Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2015 i Australian HiFi

During a recent foray into the mountain range to the west of Sydney that is geologically known as ‘The Great Dividing Range’, or sometimes, colloquially, the ‘Eastern Ranges’, but is in this particular region of the State universally known as the ‘Blue Mountains’ (and readers unfamiliar with Australian geographic features should note that the feature in question is not technically a mountain at all, but an uplifted plateau, the highest point of which is a sandcastle-like 1,215 metres) I occasioned to stop at an establishment known as the ‘Loaves and the Dishes’ (a biblical reference, one assumes) to partake of some sustenance. As my rather large (and quite delicious) soup de jour (Moroccan Bean) was served, so too was a blast of sound served up from the café’s nondescript audio…

JBL has released its ‘Clip’, an ultra-light portable speaker that has a plastic clip on top that’s designed to clip onto a belt, your clothes, a handbag or a backpack… or anywhere else you want it to go. Weighing just 150 grams, JBL claims it can play back using its own battery-power for up to five hours. The Clip can be connected to any music source via its 3.5mm integrated audio cable, or connected wirelessly via Bluetooth. It incorporates a hands-free speaker phone function. ‘Despite its small size, the JBL Clip packs a punch wherever you are,’ says Sohan Karunaratne, of Convoy International, which distributes JBL in Australia. ‘It’s the ultimate summer essential for days out at festivals or the beach, because not only can it fit anywhere, but it’s…

Westone has released a range of earphones with removable and replaceable cables. You also have a choice of cables: standard, braided EPIC, or a round MFI cable with a three-button function control and a microphone. You can also choose and change faceplate colour. Available options for all W-Series models include black, blue and red faceplates, but for the We-stone W50 and Westone W60, metallic red, gunmetal and gold faceplates are also available. The W-Series earphone elements are balanced armature types, which Westone says are significantly more compact and efficient than traditional dynamic drivers. Westone indicates how many balanced armature drivers are in each model in the Westone W-Series range, via the model number. ‘It’s through combining multiple balanced armature drivers with sophisticated crossover networks, that these in-ear headphones are able…

Icon Audio’s flagship limited-edition MB81 monobloc power amplifiers using the impressive GU81 transmitter valve as an audio valve that previewed at the UK’s National Audio Show earlier this year is now available. At 260mm tall, 100mm in diameter and weighing 1kg, the GU81 is a truly impressive valve. Although the GU81 remains in production, Icon Audio’s founder and designer, David Shaw, is using only handpicked NOS (‘new old stock’) valves for the MB81. The MB81s can operate in pure triode mode, and in this mode the use of GU81s enables much higher power output than usually delivered by a triode amplifier…250-watts according to Shaw. Shaw told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine that the MB81 was not originally intended to go into production. ‘If I’m being completely honest,’ he said, ‘I’ve been building…

Naim has introduced a new range of high-end interconnects and speaker cables. According to Naim, the impetus for the range was the need for high-quality cables to use with its flagship amplifier, the Naim Statement. ‘The brief was simple: design a range of cables that would complement and allow the maximum performance of Statement as well as Naim 500 Series and Classic products,’ said Doug Graham of Naim. ‘Starting with a blank page, Naim’s engineers specified each element of the cables based on the results of thousands of hours spent in the listening room testing prototypes and their deep understanding of materials science and the influence of cable and connector construction on sound quality.’ All Naim Super Lumina interconnects use a version of Naim’s patented ‘Air-Plug’ technology which is designed…

The budget-priced Sheng Ya A-203GS 100-watt per channel pure Class-A integrated amplifier that has captured the ears and wallets of North American audiophiles has finally arrived in Australia. It’s distributed by Melbourne’s Class-A Audio, which says the model being sold in Australia is an improved version of the one that got all the press in the US last year. The preamplifier section uses a high-speed d.c. amplifier module developed in Hong Kong by Sheng Ya, which manufactures in China. According to Sheng Ya, this d.c. amplifier module uses audio MKP film capacitors, one per cent precision metal film resistors, and has a wide frequency response, low distortion, and wide dynamic range. ‘Its performance is superior to the many so-called advanced audio IC and discrete components that are usually used,’ said…

MARANTZ CD6005 CD PLAYER Brand: Marantz Model: CD6005 Category: CD Player RRP: $960 Warranty: Three Years Distributor: Qualifi Pty Ltd Address: 24 Lionel Road Mt Waverley VIC 3149 1800 242 426 (03) 8542 1111 info@qualifi.com.au  www.qualifi.com.au • Marvellous sound • Feature-packed • Fit’ n finish • Digital input • Rear-panel USB • Dim-ish display If you have not upgraded your CD player for a few years, you’re missing out on better sound from all the CDs you already own, not to mention missing out on operational features you may not have known were available! Plus, if you buy new discs, you’ll find that having them contain CD-Text as a bonus is now the rule, rather than the exception. Best of all, as you’ll discover when you read on,…

Some time ago Panasonic announced that it was ending its consumer production of plasma screen TVs – and at the time it was as if millions of plasma advocate voices rang out and were then suddenly silenced. Fast-forward to today and we think Panasonic has a worthy successor in picture quality, reliability and functionality, with the company’s TX-85X940. This is the A380 Jetliner of television screens! It has a substantial base that runs almost the length of the screen, a thick two-and-a-half centimetres of bezel, and it clocks in at over 90kg in weight. And it bears quite a resemblance to those dear departed plasmas – which is no coincidence, as it was developed by the same engineers that worked on the last highly-regarded reference plasmas from Panasonic. It also…

To describe a brand that is as well-known and as well respected as Musical Fidelity as ‘underrated’ might appear a little odd. Yet despite the accolades, awards and commercial success that this brand has received over the years, we still believe that the product is better than many acknowledge. Musical Fidelity is a brand that we have recommended for decades, and some of the most memorable hi-fi combinations that we have put together have revolved around Musical Fidelity products. This is a brand that appears equally at ease at both ends of the hi-fi spectrum, whether it is the gorgeous sounding 20-watt Class ‘A’ A1 amplifier of yesterday, or the recently released 300-watt/channel Nu-Vista 800 integrated amplifier pictured here. The Monster… The Nu-Vista 800 is an exceptional piece of engineering…

The marriage of analogue and digital sources is all the rage at the moment – and I doubt that there would be a manufacturer of amplifiers today who is not now making or considering a model to capture this market. Peachtree Audio, while not the very first to produce such an amplifier, was certainly the first to popularise the concept. The company’s initial amplifiers were ground-breaking, and they paved the way for many other companies. The most recent releases have been taking Peachtree’s previous successes and (significantly) improving on them. We now have three new Peachtree integrated amplifiers in stock. The iPod docks of previous models have now gone, but the performance of each of these products is appreciably better than the previous units. Peachtree nova65SE amplifier The smallest of…

Tom Waters: Do you have a first memory, a first unforgettable musical experience that left an impression? Stephanos Eliades: Growing up in the small town of Limassol in Cyprus I used to, as a primary school kid, hang around two shops that sold hi-fi (The Sony shop and the Pioneer shop). In one of them I had the fortune to listen to the first CD player (I think a Sony CDP-101). I can’t tell you what was playing but I can remember becoming excited about how much more clear and punchier it sounded than anything I had listened to before … which was mostly on cassette through headphones. But I couldn’t have it, we couldn’t afford it—we had mostly cassette and radio at home with just a few vinyl records.…

Yamaha has reinvigorated its hi-fi range by adding three new integrated stereo amplifiers to it, the Yamaha A-S701, A-S501 and A-S301. The three new models bob in the wake of Yamaha’s launch of its flagship S3000 Series last year and its more recent release of its S2100 Series Stereo Components. ‘Benchmarked against this distinguished pedigree, Yamaha engineers have instilled the company’s ethos of ‘Natural Sound’ and a wealth of musical expertise into the A-S701, A-S501 and A-S301 so as to deliver exceptional hi-fi performance and quality at affordable price points,’ said Justin d’Offay, of Yamaha Music Australia. ‘With a beautifully simple design which provides subtle glimpses of Yamaha’s hi-fi components of yesteryear, the new range epitomises luxury and ease-of-use with a silver hairline finish on its aluminium front panel and…

EAT (European Audio Team) builds turntables that look different to most high-end designs partly because the company is headed-up by Jozefina Lichtenegger, who decided she’d go into the turntable business with a completely new approach to cosmetic design. The newest EAT turntable to show her philosophy is the C-Sharp, which combines carbon fibre, thermoplastic elastomers and MDF to deliver a low-profile deck with a super flat chassis. The bearing is an oversized inverted type with an inert, resonance-free ceramic ball on top. ‘Around the bearing we set a super-heavy 700g mass point which sucks up all energy around,’ said Lichtenegger. ‘The stiff carbon subchassis helps to transport all vibration in this mass point so vibrations are converted to heat.’ The platter is made from a special alloy of aluminium that…

Metronome has released a new entry-level CD player, named Le Player, plus a new DAC, the C8+. The Metronome Le Player is designed and made by hand in France in the company’s facility in Roquemaure, near Toulouse. It has a top-loading mechanism that uses a Delrin clamp and proprietary shaft designed by Metronome that it says ensures superior disc stability, which in turn leads to lower jitter. Le Player has three different toroidal transformers supplying power, with seven separate and independently regulated supplies for the various different parts of the player. ‘This approach provides inter-stage RFI radiation protection and ensures a dynamic, analog-like sound quality’, says Jean-Marie Clauzel, of Metronome. The Metronome C8+ DAC is a 24-bit/192kHz design that can also be accessed via USB and SPDIF inputs. Metronome says…

Canadian manufacturer Bryston has released a micro-sized centre-channel speaker called the AC1. ‘The AC1 was designed in order to provide home theatre enthusiasts with a high-resolution centre-speaker option in a compact form factor,’ said James Tanner, of Bryston. ‘It came about as a result of feedback from our dealers and end-users that we needed to add a compact centre speaker to our line-up for space-constrained home theatre systems—and the AC1 Micro is the ultimate execution of that design goal.’ The Bryston AC1 Micro uses two 133mm-diameter aluminium-coned mid-bass drivers and a single titanium dome tweeter. The fully-sealed cabinet is made from 19mm MDF and is internally braced for added rigidity. ‘Sealed cabinet designs provide a more flexible solution when placing the speaker in proximity to a rear wall, or inside…

Burson’s Timekeeper amplifier brings highly-quality, high-power Class-AB amplification to the desktop thanks to a stunningly constructed small-footprint chassis. Melbourne-based Burson says that its Timekeeper amplifier does not contain a single integrated circuit (‘totally IC-free’ is the company’s boast) so it features fully-discrete circuitry and a completely symmetrical FET input stage, using Elna Silmic 2 and Dale military-grade resistors, and incorporates a 300-watt custom-built low-noise transformer with a full linear power supply with 40,000uF of capacitance in reserve. Burson rates the Timekeeper with a power output of 80-watts per channel into 8 both channels driven. However, since Burson also designed the Timekeeper for bridged operation, it can also be operated as a monobloc amplifier, in which mode it’s rated with a power output of 230-watts. ‘With a Timekeeper amplifier you don’t…

SME describes its new Model 15 as the ‘ultimate in recovery vehicles’, claiming that it allows the cartridge to retrieve ‘the last nth of recorded material whether, digital or analogue, from the vinyl disc and thus approaches the ultimate in perfection.’ Although modelled closely on SME’s Model 10 precision turntable, SME says the Model 15 ‘seeks to emulate the excellence of Models 20/3 and 30/2 turntables whilst retaining the more compact footprint preferred by many enthusiasts.’ As usual, the SME Model 15 is built with the same attention to detail audiophiles have come to expect from SME products. ‘Its superb performance together with conservative styling make it a sophisticated addition to any sound system that will astound and amaze listeners for years to come,’ said Warwick Freemantle, of Pure Music…

Digital audio is not a subject lending itself to intuitive human understanding. But we try to use words best suited to such understandings to describe it. Unfortunately, doing so often leads us astray. So we have arguments between audiophiles and engineers on the value—even the audibility—of different forms of digital audio. Is DSD better-sounding than PCM, or is it merely a different way of representing a digital signal of a certain resolution? Does an increase in the PCM sampling frequency from 44.1kHz to 96kHz, or even to 192kHz, yield audible improvements? If so, how are they manifested? Is the increased resolution of 24-bit audio worth the doubling in file size that results from the increased resolution? (*1) How do you even judge these things? A good start is by gaining…

Marantz PM8005 integrated amplifier One of the hallmarks of Marantz is the attention to build quality, and (as expected) the higher up the performance chain you go, the better the build quality. This is evident in the PM8005 integrated amplifier. Rated at 70 watts RMS per channel, this amplifier features six line-level inputs (including a phono for your turntable) and a pre-amp out. Marantz SA8005 SACD & CD player The matching CD player for the PM8005. We have carried this unit for some time now, and it has fitted nicely into that niche where customers are looking for a good quality CD player (possibly their last) which is beautifully made, performs well, yet does not cost the earth ($2,150). Surprisingly there are not a lot of contenders out there. The…

The hot category in our industry at the moment, and for some time in the future, is wireless streaming. For many years Sonos had this category to itself, but suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action. In recent times we have added HEOS, Bluesound (see p31) and Naim’s mu-so to our offerings. Now Bose has just released its second series of wireless streaming products – the SoundTouch Series II. These do things differently, in a number of ways. While all streaming systems use ‘Apps’ on tablets or smartphones for control (with good reason), there is a downside – every time you want to turn the system on, change inputs, etc., you need to locate the tablet, fire it up and open the App. Bose is no exception, with control…

PerfectWave Power Plant 10 While PS Audio manufactures many unique and high performance products, it is the ‘Power Plants’ for which the company is best known. A great deal of this fame comes from their regenerator technology which was released in 1997. Through this technology PS Audio takes your incoming AC power and converts it to DC, similar to what comes out of a battery, and then uses that to regenerate and produce new sine-wave-perfect, regulated high-current AC power. In the process of regeneration any problems on your power line – such as low voltage, distorted waveforms, sagging power and noise – are eliminated (see panel below). The P10 (left) is PS Audio’s biggest and best Power Plant, priced at $7,395. With five separate regenerated zones and 1500 watts of…

YAMAHA SOAVO NS-F901 LOUDSPEAKERS Brand: Yamaha Model: NS-F901 Category: Floor-standing Loudspeakers RRP: $5,999 Warranty: Ten Years Distributor: Yamaha Music Australia Pty Ltd Address: Level 1, 99 Queensbridge Street Southbank VIC 3006 T: 1300 739 411 T: (03) 9693 5111 F: (03) 9699 2332 W: au.yamaha.com Detailed & spacious sound Beautiful design Stunning build quality Demand high-quality electronics beyond its price point The audio industry is heavily peppered with niche boutique manufacturers that aim at the top tier of performance, build and design. These are often somewhat more obscure, exclusive brands that enthusiasts—or even cognoscenti— embrace for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons, amongst others, are tied to the idea of buying into a single designer’s vision—with its potential for performance benefits—and/or the exclusivity factor of acquiring a niche…

AVM INSPIRATION CS 2.2 STREAMING CD/RECEIVER Brand: AVM Model: Inspiration CS 2.2 Category: Receiver/CD Player RRP: $7,256 (Silver or Black) Warranty: Five Years Distributor: National Audio Group Address: Level 1. 585 Burwood Road Burwood VIC 3122 (03) 9230 2088 info@nationalaudiogroup.com.au www. nationalaudiogroup.com.au • Compact & upgradable• Does it all• Super-stylish • Speaker terminals What to call AVM’s Inspiration CS 2.2? Its German manufacturer labels it a ‘compact streaming CD-Receiver’ which, as it happens, is exactly what it is. However this simplistic description somewhat obscures the fact that the Inspiration CS 2.2 also has an inbuilt DAC, so it’s a digital-to-analogue converter as well, plus the ‘receiver’ moniker doesn’t make it entirely obvious that it also functions as a high-end FM radio receiver as well as an internet radio device. Basically, it’s a complete…

Yamaha has released a network-capable CD player, the Yamaha CD-N301. ‘The introduction of network-capable devices signals a new era in hi-fi, where modern day functionality meets traditional hi-fi performance,’ says Justin d’Offay, of Yamaha. ‘The CD-N301 redefines the stand-alone CD player of today. We’re seeing an evolution of the CD Player in becoming an all-encompassing source capable of delivering high-fidelity content, from a wealth of entertainment options.’ The CD-N301 network connectivity enables a host of features including AirPlay, app control, high-resolution music streaming from network sources, Internet Radio (vTuner), and music streaming services such as Pandora and Spotify. ‘It caters perfectly for the needs of modern-day audiophiles who supplement their hi-fi content on CD with a collection of network sources such as PC and streamed via the Internet,’ d’Offay told…

McIntosh has released its D150 digital preamplifier, which has only digital inputs. These support most digital audio formats, including DSD and DXD via USB Type B (DSD64, DSD128, DXD 352.8kHz and DXD 384kHz). Two coaxial (RCA) and two optical (Toslink) inputs accept up to 24-bit/192kHz signals. ‘The D150 is a simple solution for anyone wanting to add the latest digital music formats to their existing hi-fi system,’ said Philip Sawyer, of Synergy Audio Visual, which distributes McIntosh in Australia. ‘It’s also flexible enough to be used as a headphone amplifier; just connect your digital sources and a pair of headphones, for a personal listening experience.’ The D150 uses the same DAC as in the McIntosh D100: an 8-channel, 32-bit device operated in stereo quad balanced mode. Balanced and unbalanced outputs…

h/k’s new Esquire Mini is a portable, slim-line high-quality wireless Bluetooth streaming, dual-microphone conferencing system with a dual-material finish of brushed aluminium and real leather. ‘The harman/kardon Esquire Mini is a bold, state-of-the-art audio solution, perfect for the on-the-go professional whether at home or in the boardroom,’ said Sohan Karunaratne, Head of Marketing for Australian distributor, Convoy International. ‘No attention-to-detail has been spared—from the line-up of premium materials and craftsmanship, to the chic urban styling of its uni-body design.’ The Esquire Mini’s dual-microphone system has built-in echo-suppression and noise-cancellation to ensure clear conference calls and its built-in rechargeable battery provides eight hours of playtime or you can exchange playtime for charging power and charge mobile devices on the go via its USB port, eliminating the need for extra chargers and…

This year’s Australian Record Store Day is fast-approaching (it’s on Saturday 18th April) but the organisers have already announced that Joe Camilleri will be the official ambassador for 2015. As usual, all participating record stores around the continent will be offering deals and specials on their stock, plus limited edition vinyl, activities, and events. Various artists will be making in-store appearances for signings and semi acoustic performances. There’ll also be treasure hunts, face-painting, sausage sizzles, charity fundraising and cup-cakes. The biggest news is a competition to design artwork for the base of a Pro-Ject turntable. The winning design will be printed onto a limited run of turntables and put into Australian stores for sale, plus the winner will receive the turntable as part of a complete Pro-Ject system valued at…

HEGEL H160 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER Brand: Hegel Model: H160 Category: AmpliDAC RRP: $6,195 Warranty: Five Years Distributor: Advance Audio Australia Pty Ltd Address: Unit 8, 509–529 Parramatta Rd Leichhardt NSW 2040 (02) 9561 0799 sales@advanceaudio.com.au www.advanceaudio.com . • Silky sound • Endless power on tap • Exciting dynamics • Balance control • Analogue inputs Hegel is a Norwegian company which had a rather strange beginning. ‘Way back in 1988 Bernt Holter, a young electrical engineering student at the Technical University in Trondheim (NTNU), was paying his way through uni by playing in a heavy metal band called ‘The Hegel Band’. As the band became more successful and started playing larger and larger venues, it needed more powerful amplifiers, so Holter decided to build them himself, using a new amplifier topology…

Oppo has become one of the shining lights of this industry. Despite the fact that many people outside of the audio fraternity have never heard of this brand, the company has dominated its chosen market segment of Blu-ray/DVD/CD players. Not only does Oppo produce what is undeniably one of the finest Universal Disc players on the market, it does so at an exceptionally low price. A year or so back Oppo entered the headphone market, and immediately attracted glowing praise for both the PM-1 headphones and the HA-1 amplifier. They have now released two new products – the HA-2 portable headphone DAC/ amplifier ($449), and the lower-priced PM-3 headphones ($549). The HA-2 in particular offers exceptional value. As storage plummets in price, digital media players have increased their capacity, opening…

Originally constructed in the 1950s, this recently extensively remodelled Art Deco home in an exclusive Sydney suburb offers incredible wide stretching vistas of Sydney Harbour. The home features multiple functional levels to accommodate parents, adult children and guests, as well as formal and informal entertaining needs. This home is without a doubt one of the most unique and significant harbourside residences in Australia. Our brief was to ensure that our audio-visual installations were effective in servicing various areas of the residence while also taking care to be sensitive and minimalist in terms of visual impact, ensuring the overall aesthetics of the home would not be compromised. This was a classic case of a ‘less is more’ approach, by providing the benefits of modern technology and making sure they worked in…

Most of our clients are aware that we have a secondhand department. To many it is a source of good quality audio at inexpensive prices. At any time we have everything you need to put together a quality system – speakers, CD players, A/V receivers, subwoofers, projectors and more are all represented. Some are close to new, some are audiophile brands such as Krell or Classé, and some are collectable items from decades ago. All the items have been checked, and all are warranted for 90 days. All offer great value. However, there is another side to this department. Technology moves on, and many of our customers like to improve the systems that they own. The question is what to do with their existing system or components. There are not…

ON TUESDAY THE 31ST OF MARCH from 6.30pm onwards at our showroom we will be holding a special demonstration night for Bluesound Audio. The night will feature all of the Bluesound product range. Come along and see the Bluesound range in action and understand more about how you could use its wireless streaming technology in conjunction with your existing system. Representatives from Bluesound will be on hand to demonstrate the product range and answer any questions you may have. Of course our usual excellent finger-food and drinks will be available for those in attendance on the night! If you can make it to this special evening please phone us on 02 9427 6755 or email meenak@lenwallisaudio.com.au and leave your name and contact details.…

AURALIC VEGA DIGITAL AUDIO PROCESSOR Brand: Auralic Model: Vega Category: DAC/Pre-amp RRP: $3,999 Warranty: Three Years Distributor: Busisoft Pty Ltd Address: Suite 4. 792–796 High Street Kew East VIC 3102 1300 888 602 (03) 9810 2900 info@busisoft.com.au www.busisoft.com.au • Phenomenal performance • Flawless sound quality • Super low price • No analog inputs • No word-length readout • Plastic remote Auralic is a relative newcomer to audio, having been founded fewer than ten years ago, but it’s made bigger waves in the audio industry than any other newcomer I can think of, not only because of the high quality of its products (as you will soon discover) but also because of its complete professionalism in all areas, from its help lines, to its owners’ manuals, to its website, to its…