Rega RP6 Turntable - a first look
/Due for release in time for Christmas these are some of the first images of the new RP6 turntable from Rega.
We'll have more news on this when it arrives...


Due for release in time for Christmas these are some of the first images of the new RP6 turntable from Rega.
We'll have more news on this when it arrives...


From now until 31st December 2011 Marantz are offering free Airplay updates on the following products:
NA7004 Network Audio Player
M-CR603 Network Media System
SR7005 AV Receiver
AV7005 AV Processor
To get your free update please visit www.marantz.eu/airplay/
A number of our suppliers have free Apps. available for the iPad 2 as well as iPhone and iTouch. The iPad 2 in particular is a fantastic way of accessing and enjoying your downloaded music. Naim with the n-Sream and n-Serve, Linn with Kinsky, and Sonos with their App. all allow a wonderful interface with your downloaded music. Come and visit us in-Store to find out how you can enjoy this level of control with your music.
Another fantastic offer for our eagle eyed bargain spotters. The Denon AVR-4810 receiver is an incredibly high specified unit, with all the cinema and networking features you come to expect from one of the UK's leading AV manufacturers.
Due to a cancelled customer order, we have yet another incredible bargain for you so we can get a quick sale! Usually priced at just under £3,000, we are offering an as new unit at the stunning price of only £1,699 including delivery. That saving puts it in the same price range as the Denon AVR-4311, and this unit is massively more powerful, musical and feature laden than the AVR-4311. If you are looking for a high end receiver, then you can't go wrong.
We've only one unit here, and it is in absolutely immaculate condition with all packaging and accessories, so is as new. You'll also get your full 2 year warranty from Denon from your date of purchase.
Act quickly - our last advertised bargain of this level sold the same day, and once this unit is gone it is no more!
Click here to buy this product now!
NB - if you click to buy and no product appears, then it's already been sold - keep your eyes open for more bargains from Audio T and act quickly before someone else gets it!
Congratulations to the customer who got in within hours of our blog being listed to purchase the Michell Orbe at a third off.
This offer has now ended, but keep your eyes open for similar offers - they will go quickly so dont delay!
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
We've got a fantastic offer available for our customers. A brand new Michell Orbe turntable, still sealed in its box, that we have discounted heavily by one third for a quick sale.
The Michell Orbe was bought for a customer who unfortunately cancelled his order, so since then we've been trying to find a home for this classic deck but as of yet no joy. So, time to give you our best price possible and slash the price by a dramatic £1,000
OFFER HAS NOW ENDED
Watch this space. A stunning new shelf material from the stand experts Quadraspire. The new Bamboo shelf is not available yet, but we have just experimented with replacing a standard Q4 Evo top shelf for the new Bamboo. The improvement in the musical performance has to be heard to be believed. Just the top shelf ! Quadraspire Bamboo will be available in the Q4 Evo and Sunoko Vent SVT models soon. Oh, and by the way, it looks superb too !
http://www.quadraspire.co.uk/bamboo-evolution/
Tom Barron of PMC brought along two of the new twenty series range yesterday. Boy have they moved on from the i Series ! Great looking and really good performance - a massive improvement !
We've just added a review to the Audio T website for the Panasonic TX-P50VT30B television:
"This TV is amongst the best I've ever seen, superb pictures from its' built in Freesat HD and Freeview HD Tuners as well a mighty fine display for all your 3D / Blu-ray and DVD movies. The set is great out of the box but has all you need to set it up to exactly as you want it."
We've just got in the brand newB&W C5 in ear headphones- read our review below:
"Well B&W have done it again, addressing many of the issues normally associated with ear canal headphones resulting in a headphone that not only sounds fantastic but fits properly and should, with the use of the secure loop system, out last many other makes on the market. A must for all iPod / iPhone users interested in high quality playback."
We've spend some time adding reviews on our website - please have a read through below for our opinions on some of our favourite products:
Click here to read our review on the Castle Knight 2 speakers
Click here to read our review on the B&W Zeppelin Air
Click here to read our review on the Rega RP3 turntable with Elys 2 cartridge
We've just added a review for the Rega Brio-R amplifier to the Audio T website:
"Occasionally an amplifier comes along that becomes a classic. The A&R Cambridge A60, the Audiolab 8000A. The Rega Brio-R looks set to join the club."
We've just added a review for the Castle Knight 2 speakers to the Audio T website:
"Astonishing value for money. When matched with suitable equipment such as Arcam Solo or Audiolab separates, they perform well above expectations for a speaker of such a modest price. Don't forget a good pair of stands though, Castles own work very well."
We've just added a review for the B&W Zeppelin Air to the Audio T website:
"With deceptively similar looks to the original Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin the new Zeppelin Air has really moved the goalposts in terms of sound quaility and usability. Much improved!"
The new Rega Reference IOS Phonostage.
A week or so back I had a e-mail from Rob at Rega Research offering me a chance to audition their new Reference IOS Phonostage but there was a small catch, I could only have it for 24 hrs being that there are only 3 in existence and he was on his travels to various dealers.
Excited by this I popped into the store ( I was on leave at the time ) and collected said unit. Oh my, this has to be the largest phonostage I’ve ever seen, matching its stable mates, the Isis CD player and Osiris amplifier. Oh and the heaviest too at over 15kg! Yes, it’s built in exactly the same way as the aforementioned to further dampen resonances, staggering.
The reference IOS is a serious reworking/refinement of their standard IOS phonostage having itself received many a glowing review over the years. Lifting the lid off shows many changes and enhancements and of course that beautiful casework. Feature-wise there are two major additions, a pair of XLR inputs are included alongside the usual RCAs with a switch on the rear to select either but more usefully, for me at least, is a mono switch on the front for use when playing mono discs of which I have many. This allows one to fully enjoy these records without the distraction of any surface noise coming over in stereo either side of the mono soundstage. This is a feature that is often lacking in many systems either on the amp or phonostage so full marks to Rega here. The remaining Reference IOS features are as the standard IOS and to save me time can be found here. (Select >products >amplifiers> IOS).
So, how does it sound? In a word, INCREDIBLE! Rob had loaned me the standard IOS too for comparison and as great as that one is, the Pro was in an altogether different league. The first thing I noticed was just how well is separates all the instruments and layers whilst holding them together musically; frankly it was revelatory. The noise floor was also somewhat lowered and with all this came a greater sense of pace and timing, indeed there was an almost CD like quality to it and of course by that I mean the good aspects of CD reply namely clarity and speed and lack of unwanted noise or bloom aligned with the greatness we all so much love in vinyl reproduction which digital media at any level can’t quite match.
Many of my favourite albums were revisited, those that I’m most familiar with and discovered nuances and instrument interactions previously masked but by 2:30am I really had to drag myself off to bed, honestly, I could have stayed up all night as record after record begged to placed on the platter.
My first encounter with the Rega Reference IOS may have been short but it was oh so sweet!
Apparently I’m the first dealer in the world to hear it so many thanks go out to Rob for putting himself out to give me this opportunity and I look forward to some more quality time with one.
RRP: £3995
Availability: Now shipping
Simon
UPDATE: I missed it SO much I ordered one and today, 14th Oct. (a bigger event than today's launch of the iPhone 4s, for me at least) it's arrived. Serial no. 00002. Rega inform me they lost the stickers for no.1 and that I'm the 1st in the WORLD to own one!
Great news for Arcam owners; Arcam have released the SongBook Arcam app onto the Apple app store. This long anticipated control app allows you to control the Arcam Solo Neo, AVR400, AVR600 and the AV888 from your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.
You can download the app by clicking here, or search for it on the app store.
If you have an Arcam Solo Neo, you may need to update to software version 1.7 for the SongBook Arcam app to work - we recommend heading to your nearest Arcam dealer for this necessary update.
We've had a good listen to one of the first Marantz PM6004 amplifiers in the UK courtesy of Marantz. Read our review below:
"The PM6003 was a hard act to follow but the PM6004 is an even more impressive amp and unbeatable in this price sector. Separating the pre and power amp boards has extracted even greater resolution and channel separation compared to its predecessor. A great amp and a perfect match to the new CD6004 CD player."
We've just added a review for the Pioneer VSX-921 AV receiver to the Audio T website:
"This Stunning new budget AV amp from Pioneer raises the performance of entry level products, with full HD decoding from all formats, plenty of HDMI inputs, control from both iPhone and iPad, internet radio, music streaming, and to top it all off superb audio performance at a bargain price this amplifier has to be on your short list to be listened to!"
We've spent some time reviewing our Arcam products and found this combination to be a winner.
Click here to read the review on the Arcam FMJ A38 integrated amplifier
Click here to read the review on the Arcam FMJ CD37 CD player
Linn Kinsky for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is now available as a free download from the AppStore.
Offering the most comprehensive control of all Linn DS features including room selection, source switching, internet radio and the exciting new Songcast functionality, the new Kinsky app offers wireless control from the palm of your hand.
Kinsky is multiroom-ready and can be used alongside other Linn DS control software on a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, etc.
Showcase Linn DS at its best by downloading Kinsky for your iPad and iPhone today.
Naim is heading out on the road this summer showcasing its vision for the future of hi-fi at the Summer Sounds: On Stream live shows. The five date UK tour aims to inform and entertain with live demonstrations of Naim's network-connected audio range including an exclusive preview of the next addition to the line-up. Come along between 2pm and 8pm at the following dates and venues:
17th August � Park Inn Heathrow
24th August � Cottons Hotel & Spa, Knutsford
31st August � Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa, Leeds
8th September � Stonehouse Court Hotel, Stroud
15th September � Hilton Dartford
Visitors to the shows will get the chance to meet Naim's team of research and design engineers and networking experts who will be taking questions on a range of issues about streaming audio. There will also be seminars and workshops on the best way to set up your home system to achieve the best possible sound quality.
Visit www.naimaudio.com/on_stream and register to attend for the chance to win an NDX network player. The page also contains exclusive video reviews from What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision which expand upon "The Future of Hi-Fi" double page spread feature published in this month's issues of What Hi-Fi? and Stuff magazines. The On Stream digital mini-guide, which covers Naim's entire digital range is also available for download.
>SUMMER SOUNDS: ON STREAM
At Audio T we're always excited to share with you our thoughts and musings on the latest and greatest Hi-Fi and home audio! Our blog features news and reviews from individual stores and occasional blogs from HQ; select your nearest store from the list below to find out what they've been up to.