HEADLINES The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio
IN THIS ISSUE B&W Diamond 800s Yamaha Goes Micro Class A Musical Fidelity Brand New Richter What iPod Device? and much more... lenwallisaudio.com.au
Autumn 2010
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Len Wallis Newsletter Autumn 2010 4
Focal’s Maestro Utopia Feel like you’re there — these speakers have incredible accuracy, superb dynamics and killer bass
5
Olive Opus Music servers for the real world
6
Mythical Speakers from an ‘Aussie’ Legend Richter’s new loudspeaker range has something for everyone
7
Crestron Adagio Bulletproof home theatre and multi-zone music
8
Marantz’s Refined Receivers Thoughtful and refined sound, backed by excellent steering logic and wrapped in superb styling
9
String of Pearls Marantz high-end from the world-renowned Ken Ishiwata
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AktiMate Maxis Active iPod docking speakers that also access internet radio, networked music and more – a complete system solution!
13
Focal 30 Years On Focal’s 30th Anniversary Edition 826 loudspeaker – say no more, hear no evil
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Musical Fidelity The name says it all
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B&W 800 Series B&W’s best just got better
18
Yamaha’s Micro Component Systems Big performance from compact audio systems
20
No Longer the Forgotten Room Clever cabinetry, sophisticated technology equals classic home theatre in this custom installation project
24 I Spy – Or Do I? Non-intrusive satellite and subwoofer solutions
25
Audio Physic Competence, assurance and easy listening
27
iPod Devices All shapes, all sizes, all prices – your choice
28
On The Air with DAB+ Digital radio update
29
Loewe Connects Internet connections and much more
30
Home Entertainment SPECIALS See our range of specially reduced equipment
31
Musical Choices Sources and delivery of your favourite musical content
FOCAL
Newsletter Autumn 2010
MR. Maestro PLease
S
econd only to the company’s Grande Utopia EM, Focal’s Maestro is a large and very capable 3.5-way speaker. It stands tall at 143.6cm, weighs in at 116kg, and has two 11”/28cm woofers (one with the Magnetic Damping System) plus a 6.5”/16.5cm midrange. The tweeter is, of course, the famous inverted Beryllium dome and this takes the top range out to 40kHz, way beyond normal hearing but possibly affecting our perceptions via harmonics to lower frequencies. The bass response descends to 25Hz, which is normally subwoofer territory, but no problem for the Maestro. The cabinet structure benefits from the same technologies as the other Utopia III models, which means that Focal have carefully eliminated all resonances in the individual sub-cabinets, as well as directing the drivers optimally by means of stepped front panels. With an efficiency rating of 93dB, you can drive them with lower powered amplifiers. The range recommended by Focal is anywhere from 80w to 600w, but we know not all lower-powered amplifiers are equal (particularly when the Class A ones outperform others with much higher ratings). It’s easy to conclude that anyone buying the Maestros will want a suitable high-end, high-priced amplifier to power them, but even the Musical Fidelity AMS35i (just 35w class A but massively built, priced at $13,999) would be able to do a lot with an efficient speaker like these. One word of slight warning is that these are 4 ohm speakers (the rest of the range are 8 ohms). This will not usually create a problem when efficiency is this high (93dB), but could be a factor with a small amp that is struggling anyway.
What will all the technology translate into? You can expect to hear not just incredible accuracy and superbly dynamic performances, with killer bass plus a wide and deep soundstage — it will
feel more like you are “there” than any similarly-sized speaker. It will be outdone only by Focal’s own Grande Utopia EM — and then at a much higher price than the Maestro’s $45,000.
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OLIVE
Olive Music Servers
H
ard Drive Storage and streaming of music is becoming more of the norm than the exception for a considerable percentage of our clientele, and Len Wallis Audio is becoming increasingly involved in this market. Sonos is one of our most popular products, the Sooloos interface (see p31) makes accessing your recorded music a cinch, while the Peachtree integrated amplifier combines both analogue and digital sources through one amp. As good as Sooloos is, the entry point of around $20k has understandingly been a stumbling block for many. We have recently discovered a new product, Olive, an affordable, high-quality server and DAC combination. Olive is firstly a CD player. It is also a CD burner. Most importantly it has a hard-disk drive (from 500GB to 2TB depending on the model) where you can record up to 6,000 of your favorite CDs in FLAC. The unit will also sit on your network and stream Internet Radio. While it doesn’t have is the incredible database interface of the Sooloos and the large touch-screen controller, the 4.3” highresolution colour screen is more than
adequate and navigation is both intuitive and simple. There is also an app written for the iPhone, iPod Touch or the new iPad – once you load the free app! The HD version also has a HDMI output to display what is on the built-in screen on a much larger monitor or your TV. Olive sums up their product perfectly when they write that the Olive is “an innovative audio system with a total focus on the creating the best home music experience... the Olive 4 lets you: • STORE all of your music in full CD sound quality and have it at your fingertips... • LISTEN to songs, albums or playlists in pristine sound quality, explore the world of internet radio and even play CDs like a regular CD player... • STREAM your music to Olive 2 Hi-Fi client players in different rooms or to other networked players in the home; • RELAX with a device that is not a PC and fits right into your existing Hi-Fi... • ENJOY many other functions that round out your listening experience, like our iPhone app which turns your phone into a touchscreen remote.”
The best news is that the Opus 4, which has a retail price of $3,799 (1TB) has been reduced to $2,999 – with a free iTouch thrown in. Opus 4HD: Due late April/early May is an upgraded model, the Opus 4HD. This unit has a higher quality Burr-Brown 1792A 24 bit/192kHz DAC and an additional digital input (coaxial) so you can use another source through the DAC. There are both coaxial and optical digital outputs to connect to a sound system, and even a USB. It has both wireless and wired Ethernet connections, and a 2TB drive. At the time of going to press we have not had the opportunity to listen to the 4HD, but we have spent a considerable amount of time with the standard version, and we are most impressed. I am sure that the performance of this unit will be adequate for a great proportion of our clients. We can only wait to see what the HD holds in store for us. The Olive 4HD will be selling for $3,999 when released.
RICHTER
Newsletter Autumn 2010
MyTHs And LEGENDS
R
ichter loudspeakers are one of the real Australian audio success stories, and have been hugely successful since the 1980s by providing an ever-improving range which have broad appeal and are, while not cheap, at the affordable end of the spectrum. They are also very efficient, and can be used with a wide range of amplifiers, not just highpowered ones. While their heritage is ‘Hi-Fi’ they are also perfectly suited to be used in Home Theatre applications – in fact their centre channel is one of the best around. The newly-released Series IV models all use a high-quality tweeter, so you can be assured of the same high frequency smoothness from the smallest to the largest model. It’s a ribbon membrane with a spirally-wound layer of conductive material, giving a point-source radiator effect coupled to extended highs (36kHz)
and ultra-low distortion. This ribbon tweeter, while being very desirable, is very unusual at this price point. The mid and bass unit cones are triple-layered and concentrically ribbed for mechanical strength, and sit in one-piece cast aluminium baskets, a build standard unheard of in this price range. Crossovers use “Sounder” audiophilegrade polypropylene capacitors and ultra-low saturation inductors. Their combination of 1st order for mid-bass and 3rd order design for the tweeter yields flat response and excellent transient response. The new Dragon IV is a quasi fourway vented floorstanding speaker which sells for $2,399. They boast a frequency response of 30Hz-36kHz, 91dB efficiency, 4 ohms impedance and recommended power anywhere from 10w to 200w RMS. The Wizard IV, which has always been the ‘hero’ product in the Richter range, are
vented quasi three-way floorstanders at $1,999. They have a frequency response of 35Hz-36kHz, 90dB efficiency, 6 ohms impedance, and recommended power from 10w to 150w RMS. The Merlin IV is a dual vent, two-way bookshelf speaker selling for $999 a pair. Their frequency response is 48Hz-36kHz, 88dB efficiency, 8ohms impedance, power 10w to 125w RMS. Other models in the new range include Hydra rears ($799/pair), Unicorn Centre ($699), Krakatoa subwoofer ($699) and Thor subwoofer ($999). We have been fortunate to have been able to listen to these new models at various stages during their design period, so they were eagerly anticipated. We are pleased to say that we have not been disappointed.
lenwallisaudio.com.au
CRESTRON
ONE OUT OF THE BOX
I
f you have any interest in Home Automation you will know the name Crestron. This brand is the market leader in this field. However you may not be aware that they also manufacture some of the world’s finest Home Theatre electronics under the name of Adagio. Crestron have one huge advantage over most of their competitors when it comes to Home Theatre. Because they are first and foremost an automation company they have approached the Home Theatre offering in a roundabout fashion, by adding a stunning and versatile A/V receiver to their existing multi-room package. If you are looking for two things in your entertainment system: 1. a very high quality theatre, and 2. a very high quality multi-room audio system, then it is difficult to dismiss the Crestron Adagio offering. The other advantage of being a Home Automation manufacturer is that Crestron are accustomed to manufacturing bulletproof products. Their Home Theatre systems are beautifully engineered.
Like any product considered as being one of the best in its field, Crestron is not inexpensive. However there is now another reason to consider Crestron Adagio – they have just reduced the price on their two packages by almost 40%. The main features of the Adagio Home Theatre systems include: • 7.1 surround sound processing rated at 100 watts per channel x 7. These are genuine watts, measured with all channels driven at the same time. (We recently saw a site where the Dynamic Power of a well known A/V receiver was rated at 400watts. In small print it is revealed that this is one channel driven only, and at 3 Ohms!! Don’t be fooled by specifications.) • Audyssey MultEQ® XT surround sound equalization. This will adjust the system acoustics to be at an optimum for a number of seating positions in your room – most A/V receivers adjust acoustics only for the primary seating position (yours?). • High-definition analog and HDMI/ DVI digital video switching.
• Professional video scaling (AIP model) and de-interlacing. • Audio distribution for 4 to 6 rooms, expandable up to 24. Listeners in each room can enjoy their own choice of radio, CDs, MP3s or even a stereo downmix of the surround sound output. Each room has control over volume plus bass & treble. The multi-room amplifiers are rated at 45watts each. Control in these rooms can be by a 12button wall-mounted key-pad, a wall-mounted LCD controller or a hand-held touch-screen controller. These control options are at an additional cost. • Accepts up to 3 dual tuner cards for AM/FM. This allows household members to listen to different radio stations in the home simultaneously. • Plug-and-play connectivity with Apple® iPod® via CEN-IDOCV. • Powerful Crestron control system. The new prices on the Crestron Adagio systems are: • AMS1 $7,999 (initially $12,700); • AMS1-AIP (the same as the model above but with advanced image processing) $9,999 (initially $16,100). There is no doubt that the Adagio system is one of the best sounding and most versatile Home Theatre receivers on the market. Crestron is also universally recognised as making the finest multi-room audio systems available. Put them together at these prices and you have a bargain.
MARANTZ
Newsletter Autumn 2010
Marantz Receivers
M
arantz are continuing their “004” series of releases with the new surround receivers SR5004 and SR6004. Traditional Marantz virtues of refined sound, excellent steering logic and superb brushed metal finish are continued in both these models. The SR5004 ($1,599) has 7 x 90w channels, 3 x HDMI in, 3 x Component video in, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, M-DAX dynamic range enhancer for iPod music, and you can even get an optional Bluetooth adaptor for wireless linkage from such devices. Analogue sources can be upscaled digitally to 1080p and sent out to the screen via HDMI. You get HD audio processing for Blu-ray, of course – for Dolby TrueHD / Digital Plus&EX / Pro Logic IIz&IIx / Virtual Speaker / Headphone and DTS: HD Master Audio & High Res. Audio / ES / 96 / 24 / Discrete & Matrix 6.1 / Neo:6. Multi-zone capability is there too, with analogue output for Zone 2 and digital output for Zone 3 (from a digital source). A colour graphic user interface (GUI) assists with setup and adjustments, and a 12v trigger output helps in custom
installation situations, such as activating a projection system. The SR6004 ($2,299) adds a number of improvements above and beyond the offering of the SR5004. Power is up to 110w x 7, and the Bluetooth adaptor is included. There’s also Zone 2 analogue output and Zone 3 digital output, plus RS232 & 12V trigger for smart-home/ remote control integration. The Audyssey EQ section is also more comprehensive than on the SR5004. Audyssey’s Dynamic Volume compensates for level differences as you switch from source to source. It even takes the “annoyingly loud” out of commercials so they don’t overwhelm your ears. Dynamic EQ maintains the original bass-to-treble tonal balance regardless of how loudly or softly you play your favorite music or movies. Finally, MultiEQ automatically evens the frequency response of your
room and speakers to let you enjoy a whole new level of clarity. Connections are also increased to 4 x HDMI in and 2 out, plus a USB input for those alternate sources. The 192kHz/24-bit audio DAC and TI Aureus 32-bit video processor make sure performance in both areas is exceptional. While the “Sirius and XM radio ready” features are really no use in Australia (they are USA systems), the LCD Backlit Learning Remote will be very useful. Want to use your iPod’s playlist? Connect it to the front panel USB input and you’ll hear and see all the files. The USB input is perfectly happy with MP3, WMA, and WAV files from other portable devices too.
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MARANTZ
Ken Ishiwata Pearls
F
or many years Marantz’s chief designer Ken Ishiwata has been taking what are already very good Marantz products and working them over for the Special Edition “SE” and extra-special Ken Ishiwata “KI Signature” versions. These have always been eagerly sought and attract a premium price, particularly the KI ones. The latest amplifier and CD to have this denomination are the PM KI Pearl integrated amplifier and the SA KI Pearl SACD/CD player, each costing $4999. These are to mark his 30th anniversary with Marantz, so everything has been done to make them extra special. They are, this time, not just a workover of an existing product, but have been separately developed as a Limited Edition. These are particularly beautiful pieces of equipment
– made in Japan – and are built to last and be enjoyed for a long, long time. The PM KI Pearl amplifier has 90w per channel into 8 ohms and 140w per channel into 4 ohms. There are 5 audio inputs, and the Phono has both MM and MC capability. There’s a Main In for using the amp as a power amp. Needless to say there’s a heavy coppercoated chassis, heavy 5mm top plate and a new toroidal transformer to power the amp. Marantz’s famous HDAM SA2 and SA3 devices are used along with high quality capacitors and Schottky diodes. The display is a low-noise LCD and there’s a source-direct to bypass tone controls. The finish is unique to the Pearl, being a fine black silk/pearl to Ken’s specification. The fascia shape is similar to other premium Marantz products.
The SA KI Pearl SACD/CD player shares the beautiful finish, rugged chassis and panel construction of the amplifier. It features a SACDM-10 mechanism and a Xyron tray loader, while digital decoding is by a top-quality Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC, which can also be used for another external input via an optical (toslink) socket, giving you more utility from the DAC section. The KI Pearl can replay SACD, CD, WMA and MP3 files. Part of the secret to a great disc player is the vibration isolation & power supplies. Both of these areas have been given special attention in the KI Pearl, which has a “bulletproof” vibration-damped cabinet and rock-solid power supply with toroidal transformer. You can hear Ken himself introduce them at www.marantz.eu/kipearl.
AKTIMATES
Newsletter Autumn 2010
To the Maxi
T
he AktiMate active iPod speakers have been created by Australia’s own Epoz, using components and tuning expertise from their UK sister company, established UK hi-fi stable Epos. These new AktiMate Maxi speakers are almost a complete system solution in themselves. They’re substantial active loudspeakers with an iPod dock located on the top, concealed under a hinged cover flap. One of the speakers carries amplification for both channels, rated at 60w per channel. The two drivers in each speaker are licensed from Epos — a 25mm metal-domed tweeter with neodymium magnet, and a 165mm moulded polypropylene mid/bass unit.
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But on the new Maxi speakers, the iPod dock is just the beginning. There is an onboard FM tuner, so you can listen to local radio straight out of the speakers. Or you can stream thousands more radio stations from the internet, by connecting the AktiMates via WiFi or Ethernet to your home network. The internet radio module used in the Maxis comes from UK-based Reciva, and provides one of the most comprehensive station lists available, as well as
podcasts and ‘Listen Again’ content such as that offered by the BBC. The AktiMate Maxis will also find any shared music on your network (using either Windows sharing or UPnP servers) and can play that as well. So if you’ve built up a substantial computer-based music collection, you can use the Maxis to access that music from your computer (or from a network-attached hard drive) anywhere in the home. So in this single product you have your amplification and speakers, together with four varied sources of content. You can also add more sources — there are three auxiliary inputs (two sets of RCA phono sockets and one minijack socket), while you can control the AktiMates either using the supplied remote or simply by twiddling the knob on the powered speaker. This knob is a digitally-controlled analogue pot that doubles as a menu navigator, with push to select. With finishes in gloss black, spectacular gloss red and a beautiful walnut real-wood veneer, the AktiMate Maxis have been hailed by reviewers for their dynamic sonic performance, as well as their impressive abilities as a complete small room or study solution.
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FOCAL
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Focal Special 30th Anniversary Edition
A
ustralians started to find out about Focal/JM Lab only about fifteen years ago, so it’s salutary to notice that in 2009 they celebrated their 30th anniversary! This adds context to the realisation that they are one of the biggest and best speaker manufacturers in the world today. It didn’t happen overnight. With the founder, Jacques Mehul, coming from a speaker driver design direction, you can understand that the company takes a lot of trouble making all their own drivers, and tweaking them to suit different models. They can do this because all drivers are made in-house and limited production quantities are feasible. Innovations abound, ranging from multi-layer composite materials for cones, to “flower power” magnets and even an update of the electro-magnetic principle for the big Utopia Grande EM bass drivers. Flying in the face of audio lore they even produce up-market speakers which do not require biwiring! Focal decided to do a special edition speaker for the 30th anniversary. It is the Chorus 826W, a super version of the 826V, with upgrades to components and cabinets. The W relates to the “W” sandwich composite cones, used in the Electra and Utopia ranges but not seen before in this series. These are hand-made drivers, requiring 20 operations to complete. The tweeter is, as usual, an inverted dome, this time of aluminium/magnesium material. The response is flat from 45Hz to 28kHz, with a -6dB point of 37Hz; efficiency is good at 91.5dB, while impedance is a friendly 8 ohms. The cabinets stand reasonably tall at 1038mm, 282mm wide and 375mm deep, housing 2 x 6.5”/165mm woofers and a similar diameter midrange, plus the 25mm tweeter. The base is a cast-iron plate which helps to direct the second, downward-firing bass reflex port – the other one faces forwards below the bass drivers. Top all this off with a gorgeous red satin enamel finish and you have a superb limited edition 826W speaker, priced at $4599 the pair.
We have also just received the Focal Electra 1028BE and 1038BE floorstanding speakers. These are the replacements to the very successful 1027/1037 models, priced at the same $11,999 and $17,999 respectively. We have long held the opinion that the 1027/1028BE in particular are among the best value-for-money speakers that Focal manufacture. Not cheap, but it’s one of those rare audio offerings that just seems to do everything well. The other Focal product offering the same value is the Scala. At $45,000 this is an expensive loudspeaker, but its cost is minimal compared to the Grand Utopia, and while the Grand Utopia is obviously the better speaker, the Scala does many things almost as well — for $200,000 less.
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MUSICAL FIDELITY
Newsletter Autumn 2010
(117dB). Ruler-flat response across the full range 10Hz to 20kHz is within 0.2dB; channel separation 105dB.
Musical Fidelity AMS Series
MUSICAL FIDELITY – The name says it all
O
ver the past year, Musical Fidelity have revamped their entire range of amplifiers and CD players, giving them updated cosmetics on the surface and completely new designs under the skin. These new products are now available in Australia. In this section we’ll concentrate on the replacements for the A5.5 amplifier and CD, namely the M6i Dual Mono Integrated Amplifier and the M6 CD-DAC. The M6i amplifier, while relatively compact in size (440x125x400mm), packs a punch, being rated at up to 200w/channel into 8 ohms, 45 amps of current capability and a damping factor of 170. Total Harmonic Distortion is a miniscule 0.01% across the audible range (20Hz to 20kHz). While the cosmetics are minimalist, the casework is of the highest quality and the sound is full, rich and satisfying. It’s the typically smooth, nofuss Musical Fidelity sound, with huge soundstage and subtle details that help sort out all the instruments in an orchestra or band and place them where they should be. With this much power on tap you’ll have no problem with overloading or clipping. This amp remains neutral and accurate under the most testing conditions.
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The new MF range is not just a cosmetic makeover. The designs are new, and the emphasis is on class A. In the AMS range we have the AMS35i Integrated, the AMS35p Power Amplifier, the AMS50 Power Amplifier and the Primo Pre-amplifier. For completeness there’s also the AMS CD/ DAC, which they say is the best digital product they’ve ever made!
AMS35i Integrated Amplifier The M6 CD-DAC is not just another high quality CD player – it is also a high quality Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) with both inputs and outputs to allow you to use it to improve sources other than the CD itself. Musical Fidelity have always had the expertise to do high-end DACs, going back as far as the Digilog in the 1990s. By adding some extra input & output connections (optical, coaxial, USB) they have made the excellent 24-bit/192kHz upsampling DAC in the M6 CD available for other sources, even for USB key source material. Outputs are either conventional RCA or balanced XLR types. Despite the comparatively low price for high-end equipment, the M6 CDDAC has been engineered to perform technically at the best levels possible, resulting in ultra-low distortion (0.0005%), outstanding linearity to very low levels (<0.1dB down to 96dB) and exceptional signal-to-noise
The AMS35i Integrated Amplifier ($13,995) is rated at just 35 watts per channel into 8 ohms, but can drive a wide range of speakers, even larger models which normally would need much higher power to perform well. It doesn’t just push a lot of volume out of them (if required), but delivers the music in a fashion that is “completely neutral, but with a richness in the bass and midrange …” – a primary goal of Musical Fidelity’s designers. It also throws a very wide, deep soundstage and, needless to say, the treble is lively and detailed but utterly without harshness or edginess.
AMS50 and AMS35p Power Amplifiers Again these are pure class A amplifiers, similarly constructed (dual mono) in each case, with a similar sound – the AMS50 ($19,995) is simply more powerful than the AMS35p, being rated at 50w/channel into 8 ohms,
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MUSICAL FIDELITY
doubling to 100w into 4 ohms, using 12 output devices per channel. The current capability peak to peak is 100 amps, while the damping factor is 190. Frequency response is extended and ruler-flat from 10Hz to 40kHz (+0, -0.4dB) The massive construction of the AMS50 is partly a result of the need to dissipate heat from what is a pure class A design. There are six square metres of surface area helping to keep the temperature rise to 35 degrees. Only pure class A will give this sort of uncoloured sound, with fast transients and “holographic” soundstage. While dealing with the brutal facts of life in such hardware, attention to finish has also been maintained. “The three-part front panel is machined from milspec aluminium billet with an exclusive titanium G2 finish, in either silver or black. The badge is made from medical grade stainless steel. The top and back are machined from solid metal and finished to the highest standard. The heatsinks are custom, fineline extrusions, made to our specifications, for maximum efficiency.”
The AMS35p ($TBA) is a smaller version with all the same design and the same high build standard. “It has an almost identical sound to the AMS50, but is not as powerful,” say Musical Fidelity. It’s ideal for those systems where the quality is required but the power rating is less critical. Not to mention a bit cheaper! The output is 36w/channel at 8 ohms, not stated into 4 ohms, six output devices per channel. Current capability peak to peak is 80 amps; damping factor 128, frequency response 10Hz to 100kHz (+0, -1dB).
AMS CD-DAC CD Player Like the M6CD-DAC, this is a two-part device ($14,995) which fits exactly where we need to be at this stage of technological development. On the one hand we have a superb CD player, while in the same box resides a top quality 24-bit 192kHz DAC with three external inputs (apart from the CD section itself). – coaxial, optical and XLR-AES. This can assist you to decode the Master Audio files which are now available from various sites including Linn Records. Having taken the utmost care in making the transport and the DAC as good as possible, MF also invested in the last stage, one which is often overlooked – the analogue output. This player has a pure class A, fully balanced, low impedance output stage. Not only does this give superb sound, it also has the ability, due to its low output impedance, to drive a signal through any length of cable.
It has wide bandwidth and low distortion, and contributes to the utterly transparent and accurate sound that the AMS CD-DAC will become known for.
Primo Pre-amplifier The technical description of the circuits in the Primo pre-amp ($16,995) would take up quite a bit of space here, so we’ll keep it brief. It’s a zero feedback (global), pure class A, triode, fully balanced pre-amplifier. Its aims – total linearity, low distortion, wide bandwidth. This is achieved by using low interstage coupling impedance, while both the balanced and single ended output stages have two pairs of output tubes in parallel – where most other designs would use just one tube! This allows the Primo to remain “completely linear when driving any conceivable amplifier or length of cable.” It has a huge overload margin and a colossal peak output level. Even without feedback it achieves low distortion of less than 0.0004% from 10Hz to 50kHz, which would be remarkably good in a full feedback design. In a zero feedback design they are exceptional. The noise ratio of -119dBA is also exceptional and helps the Primo to deliver sound out of an inky black noiseless background. There are five pairs of line-level RCA inputs and five pairs of XLR balanced inputs, and one pair each of volume controlled RCA outputs and balanced XLR outputs, plus one pair of Record out (RCA). There are also 12v trigger (in and out), both 3.5mm mono jack sockets.
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B&W
Newsletter Autumn 2010
B&W 800 Series Updated
A
fter using diamond tweeters in some of the larger models from several years back, B&W has updated its 800 Series by (among other things) adding a Diamond dome tweeter to every speaker comprising this leaneddown seven-model range – available very soon; pricing is to be confirmed. The Diamond dome tweeter is a quad-magnet design, which is designed to increase efficiency and improve the
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dynamic range at the high frequencies, while a new surround material tightens dispersion characteristics, and provides a more stable stereo image. Bass has also been improved via a new dual-magnet motor system, using neodymium that gives a more linear response and reduces harmonic distortion. For improved performance throughout the range, B&W have attended to other minutiae, including B&W-designed oxygen-free-copper speaker terminals and a new design of capacitor using a unique silver/gold/oil construction. The new range come from B&W’s new U.K. manufacturing facility in Worthing, West Sussex, and employ Kevlar FST midrange drivers, Nautilus tube-loaded tweeters, and Matrix enclosures (with those familiar dalek heads on the two top speakers in the range). The speakers are available in a choice of three finishes: Rosenut, Cherrywood, and piano black gloss. B&W remain
somewhat confusing in applying ascending model numbers in descending order of size and cost. The 802 Diamond is described as “the home-friendly version of the 800 Diamond” and offers many of the flagship’s benefits, including the charismatic head unit, but with a reduced footprint. A new voice coil and bass realignment also improve the new floorstander’s low frequency response. The 803 Diamond is a more traditional floorstanding design, but it employs three 7” woofers (in lieu of the 802’s twin 8” cones). The 804 Diamond, the smallest floorstander in the range, has a similar footprint to the popular 805 Diamond when the latter is placed on the stand. There are two new 800 Diamond dedicated centre-channel designs for home theatre: the larger HTM2 Diamond complements the larger speakers in the range, while the more compact HTM4 Diamond is a better match for systems based on the 805 or 804. B&W notes that a number of speakers have been removed in this new slimmed down range, including the 801d and any dedicated rear-channel speakers (the latter because customers usually chose 805s over these options).
lenwallisaudio.com.au
YAMAHA
Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Smaller Systems By Trevor Rooney
T
here have been many times over the years when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard people say that systems have to be big to sound any good. Certainly there have been some awful attempts at midi/micro systems in the past. But our good friends at Yamaha have
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some new models that really have to be heard before passing judgment. First up is the new MCR-040 system (pictured above). It comes in ten colours, no less, and is something of a marvel in its shelf-based-system class. Combining a 2 x 15w amplifier, CD player, tuner and
an iPod dock into one box whilst maintaining sound quality is a tough ask, but they have done it. This unit would put shame some of its larger competitors without a doubt. Couple this with the fact it incorporates the new DAB+ Digital Radio format, and we really have a winner.
YAHAMA
The form factor of the 40 system is the smallest Yamaha could have gone whilst maintaining the level expected from their products. Measuring 302mm (W) x 120mm (H) x 309mm (D), this system can easily be placed anywhere in the home. The MCR-040 is priced at $499.00 Moving up a little in size, we would next look at the $899 MCR-730, at 2 x 30w, and the $1199 MCR-840 (right) at 2 x 65w. These are a little bit more traditional in design with speakers in the familiar bookshelf style. This of course enhances music quality, and the larger of the two systems could quite comfortably fill a standard living room with sound. Both units’ CD players double as DVD players, too – an added bonus. Connectivity for the ever-popular iPod and iPhone market is via an optional dock on the MCR-730 model, whilst the two-unit MCR-840 has its iPod dock built right into the top of the unit making things very convenient. This styling of the two speakers positioned left and right of these one- or two-box solutions has worked very well for Yamaha over the years, and these models are simply updated versions of tried-and-tested products. Rounding off this category is the exclusive Yamaha MCS-1330 system (left) that, simply put, is a miniature separates system. This is as good as anything they have at the same price in full size, once again combining a DVD/CD player, this time with AM/FM radio and a built in iPod dock.. This MCS-1330 system retails for $1999.00 – and one listen will indicate to you why this is the case. It’s evident in the build quality as well, which is second to none on this item. With space a premium these days there never has been a better time to check out the Yamaha mini system range. Think small and listen big …..
While Yamaha’s YSP-4100 is not exactly a system as such, it certainly offers excellent performance from a compact enclosure. The YSP-4100 Digital Sound Processor is designed to sit under your flatscreen TV in environments where conventional five or seven speaker installations are not possible or desirable. This remarkable box contains 42 speakers and 42 digital amplifiers, and it gives a remarkably accurate sense of surround sound, handling HD Audio, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, among others. The YSP-4100 not only vastly improves the audio performance of your TV, it also incorporates an FM tuner and has auxiliary inputs for other sources. It will connect to your iPod wirelessly, and comes with its own subwoofer. At $2,499 this unit has a lot to offer.
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CUSTOM
Newsletter Autumn 2010
No Longer the Forgotten Room By Juan leon
T
his project began when we enjoyed a return visit from a Sydney couple for whom we had installed a full home A/V and multi-room system some 18 months earlier. The couple came in to purchase a battery, and mentioned that they wished to have a proper cinema room. Once seated in our best cinema room, in those lovely theatre chairs with a movie running, they knew that this would be the perfect solution for a little-used room in their home. The only concern was whether the room was large enough for all the chairs they wanted. During the first site inspection I also thought the room was a bit small, but after taking all the dimensions and putting them on a scale plan and drawing in the chairs, screen, projector, cabinets and so on, I found a way that it could be done. I went to Bluegum Joinery with a rough sketch of a cabinet with edges angled towards the screen, based on a previous cabinet design. I engaged them because of the extremely professional job they achieved on a cabinet for another of my projects – for which we won the 2009 Sound & Image Installation of the Year award!
Equipment Selection The client owned a Krell amplifier and a super set of speakers – that gave us a good indication of his requirement for quality.
“From a forgotten room to the most enjoyable and entertaining room of the house” 20
CUSTOM
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CUSTOM
Newsletter Autumn 2010
Instead of going to a traditional surround receiver, I opted for a higher level approach: a separate pre-amp processor and multi-channel power amplifier. The NAD T175HD is the only pre-amplifier under $10,000 that offers an upgrade option via plug-in modules called MDC (Modular Design Construction). This modular design gives the flexibility of upgrading to the latest features available in the future, by removing and replacing the Modular Cards with improved models.
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The hand-crafted Australian-made ELEKTRA amplifier, with each channel delivering 185 watts into 8 ohms and a peak power of 400 watts into 2 ohms, assures us of tremendous dynamic headroom for lifelike soundtracks and special effects passages. During the design phase of the project we had a special deal on one of the best speakers in the shop â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Resolution series from Krell. There was a full set of these: the Resolution 3 front bookshelf (it feels a lot heavier than its stated 20.5kg), the Resolution Centre, and two pairs of Resolution 4 small monitors to complete the 7 channel speaker system. The LF channel is the Krell Resolution subwoofer which is a powered sub with a 15â&#x20AC;?/45cm polypropylene cone bass driver in a sealed cabinet. A purpose-built 800w Krell amplifier provides peak output of
lenwallisaudio.com.au
CUSTOM
117dB. As a system these can convey the dynamic contrasts that underline the most compelling moments in music and movie soundtracks.
Projection System The customer suggested we get the largest possible screen for the room. After some calculations we settled on a 100” 16:9 screen that will give the back and front seats a 9º and 15º vertical plane and is, as a whole, within the THX recommendations. Taking advantage of the excellent lens shift function (up to 80%) of the JVC DLA-HD750 THXcertified projector, and its vertical offset, we were able to locate it in the bulkhead within the ceiling coffer, so it disappeared from view without using a projector lifter.
The Cabinet The client and their interior designer Sandra Zobel asked Kevin from Bluegum to design the cabinet based on one of the previous Bluegum Joinery cabinets, adding inward angles to it, as I had suggested, to focus the viewer to the picture and to angle the front speakers into the room to avoid wall reflections. Also I asked Kevin to make a tight fit for the speakers in the cabinet cavity to avoid any boxy sound. Bluegum Joinery achieves a very high standard in their cabinets due to a combination of professional CAD drawing designs (including 3D presentations) and great workmanship. The cabinet external panels were made from Sapele (crown cut) veneer and finished in a semi-gloss polyurethane clear finish. The Sapele veneer leaves were hand picked and specially pressed so that an even and consistent grain pattern was achieved. Solid timber edges were shaped and fitted to the bench and bulkhead edges to retain a high quality finish. Solid timber was also used to trim the speaker and storage cabinets. Internally the cabinet is well ventilated because of the amount of equipment being installed behind closed doors.
Fans were also fitted to make this even better. All internal cabinets were set up with cable voids, allowing easy cable installation from one end of the cabinet to the other. Shelves were fitted to heavyduty locking cam-style shelf rests to avoid vibration and movement. Doors were fitted with push catches so that a clean handle-free appearance was achieved.
Theatre Chairs We recommended chairs made by Topform in Tasmania from Tasmanian Harwood Oak. These are so durable that they offer an unlimited warranty on the Hardwood frames. Warwick Macrosuede is the standard fabric they utilise, however our customer preferred a black leather finish. We managed to fit eight very comfy chairs in this theatre.
Control System Topform installed an RTI RK3 control panel in one of the arms of the chairs. This panel was custom programmed with automation features so that after a couple of touches the user will have the whole system up and running, including dimming the room lights.
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SATELLITES & SUBWOOFERS
Newsletter Autumn 2010
I Spy: Satellites & Subwoofers
T
here are any number of systems on the market which use a combination of small speakers and subwoofer to achieve something like fullrange sound in a physically compact form. Whether this is due to space limitations or décor demands (minimal visual impact), it remains a strong line of enquiry. The challenge is to be small while still sounding good. There have been some standout contenders in this field. Bose have produced and improved their cube+subwoofer combos over a long period. There are single-cube, doublecube and the very small jewel-cube varieties, ranging in price from around $1800 to $2800 for a 5.1-channel speaker
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system. They are still the best of the small cube-based systems. At the next size up (having a larger midrange driver) are some very classy products. The Focal Sib & Cub combo has been hugely successful at $2299 for a 5.1 pack, while the newer and even better Focal Dome 5.1 pack at $2999 gives even higher fidelity in what is still a very compact enclosure. All of the above models can readily be wall- or ceiling-mounted, and most come with brackets or adaptable feet. Bose brackets are an optional extra. You can buy most of these speaker packages in 2.1 configurations as well. Speakercraft’s Tantra 1 are very compact, very efficient, and come with
wall brackets, for a rich and mellow sound in a slim silver or black. A 5.1 system with their Blossom 10” subwoofer would cost $2499. If you want to take the closest approach to high-end sound in a compact speaker and subwoofer combination, be sure to also audition the Era Design 4 and Design 5. These are real timber-veneer finishes, and they look as good as they sound.
lenwallisaudio.com.au
AUDIO PHYSIC
Audio Physic Sitara
A
udio Physic has built an enviable reputation for sonic purity combined with elegant cabinet design. The slight lean backwards give time alignment to the mid and bass drivers relative to the tweeter, and the tall slim enclosure reduces front baffle area (and reflections therefrom) while forming a pipe for bass resonances. The Sitara speakers, which are at the entry level of AudioPhysic’s higher quality range, are amenable to fairly close listening, with the left and right speakers “toed-in” towards the listener to minimize secondary reflected sounds off the side walls. How much toe-in you use will affect the treble performance, and should be determined in situ by trial and error, as each room will vary in its treble response. These are a two-and-a-half way with three drivers, standing 980mm high,
147mm wide and 220mm deep. At 89dB the Sitara is not a difficult load for most amplifiers, even allowing for the nominal 4ohm impedance. Anywhere from 20w to 120w per channel is recommended. The sound is impressive for the width and depth of the soundstage, while being mild in nature, not too forward or stark in its presentation of fine detail. It is particularly good at presenting audiophile recordings made in a natural acoustical environment. Frequency response is 36Hz to 46kHz, not bad for a speaker of this size. Prices are $4620/pair for timber finishes (Maple, Cherry, Walnut, Black Ash) and $5390/pair for high gloss-enamelled black or white. We believe that the conclusion from Canada’s ‘Son and Image Magazine’ sums these speakers up very well: “Competence, assurance and ease are the three words that kept coming
back to me during the time I spent listening casually or intently to music through the Sitaras. With these speakers I always felt confident that any track I chose would be a musical experience unmarred by exaggeration or distortion anywhere in the frequency band. I started the listening session convinced that sooner or later the 5.9 inch drivers would call attention to themselves by a resonance in the highs, but I gave up my search, because in addition to the leitmotif of “No loss of fine detail” it should be added “No addition of artificial detail”. If you are looking for speakers that combine holographic imaging, excellent tonal balance, dynamics, emotion, all presented in top-notch cabinetwork, then have a good look and listen to the Sitara.”
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iPOD Devices
WHAT iPod Device?
A
recent addition to our line-up is the Wadia iPod dock, which enables direct digital connection into a DAC – or into an amplifier with digital input, such as the Peachtree Nova. This means that higher quality can be obtained from what started out as more of a convenience item. We have noted in passing before that you can extract higher quality sound from iPods than most people realise. No, we are not trying to say that they are now a high-end device, but with a bit of organisation and the right sort of connections, you can get so close to CD quality that it will be fine for most people. How do you do it? Firstly, go into your iTunes Preferences and set the Import to Apple Lossless. You can use WAV or AIFF for even better results if you don’t want cover art (it won’t attach to those file types). Importing your CDs at this level gives a much better sound than the default MP3 setting. If you are planning to store a lot of CDs, get an iPod with as big
a capacity as possible, as better sound takes up more memory. The biggest available is still the Classic, with its 160GB hard drive! A vast array of docks and iPodenabled small systems allow you to play back your “music library in a pocket” on good, ordinary or exceptional systems. If you have transferred the music to iTunes at a high-quality level, the system you play it back through will be the main limiting factor. The iPod has become so entrenched that docks are now built into products from DAB+ radios through to mini stereo systems. The latest Yamaha systems, from the MCR-040 at $499 to the MCS1330 at $1999, have the dock inbuilt. Other products which do an excellent job are the Focal XS2.1 (recently reduced to $799), Bose’s SoundDock 10, B&W’s Zeppelin, the Geneva systems, the AktiMate Maxis, Tivoli iYiYi and the Pure Avanti Flow. At the high point there’s the Krell KID at $2600, the ultimate iPod playback dock!
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Newsletter Autumn 2010
TECTION SMART PROTECTION SMART PROTECTION SMART PROTECTI
• •
•
On The Air with DAB+
T
here’s no doubt that Australians take up new technologies very quickly. The interest in (and purchases of) DAB+ radios has been amazing in the first six months of operation. Once again there’s evidence that no single model is right for everyone, with models offering different functionality, shapes, sizes and colours. From the miniscule Sangean DPR34+ up to the full-size stereo component tuners from them and Arcam, people have been looking, listening and assessing not just which one sounds the best, but which will look right on their shelf or kitchen bench. For those who have not taken in this phenomenon yet, DAB+ offers a number of advantages. Your favourite AM stations
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are free forever from the interference that plagues AM. All the FM stations are there too, except for the community stations which have yet to convert. There are additional dedicated channels for all sorts of music, from Country to Jazz to easy listening, and Radar for new groups which have no recording contract! Special promotional channels run for a month or so to coincide with tours or other significant events — a Beatles channel prior to the release of the remastered box set, and a Fleetwood Mac channel while they were touring here. It’s a whole new deal for us city slickers, and it will go to the regions in time. Some models offer wireless streaming as well, opening up the possibilities for Internet Radio around the home if you
use a wireless router for your broadband internet. Some can also stream music from your hard drive to any room where there’s one of these “streaming” radios. New compact stereos from Yamaha now have DAB+, but there remain a lot of systems which do not have the capability to receive all those channels, new and old. Don’t worry, all is not lost. There are ways to add DAB+ to anything with an ‘Aux’ or ‘Line In’ input. The little Sangean DPR34+ is a pocket-size portable DAB+ radio with a small speaker and a headphone socket that you could connect to any system (you could do the same with many DAB+ radios that have a headphone socket, or better still a ‘Line Out’ connection. For full-size stereos you can add a Sangean WFT-1D tuner ($599) or an Arcam T32 Tuner (now $1298). The Arcam has the better sound by a mile, but the Sangean may suit for its cost/capability. So don’t let the fact that your present system lacks DAB+ stop you from adapting to it. There’s much to enjoy.
lenwallisaudio.com.au
LOEWE
Loewe Connects
O
ne of the major new developments in TVs is the ability to connect to the internet. Loewe’s Connect Media has this network connection, along with other useful ones like digital audio in/out, USB and HDMI. Mediaplayer helps to playback pictures or music through the TV system as well. The Connect Media 32”/81cm is $4499, while the larger 37”/94cm with internal HDD recorder is $6499. This series also offers the smaller 26”/66cm screen size, which is all you need in certain areas. The Individual Compose series comes with an HD tuner, but you can option
it up to two tuners and an inbuilt hard drive recorder, and go for alternate colour panels for the (very slim) ends of the screen. But in truth it’s the overall combination of exquisite styling and superb performance which is the winner. Loewe use their own Image+ processing to ensure clarity and smooth movement, as well as a dynamic backlighting management system to maximise contrast in dark sequences. You can add sound systems, a soundbar and pedestal stand, or separate speakers (stereo or surround). Compose sets come in 40”, 46” and 52” sizes, ranging from $6,999 to $8,999.
The Loewe Art series offers European styling and performance at a lower price than the Compose series, and has been so popular that stock moves fast, and we have already had shortages. There are 42”/106cm models with HD tuner ($5999), or you can add a second tuner and 250GB internal HDD recorder ($6999). The 47”/118cm with HD tuner is $6999, and for $7999 you can add the second tuner and 250GB internal HDD recorder. The next really high-end TV from Loewe will be the Reference, at around $20k – more about that next time. Availability will be around early May.
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SPECIALS All our ‘Specials’ are new, but may be models about to be superseded and/or ex-demo. Contact us for details. Brand
Model
Description
RRP
Sell
Audio Physic
Scorpio
Floorstanding Speakers
$8,995
$6,995
Audio Physic
Tempo 2
Floorstanding Speakers
$5,999
$3,000
Era
PL24
Wall mounting speakers
$1,599
$999
Era
PL28
Wall mounting speakers
$1,998
$1,299
Focal
Profile SW908
Subwoofer
$3,999
$2,499
Focal
iCub
iPod subwoofer
$999
$699
Grundig
GLCD1905
LCD TV with DVD
$699
$499
Krell
280P
Pre-amp
$5,995
$3,999
Krell
DVD Standard
DVD Player
$14,995
$4,999
Krell
Showcase DVD
DVD Player
$5,995
$2,999
Krell
SACD
SACD Player
$11,999
$8,999
Lehmanns
Black Cube
Phono pre-amp
$999
$799
M-Audio
Flying Cow
Digital-Analogue Converter
$769
$499
Marantz
DV4001
DVD Player
$369
$269
Marantz
SR5001
A/V Receiver
$1,699
$1,199
Meridian
G98AH
DVD Player
$10,595
$6,999
Meridian
G91
DVD/Pre-amp/Tuner
$11,395
$7,999
Meridian
DSP5500
Active loudspeakers
$25,495
$19,999
Meridian
DSP5000
Active loudspeakers
$14,550
$9,995
Mitsubishi
HC5500
Projector
$3,999
$2,699
Musical Fidelity
Stable1
Isolation platform
$499
$299
Musical Fidelity
A5.5 CD
CD Player
$3,995
$2,695
Musical Fidelity
KW250S
Pre-Amp-Power Amp & CD combination
$12,999
$9,999
Musical Fidelity
A1008
Top loading CD player
$7,999
$4,999
Musical Fidelity
A1008
Integrated amplifier
$7,995
$5,995
Musical Fidelity
A1
Integrated amplifier
$2,499
$1,699
NEC
NLT19HDB3
19” LCD
$899
$599
Perreaux
SVX-1
Phono Pre-Amp
$649
$499
Perreaux
SXH-1
Headphone Amp
$660
$499
Pioneer
PDP-428XDZ
42” Plasma TV
$3,699
$2,699
Revox
Sound S Brilliant
Floorstanding speakers
$3,999
$1,999
Revox
Sound S Column
Floorstanding speakers
$1,999
$1,299
Revox
Sound 01 Centre
Centre speaker
$899
$499
Revox
Sound 02 Centre
Centre speaker
$1,699
$699
Revox
Sound S Subwoofer
Subwoofer
$2,499
$1,299
Revox
Elegance Column
Floorstanding speakers
$1,999
$1,299
Richter
PMSW121
Precious Metals Sub
$999
$799
Richter
Legend Rear
Rear Speakers
$699
$499
Richter
Legend Centre
Centre Speaker
$699
$399
Richter
501 Surrounds
Rear Speakers
$699
$499
Richter
401 Surrounds
Rear Speakers
$599
$399
Rotel
RSP1098
A/V Processor
$4,995
$2,499
Rotel
RB1510
Power Amp
$899
$699
Sharp
BD-HP20
Blu-ray player
$749
$299
Tantra
Tantra 5
Speakers (inc. stands)
$2,500
$1,995
Tantra 4
Speakers (inc. wall bracket)
$1,998
$1,599
Tantra 3
Speakers (inc. wall bracket)
$1,398
$1,199
Tantra 2
Speakers (inc. wall bracket)
$698
$499
Tantra 1
Speakers (inc. wall bracket)
$498
$369
Townsend
Sink 2-4
Audiophile equipment shelving system
$2,995
$1,995
Yamaha
DVD-S1700
DVD Player
$799
$399
Yamaha
DVD-S2900
DVD Player
$1,499
$699
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lenwallisaudio.com.au
TECHNOLOGY
Newsletter Autumn 2010
Reinventing Your Music Collection by Geoff Forgie
T
echnology continues to throw new challenges at us. Those of us who grew up with the LP as our primary source have been challenged in a number of ways, and it’s not over yet. For some, the CD presented a challenge to LP’s supremacy; for most it was a welcome development. For many in the hifi industry the popularity of MP3 players was a challenge until we found that they could be used in better lossless storage modes too. Now with the Wadia 170i iPod dock you can run your lossless audio files digitally to your DAC or digital amplifier, making it a serious source. As a result of that MP3 scare, even digital computer storage and replay of music had a bad name for a while. In the end convenience and ready access to our music and to online libraries had the winning hand. Wireless distribution broke down some more barriers, and we are now at a point in history where the purchase and accumulation of physical media is declining while delivery via broadband is on the increase. I still love having my large LP and CD collections, but realise they are going to have to be rationalised at some stage. It’s true that we don’t play widely across our collections as a rule, and the new technology can help there. One might embrace the model now epitomised by Sooloos. Under that scenario all your favourite music is available (digitised) in high-quality FLAC form, but at the same time can be accessed in various ways, including a “Swim” through either the entire collection or through user-defined “Focus” groups, like Jazz 1950-1970, Pop 1960-1980, or just Mozart. Once I have set the Swim/Focus I can let the system provide the selection and
order of play. You can still, of course, just select an album or a track to play, and queue them up. Whether you go along that route or not, the moment has arrived when there should be no audiophile objections to the high quality forms of digital storage. The new Master Audio albums are sold as data sets either downloaded or bought on a data disc. Be warned though, one CD’s worth of audio will consume (on average) 3GB of your download limit and take hours to do. If you buy them on a disc you have to copy it to a hard drive and play back using your computer as a server, then send it through a good DAC to re-
assemble the analogue wave-form at the high-res 24bit/192kHz form these master audio recordings use. Where do you get them? Linn Records and HDtracks.com are two sources, and more will follow. Already the number of 24bit/192kHz DACs on the market is building up! Fast broadband is the other part that needs fixing. One day everything ever recorded might be readily available, priced at rates which reflect the quality of the transfer – but hopefully they’ll be so affordable that we can buy plenty of it! Storage will take up next to no space, and sound systems will be so minimalist (perhaps controlled from an iPad) that even wives will approve.
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