Sound & Vision at Home Guide 2015

SOUND & VISION AT HOME 2015 1

CONTENTS WHO IS AUDIO T?

Published by Audio T Design & Artwork Philippa Steward Printed in England by CBF Net All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press. E&OE

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INTRODUCTION TO HI-FI & HOME CINEMA 7 Anthem AV 8 Arcam 9 Chord Electronics 10 Cyrus 11 Naim Audio 12-13 Clearaudio 14 Isotek 14 Quad 15

Rega Ruark Sonos

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INTRODUCTION TO TVs & PROJECTORS Panasonic Pioneer Sony

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INTRODUCTION TO LOUDSPEAKERS 20 Bowers & Wilkins 21 Focal 22 Monitor Audio 23 KEF 24-25 PMC 26-27 Q Acoustics 28 REL 28 Neat Acoustics 29 Spendor 30

INTRODUCTION TO ACCESSORIES 30 Audioquest 31 Bowers & Wilkins 32 HiFi Racks 32 The Chord Company 33 QED 34 Quadraspire 34 Sennheiser 35 STORES Back Cover

WHO IS AUDIO T?

Audio T is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of Hi-Fi and Home Cinema equipment. By far the longest established group in the country, we were founded in 1966 and are 100% UK owned by three hands on partners. We sell exciting products guaranteed to provide you with a system that will thrill you for years to come.

We don’t try to sell you the latest magazine favourites or, worse still, in-house brands, we actually offer independent, real world advice based on what things sound like, how reliable they are and how easy they are to use.

With over 49 years of experience, our knowledgeable staff will help you make the right choice based on what you hear and what you like.

We stock all of the key brands so we can give you impartial advice based on what’s best for your needs. We only stock products that offer high performance and value for money whatever your budget, chosen by staff who have the knowledge that comes from being genuine enthusiasts.

WHEN IS A CHAIN NOT A CHAIN? What Audio T is not, is a chain of stores all selling what central buyers tell them to. All Audio T stores are different and are run by enthusiasts for other enthusiasts and anyone who wants an honest opinion in these days of boring uniformity.

We don’t produce or import any of our own brands so we won’t try to switch sell you. And we don’t pay our staff extra commission to sell particular brands and nor do we pay them to sell you unnecessary guarantees. We just make sure that everything we stock is good and let you make the final choice!

NEW TECHNOLOGIES Rarely has the Hi-Fi market been so exciting, with the arrival of music streaming from computers and the internet giving the industry a shot in the arm and sparking huge debates as to the merits of everything from file types to the relative merits of turntables, CD players and streaming! All good fun and at Audio T you can come and hear the differences for yourself in one of our demonstration rooms.

On the television front, LED (backlit) TVs have never been better value and remain the best solution for now. Nearly all the TVs we sell are now “smart” and are able to access the internet to stream BBC iPlayer or rented movies. UHD sets - commonly called “4K” - are also featuring strongly, and with four times the resolution of current 1080p sets they will future proof your purchase.

With tough times still holding prices down there has never been a better time to upgrade your existing system. However, we are not desperate to sell you just anything but would rather build a relationship that will see you using our expertise for years to come. Though Audio T has a hard-earned reputation as the most reputable stores in the country we also have a Price Promise that ensures you get great value. Not requiring vast central resources to spend on buying and marketing means our overheads are low and our prices are keen.

AirPlay, iPod, iPhone and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. BBC iPlayer is a registered trademark of The British Broadcasting Corporation

Bluetoothis a registered trademark of Bluetooth Sig, Inc. DLNA is a registered trademark of Digital Living Network Alliance

Netflix is a registered trademark of Netflix Inc

SKY HD is a registered trademark of BSkyB Ltd.

Spotify is a registered trademark of Spotify AB

You Tube is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other products and services may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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HOW WILL GOOD MUSIC AND MOVIES IMPROVE MY LIFE? Music provides entertainment and pleasure. It can stimulate you and relax you at the same time. Music is pure emotion, but this will only come through on equipment good enough for you to respond to it naturally. The more natural the sound, the more enjoyment and satisfaction you will derive.

We hope you will enjoy it so much that you’ll buy lots of new music and rediscover your existing collection. That’s what good Hi-Fi is all about and why we love it so much!

In fact, to help you buy new music on vinyl in particular, we sell a range of Diverse Vinyl’s own label audiophile pressings and these are now available in the majority of our stores (check the website for details).

I’M A BEGINNER HOW SHOULD I USE THIS GUIDE? If you’re new to Hi-Fi and Home Cinema then you might like to check-out the introductions to each section for a simple approach to the subject. After that use the Guide to get an overview of what’s available before coming into one of our shops for a chat and a listen. You will then have a better idea of what to ask us.

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HOW DO I GET THE BEST SOUND AND VISION AT HOME? Independent journalists always give the same advice about buying Hi-Fi and Home Cinema - find yourself a good dealer and listen to the products for yourself. What do they mean by a good dealer?

They mean shops that give knowledgeable advice, offer demonstrations and can deliver and install your purchase. Everyone can see and hear the difference between equipment so don’t think you need to be an ‘expert’. A pair of appreciative eyes and ears are the only qualifications necessary when it comes to choosing a good system.

When making decisions about what to buy there is no substitute for actually road-testing your prospective purchases - seeing, hearing and experiencing the products in action. Whether you’re tweaking an existing system or starting from scratch, contact your local store to arrange a demonstration.

Many other retailers don’t have these facilities - we think they’re essential. Worse still, other dealers won’t install systems for you whereas we are always keen to give you the benefit of our long experience in setting up and positioning equipment to get the very best out of it.

Likewise you can be transported into another world by watching movies, but you will need a Home Cinema system that produces natural pictures and great sound. No mass-market packaged home cinema systems achieve this goal not least because most of them are devoting only 20% of the budget to the sound. We believe, as George Lucas does, that the sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a film.

JOIN THE E-CLUB Our customers can now keep up-to-date by joining our e-Club electronic mailing list that has special benefits for members: monthly newsletters with news of new products, special offers, competitions, extra discount on clearance items and more…

Sign up today by visiting the Audio T website: www.audio-t.co.uk. We’ll only mail you once or twice a month and we’ll never, ever sell your email address to anyone else.

AUDIO T ONLINE For the convenience of those who live too far from one of our stores, or those who just wish to shop from home, we also sell online. Our online store offers a “Click and Reserve” service for customers to

reserve items for in-store collection and payment.

We are happy to ship goods to you free of charge but this excludes some products that require special installation or those from suppliers who prefer us not to mail order. All items are subject to availability and we will always give you the best information we can on anticipated delivery dates. Please call or email us for prices or to discuss anything you are unsure about.

Contact us via email on info@audio-t.co.uk and on the Internet at www.audio-t.co.uk where, in addition to our online store, you’ll find our most up to date clearance list and news of our latest products.

You can also find us on Facebook at facebook.com/audiotgroup and on Twitter at twitter.com/audiotgroup

Audio T runs the country’s leading consumer Hi-Fi and Home Cinema exhibition at the Marriott City Centre Hotel every February in Bristol. It’s easy to get to, great fun and you can see and hear almost every product in this Guide. Checkout the website at www. bristolshow.co.uk.

BRANDS STOCKED Please check the store pages on our website or call your nearest branch for full details of everything that we sell.

MAKING YOUR PURCHASE SAFE AND EASY We are authorised by the manufacturers to sell all the products we stock. This means we have trained staff who know what they’re talking about. We have an after sales service you can count on; our warranty is backed up by the manufacturers and we can arrange the repair of items efficiently if they go wrong. We are also happy to answer any ongoing technical queries you may have.

We allow you to upgrade your purchase to something better for up to 30 days, at no cost penalty provided the returned equipment is in perfect condition complete with all packing and instructions (excludes clearance items and special orders).

FREE PARKING With increased pressure to park in and around town these days we offer a small but useful service to encourage you to visit us. If you come into one of our stores that does not have free parking on-site, and you buy something, then we will reimburse your parking fees. Just ask the salesperson when you are paying and we will credit this against your purchase.

DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION For a small charge we can deliver and professionally install your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema if you want us to, ensuring you get the very best from your new purchase. Putting a Hi-Fi system together may appear easy but it takes experience to make it sound sensational. Wiring up a Home Cinema system is even more challenging and many people wouldn’t want to even attempt it!

PRICE PROMISE We stand by our Price Promise so you can buy with confidence knowing you will have the best combination of service and value for money.

HOME LOANS We can arrange home loans of equipment (subject to status) and also home demonstrations, especially for those customers who find travelling difficult. This is subject to arranging a mutually agreeable time and there is usually no extra cost involved (subject to the travelling distance).

CREDIT We offer a wide range of credit products to suit most budgets. Call into your nearest shop for full details.

All our credit facilities are subject to acceptance for UK residents aged 18 and over. Written quotations are available on request. Minimum amount of loan (after deposit) is £200.

And, to make things really easy, we offer a Buy now, Pay in 10 Months time* scheme that lets you defer paying us for 10 months at no extra cost**. *Subject to status. Ask in store for details. **Other than a settlement fee of £29.

TURNTABLE UPGRADES AND SERVICING We are able to service your turntable if you need us to and an upgrade can often produce considerable sonic benefits.

Our stores have been working with turntables for years, making improvements that are very cost effective.

retra We are members of the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers Association

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HOME CINEMA A Home Cinema is something the whole family will enjoy together (and one of the few things that will keep teenagers socialising with you!)

We supply and install the best televisions and projectors, along with the most up-todate audio electronics.

We don’t sell ‘built to a price’ special models you won’t find on the manufacturer’s websites; we sell the real thing with none of the features removed or picture degraded!

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CUSTOM INSTALLATION Custom Installation ranges from something as simple as mounting a TV on your wall to specifying and installing a full multi-room system. It can include both Hi-Fi and Home Cinema along with lighting, blinds and other hardware. Whatever level of installation you choose we work with experienced installers to offer you the personal attention you expect.

You may be about to embark on a refurbishment project, have an extension or new home built.

Perhaps you have been thinking about a loft or basement conversion for a home cinema with a hidden projector and screen or cinema style seating.

Whatever your plans, Audio T can arrange these installations for you – working with our installers or your builders.

AUDIO STREAMING There are several different ways to steam music but the basic principle is that your music is held in digital form on a computer drive somewhere - on your computer, in the cloud or at a music streaming company such as Spotify or Qobuz.

These digital files can be input straight into your hi-fi where they are decoded by a digital to analogue converter (DAC) and played back just like any other music source. Alternatively they can be stored on a network attached storage drive (NAS) from where they can be accessed from anywhere on a home network.

This means your music files can be played back in any room of the house that can see the network.

This, in turn, has led a number of manufacturers to produce systems that allow such multi-room streaming. The best known of these is Sonos but there are now several others such as Simple Audio - a higher definition system that uses your house mains cables to transmit the signals!

You can also stream your music directly from a phone or tablet straight to an AirPlay or Bluetooth loudspeaker. These have built in amplification and make for a very simple solution, though the quality from these one box systems won’t be as good as you’d get from two stereo speakers. For kitchens, bathrooms and even bedrooms, however, they can be a good solution.

AUDIO STREAMING There are several different ways to steam music but the basic principle is that your music is held in digital form on a computer drive somewhere - on your computer, in the cloud or at a music streaming company such as Spotify or Qobuz.

These digital files can be input straight into your hi-fi where they are decoded by a digital to analogue converter (DAC) and played back just like any other music source. Alternatively they can be stored on a network attached storage drive (NAS) from where they can be accessed from anywhere on a home network.

This means your music files can be played back in any room of the house that can see the network.

This, in turn, has led a number of manufacturers to produce systems that allow such multi-room streaming, the best known of which is Sonos. They provide the convenience of selecting what you want to listen to from wherever you are in the house. They avoid clashes of interest too: you can listen to the radio in the lounge while your partner listens to their favourite track in the kitchen!

These days expensive and quickly outdated built in systems have given way to these much simpler options. They can operatewirelessly, making installation both simple and inexpensive; however, if they can be wired they will stream more reliably and sound better.

You can also stream your music directly from a phone or tablet straight to an AirPlay or Bluetooth loudspeaker. These have built in amplification and make for a very simple solution, though the quality from these one box systems won’t be as good as you’d get from two stereo speakers. For kitchens, bathrooms and even bedrooms, however, they can be a good solution.

INTRODUCTION TO HI-FI & HOME CINEMA Hi-Fi and Home Cinema separates, as individual components are commonly known, offer the very best sound quality and the ability to upgrade easily.

Combinations of these items can be tailored to build a complete system that will suit your sonic preferences, your home decor or whatever your particular needs may be. This modular approach to system building makes upgrading easy, as well as letting you add other components as your tastes develop, technology changes or your budget allows.

We can put together systems from as little as £500 but we are confident that you will agree, once we’ve shown you what is possible, that spending more will pay big dividends. You might spend many thousands of pounds on a wonderful music system but the average system sale is around £1,000 to £2,000. You can listen and look in our demonstration rooms (or at home) and make the decision for yourself.

A good separates Hi-Fi system will give you musical enjoyment that will excite you and involve you on an emotional level, just like live music. It will be an investment you will never regret.

Likewise, everyone is thrilled by the excitement of surround sound when they visit the cinema.

Now you can enjoy the same amazing experience at home; and not just with films. The same benefits apply to many TV programmes, sporting events and games consoles. Multi-channel sound from Sky HD, Freesat and Freeview HD plus, of course, blu-ray players and streamed content has made the experience ever more available. Home Cinema with surround sound is definitely something that the whole family will enjoy!

And now there is a new kid on the block - Dolby

Atmos - which promises to make the experience even more exciting. Come and try this out for yourself at any one of our stores and we think you’ll be impressed! Dolby Atmos has ditched what used to be called channels, replacing them with a fully digital system that moves the sound around in space much more accurately. This, with the addition of height information, makes the sound more enveloping and realistic but it does require the addition of at least two more speakers. These can be mounted on top of your existing front speakers or in your ceiling for the best effect.

All our stores can demonstrate how wonderful HiFi and Home Cinema can sound, but you really need to discuss things before handing over your money.

For example, some home cinema amplifiers sound great on music as well as films but others don’t. It’s expensive to make them sound good on both (even more so now Atmos has arrived) so you need to think about where your priorities lie. Whatever you decide, our staff members are factory-trained so we can get it all working without any fuss and transform your living room into your own private cinema or concert hall!

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ANTHEM AV This Canadian company eschews the almost endless feature list of some competitors to concentrate the available budget on the core function of an AV receiver: delivering a great audio performance. This is achieved by focussing on sophisticated processing and high quality amplification.

At the heart of Anthem’s processing is its proprietary room optimisation software, ARC (Anthem Room Correction). This deserves praise in its own right, and takes the performance of Anthem processors and receivers to an entirely new level.

MRX710

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The new MRX line-up has been designed to build on the reputation of the first generation, ensuring that Anthem continue to offer the best value in the AV receiver market. New features include 4K upscaling and ARC 1M, a version of ARC designed specifically for the MRX line-up.

All this means that MRX receivers deliver an audio performance that is simply stunning. If you are looking for an AV receiver that can sound as good with your music collection as it will with your movie collection, then look no further.

Anthem AV Solutions T 01825 750858 enquiries@anthemavs.co.uk www.anthemavs.co.uk

ARCAM Arcam believes in the simple philosophy of bringing better sound to more people.

Arcam, The West Wing, Stirling House, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9QE T 01223 203200 www.arcam.co.uk

An enthusiasm for music reproduction lies at the heart of everything they do. Over the years Arcam has built an outstanding team of gifted and passionate engineers who have poured their hearts and souls into producing products that deliver a quality of reproduction that has won countless awards around the world.

The Arcam FMJ range of separates has real pedigree.

Arcam started making stereo amplifiers in the midseventies and has produced hundreds of thousands of systems since then. They pride themselves on engineering systems that are transparent and faithful to the original sound. The ultra-low levels of distortion and noise that these systems exhibit deliver a natural but highly detailed result which allows you to listen and be swept along by the power and majesty of an orchestra in full flow.

When an artist takes the time to record their music with passion and precision, they want it to be reproduced as it was intended without distortion or

alteration. Without anything added or taken away.

Arcam is one of a very few specialist manufacturers able to engineer home cinema electronics that can reproduce music to the same standard as the best stereo separates.

Conceived to offer premium performance with a wide range of system components and connectivity to suit the most demanding of installations, the Arcam home cinema components follow the Arcam tradition of sublime sound and picture quality from all genres of entertainment.

Most music and movie systems deliver a fraction of what’s possible. Find out what you’ve been missing and rekindle your love of music with a demonstration at Audio T. A system with Arcam at its heart is a life enhancing, stress busting, joy delivering investment that will thrill your entire family and all your friends.

AVR380 AV receiver and BDP300 Blu-ray player

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CHORD ELECTRONICS Chord Electronics is a world-leading manufacturer of high-performance audio products and is a global authority in digital audio. Its Britishmade amplifiers, DACs and CD players are among the best in the world, thanks to a blend of unrivalled proprietary technology and exemplary audio engineering.

PIONEER In recent times, Chord’s game-changing Hugo DAC and headphone amplifier has redefined the DAC genre, gaining an extraordinary amount of international press accolades including the prestigious 2014 What Hi-Fi? Best DAC £1,000+ award. Hugo’s incredible critical acclaim in 2014 will no doubt see the success story extended into 2015 with an expanded range.

Chord Electronics Ltd The Pumphouse Farleigh Bridge Farleigh Lane East Farleigh ME16 9NB T 01622 721444 www.chordelectronics.co.uk

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Chord’s global customer base includes Abbey Road, Sony Music (New York) and Skywalker Sound (California) to name but a few. Join us in store to discover why audio lovers everywhere are switching on to Chord Electronics.

But it’s not just ground-breaking DACs like Hugo and the QBD76 HDSD that Chord Electronics is famous for.

It is, perhaps, best known for its incredible amplifiers which incorporate Chord’s unique high-frequency power supplies giving superior transparency, dynamics and lifespan.

Chord Hugo

CYRUS Cyrus is well known as a world leader in premium audio. They believe their customers love hi-fi as a fascinating hobby and the perfect way to unwind at home, enjoying music to salve the pressures and stresses of our busy lives.

Developing superior music systems that can transmit the passion and emotion of the artist requires sophisticated design skills and the specification of top quality materials.

Over 30 years Cyrus has developed a reputation for pursuing forward-looking engineering solutions; their R&D team often developing unique circuits and software that enable their products to resolve more of the recorded performance.

Care and attention to the voicing of every element has created a signature sound that is both tonally and rhythmically accurate.

Critical acclaim for the latest models includes Product of the Year Awards for CD players and numerous ‘best-in-class’ accolades for amplifiers, the Lyric all-in-one-system and the company’s state-ofthe-art streaming models.

If your desire is to invest in a system that gives you more of the magic of music, the performers’ passion and emotion, then a Cyrus system is for you.

Cyrus Audio Ltd Ermine Business Park Huntingdon PE29 6XY T 01480 435577 www.cyrusaudio.com

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NAIM AUDIO

Uniti. All-in-one players Unleash a world of digital music and rediscover your entire collection with Naim’s Uniti range of award-winning all-in-one players. They offer everything you need to play all of your music in one place. Just add speakers.

Southampton Road Salisbury SP1 2LN T 01722 426600 info@naimaudio.com www.naimaudio.com

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Each of Naim’s Uniti all-in-one players is capable of streaming high-resolution (up to 24bit/192kHz) music over UPnPTM from a storage device on your home network, or from Naim’s own UnitiServe hard disk server. They also feature internet radio, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth (aptX) a DAB/FM tuner, iPod/MP3 player charging and playback, multiple digital and analogue inputs, a high-quality DAC, multiroom streaming and app control. The NaimUniti 2 and UnitiLite even feature CD playback.

Multiroom & Party Mode. Naim sound in every room Using a Naim Uniti or network player as your main system you can create a full Naim multiroom audio system with any combination of Mu-so or Uniti client players in up to four additional rooms. Add a UnitiServe hard disk server to get your CD collection online complete with extensive metadata and album artwork. Control the whole system and browse your music with ease via the new Naim app for iOS and Android devices.

NAIM AUDIO Let the voice of Naim take you inside the music.

Naim is one of the few brands that can truly claim to be the best in its sphere of audio engineering. Its rich heritage stretches back over 40 years to when founder Julian Vereker MBE (1945-2000) launched his first amplifiers, employing designs which directly challenged accepted wisdom at the time. Though its technology has evolved Naim has stayed true to its unorthodox roots with outstanding results: music bursts to life with verve and clarity.

Mu-so. Wireless music system Mu-so is Naim’s first wireless music system. Finely tuned by their specialist engineers in England, its powerful audio brain delivers the most exceptional quality in sound, commanding 450 watts of power through six custom-designed speakers to create an experience of music that has to be heard to be believed. Its advanced yet simple to use connectivity includes AirPlay, UPnP hi-res streaming, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth (aptX), iRadio, iOS and Android app control and multiroom capability.

Right: Mu-so is supplied with a black speaker grille as standard. You can add a new dimension of colour with Deep Blue, Vibrant Red and Burnt Orange grilles.

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CLEARAUDIO

ISOTEK In 2001 IsoTek was born with a singular aim: to create a better solution to the problem of poor mains quality, which restricts the performance of Hifi and Home Cinema systems.

IsoTek’s unique technologies enhance sound and picture quality by filtering mains electricity and regulating it’s distribution, delivering pure and stable power to audio and AV equipment.

IsoTek products also deliver unrivalled protection from damaged caused by lightening strikes and power surges, and extend the lifespan of valuable electronic components.

From the entry-level Discovery range to the groundbreaking Ultimate series, IsoTek creates award winning products to suit every system.

Clearaudio have been designing and manufacturing high end turntables since 1978. From the award winning Concept turntable package, to the ground breaking high-end Statement, Clearaudio has an award winning turntable to match any Hifi system.

A family run company, Clearaudio remain truly independent, manufacturing almost all precision components by hand in their factory in Erlangen, Germany. This is the only way to ensure the highest level of quality control, allowing Clearaudio to monitor every step of the manufacturing process.

The Clearaudio range also includes phono stages as well as record cleaning machines and a comprehensive range of accessories to care for both your turntable and your vinyl records.

Sound Fowndations 3a Vulcan House Calleva Park Aldermaston RG7 3QA

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Sound Fowndations 3a Vulcan House Calleva Park Aldermaston RG7 3QA

QUAD Quad celebrates 78 years of audio innovation with the launch of Vena: a compact integrated amp sporting a wide range of digital and analogue inputs, plus superior-quality wireless streaming over Bluetooth with aptX support.

Vena updates the familiar Quad aesthetic, yet remains distinctly ‘Quad’. D/A conversion is handled by the same high-performance 24-bit/192kHz chipset used in the company’s flagship Platinum CD player and, as one expects of Quad, the Class AB power amp section is of the highest quality. The result is a sound that is richly musical, delivering an effortless, wide-bandwidth performance with freebreathing dynamics. Above all, it lets the music do the talking; Quad’s traditional slogan, ‘the closest approach to the original sound’, still holds true in everything the company makes.

Available in Lancaster Grey, or a choice of three premium finishes – Piano Black, Piano White or Sapele Mahogany – for an additional outlay, Vena is an exceptionally smart way to bring true high-fidelity sound to today’s digital music collections and myriad playback devices, from smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs to traditional hi-fi separates.

Clearly, the critics agree: Vena finished top of the pile in a recent Hi-Fi Choice group test, while Hi-Fi World described it as an outstanding bargain and Hi-Fi News declared that “it may sell for £600, but it acts like £2000”. If you’re searching for a high-quality hi-fi amp that offers both digital and analogue inputs, plus the convenience of wireless streaming, look no further.

IAG, Units 13/14 Glebe Road St Peters Industrial Estate Huntingdon PE29 7DL T 01480 452561 www.quad-hifi.co.uk Quad Vena in Premium Sapele Mahogany finish

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REGA

RP10 Turntable

Rega Research celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013 and continues to launch innovative and ground-breaking products designed to bring your music alive.

Their initial success was built upon award winning tonearms and turntables but they have been producing complete hi-fi solutions since the eighties.

Rega’s owner Roy Gandy has very specific design goals which are applied to every product they make; excellent sound reproduction, ease of use, reliability and exceptional value for money.

6 Coopers Way Temple Farm Industrial Estate Southend on Sea SS2 5TE www.rega.co.uk

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He achieved these goals through elegant technical solutions and clever production processes, often creating award winning engineering assemblies.

Roy is still the owner and a key member of the design team.

Rega now makes more than 45 different hi-fi products including, CD players, amplifiers, DACs and loudspeakers. Currently Rega employs 90 people and remains a dedicated British manufacturer.

Tight control on the quality and performance of their products is achieved in a 21,000sq.ft purpose built facility in Essex.

All Rega products are hand assembled by highly skilled technicians who take great pride in the work they do. So confident are they in their ability that Rega offers a lifetime warranty against manufacture defects on all their products.

Rega products, designed for music lovers by music lovers.

RUARK

SONOS The Sonos Wireless HiFi System fills your home with music. Sonos features wireless speakers and components that deliver the powerful combination of HiFi sound and rock-solid wireless in a smart system that lets you play all the music on earth from any source to any room.

Sonos System Core Benefits Sonos combines HiFi sound and rock-solid wireless. Experience your favorite music from the only system that combines warm, full-bodied sound with a powerful wireless network 100% devoted to streaming HiFi sound.

Sonos lets you stream all the music on earth – from any source to any room. Enjoy access to different music sources from one app combined with complete multi-room capabilities so you can listen to your entire world of music in every room of your home.

Made for Music As a family owned British company for over 30 years Ruark Audio has worked within the revered British audio industry, creating high fidelity loudspeakers for music and audio enthusiasts. Seeing a niche in the market, in 2004 they made a radical decision to diversify from their traditional hi-fi roots and apply their expertise to develop a new generation of exquisite audio products.

Sonos is simple to set-up, control, and expand. Press two buttons and begin your listening experience using one powerful app to access your music with a modular system that can expand to other rooms in your home.

www.sonos.com

Ruark’s endeavour is still first and foremost sound quality but in products with broad appeal where their sound belies their compact size and beautiful design. Since day one Ruark Audio products have quickly become regarded as the finest available, with all gaining critical acclaim and awards for their design and sound.

Sound quality is Ruark’s heritage and they believe that technology means little if the end result is a tinny or unnatural sound. Through natural evolution and refinement, Ruark Audio continue to produce products which offer the latest technology in timeless designs.”

59 Tailors Court, Temple Farm Industrial Estate, Southend-on-Sea SS2 5TH T 01702 601410 www.ruarkaudio.com

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INTRODUCTION TO TVs AND PROJECTORS

PANASONIC

These days Home Cinema buyers are truly spoilt for choice. Whether you prefer a TV or want a full-blown cinema experience using a projector and screen, the technology continues to get better and more affordable.

The very latest technology is OLED (organic light emitting diode) and, though OLED screens are on sale now, they remain expensive and few have 4k capability. UHD, or ultra high definition commonly called “4K”, is four times the resolution of current 1080p HD sets and more and more sets are coming out with this capability. There is no commercial content to watch currently but remember that this was also the situation when high definition was launched and most of you will probably have an HD TV! We have 4K screens in many branches and believe they look fabulous on native 4K content - so one for future proofing as we expect to see 4K streaming services starting soon and a 4K blu-ray standard that will lead to significant content within the next few years.

One of the problems with all the latest TVs, however, is their slim chassis don’t allow for decent speakers, meaning the sound is thin and indistinct. There are several ways to improve this: you can add a sound bar underneath and these give you a semblance of stereo and can also be used to stream music; or, of course, you can go the whole hog and add a proper home cinema sound system which will sound by far the best. These don’t have to be large and obtrusive if you use small satellite speakers and a sub woofer.

If you really want a Home Cinema that’s truly enveloping you must come and see one of the projectors we recommend; there’s no TV that comes close to that experience! We can advise on the best choice for your room, install it and set it up to get the best performance possible. Once fitted these systems are very discreet and can virtually disappear if you want them to.

PANASONIC 4K Ultra HD - THE RESOLUTION REVOLUTION Ultra HD With four-times the detail of HD, Panasonic UHD 4K delivers unrivalled clarity and detail that provides a truly immersive viewing experience.

Introducing Freetime Missed your favourite show? With Freetime built into the TV, you’ll get all the advantages of rollback TV for the past 7 days, so you’ll never miss the programmes you love. It provides you with access to all of the major catch up TV services, including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and 4OD. You’ll also receive TV recommendations, straight to your TV daily, so there’ll always be something to watch.

It uses your internet connection to provide you with access to catch up TV services on demand, so the programmes you want to watch are ready when you are. You can access over 200 channels, including sports, music and entertainment, and you can plan ahead so you’ll never miss the best shows. Your recommendations can be found at the touch of a button, and it also includes a search function to make it easy to find shows.

Panasonic House Willoughby Road Bracknell RG12 8FP T 0844 844 3852 (Panasonic Customer Care Centre) www.panasonic.co.uk

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PIONEER

SONY

ENTER A NEW WORLD OF SOUND Throughout its 76 year history, music and high quality audio has been at the heart of Pioneer. This passion still holds true today with an exceptional range of home cinema and audio products.

This year, Pioneer has continued its tradition of producing classleading home cinema amplifiers, with the flagship SC-LX88 equipped with Class D amplification and Air Studios approval, along with the SC-LX58 named Best Home Cinema Amplifier (£700+) in the 2014 What Hi-Fi? Awards. Furthermore, Pioneer is proud to support Dolby Atmos® (SC-LX58 and above), the revolutionary new way of mixing soundtracks and producing multi-dimensional sound in the home.

To partner with our award-winning AVRs, this year sees the launch of the long-awaited flagship BDP-LX58 & BDP-LX88 Blu-ray players.

Our amplifiers and Blu-ray players work seamlessly together, creating an immersive home cinema experience, made even more spectacular with the addition of Dolby Atmos® capabilities.

Begin your journey at www.pioneer.co.uk Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.

The art of entertainment meets the science of engineering, as 4K detail, a gently curved screen and surround sound combine to deliver realism from every angle.

The gentle curve of the S90 provides a familiar sense of depth, meaning scenes are not only immersive but also natural.

Furthermore, the shallow curve provides consistent viewing angles, ensuring the whole family can sit and be entertained.

Featuring Sony picture technologies that improve contrast, colours and detail, the S90 delivers stunning 4K images. It combines this lifelike picture with 4.2 channels of clear, rich and powerful surround sound from precisely angled speakers to give the ultimate immersive experience.

These picture and sound technologies are complemented by Sony’s full suite of smart technologies, including a social viewing function which allows you to chat with friends and family via Skype whilst you’re watching TV.

SC-LX88

Pioneer Europe NV - UK Branch Office, Anteros Building, Odyssey Business Park, West End Road, South Ruislip, HA4 6QQ Tel: 0208 8363500 Facebook: PioneerUnitedKingdom Twitter: PioneerUK

The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 OXW www.sony.co.uk

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INTRODUCTION TO LOUDSPEAKERS Loudspeakers have changed dramatically over the past few years and nowadays you can get outstanding performance from a vast range of stylish designs – some grand and imposing and others so tiny that you will barely notice them.

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Your options are, broadly speaking, traditional wooden speakers that have been the mainstay of the speaker market for years and give great sound.

They are available as bookshelf, stand mounted or floor standing designs and can look very elegant. The finishes of these speakers has also changed and now, in addition to wood, they are often available in both white and high gloss black and look stunning. If your goal is excellent reproduction of music then these are still the best choice, although they are larger than some of the alternatives.

The most common of these alternatives are known as sub sat systems, as they use a subwoofer to produce the bass frequencies with satellite speakers for the rest of the frequency range. The advantage of this approach is that the bass can go deeper than in most traditional speakers, which is particularly useful in Home Cinema systems, and the satellite speakers can be small. Unfortunately they can sound poor if they are not well designed or if they are not set up properly in your room. They can be stand, shelf or even wall mounted with the sub tucked away near a wall.

The third approach to speakers is the custom installed way, where speakers are fitted discreetly into ceilings, walls and even rocks in the garden!

This is a great way to lose those boxes but it generally compromises the sound unless you buy the very best. They are ideally suited to bedrooms, bathrooms, pools or patios, where ultimate sound quality is not the main requirement or the use of more traditional speakers would be inappropriate.

Ceiling fitted speakers can also be used in home cinema systems (in combination with a floor mounted sub woofer) or as a discrete solution to where to put the rear speakers.

And now there is a new speaker option that uses wireless. The speaker and amplifier are built into one box and the music is sent straight to it via Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth, controlled by a phone or a tablet. This approach offers neither stereo nor the ultimate in fidelity but it is a simple (even portable) solution that will suit many people. These speakers are great in kitchens and other rooms where a traditional hi-fi solution is unnecessary and many DAB radios are now equipped with this option as well. Bluetooth enabled speakers can also be connected wirelessly to many Panasonic TVs. Whichever alternative you choose you will still need to think about how the speakers will react with the room and where you will place them. As you would expect, our staff have great experience in matching systems to rooms and will gladly guide you.

And remember, loudspeakers are like car engines: they’re mechanical devices that need to be run-in.

Treat them gently for the first week or two and you’ll find that as time passes their sound will improve noticeably.

BOWERS & WILKINS When John Bowers set up Bowers & Wilkins in 1966, experimentation in sound and recording was escalating rapidly. Bowers’ ambition for his fledgling loudspeaker company was also revolutionary: to create a loudspeaker that neither adds nor takes away from the music as recorded by the sound engineer. In effect, the perfect loudspeaker. Bowers & Wilkins has been exploring the world of sound ever since.

The CM Series The new CM Series will transform your enjoyment of music, revealing all the depth and detail that ordinary speakers miss. That’s thanks to audiophile design innovations originally pioneered for Bowers & Wilkins flagship 800 Series Diamond reference speakers, combined with new technologies developed especially for the range.

The 600 Series The 600 Series continues the award-winning promise of its predecessors – the audio performance you demand from Bowers & Wilkins, power to fill any room, yet at a budget that allows everyone access to true, audiophile sound.

683 Theatre

Dale Road, Worthing BN11 2BH T 01903 221500 uksales@bwgroup.com www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk CM6

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FOCAL With over 30 years of heritage, Focal is universally respected as one of the leading loudspeaker innovators and manufacturers in the world today.

ARIA 900 Focal research has led to the creation of a new breed of loudspeaker. Designed and manufactured in the heart of France, the new Aria 900 range of loudspeakers features unique flax technology, new TNF tweeters, minimalist style cabinets and perfectly phase-optimised crossovers – all delivering ultimate listening pleasure.

Aria’s unique speaker diaphragms consist of a layer of Flax encased in an ultra-thin fibreglass skin. This hybrid material is as rigid as Kevlar® and twice as light as traditional poly glass, making it an excellent choice for sound quality.

Aria drivers feature a new Zamak (zinc/aluminium/ magnesium/copper) basket and the tweeters are suspended using Poron, a memory foam material developed for the reference Utopia range, which reduces distortion three-fold in critical areas of the audio spectrum.

SCALA V2 Scala V2 has retained all the qualities of the original: timeless design and extraordinary musicality. The new Scala Utopia boasts a re-engineered bass unit with improved power handling, for stunning integrated bass and even better control. This has also further refined the midrange register with focus and clarity, resulting in a more precise and remarkable sound stage.The Scala V2 takes you closer to the music with enhanced emotion and listening pleasure.

Southampton Road, Salisbury, SP1 2LN T 0845 660 2680 info@focal-uk.com www.focal.com Scala V2

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Aria 905

MONITOR AUDIO

If you love fabulous sound and design you’ll adore the slender new Silver Series speakers from Monitor audio.

24 Brook Road Rayleigh SS6 7XJ T 01268 740580 info@monitoraudio.co.uk www.monitoraudio.com

Expertly finished in a choice of Rosenut, Walnut, Natural Oak, and Black Oak real-wood veneers - and in devastatingly chic gloss black and white - the new Silver range is a beguiling force of nature and stateof-the-art loudspeaker design, made to re-energise entertainment in your home.

Features introduced by our prestigious Platinum and Gold series speakers have been enhanced, and recent innovations in driver engineering

incorporated across the Silver series of speakers, ranging in scale to suit any system and room. The beautiful Silver 8, for instance, has the designer appeal and audiophile fire-power to satisfy every style - loving sound guru.

Acclaimed by reviewers around the world for its naturally dynamic, richly detailed full-range performance, the new Silver range will upgrade your system’s sound and looks without sacrificing living space. It’s this unity of form and function that distinguishes Monitor Audio’s approach to speaker development, applied and perfected over forty years.

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KEF KEF has been at the forefront of loudspeaker design & technology for over fifty years with a reputation as the audiophile’s ultimate loudspeaker manufacturer.

KEF R Series delivers a sound so pure you live each and every moment

KEF LS50 – Enjoy your music precisely the way it was first recorded

With ten striking models including three assertive floorstanders, two bookshelf speakers, two fullyspecified centre channels, dipole surrounds, a matching subwoofer, and the all-new R50 Dolby Atmos® enabled surround speaker; the R Series represents a decisive step forward in the enjoyment of music or film.

Since its launch, the KEF LS50 mini monitor loudspeaker has been recognised for its acoustic design and state of the art technologies taken from KEF’s flagship Blade loudspeaker. Cutting edge speaker design with over fifty years of experience behind them, the LS50 mini monitors produce excellent, room filling sound from a compact package. This bookshelf speaker is designed to bring professional studio quality sound to the comfort of your home.

Eccleston Road, Tovil, Maidstone ME15 6QP T 01622 672261 www.kef.com

KEF + Dolby Atmos = the new dimension in home theatre. A more complete film experience – the one the director intended.

The new KEF R50 adds the all-important vertical sound dimension that allows you to enjoy at home the staggeringly realistic 3D sound image that Dolby Atmos creates in cinemas. Knowing how the brain perceives sound, KEF engineers have perfected a way of beaming the sound upwards so that it’s reflected by the ceiling to replicate the vertical dimension in Dolby Atmos recordings. The R50 integrates perfectly with KEF’s R Series, Q Series and REFERENCE ranges aesthetically as well as sonically.

KEF Q Series - a captivatingly sweet, accurate and natural sound

Q Series – A class above The multiple award-winning Q Series has always exemplified KEF’s conviction that new materials and technologies can, when applied with intelligence and imagination, reproduce recordings so perfectly that they sound indistinguishable from the live event. This is truer now more than ever before. With a choice of nine models, the KEF Q Series can offer a solution for any budget, taste or space; from an engrossing multi-channel AV system to a serious two-channel set-up.

KEF R Series and R50 Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers

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KEF Every KEF speaker, large or small, embodies the same ethos: quality engineering to enhance the enjoyment of pure sound.

KEF LS50 mini monitor speaker – available in both High Gloss Piano Black and High Gloss Piano White

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PMC The twenty series is just one of PMC’s multi award-winning loudspeaker ranges, all of which continue the company’s traditions of engineering excellence and design flair, and deliver the ultimate in audio reproduction for any room size or application.

With five models of increasing size - the twenty.21, twenty.22, 23, 24 and 26 plus a dedicated centre channel speaker, the twenty.C - the twenty series, like all of PMC’s products, combines complete sonic transparency with the last word in design elegance.

PMC, the Emmy® award-winning British loudspeaker company, is widely respected as the manufacturer of the finest studio and hi-fi loudspeakers in the world with clients such as Prince, Elbow, Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Capitol Studios, the BBC and many more.

The company’s handcrafted designs provide a pure, uncoloured sound thanks to their ATL™ bass loading technology, which guarantees a wide dynamic range, crystal clear mid-range and full, rich bass at all volumes.

Hear your music and movies exactly as the artist intended with PMC.

Holme Court Biggleswade SG18 9ST +44 (0)870 4441044 sales@pmc-speakers.com www.pmc-speakers.com

twenty.23, twenty.21, twenty.24, twenty.22 and twenty.26 in Amarone twenty.C in Amarone

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PMC

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Q ACOUSTICS

REL

Q Acoustics ‘Concept’ Loudspeakers Q Acoustics Concept models feature new, breakthrough technology, Gelcore Construction™, ultra-low resonance cabinet designs. This new technology allows the loudspeaker’s drive units to simply play the music, unconstrained by cabinet interference.

Gelcore™ is best described as a ‘cabinet within a cabinet’, with a special resonance-cancelling compound, which never hardens, adhering between the inner and outer shells. This cabinet is both rigid and exhibits extremely low resonance. The latter is achieved because the Gelcore™ absorbs the kinetic energy (movement) generated within the inner cabinet by the drive units, and disperses this energy by converting it into heat.

When compared to a good conventional cabinet, radiated power (colouration) throughout the critical mid-band (voice frequencies) reduces by an average of more than -6dB. In the high and low frequencies the effect is even greater, with improvements in excess of -10dB. The sonic result, for loudspeakers at their price, is nothing short of sensational.

Featuring the Serie S flagship S/5 with 12” Continuous CastTM cone bass engine.

At REL, we make subwoofers, only subwoofers.

Nothing else. We believe the perfect subwoofer is one built with quality materials and craftsmanship, one designed for your unique space; that is engineered to not just give you boom, but to seamlessly integrate with your system, expanding its entire range and providing depth to the soundstage. We know that this perfect subwoofer–this REL– will transform your whole experience of sound.

Each day we come to work in the pursuit of only one thing, capturing the raw intention of the artist, by producing the purest, most flawless sound possible.

Q Acoustics Armour Home Electronics Units 7 & 8 Stortford Hall Industrial Park Bishops Stortford CM23 5GZ T: 01279 501111 www.armourhome.co.uk www.qacoustics.co.uk

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Our latest pursuit led us to create Serie S, a line of subwoofers designed specifically for world class speed, while never compromising the rich depth and tonal colors we are known for. Serie S is comprised of three models, S/5, S/3 and S/2, each designed to complement the varying requirements of distinct systems and rooms – because great sound is not born from power or price, but rather the perfect alignment of components matched to your space.

North Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend CF31 3TP T 01656 768777 www.rel.net

NEAT ACOUSTICS Loudspeakers shaped by music Neat Acoustics has established a worldwide reputation over 25 years for consistent products and high levels of customer support. Neat’s designers are accomplished musicians and believe that music should dictate the design of their loudspeakers.

All aspects of the designs are assessed empirically, by ear. Experience over the last 25 years has proved that this approach produces loudspeakers which consistently reveal the heart and soul of the music.

The Motive SX range of loudspeakers offers exceptional performance from compact and attractive enclosures. They are easy-to-drive designs

with a consistent and coherent sound across the range, and will deliver a high standard of AV/multichannel performance too.

The Iota loudspeaker occupies a unique place in audio history as a truly ground-breaking design. It delivers a huge soundstage and innately musical performance from an impossibly small cabinet.

It can be used as a main stereo loudspeaker - on stands, bookshelves, desktops, or mounted on wall brackets. It can be also be used to form a discreet yet high-performance Home Theatre/Surround system.

No matter which rung of the Neat ladder you are on, you’re guaranteed a compelling musical experience.

Iota

Neat Acoustics Ltd. 29B Harmire Enterprise Park Barnard Castle DL12 8XT Tel: 01833 631021 www.neat.co.uk Motive SX

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SPENDOR

INTRODUCTION TO ACCESSORIES

Spendor has three distinctive loudspeaker lines, A-line, D-line and Classic and all are designed and manufactured in the UK. Bigger, better and more efficient than the original A5, the all new Spendor A5R is simply the most room-friendly floor-standing loudspeaker ever. Like the What Hi-Fi 2014 Award winning Spendor A6R the A5R incorporates innovative engineering and materials which were developed for the acclaimed D7 and D1. For 2015 Spendor is introducing special edition vintage versions of their Classics – each model features retro grille fabric and an original black and gold enamel logo – just like the 70’s originals.

The performance of your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system is influenced most by your choice of major components, however, other seemingly less important items also play a vital role in the process. The cables, the stands and the supports under your system can all dramatically affect – and improve – the system’s performance. Spending relatively small amounts of money here can produce large improvements in sound quality. We aim to give you the best advice on finding the balance between what is truly worthwhile and running up huge bills on accessories you don’t need.

Listen to Spendor, let the technology work, hear the music.

Stands and tables contribute significantly to the way loudspeakers and system components perform. Loudspeaker stands not only place your loudspeakers at the correct height they also improve detail, dynamics and bass performance.

Equipment stands enhance the performance of Blu-ray/CD players, turntables and electronics by dealing with spurious air and structure-borne vibrations. There’s a vast range available in different designs, different materials and different colours, so there’s no excuse for not giving your system the support it deserves!

Good cables are crucial: the interconnects that come free with equipment rarely offer adequate performance and you should certainly consider replacing them. Poor speaker cables will also strangle the sound of your whole system. Likewise poor video cables will not exploit the full potential of your television or projector.

Headphones have had a huge renaissance and new audiophile models are appearing every month. They can sound even better than your speakers and extend the time you can listen to music without disturbing others, and they can help ensure that others don’t disturb you! We sell Bluetooth wireless models and also headphones for travelling with built in noise reduction. But most of all we sell a wide range to upgrade those supplied with smart phones and the like. The headphones in the box are almost always very poor and upgrading quite inexpensively can make a huge difference to the sound. Replacement versions can also come with the ability to take phone calls - a very useful addition if, say, you are out walking.

G5 Ropemaker Park, South Road, Hailsham BN27 3GY T 01323 843474 info@spendoraudio.com www.spendoraudio.com

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AUDIOQUEST AudioQuest is a US based company that has been designing and manufacturing high performance, low distortion cables and accessories for over 30 years.

Great sound and great pictures, music that consumes you, movies that transport you around the universe... all come from honouring the original signal.

AudioQuest knows it’s an unavoidable fact of life that every component and cable in a system causes distortion, changing the overall character of the signal. Better cables and components can only improve performance if they do less harm to the original signal and reduce the amount of noise and distortion introduced into a system. Do No Harm!

Hoge Bergen 10 4704 RH Roosendaal The Netherlands T 01249 848873 info@audioquest.nl www.audioquest.com

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BOWERS & WILKINS

HIFI RACKS

Drawing on half a century of acoustic innovation and expertise, and constructed using only the finest quality materials, Bowers & Wilkins headphones bring you the remarkably natural, lifelike sound of real Hi-Fi, wherever you are.

Award-winning solid wood racks that look as good as they sound.

P7 Over-ear headphones. Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship P7 headphones set a whole new standard for portable Hi-Fi sound quality. Drawing on everything they know about speaker technology, and featuring revolutionary new drive units inspired by their stand-alone Hi-Fi speakers.

P5 Series 2 On-ear headphones. Get closer to your favourite music wherever you are with P5 Series 2, the noise-isolating headphones from Bowers & Wilkins. The latest version features an all-new drive unit design that raises sound quality to new levels.

P3 Mobile on-ear headphones. These slimline headphones fit lightly and snugly on your head, fold up to stow away in your jacket pocket and combine pristine audio performance with maximum wearability.

C5 Series 2 In-ear headphones. C5 Series 2 noise-isolating headphones bring you amazingly natural acoustics and fit so perfectly that you’ll hardly be aware you’re wearing them.

Dale Road, Worthing BN11 2BH T 01903 221500 uksales@bwgroup.com www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk

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P7 Over-ear headphones

Hi Fi Racks produces audio visual furniture that combines elegance and grace with exceptional acoustic performance. They firmly believe that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’. That’s why any of their racks can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. From extra depth or width to a rack shaped to fit into a particular place, they’ll build it to your precise specifications. What’s more, all their stands are upgradable and adaptable to accommodate changes to your hi-fi system and home cinema storage requirements over time.

Each piece is individually hand-made in their rural workshop, using only the finest solid hardwoods sourced from around the world. The high quality design and craftsmanship has won Hi Fi racks many awards from leading industry publications. These include Product of the Year Awards from What Hi-Fi? and Hi-Fi Choice magazines for the Podium range, and Best Support in the Hi-Fi World awards.

As a family run business, Hi Fi Racks pride themselves on offering customers personal service and unbeatable attention to detail.

Hi Fi Racks Ltd. Unit 22 Burrough Court Burrough on the Hill Leicestershire LE14 2QS T 01572 756447 info@hifiracks.co.uk www.hifiracks.co.uk

Give Your Music a Stage

THE CHORD COMPANY “The magic of music lies in the creation. It lies in the sometimes supernatural communication between musicians.

Hearing them weave harmonic and rhythmic melodies around each other on a decent hi-fi system and realising that music is one of the last pieces of magic we have left. This is what a hi-fi system is for. This is why we make cables. They’re every bit as important as every other component in your hi-fi system” Nigel Finn The Chord Company Technical Director

Find out more about The Chord Company, their award-winning cable range and their acclaimed Cable Doctor service at www.chord.co.uk

Chord Company House The Millsway Centre Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7RX T 01980 625700 www.chord.co.uk

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QED

QUADRASPIRE Since 1995 Quadraspire has been designing and making quality hi-fi racks that combine style and function with acoustic performance. The latest development is the use of solid bamboo in the Q4 and Sunoko-Vent range of racks. Bamboo, with its high tensile strength and vibration suppressing qualities, is the ideal material to further improve the Quadraspire rack sound performance.

QED has been the leading UK producer of hi-fi, home cinema, and now digital cables, for four decades.

Why? Because QED understand that cable design is about science, not black magic.

Good cable design comes solely from adhering to sound scientific principles and utilising the highest quality materials; plus the skill, knowledge and experience to fuse these elements together.

Bamboo is also a sustainable and carbon neutral material where its CO2 absorption prior to harvesting is greater than the CO2 emissions during manufacture and transportation. Quadraspire uses Moso bamboo that is panda friendly as there is no leaf growth on the first five metres of the stem and is therefore not a source of food for the panda.

To cope with increasing demand Quadraspire has recently moved to a new dedicated factory south west of Bath, England. With a skilled workforce the company manufactures all its wooden and bamboo racks, including aluminium columns, as well as the range of Qube storage cabinets.

QED’s highly qualified designers do precisely that, which is how they consistently produce award-winning models. The new ‘Reference Audio 40’ analogue interconnect, ‘Performance Graphite’ Optical Digital and ‘XT40’ loudspeaker cable are perfect examples: setting new standards of performance, yet simultaneously delivering astonishing value for money.

QED - Premium Performance, Exceptional Value

QED Armour Home Electronics Units 7 & 8 Stortford Hall Industrial Park Bishops Stortford CM23 5GZ www.qed.co.uk

SV2T

Quadraspire Limited, Unit 2 Hallatrow Business Park, Wells Road, Hallatrow BS39 6EX T 01761 452178 sales@quadraspire.co.uk www.quadraspire.co.uk

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SENNHEISER

HD 800 ‘Crafted for Perfection’

For over 70 years, Sennheiser has been focused on the relentless pursuit of audio perfection. This heritage continues to be the driving force behind every product they produce today. It is embodied in everything they do – their constant innovation, precision engineering and exclusivity. This journey has led them to create some of the finest headphones exclusively available through Club Orpheus dealers where you will receive first class service, priority product support and unparalleled expertise.

HD 800* The dream was to create an acoustic experience more incredible than anything ever heard through dynamic headphones. And they did it. The highest performance, premium engineering and a visually striking design have been combined to create a glorious success that has become a true pioneer in headphone development.

IE 800* Brimming with technology and designed with comfort in mind, the IE 800 has more innovations than any other in-ear system, allowing music lovers to enjoy perfect sound, even when they’re on the move. Groundbreaking technology ensures that unlike with other in-ear headphones, music is played back with crystal clarity and absolute time precision. 2013 What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision Awards Winner of ‘The Best In Ear Over £300’ category. *Selected Club Orpheus Stores only.

Sennheiser UK Ltd., Pacific House, Third Avenue, Globe Park, Marlow SL7 1EY Tel: 0333 240 8185 info@sennheiser.co.uk www.sennheiser.co.uk

✔ See and hear almost every product in this Guide ✔ Meet the manufacturers and designers, often there in person ✔ The Show’s 28th anniversary Show in 2015!

✔ Win great prizes in the Show competition ✔ See loads of the latest products, hot from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas ✔ Easy parking next to the hotel

www.bristolshow.co.uk

20th - 22nd February 2015 26th- 28th February 2016

✔ Visit the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision stand for a demonstration or an answer to any questions you might have ✔ Get great deals on most purchases made at the Show

✔ Easy to get to, right in the heart of Bristol and next to the new Cabot Circus shopping and entertainment area ✔ A great day out for all the family

Bristol 2015 Prices: Adults - £12.00 or £10 online. Students/Senior Citizens (over 65) - £10.00 or £8 online. Accompanied children under 16 FREE. Two Day Tickets: Adults £20.00 or an extra £8 if you’ve bought day one online. Students/Senior Citizens (over 65) £16.00 or an extra £6 if you’ve bought day one online.

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WHERE TO FIND US BRENTWOOD

30 Crown Street CM14 4BA 01277 264730

brentwood@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

CARDIFF

134/6 Crwys Road CF24 4NR 029 2022 8565

cardiff@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

MANCHESTER

63 Bridge Street M3 3BQ 0161 839 8869 manchester@audio-t.co.uk Open Monday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30.

Sunday 11:30 – 16:30

All stores are closed on Sundays and Mondays, except Manchester which is open 7 days a week.

Evening demonstrations can be arranged by appointment.

Check the website for directions and information on where to park.

Please visit our website for more detailed information and maps www.audio-t.co.uk 36

PRESTON

43 Friargate PR1 2AT 01772 883958

preston@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

SWANSEA

9 High Street SA1 1LE 01792 474608

swansea@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

BRIGHTON

69 London Road BN1 4JE 01273 609431

brighton@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

CHELTENHAM

38 Winchcombe Street GL52 2LZ 01242 583960

cheltenham@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

OXFORD

19 Old High Street Headington OX3 9HS 01865 765961

oxford@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:30 Thursday late till 20:00

READING

4 Queens Walk Broad Street Mall RG1 7QF 0118 958 5463

reading@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

SWINDON

60 Fleet Street SN1 1RA 01793 538222

swindon@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

BRISTOL

65 Park Street BS1 5PB 0117 926 4975

bristol@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 – 17:30

ENFIELD

159a Chase Side EN2 0PW 020 8367 3132

enfield@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 18:00

PORTSMOUTH

29 London Road North End PO2 0BH 023 9266 3604

portsmouth@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 18:00

SOUTHAMPTON

12 Hursley Road Chandlers Ford SO53 2FU 023 8025 2827

southampton@audio-t.co.uk Open Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 – 18:00