The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio
Autumn 2020
BANG & OLUFSEN STYLISH NEW DANISH AV SYSTEMS & TVS NOW ON DISPLAY
SONUS FABER SUPERB SOUND!
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TECHNICS A GREAT BRAND RETURNS!
lenwallisaudio.com (02) 9427 6755
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AVA IL A B LE FR OM
Marantz CR612 A true Hi-Fi System in an elegant design featuring CD playback, DAB+, and modern music streaming sources with HEOS built-in. The elegant Marantz MELODY CR612 network CD receiver supports near limitless streaming platforms through AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and HEOS connectivity. The built-in disc player is compatible with music CDs, CD-R/CD-RW discs, and is equipped with DAB+ and FM tuners.
Use your voice to control the MELODY CR612 with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Siri for seamless ease of use.
www.marantz.com.au
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Inside... 06
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04 Len Wallis on why his job is so pleasurable, and the exciting new brands at LWA
06 Prices are on the rise, and some models are in short supply, but there’s a silver lining…
07 Krell K-300i is crowned ‘Amplifier of the Year’ and ‘Exceptional Value Product of the Year’!
08 Bang & Olufsen on show in Lane Cove for the first time!
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12 Italy’s luxurious Sonus faber speakers now available at LWA.
15 Musical Fidelity’s new 550-watt per channel M8xi is a monster!
16 Technics returns… with new turntables and also a range of impressive wireless speakers.
18 Three big OLED TVs from LG. 19 Two new electrostatic headphone
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amps from Stax: one valve, one solid-state, but same great sound.
20 Late to the wireless streaming party, but B&W’s Formation series is distinctively different.
21 B&W’s Diamond Rewards Promotion could save you up to $6,400!
22 Linn upgrades are available at halfprice for a limited time!
24 Installation Feature: Artnovion
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26 Auralic: Premium DAC streamers at bargain prices.
27 The Man Cave: What’s in this one? 28 New Denon Home Series active wireless speakers.
29 Autumnal accessories and tweaks.
64 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066 Telephone 02 9427 6755 sales@lenwallisaudio.com.au TRADING HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday: 9 to 5.30 Thursday: 9 to 8; Saturday: 9 to 5; Sunday: closed THE LATEST IS ONLINE! – www.lenwallisaudio.com
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COMMENT
FROM THE DESK OF LEN
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elcome to the decade of the 20s. While it has not been an easy birth for many Australians with the ongoing ravages related to climate change, I believe that it will prove to herald a watershed period in our industry. The year 2020 marks my 50th year in this industry, and we have seen momentous changes during this time. The domestic entertainment options during the early 70s were rather limited; four channels of black-and-white TV, AM radio (no FM… or DAB!), and vinyl. In many homes the hi-fi system took pride of place. The more recent introduction of gaming, home video, streaming, and a multitude of social media distractions—Facebook, Twitter, etc—means that people are less inclined to listen, meaningfully, to music,
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relegating it to background noise. We are now witnessing a resurgence in the appreciation of recorded music, and we have never had so much of it, and never before so readily available. There cannot be many more pleasurable industries to work in than this. I don’t know of any other industry that can evoke a truly emotive response to what we do such as this one. We, and millions like us—and I am sure including many of you—are truly emotionally affected by the power of music. It is not uncommon for people to be moved to tears in our showroom while listening to a beautiful recording through a quality audio system. Many of them were not even previously aware that recorded music can create such a response. I seriously doubt people have shed a tear in a new
car showroom, a fashion boutique, or in a restaurant. Listening to well-recorded music played on a balanced system (which need not be an expensive one) can move the soul and invoke emotions like no other leisure activity can… aside from the experience of listening to live music. We have several new and exciting products at Len Wallis Audio. We are now stocking Sonus faber speakers, a fabulous blend of performance and design. Who said craftsmanship was dead! We have also seen the welcome return of Technics turntables. The big one is that we are now stockists of Bang and Olufsen, and have dedicated a complete showroom to their interesting and extensive range of products. B&O is one of the most iconic products of our era, and if you drop in you’ll see (and hear!) why. Len Wallis Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
800 Series
Mini Theatre
Subwoofers
700 Series
600 Series
Buy Bowers & Wilkins Receive a Bonus Gift For a limited time, receive a Bonus Gift* when you purchase selected models from Bowers & Wilkins’ class leading product range.
Visit bw-rewards.com.au For more product information visit www.bowers-wilkins.com or contact Bowers & Wilkins Australia on (02) 9196 8990 *
Terms and conditions apply, visit bw-rewards.com.au. Promotion ends 30/04/2020. Minimum spend $1,499
INDUSTRY NEWS
PANASONIC BOWS OUT OF TV MARKET IN AUSTRALIA In February Panasonic announced that they are exiting the TV market in Australia. Apparently they felt they could no longer remain competitive under the trying conditions that so many companies in Australia are currently experiencing. This comes as a blow to LWA. It is no secret that we at Len Wallis Audio believe the Panasonic OLED screens to be the best on the market, and their presence will be sorely missed. These were premium products: Surely they, like both Pioneer Kuro and Oppo before them (who both exited the market for similar reasons), could have tolerated a premium price tag. Yes, Panasonic may have lost some support from the major outlets, but there are still many discerning people who will seek out, and pay for, a product that is demonstrably better.
Coronavirus Shortages
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Higher Prices likely for most imported Audio Visual components During the last couple of months we have received notification of price rises from a number of companies including NAD, B&O, JL Audio, Naim Audio etc. Unfortunately, we believe that these will not be the last. The Australian dollar has been trading below the US80c mark for some time now and does not show any signs of improving— the current pricing for most suppliers was set many months ago when the A$ was trading comfortably above US80c. Most manufacturers are also reporting increased production costs from within China, which covers most products on the market. All the prices in this publication are current at the time of printing. If you are in doubt please refer to our website (www.lenwallisaudio.com.au) where we will be updating prices when and if they change.
We are expecting to see some short-term stock shortages due to the Coronavirus. While many factories are returning to work in China most are not at full capacity, and it may be some months before this happens. This is being compounded with shipping being disrupted at the same time. If you have been putting off your audio/visual purchase now may be a good time to take the
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KRELL
Krell
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he buzz around the new Krell K-300i integrated amplifier continues to gather momentum. A week does not go by without a journalist or a reviewer somewhere in the world giving this amplifier the thumbsup. It’s also been named ‘Amplifier of the Year’—under $10,000 by Sound+Image magazine, and ’Exceptional Value Product of the Year’ by Soundstage Australia.
Soundstage’s comments were almost poetic: ‘Yes, it is in the upper price bracket. On the other hand, when will I own a Picasso painting? The Krell K-300i is a work of art, and moreover, a work of art that makes you enjoy other works of art in a truly breathtaking way. Imagine if painters made great paintings for centuries but kept them under a veil that only hinted at their true beauty. Suddenly somebody pulls the veils away and lets you see the paintings in their full glory, every brushstroke and every speck of paint. The K-300i did that for me… for the music. Get it if you can.’
This is an exceptional amplifier. Rated at 150-watts per channel into 4Ω and 300-watts per channel into 8Ω, it has Krell’s unique “XD” output stage to ensure vanishingly low distortion. You can choose between analogue ($9,995) and digital ($11,995) versions with the digital version offering MQA, ROON, and Bluetooth along with support for Tidal, Spotify Connect, Deezer and vTuner. If you are considering an amplifier of this calibre make sure a Krell K-300i is on your audition list, otherwise you will never know what you’re missing out on.
Krell HDMI 4K HDR Switcher There are many earlier Krell home theatre components out there in customers’ homes which are no longer compatible with current technologies. This new Krell HDMI 4K HDR Switcher will update devices such as earlier Foundations, Evolution 707s and S1200s to full 4K with HDR, and in the case of the S-1200 and Evolution 707, the addition of the switcher also increases the number of HDMI inputs. Priced at $1,599.
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BANG & OLUFSEN
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BANG & OLUFSEN
Bang & Olufsen at Len Wallis Audio!
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here are very few brands in our industry with the appeal of B&O. In an age where many consumers are trying to hide audio systems out of sight B&O is unashamedly designed to be proudly placed on display. This is a true merging of design and music (or as publication Wired described it: ‘quality media delivery via striking objects’).
Bang & Olufsen lay claim to be the oldest audio company in the world, and considering they produced their first radio in 1925, they may just be right. Today this Danish company have a very wide repertoire of products but are most widely recognised for their speaker and TV offerings. While we have become accustomed to very traditional box speakers of various shapes B&O turns their speakers into technical pieces of art.
There are very few brands in our industry with the appeal of B&O
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BANG & OLUFSEN
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BANG & OLUFSEN
Take, for example, the Beoplay A9 which comes in a variety of finishes and can be floor or wall-mounted. Despite its laid-back minimalist design it features over 400-watts of amplification (1×400 watt amp for the bass driver, 2×200-watt amps for the midrange drivers, 2×200-watt amps for the full-range drivers and 2×150-watt amps for the tweeters). It has Chromecast, Airplay 2, Bluetooth and DLNA streaming and advanced control functionality plus Active Room Compensation allowing you to place it anywhere in the room with great results. You can also add a second A9 for a full stereo effect. Compare this to the Beolab 18, the Beosound 2 or Shape—these are all totally different concepts, yet all provide quality sound from speakers that are crying out to be seen. The other speaker that is making waves is their Stage—B&O’s first soundbar. Firstly, this is a great-sounding soundbar (most aren’t). Secondly it looks a million dollars. Most importantly it is priced from $2,500. Finally, if you are looking for a TV like no other, you just have to see B&O’s Beovision Harmony. Available in both 65” and 77” screen sizes this TV/integrated audio system is a stunning combination of technology, aesthetics and performance. We have taken the unusual step of building a new room dedicated to the B&O brand. In it you’ll find many interesting and unique products that we do not have the space to cover here, so it is worth the trip to have a look at what B&O has to offer.
downward-firing bass driver in the upper body along with three midrange drivers and two tweeters. The sound can be set to be omni-directional or for a more traditional focused directional presentation.
The Balance has active room compensation built in, making it suitable for almost any acoustic environment and it is controllable via Google Assist. And if one speaker is not enough for your requirements the Balance can be paired with a second speaker.
B&O Balance B&O have just released a new wireless speaker—reinforcing their philosophy that speakers should not only be heard but also seen. Available in both natural Oak and Black Oak and standing 38cm high, these speakers will not look out of place in any environment. But it’s not just about the looks. The B&O Balance is also about performance. There are seven drivers in all, an upwardfiring bass in the base, plus a second
A Special Evening with Bang & Olufsen We are taking the opportunity of the release of the B&O Balance to formally introduce the B&O range to our store on Thursday 23rd of April, commencing at 6.30 p.m. The evening will be catered, and we will have B&O personnel on hand to answer any questions that you may have. It will be necessary to limit numbers so if you are interested in learning more about this iconic brand please reserve your position by emailing sales@lenwallisaudio.com.au
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SONUS FABER
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SONUS FABER
And a Warm Welcome to Sonus faber…
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ecently we decided to add another range of loudspeakers to the Len Wallis Audio stable and were in the fortunate position of making the choice from scratch. We considered a number of options, but it soon became evident that of all the speakers we are not currently Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
ranging Sonus faber was the best out there. This famous Italian brand has a lot going for it. Firstly all Sonus faber speakers are not only beautifully constructed, but also look equally beautiful. The build quality is exceptional—these are speakers that you
would be proud to display in any room. The current trend of hiding speakers away is actually detrimental to the performance of any loudspeaker, so here is a speaker that gives you the best of both worlds—looks and performance. Secondly, and most importantly, these are superb-sounding speakers.
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SONUS FABER
The re-occurring comment among our staff was that these speakers, irrespective of the price point or the model, encouraged you to play more music. They have this magical ability to involve you in what you are playing—and isn’t that what we are all about? The Sonus faber speaker line-up is comprehensive, consisting of five ranges starting with their introductory Sonetto series through to the Reference range. We currently have 15 models on display, from the bookshelf Sonetto 1, selling for $2,995 per pair, through to the towering Reference Lilium which sells for $99,950/pair. If you are in the market for a highquality pair of speakers—a pair that you will live with for many years to come—drop in and have a listen to any of the Sonus faber speakers we have available for audition. You’ll find their sound quality to be superb… so the build quality is a bonus!
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Sonos faber Sonetto Promotion The new entry range from Sonus faber is the Sonetto series (pictured above) offers exceptional value. The local distributors have introduced a promotion where if you purchase a pair of Sonetto speakers, starting with the Sonetto 11 bookshelf speakers at $3,995, up to the excellent Sonetto Viii at $11,995, you will receive a pair of Sonus faber Pryma headphones, valued at $799, for free.
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MUSICAL FIDELITY
Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier
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his is an important release as it is the first totally new release from British company Musical Fidelity since they were purchased by Vienna’s Audio Tuning last year. Despite the change in ownership, Simon Quarry, the design genius behind so many Musical Fidelity gems, continues on as Musical Fidelity’s Technical Director and Designer.
The Musical Fidelity M8xi is a monster of an amplifier. Rated at 550-watts per channel it is designed to competently drive any loudspeaker in existence. The construction consists of a pre-amp with two mono-block power amps sharing the same chassis. Each component has its own power transformer and heat sinks. Whereas most companies rate their distortion specs measured only at 1kHz,
Musical Fidelity state a distortion rate of 0.004% at all frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz. Its maximum peak output is 105 amps, and while that may not mean much to many people, to put it into perspective, a 240V electric arc welder uses 90–100 amps, so you could probably weld with this amp! The M8xi has multiple inputs, including four pairs of RCA and two pairs of XLR analogue inputs, plus two coaxial, two optical and one USB input. And it sounds great! (It is, after all a Musical Fidelity!) If you are in the market for a highperformance amplifier without going down the route of separate pre and power amplifiers (or even if you are considering separates) the Musical Fidelity M8xi should be on your shortlist—amplifiers don’t get much better than this. $10,995.
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TECHNICS
The Return of Technics Turntables
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fter an extended hiatus we are pleased to announce that we are again stocking Technics direct-drive turntables at LWA! The return of the iconic Technics brand has been a long time coming. We have been watching the overseas releases for some time and had previously witnessed their reveals of new turntables at overseas hi-fi shows.
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Well… the wait is over; they are now available in Australia. There are three Technics turntables available: Grand Class SL-1200G, the SL1200GR and the Premium Class SL-1500C. There have been a number of variants of the SL-1200, and the ‘1200G is the best ever. The chassis, motor and arm have all been upgraded. Some really serious engineering has gone into this
turntable—take a close look at the platter construction as just one example. While the majority of turntable platters around are made from cast aluminium, and some are glass… or even timber, the Technics platter has a three-layered construction of brass and cast aluminium with a layer of rubber coating the entire underside to eliminate all unwanted resonances. The platter weighs 3.6kg. $6,999. Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
TECHNICS
The Technics SL-1200GR is closer to the SL-1200 of yesteryear. This is available in either black or silver. $2,799. Technics Premium Class SL-1500. This is an excellent all-round turntable for the money. It comes complete with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, it has auto-lift at the end of the record, will play at 78rpm as well as 33 & 45 rpm and has an in-built phono stage for when connecting to amplifiers without phono inputs. $1,999.
Technics Ottava Wireless Streamers Technics are also looking to the latest technologies with the release of two wireless streaming speakers, the Ottava SC-C30 at $1,149, and the Ottava SC-C50 at $1,429, as well as one of the best all-
in-one desktop wireless streaming systems on the market, the Ottava SC-C70. All use Technics’ ‘JENO’ (Jitter Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimisation) technology in order to deliver all of the audio data contained in the high-resolution sound source faithfully to the speakers without any losses. All also feature Technics’ ‘Space Tune’ technology, which customises the sound
to suit the acoustics of the room in which you’re listening. The Ottava SC-C70 is a combined CD player, FM/DAB+ radio, streamer, amplifier and speakers in a superbly built and very compact package. It incorporates USB input, Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify, Tidal, Internet radio etc. At $1,649 this is a very attractive package for anyone looking for a compact, wellmade and flexible system at a realistic
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LG
LG Big-Screen OLED TVs
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he partnership between B&O and LG (all B&O AV systems are built around LG TVs) means we now have the LG range of TVs available to us as well. It is common knowledge that LG is the only manufacturer of OLED panels, so all companies that build OLED TVs have to source their panels from LG and then add their own processing (with varied results). One of the advantages of selling LG OLED TVs is that it once again gives us access to large screen (above 65”) OLED screens with LG being particularly strong in the 77” category (it is a 77” LG screen that we are showcasing with the B&O BeoVision Harmony we mentioned earlier).
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This is an impressive screen and is certainly a fitting partner for the AV package B&O have wrapped around it. At the time of writing Len Wallis Audio will stock and display three screen sizes—55”, 65”, and 77”—from the LG C9 OLED range, but we can access the wider range of LG products on request. We are aware that there are new models coming to replace the C9 range, and we expect these to land in April, 2020. The current LG C9 range offers the latest Alpha 9 Gen 2 Intelligent Processor that utilises AI deep learning which handles everything from upscaling content to 4K quality to real-time optimisation of the picture to improve contrast and colour
and reduce on-screen reflections. The C9 series OLED TVs also have Dolby Vision HDR and—incredibly—Dolby Atmos sound capability. At less than one centimetre in depth and with a virtually non-existent surround bezel, the screens on all three LG C9 models are remarkably thin. Thanks to the OLED technology, their deeper blacks and bright and brilliant colours are a huge step up from LED LCD screens. They are simply stunning to watch in person, so much so that after you’ve watched a favourite movie on one, previous-generation screens look dull in comparison. Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
STAX
STAX S
tax arguably manufacture the world’s best headphones (or ‘earspeakers’ as they refer to their offerings). However Stax have always been the quiet achievers over the 80+ years they’ve been manufacturing headphones. Their advertising has mostly been word of mouth and the products are so long-lived that new models are far and few between. The speed of development of new models has increased a little during the past few years. Last year Stax released several new products, including the SRM-D10 portable headphone amp/DAC and the SRM-D50 bench-top electrostatic headphone amp. This year, they have just released two new electrostatic headphone amplifiers… or to be precise, two variants of the same headphone amplifier. This new Stax headphone amp is available in a choice of solid-state (SRM-700S) or vacuum-tube (SRM-700T) formats.
The SRM-700S uses fully discrete lownoise dual J-FETs throughout, while the SRM-700T has a low-noise dual FET first stage and high slew-rate 6SN7 vacuum tubes in its output stage.
Both models have been inspired by the legendary Stax SRM-T8000, one of the finest electrostatic headphone amplifiers ever built. The price is the same for both the solid-state and vacuum tube models: $5,900.
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B&W
B&W Formation
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&W are very late to the party with their wireless streaming system. Sonos had this market to themselves for a decade, but since then we have witnessed the release of a plethora of brands, including Marantz’s HEOSs, Yamaha’s MusicCast and NAD’s BlueSound.
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B&W have unashamedly targeted the top-end of this market, taking on the likes of BlueSound and beyond. This is a very welcome product, a streaming speaker that competes with traditional hi-fi offerings. Despite the appeal of the streaming offerings it has all been about convenience and content, so it’s great to see a platform that adds performance into the mix.
The B&W Formation range is very comprehensive, consisting of: Formation Audio: This device allows you to transform your existing amplifier into a multi-room-capable audio system streaming 96k/24-bit high-resolution music. It can also be used in isolation by connecting it wirelessly to any of the Formation speakers.
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B&W
Formation Flex: The smallest of their wireless speakers, it utilises a 25mm tweeter and a 100mm bass driver. Formation Wedge: Their mid-sized speaker with two 25mm tweeters, two 90mm midrange drivers and a 153mm bass driver. This unit also houses four 40watt amplifiers plus an 80-watt amplifier. Formation Duo: Now we are talking! This pair of active, wireless streaming speakers are loosely based on B&W’s successful ‘700 Series’ speakers. B&W refer to these speakers as ‘the ultimate
96k/24-bit high-resolution streaming audio system’. While we are sure Meridian may disagree, you cannot deny that these are an impressive offering. Formation Bar: This is 3-channel high-resolution soundbar utilising nine drivers. There has been a tendency among manufacturers to cheapen their soundbar offerings—thankfully B&W have resisted this temptation. $1,999. Formation Bass: This subwoofer breaks the traditional ‘square box’ mould we have become so accustomed to.
This diminutive sub utilises a pair of 165mm drivers in an opposed array driven by a 250-watt Class-D amplifier… resulting in surprising performance for its size. $1,699.
Headphones B&W was also a late starter in headphones but have made a serious impact since. They have just released two new models which are arguably their best to date and have received numerous reviews stating that they are the best available ’phones in their respective classes. To say that the range we carry is limited would be an understatement: we only carry the on/over ear designs, and that consists of two models: PX7: Over-ear noise-cancelling wireless design. $599
PX5: On-ear noise-cancelling wireless design. $469
B&W Diamond Rewards Promotion B&W are not adverse to running promotions, and the current one is excellent. This is a claim-back offer; if you spend a certain amount on B&W products ($1,499 and over) you can claim back a reward. This starts with a pair of PI3 in-ear headphones for purchases of $1,499 to $2,499 and rises to a pair of Formation Duo speakers, valued at $6,400, for purchases of $40,000 21 and above.
LINN
LINN UPGRADE OFFER FOR A LIMITED TIME if you purchase a Linn LP12 Majik turntable you can add an Akurate upgrade for half-price*. The available upgrades are: •
Trampolin base board (RRP $339, now $169.50)
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Kore sub-chassis (RRP $1,495, now $747.50)
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Akito tonearm (RRP $3,195, now $1,597.50)
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Lingo 4 power supply (RRP $2,995, now $1,497.50)
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Krystal MC cartridge (RRP $2,495, now $1,247.50)
(*Please note that this is limited to one upgrade per LP12 Majik purchased.)
New Linn Streaming App Linn have released a new streaming App for iOS devices—simply called Linn App— which replaces the older Kazoo App. The new Linn App boasts a number of new features including: Quick access: Browse, Search, Queue, Room selection and System setting tabs are always on the screen, making it quick and easy to access anything you need at all times.
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Global search: Quickly find music across all of your streaming services and stored music content at the same time. Access playlists from anywhere: Quickly find the music you’re looking for across all of your streaming services and stored music content at the same time. System configuration: Access to userfriendly configuration options, such as the ability to rename rooms and sources—and add sources—plus the ability to update to the latest software for selected products. Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
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ARTNOVION
Installation Feature: Artnovion
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hilst all of our projects are a joy, there are some that stand out and remind us how lucky we are to be in this awesome industry! Our team took on the challenge of creating a high-end listening room from a challenging acoustic space and achieved outstanding results, thanks to thoughtful design and professional installation. Sales Consultant and all-round hi-fi buff Garry Cottingham led our team through three full days of ‘measure’, ‘hang’ and ‘repeat’ to achieve this magnificent result.
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The client had previously purchased some impressive hi-fi equipment from us which included a Devialet Expert 1000 amplifier, with which he drove a pair of Triangle’s top-of-the-range Magellan Grand Concert speakers, complemented by some of the best cabling and isolation products from German cable specialist Inakustik… all of which he also purchased from us. The client wanted to maximise the audio potential of his equipment, however the room in which he’d installed his system was highly reflective and acoustically compromised. To transform the room and meet the client’s expectations, Garry worked closely with Acoustic specialists Artnovion to improve and tune the sound of the room using acoustic panels. This requires careful measurement to identify all the architectural elements of the room as well as the exact
dimensions and the compositions of all the materials used in the room’s construction. This information is then provided to Artnovion who are then able to determine how sound will react in the room using sophisticated professional sound modelling software. They then create a detailed 3D render model that shows where the acoustic panelling and soundtrapping equipment should be located. Helpfully, the 3D render also shows exactly what the various recommended products will look like after they’ve been installed. To assist with the process, Artnovion have an extensive range of products from typical fabric cover absorbers to more elaborate and stylish ‘wood absorber’ panels with a variety of finishes available. We are also able to match or complement existing colours or décor in a room to provide a truly integrated and stylish solution. The client was thrilled with the results we achieved because we were able to transform an acoustically poorperforming room into an intimate and enjoyable listening space that makes the most of the performance of his high-end equipment while also presenting pleasing visual aesthetics. Contact us for more information, or visit https://www.artnovion.com/ Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
NEW DESIGN • NEW ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE
MERLIN S6 2020 LOUDSPEAKER OF THE YEAR $500-$1,000
THOR S6 2019 SUBWOOFER OF THE YEAR UNDER $5,000
Re-imagined and re-engineered for an award-winning entertainment experience Bring your favourite music to life with our new Series 6 range of loudspeakers and subwoofers. In a new clean modern look, we’ve taken a new approach and designed this range to deliver clarity and realism with an exceptional sound stage, so you can immerse yourself in an engaging entertainment experience.
For more information and to find a dealer visit www.richter.com.au
AURALIC
AURALiC
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oday there are two primary sources of music for most music enthusiasts—vinyl and streaming. Interestingly, more people appear to be aware of the performance differences in turntables this time around than there were when they were popular the first time. Today most people accept that there are real differences in performance between a budget turntable and a higher-priced model. Not everyone has come to realise that the same thing applies to streamers— many are still of the opinion that, for example, a BlueSound Node 2i delivers the same level of performance as a more exotic streamer… after all, digital is digital! But as good as the Node 2i is, it does not compare to a Linn or Naim streamer. In recent years a new contender as been making a name for itself as one
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of the premium streamers on the market, and that is AURALiC. This company was formed in 2009, and while we carried some of their earlier products, we found that despite their stellar performance the range was quirky and inconsistent. In more recent times they have pulled together a family of products that share the same chassis design, are extremely well engineered and, most importantly, offer cutting-edge performance. We currently have three models on the showroom floor for auditioning: Altair G1. While this may be AURALiC’s entry point it is still a very impressive streamer/ DAC and pre-amp in one chassis. Music can be sourced from virtually any source—including locally stored files on your network, Internet radio, Airplay, Bluetooth, USB drive, an optional integrated hard drive or a playlist from a subscription-based streaming service such as Qobuz or TIDAL.
Control is via either the proprietary Lightning DS app, or the intuitive control on the front panel. All functions are clearly shown on the high-resolution 10cm colour display. The Altair G1 features coaxial, Toslink and AES/EBU inputs with both RCA and XLR outputs. $3,795. Aries G2. This is a higher-level streamer only—i.e. no in-built DAC. It is AURALiC’s purest streamer, powerful enough to build an astonishingly pure, bitperfect stream for music formats up to DSD512 over Wi-Fi for truly exceptional sound performance. ‘…the Aries G2 is responsible for some of the best digital sounds I’ve heard’. (HiFi World). $6,795. Vega G2 Streaming DAC. The completely revamped architecture of the Vega G2 combines high-end DAC performance and feature-rich streaming, emerging as a complete digital music solution for your home audio system. Vega G2 streaming is based on the Lightning Streaming framework, so favourite AURALiC features such as On-Device Playlists, Memory Caching, Gapless Playback and Bit-Perfect Multi-Room are all at your fingertips. With support for every audiophile format and resolution up to DSD512, the AURALiC Vega G2 is the embodiment of what highresolution digital music can be. $9,795. Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook
MAN CAVE
The Ultimate Man Cave? This converted double-garage may be just the place to get some well-earned R&R!
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his system is a combination of the client’s existing equipment (Jamo speakers and Onkyo electronics) plus new products that we have supplied and installed. The end wall features a 125” MicroPerf Screen Technics screen, which is lit up by a Sony VPLVW760 laser projector. On each of the side walls we have installed a Sony 85” 4K HRD TV on an Ultralift swing-arm. Both these TVs and the projector have their own gaming console. The system is controlled by an RTI programmable remote, and just to ensure that there is no degradation of signal (audio or video), the complete system is wired with Inakustik cable. As you can see, it’s now the perfect place to spend some downtime.
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DENON HOME
Denon Home
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he multi-room wireless music system from the Marantz/Denon group is HEOS, which quickly established itself as one of the big four (Sonos, MusicCast and BlueSound being the alternatives). Recently the decision was made to move away from the HEOS name and for the product to be
re-badged ‘Denon Home’. This is currently a work in progress; at the moment we are still ranging the remnants of the existing HEOS models, but we’re are expecting to see the first of the new ‘Denon Home’ wireless speakers arrive within weeks. There will be three new speakers, the Denon Home 150, 250 and 350.
The shape of the new Denon Home models is more traditional—and will be better suited to a wider variety of environments. At this stage we do not have the anticipated prices but understand they will be close to the retail prices for the previous models (prior to the price re-position to help clear existing stocks).
Denon Home 150: This is a smallest model, and is mono, rather than stereo. It has a 25mm diameter tweeter and a 90mm diameter bass/midrange driver, each of which is driven by its own dedicated Class-D amplifier. It has 2.4GHz (11b/g/n) and 5GHz (11a/n/ac) Wi-Fi built in, along with Bluetooth and HEOS.
Denon Home 250: The smaller of the two stereo models, the Home 250 has two 19mm tweeters and two 100mm bass/ midrange drivers, each one of which is driven by its own Class-D amplifier, plus an additional 134mm passive radiator for extended bass response. It has 2.4GHz (11b/g/n) and 5GHz (11a/n/ac) Wi-Fi built in, along with Bluetooth and HEOS, plus wired connections (USB and Ethernet).
Denon Home 350: The largest in the range, and the only one with dedicated midrange drivers, the Denon Home 350 has a total of six Class-D amplifiers that drive two 19mm tweeters, two 50mm midrange drivers and two 165mm bass drivers. It has 2.4GHz (11b/g/n) and 5GHz (11a/n/ac) Wi-Fi built in, along with Bluetooth and HEOS, plus wired digital connections (USB and Ethernet).
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Autumnal Accessories… And More
IsoAcoustics GAIA IsoAcoustics’ GAIA speaker isolators can totally transform the sound of your loudspeakers, making them sound better that you ever thought possible. They achieve this by resisting lateral movement and oscillations to maintain your speakers’ alignment with the listening position while simultaneously isolating your speakers
from structure-borne vibration. You will be amazed how the sound ‘opens up’ after you’ve installed a set of IsoAcoustics’ patented isolators. Delivered in sets of four with alternative thread sizes to fit most speakers, GAIAs come in three sizes depending on your speakers’ weight: $349.50 for up to 32kg, $499.50 (up to 54kg), and $1,099.50 (up to 100kg).
IsoTek Power Cables IsoTek manufactures a very large range of power cables specifically designed to improve the sound of your system. Prices vary depending on the range (there are five in all) and the required length, but they start out at just $129 for the 1.5 metre EV03 Initium cable through to $12,000+ for the 5 metre EV03 Ascension.
DragonFly DACs AudioQuest’s newest portable DAC, the Dragonfly Cobalt is proving to be a firm favourite, in spite of the price premium compared to the Dragonfly Red ($320) or even the most affordable of the Dragonfly family—the DragonFly Black, at $160—which gained the praise of none other than John Darko as being “the quintessential everyman hi-fi product”. He also praised AudioQuest for “bringing a low-cost high-performance portable DAC to a whole new market.” Whereas the Dragonfly Black is designed for use with portable devices such as phones. where power consumption is a concern, the higher spec’d DragonFly Red is better suited for devices such as laptops, and accordingly incorporates a more advanced headphone amp and an improved volume control. But as good as the Red and the Black are, AudioQuest recognised a need for an even-higher quality device, hence the development of the Dragonfly Cobalt. The Cobalt boasts a more advanced DAC chip, an improved processor (which increases speed by 33%), and improved power supply filtering which reduces Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular noise. The DragonFly Cobalt sells for $549.
Spin Clean Record Washer Mk2 As the computer guys used to say: “Garbage In… Garbage Out”. So if your LPs are dirty, so will be the sound from your speakers, so an easy-to-use, effective record-cleaning machine is essential in order for you to achieve the best sound quality from your system when playing vinyl. The deceptively simple and distractingly low-priced Spin Clean Record Washer Mk2 has been hailed by experts as being one of the easiest, most effective—and most affordable— solutions for cleaning records, and unlike other record-cleaning methods, the Spin Clean Record Washer Mk2 enables you to clean both sides of your records at once, so it’s time-efficient as well. If you’ve been looking for a well-priced and effective solution for cleaning your vinyl—LPs and singles—then look no further. Go on… get that grunge out of your grooves for only $149! And don’t put your nowclean albums back into dirty sleeves, slip them into pristine ones from Inakustik. We’ll sell you a pack of 50 sleeves for just $59.
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ACCESSORIES
It’s A Steal! It was a bargain when we reduced the price of Peachtree Audio’s “Shift” portable USB DAC from $599 to $399, but now that we’ve slashed the price even further, it’s now the proverbial steal for anyone looking for a superbly built, low-cost, high-quality portable USB DAC! This beautifully designed and very attractive-looking DAC is around the size of a deck of playing cards and will allow you to completely bypass the low-quality headphone output of your smartphone, tablet or laptop and provide exceptional sound quality wherever you happen to be listening, and for almost no matter how long you want to listen, since its built-in rechargeable battery provides up to eight hours of playback on a single charge. Peachtree’s “Shift” is so good that even if you don’t need a portable DAC, you should consider buying one to use as a desktop DAC, because it’ll also improve the sound from your personal computer. It’s a steal at just $299!
Wireless Upgrade for Older Systems
Theft on the Rise
If you have an older hi-fi system, without wireless or internet capabilities, why not modernise it by adding Yamaha’s awardwinning WXAD-10 Wireless Streaming Adaptor? For just $229 it will enhance the useability of your existing system by letting you stream music content from your
smartphone or tablet, as well as music from your computer or network storage, plus it will give you access to a variety of online streaming services—as well as Internet radio—so you can access any music you want from anywhere. Plus, thanks to its MusicCast features, you can share music with MusicCast-enabled devices in all the other rooms in your home.
It must be in the air, because we’ve also reduced the price on our ever-popular Vibrapods. Unwanted vibrations in your system are never welcome and can sonically compromise musical playback. Vibrapods can fix this by soaking up unwanted vibrations. The improvements they can deliver might well be the most cost-effective hi-fi tweak on the market today. We are offering Vibrapod Models 4 & 5 that cover differing weights of equipment from 20kg up to 50kg so you can get the ones that are right for your gear! Originally priced from $39.95 for a set of four, you can now grab a set for just $29.95.
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ACCESSORIES
Musical Fidelity V90 LPS Stax Whereas the RIAA equalisation on the built-in phono inputs of most integrated amplifiers tops out at 20kHz, Musical Fidelity’s V90-LPS phono stage delivers extremely accurate RIAA correction that extends up to 80kHz and beyond. That may sound extreme, but there is a good deal of information above 20kHz that needs correction. If it isn’t corrected, it will show itself as ringing and overshoot. This very high-performance phono
stage has superb technical performance, accommodates both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges and will prove to you that a great phono stage can really bring more “life” to your records. The V90 LPS is also proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune to obtain this high level of sound quality and performance. It’s a great option for those exploring the capabilities of vinyl and is available in silver for $349.
Inakustik Speaker Cables
Earspeaker Stand Where do you put your headphones when you’re not using them? Somewhere they could potentially be scratched, or dented? Even if you don’t own a pair of the world’s best-sounding headphones—or, as Stax prefers to call them, ‘earspeakers’—you should still invest in a headphone stand. And what better investment than a stand designed and built by Stax using natural wood from the unspoiled forests of Hokkaido, Japan? The perfect support for any Stax model, the Stax Earspeaker Stand will also provide perfect support for almost any pair of headphones. $200.
Inakustik design and manufacture all their higher-end cables in BallrechtenDottingen, Germany, including their first flat ‘ribbon’ construction ‘Air’ speaker cable, the LS-804 Air ($2,100 per 3 metre pair). Rather than using the helix structure utilised in the larger Air cables, the LS-804 Air has its four conductors run side by side. This still achieves the capacitance and inductance advantages enabled by the company’s famous ‘helix’ structure, while the division into several smaller separate conductors reduces skin effect. We stock everything from the top-line Referenz LS-4004 AIR speaker cable (at $10,000 per 3m pair) to the Referenz LS502 ($599 per 3m pair). LWA also stocks Inakustik’s most affordable speaker cable, the Excellence MSR, which comes off the roll in exact custom lengths for just $20 per metre.
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GENERATION
A new spin on a classic. Whether adding music streaming to your existing hi-fi setup or wirelessly connecting to MusicCast speakers throughout the home, the MusicCast VINYL 500 is designed for a new generation of audiophiles.