HiFi Lounge - Latest News and Chat for HiFi and Headphones!

[Vipers]

Race Prep Build Pictures!

Hi All,

Just a quickie with a few pictures from Hangar 111 as they start to strip the car down to get it race ready, will update once I get some more, cheers.

 

[Vipers]

Introducing HiFi Rose, Coming to HFL Soon!

 

Hi Everyone,

So like myself until recently I am sure most of you haven't come across HiFi Rose before but I have to admit now I have experienced their products I am pretty confident they are a brand to watch and I am really pleased to add them to our portfolio as I feel they really do offer something different in the world of HiFi.

Coming from South Korea they offer 2 products at the moment, the RS-150 which is a streaming preamp priced at £3899 and a streamer with an amp built it called the RS-201 priced at £1749, so just add speakers.

I have to say that once you have seen these products in the flesh they really scream quality much more so than their price indicates.

HiFi Rose RS-150 Streaming Preamp.

The RS-150 really does cover all bases, firstly it is beautifully built, the touch screen dominates but looks gorgeous and is really usable, it is Roon and MQA compatible, has an analog input so as it is a preamp also you could just add a power amp + turntable & phono stage and you have a really neat system that covers all bases, has a great app, it even does 4K video but obviously most importantly sounds great, it does so much more like CD Ripping and Storage so please see below for more info -

HiFi RS-201 All In One

This is basically a smaller version of the above with a 100 watt amp built in so just add speakers and you are all ready to go, please find more info below -

Please find a link to HiFi Rose on our website below, our demo stock is a couple of weeks away but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/hifi-rose/

I really do feel HiFi Rose are one to watch so really look forward to demoing their kit once this Lockdown is over.

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Introducing iLounge Racing!

Hi All,

So this is an idea I have had for a while so I am excited to finally announce the launch of iLounge Racing.

What is iLounge Racing I hear you say?

So the idea behind iLounge Racing, hope you like the name by the way, basically HiFi Lounge without the Hif, is that we have got some exciting motorsport, racing simulator and car plans for the year ahead and I know a lot of our customers are also Petrolheads but I am also aware that not all HiFi enthusiasts share this passion so as to not overwhelm HiFi Lounge with car stuff I thought it prudent to start a separate website + social media channels where I can share all our motorsport and car news + stories in this area, I will still mention the big news on HFL but this gives us more scope to cover everything without overcrowding the HFL blogs section with non HiFi news.

So what does 2021 have in store?

Lotus Elise Trophy!



So as many of you will know after racing in the Radical SR1 Cup for the last 3 years it is time to try something new and as I have been a lifelong Lotus enthusiast it made sense to give the Elise Trophy a try so we will be uploading the race videos from each of this years 7 events + any other footage we have, the Elise is at the race shop at the moment being converted into a race car with the first test on the 9th April, certainly can't wait to get back on track.

New Race Suit

We've also had the below race suit designed, certainly starting to think it is a case of 'all the gear and no idea' though.

Go Karting!

After my return to Go Karting last year after 20+ years away I have signed up for another year in the Lotus Cup at Rye House, yeah it is all Lotus this year, basically an hour long race once a month, have to say weight is everything in Go Karting so I have been sweating the weight off on my Peloton over the last 12 months so am now over 2 stone lighter than this time last year so hopefully that will help move me up the grid, I’ve now got a new GoPro so we will be uploading highlights from each round, I really love the cut and thrust of Go Karting, it is real racing, so can’t wait to get stuck in again.

UK's only Domestic Racing Simulator Demo Facilities.

This is the really exciting news, during this third lockdown we have moved the Headphone demo room into a smaller more intimate room to free up the space for an exciting new business, basically the UK’s first demo room for domestic home racing simulators.

So I started playing racing simulators with Geoff Crammond’s Revs on the BBC Micro in 1984, a notoriously hard F3 simulator with only one track at launch, Silverstone, but at the time it felt like you were driving a real race car rather than an arcade game, then I worked my way through all Geoff’s F1 games up to Grand Prix 4 in 2002, then there the Papyrus games like Indycar Racing and Grand Prix Legends then last year I was introduced to iRacing where online racing really is taken to a totally new level.

I find it hard to believe that I really wasn’t aware of iRacing until thanks to Covid-19, Radical Cars took their racing online due to the UK Race Circuits being closed, I had previously been racing a Radical SR1 in the real world so was keen to see what online racing was like, needless to say I have been addicted ever since, installing a multi screen setup at home where I now race everyday after work.

When looking around at simulator equipment to buy for myself I realised that there was no where in the UK that I could find where you could demo a full system and get advice on what would be the best setup for me and funnily enough I soon figured out that the home racing simulator business is very similar to the HiFi Business and basically having a demo facility would be a good idea, I focus on iRacing and to be honest there is a hell of a lot to learn, a year in and I am still learning new functions and tricks so we want to help people choose the right system for themselves and answer any questions that iRacing is bound to throw up, obviously these systems can be used with any other racing sims but iRacing is where we focus.

We will have 3 simulators on permanent demo at 3 different price points but all very engaging and capable of posting the fastest times on iRacing and that will allow to realise your potential as an online racer, if you are interested in motorsport and have never tried one of these simulators please come in to give one a try and I know once experienced you will be hooked as I was.

We can also offer the full build and install package so there really is nothing to worry about, you can just get stuck straight in and enjoy your motorsport everyday.

As a customer of iLounge Racing you will also be eligible to join our weekly league races, for me this is where iRacing comes into its own, I race in a league every Thursday evening, to race the same people once a week in a championship really does add another level of competition, you can also join our Discord channel where we can discuss what happened in the race and look forward to the next race, really looking forward to creating an iLounge Racing community.

Sim racing is fun but I must admit I am surprised how serious I take it, it is certainly more than just a game, if you would like to explore this world more please feel free to get in touch to discuss your requirements or feel free to book an appointment to try out one of our simulators.

Please see below for more info on my home system, which already I'm thinking of upgrading, see just like HiFi -

https://bit.ly/3wf4d7s

Live iRacing Race Video’s

As mentioned above I race in the UK&I Radical League every Thursday evening which really is brilliant fun and HiFi Lounge is one of the title sponsors, we have just bought on a commentator and the races are now streamed live on YouTube, please search for ‘Milky Cereal’ to follow these live at 9pm every Thursday.

Please find a link to last weeks race at Oulton Park, I actually had a pretty good race here.

New Car Livery

Plus we've just had the below Livery designed for our Radical SR8 that I race daily on iRacing so if you watch any of the races that will be me behind the virtual wheel.

Car Videos

Finally we will be looking to add some car stuff to the website, I love my cars so we will start off with doing some videos on the cars I own then see where it takes us, we have quite a few HiFi customers with really nice cars so it would be great to do some videos of their cars also, if you fancy it let me know, doesn't have to be a SuperCar, just an interesting car.

To Sum Up!

So as you can see 2021 promises to be a busy year and why I feel that starting the iLounge Racing website and Social sites made sense as not to mix it up with the HiFi news, if you’d like to keep abreast of what iLounge Racing gets up to please see all the links needed below and please feel free to follow them -

Website - https://iloungeracing.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ilounge_racing/

FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/iloungeracing

You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-P27LCxLlSAqRScDGHqKg

Twitter - https://twitter.com/IloungeRacing

And remember as Steve McQueen said (from the greatest motorsport film ever made, Le Mans)-

Thanks for taking the time to look and if you fancy coming along to any of the track action or to check out our simulator demo facilities please feel free to get in touch to discuss.

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Lucky Customers SME 30/12A Turntable Fitted with a Koetsu, Gorgeous!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post a few pictures of the awesome SME 30 with the 12" Series V tonearm fitted with the Koetsu Blue Lace Agate cartridge we recently supplied to one of our very lucky customers, it really doesn't get much better than this in my view, the total package comes in at around £45,000 so it is a pretty serious vinyl setup, for me it was the 12" arm that stole the show, I just couldn't stop looking at it, we are all so used to 9" arms that when you see the extra length it really does look incredible and the £8498 Koetus was a thing of beauty also with it's Blue Onyx body, a really gorgeous package.

Please find a couple of links below to SME and Koetsu on our website and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/sme/turntables-sme/

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/koetsu-cartridges/

Cheers,
Paul.

[Vipers]

Introducing the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition!

Hi All,

Every now and again the perfect product comes along, something without compromise that ticks all the boxes for features, build quality, performance and price and I would argue that the new Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is one of those products.

Basically it is everything that is loved with the Uniti range but maximized to get the best from your headphones, so if you are looking for a new compact headphone amp that has a top quality streamer built in and that caters for Balanced 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm (Pentaconn) outputs + a 6.3mm output then look no further.

Personally at home I like to do my headphone listening in another room so again the Atom Headphone Edition is perfect here also as basically all you need to do is get power to it, ideally plug a network cable it it, and off you go with a dedicated headphone system that can stream you favourite music from either Tidal / Qobuz or from a server.

Finally it has variable outputs so you could add a power amp and a pair of speakers and you really would have all bases covered + you could use the analogue input to connect a turntable or CD player if required, as I said this really is a very versatile product that delivers on every count and at £2399 you can't really moan about the price, I'd say Naim have really nailed it with the Atom Headphone Edition.

We have it on demo now with a large selection of the best headphones available in our new and more intimate dedicated headphone room.

Please find a link below and any questions please don't hesitate to ask -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/naim/uniti/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

The New Wilson Audio Alexx V Speakers Now On Permanent Demo, Truly Stunning!

]

Hi Everyone,

Well is was certainly a big day last Friday as we became the first UK dealer to take delivery of  the new Wilson Audio Alexx V speakers for demo and and I really can't put into words just how incredible these speakers are.

Firstly the looks, well if you are going to have a Statement speaker then you need a colour that will really stand out, and as Wilson can do any colour out there, I decided to go with my favourite colour and in a tribute to one of my favourite artists, the Purple One himself Prince, so Purple they are, not any Purple though, it is actually a Porsche Car Colour and I couldn't be happier with how they've turned out, colour aside they look totally stunning, you can just see the amount of thought and work that has gone in to the design of these stunning speakers to give the best performance possible, totally gorgeous.

As for the sound, well I am actually going to struggle to put it into words as they just sound totally engaging and captivating, Wilson always give a stunning mid range but the bass on these has so much depth and control that it is very addictive, in a moment of indulgence on Saturday I blasted out my favourite live song, Bruce's Jungleland and I was taken to a place that I have only experienced when in a stadium with Bruce and the E Street band there in front of me playing it live, they really are that good and personally I can't ask more for more than that, the only other time I have experienced this is when I was fortunate to go to Utah to visit Dave Wilson's house to hear the mighty Wamm's, these big Wilsons really have a way of transporting you to somewhere special.

So my plan for our Alexx V's is to have them running permanently during open hours, our so called Highend Room is now going to be a static demo room where we just have the one system playing all the time so if you come in please feel free to indulge in a system that comprises some of the best HiFi in the world, take an hour or so to play some of your favourite tracks and hopefully you will experience the same magic I did, there is no pressure to buy a pair, I just want everyone to experience just how good these Alexx V's are and experience what a truly awesome system can achieve.

So we are busy running them in at the moment, what are we playing to achieve this as fast as possible? well there is only one choice really isn't there, Prince Purple Rain

So it goes without saying if you'd like to come in for a listen please feel free to book an appointment or if you come in for a demo for something else please don't be afraid to ask if you can have a listen, saying that you probably won't have much choice 😉

Please find some pics and a link to the Alexx V's on our website and as soon as we can we will have an open day to showcase them -

[URL]https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/wilson-audio/[/URL]

Cheers,

Paul.
 

 

[Vipers]

Introducing the Naim Solstice Special Edition Turntable, Limited to 120 in the UK, Simply Stunning!

 

Hi Everyone,

Well this is certainly exciting news as today we can announce the awesome Naim Solstice Special Edition Turntable, this is Naim’s first ever turntable and it really is something very special indeed, the only bad news is that it is limited to 500 worldwide with only 120 in the UK so once it is gone that is it but that certainly guarantees it instant classic status, I really can’t see the 500 hanging around long.

As a quick overview it is a complete package so it comes with the turntable, the re-engineered Aro arm, MC Cartridge, Phono Stage, Power Supply, Special Edition Book and Vinyl, so a really lovely package which retails for £16,000, I haven’t heard it yet myself but I know a couple of people who have and needless to say it doesn’t disappoint bringing that Naim sound to vinyl.

We have managed to secure a handful of the these packages but I am being told once they are gone then there will be no more so if you would like a piece of Naim history and a brilliant ready to go turntable please feel free to get in touch so not to be disappointed.

Please find more information below on our website and any questions please either give me a call or send me a mail.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product/naim-solstice-turntable/

Many thanks,

Paul.

 

[Vipers]

40 Years Too Late but Just Discovered Gary Numan, New Album 'Intruder' Is Amazing!

 

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to put out a quick post to say that I am totally addicted to Gary Numan's latest album 'Intruder', and highly recommend you give it a listen if you haven't already, fantastic music, extremely well produced, on PMC Speakers apparently, with a great story running through it where basically the Earth is talking to Humans on how we are ruining the planet, if you just try the title track 'Intruder' that will give you a good taste of the album and is my favourite track but it is a really strong album for the first track to the last.

There has been a lot of music released this year, which is to be expected I guess with artists not touring thanks to Covid, but I have found most of it quite mediocre to be honest but this album really stands out as the album of the year so far by quite some margin, it really will take some beating this year, for me there are hints of Massive Attack, Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails + others which is no bad thing and it is a real grower and well worth sitting down and reading the lyrics whilst listening as they are pretty powerful and makes you think how we really haven't done a great job looking after this planet.

I've never been a big fan before in all honesty, more that he passed me by somehow, so I am around 40 years too late to this party but I have now ordered all his back catalogue and booked 2 concerts for next year which I really can't wait for, I am now discovering that very much like Bowie he has had a very illustrious career reinventing himself along the way and I find it incredible that after over 40 years he is still turning out music this good, that really is rare to have that kind of staying power.

Right I'm off to listen to it again on our new Wilson Alexx V's, also please find a link below to a great interview with Gary Numan about this album -

https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/gary-numan-interview-intruder-new-album-climate-change/

And a link to the Intruder Video 👍

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Transparent Magnum Opus Generation 6 Cable Install.

Hi Everyone,

So this is a first, an install blog for some speaker and XLR cables, I must admit when I started HFL that I never thought I’d drive nearly 2 hours to install some cables but but these are not just any old cables but arguably the best in the world, the Transparent Magnum Opus Generation 6 cables which have just come out, these are actually serial number 0002 so if the manufacturer keeps 0001 for themselves this will be the first pair in the world, I’m a big cable believer so I was rather excited by this install to say the least.

Needless to say cables at this level were going on a rather nice system, basically a D’Agostino amp with Magico S7 speakers, I have heard this system a fair bit over the last year or so and I have to say I really have never heard it sound anywhere near this good once the cables where installed, incredible resolution, transparency and amazing bass control, I know something like this is out of most peoples reach but if you can and you have a system to appreciate them then I would say you should at least give them a try as they really will get the best from your HiFi.

In other Transparent Generation 6 news, we now have our so called Reference System cabled up with the new Generation 6 Transparent Reference cables so please feel free to come in for a listen anytime.

Anyway please find some pictures below from the install and a link below to Transparent on our website -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/transparent/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

A Really Nice McIntosh / Wilson Audio Install!

 

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post a few pictures of a really lovely McIntosh and Wilson Audio system that we installed the other day, 2 iconic American HiFi companies, basically comprising of the McIntosh MA8900 Integrated Amp, the MT2 Turntable which I have to say looked absolutely stunning and the MVP901 Universal Disc player partnered with one of my favourite speakers, the incredible Wilson Audio Sabrina X Speakers, which give such a big and involving sound for what it a pretty small speaker.

Please find a few pictures below and links to both brands on our website -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/mcintosh/

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/wilson-audio/

[Vipers]

Wilson Audio Alexx V Update + HFL Promo Video!

 

Hi Everyone,

So we have had our incredible Wilson Audio Alexx V Speakers for a month or so now and I have been running them everyday since they arrived and I think it is fair to say they are well and truly run in now and are sounding even better than when we first got them.

I know it is the biggest cliche in the HiFi book but on our so called Highend system I am listening to albums and songs that I know so well and it really is like hearing them for the first time, there is so much more information coming through it is as if some songs are totally different mixes which I know they are not but say on something like Billie Eilish's last album I am amazed how much more there is in the recording through this system compared to what I have heard before.

Last week I hooked up our Chord Ultima 2 Mono Blocks to the Alexx V's and that gave a totally different presentation compared to the amps we had previously been using, much more solid bass weight and depth so I will be leaving them hooked up for some time.

So I got to thinking that me shooting a video on my phone really wasn't doing these magnificent speakers justice so I spoke with Ian and IDB Creative to come up with a quality promo film encouraging people to come in for a listen, let me know what you think and if you would like a listen feel free to get in touch to make an appointment to try some of your favourite songs and hear them like you have never heard them before.

Please find a link to the video below, enjoy.

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Big Accuphase System on the Wilson Alexx V's, This Really Works!

Hi Everyone,

The fun part with having a speaker here as accomplished as our demo Wilson Audio Alexx V Speakers is trying different equipment with them as they are so revealing you can totally change their character by trying a different brand, I recently got an enquiry from someone who wanted to try the Class A Accuphase Monoblocks along with their DAC and top of the line Preamp, needless to say we had to try them on the Alexx's and I have to say it is a pretty special combination, totally effortless and open with a really weighty and full bass with loads of definition, it really is a winning combo.

Anyway I just wanted to post some pictures, please see below and if you'd like to come in for a listen please feel free.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/accuphase/

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/wilson-audio/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

SME 75th Anniversary Synergy Turntable now on Permanent Demo!

 

Hi All,

So this could quite possible be the best bit of HiFi eye Candy out there, it looks great in the pics but is even more gorgeous for real, the Silver Anniversary finish, to celebrate SME's 75th Anniversary, is a £3000 premium over the standard black finish so that makes it £18,895 but it really is worth every penny if you can stretch to it.

So what is the SME Synergy? Basically it is a Highend Plug and Play Turntable, all you need to do is plug it straight into a line input and you are up and running, it really couldn't be easier, it is made of a combination of some of the worlds best brands that are all tuned to get the best performance, Synergy really is the right name here, please see below from SME’s website for an overview -

'Synergy is a unique, precision-engineered integrated turntable featuring magnesium tonearm, moving coil cartridge and built-in phono stage. Comprising of a completely new turntable design combined with the highly acclaimed SME Series IV tonearm, Ortofon’s ‘exclusive series’ MC Windfeld Ti cartridge and a specially designed phono stage by NAGRA, all coupled with mono crystal silver wire by Crystal Cable, Synergy is a fully integrated turntable unit that is factory configured requiring minimal user set-up.'

We will have our Synergy setup in our Highend System so if you’d like to hear it please feel free to get in touch to make an appointment and feel free to bring some of your favourite records along as for me there is nothing better than listening to vinyl, have to say it really has made our big system sing, especially the Alexx V’s.

Please find more info in the link below and a few pictures, we now have pretty much the full SME range of Turntables on demo so please feel free to get in to to arrange a demo.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/sme/turntables-sme/

Many thanks,

Paul.

 

[Vipers]

Big Speakers on Demo from Magneplanar and Avantgarde!

Hi Everyone,

Just a quickie to say that we have a couple of pairs of very special speakers in demo at the moment that we have borrowed from the distributors for a couple of demos so if you'd like a listen please get in touch to make an appointment.

Magneplanar 30.7's

Speakers certainly don't get much bigger than these, they really do give a wall of sound.

I love Maggies, certainly not the easiest speakers to accommodate but if you can then they are well worth a listen as they have a mid range to die for and give an extremely open and large sound, very different from a more conventional speaker.

Avantgarde Duo XD Speakers

I have to say having these in HFL has been a real treat and a revelation, this is the first pair of Horn speakers I have actually sat down and listened to, other than a quick listen at shows, and I have to say that I am totally smitten as they give such a live and big sound and with the active bass drivers you get real solid and fast bass that you really feel, we only have these for a couple of weeks then we have to give them back unfortunately, certainly been a real eye opener that's for sure.

Cheers,

Paul.

Maggies below followed by the Avatgarde's.

 

 

[Vipers]

Stax SR-X9000 Announced + Audeze LCD-5 & CRBN Headphones!

 

Hi Everyone,

So the Highend Headphone market seems to have woken up all of a sudden, as a Stax SR-009S user myself it is the announcement of the new SR-X9000's that I am personally most excited about, these are Stax's new Reference Earspeaker, I struggle to think how they can improve on the SR-009S's to be honest but really can't wait to have a listen.

I have been told we will be getting our demo pair very shortly so watch this space as I compare them against my SR-009S's, exciting times.

Also we have a new Electrostatic Headphone from Audeze called the CRBN to take Stax on and also Audeze have announced the LCD-5 as their new flagship Planar Magnetic headphone, both these will be on demo once released.

And finally we have the Dan Clark Stealth Closed Back Headphones which are supposedly the best closed back on the planet now, we recently supplied a pair to a good customer and he is over the moon with them so look forward to getting a pair on demo soon.

Anyway please find a few pictures and links below -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/stax/earspeakers/

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/audeze/

Cheers,

Paul.

Stax SR-X9000 Earspeakers

Audeze LCD-5 + CRBN 7 Dan Clark Stealth

 

[Vipers]

HiFi Lounge Walkthrough + iLounge Racing Sneak Peak!

 

Hi Everyone,

As we haven't done any open days for quite some time, hopefully we can get back to normality next year regarding this, I thought it would be a good idea to do a walkthrough for anyone who hasn't been in recently as a fair bit has changed and we have some exciting new equipment here.

Also after a year of planning we are very nearly ready to launch iLounge Racing so the progress of converting the headphone showroom into a simulator demo space can be seen also further into the video.

Enjoy,

Paul.

 

 

[Vipers]

Naim Solstice Turntable Now on Demo + Imminent Naim Price Rise Info!

 

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well, I just wanted to post that we now have the new Naim Solstice Limited Edition Turntable on permanent demonstration and bearing in mind this is Naim's first ever turntable it really is something to applaud, beautifully made and engineered but most importantly it sounds fantastic, I first tried it in my main Naim system which needless to say worked a treat but I have been wanting to add a turntable to my office system for sometime so it made sense, well to me anyway, to install it alongside our new D'Agostino Integrated amp, HiFi Rose RS150 streamer and Wilson Audio TuneTots so that out of hours I can indulge myself in some top vinyl playback.

The Solstice is limited to 120 in the UK, we managed to secure 4, 2 of which are now sold so if you'd like to come in for a listen at some point please feel free to make an appointment.

Naim Price Rise - December 6th!

In other Naim news, due to increasing costs Naim have had to increase their prices from December 6th, please find the new prices below but for anything ordered before this date the price will be honoured at the current pre price rise increase so if you are considering any Naim kit at the moment it may be prudent to get in touch, all we need is a 10% deposit to place any orders with Naim.

Solstice Pictures and Link -

Please find a few pics below and a link to the Solstice on our website -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/naim/naim-solstice-turntable/

Cheers,

Paul.

https://i.imgur.com/pkMs6Ht.jpg

[Vipers]

STAX SR-X9000 Earspeakers 1st Impressions, Are They Now The Best Headphones In The World?

 

Hi There,

So this for me is the biggest news in audio this year, Stax bringing out a new Reference Earspeaker which in my mind puts it straight to the top of the tree as a contender for the best headphone in the world, I had no idea these were coming till around 2 months ago so it has been a long wait but our demo pair finally arrived last Friday so they were plugged straight in for a quick comparison against my previous reference headphones, the Stax SR-009S, I run SR-009S's at home and really can't imagine anything much better to be honest so it was always going to be an interesting comparison.

Firstly I'd like to thank Nigel at Symmetry, the UK Stax distributor, as he managed to get me the first pair into the UK as he knew I was super keen to hear them, so how do the SR-X9000 compare against the SR-009's? I pulled out the big guns for my comparison as I wanted to get the best I could from both so I used our dCS Vivaldi system fed by the epic Taiko SGM Extreme server into the Stax T8000 Energiser.

So firstly they look and feel amazing when unpacking them, they have a more premium feel to them that's for sure, soundwise they are clearly still a Stax Electrostatic Earspeaker, very detailed, spacious, fast, agile and open, everything I love about Stax, but whereas you had to listen quite closely to hear the improvements between the SR-009 and SR-009S's it is a much more obvious difference with the X9000's as these are a totally different presentation, from the first listen you know you have something very different from Stax on your head, needless to say they don't make the SR-009S's a bad headphone overnight, they are still amazing but with the X9000 it does feel as if Stax have moved things onto the next level.

I’ve always thought if Stax could blend the warmth of the SR-007, the clarity of the SR-009 and the bass of the SR-L700 we would have perfection well in a nutshell that is pretty much what we’ve got with the SR-X9000, they are like a greatest hits of Stax in one premium Earspeaker.

What you get with the SR-X9000's is a more refined and full bodied sound but with the clarity and spaciousness of the SR-009S's, vocals have much more weight and texture, when comparing A/B the SR-009S's almost feel a bit empty in the mid and bright at the top and that fuller sound of the X9000 gives a bit more bass weight and depth although that isn't a huge difference but is a welcome addition, the bigger change for me is in the mid and top, when listening to my go to demo track of Massive Attacks 'Teardrop' her voice had more gravitas and weight which just helped the track sound more together and I thought I'd give Adele's new single a try as her voice can be a bit much on Stax sometimes but again the extra weight to the mid and refinement to the treble really helped give make it sound more natural, I really think people in the past which found Stax a little too neutral and clean should re-visit them with the SR-X9000's as I think they would have a pleasant surprise as I have always found the Focal Utopia to be one of the best all rounders out there but I tried quite a few different genres on the X9000's and they really tackled everything with ease and made it all extremely enjoyable from Damien Rice to Rammstein.

At £5,195 these are certainly not cheap and when partnered with a T8000 Energiser you are looking at around £10,000 for a headphone system which isn't to be sniffed at but to flip that you will have the best headphone system on the planet and to get the best of anything, especially in Audio for £10k could be argued a bit of a bargain really.

In my view this is the best Earspeaker Stax have ever made but if you do already have SR-009S's I would recommend that you come in to compare the SR-009'S against the SR-X9000's as I can see a case where some may prefer the cleaner sound with the livelier top end of the SR-009S's but for me the SR-X9000 has moved headphone audio on and in my view the SR-X9000 has taken the mantle of the worlds best Headphone and I for one will definately be trading in my SR-009S's for a pair of SR-X9000's, anyone know a good dealer 😉

If you'd like to come in for a listen or discuss trade in options please feel free to get in touch.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/stax/earspeakers/

Regards,

Paul.

Let the Battle Commence!

[Vipers]

Melco Introduce the N50 SSD Player / Server + Bundle Package Promotion Info!

Hi Everyone,

Just a quickie to say that Melco have recently released a new Player / Server called the N50, where this is interesting is that it includes a 3.84tb SSD Drive for £4999, their other SSD model, the Flagship N1ZS EX is £9995 so I can see the new N40 being the real sweet spot in the range as it makes the advantages of SSD Drives available to a much bigger audience, we have it on Permanent demo if you would like to come in and try it at any point.

Please find a link to the full range of Melco servers below -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/melco/network-player-server/

Melco Promotion

Melco have also recently announced a bundle promotion that runs till the end of january 2022, please find all the info below but any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch -

N100 2TB + D100 = £3,098 Offer Price – £2,500

N100 5TB + D100 = £3,598 Offer Price – £3,000

N10 3TB + D100 = £8098 Offer Price – £6,500

N10 3TB + S100 = £9098 Offer Price – £7,500

N10 3TB + D100 + S100 = £10,197 Offer Price – £8000

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

D'Agostino Momentum Preamplifier + S250 MxV Stereo Amp Now On Demo, Taking Music To The Next Level!

 

Hi Everyone,

So all audiophiles will know this problem, you upgrade one part of your system which shows a weakness elsewhere, so that was the issue when we got our demo Wilson Audio Alexx V speakers, don't get me wrong we've got some great Pre's and amps here which sounded excellent on them but we just knew there was more performance to unleash from these excellent speakers, With the Taiko server matched with the dCS Vivaldi stack and our SME turntable partnered with Transparent Reference Cables I felt the sources + cabling really was excellent so we looked at what new Pre/Power's we could bring on to help maximise the speakers performance.

I have to say that I have really enjoyed our Dan D'Agostino Progression Stereo amp on the Alexx's so we decided to go to the next level with D'Agostino to their Momentum range so I am now really pleased to say that we now have the Momentum HD Preamplifier partnered with the newly updated Momentum S250 MxV Stereo power amplifier on permanent demo to help take our Alexx V's to the next level.

Now at nearly £50,ooo each it is a sizeable investment but for one they look a million dollars so that is a good start but instantly I could tell that the Alexx V's really had jumped up in performance, funny really as the D'ag pairing really make the speakers disappear, there is so much air and space to the presentation, I personally love separation when listening, I love to hear all the different layers of the presentation and this is what this system gives me now in spades, it is so effortless with an airiness that is hard to describe, with the lights off and eyes shut the artist really could be in the room and you just can't ask for more than that really.

I'm really hopeful we can hold an open day soon to showcase this system as I'd love everyone to experience what we have put together here as to me it sounds pretty special.

Anyway please find a few pictures below and if you'd like to come in for a listen sometime please feel free to get in touch.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/dan-dagostino/

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Kronos Sparta Turntable Now On Demo, Quite Sensational!

 

Hi All,

So our Highend System is getting a bit spoilt at the moment, after adding the D'Agostino Momentum Pre/Power last week a few days later I was asked if I would like to borrow the Kronos Sparta Turntable for a few weeks by the UK distributor, being a big vinyl fan I just couldn't resist, always keen to try new kit and with Kronos I had always found their dual platter design curious so was really keen to have a listen, needles to say it didn't disappoint.

It is built like no other turntable I have seen to be honest and the Dual Opposing Platters is a really interesting idea, you can actually run it as a single platter like a conventional turntable then add the 2nd platter to hear the difference and it really is noticeable, hard to put into words but the music feels more together, cohesive and natural, all very clever stuff, Please find Kronos's explanation for this design below -

'The first thing that distinguishes a Kronos turntable is its two equal mass platters, rotating opposite each other. We call this the dual platter counter-rotating revolution. It is a means by which the vibration inducing torque force, present in suspended turntables is eliminated. The result of this design is a suspended platform particularly well isolated from environmental and mechanical noise while maintaining unequalled stability. You can immediately hear the difference dynamic stabilization makes. No other turntable can offer its advantages.'

I've got a Lyra Delos on in at the moment, arguably it deserves something higher up the cartridge food chain but it still sounds amazing and gives a great feel for the Sparta's performance.

It really is built like no other turntable I have experienced, I'll have it here for a little while so if you'd like to come in for a listen please feel free to get in touch to book an appointment and to bring some vinyl along.

Regards,

Paul.

[DaveC72]

Wow.  That is some set up.  Majorly out of my price range, but I'm sure it sounds glorious.

Just out of interest, what have you played on the turntable so far?

[Vipers]

Thanks Dave, to be honest I don't get a huge amount of time but generally have it running playlists all day but when I do get a chance I put some vinyl on which really does make the system sing, the best pressing I've got is Nils Lofgren Live, cost around £300 but it does sound incredible, especially 'Keith Don't Go' if you know it.

[DaveC72]

Good choice!

I've played David Bowie's, "Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" first on every turntable I've ever owned.  Same disc.  There's something about that first track, "Five Years", that delivers more every time I've upgraded.  

 

[Vipers]

Nice, huge Bowie fan, doesn't get much better than that, it is amazing how much there is to unearth in these older recordings.