ATC SCM50 Loudspeakers And Native Qobuz High Resolution Streaming For Naim

We are very pleased at Brighton to have our new ATC SCM50 on demonstration in store and complementing our Naim ND555, NAC552 and NAP500 system. There is no doubt that these speakers are what we’ve been looking for as they bring a new level of engagement and integrity to the musical performance.

The ATC SCM59 3 way speaker system comprises the improved new 25mm tweeter, along with the outstanding 75mm soft dome midrange driver and 234mm super linear bass driver, in a relatively compact and very solidly constructed cabinet. These speakers are built for serious performance, and can be used in passive or active configuration. We have the active amplifier modules as well, so with some notice, we can demonstrate both versions. ATC make larger versions of this speaker for those able to accommodate them.

Do drop in for a listen or make an arrangement so you can spend a decent amount of time with the system.

Qobuz high resolution streaming comes to Naim along with a free 30 day trial. Certainly worth giving it a try to see what it offers.

Naim have incorporated native Qobuz music streaming in the recent firmware version 3.4 update for ND555, NDX2, ND5XS2 network players and Uniti Nova, Star and Atom systems along with other improvements, that include better sound reproduction. The firmware update for the 2nd Generation Mu-so2 and Qb2 will follow soon.

Visit us at Audio T Brighton or ring 01273 609431 or email us to explore Naim equipment.

Naim Hi-Fi products are available from all branches of Audio T.

An Amazing Brighton Customer Hi-Fi Journey With Linn And Naim

For this months blog we have chosen to highlight a long standing customer who epitomises the old adage of buying well and upgrading over time.

With an original purchase in the 1980’s of a Linn Sondek LP12 turntable and Naim amplifier combination, this customer improved and expanded his system over many years with us, and has taken advantage of rejuvenating original equipment with servicing, as Naim recommend for their electronics at 8 to 10 year intervals.

Waiting for the ND555 & PS555 DR that are due in July.

Building to a classic system with Linn LP12, Naim CDSII, NAC52 pre amp and Naim SBL loudspeakers driven actively with a four pack of NAP135 power amps this was a formidable combination, providing many years of superb performance and great enjoyment.

In 2007 we returned his Naim equipment for servicing, and his Linn LP12 was left with us to service and add an internal Naim Prefix phono stage. He added a Naim Hi-Line interconnect for the CDS2 and upgraded his equipment racks to Quadraspire Q4.

Once again with the LP12’s modular design, meant in 2009 he was able to upgrade to the Linn Keel, introduced in 2006. A machined one piece aluminium sub chassis and arm board for his Naim Aro tonearm. A rigid support for the bearing and arm that reduces unwanted vibrations and improves mechanical integrity, meaning less distortion and more music.

Moving on to April 2018 and he embarked on bringing the system up to date. We returned the amplification to Naim for servicing once more. This time he is trading in the Naim CDSII and XPS combo for the new top of the range Naim ND555 network player with Naim 555DR power supply, and a Naim Core CD ripping music server. The Quadraspire racks have been changed for a combination of Naim Fraim and Fraimlite stands, and all of the interconnects to Naim Super Lumina and mains leads to Naim Powerlines. This is another big commitment towards continued and improved musical enjoyment.

It was also time to look at what Linn had been up to since his last visit with the turntable. First produced in 1973, Linn have strived to keep the LP12 at the forefront of many a Hi-Fi system. Always looking to advance performance, in 2009 they introduced the Linn Radikal and Urika. This has replaced the customers Naim Armageddon turntable power supply with the Radikal, a power supply and DC motor, significantly improving performance, along with the Urika inbuilt phono stage replacing the Naim Prefix. This is connected to his pre amp using a Naim Super Lumina 5 pin Din interconnect along with a new cartridge to replace his dearly loved Linn Troika. 

The Linn Kandid cartridge introduced in 2013 is the best cartridge Linn have ever made and is designed to extract as much musical information from your records as possible. All those still holding on to old or well loved cartridges such as the Troika should really hear how things have come on in the world of cartridge development.

And to add a little spice to the occasion, the Tiger-Paw Tranquillity has been included as a final touch to the proceedings. This clever addition is a two piece magnetic combination fitted to the bearing housing and opposing section to the underside of the inner platter, reducing the force between bearing and thrust plate. Pop in and borrow one for the weekend to see how you like it.

What could be next you may ask? Well, having addressed obtaining the best input to the system, the hierarchy moves to the pre-amplifier. The next upgrade may very well be from the NAC52 pre- amp and Supercap to the legendary Naim NAC552 and 552PS and adding a Supercap DR  to power the active crossover and get another leap in performance. There is generally more to be had!

Of course this is a system of real magnitude, but if you have a Linn LP12 turntable or a Naim Amplifier of any vintage, yours can be given a new lease of life by being serviced and upgraded as appropriate.

So, purchase high quality components and they can remain at the heart of a marvellous  Hi-Fi system for many years, giving exceptional value for your original investment. When you next want to upgrade your Hi-Fi system, buy the best you can!

Our sincere thanks and very best wishes go to this special customer for his tremendous loyalty over many years. We wish you many more years of musical joy!

A comment from the customer himself...

I’d just like to add that none of this would have have happened without the incredible support of Julian, John and Paul at Audio-T in Brighton. The depth of knowledge that they have accumulated between them over the years is amazing and they have been able to advise wisely every step of the way.

Buying a music system is a very personal thing and in many ways it grows and adapts with you over your life. We all know where we were when certain tunes are played, but imagine hearing that tune again many years later but this time Kate Bush is in your room singing it! It’s like a time machine.

 As they say a 1000 mile journey begins with a single step!

Contact Julian, Paul and John at Audio T Brighton T: 01273 609431 E: brighton@audio-t.co.uk

Naim Hi-Fi products are Available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth, 
Preston, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

Linn Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brighton, Bristol, Manchester

Naim Uniti Nova Music Player Shines Brightly

The long awaited Naim Uniti Nova has finally arrived. Joining its little brothers the Uniti Atom and the soon to be released Uniti Star the flagship of the Uniti range has a stellar (sic!) performance and it is beautiful too.

This is effectively the replacement for the Superuniti, but it is a completely revamped streaming system. With an 80W Naim class A/B amplifier it sounds amazing. We've been playing it with PMC and Russell K speakers to great effect. It will stream music across your network, has Tidal and Spotify built in, plays internet radio and has a USB input that will allow playback from an external drive.

The build quality is superb borrowing the beautiful silky volume control we first saw on the Naim Mu-So devices and as for the display...

This high quality LCD screen, with its built in proximity sensor, is easily visible from a distance and displays album art with great flair. There is also a bi-directional remote whose styling mirrors the unit and its volume indicators. Of course the Naim App can be used to control the Uniti Nova as well. There will be a version with DAB/FM radio in the near future as well and we will be able to retro fit that for you if you wish to upgrade the unit in the future.

So if you want an elegant one box system with that wonderful Naim musicality, battleship construction, ease of use, and the ability to drive almost any speaker, you really don't need to look any further than the Naim Uniti Nova

Why not come in and have a look and listen or join us as one of our many Naim Uniti events over the next couple of months.

Naim Hi-Fi products are available from all branches of Audio T.
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Southampton, Swansea, Swindon

PMC, Naim and Rega Events At Audio T Brighton In November

PMC on Saturday 5th November with Tom Barron from PMC

We will be featuring the new and rather good twenty5 series loudspeakers.

________________________

Naim on Saturday 12th November with Jason Gould from Naim

It's too early to announce what we will be presenting, but be assured it will be good, and new !

Keep in touch and we will provide more details in October.

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Rega on Saturday 19th November with Rob Noble from Rega

‘Rega look forward to the release of some exciting new products for the autumn of 2016. More details to follow soon prior to their appearance at the Brighton open day. Watch this space………………’ 

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Cocktail Audio becomes Nova Fidelity

We fell in love with the Cocktail Audio products last year for their versatility and quality, now the company has changed its name to Nova Fidelity and have produced two new models. The little X10 has been replaced by the X12 with improved connections on the back and a disc tray rather than a slot loader, with improved performance all round this is going to be a litle star.

But the model which has excited us the most is the new X40, a source component without amplifier which can be slotted in to any existing system. It has all the great features of the Nova Fidelity range with some new refinements, the graphic interface is improved, there are XLR connections on the rear along with a phono stage. This will allow you to record your vinyl straight to its hard drive. I can also be used as a pre-amp and connected directly to a power amp.

There is also FM radio on board which can also be recorded direct to the hard drive (different sizes of drive are available) and an HDMI connection so you can see its display on a TV

The best thing is it sounds great! We've been playing it into the little Audiolab M40 power amp and having fun with it.

So the year looks like its starting off with a bang, with this product and exciting developments from Naim with the addition of Bluetooth and Spotify to their Uniti products....and of course the wonderful Mu-So

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Peaceful and Happy New Year and we'll see you in 2015 ..... after all our Sale is on!!

Paul Francis and Boswell Bear

Naim mu-so sets new benchmark in wireless audio.

Naim Audio have once again raised the stakes with a truly innovative product. As ever they bring us the pleasure of high end audio but this time in a stand-alone wireless audio system. I refer of course to the mu-so wireless all in one music player.

The mu-so is a high quality active streaming receiver. It can play music from your PC , Mac or home network. It can connect to Spotify , internet radio, Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth and even has a USB and digital optical input. It is compatible with MP3, Flac (regular and high res 24 bit), WAV, and Apple. In short, as wireless streamers go there's not a lot that it doesn’t do.

Beneath the surface, the mu-so houses six custom designed speakers, each driven by its own 75 watt amplifier bringing us a total of 450 watts of power using technology inspired by the audio systems that Naim build for Bentley Motors.

When we first opened the box and took the mu-so out, you could tell straight away that this was a quality product built to amazingly high standards. The look and design of the mu-so is superb elegant and simple. Its brushed silver anodised aluminium chassis combined with the illuminated touch panel control and rotary volume seem almost futuristic and yet, are intuitive and easy to use. The mu-so can also be controlled by the Naim app available on both apple and Android devices.

With its varied functionality there are a few different ways to connect and set up the mu-so all of which are logical and straight forward. We soon had ours sat happily on our wi-fi network and playing from our music library. The music reproduction is amazing. For a relatively small product the sound that it delivers is super smooth with crystal clear clarity and jaw dropping bass, and its not shy when it comes to volume either.

So come in and have a look, have listen and you'll soon be adding a Naim mu-so to your Christmas list.

Classic Vinyl Evening #2, Tuesday 9th September

We are pleased to announce that following the success of our first vinyl evening, we will be returning to The Bridge Pub for another evening of musical entertainment.

This time around the album is going to be Bryter Layter by Nick Drake. We will be using a recent repressing cut from a back up copy of the original master tapes that had been kept safe by the producer Joe Boyd.

Equipment wise, the mighty Rega RP10 will be making a triumphant return but will be fed into into Naim Audio electronics (exact set up TBC) and PMCs latest speaker the Twenty 26.

Our new PMC Twenty 26 speakers have arrived and are playing instore.

You can read about them here.

Seating is limited, so please get in touch if you would like to come along to avoid any disappointment.

Doors open at 6pm, album start 6.30pm.

UPDATE...

Just to let you know our second Classic Album Evening went swimmingly and a good time was had by all.

Here is some feedback from one of our patrons.

Just a quick message to say thanks for
another excellent evening.  It was great to be able to hear
the new PMCs - they are such a natural and involving
sounding speaker - and it has certainly given me aspirations
to eventually own at least a pair of Twenty 21s.  Nice
choice of album too, and love the fact that you played
'Solid Air' after the Nick Drake.  Danny
Thompson's bass playing really came through well!

Matt.

 

Don't forget!! If you want to attend our next Classic Album Evening just drop us an email at manchester@audio-t.co.uk. 

Or keep an on our blog page for upcoming dates.

Audio T Brighton, Naim & Focal at AudioWorld Brighton 29 & 30 March

We are delighted to announce a collaboration between Audio T Brighton, Naim & Focal as we join forces to exhibit together at AudioWorld Brighton on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March 2014.

The Holiday Inn Hotel on Brighton Seafront Room 227 is where you wil find us.

Come and join us for a friendly visit. Special Show Deal available.

More details as they become available.

You can visit the Audioworld website and see what else is going on. 

What's DAC All About?

At Audio T we are amazed at how much a decent digital to analogue converter (DAC) can make to the resulting sound quality of music and film.

The DAC is a clever micro chip that converts analogue signals such as speech or in this case a music recording or a film soundtrack into a digital signal that can be amplified and then sent to your loudspeakers.

Your CD player, in car players, iPod, and some extent newer digital amplifiers often have DAC's built in however these vary greatly and are often of low quality. 

An audiophile grade dedicated and purpose built DAC can make a huge difference to the resulting sonic output and overall sound quality! 

At Audio T we have a wide range of DAC's that suit different applications and are designed to enhance your listening pleasure. 

Why not come in and hear the difference it can make to your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system.
 
Here are some of the Hi-Fi brands we have available in store for for you to listen to: Rega DAC, Audioquest Dragonfly DAC, Naim DAC's Arcam DAC's, Audiolab DAC's, Chord DAC's

We would always suggest you contact your local store and check availability before travelling. 

If you're interested in the technicalities then you can read more on Wikipedia 

*Image reproduced courtesy of Texas Instruments.

Naim streaming event keeps things flowing nicely.....

Our very first Naim event in our new dem room proved to be very successful.

We didn't think a dem room could sound so good, especially in hearing the differences between the new DR power supplies.

Naim Audio's new NDS digital streamer was on show and the general consensus amongst our guests who attended was " we want one! ".

Watch this space for further news on future events.