3/07 14:19:13
MAIL
roots are West Germanic (who said
hi-fi is confusing?). Start worrying
when we turn to Gaelic. NK
Go raibh maith agat ar do litir. SM
HEADING NORTH
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P99-P106.indd 105
105
15/3/07 14:19:14
MAIL
Having had some past experience of
building hi-fi I decided to go for it. I
phoned up and ordered the three Pre II
units. I then saved up and purchased a
pair of 300B PSE monoblocks which I
started to build but unfortunately had to
put on hold due to health reasons. This
May07.qxd
CALL SALES:(020) 8318 5755 or 8852 1321 Creek - Destiny CD/Amp + PMC DB1 System
2735
Save 340
Creek have a winner here. Tuneful, vibrant, a great partner for PMC - Come and listen.
Could this be your Destiny? For this month we include PMC DB1+ for half price!
435.00
449.00
375.00
325.00
859.00
895.00
1750.00
975.00
3895.00
1495.00
769.00
995.00
For latest News, Products, Offers, additions to our pre-owned and ex-display bargains in Marketplace section please visit www.billyvee.co.uk.
106
P99-P106.indd 106
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15/3/07 14:19:16
matrix
hi-
MUSONIC
STYLI
EMAIL: mailto:info@matrixhi-.co.uk
WEB: www.matrixhi-.co.uk
199.00
399.00
499.00
699.00
550.00
249.00
169.00
399.00
399.00
899.00
1,300.00
299.00
1,100.00
1,199.00
1,399.00
2,000.00
1,550.00
899.00
399.00
89.00
175.00
299.00
90-00
249.00
399.00
599.00
99.00
89.00
159.00
Quad FM3
YAMAHA CT710 TUNER
CD/HDCD/SACD/DVD/MD PLAYERS
CARY CAD955 TUBE CD PLAYER
CARY CD303 HDCD BOXED SUPERB
MUSICAL FIDELITY XRAY
NEW INCA KATANA CD PLAYER BARGAIN
NEW INCA KATANA SE
KATANA SE X DEMO
ARCAM DELTA BLACK BOX
TRICORD RESEARCH PULSER DAC WITH EXTERNAL
TR POWER SUPPLY, UPGRADED TO HDCD
MERIDIAN 506 20BIT. REMOTE
MERIDIAN 200 CD
MERIDIAN 200 CD WITH 203 DAC
MICROMEGA DRIVE 2 & DAC MINT BOXED
MARANTZ/HEART VALVED CD PLAYER
NEW/BOXED BLACK OR GOLD
NAD DVD/CD T550 MINT
THETA DSPRO BASIC II DAC
AUDIO NOTE DAC3 AND BORDER PATROL PSU.
MICRO SEIKI CD PLAYER CDM2 SUPERB
MYRYAD MC100 CD PLAYER
AUDIOLAB 8000 SERIES DAC BOXED
ASSEMBLAGE DAC2 HDCD
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO DAC MAGIC
EXPOSURE 2010 CD PLAYER
SHANLING CDT80
SHANLING CT200 SACD EX DEMO
NEW SHANLING CT200 SACD SEE WEB SITE
SHANLING CDT 300 OMEGA LIMITED EDITION
SPEAKERS
MONITOR AUDIO MA2 DOMESTIC REFERENCE
KEF MODEL ONE-TWO CHERRY FLOORSTANDERS
KEF C55 BLK STAND MOUNT, STANDS NOT INC.
SPENDOR SP1 VGC WITH STANDS
GRADANT REVOLUTION (3700 NEW)
NEW MISSION M3i SERIES BEECH
OPTIMUS LINIUM TWEETERS
AUDIO NOTE ANJ TEAK
SILVERADO PIANO BLACK INCL STANDS
SNELL E TEAK WITH TARGET STANDS
ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS SMALL
BOOKSHELF BEECH/CHERRY
99.00
45-00
499.00
1,399.00
349.00
600.00
995.00
650.00
199.00
599.00
199-00
399.00
999.00
800.00
299.00
199.00
199.00
150.00
299.00
649.00
1,650.00
2,150.00
3,899.00
199.00
499.00
150.00
299.00
1,899.00
129.00
150.00
499.00
1,499.00
649.00
POWER CONDITIONERS
ISOTEK POWER CLEANLINE
ISOTEK ORION 2/4/6/ OR 8 WAY
ISOTEK MINI SUB
MISC
699.00
499.00
299.00
399.00
499.00
29.95
299.00
P.O.A
495.00
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P107.indd 107
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13/3/07 14:17:10
LAT
INTERNATIONAL
Since 1989
IC 300 Signature, IC 200 MKII,
IC 100 MKII Analog,
DI-30 Signature & DI-20 Digital
and VI-6 Video Interconnects,
AC-2 MKII Power cord,
SS800 MKII and SS1000 MKII
Loudspeaker cables, also available in Biwire form..- Tonearm
interconnects TA300, TA200 and
TA100. Solid Core Silverfused wire
technology with Teflon insulation and are fully shielded,
On demo at
Rochester HiFi
AUDUSA OOM
North Star
AUDUSA EUPEN
The worlds
only true Ferrite technology cables - a high quality ferrite is extruded over the conductor strands.
Power Cords - GNLM 5/2.5 (CSA 2.5) and GNLM
05/04. From 48 for a 1m cord terminated with
an IEC and MK tough plug. Other terminations
include Fig of 8, 16 amp IEC, and mains plugs
Schuko, USA, Danish, India, Swiss etc
Bosendorfer Loudspeakers
Best Loudspeaker
- Wallpaper Magazine 2004. Reviewed
in the UK by HIFI
News, HiFi Plus and
HiFi Choice. Many
other great overseas
WWW.AUDUSA.COM
T: 020 8241 9826, 020 8264 0249
HFW-Mar 2007 BW.indd 100
E: sales@audusa.com
13/03/2007 23:32:56
CARTRIDGE SELECTION
Goldring
Elektra
1006
1012 GX
1022 GX
1042
Eroica LX/H
Elite
Audio Technica
AT 95 E
AT 110 E
AT OC9 ML II
Denon
DL 103
DL 103R
DL 110
DL 160
DL 304
Grado
Prestige Black
Prestige Gold
Lyra
Dorian
Argo
Shure
M 97 XE
Sumiko
Blue Point Special
Blackbird
33
76
95
126
144
135
238
28
62
76
104
117
113
194
STYLUS
HEADPHONE SELECTION
GEX 24
GEX 54
GEX 67
GEX 86
GEX 108
GEX N/A
GEX N/A
25
30
330 295 EX
16
18
105 95 EX
190 170 EX
79
69 EX
95
83 EX
210 190 EX
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
40
110
29
77
495 395 EX
795 635 EX
N/A
N/A
98
58
235 200 EX
585 500 EX
REPLACEMENT STYLI
Swiss Quality Diamond Styli
ADC
XLM Mk III
17
Akai
AN 5, AN 60
13
AN2, AN 70
15
Aiwa
AN11
13
Dual
DN 145 E, DN 165 E
17
JVC
DT 55, DT 60
13
National EPS 24 CS, P 30 D, P 33 D
13
Ortofon FF15/VMS20 EII, OM5/10/10/20 17
Pioneer PN 210/220/240
13
Shure N 75 C, SC 35 C
13
N 75 ED T2, N 75 EJ T2
17
N 95 ED/EJ, N 75 3 (78)
17
VN 35 E
20
N 97 HE, VN 35 HE
27
Sony
ND 142/155 G, CN234
13
ND 143/150/200 G
15
Stanton D 681 EEE
21
***Over 500 Styli Types Stocked***
GEX - Goldring new for old exchange price for any make/type of cartridge
EX - Exchange price same make moving coil cartridge
web: www.audio-craft.co.uk
email: kevin.walker@audio-craft.co.uk
tel: 01895 253340
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P109.indd 109
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16/3/07 12:29:10
HI-FI WORLD
Come and meet the Hi-Fi World team at
The Heathrow High Fidelity Show 2007
at The Park Inn Heathrow on
31st March - 1st April 2007
Park Inn Hotel, Bath Road, Heathrow,
Middlesex, UB7 0DU
P110.indd 78
20/3/07 15:36:36
Second hand
Sub woofer cables
Media cables
iPod cables
XLR cables
Pulsar Points
Component cables
Digital cables
DIN cables
HDMI cables
DVI cables
Jumpers
Optical cables
Mains & Power cables
SCART
S video
ONLINE SHOP
Cable Tower
Cable Burn In
Seismic Sink
Cyrus 3I integrated amplier.Ex cond.Book/no rem 225 Quad 303 power amplier. Boxed/good condition. 149
Quad 66 pre amplier with large remote control.
349 PS Audio pre amp with separate PSU. Cost 998.
299
Tube Technology Unisis power amp.Chrome,boxed 995 Ming Da valve pre amplifer. Chrome nish.Boxed 249
Sugden A48 amp & T48 tuner in wooden sleeve. 299 Quad 33 pre amplier. Mint/boxed/instructions.
125
Oakley Image 6 valve pre-amp with MM phono. 275 Rogers Cadet pre & power amplier.VG condition. 275
Leak Varislope pre amp. Converted to Passive. Pure silver wire/silver solder/rhodium plate phonos/alps pot.
350
Quad 11s in various condition and prices
POA Leak Stereo 20 valve power ampliers from. Various
Leak TL12+ valve ampliers.Bronze nish & rebuilt with expensive paper in oil caps & Rhodium plate phonos
695
Quad 303 power ampliers from . 125 Leak Stereo 20 rebuilt with Jensen paper in oils.
695
Quad 405/1. Excellent condition.
195 Quad 405/1. Boxed and in good condition.
225
Rotel RA-920AX integrated amplier.Ex condition. 69 Pair Leak TL12+ ampliers.Stunning.Bronze nish. 799
Nap 180 power amplier. Mint. Boxed.
799 Harmon Kardon integrated valve amp.110V. V rare 299
Heybrook P2 power amplier.80 watts/ch. Black. 249 Marantz PM66SE KI signature integrated amplier 199
Pair Musical Fidelity MA65 class A monoblocks. 595 DNM pre amp with PSU. Audiogone enhanced.
395
Arcam Alpha 10 amplier.Super condition.Remote 449 Pioneer A300 integrated amplier.
99
Arcam Alpha 9 integrated with remote & MM/MC 249 Musical Fidelity X can tube headphone amp.Boxed 125
Quad 33 pre ampliers. From..
75 Rothwell Indus SE passive pre amp. Awesome.New 799
Luxman LV-103 int hybrid amplier. Boxed. Rare. 349 Meridian Linear MC phono stage/pre-amp.Boxed. 149
Quad 405/2 power amplier.Mint condition.Boxed. 249 Quad 34 pre amp.Excellent cond & bxd. 5 pin din 249
Exposure Super V111 power amplier.Cost 849 249 Heybrook C2 pre amplier. Includes MM & MC. 199
John Shearne 2.5 int amplier.Ex condition.Boxed 295 John Shearne 3.5 power amp. Ex condition.Boxed. 295
Musical Fidelity A100 pure class A integrated. 50W 299 Mod Squad passive pre amp.Absolutely stunning
299
Musical Fidelity Pre 8 pre amplier. Chrome front. 149 Sugden A21A in wooden case. Beautiful condition. 249
Nakamichi CA5 pre-amplier. Ex cond. Cost 750 375 Nakamichi PA5 100W/CH power amp. Cost 1300 650
Wilmslow Audio Mercury B power amp.Ltd edition 295 Nad monitor series 1300 pre-amp with MM/MC.
149
Unison Research Mystery One line level pre amplier.Stunning condition with box/book.Serviced.Cost 1700
995
Galactron MK-2121 amplier. 60 watts of pure class A. Beautiful Italian styling. Wood cheeks.Cost new 1400
699
Marantz PM17 int amplier & rem.Mint.Boxed. 549 Leak Stereo 30 integrated amplier.
50
Musical Fidelity B1 integrated amplier. Good cond 125 Leak Varislope pre amplier. Ex condition.
95
Affordable valve Co tube amplier.Mint & boxed. 550 Naim NAC 92 pre amp. S/NO 161840. Mint. Boxed 299
Musical delity Typhoon pre and power amplier.With balanced cables. MM/MC input.Boxed & instructions.
295
Linn LK1 pre-amp and remote. Good condition.
249 Linn LK2 power amplier. Good condition
299
TURNTABLES/CD PLAYERS
SPEAKERS
450
499
399
275
249
49
119
799
149
149
6.50
349
35
399
95
POA
199
59
99
9.99
299
89
499
149
59
99
Full rebuild of 57s including latest Otec treble panels for only 1399.00
We sell serviced Quad ESL57 speakers from only 1200.00pr.Why spend 4000+?
Price includes 2 completely rebuilt treble panels etc. Ring for further info.
"Classique Sounds servicing restores the Quads to a position where they can hold their head
high", Jon Marks. HIFI WORLD. April 1999.Full servicing facilities available.
TRANSLUCENT. (somewhat of a bargain) Hifi World. Jan 1999
PURE SILVER INTERCONNECT CABLE
99.99% pure silver conductors. Quality gold plated RCA phono plugs.
Half Metre terminated 70.00 One metre terminated 90.00. Available with Eichmann plugs + 30
New Translucent ULTRA + Heavy duty. 99.99% pure silver (4N).
Eichmann 24 Kt gold plate plugs 199.00 per metre. Or 149 per half metre.
7 day money back guarantee if not better than existing cable
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
111.indd 111
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2.
3.
2. uid arm
3. stylus scales
TRANSCRIPTORS
T
8/3/07 17:00:24
Rochester Hi-Fi
ARCAM, ATACAMA, AUDION, AUDIOPHILE BASE, AVI, CHORD CABLES, CHORD ELECTRONICS,
CLEARAUDIO, CREEK, DALI, DK DESIGN, EPOS, EUPEN, EXPOSURE, FOCAL JMLAB, GAMUT,
GRAVES AUDIO, GRAHAM SLEE, LAT INTERNATIONAL, METRONOME TECHNOLOGIES,
NORTHSTAR, NOTTINGHAM ANALOGUE, NU FORCE, OPTIMUM, ORIGIN LIVE, PARTINGTON,
PROJECT, QUADRASPIRE, RESOLUTION AUDIO, RENAISSANCE, STIRLING LS35/a, TANNOY
PRESTIGE, USHER.
www.rochesterhi-.co.uk
112
P112.indd 112
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13/3/07 14:59:19
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4XDOLW\KLILHTXLSPHQWDOZD\VUHTXLUHGIRUFDVK&DOOXVEHIRUH\RXWUDGHLQ&RPPLVVLRQ6DOHVWRR
SALE!
TRADE IN YOUR OLD MOVING COIL CARTRIDGE & SAVE UP TO 60% OFF THE RRP.
CARTRIDGES & STYLI
HIFI FURNITURE
HEADPHONES
B.C.D.
CUSTOM DESIGN
OPTIMUM
ASH DESIGN
APOLLO
SOUND STYLE
SOUND
ORGANISATION
ALPHASON
ERGO
SHURE
BEYER
STAX
SENNHEISER
SONY
AKG
GRADO
AUDIOTECHNICA
CABLES
PIONEER
SONY
CASSETTE DECKS
VIRTUAL DYNAMICS
BLACK RHODIUM
TRANSPARENT
TONEARMS
QED
SME
ORTOFON
GRAHAM
NORDOST
MOTH
SUPRA
CARTRIDGE MAN
WIREWORLD
CLEARAUDIO
HADCOCK
CD PLAYERS
MICHELL
AUDIO ANALOGUE
TURNTABLES
MONRIO
MICHELL
GAMUT
CLEAR AUDIO
SONY
EAR
ACOUSTIC SOLID CREEK
TUNERS
PURE DIGITAL
DENON
SONY
CREEK
PHONO STAGES
HEED
GRAHAM SLEE
WHEST AUDIO
TRICHORD
MOTH
CREEK
NAD
EAR
TOM EVANS
CLEAR AUDIO
DVD
SONY
MB50 Monoblocks
MINI DISC
SONY
LOUDSPEAKERS
OPERA
TRIANGLE
FINAL
ELAC
HARBETH
EPOS
USHER AUDIO
DIAPASON
TANNOY
AMPLIFIERS
CM05 Preamplier
CREEK
HALCRO
MOTH
C.A.T.
GAMUT
ALOIA
EAR
AUDIO VALVE
ACCUSTIC ARTS
GRAAF
MONRIO
AUDIO ANALOGUE
PATHOS ACOUSTICS
UNISON RESEARCH
114
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
AnatekAcoustics_QuarterA4_advert1 1
P114.indd 114
1/11/06 08:00:06
13/3/07 10:59:11
SPEAKERS
JM LABS Mezzo Utopia speakers
B&W 801 MK 1 speakers
B&W 802 MK 1 speakers
Tannoy Westminister Royal HE speakers
Hales Trancendence 5 speakers
Dynaudio Audience 7 speakers with stands
Origin Live OL-2 speakers
KEF Concorde speakers
1995
695
650
9995
2895
395
250
150
PRE-AMPS;
Mark Levinson ML380 pre amp
Mark Levinson ML26S Balanced pre amp
Audio note M8 pre amp with phono (19500)
Mark Levinson ML380S pre amp
Audionote Zero remote control pre amp (new)
Mark Levinson 28 Pre Amp
1995
2495
9995
3495
695
995
595
995
AMPLIFIERS
Lumley ST70 Power Amp with Passive Pre
Pathos Twin Tower Integrated Amplifier
Pair of Trilogy 958 Power Amps with Trilogy 902 Pre Amp
Nakamichi Amp 1 with Cassette Deck 2 & CD Player 3
Meridian 605 Monoblocs
Audionote Kegon Mono Amps (28000)
Exposure 15 Integrated Amp
Mark Levinson ML432 Power Amp
Kora Triode 100 SB Monoblocs
Classe A CA201 Power Amp
Audionote Neiro mono-blocks
CD PLAYERS & TRANSPORTS
Theta Data Basic 2 CD Transport
Theta Chroma DAC with HDCD
Esoteric XO3SE CD/SACD Player (our demo model)
Sony CDPM41 CD Player
ALL USED CARTRIDGES ARE CHECKED UNDER A MICROSCOPE BEFORE BEING OFFERED FOR SALE.
MISCELLANEOUS
Nakamichi 682 Cassette Deck
Nakamichi CR7E Cassette Deck Mint/Boxed/Remote
Russ Andrews Mains Block
JPS "The Power AC Plus" 2 meter Power Cord
Sony AM/FM ST-SE370 Tuner
Technics ST-610L Tuner (FM/MW/LW)
Transparent Music Wave+ 10-ft pair
Hitachi FT5500 MK II Tuner
Technics ST-GT550 Tuner
Winds ALM-01 Stylus Gage (New)
Sony ST-SE570 Tuner
15 Foot Transparent Music Wave Super single mono run.
1595
1695
1995
795
795
11995
3454
4995
3500
1595
5495
395
1095
50
195
75
65
425
125
65
525
60
795
395
195
POA
60
Est.
1970
The Decentscale
featuring:
non metallic construction suitable for all types of cartridge
record height measuring platform (patent applied for)
upto 20% more accurate than any other sub 100 scale
available:
now! - 35
www.kudosaudio.com
0845 4586698 for details
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
115.indd 115
115
16/3/07 14:31:29
O F
B R I T I S H
LUMLEY
QUAD
Sounds of Music
8 Demonstration Rooms
One of the best product selections in the uk
Free all-day parking to the door
One-month home trial scheme*
Extended Guarantees for free*
*subject to conditions.
H I - F I
SME
music
of
dCS
B E S T
sounds
SOM-HFW May07 v1.indd 1
22/3/07 11:38:44
Was
Now
799
3500
2999
9500
6500
9500
9000
2600
1999
1500
N/A
7250
N/A
N/A
N/A
4600
600
6290
2990
449
1799
1499
6449
4999
6449
4250
1499
499
499
329
3999
299
375
149
2999
399
1299
695
N.A
N/A
N/A
N/A
225
N/A
D/A
650
650
650
270
2500
9250
49
279
119
199
179
1399
179
399
399
399
179
1699
6999
Analogue
Audio Techinica S ShapeArm wand for AT1100
Audio Technica AT1010 S Shape Arm Used
Audio Technica AT1100 Straight Arm New Boxed
Audio Technica AT1120 Straight Arm New& Boxed
Heed Audio Orbit 1 TT PSU New & Boxed
Kuzma Stabi/Stogi S Turntable New& Boxed
Logic DM101 rare wood finish SME CutS?H
Mc Cormack Micro Drive Phono Stage S/H
Phonomena BPS Battery supply for phono BINB
Phonomena Phono stage MM/MC BINB
Rega P2 /Bias Turntable S/H
Vdh Grasshopper GLAIII MC Cartridge x-demo
VPI HR-X Turntable x-demo
Preamplifiers
Audio Analogue Bellini Remote Preamplifier X-demo
Audio Research SP16 with Phono Stage x-demo
Audio Research SP16L
Beard CA35 Preamp MC/MM S/.H
Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS x-demo
Convergent Audio CAT SL1 Signature Black S/H
Densen B200 Preamplifier S/H
Electrocompaniet EC4R Preamplifier S/H
Musical Fidelity X P100 Preamplifier S/h
Nagra PLL with remote x-demo
Nagra PLP battery Phono stage x-demo
Orpheus Two Preamplifier x-demo
Roksan L1 Preamp (requires PSU) S/H
Roksan L1.5 Preamplifier (requires PSU) S/H
Spectral DMC 30s Reference Preamplifier x-demo
Sugden masterclass Preamplifier x-demo
625
2249
1799
N/A
4000
6000
1100
1799
899
5450
7250
3200
2299
2699
7600
2300
399
1749
1249
399
1999
2299
799
599
499
2999
4999
1999
995
1299
4499
1599
9000
2499
6400
1995
N/A
2500
8000
1800
1800
1800
2498
10450
N/A
N/A
2995
1495
6600
7499
1699
3999
795
599
1895
5999
999
999
999
2199
7999
399
299
1799
599
4999
Amplifiers
Audio Research VM220 Valve mono Amplifiers x-demo
Audio Research VS55 Stereo Power Amplifier S/H
Audio research VT100MKIII Valve Power Amplifier S/H
Audio Research VT60 Stereo Power Amplifier S/H
Beard P35 MKII Power Amplifier S/H
Conrad Johnson MV60 SE Valve Amplifier S/H
Conrad Johnson Premier 350SA x demo
Densen Beat 300xs x-demo
Densen Beat 320 S/H
Densen Beat 340 x-demo
Krell KAV400xi Black x-demo
Nagra MPA RCMI X demo
Naim 32.5/140 Pre Power S/H
Naim 42.5/110 Pre Power S/H
Orpheus Three power amplifier x-demo
Roksan S1.5 stereo power amplifier silver S/H
Sugden masterclass monos x demo
Loudspeakers
Audio Physic Spark 3 maple X-demo
BKS 107MKII Supreme hybrid Ribbons S/H
Diapason Adamantes III with stands S/H
JM Lab Micro Utopia Classic x-demo
JM lab Electra 927 be Anniversary S/H
KEF Reference 104.2 S/H
Martin Logan Aeon I Oak x-demo
Monitor Audio Radius 360 Subwoofer Cherry S/H
Pen Audio Rebel 2 x-demo
Pen Audio Charm Active Subwoofer x-demo
ProAc Response D25 Maple x-demo
Rogers L7 Teak S/H
Roksan Ojan3 Rosewood S/H
Rega ELA 2000 S/H
Sonus Faber Concerto Walnut S/H
Sonus faber Ironwood Stands S/H
Spendor S3 Cherry S/H
1699
1750
2150
4700
2800
N/A
3189
350
995
1995
2800
N/A
N/A
850
998
449
599
1099
799
1299
3750
1699
449
2300
249
699
999
2199
199
399
449
599
229
379
N/A
420
220
450
710
3950
N/A
1400
459
190
199
650
99
249
175
229
399
2995
40
799
229
99
99
549
N/A
850
1600
N/A
395
N/A
N/A
N/A
69
599
795
99
199
59
175
99
Living Voice
Lyra
Magnum Dynlab
Mark Levinson
Martin Logan
Mimetism
Nordost
Primaluna
Primare
ProAc
Rega
Siltech
Sonus Faber
Sugden
Transparent Audio
VPI
Wadia
Wegg 3
Wilson Audio
Midland Audio X-change are looking for Audio Research, Krell , Mark Levinson , Naim Audio, SME, Wadia.
P117.indd 117
8/3/07 14:57:38
DIAL A DEALER
DIAL A DEALER
This is a comprehensive directory of Hi-Fi Dealers throughout the UK and Ireland.
ACTON GATE AUDIO
BIRMINGHAM
MIDLAND RADIO SUPPLIES.
Tel: 0121 706 0313. Vintage & Classics.
We buy and sell the best of British
Designs and manufactured mono and
stereo valve amplifiers radio tuners,
turntables, pickups, loudspeakers
systems, horns, drive units, tape
recorders, micorophones, mixers,
measuring apparatus, valves and testers.
Mono and stereo LPs and Tapes. Quality
items required now.
www.acton-gate-audio.co.uk
4 Ruabon Road, Wrexham, LL13 7PB,
(01978) 313464
Arcam,Atlas, Audiolab, Croft,
Denon,Grado, JM Labs,
KEF,Michell, Monitor Audio, Musical
Fidelity,NAD,Ortofon, Opera, Onkyo,
Pro-ject, QED, Quad, Rel, Roksan,
Sugden,Sennheiser, Unison, van-den-Hul,
Wharfedale,Yamaha.
Tuesday - Staurday 9.00 - 17.00
email: info@acton-gate.com
8 Hawkenbury Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent, TN2 5BJ
United Kingdom
tel: (+44) 01892 541 746
Free vinyl LP catalogue. Every month-24
pages-rare & deleted ex+ and mint LPs
starting at only 4.99. 60s & 70s Rock,
Jazz, Blues, Psych, Progressive, Soul,
Folk. It is the best regular vinyl catalogue
in the UK! Call or write today.
CLEVELAND
MIDDLESEX
WAVEFRONT AUDIO
RIVERSIDE HI-FI
CHESHIRE
CORNWALL
BIGEARS AUDIO
To find a system that will allow you to
hear the music instead of the equipment
phone Bigears Audio, here you will find
an interesting array of new and good
quality used equipment! my intention is
to have satisfied customers whatever
their audio preferences. Naim dealer for
the South West.
chrisbirchley@btinternet.com
Tel: 01736-740421
DEVON
ACOUSTICA
17 Hoole Rd, Chester CH2 3NH.
www.acoustica.co.uk.
Tel 01244 344227. HiFi & Home Cinema
from Amphion, Arcam, ART, Ayre, B&W
Nautilus, Classe, Focal.JM Lab, Monitor
Audio, Naim Audio, Primare, Rega, REL,
Rotel, Spendor, Sugden, Thiel, Wadia. We
offer full demonstration facilities, interest
free credit, delivery & install systems
throughout Cheshire, Merseyside & North
Wales. Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to
5.30.
P118-P119.indd 118
SUGARBUSH RECORDS
VAUDIO
118
KENT
SOMERSET
ALTERNATIVE AUDIO,
Brompton Ralph, Taunton, Somerset,
Tel: 01984 624242
www.alternativeaudio.co.uk.
Email: peter@alternativeaudio.co.uk
We specialise in valve amplification
and vinyl replay with the accent on
high quality musical enjoyment. ExDem and used equipment for sale.
Art Audio, Border Patrol, Clearaudio,
Diapason, EAR/Yoshino, Experience
Filtration, Lector, LFD Audio, Lyra, Music
First Audio, Nottingham Analogue,
Opera, Quadraspire, Shun Mook, SME,
Transfiguration, Unison Research,
Vandersteen Audio.
To advertise in this
space please call
020 7372 6018
or email:
advertising@hi-world.co.uk
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
20/3/07 16:34:51
DIAL A DEALER
YORKSHIRE (WEST)
AUDIO REPUBLIC
DIVERSE VINYL
To advertise in this
space please call
020 7372 6018
or email:
advertising@hi-world.co.uk
MEET MAKER
MANUFACTURERS
YOUR
For service repairs upgrades and re-manufacturing of all valve audio equipment leak
trough line specialists realigned etc. We have
been restoring leak product back to new for
over 40 years. Mail order service available
worldwide. For more info contact
E.F.G (London) Ltd. Inc.
E.Gane and Son.Established 1948
on 00 44 02087432727
EPOS ACOUSTICS
2 Avebury Court, Mark Road,
Hemel Hampstead,
Herts, HP2 7TA
Tel. 01442 260146.
Email:info@epos-acoustics.com
Website: www.epos-acoustics.com
Innovative design and superior sound
distinguish EPOS speakers from other brands
in similar price categories. Nine models in
total including a 5.1 surround system. All
available in 3 finishes. Supporting stands and
plinths complement the speakers. In addition
to its two channel appeal, Epos is now equally
sought after in the fast expanding world of
home cinema. -
PMC/BRYSTON
PMC & Bryston are Emmy award winning
Loudspeaker & Amplifier manufacturers
- Used throughout the professional world as
reference. Our clients record for Deutsche
Grammophon, Decca and countless
blockbuster Movies. The identical, award
winning ATL (Advanced Transmission Line)
technology is used in all HiFi designs from
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P118-P119.indd 119
119
20/3/07 16:38:23
SEAS A26RE4
71.98
25cm (10") Paper Cone Bass unit as
used in the WD25 Speaker kits
SEAS CA22RNX
83.79
22cm (8") Paper Cone Bass unit
89dB for TL or Aperiodic designs
SEAS CA18RLY
51.11
18cm (7") Paper Cone Bass unit
88dB for TL or Aperiodic designs
SEAS CA15RLY
53.52
15cm (5.75") Paper Cone Bass unit
87dB for Bass Reflex designs
SEAS 29TFF/W
38.34
29mm soft dome treble unit used in
the WD25 STD speaker kits
SEAS T29CF001
137.82
29mm Excel soft dome treble unit
used in WD25 XL speaker kits
SEAS T25CF002
161.09
25mm Excel 'Millenium' treble unit
lowest distortion, smooth response
1.13
1.28
1.41
1.70
2.06
2.35
2.66
2.90
3.18
3.74
5.03
6.03
2.40
2.81
3.17
4.19
4.49
5.28
6.16
6.93
WDSpkrParts.indd 123
0.99
1.47
3.60
1.49
www.world-designs.co.uk
Tel: 01832 293320
11/07/2006 17:12:53
OBrien Hi-Fi
60 Durham Road - London - SW20 0TW
020 8946 1528 or shop@obrienhifi.com
Hi-Fi,
Home Cinema
& Multi-room
Specialists
www.obrienhifi.com
Martin Logan Clarity
Moon i5
Sonus Faber Concerto
Krell KAV300CD
Copland CDA 823
Audio Analogue Enigma
Sonus Faber Cremona
Unison Research CDP
Naim Specialists
1895
2100
550
795
1595
695
4200
699
(2200)
(2695)
(970)
(3000)
(2100)
(899)
(5000)
(895)
Loudspeaker Repairs
has never been in doubt, however with products such as the Fraim support and
more recently the Hi Line interconnect and CD555PS CD power supply, Naim Audio
themselves have amply demonstrated the ever greater levels of performance that
are achievable with your existing components. Tom Tom Audio can optimise your
Naim Audio system through thoughtful and creative upgrade routes, and by utilising a
number of products and accessories that are both compatible with and sensitive to the
Naim Audio ethos. As well as a range of loudspeakers and analogue products that
work wonderfully with Naim Audio electronics we also have a range of compatible
accessories that will unlock the potential of your system and maximise the investment
you have already made. These include the incredible range of products from Vertex
AQ, an end to end solution of supports, filters and cabling that will simply stun you.
The incredible effect of this system can be demonstrated here or in your own system,
but prepare to be shocked.
Two-channel
Home Cinema
ud
on
st
io
Custom Install
Installation
Loudspeakers: Naim Audio, Kudos Audio, Neat Acoustics, ART, Shahinian, Audio
Physic, Living Voice
ni
pa
m
co
ro
ct
le
Free Consultation
et
ru
ou
l
Co
rs
Supports & Cabling: Naim Audio, Vertex AQ, Nordost, Chord Company, Isoblue,
Kudos Audio
iv
id
di
Au
Analogue:
Hi-Fi Consultant
Rowles Music Limited
Lancing, Sussex
To advertise
in this space
please call
Loudspeaker Repairs
D.C. Boultons
or email:
advertising@hi-world.co.uk
9/3/07 10:47:03
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
P121.indd 121
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19/3/07 16:04:50
BIGEARSAUDIO
website: www.bigearsaudio.org.uk updated daily
Quality used vintage & modern equipment bought, sold-part-exchange most welcome!! audio cables & accessories bigears speaker cable and interconnects-mail order specialists worldwide.
550
225
4000 [SOLD]
1400
4500
775
150
SPEAKERS
LUMLEY LAMPROS 200S 2500
TOWNSHEND GLASTONBURY 11S, RE-CONDITIONED
850
BEAUHORN ACCELERARDOS HUGE HORN SPEAKERS DX2S
2500
SONUS FABER ELECTA AMATORS, BEAUTIFUL, BOXED
1275
LINN ISOBARIKS, MINT
425
LINN KANS PLUS STANDS,
325
AUDIO NOTE KS
350
QUAD ESL 57S BRONZE, SERVICED, BOXED,
850
ROGER BBC LS3/5AS, 11OHMS, WALNUT, MINT
750
TANNOY 3LZS 10 GOLDS MINT
750
CASTLE 7S
325
LOWTHER DELPHICS, MINT, DX2S, DX3S
1650
LOWTHER BICOR 2000S USES 2 PAIRS OF DX2S
1250
HORNING AGATHONS DX2S, DX3S
1500
TOTEM MITES [499] AS NEW, BOXED
325
QUAD ESL57S BLACK, REBUILT & SERVICED BY BIGEARS BOXED, 850
JORDAN WATTS EX-BBC
295
DYNAUDIO AUDIENCE 5S
275
DYNAUDIO AUDIENCE 10S 275
SPENDOR BC1S MINT
350
MONITOR AUDIO MONITOR 3S
275
EPOS ES 11 BRILLIANT SMALL STAND MOUNTER,
185
RUARK SABRES, CHERRY
175
325
715 CELESTION SL6S EXCELLENT COND.
HEYBROOK QUINTETS,GOLD PIETZO TWEETER (1450)
425
NAIM ARIVAS EX-DEM [1300]
950
JR150 AS JR149 BUT BIGGER, NEW FOAM COVERS, MINT
450
RUARK
ICONS
[350]
MINT,
175
225
285
1500 USHER S-520 PIANO BLACK
CD PLAYERS
LECTOR CDP-7T, TOP LOADER
2150
MHZS CD88 TOP LOADING 24BIT 196K XLR TUBE CD PLAYER 875
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM, MULTI-CHANGER, VALVE
850
ROKSAN CASPIAN CD, BOXED,
375
ROKSAN KANDY CD AS NEW, BOXED
550
USHER CD-1 [ASTONISHING!!]
455
AUDIONOTE CD 1 DAC AS NEW, BOXED [950]
650
LECTOR DCP-O6T VALVE CD PLAYER
875
NAIM CD5I
850
MARANTZ CD17 MKII [850]
595
AUDIO INNOVATIONS FISH-EYE CD-TUNER BOXED AS NEW
225
CYRUS DAD7 & PSX AS NEW AND BOXED
725
REGA PLANAR, BOXED
275
VALVE AMPS.
GAMMA RHYTHM 211 1250
WORLD AUDIO PRE-COMPONENTS UP-GRADED 275
CANARY AUDIO 806 [2500]
1000
CONRAD JOHNSON PV10AL
450
CROFT VITA FULL PRE-AMP
990
CROFT EL84 POWER-AMP
350
AUDION SILVER NOTE ONE
2500
RGD PX4 VALVE AMPS FROM THE1950S BEST EVER??
2500
YAOIN MS-12B VALVE PRE-AMP WITH PHONO STAGE MC/MM
225
CR DEVELOPMENTS ROMULUS 5881 [25WATTS] [2995]
1250
AUDIO RESEARCH VT60 POWER AMP
1250
LECTOR VALVE HYBRID, INTEGRATED, 50 WATTS, NEW
1050
ARIA MUSIC ANGLE KT88 VALVE AMP
550
AUDIO NOTE OTO SE INTEGRATED
1899
EASTERN ELECTRIC M520 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
1539
MEIXING MC67-HA VALVE TUBE PRE AMPLIFIER
575
CROFT OTL 3S M/BLOCKS PERFECT FOR ELECTROSTATICS
1250
AUDION STERLING MK1 EL34
650
AUDION STERLING MKII EL34
750
BLACK CAT ELECTRONICS PX4 VALVE, STEREO
POWER AMP [LOWTHERS/TANNOY]
2750
AUDIO NOTE KIT 4, 6L6S, 25WATTS
850
ANTHEM X1 EL34 SINGLE ENDED VALVE INT. AMPLIFIER
425
AUDION PRE 750
AUDION CD1 PRE 315
ARIA 300B, EXCELLENT VALUE-NEW
750
AFFORDABLE VALVE AMP EL34
425
BAT 3KI, HYBRID, PHONO STAGE, BOXED
1400
QUAD IIS, PLUS 22, SERVICED, EXCELLENT
850-1000
LEAK STEREO 60
875
LEAK STEREO 20, MINT
550
TRANSISTOR AMPS
NAIM NAIT 5I
NAIM NAP 250-BOXED-650
NAIM NAIT 2 250
AUDIOLAB 8OOOA- BOXED-250
CONRAD JOHNSON SONOGRAPHE SC-1
Z AMP TAMP DESIGN, STUNNING PERFORMANCED
TURNTABLES/ACCESSORIES
TRICHORD DIABLO WITH NEVER CONNECTED POWER SUPPLY
AND HIGH PERFORMANCE PSU INTERCONNECT [1524]
1050
GARRARD 401, SME 3009, DYNAVECTOR 10X5,
675
LINN LP12, AFORMOSA, ORIGIN-LIVE DC POWER SUPPLY,
BASIC PLUS ARM, DYNAVECTOR 10X5
975
THE ISOLATOR-UNBELIEVABLE RESULTS!!
85
ORIGIN LIVE SILVER ARM
599
ALL GRAHAM SLEE PHONO STAGES
RED KOETSU
775
OKKI NOKKI RECORD CLEANING MACHINE
255
chrisbirchley@btinternet.com tel: 01736 740421
mobile: 07947 678256
PRODUCT
TESTING
IN HI-FI
WORLD
To ensure the upmost accuracy in
our product reviews, Hi-Fi World has
extremely comprehensive in-house test
facilities, and our test equipment - from
big names like Rohde & Schwarz and
Hewlett Packard - is amongst the most
advanced in the world.
Loudspeakers are measured using
a calibrated Bruel&Kjaer microphone
feeding a Clio-based computer analyser,
using pulsed and gated sinewaves, in
a large room to eliminate the rooms
influence. Pickup arm vibration is
measured with a Bruel&Kjaer accelerometer.
No other UK hi-fi magazine has
in-house testing, and none has access
to such advanced tests across all types
of equipment. That's why you can
depend on Hi-Fi World reviews.
122
P122.indd 122
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
19/3/07 16:50:05
FREE READER
CLASSIFIEDS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Only one advert per reader. Maximum length per advert is 30 words, Adverts over 30 words will not be accepted.
Telephone numbers and E-mail addresses are treated as one word. Model numbers are treated as one word i.e. Quad 303 = two words. Email
your advert to; classifieds@hi-fiworld.co.uk or fill in the form on page 129 and post it to Hi-Fi World Free Readers Ads, Suite G4, Argo House,
Kilburn Park Road, London NW6 5LF. Sorry, we cannot accept adverts over the telephone. The Publisher reserves the right to judge submissions.
DYNAUDIO AUDIENCE 62
for sale. 4 years old, cherry finish, good condition. 400 ono,
demo available.
Contact Jeremy 07977254160
MUSICAL FIDELITY A1000
pure Class A amplifier and p.s.u.
Near mint condition. 595 ono.
Tel: 0794 117 4804 (Berks)
GLASSHOUSE 300B-SE power
amplifier with matched pair
JJ/Tesla triodes complete with
NAD 1000 full feature preamplifier, 600. Tel: 01344 454
504 (Bracknell)
PIONEER CT91A cassette deck
250. Pioneer F91 tuner 200.
Thule A1.100 amplifier 250.
Mitsubishi separates, mini-system 1980s, offers. Trio KA501
amplifier 50. Trio KD3100
turntable 50. All very good
condition. Tel: 01224 646 473
CREEK T50 FM/AM high quality tuner. Superb sound. Only
20 months old. Mint condition
with box and instructions. Cost
595. Will accept 300 ono.
Buyer collects or by arrangement. Tel: 02380 274 494
MAY 2007 HI-FI WORLD
123
20/3/07 14:24:23
WDKEL84 kit
369
WDKEL84 built and tested 544
WD 8 8 VA Valve Ampl if i er K it
It proved itself to be an engaging valve amplifier that measured well and sounded superb.
Quite simply it plays music, and
plays it extremely well.
Adam Smith, Hi-Fi World Dec 06
Often described as a 'sweet sounding' valve, our particular implementation of the KT88 makes sure that it is
driven to its ultimate performance. Available as a 35W
stereo power amplifier with single input volume control,
or as a relay switched integrated with five inputs.
Headphone II kit
275
Headphone II built and tested 404
WD 2 5 A S t and mo u nt S p eaker K it
The one aspect that stands
out is the easy ability to resolve
instruments and voices ... bass
quality and definition is a
revelation
Cabinet kit (pair) 179
The aperiodic enclosure offers the bass clarity and definition of a larger closed box, together with the efficiency
and easy amplifier load necessary for users of valve
amplifiers. Available with SEAS STD soft dome treble
unit, or high performance SEAS Excel treble unit.
WD 2 5 T Fl o o rs t and i ng S p eaker K it
The WD25T always sounds
crisp and taut, but can 'rumble' menacingly giving impressive physicality reminiscent
of far larger boxes. Imaging
is superb, the midband is also
special; it's very open with
masses of detail about the condition of the recording
Cabinet kit (pair) 398
www.world-designs.co.uk
Tel: 01832 293320
07/11/2006 12:34:54
DENON DVD-2900
Black DVD Player, Little
used, Mint Condition, boxed,
All Manuals, Remote Control
Un-used, 425 ono. Tel (01535)
648407.
NEAT ELITE SE maple 600.
Mission 753f blk. boxed 300.
Audiolab 8000SX boxed 250.
Vdh The First 0.6m boxed 65.
Vdh The First 0.6m loose 60.
Tel: 0114 2339603 evenings.
B U Y
S E L L
H O M E
C I N E M A
M U LT I RO O M I N S TA L L
c hh oi if ci e www.choice-hifi.com
tel:
mob:0
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
7768 720456
i n f o @ c h o i c e - h i f i . c o m
125
20/3/07 14:24:24
Valve Amplifiers
by Morgan Jones
29.50
19.50
34.50
11.49
69.00
HD83 Headphone II
16.25
36.50
16.25
16.25
Pre II preamplifier
16.25
24.98
Sovtek 6550 WE
19.49
Sovtek 5881
EL34 ElectroHarmonix
12.49
11.85
9.94
16.99
6.50
10.25
7.30
25.00
4.75
9.40
2.94
1.23
VALVE BASES
B7A Chassis Mount
B9A Chassis Mount
B9A PCB Mount
4.70
4.70
4.70
4.70
16.98
BOOKS
13.69
23.00
2.95
Cermet 'Humbucker' 2W at 70 C
22R or 100R linear pot.
8.99
6 way Selector Switch
2 pole 6 way rotary wafer
1.88
1.99
We stock a wide range of parts to facilitate the build of valve amplifiers. Please ring or e-mail for details. See our on-line catalogue at
World Designs, 59 Main Street, Great Gidding, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 5NU
WDAmpPartsa.indd 123
3.25
www.world-designs.co.uk
Tel: 01832 293320
07/11/2006 12:37:28
ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
requires for projects non working Quad 34 and 44 preamps.
405, 606 power amplifiers.
Quad and Leak tuners. 405
boards etc. Contact Mike on
01758 613 790 for price.
B U Y
AUDIOSTATIC WINGS
c/w optional Fins. 3.5 Years
old. Silver. Superb Full-range
Electrostatics in lovely condition. Boxes, manuals. May also
sell Final S200 in piano black
gloss. 1900 Both 2300 01458
860765
S E L L
H O M E
C I N E M A
GUIDELINES FOR
M U LT I RO O M I N S TA L L
c hh oi if ci e www.choice-hifi.com
tel:
mob:0
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
7768 720456
i n f o @ c h o i c e - h i f i . c o m
127
20/3/07 14:24:24
NEXT MONTH
June 2007s Hi-Fi World is a veritable cornucopia of the weird
and wonderful - we have a heady mixture of the great and the
good in hi-fi hardware. Heres just some of what we hope to
bring you:
PICK UP THE JUNE 2007 ISSUE OF HI-FI WORLD ON SALE JUNE 30TH
OR SUBSCRIBE. SEE PAGE 68
P128 subbed final.indd 128
20/3/07 10:00:03
ORDER/INDEX
ADVERTISERS INDEX
2nd Hand Hi-Fi
113
Anatek
114
Audio Xpress
107
Audiocraft
109
Audusa
108
Aurousal
38
B&W
BC
Big Ears
122
Billy Vee
106
Choice Hi-Fi
123,125
Classique Sounds
111
Decent Audio
115
Densen
42
ECS
46
English Valve Audio
112
Heatherdale
115
Henley Designs
76,80
Hi Audio
44
Hi-End Cable
111
Hi-Fi Sound
113
Horn Audio
111
I Cube
56
Ian Edwards
115
Ian Harrison
114
Kudos
115
Leema
34
Linn
6
Mantra Audio
109
Martin Kleiser
48
Matrix
107
Meridian
24
Michell Engineering
92
Midland Audio Exchange 117
Mikam North
60
MIT Cables
64
Musonic
107
Naim
74
Origin Live
60,114
Pioneer
IFC
Podium
56
Quad
86
Real Hi-Fi
26
Retro Reproduction
109
Rochester Hi-Fi
112
Sevenoaks
28,29,30,31
Shadow Audio
72
Signature Audio
IBC
Slim Devices
12
Sounds of Music
116
Sounds4Enjoyment
16
Stamford Audio
84
Tangent
56
The Right Note
92
Tube Shop
107
Turntable World
113
Vertex
44
Walrus
78
Whest Audio
64
World Design 120,124,126
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20/3/07 16:26:02
CLASSIC CUTS
JEROME KERN
SONG BOOK
ELLA FITZGERALD
1963
130
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16/3/07 14:00:58
nature Audio
Signature Audio Systems
- Capturing the emotion in music -
Mr K. Tasker
Professor R. Jowitt
AC Power Regenerator
P S
A U D I O
Everything you hear and see through your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system begins its journey at the
wall socket. AC Mains quality can and does impact the audio performance of your system.
PS Audio is a recognised leader in power quality and power protection products. If you want
to protect the investment in your system, and enjoy a dramatic improvement in your existing
components at the same time, try the new Power Plant Premier.
The Power Plant Premier is the worlds only true AC regenerator that offers the full power
of the wall, low distortion even with difcult loads, MultiWave, CleanWave, remote
control, true surge protection, front panel harmonic power analyzer, AC volt meter, and
outstanding AC isolation. All this for just 1,799 represents unbeatable value.
The Premier Power Plant is now available in the UK with US and UK plug outlets.
Please call for more information.
Digital Link III DAC 1,099
20 / 20
13/3/07 12:59:49
> CLEANSED
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Visit our website and order your free DVD
Call +44 (0)1903 221 500