Len Wallis Audio HEADLINES Summer 2017

The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio

Summer 2017

MERIDIAN RETURNS! Meet the kings of digital sound PLUS

PANASONIC OLED ROON & MQA RICHTER’S NEW THOR SUBWOOFER

ift g e h t Give ic this s of mu as! tm s i r h C 1

lenwallisaudio.com (02) 9427 6755

/lenwallisaudio

SA10S1 Reference SACD / CD player & DAC MADE IN JAPAN

PM10S1 Reference Stereo Integrated Amplifier MADE IN JAPAN

THE REFERENCE 10 SERIES

SOON TO BE LEGEND

Introducing the Marantz SA-10 SACD player/DAC and PM-10 amplifier – The New Reference Series, built on groundbreaking audio technology.

The new Marantz SA-10 is the latest model in a range of high-end players stretching all the way back to the dawn of CD. The SA-10 is designed to sets new standards, whether with music on disc or content streamed from a computer, and to become the New Reference in digital audio.

It’s no surprise that our very latest Premium Series model, the PM-10, is an integrated amplifier built to set new standards with all of today’s music

formats. In fact, this massively powerful integrated amplifier is constructed more like a high-end separate preamplifier and a pair of mono-block power amps, but all in one beautifully finished case, designed both to maximise performance and create a strong visual statement.

Marantz 10 Series Reference Components.

Because Music Matters.

For more information visit www.marantz.com.au

SA14S1 Special Edition

PM14S1 Special Edition

NA11S1

TT15S1

SACD / CD Player and DAC

Stereo Integrated Amplifier

Network Audio Player and DAC

Fully Manual Turntable

MADE IN JAPAN

MADE IN JAPAN

MADE IN JAPAN

MADE IN GERMANY

AVAILABLE AT

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

Inside...

04 From the desk of Len

08

11

06 Panasonic’s OLED TVs are a stunning sight – is now the right time to buy OLED? 08 New Aventage receivers arrive from Yamaha 10 Meet NAD’s Masters Series

12

14

11

A new way to audition Ortofon cartridges

12

Voice-activated speakers – are they the future?

13

VINYL Starter Package

Best Christmas gift ever!

Get back to black with this carefully-matched complete vinyl system

14 Meridian Audio’s M6 and DSP7200 loudspeakers 16 Streaming services for a brave new world 18

20

23

Bowers & Wilkins debuts the new 700 Series...

20 Triangle’s new Esprit Australe EZ and wireless active LN05A floorstanders 23 Your chance to hear Sennheiser’s amazing HE 1 headphone system – and bag a pre-Xmas bargain!

24 New from Richter Audio, the Thor 10.6 subwoofer

26

31

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

26 Made for the movies: Kaleidescape movie players and RowOne seating 28 Audio essentials Find the perfect gift for the hi-fi lover in your life – or just treat your own inner Santa...

3

EDITORIAL

R

FROM THE DESK OF LEN

ecently I had the good fortune to attend the 2017 CEDIA (Consumer Electronic Design and Installation Association) Expo in the US. This is a large show, with around 18,000 attendees and over 500 exhibitors. There were hundreds of training courses running over five days, and plenty of opportunity to mix with (and learn from) your peers.

It is also an opportunity to discover the latest technologies, and more importantly to see where the industry is headed.

Not surprisingly one of the strongest themes running through the show revolved around networking. Almost everything at the show would connect to your local network, and unless that network is rock solid it will not cope with the demands that we will be asking it to cope with in the future. At LWA we have been banging that drum for a long time now, but it was certainly reinforced at the show. The days of cobbling together a network from your local electronics outlet and expecting it to cope with Hi-Res music and video streaming, security, automation etc. are long gone.

Automation was the other dominant theme. However, in this case the message was somewhat disjointed. It

04

appears that the current definition of automation encompasses everything from the simple implementation of voice control via the likes of Amazon Alexa (which had a huge presence in one way or another at the show) and on through to full-on bespoke automation installations from the likes of Savant.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a popular topic on the show floor, but it is still early days. There was no doubt, though, that automation in one form or another will be the growth area of the future.

With so much now happening in the home, remote support was also a strong theme. There are a number of companies that have sprung up allowing support for the home infrastructure from a remote location, meaning that many of the issues that traditionally require a home visit can now been done from our office. Again early days, but something that we are looking into.

As always there were some very impressive demonstrations (interspersed with some rather mediocre ones). One of the best was the Meridian Theatre using their in-wall range of digital active speakers. Great sound, and unobtrusive.

Visually they were using a Barco 4K projector, and while this is not a brand

Editor’s note: Len is too modest to mention it himself, but while at the CEDIA Expo he was recognised as one of the select group of CEDIA ‘Fellows’. He is pictured here with fellow Fellow, CE Pro founding editor Julie Jacobson.

that we do much with, I must give credit where credit is due – it looked stunning.

I also had the opportunity to visit an off-site display by James Loudspeakers.

This is a company that we do a considerable amount of business with, mainly because they will custom-build speakers. For example we use their soundbars because they will build them to the exact width of the TV we are using them with. They also manufacture one of the best sounding (albeit expensive) outdoor speakers on the market. However the highlight of this visit was understanding that this is a company of engineers, dedicated to finding solutions when off-the-counter products just won’t do the job. It was refreshing, and great fun, talking to these guys.

And I think that summed up the spirit of the show in many ways. There is a ton of products and options out there. Some of them will be suitable for your project, many will not. There was a genuine buzz at the show, and much of it revolved around the idea of putting together a combination of products and sub-systems (audio, vision, security, lighting control, automation etc.) that is going to work together, be reliable, be intuitive to use, and most importantly improve your lifestyle.

Len Wallis

Size Up A Richter

Purchase any pair of eligible Richter Loudspeakers, and you can choose to upgrade to the next model up!

ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS INCLUDE: Buy a pair of Merlin V’s ($799) or choose to size up to a pair of Mentor Vs ($999) for FREE Buy a pair of Mentor V’s ($999) or for an extra $100 choose to size up to a pair of Harlequin V’s ($1,499) Buy a pair of Harlequin V’s ($1,499) or choose to size up to a pair of Wizard Vs ($1,999) for FREE

For more information or to find your local dealer visit: www.richter.com.au Offer strictly limited to the models listed above, not in conjunction with any other offer and avaliable whilst stock lasts.

Offer closes Australia Day 26th January 2018.

“AN AUSTRALIAN LEGEND SINCE 1986”

PANASONIC OLED

Is now the right time to buy an OLED TV?

M

arketing jargon gets thrown around a lot in this industry and is rightly treated with scepticism.

The television sector is a prime example where manufacturers fight for mindshare by offering the most up-to-the-minute technology. Nowhere has this been more obvious than the recent OLED tsunami which is everywhere at the moment.

06

While we have been telling you about the coming of OLED for a little while now, some of our clients rightly question: “Is now the right time to get an OLED TV?” It is true that new technologies are usually most expensive when first brought to market. Sixty-five-inch LCD screens that were worth $10,000 ten years ago can now be had (albeit from a budget brand) for less than a thousand. Surely, the price

of OLED TVs will follow the same trend, becoming substantially cheaper in the next few years?

While some minor price movement is possible, all things considered, we believe it’s unlikely we’ll see the kind of discounting that occurred over time with LED/LCD panels. This means that yes, now would be a great time to upgrade to OLED, for a number of reasons…

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

PANASONIC OLED

LG.Display succeeded in making the technology reliable and profitable, and they are currently the only company manufacturing panels of the size required for TV. In fact the investment costs are so significant that almost every OLED TV on the market today (including LG, Sony and Panasonic) all source their panels from LG.D.

Panasonic OLED at LWA Panasonic’s next-generation OLED TV Series is now available from Len Wallis Audio. These offer an extraordinary picture quality by driving the OLED panel with professional-grade processing technologies born from Panasonic’s decades of experience in developing TV technology, as well as a 20-year collaboration with Hollywood Studios.

One supplier means limited supply

OLED technology is not OLD The basics of the technology that form an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) reach back to the early 1950s, with the first practical devices built in 1987.

OLED screens have been used in a number of devices since the early 2000s, like watches, phones and other devices that required small screens. The first OLED TV was available for sale from Sony in 2008, but the panel that made it possible was actually developed and manufactured

by LG. LG.Display was a pioneer in OLED and made substantial investments in R&D and scalable screen manufacturing.

During the first few years they suffered with horrible quality control, with as many as 90% of the screens failing testing off the manufacturing line! After significant time and money investment

Since the OLED panels are now commercially viable, companies that have a proven track record in developing superior images, like Panasonic, are applying their superior image processing to OLED. By using the premium Studio Colour HCX2 4K processor, Panasonic extract the best colour out of the panel and this is reflected for the high demand for these screens. When viewing an OLED beside an LCD screen, its superiority cannot be denied.

Of course this means higher demand, as more manufacturers jump on board. With LG.Display being the sole supplier, some are speculating that a “bidding war” could develop for access to the screens. Until someone else invests the billions needed to develop a new manufacturing stream, it looks like LG.D are on a good thing.

Top of the range is the 65-inch EZ1000 Series, the cutting edge of Panasonic’s visual and audio technology advances, with the OLED panel using professionalgrade processing technologies such as Panasonic’s ‘Absolute Black’ filter and 4K Pro High Dynamic Range (HDR).

It also features exceptional in-built audio with an integrated soundbar or ‘sound blade’ which was developed in partnership with Technics. The 77-inch model is due very soon, the price still to be announced, while the 65” EZ1000 retails for $8299.

A picture says a thousand words In the end, the old adage still holds true. Come into the showroom and you cannot help but be impressed by the Panasonic OLED. Its stunning colour and infinite blacks are obvious. Where LCD screen colours fade as you view on an angle, OLED retains its vividness even as you are pushed to the edge of the couch by the kids. Finally we have a television that is unlikely to be superseded by another emerging technology for the best part of decade.

These are truly the ones to own in TVs if you want the best.

We are also stocking the OLED EZ950 Series in 65” and 55” sizes, both available now. These panels feature the same image technology as the top EZ1000 but go without the ‘Absolute Black’ filter and don’t have the in-built ‘Soundblade’.

The 65” EZ950 retails for $6,399 and the 55” EZ950 retails for $3,899.

07

YAMAHA

A better Aventage – from Yamaha

S

ince our last Headlines publication, Yamaha has been busy, launching six new receivers for its high-end Aventage range. Now entering its eighth generation since first launching in 2010, the 70-series Aventage range

has never been better specified and represents exceptional value for money.

These new models are brimming with up-to-the-minute features including Dolby Atmos decoding, 4K HDR video and multi-room music. All six models are now available in store and start at $1,499

with the RX-A770. Common features include Virtual Surround Back Speaker, YPAO sound calibration, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. The models will also get compatibility with Deezer and Tidal in addition to the company’s own MusicCast system, as well as DAB+ digital radio.

Aventage RX-A770 $1,499 Entry-level into the Aventage range is the RX-A770, yet it’s anything but sparse when it comes to useful features, and represents a great opportunity for customers looking to step up to the Aventage range for the first time. The RXA770 brings 4K video upscaling, a capable 95W per channel, five HDMI inputs, and even a phono input for your turntable.

Aventage RX-A870 $1,799 The Aventage RX-A870 gives you better connectivity than the A770 and a bit more power. It has 100W per channel and eight HDMI inputs (three with HDCP 2.2) and dual HDMI/HDCP 2.2 outputs. There is also Bluetooth for easy device direct wireless streaming in addition to Yamaha’s excellent MusicCast Multi-room control.

Aventage RX-A1070 $2,099 If you’re a fan of Yamaha’s digital processing features, you might consider the RX-A1070. It adds ‘Cinema DSP HD’ for use with Atmos setups and employs three dedicated DSP LSI chips. Other stepup features from the RX-A870 include 110W per channel, eight HDMI 2.0a inputs with HDCP 2.2 and dual HDMI/ HDCP 2.2 outputs. It adds a symmetrical amplifier layout and YPAO multipoint room calibration.

08

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

YAMAHA

The Aventage advantage That’s all well and good, but you might be asking what’s the real ‘Aventage’ here? In particular, why would you choose one of these over one of Yamaha’s other excellent AV receivers such as those from the RX-V line-up for example?

Aventage RX-A2070 $2,499 The RX-A2070 receiver is a 9.2-channel (5.1.4 or 7.1.2 channel) that includes 140W per channel, and includes high quality dual SABRE Premier DACs to handle digital signals. It also allows two additional powered zones and has a Zone 4 HDMI output.

Simply put, the Aventage range typically uses high spec’d components, while design is more robust than others in the AV line-up. Think heavy-duty, larger capacity. They are perfect for customers that have more demanding speakers in their systems, for example, or those who want the flexibility of additional features and amplification capacity in the future.

Since its inception the Aventage range has brought a number of innovations that have been continuously improved over the years, such as the centrally located transformer to cut noise, and a special fifth leg to add support. Internally all models feature a beefed-up H-shape cross-member frame and thick ‘double bottom’ chassis to cut resonance frequencies to the signal path and reduce vibration. Aventage heat-sinks are redesigned and changed to black, which enhances the transfer of heat from the outputs. If you have a larger pair of demanding floor-standers and are looking for some real punch to drive them during an extended movie marathon – or perhaps you might want to futureproof yourself with extra power capacity for an upgrade in the future – Aventage is your answer for today and tomorrow.

As mentioned all models are now in store and available to be demonstrated in real-life situations just as you would use them at home, so pay us a visit and discover the new range. Of course all Aventages offer a four-year warranty and a 12-month replacement warranty – a real testament to the engineering confidence Yamaha have in these components.

Aventage RX-A3070 $2,999 The flagship of Yamaha’s line-up, again a 9.2-channel AV receiver but also an 11.2-channel processor, so you could add a stereo amplifier to have, say, a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos set-up. The nine channels offer an impressive 150W per channel. If you’re an audiophile you might also be interested in the inclusion of the state-of-the-art ESS ES9026PRO Sabre and Sabre32 Ultra DACs. The RX-A3070 also features two balanced inputs, a first for the Aventage Series.

YAMAHA ‘FREE ZONE’ PROMOTION!

Buy one of the new ’70 series Aventage AV receivers before the end of December and you can receive an additional zone of music – FREE! Yamaha Aventage receivers all come with their wireless multi-room system, MusicCast, in-built. All you need to do is add additional speakers around your home and you can stream anything connected to the receiver (including vinyl) or/and a myriad of on-line streaming services.

In conjunction with Yamaha we are currently running a promotion where until the end of December we will provide a free wireless speaker with every receiver. Purchase the RX-A770 or RX-A870 to receiver a PLUS Mini (WX-010), or any of the higher models to receive a WX-030.

So not only will you now have one of the finest AV receivers on the market, but you will also have the beginnings of one of the best multi-room streaming systems.

09

NAD MASTERS SERIES

Meet the Masters

E

ver since the company was formed in the 1970s, NAD has had a reputation for building great-sounding yet very affordable product. Their (original) 3020 amplifier from the late 70s is still the biggest selling integrated amplifier of all time.

Many people do not realise that there is a second tier to NAD, their Masters Series. This is a range of no-holds-barred products, representing the company’s tilt at the higher end of the market.

THE MASTERS MODELS

Review, and they started off by testing the unit on music. In their conclusion they commented ‘In terms of audio quality, this is one of the best processors I have experienced’, and likened it to the fabulous Krell Foundation processor – which at close to twice the price of the NAD is still considered to be value for money. This is important today as more people return to listening to music via Hi-Res streaming. And don’t forget that NAD has a BluOS module available for this unit (see opposite) which will add all the Bluesound streaming capabilities.

M17 $8,499 This is a very high quality fully balanced A/V processor. Interestingly – and importantly – as well as its obvious abilities in the video domain it is also a very good pre-amplifier for music. I have just finished reading the review by Home Theatre

M27 $6,699 The matching 7-channel power amplifier for the M17 processor utilises NAD’s Hybrid Digital amplification circuitry, and is rated at 180 watts/channel – all channels driven at 20Hz to 20kHz! It is important to recognise the importance of the last

10

specification – the vast majority of AV receivers measure their power rating with one channel driven at 1kHz, which obviously bears no resemblance to a reallife scenario. We have seen 90 watt-rated receivers test at 38 watts/channel once you turn all of the channels on.

M32 $6,699 NAD’s Masters Series integrated amplifier is rated at 150 watts/RMS. It has three analogue inputs (including phono) and seven digital inputs. All digital inputs are asynchronous with 24/192 capability.

Like the M17, this amplifier is controlled either via the remote or from the 4” touch screen on the front fascia.

THE MODULES One of the appealing features of this range, apart from the performance – which is exceptional – is its versatility.

One of the great consumer frustrations Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

ORTOFON CARTRIDGES

is that technologies change too fast, necessitating the scrapping of existing equipment and replacing it. NAD have addressed this, at least in part, with their replaceable modules. These can be easily inserted into the back of the Masters Series products allowing for upgrades.

There are currently a number of modules available, and NAD will develop more over time as the need arises.

One good example is their AM17 module, which adds Dolby Atmos/ DTS-X to the M17 processor. Not every installation incorporates Atmos speakers, so why pay for the technology if you don’t need it? More importantly this module demonstrates their ability to upgrade a non-Atmos product to the latest technology. With every other brand this would involve scrapping the existing processor and investing in a new one.

Other modules include:

DD BluOS Module This upgrades the device to become a Bluesound unit. We make no secret that we believe Bluesound to be one of the best wireless streaming platforms on the market. This module allows you to: • Play Hi-Res (24/192) files from your home network.

• Stream music services such as Tidal or Spotify.

• Supports MQA decoding.

• Adds a Bluetooth input.

DD AP-1 This adds a phono stage to the amplifier, selectable between MM and MC.

DD HDM-1 This HDMI module allows access to the mandatory two-channel linear PCM soundtrack found on every Blu-ray disc.

Ortofon Comparison Facility

A

s you are aware, vinyl has re-emerged as the Hi-Fi category of the moment, dragging along with it all the associated products, including cartridges.

The big problem with cartridges is that they are very difficult to compare.

You listen to one, and by the time you remove the cartridge from the arm, reattach another, align and adjust the weight etc., you have forgotten what the first cartridge sounds like.

International Dynamics, the distributors of Ortofon – arguably the best known cartridge manufacturer on the market – have come up with a brilliant solution. They have cobbled together a high quality Pro-Ject turntable and Ortofon tonearm, with a removable headshell. They have then mounted a range of cartridges in headshells, aligned them and weighted them so that they are all the identical weight.

Comparison is then simple. Simply unscrew the headshell housing of the cartridge you are listening to, attach the new headshell and cartridge, and away you go.

Ortofon is a very prolific manufacturer, and is regarded by many as being the world leader in phono cartridges. We carry an extensive range, and via the arrangement above we can demonstrate cartridges ranging in price from $150 through to $1,300.

Ortofon Hi-Fi 2M Red Moving Magnet Cartridge $169

Ortofon Hi-Fi 2M Blue Moving Magnet Cartridge $329

Ortofon Hi-Fi 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge $599

Ortofon Hi-Fi 2M Black Moving Magnet Cartridge $999

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Quintet Red Moving Coil Cartridge $449

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Quintet Blue Moving Coil Cartridge $699

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Quintet Bronze Moving Coil Cartridge $999

Ortofon Hi-Fi MC Quintet Black S Moving Coil Cartridge $1349

11

SONOS

Alexa, play me some Aussie rock music!

Sure, playing ‘Aussie Rock’ playlist on Spotify...

Talking to Sonos

S

onos is not the first company to release a voice-activated speaker in Australia, but their Sonos One is the release that will make the most waves. Based on the Play:1 (it is virtually identical with voice activation added), the Sonos One sells for $299, the same price as the Play:1.

It is important to note that the full functionality of the Sonos One will be

12

progressive. To start with, Amazon’s Alexa is not as yet supported in Australia, so the Sonos One will not have voice activation until this happens. Plus not all streaming services will feature voice activation on release.

Out of the box you have Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Tunein. The two big names – Tidal and Spotify – will follow ‘soon’, with others coming in 2018.

Alternative voice activation platforms will also be added later, including Google Assistant and Siri. All of these upgrades

will be via free software updates.

While we are still waiting to see how effective voice activation will be for Home Automation etc., we believe that it makes perfect sense for streaming music and video.

To ask your system to play a particular artist, album or song is a lot simpler than locating your phone, opening the app and typing in the details.

While Sonos are not the first, they certainly won’t be the last. Bring it on!

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

VINYL PACKAGE

VINYL

STARTER

G PACKAGE

!

5 9 ,9 1 $ R O F E T E L P M CO

THE TURNTABLE

THE AMPLIFIER

iven the ever increasing interest in vinyl records, we thought that it was time to offer an all-in-one package that brings very good performance, aesthetics and excellent value for money. We tried various combinations and have come up a fine set of components that we’d be more than happy to call our own. We guarantee this system will offer very good sound quality and satisfy your new (or renewed) passion for vinyl records for years to come: • Sounds fantastic in a way only vinyl can!

• Deliciously looks the part in any situation.

• Offers reliable, hassle-free playback.

• Will withstand the test of time and offers different source options.

• Allows for modifications (turntable) in the future if desired.

• Perfect for smaller spaces – apartments, studies, bedrooms or offices!

• The best Christmas Gift ever!

THE TURNTABLE Rega Planar 1 The Rega Planar 1 offers many features previously the domain of turntables costing twice or three times the price.

Offering a plug-and-play design with easy set-up, the Planar 1 has a hand-assembled RB110 tonearm with pre-set bias force combined with a pre-mounted Rega Carbon moving-magnet cartridge. You’ll marvel at the distortion-free sound thanks in part to the low noise, low vibration motor. Available in Gloss White or Black.

THE SPEAKERS

THE AMPLIFIER Marantz PM5005

THE SPEAKERS Triangle Elara LN01

A superb match for the Rega Planar 1, this quality integrated amp from Marantz provides very fast and accurate signal handling with custom components for sound tuning, Marantz’s ‘Source Direct’ shortest signal paths, and a phono-stage MM equaliser! With 40 watts of power into 8 ohms it offers excellent sound quality and support for the Rega, PLUS it has five line-level inputs for other sources, a headphone socket and a remote control.

Masters of sensations are our friends at Marantz! Available in Black or Silver.

Compact bookshelf-sized speakers from highly-regarded French manufacturer Triangle Electroacoustique, the LN01 will seduce you with delightful musicality and their ability to handle a wide frequency range with ease despite their compact size. The Elaras’ warm sound delivers great listening pleasure, no matter what style of music inspires you. They are a perfect accompaniment to the Rega Planar 1 and Marantz PM5005 and they fit in with virtually any décor as well – ca semble bien! Available in Gloss Black or White.

THE CABLE THE CABLE Inakustik “Premium” Speaker Cable It would be remiss of us not offer some decent cable as part of our Vinyl Starter Package. In fact good quality cable is key to ensuring that your system is passing through signal from the amp to the speakers without restriction. Premium speaker cable from Inakustik is one such offering, bringing delight to performances with its finely stranded 0.15mm wire design and decent insulation. It’s the choice of music connoisseurs and professionals across the globe!

13

MERIDIAN AUDIO

Meridian Re-established

M

any of our long-term customers will recall when Meridian products were strongly recommended

by LWA. With time the distributor of the day lost interest, prices soared, and a few years ago the distributor relinquished the agency. We were very pleased to see that a new distributor has finally been appointed, with more sensible pricing in place, and meanwhile some new and interesting products have come to market.

Meridian have always been associated with high-quality active digital speaker designs, and this has not changed. We currently have on the floor a pair of Special

14

Edition DSP7200 speakers (pictured right).

While these are not the most expensive speaker in their range (the DSP7200 SEs sell for a little under $50,000 the pair), they do represent the pinnacle of Meridian’s active speaker technology.

The second pair of speakers we carry are something of a departure from Meridian’s traditional design, but we believe they are a real winner. The M6 (above) is still a digital active speaker, but with a twist on Meridian’s customary design. At $7,995 these offer excellent value – and are ideal for anyone looking for a high performance system with minimal equipment and maximum flexibility.

Meridian have also entered the multiroom music streaming market. For those who are familiar with the Sonos Connect, Meridian now have their own, albeit much higher quality, version. The Meridian 218 (pictured right) is a compact Zone Controller which will connect to a pair of Meridian active speakers or an amplifier in a second (third, fourth etc.) room.

The 218 has both digital and analogue inputs and outputs. Multiple 218s can be used throughout your home, providing Hi-Resolution music wherever you like.

It is now well over a decade since Sonos introduced the world to wireless multi-room audio streaming. While the Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

MERIDIAN AUDIO

Enter Meridian. They have done more than any other company to develop and promote Hi-Resolution music. Meridian Audio is one of a group of companies, which include Roon Labs – universally hailed as the best music management software on the market, and MQA – a technology allowing the streaming of music files approaching the levels of studio quality, easily outstripping CD performance. See overleaf for more on both Roon and MQA. It is no surprise then that the 218 and associated products represent the very best in multi-room audio streaming.

This is as good as it gets.

convenience and depth of available material immediately resonated with the marketplace, it was a long time before the rest of the industry caught up. Now that consumers have embraced the technology they are requesting a higher level of performance, without any loss of the convenience they are accustomed to.

Above: Meridian’s 218 Zone Controller, able to serve a zone or room of high-res music.

15

ROON & MQA

STREAMING SERVICES FOR A BRAVE NEW WORLD

ROON If you have a digital music collection, you will need a management system to organise it and act as an interface. The most popular of these is iTunes, but in recent times we have seen products like Media Monkey, J River and a host of others gain momentum.

Roon has now emerged as the software of choice for many music lovers. It is intuitive to use, and it catalogues, collates, searches, archives and presents data in a very logical fashion. It drills down to find tons of data on your music – credits, bios, lyrics, composers, artists etc. – and does not distinguish between music you have stored

16

and that on Tidal (which Roon integrates with). So a search for ‘Mahler’ or ‘Hotel California’ will give results from both your own collection and that available on Tidal.

Coming soon: Roon Nucleus+ music server

Roon is also non-brand specific. Roonready products are steadily coming onto the market, and Roon can stream to any of them in any room – be it Sonos, PS Audio, Krell, Meridian etc. – giving you a multi-brand whole-of-house streaming music solution.

Roon have also just announced their first hardware product – labelled Nucleus. There are two versions, Nucleus incorporating a 4GB RAM, and Nucleus+ with 8GB (pictured left). At the time of writing neither pricing nor delivery dates have been announced, but we are expecting stock prior to Christmas.

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

MQA – KRELL

MQA Streaming music services have been with us for many years, and from a musical production standpoint they have improved immensely since the early days. Many streaming services are still compressed, but others such as Deezer Hi-Fi and Tidal have been offering CD quality streams for some time now.

Recently Tidal have commenced streaming at better than CD resolution via Tidal Masters, made possible by MQA (Master Quality Authenticated). MQA have developed a way to ‘fold’ the larger files – typically 96kHz/24 bit – down into a file structure no larger than that of CD quality (44.1kHz/16 bit). This is then ‘unfolded’ again prior to playback. There are thousands of albums already available in MQA (just a few from Tidal’s collection shown above), and the list is growing.

The ‘A’ in MQA stands for ‘Authenticated’ and the MQA process starts with the original master tape. MQA makes the promise that there will be nothing missing

from that source in the copy that you ‘unfold’. Every MQA album has been ‘authenticated’.

The other beauty of MQA is that it is not a new stand-alone file. The MQA file can be delivered within any of the three popular existing file formats (FLAC, WAV or Apple Lossless). This means that if you are playing an MQA file on a non-MQA compatible product it will simply play back at CD quality.

We believe that the Roon/Tidal/ MQA triptych is the future of audio listening (with some vinyl thrown in on the side). It is simple to use, opens up a huge catalogue of works, and most importantly it is arguably, outside of live performance, the finest sounding source in the history of this industry.

KRELL’S VANGUARD DIGITAL IS ROON READY While both MQA and Roon have come out of the Meridian stable, they have had the foresight to license the technology to others in the industry.

One company that has embraced the technology is Krell, and their Vanguard Digital integrated amplifier is a classic example of what this can mean for you.

The Vanguard Digital is a high quality 200 watt/ channel integrated amplifier (below). It incorporates both analogue and digital inputs, plus Bluetooth. It is, as is to be expected, a very very fine sounding amplifier. It is also relatively compact –

“Because the Vanguard is ‘Roon ready’, all you need is the amplifier, a good pair of speakers, an internet connection and an iPad...” in Krell’s terms, ‘Living Room friendly’. It is easy to operate, and in reality does pretty well everything that you would expect a quality amplifier to do. It has been described by both Krell themselves and various reviewers as being ‘future proof’ – a tall order seeing we don’t know what the future brings, but it is a good start.

Because the Vanguard is ‘Roon ready’ it also means that all you need is the amplifier, a good pair of speakers, an internet connection and an iPad and you have a compact and simple to use high-end Hi-Fi system.

Via Roon/Tidal you can have access to almost every piece of music ever recorded, much of it in better than CD quality.

This concept takes away much of the complexity usually associated with our industry, without impacting on performance.

Yes, you can still connect a turntable, and your TV, if required, but all you really need for high quality music reproduction is the amplifier and speakers.

17

BOWERS & WILKINS

18

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

BOWERS & WILKINS

Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series

A

new range release from B&W is a rare thing, so you know it is going to be worthwhile when it happens.

Their very successful ‘CM’ range has now been on the market for close to a decade, so it is no surprise that B&W decided it was time for a replacement.

With the new range, B&W have reverted back to the ‘700’ Series, placing it neatly between their existing 600 and 800 ranges. The range consists of three floor-standing models, three standmounted speakers, two dedicated centre channels for surround sound use, and a sub-woofer. All models are available in a choice of Gloss Black, Satin White and Rosenut finishes.

The range leans heavily on ‘trickled down’ technology from the very popular 800 D3 range – in particular with the use of the Continuum mid cone. The Carbon Dome tweeters were developed specifically for this range.

The range consists of: • 707 S2 2-way shelf/stand mount: $1,499/pr •

706 S2 2-way shelf/stand mount: $2,199/pr

•

705 S2 2-way shelf/stand mount: $3,499/pr

•

704 S2 3-way floor-standing: $3,799/pr

•

703 S2 3-way floor-standing: $4,699/pr

•

702 S2 3-way floor-standing: $6,500/pr

•

HTM72 S2 2-way centre channel: $1,199

•

HTM71 S2 3-way centre channel: $1,799

•

DB4S 10” 1,000-watt subwoofer: $2,799

19

TRIANGLE

20

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

TRIANGLE

Triangle

NEW RELEASES TRIANGLE AUSTRALE EZ French speaker manufacturer Triangle have released a new floor-standing speaker called the Australe EZ. Pictured in the lower image here, it joins the rest of the well-regarded Esprit range to become the new flagship. This speaker represents a substantial jump in the specifications normally seen at this price range.

On board the Australe EZ is what Triangle calls the new DPS ‘Dynamic Pulse System’ technology, reserved until now for speakers in the exclusive top-ofthe-range Magellan series. DPS includes the addition of a second tweeter at the rear of the speaker – the principal benefit being that it expresses high frequencies without interfering with the signals emitted from the front of the speaker. Triangle claims that the DPS technology improves the imaging and reduces directivity by providing an almost holographic (read ‘wider’) restitution of the soundstage.

The Australe also includes a new generation of bass driver with a membrane that uses a new composite material, made of wood pulp and carbon fibre, which has the property of guaranteeing high rigidity and low mass for fast and powerful bass. It is coupled with a new ‘drive-motor’ made of an oversized ferrite and voice coil, allowing it to achieve frequencies as low as 29Hz. Another innovation is in the pedestal or base of the speaker. Here Triangle has developed a new glass stand with a perforated rubber absorbing plate that enables the dispersion of vibrations from the cabinet towards the floor. The glass base has a wide surface to guarantee stability of the cabinet, and it gives the

opportunity to use either aluminium spikes or rubber feet, to match any surface.

The Triangle Australe EZ has an RRP of $5,999 and is available in either Gloss Black or Satin White.

TRIANGLE ELARA LN05A WIRELESS SPEAKER Following the success of the recent LN01A bookshelf-size active speakers, Triangle has expanded its ‘Active Series’ range with a new amplified speaker called the LN05A. This is a compact floor-standing speaker (top image) including integrated Class-D amplification of 2 x 80 watts, and a parametric EQ with control over low and high frequencies of the speakers. With a 25mm fabric-dome tweeter and two 13cm concave drivers in each speaker you can expect a sound stage that is smooth, warm and detailed – characteristics indicative across the Triangle range.

Although it has a compact size just 90cm high and 16.5cm, it’s no slouch in outright performance, suitable for rooms up to 40m2.

The LN05A is packed with functionality, and it’s pleasing to see Triangle has kept vinyl enthusiasts in mind with an on-board pre-amplifier allowing a turntable to be directly connected to the speakers through its phono input. There are multiple audio inputs such as optical/coaxial for home theatre set-ups, standard RCA and minijack 3.5mm inputs, and a subwoofer output to add an external subwoofer. In addition there is a Bluetooth 4.0 A2DP aptX receiver, offering a sample rate of 16 bit/ 44.1kHz, wireless performance at close to CD quality, and it even has a remote control! Priced at RRP of $2,199, the LN05A is available in either Gloss Black or Satin White.

21

Meridian Sooloos

Meridian DSP8000SE

MERIDIAN The Mission Continues In 1977 Meridian embarked upon a mission. Its goal was simple: to put the listener at the heart of every recorded performance. Since then we have continually pushed the boundaries of sound.

Redefining what’s possible every step of the way.

Forty years on – our journey continues.

Wavetrain Distribution

Meridian – Explore the Possibilities Wavetrain the distributors of Meridian in Australia is renowned for its prowess in acoustic engineering and is proud to offer: The DSP8000 Meridian’s flagship - one of the few loudspeakers available that can reproduce the sound of a full-size grand piano at realistic volume and with realistic dynamic range, the DSP8000SE takes this landmark loudspeaker even further with the full range of Special Edition enhancements.

The Meridian Ultra DAC is the pinnacle

P: (02) 9526 5497

of technological audio innovation and, most importantly, designed and engineered to provide you with the most rewarding personal listening experience possible.

Meridian’s award-winning Sooloos with MQA delivers pristine lossless audio quality with an extremely intuitive user interface and automatically discovers and integrates with your network for instant installation, Sooloos is a modular, expandable system designed to suit your every need.

david@wavetrain.com.au www.wavetrain.com.au

SENNHEISER

MUSICAL REPRODUCTION AT ITS VERY BEST...

O

ver the past few decades I have had some very memorable audio experiences, but right up there at the top of the list is the hour or so I spent listening to a pair of Sennheiser HE 1 headphones.

I recall initially choosing a selection of tried-and-true audiophile tracks, but it was not long before I was seeking out tracks that I listened to simply for the entertainment value rather than for evaluation purposes. I even went back as far as bands from the 1960s such as Cream and Led Zeppelin, and came away with the opinion that in reality there is very little badly recorded music, it can all shine given the opportunity.

These are not your conventional headphones. To start with they sell for €50,000 a pair (so choose the day you buy them carefully). They come with a dedicated valve-based amplifier, which is housed in a chassis crafted from glass and a solid piece of Carrara marble. This luxurious natural stone, the type made

famous by Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculptures, lends beauty but also prevents structure-borne noise.

To create a visually stunning design, the HE 1’s control dials are painstakingly crafted to the highest quality. Each dial is milled from a single piece of brass before being plated with chrome. This is music turned into an object of art.

The HE 1s are electrostatic, with the final amplifier stage being built into the ear cups, which are precision-machined from solid aluminium. The ear pads are hand-made from leather and a soft velour/ microfibre construction.

Watch Sennheiser’s HE 1 gradually come to life with a touch, allowing a momentary pause to let the tubes of its amplifier reach the optimum temperature.

Then put them on and travel into pure sound. To places you’ve never been.

The HE 1 represents musical reproduction at its very best, and an opportunity to experience this should not be missed.

SENNHEISER HE 1 IN STORE! We will have a pair of HE 1s on audition in-store for the week starting November 13th. If you have the chance, drop in for a listen – you will not (necessarily) be asked to purchase. In fact we cannot sell you a pair! In order to keep the price down these can only be purchased directly from Sennheiser themselves.

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

PXC 550 Special Also from Sennheiser we have a fabulous special just in time for Christmas. Their ‘Upgrade to First Class’ promotion is based on their PXC 550 Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones. It is important to recognise that this is one of the best sounding products in this category, and already represent great value for money. They retail for $629, but until the end of December we are offering these for $399.

This is an outstanding buy!

23

RICHTER AUDIO

Richter Thor subwoofer

A

ustralian-owned Richter Audio is bringing a new Thor subwoofer to market come mid-November – which will be known as the Thor 10.6. Richter has a well-regarded reputation for subwoofers, with many awards collected over the years for its products, so expectations to produce something exceptional with the new model were high.

This time around, the design team wanted to deliver an all new subwoofer that not only offered the full Home Theatre experience but also excelled when used in 2-channel Hi-Fi systems.

Mindful of changing trends, Richter

24

managed to package this new ‘Series 6’ subwoofer into a more compact cabinet without compromising its functionality or performance.

In fact it’s smaller, faster and more powerful than any previous Thor subwoofer. Higher levels of performance are realised thanks to an all new HighPower Class D amplifier delivering an impressive 450w rms to the new high performance 10” long-throw driver.

The Thor Series 6 also brings more configuration options ensuring customers get the best performance, including Room Tuning via supplied bass reflex-port plugs, and a new 3-mode EQ with a tailored

‘Merlin Mode’ designed to work with Richter’s award-winning Merlin bookshelf speakers to create an easily realised yet very satisfying two-channel Hi-Fi solution.

There are also new connection options like XLR Pass, providing the perfect means to link multiple Thor 10.6 subwoofers together, which will provide useful functionality when it is used in larger home theatre applications.

The Thor 10.6 subwoofer will be available in store in the second half of November, with an RRP of $1499.

It will be available in a Matt Black or limited stock in a Matt White finish.

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

DB Series Subwoofers

DB3D subwoofer with 805D3 speaker and FS-805D3 stand

Precision. Accuracy. Power.

The ALL-NEW DB Series is our most advanced range of subwoofers yet. The three-strong range incorporates new digital technology and material advances from the award-winning 800 Aerofoil cone

Diamond Series. The subwoofers have huge power, Aerofoil cones plus dual-opposed drive units and an incredibly rigid cabinet that reduces distortion for deep, agile bass. An intuitive app makes them simple to configure and use in a cinema system, a home installation or to complement the flagship 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers, the CM Series or the New 700 Series. Quite simply, the new DB Series is the best-sounding subwoofer range in its class.

Balanced configuration

Dedicated App

DB1D

DB2D

DB3D

For more information visit www.bowers-wilkins.com or contact Bowers & Wilkins Australia on (02) 9196 8990

KALEIDESCAPE

Kaleidescape Strato UHD HDR movie player

Made for the Movies Kaleidescape Movie Players and Servers

K

aleidescape Encore products are now available through Len Wallis Audio. Offering an incredibly convenient way for movie lovers to enjoy films in the finest available quality, these systems access the best movies, from the latest blockbusters to time-honoured classics, available for purchase and download from the Kaleidescape Movie Store in 4K Ultra HD with HDR, or in Blu-ray quality. It’s the ultimate way to view movies at home.

The Kaleidescape experience offers a uniquely beautiful on-screen display interface that makes finding movies a pleasure, and is highly intuitive to use.

In addition, integration with modern AV control systems makes for delightful extras — such as lights automatically dimming, and screen-masking automatically adjusting — bringing the real cinema experience home. This is a system you really need to experience firsthand in our showroom.

player. Strato plays movies in true 4K Ultra HD at up to 60 frames per second, and also supports lossless audio formats: Dolby TrueHD (including losslessly-

encoded object-based Dolby Atmos), DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X and PCM. The onscreen user interface is displayed in Ultra HD at 60 frames per second for stunning visuals and fluid animation.

The Strato is equipped with an internal 10TB hard drive to store up to 180 4K Ultra HD movies, or 330 Blu-ray quality movies, or 1500 DVD-quality movies. This

Pictured below: two Strato C compact players and the Terra Movie Server.

Kaleidescape Strato The award-winning Kaleidescape Strato (pictured above) is the world’s finest 4K Ultra HD high-dynamic-range movie

26

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

ROWONE

Kaleidescape’s iPad app and TV interface both provide an immersive experience for browsing.

unit can be used standalone, and can also play movies from a Terra movie server (see below), or from another Strato movie player.

RRP is $9,999.

Kaleidescape Strato C Kaleidescape Strato C is a compact version of the Kaleidescape Strato, without internal storage. Strato C can play movies from a Terra movie server, or from a Strato or Alto movie player. Strato C plays movies in true 4K Ultra HD at up to 60 frames per second, without any start-up delay.

The compact player still supports the same lossless audio formats and presents the same stunning onscreen user interface in Ultra HD at 60 frames per second. RRP is $6,099.

Terra Movie Server The Kaleidescape Terra stores up to 40TB of movies, and serves them to any number of Strato or Strato C players in a home network. Terra also provides computing and caching services that enhance player performance. Up to ten Strato/Strato C players can play 4K movies simultaneously from a single Terra server; up to 15 players can simultaneously play Blu-ray quality movies. A system may contain any number of Terra servers. Terra is available with either 24TB or 40TB of storage capacity. RRP is $20,999.

Are you sitting comfortably?

RowOne Cinema Seating

These chairs feature excellent back and head support, with a scooped seat profile plus storage arms with trays (in the Carmel model) for maximum comfort and versatility. Standard features include refrigerated LED-lit cup holders, USB ports for charging your smart device or tablet

D

emand for bespoke home theatre system fit-outs has never been stronger, with many customers requesting full turn-key solutions that encompass not only audio-visual aspects of a project but also luxury seating to rival the best commercial ‘gold class’ offerings.

As a result Len Wallis Audio has taken on RowOne Cinematic Seating products. Made in the USA, RowOne is an established name in home theatre and home entertainment seating, with a strong reputation for high quality, luxurious comfort, and innovative technology-driven designs.

Initially we will have two models from the RowOne range – the Ambassador (pictured above left), and the Carmel (right) models. These can be specified in multiple configurations, and are finished in 100% all-over Top Quality Grain Leather in either Red or Black colours. (Special colours are available upon request.)

Smart seating! RowOne chairs offer powered recline, lighting, a USB charge point and more.

remote, powered recline and headrest functions, and soft blue LED convenience lighting, to name but a few innovations.

These chairs have been installed in our home theatre room in our showroom, so if you are thinking about a home theatre project, do come and try them out!

27

ESSENTIALS & ACCESSORIES

The Gift of Music!

With Christmas just around the corner, we have plenty of essentials and accessories here at Len Wallis Audio which will make the perfect present for the music or movie fan in your life (even if that’s actually you…).

Come in-store for even more ideas – we’re open right up to Christmas Eve!

Stax SRM-T8000 Headphone Amplifier 28

W

e have long promoted the fact that, the Sennheiser HE 1 aside (see page 23), we believe that Stax manufacture the best headphones, or as Stax call them, ‘earspeakers’ in the world. The range is electrostatic, requiring a dedicated amplifier as part of the package. They have just released a new top-of-the-line

amplifier, the SRM-T8000. This unit uses twin-triode valves in the pre-amp section and class A circuitry in the power output stage. It also uses the largest toroidal transformer that Stax have used to date, to ensure that sufficient power is delivered to the circuitry.

If you are already running a good Stax rig, the SRM-T8000 will be a notable upgrade. If, on the other hand, you are looking to invest in a superb new headphone system, couple this amp with their amazing SRH-009 Earspeakers and you will not be disappointed.

The SRM-T8000 sells for $7,995.

Is there a downside? Yes, production is very limited, demand is high, and there is a wait list.

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

ESSENTIALS & ACCESSORIES

TIVOLI AUDIO

room audio (multiple Orbs) playback. It can be free standing, or you can hang it on the wall. There are multiple cloth finishes available, and the timber surround is available in black, white or walnut.

The Tivoli Model One has been on the market for almost 20 years, and it is still going strong. However technology moves on, and Tivoli have released a new range of products (the Art Collection) to reflect these changes. What has not changed is their commitment to producing some of the best-sounding radio-based products on the market.

Model One Digital

MusicSystem+

Loosely based on the Model One this unit has DAB+, FM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – all the simplicity and user-friendly features Tivoli is known for, but with a tech refresh.

The other good news from Tivoli is that they have reduced the prices on most of their range. Significantly the Music System+ has been reduced from $1,299 to $999. This stereo unit incorporates CD, DAB+ and FM radio, Bluetooth, dual alarm and remote. Perfect for under the Christmas tree.

Tivoli Audio Model One Digital

Tivoli Audio Orb

Yamaha makes streaming easy

PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC Special!

This must be the easiest way to stream digital music to an existing system – Yamaha’s MXAD-10 utilises their MusicCast streaming platform to access Spotify, Tidal and other streaming platforms. With an in-built Burr-Brown DAC, a digital stream is converted to a clean analogue sound. Also equipped with Bluetooth and AirPlay, it is available for $229.

We have covered this great DAC in a previous issue. It retails for $1,799, and at that price is a great bargain.

The saying goes that all good things come to an end, and the NuWave DSD is due to be discontinued. We have snapped up a quantity of these great DACs and are offering them for $1,399.

The Orb This wireless speaker can be configured to offer mono, stereo (two Orbs) or multi-

Tivoli Audio MusicSystem+

Sound+Image magazine turns 30 this year, and in their 30th anniversary edition they listed what they consider to be the 30 most important releases during this time. They made special mention of the Yamaha Aventage range, as these have won the top AV receiver category in their awards every year since the range was released in 2011. That is an extraordinary achievement.

29

ESSENTIALS & ACCESSORIES

Ortofon stylus pressure gauge scale and cartridge alignment Meridian Explorer2 DAC

Ruark R1 Sea Green

It is now a better time than ever to get a hold of the Meridian Explorer2 DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter).

While it has been in stock for a little while and is a great solution to maximise the quality of sound when outputting from your computer, you can take full advantage of MQA (from the TIDAL streaming service) to get easy access to hi-res audio. Price $479.

A Ruark digital radio sounds great and is easy to use. Now that unique classic style has been given some 1960s ‘bite’ with a limited Sea Green edition. With a large central control button on the top, the R1 works great as an alarm clock on a bedside table and now fits in with your funky décor!

While turntables are increasing in popularity, many people are not aware that taking care of your stylus is extremely important in getting the best sound and longest life out of your investment.

Using the Ortofon Alignment Tool ($8) ensures your cartridge is aligned properly in the grooves of your record. The Stylus Pressure Gauge Scale ($13) confirms that your tone arm is weighted properly. It is a small price to get the most out of your investment.

Bose QC35 Mk 2

IsoAcoustics GAIA Sometimes what seems the simplest of tweaks makes all the difference to your sound. IsoAcoustics’ range of GAIA speaker isolators transform your speakers, making them sound better that you thought possible. GAIA provides a high degree of isolation while resisting lateral movement and oscillations to maintain alignment with the listening position.

You will be amazed how the sound ‘opens up’ as vibration is absorbed through IsoAcoustics’ patented design. Delivered in sets of 4 with alternative thread sizes to fit most speakers, GAIAs come in three sizes depending on the weight of your speakers – up to 32kg $299, to 54kg $425, up to 100kg $999.

30

Since Bose released the wireless Bluetooth version of their best-selling noisecancelling headphones, we have had trouble keeping enough stock on hand. Widely reviewed as some of the best cans for travelling, the Mk 2 takes the technology further with built-in Google Assistant, so you can control music, send and receive texts, and get answers using just your voice. Price: $499.

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

ESSENTIALS & ACCESSORIES

B&W PX headphones B&W is one of the unsung heroes in the headphone market. Most electronics companies have jumped on the burgeoning growth of headphones, and for most it is a case of joining the gravy train – there are a lot of very mediocre headphone out in the market today.

B&W is one of the few non-headphone specialists to produce a range that will compete with the very best out there, and they have just released a new model. The PX is B&W’s first noise-cancelling wireless headphone. They are based on their P9 Signature headphone, which is without doubt one of the best headphones in their

category (they were developed by the engineering team responsible for the 800 D3 series of speakers).

Not only do these headphones offer superb performance, but they have also taken the user experience to another level. PX works by responding intelligently to natural user behaviour. Pick them up and the headphones will switch on immediately and automatically resume playing your music. Put them down and they return to stand-by mode. Lift an ear cup to talk, or hang them around your neck, and the PX will pause the music, resuming playback when you’re ready to listen. The class-leading battery provides 22 hours of playback in wireless noise cancellation mode, or 33 hours in wired noise cancellation mode.

The B&W PX headphones sell for $549 a pair – this is a lot of headphone for that money. Highly recommended.

Les Davis Discs + Turntable Mat Many of our customers wander back into the showroom with a look of surprise after using a set of Les Davis Discs. We can try to explain the science behind “viscoelastic layer damping”, but only listening will truly convince your ears of these magic little add-ons. The range is now being expanded with the same material being used on a turntable mat. The prototype got rave reviews at the recent Australian Hi-Fi & AV Show in Sydney and we expect this to fly off the shelves.

SPECIALISTS IN

N IO T IA D E M E R D L U O M & L A BACTERIA REMOV

BOATS

PROPERTY

HOME THEATRE

Call 1300 944 595 for a FREE inspection and quote. Our treatment will remove all bacteria and mould spores causing musty odours.

1300 944 595 | info@themoulddoctor.com.au | themoulddoctor.com.au 047

MULTI-ROOM SPEAKER PLUS Mini WX-010

MULTI-ROOM SPEAKER PLUS WX-030