Matt from Audio T Cardiff reflects on all 2023’s Hi-Fi events with the best and brightest products of the year and looking forward to what’s to come in 2024.

Christmas has once again been and gone, and my how fast 2023 flew by! It feels like a blink of the eye and almost the whole year has passed. Now that we’re in 2024 I have been reflecting back on last year’s events, such as my first time at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, new dealerships and the latest greatest equipment that arrived at our store throughout the year.

Some of this new equipment that arrived has lead to me expanding my own Hi-Fi system (believe you me there will be more changes on the horizon, as we say, there’s always room for improvement). One of the most wonderful things about working in the Hi-Fi industry is discovery, finding that next piece of equipment that makes a change to how you listen to your Hi-Fi systems and, more importantly, sharing all of my discoveries and listening experiences with you all. So, let’s take this fantastic ride to discovery with me through 2023 and see where we end up.

The beginning is a wonderful place to start.

The Audio T sales team at the bristol hi-fi show 2023

This year started for me at one of the most momentous events in the Hi-Fi calendar, you guessed it the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2023. As you may know this was the first show I have worked at, and it has left a great impression on me in a good way.

For those of you that have attended The Bristol Hi-Fi Show before, you’ll know it gives us the chance to check out and listen to the latest and greatest manufactures have to offer. You may have even read the blog I wrote about my first time at the show, talking about my experience. For those of you that haven’t read it yet, you can do so here.

I recall seeing and listening to a great many products such as the rather exciting Rega Naia turntable, Naim’s New Classic series, the Cyrus New Classic as well as a great many other brands, which I will talk about shortly, but for now let’s talk about the new arrivals…

Decisions decisions!

The first new arrival is the one that made a major change on the amplification side of things to my own Hi-Fi system. This led me to a major shootout between three major team players in the £2000 integrated amplifier bracket: the Rega Elicit Mk5, Audiolab 9000A and the Cyrus Classic Amp. You can read that blog here.

Each amplifier brought something very different to the table sonically, but the winner for me being the Cyrus Classic amp. Nonetheless, each amplifier brand as you know sounds very different, for very good reasons, as each manufacturer has their own idea of what sounds right. As I always say, there’s no wrong answers in our own individual Hi-Fi journeys, it’s all in the ears of the listener and what we feel sounds right to us. For me, the end result was Cyrus as I felt it was the true star of the show, but you may choose something different to me!

Speaking in volumes

dynaudio special forty in the stunning BLACK VINE HIGH GLOSS

Another big arrival for us at Cardiff this year was Dynaudio. This loudspeaker brand has been a favourite of mine for some time, in fact around this time last year I bought my stunning walnut Evoke 10. To me these speakers just keep sounding better and better.

But I digress. Although Audio T has been an official retailer of Dynaudio for some time, we hadn’t previously stocked them in this particular store before. As well as taking on the full Evoke range, we also took on the rather stunning Special Forty.

Dynaudio as a brand has never ceased to impress me. I remember them from my professional audio days. As many of you know, they are used in some of best recording studios around the world. To this day, the fact that you are getting a lot of the same materials and technology in their domestic loudspeakers is something that makes Dynaudio stand out from the crowd.

It’s all in the Naim

Naim 200 Series setup in our Cardiff shop

Going back to early in 2023, I caught wind of the new Naim Classic Series being released and was lucky enough to see the new designs and specifications of the full 200 series. Knowing the reputation Naim has for building great amplification had certainly peaked my interest and as a result I made a beeline for the Naim stand at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.

I sadly didn't have much time to listen to it but I knew this system would sound phenomenal in our store and we soon got our hands on the NSC 222 streaming preamplifier, the all new NAP 250 power amplifier and the NPX 300 power supply. We set the system up in our demonstration room with one of our favourite pairs of floor standing speakers, the unmistakable Spendor D9.2. We all listened for a good few hours and were amazed how fantastic this system sounds. The Naim streaming platform sounds superb. The whole system sings quality, living up to Naim’s long standing reputation.

Moving forward to September of 2023 (as you may have seen in yet another blog of mine) I had a wonderful trip over to visit the amazing people at Naim to see the New Classic Series and I got to listen to the whole range, including the 300 Series which was otherworldly in its sound. If you get the chance to have a listen to both the 200 and 300 series, I highly recommend it! Put it this way, I'm still thinking of saving up for a new system myself.

A great welsh giant is in the building

Leema Acoustics tucana ii aniversary front panel

You may have already guessed it, but the Welsh giant in question is Leema Acoustics. With their new preamp and power amp combination, the all new Quantum Range which I talked about in my previous blog. It’s been a year since I first heard this combination and now they are finally here, trust me it was worth the wait! To think they are hand built at this price point is phenomenal.

Each time I plug them in they never disappoint. The control and specification of the Neutron preamp performs way above its price point, feeding the class AB monster of the Graviton power amplifier, which never seems to run out of steam, making me want to turn it up and listen more. This combination is unparalleled in my humble opinion, not just in build and performance but price as well. For me, the other big highlight from Leema Acoustics this year was meeting Mr Lee Taylor, the man who’s behind all of those great designs from Constellation through to the new Quantum.

The only way is Essex - Or should I say the only way is “Naia”?

Rega naia Zirconium toughened alumina (ceramic) central bearing

One of the biggest announcements of 2023 has to be Rega’s new high-end turntable, the Naia, one notch down from Rega’s legendary flagship model the Naiad.

Although visitors weren’t given the opportunity to listen to the prototype at the show, we were able to see the turntable on a bespoke mirrored plinth that allowed us to view all of its technical wonders. And boy, is it something rather special! Borrowing a lot of its technology from its big brother, this is a true masterpiece of engineering excellence.

Whilst at the show, our rep showed me the sub platter and bearing assembly, which has a Zirconia toughened alumina (ceramic) central bearing enabling the sub platter to spin effortlessly, a marvel of engineering.

Fast forward to November and the UK sales manager of Rega, Rob Noble, brought us the Naia fitted with the Aphelion 2 moving coil cartridge to have a listen for ourselves. The demo system we put together for the Naia was a bit of a Rega family affair, with the Aura phono stage running into the Aethos integrated amplifier. On this occasion we used an old favourite on the loudspeaker front, the Spendor D7.2.

After the amp had a good amount of time to warm up, each of us took a turn to listen to this truly amazing turntable. Whilst enjoying the Naia I could soon hear what all the hype is about, it truly has that lively sound which Rega is known for but there are a lot of other things going on. For instance the noise floor on this turntable is next level. Don’t let this turntable’s looks fool you, whilst it does look like Planar 10 from a distance, they are very different from one another. The turntable sounds like the needle is glued to the grooves, giving the perfect stereo image. The more I listened to it, the more detail came through. All I can say is this turntable is highly addictive.

Summary

Reflecting on 2023 and the equipment I have seen and heard, it’s safe to say it was a great one! I feel the equipment I've talked about today is just the tip of the iceberg. As you know, there are many other great brands and products we’ve taken on including Lyngdorf with their groundbreaking room correction software.

Looking forward to 2024, the big question on our lips is what’s to come next at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, and what great changes are afoot in the world of Hi-Fi.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

Thanks for reading

Matt, Nick and Kerrin - Audio T Cardiff

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