Gold star B&O

BeoSound 35 network
Audiovector’s dazzling Pink
QR 1 compact speaker music system raises the bar Floy
50 ye d:
ar
rock hists of
or
p102 y

PASSION FOR SOUND Issue No. 418 January 2017

Living legend
I
Iconic
i TTechnics
h i SLSL-1200
1200
reborn for vinyl lovers
BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM
Valves and vinyl make
a heavenly match

Fantastic

30
PRODUCTS ON TEST:
Copland, Leema Acoustics,
Pro-Ject & Sennheiser
floorstanders
Big sound for every
budget from £299
PRINTED IN THE UK

JANUARY 2017

EXCLUSIVE GROUP TEST

Hegel Röst Do not disturb!

Do-it-all
i ll di
digital
i lh hub
b Six classy cans that master
US$15.00

£4.75

for hi-res music fans the art of noise cancelling

 “The Shawlines are really
top-class interconnects...
Give them an audition and
hear for yourself”

OUR VERDICT

Chord Shawline Analogue

Close
Hi-Fi Choice July 2016

“If you have a good system and

want to give it a boost these may
just be the most cost-effective
way to do that”

To You
Chord Shawline Range
Hi-Fi World October 2016

Connect with us
Designed and hand built in England by
music lovers since 1985. Enjoyed by music
lovers all over the world.

The Chord Company Ltd, Millsway Centre,

Amesbury SP4 7RX, UK

To get more information and find your

nearest retailer, please call us on:
+44 (0)1980 625700 or visit:

www.chord.co.uk
 INTRODUCTION

PASSION FOR SOUND Welcome

www.hifichoice.co.uk Issue No. 418 January 2017

As one of the biggest names

in the business, Harman
International has its fingers in
58 almost every sector of the audio
Pro-Ject Primary Phono USB market through a roll call of big-
name brands that includes
Harman Kardon, AKG and JBL,
along with specialist premium
audio brands Infinity and Mark
Levinson et al. With considerable links to both the home
and in-car audio market, you can understand why it
might be an attractive proposition for a smart-tech
giant looking to move into these sectors.
On 14 November 2016, news broke that Samsung was
to acquire Harman International for a cash sum of
$18bn. There had already been rumors circulating that
it was looking to buy a specialist audio brand, and
French loudspeaker firm Focal, which also owns Naim
Audio and supplies high-end audio systems to the car
42
German Physiks HRS-130 industry, was widely tipped to be near the top of the list
of considerations for the South Korean tech giant. But
it’s the link between its smartphone know-how and
Harman’s greater automotive connections that
99 Various artists ultimately secured the landmark deal with the US firm.
The Calais Sessions As technology finds its way into areas of our lives that
seemed like a futuristic fantasy just a few short years
ago, the consolidation of two tech giants means it’s
likely we’ll see smarter and safer cars in the future. How
this combined expertise will impact the audio market
remains to be seen, but with a major player like
Samsung on board, it looks like a positive step indeed.

BADGES EXPLAINED Lee Dunkley Editor

OUR AWARDS
Follow us:
Picture credit: Sarah Hickson

EDITOR’S RECOMMENDED: GROUP TEST twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag

CHOICE: Products that WINNER: facebook.com/hifichoice.co.uk
Awarded to those we feel meet a Comparative tests
products that are high standard of can only have one
judged to deliver performance winner, and this
outstanding
performance
badge says it all! SUITE 25, EDEN HOUSE, ENTERPRISE WAY,
EDENBRIDGE, KENT TN8 6HF
JANUARY 2017 3
 Contents
hifichoice.co.uk Issue No. 418 January 2017

NEWS & OPINION GROUP TEST

6 Audiofile
The latest news on the hottest products
from the world of hi-fi coming your way 24 Fed up of all that background
hubbub interfering with your
14 Webwatch music? Check out these noise-
Essential websites to direct your browser cancelling headphone saviours
towards for all your hi-fi requirements
69 Letters
Put your points of view and queries on
audio matters to our team of experts
79 Opinion
The Hi-Fi Choice team say it as they see
it as they discuss the issues of the day
99 Music Reviews
The month’s essential new CD, vinyl
and hi-res releases given a work out

READER SERVICES
122 Reader Classifieds
Sell your unwanted hi-fi for FREE here
130 Next Issue
The sonic treats to look out for next month

FEATURES
10 Hi-Fi Show Live 2016
Didn’t make it to the hi-fi event of the year?
Here’s what you missed out on

62

62 Hooked on a feeling
How PSB used Canada’s National Research
Centre to develop RoomFeel processing
90 Beautiful System
Valves and vinyl come together in this
Pro-Ject, Ortofon and Unison Research setup
94 Labelled With Love
An early exponent of surround sound,
Deram’s music deserves another listen
102 Music Legends
Discover how Pink Floyd went from
psychedelic noodlers to rock behemoths
120 Jake Isaac 6 100
The singer with the unique sound explains
his influences and hi-fi hopes and dreams Audiofile: Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Music Reviews: The Alan Parsons Project
4 JANUARY 2017
 CONTENTS
JANUARY 2017
“Assuming the record does
okay I’ll probably build my
old man the big hi-fi system
113 that he’s always wanted”
Pure Evoke H6 portable DAB radio
Jake Isaac interview p120
TESTED THIS MONTH

16
Technics SL-1200G direct-drive turntable
50
Audiovector QR 1 loudspeaker
REVIEWS THE KNOWLEDGE
Kit testing Floorstanding speakers
16 Technics 106 Floorstanders
SL-1200G direct-drive turntable
42 German Physiks 108 ATC SCM19A
HRS-130 two-way floorstanding loudspeaker
(Exotica) 108 ELAC F5
46 Copland 108 Quad Z-3
DAC215 USB DAC/headphone preamp
50 Audiovector 109 Spendor A5R
QR 1 two-way standmount loudspeaker
109 Tannoy Eclipse Three
54 Hegel
Röst integrated amplifier/DAC/network 109 Totem Sttaf
54 music player
58 Pro-Ject 110 Accessories
Hegel Röst integrated amp
Primary Phono USB belt-drive turntable
60 Bang & Olufsen
BeoSound 35 wireless music system CHOICE EXTRAS
88 SME 113 Pure
3009 tonearm (Retro) Evoke H6 portable DAB radio

115 Noble
GROUP TEST Savanna in-ear monitors
Noise-cancelling headphones 117 TP-Link
Alan Parsons Project pic credit: Shutterstock/Artashes

£200-£330 Archer C3200 router

27 AKG N60NC 117 Leema Acoustics
29 Audio-Technica Reference 1 digital optical cable
ATH-MSR7NC
118 Russ Andrews
31 Bose QC35 RF Router Mk2
33 PSB M4U 2 118 SLiC Innovations
35 Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Eclipse C MKII interconnects
46 37 Sony MDR-1000X
Copland DAC215 USB DAC

Never miss an issue – turn to p66 for our latest subs offer
JANUARY 2017 5
 T H E L AT E ST I N D U ST RY N E W S…

Active
Energy
British loudspeaker company
Acoustic Energy celebrates 30 years
with the launch of the AE1 Active
PRICE: £1,000-£1,200 AVAILABLE: MARCH 2017
CONTACT: 01285 654432 WEB: ACOUSTIC-ENERGY.CO.UK

THE ORIGINAL AE1 appeared

when Acoustic Energy was a startup
business in 1987. It was widely
acclaimed as a benchmark for
compact loudspeaker designs, and
earned the Gloucestershire-based
company recognition around the
world. Fast forward 30 years and
home speaker systems have changed
dramatically, and partly because of
this and to celebrate the company's
anniversary in 2017, Acoustic
Energy's engineers have been hard at
work on an active version of its
popular original AE1.
Designed in response to the
changing desires of audio systems at
home, the AE1 Active combines the
company's traditional craftsmanship
along with its Aego active sub/sat
system experience with built-in
amplification. A two-way standmount
design with Class A/B amplification
rated at 2x 50W per speaker, it utilises
the company’s pure piston ceramic
aluminium cone technology
partnered with an aluminium dome
tweeter fitted with a WDT waveguide.
Bass and treble adjustments of
+/-2dB are provided as well as level
control for each speaker, and RCA and
balanced XLR inputs. It's available in
high-gloss white and black piano
lacquer or a more costly cherry
veneer piano lacquer (£1,200).
In addition to the AE1 Active, we
can also reveal that early 2017 will
see the introduction of a new
Bluetooth model and the return of the
popular AE109 speaker, which will
head up a new 100 Series of
standmount, floorstander, sub and
centre channel loudspeakers.

6 JANUARY 2017
 COMMENT
- 30 Y
DIO EA
AU AMAZON TAKES ON
Combining AE's
IN BRITISH

RS APPLE AND SPOTIFY

IN BRITISH traditional speaker
Amazon unveiled its new music service on
skills with its active 14 November in the UK, Germany and
RS

AU speaker experience Austria. Though the company has

A

DIO E successfully run a streaming proposition

- 30 Y for a number of years (Amazon Prime
Music, which got 3.5 stars in our Group Test
back in HFC 414), take up was limited as it
cost £80 a year, didn't offer hi-res and was
tied to Amazon Prime (the on-demand TV
and next-day product delivery service).
The new version, which was launched in
the US in October, is called Amazon Music
Unlimited and – as with the US equivalent
– offers three pricing options. Existing
Amazon Prime members pay £7.99 a month
for unrestricted access on any device (or
£79 a year, which equates to £6.58 a month)
while non-Prime members can subscribe
for the same fee that Spotify Premium and
Apple Music charge for their rival services
(£9.99 per month). Alternatively, users can
pay just £3.99 a month for the service if it's
locked to just one Amazon Echo device. It is
understood that Amazon is subsidising the
lower-cost £7.99-per-month tier for music
rights holders in an effort to gain a price
advantage against its rivals in the market.
Most impressive of all is the fact that the
music library, which consisted of "over a
million tracks" when we looked at it back in
the September issue, has now been
increased to "over 40 million songs and
thousands of hand-curated playlists and
personalised stations".
“We’ve been thrilled with customer
reaction to the launch of Amazon Music
Unlimited in the US last month and we’re
excited to quickly bring the service to
customers in the UK,” said Steve Boom, Vice
President Amazon Music. “Starting today,
Amazon Music Unlimited offers our UK
customers playlists and stations curated
by our music experts in the UK, featuring
leading British and international artists –
we think customers are going to love it.”
We asked Amazon's UK PR agency about
the format and resolution of streamed
tracks and they were unfortunately unable
to give us an answer. So, it's probably safe
to say that the new service isn't going to be
offering hi-res downloads any time soon...

JANUARY 2017 7
 AUDIOFILE

KEF LS50 goes wireless

The manufacturer marks its 55th anniversary with wi-fi and Bluetooth speaker

PRICE: £2,000 AVAILABLE: NOW

CONTACT: 01622 672261 WEB: UK.KEF.COM

KEF HAS OPTED to mark the occasion of its 55th

anniversary with the release of a new, completely active
digital and wireless lifestyle audio system in the shape of
the LS50 Wireless. Utilising a 24-bit/192kHz digital signal
path, allied to a dedicated DAC for each channel, the
loudspeaker boasts wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The
LS50 previously won a recommended badge when it was
reviewed back in HFC 384 and the Wireless version boasts
the same Uni-Q driver technology, which sees the 25mm
tweeter placed in the centre of that distinctive 130mm
rose-gold coloured bass/midrange cone.
The built-in amplifier claims power output of 230W
per channel in a bi-amp, dual mono configuration, while
an advanced time-correcting DSP crossover has been
designed to maximise time alignment between the
frequencies. Wired connection options include an
asynchronous USB Type-B, optical and line-level RCA
phono sockets, and there’s a choice of different finishes.

IN BRIEF
PRO-JECT Leema server gets Sirius
ESSENTIAL III PRICE: £3,955 AVAILABLE: NOW
CONTACT: 01938 559021 WEB: LEEMA-ACOUSTICS.COM

Fittingly, Leema Acoustics operation, it’s claimed that along with unbalanced RCA
chose the occasion of London’s Sirius makes backing up CD outputs and a USB with Class 1,
Indulgence Show held in audio a breeze, with lossless Class 2 and DoP external
Hammersmith in mid-October FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, OGG connections. There’s
to unveil its new hi-fi grade Vorbis, AAC and MP3 formats additionally a dual-Ethernet
music server, Sirius. The result available. An asynchronous USB connection for routers and
of a collaboration with music DAC that’s based on a high-end for hook up to dedicated
software specialist Innuos, the ESS Sabre chip combines with streamers. Sirius is compatible
latest addition to Leema’s an Xmos USB interface to with a range of playback
flagship Constellation provide support of 16, 24 and 32 systems including Sonos
component range is described bit-depths from 44.1kHz up to multi-room, Naim Mu-so/Uniti,
● Hot on the heels of its Essential II as being the high-quality 384kHz, with DSD 64, 128 and Denon HEOS, Squeezebox and
(HFC 376), Pro-Ject has unveiled its streaming music server system 256 also supported. Cambridge Audio CXN, and it
follow-up Essential III. Manufactured built for “discerning music The app-controlled server comes equipped with 8GB of
from high-quality MDF and wrapped lovers”. Offering straightforward boasts balanced XLR outputs built-in system memory.
in a high-gloss paint finish (in a
choice of red, white or black), the
design will be familiar to those that
know the II – even down to the three
anti-vibration feet.
The Essential III comes pre-fitted
with an 8.6in aluminium tonearm and
Ortofon OM 10 cartridge (the II had
the OM 5E). A dustcover, felt mat and
power supply also come bundled,
while a more inert platform is
available in the shape of the Acryl-IT
E platter. The Essential III costs £239
and the upgrade platter is available
for £85. HENLEYDESIGNS.CO.UK

8 JANUARY 2017
 M6 ENCORE 225

Intuitive Operation, Huge Connectivity,

Internal 1TB Upgradeable Hard Disc Drive
The Encore 225 is a complete audio solution allowing you to keep all your music
in one place. It accepts almost any conceivable analog or digital audio source.
Experience it for yourself at your local Musical Fidelity dealer.

ZZZPXVLFDOÀGHOLW\FRP   

 SHOWR
R EPOR T

Windsor
The Hi-Fi Show Live came to the Beaumont House Estate once again. If
you didn’t manage to make it along, here’s a taste of what you missed
THE LAST WEEKEND in October saw the Hi-Fi Show Wilson Audio and many others all demonstrated the
Live return for a fourth consecutive year to the gorgeous ultimate audio products in their high-end ranges, and
grounds of the Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor. The numerous brands chose the show to launch new products
two-day high-end extravaganza hosted by our sister title that had never been seen or heard in the UK before. The
Hi-Fi News & Record Review and AVTech Media was its big White House, Windsor, Lancaster and Buckingham
biggest ever, and the only place to be for serious hi-fi fans. suites provided the ideal environment for jaw-dropping
This year the Hi-Fi Show Live was expanded by a further demos, while the various special presentations were often
set of demonstration suites at the Beaumont Conference left with standing room only as Ken Kessler, Tim Jarman
Pictures by Andrew Sydenham

Centre into the luxurious surroundings of the prestigious and Mike Valentine had audiences spellbound with their
White House suites. Hi-fi enthusiasts were offered the engaging talks and passion for sound.
unique opportunity to experience some of the world’s But most of all, the show was all about enjoying music
finest high-end audio under one roof with unforgettable and the beautiful array of equipment that creates it.
demonstrations of some of the greatest-sounding hi-fi Whether you had money to spend or just wanted to
components installed and presented by designers and window shop, there was plenty to see and hear. With plans
audio experts. Iconic brands including Bowers & Wilkins, for the next show on 21 and 22 October 2017 already
Chord Electronics, Devialet, ELAC, KEF, Magico, Quad, under way, here’s the 2016 highlights...

10 JANUARY 2017
 SHOWREPORT
THE

SHOW 1 KEF’s latest version of its Muon

flagship looks simply stunning in the
luxury setting of the White House, driven
by Chord Electronics and connected by
The Chord Company cables. kef.com;
chordelectronics.co.uk; chord.co.uk
2 This ELAC Concentro loudspeaker
– with export sales manager Monika
Lowe – has front and rear panels fitted
with JET-5 tweeter/midrange drivers,
and four 250mm bass units opposed
on the side panels. elac.com
3 Inspire Hi-Fi’s Robert Isherwood
prepares the £4,500 Inspire Monarch
Direct Drive Mk2.1 turntable with Convert
1 2 Technologies’ (Entotem) Plato Class A
system (HFC 414). inspirehifi.co.uk;
platoentertainment.com
4 Over in the Headphone Haven
Cambridgeshire-based Criterion Audio
demonstrates its high-end set of amps
and headphones from brands including
Audeze, Bel Canto, Chord, Grado, Moon
and Sennheiser. criterionaudio.com
5 With the Esoteric range Mandy Clarke
of Pioneer and Onkyo Europe demos the
N-05 network player, C-02X preamp and
290W S-02 power amps, all placed on an
Atacama’s Evoque Bamboo Custom rack.
esoteric.jp; atacama-audio.co.uk
6 Visitors compare half-speed mastered
and direct-cut albums with standard LP
3 4 pressings, and Mike Valentine of Chasing
The Dragon talks about the recording
techniques he uses at Air Studios in
London. chasingthedragon.co.uk
7 Peter McGrath demonstrates Wilson
Audio’s impressive Alexx and Yvette
loudspeakers to open-mouthed visitors
as they get their first showing to a UK
audience in the Absolute Sounds rooms.
absolutesounds.com
8 Donal Cook of Atlas Cables demos
the Zeno headphone cables as well as
practical and insightful demos of the
Kilmarnock-based company’s ‘cold
soldering’ termination technique.
atlascables.com
5

6 7 8

JANUARY 2017 11
 SHOWR
R EPOR T
THE
9 David Shaw of Icon Audio shows the
new SE version of the 100W MB81
SHOW
monoblocks featuring big GU81 tubes
alongside a prototype of his new Stereo
3-SE single-ended amp that is expected
to cost £1,600. iconaudio.com
10 In Headphone Haven Mark Hockey
of Harman Consumer UK shows AKG’s
flagship N90Q noise-cancelling
headphones to music fans looking to
experience a music world free from
outside disturbances. uk.akg.com
11 The award for the most eye-catching
speaker design of the show goes to Vivid
Audio’s Giya G4 speakers, and driven by
9 10
the Kaluga monoblocks seen here with
Mola-Mola’s Bruno Putzeys.
mola-mola.nl; vividaudio.co.uk
12 The £23k hORNS Universum MkIII
loudspeaker by Auto-Tech turns visitors’
heads in the G-Point Audio room. The
three-way design is available in a choice
of colours – glamorous assistant not
included. gpoint-audio.com; horns.pl
13 Show visitors get the chance to
experience the sporty-looking £2,500
Heco Direkt loudspeakers (HFC 407),
driven by a pair of Pure Sound’s valve
monoblocks shown by Guy Sergeant.
puresound.info
14 Convert Technologies (formerly
Entotem) shows off the Avantgarde Uno
11 12
XD speaker, driven by the company’s
Plato Class A one-box music system
(HFC 414). avantgarde-acoustic.de;
platoentertainment.com
15 Joining forces with DALI, Luxman
demonstrates its £5,000 PD-171A
belt-drive turntable alongside its flagship
solid-state pre/power amp combo,
driving a pair of DALI Opticon 8s.
luxman.com; dali-speakers.com
16 Visitors are treated to a unique ‘live’
entertainment event in the Audio Note
room as cellist Vincent Bélanger,
accompanied by his own recordings,
plays through a £60k Audio Note hi-fi
system. Simply superb. audionote.co.uk 13

14 15 16

12 JANUARY 2017
dynaudio.com

Close
your eyes
and see
We’ve included the ultra-pure, ultra-clear,
ultra-sweet-sounding Esotar2 silk soft-dome
tweeter. Mated to innovative new Dynaudio
MSP woofers with varying diaphragm thickness
that offer a higher level of sonic refinement and
extraordinary dynamic range. Integrated into a
new multi-layer curved cabinet and sleek-but-
solid aluminum baffle to provide your music
with a robust, defined acoustic foundation.
=PZP[^^^K`UH\KPVJVT[VÄUK`V\YULHYLZ[ Powerful, controlled, remarkable.
H\[OVYPZLK+`UH\KPVYL[HPSLY This is Contour 30.
 AUDIOFILE

Webwatch HFC reveals the best hi-fi websites, social media

and online content to fuel your passion for sound

FOLLOW US: @HIFICHOICEMAG

CHOICE TWEETS
TS
DEVIALET UK @DEVIALETUK
Were you lucky enough to see
Gold #Phantom in the window
@Harrods? Come and experience the
implosive sound with #Devialet on floor 3

NAIM AUDIO @NAIMAUDIO

We introduce Uniti by Naim – our most
advanced all-in-one music streaming
Show and tell Mastering the craft platform. #MusicReimagined #naimgodeeper
RCA’s Bob Banks describes how stereo Before you turn over to see how the
OPPO DIGITAL EU @OPPODIGITAL_EU
sound works and gives an insight into the return of the legendary Technics SL-1200G We’ve got a name change... No more
direct precursor of the audio cassette in this fares in this month’s In-depth test, why not @oppoheadphones, hello
glorious showreel taken from 1959, when take the time to see the craftsmanship that @OPPODIGITAL_EU!
http://www.oppodigital.co.uk
the world seemed a more innocent place: goes into producing arguably the most iconic
vimeo.com/7450268 turntable ever: bit.ly/2dYh9Kg THE AUDIO ROOM @THEAUDIOROOM
Have to say the new improved
@linnproducts Klimax DS with
#katalyst is really very special ! Please call
in for a listen.#cooltunesonly

THE CHORD COMPANY @CHORDCABLES

Great to be working with @BowersWilkins
at @HiFiNewsmag Show this weekend.
The stunning 800s wired with Sarum speaker cable
& interconnects

NAD ELECTRONICS @NADELECTRONICS

Have a lot of Beatles records in your
collection? You may just own one of
the most expensive vinyl LPs ever sold:
http://ow.ly/5GwF3059COM

KEF AUDIO UK @KEFAUDIO

REL refresh Note perfect The #hifishowlive 2016 was a great success!
REL acoustics has recently given its website The new durable five pound note has The general consensus being that the #KEF
systems were remarkable in both sound and aesthetics!
an overhaul and aside from the beautiful been widely praised due to its ability to be
images and details on products, it now put through the wash and it’s also tear proof. B&O PLAY @BEOPLAY
has some excellent resources for speaker But how does it sound when hooked up to Need space to breathe? Let music help you
escape into the vast landscapes of clean air
matching, room setup and an invaluable a contact mic and used to play records? Hear and beautiful colours http://Beoplay.com/collection
tool for comparing different loudspeakers one playing ABBA’s 1976 hit Money, Money,
to help you find the ideal match: rel.net Money at: bit.ly/2dYkTM2 DO GOOD AUDIO @DOGOODAUDIO
Read our latest blog post. This one will have
any music fan drooling. So good you will
demand an Encore! @MF_HiFi https://dogoodaudio.
co.uk/blogs/featured/so-good-you-will-demand-
an-encore …

THE VINYL FACTORY

@THEVINYLFACTORY
10 must-visit online record shops for second
hand vinyl http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-
factory-releases/10-must-visit-online-record-
shops-for-second-hand-vinyl/ …

DYNAUDIO @DYNAUDIO
When we build a new Contour cabinet,
16 pieces of sandpaper will lose their life
http://dynaud.io/EE

Magnetic attraction Going for gold CAMBRIDGE AUDIO

@CAMBRIDGEAUDIO
The creators of MAG-LEV tell us we’re The Voyager golden records are possibly In case you missed it, our ‘Making of Yoyo’
on the verge of a new era where zero gravity the rarest discs in the universe. Launched video is now live on YouTube! Check out the full video
will be used to spin vinyl. The decidedly in 1977, they are billions of miles above here: http://bit.ly/2eHB0uF
sci-fi ‘levitating turntable’ uses a series of the planet on Voyager I and II awaiting a ABSOLUTE SOUNDS @ABSOLUTE_SOUNDS
magnets to “bring the feeling of zero gravity vinyl-friendly alien to play them back. Now Wow, what a great start for us! We are so
into your home”. To see the futuristic deck in you too can own a copy of this astonishing pleased to welcome you all to the Hi Fi News
Show at The Old Windsor..... http://fb.me/8zVAVuiaJ
action head over to: kck.st/2f5EWrG out-of-this-world record: bit.ly/2fqDEca

14 JANUARY 2017
 IN-DEPTH TECHNICS
SL-1200G £2,999

Re-evolution
It’s back! The new, re-engineered SL-1200G
is the Technics the world has been waiting
for, says David Price

16 JANUARY 2017
 TECHNICS
SL-1200G £2,999 IN-DEPTH

DETAILS f you want to know why

PRODUCT
Technics SL-1200G
ORIGIN
I Technics stopped making
the SL-1200 nearly a
decade ago, blame the
Japan bankers. They’re responsible for a
TYPE variety of sins, but I never thought I
Direct-drive could lay this particular moment of
turntable
sadness at their door. According to
WEIGHT
18kg Tetsuya Itani, the company’s chief
DIMENSIONS technical officer, it was the global
(WxHxD) recession that was the final nail in the
453 x 173 x 372mm coffin – demand really slowed. At the
FEATURES same time, the company was well
● Quartz-locked,
direct-drive motor aware that the diecast moulds and
● Statically balanced tooling were on their last legs and
S-shaped tonearm there just wasn’t an economic case
● Quoted wow and
flutter: 0.025 for remaking its most iconic product.
percent WRMS That wasn’t the last of it, though,
● 33, 45 & 78rpm
as a vast number of people felt the
DISTRIBUTOR decision to cease production of the
Technics UK
deck just as the vinyl revival was
TELEPHONE finally getting into full swing seemed
03332 228777
bizarre. There was a considerable
WEBSITE
technics.com outcry that didn’t go unnoticed in
Japan, and as soon as the West’s
economy was out of the woods, the
decision was taken to re-enter the
market with a better, reworked
version of the deck. This however,
took more than a quick forage behind
the filing cabinet for the blueprints;
Itani admits that they “had to redesign
almost all parts from scratch”.

A brilliant turntable
that is a serious
improvement on its
excellent forebear
Audiophiles may be wondering
what all the fuss is about – “Company
stops making DJ deck, world keeps
turning” might be their retort. Well,
the answer is that the SL-1200 was
always more than just a disco fashion
accessory. To those who’d only ever
encountered Regas and Linns, the
Technics might look like a chintzy
bauble, but see one in the flesh and
you begin to understand why it was
(and is) special. Its diecast aluminium
upper section feels classy, as does the
rubberised BMC composite base. The
strobed brass and aluminium platter
might look like it escaped from a late
seventies music centre, but it’s heavier
than you’d think at 3.6kg including its
thick rubber mat.
The motor was always the SL-1200’s
star attraction. Even on the previous
version, spin a record then rub your
finger against the side of the platter
and you’d feel the servo resolutely
respond by pumping more power
into it. Do the same trick with any
belt-drive turntable and you’ll hear a
groaning noise as the belt stretches

JANUARY 2017 17
 IN-DEPTH TECHNICS
SL-1200G £2,999

The heavyweight 19.8g; it’s a standard classic SME even tighter and tauter in the bass
platter is a sandwich type, so can be usefully upgraded to a than its predecessor. Yet where the
of brass and cast fancier, more rigid carbon fibre type old MK5 could sound ragged with
alloy that’s
dampened by a
at a later date and this will yield a female vocals, the SL-1200G is
rubber underside real improvement in sound. The new smoother and purer. It also manages
feet are said to have a high level of to image slightly better too; image
vibration damping, and this claim is location was never a problem, but the
quickly confirmed by listening tests soundstage is now a little wider and
– although as with every turntable falls back just a touch more than
ever made, it benefits from a rigid, before. Compared with a price rival
level, vibration-free support. In use, such as a Michell GyroDec/Tecno
the overall feel of this new Technics arm, the Technics is still way behind,
is wonderfully slick – rather like a lacking real ‘out of the box’ three
precision Japanese camera – and the dimensionality – but it’s fair to say
new brushed aluminium surfacing on that it makes up for it in other ways.
top makes it look a lot less utilitarian Spin up some classic electro-pop
than its predecessor. such as Heaven 17’s epic Temptation,
and the SL-1200G absolutely shines.
Sound quality
Although many think of the Technics That ‘laid back’ vinyl
merely as a DJ deck, it has always
been a capable hi-fi vinyl spinner. sound isn’t there; it’s
Fit a decent cartridge to its stock
tonearm, set it up well and remove
more akin to hi-res
the sound-muddling dust cover, and digital, with soul
you have a strong, feisty-sounding
performer with a wondrously solid On fast, dense, uptempo music such
and propulsive base. That’s always as this, it’s totally arresting – it makes
been the case – indeed even the old you sit up and listen. Like flicking
SL-1200’s bottom end is special your telly from Freeview to HD,
compared with pretty much any other things snap into focus dramatically,
turntable. Elsewhere, higher up the making most rival belt-drive designs
frequency range, the old deck sounded sound as wallowy as a tired old tube
and slips, whereas the serious very clean and crisp, but slightly amp being asked to drive difficult
torque of the Technics fights you bright and lacking in fine detail. loudspeakers. Musically it is one of
back. “Direct drive has many The new SL-1200G effectively takes the most exciting disc spinners to
advantages over belt drive or rim up the baton from where the previous listen to – there’s so much energy
drive technology,” explains Itani, HOW IT one left off, building on the strengths coming out of the groove that it
“but after extensive research we COMPARES of its predecessor. It goes to work captures, bringing a visceral feel
learned there exists a minor issue Michell’s GyroDec/ on fixing the failings of the last to the music. Again, that bassline
with sound quality due to ‘cogging’. Tecno Arm A generation model, with a sweeter, dominates, but the electronic
This causes tiny vibrations during (£1,945/£665) is smoother tonality – especially in the percussion is so accurately carried
rotation that can potentially affect another hugely iconic midband – and better soundstaging and everything bounces off it in
vinyl spinner for under
the sound. Although the old SL-1200 and depth perspective. In short, it’s perfect time. The only criticism is
three gees. Since its
delivered a good performance, we 1981 debut it’s been less of a showy ‘DJ deck’ and more that the deck can’t quite convey the
wanted to develop a completely heavily reworked, but of a mature, hi-fi turntable. Tracking loudest crescendos properly, it’s as
new system that achieved the best there the similarities an Ortofon Quintet Black (£650) if the fitted tonearm just isn’t quite
ever direct-drive performance.” end. The Michell is a moving-coil cartridge, hooked up to good enough. There’s no mistracking,
The new SL-1200G gets a fancy more fiddly ‘self-build’ an ANT Audio Kora 3T phono stage just a subtle sense of compression – so
deck that doesn’t work
new motor then (see In Sight), but straight out of the box;
and Randy Crawford’s You Might Need one wonders if there’s going to be an
what of the tonearm? It retains its sprung subchassis Somebody soon shows that this is armless version at some stage?
traditional gimbal suspension and belt drive system
construction, with the horizontal have more adjustments. The ‘naked’ view
rotation axis and the vertical It’s also beautifully shows the platter-
rotation axis intersecting at a single finished, and a work of mounting lugs and
art to look at. Sonically S-shaped tonearm
central point. Precision bearings it lacks the SL-1200’s
are fitted using a cut-processed immaculate sense
housing, and the result is that it of control, not quite
feels lovely to hand cue. Whereas managing its Japanese
the SL-1200GAE Limited Edition rival’s superlative speed
stability, although it’s
got a magnesium armtube, the
way ahead in the stereo
cooking SL-1200G reverts back imaging stakes and has
to standard, heavier aluminium, a slightly warmer and
although this is nicely surfaced to more natural tonality
a matt finish. Internal wiring is that better conveys the
copper, while the non-captive arm sound of the recording
studio. Both are superb
cable uses the MK5’s OFC copper – you pays your money
wire. The headshell is aluminium, and takes your choice!
and takes cartridges from 5.6g to

18 JANUARY 2017
 TECHNICS
SL-1200G £2,999 IN-DEPTH

IN SIGHT Q&A
1 2
1 Heavyweight
Jonathan Danbury
platter with mat Product specialist, Technics UK
2 Tonearm
3 counterweight
3 VTA adjustment

4 Bias adjustment

4 5 Pitch slider ± 8%
and ± 16%
6 Stylus light
DP: Why did Technics relaunch the
SL-1200?
JD: After the relaunch of Technics in
2014, we received many requests
from vinyl enthusiasts all around the
5
world to bring back the SL-1200
direct-drive turntable. After much
research and study, along with the
increase in vinyl sales and LP
releases, we thought that the global
6 market was big enough to warrant its
return. Finally, following this, the
SL-1200GAE Limited Edition was
PRECISION DRIVE
announced in January 2016.
From the launch of the original SL-120 in the early position with the precision of 0.7° (540 points in 360°), Worldwide only 1,200 were made to
seventies, the mainstay of Technics’ turntable range has and generates appropriate drive current for stator coils.
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
always been its direct-drive motor. The company always “That gives us smoother rotation control, resulting in
believed, with some justification it has to be said, that superior sound quality”, explains Tetsuya Itani. The
Technics brand, and these sold out
direct drive was the intellectually correct way to spin a new motor puts out 3.3kg/cm of torque (up from the very quickly. So we have now
turntable platter. The SL-1200 kept the same motor right SL-1210MK5’s 1.5kg/cm), and because the speed control introduced the SL-1200G, a non-
the way up to the last MK5 model, but now the G version is now done in software there’s a USB port for future limited edition, which will continue
gets a brand new coreless direct-drive design, with twin firmware upgrades. Another key tweak to complement in production indefinitely.
rotor construction and a hybrid encoder at the bottom of the latest direct-drive motor design is the new, less
the motor housing. A micro-controller detects the rotor resonant platter. What are the benefits of the direct-
drive motor system?
As the developer of the direct-drive
Spin up some classic rock music issues to consider. First, it feels like system for turntables, Technics has
from REM, and again you’re struck by the capability of the motor unit always recognised the numerous
the wonderfully propulsive feel of the far exceeds that of the tonearm – benefits it offers. Very high rotational
music. Talk About The Passion is a even though the new arm seems speed accuracy and stability along
Rickenbacker-laced ballad that can better than its predecessor. Second, with high torque for fast start-up are
sound ponderous on lesser decks, but although way better than some price two key points to make. Also, direct-
it feels like the SL-1200G has had a rivals in most respects, it features far drive motors offer a very long
run around the park, a quick shower stiffer competition at its new price life without any performance
then a stiff espresso. It sounds fresh as than its substantially cheaper degradation, making them ideal
a daisy and rhythmically captivating predecessor did. That’s got to make for this application.
– that ‘laid back’ vinyl sound that some people think twice and wonder
many people love isn’t there; instead if they shouldn’t go for a more What cartridge would you
it’s much more akin to hi-res digital, balanced all-rounder, of which there recommend using?
but with soul. Rhythm is everything, are several. I love this new Technics, We would always recommend
from the wonderful attack on the bass but it no longer offers the epic value customers to talk through the options
with their dealer, because it’s a matter
guitar that never (unlike belt-drive for money of its forebear ●
of personal taste. Your choice will
rivals) sounds slurred, to the glassy
ultimately depend on the amplifier
clarity in the midband, which locates and loudspeakers being used, as well
elements in the mix with laser-like as the budget. Recently at a number
precision. Moving further up the
frequency range, cymbals have a
OUR VERDICT of shows we have been using an
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Engrossing, Ortofon 2M Black, which has proved
delicious, crystalline purity that’s rare propulsive sound; a very effective match to the
even on the finest superdecks. Much superlative build SL-1200G, but there’s a wide
and finish
of this could be said about its VALUE FOR MONEY
selection of good pickup cartridges
DISLIKE: Price now
predecessor, but there’s none of its puts it up against some on sale now.
midband hardness now, and that BUILD QUALITY gifted competition
slightly processed feel is gone. WE SAY: An icon is
FEATURES
reborn, and it’s better
than ever before
Conclusion
The new Technics SL-1200G is a
brilliant turntable, and a serious OVERALL
improvement on its already excellent
forebear. However, there are two big

JANUARY 2017 19
 Hi-Fi Choice employs the most rigorous test and measurement
regime in the business. Here’s how we do it...

Unique group tests

REFERENCE SYSTEM
SOURCES
Melco N1A NAS drive
Pioneer XDP-100R
HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER/DAC
Chord Electronics Mojo
Our Group Tests are supported by rigorous and
exhaustive listening tests carried out by experts TEST MUSIC
MANIC STREET PREACHERS
This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES GROUP TEST Black Dog On My Shoulder 16/44.1 FLAC

THE PROCESS OF testing six noise-cancelling using a Yamaha RX-A3040 AV Receiver and five
headphones has two distinct phases. To Elipson Planet M speakers. Two noise files are
benchmark their passive audio performance, a played via a Lenovo T530 ThinkPad and Chord
Melco N1A NAS drive (HFC 397) is connected Hugo DAC (HFC 386) – one is a replica of cabin
via USB to a Chord Electronics Mojo headphone noise from a Boeing 737 aircraft: https://
amplifier/DAC (HFC 405). Levels are set using mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/
an SPL meter and a pink noise test tone before cabinNoiseGenerator.php. The second is a
the test music routine is played. recording of an airport departure lounge from
Having performed the conventional listening the ‘airport’ category of sounds from http://
on each of the models, we test their noise www.soundsnap.com. This ensures that the
cancelling abilities under controlled conditions. noise the headphones are subjected to are as DAVID BOWIE
Blackstar
The same level matched Melco/Chord pairing is consistent as the music in the test. Girl Loves Me 24/96 FLAC
used to provide a signal to the headphones and For the Bluetooth equipped models, a Pioneer
the same four listening tracks are played while XDP-100R hi-res portable player (HFC 405) is
external noise is introduced into the background used and the same test music is evaluated.

IMOGEN HEAP
Ellipse
Little Bird 16/44.1 FLAC

YOUSSOU N’DOUR & PETER GABRIEL

Fatteliku (Live In Athens 1987)
In Your Eyes 24/48 FLAC
BLIND LISTENING TESTS high enough to make differences consensus, or otherwise then
This crucial process is very easily discernible. Then the forms the basis of our sound
carefully controlled so that we choice of music is agreed – it quality section.
get reliable and consistent needs to be familiar, but also well At the end of the session,
results in a relaxed and friendly recorded and of sufficient variety there’s a final debrief when
atmosphere. Our listeners must to give meaningful listening panellists discuss their findings.
not feel that they’re being tested, comparisons. The chosen It’s an exhaustive process, but
despite being unaware of the selection of music is played, and carried out in this way is free
brand or price of the products the panellists are encouraged to from prejudices based on brand,
they are auditioning. discuss their impressions of the price or appearance, while the
The session begins by setting sound of the product. This is then different sensitivities of the
the volume level to an agreed repeated, and periodically the listeners help to round out the
point, one that all three panellists panel listens to earlier products analysis in order to make it more
feel comfortable with, yet that is for reference purposes. The widely applicable.

22 JANUARY 2017
 The new
wine
“We wanted to create something beautiful... beautiful in sound, looks and connectivity.
The Röst is all that. It is the sum of everything we have learned. A true one-stop
amplifier. Something you would want to have on the top shelf.”
- Hegel Music System AS -

ready

HEGEL RÖST - Integrated amplifier with AirPlay and IP-control

Imagine a small, good looking, and incredibly versatile piece of audio kit that can
power some of the most difficult loudspeakers you would ever want.
Imagine a true high fidelity solution you can use with your iPhone, integrate in your
“smart home” and that plays all your favourite music the way it was intended.
No distortion of the original music signal. No distortion to the looks of your living
room... you have just imagined the Röst.

Derby: Musicraft
Edinburgh: Loud & Clear
Kent: Igloo Audio
West Sussex: Audiologica

Hegel: www.hegel.com
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES £200-£330

It’s oh
so quiet…
Ed Selley isolates his ears from
the metropolis and discovers
the art of noise cancelling

ALL HEADPHONES OFFER a diametrically opposite. Your ears Some models here benefit from
degree of passive noise reduction and listen to both, with the phase of the Bluetooth wireless, which means you
some cut high-frequency sounds actively generated one cancelling out can connect to pretty much every
considerably thanks to the padded the incoming sound. smart device around – simply pair up
ear-cushions. With active noise your device and away you go. It’s
cancelling, ambient sounds on planes, Sound of silence stable over short distances and audio
trains and buses need no longer be There is a trade off to be made in that quality has improved significantly
a sonic spoiler. Active models cut the noise cancellation can affect the in recent years to deliver near-CD
background noise much further by quality of the sound produced by the quality especially with aptX
using a built-in microphone and headphones. At 35,000 feet up in the compatible devices. To find out
amplifier to generate their own air or in a noisy train you might prefer which of these six noise-cancelling
soundfield that is near identical to the feeling of isolation, even if the headphones give the best sonic
the incoming sound, but its phase is sound quality is slightly tainted. rewards for your needs, read on.

24 JANUARY 2017
 ON TEST

AKG Audio-Technica Bose PSB Sennheiser Sony

N60NC £200 p27 ATH-MSR7NC £249 p29 QC35 £290 p31 M4U 2 £229 p33 PXC 550 £330 p35 MDR-1000X £330 p37
The AKG is a wired A variation of its ATH- This is the latest model This Canadian model is The Sennheiser also A Bluetooth and active
on-ear design that MSR7, this wired over- in the well-regarded line, a wired over-ear design offers Bluetooth noise-cancelling model,
offers active noise ear headphone with the QC35 adds wireless that offers both noise connectivity as well as the Sony is designed to
cancelling and the active noise cancelling Bluetooth operation as cancelling and an active active noise cancelling adapt its performance
already compact claims it has been well as a control app mode that boosts output a selection of DSP output to fit your listening
form folds down designed with an and a claims 20 hours and claims a remarkable modes and claims up to style and claims up to 25
into a small bag. emphasis on comfort. battery life. 55 hours battery life. 30 hours of playback. hours of playback time.

JANUARY 2017 25
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

AKG FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The N60NC is one of two noise-
cancelling models in the Harman

N60NC £200 Group’s AKG consumer audio range,

the other being the acclaimed £1,300
N90Q reference-class over-ear
headphone with TruNote auto-
As the most compact design in the group, these cans calibrating noise cancelling – see full
review in HFC 405. As part of the
are easily transportable, but no lightweight sonically wider group of Harman brands,
though, the company produces
other noise-cancelling designs,
DETAILS his is the only headphone technically able to be used while being predominantly under its JBL badge.
PRODUCT
AKG N60NC
ORIGIN
T in the test that can
reasonably be described as
an on-ear design rather
charged, you’ll have to do without
music while the AKG does so. But with
a claimed 30 hours of battery life, you
While the brand has the more
extensive lineup of models including
some with useful Bluetooth wireless
Austria/China than an over-ear one, and is easily the shouldn’t need to do this too often. capabilities, its consumer designs are
TYPE most compact model here. The N60NC The folding design is simple and less likely to appeal to serious audio
Closed-back, on-ear (the NC suffix standing for noise attractive with good-quality materials fans, and the AKG line has a more
noise-cancelling
headphone cancelling) has the smallest earpiece helping give it a robust feel despite elegant design aesthetic. The
WEIGHT enclosures of the group, which on first its small and slightly fragile-looking Bluetooth functionality of the JBL
150g inspection appear to be almost entirely frame. Memory foam is used on the would be a welcome addition to
FEATURES covered by soft padding. This is one of driver housings that warm up and the design of the AKG, but it’s
● Quoted battery
only two noise-cancelling models in shape themselves to your ear – and construction and compact size
life: 30 hours
● Folding design AKG’s lineup, although there are more prove to be comfortable to wear for make it a more suitable candidate
● 1.2m cable in the Harman portfolio (see box out). extended periods – with good weight for music fans on the move.
● Storage case
The N60NC is a wired-only design that distribution and traction when placed
DISTRIBUTOR connects to your playback device via a
Harman
Consumer UK 2.5mm-to-3.5mm jack-to-jack cable The vocals and Disappointingly, the bass thickness
TELEPHONE
that has a single-button inline remote never really dissipates with any of
0207 0845392 with mic. Unusually, the 2.5mm socket supporting guitar the test material, but with Peter
is also the charging point for the Gabriel and Youssou N’Dour’s In
WEBSITE
uk.akg.com internal battery pack for the noise-
both sound well Your Eyes in particular, it manages
cancelling mode. This means that defined and natural to handle the big live performance
while the other noise-cancelling with assurance and a genuinely
headphones in the group are on the head. A soft bag is supplied for likeable tonality.
storage of the headphone and both The noise cancelling is more effective
the audio and charging cables, and in at blocking out the aircraft cabin noise
terms of portability this is the most test track playing in the background
lightweight model of the group. than the more disparate departure
lounge sounds, but in both instances
Sound quality the N60NC manages to remove the
The AKG might be the smallest model bulk of the external noise without
here, but this doesn’t seem to put it sounding constrictive as it does so. The
at any great disadvantage in sonic musical performance is unaffected by
terms. At the test level, it gets stuck the noise-cancelling circuitry and that
into the Manic Street Preachers’ Black natural tonality and its impressive
Dog On My Shoulder with a pleasing ability with vocals remains perfectly
sense of drive and enthusiasm. The intact. Sadly, it doesn’t alleviate the
midrange and upper registers are very congested low end that taints its
well handled, which allows both the performance in passive mode either ●
vocals and supporting guitar to sound
well defined and natural. There is an
impressive sense of space and three
dimensionality as vocals hang in
mid air, and I get a soundstage
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Good tonality
presentation that feels nicely close and airy presentation;
and intimate, and enhances the solid build
listening experience. VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Congested
bass performance
Things are slightly less assured in
WE SAY: A compact
the bass, however. David Bowie’s BUILD QUALITY
and effective noise-
Girl Loves Me sounds punchy and cancelling design
aggressive as a result, but there is a FEATURES
that’s let down by
bass performance and
thickness to the lower registers that the strength of rivals
leaves the track sounding sluggish and
lacking in the kind of definition and OVERALL
composure that’s demonstrated by
the better performers here.

JANUARY 2017 27
 A U D I O S Y S T E M S

The Classic

August 2016 Best Turntable 2016-2017

An Instant Classic
The Classic was released to celebrate Pro-Ject Audio The new motor is powered by a built-in generator, for
Systems’ 25th Anniversary. This retro-inspired turntable a consistent performance, and drives a sub-platter that
has been designed from the ground-up to combine sits atop a precision-engineered main bearing.
timeless aesthetics with modern technology and The all-new 9” Classic Tonearm is made of aluminium
audiophile sound performance. and carbon fibre, for unrivalled rigidity while retaining
The striking frame design is available in three wood a low mass. The arm benefits from a new bearing
finishes, and provides clever decoupling between the system for completely free movement and is supplied as
acoustically treated aluminium platter and the motor. standard with an Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge.
Available Now for £799.00 (UK SRP)

Distributed by Henley Designs Ltd.

T: +44 (0)1235 511 166 | E: [email protected] | W: www.henleydesigns.co.uk
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

Audio-Technica ACTIVE VS PASSIVE

Some comparisons of this noise-
cancelling model against the

ATH-MSR7NC £249 standard passive version reviewed in

HFC 398 are interesting. Both units
are completely identical in terms of
dimensions and overall appearance,
The design is familiar, but will adding noise cancelling which suggests that space was left in
the original design for the battery
to the well-regarded model pay sonic dividends? and noise-cancelling hardware to
easily be fitted.
With both headphones connected
DETAILS agle-eyed readers will supplied along with a pair of 1.2m to the twin 3.5mm outputs of the
PRODUCT
Audio-Technica
ATH-MSR7NC
E recognise the ATH-
MSR7NC. It’s true, this is
not a ‘clean sheet’ design,
detachable cables – one with inline
remote and mic and one without – and
both are fitted with 3.5mm gold-plated
Chord Mojo (HFC 405), the
performance of the two models is
sufficiently close that I would find
ORIGIN and we reviewed its ATH-MSR7 sibling stereo mini-plugs. Disappointingly, it difficult to tell them apart under
Japan/China back in HFC 398 (see box out). The there’s no wireless Bluetooth. blind listening test conditions.
TYPE noise-cancelling version shares the This is an extremely comfortable The ATH-MSR7NC seems to be
Closed-back, over-
ear noise-cancelling same basic chassis design as its passive headphone to wear for extended fractionally less sensitive than the
headphone brother, as it too is built around a pair periods of time, the design is passive version and there is the sense
WEIGHT of 45mm dynamic drivers that are handsome without being gaudy and that the bass response, while still
305g mounted in closed-back, over-ear build quality is top notch. It’s the only impressive is slightly softer, but the
FEATURES enclosures. The drivers make use model in the test that does not fold fundamental sound qualities that I
● Quoted battery
life: 30 hours of Audio-Technica’s True Motion inwards for storage – the enclosures enjoyed so much remain intact in the
● 2x 1.2m cables technology that is designed to aid fold flat, but the headband has no noise-cancelling version.
● Storage case
sensitivity and help them move in form of hinging to collapse the
DISTRIBUTOR a more controlled fashion. enclosures in on themselves, making it
Audio-Technica UK
The noise-cancelling system is the least travel-friendly model here. It performance is held in. Judged by
TELEPHONE
0113 2771441
described as omnidirectional and has comes supplied with a carry bag. the standards of some of the other
WEBSITE
a single setting selected via a small designs here, it can lack a little
eu.audio-technica. switch on the left-hand earpiece. Sound quality excitement at times, but this
com Battery life with the noise cancelling Given the close relationship to its appears to be the price to pay
activated claims to give up to 30 hours sibling, it comes as no surprise to for its unflappable presentation.
playback. Charging is by micro USB discover that the noise-cancelling- The noise-cancelling function is a
connection and a cable for this is equipped model produces a similar slightly more mixed bag. The good
performance. It manages to do news is that switching it on does not
a fine job of balancing the twin affect the accurate and well-judged
requirements of drive and refinement tonality of the passive mode
performance, and nor does it raise
Noise cancelling background noise levels. The problem
is that the levels of noise cancelling it
does not affect the achieves are lower than its rivals here
and not quite enough to drown out
well-judged tonality the din. The Boeing 737 cabin noise is
of the performance dealt with fairly effectively – although
again, some of the interference
with the Manic Street Preachers’ Black remains audible. Voices in particular
Dog On My Shoulder, and while vocals appear to be a big challenge as the
can sound fractionally soft at times, ATH-MSR7NC fails to completely block
the balance of the performance is them out ●
very appealing. It’s this same even
handedness that helps David Bowie’s
Girl Loves Me to sound powerful,
although not at the expense of the
control that’s needed for his vocals
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Powerful and
to take centre stage. refined presentation;
Bass is impressive and produces a comfort and build
deep and powerful low end that has VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Noise
cancelling not quite as
a definition and clarity that eludes effective as rivals; size
some of the other designs in the test. BUILD QUALITY
WE SAY: A capable
The low electronic notes of Imogen headphone, but noise
Heap’s Little Bird sound very FEATURES
cancelling is bettered
by rivals and it’s bulky
impressive and the confidence and for use on the move
scale it gives to the live version of
In Your Eyes by Youssou N’dour and OVERALL
Peter Gabriel is also convincing and
conveys a real sense of the venue the

JANUARY 2017 29
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

Bose CUT THE CHORD

The QC35 is equipped with Bluetooth
but does without the aptX codec

QC35 £290 to bring wireless audio quality up

to the highest standards and near
to CD-quality levels. The
implementation of features
Arguably the leading noise-cancelling brand, does this elsewhere is really rather good, with
Near Field Communication (NFC)
Bluetooth-equipped model have what it takes? touch to pair, a useful voice prompt
system and a pleasing combination
of good wireless range between it
DETAILS s the brand that brought 2.5mm audio input for which a 1m and a paired device and decent
PRODUCT
Bose
Quiet Comfort 35
A portable noise-cancelling
headphones to our
attention, Bose is quite
cable is supplied, and the right has
the noise cancelling and Bluetooth
controls along with a micro USB
signal stability. There is also a flexible
control app to help pairing.
Sonically, the QC35 doesn’t seem
ORIGIN possibly the first name many people charging input. to be disadvantaged by its aptX
US/China will think of when it comes to It’s a foldable design that enables it rivals. Performance with lossless files
TYPE headphones that shut out the hubbub to collapse into a fantastically small largely reflects the quality of the
Closed-back, over-
ear active noise- of the world. The QC35 is the latest space. A good-quality carry case is material via wired connection and
cancelling model in a long-running series supplied, and there’s room for the Tidal shows up its audio prowess over
headphone of designs from the US brand. headphone and all of its supporting Spotify, for example. Background
WEIGHT Cosmetically it looks similar to accessories without needing to cram noise doesn’t increase significantly
380g
the preceding QC25, but the key any of it in. In its black finish, it’s with Bluetooth in use, and there is
FEATURES
● Quoted battery difference is that the new model unlikely that anyone would ever no discernible effect on the tonal
life: 20 hours can also function wirelessly using describe the QC35 as a design classic, balance when engaged.
● Bluetooth wireless
Bluetooth connected to your portable but the model is constructed to a high
● 1.2m cable
● Storage case device, although it’s not aptX capable standard and comfort levels are good
DISTRIBUTOR (see box out). for listening over long periods. The aids the live recording performance
Bose UK Bose is vague about the specifications synthetic leather pads feel a little odd, of In Your Eyes doing a fine job of
TELEPHONE of it products, and the company won’t but the Alcantara headband padding is sounding three dimensional, if not
0808 1688572 be drawn on the size of the drivers really rather lovely. terribly exciting.
WEBSITE inside the QC35, nor the material they As a noise-cancelling design,
bose.co.uk
are made from. The earpieces are a Sound quality however, it is on much stronger
closed-back design, which completely The Bose is noticeably less sensitive ground. There may only be a single
enclose the ear. The left earcup has a than some of the other designs in the setting, but when activated it is the
test, but it would be a stretch to call most capable of all the models here.
it hard to drive. Its performance is It’s completely effective at removing
interesting in many ways because it the cabin noise and also able to
seems to echo the overall design handle the more variable sounds
– capable, easy to live with but of the departure lounge, including
perhaps a little subdued at times. It sudden raised voices. Noise cancelling
presents Manic Street Preachers’ has little effect on the tonal balance,
Black Dog On My Shoulder, with a ensuring its sound remains just as
refined and well balanced sound easy (or slightly dull depending on
and it doesn’t ever become harsh your point of view) to listen to in this
or forward under provocation. sort of environment. It might not be
the most exciting looking or sounding
This is the most headphone here, but there is a reason
why it is so ubiquitous among
capable with noise long-distance travellers ●
cancelling of all
the models here
This is admirable, but it lacks the
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Superb noise
savagery with Girl Loves Me and cancelling; solid build;
comes across as too safe and useful features
constrained. Bowie’s vocals are rich VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Slightly dull
sound and looks
and have plenty of fine detail, but
WE SAY: A superb
some of the urgency and definition BUILD QUALITY
headphone for
in the bass has gone and this takes travelling, but lacks
some of the impact with it. The FEATURES
some drive and
excitement
less dynamic Imogen Heap track
demonstrates its talent with vocals
further and is easy on the ear. There is OVERALL
a commendable sense of positioning
to the way it presents music, which

JANUARY 2017 31
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

PSB CAN YOU FEEL IT?

PSB is better known as a
manufacturer of conventional box

M4U 2 £229 loudspeakers, and company owner

and founder Paul Barton has made
strenuous efforts to try and bring the
acoustic experience from its speaker
As a passive headphone this takes some beating, designs to its headphones with
something that PSB calls RoomFeel.
but active noise cancelling has some niggles This is a voicing process applied to
the M4U 2’s 40mm drivers, to give
them a frequency response that’s
DETAILS his is the oldest design independently. Power is supplied by more akin to a pair of conventional
PRODUCT
PSB M4U 2
ORIGIN
T here and represents the
Canadian brand’s first
noise-cancelling
two AAA batteries behind a removable
panel, which – while a little less
elegant than some – gives a claimed
loudspeakers when placed in a
listening room (see feature on p62).
This includes a degree of low-
Canada/China headphone. The M4U 2 (‘music for 55 hour life and instant recharge if you frequency enhancement rather
TYPE you too’) is an over-ear design and is have replacement batteries to hand. than a more theoretical anechoic
Closed-back, over- built around a pair of 40mm dynamic The PSB is the most overtly styled response that aims for a more level
ear noise-cancelling
headphone drivers mounted in a pair of closed- model here and in the black finish at output. The intention is to make it feel
WEIGHT back enclosures. The M4U 2 offers least, it’s not so alarming as to be less like listening to headphones,
362g wired playback only with no unwearable by anyone over 30. allowing it to produce a more
FEATURES Bluetooth, but there’s RoomFeel tech Comfort is good with excellent weight spacious and airy presentation with
● Quoted battery
that promises to bring the experience distribution and padding. One feature a degree of low-end enhancement
life: 55 hours
● 1.5m cable closer to that of listening to a set of that deserves huge praise is the as would be the case if you were
● Carrying case loudspeakers in your own living room. inclusion of a 3.5mm input on both listening to a pair of loudspeakers.
DISTRIBUTOR There are some other curiosities to earpads – allowing you to route the
Sevenoaks Sound the design too. Like others in the test, cable via the easiest side, which is
& Vision
the active noise cancelling can either something any company making travel Starting with the positives, the
TELEPHONE
01732 740944
be on or off. Unlike its rivals, though, headphones should consider. A sturdy active mode of the M4U 2 does
WEBSITE
there’s an active mode which boosts carry case completes the deal. precisely what it sets out to do in
psbspeakers.com the output if you happen to be using it that it massively boosts the output
with a particularly feeble partnering Sound quality of the headphone. However, it has a
device. The noise cancelling only If this was a group test that featured significant effect on the tonality and
functions once this active mode conventional passive headphones at the performance becomes thicker,
is engaged – it can’t be selected this price point, the M4U 2 would be less defined and lacks the effortless
soundstage that is present in passive
The performance is mode. As the noise cancelling can
only be applied with the active mode
spacious, packed engaged, this is really something of a
stumbling block.
with detail and The noise cancelling itself is not
easy to listen to without limitations. It has the hardest
time of any of the headphones
able to hold its own. It’s a very blocking out the two different
convincing performer and RoomFeel background noises. The reduction in
gives the Manic Street Preachers’ Boeing cabin noise is fairly consistent,
track the right balance of energy and but it can still be heard in the
refinement. Vocals are rendered with background. The departure lounge
real texture and realism and the sounds are less effectively dealt with
supporting acoustic guitar sounds and voices remain clearly audible ●
detailed and has a lovely sense of
decay to it. Bowie’s Girl Loves Me is no
less assured, with the PSB once again
balancing the punch and fury of the
piece while letting the vocals take
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Sound in passive
centre stage. Only a slight resonance mode; comfort; build
with low notes counts against it. DISLIKE: Active mode
When it needs to be delicate, as VALUE FOR MONEY sound; ineffective
noise cancelling
with Imogen Heap’s Little Bird, it’s
WE SAY: A headphone
no less capable and the performance BUILD QUALITY
that has many likeable
with live recordings is also extremely features, although
impressive. In Your Eyes by Youssou FEATURES
noise cancelling isn’t
one of them
N’dour and Peter Gabriel, is spacious,
packed with detail and extremely
easy to listen to for long periods. So OVERALL
far so good, but the noise-cancelling
mode performance is the clincher.

JANUARY 2017 33
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 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

Sennheiser APPY DAYS

As you might expect, the PXC 550’s
performance as a passive or active

PXC 550 Wireless £330 noise-cancelling headphone follows

through to wireless mode connected
over Bluetooth. Using the freely
downloadable app it’s possible to
If you’re looking for a versatile headphone that tweak the EQ settings of playback
material to further optimise the
excels in all areas, this ticks all the right boxes performance. Even if you don’t
bother with the app and simply send
material direct, the Sennheiser
DETAILS eadphones have come a as well as offering some useful retains all of its sonic credentials and
PRODUCT
Sennheiser
PXC 550 Wireless
H long way in recent years
and the PXC 550 Wireless
appears to have been
additional features (see box out).
Battery life is quoted at up to 30 hours,
although it doesn’t specify if this is
proves to be among one of the best
models I’ve heard using wireless
connection. It’s easy to pair and has
ORIGIN designed to offer almost every kind of with noise cancelling and Bluetooth excellent stability and range. Things
Germany/China feature you might realistically want in operation simultaneously. aren’t completely perfect, however,
TYPE from a portable model. The compact Sennheiser’s NoiseGard hybrid and the absolute volume level it can
Closed-back, over-
ear noise-cancelling folding chassis is a closed-back, noise cancellation is one of the more achieve is the lowest of the three
headphone over-ear design that works as a sophisticated systems on test, offering Bluetooth models on test and like
WEIGHT conventional passive headphone via an adaptive mode as well as a the other rival designs, the volume
227g a 2.5mm analogue input for which increments are a little on the large
FEATURES Sennheiser supplies a choice of cables If you want to listen side. Having said that, this remains a
● Quoted battery
life: 30 hours with and without an inline remote. seriously accomplished Bluetooth
● AptX Bluetooth Should you want to run without a to music with noise headphone offering.
wireless connecting cable, it has aptX-capable
● 1.0m cable
Bluetooth to handle lossless audio to
cancelling this is the
● Storage case

DISTRIBUTOR be transmitted from a suitable device. headphone for you of dynamics, but the important trade
Sennheiser UK There’s even a touchpad on the off is that it never sounds harsh or
TELEPHONE right-hand enclosure to allow volume conventional setting. The former is overly bright.
0333 2408185 adjustment and track selection. The designed to respond to noise levels The NoiseGard noise-reduction
WEBSITE panel is a little on the sensitive side, around you and alter the output system is excellent. The majority of
sennheiser.com
but works well enough once you get accordingly. The design is perhaps the headphones here show very little
used to it. There are also iOS and more functional than stylish, but alteration in their sonic performance
Android apps for device management everything about the Sennheiser when noise cancelling is engaged, but
feels extremely well thought out. It’s the effect here is so small that it is
comfortable to wear for long periods essentially unaffected. If you want to
and a carry case is supplied. keep listening to music when also
running noise cancelling, this is the
Sound quality headphone for you. The levels of noise
The PXC 550 Wireless is a headphone reduction are also excellent with only
that doesn’t immediately grab you the Bose QC35 managing to better the
with a single standout sonic attribute, quality of isolation from external
instead demonstrating a level of interferences. The dynamic mode
proficiency that rivals find hard to does an extremely good job with the
compete with. It delivers the Manic departure lounge sound effects and
Street Preachers’ Black Dog On My handles sudden louder sounds
Shoulder with an impressive balance of extremely well. The standard setting,
tonal sweetness and drive that allows meanwhile, is no less effective at
the track to shine. Vocals are well blocking out the cabin noise ●
handled and the backing guitar sounds
vibrant and real. It gets stuck into Girl
Loves Me with an invigorating low-end
shove that doesn’t affect the delivery of
Bowie’s vocals.
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Confident and
With the more delicate Imogen Heap refined sound;
piece, the weight of the electronic excellent noise
cancelling; good build;
notes is superb starting and stopping VALUE FOR MONEY
extensive features
with complete control and an DISLIKE: Sensitive
impressive sense of soundstage. In BUILD QUALITY TouchPad; limited
Your Eyes has a lovely combination volume with Bluetooth
of scale, three dimensionality and an FEATURES
WE SAY: Excellent
sound and noise-
encouraging handling of voices and cancelling abilities
instruments. There is a slight sense that
the PXC 550 doesn’t seek to generate a OVERALL
lot of excitement beyond what is on the
recording and it can lack the last ounce

JANUARY 2017 35
Everything you need.
Nothing you don’t.
Music brings us so much joy. An audio system shouldn’t reduce music’s unique
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6@MSSNjMCNTSLNQD@ANTSGNVVDCNHS5HRHSVVV QNSDK BNL4*SNjMCXNTQ

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R O T E L . C O M
 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330 GROUPTEST

Sony BEYOND BLUE

Sony has become effective with
its LDAC wireless Bluetooth

MDR-1000X £330 implementation on a range of

products in recent years, and the
MDR-1000X continues the successful
trend by incorporating the data-
With some serious technical noise-cancelling boosting technology. Pairing to a
device is straightforward and helped
firepower under its belt, can this model hit the spot? by clear voice prompts. Once paired,
the headphone has usefully low
background noise levels and proves
DETAILS obody could accuse Sony left-hand earpad, it will switch off very stable even at ranges of a few
PRODUCT
Sony MDR-1000X
ORIGIN
N of lacking ambition when
designing a headphone to
compete in this sector. The
noise cancelling so that you can hear
someone trying to talk to you or a
public address announcement, for
metres. Like the Sennheiser, the
touch pad is a little on the sensitive
side but works well once you get
Japan/China MDR-1000X is an over-ear, closed-back example. Battery life is a little lower used to it. The MDR-1000X also has
TYPE design built around a pair of 40mm than most of the group – quoted at comfortably the highest headroom in
Closed-back, over- dynamic drivers. It is able to run as a between 22 and 25 hours depending the test from its onboard amplifier
ear noise-cancelling
headphone conventional passive headphone via on what mode you have the when used in wireless mode. The
WEIGHT a 3.5mm input for which a cable is headphone running in. audio performance is unaffected by
275g supplied, but can also be switched over The basic design is restrained and the switch to Bluetooth – but therein
FEATURES to Bluetooth operation and is equipped possibly even a little dull depending lies the problem as the somewhat
● Quoted battery
with Sony’s LDAC system designed to on taste, but it’s well constructed and uneven and overbearing bass
life: 25 hours
● AptX Bluetooth boost the performance when required comfortable to wear for extended response is still present when used
wireless (see box out). listening sessions. The MDR-1000X this way.
● 1.5m cable
Where Sony has really gone to town also benefits from a feature called
● Storage case
is with the noise cancelling. As well as Personal Optimiser, which takes into
DISTRIBUTOR
Sony Europe a conventional ‘on’ setting, there’s a account the shape of your head and Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes, although
TELEPHONE
feature called Sense Engine that offers how you choose to listen to material it handles the rest of the live
0207 3652810 the ability to adapt to the ambient and alters its output to suit. The performance with impressive agility.
WEBSITE noise levels and adjust the amount of package is finished off with a The MDR-1000X is on firmer ground
sony.co.uk noise cancelling being employed to good-quality carry case. when you engage noise cancelling.
best suit the surrounding environment. As you might expect, given the
One clever feature is that by pressing Sound quality technology that has been thrown at it,
a hand to the touch sensor on the Having first run Personal Optimiser, the results are effective. It handles
the Sony delivers a performance of aircraft cabin noise very well, reducing
the Manic Street Preachers’ Black Dog the incoming interference to nearly
On My Shoulder that manages to get inaudible levels comparable with
most parts of the performance right. the best performers in the test. The
The presentation has a refined top adaptive setting is also effective,
end and a tonal sweetness that makes but lacks the same efficiency as
it very easy to listen to. Vocals are Sennheiser’s PXC 550 at removing
sudden spikes in external noise
Noise-cancelling with ambient airport sounds being
generated in the background. The
interference is audio performance is not significantly
affected by running the noise
reduced to nearly cancelling, but this does mean that the
inaudible levels same uneven bass characteristic is also
present when used in this mode ●
well defined and have a lovely texture
to them and the supporting guitar
also sounds pleasantly natural.
Where the performance is less
assured is in the lower registers. The
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Capable noise
Manic Street Preachers and Imogen cancelling; refined
Heap don’t really cause it too many sound; excellent build
issues, but the more forceful bassline VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Disjointed
sound with
of David Bowie’s Girl Loves Me lacks overpowering bass;
the definition and speed to let the BUILD QUALITY slightly dull looks
piece truly shine. There is no shortage WE SAY: Sophisticated
of bass extension, but it feels slightly FEATURES
and effective noise
cancelling, but an
overwhelming in comparison with uneven sonic balance
the rest of the output and leaves it
sounding somewhat unbalanced as a OVERALL
result. This lack of tonal evenness is
also present with Youssou N’dour and

JANUARY 2017 37
 GROUPTEST NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
£200-£330

Group test verdict

Ed Selley emerges from his musical bubble, free from interference from the
outside world, to reveal which headphone is the noise-cancelling champion
AS THIS IS first and foremost a test Sony’s MDR-1000X does many noise of the outside world, and it
of noise-cancelling headphones, the things exceptionally well. The noise is comfortable and well built.
PSB M4U 2 has some issues that cancelling is extremely sophisticated, Sonically however, while it doesn’t
simply can’t be ignored, which means it’s comfortable to wear and the do anything wrong, it lacks a
it’s the first to fall. Its excellent Bluetooth implementation is arguably little drive and excitement. The
WINNER
passive performance is overshadowed the best of any headphone in the test. ATH-MSR7NC by contrast is a Sennheiser’s PXC 550
by the overbearing active mode, The problem is that the bass response great-sounding headphone that is offers the best balance
which has to be on before the noise is just too overwhelming to listen to comfortable and beautifully built, of performance across
cancelling is engaged. By contrast, the for long periods and as the joint most wired, noise cancelling
but chunky, and the noise
and Bluetooth. It has an
small AKG N60NC is impressively expensive headphone in the test, it’s cancelling is merely good rather entertaining sound and
capable at keeping the noise of vulnerable to better-sounding rivals. than great. Choosing between the when you throw in the
outside world at bay. It’s compact size Choosing between the Bose QC35 two will come down to how much excellent build, neat
means that it’s usefully portable, but and the Audio-Technica ATH- you plan to use them on the move, design and control
the overall sound quality isn’t quite MSR7NC will come down to your but if sound is the key factor then features and good
comfort levels, it stands
up to the standards set by the very requirements. The Bose is the best Audio-Technica gets second place
out as a worthy winner.
best models in the pack. headphone here for shutting out the thanks to its superior sonics.

Make/model AKG Audio-Technica Bose PSB Sennheiser Sony

N60NC ATH-MSR7NC QC35 M4U 2 PXC 550 MDR-1000X

Price £200 £249 £290 £229 £330 £330

Sound
Value
Build
Features
Overall
, Effective noise- Capable noise A superb headphone Has many likeable Confident and Effective noise-
cancelling design cancelling, but rivals for travelling that features, but is let refined sound with cancelling model,
that’s let down by are better and it’s too lacks some drive down by rather poor excellent noise- but sound has an
bass performance bulky for on the move and excitement noise cancelling cancelling abilities uneven balance

Key features
Bluetooth No No Yes No Yes Yes

Foldable Yes No Yes No Yes Yes

Carry case Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Battery life 30 hours 30 hours 20 hours 55 hours 30 hours 25 hours

Design On-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear Over-ear

TRY WITH THESE

HEADPHONE AMP/DAC: PORTABLE SOURCE: STREAMING SERVICE:

Chord Mojo £400 Pioneer XDP-100R Tidal £20/m HFC 414
HFC 405 HFC 407 The competition is getting better, but Tidal still
If you want to get the For use on the move, the rules the roost in terms of sound quality and this
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smartphone or laptop, excellent choice of DAP,
the Mojo is very thanks to its capable aptX
capable, usefully Bluetooth implementation
compact and claims 10 and the ability to run
hours battery life. streaming services.

38 JANUARY 2017
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 EXOTICA GERMAN PHYSIKS
HRS-130 £14,500

42 JANUARY 2017
 GERMAN PHYSIKS
HRS-130 £14,500 EXOTICA

Power tower
DETAILS around this incisive beat that tells me
the speaker is bringing something
PRODUCT
German Physiks extra to the party. The bass line enters
HRS-130 and the HRS-130 handles the lowest
ORIGIN register with consummate ease.
Germany Deep bass has fantastic agility and
Chris Ward listens to German Physiks’ TYPE
2-way floorstanding
is portrayed in an entirely musical
way. Some speakers stretch their bass
latest omnidirectional floorstander to see loudspeaker
WEIGHT credentials, performing at the edge of
their limits, but this just delivers the
if it’s a great all-rounder 34.5kg
DIMENSIONS deepest frequencies without blinking.
(WxHxD) Warm but richly detailed vocals
325 x 1,259 x 325mm
ooking more like a voice coil pushing against a stiff, near shine out from a totally immersive

L
FEATURES
lighthouse than anything rigid suspension that causes the driver ● 1x Dicks Dipole
soundscape as a shaker or afuche-
else, one glance at this walls to bend, flex and ripple, Driver (DDD) cabasa joins the mix, positively
extraordinary loudspeaker propagating sound waves up to near ● 1x 10in woofer glistening with sweet, high-frequency
● Quoted sensitivity:
tells you that you’re going to hear right angles to the direction of the 87dB (4ohm)
sparkle. There is a ‘projected’ quality to
something different. The HRS-130 is actuating voice coil that creates a DISTRIBUTOR
the sound image, akin to a stage actor
no higher or wider than many large radiating sound pattern in 360°. The German Physiks delivering a subtle soliloquy to the back
floorstanders, but this octagonal innovative driver design is precision TELEPHONE of an auditorium. Communication is
cross-section speaker is heavy, strongly manufactured using a very thin carbon 0118 9819891 completely unforced, with music just
braced and seriously dense. The fibre foil (only 0.15mm thick) that is WEBSITE flowing through the whole room, not
cabinet is lined with a high-mass relatively rigid at rest, but can be german-physiks. overtly emanating from the drivers.
com
damping material called Hawaphon excited into complex but controllable The omnidirectional design propagates
that consists of a polymer sheet waves. This is able to reproduce a vast sound in a way that means I can walk
containing a matrix of small cells filled range of frequencies from 220Hz up to around the room with little or no
with fine steel shot. Apart from the 24kHz. Thereafter, the lowest octaves degradation to the image. Even people
twin binding posts, there is nothing to are handled by a 10in woofer firing in the next room can be drawn in to
denote a front, back or sides and being downwards within the base, claimed the performance, in a way that other
omnidirectional, it should deliver the to reach an impressive 29Hz. This low speakers simply can’t match.
same performance in every direction. crossover point promises a coherent The HRS-130 presents a 4ohm load;
Build quality feels superlative with sound as it’s way below the traditional not tough by high-end standards, but
highly refined engineering meeting midband area, where human hearing is Looking like no demanding a certain amount of power,
exquisite, hand-finished polished most sensitive to phase errors. other speaker, or more likely current dynamics, to
the HRS-130 also
I use a Veracity Mystra DAC (HFC sounds like
perform at its best. I connect a pair of
The soundstage is so 416) and Shanling CD-T100 transport nothing else Acousticimagery ATSAH 500
via Missing Link Dark Art 75ohm on the market monoblocks (HFC 404) to the Veracity
huge it’s as though I digital connector and start by powering
the HRS-130 with the Cyrus ONE (HFC
can wander through 417) connected via Black Rhodium
the performers Sonata VS-1 RCA interconnects (HFC
398) and Black Rhodium Foxtrot
surfaces. Here we see the gloss piano speaker cable (HFC 412). I know the
black, but you can choose from an Cyrus ONE has very strong current
extensive list of gloss, satin and veneer delivery that may suit this design.
finishes. The HRS-130’s origins can be Usefully, there is a system for adjusting
traced back to the work of Lincoln the high-frequency output of the
Walsh in the sixties and more directly speaker if you have a very large or
to the designs of visionary polymath softly furnished listening space.
Peter Dicks in the late seventies. Dicks Room positioning takes a little
wanted to create a transducer design experimentation. Too close to rear or
that would avoid traditional driver side walls and reflected sound can
weaknesses. His early designs have upset the musical communication.
been advanced considerably, but this Conversely, the downward-firing bass
revolutionary driver fittingly retains his woofer can be reinforced by proximity
name, the Dicks Dipole Driver (DDD). to a wall, so it is relatively simple to
Put simply, traditional cone and dome move the speakers until the qualities of
drivers are like pistons, pushing sound the DDD and woofer reach a happy
energy broadly in the same direction balance. This equates to a little over a
the voice coil actuates, leading to the metre from the rear wall and slightly
norm of rigid drivers that point more from side walls.
towards a listener. The elongated cone
shape of the DDD still has a voice coil Sound quality
and magnet assembly (pointing down) Playing You’re The One by Kaytranada
to drive it, but this cone is engineered gives me a direct comparison between
to move, resonate and flex in four my reference Cadence speakers and
highly complex ways. It still acts partly the HRS-130. The opening clicktrack/
like a pistonic driver, but the majority clap is rendered with real snap and
of its operating range is derived by the speed. There’s already extra ambience

JANUARY 2017 43
 EXOTICA GERMAN PHYSIKS
HRS-130 £14,500

Q&A IN SIGHT
SLO on my vintage Townshend Rock
Robert Kelly 1 Dicks Dipole Elite turntable via Timestep T-01MC
1
Marketing manager, Driver phono stage (HFC 371). The opening
German Physiks 2 System for rasp from the brass section is utterly
adjusting high- compelling and the kick drum is as fast
frequency as a gunshot. The responsiveness and
output
ability to handle fast transients is near
3 Bi-wireable the speed of an electrostatic speaker,
loudspeaker
binding posts but without a panel’s bass limitations
or a ‘beamy’ sweet spot. Clare’s voice
has a honey richness and electrified air
and every acoustic performer seems to
have extra room to breathe, with huge
CW: What are the musical benefits dynamic swings and dense detail
of the German Physiks’ design?
effortlessly conveyed. This ‘one take’,
RK: Having one compact driver
live performance is delivered with
produce almost the full audio range
stunning top-to-bottom ‘live’ coherence
gives much greater coherence than
splitting the sound over two or more that completely communicates the
drivers in different positions with musical prowess, emotional power and
different radiation characteristics. immediacy of this highly dynamic
This gives better timing as there recording. It really doesn’t get any
2
is no time delay distortion. Most better than this.
conventional speakers find it very
difficult to make the join between Conclusion
two drivers seamless. We avoid a The HRS-130 combines the speed and
crossover point in the midrange imaging qualities of an electrostatic
3
where hearing is most sensitive to panel with the coherence and
achieve improved transparency. communication of a full-range driver,
You’re no longer tied to a small along with the air shifting qualities of
sweet spot. You can enjoy a stereo a dedicated subwoofer. Huge, wide,
image with even frequency tall soundstages are continuous
distribution from a broad range of sweet spots that permeate even large
positions in the room, just as you listening rooms in an entirely natural
would in the real concert, so several and unforced way with fast transient
people can enjoy high-quality sound
Mystra DAC, using its gain control to dynamics, pure bass notes and dense
together and long-term listening is
adjust volume. I now have a mighty complexity simply flowing as music
more relaxed. In a live environment,
much of the sound you hear is
700W to see what more the German should. Acoustic music feels live and
reflected, so you sit in an enveloping
HOW IT Physiks can give. mesmerising, while electronica is able
COMPARES
soundfield. This reflected sound I press play on the same track and the to transport you to another world.
helps to give the stereo image its The Magneplanar MG speaker shifts up two gears. I’m drawn The HRS-130 deserves high-quality
20.7 is a large but very into the music and forget to take notes. and generous amplification to shine
sense of solidity. Omnidirectional talented speaker that
speakers, with a similar enveloping demands space and
The soundstage is huge and it’s as fully. £14.5k is a considerable sum,
soundfield closely mimic the live power, but rewards with though I can wander through the but this is a lot of high-quality
event and are able to produce a lightning dynamics and performers. Dynamics top and bottom engineering and hand-finished luxury
more natural rendition of the original very strong top-to- extend and sound quality of the for the price, and I’ve just heard
stereo image. This has excellent bottom coherence. midband becomes translucent, £1,600 of well-chosen amplification
depth and focus, but without the Being a panel, the transcending the black towers in the create a performance that could
sweet spot is more
overly sharp or artificial image
pronounced than the
room. Bass quality becomes a set of challenge some well-regarded
definition that some speakers pure notes with extra texture and a six-figure systems. Add another pair
HRS-130 and while bass
produce, which you will rarely – if depth is deceptively punch that is visceral, but doesn’t seem of monoblocks to bi-amp each speaker
ever – hear at a live performance. strong, many will prefer to aggravate room modes. Every and it could well be a giant slayer ●
the slam of the HRS-130. individual hi-fi quality has improved,
What’s special about the approach At a similar price,
but the effect is complete musicality
to engineering and construction? Wilson Audio’s Sabrina
speaker is a beautifully and unbridled communication.
Work is done by a small number of
It’s important to underline that this is
highly dedicated people working on even-handed performer
with superb imaging. not a function of brute amplification
OUR VERDICT
small volumes to maximise personal SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Effortless
pride and attention to detail in
The soundstage power. More that this revolutionary musicality; bass
produced by German speaker design deserves never to be left control; natural
creating a very high-quality product. Physiks feels more soundstage
If something is not perfect, it does natural and live, but
hungry for the current and control for VALUE FOR MONEY
DISLIKE: Demands
not get shipped. Cabinets have been the Sabrina’s more it to fully perform. It’s similar to an F1 quality amplification;
built using a local quality furniture orthodox presentation car engine; it can be driven at lower BUILD QUALITY styling may not suit all
maker in Germany for many years. is very accomplished revs, but it really comes on song when WE SAY: More ‘musical
They understand the high level and highly compelling. being worked in a kind of power band EASE OF DRIVE
instrument’ than
If you have the budget, loudspeaker. Highly
of quality demanded and will even that enables all of that engineering to natural performance
ask quality dealers to
match a veneer or a shade of paint
provide extended
fully optimise.
to a sample approved by the I switch sources and spin Mike OVERALL
demonstrations in your
customer, so speakers can own listening room. Valentine’s direct cut vinyl of Too Darn
match furniture or décor. Hot performed by Clare Teale and the

44 JANUARY 2017
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a u d i o - v i s u a l
 REVIEWS COPLAND
DAC215 £1,998

It can handle high-resolution LPCM

Get up
DETAILS
PRODUCT
files up to 32-bit/384kHz alongside
Copland DAC215 DSD64 and DSD128. It’s based on
ORIGIN the ESS Sabre ES9018 Reference
Denmark eight-channel DAC, which is used
here in double-differential mode.

and glow
TYPE
USB DAC/ With the outputs of four of the
headphone preamp
DAC’s converters combined for each
WEIGHT
3.8kg of the two stereo channels, this
DIMENSIONS promises an improved signal-to-noise
(WxHxD) ratio and reduction in even-order
HFC takes a look at Copland’s compact 200 x 115 x 280mm distortions, the impact of the tube
FEATURES stage notwithstanding.
tube-driven headphone amp and DAC with ● PCM up to
32-bit/384kHz and Positioned behind those impressive
slats are the small-signal ECC88
DSD-ready USB input DSD64 and 128
● Inputs: coaxial; 2x
double-triodes, which are backlit by a
optical; AES; EBU;
USB Type-B digital; series of distinctive red LEDs.
enmark is rightly widely Hasselhoff’s 1982 Pontiac Trans Am RCA analogue Below the grille are an analogue

D recognised as the home of

cool, sleek, sophisticated
design. Whether it be
in TV show Knightrider, the ‘laterally
perforated’ DAC215 looks to have got
the balance pretty much spot on.
● Class A analogue
section
DISTRIBUTOR
Absolute Sounds Ltd
volume control, not an ‘endless’
rotary encoder, and a source selector
to switch between the one analogue
iconic furniture, smart but functional Unlike many current DAC/ TELEPHONE
line input and four digital options:
clothing or consumer electronics, the headphone amplifiers, the DAC215 0208 9713909 USB and S/PDIF (coaxial and two
Danes appear to have a knack for has one stereo pair of analogue line WEBSITE Toslink optical) inputs. These are
elevating the mundane into a work of inputs, in addition to its array of copland.dk accompanied by a main on/off switch
art. So when Copenhagen’s Copland digital inputs. So if you’re building a – not a standby control – and a
unveiled its latest USB DAC/ system to play vinyl records as well as 6.35mm headphone socket. A small
headphone preamp, there was more digital sources, you need only add a toggle switches the unit’s amplifier
than a touch or excitement in the air. phono stage to make it function as section in or out of circuit.
Combining the styling of a fifties your main preamplifier, although it With this set to ‘Amp’, the DAC215
radio, with the red glow of Michael won’t give you remote control. functions as a preamp, providing a

46 JANUARY 2017
 COPLAND
DAC215 £1,998 REVIEWS

volume-controlled variable output

from its rear-panel amplifier output
sockets. This automatically mutes to a
low level when headphones are
plugged in. Setting the toggle to ‘Off’
puts the unit in DAC-only mode,
which is shown by a red light. The
internal amplifier section is now
bypassed, and the DAC215 sends a
fixed-level analogue output to the
‘DAC Output’ sockets.
An array of six discreet LEDs light
up to indicate the incoming sample
rate of digital sources. Copland has
kept this as simple as possible, with
the three LEDs in the left column
being labelled DSD, 48 and
44.1(kHz). The other three LEDs are Available with Chesky hi-res sampler, the 24/96 file Kalerka from Rebecca Pidgeon’s The
labelled x2, x4 and x8, and will light silver or black of Marta Gomez and Lucia from Entre Raven SACD brings out the rhythmic
front panels
appropriately along with one of the Cada Palabra is entirely captivating, qualities of the track well with the
left-hand ones to indicate ‘double with the DAC presenting the delicate, barcarolle-like accompaniment really
speed’ DSD and the higher PCM almost tremulous quality in the conjuring up the feeling of a boat
sample rates, from 88.2kHz (44.1 x2) singer’s voice and also conveying the gently riding the waves.
and 96kHz (48 x2), and so on up to air around it. And the DAC215 really Used purely as a DAC with a
384kHz (48 x8). CD-transport source, the DAC215
It’s possible to switch these backlight We can’t help but gives impeccable results. With Keith
LEDs off using the small switch on the Jarrett and Charlie Haden’s great
circuit board placed vertically behind marvel at the sheer piano/bass duo album Jasmine, it
the tubes. To access this, or to replace feels alive to the special atmosphere
the tubes, simply remove the four
depth and solidity of the recording, made in Jarrett’s
screws holding the small ventilation of the sound home studio. The big, warm sound
cover on to the unit’s top surface. of Haden’s double-bass is very well
brings out the relaxed and effortless conveyed and, more intangibly, so is
Sound quality quality that’s achieved by the the feeling of peaceful homecoming
We start off using the Copland purely accompanying musicians. that pervades this musical reunion.
as a DAC, via its USB inputs and With ripped 16/44.1 material it also Switching to headphones – Oppo’s
fixed-level, solid-state DAC output. impresses, allowing the music to flow PM-1 – we discover a tube-amp sound
Listening to Jimmy Webb’s PF Sloan easily and freely. Rickie Lee Jones’ that is rich and warm in character.
we can feel the force of passion in the Easy Money comes over with an Tim Hugh playing Kodály’s solo cello
song while appreciating the superbly infectious rhythmic quality, a light sonata from Hands On Heart is
crafted arrangement. From the same and almost jaunty bounce that’s so completely absorbing and we can’t
often lost in the hi-fi chain. help but marvel at the sheer depth
CONNECTIONS

1 RCA analogue
input
2 Amplifier output
3 DAC output
4 Digital coaxial in

5 2x digital optical in

6 USB Type-B input

6 5 4 3 2 1

JANUARY 2017 47
 REVIEWS COPLAND
DAC215 £1,998

Q&A IN SIGHT

Ole Møller 1 Shielded

Founder and designer, Copland 1 transformer
2 Analogue volume
control
3 6922 valves for
headphone amp
4 ES9018 DAC

HFC: What’s the design philosophy

behind the Copland DAC215?
OM: Given the way many people
listen to music these days, there is 2
clearly demand for high-quality DACs
and headphone amps. We wanted to
make the very best DAC/headphone
amp we could, utilising valves,
in a convenient form. The fact that
the operational parameters of 4 3
headphones are very different from
speakers makes the voicing of a
headphone amp different from that
of an ordinary amp. It’s not a question and solidity of the sound he makes, chords, supported here by what
of altering the frequency response, and its consistency from top to seems like a bottomless bass that
more a way of distributing the bottom of the instrument. frames Scaggs’ richly textured guitar
perceived energy of the recorded Moving on to a 24/96 download intro and vocal.
music to the specific parts of the of the Elina Duni Quartet playing Kur Staying with the blues, we switch to
frequency spectrum in a way that të kujtosh, the singer’s emotive an old track from Sang Mêle, by the
complements the very close loading delivery really strikes home with the late French keyboard wizard Eddy
from the transducer membrane to
little tremble in her voice clearly Louiss. With its wild and impassioned
the eardrum and the lack of deep
outlined by the perceptible studio ‘air’ synth against a churchy organ
bass body impact.
around it. Again there is warmth, background, Blues For Klook is Louiss’
Are there any trickle-down benefits especially in the insistent and heavily heartfelt tribute to jazz drummer
from other Copland products? recorded piano, but this never Kenny Clarke. And with the Copland,
Pretty much everything was tailor- becomes overwhelming. he sounds more soulful than ever.
made for this project, although For a contrast in vocal and recording
everything we make – and the things style, we return to Marta Gomez’s Conclusion
we learn in the process – influences HOW IT Lucia and discover that the The Copland is an excellent USB
the design of what comes next to COMPARES background produced by her DAC/headphone amp that can very
some degree. We did borrow the musicians is miraculously light and happily serve as a main system
The DAC215 faces some
principle behind the DAC215’s
tough competition from
spacious. With the Copland serving preamplifier too, as long as you don’t
analogue buffer and post-filtering the similarly specified purely as a DAC, we find this track need more than one (unbalanced)
circuitry from the CDA 825 CD player. Simaudio Moon Nēo particularly enticing, and here it’s just analogue input and can do without
However, as can be felt from the heat 230HAD (HFC 411). The as attractive with the sound a little remote control. It provides truly
of the drivers, the high-current output 230HAD is cheaper but fattened-up with a kind of creamy enjoyable, satisfying headphone
from the DAC215’s paralleled DACs goes toe to toe with the quality, and with Gomez’s voice listening from digital sources,
requires even more power from the Copland in terms of
functionality, including
cooingly intimate. especially via USB but also via its
Class A transistor stage driving the Focused on orchestral sounds, David S/PDIF input. It’s nice to use and the
low-impedance feedback and the fitting of an
analogue input. The Chesky’s amazing Venetian Concertos attractive retro look is a real bonus ●
filtering circuitry.
technically interesting sound intense and densely textured
Which headphones would you
transconductance- and the Copland/Oppo combination
based headphone
use with the DAC215? is more than capable of meeting its
amplifier in the Moon
demands, never losing the inner
I had top-end headphones from gives it a slight edge
detail in the string writing and
OUR VERDICT
Sennheiser, Grado, Beyerdynamic when used in this way SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Rich, evocative
and Hifiman, among others, at my and while there is very conveying the sheer energy of the sound; good looks
disposal during the development of little in it when used as composer’s vision. and build
a line-level DAC, it is Returning to CD-quality material, VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Only one pair
the DAC215; they all have very
fractionally better here of analogue line inputs;
different qualities and I like to change too. Where the Copland
we run through some old favourites no remote control
from time to time. It’s really a matter does enjoy the edge is and are agreeably impressed every BUILD QUALITY
WE SAY: An excellent
of personal preference… all I can say as a preamp where it time. With Florence & The Machine’s USB DAC/headphone
is that the DAC215 has been designed sounds slightly fuller Dog Days Are Over, the DAC215 offers FEATURES
amp that’s equally
impressive working
to work with a wide range of and more open – an intelligible, exciting performance, as a preamp
headphones and will make the most although annoyingly, free of any harshness or confusion.
of any high-quality pair musically. unlike the Moon it
With Loan Me A Dime from Boz OVERALL
doesn’t have a remote
control for the volume. Scaggs’ Greatest Hits Live it is a treat
to wallow in the doomy descending

48 JANUARY 2017
with music in mind
since 1974

Exposure Electronics Limited

Unit 18, Winston Business Centre, 43 Chartwell Road
Lancing, West Sussex BN15 8TU, United Kindom.

www.exposurehifi.com
 REVIEWS AUDIOVECTOR
QR 1 £750

50 JANUARY 2017
 AUDIOVECTOR
QR 1 £750 REVIEWS

I’ve seen a good many ribbon

Q the music
DETAILS
tweeters of late, but none has looked
PRODUCT
Audiovector QR 1 quite as good as the QR 1’s AMT.
ORIGIN There’s a reason for this. The exposed
Denmark gold mesh ‘S-Stop Filter’ (to smooth
TYPE sibilance) sits in a housing made from
The Danes know a thing or two about 2-way standmount
loudspeaker
a single piece of aerospace-grade
aluminium that’s been precision
making speakers, but even by their high WEIGHT
6.2kg machined, glass blasted and brushed
and then anodised with a tungsten/
standards David Vivian thinks this is special DIMENSIONS
(WxHxD) titanium finish to have a reassuringly
190 x 325 x 232mm expensive sheen. The 150mm mid/
FEATURES bass driver is hardly less impressive.
● Gold Leaf AMT
onveniently, you can count (son of company founder Ole) was ribbon with
An all-new design Audiovector has

C Denmark’s major speaker

makers on the fingers of
one hand. But while DALI,
responsible for the design of the
QR series and had a very specific
product in mind from the outset. “I
double chamber
● 150mm Pure
Piston mid/bass
driver
christened ‘Pure Piston’, it features a
sandwich-type cone, two layers of
aluminium constraining a fibre and
Dynaudio, Jamo and B&O could wanted to make a speaker respecting ● Quoted sensitivity foamed glue filling. The filling is
all rightly claim to be hi-fi savvy Audiovector’s heritage and renowned 87dB/1W/1m intended to mitigate the high-
(4-8ohm)
household names in the UK, you’re and developed concepts,” he says. frequency break up behaviour of the
probably a little less familiar with “Also a speaker with build quality and DISTRIBUTOR otherwise desirably stiff and pistonic
Audiovector
Audiovector. I’m pretty sure the value for money rarely seen at the aluminium cone. The upshot is that
TELEPHONE
company’s home town of Copenhagen price point; one built in Denmark +45 3539 6060 the mid-bass driver is good for much
wouldn’t be quite such a wonderful with aesthetic and sonic aspects WEBSITE higher frequencies than would be the
place without it, though – not least that appeal to everybody, not just audiovector.com case with a conventional unit and,
for its highly unusual policy of audiophiles”. In the hyper-competitive therefore, makes the handover to
making upgradeable speakers. Yes, quality standmount sector, far more the ribbon a much simpler affair
you can send your base level contentious boasts than that barely requiring no special equalisation in
standmount or tower back to the raise an eyebrow, but unpack the the crossover.
factory for a shot of material fettling QR 1’s tech spec and there’s plenty to Another neat feature is the slot-style
so that when you unpack it for the suggest Audiovector is deadly serious. reflex port near the base of the baffle,
second time, the déjà vu stops when If you’re going to play the ‘attainable so designed to minimise port
the music starts and it sounds a whole high-end’ card, a ribbon tweeter is resonance. The port is internally
lot better than before. now almost de rigueur – especially so damped, too – just enough to
ever since Quad reasoned its £499 eliminate ‘chuffing’ without
The QR 1’s handling baby S-1 standmount (HFC 404) compromising bass response. It
should have one. No half measures certainly permits easy placement,
of complex material here, then. Audiovector hasn’t gone which was a key factor in the
all ribbon-lite for the QR 1 but speaker’s development. When
clearly marks it out effectively lifted the full house Gold Audiovector refers to the QR 1 as a
as something special Leaf Air Motion Tweeter (AMT) from The Gold Leaf Air ‘bookshelf’ design, it really means it.
its flagship R11 Arreté tower, complete Motion Tweeter In fact, a particular bookshelf from
It’s a service that says much about with compression-reducing double also features on a well-known Swedish store is
Audiovector’s
Audiovector’s desire to keep its rear chamber, and installed it into this flagship R11 purchased for the review to ensure
customers happy and a thought that compact, front ‘slot’-ported design. Arreté tower the description isn’t misleading. That
must have crossed the minds of rival
speaker manufacturers on the way to
being filed under ‘too hard’. And if the
company granted the same luxury to
all its speaker lines, it probably would
be. At the more affordable end of its
catalogue, however, what you see
is what you get (forever), so the
focus shifts to more familiar goals:
extracting the best possible
performance for real-world money.
Thanks to the company’s long-
established high-end credentials and
insistence on designing and making
everything in Denmark, it’s well
placed to do just that.
The ambition is realised in the
latest QR range, which replaces
Audiovector’s well-liked entry-level
Ki lineup. So far there are just two
models, a three-driver, two-and-a-half
way QR 3 floorstander and the £750
two-way QR 1 standmount reviewed
here. Audiovector CEO Mads Klifoth

JANUARY 2017 51
 REVIEWS AUDIOVECTOR
QR 1 £750

Q&A IN SIGHT

Mads Klifoth 1 Gold Leaf

CEO, Audiovector AMT ribbon
2 Loudspeaker
binding posts
3 150mm Pure Piston
1 mid/bass driver

2
DV: What would you say
distinguishes your gold leaf AMT
from rival ribbon tweeter designs?
MK: The S-Stop filter has been
designed to take the edge off the
sibilant ‘s’ – and ‘t’ sounds without
losing resolution and detail. We have
designed the gold plated mesh to be 3
active between 2.5 and 5kHz. The
mesh does not really affect the
frequency response, but it means a said, it would be a shame to tuck the palpable presence in the listening
lot sound wise. During our listening QR 1 away. It might be bijou, but the room while Greg Lake’s bass guitar
tests we found that the transition combination of black piano lacquer, a acquires a fresh subtlety and
from midrange to tweeter became soft-sheen silver mid-bass driver and harmonic richness. Indeed, whatever
more coherent, more smooth, and gold ribbon tweeter framed in cool I play benefits from the QR 1’s
the general treble performance tungsten grey is rather lovely. With its resolute presentation, an ability
became smoother and more rounded corners and inert, chunky that conveys the character of the
‘electrostatic’ without impairing build, the enclosure hits the right performance space as well as the
the dynamic capabilities. We found notes, too, and both looks and feels performers – the almost subliminally
this was a ‘win-win’ situation. as if it belongs to a more costly model. sensed reverberations and reflections
that are so vital to nailing that often
Using a ribbon tweeter in a
compact two-way design usually
Sound quality elusive sense of realism.
presents a number of challenges in
Three things become immediately But perhaps best of all is the
the crossover band. How have you apparent. The QR 1 is uncoloured, intoxicating sense of energy and
addressed this with the QR 1? fast and transparent. It can’t be musical conviction the baby
A ribbon usually does not cover the unrelated to the tweeter’s Audiovector whips up. If the purpose
whole treble area. The beauty (or one contribution. Powerful insight and of hi-fi is to pull away the curtain
of them) of the AMT principle is that resolution are expected, but it manages of artifice between recording and
you cover the whole range from HOW IT to avoid the trap of sounding overly listener, this small, smart loudspeaker
2.5kHz to above 40kHz (linear) and COMPARES lean and emphatically explicit. No, tugs a little harder than most.
even further up with useful response this isn’t the warmest or ‘fleshiest’
The QR 1 pretty much
in one driver. In this case a double
demolishes all direct
standmount you’ll ever hear, but it Conclusion
chamber AMT (in order to reduce price rivals and finds does sound tonally accurate and The ‘mini monitors’ of yore always
compression-related distortion). itself giving pricier wonderfully precise. carried an appeal out of all proportion
We use a 12dB/octave Bessel–type models a hard time too. The speaker’s handling of complex to their size. The sophistication and
crossover in order to keep a linear Revel’s excellent £950 material – Pat Metheny’s densely high-end sensibilities of today’s
phase. This AMT has an area eight Concerta2 M16 (HFC layered Imaginary Day – clearly marks contenders arguably generate an even
times that of a typical dome tweeter, 416) is a tremendously
engaging standmount
it out as something special. You can stronger allure. If you want to know
yet its membrane weighs really hear through the mix front to why, an audition date with the QR 1
approximately 70 percent. with bass that would do
justice to a floorstander back, and right down to the noise should provide all the answers ●
and a foot-tapping floor. Effortlessly crisp timing is
vitality that keeps you complemented by remarkable clarity
hooked. It has a bigger
and vivid dynamics. But there’s also
and more authoritative
an overarching sense of control
sound than the QR 1,
and composure. The trumpet of
OUR VERDICT
but its presentation is SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Ribbon tweeter;
somewhat looser and Miles Davis on In A Silent Way has transparency and
painted in broader an almost luminous sonority and speed; build and finish
strokes. Intricate just the right amount of bite, but no VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Lack of
recordings sound more weight to its sound
fascinating on the QR 1.
undue brightness or exaggeration. around
It even gives my £1,250 Stereo is superb, too, with almost BUILD QUALITY
WE SAY: An all but
reference, ribbon- uncanny reproduction of acoustic perfectly executed
equipped ELAC BS 263 cues, whether natural or contrived EASE OF DRIVE
quality standmount
at a realistic price
(HFC 401) a run for in the studio, and finely focused,
its money, only really pin-point imaging.
missing out in bass
Carl Palmer’s drum solo on the OVERALL
extension and midband
warmth – it’s that good. remastered CD of ELP’s Welcome Back
My Friends… live set has a taut and

52 JANUARY 2017
 Since the early years of this century
there is only one Real Hifi shop in the
UK that has always stocked probably
the world’s finest range of loudspeakers
from Denmark…

We have listened to more

We have demonstrated more

We have sold more

We have upgraded more

PJHiFi_new_ad_17_sept_2015.indd
HFC_A4_Ad_blank.indd
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We know more

Audiovector – just listen

We really are the only place to contact first

www.pjhifi.co.uk
 REVIEWS HEGEL
RÖST £2,200

and very sturdy speaker binding posts

Voice box
DETAILS
PRODUCT
accept all connection types.
Hegel Röst Construction is of a very high quality.
ORIGIN The Röst could be considered the
Norway love child of other well-regarded
TYPE Hegel products. Broadly speaking, it
With a look that’s sure to show up any kit Integrated
amplifier/DAC/
has the chassis and power output of
network music the H80 (HFC 391), the DAC and
it’s partnered with, the Röst is set to impress. player headphone stage from the H160 (HFC
WEIGHT 394) and the connectivity and output
Chris Ward finds out if beauty is skin deep 12kg stages of the H360 (HFC 401). This
DIMENSIONS already compelling cocktail is then
(WxHxD)
430 x 100 x 310mm enhanced through the addition of
orweigan audio specialist The gently curved, solid aluminium FEATURES silky new paintwork, a cutting-edge

N Hegel has recently been

naming its products, rather
than giving them the more
fascia is home to a 6.35mm headphone
output and twin rotary controls that
smoothly adjust input and volume.
● Quoted power
output: 2x 75W
(8ohm)
● Inputs: balanced
OLED display and the implementation
of Hegel’s latest iteration of its
patented SoundEngine technology
traditional alpha-numeric model Around the back it accepts analogue XLR analogue; 2x that eschews the traditional use of
numbers. The Röst (voice) is a signals via balanced XLRs or two pairs unbalanced RCA global negative feedback to stabilise
inputs; coaxial;
network-capable integrated amplifier of unbalanced RCA inputs, one of 3x optical; USB-B; the amplifier, instead claiming to
and if you’ve felt hi-fi’s obsession with which is configurable for fixed gain Ethernet; AirPlay use a form of local ‘feed forward’
black or silver boxes is a bit plain, you AV use. Digital inputs are generous ● 6.35mm
technology to achieve superior
headphone socket
could well find its creamy, off-white with three optical, a USB and one results. Put simply, this proprietary
DISTRIBUTOR
casework very refreshing. These clean coaxial input as well as an Ethernet Hegel Music
signal handling technology claims
lines are complimented by a crisp, network connection that enables Systems, Oslo to achieve very low distortion and a
white text OLED display, making for the player to stream music files via TELEPHONE very high damping factor, creating
a very modern, minimalist amplifier. UPnP/DLNA or AirPlay. 00 47 22605660 stronger grip and control of your
The only downside of this fresh Hegel imagines a highly connected WEBSITE speakers than the claimed 75W
styling is your existing components future and envisages the Röst hegel.com alone would suggest.
are unlikely to match aesthetically seamlessly fitting into a smart home The UK price of £2,200 places the
and may well look dated. But this environment, fully controlled by a Röst integrated amp at a slightly
possibly underlines the Hegel phone or tablet. However, a quality lower point than Hegel’s more
philosophy around removing remote is provided that operates all powerful H160 (£2,450). Given the
anything extraneous to musical functions and can even turn off the Röst has less power, but employs
enjoyment. The Röst is crying out display. Connections are completed the latest SoundEngine technologies
to be the only hi-fi component on via a pre-out for the addition of from the flagship H360 integrated,
show in the modern home. power amplification or subwoofer this feels like good value.

54 JANUARY 2017
 HEGEL
RÖST £2,200 REVIEWS

qualities. I also connect my MacBook DAC is implemented very well, able

Pro via The Chord Company USB to deliver excellent subtlety and very
SilverPlus cable (HFC 407) as well natural timing and communication.
as an Ethernet connection to access Via the internal DAC, the track’s
stored music files. opening static is even better resolved
and has a touch more electricity, the
Sound quality voice feels more present, pressing
Playing Broken Promise by Scroobius forward out of the plane of the
Pip on CD via an analogue input speakers and deep bass gains a touch
reveals many virtues. The plaintive more rasp and heft. Spellbinding.
opening notes ring clear and true and Playing a lossless CD file of Agnes
are accurately surrounded by a light Obel’s The Curse via the USB input
haze of recorded static as the deep confirms the onboard DAC is a
reverb of fingers sliding over guitar very refined performer. The Röst
strings describes an inky black and differentiates short, bounced spiccato
notably deep soundscape. By contrast, notes on violin and cello from the
Pip’s voice enters centre stage front slightly different timbre of both
with a presence and grittiness that instruments being played pizzicato.
creates superb three-dimensionality Bowed cello and violin notes have
and a dynamic realism that is highly
compelling. A deep, throbbing The Röst can be
bassline drops into the mix and 75W
of amplification have rarely sounded considered a
so authoritative. Hegel’s house sound
has always had a cleanliness that can
veritable hub of
sound like a strong control over bass digital connectivity
– all the depth but tauter, and a shade
drier than competitors. Here, it is a superb depth, texture and purity.
little more luscious and fulsome than Hegel claims that SoundEngine
I expect. To put this in context, the avoids the traditional use of negative
Röst shares the same power output feedback, yet achieves a far more
of the entry-level H80 integrated but stable amplifier that also cancels
Digital signal processing maxes out With its off-white balances this against a relatively high crossover distortion, especially
at 24-bit/192kHz via coaxial, optical chassis, the Röst damping factor of over 2,000 that around higher frequencies. In
exudes Scandi
and network connections with the design chic
places its speaker-driving muscle practice, the sound has a notable
USB input able to handle 24-bit/96kHz between the H160 and H360 cleanliness that allows tiny micro-
files. DSD fans may be disappointed, integrated amplifiers. Numbers can’t dynamic details to shine through.
but this specification covers the vast tell the whole story, but the outcome This serves to create a very wide and
majority of listening habits. is an excellent sonic balance of a firm deep, spacious soundscape where
I connect up reference Cadence Arca grip with some succulent juiciness the perceived air around acoustic
speakers to the amp’s beefy speaker around the lowest registers. This epic performers in particular feels highly
connections with Black Rhodium track builds and builds. Poetic vocals realistic. Obel’s vocals have real
Foxtrot speaker cable (HFC 412) and become fiercer, deep bass becomes richness and presence, with masses
use my reference Shanling CD-T100 more menacing and guitar riffs more of reverberant information placing
player to provide an analogue signal insistent. This talented amplifier her in a large acoustic recording
via Artisan Ultimate Silver Dream resolves all this intensity and takes space. Timing and rhythmic qualities
interconnects (HFC 390) and a digital the increasing drama in its stride feel very natural and music just
coaxial feed via Missing Link Dark Art to deliver accuracy and emotional flows as it should. The amp is very
75ohm cable to compare and contrast dynamics in equal measure. transparent, but never forensic. You
the Röst’s amplification and DAC Replaying the same track via a digital get masses of insight and musical
coaxial connection shows the onboard detail, but it’s all delivered without
CONNECTIONS

2 1 Variable line
1 output
2 Ethernet network
connection
3 USB Type-B
digital input
4 Coaxial and optical
digital inputs
5 Balanced XLR
inputs
6 Unbalanced
line inputs

6 5 4 3

JANUARY 2017 55
 REVIEWS HEGEL
RÖST £2,200

Q&A IN SIGHT

Anders Ertzeid 1 2 1 Network circuitry

VP sales & marketing,
Hegel Music Systems 2 Power supply
capacitor bank
3 SoundEngine feed
forward circuits
4 Custom built, ultra-
silent toroidal
transformer

CW: Who do you see as the

customer for the Röst?
AE: We see two main types of
customers. Firstly, people with an 3
above average interest in music and 4
sound quality, who want a high
degree of connectivity and a
contemporary look that will fit in
a modern living room, but aren’t
convinced that even high-quality
Bluetooth speakers can meet this
brief. Secondly, people using custom unnecessarily drawing attention to box. The amp punches well above
integrators to automate their homes. itself. The piano joins the ensemble its modest power output and is
The Röst presents opportunities and feels like a full-scale instrument. comfortable driving tricky speaker
for control and integration that no Hi-fi often struggles to give credible loads. The Röst has a generous array
other high-quality, two-channel amp piano performances, but here the of inputs and can be considered a
on the planet has. It should be the timbre and scale of the keyboard is veritable hub of digital connectivity,
obvious choice. reproduced very well. Melodies from with the possible exception that the
the piano, vocals and strings blend absence of DSD processing could
How does the Röst take this kind of and counterpoint each other in a very be considered an omission by those
seamless, smart control forward?
balanced and even-handed way. A seeking greater future-proofing. That
The Röst is an IP-controllable unit with
beguiling and subtle performance, said, Hegel is masterly at integrating
a fairly large memory. It is the first of
it’s kind to have Control4 (a leading
stunningly portrayed. DACs within integrated amplifiers,
home automation manufacturer) The network connection is simplicity seeming to have a real talent for
software built in. And one can write itself, with the Röst easily discoverable making even the most modest music
two-way drivers to use it with any as an output device once connected to files sound very refined. Music lovers
kind of device, or even, via a server, my network via the Ethernet input. with a flair for understated interior
devices like Amazon Echo. HOW IT I experiment with AirPlay, signified design and a desire to control
COMPARES by the word appearing ticked on everything from a single smart device
Is high damping factor an important the display. Care is needed after now have a product that ticks all their
Exposure’s 3010S2D
part of Hegel’s philosophy?
(HFC 397) is a strong
connection as volume control can boxes. It’s easy to see how many
In our view, a high damping factor all-round integrated at now be shared between the amplifier prospective customers will delight in
simply means you have a stable £2,060, including the and your playback software of choice, plumbing the Röst with a network
amplifier. Without a stable amplifier optional DAC module. so just check levels before you press connection and a couple of other
you lose bass control. Hegel knows It achieves a great play. Selecting a 16/44.1 file of Dice discrete sources to create a modern
how to achieve bass control without balance between by Finley Quaye from a connected hi-fi setup that looks very elegant and
also getting distortion issues into the connectivity, power
and musicality. The
NAS drive reveals the Röst is adept at understated but sounds extremely
bargain. Our SoundEngine technology making modest files sound very good. accomplished. The Röst looks and
Exposure has slightly
delivers a high damping factor, without The opening, high frequencies feel sounds great and is a joy to use ●
more power but the
high distortion and ensures the very Hegel has a cleaner, sweet and well extended as they
dynamic and rhythmic Hegel sound. more dynamic delivery. dance across the wide soundstage.
The Röst also takes
What led to the naming of this
Solid bass notes reach seismic depths
smart control to brand
but have loads of fine detail, control
amp and the new white finish? new heights. The Cyrus
and agility. Quaye’s voice has a
OUR VERDICT
Röst means voice, and this Röst is the Lyric 09 (HFC 384) in its SOUND QUALITY LIKE: Clean delivery;
voice of modern Hegel. It is also an optional ‘stone’ colour rounded warmth, yet plenty of fine bass control;
island at the Westernmost part of the is possibly the closest filigree detail and the plectrum connectivity;
competitor in terms of aesthetics
Lofoten archipelago. In actual fact, strokes on guitar have a crisp, incisive VALUE FOR MONEY
balancing an elegant DISLIKE: Can make
all Hegel products start with baby design with high-fidelity
snap without ever sounding brittle or partnering electronics
names during R&D. Most of them sound credentials. Both sharp. This track builds with many BUILD QUALITY look a bit dated
have been characters from Winnie amps have a very fresh lush and complex layers and rhythms, WE SAY: Advanced
the Pooh! Re the colour: we wanted it appearance that may but the Röst is never wrong footed. FEATURES
amplifier and digital
hub that deserves
to stand out, and white goes very well win over customers to be shown off
with wood furniture and the décor of that want style and Conclusion
many modern homes. The colour substance. As always,
Hegel has brought together many fine OVERALL
use your eyes and ears
also signifies the purity of qualities from across its product range
at a quality dealer.
Scandinavian style. in one slim, modern, eye-catching

56 JANUARY 2017
 REVIEWS PRO-JECT
PRIMARY PHONO USB £239

analogue line-level’s gold-plated RCA

Primary
DETAILS
phono sockets. There’s no phono
PRODUCT
Pro-Ject Primary stage bypass, so you can’t add an
Phono USB external phono stage of your choice,
ORIGIN but the lower-cost Primary version

source
Austria comes without the phono and USB
TYPE stages and can be connected to an
Belt-drive turntable add-on moving-magnet phono stage
with MM phono
stage & ADC or dedicated phono input stage built
WEIGHT into an integrated amplifier.
4kg To set up the turntable, I place the
A plug ’n’ play starter record spinner that’s DIMENSIONS
(WxHxD)
deck on a level surface and fit the
drive belt over the smaller diameter
designed for those looking to digitise their 420 x 112 x 330mm
FEATURES
motor pulley and around the
perimeter of the platter. Changing the
vinyl. Neville Roberts takes it for a spin ● 33 and 45rpm
● 8.6in aluminium turntable speed to 45rpm involves
tonearm
● Ortofon OM5E MM
simply slipping the belt down onto
cartridge the larger diameter pulley. Next, I fit
ot every music fan wants adjustment. The platter is spun ● MM Built-in phono the felt mat over the spindle of the

N to spend their precious

time setting up a turntable,
and enthusiasts will know
with the same perimeter belt-drive
type found on the Elemental, and
it is driven by a low-vibration
stage with RCA
analogue and USB
digital output
DISTRIBUTOR
platter and then remove the transport
lock clip from the tonearm tube. The
counterweight supplied is suitable for
all about the effort that’s involved in synchronous motor that is controlled Henley Designs Ltd cartridges weighing between 3.5g and
getting a deck sounding its best. The by a built-in regulator designed to TELEPHONE 5.5g. It is already pre-fitted to the arm
market is bursting with turntables, provide good speed stability. 01235 511166 stub so the tracking force is pre-set at
but Pro-Ject has also been looking at The acoustically neutral MDF plinth WEBSITE the factory. I check it anyway and
henleydesigns.
the entry-level and its new Primary is borrowed from the Essential II and co.uk
discover that it is 1.85g, which is
decks are aimed at the user that just is finished in matte black, red or nicely within the 1.5g to 2g
wants to plug in and play, offering white. The finish is a bit utilitarian, recommended range for the supplied
great quality at an affordable price. being a laminate with an edging strip, Ortofon cartridge. Finally, I connect
The basic Primary (£189) and the but is perfectly acceptable at the price the RCA phono sockets to a spare
Primary Phono USB – on test here – – savings have to be made somewhere line input on my amplifier using the
combine elements from two of the and rather here than on the tonearm, supplied interconnect cables – job
Austrian brand’s existing entry-level cartridge or electronics. The deck also done. Setting up a record deck
designs in the form of its Elemental shares the Essential II’s MDF platter doesn’t get any easier than this.
and Essential II turntables. It borrows and comes supplied with a felt mat. Connecting it to a PC for vinyl-
the same 8.6in aluminium tonearm A detachable dust cover is included, ripping is done using the supplied
from the Elemental, uses sapphire along with a 45rpm spindle adapter, cable from the USB-B output at the
bearings and comes pre-fitted with cartridge protractor and Allen key for back of the deck to a spare USB-A
Ortofon’s OM5E cartridge. This replacing the cartridge at a later date. socket on my Windows computer,
means there is no need to set the A phono stage is built in and outputs which automatically detects the
tracking force or anti-skate either digitally via the USB port or the Primary and is seen by the computer

58 JANUARY 2017
 PRO-JECT
PRIMARY PHONO USB £239 REVIEWS

as ‘Microphone USB audio codec’. For a change of style, I opt to stick record sleeve, the benefit of the wider
With free-to-use recording software with Vivaldi, but this time, it’s a tracks is claimed to result in a
downloaded and installed on my recording of The Four Seasons – In superior signal-to-noise ratio with the
machine, I am easily able to save HOW IT Jazz as performed by the Raymond absence of print-through. Whatever
16-bit/48kHz digital copies of my COMPARES Fol Big Band. This jazzed-up version the reality is, it is certainly a fine
LPs without any problems. At £189, the basic
of the classic positively sparkles in recording and Tony’s version of So
Primary comes in at my listening room and the allegros Nice (Summer Samba) is tuneful, light
Sound quality around half the cost of are reproduced with impressive and airy. The interplay between the
First to spin is a superb Decca Rega’s Planar 2 (HFC excitement and energy. When things guitar and the wind instruments is
recording of Khachaturian’s 413), yet it sounds very cool off during the largos and perfectly balanced. The flute solo is
similar. Even with the
Spartacus with the composer adagios, the music remains bright and happy and the tonal detail
addition of the phono
conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and digital stages, the captivating, intimate and smooth. of each instrument, especially with
Orchestra. The performance is big Primary Phono USB still For some vocals, I turn to a rather the percussion, is absolutely spot on.
and full with the drums providing costs around £135 less. quirky recording from The King’s
plenty of clout. The frenzied activity When it comes to ease Singers entitled It’s A Great Little Conclusion
of the orchestra in the second of setting up, it pips the World. What strikes me most about This low-cost turntable has certainly
Rega to the post,
movement gives a real sense of although the Primary
this recording is the clear vocal not cut corners when it comes to
chariots racing around in my doesn’t have the classy individuality from each singer, and sound quality. It lives up to its claim
listening room. The strings are very finish of the Planar 2. this shines through beautifully with of requiring virtually no setting up
clear without being harsh and the The Primary’s the Primary Phono USB. and is about as plug-and-play as
brass section is commanding, but tonearm is a little basic Some techno music is provided by you’ll find with any piece of audio
certainly not at all shrill. This is a compared with the Laurent Garnier’s frenetic Tales Of A equipment. The basic tonearm
Planar 2’s RB220, and it
really great start and I am really too has no means of
Kleptomaniac. The driving bass line performs very well indeed partnered
amazed what the low-cost Ortofon VTA adjustment. When with the excellent Ortofon cartridge.
cartridge manages to root out of the it comes to changing The Primary’s This – coupled with the built-in phono
groove. After this, I just have to flip speed, you simply move stage and digital output – makes the
over to side two and play The Sabre the perimeter drive belt performance is Primary Phono USB compatible with
up or down the pulley of
Dance from Gayaneh. The excitement almost all modern audio setups and,
kicks in right from the outset.
the Pro-Ject and there’s bright and clear given the low cost, there’s no reason
no need to remove the
The pounding of the bass drums platter as you do with with great detail for anyone not to be able to enjoy the
throughout this racy piece is clear the Rega. world of vinyl for themselves ●
and full. The pace and timing are on side-B’s Back To My Roots is
also excellent – impressive stuff. punchy and tight. However, it is not
Calming things down, I turn to quite as extended and powerful as
some baroque music in the form of a I am used to, but the turntable and
classic recording of Vivaldi’s Concerto cartridge manage a very respectable
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: No setup
For Oboe in A minor played by rendition nonetheless. required; easy speed
Concerto Amsterdam. This provides Needing to cool down a bit after change; excellent
sound; features; price
a great test for solo instruments and the Laurent Garnier, I replace the VALUE FOR MONEY
DISLIKE: Plinth finish
the performance is bright, clear techno LP with a rather nice sixties
WE SAY: A superb-
and exciting, with great detail. The recording of Tony Mottola and his BUILD QUALITY
value deck that delivers
oboe in the first movement is well accompanists playing some classic impressive sound
positioned in front of the orchestra Latin music on the guitar. FEATURES
quality at the price
as it should be with this recording. Interestingly, this LP was cut from
However, that’s not to say that the the master that was recorded on
string continuo loses any clarity or 35mm magnetic film. Costing some OVERALL
presence in the background. 15 times more than studio-quality
analogue tape, according to the
CONNECTIONS

1 1 8.6in aluminium
tonearm
2 Speed selection
2 motor pulley
3 RCA phono output
4 Earthing post
5 USB Type-B output

5 4 3

JANUARY 2017 59
 REVIEWS BANG & OLUFSEN
BEOSOUND 35 £1,745

The all-aluminium casework hasn’t

Raising
DETAILS
PRODUCT just been chosen for the way it looks
Bang & Olufsen and feels, but also for its acoustic
BeoSound 35 stability and heat dissipation
ORIGIN properties. And the distinctive

the bar
Denmark
pentagonal cross section of the ‘bar’
TYPE
Wireless music
has been designed to accommodate
system high or low listening positions,
WEIGHT depending on whether you decide
6.2kg to mount it on the wall with the
DIMENSIONS adjustable bracket that isn’t supplied
It might look like a classy soundbar, but (WxHxD)
1,000 x 131 x 125mm
with my review sample or attach the
table stand (that is) and place it on
B&O’s latest network music system is aiming FEATURES
● 2x 19mm tweeter a sturdy flat surface.
● 2x 100mm The compact and centrally sited
a lot higher, as David Vivian discovers mid/bass driver
● Wi-fi; AirPlay;
OLED display sits flush with the
Bluetooth 4.0 removable cloth grille that stretches
here isn’t much you’d bet In other words, this is B&O’s take on a ● Inputs: Ethernet; over the 1m span of the unit and

T the house on in the

fast-evolving world of
audio, but one thing is
full-fat, all-in-one, internet connected,
wireless music system. As for the
soundbar-aping design, read ‘a slimline
optical; RCA
DISTRIBUTOR
Bang & Olufsen
TELEPHONE
normally hides the four drivers from

It presents music in a
immutable and eternal. Bang & shape based on a pentagonal structure 01225 445211
Olufsen knows what its customers that is 1m wide, can be table or wall WEBSITE
positive and involving
value above all else: a very particular mounted and disperses 180° sound
interpretation of style and good taste. around the room’.
bang-olufsen.com
way with surprising
It’s unmistakably Danish. Uncluttered, Well connected? Apple AirPlay joins dynamic freedom
minimal, often achingly cool, Bluetooth 4.0 and DLNA is also
sometimes daringly radical. And it’s included for streaming from a network view with the 19mm tweeters located
a commodity for which the price device. Format compatibility embraces at the elegantly tapered ends of the
premium is gladly paid. The pill is MP3, WMA, AAC, ALAC, FLAC and ‘bar’ and angled outwards by 30° to
sweetened by immaculate build WAV up to a hi-res ceiling of broaden the listening sweet spot.
quality, typically slick operation 24-bit/192kHz. Web integrated They’re joined by two 100mm
and a reputation for longevity. services good to go comprise Spotify mid-bass drivers, each mounted a few
Given all of which, it would be Connect, Deezer and TuneIn radio. In centimetres inboard of the tweeters.
churlish to get hung up over the price addition to the dual-band spec wi-fi, Each pair of drivers is driven by 2x
tag attached to the BeoSound 35 or, there’s an Ethernet socket, an RCA 80W Class D amplifiers, and 190W a
worse, to confuse it with a common input for hooking up an additional side should be plenty for most rooms.
or garden AV soundbar, despite source and an optical digital input that The unit’s hands-on touch-sensitive
proportions that clearly conform to feeds its on-board DAC. Soundbar controls are found just beneath the
the design norm and a broad remit duties are feasible if that’s what you display and can be used to adjust
that doesn’t exclude enhancing the want. Beyond that, multi-room volume and select inputs, functions
TV experience. Perhaps it’s better to streaming is enabled via the BeoMusic otherwise handled by the BeoRemote
think more along the lines of the Naim app, which talks to the BeoLink hub One (not included) or the BeoMusic
Mu-so (HFC 391), B&W Zeppelin and allowing a number of similarly enabled app, available on iOS and Android.
Geneva AeroSphére Large (HFC 407). B&O products to be strung together. The app also configures the BeoSound

60 JANUARY 2017
 BANG & OLUFSEN
BEOSOUND £1,745 REVIEWS

strongest impression to begin with. dimensionality to the sound as well.

35 for placement. There are three As the BeoSound 35 is effectively a This really cuts the mustard with Catch
options: free-standing, on-wall or ‘soundbar’ rather than two speakers, The Blues from Eric Clapton’s latest
in-corner. If it’s to be ‘free-standing’, a degree of soundstage specificity is studio album, I Still Do. The voices
B&O reckons that means no closer sacrificed in order to contrive an in the female backing group are
than 15cm to a wall or corner. expansive stereo image, but on the believably set back in the mix yet
whole presentation is well structured have an almost luminous, close-miked
Sound quality and rhythmically surefooted. presence, which helps give the track
After a little experimentation Bass frequencies, while hardly its affecting warmth and intimacy.
streaming music via AirPlay and thunderous, pack a surprising wallop As a single-piece wireless speaker,
Bluetooth, free space turns out to be and with enough tunefulness, texture it’s hard to lay a finger on the B&O’s
the best advice as the BeoSound 35 and articulation to make something of sound quality. Whatever hi-fi minutiae
sounds bigger and more powerful jazz bass hero Marcus Miller’s greatest it glosses over, and it isn’t much, it
than it looks. But to tee up its best solo album, 1993’s The Sun Don’t Lie nearly always presents music in a
game, my FiiO X3 hi-res player (HFC – be it the fearsomely fast plucked runs positive and involving way and, given
382) feeds the line-in and a Cyrus that furnish the intro to Panther or the its svelte proportions, with surprising
CD Xt Signature CD transport (HFC stunning slap playing on Rampage. volume and dynamic freedom.
386) the on-board DAC via a short More than that, the system sounds
run of optical interconnect. engaging and likeable across the Conclusion
The step up in quality is easy to hear genres, which is always a good sign There are other multi-function
in terms of clarity and resolution, but and an incentive to play more music. It soundbars that will do a similar job,
it’s the room-filling scale, spaciousness does a nice job with classical, handling with varying degrees of success, for
and consistency of the sound across a the Prelude from Grieg’s Holberg Suite less money. And for the price of
broad listening area that makes the with generosity and finesse and a the BeoSound 35 you could buy a
natural tonality. There’s a pleasing separates system that will comfortably
CONNECTIONS deliver superior sonics. When it comes
to delivering an artful compromise
1 Ethernet network
that looks simply gorgeous, though,
connection B&O has form (and function) ●
2 Optical input
1 2
3 3 RCA line-level
inputs
OUR VERDICT
SOUND QUALITY LIKE: High style and
quality; big spacious
sound; it goes loud
VALUE FOR MONEY DISLIKE: Controls can
be a bit fiddly
BUILD QUALITY WE SAY: Think
carefully about the
alternatives, but this is
FEATURES
one elegant solution

OVERALL

JANUARY 2017 61
 INSIDER FEATURE PSB AUDIO

Hooked on a feeling
Jake Day-Williams heads to Canada to discover how PSB is
revolutionising the way that we listen to headphones with RoomFeel
short 20-minute drive outside of pick me out of the orchestra because of its As he grew older, Paul would split his time

A Ottawa is the National Research

Council (or NRC), which is home
to the government’s premier
distinctive orange colour” he tells me, and
he appeared to be set to have a long and
successful career as a concert violinist.
between building his own speakers and
playing in orchestras across the country and
thought nothing of throwing his violin into
research and technology facilities, which However, a passion for producing sound in the back of his 1963 Chevy Impala and
includes everything from laboratories to a different way meant that his destiny would driving three or four hours across the
wind tunnels. In a small, modest nondescript take another path. At the age of 11, he went country with friends to play with different
building that houses a two-storey electron orchestras at the weekend.
microscope that’s being used to research the “Every room is different, Meanwhile, his fascination with
properties of silica for producing increasingly reproducing sound electronically grew
powerful and ever smaller semiconductors, meaning that every and he quickly found a way to start making
sits the anechoic chamber that Paul Barton money from his natural flair for loudspeaker
uses for fine tuning PSB’s loudspeakers.
speaker has a different construction by selling his own hand-made
The son of a celebrated tenor, Paul was series of characteristics” models to students at the local university
always destined to be involved in music one that were tempted by the offer of affordable
way or another. At the age of six he took up into the same workshop where his father speakers for their hi-fi.
the violin and quickly displayed a knack for had built him his violin and constructed a When he himself became a student at
the instrument, winning competitions with small radio. Suddenly, he was hooked. From university studying acoustics, instead of
youth orchestras and travelling the country there he became fascinated in trying to find getting a placement at a manufacturer like
to play in concert halls. Paul’s father hand ways to improve its sound, constantly taking his piers, Paul decided to employ himself
built him a Stradivarius Messiah, which he it apart and tweaking its design in order to and fine tune and refine his own hand-made
still plays to this day – “You could always get a better performance from it. models. “As a symphony musician, I came to

62 JANUARY 2017
 PSB AUDIO INSIDER FEATURE

Canadian company that is pretty big across THE FUTURE OF SPEAKER DESIGN
the pond and is starting to shake things up
over here, too.
But it’s not loudspeakers that I’m here to
see today, it’s headphones – or more
specifically the work that Paul has been
doing to bring the headphone listening
experience more inline with that which you
get when hearing your music at home on
your hi-fi through your loudspeakers.
As Paul explains: “Headphones should
sound like a pair of flat-measuring, full-
range speakers properly setup in a good
room,” and it’s for this very reason that he
The test equipment has developed RoomFeel technology.
that Paul uses to tune To put the new development into context,
speakers in the chamber
if you take a radiating speaker that measures
flat in an anechoic chamber and place it into
the realisation in 1971 that live music and a regular room, the sound it produces will,
recorded music, for the most part did not of course, be significantly warmer. This is
accurately resemble each other,” he explains,
and so the following year PSB was born. “The multi-driver nature
Three years later, PSB became the first
company to use the NRC for loudspeaker of the M4U 4 earphone
development, and while others followed in
his footsteps, Paul’s company remains the
allows me to tune it
only one still to utilise the facilities for much more accurately” Paul Barton on how he sees the shape of sound
psychoacoustic research. reproduction progressing...
because as the frequency gets lower, the “One of the failing signs of any sound reproduction
Silence is golden speaker can radiate more omnidirectionally system is its ability to produce the dynamic range
that exists in nature and that we as human beings
“Looking around, you can see some of the and so the low-frequency content in the can appreciate. We can hear much better dynamic
history of this place. They did a lot of active room becomes stronger. In the case of range than any audio device on the market, so those
noise cancellation design here over the headphones, there is no room response to are the challenges – wider dynamic range and
better dispersion over a wider bandwidth. We can
years. Not for consumer headphones, take on this role and so designers typically currently get down to 20Hz and lower, but it’s
though, this was for the military, helicopters aim to produce a completely flat response getting up to the higher frequencies that’s difficult.
and that sort of thing where noise cancelling or add a big bass bump. My benchmark right now is 40kHz, going any
higher might be overkill – the cost to do that
is absolutely necessary in order to function. But what if the headphone’s response is compared with the benefit you would receive would
Sadly, the research became one of the tuned so that it matches that of a typical be very far down the point of diminishing returns.
casualties of government cut backs. But I low-frequency boost heard in a room? But with the move towards hi-res and MQA, this is
something I see becoming increasingly important.”
wrote a letter to the president of NRC and By using the anechoic chamber, Paul has
urged him – actually I begged him – to successfully managed to develop a response
consider maintaining this facility for PSB and curve for his headphones that takes into RoomFeel technology currently appears on
it’s kind of my place now,” Paul explains. consideration the low-frequency room headphones produced by both PSB and NAD
Now sat in the small office that’s located gain (among other characteristics) of a and is claimed to result in a richer, more
outside of the custom-built anechoic loudspeaker’s sound in a room, and it’s natural listening experience. By combining
chamber that he uses to tune loudspeakers, this piece of wizardry that’s been given the measurements of full-range loudspeakers
I’m here to find out a bit more about this RoomFeel moniker. in the anechoic chamber with extensive
research carried out on the effects of
listening rooms and interaction of the
human ear, the process has been fine tuned
over a number of years to the latest iteration,
which is included in PSB’s M4U 4 (Music for
You) in-ear headphones.
As Paul explains: “The multi-driver nature
of the M4U 4 allows me to tune it much
more accurately. There are two filters in
there and two bass chambers. That’s what
gets that curve to be just the way it is and
then the high frequency. I have filters in both
the sound tube – which is the main tube
where the dynamic driver comes out – and
the smaller tube, which comes out of the
balanced armature of those tubes. The large
sound tube opening changes the frequency
at around 2kHz up and down and then the
small filter – which is passive – changes it
The larger sound tube opening at 4-5kHz up and down. So now I can create
changes the frequency at the shape of that bump almost perfectly and
around 2kHz up and down
I can change it any way I want”.

JANUARY 2017 63
 INSIDER FEATURE PSB AUDIO

THE ANECHOIC CHAMBER

“The chamber I use was rebuilt in 1995 by the guys
at NRC. They wrapped all the triangular fibre glass
shapes with cheesecloth, every one. I’m sure they
were itchy by the end of the day. The structure
itself is on springs so that the chamber is actually
floating, which isolates it from the outside. We’re
quite a way off the beaten track here, quite a way
from the road, and the Ottawa river is just down
here. This building is built on bedrock. There is no
earth in between, so if a truck is driving on the
highway out there, it’s very difficult for that energy
to travel into the building. It’s for this very reason
that there’s an electron microscope next door. It’s
like two storeys high and it’s got all these
compressors coming on all the time and it takes a
very long time to set it up to use it, so they have to
maintain that condition all the time. So it works
pretty well for both of us.”

The latest version of

RoomFeel appears in PSB’s
M4U 4 in-ear headphones

When it comes to noise cancelling, Further tests revealed that the vibrations
RoomFeel is employed in a different way, didn’t necessarily have to correlate with
which was largely shaped by a briefing in the music for the subjects to enjoy the effect,
Paris about sound reproduction that Paul it just needed to be present.
attended. The experiment recorded the
affects of an organ on benches in a church Feel the difference
using an accelerometer so that the amount As Paul explains it: “You don’t correlate the
of vibration caused by the music could be two, you just know that there’s energy. So I
measured. From this the researchers were figured; when you’re on a plane and there’s
able to calculate the threshold of the all kinds of noise around you, you don’t need
perceived movement of the bench – where the bass to be boosted quite so much to still
people could start to feel it and where they like it. So when noise cancelling is turned on,
couldn’t. They then asked the subjects to put I don’t have as much RoomFeel. I decided to
headphones on and used an exciter to make put a 4dB boost – like a little bump – at 30Hz
the bench move within this threshold. when you put it into amplified mode and I
Although the listeners weren’t aware that think it actually improves the sensation when PSB IMAGINE SERIES
the seat was moving, the scores that they you feel and hear the volume – it kind of
The Imagine series was designed and developed
gave for the sound performance noticeably compensates a bit”. by Paul Barton at the NRC. The acoustic design
improved when it was subtly vibrated. includes woofers with a clay/ceramic compounded
“Headphones should polypropylene cone and rubber surround, along
with dual magnet motor systems. The range utilises
a 1in titanium dome tweeter with Ferrofluid cooling
sound like a pair of flat- and neodymium motors in reflex port-loaded
enclosures. Unlike other small two-way systems,
measuring, full-range the woofer crosses to the tweeter at between
1.8kHz and 2.2kHz, allowing the drivers to be placed
speakers in a good room” closer together than usual, minimising interference
between them. The very low cross frequency in
relation to the woofer size is claimed to ensure that
As our time in the anechoic chamber comes listeners are able to hear the same sound no matter
to an end, talk turns to what the future holds where they are positioned in the listening area. The
for RoomFeel and how it can be utilised range is distributed in the UK by Sevenoaks Sound
& Vision: sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk
further down the line, and it’s clear that
Paul has plenty more ideas for how this
innovative technology will evolve. “Every
room is different, meaning that every
loudspeaker has a different series of
characteristics. And every recording is
variable as well. In a commercial sense, I
would love to be able to apply RoomFeel to
everything, but the perfect RoomFeel would
only be achievable if I can do processing
with equalisation or DSP. This is something
I’m keen to explore further”. So does this
mean that one day you’ll be able to put on
your headphones and switch to a DSP
setting that allows you to hear your music
This model allows Paul to simulate as you would in, say, Abbey Road, Muscle
the human ear and take precise Shoals or Sun Studios? Right now, it’s too
measurements inside the ear canal
early to say, but only time will tell… ●

64 JANUARY 2017
 REVOLUTION
MP 2000 R MKII

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Email: [email protected]
Web: www.kogaudio.com
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THIS MONTH

ED SELLEY NEVILLE ROBERTS JASON KENNEDY DAVID PRICE CHRIS WARD

EXPERTISE: REVIEWER EXPERTISE: ENGINEER EXPERTISE: REVIEWER EXPERTISE: REVIEWER EXPERTISE: REVIEWER
Active in the industry since Neville has an eclectic taste Editor of HFC from 1998 to DP two-finger typed his first Like his first kiss, Chris will
1999, Ed’s first record was for classical baroque and jazz. 2001, Jason’s first turntable hi-fi review 25 years ago. never forget the sound of his
Boss Drum by The Shamen. His wife was forced to marry was Rega’s Planar 3 and Elvis’ Since then he’s edited Hi-Fi first amp – an Aura Evolution
He splits his time between his transmission line speakers 40 Greatest Hits was his first World and HFC. He describes VA-100. War Of The Worlds
reviewing and protecting hi-fi in the eighties and he collects vinyl, so don’t go stepping on himself as an “unreconstructed and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours
kit from toddler son Will. BBC test card music . his blue suede shoes. analogue addict”. were his first records.

Email us at: [email protected] or write to: Hi-Fi Choice More ways to get in touch:
Letters, AVTech Media Ltd, Suite 25, Eden House, Enterprise Way, You can also send your questions to us via social media:
Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF Your letters may be edited before twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag
publication and we cannot enter into personal correspondence facebook.com/hifichoice.co.uk

Time for change sonic improvement. Would this CW: For CD players, the Cambridge
Robert Wilson’s letter in issue be a worthwhile investment? Topaz CD10 or Marantz CD6005 (HFC
409 reminded me of many happy Could you also recommend a 381) are great value. For speakers I’d
days when I started listening to CD player and loudspeakers? suggest ELAC’s Debut B6 (HFC 407).
music. Firstly, it was through my Philip Greenway, by email
parents’ valve radiogram via the I need a new amp
radio and K-tel records usually DP: Good though your Marantz
bought at Christmas. I deeply receiver is, it’s not a patch on today’s and can you suggest
regret dumping the radiogram affordable products, so you’ll get a real
in a skip in the eighties! improvement if you upgrade. All three
loudspeakers and a
Now my sources are still radio amps you mention are very capable, CD player as well?
and also CD, and for the past with my preference being the Rega
25 years I have been using a Brio-R (HFC 352) as it’s the most Where next?
Marantz SR1010 receiver. I musical sounding. The matching Rega My system consists of an AH!
would like to upgrade to either Apollo-R CD player (HFC 383) is an Njoe Tjoeb CD player (with all
the Onkyo T-4030 or Tibo TI440 ideal partner, but there are many the upgrades), connected to a
powered by Arcam’s A19, Rega capable silver disc spinners with Conrad-Johnson PV14 preamp
Brio-R or Cambridge CXA60, but Audiolab’s 8300CD (HFC 404) being a feeding into a pair of Naim
only if it will be a substantial great do-it-all CD player and DAC if 155 XS, which in turn bi-amplify
you’ve got the money. My choice of Monitor Audio GR60 speakers.
WE ASKED... budget floorstander speaker would be All the electronics are properly
David suggests
Q Acoustics’ 3050 (£495, HFC 398), Rega’s Brio-R as
isolated, connected via van den
Which audio format which has a big, immersive sound that a perfect fit for Hul cables and energised from a
would you like to see flatters the modestly powered Brio-R. Philip’s system PS Audio Power Plant Premier. I
make a comeback?

• Compact Cassette • MiniDisc

• Reel-to-reel tape

41%
31%

28%

Results from twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag

Go online for more polling action

JANUARY 2017 69
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 JITTE RBUG USB Filter

If it’s bass that

Jon is after,
Chris reckons
Eminent
Technology’s
LFT-8b will
fit the bill

Can a £39 insect make all

your CD files sound better than
Hi-Res?
Yes and no: Using the same
equipment and a quality DAC, a 24/96
file (for example) will always sound
better than a CD 16/44.1 file … but,
even a single JitterBug will often
allow a CD file to be more musical and
more emotionally stimulating than
a Hi-Res file without the benefit of a
JitterBug.
Noise is the problem. Real noise—
the kind you can’t hear directly. Most
often, the word “noise” is used to
describe tape hiss or a scratch on a
record, but these sounds aren’t noise;
they are properly reproduced sounds
that we wish weren’t there.
Problem noise is essentially random,
resonant or parasitic energy, which
has no meaning. It can’t be turned
into discrete sounds, but it does
compromise signal integrity and the
performance of everything it touches.
JitterBug’s dual-function line-
conditioning circuitry greatly reduces
the noise and ringing that plague both
feel I have reached the limit of and it may take some time and a good the data and power lines of USB ports,
what I can accomplish with my bit of auditioning to get to a settled whether on a computer, streamer,
existing electronics and I’m view. The Naim amps are great – if you home stereo or car audio front-panel
USB input.
looking to upgrade. like that sound – but what I’m about to
The obvious choice would be suggest would require you to sell them A single JitterBug is used in between
the power amplifiers to a model and invest the money in a pair of active devices (i.e., in series) as shown
below. For an additional “wow”
further up the Naim range and speakers. My advice is to go for ATC’s experience, try a second JitterBug
while that might improve the SCM40A (£6,300) – expensive yes, into another USB port on the same
existing setup, it may just paint but a good deal of that could be device (such as a computer). Whether
me into a corner when it comes recouped by the sale of your current the second port is vacant, or is
to upgrading my speakers. power amps and speakers. These feeding a printer or charging a phone,
If I change the speakers I need would give you more of everything – JitterBug’s noise-reduction ability is
something approximately the they’re powerful and punchy, very likely to surprise you. No, the printer
musical and absolutely command the won’t be affected—only the audio!
I’ve reached the listening room. Give them an audition While a JitterBug helps MP3s sound a
and see what you think. lot more like music, high-sample-rate
limit of my hi-fi, what files have the most noise vulnerability.
JK: Speakers would probably be the Try a JitterBug or two on all your
upgrades do I need area to look at, but as you don’t
equipment, but never more than two
per USB bus. There is such a thing as
to get more from it? mention a budget forgive me if any too much of a good thing.
suggestions are too pricey. I would
same size as the Monitor Audio recommend the best model you can
for a reasonable bass response. afford in the PMC range, the new
I have no idea where to start, twenty5 series is exceptionally good
put simply, I want more of with a clean, revealing sound that
everything; better soundstaging, times superbly and draws you into
better dynamics, better timing. the music like nothing else.
Jon (Sheffield)
ES : The logical thing to do would be
DP: This is one of those ‘how long is a to try an equally distinctive CD player
piece of string’ questions. In truth you to the AH!. Something like the Audio
have so many possibilities open to you, Note range of CD players and DACs
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 LETTERS

YellOPower
is back!
ANNIVERSARY
E D I T I O N
Fitted with Russ
Andrews 13A fuse

would give the same big, lush so I keep all of them. I have vinyl
presentation and offer a step up by choice, but happily listen to
in resolution and detail. CD as well. For all the years that
I’ve read the magazine, the part
NR: I suggest that you’re right to focus that I always enjoy reading is the
on upgrading your power amps. I shall music reviews and about the
leave it to my learned colleagues to music you use to test kit. So, keep
recommend an appropriate upgrade of on reviewing, but most of all
the 155 XS. However, if you’re looking keep telling us about the music!
for better sound staging, better Alan Matthews via email
dynamics and better timing – dare I
suggest experimenting with vinyl? CW: Thanks Alan, test tracks are very
important and I do occasionally return made with
CW: If you’re conscious that a larger to some old, tried and tested test tones
room needs some bass drive, try and tracking tests on LP if I’m curious
Eminent Technology’s LFT-8b planar about cartridges or tonearms in
magnetic panels (HFC 400). They have particular. But these will generally yield Unique woven cable design
depth, drive, detail and timing in a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ result, whereas music effectively removes mains
spades. Your Naims could sound reproduction is so much more based interference
transformed, but I’d suspect you’ll on subjective qualities. It’s also possible High purity copper
benefit from some alternative amps to say that there are fewer and fewer insulated with PVC
poor products, meaning that reviews
I enjoy reading the need to get better at differentiating
subtler and more musical qualities. In
music reviews and this respect, reviews generally dedicate
half the copy to describing ‘sound
about the music quality’ so you’re in safe hands with us.
you use to test kit
NR: Rest assured Alan, we will
with more muscle and greater current certainly not be neglecting vinyl as a
delivery. I recently heard the Eminent format in future issues and will also
powered by Acousticimagery Atsah be including a good balance of music
500 monoblocks (HFC 404) and it’s a on vinyl as it becomes available in
brilliant combo. our music reviews. High performance IEC

LETTER Music maestro! Choices choices...

OF THE Having read Alan Formats, formats, formats. If
MONTH Bridgens and Dave only there were just four of
Houghton’s letters about them. Not only is there now so
the relevance of vinyl, as I much choice, but there is even
neither stream nor rip music choice within the individual
should I abandon reading hi-fi choices. Downloading: What
magazines – something I have level of quality am I looking for?
We are so confident that you will love the new YellO Power
done for 40+ years? Streaming: What quality levels
that we give you 60 Days to try it at home -
I have a collection of vinyl, CDs, am I prepared to rise or sink to?
if you’re not 100% satisfied we’ll give you your money back.
and cassettes, and there is music Vinyl: From an analogue master
available on each of these media or a digital master? 180g or
that is not available on the other, lighter? CD: Never really Only £60 for 1m
O R D E R D I R E C T AT
WWW.RUSSANDREWS.COM/YELLO
 LETTERS

exciting. Too small to appreciate have been able to afford. Now, it’s
any artwork and to read. Tapes: possible to sample something pretty
now I need a new quality special on very limited means. The key
machine, which appears to not insight is to realise that none of the
exist. DVD... Blu-ray... Lossy, technical choices you list is a bad
Lossless, Lost. quality ‘cul-de-sac’. Increasingly one
In 1979 I played a record and can argue there is a convergence
enjoyed it 100 percent. Nothing towards high quality across all choices.
more was needed and it still
isn’t. I’m not unhappy about how NR: Yes Neil, we are indeed all
the future turned out and I’m not individuals, but some of us are more
a Luddite. But I am an individual, individual than others! That’s why it’s “It is immediately apparent
and that is more important in good there are formats to suit all tastes. that it offers serious
the pursuit of musical bliss these
days. But don’t listen to me, you Kitchen or upgrade? audible improvements...
are an individual too. I am a subscriber and have put
Neil Porter, by email together several systems over
The quieter sections are
the years using your suggestions. just as detailed as the
DP: Fair point well made, Neil. I now My current vinyl system is:
look at the hi-fi equipment in my house Michell Orbe SE, SME V arm, louder passages, with
and it comprises LP, Compact Cassette, Transfiguration Axia, Avid excellent imaging,
open reel, MiniDisc, CD, SACD, PCM/ Primare phono stage, Chord
CPM3350 amp, and MartinLogan transparency
Formats, formats, Ethos speakers connected with and spacial
various Chord interconnects,
formats! If only cables and Russ Andrews bits positioning”.
and pieces. I’m delighted with
there were just four the sound and my Acoustic
Hi-Fi Choice,
to choose from... Research CD6 is gathering dust August ’16.
as vinyl sounds better.
DSD DAC with USB input, uPnP server The upgrade bug has reared its
and aptX Bluetooth. Oh and of course wonderful head again and I have
a Blu-ray spinner for good measure. a budget of £5,000 burning a
I have music files in analogue, and hole in my pocket. Or rather I
digital in MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, have £5,000 towards a new
PCM, DSD and MQA – how did it all kitchen, but where’s the fun in
get so complicated? If I had to pick one that? I really want to enhance
format, it would have to be the vinyl LP. the quality of the sound and the
guys at Analogue Seduction have
CW: I hear where you are coming suggested purchasing a better
from Neil, but is it possible that many deck as a foundation but keeping
of the problems you list are just a the SME/Aria combination. At
brilliant array of choices for customers times I feel the amp can’t drive
of different means? Turn the clock back the speakers to produce their
a few decades and I can remember best at higher levels, but I really
enviously listening to a quality vinyl like the sound that the Chord/
and valve hi-fi set up that I may never Ethos combo produces. So my

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 LETTERS

RACKS & SUPPORTS

between the phono stage and Chord
amp; in my view it’s one of the most
open and insightful cables I’ve heard.

JK: If you enjoy the MartinLogan/

Chord combo I’d stick with it, getting
amps and speakers to work well is not
always easy and it sounds like you
have that sorted. I agree with your
dealer that the source is probably the LIGHTWEIGHT
weakest link, but my solution is a bit
more radical than merely upgrading RIGID
the turntable, I would suggest you
compare your existing record player
(turntable, arm and cartridge) with CUSTOMISABLE
a Rega RP10 with the Aphelion MC
cartridge. This £5,498 package is one
of, if not the best record players
available today. Its only problem is
that it doesn’t cost as much as the
competition at the level it competes at.
A Lyra Skala and
Quadraspire
X-Reference might I have £5,000 to
help Paul’s setup
spend on a new
question is: where do you think
the money would be best spent?
kitchen, but want to
I would use the word ‘wisely’, spend it on my hi-fi...
but it seems inappropriate as
my conscience reminds me new ES: The problem is that if the system is
cupboards should be the priority. delivering a sound you are happy with,
As always, I look forward to your throwing money at it in the hope of
advice and recommendations. making it better might not work. The
Paul Moxey, by email only area that looks like it might
benefit from an upgrade is the
DP: One of the joys of answering cartridge – possibly to another
readers’ questions is that we can Transfiguration model or it might be
imagine ourselves as the ones with the worth trying the phenomenal
cash to splash! If I were you, I would Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua.
do the following: buy a Lyra Skala MC
cartridge (£2,900), invest in a good CW: Looks like a great set up. Of
system support (the Quadraspire course the MartinLogan Ethos has a
X-Reference, at £1,000 per level, 200W active woofer, so your Chord
would be my choice), and get the amp will have little bearing on the bass “seems to bring a touch
Orbe turntable set up properly. When drive. If you’re dissatisfied at higher
correctly fettled and resting on a volumes, it’s possible this could be a
of magic to anything
top-notch isolation system, there’s little room acoustic issue that might be placed on top of it,
that can touch it under £10,000 – addressed by some room treatments
especially if you remove the deck’s from the likes of GIK Acoustics. I’d also to the benefit of detail,
huge dustcover while listening! The experiment a little around cartridge
Lyra is a superb moving coil, one of the alignment, VTA and tweaking tracking
imaging and general
best in the world in my view, and will force in case this unlocks something musical verve.”
unlock detail, focus and grip that you extra. An Origin Live platter mat could
hadn’t thought possible. If you’re work wonders. In short, it could be Richard Black,
happy with the rest of the system, kitchen time. Many modern kitchens Hi-Fi Choice, Oct 2012
why mess with it? The only tweak now have areas to keep beer and wine
I’d suggest would be to try some that can enhance almost every music
MCRU SLiC Innovations Eclipse C MkII system (please upgrade your system
interconnects (p118, £540/m) and kitchen responsibly).

WIN A RUSS ANDREWS YELLOPOWER

OWER
MAINS LEAD WORTH £60!
Letter of the Month winners receive 60 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
a Russ Andrews yellOPower mains
lead worth £60. Write to us
at: [email protected] O R D E R D I R E C T AT
W W W .T O R L Y T E . C O M
 OPINION

Fine wine in old bottles

Jimmy Hughes has to admit that the collector in him can’t resist a CD reissue, especially
if it appears with the original vinyl-release artwork, and there’s plenty to keep him happy

nyone out there still buying CDs? I am – Yes Sir! reissued – giving a

A Although my collection numbers around

20,000, I still keep buying. Crazy... But then,
Collecting isn’t about logic or practicalities –
fresh slant on more
familiar material.
All the early Bob
it’s what you want (not what you need) that counts. Dylan and Miles Davis
In the past five or 10 years, the big record companies have recordings on CBS,
produced some very tempting collected editions. Even not to mention The
better, the recordings are often remastered and Beatles and The
re-packaged with original LP artwork. Examples are the Rolling Stones, can
complete Beatles, or maybe Pink Floyd’s Discovery box now be bought in
and classical sets like the Fritz Reiner and Charles Munch mono editions. Once,
collections. Even if you have the recordings already, the you couldn’t give
chance to buy them again in a single complete edition is still mono recordings
hugely tempting – especially if the price is keen. away, but now,
There’s something comforting about having the complete miraculously, it’s
recordings of... in a single package. Somehow, it gives you a suddenly not a
greater sense of ownership. And if it’s music you only know problem. In fact,
in part, you’re encouraged to explore by starting with the many enthusiasts find
first album, and going right through to the last one. mono tapes actually
In the pop and jazz world it’s not unusual for the CD to sound better – firmer,
keep the original LP cover. But with classical music it was cleaner, more detailed and focused, with less background
The Rolling
uncommon for original artwork to feature. Instead, you’d hiss. And why not? With many albums in the sixties, the Stones are just
have modern artwork designed to make old recordings look mono mix was the main one – not the stereo version. one of many acts
more recent and up to date. Both Decca and DG recently released big boxes devoted to to have released
mono box sets
It’s only taken the record companies 30 years to realise classical recordings from the mono era. 20 years ago, that
that most classical would have been unthinkable. Many of those chosen had
With many albums CD collectors prefer never been on CD before, and some had never been
the original vintage reissued since the original LPs were released in the fifties.
in the sixties, the artwork over You can’t blame record companies for maximising sales
mono – not stereo– something new and in this way. When markets reach saturation, and younger
was the main mix snazzy. Sony got buyers show little or no interest in software formats like CD,
there first – with its all you can do is try and get your old existing customers to
Original Jackets series – and others eventually followed suit. buy what they already have once again.
Having the original artwork establishes an album’s
historical context. It cements time and place, and imparts a Time to go shopping
sense of provenance that downloads and streaming can’t A further incentive to buy again is if a favourite recording
replicate. Some old recordings are extremely rare, and very is reissued in a hi-res format like SACD or Blu-ray Audio.
hard to find on vinyl with their original LP covers. Recently, Decca issued some of its classic seventies opera
Many of the discs in Sony’s magnificent 57-CD complete recordings on a single Blu-ray Audio disc for those wanting
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky set fall into the super-rare the best sound quality. Not only is the sound better; with
category. So, being able to get something that, on vinyl, was Blu-ray Audio reissues on a single disc, you’re able to listen
highly collectible is great. Okay, it’s just a mini CD replica, to long two or three hour operas without a break.
but it still has some of the original LP magic. Of course, I still buy quite a few ‘new’ CDs. But nowadays
Albums you bought when young become a part of you; I’m more attracted to reissues of older material – even stuff I
they’re the soundtrack of your life. For older collectors that already own. If the recordings are expertly remastered and
owned the vinyl version when first issued, these miniature the packaging features original LP cover art, I find it
albums recreate the thrill felt when buying the original. impossible to resist. So, if you want to see more reissues
That’s why many of us buy each new incarnation, hoping of this quality, do what I do; vote with your wallet. Buy
to get even closer to the music. Any excuse! And now, we’re everything you can to try to make sure that things continue. JIMMY HUGHES
seeing the original mono versions of stereo albums being And avoid downloads at all costs ● CD collector

JANUARY 2017 79
 OPINION

Drive time
David Price remembers the turbulent times of the seventies, when belt-drive
and direct-drive turntables fought it out for public acceptance

nyone that lived through the seventies will were direct-drive

A remember it as a turbulent time, as the

government tried to come to terms with civil
unrest resulting from our economic decline
fans, who
couldn’t see the
attraction of
after World War II. The happier side of the seventies was the anything with a
amazing music coming out, and the meteoric rise of hi-fi. In primitive rubber
the sixties it had been a niche pastime for either the affluent belt inside it, and
or cash-strapped hobbyists wanting to build it themselves. on the other
By the mid-seventies every family aspired to a decent stereo there was the
system. All well and good, but hi-fi too saw a dramatic (largely British)
conflict play out before our very ears… ‘superdeck’
1975 was the high watermark of the vinyl LP record – brigade from the
massive sales of albums like Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells likes of Linn,
meant the turntable was king. But what type of turntable? Ariston and
By then, direct-drive technology – that arrived with the new Dunlop arguing
Technics SP-10 broadcast turntable in 1970 – had trickled that a turntable
down into the more affordable SL-1200 in 1972, then the was more than
more upmarket SL-1500 in 1975. By this time, Technics just its motor.
had indelibly stamped the direct-drive motor system on the They’d explain all the sophisticated aspects to their design Technics
collective imagination of the hi-fi world. and contend that measurements don’t tell the whole story. SL-1500 was key
to the success
As a sales proposition it was a sort of prototypical compact It was really quite divisive – with British belt-drive fans of direct-drive
disc. CD was sold in a, “Hey, are you tired of all the woes of looking down at Japanese direct-drives in a snobbish way technology
conventional turntables? Then buy this!” kind of way. – and the latter wondering why the former couldn’t see
Technics marketed its direct-drive system in a similar that their decks were so much more sophisticated. And
fashion – effectively arguing: “If you’re fed up with slack just to make life even more interesting, the subsequent
belts or noisy idlers, introduction of quartz-crystals to provide an ultra-stable
The better either then get with the speed reference for the direct-drive servos, further reduced
plan!” The company those wow and flutter figures in the late seventies.
system gets, the trumpeted those
closer they sound amazing wow and Spot the difference
to one another flutter and rumble Sonically, belt drives and direct drives sounded distinctly
measurements in different. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, and
jargon-filled double page hi-fi magazine adverts. And with the secret was in the way they were done rather than what
stats like 0.03 percent WRMS wow and flutter, when the system was used. Basically, the better either system got,
very best high-end British belt drives at twice the price the closer they sounded to one another. It’s certainly true,
struggled to attain 0.04 percent, who could blame it? though, that – unlike much of what was written in the UK
The makers of expensive belt-driven decks hit back, saying hi-fi press at the time – direct drives had huge strengths in
there was more to life than just tech specs, but those some areas. If you want proof of this, just listen to the new
numbers didn’t lie. Technics direct-drive decks were Technics SL-1200G today (p16) – it times in a way that
incredibly speed-stable and very quiet, and the public was makes belt-drive decks sound soft, fluffy and slow, thanks
highly receptive to this. Lest we forget, in the mid-seventies to the super-fast attack transients that direct drives
the idea that a turntable had a particular sound was still a inevitable possess. This is particularly obvious in the bass.
controversial one – everyone thought loudspeakers were the Sadly though, by the early eighties it was game over for
main variable in a stereo system. Technics’ ultra low speed direct drive – the same companies that had developed the
brushless DC motor, complete with servo control, was technology 10 years earlier were now fully committed to
wonderfully stable and quiet – and owning such a deck compact disc, which was just around the corner. Belt-drive
conferred a sense of security and confidence in its owner. turntables effectively won by default – because their
By the late seventies, the hi-fi world was in the middle Japanese rivals simply upped sticks and left the pitch. Now
of an epic struggle between two visions of how the most though, they’re back – and as you’ll soon discover, Technics DAVID PRICE
important source component should be made. On one side isn’t the only brand that will make a splash in 2017 ● Driving force

JANUARY 2017 81
 OPINION

Image conscious
After reviewing omni-directional speakers, Chris Ward explores the importance of
‘soundscapes’ in reproducing music and comes up with an interesting new concept

istening feeds the most primeval of human mono and it was only when

L drives of finding a mate or food, while helping

us avoid becoming food or befalling an
untimely accident. This is refined through the
Blumlein thought that the left
and right walls of a groove
could be encoded differently
use of two ears, which help us interpret direction by in the thirties that stereo was
detecting tiny delays between sounds reaching each ear at born. But has innovation in
slightly different times. This directional quality of hearing sound imaging stopped?
is most pronounced with higher frequencies where the Not all sound is created
sound source is likely to be closest, protecting us from equal. If I listen to purely
imminent attack. Bass notes can still be interpreted as a electronic music, generated
warning, but are more likely to be a distant threat. by midi signals that have
Breaking a twig in a forest causes sound waves to emanate never ever actually made
from an exact point in space, but this direct sound soon a live sound, this may as
reflects off multiple tree trunks and branches, leaves and well be placed in a stereo
the forest floor. So the sound that reaches the ears is a soundscape as any other, as
mixture of direct and reflected sound. The ratio between it has never existed in three
the two, and the ways in which reflected sound is adjusted dimensions before. We are
and different for each ear feeds our brain vital information still faced with the same left speaker, right speaker, left ear, Listening is a
about the nature of the space we are in, and the likely right ear brain-teaser, but at least we aren’t tricking the primeval sense,
helping us to
direction and proximity of the sound source. brain around the apparent recreation of a reality. hunt for food
Stereo loudspeakers create a soundstage in which we If I were lucky enough to see a very early gig of The while avoiding
locate performers, but unlike a live noise, this directional Beatles, their live performance could be described as being something
else’s dinner
placement of a sound source in space doesn’t use time delay. emanating from four, near point sources, with vocals, a pair
Perceived location is of guitar amps and a drum kit. So, maybe we should have
Could it be argued achieved through quad systems, with four speakers designed to better
amplitude alone, compliment the dynamics of each part? Music software
that innovation in with equal volume would naturally need to be re-encoded into these four new
sound imaging from two speakers channels. This music playback system could represent the
has stopped? simulating a single live sound far more accurately as it would allow our ears to
sound source half collect the correct sound from the correct place, without
way between the two actual sound sources. This physics stereo trickery. For the sake of argument, I’ll call this system
is very different from naturally occurring sounds, but a Multi-Mono (patent pending).
wonderful advert for the plasticity of the human brain to
create sense from non-sense. Time for change
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com/Nicolas Primola

Breaking down what’s really happening can quickly fry My new system will comprise three speaker models of
your noodle, because our left ear is hearing sound from the slightly different heights called the John, Paul and George
left speaker and comparing it to the sound the right ear is respectively with each having a slightly different frequency
receiving from the left speaker, as well as the opposite response and finish (the Paul speaker also being left-
equation for the right speaker. It’s a wonder we find music handed). This combo will be accompanied by a larger, squat
relaxing at all, and a possible justification that stereo is an Ringo speaker with larger woofers and some cymbal shaped
unlikely end game for the highest quality sound playback tweeters. The exact same system will also enable you to
system. Fans of surround sound might agree, but even play music from The Rolling Stones and most of The Smith’s
innovative Dolby Atmos can be glibly described as stereo back catalogue. Fans of The White Stripes can save on
left to right, stereo front to back and stereo top to bottom, speakers, but those who enjoy Wagner’s Ring Cycle will
all blended together – 3D stereo, if you will. probably need to pay in instalments and get a bigger house.
A recording of the snapping twig can be captured by all Purists will know exactly where to place their individual
kinds of omni-directional or directional microphones and speakers to recreate each and every live performance, but
decoded onto two playback channels, but have you ever much fun will also be had from putting speakers on wheels,
stopped to consider that two channels is only a function of activated by pulleys and ropes, enabling you to recreate CHRIS WARD
the stereo system? The earliest wax cylinders were of course Chuck Berry’s duck walk and Springsteen crowd surfing ● Good listener

JANUARY 2017 83
 Hana in Japanese means... ...“brilliant and gorgeous”

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25/06/2015 13:43
 OPINION

Glass half full

Neville Roberts takes a nostalgic look at the rise and fall of valve manufacture in Britain
and wonders if its demise was inevitable or if something could’ve been done to save it

hat ever happened to the once-famous British radially as in a conventional valve,

W valve industry? The story started in 1919 with

the collapse of the Z Electric Lamp Company
run by Captain Stanley R Mullard. The
the electrons were directed through
an aperture at the top of the can
that has the grid laser welded to
following year, he moved on to set up the Mullard Radio it. The anode that collects the
Valve Company Limited. In 1924, he sold half his shares electrons is situated on the other
on to NV Philips Gloeilampenfabriken of Eindhoven, side of the grid just above the
Netherlands. This injection of capital allowed for the can and is in the form of a little
construction in Blackburn of what was to become the metal ‘top hat’. So the design was
largest valve assembly works in the world. When the doors strikingly similar to that of electron
opened in 1938, the new site employed 28 staff. This grew guns used in CRT TVs. This was,
to about 3,000 people by 1945 and by 1954 was capable of perhaps, not surprising considering
manufacturing 500,000 valves a day. that the factory has been
At its peak in 1961, over 6,200 people were employed. specialising in electron gun
Alas – due to the demise of the valve in favour of the components for over 40 years! This
transistor – by 1984 the factories had closed or moved to construction resulted in a valve with
other activities. The Mullard organisation changed its name very low capacitance and excellent
to Philips Electronics Components (the main shareholder) high-frequency characteristics.
and continued to make and develop cathodes for use in Furthermore, the filament of each
cathode ray tubes (CRTs). triode consumed a mere 112mA
In 2008, an effort was made to resurrect the British valve (about 75 percent of that of a
industry in Blackburn to cater for the growing demand for standard valve) and, as a result,
valves to be used with high-end audio equipment. The generated far less heat. I am
company was no longer able to use the Mullard name as it fortunate enough to have some of these valves and I can The TechTube
was owned by Philips Electronics in the Netherlands, so the certainly vouch for the fact that they sound really superb. E813CC double
triode valve
name Blackburn So, where are they now?
Sadly, the company MicroTech Solutions
folded due to the was adopted. And now, the end is near...
With all the local The sad truth is that Blackburn Microtech Solutions had
end of CRT, not the expertise and been vulnerable since 2007 when its parent company
failure of the valve background stopped covering its losses. Its main income was as a
knowledge of valve specialist supplier of CRTs, and a fatal blow was struck
manufacturing and cathode development, the Blackburn when its only customer, a Chinese firm, refused to
factory turned its attention to audio valves for the hi-fi and negotiate over prices. This left Blackburn MicroTech
guitar amplifier market with the ambition of once again Solutions unable to pay suppliers and a month later in
being at the leading edge of valve technology. 2008 saw the December 2009, it went into administration after a hunt
launch of the first valve development since its initial launch for a buyer failed. The report that was made to Companies
back in the twenties, with the production of the TechTube House showed that the business failed with unsecured
E813CC double triode. debts totalling £12.4m, of which £9.8m was owed to the
The new valve was functionally identical to the ECC83, parent company, Holland-based LP Displays, which also
but the new designation gave a clue that this was not simply happened to be in administration itself.
a copy of an old favourite. What those clever chaps at The company folded due to the end of CRT manufacture,
Blackburn MicroTech Solutions did was to channel all their rather than the failure of the audio valve. Given the
expertise in electron-gun technology from CRTs to come up continuing increase in demand for high-quality audio valves
with a radical re-design of a triode valve. Instead of the over the past seven years, would Blackburn MicroTech
standard construction of an indirectly heated triode audio Solutions have survived today had it not been carrying
valve, such as the ECC83 which is constructed as a set of debts from its CRT days and reliant on a single customer?
concentric cylinders, the E813CC had a linear construction My guess is probably yes, given that the valves were really
with the filament and cathode assembly, together with the good. So the demise of the British valve industry was NEVILLE ROBERTS
grid located inside a metal can. Instead of being emitted probably down to bad timing – how very sad ● Lotta bottle

JANUARY 2017 85
 OPINION

Like a rolling stone...

For some, Bob Dylan being selected for the Noble Prize for Literature was a
controversial choice, but not Nigel Williamson who thinks he’s a lyrical laureate

ome years ago I signed an online petition Dylan receives

S calling for Bob Dylan to be awarded the Nobel the Presidential

Medal of Freedom
Prize for Literature. So when the news came back in 2012
through that he had been recognised by the
world’s most prestigious literary prize, I congratulated
myself for having done my bit for his cause.
As a baby boomer growing up in the sixties, The Beatles
taught me what Noel Coward called “the potency of cheap
music”. But it was from Dylan that I learned that the power
of popular song could be immeasurably intensified when
married to words that had more to say than the bland
clichés of “she loves you” and “I wanna hold your hand”.
I was 13 years old and in the throws of a very traditional
education in which my curriculum reading consisted of the
poetry of Catullus (in the original Latin), Shakespeare’s
Macbeth and the Oxford Book of English Verse, augmented
by a trip to the theatre to see a staging of T.S. Eliot’s Murder
In The Cathedral. I enjoyed it enormously and, if I’m honest
rather looked down on pop music with a superciliousness
that now makes me blush with embarrassment.
Then a school friend played me Highway 61 Revisited. Sappho, whose verses were “meant to be performed, often
Like A Rolling Stone was clearly a great song, but the track together with instruments”. Salman Rushdie described him
that hooked me was Desolation Row – 11 minutes long and as a “brilliant inheritor of the bardic tradition”. And
10 stanzas of dense imagery complete with references to contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, he is not
Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot “fighting in the captain’s tower”. the first songwriter to win the Nobel Prize: the Bengali
That popular music could have something to say as deep writer Rabindranath Tagore, whose creative output
and interesting as included thousands of songs, was chosen way back in
He has shifted the anything in the 1913 for his “sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse”.
canon of what I had The American writers who preceded Dylan as Nobel
paradigm of what been taught to laureates included William Faulkner, John Steinbeck,
we understand regard as ‘serious Ernest Hemingway and Toni Morrison. All captured the
as literature literature’ was a essence of their times and universalised the experience. In
revelation – and his songs – particularly those he wrote during the sixties, a
the start of a love affair with Dylan’s lyric verse that has decade which he came to shape and define as ‘the voice of
endured for half a century. a generation’ – Dylan has done exactly the same.
Not everyone was as delighted as I was at Dylan’s
laureateship. Irvine Welsh denounced “an ill-conceived Making a difference
Picture courtesy of Shutterstock/Rena Schild

nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of But Dylan has done rather more than that, too. Rather
senile, gibbering hippies”. The Trainspotting author than obeying the traditional rules of poetry, his writing has
continued: “If you’re a ‘music’ fan, look it up in the shifted the paradigm of what we understand as literature.
dictionary. Then ‘literature’. Then compare and contrast”. For most of the 20th century, it was assumed that
But do song lyrics have a literary life when divorced from literature could only be written for the page and not the
the melody they were written to accompany? I’d argue that voice. That Dylan’s literary achievement came in song and
they can and point out that the 1901 statutes governing in an era in which the pop record became the defining
the Nobel prize state that eligibility extends to “not only artistic form of its age means we have been able to hear
belles-lettres, but also other writings which, by virtue both the internal and external voices of the poet.
of their form and style, possess literary value”. On that Like Shakespeare and the Bible, from ‘the times they are
reckoning Dylan should have won long ago. a-changin’’ to ‘blowin’ in the wind’, his words have entered NIGEL
Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Nobel Academy, common parlance without the world even realising. Don’t WILLIAMSON
Mr Tambourine Man
compared Dylan’s songs to the works of Homer and think twice. Dylan’s Nobel prize is more than alright ●

JANUARY 2017 87
 RETRO

Pick-up artist
David Price looks back at one of the world’s most
long-lived pick-up arms – SME’s illustrious 3009
or much of the sixties, The Scale Model Equipment The decision was made to produce

F seventies and eighties,

if you visited a friend
with an expensive stereo
Company Ltd. formed in 1946 to
produce scale models and detail parts
for the model engineering trade, but
it commercially, and the original SME
precision pick-up arm was launched
in September 1959. An initial run
system, the chances are that they’d got caught up in the nascent hi-fi of 25 pieces per week began at the
have an SME 3009 tonearm of some boom in the fifties after moving into factory in Mill Road, Steyning –
description affixed to their turntable. precision engineering. The move where it still resides today. The design
There’s no understating the ubiquity to tonearm manufacturing only featured a polished stainless steel
of this classic, which for a long period happened because the company’s armtube with a lightweight headshell,
in hi-fi history was the automatic, founder Alastair Robertson-Aikman steel knife-edge horizontal bearings,
go-to pick-up arm for audiophiles. needed a tonearm for his home hi-fi. and bias adjustment provided by a
The SME 3009 was the tonearm that He designed the precursor to what weight suspended on a nylon string.
the world had been waiting for, would become the SME 3009 for his The product was offered in both fixed
delivering the quality and features home hi-fi system, and legend has it and detachable headshell variants,
that people wanted, and – better still that it impressed his friends and the latter facilitated by a secure
– at the right price. fellow audiophiles no end. locking collar arrangement that gave

The rise and fall and rise again of SME

1946 1959 1978 1987
The Scale Model Equipment The original SME precision The SME Series III tonearm The superb Series V is unveiled
Company Ltd. forms, while pick-up arm is launched and debuts as The Who play their while Michael Jackson's Bad
Barry Gibb, Syd Barrett and Robert Smith (The Cure), Kirsty last ever show with drummer becomes the biggest-selling
Freddie Mercury are born MacColl and Morrissey are born Keith Moon album of the year

88 JANUARY 2017
 RETRO

a rigid connection to the armtube, but world”. Here was an extremely couth PICK UP A PICK-UP
which still allowed for easy swapping performer that worked with a wide
of headshells (and cartridges). So range of cartridges of the day, and There was a time when you could barely
give an SME 3009 away; 15 or so years
successful was this system that it gave reliable fuss-free operation over ago they were terminally unfashionable.
became the industry standard. a long period of time. The SME 3009 However, collectors have begun to move
Not content to stop there, the 3009 S2 that followed was a really in, doubtless encouraged by SME’s
superlative spares and servicing support.
S2 was launched. It featured a worthwhile improvement, especially Most parts for the arm are still available,
pointed yoke which sits above the the fixed headshell version, pretty and owners can send ageing arms back to
saddle bearing, and a reverse-facing much pulling the arm back to the top the factory for a full service to return it back
to ‘as new’ condition – something that
calibrated rod from which the bias of the pack. It happened to coincide cannot be done for the SME Series III that
compensation weight is hung. The with the golden age of magnetic followed it. One of the most common
new aluminium headshell was heavily cartridges, and the SME suited them problems the tonearm can develop with
age is a sagging counterweight, caused by
perforated to reduce mass, and the very well. By the mid seventies, there hardening of the coupling rubber, which
distinctive sliding base was fitted – a was a move towards tracking at very secures the tonearm stub to the main
feature that has made the company low stylus forces – 0.75g wasn’t tonearm tube. Another drawback is the
ageing internal wiring, which lets down the
famous in tonearm circles, because atypical – which was thought to arm and certainly isn’t up to the standards
it’s so much easier to correctly align reduce record wear, and the 3009 of modern tonearms. The arm’s huge
the cartridge. The result was an S2 Improved was one of the few following, however, means any such issue
can be remedied, and the SME 3009 S2
extremely durable, high-quality tonearms that could (just) do this. can be made to sound good and work well.
tonearm that worked with a wide Sonically, it was always lively and Always use SME’s latest LC-OFC arm leads
range of cartridges, and which better lyrical, but without harshness across and headshell wires, and SME’s double pin
type headshells, again available from the
resists the ageing process than many. the midband that seemed to afflict factory. Prices vary with condition and
The chances are that most used some rivals. Its bass was a little model, but expect to pay from £100 for
turntables on sale these days – if lacking compared with the ‘super a rough example needing attention to
upwards of £500 for a top specimen.
they’re motor units without arms – arms’ that followed in the late
will have arm boards in SME, Linn or seventies and its treble was a little
Rega fittings. Most seventies decks ragged, but the overall midband medium-compliance moving magnet
will be SME, and if not then many performance was strong with a nice, such as a Goldring G1042 works very
manufacturers – from Linn to Michell natural rhythmic flow. well, and is a realistic partner if you
don’t want to go for a classic Shure.
The SME Series III Image is everything
By modern standards, the 3009 is Back to the drawing board
seemed highly poor in imaging terms, tending to By the mid seventies, the world was
mass everything around the centre of going crazy for low-tracking weights
futuristic when it the stereo mix, failing to accurately and very light, high-compliance
appeared in 1978 recreate the full depth of a recording. cartridges, and the 3009 S2 looked
Dynamically, it’s compressed, but a bit of a behemoth. SME’s answer
– supply SME arm boards should you this isn’t an altogether unpleasant was the SME Series III. Using a more
need one. If you have to mount the experience, making for a big wall of sophisticated system of balance
arm yourself to a new armboard, sound that easily fills the room. The weights and ultra-modern titanium
you’ll need to drill an elongated hole SME hides its tracks and doesn’t nitride armtube, it seemed highly
1in wide by 2¾in long, ranged by offend; it’s well behaved and futuristic when it appeared in 1978,
four small holes for the mounting musically enjoyable. and duly won a Design Council
screws to hold the metal arm Best suited to lowish mass, highish Award. Unfortunately, it arrived just
baseplate, which in turn takes the compliance cartridges, fitting the when the hi-fi world was falling in
actual armbase. SME’s excellent optional FD200 fluid damper gives love with moving-coil cartridges. The
manual shows the exact the SME 3009 S2 Improved a fighting The instructions SME III was simply not designed for
were noted for
measurements and geometry, and the chance of tracking heavier, lower- being easy to
low-compliance cartridges and is
arm should come with its original compliance moving magnets or even understand and wasted in this role, so SME had to
mounting protractor. Once the moving coils. These days, a modern clearly laid out give it a re-think.
armboard is correctly cut, you can The Steyning company went back
mount the arm and slide it along in its to the drawing board, and came
base to get the cartridge alignment. up with its superb Series V (and
Basic adjustments are simple enough; Series IV and 309 derivatives)
the rubber decoupled counterweight in 1987, and the 3009 became
has no stylus force adjustment; terminally unfashionable for the best
instead this is done by a small weight part of two decades. However, the
that moves along a calibrated rod arm proved popular secondhand,
with half-gram increments. It’s not as vinyl began to experience a
the most user-friendly system by renaissance, and there were calls for
modern standards, but is extremely the tonearm to reappear. At the turn
accurate – and designed at a time of the new millennium, the SME M2
when most rivals certainly were not. surfaced – surprising many of us.
When it surfaced at the turn of the Essentially a re-engineered 3009 S2
sixties, there’s no doubting that the better suited to modern cartridges, it’s
SME 3009 was, as the SME strap line proved enduringly popular ever since.
has it: “The best pick-up arm in the

JANUARY 2017 89
 BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM
PRO-JECT/ORTOFON/UNISON/OPERA

Arts and crafts

Valves and vinyl often make for happy bedfellows, but
Ed Selley thinks this pairing is a match made in heaven

90 JANUARY 2017
 BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM
PRO-JECT/ORTOFON/UNISON/OPERA

n comparison to other more commonly referred to as source Pro-Ject can lay claim to being an

I categories of home
technology, the rate of
development in audio is
better viewed as consistent rather than
and amplifier.
What might be seen as odd is that
neither Pro-Ject nor Unison Research
– which also provides the speakers in
integral part of the vinyl resurgence
with many a rediscovery of the black
stuff starting with one of its affordable
models. The Signature 12 you see
breakneck. Even so, the system you the form of sister company Opera – here, however, is the sort of turntable
see here would struggle to be are anything like that old. Despite the you might end that journey with. This
described as cutting edge. In supposed advancements in audio is the culmination of its technical
technological terms, almost every reproduction, both brands have development and design experience
design concept it contains and carved out a reputation for going in a single compromise-free form.
material it uses wouldn’t alarm an their own way. Both claim that when This means the Signature 12 has
enthusiast from 40 or 50 years ago older techniques are done properly, (as the name suggests) a 12in arm
– back when valves and vinyl were they still have a huge amount to offer. designed and built inhouse. The

COMPONENTS
PRO-JECT SIGNATURE 12
£7,000
The Signature 12 is the flagship of the
extensive Pro-Ject range and uses a
pulley based, belt drive system to spin the
massive magnetically suspended platter.
The 12in arm is designed and built inhouse.

UNISON RESEARCH S6
£3,100
The S6 is an integrated valve amp that is
built around the unusual compliment of
six EL34 valves. These are run in a single-
ended configuration that produces 30W
per channel.

OPERA CALLAS
£4,000
The Callas is the standmount version of
Opera’s flagship loudspeaker, which uses
a 7in mid bass and a soft dome tweeter
in a beautifully finished and impressively
inert cabinet.

JANUARY 2017 91
 BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM
PRO-JECT/ORTOFON/UNISON/OPERA

enormous platter sits on a magnetic from the cartridge passively. This is Above left: The twin banks of valves on the Unison
bearing and is rotated by an elaborate how all moving-coil cartridge systems S6 is packed with brings to mind a V6 engine that will
some gorgeous
pulley system. The vast and exquisitely used to function and the process still design details power the Opera not with watts but
finished plinth rests on specially has its adherents to this day. with horsepower. For all the sense of
Above centre: An
designed feet that completely isolate Judged by the technical thinking elaborate pulley whimsy, though, everything works
the deck from the outside world. If doing the rounds in the rest of the system gives the with a precise and well-oiled feel
you were playing turntable top trumps, system, the Opera Callas is almost Signature 12 and when you power it all up and
this would be the killer card. conventional – dare I say it, modern. perfect pitch leave it idle, it is completely silent
As Opera is part of the same company Above right: – something a valve and step-up
The Callas is as
Compare and contrast as Unison, the relationship between visually and system often finds very hard to do.
By contrast, Unison Research’s S6 is the two is symbiotic and the Callas sonically striking
almost self effacing. This is one of as its namesake Silence is golden
the smaller integrated amps in the The good news is that Of course, buying a system like this to
company’s range and is relatively enjoy its silence would be perverse,
unusual in that it is a single ended this system seems but there is a method in the madness.
type – a design decision that usually Kicking off with Fink and the Royal
results in fairly low power output –
completely unfazed Concertgebouw Orchestra performing
but thanks to a trio of EL34 valves per by what you throw at it Berlin Sunrise, the piece builds gently
channel, it has a healthy 30W to its from near silence. This system has the
name. With five line inputs and full should get the most from the S6. This basics in place to deliver it as it needs
remote control, it is usefully equipped two-way standmount partners a to be done. As the string section
too. As none of the inputs happen to polypropylene mid bass driver with a comes in, you realise that there is a
be a phono stage, a Phono One fills soft dome tweeter in one of the most lot more going on here than just a
in, helping the system demonstrate exquisitely finished cabinets I’ve vague feeling of nostalgia. There is a
another slice of retro cool. encountered in quite a while. It is free sense of immediacy, of realism, of
The Phono One is designed for of adornments or gaudiness, but the general ‘bloody hell!’ that makes a lot
moving-magnet cartridges, while the more you study it, the more attention of other equipment sound very two
Signature 12 sports an Ortofon you realise has been lavished upon it. dimensional in comparison.
Cadenza Black moving coil with a Now I come to mention it, the whole Where the appeal deepens is that
much lower output. To provide the system is a visual treat. The Pro-Ject the presentation itself is exceptionally
required boost in signal, an Ortofon has the sort of room presence you natural and even handed regardless
ST-80 step-up transformer sits would usually associate with a of what you choose to throw at it.
between the two and turns current sculpture and placing records on it Keeping a Netherlands theme to
into voltage to ramp up the signal has an almost ceremonial quality. The proceedings and selecting Loves

92 JANUARY 2017
 BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM
PRO-JECT/ORTOFON/UNISON/OPERA

Voodoo by My Baby shows that this cliché of letting you hear things on a material that isn’t so blessed in quality
system is just as happy with small recording you’ve never heard before. terms. Listening to Biffy Clyro’s Only
scale as it is on a grand one. Cato van A recently purchased copy of Bedlam Revolutions, the turntable and its
Dijck’s snarling vocals on Mad CONTACT Ago Go’s Estate Style Entertainment supporting cast manage to convey
DETAILS
Mountain Thyme are delivered grudgingly reveals that beneath the that while many times better than
seemingly without anything so DISTRIBUTOR late nineties bleakness, Leigh Stephen the CD in terms of dynamic range
mundane as a process of amplification Henley Designs Ltd Kenny has a voice that is quite unlike and spaciousness, this is still not a
happening. There is a paradoxical TELEPHONE anything that contemporary bands recording for the ages. The clever bit
situation where this setup suspends 01235 511166 can muster. The spoken sections of is that they do so in such a nigh-on
the illusion that you are listening to apologetic way, you can still enjoy the
WEBSITES
a recording so effectively, that this in henleydesigns.co.uk The speed and drive album for what it is. I’m sure there’s a
itself becomes a source of disbelief. project-audio.com record somewhere that doesn’t sound
ortofon.com
operaloudspeakers.
that this system good on this system, but I’m confident
Information technology com musters is a source that I don’t own it.
The Pro-Ject hoovers information
out of the groove and turns it into of constant joy Vintage vision
something you feel you can reach out This then is not merely an
and touch. This is helped in no small Season No5 are delivered as clear as a anachronism or piece of whimsy.
way by the Unison S6 and Opera bell before his soaring chorus fills the This system uses vinyl, step-up
Callas having the ability to sound far room with a skin prickling intensity. transformers and valves because
larger and more assured than a pair The presentation is so effortlessly if they are done with sufficient
of sensibly sized standmounts driven open that the finest of details is integrity, they sound staggeringly
by 30W should. The punching beats readily accessible but also good. If this setup had the appearance
of Wild Beasts’ Alpha Female are convincingly part of a wider whole. of something that’s been made in
proper thwacks to the chest rather For those with genre-hopping a shed it would still be beautiful
than just the sound of drums, and the collections of variable mastering because of its ability to reproduce
speed and drive that this system quality, the really good news is that any genre of music with ear-popping
musters is a source of constant joy. this system seems completely unfazed realism. That it combines exceptional
All the positive attributes of a by what you throw at it. With truly materials, wonderful industrial design
well-designed valve system are here, great pressings, the Signature gives and a sense of quality that makes you
while any negatives appear to have you everything that is contained in feel special simply by interacting with
been completely ameliorated. those grooves with a near forensic it, makes it a masterpiece. I’m no
This means that on occasions this level of accuracy, while it has the Luddite, but this time it seems like
combo can perform the hoary old uncanny knack of managing to forgive the old ways get the job done

JANUARY 2017 93
 LABELLED WITH LOVE

DERAM
For a brief moment, the label with audio that “wraps itself around you” was right
on the cutting edge. Simon Berkovitch plugs in the Deramic Sound System
ursting into life in listening releases. The sleeve than the developments of a championing underground

B 1966, this eclectic

subsidiary of the UK
wing of Decca Records
notes of these nocturnally themed
LPs are a fascinating glimpse
into the development of DSS.
major record company, but this
snippet reminds us how quickly
technology was changing during
music. Subsequent significant
signings included Caravan, Thin
Lizzy, Ten Years After, Mike
arrived full of zeal, proudly “Deram has produced a sound that decade, with the results Westbrook and a pre-King
heralding the future of recorded which wraps itself around you,” being rolled out to hungry Crimson Robert Fripp.
sound. In the mid-sixties, the uncredited expert boasts. To consumers eager to buy into a Developments in eight-track
experimenting with improving achieve aural nirvana, one of new audio experience at home. technology in the late sixties
stereo recordings for vinyl, Decca’s studios was revamped, The most enduring DSS release rendered DSS an anachronism,
Decca’s engineers developed with two adjoining studios used is The Moody Blues’ 1967 album and in losing its USP, the label
an innovative multi-tracked for differing recording ambience. Days Of Future Passed – also gradually lost its identity. Decca
technique. Christened Decca “A variety of new microphones home to the deathless Justin launched the progressive imprint
Panoramic Sound, it was – each with different Hayward composition Nights In Nova in 1969, and during the
abbreviated to Deramic and characteristics – has been White Satin – which sees the early seventies, albums credited
condensed still further to give acquired from various countries group in collaboration with to Deram Nova only muddied
the new label its name: Deram. and each section of the orchestra an orchestra on one of the first the waters. The name was
Initial 45s concentrated on requires at least four distinctive concept albums. This strange revived in the eighties, but the
psychedelia and pop, but the microphones to embrace the full hybrid of easy listening and likes of Bananarama and The
first six LPs acted as showcases breadth of sound,” he continues. Mellotron-hued popsike marks Mo-dettes are distant relations
for the Deramic Sound System It sounds more like the anarchic the change in direction for the of a label that, at its best, pushed
(DSS), the label’s unique selling experimentation of the Maida label, repositioning itself as the envelope of recorded sound
point, via orchestral easy Vale Radiophonic Workshop a rival to other UK imprints both in the studio and on vinyl.

94 JANUARY 2017
 LABELLED WITH LOVE

The Moody Blues

Go Now hit makers brought string-heavy progressive rock to the mainstream
y 1966, beat boom 45 Go mastery of the Mellotron. It’s well
B Now was a distant memory,
golden goose songwriter Denny
worth a revisit.
On The Threshold Of A Dream
The follow up to Days Of Future
Passed sees the former beat
Laine was long gone and the builds on this mind-expanding group fully psychedelicised
group, with a fair few flops formula and sees the group
under its belt, was in debt to incorporate classical textures,
Decca – its contract about to most memorably on the exquisite
expire. The label proposed one suite of The Voyage and Have You
last roll of the dice: a rock and Heard – and embrace a lusher,
roll version of Dvorak’s New studio-based sound. And just like
World Symphony recorded using The Beatles and The Rolling
– and to plug – DSS.
The group had other ideas. Fast Decca proposed
forward to 1967, and The Moody
Blues not only delivered one of one last roll of the
the first concept LPs, Days Of
Future Passed to slack-jawed
dice to plug DSS
Decca top brass, but also scored Stones, the now successful band
one of the biggest hits of the created its own record company
decade in Nights In White Satin. – its name, Threshold, inspired by
The follow up was In Search the album – and licenced
Of The Lost Chord (1968). The subsequent recordings to Decca,
band’s most ambitious album, beginning with To Our Children’s
it contains a tribute to Timothy Children’s Children (1969).
Leary (Legend Of A Mind), Still touring, The Moody Blues
cosmic spoken-word passages, remain Deram’s most famous
Indian instrumentation, a sons, but the cult appeal of
mandala on the inside of the its more obscure peers on the
gatefold sleeve and Mike Pinder’s label has somehow eluded it.

David Bowie
The Laughing Gnome’s debut album is a kaleidoscope of styles
mounting to one album, a There’s little to link it to the
A handful of singles and a
clutch of rejects, Bowie’s stint at
changeling we came to know, but
peel away the quirky veneer and
Music hall, show tunes and
folk fill the grooves of the
Starman’s first outing
Deram not only gave us the The we find an embryonic Bowie,
Laughing Gnome, re-released in sowing the seeds for his future
1973 at the height of Ziggymania, selves with stories of grotesque
but also some of his first great misfits and outsiders, and like
songs – The London Boys, When I contemporary Syd Barrett, mining
Live My Dream and Karma Man. his childhood for kookiness. The
The 19-year-old signed to the soundtrack is a dizzying mix of
label in the autumn of 1966 and
by the end of the year, he’d The 19-year-old
released his first Deram single,
Rubber Band, and started Bowie signed to
recording sessions for his debut
album. Eponymously titled and in
the label in 1966
the racks on the same day as Sgt. music hall, psych, folk and show
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, tunes delivered with a wink.
the LP became just another in Reissued and repackaged
his long line of flops, derided by endlessly, the best place to track
critics and biographers, ignored down Bowie’s Deram output is
by fans and even dismissed by its on the 2010 deluxe reissue of his
creator: “I didn’t know if I was debut album. Presented in stereo
Max Miller or Elvis Presley,” Bowie and mono, it brings together the
said to Q magazine in 1990. three singles he cut for the label,
Nearly a half-century after its along with the songs rejected by
creation, it’s now a key piece of the Decca selection panel, alternate
the artist’s jigsaw puzzle. mixes and BBC session tracks.

JANUARY 2017 95
 LABELLED WITH LOVE

Mellow Candle SHOPPING LIST

Stack the Hacker high and crank the
volume up to 10 for this infectious
The very expensive jewel in the crown of seventies progressive folk selection of sixties-era 45s from
Decca’s groovy subsidiary

iving Tintern Abbey’s sole material, the progressive obscurity all the more
G 45 (see Shopping List) a
real run for its money in the
arrangements of the songs
and multi-layered harmonies
inexplicable. Happily, time has
been on Mellow Candle’s side
Beverley
Happy New Year
Deram’s debut 45
courtesy of Mrs
collectability stakes, according lend the group’s sole album and the group now enjoys John Martyn. The
to popsike.com, an original unique appeal – and makes its 21st-century cult status. B-side is a gem
with a spiky solo
pressing of Mellow Candle’s from session man
sole 1972 LP recently sold for Jimmy Page.
an eye-watering £3,000+.
Genuinely rare, it’s a brilliantly Cat Stevens
realised progressive folk-rock Matthew and Son
On the surface, a
gem that can be filed alongside catchy baroque-
fellow travellers Trees and the pop song, but the
Sandy Denny-led incarnation lyrics concern the
plight of wage
of Fairport Convention. slaves, making this
The group’s first single, Feelin’ a subversive gem.
High, was released on Simon
Napier-Bell’s proto-indie SNB The Move
records in 1968 – a sun-kissed I Can Hear The
Grass Grow
slice of pop featuring the Stinging guitars,
soaring vocals of teenagers jet-propelled
Clodagh Simonds and Alison bass and fabulous
harmonies all
O’Donnell. By the time of combine to create
Swaddling Songs, guitarist an acid-pop classic.
Dave Williams and the
muscular rhythm section of Procol Harum
bassist Frank Boylan and A Whiter
Shade of Pale
drummer William Murray One of the
had swelled Mellow Candle’s anthems of the
ranks. An album of all-original Summer of Love,
which went on to
sell over 10 million
copies worldwide.

Bill Fay The Flower

Pot Men
The songwriter’s songwriter has enjoyed a remarkable come back Let’s Go To
San Francisco
The group’s only
ill Fay’s albums have been recordings surfaced in the prized on vinyl. An acclaimed UK hit. Spin it next
B revealed to be among
Deram’s greatest treasures,
early noughties, following
the reissue of both of these
album of new material followed
in 2012, Life Is People, with his
to Scott McKenzie
and wear some
flowers in your hair.
finally getting the attention essential Deram recordings, most recent set, Who Is The
they deserve. He recorded which had become highly Sender, emerging last year. Tintern Abbey
an eerie, Mellotron-heavy Beeside
Expect to pay
45, Some Good Advice, for the north of a grand
label in 1967 that sounds every for this stone-cold
bit as out of time now as it classic. Equally
impressive cut
must have on release. Vacuum Cleaner
The orchestral, eponymous resides on the flip.
debut contains one of Fay’s
most well-known songs, The Amen Corner
Be Not So Fearful – brought Bend Me, Shape Me
Smash cover of
to public attention by a cover a song originally
by Wilco, whose leader Jeff recorded by The
Tweedy has made no secret Outsiders. The
Welsh group then
7in sleeves courtesy of 45cat.com

of his love of the composer’s jumped ship for

work – and the expressive rival Immediate.
guitar of improv titan Ray
Russell, who also features Timebox
heavily on Fay’s second Baked Jam Roll
In Your Eye
long-playing release. This peculiar tale of
On 1971’s Time Of The Last a Martian invasion
Persecution, the mood is darker marked the end
of the road for
and the arrangements starker. the oddball band
Fay dropped from sight after from Southport.
his second outing, but archive

96 JANUARY 2017
 100 Shirley Collins 101 Liszt 101 Gabriella Cohen
Lodestar Transcendental Etudes Full Closure
And No Details

Various artists
The Calais Sessions
CD Calais Sessions/Citizens UK

ONE WEEKEND IN September 2015, a group of Moheddin sings of the refugees’ dream of a life with Jamiroquai’s Sola Akingbola on percussion. On
international musicians based in the UK visited the “filled with hard work, pride and worship” and paved Khandahar an entire orchestra of Jungle musicians
refugee and migrant camp in Calais known as The with “love, pride and peace”. create a swirling dance rhythm to lyrics written by
Jungle, their mission to find musicians in the camp It makes a dramatic opener to this extraordinarily two sisters from Afghanistan aged nine and 12.
with whom they could collaborate, write, perform moving album recorded over eight months as a Yesus gorgeously combines the voices of a UK
and record. News of their arrival travelled fast team of volunteers made regular visits to the camp gospel group and a female choir of singers from
around the camp. Within an hour, four Syrian to work with refugees from Syria, Sudan, Romania, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The day after the track was
musicians – two from London and two from the Kuwait, Eritrea and Ethiopia. The volunteers included recorded, the makeshift church they had built on
camp – had formed a group. A makeshift studio was sound engineers, music industry professionals and the camp was bulldozed. Elsewhere, the 21-year-old
set up to record by day and serve as a performance musicians from Jamiroquai, Submotion Orchestra, Kuwait singer Abdullah Kathim and Afghanistan’s
venue by night. The Boxer Rebellion and the Allegri Quartet. Ismail Nazari have two of the most haunting voices
Pic credit: Sarah Hickson

Within 24 hours, the newly formed group had The result is a record on which every track is you’ve ever heard, made even more chilling when
recorded The Lost Singer. Written and sung in a rich radically different and yet the pain of exile and you read their stories of persecution.
and evocative voice by a refugee tailor from Syria the dream of a better future lends an emotional The tragedy behind this music will reduce you to
named Moheddin and featuring his friend Ismail on cohesion that is almost overwhelming. University tears, but it will also lift your heart. The liner notes
percussion plus the London-based duo of Louai Story is a slice of slow burning trip-hop featuring the conclude with the simple words: “These are the
Alhenawi on flute and Roskar Nasan on oud, the voice of Iraqi rapper Kasper. Deskovo Oro showcases people behind the headlines. Thank you for listening.”
song is dedicated to “all the Syrian martyrs” as the wild gypsy fiddle playing of Bogdan Vacarescu The privilege and the pleasure is all ours. NW

JANUARY 2017 99
 MUSICREVIEWS

Pink Martini Kathryn

Je Dis Oui! Williams &
Anthony Kerr
Resonator

CD Wrasse CD One Little Indian

FOR TAKING COCKTAIL lounge music and MERCURY PRIZE-NOMINATED CHANTEUSE

giving it an expansive global twist, there’s no band Kathryn Williams is back with a new collection of
quite as lushly exotic as New York’s Pink Martini. songs, and this time the British singer goes a bit
Their last album featured the von Trapp family of jazz. That she's trying new things and developing
The Sound Of Music fame and the followup is a her sound is a good thing, but those expecting
left-field melange of twisted easy-listening sung in something like Hypoxia or Crown Electric will
half a dozen different languages by female leads be surprised. On this record she teams up with
China Forbes and Storm Large. The ivories tinkle renowned jazz vibraphonist Anthony Kerr and
The Alan like Liberace, the brass blares like James Last, the tackles famous standards. And it's great – her
strings swoon and the harmonies shimmer as they arrangements are mellow, sultry and stripped
Parsons metaphorically glide their way across a Busby down, all suffused with her breathy, delicate vocals,
Project Berkeley film set. Rufus Wainwright guests on a
bewitching version of Blue Moon. NW
although it's unlikely to be anything more than a
curio for hardcore fans. PH
Tales Of Mystery
And Imagination
Shirley Collins
CD/vinyl Universal Lodestar

AFTER HELPING PINK Floyd attain

CD Domino
aural perfection on Dark Side Of The
Moon in his role as chief engineer SHIRLEY COLLINS IS one of the foremost figures
at EMI’s Abbey Road studios, the in British folk and helped the legendary Alan Lomax
band asked Alan Parsons to reprise to collect traditional and American folk songs that
his technical magic on the follow-up now make up this invaluable archive. As a
album Wish You Were Here. He declined performer, 81-year-old Collins has not released an
album for 38 years, and this triumphant return sees
and opted instead to deploy his skills on
her traverse all of her influences – English and
his own project, 1976’s Tales of Mystery American folk, as well as Cajun. It's a stunning,
And Imagination – a musical rendering transcendental record with expert but simple
of the stories of the great American production. Guitars, lutes and mandolins chime;
Do you agree with our reviewers?
horror writer Edgar Allan Poe. Decide for yourself and listen to
pipes wail mournfully; banjos scamper, all giving
Ambitious and brilliantly executed, well-known classics new depth. Collins' voice
some of this month’s tunes at
on the occasion of its 40th anniversary sounds – and this is meant as a compliment –
www.hifichoice.co.uk well lived in. A fantastic, satisfying listen. PH
the landmark recording now gets the
deluxe treatment in a new box set
release comprising the original mix, AUDIOFILE VINYL
Remastered on a pair of Yusef Lateef
The Doctor Is In… And Out
45rpm 12in discs, the 180g vinyl Pure Pleasure/Atlantic
results are audiophile
Alan Parsons Project picture credit: Shutterstock/Artashes

YUSEF LATEEF WAS properly out-there percussion, the ensemble

gothic-horror heaven a multi-instrumentalist produces a really chunky sound that flows into
who studied Eastern the oboe-lead Hellbound. This has a keyboard
a later remix, a new 5.1 surround sound and classical forms, line worthy of Stevie Wonder and leads the band
mix and a CD that contains more than which were woven into a deep jam that gets so funky that you have
70 minutes of previously unreleased into his work on flutes, to check that this is not a CTI release, it certainly
brass and woodwind. has that flavour.
bonus material. Meanwhile, the original
In 1976 he was down On the second side things get even further out,
vinyl album has been remastered at with the funk groove that percolated through jazz Mushmouth brings Wade In The Water to mind
half speed on a pair of 45rpm, 12in 180g at the time. With the aid of a band incorporating and has great guitar/keyboard interplay, but it’s
discs by Miles Showell at Abbey Road, guitar, synth, keyboard percussion and brass, not Technological Homosapien that really pushes
where it all began. The results are not to mention bass from Ron Carter among others. things. Here Lateef uses a sonnet style to tell
to be missed and are quite simply Lateef lays down some damn funky vibes. The of the computer-powered world and techno
audiophile gothic-horror heaven. NW Improvisers finds him leading on flute alongside evolution over a burbling synth. The doctor was
Dana McCurdy’s synth against a backdrop of clearly out, but sounds good while he’s there. JK

100 JANUARY 2017

 MUSICREVIEWS

HIGH RESOLUTION DOWNLOADS DEMO DISCS

Paul Barton, PSB Speakers
Kings Of Leon Red Fang founder and chief designer
WALLS Only Ghosts reveals the music that
he uses to develop and
demo products

FLAC 24-bit/48kHz hdtracks.co.uk FLAC 24-bit/88kHz hdtracks.co.uk

YOU KNOW WHAT you're going to get with IF YOU'RE A fan of metal-tinged grunge rock,
KOL, and these 10 new songs certainly don't Red Fang is for you. Only Ghosts chugs along
re-invent this particular wheel. Things start off satisfactorily, and with Ross Robinson (Slipknot,
in anthemic style with Waste A Moment – all Korn) and Joe Barresi (Kyuss) in the producers'
chiming guitars – and then settle into gear. chairs you know what you're going to get – well Kyung Brian
Around The Wall sounds like The Strokes on an mixed, powerful stuff. A Shadow Of Sound, The Wha Chung Bromberg
average day, Find Me ups the ante a bit, while Deep and Living In Lye are all fantastic riff-heavy Tchaikovsky Piano Jaco
Muchacho and Conversation Piece introduce blasts. It's not going to change the world, but Concerto Nos. 1-3 The deep dynamic
some subtle electronic washes. It's well this is certainly a record that you can get your The Violin Concerto In electric bass guitar
produced, but points to a band coasting. PH air guitar out to. PH D has a full soundstage shows off the ability
and wide orchestral for the bass response
dynamics, plus the to be full range with
Liszt amazing musicality quick attack and
Transcendental Etudes of this violinist. release times.
Daniel Trinonov (piano)

2 CDs Deutsche Grammophon

GIVEN ITS ROSTER of virtuoso pianists, it’s

strange that DG seems never to have had a
complete set of Liszt’s Transcendental Studies in
its catalogue until the version by Alice Sara Ott in Shelby Lynne Benson &
2008. This new recording also adds the Paganini Just a Little Lovin’ Jarreau
Etudes, and five Concert Etudes on a second CD, I like the difference Givin' It Up
thus making it complete. Trinonov has an amazing between the quiet This represents a
technique and is equal to every one of Liszt’s passages and the very fine close-mic
fiendish demands. He offers delicacy and vocal. On a good multi-track studio
Daniel Trinonov's piano playing
proves equal to every one of refinement and makes a beautiful sound that is system you can hear recording with
Liszt's fiendish demands captured in a recording of the highest quality. The the recording tape excellent vocals and
piano is smooth and natural, but very dynamic and pre echo on the silent guitar. Good frequency
articulate when it needs to be. JH break passages. range and dynamics.

Mahler BLU-RAY DVD Gabriella Cohen

Symphony No 10 Full Closure And
International Nina Simone No Details
Mahler orchestra What Happened, Miss Simone
Yoel Gamzou DVD Eagle Vision

T
Trained to be the first black
CD Wergo ffemale classical pianist in Vinyl/CD Dot Dash/Remote Control Records
America, Nina Simone soon
A
IT WAS RATHER remiss of Mahler to die before discovered her colour was an
d SUMMING UP PRECISELY what it is about
completing his 10th symphony, and there have iinsurmountable barrier to that Gabriella Cohen's debut LP that is quite so
been many completions of his unfinished score. dream. So she turned to soul,
d beguiling is quite a challenge. Encapsulating
Most conductors choose the excellent version by jjazz and blues – and made elements of Mazzy Star, Jack White, Nick Cave,
Deryck Cooke, but Yoel Gamzou offers his own music that touched hearts in a way that few fifties surfer rock and compatriot Courtney Barnett,
version. It goes a lot further than any previous can. This doc features extensive footage and Full Closure And No Details is dripping with
completion, and represents a radical reworking of voice over from Simone and reveals how difficult sacharine-rich sweetness and deathly black
Mahler’s sketches. The scoring is much amplified her life was. Her genius was to combine classical darkness in equal measure. With distorted guitars
compared with Cooke, but Mahler’s accent gets styles with modern themes on the piano and belting out this bizarre coming together of garage
lost in the noise. The orchestra plays well, and the sing other people’s songs as if they were her soul and pysch fuzz, this isn't necessarily a winner
live recording has massive impact. But the end own. The sound is good enough to make you for clean, clear harmonics. But for proper tunes
result sounds less like authentic Mahler than want to hear the original songs once more. JK and a vibrant kaleidoscope of swirling girl-group
Cooke’s sparer more circumspect version. JH melodies it takes some beating. Superb stuff. JDW

JANUARY 2017 101

 WISH YOU WERE HERE
From blissed-out
bl d psychedelia
h d l to mainstream rockk bbehemoths,
h h Pinkk Floyd
l dh have
been on one hell of a trip. Nigel Williamson looks over some of the highlights
n May 2017 Pink Floyd will includes some of the most instantly power struggle over the right to carry the

I officially become a relic with the

opening of Their Mortal Remains
at the Victoria & Albert Museum,
recognisable music and some of the most
iconic album covers in rock history. Yet the
band themselves have remained almost
torch and represent the Floyd’s legacy.
Waters on his solo tours billed himself
as “the genius and soul of Pink Floyd” but
an exhibition billed as an “immersive, invisible outside their body of work. it was a hollow boast. Pink Floyd were
multi-sensory and theatrical journey through “Which one is Pink?” a hapless record always “greater than the sum of our parts,”
Pink Floyd’s extraordinary world”. The company executive is said to have asked as Gilmour put it, and none of the solo
timing is felicitous: 2017 marks the 50th early in the band’s career – a line which then projects by any of the group’s members
anniversary of 1967’s psychedelic ‘summer mockingly turned up in Have A Cigar on the have matched the musical majesty – or
of love’ and no British band personifies the group’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The the commercial success – of their collective
spirit of those heady times more evocatively work as a band.
than Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd became the
The exhibition will also chronicle how the Brand on the run
Floyd outgrew their early origins in the ultimate ‘album band’, As Pink Floyd became a multi-million dollar
underground counterculture of hippiedom business, a legion of lawyers, accountants
to become a mainstream rock behemoth as
mixing space-rock epics and marketing consultants set about turning
albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish with woozy pastoralism them into a brand. Yet the Floyd brand was
You Were Here and The Wall made them one ultimately not built on merchandising and
of the biggest-selling and most-influential point was, of course, that there never was balance sheets, but on the uniqueness of
acts in musical history. any ‘Pink’. Despite their vast wealth and their music. As progenitors of psychedelia,
To boast a legacy venerable and burnished status, the band’s members have stubbornly they asked us to open our minds and explore
enough to become a museum exhibit and at maintained the profile of anti-celebrities: the boundaries of both outer and inner
the same time remain a vibrant influence no picture of the band has ever appeared on space. As prog rockers they journeyed still
on every generation that has followed is the front cover of any of their records since deeper into the unknown. Even when
some achievement – and with due respect to 1969 and it was often said that they could they addressed more tangible concerns –
Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran et al, walk through the audience at their own madness, fame, alienation and the pressures
it is hard to imagine any of today’s titans still concerts completely unrecognised. of modern living on albums such as Dark
exercising such an enduring grip on our That is not to say that there weren’t some Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here and
cultural consciousness in 50 years time. larger-than-lifer and ego-fuelled characters The Wall, the mood remained fascinating
And yet despite their ubiquity in popular within the group, from doomed early leader and elusive, an invitation to our imagination
culture, Pink Floyd have managed to retain Syd Barrett to Roger Waters and David to interpret what we were hearing through
an enigmatic mystique. Their back catalogue Gilmour, who in later years fought a bitter an infinite prism of meaning.

102 JANUARY 2017

 MUSIC LEGENDS
PINK FLOYD

Although they took their name from two

obscure American bluesmen, Pink Anderson
and Floyd Council, there was always
something quintessentially English about
Pink Floyd. If they hadn’t formed a band in
late 1965, Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Nick
Mason and even the mercurial Syd Barrett
might have become architects, solicitors or
university lecturers. Instead, as the nascent
British ‘underground’ began to coalesce in
the course of 1966, Pink Floyd became
what Roger Waters’ described as “the
movement’s house orchestra”, playing
‘happenings’ at the Marquee Club, the
Roundhouse and the UFO club in London’s
Tottenham Court Road, which by early 1967
had become an epicentre of the emerging
hippie counterculture.
Inspired by the freewheeling idealism of
the times and fuelled by copious amounts
of hallucinogenic drugs, the Floyd’s sound
left behind its R&B roots and took on an
increasingly improvisational and experimental
The classic lineup
sensibility, their music accompanied at live of the band
gigs by a primitive light show.
Picture credits: Both images courtesy of Pink Floyd Music Ltd

Pop tarts and took them high into the poptastic realms long-playing album was swiftly displacing
Yet the early Pink Floyd was still essentially of the top 10. the three-minute juke box single as the
a pop group, albeit one with a distinctly It was all too much for Barrett who fell principle form of expression, music was now
psychedelic flavour and after signing to apart and had a mental breakdown, rock ‘for the head’ rather than for dancing and the
EMI, it fell to Barrett as the band’s main music’s first notable ‘acid case’. By early core audience was to be found in student
songwriter to come up with three-minute 1968 he had been replaced by Dave Gilmour, union bars rather than at home in parental
chart-oriented singles. who like Barrett and Waters, came from living rooms watching Top Of The Pops.
Initially he rose to the challenge brilliantly Cambridge and who slotted in seamlessly In short, pop music had grown up. The
with Arnold Layne and then the lysergic on guitar. Barrett went on to record a brace ‘progressive’ era had dawned and Pink
surge of See Emily Play, which NME of unhinged solo albums but by the Floyd were in its vanguard.
described as “crammed with weird mid-seventies had retreated back to Gilmour described prog as “a genuine
oscillations, reverberations, electronic Cambridge where he lived as a recluse until attempt to find a new way forward beyond
vibrations and fuzzy rumblings”. The his death in 2006, seemingly impervious to the diktat of the three-minute pop song”.
summer of love had arrived trailing clouds his cult status as a wayward genius. Starting with 1968’s post-Syd A Saucerful Of
of psychedelic glory and See Emily Play led By the time of his retreat in 1968, seismic Secrets, Floyd became the ultimate ‘album
to Pink Floyd appearing on Top Of The Pops changes were also taking place in the music band’, mixing space-rock epics such as Set
industry and the post-Barrett Floyd were The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun and
perfectly placed to exploit them. The Careful With That Axe Eugene with the woozy
ALBUM BY ALBUM
1967 1968 1969 1969 1970

PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS MORE UMMAGUMMA ATOM HEART MOTHER
Syd Barrett dominates the Despite losing Barrett, the The soundtrack to Barbet A brave double set, consisting The Floyd’s ‘progiest’ art-
only album he made with the ‘summer of love’ spirit infuses Schroeder’s Ibizan hippie film of a fine live album and a rock album, the suite-length
Floyd, writing all the songs what might have been a found Gilmour coming to the patchy second disc dedicated title track features orchestra
and taking lead vocals. The difficult second album, fore not just as a guitarist to solo experiments by all four and choir, but smartly
whimsical subject matter but instead it turned into a but also as lead singer. group members, in which manages to avoid toppling
includes gnomes, scarecrows triumph thanks to classics The highlight is Cirrus Waters’ Grantchester into pretentiousness, while
and bicycles as well as the like Set The Controls For The Minor, a perfect synthesis Meadows and Gilmour’s the second side consists of
space epics Astronomy Domine Heart Of The Sun and Let of the Floyd’s pastoral and The Narrow Way stand an often gorgeous four-song
and Interstellar Overdrive. There Be More Light. space-rock modes. out as classic Floyd. pastoral sequence.

JANUARY 2017 103

 MUSIC LEGENDS
PINK FLOYD

tensions. Waters subsequently opined that in

addition to turning Pink Floyd into the
biggest-selling band in the world, Dark Side
Of The Moon was also the record that
“finished Pink Floyd off once and for all”.
Given that he would remain with the band
for another decade and write virtually all of
the material on four further chart-topping
Floyd albums, on the surface it was a curious
pronouncement. Yet one can see what he
meant. By the time The Wall was released in
1979, Mason and Wright had been reduced
to little more than sidemen and were not
even mentioned in the record’s packaging.
A more immediate problem, however, was
how to follow Dark Side Of The Moon. It took
two and a half years and Waters described
the process as “laborious and tortured”.
When Wish You Were Here finally appeared
in 1975 it was themed around the concepts
And then there were of absence and alienation, partly influenced
three: post-Waters Floyd by the lost-in-action spectre of Syd Barrett,
whose troubled spirit inspired the lead track
pastoralism of songs such as Fat Old Sun and regarded as an inordinately long gestation
Grantchester Meadows. period at the time, found Waters taking “Which one is Pink?” a
On 1970’s Atom Heart Mother, one entire charge as he came up with all of the lyrics,
side was taken up with the six-part suite of which addressed the fear, madness and record executive is said
the title track. The following year’s Meddle paranoia of modern living on tracks such as
devoted the whole of side two to the Time, Breathe, Us And Them and Money.
to have asked early in
prog-epic Echoes. The cinematic quality of “Roger worked all sorts of hours on the the band’s career
their music was also much in demand with concept and the lyrics while the rest of us
film-makers and they created atmospheric went home to enjoy our suppers,” noted Shine On You Crazy Diamond. When Barrett
scores for Michelangelo Antonio’s Zabriskie Gilmour, whose glistening, liquid guitar solos turned up unexpectedly in the studio while
Point and Barbet Schroeder’s More, while remained at the core of the sound. But with they were recording the album, his former
their 1972 album Obscured By Clouds was Waters contributing the concept and all of band mates initially didn’t even recognise
essentially the soundtrack to La Vallée, the lyrics, he began increasingly to regard the bald and bloated figure that was dressed
another Schroeder film (see HFC 417). Pink Floyd as “his” band. like a tramp.
By the time Obscured By Clouds was It was an attitude that would create huge By the time Animals was released in 1977,
released, the group was already in the studio strife and eventually result in a fissure. The the punk insurrection was in full-on rampancy,
working on its next album, which would gargantuan success of Dark Side Of The its ‘year zero’ adherents deriding Pink Floyd
transform them from underground prog-rock Moon – which remains the third biggest- and their ilk as “dinosaurs” and “old farts”.
heroes into mainstream musical aristocracy. selling album of all time, only outstripped by But although several lesser prog-rock acts
Dark Side Of The Moon, which took 15 Michael Jackson’s Thriller and AC/DC’s Back wilted under the onslaught, Pink Floyd were
months from conception to completion, In Black – further exacerbated the internal barely affected as they loftily gazed down

1971 1972 1973 1975 1977

MEDDLE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS DARK SIDE OF THE MOON WISH YOU WERE HERE ANIMALS
One Of These Days kicks off Perhaps Floyd’s most Meticulously planned, striking Sleeker, steelier, chillier Beneath the nursery rhyme
the album with an electronic conventional rock album, tunes and lyrics, intriguing and more cynical than its oinking, barking and
sheen that marks the Floyd which may explain why it was sound effects and predecessor, some fans rate bleating and song titles like
out as techno pioneers. their first to break into the immaculately produced, this even more highly than Pigs, Sheep and Dogs lies
But the undoubted highlight American top 50. The 10 there’s both depth and Dark Side. Musically it’s a some of the Floyd’s bleakest
is the 23-minute Echoes, tracks are short and emotion: put on a pair of close-run thing with some and angriest music in which
which crystallises the early simple with little sonic headphones and you will still of Gilmour’s most soulful the idealism of the sixties
Floyd’s expansive sense experimentation – and no marvel at the sonic detail all soloing and Waters’ writing has given way to a darkly
of adventure. hint of what was to come. these years on. at its most intense. dystopian vision.

104 JANUARY 2017

 MUSIC LEGENDS
PINK FLOYD

from the summit of rock’s Mount Olympus at and Joanne Whalley. But for Pink Floyd the exchange of insults that ensued was
the seething streets below. writing was well and truly on the wall. unedifying; yet instead of destroying the
And in an odd and unintentional way, With Wright ousted at Waters’ insistence and mystique, the feuding only seemed to
perhaps Animals reflected something of the working as a hired hand rather than a member deepen Pink Floyd’s enigmatic appeal.
anger, nihilism and sputum of punk, a grimly of the group and the semi-detached Mason When Waters lost the battle, two further
Orwellian-derived concept on the sorry state spending more time with his collection of Pink Floyd albums appeared under Gilmour’s
of humanity in which Waters attacked the vintage Ferrari and Bugatti cars than with his leadership, 1987’s A Momentary Lapse Of
ruling classes, rapacious capitalism and the drums, the recording of 1983’s The Final Cut Reason and 1994’s The Division Bell. To the
apathy of the masses. was a grim experience, with Gilmour accusing chagrin of Waters, both were enthusiastically
Waters of having reached a “megalomaniac received by fans with sky-high sales and
This is Spinal Tap... record-breaking tour receipts.
Just as striking was the cover, which featured Despite their wealth, There was widespread astonishment,
the memorable image of an inflatable pig therefore, when the following year he agreed
floating above Battersea Power Station, they have stubbornly to reunite with Gilmour, Wright and Mason to
while the stadium tour that accompanied play at Live 8 in Hyde Park. It was the first
Animals release took rock theatricality to
maintained the profile time the classic Floyd lineup had played
new heights of ambition with props that of anti-celebrities together in 24 years since the final concert on
included a flying pig that exploded over The Wall tour at Earl’s Court in 1981 – and it
the audience, an inflatable nuclear family, stage where he could not tolerate anyone else would be the last. They performed just four
fireworks which released sheep-shaped having any say in what was going on”. numbers ending with Comfortably Numb and
parachutes when they exploded and giant The Final Cut might have been called the then went their separate ways again.
animations by the cartoonist Gerald Scarfe. final straw, although Waters did not officially The death of Wright in 2008 extinguished
The tour that accompanied Pink Floyd’s leave the band until 1985. When Gilmour all hope of a further reunion, although
Picture credits: left-hand page: Albert Watson. Right-hand page: Andy Earl

next project, 1979’s The Wall, was even and Mason then brought Wright back into Gilmour and Mason guested during a Waters
more lavish. Conceived by Waters as both the fold and announced Pink Floyd would concert at the O2 Arena in 2011. There was
a stage show and an album, it was the continue as a trio, Waters took legal action one further surprising coda to the Pink Floyd
most ambitious ‘rock opera’ since The Who’s to stop them using the name. The public saga in 2014 with the release of The Endless
Tommy and told the self-referential story of a R
River, the first
rock star and the psychological “bricks” that F
Floyd album in
confine and imprison him. 2 years. Based
20
Reviews of the album were suspicious and o material left
on
almost uniformly terrible. Melody Maker o
over from the
accused Waters of “choking on his own s
sessions for The
platitudes”, NME called the album D
Division Bell, it
“hopelessly clichéd” and even Time b
became the most
magazine joined in to accuse Waters of p
pre-ordered LP in
“narcissism”. Even so, that didn’t prevent A
Amazon’s history
The Wall from selling 24 million copies or a topped the
and
the extracted Another Brick In The Wall U charts. Even
UK
topping the singles charts on both sides t
though the
of the Atlantic. b
band no longer
After the spectacularly theatrical live shows The Floyd in Prague e
existed, Pink
back in 1994
came the movie version, directed by Alan F
Floyd still couldn’t
Parker and starring Bob Geldof, Bob Hoskins b eclipsed ●
be

1979 1983 1987 1994 2014

THE WALL THE FINAL CUT A MOMENTARY LAPSE THE DIVISION BELL THE ENDLESS RIVER
The concept might be over the Almost a Waters solo album, but OF REASON A return to form with Almost entirely instrumental,
top and self indulgent, but his monomaniacal anti-militarist Gilmour’s attempt to return to Gilmour’s new wife Polly a fitting epitaph largely
there’s no denying the sonic vision – inspired both by the the classic Floyd sound of the Sansom providing the lyrics built from tapes rescued
ambition which makes The Wall death of his father killed seventies is somewhat and a quiet power in the from The Division Bell
a monumental aural treat from in battle in WW2 and the undermined by the bombastic music as the empathy sessions and smartly
the inventive use of synths and Falklands war – lends the eighties production – and the between Gilmour’s guitar reworked into an impressively
sound effects to perhaps the album a compelling intensity, lack of substance in the songs and Wright’s keyboards cohesive whole by Gilmour
definitive Floyd guitar solo on enhanced by Michael Kame’s indicates how much they were manages to restore the and co-producers Youth
Comfortably Numb. stately orchestrations. missing Roger Waters. Floyd’s eternal mystery. and Phil Manzanera.

JANUARY 2017 105

 THEKNOWLEDGE

Take the floor

With more floorstanding speakers available than ever, we look at how
choosing the right design for your room can lead to hi-fi nirvana
ack in the beginnings of home advancements, along with improvements in Loudspeakers invariably contain multiple

B audio, horn loudspeakers were

made for use with radios and
were usually separate from the
amplifiers, resulted in high-quality bookshelf
models. Nevertheless, it’s always been a fact
of physics that reproducing low frequencies
drivers designed to handle different bands of
audio frequencies. The bass driver, or ‘woofer’
is the largest and is designed to move the
radio itself. This was a derivative of the requires large movements of air that a smaller volume of air required to reproduce low
horns fitted to early phonographs, which cabinet will never be able to achieve. frequencies. Meanwhile, the tweeter caters
were purely mechanical reproduction Apart from the obvious problem of size, one for the high-frequencies at the top end.
devices. It was the invention of the Audion of the main issues with floorstanding speakers Optionally, a midrange driver covers the
triode amplifying valve by Dr Lee de Forest is that the panels are large and can make tiny midband frequencies. This requires a
in 1906 that changed everything and paved movements. This can result in unwanted relatively small enclosure while the tweeter’s
the way for the development of the paper resonances that need to be eliminated, which enclosure is often part of the drive unit itself.
cone loudspeaker drivers that were is where internal bracing comes in. So, the bulk of the loudspeaker cabinet is
introduced in the mid-twenties. As radio usually designed to support the woofer, which
cabinets began to be made larger to enclose Brace yourself is where a floorstander comes into its own.
both the electronics and the loudspeaker, Early drive units were simply mounted on an One of the simplest cabinet designs is the
designers discovered that the enclosure had open baffle, or a piece of braced wood with a sealed box or infinite baffle. Here, the driver
a major effect on the bass response of the hole in it to accommodate the driver. Apart is mounted in a very large sealed enclosure.
speaker. And so a brave new world of from being cheap to produce, this allowed Conceptually, an infinite baffle is a flat baffle
experimentation with various different the electronics (which produced significant that extends out to infinity in both directions.
designs of enclosure began. heat) to have free air flow from the rear of While a genuine infinite baffle remains
Up until the late fifties, high-quality home the enclosure. The snag with this approach is effectively impossible, a very large baffle such
loudspeakers were all floorstanding while that the cone and its suspension of the drive as the wall of a room can be considered to
smaller alternatives had a reputation for unit has its own natural resonant frequency, be a practical equivalent. A genuine infinite
being cheaper and offering poor audio quality. which can cause unwanted peaks in the baffle loudspeaker has an infinite volume, but
That all changed in the sixties as some response curve. It’s for this reason that in practice, an infinite-baffle loudspeaker is a
manufacturers began to make more compact cabinets are designed specifically to meet speaker enclosed in a box large enough for it
high-fidelity speakers and technical the requirements of the drive units. to behave as if the drive unit is mounted in a

106 JANUARY 2017

 THEKNOWLEDGE

– as the sound from the rear of the cone is MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE

180° out of phase compared with the front –
it reinforces the bass below resonance. With Once you have your floorstanders correctly
careful design and damping at strategic points positioned (see Tuning your room HFC 417), you
should consider the floor that you are standing
within the line, it also damps out the natural them on. A good way of reducing the vibrations
resonance of the woofer to provide a very flat from your speakers being transmitted to your floor,
and well-extended bass response. Among and vice versa, is to use spikes fitted to the base.
These will penetrate the carpet and sit on the floor
the first examples of this enclosure design underneath, which is fine if you have a concrete
approach were proposed by Dr AR Bailey and floor, but not so good if you have a polished wood
AH Radford in Wireless World magazine in surface. In this instance, you can fit spike shoes,
which are typically discs of metal with a dimple in
1965 and by Chris Rogers in Practical Hi-Fi the middle to accommodate the spike and protect
and Audio in 1976, as well as the commercial the floor. An alternative approach is to put the
designs, such as those from IMF Electronics, speaker on some form of isolation platform, such as
Townshend’s Seismic Isolation Bars, which provide
which received critical acclaim at the time. damped and sprung isolation through the use of
As previously mentioned, most loudspeakers individual load cells.
employ multiple drivers to cover the entire Room tuning is an important consideration and
audio spectrum. Budget speakers may opt for you may want to think about using some acoustic
baffles placed in strategic locations around the
Bi- and tri-wiring allows a single drive unit or one-way design. The room. These are also known as bass traps and can
independent cables to be drive unit is a full-range driver that has a be very effective. A fine example are those from GIK
used for each drive unit
dome in the centre to radiate the high Acoustics (HFC 367). They are especially useful
when placed in the corners of the room and will help
frequencies, leaving the cone to transmit with some boundary reflections in the front of the
genuine infinite baffle. Noting that the sound the bass and midrange frequencies. room and with front-to-back standing wave issues
radiation from the rear of a cone is out of that can result in a boomy bass.
phase with the radiation from the front, the Two-way configurations Fitting bungs into the speaker’s ports can also
help tune the bass response to your room. Some
infinite baffle effectively isolates the sound Two-way designs have a separate woofer manufacturers supply foam bungs with their
from the rear of the cone and this can be and tweeter to handle the lower and higher speakers. They often use an open-cell foam so they
dissipated by wadding in the enclosure that frequencies respectively. The advantage of don’t block the port tube completely, but instead
impede the flow of air in it. Many transmission line
effectively converts this energy into heat. this approach is that each drive unit can speakers have a foam panel in the exit port of
However, this doesn’t address the issue of the be designed to handle a narrower band of the line, which helps match the line to the room.
cone’s resonance. frequencies and so doesn’t have to make the However, if you are fitting them yourself, remember
that less is more and too much bunging will alter the
necessary compromises to handle the full acoustic properties of the speaker that have been
Bass reflex audio spectrum. However, an additional correctly tuned by the manufacturer.
A bass-reflex loudspeaker is a sealed passive electronic circuit, or crossover
enclosure that has a vent or port to improve network, has to be included to make sure the
the low-frequency output while taming correct range of frequencies is fed to the
the natural resonance of the driver. The appropriate drive unit. A crossover consists
dimensions of the enclosure and port have to of capacitors, inductors and resistors and
be carefully calculated and matched to the high-quality components are required to
driver. The port exploits the principles of a work at the power levels found in a speaker.
Helmholtz resonator to dampen the driver’s The crossover network is more complex on
resonance. The port tuning frequency is a three-way loudspeakers as it has to separate
function of its cross section and length. As three bands of frequencies. A variation on
with all sealed enclosures, the box may the three-way speaker, the 2½-way has the
be empty, lined or filled with damping midrange and high frequencies filtered from
materials. This enclosure type is common the woofer while the bass is not filtered from
and is more efficient than a sealed enclosure the midrange. This requires a simpler (and
of the same volume, making it suitable for cheaper) crossover than a three-way design,
both bookshelf and floorstanding designs. although the midrange driver will receive the
A variation of the bass-reflex enclosure bass frequencies in addition to the midrange
is the passive radiator speaker. This uses a frequencies. This can make the midrange
second passive driver (another cone unit that sound slightly muddy.
has no voice coil), also known as an auxiliary Having multiple drive units allows bi-wiring
bass radiator. It provides a similar low- and tri-wiring. This means that a separate
frequency extension and control of resonance speaker wire can be used for the different
to a ported enclosure. The passive driver band of frequencies of the drive units and is
moves in response to changing pressures accommodated by simple modifications to the
inside the enclosure. crossover design. Some believe that running a
A transmission line enclosure has, in theory, separate speaker cable for the bass connection
an infinitely long line that is stuffed with and another for the midrange and treble
absorbent material so that all the rear results in an improvement in sound quality,
radiation of the driver is fully absorbed, but of course this requires twice the amount
down to the lowest frequencies. A practical of speaker cable, and so can be costly.
transmission line is a tapered enclosure Whatever type of floorstander you choose,
whose length is around a quarter of the the same advice as always applies: try to
wavelength of the resonant frequency of the audition your preferred models in your
woofer. The line is folded so that the far end listening room before making a final decision,
exits at the front of the speaker and exploits as they are a key component of your audio
the fact that the sound undergoes a 180° system and play a significant part in the sonic
phase shift through the quarter-wave line and prowess of your setup ●

JANUARY 2017 107

 THEKNOWLEDGE

FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKERS £299-£4,990

Fabulous floorstanders
Our pick of the best tower speakers designed to take your main system
to the next level with a sound that gets you closer to sonic heaven

ATC ELAC Quad

SCM19A F5 Z-3
PRICE: £4,990 TELEPHONE: 01285 760683 PRICE: £599 TELEPHONE: 01285 643088 PRICE: £2,500 TELEPHONE: 01480 447700
WEB: atcloudspeakers.co.uk REVIEWED: HFC 413 WEB: elac.com REVIEWED: HFC 411 WEB: quad-hifi.co.uk REVIEWED: HFC 416

The active version of ATC’s largest passive The entry-level floorstander in ELAC’s Debut According to Quad’s design supremo Peter
standmount (the SCM19 – HFC 390), the lineup, the F5 is the work of British speaker Comeau, the Z range from which this
SCM19A comes with separate amplifiers wunderkind Andrew Jones – formerly of KEF and floorstander comes is about as close an
optimised for each driver’s frequency band latterly of TAD. It’s a big box for the money and is approach to the ESL sound as you’re likely to
(32W to the tweeter and 150W to the mid/bass not unattractive to look at. It employs the same find from a box with dynamic drivers. Key to
unit), with intermodulation distortion reduced family of bespoke designed drive units as the this success is, of course, the ribbon tweeter,
by around 20dB due to the fact the dedicated Debut B6 standmount (HFC 407), but runs as which is nearly twice the size of the one you’ll
amps operate over a narrower range. a true three-way loudspeaker. The two lower find in Quad’s S series. Completing the
Meanwhile, the active filters give better roll-off drivers work as woofers, wired in parallel, while package are brand new Kevlar-weave bass
characteristics and improve polar response to the upper large driver is the mid/bass unit and on and midrange drivers, re-engineered
deliver a larger soundstage with precise stable top of that is the tweeter. The F5 employs a bass- crossover networks, a more elaborate design
imaging. Each enclosure weighs 31kg, which is reflex port to provide deeper low frequencies of reflex port and those lovely enclosures
not all down to the onboard amplification and than you’d otherwise get from a cabinet of this with ‘boat back’ curves and sloping tops.
heavy mid-bass driver. The braced, sealed and size. This makes the speaker easier to drive, but Multiple layers of lacquer are applied over
multi-layer laminated cabinets are superbly also means it offers a rather poor (quoted) black, white or rosewood veneers, with each
finished in cherry or black ash real-wood sensitivity of 85.5dB. Considering the price, the being hand polished to a sheen to give that
veneer and feel outstandingly sturdy. F5 looks impressively presentable in its unusual stunning finish that has to be seen in the flesh.
black brushed vinyl finish.
Sound quality Sound quality
Even if you’re familiar with the dynamic Sound quality It’s often said that the most satisfying speaker
largess and gloriously unhyped presentation Impressively, the F5 is so much more than just a is one that manages to nail the elusive sweet
of the standmount version of the passive lot of loudspeaker for relatively little money. It’s spot between refinement and excitement,
SCM19, the floorstanding active version takes an extremely well-crafted budget floorstander and the good news is the Z-3 does this so well
performance up a level. In raw terms it goes that allows the listener to enjoy a wide range of that it has an almost chameleon-like ability to
louder with less distortion while exhibiting music in the spirit it was intended. While some ‘become’ the music rather than bending it to
tighter control, wider and more finely graded speakers have an obvious character that flatters its will. Its capability with all types of music,
dynamic contrasts, a deeper, harder hitting some music while detracting from others, the F5 however loud or soft, and its impeccable
bass and greater rhythmic impetus and drive. is a well-rounded product at the price that’s imaging, makes it one of Quad’s finest.
If you really want to hear what your music never less than enormous fun to listen to.
collection sounds like, look no further. WE SAY: Finally a speaker to step out
WE SAY: A charming and musically of the shadow of the ESL, the Z-3 has
WE SAY: An important and effective exciting design that is one of the best in muscle and poise to spare
addition to ATC’s range and one of the crowded budget floorstander market
the best active designs at the price

108 JANUARY 2017

 THEKNOWLEDGE

Correct positioning of your speakers is extremely important. If you place walls will tend to either reinforce or cancel the reflections from the sides,
them too close to a wall, it will tend to reinforce the bass at particular creating another potential source of peaks and troughs in frequency
frequencies. Obviously, having them too far away from the wall is response. Another issue is the apparent soundstage depth. Increasing the
impractical, but try to aim for at least 30cm as a starting point. Also, ensure distance from the speaker to the wall behind will increase depth, but this
HELP & that the distances of the speakers from the back walls and the side walls can have a detrimental effect on instrument focus. A trial and error
ADVICE are different. If they are the same, the inevitable reflections from the back approach will help determine the best positioning for your loudspeakers.

Spendor Tannoy Totem

A5R Eclipse Three Sttaf
PRICE: £1,995 TELEPHONE: 01323 843474 PRICE: £299 TELEPHONE: 01236 420199 PRICE: £1,799 TELEPHONE: 0032 15 285585
WEB: spendoraudio.com REVIEWED: HFC 413 WEB: tannoy.com REVIEWED: HFC 415 WEB: totemacoustic.com REVIEWED: HFC 417

A newly revised floorstander, the A5R is Every now and then a product comes along The disarmingly slim Sttaf goes against the
designed for medium-sized rooms where the offering a mixture of performance and price norm of having an imposing stature, standing
larger dimensions of Spendor’s A6 prove just that are just too good to be true and you find just 850mm high and weighing in at a
too intrusive. While it’s easy on the eye, closer yourself asking where’s the catch? Standing comparatively featherweight 10kg.
inspection reveals it’s rather different to most nearly a metre tall on its sturdy outrigger feet, Nonetheless there’s clearly a painstaking
of its floorstanding rivals in that it eschews the with an internal volume of 26 litres and amount of precision work that’s gone into the
bass port. This is an infinite baffle design, sporting three good-looking drive units, the construction of this svelte speaker. This starts
which means there’s none of the time smearing Eclipse Three is a perfect example of such a with the construction of the enclosure. The
of reflex-ported designs, while bass notes stop phenomenon, but hard as we try, it’s difficult joints between the panels are made using
and start in a more natural way. The 2.5-way to figure out where corners have been cut. traditional interlocking mitering methods for
design sports three drive units. The bass has a The slightly larger than usual 28mm woven superior fit, strength and sealing. The box is
cast magnesium allow chassis, high-efficiency polyester dome tweeter claims an impressive stiffened by two cross braces and as it’s only
motor system and optimised electro-dynamic 32kHz frequency ceiling, while the brace of minimally damped, the bottom can be mass
damping. The 150mm polymer midrange 127mm mid/bass drivers employ light and stiff loaded to aid stability – although Totem is of
crosses over to the Kevlar composite 150mm coated enriched paper pulp cones. The spec the opinion that it sounds better without.
bass driver at 900Hz, while at the other end of rates system efficiency at 90dB, yet the Eclipse There are just the two drive units, a 25mm
the range – at 4.6kHz – is the 22mm tweeter. is said to be comfortable with peaks fabric dome tweeter and a 140mm mid/bass
approaching 240W. driver with a doped paper cone.
Sound quality
The infinite baffle cabinet demonstrates Sound quality Sound quality
impeccable precision. All the instruments are Clearly the Eclipse Three doesn’t sound as This gem of a speaker blows the misnomer
placed accurately and lead vocals are carried good as its more expensive rivals on these that you need a big box with multiple drivers
with confidence, hanging ethereally above the pages, but for the modest asking price it’s a to create a convincing sound clear out of the
rest of the mix. You find yourself drawn to the ridiculously canny proposition. The treble is water. It throws out a far wider and deeper
vocal line because of the A5R’s innate clarity free from spitty brightness and grain, the tonal soundstage than it has any right to, partnered
and smoothness in the midband, which is balance sits just the right side of neutral and with convincing spatial perspective and
partnered to a tight, taut and propulsive bass there’s plenty of bass for your buck, too. Okay, stunning cohesion. The bass might be a little
that is very well timed and largely devoid of so it won’t go as deep as some rivals here can, softer than many, but it is tuneful, decently
weight. The Spendor has the sort of refined but the bass that it does manage to conjure up extended and effortlessly musical.
musicality one would expect from a high-end is beautifully measured and controlled with
speaker, but at an affordable price. The slight satisfying weight and extension, but with WE SAY: Don’t be put off by the distinctly
lack of punch and vitality is a given, nothing in the way of bloat or boom. titchy dimensions, this svelte
considering its size. floorstander is a mini marvel
WE SAY: The Eclipse Three is that rare
WE SAY: Regardless of price, you’ll thing; a budget floorstander that’s
struggle to find a better-performing capable of a terrific performance
loudspeaker at this size

JANUARY 2017 109

 THEKNOWLEDGE

Floorstander
accessories
Having chosen your perfect loudspeaker, you’re
going to need some add-ons to really optimise its
performance,
nce, here
here’s
e s our pick of the best
BLACK RHODIUM TWIST VS-4 £195
(FOR A 3M PAIR)
TELEPHONE: 01332 342233
WEBSITE: blackrhodium.co.uk
TESTED: HFC 416
This surprisingly flexible speaker cable
provides fantastic sound quality with a huge
dynamic range and excellent timing.

TOWNSHEND SEISMIC ISOLATION

PODIUM £1,500 PER PAIR
TELEPHONE: 07808 789002
WEBSITE: townshendaudio.com
Suitable for wood, tile or carpeted floors,
the Seismic Podium brakes the acoustic
connection between the floor and the
speaker, cutting out those nasty vibrations.

RUSS ANDREWS KIMBER ATC SE

JUMPERS FROM £42.50
TELEPHONE: 01539 797300
WEBSITE: russandrews.com
TESTED: HFC 403
If you opt to not take the bi-wire route, these
well-made jumpers will give your top-end
SPEC CORPORATION RSP-501EX performance and added smoothness.
REAL-SOUND PROCESSOR £495
TELEPHONE: 0203 5442338
WEBSITE: nunudistribution.co.uk
TESTED: HFC 410
They might not look like much, but these
little magical boxes will help to widen and
deepen the soundstage of your speakers.

THE CHORD COMPANY CLEARWAY

£156 (FOR 3M)
TELEPHONE: 01980 625700
WEBSITE: chord.co.uk
TESTED: HFC 405
These stylish silver foil speaker cables
give a clear, well paced and exciting
performance with excellent imaging.

110 JANUARY 2017

 Christmas deals on Bel Canto systems: Up to 10% off or
up to 20% to spend on award-winning Analysis+ cables

Bel Canto is famous for delivering stunning sound quality coupled with beautiful design. Their award-winning
e.One series proves that elegant, compact components can provide truly world-class audio. From the ultra
high-end Bel Canto Black system to a single box e.One solution, we have the full range available for demonstration.
Please come to our Cambridge showroom where you can relax and listen in one of our purpose-built demo rooms.

www.criterionaudio.com [email protected] 01223 233730

AND MANY,
MANY MORE
 A Versatile Affordable SE Solution!
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You are welcome to contact us for more information by phone or email. Colour brochure on request. Phone, email or see our website.
UK price inc VAT £1999.95
www.iconaudio.com [email protected] (+44) 0116 2440593 Leicester UK
 EXTRAS

Pure
Evoke H6 portable DAB radio

UK-BASED PURE WAS recently

sold off to a venture capital outfit
in Austria, but it’s business as usual
for the time being and it has just
updated its Evoke range of digital
radios in time for Christmas. Prices
start at £129 for the new H3 model,
and £170 for the H4, both of which
are based around a single 3in
(76mm) driver. Here we look at the
top-of-the-range H6, which adds a
second driver for stereo sound.
It’s a neatly designed unit, with a
sturdy wooden cabinet that looks
smart and helps to reduce vibrations.
And, despite that second driver, it’s
not quite as bulky as the specs on
Pure’s website suggest. The actual
dimensions are 305 x 155 x 110mm
(WxHxD), so it’ll sit comfortably on
any shelf or tabletop at home. The
H6 runs off mains power, but Pure
sells an optional battery pack (£35)
that it claims will provide up to 50
hours of playback.

Feature comforts turn on just in time to catch the new in that sweet spot to get any real
Sitting between the two drivers is Norah Jones album, with the piano, sense of left/right separation from
a 2.8in colour display that shows electric keyboard and double bass the two drivers, and the sound
station information, while a set of of Carry On all sounding clear and doesn’t really allow an expansive
buttons and dials below the screen distinct, while Jones’ voice is warm production, such as Enya’s
allow you to adjust the volume, and smooth in the foreground. Watermark album, to really breathe
select various menu options, and Switching to the 128kbps of Classic into the space around it. That might
create up to 40 presets. The carrying FM on DAB, the H6 maintains the be a lot to ask from a modestly
handle also doubles up as a clarity of the choral voices on priced radio, but we have heard
‘snooze-handle’ that will give you Borodin’s Prince Igor very well, so comparably priced Bluetooth
another five minutes of sleep when the next step is to use Bluetooth speakers that are capable of
you reach out and touch it to turn streaming at 256kbps from my iPhone creating a much wider, more
the alarm off. And, although it’s to pile on the massed harmonies of dynamic soundstage.
barely mentioned in the manual, Queen’s Somebody To Love. The
there’s an equaliser hidden within results with Bluetooth streaming are Radio Times
the menu settings, which includes a more mixed, and reveal the limits of The Evoke H6 is, of course, a digital
variety of presets for jazz, classical the H6 as a general-purpose music radio first and foremost, and on that
and other types of music, along with system. To its credit, it packs more score it works very well. It doesn’t
the ability to adjust treble and bass power than I would expect, and its bring anything new to the DAB
to your own personal tastes. DETAILS maximum volume is certainly enough market, but it’s a good option for
The H6 supports both DAB and PRICE to annoy the neighbours. It also listening to a variety of stations and
DAB+, along with FM broadcasts £200 produces a clear and detailed sound musical genres, while its alarms and
and Bluetooth streaming for mobile TELEPHONE that copes equally well with the other options will come in handy
0845 1489001
devices, and aux-in for wired multi-layered hysterics of Queen and at bedtime or even in the kitchen.
connections. There aren’t many WEBSITE the wistful tones of Damien Rice. It’s less impressive as a Bluetooth
pure.com
DAB+ stations currently available in Yet it’s a rather narrow, confined speaker, but it will still earn its keep
the UK, but Jazz FM sounds suitably OUR VERDICT sound, and tends to focus on a sweet if you simply treat it as a high-end
cool despite the modest 32kbps that spot just a couple of feet directly in digital radio that provides Bluetooth
it uses for its DAB+ broadcasts. I front of the unit. You have to sit right as an added extra. CJ

JANUARY 2017 113

 EXTRAS

Noble
Savanna in-ear monitors

CALIFORNIAN-BASED NOBLE
IS perhaps best known for its
custom fit in-ear monitors, which
come in a variety of lively finishes
and materials. The Savanna is the
second most affordable model in its
generic fit Universal range that’s
built around a quartet of armature
drivers and is designed to do justice
to a variety of genres of music.
Noble is tight lipped about its
designs and won’t divulge any
information about the configuration
of its drivers or whether each
handles a specific part of the
frequency range or if any are paired
up. The drivers are placed in an
enclosure that first appeared in
Noble’s 10-driver K10u. While older
universal models used a body made
entirely out of acrylic, the Savanna
has an aluminium end cap that is
mated to a composite section that
the earbud is attached to. I confess
to rather liking the anonymity of the
older look which was unlikely to
attract any attention, but this new demonstrates the same smoothness in the range having different
design looks very smart. The across the frequency response that its specialities, the £599 Dulce Bass
machined logo and the dimpled bigger brother does so well. Listening is arguably more than equipped to
effect on the metalwork is nicely to Yello’s Toy album, it delivers the deliver this bass force if you require
implemented and the join between curious bassline of Dialectrical Kid it, and possesses incredible levels of
the two sections is perfect. with effective timing and reasonable low-end thrust.
impact while allowing the backing
In the loop vocals to hang perfectly in the air Thumbs up
A structured loop of cable fits absolutely laden with detail and When not being asked to generate
around the ear before it heads off to texture. There is the same uncanny PA system-style bass, though, the
wherever you’ve placed the source. I sense of space and depth to the Savanna delivers on Noble’s
find the fit comfortable, but a little soundstage that Noble does so ambitions of it being a capable
bit of work needs to be done initially well and that is not commonly all-rounder. The even handedness
to get a really good seal in the ear encountered with similar models and outstanding tonal accuracy it
canal, and the cable is as easy to at this price point. delivers means that pretty much
tangle as ever. Noble supplies an When you really lean on the anything you play sounds believable.
excellent selection of buds, trees Savanna and ask it to deliver the It never fails to sound lively and fun
and domes on a very smart metal crunching bass of the remaster of when appropriate, but not at the
casting that holds everything neatly Carbon Based Lifeforms’ Interloper expense of accuracy or when the
in place. The case is robust, but is DETAILS there is a sense that it can’t quite music doesn’t call for it.
even larger than its predecessor and PRICE match the depth of some rivals that The Savanna proves to be highly
is unlikely to fit in a pocket. £439 augment their low-end frequencies impressive, and from what I’ve
The Savanna does a convincing TELEPHONE with a conventional dynamic driver. heard comes close to matching the
0208 9429124
job of demonstrating that the The bass is detailed and exceptionally performance levels of monitors from
improvements to the performance WEBSITE fast with no sign at all of bloat or Noble’s more expensive line. Throw
nobleaudio.co.uk
are as important as the changes to sluggishness, but it can struggle to in the solid build, impressive
the aesthetics. Connected to Chord’s OUR VERDICT generate the sheer energy that the sensitivity and good comfort levels,
Mojo (HFC 405) which allows for material undoubtedly has. There is a and it’s extremely worthy earphone
quick and simple A-B testing, it caveat to this in that with each model even at the increased price. ES

JANUARY 2017 115

 STYLE.
PERFORMANCE.
FUNCTION.

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K3 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER & CD PLAYERS

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WRJHWKHUD5RNVDQ.V\VWHP\RXōUHJXDUDQWHHGDSDFNDJHWKDWLVWUXO\XQULYDOOHGIRUWKHSULFH

Distributed by Henley Designs Ltd.

T: +44 (0)1235 511 166 | E: [email protected] | W: www.henleydesigns.co.uk
 EXTRAS

TP-Link
Archer C3200 router
THE INTERNET HAS struggling to cope with
revolutionised entertainment at today’s demands.
home, but in an increasingly
networked world, connectivity Need for speed
is becoming the issue. With TP-Link’s Archer C3200 is
on-demand music and TV services a tri-band router with six
finding their way into most of our fold out antennas, offering
lives – thanks to improved broadband 2.4GHz and two 5GHz
speeds – how do we stay connected bands. The 2.4GHz band
to our favourite music services while offers a maximum speed of
the rest of the family use catchup TV 600Mbps and each of the
providers and social media on 5GHz bands claims speeds
devices around the home? of up to 1,300Mbps. Build
It’s not just about the speed of the quality is decent and it has
connection into your home, the four useful Ethernet and two USB DETAILS
quality of your router is critical to ports. It’s powered by a 1GHz PRICE
ensuring there’s enough headroom dual-core processor and supports The setup procedure isn’t the £170
to cope with the family’s wireless the 802.11 b/g/n/ac networking smoothest, but once correctly TELEPHONE
0118 3271135
demands while also transferring standards. As well as beamforming, installed, it handles the wireless
WEBSITE
files using a computer, for example, which sends wi-fi signals directly, it demands of the household, as well as uk.tp-link.com
without breaking into a sweat. Lack also has TP-Link’s Smart Connect running two home offices without
of bandwidth is a common problem, technology, which automatically breaking into a sweat, and music OUR VERDICT
and if you have an older router assigns the best frequency band streams from Tidal and Spotify are
supplied by your ISP, then it may be based on network traffic. superfast and dropout free. LD

Leema Acoustics
Reference 1 digital optical cable
ONE OF THE most common which gently pushes the end
problems with Toslink cables is that of the fibre core firmly into
the plugs can be a poor fit in the the receiving socket in order
sockets of the equipment, if they are to ensure the best possible
not good quality. This can result in quality data transfer across
end connectors not lining up properly the optical boundary. The
with the optoelectronic devices in cable is finished off in a dark
the component, resulting in an blue PVC outer jacket, which
intermittent loss of signal. Also, in turn is fitted with a rugged
low-quality fibre-optic wire is often blue mesh outer cover.
used in cheap cables and this can
be lossy and also prone to spurious Plug and play
internal reflections. All of this will The Reference 1 cable is
DETAILS cause imperfections in the transmitted certainly beautifully made shows that there is no evidence of
PRICE digital data that will result in jitter, with high-quality components. any dropouts and the music is
£175 for a 1m cable which the DAC has to correct. So the Connecting it between a PrimaLuna reproduced with accuracy and
TELEPHONE use of a good-quality digital optical ProLogue Eight Mk.2 CD player clarity with no hint of edginess to
01938 559021 cable is as important as the use of and the optical digital input of my the sound. In particular, the flute
WEBSITE high quality-copper interconnects. Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 v2 and the individual instruments
leema-acoustics.
com Leema’s Reference 1 digital optical (HFC 393) acting as an external DAC, comprising the Basso Continuo are
cable uses a 6mm diameter fibre-optic I find the quality of the plugs is such all separately identifiable within the
OUR VERDICT cable, which is terminated in that I have no problems plugging soundstage, meaning that this
metal-barrelled Toslink connectors. them into the equipment. Playing a substantial Leema Acoustics cable
The connectors feature a sprung body, CD of Vivaldi Sonatas For Flute Op.10 comes highly recommended. NR

JANUARY 2017 117

 EXTRAS

Russ Andrews
RF Router Mk2
A GOOD EARTH connection can
reduce or even eliminate mains-
borne noise and prevent it from
entering the audio signal paths in
your system. The connection in a
mains socket is linked to the local
earth from your fuse box. The
neutral connection of a mains socket
is actually the earth connection from
your mains electricity supplier and would result in the wiring regulations separate earth connections to a single
can be a considerable distance away being contravened by attempting to earth spike.
from your property. Both connections fit such an auxiliary earth connection I have an earth terminal fitted to the
are likely to pick up a lot of noise to your system. mains distribution block of my audio
along the way. This is why many The RF Router Mk2 means any system and I connect the RF Router
people consider having a separate earth connections you make comply Mk2 to the earth terminal and to an DETAILS
earth spike for their hi-fi, such as a with the latest wiring regulations and external earth connection. As a result, PRICE
copper rod sunk into the ground. effectively dump high-frequency noise the music takes on a more open £189
out of your audio system to earth. sound that adds to the overall realism TELEPHONE
01539 797300
Down to earth This also allows a safe connection to of performances. The silences
WEBSITE
However, having multiple earth the earth terminals fitted to Russ between tracks seems ‘blacker’, which russandrews.com
connections can result in hum loops, Andrews Silencer Blocks, indicates a decent reduction in the
which can be quite a challenge to PowerBlocks, SuperSockets and almost imperceptible background OUR VERDICT
overcome. Furthermore, recent UltraSockets. The RF Router is fitted noise. It may be pricey for a filter,
changes to the safety regulations with two input posts to connect two but it’s a worthy addition. NR

SLiC Innovations
Eclipse C MKII interconnects
THE MARK ONE version of this
interconnect has gained a great
reputation since it was first launched
a few years ago. There is not a great
deal that can be said about the spec of
the MKII version, mainly due to the
fact that the company doesn’t publish
any details about the design or
materials used. The cable seems well
made and is fitted with good-quality
gold-plated RCA phono plugs. Also,
MCRU will burn-in the cable prior to
dispatch on its Nordost Vidar cable
burner at no extra charge.
DETAILS extended. The clarity of the rendition the orchestra is clear and has a great
PRICE Smooth as silk is amazing and the imaging is superb. presence in my listening room. The
£540
I connect the interconnects between A complete change of genre is soundstage is both wide and deep,
TELEPHONE my preamp and monoblocks and start provided by a CD of Fauré’s Requiem. which adds to the overall realism of
07908 056978
listening to some guitar music with a The singing is both moving and the performance.
WEBSITE
mcru.co.uk recording of Gordon Giltrap’s El Greco. commanding and the male solos, Whatever SLiC has hidden away
The Eclipse C MKII produces a very which are well-positioned in front within the black braids of the
OUR VERDICT captivating and involving performance of the orchestra, come through Eclipse C MKII, this interconnect
and the bass line near the end of the particularly clearly. All the vocals are certainly seems to work well and
piece is particularly smooth, deep and effortless and refined. Once again, gets a thumbs up from me. NR

118 JANUARY 2017

Give your music a stage.

+44 (0)1572 756447 hifiracks.co.uk

INTERVIEW
JAKE ISAAC

New kid on the block

With a growing reputation and an original, authentic sound, Jake Isaac is
rightly winning plaudits. Rob Lane wonders where Elton John, Paul Simon,
Michael Jackson and Sting fit into all of this
inger/songwriter Jake Isaac might not yet be mean. If I don’t mean what I say, why should anyone

S a familiar face, but his reputation within the

music industry and burgeoning, loyal fanbase
is set to rocket him to stardom – fuelled by the
listen? I’ve found that just by getting up and performing in
front of people. You know the saying: it’s not just what you
say, it’s how you say it. And when they do go hunt me down
backing of his label, Virgin, and his management on Spotify and YouTube they get it, even though it’s not
company, Elton John’s Rocket Music. produced by Max Martin, Dr Luke or any other massive
Jake has already had two top-10 hits on iTunes, but it’s producer; it’s just me in my bedroom or my mum’s kitchen!”
his live performances that are driving sales and building Jake’s formative years listening to music were informed
his following. He’s difficult to categorise, and at a time mainly by his dad – who loved Jim Reeves, The Reverend
when so much chart-friendly music sounds so similar, it’s Dr. James Cleveland, Patti LaBelle and Earth, Wind & Fire
refreshing to note that his sound is startlingly original. – and had a modest but influential vinyl collection. Jake
“A&Rs always want to see you as the next Motown or thanks his dad for getting him into music from an early age.
whatever, and people don’t like it when they don’t know “It’s down to him really. Even though he can only play
what to categorise your music as or compare you to. But three chords on a guitar and sing camp fire songs, the
as far as I’m concerned, as long as it moves you, cool; music he played around the house literally inspired a
whoever gets it, gets it and if they don’t get it, no problem.” massive part of my journey to where I am now!”
Jake signed a record deal with Virgin in 2015, but was
already selling out venues in the UK and Europe before he The boy in the bubble
put pen to paper. Currently producing his own album – a It was Paul Simon’s Graceland album that had the greatest,
“mind-blowing” privilege as he’d assumed Virgin would early impression on the young Jake. “I can’t remember
dictate which producer he’d have to work with – he’s when I exactly started listening to Graceland, but certainly
recording it at home and at Rocket Studios. since I was born my dad has always played it, so probably
“It’s all about me trying to communicate this absolute from the get-go. Whenever we used to go on long drives
confusion of genres and styles that I’ve grown up on, to the countryside as a family, dad would play Graceland.
p g to write and p
while attempting produce songsg that I He’d literally put the tape in, listen to side one, then switch
to side two – and keep doing it all the way to our
destination! It had a massive impression on me.”
Another hugely influential artist – but this time for one
track – was Michael Jackson. Jake was eight-years-old
when he first heard Jacko, although given this particular
song’s notoriety as a video it’s unsurprising that his initial
experience of it was multi-sensual.
“We were visiting my auntie and uncle at their new
house in Bermondsey, and at one point I was left in the
front room with my younger cousin when this crazy music
video came on the TV – it was Thriller. I was so amazed by
it that I looked around at my cousin to check that they
were seeing what I was seeing. It freaked me out! I hid
behind the sofa, but although it was scary and I didn’t
want to have nightmares I kept on looking back at the
screen: it was something about the music and the dance
moves that were – in spite of how scared I was – making
me want to dance.
“When I was older and making music I always had that
experience in the back of my mind thinking that my music
needs to captivate completely: when you perform, if it
doesn’t stop people in their tracks and change the mood of
the room you haven’t poured your heart into the music.”
The experience of seeing Thriller aside, Jake’s early years
weren’t particularly contemporary, music-wise. The family
never listened to the radio – “We’d just listen to tapes and
watch TV mainly” – so he wasn’t really aware of what was
going on in the charts and what was influencing eighties
and nineties youth; ironic given the huge cultural change
that was taking place with ‘Madchester’ and acid house.
“It was only when I was at school [St Joseph’s College,
an all-boys’ secondary in Croydon] that I started to take
 INTERVIEW
JAKE ISAAC

HI-FI HOPES AND DREAMS

Unlike many of the musicians interviewed in these features, Jake
surprisingly doesn’t own much in the way of hi-fi, preferring instead
to listen to tunes on his iPhone via the supplied headphones. “I’ve
realised that the majority of people only listen to music via their
smartphone headphones or in the car. So what I do is to mix my
songs so that they sound good on iPod headphones. Seriously!”
Assuming financial success follows critical plaudits, Jake does
have plans to up the hi-fi ante. “Assuming the record does okay I’ll
probably build my old man the big hi-fi system he’s always wanted,
with a record player, a tape deck, CD etc. – as well as all the new stuff,
like Bluetooth; the modern bells and whistles. A friend told me about
KJ West One [New Cavendish Street, London], a high-end hi-fi shop.
That’s where I’ll go to check out kit. I probably wouldn’t bother with a
turntable. There are a lot of people that are into the old school ways
just because it’s seen as cool! But they really don’t have
a clue about the difference sonically or what the actual benefits are.
I’ve heard a Yamaha CD player [the CD-S700] at a mate’s house and it
rocks. Not a particularly new player, but it got great reviews. I also
fancy some small floorstanding speakers and I read that the small
Kudos ones [X2s] are punchy, but small enough not to take over
your front room. I’ll have to read Hi-fi Choice to work out what
amplifier I should match those to.”
If Jake could choose one musical hero to meet, it would be Sting:
“I’d love to write a song with him: if he could just write me a guitar riff
I’d come up with the words.” But he’s into contemporary artists too,
and particularly enjoys Brits that record “proper” albums. “I think
there are album artists and there are single artists. The one recent LP
I’ve been listening to is by Clare Maguire [Stranger Things Have
Happened]. Michael Kiwanuka is another. “

notice of what else was out there – garage, drum & bass Some of the
and jungle, at the time. As a teenager at secondary school, influences that
have helped
of course I wanted to be in with the cool kids, in terms shape Jake’s
of what they looked like mainly, and also listen to what unique sound
they’re listening to. And it was only really at the back end
of school that I started to double back to Paul Simon and
the Thriller LP in particular.”
By this time Jake was playing drums and was keen to
be a professional drummer, and started listening to jazz
musicians such as John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Pat
Metheny and Living Colour.
“Back when Smooth FM was called Jazz FM, I used to
listen to it a lot, particularly Dinner Jazz. I used to spend
hours looking out of the window and listening to it. That
was my late secondary-school life. I absolutely loved it. allowing him to do whatever he felt like with Thriller. But
Then I’d go into school and listen to my mates’ music, this was accepted by the public due to the fact that he had
including Rinse FM [legendary East London radio station]. already earned his stripes.” Jake theorises that it’s this
I guess it was quite confused musically, but it worked out.” earning of musical stripes that unlocks the unique sounds
Jake grew up of artists like the king of pop and also Sting – another firm
“If the record does playing drums in favourite (Jake particularly loves Live In Berlin).
church – “my old
okay I’ll build my old man is a vicar, a Keeping it real
man of the cloth” “It’s the authenticity. When you hear any of those guys
man the big hi-fi – and the drumming sing, there’s not only salt in their stuff, there’s emotion.
he’s always wanted” kept him on the There’s a lot of smart songwriters and then there’s a lot of
straight and narrow. emotional songwriters: it’s really amazing when you get
“Rhythm – groove – have always been a massive part songwriters who value both emotion and salt when it
of what I am. When I used to listen to garage MCs, I comes to writing songs. And they don’t just think about
remember thinking ‘the music sounds great, but if you’re the song, they think about what goes around it both
not into this type of music it doesn’t stop you in your tracks’. musically and sonically. ”
Then I’d go back to Thriller and think ‘no matter whether The paradox is that it’s difficult to nail down any clear
or not you’re into this music, as soon as you hear this type and obvious influences in Jake’s sound, but at the same
of stuff it stops you; it’s a mind trap.’ So now, I don’t give a time it feels really fresh and original. So he is sort of doing
monkey’s if you’re into my music or not, I just want to be a Sting – creating authentic and original music – without,
able to stop you where you are and make you listen.” yet, earning the stripes.
Having had the privilege of hearing Jake live at the This perhaps explains why he loves artists like Sting.
Curious Arts Festival in the New Forest, he certainly does He’s unlocked the formula for originality and authenticity
that. Impossible to categorise, he writes songs and delivers usually reserved for experienced artists. He’s doing what
live music like a musician with many years behind him, he wants, creating fresh, unique sounds, just as Michael
rather than just four years of writing and touring. There’s Jackson did when he recorded Thriller. The difference –
an authenticity and originality to his sound. apart from the still-to-be-earned stripes – is that Jake
Jake has a theory of where this authenticity comes from. has no plans to shoot a horror video or to radically change
“Michael Jackson earned his stripes on his earlier records, his appearance. He’s far too authentic for that.

JANUARY 2017 121

 Reader Classified ads www.hifichoice.co.uk
For sale / Wanted

Reader LINN Majik DS/2 Streamer. 2015 model. Current specification

with Dynamik, Sound Optimisation, Exakt links. Excellent
condition. Original box with accessories. £1,495: 01793
728103, or email: [email protected] (Wiltshire ).

Classified
Welcome to Hi-Fi Choice Reader Classified,
a free private ads service for buying and
WANTED Jamo Concert
11 loudspeakers, will collect:
0191 2815482
(Newcastle upon Tyne).
MUSICAL FIDELITY A3.2
RDS tuner £175. Absolutely
spotless, remote, original
compact hi-fi system: email:
garyhardwareuk@yahoo.
co.uk (Essex).
NEAT Momentum 3i
standmount speakers. Bought
September 2013. £2,000+,
unmarked oak finish, all
box. Kept covered original packing. Collection or
selling second-hand hi-fi components. and clean. Beautiful: send at buyers cost £1,200:
07500 804700 or email: 07807314801 or email:
These pages are a must-read if you’re The simplest way to send your ad is via [email protected]. [email protected].
thinking about buying used kit, or if you email to: [email protected] or AUDIOPLAN Powerstar (Leigh on Sea, Essex).
have hi-fi you want to sell. It’s free – simply mail: Reader Classified, Hi-Fi Choice ‘S’ mains distribution block LFD Grain-Free Signature
submit your ad of up to 50 words (we will magazine, AVTech Media Ltd, Suite complete with 7 Powercord bi-wire speaker cable x2m,
edit them if not), remembering to include 25, Eden House, Enterprise Way, ‘S’ leads. Boxed and unused, cost £550, for sale £225
your email, phone number and county. Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF. so ‘as new’. Made in Germany ono, plus LFD balanced
This service is open to private advertisers only. Just one ad per household. and highly rated. £300 ono: interconnect XLR cost £160
Images are for illustration only and do not represent what is for sale 01932 341421 or email: for sale £75 ono. Both £250:
chrisjones4you@gmail. 01634 842874 or email:
FOR SALE com (Surrey). [email protected]
HOVLAND G3 packaging and manual £199: NEAT Motive 1 floorstanding (Chatham, Kent).
THE CHORD COMPANY
Epic twin single wire, interconnects for sale. 2x 1m 01847 892081 or email: speakers, cherrywood veneer, REGA Brio 3 integrated
terminated with BFA/4mm pairs RCA-to-RCA little used. michael665booth@ excellent sound, can demo, amplifier, 2x 50W, silver
twin screw type plugs: 2x In original boxes. £150 per btinternet.com (Glengolly). £600 ovno: 07957 384795 4½ yr. old, nice condition
3.5m, 2x 1.5m and 1x 2.5m pair: 01625 430510. SONY CDP-CX355 CD (London). £200. Rega Fono Mini
lengths. The Chord Company player/CD storage. Digital and SONUS FABER Grand A2D MM phono to USB,
GARRARD 401, Rega
Prodac 1m digital cable. All analogue outputs, remote, Piano Domus (Home), gloss new £65: 07510 687880
RB300, Goldring 1042 with
cables in first-class condition. instructions, boxed. £120. black, good condition, little (Bedfordshire).
plinth/cover, great sound and
£25 per metre: 07810 131947 condition, £1,499 ono. Power Collect, or delivery maybe used, £550. 25kg each, buyer GARRARD 401 with Rega
(Norwich,Norfolk). supply for Class A amps, for possible: 07801 831972 or collect: 07532 349953 RB300 and Goldring 1042,
amps of around 15-20W, email: mel17dept@outlook. (Hants). great sound and condition,
TRANSPARENT
£300 ono: 0207 4998729. com (Dorset). BOWERS & WILKINS £1,400. Power supply for DIY
AUDIO MusicWave Plus
SOUNDSTYLE 5-shelf PM1 loudspeakers/FS PM1 Class A amps (JLH 1969/1996
Speaker cables, 10 feet long QUAD 405 Mk2 fitted with
hi-fi rack, Opus Green, stands. Beautiful condition etc.) £300: 0207 4998729.
terminated with 8mm spade Net Audio Mk3 boards and
terminals. Excellent condition, dual mono power supply smoke glass shelves £60 with boxes and manuals. MUSICAL FIDELITY
owned from new. £20: 01590 finished in satin black £350 ono. Soundstyle 4-shelf hi-fi £1,195 ono. Possible delivery: M6i amplifier plus B&W 685
674669 (Hampshire). ono: 01244638797 or email: rack, Opus green, smoke 07402 299243 or email: S2 speakers mint condition
[email protected]. glass shelves £50 ono. Buyer [email protected] with all packaging. Happy to
LEHMANNAUDIO Black collects: 07913 374413 (Cardiff). demo, will split. Pix on request.
Cube linear headphone amp. EMOTIVA Stealth DAC/ (Spalding, Lincolnshire). RRP £3,000, asking £1,500:
Mint and boxed. £295: 02392 preamp/headphone LINN Keilidh LS300
RUSS ANDREWS floorstanding loudspeakers in 01902 884694 or email:
453382 (Hants). amp. As new with original [email protected]
Powermax Plus mains cables medium walnut with Ku-Stone
1x 1.5m and 2x 1m. All under spiked stands and cloth (West Midlands).
18 months old. £90 the lot inc covers. In superb condition, HARBETH C7ES-3
carriage: 07986 987380 but stands have been loudspeakers mint condition,
or email: heddondt@ re-coated. With original Linn rosewood finish, original
btinternet.com (Northants). boxes and manual. £375, free packaging, demo available
REGA RS3 loudspeakers in ParcelForce delivery: 07833 £1,450: 01373 834578 or
piano black finish, offered in 894242 or email: email: john.dixon32@
immaculate condition boxed, [email protected]. btinternet.com (Somerset).
NAIM FlatCap XS, boxed, manual and leads. Excellent
condition now surplus due to upgraded system £250: 01275 new cost £800, selling for LOWTHER SPEAKERS ARCAM FMJ CD36 CD
462948 (North Somerset). £400: 01934 521621 or Acousta 115 circa 1980 for player (new factory-installed
email: [email protected]. sale or exchange for a decent, laser assembly three years

BUYING TIPS BUYING SECOND-HAND can be a great way to pick up a bargain. A formerly expensive second-hand component might well prove a better long-term bet than a
brand-new product if the price is right. DO SOME RESEARCH on which brands have a good service back up, so if something does go wrong, you can get it fixed. Unless you
purchase from a dealer, you’re unlikely to get any warranty, so it’s up to you to ensure the fitness of any gear that you buy. USUALLY speakers should be less prone to breakdown than
amps, and amps should be more reliable than CD players. But any abused component could be trouble – have a proper demo and judge the seller as well as the goods!

122 JANUARY 2017

Reader Classified ads
ago) in black, VGC, £235. condition, original packaging streamer. Mark 2 version with
Musical Fidelity M1 HPAP and manual, little use £300: latest firmware. Hardly used,
headphone amplifier in black, 01373 301423 or email: with remote, manual, leads,
as new – hardly used, £225. JC007r9379@blueyonder.
boxed, mint. £6,000 new,
Trichord Diablo (serial no. co.uk (Wiltshire).
0104-4185) MM/MC phono will accept £3,000. Can post
MONITOR AUDIO Bronze
stage in silver, VGC, £325. All Parcel Force: 07833 894242
5 floorstanding speakers in
boxed in original packaging: black oak. Mint condition with or email: redeye@talktalk.
01494 269889 (Bucks). manual £350 ono: net (Isle of Wight).
ARCAM CD 73 player and 01943 467859 (Yorkshire). CREEK Destiny 2 integrated
matching T61 FM Tuner. Both TANNOY Turnberry Gold
as new with all leads and amplifier, black, little use,
Reference speakers. Manley
remotes, £120 the pair or will boxed and owned from new:
Labs Steelhead RC phono
split. Collection preferred: £600. Buyer collects: 0191
stage. Art Audio Quintet Mk2
07710 256440 or email: 2815482 (Newcastle).
valve amp. Avid Pulsare phono
[email protected]
stage. All mint condition, RUSS ANDREWS AC-24
(Sussex).
please call for details: 1000 power supply £120:
WANTED vintage hi-fi. All 07770 772647 (Wigan).
sorts of intriguing and unusual 07982 926831 ( Kent).
RUSS ANDREWS AC-24
items wanted for collector. REL Strata III, walnut, perfect
1000 PSU for Rega turntables
Will travel: 01179467188 or condition: £225. Denon
£120: 07982 926831 (Kent).
email: sikw@btinternet.
WANTED AVI S2000MC TU-425RDS tuner, barely
com (Bristol).
Reference 24-bit CD player: used £40: 07770 601097
RUSS ANDREWS Power
01275 872777 (Hampshire).
Pack 3, as new. £90 including
(North Somerset).
carriage: 01825 722936 DYNAVECTOR P75 Mk3
or email: spartridge37@ NORDOST Pulsar Points phono stage. Comes with all
btinternet.com (Lewes). (£65) will sell for £35 or two
sets for £55: 01484 427426 manufacturer’s packaging
TANNOY Mercury MX 2 and instructions. £300. Sorry
(West Yorkshire).
speakers, light maple, good
RESOLUTION AUDIO no offers: 01934 521621 or
condition, boxed £75. Buyer
to collect: 07968 869957 Cantata digital hub with email: [email protected]
or email: shaunhenrys@ CD player, DAC, preamp, (Weston Super Mare).
outlook.com (South
Yorkshire).
TARGET 2 shelf wall rack,
black finish £30. Buyer
collects: 07941 174804
(Slough).
AUDIOLAB 8000P

Asimi Ultra
excellent condition £150.
Isotek Multiway four sockets
£125: 01484 427426

Interconnect
(West Yorkshire). REGA Brio 3 amplifier, satin finish, excellent condition. Box and
SME 3009 II tonearm. manual included £150: 07510 687880 (Luton, Bedfordshire).
Fixed headshell. Pristine

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FREE AD

YOUR DETAILS To submit your advert to us,
please email letters@
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Address alternatively, use the postal
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Email address names, etc, are correctly
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SEND YOUR ADVERT TO

Hi-Fi Choice, AVTech Media Ltd, Suite 25, Eden House, Enterprise Way, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF
the performance connection

atlascables.com
 Call: 0845 6019390 Email: [email protected]
The UK’s biggest and best used audio SALE NOW ON!
Analogue Amplifiers Digital Loudspeakers
Amazon Referenz Turntable, excellent boxed used 1999 Aesthetix Atlas stereo power, superb and mint x/d 4999 Art Audio Expression Precision Monitor/Subs used 1999
Arcam CD8, remote good condition used 99
Avid Acutus Ref power supply x/d 2499 Arcam Alpha original integrated used 99 Aspara Acoustics HL6 in Oak, REDUCED new 1749
Arcam CDS27, nr mint boxed x/d 499
Avid Volvere SP turntable, as new REDUCED new 2499 Arcam Alpha 9 Integrated amplifier, excellent used 199 ATC SCM7, excellent boxed used 499
Bakoon EQA11r phonostage, boxed with stand used 1499 Arcam A19 Integrated amplifier, excellent boxed used 449 Arcam CD73, nice player but fair condition used 179 B&W CDM7NT, vgc used 599
Benz Micro Glider SL, as new x/d 599 Arcam AV9 Pre/Processor excellent boxed used 349 Cambridge Audio Sonata NP30 Streamer used 169 B&W PV1D subwoofer used 799
Clearaudio Unify Tonearm excellent boxed REDUCED used 599 Art Audio Jota 520b, excellent used 3999 B&W 602S3 vgc boxed used 249
Chord QBD76HD, our demo unit, mint boxed x/d 2999
Audia Flight Pre and Flight 50 Class A power x/d 3999 B&W ASW600 vgc boxed used 199
Clearaudio Basic Symmetry Phono Stage REDUCED used 399
Audio Research Ref 610 Monos, boxed REDUCED used 12999 Chord Hugo TT DAC/Headphone amp, as new used 2199
Consonance Cyber 40 Phono stage, excellent boxed used 599 Castle Inversion 15, vgc boxed used Due in
Audio Research LS17se, near mint boxed £4.5k new x/d 2499 Chord GEM DAC excellent! used 229 Dynaudio Focus 220, excellent boxed used 1199
Creek PBH9SE Phono stage, excellent starter unit used 79
Audio Research LS7 Pre and D130 Power, boxed used 1749 Epos M12i, excellent boxed used 249
Fidelity Research FR64fx, excellent used 899 Consonance CD2.2, new sealed new 699
Auralic Taurus balanced line stage used 999 Focal 861w, in excellent condition used 699
Fidelity Research FR64S boxed, excellent used 1499
BAT VK50se Preamplifier, factory service 2016 used 2499 Cyrus CD8, excellent condition used 349
Focal Aria 948, excellent in gloss black used 1899
Garrard 401, Jelco 750 12” arm, new plinth and lid used 1199
Boulder 1010/1060 Pre/Power, near mint boxed used 10999 DCS Puccini and Wordclock in black used 6499 Focal Electra 1008, mint boxed x/d 2249
Graham Phantom Supreme 12”, SME cut x/d 3249
Chord Electronics Mezzo 140 Power, mint x/d 2249 Focal Electra 1028, mint boxed x/d 2749
Graham Slee Fanfare Gramamp 3 used 179 EAR Acute 3, our demo unit near mint x/d Call
Cyrus XPD Preamplifier, excellent used 699 Gallo A’Diva Micros plus 150 Sub used 399
Linn Akiva cartridge used 899 M2Tech Young DSD DAC used Call
DartZeel NHB108B, excellent £20+k new used 7999 Gallo Nucleus Reference 3.1 & matching amp used 1999
Linn Axis with Basik and K9 used 299
Devialet 400 combo, mint boxed one owner used 6499 Marantz CD63KI Mk2, excellent used 149 Kef Q100. near mint boxed used 299
Linn LP12, Basik Plus, excellent condition, boxed used 699
Devialet 120, mint boxed, our demo unit x/d 2749 Kudos C20 (later version) excellent in oak used 1299
Meridian Sooloos Control 15 and Twinstore NAS used 1999
Linn LP12, Cirkus, Ekos, Lingo, Troika, boxed in black used 2499
Devialet 250, mint boxed, our demo unit x/d 7499 Kudos C20 excellent boxed in sycamore used 1249
Linn LP12 Majik, Keel, Akito 2, Hercules, DV17d3 used 2999 Mission daD 5 CD player near mint boxed - a classic! used 119
Esoteric C03/A03, pre/power ex demo boxed used 8999
Kudos C30 excellent boxed in rosenut used 1699
Linn LP12 Cirkus, Khan, Sole, Lingo 3, PU7 tonearm used 3249 Musical Fidelity M1 DAC, boxed REDUCED used 199
Graaf GM50B Mk2 Integrated, ex dealer demo x/d 2999 Leema Xandia Mk1 in black, REDUCED new 1999
Linn LP12 Cirkus, Lingo, Ekos, Trampolinn, cherry plinthused 2499
Heed Obelisk PM Monoblock pair used 1299 Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC used 599 Le ConToure Mobile 160, boxed, REDUCED used 1399
Lyra Skala, excellent boxed used 2249
Jolida Envoy 211 Monoblocks, £7k new, vgc used 1999 Magneplanar MG1.7 mint boxed REDUCED x/d 1499
Lyra Argo, excellent boxed used 499 Musical Fidelity V link Dac, excellent used 99
KR Audio VA320 Antares used 1899 Martin Logan Quest, superb sound, REDUCED used 1199
Michell Focus One with Linn Basik LVV used 299 NAIM UnitiQute 2, excellent boxed used 849
Krell KAV400xi, excellent boxed used 1199
Martin Logan Prodigy, excellent used 3499
Michell Hydraulic Reference, Fluid arm used 899
Lector VFI 70L, 70watt Hybrid Integrated, excellent! used 649 NAIM N172XS Streamer/Preamp, radio module x/d 1330 Martin Logan Ethos, near mint boxed used 3499
Naim Stageline S, excellent used 199
Levinson 331 stereo power excellent boxed used 1999
NAIM CD5i, excellent condition used 499 Martin Logan Vista, excellent boxed used 1399
Nottingham Analogue DAIS, near mint, ex demo x/d 3999 Linn Akurate 4200, Dynamik PSU, boxed used 2499
Martin Logan Electromotion, excellent boxed x/d 1599
Origin Live Illustrious Mk2 Tonearm used 799 Marantz PM80, typical heavyweight integrated used 299 NAIM CD5Sx, excellent with remote used 649
Martin Logan Vantage, active bass, REDUCED used 1999
Project RPM 10 turntable with arm and platform x/d 849 Marantz PM7001, great entry level integrated used 179 NAIM HDX - SSD, upgradeable, as new used 2499 Martin Logan CLS Anniversary, cherry used 2999
Project Debut Carbon, near mint REDUCED x/d 249 Marantz PM6010OSE, excellent bargain integrated used 99
Pioneer N-50 Streamer used 299 Monitor Audio GS10, good condition used Due in
Rega Fono, excellent entry level MM stage used 119 McIntosh MC275 Power Amp, near mint boxed used Call
Prima Luna Prologue 8, ex dem boxed, REDUCED x/d 1199 Monitor Audio GR60, vgc+ used 599
Rega RP3/Elys 2, white boxed, just a few months old used 399 Meridian 501 preamplifier, excellent used 299
Monitor Audio Silver 10, gloss black excellent x/d 999
Rega RP6/Exact boxed, near mint x/d 699 Micromega IA100 integrated, boxed REDUCED x/d 449 Project Streambox DS, excellent boxed x/d 399
NEAT Elite SX, near mint boxed used 1199
Rega Planar 2, RB250, AT95e vgc used 199 Ming Da MC5S 5 channel Valve Power amp boxed used Call
Quad 66CD, excellent with remote used 299 PMC Twenty 22, nr mint boxed used 1199
Rega Planar 3, RB200 S shaped arm, cartridge used 249 Moon W7RS, excellent used 4499
PMC Twenty5 23, nr mint boxed used 1999
Rega Apollo R, excellent boxed used 399
Rega Planar 3, RB300 arm, K9 cartridge used 299 Musical Fidelity A308cr Preamplifier used 799
Proac D20r, excellent boxed, ex dealer demo x/d 1899
SME 3009 excellent boxed used 349 Musical Fidelity MX preamp and psu used 399 Rega DAC, excellent rare in satin silver used 349
Quad 25L Classic ex dealer demo boxed used 999
SME 3009 improved, vgc+ used 199 Musical Fidelity 550K Superchargers excellent boxed used 1499 Rega Saturn R, our demo unit nr mint x/d 999 Quad 12L in birds eye maple excellent used 219
SME V12, nr mint boxed used 2249 NAD C355Bee, excellent remote used 249
Sansui WLD201 Streamer, mint boxed REDUCED used 119 Quad ESL57, vgc used 599
Sugden Masterclass Phono stage, excellent boxed used 1199 NAD C370, excellent remote used 299
REL T5 Subwoofer boxed used 299
NAIM NAIT 5i, excellent used 499 Sugden Masterclass CD original version REDUCED used 899
Technics 1210, Timestep PSU etc used Due in
Revolver RW45, excellent boxed used 699
Technics 1210, New bearing, Hynes PSU, Funk platter used 1499 NAIM NAIT XS, Mk1 version, excellent used 749 Sugden Masterclass PDT4F CD newer version boxed used 1799 Revolver Music 1, excellent boxed used 299
Thorens TD170 Auto excellent boxed REDUCED x/d 229 NAIM NAC152XS, excellent boxed used 649
Unison Research Unico CDE, digital in, superb x/d 1649 Revolver Cygnis Gold in Black, £14k new x/d 4995
Thorens TD209 turntable package REDUCED x/d 649 NAIM NAC202, ex demo nr mint x/d 1299
Ruark Etude, excellent in black used 179
NAIM NAC82, excellent boxed used 899 Wadia 170 itransport, excellent boxed, remote used 149
Thorens TD150, 2000 Plinth and 3009, superb used 599 Sonus Faber Elipsa, superb boxed, REDUCED used 5699
NAIM NAC62n, excellent c/w MM boards used 299 Whest Audio DAP.9 used 299
Transfiguration Temper W, great condition. used 699 Sonus Faber Electa Amator 2, superb used 1749
NAIM NAP250 upgraded DR 2012, nr mint boxed used 2499
VDH Colibri M/C cartridge, as new boxed, REDUCED x/d 2899 Yamaha CD-S3000 SACD player nr mint boxed used 2499 Sonus Faber Venere, various models x/d Call
NAIM NAP250/2, 2014 model, nr mint boxed x/d 2499
VDH Condor M/C cartridge as new boxed, REDUCED new 1899 Spendor A5, vgc boxed used 749
NAIM NAP250 Olive excellent boxed 1998 used 899
Whest Audio 30RDT Phono stage, vgc+ used 1599 Spendor A6, vgc boxed used 899
NAIM NAP200, 2005 excellent boxed used 899
Spendor BC1, near mint boxed used Due in
NAIM NAP200, 2008 excellent boxed used 999
Radio/Recorders Accessories/Cables Totem Mite in black, ex dealer demo REDUCED x/d 399
NAIM NAP180, excellent used 599
Akai GX4000, vgc used Due in Audeze headphones, most models ex demo x/d Call Totem Sttaf, near mint boxed new 999
Pathos InPol Remix Hi Dac, ex dem, REDUCED x/d 2199
Fostex G16, 16 track Reel to Reel, amazing! used Call Pathos Logos Integrated, excellent, REDUCED Usher Mini Dancer 1, excellent boxed REDUCED x/d 1599
used 1499 Elemental Audio speaker stands x/d 499
Mitsubishi DA-F10, excellent used 249 Usher S520, excellent boxed x/d 249
Pioneer SA9500, vgc 70s retro integrated used 499 Grado headphones many models x/d Call
NAIM NAT101 & SNAPS, excellent £500 NAIM service used 899 Vandersteen Quattro, accessories, transformers used 2999
Primare I21, excellent used 449 M2Tech Harley headphone amplifier used Call
NAIM NAT01 & PSU, excellent, boxed used 1199 Veritas H3 (Lowthers) gloss black, 100db, x/d 2499
Primare Pre32 with MM30 module, boxed used 1599 NAIM Flatcap 2X used 349
Naim UnitiServe, near mint boxed used 1299 Wilson Benesch Square Two Mk2, boxed used 1399
Quad 33/303, vgc, serviced used 299 NAIM HiLine, boxed used 449
Nakamichi 680zx, vgc used 349
Nakamichi HiCom II, noise reduction system boxed used 199
Quad Artera Stereo Power amp, nr mint boxed used 899 NAIM Powerline, boxed used 349 Special system deals
Quad 44/405, excellent condition used 499 NAIM Supercap Olive, boxed choice from used 799 Arcam Solo Mini, remote boxed used 299
Pioneer PDR609, vgc used Due in
Sugden A21se, excellent used 1199 Arcam Solo Mini and Usher S520s used 499
Quad FM4, vgc, serviced used 149 NAIM Supercap 2, vgc+ from 2002 used 1599
Devialet 400 & Magneplanar MG3.7i speakers used 9999
Revox PR99, crated, REDUCED used 749 Sugden Masterclass Monoblocks used 3999
NAIM HiCap, Olive with SNAIC used 399 Devialet 200 & Magneplanar MG1.7 speakers used 5399
Revox H1, just serviced, great condition, REDUCED used 449 Sugden Masterclass LA4 Pre & MPA4 Monos boxed used 5749
Oppo HA1 Headphone Amp excellent used 749 Naim Muso nr mint boxed used 699
Revox B77mk2, just serviced, great condition used Call Tandberg TPA3003 Power amplifier, excellent! used 499
Naim UnitiQute 2 with Unitiserve used 2099
Pathos Aurium Headphone amplifier used 749
Sony MDS JB940, excellent minidisc recorder used 199 Unison Research Unico Pre, nr mint x/d 1599 Naim UnitiQute 2 with Usher S520s used 1199
Stax 404/006 system used Call
TEAC X1000M, serviced, superb used 599 Unison Research Unico DM Power amplifier x/d 1599 Naim UnitiQute 24/192 used 849
Technics RS1500 in flightcase near mint used 2499 XTC Pre 1 & Pow 2, Pre/Power combo, excellent used 799 Stax 4070 closed system, excellent RARE! used 2499 Naim SuperUniti, nr mint boxed x/d 2999
Yamaha T-D500 FM/DAB Tuner, excellent used 199 Yamaha A-S3000 Amplifier excellent boxed used 2249 Stax Omega 007 system, excellent boxed used 2499 Scansonic USB100 Turntable & Active Speakers new 349

Tel: 01642 267012 or 0845 6019390 Email: [email protected]

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 BEAUTY &
THE BEAST

“Quite simply one of the most

enjoyable loudspeakers at any
price”
ALAN SIRCOM / SABRINA / HIFI+

“This is a Mini pretending -

successfully - it’s a 7 Series
BMW”
KEN KESSLER / SABRINA / HIFI NEWS

With a conviction that has endured for four decades, clarity, accuracy and fidelity. Joining the range at two
Wilson Audio has married the technical virtues of studio important size and price points are the entry-level Sabrina
monitoring with the artistry that defines high-end audio and the ALEXX. Sabrina miraculously combines all of the
sound reproduction.
qualities that define the Wilson experience, in a small-
footprint floorstander that defies its dimensions. ALEXX, a
Beginning with the WATT, conceived as a near-field
monitor, the company has adhered to a belief that both majestic tower design, fills the gap between the much-
technical excellence and subjective assessment must be loved Alexia and the state-of-the-art XLF. Both are true to
exploited to achieve the goal of playing music with utter the vision of David A Wilson: authentic to the last note.

absolute sounds ltd.

International Distributors & Consultants of Specialised Hi-End Audio & Video Systems
58 Durham Road, London, SW20 0T W T: +44 (0)20 89 71 39 09
W: www.absolut esounds.com E : info@absolut esounds.com
For Your Nearest Dealer Please Visit The Absolute Sounds Website