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

[Vipers]

 

Happy Christmas from HFL + Top Albums of the Year!

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I just wanted to say a huge thanks for everyone's support throughout 2023 and send out Christmas wishes for the coming holiday, it has been another great year at HFL, don't know where it has gone to be honest, it has been a year packed full of great new product releases, demo's, installs all over the country, many open days, following Bruce Springsteen round Europe, which there will be more of next year I'm glad to say, meeting loads of great people, new and familiar faces, plenty of talk about music from all genres, just basically doing the HFL things, this really is the best job in the world so thanks again everyone for helping make 2023 so memorable.

 

I've wrote a longer blog on our homepage, link below with my top 3 albums of the year, any guesses what is Number 1? here's a very tenuous clue - 'So' what could it be

 

https://bit.ly/4auMX1X

 

Thanks again for everyone's support this year, have an amazing Christmas and all the best for 2024, look forward to seeing what adventures lie ahead for us all then.

 

All the best,

Regards,

 

Paul, Wendy, Billy and Ady.

[Vipers]

New Trilogy Audio 921 Integrated + 994 Mono Amps Now On Permanent Demo!

Hi All,

We’ve have always been big fans of Trilogy Audio at HiFi Lounge, mainly for me just because they sound so damn good, I have used a Trilogy Preamp at home for a few years now, so we are delighted to have two new amplifier products on demo from them, firstly we have the new £5900 921 integrated amp and secondly we have the very first pair in the world of the £20k 994 Mono’s, both products sounding excellent as you would expect.

 

Please find more information below and if you'd like a demo please feel free to get in touch.

 

https://bit.ly/48zUtHq

 

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Trilogy 921 Integrated

 

 

Trilogy 994 Mono Amplifiers

 

[Vipers]

DeVore Fidelity Limited Edition Speakers 'The Twenty' In Stock, Last Pair in the World!

 

Hi Everyone,

I am really pleased to say that we have 1 pair of the very special DeVore Fidelity ‘The Twenty’ Speakers in stock ready for immediate delivery, I believe these are the last pair available in the world.

These are very special with only Twenty Pairs being available Worldwide to commemorate DeVore Fidelity's 20th Anniversary.

We have recently sold pair No 19 and now have pair No 18 in stock for immediate delivery at our shop, never opened in a stunning Burl Walnut similar to the picture here, they are also numbered as the picture below.

Please find more information below as described by John DeVore - 

'The Twenty will use the O/Reference tweeter and a new woofer built in the O/Reference bronze chassis, but with the motor system from the O/96 woofer. Bronze port tubes and a numbered bronze badge. O/Reference level crossover parts and construction. No upcharges for exotic veneers or finishes, even on the cabinets. These are going to be stunning, I can't wait to start these builds!'

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product/devore-fidelity-the-twenty/

Please feel free to get in touch for more information.

Many thanks,

Paul.

#devorefidelity #speakers #audiophile #limitededition #luxury #hifi #hifiaudio #luxurylife

[Vipers]

Bel Canto Now Available at HiFi Lounge, Now This Was A Really Pleasant Surprise!

 

 

Hi Everyone,

So it has been a while since we have bought on any new brands, I actually made a decision a few months ago to refine our offerings and go back to just focusing on the brands we really love, HFL is now in its 12th year and we have tried a lot of different kit and brands over that time so it is really refreshing to know exactly what brands we want to support and offer our customers but you have always got to keep your eyes, and ears, open as something may come along that really excites which really has been the case with Bel Canto.

So in all honestly this one has been a real surprise, now I will listen to anything as that is a great way to learn what is out there so when I was asked the other day if I would like to listen to some Bel Canto kit I thought why not, what's the harm but with my current thinking of focusing on the brands we have I had no intention of bringing them into the HFL fold, then I heard the £8900 All In One E1X integrated and I was sold instantly.

Please find a link to the complete blog below - 

https://bit.ly/3uGdERq

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Rega Aya 'Concrete' Speakers Now On Demo!

 

Hi Everyone,

So it has been such a busy start to 2024, which is great news, but we haven’t had any time to update on all the new demo kit we have had through the doors this year so I am going to try and do a daily blog for the next week or so on new demo kit we now have here, they won’t be the longest articles ever but short and sweet snippets as an update.

To start with we have the new Rega Aya speakers on permanent demo, I guess their claim to fame will be that the cabinets are constructed from a 'Glass Reinforced Cement' which is certainly a first as far as I am aware, this has been done to help keep prices sensible as normal wooden cabinets are certainly getting more expensive to manufacture but they are also a great sounding speaker, especially for the £1499 asking price.

To be honest I was sold when I first saw them, they are very compact and just look right but different to anything else we have, their integrated feet make life nice and easy and add the overall look but they really do perform when it comes to sound quality giving an open and solid sound, the bass weight is particularly impressive, it is a very complete sound and the perfect partner for any system but particularly a Rega one with the Elex or Elicit amps and a Planar turntable.

Please find link to the Aya’s on our website where there is a great review from HiFi Choice and if you’d like to come in for a demo anytime please feel free.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/rega/loudspeakers-rega/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Chord Electronics Ultima Integrated Amplifier Now On Demo, Sounding and Looking Great!

 

Hi all,

So here we are with another new product we have on permanent demo, this time from Chord Electronics with their new and stunning looking Ultima Integrated Amplifier.

Basically packed with their newish Ultima Tech which has made their recent Stereo and Mono power amps so popular, there really is a very natural presentation to their amps nowadays, still very dynamic and engaging but not as forward as some of the Chord amps used to be, they are really musical and rhythmic hence why their Ultima amps have been their most popular ever and this new integrated carries this legacy on and with 125 watts on tap it will get the best from most speakers.

And you've really got to love the way it looks.

Please feel free to come in for a demo anytime, please find a link to the Chord amplifier range below on our website -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/chord-electronics/chord-electronics-reference/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

New Bryston BP-19 Preamp Now On Demo!

 

Hi All,

We have always been big fans of Bryston at HiFi Lounge, they were one of our founding brands and I have personally owned Bryston at home for 15+ years now and I still love it, they walk that fine line really well giving clarity, honestly and insight into any recording but with just enough warmth to keep the presentation natural and I still think in this crazy world of HiFi they give great value for money and peace of mind with their legendary 20 year warranty on analogue products.

They are not a brand to keep releasing new products but when they do release something it is always worth a listen so when the BP-19 Pre was announced I ordered one straight away so I am really pleased to say that we now have it on permanent demo and it really doesn’t disappoint.

I always feel the importance of a preamp is overlooked, a good preamp should really help open up the soundstage, give depth and height to the music, they are certainly way more than just a input switcher with a volume control.

The BP-19 follows a long line of great Bryston Preamps, like the BP-26 and BP-17 amongst many others including the recent award winning BR-20 which was a streaming Preamp, a great sounding Pre to be honest but not everyone wanted the digital section in that so hence the BP-19, based on the BR-20 but just analogue so a great companion to the BR-20 meaning Bryston have 2 brilliant offering there and when partnered with one of their amps you really can’t go wrong.

We were running it for a demo at the weekend with the 4B3 stereo amp and PMC Fact.12 Signature speakers and it just sounded brilliant, a sound I am very familiar with as not a million miles from what I run at home.

Please find a link to Bryston on our website and if you’d like to come in for a demo at any point please feel free.

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

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

PMC Go Active With Twenty5i Speaker Range + Upgrade Available To Existing Twenty5 + 5i!

 

Hi All,

So this is big news that was announced yesterday at the Bristol HiFi Show, PMC Speakers are bringing their many years of Active speaker experience from their Pro world to their multi award winning domestic 2 way Twenty5i range, and even better news if you already have a pair of their 2 way Twenty5 or 5i speakers you can make them active by purchasing the Active upgrade kit and swapping the crossover board over.

Basically all you need to do is add a DAC with a volume control like a Chord Hugo TT2 or dCS Lina or a streaming Preamp like the Naim NSC 222 and you will have a really simple and clean system that will sound amazing, I can see this really being a popular option as nowadays people don't necessarily want loads of boxes but don't want to sacrifice sound quality.

The Active option is available on all 2 way Twenty5 and 5i models, so the 21's, 22's, 23's and 24's, please see more info below from PMC themselves -

'In the Active twenty5i series, each driver is directly coupled to an ideally matched 100W power amplifier, able to control the driver with a vice-like grip. Ahead of the power amps, a meticulously modelled analogue crossover splits the incoming signal, so each amplifier is only handling the frequencies appropriate to the driver it's powering, guaranteeing ideal driver integration and a staggeringly pure, natural, and free-breathing sound.

It's an elegantly simple solution for any music lover, reinventing the twenty5i speakers with even greater resolution and control and bringing you even closer to the music.'

Needless to say being such big PMC fans we will have Active Twenty5i's on demo shortly and will get an open day planned asap.

Please find some pics below, Pricing to follow shortly but if you'd like more info please feel free to get in touch.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier Now On Demo!

 

Hi Everyone,

Another quick update to say that we now have the new HiFi Rose RA 280 Integrated Amplifier on permanent demo.

I think it is fair to say that it's bigger brother, the RA 180 divided opinion on its styling, there was no questions on its sound quality but it is quite a busy looking amp, I liked it but I understand it wasn't the most conventional looking amp but the new RA280 has put that all right and simplified the design and features, it is basically a cut down RA 280 and all the better for it I'd say, it really does look the part and at £2999 seems great value.

The amplification is what HiFi Rose call Class AD which is basically their own developed take on Class D where you get the efficiency and advantages of Class D but the sound quality of a more conventional Class A or AB amp, I have to say Class D used to be a really dirty word in HiFi but there really have been leaps and bounds made in this area over the last few years and now I feel it really shouldn't even be mentioned, even though I just have, as I'd say Class D, or AD, amps can go toe to toe with any amplification now.

As with all HiFi Rose products it is beautifully built, you can really see the attention to detail they have put into to every element, it should have a clear cover so you can see the internals as they are laid out so cleanly but it all comes down to sound quality and I'd say it is a winner here and is a great amp to go up against our other amps in this ballpark, the Rega Aethos, the Naim SuperNait 3, the Musical Fidelity M6si, Heed Lagrange and the Accuphase E-280, so if you are in the market for an amp under £5k feel free to get in touch for a demo as you really are spoilt for choice nowadays.

Please find a link to the HiFi Rose product range below which we have all on demo and a few pics of the RA280 + RS150 and RA180 -

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

HiFi Rose RS520 Offer

Whilst we are talking HiFi Rose, please find below details on an offer that is currently available on the RS520 all in one with the Magnet speakers making a really neat compact system, if you'd like to demo it feel free to get in touch.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/hifi-rose-x-magnat-bundle-offer/

Cheers,

Paul.

 

[Vipers]

Fyne Audio Classic and Vintage Speakers Now On Demo!

 

Hi All,

So I must admit that over the last 12-18 months I have really gone down the rabbit hole of a more traditional looking speaker design, mainly driven by discovering the wonderful speakers of DeVore Fidelity, so when Fyne Audio announced their Classic and Vintage range of speakers recently I was primed and ready to have a listen, you know where this is going don't you, yep so after hearing both ranges I was sold and ordered a pair of Vintage 5's and Classic 10's for demo and Fyne have also kindly lent me the Vintage 10's to have a listen to which I can see being on permanent demo also soon as they really do sound brilliant, so effortless.

There really is something so natural in the presentation with these wide baffle and easy to drive speakers that is addictive to listen to, you really do get lost in the music and these new Fynes have nailed this too, basically the Classic and Vintage ranges are quite similar with the Classic's using a cheaper cabinet design to help keep the cost down, I have to say that the Classic X's we have here at £6499 are incredible value, but when you see the cabinets on the more prestigious Vintage range they really are quite stunning, beautifully made, a real bit of furniture in your room, personally I am a bit of a walnut tart so these big Vintage speakers couldn't look any better to me.

Obviously audio is very subjective and I could talk all day about how great these speakers sound and their technology but the only way is to listen for yourself so if you'd like a listen at anypoint please feel free to get in touch.

Please find a link below to Fyne Audio on our website and a few pictures of the Classic and Vintage speakers we have on demo -

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

Cheers,

Paul.

Fyne Audio Classic X Speakers

Fyne Audio Vintage 5 Speakers

Fyne Audio Vintage 10 Speakers

 

[Vipers]

Accuphase A-48 Class A Power Amp and C-2300 Pre-Amp Now On Demo!

 

Hi All,

Well I certainly have a bit of a soft spot for Accuphase and so do our customers as over the last few years they have become one of our most popular brands and rightly so for many reasons, firstly nothing is as well made as Accuphase, it is so beautifully engineered and built like a tank, you just have to do the knob test to see how well they are made, secondly they look absolutely gorgeous, I mean who doesn’t like a VU meter and most importantly they sound brilliant, very natural, full bodied and musical and I have to say although they are not exactly cheap they are fantastic value for money when you take all the above into account.

So over the last couple of years we have been building up our Accuphase demo stock and with the launch of their new £10,200 C-2300 Pre which we have had for a month or so I needed to partner that with an amp at a similar level so I decided on the A-48 Class A amplifier at £10,300, now I must admit I have always preferred Class A/B but actually slowly but surely I am coming round to Class A, again very realistic and natural sounding, especially with Vocals so I have to say they make the perfect combo.

I should also mention that we have the new E-4000 A/B integrated on demo.

If you’d like to try any Accuphase products anytime please feel free to get in touch, please find a link to their range below, any questions just shout -

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

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Welcoming Heed Audio Back To Our Portfolio Of Brands!

 

Hi All,

Have to say that I am delighted to now be able to add Heed Audio back to our range of brands we can offer as I have always been a big fan, not sure if anyone can remember but Heed where one of our first brands at HFL and we sold a fair bit of it with everyone loving it's very natural and unforced presentation, very valve like to be honest thanks to the output stage that Heed use for their amplifiers, but distribution changed hands and Heed kind of disappeared from UK shores for a few years but I am really pleased to say that they now have a new UK distributor so once I found this out I didn't hesitate in bringing them back into the fold.

So for now on demo we have the £1650 Heed Abacus DAC, which you can add a streaming card to for £450 to make it a fantastic streaming/dac solution for £2100, we also have the matching half size Elixir Integrated amplifier at £1500 and its brand new bigger brother, the Lagrange which has just been upgraded to the Lagrange S priced at £5000 and finally the awesome little Canamp II headphone amp which at £475 is unbeatable if you want a brilliant and small great sounding analogue only headphone amp.

Transcap Amplifier Design Explained

Heed use a very different design for their amplifiers which really does makes them sound very natural and lifelike, please find more info below stolen from their website -

'When you own a Heed amplifier you meet technology that you most probably have never seen in action before. Like the almost forgotten (and then reincarnated) valve technology, the output capacitor transistor amplifiers can normally only be found in the deepest recesses of engineers drawers. The technical difficulties of RC-Coupling means almost 100% of todays manufacturers opt for the easier direct-coupled solutions instead. With great effort and countless development hours there is a way to employ an up to date and sonically better sounding RC-Coupled amplifier. We have chosen this way.

This power transforming system needs to be perfectly balanced. The heart of our Transcap technology lies in the precise adjustment of all the charge transmitting and current delivery channels. This propels all the common amplifier components; mains transformer, power supply, voltage and power amplifier stages, into something radically different. You may see now, this is no ordinary amp and it cannot be measured by common standards. Using our methods the sound becomes thick, warm, yet clear and life-like, as it properly translates the electronic signal into the acoustic world.'

Please find a link to the Heed products we have on demo below and if you would like a listen anytime please feel free to get in touch to book an appointment -

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

Cheers,

Paul.

Heed Elixir Integrated Amplifier and Abacus DAC / Streamer

Heed Lagrange S Integrated Amplifier

[Vipers]

YG Acoustics Reference Carmel 3 Speakers Now On Demo at HFL, Stunning!

 

Hi all,

So everyone who knows me will know that I love speakers, without a doubt it is my favourite part of the HiFi Chain as I have said many times before, so as is becoming a common occurrence, when I was offered the chance to hear the new YG Acoustic Reference Carmel 3 speakers I jumped at it, I’m sure you know where this is going to end up.

But before we get to that point the first thing that hit me was how pretty they are, the proportions being perfect for most UK homes, these really are perfectly proportioned, looking absolutely stunning with their aerospace grade aluminium cabinets but for a reasonably small speaker the scale of the audio presentation is very impressive but it is their delicacy and insight that drew me in, these are obviously a 2 way design which a lot of people prefer for their simplicity and coherence which I totally get, have to say the balance through the whole frequency range is spot on with very impressive tight and layered bass weight, they really are very engrossing.

It really is very easy to be impressed by the Carmel 3’s so I couldn’t resist but to place an order for a pair for demo to go along with the YG Peaks Cairn and Talus speakers we already have on demo.

The great thing with the 3 pairs of YG’s that we currently have on demo is that they all occupy a small footprint which really will suit a lot of UK homes but as ever it has to come down to sound quality and in all honesty YG are a new brand to me so I am still learning their family sound but all I can say if you like, clarity, delicacy and insight that pulls you in then you really should give them a listen if you are looking for new speakers at these price points.

Please find a link below to YG on our website and a few pictures of what we have on demo currently, please feel free to get in touch to arrange a demo anytime -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/yg-acoustics/

Cheers,

Paul.

YG Reference Carmel 3 Speakers

YG Cairn Speakers with Bel Canto, a Great Combo!

YG Talus Speakers Singing on Naim!

[Vipers]

Trafomatic Rhapsody 300B Single Ended Valve Amp Now On Demo In A Cool Colour!

 

Hi Everyone,

As I've been writing these blogs over the last couple of weeks it has made me realise just how much new demo stock we have bought this year, scary stuff really, being a music lover and HiFi enthusiast running a HiFi shop really is akin to a drug dealer being addicted to heroin, it really is a dangerous and expensive business, bloody good fun though, there are just so many temptations out there.

This is a great new addition to our range though I feel, Trafomatic Audio are a new brand to me and bringing them on was solely driven my love of the Western Electric 91E 300B valve amp we have here which when partnered with our DeVore speakers really is a match made in heaven which got me looking at what other 300B Single ended Valve amps are out there which brought me to Trafomatic, I was firstly sold by the looks, yes I'm such a tart, but I asked if I could borrow one from the distributor, Absolute Sounds, which they kindly obliged with and after a quick listen I realised that along with it being absolutely gorgeous it sounded different enough from the 91E that it would be a worthy addition to put on demo to give our ever growing number of DeVore customers another amplifier option. What I need to do now is try to on other speakers as I'm sure it will make any speaker sing it is connected to.

Choose You Colour!

Another great feature on the purely aesthetic point is that you can have any colour you like, so being a bit of a car nut I sent them a picture of the below Ferrari and asked them to match that, please, so Trafomatic spoke with Ferrari and got the paint code, I think when you see the amp you'll agree they did a great job.

As for the sound compared to the Western Electric 91E? it definitely has a slightly tighter and punchier bass and a more refined sound overall whereas the 91E is a little more forward and lively so they really do complement each other well as they are both equally as good I'd say but just different so it will be up to the customer to choose, I can see some fun demos coming up.

Once our DeVore Reference speakers arrive I plan to run them with the Trafomatic Glenn 300B Mono Blocks as I would expect that to be a very special combination, really can't wait to get this all up and running.

As ever please find a link below to Trafomatic on our website, we're still adding some products to this, and a few pictures below and if you'd like to come in for a listen at anytime please feel free.

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

Cheers,

Paul.

The Big Question, Trafomatic Rhapsody or the Western Electric 91E?

[Vipers]

Wilson Audio Sasha V Loudspeakers Now On Permanent Demo!

 

Hi Everyone,

So when it comes to Wilson Audio there isn't much to say really that hasn't already been said but it is always big news when we get a new pair of Wilsons in for demo and this time we are delighted to now have the new Sasha V's on permanent demo in the stunning Medio Grigio finish, grey to you and me, it goes without saying that they look and sound stunning.

The Sasha DAW's were such a popular speaker for us and Wilson that I am sure when it came time to update them it must have been quite tricky for Wilson as they really were the perfect speaker, the right size, expensive yes but not silly money and sounded so good but things march on and as Wilson had not so long ago updated their Alexx V's with trickle down technology from the incredible XVX's it was time to upgrade the Sasha's with the same tech resulting in a speaker that really has moved the game on from where the DAW was, not small feat I have to say.

If you haven't heard a Wilson speaker you really do owe it to yourself to come in and choose some of your favourite tracks to play on our new Sasha's, the dynamics, mid and solidity to the bass is just perfect, Wilson Audio really are the masters of speaker design that just pulls you into the heart of the music, when I listen to a Wilson it is very difficult to find any faults with their presentation, well for me they are as perfect as a speaker gets, I know that comes at a price but if you are one of the lucky ones who can go to the Wilson level then I know you will enjoy your music like never before, generally once people become Wilson Audio customers they are for life as nothing else comes close to the balance of honesty, accuracy and musicality.

Please find a link to Wilson Audio on our website and if you'd like to come in for a demo anytime please feel free.

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

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

German Physiks Omnidirectional Speaker Open Day - 27th April!

 

Hi Everyone,

It's time for our first Open day of 2024 and this one is something a little different as it is for a speaker brand we do that I have always loved but I'm sure a lot of people have actually never sat down and listened to, German Physiks, who are the world leaders in Omnidirectional Loudspeakers giving a very different presentation to a conventional speaker. For those who don't know what an Omnidirectional speaker is, basically they present the music in 360 degrees. Not only are they very musical but be being an Omnidirectional design they give a huge soundstage recreating that music hall live sound, they really are quite special and well worth a listen so if you are around on April 27th please do come in for a listen.

We will have both of our 2 downstairs demo rooms running, the first room with have the £19,500 HRS-130 speakers in and the next room will have the next model up, the Borderland MK IV playing, this was German Physiks first speaker back in 1992 and is their most popular speaker.

Designed and manufactured in Germany the full range of German Physiks loudspeakers embody the same DDD driver which eliminates the crossover point in the very important mid-range. The DDD driver also has a wide frequency range typically, from 200Hz to 24Khz and is phase linear across this bandwidth. All frequencies in its operating range radiate evenly through 360 degrees around the loudspeaker in a horizontal plane producing a stereo image you can enjoy from a wide range of positions in the listening room.

Over the years Omnidirectional loudspeakers have gone from a curiosity that few people were aware of and even fewer had heard to a class of loudspeakers that you will find at almost any audio show and offer a different approach to the traditional speaker design so for something truly different please feel free to join us.

Please find a very enthusiastic review from Terry Ellis below, as you can see he was extremely impressed, these are the actual speakers we will have at our open day much to Terry's disappointment as he would have loved to have kept them longer.

HiFi+ Editors Choice Award for Borderland MK IV's

Over the years German Physiks have won countless awards and the latest addition to these is from HiFi+ who have just awarded the Borderland MK IV's their Editors Choice award, please see below -

RSVP Please!

We will have food and drink available on the day as well as representatives along from German Physiks to help run the day and answer any questions you may have.

It would be great if you'd like to come along to experience something a little different, I think you will be very surprised just how good these speakers sound, if you can make it along can you please fire me a quick mail to the below, thanks -

paul@hifilounge.co.uk

Please also find a link below to the full German Physiks range of speakers on our website below and a few pictures -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/german-physiks/

Hope to see you on April 27th,

All the best,

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

All Set For Our German Physiks Open Day Today!

 

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post to say that we are all ready for our German Physiks open day today, have to say both rooms sound really, really good, I think these speakers, although different from the norm, will really surprise people, I was listening to the Borderlands yesterday and the tonal balance is really hard to fault, gorgeous top end, open mid and really well defined bass weight, all very impressive.

To keep the German theme we will be serving Bratwurst Hot Dogs for lunch, now that I can't wait for.

We have had a great response to this open day with 40+ people register which has been a real suprise for a speaker brand that isn't really mainstream.

Looking forward to seeing everyone later.

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

PMC Active Crossovers Now on Demo for Twenty5 2 Way Speaker Range!

 

Hi All,

This is just a quickie to say that we have just recently installed the new Active Crossovers to a new demo pair of Twenty5.23i speakers, have to say it couldn't have been easier, just unscrew the back plate, unplug the old crossover with one plug and then plug in the new active crossover, screw it back on the speaker and job done, it really does only take 10 minutes.

Then it is just a matter of connecting mains to each speaker and plugging in a source and you are good to go, hooking them up with a Naim NSC 222, HiFi Rose RS150B, Aurender A200 or Bel Canto E1x, all streaming Preamps gives you the beauty of a simple system whilst still keeping an amazing sound.

Have to say at £1795 for a pair of Active Crossovers it is a bit of a bargain as being that they are optimised to get the best performance from a 2 way Twenty5 or Twenty5i speaker they perform much better than say a £1795 amp.

So if this may be of any interest please feel free to get in touch and we can demo any of the 2 way Twenty5i range now as passive and active.

Please find a link below to the PMC active Twenty5i range on our website and some pictures -

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/pmc-speakers/active-twenty5i/

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Introducing the new Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy, Re-Imagining an Audio Legend, On Demo at HFL Shortly!

 

Hi All,

I’m really excited by these new Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy’s as the original 8 iterations from 1986 - 2011 were before my time as a Wilson dealer but I know they were loved by so many so can’t wait to get our demo pair in the shop shortly for a good listen.

These really could be the perfect Wilson speaker for the UK thanks to their smaller size, sitting below the new Sasha V but with all the latest tech from Wilson these really could be the perfect speaker for a lot of our customers.

Being that it is Wilson Audio’s 50th Anniversary this year you could argue that this Watt/Puppy has been 50 years in the making and I’m sure Dave Wilson would have been extremely proud of seeing where his original design has progressed to.

As soon as our demo pair are with us we will be announcing an Open Day so everyone can come in for a listen so watch this space, we’ve ordered ours in Cranberry Pearl, going to be gorgeous, can’t wait to see them 👌

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product/wilson-audio-the-watt-puppy/

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Fyne Audio’s New SuperTrax Omnidirectional Super Tweeters now on Demo!

 

Hi All,

 

Have to admit I’m very excited to get these as I have never played around with Super Tweeters before but if they can do for the top end what a sub does for the low end then I’m sold.

 

Actually really keen to try them with other brands of speaker also, especially our DeVore O/96’s.

 

Just finished setting them up so let the fun begin 👍

 

If you'd like to come in and give them a try yourself please feel free or if you'd prefer to try them at home just let us know and we can either ship them out or feel free to collect.

 

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

 

All the best,

 

Paul.

[Vipers]

DeVore Fidelity Gibbon X Speakers Now On Demo, Well Worth The Wait!

 

Hi All,

 I'm very Excited to say that we now have our demo DeVore Fidelity Gibbon X Speakers on permanent display in the HFL showrooms.

 I’ve been looking forward to listening to these for what seems like forever and I can honestly say they really have been worth the wait.

 They are beautifully built, gorgeous cabinetry I have to say and sound amazing, another winner from DeVore Fidelity, no surprise there eh, can’t wait to demo them to our customers. 

 Just waiting on our O/References to arrive in a couple of months and we will then have the full DeVore Fidelity range on permanent demo .

 DeVore have been extremely popular with our customers, rightly so as they are very special, so if you would like to come in for a listen anytime please feel free to get in touch to book an appointment.

 Please find a link to the full DeVore Fidelity range below as a few pictures of our new Gibbon X Speakers.

 https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/devore-fidelity/

 All the best,

Paul.

[Vipers]

New Sonus Faber Sonetto G2 Speaker Range On Demo!

Hi Everyone,

We've always been big Sonus Faber fans at HFL, one of my everlasting audiophile memories was hearing a pair of the original SF Extrema's many years ago and just being blown away how lifelike they sounded, I can still remember that sound so well so it is always great news when we have something new from Sonus Faber arrive and this is no different as I am pleased to say we now have the new Sonus Faber Sonetto G2 range on permanent demo, these are the successors to the ever popular original Sonetto range, where these differ is that they are the first speakers to take some of the tech from the new SF flagship Suprema speaker system which is really saying something.

I would say that the Sonetto range from SF is where you get the true essence of SF without breaking the bank too much, there really is no one else like Sonus Faber really in the speaker world that really do make their speakers as if they were a piece of furniture and the new Sonetto G2 range carries that tradition on as they are absolutely stunning, especially when you consider the prices and with all Sonus Faber's you get that very natural and organic presentation that just pulls you into your favourite music.

We have the Sonetto I, III's and V's on permanent demo so if you'd like to come in to listen to a speaker that looks as good as it sounds then please feel free to get in touch anytime to arrange a demo, please find a link to Sonus Faber on our website below and a few pictures.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/sonus-faber/

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Introducing the dCS Audio Varèse, The Worlds Ultimate Digital Front End, On Demo at HFL Very Soon!

 

Hi All,

So this is very exciting news, basically when it comes to digital front ends dCS Audio take some beating so when they say the below you have to sit up and take notice -

'This new system began with a vision to redefine state-of-the-art and create an even more immersive musical experience.'

I don't really have any info at the moment other than it is to be called Varèse and that more will be released tomorrow.

For me the really exciting news is that we will be one of a handful of dealers in Europe that will have Varèse on permanent demo so watch this space for more news on it's ETA and an open day asap.

For now though please enjoy the below teaser trailer from dCS, it certainly looks impressive.

Regards,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV Mono Amplifiers For Sale (Trade In)

Hi All,

I just wanted to do a quick blog to say that we have just had these amazing Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV Mono Amplifiers traded in as the customer has just gone up to D'Agostino Relentless amps.

They are around 8 months old, as new condition with crates and all paperwork and accessories as if new so this is a great opportunity for someone out there.

We also have our demo Momentum HD Preamplifier available for anyone who wants to run one of the best Pre/Power setup out there.

Price new with Floor Stands - £104,000

Our Price - £69,995

If you would like to come in for a demo or have any enquiries please feel free to get in touch.

Please find a link to Dan D'Agostino on our website below and a few pictures on the M400's.

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

Thanks,

Paul.

 

[Vipers]

dCS Audio Visit To Hear Their New Flagship Varèse System, Quite Astonishing!

 

Hi Everyone,

So Billy and I were extremely privileged to be invite to dCS Audio on Wednesday to be one of the 1st in the world to hear the new 5 box flagship Varese music system.

Now I must try and keep my enthusiasm in check here as it is not very often that I am left speechless but when doing a direct comparison to the incredible Vivaldi stack the difference really was quite startling but it is really hard to put it into words as it is like nothing I have head before.

It wasn’t just better in the normal area’s like you would expect, ie more detail, more clarity and separation, tighter bass etc, yes it did all that stuff but it was fundamentally a very different presentation, it was just so big, it went beyond the walls, you felt like you could climb into the recording and have a look round, sounds mad I know but it was quite a confusing experience, Billy and I just sat listening gobsmacked at what we were hearing.

We started off listening to the Vivaldi and it really did sound excellent and I was sitting on the sofa infront of the Wilson Alexx V’s hoping I could hear a difference, how embarrassing would that have been but once switched to the Varese the whole system came alive, not in a subtle way but in a way that I have never heard a source change things that much before.

As I said at the time when we switched from Vivaldi to Varese it was as if the guys at dCS had also changed the amps and speakers too as the speakers sounded much bigger and the amp more effortless, it really did give the whole system a massive lift.

We sat through a really interesting presentation on how over 5 years or R&D has gone into Varese and how it is a 100% new ground up design where they really have re-invented what is possible with digital audio, there are so many innovative ideas that have gone into this and several patents it really does feel like a new dawn for digital music playback.

It is also worth mentioning that even though this is arguably the best source on the planet now it has been designed to be extremely easy to setup and use, each box is connected by one single, very clever, 'Actus' cable now and all the clock settings are now automatic, this really is high end plug and play. There will be a new Varese CD/SACD Transport coming along soon + the Core has slots in where you can plug in optional cards with other feature sets you may like such as an HDMI board or even adding some analogue inputs for people that have a turntable or reel to reel but don’t want a preamp, it really does have all the bases covered.

Ah yeah I forgot to mention that screen, other than being very cool that again is the heart of what makes the system so easy to use, basically the user interface, being touch screen you actually don’t need to open up your iPad now to get music playing as with one click on either the screen or the new funky remote you’ll have music filling your room, it really does sound like dCS have thought of everything here. Also when the new CD/SACD transport is launched that will be controlled by the screen.

So what more is there to say other than well done to everyone at dCS for achieving something very special indeed, my only sadness is that not everyone, in fact most people, will not be able to afford it but the good news is that as we will have our demo model shortly so at least anyone coming into HFL will be able to have a listen and get lost in it as I did, we are planning to build a very special system with the Varese at the heart of it so watch this space.

We are also in the process of arranging with dCS an open day in the Autumn at dCS where everyone can experience what Billy and I did earlier this week, more info on this to come shortly.

Now I am just counting down the days till our demo Varese arrives as I can see myself spending many an hour getting lost in my favourite music once here.

Please feel free to get in touch for anymore information on Varese or dCS in general, please find the full range in the link below and some pictures - 

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

All the best,

Regards,

Paul.