INSIDE FANTASTIC OFFERS ON THE BEST HI-FI & HOME THEATRE PRODUCTS $4.

95 Vol 2 Issue 3 2009

Custom
Concepts
Enjoy your favourite
music in any room
at any time.

Coming
Attractions
Time for some new gear?
Check out the hottest new
A/V gadgets and gear.

The Best
of British
Rediscover your music
with fantastic Made in
England Hi-Fi Gear.
 C O M M E N T

From the Newsdesk

evoted music lovers constantly seek So, how do we view and action your needs?

D ways to improve the experience of

hearing reproduced music.
Amplifiers are upgraded, digital processors
are compared, turntables are tweaked,
loudspeaker cables are auditioned and yes,
magazines are read—all in the quest to get
just a little closer to the music.
Quality audio is not a rational construct. It is
a sensory experience that, if done correctly,
leads to emotional engagement. In slightly
different words: Quality audio is not about a
concept, but about the experience of having
our emotions engaged. The difference
between reading about a quality audio
system and hearing great recordings played
on one is almost as big as the difference
between reading a love poem and falling in
love!
So does this mean that selecting a good
system or additional component has to be a
complex affair, or that you have to be some
sort of audio geek to get it right? Absolutely
not! Choosing your next Hi-Fi Stereo or
Surround Sound system should be a
pleasurable and fun experience and even
more so when one considers that products
today offer more performance for less
money than at any time in audio history!
Here are some of the ways:
• We believe that we have to “become the
customer” by listening to their require-
ments before making recommendations.
• Spend his or her money as if it were our
own.
• Not take the customer's money unless
we would be willing to listen to or watch
that system and no other all the days of
our life.
Advising people how to spend money to
bring music more deeply into their lives is a
sacred trust. We don't just go for the quick
buck, but rather keep the faith by doing
whatever is necessary to provide long-term
satisfaction and value.
Why Choose Us?
We are a lot more than an electronics
equipment retailer. We are dedicated audio
and visual enthusiasts and know our
products and how they best work together.
So now it is up to you! We've got all the
good gear and solutions along with all the
passion and know-how to make your next
purchase really stand out and deliver
exceptional performance.

VOLUME TWO ISSUE THREE Inside this Edition...

Custom Concepts Digital Radio The Best of British

Invisible speakers, inceiling
speakers, call them what you like
but more and more of us are turning
to these products as a solution to
speaker placement... and not just
as rears or in multi-room systems.
There are dozens of manufacturers
and even more models. We’ll help
you get it right and keep the whole
technology thing under control.
See page 9.
Digital radio is a new, exciting and
involving way for listeners to tune
into their favourite radio stations.
Offering an exceptionally high sound
and signal quality, digital radio offers
a range of exciting features to
enhance your listening experience.
Followers of AM Radio are going to
be blown away as finally they will
enjoy “crackle free” performance!
See page 17.
Arcam, Audiolab, Creek, Imerge,
Meridian, Mordaunt-Short, Rega,
Rel and Sugden all have one thing
in common – they are all top British
electronics firms who actually both
design and manufacture their
products in the United Kingdom!
Hard to believe, but true. So, if you
have been looking for an
alternative to Asia, then your
search begins on page 18.

the HI-FI magazine

 AV N E W S
HDMI 1.4 Spec
Unveiled
T
he licensing agency for the HDMI digital
connection standard recently unveiled
the HDMI version 1.4 specifications,
which among other things will enable bi-
directional communication allowing networking
capabilities with Ethernet devices and upstream
audio transmissions.
HDMI 1.4 includes an HDMI Ethernet Channel
(HEC) enabling data transfers of up to
100Mbps between supported connected
devices, said the HDMI LLC, the agent
responsible for licensing HDMI specifications.
The bi-directional connection allows a
broadband-connected television using
its HEC-enabled HDMI port to provide Internet
connection sharing with another HEC-enabled
device, such as a game console or DVR. The
new HDMI 1.4 cables will be offered in two
performance levels of low- and high-data rates.
Other key new features include an Audio Return
Channel (ARC) that allows broadcast audio to
be easily streamed back to an external amplifier
for processing, eliminating the need for an extra
cable in cases where HDTVs are directly
receiving audio and video content.
The connection will permit for the first time
“Internet connection sharing, and device-to-
device content distribution — so a user can, for
example, get content from a video camera,
through the TV and up to a DVR to store it
there,” said Steve Venuti, HDMI LLC president,
“or you can get Internet content streaming into
the TV and send it up to a storage device and
copy it there.” The format will also enable
recording and copying non-
content protected
signals over
HDMI.
THE VERDICT
Consumers can expect to see new HDMI 1.4
cables introduced to the market when new
HDMI 1.4 devices become available,
including the standard HDMI cable which will
support data rates up to 1080i/60; and the
high-speed HDMI cable which will support
data rates beyond 1080p, including Deep
Color and all 3-D formats. By the end of 2009,
100 percent of new digital televisions are
expected to have at least one HDMI input.
See page 19 for more info on HDMI.
the HI-FI magazine
Consumer confidence in electronics spending up
onsumer confidence in the overall
C economy spiked recently, the
Consumer Electronics
Association said, and buyers continue to
feel more confident about future spending on
technology and consumer electronics.
One index, which measures consumers’
confidence in the overall economy, rose nearly
six points over the month, to 174.6 in May – its
highest level since February 2008 and up
more than 11 points, year-over-year.
“We see significant indications that consumers
Tivoli Jazzes up its
NetWorks Internet
Radio
ivoli Audio didn’t announce any new
T
products at its annual showcase this
year in New York, but it did reveal lots of
new looks, in fact 13 new finishes for its
NetWorks Internet Radio.
The new finishes are broken down into three
groups: Texture Collection (four options); Colour
Collection (six options); and Cappellini, which
features three hand-lacquered finishes created
by Italian furniture designer Giulio Cappellini
(Tivoli will also make its original Model One
tabletop AM/FM mono radio available in
Cappellini finishes). The newly finished radios
do look beautiful up close and Tivoli is
undoubtedly positioning NetWorks as an
interior-design accessory. In other words,
picture these guys in trendy lofts and other chic
abodes and you’ll get an idea where the
company is headed with this colourful move.
Tivoli Audio continues to make firmware
upgrades to its existing NetWorks radio and are
now supplying them with DAB+, the standard
for Digital Radio in Australia. The new models
should be available within the next couple of
months.
believe an economic recovery is underway,”
said Shawn DuBravac, director of research
and an economist for the CEA. “Consumers
are showing increasing signs of optimism as
both their outlook for the economy and their
personal financial health improve.”
Another index, which measures consumer
confidence in technology and consumer
electronics, reached 81.1, its highest level of
the year and an increase of nearly four points
from last month and up nearly 8 percent over
the same time last year.
The Great
Audio Experience
ith the transition to digital
W
over-the air TV nearing
completion and Blu-ray
players proliferating, consumers are
quickly becoming accustomed to
crystal clear high-definition video. Now,
research shows that consumers are
caring more about what they hear than
what they see, and CE companies are
responding: the 2009 International CES
was the launching ground for several
new audio technologies and even more
is in the works for coming years.
CEA market research finds 67 percent
of consumers say audio is an important
part of their lives, and that the quality of
the audio they play is more important
than other aspects, such as how easy it
is to access from a portable device.
“The data suggest the desire for
something better,” says Steve Koenig,
director of industry analysis at CEA. He
adds, “The consumer landscape is
fertile ground for higher-definition audio
content.”
On average, he notes, consumers
spend 2.5 hours per week listening to
some form of audio at home....the
primary listening areas in the home are
home theatre rooms, dens or recreation
rooms.
“What’s interesting is the artistic
progression of the medium into the
future,” declares Tomlinson Holman, a
professor of sound...and a founder (with
George Lucas) of THX Ltd, the audio
technology and certification company.
Make sure your audio performance is
reaching its potential. Naturally, we can
help!
 F E AT U R E

Vinyl Rules!
Remember the old record player you
put in the shed or out for the hard
garbage 20 years ago? Well, vinyl is
again back in the groove! Our Eastern European friends not only stuck
with vinyl, but have continued to develop new
turntables. Pro-Ject’s manufacturing facility in
inyl records are no longer a thing of

V the past! The full circle has turned and

what many assumed was “dead”
technology has been rediscovered by both the
Litovel, situated to the east of Prague is one of
the most advanced manufacturers of precision
mechanics and produce Hi-Fi products that
are simple, uncluttered and utterly functional –
baby boomers and generation X – both being
and very reasonably priced! In the true spirit of
avid music fans. Vinyl, as it is affectionately
audio, Pro-Ject turntables are all manually
referred to by advocates, will never completely
operated – however a tone arm lift is included!
die. Despite being dethroned by cassette
tapes, bludgeoned by CDs and pummelled by
MP3s, vinyl records are still out there and the NEW!
people who love them are rabidly enthusiastic
about the medium and firmly believe that
records ‘sound’ better than both CD and MP3
devices. So, what’s on offer?

Denon has been involved in the recorded

music industry for over 60 years and included
has been a plethora of excellent turntable
devices and is probably the reason that they
have always enjoyed good sales. Their latest
offering is the DP-300F, a fully automatic belt
drive turntable that features a straight tone arm
and diecast aluminium platter all formed in a
slim, textually attractive and elegant design.
Available in Black or Premium Silver and price
is only $699 including a MM Cartridge and
phono pre-amp. More information
www.audioproducts.com.au
Pro-Ject Debut III... $579
The Pro-Ject Debut III is a refinement of the
series and includes a headshell and tone arm
formed from a single aluminium work-piece. It
has a steel platter and felt mat and comes
complete with Ortofon Cartridge. This is a
great performing product and is very simple to
use. Also includes Perspex lid. Price: $579

Pro-Ject RPM 5... $999

This is a very serious product and offers great

Denon DP-300F Turntable... $699
performance in a very stylish presentation!
The Pro-Ject RPM 5 has a conical carbon
armtube; an MDF platter with cork mat and
decouples the motor to reduce vibration.
Price is $999.
More info: www.project-audio.com

Keeping The Record Clean There are a number of good quality record
cleaning products available. Some are carbon
fibre brushes (as illustrated) which sell for
under $30, while others are a little more
sophisticated and include record “baths” and
record cleaning machines. Make sure you
keep your valuable records clean!
 F E AT U R E

Vinyl Rules! NEW! Thorens

What started as a simple and
inexpensive turntable design
for a chain of Hi-Fi shops in the
UK gave birth to one of the
legends in the Turntable business. That was
nearly 40 years ago and today British
Manufacturer – and yes they are totally made
in Britain – still produce a range of Turntables
suitable for both the budget conscious and
audiophile alike.
Rega P1... $599 NEW!
Rega P3-24
The inspiration for the design of the P3 - 24 did
not come from an evolution of the last model.
Rather it came from re visiting the virtues of
the original Rega Planar 3 turntable – the
product that got things started in a big way so
many years ago. These virtues gave us our
design brief.
The P3 - 24 uses the same very high quality
low vibration motor, which is used in the more
expensive P5 & 9 turntables. The clever
controlling circuitry can be adjusted for phase
angle of the motor coils resulting in very low
vibration levels from the complete motor
assembly. Prices start from $1299 plus
cartridge. More info: www.rega.co.uk
A great-sounding turntable doesn’t have to be
complicated to set up and maintain. The belt-
drive Thorens TD190-1 demonstrates that
getting maximum enjoyment from your LPs has
nothing to do with technical studies and time-
consuming adjustments. Designed for simple,
straightforward operation, the TD-190-1 boasts
an automatic operation function and will also
play 33s, 45s & 78s, it strikes a nice balance,
approaching the convenience of CDs but
offering the musicality of analog.
Thorens TD190/1
... $795

Ever proud of its reputation as a defender of

This cute little box from NAD is just the trick if your amplifier has no proper turntable input or
high quality sounds at great prices, Rega is
has one, but is of a low standard which is the ‘norm’ nowadays. NAD is famous for quality
delighted to announce its new progeny, the
‘analogue’ sound and the PP-2 & PP-3 (with USB output)
Rega P1 turntable. This is another simple, but
phono preamplifiers are based on successful products first designed
elegant product and comes complete with MM
more than 35 years ago. Either one will transform the performance of
Cartridge. Price: $599.
your treasured record collection! Price PP-2 $199; PP-3 $299.
 Custom
Concepts

nvisible speakers, inceiling speakers, call

I them what you like but more and more of

us are turning to these products as a
solution to speaker placement...and not just as
rears or in multi-room systems. There are
dozens of manufacturers and even more
models. We’ll help you get it right and keep
the whole technology thing under control.

Boston Outdoor Freedom

Beer with good friends…and some great
music to complete the scene. Boston
Acoustics have been a leader in outdoor
speakers for what is seemingly forever. There
are a number of models from entry level to top-
of-the-range
monsters.
Marantz GenevaSound CD & iPod
Multi Zone Amplifier Music System
Boston
Voyager 7 Specifically designed as a simple solution for The GenevaSound XL is a very powerful
those who want to extend high quality audio complete stereo system, crafted in a single
from their main listening room to rooms in the wood cabinet and finished in a choice of high
Niles CM Custom Series home, the Marantz ZS-5300 brings excellence gloss piano lacquers. With its built-in stereo
to the distributed audio category, with a full 60 tweeters, woofers and 8 inch subwoofers and
Niles entered the loudspeaker marketplace in W RMS output from each of its six channels. It powered by a 600-watt high fidelity digital
1988. Each speaker line is designed to will direct up to three separate sources to three amplifier, it will deliver a stunning sound
achieve the finest in audio reproduction for a different rooms or zones. Need even more performance, allowing you experience your
specific application and Niles engineers coverage? Simply use up to three ZS-5300s for music in new ways.
explicitly design each speaker to deliver nine-zone capability. Party Mode lets you send The Geneva XL is a
outstanding value and the same signal throughout your home. An very versatile system
Niles CM730DSFX RC5 remote connection, local input capability, that plays CD’s,
performance in a
particular situation. and 12 V ‘trigger’ outputs complete the list of iPod’s* and all
Illustrated is the custom-friendly features. Price: $1499 genres of music very
CM730DSFX, one well and can support
of over twenty a very large room
different in-wall size. Your music will
and in-ceiling sound better than
solutions. ever. Price: $3499
GenevaSoundXL... $3499
Marantz ZS-5300... $1499
*iPod is a Registered Trade Mark of the Apple Corporation
Sonance
Architectural Series X8 Bell’o Pro-10E Cabinet
Stealth Acoustics
Truly Invisible Speakers This beautiful timber cabinet is available in a
This flush-mount loudspeaker line perfectly
highly polished Espresso finish with stainless
aligns the plane of the speaker grille with the
You are invited to experience the freedom steel accents. The doors have dark tempered
plane of the wall. Mounted into the
of invisibility. With Stealth Acoustics safety glass to hide 6 or more audio video
architectural surface, the speaker becomes all
products you can have dynamic full range components and includes a Cable Management
but invisible. Select whichever shape and
audio placed where it needs to be without System to hide wires and provide for ventilation.
finish visually and
regard to the architectural conflicts that can This cabinet is shipped assembled.
geometrically compliments
the surrounding space sometimes occur with conventional in-wall
without compromising the and floor standing speakers. How does it
demand for audiophile work? Essentially these speakers are
quality speaker installed as part of the plaster wall – the
performance. front baffle looks like plaster and once
installed can be painted in with the wall
Sonance X8 making them truly invisible. We haven’t
included a picture…because there is
absolutely nothing to see! Bell’o Pro-10E...$1499

the HI-FI magazine

 Coming Attractions
Time to Upgrade? Here’s a look at the hottest new A/V gadgets and gear.
Sim2 Projector
The stunning video quality offered by
the SIM2 Domino series of projectors
is a wide-known truth. Italian
manufacturer Sim2 has extended its range with
the unveiling of the latest and very exciting
D60 Projector. It is a DLP front projection
system and boasts the latest Texas
Instruments 1080p DarkChip3™
technology which delivers
a truly incredible picture.
With brilliant colour and
contrast technology, the
D60 offers accurate
colour rendition,
fascinating brightness
and powerful contrast. It
is living up to the SIM2
reputation of offering
unparalleled home
DVDO Edge
DVDO, the industry leader in video
processing systems and video
processing semiconductors, has begun
shipping its new award-winning video processor
and A/V hub, DVDO EDGE™. EDGE has already
been selected for two prestigious industry
awards. Industry trade magazine Custom
Retailer has given the Excite! Award for product
innovation to EDGE, and EDGE was also named
one of the “Top Ten Coolest Products” at CEDIA
Expo by the New York Times Company’s
About.com website.
DVDO Edge...
Limited Offer $1199 Save $300
Thor Smart Power Board
Most A/V systems have many components which
are usually connected to the power by a power
board. But, is your power board protecting your
investment? The Thor A12 Smart Power Board
will! Its unique Dynamic Active Tracking™
the HI-FI magazine
cinema projection systems with spectacular
design and unmatched performance. The user-
friendly interface comes with three preset
modes and a wide array of simple options.
The D60’s compact body and infallible output
belies its reasonable price tag of just $6,999.
Sim2 D60... $6999
“We are very pleased with the early response to
EDGE,” says Baptiste Marmorat, DVDO Director
of Worldwide Sales, Systems Products. “After
seeing a uniformly enthusiastic response at
CEDIA Expo, from the press and dealers alike,
we …..believe that EDGE will effectively create a
new product category as the first affordable high
performance video processor, and should make
HDTV viewing easier and better for millions of
viewers worldwide.” For more info:
www.anchorbaytech.com
protection strategy is without question the most
comprehensive solution to defend your electronic
equipment. There are 38 separate and discrete
components working in both series and parallel to
provide a failsafe barrier against virtually all
Polk Audio RTiA9 Speaker
Why settle for vinyl covered speaker
boxes when you can have the
warmth and beauty of real wood at the
same price, with speakers from the new RTiA
Series. They incorporate the latest Dynamic
Balance Cone drivers and 25mm tweeters,
with an asymmetric cabinet design that’s as
beautiful for the way it controls resonance
and increases cabinet rigidty as for the way it
lends an elegant touch to any decor. The
result is classic Polk performance in a design
that speaks to today’s high-end home décor.
True performance art…plus they sound
fantastic! Price/pair $2999
Polk Audio RTiA9.. $2999
categories of electrical disturbances, so common
with today’s power grids. Minimise your
equipment risk. Price: $299 PS. Comes with up
to $300,000 connected equipment warranty!
That’s confidence.
Coming Attractions
Metz 55 LCD TV
We can all understand the super car
concept - superbly crafted machines
hand-built to a much higher
performance level than the mass-produced
family sedan. Well when judged on similar
criteria, the German built Metz Primus 55
would in effect have to be the world’s first
super bigscreen TV.
Taking the latest and greatest backlit LED
200Hz 55 inch full HD panel as just a starting
point, Metz takes the picture performance of
the panel to another league. Not only is the
said panel housed in a hand-built timber
framed cabinet and clad in glass and metal of
the highest quality but it is fed arguably the
best signal yet engineered for a domestic
television.
With LCD or plasma panels as with the
cathode ray tube, the most compelling
improvements to picture quality are not from
the panel itself but from the picture processing
engineering that precedes it. It is with this
engineering that the Metz Primus really comes
into its own. The picture produced is so life-
Digitalview High Definition Video Recorder
Introducing the new DVR-810, Dual-
Tuner, High Definition Digital Video
Recorder that provides a very simple
and easy means to record and playback all
your favourite TV programs. The streamlined
functionality of the DVR-810 is designed so
that you’re up and running within a very short
period of time. All video and
audio connection
types are provided so
any combination of
display and audio
system can easily be
configured. The
DVR-810 comes with a
320GB Hard Disc Drive,
Marantz THX Certified 7.1 A/V Receiver
The Marantz SR7002 is a no
compromise digital surround receiver,
built to excel in the reproduction of
movies, music and functionally. It offers the
very latest in High Definition video switching
and up-conversion for the very best picture
quality. The SR7002 also supports all the multi
channel audio formats for an impressive,
enveloping 360 degree surround sound.
Room Calibration by Audyssey MULT EQ
automatically tailors the sound to suit the
room, which allows a perfect recreation of HD
audio such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby
Tannoy
like. It combines photographic detail, a Speaker System
credible colour palette and an authentic sense
Audiophiles and musicians alike will
of three dimensions. This picture performance,
recognize the name Tannoy from the
coupled with Metz’s generous warranty terms,
pro-sound world — the company’s
the unit’s on board 500GB hard drive PVR,
speakers are used in recording studios around
twin HD MPEG4 tuners and Metz’s unique
the globe. So you may be surprised to see
modular circuitry that you can keep updating
speakers from such a serious outfit show up in
makes the Primus 55 the state of the art TV of
a funky, fun package like the Arena system. The
its size to buy at present. Not only does
thing that sets this system apart is its use of a
it look good today, it
point-source Dual Concentric driver
anticipates the future like
configuration. This means that the speaker’s
no other TV.
midrange driver and tweeter are both
positioned on the same axis — an arrangement
that enhances imaging by locking sounds to a
precise point in space.
Metz Primus 55...
Along with unique style, the Arena system has
$10,999 (speaker
excellent build quality and versatile
module, table
installation options and comes in a number of
stand and floor
stand optional) colours. It consists of four matched cast-
aluminium satellites for the front left/right and
surround speakers, a cast-aluminium centre
speaker, and a cool, compact subwoofer with a
10-inch driver and a 300-watt amp. Tannoy
offers optional metal stands for the satellites,
which can also be swivelled around to
mount the speakers on the wall or
ceiling. Priced from $3999.
allowing up to 45 hours* of HD
Tannoy Arena... from $3999
or 110 hours of SD recording.
Price: $1099
(Additional Hard Disc Drive
capacities of 500GB ($1399) and
1 Terabyte ($1599) are also
available.)
DigitalView DVR-810... from $1099
TrueHD and DTS HD. The
SR7002 is built to Marantz
standards with
refinements such as video
conversion, 4in and 2out
HDMI 1.3 video switching
with I/P conversion for
analogue signals. Audio
Marantz SR7002... $2999
enhancer for compressed
audio such as mp3 and WAV formats. separation, clarity and dynamic range make
the SR7002 to a excellent AV-receiver, fully in
Independent power supply circuits are
line with Marantz traditions.
incorporated for the FL display, audio and
Price: $2999
video sections of the receiver for maximum
the HI-FI magazine
 T H E H I G H E N D

High End Bryston 4B SST Power Amplifier

Heaven Whatever the venue, be it a recording studio, a

home theatre installation, or a state-of-the-art
stereo system, Bryston has continued to be a top
choice. The Bryston 4B SST Power Amplifiers is
igh-end audio is about passion –
with over 1,000 watts available in bridged mode!
All Bryston Amplifiers have a 20-year (not a
misprint) factory warranty. Made in Canada.
Price: $6899

H something of a legend among audio Bryston 4B SST... $6899

passion for music and how well it is
amplifiers and has attained
reproduced and the quest to create
international status as an
products that constitute a unique subset of
amplifier suitable for the
components that bear no similarity to stereo
finest and most
systems sold in department stores! The high-
sophisticated sound
end ethos is that music and the quality of its
systems. The 4B SST is a
reproduction are deeply important. Check out
pure dual mono design and
these items.
offers a conservative 300
watts per channel into 8
ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms

Philips Pronto™ TSU-9800 Flagship Controller

Taking the concept of control systems
beyond the entertainment centre, the
Philips Pronto™ TSU-9800 is ideal
for today’s modern smart home
and high-end A/V system. With a
razor-sharp, full-size 6.4” VGA
display and an optical rotary
wheel, the Philips Pronto TSU-
9800 touch screen control panel
makes system operation a breeze. Also,
Philips Pronto™ TSU-9800 ... $4999
with the simple touch of a button the entire
room can be illuminated according to the
desired mood – individual dimmers and
switches do not need to be controlled. The
clutter of power and network cables is
completely hidden from view so that the Pronto
TSU-9800 always looks clean and sleek. Made
in Belgium.
Price: $4999

High End Heaven
Imerge MS-1 Hard Disc Server
We have all amassed a large collection of CDs
and DVDs over the years, and these media
certainly eat up a lot of space in the home.
Wouldn’t it be nice to free up all that space and
have easy access to all of your music and your
movies? We can be sure that almost certainly the
answer will be a resounding ‘yes’.
Imerge are pioneers in the world of hard disc
entertainment systems. All of
the Imerge servers are capable
of storing thousands of albums,
or with the Mediaservers,
hundreds and hundreds of
movies, on either internal hard
drives, or enterprise grade
XiVASafe solutions. Whatever
the purchase, the experience is
unforgettable. If it’s time for you
to look for a solution, its time for
the Imerge experience.
Made in UK.
Price: $16,000 to $46,700
Imerge MS-1...
from $16,400
T H E H I G H E N D
NAD Master Series M15HD
Surround Preamplifier
When the M15 was introduced in 2005 it
redefined the performance and value
expectations for consumers worldwide. With a
string of rave reviews and awards including the
prestigious EISA Award for ‘Best Home Cinema’,
the M15 has become a classic in its own right.
There is now a new generation of video source
and display products that support high-
resolution video and high definition audio. The
new M15 HD has been re-engineered to take full
advantage of these new High Definition formats.
Price: $9,999
NAD M15HD... $9999
 Top CD Player
Picks

NAD C515BEE “Budget”

CD Player
NAD has a well-deserved reputation for
producing some the best performing CD
Players in the world. Over the years, NAD has
amassed a stack of 5 star reviews, Best Buy
Recommendations and industry awards.
Not only is the engineering and performance
at world-class levels, but NAD always finds a
way to make at a remarkably low price.
So when NAD announces a new bargain
priced CD player it has to be something really
special – and it is!
The C515BEE is fully featured with a complete
roster of disc navigation and control functions
as well as some more advanced features that
appeal to the serious music lover. The
C515BEE also uses the latest and best
sounding decompression algorithms.
Of course the superb NAD D/A conversion
and analog amplification stages assure the
maximum possible sound quality for
compressed music files. Price: $449
NAD C515BEE... $449
Rega Apollo “Audiophile” CD Player
“Oh, no! Not another CD player! Hey, pinhead:
it’s Mozart’s anniversary! Why not play some
Mozart records and quit wasting my time with
all this digital rubbish!”
“But this is a Rega CD player. These guys
don’t build anything unless it makes music.”
“A Rega, huh? Well OK then. Give it a spin.
Hmm. Not bad. Hey wait a minute! This
sounds remarkably like music! Hmm.. Are you
sure this is a CD player?”
So, said Paul Szabady when reviewing the
Rega Apollo CD Player. . Rega’s unwavering
commitment to music as the ultimate priority in
the design of their audio products is highly
respected, even by competitors. Rega sees
sonics as the servant of music and so its not
surprising that Rega was the last major hi-fi
company to launch a CD player, waiting until
the technology matured enough so that they
could produce a player worthy of Rega’s
musical ideals. Paul continues “this Rega thing
Rega Apollo... $1699
makes musical sense. Yeah, you can play it
through us any time. Got any Mozart CD’s
there?”
He concludes that “it is impossible to view the
Rega Apollo as anything other than a genuine
musical breakthrough in CD playback. Those,
like me, who have long despaired of ever
achieving musical satisfaction from the CD
format, can finally rejoice. The Apollo’s
reasonable price, lack of ‘tweakiness’, and
deep aesthetic value make it the definition of a
Most Wanted Component. The highest praise
and congratulations to Rega for their
achievement with the Apollo, and as a music
lover, my deepest thanks.”
Summary: If you want a CD Player that
sounds absolutely sensational, then the Rega
Apollo will do the trick. Price $1699
Note: Limited Edition Rega Apollo 35th
Anniversary Now Available! Price $2199
 Top CD Player Picks
Rotel RCD-1520 CD Player
The RCD-1520 proves conclusively that cost-
conscious high performance in a single disc
CD player is still available. Utilising circuit
configurations originally developed for Rotel’s
reference-class components, this affordable
unit redefines sonic expectations. The
segmented power supply features a large
toroid transformer for minimal power supply
“sag” as well as reduced hum emissions.
High quality rectifiers, tight tolerance voltage
regulation, and low-ESR storage capacitors
Yamaha CDS-2000 SACD/CD CD Player
The Yamaha CD-S2000 is a high-end Super
Audio CD (SACD) and CD player featuring
refined and elegant styling and incredibly natural
reproduction. The CDS-2000 boasts a
sophisticated design with a solid and sturdy
construction. It features isolated power
transformers supplying the analogue and digital
sections for reduced noise, a synchro-mesh,
silent loading, die-cast aluminium disc tray and
precision differential motion DAC system.
The CD-S2000 also features a symmetrical and
fully balanced design with balanced output.
Rotel RCD-1520.. $1199
make sure that all circuits always operate as
their designers intended. The critical analog
stage uses meticulously selected parts in a
“minimalist” circuit environment to insure the
finest sound quality.
The RCD-1520 uses the same over-scan disc
mechanism once reserved only for premium
priced players.
When used with
the perfectly
matched
Yamaha A-S2000
Amplifier, this
allows a fully
balanced signal
transmission, essentially straight from DAC to
speaker terminals, letting you enjoy a superb,
high-purity CD reproduction. There are also
standard stereo or optical and coaxial digital
outputs allowing the CD-S2000 to be used with
The remarkable new Burr-Brown PCM-1732
IC provides advanced digital filtration, HDCD
decoding, and precise D/A conversion.
A coaxial digital output supplements the high
current analog outputs. A high-density FL
display, complete programming capability,
remote control, and a 12-volt trigger
complete the picture. Price: $1199
Yamaha CDS-2000.. $2899
SPECIAL
TRADE-IN DEAL
Trade in your old CD
Player and get big
$$$ on a brand new
Yamaha CD-S2000.
other amplifiers. An excellent
choice for the discerning
audiophile, the Yamaha CD-S2000 is a
wonderfully entertaining player with the styling to
match. Price: $2899
 F E AT U R E
Blu-ray Magic
f you want to get the most out of your Full
I HD TV, then you need a Blu-ray player.
Game players are not really the go for the
movie and music buff. Relief has now come
courtesy Denon; NAD; Pioneer and Yamaha
who have or will soon release some absolutely
fantastic Blu-ray players.
? About Blu-ray
Blu-ray is the latest version of the popular 5”
optical disc format that began with the CD.
Blu-ray was made possible by the
development of a practical violet laser whose
light wavelength is shorter than the red lasers
used by CD and DVD players. This allows for a
more focused spot that can read smaller and
more densely packed pits that generate the
“digital 1s and 0s” that represent the picture
and sound that is then decoded by the player
for viewing.
Blu-ray Disc has over 5 times the data
capacity of DVD. HD programs are protected
by multiple layers of DRM (Digital Rights
Management or ‘Copy Protection’) and can
only be transmitted from Player to TV Display
by the encrypted HDMI interface.
HD playback requires that the entire signal
path be capable of digital bandwidth of 150
Megahertz. This means you’ll need the very
latest TV and AV Receiver as well as Category
2 HDMI cables. Be sure the entire system
supports “1080p”. Get it all right and the
result is stunning…..especially on screen
sizes 50” and larger!
Denon DVD-2500 NEW!
The Denon DVD-2500 Blu-ray transport is
aimed at dedicated home cinema enthusiasts: it
doesn’t have any analogue audio outputs and
doesn’t even have coaxial or optical digital
sockets.
So, if you want one, you’ll need an amp,
receiver or processor that can accept audio
signals from HDMI and use them appropriately.
Take note of what respected UK magazine
“What Hi-Fi” had to say: “This player’s colour
vitality, detail retrieval and uncanny realism is
just stunning. It’s so good, it’s able to take discs
we’ve known and loved for many a month –
Training Day, I Am Legend – and give them a
whole new lease of life. Reds seem redder,
blacks denser, edges sharper, while three-
dimensionality increases and motion-stability
seems more assured….
Pioneer Blu-ray Bargain
Pioneer are well known as a maker
of quality products. Arriving in-
store now is the new BDP-51BU
Blu-ray player for just $799. These
do sell fast, so if you want one you
know what to do!
Denon DVD-2500... $2499
If that seems impressive, the audio is even more
remarkable. It imbues everything you listen to
with more weight and realism, more scale and
drama; gunfire seems weightier and more
menacing, voices sounds more natural and
characterful…this is what Blu-ray really ought to
have been straight from the off.”
Additionally, the video and power circuits have
been separated into two independent blocks
within the chassis, and each circuit has been
mounted on its own board. The top cover
features a two-layered construction and the
chassis bottom is constructed of three layers to
protect the circuits from vibration. If you have an
eye on premium-quality home cinema, then this
will impress. Available in Black and Premium
Silver. Price: $2499
 F E AT U R E A R T I C L E
Digital
Radio
hat is Digital Radio? Digital radio is a
W new, exciting and involving way for
listeners to tune into their favourite
radio stations*. Offering an exceptionally high
sound and signal quality, digital radio offers a
range of exciting features to enhance your
listening experience. Followers of AM Radio are
going to be blown away as finally they will enjoy
“crackle free” performance!
Digital Radio in Australia is known as DAB+ and
once you have bought your radio, receiving the
truly clear radio signals is absolutely free! No
contracts, no logging onto the Internet, just tune
into your favourite AM or FM station.
The Benefits of Digital Radio
Australia is ahead of countries like Germany,
Italy and China in adopting the superior new
technology DAB+. Just as Digital TV has
delivered sharp and clear pictures, so it is with
DAB+ Digital Radio. Everyone within the
transmission area will enjoy better, clearer sound
with improved reception.
Here’s a short list of features:
• Extra features such as extra channels,
pause and rewind radio, downloadable
music, slideshows, scrolling text
• Electronic Program Guides, updated
news, sports and racing information
• Extra channels potentially doubles the
number of commercial stations
• Tuning by station name, not frequency,
making it easy to find favourite stations
• A wider choice of shows and program
highlights better meets the needs of niche
audiences
* Disclaimer: Digital Radio may not be available in all areas. For more information about coverage in your area, visit the Digital Radio Plus website.
Pure Evoke 2S Digital Radio
EVOKE-2S is a refined portable DAB+/FM radio
with impressive audio, a clear OLED display
and long battery life.
Yamaha TSX-130 Digital
Radio & CD Player
The Yamaha TSX-130 FM and DAB+ digital
radio combines an iPod dock, CD player and a
USB port for playing music stored on thumb
drives all housed in an attractive design with a
white or black cabinet and ‘simulated wood’ Pure Evoke 2S... $699
top. The fascia is uncluttered, with just a two-
One of the best sounding portable radios,
line display, CD drawer and speakers. The top
EVOKE-2S produces 30W RMS from custom
surface control lets you access a range of
tuned mid-range speakers and separate
functions like alarms and audio source
tweeters driven by PURE Clearsound™
selection. Price: $749 (Note: TSX-120 Without
technology. Clearsound is a digital end-to-end
CD Player $599)
Yamaha TSX-130... $749 audio subsystem using high quality Class D
amplifiers and digital audio shaping technology
to provide clear dynamic audio, higher volume
levels and low power consumption.
Packed with features, EVOKE-2S includes
ReVu™ to pause and rewind live DAB+ radio.
There’s also an input for your iPod/MP3 player,
a kitchen countdown timer, USB upgradability
and real maple veneer casework. Price: $699
Quite literally at the core of things, the DAB+/FM
Tangent Trio Digital Radio &
tuner with accompanying display allows
CD Player reception of both types of signals, ranging from
dedicated
Everyone likes good music and the variety of
music, talk, or
radio stations from which they can choose.
even
Recent technological advancements have
genre-based
created a range of stations which would stun
stations.
generations of radio listeners before us. The
Tangent Trio combines analogue and digital
sources along with a digital clock radio.
This captivating collection consists of FM and
Tangent Trio... $699
DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting).
 The Best of
British
rcam, Audiolab, Creek, Imerge,
A Meridian, Mordaunt-Short, Rega, Rel
and Sugden all have one thing in
common – they are all top British electronics
firms who actually design and manufacture
their products in the United Kingdom! Hard to
believe, but true! So, if you have been looking
for an alternative to Asia, then your search is
over…
Arcam – Bringing Music &
Movies to Life
Arcam has spent more than a generation
building some of the finest high-fidelity
products the world has ever seen and is
ideally placed to engineer state-of-the-art
products that push technological boundaries
to the limit. This engineering tradition has
made Arcam one of the most trusted names in
the market. Whether it’s a two channel or a
complete multi-channel audio-visual system
you’re after, Arcam offers the music and movie
lover a complete range of high-performance
home entertainment solutions than any other
specialist manufacturer.
Arcam CD37... $3298
Meridian – Only The Best
Audio Visual
Meridian's G Series electronics combine
legendary Meridian sound and picture quality
with stunning looks, an innovative user
interface and great feature combinations. The
G Series is very popular and has received the
highest praise from the international press. It
includes CD players, DVD-Audio/Video
players, analogue preamp/controllers,
surround controllers, a receiver – and a
selection of power amps. Meridian – looks and
sounds fantastic.
Audiolab – Purist Audio
Performance
The Audiolab
philosophy has
always been to
create well-engineered products that offer
a high order of sound quality and that are
good value for money. They also had to be
attractive and reliable. This often meant
starting from scratch in order to engineer
better products and finding ways of doing
this cost-effectively. In terms of quality and
price, Audiolab were always more BMW
than Rolls Royce!
The development process involves an
attempt to measure performance and
correlate this with perceived sound quality
– the intention being to develop an
amplifier that is foolproof, fully-equipped
and yet capable of high standards of
performance. As a result, Audiolab
products appeal to a broad spectrum of
consumers.
Audiolab 8000S Amplifier... $1599
Rel – Top Notch
Subwoofers
REL Acoustics is the
UK’s premiere subwoofer
manufacturer, delighting
audiophiles and
cinephiles around the world, adding rich,
deep and powerful bass to both stereo
music and multi-channel home cinema
systems. REL’s philosophy has always
been to use advanced materials and high-
tech amplification and sumptuous
industrial design. Their know-how has
been crafted into a series of eye-catching
sub-bass systems with some of the fastest,
tightest and
most accurate
bass
reproduction
currently
available below
$2,000.
Creek – Technical
Excellence
Now into its third decade, Creek Audio
continues to be acknowledged as one of the
most recognisable names in the British Hi-Fi
industry and Mike Creek has been in the
electronics business all his working life.
Having worked for a couple of companies after
leaving technical college, his ambition to
ultimately produce his own budget amplifier
led him to establish Creek Audio in 1982 and
soon after the Creek CAS4040 was launched
on the UK market. Just a year or two later it
made its appearance in Australia. Praise for its
sound quality was tempered with disbelief that
a fledgling British Hi-Fi company could be
successful taking on the established brands.
Sugden – A Long and
Impressive History
Sugden’s very first product – designed and
manufactured in the mid 1960’s – was the
revolutionary A21, the world's first commercial,
solid state, pure Class ‘A’ integrated stereo
amplifier. The Sugden company's belief in the
benefits of Class ‘A’ technology (with its total
avoidance of switching distortion) to musical
performance makes it a paramount
consideration to product design. Naturally, the
original circuit of the A21 has been subjected
to continuous improvement, a policy, which
has recently resulted in the A21a Series 2.
Now that’s impressive!
Sugden A21a Series 2 Integrated Amplifier.
Price: $3,950.00 (with phono board $4,350.00)
the HI-FI magazine
Down To The Wire
h, the golden age of
A television. The only thing I
loved more than “Get Smart”
was the solitary Antenna
input on the back of our TV. It was a
simpler time. Now we must choose
between dozens of channels and about the
same number of inputs! Add HDTV to the
mix, with all of its inherent confusion and
it seems like a recipe for connection
disaster. Who would have thought wiring
could get so complicated? So, here’s the
‘mail’ on HDMI – the latest ‘buzz’ word.
HDMI (High Definition Multipurpose
Interface) is the standard in digital HD
connectivity, a combined audio/video
cable that makes a whole tangle of older
wires obsolete. It’s a nineteen-pin
connection that sends both digital video
18 | the HI-FI magazine
and multi-channel audio through a
“single” cable, while simultaneously
managing control functions such as HDCP
copy protection. Defined by 7 of the largest
consumer manufacturers and released on
December 9, 2002, it is now supported by
more than 300 companies – virtually
everyone. The advantages of HDMI over
other signal formats are:
• Uncompressed digital signals for the
highest picture and sound quality
• One cable for video, audio and control
• Two-way communication for easy
system control
• Automatic display and source matching
for resolution, format and aspect ratio
• PC compatibility
Note: Go to our website for more in depth information on HDMI.
Buying Tip...
HDMI can deliver a more life-like video
experience. But for all of its potential
benefits, HDMI can sometimes be
frustrating to use. What we call
“communication failures” can occur and
this is attributed to poor design or poor
“consumer selection” in both cables and
components. No, not all HDMI cables are
manufactured equal. As usual with any
consumer item, there is the good, the bad
and the ugly! What is the answer?
Always select a “brand-name” of cable that
has superior construction quality as well as
superior performance. Cables are not only
the least expensive part of a System, but
they’re also the most fragile, so look for
cables that can stand up to a little abuse.
Disclaimer: All prices correct at time of printing, special offers – conditions apply, see in store for details. Liability howsoever or reliance upon any advice representation, opinion, or conclusion
expressed in “The Hi-Fi Magazine” is expressly disclaimed by the dealer. All material subject to copyright. Please note: not all products necessarily available.
Please phone to confirm. Finance only to approved customers. All prices subject to change without notice. E&OE