We are a small, focused team centred around providing best-in-class experiences for our clients. We have a retail HiFi showroom in Mona Vale and a more dedicated Home Cinema Experience Centre in Warriewood just a few minutes from our retail showroom both of which are on the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney. Our ideals over the past nearly 25 years have remained the same, everyone deserves great music and movie systems. Our mission it to always provide best-in-class for value and performance.
I remember when our client first came to our experience centre, it was in final stages of completion in our new location. He came in with his family to discuss his future plans for a dedicated home cinema. It had been his dream to have a dedicated space for many years and was already a stout fan of the brands we represent, with extensive research leading him to the Trinnov / Krix combination for cinema.
After our demonstration, the best way to describe his reaction was jubilation. About 12 months later, we started to design his AV System. His request was quite simple: "I want the same experience we had in your demo room."
The room was built as part of a larger basement project by Trade A Management to create a dedicated cinema with joining bar entertainment / karaoke room, indoor lap pool and gaming room.
The build was quite straight forward, there were still supply issues at the tail-end of Covid, so materials and some products took longer to arrive but overall it was a smooth build. The biggest issue we had was that there was dampness across the basement level. This part of the house is under ground and a fancy air circulation system Stiebel Elton HVR was installed by Air We Care for the games / bar and cinema which keeps the rooms fresh and at constant temperature. This air system keeps the air circulating, preventing any build up of dampness and is deadly silent which is great for the cinema. You would not know it was working. The room was designed from ground up by Trade A Management including all the joinery, our responsibility was the AV Design and product specification.
The system is a 9.4.6 configuration, with Krix MX-30 for the front stage, Krix Hypephonix for front wide / surround & surround back, Krix IC-80 and IC-52 making up the 6 overhead speakers. An additional 2 Krix Cyclonix 15 Subwoofers were placed in the rear.
The system is powered by a Trinnov Altitude 16 and a MadVR Envy Pro for video processing. A Parasound A31 power amplifier drives the front LCR and Electra power amplifiers drive all other speakers. The Yamaha PX-10 drives front MX-30 subwoofers which are 18” and the Yamaha PX-8 drives the rear Cyclonix 15 subwoofers. We have 2 Cambridge Dac Magic 200’s for the additional 4 digital channels of processing for a total of 19 channels. The only electronics we did not supply was the projector. Due to the product shortages, our client ended up sourcing this himself. The Sony projects onto a 150” Cinemascope Acoustic Transparent Screen. Finally, there is an Oppo 203 UHD player, a Zappiti Reference Media player and an Apple TV for TV streaming content.
For dedicated home cinema we exclusively use the Krix cinema range, which covers any level of home cinema: the SX series for smaller room, the MX series for infinite baffle behind screen dedicated rooms and the X series for larger spaces. Krix have a cinema solution for almost any budget and room size, we have been partnering with them for 10 years and from our first installation have never looked back.
There really is no other choice for us. I own an Altitude16 and an ST2 for my personal cinema and stereo setup. Trinnov is as close to modern-day magic you will find. The ability to remove the room and craft the ultimate cinematic experience to create customization making each and every room sound unique and tailored to the client's preferences.
Our philosophy is simple when you find great products stick with them. Trinnov is one such product. We have created some amazing spaces that just would not have been possible without the Altitude processing. If a room lets you down you can count on the Altitude to get things back on track, and when you have a great room the end result is just movie audio immersive perfection. We have great local support in Australia, but it’s the accessibility to Trinnov engineers directly that installs in us the confidence to present Trinnov Altitude for projects and tackle complex systems designs.
Constant training and communication from Krix who is our Trinnov distributor in Australia and Trinnov directly shows their commitment to building the best network of integrators. This investment in our business has earned our loyalty and our respect.
The Optimizer is the secret sauce, the final equation that binds it all together. Measurements and control of the environment with the ability to make every seat special. Rooms are very personal, there is what we believe to be technically correct and there is what our clients want. With the Optimizer we can have both.
All that matters is the user experience, the customization makes for a special room. When we hand over a project, what we want to hear from our clients is “that’s perfect”. Trinnov is the key to perfect.
We have on occasion required support, in the early days. It was some hand holding, as projects became more complex with many outside elements. The support team was present and engaged, often resolving issues that go beyond their scope relating to control systems or source signals.An involvement inspiring confidence and at all times professional.
We have fulfilled his long-term dream to have a dedicated home cinema. Our client is very proud of his room and has become a wonderful ambassador for our company and the brands. “I cant believe it, this is what I have always wanted” a direct quote. That to me says it all.
Both the Technica AT-LP120xBT-USB and the P1 Plus turntables are designed to play records - but approach this in (very) different ways. In this article, we'll go through how each works, the technologies behind them and which is best for playing your records.
Both the Technica and turntables are fully manual. This means you physically place the stylus onto the , via the arm lifter. You'll then also need to manually remove it via the lifter when the record is finished playing. This is actually a good thing. It means there are (way) less things connected to the and assembly. And that means better performance, as the arm and are free to do their job of tracking the record groove unhindered.
Audio Technica is fitted with built-in switchable line/ so you can connect directly to either a traditional or an aux type line input on an amplifier. The Rega Planar 1 Plus has MM Phono out only so must be connected to a line in on amplifier. You'll even be able to connect direct to aux inputs on active or wireless speakers with either turntable. The AT-LP120xBT-USB , as the "BT" in the elongated product title code tells us, is also able to send the signal via and has to enable direct connection to a computer with USB connectivity.
The main difference is that the Technica AT-LP120xBT-USB is Direct Drive and the P1 Plus is . These are the two most common forms of rotating propulsion in all turntables and there are different opinions on the benefits and attributes of both. A generally has the motor ( in this instance DC Servo) directly beneath the centre of the , bearing and spindle and propels instantly and directly, ostensibly with quicker start-up and arguably greater and more consistent speed accuracy and torque.
A generally has the motor isolated and separated from the main bearing and assembly and utilises a pulley system that connects the via a belt. In theory, this separation helps reduce resonance, and noise. This then increases transparency and openness (a very good thing!).
When it comes to vs drive drive, both have pros and cons. People often have their own preferences for both technologies based on their usage and requirements.
As for features, the Technica AT-LP120xBT-USB has the ability to play 33, 45 and 78 RPM records. It has a traditional, half-inch mount, removable universal headshell with a VM 95E . This enables future upgrades (BIG BONUS!), a stroboscopic with speed indicator and sliding pitch control for speed adjustment - also a huge plus!
The 1 Plus is a simpler device. It connects directly to the of an equipped amplifier or can be switched via the inbuilt to either phono or a line input. That's what the Plus stands for. It features the one-piece RB 110 with half-inch mount to enable future upgrades to a better (Once again, big bonus here!). The P1 Plus also has a low mass plinth and a phenolic resin .
Both these turntables are excellent value for money and will reward you with wonderful and better than expected performance at this price point level. Both give you the option to upgrade to a better as you re-explore your . Overall, you can't really go wrong with either. Jump onto YouTube or come in-store to have a look.
]]>It is always a real pleasure to be able to listen to and compare different products and make good sounding component combinations that offer great performance and value for outlay. This relativity applies from entry level through to high end.
We have been playing around recently and enjoying excellent results with a traditional and simple system made up from the following moderately priced components.
The fabulous NAD C328 amplifier forms the heart of this system. It is a 2 x 50 watt per channel stereo unit featuring an MM phono input, 2 x analogue line inputs, 2 x coaxial and 2 x optical digital inputs. The NAD C328 also features Bluetooth to enable wireless streaming, has a dedicated headphone amplifier with 6.5mm input socket and a subwoofer output and IR remote control.
One of the best loudspeakers we have found to partner with this amp is the “Highly acclaimed” and “ Multi Award winning”, Scottish based and designed, Fyne F 301 bookshelf model.
The Fyne F 301 features a 150mm multi fibre bass/mid range driver allied to a 25mm polymer dome tweeter. They have a sensitivity of 89dB, frequency response of 44Hz to 28kHz and are suited to amps from 25 to 100 watts RMS.
The turntable we have matched with these is the Audio Technica AT-LP2X, an excellent value for money, fully automatic belt drive model with a balanced straight tone arm, damped lift control and the ability to change cartridges to higher models for future performance upgrades if and as required.
In fact, all the components in this system offer the flexibility to upgrade features and add extra components as you progress with and develop your listening experience.
The notorious, wonderfully balanced punch and controlled dynamics of the NAD amp works superbly with the compact fullness, tonal balance, rich dynamics, detailed speed and clear, spacious imaging which are a hallmark of the Fyne F 301 and in fact all Fyne models in general.
The Audio Technica turntable is perfectly suited to these and delivers exceptional performance for the price in this combination.
This is a great little system offering super performance which will suit most small to medium sized listening/ living rooms. With reasonable quality cables to match this combination is wonderful value at around $2k.
If, like many of us, you are still playing CD’s, you can add the great sounding NAD C538 compact disc player which will only increase your spend by another $500 or so.
All in all the NAD C328/ Fyne F301/ Audio Technica AT-LP2X combo is a winning starter system.
If you need to go up a bit from here one can start with looking at the next couple of models up of NAD amplifiers and Fyne 300 or F500 series of loudspeakers and a higher range turntable and cartridge combination to suit your increased, performance, listening area and budget requirements.
]]>
The DEVIALET expert is really something out of this world. It’s slim, it has power and it has no limitations on connectivity. When I say “no limitations”, I mean it. This is as customisable as your subway sandwich.
When you think of a typical high end Hi-Fi set up, you think;
- A high quality streamer ?
- Turntable specific phono stage ?
- High connectivity pre amplifier ?
- High current power Amplifier ?
- DSP signal processing ?
NOW…… imagine all of those units in a single box smaller than your standard CD player. Seems impossible doesn’t it.
Well somehow DEVIALET have pulled it off.
“But what about Upgradability” I hear you ask? - DEVIALET have thought of this and have doubled down on upgradability, to make their amplifiers upgradable to Dual Mono or Multi-Amplification. Available from their 6 different models. Combine up to 8 Expert Pro’s to make a system of biblical proportions.
DEVIALET have a reoccurring theme of acronym’s throughout their technology so let's go through them.
RAM: Record Active Matching
Configure your turntable and cartridge settings to exactly the right setting. With over 256 different combinations available to the user, the Expert Pro has custom input impedance and a range of capacitors to accurately calibrate MM or MC cartridges. Is also is capable of HD vinyl digitising with a sampling rate of 192kHz/24 bits.
Now for any non tech heads:
This means when you set up the unit, you enter your turntable and cartridge models into the online configurator and DEVIALET will automatically match the settings to get the best possible sound impedance for your system. It also allows you to digitally record your albums from your turntable in high resolution to store them for future playback in the quality that you always expect from vinyl.
ADH: Analog Digital Hybrid
Analog vs Digital, a battle that has troubled Hi-Fi aficionado’s longer than time itself. Opinions aside they are both aiming to improve audio. So DEVIALET has created a way to utilise the best of both worlds. DEVIALET have utilised the raw power and life of Class A with the low energy and precision of Class D.
SAM: Speaker Active Matching
Choose from the list of 900+ SAM calibrated speakers when configuring your system and SAM will align the amplified signal delay between the bass and tweeter response. Almost all multi-way loudspeakers will have a delay between the bass driver and tweeter. Speakers calibrated using SAM carefully measure this and time align the drivers to create a surreal spatial feeling. This processing is performed in real time before Digital-Analog conversion. By DEVIALET collecting this speaker data is has allowed the amplifier to drive the speakers as efficiently as possible offering permanent protection from overload and allowing speakers to reach higher volumes than ever before.
SIMPLY PUT:
This amp is the cute girl that moved next door, has a nice personality and likes Star Wars; this amp has it all. Nitty gritty aside, this thing rocks! It has amazing spatial presence that images the sound perfectly and lets the speakers sound like they blend into the wall. The sound is precise.
"I’m sorry to say but it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows", Unfortunately did have a few issues
Network issues
We did have problems connecting the Expert to our network. Firstly trying to use WiFi and then Ethernet with no luck. It was only with multiple trial and errors over a few days we successfully got the unit working with Roon and able to stream directly. Since then we have had no issues and the unit has been reliable and always available when we needed it.
Configuration SD
To configure and update the Expert series you will need to download your custom configuration file from devialet.com, copy the file to the supplied SD card and insert the SD into the back of the Expert. This is the same for installing firmware updates.
This is an easy task but can be painful to some clients. Luckily for clients this will only need to be completed once, aside from checking for updates. Unfortunately in a Hi-Fi store it is not the most practical application as we change speakers daily inside our store.
Character
Usually testing amp I instantly pick what speakers would work with an amplifier, with the DEVIALET I feel I can play any set of speakers and be happy with the result. Obviously this will come down to an individuals preference. Someone who loves the warmth and colour of valve amps will not be looking at DEVIALET.
"Is this amp for me?"
I can't think of my people who wouldn't benefit from this amplifier. This Amp is excellent, I can honestly say this competes with systems 2x it's price. I find the main selling point being the customisation of the unit which helps it to be perfect for almost any speaker is has calibrated through SAM.
NOW, the main reason this may not be perfect is...... speakers and amps have their own character, each creating their own special combination. We all hear systems differently and that is why DEVIALET take away from a uniqueness of a well paired system. Unfortunately a large part of a system is what character it has, warm, bright, analytical. The DEVIALET Expert is neither it is as precise as can be.
'The Wrap Up', DEVIALET have hit the nail on the head with this amp. If it was any smarter it would write a book. Whether this is the right amp for you is up to you and the only way to know is........
Come in and ask for a Demo :)
]]>2020 has been a year like no other, here in Australia we started off the year with blazing fires, then come the floods and then a global pandemic. Back in March it literally felt that the world was coming to end and for many people normal life was turned into chaos whilst panic started to take over our lives.
Lockdown for family households was strange and scary, our phones did not stop ringing with people wanting and needing help for their home entertainment. We were overwhelmed and rushed off our feet with people suddenly realising how much they needed to be connected and have entertainment in order. We all saw in the news how much people were turning to renovating, de cluttering, baking, knitting, gardening basically anything that kept us all occupied was becoming the new normal. Home Entertainment suddenly mattered.!
Life for Sydney Hi Fi Mona Vale was a bit crazy more home cinema projects were being demanded and people were valuing and wanting bigger and better systems. Krix an Australian manufacturer based in South Australia have been going strength to strength however COVID brought some uncertainty but this year dedicated home cinema in the residential sector was up by 80%.
Every year in Sept Krix organise an epic Dealer conference when we get to enjoy the company of the supportive dealers and spend time with the dedicated staff and management. This year COVID stopped the yearly event so yes a ZOOM meeting was held. Krix have very high standards for their dealer network and awards are not given out lightly. Look at what our store won!
We were delighted and shocked that our store was awarded dealer of the year for 2020 for single store. This award was a credit to our passion and hard work over the many years, 2020 sure has been a big year for our team.
This award has left us on a high there is much work to be done as 2020 is not over yet, one thing we are certain of is that Home Entertainment matters !
If you are sitting on the fence thinking about what you need to do about your home entertainment give us a call and let's get you over the hurdles, we know what we are doing when it comes to Home Entertainment.
]]>
Exceptional value for money the NAD M10 just got better with a generous cash back.
It may look compact in size however this beautifully finished streaming amplifier is packed with features on board HDMI, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX HD, subwoofer outputs, Roon Ready, MQA, and the list goes on. Add to this a Hypex-powered stereo 100w per channel output, and all you need to do is add speakers.
Home entertainment right now matters more than ever, we take pride in helping our customer’s create simple solutions and the NAD M10 is one of those products that can be a game changer to your home sound.
Contact or visit us In Store to discuss how you can experience the NAD M10.
We have all been shocked and thrown into a world of turmoil right now. The way we live is changing and right now what matters the most is our health and protecting our world for our future.
As the days go by the more surreal the situation feels and we have to accept there is a new normal way of life upon us. As the saying goes “When the going gets tough the tough get going? We at Sydney Hi Fi Mona Vale are a family local business in the Northern Beaches, your Home Entertainment is what we do best. For over 30 years we have been in the business helping many people value and appreciate listening to quality music or watching a movie in the comfort of your own home is a service that we take pride of and love doing. There sure is no safer place than your home so why not try and make it as enjoyable as possible.
Today with the challenge times that we are faced with the pandemic of COVID-19 we have to prepare and look at our home differently. It is important that you stay connected and keep up high energy levels, music is a way that you can escape and get lost in the moment a song, or a beat that simply gets you moving and feeling alive.
Over this past week we have had an influx of people looking at their old electronics , turntables, amplifiers suddenly everyone is at home and looking at how to make the time pass away in a fun way. It’s no surprise to us when customers are wanting to have music or have a home cinema experience. Let’s face it music can sure provide an escapism that we all need right now.
Now with more family members working from home you may be starting to experience that your home network is not coping. So this is where we can help you improve things, our experienced team can offer you a turnkey end to end solution fully customised to our customer’s needs.
Contact us via phone, email or visit our website and request a video link up with zoom.
Your Home Entertainment Matters to us. Our store hours have recently changed from 10am till 4pm week days and 10am till 2pm on Saturdays.
]]>
Home Automation used to be focused around security and monitoring systems however more and more devices like your TV, streaming amplifiers and wireless speakers are now app controlled. Learning how to navigate software is becoming normal in the way we interact and operate our home devices.
So the question around when to consider Home Automation is an interesting one. A lot depends on your tolerance to adapt and embrace what lies ahead of you if you embark on this path. You may see headlines from brands that home automation will make your life easier and in some cases if you are willing to change and learn new ways Automation can certainly simplify your life. However there are some realities that you must face including your network infrastructure and your ability to understand and control the devices you have available to you.
If you’re renovating or building a new home this is the perfect time to sit down with your electrician and engage with an audio visual specialist who can advise you on how far you want to take home automation. Your home network needs to be rock solid so do your research and ensure that your Internet provider has given you the right set up, this is your first step to having things working properly.
Adding network devices to improve your existing network can also be area of confusion. Today there are tools that can help identify problem areas within your network. If talking about networks and technology starts to give you a pain in your gut and you raise your hands in the air “Saying don’t want to know” or “I just don’t understand what to do” or “ I hate technology” then these are all signs that you need some professional assistance.
The real question here is “How much control do you want?”. It also requires everyone in your home to sit together and have an open discussion about what devices do you want automated. We call it setting the scenes which simply means the level of programming inside your house, which includes functions like automatic lighting or time settings on curtains, just to name a few simple functions. There are many scenes that can be programmed it all comes down how you as an individual or family go about living in your home.
Now you may just say "NO" to home automation all together and this is perfectly fine you can still use traditional remote controls to turn things on and off devices. Home Automation is not for everyone and it all comes down to your tolerance to embrace technology. Yes you may be pushed outside of your comfort zone but at the end of the day the decision to automate or not automate is yours. Your home entertainment matters and we are here to help not matter what level of control you want. Our staff’s main priority is to have our customer’s enjoy their home entertainment without any fuss. If you need help you can reach us in our showroom located in Mona Vale Northern Beaches.
]]>
Due to the recent circumstances of public events being cancelled the Hi Fi 2020 show has now been postponed to Sept. We are grateful that organizers were able to do this to help keep our local community safe. In the meantime if anyone needs help with keeping their home entertainment comfortable and fun please reach out to us.
It is with enthusiasm, that we are proud to announce and share our excitement for the Hi Fi 2020 show here in Sydney. There is plenty to get excited about with this show as brands and suppliers are coming together to showcase their products in private rooms. Not only will you get to meet the people behind the brands but you can take your time to compare, listen, critic and simply enjoy the experience over 3 days.
If you are a movie lover then be sure to come along and visit the Krix room who are going all out to showcase the Krix MX40 which we know is going to blow your mind.
We are delighted as Krix certified dealers to be helping the many suppliers that we support over the 3 days so please come along and find out how we can help anyone who is thinking about building a home cinema room or simply wants a new music system in 2020. Shows like this take a lot of effort and we do this to educate and give consumers a unique experience.
https://www.krix.com.au/dtsxpro-world-first-demo/
You can find out more details by clicking on these links, life is too short not to have great music in your life so take the time out to meet the people who enrich our lives with great sound, after all music matters in our lives.
]]>Our Store will be undertaking a massive uplift in the coming months to prepare for more Krix MX series demonstrations. If you are building or renovating please make contact with our team so we can help you plan ahead of time. We can assist with wiring diagrams, design concepts and help with your product selection. Complete installations carried by qualified and trained installers and electricians.
In the meantime please take the time to read the below announcement by Stereonet.
https://www.stereo.net.au/news/krix-releases-flagship-mx-40-home-cinema-speaker-system
]]>Why Anthem you make ask?
Receivers are essential for the true “Home Theatre” experience and not all receivers are made equal.
]]>Get excited bring in your old receiver working or not and start enjoying the lastest 4K Dolby Atmos surround sound and ARC genesis room correction with Anthem.
Why Anthem you make ask?
Receivers are essential for the true “Home Theatre” experience and not all receivers are made equal.
Anthem MRX series AV Receivers have some outstanding qualities that makes them a cut above the rest and for almost the same money which also makes them outstanding value.
Accurate processing is just the start and we can truly say that most brands would also provide accurate processing from Dolby Digital and simulated surround processing modes right through to the latest DTS-X and Atmos audio modes. But this is where the similarities stop. Anthem is not about gimmicks and fancy useless DSP modes, it is about real reproduction of the Audio encoded on the movie, about giving you what the maker intended. Power is clean and controlled, we find that volume levels are lower but the perception is you are getting more, it is natural and loads of dynamic range.“Its all in the setup”
Now this is where the magic starts, in the setup, Anthem has calibration ability like all other AV receivers, but Anthem takes this to another level and not just calibration! Anthem MRX series has ARC “Anthem Room Correction” that’s right Room Correction. This is no joke, this is a powerful PC based (or Mac) software that not only aids in the calibration but clever algorithms that with out too much experience make you an expert in Room Correction, full spectrum sweeps of all speakers in real time show you the audio frequency curves as they are and the improvements applied, you see and hear the difference. If you take an interest and have a little knowledge you can take this and progress further.
Simply put, Anthem gives you the control power and technology to achieve sound performance unlike any AV receiver on the market at this price point.
Anthem has been our receiver of choice not just for our high end home cinema’s but for any of our clients that want the best sound possible in any room type.
Offer only valid till the 5th of January 2020
]]>We welcome customers to visit our showroom and check out the product first hand and discover for yourself if the Wireless formation is right for you. Please book an appointment call 80883088.
https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/review-bowers-wilkins-formation-suite
]]>
We recently attended training with the team from Krix and the excitement in the room when they announced that they were going to release the MX 5 in Australia took us all by surprise. Our first impression is for customers to understand that when you are considering a Krix MX series is that room size matters. We encourage anyone who is thinking of designing a Krix MX series to engage with us so we can get you on the right path.
Make no mistake, Krix have a dedicated home cinema solution for any size room, true cinematic experience in you own home! The best home cinema speaker manufacturer in the world just got better, come and talk to us so we can design the perfect Krix system for jut for you, any room any budget.. because great home cinema matters.
Send in your plans, ideas and yes we will ask you about your budget. The below review from StereoNet is a great read.
https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/review-krix-mx-5-modular-cinema-screen-speaker-system
]]>Creating your perfect outdoor living space with music simply starts with the living area, once we understand the configuration of your outdoor living space we can design and advice appropriate speakers to suit your garden and entertainment area.
Let’s start with how you want to control your music as this will help with solutions that are available today. All speakers need to be cabled back to what is known as an amplifier. Your outdoor speakers are no different to your indoor set up therefore making provisions to cable back to either a Sonos connect amp or a switch box that talks to your main stereo amplifier will give you the flexibility to start to control and have music playing in your outdoor area.
We often get asked about positioning of the speakers as the challenge for outside, sound may feel that it is drifting into space or neighbours may in fact be enjoying the music more than you. To avoid disappointment it is best to position speakers so they are not facing into open spaces, if possible angle the speakers within the area that you are going to spend most of your time. Correct placement of your outdoors stereo speakers will help contain the sound within your living space.
Placing weather proof speakers around garden beds is not new to us and products from Origin Acoustics, Bose or Bowers & Wilkins Polk all provide different levels of sound and design elements to enhance your overall look and feel to your landscape area.
Controlling your music from one single source always puts a smile on our clients faces. Let's face it, when you are entertaining you don’t need the extra hassle of sorting out your music when everyone arrives. Sorting out your play lists ahead of time is so easy with Music streaming services all at your finger tips. Sonos, Bose, Yamaha, Naim just to name a few all have the ability to give you complete control to create and spread music all over your home. Linking your indoor music with your outdoor area is easier than you think. Once all the correct components are set up you will be able to control and organise your play list all from a user friendly app. Use your phone, Ipad or computer to create your play lists ahead of time of party or simple search your favorite artists all at your finger tips. The only thing you might like to do is increase the volume if your favorite songs suddenly comes on.
Book in a time with our expert designer to help create your perfect outdoor entertainment area.
]]>
So my next move after saying “I have had enough” was to look online as Dr google knows everything (as millennials have told me). Funnily, all I could see whilst reading was negative comments. I convinced myself that I had to go and buy a new machine and that I had bought a poorly designed product. I too wanted to express my frustration with the manufacture as had I paid good money for this machine and was disappointed to read these comments.
Selling electronic components like amplifiers, speakers, turntables and Hi Fi, stereo systems, we filter many calls on a daily basis from frustrated people who call in when their Hi Fi system does not work. The frustration is real and let’s face it, there is never a good time when things break down or suddenly stop working. No doubt you have a party organised and you suddenly think, What about the music? Sure enough, nothing works properly. Panic sets in. Great, more things to sort out. I can hear your mind thinking, stupid technology, it was fine the last time I used it. Who fixes anything anymore? Who do I call? Who can I trust? Where do I take this? A real sense of urgency is suddenly created.
Now solving the problem may not be as easy as cleaning your Hi Fi system, but many times it can simply come down to a changing the input selection, untangling cables, replacing batteries or the good old reboot. Being located so close to the beaches, corrosion from the salty air can be a common issue for customers in our area. The age of electronics and/or a lack of use can wear down your components, believe it or not. So using and enjoying your Hi Fi as much as possible kind of makes sense. Like everything in life, Hi Fi and electronics have a shelf life and at some point in time things just need to be changed. We call it "It's time to move on"
If you find yourself feeling frustrated like I was, rule No. 1, keep calm, there is a solution! Take steps and put responsibility into your own hands. Seek help from your local Hi Fi Specialists, accept advice, take action and start enjoying your Home Entertainment without the fuss. Moral of the story; call in the experts. Life is too short to feel frustrated. If ever you need support ring 8088 3088. Our team can provide guidance and have you sitting back, dancing, and smiling with your Home Entertainment.
]]>
There is something magical about listening to a record that’s different to listening to a digital file. It seems to sound warm, open, detailed, dynamic, spacious, deep, 3 dimensional, smooth and inviting with the perception that you are in the same space
]]>There is something magical about listening to a record that’s different to listening to a digital file. It seems to sound warm, open, detailed, dynamic, spacious, deep, 3 dimensional, smooth and inviting with the perception that you are in the same space. It’s typically not harsh, excessively bright, fatiguing, overly compressed and lifeless. I think the goal when listening to music is to feel something and to be taken away to another place. The desire to be immersed and lost in the detail of a recording is an appealing reason to own a record player.
What are important features to consider?
Using a car analogy some people are happy to buy a basic car and as long as it reliably gets them from A to B they’re fine. Other people love to drive and appreciate high performance and enjoy the experience, every time they get in the car. Those people will also upgrade and modify their car to enhance the performance to suit they way they like it. It’s very common in audio to customise a system to suit your needs. It’s very enjoyable process too.
The biggest considerations are what level you want to start at, take it too and what speaker system it’s going to be played through. Knowing this information will guide you to the level of turntable you should start with. Like any product each respectable turntable brand will have a range products with varying features, qualities and prices to suit everyone.
The features breakdown
A turntable simply works by using a needle to extract information from a record, which sends that information to and phono amplifier and reproduces it through the speakers. How well it does that is the difference between models.
You start by placing a record on the plater and then selecting a speed of 33 or 45 rpm. When you turn the motor on it makes the platter spin and is ready to drop the needle into the groove. The part the needle is attached to is called the stylus. The stylus is connected to the cartridge, which is attached to the tone arm. The sound travels though the tone arm, via a cable to the phono stage.
As you can see there are a lot of components that play a part in the sound so it’s the combination of these products and their design that creates the overall “quality”.
Set up and system requirements
Other factors that influence the sound are how well the turntable is correctly setup, vibration management and the phono amplifier it’s coupled with.
When setting up a turntable the first thing to look at is making sure the counter weight on the end of the tone arm is set correctly to the preferred tracking force. This information is in the manual but if you hear distortion its possibly to heavy.
The next thing to make sure is the cartridge is aligned correctly by using a protractor. If this is done properly you will hear a balanced left and right image from the speakers. If the alignment is out you will hear it more on one side and less on the other plus distortion and noise.
Making sure your turntable is isolated from surfaces as much as possible reduces unwanted vibrations that will affect the performance and sound quality. The better the turntable the better it naturally handles vibrations.
Upgradable parts
Although all turntables will work out of the box for those that want to have customise the sound here is a list of parts you can change to improve your sound. The slip mat, the belt, the cartridge, stylus, the power supply, the audio cables, the plater, isolation platforms and the phono preamp are all upgradable.
Must have Accessories
If you have just been frightened or overwhelmed by the variables don’t worry it can be as simple as you want it to be to enjoy music. I believe these possibilities should be embraced and seen as an exciting journey into a world of great sound.
Once you have your system set up the new fun begins finding the records you want. More and more people are inheriting collections and bands are rereleasing older recordings. New bands are releasing their music on vinyl for the first time, which is great. Don’t forget Sydney Hifi Mona Vale is here to guide you through the journey.
]]>
No matter what generation you are apart of, the sound of music can elevate the way you feel. Research has shown that our brain is made up of nerve cells that send electrical impulses known as brain wave patterns. These impulses are closely connected to our thoughts, emotions and mood. Music can have a direct impact on our brain waves, sending out signals that can alter the way we feel.
Musicians spend many countless hours composing a song and creating the right sound to express their narrative. The strategic use and layering of the instruments, the right beat, the lyrics, the structure and melody; all of these elements matter when creating a musical piece of art.
The way we listen to music has certainly changed over the years, as the introduction of digital has expanded the way we access and listen to music. Today we are seeing a definite resurgence with Vinyl and people wanting to experience connecting and interacting with Turntables. The Vinyl record on its own is a piece of art. The cover as well as the tracks all share an important role in illustrating the story that the artist wants to tell. A vinyl record is a masterpiece of a musician’s work that will engage all your senses, encompassing sight, sound and touch. Music opens up an array of feelings from happiness, to excitement, to sadness, allowing you to embrace a moment of solitude in which you are compelled to reflect on your life’s both private and significant occasions.
Recently, a client visited our store to purchase a Turntable; his motivation was that his wife was tired of the poor sound quality of streaming music online from their phone, which would then come out of a Bluetooth speaker. They had a collection of Vinyl records and remembered how great music used to sound when they would use their turntable. The client expressed his excitement to get home and go through his collection as he said that music helped to spark some memories that were becoming distant as he was getting older. While flicking through his collection, he was able to remember certain things and specific moments that happened in his life. He did his own research and read articles about how music can help people who suffer from Alzheimer’s. He was looking forward to setting up the turntable and the reliving the connection he used to experience when selecting the album, placing the needle down and enjoying the quality sound with his wife.
Growing up being surrounded by music allowed myself to feel a deep sense of appreciation for the art. Many great memories were created as a result of music playing while home cooked meals were prepared and family meals were shared. We were very fortunate to have our own Hi Fi and Stereo systems in our family homes; it felt like there was a competition between my cousins and uncles about who had the best Hi Fi systems. I can recall the sounds from the Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clear Water, Santana, Bee Gees, Ricky Lee Jones and Elvis being regular albums, played on our family Sunday gatherings. Great memories to relive.
Listening to Music on quality systems allows you to enjoy the arrangement the way the musicians intended for their work to be heard, in its purest, clearest and most naturalistic form. Achieving the right combinations of electronics goes a long way to achieving the best sound for music. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy many combinations of components, however my favorite set ups remains the warm sound of a valve amplifier and a turntable with quality speakers.
So does Music matter? Well we were certainly born as social creatures and to enjoy life with others, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it when we are alone. Music acts as the company we may not have, and enhances the company that we do. It is one of those pleasures that can elevate your mood, make you fall in love and allow you to escape to where you never thought you would go.
]]>Naim Audio's original founding values in 1973 "to experience music replayed in its truest and purest possible form. These values continue today. "The technology we use to achieve our aims will always change and evolve with time but our ultimate goal remains the same - to bring our listeners a deeper and more intense experience of their music." Naim Audio.
I have highlighted some of the technologies and the uniformity of one of their shining stars the Mu-So in this video review, albeit while having some fun at my own expense.
I am passionate about audio and listening to music, when products come along that understand where they sit in the market space perfectly it is inspiring. Simply put the Mu-So represents a step forward in wireless multi-room audio. Elegant simple and powerful.
Naim has been producing revolutionary products since the birth of the NAP 200 Power Amplifier in 1973, the CDS CD player altered conventional wisdom in 1991. In 2000 with the release of the then flagship Naim Audio NAP 500 power amplifier the world took notice, a bold new design that would redefine Naim Audio for the 21st century.
Never resting and with relentless years of development Naim created the Statement reference Amplification System in 2014, is was and still is the reference standard in high-end audio and music reproduction.
Jump to 2017 and Naim release the Uniti series of products. A range of revolutionary all-in-one players inspired by the unfaltering passion for music and enabled by 40 years of tireless innovation in engineering.
All your music in one place!
Great concept ? - yes.
A new concept ? - No.
But Naim is not following any other company they are not becoming to any fringe social group. They are creating products to enhance our listening pleasure. All in one systems, that connect via their rich media application to give you music in every room, not just a convenient system but a quality system, with unparalleled connectivity.
What I love about Naim the most is that when they create products they are already thinking ahead of what and how the products will tie in together, the Naim Mu-So was released 2 years ago, followed a short time later by the Naim Mu-So QB the smaller sibling. These products link in beautifully with the Naim Uniti series to give you products that are all connected via the Naim app for seamless multiform audio.
Naim Audio has the most loyal customer base, once you own Naim you will want to own Naim for life.
Aspiration products for your musical pleasure accessible to anyone who loves music.
]]>Correct set up, speaker positioning and calibration are still the first steps to getting the most out of your system. Once you have done everything possible to get the most out of your system (before spending money) then you should look at ways to improve the sound. Three areas your system can be affected are from electrical noise, structural vibrations and airborne vibrations within the room’s acoustics.
Electrical noise:
Power conditioners, filtration and surge protection
The problem with electrical noise is you don’t realise it’s there until you “clean up” your system. All of your products that are plugged into the wall power sockets at home have the potential to pick up unwanted noise from internal appliances in the home or other external sources from the neighbourhood. This noise affects your audio signal. Power boards and power conditioners offer a few solutions. Some boards offer surge protection only, which is a safety net that protects your audio gear against damage. The next level offers surge protection and filtration. Filtration is the part that filters the unwanted noise from the power and improves the sound. This is a great upgrade as you get an improvement from the sound and protection from surges, which every system should have.
Cables
Cables are no longer seen as an accessory but a component in their own right. This is an area you should talk to a professional about as you could spend a lot of money unnecessarily. Power cables, interconnects, speaker cables, analogue and digital cables can and do change the sound. I have done multiple tests on multiple types, brands and price points. I have seen a huge improvement from as little as $40 but knowing how far to take it is the key here. Good cables minimise noise and phase distortion while leaving the sound detailed, clear, dynamic, retaining spatial detail in the image, and reproducing the full frequency content.
Structural Vibrations:
Isolating Turntables
Vibrations can affect a variety of components from turntables to speakers. I see this area as a problem/solution category before sound enhancement. Turntables are one of the obvious products that benefit from improved isolation. If your turntable is on the same surface as your amplifier or speakers removing it from that surface will reduce vibrations. Further ways to minimise vibrations with turntables is to isolate it from the surface its on using different feet or isolation platforms.
Isolating Speakers
Most floor-standing speakers come with or have provisions for isolation feet to be fitted. The reason for this is they are trying to have less surface area touching the floor. Decoupling a vibrating speaker from the floor reduces resonances. This improves the image and removes a lot of the “boomy” sound. Bookshelf speakers that sit directly on a desk or bench top surface can benefit from isolation platforms too. Inexpensive isolating like the Les Davis 3D discs can be placed under turntables, amplifiers, power supplies, speakers and other components to manage micro-vibrations to great affect.
Airborne Vibrations:
Airborne vibrations can come from speaker moving air with such force that it’s making the turntable jump out of the grove or things in the room start vibrating. The first solution is to move things to reduce this. Once you have done all of the above then it’s time to explore acoustic treatment.
Acoustic Treatment
First it’s important to understand and differentiate isolating sound from getting in or out of a space as one thing, and controlling how sound moves in a space as another, which is what we are looking at now. Assuming everything has been set up in the optimal space we can look at ways to control the sound in that space to make it sound how you want it. What we can do in a space is-
When people think of acoustic treatment they may think of ugly looking foam, which may not suit the style of the room. We understand that aesthetics of a room can be equally important so we have multiple options to add treatment with style in mind.
]]>
Technology is always evolving. Product designers look at the different ways we listen to music and try to develop products to specifically suit those needs. We can listen to music individually on our phones with wireless ear buds or headphones while we catch the bus to work. We can take a small portable bluetooth speaker with us on holidays to share our music with friends by the pool. We can have multiple wireless speakers to fill every room in the house with sound while entertaining or enjoying music with the family. We can create a surround sound cinema room or a traditional stereo music listening room for that immersive experience. Knowing the different ways you want to listen to music guides you in choosing a sound source.
It’s important to understand the medium audio is carried on and the three key parts of an audio system. These consist of the audio format, the sound source and the playback device. Audio formats are things like records, tapes, CDs, mp3, wav, flac, etc and they are played on a sound source.
Sound sources are devices that play an audio format like record players, CD players, Tape players, Computers, Phones, Tablets, etc. A playback device is something that turns the source into sound we can hear. These consist of an amplifier and speaker configuration, which comes in 3 general combinations. They are a separate amp and speaker, an all-in-one amp and speaker, or a headphone amp and headphones.
All-in-one systems
When you have a product that does everything all-in-one it’s usually made to a price point to offer great value for money and simplicity of use. The advantage of an “all-in-one” system is that they offer a lot of features, they are usually compact and simple to use and they are cost effective. The disadvantages are the sound is average, they may not be compatible with many other products, which can limit its life span, and if one thing fails in them you have to replace the whole lot. Someone on a budget looking to down size or has little space may find this option suitable.
Some people just don’t have the appreciation for music and can’t see the value in spending more then they feel comfortable with. As long is it does the job they are happy. For the rest of us…
Separate components
For someone who loves listening to music in all its glory it’s easy to see the value in quality products. When you listen to something it’s the sum of all its parts that make it sound the way it does so replacing one part will have an impact on the sound. This is where the fun journey starts testing gear. Any music system is only as good as it’s weakest link and generally speaking when you have a device that only does one thing it usually does that job very well. The initial cost of separate components is more then an all-in-one but this comes with an improvement in sound quality and listening experience, flexibility to customise the sound of each component to your specific needs and the ability to replace any component without spending money unnecessarily. It also makes upgrading and improving your system much easier, giving you more control.
Summation
I wanted to share an approach for people who love audio and music listening that may perceive it out of reach to attain the system they want because they feel they can’t afford it. My advice is to come and listen to different speaker and amp combinations to discover what you like first and foremost. Knowing what level you want to start at and take it to is an important question to ask yourself. It might only be economical to purchase one of the components to start with but the beauty of components is that you are building a system that should last you a long time. The goal should be to find out how you want to listen to music, what sound sources you will use and what level of detail you are expecting to hear. We are all working towards a system we can enjoy for years.
]]>]]>
A walk along the beach, gazing at the stars, sitting with friends and love ones, playing ball with your dog at the park, great things that enrich our lives that don’t really cost anything.
When it comes to music there are many things we can do to improve a sound system that won’t cost you anything or not much anyway.
One of the easiest things to do regardless of technical expertise or financial status is adjust your position. That’s right move a little.
Getting your self in a position to really hear what is being played in your sound system is as easy as in, out, up, down, right and left.
First lets start with the speaker position, how close are they to a back wall or side wall? Speakers should where possible be toed in just a little, the closer to the wall the more important this is just to help with first reflections, more on this another time.
When you are listening to your music system, if standing up, drop down so your head is below the top of the speaker. Speakers have low mid and high range frequencies by adjusting your height position you can take advantage of all frequencies coming from speakers, if you are standing or too high you will loose much of the depth of the sound, if you have the speakers too high and you are sitting too low things will sound dense and muddy. When you get your height position right the improvements will be clear – very clear.. detail separation and suspended notes.
Try moving in closer to your speaker and listen while you do this, you will find the focus improves, also the image and width of the soundstage, things start to really take position so you can visualise where musicians are standing.
The results can be quite profound, what you are doing is removing some room problems getting in closer you have a more likely chance to listen to what is coming from the speakers and now what is bouncing around the room.
Close your eyes listen to your favorite piece of music and be transported to the best seat in the house.
"listening to the Focal Sopra N03 is always a great experience, you can enjoy the music anywhere in the room, but when you position yourself in their sweet spot it is enchanting, an experience for the whole body, what you hear and what you feel is heightened much like having Spiderman senses." Mick Stillone.
]]>
The head shell, cartridge and stylus.
In between the groove
The combination of the cartridges design, build quality and materials used combined with the stylus’s ability to extract information from the grooves is what makes up the change in sound.
Looking at the photo of the different tips you can see that as it goes from left to right they are different shapes and they are touching more surface.
Moving Magnet vs Moving Coil.
Each brand that sells a range of cartridges usually have two types: Moving magnet and moving coil
They are differentiated by the way they operate and this creates a different “flavour” of sound. Most turntables use moving magnet unless specified. If you are fitting a moving coil cartridge you need to make sure you have a phono pre amp that has the ability to switch from MM to MC. Knowing which one to go for is a matter of taste and the ability of your gear to facilitate it. In the photo you can see the top row consists of 4 levels of moving magnet cartridges and the 4 equivalent moving coil cartridges. They all sound great just different.
The Ortofon Cartridge Lab
The wonderful people at Ortofon have come up with a nifty little system called the Cartridge Lab, which allows us the ability to quickly and easily swap out the cartridges to hear the difference. Normally this would take a long time to do as they all need to be weighted and adjusted but that problem has been solved by making them all the same weight with a removable head shell.
Choosing a cartridge
After learning that there are lots of brands, types and qualities and price points it may seem over whelming. Choosing a cartridge is a personal choice. It’s worth noting that the system you are attaching you turntable to will have an impact on how audible the improvement is. The more revealing the system the more noticeable the difference.
I wanted to share my own experience as I have a turntable that a lot of other people might have and I was impressed with the result. I have an Audio Technica LP120 at home, which I use with a Yamaha receiver and a pair of moderately priced floor-standing speakers. I would say this is an average system and definitely not “high end” by any means. I decided to test the range of Ortofon cartridges between $169 and $1000 and I did this with one of my colleagues. All of them gave me an audible difference so I decided to see if that difference was an improvement and also if it was worth the money. ,After listening to each of them multiple times I found that price aside my favourite one was the Ortofon 2M Blue moving magnet, which is around $329. My colleague preferred a different cartridge, which goes to show there is no one product that is perfect for everyone.
The two points I would like to make are you don’t need to have the most expensive hifi system to appreciate an upgrade in sound quality or need to spend a lot of money. The other point is that everybody’s expectations, budget and tastes are different so only you can answer what is right for your listening experience.
Come into Sydney Hifi Mona Vale and put yourself in the drivers seat so you can experience what it’s like to enjoy music that much more than before.
]]>
My personal history with vinyl: I’m 22 and I started buying when I was 16. I would catch a bus to the city, spend the day walking to the few record stores that still remain. With the pocket money I had, I would purchase a record a week. Spending the other 6 days listening to the record on repeat. This grew my love for music. Listening over and over I discovered more about the record, the lyrics and the production. Something that I was never able to do with an MP3.
So who is buying records? In-store we are seeing young and old scrolling through our titles. With the youth being the most excited about seeing their favourite titles. From Marvin Gaye to Katy Perry, vinyl numbers are growing for classics and even the most current records. With The Beatles taking out the number 1 and 2 spot for vinyl sales last year, Guardians of the Galaxy and Ed Sheeran took out 3 and 4. Showing just how widespread the demand for titles is.
So what is drawing the customers to the old format? With the world at our fingertips, unlimited songs in our pocket and the ease of listening anywhere.
Why? Are we simply not enjoying it anymore?
Sitting down and listening to an album in its entirety has become a luxury for some reason. We are all in a rush to play the best of or skip through only half a track. Growing up through an Aux chord / Bluetooth generation, this was definitely the case. The trend we are seeing now is everyone wanting to sit back, relax and enjoy the whole vinyl as intended by the artist.
Now for the quality; vinyl is uncompressed! This is one of the main reasons customers love their vinyl so much. On a great system, the warmth and clarity of vinyl are hard to match. But is analogue technology that has been around for 6 decades really better than music downloaded today?
The sound is as good as its weakest link! (One of the most important lines in Hi-Fi)
Vinyl is uncompressed. No quality is lost in the production process. This allows every detailed sound and harmonic to be reproduced, where MP3’s and many other audio files compress the recording. This results in a loss of quality and frequency response.
April 21st is Record Store Day, in-store we will have live music, food and of course vinyl. For all you vinyl enthusiasts we will have limited edition vinyl from picture discs to 180g audiophile pressings. Are you interested in starting a turntable system? Looking to upgrade? Have no idea? We understand! For anyone looking to start a home turntable system, we will have staff on all day ready to help with suggestions or options on how to get started. Join the cult and get back to listening to music the traditional way.
Headphones are a selfishly, personal device. They have lots of different uses and there are many different types. This time I’m going to demystify them to help you narrow down what suits your needs.
]]>Headphones are a selfishly, personal device. They have lots of different uses and there are many different types. This time I’m going to demystify them to help you narrow down what suits your needs.
Headphone Types
Headphones can be sorted into three main types: in-ear, on-ear and over-ear.
These types can be further categorised into open back, semi-open back and closed back. Open back allows sound to “leak” out while closed back will isolate it more.
There are wireless and cabled options available and there are headphones that have connectors for phones with built in microphones. There are benefits to all of these.
Noise Cancelling vs isolation: it’s worth mentioning that many people mistake over ear headphones as noise cancelling. While over ear headphones isolate the sound and naturally block out or reduce background noise that does not mean they’re noise cancelling. Noise cancelling is a technology that is built into a headphone and you have to activate it with a switch. What this does is basically reduce the background noise even further then normal.
Advantages
In ear: They are small, discrete and light, they isolate sound well to the listener, they are easy to transport and are generally cost effective.
On ear: These are a smaller version of an over ear pair that sit on your ear. They give the listener the ability to still hear what is going on around them, as they don’t completely isolate the sound.
Over ear: These offer great isolation to the listener with a detailed sound quality.
Understanding Their Uses
It’s important to first ask yourself how you want to use your headphones. Here are typical sets of circumstances that are common.
Travelling
Any type of headphones can be suitable for travelling as long as they are closed back, so others wont be affected. I would also chose a cabled option and buy the airline adapter so I can use it on a plane. Noise cancelling technology is also popular for travelling to help further block out engine and passenger noise.
Commute to work
I would suggest someone chose a closed back option because let’s face it no one likes “that guy” on the bus that is disturbing the peace. Wireless options and in ear are the popular choices for this scenario.
Sport or gym
In this case the lighter and less obtrusive the better. In ear headphones are very suitable for this as they are light, sweat resistant, durable and can be cable free. Just be cautious when running near cars as they isolate so well you may not hear them. If that’s the case a light set of on ears are better suited.
General listening
For general listening you should choose something based around what you want to use it with, durability, comfort and definitely how good they sound to you. It’s also common to have an option to answer calls and listen to music on your phone.
Recording studio or mixing and mastering headphones
Recording audio requires closed back over ear headphones that are detailed, light, and that isolate sound well. You don’t want sound (like a click track or music) to come out while you’re recording, as the microphone will pick that back up.
On the other hand mixing and mastering headphones are usually the opposite with open back over ear. It’s important that the sound is as accurate and detailed as possible without any coloration caused by the design of the headphones.
TV enhancement
There is a need, to enhance TV audio for hearing impaired or to cut off the inbuilt TV speakers to reduce noise. This range of wireless over ear headphones can be plugged into the TV either via optical output or via the headphone output, which sends the signal to the headphones.
In the office or gaming
Both of these scenarios involve the use of a microphone to communicate while you’re working. Usually they are on or over ear options.
Blocking out noise
In some cases people request options for blocking out as much noise like blocking out construction noise, plane engines or any other loud noises stoping you from sleeping etc. In these cases I would use in ear buds or over ear with a noise cancelling option.
High fidelity listening
Typically over ear open back headphones are the best option when you want to hear amazing detail and feel immersed in sound. These types of headphones will require a certain level of headphone amp to drive them, whether that’s a dedicated headphone amp or a separate headphone input on your preamplifier.
Devices
Remember to keep in mind what device you will be plugging them into. Not all headphones are compatible with everything device. Some headphones need a headphone amplifier to power them efficiently so beware that they may not work well with a portable device. Headphones designed with a microphone built into it with a TRRS connector (iPhone connector) will not work properly on a traditional amp without an adapter.
In Conclusion: test in store
As there are many different brands of headphones (and fake ones) so here are a list of brands you can confidently buy from: Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Bose, Oppo, Focal, Bowers and Wilkins, Audioquest, to name a few.
Once you have found out your uses and chosen what type of headphones its then time to try on and test the different brands. What you should consider when testing headphones is what type, comfort, weight, durability, sound quality, features, and even style do they have.
I would encourage everyone to come into the store and try them on before you buy them.
Hopefully this has demystified choosing headphones for you so you can enjoy listening to music how you like it.
]]>In this article I want to talk about the ways that you can improve your audio listening experience. Sometimes the obvious and simple things can be overlooked so reading this and using it like a check list could reinforce whether you’re doing everything you can to get the most out of your music system.
Connecting the components in the optimal way
With the many different components available there are often multiple ways you can connect these pieces together. Some connectors look the same as others, which can be confusing. For example a phono input uses RCA connectors as does a line input. If your record player has a selectable built in line/phono switch and your amplifier has a phono input try testing the amps phono stage to see if you get an improved sound. If your CD player has analogue and digital outputs (provided you have a digital input in your amplifier or receiver or you can use an external DAC) try both to see which one sounds better to your ears as the different converters will impart a different sound quality.
Cabling upgrade to better quality
Now that we are looking at connectivity it’s not just worth mentioning the right inputs but also making sure your cabling is right. Poor quality cables can have an impact on the sound in a clearly audible way but it’s not until you have heard the difference that you will appreciate good quality cables. Better cables sound clearer and offer more detailed with less distortion and noise. You don’t have to have a seriously expensive system to hear a difference but the more revealing the system the more noticeable this difference will be.
Set up the speakers in the the right spot for the room
Great sound in a space starts with correct set up. things that should be considered are:
Speaker positioning, speaker angle, spacing, proximity to walls, distance from the listener.
Having speakers close to back walls can create a boomy sound, having your speakers too close together or to far apart will impact on the image and perceived loudness. Keep in mind you want to be equal distance from the speakers as the are apart. Sitting too close or too far away will also have an impact. If your speakers are too close to walls or there are lots of reflective surfaces between you and the speaker this can create unwanted reflections. Ways to fix this apart from adjusting the angle or position is to use absorptive materials to help control this. If you have wooden floors try putting a rug between you and the speaker as this can help.
Minimising unwanted vibrations with Isolation devices
Things vibrate. Sound is a vibration through air, which is a good vibration. A speaker that is sitting on the floor vibrating making a racket is a bad vibration. Managing this by placing feet or absorption material underneath to decouple it will improve the sound. Isolating a product from vibrating can improve performance like placing isolation pads between a surface and a turntable.
Room acoustics and treatment. Reflective and damping materials, diffusion, decoupling, isolation of components
As every space has its own unique set of characteristics there is no set way for controlling how reflections from the ceiling, floor and walls from fusing together with the direct sound can create a more balanced sound if you have a large percentage of reflective surfaces. On the other hand having too much damping surfaces can suck the life out of the sound making it dull and boring.
Calibration tools
Calibration and room correction tools can be a way of optimising your speakers to perform better in the space they are in. Basic calibration is usually enough to make an improvement, however more refined and complex options are available. If you feel you are at this stage of optimisation then it’s worth having a conversation in store.
Power conditioning
Power conditioning products can improve performance by eliminating unwanted noise that can come from the power sources. They offer stable power and isolation to each component, which reduces issues between AV gear. Another great bonus is they offer surge protection, which protects your gear from being damaged if there is a spike. Less noise and more clarity is the outcome.
Upgrading individual components and matching quality
You could look at upgrading a component in your system to boost performance. For example upgrading the quality and power of your amplifier might enhance the efficiency of the speaker making it sound better. Maybe upgrading the speakers from a bookshelf speaker to a floor standing speaker could give you a fuller sound if that’s what your looking for. If you are happy with your speakers and amp you could then look at other components like a new phono preamp, cartridge and stylus on a turntable, cables or a new sound source.
Using the highest quality sound source
The more revealing the system is the more the quality of your sound source will be noticed. I would compare it to having a 1 mega pixel image on a screen and a 10 mega pixel picture. You will see more information and detail with a 10mp picture, which will recreate a more accurate description.
The same goes for sound so if you have a product like a CD player with a cheap DAC, a turntable with a low quality phono preamp/cartridge or a low resolution file format, you may not be getting an accurate representation of the sound. It’s about eliminating unwanted noise, compression, artefacts, distortion and lost information.
Adding a subwoofer
Adding more speakers is about adding more information and detail to your playback system. If you have a music system and you feel it sounds weak, thin or tinny, or it doesn’t sound full and warm the adding a sub could be the way create fullness. You can add a sub to any system but generally the smaller the speaker the more you will notice what the sub is adding in the low end.
Adding a centre channel
Do you find yourself sometimes turning up the volume to understand what someone is saying but then the music or other sounds seem too loud? If you are having trouble understanding dialogue while watching tv or movies and you have a receiver then adding a centre speaker can enhance the speech making it easier to understand and can give you control over the music / dialogue balance.
I added one to my system so when I watch football I can hear the commentator more with out having to hear as much crowd atmosphere noise.
Cleaning products eg vinyl cleaner, record brush, needle brush, vacuum
Making sure you clean your records and remove the dust before you play them will result in a better licensing experience and add longevity to your gear. Dust and mould inside gear can create all sorts of problems so regular cleaning keeps it playing at its best for longer.
Servicing your gear
Maybe your gear has a few scratchy pots and connectors caused by dust. Maybe new valves or a few new capacitors and resistors could add life back into your favourite gear. Sometimes its less economical to do this for certain products but it may be worth checking.
Conclusion
Once you have gone over all of these steps, hopefully you will have found one or more areas that will give you some improvement in your system. The goal at any level should always be to get the most out of what you have so you can enjoy the music as much as possible.
]]>
Note about myself: I am a 22-year-old Dj. I love music! I listen to it every day and until recently I never knew what high-quality audio was. Growing up I always had a pair of cheap earbuds hanging out the front of my shirt. From there I had a pair of Beats by Dre headphones that I believed was the best sound you could ever get( I now know better ). I can now justify the Hi-Fi experience and explain how good audio is and why we need these luxuries.
Today’s youth are listening to more music than ever before; Earbuds, portable speakers, car radios. Everywhere they go, through streaming media like SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify and many others, they hold access to every song ever recorded. A luxury that we possibly take for granted every day. So why is a generation surrounded by music not interested in Hi-Fi?
Is the price deterring a generation from a good listening experience? Gen Y and Z may not have the same income as their elders ( I know this is not the case for all ) but they also have the luxury of smartphones, streaming services and access to multiple media services. Is this a generation based on media that avoids spending money or takes for granted good sounding audio?
Sounds like a weird concept but is it partly true?
(Many millennials will have streamed, downloaded or copied music for free. After Napster and a variety of other illegal download sites/services, it is hard for millennials to imagine purchasing audio files (I know this isn’t everyone). So a generation/s are listening to new music all day for free/cheap on basic earbuds. For a generation that doesn’t know any better, that’s a massive convenience.)
There is a misconception that high-end audio is expensive! Don’t get me wrong, it certainly can be. With components ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.
But does it have to be? – NO, not necessarily.
Many high-end brands create entry and medium level products still with high-end audio.
Active monitors that have the ability to add a subwoofer can also be a consideration,
Or the unfair advantage is a good pair of headphones coupled with a decent headphone amp.
Not everyone will have access to their own space if they are living with family, maybe a bedroom, but often there is no other room to designate purely to audio. Do you need a dedicated room to listen to good music?
Firstly, you don’t need a big space to listen to good audio equipment, you need to create an area where the speakers can work best in a room (bedroom or not), often this is about where you place the speakers and where you would set yourself to get the best image. An isolated space where you can listen! A near-field experience can be created when the speakers have placed a greater distance from the wall, so rather than trying to fill an entire room you are creating a focused listening area.
- If privacy is an issue, headphone systems can be an amazing alternative. You can truly enjoy all the benefits of a high-end sound system without the high price tag or housing bulky products.
Wireless / Bluetooth / Wifi; technology has exploded in recent years, especially in the audio world. How could this deter people? As much as this has benefited the industry it also has brought a wave of entry-level products that incorporate these wireless technology with very limited audio quality. These products make ‘getting up to turn on an amplifier, CD player or turntable on’ seem like too much effort when you can Bluetooth or stream to a speaker on the other side of the room.
As someone who has been in music studios for years, it wasn’t until I stepped into a Hi-Fi store that I realised what I was missing.
Now with streaming audio, there are more songs than ever before. The less compressed the better, but if you want quality, you’ll need to look at some premium subscriptions. Deezer and Tidal offer High-Quality subscriptions with virtually no compression.
However, the quality of the audio you are listening to is going to affect the overall experience. Think about the resolution of the audio, is it a Youtube clip, radio station, download or stream? The size of the file will deter how much information could be missing, no investing in quality equipment if the music you are listening to is compressed.
Is modern music now not worth listening to in high quality? After Napster and the plague of low-resolution audio files, is it possible that the generation doesn’t see the need to spend their hard earned money? Until the quality difference can be heard by listeners, downloaded audio files are always going to be a hard sell the generation. I believe that it is a very real issue that the ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ generation simply haven’t heard high-quality audio.
Walking into JB Hi-Fi you will see assortments of speakers/headphones/devices all easy to use and branded specifically to the young market! Flashy colours, celebrity ambassadors and pop cultured designs all help whitewash a market that should be based on quality and use. We all remember when the ‘Beats by Dre’ entered the headphone market and in the space of 3 years, captured 57% of the premium headphone market ($99 and above).
High-end audio branded by pop idols revolutionised what was cool and created a must-have product of high-end headphones. (Please note: ‘high end’ not ‘high quality’)
Do we need Taylor Swift floor standing speakers or a Justin Bieber amplifier to entice the new generations? As much as we can joke; Hi-Fi gear is tailored to a more mature audience. Polished, wood finishes. Now, why haven’t companies tried to capture this market? Or have they?
‘Beats by Dre’ was laughed at for their price point when it first entered stores, until it
whitewashed the headphone market. Beats were targeted to the Pop Culture audiences, speakers and amps are not. This is where Earbuds and Bluetooth speakers thrive!
Where does that leave our Gen ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ customers?
Well, there are plenty of High-quality speakers/products that do offer, quality, usability and are still ‘Cool’.
Devialet’s Phantoms are possibly the best pop cultured speaker on the market. Easy to connect, modern and amazing sound. I would struggle to see many Gen Z’s not foaming at the mouth for these. Issue: Price; quality isn’t cheap!
Active speakers; There are many high-end active speakers in the market that could attract millennial customers. For example, Yamaha and Kef offer great Active speaker options that could easily be the ideal product to ‘Gen Z’. E.g Yamaha NX-N500, KEF LS50. Overing relatively small size and great sound.
Audio Technica’s LP60BT Bluetooth Turntable; offers the ability to wirelessly play a turntable through a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. A unique twist to combine traditional audio and modern technology. There is also a variety of turntables that offer digital outputs now to allow easier connectivity to modern systems.
Vinyl sales in 2017 were the highest sales since 1991! A plethora of customers young and old are enjoying hunting down their favourite records, placing it on their turntable and listening to uncompressed audio. It’s an experience.
It is also not uncommon to have young customers coming into the store searching for a turntable and speaker set up and of course we can accommodate. We have options for any generation and can help find your Hi-Fi solution.
So next time you or your Gen Z’s have a spare day come on down and have a listen to the high-quality sound that Hi-Fi delivers because we all know #MUSIC MATTERS.
]]>If the first question you have is “I want to enjoy sound, how can I do this”? I would ask is it ambient music playing in the background coming from a small portable bluetooth speaker while you cook? Are you the kind of person that wants to buy a traditional amp and two floor-standing speakers, sit in the sweet spot and feel like you are so immersed in the sound that you get lost?
Maybe you want to entertain and create a multi-zone network in the house where music or tv is playing in every room and outdoor space? Maybe this suits the family’s needs? Are you looking to enhance the TV Audio so you can hear the dialog better? Are you looking for a predominately music or a movie system? Is it your dream to create a cinema room where you are surrounded by sound in a way that makes you feel like you are apart of every movie you watch? Like alot of people you may want to do all of it.
Are you after convenience? I would start by visualising what kind of experience you want to have and visualise where in your space you would like it to be. Think about what it is you want to have as a sound source. For example do you want to use a TV, IPod, Computer, CD player or Record player? Do you want to stream radio, use music services or listen to content via the internet and control everything simply from your mobil device?
Are you upgrading or replacing an existing system or starting new?
Everything can be designed from the ground up or it can be redesigned to integrate with products you currently own. If you are thinking of upgrading its helpful to note down what brand and model of products you have.
Knowing the size of the space and what it’s like is useful to us. Different spaces have an impact on the products that are suitable. If you have a small reflective space it might not be necessary to buy a big loud expensive system if it won’t sound good in the space. In contrast you can’t expect a small speaker to fill a large room and thump you in the chest.
If the colour, size or style have to meet certain requirements that’s fine but you might be limited in product choice, which can impact expectation and budget requirements. This scenario although challenging but not impossible is easier to work out when everyone involved is present when speaking to us. If two people have two different priorities in what they want out of a system it’s time saving if they are both present for the discussion.
Because of the wide range of budget options you could purchase something starting at $200 or you could spend more than $200,000. At first when I heard a colleague ask a customer what their budget was I thought that question came to early in the process. As time went on I realised that knowing a ball park figure of what people are comfortable in spending, points us in the right direction as to products we can suggest. As everyone’s need, wants and budgets are different it’s not about how much people spend, it’s about getting the best value out of the budget we have to work with.
Quality is relative so look for products that match. If you buy a revealing system and you get a cheap component you will hear it. If you buy an expensive turntable and plug it in a small micro system you aren’t really getting the most out of it.
On the flip side all products are made for a reason so knowing what “hole” that fills helps us understand who it’s for. There are products for everyone. I can enjoy music on most systems but what changes is by how much.
Now that you have read this you are already one large step closer to enjoying music the way that suits you, which is what it’s all about. If you read this and come into the store let us know.
Most products have a technical life span of 5 to 7 years. This is the time where technology has moved on to a point of functional replacement and a physical lifespan of 9 to 12 years depending on where you live. Closer to water then you can take a few years off due to salt and humidity; in a cool clean climate add a few years. Speakers can last the longest up to and well beyond 25years; most speakers are replaced due to aesthetic deterioration rather than component failure.
Every 5 years or so we have technical explosions (we are in one now) where technology has leaped to a point that if you are buying a new 4K UHD LED you may want to consider replacing your receiver or optical player just to keep up with the visual quality.
Audio technology has had a shakeup as well, with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X championing multi channel audio systems.
So:
If you like to hang on to things you should check to ensure the electronics are well ventilated, that dust has not clogged the air vents. Check for moisture and excessive heat on a regular basis, every once and a while (maybe twice per year) remove your electronics from the cabinet and give it a good wipe down, the warm dark space is a great breading ground and you may be surprised at what has called the electronic housing home.
TV’s also have air vents with fans that suck air in and extract the air along with any built up dust, so if your TV is hanging on a wall, consider removing it and giving it a good vacuum – this will ensure optimum life span is achieved.
Foxtel still gets incredibly hot; so don’t put your DVD/Blu-ray player on top of your Foxtel box. Actually don’t put anything on the foxtel box – Apple TV is prone to fail if it gets too hot, but because its small it is often left on the amp or Fox box. The excessive heat will also effect cables and cause many problems with video or audio loss.
So the right time to upgrade is when you are ready, if you keep up with technology now is a great time to change some of the major components and by getting in at the start of a technology cycle you will have longer to enjoy your equipment, prices for new technology are not like the old days, so you wont be financially disadvantaged to upgrade.
Visit us at our website sydneyhifimonavale.com.au for great deals, information and much more.
First we start with a room, pick a room, any room…
The size and shape of the room won’t matter too much, because we can work with that space to make movie magic.
You need an idea of what you want to achieve, don’t worry if you don’t know yet, we can help you with that. We can explain what you can expect and what you should expect with certain spaces and equipment.
We will ask questions like.
OR
There are more questions that we will ask, it may seem like a lot, but believe me you can never know too much about what your customer/client wants and needs. The more we know the better we are at achieving your cinematic dreams.
Once we have gathered all the information, and then asked a few more questions. We will start work on the design, now some designs are simple and we can give a rough plan in minutes and on the spot, some more elaborate or technical designs may take a little while so we will go away put on our creative thinking caps consult with industry professionals like builders, joiners, interior designers, electricians and even acoustical engineers as the specification requires. These are professionals we work with who understand what we are achieving for our customers, who all have a passion (as we do) in creating a great environment for your entertainment pleasure.
We have access to a vast range of amazing products, at every price point and quality level. Our focus is to create and work within your budget. We spend some time in helping you to understand what you can get at certain price points, what is the benefit of spending more and when should you spend less.
The furniture and furnishings can all add to the rooms ambient feel and so just as important as the equipment is the comfort level of the room, to ensure it fits the purpose.
From large screen TV’s to projection systems. Screens that sit above speakers to show the products and screens that are acoustically transparent so we can sit the speakers behind the projector screen and you see nothing but the movie, but the sound I superbly positioned at the right level so every person in your home cinema has the perfect audio seat. (just like at the movies only better).
We consider the distance from the seating position to the screen, to ensure visually the proportions are correct.
We consider and measure the available space to select speakers that are optimum based on your performance and budget level to create the right sound that will enhance the experience, the subwoofers are selected on size angles and movement of air, how the sound waves are effected by objects, furnishings and wall surfaces. We select the correct number of speakers to suite the room and expectations based on audio decoding technologies (don’t worry, we will explain this to the detail you need in order for you to understand the pros and cons)
You see, the focus is YOU – you are in control, you are the one (along with your family and friends) that will be sitting, relaxing and loving the entertainment system for many years to come, so its worth getting it right. Technology is ever changing, so we don’t just consider what is now, but we will factor in what may be tomorrow ensuring your investment is protected and current for many years.
Lighting is vital, depending on the room use, it can add to the experience or it can distract you from really getting involved in a movie. Light can be natural, artificial, it can be coming from the TV or projector, it will reflect and bounce around the room. Some paints and colors will reflect and some will observe light, we will help you to get that right. The last thing you want is the picture to be white washed because there is too much ambient light coming for the picture itself. We can fix this too.
Once the layout, design, products furniture and furnishings are scoped, we will discuss control, because how you operate the entertainment system could be the final bar on the pleasure scale
Ask yourself:
The curtains will close, the lights will dim, the equipment will turn on, and the movie will start. Sit back relax and enjoy. When the movie is over the lights will slowly turn on, to a comfortable level – rather than blind you going form dark to ultra bright. And when you leave the room, the equipment will turn off, the lights will slowly dim and turn off in eager preparation of the next session.
All of this is possible and for much less than you might think.
So to recap.
Oh and what will be the first movie you will watch like you have never enjoyed before.
Simple, from nothing to something great – all it takes is a room, some time, some imagination and us – Sydney Hi Fi Mona Vale
]]>
We proudly introduce the Devialet Phantom; possibly designed in the TRON universe (actually French). These are revolutionary speakers for their look and technology. Sleek and beautiful, these look as good as they sound.
This may be why the Devialet Phantom Gold are ‘fit for a King’. Jay Z and Beyonce are both known supporters of the Phantom and own several pairs. Beyonce’s record ‘Partition’ is also one of the most highly commended demo tracks. The speakers are getting praises from everyone including Will.i.am (who bought 18) and Andy Rubin (who bought 120).
With their patented Heart Bass Implosion (HBI) technology, these speakers have the ability to create extreme pressure to reproduce amazing sub bass that is hard to rival. The Phantoms lateral drivers are truly special and unlike anything you have seen before. Pulsing from either side of the speaker, these subs are anything but conventional.
Connect via Airplay, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or optical, to share music amongst friends. From any phone, computer or digital signal.
I am a DJ/Producer. Having great audio is extremely important to me. I wanted something to play my finished records and mixes through to measure for clarity and the overall mix. I am limited on space and already have enough cables running through my studio. What drew me to these was their unique style and ease of use. A speaker that can be connected to by friends to enjoy music without the hassle of switching aux cables.
Unboxing the Phantom itself was truly an experience. Breaking the seal, the box opens to display a work of art. I was more excited than Golem finding ‘the ring’. Once I finished marveling at the unboxing process came the fun part, turning on these bad boys. After pressing the “on” button, a holy sound started to be emitted. It literally serenaded me while I was setting them up.
Using the Spark App, I installed the updates and assigned my left and right speakers. All while the phantoms continued to serenade my room.
The biggest test was convincing my friends why I believe these were worth the price tag. With 4 friends out on my deck, I turned on the Devialet Phantom's. I let them play softly at first. It took some time before my friends started to notice that these white domes on my bench top were producing the sound they were hearing. Once they realised, they all wanted a go! With 4 friends fighting to be the DJ, the Phantom pair kept up. With 4 phones constantly connecting and disconnecting. It was amazing. No device I know of could do this!
Music is meant to be shared. Allowing my friends to share their music made for an amazing afternoon of seamless audio. With only 2 power cables, it is hard for me to imagine going back to a conventional amplifier and speakers anytime soon.
The Phantoms have some amazing points; minimal cabling, ease of use and a beautiful design make these an interior designer's dream. Needless to say, their audio quality and movement of air is breathtaking.
These are not speakers for everyone! The bottom end is big and heavy and while this may deter some listeners, for me, this was also the biggest selling point. They are also limited to a digital signal. However, you can still listen to analogue sources like Vinyl, if you use a phono stage with optical out.