Len Wallis Audio HEADLINES Summer 2019/20

The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio

Summer 2019/20

THE HOME OF E N T E R TA I N M E N T AWARD-WINNING SMAR T SOLUTIONS FROM LEN WALLIS AUDIO

LINN’S NETWORK PLAYERS SUPERB SOUND MADE SIMPLE

lenwallisaudio.com

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(02) 9427 6755

/lenwallisaudio

DEVIALET’S DINKY NEW PHANTOM REACTOR

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...

04 From the couch of Len

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06 Smart home See our award-winning work integrating smart systems and entertainment in this spectacular Harbour-side home 12

All-in-one solutions from Marantz and NAD

14 New (and big!) top TVs 15

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Meet PrimaLuna’s new EVO valve electronics

16 Meridian’s active speakers combine simplicity, style and high performance 17

Musical Fidelity’s turntable

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Krell’s K300i has landed!

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Meze’s amazing models join our headphone range

20 Sennheiser make a move into soundbars – and how!

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Serhan+Swift tweaked

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Yamaha’s new streaming multiroom CD player

22 Ruark’s desktop and long-legged sound systems 23 Australia’s Richter Audio delivers the new Wizards 24 Linn network players 25 Naim’s Mu-so hits Gen.2

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26 Devialet’s Phantom has a new little ‘Reactor’ sibling 27 Marantz special offer – and a fond farewell 28 Lyn Stanley - jazz star and recording geek 30 Accessorise for summer!

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

At what price convenience?

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ow many of you have recently had the opportunity (or necessity) to shop for a new lounge suite? I lately did just this, and the one thing that struck me was the amount of furniture that is driven by design and not by what its main purpose should be, in this case comfort.

My wife and I found that a surprising number of the suites we sat in looked fabulous, but were about as comfortable as sitting on a sack of coal.

The same can be said of our industry.

On so many occasions we sacrifice quality for design, convenience or quantity. For example we find an increasing number of components coming onto the market where local terrestrial radio broadcast sources have been removed.

Why offer FM when you have all the radio stations in the world at your fingertips through Internet Radio? One good reason would be because FM sounds

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infinitely better than Internet Radio. This is a classic example of quantity over quality.

FM is a very under-rated source. Many people use it as background noise while they are getting on with life, but via a high-quality tuner, FM radio can deliver a surprising level of performance.

In a recent issue of Sound+Image Stephen Dawson reported that despite being a relatively new format, Blu-ray disc sales peaked some years ago, being hammered by the various streaming services. This is despite the fact that the best a streaming service offers is 3–4Mbps, compared to 15– 35Mbps on the Blu-ray disc. Even more curious is the fact that almost without exception the screens that we sell are large (55” and above) and of 4K resolution – which will easily highlight the differences between the two formats.

This industry has a history of going backwards in terms of performance.

Superseding plasma screens with LCD,

the move from vinyl to cassette and the universal acceptance of MP3 files are all notable examples.

There are times when convenience, or to be more precise ease of use, makes sense. This is particularly true of the plethora of multi-room wireless streaming products currently on the market. Sonos is a great example. This product has been a runaway success, but not because it is the best sounding product out there — even they don’t claim that. But it is stable, and it is easy to use, and that counts for a lot. I don’t care how good a product is, particularly in this genre, if it is difficult to use or navigate.

At the same time we do sell ourselves short unnecessarily. There are numerous examples of taking the easy way out when better quality options are available – options where the differences are easily discernible when we listen for them. Or maybe we have just stopped listening!!

NEW DESIGN • NEW ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

Re-imagined and re-engineered for an engaging 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

SMART HOME

PLAYING IT SMART This architect-designed home with Sydney Harbour views offers the ultimate in cutting-edge home automation.

PHOTOS BY STUDIO KAI

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SMART HOME

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nockdown-rebuild projects provide homeowners with the opportunity to create a home that is perfectly tailored to their individual needs, and for many, this includes state-of-the-art home automation. Such was the case in this stunning new home built in the soughtafter Sydney suburb of Vaucluse.

Following the demolition of the previous residence, a large new executive home was built on the site, a sloping block of more than 1000 sqm. The newly-built home takes in views across picturesque Hermit Bay to Sydney Harbour beyond – and it is an excellent example of a modern, fully automated home.

In fact, the project is so impressive it has recently been awarded the CE Pro 2019 GOLD Award for Best Integrated Home over $150k for the Asia Pacific Region.

The home automation was managed and designed by Len Wallis Audio’s Senior Custom Sales Consultant, Jono Dorset. This was an extensive, whole-ofhouse smart home project encompassing multiple audio and video entertainment zones both inside and out, also a dedicated Dolby Atmos Cinema, dedicated night-club-grade sound system and a dance zone. Another feature of the fully-automated home is a sophisticated security, CCTV and intercom system with biometric entry and remote access

capability. There is also integrated climate control, lighting and automated blinds, remote pool control and solar power management systems.

The project, which spanned four years from inception to completion, was

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SMART HOME

not without challenges. One was cable management. There was over 10km of signal cabling, and compliance with both CEDIA and local standards was a constant focus. However, the Len Wallis Audio team were able to overcome them all, drawing on their expertise and extensive experience to find the perfect solutions.

“The main feature of the home would be the Savant Scenes,” says Jono. “These scenes are user-customisable through the Savant App. It gives the client the power to create customised control scenes as desired. The scenes can be activated from the control App, touch panels, smart remotes or the local lighting keypads for optimum integration. There are over 40 scenes and 50 buttons around the home.

This particular client is tech-savvy and loves this functionality.”

As an example of the capability of this, a ‘Show Home’ scene has been enabled.

The simple press of a light switch by the front door brings the home to life, simultaneously switching 400 lighting circuits to preset dimmed level whilst 12 TVs turn on to an ambient screen saver.

Elsewhere a preset music playlist begins to play in 10 of the audio zones at pre-defined volume levels. Meanwhile blinds are raised and air-conditioning is activated in key living zones.

For ultimate ease of use, the home is completely monitored and managed remotely with a fully protected and filtered power management package. Various notification settings have been enabled to alert stakeholders of any network or power anomalies to allow for pre-emptive service intervention.

Future technologies have also been considered, with a comprehensive fibreoptic backbone. This has been specified to cater for the expansion of video or network bandwidth as needed.

“Every audio zone has been calibrated and volume-limited,” adds Jono. “This minimises risk to speakers from overdriving whilst ensuring the best possible audio reproduction.”

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“Importantly, the entire home system is able to be controlled reliably from one app.”

This fully-integrated smart home really does represent the cutting edge of technology, explains Jono.

“The Savant automation platform has over-riding control of almost every electronic system in this expansive home.

This includes audio-visual, lighting, shades, louvres, irrigation, fireplaces, motorised windows, access control, VOIP phone, CCTV, security, HVAC, power management, pool/spa and solar. Each

of these interacts with the others and triggers various automated scenes.

Whilst the system itself is complex, it is specifically designed to make living in the home simple and effortless.

“In regards to audio-visual, there are 12 video zones utilising the latest 4K video over IP solution. Each display is capable of the finest picture quality and also video tiling. There are 25 tailored audio zones incorporating 61 loudspeakers, 11 subwoofers and over 30 kilowatts of amplification.

“A fully calibrated Bowers & Wilkins Dolby Atmos 7.2.4 Theatre is featured, as is a Martin Audio Nightclub sound system. The landscaped outdoor areas and pool zone also feature extensive audio capabilities. Importantly, the entire home system is able to be controlled reliably from one app.”

During the four-year evolution of this Savant control-centric project, frequent re-assessment and fine-tuning of the

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SMART HOME

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GLOBAL RECOGNITION! LEN WALLIS AUDIO PRESENTED THREE OF OUR CUSTOM INSTALLATION PROJECTS FOR AWARDS THIS YEAR. THE FIRST was awarded

THE SECOND, for the home featured here,

THE THIRD received the Silver

‘Best Integrated Home

was awarded the Gold award for the ‘Best

award for ‘Best Home Theatre

– Level III’ at the CEDIA

Whole-House/Smart Home Project over

Over $100k’ also by CE Pro at

awards night held in

$150k’ by CE Pro in the USA at an awards

the same awards ceremony.’

Melbourne late August.

ceremony held in Denver on September 12th.

(This project is also being readied for use as a training module by Meridian Audio in the UK).

ographic oneill phot

This is a remarkable outcome,

particularly given that the two CE Pro awards are international and judged against the best the world has to offer. It is testament to the dedication and capability of everyone involved. Each project we undertake has its own set of challenges (they are all unique) and require input from designers, draftsmen, installers, project management, programmers and the support staff in the office. I would like to thank, acknowledge and congratulate

The Len Wallis Audio team celebrates its recent CEDIA Award.

KEY FEATURES •

Over 30 kilowatts of amplification (that’s over 30,000 watts of power!)

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A high resolution music distribution system managing 25 zones of audio featuring 76 loudspeakers and 11 subwoofers from nine manufacturers

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A dedicated Dolby Atmos 7.2.4 home cinema

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12 zones of 4K video over IP sound A professional night-club system system Integrated security system with

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Integrated securitycontrol system with CCTV and access CCTV and access control Integrated HVAC, lighting, blinds, Integrated HVAC, lighting, blinds, pool and spa control pool and spa control Managed by Savant Automation Managed by Savant Automation Systems Systems

our team for their work on these stunning projects.

design was necessary to stay abreast of the latest technologies. This necessitated Len Wallis Audio working closely with top Sydney architectural firm KA Design Studio, and the team took great pains to get every last detail right so that nothing would detract from the strong architectural design elements.

Says Jono, “All local equipment was discreetly specified into its space while the majority of the system is centralised within two equipment racks located in the cellar. These are displayed behind back-lit fridge doors, mirroring the multi-fridge layout. The result is a showpiece that remains serviceable and one in which heat displacement was carefully considered.

“The client is a fan of dance music and selected premium full-range performance in many of the audio zones,” he adds.

“This resulted in 11 subwoofers being utilised. We specified models from six manufacturers to tailor our bass into each space — under beds, in-ground, inside cabinetry, etc. Also, a night-club sound system was designed for the garage.”

As to the house itself, it was designed to make specific connections with Sydney Harbour’s iconic landscape. The orientation and configuration of the house offers a series of viewing points that link the domestic realm to the environment outside, while subtle level changes reveal new aspects of the harbour landscape and delineate the space within the home.

The design is formally geometric but is punctured by courtyards and breaks that offer unexpected vistas. Stripped of enclosing walls, living spaces orient outward, diffusing thresholds through a series of operable glazed doors.

As with all successful projects, the end result is a collaborative effort and in this instance, Len Wallis Audio would not only like to extend its thanks to KA Design Studio and also to Horizon Building and Main Power Electrics.

More information: Len Wallis Audio lenwallisaudio.com

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MARANTZ

TINY TITANS Marantz M-CR612 and NAD M10

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n recent times there has been a trend towards high-quality all-in-one amplifier+CD+streamer+tuner (or variations on this) units. This type of product was once the domain of

lesser quality systems, i.e. if you couldn’t afford or didn’t have the space for a Hi-Fi system, or it simply wasn’t that important, you invariably ended up with a ‘midi’ system rather than the multiple

boxes of electronics which defined a Hi-Fi system. But now the idea of ‘less-is-better’ is becoming more popular, with an increasing number of manufacturers of quality releasing all-in-one electronic packages, as seen with the recent success of the Naim Uniti series and Linn’s Selekt range (see p24).

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Enter the Marantz M-CR612 This Marantz M-CR612 is the latest in a line of ‘Network CD receivers’ from Marantz. It is the Swiss Army Knife of audio. Firstly, it is compact, measuring

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280mm wide, roughly half the width of a conventional Hi-Fi component. Secondly Marantz have squeezed almost everything you could wish for into this small package: • CD player.

• FM and DAB+ radio.

• Music streamer: Based on their Heos

streaming system you have access to, among others, services such as Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, Internet radio and music stored on local drives.

Other streaming options: Built-in Bluetooth and AirPlay 2.

Multi-room: The inbuilt Heos technology also allows you to add wireless speakers in other parts of your home and access anything that is playing on the M-CR612, or alternatively operate those independently to the M-CR612 (i.e. you could be playing a CD in the main family area, but listening to internet radio in your bedroom).

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NAD

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A/B speaker connections: This is rather clever. The M-CR612 houses four power amplifiers. If you are running only one pair of speakers these amplifiers operate as two channels only, providing an impressive 60 watts/channel. If you wish to run cables to another pair of speakers elsewhere in the house the system becomes four channels rated at 30

NAD Master Series M10 In a very similar vein we also have the NAD Master Series M10.

NAD have a very enviable reputation in our industry; the name has been synonymous with performance at realistic prices for decades. The introduction of the higher priced Master Series was their foray into a market where even greater performance is expected – at a premium price.

Again this is a small piece of equipment – at 215mm wide it is even smaller than the Marantz M-CR612.

The M10 is a very modern piece of kit, and as such has dispensed with the CD player. It is assumed that all of your musical listening will be done either via streaming or from music you have stored on a local hard drive.

Like Marantz, NAD have a sister streaming technology called Bluesound

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watts/channel. The clever part is that these two zones can be used independently, i.e. one source in one area and another in the second zone.

Smart control. The M-CR612 is controllable by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri.

Optical input. Connect your TV as well – it will outperform any soundbar hands-down.

or in this case BluOS. We have been fans of the Bluesound wireless multiroom streaming system for some years now – it is without doubt one of the best performing brands in its genre. BluOS is the name given to this brand when it is built into another product such as NAD. BluOS supports all the main streaming services, Tidal, Spotify, etc. BluOS has also embraced MQA decoding, enabling full 24-bit 192kHz high-resolution streaming.

The most obvious feature of the M10 is the touch screen which takes up almost all the front panel. The second thing that becomes obvious is how easy this device is to navigate. It really is a delight to use from the front panel – plus you have the option of control via tablet etc.

The M-CR612 retails for $1,320 and is an incredible package for the price – simply add speakers of your choice and you’ve got an all-in-one HiFi System that’s hard to beat at this price point.

Special note: Although a wide range of speakers could work with the M-CR612, we’ve found Triangle’s Esprit Titus EZ 2-way Bass Reflex Bookshelf Speakers to be a great match for the M-CR612.

Then you come to the performance.

The amplifier is rated at 100 watts/ channel, and the Master Series attention to detail is obvious. Given limitations imposed by size and price ($3,999) this is a very good sounding amplifier – we have heard larger and more expensive amplifiers that did not perform this well.

The M10 also offers Dirac room correction. One of the greatest influences on the performance of any system is the room it is played in. There are several room correction technologies out there, and Dirac is considered to be the best. It is an unusual inclusion at a product of this style and price.

It is Roon-enabled, supports Bluetooth aptX and AirPlay 2, and Amazon Alexa. It has all of the necessary inputs, including HDMI (I am surprised at how long it is taking the industry to recognise that even two-channel aficionados have HDMI-enabled devices that they would like to connect).

We know that there is a considerable number of consumers who need/desire a compact system but who don’t want to compromise performance. The M10 could be just the answer.

As mentioned, the NAD M10 sells for $3,999 – you just add speakers of your choice.

One downside – the M10 and the Marantz M-CR612 have both been international runaway successes, and neither company can keep up with demand. There may be a delay of some weeks between placing an order and receiving stock!

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PANASONIC • SONY

Latest & greatest TVs Panasonic GX1000 & GX850

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he new ‘GZ1000’ Panasonic TVs have now arrived, and they are every bit as good as we hoped. It is easy to see why Panasonic is the brand of choice for most Hollywood colourists; while the colours may not ‘jump out at you’ in the showroom, closer scrutiny shows that they are very natural looking – as they should be.

The good news is that the new range was released at the same pricing as the previous series. We are accustomed to seeing new models hit the market at higher prices, which are then eroded.

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The other screen from Panasonic which offers extraordinary value is the 65” TH-65GX850A 4K Ultra HD HDR LCD TV. While not quite as good as the OLED variant, this screen offers Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, Hollywood colourist tuning, HDR10+, voice control, premium smart TV features and twin tuners for picture in picture. This unit sells for $1,995 and is an exceptional screen for the money, especially when you consider that its predecessor retailed for $3,099.

There is also a 55” version of this screen that sells for $1,699.

SONY TV RELEASES Sony appear to be destined to make a name for themselves in large-screen TVs. They will never be the cheapest out there, but few come close in terms of quality.

Sony manufacture two grades of screen: domestic and professional.

While the feature set etc. of the two ranges are almost identical the Pro. series is designed to withstand the rigours of commercial installations (which also allows them to increase the warranty from one year to three).

It is the Pro. series that we offer – mainly because the majority of the screens we sell go into whole-of-house installations, so reliability is a primary concern.

One stand-out screen from Sony is the FWD-85X95G (pictured above).

This is an 85” 4K HDR LCD screen that sells for under $10,000 – great value.

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PRIMALUNA

PrimaLuna Valve Electronics We now have a select range of the new PrimaLuna products on display – and we still have some remnants of the previous series left at clearance prices, check the specials section of our website!

This brand of valve-based electronics has become synonymous with performance and quality. It is well priced, well built and great sounding.

As a result it’s no wonder they have garnered the following that they have around the world. These products are due in late September.

EVO100 Integrated Amp

EVO200 Pre Amp

The EVO100 series is physically the smallest range in the Prima Luna stable – measuring 280mm wide.

The EVO100 Integrated is rated at 40 watts/channel utilising EL34 valves.

Unlike the earlier Prima Luna range the EV100 integrated includes a headphone socket. $3,395

The EVO200 Preamp is a dual mono design with four 12AU7 and two 5AR4 valves. It has four inputs and home-theatre by-pass. $4,095

EVO200 Power Amp The EVO200 Power is rated at 44 watts/channel, and can be switched to a mono configuration giving 88 watts when utilising EL34 tubes. $4,095.

EVO100 DAC While a valve-based DAC may appear to be an unlikely pairing – it works!

Don’t just take our word for it. Robert H. Levi from on-line review publication Posi+ive feedback commented: “The PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC, a blockbuster component and musical triumph, leapfrogs dozens of DACs to virtually achieve state-of-the-art definition at a more than reasonable cost. Built as an heirloom product, this tubed beauty will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment from all the digital sources I can imagine.” $4,295.

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MERIDIAN

An active advantage

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e have recently put our first pair of Meridians DSP5200SE digital/active floor-standing speakers on the floor. These are an impressive speaker – in every sense of the word.

The build quality is impeccable, and they would visually suit almost any environment (the fact that you can choose from 270 colour options helps). Each speaker houses two 160mm bass drivers, one 1” beryllium dome tweeter, three 75-watt amplifiers and three high-performance DACs. They are Roon-enabled with MQA decoding.

Meridian also manufacture a smaller bookshelf active speaker – the DSP3200 (pictured right), which is also now on display. These are a two-way system utilising two 75-watt amplifiers and two DACs in each speaker.

Of course, it all comes down to performance, and Meridian active speakers do not disappoint. There is a lot to like about active speakers, and Meridian

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does the category better than anyone.

These are great-sounding loudspeakers, they look fabulous, they are easy to use and require very little ancillary equipment.

They would be absolutely ideal for anyone looking for very high performance with low visual impact.

Meridian have also released a new streamer, the 210 (below), a highperformance audio source which allows streaming services used on smartphones, tablets and other devices to be played on your audio system. Featuring both wired and dual-band Wi-Fi network connections alongside Bluetooth wireless technology, it offers great flexibility for installation and product location.

With the 210 Streamer, music can be accessed through Spotify Connect, Bluetooth wireless technology and UPnP. It is also a Roon Ready device. The USB input allows it to become a UPnP server.

We have mentioned the trend towards high-performance minimalistic systems; a Meridian 210 and a pair of DSP5200s, the DSP3200s or their lower-priced M6 speakers is an ideal solution – particularly if like an increasing number of people your music source of choice is streaming.

All you need is the 210, the speakers, an internet connection and a smart device and you have very high quality, inobtrusive system giving access to almost all the recorded music in the world.

• DSP5200SE active speakers: $25,000 • DSP3200 active speakers: $8,000 • 210 Streamer: $2,099.

MUSICAL FIDELITY • KRELL

Musical Fidelity Roundtable S

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n 2018 Musical Fidelity was sold to Audio Tuning – the company that also owns turntable manufacturer Pro-Ject Audio – so it was inevitable that we would see a turntable reappear bearing the Musical Fidelity name.

The Roundtable S is more than just an updated version of the original Roundtable (which was also manufactured by Pro-Ject); it is a completely new beast with the only common link being the name.

This manual operation belt-drive turntable sports a polished steel centre bearing – for

an exceptional long life and friction-free performance – an extremely inert chassis and suspension system, and a high-quality tonearm. The platter is made from finelymachined high density MDF and has high

Krell landed!

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t’s been a long time coming but the eagerly awaited Krell K-300i integrated amplifier has made a solid landing in Australia.

While initially due last year, Krell developed an upgrade path to their iBias circuitry during its construction. This new circuit has since been rolled out to all Krell power amplifiers under the ‘XD’ banner.

We have upgraded our existing floor stock to the XD design, and it works!

The K-300i has been on the American market (admittedly in small numbers) for some months now, and the comments filtering back have been glowing. Even

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if the K-300i was only half as good as everyone says it is, it would have been a winner, and thankfully it has exceeded our expectations – the listening we have done to date has been extremely positive.

The K-300i is the latest of a long run of integrated amplifiers with ‘300’ (signifying 150 watts/channel) as part of their model number. Each of these has been very well received, but this unit stands head and shoulders above the rest. The K-300i has more control and perceived power (it sounds much louder than its rated 150 watts) than any integrated amplifier of this size should. It is rock solid.

mass and low resonance. The plinth is made from similar bulky low resonance material, and the feet are also part of the isolation system.

The tonearm is matched with a $169 Ortofon 2M Red cartridge which complements the arm’s characteristics exceptionally well.

The Roundtable S is available in high-gloss red, black or white, and sells for $1,299.

There are two versions of the K-300i, with digital inputs ($11,995), or a strictly analogue version without the digital module ($9,995), and both come in either silver or black finish. The Digital Module is also available as an upgrade to existing analogue models, and is designed to be interchangeable with future versions as digital technology evolves. The K-300i Digital is Roon-enabled, will decode MQA files, and supports Tidal, Spotify Connect, Deezer and vTuner. It also features a Bluetooth receiver with aptX technology.

All you need for a high-quality system is an internet connection, a K-300i and a good pair of speakers for a highly musical and engaging companion.

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CHORD MOJO • MEZE AUDIO

MORE MOJO!

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he Chord Mojo portable DAC/Headphone amplifier must be the most awarded product in audio history. For example, it has received over 100 (yes one hundred) 5-Star reviews. Most companies are chuffed to receive one. Part of the appeal of the Mojo is its price – this is very impressive kit for $799.

Until the end of this year Chord have decided to raise the bar still further and have reduced the price of the Mojo to $599. This is a phenomenal offer!

At Len Wallis Audio we have decided to make this offer even more attractive: 1) Add the Poly portable music streamer, which sells for $999, and we will bundle the two for $1,398, a further saving of $200.

2) Add the Poly and a pair of Meze 99 Classic headphones (below) and the package will cost you $1,795.

At $599 the Mojo represents superb value, but remember, the offer finishes on December 31st.

MEZE AUDIO NOW AT LWA!

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he Headphone market – or ‘Head-Fi’ as it is commonly referred to – shows no sign of abating. According to market research company GfK, headphone sales during the 2018-19 financial year were roughly equivalent to the total sales of Bluetooth speakers, soundbars and home audio systems (which includes companies such as Sonos and Yamaha) combined! They report that in excess of 850,000 sets of headphones were sold in December last year alone.

Admittedly 65% of all headphone sales during the year sold for less than

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$100, but it is still an imposing result.

Generations of music lovers have been introduced to listening to their music via headphones, or in most cases earbuds, thanks to Apple iTunes. Having easy access to all the music in the world, many are now demanding a higher quality of delivery, and high-performance headphones are one way of achieving that.

We have been singing the praises of Stax Electrostatic Earspeakers for decades. We have now added another highperformance headphone to our offering – Meze Audio. This Romanian brand has been making many friends

during the last few years and represents something of a chameleon approach.

Their piece-de-resistance is the no-holds barred Empyrean (above), a superb planar headphone that sells for $5,299. Their next most expensive headphone sells for less than 10% of that at $499 (the ‘99 Classics’, left). The Empyrean is, as you would expect, an amazing headphone.

The 99-Classics (and the $330 ‘99-Neo’) are amazing headphones for the money.

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Linn Selekt DSM What Hi-Fi?

‘The new Selekt DSM moves the game on yet again.’

Selekt DSM A tactile and beautiful listening experience that’s better in every sense. Fall in love with your music all over again. linn.co.uk

Linn is distributed by Advance Audio Australia 02 9561 0799

SENNHEISER

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar

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s TVs became slimmer the sound quality suffered so much that it has become necessary to add a soundbar, or an alternative style of speaker, to hear what was going on (the ‘what did he say’ syndrome). It is universally accepted that a soundbar will never have the performance characteristics of a well-designed Home Theatre system, but they do have their advantages, the main ones being that they are simple to install and relatively inexpensive. Sit it under the TV, plug it in and the job’s done. Unfortunately this category is now so price-competitive that the quality of many soundbars has deteriorated to such an extent that they are little better than the TVs to which they are attached.

Sennheiser is not a company that you associate with speaker manufacturing, so the Sennheiser AMBEO soundbar is something of a surprise. Possibly a bigger surprise is that this, their first attempt, is

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without doubt one of the best soundbars on the market. Admittedly at $4,000 it is also considerably more expensive than most, but it is refreshing to see that Sennheiser have set out to see how good a soundbar can sound, rather than how cheaply they can build one.

The Sennheiser AMBEO is an Atmos 5.1.4 design utilising 13 high-end drivers.

The advantages of Sennheiser’s AMBEO 3D technology are obvious – switch it on and off and the difference is remarkable.

Its ability to position sounds around you is uncanny. More importantly it can also be tailored to enhance voice intelligibility, something that is still a failing (surprisingly) of many soundbars.

Working with 32-bit processing, the innovative AMBEO 3D technology virtualises all available content. It uses reflections off the walls to virtually position speakers in the room by calibrating its acoustics based on the room characteristics and the seating position.

This results in the listener receiving sound information from all directions.

Normally setting up a soundbar such as this could be challenging, but given Sennheiser’s expertise in 3D microphones they have provided a microphone with the bar, allowing you to calibrate the device, optimising it for your unique listening environment.

The AMBEO Soundbar features built-in Google Chromecast, Bluetooth and HDMI eARC/CEC. It also has three HDMI, one optical and an RCA (analogue) input. We understand that Apple AirPlay will be added via upgrade at a later stage.

It supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MPEG-H (another 3D audio standard), and using Upmix Technology it can recreate stereo and 5.1 content in 3D. It has five different pre-sets as standard (movie, music, sports, news and neutral) that adjust not only the frequencies but also the 3D sound characteristics.

The other striking feature of this soundbar is its bass capabilities. While the AMBEO has a subwoofer output we believe that many customers will find the addition of a sub to be unnecessary – the AMBEO uses six four-inch long-throw bass drivers delivering a surprisingly impressive amount of bottom end.

We are so impressed with this unit that we have given it its own space in our showroom, having set it up in our conference room.

The AMBEO is a big unit, measuring 125.6cm in length, and weighing 18.5kg, but if you have the space to house a Sennheiser AMBEO you will not look back.

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SERHAN & SWIFT • YAMAHA

Serhan+ Swift Brigadier Mu2 upgraded

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e have been extolling the virtues of the Australian-designed and manufactured Serhan+Swift Brigadier Mu2 bookshelf speaker for some time now. Several months ago designer Brad Serhan and his team redesigned the cross-over and toyed with the idea of turning this into a Special Edition version of the Mu2.

Eventually the decision was made to simply incorporate the new design into the existing speaker as a running upgrade.

As many of you know, we believe that the original Mu2 was an outstanding loudspeaker. It is now even better!!

Price $6,500.

N E W YA M A H A C D/ S T R E A M E R Yamaha have just released a new budget CD player –

world of possibilities. Listen to net-radio or stream via

and it does more than just play CDs. The CD-NT670 is

Spotify, Tidal, Deezer etc. Connect via Bluetooth or

a single-disc CD player that has MusicCast on-board.

AirPlay 2 or listen to music that you have stored on

MusicCast is Yamaha’s streaming system, opening up a

local hard drives. Or you can simply play a CD. $699.

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RUARK AUDIO

Ruark Audio New Models

We have recently received two new models from Ruark Audio.

Ruark’s R5 is a very impressive all-in-one desktop system featuring CD, FM/DAB+ radio and a myriad of connectivity options in one smart package. It features Bluetooth aptX HD, and through your home network it can access Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music, plus internet radio. Connect external devices, such as your TV, via the optical input (it sounds better than the majority of soundbars). The R5 can also access your music stored on hard-drives, and multiple Ruark units can be wirelessly connected as a whole-ofhouse distributed audio system. It even has an alarm. It comes with a remote, or greater control can be accessed via its Ruark LINK app.

Most importantly – the R5 sounds great. $1,995.

Ruark R7 Mk3 This design is a throwback to the radiogram days of the 1950s, and it is an R5 Mk3 on steroids (and legs).

There is even an AV mount available that will allow you to integrate your TV and Foxtel box, etc. $4,499.

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RICHTER AUDIO

Richter Wizards Series 6

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y the time you receive this newsletter we will have the new Richter Wizard Series 6 floorstanding speakers in store. The original Richter Wizard released in 1986 went on to become the most popular Australian-built speaker in history. We

have already had the opportunity to spend time with the new Wizard Series 6, and believe that this is the best version to date.

The Wizard Series 6 speaker has been many months in development and remains the only speaker in their range until additional models are released early

next year. The other product that Richter has, and which has not realised the sales potential it deserves, is their Thor 10.6 subwoofer. This unit was awarded the 2019 Subwoofer of the Year under $5,000 by Sound+Image – an astonishing achievement for a subwoofer that only sells for $1,599. This is an excellent performer, particularly at this price.

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LINN

LINN STREAMERS Majik DSM: This is a neat, well-priced streamer plus pre and power amp in one compact box. The amplifier is rated at 90 watts/channel; it has 15 inputs including phono and HDMI, and supports virtually any digital format up to 24-bit 192kHz. Simply add a pair of speakers of your choice. $5,495

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s many of you know, we have been singing the praises of Linn turntables for a long time – in fact a good number of you own one. Since day one, Linn have always preached that the most important component in any good audio system is the source, and some time ago they decided that they would apply the same philosophy to digital sources that they have to analogue.

The result is their current line-up of DSM music streamers.

Selekt DSM: In is basic guise this is a stereo streamer, DAC and pre-amp in one chassis.

It can then be upgraded by including amplification in either 2-channel or 5.1 multichannel, and can also be upgraded to include Linn’s flagship Katalyst DAC architecture. Price range from $7,995 $28,995 (depending on configuration). .

Space Optimisation All of Linn’s streamers incorporate a technology they call Space Optimisation.

Every room stamps its own character on the performance of your system; in fact the room can have the biggest influence on how the system will sound.

Space Optimisation uses sophisticated acoustic modelling to build up a complete picture of how your speakers, their placement, and the unique characteristics of your room

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interact to affect the sound you hear. It then identifies frequencies that are artificially distorted, accentuated or absorbed by your environment, and adjusts them accordingly.

While the impact of this technology varies from room to room, the result can be quite dramatic – and certainly it goes a long way towards improving the enjoyment of your music.

Whatever speakers you use, and however you’ve designed your room, you’ll hear a performance that’s optimised uniquely for you.

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LINN • NAIM AUDIO

Akurate DSM: This is a superb pre-amp/ streamer that comes with their Katalyst DAC on-board. $11,995 Klimax DSM: When only the best will do! $34,995 “Sometimes it doesn’t take long to realise a product is special. In this case, just a few minutes with Linn’s range-topping streamer is enough for us to come to that conclusion. Extended listening confirms it.” said What hi-Fi? of the Klimax DSM.

NAIM MU-SO GEN2 MODELS

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hile the two Mu-so wireless streaming speakers were somewhat of a departure from Naim’s usual product offering, they quickly established themselves as being among the best on the market. Naim have now released the Mk.2 versions of both models.

We already have the Naim Mu-so Gen2 on display, and we should have the Mu-so Qb2 within days.

Far too often we find Mk.2 products to be little more than a facial upgrade – not so with the Naim Mu-so Gen2 (pictured above). In fact, it is almost the exact opposite. Put the original Mu-so and the Gen2 side-by-side and you will notice very little physical difference, yet the Mu-so Gen2 is almost a complete revamp – new drivers, new digital processing, with updated connectivity and also revamped cabinet construction.

From the overseas reports filtering through it appears that the upgrade path to the Mu-so Qb Gen 2 (pictured left) is going to be just as extensive.

The market is awash with active wireless streaming speakers, and to be honest many of them are pretty good.

However, in terms of musicality the Mu-so range has always stood out; it is obvious that Naim have not lost sight of the ultimate intention of this product, and that is to faithfully reproduce recorded music. As good as Gen1 was, the Mu-so Gen2 does a better job of this.

What more could we ask for?

Mu-so 2: $2,499.

Mu-so Qb2: $1,399.

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DEVIALET

Devialet Phantom Reactor

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he Devialet Phantom wireless speaker is a product like no other – compact, loud, simple to use and with a totally unique style.

Devialet recently followed up the Phantom (now called the Phantom Premier) with a smaller sibling, the Phantom Reactor range.

The Reactor may be a smaller version of the Premier range, but it is still very impressive. There are two versions: Reactor 600 – rated at 600 watts and capable of 95dB SPL. $1,990 Reactor 900 – rated at 900 watts and capable of 98dB SPL. $2,590

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Connection is wireless via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or wired via optical or analogue. Unlike the Premier Series you can control the Reactor using touch buttons on the device itself as well as from the usual app or the optional remote. And like the Premium Series you can add a second Reactor to form a stereo pair, but without the need for their Dialog.

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MARANTZ

Marantz PM7005

Limited Amplifier Special!

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e currently have a limited number of Marantz PM7005 integrated amplifiers for sale. The versatile PM7005 features multiple analogue and digital inputs, including optical and coaxial digital inputs along with a USB-B 2.0 for direct connection to computer high resolution

digital audio sources. Featuring the reference-class CS4398 high resolution D/A converter, the PM7005 can decode high resolution digital audio files up to 24 bits and 192kHz sampling. It’s also compatible with DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz high resolution files (the same system found on SACD), and the asynchronous USB-B port also features jitter removal

for the most pristine sound quality. There are multiple analogue inputs, including a MM phono input, along with dual recording inputs and outputs, and the Source Direct function which bypasses the balance and tone controls for the shortest signal path, while the analogue mode disables the digital circuitry when listening to analogue sources.

Marantz have rightfully earned an enviable reputation for their integrated amplifiers, and the PM7005 is a good example of why.

Reduced from $2,030 to $1,499 – Silver only.

Ken Ishiwata leaves Marantz Ask any audiophile who the most influential person in this industry is and there is a good chance the answer would be Ken Ishiwata. Ken has been the face of Marantz for more than 40 years, and we have become accustomed to seeing products bearing his initials (KI Series) or signature. Over the years Ken has taken many

a model under his wing, tweaked it, and released it as a special release, generally to great acclaim.

Ken has now announced his retirement from Marantz, and he will be sorely missed.

Under his watchful eye Marantz have continued to release high quality, reliable and well-priced products.

We wish Ken the very best in his retirement.

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LIVE MUSIC AT LWA

Lyn Stanley at Len Wallis Audio

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cclaimed international jazz artist Lyn Stanley enthralled a packed house at Len Wallis Audio on the last Saturday in August. It was not only Lyn’s considerable talents as an entertainer that had everyone so enthused – although that was a highlight – but it was her discussion on recording techniques. Lyn is, by her own admission, a geek and this was obvious on the day.

The greater part of her presentation revolved around demonstrations of the various recording formats that she has

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used. CD, SACD – recorded from both needle-drop and digital, traditional LP, 33.3 and 45rpm, one-step recordings and direct-to-disc. She entertained with great stories of the people she has worked with, both fellow artists and production members.

One of the highlights was the playing of her LP London with a Twist – Live at Bernie’s. This is a double direct-to-disc album recorded at 45rpm, on Ferrari red vinyl. There are few LPs out there that can match this in terms of recording quality.

The fact that Lyn has assembled a stellar

cast of supporting musicians is also a bonus. If you really want to hear how good your vinyl-based system can sound, this is a good recording to test it.

This is available, along with other Lyn Stanley albums, from our favourite Jazz outlet Birdland Records www.birdland. com.au or via www.lynstanley.com

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Soundbar

Hear the future of home cinema in one beautiful bar Experience incredibly immersive sound at: Sennheiser Store Sydney, Shop 4, 5 Martin Place, Sydney or visit sennheiser.com/ambeo-soundbar for more information & to find a Sennheiser Dealer near you.

Hear the Difference

e s i r o s s e c c A for Summer!

ACCESSORIES

DragonFly Cobalt DAC

The AudioQuest family of DragonFly portable DACs has a new member – the Dragonfly Cobalt.

Even the most affordable of the Dragonfly family – the DragonFly Black – has been praised by Darko.Audio as “the quintessential everyman hi-fi product”, bringing a low-cost high-performance portable DAC to a whole new market. The Black is designed for use with portable devices such as phones where power consumption is a concern. The higher spec’d DragonFly Red incorporates a more

advanced headphone amp and an improved volume control – and uses more power, making it more suitable for devices such as lap-tops.

As good as the Red and the Black are, AudioQuest has recognised a need for yet a higher quality unit – enter 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.

Note: All three models of DragonFly support Tidal Masters (MQA) from iPhones and Android smartphones. The MQA technology folds high-resolution files into smaller files that can be streamed on the go. As MQA Renderers, the DragonFly DACs complete the unfolding process, allowing access to a wider range of high-resolution music.

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ACCESSORIES

Inakustik Stoic absorber bases

Inakustik LS-804 Air The Air series of cables from Inakustik goes from strength to strength.

They have just released their first flat ‘ribbon’ construction Air speaker cable, the LS-804 Air. The four conductors run side by side rather than the helix structure utilised in the larger Air cables. This still achieves the capacitance and inductance advantages for the Helix structure and the division into several smaller separate conductors also reduces skin effect. $2,100 per 3mtr pair.

There are numerous solutions for reducing the vibrations which affect high-performance audio equipment. The Inakustik Stoic absorber base is one of the most effective. This consists of a sandfilled stainless steel spiked base and a choice of top plates (slate or timber). The result is a very inert, very stable and very heavy (the slate version weights approx.

40kg) isolation platform.

Prices $4,490 to $7,150.

IsoAcoustics GAIA

IsoTek power cables IsoTek manufactures a very large range of specialty power cables. Prices vary depending on the range (there are five in all) and the required length, starting at $129 for the 1.5mtr EV03 Initium cable through to $12,000+ for the 5mtr EV03 Ascension.

Spin Clean Record Washer Mk2

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 your speakers’ weight: $349.50 for up to 32kg, $499.50 to 54kg, $1099.50 to 100kg.

An essential for vinyl fans — one of the easiest and most affordable solutions for cleaning your records, and it’s highly effective. Unlike other record cleaning methods, the Spin Clean Record Washer Mk2 enables you to clean both sides of your record at once, helping your albums and singles to sound as they were intended to, offering the highest possible fidelity – while also ensuring the cleanliness of your turntable. If you’ve been looking for a well-priced and effective solution for cleaning your vinyl records, then look no further.

Pick one up today and get the grime out of your grooves! Priced at $149.

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S OF

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U A

N

D

NEW

au.yamaha.com

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.