len wallis audio headlines autumn 2015

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BEYOND PLASMA Panasonic’s amazing 85” 4K TV

NEW DIMENSIONSFocal’s innovative soundbar

& table-top subwoofer

THE POWER!Musical Fidelity’s massive

Nu-Vista 800 amplifier

lenwallisaudio.com.au/lenwallisaudio

The Newsletter of Len Wallis Audio Autumn 2015

Award-Winning Sound. Powerful Performance. Game-changing Design.

NAD’S NeW D3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier has already received numerous accolades for its sound quality, feature set and amazing value for money. The sound experts at What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision also recently awarded it five stars, saying the D3020 is unlike all other amps in its class.

A v A i l A b l e f r o m l e n w A l l i s A u d i o

Their comments included:

“A truly hybrid stereo amplifier, the D 3020 is an inviting prospect for anyone whose sole music system is a laptop or smartphone and has been too intimidat-ed to join the world of hi-fi.”

“It’s a delightful, toe-tapping perfor-mance that really communicates the essence of the song.”

“It attempts to deliver the best possible perfor-mance it can, and that’s what makes the NAD such a likeable amplifier.”

“Whether you’re looking for a budget way to play your digital music, or want to take that first plunge into hi-fi armed with just a smartphone, the D 3020 is the ideal machine to drive your tunes.”

Visit www.nad.com.au for more information

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64 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066 Telephone 02 9427 6755 [email protected] HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday: 9 to 5.30 Thursday: 9 to 8; Saturday: 9 to 5; Sunday: closed www.lenwallisaudio.com.au

04 Beyond Plasma Panasonic’s 85” 4K TV is the A380 Jetliner of TVs!

07 Oppo’s new headphones & portable DAC/amplifier

08 Musical Fidelity’s massive amp and dinky Merlin

10 Marantz’s streaming hi-fi and latest NAD updates

12 Shaking the Peachtree

14 A Delicate Balance Smart-home abilities without the décor impact

18 PS Audio – listen to your CDs from memory!

20 Focal delivers new Dimensions in TV sound

23 Meet Hugo from Chord

24 Old hi-fi – new life

25 Bose shows its Colours

26 Audio Physic’s Classic take on bass delivery

28 SPECIALS: get in quick!

30 4K Blu-ray is on the way

Contents

04 07

1410

20 23

2625 RETURN OF THE NAIM STATEMENT! If you missed our evening with the Naim Statement, you have a second chance, as we welcome this incredible amplification back for an extended stay at our store. Call us for details!

BLUESOUND NIGHT! 31st March

Join Len Wallis Audio to hear how wireless streaming could transform your hi-fi! See p31

Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

PANASONIC

Panasonic’s 4K 85-inch LED-LCD

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BEYOND PLASMA

Some time ago Panasonic announced that it was ending its consumer production of plasma screen TVs – and at

the time it was as if millions of plasma advocate voices rang out and were then suddenly silenced.

Fast-forward to today and we think Panasonic has a worthy successor in picture quality, reliability and functionality, with the company’s TX-85X940.

This is the A380 Jetliner of television screens! It has a substantial base that runs almost the length of the screen, a thick two-and-a-half centimetres of bezel, and it clocks in at over 90kg in weight.

And it bears quite a resemblance to those dear departed plasmas – which is no coincidence, as it was developed by the same engineers that worked on the last highly-regarded reference plasmas from Panasonic. It also technically close to the smaller AX900 Series of televisions – but make no mistake, this is the big boss.

Under the hood This is a 4K Ultra HD panel with the increasingly accepted format of 3840 x 2160 pixels. But resolution is just the start of the techno tour de force on offer from this new heavyweight.

In the Ultra HD stakes, the TX-85X940 can handle the full 4K spec, including 60 frames per second via its HDMI 2.0 slots, while it’s also compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.2 protocol – which makes it ready for the coming Ultra HD Blu-ray format and the promised Panasonic Ultra HD Blu-ray player (see p30).

Its LED-backlit LCD panel also delivers some advances in technology. The 2000Hz Back Light Scanning (BLS) is a new proprietary algorithm that aims to

kill motion blur by blinking the TX-85X940’s back lights imperceptibly on and off. The TX-85X940 also offers what Panasonic calls ‘Dimming Pro’ – this capability analyses video in real time to add more detail to both dark and bright areas of images. And the TV’s 4K Studio Master Drive promises more accurate finely-graded colour, and more shadow detail at any brightness – long a critical sticking point for LED-backlit TVs when compared against plasma.

Panasonic also includes its Studio Master Colour technology which effectively achieves an expanded colour space that covers 98% of the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) standard.

In terms of usability, the menu interface is slick, intuitive and easy to navigate. You can see the benefit of Panasonic’s collaboration with Mozilla in the design and functionality here – it’s much easier and more satisfying than previous systems in accessing precisely what you want when you want.

The ‘TV Anywhere’ feature is an interesting bonus, where you can make TV recordings to a hard disk and then watch these not only in your own home but anywhere in the world using an app.

The processing power of the latest televisions is exceptional, and the TX-85X940 is no exception. It packs a Quad Core Pro5 super-high-speed processor, which has the power and speed for proper noise reduction to clean up images, as well as offering plenty of headroom for Panasonic’s 4K Intelligent Frame Creation feature to take effect on lower resolution sources.

Put simply, the TX-85X940 produces a level of picture performance with genuine ‘wow’ factor. Images are super-pristine, shadow detail is excellent and motion blur is non-existent.

For a television that feels like an event every time you sit down and watch something, it is hard to think of a better ultimate TV on the market in Australia today.


PANASONIC / QUANTUM DOTS

PANASONIC / QUANTUM DOT

Plasma, LCD, LED, OLED… confused yet? There was a time when all TVs shared the same technology, but today it appears that there is a new technology every time you turn your set on.

Well, get ready for Quantum Dot! Quantum Dot was the talk of this year’s CES show in Las Vegas, and admittedly its prevalence took a few punters by surprise.

But is Quantum Dot really a breakthrough, or is it, as many have suggested, simply a stop-gap until manufacturers can get the price down, and the reliability up, of what is being touted as the next big thing – OLED?

Quantum Dot involves the use of a sheet of nano-crystals which vary in size from 2 to 10 nanometres – each nano-crystal emits a different colour depending on its size. The sheet of these crystals is placed in front of the LCD backlight, with the result that “colour reproduction rate and overall brightness are significantly improved”.

It is way too early for us to comment on the effectiveness of this technology. It is also far too early to predict if it will even survive (although LG has already announced a 4K screen using Quantum Dot). What we do know, however, is that this is going to throw another twist into an already confused marketplace.

YET ANOTHER TV FORMAT! WHAT IS QUANTUM DOT?

This is the A380 Jetliner of television

screens!

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www.audiomarketing.com.au [email protected] 02 9882 3877

AffordAble HigH-end Audio

The new Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amplifier with increased power, more inputs, completely new internals and greatly improved technical and sonic performance. Featuring two completely separate and independent mono power amps and preamp with separate regulated power supply. The 220 watt per channel M6si has a new MM/MC phono stage, 24bit 96kHz asynchronous USB input , balanced XLR input and Home Theatre bypass facilities.

The new Focal Aria 900 loudspeaker range. Affordable High – End designed and made in France. Featuring Focal sandwich cone technology composed of natural flax-fibre cones and new TNF Aluminium/Magnesium inverted dome tweeters with Poron suspension. Carefully designed crossovers and Walnut or Black High Gloss cabinets with a glass top surface and leather – finish front panel.

New Krell Foundation 7.1 Surround Processor and Krell Vanguard integrated amplifier. The Krell Foundation features 10 x HDMI inputs with Intelligent switching, balanced audio outputs, automatic set-up and room EQ and Krell’s legendary robust hardware. The new Krell Vanguard 200 watt per channel integrated amplifier with a massive 750A toroidal transformer and Class A preamplifier featuring Krell Current Mode technology. An optional field-installable digital module with USB, HDMI, Coaxial and Optical inputs plus Ethernet and apt-X Bluetooth streaming is planned.

The new Peachtree Nova 220SE dual-mono balanced 220 watt per channel stereo integrated amplifier. Featuring 24 bit 192 kHz asynchronous USB input, Optical and Coaxial inputs, Pure analogue input, Audiophile quality headphone amplifier and selectable triode tube buffer.

OPPO

Oppo Digital’s range now includes its

award-winning Blu-ray players, three headphones and two

headphone amp/DACs. The new PM-3

headphones and HA-2 portable headphone

amplifier/DAC are shown top left.

Ahead on Headphones...

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Oppo has become one of the shining lights of this industry. Despite the fact that many people outside of the audio

fraternity have never heard of this brand, the company has dominated its chosen market segment of Blu-ray/DVD/CD players. Not only does Oppo produce what is undeniably one of the finest Universal Disc players on the market, it does so at an exceptionally low price.

A year or so back Oppo entered the headphone market, and immediately attracted glowing praise for both the PM-1 headphones and the HA-1

amplifier. They have now released two new products – the HA-2 portable headphone DAC/amplifier ($449), and the lower-priced PM-3 headphones ($549).

The HA-2 in particular offers exceptional value. As storage plummets

in price, digital media players have increased their capacity, opening the door for higher quality lossless and hi-res recordings. The drawback has been the

lack of high-quality DAC/amplifiers to squeeze the best out of these recordings. The Sabre Reference 32bit DAC used in the HA-2 takes care of this problem, while the unit itself is small enough to pocket, as shown on the left.

Despite the lower price, the PM-3 headphones still utilise Oppo’s planar magnetic technology from the more expensive models. The drive unit is a very light diaphragm, its entire surface evenly driven, the piston-like action resulting in phase coherence and high resolution performance with very little distortion.

We have long been fans of the Stax range of electrostatic headphones. The planar design of Oppo is very similar in execution, and allows for performance approaching Stax at a far lower price. While earlier Oppo designs have offered undoubted value, they have always been priced at the higher end of the market. The PM-3, at $549, is right in the sweet spot of the market and I am sure these headphones are destined to give that segment of the market a solid shake.

MUSICAL FIDELITY

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Merlin & the Monster

To describe a brand that is as well-known and as well respected as Musical Fidelity as ‘underrated’ might appear a

little odd. Yet despite the accolades, awards and commercial success that this brand has received over the years, we still believe that the product is better than many acknowledge. Musical Fidelity is a brand that we have recommended for decades, and some of the most memorable hi-fi combinations that we have put together have revolved around Musical Fidelity products. This is a brand that appears equally at ease at both ends of the hi-fi spectrum, whether it is the

gorgeous sounding 20-watt Class ‘A’ A1 amplifier of yesterday, or the recently released 300-watt/channel Nu-Vista 800 integrated amplifier pictured here.

The Monster…The Nu-Vista 800 is an exceptional piece of engineering in all ways. The most obvious feature of this powerhouse is the return of ‘nuvista’ valves, first introduced to Musical Fidelity products over 15 years ago. Nuvista valves were designed in the 1950s to overcome the shortcomings of traditional glass tube valves. While they succeeded on most fronts, their success was cut short by the arrival of the transistor. But thankfully a number of nuvista valves have survived.

The debate between valve and solid-state amplification rages on. With the ’800 Antony Michaelson of Musical Fidelity has attempted to produce a superlative amplifier displaying the best of both worlds – and we believe that


The big and the small of Musical Fidelity.

he has succeeded. Paul Miller of Hi-Fi News magazine describes this as “the speed and punch of solid-state, with the ‘love’ you only get from valves”. He also closed out his review with “Then let’s just say I’m lost for words…”

MUSICAL FIDELITY

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As far as integrated amplifiers go, the ’800 is a bit of a monster. It weighs 39kg, has a dynamic power output of 2.17kW into 1 ohm, with a (measured) distortion level of less than 0.001%. It is firmly a two-channel device, featuring five analogue inputs including phono (it has no digital inputs). The build quality is exceptional. Most importantly it sounds every bit as good as we would hope from a design of this calibre.

And Merlin…As if to prove that he can turn his hand to anything, Antony has also released ‘Merlin’, described as a Multi-Format Audio System. In stark contrast to the behemoth above, the Musical Fidelity Merlin system is based around a 50-watt

digital amplifier (above) measuring only 220mm wide, 55mm high and 240mm deep. Attached to this is a pair of small oval shaped speakers featuring a single full-range driver and Musical Fidelity’s exclusive ‘diffraction multiplier’ system.

This system is unashamedly aimed at those small environment situations where quality performance is still a must. It may not qualify as ‘Hi-Fi’ in the full sense of the word, but it is a step above the compact systems sold by many of the mass-market outlets.

The amplifier also boasts twin 24-bit/192kHz DACs and a high quality

headphone amplifier (this is based on Musical Fidelity’s excellent V90 HPA headphone amp), while inputs include USB, Bluetooth and an intriguing line-level input which can be switched between analogue and digital. And there’s a phono input, because the ‘optional extra’ add-on for Merlin is the Roundtable, a turntable selling for $1,299. At this stage we do not know a lot about this product, other than 1) it is not round (see the picture), and 2) it will sell for $1,299. One thing that I am confident about, though, is that in true Musical Fidelity tradition, it will offer great value for money!

Merlin is described as a Multi-Format Audio System... the

optional extra is the Roundtable turntable

MARANTZ

The new Marantz NA8005 Network

Audio Player atop the SA8005 CD/SACD

player and PM8005 amplifier – combining traditional hi-fi values

plus modern media playback and streaming.

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Play CDs, stream files – or do both!

Marantz has been a long-time favourite brand for us. While the company makes one of the best-sounding home theatre receivers on the market, it is the commitment to hi-fi which has endeared them to our store over the decades. They have recently released a number of products covering both genres...

One of the hallmarks of Marantz is the attention to build quality, and (as expected) the higher up the performance chain you go, the better the build quality. This is evident in the PM8005 integrated amplifier. Rated at 70 watts RMS per channel, this amplifier features six line-level inputs (including a phono for your turntable) and a pre-amp out.

Marantz PM8005 integrated amplifier

Marantz SA8005 SACD & CD player

The matching CD player for the PM8005. We have carried this unit for some time now, and it has fitted nicely into that niche where customers are looking for a good quality CD player (possibly their last) which is beautifully made, performs well, yet does not cost the earth ($2,150). Surprisingly there are not a lot of contenders out there.

The fact that it is also able to play SACD discs and that you can access the high resolution DAC independently is a bonus!

MARANTZ / NAD

+++ NAD UPDATES +++

Soundbars are hot property at the moment. Consumers are demanding better audio performance from their TV than the small speakers built into the set itself will allow. But many are now starting to question the audio performance and flexibility of soundbars as well.

NAD Electronics may just have the answer. They’ve just added ‘TV Connect’ to two compact digital amplifiers: the D3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier and the D7050

Direct Digital Networking amplifier. The amplifiers learn your TV’s remote codes for ‘power on’, ‘volume’ and ‘mute’, and can

then control TV volume seamlessly while playing through the far superior power of the NAD and attached speakers. The amplifier will even automatically select the correct input that the TV is connected to. Turn the TV off and the NAD remote operates the amplifier in the normal way.

This could be a great solution for anyone requiring better sound than the TV or a soundbar offers, and who doesn’t have the space or desire to install a full home theatre system. The NAD amplifiers are compact packages and also add all kinds of functionality when not being used for TV playback, including playing back from stored music, local analogue sources (D3020), streaming music services (D7050), Bluetooth sources (D7050) or internet radio (D7050).

The other initiative from NAD is the release of the MDC DD-BluOS Module. The brilliant Bluesound wireless streaming system was developed by NAD, even though it has come to market as a completely separate company. The BluOS module can be fitted to the NAD DD390 amplifier or Masters M12 preamp (right), effectively turning these into Bluesound-enabled devices. To be honest, if you own either of these products, do yourself a favour and invest in the MDC DD-BluOS Module, even if it is only to get to use

their streaming interface, which we believe is the best on the market!

The Ear is one of the UK’s most popular online hi-fi sites, and it has just given the NAD Masters M12 Pre-Amp DAC and the matching M22 Power Amplifier the ‘Best of 2014’ award. Interestingly the award was initially going to go to Bluesound, but they switched to the NAD pair because they now incorporate both brands. Bluesound itself now has to be content with The Ear’s ‘Best Buy’ tag!

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The latest (long awaited) piece of the 8005 suite to arrive is the matching network player. Marantz has enjoyed

considerable success with its long-running but now discontinued NA7004. While the DAB+ tuner

has disappeared from the new model (all these stations are available on internet radio), the NA8005 is superior in every

way. This unit will allow you access to your recorded music irrespective of where it is stored; it can stream from Apple products using the AirPlay system, and works with Spotify Connect to receive that music streaming service.

Like the SA8005 opposite, the high-resolution DAC can also be accessed independently via its digital inputs (one coaxial, one optical, and a USB-B port), and there is also a high quality head-phone amplifier. This is a very versatile and well-built streamer.


We announced the imminent release of both of these models in our last newsletter – only to see the release delayed at the last moment. By the time that you receive this newsletter we will have both models on our shelves.

Marantz NA8005 Network Audio Player SR6009 and SR7009 receivers

PEACHTREE

“…Nova220SE offers outstanding performance

for the money.” Hi-Fi+

“….for the modern digital audiophile (with perhaps

a burgeoning vinyl collection on the side) I cannot recommend this stunning overachiever

highly enough.” Home Theatre Review

“Even under the intensity of the Magnepan’s 2-ohm

load drops and volume levels crossing 100dB the amp stays in control. It

revels in being driven hard; this isn’t an integrated for those who enjoy listening

at whisper levels.” Tone Audio

This innovative company releases three new valve-toned amplifiers, including their most powerful ever.

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Shaking the Peachtree

The marriage of analogue and digital sources is all the rage at the moment – and I doubt that there would be a manufacturer

of amplifiers today who is not now making or considering a model to capture this market. Peachtree Audio, while not the very first to produce such an amplifier, was certainly the first to popularise the concept. The company’s initial amplifiers were ground-breaking, and they paved the way for many other companies.

The most recent releases have been taking Peachtree’s previous successes and

(significantly) improving on them. We now have three new Peachtree integrated amplifiers in stock. The iPod docks of previous models have now gone, but the performance of each of these products is appreciably better than the previous units.

Peachtree nova65SE amplifierThe smallest of the new range replaces the former Decco65. The nova65SE is a 65-watt/channel amplifier, DAC and headphone amp all rolled into one. It features five inputs – one analogue, two Toslink optical digital, one coaxial digital,


and a 24-bit/192kHz asynchronous USB input to connect with your computer or laptop. Galvanic isolation prevents any electrical noise from the digital inputs from reaching the amplifier stages.

The DAC in the nova65SE is an ESS Sabre high-resolution DAC, the first

PEACHTREE / BOSE

The hot category in our industry at the moment, and for some time in the future, is wireless streaming. For many years Sonos had this category to itself, but suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action.

In recent times we have added HEOS, Bluesound (see p31) and Naim’s mu-so to our offerings. Now Bose has just released its second series of wireless streaming products – the SoundTouch Series II. These do things differently, in a number of ways. While all streaming systems use ‘Apps’ on tablets or smartphones for control (with good reason), there is a downside – every time you want to turn the system on, change inputs, etc., you need to locate the tablet, fire it up and open the App.

Bose is no exception, with control available from tablets, smartphones or a computer. But where Bose is different is that if you habitually go back to the same source (e.g. a particular internet radio station or streaming service) it can be added to one of the six presets on the top of the speaker. This is particularly advantageous if the speaker you are using is in a different part of the house to where the tablet usually resides.

Bose also has a portable wireless speaker as part of the range, and its A/V systems are also SoundTouch enabled. So if you have (for example) a Bose Home Theatre system in your main living area it will talk to the standalone SoundTouch speakers in other parts of your home.

NAD (the parent company of Bluesound) is beginning to incorporate this idea (see p11), and both Denon and Marantz (from the same stable as HEOS) intend to introduce this wider compatability very soon, but Bose has stolen the advantage.

There are three standalone Wi-Fi Music Systems in the SoundTouch range:• SoundTouch 30 Series II – $899. The largest

wireless speaker of the three offerings, measuring 44cm wide and weighing close to 9kg, this speaker produces impressive performance thanks to Bose’s Waveguide technology.

• SoundTouch 20 Series II – $549. The smaller brother to the ’30, but still a very capable product.

• SoundTouch Portable Series II – also $549. As the name suggests this unit will operate either from mains power or via the inbuilt rechargeable battery.

Bose SoundTouch Series II

Peachtree’s nova220SE – 220W/channel, with its valve buffer glowing through the front panel.

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chipset designed from the ground up to eliminate the high levels of jitter common in computers and digital streamers. A discrete Class ‘A’ pre-amp output stage benefits from the ‘trickling down’ of circuitry developed for more expensive models, and as with many Peachtree designs, there’s a switchable valve buffer stage – part of the reason that this range is renowned for its warmth of sound. There’s also a high performance headphone amplifier.

Need Bluetooth? Peachtree offers an optional aptX-compatible Bluetooth receiver for $199, which will suit each of these integrated amplifiers.

Peachtree nova125SE amplifier As you might guess, this (main image, left) is a bigger version of the nova65SE, sharing all the same features, but with a larger power amplifier, rated at 125-watts/channel into 8 ohms, resulting in greater dynamics and finer detail.

Peachtree nova220SE amplifierThis (below) is the most powerful integrated amplifier Peachtree has ever built! Rated at 220-watts/channel, it is the only amp in the Nova series to feature a dual-mono balanced stereo configuration. As you can see from the quotes opposite, the 220SE has attracted a lot of attention around the globe.

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

The screen in the main living area can easily swivel

into ‘portrait’ orientation to

display transitioning artworks preloaded

via a flash drive.

14Like /lenwallisaudio on Facebook

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

Originally constructed in the 1950s, this recently extensively remodelled Art Deco home in an exclusive Sydney suburb offers incredible wide stretching vistas of Sydney Harbour. The home features multiple functional levels to accommodate parents, adult children and guests, as well as formal and informal

entertaining needs. This home is without a doubt one of the most unique and significant harbourside residences in Australia.

Our brief was to ensure that our audio-visual installations were effective in servicing various areas of the residence while also taking care to be sensitive

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A Delicate Balance

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

and minimalist in terms of visual impact, ensuring the overall aesthetics of the home would not be compromised. This was a classic case of a ‘less is more’ approach, by providing the benefits of modern technology and making sure they worked in harmony with the occupants’ lifestyle. Our challenge was to offer maximum flexibility with minimal visual component impact. As a result, many rooms and entertaining zones have been installed with in-ceiling, in wall or even invisible Stealth Acoustics speakers with Sonos Connect:Amps.

This allows the occupants and guests to have maximum music choice flexibility within multiple zones – whilst allowing components to be heard rather than seen.

In addition we employed RTI T1-B Remote and XP3 RF Gateway Kits to allow for all component functions including TV, source players and Foxtel to be controlled on the one remote.

We believe that the secret to this successful outcome was working closely with the client to ensure we were meeting their expectations AND being flexible and agile to accommodate changing priorities as the installation evolved and took shape.

Lower Ground Floor In this young person’s retreat (right) and rumpus room, we employed a Sharp 80” LCD television within joinery and floating frame. Hidden behind the black material are Focal Electra in-wall speakers and Focal Dome speakers. Under the bench there is a Marantz NR slim receiver, Yamaha Blu-ray Player, Sonos Connect and Sunfire powered sub. The fun continues into the


Versatile multizone music is delivered throughout the home through the use of wireless Sonos units playing through high-quality in-ceiling, in-wall, ‘stealth’ or (left) outdoor speakers

CUSTOM INSTALLATION

Rumpus Room with a pair of Focal Chorus in-wall speakers fired by a Sonos Connect:Amp.

The Living Room The main nerve centre of the house includes a substantial kitchen and dining area, which meant that AV visual entertainment needed to be minimised. One interesting feature the client requested was the ability to display artwork in digital format. For this we employed a Panasonic 42’ LED TV on an Ultralift Swivel Custom Freedom bracket that allows the screen to swivel to 90 degrees for display of portrait or landscape artworks.

The Sitting Room Just off the main living area a comfortable sitting area (left) includes a Panasonic 65” plasma screen TV, Sonos soundbar and Apple TV working seamlessly with Foxtel iQ and RTI Remote and Gateway Kit.

Master Bedroom The master bedroom includes an Ultralift Mercury Ceiling Television Lift holding a Panasonic 55” plasma screen TV. The Ultralift enables the television to be concealed in the ceiling and drop down hydraulically by remote when viewing is required. The room also features ‘invisible’ Stealth Acoustics in-wall and ceiling speakers with a Sonos Connect:Amp and Apple TV.

Our custom installation team is highly experienced in dealing with all kinds of properties, old and new, and can advise on the trickiest of installations after dealing with a wealth of previous homes large and small! Our custom installation team can be contacted through our normal telephone contacts or by email at [email protected]

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Our brief was to ensure that our audio-visual

installations were effective... but also

sensitive and minimal

PS AUDIO

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We have carried a limited range of PS Audio power conditioners in the past. But now for the first time

we are carrying an expanded range from the company, and we’re pleased to tell you more about this excellent and truly innovative brand.

1 PerfectWave Transport Memory PlayerThis is an extraordinary device, mainly because it tackles the problems associated with the mechanical limitations of CD playback in a simple and very practical way. When you play a CD on this player you are not listening to the actual CD itself. As the name of ‘Memory Player’ suggests, the player first ‘records’ the music to its on-board solid-state memory, and only then plays it back from that storage, thereby eliminating any jitter or clock issues that might be introduced by the CD mechanics.

As you would expect, you can also play high-resolution files through the PerfectWave Transport.

It is, when you think about it, a minor miracle that a normal CD mechanism works at all. Between the mechanical devices controlling the laser, the varying rotational disc speed, disc wobble and the


DAC can take just about any type of input at sample rates and bit depths to match current high-resolution standards – and it outputs pure analogue through a fully discrete output stage.

Used with any CD player or transport, the NuWave DAC can produce a seamless three-dimensional soundstage from your entire CD library. Or connected to your computer, running music management software like iTunes, BitPerfect, Amarra or JRiver with an iPhone or Android controller, the NuWave DAC becomes your centre for streaming high resolution music at the touch of a finger. Performance as well as musicality is never compromised.

PS Audio’s NuWave DAC offers three digital inputs including 192kHz asynchronous USB, utilising a Burr Brown 24-bit DAC chip and low-jitter PerfectWave clocks before a high-current Class-A output stage feeding both RCA and XLR balanced outputs. There’s a choice of 192kHz upsampling using a new high-performance upsampling engine and low jitter clocking, or ‘Native’ mode which decodes any resolution audio from 24-bit/192kHz and down with full integrity, no processing added.

errors that must be corrected for even the best CDs, getting perfect jitter-free music from your CD player is an elusive goal.

Every CD player ever built has had to rely on the same error-prone mechanical technologies, suffering the same problems as every other. The PWT Memory Player changes all that by extracting the music

from the CD (or DVD) and then placing it into the Digital Lens memory buffer. Everything you hear comes out of memory in perfect asynchronous jitter-free fashion.

PS Audio’s Perfect Transport Memory Player is priced at $4,999.

2 DirectStream DACYou know you’re on a good thing when a product wins both ‘The Absolute Sound’ and ‘Stereophile’ Product of the Year. The PS Audio DirectStream DAC, priced at $7,495, has done just that.

The DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format, including PCM and DSD, to a pure DSD stream and outputs near-perfect analogue directly to your amplifier. Whatever the format, whatever the sample rate, DirectStream is a pure DSD-based solution that fulfils the promise of performance the originators of CDs were aiming for more than 30 years ago. This is a very impressive DAC!

3 NuWave DAC While more affordable at $1,325 than the DirectStream DAC above, the NuWave DAC is still a very capable performer, giving up little in the way of features even when compared to the larger and more expensive versions. Fully asynchronous on its inputs, the NuWave

1 2

3 4

PS AUDIO

PerfectWave Power Plant 10While PS Audio manufactures many unique and high performance products, it is the ‘Power Plants’ for which the company is best known. A great deal of this fame comes from their regenerator technology which was released in 1997. Through this technology PS Audio takes your incoming AC

power and converts it to DC, similar to what comes out of a battery, and then uses that to regenerate and produce new sine-wave-perfect, regulated high-current AC power. In the process of regeneration any problems on your power line – such as low voltage, distorted waveforms, sagging power and noise – are eliminated (see panel below).

The P10 (left) is PS Audio’s biggest and best Power Plant, priced at $7,395. With five separate regenerated zones and 1500 watts of pure regenerated power, the P10 can handle any size of system you need to power. From medium to large power amplifiers to the smallest pieces of source equipment, the P10 will work magic on your system’s performance.

PerfectWave Power Plant 3 The smallest and most affordable of PS Audio’s power generating stations, the $3,995 P3 produces pure protected AC capable of powering any size of high-end

system. This state-of-the-art power centre offers fully regenerated power for all sources and smaller power amplifiers, along with a high-current filtered output that can drive even the largest power amplifiers available.

By combining the regenerated AC with a high current unrestricted filtered output for higher current power amps, PS Audio is able to deliver a cost-effective PerfectWave Power Plant that will still work its magic on your system’s performance.

GENERATORS, NOT CONDITIONERS!“PS Audio Power Plants are personal AC generators, not power conditioners,” explains the company. “Power regeneration uses active components, like those found in large and powerful audio amplifiers, to rebuild the AC power and produce clean, clear, distortion-free, regulated AC to the equipment. Instead of simple filtering, as a legacy power conditioner does, the Power Plant actually repairs the main power issues caused by the equipment itself: dynamic fluctuations. When a loud musical passage

is reproduced, the power amplifier draws more power from the wall to feed the loudspeakers. When this occurs, the voltage at the wall decreases in direct relationship with the loudness of the musical passage.

“Traditional power conditioners only worsen this already bad situation. With a Power Plant AC regenerator, dynamic voltage fluctuations are stopped completely, the power amp receiving perfectly regulated, steady AC power regardless of the demands from the power amplifier.”

19

4 NuWave Phono Converter – it’s not just for vinyl!

With the increasing interest in vinyl, no wonder many people are now looking to improve the phono stage of their system. NuWave’s is a phono stage with a difference, and an incredible piece of engineering!

The $2,395 NuWave Phono Converter is almost a new category for the high-end, as it offers both analogue and digital outputs – yes, even from vinyl! It is both a full class ‘A’ analogue phono preamplifier and a high-end asynchronous A-to-D converter that converts the phono signal to the digital domain for streaming to your DAC (or computer) in either DSD and PCM.

This conversion is not limited to turntables – the NuWave Phono Converter accepts inputs from any analogue source, from tuners to turntables, so you can input anything from an iPod to a $100,000 turntable set-up, connecting the output of the NPC directly to a DAC, computer or preamplifier.

Once connected you can play vinyl discs or any analogue source either directly into your preamplifier through the NPC’s analogue outputs, or into a DAC through the digital outputs. You can also connect the NPC to your computer and rip (record) in either double-DSD or 24-bit/192kHz PCM. This is the device you need if you’re going to build a library; it is high resolution audio at its best.

Absolute Power

BENEFITS INCLUDE:• True dynamic voltage regulation

• Better bass from equipment

• Real isolation

• Protection for everything connected

• Lowers distortion by 10 times

• Ultra-low output impedance

• Superior noise reduction

• Delayed turn on for proper start-up

• Scheduling equipment shut down and turn on saves energy

• Harmonic analyzer gives complete visibility of your power

• Real time oscilloscope gives ‘before’ and ‘after’ results

20

Focal’s ultra-thin Dimension soundbar fits perfectly in front the matching table-top subwoofer to form a platform on which your television can sit.

FOCAL

21

New Dimensions in TV sound

While Focal may be late in coming to market with a soundbar, they have obviously spent this time

doing research. The Focal ‘Dimension’ is one of the best-sounding soundbars on the market, and is priced below those that we consider to be rivals.

The Dimension is fully featured and is an ultra-thin soundbar in profile, just 65mm deep and 115mm high. Clearly the objective has been to futureproof the design for modern screens of tomorrow as well as today, and it features exceptional rigidity, having an aluminium monobloc chassis, so no vibrations will interfere with the sound, whether you choose to fit it to a wall or use it on a TV cabinet.

True 5.1The key innovation to allow this slim design is Focal’s patented high-bandwidth and ultra-thin speakers. There are five of these in the soundbar, and they result in a remarkable coherence across the audio spectrum regardless of listening position. When combined with the Dimension Sub (see below), the system incorporates an impressive 450 watts of power across six channels – for a true 5.1 experience.

The Dimension also features an intuitive touch screen which can be turned on with just a wave of the hand. And connectivity options are competitive, the easiest path

being to make a single HDMI connection with an ARC-equipped HDMI socket on your TV – this will provide all your TV sound including multichannel audio from devices (such as a Blu-ray player) that are connected to your TV. But there is also a second HDMI socket, an optical digital input, and a minijack auxiliary socket so you can plug in a smartphone or tablet (or any analogue device). You can also use this last socket to attach Focal’s optional Universal Wireless Receiver, which adds easy Bluetooth streaming from computer or smart devices, including compatibility with the higher quality aptX Bluetooth.

Focal knows your roomUnlike many other manufacturers out there, Focal is first and foremost a speaker company, and it understands the interaction between a speaker and the room it is in, well aware of the impact (usually bad) that the environment can have on the final performance.

So when you install your Dimension soundbar, you can use selectable settings on the unit itself to tell it:• whether the speaker is wall-mounted,

table-mounted or free-standing;• the distance from the speaker to your

listening position;• the acoustical style of your room

(bright, dead etc.); and• whether using a subwoofer or not.

A new kind of subFor this last option, Focal has created a matching Dimension subwoofer. But rather than the usual standalone squarish box, this subwoofer is a flat table-top unit, the same width and height as the soundbar, a perfect physical match when sitting behind it (left). Positioned in this way the two units form a platform for the screen to sit on – quite an ingenious arrangement! A considerable proportion


of people do not mount their screens on the wall, which leaves a dilemma as to where to place the soundbar, let alone a subwoofer. This is a neat and practical solution to increase the power handling of your installation while gaining deep and even bass response.

Surround or speech?Like most good soundbars the Dimension has simulated surround. However unlike most companies Focal recognises that sometimes the surround effects can reduce the intelligibility of voices – and after all, the single biggest reason for people to buy a soundbar is because they have difficulty hearing the spoken word. So there is an option on the Dimension to reduce the surround effects, thereby improving voice reproduction.

The Focal Dimension sells for $1,699, and the subwoofer is $699.

The Aria range of loudspeakers has been a worldwide runaway success for Focal – so much so that stock has been almost impossible to find over the last few months. Focal has also announced that walnut has been discontinued in the Aria range. This will be replaced sometime in the future – but we don’t yet know by what, or when.

JULY 31-AUG 2 I SYDNEY SHOWGROUND

ExpEriEncE lifE-Enhancing tEchnology at australia’s

nEw tEch EvEnt!

w www.chestergroup.org e [email protected]

There is someThing for everyone aT new-Tech!

audio

PhoTo & imaging car audio home

TheaTre

science & fuTure Tech

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tEchnology towarDs toMorrow

Images for illustration purposes only

CHORD HUGO

The portable Hugo headphone amp/DAC is just 2cm deep yet fits in five inputs (including Bluetooth) and some impressive high-tech high-res audio abilities.

23

Meet Hugo – and Hugo TTL

en Wallis Audio is not a Chord dealer, but when the opportunity came along to stock their range of Hugo products, we jumped at

it. There is growing interest in high-quality portable audio – Astell & Kern is a great example of this. Despite their premium pricing (quality rarely comes cheap), the A&K range of portable digital players has been an outstanding success all around the world.

Chord Electronics is eyeing off this market with Hugo. The original Hugo (above) is a small high quality headphone amplifier/DAC, which is also portable. But being portable and small does not mean it is limited in performance – as a DAC, Hugo has won numerous awards and test

shoot-outs against more conventional component DACs. As a headphone amp/DAC combination there is little to rival it, and I understand Chord has sold in excess of 10,000 units to date.

The review by the UK’s What hi-Fi? magazine concluded “The Hugo is nothing less than a stunning achievement – a multi-talented device that will transform your music listening so much you’ll wonder what you ever did without it.”

The Chord Hugo sells for $2,800, and its list of attributes is impressive. • It can be used in both mobile and

home applications. • It features five digital inputs –


including aptX Bluetooth. • It plays all file types, including DSD

128 and 384kHz PCM. • The battery has 10-hour playback,

with a 2-hour recharge time.• You can connect three pair of

headphones at a time.• It can be used as a high performance

digital pre-amplifier.

AND THERE’S MOREBuoyed by the success of Hugo, Chord Electronics has now expanded the range, announcing the smaller 2Qute DAC, and the larger tabletop Hugo TT.

Hugo TT DAC/Headphone amp. In this case Chord has taken Hugo and fed it steroids. The Hugo TT (Table Top) is larger in size, has greater connectivity (including a USB-B input and XLR outputs) and higher resolution playback (supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz files). A remote has been added.

Most importantly the Hugo TT is an improvement sonically on the smaller sibling, justifying its $6,200 price tag.

2Qute DAC. This is essentially a stripped-down non-portable version of the Hugo – in an even smaller chassis – designed for situations where portability is not a requirement. Price is $2,200.

SECONDHAND

Most of our clients are aware that we have a secondhand department. To many it is a source of

good quality audio at inexpensive prices. At any time we have everything you need to put together a quality system – speakers, CD players, A/V receivers,

subwoofers, projectors and more are all represented.

Some are close to new, some are audiophile brands such as Krell or Classé, and some are collectable items from decades ago. All the items have been checked, and all are warranted for 90 days. All offer great value.

However, there is another side to this department. Technology moves on, and many of our customers like to improve the systems that they own. The question is what to do with their existing system or components. There are not many options – pass it down to family members, market it through online sites such as Gumtree, or trade it in against new equipment. This last is an option that an increasing number of our clients are taking – which is evidenced by the burgeoning quantity of secondhand items that we currently have in stock!

There is another avenue for disposing of your equipment. Len Wallis Audio has an initiative called ‘Old Hi-Fi – New Life’. There is a home for most things, so if you have saleable equipment that you are no longer using, but are not in the market for something new to trade it in for, you can donate it to us. We test it, service it if necessary, and then sell it through our secondhand department and give the money raised to Variety – the Children’s Charity. We have been doing this for a while now, and to date have raised over $10,000 for this very worthy cause. Variety does some wonderful work, and it’s better than leaving good gear on the verge for council clean-up!

OLD HI-FI – NEW LIFE Trade in your secondhand gear

– for a good cause!

We have a secondhand section on our website where you can see some of the products we have available — but the best of them can go quickly, so it’s worth visiting to see what’s just arrived!

24

BOSE

The SoundLink® Colour Bluetooth speaker is a completely new SoundLink® design from Bose – but it’s still every inch

a SoundLink®. It weighs just 0.56kg and measures 12.7cm wide, 5.3cm deep and 13.5cm high, small enough to fit easily into a handbag, knapsack – or into the palm of your hand.

Bose has combined exclusive dual-opposing passive radiators with two high-efficiency transducers for full-range sound, including deep low-note performance. With its size and performance, the

Bose shows its Colours

SoundLink® Colour speaker is a small wonder, making out-loud listening undeniably portable, powerful and fun.

It’s also so easy to use, you’ll be listening in no time. It connects wirelessly to a smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth-enabled device, and uses voice prompts – available in several languages – to simplify set-up and identify which source is connected. Turn it off, and the SoundLink® Colour speaker remembers

the last eight devices paired when powered back on, and then automatically connects to the two most recently used, whether your iPhone, iPad, Android or other Bluetooth-enabled device. It’s easy to switch back and forth without having to disconnect, reconnect and re-pair.

Essential controls are all on the product, and for added versatility a 3.5mm stereo auxiliary input is integrated on the back of the enclosure.

Available in black, white, ‘mint’, red or blue, the SoundLink® Colour connects by Bluetooth or by cable into its auxiliary input.


AUDIO PHYSIC BREAKING NEWS

Midrange 5.9”

Tweeter 30.5mm

Mid/bass 5.9”

1st woofer 7”

2nd woofer 7”

Sennheiser HD700 headphones now reduced to $999. Previously regarded as being good value at $1,199, these audiophile headphones now represent excellent value at $999.

THOR SMART TVIQDuring the last few years we have witnessed an increasing number of electrical storms, and as a consequence we have also seen an upsurge in components with burnt out power supplies – in particular TVs. The Thor Smart TViQ is a power cord with a built-in filtration and surge protection. The advantages of this are two-fold. The filtration will aid performance at all times, reducing pixelation, blurring, interference lines etc. More importantly the TViQ offers protection from power surges.

So how confident are Thor that this will work?1. The unit comes with a 6-year

free replacement warranty, and2. They offer a $500,000 connected

equipment warranty.

Although this unit is being marketed as an accessory for TV, there is no reason why it could not be used for notebooks, desktop computers, Blu-ray players etc. And it is an Australian company! Priced at just $199.

26

Built with a difference

Our admiration for Audio Physic is no secret. Recently we received their ‘Classic 30’, which is the largest and most

innovative of their Classic range. We have spent a considerable time listening to them (and running them in) and as always they have come up trumps.

They will not suit every listener (or system) as they are unforgiving of flaws in the system – or recordings – but that

is the mark of a good speaker. At the same time if you take care putting your system together they can be less fatiguing and more rewarding to listen to than many of the alternatives at this price point, without becoming dull and uninteresting. Set them up correctly and you can throw any type of music at them – and reap the results.

One of the great attributes of Audio Physic speakers is their bass. Not that they go lower or are tighter than many of the alternatives, but the bass of an Audio Physic is always tuneful. The Audio Physic bass follows the rest of the music (this is much rarer than you may think) and does not, as we hear so often, sound disjointed from the other speakers in the cabinet. It is probably not until you hear the result that you fully understand what we are talking about.

The bass arrangement in the Classic 30 is somewhat unusual (see diagram). There are two 7” bass drivers in a ‘push-pull’ configuration housed in their own enclosure – which in turn is housed within the speaker chassis. These are ported downwards through a sizeable vent at the base of the speaker. While we have seen similar approaches in subwoofer designs, we have never seen it in a full-range speaker – but it works.

The mid/bass, mid and tweeter also have their own airtight chambers, and the external cabinet walls are constructed from three layers with resonant behaviour characteristics, resulting in a very rigid structure not prone to resonance.

The Classic 30 comes in a huge range of colour options, ranging from standard timber finishes through to a rainbow of high-gloss glass finishes including Fluoro Green, Maranello Red and Caramel Brown.

The Classic 30 ranges in price from $6,900 to $8,200 depending on finish.


12345

2

3

1

4 5

VAULT

Rip it. Store it. Stream it. Hold everything.Stop wasting power by leaving your computer on to access your digital music library. Rips audio CDs in lossless FLAC. Stores terabytes of high resolution audio on low power, low heat (acoustically quiet) hard drives. Shareable access point to all other devices on the same network (including your computer).

WIRELESSLY INTUITIVEControl your music in every room with your Android™ device, iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad™, Mac OS, Windows and Kindle Make your smart device into a Bluesound Commander and control all your Bluesound players with one touch. Simply download the apps for free on the iTunes App Store or Android Market™.

Hi Fi for a New Wireless Generation

/bluesoundauFor more information call Australian Distributor Convoy International on 02 9666 0700 or visit convoy.com.au

BLUESOUND_AUSHIFI_MARCH2015.indd 1 10/02/2015 8:56 am

SPECIALS

SPECIALS RETAIL SELL

Aktimate Micro computer speaker

$430 $349

Arcam rCube - portable iPod speaker - display model

$798 $499

rPAC - USB digital-to-analogue converter

$299 $229

B&W DS8 Rear Speakers $6,999 $3,900

Bose Lifestyle 525 Series11 Home Theatre System - display model

$3,899 $2,999

Lifestyle 535 Series11 Home Theatre System - display model

$4,899 $3,799

Lifestyle 135 Series11 Home Theatre System - display model

$3,699 $2,799

SoundTouch 30 Series 1 Wireless Speaker

$899 $699

SoundTouch 20 Series 1 Wireless Speaker

$549 $399

SoundTouch Portable Series 1 Wireless Speaker

$549 $399

Cocktail Audio X-10 network and music streamer

$699 $499

X-30 network and music streamer

$1,899 $1,299

Bryston BDA-2 digital-to-analogue converter

$3,199 $2,399

ERA PL24 speakers $1,599 $799

PL28.5 speakers $1,998 $999

Focal 836VW floor-standing loudspeakers - display model

$4,699 $3,699

SW800v subwoofer $1,999 $1,599

SR1000Be rear speakers $6,999 $4,999

Cache IC206 in-wall speakers (pr.)

$999 $699

Spirit One headphones $299 $199

The following equipment is available as we go to press at special pricing – this includes units used for display and demonstration (as marked on the list below). Availability is limited, so call us first to avoid disappointment! – 02 9427 6755.

$8,490

$7,299


Kaleidescape CD/DVD/Blu-ray server - demo unit

$4,999 $3,800

Krell S275 power amp - demo unit

$7,699 $5,999

2250 power amp - demo unit

$10,999 $7,999

402e power amp - demo unit

$25,999 $18,995

Phantom 111 pre-amp - demo unit

$6,995 $4,999

S550i 270-watt integrated amplifier - demo unit

$7,995 $6,895

Linn Sweetspot in-ceiling speakers

$429 $329

Lehmann RhineLander headphone amp - display model

$799 $599

Loewe Air Speaker iPod speaker

$1,199 $899

Sound Box iPod speaker $899 $699

Reference Electrostatic speakers/Reference Subwoofer - demo

$11,998 $3,000

Marantz NR1604 A/V receiver $1,150 $799

NR1504 A/V receiver $840 $699

Meridian DSP5000 digital active speakers - demo model

$14,500

$7,999

Explorer DAC - demo model

$499 $299

Director DAC $799 $599

Musical Fidelity M6Pre/M6Pwr Pre and Power amplifier combination

$8,490 $7,299

M6i integrated amplifier - silver finish

$4,295 $3,495

M3I integrated amplifier $1,895 $1,595

M1Clic Music Streamer $1,999 $1,499


SPECIALS


XT100/PSU amplifier/power supply

$2,499 $1,599

NAD C356Bee Integrated Amp - titanium finish

$999 $799

M2 Direct-Digital integrated amplifier

$6,999 $4,999

M50 CD/Music Streamer - display model

$2,499 $1,999

M52 Digital Music Vault $2,499 $1,895

T175HD A/V pre-amplifier - display model

$3,999 $1,999

Viso1 iPod Speaker - display model

$699 $399

Peachtree Grand Pre pre-amplifier - demo model

$4,199 $2,699

Nova Pre preamplifier $1,499 $1,099

DAC:iT digital-to-analogue converter

$599 $399

iDAC digital-to-analogue converter - demo model

$999 $699

Nova125 integrated amp - demo model

$2,149 $1,699

Music Box/MB3 music system - with free Bluetooth adaptor

$999 $699

Proficient AW830 outdoor speakers

$1,199 $899

AW650 outdoor speakers - black only

$799 $599

AW525 outdoor speakers

$599 $399

AW400 outdoor speakers

$499 $299

R800 Sandstone ‘Rock’ outdoor speakers

$795 $499

R650 Sandstone ‘Rock’ outdoor speakers

$595 $429

C645 in-ceiling speakers

$849 $499


$549 $299


$399 $249

W850 in-wall speakers $995 $549



PS10 10” 225watt subwoofer

$799 $499

PS Audio UPS1500 power supply - demo model

$1,499 $950

Pure Audio Sensia 2000 DAB+ network radio - demo model

$499 $399

The Record Doctor V If you care about your records (and let’s face it, if you didn’t then you wouldn’t be reading this), the Record Doctor Series V will keep them in tip-top condition, ensuring they’re free of dust and grime. Even better, by keeping them clean you’ll enjoy better sound, better longevity and better life from your needle. This really is a must-have.

Record Doctor V has a vacuum motor and vacuum cleaning strip – the same principle as commercial machines. It also features a precision roller bearing to make records spin easily, and a handy storage tank for the easy removal of spent record-cleaning fluids. The Record Doctor V comes complete with a fluid applicator bottle, applicator brush, and illustrated cleaning instructions. Don’t spin another disc till you’ve checked out the Record Doctor V – in store now for $330!


Speakercraft SLS One on-wall speakers (pr)

$1,198 $499

SLS Two on-wall speakers (pr)

$2,798 $799

Aim10 One 10” in-ceiling speakers

$2,499 $1,199

Profile CRS3 in-ceiling speakers

$449 $149

WH5.5R in-ceiling speakers

$349 $269

Accufit CRS7 One slimline in-ceiling speakers

$499 $349

AIM7 MT One in-wall speakers

$599 $399

Accufit IW7 One slimline in-wall speakers

$550 $399

OE5One outdoor speakers

$499 $299

OE5Three outdoor speakers

$699 $499

OE8Three outdoor speakers

$1,099 $799

Ruckus 5 ‘Rock’ 0utdoor speakers

$599 each

$399 each

Tantra TS10 subwoofer $2,399 $999

TS12 subwoofer $3,199 $1,299

Yamaha A-S500 integrated amplifier

$799 $639

A-S700 integrated amplifier

$1,099 $849

CD-S2000 CD player $2,899 $1,999

BREAKING NEWS

29

4K BLU-RAY

30

4K Blu-Ray is “officially” coming to town – that was the announcement from Victor Matsuda, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) Global Promotions Committee at the 2015 CES early this year. The BDA has promised that the specs for 4K (Ultra HD) Blu-ray will be locked in by June 2015, paving the way for commercial availability by the end of the year – theoretically.

For consumers this means that we may see actual 4K Blu-ray movies and players available in stores by Christmas… although it’s probably more realistic to see them start to appear in force about halfway through 2016.


So why does 4K Blu-ray matter? True 4K content is an essential fix to the cart-before-the-horse problem with the increasing availability of 4K TVs in the Australian market. These new televisions, like the Panasonic we previewed on p4 of this issue, certainly look fantastic. They are

So what can we expect from these new discs? The science behind the disc size expansion remains a closely guarded secret, but we do know they will range from 66GB capacity (dual layer Blu-rays) up to 100GB (triple layer).

The big selling point will be the jump to proper 4K resolution (3840 × 2160p), which is akin to putting everything in much sharper focus. You’re getting four times the resolution – but it’s not just resolution that matters. We can also expect 4K Blu-ray to support higher frame rates (up to 60fps, making for much more enjoyable slow-mo for example). More importantly, in our view, we’ll be enjoying an expanded colour gamut along with high dynamic range (HDR), as well as HEVC/H.265 encoding to compress 4K movies more efficiently and allow for higher bit rates.

For the viewer this means better dynamic range in pictures. The new disc format will increase the bit depth for each pixel from 8 to 10, meaning that a greater range between bright and dark can be

Will we need new players?Yes, we sure will! At the CES in Las Vegas recently Panasonic had a model on display – these future players will be standalone

Panasonic’s 65-inch AX900A 4K TV – looks great, but where’s the content?

technically four-times sharper than current Full-HD Blu-rays can deliver.

Yet we’ve still got next to nothing to watch in actual native Ultra HD. Right up to the time of writing this, 4K delivery systems have failed to appear locally. Both Sony and Samsung were meant to have content delivery in place by now but really haven’t delivered on this promise… American streaming service Netflix is due to launch in Australia in March of this year, but realistically this service is only going to work for those of us who are lucky to have consistent 15 to 20Mbps internet speeds – which rules out just about everyone on existing ADSL services. And with question marks hanging over exactly how the NBN will roll out, we could be waiting years before we see a big lift in the hard line access speeds needed.

Many think streaming is the future – and we don’t disagree. But if you want the absolute ‘best of the best’ in terms of image and sound quality (and don’t want to wait another 10 years or more for our internet speeds to get anywhere near the rest of the western world), the proposed 4K Blu-rays are going make the 4K TV experience worthwhile.

new models with much greater processing power than the current generations. The H.265 Codec will feature over the previous H.264 used by current players, as it can greatly reduce file size while improving motion synchronisation. The most important thing to remember here is that that these players will be able to push more than 100Mbps of data through the pipe to the screen – pictures and sound have the potential to be vastly superior to file streaming over the internet. As for manufacturer support for the new Blu-ray format, it has been confirmed that new player will work with TVs with HDMI 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. Additionally, players will be backward compatible, able to play a standard Blu-ray or a DVD.

BLU-RAY

4K IS COMING TO TOWN

4K BLU-RAY / BLUESOUND DEMO

What about audio? This remains somewhat of a mystery, but we are sure that Dolby Digital, TrueHD and the many variants will be in tow, and it’s a given that the new Dolby Atmos standard will appear on the Ultra HD Blu-ray. Disney, Fox, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. are all represented on the BDA board and have now all endorsed the new format.

ON TUESDAY THE 31ST OF MARCH from 6.30pm onwards at our showroom we will be holding a special demonstration night for Bluesound Audio. The night will feature all of the Bluesound product range.

Come along and see the Bluesound range in action and understand more about how you could use its wireless streaming technology in conjunction with your existing system.

Representatives from Bluesound will be on hand to demonstrate the product range and answer any questions you may have.

Of course our usual excellent finger-food and drinks will be available for those in attendance on the night!

If you can make it to this special evening please phone us on 02 9427 6755 or email [email protected] and leave your name and contact details.

TUESDAY MARCH 31

BLUESOUND DEMONSTRATION NIGHT

31

Increasing the number of layers inside the new Blu-rays will increase storage capacity for 4K movies

recorded by the studios, enhancing both darker and lighter shades. In addition we’ll see a much wider range of colours by taking advantage of a new protocol called BT.2020, which will offer more than double the available colour spectrum that we’ve become used to with current HD viewing.

Experience Dolby Atmos® from Yamaha.

Discover the future of entertainment with the latest in state-of-the-art cinema sound now available in your home.

au.yamaha.com

RX-A3040 RX-A2040

from Yamaha

len wallis audio headlines autumn 2015

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