Lately we have housed a stray BeoSound 1 wireless speaker. It is a rather stylish thing, as you would expect from Bang and Olufsen. Did we find it friendly though?

We do get a variety of wireless speakers here. Today’s offering may well be one of the most expensive (if you ignore the £18k Goldmund Metis Mk 2). B&O are renowned for their design-lead audio offerings.

Whenever I mention Bang and Olufsen, my friends split themselves in to two quite definite camps. There’s the ones that find B&O an aspirational brand who have loved the look of their kit since the days of wall-mounted vertical CD players. However, there’s the other lot. These tend to be more ‘serious’ about their two-channel Hi-Fi. This band of beings will cock a snook and mutter something about “lifestyle”, and possibly “architects”.

The strange thing is, I can see both arguments. Yes, they tend to be great to look at. They are also generally designed to be fuss free to set up and use. I don’t see anything wrong with this. Furthermore, a lot of the naysayers also happen to be iPhone owners. Now, isn’t ‘great looking’ and ‘it just works’ straight out of the Steve Jobs’ cook book? As for sound quality, we’ll cover that later.

BeoSound 1 design

Yup, it is certainly striking. You would also be hard placed to assume it was from any other brand, even though there is only a hint of a logo tastefully engraved near the base.

I do love its brushed finish that would suit any room you placed it in. It’s such a lean and minimalist piece of audio furniture.

It manages to look hyper-modern yet, if you placed it in a wood-paneled study (I am assuming B&O owners will probably have a library or similar too), it would still look perfectly at home.

Another cool design touch is the way the top portion of this audio Shard almost appears to float. This neat tick also lends it further wrappings of modernity.

It measures 16.2 x 32.7 cm (W x H) and weighs in at a reassuringly substantial 3.5kg.

However, just because it appears to be minimalist in design that doesn’t mean that it is short on features.

Firstly, on that pseudo-floating top is a circular touchpad. This is used to pause, skip and play your music. Then, surrounding that pad and forming part of the outer metal casing, is a heavily damped volume-control ring. Finally, inside the “futuristic vase”, as one friend dismissed it, there is support for myriad streaming services and standards.

Music is produced by way of a 1.5-inch full-range driver in the top part of the speaker firing down at a 360-degree acoustic lens, and a 4-inch bass driver in the… errr… base. This also hits a curved plate for dispersion.

Lastly, there is an integrated rechargeable battery that B&O says will see it through 16 hours of untethered playback at moderate volume (four hours at maximum).

BeoSound 1 performance

The pair of drivers together deliver a frequency response of 35Hz to 24.3kHz, according to the bumf. These are powered by a 40 watt class D amp for the full-range and a 20 watt class D for woofer.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the 360-degree cleverness works well and fills a room. Furthermore, it manages to do this without any real sense that the sound is coming from one particular point.

You are spoiled for ways to send music to the BeoSound 1, too. Firstly, there’s Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Google Cast support. Additionally, you can just squirt tunes via Bluetooth.

The speaker can be added to Bang & Olufsen’s multiroom speaker system, and you can control it via the firm’s app as well. Within that app there’s integrated control over Spotify, Deezer QPlay and TuneIn, and the ability to stream from DLNA-networked music sources.

Setup

I downloaded the Bang & Olufsen app from the Google Play Store, and simply followed the wizard.

First, switch on Bluetooth and ensure you’re hooked up to your WiFi.

Tap ‘Add Product’ and it will locate the speaker.

Now just add the speaker to your network. Done. It took me about a minute.

Inside the app you can adjust the EQ using the Wall, Free, Corner presets and/or use the Treble and Bass sliders. Here you can also set alarms.

Tapping on the Music icon at the foot of the app gives you the available roots to music. I went the way of DNLA in order to slurp up audio from my NAS.

Sound quality

The BeoSound 1 really is a joy to listen to. I can feel numerous ‘audiophiles’ pulling that face, but I don’t care.

To say that this is just a single unit with a couple small drivers, the output is tremendous. There is plenty of detail, but there is also expression, atmosphere, separation and an impressive soundstage. I can honestly say that I have not heard anything this good from a single wireless speaker yet. The Dali Katch is still my favourite go anywhere portable, but the BeoSound 1 is the one for home.

It also handles a variety of music very well.

Bauhaus’s haunting acoustic offering ‘All We Ever Wanted Was Everything’, practically has Pete Murphy and the gang sat with you around the table. ‘Frankenstein’ by Clutch is as dirty as you want it. The crunchy distorted guitar lays over the sludgy overdriven bass without muddying things.

Depeche Mode’s ‘Dream On’ also proved that the BeoSound can handle electronica too. Bass has good weight and authority, but also control and a rich warmth.

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 1 review conclusion

Is the BeoSound 1 cheap and cheerful? Well, if you are familiar with Bang and Olufsen you would not ask. True, it is not what you’d call a budget speaker. But, the build quality, style, and finish is also what you would expect from this price bracket.

Furthermore, there is the sound quality. Additionally, the fact that it can go wireless so, once it has woken you up using the alarm you set, you can then take it with you to the breakfast room – I am assuming that is a thing that the monied will have.

It is an exquisite piece of audio jewelry and I would definitely buy one for each of the guest suites in the west wing of my imaginary mansion.

BeoSound 1 price and availability

You can purchase the BeoSound 1 right now. The official website states a price of £1085 but I have seen them new online for under £900.

It is available in Brass Tone, Natural (steel) and Infantry Green.

The post Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 1 wireless speaker review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

After a successful crowd funding campaign, Urban Drivestyle have launched the Unimoke. This e-bike features cool retro looks as well as a huge range of accessories. It all adds up to what looks to be a fun and practical way of getting around.

The Unimoke not only manages to stand out from the growing e-bike crowd, it also boasts the longest seat amongst its peers. That’s gotta be worth something, right?

Unimoke e-bike

The Unimoke’s rugged, powder-coated steel frame, oversized, motorcycle-inspired headlight, 20-inch wheels and 4.25-inch wide tyres gives it a distinctive look. OK, it may be compared to the Lithium Cycles Super 73, but Urban Drivestyle actually addresses the similarities on its blog.

This electric moped is design and built in Germany. However, the company started as the first electric only bike and scooter rental on the Island of Mallorca. As renters demanded rugged, powerful and cool e-bikes, which could not be found on the market at that time, Urban Drivestyle simply developed their own.

Long seat

Accommodation is plentiful for a bike. The long seat features three individual cushions. This allows for some flexibility in layout.

As a basic seat, it’s designed to fit two adults or an adult and two children. The rear cushion can also be removed to make room for accessories, such as a child seat, cargo rack or basket.

The bike can carry nearly 400 lb (180 kg) of total weight, so it’s ready to get you to your destination complete with your luggage.

Power

With up to 1,000 watts of motor power, the Unimoke will top out at 28 mph (45 km/h). Since a 1,000-watt e-bike will run into issues on public thoroughfares in many jurisdictions, Urban Drivestyle also offers 250- and 500-watt motor options. Meh.

The knobby tyres option provides all-terrain bite, whilst the semi-slicks keep it smooth on the street.

Powered is supplied by a Samsung 11.6-AH ‘lithium-ion battery and will keep you going for 25 miles (40 km). Additionally, you could even consider buying a second battery to double the distance. Also, thanks to the quick charger you can fill it up the cell again within 2 to 4 hours.

https://youtu.be/u6kogMm7JPk

However, should you get caught out, its pedals are connected to an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain. Although, pedaling that chunky, 57-lb (26-kg) bike any distance isn’t filling me with happy thoughts.

Saying that, the bike also has nine different pedal-assist modes, so riders of various abilities should be able to find their sweet spot.

Additions

Other noteworthy points include the LCD computer with USB output for charging gadgets, disc brakes and adjustable handlebars.

Furthermore, there are a selection of racks and trailers designed especially for the Unimoke.  I would love to turn up to a gig carrying all my gear on a ‘moke.

Price and availability

For the 250w version of the Unimoke V2, you are looking at €2,390.00.

Typically, the one that has really caught my eye is their new Captain Cargo variant at €3,290.00. This boasts Magura hydraulic disc brakes, a double light system, reinforced frame, side stand and seat structure, and high capacity 21 Ah Panasonic battery. For the cargo bit, you get a foldable back rest/seat extension, and the option of a folding cargo trailer. Want!

Head on over to the Urban Drivestyle site for more deets.

The post Unimoke e-bike: coolest 2-wheeled cargo carrier appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Sound and Vision – The Bristol Show is over for another year. But, over the three days (Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th February) there were plenty to see and hear. Furthermore, plenty of firsts.

The Bristol Show, how it has become affectionately known, is when the hi-fi and home cinema industry takes over the rooms (and power sockets) of the Marriott City Centre in Bristol. This year saw well over 200 brands showing their latest and greatest products to the public. Also, it is worth noting that that public not only comes from every corner of the country, but many fly in specially for this show.

So, for a solid two days (I had to fly to Barcelona on the Sunday to cover MWC. I know, you feel my pain) I climbed up and down the stairs in search of the things that make me go hmmm. Oh, thanks Leema for deciding to take three rooms on the tenth floor. I’m not getting any younger, you know!

The Dandy Dozen: Bristol 2018

There were plenty of favourites on show this year. I am always impressed by Ophidian and they brought out their big guns, the Prophet P2s (£3,200) for me to listen too. Remarkable sounding, as expected.

Also, there were some new and interesting devices on show, such as the Orpheus JTR 1 speakers from the same creator that brought you the MiniPod and Blueroom loudpspeakers.

I could easily write something about everything I saw over the Friday and Saturday but, instead, here are my top 12 device debuts at The Bristol Show. Just to add, for the pedants, I am classing it as a debut if it’s the first time I’ve seen it in the flesh.

Righty, let’s get in to it. I’ve decided alphabetical would be the most diplomatic order to put things in.

Amphion

First up is Amphion. I loved this room as it was set up realistically, just how most music consumers would. It was simple yet sounded great.

Having spent many years in single bedroom apartments in London, this rang particularly true to me. Here you had a Hegel Röst networked integrated amp (£2,200) and a pair of £700 Argon speakers with music provided from a tablet using AirPlay. Simple and effective.

Not only did this sound great, but it also looked good too. Amphion managed to get the ‘lifestyle’ system looking as fab as it sounded.

Astell & Kern ACRO L1000

I had to go find this as I really love the design of the ACRO L1000. This is a very cool-looking desktop amplifier, headphone amp and DAC.

Astell & Kern has done everything right here, as far as I’m concerned. The volume wheel dominates the rest of the exquisite aluminium casework. It is such a tactile bit of audio hardware I just couldn’t help myself from groping it.

Priced at £799, the ACRO L1000 can play PCM files up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD11.2MHz, and offers 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 6.5mm and XLR audio outputs. Your office system *needs* this!

Chord Qutest

Having loved the Hugo 2 DAC from Chord I had a feeling I’d fall in love with this cut-down version. Named Qutest, I expected it to have confidence beyond its stature. However, it is well deserved.

The Chord Qutest (£1,195) is essentially a Hugo 2 without the headphone amp and rechargeable battery. This makes it perfect to slot into your hi-fi system.

Furthermore, it enjoys Chord’s typically extensive file support, with the USB-typeB input, for example, supporting 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. I am crossing my fingers for an opportunity to review one.

DALI Callisto 6

I’d lost touch with DALI so it was great to catch-up and get reacquainted. It also seems timely as the Danish speaker company has teamed up with Lenbrook International aka Bluesound to create two wireless speakers – Callisto. These, naturally, use Lenbrook’s BluOS hi-res multi-room platform.

The speakers communicate with the DALI Sound Hub, via a 24 bit/96 kHz connection. A multitude of standard inputs – all with auto detect – ensures that any audio device can be connected; be it via Bluetooth, optical, analogue or coax.

The DALI Callisto 6 being being demoed at the Bristol Show are pre-production models. However, they sounded impressive.

Keep your eyes and ears open for these as they should be hitting stores in the next few months.

Elac Miracord 70

Spotted in the Elac room was the brand new Miracord 70 turntable. This, as you have already worked out, comes in just below the highly recommended Miracord 90.

The glossy black MDF plinth is typically understated. The belt drive is powered by a Premotec synchronous motor.

The platter is a 2.6Kg glass plate with a ceramic sphere as a central element on the shaft. This design achieves a smooth operation and a very high resilience to external influences.

The new arm guarantees a minimum tracking error and is fitted with an Audio-Technica AT95 cartridge.

It wasn’t in use when I visited so I just gawped at the Miracord 90 looking and sounding fabulous.

Although, I did like the look of the little box of tricks known as the Discovery DS-S101-G Music Server (£950). This nifty device uses a lite version of Roon and will play nice with 192kHz 24-Bit Audio Formats: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC. It will sniff out all the audio you have stored on your network and then push it out through your system. I am really interested in this.

Fyne Audio

It is always special to see something beautifully crafted coming out of the UK. This time it was the gorgeousness that is the F1-10 from new Scottish speaker brand, Fyne Audio.

Fyne Audio had some rather fine (sorry) speakers on display on the ground floor, but upstairs is where the main event was.

Their flagship loudspeakers, the F1-10 looked and sound awesome. They were being simply fed by Rega Apollo CD transport and Osiris amp.

Imposing, until someone mentioned “Minions” to me, the £18k Tannoy meets Sonus Faber design nevertheless left most with slack jaws. Oh, there is an ex-Tannoy link from what I gather.

The sound was amazingly balanced even though they appeared to be too large for the room.

But, it is that deep and lustrous finish that makes you want to stroke them.

iFi Pro iDSD

iFi’s new flagship DAC isn’t being officially launched until next month, but that didn’t stop this gang of rebels from showing it off in Bristol.

The Pro iDSD (£2500) supports PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 with DSD1024 upsampling. Additionally, it has a selectable tube and solid state analogue stage, and works over the LinkPlay hi-res Wi-Fi platform.

It certainly looks and sounds the part. The full rig is more than eye-candy, but it never hurts to look good, does it?

iFi was also teasing visitors with a pre-production version of the xDSD, the latest addition to its mobile headphone amp/DAC range. This should be available in April and slips in above the extremely impressive nano iDSD Black Label. The xDSD also boasts full PCM and DSD support. Furthermore is will have six to eight hours battery life and aptX Bluetooth streaming.

Jamo Studio 8

Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, Jamo is back in the UK and armed with the latest generation of its long-standing Studio series speakers.

The comprehensive (ten-strong) Studio 8 series comprises three floorstanders (S 809, S 807 and S 805), two standmounting designs (S 803 and S 801), two centre speakers (S 83 CEN and S 81 CEN), two subwoofers (S 810 SUB and S 808 SUB) and, finally, one Dolby Atmos-certified upward-firing design (the S 8 ATM).

The floorstanding Jamo S 805 speakers (£349 per pair) were on show for the first time at the Bristol Show.

The Studio 8 range employs soft dome tweeters with WaveGuide technology, as well as aluminium/polyfibre woofers plus reflex ports. And all models are available in your choice of white (with grey grilles), black or walnut (with darker grey grilles) matte vinyl finishes with wood-grain accents.

Some models also benefit from Atmos speaker integration features too.

Optoma UHZ65

I have already covered the launch of this rather competitively-priced 4K UHD home cinema projector in more detail here.

However, as a quick overview, the flagship UHZ65 is based on Optoma’s Award-winning lamp-sourced UHD65. Furthermore, at just coins under £5000, it is still considerably more affordable most other similarly equipped projectors.

Whilst in this room, I also learned to appreciate 4K projector screens a lot more thanks to the guys from Grandview.

Ophidian

Ophidian never cease to amaze me. What they can get out of their diminutive Minimos and Mojos is tantamount to witchcraft.

However, I was lucky enough for them to bring out the big guns, the Prophet P2 (£3,200).

The Prophet P2 is a 2.5-way floorstander featuring dual 180mm aluminium midbass drivers and a 27mm Sonolex coated fabric tweeter.

These speakers still mange to sound bigger than they really are and produce and effortless, lifelike sound and exceptional dynamics.

Quad Artera Solus

This all-in-one system was at the very heart of Quad’s award-winning demo room this weekend. The fresh-faced Quad Artera Solus (£1500) is a CD transport, DAC, preamp and power amp combo.

Also, it just happens to be the first Artera product to offer Bluetooth connectivity using the aptX codec. This promises ‘CD-like’ 16-bit/44.1kHz audio. Furthermore, its 32-bit, eight-channel DAC (capable of playing PCM files up to a 32-bit/384kHz) feeds five digital inputs. Tasty.

Technics SP-10R

The SP-10R was doing its thing in Bristol ahead of its official summer launch. This was definitely a must see.

A couple of times the doors were shut due to timed listening slots but I was actually recognised and allowed in at one point. Now, I am not saying who they must’ve thought I was, as that doesn’t really matter, does it?

The SP-10R has no pressure, other than being described as the brand’s “most premium turntable ever.”

Also, there’s the fact that it will likely have a $10,000 starting price, it had better have the chops.

That said, it does seem to have most bases covered. The new deck features a newly-developed ‘noise reduction circuit’, and a coreless direct-drive motor that Technics claims has enough force to rotate the platter with very low-speed irregularities.

Additionally, those looking for the complete system variant should check out the Technics SL-1000R, which adds the triple-layered base and S-shaped tonearm.

Oh, you will need even deeper pockets for that one too.

Von Gaylord

OK, stop giggling at the back. Seriously!

Everything in this room was chunky. The neatly laid cables running from the Nirvana monoblocs up to the Legend speakers had plenty of girth… really?

Schoolboy humour aside, Von Gaylord are an outfit out of West Sacramento, California and the build some impressive kit.

The trapezoidal standmounted Return of the Legend loudspeakers ($9,995.00) were bi-wired and connected to the Nirvana tube monos ($8,495.00).

This was a really enjoyable system. I actually loved the fact that it didn’t have that somewhat bloomy warmth that lovers of tube amps seem to dig. Instead, this was more assured, detailed and dynamic.

The bass was surprisingly taut and deep and vocals were presented with subtlety and expression. Great stuff and definitely ones to check out.

Honorable mentions

Of course, there were many others out there. For instance, AVM launched their AVM 30 range – always tasty kit. Same can be said of Melco and Leema, too. But, it wasn’t only the new stuff that I enjoyed. TAD, Iota, Goldnote, Prism, and Musical Fidelity never let me down.

Til next year, then, Bristol!

Bristol Show 2018 gallery

Click image to enlarge

Acoustic Energy – Chord

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Clear Audio – Funk Firm

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Fyne Audio – IsoAcoustics

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Klipsch – Michell

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Mission – Origin Live

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Orpheus – Ruark

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Sennheiser – XTZ

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The post Sound and Vision – The Bristol Show 2018: Top 12 debuts appeared first on GadgetyNews.

So, the time has come. Your smartphone speakers are no longer cutting it, and the Bluetooth speaker upgrade isn’t giving the depth, soundstage or immersion you desire? What is your next step? Yup, it’s time to look into creating your home Hi-Fi system.

Leafing through Hi-Fi magazines, checking out reviews and generally learning is a good start. But, rarely do they help with your first steps. I’ll be honest now, even though I have been buying music since the 80s, my knowledge of Hi-Fi was limited until I started to explore the confusing world of the audiophile. Tis a scary, often intimidating place, but Hi-Fi doesn’t have to be.

You see, there are those, like in any community that feel knowledge is power. However, there are also those that wish to help you find the sound you’re looking for.

Getting sourcy

Are you looking to hitch a ride on the LP (vinyl to those more ‘hip’) bandwagon? This will take you down a certain path. If heading this way, will your turntable be fitted with a phono stage/phono amplifier? If not, one will need to be added to your shopping list else you won’t be able to hear your music. The good thing is, if you are buying a turntable and a separate phono amp, you will have the flexibility to upgade one, either, or both later on. Whereas, if you buy a record player with an in-built amp, you may find yourself having to replace the one unit with two later on.

[amazon_link asins=’B01KBMQISO’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]Just to add more choices, you can even get Bluetooth turntables. These will hook up to Bluetooth-equipped amps or active (powered) speakers wirelessly. Bluetooth, however, is ‘lossy’ and so will lessen the audio quality when compared to other methods. Of course, you may or may not hear the difference.
 
Looking to squirt audio from a smartphone or tablet? Bluetooth would be a handy addition. Already have a CD collection? Do you have loads of audio on Network Attached Storage (NAS)?
 
All these questions will need be answered. However, there are routes you can take in order to allow more flexibility.
 
If you will be keeping it digital, then a music server with an in-built amp such as the Bluesound Powernode or the impressive Naim Uniti Atom will be a neat solution. These literally just require speakers and then you’re on your way to audio heaven.
 
However, if you intend to build a full, traditional system, buying components that will play nicely together should be at the forefront of your mind.
 

Spreading it about

Are you intending to play your shiny system just in one room, or are multi-room skills a priority? Personally, if you are looking for tip-top tune time, there are limited multi-room solutions that will take you in to high-end realms. This is something really worth considering.

Whilst we are chatting about rooms, how much space have you got? Up until recently, I have been living in small 1 or 2 bedroom London flats. This pretty much dictated the size and style of my Hi-Fi.

Room size will have an impact on both amplifier and speaker choices. This is not necccesarily a bad thing though, some speakers that might get lost in large rooms will sound fantastic in smaller spaces. Take the gorgeous Eclipse TD508MK3, for instance.

Pay to play

Money no object? Fill your boots with the biggest and best. Unfortunately, most of us will be tied by what our bank account says.

Budget sensibly, and budget well.

Thankfully, these days, there is a huge range of decent kit at almost every price point. If you are prepared to do a little more homework and not squeamish about buying second or third-hand, you will be able to step up the audio-ladder whilst not busting your budget. My current turntable and speaker stands were auction site bargains, as was my disc player until recently. If going down this route, patience is key. Both the turntable and CD/DVD/Blu-ray player were the results of backing out of numerous bidding wars for months before winning these at the budget I allowed myself.

If you are wanting to build a system of separate components, allow money for interconnects (cables that join each component to each other), as well as speaker cables that will run from your amplifier to the speakers.

If going digital, don’t forget to add in subsciptions to Tidal, Qobuz, and/or other high quality streaming services. Spotify Premium is also a popular choice for many, however the others mentioned stream at better quality.

Five-year itch

Are you planning ahead? Are you likely to want the option to upgrade bits as you save up for the next level? In that case a one-box system might not be for you. Additionally, if money is too slow to add up then separates are a good way of scratching the Hi-Fi itch in stages. Back in the day, I started with a cassette player, amp and speakers. Then, at Christmas and birthdays, asked either for components, or money towards the next bit.

There is great satisfaction to be had by watching your system take shape. Here, I feel that I should also warn you of something. Constantly tweaking and making upgrades can be addictive. One day you’ll be buying a better cartridge for your record player and, before you know it, you’ll be treating the room walls, testing out mains conditioners, and all the rest of it.

So, you have been warned and I have done my due dilliegence.

Shortlist

By now you should have some idea of what you’re looking for.

If you are buying new then it’s time to find a store, or stores, where you can listen to as much of your planned Hi-Fi as possible.

Auditioning is generally a step that most people skip happily past. Granted, being able hear systems in the rare beast that is the Hi-Fi store is handy, this doesn’t mean that it will sound the same at home.

If you are looking to spend a decent amount, some stores will allow you to test components at home. This will give you a better idea.

Sounds funny

This brings me on to the subject of speakers.

These can be awkward things. This also links back to the size of the room your system will be living in, too.

You see, speakers will react differently depending on their position in a room. Not only that, they can sound differently depending on how close they are to each other and to any walls.

If your speakers will be pushed back against a wall, front ported types may be the best way to go here. Most ‘bookshelf’ speakers are designed for cramped spaces (on a bookshelf, obvs), so these might be a good place to start.

The next step

Once you’ve got enough parts together in order to actually play music through your pride-and-joy, it’s worth spending time on getting everything in the right place.

Got a turntable? It’s best not to have it too close to, or directly in front of, your speakers. The needle is transferring vibrations up the tonearm and out in to your amplifer. Your speakers are also creating vibrations. You see what I am getting at?

The easiest upgrade, and most cost effective, is actually taking time with your speaker placement. Ideally, the speakers should be level with your ears and the ‘sweet spot’ will make you the point of an equilateral triangle.

Also, keeping the path from the speakers to you clear of furniture will also benefit the sound.

Further investigation

You could do a lot worse than having a look around one of the Hi-Fi shows if you’re needing inspiration.

Bristol, headroom (portable Hi-Fi and headphones), and Indulgence are great fun and opens the gates to a larger choice. Also, these shows have many experts on hand who might be able to help you in your quest.

Has this been useful?

Please let me know if this has been useful or not by commenting below or on Facebook.

The post How to: Plan your Hi-Fi system appeared first on GadgetyNews.

The Eclipse TD508MK3 continue the company’s egg-shaped design of the desk-mounted TD-M1 we had in to review almost 2 years ago. As the latter speakers are being discontinued, we thought we’d better check out their larger siblings.

As soon as you see the TD508MK3 you know you’ve got something from the Eclipse stable.

The jet-engine crossed with a Pixar lamp looks and single driver are unmistakably Eclipse. They certainly stand out amongst a world of rectangular boxes – no matter how clever those boxes are, or how good they sound.

Eclipse TD508MK3 design

The Eclipse TD508MK3’s cabinet, like others from the company, is ovoid for rigidity and to avoid any reflective edges, which can spoil the stereo imaging.

I have covered the principles of the design Eclipse uses in my earlier review of the TD-M1 desktop system. The TD508MK3 is larger than the TD-M1 but works on exactly the same principle.

Here you have an 8cm fibreglass driver which is utilised to produce every frequency you are going to hear.

Each speaker weighs in at 3.5kg, no doubt much of which is down to the mass anchor and diffusion stay – more on that later.

The speakers measure 180 x 289 x 268 (WxHxD) and so are quite compact.

The ones I have been sent are white. The finish is actually slightly pearlised. If you get them in the right light there does appear to be fine metal flakes in the casement. Nice touch.

They do come with little protective grilles but, as I have no kids or pets, I prefer them off.

Stand

Even the stand design of the TD508MK3 has been carefully considered.

It is what Eclipse calls an ‘all-point’ contact design. This is achieved by using three steel legs mounted in the top of the stand arm combined with a specially machined locking ring.

This design eliminates undesirable vibrations, ensures tighter lower frequency performance and allows for angle adjustments. The latter point is quite an unusual option for high-end speakers.

Adjustment of -10 to 30 degrees of the head angle offers a wide range of flexibility in the installation to suit the individual listening environment.

Because of the clever stand the speakers can also be mounted on the ceiling or wall. Nice.

Check out our review of the Eclipse TD-M1 desktop speakers

Eclipse TD508MK3 performance

So, you have a single driver in each speaker being pushed to frequencies that are well beyond any normal driver of the same size. It goes without saying that these are custom jobs, and also extremely light.

The driver is bolted to a heavy metal mass anchor. This ensures that all of its movements are converted to sound rather than wasted through resonance.

The enclosure is supported by the anchor, but decoupled from it to reduce any mechanical energy transfer. This way cabinet vibration is minimal, and so it contributes far less to the overall sound than would usually be the case.

The whole enclosure is dampened and tweaked to help that single driver produce the required extension.

This all enables that little bit of fibreglass to extend down to 60Hz (Eclipse claims an absolute roll off of 52Hz).

Why put a single driver through all of this? Well, it means that there are no integration issues for a start. Furthermore there is no need to add a crossover circuit that could introduce distortion and/or sap detail.

Another benefit is that it also removes any phase issues that are common with many two-way designs, which can suffer from lack of coherence between the drivers.

Finally, smaller drivers are usually selected for the higher ranges because they move faster. This is partly the reason why, in my life as a bassist, I choose bass cabs with 10-inch drivers in rather the 12- and 15-inchers that I have used previously. They might not move the same amount of air but the speed and clarity is much better. Ever wonder why Ampeg’s 8×10 bass cabinet, AKA the fridge, is still at the top of many bass players’ want list?

Check out our Dali Rubicon 5 review

Sound quality

Well, I reckon that they look great. But, how does the TD508MK3 sound?

Where I have been previously impressed by Eclipse speakers is their ‘speed’ and accuracy. Thankfully, the same can be said of the TD508MK3.

These speakers really do have the knack of picking out subtleties and reveal nuances others might miss.

What I did find with the TD508MK3 is that a little more care is required during set up. This might be because I had them simply sat atop of my usual Atacama stands, rather than the sleek Eclipse poles though. Whatever the reason, it took some time to get their toe-in just right for my room. Having the ability to angle them upwards slightly helped greatly.

Once done, however, I was rewarded with an intricately layered sound-stage.

Their punch and immediacy is truly amazing. This is generally the stuff of studio-grade active monitors.

Music

Accuracy is nothing without musicality though. Thankfully, the Eclipse’s rhythmic ability is also noteworthy.

They are able to grab the initial bite of a plectrum or bow against a string, as well as the tail-end of a decaying note.

More importantly, they are able do achieve this whilst maintaining context.

Tempo and mood changes are clean and unmuddied, this is great news for Jazz, Fusion and Prog fans.

They handle complex pieces really well. Orchestral performances are remarkable for their clarity and placement with the TD508MK3’s not crossing instrumental streams.

The only time I would have liked more from the Eclipses is where bass needs to be given more prominence. This is most evident when playing movie sound-tracks or some electronic music.

Here the bass lacks some depth, warmth and presence. It is still punchy, accurate and stated, however. It just fails to fill the room and envelope me in the way I would like.

Alternatively, the higher frequencies sound open without any harshness. It would be great to compare these with speakers sporting good tweeters, such as the Dali Rubicon 5 though.

That said, the TD508 MK3 have proved their ability to present Jazz, Fusion, Classical, Punk, Pop and Metal with equally enjoyable results. If, like me, you find yourself wanting more trouser-shaking lows, Eclipse do have a mighty fine range of subs on offer.

However, if you listen mostly to acoustic / singer-songwriter, Jazz or the kind of music that has that 80s-like production then these speakers will leave you smiling.

Similarly, if your penchant is for texture, detail and accuracy then you could do a lot worse at this price point.

Eclipse TD508MK3 review conclusion

The Eclipse TD508MK3 are excellent all-rounders. Not only are they enjoyable to listen to, they look unlike any other speakers beyond the brand. Put a pair of these in your living-room and be prepared for remarks from friends and family. For added interior design plus points, opt for the Eclipse stands too.

I did find bass depth lacking in parts but that little driver does perform admirably. Musical transitions in complex pieces are handled with precision and accuracy – and there’s the pay off.

As I mentioned, if you need those low lows, check out the company’s additional subs. They too are quite remarkable in their own right.

Furthermore, if you are looking for ‘loud’ speakers, then you should look elsewhere. The TD508MK3 are refined and major in detail rather than outright power.

Add in their flexibility regarding placement and their integral stand being able to be used for wall/ceiling fixing, and it also makes them an ideal choice for home-theatre systems as well as Hi-Fi systems that need to complement interior design.

Price and availability

You can get the Eclipse TD508MK3 from Richer Sounds for £960.

If you fancy adding those rather sweet stands, they’ll cost you another £516.

More information can be found on the Eclipse website.

Eclipse TD508MK3 details at a glance

Model
	8cm Diameter Full-Range Speaker System
Colour Available	Silver	Black	White
Speaker Unit	8cm Diameter Full-Range, Fibreglass
Frequency Response	52Hz-27kHz(-10dB)
Efficiency/ Sensitivity	82dB/W.m
Input Resistance (Rating/Max)	15W/30W
Impedance	8ohms
Angle Adjustment	On Pedestal:-10° to 30° On Ceiling:10° to -75° On Wall:20° to 75°
Maximum Dimensions (mm)	W180×H289×D268
Weight (per Speaker)	Approx. 3.5kg
Accessories	Grille x 1

The post Eclipse TD508MK3 speakers review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Monitor Audio is well known as a British loudspeaker builder. At Christmas, I was lucky enough to have won one of their AirStream S150 Bluetooth speakers. I think it is about time I wrote about it.

As we’re fast approaching May I thought I’d take a few moments to write about a Bluetooth speaker that I now own.

Back at the run up to Christmas I went along to Techmas, a gathering of the tech glitterati – and me.

At this bash I was fortunate enough to have teamed up with Chris of Movies Games and Tech fame. Fortunate, because we only went to win the quiz. We split our spoils and I came away with a gold S150, amongst other swag.

Since that victorious evening, the S150 has been supplying music in the kitchen and the garden.

Monitor Audio Airstream S150 design

I like the design. The kicked back top reminds me of angled guitar cabs produced by Marshall.

Unfortunately, someone told me that it reminded them of a loaf of bread that’s been shoved in to the corner of a freezer.

Take from that what you will. Personally, I dig its subtle curve and the two-tone, two-texture finish.

The S150’s frequency response is quoted as being 80Hz – 25kHz. Don’t worry about that low-end though.

Sound quality

The mids and trebles come through clearly and there is a lovely weight and musicality to the low range.

Somehow the S150 manages to retain the clarity I was expecting from a Monitor Audio speaker but adds that excitement that a ‘lifestyle’ product often is tuned to.

The high-range clarity is down to that C-CAM tweeter. This does a remarkable job of picking out the nuances and textures in violins and guitars.

Firstly, playing the ‘Bach Trios’ album from Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer really shone through the Airstream S150.

Next, testing out the bass with some contemporary tracks. I am pleased to report that Highasakite’s ‘5 Million Miles’ really pounds.

Keeping it Nordic, ‘White Noise’ by Cajsa Siik demonstrates how nimble the S150 is. Snare rolls, female vocals, keyboards and low bass all find their own area.

The Monitor Audio can handle the rough stuff too, mind.

The sludgy, sleazy sounds of Big Sexy Noise and ‘Collision Course’ slinks and oozes through the Airstream just as it should.

‘Weak and Powerless’ by A Perfect Circle is projected cohesively with clearly defined instruments and vocals with enough air around them so as not to be congested.

Volume isn’t an issue either. Indoors the Airstream S150 can easily fill a room without distorting or muddying the reproduction.

No matter the volume the S150 remained controlled.

Monitor Audio Airstream S150 conclusion

There are Bluetooth speakers that have more toys. You can buy louder Bluetooth speakers. There are also certainly more expensive ones too.

What I love about the Airstream S150 is that it focuses on what’s most important overall: sound quality.

It might not have AirPlay or DLNA, but I doubt you’ll miss those because its Bluetooth chops are solid.

Furthermore, the S150’s looks are quirky enough to be interesting but can still sit elegantly in any room.

In conclusion, should you not have the readies for a £300 Dali Katch, I suggest you test the Airstream S150 for half the price

Monitor Audio Airstream S150 price and availability

You can buy the Airstream S150 now in Black, White or Gold (as reviewed).

Since you can currently grab the Gold Special Edition version for £119 on Amazon there is really no downside!

The post Monitor Audio Airstream S150 Bluetooth speaker review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Cambridge Audio will be a familiar name to a lot of you Gadgety faithful. They’ve been around for 50 years, my first Hi-Fi separates sported the Cambridge Audio logo. Like many Hi-Fi makers they are ensuring they have a finger in the wireless speaker pie. I have been spending time with their Yoyo (S) and (M) speakers. Here’s my thoughts about the (M).

Yes, there is a large selection of Bluetooth speakers to choose from but, let’s be honest, not all are ideal for your stylish living-room.

Ruggedised and rubberised might be great for outdoors or the bathroom but perhaps not to sit amongst your soft furnishings.

If you’re going out to splash the cash you might has well add some other wants to the list. How about a wireless stereo pair? They would have to be easy to use, of course. Stylish, goes without saying. Oh, they’d have to be able to charge your smart device too – why not two at once? All of this whilst sounding more Hi-Fi than your average Bluetooth speaker.

Righty Cambridge Audio. There’s your challenge. Your answer? Something called Yoyo.

Cambridge Audio Yoyo (M) design

What screams ‘British’ more than tweed?

I was actually delighted not to have done any previous research about the Yoyo (M) and was pleasantly surprised by the covering.

Both speakers are covered in “acoustically transparent” fabric made by Yorkshire weavers Marton Mills. Yup, Cambridge gets extra points for the Yorkshire connection on this site too

What’s special about this ‘worsted’ wool (with all fibres running in the same direction) is that it’s treated to resist water, dirt and shrinking. That is definitely a good thing as the ones I have to review are a rather pale grey. I could see chocolate-covered fingers soon ruining that finish otherwise (no, I haven’t got any kids).

Before you start getting thoughts of dropping a speaker in the pool or gliding through Glastonbury’s famous mud – no. Just, no. What I am saying is that having them on your garden table whilst enjoying a G&T should be fine.

Underneath the speakers you’ll find the connection for the power cable, an Aux line in for non-wireless sources, a USB charging port for your mobile device and a button to check how much charge the speaker has. Yup, these are totally wireless speakers – no power (when charged) or speaker cables here.

The Yoyo (M) measure 125 x 125 x 204 (W x D x H) and the pair weigh in at around 3 Kg.

They do feel really well put together too.

Cambridge Yoyo (M) performance

Inside each speaker you’ll find a 30mm full-range driver and a 75mm bass driver. These are both powered by a class D amplifier.

The Yoyo (M)s connect to each other wirelessly and automatically from the second they’re powered on.

The master unit (the one with the logo badge on it) is the right channel which leaves the slave unit to handle the left channel. So, yeah, those in the picture above are the wrong way around.

As previously mentioned you can have the speakers plugged in to the mains (they both have their own powerbricks and cables) or run them from their internal battery. Cambridge says that they will last 24 hours without the need of a plug. At ‘normal’ volume I found this to be the case. Obviously expect a little less at full party vibe.

To ensure not getting caught out, just press the button under each speaker to check how much battery is left. This will illuminate the white LEDs up top accordingly.

You rarely get a remote with Bluetooth speakers. Well, there’s generally no need is there as you will normally use your smart device to control playback.

However, the Yoyo (M) has a neat little trick. Yes, you have no doubt seen the touch-sensitive buttons on the units’ rubberised top panels.

The icons light up when you poke at them. All the controls – volume, playback, Bluetooth pairing – sync simultaneously across both speakers, too. Turn one speaker off and the other one goes to sleep too.

You can also use The Force. Kinda.

Simply wave your hand over the speakers to control them. Left to right plays and skips tracks, while going the opposite way pauses the music.

I can see this being handy when you’ve got a bottle in one hand and hotdog in the other.

You might have also noticed the brass threaded hole in the middle of the speaker’s underside.

This takes a Gorilla pod or standard camera tripod screw. Handy if you want to mount these on stands.

Sound quality

The first outing of the Yoyo (M) was with me and my colleagues working on a Saturday to get a software release out.

In the office the sound from the compact speakers is impressively large. Being totally wireless meant that we could have them well separated, at either end of the desk.

There is a slight warmth to them (could be the woven cloth – heh!) but this makes them a very unchallenging listen.

That’s not to say that they lack depth and power though. Being a mixed bunch we had what amounted to a best of the 90s playlist going on.

This covered everything from boy bands, Indie and Grunge, through to air-grabbing ballads and arena rock classics. These speakers handled everything in a relaxed and confident manner.
[youtube id=”xNhVqST6de0″]
Vocals seemed to be a little forward from the instruments which, for the most part, is fine.

The top-end seems to be a little rolled off. This aids the smoothness of the audio presentation. This has the knock-on effect of there being a slight lack of definition when compared with the DALI Katch, for instance. I think that this is purely down to taste though.

Bass is nice and weighty and the mids have good presence. For me, I would have enjoyed a little more focus from the lows in an ideal world.

Cambridge Audio Yoyo (M) review conclusion

Cambridge has come up with some portable wireless speakers that pleases.

The Yoyo (M) stereo pair, thanks to them being totally wireless, dishes out competent audio with a decent sound-stage and power.

Their comfortable sound profile means that relaxed listening is the order of the day here. It also means that they will be just as happy playing your Take That back catalogue as they are some smokey Trad Jazz.

If you are looking for speakers that will eek out every nuance of an orchestral piece, perhaps the Yoyo (M) aren’t the ones. If you simply want to enjoy music, they will definitely keep you smiling.

Add to that 24 hours of battery-powered playback and being able to charge a smart device from each speaker, it is well worth your while checking out the Cambridge Audio Yoyo (M) speakers.

Cambridge Audio Yoyo (M) price and availability

You can buy the Yoyo (M) now direct from Cambridge Audio for £300.

The speakers are available in three colourways: Dark Grey, Light Grey or Blue.

The post Cambridge Audio Yoyo (M) wireless speakers review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

It has already been 11 days since I left The Bristol Show 2017. How time flies. But, I am sure you’re still hungry to read what my Sound and Vision highlights were.

As with all things of a purely audiophile nature, I work closely with GadgetyNews’ partner site, Hifi Pig.

Hifi Pig has a dedicated focus for snoofling out all the latest audio news and is packed with reviews of a more Hi-Fi nature.

You really ought to check out the Hifi Pig Extra and GadgetyNews free online magazine.

Bristol Show 2017 review

This was my third visit to the Marriott City Centre Hotel to attend the show.

As soon as I get in to Bristol, the excitement from the expectation of experiencing some of the very best Hi-Fi the world has to offer hits Christmas morning levels. Well, almost. I really am just a big kid.

Tackling Sound and Vision 2017

I allowed two days to wander around the show. Day one being handed over to catching up with friends and contacts (who are now friends) as well as a number of launch presentations.

Day two was when I was unleashed and allowed to roam free. It is amazing how, even with a detailed floor guide, it is still possible to miss displays.

I usually put this down to me rushing around but, with a full day ahead of me, there were rooms that still managed to evade me.

Expect to read about The Chord Company, Chord Electronics, DALI, Loewe, Acoustic Energy, Quad, and much more.

Read more

Head on over to Hifi Pig and read about what caught my eye, what impressed me and try to guess how much time I spent at the bar.

The post Sound and Vision, The Bristol Show 2017 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Readers will know I have a soft-spot for DALI speakers. Well, if you are going to ‘The Bristol Show’ next month, the Danish high-end loudspeaker pros have something special in store for you.

I will be at Sound and Vision, which is better known to Hi-Fi fans as The Bristol Show. Perhaps more importantly, so will DALI.

The Danish company has just confirmed that it will be conducting live demonstrations of its high-end Epicon 2 and 6 loudspeakers. These will be driven by state of the art Meridian Electronics.

DALI will also be launching its new Spektor line of affordable loudspeakers.

DALI Epicon

The Epicon range of loudspeakers represent the absolute pinnacle of DALI’s audio engineering expertise.

The speakers incorporate the distilled results of 30 years worth of experience and every technological advance the company has achieved. In-house designed (and made!) wood-fibre woofers, a Linear Drive Magnet System (incorporating their patented Soft Magnetic Compound) and beautiful multi-layer cabinets promise to deliver truly amazing musicality.

Driving the Epicons will be state of the art electronics from Meridian Audio Technology. Musical content (including MQA) will be provided from the award-winning Sooloos system, fed through the Meridian Ultra DAC. This DAC is the world’s first product to feature MQA’s patent-pending Hierarchical Converter Technology. All of this will be fed into the hugely capable Meridian 857 two-channel power amplifier.

DALI Spektor

The Bristol Show will also mark the public debut of DALI’s new, affordable range of speakers, the Spektor series.

Comprising four models at launch, the Spektor series employs their signature wood-fibre cones (with low loss surrounds), tweeters with ‘fast’ ultra-lightweight domes and, of course, superb looking cabinets.

Some familiar faces

DALI will be demonstrating some more familiar speakers too – as seen on this very site.

Their much acclaimed Rubicon series loudspeakers (reviewed here) and, naturally, its now legendary Katch wireless speaker.

The Katch has been the winner of countless awards (including ‘Best Portable Wireless Speaker £200+ of 2016’ from What Hi-Fi?).

Visit DALI at Sound and Vision

Sound and Vision runs from February 24th to the 26th and is hosted at the Marriott Hotel

DALI will be found in Room 118 on the 1st Floor.

More details about the show can be found on the official website.

The post DALI and Meridian team up for The Bristol Show 2017 appeared first on GadgetyNews.

We’ve not reviewed much from Onkyo here on GadgetyNews but we’ve had the TX-8150 networked amp to check out.

The Onkyo TX-8150 looks like a classic amp but it has so many features that it covers many duties.

Looking for a stereo receiver? It will do it. Looking to drive two pairs of speakers and a sub? Yup, the TX-8150 can. How about Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Ethernet? Sorted.

Is it all too good to be true though?

Onkyo TX-8150 design

If you were around in the 80s and 90s then the style of the TX-8150 might seem familiar. I quite like its throwback appeal but to those looking for sleek and minimalist, it might feel a little dated.

You have a choice of finish, silver or black, and to me both look good.

It’s a no-nonsense design in so much as it’s a rectangular box fronted by control dials and buttons.

The faceplate has a neat brushed finish. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the wide dot-matrix display. This is extremely clear, even to shortsighted me. One main benefit of having such a large screen is that there’s no need for abbreviations.

The quartet of knobs along the bottom controls input selection, bass, treble and balance.

The main dial is the oversized volume control situated top right. To the left of this, hidden in the screen section, is a 4-way selector for radio stations. A further four ‘BGM’ preset buttons provide instant access to your saved stations.

Connections

Still at the front of the TX-8150 you are offered a USB port and 6.3mm headphone jack.

Flip the amp around and then you’ll find a whole array of connectivity options.

There are six sets of analogue stereo inputs as well as a grounded phono input. You also get an analogue line output and a subwoofer pre-out.

Furthermore, the device boasts an IR in/out for custom-install use, a remote-control jack for compatible Onkyo RI products and DAB/FM aerial screw terminal.

Speakers are treated to not one, but two pairs of banana plug-compatible speaker terminals. These are handily labelled A and B – good for feeding another room or filling a large space. So, the TX-8150 has the ability to drive two pairs of speakers of 2×55 watts at 8 Ohms. Nice.

It’s not all analogue either.

Digital

There are four digital inputs (two optical, two coaxial). That should be enough to connect an HDTV, a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray player, a gaming console… Stereo audio streams up to 24 bits and 192 kHz are handled.

USB

The USB port is compatible with DSD and PCM files up to 24 bits and 96 kHz as well as DSD. It will play nice with flash drives and FAT format hard drives. It is also possible to browse the content of the USB peripheral device via the Onkyo Remote app.

Bluetooth

The receiver can be paired up with any device loaded with a Bluetooth transmitter (smartphone, tablet, computer, portable player, etc.).

Network

You also get an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi connection. This plumbs you in to internet radio as well as other online niceness.

AirPlay, DLNA, Internet radio, Spotify, Deezer, FLAC and DSD playback via USB, FM and DAB+ (RNT) tuners are all welcome here.

Onkyo TX-8150 performance

The tech specs for the TX-8150 states that it packs 135 Watts. While that might indeed be true, this is on one channel at 1 kHz and with a distortion 12 times over the hi-fi standard.

In stereo, ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with a 0.08% distortion rate, the power is 2×55 Watts. This is plenty for most home Hi-Fis output through compact and mid-range floor-standing speakers.

Set-up and in use

The amount of inputs and buttons might be daunting but TX-8150 is a breeze to set-up and use.

My only niggle is that, because Onkyo crammed in all those RCA inputs, things get a little snug back there if you haven’t the slimmest of digits.

The app was simple to connect once downloaded from the Google Play Store.

It was just a matter of opening the app and then it sniffed out and found the TX-8150 without issue.

I did find myself using the physical controls more than the app. But then, I am in my mid-40s.

The app does underline just how versatile this thing is though. Just look at that list of possibilities above!

I have tested the unit through both the lovely DALI Menuets as well as the reliable Tannoy Mercury V1i. The speakers were joined to the amp by Chord Elite cables. I have left the bass, treble and balance zeroed just for the review.

The Pure Audio button is a neat touch. This deactivates the tonal correction and the balance, as well as the front panel display. This is to protect the audio signal against any possible interference.

Sound quality

I started off with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ being fed from my NAS via DNLA and the wired Ethernet. The TX-8150 proved to be agile and dynamic through both sections of this classic.

Impressed with this first play I moved on to ‘Talking Drum’ by Japan. Karn’s bassline was impressively taut and controlled. I found the playback detailed and revealing. Sylvian’s vocals especially grabbed me as his relaxed, breathy voice came across with an abundance of character.

Moving on to some orchestral tracks and these sounded huge. The instruments had space to breath with the string section being full of texture and nuance.

The same goes for anthemic rockers, Rush. Synth parts weaved between Geddy’s bass lines and Alex’s riffs without getting muddied or confused. I did find the drums lacking impact though. This was perhaps more noticeable when slinging on some Tool and the rhythmical ‘Grudge’.

Unplugging the Ethernet cable and running purely on Wi-Fi, the TX-8150 did not suffer any drop-out during the week-or-so I had it in use.

CD

Going over to silver discs played on my Oppo using digital optical now. To kick off I played ‘Grudge’ again for comparison. The reproduction actually sounded thinner to me. Saying that, PJ Harvey’s ‘Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea’ album sounded engaging as ever.

Bluetooth and Spotify

Chucking tracks over from my phone using Bluetooth matched my Musical Fidelity V90 Blu. I was also struck by just how good Spotify Premium sounded.

Getting my groove on with Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘Getaway’ the TX-8150 again proves agile and musical.

Vinyl

Intrigued by the Onkyo’s phono stage, I could not wait any longer. After seeing Lazarus at Kings Cross Theatre it was obvious that Bowie’s last album should come out to play first.

I might have been expecting too much after the decent showing from the other sources but the moving-magnet phono stage was a tad underwhelming.

The title track is quite a work-out for any system but Bowie’s vocals lacked the depth I am used to through my usual rig.

The track, ‘Lazarus’ lost some of the subtleties in both the instruments and vocals.

To be fair, whilst reading back over this review, I may have been too harsh on the phono stage. Looking at all the other options packed in to this receiver, a phono stage is quite an added bonus. It is capable but I can see vinyl-lovers incorporating a separate stage such as the little Rega Fono or similar.

Radio

Internet radio, as well as DAB and FM all came through nice and clear with good tonal balance.

Sound quality overall impressions

The TX-8150 is more than competent. Timing and tone are engaging and clear. There are more vivid and dynamic amps out there but at higher prices and/or with fewer capabilities. I have really enjoyed my time with the Onkyo and it has proved to be a great all-round performer.

Onkyo TX-8150 review conclusion

The Onkyo TX-8150 has really set its stall out as being a Jack-of-all-trades. You know what, I really think it is too!

Yes, the phono stage was found lacking a little, but it does so many things right. It is a well put together bit of kit and its companion app is clear and user friendly – not just an after-thought, as many are.

I didn’t look at the price before, or during the review and I am glad I kept it as a surprise. Not only could this have coloured my judgement but it has made me smile at the end. Given that the amp in my system has an asking price of five-times more than this box of tricks, I cannot really fault the TX-8150 at all.

The Onkyo TX-8150 is not only a musical, agile, and enthusiastic amp, it’s an intuitive networked and Bluetooth streaming system, DAB radio and phono stage all in one. The fact that you can run a second stereo pair of speakers as well as a subwoofer from the same amp, all at the same time, just continues to poke fun at all the other systems in this price bracket.

I can see the TX-8150 becoming the cornerstone of many home Hi-Fi systems.

Onkyo TX-8150 availability and price

Now, here comes the crucial bit. All of this flexibility and capability can be yours for under £500! In fact, Amazon has the silver one at £480 right now! Other retailers seem to be pitching it at £499.

That’s a bargain for something that will certainly work for the majority of households.

The post Onkyo TX-8150 networked amp / DAB radio review appeared first on GadgetyNews.