Headlines - Autumn 2023

Hi-Fi Headlines April 2023

FRENCH FEAT Revival Audio nails its debut New demo rooms!

Bang & Olufsen JBL + more

lenwallisaudio.com

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(02) 9427 6755

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xoxoxox Editorial

FROM THE DESK OF LEN

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recently overheard a comment by one of our staff which really resonated with me. He said that music is emotion, and when the emotion is missing from it you stop listening.

I was around during what many consider to be the ‘golden years’ of hi-fi, the 1970s and ‘80s, and often wonder what it was that made a good hi-fi system a must-have possession of the day. Have we since lost the emotion, or were other factors at work?

As someone who has always had a passion for music, it’s easy to go down that lack of emotion route, and there is considerable evidence to support that.

While trying to avoid sounding like the antiCD brigade, we must admit that the early CD releases were pretty awful. I recall that one of my albums on high rotation at the time was Joe Jackson’s ‘Night and Day’.

When I replaced the LP with a CD, it just never sounded the same. It was difficult to pinpoint why — all the music was there (less the surface noise) — but there was no involvement, and as a result I rarely played the album again.

MP3 was released in the early ‘90s but did not gain traction until the release of the first Apple iPod in 2001. Recorded music sales peaked in 2000, which was also around the same time as the release of Napster. Both the arrival of Napster and the iPod were

considerable backward steps in terms of musical reproduction.

From 2000, when digital music first appeared as a serious format, people stopped listening! Recorded music sales declined at an alarming rate from this time, and by 2015 sales had dropped by close to 60%. The argument here is that if you are not emotionally attached to your music, why bother!

There is, of course, another argument.

During those golden years were fewer distractions. At best you had radio, four channels of (black and white) TV, and recorded music as forms of entertainment in the home. There was no internet, phones, laptops, computer games or video streaming to divert your attention. The opportunities today for home entertainment are vast, and consuming recorded music is only one option — our limited leisure time is being continually sliced and diced.

However, there has been a marked turnaround in music sales since that low point of 2015, so much so that in 2021 sales exceeded the peak of 2000. Yes, part of this can be attributed to the COVID pandemic, but it has been a steady and consistent growth for a number of years. (Interestingly, it appears that Australia did not share in the phenomenal growth of some nations during that year — Latin America grew 31%, North America 22%, Asia 16%, Europe 15% and Australia 4%.)

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“Aha,” I hear you say, “Vinyl is back, people are listening again.” Well, vinyl has seen 17 years of consecutive sales growth, and now outsells CD in both the number and value of sales. Over 43 million new vinyl LPs were sold in the US alone last year (though Statista research suggests only 50% of vinyl owners in the US own a record player — go figure!), and conservative estimates suggest that second-hand LP sales may even exceed this figure. Discogs lists close to six million used LPs on its site.

And it isn’t Baby Boomers reliving the glory days that are driving vinyl sales: the two age groups purchasing the most vinyl are 55+ (understandably) and 25 to 34, both with 21% of the market each.

So, has vinyl saved the music industry?

Can it take the credit for enticing people to ‘listen’ again? While this may be a romantic notion, it isn’t the reality. Despite the consistent growth of the format, vinyl sales only accounted for slightly more than 5% of music sales in Australia (and just over 7% internationally) — small fry compared to streaming, which accounted for 86%. Vinyl may be growing at a faster rate, but it still has a lot of catching up to do.

But don’t let that put you off! Look for the emotion in your music, irrespective of your format of choice. And invest in a system capable of resolving that emotion. It may not cost as much as you think, and your life will be all the richer for it.

Contents

grabs, based around Marantz electronics and starting at $2,199.

12 MoFi vinyl releases

The record label suffered badly during the pandemic with virtually nothing coming off the presses. Thankfully, it has rebounded with a number of new and returning albums.

13 High-end Musical Fidelity

The performance of Musical Fidelity’s midtier amplifiers is highly respected the world over, so it’s hugely exciting to see the brand attempt to shake up the high-end this time with its latest Nu-Vista valve models.

14 Naim Classic revamps

Contents 03 From the desk of Len

Len ponders what it was that made a good hi-fi system a must-have possession of the day during the ‘golden years’ of hi-fi, the 1970s and ‘80s. Have we since lost the all-important emotional connection to music, he asks? Or were other factors at work?

06 Bluesound streaming

Canadian audio brand Bluesound has a rich heritage in network streaming, which it has ploughed into its two latest modestly priced streaming products.

A new series from Naim is a rare thing — if ever there was a company that built products to stand the test of time, it is Naim. But here we have modern revamps of its iconic NAP 250 power amplifier, plus a new streaming preamplifier and power supply to match.

07 New Bowers & Wilkins

B&W has been aggressively pursuing the head-fi market, and not more so than with its latest flagship wireless noisecancelling headphones. The new 700 S3 loudspeakers also get a shout-out for their remarkable revamp of an already excellent and popular range.

08 CEDIA Award

Just after the previous Len Wallis Headlines was published, Len Wallis Audio proudly collected a CEDIA (Consumer Electronic

Design and Installation Association) award for ‘Level 1 Media Room of the Year’.

09 JBL Synthesis demo room

The first of three planned JBL Synthesis demonstration rooms is now operational, based around the SCL-6 and SCL-7 in-wall speakers and representing a theatre system in the $40k - $75K price bracket.

10 Marantz bundles

Until the end of April, Len Wallis Audio has some special stereo system bundles up for

64 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066 Telephone (02) 9427 6755

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sales@lenwallisaudio.com.au

16 A new Sonos era

Two all-new Sonos wireless speakers, the Era 100 and Era 300, take the company’s multi-room ecosystem to new heights — heights that include spatial audio and an intriguing new aesthetic.

17 Rega’s timber turntable

Timber is back in vogue! You can now buy the highly regarded Planar 2 record player with a timber plinth as opposed to the standard gloss black, white or red one.

18 Revival Audio newcomers

Every so often a great new company explodes onto the market, and that company of the moment today is French speaker brand Revival Audio, which has two models on sale now and another two arriving soon.

19 Special Edition Richters

Now on demonstration in our showroom are two brand-new SE models from the popular Richter stable — the reintroduced Excalibur and well-known Wizard — with engineering upgrades and matte black finishes.

20 Sonus faber Homage

A three-strong speaker range that shows what a company with the heritage of Sonus faber can achieve when it is allowed the budget to do so. Its new Homage models are pieces of art, make no mistake.

21 Sony projector promotion

Purchase a Sony VPL-XW5000 or VPL-XW7000 projector before the end of April and you can get a PS5 bundle worth $900 thrown in for free.

22 Stax audition

​​ you want to hear what superlative If headphone listening is, drop in for an audition of the Reference SR-X9000, the finest headphones Stax has ever produced.

23 Technics SU-G700 MkII amplifier

The Technics SU-G700 MkII is a superbly crafted amplifier, and a very good-sounding one at that. One that does not exhibit any of

TRADING HOURS | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 to 5:30 Thursday: 9 to 8; Saturday: 9 to 5; Sunday: closed

the digital characteristics that tend to plague amplifiers of similar design.

25 Triangle’s 40th anniversary

It has taken a while, but we are finally seeing the gorgeous, hand-assembled 40thanniversary speakers from Triangle reach our shores, albeit in very small numbers. We already have the Esprit series on the floor, with the Magellan range due within weeks.

26 All-important Accessories

There are many upgrade paths one can go down to improve their system’s performance, from adding isolation feets/pads and upgrading power cables to giving it a new lease of life with an external DAC...

28 Bang & Olufsen sound lounge

Our new B&O sound lounge is now complete, just in time for the release of the company’s Beosound Theatre, a remarkable soundbar unlike any other.

29 Wattbox wonder

With the growing reliance on network/wi-fi and software-related AV products, service calls are becoming increasingly frequent.

Wattbox is one company that goes a long way to reduce the number of these calls...

30 Yamaha’s modern twist

The new RN-N2000A is based on the principles of the company’s highperformance A-S amplifier series — but with a modern twist. And it has something more modest for benchtops too.

THE LATEST IS ONLINE! – www.lenwallisaudio.com

Bluesound

B&W

New 700 S3 speaker series now on the floor

Bowers &Wilkins

Bluesound

Px8 Headphones

Pulse M Wireless Speaker

Bluesound has added another wireless streaming speaker to its stable, the Pulse M. The first thing you will notice about this wireless speaker is its design — it’s an attractive unit. The Pulse M houses 80 watts of amplification, a 13.5cm woofer and two 19mm tweeters — all designed to deliver a 360-degree soundstage.

Two Pulse Ms can be paired for stereo sound, and more than 20 music streaming services are supported. Connection options include Wi-Fi, Ethernet cable, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2, and there’s support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.

The Pulse M comes in black or white and, at $999, is an excellent unit.

PowerNode Edge Streaming Amplifier The Bluesound PowerNode networked amplifier is one of our favourite multi-room devices. It has enough power to drive most speakers, it is discrete, and of course it runs on BluOS, one of the best multi-room music management platforms out there.

Bluesound has recognised that an 80-watt amplifier can be overkill for some situations — speakers in a bathroom, for example — and has added a smaller version rated at 40 watts per channel.

The PowerNode Edge sells for $1,199 and comes with all the features that make Bluesound products so desirable.

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B&W has been aggressively pursuing the head-fi market, and its range is consistently improving. The British brand’s latest offering, the Px8 wireless noise-cancelling over-ears, bares testament to this. These are, by B&W’s own admission, the best headphones it has ever made. New driver technology partnered with high-resolution 24-bit DSP technology achieves outstanding resolution. They can play for 30 hours between charges, and the combination of aluminium arms and Nappa leather makes them one of the more comfortable models on the market.

At $1,199, the B&W Px8 are not the cheapest headphones going, but we believe they offer great value.

B&W’s 700 S3 speakers have been on the market for some months now, having been released just as our previous newsletter was published. Nevertheless, they deserve inclusion here, because this S3 series is a definite improvement over its already excellent predecessor. Almost every aspect of the speakers — the cabinet, the crossovers, the drivers themselves etc — has been revamped. This has resulted in more resolution, better imaging, a slight sweetening of high frequencies and, surprisingly given the cabinet and driver sizes have more or less remained the same, improved bass extension.

This is the penultimate series from B&W, sitting below their famous 800 flagship, and it is obvious that some of what was learned during that ongoing 800 development has seeped down to the 700 S3 series — so much so that more than one journalist has suggested that the $4,799 705 S3 bookshelf speaker leaves little to be desired compared to the highly respected $14,900 805 D4.

• 707 S3 Bookshelf speaker $2,699pr • 706 S3 Bookshelf speaker $3,199pr • 705 S3 Bookshelf speaker $4,799pr • 704 S3 Floorstanding speaker $5,900pr • 703 S3 Floorstanding speaker $8,500pr • 702 S3 Floorstanding speaker $10,900pr • HTM71 S3 Centre channel $3,199 • HTM72 S3 Centre channel $1,699 • DB4S Subwoofer $2999

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CEDIA Award

JBL

JBL Synthesis Theatre System – new demonstration room

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e covered JBL Synthesis theatre systems in our last newsletter, and now we are pleased to report that the first of our dedicated Synthesis rooms is fully operational. (Eventually, we will have three operating JBL Synthesis systems in our showroom, with the current one being the smallest.) The demo room is based around the SCL-6 and SCL-7 in-wall speakers and represents a theatre system in the $40k - $75K price bracket.

Currently, we are featuring both the Sony VLP-VW5000 and VLP-VW7000 projectors in this room, along with both Anthem and JBL Synthesis electronics.

One of the best things to come out of the new room was the realization that a good-quality, cinema-grade theatre need not cost a king’s ransom. For example, we currently have an Anthem MRX-1140 AV receiver driving a combination of JBL SCL-6 in-wall fronts and SCL-7 surround speakers with Triangle ICT-8 in-ceiling Dolby Atmos speakers, fronted by the Sony VLP-VW5000 laser projector. Add a screen and a pair of JL Audio subwoofers and you have a very impressive home theatre for considerably less than $40,000.

CEDIA AWARD

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kay so this happened a few months ago now, but it was after our last newsletter was published! At the annual CEDIA (Consumer Electronic Design and Installation Association) Awards, Len Wallis Audio collected the award for ‘Level 1 Media Room of the Year’. The project, led by Senior Systems Integrator Christian Lambos and supported by the entire custom division team, has already featured in the Luxury Home magazine.

This is the 26th CEDIA award Len Wallis Audio has received since 2000.

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Marantz

Marantz

Marantz is moving further upmarket, as evidenced by some recent new releases...

New Receivers Marantz has also released a new range of AV receivers — again, a niche it is renowned for. These follow the visual guidelines laid down by the CD60, and too are expected to represent a step up from what was already a very fine collection.

There are four models in the range:

Cinema 70

Cinema 60

A slimline, 7.2-channel, 50W/pc receiver, ideal for when space is limited, or if you simply don’t want your environment overpowered by electronics! $2,000

A 7.2-channel, 100W/pc receiver, perfect for environments for when performance is important but the environment does not lend itself to multiple loudspeakers. $2,600

Cinema 50

Cinema 40

CD60

Marantz has a decades-long reputation for manufacturing quality CD players, and its new CD60 will only enhance that reputation.

A new look, even better construction and improved performance. At $1,950, this is an excellent choice for anyone still enjoying, or still adding to, their CD collection.

A 9.4-channel, 110W/pc receiver for when you have the luxury of accommodating multiple speakers in the room. $3,700

A 9.2-channel, 125W/pc statement piece and reference-level receiver with top-level features and sonics to boot. $5,000

Through to the end of April (or until stocks last), we have a number of system bundles available based around Marantz electronics...

Bundle One

• Marantz PM6007 Integrated Amplifier • Marantz CD6007 CD Player $2,199 – Save $390 Plus Bonus cable valued at $364

Bundle Two

• Marantz PM7000 Integrated Amplifier • B&W 706 S3 Bookshelf Speakers (Gloss Black) $5,199 – Save $400 Plus Bonus cable valued at $625

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Bundle Three

• Marantz Model 30 Integrated Amplifier • Marantz SACD 30n CD player • B&W 705 S3 Bookshelf Speakers (Gloss Black) $11,900 – Save $2,897 Plus Bonus Furman AC-210 power conditioner valued at $379

Mo-Fi

Musical Fidelity

Mo-Fi

Mo-Fi suffered badly during the COVID pandemic with virtually nothing coming off the presses. Thankfully, it has rebounded with a number of new and returning albums, including...

New Musical Fidelity

Michael Jackson Thriller 1-Step recording $270

M6x 250.7

Paul Simon There Goes Rhymin’ Simon

Eagles One Of These Nights

45RPM 2LP Box Set

45RPM 2LP Box Set

$315

$315

The performance of Musical Fidelity’s amplifiers is highly respected the world over, and its M6Si integrated amplifier is a standout. So when the company puts seven channels of power amplification based on the M6Si in one chassis, you know it’s going to be something special. $6,750

M6x DAC

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usical Fidelity announced this model with the tagline ‘Rewriting Digital History — again’. This unit supersedes the highly regarded M6s DAC and has been designed with the most fastidious of music lovers in mind. There was a time when a DAC was a ‘plug and forget’ component, and in many cases this is all that is required here. In fact, Musical Fidelity suggests that with the M6x DAC, you do just that. Initially, anyway. It then suggests that, as you get reintroduced to your music library, you might at some point want to discover what else is possible. It is at this point when the M6x DAC’s customisability

Nu-Vista

Musical Fidelity resurrected the use of Nuvista valves around 15 years ago.

Nuvistor tubes were invented in the ‘50s to solve the many shortcomings of the conventional tubes of that time. Unlike them, Nuvistor valves offer very high reliability, low microphony, low noise, consistency from batch to batch, small size, relatively low power consumption and great technical performance. While Nuvista valves have previously been exclusive to Musical Fidelity’s best models, the company has now decided to take this technology to another level, producing a cost-no-barrier, reference range in which it invested around $1.5m to develop.

Nu-Vista PAS & Nu-Vista PAS PSU

Nu-Vista PRE & Nu-Vista PRE PSU

OK, now we are getting serious. Musical Fidelity is firmly established as the go-to mid-market electronics brand in our market, sitting comfortably between the NADs and the Marantzs of our world and the more esoteric offerings that abound. Having conquered this market segment, it has now decided to shake up the high-end. And if anyone can do it, Musical Fidelity can.

Introducing Nu-Vista Pre and PAS

MX-Stream Crosby, Stills Nash and Young Self titled 45RPM 2LP Box Set

ELO Eldorado 45RPM 2LP Box set $315

$315

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The MX series from Musical Fidelity has long represented quality performance at affordable prices, and with its new MXStream the company has excelled itself.

This is a universal transport-only network device that can take any network or online streaming service to your amplifier or DAC — all it requires is an existing USB Class 2.0 audio input.

The design architecture is ‘open’, hopefully making the product futureproof, and it is also Roon-Ready.

The MX-Stream sells for $2,100 and is an excellent way to introduce streaming to a good-quality hi-fi system.

and settings turn it into a powerful tool for the experts (and the curious), elevating it into a league of its own. Explore the soundstage with upsampling to see if you are drawn in deeper. Choose between seven digital filters and a complete oversampling bypass (disabling those filters). Full MQA decoding is performed on the M6x DAC hardware, too.

The USB 2.0 input takes PCM sample rates up to 32-bit/768 kHz, while DSD support goes up to DSD256 (via DoP) and DSD512 (native). The S/PDIF inputs accept PCM audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz and include full MQA support too!

This is a very impressive component, now manufactured in the EU, and at $4,200 represents excellent value.

A fully balanced, discrete Class A stereo power amplifier with a separate power supply, rated at 300 watts into eight ohms, and utilising eight Nuvista tubes in the balanced buffer input circuit.

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A fully balanced, discrete Class A preamplifier and separate power supply, with 12 inputs (six RCAs and six XLRs), and utilising eight Nuvista tubes in the buffered input circuit.

Naim

Naim Audio: new Classic Series A new series from Naim is a rare thing — if ever there was a company that built products to stand the test of time, it is Naim Audio. Its models tend to remain in production for a long time, and only get upgrades for good reasons.

NSC 222 Streaming Pre-amplifier $13,500

This well-equipped unit offers multiple streaming platforms, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music, plus a very large number of online radio stations, and handles bitrates up to 32-bit/284kHz. It also features a phono input and a high-performance headphone amplifier.

One of Naim’s strong points is its dedicated Naim App. Many very fine networked-enabled pieces have failed because they have been cumbersome to control via their app, but Naim’s companion app is one of the best around. So not only is the performance of the NSC 222 superb, but it is also easy and intuitive to use.

NPX 300 Power Supply $13,500

NAP 250 Power Amplifier $13,500

This revamped classic features trickle-down technology from Naim’s Statement amplifier. Now rated at 100 watts per channel, and with tons of current to boot (+/- 28 amps peak), this amplifier will drive all but the most difficult of loudspeaker loads.

The NPX 300 deactivates the internal power supply of the components it is connected to, reducing noise and providing a superior, cleaner power supply. The NPX 300 not only works with the new Classic Series components but is also compatible with other electronics in the Naim stable, including the 200 Series, the NDX2 and the NAC-N 272.

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Sonos

Rega

Rega New timber finish

New Sonos models announced

Sonos has launched two all-new wireless speakers, the Era 100 and Era 300  Era 100 This marks a significant improvement on the Sonos One, with the introduction of an additional tweeter and a larger subwoofer. The processing speed is also significantly faster, and importantly you can now stream to the Era 100 via Bluetooth.

There is also a USB-C input for connecting external devices. $399

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 Era 300 This has all the features of the Era 100, except that it has four tweeters (one upward firing) and two woofers. The end goal here is that it delivers ‘spatial’ and more immersive audio, and this includes using two of the Era 300s alongside a Sonos Arc for a 7.1.4 surround set-up. Just don’t expect it to sound like the JBL system on page 9! $749

Rega turntables have been a staple part of our product mix since we opened. We can recall when Rega featured a timber border around its plinths (which is something of a collector’s item these days!)

Well, timber is now back in vogue. You can buy the Rega Planar 2 ($999) with a timber plinth as an alternative to the gloss black, white or red one.

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Revival Audio

Richter

Richter

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Revival Audio

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very so often a great new company explodes onto the market, and that company of the moment is French speaker manufacturer Revival Audio. Yes, the last thing this industry needed was another speaker brand, but when a brand makes an impact on us like this one has, after only 18 months since inception and with only two models, we are happy to make an exception.

While Revival Audio was only launched in 2021, the people behind the company have a solid background in the industry.

Co-founder Daniel Emonts has spent time with Altec Lansing and Focal-JM Lab, and his most recent role was as a senior R&D engineer at Dynaudio. His partner, Jacky Lee, also worked for Dynaudio, as Chief Commercial Officer for five years.

Revival Audio has gone right back to the roots of speaker manufacturing, deciding to design and build all of the essential components used in their loudspeakers.

The usual pathway for most speaker manufacturers — particularly start-ups — is to select what they consider to be the most appropriate drivers available from the plethora of specialist manufacturers, and then work out how to best put them together in a box to produce their desired results.

This approach sometimes reaps excellent results. Serhan Swift took two off-the-shelf

speakers from Scan-Speak and turned them into the mu2, still one of the finest bookshelf speakers on the market.

But this was not to be the road travelled for Revival, who has designed its speakers from the ground up. It started with building its own drivers, and even heavily researched the materials used to develop these drivers.

For example, its bass drivers are a unique sandwich configuration (a concept made popular at Daniel’s old stamping ground Focal) comprising a basalt fiber fabric topcoat, with a polymer glue and felt middle layer, and a foam-based cone bottom layer.

Revival also took the approach of sound comes first, and form must follow. This has resulted in a speaker that looks very much like the great designs of 50 years ago (luckily there is an increasing interest in retro designs at the moment). The cabinets themselves are beautifully constructed, too, and again reminiscent of a craftsmanship long discarded.

Irrespective of the company’s approach, the results speak for themselves. There may only be two models on sale (currently), but they are both exceptionally enjoyable for the money. It is so refreshing to sit in front of a speaker and realise that you are listening to the music and not the speaker itself.

There is an excellent in-depth review from Jez Ford for Sound & Image on the smaller

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of the two models that I would encourage you to read at: www.whathifi.com/reviews/ revival-audio-atalante-3. Jez concludes his review with: “So is there room in the market for a new loudspeaker brand? When it arrives with a derrière-kicking debut performance like this, we can only say ‘Mais bien sûr!’”

There is no speaker that has universal appeal; everyone has their own take on what they want from one. But if you are in the market for a pair costing less than $12,000, the Revival Audio Atalantes should at least be on your audition list.

The two available models are: Atalante 3 $4,300/pair Atalante 5 $8,500/pair Matching stands for both models sell for $750/pair.

STOP PRESS!

Revival has also announced the release of two new models, doubling its catalogue. This new Sprint Series will initially consist of a bookshelf and a floorstanding model, both of which will be priced beneath the Atalante series.

We have yet to listen to this range but are very much looking forward to the opportunity. More on these in our next newsletter!

o celebrate over 35 years of producing some of Australia’s most awarded loudspeakers, Richer has released the Special Edition Black Series speakers, which are now on demonstration in our showroom.

This is not simply a facelift of existing models; this is a complete overhaul. Both models are finished in a new high-quality Gloss Black. They utilise a new, more efficient 25mm soft dome tweeter which is complemented by high-powered 6.5-inch drivers that are unique to these models and feature larger voice coils housed in a rigid basket with dual magnets.

An entirely new crossover design caps off the hardware upgrades.

This new SE Series comprises two models. Firstly, after an absence of 25 years, we see the re-introduction of the Excalibur, an impressive five-driver, four-way floorstanding speaker utilising a D’Appolitoinspired MTM symmetrical array for the mid/ high-frequency drivers, housed in their own bass-reflex chamber.

The Wizard — without doubt the most widely recognised speaker in the Richter stable — has also been given the SE treatment. As good as the traditional Wizard is, the SE version is on another level.

Excalibur S6SE Black $5,899 Wizard S6SE Black $3,699

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Sonus Faber

Promotion

Sony projector promotion

Sonus faber

Through to the end of April (unless sold out prior), you can receive a Sony PS5 Horizon Forbidden West bundle valued at $900 with the purchase of either the Sony VPL-XW5000 or VPL-XW7000 projector. We have both projectors on display in our new theatre room, so drop in to have a look and prepare to be impressed.

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here are many companies that make great-sounding speakers, and there are some companies that make goodlooking speakers. Few manage to do both, but one company that has nailed it is Italian manufacturer Sonus faber.

Firstly, its speakers are some of the most ‘listenable’ on the market. It is difficult to pinpoint what it is that makes them so enjoyable, but you invariably find yourself drawn into the music as opposed to evaluating the speaker, and that should be what it music reproduction is all about.

Secondly, these speakers are obviously the work of artisans. The design and finish is first-class; they are real pieces of art.

Sonus faber’s penultimate range is their Homage series, and in the middle of last year we were informed that it was due to be updated. We are now starting to see this come to fruition, and it has been worth the wait. We already have the top-of-the-range Amati G5 on the floor. This is a significant 1.2m-tall floorstanding speaker which for many people is the speaker Sonus faber is most famous for. And with good reason — it really is an excellent performer.

At the time of writing we have not received the next model down, the Serafino G2, but we will have them on the floor by the time you read this. The smaller bookshelf speaker, the Guarneri G5, is not due until May/June.

This is a range that shows what a company with the heritage of Sonus faber can achieve when it is allowed the budget to do so. The new Homage models may be priced at the higher end of the market, but trust us, they are worth it.

Amati G5 $59,995/pair Serafino G2 $42,995/pair Guarneri G5 $31,995/pair (with stands) Guarneri G5 $25,995/pair (without stands)

All models come in Graphite, Wenge and Red Violin colour finishes.

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Stax

Technics

Stax

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he Stax Reference SR-X9000 have been on the market for a considerable time, but only now has production been able to catch up to demand — and we finally have a pair for demonstration.

Stax arguably represents the pinnacle of headphone design, and the SR-X9000 are the finest headphones (or indeed ‘earspeakers’, as Stax prefers to call them) the company has ever produced.

If you want to hear what superlative headphone listening is, drop in for an audition.

Technics

CAUTION: Many Stax headphones owners listened to their first pair out of curiosity and, followed by the inevitable, they cannot be unheard!

 Spotlight on the Technics SU-G700 MkII Grand Class amplifier

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echnics is best known for its turntables, both past and current.

When designing its matching range of electronics, the company has been able to visually produce a blend of both the modern and the old world. The finish and design of its amplifiers is contemporary minimalism, with oversized meters harking back to years gone by.

However, there is nothing vintage about their internals; these are very modern pieces of kit. As expected from Technics, the SU-G700 features a phono input... but only one other analogue input. The other five inputs are digital. While some may consider this to be heresy, the two analogue inputs are converted to digital post switching, and all source inputs remain in the digital mode until the final output stages. The SU-G700 is rated at 70 watts into eight ohms and 140 watts into four ohms, utilising a variation on Class D topography.

This purely digital signal path allows the introduction of some unique Technics technologies. The first is JENO Engine (Jitter Elimination and Noise Shaping Optimization), which is applied to all sources, and then there’s LAPC (Load Adaptive Phase Calibration). The explanation of LAPC on Technics’ website is: ‘The impedance of a speaker changes with frequency. The power amplifier must drive the speakers regardless of their specific characteristics. Conventional digital amplifiers control the loudspeakers via a low pass filter in the output stage. As

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a result, the influence of the impedance characteristics of the connected loudspeaker is much stronger. Although the amplitude characteristics of conventional loudspeakers can be controlled by means of negative feedback, it is not possible to optimize the phase characteristics. Therefore, Technics developed an adaptive optimization algorithm for the loudspeaker impedance.

It corrects the impulse response of the loudspeaker using digital signal processing.

To do this, it measures the amplitudephase characteristics of the amplifier with the speakers connected. This new method enables the frequency response of the amplitude and phase to be smoothed, which is not possible with conventional amplifiers.

The correct timing of the resulting amplifier signal leads to a sound image that is precise spatially’.

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OK, so that is something of a mouthful, but the uneasy relationship between an amplifier and the speakers connected to it has long been recognised since the first audio playback systems were developed. This is Technics’ attempt to overcome this problem — and it seems to work.

There has also been a considerable amount of work done on the power supply, and even the internals of the amplifier have been divided into three compartments to isolate the digital, power and phono inputs.

Build quality is as good as you will see at this price (and higher), too.

This is a superbly crafted amplifier and a very good-sounding one at that. One that, despite expectations given the design philosophy, does not exhibit any of the digital characteristics that tend to plague amplifiers of similar design.

Triangle

Triangle

Triangle – 40th edition

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t has taken a while, but we are finally seeing the 40th-anniversary models from Triangle reach our shores, albeit in very small numbers. The most striking thing about this limited range of speakers is the finish — it is meticulous. Secondly, and importantly, they are sonically much superior to the models they are based on. Triangle has not simply taken existing models and given them a new veneer and a commemorative badge; they have been completely transformed. And it shows.

Triangle believes that the Antal and Comete speakers from its Esprit range represent the emblematic models of the brand, and so has chosen these, along with three models from its Magellan series, to be released to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

We have the Esprit series on the floor, with the Magellan range due within weeks.

Esprit Antal 40th: $6,000 Esprit Comete 40th: $3,000 (Esprit 40th models are available in Santos Rosewood and Blond Sycamore) Magellan Quatuor 40th: $28,000 Magellan Cello 40th: $22,000 Magellan Duetto 40th: $11,000 (Magellan 40th models are available in Golden Oak, Black and Zebrano) All 40th models are hand-assembled in France.

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Accessories

Accessories

IsoAcoustics GAIA series The GAIA speaker isolation devices from IsoAcoustics will improve the performance of any loudspeaker or subwoofer. They replace the existing feet or spikes, isolating the speaker from the surface it is sitting on as much as possible.

There are three models...

Chord Mojo 2

DAC GAIA 1 Designed for speakers or subwoofers weighing up to 100kg. $1,099/pack 4 GAIA 2 For speakers or subwoofers up to 55kg. $499/pack 4 GAIA 3 For speakers or subwoofers up to 32kg. $349/pack 4

IsoTek power cables

Chord claims that the British designed and built Mojo 2 is ‘the most advanced portable DAC and headphone amplifier in the world today’. It may just be right, but even if it isn’t, this is an exceptional product — good enough to give many more expensive desktop DACs a run for their money. $999

Les Davis Audio 3D-2

Kirmuss KA-RC-1 ultrasonic record restoration system

Most power cables that come with hi-fi components are inadequate. They are not built to maintain the electrical integrity to the standard required, and most act as an aerial to EMI/RFI. We recognise that this part of our industry is controversial, with many dismissing it as snake oil.

For that reason we are happy to offer a money back guarantee on all IsoTek power cables. If you purchase one and are not convinced, simply send it back for a refund. One word of warning, though: returns almost never happen, but it does lead to our clients purchasing additional cables for their system!

The range is extensive, so please give us a call to discuss what we believe would be the best option for your system.

The Les Davis Audio 3D-2 vibration isolation pads have been a favourite of ours for some years now. Simply put, they involve the process of having a viscoelastic (meaning ‘flexible’) material pressed between two layers of a more sturdy material, which ultimately regulates the vibration output of the target component.

Unassuming and inexpensive, but they work. $129/pack 8

There are a number of motorised record cleaners on the market, but none do the job that the Kirmuss does for the price.

This cleaner is so good that we (and many others) advocate that you even clean brand new records prior to their first play. $2,200

Flux Brush – the new record cleaner from Flux FLUX-Sonic stylus cleaner This ultrasonic stylus cleaner is without doubt the best styli cleaner we have seen.

The amount of gunk that can accumulate on your styli is surprising, and it will have an impact of the music you are listening to.

The FLUX-Sonic does an amazing job of removing it. $279

Project Vinyl Clean Sometimes the simplest of ideas work — and this is a good example. There is no shortage of vinyl cleaners available, but one of the persistent problems is how to actually remove dust from the record once you have moved/dislodged it. $19

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Ortofon DS-3 If you are a serious about your vinyl, we’d point you to the Ortofon DS-3, a highprecision digital stylus pressure gauge. $269

To say that the FLUX-Sonic ultrasonic stylus cleaner (which we covered in our last newsletter) was a hit would be an understatement — it was necessary to urgently fly another shipment in from Germany (have you seen the prices of airfreight lately?!)

We also took that opportunity to try out its record cleaner, the Flux Brush.

Historically, the best record brushes have been based either on the carbon fibre design (which does a great job of lifting

dirt out of the groove but then presents the issue of getting it off the record) or the velvet pad type (which is great for getting the dirt off the record but has difficulty getting into the grooves). The Flux Brush uses both technologies. The carbon fibre brush runs down the centre spine of the cleaner, with the velvet pads sitting on either side of it. The carbon fibres lift the dirt from the groove, and the velvet removes it from the record. Brilliant!

The Flux Brush sells for $89

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Spinclean

The Spin Clean is a manual yet simple way to rinse stubborn dust and grime from your records. Just mix some Spin Clean washer fluid in the basin with distilled water, pop in the soft brushes, and you can spin your records clean in mere moments.

Spin Clean gets rid of the dirt and grime trapped in the grooves that dry brushes and spray-cleaning just can’t get at, and it does both sides of your record at once. $149

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen – our new display room

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ur new B&O sound lounge is now complete, and just in time for the company’s Beosound Theatre release. For some time now, B&O has marketed one of the best soundbars on the market — the Stage. And it has just raised the bar (no pun intended) with its Beosound Theatre. This is a remarkable soundbar in its own right, though given that it is priced around $13,000 (depending on finish etc), this is to be expected. What also sets it aside from the rest is its installation flexibility.

Like all soundbars, the Theatre can be wall-mounted or benchtop-mounted with any existing TV. It can also be incorporated into a completely new TV solution with fixed or motorized floor stands, or fixed or motorized wall brackets. Unlike previous B&O TV systems, if you change your TV screen the Theatre can be incorporated into the new upgrade. The Theatre is designed to match 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch screens — and naturally, we would recommend LG as the TV of choice in each instance.

Wattbox

W

ith the growing reliance on network/wi-fi and software-related audio/visual products, we are finding that service calls are becoming increasingly frequent.

One company that goes a long way to reduce the number of these calls is Wattbox.

Wattbox power supplies offer more than power conditioning and surge protection. They are also networked-enabled, which allows Len Wallis Audio to monitor multiple aspects of your system from our office. We currently include a Wattbox power device in almost every custom installation we do, so if your Foxtel box, modem, automation or smart control host locks up, we can reboot it from our office, eliminating the need to send a technician.

Wattbox WB-250I-IPW-2: $440 Wattbox WB-800-IPVM-6: $995

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Yamaha

Yamaha R-N2000A

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t is now many years since Yamaha released its Premium Series (A-S) amplifiers. These amps are a throwback to the glory days of hi-fi — high performers, beautifully built and, compared to some of their opposition, affordable. They are even designed to look like products of yesteryear, heavily borrowing the design from the company’s products from the ‘80s. They sit in the traditionalist hi-fi camp, intended as stereo amplifiers only, and any sources you use (streaming, vinyl, CD etc) need to be attached.

Yamaha recently released the R-N2000 receiver, a product based on the principles of the A-S series (high performance and retro design) — but with a modern twist. This is very much a product designed for today.

Behind the old-school fascia lays a plethora of technology covering almost every wish a modern user would have.

Firstly, while this looks like a conventional amplifier, it is indeed a receiver, with FM and DAB+ radio onboard. It also features Yamaha’s streaming system, MusicCast, providing access to high-res music streaming via Amazon Music HD, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz etc. It includes a high-performance USB DAC and an HDMI ARC connection to connect your TV. Tricky room acoustics can be treated with the Parametric Room Acoustics Optimiser (Yamaha was playing around with room optimisation way before this became

a popular topic, stretching back to its home theatre products from decades ago).

It has a phono input, multiple digital inputs, and a subwoofer output, and is compatible with both Bluetooth and AirPlay 2.

The concept of ‘just add speakers’ stereo amplification continues to gather pace. An increasing number of people are content to listen to all of their music via streaming — an obvious trend now that higherquality streaming is readily available (and convenient). Simply add a pair of quality speakers to the R-N2000 and you have a

high-performing, simple to use and relatively unobtrusive system. As you wish to add additional sources — vinyl, CDs (yes we are seeing a slow return to CD) etc — it is simply a matter of plugging them in. The beauty of the R-N2000 (and a handful of products like it) is that you are not sacrificing performance for convenience.

The R-N2000 ticks all the boxes: great sound, functional, meticulous construction (with online registration, it comes with five years warranty!) and, considering all the above, well priced. $4,999

TSX-B237D This model disappeared from the Yamaha lineup for over a year due to parts supply problems, but we are pleased to see it back on our shelves once more.

The TSX-B237 must be one of the best-value benchtop systems on the market.

This unassuming piece features CD, FM and DAB+ radio, Bluetooth, a USB input and an alarm function. Best of all, the performance, given its size and price, is excellent.

At $699, the TSX-B237 is welcomed back with open arms

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