Len Wallis Audio Headlines - Winter 2014 by nextmedia Pty Ltd

The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio

IN THIS ISSUE

Planar magnetic Oppo headphones PLUS: B&W 600 Series 2 & Maserati Editions Richter’s rebirth Krell’s ‘Foundation’ processor

lenwallisaudio.com.au

Winter 2014

www.marantz.com.au Distributed by QualiFi Pty Ltd 24 Lionel Rd Mt Waverley Vic 3149, (03) 8542 1122 sales@qualifi.com.au, www.qualifi.com.au

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EDITED BY GEOFF FORGIE

CONTENTS 04

Oppo headphones

The masters of disc replay now bring us the PM-1 planar magnetic headphones and HA-1 headphone amplifier.

Marantz surround receivers

B&W’s 600 Series 2 – and Maseratis! Bowers & Wilkins deliver a whole new Series 2 of the 600 range, featuring a notably better double-dome tweeter, plus some stunning B&W ‘Maserati’ special editions.

10 11

Power and glory! We look at the merits of splitting your amplification into separate units – one for processing and control of all your signals, and one for just pure power.

Bose Lifestyle Systems Bose’s Lifestyle systems are evolving, offering the same discreet small speakers and Acoustimass bass module plus new SoundTouch streaming technology.

Timbre with timber This Australian powered Bluetooth speaker from Bruns Acoustics uses local timbers for its unique appearance.

AudioQuest DragonFly DAC v1.2 This highly successful miniature USB DAC is now in a new edition at $199, sounding even better than ever.

Musical Fidelity M1-LPS Getting back into vinyl? This competitively-priced MM/MC phono stage delivers impressive performance.

Astell & Kern’s hi-res portable With hi-res audio still gathering pace and fans, here’s a portable player capable of transporting your music.

Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon Classic The classic Pro-Ject 1 turntable enters its sixth generation, featuring an all-new carbon tone-arm...

Krell’s Foundation pre-processor State-of-the-art A/V 7.1-channel processing from Krell – it sounds as good in stereo as in full-blown movie mode.

Classical interiors, modern controls This beautiful job from our custom installation team highlights how modern control of lighting, climate control and audio-visual systems can sit side-by-side with any form of décor, modern or classic.

Oppo adds Darbee An interesting video-sharpening circuit called ‘Darbee’ takes Oppo’s Blu-ray players to even higher levels.

Richter rebirth! We reveal a preview of plans for an entire new range of Richter loudspeakers – new designs with classic names, including standmounts, floor standers and a subwoofer.

Loewe – the Art of TV

Loewe’s latest ‘Art’ TVs show the company has lost none of its skills in integrating new techology with high design.

Panasonic’s 2014 televisions No more plasma, but there’s plenty of smarts on offer in the new Panasonic ranges of LED-LCD televisions.

The latest releases in Marantz’s rolling program are the full-size SR5008 and SR6008 surround receivers.

Cinemascope – the learning curve Before you install a home theatre, read this! It pays to consider screen size and shape carefully at the outset.

Skins, supports and specials! Accessorise your system... and don’t miss our special prices on equipment from Arcam and Musical Fidelity.

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 www.lenwallisaudio.com.au

OPPO

OPPO HEADPHONES

ou might not have realised it, but Oppo have been producing things other than disc players, namely Android smartphones, for some years. Now, after years of development, they’ve jumped straight into the high-end headphone market with the PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones ($1699) and matching HA-1 Headphone amplifier and DAC ($1799). These headphones utilise a flat membrane which is larger than average in area but thin and light, therefore fast-acting. Instead of being electrostatic it is driven magnetically, making it more efficient, while the large seven-layer diaphragm with embedded conductors gives excellent frequency response and soundstaging. Although Planar-Magnetic technology has been used before, these drivers are unique, having been developed by Oppo themselves. The stylish headset requires large but not oversized earpieces, and is an open-back design. Smooth and classy is

the short description of its appearance. The earpads and headband are leather, and the earphones come in a lacquered wooden presentation box. They’re getting rave reviews like this one from Techradar’s James Rivington: “The Oppo PM-1 headphones are brilliant, mesmerising and spellbinding. They’re magical and captivating and wondrous and amazing. I love them.” He adds this important caveat: “If you’re going to spend £1,099 on a pair of headphones like this, you really do need to be listening to lossless formats

at least some of the time. Through a high-end player. And a headphone amp. In a soundproofed, padded room. With the lights off. And you’re going to need a beard.” [tinyurl.com/oppotechradar]

HA-1 headphone amplifier It’s amazing that at 102dB you can even drive these Oppo headphones with a phone! But of course, for best results we recommend a dedicated amplifier. Oppo have made one of those too. The HA-1 headphone amplifier combines an uncompromising Class A

OPPO

OPPO HA-1 SPECIFICATIONS • Analogue Inputs: Balanced (XLR), RCA. • Digital Inputs: AES/EBU (XLR), Optical, Coaxial, USB (asynchronously handled internally), and Bluetooth. • Outputs: Balanced (XLR) stereo, RCA stereo, 4-pin balanced headphone out, 6.3mm headphone out.

OPPO PM-1 SPECIFICATIONS • Driver Type: Planar Magnetic • Driver Size (oval): 85 x 69mm • Magnet System: Symmetric push-pull neodymium • Frequency Response In Free-Field: 10-50,000Hz • Long-Term Max Input Power: 500mW according to IEC 60268-7 • Pulse Max Input Power: 2W • Acoustic Principle: Open back • Ear Coupling: Circumaural • Nominal Impedance: 32-ohm

balanced power amplifier section with the performance of the ESS 9018 Sabre32 Reference DAC. It is no lightweight, pumping out enough current to drive a set of loudspeakers – but to be clear, it doesn’t have connections for that! It has balanced and RCA inputs plus a range of digital inputs which include optical, coaxial and asynchronous USB. On the front is a 4.3-inch/109mm colour screen for control readouts and other visual cues – like an optional simulation of a pair of classic VU meters! Given the various inputs available, the HA-1 can also be used as a pre-amp. From Oppo’s description: “The analog audio section of the HA-1 is a fully balanced design with an emphasis on keeping the audio signal in the analog domain once it leaves the DAC. The HA-1 is anchored by a beefy

toroidal power transformer. Linear power regulators and filters with custom-made capacitors ensure that the headphone amplifier has a clean power source with plenty of reserve energy. The power amplification section uses hand-picked and paired discrete components to ensure symmetry. A motor-driven precision volume control knob enables both hand adjustment and remote control while keeping the audio in a pure analog audio path. Users have a choice of using the 4-pin balanced XLR or the traditional quarter-inch headphone jack. Line level analog inputs and outputs are provided with both RCA and balanced XLR sockets. Built-in monitoring and protection circuitry guards against any mishaps such as shortcircuiting, overloading, and DC offset that could lead to degraded performance.”

• Sensitivity: 102dB in 1mW • Clamping Pressure: 5N • Cables: 3m detachable OCC cable (6.35mm), 1m detachable OFC cable (3.5mm) • Cable Connectors: 2.5mm mono minijacks (output), 6.35mm stereo jack, 3.5mm stereo jack (inputs) • Weight: 395g (without cable) • Included Accessories: Wooden box, carrying case, 6.35mm and 3.5mm cables, alternative velour ear pads, User Manual

MARANTZ

SR6008

MARANTZ SURROUND RECEIVERS

arantz’s rolling program of releases means we rarely have a full list of surround receivers to talk about in any one issue of ‘Headlines’. We covered the SR7008 previously, but the SR5008 and SR6008 came along just after that, so they’ve made it into this edition. If we skip past the slimline series, noting in passing that both the NR1504 and NR1604 are on special at present, the SR5008 ($1380) is the first of the full-size surround receivers in Marantz’s range. It is a full-on technical package, with just about everything the modern theatre receiver can be fitted with. There are seven HDMI inputs, one of which is on the front panel, and also there you’ll find a USB for ad hoc connection of players for music. Bluetooth is not included but an optional RX-101 adaptor can be purchased. All the Marantz receivers are 3D- and 4K-capable network-connected streaming devices, as well as surround processors up to full HD audio level. The 7 channels x 100w are made up of separate power amplifiers, including their famous HDAM modules for fast, accurate reproduction. The SR5008 is also DLNA 1.5 and Windows 8/RT compatible, letting you access audio content from your PC or Windows tablet via your home network. AirPlay is in there too, allowing wireless access from iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. Audyssey MultEQ XT provides automatic room acoustic measurement

and correction by analysing the sound from all of the speakers and subwoofer via the supplied measuring microphone, generating precision digital filters for each channel for smooth and natural tonal balance, even if the speakers are different brands and models. Remote control can be either the supplied one, or your iOS or Android device running the Marantz control app.

SR6008 All of the above applies equally to the SR6008 ($1820), which adds extra power, up to 110w per channel, for even better control of speakers – read even better sound! It also has a more advanced version of the Audyssey room correction software onboard. Marantz use Current Feedback instead of the typical voltage feedback configuration – Current Feedback technology provides a wide closed-loop bandwidth and very high slew rate, delivering superior audio fidelity.

If you wish, you can choose to use the seven channels in the theatre, or dedicate two to a second zone in another part of the home. This feature has been around for some time, but has really become much easier to implement and use since those wireless control apps came along. Some other features common to both of the receivers are: • Marantz M-DAX Dynamic Audio Expander function – breathes new life into compressed music sources; • on-screen graphical display that combines large, clear text and colourful icons and the Marantz Setup Assistant – set-up is both simple and quick, letting you easily make all necessary adjustments and settings; • multi-way speaker connections on the rear panel, which are banana-plug compatible and colour-coded for easy connection; the supplied colour-coded speaker cable labels ensure correct hook-up the very first time. SR5008

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NEW

BOWERS & WILKINS

B&W 600 SERIES S2

&W is a major speaker manufacturer with a very high “high end” in the 800 series, a superb middle range (the CM series) and a very appealing broad market range in the 600 series. What has just happened, with the introduction of the S2 or second version of the 683/684/685/686 models, is a significant upgrade to all of them. All will now come with a decoupled double-dome tweeter based on that used in the flagship CM10 speaker. This will not just add some finesse to an already good range, it will raise the bar for all competitors, some of whom may have found previously that they could easily demonstrate a noticeably better top-end than the 600 models. This new tweeter will cancel that advantage, such as it was. Moving the whole 600 range in the general direction of the CM series is something only a company with B&W’s scale and inherent strengths could do. Of course you’re not going to get the whole CM deck of cards for less money, but you are going to get the upgrades for not much more than the old series cost, if anything more at all. The 683 S2 ($2499) goes up a mere $200, the 684 S2 at $1699 not at all. For that extra $200, the 683 S2 sports a completely new set of drivers and

redesigned cabinet. The woofers now use a double layer of aluminium, while the FST Kevlar midrange has minimal surround material for greater accuracy. Cabinets in the whole range have been redesigned to provide better bracing while also having a narrower front baffle for a slimmer look and presumably reduced front baffle reflections. Now for the 684 S2: “Switching to 5-inch bass/midrange drivers from the previous 6.5-inch cones means the 684 S2 is now significantly slimmer than its predecessor, with simultaneously improved audio performance. The two Kevlar cone drivers benefit from smaller voice coils to increase sensitivity. “The 5-inch drivers now also feature Anti-Resonance Plug dust caps, technology taken from our high-end PM1 speakers, that improve pistonic movement inside the voice coil. This helps to deliver amazingly distortion-free midrange performance, all in a smaller space.”

The tweeter and woofer improvements detailed above have been carried through to the bookshelf or stand mount models (685 S2 at $999 and 686 S2 at $799), with similarly improved results. What Hi-Fi? said of the 685 S2: “A superb pair of speakers that are hugely thrilling, these 685s are an update worth waiting for.” Back to Five Stars rating! The same goes for the matching centre channels HTM61 S2 and HTM62 S2 ($1099 and $699 respectively) which complement the various possible combinations to make up a full surround set. Colours to date have been limited to black ash or gloss white, with the latter not arriving until well after the initial small batch which came along in April. It’s hoped that stocks will be plentiful in both colours by the time you get this magazine. For more details, including specifications for each model, see our website, www.lenwallisaudio.com.au

BOWERS & WILKINS

B&W MASERATI EDITION

his is a rare opportunity to own a distinctive and truly beautiful product in every way. The 805 Diamond is already a very fine speaker, one of the best in its class. B&W have produced a limited edition which cross-pollinates the superb audio with Italian-inspired materials and finish. There are a mere handful of these coming into Australia, and the $12,500 price tag includes the matching stands. Here’s B&W’s summary of the special care that has gone into the 805 Maserati Edition: “The 805 Maserati Edition features a tweeter of pure synthetic diamond. We go to such lengths because diamond’s combination of lightness and extreme rigidity means no material is better suited to reproducing high-frequency signals. Diamond dome tweeters have long been

SPECIFICATIONS • Description: 2-way vented-box • Drive Units: 1x 25mm diamond dome high-frequency, 1x 165mm woven Kevlar cone bass/midrange • Frequency Range: -6dB at 42Hz and 33kHz • Frequency Response: 49Hz28kHz ±3dB on reference axis • Dispersion: Within 2dB of reference response

B&W Maserati Edition P5 Headphones

considered an exclusive luxury in the world of audio – a refinement to be reserved only for the most expensive, studio-sized loudspeakers. No longer. The 805 Diamond is nothing less than a revolution in speaker design: the first speaker of its size and at this price point to come with a diamond tweeter. “The 805 Maserati Edition is crafted from materials that reflect the partnership: the exquisite birds-eye real-wood veneer and black Maserati leather reflect the luxurious interior of the brand’s cars, and the speaker stand that forms an integral part of the 805 Maserati Edition is finished with the same polished wood veneer and features the Maserati Trident. The Trident has been part of the Maserati identity since 1926... based upon the statue of Neptune in the fountain of Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore.”

• Horizontal: over 60º arc • Vertical: over 10º arc • Sensitivity: 88dB spl (2.83V, 1m) • Harmonic distortion: 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m), <1% 100Hz-22kHz, <0.5% 150Hz-20kHz

• Recommended Amplifier Power: 50W-120W into 8Ω on unclipped programme • Max. Recommended Cable Impedance: 0.1Ω • Dimensions (HWD): 418 x 238 x 351mm • Net Weight: 12kg

• Nominal Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 4.7Ω)

• Cabinet Finish: Bird’s Eye real wood veneer; Black leather

• Crossover Frequency: 4kHz

• Grille: Black cloth

A further instance of special edition products is the P5 headphones, which have been finished in a beautiful racing blue leather, and bear the Maserati insignia on a metal badge. These will be of interest to anyone who owns a Maserati, is planning to own one, or is a fan of the superb Italian car maker. Under the skin, literally, are the P5 headphones, so the performance specifications remain the same – and that’s incredibly good! They don’t just sound good but due to their closed design achieve quite a bit of noise isolation as well. Price is $549. Being light, the P5 are designed for mobile use, and incorporate the latest connections to suit iPod. There are two leads supplied, one with an inline remote control for iPod/iPhone.

LOEWE

LOEWE – THE ART OF TV

oewe televisions are known for their refined design and numerous handy features. Three new models are on the way. These sets are supplied with a plastic table stand (with rotation ±20 degrees), but various optional brackets for wall mounting, plus other floor stands and table stands, can be purchased as well. The new Loewe Arts are available in several sizes: 60 inches (152cm), 50 inches (127cm) and 40 inches (98cm). All are capable of being internet connected for video or audio streaming, and can be servers for photos, videos and music from your local network too. Recording of TV broadcasts can be done to a hard drive via USB. All are full-HD resolution and 3D capable. Phones and iPads can become remote controls via the appropriate app!

Design. As always, these are elegant and slim-lined sets. There are four colour combos available: black, chrome-silver, white and mocha brown, to suit different décor schemes. Image. Backlighting is by LED, and there’s an ambient light sensor to alter the brightness depending on room conditions. Resolution is 1920 x 1080, and viewing angle is 176 degrees both vertically and horizontally. They are compatible with 24 frame rate, and the refresh rate is 200Hz. Various image enhancement technologies are inbuilt, and the 3D capability is via active shutter glasses.

2D can be converted to 3D if required. Response time is 4 milliseconds for the 60”, the others are 8ms. Sound. The two larger sets have 2 x 20w speakers, while the 40” has 2 x 10w. There are bass and treble adjustments, and an automatic volume control to avoid those unexpected shocks when changing channels to a much noisier one! Connections. These include four HDMI digital video inputs, a scart connector, and an A/V and VGA (mini) to connect a computer. Three USB ports accommodate memory sticks, portable hard drives, MP3 players and other devices. The audio section has a coaxial digital audio output and a headphone output.

BRIEF SPECIFICATIONS • Panel and LCD resolution with LED backlight: Full HD (1080p) • 3D: Yes, active • Image Refresh Rate: 200Hz • Brightness: 390 cd/m2 • Contrast: 5000:1 (60” and 50”); 3,500:1 (40”) • Audio: Stereo, Dolby Digital Plus • Speakers Output Power: 2 x 20W (60” and 50”); 2 x 10W (40”) • Connections: 4 HDMI, SCART (mini), A/V, Coaxial digital audio, VGA (mini), 3 USB, Headphone Output, Ethernet, Wi-Fi. • Prices: 40” $2499, 50” $3499, 60” $4999

RICHTER

RICHTER REBIRTH – A PREVIEW

he Richter brand has been around for at least 25 years now, and has gone through several ownerships and design phases. The next phase should be the best ever. We can bring you the latest info on the soon-to-be-released Series V speakers, completely redesigned, but still bearing names that will be familiar to many. Under the leadership of industry veteran John Cornell, a team of expert designers has come up with a range of products from floor standers down to bookshelf size speakers, and a new Thor V subwoofer. Brad Serhan, known for his work with Orpheus, has done the Merlin and Mentor bookshelf speakers, while Senior Engineer Dr. Martin Gosnell has done the rest, as well as extensively re-working the Thor subwoofer. Industrial Designer Adam Hobbs has overseen cabinetry and construction documentation. We are able to provide you with a brief preview, complete with designers’ comments! As stock starts to arrive towards the end of June, we will put complete product pages with full specs up on our website. Photos are not yet available, but we have (above) a “rendering” of what the range will look like – a sort of family group snapshot.

The floor standers will be the Harlequin, Wizard and Dragon. The more compact two-ways are the Merlin and Mentor, while the centre channel will be the Griffin. As Brad says: “The design brief for the Richter ‘bookshelves’, was to ensure a high degree of musicality, aka listening engagement. This engagement is associated with timing, coherence and ‘foot tapping’. In other words, they have to ‘haul you into the music!’” There’s not room here to give you all the technical info, but the new drivers give an indication that music is the top priority, while theatre will benefit from the upgrades too. “Richter’s newly developed proprietary drivers proudly include our soft dome neodymium tweeter. This tweeter has been designed to provide exceptional off-axis performance producing a lively and spacious sound stage with smooth soft dome musicality, and a response extending well outside the human hearing range. “The new 5” and 6” sealed composite paper-cone bass/mid drivers combine the natural acoustic finesse of paper with the strength of modern fibre technology to produce a musical, efficient driver with the ideal damping characteristics,

giving your musical experience the edge, with the coherence and timing essential for that foot tapping, fully involving experience. These drivers are both sensitive and rugged, and true to style the new range produces rich deep and rhythmic bass energy. “The new crossover designs employ a series of low order crossovers, with a host of additions to finesse the harmony and timing of each driver to perfectly harmonise across the spectrum. These crossovers have been painstakingly designed with feedback from a large team of audio specialists across the country optimising all areas of acoustic performance, emotional vocals, an astonishingly vivid sound stage and a remarkably stable off-axis response, meaning that the speakers maintain their realism in a wide range of listening environments so that they sound as good at home as they do in the store. “The cabinets have been completely redesigned, employing non-parallel panels to reduce standing waves, comprehensive bracing positioned to minimise harmonics, double thickness rear and front baffle panels, and new high density internal damping, making these the most neutral and musical cabinets we have ever produced.”

PRE & POWER AMPLIFIERS

POWER AND GLORY

hat are pre and power amps needed for? Why can’t we have it all in one chassis? Well, you can – those are called “integrated” amplifiers because they have the pre-amp section (source switching, volume controls, tone controls as well in some cases) and the power amp section (transformer, capacitors, output transistors) in the one box. This works well in most cases, but it is not the ultimate solution.

Performance benefits So what are the improvements you get from separating the two? Firstly, there’s more room to maximise the power amp’s capability, so you’ll usually hear a more dynamic and smoother sound, coupled to a fully detailed “you are there” performance, with better spatial cues or “ambience” and soundstage “depth” perception, even from a pre-power that’s

around the same rated wattage as its integrated brother. The pre-amps contribute towards this, as they will have more attention paid to the low-level signal paths, use better components, and have completely separate power supplies to the power section. Some models may also offer premium features such as better Phono stages, with both MM and MC circuitry, and adjustable loadings for impedance. In short, the pre-amp will be of a more “premium” nature, in some cases offering fully balanced circuitry with XLR connections to the power amplifier.

Surround sound How about in surround sound amplifiers? The same arguments apply, but here we have even more circuitry being crammed into the one chassis of what we call a “surround receiver”. This one box contains the preamplifier, usually a tuner as well

(hence the term receiver), and then a swag of digital processing to handle the very advanced audio and video processing that we have all come to expect and enjoy these days. Then we have at least seven channels, sometimes nine channels or more, in the power amplifier section. That’s a lot of stuff to cram into one chassis. So, you could argue that the separation of the pre-processor and power amplifier becomes even more desirable in the surround context. All that digital processing sitting in amongst the low-level signals has to be treated carefully to avoid “digital radiation” interference, and cramming that plus the power section all into one chassis necessarily limits the amount of amplifier hardware you can add to the mix.

Weighing things up The downside? There are two factors – cost and size. If the gear is of a good standard, it will tend to cost about double the price of a good surround receiver. For example, in Marantz’s range you can get a substantial SR7008 surround receiver for $3290, while their AV7701 pre and MM7055 power amplifier will set you back the best part of $5k, and Yamaha’s CX-A5000/M-A5000 pair are $7k. But for the higher prices you get a higher standard of construction, including (with both of those) balanced XLR connections between pre and power, something rarely seen on anything at this level – it’s usually only found in the high-end exotica. A pre-power pair will take up double the space on your shelves as well,

PRE & POWER AMPLIFIERS

although this is a lesser problem in most cases. NAD’s offering (the ‘T 187’ pre plus ‘T 975’ power at 7x140w) is also up there, at $6498. Krell kicks in from around the $20k point with a 7-channel combo, the S-1500 power amplifier and the Foundation pre/processor.

Mix or upgrade The third advantage of pre-power setups is the ‘Mix & Match’ factor, which again applies to stereo or surround. You can change either piece if a better one comes along, or if it’s time for an upgrade to keep up with new technology. This will always be an important factor for those audio enthusiasts who like to try different pre or power sections, and will be of particular appeal to those who see an advantage in getting an up-to-date pre to go with a much loved power section, or for those who see the benefit of grabbing a great deal on a superior power amplifier that’s on special or traded in. Then there’s the partial upgrade way: many of us already own good surround receivers, and these usually have multichannel pre-outs. An upgrade path, therefore, is to use the existing surround receiver as the pre-amp-processor, and get a better power amplifier to attach to it. This can have transformative effects, particularly if you’re running speakers that appreciate the extra drive, and many do. For this strategy you can use any brand of multi-channel power amplifier mentioned above, or another reputable brand of your choosing. The improvements, when used with good speakers, will be easily heard.

BOSE

BOSE LIFESTYLE SYSTEMS

hese days when you buy a Bose Lifestyle system, you’re getting not just the traditional Bose-style cube speakers, but a whole lot of ultra-modern embedded electronics that will make them sound as good as possible, and make your job of running the system as easy as possible. The combination of Direct/Reflecting cube speakers and matched Acoustimass bass module will still look similar to those

of recent years, and will continue to win buyers who want that minimalist look with maximalist sound. Likewise the premium Jewel Cubes which come with the top model, the Lifestyle 535 Mk 2 ($4499, lower right system picture opposite). That seems cheap for a top model. What’s missing? Very little. The new Bose consoles don’t have an inbuilt disc player, although most have an AM/FM radio. Your source components,

be they disc player or PVR, connect to the console via HDMI, and the Bose Unify system will easily learn the command codes for each one – you don’t even have to program them in. The remote control becomes a system remote by recognising and allocating codes to itself from a range of pre-coded options. There are six HDMI inputs on the console, so you have plenty of scope to attach good source components.

BOSE

The system adapts the sound output to suit your room using ADAPTiQ technology. Video sources of a lower quality will be upscaled by the system to make sure the end result makes best use of your nice screen – however this doesn’t mean that lower quality sources will be improved to equal Blu-ray! 3D compatibility is there too, for when you want to utilise those effects in a movie. But wait, there’s more! Or will be, when it arrives this year: “Streaming music with SoundTouch. There’s a level of versatility with this system you’re going to love – and it goes well beyond the thrill

of home theater. With a separate Wi-Fi adapter, you can stream Internet radio, music services like Pandora and playlists from your music library. All at the touch of a button on your remote. Imagine: you’ve just finished watching an action-packed blockbuster. Then you switch right over to your favorite Pandora station without even reaching for your smartphone. It’s all made possible by SoundTouch, and it will soon be available with all our Lifestyle® systems.” The Lifestyle 525 Mk. 2 system ($3499) has the same features as the 535, but comes with Direct/Reflecting cubes instead of the Jewel Cubes. The 520 Mk. 2 system ($2499) shares many of the features of the top two models, but cannot be integrated

into a multi-room situation, and has a simpler remote control – still with the Unify feature, however. Then there are the two further systems. The 235 Mk. 2 system ($3199, main picture and lower left system image) uses two Gemstone speakers and an Acoustimass bass unit to give searingly good sound from a lesser total speaker complement – it’s a 2.1-channel system. Finally, the 135 Mk. 2 ($3399, top image) is a soundbar speaker system with Acoustimass bass, a neat alternative while preserving most of the benefits of the Bose console and remote control system. All of these systems are now on show in-store, and you can find more details at www.lenwallisaudio.com.au.

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

CLASSICAL INTERIORS, TOTALLY MODERN CONTROL

his harbourside house has been very carefully designed to house particular pieces of sculpture, lighting, furniture and artworks, as well as all the usual comforts of home. Apart from the TV screens, there’s little evidence of the distributed audio and video – but it’s there, along with state-ofthe-art control systems. Control, multiroom amplification and source switching is all done by Savant, through which the owner can access absolutely everything in the home-automation catalogue via iPhone and iPad. This includes CCTV integration, intercom, a phone system that integrates with iPhone and iPad, air conditioning, lighting control security, and, of course, audio-visual systems control.

The speakers in the rooms are all but invisible, requiring careful inspection even to the trained eye! They have been set into special bulkheads and have been blended by special surface-finishing processes to match the texture and colour of the concrete ceilings. Looking at the Living Room (above), you wouldn’t know that there are four Stealth speakers concealed in the ceiling, and you mightn’t notice the very discreet security camera. The screens throughout are mostly by Panasonic, and are very slimline models mounted flat on the wall. The Master Bedroom has Stealth speakers concealed in the bulkhead/ pelmet structure over the window. There are more hidden speakers in the walk-in

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

wardrobe, which also has the main control pad set into the wall, while a flat-screen TV sits on the wall opposite the main bed. A similar approach was taken to hiding speakers in the second bedroom, currently the nursery, as well as in the third (or guest) bedroom. The Theatre Room looks more like a sitting room and library, since all the front and rear speakers plus subwoofer (Velodyne) have been concealed in overhead bulkhead structures. The rear effects are unlikely to be noticed unless playing, given the very striking back wall statuary, columns and tapestry. The big 80â&#x20AC;? screen is by Sharp, while the surround amplification here is Marantz. The outdoor area has two Focal IW106 speakers set into the eaves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are a bit easier to spot, but still quite discreet, while giving rich sound. The main equipment rack is another triumph of clever design, enabling both access and concealment. It has been made

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

to slide out and to totally disappear into its own air-conditioned space, a cupboard that draws no attention to itself, but contains all the sources, amplification and control hardware for the entire home. Note: a higher than usual specification was applied to the Daikin air conditioning system, giving it a BMS control interface usually only seen at overall apartment building control level. Lighting was a priority in decoration terms, with a variety of fittings, and this became a priority in terms of system design. Lighting scenes have been precisely set up and can be easily invoked via the portable touch screens. This unique project was shared between main integrator Len Wallis Audio (Audio, Video, Savant, Cameras, Intercom) with project management by Rory Macleod, and CNP Electrical (Chris Pisani) for Lighting, Security and other ancillaries.

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

PART 1

CINEMASCOPE

CINEMASCOPE: THE LEARNING CURVE

ntil the early 1950s, the standard aspect ratio for most movies produced was 1.37:1, or the Academy ratio. With the rapid uptake of television in the USA from the early 1950s, movie producers and cinemas became increasingly concerned that their audience would stay at home and enjoy their entertainment within the comfort of their own lounge room. One idea to lure consumers back to the cinema was the introduction of a much wider image relative to the image height, presenting a much more enveloping and immersive experience. The first of these was Cinemascope, introduced by 20th Century Fox in 1953 with ‘The Robe’, which featured an image that was 2.55 as wide as the height. i.e. a native 2.55:1 aspect ratio. Cinemascope then became 2.35:1, before eventually settling at 2.39:1 in 1970.

The term Cinemascope has since come to denote almost any aspect ratio such as 2.35:1, 2.39:1, 2.40:1 and 2.55:1. When you see a Cinemascope film at the cinema, the curtains will open to reveal the wider aspect ratio of the movie you are about to view. However, the native aspect ratio for television is now 1.78:1 (or 16:9) and has a fixed width. So, when watching Cinemascope movies on your television, you will be presented with black bars above and below the image, resulting in a smaller overall image area. You are watching the movie as the director intended it to be seen, but you are only using 75% of the available image area. For an HDTV television with 1920 x 1080 pixels, a Cinemascope image employs only 1920 x 817 of those pixels. When designing a home theatre, you are aiming to replicate the cinema

BY ALBERTO VANGI

experience for viewing movies, not just for watching the 6 O’Clock News or the latest episode of ‘My Kitchen Rules’. So how can we best replicate this experience? By emulating what the cinemas do. Quite simply, we have two options. Before continuing on, however, a very important reason for presenting this article is that many builders and developers are pre-packaging theatre room set-ups as part of a total project cost without the actual buyer having any say about the theatre room – instead of Cinemascope they end up instead getting a conventional 16:9 screen and projector solution. In some cases it may be too late to make any changes, as it’s all in a signed contract. So it’s important to understand the options. Both of the solutions here involve the employment of a native Cinemascope 2.35:1 format screen. By using a wider aspect ratio screen, we have a larger

CINEMASCOPE 16:9 screens are optimised for broadcast TV...

Start with a Cinemascope screen and you can blank off the sides for 16:9 broadcasts...

...but you lose space at top and bottom when watching movies

“canvas” to work with. This allows us to adapt the experience for Cinemascope content, but still view other content as well.

Option 1 First you must purchase a 2.35:1 format screen in a model that best meets the use of the space. This option enables both 2.35:1 and 1.78:1 content to be viewed with the same image height, and your Cinemascope content is no longer squeezed within the 16:9 image size. Optional side masking, so that both Cinemascope and 16:9 digital TV formats are bordered in black, will increase the perceived contrast and impact of images. Then you choose a projector which is able to do the Cinemascope image with or without an anamorphic lens (more about the lens later). We offer JVC projectors from $5,499 which can do this, up to the benchmark Sony VPL-VW500ES 4K projector at $13,999. You will always be able to use the same projector for both 16:9 digital TV and

Cinemascope content. With this option you simply zoom the image up to fill the entre height of the Cinemascope screen. Now when watching a Cinemascope movie (the majority of blockbuster movies), you will get an image filling the whole screen. When watching digital TV or some DVDs/streamed movies you will get an image with the same height but the sides of the screen will not be filled with an image – hence making masking a nice option to consider.

Option 2

Start with the same screen as in option 1, but with the addition of an anamorphic lens that sits in front of the projector for Cinemascope content. This is highly recommended for the more serious theatre room or pure enthusiast who simply wants the best possible image. What an anamorphic lens offers you is the ability to project a Cinemascope image without zooming the projector in and out for different aspect ratios. Instead

...while enjoying full-screen action for movies

the projector electronically stretches Cinemascope content top and bottom to fill the height of the screen and the lens optically stretches the image left and right. The benefit of adding the anamorphic lens is that all of the pixels in the projector are utilised, resulting in no loss in resolution (33% more pixels are used) and no loss in brightness. When watching standard 16:9 digital TV the lens simply moves out of the light path of the projector. Again while not using a lens (as in option 1) will be fine for many home theatres, the second option is for those seeking the better – in fact close to best – solution. Before committing to any theatre room with a projector and screen set-up, please take the time to visit our showroom and see a Cinemascope screen for yourself – and be amazed by the difference. By Alberto Vangi of Len Wallis Audio, with assistance from Paul Kutcher of Visual Fidelity, Australian distributor for Stewart Filmscreen and Schneider Optics.

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PANASONIC

PANASONIC 2014

anasonic has withdrawn from the plasma business, but is going flat out on the LCD/LED front, with several series about to make an appearance or already arriving as we go to print. There will be three front runners in the larger sizes – the AX800A, AS800A and AS740A series, each having screens in the 55” or 58”, and 60” or 65” sizes. The sets have a new Smart TV interface called Life+, tailoring the home screen for every member of a family or home and suggesting new content based on past viewing patterns. The Life+ interface can recognise the user via face recognition, and Panasonic has allowed you to feed the recommendations system with ‘like’ or ‘dislike’. TV makers are still searching for a new input method as TVs become increasingly feature-rich but also more complicated to use. Panasonic continues to believe in the prospects of voice control, and has developed a new Voice Assistant with better voice recognition. They also tell us that any Life+ TV can automatically wake up when you approach it to display relevant information such as time, date and weather. They call this the Info Bar. Panasonic also features ‘TV Anywhere’, or TV from the Cloud. The idea is that you

can stream live TV, recordings, movies or home videos to anywhere in the world, with access to content stored on any USB hard drive connected to your TV at home. You can also send videos or photos from your phone to your home via the cloud. With the smartphone app you can even initiate recordings when you are away. To improve the user experience, Panasonic is introducing a new ‘simple to use’ smart touch remote. It has a large central touch pad and a few buttons above and below. It is radically different to Panasonic’s standard remote, relying instead on the new Life+ interface. Network access for video, music and photos from home computers and NAS drives will still be there under the DLNA umbrella. Swipe & Share adds to this by enabling sharing from iOS or Android devices to the screen, wirelessly. The AX800 series will arrive soon and is Panasonic’s top series until later in the year, when a more expensive 900A series is foreshadowed. The AX800A models (58” and 65”, or 148cm and 165cm) use a 4K Studio Master Drive panel and have THX 4K certification. They will also feature “local dimming” that can reproduce deeper blacks and a wider colour gamut than the average HD TV. Pricing is likely to be around $4999 and $6599 respectively.

AX800A FEATURES (IN BRIEF): 4K capable, HEVC; HDMI 2.0; DisplayPort 1.2a; DCI 98 % color gamut; 4K Studio Master Drive; Local dimming Pro; THX 4K certified; 3D capable; Life+ with TV apps; Hexa Core PRO; TV Anywhere; Smart Touch remote; Swipe & Share; Wi-Fi. Of the new HD TVs (i.e. not yet 4K), the AS800A series is the most advanced and most feature-intensive. In appearance similar to the 2013 line-up, with very thin almost frameless design, they have the Hexa image processor and local dimming for superior contrast. The new models TH-55AS800A and TH-60AS800A will be here very soon if not by the time this is published, and are expected to cost $2799 and $3299 respectively. AS800A FEATURES (IN BRIEF): Full HD resolution; Local dimming; 2100 / 1800 BLS; Advanced Colour Spectrum; 3D; Life+ with TV apps; Hexa Core; TV Anywhere; Smart Touch remote; Swipe & Share; WiFi. The third series will be the TH-55AS740A and TH-60AS740A, probably around $2299 and $2899. Again they will be full HD resolution, with 3D and smart features. AS740A FEATURES (IN BRIEF): Full HD; 1500 / 1200 BLS; 3D; Life+ with TV apps; Hexa Core; Twin tuner (AS750); TV Anywhere; Smart Touch remote; Swipe & Share; WiFi.

OPPO

OPPO DARBEE PLAYERS

ppo have consistently been the choice for a universal player/streamer for some years now, and their latest models have added an astonishing capability in the video processing area, one which lifts the video performance to a new level. They were already performing well above the more mass-produced products’ standard anyway, but with the Darbee mod, they are really streeting the competition. So what does it do? The Darbee processor is a video enhancer that provides greater clarity and increases the perception of depth by embedding stereoscopic depth cues within the video, resulting in a more dynamic,

lifelike experience. It identifies objects with sharp edges and enhances that feature. Then it enhances contrast levels as well. Unlike your more common sharpness enhancers, it achieves results without adding the ‘ringing’ or ‘ghosting’ you usually see. The Darbee processor does not alter the image in a global fashion, so it is able to reduce the amount of image artifacts that are created, and it does not adversely affect calibrated settings such as contrast, gamma, and colour. The end result is improved focus, which is most welcome, particularly on larger screens. This process doesn’t help with Standard Definition TV (in fact it looks worse), but HDTV certainly

is improved by the process. The Darbee processing level is also adjustable, which allows you to customise it to your particular taste. The contrast effect adds drama or dynamics to a Blu-ray picture, but is less striking on DVD. Just to recap, the two models are the BDP-103 ($699 standard, $899 Darbee) and the BDP-105 ($1499 standard, $1699 Darbee), the latter being a universal player, but also a streaming device. With so much functionality in one piece, the BDP-105 is an easy bestbuy recommendation whether you put more store by video with surround, or good old stereo audio entertainment. It simply does it all to an amazing level.

BRUNS ACOUSTICS ‘TIMBRE’

he Timbre is a powered speaker that has been developed in Australia and uses local timbers in its construction. It’s modern, well built, has excellent sound, Bluetooth and Aux

inputs, and even a USB charger socket for your portable sources. The simplicity of the look at once harks back to earlier times, with a radio-like appearance. This can be taken a step further with the Relic colours in “distressed” or time-worn finish. The look and feel will get you interested, then the room-filling sound will win you over. The Bruns Acoustic company, from Brunswick Heads in Northern NSW, is committed to producing quality audio in a sustainable fashion, using a mix of salvaged

fallen timbers and Camphor Laurel, which is classified as a noxious weed but has delightful grains (pictured). They mill their own timber to produce the stunning cabinet work, which is as solid as it is attractive. Finishes apart from Camphor are Durian, Ironbark, and Blackbutt. Painted finishes (the ‘Relic’ ones are Seafoam, Black and Red) can be ordered in distressed or undistressed form. Grilles are cloth or steel. Although the $899 Timbre comes in many different wood varieties and colour options, at the core every Timbre has the same components such as analog amplifier, premium speakers, and quality hardware materials used in construction.

A roomful of sound. one visible speAker .

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Enhance your home entertainment with streaming music. Now you can stream your favourite music – such as Internet radio, Pandora® and your music library – with the Lifestyle® 135 system. The included SoundTouch™ wireless adapter uses proprietary Unify technology which provides simple, step-by-step onscreen instructions for initial setup.

bose.com.au | 1800 023 367 © 2014 Bose Corporation. All rights reserved. Pandora is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, and any such use by Bose Corporation is under license. The wireless note design is a trademark of Bose Corporation. A home Wi-Fi network and Internet access are required.

AUDIOQUEST / MUSICAL FIDELITY

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY V1.2

he original DragonFly got the USB DAC concept going, and until the Meridian Explorer came along it had the premium market to itself. Reviews of the new version have been pretty much unanimous in praising the improved audio quality, and at the new price of $199 (as against the Meridian at $499), it’s going to continue to win friends. What has changed? Here’s Audioquest on the revised model v1.2:

“Among the improvements, the circuitry between the DAC chip and the analog output stage has been refined to create a more direct signal path, leading to even greater transparency and immediacy. Also, the DAC’s power supply has been fortified, which gives the sound more ‘grip’ and even greater dynamic contrast.” How did this product come about? Steve Silbermann, AQ’s Vice President of Development, wanted to buck the

T MUSICAL FIDELITY M1-LPS 26

he M1-LPS ($599) is a competitively-priced high quality MM/MC phono stage. It has much in common with the ecstatically well received M1 ViNL phono stage; however it does not have the M1 ViNL’s sophisticated input resistance and impedance switching. Although the M1-LPS is competitively priced, it comfortably delivers all that could be expected from a high quality phono stage. Any phono stage should provide very accurate RIAA equalisation, with low distortion and low noise, an

system and create waves. He wanted to make “a really high-quality audio product that meets people on their own terms”. By this he meant convenient, able to be taken anywhere any time and plugged into a computer as a source, making it an audiophile playback system. To do this he enlisted Gordon Rankin, whose work on USB DACs had already attracted attention. Rankin said that meeting the size specification for the Dragonfly was “a pain in the ass”, since there are 107 parts inside it – including five regulated power supplies and an ESS Sabre 24-bit DAC, a Burr-Brown headphone amp/line amp with 64-step analogue volume control, the Texas

excellent overload margin and good load driving ability. The M1 LPS does all of these things very well. Simply put, it is capable of delivering a precisely corrected, low-distortion, low-noise output to any amplifier. The RIAA/IC equalisation is ±0.2dB 20Hz to 20kHz. Unusually the M1-LPS equalisation continues up to at least 100kHz. This ensures that there is no ringing or overshoot on dynamic high frequency signals. Distortion is a very low 0.01%, and the M1-LPS is very quiet – noise ratio is better than 90dBA.

ASTELL & KERN

Instruments TAS1020 controller and other chip sets. Once connected and installed, the asynchronous DragonFly adapts to sampling rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz, giving a visible colour indication via the LED-lit DragonFly logo. It downconverts 192kHz to 96. The output is via 3.5mm stereo socket, and you can take this via whatever cable combo you like to the audio system of your choice. Art Dudley reviewed it in the October 2012 issue of Stereophile and said it sounded as good as his $900 reference DAC. You could say this is not an audiophile product, but it certainly fills a space in the growing area of how to make your music sound good wherever you are. It’s so small you can take it anywhere, it costs no more than other ‘compact’ DACs that you probably wouldn’t pack for a trip, and there’s really no reason not to have one, unless you’re stone-cold broke! You can plug headphones into the socket too, instead of a sound system. Note: the previous model was graded as Stereophile Recommended Components Class B – ‘The next best thing to the very best sound reproduction’. Class B components generally cost less than those in Class A, but most Class B components are still quite expensive. This new model might even go to Class A!

Overload margin is an outstanding 31dB – this baby never clips or limits. The M1-LPS has excellent load driving ability – it will comfortably drive any conceivable combination of cable and amplifier. The sound quality is excellent. The M1-LPS does a great job at ‘not being there’. It has no audible distortion, no noise to blur or obscure important musical details and, in practice, is almost impossible to overload. If you are looking for a neutral honest representation of your vinyl discs, then the M1-LPS certainly does the job.

ASTELL & KERN’S HI-RES PORTABLE

014 is shaping up as the year that Hi-Res audio gets a bit of a move on. We’ve been downloading HD tracks for a few years and playing them back on our main system in the store, as some of you may have been doing at home. Most DACs on the market now, certainly the better ones, cope with the full 24-bit/192kHz specification, and file management systems such as j-river can handle it too. It’s one thing to have this level of fidelity on your main system and quite another to have it in a neat, portable unit like the Astell & Kern. Following on from their earlier models, the AK100 and 120, the AK240 ($3399) aspires to the ultimate reproduction via (among other things) native DSD capability. The company explains it as follows: “One of the approaches we decided that would help us move a step closer to the original sound quality was to provide native DSD playback without having to convert it into PCM. This was indeed a difficult task. In order to provide native DSD playback on the AK240, we had to select a different DAC chipset. Making the decision to change the DAC was not easy, but in order to reach our goal, we had to make a bold move, which was to start from scratch.

“We have asked ourselves: Does the DAC support Native DSD? Will it allow for the Dual DAC setup? What else is needed for the perfect Native DSD support? In order to answer these three questions, we have decided to use the Cirrus Logic CS4398 chip in the Dual DAC setup with an added exclusive XMOS chip that will allow for Native DSD support. “The process of setting up Native DSD support was not an easy task. Since the main CPU does not process Native DSD, we needed a chip that will work with it. It took us a long time, but we made it work. Through countless hours of testing, we were able to achieve Native DSD playback by having the main CPU process the data, send it to the exclusive XMOS chip, then through the DAC to deliver the sound.” The ultimate solution was to use 2 x Cirrus CS4398 DACs and balanced outputs! The internal memory of 256GB can be supplemented by a 128GB SD card, for a total of 384GB. This gives the unit plenty of storage for Hi-Res music, which consumes more memory than CD albums by a large factor! This space should take around 100 albums or the equivalent in tracks, to enjoy when away from your home and your local network’s bulk storage.

PRO-JECT

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS • Speeds: 33, 45 (manual speed change) • Drive: belt drive • Speed stability: 33, 0.2%; 45, 0.18% • Wow & flutter: 33, 0.14%; 45, 0.13% • Platter: 300mm • Main bearing: stainless steel • Tonearm: 218.5mm carbon Evo • Overhang: 22.0mm • Effective tonearm mass: 8.0g • Tracking force range: 0-30mn (2M 18mn recommended) • Included accessories: 15 volts DC /0.8A power supply, dust cover • Power consumption: 4.0 watts max; < 1 watt standby • Dimensions (whd): 415 x 130 x 335mm • Weight: 5.5kg net • Belt drive system with synchronous motor • Main platter bearing made from stainless steel runs in bronze bushing with Teflon coating • Heavy aluminium sandwich platter with TPE technology for superior resonance damping • Advanced 2M Silver cartridge, featuring silver windings for ultimate fidelity • 218mm carbon tonearm with Evo Kardan rings • Resonance damping counterweight design • Gold-plated RCA interconnect cable • Special turntable feet for effective decoupling

CARBON TACKS

he Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon Classic ($1299) is the 6th generation of the classic Pro-Ject 1, presented for the first time way back in 1991. This version of the turntable includes a totally new carbon tone-arm, with spin-off Evolution technology for better resonance damping. The innovative new gimbal design features a resonancedamping counterweight for the best performance with any cartridge. The belt drive uses a low noise, decoupled AC motor with a precision frequency DC-driven AC generator for exact speed stability. A complex main platter construction is used, similar to the

high-end Xtension models, something that just can’t be found usually in this price range. Thermo plastic elastomers (TPE) are used in a sandwich construction with aluminium for optimised resonance behaviour. The platter bearing axle is made from low-tolerance chrome-plated stainless steel running on a Teflon bottom in a bronze bearing housing. The main plinth is made from low resonance MDF, which is decoupled from structure-born noise by special absorber feet using TPE technology. Reviewers have been very impressed with the high performance for the price, which incidentally includes a nice Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge.

KRELL

KRELL’S FOUNDATION PRE-PROCESSOR

oundation ($8999) is the latest in a long line of state-of-the-art A/V processors from Krell. Featuring the latest digital connectivity, the Foundation also maintains Krell’s exacting standards for analog audio reproduction. From decoding the latest lossless audio formats, extensive digital switching, 3DTV pass-through and more, the Foundation is fully compliant with the digital age. Yet the 7.1-channel processor also features balanced audio outputs, automatic set-up and room EQ, and Krell’s legendary robust hardware. A slim new form factor exudes the Krell aesthetic, while allowing placement in smaller equipment racks. In addition to 10 HDMI 1.4a inputs, the Foundation has 2 HDMI outputs, both of which feature Audio Return Channel. With ARC, a display device is able to send audio back down the HDMI cable to the processor. This is beneficial for those with televisions with built-in web streaming capability like Netflix or Pandora, so the streaming audio can use the full home theatre system instead of just the TV’s speakers. The Foundation passes video signals directly without any video processing, ensuring bit-for-bit accuracy of the signal up to 1080p/60. However, to simplify cabling, set-up and use, there is full transcoding of the two composite and three component analog video inputs to the HDMI outputs.

The Foundation includes a new Krell development — Intelligent HDMI switching. Intelligent HDMI switching is a combination of circuitry and innovative software that optimises HDMI operation. Various parameters including the monitor’s electronic ID and source video resolution are stored in non-volatile memory. All 10 source inputs are always active so source, channel, video resolution, and audio format changes are instantaneous. The Intelligent HDMI design provides the fastest signal recognition possible. Krell designed the Foundation with flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, with extensive routing capability of the audio inputs to the various outputs. During set-up, the specific paths will be chosen based on how the user intends to use each source, the displays, and the audio output channels. The Foundation will allow owners to take full advantage of the best audio soundtracks available, with decoding of Dolby Digital, Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete, Matrix, and DTS-

HD Master Audio. In addition, a full suite of post-processing modes are included, including Dolby Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo 6. Krell’s proprietary surround modes, Party, General Admission, Front Row, and On Stage, offer a different way to listen to favourite tracks. The Foundation also features Krell’s Automatic Room Equalization System (ARES), to ensure the best possible performance from every theatre. ARES analyses all the speakers in the system, their location, phase and distance from each other, to determine the best crossover frequency, delay, and more. In addition, ARES incorporates the acoustics of the room to determine unique EQ curves for each of the 7.1 output channels. Unlike other room EQs, ARES can be programmed to only adjust the troublesome low frequencies, leaving high frequencies unaltered. To allow full integration into a home automation system, the Foundation has Ethernet control, RS-232, 12v triggers and RC-5.

ACCESSORIES

FLEXSON: SONOS SKINS

Flexson offer brackets for Sonos speakers, and have now added a range of colour skins to suit Sonos speakers Play:1, 3 and 5. Instead of boring old black or white, you can enjoy primary colours! Well â&#x20AC;&#x201D; yellow, red, and blue, plus pink and purple. Costs are $79.95 each to fit the Play:5, $59.95 for the Play:3, $39.95 for the Play:1.

ACCESSORIES

TAURIS SUPPORT The Tauris Gamma equipment rack (above left) ticks all the boxes and then accommodates them neatly, keeping cables hidden at the rear while having full access and visibility at the front. When you have nice equipment, you might as well show it off, and the sleek black glass shelving with silver metal supports does the job very well while being minimal in terms of visual impact. At $399 this is very affordable. Each shelf is 610 x 433mm; the total height of the unit is 785mm. Tauris SP-148A Speaker Stands ($249/ pair). Being able to adjust the height of your rear effects speakers between 65cm and 115cm is the big drawcard for these

stands. Most ready-made stands are only 50-60cm, usually fine for the front, but rears often have to be elevated to clear furniture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the extra height also adds some spaciousness to the effects. The Lovan Affiniti II stands ($239/ pair, pictured above right) again offer extra height, this time a fixed 736mm, for situations where the standard 50-60cm is not enough. While this often applies to rear effects speakers, it is sometimes also required for front or stereo speakers. The Affiniti is a rigid metal stand using two hollow columns, sand or lead shot fillable. Spikes are supplied. Top plate size is 150 x 178mm; the base is 300 x 228mm.

SONOS CONTROLLER UPDATE As we go to press, Sonos have released the new iPhone/iPad and Android controller app, which adds more functionality and modernises the interface appearance for the whole Sonos system, which has long been (and remains) the pick of the wireless multi-zone music systems. The company has been quoted as saying they learned a lot during the first ten years, and want to lay the groundwork for a smooth progression through the next ten. The new interface sets out to keep the user informed while making the search for and queuing of tracks as easy as possible. The look has a more squared-off and colourful set of graphic icons/buttons on a black or white background. With the increase in available online services, Sonos aims to cater for multiple sources to the extent of searching all of them when you enter an album name. The big news for Google Play Music fans is that it will be integrated into the new controller, allowing you to play from your Android device directly into Sonos. The Sonos app has to be present on the Android device to do that, but this is another convenience feature that will suit many users. Those who use podcasts will be pleased to be able to upload them to Google Play and then access them from any Sonos zone.

SPECIALS

SPIN-CLEAN A WINNER Still in demand! Spin-Clean ($135 for the kit) is essentially a narrow tank to contain clean water and a small quantity of special cleaning fluid. Two rollers support the 12” LP (with alternate positions for other sizes) and two brushes in the middle do the cleaning while you rotate the record three times clockwise and three times more, anti-clockwise. The Spin-Clean fluid is applied directly to the brushes, and as they get the dirt and other matter out of the grooves it sinks to the bottom of the tank, due to the chemical action of the cleaning fluid,. This means it doesn’t re-attach to the LP, and you can use the same mixture for more LPs; each batch of water/fluid additive is said to be good for up to 50 LPs. Your initial batch will be enough for 700 cleans! The fluid contains no alkalines, soap solutions or phosphates, and is biodegradeable. Each LP has to be wiped dry with one of the reusable lint-free cloths provided. The process is also claimed to reduce static. No residue is left on the record.

Musical Fidelity M3i (was $1895 now $1595) A 76w/channel integrated amplifier with inputs for CD, Tuner, Tape, Aux1/Home Theatre throughput (switchable), Aux2, and Aux3. There are outputs for one pair of speakers, Pre-out and Tape Rec out. As usual, MF have paid close attention to the pre-amp section and the inclusion of pre-out sockets means that you can do a future upgrade to a bigger power amplifier. The power section has been made as robust as possible within the price level, with a current capacity of 25amps. The cosmetics are also extremely good; there is also a matching M3CD so you can put together a superb stereo system that looks great together as well as sounding fantastic.

Arcam Solo Neo (was $2498, now $1498) The Neo updated the Arcam Solo, and added to what was already a very attractive one-piece stereo. One piece of electronics, that is – you’ll still need two speakers. But everything is catered for at a high level of quality: CD player, Tuner including DAB+ and FM, Amplifier with plenty of inputs and remote control, plus a wireless streaming capability, for which you’ll need a wireless router.

Proficient / Atlantic Technology Speakers

VIBRAPODS

Another evergreen that does so much good for so little money — at $39.95 a set of four, Vibrapods can replace your existing equipment feet (which are often fairly basic) and start soaking up vibrations right away. The improvements to audio quality have been well documented, and they come in five models to cover differing weights of equipment, roughly around 1kg, 2kg, 4kg, 7kg and up to 13kg. For heavier items, up to 25kg, the Vibrapod Cones come into play, at $11.90 each.

Just as we go to press we have secured a large range of custom and outdoor speakers. By the time you are reading this we will have them listed under Specials on the website. There are in-wall, in-ceiling, Outdoor weatherproof and ‘Rock’ Garden speakers, plus some subwoofers. These are going for heavily reduced prices, for example: Proficient in-ceiling C645 (were $849/pair now $440/ pair), in-wall models as well, and outdoor weatherproofs like the AW650 (were $799/pair now $499/pair). Rock Look R650 Garden Speakers (Granite or Sandstone) 6.5” 2-way 60w 88db (rrp$595/ pr now $$429/pr). We also have a few Atlantic Technology ATL 334 10”/225w subwoofers down from $1399 to $999. The full list will be on the website soon, so check under Specials for lots of really useful speakers at great prices.